Ahoy, matey! Full speed ahead!

Today has been about as perfect a day as it gets. I woke up at 7:30 this morning, heated up some oatmeal, and checked my email — at which time I found out I’ve been accepted to the Voices at VONA writing workshop I applied to before we left for HK. You know how sometimes, when you apply for things, you secretly believe you’ll get in even though you say (modestly, and prudently) that you probably won’t? Well, this wasn’t one of those things. I said I didn’t expect to get in, and when I saw the “congratulations!” email, I realized just how true that declaration was. I was completely shocked. I had to read the email several times before I could take in all the information. The craziest part is that I got into my first-choice workshop, a residency with M. Evelina Galang. I’m still not entirely sure how it works, but the residency appears to be much more one-on-one than the regular workshops (which are already quite small), and the website says there will be daily discussions of “craft and writing practices,” which sounds absolutely perfect. That’s what I really want — a chance to sit down with an experienced writer and ask her all my what-happens-after-x questions. Getting into this workshop means I have a lot… a LOT… of writing to do in the next couple of weeks, and it will really be a challenge to get it all done. But I am so excited.

In a gorgeous example of synchronicity, I found out about the VONA workshop on the same day that I already planned to spend the day in SF for a dance class and an artist date. (The workshop will require me to go to SF daily for a week.) It’s as if today’s outing were practice for my later “commute.” And I couldn’t have chosen a more idyllic day for my outing; the weather is beautiful, both sunny and breezy. I enjoyed a ninety-minute Brazilian Modern class with Paco Gomes, then explored the Mission a bit. Finding 826 Valencia’s Pirate Supply Store was a definite highlight! I also bought a great pair of pants (finally) made by a local Asian American designer, Sunhee Moon. After a little more wandering on the train and by foot, I ended up at Yerba Buena Gardens (where I will definitely return for some cityscape sketching), and had a leisurely lunch at the Samovar Tea Lounge before coming back home.

Julia Cameron says that when you send your desires out into the universe, the universe will fulfill them. I have to say, the universe has not failed me once on this count. You know I’ve been working for a long time on trying to shift my day-to-day balance to less crafting and more writing and drawing. Our Hong Kong trip (and the break it gave me from obsessing over the shop) strengthened that resolve to a point where I was ready to really give the new balance a whirl. Lo and behold, exactly three weeks after our return, I find myself with both creative validation and fixed deadlines for drawing (Drawgasmic) and writing (the VONA workshop). Righto. This month is going to be busy, busy, busy, and I couldn’t be happier!!