There are these things called “silent retreats.” People go on them to live briefly the life of a monastic, to leave a world so over-crowded with words.

As I was packing tonight for my veganyogarenewalwriting voyage with SARK, I thought that this would probably be a silent retreat for me.  Not because that is how it was advertised, but because I will either refuse to speak to the scary vegans or refrain from speaking lest I offend a vegan by implying they are, oh I don’t know, scary. 

But I hope going to see SARK and the vegans will be good for me, for there is this rather unfortunate cycle of which I am a part.  Here it is in its unvarying entirety:

1.  Go to school.  Ignore studies.  (Length:  varies.  Usually years)
2.  School ends temporarily.  Have nothing that needs studied.  (Duration: Usually a few weeks to a month)
3.  Feel unfettered joy.  (Max time: 4 days)
4.  Become restless because if I am not avoiding my studies, WHO AM I?  (Length:  a few days)
5.  Feel crushing despair that I am a failure. (Length:  Weeks)
6.  Find one or more part time jobs.
7.  Go back to school.  Ignore studies.  Keep part time jobs. 
8.  Lather.  Rinse.  Repeat.

Since it seems that School As I Have Known It My Entire Life seems to be drawing to a close, I am going to have to find a new way of being.  Because I already have four part-time jobs and have two regular baby-sitting clients again.  So, technically, I have six part time jobs.  And still I look for more.  I’m the only person I know who works as a hobby.  Getting more jobs just can’t be healthy.

So I’m hoping Queen Succulent Moonbeam will be able to help me out.  I’m hoping that I won’t ignore her like I ignore the team of professionals I employ to make me a more functional human being. 

I’m also kind of hoping to get an autograph. 

This is going to be an interesting weekend.