1. He attended an est seminar in the late 70’s, drew the whole time and eventually walked out. (Can’t say that I blame him.)

2. There is a woman named Catherine. There is a woman named Petra. There is a woman named Kelly. There are a lot of women.

3. An AIDS scare in the late 80’s turned out to be syphilis.

4. Things that interrupt his workflow include: work preoccupation, lust during telephone conversations, inability to help lovers when they’re depressed.

5. Even the Barron’s car gets towed sometimes.

Lots of Barron’s journals on his blog, which is where I nipped the picture above. (Though it’s quite something else again to thumb through them in person. If you’re in New York, I highly, highly recommend zipping over there before the 31st. Perhaps more than once.)

Funny, I was just thinking about Orpheus and Eurydice about an hour ago.

It’s been a while since I’ve been. Had two appointments in Manhattan today, back to back, so I made good use of the time in between, hanging in my favorite space, the Rose Reading Room, listening to my iPod here and there and just soaking up the library vibes.

2 other top New York Spaces:

1. The Met. Favorite sections include Arms & Armor (yes, really), European paintings, the Egyptian wing, Greek and Roman art. (Okay, yes, I admit my Westerner bias here.)

Recently, my assistant stopped by to help me with some things. It was our first time meeting in person. She walked into my office and her jaw dropped. “What?” I asked.

“You’ve got Joan on the wall,” she said.

That’s when I knew we’d get along famously.

2. The Cloisters. Technically, another part of the Met. Leland can’t deal with the Cloisters because medieval art is pretty stiff. And, yeah, I totally get that. But the Unicorn Tapestries, man! C’mon! Not to mention that bitchin’ herb garden they’ve got going on. And Fort Tryon Park, which is the bomb.

I do feel blessed to have spent so much of my life here. (And no, we’re not leaving super-soon. But still.)

(Photo credit alert: found here.)

It goes without saying that New York City is great for treasure hunts. If there’s something you want, there’s a good chance you can get your hands on it, in person and within 24 hours… if you know where to look. six nonlectures by e.e. cummings, however, posed a bit of a problem. So finally we threw up our hands and ordered it on Amazon.

This morning he shared a quote from the book with me. “I am an Artisit, I am a Man, I am a Failure. An Artist, a Man and a Failure must proceed.”

cummings refers to making decisions and moving forward, even in the face of uncertainty. Got me to thinking.

As a coach, one of my roles is to hold space and beliefs for my clients as they make clear decisions, so I’ve had the opportunity to observe decisions in action firsthand. Decisions weird us out, cause massive anxiety, or both. Why? Because all too often, until we’ve trained our minds to think otherwise, the energy behind decision-making is lack. “What will I have to give up?” and “Can I really do this?”.

I used to do this. After all, when I’m making a decision as to what to focus on next, my very life is at stake (as is yours, when you are in decision-making mode). No pressure or nothin’.

Truth is, as always, we have a choice to focus on what will open up as the result of a decision. A lack of clarity when making decisions means we’re usually focused on someone ELSE’s criteria (“What will other people think?”). Decisions, I’ve found, are a heck of a lot easier to make when I consciously reject lack-based thinking.

Leland is also a sharing kind of guy - as in, “This thing is really cool… here, let me share it with you.” A while ago he shared one of his favorite movies, Touching The Void.

“You have to keep making decisions, even if they’re the wrong ones,” says Joe Simpson in the movie. Indeed.

Me, I love New York City movies. While flicks like The Warriors and The Taking Of Pelham 1-2-3 (the original, of course - I can’t bring myself to see that remake, Denzel or no Denzel) will always hold a place in my heart, lately I’ve been more about… let’s say the poignant & cuddly:

New York City in the 80’s and early 90’s always reminds me of Terri.

I daresay that finishing up this particular milestone (the book is far from finished; indeed, one might say we’re just getting started) brings with it a certain amount of reflection…

We make frequent trips to Portland (it being Leland’s stomping ground and all), and of course, when in Portland, we always hang at Periscope. I can’t remember how the discussion got started, but, during one visit, a bunch of us were sitting around, talking about, well, bad comics. (Now there’s a shocker.)

One of the artists (who shall go nameless) had been asked to draw a short story for a particular project (which shall go nameless). Said artist is Really Good. “Would you draw this story by so-and-so for thus-and-such?” s/he was asked.

Really Good Artist took a look at the story, then politely declined. This person was, shall we say, underwhelmed at the quality of the story and the writing.

“Some stuff just isn’t worth drawing.”

Harsh? I don’t think so.

Here’s the thing. You know that story you’re writing? That 2,000-page epic you’re in love with because it features drunken dinosaurs and Jack The Ripper and kickSPLODE and martians in tuxedos and in-jokes about monster movies from the 50’s and Jazzercize and a gummy bear factory and the dancing hamsters and a plague of locusts and Don Knotts and did I mention kickSPLODE! and gosh darn it all, you’re so clever… You know, that one?

In order to bring this dizzying vision of yours to life, some guy or gal out there, probably several, with things like pencils and brush pens and Wacom tablets and (if they’re old skool like my husband) Ames lettering guides and Photoshops (and perhaps really bad Mexican food and No-Doze) has to spend hours of his/her/their life illustrating the damn thing.

There’s a good chance it’s not worth their time.

I’m not hatin’, I’m just sayin’.

Luckily, my story does NOT have Don Knotts. That doesn’t mean I don’t think about these things. And if you’re a writer who wants to bring The Awesome into the world instead of The Suck, you will too.

Like I said, a time of reflection.

“Cranky old woman” moment over. ‘Night.

(C’mere, kid, let me tell you about my new[-ish] “no crap!” policy… it’s inspired by Frank Miller…)

And okay, maybe the sci-fi TV shows, too (even if I can’t always get behind them).

I love being married to you, baby. Happy anniversary.

You are cordially invited to join us at the first NYC Interstitial Salon
– an evening devoted to the pleasures of conversation among
boundary-crossing artists, writers, musicians, and creators.

Also, please R.S.V.P. here:
http://tempest.fluidartist.com/contact/interstitial-salon-rsvp-form/

Organized by the wonderful K. Tempest Bradford, an appearance by my hero and writing buddy, Delia Sherman… it promises to be delightful all around. Unfortunately, Leland and I won’t be there, as we’ll be vacationing in the Outer Banks that week. BOO! And HISS!

However, you should still go if you’re so inclined.

With client, friend and Mermaid Joanna Powell Colbert:

Joanna’s amulets were the talk of the vendor area, and I was blessed to snap one up before they sold out. Gorgeous! We shared a post-session mini-circle of sorts with my dear friend Keri Bas and another glorious client of mine, Valentina Burton:

Can I just say that I heart my clients?

Later, a pleasant surprise:

Yes, the ducks were back. Confidential to those who don’t know what I’m talking about: see The RS 2006. (I had a picture there at one point but it appears to have disappeared.)

And as promised, here’s that picture of Bob Place and I:

Hrm. I just realized that I didn’t get one of Mary Greer, or Rachel, or James Wanless. Or Keri, for that matter. Boo.

Mary had her brand new, not-yet-released-to-those-of-us-who-are-not-Mary-Greer copy of that moment we’ve all been waiting for, The Pamela Coleman Smith Commemorative Tarot Set. I wept tears of joy and tried not to drool.

At one point I approached Mary about a project that is forming in my head that I know I’d love her feedback on. It’s still very much in feral kitten stage, and yet I found myself wanting to say something anyway. All I could manage was “Um… I’m going to tap you on the shoulder someday to talk about A Thing. Yeah. A Thing.”

Mary: “Sounds intriguing!”
Me: …
Me (thinking): “You’ll know what I’m talking about because I’ll say, ‘you know that thing?’”

Later, we talked about knitting, which was markedly easier.

(Don’t worry - there’s a cute pic of Bob Place and I that I’ll post a little later. )

The Readers Studio marks my third weekend event in about a month. I think I may have hit my limit. (I hear you all going, “WellDUH.”) Nonetheless, it was one of the best RSes ever. Got to connect with a bunch of my clients, and, of course, nerd out over all the latest Tarotania. More on all that in a bit.

Next trip is our vacation in the Outer Banks next month; hence, the beret. Because everyone at the Outer Banks could use a summer beret in a nice cotton bamboo. The pattern is the Gwen Slouchy, with 2 extra repeats… because while admittedly my head is a snidge large, I can’t for the life of me comprehend how a ribbed brim of less than 88 stitches on a size 7 needle fits anyone older than, say, 12. (It was tight on my styrofoam model, too.)

(Also: size 9 needles with a DK weight yarn?! Can’t do it. So I used an 8.)

I’m sure all this technical stuff is fascinating to the non-knitters out there.

Here’s another picture:

When someone at The ‘Studio inquired about my hat, it occurred to me that I’ve been on this beret tear for almost 2 years. Yes, it baffles me.

Another recent beret, the Sprint Beret, is here.

Leland: Y’know what we’re entering into, don’t you?
Me: Summer?
Leland: Bubble tea season.

Seriouslytho, can it be that we’re almost in MAY of 2009 already? It hardly seems possible. Being that it’s almost May, that means one thing: The Readers Studio is almost here! I’ll be sharing the fundamentals of my 8-step marketing & business-building system for spirited solo professionals again this year, and I’ll also share details of a very special teleclass series that I’m putting together for Readers Studio peeps ONLY.

I’m looking forward to immersing myself in Tarot for three days straight; between my business exploding and typing this script as fast as I can, the in-depth rolling-the-bones that’s a usual part of my daily life has fallen out of my daily life somewhat. (Must shift that.) It’s also significant as The Readers Studio marks the 1-year anniversary of Marketing Goddess. Someone pinch me!

Speaking of goddesses, caught the Worshiping Women exhibition at the Onassis Cultural Center over on 51st & 5th. Stunning. Story mind racing. (Not a bad thing, as the Tor.com script is due, like, now.)

I know this is a short one. Artemis is a-callin’.

Let’s see…

1. Things have been quite whirlwind-y since returning from Experience The Reality Of Success in Vegas. Lots of clients and cool opportunities popping up everywhere. Trying to hold on with both hands, as I have a number of my own projects in the Marketing Goddess pipeline that are coming up, like, immediately.

The seminar was mind-blowing, and I don’t say that lightly. I’ve posted lots of take-aways, stories and pictures over on MarketingGoddessBlog.com, so check them out if you’re curious. One of the coolest moments was meeting Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos.com. Wow, that guy is smart, smart, smart.

There’s so much I could say about what I learned at the seminar, and truth be told, most of it is either too personal or still in the “feral kitten” stages (and thus easily scared away if one talks too loudly), but I will say this: I am now hyper-crystal-clear on exactly how my writerly self and entrepreneurial self will dovetail and it is incredible. Yes, call me a woman on a mission.

2. My favorite new music as of late is a young lass by the name of Amanda Bloom. You can download her album on eMusic and listen to clips on her MySpace page. We’d probably not do well in any 4-beer conversations, as I’ve found her empassionately tooling around atheist talk radio and I’m, you know, an unapologetic Goddess girl, as Pagan as they come. That’s ok - lots of other things to talk about.

Pandora.com remains the best place to find new music. Leland and I created The Purvis Family Channel. Seeded it with Elliot Smith and Kristin Hersh. Then we added Waits and it all went to hell.

3. Speaking of music, I’ve discovered that my former fiddle teacher, the lovely Patrick Ourceau, is everywhere on the Internets. Including YouTube, where, if you listen close before the magic starts, you can hear snatches of that dreamy Irish-infused French accent he’s got going on. I miss him! (That’s Paddy O’Brien & Daithi Sproule with him, two more amazing musicians.)

4. I’ve been writing a lot. (Liz is waiting for the script, what can I say?)

Also, I have my to every writer’s not-favorite question (”Where do you get your ideas?”) sketched out on a piece of paper here, which I shall turn into a post, which I shall illustrate with a piece of recently completed art from Mr. B.

Last but not least: bonus points if you know which high school Brit music crush the subject line refers to. It’s not hard…