jeez louise. i met louise this summer. she's a precocious 3 year old. it was the hottest day of the year (110 degrees, really) and i met louise and her dad in the bottom floor of a brooklyn barnes and nobles. we read, we used the restroom and rode the escalator. i also spent my time with ruby, ava and emma. all these little girls have suddenly appeared in my life. my gaggle of girls. they're really the most delightful thing that's happened. this morning, i spoke to ruby on the phone for the first time. her mama wanted the phone back and clear as day, my little bug said, "no, i talking to jen."

it's the end of october and it seems i've come down from the high and freedom of criss-crossing the country in my little car with my big dog. the summer days bleed into one another. no lists, no nagging details, just the wide open nature of a day to be. now, i'm knee deep in work and details and responsibility. six more weeks and i'll return to my alter ego.

the spring months opened my eyes to metal and fire and the intoxication of melting steel with bare hands. a few more week till my next binge.

i feel good today. grounded. i think it's because i remembered these clogs and dug them out from the very back of my closet. i don't care if it still feels like summer here in these parts, i can tell the winter light is on the horizon.