So I went through my entire poetry manuiscript, the poems dating from 2004 to the present, and edited the whole, looking for a consistent story line, and discarding the weaker poems. The stronger ones had more mystery; the weaker ones were too obvious. I also eliminated glaring repitition. It's okay to repeat themes--up to a point. I am happy with the consistency of the voice. It is me, throughout, telling a story. I like that.

So I am left with 300 poems. Now I am going to go through all of the essays again. This manuscript is divided into three categories: spirituality, dream work, and personal growth. I left out the category "creativity," but I have a body of work in that category. I left it out because I felt that too much ego was there.

The teen novel on homelessness is on the back burner. Still trying to get the songwriting collaboration going.

My political letters and columns continue to be published in the Asheville paper. I feel very good about that, because what I am doing could have some kind of impact in Western North Carolina on the presidential race. And I remain very happy about sharing my work on OS and your comments. I am gaining so much from both your comments and reading your work and learning from you.

My goal remains to find an outside book publisher, but to know I am connecting with some real, live folks out there and maybe affecting the political scene-at least locally, this helps to keep me motivated.

That's where I am today, as far as the writing is concerned. I am no longer teaching but may counsel again part-time if an opportunity arises that seems like a good fit. But it would have to really feel right. But that's for next fall. Right now, it's just poetry and essay writing and music. And that's fine.

I would hate to think that I will never counsel again, because I have some good skills, learning hard lessons along the way. But it may or may not happen. I have a crazy job record and that may deter me. I am going to stay away from school settings. Too much trauma experienced there, bashing my self-esteem. Meanwhile, I love the writing gig, paid or not, though I do want to find that outside publisher.

I may start to do workshops on Taoism/the I Ching with a collaborator. We'll see.