Thow, fire, glaze, fire and use a piece of pottery.

I signed up for classes this summer to see if I even enjoy pottery, to try it out, in the safety of strangers.

The teacher is an ass. I can never make it in at other times. And I kinda suck.

And I love it.

So, I have to recycle a lot of clay. But screwing up is harmless…no consequences. Just dry it out and re-wedge.

It’s cool and dirty, quiet and zen in the studio. So very tactile. And I totally have to shut down the racing, worrying part of my brain and concentrate.

I have 40lbs of stonebody I’m bringing on vacation with me. Need to get some canvas to cover the wedging table. Going to ask dad to leave plywood and the table saw so I can make drying…whatever they’re called.

I’m going to be done with class this week with 2 small bowls done. One might even be usable.

But I’m really optimistic about vacation!

7 people. 2 hours. 6 weeks. Oh, and open studio most of the weekends.

Last night was a ball. Got completely filthy. Made 2 flops for bowls. But, seem to be able to do wedging and centering adequately enough to get started. And I’m thinking of going in and practicing a bit this weekend – we’ll see, mom’s going to be around.

I put down my dog almost 2 weeks ago. It happened suddenly, and it was horrible, and I can’t tell if I’m coping well or still in denial. I still expect to see him, hear him, in all the usual places. And as a result, being home, alone, without him, is strange. It was unpleasant at first, but it’s getting better.

But needless to say, I need to get out of the house. I’m not ready for another dog, but I am ready for some life.

And as the Mondo Beyondo people say, there is a “space” in my life for new things to happen.

I’m not very good at letting them happen, I tend to force them.

So when I got an email from the University with summer courses at the student union, I didn’t even think twice before registering for a wheel class. It fit my schedule, it was cheap, done.

The really neat thing is that the week after it finishes, I’ll be spending at mom and dad’s house, dogsitting. The best place to be on an August afternoon is the basement. Oh, where there happens to be a small wheel. More practice time!