The fair and lovely Eden Robins recently reminded me that I have a horrible habit—one that springs forth from a good place, but is nonetheless a horrible habit—of saying yes to things before I fully think through whether I can logistically and sanely handle one more thing on my plate.
Lots and lots of my friends have mentioned this to me over the years–Jamie, Suzanne, my husband–and I fully acknowledge that I do it, completely swear to watch the tendency, clear my decks–then slowly, surely fill it all up again.

I know why I do it. It’s partly joie de vivre, partly not wanting to disappoint anyone, partly an insatiable curiosity about everything, and partly a fear of dying unsuccessful and unfulfilled. However, I am turning 36 (insert interrobang here) in 4 days and I have to be an adult about it sometime.

So, hear this, world and loved ones. I can juggle 4 balls well, 5 balls without dropping too often, 6 is pushing it. 3 is bliss while 7 is a dirty lie.

I now have all the balls I can handle (heh): writing, Brain Harvest, working on 4Emphasis (job), looking for a steadier job (me and everyone else), occasionally freelancing, and now the start of the EDGE program*. You’ll have to go sell crazy somewhere else. I’m all filled up for now. See me again in 6 months.

* which means other things have to fall (or be “flensed,” to semi-misquote Cory Doctorow) away. These apparently include a bunch of crits I’ve promised to do, anything vaguely resembling a social life, volunteering at 826 Seattle (which I do want to do sometime), learning German, keeping up with online people as much as I’d like, returning phone calls in a timely fashion (although I will try harder at that. Really.).