Can't do light.

I have lost a bit of my blogging mojo, friends.

I have no problem reading blogs, and writing comments as intelligent and encouraging as I can muster, but I have had trouble writing a post. I wrote a post a week or so ago, but decided to take it down soon after, as it wasn't something I was very comfortable sharing.

Perhaps trying to write this paper I am working on, and writing a lecture, is draining me of further creativity.

I love reading the blogs of all of those people, like SSG, or Naomi, or FF, who make the ordinary come alive within a blog.

I even thought about writing about some beauty purchases I made. I like them, but I just can't bring myself to write anything more than that. "yep, 'sgood!" I will buy on the recommendations of SSG. I am a sheep, not a shepherd!

[Apropos of nothing, I bought some Clarins ever matte foundation, the L'Oreal nude palette, and made an online purchase of a Le Labo fragrance. I may or may not post about the Le Labo experience]

Don't get me wrong, the ordinary comes alive in my head, I am all for seizing the moment and relishing the small things, but it just doesn't come out in this forum.

I tend to write about things I am passionate about. Lately that has been Crossfit. I realise that is probably only interesting to me. Whatevs. I also like a bit of a rant about what is wrong with the world, but it's really a case of literally can't even.

I was going to write about the little baby that went missing in Melbourne, and was found dead. I had my doubts about the story in the media, and, sure enough, those doubts proved prescient. Yet saying "I knew it" is a bit silly. I can join in with the chorus that it is a waste of a dear, tiny life, but that's already been said too. It is devastating.

Yet what strikes me about it all is how much older than 22 the mother looks, like she has had many years worth of burden. Also the lack of baying for her blood - baying would not help the situation anyway. I have heard quietly understanding things being said, that motherhood can bring you to the very edge of, and possibly past, your grip on sanity. These things have been said by mothers, sotto voce. It is comforting in a way that this kind compassion exists in the context of such a tragedy.

That's all I am going to say about that.

I am now going to launch into something that I excel at, a miscellany.

I have been hunting for a good hotel room in DC, where I am off to soon, for a conference. Most of the bookings have free cancellation, and I have had a hotel booked for a while. However, I only had this hotel close to the conference centre for 6 of the 8 nights I was staying, also the price was steep for not a great place. More recently, I have been doing some research, reading hotel reviews, and scoping out the other hotels close by. Finally, I got onto Wotif, and took a punt on a mystery deal. First I booked for the 4 nights of the conference. The price was steep, but a lot cheaper than the open deals. After booking I found out the hotel - it was the one I wanted. I made a separate booking for the 4 nights prior to the conference. The mystery hotel had the same description as the previous, but was just over half the price for those four nights - sure enough, I found it was the same hotel. I rang the hotel to ask if I could stay in the same room for the 8 nights. Hence, now I am staying in a better hotel than the previous, paying less for 8 nights than I was about to for 6! Only catch is that it isn't refundable. Winning!

I have also scoped out crossfit boxes for while I am on leave, I get to meet my WODding bretheren from the US.



Tragedy, hotels, a bit of cosmetics. Crossfit, of course, was there.

A miscellany indeed.