sending to agent, despite the waning moon

I am getting my query ready for another agent, even though the moon is waning (remember, I'm on a full-moon cycle with sending to agents). The reason I am breaking with this newly-established tradition is that, on the night of the full moon, I was making my "camel belt" for a Dancers of the Crescent Moon performance on Sunday. This camel belt consists of almost fifty tassels (made by hand--and these are big tassels, like on a bell pull in some Victorian house, so they take FOREVER to make). These had to be sewn in rows onto a handmade belt base, made of two layers of denim sandwiched between two layers of broadcloth (the same color as the shirt and pantaloons of my costume). Of course, I left it all to the last minute and had to stay up almost all night finishing the belt. I ended up getting three and a half hours of sleep before the performance--but I did okay (had a cup of "real" coffee beforehand, and I didn't forget any of my steps and actually had fun this time, not terror). Plus, the camel belt looked great--the tassels look incredible when everyone in the troupe spins (they fly out from the hips and make a huge, colorful circle. We do a lot of spins and turns, probably for that purpose). I recently got my bellydancer name, by the way--it is "Ajita," which means "unconquered." My troupe leader, Siwa, named me--she said she chose the name because I (apparently) don't let difficult dance moves phase me, nor the playing of finger cymbals, at which I am doing better. She hasn't yet seen me trying to balance my sword on my head (yes, I just got this a couple of months ago. It is very difficult, not the least of which because the sword is HEAVY and I am scared it's going to fall and spear my foot).

So, all the "Ajita" stuff got in the way of the strega-stuff, but I'm going to be sending out anyway in the next few days. Since it is a waning moon cycle, I will do a ritual to reduce negativity surrounding the book and keep my fingers crossed. Sometimes I do rituals because I am simply scared. and it is a way to keep myself centered. I still sometimes find myself remembering the disturbing vision of the director of my MFA program telling me that my book will never be published. I need to banish these ghosts.

I was glad to see Hurricane Katrina relief people from the Red Cross at Desert Dance Festival, and I gave them money. I give the Red Cross a few dollars every couple of days. Afterwards, Mr. Strega and I went over to San Jose State, where I picked up my personal copies of my MFA thesis at the King Library. I was so happy! They are all bound in blue, with my name stamped on the side.
I am so proud of myself--the thesis will be in the King Library, too (the "big" copy, which is on one side of the paper).

So, I am getting back into the adventure again of getting my book published--but in one way, it has been, and I am proud that I finished my MFA. My diploma and my thesis copies are in my living room right now and I am looking at them. I did all this in my forties! :)
I got an MFA and became a bellydancer, too. How much better can life be?