Hello Steemit! I've missed you.

How are you Steemit? It's been awhile...

I took a break from Steeming early last summer to work on other projects, intending to return as soon as possible. At first I hoped it wouldn't take longer than a month, but one month stretched into two, then three... which, ok, is not that long a time, but honestly, it felt like halfway to forever. I haven't been active on this platform very long - only since late December of last year - but it's become an important part of my life and I miss it when I'm away.

As I seem able once again to find time in my daily schedule for forays into the wilds of the blockchain, and as today, October 22nd, is my birthday, it seemed like the perfect time to jump back in.

So allow me to reintroduce myself: My name is Bennett. I write and edit songs, poetry, fiction, and (very occasionally) nonfiction. I sing and play guitar. I experiment with sound recording and MIDI. Sometimes I draw or paint. I love reading, listening to, viewing, and commenting on the amazing work of my fellow creatives here on Steemit. I'm looking forward to catching up with what's happening in the writing, music, and visual arts communities, diving back into being active in familiar contests and groups, finding out what old friends have been up to, and to meeting new Steemians and discovering what new and interesting activities the Steem universe has to offer. I may even have a brand new contest idea of my own in the works...

I'm excited also to pitch in and do my best to help my friends and mentors @carrieallen and @chrisroberts with the work they're doing for @steemmonsters (which I also can't wait to play!), and with Carrie's awesomely fun radio projects (https://steemit.com/vimmtv/@carrieallen/cf5757c9dcddbc616d67a480e22ea023-vimmtv) on a relatively regular basis. I'd never written fiction before I began participating in @mariannewest's daily freewrite, when it surprised me by becoming one of my new favorite things! Maybe the same will hold true for voice acting...

In the spirit of reintroduction, here are links to several older posts:

Poetry and Fiction:
https://steemit.com/freewrite/@bennettitalia/doe-a-fiction-figment-for-freewrite-256-chips

https://steemit.com/over20club/@bennettitalia/my-feature-post-for-the-over-20-club-freewritehouse-some-of-my-favorite-prose-and-poetry-pieces

Music:
https://steemit.com/originalmusic/@bennettitalia/xzlsso52

https://steemit.com/originalmusic/@bennettitalia/i-will-be-the-featured-artist-on-tonight-s-mission-control-mondays-radio-show-with-carrieallen

Non Fiction:
https://steemit.com/nature/@bennettitalia/dragonflies-and-other-magical-creatures-a-piece-about-some-of-my-experiences-with-other-species-entry-for-the-steemit-creative

Visual Art:
https://steemit.com/art/@bennettitalia/the-daily-doodle-february-wrap-up

https://steemit.com/poetry/@bennettitalia/animals-the-complete-series-of-poems-with-illustrations-and-cover-illustrations-by-bennettitalia

Thanks for being such an awesome platform Steemit! And for attracting such interesting people to take part. I'm grateful that you're here and glad to be back :)