Devon Ellington's Blog, page 17

Wed. Feb. 26, 2025: Doing My Best to Dance Through the Rain

image courtesy of Carmine Paolo Di Criscito via pixabay.com

Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Dark Moon

Slushy and raw

I forgot to mention yesterday that it was the day before the dark moon, the day of the month where I have the least energy. All I wanted to do was crawl back into bed and sleep the day away.

I’m participating in the Smashwords Read an eBook Week from March 2-8. The first book of each series is discounted 50%, the rest in the series 25%. Digitally, through the Smashwords channel only. You can read more information here. I will have links up on all the series pages when they go live next week, and do a lot of social media promotion.

It’s my first participation in the program. We will see. There are going to be a lot of books available for free, so discounted books might not get any traction. But it’s an experiment.

Checked in with Pioneer Valley Writers Workshop. There are still a couple of slots in the screenwriting class that starts on Wed. March 5. Please tell anyone you think might be interested. It’s on ZOOM, so people can attend from anywhere. More information here.

Contract signed for this next project with the ghostwriting client, although I am not happy with it. But it will be over by next week, when I turn in this contracted assignment, and we can all move on. So much for thinking I was going to earn a professional rate from them and steady work this year per our early conversations. Live and learn. It’s a shame. There’s a lot I like about it.

Got out the tribute to my former mentor. That felt good. I’ll link to it next week when it goes live.

Signed the contract for the anthology story.  Sent them the requested bio. Once I get the okay, I can share the details. I’ll get the editing notes within a month, turn them around within 7 days, and the anthology will release in late summer. I’m looking forward to it. Depending on when it releases, maybe I can have copies available at the October reading.

Sent an LOI to an international prospect who is actually willing to work with Americans right now. I’ve expected, depending on which party was in office, that things would get hinky at times, but not that the US would align with Russia against the rest of the world. That’s downright embarrassing. Not to mention dangerous. And now we’re selling citizenships. Enough to make one vomit.

Worked on a pitch to a potential new client.

Tired of all the toxic positivity making the rounds. Stop saying we are “out of alignment” when we’re struggling, and accuse us of bringing it on ourselves because we’re worried. We’re under a system actively working to kill us. Landlords and utility companies don’t give a f!ck about “divine timing.” They want their money NOW. We can’t vibe our way out of fascism. Stop blaming people for being rightfully terrified. Stop causing more harm. Do some work to change the system, rather than taking money from people desperate to find help.

Gee, what a surprise, the House Republicans passed a budget gutting Medicaid and SNAP. While there’s plenty that none of us voted for (such as DOGE), every voter who voted R this election KNEW this would happen. R’s have been committed to getting rid of Medicaid since Reagan. So none of this pretended surprise. Everyone who voted for an R candidate KNEW this was on the table. Own it. It’s on you. And for those who sat out the election, especially from performative purity? This is on you, too. There is no “we didn’t know” or “we were lied to.” Nope. The information was out there, and you chose to do this anyway. If you have a cell phone, you had the means to dig deeper than Fox Noise. There is no excuse and nothing to hide behind.

I mean, I have nothing but contempt for people who refuse to vote anyway. There’s a difference between voter suppression and those who refuse to vote or can’t be bothered.

Worked on the next book for review. Worked on the ghostwriting assignment that’s due next week. There’s no joy in the work for me anymore. It’s by the numbers, fully professional, and I will fulfill my end of the contract. That’s the way it goes sometimes. It still makes me sad.

Spent too much time doomscrolling. I need to break that habit. Did the rounds of elected officials. Did some planning for tomorrow night’s workshare. I don’t have to do much for it – pick up more eggs and a couple of incidentals today, make and pack the eggs tomorrow, hump everything down to MASS MoCA, and then be present for the cohort. The absolute least I can do for them is to be present and honor their work.

Awake again at 2:30 worrying. Charlotte did her best to comfort me.

Bea, that little dickens, was playing in my office all night. She really like tarot cards. They were everywhere when I got up this morning. She’s figured out how to unwrap the decks that are wrapped in fabric, and she’s learning how to open boxes.

A cat who can open boxes. We are doomed. 

Seriously, though, you’d think she has thumbs.

Hopefully, the payment from the last ghostwriting assignment will come through today, and it will be what we agreed. I have a review or two to write, grocery shopping to get done, and more work on the ghostwriting assignment. I only got half of what I hoped to get done yesterday, because I lost heart, so I need to make up for that today. I have to promote the screenwriting class to fill those last slots, and I have to get out some more pitches. I have to make some decisions on whether or not I want to go forward with a couple of grant proposals, or if I think the money will be gone by the time I submit, and is that really the best use of my time and energy?

Going to the store gets me out of the house at least. And I’ll probably shovel the rest of the slush away from the car, depending on how hard it’s raining or snowing this afternoon.

New moon tomorrow, lots of astrological chaos in March. I’d rather have a nap.

Have a good one!

Tues. Feb. 25, 2025: Both Physical and Emotional Slush

image courtesy of Jan Mallander via pixabay.com

Tuesday, February 25, 2025

Day Before Dark Moon

Mars DIRECT as of Sunday

Raw and slushy

We have 5 days that are completely retrograde-free before Venus goes retrograde on March 1 until April 12. Use them well, my friends.

The Community Tarot Reading for the Week is up on the Cerridwen’s Cottage site here, using the Cozy Witch Tarot and the Shadows of Light Oracle.

I’m barely on Facebook anymore, certainly not posting. I use it to check birthdays/send greetings, and for the alerts from my city. I’m blocking a lot of trolls on there. I’m also doing a lot more blocking on Instagram, because the trolls and christofascists are out in force. Once my advisor gig is done in autumn, I will probably pull way back and/or delete those accounts, too. Instagram is one of my favorites for fun, but Zuck ruined it like he ruins everything he touches, which is familiar in the company he keeps. I’m slowly pulling back from Threads, too.

Bluesky is a constant right now, and I’m still on Tumblr, which works for promotion, and on Mastodon. I like my new instance more and more on the latter.

Did some solid work on the class prep. Bundled up, loaded 13 books in a waterproof bag into the rolly cart and trekked to the library, walking in the street. Unloaded, picked up the handful of books waiting for me, and returned.

Checked in with the ghostwriting client. Warning bells are going off, especially as far as direction and payment. That’s all I can say right now.

So that was discouraging.

A couple of hours later, I got the good news that a story I submitted to an anthology last June has been accepted. We go to contract this week, and then I will get edits in a few weeks.

This is a different piece and a different anthology than the story I submitted earlier in the week. Same genre, but different stories for different anthologies. I’ve wanted to break in with this publisher for a couple of years, so I’m glad this is the right fit.

I will give full details once the contract is signed.

All of that made Friday a mixed day of emotions and stress.

Saturday was much icier than expected, along with some snow flurries. I ran an errand in the morning. I tried to dig the car out in the afternoon, with help from the neighbors, but it was too frozen down, so we will wait for this week’s thaw and try again. Did some housework. Did some work on books to review.

Tried to download my Kindle books to the external hard drive. My Kindle is so old that all the instructions out there don’t work. Some of them work partially, but I have to move each book separately. I can’t batch. Since I have 995 books, it’s not happening.

I read Elinor Lipman’s MS. DEMEANOR, which was very funny, and very well done. I’ve been a big fan of her work for years. What a delight.

Felt completely drained and stressed. Sunday was stressful because there were more snow flurries, rather than the thaw we were told to expect. And then we did taxes, which is always awful.

I thoroughly resent that I make less than billionaires, but pay more in taxes.

Read SINGULAR SENSATION by Michael Riedel, about Broadway in the 90’s. Since that was when I made the move from off-Broadway to Broadway, it dealt with a lot of shows I either worked on or knew what was going on because friends worked on them. It was also interesting to see what was left out. And who was left out. Lots of name dropping. Ignoring the work of those who actually make shows run on a daily basis that aren’t in front of the public. Not surprising. Riedel was one of my least favorite reviewers during my time working on Broadway. I didn’t understand why he was a reviewer when he hated theatre so much and didn’t appreciate how much went into putting up a show. Yet he started as an intern in producer Elizabeth McCann’s office. Supposedly, he loves theatre. You’d never know it from his reviews.

However, the book is well-written (much as I hate to admit that), and it was interesting to see other viewpoints on situations I knew about during the time I was actively working in the arena.

I have his earlier book, RAZZLE DAZZLE, about Broadway making a comeback in the 70’s and 80’s, that I will read next.

Felt very discouraged all weekend. Elder care was somewhat challenging, too. A couple of weeks ago, we went through a rough patch, then things got better, but this weekend was rough again. That’s just the way of it is, but I’m exhausted. If I didn’t have to worry about losing all our elder services/safety nets, it wouldn’t be as exhausting. But at this point, I have nothing in the tank, and I can’t take time off with work and dealing with things right now.

And if anyone tells me to “take a walk” I will {redacted}. All that does is stress me out more. Taking a walk doesn’t fix fascism. Nor does it relieve any stress or give me any clarity. For me, it does the opposite. Walk around the globe if it helps you, I’m all for it. But it doesn’t work for me. So shut up about walking, please, when I talk about being stressed.

Monday I had trouble getting going. Had some back-and-forth with the ghostwriting client. We’ll see how this goes, and when they pay what they owe. I’m investing less creative emotion in this go-round, although just as much professionalism.

I had to run one small errand in the morning, down to Cumberland. I’d hoped to pick up another dozen eggs while I was there – with the full cohort attending Thursday’s session, I need to make more devilled eggs (which is kind of like supplying caviar in these days, but they are reimbursing me for ingredients, which is very kind and totally unexpected). However, the eggs, which used to be cheaper at Cumberland than at the grocery store, are now up to $10. So I’ll try them from the grocery store and hope I don’t break them humping them home later in the week. Unless they are more than $10, in which case I’ll get them at Cumberland. According to the website, they’re holding steadily at just over $8, so we’ll see what happens when I’m there tomorrow, or if there are any left. Usually when I go to the store, there are only a handful of cartons, most with broken eggs in them. The bulk of the case is empty.

I managed to put together a proposal for a stage play commission call. Not the one I was on the fence about; a different one. I already had all those samples. It was just a case of filling out information and uploading the script samples. I have to see how I feel about what I did on the other one, and if I have the creative energy to continue that sample and get it out by deadline.

My neighbor and I got part of the car shoveled out. We’ll keep working, a little bit at a time.

The library cohort meeting was good. We had some good conversations, I received some good resources, and started on the homework. We’re lucky here; things are way more transparent on the city hall website than in many other places. Our hour together flew past, which was nice.

You’ll notice I haven’t been talking about any coverage work lately. Because there hasn’t been anything. One script briefly showed up over the weekend for 1/3 the normal rate for a rush coverage. Before I could even snort with derision, it was snapped up.

I’m feeling stuck and discouraged on all fronts right now. Most of that is due to the political chaos, which directly affects my day-to-day life. Hopefully, I will be able to do some course correction this week. I don’t feel like I have the energy for it, but I also don’t have the option to take a break.

Read the next book for review last night, which was pretty good.

Woke up at 2:30 worrying. Had trouble getting back to sleep, but did, then overslept, causing kitty chaos. But everyone is fed and settled down now, so off to dig into the day.

We are getting rain/snow today off and on. I may try to dig some more of the car out later in the afternoon, or not. I mean, if it’s snowing, it’s silly. I may wait for the rain to wash things away later in the week, and then shovel the slush.

I’m going to work on the class slides and then get to work on the piece for the ghostwriting client. We’re still working out some contract stuff, and I’m not turning anything in until that’s settled. Maybe I’ll work on the sample for that other script commission (since it has to give them an idea of the piece, and isn’t just a sample from something already written). I may also work on some pitch materials for another company in my field of specialization that supposedly pays better than the problematic client. Since it looks like I’ll be getting zero dollars from that client this pay period, which is a problem. IF the ghostwriting payment comes through this week as it should, and IF there’s no issue with my mom’s Social Security at the top of the month, we are fine. Otherwise, we are not.

Yes, I will be doing my daily rounds of my elected officials. And I’ve been doing my marketing. I’m trying not to flood any single channel constantly, but rotate specific campaigns through them all. The Smashwords promotion happens next week, so let’s hope that has some impact.

Heard from another script submission that it made it past the first round readers and is moving to the next round. So that’s a glimmer of good news in the landscape. I’ll focus on that and the anthology story, rather than the rest of it, and hope it helps open a way forward.

Have a good one!

Intent for the Week — Try to Make Smart Calculations

image courtesy of http://megapixel.click – betexion – photos for free via pixabay.com

Monday, February 24, 2025

Waning Moon

Mars Direct as of yesterday

Cloudy and a little milder

Some things came up over the last few days that mean I have to recalculate a few things that will affect the next few months. Let’s hope I do so intellligently to navigate through.

Mars went direct yesterday, which is good for forward motion. We have until Saturday, when Venus goes retrograde, to get things done.

The Community Tarot reading for the week is up over on the Cerridwen’s Cottage site.

Catch up tomorrow!

Fri. Feb. 21, 2025: There’s That Brick Wall

image coutesy of blizniak via pixabay.com

Friday, February 21, 2025

Waning Moon

Mars Retrograde

Cloudy and cold

Another week gone. It goes so fast. Everything happens so quickly, even when we feel stuck.

I was frustrated with the online meditation group yesterday. The leader encourages acquiescence, when that is what will get us killed.  There’s a difference between taking a break to get grounded and recentered, to restore one’s vitality, and to acquiesce. It kind of undid all the good my morning yoga and meditation practice gave me.

I got out a couple of LOIs. I’m working on a pitch to send to a couple of other companies that have a more complex hiring process, in the same field as the problematic client, but different companies. We will see how that goes. Supposedly, they pay better and have steadier work. I’m not sure how long I want to continue that type of work, but for now, I can’t be fussy, and I know I’m qualified.

I wrote and sent off the book reviews. I received my next assignments.

I had to skate down the street – I WISH I’d had skates on. The sidewalks were impossible to walk on. The street wasn’t much better, so I walked a narrow strip of asphalt in the center. Some of the plowed piles on the side of the street were taller than I am.

I bought two of the last three cartons of eggs at Cumberland Farms at the bottom of the street, and tottered back home. The price went up from last week, but is still cheaper than the grocery store. Plus, the eggs are less likely to get broken travelling a block rather than ¾ of a mile.

Hopped onto #FreelanceChat and it was fun. Did my marketing rounds.

After lunch, I got to work on the slides. I have all the slides done for the first class, a lot of nitpicky stuff. We should get through all the material in two hours and also have time for a short exercise.

I started the slides for the second session, but ran out of steam. It was late afternoon by then. But being immersed in the class prep for hours instead of worrying about how we’re being destroyed was a nice break.

Cooked dinner. Read for pleasure, skimming a couple of mediocre novels, so it wasn’t as much pleasure as I hoped. My right knee, the one that I hurt last autumn, is bothering me again. Lots of pain last night and some swelling this morning. I have no idea why.

Look at the GOP – works through the night to pass a budget that hurts us. And what did the Democrats do every time there was a problem, when they had the majority? Went home early and tried to fundraise. The current situation continues to show how weak the Democrats were, even when they had the majority, because they just weren’t willing to put in the work. Too much of what most of them did was posture, throw up their hands in defeat, and try to fundraise. And Hakeem Jeffries going out on a book tour? NOW?  What a serious disappointment that man is. Having a milquetoast as the new head of the DNC doesn’t help, either. They disgust me. The lack of spine and political will is just enraging.

Slept reasonably well. I will check in with the ghostwriting client and see where we are. I will continue to work on the slides for the class. I have books to read for review. I have a tribute to write, and maybe I can get some time in on VICIOUS CRITIC or ANGEL HUNT.

At some point, I have to bundle up, load up the rolly cart, and do a library run. I’ll walk in the street. The cars can just deal.

I usually don’t do my taxes until after my birthday, but I want to get them done and out of the way, so we will do taxes tomorrow and mail them on Monday. Tomorrow, I have an errand or two in the morning, and then I’m going to an event at FutureLabs in the afternoon. Sunday, I hope will be a quiet day. I’ll do housework on Sunday rather than Saturday, probably, unless my taxes are so frustrating I have to clean in response.

I’m trying not to fall into despair right now, but it’s hard. I need to focus on the daily things I can actually do. I’m tired of so much of my energy wasted in being reactive, because the people paid to be proactive aren’t doing their fucking jobs. I’m sick of hearing, “but they can’t . . .” Yes, they can. There is ALWAYS a way. What the current regime is doing only proves it. It was a CHOICE for nearly a decade to do nothing to stop this, and it could have been stopped. And here we are.

Have a good one.

Thurs. Feb. 20, 2025: Sometimes, You Just Need the Burger

image courtesy of eonardovieira260998 via pixabay.com

Thursday, February 20, 2025

Waning Moon

Mars Retrograde

You can read about the latest on the garden over at Gratitude and Growth here.

Yesterday improved from my initial frustration with it.

I finished the polish on the anthology story and got it out the door. The submission period was mid-January to mid-March, so I am firmly in the middle of it, and the editor thanked me. If it’s not too wacky immediately and suits the rest of the submissions, she’ll give me editing notes at some point in March or April, and then make the decision from there. If it’s what she wants, I’ll be delighted to be part of the anthology.

If not, it will go back out on submission, and I’ll probably do more with these characters at some point in the future.

It felt good to finish something and get it out the door.

I played with some ideas for the piece to honor my mentor. I spent far too much time stressing on social media. I finally got enough other stuff done, such as getting out some LOIs and catching up on email, that it was time to bundle up and head out with the rolly cart.

The sidewalks were impossible, and the street not much better. Some of the plowed snow is taller than I am.

I made it to the store, cold and a bit on the grumpy side. Did my shopping. Guess what? More than I planned. A theme when I grocery shop.

I rolled it home in the street the whole way. There was no way I could make it back on the sidewalk with the cart full. I have to say, all the cars (and the streets were busy) were kind and careful. Much appreciated.

Came home to find the latest gas bill is over $1K. WTF????? Guess I’ll be in touch with the DPU. AGAIN. We’ve kept the thermostat at a steady rate. We’ve closed off rooms. Yes, it’s been cold, but this is excessive. I’m not the only one complaining, either. The DPU has already promised us relief.

Got everything hauled up the stairs and put away. Had a light lunch. It was well past lunchtime by then, because I’d left so late, and maneuvering through the snow and ice took twice as long as usual. I’m at the age where I have to worry about breaking a hip.

My back, however, went back to being seriously unhappy.

A friend was worried about me being out and about and made some suggestions, which made me wonder if the elder services center down the street ever takes seniors to the grocery store in their van. I mean, technically, I’m qualified – I’m in my sixties. I keep forgetting. I will check with them. They are only 2 blocks away, and 2 blocks is easier to maneuver than a mile and a half.

Tried to fix the logic issue in VICIOUS CRITIC. It’s better, but not entirely fixed. It will be.

Tessa commandeered the sofa for the afternoon, which meant Charlotte had to sleep in a chair. The Princess Was Not Amused. Bea, however, thought it was hilarious, safe in her perch up on the condo.

It was sunny out, so even though it was cold, people were in a pretty good mood, and I felt my own mood lift.

Did the rounds of elected officials. I’m getting responses from them regularly, and not just cut and paste standard answers. They are working on specifics, and that makes me feel better.

Finished the next book for review. I will write and send off the reviews this morning and request my next assignment.

We don’t eat much red meat anymore, but we craved a hamburger yesterday. I didn’t want to go the fast food route, so I bought ground beef at the store, and made us burgers, with herbs and spices. They tasted good, but it sat like a lead lump in my stomach most of the rest of the night. My mom was happy, though.

Since we no longer have food safety in this country thanks to the dismantling of the government by a pair of sociopathic narcissists, one of whom has crowned himself king, I figured we should enjoy it before it’s too dangerous.

Slept reasonably well. Did yoga before my morning meditation. Getting back into that habit sets up my day better.

I have online meditation group, then I’ll do the reviews, and hopefully some other writing. Later on, I will go down to the store at the end of the street to get eggs (if they have them). This afternoon, when it warms up all the way into the 20’s, I will try to dig out the car, at least partially. I figure it’ll take me a couple of days.

I’m going to do as much as I can on other projects, hoping the ghostwriting notes come back to me today. I’m getting down to the wire with my own needs here. The class prep is taking more time than I expected, mostly because I keep rearranging stuff. I want to make sure each class has plenty of material, but without overloading the students.

Have a good one!

Wed. Feb. 19, 2025: Frustration

image courtesy of Gerd Altmann via pixabay.com

Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Waning Moon

Mars Retrograde

Sunny and bitterly cold

The cold was just brutal yesterday. I still haven’t shoveled out the car from Sunday/Monday’s storm because of my back and because it’s now frozen down. It’s not like I’m driving anywhere, and tomorrow, we were told another storm is set to come through, although that prediction seems to have shifted.

I sent out a bunch of LOIs and worked on the anthology story. In fact, I finished the draft of the anthology story, with about 40 words for breathing room. I will do a polish on it today and hopefully FINALLY get it out the door this week.

The problematic client paid yesterday afternoon. Even though it’s a pittance, every bit helps. There has been none of the promised work from them for this next pay period. I’m still waiting for the notes for the next step of the ghostwriting project. I was asked to contribute a short piece next week to a really cool project for a former mentor.

I finished reading one book for review and started the next. Did the day’s marketing, per the content calendar.

A customer service rep from Spectrum showed up at the door, unannounced (which is NOT okay), but it gave me a chance to tell an actual person about my dissatisfaction with the lack of customer service from their company, and constantly charging more for less service. We have a written order in now. The router is supposed to be switched out, the person who started an account at this address although he doesn’t live here (and Spectrum can’t be bothered to check) is taken off this address, I’m supposed to get a better rate IN WRITING. And then, you know, it’s supposed to show up at that better rate on my bill.

We’ll see if anything actually happens or if I have to file a complaint with the state. Again.

I doubt anything will actually happen. But at least the information is IN WRITING. She typed it all up as I stood there. It has to be authorized by her supervisor (which won’t happen). But at least she typed it up.

The temperatures in the next few days are going to be brutal. I don’t know how I’ll manage to get to the store and to the library, but it has to be done, so too bad for me. But now, at least, they’re not saying more snow tomorrow.

Hopefully, the ghostwriting notes will come through, and I can dig into that. I will finish the other book for review, and maybe some contest entries. I will give the anthology story a polish and get it out the door. I will work on prep for my class. I hope I can do some work on VICIOUS CRITIC or on ANGEL HUNT. I’m mulling over whether I should pitch to a specific company, or whether it will end up as more of the same that I’m having with my problematic client. We will see how the day shakes out.

I’m feeling huge pressure because of the government chaos around next month’s Social Security check for my mom. It’s making it difficult to focus on anything else, and actually dig down and find enough work to make up for that in the allotted time, in case it all goes horribly wrong. The fact that a random, unelected asshat and his minions can just walk in and do whatever they want and NO ONE, NO ONE, not Congress, not the Judiciary, does a thing to stop them is unacceptable. You can’t tell me there’s not the IT talent in one of our agencies to override and stop them. And Chuck Schumer and Ken Martin (the new milquetoast head of the DNC) just spout word salad and don’t actually DO anything. I’m so tired of mediocre white men destroying everything.

None of that stops me from being in touch with my elected officials every damn day. The Regime might ignore us and try to kill us, but damn it, my elected officials work for ME, and I will remind them of what I need them to do daily.

My back was in really bad shape last night. I used a heating pad on it, and slept reasonably well, although I woke up worrying by 4 AM. Still, my back felt better, and a short yoga session prior to morning meditation helped. I hope it will be enough to see me through the trudge to the store and back, hauling a rolly cart full of groceries. I had a horrible stress headache most of yesterday, but it’s a little better today. Maybe not having another storm coming in helps with that, too.

I’m trying to get into the habit of using Duck Duck Go instead of Chrome. It’ll take a bit to get it all sorted. But it’s a search engine that actually gives results without the tracking and AI crap.

I’m going to try to get some work done, then bundle up and head out to the grocery store in the late morning. Hopefully, the sidewalks won’t be too treacherous.

Have a good one!

Tues. Feb. 18, 2025: Mostly the Good Kind of Busy Weekend

uncredited image from pixabay.com

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Waning Moon

Mars Retrograde

Cloudy and bitterly cold

Good morning! I hope you had a terrific weekend. It’s back down below zero, with even worse wind chill.

The Community Tarot Reading for the Week is up on the Cerridwen’s Cottage site here, using the Cozy Witch Tarot and the Shadows of Light Oracle.

Friday morning, I wrote the three book reviews, sent them off, and invoiced. I received my money, transferred it to my bank, and received the next two assignments. I followed up with promised information to the colleague, and had a good exchange with the mayor’s assistant. I bundled up, loaded the rolly cart with books and humped it across the ice and snow to the library, where I exchanged one big pile of books for another. Got everything home, mostly walking in the street, because the sidewalks were too treacherous. Unloaded everything.

I’m called for Jury Duty again! I thought I’d been called last year, but it was two years ago, so I’m up again. It’s for the day after Memorial Day weekend, so it should be fine, down in Pittsfield. I know the drill now. I have my favorite parking spot, the walk to the courthouse isn’t bad, and if I’m there for a few days, rather than dismissed on Day 1, I can explore downtown Pittsfield a bit on my lunch hours. On Cape, I was only called up once in the decade I lived there. Here, I go into the regular rotation, like I did in NY.

I don’t mind jury duty service. It’s a vital part of citizenship, and I always learn a lot. Plus, great background material for my work. When I served the month on Grand Jury service, way back in NYC days, our group of 22 got very tight and hung out together for over a year after service was done. One definitely learns the flaws of the system, but one also sees the strengths. And something to discuss with my elected officials, as far as the overall experience and balance or lack thereof of flaws and hope.

How that will work in this day and age, who knows? But I guess I’ll find out.

Did some background reading for a project in the afternoon, worked on slides for my screenwriting course, worked on the textile/text design, and had a quiet evening. Bea now shares the couch with me when I read, as long as I don’t make any sudden movements. Progress. And she loves to play with Tessa so much. Tessa now sleeps in the sewing room, on the dinosaur blanket most nights. I suspect Bea curls up with her at some point, after I go to bed.

Up at the regular time. Fed the cats, did morning meditation, and did some planning work on the Nina Bell series. I need to get back into a regular schedule with that. I really let the Mars retrograde “stuck” energy kick my ass this time around. I have to handle it better when the next Mars retrograde comes around, in about 2 years.

Housework, paid bills, wrote some cards. Switched out the door décor from the red heart to the green shamrocks.

Headed down to the post office to mail some birthday cards and some bills. Then headed to the store where I usually get the puzzle books for my mom. They didn’t have the ones she usually likes (Find-A-Word). I picked up a couple of others, but she doesn’t like them. Next time I go to tarot, I will drop them on the community shelf, so someone else can enjoy them. Swung by the liquor store to pick up wine.

The sidewalks were treacherous, and it was not fun coming or going. My lower back hurts a lot.

Home to read the next Elizabeth George book for pleasure, and read an autobiography of Eve Arden as background for a project.

The city declared a snow emergency and asked people to stay off the roads. It started snowing around 4, and boy did it come down. Cooked dinner, read, played with the cats. Looked over the Deviant Moon Tarot, which I’ve had for a few years, but haven’t used to read. Someone gave it to me, because it was too disturbing for them. It’s very stylized. You can read about it here.

Slept well in my cozy bed and did not want to get up on Sunday. But the cats needed to be fed, and the day begun. Good morning meditation.

I did the community tarot reading of the week, which was more complex than last week’s, but also ties in and builds on it. Cards are in conversation with and have context with each other, and readings do, too.

Got the print edition of TAPESTRY finalized and it’s going through the channels. It should be ready in a week or so, and will be added into all the various sites. It means I need to update the ads, which is fine. The print price is $13.99, which is a good bit more than the digital ($4.99), but that’s reality.  I have the print price as low as they’ll let me set it, and still make a small royalty. And I don’t want the digital price to be the same as the print price. I’m sure some of the distributors will give pushback. Got to work on the print proof of MURDER BELLS. Managed to finish it, make the necessary changes, and put that through. I’m putting the cover fix through on everything. And we did another go at the cover for THE VICIOUS CRITIC. I think we’ve got it this time. That cover’s been a magilla.

Set the prices for the Smashwords sale. The first book in each of my series (TAPESTRY, PLAYING THE ANGLES, TRACKING MEDUSA, SAVASANA AT SEA) will be 50% off. The other books in the series and the Topic Workbooks will be 25% off. Let’s see if anything sells. I know a lot of people offer their books for free during Smashwords. I’m hoping a discount will move the needle.

I hope, as I continue to work on the series, that the digital and print editions will release closer together. I need to get into a better rhythm for it, but the print proofs are more complicated. If I’m going to sell any of these at the reading in October, I have to order the print copies in early August. And hope for the best. I might order some print copies earlier, for myself and to use for contest giveaways. We’ll see how things are financially in the next few months, with all the chaos going on.

I’d slacked off on the necessary marketing the previous couple of days, so I caught up with the content calender.

Spending so much Nina time makes me excited to get back to finish VICIOUS CRITIC, though. I did a readthrough/light editing pass on what I have (approximately 2/3 of the manuscript). I have to fix a logic problem, but the rest of it holds up pretty well (needing, edits, obviously, but in better shape than I thought).

As of Monday morning, MURDER BELLS was available to order author copies, but not TAPESTRY. And I’m not sure what that means for distribution, or when copies will be available through Amazon and Ingram. I’m hoping everything will be available through bookshop.org soon.

Slept well and didn’t want to get up on Monday morning. It snowed on and off all day, and got colder and colder.

My day was on hold, since I’d been promised the ghostwriting notes. Mid-day, I was told “a couple of hours.” Later in the day, I was told there was another delay. Which again, puts pressure on me because I HAVE to finish everything in order to get paid, and I HAVE to get paid by the end of the month or I’m going to be in big trouble if there’s an issue with my mom’s Social Security payment thanks to teenage incels who don’t understand accounting illegally interfering with social security.

The library cohort was interesting. Good conversation, and I picked up some good ideas for tools that I can apply to work beyond the cohort. Seriously, though, the homework is like being back in college. I don’t really mind, I’m just surprised.

The problematic client is now 3 days late paying me. So far. Again. Which is one of the reasons I want the ghostwriting to work out, and I’m looking for other clients to replace this one. Not that I’m expecting much money for this client. I had one project in the past two weeks, earning me 1/8th  of what I would normally earn in the pay period. Unsustainable, on so many levels.

I did some work on the next book for review. I spent some time marketing. Supported the “No Kings Day” protests as much as I could. It’s been good to limit my news intake for a few days.

Read THE BLACK CROOK, named as the first musical, back in 1866. Um. . .? Definitely kind of out there, takes place in the Harz of Germany, very over the top. I have a feeling the stories around the show are more interesting than the script itself. The copy I read is part of another book, borrowed from the library. I will have to track down a copy of the script for myself. Because I need it on my shelf, even if I don’t yet know what I’m going to do with it.

My back’s been bothering me for a couple of weeks, and it got really bad on Monday. Between the snow shoveling and hauling stuff in the rolly cart over ice and snow, it’s done a number on my body. Too bad for me, though, right? It has to get done. This week, I’m limiting errands; I think I only have to go to the grocery store tomorrow and the library on Friday. I’d like to push off the grocery store until Friday and go to the library on Saturday, but we’ll see if that’s possible.

I did some restorative yoga, using props, to try to get some relief for my back. It helped, but I’m going to be hurting for a while.

Tried to sort out a logic problem I’m having in VICIOUS CRITIC. I’m reshaping the last third of the book quite a bit from the original outline, so it’s taking more time than I’d like.

Slept reasonably well, although I was up by about 3:30, between worrying and being in pain. It’s bitterly, bitterly cold out, so I don’t plan on going anywhere. I’m going to work on the anthology story and the slides for my class until I get my ghostwriting notes, and then dive into that. And finish the next book for review. And do the rounds of my elected officials. That seems like a reasonable plan for my Tuesday!

Have a good one!

Mon. Feb. 17, 2025: Intent for the Week — Navigate the Stormy Weather

image courtesy of Nataly via pixabay.com

It’s storming here, cycling between snow to sleet to rain and back to snow again, with high winds. The internet keeps dropping in and out. The whole week is going to be a series of storms.

I totally forgot to even try posting this morning. I was caught up in other things.

The Community Tarot Reading for the Week is up on the Cerridwen’s Cottage site, using the Cozy Witch Tarot and the Shadows of Light Oracle deck. It’s quite a complex reading this week.

Off to my library cohort ZOOM meeting!

Fri. Feb. 14, 2025: Hearts & Flowers & Art

image courtesy of Couleur via pixabay.com

Friday, February 14, 2025

Waning Moon

Mars Retrograde

Valentine’s Day

Cloudy and cold

I consider all of you my valentines, and am grateful you are in my life.

I have a post up on the Cerridwen’s Cottage site about Thoughts on the Full Moon, since a lot of the information I’ve seen about full moon workings are very different than the way I was trained/do it. You can read it here.

Online meditation group was good. I paid some bills, got out a couple of play submissions, did the rounds of my elected officials. The snow changed to rain by late morning. If the drains are blocked and the ground is too cold to soak up the moisture, we might face some flooding issues. I sat in on #FreelanceChat over on Bluesky. I need to get back into the habit of doing that on Thursdays at noon. I looked at a bunch of freelance listings that came in, and they made me tired instead of excited to pitch. Which means they are the wrong fit for me. Did a bit of marketing. I’m slowly ramping up the marketing again. I have bills to pay. I’m also trying to make sure I don’t flood any one channel too much. I’m considering participating in the Smashwords sale in the first week of March, and seeing if that gives my work a bit of a boost. Every sale makes a difference.

I did some small fixes on the print version of TAPESTRY. I’m disgustingly far behind on getting the print editions finalized, and I’m behind on both VICIOUS CRITIC and ANGEL HUNT. But at least I made some progress.

I got some work done on the anthology story, but it’s still not finished. Not sure why I’m struggling with it. I know what has to happen; it’s a lot of fun to work on, once I actually sit there and open the file. And I want to get it out the door in the next few days. But every day, I’m having an issue with it.

I did a readthrough of the work I’ve done so far on the play I WILL BE DIFFERENT. I need to get back to it. There’s some good work in there.

I’m the featured workshop in the Pioneer Valley Writers Workshop email blast this week. I hope that helps fill the class! I’d also done a special newsletter blast last week, and to the cohort. I want this to be a good experience for all of us.

I looked at the library meeting agenda and realized that, with the building walkthrough and construction discussions they needed to have about the belvedere on the roof, an extra person not on the board and in the meetings already would be detrimental. So I decided to go to the Public Art Commission meeting instead.

I hiked down to City Hall. It wasn’t that cold, but it was slushy, and the sidewalks are not kept clean the way they’re supposed to be. But I got there. I was the first one there, and got the lights on in the meeting room and the chairs set up. The presenting artist arrived soon after, and the committee, and the town councilor. We did introductions all around. The presentation went well, it was voted on, and now goes to the next steps in the process, and it was good for me to see how things work. I had some good chats with committee members, and they are supportive of me joining, should the mayor appoint me. So now it’s about my next steps with the mayor.

It was flurrying on the way home, but easier to walk, in some ways, because the slush was icing over, and the ice was easier to navigate than the slush. I stopped at the store at the end of the street to pick up bacon and eggs. Eggs were $1.50 less there than at the regular grocery store. Bacon was the same price as in the store. The clerk and I joked about how careful I’d have to be not to slip on the walk home and smash the eggs. But I made it.

Cooked an enchilada casserole for dinner, an experiment that worked.

Got a little bit of reading done before bedtime. Got my sales report for January for my books (the ones that pay out monthly, not the small press contracts that pay out twice a year). It’s not going to cover rent (by a long shot), but it’s decent and will pay a bill or two. Steady marketing converts into sales, and I just have to keep doing what I do and not stress. I don’t think removing myself from Facebook made a difference, although I won’t really know until I see the February figures. And it gives me a good impetus to work on the class handbooks I created over the years, converting them into Topic Workbooks. They are evergreen, and if I keep marketing them and adding to the series, they keep selling. I’m still not up to the conversion rates of Twitter in its heyday, but I see a positive difference, and a good deal of that is due to spending a few hours a week marketing.

Today, I have to take the rolly cart up to the library with a big stack of books to trade for a big stack of books that came in. I also have to confirm that I’m in for the Boiler House Residency this October, and send off some promised information to one of the people I met at the Committee meeting last night. I have the book reviews to get out the door, and the invoice, then request my next assignment.

I’m going to try and stay away from the news all weekend. I’m getting overly stressed and burned out. It’s time for me to take a step back for a few days and restore. I’ve got plenty of writing, editing, and contest entries to work on over the weekend. Plus, we’re getting more snow tomorrow night into Sunday. I’ve heard conflicting reports – one that it’s 1-3 inches; another that it’s 4-8. I have one errand to run tomorrow morning before it starts, and then I’m tucked in until Tuesday. I have a very bad pre-storm headache this morning, so there’s definitely something coming in.

I also want to do some more sketches on my textile/text project this weekend, until I get where I need to be on it. Then I can start sourcing fabric, embellishments, etc., and get down to work. While I’m simplifying it somewhat from the original concept, it will be time intensive to actually put together. I don’t want to scramble in the summer and do a crap job.

I usually make a chocolate cake for Valentine’s Day in my heart-shaped pan, but I didn’t have my act together enough to do so. However, we do have chocolate, and that’s important!

Have a good one!

Thurs. Feb. 13, 2025: When the Reading is the Work

image courtesy of Bianca Van Dijk via pixabay.com

Thursday, February 13, 2025

Last Day of Full Moon

Mars Retrograde

Snowing and cold

There’s a new post over on Gratitude and Growth. Not much to say on there yet, but at least I’m consistent with posting!

Yesterday morning, I bundled up and took the rolly cart to the grocery store. I bought more than I planned (gee, what a surprise), but I could still get it home. It wasn’t too bad, but I was tired.

The renewal notification for my driver’s license arrived. I doubt I can do it online, but we’ll see. If not, the RMV is only four blocks away and they’re really nice. This last one was already Real ID (which is required by this May). I don’t know if I need to bring in paperwork on that again. I’ll look online in early March. Some other bills came in (of course they did), along with a cookbook for review that’s really wonderful. Got an adequate email from my credit union about the ongoing chaos and the steps my credit union is taking to protect us. It’s a good first step.

Hauled everything up the stairs, put it away, and did a bunch of admin work. The ghostwriting editors are now telling me I’ll have my notes Monday or Tuesday. That’s puts a lot of pressure on me to get the 20K done and through another round of revisions by the end of the month so I can get paid. If they keep me on after this, we need to talk more transparent and realistic timelines. Couldn’t get the anthology story finished. Did a follow up with an editor for an anthology story I’d gotten in on deadline about three years ago, where I still haven’t heard anything. If it’s not being used or the anthology isn’t going forward (it’s a shared world anthology), I want to know so I can revise it and submit it elsewhere. It’s one of my favorite pieces. I’m proud of the way it turned out. I’m frustrated by the lack of communication.

Yup, feeling that stuck Mars retrograde energy big time!

Read the second book for review, and read part of the cookbook. I will do more work on the cookbook (and maybe try a couple of things), so I can write the reviews and invoice tomorrow. Did my homework for the library cohort. Pitched for a couple of freelance jobs. Did the rounds of my elected officials. Did some other work.

Bea and I shared the sofa, which is progress.

Cooked dinner, finished reading the third book in David B. Coe’s trilogy. Honored the full moon.

Had weird dreams. Woke up around 3:30, worrying, and managed to doze off until the coffee started. Had a decent meditation session.

Online meditation group starts in a few minutes. Most of today will be writing up reviews, trying to get this draft of the story finished, and getting out LOIs. I have to leave in the late afternoon to get to the library board meeting before the library closes, which means arriving 45 minutes before the meeting.

I have to go back to the library tomorrow with the rolly cart to do a big drop off/pick up of books. I considered going Saturday, but guess what? More snow predicted.

Winter in the Berkshires.

If I wasn’t so worried about all the political chaos, it would be great writing time. Because yes, it DOES affect my daily life. I am not rich enough nor privileged enough for it not to affect me.

Have a good one.