Devon Ellington's Blog, page 23

Tues. Dec. 3, 2024: Time to Concentrate

image courtesy of congerdesign via pixabay.com

Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Waxing Moon

Neptune, Chiron, Uranus, Jupiter, Mercury Retrograde

Cloudy and cold

How was your weekend?

If you didn’t get a chance to look at it, the Community Tarot Reading for the week is up here. We’re using the Yuletide Tarot for December.

Friday was bright and sunny for the first half of the day, and we probably should have tracked down to Cheshire to get our wreath. But we did not.

We did, however, pull boxes out of the closet in Tessa’s room, boxes out from under the guest beds, and start the decorating. The fabric is all switched out in the living room, and the start of the Advent table went up. The small tree is out on the porch, with lights, but no ornaments yet. We moved the plants from the east window, and set up another small table to do a multi-tiered holiday village. I scrubbed the mantel, put up gold netting so no ornaments could fall through the false front, and put up the dark red runner to prepare for the Santas. We rearranged furniture, and have some more to rearrange, so that we can position the tree in front of the mock mantel.

Moving stuff around, I found a stack of library discards of Phyllis Whitney and Mary Stewart books that will be perfect for cold winter nights. Phyllis Whitney and Mary Stewart were part of what made me want to write mysteries, back in the day, along with Nancy Drew, Vicki Barr, Sue Barton, Judy Bolton, Beverly Gray, and the like.

Charlotte supervised from the coffee table. Bea watched from a safe distance, but as soon as there was a pause, came out to see what was going on. She was curious, but gentle. She handled it really well. Tessa came storming in around noon, stating she had Not Been Consulted, and how dare we move things without her! But she gave her approval, finally. Willa skipped the whole process.

I had just a few tiny coverages to turn around in the afternoon. Did a big push on social media for TAPESTRY, “Strangers in the Snow” and all three holiday shorts.

In the evening, I had candlelight yoga. It was snowing on the drive over and the drive back, making it even more beautiful.

Came home and made a turkey stroganoff. I adjusted the recipe I usually follow, adding much more smoked paprika and mustard to the sour cream, and it finally tasted the way I hoped.

Quiet evening reading.

Slept well. New moon on Saturday. I adjusted the morning routine to add in the daily morning yoga practice right after I fed the cats, then did my morning meditation, then did my journal writing/writing whatever I want in longhand. I will try this sequence for the month; I have a sense I will prefer it.

We were out the door early to Cheshire, after brushing off the car. Driving to Cheshire was like driving through a postcard scene. It was beautiful. Bought a lovely live wreath. Had to stop on the way home to pick up things like eggs, butter, bread, and cat litter. It was too early to make the couple of other stops I wanted to make, so they are pushed off until this week.

Decorated the wreath and put it on the door. Had a mug of cocoa and just hung out. There were plenty of things I “should” have been doing, and didn’t want to do any of them. I did, however, do my social media marketing, per the content calendar.

Turned around some miniscule coverages for miniscule amounts of money, but I wasn’t in any position to turn it down, with Saturday being the close of the pay period. A medium sized coverage came in, of course, in the evening, and I had to do it. I’m very frustrated. I’ve made, again, 1/7th of what I should have made in a pay period from this client. So I’m looking to replace the client.

Wrote and turned in a book review. Answered the latest survey in the COVID long-term study of which I am part via Johns Hopkins University.

Woke up around 3:45 after weird dreams, taking place in a house I’ve often visited before in dreams. Grabbed two medium-sized coverages, then fretted until about mid-morning because so little came in. I shouldn’t have to sit up in the middle of the night so I can get the work.

Dozed off and got up around the normal time. Did a longer Sunday morning yoga sequence, then sat in meditation, which was good, and got me a bit settled, after the chaos.

After breakfast, I went into the sewing room, and started getting things out of the closet there. Bea watched from a safe distance. We decided to put most of the Santas on the mock mantel, and they look good there. We put the deer on one side of the stairs, and the large nutcrackers on the other. We have wide, shallow steps, so we can do that without interfering with going up and down the stairs. We started to set up the holiday village.

I took a break around noon to go down to Bear & Bee Bookshop. They were having a weekend sale. I got the rest of the books I’d hoped to find for gifts. I hadn’t gone in looking for specific titles, but ideas on the kind of books I wanted for each person, and I found them. AND it was all within the budget I set. The positive aspect of Mercury retrograde!

Came home feeling more optimistic. We put the tree in the stand and jiggied it around until we found the best spot for it. It’s not centered in front of the mock fireplace; it’s off to the side, where it looks better. AND I could tie it to the fireplace support post. We put the lights on, but didn’t want to start decorating until we knew how Bea would react.

Charlotte slept through the whole thing. Willa didn’t come in until later. Tessa came in once everything was set, and was very excited. She loves the tree, and sitting under the tree, and walking around the tree. She’s not happy with the lights and rearranged them a bit. She’s right, but running the lights to the socket and looping them properly with the tree where it is this year was a challenge. It is far from perfect, and does not meet the Queen’s standards.

Bea was really good about the tree. She gave it a sniff, knew it wasn’t real, and other than sitting near it, ignores it. She was much more interested in the live wreath we had the day before.

Finished reading the next book for review, and started the next one. I couldn’t finish both by the end of Sunday; I worked on the next one yesterday, so that I can get the reviews in today, and get my next assignment.

Worked on the gifts for tarot group. Enjoyed the First of Advent candle, and having the tree lit, even without decorations. Tessa was thrilled to sit under the lit tree.

Slept reasonably well. Up at the normal time, fed the cats, yoga, meditation, morning writing. Started the ancestor work for December. I feel as though I’ve only scratched the surface. I want to work with this same set of ancestors next year, and dig deeper. It’s an interesting exercise in pattern recognition, as well as deepening the research into family history. While I’m grateful for the foundation that Nancy Hendrickson’s material set, I find my own practice is evolving differently.

One of my favorite authors, Sarah Addison Allen, is doing her 100-word Advent calendar stories again. I know she’s doing them on Instagram; I think maybe Facebook, too? They’re a delight! If you’ve never experienced her stories, you’re in for a treat.

I did a lot of promotion (Cyber Monday) across all the channels. I did a lot of admin work and puttering. Late morning, I walked down to the post office to mail the rent. Stopped at the bank on the way back to get some dollar coins. Did some work on the Solstice gifts for tarot circle. Heard from Scholastic. There’s a training session I should attend virtually on Thursday. We start judging next week. Thursday night, I also have a library protection/activism training session, but I’m not sure where the ZOOM link is. I have a few days to dig it up.

Turned around three miniscule coverages, and started on a bigger one. But the bulk of the day was spent back and forth in conversation with a potential new client. I’d sent an LOI, heard back right before the holiday, wondered if I should move forward, decided to, and we’re having a good conversation. They still might not hire me, but the process is fun. If they do, I’ll be under NDA, but writing stuff that would be fun to work on.

But yesterday definitely was not the productive day for which I hoped. I keep thinking of the tarot reading for the week – 8 of Gifts and Page of Canes – do the work and keep an eye on the details. Don’t get distracted.

I woke up a couple of times overnight. But when I was asleep, I slept pretty well. Charlotte was curled up in the small of my back for most of the night.

Up early to get to the laundromat. I chased Charlotte out of Bea’s room because Charlotte was eating Bea’s food (she only eats wet food if she can steal Bea’s). Closed Bea in her room while I was out, and she wasn’t happy. Another regular and I were at the laundromat at the same time, both with books. We discussed our reading; he used to be a teacher.

Was home a little after 7. I didn’t have a chance to do my morning yoga and meditation, although I did some writing in longhand when I came home. And let Bea out, so she could dance around the tree.

Let’s take a look at the numbers of November, shall we?

New Material:                         37,281

Edits/Revisions:                        2,610 – this is not correct                

Proofreading:                         13,000

Client work:                               6,513

Marketing:                              24 hours

Client meetings, interviews, rehearsals, admin, Computer backup, etc.: 14hours

So what does that mean?

November was a slow month. The new material is okay, but not great. Minimum, I need to be generating 50-60K of new material a month. The edit number is wrong; I know I edited more than this, and just didn’t put it down. The proofreading is about right, and makes sense.

The client work is very low and not sustainable. I still should have earned more in ratio to what I wrote, though. This solidifies the need to replace one client in particular, who doesn’t come through on promised work, which I hope to do by February. But it means from now to February could be lean, and I wish December wasn’t lean.

Marketing – 24 hours. This is higher than usual, but something that is necessary. It should be around the 20 hour/month mark at minimum.

Meetings, rehearsals, admin, and all the rest – 14 hours makes sense, might be a little on the low side.

Ouch. Just ouch. But important to see. I was also down for the count for 4 days after the vaccine, which slowed things down a good deal. But that was necessary.

Let’s hope December is a more fruitful month on all levels!

I already have enough in my queue this week to surpass what I earned in the last pay period. Let’s hope that continues.

On today’s agenda: some writing, more back-and-forth with the potential client, write and submit two reviews and hope for another assignment; coverage work, and gentle yoga tonight. I’d like to get some more decorating done, and I have to sit down and get the cards started. I considered breaking it down and writing 5 cards per night, but I know me, and it works better to block off some time, spread it all out on the table, and do them all at once.

Have a good one!

Mon. Dec. 2, 2024: Intent for the Week — Careful With the Details

image courtesy of Petra via pixabay.com

Monday, December 2, 2024

Waxing Moon

Neptune, Chiron, Urnaus, Jupiter, Mercury Retrograde

Cloudy and cold

This week is a lot about paying attention to details, and being careful. Plus, you know, promoting my books a lot! And preparing for next week’s release of MURDER BELLS.

The community tarot reading for the week is up over on the Cerridwen’s Cottage site here. We’re using the Yuletide Tarot this month, which is quite lovely.

I better get moving, although I’d much rather just go back to bed! Have a good one, and we’ll catch up tomorrow.

Fri. Nov. 29, 2024: Let the Decorating Commence!

image courtesy of  Jill Wellington via pixabay.com

Friday, November 29, 2024

Dark Moon

Neptune, Chiron, Uranus, Jupiter, Mercury Retrograde

Sunny and cold

We were supposed to have six inches of snow overnight. Instead, it rained and washed away the snow that fell on Thursday and now it’s lovely and sunny. Might turn later, but we’ll take it while it’s here!

Hello! I hope you had a lovely Thursday, holiday or not.

I got some exciting news on Wednesday morning. My play about Kate Warne, where she and her team go undercover as psychics to thwart an adulterous poisoning couple, “A Rare Medium”, will be part of a reading series in Ohio, in May 2025. It will be on ZOOM, which means people from all over the place can watch.

Don’t worry – I’ll remind you closer to the date!

I received a follow-up to a pitch I sent, but it was in the afternoon, and I wasn’t about to respond over a holiday weekend. I’ll respond on Monday – and I might withdraw from consideration. I’m getting warning bells going off in my head, and I should heed those.

Wednesday, I picked up the dessert, did a library run, and swung by the post office. I just gave up trying to get anything else done. I read the next book for review (I’ll send the review off today, since it’s due tomorrow). I dropped the marketing ball on Wednesday, and Thursday I decided not to market at all; give everyone a break.

I started reading THE MAGIC ALL AROUND by Jennifer Moorman, once I’d finished the book for review, and that was lovely.

Up early on Thursday, good morning meditation on my own (no meditation group, for obvious reasons). We woke up to snow! Just a smattering, enough to make everything look pretty. Got the turkey in the oven by 9:30, and just read all morning, and played with the cats. Even though Bea is still wary of being handled, she loves to hang out and be close to us. She interacts with us; I even stroke her back sometimes.  We are getting there. She and Tessa were off doing things on Thursday.

The neighbors in the house next store have a kitchen window that faces my office window. They were up cooking all night (still at it at 3 AM when I briefly woke up). Tessa sat in my desk chair most of the night and watched them, fascinated.

I made the mashed potatoes, steamed some peas, got the cranberry sauce out. We used the good china (which I like to use often anyway), but used the serving dishes, too. I used store-bought stuffing this year, instead of making my own. I make a very good stuffing, but it takes a little over an hour of prep time, and I just didn’t have it in me this year. The store-bought wasn’t as good as mine, but it was still tasty, and much less work. We lit the candles and just enjoyed the meal.

We like to eat our big holiday meals at mid-day, so that we can clean up and have an easy time of it for the rest of the day.

My mom handled getting the meat off the carcass, while I did all the dishes. When she was done with the carcass, I made stock out of it. I had used the last of our chicken stock in the roasting pan (I put 5 cups of liquid under the bird, and it poaches more than it roasts, making the meat very tender). This time, two of those cups were of chicken stock. It also made a richer base for the gravy, along with the giblets. The giblets were then transferred to the stock pot along with the bones to make stock.

Made the stock, let it cool, washed those pots and colanders, put everything away. Everything is labelled and stored where it should be.

I have to sit down in the next few days and make my baking lists – both ingredient and cookie platter recipients. I have to do the baking at the end of this week into next weekend and start getting those out the door, along with the cards.

It was late afternoon by the time everything was done and put away, and I just rested, read, and played with cats. It alternated raining and snowing all day. I wondered if I should go and brush off the car, but didn’t feel like it.

Went to bed early and slept for 11 hours. I was tired! I’m definitely taking advantage of this cycle’s Mercury Retrograde message of rest!

We were supposed to have 6 inches of snow overnight and awful weather all weekend. I woke up to all the snow washed away and bright, sunny skies.

I’m debating whether or not to go to Whitney’s today and get the door wreath, but I really hate to be out on the road on Black Friday. I haven’t actually shopped Black Friday since at least Bush I and probably before. I’m getting a little tired of all the “shop small” screeching. I’ve been doing so for nearly 30 years.

On today’s agenda: start the decorating. We won’t be finished by the end of the weekend, but Sunday is the First of Advent, so getting up the advent table is a priority. We have to do everything in a different order than usual, because we’re putting things in different places this year. Since we have to be able to close the sewing room doors, we are putting the tree in front of the mock fireplace, so we can tie off on the supports. But that means decorating the mantel behind it first, and rearranging a bunch of furniture. We’re moving the plants out from the east window, and using the top of the Pump Room Drinks Trolley cart (from Chicago’s pump room in the 1920’s) that usually holds plants as part of the holiday village setup. The Advent table, which is usually in front of the mock fireplace, will be on the other side of the room, in front of the village and TV bureau. I also have to get everything out of the closet in Tessa’s room and from under the guest beds before we put up the tree and empty the Christmas closet in the sewing room, because when we rearrange the furniture, we won’t have access to those places.

In other words, it’s “we have to decorate by what’s stored where” rather than a smooth, logical room-by-room setup. Which means it will take longer, and some portion of the apartment will be half done for a few days. But it will be festive once it’s done! And different – it’s nice not to get stuck in doing the same things every year, even though there’s comfort in tradition.

But the first thing that has to happen is to swap the harvest fabrics on everything for winter holiday fabrics. Which means I will probably have to iron. Current Me is annoyed at Past Me for not ironing everything before I put it away.

Weather permitting, we will go and pick up the wreath for the front door this weekend (or Monday, if the weather is hateful all weekend) and get that up. Last year’s wreath stayed green until June of this year. We strip it to just the greens and hang it on the living room door after Jan. 6, when we take down the decorations. When it starts to fade, I cut off a bunch of the greens to burn in the cauldron at Yule and recycle the rest. Every wreath we’ve bought from Whitney’s since we moved here has lasted at least 6 months, scenting the place beautifully.

I better get moving, hadn’t I? Decorating is a lot of work, but it’s worth it once it’s done. And since we keep them up until the Epiphany (although we’ll probably take things down on the 5th, the Sunday this year), we have a good six weeks or so of enjoyment.

Have a lovely weekend!

Gentle Thanksgiving

image courtesy of  Jill Wellington via pixabay.com

I wish you a gentle and loving Thanksgiving.

Wed. Nov. 27, 2024: Clear Night Sky

image courtesy of Pexels via pixabay.com

Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Waning Moon

Neptune, Chiron, Uranus, Jupiter, Mercury Retrograde

Cloudy and cold

It started raining early yesterday morning, and the weather is supposed to be nasty all weekend. I wish those traveling safe travels. Mercury is retrograde, so there will be delays.

I did a bunch of promotion for STRANGERS IN THE SNOW. I worked on the content calendar for January. I worked on December’s newsletter. I pitched for a couple of freelance jobs. I caught up on some email.

I played a little with a new story that’s been rolling around my head for a bit. Wrote a couple of pages.

Did the two small coverages. A third came through, so I turned that around. Still waaaaaay under where I should be. Fingers crossed some more come in before the pay period closes on Saturday. And that a LOT comes in the first couple of weeks of December.

Started reading the next book for review.

Got my act together and went to yoga. It was lovely.

When I came out of yoga, the sky had cleared up and it was just gorgeous. I took a few minutes to savor it. The sky was a lovely purple-blue and the stars were bright and clear. It always amazes me that I live in a small city that has less light pollution than when I lived on Cape Cod.

Heated up some leftovers, read the book for review. Had a nice, quiet evening. I’m really craving quiet right now. I know that’s counter-intuitive with the holidays, but quiet calls.

Slept well, which is a nice change of pace.

Up early this morning. Had a good meditation session. Actually stayed in meditation beyond the ending bells because Charlotte was curled up next to me, and Bea curled up nearby, and I didn’t want to disturb anyone. So we just sat quietly for an extra twenty minutes, which was lovely.

On today’s agenda: writing; errands including picking up tomorrow’s dessert, library, post office; marketing; hopefully some client work.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. It will be all about the food, reading, and hopefully getting the overseas holiday cards written. I’d like to get them out the door either Friday or Monday.

I don’t shop on Black Friday. If I can, I may do some Small Business Saturday shopping, and I do want to get the wreath for the front door this weekend from Whitney’s. But we’ll see how the weather shakes out. It’s supposed to start snowing later today. Reports are conflicting – anything from a dusting to 4 inches. We’ll see.

If I don’t shop Small Business Saturday, I will shop small businesses up until the holiday, piecemeal, as payments come in from work. And most of the weekend will be about starting the holiday decorating, and getting Bea used to an indoor tree.

I will probably post on Friday. I wish you a lovely Thursday, whether you celebrate it as a holiday or not.

Tues. Nov. 26, 2024: Getting Things Done, But Slowly

Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Waning Moon

Neptune, Chiron, Uranus, Jupiter, Mercury Retrograde

Rainy and cold

Today is release day for the novelette STRANGERS IN THE SNOW. Trapped in a diner off the interstate by a snowstorm, an eclectic group of diner patrons determines to create a found family holiday, with a soundtrack by a local radio host. You can watch a video, read more about it, and find the buy links on the Delectable Digital Delights page.

Buckle up, my friends, Mercury went retrograde yesterday and will be in that state until December 15. Deep breaths, make sure your tech is backed up, everything will take more time, listen during the holidays or there will be issues, and don’t be surprised if there are travel glitches.

GREAT time to go thrift shopping, though. But don’t buy big ticket or electronic items, or something like a house. Keep it small and simple.

The biggest message for this particular retrograde is “slow down.” That’s counter to the way we are expected to approach the holiday season, piling more and more and more on. But listen to the message to not just slow down, but to savor everything about the holiday season.

Friday was about cleaning, library run, picking up some flowers to put in my friend’s room and the living room. I had a ZOOM interview with a writers’ organization for whom I will probably teach early next year. It sounds like we’re all in synch, but until contracts are signed and dates finalized, you never know. And, yes, I have to do all this paperwork during Mercury retrograde, so I will be reading the fine print. It can’t wait until mid- December.

Settled in. My friend was delayed, so I hung out with the cats reading until she arrived. The weather was, unfortunately, nasty. But that’s why I like to do something crockpot when people are traveling. No one has to stress, because it’s waiting whenever we want it, and giving the house a wonderful scent.

Got my friend unloaded, took her car to the overnight lot, got back home.  Ate dinner, drank local beer, had a good catch-up chat. Willa was very friendly. Charlotte was a diva princess. Tessa wanted nothing to do with anybody. Bea was curious but shy. My friend and I picked up our friendship right where we left off, even though it was so many years ago.

Slept well, up early, let my friend sleep in a bit. We had a nice, leisurely breakfast and headed out. We stopped at the library, so I could show it off. Then we headed to the holiday market at Greylock Works.

It was packed! The parking lot was full, the ballpark’s lot was full, so I had to park beyond (and probably illegally). The market itself was pretty overwhelming. The space was set up nicely, but too many people for me to feel comfortable (even pre-pandemic, it would have been too much). Yes, I masked. Ran into a bunch of people I knew, moseyed around the vendors. I took a card from a woman who uses natural dyes for her silk and cotton pieces. I loved them, but right now, they are out of my budget. I will buy something from her site as soon as I can afford it – probably in spring.

Once we had enough of the market, we headed to the Clark. Again, it was packed, and we ended up parking up at the Lunder Center at the top of the hill and walking down. We meandered through the museum, starting with decorative arts and visiting the Renoirs and Sergeants that I always visit. And, of course, the piano that used to be part of the Broadway Hall of Fame at the Gershwin Theatre.

When we had enough of that, we headed to Wild Soul River for the workshop. We were early, so we could browse and have some hot tea and chat with Shea while they set up. It was a lovely workshop, almost all familiar faces, and they welcomed my friend with open arms. Shea did a lovely presentation, and we got to play with art, which was fun.

After it was over, we headed back, cooked dinner, and talked until we nearly fell asleep in our respective chairs.

Sunday morning was Eggs Benedict and prosecco with Guava (called a “plumeria”) for brunch. My friend headed back to the Eastern part of the state. I picked up the turkey for Thanksgiving, and a few bits and bobs we needed for the meal.

Did some practical things, and then just crashed. Fell asleep for about 90 minutes in the afternoon. We had a great time, and my friend was able to not be a caretaker for a few days, and let herself be cared for; I’m glad I could provide her a fun break. I’m feeling the aftereffects of my show, the A4A decisions, prepping for workshop proposals, some lingering effects from the vaccine, and having company.

This Mercury retrograde is supposed to be about rest and big picture stuff. There’s part of me that’s trying not to panic about the lack of work (which means lack of income) these past few weeks. But I’m also putting some things into play for the longer term.

I did the Community Tarot Reading for the week and got that scheduled to post. Heated up leftovers for dinner. Started reading Eric Idle’s SPAMALOT DIARIES about the process of putting the show up on Broadway, which is interesting.

Slept in on Monday. The cats were fed by the time I finally got up. I had to do a bunch of administrative work. I had to sign a contract for the teaching gig (couldn’t put it off until Mercury goes direct), but I took my time with it, and it’s what we discussed on Friday, so all good. I did all that paperwork and got it sent off. I put in the order for the print proofs of the first two Nina Bell books. I should have them in a couple of weeks, then I can go through them and see if I have to make any changes to the print file, or we’re good to go. Used a gift card I received as a thank you from a client for things that will go into gift packages for some friends. Followed up on a bunch of emails. Submitted two plays to submission calls. Did about two hours’ worth of admin work, and an hour’s worth of marketing.

Honestly, it was hard to stay awake, even though it was sunny. I just wanted to rest.

Tried not to panic at the lack of script coverages coming in. I got a couple of small ones, which I will turn around today.

Got my dates set for the teaching contract. I will teach a workshop on screenwriting tools during the month of March, on Wednesday nights from 6-8 PM. It’s via ZOOM, so people can attend from anywhere. I will put more information into the newsletter, and, closer to the date, add in more information and links to promote it.

Had a ZOOM catchup with a friend from my Nightwood cohort, which was fun.

Started feeling more rested in the evening, although I gave myself the evening off to read for pleasure. Reading a mystery which does well on the character level, but the plotting on the mystery side of it leaves something to be desired.

On today’s agenda: promotion for STRANGERS IN THE SNOW. Work on VICIOUS CRITIC, and possibly another story that’s been rolling around my brain for a bit, and now wants to come out. Jaunt to the post office to mail a few things. Turn around the two small coverages and hope for more. Start the next book for review. Yoga.

I realized that Thanksgiving itself is the day before the dark moon, which is my lowest energy day of the year. Good we’re planning a quiet day built around the meal, and a lot of rest.

Have a good one!

Mon. Nov. 25, 2024: Easing into Mercury Retrograde

image courtesy of Indhira Adhista via pixabay.com

Monday, November 25, 2024

Waning Moon

Neptune, Chiron, Uranus, Jupiter, Mercury Retrograde

Sunny and cool

Today, Mercury goes retrograde. I’m trying to approach it gently, rather than being frightened. I actually have to sign a contract today, so I will read it carefully and hope I don’t miss anything in the fine print. I have a bunch of practical stuff to do today, and fingers crossed some work comes in.

The Community Tarot Reading for the week is up on the Cerridwen’s Cottage site here.

I have a lot of administrative and detail work to attend to today. The plan is to do so slowly and carefully. What gets done today, gets done, and I won’t stress about what didn’t.

I have a holiday novelette releasing tomorrow, so be prepared for a lot of promotion for that, and continuing promotions for TAPESTRY.

Have a good one, and we’ll catch up tomorrow.

Fri. Nov. 22, 2024: Preparing for Company

image courtesy of  Abdulmajeed Hassan via pixabay.com

Friday, November 22, 2024

Waning Moon

Neptune, Chiron, Uranus, Jupiter Retrograde

Rainy and raw

I enjoyed listening to the rain yesterday morning, and hearing the birds. They were quite happy about it, too!

Managed 816 words on VICIOUS CRITIC’s next chapter before meditation. A guest meditator led the group. There were a lot of good aspects, and some not-so-great. She’s one of the ones who tries to get people to relate by using computer terminology and that irks me. I am a human being, not a computer, and I do not want to be diminished in that way.

Got out the door at up to the hospital for the navigator appointment. We were in and out in under a half hour, with both our insurances sorted for next year. Our navigator was a lovely woman I’d met through Assets4Artists – and she knew the guy who’d put my mom on her current plan. They’re good friends. She tweaked it a little, so the monthly fees won’t be so bad.

Swung by the grocery store to get everything I needed for the weekend – within my budget, even—and to the liquor store to pick up a few things.

It was raining the entire time, but we’re grateful for it, after all this dry weather.

Home, unpacked everything, did some cleaning. Got the guest bed made up in Tessa’s room, and made the room as cute and cozy as possible. It is a perfectly lovely room; it just doesn’t have the natural light that the sewing room does, but Bea still claims that room.

Scrubbed down the bathroom, mopped the kitchen and bathroom floors. Rearranged some things. The house does not look as put together and polished as I would like, but it’s the best I can do right now. I need to get out of this 1950’s housewife mentality when it comes to housework.

One of the losing battles I’m fighting is with the ash residue from the wildfires that creeps in and coats everything. I keep cleaning it up, and a few hours, there’s a fresh layer.

Baked a Swedish visiting cake, and tried a new-to-me recipe for chocolate glaze over it, with which I was less than impressed.

Working on the holiday short piece for this year’s newsletter in my head. I have the basic shape of it, and the characters are starting to come clear. I hope to draft it early next week, let it sit for a bit, and then polish it and pop it into the newsletter – which is going out in a few weeks. I’m hoping it will be around 500 words; don’t want it to be over 1K.

Re-reading Barbara Ardinger always gets me thinking in new and interesting ways.

On today’s agenda: more housework, getting the chili started in the crockpot, library run, a meeting on a possible teaching gig, and then my friend arrives! We will have a good natter tonight, catching up on the last twenty years. Tomorrow, we’re off to the Clark and to my friend’s workshop, and then home for a nice dinner. Sunday, we’ll have a leisurely morning, and I’ll make Eggs Benedict for brunch before my friend heads back out.

Have a good weekend, and I’ll catch you on the other side.

Thurs. Nov. 21, 2024: Trying to Get Back on the Creative Bicycle

image courtesy of Pexels via Pixabay.com

Thursday, November 21, 2024

Waning Moon

Neptune, Chiron, Uranus, Jupiter Retrograde

Rainy and cool

It’s Thursday, which means you can read the latest on the garden over on Gratitude and Growth.

Yesterday feels like a long time ago, somehow. Most of the morning was spent writing the next chapter of VICIOUS CRITIC. Got the whole chapter done, a little over 2700 words, including some breaks to research details. Place holders rarely work for me. The details inform the scene and affect upcoming scenes, so I need to get them correct as I write. And then, if necessary, I do another round of fact checking during rewrites.

Finished the next book for review, wrote the review, submitted it, got my next three book review assignments. No script coverages came in. Put together my paperwork for this morning’s health care navigation meeting. Did some promotion for TAPESTRY.

I did some housecleaning in the afternoon, then headed out to tarot, with a quick stop at Wild Oats. I hadn’t been there for a while, but we were all glad to see each other. Tarot was great, as always. One of our members was off celebrating a birthday, so we all got together to make a video singing “Happy Birthday” to send to her. We had a good, deep, warm discussion, as we so often do.

Heated up some leftovers from dinner, and then relaxed, re-reading one of Barbara Ardinger’s books. I always learn something new when I re-read her work.

It started raining overnight. Hopefully, it will mitigate some of the state’s wildfires. We’re supposed to have a mix of rain and snow all weekend. I hope that doesn’t make my friend’s drive out too awful.

Woke up around 4:30, which seems to be my wakeup time, but I’d slept well, which helped. Had a good morning meditation on my own, and then I will have the sometimes-weekly meditation via ZOOM with the Concord Free Public Library, which will make Charlotte happy.

On today’s agenda: meeting with the health care navigator, getting in the food for the weekend, housework, writing, hopefully some script coverages will come in. We will see where we are this afternoon; I might sneak off to yoga.

Onward.

Wed. Nov. 20, 2024: Enjoying the Creative Aspects

image courtesy of  John Hain via pixabay.com

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Waning Moon

Neptune, Chiron, Uranus, Jupiter Retrograde

Partly cloudy and cold

It was difficult to get going yesterday. But I pushed through, because there is no other option.

I had to do some research for something in VICIOUS CRITIC. I think I may have to bend open hours on a museum because I need it to be open for the plot. And I’m pretty sure it was open on those hours back in the 90’s, because I used the research facility on my dark day.

Backed up my computer, which took way longer than expected.

Some good news: MASSCreative let me know that the Downtown Vitality Act was included in the MASSLeads bill and will be signed by our governor. That is important for so many areas that are trying to revitalize downtown, and it uses the arts to do so. We need to access these funds while they still exist.

Did promotions for TAPESTRY. Spent too much time yakking online. Prepped for my interview. Helped my friend sort out a weekend parking permit since she needs to drive when she comes to visit. City Hall was so helpful, and we got everything sorted out online. She printed off her permit and is bringing it with her. Once she unloads her car and gets settled, I will lead her to the lot, she’ll park, and I’ll drive her back to the house. Nice to know this is an option, and we don’t just have to ban people from visiting between November and April! And that will remind me not to listen to “that’s the way it is” and check with City Hall first! Although the weather is supposed to be icky all weekend, raw and rainy with snow showers, so we won’t be able to be out and about as much as I hoped. Still, we’ll go to the Clark and then to my friend’s workshop at Wild Soul River. I mean, we haven’t seen each other in over 20 years. We have some catching up to do! But sorting all this out reminded me how well we work together, and how we get things done.

Wrestled the last 598 words of the next chapter for VICIOUS CRITIC. Tough going, but at least this chapter is done, and this morning, I can move onto the next one. I am way behind where

I hoped to be at this point. So I need to catch up.

But not this weekend.

Worked on the next book for review. I will finish it and get the review out today, and hopefully get some more books. Since the coverage work is so lean (as in nearly non-existent), I can focus more on the reviewing. Turned around 2 teeny coverages. The amount of money I’ve earned this pay period so far is insulting.

Got the information I need for a pitch package to a company for whom I’d like to freelance. It’s a bit complicated, what they want, so I will have to spend time on it over a period of weeks, and then send it off once Mercury goes direct.

Looking over my submission log for the year, to see what stands where, I realize how little short fiction I’ve written to a point of submission this year. I’ll need to get that back in better balance next year. Almost all my submissions this year have been for plays.

Went to gentle yoga in the evening. It was a fabulous class. We did so little, except to rest. Rest-in-company is pretty wonderful. I will miss the studio when it closes in February.

Home. Cooked dinner, because I couldn’t bear the thought of any more leftovers.

My interview for “Effie” was in the evening, at nearly 9 PM my time. The producer conducted the interview, and we had so much fun. I hope I get to work with this producer and this company again. It’s been positive. The show is in post-production now, and will have an August 2025 air date. You better believe all y’all will hear about it!

I’m going to keep enjoying living the creative life, even though it’s often a struggle to make the numbers work and keep everything in balance.

Slept pretty well. Up early this morning, feeling better about life in general. Had a good morning meditation session. It gave me clarity.

Have a new idea for a piece out of my usual realm, which means it may well need a different name under which to appear. I will make some notes on it today, and we’ll see where we are.

On today’s agenda: THE VICIOUS CRITIC; notes for the new project;, possibly work on something else; rolling around ideas for this year’s holiday story for the newsletter (yes, I know I should have written it in August, but that didn’t happen); finish the book, write the review, and submit it; get out some LOIs; promote TAPESTRY. Housework. I have tarot circle in the afternoon, and I’m looking forward to it.

Have a good one!