Devon Ellington's Blog, page 54
September 27, 2023
Wed. Sept. 27, 2023: The Adventure Begins
image courtesy of Pexels via pixabay.comWednesday, September 27, 2023
Waxing Moon
Pluto, Saturn, Neptune, Chiron, Uranus, Jupiter Retrograde
Dense fog now, supposed to be sunny and lovely later
We have a lot going on today!
Today’s Process Muse talks about Expanding Storytelling Capacity. You can read it here after 8 AM EST (I’m posting this prior to 8 AM, and don’t have the direct link).
We have two serial episodes going live today.
The first is from Angel Hunt:
Episode 71: Tensions and Loss of Control
A jumpy workman gets on Lianna’s nerves, but a demon on the loose is a more serious threat.
The second is from Deadly Dramatics:
Episode 21: Roger’s Wake
Nina shows up, under protest, at her boss’s wake.
The books I ordered arrived, thank goodness, before the residency began. I ordered my own copy of the HW Wilson company history, plus a copy of LOST AMUSEMENT PARKS (hoping Frank and Grace show up in it) and the book of Iris Woolcott’s travels through Alaska, hoping she’s my Playland Painter Iris. Post-residency, I will scan photos and run them through facial recognition. The photos in Iris’s book look kind of like one of my painters, but it’s still a theory, not proof.
I’m hoping she’ll refer to Playland in her book!
I only managed to get up a few of next week’s videos on TikTok, because I couldn’t schedule that far out. I will have to do the rest later this week.
I did the mailing lists sheets for the reading. I organized the folders of material I’m taking to work on, depending on what the mood hits. I decided to print out extra copies of my Playland Painters and post them on my wall. I did my info sheet for the reading (since I’m not selling any books). I got out the newsletter. The local newspaper, THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE, is promoting Saturday’s reading on social media, which is a big help.
I did a library run, picked up my mom’s prescription, and ran over to another store to pick up a pair of slippers for the residency. The cats tend to hide one of each pair, so I only have mismatched slippers. I so rarely wear shoes anymore (only when I’m out of the house) that wearing them all day in the residency isn’t going to work.
Leslie Farnsworth suggested I wear mismatched slippers. I kind of love the idea, but I also want something comfortable. Then, I asked my Bluesky pals to talk me out of taking along twinkle lights – but of course, they’re encouraging me! I may need to put up twinkle lights in the studio. I mean, they were in my hand, and the residency bag is right there. . .
Got the words painted on the fabric for the word/fabric piece I want to play with. It’s intentionally messy, but might be too messy. I also started the clumps of stars in phosphorescent paint.
The cats watched from a safe distance.
I finished the multi-colored draft of CAST IRON MURDER, so it will be ready for its next deep edit post-residency.
I’m going to try to get some work in on Legerdemain this morning, before I meet my friend for our adventure. Legerdemain is the only project I did not get far enough ahead on, and I will need to give it some attention over the residency week. But that’s okay; I sort of knew I needed to keep working on it this week; I just hoped I would be farther ahead.
We check into the studios this afternoon.
Today, the adventure begins!
Stay tuned. . .
September 26, 2023
Tues. Sept. 26, 2023: Residency Ready
image courtesy of fancycrave1 via pixabay.comTuesday, September 26, 2023
Waxing Moon
Pluto, Saturn, Neptune, Chiron, Uranus, Jupiter Retrograde
Cloudy and cool
Did you have a good weekend?
Today’s serial episode is from Legerdemain:
Episode 123: Back to the Infirmary – as a Visitor
Shelley takes a gamble with Jed Smythe.
I wrote the first three pages of the radio play for the February deadline in the UK. The characters and rhythms work. I just have to sit down now and figure out the rest of the plot, so I can work the mystery into the comedy, beat-to-beat.
Friday was a pretty day, but much warmer than I expected, and I was overdressed. I swung by the library to drop off/pick up books. I went to Big Y to get groceries and the makings for the recipes for the reading. I couldn’t find what I wanted, so I went to Stop & Shop (which has gone way downhill since I was there last). Couldn’t find everything I needed there, either (although I got beverages for the reading), and had to go to one more store to get the Cornish hens for the Equinox.
I also picked up some stencils I needed, although they did not have the phosphorescent paint. I think I will have to order that online later, along with the charms I want, to add to the piece post-residency.
I had a lot of bags to haul up the stairs, and my shoulder was not happy by the end of it.
The traffic was much worse than it usually is, because of the Fresh Grass Festival. Plus, all the road construction, which, of course, they do all at once, instead of planning road by road so that there are workarounds. Plus blocking off part of Church Street and sending all the traffic the wrong way down our one-way street without letting us know.
I mean, comparatively, to New York and to what the Cape became during the time we lived there, even the busier traffic isn’t all that bad. It’s just more than usual for here.
And there will be a huge COVID spike by the end of next week into the following week with all these people coming in for the music festival, the lack of masking, and the fact the pharmacies wouldn’t honor vaccine appointments leading into it. I’m seeing a lot of retail workers masking up again, thank goodness, because they’re at risk. I remember how the numbers skyrocketed last year the few weeks after the festival.
And walking around the stores, way too many people are in there, unmasked hacking up a lung all over the produce and the people. Which is all kinds of disgusting even without COVID.
Makes me glad I still mask. There are only two places I feel comfortable indoors unmasked: the yoga studio and Wild Soul River. I’m willing to take risks there. And, of course, I’ll be unmasked in studio this week, although I will mask when I meander around the museum on my breaks and in any public space.
Got home, unpacked everything, put away the groceries, put the stuff for the reading all together in one place. Got some work done. Got some reading done, on the second book of a series I was on the fence about. The voice of the book was good, but the protagonist was, I felt, intentionally cruel to other characters without consequence or learning from it, and it made me actively dislike her and not want to spend the time with her it takes to read a book. Then, she and another character started using “witch” as a slur against other women, and I was out. Nope on the series and the author.
Sent a Bluesky invite code to a friend for one of her friends, so more fun people can join.
Skipped the Clark because of the traffic, but worked on WOMEN ON THE BRIDGE a bit.
Got my act together to go to the art opening at Wild Soul River. One of our fellow tarot circle members is a painter who created a major arcana tarot deck from a series of her paintings. Tonight was her opening. She had a great turnout. I bought a deck (of course) and had her sign the box. I got to chat with other fellow tarot circle members, which was fun. And they always put out a lovely spread.
So it was a terrific evening. When I got home, I sent off some information I’d promised to someone from tarot circle, and then I spent some time getting to know the tarot deck.
Slept reasonably well. Woke up to clouds and mist for the Equinox – we’re getting kissed by the edge of Hurricane Ophelia, and her impact on the Cape is why we cancelled the storage run. Plus, honestly, I don’t think my grumpy shoulder could take an eight-hour round trip and then hauling boxes in the unit, loading the car, and then unloading.
The nonwriting friend who sent me the submission guidelines for the publisher whom I felt had too many red flags about content asked me what my ideal book would look like in that genre. Immediately what came to mind were Ann Aguirre’s THE ONLY PURPLE HOUSE IN TOWN and TJ Klune’s UNDER THE WHISPERING DOOR, with a little of the friendship/love/loyalty aspects of Sharon Shinn’s Twelve Houses series mixed in.
Anyway, I’m playing with some notes for it. It’s similar to THE DIFFERENTS, another project on which I’ve been making notes in the concepts of found family and building alternate communities, but THE DIFFERENTS is a fantasy, whereas this piece would be a better version of recognizable places.
I did some prep work in the morning for the residency, and played with an idea for a 10-minute stage play for a submission call. Worked my way through some email. Uploaded and scheduled this week’s TikTok videos for the serial episodes. And scheduled a few blasts of the Boiler House video I made for the reading.
At noon, I walked down to the bookshop to check with owner for any last-minute whatevers. We seem good to go. I have plates, cups, napkins, drinks. I’m making the snacks. It’s just a case of piling it in the car, along with the rolly cart, and then rolling it from the lot where the residency artists have to keep their vehicles the two blocks to the bookstore. As long as it’s not raining, it should all be fine.
Downtown was busy, with people flocking to Fresh Grass Music Festival. The parking lots were all “event” parking (starting at $40) and the Farmers’ Market was moved to a blocked-off section of Main Street.
It’s kind of wonderful how the city is flexible with events. This is definitely a place where it’s hard to get into a rut. Between all the artists in residence flowing through and the various events that close this street or that street, and the exhibits and musicians, it keeps energy moving, rather than letting it get stagnant. Common Folk Art Collective was actually open, so I got to stop in, leave a flyer, look around, chat with some people.
When I got back to my street, I got into the car and went to do a curbside pickup of some of the supplies I still needed for the residency.
Spent time cleaning the house and reading on Saturday, and made Cornish Hen for our Equinox meals. A few years ago, I got into the habit of Cornish Hen for Mabon.
Did a simple ceremony of harvest and gratitude.
Slept in a bit on Sunday. It started raining pretty hard overnight. Ophelia getting in her licks.
Tried to stay offline as much as possible on Sunday. My body and brain wanted rest. It’s as though my body wants to store up energy, knowing I will need a lot this week. I did stuff around the house. I read. I worked on notes for various projects.
Made barbeque turkey chili in the crockpot. It turned out well. A recipe to keep in the rotation. Maybe I’m finally getting my cooking mojo back!
The pull toward Nano is happening again. I made the decision not to do it this year. And yet, I’m finding myself outlining projects. I’m turning over in my head if I should do a rebel Nano working on new episodes of Legerdemain, and in that way, get ahead on that serial.
But then I look at everything that has to be finished before the end of the year: first draft of FROZEN AT THE PALACE THEATRE, first draft of THE WOMEN ON THE BRIDGE, the edits and submission package for CAST IRON MURDER, the second draft of THE TREES WHISPERED DEATH. I need to do several drafts of the full-length radio play due in the UK in February and the other full-length radio play for the domestic producer with whom I’ve had conversations – and, along with the whole earning a living thing and keeping up with the serials and their promotions, Nano seems like it would be more about ego than actually supporting the work.
The fact that the logo is insanely cute this year is not enough for me to jump in.
And yes, I’m writing notes and outlines on projects. It may be that I’m conditioned to do that at this time of year, because it’s usually Nano prep.
While I love riding the wave of Nano energy, I’m not convinced it is the right choice for me this year.
Well, this week, I have other creative pursuits, so the worry won’t be an issue.
What is an issue is that I have to wear actual real people clothes all week, including shoes!
Monday, I got some work done in the morning. I dropped off some books, mailed some cards at the Post Office, picked up a few things at Big Y. Took the COVID test, and sent a photo of the negative over to the residency. Worked on two short columns that needed to be polished, uploaded, and posted for next week. Read my friend’s manuscript, in preparation for our adventure tomorrow. It’s wonderful, and deserves a publisher who will champion it.
I read the book for review, and will write the review, send it off, and request my next assignment today. Let a regular client, who hasn’t had much work for me lately, know that I’m unavailable until the end of next week. I did a round of social media channels to promote the reading.
David McCallum died, and that makes me sad. I had a huge crush on him when he was on MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. I saw him in a play off-Broadway, when I was early in my career. I remember him being excellent in a mediocre piece. The friend with whom I attended the play and I had a wonderful chat with him after the show. And I liked his work on NCIS. Lovely man, with talent and integrity.
Re-read THE TREES WHISPERED DEATH. It holds together. I think another couple of rounds of revisions, and it can go out on submission in spring. I’m happy with one of the subplots, which will be a long-running, forbidden love story. And the main historical mystery works. I hope it lands at the right house, and I have an editor who loves the characters and the backdrop of social change as much as I do.
Out the door early this morning, to the laundromat. After all I must have enough clean underwear for the residency, right? I was the only one there, and it was glorious.
I did more work on the revision of CAST IRON MURDER. I have about 10 more pages and I’m done with this draft, so I’ll do it later today. That way, it will be ready for me to dive into post-residency.
Today, I’m doing a library pickup. Vacuuming. Checking through my bags to bring to the studio. Rehearsing for the reading. Uploading next week’s episode videos to TikTok. Getting next week’s Legerdemain episodes finalized and prepped. Painting the start of the word/fabric piece I’m bringing into the studio. Doing some mending.
I’m not sure how the blogging will function the rest of this week into next week. I’m meeting a fellow poet first thing tomorrow morning for an inspirational expedition; then I’ll be back to pack up the car. We check in around 3 PM, unload to our studios and they will get settled into their apartments. We have a welcome dinner at a local restaurant this evening.
Since the plan is for me to be in-studio by 6 AM each day, I may do the blogging the night before and schedule it to post. I may not have much to say during the week, other than the dailiness of the work, because I may need time to ponder the experience.
I do have a separate journal notebook just for the residency. I plan to carry it around with me most of the time.
We’ll play it by ear. Jump in with both feet, right?
I better get going on my list of things to get done today! Have a good one!
September 25, 2023
Mon. Sept. 25, 2023: Intent for the Week — Creative Expansion
image courtesy of John Hain via pixabay.comMid-week this week, I go in-studio at MASSMoCA for a week to work differently on my own work, and work in community with the Boiler House Poets Collective.
I’m excited and nervous.
I’m looking forward to creative expansion, being flexible, and learning a lot.
I want to enjoy my time there and make good use of it. It’s only a week, from midweek to midweek, and it will fly by, especially since we have a reading at Bear and Bee Bookshop on the 30th at 11 AM.
I’ve done other residencies, and each one is unique. It’s finding the sweet spot of working in solitude, working in community, and being open to absorbing as many new experiences as possible.
What’s your intent for the week?
September 22, 2023
Fri. Sept. 22, 2023: Almost Equinox
image courtesy of 100 files via pexels.comFriday, September 22, 2023
Waxing Moon
Pluto, Saturn, Neptune, Chiron, Uranus, Jupiter Retrograde
Foggy/sunny/cool
All kinds of busy, and I am excited for the Autumn Equinox tomorrow!
Today’s serial episode is from Angel Hunt:
Episode 70: Lachlan and Lianna
As Lachlan tends Lianna’s injuries, their attraction deepens to something more tangible.
Tomorrow’s serial episode is from Deadly Dramatics:
Episode 20: Back in the Office
Important files are missing from Nina’s desk.
I contacted Macy’s to see if they know where their old employee files landed, so I can research Dorothy Dwin’s time with them. Hopefully, they didn’t just toss it all, the way Playland did through far too many of its corporate takeovers.
I also started digging in both the Chicago Public Library and the Newberry Library sites. I bookmarked them, and will return to dig in more depth later on. I was able to download a guidebook from the World’s Fair, and I found a collection of photographs on another site that I will go through in more depth in the coming months. I ordered some books from the Commonwealth Catalogue that should ascertain as to whether my painter Grace Hutchins is the same one who wrote LABOR AND SILK and had a long-term relationship with Anna Rochester, or if they are two different women.
I put together another submission packet for another possible residency and got that out the door. Which, of course, took longer than expected, because every damn place wants the information in a different way.
The Nightwood session was excellent, as usual. One of the playwrights is getting an award! Yay, and well-deserved. I managed 6 more pages on THE WOMEN ON THE BRIDGE. The work shared was so exciting.
Next week is no official session, although the writing room will be open. Because I’ll be in-studio, I’m not sure whether or not I will join, although I’ll probably use that time to work on WOMEN.
Reworked the opening of the ghost story radio play, which really needs a new title. I feel as though I use up all my title mojo for the serials, and then am scrambling for everything else. I seeded something important in this early scene that will pay off later, but am leaving some other information for about ten pages down the line.
I’ve been pondering an open submission call that a non-writing friend forwarded to me. It’s for a traditional publisher whose work I know well. It has very strict genre guidelines out of my usual wheelhouse, but the wordcount isn’t that high (although it is novel length). The advance is decent (more than anything I’ve gotten so far), and the distribution is good. Not allowed to have paranormal elements, and light on the mystery, which pushes it further out of my wheelhouse. But what disturbed me was that the characters “must have traditional values.” So that means they all have to be straight, and probably, white. Honestly, I just don’t think that interests me enough to write a whole book. It’s a big red flag for me, and, to me, indicates exclusivity, rather than inclusivity and a genuine sense of community, which, supposedly, these books support (they talk a lot about community in the guidelines). If all the characters must have “traditional values” that is not an inclusive community. It’s conformity, and that does not interest me as a reader or a writer.
While it might be a good business decision to write/submit to them (especially under a name not associated with any of my other work), it would bore the hell out of me creatively while going against my values as a general human, which means the quality of the writing would be subpar anyway, and knock it out of contention.
In other words, I can write the novel I want about love and community, but make it inclusive, add paranormal or mystery elements if I want – and submit it elsewhere! 
Okay, now that wasn’t hard, and shouldn’t have taken up so much brain space in mulling it over!
Yoga was good, although it was difficult to get my mind to settle.
Cooked dinner, had a glass of wine out on the porch, under the waxing moon, which was beautiful.
Came up with the premise, characters, main plot line, and opening scenes for the hour-long radio play due in the UK in February. Will jot those down, so I have them, and can move in and out of the project as needed. Starting it now means I can do enough drafts by February to be happy with it.
I also have to remember to write it in BBC format.
On today’s agenda: writing and grocery shopping. I’ll head to the Clark mid-afternoon, and then to the artist reception at Wild Soul River.
The Equinox is at 2:50 AM tomorrow. I was going to say I won’t be awake for that, but I was awake from 2 AM on this morning fretting about this and that, so who knows? Anyway, there are errands to run and a house to clean and writing to do tomorrow, along with celebrating the Equinox.
Before I go in-studio next week, I have to give the house a good scrub, tidy up my desk, get a few more things written and uploaded, and make sure there are meals prepared for my mom. Even though I’m sleeping at home, to check on her and the cats, I won’t be home for many hours at a time, so I want to make sure everything is set.
Have a good weekend, and I’ll catch you on the other side!
September 21, 2023
Thurs. Sept. 21, 2023: Enjoying the Good Days
image courtesy of Elmer L. Geissler via pixabay.comThursday, September 21, 2023
Waxing Moon
Pluto, Saturn, Neptune, Chiron, Uranus, Jupiter Retrograde
Sunny and cool
I’m so happy we’re finally in Autumn! Check the latest on the garden over on Gratitude and Growth.
Today’s serial episode is from Legerdemain:
Episode 122: Shelley on the Move
Shelley’s juggling angles on several different fronts.
My right shoulder, the one that was dislocated during a performance of MISS SAIGON all those years ago, is giving me grief again, and I’m not sure why.
What did I even do yesterday? It seems so far away. I know I worked on something or other in the morning, darned if I can remember what.
I walked my errands, because it was such a beautiful day. I went to the bank and to the Post Office. Caught up on the news, and they were excited, at the Post Office, to post a flyer for our reading on the 30th. Walked further into town to drop off other flyers. I love living in a small city that’s excited to support each other’s work. Let’s hope some people actually turn out for it!
Came home and turned around two small client projects. I’d hoped this week would have more client work – how much do you want to bet everyone will yammer at me next week and the following, when they know (and have known for months) that I am not available?
Put together a proposal for an ongoing gig that would be a lot of fun and pay decently, although I’m a bit of an out-of-the-box choice for it. All I can do is pitch, and see if they want to follow up. Right. THAT’s what took me most of the morning. Putting it together.
We got our information packets for next week’s residency, so I had to go through and digest all of that. It’s getting real!
I got everything done before heading over to Williamstown for tarot circle, which was amazing. The core group is really lovely, and there’s room for others to flow in and out. But the respect and care we all show each other is wonderful.
There’s a reception for a local artist who created a major arcana tarot deck (she’s part of the tarot circle) on Friday, so I will go to that. I’ll do my time at the Clark in the afternoon instead of the morning this week, and go directly from the Clark to the reception.
Picked up takeout on the way home, we ate and didn’t have to rush or stress, and I was all set for cooking class on time. We had a session on herbs and spices: storing, sourcing, etc. Most of it was stuff I knew and already do. I got into a side conversation with someone whose sister lives a few blocks from where I used to live on Cape, and who owns a yoga studio in Mashpee. If only our paths had crossed when I lived there!
Finished the book on the H.W. Wilson company. Ended up ordering my own copy, plus a copy of LOST AMUSEMENT PARKS, plus a copy of Iris Woolcott’s book about her journey through Alaska in 1948. Even if she isn’t my Playland Painter Iris Woolcott, the book will be interesting.
Okay, my friends, I am having An Issue. As I do the research on the HW Wilson Company, both to support THE WOMEN ON THE BRIDGE, and to create a piece built around the company and the enclave in what is now Croton Heights, the images and scenes are coming to me as. . .a musical.
I’ve never written the book of a musical.
I have no idea how to write the book of a musical.
I’ve wanted, for years, to write the book of a musical.
I’ve been encouraged, since my MISS SAIGON days, to write the book of a musical.
But I always figured the music/lyrics team would bring me in.
The Dramatists Guild has had, over the years, workshops about writing the book of a musical. I will have to check it out. I doubt it will happen – it would push it out of the realm of getting it produced, most likely, in my lifetime.
And yet, that is the form this piece wants to take.
Brain, Muse, why are you doing this to me?
We have to cancel this weekend’s storage run again. Because of weather. Again. There’s another storm moving up the coast that won’t be too bad here, but will hit the Cape with 2” of rain and high winds. Driving 4 hours each way and then trying to work in the rain is not a good idea. It puts yet more pressure on October, but that’s the way it goes.
Meditation was good. Charlotte is participating again, after napping through it for a few weeks. After breakfast, I will do some writing. This afternoon is the Nightwood session, and after that is yoga. I’ll talk to my teacher about my crunchy shoulder and see what we can come up with.
Have a good one!
September 20, 2023
Wed. Sept. 20, 2023: Residency Prep
image courtesy of InspiredImages via pixabay.comWednesday, September 20, 2023
Waxing Moon
Pluto, Saturn, Neptune, Chiron, Uranus, Jupiter Retrograde
There’s a bunch o’stuff going live today.
First and foremost, today’s episode of The Process Muse talks about anthologies and collections. You can read it here.
Second, Ink-Dipped Advice, over on the business writing site, talks about Reinvention.
Third, we have two serial episodes going live today.
The first is from Angel Hunt:
Episode 69: Summoned
Lianna is compelled back to the store, where a predator traps her.
The second is from Deadly Dramatics:
Episode 19: The Client Lunch
Nina feels bad that the rich client socializes with business acquaintances instead of friends.
Okay, then, we’ve got all the necessary linkage up, and we can talk about yesterday!
Of course, it didn’t turn out as I planned. Every time I tried to get out the door, it started raining. I didn’t want to drive the few blocks, but I also wasn’t going to walk in the cold rain. I mean, it was cold enough for the heat to kick on.
The day wound up being residency prep.
I worked on the two pieces for the reading. I’m pretty sure can read both, and stay within my time limit. I’m going to read “Leaving” which has been done all over the world by all kinds of people, and I know it works. I did a massive rewrite on “Quicksand” – it’s short and fun. I’m coming in at just over 4 minutes with both of them right now. My slot is 5 minutes, so I should be fine.
I typed up several poems from what I’m calling the “scratchbook” – the 50-cent notebook from a box store in which I’ve been scribbling poems ideas for months. A bunch of them weren’t worth typing up to work on, but a few were.
I put together some of the images I want to take.
I ironed the fabric.
A call from an agency looking for additional freelancers to add to their roster came into my inbox. I liked the job description – they sounded like a good company. I did some background research, and heard good things. Sent them my material – and they sent an automated test. Nope. I stated clearly in my cover letter that I don’t do unpaid labor as part of the interview process and tests/samples are covered by a different contract. Guess they’re not such a great company after all. Next.
I did the rounds on social media for yesterday’s episode of Legerdemain, but I didn’t write anything new. Which needs to be remedied today. I need at least one more set of episodes to get me through the end of the residency. And I need to write ahead a couple more, so I’m not screwed the week post-residency. I know what needs to happen; it’s just the sitting down and making it so.
I had an exchange with a radio producer looking for an hour-long ghost story. They convert to their own format, so I can just submit in Standard US, which is where I usually start writing the scripts, and then convert from there as needed. Now, I just have to come up with something fun. They like narrator characters, which is something I rarely use, so that will be an interesting challenge.
I started writing up the notes/outline for the mystery poem. In-studio, I want to play with a Nancy Drew-like riff, but as a long poem.
As I was writing the notes, I wondered if it would work as a radio piece, with the characters a little older than they are in the poem, and I ended up writing the first four pages of the radio play. I think I have to go back and seed something in the first scene, or it won’t pay off later.
And that was the end of the day. So, although I didn’t get what I planned to get done accomplished, it wasn’t, as I feared, a wasted day.
Cooked dinner, enjoyed a glass of wine on the porch. Did some more research on the H.W. Wilson Company, and then read a book for pleasure that was okay, but not brilliant. But it was good enough so I stayed up to finish it, a little after midnight.
Tessa ran around like a kitten in the evening, playing with her catnip carrot. It was cute.
Slept pretty well, overslept this morning. The plan is to work on Legerdemain and on the two small client projects, and a quick walk down to the bank and post office. The weather is nice enough to make that fun.
I’ll do the social media rounds for the various pieces that went live today. T2 is now “pebble.is” which just makes me tired, but I can see why they’d want to change their name. Since the Yegads Muskrat plans to charge for The Site Previously Known as Twitter, I’m wondering whether I should just let him deny me access, or go in and delete everything.
An acquaintance on Bluesky gave me the information so I can file against CVS for blocking vaccine access. WSJ ran an article a few days ago about how Pfizer and Moderna stock values are going down due to lack of demand for the booster. No, asshole, the corporate pharmacies are denying access to the vaccine. The demand is there. Stop lying.
Later today, I have tarot circle, and then cooking class.
Onward! Have a good one.
September 19, 2023
Tues. Sept. 19: Re-envisioning the Week
image courtesy of Sh1ra from pixabay.comTuesday, September 19, 2023
Waxing Moon
Pluto, Saturn, Neptune, Chiron, Uranus, Jupiter Retrograde
Partly sunny/cloudy and cool
I hope you had a good weekend! Ready for our regular Tuesday catch-up?
Today’s serial episode is from Legerdemain:
Episode 121: Brother Risipi Comes to Help
Shelley enlists the monk to help the forger.
Friday was busy, but it was a good busy. I worked on the play. I did a run to the library and the grocery store. There were more books than I expected waiting for me at the library. I sent some questions to a residency in a place to which I would have never thought to apply, but it sounds fun; they urged me to apply, so I will.
I did two small client projects and one medium client project. I had another one come in unexpectedly, but I had questions, and they weren’t answered in time to turn it around on Friday.
I worked on the episode graphics for Legerdemain, but wasn’t happy with them.
I did follow-up from Thursday’s reading, and some more publicity out for the BHPC reading.
The client projects ate up a good portion of the day, but in the evening, I managed to finish the book for review.
It was lovely sleeping weather Friday night, and I wanted to stay in bed on Saturday!
But I was up and at ‘em, so to speak. I redid the graphics I disliked. I did 16 episode videos for the serials, and a video for the upcoming BHPC reading, and uploaded as much as I could to TikTok.
I polished the edited pages for THE WOMEN ON THE BRIDGE and uploaded them to the Nightwood folder, in case anyone wants to read them in the interim.
I did a residency application for something that’s a little off-the-wall, but I love the idea of it, and I had a good conversation with them, and they encouraged me to apply (mentioned above). So that went out the door.
I packed the books I’m taking into the residency (quite a few, but I like books around me) and some of the other bits and bobs that I’m going to use in the studio.
I finished reading Claire McMillan’s ALCHEMY OF A BLACKBIRD, a novel about Remedios Varos, and it was fascinating. Yet again, the question presents itself: how much amazing art did the world lose because she wasted so many years in a relationship with a mediocre man who did not do his share in the emotional, financial, and practical aspects of the relationship?
In the evening, I got an email from CVS saying they were sorry that we cancelled our vaccine appointments for Monday. WTF? We most certainly did not. On top of sending us this crap on a Saturday night, when there is no one to contact, they put in a phone number that is “no longer taking calls.” What the fuck is wrong with those clowns?
If they didn’t yet get the vaccination doses, the correct response is to send us an email apologizing for THEM having to cancel the appointment. Not to lie and say WE cancelled it, and then give us an invalid phone number.
Trying to rebook online, the only vaccines available are an hour or more away and a month out. FUCK THEM.
They were dumb enough to send us a customer satisfaction survey on the interaction, and got, shall we say, a few choice words.
CVS refused to give us the boosters last year due to “insurance issues.” Our insurance is just fine AND someone who got into it with CVS about them trying to charge for the vaccine last week sent me the directive from the CDC about the Bridge Access program paying for it this go round. So CVS has NO leg to stand on (and never did).
This is about CVS’s economic discrimination. Again. They can’t profit, so they don’t hold up their end of the bargain. Instead of sending the vaccines to this location, they are sending the doses to the richer communities. And then they LIE about it.
Stop & Shop, where we got our boosters last fall, doesn’t have the vaccine in hand yet, and therefore is not booking appointments. You know, like professionals. Not promising what they can’t deliver.
It looks like Walgreen’s has it in hand and is booking, but they only have the Moderna Spikevax. I had Moderna for the first two doses, and it took me down for 5-7 days each time. I’m also worried if I take it, I’ll give a false positive on the home COVID test required before the residency. (The Pfizers took me down 3-5 days).
My mom has flat out refused to go in for the Moderna. She said she will wait until she can get the Pfizer (she’s had all Pfizer).
If I don’t get the vaccine this week, I can’t get it until November, which is too late, because I can’t block off the necessary recovery time. I’m not as worried about the residency (because everyone there has to be vaxxed and tested before arrival) as I am about jury duty. I want the booster before I have to show up for jury duty.
I am furious about the way CVS mishandled the whole situation. I’m not surprised, because their executive office doesn’t give a damn about actual human beings, but I’m furious.
I heard from people across the country, via social media, that all their appointments are getting cancelled, too.
That did not make for good sleeping Saturday night, but I got a little rest.
Up Sunday. It was a gorgeous day. Read my friend’s play and sent him notes on it.
Headed down to Pittsfield. I’d hoped to go to a particular store and introduce myself, with a thought to possibly teaching there in spring, but I didn’t have the energy to put on a performance, so I skipped it. I’ll go down later, after the residency.
I picked up a couple of notebooks. I want to keep my handwritten journal of the residency separate from the rest of the diary, the way I would a travel diary.
Because the residency is a form of inward travel.
Went to Michael’s, with a whole list of things I needed, very little of what I found. I need frames, and did not find anything remotely close to what I wanted, not to mention the prices were ridiculous. Although even if they were cheap, none of the frames in stock were worth settling for. So I will look elsewhere.
Didn’t find the brush trees I needed for a project, or the Gelli plates. I found the soft wooden boxes I need for another project, but I know I won’t start that until after the Winter Holidays, so I didn’t want to buy the supplies now and have them sit around, staring at me and filling me with guilt.
I found some ribbon on sale and grabbed that (you know me and ribbon – I have five tubs of ribbon in the sewing room). I found some fabric for the word/textile piece I want to play with in-studio, another piece I’m going to tack to the wall just for inspiration, and a piece for Mabon.
At least I found a little of what I needed.
Came back, washed the fabric, headed to yoga for a two-hour workshop on yoga for stress management. We did a 45-minute yoga Nidra practice (always my favorite) and then did some work on the science and the connections behind why yoga works. It helped connect some dots for me, and understand how and why some previous situations were so damaging.
We got a settlement check from the class action suit against TD bank on something or other – I think it was overcharging on their fees. Not much, but the fact they had to cough up means something.
Home, dinner, reading Harvey Fierstein’s memoir. We crossed paths now and then when we were both working on Broadway. When he was in HAIRSPRAY, I was across the street doing FLOWER DRUM SONG, and we used to meet on our way into the theatre getting coffee at the corner bodega and chat. His dressing room and Lea’s dressing room faced each other, and they used to shout across 52nd St. to each other as they got ready to go on.
But growing our careers were very different paths (not just because he was an actor/playwright and I was in tech – I didn’t realize how much tech he’d done until I read this). He was very involved in the downtown performance art scene, and I was involved in the classical and naturalistic shows (even off-off Broadway). I admired the work in that other faction, but I didn’t want to work on it. I wanted to work on classics and work by women breaking ground like Caryl Churchill.
The memoir is interesting, because we intersected with a lot of the same people (again, six degrees of Kevin Bacon), and the different perspectives/experiences we had with them are fascinating.
Woke up to rain on Monday. I’m recommitting to the daily yoga practice again, after letting it slide for too long. My instructor is right – class once a week is not enough. I need the dailiness of it again. Some of the people at the studio attend class every day, but I just can’t.
Got this week’s Ink-Dipped Advice post polished, uploaded, and scheduled. Headed out to the library to drop off/pick up. Tried to sort things out at CVS. My mother’s appointment was canceled because they are only honoring morning appointments and “ran out” – then don’t fucking BOOK THEM. I wanted to punch the smirking twat in the face. And I use that language with deliberation. My appointment was canceled because my health insurance isn’t covering it (which is a lie, I checked with them before I booked; CVS just doesn’t like them), and CVS is not honoring the Bridge Access program – which they are REQUIRED so to do by law.
Fuck them.
Don’t worry. I have Plans for them.
It means looking to book appointments elsewhere the week of Indigenous People’s day, when we’re going to be out of town for a bit, but before jury duty. I will try again after the residency is over. I might not get something, and I might have to wait until November. I mean, no matter what, I was planning to mask during jury duty.
I’m so sick of living in a country with a Death Promotion System instead of a Health Care System.
Picked up some plates and napkins for our reading. Will get the hot/cold cups and other beverages later this week. Will see if/when I can swing by the Studios to print out our programs, or if I need to do it those early days In-studio.
Wrote and submitted the book review and invoiced this last batch. Received my next book for review, which I will turn around before the residency.
Around the time I would have had to settle down post-vaccine, my body just went, “you booked this time to rest, and you are RESTING” so I read on the couch. I did a little research for a down-the-line project, and turned over, in my mind, a couple of things I want to work on In-studio.
It rained like crazy most of the day and was windy. It was cold enough to close the door to the front porch overnight.
It was sunnier earlier; now it looks like it wants to rain again. On today’s agenda: draft an episode or two of Legerdemain, promote the episode that goes live today, promote the reading, and type up some material with which I’ve been playing for the residency, to put in that folder. I have some visuals I’ll also put in a folder to go over. I want to decide which of the WOMEN WITH AN EDGE monologues I will read at the reading, time it (it should run 2-3 minutes), and see if there’s time for another piece or not. I might rework the Quicksand piece, if I can get it down to under a minute, and do that as the button. I need to do a new information sheet, too, but that doesn’t have to happen today. I also need to get one more Process Muse post written and scheduled this week, but again, it doesn’t have to be today. And there are two small client projects to turn around, which I would like to happen today, making room for more this week.
I hoped to walk downtown later this morning to deal with a few things like the bank and the post office. We’ll see.
Had a conversation with a theatre acquaintance who is encouraging me to submit to a couple of theatres I wouldn’t have considered right now (thinking they are too far out of reach), but this individual thinks FALL FOREVER is a good fit for their play development programs, and, even if it’s not contracted, it opens the door to future submissions.
Nothing ventured and all that, right?
Time to hit the page.
September 18, 2023
Mon. Sept. 18, 2023: Intent for the Week — Maintain
image courtesy of Igor Ovsyannykov via pixabay.comMabon (the Autumn Equinox) is coming up this week, and the sun moves from Virgo to Libra.
We still have six retrogrades, although Mercury is thankfully direct.
I have a lot to clear off my desk this week before the residency starts next week, and my schedule is in turmoil because CVS botched the vaccine booster appointments and refuses to fix it.
It’s a week that required navigation and practicality, and promises to be challenging.
What’s your intent for the week?
September 15, 2023
Fri. Sept. 15, 2023: Creative Repurposing
image courtesy of Susann Mielke via pixabay.comFriday, September 15, 2023
Waxing Moon
Pluto, Saturn, Neptune, Chiron, Uranus, Jupiter Retrograde
Mercury DIRECT
Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown
Sunny and cool
We finally have some fall weather! Yay!
Blessed Rosh Hashanah to my friends who celebrate.
Today’s serial episode is from ANGEL HUNT:
Episode 68: Randolph’s Request
Randolph could ask anyone, and they’d jump to help. Instead, he asks Lianna.
Tomorrow’s serial episode is from DEADLY DRAMATICS:
Episode 18: Racquetball Is More Than a Game
Nina lets one of the clients teach her to play racquetball & learns some interesting facts about her dead boss.
Yesterday was busy, for the right reasons. Meditation was good, and Charlotte was happy to have the attention again.
I revised, edited, polished, uploaded, and scheduled the next two weeks’ worth of Legerdemain episodes, and did all the paperwork around it.
I did some tweaks and a proof on the program, and sent it off for cross-checking/proofing.
Packed what I needed for the event. Made sure I ate something before Nightwood.
The Nightwood session was wonderful. I loved the other work shared, and I got such wonderful feedback on THE WOMEN ON THE BRIDGE. It got a positive response, and the 30-year time jump between the first and second scene seems to have worked (provided I can give it the necessary support in the rest of the play). Their confidence I can pull it off, and their enthusiasm for the piece gives me the confidence to believe I can pull it off. They were also excited that it was inspired by a painting, and I shared a photo of the painting with them.
Charlotte joined the end of the Zoom session, and was delighted to make new friends who thought she was adorable.
After the session was done, I ran around doing the last minute things to leave for Easthampton. The trip there was stressful. I should have just ignored Murder Maps and gone the way I wanted to until about Florence, and then put on Murder Maps for the last bit. But I second-guessed myself and paid the price. Murder Maps took me through frightening and desolate backroads that made me terrified I’d never get home. There was no reason for it.
I got there, realizing I hadn’t done my vocal warmups and I’d forgotten my business cards at home. This was definitely an exchange-cards crowd. But at least I had my ever-present notebook in my bag. And plenty of pens.
It was only 45 miles, but because of the meandering way Murder Maps sent me, it took an hour and a half.
Eastworks, the former factory building which houses the gallery is HUGE. A very intimidating building. Inside, though, it’s been split up into businesses and studios and the like. I think the other end of the building was residential. These spaces were too small to be live/work studios.
Moonlit Sea Gallery was on the 2nd floor. It’s a small, bright space, and it was exciting to see the Shotei prints in real life. Our host had an array of Japanese whiskeys available for tasting (but nothing else). I had a small bit of whiskey, to try it (and it was good). But I knew I had to drive home on unfamiliar roads in the gathering dark, and wasn’t about to layer on additional risk.
I met a bunch of interesting people, both other poets and fellow artists in the building. Exchanged contact information and information about the BHPC reading at the end of the month. One of the other poets, a professor at Smith college, told me about Rattle Magazine’s monthly ekphrastic poetry challenge.
I recognized one of the poets, because I’ve seen/heard her read on the StrawDogs virtual events. It was nice to meet her in person. We were talking about reading, and I mentioned how I am uncomfortable reading my own work because I am a playwright who writes for others to speak, and how that’s one of the things I’m working on as a poet, getting grounded in speaking my own words. The Smith professor called it “productive discomfort” and says it’s something he uses in his classes.
The readings were fun, and we were supportive of each other’s work, which was nice. Like with the Word X Word audience, this audience was very invested in listening, and sometimes even asked for a second read of a piece.
About halfway driving there, I’d regretted agreeing to go, but I’m really glad I went. It was worth the stress of Murder Maps.
If I get a chance to participate in another such event in the area, I would like to book a place to stay overnight, so I could indulge in the whiskey and wander through the other open studios in the building, then go out to eat with fellow poets and not have to worry about the drive back. It’s a very vibrant area, again, filled with people DOING things, not making excuses about how they “don’t have time.” The willingness to take creative risks and learn from what doesn’t work as much as from what does work (which is similar to this neck of the woods, but a sharp contrast to my previous location) is also exciting.
This time I didn’t, because I couldn’t justify spending the nearly $200 bucks for a shoddy hotel room 45 miles from home. But next time, I’ll plan better and know where to look for something that makes sense.
As it was, I got back in the car and headed home while it was still light. But driving west into the setting sun had its own moments of challenge.
I listened to Murder Maps to get me back to Rt. 9W in Florence, and then ignored it, especially when it tried to send me down some unpaved roads around Dalton. Once I was on 9, I knew where it would spit me out in Pittsfield, and how to get home from there. By the time I got home, it was dark enough to start being a problem, mostly due to LED headlights coming at me, but the roads were familiar enough that I could do it.
The parking situation was all screwed up again, but I had a place, and that’s really all that matters.
Had a snack, went to bed.
Woke up at 2:30 buzzing with the notes from Nightwood. Got up and worked on revisions, which will inform the rest of the piece moving forward. I went back to bed around 4:00. Tessa was furious; if I was up, I could at least have FED them. I finally got up again to feed them just before 7, and Tessa Was Not Amused.
This morning, I’m doing follow-up from last night with information promised (and sending the gallery owner a thank-you note). I have a library run and a grocery run. I have one small and one medium client project to turn around. I have some more marketing to do for the reading. I have to draft at least one episode of Legerdemain. I’m going to do some more work on THE WOMEN ON THE BRIDGE. I need to do the social media rounds for yesterday’s episode of Legerdemain and today’s episode of Angel Hunt. I have to do the episode graphics for Legerdemain, and next week’s episode videos done for all three serials and uploaded to TikTok.
A new opportunities list just hit my inbox from the Artists Impact Coalition, so I’ll go through that, see if there’s anything to which I need to pitch/apply, and if there’s anything that friends/colleagues might like.
We are not doing a storage run to the Cape this weekend. Hurricane Lee’s shutting the Cape down. Even Canal Day is cancelled. We will try next weekend, on the Equinox, even with the construction on the Bourne Bridge making getting on and off Cape a nightmare.
I’m on the waitlist for a poetry workshop at the Clark tomorrow afternoon. I probably won’t get in, but that will be my day at the Clark for the week. Sunday, I have yoga (I missed last night’s yoga session and there’s a special workshop on yoga for stress management).
I also have a book to read for review, a friend’s play to read and comment on, and another friend’s manuscript to read. Along with continuing to work on Legerdemain and the plays, and sort out what I need to take for the residency/pieces to work on in studio/what to read at the reading.
There will be plenty to do, even without the Cape run. The extended family in Maine is very worried, and they’re usually pretty calm about hurricanes.
Monday morning, I will do a hard push on a few projects, because Monday afternoon is the next COVID booster. I’m hoping Tuesday will be my only bad day (and have it blocked off), and I’m not down for 5-7 days like I usually am.
All I can do is prepare and then roll with it.
There are things that need to get done within the course of the week, but I have more latitude in the “when” than I’ve had for the past few weeks.
Have a great weekend, and I’ll catch you on the other side.
September 14, 2023
Thurs. Sept. 14, 2023: Days of Events
image courtesy of pexels via pixabay.comThursday, September 14, 2023
New Moon
Pluto, Saturn, Neptune, Chiron, Mercury, Uranus, Jupiter Retrograde
Sunny and cooler
I am so ready for a new moon!
The latest on the garden is over on Gratitude and Growth.
Today’s serial episode is from Legerdemain:
Episode 120: The Right Use of Skills
Shelley’s plan intrigues the forger.
Got out the Llewellyn pieces first thing yesterday morning. I did some tweaks in the final proof because, of course I did. I hope the humor in my bio paragraph works.
Printed out the poem for today’s reading in 16 pt. font so I won’t struggle with it.
It was pouring when I left for my hair appointment. Fortunately, the roads weren’t too bad yet. I got there a little early; they took me early. The stylist was lovely and did a good job. It’s amazing how much a good haircut makes one feel better.
Stopped at Wild Oats, meaning to pick up just coffee, but of course, got more.
Home, and then Microsoft did an update and then everything went cattywampus (because, you know, updates during Mercury retrograde), so I had to sit there and go through everything fixing settings, colors, etc. That took way more time than it should have. Google, in particular, is messed up, and I am exasperated with it.
Got the details confirmed for tonight’s reading. Was invited to a series of kitchen organizational classes with Jeremy Rock Smith (starting tonight). I’ve missed that section of community.
Turned around two small client projects. Worked on the program. I’m waiting for two pieces of information to plug in, and then I’ll proof it and send it to a fellow collective member to cross-proof.
Rehearsed the poem. If I can start the vocal placement correctly, it’ll be fine. I’ll do vocal exercises in the car.
Prepared my pages for today’s Creatryx session, in their preferred formatting.
I’m so glad the National Book Awards gave Drew Barrymore the boot as host after she made the decision to scab. I did not think they would do it, but they did, and I’m glad I was wrong.
Attended the tarot circle over in Williamstown, and it was excellent. It’s great to hear all the different perceptions and interpretations of the cards. I like the group.
The group’s leader was teaching an herbal healing workshop at my home library, so some of us caravanned over after the tarot circle to support her in that. It was wonderful, and gave me ideas for next year’s herbs.
Had to duck out of the workshop a little early in order to make it back in time for the cooking session. Was annoyed that the downstairs neighbor (who’s a jerk) took my parking space instead of leaving room for me and staying in his own. So I parked in his. Which is not earth-shattering, but the blatant disrespect and fuck you attitude of those neighbors does not make for harmony. Everyone else in the building is considerate of each other; downstairs, they are always pushing boundaries, and if you give one centimeter, they push even more. Discussing it with them does nothing.
The cooking seminar ended up being more of a hangout/catch up session, but it was good. Those sessions will be every Wednesday into November, with a break when Jeremy leads the cruise in Greece. He was talking about food philosophy, which is interesting, and what an amazing experience he had teaching at the camp this summer.
I dreamed I lost my luggage in an airport, which was not a fun dream.
Online meditation group this morning with Concord Library; then I’ll get the next couple of weeks’ worth of Legerdemain episodes uploaded and scheduled. I have to be dressed and in full makeup before the Nightwood session starts, because as soon as we’re done, I head out the door for Easthampton and the gallery reading, and then I’ll be back, hopefully, before it’s too dark for me to see to drive. Urgh. I hate having to worry about that.
I’m both nervous and excited for this evening’s reading. And today is my last sharing session with Nightwood; I’m going to show them the opening of THE WOMEN ON THE BRIDGE, to get some feedback.
Waiting for one more piece of information to pop into the program, and then I can send it off for proofing.
Have a good one!
