Devon Ellington's Blog, page 55
September 13, 2023
Wed. Sept. 13, 2023: A Day at the Desk
image courtesy of Pexels via pixabay,comWednesday, September 13, 2023
Dark Moon
Pluto, Saturn, Neptune, Chiron, Mercury, Uranus, Jupiter Retrograde
Stormy
It still feels like summer! Could we have some crisp, cool air, please? Especially at night for sleeping?
The sky was such a weird shade of pink and green this morning.
Today’s Process Muse is about how to feed your work. You can read it here.
We have two serial episodes going live today.
ANGEL HUNT:
Episode 67: Randolph Neville’s Dilemma
The exhaustion of being revered.
DEADLY DRAMATICS:
Episode 17: Pressure at the Office
Back at the temp job, Nina’s feeling the pressure from all sides.
Yesterday was a struggle. I got the laundry done. I got a bunch of admin done. Admin always takes so much damn longer than I expect. Did the social media rounds for Legerdemain. Changed out the curtain in my bedroom from the summer roses sheers to a slightly darker sheer of a sky and clouds.
Got an episode and a half of Legerdemain written, and it took time, because I had to stop and do some worldbuilding that I thought I’d done, but turns out I hadn’t. I’d pushed it off until later, and “later” became “now.” This is why I do not advocate putting in placeholders as one writes; it always comes back to bite you in the butt.
Found out the new COVID boosters are available, so booked our shots together for next Monday afternoon. Hopefully, it won’t take me down for a week, like the previous shots have. This is shot #6 for us.
Hopefully, we won’t have to pay $130/pop. I’m hoping our insurance covers them. Or at least some of the cost.
I’m glad to get it done before the residency and before I have to serve jury duty. And I have some flexibility next week, so if I am down for a few days, it won’t be a disaster.
My mom just gets a little sleepy and her arm is sore for a day or so. I’ve been full out fever/chills/aches/headache for every shot. But it beats the alternative.
I do get sick of ten to twelve pages of the same paperwork they already have every time I book a shot. But at least we get them together. One trip.
I’m hoping Tuesday will be my only bad day.
I put together all the 25 pieces for Llewellyn into the single document, per my editor’s instructions, and added the spell icons and my bio. I will do a final proofread this morning and send it off. I had to throw out one spell, because I realized it was too similar to one I did a few years ago. But I came up with something better (in spite of the time to research, and the cuts/tweaks I had to make because it’s about fighting injustice).
I turned around two small client projects. Four more came in for this week, so I’ll have a little bit of income in this pay period, plus the review money (once I finish this last book, write the review, and invoice for the batch). I’ve been considering how I want to change the type of independent contract work over the winter months, and sending LOIs aimed in that direction, at least from November through March, and then readjust next spring and summer, depending on if/when any of the residency applications or play submissions hit the mark.
I did some work on the program and will finish it today to send off for proofing.
There’s still a good bit of flooding and aftermath of flooding in the eastern part of the state, so I’m glad we didn’t attempt a storage run this weekend. Looks like the Cape will be hammered by the hurricane this weekend, so no trip then, either. I did not realize how bad the storms were in that direction this past weekend, but the photos are disturbing.
We’ll see how next week shakes out, between booster shots and weather.
At least working remotely means I can often get something done, even if I can barely sit up, because the bed’s only a few feet away from my desk.
On today’s agenda: drafting an episode of Legerdemain, final proof of the Llewellyn articles and off to the editor, get my hair cut, finish the reading program, two small client projects, tarot circle.
Somewhere in there, I have to figure out what I’m going to wear to tomorrow’s reading, and also rehearse the poem. I think I will dress in colors similar to the print with which my poem is paired.
Off to hit the page, and then head to Williamstown to get my hair tidied up. Although it hasn’t gotten back to pandemic hair, it’s untidy in a way that doesn’t suit the messy bob look.
Have a good one.
September 12, 2023
Tues. Sept. 12, 2023: Taking It One Step at a Time
image courtesy of Lee Cassam via pixabay.comTuesday, September 12, 2023
Day Before Dark Moon
Pluto, Saturn, Neptune, Chiron, Mercury, Uranus, Jupiter Retrograde
Dreary, warm, humid
Did you have a good weekend? Mine had a few unexpected twists and turns. Today is the day before the dark moon, my lowest energy day of the month, but there’s still a lot that needs to get done.
Today’s serial episode is from Legerdemain:
Episode 119: Emlyn Gaines, Forger
Shelley enlists the infamous forger to catch a murderer.
I skipped my session at the Clark, although I struggled to get work done, due to the heat and humidity.
I did the episode graphics for this week’s episodes of Legerdemain. I did the episode videos for Legerdemain, Angel Hunt, and Deadly Dramatics. I did the catch-up video for episodes 109-120 of Legerdemain. I got all of it uploaded and scheduled on TikTok.
I did a big grocery shop and wine run. Hauling everything from the parking lot and up the stairs in the heat and humidity was not my idea of a good time. But it got done.
In the afternoon, I turned around two small client projects.
And then I gave myself some time off to read this month’s Agatha Christie book club selection, APPOINTMENT WITH DEATH. I know I read it ages ago, but I’d forgotten a lot of it, including the murderer!
We had bad storms come through in the afternoon and evening. There were all kinds of weather alerts for central MA for Saturday, so we decided to cancel the storage run. We’d have to drive through weather bad enough that people were being told to expect to “find shelter immediately” coming and going, and we just weren’t up for that. Not going puts more pressure on us later in the month, but traveling in bad weather in an old car during Mercury Retrograde (not to mention the other retrogrades) was a recipe for trouble.
We sat on the porch watching the storm for a bit.
Slept well, although I had dreams about Switzerland (which makes no sense).
Feeling tired and scattered on Saturday morning, but I wrote 9 pages of a Writer’s Rough Outline for a project. It’s about the first 3rd of the book. I know where I want to head with it, but I have to write my way into it for a few chapters, before I can outline the specifics of the middle and the last third. WHEN I can do that, I have no idea, but at least I won’t lose these ideas because they are now down on the page and printed out.
Went back to work to finish the Llewellyn pieces. Finished them. Which meant they could rest on Sunday, before the final polish pass.
Drafted two episodes of Legerdemain. I am determined to get ahead on that serial. Especially since I’m getting so many requests for spin-off and tie-in stories – something about that will go out in the newsletter, asking people which characters they want to see in additional stories (maybe not serials; it might just be tie-in stories or novellas).
I also did a new episode of THE VICIOUS CRITIC, which was fun, being back in that world. That was my reward for getting the other stuff done.
Cooked a nice dinner, and tried to relax in the evening. As guilty as I feel for not doing the Cape storage run today, it was also the right choice.
It was muggy and sticky, not good sleeping weather. I dreamed about a man whose best friend was a bear. No idea what that was about.
I polished and uploaded two more Process Muse posts, which gets me through the end of September.
I rewrote the pages for this week’s Nightwood session. I’m sharing the opening of the play inspired by the Munch painting.
I picked up my mom’s prescriptions and some Hershey’s kisses for my candy jar in residence, then stopped at Bear & Bee Bookshop to drop off some more flyers.
Came home and just needed rest. It wasn’t that hot, but the humidity was absolutely oppressive. I made myself a Blue Angel and read an acquaintance’s book. I had read the first book in the series, and was on the fence about it, not liking the protagonist much. It’s fine not to like a protagonist, but I also didn’t respect her or find her particularly engaging. I felt she was watered down and made messier in the wrong way to appease a particular conservative audience, which I didn’t like. What completely turned me off the book and the series was that the protagonist repeatedly used “witch” as a slur against other women. This writer KNOWS better. I know she knows better. On top of that, there were plot holes and lack of follow through on a few things, and it gave the impression of being written in haste, and diluted in the editing. I don’t know the writer well enough to discuss this, but I’m off reading any more books in the series. Which is a shame, because I liked the premise and the location, but I don’t like the actual books.
Again, another example of a traditional publisher using cozy mystery for performative inclusion while actually making a hard turn to the right.
Disappointed and angry.
Good thing we didn’t try the Cape storage run this weekend; there were problems with flooding and bridge closures. We would have been stuck somewhere along the way.
Seeing posts from people who traveled (unmasked) to a large convention, ran around (unmasked) with others (unmasked) and now act surprised that they’re all coming down with COVID. Gee, whyever could that be?
It wasn’t a good sleeping night. I had stress dreams about working a gala where everything went wrong. It was like everything that ever went wrong on any gala I ever worked over the years turned up in the dream. Charlotte pulled me out of it, thankfully, but it was not fun.
Felt bad when I woke up, and worried I was coming down with the plague, but then remembered it was 9/11 and I was literally sick with grief. Some years are easier than others; this was not one of them. I suspect it’s because I’ve been pondering how to handle it if/when it comes up in the Nina Bell series, because that is a pivotal point in the series.
Watched the 9/11 Table of Silence Project. It was, as always, powerful and beautiful, a mix of ritual performance, music, movement, sound. There were 150 dancers this year, along with musicians and singers. The use of space in Lincoln Center plaza is beautiful, and the precision amongst such a large group is also beautiful. Everyone there is totally committed.
At one point, a line for one of the poems I’m working on came to me, and I looked away to jot it down. When I looked back, the dancers all held offering plates. I was quite puzzled; there was no time for them to pass around plates. I looked more closely at the backs of the tunics, between the shoulder blades. I think a pocket might have been sewn in, and the plates stashed there. I will have to watch the reply for that moment, because, from a production standpoint, I am deeply curious.
I was moved and felt somewhat healed by the end of it. It helped me start my day in a better place.
I caught up on some email and administrative things, including submitting my MA Cultural Council report to the state. Keeping on top of the paperwork means I’m clear to apply when the next round of grants opens.
I dropped off/picked up some books at the library, grabbed a couple of things at the grocery store, and mailed a few things at the Post Office (catching up on local news).
By the time I got back, the humidity was oppressive again.
I filled out a rather complex application for an exciting residency that would happen next spring. Always worth a shot. I also submitted a play to a new works call.
Meanwhile, time was running out on the day, and there was writing that needed to get done, editing that needed to happen, and client projects.
But at least my mood improved!
Didn’t get a residency to which I applied for this winter, which is not a surprise (670 applications for 30 slots), but if I don’t try, I have no chance. I have to at least apply; the right one will land.
Wrote about a half an episode of Legerdemain. Did some noodling on some poetry. Allowed myself to grieve as I needed. People on social media were being asshats about 9/11 (nothing particularly new or different, quite a few people are asshats just to be asshats, which is why I curate my feeds as carefully as possible), but there was a lot of kindness and mutual support on Spoutible and CounterSocial.
So, Drew Barrymore is fucking over her writers by starting up her show again, huh? And she’s supposed to host the National Book Awards? I’ve now lost all respect for her and I hope the National Book Awards thinks twice and cancels her appearance. They won’t (too tied to corporate entities), but they should.
Loved the editing suggestions from FLASH FRONTIER, and sent my acceptance of them. Got the edits from BUT DOES IT HAVE POCKETS? And they’re terrific, too. Will let the editor know this morning, and that’s all taken care of, ahead of schedule so we don’t have to worry about anything getting stuck.
Did some work on the Llewellyn polish, and will finish those today. I hope I can get them out the door today; if not, I’ll get them out tomorrow.
The Clark will live stream some of the operas from the MET in NYC over the next few months, and my mom is very excited. I asked her which ones she wanted to see, and I will buy tickets a little closer to the dates (because we have to be careful with weather. But it’s only a 14-mile round trip, so we should be okay, unless the weather is really bad. There’s not much to worry about, flood-wise, on that set of roads.
I got my act together and walked up to Walkaway House for their Open Studios. The artists, as always, are doing fascinating work. I spent most of my time with Faye Pamintuan, who’s doing some really cool work. She also taught me how to use Gelli plates to print, and now I am obsessed. I was like a five-year-old fingerpainting for the first time.
Came home, cooked dinner, and then settled into the Zoom call with the Authors Guild, Cheryl Davis, Gregory Maguire, and Winnie Holzman about banning WICKED and book banning problems in general. It was a good conversation.
But by the end of the evening, this girl was tired!
Up early this morning and out the door to the laundromat. Got a few chapters of CAST IRON MURDER edited. After my residency, I should be able to do the next draft, and then, hopefully, it will be in shape to go out on submission early next year.
Today, I have to work on Legerdemain, polish the Llewellyn articles, finish the reading’s program to send for proofing, do at least one of the 3 small client projects that need attention. IF there’s time, maybe I can get a few more Angel Hunt episodes uploaded and scheduled. Or treat myself to writing another episode of THE VICIOUS CRITIC. But we’ll see.
We’ve been told to prepare for a nasty winter with lots of heavy, wet snow. Oh, joy. Yes, that was sarcasm.
Have a good one!
September 11, 2023
Mon. Sept. 11, 2023: 22nd Anniversary of 9/11
image courtesy of WikiImages via pixabay.comToday is the 22nd Anniversary of 9/11.
42 people I knew died that day, and more since from illness acquired in the rubble or suicide.
It is a day heavy with grief.
I will, however, honor it through the beautfy of the Buglisi Theatre’s Table of Silence project. You can watch it livestream at 8:00, this morning, with 8:10 being highlighted (a significent time in the day’s timeline) or watch a replay at any time.
Peace, my friends.
September 8, 2023
Fri. Sept. 8, 2023: Catching Up on What Didn’t Get Done This Week
image courtesy of Elias via pixabay.comFriday, September 8, 2023
Waning Moon
Pluto, Saturn, Neptune, Chiron, Mercury, Uranus, Jupiter Retrograde
Sunny and Warm
Did the heat finally break? Well, we had a storm and it’s a little better, but still too warm for my taste.
Today’s serial episode is from ANGEL HUNT:
Episode 66: What Niall Wants
Niall shows up, making it clear to Lianna what he wants.
Tomorrow’s serial episode is from DEADLY DRAMTICS:
Episode 16: When Friends Show Up to Help
Nina is surprised & overwhelmed when neighbors & friends show up to help her with her ransacked apartment.
Meditation was good yesterday, and I was happy to be back in that routine. We talked about how we create our reality through our choices, which echoes this week’s Process Muse post.
I lost, however, my prime writing time to sorting out the issues with the Devon Ellington Work site. I think they are fixed now. Only time will tell.
I did some more work on the newsletter, too. That’s going to go out early in the last week of September, because I want it out before going in-studio.
Trying to sort out if I can do a couple of things at the Clark that I’ve been invited to do. Had to turn down a couple of other invitations from a couple of theatre and art organizations, because I’m already booked. But I’m grateful to be asked to participate!
When I do the TikTok videos for tomorrow, I will start playing with something for the reading. Got some more publicity stuff out for the reading, and also updated my Creative Ground profile (since that brings in more opportunities by a mile than LinkedIn).
Worked with Arts Hub Western MA and got the listing for the BHPC reading approved. Fingers crossed that they spotlight it closer to the day!
Found the first line of the poem I’m creating for Word X Word’s Poets in Conversation series on Oct. 15 about “Work” and know the shape I want the rest of it to take. The focus is on how “women’s work” is demeaned.
Wrote a couple of Legerdemain episodes before the Nightwood session. I reworked a few details in scenes, and then wrote about 4 ½ more pages. I need to start working on it every day again, once the Llewellyn articles are out the door. This lurching of only working on it around the sessions is too disjointed.
The session itself was terrific. Everyone’s work is so exciting. I wish we had more time to spend with each other beyond the readings and critique, to share more about process and why certain elements of the work are important. That’s not possible within these parameters, but it’s something I wish was possible. They’re all such interesting people.
After, I took a short break, then edited, polished, uploaded and scheduled next week’s Legerdemain episodes.
When I was finished with that, it was time to head out to yoga (which has moved to Thursday nights for autumn). It was great. I needed it.
Picked up takeout on the way home. Too hot to cook.
A little after 9 PM, we got a tremendous thunderstorm with high winds, thunder, lightning, rain. We sat on the porch and watched for a good bit, until we headed off to bed. It cooled things down a little, but not as much as I hoped, and it’s still kind of warm and sticky this morning.
Today, I have some writing to do, and finish the Llewellyn pieces. I will give them a polish on Monday and get them out the door. I’m not going to the Clark today; I might go there instead on Sunday. I need to finish the work that got derailed because I struggled to work in the heat/humidity these past few days. I also have to do the episode videos for TikTok for next week, and the Legerdemain Catch-up video (we have another 12 episodes since the last one, imagine that). I also want to try making a video for the BHPC reading, using the flyer.
I also need to do a big grocery shop. I have to make some decisions regarding meal planning.
Tomorrow, we do a storage run to the Cape and back, which I’m dreading, but is necessary. I hope I can get to the Clark on Sunday.
Monday morning is the anniversary of 9/11. I plan to watch the Table of Silence performance, streamed live from Lincoln Center. I have other rituals for the day, but that performance sets a resonance for me that I really love.
Have a great weekend my friends, and I’ll catch you on the other side!
September 7, 2023
Thurs. Sept. 7, 2023: One More Day of Dripping
image courtesy of Gerhard Bögner via pixabay.comThursday, September 7, 2023
Waning Moon
Pluto, Saturn, Neptune, Chiron, Mercury, Uranus, Jupiter Retrograde
Hazy, hot, humid
The latest on the garden is over on Gratitude and Growth.
Today’s serial episode is from Legerdemain:
Episode 118: The Questor’s Ruse
Shelley confronts a Questor passing himself off as a worker.
Yesterday wound up being a bit chaotic. If it was a tarot card, it would be the 5 of Swords, paired with the 9 of Wands. I hoped to get a lot done at my desk early in the day, before too much heat pressed down on me, and I was stymied at every turn. I had to provide some additional information to paperwork I’d sent out last week, which I did.
I wrote checks for some bills – yes, I use checks. I’m sick and tired of “automated billing” fucking up all the time. Then I sent an email through the bank’s private messaging system telling them that yes, it was really me who ordered the checks, and they better not try and make me jump through the hoops they did last time. They acknowledged it quickly. The new checks have already been shipped. So I’ll keep an eye out for them over the next few days.
I did some back-and-forth with my webhost, since they are trying to figure out and fix the problem getting into the Devon Ellington Work site. Only they’re not actually helping me. They keep sending me an email with “security questions” WHICH I’VE ALREADY FUCKING ANSWERED instead of reading the email chain for the ticket. I’m so sick of this fucking pretense of “security” when it’s not about security, but about putting off the actual tech support. One email, maybe two, could be considered security. Six is procrastination because no one feels like dealing with the issue. I finally got an email saying the issue had been fixed; we’ll see. I’ll check it later today.
But I wasn’t able to get up the Ink-Dipped Advice post. I may put it up today, or I may schedule it for next week, and do the 2nd/4th Wednesdays of the month moving forward, instead of the 1st and 3rd. Not that I’ve had much to say over the last few months.
I sent out the promised press releases, and got started on the listings. Quite a few have to be uploaded individually and manually, which means blocking off time, but I got about a half a dozen done, and will do more today.
I packed up the books and dropped off a dozen books at the library and picked up three. Then I headed down to MASSMoCA to print off the flyers for the reading. Mailed the bills. Headed home.
Heard from National Grid they had a data breach. Gee, big surprise. Got a notification from FB that someone was trying to change my password – nope, not me, don’t let them. A friend of mine got some heartbreaking news, and I’m trying to do what I can to help, and wishing I could do more. Did the social media rounds for Process Muse, Angel Hunt, and Deadly Dramatics.
I was having zero luck trying to concentrate to, you know, get any work done.
I went ahead and booked a hair appointment for next Wednesday. It’s not with the stylist who did my hair the last time, but it’s a clean up cut, not a total new look, so let’s hope it’s not too complicated. The online booking kept trying to push me toward an early Monday morning appointment, but Monday is 9/11. I have rituals to do, I’m committed to watching The Table of Silence performance; no. A haircut is not appropriate.
I showered mid-afternoon again, because I was gross and disgusting, and put myself together to go to the tarot circle at Wild Soul River in Williamstown. I brought The Forager’s Daughter, which was a good choice for the circle. We worked with the 2 of Cups. It was a larger group than I expected, and interesting, so I’ll go back whenever I can.
I left them a flyer for the reading at the end of the month.
Home, dinner, and then burned out. Tried to read a bit. It was too hot and humid to be able to write. I’m angry at myself for not getting more done yesterday, and more is pushed off to today. I also got two small client projects that I will have to turn around by the weekend.
The online meditation group starts meeting again this morning, so hopefully that will get me settled. Then I’ll work until the Nightwood Session this afternoon; I’ll have a quick break, and then it’s off to yoga.
Somehow, it will all get done. And somewhere in there, the heat will break, and I can get back to getting things done.
September 6, 2023
Wed. Sept. 6, 2023: Pushing Through Humidity
image courtesy of Annabel_P via pixabay.comWednesday, September 6, 2023
Waning Moon
Pluto, Saturn, Neptune, Chiron, Mercury, Uranus, Jupiter Retrograde
Hazy, hot, humid
Not loving the heat and humidity.
Today’s Process Muse is about active choices and opportunities. You can read it here.
If I can get into the Fearless Ink website, an Ink-Dipped Advice post will go up later today. I will put a link to it in tomorrow’s post, or let you know that I couldn’t get into the site. Have not yet heard back from the support ticket.
Today, we have TWO serial episodes going live!
From ANGEL HUNT:
Episode 65: Hints of Rituals
Lianna handles the customers while Amy & Bunny try to help the teens.
FROM DEADLY DRAMATICS:
Episode 15: A Woman’s City Instincts
Nina feels left behind by her friends’ success & ambitions. Prime time for Jake to reappear.
Yesterday, I was what is commonly known as a waste of food. I just could not get my act together.
I mean, I was out the door on time to the laundromat. I edited several chapters of CAST IRON MURDER.
When I returned, I was useless.
Well, not entirely, but as far as what needed to get done.
I submitted a play to three different submission calls. They’re logged (and this play is already out to three other submission calls), so if somebody picks it up, I just let the others know. I’m done with not doing simultaneous submissions on pieces, unless the venue is willing to give me an answer in two weeks. Which is unrealistic for any venue, but I can’t sit on scripts and stories and the like while someplace takes months to make a decision. I’m only submitting to places that understand we have a career going on here, and I’m going to send my pieces to any market that I believe is a good fit. If a place is so egotistical they want to be the ONLY possible market for a piece, we probably are not a good fit. Especially when it comes to plays, which are meant to appeal to a wide range of audiences across a large geography.
After that, I tossed out a resume to a listing that actually looked interesting, and an LOI to another place. I did some research and made notes for some LOIs I’m going to do next week, companies that interest me, where I basically think I can fill a need of which they’re not aware.
Because, let’s face it, the strike will probably stretch into next year. I need to land other work I enjoy, and then, when things are back up and running, cut back on the arenas in the script/production world I stopped enjoying.
I figured I should poke around LinkedIN, but it is not useful for the way I’m skewing my career. There are some people on there with whom I want to keep in touch; too many creepazoids trying for dates or internet sex, and not the type of job listings for which I’m looking.
It was hot and humid, and I was grumpy, never the best mindset for work.
The notecards from Peter Pauper Press arrived and are wonderful. I still need to get the Winter Holiday cards sorted, and then we’re in good shape. Overseas cards have to go out the week before Thanksgiving this year, and domestic pretty soon after Thanksgiving weekend.
Goddess Provisions is going to stop the monthly boxes over the next few months. I am disappointed, but I’ve gotten a lot of great stuff since I started the subscription (back in 2018). Unlike some of the other subscription services, whose quality diminished while their prices went up (including ridiculous shipping costs), Goddess Provisions held the price point and maintained quality. I will miss them. But I am grateful for all the wonderful items I received, and small batch artisans I would have never otherwise found.
It was around 4 PM when I settled down to write. I rarely write that late in the day. I skipped the piece with which I’m struggling (will go back to it today), and wrote up eight more pieces before dinner. I only have six short pieces to draft today, including the problematic one.
The first priority, though, is to work on Legerdemain.
When the library opens, I have to drop off/pick up some books (I’m dropping off about a dozen). Then I’m headed to MASSMoCA to print off flyers; after that, the post office. The press release for the reading goes out today, and I send out the listings tomorrow. We want to have a good turnout for the reading on September 30!
I’ll do some more writing (hopefully it won’t be so hot I can’t feel my brain), and then, at 4, I head over to Williamstown for a tarot meeting.
Tomorrow is the worst of the heat, and then it breaks tomorrow night with storms, so we just have to hang in there 48 more hours. Trying to decide if I should get my hair cut on Friday by a different stylist or wait until Tuesday for my regular stylist. I want it done before next week’s reading. Friday would be more convenient, because I’m over in that direction.
This weekend, we have to do a storage run. Next weekend is a big festival on Cape (lots of traffic) and after that is bridge work which means long waits to get over the bridge (not that that is new and different, but it will be worse), so it has to happen this weekend. Somehow, we have to schedule another trip in October (which is getting to be a very complicated month) before everything shuts down for the winter.
People keep making demands on my time during the residency week at the end of this month, and I keep saying, “No, I am not available those days, I am in studio at MASSMoCA.”
And then they say, “But it’s right in town. You can just—”
And I say, “No. I am IN STUDIO. The ONLY thing happening that week for me is the residency. Period.”
They had the last three months to book me, when I actually had the time open. Now, the window is closed, and I am not throwing away an opportunity to fit someone else’s disorganization.
That impulse so many people have, the minute someone’s not waiting around for them and busy, to try to force them to put aside priorities for others’ convenience/agendas, never ceases to irritate me.
Anyway, I need to hit the page this morning before the heat intensifies (it was lousy sleeping weather last night), and then, hopefully, won’t have that much left to do when I get back from errands.
I’d love it if it didn’t get as hot as predicted today, and the storms broke the heat/humidity today instead of tomorrow night.
September 5, 2023
Tues. Sept. 5, 2023: When You’re Forced to Slow Down
image courtesy of Jill Wellington via pixabay.comTuesday, September 5, 2023
Waning Moon
Pluto, Saturn, Neptune, Chiron, Mercury, Uranus, Jupiter Retrograde
Venus direct as of Sept. 3
Foggy, hot, humid
Hope you had a great holiday weekend. It’s supposed to be very hot this week, which I dread, but I hope it’s summer’s last gasp. Ready for a catch up?
Today’s serial episode is from Legerdemain:
Episode 117: Protection For Whom?
Is Shelley trying to protect her team? Or the assassin?
Friday was a beautiful day, weather-wise.
I had somewhat of a slow start on Friday, but got the rent mailed, and headed to the Clark. I got some work done on two of the pieces, and checked in on my WOMEN ON THE BRIDGE. I spent time with the black and white litho of “The Scream” which, in many ways, is far more powerful than the color memes that are so popular.
I tried to spend some quality time by the reflecting pool, but they were cutting down some trees – a sound I LOATHE. It made me want to write a horror story about a wood who turns loggers into trees who in turn get their limbs cut off.
Most of the time, they are far more responsible about pruning and cutting here than they were on the Cape, where they just cut everything the hell down no matter what, but I’m always wary when I see anyone cutting down a tree, unless I’m sure it is no longer healthy.
I bought the Munch catalogue, so at least I’ll have that when the exhibit moves on.
Did a light grocery shop. Brought everything home. Was putting things away in the pantry when I was hit in the face by a cornucopia decoration, hard enough to fill my mouth with blood and make me worry about losing teeth. Venus Retrograde had to get another shot in. Literally.
Which means I didn’t get very much done the rest of Friday. I managed to do the episodes graphics for Legerdemain, do all six episode videos for the three serials next week, and read the book for review.
I pulled myself together (and the bleeding stopped and the swelling went down) to head to First Friday to visit the studio of the word/theatre artists I’d met. They met online and fell in love through daily emails; they keep journals, and, especially during the pandemic, intense ones. They have wonderful insight into character-revealing details. They used to live in Beacon, only a few streets away from my friend, and now live in Poughkeepsie, which they love.
There was a community picnic on Eagle Street that night, the tables and chairs set up down the middle of the street like something in an Italian village, but I didn’t trust my injured mouth enough to stay. It’s great idea, though, and so wonderful that the town/neighborhood is doing that.
Came home, cooked dinner, started reading Ann Aguirre’s THE ONLY PURPLE HOUSE IN TOWN, which was a delight.
It’s fairly quiet; most people have gone away for the weekend, both college students and locals. And some, I think, have moved out, in anticipation of problems with the new owners.
Had trouble getting going on Saturday, although it was quite a beautiful day. Did the typical household chores like changing the sheets, etc. Saturday night is always my favorite night to go to bed because of the clean sheets! I read the Aguirre book in the morning, loving it more and more. I got my act together at noon to walk down to the bookstore and finalize the event details. I’m excited to be doing an event at the bookstore.
Now, of course, I have to figure out what to read there.
I wrote up the review, sent if off, and told my editor I was ready for the next assignment, once she got back from the long holiday weekend. It was kind of weird to have it due in the middle of the weekend, but whatever; if I’d really had my act together, it would have gone out before the weekend.
Mostly, on Saturday, I just gave myself the day off.
I made pizza at night, and, once I finished PURPLE HOUSE, I started reading Donna Andrews’s newest, BIRDER, SHE WROTE. I’ve been a big fan of this series for years, so I’m always excited when a new book comes out.
Didn’t feel like getting up early on Sunday, but I did. It was a relief to feel the pressure release a bit with Venus going direct. Venus and Mercury retrograde together are always painful, but Venus and Mars are worse, so grateful for small favors. And the weight of these other retrogrades is not fun, either.
Did a quick grocery shop. My mom has been craving a traditional German dish (one that I don’t know how to make), so I got her all the ingredients, and she promised to make Sunday night dinner. I bought fried chicken and potato salad for lunch (because in the book I read, they were eating friend chicken, and I suddenly wanted some).
Took care of some admin, and then noodled with the Llewellyn articles. Went through some more books that needed to go back to the library; some I read in more depth than others. I finished BIRDER, SHE WROTE, which was a lot of fun.
Started noodling ideas/lines for the collaborative project for the residency. I have my opening line; now I have to figure out the rest of it.
I’m also going through materials to see what I want to read on the 30th. Next week, I will type up some of the raw material I’ve been working with, and put it with the image folder. I also have to get down to Pittsfield next week and get a length of muslin.
I need to figure out which books I’m taking (I know the poodle bookends are coming) and which batiks. I want to start packing the totes I’m taking into the space to nest.
I updated my Freelance Resume; I’m going to start LOIs this week and next week again. I’m working on the three project proposals that have to get out, although I don’t want to submit them until after Mercury goes direct.
Because of where this Jupiter retrograde sits in my chart, this one is supposed to be a positive, encouraging one (Jupiter retrogrades tend to be rough for me). This one is about slowing down to make stronger choices with clarity, and I’m there for that.
And, of course, WordPress did a “security update” with reCAPTCHA, which means I can’t access any of the sites for which I pay, although I doesn’t keep out anyone who’s trying to hack me.
I have a support ticket in with A2 Hosting. It looks like the Devon Ellington Work site is the only one with the big problem, but who knows? I need to do some work on Fearless Ink today, and on the other sites in the coming weeks.
I got my next book for review; I will read it this week, and then I can send in the invoice for this batch. I got the next two Process Muse posts polished, uploaded, and scheduled.
I took care of some admin and email, and threw a resume at an interesting short-term writing position at a highly coveted company. I have a feeling they want unpaid labor in the form of “tests” in which case I’ll have to tell them to bite me, I don’t care how well-known they are. Then they should be even more committed to no unpaid labor as part of the interview process.
Then I drafted 8 of the short Llewellyn articles, which are the priority this week. They need to be written, polished, and out the door. I worked on another Process Muse post. By the end of next week, I need to have everything through the end of October ready to go.
Up early this morning and out the door to the laundromat. Edited a few chapters of CAST IRON MURDER. I look forward to getting it submission-ready this autumn and sending it out the door after the first of next year.
I can’t believe the residency is coming up THIS MONTH. It seemed so far away for so long, and now it’s nearly here.
September 4, 2023
Mon. Sept. 4, 2023: Intent for the Week — Task by Task
image courtesy of Ulrike Mai via pixabay.comVenus went direct yesterday.
Jupiter goes direct today.
So we’re still at 7 Retrogrades.
Because I burned out and was forced to rest a good portion of the weekend, I have to make up for it this week, including today, which is technically a holiday.
And, of course, with Mercury being retrograde and WordPress insisting on “updating” a reCAPTCHA that I never could get to work properly in the first place, I can’t get into ANY of my websites. Which is a big issue. I tried to do the hCATPCHA update prior to the Sept. 1 deadline AND NONE OF THEM WORKED.
I have a support ticket in to my webhost.
With such a stack of work that must be done this week, I am looking at each task, doing it, and moving onto the next. If I look at the whole list, I will be overwhelmed and not get anything done. Which is simply not an option.
What’s your intent for the week?
September 1, 2023
Fri. Sept. 1, 2023: From Stress to Joy
image courtesy of inno kurnia via pixabay.comFriday, September 1, 2023
Waning Moon
Pluto, Saturn, Neptune, Venus, Chiron, Mercury, Uranus Retrograde
Venus will turn direct on Sept. 3
Jupiter will go retrograde on Sept. 4
Sunny and cool
We’re starting September with beautiful, cool weather here. I hope you’re getting a good start, too.
Today’s serial episode is from Angel Hunt:
Episode 64: Under the Wrong Influences
When can one interfere with free will if it means saving a life?
Tomorrow’s serial episode is from Deadly Dramatics:
Episode 14: College Friends Know Too Much
Nina hangs out with her college friends – who know her too well to let her get away with the same bad patterns.
Yesterday was a day that began with stress, but ended with joy and community, so that was a good trajectory.
I got the laundry done, and did a few chapters of revisions on CAST IRON MURDER. This autumn, it needs some more attention, so it can go on submission early next year. I’d hoped it would go out this fall, but other projects jumped in front of it.
I did some more work on the press release for the reading, and sent it off for approval.
I got next week’s Legerdemain episodes polished, uploaded, and scheduled, and the next ANGEL HUNT episodes, which gets me into early December for AH. I need to get ahead on Legerdemain. I’m keeping up, but I need to get ahead.
I polished the pages for the Nightwood session and prepped them.
I took a quick break before it started, to clear my head and ground a bit.
I struggled in the writing session; because I’m not working on the play every day (and I should be), I struggle to get back into it when we have our sessions. I barely wrote two pages in our 40-minute writing session, and kept deleting and rewriting much of what I wrote. Just at the end of the session, I figured out where I’d gone wrong. Of course.
The sharing work was a lot of fun. One of the women has left the group, unfortunately, due to a change in her school schedule. I felt bad because, when I read on someone else’s pages, I botched some name pronunciation and it hurt the rhythm of the comedy.
The notes I got on my pages were helpful, and something I was worried would hit wrong did not. There was some awkward phrasing on my part for a few lines that I can clean up. I disagreed with one formatting protocol note – in 40+ years of a theatre career I’ve never seen it, much known it as “expected” – but maybe it’s a difference in Canadian and American protocols. As the only American in the group, I can see the differences in the styles of theatre, even more so than the difference between American and English theatre. And, of course, there are differences between English, Welsh, Scottish, Irish, Australian theatre styles, which I’ve experienced working in those situations. But I hadn’t realized the differences between American and Canadian styles. So that’s a very interesting learning curve for me.
My work tends to connect with international audiences (often better with American ones), so whatever I can integrate will only make my work stronger.
My colleagues could see how I’d taken the notes from our last session, integrated them, and built on them, which I hoped was noticeable, so I’m glad that worked.
Their work was all wonderful and thrilling, and I’m so honored to be a part of the group.
As usual, I was in limp dishrag mode by the end of it. In a good way, but still exhausted.
However, I had to get my act together, put on Real People Pants and head to the bookstore to work out some details of the reading. To find that the person with whom I needed to sort it all out wouldn’t be there until Saturday. But the new manager is the partner of an artist/writer I know from MASSMoCA, and we had a good chat. He will talk to the owner, who I will then follow up with on Saturday. Since we’re providing flyers, programs, marketing, snacks, it’s not that much on the store itself.
Home, got back into comfy clothes, and just had to take a breath and rest.
I nearly skipped the open house/book signing at Wild Soul River in Williamstown. But I really wanted to go, and my mom gave me a good little push of encouragement, so I put my Real People Pants back on and headed over.
I’m so glad I did!
I bought one of the books, of course, and had it signed. And talked to the owners and the other people at the store about. . .just about everything. I’m usually terrible at meeting new people in a group, but this was easy and right. I had a great time, and I’m going to start attending their Wednesday night tarot group whenever I can.
The owners are close with the bookshop owners, and are excited about the poetry reading in September. I promised to bring flyers – I can bring them with me next Wednesday.
Slept well. Charlotte woke me up this morning using my stomach as a trampoline, which might be her idea of fun, but. . .ow.
Today, I need to get some writing done in the morning. Then I’m headed to the Clark for a few hours. Grocery shopping on the way home. Then more writing. Maybe getting some more episodes of ANGEL HUNT up and out. I have to do the social media rounds for ANGEL HUNT, too. I’ve switched the front door décor, and have to switch out the various fabrics from the summer to the autumn.
This evening is First Friday, and I promised one of the Walkaway House artists who’s been coming to yoga during her residency that I would stop by her studio this evening to see her work and chat.
Tomorrow, I need to swing by the bookstore and get everything sorted out so that the publicity can start next week. If I can, I’d like to then head down to Pittsfield to the Clock Tower artist open studios.
The main focus all weekend, however, is finishing the spells for the Llewellyn almanac. I want to have them all drafted by end of day Monday, so I can revise them Tuesday and Wednesday, and get them out no later than Thursday. I’ve worked on the spells and have the notes; it’s just distilling it succinctly into 150 words each. Which takes time and concentration, and a particular headspace.
I also need to finish reading a book for review today (the review is due tomorrow), and to read a friend’s poetry manuscript.
AND get some of my own writing done.
This is a holiday weekend for us in the States, with Monday being Labor Day. I hope you have a joyful one.
August 31, 2023
Thurs. Aug. 31, 2023: Just Chugging Along
image courtesy of David Mark via pixabay.comThursday, August 31, 2023
Waning Moon
Pluto, Saturn, Neptune, Venus, Chiron, Mercury, Uranus Retrograde
Sunny and pleasant
You can find the latest on the garden over on Gratitude and Growth.
Today’s serial episode is from Legerdemain:
Episode 116: Dampening the Heat
The assassin’s own changed magic provokes an intriguing new theory.
I struggled yesterday. I felt heavy and sad and unsettled.
But I pushed through, although I didn’t have much luck in writing. Very few words on the page, which frustrated me and threw off my rhythm for the day.
But I caught up on some email. I did a library run, dropping off and picking up books.
A medium-sized client project and four small client projects came through. I turned all of them around. It won’t be much money, but at least there will be something coming in this pay period.
I looked at a few other places, to which I might send my resume. I want to reconfigure my freelance resume. That’s on the list for the holiday weekend, and I’ll start sending the newly reconfigured resume and letter out next week, along with an updated cover letter. I want different things now, from my freelance life, and it’s time to go after them.
I helped smooth out some event details; I will have to go to the venue today in person for the rest. I drafted up a press release. I need a pithy headline, but I ran out of pith.
Did some thinking about the three proposals I still have to write. Each organization to which I’m pitching is very different, and I need to crystallize what unique skills and perspective I bring that align with their various missions.
The Blue Moon ritual I did last night was simple, but felt right.
I really wanted to take the upcoming holiday weekend off, but I don’t see that happening. At the very least, I have to dig down and complete the 25 short articles for Llewellyn, and get a bit ahead on Legerdemain, The Process Muse, and Ink-Dipped Advice.
I was out the door early to the laundromat, and got the laundry done. It still has to be folded and put away, but that’s on the list for this morning. I managed to work on a few chapters of the multi-colored draft of CAST IRON MURDER while I was there.
Today I need to work on the press release and send it off for tweaks, so I can make changes and get it out next week, go to the event venue to check on a few things, draft at least one episode of Legerdemain, and get next week’s episodes revised, edited, uploaded, and scheduled. The afternoon will be taken up with Nightwood’s Creatryx, where I will do some more work on FROZEN AT THE PALACE THEATRE and share the next four pages of the piece. I have to prep the pages. They’re written, but I need to do a good PDF just of those pages to share.
In the best of all possible worlds, I’d get some of the short articles done this morning, and then, later this evening, get four more ANGEL HUNT episodes up, but I seriously doubt it will happen. I also need to start reading the next book for review.
I’ve been invited to an open house/book signing in Williamstown tonight. I’d like to go, because I’d like to meet that circle of people, but I have to see how the day shakes out.
Have a good one! At least we have some sunshine today.
