Devon Ellington's Blog, page 60
July 5, 2023
Wed. July 5, 2023: Lots of Words, Both Spoken and Typed
image courtesy of Jill Wellington via pixabay.comWednesday, July 5, 2023
Waning Moon
Pluto, Saturn, Neptune Retrograde
Foggy, humid, hot
We’re supposed to have a humid heat wave the rest of this week. Ick.
Ready for a long catch-up? Curl up with a favorite beverage and we’ll get to it.
Yesterday’s serial episode was from Legerdemain:
Episode 99: Why He Followed Her
Shelley doesn’t believe Vidor turned up because he wants a date.
Today’s serial episode is from Angel Hunt:
Episode 47: Lianna Needs Training
Lianna realizes how much she doesn’t know, and determines to change it.
There’s also a new post over on The Process Muse about First Draft Frenzy (goes live at 8 AM, I will put in the link then).
Okay, time to reach waaaay back into last week (which happens to also be last month) to start our catch-up with Friday.
I was out the door by 7 AM although the fucking heavy machinery beeping was in full force as of 6:28. That contractor is just hateful.
The fog was dense, all the way to Dalton. I missed the turn to the Stationery Factory the first time, but turned around and found it coming from the other direction. What a great space! It’s now primarily a music venue. In addition to a plethora of Victorian sofas dotting the space, they repurposed old road boxes for music equipment into seating, and it was really great.
There were 34 vendors. A few more banks than made sense, but hey. There were a lot of resources. And I got to thank some organizations, such as the North Adams Chamber, who had a table, and MassHire, who also had a table. I got to talk to all kinds of people.
I met a graphic designer, and we’re going to have coffee in the next couple of weeks, because when I’m hired to do work for a company, they often want graphics and words. While I can get away with simple graphics, it makes more sense, in many cases to bring on a graphics designer. And she said when she’s hired for graphics, they often want copy, and while she can get away with it, she’d rather bring on a writer. So we’ll figure it out.
One of the women on one of the panels is a social media consultant, but she’s writing her first novel, so we’re going to get together to chat about that. I met a man who’d traveled all the way from Eastham, over on Cape Cod, because he wonders if there are more opportunities for his small business on this side of the state (yes, there are). I filled out a survey about internet equity, and was invited to join a focus group for better (and better-priced) internet access so we’re not stuck with Spectrum. I met a woman from NYC who’s now in the Berkshires who has a book on dealing with annoying people (and had people pull tarot cards around their business needs for the day). Mine was The Sun, which made sense. Another woman at the table pulled the 4 of Wands – which makes sense because she just got engaged. I talked to the representative from the local community college about getting hired there to teach some of my workshops (or develop new ones). I’m going to send him an email tomorrow with thumbnails of workshops already developed and see if any of them fit what they need, or what they would like a proposal built around, and then do that.
The BERKSHIRE EAGLE had a table full of all kinds of merchandise. There was so much swag everywhere. One of BE’s best swag was a waterproof cell phone case (and she laughed, because she had to show me how to use it). I also talked to someone about getting certified as a woman-owned business so I can bid for state contracts (they have all kinds of needs, but they need writers). It’s very interesting, I would have to line up a few ducks differently before applying for certification. One of their things is a site visit – I wouldn’t change my home office, that’s for sure, and it’s eclectic enough to be a conversation starter. But I almost said, “what are you, an animal rescue agency?” But I didn’t. I also have to consider whether or not I am in a place where I can make the type of commitment they need. Contracts generally run 3-5 years, with the option to renew. Many of the contracts run for 9 years or so. At this stage of my life, that’s a huge commitment.
I stopped at every table and talked to all the vendors. I talked to other attendees in and around the workshops. For an introvert, I did a lot of talking (and listening). Unlike the networking events in my previous location, where there was always an undercurrent of disdain for many attendees, there was a sense of purpose, joy, and optimism.
I ran into the woman who’s expanding her tea business, that I met at Tuesday’s event – and she won the big raffle prize! We ran into another woman who is also starting a tea business. We ended up having lunch together, and someone came up to interview us because we were obviously having so much fun. The interviewer said our table “sparkled.”
We got little box lunches of burritos and chips and a giant cookie. Very delicious. I have to email over to 1Berkshire tomorrow and ask them who provided it. I did not pay attention, but I want to thank them for it, and also know who they are, so I can be a customer!
During all of this, I was trying to coordinate the plumbing issue here at the house.
The event ended after lunch. The vendors and attendees collectively agreed that walking out of the building meant the start of the holiday weekend, Monday was part of the holiday weekend, and none of us were going to worry about following up with any of the rest of us until at least Thursday of this week.
I have a giant stack of business cards and a lot of follow-up to do tomorrow. But it will be fun, and I’m looking forward to it. I actually had a really good time, which I usually don’t, at these events.
The car was super hot when I got back into it, so I rolled down the windows and turned up the radio, and I’m singing at the top of my lungs until I started coughing. I figured I hadn’t gotten virused THAT fast. Then, I look up at the sky and the haze from the Canadian wildfires. So I rolled up the windows, and I’d been driving long enough for the AC to blow cold, rather than hot.
Ooops.
On the way home, I stopped at a store in Pittsfield to pick up a few things, and then at Adams Fresh Market, to get some groceries. I was home reasonably early. The fucking beeping heavy machinery was gone. May they never darken our asphalt again.
I got into a conversation with my across-the-street neighbor (the one who thinks I should date a blacksmith). He’s talking about wanting to open a small business. I was all like, “guess where I just came from?” I promised to put together a list of resources for him. He was laid off during the pandemic when the machine shop in which he worked was sold, then closed, and he’s been freelancing repairs even since, but he wants to start his own small shop.
The Chewy order showed up during all this, so I’m trying to wrestle with groceries and swag bags and cat litter when the maintenance guy showed up to fix the sink. It was a simple fix – the U-bend pipe had been put in backwards, and he was surprised that it just started leaking. It’s all fixed, and we have a working sink. While he was here, he checked the fire extinguisher and all four fire alarms. Everyone’s having trouble with the fire alarms going off, because of the wildfire haze.
By that time, I was wiped out. I took a nap on the couch. I rarely nap during the day.
I woke up to the ping of a delivery – THE CITY OF DREAMS Oracle arrived. It’s by the same woman who created THE MIDNIGHT CITY TAROT. It is so beautiful! I’m so excited about it, and can’t wait to start using it.
Tilapia with sweet Thai chili sauce, tiny red potatoes with butter, and creamed spinach for dinner. Sorted through all the stuff I brought back from the event. Every table had tote bags – I could have brought home 34 tote bags, but I only brought home 2.
I was invited by Word X Word to create a poem about book banning and gun violence. I replied that yes, I want to be a part of that event. I’m noodling with ideas, and as soon as I get confirmation I’m on the roster, I will work on the poem.
Came home to another email about yet another delay in distributing grant money and more of their whining. They shouldn’t be whining: we’re the ones paying the price. They should be SOLVING THE PROBLEM.
And I’m going to say this: Fuck this version of the Supreme Court and their decisions based not on law or justice, but on who is lining their pockets.
Went to bed early. Worn out, but in a good way. Had terrible dreams, connected to the move.
Could not face hauling the towels to the laundromat on Saturday morning.
We were out of the house into the heat and haze fairly early. We drove down to some stores we wanted to visit in Lee, buying lots of chocolate, and then I went on a bra bender. Don’t ask, it’s TMI, but there are polka dots involved, and they are adorable.
Managed to take the longest possible way to Great Barrington (but it was pretty). The Vietnamese restaurant I hoped to visit wasn’t yet open, and the Asian market was across 4 lanes of traffic, so that didn’t happen.
But at a thrift store, I found a lovely, silver-plated gravy boat on a stand. It lifts off to pour, and there’s room for a candle warmer. It was so unique I had to get it. Plus, it was less than $5.
Got giant chocolate milkshakes from the Craft Food Barn on the way home. The wildfire haze was so dense that we needed to use our headlights. Home, air purifier on, got stuff unpacked. Since I rarely do anything with cow’s milk anymore, there was a price to pay, but I sure enjoyed the milkshake while I drank it.
Found out that the Muskrat is limiting how many tweets one can read per day. For a site that claims to want to put ads in front of people, that’s a hella dumbass move, but not surprising. Locked my account again. I will post for a few more weeks for the serials through the launch of DEADLY DRAMATICS, and then we’ll see.
Things are picking up on Spoutible and Mastodon, and slowing down on CounterSocial, so who knows what’s been going on?
An Instagram pal sent me an invite to Bluesky, so I wandered over and set up my profile and the first few skeets (every site has their own terminology, and it’s exhausting). It was running badly, due to an influx of new users, and I couldn’t post photos yet, but I set up the profile, some intro posts, and followed a bunch of people. I made it on one hour before they shut down new signups to fix problems. There are a few red flags, including self-styled judges encouraging bullying of those they don’t like. Starving assholes from the attention they seek is one thing, or not allowing them an account in the first place is another. But encouraging bullying? Nope. There’s a lot of gleeful cruelty on that site that I don’t like. However, Neil Gaiman is doing a lot of community building over there, especially with the WGA strike, and that’s always good to see. Finding and interacting is easy; in a couple of hours, I had more mutual follows (both old and new) than I’ve built in months on some of the other platforms. So, we’ll see. Whatever my opinion of the platform is, if that’s where my audience has migrated, that’s where I need to be.
Bad dreams again Saturday into Sunday.
But I hauled my ass out of bed decently early on Sunday. Went to Big Y to do a small shop (mostly so I could get cash back). Brought things home and then hauled the towels and other laundry over to the laundromat. Used two machines.
Edited 20 episodes of DEADLY DRAMATICS. I realized that one of the pivotal moments happens off the page, and THAT has to be fixed.
Hauled everything home, and the skies opened and it poured rain almost as soon as I was in the door. My timing worked!
Read the newest book from a series I’ve adored since book one. I howled with laughter through most of it – until “witch” was used as a slur against another woman. Very disappointing. Kensington is really pushing this usage now, in its hard turn right for cozies, but I wish the authors would actually fight back. I’ve already stopped reading over a dozen authors because of this. I don’t want to stop reading this series; I love it. But this is a concern, and if it continues, I might have to stop. Why pay to read something that makes me feel bad?
Managed to get my act together and make it to the open studios at Walkaway House. I met Carolyn Clayton, who owns/runs the place with her partner Ben, at last Tuesday’s 1Berkshire event, and she’d invited me. What a great space! They’ve done a wonderful job with it. She creates art from found objects and her studio space is fascinating. I met their three current artists, each doing wildly different projects, all wonderful. Sam Dienst who works in tapestry and loom, is working with felt/paint/sewing/soft sculpture/detail work and it’s wonderful, as well as making a found objects sculpture. Fiona Crangle, a Canadian artist, is working on gesture and grief and erasure. Her work is so moving and powerful, and we had a wonderful conversation about grief. I also met Anna Cowley Ford, who is the Center of Gravity artist in their Eagle Street space. Her work explores “manifesting the nonvisible sensations associated with health conditions.” (That made me think of you, Melissa A). She had one of her textile pieces, an enormous silken sheer figure, hanging in the hallway. We had a good conversation about fabric, and I’m going to see more of her work when I visit the gallery on First Friday in a few days. So that was all fascinating.
And, of course, I met in passing, some of the artists I’ve seen all week at other events!
Came home, again, just before it started bucketing down again, and made pizza.
Slept well, surprisingly, later than usual into Monday, with positive dreams of an old friend.
I have a full roster of client projects in my inbox for the week: one Monday, 2 Wednesday, 2 Thursday, 1 Friday.
Sent the follow-up emails on Monday to the artists I met on Sunday. Followed them on Instagram; signed up for mailing lists where appropriate. Drafted a couple of Process Muse posts; got them polished, uploaded, and scheduled. Typed up the resource list for my neighbor and ran it over to him. Did the episode graphics for this week’s Legerdemain episodes, then did the videos for this week’s Legerdemain episodes and this week’ Angel Hunt episodes, and uploaded and scheduled them on TikTok.
Turned around a medium-sized client project.
Finished this round of revisions on DEADLY DRAMATICS.
The Goddess Provisions box arrived, and it’s lovely. Great stuff in there.
The Muskrat is now going to charge to use Tweetdeck. Which is what I use to upload/schedule the posts that I can no longer link from WordPress, and to upload/schedule posts about the serials and other work. Supposedly, it’s a 30-day window, so maybe, MAYBE I can in the launch of DEADLY DRAMATICS, but then I’m outta there.
His intentional, gleeful destruction of a platform that was so important to so many on professional and personal levels disgusts me. May he reap what he’s sown.
Up early on Tuesday. I don’t feel like the country has a whole lot to celebrate right now, so I was lowkey.
But I hit the page.
I drafted two new episodes of Legerdemain, which were really fun: a rooftop chase at a storage unit facility; an almost getaway in a dirigible. Because if I’m writing a fantasy, there are going to be dirigibles.
Then, it was time to polish the story details for DEADLY DRAMATICS and upload/schedule the first four episodes. The first two episodes will drop on launch day, July 26; the second two on the second day of the week’s episodes, July 29. The first three episodes are free. From that first week, the episodes will go live Wednesdays and Saturdays.
I was surprised how much additional editing I did on those episodes. Plus, it took time to set up the Episode Tracking Sheets, the Series Bible, and the Style Sheet. But the first four episodes are uploaded and scheduled; should they be approved, I’ll upload/schedule as many episodes per day as I can until they are all uploaded and scheduled, somewhere between 2-4 per day.
I updated both the Devon Ellington Work Serials page and this blog’s Serials page with the new information. Over the weekend, I will start putting together the introductory video, and then the template for the episode videos. (Hey, in this pay period just past, I made more money from the serials than from client work).
Did the social media rounds for Legerdemain. Tweetdeck has already become a nightmare. I have a feeling I won’t get to do any of the launch stuff for DEADLY DRAMATICS on it, although I tried to schedule a few posts. And even if I do, will any of my audience still be there?
The fireworks display last night at the end of the street was organized, not too loud, and, from what I hear, beautiful. The neighbors were out in the street to watch. I was on the floor of my office with Tessa, who was terrified. It wasn’t as bad as it was on Cape, where it was like being in a war zone all day, I had to spray the roof down with the hose every few hours, gather burning debris, and sit with Tessa in a closet in the Cape years. But it was still enough to frighten Tessa.
It didn’t bother Willa much, although she came to check on us. Charlotte watched the fireworks from the living room. She thought they were in her honor, much the way she believes that when parts of the Fall Foliage parade come by us on the street, it’s all about her. Because she is a princess.
Once the fireworks were done, and we went to bed – the dumbasses with illegal fireworks began. Again, nowhere near as bad as on Cape. But Tessa cowered in the hallway, and I grabbed a pillow and lay on the floor with her. I must have dozed off, because she and Willa woke me a couple of hours later; they wanted to roll potatoes down the stairs, and I was in the way.
I went to bed; the fireworks started again. I managed to coax Tessa into my room. We all finally fell asleep.
I was having flashbacks to the final night in the Cape house, when it was empty, and I was lying on the floor amidst the barrage of illegal fireworks, hoping the roof wouldn’t catch fire, because I’d given away all the hoses.
Woke up this morning feeling awful, echoing what I felt on that final day at the Cape house, with the last few storage runs, the cleaning, and then making it as far as Sturbridge and my beloved Publick House. So, today might be a rough day to navigate emotionally, but I’ll get there.
I have pages to write, episodes to upload, errands to run. I have two client projects to turn around today. Bills need to be paid. I need to noodle on a couple of other upcoming projects.
The first four DEADLY DRAMATICS episodes were approved, so this is really happening. We’re launching this one on July 26, and it will run for 125 episodes.
Time to hit the page (and hope it doesn’t hit back). My keyboard is being cranky, which is not fun. Hope you had a great long weekend, and have a great start to the week.
We’re at the at-least-two-showers-a-day-to-hose-down part of the summer.
Peace, my friends.
July 4, 2023
Tues. July 4, 2023: Holiday!
image courtesy of ristine Lejniece via pixabay.comIt’s a holiday here in the US. While it’s difficult to celebrate the road this country is on, I’m working at actually taking my holidays.
Whether you’re in the US or not, take a day off!
We’ll have our usual Tuesday catchup on Wednesday this week.
Although, epsiode 99 of Legerdemain still drops today!
July 3, 2023
Mon. July 3, 2023: Intent for the Week – Follow Through
image courtesy of Peter H via pixabay.comI’ve spent the past few weeks laying track, so to speak, both professionally and personally.
This week is about follow through. Building on what I’ve started. Even though there’s a holiday (in the US) tomorrow).
What’s your intent for the week?
June 30, 2023
Fri. June 30, 2023: Out and About, Several Days in a Row
image courtesy of Khusen Rustamov via pixabay.comFriday, June 30, 2023
Waxing Moon
Pluto, Saturn, and Neptune Retrograde
Hazy, warm, humid
Well, yesterday was kind of all over the place.
Today’s serial episode is from Angel Hunt:
Episode 46: Lachlan Strives to Understand
The more the witches try to explain why Neville is revered, the less sense it makes.
The heavy machinery beeping was out of control yesterday. When another resident asked them to please recognize that they are not the only creatures on the planet, THEY CRANKED IT UP. So, basically, they’re being assholes just to be assholes. I’ve been assured by City Hall that the 30th is their last day. It better be.
We couldn’t take it. I couldn’t even hear anything on the Zoom Meditation, so I gave up. Even with headphones. That’s how loud and disruptive they were.
I managed to upload next week’s Legerdemain episodes up to Kindle Vella, and then we fled.
Dropped off the check at the bank, picked up books at the library, picked up my mom’s pills and thanked the pharmacists for their workaround the insurance company. On Cape, they’d just shrug and say there was “nothing they could do” but they COULD sell us pills under the counter for $20/pill. Cash only. Here, they actually find a solution.
We went to Williams College Museum of Art, which is fascinating and so different from the other museums around here. We spent some time there. I saw the piece that the lama who visited my yoga studio had in the exhibit, and I spent a good deal of time with illuminated manuscripts, because illuminated manuscripts. From 1450, and more vibrant than any colors you find today.
Once we were done there, we went to Milne Library. I wanted to stop at Provisions, but there was construction and no parking, so I skipped it and when to Wild Oats instead, where I picked up delicacies for a delicious lunch.
The fucking heavy machinery beeping was still going when we got home, but we had lunch, and I read the NEW YORKER and unpacked the necklaces which arrived from The Peculiarity Shop. As frustrated as I was with their shipping, once the pieces actually arrived, they were great.
I’ve been on a kick with a particular author. I loved the first two books of hers I’ve read. But, reading her books back-to-back, there’s a pattern. There’s delicate male/male romance, done beautifully. But all the female characters are horrible human beings. And I get tired of that, especially when the books are written by a woman. I read two more of her books this afternoon, and was very frustrated. I don’t trust women who hate other women, even when they’re talented. And the male/male romances can exist in all their beauty without all the female characters being awful.
Then, we had a leak under the sink. Thank goodness we have 857 towels and I kept them all, because we’re using them all. I got it under control for the night, and will text the maintenance guy this morning to come fix it, as this is kind of a priority. We discovered the leak while the dishwasher was running, so you can just imagine.
Why yes, I’ll be taking the towels to the laundromat first thing tomorrow morning.
I pulled myself together and got dressed in real people clothes and makeup and the new jewelry and went over to MASSMoCA’s chalet event, where a musician with whom I’m acquainted was playing. It was fun, mostly locals, ran into a bunch of people I’d met at other events, drank a beer, listened to some music, came home. Little kids were dancing in front of the stage, which was hilarious. Even more so was that I had to show ID and get a bracelet stating I was over 21. You think the grey hair gave it away?
I am out the door early, early this morning, going to a small business event in Dalton. I’ve never been to Dalton, so it will be an adventure. I have a couple of stops to make on the way home. I was supposed to go to a party tonight, but the guy who invited me hasn’t sent me the information. I’m perfectly happy to stay home!
Lots to do this weekend.
I’ve had two very light weeks of client work, and suddenly everyone wants me to be “grateful” they’re trying to pile work on me over the holiday weekend. Which I have refused, except for one medium sized project on Monday. Boo, your disorganization is not my emergency. I’m taking my fucking holiday weekend. I’ll be back in touch with clients next Wednesday. Or maybe even Thursday. I am not working over the weekend because they didn’t get their acts together for the past two weeks.
Have a great weekend, and I’ll catch you on the other side!
June 29, 2023
Thurs. June 29, 2023: Art and Music
image courtesy of JL G via pixabay.comThursday, June 29, 2023
Waxing Moon
Pluto and Saturn Retrograde
Hazy, rainy, humid
Latest on the garden is over at Gratitude and Growth here.
Yesterday was really frustrating, because of the relentless fucking beeping heavy machinery. I could not get anything done.
Today’s serial episode is from Legerdemain:
Episode 98: Noise in The Night Garden of Silence
A sprung trap, a new type of stiletto, and stone frogs come to life.
If you put the graphics from both of this week’s episodes side by side, you see that they are the same, except today’s has blood spatter over the petals. That gives you an idea of what’s going on!
While I was delighted to be alone in the laundromat and edit 14 episodes of DEADLY DRAMATICS, I was less than pleased that there are still stains on my great-grandmother’s vintage white linen tablecloths from the 1920’s. I need to do some research on gentle stain removal from it. I don’t have the stain removal materials I had in the previous location – I used them up. But I may try some organic stuff first. Time to get in touch with some of my wardrobe pals! I think I remember what to do, but I want to make sure.
Did all the follow-up emails from Tuesday night’s meetups, did the social media rounds for The Process Muse and Angel Hunt. Couldn’t get any new writing done because of the fucking beeping. Read the first three episodes of 5 other serials in one KV group, and first 3 eps of 2 serials in another. I worked on the newsletter – and kept having to send test emails and correct drafts because every time the relentless beeping began again, I made a mistake.
We’re fighting for my mom’s blood pressure medication. She’s out of it, and the insurance company says “Nope, no more until July 7th.” What is she supposed to do until then? They don’t care. Well, then, sell me a few more days’ worth without the insurance, like you did last week. Oh, and when she does get the new prescription? It’s 50% more than it was last month. Why do we have supplemental Medicare when it doesn’t do anything? Finally, between the doctor’s office and the pharmacy’s wonderful staff working their asses off to figure something out, I can pick up some pills today, but I have no idea if it’s a handful of pills or an entire month’s prescription. Only that it will cost 50% more out of pocket.
“Healthcare” does not exist in the United States.
The computer crashed, and when I got it rebooted – yahoo was my search engine, and I couldn’t get it back to Google. And McAfee (which was been uninstalled) flared up, trying to get me to buy it again because they “detected” a problem. Which they shouldn’t have, since they were uninstalled. Which you KNOW means they tried to install malware, so they could come and “save me” — for a price. I ran my malware defense program, went into my search engine settings, extracted yahoo, and got everything back the way it needed to be.
More wasted time.
Turned around 3 very short client projects (which was hell, because of the fucking beeping heavy machinery). Finished the newsletter, which needed four additional drafts because of the fucking beeping machinery. Every time it distracted me, there was a mistake.
Started reading the new book for review, which is a little out of my wheelhouse, but interesting.
We wanted to go out to a museum to get some relief from the fucking beeping heavy machinery, but a storm alert advised us not to. And then the storm passed us by.
A check showed up, for more than I expected, so that cheered me up enormously. It makes up for this pay period being so dismal, and means I don’t have to worry about July’s bills, even if the grant money continues to be delayed and the client situation is stark due to the WGA strike. I also got a royalty check from the serials, which wasn’t a huge amount, but more than I expected, and which is helpful.
Spectrum raised my monthly Internet fee – yet I’m getting less service. We are going to have a discussion about that. Since they are the only choice here, it’s not like I can switch to another provider.
On today’s agenda: whatever I can get done around this FUCKING INCESSANT BEEPING!!! They are cited every day by the city and don’t give a flying fuck. They’re intentionally assholes at this point.
Actually, after meditation, there won’t be much to get done, other than upload and schedule next week’s Legerdemain posts and do the social media rounds for Legerdemain. I have some errands to run (library, bank, pharmacy), and I think we’ll head over to the Williams College Museum of Art. When I get back, I have to figure out what to wear when I go to MASSMoCA’s chalet to listen to music. (The website says it doesn’t start until July 14, but the musician I talked to Tuesday is playing there tonight, so we’ll see what’s going on). If possible, maybe I can work on some Legerdemain episodes, but I have a feeling I will have to dig in and draft a flurry of Legerdemain episodes this weekend and on the 4th itself when THE FUCKING INCESSANT BEEPING isn’t around. I resent losing weekends and holidays because this company won’t comply with city ordinances.
One of the artists I met on Tuesday night has an exhibit up over at UMASS Amherst, so I’m going to make plans to get out that way and see it, and maybe do a few other things while I’m in that direction. Probably not next week; with the holiday on Tuesday, everything is in flux. Maybe the week of July 10th – the gallery is only open on weekdays, so I have to do it then. But I like what I’ve seen of her work on her website, and I want to see the exhibit. The Renaissance Center sounds amazing anyway, and I want to see it.
Also, over the next few days, I want to finish the edits on DEADLY DRAMATICS and get the initial episodes up; once they’ve been approved, I will go ahead and upload all the rest, probably in blocks of 6 or 10, until they’re all up, and then do the same with ANGEL HUNT (once I rewrite those upcoming sections that still need attention). And I need to get ahead on Legerdemain.
I can do that, though, these next few weeks. A medium-sized client project, that I can turn around on Monday, came in, but I’m planning for next week to be light, as far as client work goes. Which means I can work on the serials, unless I’m derailed by the fucking incessant beeping.
Have a great Thursday, and we’ll catch up tomorrow.
June 28, 2023
Wed. June 28, 2023: Passionate People Sharing Their Work
image courtesy of Bilge Can Gürer via pixabay.comWednesday, June 28, 2023
Waxing Moon
Pluto and Saturn Retrograde
Rainy, warm, humid
Yesterday was fun, although the wacky weather was something!
Today’s Process Muse is about notebooks. Give it a gander here.
Have you signed up for the quarterly newsletter? The June one goes out later this week. You can sign up here.
Today’s serial episode is from Angel Hunt:
Episode 45: Dr. Neville’s Proposition
Dr. Neville’s plan would escalate the tensions.
My yoga teacher is the best. She sent an email, reminding us the studio was closed while she and her wife, son, and dog are on vacation. She’s not checking email and deleting social media apps. She reminded us that there’s “no such thing as a yoga emergency” which just cracked me up.
I was out of the house yesterday a little later than planned, due to a mascara emergency. I hate mascara for many reasons. I took the back roads, due to construction, and found my way on time. I saw some familiar faces and met some new ones. The event took place at Nature’s Closet in Williamstown, a store I really like, and where I will go back and shop.
It was raining when I left North Adams, a bright summer day when I got to Williamstown, and started clouding up by the time I left. I made it home before it started bucketing down rain. I peeled off the clothes so I wouldn’t get them all sweaty before the evening event and put on yoga clothes instead for the rest of the day.
I did the social media rounds for Legerdemain. I read 3 episodes each of 5 serials on one Vella group, and 3 episodes each of 3 others each on two other Vella groups, so that was a lot of reading. But it’s necessary, and I’ve at least got handwritten notes to keep track of what I read where, so I can read as many different ones as possible. And then others read my episodes, and I went back to read theirs, so it was more than another dozen episodes read.
The fucking heavy machinery beeping was out of control, even with the rain. I’m going to have to file another complaint with the city. The “workers” not doing anything other than driving it around making noise as loud as possible, in violation of the city codes. We are all well aware this is retribution for the college not getting their way with the dorm they wanted to repurpose, and none of this is okay. I may have to go down to City Hall to pull the permit and look at it, so I can file more specifics.
I made the rounds with a post about newsletter signup. I did the follow up emails for the morning event, letting people know how much I enjoyed meeting them, and following up on conversations. I’ve been invited to an open studios event this weekend by a local artist residency site, and I’m going to go and check it out. I had to fill out some increased distribution paperwork for my books, shorts, and workbooks, so I got that done. Printed out directions for Friday’s small business expo.
I rested up a bit, and then I got re-dressed, freshened the makeup, and headed over to Norad Mill for the quarterly artist meetup, which was fun. It was an interesting group of people, not to big, not too small, in a large, well-ventilated space (and everyone I asked was vaccinated). I met some really interesting people, got to visit two artists’ studios (one works in large scale photography, and is married to a costume designer, and the other works in graphics, maps, and digital visuals over paintings. Both are ex-New Yorkers). I had a great conversation with a glass artist, a multi-disciplinary visual artist, and a figurative painter, and met a gallery owner who wants me to meet a friend of his who is a writer and is married to a textile artist who is also a writer. He invited me to an art crawl on Friday, and I was invited to some live music on Thursday. So from never going out the past few years (even before the pandemic), this week, I went to two things yesterday, will go out Thursday, twice Friday, and on Sunday.
I see home COVID tests in next week’s future.
When I came home, the neighbors across the street hailed me from their respective porches. A plumber’s truck was in front of the house next door the past couple of days (I think they might be the new tenants). One neighbor was like, “Oh, thank god, I was worried you were fucking the plumber, and I didn’t think that was your type.”
“Not that plumber,” the guy from the next house over added.
“Nope, I was out at an artist event at Norad Mill,” I said. “Just out of curiosity, who do you peg as my type?”
The guy thought for a minute and said, “One of those guys who makes swords or something. Whaddaya call it? Not a welder.”
“A blacksmith?” I ventured.
“Yeah, yeah, that’s it. One of those guys. Cause of the poetry and Shakespeare and stuff.”
Which just cracked me up. It’s also funny, because there’s a tendency, in some traditions, for tarot readers to wind up with blacksmiths, but I don’t think they know I read tarot. But the neighbors’ speculations were funny.
Made a stir-fry for dinner, and then sat out on the porch with wine. The thing about living in my neighborhood in a state where pot is legal is that I can just sit out and enjoy a contact high. Plus, the neighbor across the street (the “not that plumber” guy) feels we need a better musical education, so he’s brought out his boom box to play funk music in the evenings, which is a lot of fun.
I had honey and took the iron supplement and did extra yoga to boost immunity at night. I want to give my immune system, supported by the vaccines, as much to work with as possible. There’s no way, with being out and about this week, that I won’t be around someone who’s shedding virus (most likely at the music event on Thursday night or at the small business expo during the day on Friday). Even with masking, I have to do whatever I can to limit the risks. Not going would limit it in the best way, but I’d like to attend. I’m still not going to any big crowd events or dining indoors.
Slept well, although I was tired from all the peopling. And now I have to figure out what to wear. I regret giving away two and a half carloads full of clothes before the move, thinking I’d never need anything like them again. Well, it’s not like I don’t have plenty of clothes. I just have to figure out what to wear to each event.
I was up early this morning, and out the door to the laundromat. I was the only one there, which was great, because I needed two machines. I got 14 episodes of DEADLY DRAMATICS edited.
After breakfast, I’m going to do the follow-up emails from the cards and information exchanged last night. I’m going to work on drafting new Legerdemain episodes, do the social media rounds for Angel Hunt (which means reading more episodes from other writers), finish the newsletter, start reading the next book for review, and maybe get some work done on the Llewellyn short pieces. And decide on clothes for when I need to be out of the house at the other events this week.
The fucking heavy machinery beeping is still at it. I’m so sick of it. Hope you’re having a quieter day than I am!
June 27, 2023
Tues. June 28, 2023: Social In Spite of Myself
image courtesy of bridgesward via pixabay.comTuesday, June 27, 2023
Waxing Moon
Pluto & Saturn Retrograde
Rainy and humid
Did you have a good weekend? It was stormy, rainy, and humid here, and supposed to stay that way all week.
Are you signed up for my author newsletter? It’s usually quarterly (with a few blasts in between for special projects), and the next one goes out later this week. You can sign up here.
Ready for our regular Tuesday natter?
Today’s serial episode is from Legerdemain:
Episode 97: Encounters in The Night Garden of Silence
Shelley & Daedalus comfort a woman with a broken engagement.
On Friday, I created the graphics for this week’s episodes of Legerdemain. I created the TikTok videos for both Legerdemain and Angel Hunt for the week, and two more “catch-up” videos of Legerdemain (with the episode graphics from the episodes). As usual, nothing wanted to upload, so I had to uninstall and reinstall the app. Getting sick of it.
But I uploaded videos to drop from this past Saturday to the upcoming Friday. Having templates helps a lot.
I did the social media rounds for Friday’s episode of ANGEL HUNT, and spent some extra time on Post and Spoutible for interactions.
Getting annoyed at all the people boasting about how great BlueSky is and how we should all migrate. Then send out invitations. FFS, I signed up to beta it the first week it was announced, and crickets. They want big names and their fans, not regular working artists.
When Mastodon users migrated, they actually gave out invitations so others could join. Big difference.
I did a quick grocery shop, but spent more than I intended, because I bought a hanging basket of the candy floss petunias. I hung that and the geraniums up (finally could, because the weather cooperated).
My brain was just mush the rest of the day. My body remembered the exhaustion of the move, and my brain was overwhelmed from the last few weeks’ work on the serials.
I read Agatha Christie’s THEY DO IT WITH MIRRORS, this month’s book club pick. It’s a Miss Marple, and I didn’t figure it out (which is unusual). I started a couple of other books, but none of them did it for me, so I gave up.
Saturday morning was pouring down rain. I’d gone to bed early, then woke up a little after 3. I’d just started to drop off when Charlotte started being a pain in the butt, and we fought until I got up at 5:30.
I spent time on my home yoga and meditation practices. They’ve gone off track the past couple of months, and I want to get them back.
I did some edits on DEADLY DRAMATICS. I don’t think I need that extra transition episode, so I’m going to leave it at 125 episodes (unless I come up with something, in the second half of the edits, that needs breaking down), and then just start season 2, BUT IS SHE A BETTING MAN? at the end of that final week. That will throw me off; I usually know where I am because the end of the week means even numbered episodes, but that’s why I have tracking sheets.
I got the next Process Muse episode done.
I put a chicken in the slow cooker. I wanted to see how a whole chicken in the cooker came out. (Answer: really well).
I uploaded episodes 49-56 of ANGEL HUNT. That gets me into early August, giving me the breathing room to finish the DEADLY DRAMATICS edits, get some of those episodes up, and then finish the rest of the ANGEL HUNT edits and get them uploaded and scheduled, then go back and finish uploading the DEADLY DRAMATCS episodes.
While keeping up with Legerdemain.
Did the episode log lines for the new ANGEL HUNT episodes. Finished reading the book for review; although I was skeptical at the start, it turned out to be pretty good.
Sunday was mostly about reading and thinking. I read a book by an author whose work I’ve read for years; this was from the early 90’s and okay, but it’s interesting to see how genre expectations move from the 80’s through the 90’s to now.
Read two of Natasha Pulley’s books: THE BEDLAM STACKS and THE WATCHMAKER OF FILIGREE STREET. The amount of research and integrated detail with characters and imagination work really well. There were a few things in each book I didn’t think were followed through all the way, but not enough to be big deals for me.
I’d been going down a story road for the DEADLY DRAMATICS series, wondering if I needed to seed something into the first season. The more I worked out how to weave it into various seasons, the more convinced I was that it would take the series in a direction I don’t want to go. Although I’m interested in exploring those ideas, this particular series is not the right place to do so.
I also want to redo a character’s backstory in ANGEL HUNT (fortunately, it’s in the episodes that are yet to go up). It’s too much of a cliché, instead of turning the cliché inside out and being interesting. Because I turn so many clichés inside out over the course of the serial, keeping this one is both out of tone and gives it too much emphasis in the overall story arc, because it stands out. So, back to the drawing board on that.
I have absolutely no idea what to do next in “Summon Thee.” In a very real sense, I’ve lost the plot. There are some fun beats, but it’s not adding up to anything, which is frustrating. I’m glad I got “The Dressing Room” written and submitted instead.
Social media just annoyed me all weekend. I need to use my time better on it for the next few weeks. I need to block off time slots to do mutual reads on serials, so I can actively participate in the Vella groups; if I can’t make the time to do mutual reads, I have no business posting there.
I’m not going to comment on the situation in Russa because, frankly, I don’t understand it. Let people who actually know what they’re talking about (again, not those “experts” on social media who pivoted from being oceanographers last week to foreign policy experts this week) talk about it, and maybe I’ll learn something. Because it all just baffles me. And I don’t trust a lot of the “information” coming out of the region.
Monday, up early. The humidity made it hard to sleep well, so I had a grumpy start to the week. Got the week’s serial promotions uploaded to Tweetdeck. Wrote and submitted the book review, along with the invoice for the last batch. Was paid in under an hour, which is terrific. AND got my next assignment. Since this week is light on other client work, I can attack that sooner rather than later.
Did a library run. Was absolutely cooked when I came back. My brain just would not cooperate. It’s not all that hot, but the humidity takes me down. The fucking heavy machinery beeping again over at the college library – for no good reason, because it’s not like they’re working, they’re just driving the machinery around and making noise – didn’t help. Managed to get out a stage play submission. Looked at a few other submission calls for plays, but the submission guidelines were so convoluted, they made my eyes cross, so I skipped them.
Paid my phone bill and noticed that my 8GB of data promised in my plan has been cut to 3GB. No warning, no explanation. I’d already put the payment through before it showed up. So I’m stuck with this carrier for another month, but then I will go down the street where several other carriers have stores and see about switching. One of them is offering 15 GB for $15/less month than I currently pay. And it’s a carrier with stronger coverage in this area. I’ll have a chat. I should be able to bring my phone and keep my number.
Since my brain refused to work on creative issues, I decided to be practical and do things like get through emails and file things, etc. Then, the jackhammers started going up the street. But I got a little bit done, until my brain just quit. Then, I caught up on NEW YORKER magazines.
I had to chase down yet another postman who put a shipment of books (books!) jammed into the mail slot instead of at the door. I flagged him down (okay, I stood in the middle of the street so he either had to stop or run me over). I showed him the problem. He opened his side of the mailbox bank and pulled it out for me, and understood. At least he was nice about it, unlike the jerk last summer.
One of the books was Pema Chödrön’s TAKING THE LEAP, which I’d gotten out of the library and liked so much I decided I needed my own copy. The other was BOHEMIAN MAGICK by Veronica Varlow. I really like it. It speaks to me with much more depth than the watered-down corporate-approved, toxic positivity “magical” practices that are popular right now. I’m reading it through once, and then going back and actually working through it.
But mostly, it was a lost day. Not even a restful one. I just felt like I was in a humid fog and couldn’t think or get anything done. My body felt like it did during the move, and my mind couldn’t convince it otherwise.
This morning, up early. In real people pants and makeup and everything. Couldn’t get much done before the fucking beeping heavy machinery started again.
I am also out the door early; I have an entrepreneur meetup (in person) over at Williamstown this morning, and then there’s a big regional artist meetup late afternoon/early evening here in town. Astrologically, this is one of THE worst weeks for me to be out and about, so I have to remember to nod and smile a lot, and listen more than I talk. Which is what I usually do in new-to-me social situations anyway, but this time, it’s intentional. I found the new business cards I made up and everything.
I also have to remember to put gas in the car, and get money out of the bank for laundry tomorrow.
In the break between events today, I will make the social media rounds to promote Legerdemain, and, hopefully, get either some writing or some editing done. I’m behind where I want/need to be on Legerdemain, and I have to catch up this coming weekend. Later this week, there are a few more LOIs I want to get out. I want to do more client work in a particular direction, and cut back in another. I also have to build 1-2 hours per day into the weekday workdays to read other people’s serials as part of the mutual read promotions that go on in the groups. I can’t post/expect reads if I’m not willing to make the time to do them in return. But that’s another task that has to be built into the workday that’s not about immediately billable hours. Still, it will be worth it in the long run.
I also have to come up with a better way to track what I’ve read. I will make handwritten notes at first, and then do some sort of spread sheet (although probably not in Excel – I already get hives when I have to open the stage play and radio play trackers in Excel). I’ll probably do it in Word, and make it easily searchable.
So, in spite of the fact that I didn’t do much work on Friday and I lost most of yesterday, I need to focus and get back on track.
Hope your week is off to a good start!
June 26, 2023
Mon. June 26, 2023: Intent for the Week — Trying Not to Get Pulled in the Wrong Direction
image courtesy of Xuan Duong via pixabay.comThis week piles a lot of stress on me, from various directions. My intent is to stay focused, and not get pulled in one of those directions that will cause more grief than progress.
What’s your intent for the week?
June 23, 2023
Fri. June 23, 2023: I’d Rather Read & Relax
image courtesy of Candice via pixabay.comFriday, June 23, 2023
Waxing Moon
Pluto & Saturn Retrograde
Sunny and warmer
I can’t believe it’s the end of another week. To me, this week has been one long day.
My neighbors have a standing hammock on their wrap around porch and lie there to read. I think it’s a great idea.
Today’s serial episode is from Angel Hunt:
Episode 44: The Randolph Neville
A magical legend shows up as a customer.
Polished and uploaded next week’s Legerdemain episodes. While I waited for them to be approved, I wrote the loglines. Loglines and episode titles are getting easier to create, and it doesn’t take me as long as it used to.
Headed out to the library to pick up a couple of books. There were several different programs and meetings going on, so the parking lot was full. And yet, FOUR SUVs took up more than one space. I’m not going to park and pay at a metered spot out on the street to run in and get some books because a handful of rich bitches can’t learn how to park.
I complained when I went in. I was polite, but I brought it up. Yes, I have a little car and wedged in between two of the offending cars. Anyway, the library sent someone out to take down license plate numbers and make an announcement that they had to adjust their cars into a single space. I maneuvered my car out (harder than getting it in) without any damage. I’m so sick of SUVs taking up multiple spaces. They already take up too much room.
Did the social media rounds for the serials. Printed out my ticket for next week’s small business expo I plan to attend. Was invited, by the governor’s office, to an economic development council meeting early in July, and accepted. July is getting really busy. All with interesting things, but I need a few more lucrative projects in there.
Wrote a few more pages on “Summon Thee.” I need to figure out the climax and resolution. There are some fun rhythms in there; I want to make sure it all hangs together and pays off in a way that’s satisfying. I have no idea what that will be yet.
Turned around a small client project that came in unexpectedly. Started reading the book for review.
Edited a few more episodes of DEADLY DRAMATICS. Wrote the blurb and uploaded the story details.
My brain is tired.
I was sad but not surprised to hear that the Titan imploded. I hope the company who sent it down is held accountable, even though those on board signed a waiver. Could the 19-year-old even legally sign a waiver? The whole situation is just awful, on so many levels. Those entitled billionaires paying for death tourism when the $250K they each paid could have made a difference is gross. That people thought they deserved to die is gross. The disparity between the resources used to “rescue” them (when the company who sent them down, it seems, knew early on what really happened) when those who aren’t billionaires are left to die is gross. The way director James Cameron tries to make himself sound like a prophet and make this all about him is gross.
Some very valid points of anger were brought up in various discussions, and one can point out that they knew the risks involved and chose to do it anyway as valid as acknowledging the sadness for the families left behind. That it was probably an instant death and that was better than slowly suffocating in a tin can is also valid, along with the horror of it happening at all. The argument between these rich people having the “right” to spend their money in any way they want including this way (even though it killed them) and the anger at what they could do to change the world for the better with the same amount of money is also valid.
Even if they spent an equal amount of money on themselves and then on a way to improve the world (I’m not talking faux philanthropy or naming rights; I think “naming rights” when they name things for themselves is all about ego and nothing to do with philanthropy), a lot of problems could be solved.
I mean, when I made Broadway and TV money, I had an agreement with myself that every time I spent money on myself for something frivolous, I gave an equal amount to charity. Sometimes it was to Bide-A-Wee, to the fund that helped people pay vet bills when they struggled. Sometimes it was to Meals on Wheels, or to Equity Cares/Broadway Fights AIDS. Or to Doctors Without Borders, or whatever legitimate fund was raising money for the disaster of the moment. But if I could do that with my little pittances, imagine what could be done with some real money?
It underlines, once again, that poverty is a policy choice, as is keeping people in it. The systems that allow people to profit from others’ poverty and pain need to be dismantled for something better.
I was hit hard, on and off yesterday, with sense memory stress from the move and then the back-and-forth to clear out the house. Diving so deeply into the writing helped a lot. Spending more time than usual on social media did not. I have to navigate the next couple of weeks with care; they have the potential to be difficult, and I would rather build something to move forward than stumble backwards into emotions caused by the past.
I was tagged in a chat about one of my policies/boundaries by some white dude I never met or interacted with who started railing on about not liking them. Like I’m supposed to care? While the first reaction was to verbally cut him into tiny pieces the size of his penis, I realized that it wasn’t even worth responding. He wanted to get into a debate so he could mansplain, and he means nothing to my life, on any level. I certainly don’t consider him a colleague, not after that little display. He goes on about “project management.” Dude, I was a production manager for theatre, film, and television. You do ad copy for hemorrhoid cream (or its equivalent). Which is necessary, but you don’t get to lecture me about “project management.” Your mansplaining has nothing to do with my reality.
It’s one thing to state that they’ve found X works better than Y in their experience, so they prefer to work that way. That’s an actual conversation about work styles and choices. It’s another thing to attack someone else’s boundaries that don’t affect you at all.
Eh. Kill off a character inspired by him in a future story. Much better (and more lucrative) use of my time.
Had to move the lettuce again. Not because of squirrels this time, but because Willa yanked out the plants and chewed on them. Her way of getting back at me for not planting more cat grass.
What’s on today’s agenda? I have to do a grocery run. I’m debating whether or not to spend some time at the Clark (even though the funding’s not in place for the project). I SHOULD write, but my brain is tired, so giving it a rest might be a better choice today.
Over the weekend, maybe I can finally turn over my closet to the summer clothes, and I have to figure out what to wear to the three events I’m attending next week. Three in-person events in a week. Two in the same day. Stockpiled some masks. But the events are all on interesting topics, so it will be worth it.
I’ll do some more work on the DEADLY DRAMATICS and ANGEL HUNT edits, too, this weekend. At the very least, I’ll get the next 8 ANGEL HUNT episodes up next week, to get me through July and into early August. I’ll probably then upload the DD episodes, so it’s set to launch in late July, and then go back and upload the rest of AH. While keeping current on Legerdemain.
I also have to get ahead on some Process Muse posts this weekend. I have some fun topics planned for the coming weeks, and I’m excited to share ideas about them.
Have a good weekend, and I’ll catch you on the other side.
June 22, 2023
Thurs. June 22, 2023: Re-Emerging After Creative Intensity
imae courtesy of Pexels from Pixabay.comThursday, June 22, 2023
Waxing Moon
Pluto & Saturn Retrograde
Sunny and pleasant
The latest on the garden is over at Gratitude and Growth.
Today is our 2rd anniversary in this apartment, with the light and the porch and the balcony and the arts. We start our third year. We are very happy here. It was the Move From Hell, but it was worth it.
Today’s serial episode is from Legerdemain:
Episode 96: Accidental Eavesdropping
Never underestimate a bar’s acoustics.
Yesterday? Gosh, I’ve been working so intensely on DEADLY DRAMATICS that this week seems like one long day since Sunday. I sort of feel like I’m waking up from a very long dream.
But, yesterday afternoon, I finished this draft of the DEADLY DRAMATICS serial. I have to insert one transition episode, but the full season will run 126 episodes. Since I plan to drop 4 episodes during launch week (two on each episode day), it will run 62 weeks, just over a year, once it starts.
The last shorter arc needed more work than the previous arcs, and will continue to need more work in this next revision. I’m going through it again, tightening things, smoothing out logic and stylistic choices, and making it stronger, overall.
Between working on DEADLY DRAMATICS and finishing/revising/adapting ANGEL HUNT, I’ve worked on about 200K in the past week or so. I’m a little tired. But both of those serials stand on their own while supporting future “seasons” that can also stand alone while contributing to the overall series.
I also realized what an absolute luxury it is to be able to put full focus on a single project, instead of juggling. While I pushed hard to get things done, and put more hours every day to the projects than I normally would, I COULD do it at this time, due to the lack of client work, and I’m grateful I was able to do it.
So I’m a little tired. I will rest up and rework my schedule.
Working little bits every day adds up to a full project, but being able to spend big chunks of hours on a project is even better, at least for me.
I have two full serials that need a little more massaging, but I can upload and schedule them over the coming weeks, and then they’ll run well into next year. I still have to put time and effort into promotion, but at least I won’t have to worry about writing to keep up, the way I do with Legerdemain.
When I promote the serials, it shows in the royalties. Same with the Topic Workbooks; I started promoting them again, and those sales are picking up. It can’t fully carry me through the WGA strike, but it helps.
If the grant money ever shows up (which I doubt it will), then I can get some other projects back on track AND change focus on a few other things, client-wise. I hope to get out some LOIs next week, along with some article pitches. I will contact some editors with whom I’ve worked previously and see if what I pitch fits what they need in the coming months.
Next week, I’m attending three networking events (in person, oh horrors), and I have my new business cards done up (three different cards, for different things I do), so I’m set on that front. We’ll see what opportunities open up from there. And the following week, I have even more actions planned.
This pay period is abysmal, but if I’m careful, I’ll get through it. As much as I’d like to trust “divine timing” I also have to do my part and make the effort.
On today’s agenda: Meditation, work on Legerdemain, getting up next week’s episodes, promoting today’s episodes, continuing with the DEADLY DRAMATICS edits, and reading a book for review, so I can write up the review and send it, along with the invoice tomorrow. I have to do a quick library run – there are books waiting.
The heavy machinery moved farther away the past few days and the difference it makes in my ability to function is huge.
Have a good one!
