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.
