Tues. Feb. 6, 2024: A Few Rays of Sunshine

image courtesy of Rudy and Peter Skitterians via pixabay.com

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Waning Moon

Partly Sunny and cold

Hope you had a great weekend.

Friday was more of “interesting times.” I went over to get the tire patched, but it was too wrecked to be patched, and the other back tire was in bad shape, so I wound up buying two tires. Not an expense I particularly wanted right now.

After that, I went to the grocery store, the library, the post office, and the liquor store. Came home, put everything away, and was completely burned out.

I still have some more paperwork to do for the capacity building program, especially in my goals for the project, so I worked on that a bit.

I read a nonfiction book that came highly recommended, and all I could think was, why did anyone pay this person to write this? Completely annoying.

Did some planting, which I will detail in Thursday’s Gratitude and Growth post.

Mostly just felt entirely burned out and exhausted. Managed to have a pretty good Imbolc ritual, in spite of it.

Slept pretty well into Saturday, although still felt exhausted. Tried to figure out how to structure the weekend so I could get a few things done (especially around the house), but also heal some of the burnout.

I spent an hour reading for the contest for which I volunteered. I did the graphics for next week’s Legerdemain episodes.

I had a bunch of ideas for REP, of all things. Typical that that is happening when it is not the week for that serial. I’ve done some research for the “science” part of the science fiction elements, so that it, you know, actually falls into the genre properly. I fell very far short of my goals on LEGERDEMAIN last week, but too bad for me. I had other stresses. And I’m still in a good place with it, although I’m struggling with a subplot. The characters don’t have the chemistry they should have for this arc to work.

I did some reading for pleasure. I did a little more planting. It was sunny, which was nice, although I spent a good portion of the afternoon being a cat mattress for Charlotte. I caught up on some email. I did some meal planning, and I also planned the month’s Ink-Dipped Advice columns.

I created a twist on colcannon. Using red cabbage instead of green, and sautéing it with carrots and leeks, and creating an Asian-inspired seasoning sauce, I used that as the bottom layer, and the mashed potatoes over it. Skipped the cheese, because I didn’t think it would go well with the Asian flavorings. It turned out really well.

Strange dreams about working in Iceland Saturday into Sunday. Sunday, at least, was sunny. I had a leisurely morning of reading, making breakfast, and making the list for the big grocery shop. I kept feeling like there was plenty I “should” be doing, but I also knew I needed to rest, or else I’d pay for it this week.

Finished reading a book Sunday morning that was fun, not brilliant, but I’m willing to spend the time needed to read the second book in the series with them. Did some puttering. Did this week’s serial episodes and uploaded them to TikTok. Found out last Friday’s ANGEL HUNT video was taken down for “violating community guidelines.” I asked them to be specific on the how. It’s my material, it’s not graphically violent or sexual. I credit the audio. I bet it’s the same person who whined to my moderator on Mastodon, now trying to get me banned from  TikTok because I make a living writing and they don’t. Whatever.

Went to the yoga philosophy session, where we discussed the niyamas.

Home, spent a few hours reading and working on poetry. “I Will Be Different” is in pretty good shape now. I want to take another look at the one I wrote for the conversation event about book burning/bodily autonomy, and rework that a little.

Did the grocery list for the big shop.

Worked on the A4A goal sheet.

Started reading a book about women in the CIA, which actually feeds into a subplot for LEGERDEMAIN. I know, sounds weird, but it does.

Dreamed I was in a hotel (which has appeared in other dreams). Switched rooms, then went downstairs to join a cocktail party in progress. Good appetizers. No idea what that means. But I felt like I’d put in a full day by the time I woke up.

I got this week’s Ink-Dipped Advice column up and scheduled, and made good progress on the one for the 3rd week of the month. Sent off the rest of my Capacity Building cohort paperwork.

Wrote two episodes of THE LIGTHHOUSE LADY.

Headed off to the grocery store for the big grocery shop, got everything hauled home and put away. Caught up on some admin, email, and social media. Put in a Chewy order. Bought a ticket for a show I want to see on Sunday. Had a conversation about an upcoming project in spring. Pitched for a quick-turnaround temp gig that pays well enough to be worth the quick turnaround. Did some small coverages, and an hour of reading on the contest.

I thought I had unsubscribed from all the Substack newsletters since I deleted my account, but some of them still keep turning up, and then I manually unsubscribe. Those who are just ignoring Substack’s policies and hoping it all blows over because they don’t think it’s a big deal or won’t affect them make me shake my head. Well, they’ve made their decisions. I make mine.

I kept thinking about things I “should” do, but, with the sun out, I wanted to be like the cats and just bask in it and take a nap.

Made turkey meatloaf for dinner. Yummy.

Read in the evening and was cat furniture. I’ll be glad to get their regular food delivered this week. I’ve had to give them different food (their usual was out of stock, so I picked up what I could at the grocery store). This other food has sugar in it, and they’re like toddlers on a sugar high, then crash. Definitely brings to mind “you are what you eat.”

Up early this morning. It was gloriously quiet.

Hauled my rear end over to the laundromat. It’s been too long since I did laundry, and there was a lot to catch up on. But it’s done, and I’ll fold it later this morning.

On today’s agenda: LIGHTHOUSE LADY, maybe some other writing, if I can fit it in. Working on a couple of proposals I want to send out next week. Folding laundry. Script coverage. Reading for the contest. 2 hours of yoga. Whatever else needs to be dealt with during the day.

Have a good one!