Thurs. June 20, 2024: Working in a Cool Space

image courtesy of wal_172619 via pixabay.com

Thursday, June 20, 2024

Day Before Full Moon

Pluto Retrograde

Summer Solstice

Hazy, hot, humid

Yesterday was supposed to be the worst of the heat and humidity. We’ll see if that’s actually true.

You can read the latest on the garden and the CSA over on Gratitude and Growth.

I started a script coverage early in the morning, but at 7:30, I headed to the grocery store. I wanted to get it out of the way before it got too hot. Came back, put everything away, had breakfast, got one of the coverages done before the 10 AM workshop.

The workshop had some good information in it, and then I switched over the other coverage, but it was getting hot and humid, which made it difficult to concentrate.

We had an early lunch of sliced radishes, arugula, bread, and butter, then packed up and headed for the Clark, where I set up at a desk in the Manton Center, and my mom got comfortable in one of the little reading booths.

I finished the coverage pretty quickly, once my brain cooled down enough to think, and then caught up on some email.

It was only early afternoon by then – I had time to do all kinds of things!

I focused on the short story. I rewrote the pages I had. I’d been writing in third person, and the story is “speaking” to me in first person, so I rewrote it in first, and it’s stronger. And, yes, it’s more than switching “she” to “I.” You can usually tell when all a writer has done is switch out pronouns, because the flow gets dissonant. It’s about reconstructing the viewpoint, and reshaping each sentence.

That took a bit of doing, and then I went on to write about another 1K on it. I may have to cut a really fun scene and a few characters from this – which means it may have a further life as something else somewhere else in the future.

But this is comic noir mystery, my wheelhouse. Set on a movie set.

After I’d gone as far as my brain let me, I shut down the computer and switched over to editing a few pages on TAPESTRY. I was in the world of the story, not Nina Bell, so it was difficult to switch over.

Had an exchange with the cohort manager about the coaching sessions. She sent an email intro to the potential coach who doesn’t know me, and I sent some follow up about what I’m doing, what I’m looking for, and why I think he’s a good fit. Hopefully, he can fit me into his schedule. I also sent over my paragraph of what I’m up to in July for the cohort newsletter, and signed up for the day of fun that winds up our cohort time together. Three cohorts will be celebrating that day, which will be fun.

Left my mom at the Clark and headed for tarot circle. It was a good circle with thoughtful discussion. Today is the big solstice ritual at the Clark, and I’m sad I can’t be part of it.

When I got into the car to go to tarot, it was 100 degrees F outside. While we were there, there was a thunderstorm with rain, and by the time I drove back to the Clark to pick up my mom, the temperature had dropped to 75 degrees. Much more dealable.

It was 86 in the apartment when we got back, so it was about opening windows and running the fans. Got some sleep. Up before 5, got the fans going again, and got the temperature down to 82. It’s supposed to get up in the 90’s again, but not as high or over 100 as yesterday.

My mom wants to stay home today, but I will probably decamp in the afternoon. She doesn’t think it’s that hot. I am not having a good time, and it’s not even 7 AM yet.

I don’t have any coverages in the queue, so at least I don’t have to worry about that. I really don’t like doing them in the morning. That energy is better matched to creating new work, not putting an eye over someone else’s.

The potential editing client appreciated my estimate (which was as low as I could go without it costing me money). But declined; the cost is too much for their budget, and the scope of the project has just tripled. Completely understandable.

Did not make it to the second round of a big grant proposal, which is not a surprise, and, frankly, not much of a disappointment. At the time I wrote and submitted it, I thought that project was what I wanted for next year (it would be the only thing I could do next year), but as things have shifted, I want different priorities, and I want a slightly different approach to that particular project. So it all works out.

On today’s agenda: online meditation group in the morning, an online workshop at 10. I need to pick up a prescription for my mom, get some soy sauce for tonight’s recipe, and get more ink for the printer (because, of course I do). Workwise, I want to get some writing done, especially on the short story, work on my handouts for the Farmers’ Market gig, and read the next book for review. Maybe get started on putting together the newsletter, which goes out next week. I have all the copy; it’s about arranging the flow and putting in the graphics. I may also get out a residency proposal, and submit a play or two. I have the second part of Saturday’s workshop tonight. I wish I could be at the Clark for the ritual led by Wild Soul River, but I can’t blow off the workshop commitment. It’s part of being in the cohort. I will do my own acknowledgement of the turning wheel after the workshop, later tonight.

I have to be at the Clark tomorrow at 9 AM for a special exhibition tour.

I’m reading Judi Dench’s SHAKESPEARE: THE MAN WHO PAYS THE RENT, where she discusses her approach to the characters she’s played. It’s amazing, and I have to buy my own copy to re-read as often as possible. When she talks about Macbeth getting the “collywobbles” I was nearly crying with laughter.

Have a good one, stay cool and safe, and we’ll catch up again tomorrow.

Have a lovely Summer Solstice.