Fri. July 12, 2024: Maneuvering Through the Meteorology

image courtesy of Rajesh Balouria via pixabay.com

Friday, July 12, 2024

Waxing Moon

Pluto, Saturn, Neptune Retrograde

Cloudy, hot, humid, oppressive

How are you holding up in this weather? We keep being promised rain, and then it’s a 2 minute sprinkle that just leaves it more oppressive.

I did as much as I could early in the day yesterday: sent out emails to confirm information or check in as needed, put together some background material for the play, prepared for my meeting with my mentor, did some research for grants and LOIs.

With this weather, we keep the fans on as much as possible. We check on the plants a couple of times a day, to make sure they aren’t parched. We change the cats’ water every couple of hours.

I’m researching devices we can use next summer (the prices have been jacked for this year). I’m going to see if I can try out a couple of those personal cooling devices and see if any actually work before I buy them. I’m also going to look, over the winter, at the rolling units, even though that will be a PITA to vent through a window – although it’s still a better option than not having the option of a window unit. Because this type of weather is no longer an anomaly; this is the way it’s going to be, from now on, and only getting hotter. So it’s up to us to adjust within the parameters we have of what the apartment can use, and what our budget can take.

Why do I have the feeling that our winter holiday gifts will be about a/c for next summer? Which is totally fine.

Once things got oppressive again, I felt crushed under the weight. I got very little done.

I set up in a corner of the living room for the ZOOM meeting, because my office was too hot, and had a good meeting with one of my mentors. She had sent some questions a couple of hours before the meeting, so I worked through those. Now, it’s about readjusting my plan for the smaller increments and the larger ones, and then, you know, DOING something about it with good follow through. All the pieces are there; I just have to play them as intelligently as possible for maximum value both artistically and financially.

It’s less about balance than knowing what to bring forward, what to let recede, what to let go of, and what to aim for. That will need some percolation time, which is a good way to use my travel time next week.

There was a quote she shared that makes a lot of sense: “Procrastination is a design flaw.” It doesn’t mean something is wrong in the core of the procrastinator, but there is something in the project that causes resistance. I certainly find that true in coverage work. If I start a coverage and find my mind wandering or wanting to do other things, I know that the piece hasn’t held my attention. In that case, it is my job to bring my attention back and find a way to give a constructive note.

Finalized some appointments over the weeks I get back, looked at upcoming deadlines, did some admin work. Pushed off the coverage work and more residency work to today, because I couldn’t even think straight in the oppressive weather. Did a little house and home stuff that needs to get done. I think I’ll put up some lace panels in my office to help block sun but let in light. My office gets too hot; at the same time, I love all the natural light.

In the afternoon and evening, trying not to feel like I was breathing underwater, I read this month’s Agatha Christie book club read TAKEN AT THE FLOOD. I found it a little weird, and, also a little off-putting that one character realizes she’s in love with another character only after he tries to strangle her. That does not sound like the foundation of a healthy relationship to me. Also read THE TEMPTATION OF GRACIE by Santa Montefiore, set in Tuscany, which was a pleasant read. Both good for this kind of weather because they were engaging, but not taxing.

Used many of our delightful CSA veggies for a pasta primavera which was sublime. It’s amazing how something as simple as a CSA commitment changes the quality of life for the better.

Was awakened a little after 1 AM when the fire trucks arrived across the street again. Charlotte was thrilled to sit in the window and watch. I rolled over and went back to sleep.

I will probably pack up and head to the Clark after an early lunch. I need to get a bunch of stuff done today, and I can’t function well in this weather. I HAVE to turn around a coverage today. I’m glad I had some breathing room this week. I will also do my initial packing today for the trip, knowing I will repack on Monday night. But being packed ahead of time is a necessity for me.

Tomorrow is our final hurrah with the cohort, spending the day together at MASSMoCA.  I think the incoming cohort, from Pittsfield, is also invited. These past months have meant a lot to me, and they really have helped me “build capacity.” It’s still up to me to follow through and continue building, but the foundation is there, and it was a lot of help stripping away the negative self-talk which fed on negative outside chatter from previous years, especially in my previous location. I took a gamble. I lost. I’ve been re-grouping. Now it’s time to move forward out of joyful strategy rather than fear. It’s also about matching the energy to the task. I’m pretty good about time management in that I don’t miss deadlines and I work backwards from them, so I’m not overwhelmed at the last minute. But, as I age, I need to manage my energy better.

Sunday and Monday are all about prep for the week, both for the show, and for the residency. If coverages come in, I will take some on. In fact, I sort of hope some will, at least on Monday. I’d like to add a little more to the pot. I hope there will be plenty of coverages the last week and change of the month, and that August is lucrative, coverage-wise (although it usually slows down; I’m hoping, since things have been picking up the last few months, that continues). I’m pitching for work from November-February – I’m looking at a very specific type of work/pay rate/chunk of time each week. If I get on the stick about that when I get back, I hope to have it in place by the time I actually need it.

Have a great weekend! It’s supposed to be hot and awful, so I have a sense I will spend as much time as possible today, Sunday, and Monday at the Clark getting things done.