Thurs. Aug. 22, 2024: Cats Get It Right

image courtesy of Seidenperle via pixabay.com

Thursday, August 22, 2024

Waning Moon

Pluto, Saturn, Neptune, Chiron, Mercury Retrograde

Sunny and cool

I’m so happy that it is cooler. I mean, next week, it’s supposed to be hot again, so I’m trying to cool the place down as much as possible.

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

Yesterday was a bit chaotic and stressful. I was worried about Charlotte; she didn’t seem herself. I worried I’d have to take her to one of the emergency vets that’s at least an hour away, and worried how to pay for it.

Turns out she just took the day off to sleep. By the time I got home in the evening, she was energetic and back to being a pain in the ass.

On the one hand, I’m thinking, little brat of a drama queen, scaring me. On the other hand, good for her taking a day off when she wanted one. We can all learn from that. Cats know how to live their best lives.

And, of course, the ongoing battle with my mother’s medical bills is no fun.

I managed to adapt three chapters of THE VICIOUS CRITIC, which was good (around 7K). I started proofreading “Tumble” but had trouble concentrating. I considered pitching for a job, but really reading it, they want someone in their 20s at the start of their career. So I decided not to bother. I heard from one of the teaching gigs to which I applied that she’s interested in hiring me for autumn of 2025, so we have to figure out dates and details and see if that works in my schedule; that probably won’t happen for a few more months.

Put together my materials, prepared for my advisory meeting, and was down at MASSMoCA on time. We had a good meeting. Plenty to think about.

I had time before my next meeting at 3:30, which was a gift. I didn’t want to go home; it wasn’t enough to really dig into any work.

Instead, I wandered around the Spruces for a bit. I took a bunch of photos. More and more of it is being turned into a pollinator habitat, which is great (and beautiful), with paths cut through. It definitely makes me eager to get the revisions for THE TREES WHISPERED DEATH back on the schedule for the fall/winter. I’d like to get that out on submission early next year (it’s unrealistic to think it will be out the door before December).

There were too many mosquitos to perch in one place for long, so I got back in the car and went to Milne Library in Williamstown. I found a book on the discard cart by an author whose work I read a lot, something published in 1977, that I don’t think I’ve read before. I sat in their Reading Garden and read until it was time to leave for my next meeting (only about a mile away).

The meeting went well, although we had interruptions, but that’s the way it goes sometimes. Now, it’s up to me to put together what we discussed into a workable written document that we can then edit and change.

After the meeting was tarot circle, which was great. Intense conversation, so I felt both full (for the right reasons) afterwards, while still being tired.

Home, dinner, and Charlotte was all perky and having fun. Bea was playing with her toys and being cute and showing off for Tessa. Bea inherited a baby’s fleece dinosaur blanket that friends left about a year ago. I’d washed it right before Bea joined us (because Charlotte doesn’t get to commandeer ALL the fleece blankets in the house) and gave it to Bea a few days ago, because she likes soft things. She LOVES the blanket. She hasn’t let me take a photo of her on it yet, but we’ll get there. She also put one of her pompoms in her water dish. Maybe that’s a tortie thing? Star, in Beacon, used to do this. Maybe it’s a Beacon thing.

Slept well in the cool air with quilts on. Everybody (feline) was happy and bouncy this morning.

On today’s agenda: I might be able to get some painting done, out on the back balcony. I need to work on my friend’s project. I want to work on VICIOUOS CRITIC some more, and the “Tumble” galleys. I might work on the CAST IRON MURDER synopsis. Maybe send out a few more pitches. I hope more coverage work comes in today or tomorrow; I’ll read through the weekend if necessary. But I’m a little worried about this pay period. So I’m looking for other, fast turnaround stuff that will fill the gap.

Have a good one!