Tues. Aug. 27: Hold On For One More Busy Day

image courtesy of dima_goroziya via pixabay.com

Tuesday, August 27, 2024

Waning Moon

Pluto, Saturn, Neptune, Chiron, Mercury Retrograde]

Foggy and warm

I hope you had a good weekend.

I keep forgetting to mention that I’m part of a three-year study via Johns Hopkins University on the physical and mental effects of COVID. Every three months, we have a virtual check-in. I did mine, fortunately, week before last, when I was still feeling okay. Right now, I’m in the control group that hasn’t had it; if I get it, I’ll be moved to the other group.

I felt pretty bad on Friday, and decided to give myself the day off once I ran my errands. So I did the pharmacy, grocery, and library runs. Really felt awful by then, and went back to bed.

A quick turnaround coverage came through, and I wasn’t in a position to say no, so I got my act together and did it.

As I was setting up the coffeemaker for Saturday morning, I noticed that my coffee was marked “Decaf.”  I NEVER drink Decaf. It’s always made me sick. I must have picked up the wrong bag.

Always makes me sick.

I’ve been drinking decaf for a week, going cold turkey after decades of drinking caffeinated coffee. That certainly would explain the headaches last week. And the fatigue, no matter how much “coffee” I drank. It’s a good brand, and didn’t taste any different (which is unusual; I can usually taste the difference).

I checked on the other symptoms. Yup, I had all of them, among the severest of caffeine withdrawals. Plus the fact that decaf has always made me sick to my stomach.

Could it be that simple?

Saturday morning, drinking real coffee, I felt better. Still a little off, but much, much better. Hard to believe a lack of caffeine could make me that sick.

Saturday, I did some tidying up. I ran a couple of errands. A grant opportunity landed in my inbox – due on the 26th, so I sat down and did the application and sent it off. Prepped some material for a grant application that opens on the 1st. Gave some feedback on some A4A materials.

Went down to the bookstore and finalized the reading for the Boiler House Poets. We will be at the Bear & Bee Bookshop on Wednesday, October 9th at 7 PM. Now, to finish up the publicity materials. I’ve been working on them throughout, but couldn’t finish them without the date. That’s a huge relief.

Was surprised how much better I felt by Saturday night. Cooked a decent dinner, got some reading done, got some ancestor work done (which was so accurate, it was a little scary).

Noodled with an idea that started to percolate about a week or so ago. Made some notes. No idea when I could fit it into the schedule, but the characters are talking, so I will take notes and gather information.

Slept pretty well. In fact, slept in on Sunday until nearly 7, which displeased all the cats.

Did more housework, including changing the beds (which usually happens on Saturdays). Ah, the joy of fresh sheets. Truly one of the pleasures of life. Tessa supervised, and insisted I use more lavender between the mattress pad and the fitted sheet, and in the pillowcases. Lavender is her favorite. She spent the rest of the day on the bed, much to Bea’s chagrin.

Made leek-potato-celeriac soup, which turned out really well. Made pistachio mousse, which also turned out really well. Noodled with the idea (I have nearly 9 pages of notes).

Dealt with some email stuff for my friend’s project and for the Boiler House reading. Did some research on the Roman household guardians the Lares. Worked through some research books that have to go back to the library.

Ran a couple of errands which were annoying, because there was a car show all over the damn town, with closed streets and limited parking, and too many of them were raging supporters of the Narcissistic Sociopath. So THAT was no fun. But I kept a cool head and refused to be baited, ran my errands, and came home.

Last year, there was a Word X Word event I went to on car show day, so I only saw them leaving town as I was coming home. I much prefer it that way. That way, I can appreciate the beauty and care put into the cars, and not have to deal with the right-wing fanaticism of the drivers.

Spent a block of time with poetry, keeping my promise to myself for this weekend. Read poems by Nancy Wood, Amy Clampitt, and Mary Oliver. Toyed with some ideas for poems. Although the bulk of my work during the BHPC residency will be on one specific piece, I want to bring in at least one cleave poem, and I’m playing with ideas to see what’s viable. I’d like to have it a few drafts in before the residency.

Slept through the night into Monday, waking up around 5 AM. It was still dark. Earlier in the summer, it was light a little after 4.

Went through the morning routine.

Adapted a bunch of VICIOUS CRITIC episodes into three chapters of the novel. Couldn’t print them, because I have to get more ink. Because when do I not need more ink?

Worked on the flyer for the reading, and sent it off for approval. Made a requested tweak. Dealt with my friend’s project. Worked on the day’s marketing for the Topic Workbooks. Sent off two residency applications. Confirmed a meeting for next week with A4A.

Finished galleys on MURDER BELLS, put in fixes (mostly fiddly and formatting things), did another proof, and those galleys are gone, baby! I should have a solid release date on that soon. As soon as it’s all confirmed, I’ll put those updates on the Nina Bell website, because that has to go live next week. I’ll need to choose excerpts for the media kits and start thinking about videos soon. While pushing to get VICIOUS CRITIC done.

A medium sized quick turnaround coverage came in last night; I will do it this morning, before I leave for Lenox.

I was out the door early in the morning to the laundromat. Worked on VICIOUS CRITIC edits while I was there.

Mercury goes direct tomorrow, thank goodness. I need to hang on for one more busy day.

On today’s agenda: get some work done in the morning. This afternoon, I have a meeting in Lenox with a theatre with whom I want to work. Then, I have to race back to pick up the CSA box, drop it at home, and then race to yoga for my two hours of classes. I’m putting all my yoga stuff in the car, and changing when I get there. Wish me luck!