Thurs. Oct. 3, 2024: We’re in the Season of Pumpkins and Gourds

image courtesy of Jens via pixabay.com

Thursday, October 3, 2024

Waxing Moon

Pluto, Saturn, Neptune, Chiron, Uranus Retrograde

Cloudy and cool

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

Yesterday was definitely a test to see if I could go with the flow.

I got my mom all settled in the sun with water and Tylenol and Tessa. Maintenance was spot on time. The big leak wasn’t in our apartment thank goodness. It was next door, and had been going on for a month; they’d never called it in. But he checked our running toilet, went to get a part, it didn’t fit, he had to meet an inspector at another building and then go get the right part. And it’s still not resolved, so there will be more kerfuffle. You get the idea.

I didn’t dare do too much in and around the visits, because I knew I’d be interrupted. But I managed to get a few things done: sent off the requested script, finished the author interview and turned it in. Got some marketing done. Answered some email.

Once the toilet was fixed-for-now, I dashed out to pick up some more liquid Tylenol for my mom (although the one dose seemed to be holding, and she was okay), and got in more wet food for Bea, cat litter, toilet paper, basics that need to be stockpiled while I’m not here next week.

Even though this shot was Moderna, other than her arm hurting, she’s doing okay. She slept better than usual last night, but there’s less overall fatigue. She’s actually mentally sharper than she’s been in awhile. That would be a bizarre side effect from the vaccine – mental clarity. But we’ll take it!

By mid-morning, she was feeling fine. She didn’t even need anymore Tylenol for the rest of the day. She had a good night and feels fine this morning. So, she really only had 6 or 7 hours of discomfort. I wish she didn’t have any, but 6 or 7 hours is a pretty good deal. Of course, other than last year’s shot (her first Moderna), all the other Pfizers were just fatigue and a little discomfort at the injection site. She’s done very well with all the shots.

I got some work done on the coverage I had to turn around, then prepped for my production meeting. It was via Zoom. We all connected well right away. We found our working language quickly, and a good sense of trust. The meeting was also short and efficient –we got everything done and didn’t need to talk in circles. Love that! The composer knows the cast and says they’re awesome. The director’s heard from the cast how much they enjoy the script and are working on their characters. I will ZOOM into at least the first rehearsal, and we’ll see what’s needed from there. I will also be on ZOOM for the entire recording session on Nov. 12th, so the director and I can make adjustments as needed. All good. I think we’ll have a lot of fun.

We were done early enough so I could head out to tarot, where we had a good and layered conversation. I also gave out flyers for next week’s reading – I’ll miss tarot, but some of the group are interested in heading over after tarot next week.

Picked up takeout on the way home, and then finished the script coverage.

Hung out in the evening, just relaxing (I know, an almost foreign concept). The next few days, I can focus on prepping for the residency, a big grocery shop to get everything to set up my mom while I am gone, and what I need, and turning around as many script coverages as possible. There should be a lot more coming in than I’ve seen, with a deadline last Tuesday. But I’ve got 4 for today, 4 for tomorrow, and we’ll see what comes in over the weekend. I will also try to turn around one of the two books I was assigned for review.

Okay, let’s be real – the bulk of my “prepping for residency” packing this weekend is changing my mind about which books to take, and packing and unpacking that bag. I have my bag of “stuff” to nest in the studio packed. Packing clothing is not a problem. I have my project folders packed, and packing my computer takes less than 5 minutes. It’s deciding which books I need for my project, and which books I need just to have around me. Yoga mat (the old one), meditation cushion, and the acupressure mat are also coming.

I’m reading the collection BUDDHA’S DAUGHTERS, about women in the tradition. One of the essays reminded me of tonglen meditation, and I think I might incorporate that into a small way to do something for hurricane relief. I’m oversimplifying the following description of the meditation: it’s about breathing IN the pain and suffering and breathing OUT relief and compassion. Of course, it’s more complex and nuanced than that. And it’s difficult, because most of the time, we are told to breathe out what we don’t need and breathe in all the good stuff. I studied this with a Tibetan teacher a few years back during an online meditation conference. It is not easy. But maybe it’s something I can do, while I try to do whatever else I can.

I was out the door early this morning to the laundromat and back by 7 AM, even with two large loads. I’m about to go into the group online meditation.

Later today is about folding and putting away laundry, getting some writing done, marketing, and 4 script coverages.

Have a good one!