Fri. Dec. 13, 2024: More Baking, More Writing

image courtesy of Tikovka1355 via pixabay.com

Friday, December 13, 2024

Waxing Moon

Chiron, Uranus, Jupiter, Mercury, Mars Retrograde

Partly cloudy and cold

Today is Friday the 13th! Always a favorite day.

Meditation group was frustrating. A guest leader was there, again, relating to us as though we are machines. No. That does not make me feel connected to energy or the earth. I am a human, not a machine. I am not a computer. I am not a battery. I am a human being. Part of why we are where we are in the world is because we dehumanize each other. Stop demeaning and diminishing my humanity and pretend it’s “spirituality” or “wellness.” It’s just another training mechanism for oppression.

I had to leave after a few minutes, because instead of making me feel calm and centered, it just made me angry. Even Charlotte didn’t want to be there, and you know how much Charlotte loves ZOOM.

Went and did my own sit instead, with my singing bowls, and felt much better.

After breakfast, I did a polish on the newsletter, a polish on the flash fiction story that goes into the newsletter, and got it out the door. That’s always such a feeling of relief. I set up the template for the March 2025 newsletter, and for the February newsletter blast about the March screenwriting workshop and saved those.

I worked on the ghostwriting assignment. I’m having such fun with it, and love the way it’s evolving.

I finally got the paperwork filed with Elizabeth Warren’s office, so she can help us on an issue. I did the marketing rounds per the content calendar.

I spent the afternoon baking the dough I prepped the day before: 10 dozen molasses spice cookies and 12 dozen (maybe a little more) chocolate peppermint crinkles. I still have to do the coconut lime balls, so I won’t get to start deliveries until Monday, probably. I’d like to get everything out the door Monday and Tuesday, and get the cards and packages mailed on Tuesday. I should get paid by a client on Monday, so that could all work out.

I finished the book for review and read the next one. I will finish that second book this morning, write and submit the reviews, then request my next assignment.

On today’s agenda: the book reviews, work on the ghostwriting assignment, errands to Pittsfield, library, grocery store, one medium coverage, hopefully making the coconut lime balls. I may do some work on the judging, or I may push that off until next Monday.

Tomorrow I’m going to work on the ghostwriting assignment, work on writing cards, and then I go to a friend’s party in the afternoon. Sunday, I may get the chance to go to yoga, and I’ll work on the ghostwriting assignment, write cards, and if any coverage work comes in, I have to turn that around.

Next week, I have to finish, polish, and submit the ghostwriting trial. That is the central priority. Then, they will see how I do with their edits. If that works, they’ll pay me for this trial (I hope by the end of the year, because we’ve got these pesky holidays on weird days), and give me a long-form trial, also paid. If THAT one works out, then we’ll start talking about long-term work. Lots of steps along the way, and each one needs to be completed well in order to make it to the next one. Retrogrades and holidays slowing things down. But all I can do is show up and do the work. Either my skills fit, or they don’t. And at least they pay for the trials.

There’s another contest deadline on Sunday; we’ll see if any coverages show up in the queue, to get me through the end of the year and start the next one.

Why do I get the idea that I may spend most of Christmas sleeping (when I’m not cooking)?

Not sure what I’ll cook for the Eve yet, but we are going to have Coq Au Vin for the day. That’s become our Christmas Day dinner of choice the past few years.

Have a good one, and we’ll catch up next week!