Wed. Jan. 15, 2025: Feeling Like a Juggler (in a Good Way)

image courtesy of Daniel Vargas Ruiz via pixabay.com

W ednesday, January 15, 2025

Waning Moon

Uranus, Jupiter, Mars Retrograde

Cloudy and cold

There’s a new post up on Ink-Dipped Advice here, about a re-set for the beginning of the year.

We had a knock on the door while eating breakfast, telling us we can’t use the water for a good portion of the morning because they have to fix a sewer pipe in the basement. What a way to start the day. But they had it fixed in a couple of hours, so it was all good.

I worked on the support letter for A4A. It’s almost where I want it. I will work on it some more today, and then drop off the hard copies at the office later this week.

I adapted a bunch of serial episodes into four chapters for ANGEL HUNT. It felt good, although I worry a little because chapter lengths are uneven.

At noon, I had a two-hour workshop with A4A about going beyond arts grants. It was a terrific workshop, the first of three parts. I was disappointed that only one of the current cohort members participated. I really liked the workshop leader. I knew some of the information in this section, but there was also new information on which I could build.

The store that sent me the wrong book refunded the money, which is great, but now I have to hunt down a copy of the book I actually wanted. Put in another Chewy order, this time for Bea’s food. It should be here tomorrow.

After the workshop was over, I had a late lunch, then turned around 5 small coverages. I had the chance to take a short break, before changing, bundling up, and walking down to the yoga studio. Halfway there, I realized I hadn’t booked myself into the class, so when I arrived, I was able to do so on my phone. It was a bit of a brisk walk in the cold, but when I left the house, a little before 5 PM, it was still light out! The light is returning.

I’m so glad I went to yoga. It was wonderful. And we only have two more classes after this before the studio closes. I will miss it so much. There was also a current cohort member there; we joked about seeing each other out of context. One of the regulars drove me home after, which was very kind of her.

Cooked dinner, and started reading one of the books for the contest I’ve judging for a decade. It’s pretty good.

Slept reasonably well, although I was awake by about 3:30, fretting. Didn’t get up until I smelled the coffee at 5:30. It seems to work to have Bea’s door open all night, and she’s much happier that way, so we’ll see if we can make it work.

So much going on in the world right now, that needs to be, at least, acknowledged. The Neil Gaiman situation is heartbreaking for everyone involved. So tired of predators. Carrie Underwood performing at the inauguration? Why is anyone surprised? She’s always been trash. The confirmation hearings for the incoming cabinet show just how incompetent and loathsome the choices are. The bill the House passed yesterday on transgender girls in sports goes far beyond what it pretends to do. In addition to stripping rights from transgender individuals, it encourages and supports sexual predators AND it is part of the larger plan to strip yet more rights from women and girls. If they can’t play sports, they can’t get sports scholarships and it’s harder to get an education. If they aren’t fit, it’s harder to fight back against their abusers. The whole thing is disgusting.

Every parent who voted for the Sociopath is responsible for all further abuses from here on out. Putting their own children and ALL children in danger like this is unconscionable. No rational human believes that it’s “protecting” anyone. It’s about hate and removing rights, and they don’t give a damn about collatoral damage.

Let’s hope the winds die down and some rains come out in LA. They’ve been through enough. It’s wonderful how many individuals and organizations are stepping up to help. Let’s also note who is not, including the trio of ass-licking billionaires.

On today’s agenda: keep working on the support letter; more adaptation work on ANGEL HUNT; hopefully some work on VICIOUS CRITIC; work on the book reviews and the contest; we’re far enough into the year, so I think I can get out some more pitches and LOIs. I don’t like being in a holding pattern for the two big projects, and I don’t want to cut off other options, in case neither of them work out. I have a medium-sized coverage to turn around this afternoon, and that’s the end of the pay period. I made so little money it’s ridiculous.

I may do a library run later, if the weather holds. I have a lot of books to return, and a stack to pick up. Yay, rolly cart.

Have a good one!