Tues. Jan. 21, 2025: Buckling Up
image courtesy of Dorian Krauss via pixabay.comTuesday, January 21, 2025
Waning Moon
Uranus, Jupiter, Mars Retrograde
Partly cloudy and very cold
Welcome to a new week, and let’s hope we can survive the new era.
There’s a new community tarot reading for the week up here.
I reported a job listing on Friday because it was labeled as “remote” but required the person to be in the office at least one day a week. That is not remote; that is hybrid. Get a fucking clue and stop lying.
(Yes, I’m going to be swearing a LOT for at least the next four years, at the very least. Those are the words that best describe my meaning).
Friday snowed off and on in the morning. I finished the rush coverage and got it in. I packed up the rolly cart and went to the grocery store, where I did a light shop. The cheapest eggs were $8.29, and there weren’t many of them.
Hopefully, some of the farmers will have eggs at the market. If they are similar prices as to the store (and they often are), I’d rather the local farmers had my money. The food co-op is not in walking distance, or I’d be buying them there.
Came home, unpacked, had lunch, and turned around two coverages. One of them was outstanding, one of the best things I’ve read in a long time.
Cooked dinner, read for pleasure in the evening. Slept reasonably well.
Saturday morning, I did a bunch of admin work, set up more file folders, put the last few years’ folders in the cabinet. A colleague of mine asked if I would read the book releasing this autumn and blurb it. I said yes; her work is wonderful, and I’m honored to support it. When the library opened, I took the rolly cart and did a library run, since I had 12 books waiting for me, and a stack to bring back.
Home, unpacked everything, housework, lunch, turned around the other two coverages. Was floored that the writer of the piece I loved complained because I praised it and thought it was good. Fine. I did the work, I got paid. I’d planned to continue championing it, but nope. It doesn’t get one more minute of my time and energy, nor does the writer. Bye-uh.
My friend is healing well from her surgery, and I’m glad. I still feel guilty that I couldn’t provide on-site help. But it’s not about me; it’s about her healing, and she got what she needed, so it all worked out.
The TikTok ban went into effect early. I deleted the app from my phone and computer. I feel slightly guilty at my relief at not being able to be on the platform, taking away my responsibility for making the CHOICE not to be on the platform, which is what I should have done. I disliked the platform itself and found it exhausting, but necessary for book sales. However, in the bigger picture, I disagree with the ban. It has nothing to do with security and everything to do with censorship and oligarchy.
Slept well. I always love going to bed on Saturday night in clean sheets, and linger as long as possible on Sunday mornings!
The prediction of 1-3 inches of snow arriving Sunday upped to 9. Of course, the 3 inches predicted for Saturday was rain because 40 degrees is too warm for snow. So at least all the snow was washed away before the next bit came in.
I did the Community Tarot Reading for the week, with the link as mentioned near the top of the post. We’re still using the Rackham Tarot. It’s such a beautiful deck, although sometimes hard to read because the art wasn’t created specifically for divination. However, I primarily use it for dream work, and it’s very good for that.
Percolated the anthology story and the anthology poem for a bit. I have to plant/integrate some information earlier in the story. As far as the poem goes, the overall shape and themes are there; now I need to drill down into actual words and images.
Percolated on something I want to write set in Northumberland, which is one of my favorite places in the world.
Read a lot. I’m almost finished with the Richard Jury series to date. Just a few more (and then there’s a new one coming in July). As frustrated as I get with them sometimes, I keep reading, so they’re holding my interest. Reading them as a writer, I’m learning a good deal, both in what resonates, and in what does not.
Of course, TikTok was reinstated after a few hours on Sunday. The Democrats got played. And they wonder why people don’t turn out to vote for them. The thing is, I don’t really want to go back on that platform. I think people who want to be on it SHOULD be on it, but I am going to try not being on it and see how it affects sales. I don’t think it will move the needle much. It was important for the serials, but I think other venues are better for the books I write.
Did a couple of hours of research on various things for the Northumberland project. I’m really enjoying the research, and the many happy memories I have in that area.
It started snowing around 1 PM on Sunday, and snowed well into the night. I figure about 8 inches of snow fell, all told? And it was quite cold.
Monday started cloudy but brightened up.
I designed a personal tarot card as part of a homework assignment on something I’m doing. I’m pleased with the way it turned out. It’s private, so I’m not posting a photo of it anywhere. It’s for my own work.
Pondered a possible commission proposal. I have a few weeks to put it together, if I decide it’s something I’d like to try. It’s a hefty commission, and it would be a creative challenge in the right way. I have to let it percolate and see if anything worthwhile comes up. I saw two other grant proposals that are a huge stretch, but could be worth it. Why not me, as much as anyone else? I have to think about it. I looked through my materials, and I think I have everything I need for these proposals; it’s just a case of organizing the information the way they want it.
Started the outline for the Northumberland project and wrote my way in for about 1400 words, so it would shut up.
Stayed off social media and news feeds as much as possible, but the closer we crept to noon, the sicker I felt. You could just feel the cruel, vicious, gleeful energy rising.
What’s coming is squarely on the shoulders of Merrick Garland, who refused to prosecute in a timely manner; on the Democrats who were more interested in appeasement than in making sure we protected democracy; on every voter who voted for That Thing or who didn’t vote at all. The rest of us, are, unfortunately, collateral damage. Chuck Schumer has a lot of answer for; if the Democrats don’t stop the useless cycle of posturing, caving, and then trying to fundraise off it, we’ll be in even worse shape than we are now.
I am going to live my life as best I can for as long as I can. The bulk of my activism will be offline.
Got out a couple of LOIs. Grabbed some more scripts for the next few days, although I didn’t do any coverages yesterday.
After lunch, I bundled up and dug out the car. The snow was light and fluffy. The car started right up, but the coolant light’s still going off, so I can’t drive it anywhere. At least I moved it back and forth a bit, so it won’t stick to the ground.
Tried to book the last two yoga classes before the studio closed. I’m in for tonight, but waitlisted for the final day. Which makes sense. I’ll probably go down to say goodbye anyway.
I do have some good news: I was accepted as part of the upcoming cohort of the For the People Leftist Library Project, starting in February, and running for 12 weeks. I didn’t think I’d get in, since so many people applied, and there were limited slots. I’m so pleased to be a part of it, and I’m looking forward to working with the rest of the cohort for those 12 weeks and beyond. You can read about the Project here.
Wrote and submitted the book review. Have to talk to my editor about the book I have not been able to download. By accident, came across an article from Manhattan Wardrobe Supply that fits into the Nina Bell series, so printed that off and put it with those materials. Worked on contest entries.
Slept reasonably well. Did not want to get up this morning, especially since it was -7F.
On today’s agenda: writing, adaptation, a 2-hour workshop, 3 small coverages, yoga. Better get going.
