Wed. Jan. 29, 2025: Changing the Sangha Location

image courtesy of 李磊瑜伽 via pixabay.com

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

New Moon

Uranus, Jupiter, Mars Retrograde

Chinese Lunar New Year – Year of the Snake

Snowing and cold

Happy Chinese Lunar New Year!

It snowed overnight, and is snowing today.

I forgot to mention that, on Monday, there was an earthquake in Maine that we sort of felt here. I thought it was a large truck rolling past. The cats ran around, which should have tipped me off.

It was very windy yesterday, so I tried to get as much done as possible before the internet went down. It sort of wavered in and out in the afternoon, so I’m glad I was able to send out everything I needed.

I did a polish on the short story. I hope to get it out to a market this week. I finished reading the background materials for the next ghostwriting project. I wrote up questions and ideas as I read, and submitted them (a day early). I got responses within a couple of hours, so I can buckle down and do the first section of the assignment, about 6K, starting today. I invoiced the reading fee, per instructions.

The final third of the workshop series was from noon to two. That went well. But with what’s going on at the federal level, everything is in chaos.

I was in touch with my elected officials yesterday. Three times, on three different issues. I’m fortunate, where I live, that they listen and actually do the work. I also was in touch with Chuck Schumer. His behavior through all this has been embarrassing.

It is vital that we ride our elected officials. It takes fifteen minutes or less. There is ALWAYS time, when so much is at stake.

Turned around a small coverage. Hoping for a few more before the end of the pay period on Friday.

Got my act together and walked down to yoga. This was our last class in this space. It was packed. Mat against mat. Good thing we all like each other! Our teacher led us in a gentle practice of gratitude for our experience in the space and releasing the tie to the physical space. She handled it (and us) very well. I was still sad at the end. She’ll be teaching in a space a few blocks closer starting in mid-February, so we will start rebuilding this sangha in the new space. But her space was very important in the way I started to build my life here in the Berkshires, and I’m deeply grateful.

I bought my bolster (at a terrific rate). I have mats, blocks, and all the rest. I have a narrow bolster, but I always wanted a full-sized one, and now I have one. It will help me re-energize my home practice.

Cooked dinner, stressed out about the world, tried to read.

My mind is firing on several pistons for the ghostwriting assignment. I’m eager to dig into it today.

I woke up around midnight, hearing the snowplow. I wondered why they were plowing. I got up and saw quite a bit of snow had fallen! Bea and I sat on the sofa and looked out the window for a stretch. She still doesn’t like human handling, but she likes to hang out close by. We are getting there.

Had trouble getting back to sleep, but finally did. Up around 6, started the morning routine. I had hoped to deal with the car today, but that won’t get much further than digging it out. Right now, it’s snowing pretty hard, and it’s supposed to continue, on and off, all day. They’re saying we’re getting about a half an inch per hour.

So, instead, I will focus on my writing. I have an entire day to write, both my own work and the ghostwriting assignment.

Later tonight, I will make Chicken Lo Mein (with long noodles for long life) for Chinese New Year.

Have a good one!