Thurs. Feb. 13, 2025: When the Reading is the Work

image courtesy of Bianca Van Dijk via pixabay.com

Thursday, February 13, 2025

Last Day of Full Moon

Mars Retrograde

Snowing and cold

There’s a new post over on Gratitude and Growth. Not much to say on there yet, but at least I’m consistent with posting!

Yesterday morning, I bundled up and took the rolly cart to the grocery store. I bought more than I planned (gee, what a surprise), but I could still get it home. It wasn’t too bad, but I was tired.

The renewal notification for my driver’s license arrived. I doubt I can do it online, but we’ll see. If not, the RMV is only four blocks away and they’re really nice. This last one was already Real ID (which is required by this May). I don’t know if I need to bring in paperwork on that again. I’ll look online in early March. Some other bills came in (of course they did), along with a cookbook for review that’s really wonderful. Got an adequate email from my credit union about the ongoing chaos and the steps my credit union is taking to protect us. It’s a good first step.

Hauled everything up the stairs, put it away, and did a bunch of admin work. The ghostwriting editors are now telling me I’ll have my notes Monday or Tuesday. That’s puts a lot of pressure on me to get the 20K done and through another round of revisions by the end of the month so I can get paid. If they keep me on after this, we need to talk more transparent and realistic timelines. Couldn’t get the anthology story finished. Did a follow up with an editor for an anthology story I’d gotten in on deadline about three years ago, where I still haven’t heard anything. If it’s not being used or the anthology isn’t going forward (it’s a shared world anthology), I want to know so I can revise it and submit it elsewhere. It’s one of my favorite pieces. I’m proud of the way it turned out. I’m frustrated by the lack of communication.

Yup, feeling that stuck Mars retrograde energy big time!

Read the second book for review, and read part of the cookbook. I will do more work on the cookbook (and maybe try a couple of things), so I can write the reviews and invoice tomorrow. Did my homework for the library cohort. Pitched for a couple of freelance jobs. Did the rounds of my elected officials. Did some other work.

Bea and I shared the sofa, which is progress.

Cooked dinner, finished reading the third book in David B. Coe’s trilogy. Honored the full moon.

Had weird dreams. Woke up around 3:30, worrying, and managed to doze off until the coffee started. Had a decent meditation session.

Online meditation group starts in a few minutes. Most of today will be writing up reviews, trying to get this draft of the story finished, and getting out LOIs. I have to leave in the late afternoon to get to the library board meeting before the library closes, which means arriving 45 minutes before the meeting.

I have to go back to the library tomorrow with the rolly cart to do a big drop off/pick up of books. I considered going Saturday, but guess what? More snow predicted.

Winter in the Berkshires.

If I wasn’t so worried about all the political chaos, it would be great writing time. Because yes, it DOES affect my daily life. I am not rich enough nor privileged enough for it not to affect me.

Have a good one.