Fri. May 9, 2025: Could More Rain = A Quiet Day?

image courtesy of Photorama via pixabay.com

Friday, May 9, 2025

Waxing Moon

Pluto Retrograde

Rainy and cool

I can’t believe we’re at the end of another week!

Yesterday was busy, but kind of all over the place. The painters were working on the side of the building by the living room, the sewing room, and my office. The sanders sound like millions of angry hornets. Actually, thinking of them as hornets rather than repetitive machine noise is a good coping mechanism. Again, it’s nowhere near as disruptive as it could be, but it’s still more than makes for a decent work environment.

It made online meditation a little challenging. Even Charlotte was upset. Tessa and Bea hid. Willa came to a window to tell the painters off, and then hid on a kitchen chair that was pushed under the table.

After breakfast, I packed up and headed to the library across the street and my favorite carrel, which was blissfully quiet.

Then came the challenge – what to work on first?

I saw the rough for the cover of Nina Bell #5, STAGE FALL. I absolutely love it. I’m happy with all the covers (even though we went through five versions for the upcoming #3, VICIOUS CRITIC). #4, BUT IS SHE A BETTING MAN? is a lot of fun, and STAGE FALL is just terrific. It’s not as bright and colorful as previous covers, but it matches stylistically, and communicates the story well.

Of course, I still have to write the books. . .I’m not used to being so ahead of the game with covers. I realized I had the old cover for VICIOUS up on its Nina Bell page, so I switched them out.

Because why not procrastinate when you have the chance?

My blessed quiet was somewhat interrupted because there was a dingus with a leaf blower in the quad. It’s spring! No leaves! Blowing pollen makes everyone miserable!

But the windows are pretty good, so it wasn’t as bad as it could have been.

Sent out a couple of LOIs. Worked on “Scent Memory.” A friend had to change plans for the weekend, but we’ll adjust.

I realized I haven’t talked about last weekend’s Kentucky Derby. The horse I liked best, Sovereignty, won. His head was in the game, it was his day. I wanted to like Sandman, but he was pushed too hard too fast, and he was cooked before Derby day. My longshot picks were Tiztastic (love all the Tiznow lineage, even though they’re hot messes) and Coal Battle. Who remained longshots. Unfortunately, Sovereignty isn’t running in the Preakness. I’m getting sick of the industry breeding for speed, not endurance, and then enter the Triple Crown with no intention of making a go of all three races. I don’t want horses injured, but I’ve had an issue with the breeding for decades. Don’t breed them with matchstick legs and then expect the races to adjust. Breed for the sport, not for your myths. And breed for the good of the species, which isn’t happening. I mean, there’s a whole conversation we could have about how, every year, I have more issues with the sport, which is one of the reasons I stepped back from covering it. But that’s for another day.

Headed home for lunch. Tessa Wished to Speak to the Manager about the disruption. Before I left for the afternoon, she had settled in on the porch. Bea was in her crate. Charlotte was burrowed under the covers of my bed. Willa wanted attention.

Totally missed #FreelanceFriends, but, by the time I returned to the library, learned a new pope was elected. From Chicago! With a mother of Creole heritage, from Louisiana! I later learned that although he was born in the US, he’s been a Peruvian citizen for a long time. Other information says he has dual American/Peruvian citizenship. It will be interesting to see what he’s all about. The fact that so many of That Thing’s cult are having fifteen fits is a positive sign, I think.

There was a lot of noise in the quad. They had a truck with lots of mulch in and were re-mulching all the beds. Noisily. And then the dingus with the leaf blower kept blowing instead of, you know, waiting until the mulching was done and then cleaning up what was needed.

I managed to do some work on CASTLE LYSENDE. My word counts have dropped way down. I’ve lost that daily rhythm, and I need to get it back.

Headed home just as the painters packed up. Got everything unpacked/repacked/switched out for the library trustees meeting, and headed up to the library. One of the mayor’s staff was there, updating us on the information we needed for the repairs, grant processes with the historical commission, etc. There are complications, and the meeting was about finding ways through. I have a kind of a wacky idea that I will research further. If it’s viable, I will bring it up at the next meeting.

It was a lovely evening to walk home. When I got home, I heated up some leftovers for dinner. Read in the evening. Pondered a few things, making some decisions.

Slept reasonably well. Woke up to pouring rain, so I hope that means no painters today. I need the respite. We’re under flood watch again, so I want to get the errands done early. Not much to do – grocery store and library. Then I can be home and write.

Tomorrow, I have a cohort meeting in the afternoon, which will be fun. Sunday is Mother’s Day, so I want to create a nice day for my mom. In and around all that, I need to get some writing in, some housework in, read the next book for review, and work on the textile project.

Next week is a busy week – reading prep, yoga, the next meeting for the gallery show, a webinar with the Entertainment Community Fund about the student loan kerflamma, the reading of “A Rare Medium” in Ohio, and then prep for JUST A DROP in Colorado a few days later. And whatever else comes up!

Again, it’s the good kind of busy.

Hopefully, I can invoice the rest of the ghostwriting today, get it early next week, and get the brakes fixed as well.

Have a great weekend, and we’ll catch up next week!