Tuesday, November 30, 2010

The rug for the writing room

Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Waning Moon
Uranus Retrograde
Neptune Retrograde
Cloudy and cold

Yesterday, the kitties had a Big Adventure. Turns out that sometimes, when the heat comes on, the door to the basement “burps” open unless it’s firmly shut. That’s what it did yesterday morning, after I put some stuff into the laundry bin. Suddenly, I come into the hallway and the door to the basement is open.

Uh, oh.

I turn on the light and head downstairs. I see two little furry faces staring up at me, and then the cats Take Off. I managed to trap Iris in the laundry room –she was running around in circles, screaming, with a fat tail. I grabbed her, took her upstairs, and tucked her back into the flannel sheets, where she feels safe, closing the upper bathroom door.

No Violet.

There are a zillion places to hide down there, and the door to the stillroom was still closed, so I figured she wasn’t in there. I left the basement door open and just waited.

Sure enough, after about twenty minutes or so, she tiptoed up and shot into my office. I FIRMLY closed the basement door and that was that.

But they were both velcro kitties for the rest of the day. The basement is full of Scary Monsters (unpacked boxes, furnace, water heater, etc.). It was inevitable they’d get down there sooner or later; I’d just hoped it would be later, so I could get things organized a bit more down there.

Mattress World called me before I could call them to schedule delivery. They were on time, got everything set up in less than ten minutes, no fuss, no drama. So much better than dealing with Sleepy’s (not to mention half the price). So, Mattress World gets high marks in my book. The delivery guys were local Cape guys, too, totally efficient and laid back at the same time. What I love about this area is that people show up when they say they will, everything is done on time and right the first time, but no one stresses out. They just Get It Done.

Speaking of Getting It Done, I spent most of the afternoon raking. Most of my body is no longer speaking to me, but that’s okay, because the rains are coming tomorrow, and I want to get as much done as I can before that. I got a little on the side done and a huge chunk of the back. I also found basil, rosemary, and sage still growing in one section of the yard, the garden border along the stone wall! That’s very exciting. I’ll be planting some of my own in pots, and I want a lot of mint and some other herbs, too, but I’m excited to see how what’s here will grow.

Evidence that an owl lived in at least one of the pitch pine trees in the back. If I hadn’t gone to that seminar, I wouldn’t know how to recognize it! Thankfully, no pellets to be found, because I’m still enough of a city girl to think they’re gross. (If you don’t know what an owl pellet is, look it up. Ewwww).

Quite a few neighbors were prepping their yards, too; everyone’s trying to get it done before the rains. I’m going to work on tidying up the front and the sides this morning, and I hope to get the last section of flat back done this afternoon. Next weekend, if it’s dry, I can do the odd bits that will be left.

I’m going to have to hire someone to take the leaves to the dump. As it is, I’m double-stacking bags, and I want to be able to put my car in the garage! Besides, I could only fit about four bags of leaves in the VW without them exploding all over the place. There are people who have trucks and actually hire themselves out for dump runs, so I’ll be looking into that this week.

So, it turns out the little black and white dog doesn’t belong next door. I don’t know where he lives — he’s tagged, but I haven’t gotten close enough to read it yet. He marked the side of the back deck yesterday while I was raking, got scolded, then shot across the yard at top speed, squeaked through a hole in the fence I didn’t know existed (the fence, much less the hole), and marked the other side of the fence, then went over to tease one of the Hounds of the Baskervilles. He’s neighborhood, but let loose. I’m going to call him Imp until I find out what his real name is. Cute as can be, but rambunctious, and needs to learn this is NOT his yard, much less his potty patch.

The FOOD & WINE cookbooks arrived — very yummy. Can’t wait to try stuff from there. As it was, I cooked pork chops in mushroom sage sauce, mashed potatoes, and red cabbage — very nice.

Class is going well, plenty of interesting discussion and points of view, although I’m still typing in lectures, and i usually prefer to have them all typed and ready to paste before the class starts. But it’s all done and on time. And these people read the book, which means there’s more interactive discussion going on. I have to write a couple of blog posts today, in and around everything else, rake some more, and hit some of the artisan stores to do more Yule shopping. I want to get both the overseas cards and gifts out by next weekend.

Playing with some story ideas. I’ve got a great idea for a character, but she appeared within the context of a type of piece I don’t particularly want to write. So I’m going to work with her, and see if I can get her into a different type of piece, while still honoring her essence. It will be an interesting challenge. I think if I work along the more comic elements of her nature, I might pull it off. I also got information on a couple of anthologies, which sound interesting, if I can balance that with the work already booked, the unpacking, and the holiday prep.

I’m starting to figure out the morning routine, and I love being at my desk super early and watching everyone walk their dogs before work. But my writing room is so lovely (even with the boxes) and so sunny and bright on most days that it’s a pleasure to work in it at any time of day. What a nice change!

Back to the page.

I haven’t had a chance to say that in a long time.

Devon

Monday, November 29, 2010

Monday, November 29, 2010
Waning Moon
Uranus Retrograde
Neptune Retrograde
Sunny and cold

Busy weekend, but really good.

Made those Martha Stewart banana-walnut chocolate-chunk goodies. Oh, my goodness — one of the best cookies ever! Totally loved them. They are now my second-favorite cookie recipe, behind my favorite molasses spice.

The owl program at the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History was amazing. I didn’t realize that screech owls and saw-whet owls were so tiny! So cute, especially the saw-whet. The barred owl was lovely. I absolutely adored the Great Horned Owl — he has no natural predator and he knows it. That was a bird with major ‘tude — he was looking at some of the smaller children like he considered them a tasty snack. So, of course, I adored him. The snowy owl, who’s been with this group since babyhood (owlet-hood?) was a showoff — loved the play the crowd. And the enormous Eurasian Eagle Owl know she was totally gorgeous and just demanded all to adore her. Really, really great program, and I can’t say enough great things about the people in charge. Check out their website for lots more info. I learned a lot, and now I know what to look — and listen for — when it comes to owls.

I sat next to a lovely woman who is part of the Friends program at the Center and gave me information. She said she had to come to this — or else she’d have to rake her yard! I may not join Friends — because my freelance schedule is so transient, I’m leery of initially committing to anything. But I might buy and inscribe a brick in Elsa’s memory for the walkway, and become a member, since I’ll be going to so many of their programs whenever I get the chance.

Their gift shop has gorgeous stuff, most made by local artists. I knocked four people off my Yule list right there!

I was really impressed with the kids — they’re lively, rambunctious, and very, VERY smart. And yet they’re totally well behaved. No screaming, no tantrums, no bad behavior. And they weren’t sticky, thank goodness. Kids come to me as often as dogs do. I’m not a particularly child-friendly person (one reason I chose not to have any), but for some reason, they really like me. I was surprised by how they paid attention and could refer to something at the beginning of the program later on when they asked a question, and how much they remembered. One kid, who couldn’t have been more than six or seven, could identify a Great Horned owl skull from a program he remembered at his school last year. Pretty impressive.

And the stuff they chose to buy was pretty interesting, too. None of this made-in-China plastic crap. They wanted very site-specific toys and books that required imagination. In general, I’ve been very impressed by the local kids, from toddler to teen. Quite different from the Summer Brats, I’m sure, and very different from the horribly behaved, selfish, bored and boring, entitlement-obsessed children in Westchester.

Back to the house too late to rake. Stopped at Trader Joe’s to get a wreath for the front door — everyone else in the neighborhood is decorated, and I feel behind the beat. Unpacked some more boxes — made a good dent in the pile still in the kitchen.

We got the area rugs up for the living room and the back bedroom and cleaned them both. They look great. I didn’t think the one would work in the back bedroom, but it looks great.

Did some work on the lectures.

Went to bed early, and the cats kind of let me sleep. Or maybe I was just so tired I didn’t notice them playing.

I’m still having weird anxiety dreams. They all have to do with being stuck somewhere in NY, in a theatrical situation, on a show without running notes. I’ll get over them eventually, but they’re annoying.

Up at a reasonable hour on Sunday, yoga, meditation, made biscuits for breakfast. Did some more work on the lectures. Read the Sunday papers – -haven’t done that in ages! Lots of good stuff in there.

Went outside and raked for a couple of hours. The raised part of the backyard. It’s only a small section, but it’s a whole section, so I got that feeling of accomplishment.

Had lunch, then ran some errands. Went to Sandwich to the Herb Shop to pick up a few things I needed to make sachets for the closets, and then swung by Lavender Moon to get the necklace with the amber that I looked at last week, but hadn’t bought. I can’t wear it every day, but it will be lovely for special occasions.

Also stopped at the Yoga/Wellness Center just down the street (seriously, I could walk if I wanted to — it would be about 15-20 minutes) to pick up their schedule. Looks like they have yoga classes along the lines of what I’m looking for, meditation group, and even an acupuncturist on staff. I’ll give them a try. I probably won’t start going to class until the New Year, but I’m going to try to get into one of the acupuncture sessions. My hip is really bothering me again.

Back to the house, and back to raking. I did some more in the backyard. Doesn’t it look better?

And I met the neighbor across the way who has the Scottie and the Westie, both of whom are rescues. The Westie is just a little love bug. But then, they know a soft touch when they see one. Basically, everyone up and down the street takes in rescues — the neighbor across the street only has two; most have three or more. Fine with me — the more happy animals around, the better. And I’m invited to an open house to meet the neighbors in two weeks!

And here’s what’s left for me to do in the back in the next couple of days:

I still have to tidy up the front before the rains hit Tuesday night.

Once I was done raking for the day, I started with the Yuletide decorations. I still can’t find a bunch of stuff, and I’m sure we’ll be rearranging things as we go, but I got part of the advent table up (enough to light the candle for the First of Advent, which is what yesterday was). The mirror’s not yet up over the fireplace, but I kind of like having all the nutcrackers there, and, for now, I have about half the Santas on one bookcase (one of the ones where I can’t find the shelves). I’m kind of at a stopping point until I get the tree up, and then decide what I want to do around that. But, now that I can put up my Very Big Tree — well, it’s an OLD Very Big Tree, and each branch has to be inserted individually, so it will take me three damn days!

I posted my welcome message and the first lecture for the workshop.

Violet is very cuddly lately. She seems to be settling in better than Iris, although Iris brought about five or six toys into the bed overnight. At least it’s not pork bones out of the garbage, which is what Elsa used to do!

Egg on face moment — for some reason, I thought my editor had booked a different article, and that was what I was working on until she straightened me out. NOT the way to impress your boss, right?

Mattress World never called me to give me a window for delivery today, so I will have to get on them about it. I can’t sit around indefinitely waiting for them to show up. Even though I need to spend a good portion of the day raking.

Got my first Yuletide card on Saturday — from the National Marine Life Center. Designed by one of their volunteers, who is seven years old. I’m telling you, the kids here are preternaturally bright. It’s an adorable card. I’m looking forward to putting it up.

And I have to get the overseas cards out this week.

Pretty much all we’ve watched since we got the TV hooked up is WGBH, Boston’s Public Television station. That’s the best on right now. Perhaps we should become members!

Actually stayed up until a reasonable hour, kept working on the lectures.

Up early this morning to find frost on the ground, yoga, meditation, feeding the cats, getting down to work, etc. The other split box is supposed to be delivered today — hope it actually happens — and then I can start really putting the bedroom to rights. I haven’t unpacked/found my sewing boxes yet or my hot glue gun, and there are some ornaments in desperate need of Ornament Hospital. I need to teach, work on some blog posts, and work on the article.

And rake. And unpack. And keep decorating.

No one’s stressed and frantic around here, but an awful lot gets done in a short amount of time. There’s no dithering or procrastination — they just get to it. My kind of place.

Oh, does anyone have any idea what kind of bush this is? It’s in the backyard, with orange berries and pale yellow flowers — a nice late bloomer.

Devon

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Violet likes the sofa

Saturday, November 27, 2010
Waning Moon
Uranus Retrograde
Neptune Retrograde
Cloudy and cold

Yesterday was busy. A few hours’ work unpacking more kitchen boxes (22 left, and then about 60 in the garage). A few hours’ work in my office — didn’t get enough unpacked, mostly because I’m at a loss where to put stuff. Never managed to unpack anything in the bedroom. A few hours’ worth of paperwork. Citizens’ Bank is a pain in the —, and I’m starting to think I made the wrong choice there. Waaay too much hoop jumping. If they continue to act like Chase, I will take my business elsewhere. They have three months to prove they’re worth the hassle.

Caught up on a lot of the paperwork that’s built up during the move, did a lot of filing, set up the files for next year.

Nipped down to the store down the road to get the BARNSTABLE PATRIOT — the small, local paper that contains more actual information and journalism than both of Rye papers combined– and the CAPE COD TIMES.

The Cape is Very Busy for the holidays, and there’s lots of fun stuff to do. I booked reservations at a few things that sound like they’d be interesting. And I was invited to a breakfast at the National Marine Life Center over in Buzzards Bay, an organization to which I toss a few bucks whenever I can because I like them so much. Got the voice mail set up — we haven’t even given out the number and are getting scam trash calls. I was rather abrupt, and made sure we’re on the Do Not Call Registry. I can’t screen calls and decide what to pick up, so I just won’t pick up. I also blocked any call that doesn’t provide Caller ID. If you won’t tell me who the hell you are, I’m not interested in talking to you!

The weather was too bad to do any raking, so lost yet another day of that. Heated up some beef stroganoff for dinner, which was good, watched some TV, played with the cats. Did some work (but not enough) on the lectures. Stacked more stuff in the basement. Since the Danish sofa probably won’t be ready by Christmas, we may put the enormous tree in that corner in the living room.

This morning, I’m about to make the banana-walnut chocolate-chunk cookies (the bananas really need to be used), then haul up the area rug from the basement for the livingroom, unroll it, and use rug cleaner on it. While it dries, I hope to get about an hour of raking done. Then, I’m driving to Brewster for the owl program (I love owls). I have to run a few errands on the way back, and then, hopefully, I can rake some more. The next three days are supposed to be clear and cold, so I hope I can make good progress.

The workshop starts Monday, so this evening I want to finish the lectures. Hopefully, I can post my welcome message this morning, and then I’ll post the first lecture tomorrow night, encompassing the various time zones inhabited by students.

The cats are sleeping all day and roaming all night. Going to have to do something about that. Sigh.

Devon

Friday, November 26, 2010

I have a lot of leaves to rake

Friday, November 26, 2010
Waning Moon
Uranus Retrograde
Neptune Retrograde
Rainy and cold

I could not get my act together and get out of the house on Wednesday. I was stumbling around totally incoherently. But we finally got on the road and headed for Maine. Not a bad ride, although going through the “Big Dig” tunnels under Boston was a little scary. But we did it, and hit the portions of road that were familiar.

We made many of our usual stops — a few places in Kittery, Stonewall Kitchen to stock up on jams and sauces (and their Coastal Morning Coffee is really good), a thrift shop in York (where I found some unique, hand-made bud vases and a fish-shaped copper mold. We wanted to have lunch at the Stolen Menu Cafe in York, one of our favorite places, but it’s only serving breakfast this week, and we missed out. I did A LOT of shopping in NH at the liquor store (no taxes on liquor), and, in the attached gift shop, found a lovely rosemary and mint soap. I’m extremely partial to rosemary soap and it’s hard to find. In addition to loving the smell, it’s a wonderful antiseptic, so if you have a cut, it helps fight/heal infection.

We wound up in Ongonquit, at the Bread and Roses Cafe — although it’s closed for the season, it’s open this week. I got a phenomenal apple turnover, and my mom had the best elephant ear she’s ever had. The coffee was from CarpeDiem, and is some of the best coffee I ever had. What a treat! Again, here are examples of independent artisans doing something better than any mass-produced place could come up with, and at fair prices. I also bought eclairs to take home. Have you ever seen anything like these?

We got to Maine as late as we usually do when we leave from New York! But the family was glad to see us. We unpacked, distributed the little gifties, and I started heating up the dinner. The stove is a very old electric burner one, so it took for damn ever, but, eventually, we got it warm. The beef stroganoff was a hit, as was the lemon cake.

My great-uncle has lost most of his hearing, so you have to pretend you’re standing on an Elizabethan stage projecting to the rafters to have a conversation. But then, he will be 94 this year, and is still living on his own and getting around pretty well, so I’d say he’s doing all right.

I was supposed to go over to visit my cousins, hang out, and help with the onions, but I was so tired I was afraid I’d pass out face down in the bowl. I was in bed by 8 PM. And I slept straight through until 6.

I still felt a little wonky in the morning, despite all the sleep, but had a good breakfast. I spent the morning polishing my lectures for next week’s SECONDHAND SPIRITS workshop — I hope some of you will join me. I’m getting really excited about it.

We headed over to the hall around noon. I jumped into the kitchen, as I usually do, to help with the mashed potatoes, the sweet potatoes, and whatever I could to set up. The potato masher is four feet long, so that should give you an idea of how many potatoes we cook!

Dinner was great — somewhere between 50 and 60 people for dinner, everyone in a good mood and happy to see each other. Most of us only get to see each other once a year, although now that I’m closer, I hope I can get up more often. And I invited everyone to visit. They were joking that they’d charter a bus and all come down — only maybe they weren’t joking! 😉 Hey, as long as I have enough advance notice to stock the cupboards, I’m used to feeding actors, I can feed them, and we can all hang out on the deck.

I didn’t stay until the bitter end of clean-up, which I usually do, because we needed to get back on the road. We left around 2:30. It was a surprisingly smooth ride, with the Big Dig a little scary again, but from Boston down to the Cape, I was surprised by the depth of traffic. It all moved well, so it wasn’t a problem; there was just a lot of it.

Got back around 6:30, unloaded the car. The cats were exactly where we left them — I don’t know if they moved in the whole 48 hours, poor things. They were very upset. We spent the evening trying to calm them down. I think I have to take Iris to the vet next week, poor little thing.

Watched a public television special on European Christmas traditions, which was lovely. Had a nice glass of wine, ate those enormous eclairs (and got whipped cream all over everything). Went to bed at a reasonable hour.

Up early this morning, at my usual time (at least it wasn’t 4 AM, finally) — yoga, meditation, fed the cats, made the coffee, to my desk. Tried to write a bit on the Willowspring Grove novel, but I’m feeling very disconnected from it. I think I’ll have to type in some of what I’ve handwritten to get back into its flow.

On today’s agenda is more work on the lectures for next week, blog posts I owe Savvy Authors, and getting started on an article I landed to write for WOMEN ON WRITING that’s due in less than a month. Since I have to interview experts for it, I have to get those questions out ASAP to give them adequate time. I also need to unpack a lot more, especially in the kitchen, run a few loads of dishes through the dishwasher and laundry through the washer/dryer. I’d like to vaccum and scrub the bathrooms down, too.

I need to call the Natural History Museum to confirm Saturday and call Mattress World to order my split box.

It’s raw and rainy, so I can’t do any yard work (but I like the sound of the rain against the house, and feeling all cozy inside). I don’t shop on Black Friday — I’m not that nuts and I don’t wait in line and scramble to pay people for merchandise. You really want my business? Serve me champagne and h’ors d’oeuvres! Don’t think I’ll stand in line all night to dash in and save a few bucks. Just not worth it. I can find individual artisans who create unique gifts at fair prices and don’t make me jump through hoops to part me from my money.

I notice on my bills that, although MA’s nickname is “Taxachussetts”, the taxes are less than in NY. On my cell phone bill alone, I’m saving $4/month in taxes, which will add up to $48 over the course of a year.

That’s a lot of cat treats.

The Hounds of the Baskervilles were very busy baying at something early this morning. The cats were not amused. And the Westie across the street is sitting in the window, waiting patiently all day for his person to come home.

Onward.

Devon

Happy Thanksgiving!

May you have a peaceful, joyful day.

And, one of the many things for which I’m grateful is all of YOU!

Devon

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Waning Moon
Uranus Retrograde
Neptune Retrograde
Sunny and cold

Yesterday was a busy day, but a good one. Got quite a bit of unpacking done — close to twenty boxes in the kitchen. Still have a lot more, but we’re getting there. I need to get more bins for the stuff I’m sorting and stashing in the basement, but may need in the future.

The plan was to get something done in the yard, but that didn’t happen.

However, I baked truffle brownies for tomorrow’s dinner, lemon cake for tonight’s dinner, and the beef stroganoff. The latter took nearly three hours, but I think it was worth it.

I took care of some administrative stuff. Sleepy’s delivered the split box — in and out, easy peasy, and the other bed is all set up. Mattress World will give me the same thing at a better price, half the delivery charge, and next day service, so I’m going to them for the second split box on Friday.

MARTHA STEWART LIVING mailed me a recipe for banana-walnut chocolate chunk cookies as a “welcome to your new home” thing — they look really good. Maybe I’ll try them over the weekend.

The guy came to pump out the septic tank — when he was supposed to, was very friendly, and it was done quickly. I picked up a copy of SHERLOCK HOLMES from the books I got from my grandmother, and started re-reading THE SIGN OF THE FOUR, which I haven’t read in probably about twenty years. Fascinating. I’d forgotten how good Conan Doyle was at evoking sense of place and atmosphere.

Had to use my Borders bucks, so I headed to the store and came back with Kate Carlisle’s latest in her bookbinding mysteries, THE LIES THAT BIND. I also picked up the first of a new series by a new-to-me author EJ Cooperman, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEED — which, funnily enough, has a blurb from Kate Carlisle. Usually, the author blurbs on a cover cause me to put a book down rather than buy it, but I thought it was funny that I had Carlisle’s book in my hand and was drawn to something she advocated. Also got Norris Church Mailer’s memoir A TICKET TO THE CIRCUS. She died this past week. I was mildly acquainted years ago with both her and Norman (mostly seeing them at parties at the Chelsea Hotel) many years ago, and she died this past week, so I thought it would be interesting to read the memoir. They spent a lot of time in Provincetown.

I’m signed up for the owl seminar on Saturday. Looking forward to it.

As you can see from the time this is posted, I can leave at a civilized hour for Maine — pretty happy about that. Of course, because of that, I didn’t thoroughly pack last night, so I bet you I forget stuff. As long as I bring up the food, right?

It’s just a quick trip — up and back for the meal, because I don’t want to leave the cats for too long. They’re starting to settle in and define territory. Iris is sneezing a lot — I think she has kitty cold. Usually, she gets over it in two or three days; if she doesn’t, I’ll take her to the vet. I need to establish with a new vet anyway, especially if we bring a third into the house, which I hope to do before Christmas. Violet has decided she may be the smallest, be she is Dominant Kitty.

And so it goes. Hopefully, traffic around Boston won’t be too bad.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Devon

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Waning Moon
Uranus Retrograde
Neptune Retrograde
Cloudy and milder

Yesterday was about unpacking. We rearranged the garage, so now I can get the car into it. I found the big pot, so I can make the beef stroganoff for tomorrow. And, of course, washed it. Ran a long list of errands. It’s interesting how one can get twice the amount done in half the time without anyone getting stressed and surly around here. Everyone is NICE, the clerks and stuff, and it’s an adjustment. I’m used to abrupt and/or surly. I never thought of most of the clerks in NY that way until I got here. And they engage you in actual conversation, not just yammer. The clerks here engage their CUSTOMERS in conversation, not deign to do their jobs while carrying on conversations with co-workers. And everyone is so damn cheerful! It’s an adjustment. A positive one, but an adjustment. I think they’re especially cheerful because the “summah people” are gone.

Anyway, ran the errands, which included buying a large trash can so I can sort the garbage. The can is for the regular garbage — I have crates to sort the recycling. Over the weekend, we’ll have to make our first dump run.

I want to attend a seminar on owls at the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History in Brewster on Saturday. I tried calling to make a reservation; they were closed and one can’t leave a message, so I shot them an email. Hopefully, I can get in.

I also have to race against time in the next few days, to put the yard to bed (and get all the leaves up) before the snow.

Went out again in the afternoon. I bought a rug for my office. It’s gorgeous — gold with sort of a pale lavender grape design. It kind of looks Italianate — very Edith Wharton (if you’ve ever visited the Mount, you know what I mean). When it gets lighter, I’ll take a picture. I love it. It’s not at all what I thought I wanted, but when I saw it, I fell in love with it and knew it was just right. I’m also putting sliders on the furniture, so it doesn’t hurt the wood floors.

I haven’t unpacked my cookbooks yet, so I had to pull a recipe from the Food Network site for the beef stroganoff. Turns out I don’t have any in my handwritten notebook — THAT I have, carried it up early in the process so I could cook up here. But I got in all the stuff for it, and will cook it today, along with brownies and a lemon cake.

The split box is supposed to arrive today. I’m giving it to my mom, and I’ll order another one (hopefully not from Sleepy’s).

Went to Lavender Moon. Found a lovely necklace and a few other things I needed. It’s very simple — no amethyst in the middle, just simple sterling. There was a gorgeous one embellished with brooms and amber, and another mandala necklace — I might just have to go back for those in a few days. Because I wear this every day, I was worried that the raised design on the other two might catch on things. I got a lovely “welcome to the neighborhood” from the owners.

Cooked a lovely dinner – salmon patties, mashed yams, and spinach, with the last of the wonderful apple pie for dessert. Relaxed in front of the TV with a glass of wine, and went to bed at a reasonable hour to read for a bit.

The next assignment for Confidential Job #1 arrived yesterday, so I better get to it, along with polishing the lectures for my class. I’m not quite back into my first 1K of the day yet — I figure I’ll ease back into that over the weekend. The characters are all being very quiet — probably giving me some breathing space to unpack a little more. It will take months to unpack, but we’re slowly getting there. I set up some shelves downstairs so I can store the dishes I don’t need, but still get at them when I want them. I don’t know yet if I should worry because I haven’t heard from my editor on ASSUMPTION OF RIGHT and revisions are due on Jan. 1. If I haven’t heard anything a few days into December, I’ll ask. Meanwhile, I should get back to work on THE SPIRIT REPOSITORY — writing about old-time New York while I’m here on the Cape. Should be interesting. Hope I can locate all my NYC history books.

The cats are exploring and complaining and demanding and playing. I’ll have to get some additional scratching posts in and figure out where they want them. Violet is adjusting better than Iris, which is what I expected, although when she was so terrified at first, I wondered. But she’s back to her usual exploring self, and Iris is being a Drama Queen.

Okay, downstairs to figure out how to shut off the valve for the hose without shutting off the water to the entire damn house.

Devon

Monday, November 22, 2010

Candleholders in the stillroom

Monday, November 22, 2010
Waning Moon
Uranus Retrograde
Neptune Retrograde
Cloudy and cold

WE ARE HERE!

I can hardly believe it. We are completely exhausted, but we are here.

Wednesday was a packing frenzy, but we got it done, so we didn’t have to scramble on Thursday morning. Thursday morning, I got up early to pack the bedding, crate the cats, get in water, and a couple of dozen doughnuts.

The movers arrived promptly at 9 AM — two trucks and five guys. The crew chief was the same guy who handled my move before. I was so happy to see him! All of them were great guys, though. Good people, through and through. And, let’s face it, it was a pain in the ass move — 38 years’ worth of stuff, including a couple of thousand books, down three flights of stairs and through a large courtyard to the truck. And there was no way I could be helpful. I’d only get in the way. So I stayed out of the way and let them do their thing, and just kept feeding and watering them. Late morning, I brought in another case of water and got non-sugary snacks and stuff for them to keep going.

A little after two, the guys and I headed to storage, while my mom stayed behind to do the final cleaning in the apartment. We loaded the storage unit by a little after 4:30. Two guys were getting picked up to go back to Queens, and three headed up to the Cape that night.

I picked up McDonald’s and headed back to the apartment. The cats were totally freaked. Iris had screamed her head off all day long. Violet never said a word. We ate, loaded the last bits into the car — which was so full you couldn’t fit a twig in there, and neighbors kept stopping by to say goodbye and give us going away gifts — which was lovely, but hard to fit into the car! 😉

The apartment looked tiny and sad when it was empty. It’s amazing how much stuff we fit in.

Iris screamed the whole way up in the car. I couldn’t turn the radio high enough to block her out without blowing out the speakers.

We arrived around midnight, set up the litter boxes and some food, and let them out of the crates. They were freaked. We took them upstairs with us. They dived into the sheets in the bathroom shelves and that’s where they spent the night. Made it easier to wrangle them in the morning, putting in their food and water.

Up early the next morning. I headed to the grocery store to stock up on water, bagels, fruit, snacks, etc. The movers called at 7:30 to tell me they were in the motel just up the street and in the process of showering — they’d be there around 9. I promised them a good breakfast spread, since there were no breakfast places near that particular motel.

We had a party at the checkout — the woman ahead of me was originally from NY, and the checkout clerk used to live two blocks from where I lived in the city.

Friday was even a longer day, getting everything into the house. Basically, I served as the fourth crew member — did just as much hauling as they did, although they were careful to keep me away from anything heavy. They were surprised that I was as strong and faster than some of the guys they work with. Especially since I’m twice as old as two out of the three. That’s what comes from over 20 years of Broadway and rock ‘n roll, baby! And I’ve lost a lot of my strength over the last few years.

It was a long, damn day. The other box spring couldn’t make it up the stairs either, so it’s in the basement and I’ll order a second split box, and give my mother the one that’s supposed to show up at some point from Sleepy’s.

We stopped in the afternoon and I went down the street to pick up some pizzas — and discovered that, two doors down from the local pizza joint is a PIE COMPANY!!! So, of course, I had to buy a pie. Awesome! We had a pizza break, and then finished up around 5:30.

I can’t put my car in the garage right now. Too many boxes. I’m going to reorganize them so I can get the car in (it’s supposed to snow in a couple of days), and then pull boxes from there as I unpack. Every room is full of boxes except for the back bedroom, which is the only room that’s nearly complete, for some reason. The finished part of the basement if FULL of boxes — although I can still get to the still room — and there are some boxes in the unfinished portion, but I’m trying to keep that clear to stack hardware, tools, stuff we don’t need but want to keep, and sorting boxes and broken items to take to the dump. Ahem “transfer station.” The storage unit is completely stacked, and I have to sort and rearrange, although we put everything in the general area it needs to be.

The living room is partially set up — I have to get the Danish sofa fixed — I need to find a carpenter who specializes in furniture and joining to do that and the Danish chair. I’d bought a new flat screen TV a couple of weeks ago, but it’s stupid to mention online that I have a new TV in a house that’s uninhabited part of the time, so I stuffed it into the closet and kept my mouth shut! 😉 My office is getting there — I need more storage and more bookcases. my desk is set up, I’ve got the internet hooked up (obviously), the phone, the cable. My bedroom is a work in progress, and it will probably take about six weeks to finish it, because I need to get the split box, find a headboard, paint one of the bureaus, make curtains, etc., etc. But it will be really pretty when it’s done.

The kitchen, which had been beautifully set up, is now stuffed with boxes again, and i have 60 more kitchen boxes in the garage, so I have to set up shelf units in the basement for stuff I don’t use a lot, wash everything, pack it safely into bins so it won’t get dusty, and put it downstairs.

Over the winter, I want to purge the files and get rid of 75% of them. Far too many boxes marked “unsorted files.” As in, a couple of hundred.

The cats are totally freaked out. They’re hissing and spitting at each other, and one or the other of them is always missing. At first, it seemed like Iris was adjusting better, but now Violet is starting to assert herself, although she spends most of her time sleeping in the flannel sheets. This morning, they were chasing each other and playing, which then descended into fighting, so I guess they’re adjusting. And they both settled on the couch last night to watch TV.

I need to figure out where to put all my fiction books. So far, everything I’m setting up is stuff I need for work. I need to have some stuff for fun out, too! I need to figure out where to put a bookcase in the back bedroom (which also has our dining table), and I’ll put some of the fiction there. I have some of the leather-bound classics in the living room, and will put more in the other bookcase going into the living room that I need to repaint.

Yesterday, we planned to go to Target in the morning and unpack all afternoon, but we lost Iris for hours and didn’t want to leave the house without knowing where she was. We finally found her — stuck under my round chair. We went to Wareham late in the day, totally exhausted. Couldn’t find the slipcovers I wanted — right now, I tossed on some slipcovers I found amongst my NYC stuff — the one on the couch looked like a pink and gray striped nightshirt — either someone gave it to me or I was drunk when I bought it. I have a lovely fleeced reindeer blanket totally covering it, so you only see a bit, and it’s still better than the poor, battered upholstery. The big chair has a subtle blue cover on it, which will do for now. I want to see if I can find the ones I want online — I found the microsuede I wanted at Target, but not in the colors. We did buy a few things we needed at Target, and at Lowe’s, and even at Christmas Tree Shops — the big one, just over the bridge, which was a madhouse. I have to pick up a few more things I priced at K-Mart today. And get more leaf bags. I need to get the leaves done before it starts to snow.

I’m feng shui-ing the house as we go, I have the bagua mirror up on the front door, along with the Thanksgiving wreath. Pretty soon, I have to start thinking about Christmas.

Somewhere in the fray, I lost my amethyst pentacle, which, along with two other necklaces, I never take off. I’ve worn it every day since about 1998. My aquamarine and my dragon pendants are fine, but the pentacle vanished at some point in the fray. Maybe it’s time to get a new pentacle for the new phase in life? I’m heading to Sandwich to Lavender Moon and/or the Sandwich Herb Shoppe today to take care of that.

I want to rearrange the garage today and keep working on the kitchen. The landlord is stopping by to mark the septic tank — it will be pumped tomorrow. He’s going to teach me how to shut off the hose valves for the winter. I assume I have to coil the hoses and put them in the garage. I have a lot to learn!

I am so tired, but still running on fumes. Once we get things set up, it will be really pretty and cozy. I have to steam clean some carpets, and we still have to buy carpets for my writing room and the back bedroom. It already looks nice, but, when we’re done, it will look beautiful. Not magazine beautiful, but like US.

I have to spend time this week finishing up my class lectures for the next Savvy Authors workshop. I am teaching a deconstruction on Juliet Blackwell’s lovely mystery SECONDHAND SPIRITS starting the Monday after Thanksgiving. I hope to see some of you there.

Got to get back to unpacking — lots to do, and I’m still collapsing into bed ridiculously early every night. But I’m getting up at my usual time, doing yoga, meditating, feeding the cats. Next weekend, I plan to get back to the 1K a day first thing, but for the next few days, I need to get organized.

Thanks so much for all your support through this. I promise I’ll start catching up on everyone’s blogs soon!

Devon

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Waxing Moon
Uranus Retrograde
Neptune Retrograde
Jupiter DIRECT
Venus DIRECT
Scheduled to post

MOVING DAY!

Think good thoughts for us all!

Catch you on the other side.

Devon

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Waxing Moon
Uranus Retrograde
Neptune Retrograde
Jupiter Retrograde
Venus Retrograde
Still dark out — I think it’s raining

Yesterday afternoon and evening was all about the packing. Storage is in good shape — let’s face it, the unit is 20 x 11 x 8 and packed to the gills, mostly with boxes. But at least they can handle them. Spent the evening working on the bedroom, finishing up the annoying bits, preparing for the air conditioner to be removed today, etc.

Today, I just have to methodically move through the apartment with boxes and toss stuff that’s floating around into said boxes. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of damn, oddly-shaped stuff still floating around. It will get done.

The CDs are cleaned and packed — two file boxes’ worth. I found a bunch of stuff I forgot I had, which is always nice. That will be fun when I set up the CD player in the house.

I have to finish up some paperwork before taking the router and the cablebox back to Cablevision. Furious that they sent me a bill for a full additional month, when I’m only extending two days from the last billing cycle. They can bite me. I’m paying for the additional days and that’s it. They screw up my work, they lie, they can’t be bothered to pick up their own equipment, they decreased service because I complained about them, they’ve made it clear they have no interest in making things right, and now they charge me for a full month? GO TO HELL. And the fraud division of the AG’s office.

Anyway, after about 10 AM or so, I will be off line probably until Monday the 22nd. Everything’s supposed to get hooked up on Saturday afternoon, but we’ll see. I’ll post a little something-something scheduled for tomorrow, but other than that, I doubt I’ll post again until Monday. Unless something awful happens and I run into a library or a coffee shop to post.

I’m also getting my hair cut today — risky when Venus is still retrograde, and a waxing moon means it will grow fast, but I don’t yet know where to go up there, it’s down past my collar bone, and too much to deal with. I want it all chopped off again. The last time I got my hair cut was before I left for Prague last September.

I probably have to get a few more boxes; I have to stock up the water for the movers. Tomorrow morning, we pack the bedding and the cat stuff, and then clean as rooms are cleared out. My mom will finish cleaning the apartment while I go over to storage with the movers, and let the cats out of their crates for awhile — in the empty apartment, which will freak them out. Then we have to catch them — fortunately, there won’t be anyplace left for them to hide — crate them again, and off we go. My mom thinks we can be out of here by 4 PM. I think 6 PM is more realistic. It’s a huge move — a small, overstuffed apartment on a third floor and a large, overstuffed storage unit — with two trucks and five guys. It’s definitely an eight hour loading day.

I also have to make sure I have all the tip money handy, the contracts and correspondence printed out in case there are any questions, etc.

Today will be a long day. So will tomorrow.

They’re supposed to deliver on Friday, in the early afternoon, so by Friday night, we should be able to open a bottle of wine and relax – on furniture!

Saturday morning, I want to hire one of the those steam carpet cleaner thingys and clean the rugs. And rake. In the afternoon, the Comcast guy is coming to get us all set up. I’ll probably rake some more.

Sunday, I have to buy a big trash bin for the garage. We don’t have trash pick-up. We take things to the dump — ahem, “transfer station” — which is about a mile away. I’m still trying to figure out how to get 50 30-gallon leaf bags into a VW rabbit without getting leaves everywhere.

Lori, i may just cancel the Sleepy’s order. Monday, it will be three weeks since the whole mess started, and that is unacceptable.

Stories and characters are crowding in my head, and everyone just has to SHUT UP for a few more days until we get moved. Then, I can settle back into writing in the morning and unpacking the rest of the day.

I promise, after Thanksgiving, to catch up on all the blogs. I’ve been lagging behind. But I will catch up, and I’ll visit all those lovely people who’ve been lurking and stepped forward to say hello and offer encouragement. I appreciate it.

I’ll have more photos soon, too.

Onward and Cape-ward.

One more day.

It will be tomorrow in X hours, no matter how much I get done or don’t get done. So I better hustle.

Devon

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Waxing Moon
Uranus Retrograde
Neptune Retrograde
Jupiter Retrograde
Venus Retrograde
Cloudy and warm

Just a quick check-in. We are at the apartment to pack some more, finish packing up storage, and do last-minute stuff.

Packing the car yesterday morning was a challenge, but we got a lot in and had a smooth ride up to the house. Unloaded, ran some errands, which included getting a new safety deposit box. The bank down the street doesn’t have a vault, so we had to go one town over, but they are very nice, we got a bigger box, and we’ll share it. It’s in TD Bank, my mom’s bank — I’m starting to think I made a mistake going to Citizen’s Bank — so far, I’m not happy with their service and hoop jumping. Well, if I hate them in a few months, I’ll switch banks. In MA, you can actually do without signing away your first born and making a deal with the Devil, like you have to in order to get an account in NY.

Stopped at the 1875 (76?) Country Store on the way back to town, on Lori’s recommendation. Lori, it’s still cute as a button with some amazing stuff in it. I’m definitely going back to do some of my holiday shopping there. As it was, I bought a stone bracelet designed by a local artist. No, I didn’t need it; but it was lovely and one-of-a-kind, so I bought it! Turns out the woman behind the counter used to create haute couture for rock star girlfriends in NY, and we shopped at all the same fabric places in the garment district — most of which are gone now. She’s getting the backstage bug, so I said she should try hiring in as a stitcher at a theatre she likes — they always need stitchers on staff. If she hates it, she never has to do it again; if she likes it, she can take it from there. Anyway, another NY theatre person to hang out with — I can’t believe how many I’ve found. Seeds of my own company (obliterate that thought). But it’s interesting how we’re all finding each other.

Drove to Hyannis to do some errands (including stocking up on cat food in the house), then stopped at Cooke’s for lunch — buttered scrod, very good. There are fish often-used on the Cape that I need to learn how to cook. It’s not like scrod is all that exotic — I simply don’t use it much here.

Back to the house — raked for a couple of hours. Got most of the front done. Met the neighbors on both sides — very nice, very helpful, said if we ever needed anything, to let them know. The dogs across the street watched and barked. There was some sort of Major Yard Work going on at the green house on the corner with the amazing yard — it better not be empty, because I wanted to be friends with them! Waved at another neighbor and big dog who drove by. Saw one of the Hounds of the Baskervilles — I think he’s a mastiff. Elsa would have been delighted. He was very confused and stopped in mid-bark when I told him what a handsome boy he was!

The yard turns out to be about double the size I thought it was — makes the raking and fall prep work a bit more of a challenge. By the time I’m done, I figure 60-70 of those 30-gallon leaf bags. I’m up for it — I just have to do it in increments, and get a smaller tool to get in around the bushes. Turns out there’s a wagon wheel at the side of the house, so that’s where I’ll grow morning glories and moonflowers in the spring, let them vine right up it. And the vegetable bed is on my property, so I’ll have to decide what to plant there. The tomato/basil containers will be on the deck, as will the rosemary and most herbs, so I think I’ll grow lettuce, beans, cucumbers, pumpkins, and maybe eggplants and peppers. I’ll do flowers in containers.

I don’t have quite the feel of the yard yet, but I’m sure as I work in it the coming weeks, I will. 10 bags of leaves just for the front of the house!

Chatted with the mailman, too. Such fun to get mail in a mail slot in the front door!

Read the papers, put up signs to tell the movers where to put stuff, just sort of hung out. To bed early again.

Up later than usual — it was nearly 6 AM, imagine that! I’ve been waking up at 4 the past month. Yoga, meditation, putting the last few things together to bring back to NY and making sure the house is prepped.

Drive up wasn’t much fun — too much traffic, especially around Providence. Cats were happy to see us, landlords are being asshats (and this is new and different/). Only one neighbor has responded to my leaving announcement, my next-door neighbor, who was very supportive and gracious.

Headed to storage to pack up the last few stray items there, then I will stay up tonight packing as long as I can stand upright. Lara, thanks for the Aleve tip — I forgot I had it. Found four capsules — I’ll take two Thursday and save two for Friday. Advil and Excedrin Extra Strength aren’t cutting it any more, and I can’t function (much less drive) if I take the Canadian pain pills, so I haven’t. Reconfirmed with the movers.

Still have heard NOTHING from Sleepy’s. So — I’ll have a frame and a mattress on Friday, but no boxspring. I’m tempted to cancel the order, but I bet you they wouldn’t give me my money back. Definitely not doing business with them again, and will write to their CEO to let them know exactly why. I’ve bought plenty of beds in my time, and I have NEVER had this much unnecessary hassle. “Mattress professionals”? I think not!

I get to watch my guilty pleasure NCIS LA and get my Eric Christian Olsen fix tonight, but miss the premiere of the new HUMAN TARGET season tomorrow, so no Jackie Earle Haley fix until after I move. Somehow, I think I’ll survive. Honestly, I haven’t missed being without television most of the time. HUMAN TARGET has a new showrunner and has been extensively re-tooled. From the promos, I’m really on the fence about it, but I’ll give it a chance.

I can’t wait to get back into a regular writing routine. The stories and characters are getting impatient and want attention. I’m sure part of it is that the Nano energy is so strong, with so many people writing, but also — I need the daily writing sessions in order to successfully function.

And soon I’ll have them — in my very own brightly lit, comfortable writing room.

Two days until the big move.

Two.

Devon

Monday, November 15, 2010

Monday, November 15, 2010
Waxing Moon
Uranus Retrograde
Neptune Retrograde
Jupiter Retrograde
Venus Retrograde
Scheduled to post

Roller coaster of a weekend. Packed Saturday morning, went over to the site job for a few hours, came back, packed some more, was in absolute despair by the time I left, wondering how it will all get done. We’re at the point where it’s the weird-sized stuff, that doesn’t really fit into boxes, but the movers don’t want bags, they want BOXES, and large boxes are damn expensive. So it’s sorting what we take in the last carload today and what we can leave for the movers. I feel like I should put a sticker on the car staying “Weird shit” – only, I don’t put stickers on my car.

Went back to the site job, finished the assignment for Confidential Job #1, and also read Yasmine Galenorn’s HARVEST HUNTING. Loved it. Delilah is my favorite of the three Otherworld sisters anyway, and she just grows and learns so much in this book. Loved it, loved it, loved it. Plus, it was nice to read something just because I wanted to.

To bed early, lots of weird dreams, mostly involving actors (which means they must be anxiety dreams about leaving the NY area and Broadway). Up early Sunday, got some writing done (which felt GREAT, I miss my daily writing). After breakfast, headed back to the apartment.

Finished pulling stuff off the PC, was ready to pull the hard drive and dump the PC, then realized I don’t know what the hard drive looks like. So that had to wait. Packed some more, in absolute despair. Bought a bunch more boxes, mailed some stuff, returned library books, announced to the neighbors and a few local friends who know my neighbors that I’m leaving. We’ll see how that goes over. Can’t say as I care all that much — my friends are happy for me, and those who aren’t — I don’t have to deal with them any more.

Back to the site job. Looked up what the hard drive looked like, so I could pull it when I got home. Took care of some other stuff online.

I’m so sad to be leaving this job. It’s one of the few things I will miss.

Worked on the write up for Confidential Job #1 and emailed it when I got back.

Had to go back to the site because I left my cell phone there. Freudian slip much?

Returned a key to another job. Picked up my mom and returned a key to yet another job.

Packed some more when I got home. Cleaned the oven. Played with the cats, who are beside themselves with stress. Stacked the stuff that somehow HAS to get squished into the car today.

Eddie McClintock’s tweets on the Jets/Browns game were so hilarious I got distracted from my packing. Better than the game! Always nice to know that an actor whose work you admire is also funny and smart without a script!

Pulled the hard drive and dumped the old PC. I am now officially PC-free and totally Mac-converted. As my friend Barb says, “I am of the Cult of Mac, and it is good.”

Up to the house early this morning, with the last carload of stuff before the Carload of Cats. Errands, raking, and I bet I’ll be in bed very early. Everything hurts. I can’t wait to take a long, hot soak in Epsom salts on Friday night, with a great glass of wine, some scented candles, and Valerian root before bedtime. Because I”m taking waaaaay too many over-the-counter painkillers, and, in just two weeks, I’ve built up a tolerance. So, after Friday — no more for a few months — just massage, yoga, and my special stress-release bath salts.

Three days, people. Three days.

Devon

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Saturday, November 13, 2010
Waxing Moon
Uranus Retrograde
Neptune Retrograde
Jupiter Retrograde
Venus Retrograde
Sunny and pleasant

Got everything on my list done yesterday, although I wish I’d actually gotten more boxes packed. Still, it was a relatively good, although busy day, and, by the end of it, I felt pretty good about it all. Of course, this morning, I woke up worrying I’ll never get it all done in the next five days.

One week from today, I will wake up in my new home. The only things I’ll have to worry about is figuring out my new yoga/meditation/morning coffee/feed the cats/first 1K of the day pattern and if the cable installer will show up. The unpacking process will start, and so will a new life that actually has a quality of life, something that’s been too often lacking here in the last four years.

Six days from today, I will wake up in my new home and prepare for the movers to arrive and unload, and try to get the cats somewhat settled before I shut them in the upstairs bathroom so they won’t get lost.

Five days from today, I probably won’t have gone to sleep, doing the last minute prep for the load-out. It will be a long damn day, loading everything from the apartment down three flights of stairs, through the courtyard and onto the two trucks, going to the storage unit in the next town and loading all that, heading back to the apartment to make sure it’s clean enough, return the keys, get the cats in the car, and drive four hours and change up in the dark. I don’t like driving in the dark, and I don’t like driving when tired, but there’s no choice this time. We have to be up there that night. So, I’ll just be overly cautious.

Closed my bank account with Chase, much less drama than I’d been led to believe, thank goodness. I am done with them, and it is a relief. Chase and Citibank are the reasons I fought so hard for the new banking legislation, which isn’t perfect — Congress allowed too many loopholes that I had suggested provisions to close — but it’s better than what we had.

Spent a couple of hours working in storage, catching and packing stuff that’s wandered over the past year and change. The unit’s in pretty good shape. I need to bring in some more boxes and pack some of the small stuff and the bagged stuff, and then, all they have to do is load. I’m not sure WHEN I’ll get to do it — probably on Tuesday afternoon. But it has to get done. The paperwork is all settled with the storage unit — they are sad to see us go, but happy we’re going somewhere lovely.

Took everything out of the safe deposit box and “surrendered” it; stashed it close and will take it up Monday, open a new box on the Cape, and all good.

Drove my mom to CT, where she’s working for the weekend. She needs the break. Sorted everything out with my editor. Spent an hour pulling stuff off the old computer, filing, doing paperwork. I have three more boxes of floppies to convert and put on sticks, and then the PC is tossed, and I’ve got another old PC in storage I’m also getting rid of. I’m pulling the hard drives out first. I will have so much more room on my desk with just the MacBook!

Packed a few boxes, had dinner with a friend at a local hangout, caught up on everything, had some fun. Drove her home — okay, we were talking, so I nearly got on the highway headed to the house, because that’s now what the car automatically does. But I eventually got her home. Went to bed very early.

Got up early today, will pack a few boxes, spend another hour pulling crap from the PC. I have to be at a site job at 10, where I can do laundry and get some writing done, then I’ll come back here in the afternoon for a few hours to pack, then go back to the site overnight. I hope to finish the assignment for Confidential Job #1 and get a few other things done. Tomorrow morning, I plan to come here for a couple of hours to pack, go back to the job to wind it up once and for all (my last time there, I’m sad), come back here and pack like a crazy woman well into the night, and spend another hour pulling stuff from the PC. The PC will only run for an hour at a time. How did I ever get anything done on it? Appalling.

I have a LOT of paperwork to complete this weekend, because the printer will be packed either late Sunday night or early Monday morning. And it all has to get done.

It will. I’m approaching it the way I approached load-ins and load-outs of shows on the road. You have a finite amount of time and it all has to get done. There are no excuses. You simply adjust your work pace to complete the job in the allotted time. Looking at it in that light also keeps me from getting emotional about anything — no matter how negative things have gotten here, this is the place in which I grew up, and there will always be some kind of tie. I’ve always had a complicated, tumultuous relationship with this place, and, while I’m glad to be gone for good, there’s still the long, shared history here. Dwelling on that will slow me down, and I don’t have the time right now. Treating it as a professional load-out gets it done on time, and then I will deal with the psychological implications — in a novel! Because that’s what writers do.

My friend’s very sick cat had emergency surgery last night. She seems to have come through it okay, and should be home on Monday. Phew! My friend’s been through hell the last few days.

Cablevision gets slower and slower — it’s now worse than the Verizon DSL was at its worst. That will be added to the next invoice, especially since it is in retaliation for the complaint against them to the BBB. Completely unacceptable.And to think how wonderful they were for about a year. Sad, how far they’ve fallen.

Onward and boxward.

Devon