Fri. March 30, 2012: A busy techie bee

Friday, March 29, 2012
Waxing Moon
Mars Retrograde
Saturn Retrograde
Mercury Retrograde
Sunny and cold

I was a busy little technical bee yesterday. As you can see from the sidebar, I’ve added pages for the Workshops and the Books — to help keep you up to date! I’ve got some great stuff going on in the coming months, and some of them are one day seminars (such as “Dialogue Dilemmas and Solutions” and “Amazing Antagonists”) or two days (“Scene Meat”), which mix lectures and techniques with the chance to post snippets you’re having trouble with and get guidance. It’s great for those who can’t commit to a full month’s workshop, but still want a fresh approach to creating sparkling dialogue or struggle to create a fully complex antagonist or waste so many words in unneeded transitions that the important aspects of a scene are diluted.

I also rearranged the sidebar here for the books. I think it looks and flows better. I did a bunch of work for the HEX BREAKER launch (more details to follow), tried a smoked salmon deviled egg recipe for the client meeting, and had the client meeting. Bourne Bridge wasn’t bad (since the Sagamore’s under construction. Now that I understand the way to go, it makes sense, and it lets me off right near the facility.

Followed up on some pieces in last year’s submission log, just crossing t’s and dotting i’s. I hadn’t heard back on several pieces, so I want to close them out (sent a polite letter with the dates of submission, stating that, since I never heard back, I assume the piece did not meet their needs and I will, therefore, submit elsewhere). Found a rejection I’d been waiting for (because, after I sent it, I found a market I think is better-suited, and now I can submit it to this other market). Tweaking a short story that has to go out this weekend. It’s still not where I want it.

Caught up on student work. “Sensory Perceptions” winds up this weekend, and then I’m taking a steampunk class starting Monday, but “One Story, Many Voices” doesn’t start until April 9. That means I can really focus on my year-long students next week, since we’re setting up systems that will serve us well in the revisions. The setting-up bit is kind of a pain in the butt, but the results will be worth it, because it will save them huge amounts of time hunting stuff down as they revise.

I’ve got some press releases to get out today, more student work, but most of the day, I spend to put my head down and get to work on a novel I want to finish this weekend.

I hope the weather’s nice enough (even though cold) so I can get some yard work done, too.

Devon

Thurs. March 29, 2012: Final galleys out!

Thursday, March 28, 2012
Waxing Moon
Mars Retrograde
Saturn Retrograde
Mercury Retrograde
Cloudy, cool, rainy

We need the rain, so I’m not complaining!

Busy day yesterday, which included hitting the final “send” on the final galleys of HEX BREAKER (and, as usual, wanting to throw up, because I’m sure I missed something major). But that’s that. Worked on the media kit and the short story. Worked with students. Ran errands, etc.

Got to yoga this morning — it feels like ages since I’ve been in the Thursday morning class. It was good.

Now, I need to get some writing done, deal with students, put together notes for tonight’s meeting, make the recipe I’m bringing, and slide back into the world of one of my other books. I want to spend a lot of time on this weekend, do a big push, and get it out the door by early next week. I’ve got another story that’s almost ready to to out the door, too, for an April 3 deadline.

And don’t forget the Dialogue Dilemmas and Solutions seminar on April 14. If you want to work on dialogue, but only have a day instead of a month to spend time on it, this will give you a solid foundation.

Back to the page.

Devon

Wed. March 28, 2012: Brrrr!

Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Waxing Moon
Mars Retrograde
Saturn Retrograde
Mercury Retrograde
Cloudy and c-c-cold!

It’s definitely beyond brisk out there!

Got a lot of work done — press releases out for my clients, work with the students (having trouble getting in to the forums again), worked on the book and some short stories, dropped off some books at the Sandwich Library and picked one up they’d tracked down for me, ran some errands. Had a meeting last night, and April is just chock full of stuff to do! It’s all good, but it’s busy.

I landed another article assignment for a local publication, where I’ll be writing about a pro bono client of mine, so that’s all good. Worked on some proposals, but haven’t gotten them out the door yet. That needs to happen today.

I’m going to look over the final galleys of HEX BREAKER one more time, and then (gulp), hit “send.” That always makes me want to throw up; it never gets easier. But I have a great editor.

It also means final tweaks on the press kit today, and getting that both off to the publisher and starting the blog tour requests. I wish they’d give me a firm release date so I could make plans.

Tessa broke a flower pot when she jumped down from looking out the window, so she got “bad kitty”, while the other two sat by and snickered.

I’ve got a client meeting in Hyannis at three, and then more work with students.

It’s the good kind of busy, though, and I like it.

Devon

Got Dialogue questions? Only have a day? Sign up for the Dialogue Dilemmas and Solutions Seminar!

Tues. March 27: Frost and Flowers

Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Waxing Moon
Mars Retrograde
Saturn Retrograde
Mercury Retrograde
Sunny and cold

Slow start this morning, and busy day yesterday. I got three trees and the bushes planted yesterday. I still have to find those plastic nursery tubs to put some of the other baby trees into temporarily, because they arrived unmarked, and until they leaf for me and I can figure out what they are, I can’t decide how much room they need and where to put them. Urgh. And, while everywhere sells their stuff in those plastic pots, none of them actually sell the damn pots.

Working on the final galleys of HEX BREAKER, terrified I’m going to miss something huge. This is where trusting my editor comes in — if there was a huge problem, she would have fixed it by now! 😉

Dealt with student work, got some of my own work done, worked on some other business stuff. Picked up a research book the library tracked down for me. Got the interview questions out for an article.

It was below freezing last night, but none of the plants seem upset by it, thank goodness. Overslept this morning, and just didn’t want to get out of bed.

Have a big day ahead, lots of work to do with students, on my own, marketing, proposals, getting out press releases for a client, a meeting tonight. I’m not where I want to be in my own writing, and I have to find a way to get that balance back. Have to go to Sandwich Library to drop off books and pick up a book THEY managed to track down for me. I need to focus, but I really want some percolation time.

Well, the sooner I clear off the have-tos, the sooner I can create space for percolation.

So I better get to it!

Don’t forget the Dialogue Dilemmas and Solutions One-Day Seminar on April 14!

Devon

Mon. March 26, 2012: Home to Trees and Updates and Facebook

Monday, March 26, 2012
Waxing Moon
Mars Retrograde
Saturn Retrograde
Mercury Retrograde
Cloudy and cold

I am home!

So glad!

First of all, I updated my Workshop page, so it actually has relevant information on upcoming workshops. I’d like you to pay special attention to a one-day online seminar I’m doing, called “Dialogue Dilemmas and Solutions”. If you’re just stepping your toe into dialogue, or you want some fresh perspectives, I hope you’ll join us — it’s a bargain at $20 AND you get an ebook of the lectures after. There’s more information here.

For all the complaining I’ve done about 1and1 over the years, I actually landed a couple of techs this time that gave me the help I needed to sort out kinks. It was much appreciated.

The Hex Breaker site has also been updated — check it out when you get a chance. I’ve put the books on a separate page from the short stories, and I think it’s cleaner.

I even (take a deep breath) put up a Facebook page for Annabel Aidan.

Still not sure how it works — I’m having trouble responding to people’s comments and going back to their pages and finding the “like” button or any button that lets me interact and thank them for stopping by. Obviously, I’ve got some learning to do. I will probably put up a page for the Jain Lazarus Adventures, too, at some point.

Worked on HEX BREAKER press stuff, worked on the short story that needs to be ready to go with the relaunch, dealt with student work, did some reading, did the work I was actually paid to do on the site, worked on the novel(s), worked on the new business plan — it was quite the weekend.

Today, I have to interview someone for an article, talk to an editor about another article, get out three proposals, finish a critique for a private student — oh, and 11 trees and 6 bushes showed up while I was away, so girl’s got some plantin’ to do! 😉

My eyes are really bothering me from all the computer work, but, oh well. This is the last week of Sensory Perceptions, and then I have a week before One Story, Many Voices starts, which is good, because the first week of April is where we set up the revision systems for the year-long intensive, and that’s going to be a damn intense week over there. I also start (as a student) a steampunk workshop on the 2nd.

Billy Root’s blog starts on April 1 — which should be a ton of fun, but also some work. I do love writing in his voice, though, so I think that will be a fun way to spread the work about HEX BREAKER.

I’ve also got a handful of short stories to polish and get out the door this week. Busy, busy!

But it’s a good busy.

I’m so happy to be home. I enjoyed my time in CT, but I missed the house, the cats, the yard. The magenta azalea is in bloom, the witch hazel is almost done (and therefore ready to repot), the lilacs are starting to get leaves and buds. The heather is just gorgeous, and soon it will be pansy time!

Meanwhile, I have 11 trees and 6 bushes that need some dirt . . .

Devon

Fri. March 23, 2012: A Mercury Retrograde Start to the Day

Friday, March 23, 2012
Waxing Moon
Mars Retrograde
Saturn Retrograde
Mercury Retrograde
Sunny and pleasant

Yesterday was busy. Put my head down and worked all day. Confidential Job #1 offered me something fun in addition to my usual roster of assignments; I said yes. I’m thrilled that my editor thought of me for it. Caught up on student work. Discovered that ASSUMPTION OF RIGHT got a very good review here. Worked on the pre-release publicity for HEX BREAKER. Did the work I’m paid to do here on site. Worked on the materials for another project that will go live shortly.

I managed a nap, only to be woken by one of my least favorite noises on the planet — a leaf blower.

This morning was a typical Mercury Retrograde morning. Alarm went off early; I contemplated skipping yoga because I wanted more sleep. But I figured I’d feel better after yoga, so I got up and out of the house and headed to yoga. Only to find a note on the door stating it was cancelled. Okaaaaay. Stopped and got coffee and went to the beach I used to walk near the art deco amusement park instead. Sat down on a bench that was still wet from the overnight, but it was still nice out. Got an idea for a piece that I might be able to meld with some other ideas I’ve been tossing around. Maybe even with my horse-playing tarot reader character.

Decided I wanted a muffin on my way home and drove all kinds of places with no luck. You would have thought I was on the quest for Excalibur or something. It’s a muffin, people, not that hard. I could have made a batch in the time it took to track one down. Finally got one at the grocery store, got back to the job site, and ate it outside in the sun.

Spent the morning doing work on a project that doesn’t need my primary attention right now, but is so fascinating, I can’t stop. Am about to check in with students, then do some more writing, then do more student work later in the afternoon.

Word from home is that the maple tree, two holly trees, a hydrangea, Rose of Sharon, and Mountain Laurel arrived this morning — figures they’d arrive when I’m not there to plant them. Not sure what to do with the maple tree — since I’m renting, do I put it in a pot or donate it somewhere? Will have to see when I get home.

Did some work on the Jain Lazarus story that has to be ready to go with the release of HEX BREAKER. Need to do some rearranging on the site. Thought through some of the ongoing Jain Lazarus marketing stuff I need to do, and how I can cross-market along with ASSUMPTION, although they are two different worlds under two different names.

Got a few proposals to get out today, too. Got to just keep on it, right? That’s the only way to get everything where I need to be.

I’m looking forward to Memorial Day weekend, where we all have a few days off!

Devon

Thurs. March 22, 2012: Nap, Please?

Thursday, March 22, 2012
New Moon
Mars Retrograde
Saturn Retrograde
Mercury Retrograde
Foggy and warm

Yesterday was just flat out. I was up around 6 AM and didn’t stop until 10 PM at night. It was a good day, but busy. HEX BREAKER edits and updated front matter are out to my editor. In my Annabel Aidan persona, I’ve got an article up on The Writers Vineyard about fear. I managed to log in to the workshop site (which I couldn’t get into on Tuesday afternoon or evening), but it was right before I had to leave, so I couldn’t do more than say I’d put in extra hours today and tomorrow.

Hit the road by 9 AM. Lots of fog and traffic. We stopped in Mystic for a few things, and then in Niantic. I found some things I was looking for, and some I didn’t know I needed at the Book Barn, we had a quick lunch, and then continued on. I got Costume Imp to his 4 PM train back to the city, and arrived at the site shortly thereafter.

I unloaded, got settled a bit, and then there was a dinner — good food, good wine, good conversation. But by the time everything was all wrapped up, it was 10 PM, and I was far too tired to even try to comment on student work. One of the other guests was also a teacher, and we talked about educational modules, etc. I’ve been talking to a lot of teachers, lately, who are involved in many different types of teaching. We all face very similar challenges, no matter what type of organization we’re connected with.

Up at 4:30 this morning, had to do work here on site until a few minutes ago. I’ve got to get the HEX BREAKER media kit done in the next couple of days. I’m going to hop online and comment on student work for a couple of hours, then do some more work here, then go back and comment more, etc. I might have to take a 40 minute nap or something this afternoon. I am rather wiped out.

I’ve got website updates to upload soon, and I’m working on the Jain Lazarus tie-in story and the Billy Root marketing idea that will coincide with HEX BREAKER’s release. So, lots to do, and limited amount of hours.

Back to it.

Devon

Wed. March 21, 2012: On the Road . . .

Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Waning Moon
Mercury Retrograde
Mars Retrograde
Saturn Retrograde
Foggy

Yesterday was another beautiful day — what a great way to greet spring! Foggy in the morning, beautiful the rest of the day. I got some stuff done in the yard, I did my Equinox commemorations, it was all good.

Worked with students in the morning, but couldn’t get back on the site for the rest of the day, which threw off the commenting — and for them, poor things, the posting. I was counting on good chunk of hours yesterday because I’m on the road today, but that’s the way it goes. Mercury Retrograde and all. Hopefully, I can get in for a bit this morning.

Finished the HEX BREAKER edits. In the middle of the night, I had a break through of one little thing that’s been bugging me, so just tweaked that, and, off it goes to the editor. Finished the piece for Confidential Job #1 and got it and the invoice out. Have to polish a piece for The Writers Vineyard this morning and get it up before I leave, and, when I get where I’m going, talk with an editor who’s interested in having me write a piece about my pro bono client. Worked on a couple of proposals. Percolated some Jain Lazarus shorts — I’ve got a couple of arcs planned, culminating in a prequel novella. I’ll release the shorts over a period of time during release, and then collect them as a book with the new novella.

Packed and ready to go — just have a few things, and then I’m headed out! The cats have company to look after them– I’m sure I’ll miss them more than they miss me!

See you down there!

Devon

Tues. March 20, 2012:

Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Waning Moon
Mars Retrograde
Saturn Retrograde
Mercury Retrograde
Spring Equinox
Cloudy and pleasant

Yesterday was just a gorgeous day! Did a lot of work in the morning, with students, on HEART BINDER, and on the HEX BREAKER edits. I have one more scene on the latter that needs tweaking, and then, off it goes. The editor is pleased with the last round (phew, I was worried). I have to work on the updated front matter, so I can send that off, too.

Worked a bit on the new project, but didn’t get it uploaded. Still have to finish writing up Confidential Job #1, which has to go off today. Worked on a couple of proposals that will go out this week, and started an article that I have to get off today, which will go live on Thursday. Packed (since I leave tomorrow for the site job) — have to finish packing the writing bag. Percolated on the new Jain Lazarus story that has to be finished by next week, so it can be copyedited, designed, and ready to go along with the book release. The previous stories will also get snazzy new covers.

Ran some errands in the late morning. It was a gorgeous day, so, later in the afternoon, Imp and I packed up some work and went to Ashumet Holly Sanctuary. Well, first we went to Craigville Beach, which was gorgeous, but the breeze was too brisk to really get much done. So we tucked ourselves into the pitch pine grove at Ashumet for a couple of hours.

We met a friend for drinks and appetizers at Siena, then came home and relaxed. I got some other work done.

Today, I’m headed off to meditation, then it’s flat out work (since I’ll be on the road for most of tomorrow, and, while I’m able to juggle, I also have to do the job for which I’m paid to be on site).

The weather was absolutely wonderful yesterday — warm, breezy, truly felt like spring. I hope this doesn’t herald a hideously hot summer. My neighbor fertilized his lawn yesterday, but it seems just a tad too early for me. Because once I fertilize, it means I gotta mow! 😉

Off to meditation. I did the early morning Spring Equinox ritual; will plant some seeds later today in starter pots. May pumpkins flowering on the vine be a sign of wonderful things to come in this cycle!

Devon

Mon. March 19, 2012: Start of a New Work Week

Monday, March 19, 2012
Waning Moon
Mars Retrograde
Saturn Retrograde
Mercury Retrograde
Sunny and pleasant

It’s been so busy that I can’t even remember back to Friday! 😉 Anyway, I know I spent a lot of time with students both Friday and Saturday, because, by dinnertime Saturday, I was caught up on everything that had been posted to that time, and I could take yesterday off with a clear conscience.

I finished the materials for Confidential Job #1, and this morning I send off the report. The next assignment will probably come while I’m out on assignment this week, so I won’t be able to start it until next week, but that’s okay. I like what I’ve been sent, lately, which makes it more fun.

Got out some proposals, dropped off a press packet on ASSUMPTION, got a few more leads on potential new clients that I need to follow up on. Considered a blogging job, but, really, there were so many red flags in the ad, I decided to pass. When the employer says that a low price is a “high” price paid for top-quality content and then says it’s an “easy” job for the right person — run like hell. I would have liked to write about the topic — I know it well — but not at those prices.

Killion Slade brought up a good point in the comments to Friday’s post — bartering. I’m a huge fan of bartering. When I lived in Seattle, the arts community survived a lot by bartering with each other. Here on the Cape, it happens, too, and it’s a lot of fun as well as being useful. The thing about bartering is — you get an even exchange between two individuals, each with a skill the other needs. So the energy/karmic exchange is balanced. And I also have a couple of pro bono clients on the roster, and will, once or twice a year, contribute to an anthology that gives its proceeds to a charity I care about. That’s all part of the flow of the work. What gets my goat (and all the other animals in the barn) is when someone who claims to be a legitimate employer wants my skills for nothing, giving nothing in return, but “exposure”. Generally, these are the same “employers” who say the work is “easy” (yet, somehow, they can’t do it themselves) or ask for unpaid, project-specific “samples” (which means everyone gets a piece of the project, does it for free, gets told they weren’t hired, the “employer” absconds with all the unpaid elements, changes the company name and has unpaid labor for a finished product). The lines are different for everyone, but this is how I pay the bills. I’m perfectly happy to barter, if the other half of the equation has something that I need. But I’m not just throwing my work out for “exposure.”

We never made it out of the house for the art opening on Friday night — it was raw and rainy. We’ve been catching up (or, for me, re-watching) the first season of TORCHWOOD, which has been a lot of fun, from a structural, writer’s perspective as much as from a viewing perspective.

The weather was gorgeous yesterday. I should have been out doing yard work. Instead, we went over to a friend’s house (an artist who moved up here from New York last year and now just lives a few blocks away), catching up around the fire pit. It was good.

This week is busy — finishing up a few things around here, including the edits for HEX BREAKER, which have to go out in a couple of days, working with students, etc. I have a site job for the last half of the week, and then, when I get back, it’s time to start working on the taxes! My payment came through, along with the “official notification” of the change in payment terms (biting my tongue), and some other issues that I’m just not getting into here. I’ve also got to set up a possible project for mid-April — if that works, I will post about it here shortly. If that goes well, there will be more along that vein. I also have to update my workshop page on the website, and some of my other pages. Lots to do!

I played with some short story ideas over the weekend. They’re still a little vague — almost like dream images, or just snippets of a scene. They need more development before I can figure out what they are. Two submission calls hit my desk to which I’d like to respond, so I hope the stories hurry up and starting forming!

Back to the page.

Devon

Fri. March 16, 2012: Looking Forward to the Weekend (of Edits)

Crocus

Friday, March 16, 2012
Waning Moon
Mars Retrograde
Saturn Retrograde
Mercury Retrograde
Cloudy and cool

I overslept yesterday.

I MEANT to get up early and get some work done before leaving for Boston, but the alarm didn’t go off, and I overslept. But I still managed to get the coffee on before Costume Imp got up! 😉

Yesterday was the big field trip to the Boston Flower Show. Fourteen of us rented a van and were driven in. Coffee and cake set up on a table (with cloth) in the parking lot before we left — yeah, this group does it up right! 😉 We had enough time to wander around and “ooh” and “aah” over things, do some shopping, and go out for lunch. I’d remembered the pub as the Drunken Monk, but it’s the Whiskey Priest (yeah, I made the jokes, too), but we hopped one pub over to American Beer Company. Good food, good company, tons of fun. Back to do more shopping, vanned home (with treats in the van), home before dinner time.

I’ll have a full write-up on Gratitude and Growth tomorrow.

Imp Dog came by to visit and wanted to play. I actually played with him for awhile, and then tossed him an organic dog treat. He caught it, trotted over to the japonica bush, delicately dug a hole, dropped it in, and covered it up. Too funny!

Did some work with my students and some other work; caught up on more TORCHWOOD. There’s no doubt –it’s my favorite show.

Wednesday wound up being very busy — worked with students in the morning; seem to have a payment problem solved, but now there’s a new admin problem. I’ve got some other things in the works, so I have to buckle down to them over the weekend.

Costume Imp and I also found a magnificent grocery store in Mashpee called Roche Brothers. We were in heaven. And then we nipped over to Market Street Books, where we found some good stuff and had a lovely chat with Cynthia. I’m putting together a packet for ASSUMPTION OF RIGHT and dropping it off today. We had a quick lunch at Siena (which is quickly becoming a favorite place of mine on the Cape) and then back to work.

The second round of edits for HEX BREAKER came through, and I’ve got a little less than a week to do them. I’m excited to get back to it, and get the marketing ball rolling for it. I expect it will come out in May, although I haven’t yet been given a firm date.

I’ve got some other writing to attend to, and need to figure out, over the weekend, how to recalculate my hours in a business-minded way to get it all done and make the money I not only need, but deserve and EARN, for my work. I’m about to turn down an invite from a magazine editor with whom I’ve worked for in the past (for a fee) who wants me to do something for free — that will, at the same time, make a profit for the company, but not for the writers involved. That would be a negative. Bad business decision, and it wouldn’t be a big enough “good will” gesture to make it worth while.

Gotta take a stand on these things, or I’ll keep winding up in the mess I was earlier in the week. I have a couple of carefully chosen pro bono clients, and that’s the extent of my unpaid work. When the plumber, the accountant, and the doctor work for “exposure” — so will I.

Devon

Wed. March 14, 2012: Company in town!

Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Waning Moon
Mars Retrograde
Saturn Retrograde
Mercury Retrograde
Cloudy and cool

Still not paid by the errant client. Part of me wants to be petty enough to refuse to work on the current project until paid for the previous one; however, in the long run, it would hurt me more. Therefore, I grit my teeth and continue — but I’m cutting the hours way back and putting other things into motion. Somehow, I will get through this mess — but I will not be put in this position again. When I logged on this morning, I found an email stating they’d changed the payment model last year, everyone had been notified, etc., etc. Um, no, I had NOT been notified, or there would have been discussion. I was told an exception would be made, and payment put through last night (it’s not there). At least I know how the payments have changed — I can adjust my budget to it now, but I still need to cut back my hours and projects for this client moving on. This new business model may work for them; it does not work for me.

Did my background for some proposals yesterday; will mail them out today. Helped a friend with a couple of press releases. Meditation group was great.

Drove to Providence. Managed to find the bus stop this time and got Costume Imp, although I took a wrong turn getting back on the highway. He got there early — good trip from NY. I got there late — typical Mercury Retrograde! But we found each other, and had a good trip back. It was sunny and gorgeous in Providence; foggy and much cooler here on the Cape.

Came home, had dinner, got Imp settled. He’s glad to be back. The cats are getting bolder around him, which is pretty funny. We caught up on the first few episodes of season one of TORCHWOOD (one of my favorite shows, with which he’s not familiar), and David Tennant’s final episodes of DOCTOR WHO. I know I needed the break!

Up early this morning to get some work done and go to yoga. The rest of the day, we’ll play by ear (but I have student work to deal with). Tomorrow — it’s the Boston Horticulture Show! Looking forward to it.

Need to settle back in to the writing. The rhythm’s gotten erratic.

Devon

Tues. March 13, 2012: Spring weather means Yardwork!

Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Waning Moon
Mars Retrograde
Saturn Retrograde
Mercury Retrograde
Cloudy and cool

Yesterday was a beautiful Cape Cod day. The weather was gorgeous.

I got a big, elaborate envelope from White Flower Farms — a gift certificate from Lori! Thank you so much — I’ve got my eye on a amethyst wisteria . . .

And I opened the computer to good wishes, some from people from whom I hadn’t heard in ages, and lovely cards in the mail from other friends. It was nice to be remembered and wished well! I’m excited about the possibilities ahead.

I made my mom rest, and she felt much better by the afternoon. I worked on cleaning the house and doing laundry and getting work done. The client is still dragging feet on payment, ignoring my requests, AND, now, not even doing the administrative work that is part of the deal — I’m getting all the questions that they’re supposed to be handling. I’m kind of surprised at how quickly and severely the situation is souring. Part of it could well be growing pains in both directions, and they are different directions.

I’ve got meditation this morning, then more housecleaning, and work with students, then driving to Providence to pick up Costume Imp. I’ve got two proposals to get out, the HEX BREAKER media kit to finish, and I have to figure out how to juggle the bills that have to be paid tomorrow with monies that are owed to me and not here.

I’ve got another project I need to put together and launch this week, and an assignment to finish for Confidential Job #1. It’s intense, a little intense for me right now, but it’s also very interesting, so it’s just a case of buckling down and doing it.

It was so nice yesterday afternoon that I did some work in the yard, and then pulled out a couple of chairs so we could sit outside for a bit and just be. I want to do a little bit of work every nice day, so that I’m not suddenly overwhelmed in early May, the way I was last year. I took Tessa out with me — she loves being outside, and is very good about just sitting in my arms, taking it all in. I think I’ll put her in the puppy training cage this summer, so she can be outside with us, but still safe (and always under supervision).

At one point, I was working (inside) and smelled smoke. I was absolutely convinced the dryer caught fire. It hadn’t — a neighbor was burning something in the yard. But it was a little worrying at the out set!

On the fence about a new short story. It features my horse-playing tarot reader; I’m just worried it’s a bit too much on the sweet side.

I’m excited to go to the Boston Horticulture Show on Thursday. When I think how much I’ve learned in the past year, it’s even more exciting!

Devon