Wed. March 31, 2021: Die For Your Employer Day 313 — A Breath

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Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Waning Moon

Cloudy and cool

Yesterday was a pretty productive day. Got out some LOIs. Got a couple of errands done. Decontaminated.

Switched over to client work and got several projects out.

Got some of my interview quotes in. I might have enough to finish the article, or I might send out one more request. Was really happy to get a quote from someone I’d worked with on Broadway, back in the day.

Got the article back from my editor at a magazine with quick turnaround edits – only it was the wrong version of the article.  The day after I sent her the first version, I’d gotten a really good quote from a source and reworked the article to include it, also tightening up a few other things. I’d addressed some of the things she brought up in the first version. Anyway, I reminded her of the second version and sent it again. She’s looking at it, so I will probably get it back at some point today and have to turn it around right away. Just sit there and get it done, right? She loves the piece, which is good.

Rental listings were disappointing. Still way too many scams. I’m forwarding some of the scams to the appropriate Attorneys General offices, so they can deal with them. A house in which we were interested turned out to only be a short-term rental, so that won’t work.

Worked on contest entries.

Didn’t get enough packing done. But I just keep chipping away at it. We will live amongst boxes for a bit, so when we do land a place, it’s just about getting the truck.

It’s very stressful.

Knowledge Unicorns was fine. They are ready for Spring Break next week.

I’m facing a stressful day on site at a client’s today, no doubt battling to keep COVID protocols in place. Then, I’ll decontaminate, hopefully do Remote Chat, and turn my article around.

Playing with some short fiction ideas, just so I don’t lose that ability completely. I can’t really focus until we’re moved.

Will probably limit online time tomorrow, because I loathe April Fool’s Day. Far too many of the “pranks” are cruel.

Have a good one.

Tues. March 30, 2021: Die For Your Employer Day 312 — Steep Climb

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Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Waning Moon

Cloudy and cooler

Weird few days, and I’m trying to keep a balance.

Did a focus group on Friday with the Arts Foundation (virtually). A lot of people had signed up, but only six women showed up. Six white women, and the lack of diversity did not pass me, at least, unnoticed. But it was a good conversation. There’s still a refusal to admit that if art is not seen as a viable profession, but simply a hobby, that artists cannot thrive. Not here, not anywhere. Only supporting rich artists who have second homes in this area isn’t going to help the artists that try to live and work here all year round. Until that is dealt with, it won’t get any better.

This being a beautiful place doesn’t make up for the lack of financial support and respect given to full time artists who LIVE HERE. There was a lot of talk about how art is an important economic engine for the Cape. THEN PAY ARTISTS A LIVING WAGE. Why should everyone BUT the artist be profiting?

I was both glad that I attended and frustrated.

Had a frustrating conversation with a potential new client with whom I’m pretty sure I don’t want to work. It was another of those inane interview questions from the HR HANDBOOK FOR THE STUPID. The question was “What achievement are you most proud of in the last year?”

Me: Survival.

Client: (nervous laugh): Well, you know, I mean, workwise.

Me: Survival.

Client: I mean, did you work, did you get anything done?

Me: Of course I did. I worked flat out since the start of the pandemic. Almost all remotely. But the most important thing was that we survived. I kept a roof over my head and food on the table and my family stayed ALIVE. There’s a pandemic going on. Everything else is secondary.

Client: Well, that doesn’t show much dedication to your work.

Me: I think we’re done here.

I mean, really, what an ass. It was a big red flag that the positive “work culture” this company supposedly touts is non-existent.

Another weird thing that happened: An envelope arrived from an unknown address in Mashpee. For those of you who don’t know the Cape, it’s about two towns closer to the canal/bridges than I am. When I opened it, a prayer card fell out and a typed letter.

The letter invited me to come and “celebrate the death of Jesus” at their evangelical church.

Um, what? Celebrate the death?

Now, it’s been a good many years since I was an Episcopalian, and even more years since I was an acolyte and did Holy Week services. But I remember MOURNING the death on Good Friday and CELEBRATING the resurrection on Easter Sunday.

Even if I still was a Christian, which I am most certainly NOT, celebrating the man’s execution is not what Holy Week is about, at least not in any of the denominations I investigated before I became Episcopalian. As someone whose path has taken me in a far different direction than all of this bruhaha for Holy Week, the thought of celebrating a crucifixion makes me ill.

On top of that, why is a church direct mailing a bunch of random people? How did they get my name and address? It’s creepy.

Even further, there’s a pandemic. I’m not going to a large gathering, ESPECIALLY amongst creepy people like this who, I bet you dollars to doughnuts, don’t’ wear masks.

It’s very creepy and rather sickening.

I burned it all, just for good measure. In my cauldron, not in the fireplace, with rosemary, sage, and nettles.

Then I took a shower, because . . eeeeewwwwww.

I sent out a lot of LOIs on Friday – found an excellent market list of companies which interest me, researched them, and sent LOIs where appropriate.

A regular work-for-hire gig landed on my desk. But crunching the numbers – they want 15,000 words/week, but are only paying $400. That breaks down to 2c per word. 3000 words/day. In addition to that pay rate being appalling for the amount of work involved, at this point, until we are moved, I cannot imagine creating 3K/day. And I’m someone who regularly does 1-2.5K. Especially not for such low pay.

So that’s a pass.

The stimulus payments arrived; mine by check, my mom’s direct deposited – first time hers was a direct deposit. So that’s a relief.

Spent way too many hours in depressing rental listings. At least 45% of the ones showing up were scams, which was just so disheartening.

Finished one of the categories for the contest. Really, some delightful material.

Slept through the night Friday into Saturday for the first time in weeks.

Up early Saturday. Lots and lots of laundry. Took off the fleece sheets, washed them, packed them away until next winter. We’re back to flannel sheets, at least for this month. It’s still rather chilly most of the day.

Finished up the paperwork and the review of the winning entry in the category, and zipped the file.

Got out some LOIs. Hunted through more depressing rental listings.

Worked on packing. Worked on contest entries.

Didn’t sleep well Saturday into Sunday. Was awake by 2:30, worrying. My mom was sick Saturday night, which didn’t help.

Stumbled around Sunday, alternating between packing and working on contest entries. Some good stuff there.

Baked biscuits in the morning. Made chicken chow Mein from scratch for dinner.

Got depressed hunting through rental listings. Sent out more LOIs. Polished the paperwork for the category I finished judging.

It started raining in the late afternoon and was very windy. But we need the rain.

Celebrated the full moon.

Looking back at some of my favorite short stories that didn’t really work as a set of linked short stories, I think they might work better as novellas. Set in the same place, with some characters crisscrossing, but as stand-alone novellas. I don’t know when I can actually sit down and write them, but I’ll play with some ideas.

I’m not writing enough, other than marketing writing work, and it’s throwing the rest of me out of balance. But I feel like all my energy has to be focused on the move right now.

Was awake by 2:30 AM again Monday morning. Sent out some LOIs, looked at rental listings, sent out a few inquiries.

Had to send a couple of gentle nudges to interview sources for the article.  Looking for some additional sources, just in case.

I’m alarmed at the rise in local COVID cases, but not surprised at all. People are idiots. While it looks like we may have to move to a more populated area for at least the next year, I then want to go somewhere more unpopulated, so I can work remotely and avoid people.

Had to work onsite at a client’s yesterday. I was supposed to be on my own, but the other two showed up, and, once again, it was a battle to get them to follow basic COVID protocols. I’m getting sick of it. I’m tired of playing Russian Roulette with them.

It was busy and stressful, but I got a lot done, and I have a lot to get done remotely today before I have to go back in the office with them again tomorrow.

Came home and decontaminated. Was tempted to have a martini with lunch, but I had more work to do in the afternoon, so I didn’t.

Sent out more LOIs. Worked on contest entries. Worked on the article.

Had a depressing time looking at listings. I had a lovely exchange with a manager of an apartment complex in Hudson that’s lovely, but what she has is too small (and expensive for us). Still, I want to keep in touch. A house in Nashua that looked legit turned out to be yet another scam. There were about a dozen even more obvious scams I didn’t bother with, and way too much far out of our price range.

Leftovers for dinner, because I was too tired to cook. Watched some more DOC MARTIN.

At least I slept through the night, until Charlotte woke me around 4 AM. I have a big stack of client work today, along with a couple of errands, LOIs, article work, contest entries, looking for a home, and packing.

I’m trying to keep our spirits up, but it’s hard.

I didn’t get to send the information on the completed category yesterday, so that will go out tomorrow.

One step at a time, right?

Mon. March 29, 2021: Intent for the Week — Intent

image courtesy of Ralf Kunze via pixabay.com

The intent for the week is intent — which sounds kind of strange.

But I want to focus on intent with each small thing to be done, while keeping an eye on the bigger picture.

I will think of you, if you will think of me, and we can use our combined energy to achieve what is necessary.

What is your intent for the week?

Fri. March 26, 2021: Die For Your Employer Day 308 – We Took Down the Horse Tapestry

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Friday, March 26, 2021

Waxing Moon

Cloudy and windy

Yesterday turned out to be a “good busy” day. Meditation was good, got some client work and LOIs out. Got out another round of interview requests for the article. I’m writing some of it in my head already, and will probably get some of it on paper today. The quotes, when I get them, may change my vision of it a bit, but we’ll see.

We took apart the two beds in the back room and stacked the mattresses, headboards, footboards, slats, etc. This gives us room to stack boxes as we pack them. Packed up a bunch more boxes, too. You know it’s serious when we take down the horse tapestry from the back room, and that’s what we did. Took it down, rolled it up, it’s ready to go.

I tweaked my back taking the beds apart, because of course I did.

Spent time on listings; nothing. What’s available is so far out of our price range, it’s ridiculous. And townhouses/apartments are even more expensive than houses.

Worked on contest entries. Will finish one category today, and get the top choices out this weekend, as I keep working on the other two categories. Also have to read the next book for review.

It was so lovely outside that I put Willa in her playpen and took her on the deck for an hour or so. She got to spend time safely enjoying the outdoors, while I read a book by Ovidia Yu and enjoyed a glass of wine. It was a nice breath in the day. We didn’t get the rain we needed, but now we’re supposed to get it today.

Knowledge Unicorns was fine. Everyone’s tired and stressed. I hope they’re not going to extend the school year well into summer. Everyone needs a break, so they can start fresh in autumn.

The virus numbers on Cape Cod are going up again. I mean, they’re going up for the state in general, but Cape Cod’s numbers are double the rest of the state, and we’re a red zone again. Not surprising, when you see how badly people are behaving, and ignoring the mask mandate.

Today, I have client work, LOIs, contest entries, book review, packing. And I’m doing a focus group with the Arts Foundation in the late morning; after that, I will have to do a run to the library for a curbside drop-off/pickup.

We started watching the Doc Martin series. It’s so odd and funny. We spent time in Cornwall in 1999, and the patchwork of familiar places they’ve stitched together for the locations is lovely to watch.

I have to send a reminder to a client to send me some information today, so I can work on it Monday and Tuesday for approval Wednesday to make a deadline. If she waits until next Wednesday to give it to me, I can’t get it done by deadline.

The weekend will be about packing and working on contest entries. And looking at rental listings, hoping I can come up with something. Fingers crossed.

I wish I knew someone with a spare house they were willing to rent to us for a year or so, but that only happens in fiction, unfortunately.

Anyway, we should have some nice weather, so I might put a couple of chairs and the wind chimes out on the deck and work on contest entries outside. Today is supposed to be stormy and icky, so I’ll wait until tomorrow.

Hopefully, next week I can book my vaccine appointment for the following week.

Have a good one, friends.

Thurs. March 25, 2021: Die For Your Employer Day 307 — Breathe the Scent of Rain

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Thursday, March 25, 2021

Waxing Moon

Foggy and cool

There’s a short post about the garden over on Gratitude and Growth.

Yesterday was busy, but, for the most part, it was a good busy, at the client’s office. Did my time, got a lot done, we talked about what needs to be done in the coming weeks, on several fronts. The owner is making noise about not wanting to wear a mask at the office anymore since she’s been fully vaccinated, and we said no. She’s going to keep pushing, and this will cause a problem a few weeks down the road.

Swung by the library to do a curbside drop-off/pickup and then home for decontamination.

Remote Chat was a lot of fun.

Rested on the acupressure mat, looked at house listings (depressing), got out some LOIs, worked on contest entries. There were a couple of truly delightful ones. I have three more to read in this category, and then I can make the decision. I’m working on the other two categories, too.

Researching interview options, since two of my requests were a no.

Got a little bit of work done on GAMBIT COLONY. Played with some other ideas. Read Nick Hytner’s book more. I have an idea percolating (it’s been doing so on and off for years) about Laertes, Hotspur, and Tybalt, but I’m not sure if it’s a piece of its own, or if I can fold it into another piece on which I’m working. It might not be more than a scene – I can’t tell, it’s still too vague in my brain. Also, in the play I’d be folding it into – even though it’s not a realistic play (it IS set in the Afterlife, after all), I’m using real people; mixing fictional ones in with them would muddy the play. So, I guess, in this public brainstorming session, I’ve figured out that they either get their own piece or they will be part of some other piece, but not the one of which I was thinking. Thank you for listening to my ramble.

I have to make sure I do at least one session of creative work for myself in a day, because it helps keep me centered. Otherwise, I turn into a hot mess. Keeping up regular writing/reading on my own projects takes off some of the pressure, instead of adding more.

I’m looking forward to the online meditation group this morning. Then, it’s back to LOIs, client work, house hunting, and packing. We’re supposed to get some much-needed rain today. If it’s nice over the weekend, I might put out the Adirondack chairs and the wind chimes on the deck over the weekend. We aren’t setting up the usual Enchanted Garden with the upcoming move, but at least we can sit there and enjoy it a little bit before we go.

Have a good one.

Wed. March 24, 2021: Die For Your Employer Day 306 — Trudging Onward

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Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Waxing Moon

Cloudy and cooler

Yesterday was warm and pretty enough so we could have the windows and the door to the deck open for a bit. Only about a half hour, but it was nice to get in a spring breeze. It still goes down into the 30’s at night, so we wake up to frost, but there are a few hours during the day when it’s lovely.

I was up early. Got ahead on some client work. I’m trying to work ahead, at least roughing out a few projects, so that we get closer to deadline, I can refine them.

I’m spending hours every day house hunting. I’m not going to go into the details here, but it’s discouraging. The number of scams is appalling.

Got out some LOIs. Worked on contest entries. I’m almost done with one category. One of the digital files was blank, so I asked for a replacement. I’m hoping to get the finalists sent off by the end of this week. Working on the other two categories, too.

Reviewed the assigned book. I have another from the same company to review, which I will start reading today. Hope to get the review out by Friday or the weekend.

Did an early morning grocery run. Decontaminated.

Did some sorting, but not much packing. I will do a big push tomorrow through Sunday.

Did some work on GAMBIT COLONY. I’m not writing enough every day, and that’s making me more stressed. So I have to go back to the early morning writing to get my centering for the day.

Heard about a call for horror audio scripts. Paid. Thought it would be kind of fun, but their formatting is so out of any audio formatting I’ve ever done that it’s too much to take on right now. If it was one of the standard formats, no problem. But to have to learn a new format and create a 30-minute piece in a few days? While I’m under all this stress? Too much, and, while it’s great that it’s paid, it would be on spec rather than contract, so I’ll have to pass.

Knowledge Unicorns was fine. Everyone’s working hard, Stressed about schools reopening too soon and without everyone being vaccinated, even though my kids will not go back to in-person learning this school year. It’s too dangerous. Plus, ALL their grades have gone up this year. There are all these “studies” about how not being in school is hurting kids. It might be true in certain cases, but WE are making it work for them. The fact that they like learning helps. And resources from museums and other cultural institutions adds so much.

I’m reading Nicholas Hytner’s book BALANCING ACTS about his years at the National Theatre. He was the director on MISS SAIGON. Although the show was five years into the run when I joined it (for its last five years), he stopped by to check on the show every now and again. I didn’t know him well by any means, but we had some good conversations. I liked and respected him a lot.

It’s fun to read about his work with people I worked with, and also people I didn’t work with, but admired.

Reading it makes me miss theatre even more.  I wish the US funded theatre (and all the arts) the way the UK does. The way Europe does. Although, re-reading Peter Hall’s diaries about his years at the National, the amount of time spent appeasing various Councils definitely interferes with creation.

I need to get back to reading more Dorothy Parker and Dawn Powell material to do the play about them, and I need to do more research on Marie Collier for that play.

A couple of interview sources turned down the request for interview for the article, so I’m looking for other sources. I will get out some requests today.

I have to be onsite at a client’s for a few hours this morning, then do a curbside pickup/drop-off at the library. After decontamination, it’s Remote Chat, and then some other work.

Onward.

Tues. March 23, 2021: Die For Your Employer Day 305 – Stress Accumulates

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Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Waxing Moon

Spring is here

There’s still frost on the ground in the mornings, but the days are sweet and sunny. Still a little cool here, but nice.

It was an incredibly stressful weekend. I’m just not comfortable sharing the details publicly, Things hit a real crisis point Sunday/Monday. I managed to negotiate a bit of a reprieve, but I will be under intense stress for the next couple of months.

I managed to do a lovely Ostara ritual. Goodness knows, I could use some rebirth.

Packing like crazy, even though we don’t yet know where we will wind up. It looked as though we had it settled at one point over the weekend, but it all fell apart on Sunday, so back to the hunt.

There are so many scams out there. The legitimate listings want proof of income 3X the rental price. I don’t know many people who earn $9k/month, do you? I’m sure as heck not one of them.

Went into the client’s office yesterday to do some work with no one there. As it should be. Had to get in touch with my mom about something. When she didn’t answer her phone, I was worried and came racing back; turns out she was upstairs packing and had left her phone downstairs. At least she was okay. At 96, one worries.

I was wrecked for the afternoon. The stress of the last bit caught up with me. Instead of packing or doing client work, I finished a book for review. I have to think about it a bit before I write the review. I had mixed feelings. I want to be honest about it, but I also want to be fair.

I worked on contest entries. I’m almost done with one of the three categories. I hope I can finish it today or tomorrow, and send off the choices for that category by Thursday, latest.

I did some work on GAMBIT COLONY as a stress release valve.

Today will be about client work, LOIs, house hunting, review work, contest entries, and packing. I have to make a quick grocery run – we’re out of bread and a couple of things.

We’re back to daily mass shootings again? Too many white guys running around with guns and the sense of entitlement that they can play God. Without consequence. I’m really tired of the lack of consequence.

Keep on keeping on. That’s all I can do.

Mon. March 22, 2021: Intent for the Week — Wishing for a Miracle

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Monday, March 22, 2021

Waxing Moon

Sunny and milder

I need a miracle to happen this weekend, so I’m wishing as hard as I can, and working as hard as I can. My intent is to make the wish a reality, although I don’t yet know how it will happen.

What’s your intent for the week?

Fri. March 19, 2021: Die For Your Employer Day 301 — I Need a Blanket Fort

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Friday, March 19, 2021

Waxing Moon

Snowy and cold

I’ve stopped the “MA Vaccine Distribution Failure” Tag, because it looks like we’re back on track; more doses, easier appointments. I will be eligible as of April 5, so I’m going to get my shot as soon as possible. Hopefully, the signup system will have eased. More and more people I know around here have been able to get a slot. I’m hoping I can get it up the street at the college, instead of driving to who-knows-where.

One last winter storm? High winds, not much snow, but kind of yucky out. I’m glad I got my grocery run in early.

I sent out a lot of LOIs yesterday. Had trouble with Comcast. Worked on the article.

Had some more disappointing/upsetting news.

Packing up the back room. It’s amazing how much things spread out and accumulate over time.

Knowledge Unicorns was good. I wasn’t on top of things, because I’m so stressed, and I felt guilty.

I did it again this morning – I turned on the coffee maker without putting the pot in. A big mess. I’m losing it.

I’m afraid I have nothing interesting to say. I’m under a lot of stress right now.  The weekend will continue it. I wish I could just hide in a blanket fort like the cat in the above photo.

Hold a good thought for me, friends.

Thurs. March 18, 2021: Die For Your Employer Day 300/MA Vaccine Distribution Fail Day 50 — Disheartened

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Thursday, March 18, 2021

Waxing Moon

Cloudy, windy, cold

There’s a quick post up on Gratitude and Growth.

Not much to report here. Yesterday was stressful. In different ways than I anticipated, but stressful.

Got some other disheartening news. Not appropriate to talk about it here, but there were tears last night on my part, and a growing sense of failure on multiple levels.

What can I do but take a deep breath and dig in again?

I’m looking forward to meditation this morning. I need it.

Then, it’s a quick run to Trader Joe’s, and back to client work. I’m also going to try to get more done in the basement, and pack up the back bedroom.

I hurt so much for my Asian friends. I’m so tired of crazy, cruel white men being allowed to get away with every hurtful, violent thing they feel like doing. It has to stop.

And, of course, 172 Republicans voted against the Violence Against Women act yesterday, because this is who they are.

Peace, friends.

Let’s hope the rest of this week is better than it started.

Tues. March 17, 2021: Die For Your Employer Day 299/MA Vaccine Distribution Fail Day 49 — Stress

image courtesy of Gerd Altmann via pixabay.c.om

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Waxing Moon

Sunny and cold

St. Patrick’s Day

Today is St. Patrick’s Day. I grew to loathe it when I lived in New York City. It was an excuse for people to get blind drunk before 10 AM and harass others. I tried to take it off whenever possible, so I could stay inside; or, at the very least, have someone from the theatre walk me home after the show; otherwise, I’d usually get into at least half a dozen physical skirmishes, with drunk men grabbing me, pawing me, trying to force me into sex because I “must want it.”

In the years I commuted on the train, I was groped and harassed on the train, plus these drunks were vomiting all over it all the time. It was disgusting.

I do have to go out and about a bit today – onsite for a few hours with a client, then picking up my mom’s prescription at CVS. With restaurants open/serving liquor, even at limited capacities, there will be drunks out. Around here, it’s usually by noon.

Yesterday was stressful, on multiple levels. But I got some client work done, some LOIs out, caught up on personal correspondence, got some sorting and packing done (although not as much as I’d like). I hurt my back moving boxes.

Supposedly, MA received more doses of the vaccine than expected; hopefully more appointments will show up. If the eligible pool can get totally vaccinated in the next few weeks, then there’s more room for the next pool.

Finished the book for review, sent the review, got the next two books for review. Worked on contest entries.

Comcast was glitchy early in the morning, and I was also having computer update issues. Comcast was, for the first time in all the years I dealt with them, responsive and actually fixed the problem.

Got some interview requests out; one subject already got back to me, and was delighted to be included. I had to drop another potential interview subject, because of the lack of contact information on his site, his publicist’s site, and his agent’s site. After two hours’ worth of research, where all I had were names and web addresses that had no contact information on them, not even a form, I decided to move on to other interview subjects. I guess his position is that, if you don’t already have the relevant contact information, you’re not far enough up in the food chain for him to deal with. Okay, sweetie, then don’t complain you’re not getting enough inclusion (which he does).

Knowledge Unicorns was fun; everyone’s tired and ready for Easter break, although all any of them want to do is sleep. I can relate.

So the Sociopath gives an interview, and soon after, another right-wing nut job murders Asian women. Not a coincidence.

The Dems need to crush McConnell for his filibuster threats. He needs to be destroyed. Get rid of the filibuster and legislate. Do it WITHOUT republicans. I don’t want “bipartisanship” with terrorists, and that is what the Republican party is right now. White domestic terrorists. Besides, they don’t mean “bipartisanship” or “unity.” They mean capitulation. No. That’s not why we voted in Democrats.

Today will be another stressful day, but I will get through it. Somehow.

Peace, friends.

Tues. March 16, 2021: Die For Your Employer Day 298/MA Vaccine Distribution Fail Day 48 — Step by Step by Step by . . .

image by Peter H courtesy of pixabay.com

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Waxing Moon

Cold again!

It’s March, so the weather is all over the place again. Yuck.

New moon in my sign as of Saturday, and I am so ready for it. Time to search for some optimism and action.

My article on theatre script development in the pandemic is up on Scriptmag.

I was so wiped out on Friday, I could barely stand it. I got some work done, but also had to rest.

Saturday was about box purging and starting to pack up my mom’s room, especially her books. Got some boxes purged from downstairs, but not as many as I’d like. I scrubbed the floor and how have to do some rearranging there.

Sent out some LOIs, did some work I didn’t get done on Friday.

Saturday night into Sunday morning, we sprung forward, which wrecks me, as it does every year. I do well when we fall back and gain an hour, but springing forward and losing an hour just gets me every time.

Managed to get a good dump run in on Sunday morning. A carload full of both garbage and recycling. Did a small grocery shop at the Stop N Shop in Marstons Mills.

Home, decontaminated. Realized that soon, I don’t need to worry about decontaminating everything for my mom’s sake, just for mine. And, hopefully, in a few more months, I won’t have to do it for myself, either. Although, considering how disgusting so many people are (again, WHY are you pulling down your mask to sneeze all over the groceries, asshole?), I might keep doing it for some things.

Packed the antique books in my room and the pictures in my mom’s room. Lots of bubble wrap and wrapping paper involved.

Got some work done on contest entries.

I don’t feel well, at all. I’m sure it’s a compilation of stresses, but it’s slowing me down when I can least afford it. Just must push through.

Woke up once overnight Sunday into Monday, and managed to get back to sleep again without too much effort, and got up at a reasonable hour.

Got some work done in the morning, then headed onsite to a client’s, where I worked on my own for a few hours. Did as much as I could there, took the shipments to the Post Office, swung by the liquor store, and home. I’d done a Target run for cleaning supplies on my way over to the office.

Decontamination process, more client work, LOIs out. Worked on my interview requests for the article – they go out today. Followed up from the meeting I had with a potential client last week. Another potential client is trying to bully me into doing an unpaid, project-specific sample because “that’s how we’ve found lots of great writers.” No. Read my samples and portfolio. Use your critical reading skills. If you want something specific to your company, you PAY ME FOR IT. I have a contract that’s specific to it.

Cape Cod Community College is ramping up the vaccines, but I’m not yet eligible for an appointment. I had to set up a second Walgreen’s account in order to maybe get on a list for a vaccine there, but – no appointments. I’m not signing up with CVS, because goodness only knows what they’d jab in my arm.

Did some research on Emilia Lanier, one of the possibilities for Shakespeare’s “Dark Lady.”

Worked on the book for review. Worked on contest entries.

Today, there’s more client work (remotely), picking up a prescription for my mother, getting out any additional interview requests, more LOIs, more packing.

Comcast and WordPress are both being hateful this morning. Multiple times having to shut down and restart. It does not bode well for the rest of the day.

Step by step, day by day.

Mon. March 15, 2021: Intent for the Week — Take Flight

image courtesy of Public Domain Pictures via pixabay.com

With a new moon starting in my own sign this past weekend, it’s time for me to take flight. Make decisions, trust my instincts. Let’s hope I land well!

What’s your intent for the week?