Tues. Sept. 18, 2012: Day 2 of the Migraine & No Time To Rest

Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Waxing Moon
Neptune Retrograde
Pluto DIRECT
Uranus Retrograde
Cloudy and muggy

Day 2 of the Migraine. Not loving it.

Good day yesterday, especially on the edits for OLD-FASHIONED DETECTIVE WORK. I’m finding my groove, and, if I can keep it up, I can get them done on time. Spun the Marine Life mystery a bit; I feel I’ll be able to write my way into it pretty soon. Worked with tarot students. Watched the first two lectures for the Sustainability Course. Climate change — another depressing week! Watched the first hour of lectures from the History of the World Since 1300 and took the quiz at the end of each segment — too bad we’re not getting certified in that one, because I’m getting them all right! 😉 We’re going to have papers due once every two weeks in that class, and only 750 words, but they’re argumentative essays, so that will be an interesting challenge.

Went to the library; returned books, got out some more. Reading David McCullough’s THE GREATER JOURNEY: AMERICANS IN PARIS, which is wonderful.

Worked out. Needed it.

We’re going to have quite a storm today, so I’m going to go to the store early and be tucked back in before it starts. We still have lots of green tomatoes, but the stalks aren’t doing well. The Silvery Fir tomatoes had beautiful foliage, but the tomatoes themselves aren’t doing as well as the Principa Borghese tomatoes

Better get a move on things — lots to do, and limited time (so what else is new?)

And STILL waiting for payment from those clients!

Devon

Friday, March 4, 2011

Friday, March 4, 2011
New Moon
Saturn Retrograde
Sunny and cold

Hey, it’s supposed to hit 30 degrees today! Positively balmy! (Yeah, I’m being sarcastic).

Got some good, practical work done yesterday, got the lectures to my partner, started reading through the material for the class.

Ran my errands in Plymouth — they didn’t have the final book I needed for my class, but I did finally manage to get my hands on a copy of Deborah Harkness’s novel A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES, which I’ve been trying to get since it was released.

Everything went by the wayside for the rest of the day and well into the night, because once I started reading it, I only put it down when I was too tired to see straight. It’s terrific — beautifully researched with ancient texts, the interdependence of magic and science, a good dose of evolution and species extinction, beautifully integrated settings rendered so well you are living every moment of the book. Absolutely fantastic. I have about another 100 pages or so to go (it’s a big book) and I’ve put it away so I’m not tempted to go back to it until I’ve done my work for the day. It’s that damn good

I have a raging headache today, but it was worth it.

Launched into the play today (new moon, new project) and I love working on it. It’s fun, and the characters are coming beautifully to life.

In addition to the writing, I have to do some practical things today like laundry and vacuuming, and a bunch of administrative stuff. I have a couple of submissions that need to get out today, and start working on polishing the lectures for the RWA workshop I’m teaching the first two weeks of April. It’s one an email loop instead of a board, which will be good for the students, but a nightmare for me, and I have to figure out how to work in that format without wanting to tear my hair out. It was booked over a year ago, before I changed the contract and class requirements, so I just kind of have to roll with it.

I’m hoping it won’t be as much of a wet, miserable weekend as predicted, because I’d like to get out and clean up the yard a bit.

But for now — a couple of Advil and back to the page.

Devon

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Saturday, December 11, 2010
Waxing Moon
Neptune Retrograde
Mercury Retrograde
Rainy and cold

Yesterday was just a big honking waste of time all the way around. Of course, ALLSTATE never came through on anything they promised, and I couldn’t get hold of anyone who knew anything about the regulations in MA or cared to find someone who did. Trust me, you are NOT in good hands with ALLSTATE if you’re in MA, because they don’t know what they’re doing and don’t care. They were great in NY, but I suspect it is because we were with the same individual for over 30 years, and he knew the ins and outs of their completely customer unfriendly system. Well, next week, it will be the Commissioner of Insurance’s problem — and, Lori, you’re right, the Attorney General should know about it, too. Since it affects two states, I’ll let both the NY and MA AG’s office know about these illegal practices. They are, literally, breaking the law, and, in this state, there’s no wiggle room with that. They’re not in a grey area. I realize this is the first year they’ve done business in the state, but they should be well-versed in the regulations BEFORE they come in, and if they don’t know something, they should care enough to find out, not just shrug and ignore it, which is what is happening on every phone call.

More paperwork. Headdesk. But it has to be done. The reason these companies can get away with this crap is that too many people whine “I don’t have time” to file a complaint. Those in the position to do something can’t unless they know about it. Take the time to file. Every time you don’t, you’re not just screwing yourself, but every other person who does business with an unethical company.

So I did some research on other agents in the area, I’m looking for recommendations, and on Monday morning, we’ll see. I hope to walk into an individual’s office and get it all sorted, and get the renter’s insurance sorted, too.

I’m trying to find a doctor for my mom, which is difficult, because oh, so many of those listed in the directory as “accepting new patients” suddenly remember they don’t when you call. And, in spite of a request for enough refills on her daily medication from her former doctor, done in writing, well before we moved, her former doctor can’t even give the courtesy of a response, much less actually do her job, and the people who work in the office simply don’t care. I worked in doctors’ offices for many years, I know the challenges, the exhaustion, and the paperwork, but it is the staff’s job to keep on top of it and make sure the doctor has the information, and then nag the doctor until it gets done. I’m sure we’ll find a much better, nicer practice here, but finding it is the challenge.

Had a lovely email exchange with an agency in the state who helps people without health care find health care that they can afford. I can only enroll somewhere after Jan. 1, but at least I’m doing the research. I was surprised because each email was answered, in complete and coherent detail, in ten minutes. I like the whole “marketplace” thing (part of the legislation the Republicans got rid of in health care reform), where you can compare rates and policy details in one place and find the best one for your actual needs, instead of having to fill out the forms for each company BEFORE they tell you how much anything costs, which is how it was done in NY. Once you do, you find you can’t afford it anyway, so you’ve lost 40 minutes to an hour with each company and gotten nowhere. And then they call you every day demanding that you enroll, getting more and more aggressive, even when you tell them to take their policy and stuff it. This system is much better for the customer, which is why the health care companies fought so hard against it.

United Healthcare responded to my blast at their incompetence and lack of “providing” (they threatened my mother rather than giving guidance in the move from state to state). Of course, it took far too long on the phone, again, but it seems to be all sorted out, and it looks like her healthcare costs are going down here in MA, too, which is good, since social security is frozen — thanks, Republicans, give your rich buddies a tax break and screw the old people — and, in NY, her health care costs were set to go waaaay up come Jan. 1. That whole Part D b.s. that Bush forced the old people into — she had to pay 4X more each month to be a part of it then her medication actually cost.

Like I said, the entire insurance industry needs to be gutted and rebuilt from the ground up. And the first step is to ban lobbyists. Get rid of the profession entirely. If an individual CEO has a concern and wants to talk his/her representative about it as all of us have a right so to do, great, but none of this paying people to harangue Congress and pay off individuals in the government.

It’s going to be a heck of a Mercury Retrograde. Can I just stay home, please?

Also think I found an ethical mechanic in Plymouth who comes highly recommended. Had a nice conversation, and he invited me to stop by and talk in person, so I could get a sense of him and his business. That’s the way to get me to do business with you!

Had to talk to the gas company because I haven’t received any bills, couldn’t sign in to the web site to see how much I owed, etc., etc. They were lovely and helpful, and we got it sorted. Turns out they were sending the bills to the right street address, but in the wrong town — the town that shares the name of the county, because my little town is so little it’s not in their system. So we got it sorted, and I paid the bill that’s on the website, and I think we’re set.

I STILL don’t have a working pin from Citizen’s Bank. And it’s been about six weeks since I opened my account. Far too much like Chase for me. It takes a MONTH for them to send a new pin? Not acceptable.

Stopped at the “package store” down the street on Rt. 28 to get some wine — picked up a nice California merlot, and they just started carrying my favorite Argentinean malbec. The man who runs it is lovely, with a great sense of humor. The man in front of me left his wallet on the counter, and was delighted when I dashed after him to return it.

I actually fell asleep for part of the afternoon, and then worked on cards (when I wasn’t on the phone dealing with all this unnecessary crap). I got through the L’s, which is decent.

Went to bed ridiculously early and woke with a raging migraine. However, I’m set to go to a VIP breakfast in Buzzards Bay for the National Marine Life Center, an organization of which I’m very fond, so I’m going to pull it together, take some Excedrin and deal. I may stop at the grocery store to pick up a chicken to roast tonight. I’m figuring out the guest list for the party and Costume Imp and I are figuring out what to make. It will be small and very casual, but still, I haven’t entertained in awhile, and I won’t be unpacked, so it’s a little nerve-wracking. However, I used to be known for my monthly dinner for 20, so I can get over it and deal.

There’s a guy looking to start a small theatre in the area, performing in a variety of venues, and the three plays I wrote for the small company on Long Island sound like they’re along the lines of what he wants, so I’m going to contact him on Monday and see if he wants to take a look at anything. I don’t want to work on the productions themselves — I’m not doing backstage work right now, and certainly not for free — but we’ll see what he needs, what I need, and if we can meet in the middle.

Also have to get a manuscript out to a potential publisher this weekend. I’ve got another round of queries to prep on another project, but they won’t go out until after the first of the year. It would be nice to get a newsletter out, too.

I’m polishing the exercises for ONE STORY, MANY VOICES, and getting to work on the Stephanie Plum lectures.

I made a big decision: I’m not baking cookies as gifts this year. The thought of having to bake batches and batches and sort them and pack them is just overwhelming. I may try some new recipes just for us, but, for the neighbors, etc., I’m going to take a spice cake recipe and make some small loaves, wrap them properly, and give them instead. It’s a single recipe, it’s unique, and it’s less stressful.

I’m invited to a neighbor’s open house tomorrow afternoon, so I’ll go — I’ve already got the hostess gift. I need to do some cleaning. I’m starting to realize just how much work it is to keep a house clean, even a small one. But at least I don’t have layers of toxic materials to scrub off the sills every day, and the plants are much happier here where there’s actual oxygen!

Violet is settling in to house living. Iris has not yet — maybe if she hadn’t ignored the whole packing process, it wouldn’t have been such a shock when we actually moved. I still have to find a vet for them.

Back to the page for awhile. I’m going to let the guidelines for the anthology call percolate a bit, but unless I’m whomped upside the head with huge inspiration, I think I’ll have to let it go. There’s just too much on my plate. I still haven’t heard from my editor about the revisions on the book due January 1, and I’m getting a little worried. So, on Monday, I’ll have to talk to my publisher. I can’t get a set of notes for revisions on Christmas Eve. That just won’t work.

I want to finish the cards and packing the gifts this weekend, and I have to give the house a good scrub. I’d also like to get started on the cake-baking. I’ve got the menu settled for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. I’m still debating about the Solstice. I’ve been invited to three different Solstice events, but I think I want to celebrate it quietly in my own home. I’ve got the menu for New Year’s Eve sorted, and for breakfast New Year’s Day, but still dithering about the big meal on New Year’s Day.

I’d really just like to go to bed for about a week! 😉

Devon