Tues. July 3, 2018: Writing, Marching, Company

Tuesday, July 3, 2018
Waning Moon
Jupiter Retrograde
Saturn Retrograde
Pluto Retrograde
Neptune Retrograde
Mars Retrograde
Sunny and hot

Packed few days.

Friday, I gave myself the day off. Even from writing. We got out of the house early and drove out to Truro, to the Atlantic Spice Company. I was out of a few things, and, since the local natural market closed, I needed to restock. It was a nice drive on a lovely day, and a good trip.

On the way back, we had a quick stop at the National Seashore in Eastham, stopped at Great Cape Herbs in Brewster, and had lunch at  Captain Frosty’s in Dennis. Then, a quick stop at Trader Joe’s. At 1 PM on a Friday, the place looked like it had been stripped by locusts. I couldn’t believe how many shelves were bare.

I also picked up some globe solar lights and put them into the garden. Between the lights and the fireflies, it was beautiful.

We have a mother and baby bunny in the garden, too. I have enough dandelions for them to eat, so they leave our lettuce alone!

I read a lovely book by Catherine Isaac called YOU ME EVERYTHING. Really well done.

I received the most wonderful request from my colleague Ron MacLean to write the foreword for the re-release of his novel HEADLONG. It remains one of my ten favorite novels I’ve read in the past decade or so, and probably on my top 20 books of all time. I’m so honored.

Between that and the almanac articles and the monologue for my friend’s benefit and the material I’m sending for a potential reading slot in fall, I have quite the schedule. But it’s wonderful.

I’m going to re-read HEADLONG before I write the foreword. Fall in love with the book all over again.

My lunch at Frosty’s had been a much anticipated platter of fried seafood, and I spent the rest of the day and night regretting it. But it was wonderful while I ate it.

Saturday morning, I woke up at 4 AM. I felt better, but Iris (aka Princess Hellion) scared me nearly to death. She was lying in the hallway, not moving. I was afraid she was dead. It was only a deep sleep, thank goodness. She was quite annoyed that I woke her up. She was hot, and could get a breeze by lying in the hall.

Early grocery shopping before heading out to the march.

Each march has its own distinct atmosphere. This, #FamiliesBelongTogether was of grim determination. Although Elizabeth Warren and Joe Kennedy III worked hard to make us optimistic in our fight.

I am sick and tired of Republicans denying human beings basic human dignity and calling it “religion” and “safety.” My mother is terrified — she survived a regime like this during WWII.

I did not do well in the heat and had to be treated for heat exhaustion.

On the bus back, and later in the evening, I read Hannu Rajaniemi’s new book SUMMERLAND. Wow. Just wow. The type of book that’s a page turner while you read it and keeps you thinking after you put it down. Really excellent.

Watched STATE OF PLAY (the one with Bill Nighy, the BBC mini-series). Very good. Also started watching the second season of HUSTLE, which is fun.

Sunday was hot, hot, hot. We got the garbage to the dump (not fun). Read and wrote a little during the day. I’m playing with an idea that’s a variation on something I’ve played with on and off for years and never quite made work. Also pondered this, that, and the other on RELICS & worked out ideas on calendar articles.

We went to MSPCA for a senior cat adoption. The new facility was beautiful, but there weren’t many cats (which is a good thing, don’t get me wrong). Tessa needs a friend, and I don’t think the right one was there for her in this batch. I feel so guilty every time I walk out of a place without adopting.

When we came home — the power was out in this neighborhood. I was worried we’d lose everything in the fridge, but it came back on after a couple of hours without damage.

Monday, I did client work and had some meetings and did some work at the library.
Worked on a marketing campaign for a client and got part of it out. The rest has to be handled today.

Had an excellent writing day on Monday for RELICS. Finished a Phineas chapter, wrote an entire Amanda chapter.

Have to get going with DHARMA this week, too. I look forward to being back on the cruise ship with Sophie, Sebastian, Roz, and the gang.

Today, more client work, and then Reiki tonight. Company arriving late tonight — they might stay until the end of the week, they might leave after a few days. We’re playing it by ear.

No post tomorrow — Just a holiday greeting. I’ll be back online on Thursday. Have a great weekend. And I hope my Canadian friends had a wonderful Canada Day on Sunday.

 

Tues. June 26, 2018: Good Writing Things While the Country Burns Down

Tuesday, June 26, 2018
Waxing Moon
Jupiter Retrograde
Saturn Retrograde
Pluto Retrograde
Neptune Retrograde
Mars Retrograde

Five retrogrades. That’s a lot of weight.

Turned around the galleys for MYTH & INTERPRETATION. The book will be ready for pre-orders soon. I’m happy with it.

RELICS & REQUIEM is steaming along nicely. I couldn’t sleep on Saturday night, so I spent several hours lying in bed refining plot points and making mental adjustments to the Writers Rough outline. I’ve started putting those adjustments into practice. It makes a big adjustment to the romantic part of the romantic suspense arc, and I’m not quite sure it will work, but I’m going to give it a shot.

This week, along with RELICS, I get back into the saddle with DAVY JONES DHARMA, the second Nautical Namaste mystery. I need to re-read the material and take a look at the outline to get back into that headspace and voice.

The anti-gun violence play is going along slowly. But that’s okay. Every piece has its own innate rhythm. I don’t yet have a title for it, which is making it more difficult.

I received the check from the radio play. Always great to get those checks.

PJ Friel, the cover artist, is going to stay on as the cover artist for The Jain Lazarus Adventures, which is a relief. She created a specific look for the series, which I think works. My publisher agreed. I’m very proprietary about Jain, and I’m lucky that my publisher is giving me more leeway than is usual.

I’m also reading PJ’s debut novel, A TWIST OF WYRD, and loving it. It’s a terrific urban fantasy with a strong romance at its core. I’m looking forward to more in the series. PJ was a guest of mine on A Biblio Paradise when the book came out, a few weeks ago.

Friday night, I went out with a friend I haven’t seen in person since last fall, right after PLAYING THE ANGLES released. We went to Embargo, a tapas place in Hyannis. The food was surprisingly good, and we had a great catch-up. She invited me to participate in a fundraiser for a mutual friend of ours, which will happen in August. I’m going to write a new monologue for that, which I’ve started percolating. She is a ceramic artist, and is participating in a show in Falmouth opening in a couple of weeks, so I will go to that. And she’s encouraging me to apply for a reading slot at a local festival this fall. She’s right. All they can do is say no. But they can’t say yes if I don’t let them know I’m interested.

So it was a good, creative shoring up of each other’s work.

Saturday was a rainy day. I like listening to the rain here. I gave myself the day off. I needed it.

Sunday, I was back in the saddle for RELICS & REQUIEM, and got some solid work on it in. I also read over what I’ve got on THE BALTHAZAAR TREASURE, now that I’ve cut out the material used for MYTH. It’s much tighter and more focused. I’ll have to massage a few things for the timeline and then move forward; I’ve lost several chapters of the material that was the foundation for MYTH. But now BALTHAZAAR has its necessary pace and focus, and I can move forward.

Re-read what I’ve got so far on CRAVE THE HUNT, the third Jain Lazarus. It’s a little more than the first quarter of the book, a little less than the first third. I like it. I found most of my outline notes, so I know where I’m going with it. I think I can whip it into shape for its release in March.

IF I stay focused on everything else that’s already contracted.

Yesterday was about client work and continuing to work on the media kit for MYTH & INTERPRETATION. I had trouble getting my head back into RELICS, for some reason; but eventually, I got there.

Some idiot yesterday, here on Cape said, “I don’t have anything to worry about with politics. My skin is white.” And THIS is why we now live in a fascist dictatorship. The ignorance and lack of care is appalling.

Today is about more client work. I’m hoping to get to Reiki tonight. Because believe me, I need it!

 

Thurs. June 21, 2018: The Need To Be Creative In Spite of The World

Thursday, June 21, 2018
Waxing Moon
Jupiter Retrograde
Neptune Retrograde
Saturn Retrograde
Pluto Retrograde
Summer Solstice
Rainy and muggy

Tuesday night, there was a lovely Savasana/Reiki session at my yoga studio. I’m so glad I went. I felt so much better after.

Tessa wouldn’t eat her food (she only eats one kind of dry food, with another as an occasional treat), so at 6:30 in the morning yesterday, I went to 711 to get her a fresh box of her “treat” food, since the pet food store wasn’t open. She ate that. So her regular food must have gotten stale or something. Then, this morning, she didn’t want that food, and ate her normal food again. She’s bored and acting out. I need to give her more to do. Iris is too old to be a good companion for her.

It was difficult to make much progress on RELICS on Wednesday. My head wasn’t in the game.

Now that the US has pulled out of the UN’s Human Rights Council and believes that gives them the freedom to do anything they want, harm anyone they want, I hope that the world will prosecute this administration for human rights violations and war crimes in the Hague.

If a baker can refuse to make a cake for a gay wedding and say it’s because of his “religion” than any ethical and moral individual can refuse to sell to, serve, or otherwise provide any good or service to any individual who participates in this atrocity. And we all should. American Airlines, United Airlines, and Frontier Air took important steps yesterday to do just that. Prosecute the participants, the way Nazi collaborators were prosecuted after WWII. Cut them out of the community. Refuse them the sacraments. After all, they are tearing rosaries away from immigrants — why should they be allowed the comfort they deny others? Nor should they be absolved in a confessional and allowed to return to committing the same atrocities again.

If these were white children being detained, these gun rights militias would have already stormed the camps and freed them. But, since gun rights militants tend to also be white supremacists (not to mention hypocrites), they haven’t done anything. Or even spoken out.

A large faction of Methodists has spoken out against Jeff Sessions and threatened to expel him from the church. Good. He’s been hiding behind “religion” to justify his atrocities. His religious leaders, if they actually walk their path, should condemn and expel him. Then he should go on trial for human rights violations. All the evangelicals who haven’t spoken out, who aren’t doing anything — again, proves that they aren’t followers of Christ at all, but hypocrites. Like people with critical thinking skills didn’t already know that.

Some Republican Senators are saying this is wrong. Yet they refuse to sign on to Senator Diane Feinstein’s bill that would stop this. Because Republicans don’t really mean it, and aren’t willing to work across the aisle for a solution. It’s beyond not being willing to work with Democrats. It is because Republicans AGREE with the policies. They would rather see an entire generation of children destroyed for not being white and world-wide anti-Americanism on the rise than put country over party. It is racism and the worst kind of nationalism.

We cannot wait until November. They must be stopped NOW.

That EO signed by the Narcissistic Sociopath yesterday does not solve the problem. It was a photo op to stop some of the shouting by those who can’t be bothered to read beyond a headline. It continues to put asylum seekers — something that is LEGAL — into concentration camps. It does not reunite the children already separated from their parents. It is not acceptable.

I am deeply disappointed in some that I thought were decent human beings and have proven themselves otherwise by continuing to support and excuse this corrupt administration. Including some who claimed they voted R on “religious grounds.”

I’ve said it before and I repeat: Good people did not vote for this administration. The minute they pulled that voter lever, they forfeited any “good person” status and let the mask slip, revealing who they really are.

In the book I’m currently reading, Dolores Stewart Riccio’s THE DIVINE CIRCLE OF LADIES MAKING MISCHIEF, on page 108, she has a beautiful sentence: “The heart always has room for one more.”

Unless one supports this administration. Then, the heart has room for no one.

Had hoped to do some yard work today, but don’t know if the weather will let up so I can. I need to work on RELICS, and I also need to finish the proofs for MYTH.

It’s so important to show up and do the work every day, to keep creating, to refuse to be silenced during this dark time. It’s tough, but necessary.

Hopefully, tonight’s ritual will serve to both soothe and to activate.

Back to the page.

Tues. June 24, 2014: Offline to ReFuel

Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Waning Moon
Mercury Retrograde
Mars Retrograde
Saturn Retrograde
Sunny and pleasant

I’ve been offline for a few days, for a much-needed creative restoration.

Friday was busy — I had a full, but good day at the library, put in some book orders, etc. Came home and got some work done, but was tired.

Saturday, I was up early, wrote, and ran an errand on my way to the library — got some candles for the Solstice ceremony, and the woman who checked me out at RiteAid is a Reiki professional. Never know who you’re gonna meet, right?

Good day at the library — busy, but a nice, steady pace. I also sent off the final new episode on the Big Script Project, which means I’m buried in revisions all this week.

Came home, rested up a bit, prepared for the Solstice Ceremony. It was wonderful –first time I used oil lamps instead of quarter candles, and they worked very well. It was beautiful and powerful and wonderful.

Also re-read Shakespeare’s A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM — I’d love to do a live reading at the library next year for the Solstice, although I wonder if it would turn out to be a Magilla to organize.

Sunday, I stayed true to my Disconnect Policy — no internet, phone, etc. The only music was the music outside. I binge-read Ilona Andrews books, some of both the Kate Daniels novels and the Edge novels. FATE’S EDGE was my favorite. I outlined several pieces where the characters are gnawing at me. Hopefully, figuring stuff out will quiet them down until it’s their turn.

Monday, I really needed to be disconnected, too, so that’s what I did. As far as I knew, I had no commitments to meet that day, so I remained disconnected and worked. It’s hard to explain the work, because so much of it was internal. It was the quiet time, the figuring out time for writing. Some notes, but not actual scenes. It was internal, not external work, but so necessary in order to create. I went deep, deep down into the worlds of several projects and let the characters talk. If I had had any interruptions during that time, I would have lost the work — permanently.

I also got part of the meadow mowed and some plants repotted. Good to work the mind and the hands together.

When I resurfaced, in the evening, I found that a Mermaid Ball meeting had been scheduled. That was the first I’d heard about it — after the last one, which happened while I was so sick, no one ever let me know when the next one was. Even a year ago, I would have felt horribly guilty. I don’t. I needed to protect the work and work. If they needed me at the meeting, they should have let me know, right after the last one, when the next one was scheduled. If they want me there, it’s up to THEM to tell ME the schedule, not me to run around begging for information. If only the people at any given meeting are given the information, then that’s their choice, and it takes the pressure off of me. I’m already working three jobs under very tight deadlines. We sorted it out this morning, so no harm, no foul. Glad I didn’t waste my time in guilt!

The writing comes first. ALWAYS. Right now, I’m not only under tight deadlines for contracted work, with releases coming up and all the work that goes with that, but, after a period of creative fallowness, the creativity it kicking up again. And I will protect it and honor it at all costs. Because that is what writers do. It’s not about doing the work when it’s convenient — it’s about doing the work when it needs to get done.

And if those with whom I VOLUNTEER get annoyed that “my cute lil hobby” (because so few of them respect writing as WORK) inconveniences them, tough shit. This is my career, my work, my passion, and everything else works around the writing, not the other way around.

Speaking of the work — in addition to the outlining and working stuff out on upcoming work, the galleys for “Severance” are done, and I’m getting started on “Elusive Prayer” edits. I’ve got three revised episodes to send off this morning on the Big Script Project, will have two tomorrow, and have to have five by Thursday morning, then, with only the last five on Friday and Saturday. It’s a lot of work, but it needs to be done, and it will be good to get it done.

I’ve got a lot of other writing to get done in the coming weeks.

I checked out a Kindle from the library, and I’m getting familiar with it. I’m kind of liking it. I still love holding a book in my hands, and my eyes tire on the screen, but there are definite uses for Kindles. A place for all kinds of books and stories, right?

I’m still not 100% from the stomach virus, which is all kinds of annoying. At least I’ve confirmed it’s NOT a new allergy to crabmeat — had some over the weekend, and was fine. So I don’t know what triggered it, just wish I’d get back to 100% sooner rather than later. I’m in the third week of it now.

Hope everyone has a great week. I’ve got a busy one coming up, but let’s hope it’s another busy in the right way.

Oh, and I read a terrific book last night: WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S STAR WARS by Ian Doescher. If you like Shakespeare or STAR WARS, you’ll enjoy it; if you like both, you’ll LOVE it.

Stepped out on the deck this morning, and it smells like autumn. Considering that we just passed Midsummer, that concerns me.

Devon

Thurs. May 2, 2013: Car Massage

Thursday, May 2, 2013
Waning Moon
Saturn Retrograde
Sunny and gorgeous

Yesterday was certainly a day of challenges. Someone flaked on me — someone with whom the “no flake discussion” had been held. The writing on the novel went badly.
I sent in the proofreading test and got an auto response that I failed and didn’t make it to the next round — um, there’s no way an auto response can indicate the test was actually looked at. Since I had the manual they claimed to use open on my lap when taking the test (which was allowed) — I know I got things right, per the manual. I checked the website, which said all positions were filled. Now, if you tell people they have 3 days to take the test, don’t tell them they “failed”, when, in reality, you filled the position and didn’t have the courtesy to tell the rest of us. Red flags all over that one, so it’s probably a good thing I didn’t get in!

Put stuff together for the Beltane festivities, drove out to Brewster — and the car died. Ignition locked. I was at the site, fortunately, not somewhere out in the middle of nowhere. The celebration itself was great, a lovely bunch of people.

Tried the car again after — no deal. Lost it and was sobbing in the kitchen. Nothing like having a nervous breakdown in one’s first meeting with a bunch of strangers. But everyone was very kind. Called the VW Roadside Assistance program — I have too many miles on the car, so now they charge. They arranged for a tow truck. I calmed down with a cup of tea and went out to wait. I played with the car, massaged it, basically Reiki’d it — and it started. I drove it around the neighborhood, stopping and starting a few times to make sure it wasn’t a fluke. It wasn’t.

I cancelled the tow truck, got to hang out with some of the other celebrants, and then drove home. No problems, except I was exhausted and wrung out. Called Roadside Assistance and told them to return the money they’d charged me, since I fixed the damn problem myself.

Two years ago, the ignition coil was replaced when the same thing happened in Shaw’s parking lot in Hyannis. An ignition coil should damn well last more than two years, so this better not be an indicator this will be an on-going problem!

Fell into bed, exhausted. Woke up late this morning, but got to yoga on time. Good class. Stopped at Covell Beach on the way back — gorgeous.

Finished painting the plant rack. Forgot to mention that, last weekend, I oiled all the porch furniture – those of you that have teak furniture and teak oil know what I’m talking about! It’s time-consuming, but well worth it.

Now, I have to dig in and get everything done today that didn’t get done yesterday. All I really want is a nap, but I have to catch up on the book and a few other things.

Exhausted, but relieved that the car is okay.

Back to the page.

Devon

Friday, August 27, 2010

Small coil candleholder made in July pottery workshop. Actually, I’m using it for crystals right now instead of candles.

Friday, August 27, 2010
Waning Moon
Pluto Retrograde
Uranus Retrograde
Neptune Retrograde
Jupiter Retrograde
Mercury Retrograde
Sunny and pleasant

Not a particularly productive day yesterday, most of it filled with anti-landlord paperwork, since they’ve launched their next attack.

Elsa’s treatment went very well. The Reiki practitioner thinks that, in spite of ups and downs, she’s responding more quickly to the treatments, which means her body’s natural healing is improving. However, she feels the environmental factors and chemical stresses caused by the landlord are compromising all of our healths. She thinks It would be a good idea for me to put Elsa in a harness and take her to a park on any nice day that it isn’t too hot or too cold so that Elsa can get about 20-30 minutes of sunshine and fresh air. That will help boost the treatments and encourage the healing to not only happen more quickly, but take hold more deeply. so that when the environmental and chemical stresses of the landlord’s attacks resume, she’s already built up a reserve, and they won’t take such a toll.

So now, here we are in the suburbs, and I’m having a problem finding a place to take Elsa. The Town Park and Beach still charge residents to use them — up until Labor Day, and then on weekends well past. Since I couldn’t afford the pass for the summer, I certainly can’t afford the daily rates, which work out higher. I have to park in that lot if I wanted to take her to the Bird Sanctuary — and let’s face it, taking a cat to a bird sanctuary isn’t a serene choice! I can’ t take her to the Nature Center, because there are deer and coyotes there.

The parks in Greenwich are for residents of that town only. As are most of the surrounding parks in the area. Imagine, you live in the suburbs to get some green and trees, and you still have to pay extra to enjoy it. I was better off living just off Times Square and going up to Central Park.

Labor Day is only a couple of weeks away, so maybe then I can start.

Worked on more paperwork to file against the landlords. Tried to figure out how to put together enough cash very quickly to get out. That means they win, but if I stay here, I just use up all my cash reserves to fight them, and then I’m in worse shape, so why not take everything and go? But that means I have NOTHING to fall back on — if I get sick or the car breaks down or Elsa gets worse — it means there is NOTHING. And that scares me.

The best possible scenario would be if someone knew someone in the area in which I want to relocate, and was willing to give me a reasonably priced, pet-friendly, two year lease so I could get the heck out of here and regroup. I put it out on Twitter — let’s see if I get any bites. Most of the listings on Craigslist sound very shady. And real estate places handle mostly vacation rentals, not year rounds.

I also found, through an organization to which I belong, some legitimate, high-paid, good jobs in the Boston area. I’m going to apply, even though I don’t live there yet, saying I’m in the process of relocating, and see if that will help land the job, and then the job can help land the apartment. It’s actually stuff I like doing, so why not throw my hat in the ring?

Also pitched for a script writing job that I can do anywhere. Short scripts, decent pay, checked out the company, they seem legit. Fingers crossed.

Anyone who has contacts in New England, especially in the South of Boston area, please put out the word that you know someone who’s looking for a place.

I’ve got to run errands today and maybe finally hit that museum exhibit I want to see over at the Bruce, since it closes next week.

I had a decent writing session this morning, but I’m nowhere near as productive as I need to be, because I’m so up in knots about the home situation.

Devon

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Small, three-legged pinch pot made during July’s workshop. What’s odd is that the glaze is supposed to be black, but it came out like this.

Thursday, August 26, 2010
Waning Moon
Pluto Retrograde
Uranus Retrograde
Neptune Retrograde
Jupiter Retrograde
Mercury Retrograde
Sunny and pleasant

Didn’t get as much done as I would have liked yesterday. Waiting for the other shoe to drop, landlord-wise. They are trying to evict several of the tenants who have fought back. It’s been quieter directly under my windows, but I bet they’re gearing up for the next volley.

Ran errands in the morning, including going to the bookstore in Stamford to pick up a few things, and the farmer’s market right next door. Spent most of the afternoon helping out a neighbor with an issue. Landlord-related, of course.

Elsa’s not doing well, so I’m glad she’s getting a treatment today.

I had a pretty good writing session this morning, thank goodness, on the Willowspring Grove novel. After Elsa’s treatment, I hope to get some work done on SPIRIT REPOSITORY, and maybe even get out a few queries.

When my home is unstable, such as fighting with the scumbag landlords, I can’t work. If I can’t work, I can’t earn the money to leave, and it’s an endless downward spiral. I can’t leave to work somewhere else, because I have to be here to defend the premises — and the cats. It’s not a good situation.

I was offered a job on a movie in Michigan that supposedly stars A Very Well-Known Actress (who will remain nameless on this blog) starting “as soon as possible” — which means they are either very disorganized, or they couldn’t find anyone to work for that price, or their supervisor already quit because of the working conditions. I’m not sure why they called me, since I’m no longer in the union and don’t do this anymore, but I said no. Plus, the money was ridiculously low. Um, WHY would I put myself through the stress of supervising stars in another state and not get well compensated? I’m not just starting out. I don’t need the credit on my resume, and I’m certainly not star-struck. I mean, I have nothing against this particular actress, but I still expect to be well-paid to do this kind of work, if I was even still doing it. I also don’t like it when they call me and leave a message without leaving the name of the movie or the production company. That always sends off warning bells.

So, no thank you.

Hopefully, today will be a fairly productive day, in and around Elsa’s Reiki session. I’m feeling very discouraged about just about everything, though, and just want to find a way out of here.

Devon

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Oversized mug made in May’s pottery workshop. It’s hard to see in the photo, but the differences in color actually indicate differences in texture where I used texturing tools on the slab before curving it into mug form.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Waxing Moon
Pluto Retrograde
Neptune Retrograde
Uranus Retrograde
Jupiter Retrograde
Cloudy, hot, humid

I’m still waiting for the damn thunderstorm! This humidity just sucks all the life out of me.

Didn’t get much done yesterday — well, that’s not true, I got a lot done, but just not what I intended. I had to retreat the the air conditioned bedroom pretty quickly because of the heat and humidity. Tried to get some work done there.

Took Elsa to her Reiki session. The practitioner is really pleased with the progress, and thinks the work we’re doing at home, along with the crystal therapy, is giving her a boost, so that she’s healing even more quickly than if she just came in for sessions. I don’t have to take her back for about another two and a half weeks. She’s still eating well, and the work done on her sinuses has helped with the mucus. She was lively and playful and funny in the office, and when we got home, she climbed into the kitchen window where the workmen were (on the outside) and fussed until they stopped what they were doing, I had to open the window so they could talk and pet her through the screen, and she just lapped up the attention. Violet hissed at them and ran away, and Iris, little chicken that she is, hid, but Elsa made new friends. As she always does. I should be as outgoing and accepting as she is.

I was late cooking dinner, until after they left, because, even though I’m annoyed with them, if they were hanging out in front of the window when I made dinner, I’d have felt obligated to feed them. Yeah, I know, it makes no sense.

I meant to spend twenty minutes in the afternoon doing some research and consolidating some information. Next thing I knew, it was nine hours later.

I meant to go to a museum today, and then to a friend’s, but it’s too hot to leave the cats. I’ll run the air in the morning, and get caught up on some correspondence that has to go out today, and maybe go to my friend’s in time for dinner.

I spoke to the pharmacy and Elsa’s refill was sent out yesterday — hopefully it won’t take yet another week to get here.

Great first writing session this morning — nearly 2K. Let’s hope it sets the tone for the rest of the day.

Devon

Monday, August 9, 2010

First little three-legged pinch pot I made in May’s workshop

Monday, August 9, 2010
New Moon
Pluto Retrograde
Neptune Retrograde
Uranus Retrograde
Jupiter Retrograde
Hot, humid, cloudy

No “workmen” skulking around all weekend — since they are hired to torment long-term tenants, not the new, higher-paying ones. It’s amazing how much I can get done when those phony workmen aren’t around sucking the life out of me.

Went to my friend’s place on Saturday and got six loads of laundry done — woo hoo, clean clothes and sheets.

Also finished CE Murphy’s WALKING DEAD, which I really liked.

Up early Sunday morning, usual yoga routine, feeding the cats, first 1K of the day. Then, I washed the windows, flushed out the drains with lemon and baking soda, soaked and sterilized a bunch of bottles for essential oils, cooked ratatouille, chicken/sausage/basil, chicken w/mushrooms, rosemary, and mint, and a big pot of mint-infused rice. All by 10:30 AM. Yeah, I was feeling pretty smug! 😉

Spent the afternoon working on some craft projects — takes too long to try to explain, so, for our purposes, let’s call them “craft projects”. Also read CE Murphy’s DEMON HUNT.

Cooked spaghetti and meat sauce for dinner, using the last of the fresh basil from my friend’s garden. and did some research in the evening.

Elsa was soooo much better this weekend — just amazing. She was “helping” and underfoot the whole time, which is the way she behaved before she was sick. One of the craft projects has a bloodstone on it, very similar to the bloodstone I bought for her, and she keeps trying to dis-attach it, thinking it’s hers, even though I showed her that her very own bloodstone and jasper are in her favorite sleeping spot, just the way they should be. Her appetite is almost back to normal. She can’t eat a lot at once, due to the acid reflux (which is better, but not gone), but, over the course of the day, she’s eating her normal amount. Hopefully, she’ll continue to make progress. I think the combination of the Nalpoxtrene and the Reiki are helping her a lot. She really loves the tummy massage during Reiki! She’s still got the mucus and sinus problems, which is what we’ll start tackling in today’s Reiki session, but her purring is almost back to normal, without that wetness to it. And she’s behaving more like her old self. I hope she’s really on the road to recovery, and it’s not just a temporary blip.

I have some errands to run, bills to pay, correspondence to deal with, Elsa’s Reiki session, and finishing the marketing work on ASSUMPTION OF RIGHT. Hopefully, I can also get out the newsletter, either today or tomorrow.

The “workmen” are back to make our lives hell — at 7:18 in the morning. We won a minor victory with the landlords this weekend, so I have no doubt they will try to hit us with some fresh hell shortly.

Yesterday’s writing session was great; today’s, not so much. I’m going to try to get another one in before the “workmen” get too loud. I already feel a migraine coming on. Oh, for a big old thunder and lightening storm that would send them off their scaffolding!

First irritation of the day — an admin for the classes I’m teaching just claims I never sent in the promotional materials for the classes — although they were sent on July 12 and confirmed. Re-doing work and being treated like I missed deadlines when I was ahead of schedule REALLY pisses me off.

Devon

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Details of the cat fountain at the Betsy Ross House, Philadelphia

Thursday, August 5, 2010
Waning Moon
Pluto Retrograde
Neptune Retrograde
Uranus Retrograde
Jupiter Retrograde
Rainy, hot, humid

It will be a miracle if I make it to Monday without seriously hurting someone. Lara, you got it in one — that unfettered rage is an awful feeling, isn’t it?

At least having the information helps me make more informed decisions. There were two incidents yesterday where I normally would have just gone off, but I restrained myself.

The first actually worked out for the better — the person apologized and was honest about the fracas instead of trying to do ass-coverage. Although I still felt the situation was disrespectful, I chose to accept the apology without rebuttal and we actually had a good work session.

The second time I nearly belted a check out clerk at one of my least favorite grocery stores, the A&P in Rye Brook. Not only are their prices high and their quality low, most of the employees with whom I’ve dealt over the past couple of years are the worst of the worst. It used to be a decent store, years ago, but in the past two-three years, it’s horrible. I go there about once every six weeks or so, when it’s on my way and it would be a chore to go elsewhere, but no more. I’m really sick of the clerks picking people they know out of the check-out line and serving them first, instead of taking people in the order they line up. In addition to being rude, slow, and lazy. It’s not acceptable, and I will no longer shop there. The A&P stores in this area in general have gone down the tubes in the past year, in spite of their “fresh” campaigns with Kelly Ripa. Quality down, prices up, and awful employees.

I held my temper, paid for my two items, and left. Hopefully, it will be the last time I ever have to walk through those doors. If I’m willing to drive 150 miles out of my way not to shop at Wal-Mart, I can drive an extra 5 to avoid the A&P.

The dickheads that the landlord employed to “work on the building” (which means torture the tenants) not only went up and down the fire escape and banged against the windows all day, they peeped into the neighbor’s bathroom as she showered. Because the landlord paid off the City, neither the Health Department nor the Buildings Department will take any action. They don’t have work IDs — which they are required to carry and show on demand by law. But no one will enforce that. Also, because of the dust they raised, we couldn’t have the windows open and use the fans, and we couldn’t have the air conditioning on, because the dust came through the vents. So we had to swelter inside with closed windows in 100 degree weather. Not acceptable.

I can’t leave because I can’t leave the cats. WHEN they smash one of the windows, either by accident because they’re incompetent, unskilled laborers or because they’ve been paid to smash property, I don’t want the cats sliding out of a broken third floor window and getting hurt.

Elsa had a good Reiki session yesterday, although both she and I tested positive for abnormally high levels of lead and arsenic. Like I said, the landlords are poisoning us, and the corrupt City Council lets them, because they’ve bee paid off.

Additionally, it looks like I broke a bone or several small bones in my foot, which is why it hurts. I can’t afford the $282 for X-rays, but I had it looked at, and, as far as can be told without X-rays, that’s the most likely scenario. No idea how I could have broken bones in my foot — a little weird. A cast isn’t going to do any good – I might make a poultice and just keep it rested for a few days so it can start to knit on its own. I’m trying to stay away from anyone and everyone for the next few days anyway.

We managed to get out of the house for a bit and go to the Stamford Farmer’s Market (serious limping on my part). In spite of all the astrological conflict, everyone there was lovely, as always, and we got some terrifically high quality produce at great prices. It’s one of the best markets in the area, both in quality and price, much better than the one down the street.

I have a tin Tibetan goddess statue I picked up in a second hand shop in PA a few years ago. She’s been sitting in my bookcase. I put her in the window yesterday as a deterrent for the dickhead harassers (on the inside). This morning, she’s in a different window, hanging off a plant trellis, looking out over the main road that runs past the building. Pretty funny. Guess she was busy in the night.

I have a prop that looks like a skull on a pole in one of the windows this morning. He has glowing red eyes. I was trying to download audio of hellhounds baying to run as a loop whenever they came near the window, but really, nothing that I’ve found is even remotely intimidating. Sounds more like sad puppy left alone than a baying hell hound. Unfortunately, renting a Rottweiler is not an option. Of course with my luck, I’d get the one that just wants his tummy rubbed rather than standing in the window looking intimidating!

The avocado that finally sprouted is doubling in size nearly every day. Will be interesting to see how it grows.

The purified water is a big help, and I think we’ve saved almost all the plants except for the morning glory. I think that’s a total loss.

Good first morning’s writing session. Let’s hope I can be productive today.

Devon

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Waning Moon
Neptune Retrograde
Pluto Retrograde
Uranus Retrograde
Jupiter Retrograde
Sunny, hot, humid

Introducing . . .Annabel Aidan!

I’m unveiling the Annabel Aidan pseudonym. It’s now official — Champagne Books has contracted my romantic suspense novel ASSUMPTION OF RIGHT, under this name. It will release in July 2011, and they get first look at the next Annabel Aidan-penned tome.

I’m pretty darned excited.

You can visit Annabel’s brand new web page here.

Somehow, I managed to injure my foot. What’s weird is that I remember hurting it in a dream Monday night, pulled myself out of the dream, and Tuesday morning I have an injured foot.

Sounds like something out of one of the books!

Yesterday was a challenging day, to say the least. The scumbag landlords are at it again, acting like this is an empty building. Workmen are swarming over the fire escape, the roof, hauling up heavy equipment without safety mechanisms in place, hitting the windows, etc. We had no notice, they are not conforming to city code, they arrive in unmarked vans, have no identification — these are not licensed, skilled workers.

I was so enraged that, had I owned a gun yesterday, I would have slaughtered all of them. I have rarely been that enraged in my life. It would have made yesterday’s massacre outside of Hartford looked like child’s play. And then thing is, it’s not the workers that are the problem, it’s the landlord. It’s not the workers who should be slaughtered, but the landlord.

I wonder how much the astrological pressure is causing the trigger points to snap on people. According to the records, this configuration was last seen 537 years ago — and I’m too lazy to look up what happened then. It would not surprise me at all if there was a huge spike in violence between now and Monday — a lot of people snapping the way that guy did outside of Hartford yesterday and the way I nearly did. I don’t agree with his actions, but I understand them.

I have to remember to siphon off the rage somehow. And certainly not let it out on those who aren’t the root of the problem. It’s not a healthy feeling, to be that angry and that out of control. I have to stay as calm and as quiet as possible.

We’re supposed to get some harsh thunderstorms today — that should break some of the tension and prevent them from working on the roof, at least for awhile.

I worked on the manuscript yesterday, re-reading it to make notes of things to discuss with the editor and also to pull excerpts out for the marketing. I’m working on the marketing and cover art information, and starting to put together the media kit, which will build throughout the production process, and then it will be done on time, rather than having to start the process just before the book releases.

Decent, but not brilliant first writing session this morning. I can’t work, breathe (because of the contaminated dust), eat, drink, sleep, wash (because the water’s contaminated) or do anything else. And the landlords are charging us for this crap.

It’s supposed to be over 100 degrees again today. I’m taking Elsa for another Reiki session this morning. She’s shown some real improvement in the past two days, and i hope it holds, and that we can build on it. She’s eating much better, not throwing up, has a lot of energy and is alert and involved. I hope we’ve hit a turning point, finally, and that she’s on a real road to recovery. Heaven forbid the vet do any follow-up. I’m going to email him on Monday, telling him to put in a refill on her prescription. I don’t know how much of her improvement is the Nalpoxtrene — since the improvement didn’t start until the Reiki started — and how much the Reiki is boosting the Nalpoxtrene. I think it’s a synthesis of the two along with a couple of other naturopathic therapies we’re doing. I don’t care what it is, as long as it works.

The big thing between now and Monday is to keep the rage under control. Because I’m really close to the edge, and I don’t want to snap and do something I regret. It’s almost as though one can feel the tension in these squares, like a rubber band being stretched more and more tautly. At least knowing the influences gives me information that can help me make choices that are more positive, instead of simply reacting to triggers with what could be horrible consequences.

Devon

Friday, July 16, 2010

Friday, July 16, 2010
Waxing Moon
Pluto Retrograde
Neptune Retrograde
Uranus Retrograde
Cloudy, hot, humid

We’re supposed to break 100 degrees again today. Ick.

Off to pottery yesterday, for my last regular class. Finally, I found something I”m good at — mask-making. We did slab masks (which means we created a slab on the roller, then shaped it on a newspaper form and decorated it). I’m thrilled with mine.

I have some experience with mask-making, both for ritual purposes and for theatre productions, although I’ve never made one in clay before.

We also trimmed the pots we threw on the wheel. So, I was back to going clockwise, which feels more natural to me, but other than that, it was a disaster. Now, it’s just getting to the point where I’m afraid of the wheel, which is not a good thing. My pot is a disaster, but I’m firing it and glazing it anyway, because when I master my fear of the wheel (like, when I’m 105), I can see how far I’ve come.

Glazed my little tiny pressed mold pot, which looks cute, and glazed my enormous pressed bottle vase. I love the glaze room, and I’ve gone from being fascinated by glazes to being obsessed with them.

Several people praised the pressed bottle vase, which surprised me. I look at it and see the flaws, but they think it’s really cool, the way I played with texture. I thank them for their support of a newbie.

When I get back from Philly, there are a few glazing days, so, provided this work’s been bisque-fired (the first firing), I’ll be able to glaze it and send it on for the second firing.

I received an unexpected check which, I think, will pay for fall’s pottery class.

While I was at class, my mom dealt with the new exterminator now handling the building. He’s very nice and very thorough — what a great change from the guys who wandered in, squirted the hose a few times at baseboards(and then we had to wash away the run-off before the cats stepped in it), and wandered out. Everything he uses is pet-safe (Elsa, being Elsa, followed him around to make sure, and the twins peered out from under a table; Elsa must always supervise and remind anyone who enters that this is a cat-centric household, and she expects proper greetings and pettings) and his equipment is very precise, so there’s no drippage or leakage or it getting onto anything but what he focuses on. With all the construction and other chaos going on, we needed a good exterminator around here, not to mention so many people moving in and out. It’s a fact of living around New York — you have to battle vermin on every level.

Unfortunately, because he was so thorough, it means I can’t use the gas oven for two weeks.

And while that was happening, I’d merrily offered to bake for the final class party that I’ll miss next week, and leave it on Monday at the clay center before I leave for Philly on Tuesday.

So, I called up a friend of mine, who will be away this weekend (she goes to an old family retreat every weekend all summer), and asked if I could borrow her oven. She was just talking to her co-workers about our last adventure when I called, thought the whole thing was funny, and we’re sorting out the key exchange later today.

I received a very exciting offer, but there are a few contract details to sort out, and the person I’m supposed to deal with is on vacation — but the contract is supposed to be signed “immediately” — so I went to the person who sent me the offer and asked who I should deal with in the interim. Someone’s got to be covering, or, if not, it won’t be finalized until that person gets back. Not signing something just because the other side is in a rush. Anyway, IF we get these two contract points sorted out, it will be exciting news and I’ll be able to share it.

Also received my next assignment from Confidential Job #1, which looks pretty darned interesting. Sometimes, I think my editor over there reads my blog!

Elsa’s new medicine did not arrive yesterday — although it was sent out and to the correct address. Why am I not surprised? And, of course, the vet still hasn’t made his promised phone call. She actually was a little better, although she’s kind of droopy. I want to call the acupuncturist/Reiki master recommended by the woman in my pottery class when I get back from Philly and see if I can set up an appointment. Elsa’s moving sometimes as though she’s uncomfortable (although she can still outjump Iris, who never bothers to do the math before she does a jump, but just flings herself on and off things and assumes inanimate objects will move to accommodate her). I think a little acupuncture or some Reiki would do her good. I know I sure as heck could use some Reiki. So, I’ll meet with these people and see if we connect, and then maybe they can at least help Elsa stay more comfortable. Supposedly, they do acupuncture at my vet’s, and I’ve asked for it several times, and the request has been ignored. I’d rather go to an independent professional anyway. My acupuncturist was recommended by both a jockey friend and a trainer’s wife, and she’s been a life saver — certainly a career-saver. I would have had to quit Broadway much sooner because of disability had I not started seeing her.

Anyway, I’ve got some running around to do today, some correspondence, hopefully get some writing in. I got some ideas for a couple of little projects to use up what’s left of my clay, so I might head back to the studio for open studio hours this afternoon and finish up for a couple of hours. Got a couple of things sorted out for the Philly trip — looks like I’ll be dealing with another set of scumbag real estate management company when I hit Philly, who are creating unnecessary problems at the site. I’m used to real estate scumbags by this point, and if they get physical, I’ll file a police report. Hopefully, it won’t come to that. I’m starting to think that 98% of the people who work in real estate make pond scum look like a higher life form.

I am certainly looking forward to things lightening up after July 21. Saturn can’t leave the House of Pisces fast enough for me. Enough life lessons already! 😉

I’ve got to pack for Philly and decide which projects to take with me. I’m doing a lot of running around, so I don’t want to take too many projects and then not get around to doing them. I’m definitely taking both books on which I’m lecturing, to finish the notes and lectures. If the contract is finalized before I leave, I’ll be outlining another project along the same lines (per the contract); if it’s not finalized, I’ll wait. I’ve got the booklet to work on and some short stories. I’ll take the assignment from Confidential Job #1, which I don’t think I can finish before I leave. And, oh, yeah, I kind of have to do the work I’m paid to do while I’m there, right? 🙂 I’ve also got to write up Elsa’s medication schedule and feeding schedule so my mom can take care of it while I’m gone, and cook ahead so my mom doesn’t have to cook while I’m gone.

Yeah, it’ll be a busy weekend. And a hot one. I will probably run the air conditioner a lot. Yesterday, even in air conditioning, I just couldn’t cool down.

Devon