“See the fish?”

What went before ONE: M’sieur Rookie critiques the hair taming.

What went before TWO: Just gettin’ done for the day. I am pleased that the WIP has a definite shape. There are holes, but now I can see where they are.

Nothing planned for tomorrow, except sticking with the WIP.

Everybody stay safe; I’ll see you tomorrow.

Friday. Sunny and gonna be warm, only it’s not yet, so I’ve opened the windows to get some air moving around the house.

Trooper has had his gravy-and-meds and is currently chowing down on Fancy Feast cod, sole, and shrimp.

My breakfast was a peach cut up into plain yogurt. Kettle’s on for my second mug of tea. Lunch is looking like The Last Yam.

Today is for writing and I’m ready to go in my Childless Cat Lady tshirt.

I do have a letter to write and a phone call to make — oh! Whoever mentioned “Nextdoor”? Thank you! I downloaded it this morning. The feed is a MESS, but I found one post of interest — a cleaner in the area who is accepting clients, so I’ll be calling her.

Otherwise, as previously mentioned — writing, one’s duty to the cats, a short walk, and, oh, how about writing?

Friday brought me a surprise video from Lake Wesserunsett on July 31 2019.  “See the fish?”

What’s Friday bringing to you?

 

Let’s take a knife and cut the world in two

What went before ONE: Man, TJMaxx was like Wonderland this morning! Looking better than it has in a LONG time. I scored a bamboo three-shelf unit to got into the bottom of the closet to hold shoes and the like. This should also make it more obvious when Rookie had invaded the closet, though I’m sure he’ll work out a Stealth Procedure pretty quick.

Also bought a syrup dispenser, which answers my honey dispensing problems — and spare shower curtains, and coasters, and a pair of kitchen shears to replace the pair that rusted.

Honestly, the trip was notable by what I didn‘t buy.

Halloween was everywhere, naturally. Insofar as these things may be, classy Halloween. I had gone into the store feeling v. sad because the former JoAnn’s next door to TJMaxx is going to be one of those ghastly (and not in a good way) Spirit of Halloween stores, but I left TJMaxx feeling — energized.

Retail Therapy for the win.

One of the things I didn’t buy was a sit-up-in-bed and read pillow — you know the ones? They have a chair back and little soft arms, and the whole thing is a pillow? The ones on offer today were covered in fleece, which I suspect may be too much of a good thing. But that got me thinking — who uses one of these to read in bed and how does that work out for you?

Trooper has had the rest of the can of gooshy food I opened for him this morning, and it’s time for me to get my snack and to pack a sandwich to take with me, so I can take my meds on time.

No, the excitement never DOES end.

What went before TWO: Mission(s) accomplished with only one, and very slight, necessity to refrib the chanimeester, so that’s nice. If anyone local-ish wants a signed copy of Diviner’s Bow, there’s one at the Augusta BN.

Trooper demanded that I feed him immediately I returned home, so he’s in the bathroom, chowing down. After he’s finished, I’ll do the clean-the-bathroom thing, and look to start writing after I get home from having my hair cut tomorrow morning.

I note that the outdoor computer-driven machines are faltering under the heat. Took three tries at two different pumps before I could refill the car, and then I couldn’t get a receipt. Nor could I wash the windows, because someone had taken in all the squeegees and all the fluid wells were dry. I grant that this last is not a machine failure, but — grrr.

What went before THREE: I begin to see an error in my Life Plan. No kids = no grandkids. No grandkids = no help with the housework and the weeding.

Of course, people may not put their grandkids to work anymore. I cleaned my grandmother’s house and weeded the garden.

Yeah, I’m gonna have to find somebody to help me out around here, though I am kinda getting frustrated with the whole business of hiring somebody, settling down with them, and they need to move on.

And, no, not an option to move to a smaller place. I hear that some people, when they lose a partner, are driven to get rid of the house, because the memories that have soaked into the walls are just too painful.

I’ve tried on the idea a couple of times, but honestly, I don’t want to move out of this house. It’s a comfort to me, in that it does remind me of who and what we were, and what we’d accomplished, together.

And with that said — I’ll go put the bathroom back together.

. . . the cats, by the way, are of the opinion that I’ve lost my mind. “What’s she doing?” “Why isn’t she sitting down and rattling papers?” No comment on Charmer the robot vac, who has never gotten the respect he probably deserves from the cats.

And I hear Trooper announcing that he has eaten what he pleaseth and must be liberated from the bathroom neeOW!

What went before FOUR: And in other news, I found the earring back I lost a month ago.

What went before FIVE: So, that’s enough fun for one day. The cats get an early Happy Hour, I get an early dinner and a couple hours on the couch to read.

Everybody stay safe; I’ll see you tomorrow.

What went before SIX: So, here’s a story. A Maine Republican, off his own bat, writes to the provinces of Canada fartherest removed from Maine, to . . . tempt them to join the US. In doing so, he attacks the Canadian form of government while promising freedom and respect.

British Columbia is Not Amused, responding in part that the lawmaker’s undated memo “lands more as a manifesto of arrogance.”

My source is the Bangor Daily News, linked, but might be paywalled. Link

This reminds me of All The Lonely Guy-Children who write that they deserve a woman, and then go on to demonstrate such contempt for women that you’ve gotta wonder why they even want one.

Thursday. Cloudy but still warmer than I like.

Trooper has had his meds-in-gravy, and a few mouthfuls of gooshy food.

Had another good night’s sleep, making four in a row. The tired feeling ought to be going away pretty soon now, right? RIGHT?

Breakfast was leftover ginger chicken. Lunch will be salad and something. Fish, I guess.

Haircut coming up in an hour and also I need to remember to stop at CVS for — checks notes — lidocaine patches. Hmm.

Upon my return, I will perform my duty to the cats, and do the banking. After lunch, I will reunite with the WIP.

I’m doing a cost-benefit on a glassworking course that’s being offered through adult ed in the fall. It’s stained glass, which I’ve never done, and God She knows, I need another suncatcher in this room, but, fee and materials, the cost for the class is hitting right at $200.

Still reading Stone and Sky and having a good time. Haven’t heard back from the Corning Museum, but then? I didn’t expect to hear back from the Corning Museum.

What’ve you got on the schedule today?

Today’s blog post title brought to you by Mr. Langston Hughes, “Tired.”  You often see the first four lines quoted, but very rarely the last four.

“I am so tired of waiting.
Aren’t you,
for the world to become good
and beautiful and kind?
Let us take a knife
and cut the world in two—
and see what worms are eating
at the rind.”

Out-and-about Day

What went before:  So, back from needlework, where a good time was had.

Tomorrow, I have that 1:30 appointment in Augusta and I also have errands to run. I may just run the errands in the morning, before speeding off to Augusta, and get with the manuscript when I come home. Thursday morning I have, thank ghod, an appointment to get my hair cut; after that, I am Unscheduled until next Tuesday.

Right now, I need to wash a few dishes, find something to eat, then read for a bit — Stone and Sky, in case anybody’s wondering. I’m hoping for another good night’s sleep, ’cause I’m walking the crinkly edge of Very Tired. Also, I have two coon cats on my lap, helping me write this.

Tali would like you to know that her kid brother is a rat. Trooper would like you to know that he ate two envelopes of gravy and half a can of cat food today, and now wants to see what on earth that Peter fellow is about. Honestly, you can’t leave that man alone for a minute.

Everybody have a good evening. Stay safe. I’ll check in tomorrow.

Wednesday. Sunny and heading for hot. AQI is in the 90s.

Breakfast was half a blueberry muffin and cottage cheese. Lunch will, I suspect, be taken in several parts.

Trooper has had his gravy-with-meds, and a few mouthfuls of regular gooshy food.

My tasks today are errands in-town, and a medical appointment out of town. I guess I’ll finish off the day by cleaning the bathroom and running a vacuum or two.

I had another good night’s sleep — three in a row — with very busy dreams.

Other than that — and aside a mad case of the Zooms afflicting Rook, who passed it to Tali, who tried to pass it to Firefly, who bonked her in the head, thus releasing the Zoomfairy to other business — there’s really nothing more to report.

How’re y’all doing this morning?

this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart

Tuesday. ‘nother hot one, so say the weatherbeans. The AQI isn’t perilous, but it’s not pleasant, either.

Second good night of sleep in a row. I could get used to this, though I’m still a bit groggy, which I suppose indicates that the sleep debt has not yet been paid off.

Breakfast was a bialy with the last of the cream cheese and grapes. Second cup of tea to hand. Lunch — who knows. I have frozen dinners, or I could DoorDash — can’t skip, though. The late adventures have dropped me to slightly below my preferred lower weight limit of 160, so — no cheating.

My Big Plans for the day are!

1 Get the trash and recycling to the curb
2 Dispatch one’s duty to the cats
3 Call for a haircut
4 Work on the WIP

There’s needlework, which I missed last week. I’d really like to go this evening. I suppose I’ll see what the day has made of itself, after lunch before I make a decision.

All that said! What are your plans for the day?

Today’s blog post title brought to you by ee cummings, [i carry your heart with me(i carry it in]

Firefly and Rookie planning last night’s entertainment:

like a tiger’s great-grandfather

What went before: And that’s the Author’s Afterword for I Dare written. I’ll go through it again tomorrow morning, make whatever changes seem good, and send it in before I get back with the WIP.

The plan for the rest of the evening is to go to bed early, and re-establish my fractured schedule tomorrow. Oh. And do the laundry.

Everybody stay safe; I’ll see you tomorrow.

Monday. Ruthlessly bright and already warm. We are under a Heat Advisory, today and tomorrow.

Station air is ON, and all curtains closed.

Breakfast was half a blueberry muffin and plain yogurt. Lunch may be Door Dashed. We’ll see.

First load of laundry is drying; second is in the washer.

I actually slept well last night, which isn’t something we’ve seen for a couple of weeks. I could really use a good run of Actual Sleep, as I walk the Tightrope of Exhaustion.

It comes about that I’m going to have produce the habit of having honey in my tea. There are reasons and they are good ones, however, absent an occasional spoon of honey in peppermint tea (which is AWEsome), I drink my tea as my coffee before it — black. Honey itself is not the problem; Steve left me several three pound bottles of very fine honey from a local apiary (this is aside my baking honey). My problem is that — it’s hard to manipulate a three pound bottle of honey to get a spoonful into a mug, and, also, that honey is — sticky. And it drips.

I have for the moment decanted a small portion of honey into a well-sealed glass jar, which makes it easier to dispense by the spoonful, but I feel I ought to look about me for a method that might be less drippy. Shopping!

Aside the laundry, and one’s duty to the cats, the to-do list includes reading the Author’s Afterword, making such corrections as may be needful and sending it along to Baen. I will devote the day after lunch to my poor, long-suffering WIP, and to staying out of the heat.

What are your plans, today?

Today’s blog post title comes from Pablo Neruda, one of Steve’s favored poets:  “Cat’s Dream“

Waverings from magnetic north

Sunday. Sunny and said to be heading for warm.

Yesterday continued off-kilter, and it’s not too much to say that it actually went into a spin. Today I must and, she says determinedly, I will, write the Author’s Afterword for I Dare.

First, though, I need to find breakfast and make a list so that I may dash out to the grocery. I’m almost out of cat food, and that obviously cannot be allowed to stand.

How’s everybody doing?

Off-kiltering

What went before: So, today has been a mismash of working and laying around. I did get some WIP-reading done, and a lot more of lying in bed by turns listening to The Goblin Emperor (which I know so well I’m not stressed about missing things) and dozing. Back is still tender, but not so much as even this morning, so, yanno — progress progresses.

I’m hoping to be done with the worst of this particular brand of nonsense by tomorrow. fingers crossed

The cats are liking the lying in bed part of the day’s structure. I fear they’re going to be disappointed when the schedule returns to what I like to call normal.

I may try to get one more shift of WIP-reading in this evening. Or I may just watch the last three episodes of WandaVision.

Everybody stay safe; I’ll check in tomorrow.

Saturday. Cool-for-now and sunny. Windows in my office are open.

Woke up early and ill, but hey! At least my back doesn’t hurt. Currently sipping ginger ale. Trooper has had his morning gravy-with-meds.

I did watch the last three episodes of WandaVision last night. Pulling the witch out the hat was . . . facile, and honestly, I’m not inclined to follow Agnes any further down her road.

I’m actually amazed that Marvel tried to undertake a story about life-changing grief, and that they managed as well as they did. Even unto that very difficult — and correct — ending. And Wanda’s love for Vision did not allow her to remember/recreate him wrongly.

One of the things that we as writers do over and over is to use death as a plot device — the motivating force that triggers the Real Story. And while it’s true that the Lost Girl, the Dead Spouse, the Slaughtered Village releases a lot of energy, surely there are other means available?

Going back to Wanda — I’m interested in the smart girl with the bright red lipstick — Darcy? — who seems to be a continuing character. Does anyone know where I might find more of her?

And on that note — woman does not take her meds on ginger ale alone, so I’d better see what I can cobble together and call breakfast.

I expect it will be another Off-Kilter Day here.

What’s the day looking like there?

Rosebush proof of life:

Friday Office Still Closed

Friday: Office still closed today, for values of “closed” that include trying to find a way to read the WIP that doesn’t screw up my back again. I would hate to have to replace the comfy chair in my office, but that’s for later consideration.

I slept last night, and into the morning, ably assisted by rolling shifts of coon cats. Trooper and Tali are apparently the designated Morning Wake-Up team, and I variously had Rook and Firefly monitoring my morpheus ranges on the overnight.

I feel immensely better than I did at this time yesterday, which is kind of impressive, given my back still hurts. Yes, even after the steroid shot, which they gave me in my arm. The last time I had a steroid shot for back pain, they nailed me in my back. Understand, I’m not complaining, just curious.

I did manage to eat this morning, which was another thing I didn’t do well with yesterday. I have a hard time eating when I’m in “that much” pain. I will say, though? Those six packs of peanut butter crackers? Are lifesavers. I did manage one of those to buffer the naproxen dose last night.

And that’s my news.

What’s yours?

It gives a lovely light

Wednesday. Sunny, slightly breezy, warm, but not too warm. The windows in my office, the bathroom, and bedroom are all open.

My watch has been very upset with me — I’ve been burning the candle at both ends to hear it tell the tale — stressful days followed by nonrestorative sleep. It’s busted me back to 8.30 hours a night, and last night I tried to oblige it, ending up with 8.10 hours of — you guessed this already, right? — nonrestorative sleep. It wants me to rest and recruit myself today, but since it seems to think that sitting and reading is “stressful,” I’m not really sure what will make it happy.

That being the case, I’ve been sitting and reading the WIP. I’m taking a break right now to give the cats their late morning treats and to eat one of the cookies I bought yesterday — apricot/pistachio. Very good.

I’ll be going back to the manuscript in a bit and work until lunch, which will be — soup and a salad.

Yesterday, as I was out and about, I heard a woman ask a clerk in one of the stores if they had any “green amethyst” jewelry. Since I thought I knew that there was no such thing as “green amethyst,” I drifted over and added my plea to hers. We were presented with several sets of earrings set with a extremely pale green stones — so pale that you had to stare at them to convince your eyes that, yes, they are green. Or maybe yellow.

The clerk having been called down-counter to answer someone else (leaving us along with (if the price tags were to be believed) a cool two grand in earrings), the woman who had first called for them confided that she had bought a “green amethyst” bracelet from this very story, but had lost it when it slipped of her wrist. She also allowed as how hers had been “bolder.”

We both declined to buy; I packed up the earrings, put them back into their box, gave them to the clerk (Virgo, here; sorry), and continued my perambulations.

So, here’s the thing: amethyst is quartz. Purple quartz, because of the inclusion of iron in the crystals. The thing that’s being called “green amethyst” is green quartz, made green by the inclusion of chlorite in its crystals. So! Purple quartz = amethyst; green quartz = prasiolite. Not “green amethyst.”

I won’t add “fight me,” because I’m sure someone will.

My cookie is gone. O! Woe! And also? Time to go back to work.

What’s happening with you on Anything Can Happen Day?

Today’s blog post title brought to you by Edna St. Vincent Millay, “First Fig”

Cat census: