Present In Body

I woke up, organized my whole day while I lay in bed, got up, and now have absolutely no idea what I was planning to do.

Irritating. I was happy with the original plan, too. While I try to remember, I’m doing book work: the publisher sent me the back cover copy for my book to edit. I’m trying to figure out how to re-state the bulleted information without repeating the info that’s everywhere else.

Yesterday was the first writing jam in about six weeks, and although both Ceri and I were remarkably uninspired, we managed to get things done we wouldn’t otherwise have accomplished if we’d been alone. I transcribed eight hundred words of handwritten work to the computer. Ceri made some adjustments to the story that On Spec asked her to rewrite, and chaperoned two reluctant characters through the beginnings of a conversation that will eventually turn into something useful. Neither of us committed as much jamage as we’d hoped; but then, we’re out of practice. And t! was not present in body, although he called.

And yes, HRH walked in, damp and unimpressed, partway through.

The day was capped by a very productive CMS co-ordinators’ meeting. Blade makes a mean ice cream/Jello dessert which finished things off nicely. And I not only slept through the night, I slept well.

Now, if I could only remember what was on today’s agenda…

The Irony of Precipitation

I was already awake when HRH’s boss called at 6.30 AM to cancel the morning’s work. Environment Canada (who evidently foretell the weather with a rock, a pair of scissors, and a piece of paper) was waving about weather radar which said it would be a miracle if the Looming Storm and its accompanying offspring Fifteen Millimetres of Rain would miss us. HRH’s boss said that he’d check in with everyone at eleven to confirm work for the rest of the day. HRH and I went out to pick up groceries. (You know, there’s no one at all in a supermarket at 8.15 AM. And all the shelves are fully stocked. And the vegetables are attractively arranged. Must remember this.)

Miracle of miracles! There were a couple of sprinkles, and that was all. When we came back at ten-thirty, there was a message from HRH’s boss on the machine. Hey, well, that storm didn’t happen, so the rest of the day is on!

I just looked outside, and it’s pouring.

This, dear readers, is irony.

I wonder how soggy HRH will be when he gets home, and when that will be.

Argh!

Even worse than writing an 80K word manuscript is trying to write a sixty-word bio.

The really annoying thing? I woke up three days ago and had a perfect little bio in my brain, just like that. Did I write it down? No. I have bios galore already. I did not need yet another. So naturally, they asked me for a new one today, with a sixty-word limit.

I feel as if I’m banging my head against a brick wall. It never gets any easier.

Round One

So.

The manuscript has gone through the first in-house edit. It’s all coded, it’s shorter, small spelling errors have been caught, I’ve added necessary information. It’s tighter. I like it. They like it. Everyone’s happy so far.

And now, I wait for the second round of editing, after it’s gone through the independent reader. Don’t ask me when that will be; I don’t know.

Witches Weekly

Witches Weekly – August 02, 2004: Seasons

1. What do you like most about the summer season?

The light. I get very lethargic in winter due to the lack of sunlight. I enjoy not having to turn on an electric light in the daytime during the summer months.

2. How does weather affect your spirituality? Are you more active in the summer with pagan activities or less? Do you meditate outside or inside depending on weather?

The weather doesn’t affect my spirituality or the frequency of my rituals at all. Sure, we have a few bbqs outdoors, and we do a couple of outdoor rituals, but I wouldn’t say it deeply affects my spirituality; other than the basic fact that my spirituality is seasonally-based, of course. I meditate all over the place in any season, whenever needed.

3. What’s your favorite summer ritual? (Lughnasadh, Midsummer, whatever you celebrate)

Lughnassadh! Fresh corn, home-made bread… well, see the previous entry. I tend to forget about midsummer, actually. (Although I’m likely to have it eternally emblazoned upon my mind after this summer’s Star Wars ritual, where Darth Vader cut Obi-Wan down, ostensibly to become the reigning king… but we all know that the Oak King has become More Powerful Than You Can Possibly Imagine and will return in a different form come Yule.)

I have a stronger connection with the harvest festivals than with Midsummer. And yet, Yule is an essential part of the wheel for me. I also tend to forget Ostara, but the Autumn Equinox/Harvest Home is firmly entrenched in my mind both as a major harvest festival, and as my wedding anniversary.

I know others tend to forget Ostara and Lughnassadh because they don’t have much of a connection to them. I try to remember Ostara as the Vernal Equinox, where I say farewell to winter with much joy. When I have children, I have decided that Ostara will also be a Maiden festival (or Youth festival, depending on the sex of the children!). When I was a child, I saw that there was a Mothers’ Day, a Fathers’ Day, and even a Grandparents’ Day. “When is Kids’ Day?” I asked my mother. “Every day is Kids’ Day,” she told me, which, as an adult, I now completely understand. At the time, though, it nettled me. Making Ostara an official Kids’ Day works with the themes of youth and potential. Lughnassadh, as I’ve said, I made a celebration of corn and wheat, two of my favourite foods, so I never forget it.

Lughnassadh

Oh, hey; and blessed Lughnassadh. (I forgot to say “white rabbits” this morning, it being the first of the month, but I didn’t forget Lughnassadh!)

Go eat fresh, sweet corn on the cob. That’s how we celebrate. That, and baking fresh bread. Mmm… corn on the cob, dripping with butter and salt and pepper… warm bread …

No! No! Must finish editing manuscript!

Taking a Break

After the thunderstorms and torrential downpour yesterday, when I was afraid to turn on the computer, I’m tying up the revision of the second half of the manuscript today. I’m being good to myself. Usually I plough onwards, eyes glazed, saying, “I’ll just finish this chapter, I’ll just finish this chapter.” Today, I’m taking a break when I catch myself saying it. I seem to be in much better humour for it.

Last night HRH and I joined Elim, our tradition’s healing nexus, for a healing ritual, and damn, but it was good to play with experienced people. I love each and every one of my students, but it’s refreshing to do something without being an example or keeping an eye on others while we do it. I’d rather not have had to do the ritual at all, of course, but the clan was asked to do healing work for a young lad of six who has an inoperable brain tumour. I’ll gladly act as a channel for something like that.

The gussets didn’t work as well as I’d hoped. I dyed another dress instead, which worked better than I was told it would. So there.