Town politics and the budget... :)

Lots of info in my inbox yesterday!  Town officials, town political party chair - guess I have my marching orders for budget referendum next week.  Swimming lady sent a quick note as she moved down the east coast for a college graduation for her granddaughter.  

Balance of yesterday - watched my Wed shows, listened to Adam Carolla talking to Bobby Rahal, walked.  Did not go to town hall to see ballot test for next week.  I will go in "cold" on Thursday and let life happen.  :)  Also with all the flurry at the end of day re budget, I did not have the concentration to listen to the library consortium discussion.  Oh well.  Did connect with former school #2 boss.  We will go to Spring Musical at school next Friday.  No dinner before, she is on weekend duty.  That works for me since will be coming off 15 hours at the polls working on Thursday but in the PTL category - Friday will be my monthly massage day!  

Today watch Thursday shows, walk, Mettle Health - Guilt and the Caregiver Experience - no one would ever pick me to be a caregiver, but I always learn something from who is in the room when Mettle Health does their monthly discussions.  Will see if I hear any more scuttlebutt re all the communiques that hit the wire yesterday re budget.  

Sad about son's concert in CDMX that was cancelled for tonight.  Will see how he lands for the balance of his time in the country.  Also sad about the NCAA and their new "monstrous size" March madness proposal...  Money, money, money...another good idea gone astray due to money.  

Don’t take it badly if a friend seems determined to pour cold water on your plans. They are not being deliberately obstructive and may in fact be able to see potential pitfalls that you have missed. Maybe you should listen to their advice.

You'll play well with people who get your point of view, and creative partnerships could emerge. Share visions with artistically inclined friends while the Aquarius Moon aspects Uranus and Neptune. Put your thoughts in order before laying them on the table, but stay flexible and open to feedback. A second wave of inspiration strikes when Luna and Pluto commingle, and projects might head in a completely new direction. Don't let pride prevent you from evolving, understanding that empowerment and change often intersect. Do some restructuring to make more space for artistic endeavors, romance, and self-care once Saturn stirs this evening.

The mood is one of bustle and change, Libra. It's a good day to clear out your wardrobe or other belongings. Out with the old, in with the new! You may consign the old stuff to the basement or give it to charity. The main thing is to make room for your new tastes and new relationships. A new person is being born in you. Clear the path for this being to come through!

New me, new direction...  :)  Looks like the rollercoaster picture was more appropriate than I thought.  Have a good Friday.  

More mental "cliff climbing" today

Got this message via one of the swimming ladies regarding the budget referendum and state legislature activity and the email title - "How do you spell shenanigans?"  Yikes.  One week from today is the vote.  Heard back from First Selectman and Board of Finance chair...earlier in the day before this info drop below...

Hi all,  There's been a new development regarding the state aid legislation--seems the house and senate passed different language, and it may be the case that the senate language makes it so that towns that have already passed a budget can't use the new money to reduce their mill rate.  If that's the case, then Canton Dems may actually want to encourage everyone to vote NO on the referendum next week so that the budget can be revised to incorporate the aid.  Craziness!  In that case, you'd get to send postcards for the second referendum (with the additional joy of adding a change of date sticker to them!) 

So yesterday - cleaned apt, walk with family friend, ran into 4 PD people as we wandered.  Too funny.  Lots to talk about with town business.  Good EOLD discussion.  Rupture and Repair as to doula relationships.  I shared with rupture and unrepaired but with what I learned from it.  Talked to sister #4 as we both walked.  Talked to TX/NM friend.  She had driven 14 hours yesterday - NM to TX.  Drop off her sister #1 in Dripping Springs then drive on to home in College Station.  She is off to Atlanta next week.  Italy for most of the month of June.  Had my landlady meal #2.  :)  

Today - referendum ballot test at town hall at 3:30 p.m.  7 p.m. library discussion - "On Courage, Turmoil, and the Transformative Power of Love with Marjan Kamali"  Watch Chicago shows.  Walk. Hope to hear from people in the know as to yes or no for referendum vote to make sure property tax relief is still possible.  

What you hear from a trusted source may actually be lacking in factual evidence, so check what you are told and then check again just to be on the safe side. If there is even the tiniest doubt in your mind, don’t act on the information.

Take stock of what is and isn't your responsibility, dearest Libra. Professional and household demands ramp up as the Capricorn Moon aspects Jupiter, Mars, and Chiron. Many will feel overwhelmed by their duties and may try to push some of their burdens onto you. While it's kind to offer help whenever you can, now is the time to look out for yourself. If saying "no" makes you uncomfortable, use this energy as an excuse to face this issue head-on. When forced to choose between denying requests and stretching yourself thin, consider which path is more grueling in the long run.

This is a good moment to adapt your logic and reason to reality, Libra. If you don't, you're going to run into some intellectual problems. Everyone knows that you find new ideas plentiful, but unless you have plans to be a novelist, link your thinking to reality. The "pie in the sky" thinking that you engage in isn't particularly useful to the rest of us living here in the real world.

I will try to be discerning on many levels.  Will let go of the fact that the Superintendent of Schools still stands behind "his need" to park on Main St taking a spot away from possible customers of Main St retail...  Son's project in CDMX was cancelled for tomorrow night - outside venue and weather issue...feel bad about that, but I am sure my son snaps back faster than I do from disappointment.  :)  No new news there that he is "snappier" than I am.  :)  GA DC group had lots of back and forth after a person many of them knew went to VT from MA to take advantage of non-resident MAID...another issue I hope CT comes to grips with.  

Have a good Thursday.  I hope things become clearer in my mind on many levels.  

What will Wednesday bring...

I have to look back and see if I was supposed to stay to myself yesterday...this cliff climbing picture is relatable to me as I wake up this a.m.  :)

Two newsflashes from this a.m. - Pistons win, Basinski cancelled.  Will see if I hear from son re either of those.  

Yesterday I got all off schedule (mentally, physically and emotionally) :) - Shoprite $43.54/$14.70 day BEFORE I did my word work...with a "Q" red square result..., I hit town hall to share with town clerk how impressed I was about the WPCA meeting but then couldn't help myself and went into the Superintendent of Schools office to tell his admin if she could ask him not to part on Main St with his fancy car and take a spot of someone who had business or was supporting business on Main...He did move his car at lunch time and did not return.  We will see about today.  THEN I shot an email to BOS, BOE, BOF about the "new" money coming from state.  Wanted to see if the referendum voters on May 14 needed to be made aware of anything before casting votes.  "No" at this time per BOF chair.  Landlady delivered a meal.  I had already had meal #2 but will eat it today!  

So yesterday - Shoprite, run dishwasher, walk, PCV discussion.  Today - walk with family friend, EOLD, clean apt.  Try to recalibrate my mood - get my attention back to what it needs to "attent" to and off the shiny objects I keep letting myself be distracted by.  

According to the planets, there is something you should have done recently but did not and now you are annoyed because the opportunity has passed. Maybe it was a foolish oversight on your part, but you can’t change the past so move forward instead.

Tune into your body to receive intuitive messages, dearest Libra. Psychic abilities amplify while the Capricorn Moon enters a kite formation with Mercury and the nodes of fate. Release tension, enjoy healthy foods, and notice how others affect your emotional or physical state. You may struggle to say "no" when Saturn wavers, especially where family and romantic partners are concerned. Needy companions will drain your energy if you fail to set boundaries. Pluto's Retrograde journey acts as a reminder that sometimes it's more helpful to let others solve their own problems. Your relationships will recover from any strain that follows once the Sun and Luna align later tonight.

Things are coming to a difficult stalemate regarding the love in your life, Libra. Perhaps you've felt like everything was going fine and you had nothing to worry about. In reality, this notion of "fine" was just your self-denial hard at work making you think that you could continue on your path without really considering how your actions affected others. Be prepared for a reality check that you didn't see coming.

Move forward, be prepared for reality check...keep a good thought that I do tune in to the real meaning of my current journey and how it impacts me...and others.  I do feel stumped.  I will try and stay on schedule today.  :)  Have a good Wednesday.  

Shiny objects on steroids Monday a.m.

Email from cousin with AGT clip.  Call from sister #6.  House hunting in IOWA and NEBRASKA. AGT clips...  listened 3 times yesterday and just now.  :) Incredible.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8aKpK2zA_c

As to Berkshire Hathaway Shareholder meeting.  So jealous that sister #6 got to go!!!  She saw and was smitten with Bill Ackman. Would love her deep pockets gentleman caller to buy a house in that area and I would be the caretaker.  :)  Or maybe his property in Charleston SC...

Other than my distractions - walked, washed clothes, FEN DC, WPCA meeting.  Good input from both meetings.  In person on the WPCA.  Walked up.  Family friend was there so she gave me a ride home after a parking lot talk with a couple of the cmte members.  I used to babysit for one of the member's kids...he is a bit old but I think it is OK.  Landlady left me dinner but since I did not retrieve while I was at meeting, she retrieved it and will return it today so that takes care of meal #2 today!  Sister #1 will be area May 26-30.  

Today Shoprite, walk, and Patient Choices Vermont zoom at 7 p.m.  

Something you did for a friend or family member earlier in the year will be repaid in full today. You may have forgotten about it but they have not and are determined to balance the books. It’s good that they think so highly of you.

Connection feels extra magical while the Sagittarius Moon and Chiron align. Be vocal about your admiration for others, and don't be afraid to put your heart on the line. A grounding and sensual energy finds you once Luna enters Capricorn. These vibes are perfect for making decisions centered on family or the home. You might have to contend with rebellious personalities or erratic behaviors when Mercury squares Pluto. Be mindful of how you react to conflict and avoid prolonging feuds. Romantic notions threaten to cloud your vision as Neptune stirs. Get organized to regain clarity while the nodes of fate activate tonight.

Your physical vitality should be quite strong, Libra, and you're encouraged by greater self-confidence. At the same time, however, someone seems to be trying to ruffle your feathers by being selfish and disrespectful of your space. This is likely to lead to conflict that you don't need. The good news is that it's likely to open you up to a different perspective, one that can ultimately be useful in understanding the situation.

Will see if I am moved to shift back to my thoughts about Senior Center.  Or wait until after the referendum on May 14. Heard from ROV and I will be working.  5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.  :)  But good for some "folding money" before son's visit in June.  :)  Have a good Tuesday.  See where my mind flits today. :)

More thoughts on Sunday

The brain is an interesting place.  IRL I could have walked to Burlington but did not.  Did my route closed route in reverse.  Dropped off Walk in the Park at the library then headed to Burlington. Thoughts about town government, sister #1's visit at end of month, whether I will speak at the BOF meeting on May 18 after referendum on May 14...  

Watched final minutes of Detroit Pistons game.  Didn't make the local sports news.  :)  

Today - Walk, FEN DC, walk up to WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY.  Curious as to who is on the committee and what they are talking about.  They seem to operate out of view or spotlight...  Stepping away from my Senior Center project too.  

Mars in your opposite sign is at odds with Jupiter, planet of excess, so it’s likely that you will clash with someone who cannot be reasoned with. They won’t change their ways, so there is no point in you getting annoyed. Avoid them if you can.

Thoughts and dreams manifest in surprising ways while the Sagittarius Moon opposes Venus, darling Libra. Take a moment to collect your bearings and set an intention for the day. Be selective about who and what you give your energy to as Mars and Jupiter square off. These vibes highlight the realities of having too much of a good thing. Manifesting desires piles on responsibilities, making time fly by. Before you know it, you may feel stretched thin and unable to juggle demands. Professional and romantic partnerships can alleviate burdens, but you'll need someone who can match your enthusiasm.

Uncertainty about professional matters can lead to an increased determination to get ahead, Libra, despite confusion as to how to do it exactly. It might be wise to do some research, organize all your information, and use that to formulate a plan of action. The resulting advancement may be slow moving, but it's sure and steady. A wealth of experience that enriches your life should follow.

Have a good Monday.  I will see where my energy takes me.  

More news and good W&T

Retirement of a state official was music to my ears yesterday. "I will share that the Senate President has said he will never call this bill even if it were to pass the House. It has passed out of the Public Health Committee multiple times (with my vote), but it has never cleared the next hurdle of making it out of the Judiciary Committee as the House Chair is deeply opposed and maintains that his committee doesn’t have the votes."  Will hope that the person he has anointed will be an independent thinker and not a puppet to is mentor's beliefs.  A gal can dream.  And a gal can dream that more will say - enough.  Too old.  Make way for new people.  Now the challenge is finding people to run for office.  

And I finished Walk in the Park this a.m. and the writer's summation spoke to the Grand Canyon as a bit of a symbol of how something of beauty can become tainted by people looking to take advantage.  Us people are a trying lot sometimes.  

But then there was Lansing DC and W&T.  Out of context - but my comment for the chat spoke to what I was hearing and appreciating - Honoring transition.  Personal archeology.  Bringing peace into my life.  The gift of not having the answers. Produce items. More of why I keep coming back.  Produce reference - long story, but wonderful part of a story told by one of the participants about how community is what it is all about.  Landlord and I had a long conversation about that on the front stoop about that post W&T.  I left the apt at 12:30 p.m. and got home at 3:30 p.m.-ish but did not make it upstairs until 4-ish.  :)

Waiting for Main St to liven up this a.m.  We are the end point of a 5-K race that is part of the Hartford Marathon series.  I am thinking this might have been part of the thinking of re-opening the local coffee shot down the block.  They will be slammed today and that is the good news.  Watched the K Derby yesterday.  "With no Lukas horse in the race...will have to go with another silver fox trainer: Litmus Test or Potente. I am nothing if not shallow.  :)"  Scary sight when that horse flipped over on the way to the starting chute...I bet some gamblers had a bad day when that happened.  Where my mind goes during the day.  

Moved my digital picture frame to my office yesterday.  Don't look at enough as it sat on the entry table.  

Today - figure out a route today.  Race Day, maintenance on the rails to trails...I wonder how they are maneuvering that today?...I might have to make that my walk to see if today is the day it is re-opened.  

Try to avoid discussions that touch on controversial topics this week, because the planets warn there won’t be much room for compromise. You may be able to see alternative points of view, but not everyone is as understanding as you.

You'll be in ultra romantic spirits while the Sagittarius Moon and Neptune align this morning, sweet Libra. Use this energy to build up your sweetheart with affection and compliments. If you're single, go out on a limb and flirt with any secret crushes you've been harboring. Creative expression presents an opportunity to showcase how deep and talented you are, thanks to a helping hand from Pluto. Share your work with anyone you're hoping to impress, but avoid nitpicking your efforts as Luna squares the nodes of fate. Seek advice from wise companions when Saturn activates this evening.

Old memories, traumas, and phobias from the past could affect your mood today, Libra. You might feel depressed without really knowing why. An event in your life has brought these feelings near the surface without revealing the source. If you've had any disturbing dreams or visions lately, write them down. They might offer a clue as to what's bothering you. Meditation or free association could also bring the release you need.

Have to smile when I think of the dream sequence I recording upon waking this a.m...  And as to avoiding controversy this week...Have a couple of town meetings I will be attending.  See how that goes.  

Have a good Sunday.  Wish me luck on a good walk route choice.  That is always the anchor of my day. 

From the wide world internet:  Note: Trail construction currently underway will not impact the race date. Race staff is working closely with town officials to ensure safe passage on race day for course sections impacted by the project.  I might have to take a wander to see if I can pass post race.  

Wow! Lots of news yesterday.

Look out my window in 2016 at my "new office" at former school #1.  Texted my boss of that time to wish him a happy birthday which is today.  He did not encourage outreach during our time on weekends so I texted him on Friday afternoon for his Saturday birthday...AND he sent me the letter announcing his retirement at end of 2027-2028 school year.  HUGE.  This school has been his only work place since he joined as a newlywed to teach in the 90's...leaving as a grandparent.  Lots of memory lanes thoughts after our back and forth.  More than just my acquired taste for the sausage links at my daily breakfast on campus.  :)

Balance of yesterday - 9-noon wander.  No work on Senior Center stuff.  Letting it sit until Monday.  Read but did not finish walk in the park book...  

Sister #4 sad that she was taking her road trip on the day the gas prices went up $.30/gallon.  But that did not keep her from heading to Maine.  Sister #1 called.  Paraguay friend is in town and they will be heading this way at end of month.  Money no issue for #1.  :)  

Today - Lansing and W&T.  Will do my long walk to W&T.  Leave apt around 1 p.m. and get home at 3:30 p.m. is the plan.  Hope no rain drops. As I shared with PD buddy yesterday -  "Since no Lukas horses in the race, will have to go with another silver fox trainer: Litmus Test or Potente. I am nothing if not shallow.  :)"

End of an era - Spirit out of business...Son was a big fan in the beginning.  

If someone gets on your nerves this weekend and your hints that they might like to stop talking so much don’t have the desired effect, just get up and go someplace else. Sometimes peace and quiet are more important than friendship.

Abundance finds you early this morning, beloved, Libra, thanks to a sweet connection between the Scorpio Moon and Jupiter. Take stock of your resources upon awakening, and look for opportunities to multiply investments. Your business savvy improves once Mercury debuts in Taurus. You’ll have a firmer grasp of what you want and how to negotiate for it throughout the coming weeks. Direct communication will prove most efficient, so don’t mince words when going after your desires. Forget dropping hints while Luna enters Sagittarius  tonight. This celestial shift is all about owning your truth, using your voice, and cranking up the volume.

Just for today, Libra, ignore your habit of always trying to find an explanation for everything. Something is changing inside you and in the way you react to situations. The desire to incorporate life's more unpredictable aspects into your personality is the basis for these changes. A lot of your theories are only there to reassure you, but you probably know that. Why not try being honest with yourself?

Peace and quiet, not's mince words, try being honest with yourself...Lots on my plate for today.  :)  Have a good Saturday.