Moving past that last book... :/

Finished Nerd Reich and brought it back to the library.  Told the librarian, "if 60% of this is true, it is the book of the decade".  But that is the issue these days, how to establish truth and how to communicate that truth to a large group of people.  I am having "a moment" about what is Substack really about...  I will see if anything bubbles up. Is there a reason the war is the talking point by people in the news.  Again, I will wait and see.   

Luckily yesterday was a full day - ran dishwasher, watched FBI, walked, 1,4,7,8 p.m. online.  And watched a bit of the recording for the MEA session I was double booked for.  What do you make time for, what is on the squares of your calendar...you know I loved that talk. Started a new FICTION book - Fear the Worst - Linwood Barclay.  Never read him before.  Took it from that end cap display.  The librarian who curates that has not let me down yet.  

Today - Clean apt, watch NCIS NYC, walk, noon EOLD, 2 p.m. FEN all volunteer meeting, 7 p.m. Lansing DC. Hope to hear that son and father have touched down at some point in their home state. 

If you find yourself forced to make changes today you may be inclined to rebel and refuse to do what others expect of you. Full marks for courage but no marks for common sense, because in the long term those changes could actually be good for you.

Your mind expands in multiple directions as the Moon moves through Sagittarius. Pull at the threads of curiosity, dearest Libra, feeding your mind's insatiable hunger for knowledge. Newfound interests could take your life in fantastical directions while Jupiter aligns with the nodes of fate. Put yourself out there to try new things, make friends, and evolve existing skills. Though this energy might feel overstimulating at times, follow your heart and you will not be led astray. Reflect on how you've changed throughout the years when Luna and Venus rx align later tonight, reviving treasured personality traits that have gone dormant.

You have a very dynamic day ahead of you, Libra. You may feel the need to put all your energy into a group project. You will want to roll up your sleeves and get to work. You're usually a meditative, pensive person, but today you're looking for concrete results and actions. Who knows? This hard work might even help you relax a little.

Love that "full marks for courage but no marks for common sense".  Follow my heart and I will not be led astray. Results and action.  Here I go.  :)  Have a good Wednesday.  

I do like the way my weeks go these days

I do have to smile as I look at the sequence of reading that started...I am thinking the recommendations of my family friend and a book in that "end cap" area of the library - Heroes of the Frontier/Eggers - where one of the librarians goes with a theme of the month.  So then fiction - The Circle and nonfiction - Careless People.  Then to fiction - The Every.  Nonfiction - Don't Be Evil. Then All-in interview with Dina Powell McCormick. Then Hologram for a King (Eggers really took my last month or two of reading by the horns).  And my current read - right after the mid term elections - the most prescient in real life happenings...The Nerd Reich.  Yikes.  Fact or fiction - all paint a picture that has me asking lots of questions - to myself.  How did we get here?  Especially when David Sacks, JD Vance, and Massie with the focus on war as the tipping point for the mid term sentiment.  Clean that up and all will resettle.  The Unicorn chapter in The Nerd Reich was very interesting and then real time news...can't make this stuff up.  I did reach out to my US Rep and two Senators to ask that they not vote for the current contenders for leadership in Congress.  People did not vote the way they did to set up a "who won, who lost", we voted and there are "results" of that vote so now PLEASE go back to rule of law, fairness, lower the deficit, be their best selves. We have all been losers for the last decade and I am sure much longer than that with the trend to politics as a career/money maker for politicians.  

But back to my life and times - yesterday $10.07/$4.20 Shoprite and $11.87 ALDI day, washed clothes, more pictures from son, walked.  I think son is over his travel with parents.  Dad got bored and didn’t want to stay and see who won.  Two weeks is a long time to be without certain conveniences :/ I’m seeing a lot of things about myself I can try and avoid in future to be a complaining boomer, sorta like those insurance commercials about turning into ur parents ha.  Two more days :)  And my response: You are good to put up with your parents.  We are good models for what you DON'T want to model.  :)  I will hope he posts the video from this trip like he did his trips with me so I can see what his dad looks like on vacay.  :)  ZEN DC. Thoughts to Thanksgiving now that I know sister #3 and her wife are coming for Thanksgiving...that is "a lot" for me, but I am glad that sister #4 had let the possibility slip when we spoke last week.  I will go into "let life come to me" mode.  It is only 3 days out of my life. (insert praying hands emoji)  :)  I did share with sister #1/hostess that I finished my T'giving shopping - Sales were too tempting.  24 rolls - King's Hawaiian Savory Butter Rolls offer the signature soft, fluffy texture of classic Hawaiian sweet rolls, but with a richer, less-sweet, buttery flavor profile, 2 cans OS jellied cranberry.  🦃  We miss the gathering of remaining cousins on the Saturday after T'giving.  Sisters #2,4,6 are on the road that day.  Ah, the dreaded Oct 15-Jan 15 time period for me.  

Today - run dishwasher. Walk. CA DC. Double book at that 1 p.m. slot.  Will wait to get recording of the MEA webinar I am missing.  4 p.m. SD DC. 7 p.m. PCV webinar. 8 p.m. Death Sangha.  Also double booked at that 8 p.m. slot - Cheryl Hauser Effect documentary talk.  Again, I will be checking web site for the recording.  

Venus links nicely with energy planet Mars today, which will help you to finalize your plans, but because your ruler is currently going through its retrograde phase, you may find it hard to get started. No matter, it’s not a race against the clock.

Dream big while the Sagittarius Moon aspects Neptune, Pluto, and Uranus, darling Libra. These cosmic conditions break mental and creative blocks, inspiring you to expand your horizons and take up space. Seek unfamiliar environments to stimulate the mind further, heeding the call of adventure. Bring a friend or loved one along, and enlightening conversations are sure to unfold. Keep your eyes peeled for anyone or anything that stands out or seems out of place, as the universe may be trying to tell you something. Check in with your sweetheart or self-care routines when Luna and Saturn align this evening, bringing more structure into the equation.

Your sensitive, sensual side is being drawn out, Libra. You may feel like your romantic side is on display. You're like a dancer onstage, and you accept this role with pleasure! There's a great combination of energies at work letting you become more realistic about love and approach it with dramatic flair and courage. Be more expressive when it comes to your needs and desires.

Very glad to read it is not a race against the clock...my "dream" of late is going to NC to see friends new house sometime early in 2027.  We will see if I can figure that out.  Something positive to get me through Nov and Dec.  :)  Have a good Tuesday.  

Thought-full day :)

Lots of talk and thoughts about New Mexico yesterday as I talked to TX/NM friend who will pull out of TX on Saturday...never to return to her what has been her home since June 1995.  She moved to TX as I pulled out for NC.  A very interesting - of the MANY - of "what if's" as to my life.  :/  But I shared with her that she is going to a place full of energy and inspiration for deep experience of culture and history.  She and husband are making a geographic move and husband is leaving his job he has had since 1995...told friend to dig deep for space and grace - for them both - for the next 6 months.  But she has family and they have kids and grandkids waiting for them at their new place.  

The balance of Sunday - sibling call, walk to Unionville, talked to TX/NM friend while walking, Death Sangha that was wonderful with its guided meditation, read more Nerd Reich...fact is so much stranger than fiction as I read this book... as I shared with TX/NM friend - "My current life does not have a lot of moving parts - purposefully - so easy for me to say. " - as to grace and space, quiet and calm.  :)  Did watch All-In that was posted later than usual and hand-in-glove with political news of day and Nerd Reich back story - can't make this stuff up. And watched latest Adam Carolla about building in Malibu - or the not building in Malibu two years out from fires.  

Today - wash clothes, Shoprite/ALDI combo day, walk, ZEN DC tonight.  Great combo platter when there is a Sunday Death Sangha, Monday ZEN DC, and Tuesday Death Sangha sequencing.  :)

A solution to a problem of some kind will pop into your head today. You may at first be reluctant to believe it, but if you show a little trust you will soon discover that it is in fact the answer to not just one problem but several.

You might struggle to keep up with peers and our fast-paced world this morning, darling Libra, as the Scorpio Moon and Mars square off. While it's important to know your limits and pace yourself, you also need to acknowledge when procrastination or boredom has caused you to stall out. Loved ones will attempt to lift your spirits once Jupiter stirs mid-afternoon, but don't force yourself to fake joy. Instead, recognize what you need to feel secure and content, trusting that happiness will multiply from there. Consider taking on a new hobby if you're hoping to expand socially while the nodes activate this evening. You may find satisfaction by connecting with old friends when Venus rx and Mars align later tonight.

The last few weeks have been a little too serious for your tastes, but this is good for you every once in a while, Libra. You may tend to want to play, which sometimes keeps you from getting your work done. Take today to try and get your daily life organized so you can have time to take care of your responsibilities and have a little fun.

Cosmic guidance feels good for the day.  Fun is not a me word, but I do feel the cosmos is supporting me being me but with a slight kick in the pants to up the RPMs a bit.  :)  Have a good Monday.  

Good news Saturday - NC

Weather turned to cloudy and some rain, but all the rest of the news of the day was good.  UNC basketball and football and NC friends' house went sale pending.  It will be a Merry Christmas/Happy New Year closing.  FL friend got 18 inches of rain in her area of late, but no issue at her house.  I got to and from W&T book club with no rain.  Onward and upward.  :)  Will hope to see TX/NM friend's house get on the market soon.  Or maybe they are considering a Plan B.  

As to my reading, can't get over what I am reading in the Nerd Reich...the names currently in the news in the 2010 - politically and financially - and forward time frame have quite a back story.  A bit off putting, but might be one of those things of "not as dumb as they look" or "smart like a fox".  Or making money at all cost.  OR are the rest of us just late to the game?  Like my "car wreck, can't look away" - I can't put it down.  Maybe it will give me all the answers by the end or let me know "you're screwed".  I will keep you posted.  

Yesterday - lots of early reading and writing, Lansing DC, left apt at 12:30 p.m. arrived home at 3:30 p.m. from walk to, through, and home from W&T book club.  

Today - walk to Unionville, get home by 1 p.m. for Death Sangha.  

Your confidence will get a boost from the particularly material new moon but that does not mean you can afford to go on a spree or do anything that might cost more than you can currently afford. Think of ways to save money rather than spend it.

Luna and Mercury RX join forces in transformative Scorpio, darling Libra, activating the sector of your chart that governs material goods and wealth. Your mind sharpens as your senses awaken, helping you see the world differently. Get creative by upcycling, selling, or refurbishing items that hold value but that you have little use for. If you're in a partnership with joint finances, discuss future goals as Saturn activates, noting how current spending habits affect them. Update your budget to fortify shared dreams under tonight's New Moon, homing in on what the next six months will look like.

Do you feel as though your self-expression is being stifled, Libra? Perhaps you need more time to choose a direction in life. Today, you can expect to feel a lot of pressure from someone close to you. You will feel forced to satisfy this person's demands. Annoying as this may be, you can take comfort in the knowledge that he or she has your best interests at heart.

No worries with me on spending money.  But as to my financial partnerships - I will see what son has to say after his trip to West Texas to see if his range of motion - physically and financially - has changed.  :)  Have a good Sunday.  
 

First rain in quite awhile... oh well.

Even with the rain, I did swing by post walk to take a pic of the tree my long time friend planted when one of her children died.  I sent her a Spring pic, but never noticed it before during the fall season, but yesterday it caught my eye and I was thinking of her because she lives in FL now in the area with the flooding of late.  So thought that might be the reason the tree drew me in yesterday to tell me to reach out - so I did.  

Also reached out to Thursday DC facilitator.  Wanted to share with her about Asha Frost and her books.  It was inspiring and energizing to me, but did not fit in with where the DC conversation went on Thursday.  :)

So yesterday - nothing on my paper calendar but day filled in "smoothly".  Watched my L&O shows, walked one of my reservoir routes with my umbrella but it was a "soggy, not soaked to my underwear" rain.  Got the pics from son to picture frame of his Chili contest judge's badge and more pics of the landscape.  He is going to be jolted back to a new space and place when he gets back north.  

Today - watch All-In and Boston Blue.  Lansing DC.  W&T book club.  Blog co worker's mother died so want to write to her.  Wrote to TX/NM friend this a.m.  I missed her call.  I shut all my devices down at 6 p.m. rather than 7 p.m. yesterday - time change darkness and rainy day...I did not feel the need to stay connected any longer.  :)  Tomorrow - Death Sangha.  After the wonderful one on Tuesday night, can't wait and the Sunday ones are at 1 p.m.  MUCH better time of day for me.

If you wear your heart on your sleeve, it’s unlikely you will get the sympathetic response you were hoping for, so keep your thoughts and feelings to yourself. You don’t need other people’s advice, you are tough enough to look after yourself.

You're in for a busy morning, dear Libra, so try to get an early start. As Luna moves through your sign, aspects with Venus RX, Jupiter, the nodes of fate, and Chiron make you a social hot commodity. With so many invitations to choose from, be mindful of your own needs. When deciding how to spend your time, choose the path that brings the most peace. Slow down with decadent indulgences once the Moon enters Scorpio mid-afternoon, heightening your senses and connection with the real world. Watch your spending when Pluto grows restless tonight, or your bank account will take an unnecessary hit.

You will have to expect a few disturbances in the harmony that has reigned over the past few days, Libra. For example, your needs may not match those of your mate or close friends, or you may feel restless. Minor worries about the future may intrude on people's good moods. In short, this won't be a good day to look to emotional harmony as a source of satisfaction.

"When deciding how to spend your time"...I truly do think I do go the way of bringing myself peace.  And early starts are never an issue for me.   But I will keep all in mind as I move through the day.  Keep a good thought.  :)  Have a good Saturday.  

Winding this week down

This seems to be my image of the post Autumnal Equinox time.  :)  And where did this week go?   :)  Oh well.  What was on my mind yesterday was the library online presentation and then I went on a search for more of this woman's writing.  Asha Frost - The Inner Winter just came out this week.  And what she spoke on was You are the Medicine.  From The Inner Winter description - Each of the four parts of the book embodies a season: Spring as rebirth, Summer as growth, Fall as harvest, and Winter as rest. Every chapter opens with an ancestral Ojibwe legend, flows into embodied teachings, and closes with a healing ritual, ceremony, or journal practice. With gentleness and grounded spiritual authority, Asha invites readers to come home to themselves—not by transcending or romanticizing their pain, but by honoring it as medicine.  I got a very "working against Nature" feeling as I thought about how our "human calendar of events" does not let us take the winter in the Northern Hemisphere as a true celebration of the darkness and opportunity to rest and recharge.  The Inner Winter offers a new paradigm: healing that begins in the dark and roots you in wholeness.  Good thoughts in our human contrived "fall back" and "holiday season" time of year I find myself.  AND add to that I started The Nerd Reich this week...Yowser.  :)

So back to yesterday - watched my Chicago shows.  Blubbering by the end of CF.  Met former co worker to walk at 9 a.m., wrapped that up at 11 a.m., then before I settled in for the first rain in over two weeks, I walked up to the library to restock.   An inconvenient widow : the torment, trial, and triumph of Mary Todd Lincoln/ROMANO and Fear the worst/BARCLAY.  Got back to apt at noon.  2 p.m. Rita DC.  No other "front facing" activities.  

Today - nothing on my paper calendar.  Watch L&O shows, walk, read.  Will do Shoppes walk route since I will be doing Friday reservoir route for W&T book club.  Will see what the rain forecast is for today in case I need to abbreviate anything.  :)  Tomorrow - Lansing DC and W&T.  Wondering how the Chili Cook-off went for son and his dad in TX.  :)

Am letting the cosmos be where it wants to be.  I will discover my focus...later.  :)  Have a good Friday.  

Too good to be true... :/

No Shoprite gift cards - "fraudulent activity" when I went in to get ready to print.  Oh well.  At least I did not burn $.30 printing them out at the library.  :)  I will rest on my laurels on the $10.69 coffee credit for this week's "triumphs".  And that was just the start of the "bubble bursting".  Got to Parkville Market with family friend and NO Taiwan Night Market...tried Thai Street Food And Pho to get my dumpling fix and that worked, but much less food consumed than past PM visits.  Probably a good thing because we did stop at AC Petersen's on the way home for a mini dipper sundae with - A.C. Petersen Farms' signature gourmet hot fudge is a legendary, house-made chocolate topping famous throughout Connecticut.  That wrapped up the eating sequence on a high note.  

And yesterday finished Paper Girl and will return that tomorrow and started The Nerd Reich...great lead up and fresh from mid term election results books.  I will watch to see how the Nerd Reich repositions itself post the realignment of power in January.  I am sure it will land on its feet and create a new web of influence.  I so do not like the current prospects for Speaker of the House and Senate leadership, but - again - I will watch to see how the mobile resettles itself after being jostled.  And I had not known before the NR book about the JD Vance/Peter Thiel connection.  I will see if explore more as to the fact/fiction/substance of that.  "The veil" is thin this time of the year, maybe truth will be easier to find.  A gal can dream.  :)

So yesterday - cleaned apt with back windows open with the warmer windows (one storm windows come down, front windows stayed closed), walked with family friend, EOLD, Parkville Market, AC Petersen's, car wash, home.  Big day for me.  :)  More pics to picture frame from son.  He and father should be at the Terlingua Chili Tournament now and heading back to their homes this weekend.  Can't wait to get a report once son is home.  

Today - watch Chicago shows, walk with former co worker, Rita DC, will see what else.  Supposed to rain for the first time in a long time.  Should not influence my day at all.  

You need to be on your guard today, because the planets suggest that someone you think of as a friend may be trying to undermine your efforts behind the scenes. You don’t have to get super suspicious, but you do have to keep your eyes and ears open.

You have the right to pursue your deepest desires, sweet Libra, unapologetically. Put yourself first as Luna moves through your sign, aspecting Neptune, Pluto, and Uranus as the day unfolds. Be mindful of who genuinely supports your aspirations, and watch out for those who don't. It's especially important to act if your significant other can't cheer you on. These issues rarely get easier to navigate and may stem from your partner's own insecurities. Instead of getting defensive, ask about their long-term goals and how you can support them. Just remember to set boundaries that allow you to travel separate yet intertwining paths when Luna opposes Saturn later tonight.

Your ego may be under some stress today, Libra. The tricky part is that the threat you feel is probably a result of something that isn't even completely real. It could be that someone is acting on false information that has no bearing on the reality of the situation. You might be swept away by someone else's false impression of who you really are.

Boundaries - subject of yesterday's EOLD discussion and putting myself first...in my life movement it is usually an easy task based on I am most days my only contact point. And that cagey search for truth...tricky always, very tricky these days.  :)  Have a good Thursday.