Late Morning, Monday, August 19, 2024, Madison, New Hampshire
Hi there, everyone. It’s another gray, cold, and gloomy morning here in New England as I start the first day of a new workweek. Currently, the temperature is 67°F (20°C) under cloudy conditions, and today’s forecast calls for heavy rain throughout the day. The high will be 72°F (22°C).
Rainy days don’t typically bother me unless they spoil a rare outing or if they bring along rolling, relentless thunderstorms. If it’s just raining, I usually cue up some classical music and dive into my writing (on a workday) or lose myself in books or video games (on the weekend).
Recently, however, with an approaching move back to South Florida, and no one around to help me with packing, the overcast skies and incessant forecasts for rain only amplify my anxiety. This isn’t unfamiliar territory for me; weather has always had a significant impact on my mood. But the stress of returning home under these conditions is worsening my restlessness.
It’s not raining now, but it’s so dark in my office that I might have to turn on the overhead light (which is sometimes too bright) or decamp to the dining room and use my laptop. My Weather app says it will start raining in three hours, though, so I will try to at least go outside on the front porch and get some fresh air…if I can stir up enough enthusiasm for it.
Weekend Update, Part the Second: Homebound Sunday
My Sunday was pretty frustrating, just a gloomy and cold finish to the weekend. I didn’t go anywhere—not even to check the mailbox (which my housemate says is a mile away). Thankfully, I didn’t need anything urgent from Hannaford or Market Basket, but I was curious if my biweekly Time magazine had arrived. There are many things I like about living here, and if it wasn’t for that lease issue, I’d be more hesitant to leave. Still, I hate not having direct mail delivery to the house. Having lived in cities most of my life, I can’t stand how the Post Office (and Amazon, too) deals with deliveries.
I attempted to pack by myself but was totally lost on where to start. So…after 45 minutes of trying to figure things out and failing miserably, I gave up.
There were some positives, however. I enjoyed a good breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I also completed a Skirmish on the newly upgraded Regiments with its Winds of Change DLC without losing a single vehicle under my command – the 1st Brigade/3rd Armored Division.
I re-read Vignette #3 for Scene Five of Reunion: Coda’s 19th chapter and didn’t spot any major issues. If my beta reader sees any flaws, I’ll address them immediately. For now, though, I need to focus on the next one and move the story forward.
On Writing and Storytelling: Action This Day
If everything works out today (and that’s a big “if”), I’ll spend the afternoon brainstorming and sketching out the fourth part of Scene Five. I’ve got a clear idea of where the story needs to head next. The challenge is nailing down exactly what actions the characters should take to bring my vision into reality.
I’ve got a few hours left to chase away all these worries swarming my mind like freaked-out birds. If I can grab a nice lunch and relax a bit, I might just make it. So cross your fingers and send some good vibes my way, alright?
A Certain Point of View, Too 
Comments
6 responses to “Musings and Thoughts for Monday, August 19, 2024, or: Wishing for Sunshine and Calm on a Gray, Rainy Workday”
I hope the weather and your mood will improve. Here in North Texas we have too much sun and heat. Today it 107 degrees, real feel 114. That is not good for our dog Rollo.
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Poor Rollo! That heat would wilt me, as well.
I was able to go outside for a while; the rain held off for a while, although the skies were gray, sullen, and not very uplifting.
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I agree gray sullen skies is not nice even though right now we wish for rain
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Surprisingly, I just got back from a second walk. It’s still cloudy, but if it rained, it wasn’t a torrential downpour.
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So far, we’ve been spared the crazy heat, like Thomas in Texas. YIKES! It’s hovered pretty much between 85-95. I don’t mind the rain too much, but there is such a thing as too much of a good thing.
I thought it was joke when I moved here (from upstate New York) that people in California can’t drive in the rain. To be fair, the ground doesn’t absorb the water well so you can go from bone dry to Noah’s Ark in ten minutes. But a polite little rain is not bad to walk in. The worst thing is I have to wipe my glasses when I get inside.
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Fortunately, I didn’t experience any rain (polite or impolite) when I was out and about yesterday. And, happily, there’s not a lot of the wet stuff around today!
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