Back Online - Has The Weirdness Ended or Just Begun?

3-30-24

Saturday at Ball State's Bracken Library. This time maybe I can get something posted here. I crashed too much on Thursday past to publish any posts. The question is can get anything done before I need to get the bus back home?

I am doing something different here in this post. I did keep a bit of a journal while off-line. I am dumping that in here. It may make it longer, so some highlights:

• Work is fine
• My left knee may have arthritis
• I have been working hard on the novel, except when I have been worn out with this knee.
• I can now access Wi-Fi away from The Best Way Inn

Sorry, if things seemed out of whack.

So far today, I managed to go from 119 emails to around 45. Maybe tomorrow, I can get back here. Monday, I think, is more likely.

I did Walmart last night after work, after the novel. I went back to the place and ate and wrote some more.

Thursday both the PO and CC came to visit unbeknownst to each other. I had to come back from Bracken Library to deal with them. CC went into a cleaning frenzy! The PO was not at all bellicose this time, I finally let him know I was working on my father's estate, and the place passed his inspection. CC heard much of what he had to say, she thought her presence may have influenced his more mellow approach. I agree, I also think he had no hand in blocking my internet access.
 

 Wednesday was the doctor, and the arthritis diagnosis. I got the meds on Thursday afternoon after work, and they have been working.

Tuesday - napping and working. Not a very memorable day

Monday- to Carmel with sister for the polygraph. I stepped out for a smoke, and blew the whole thing. I am now convinced I need a driver's license. My sister's driving is different from mine.

Sunday - church, a nap, working on the novel.

Now for the older bits of the journal. The plan for tonight is clean up the bedroom and write.I have black beans in the slow cooker.

 3-23-24

Yesterday, I found a place that would give me internet access. Call me shocked. I had thought to find some sort of censoring blockage when I found it worked.

Today, I stopped at Ball State on my way to Walmart. What did not once work is now working.

Very strange, but I will take it as a lesson in the dangers of prejudices.

The rejections continued, even if I was not there to get them directly.

Dear Samuel,

Thank you for submitting to Belmont Story Review. We received many submissions and, unfortunately, decided not to publish this piece. Best wishes on placing your work in another publication, and please keep us in mind for future submissions.

Sincerely,

Sunny Urben

Belmont Story Review

Okay, that was for Running Away From the Dying and the Dead. Submitted 11/25/23, rejected 3/20/24)

This was for The Sloe Gin Effect:

I hope this message finds you well. We at Black Moon Magazine want to extend our sincerest apologies for the delay in our response to your submission. As a dedicated team of two, we've been navigating an unexpected and overwhelming increase in submissions. This surge, while truly welcome and appreciated, has impacted our workflow, leading to longer response times than usual. We are, however, genuinely amazed and grateful for the incredible interest in our magazine.

Thank you for your interest in Black Moon Magazine and for the time and effort you’ve put into sharing your work with us. Unfortunately, after careful consideration, we have concluded that your submission, while appreciated for its unique qualities and depth, will not be a fit for our upcoming issue. This decision does not reflect the quality of your work but rather the specific direction and balance we aim to achieve in each edition.

We encourage you to continue honing your craft and to consider us for future submissions. Thank you once again for allowing us the opportunity to consider your work. We wish you the best in finding a fitting and deserving platform for it.

Best regards,

Sam Campbell

Fiction Editor

This was for Theresa Pressley Attends Michael Devlin’s Viewing:

Thank you for sending us "Theresa Pressley Attends Michael Devlin’s Viewing". We appreciate the chance to read it. Unfortunately, the piece is not right for us at this time. Please consider submitting again during our next reading period.

Best of luck,

Marathon Literary Review

and finally:

Thank you for submitting your work to Voices de la Luna. We appreciate the opportunity to consider these. Unfortunately, we will not be able to publish "Visions of Colonel Tom" at this time.  However, we do encourage you to submit other pieces to Voices de la Luna for future consideration.

Thanks again for your submission.

Sincerely,

Viktoria Valenzuela, Editor

Voices de la Luna: A Quarterly Literature & Arts Magazine

www.voicesdelaluna.org

3-21-24

3-21-24

A quick one before I need leave for work.

I thought I had finished “Love Stinks” last night. I have one mo0re piece this morning – Mark and the christening. I will be done tomorrow at the latest. Grocery shopping tongith.

I did call JC last night. Let him know the news. I could not reach KH. It is the second call to Joel in a week. 

I need call Paul S and E. 

CC has been sick.

My knee and hip almost drove me mad Monday and Tuesday. Wore me out – I was exhausted getting back here.

Otherwise, it has been home and work and the VP for cigs and Coke.

Neither heard from nor seen the PO.  I wonder if he thinks he will force me into using a computer with internet access, or if it is not bureaucratic laziness.
I wait.

3/18/24:

38 Years; No Internet and No PO; Novel Progressing

I keep working on “Love Stinks”, which is why I have not added to my journal. Frankly, my eyes get tired of looking at this laptop’s screen.

It is Thursday morning, I have about 30 minutes before I need get ready for work. The thought was to read a little, avoiding work on the novel. I have done the opposite and been a little late to work a few days.

The has been no word from my PO. No calls, no visits. The internet remains unavailable. I will need to deal with this issue. First, I get the novel in shape.

I have done little traveling. I felt sickly last weekend, so no church. It is an hour drive and I do not like to be poor company. On the other hand, I wonder if I have not gone to be careless about my health to mollycoddling myself. I do find St. George’s gives me a peaceful feeling.

I did my laundry last Saturday. Walked over to the laundromat – even though my left has been killing me of late. I seem to be blowing it out when I walk home from work. Well, that might have contributed my general unwellness Saturday. I found myself short on laundry money. The ATM at the convenience store across from the laundromat was out, I walked up to Big Red Liquors and could not get their ATN to work for me. The clerk there gave me 75 cents. I walked back. I wanted to go back to the liquor store for a tasting of new Irish whiskey, only I had my laundry on hand and a corned beef brisket in the slow cooker.

I did go to Payless last week. I ran into Tony New, the shock of meeting Anderson people in Muncie is severe.

CC came around with curtains and then go sick. When I saw her again she was bringing clothes. She left where she has been leaving for years. Maybe she will kick her habits. I think her lungs will give out first. Nothing I can do except give her a place to get out of the rain. She left with Omar Khayyam.

I have been trying to reach the attorney about Dad’s trust. No luck. That will need to change.

I read Genuine Reality; a biography of William James. I liked the book, except I am not sure if it would be for anyone wondering why they should read a biography of William James. I am working on Euripides and Sherlock Holmes.

I did see the counselor. Maintenance work there – maintaining me going forward. Keep the stress down, keep the depression away. We talked about atonement. That remains my goal.

Someone broke into the basement early Wednesday morning. I woke me around 3 AM – a banging from the downstairs. I could not tell if it was mechanical – my thought the furnace was breaking down again – but it stopped when got up, and I think that scared them off.

I went to Aldi last night. Tonight, I thought I might take in an art show at MadJax. Thing is, there is supposed to be rain today. I suspect it will be more writing and maybe another nap. Yes, I have been napping when I get home from work. I have been that tired.

38 years since my mother died. 

 sch 3/30/2024