No weather pictures today, because it's gross. Nothing picturesque like snow, just 40F and pouring rain. I last took the dog out around 11 last night, and I'm hoping, here at not-quite-10 a.m., that she can hold her peace (and everything else) just a tiny bit longer, in hopes that it might slacken up. Not that it looks like slackening up. Did I mention that it's pouring?
I'll probably add more layers to today's outfit, because the house feels chilly (did I mention rain? and the basement door open because the husband needs to check the sump pump? breath from the grave?), but here it is, as I leapt out of bed promptly at 9:20 and put it on:
Wool& Camellia, thrifted alpaca cardigan, thrifted stripey bamboo tights, hidden wool socks, Tari boots.
Here I do a little dance of joy at the prospect of going out in the pouring rain so the dog can take her sweet time picking potty spots:
I lay awake last night thinking of further revisions for poems and having restless legs --- got up finally and took some magnesium, which seems to have helped, because I did fall asleep, and slept later than I have in some time. So I have some work before me today, which is good, the kind of work I like, if I can make things work. I really would like to ship this manuscript off by the end of the month. In its pruned shape, I think it's almost there.
In other news, looks like I'm not doing the audiobook for Works of Mercy after all, which is frankly a relief. Wiseblood has just released Trevor Cribben Merrill's Minor Indignities as its first Audible selection, and apparently even though Trevor lives in L.A. and had free access to an actual recording studio, the work and expense of creating an audio file of the kind of quality that would fly with Audible was a lot more than anybody had anticipated. So from now on it'll be voice actors --- which honestly is fine with me. I'm a good reader-aloud, but the thought of having to make something that perfect was stressing me right on out the more I dwelt on it. Also, I realized that I'd written in many Shetlandic words that I'm not sure how to pronounce, and now that's somebody else's problem, not mine. So that's some hours of time I've just gotten back this spring.
Otherwise . . . I'm pecking away at this new copy-editing project, which is easy, as it's an extremely clean manuscript. A few issues here and there, and I've had to consult the Chicago Manual of Style at least once, but on the whole, a far easier job than the eccentric book I did a couple of weeks ago. And I should look in at the magazine today. Haven't done any slushpile reading this week, but then I've been trying to make room for a fellow editor who was feeling guilty because his last semester of grad school was demanding and he wasn't getting work done for the journal, and could we be sure to leave him some poems to read this week. As easily done as said!
UPDATE:
Here I've added a scarf, because even in the house with the heat on, my neck was cold.
And in case you missed it anywhere else I've posted it, here's a Ruth Pitter poem I read yesterday, which I thought was breathtaking:
Your rhyming mind may need to fill in some end-lines that got cut off, but again, I thought this was just an unbearably beautiful poem.
And now the dog is unhappy in her crate, so I've got to venture out.
LATER STILL:
We interrupt our regularly scheduled copy-editing to say that the wisteria Willow has become available for order. Eeek eeeek eeeeeeeeek. An order has been placed.
This is my last purchase of the season, for sure. January has been . . . a little nuts in that department.
A list of what I've bought:
1. Plum merino Talbots blazer-cardigan (secondhand)
2. Royal-blue v-neck merino cardigan (secondhand)
3. J. Jill linen-blend champagne-colored duster cardigan (secondhand)
4. raspberry-pink Eileen Fisher merino tank (secondhand)
5. turquoise silk/cashmere/merino 90s-vintage tank (secondhand)
6. red linen skirt (secondhand)
7. pale-blue linen button shirt (secondhand)
8. Willow dress in wisteria
I've also added two more bras/bralettes, which I really needed, because I had been rotating two Boody bamboo bras, and that wasn't enough --- plus a secondhand cork belt.
So that's kind of a lot, but coming off a no-buy year, when I did make some big, considered purchases but didn't thrift any for fill-in items, maybe it makes sense. I'm certainly happy with and will wear all the things I've acquired, with virtually all my dresses. Once my Willow arrives (assuming she fits, but so far I've been really happy with my Wool& purchases in that regard), I'll have six dresses, with plenty of layers and accessories to make them work for me with versatility.
I am excited about this wisteria Willow, I have to say. I'm looking forward to another swing dress, and I'm really looking forward to this soft light springlike color (though I think it should work fine for me year-round, I do welcome something that isn't quite so intense, dark, bright, or saturated --- or gray --- as all my other dresses).
I might or might not buy another dress all year. We'll just have to see, as the seasons roll around.
EVEN LATER:
I was so cold that I put on my turquoise silk/cashmere/merino tank UNDER my dress, as a base layer. It's great against the skin, just a terrific piece, and very insulating. It's also kind of decorative to wear under clothes instead of over, but I'm delighted that it works so well this way.