March.. I think the saying is supposed to be āIn like a lion and out like a lamb.ā
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According to the Farmers’ Almanac, the weather folklore stems from ancestral beliefs in balance, meaning if the weather at the start of the month was bad (like a roaring lion), the month should end with good weather (gentle, like a lamb).
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But what happens when March marches onto the scene like a gentle lamb? Itās Nebraska round here people and let me just tell you, when thereās not a lot going on (and there is often not) we get giddy talking about the weather. The buzz around town right now is about the potential for the temperature to break into the 60s and Iām just as excited as the next person. The 10 day extended forecast looks balls-out amazing and it fills me with joy thinking about the opportunities to get outside.
But Again I ask, what happens after that? If the old farmers almanac saying is about balance, does that mean weāre in for trouble toward the end of the month? And should we forget so quickly that our beloved (and sometimes hated) furry friend Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow on February 2nd securing the prediction of six more weeks of winter?
Incidentally when I decided to get married on February 2nd. And mark my words⦠I am the one who decided and didnāt entertain much discussion about it. When I came up with that date, the fact that it was Groundhog Day (or the Super Bowl) didnāt even enter my mind. Now itās a pretty good joke. Iām still happy with my decision even if that means I have to share my special day with a woodchuck with an over-inflated ego. I digress.
The change in the weather has the distinct ability to change peopleās moods. I know Iām not alone in this. The drone of life through winter in the Midwest is long and boring. Endless strings of cold and overcast days can cause even the most positive and energetic human to feel as though hibernation is a good option. Though this might be good for Netflix and Hulu and Sling (Disney Plus, Apple TV, and Amazon.. good grief!).. it is NOT good for the human psyche and soul.
The bright sunshine and itās warmth are essential for fulfillment. I mean, obvi a person can survive without it, but it becomes tough to get to a place of positive energy and enlightenment. Seasonal depression is a real thing and thereās a reason Seattle, as hip as it is, is also kind of a depressing.
Iāve visited Seattle twice and both times felt very āmehā about the town. And thatās after going to some really cool places! It just feels so monotone. Perhaps I was just there on grey days, but I think they have a lot of those.
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Iām looking forward to today despite another 4:30am wake up. I said to Jim at the breakfast table this morning, āi donāt know whatās different between yesterday and today, but today just feels like itās going to be good.ā Can it really be the weather?
As of right now everyone else is either at school or work and I have the house to myself. Iām finally catching up with myself in regards to the to-do list and donāt feel too pressed about deadlines. I received more feedback late yesterday from the publisher who will be publishing my debut chapbook. It wasnāt from my assigned editor so I think I must have submitted with the option to request feedback.
Strange to get feedback after theyāve already accepted it. It was written as if the person wasnāt aware it had been accepted. Maybe this is just a larger publishing company and my manuscript is just being pushed around different channels based on how I submitted it. Who knows what happens behind the scenes?? š¤·āāļø
I now also have the official contract in my hot little inbox just waiting for me to have the time to really read it thoroughly. I would like to give myself an hour where I will be completely free of distraction. Today would probably be the perfect day for that. It will also help me keep the positive mood going as thinking about this book is starting to really sink in and Iām over my anxiety and getting excited about it.
I still havenāt told too many folks about it. A handful really but I think after the contract goes through and itās āofficialā Iāll begin being more public about it. Not that the money matters beans to me but the presale numbers dictate the percentage Iāll collect on the deal. I mean to say, money matters, but I never expected to make anything from āsellingā poems or books.
Thus far in my poetry career Iāve collected exactly $110 and thatās a fraction of what Iāve spent on submissions. If this poetry game weāre offered at a casino, the odds are so bad nobody would play. š
When I quit my job I had a few friends comment ānow I could give my life to poetry.ā How true.
Iām giving poetry my time, money, and effort (measured in brain cycles). Not to mention my heart and soul through the words on the page. When I said ātake all of me poetryā it seems as though poetry was listening and decided to take me up on the offer.
Ok. Thatās enough of that. One more comment and then I have to git.
Iām working with a new set of metrics this week to measure how Iām doing with certain health goals. Sunday I busted my ass to get 30 minutes of cardio in on the bike and apparently my heart rate never reached the ācardioā threshold. I clocked a ton of time in the āfat burnā zone according to FitBit. What the hell??!! Thanks FitBit.
So now Iām spending cycles figuring out what activities get me into that cardio zone (above 121 bpm). Yesterday it was walking really fast on the treadmill, which is slightly less like hell than jogging. I think Jazzercise would do it, but Iām not doing that yet. Iāve thought about classes at the gym. That would essentially be something I could do without shelling out loads of cash because classes are free with my membership,
Anyhow. Weāll see how this week goes.
Cheers to the anti-taco Tuesday,
~Miss SugarCookie