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Working Wednesday: We’re Back

So I had a truly lousy six weeks in there, but now things are much better and I’m back at work. Bob is thrilled. I’m just happy I’m not dead. We’re swapping chapters back and forth now, and the book is changing dramatically, but for the better, so that’s good. Nothing but good times, that’s what I say.

What did you work on this week?

82 Responses

  1. I worked on my hydroponic garden all week. Any progress I made was updated on the May 2025 Farm Report, including a few pictures.

    The AeroGarden Harvest Elite that I named Crusie after somebody just alerted that it is time to add plant food. I am feeding all my units based on Crusie. But first I am looking for the syringe to permit more exact dosing. Then I’m going to open the supplemental plant food for tomatoes and fruit and add just a tiny bit more.

    Fully half of my gardens are germinating. I’m keeping a close watch on the rest. At the current rate I hope to harvest several hundred tomatoes.. I’ve planted five pepper plants and will add others . It is going to be a fruitful summer.

  2. I am going back to the day job today after being away and shopping for books and eating good food and hiking pretty trails. Ugh. Sometimes the world is full of so many good things that I am overwhelmed by it. And then there is the bank. Let’s see how long it takes for me to get yelled at this morning.

    It’s raining again, long, all day rains so I didn’t get the garden time in that I was planning. But yesterday I stayed home all day in my pajamas and did some major reorganizing of the house, so I feel better about that. I may never find anything again, but it looks better.

  4. Last week was dominated by the “overnight” work trip that lasted 45 hours. I was pretty much a zombie after that. Combine that with Mother’s Day celebrations, and I was fairly unproductive. But I do have my first gardenia of the year!
    https://www.instagram.com/p/DJmmNY1xNP4/

  5. Today is Day 1 (Saturday is Day 2) of our bi-monthly Bethlehem (PA) Library Book Sale! It’s exhausting, but fun, and helping people find something to read is always a joy.

    Tomorrow is a field trip with my 1st grade grandson to the local zoo. I’ll be in charge of 3-4 of the little monsters as a chaperone. It’s supposed to rain all day so exhausting – and hopefully fun – of a different sort.

  6. 2/4 companies’ year ends are up on the accountants’ portal.

    Got raised beds ready for planting.

  7. I’m also happy that you’re not dead, Jenny, and I’m hoping that no one is going to yell at Lupe in the bank today.

    Here’s a pick me up if anyone wants one – the first scene of the new Murderbot series:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3IzeaJb1Tc

    Now, go Leafs go tonight! Crush those Florida kitty cats into the ground.

    3. Looks very fine!

      And yes, I keep my fingers crossed as strongly as possible tonight (well, I’ll be sleeping, but still, the thought counts).
      As I will do for the Jets even though it doesn’t look good for them with the Finnish 5 being so strong. The Finns in the IIHC sure feel weakened without them.

      Must rush home now, hubby watches USA vs Norway while I’m still at the office.
      Yes, I got him hooked for good (not that this was difficult…).

      BTW: watched Canada vs France yesterday – sadly without commentary. Good game buw wow, devoid of any emotion. Just a day in the factory? Not even cellies. Come on, that’s sooo disappointing.

      1. So, the French sadly had nothing to celebrate, Binnington had a shutout – not that he was really tested. But the Canadians that emotionless – felt not like hockey at all (and not the Murderbot kind). At least the refs were okay. Not like in our game vs Norway. We lost Reichel to injury (thrashed into the board), grrrr.

  8. Glad to hear you’re doing well, Jenny. I can join in the happy health news: after four weeks of intensive back treatment (ongoing), I can sit down, stand up, and sneeze without fear.

    3. Back troubles are so debilitating! Easy to forget that everything connects to the spine, so every little movement irritates it. Glad you’ve gotten some relief!

  9. I spent most of the day Monday gathering things to put into my two go bags, finally. Then, I researched the possibilities for long lasting food bars, and other necessities, with the help of Bob’s book, The Green Beret Preparation and Survival Guide. He has several lists, but I went with the first one. I already had a NOAA radio, a camp stove and fuel, a sleeping bag, bottled water, and dried coffee. (I have my priorities in line.) I ordered some food bars, after reading multiple reviews, a mess kit, stainless steel utensils, and a compressible water jug. I texted my son nearby with this news, and he texted back that it sounds like I’m preparing for an invasion. But we have tornadoes, Aerial flooding, which has swamped my patio and basement, the possibility of fires, and power outages lasting 4 or 5 days.

    Yesterday, I mowed both lawns. I’m starting to feel better, and have more stamina.

    Jenny, I’m so glad you’re back! I hope you continue to feel better.

    1. Yes, I live in tornado and flood country. Always prepared either to leave, or not to be able to leave.

    2. Here in California, having a Go bag is becoming more and more common, especially after the recent years of fires. Mine is not as complete as yours, but my dog does have her own “Go” bag.

      1. I love the dog go bag! One of my bags is mostly pet food and other essentials.

  10. Our up and down weather has really kicked my butt, so I’m not accomplishing nearly as much as I’d like to. But hey, I didn’t get stuck in the hospital like you did, so that’s something.

    I managed to get a few more things into the garden, so I am no longer horribly behind. I keep reminding myself that it is upstate NY, and it isn’t the end of May yet, so it is too early to put in things like tomatoes and eggplant and basil anyway. (I had a frost two days ago, and then it was 82 by the afternoon. Sigh.)

    Mostly starting to focus on prepping for my trip out to California to see my elderly parents, sister, stepdaughter and her fiance (they live in San Jose, but come in to San Diego when I’m visiting there, and see his parents too, who I adore). In the midst of long days of travel and flying (UGH) and the inevitable family drama (SIGH), I will get three blissful days on the beach with one of my besties, eating wonderful food, drinking wine, doing magic at the ocean, and talking writing. That’s the thing that motivates me to get through the rest. I’m leaving on Saturday afternoon and won’t be back until late the following Sunday, so if I disappear for a bit, that’s why.

    2. That sounds great, Deborah. I hope all goes well, and you get some relaxation.

    4. Have a lovely trip! Family can really be… a thing. Good to hear you’re also meeting up with counterweights to that. Enjoy!

  11. Glad to hear you’re feeling better, Jenny. I’ve been in bed since Monday with a post-Italy bug. I bought lots of plants last week and prepped my garden beds intending to take advantage of the nice weather this week to start planting. DS put together my new raised bed for greens and radishes. I put in the first couple of layers – landscape cloth, cardboard, leaves and unsifted compost from last fall. Everything is waiting until I have some energy, hopefully by the weekend. I’m listening to the birds chirp away as I lie in bed which is very peaceful.

  12. Glad to hear you’re feeling better and back to work, Jennie!!!

    I’m putting in the work in the class I’m taking even if it takes me away a little bit from the WIP. And it’s paying off because I’m getting a better sense of these characters. Now, I just have to keep all these people straight in my head. I’m waiting for edits on the ms I turned in at the end of March, working on the current one and plotting the next. Sometimes I look at the character and ask them to remind who they are and what their problem is.

  13. I’m also glad that you’re not dead, Jenny, and that you and Bob are re-embarking on this next adventure. I continue doing very little, though last week included book club and a trip north to have lunch with a friend. Also a grand re-opening of a local library, complete with a reading by a friend working on her 2nd book. (She’s 83 and my hero!) We went to a small art exhibit Sunday and had ice cream to celebrate her birthday. I’m now doing some research, which I enjoy, for a friend. Two evening rehearsals with the orchestra this week and concert Sat. night.

  14. I wrapped up the short story I was inspired to write after finishing novella 2025.3 (the short story features the middle-aged son of one of the heroes of the novella).

    Booked our U-Haul for the Big Move in September, along with a couple hours of loading help from a local company.

    Sorted out three more books to donate. Typed up the Horrifying Timeline of Moving Things To Do.

    Put in just enough yardkeeping.
    https://www.instagram.com/p/DJcQiyDSZw8/

    3. Wow, your yard is beautiful. I am also impressed at your organized approach to The Big Move.

  15. I’m working on my French accent, knitting, and I went to an audition coach to better prep for the audition on Sunday. Otherwise, took a class at work and now have to redo my entire work life.

    I’m pretty sad/unhappy/embarrassed that my boss seems to find me too… well, incompetent…to handle projects here, but I also have frankly proven that I am too incompetent. I’m being assigned to a different project that should be less “stressful” and more clerical in the future, sigh. Like taking notes of who went to meetings. I appreciate that they don’t want to fire me, but I do deserve it for not living up to expectations and my brain continuing to not be good enough. Sigh. I have two bachelor’s degrees and I’m still too stupid for office work. I’m semi-seriously wondering if I should apply to be a janitor with my friend, because her job treats her well, even if it’s gross, and they don’t complain about your brain being wrong when all you do is clean.

    3. Actually, I have two degrees and one of my jobs while working my way through college was as a janitor’s aide. While I loathe cleaning my own house and picking up after myself, I actually liked that job. At the end of the day you actually had something to show for the work you did. The other plus is that if you get trained by a really good cleaning crew, you have the option of working for yourself. The good independent cleaners in Portland make $35/hr and up to $50. But you have to pay your own health and most have their own equipment and cleaning supplies and it really is work.

      1. Also, I don’t think you are incompetent. You have to learn a lot of lines and movement to act on stage, not only your own but the characters you interact with. If you can do that you have plenty of brain power, you just access it differently than most people.

  16. After my brother & his husband finished doing several things at my Florida home, I continued in their wake.
    I bought a vacuum cleaner as I now have a lovely carpet square bedroom floor to take care of.
    I have one estimate for redoing the floor in the Florida room & am waiting on another.
    The estimate was so high it threw me into overwhelm. I calmed down & centered my full moon ceremony around my stress, confusion & indecision decreasing with the waning moon.
    I got the laundry done and put away.
    Glad you’re doing better, Jenny. Maybe Bob’s skills for survival will rub off on you & your non-apocolyptic view of the future will rub off on him!

  17. Plugging away at the writing—it’s going fine, and I had a nice writing get-together with local writing friends yesterday. Talking about planning some family trips, but I need the kids to renew their passports before I actually book travel… I did houseplant maintenance yesterday—watering, removing dead leaves, misting. They should all be happy now for a while…

  18. Glad Jenny’s coming out of the six-week slump!

    I’ve been on a tear, finishing the quilt UFO’s that I finished piecing (but not quilting/binding) a few months ago. You can see some of them here (and scroll down in my account for another collection in the preceding post): https://www.instagram.com/p/DJeygycxcJ3/ I started with the light-color background tops, as shown in these pix, and now I’m working on the black-background tops. Should be more pix next week.

    I also got back all the beta feedback on the secret project that’s going to my agent in July. And speaking of my agent, she’s been working hard too — I should have the rights to the garlic farm series reverted to me in the next few weeks. And I’m hoping to get the three books reissued in Jan/Feb/Mar of 2026. Oh, and I finished the Helen Binney novella (Delusion of Death) for release in August, so it’s off to the copy editor next week, and then I need to get cover art.

  19. Jenny, that you are still alive and kicking is a huge happy for all Arghers, whether you work or not. Just you being on this planet is a gift. Books are a bonus, but not a must.
    Home-call Vet was here today to check and vaxx the kitts. All in all it went pretty well and nobody got eaten or shredded into bits. Whew! I’ve been under a pile of snuggly kitts all afternoon, so clearly they don’t see me as the villain. Big relief.
    I booked a phone-appointment with the GP for Friday. I suspect that the antidepressants he gave me in the hopes of them taking care of my eating-problems are instead taking care of me having trouble feeling emotions unless they are sad, troubling or anxious. I wanna get rid of the stuff, it’s not helping.
    Things for tomorrow’s solo-adventure have been arranged! I’ll also get to see my car-mech SIL (Sven’s sister), she’ll help out with part of the journey to the venue. I’ve decided to wear my “cattitude”-top, sporting the picture of a fluffy, cute kitten giving the world the middle-finger. I think Sarah Millican would approve.
    Still practicing crochet-motions. Haven’t made anything yet, but I’ll get there. Know I need to pick up my other projects too, just…haven’t had the energy. This is kinda soothing.
    I don’t remember who of you lovely people said that very good thing a while ago about being a fountain and not a drain for other people. I’ve been thinking about that today, and what makes energy-thieves, and if energy-thieves are always energy-thieves with everyone they are around, or if they also have a neutral mode, or even a fountain-mode? Lot of thoughts bouncing around again. I wish I could for once just trust my gut and my judgement, but… How? How do one do that?
    ANYWAY, I don’t wanna be a drain, so I’ll go do something that makes me happy!

  20. On Friday, the contractor said he checked, and the floor guys had an unexpected opening and could come Monday to refinish the upstairs hardwood floors. I looked around at 1,000 sq ft of space just covered with stuff I would have to pack away before the could move furniture out and said “Let’s do it”. So I pretty much worked from Friday through Monday morning. But with floors done, I can organize the upstairs into two bedrooms, a dining area, a TV area, a place for his desk and computer and the sun room for sitting and watching the view outside. So now if DH can’t handle the stairs, he will have a pleasant place to live and see his visitors. I am feeling everyone of my 77 years. I could have done this 10 years ago in 24 hours. But this is one worry that will be taken care of. And , oh joy, the cleaning lady can come next Monday and deal with all the dust. Off topic, my new cleaning lady is gorgeous. Good thing DH is mostly asleep while she is here.

    1. That sounds great, Jessie. Good job! I hope DH appreciates you for that.

  21. My sympathies on the serious problems some folks here are working through.

    My congratulations to Jenny on getting through a bad patch. And plaudits on not being derailed by the low-salt diet.

    I’m trying to work through my chore backlog as my stamina ever so slightly seems to be improving. I think I did manage a lot of standing time yesterday while trying to restore the kitchen to order, although I’m far from finished. Today I’ve also got laundry to wash and washed laundry to fold, among other things. I’m trying to limit the amount of time I spend on other more interesting matters such as this site and my the local sf book club. I did combine the two by writing a piece for tomorrow on the May club book.

    But back to the more boring stuff!

  22. So glad you are doing better Jenny. Take as much time as you need—we can all wait for the next book: we will be impatient but we all care more about your health.
    Working on working. I will be out of work for a week at the end of the month (wedding of friends daughter and then son’s graduation) then one – two weeks mid June for DH surgery. So while I have few hard deadlines I have a lot to do.
    Trying to be more consistent about working out to help manage stress about DH.
    Trying to finish planting annuals and in the process digging up and replanting crocus bulbs. I think I can finish this weekend if weather cooperates. Rain and work on house has made it much harder.
    I am trying to manage workers who are doing 5 years of overdue house maintenance.
    Trying to get a prescription approved under my Medicare prescription plan .
    Still writing weekly call recommendations for Congress.
    One fun job has been advising my neighbor on paint colors for several rooms.

  23. I’m very glad you are not dead or me dead! Or anyone else. Dentist tomorrow bc something is paining me. Gardening, office purge and admin filing, etc., dinner on Monday evening, trying to manage things in the Arctic from down here, and granddaughter duties. Enjoying the flowers and the patio planter I received from my sons and DILs. I am very blessed.

  24. I’ve had some health issues for the past 9 months that have kept me from being able to work regularly and aren’t improving much. I’ve been trying so hard not to just give up and retire, but I’m there now, and it’s kind of a relief. I’m on call this weekend and one more in June, and that’s it, after just shy of 37 years. Wow.

    Today all I’ve done is delete a gazillion emails and unsubscribe from newsletters I’ll no longer need. Not much, but it’s something!

    1. 37 years sounds to me like a more than adequate working career, assuming you end up enjoying retirement. I’m not sure how much your health issues interfere with that, but here’s hoping they at least improve to the point where they’re no longer an obstacle.

    2. It’s hard to make that decision — I struggled longer than I should have with accepting that I truly was disabled at 55 — but it’s SUCH a relief once the decision is made! Enjoy your retirement!

  25. This week has been tough. We were called into hospital on Saturday, and were able to sit with my mother until she slipped away on Saturday afternoon. Luxembourg is a place where you have to act super-fast to register the death and make the arrangements for burial/cremation, so that was all Monday/Tuesday. Today, we went to her apartment in Brussels, which is not in great shape at all, and began going through documents and all the other detritus of her life.

    Grief is a funny thing, it seems to come in waves. I’d expected to feel overwhelmed going into the apartment without her there, but in fact it was leaving that was harder. Am still in shock about the costs of the burial – compulsory coffin (not at all biodegradable, but legally required), urn, and most shocking of all the cost of the collection of my mother’s body and brief transport to crematorium, which was all of a 20 minute drive. There is a weird black humour here, I think.

    I have been given a week of compassionate leave – I am relieved, it has been tough dealing with this emotionally and from a sheer logistics point of view. Much to clear up, my mother was administratively wildly chaotic. I miss her.

    1. I am so sorry for your loss. Grief is a funny thing, and always different than you think it is going to be. The artist who made my wedding ring has been fighting breast cancer for over a year and posted her goodbye on Friday and I was wildly grieved, for someone I have never met in person. And then I picked up a copy of Mary Oliver’s Thirst, opened it a random to After Her Death, a poem about the author’s beloved partner. A few pages later was The Uses of Sorrow. It felt like a message. I hope you find some solace and peace. Take care.

    2. My sympathies. It looks like you have many hassles ahead in winding up her estate from a couple hundred kilometers away, but keep in mind that not everything has to be done at once.

    3. My sincere condolences. I will think of your mother in the Words From Totem Animal where W. S. Merwin says “Send me out into another life/ lord because this one is growing faint/I do not think it goes all the way”.

    4. I sorrow with you, Zeba. Take care of yourself, too, in the midst of this.

    6. I am so sorry for your loss. Grief is different every time it strikes, and everyone deals with it differently, it’s such an odd thing. Sending you hugs and strength to help you through these trying times. <3

    8. Very sorry for your loss, Zeba. The passing of a mother is difficult. It is especially hard going through paperwork and making all the arrangements. So much to do. It dies get better over time, I promise. Thinking of you.

    11. I am so sorry. I know it feels like it happened very fast. I hope once you are over the shock that her memory will be a blessing.

  28. I’ve been struggling with some sort of spring crud lately too but I’m feeling better now.

    We been making plans for some serious landscaping this month. It’s probably going to mean we postpone a weekend trip we were planning but that might not be able to be helped. I’m working so many hours in the last two weeks and Paul can’t do the heavy stuff by himself. I was pleasantly surprised to see that sod is much less expensive than I thought it was, which is great because we need quite a bit of it.

    We found out today that a co-worker of his has a small excavator he will rent/lend us and another has a dump trailer he can lend us so that is really good and going to make the project easier on both the back and the wallet.

    I have plants to move before we really get into it, including a couple of very mature peonies that I will need to find homes for. Actually, I have to decide if I’m going to keep them; they have both been diminishing over the last few years. I’m not in love with the red one and never have been so that’s not a huge loss but the pink one I like. I’m really happy because I did find my missing new, expensive coral peony.

  29. My 93 year old cousin fell and broke her left hand the other day. She’s very independent so won’t be an easy patient. She doesn’t want any help. Too bad, she’s getting help. Actually, her DIL and granddaughter will do most of it. I just have to spell them a few hours most days. She’ll mostly complain about hr son who she didn’t raise to be full on (fool on?) MAGA.

    I’ll have to work in my plant purchasing and plant planting somehow.

    It’s always something.

About the Author

Jennifer Crusie is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author and co-author of twenty-three novels, one book of literary criticism, miscellaneous articles, essays, novellas, and short stories, and the editor of three essay anthologies. She lives in a cottage in Pennsylvania, where she often stares at the ceiling and counts her blessings.

Find out more about Jenny’s published works by visiting JennyCrusie.com

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