Reader and astrology blogger (MercuryRetrograde) hitchhiker72 asks:

“I wonder if anyone feels completely drained in the days just before Mercury goes retrograde? I am finding that as Mercury slows down just prior to retrograding, my batteries go completely flat. Where I’d ordinarily function quite well on 5 or 6 hours of sleep, suddenly 10, 11 or even 12 hours might not be enough.

The feeling is of a heaviness in the body, and having to literally peel myself off the bed, and the mind feels like it’s wading through quicksand. It only lasts for a few days and when Mercury retrogrades properly, I’m back to normal energy levels, trying to clean out my closets or whatever.”

hitchiker72 - personally I notice a bit of quickening right before Mercury turns retrograde, like a baby in my body, twitching. But I think this may be physical effect of scrambling ’round to get things done under the wire.

Anyone else?

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I don’t fret too much about Mercury retrograde. I avoid signing things and avoid purchases for non-essentials, especially clothing for myself or my children because I have learned it always has to go back, each and every stitch. But this time, it’s a freak out.

Most of you know my bank (Netbank) died last week. The bank that took them over (ING) is big, likely pretty safe but just doesn’t offer what Netbank did when it comes to services so I have been in a mad scramble to first make a decision about staying with them (made) and then scramble to switch this stuff over before Mercury goes retch. Continue reading Mercury Going Retrograde In Scorpio, October 11th - Cripes!

Remember the when the iPhone was launched with Mercury retrograde. Astrologers advised not buying one… a no brainer, here are the blog:

Launching The iPhone With Mercury Retrograde - Whoops

Now, two months later the price drops $200. Customers are pissed, which creates a public relations nightmare for Apple.

From the Associated Press:

Apple’s Jobs Sorry for iPhone Price Cut

“Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs apologized and offered $100 credits Thursday to customers who shelled out $599 for the most advanced model of the iPhone this summer, only to have the company unexpectedly slash the price $200 in a push to boost holiday sales…”

Astrologers were talking about the poor timing on the release of the iPhone…

Upset Stomachs And The Release Of The Apple iPhone

Another Astrologer Questions Apple’s Timing

Now this from CNET:

Video: New exploit takes control of iPhone

My son who is 8, in en route to New York. Unfortunately his Jetblue plane was 23 hours late last I heard. However, he got on the news.

In a bit of synchronicity, the soldier’s son who lives in another country will also be in New York at the same time… we have no idea what to make of this.

In the meantime, my daughter and I are on the Mercury Retrograde road heading to see the soldier and having follies galore. For example we have been locked out of our hotel room not once but twice this morning and although we know we are in Nebraska, we have no idea if we are headed to Iowa or Illinois, though we’re pretty sure it’s one of those.

And you?

I don’t pay Mercury Rx that much mind. I do avoid shopping, especially for clothing because I have noticed I have to return everything anyway. I probably wouldn’t buy a house or sign a contract but it has never slowed my writing.

I also would have launched the TV show with Mercury Rx had the universe been willing but it is not. We have technical problems which is no surprise and actually supports my faith. Because we probably shouldn’t launch with Mercury Rx, right?

But anyway, this particular Mercury Rx period has been brutal for me and even worse for the people around me. For example and Mercury is in aspect to the soldier’s T-square and he has been living in a non-stop nightmare on steroids these days that is painful to witness.

Me? Well I just have things breaking. A lot of things.

1 vcr
1 blender
1 coffee pot
2 garbage cans
1 hot/cold water dispenser
And basically every glass in the house… couple of plate and all by pure accident

Now that is a lot of things to have break. I just go from one broken thing to the other and it makes me want to… break something!

I also had to take two blogs last night. And while I do this habitually on my original blog, this is only the second time I had to take a blog down on this site which is pretty good considering I have published 1844 of them here.

Worse, they were blogs in my soldier story that appeared organically so now I have to re-route the natural unfolding which stress me out. I feel like a paper boat able to float down the stream very normally who ran into some kind of land mass. Jeez. Now what?

So anyway, I am finding this Mercury Rx especially challenging and wonder how the rest of you are faring.

So how are the rest of you faring?

Check this out:

Mobile phone calls failed to trigger London blasts: report

The attempted London car bombings were meant to be detonated by calls to mobile phones in the two vehicles, but failed for technical reasons, the Evening Standard reported Monday.

Incredible.

Read the rest…

Here is a short but sweet sign by sign interpretation of the upcoming Mercury retrograde period from one of my favorites, Robert Brown of Writings In The Sky.

Here is a writing sample:

Capricorn - Legal matters are put on hold or delayed. Partnerships need to be reorganized and honeys just do not seem to understand what Capricorn has to say.

Read the rest here - Mercury retrograde sign by sign and enjoy!

There is a quote in my favorite movie, Apocalypse Now, where Brando mutters in the way only Brando can…”The horror. The horror.” And this is how I felt when I woke up this morning to see the Hot or Not buttons on the Astrology News page and per my general personality, I flipped my lid.

Because my intention was to bring the community of astrology bloggers together so people could find us. And so we could find each other and become stronger with the support of our peers.

In order for this to occur, I felt it imperative no one blog was elevated over the rest, so I have been taking pains to rotate the links on the left so that we remain a community of equals, which is what I feel we are.

Because the page would not be the page if not for the various unique voices and considering this you might imagine my distress when I saw this new feature where content could be voted up or down!

Because did any of the bloggers ask to have their content judged? They did not! And I don’t think many would volunteer for this because think about it. As astrologers we are judged everywhere we go as it is!

So anyway, I made this thing and when I woke this morning to see I had inadvertently entered the people who are creating the content into some kind a beauty contest, without their permission or consent, I almost fainted. And I wrote the Top Ten people…

And I have good news. Indigo promises me there will be a way to opt out of the “hot or not” feature by tomorrow. But you know how these things are, so if it takes her the rest of the week, please be patient… those button are going.

And I have to say she was very graceful about this, which her style and I was very freaky about this, which is mine. So you guys can just think about that and maybe have a laugh. Because it’s a little bit like my driving and anyone who knows me, will tell you I drive like shit!

However I am a little bit magic, ala Babe the Pig, so whatever. Just calm down, because we’re all in this car together. Well, actually it’s more like a big truck, if I am involved. And a maniac may be driving but I can’t see how this matters as long as get somewhere and the where that we get to is good! And of this much I am sure. So everyone hang on, and I’ll have us out of this ditch in no time!

Thank you, Indigo and most of all, thanks to all the bloggers who are contributing their creative work!

He’s on the road, when my phone rings. I don’t have a land line anymore. I have two cell phones, and I pick up.

“How are you, P?”

“I’m good. I’m in a happy mood.”

“Well, look.” He has a southern accent. “I’m going to call you from a civilian phone. I am about out of minutes.”

I pulled the phone from my ear and looked at it. Civilian phone? What’s he think he’s doing? Being patched through from the jungle or something? I laughed, but quietly.

“But then civilians will be able to hear me,” he added as if he was weighing the risk.

And thank God the phone cut out at this very moment because I burst out laughing. I mean I laughed out loud so hard my kid just stared at me. Because I was thinkin’, oh yeah! Civilians will hear you and you have a Scorpio Moon. Can’t have that. But dude. Don’t you realize I put our conversations on my blog? I don’t think I’m a soldier, man. You mean these communications are supposed to be classified? ::snorts::

And I gotta say, I love this stuff. The constant intrigue that is imaginary. He’s always dodging mortar fire that isn’t there. Okay. Sometimes it is there. But either way, P is completely entertained.

Do you have a ridiculous person in your life? (I recommend it.) Who?