Getting to know you... the latest version

I tried this in a couple of my Yahoo groups, so I thought I'd bring it over here, too. Enjoy!

Although we are not all local, it would be fun to meet and get to know each other and form more of a global community spirit. Therefore, I thought I'd see what I could do to "break the ice" and open up some discussion here.

Please feel free to skip any questions you don't feel comfortable answering… I just found this list on the `net and modified it for use here.

• What is your name? Lydia Shelley
• Where do you live? How long have you lived there? Hollywood, Florida near I-95 & Hollywood Blvd. for 18 ½ years
• Do you have any pets? Yes. Right now we have a guinea pig and two bunnies
• What was the last book you read? A boring book on how to value Intellectual Property (my boss paid me to read it for him! LOL)
• Do you like to cook? Yes. Just hate to clean up the mess afterward
• What's your favorite food? I'm partial to beef: Prime Rib, Filet Mignon…
• Are you good at cooking/swimming/etc? I'm good at cooking; writing and singing songs; other writing such as speeches, essays and short stories; web-related stuff such as building websites,
doing research, etc. and I'm also pretty good at teaching people computer-related stuff. Not a really good swimmer, but I can do it well enough to keep from drowning if I fall into water that's over my head!
• Are you married or single? Married to the same man for 19½ years.
• Do you have brothers and sisters? Not from my mother… my father had other children but I have never met any of them. I would like to, though.
    o Are they older or younger than you? Older… as old as my mother
• Do you like baseball? More than football… but less than equestrian events, ice skating or dance competitions.
• Do you live alone? Nope.
• Do you live in a house or an apartment? A 1080 sq. ft. house with 6 other people!
• Have you ever lived in another country? Does six weeks count as "living" there?
• Have you ever met a famous person? Yes, but I don't care to elaborate.
• How do you spend your free time? Free time? What's that?
• Is English your native tongue, if not... what is? Yes.
• How long have you been studying English? Since before I was born, LOL
• How old are you? 40
• How tall are you? 5'4"
• Tell me about a favorite event of your adulthood. In March of this year I went and purchased my very first brand-new vehicle without a co-signer… that made me feel very grown-up, LOL
• Tell me about a favorite event of your childhood. Opening my first Polaroid camera from my mother one Christmas.
• What are your hobbies? Reading both fiction and non-fiction: especially biographies; writing songs, poems, essays, speeches and short stories (also working on two novels and an informational book)
• What two things could you not do when you were.....? When I was pregnant I could not go to loud nightclubs or ride the roller coasters at Disney World (haven't been back since!)
• What countries have you visited? Only Canada and Peru
• What country are you from? The USA
• What do you do on Sundays? Laundry, usually…
• What do you do? What's your job? I'm a webmistress and singer/songwriter
• What do you like to do in your free time? Watch movies and catch up on reading
• What is the nearest bus stop or train station to your house? The nearest bus stop is at Adams Street & 26th for the #6 bus (3 blocks away) and the tri-rail station is about a mile from my house • What is the nearest airport to where you live? Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
• What is your motto? "Maybe I can not help everybody, but that does not mean I should not try."
• What is your religion? My beliefs are Judeo-Christian, but we do not attend church.
• What kind of food do you like? All kinds… my favorite is probably just good old American grilled steaks with green beans and a baked potato loaded with lots of butter, sour cream & chives • What kind of people do you like? Creative people, intelligent people, optimistic, hopeful people
• What kind of people do you not like? Rude, nasty, inconsiderate, negative, pessimistic people and those who choose to be ignorant despite obvious intelligence.
• What languages do you speak? English and pig latin, LOL
• What two things could you not do when you were a child, but you can do now? Drive a car and drink alcohol
• What's something you do well? Write compelling songs
• What's your address? mizlydia @ gmail.com
PLEASE FOLKS, DON'T GIVE YOUR HOME ADDRESS PUBLICLY IN HERE! EMAIL, P.O. BOXES OR BUSINESS ADDRESSES ONLY!!!
• What's your father like? Deceased. He was a colorful character. Loved the ocean and had no legs from the knee down.
• What's your mother like? Also deceased. She was highly creative, intelligent, a do-it-yourselfer through and through.
• Where are you from? I was raised in Springdale, Ohio.
• Where were you born? I was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey
• Which sports do you like? Ice skating, dance competitions, equestrian events such as steeplechase and harness racing
• Who do you live with? My husband and five kids
• Who do you respect the most? God
• Who has had the most influence in your life? God
• Do you have a blog? If so, why did you decide to create a blog? Yes. To be able to record my thoughts publicly, and get occasional feedback from the rest of the world.
• Would you like to be famous? Yes, but reclusively so.
• What do you think you will be doing five years from now? Adopting children who have little hope of being chosen (older kids, kids with siblings, etc.)
    o Where do you think you'll be living five years from now? On a huge ranch in Montana!
• What is your goal in life? To glorify God by using the talents He gave me so that when my life is over I can truly say I did the very best I could have done.
• Are you a 'morning' or 'night' person? It varies according to what's going on in my life.
• When do you feel best? In the morning, afternoon, or evening? See the previous question
• Do you have a favorite time of year? No.
• How many cities have you lived in? That depends on how long you must live there to qualify as having lived there as opposed to only visiting. Long term, only two: Springdale and Hollywood.
• What jobs have you done? If I listed all of those it would take a full page by itself. Suffice it to say many and varied: I'm not too proud to work, nor afraid to learn new things.
• Which do you prefer, sunrises or sunsets? Neither. Both are equally breathtaking in their beauty. However, as several of those who responded to this question in the groups pointed out: sunset comes at a MUCH more convenient time of day!
• What could you do as a child that you can't do now? Hug and kiss my mother. I miss that more than any other single thing. In fact, I would give my right arm to have one more day with her!
• Who is your next door neighbor? A lady named Sonia
    o What is he or she like? Very nice… loves to have parties during the holidays (any holidays!)
    o Are you friendly with each other? Not "touchy-feely" friendly, but we chat and borrow cups of milk or sugar, etc. from each other
• How many times did you move as a child? Never. I lived in the same house until I grew up and left home.
• Are you a task oriented person or a people oriented person? Both… at different times.
• If you're single, what is the profile of the wife/husband
you would like to meet? I have to skip this one, cuz I'm married.

Humbug?

Okay. I don't need any of you to tell me that the last post was rather "Scrooge-y". I guess to sum it up, I would prefer either cash or a dontation to charity in my name over being given things I don't want or need and can't use. At least, unlike in the past... it doesn't have to go to waste any more: there's always Freecycle!

No dice

Well, I guess they decided my portfolio was too slim to show my skills... and didn't want to take a chance on me. That's fine. I've since changed my posting on craigslist to say I'm not interested in a 9-5 "in-house" position.

Got my game plan in order... so I'll be going out on Monday to visit the first of the printers. I hope I won't have to go through the entire list before I find one that's interested. Once I have these brochures and biz cards in my possession, I'll move on to phase two... which will be to take them, in person, to local businesses. I think I'll get a better response that way than by mailing them out or choosing some form of media for advertising.

Any thoughts on this anyone? If there are any flaws in my thinking I'd prefer that they were pointed out before I hit the pavement...

Plan of action

Gosh! My blog is DEAD! Nobody comments anymore. I changed it back to public now that blogger has moderation for comments... but I guess it's going to take some effort on my part to write more and give people something worth stopping by here for.

Well... I think I've finally found traction, so to speak (no more spinning my wheels)

I can't say I'm not nervous, since I'm getting behind on the bills again, but since it's only by a few days so far, it's not too bad... just stinks that I'm so broke at this time of year. But I'll get over it.

I've interviewed with someone who got my resume from craigslist... and it's a job I'd take if it were offered, although I really hadn't planned to do the "9 to 5" again... it's close to home, looks promising (creative environment, interesting people and challenging work) and IS a steady paycheck. They also know I freelance so they won't be upset about that. We'll see...

I also went to see a guy today about working for him, but if he calls back, I will most likely tell him no. He was very annoying both on the phone prior to meeting him as well as in person. I can only imagine the ulcers he causes in those who must be around him from day to day. I have a choice: just say no to misery!

My primary client right now is mulling over the options I gave him for a maintenance agreement and I am working on secondary template sites that are related to the main project. I don't expect to obtain any further funds from that until after the first of the year.

So... what I have decided to do is work on getting the printing I need by bartering. To this end I have compiled a list of local printers who either do not have websites or whose websites could use a little "freshening up" (minor changes such as rollovers for the graphics, etc.)

I'll be pleased as punch if I can barter web services for printing what I need the way I want it to be printed. I'm quite sure my brochures will get me more work once I have them available to hand out.

I don't intend to mass market. I will visit businesses in person, and if they're not at all interested, I won't waste my brochures on them. My goal is to obtain more work than I can handle so I can start putting other people to work as well.

Wish me luck! Although I know my effort is worth a boatload of luck in the long run... luck might get me in the door, but it's my talent that will keep me there.

Ch ch ch ch changes

Well, I was starting to move my blog over to my own server, but realized that there's a lot of work involved, like fixing the archive links & so forth... so decided to just keep it there for backup right now. Might do something with it in the future, but don't know. Makes me feel better to know I have all my entries backed up in case something should happen, but...

If I don't get some work soon, I'm going to get ever more creative in making my sites look more appealing. Sooner or later that's bound to get me somewhere... right?

I think I'm LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG overdue for a serious return to my music... so my primary goal for 2006 is to publish my catalog properly so that Dolly Parton will sing "Take a Little Ginseng" or another artist (any artist) will record my material!

A little help here?

Okay. I've been doing my best online to find more work... but not really coming up with anything. Gotta pay the bills, and prefer not to be boxed into an office again if I can avoid it, since the kids like for me to be available for rides & such. (And I like to do it, so at least I can touch base with them here and there)

I'm going to start seeking some local business offline, but would like some suggestions from other business people how best to go about this. I've created brochures and business cards... but they're not coming out very nice on my home printer. So I'm going to have to go to the expense of having them printed professionally. Since this is a serious investment in my future, I don't want to waste it. I'll have a limited number to pass around to the public, and I want to make sure I choose wisely where they go.

Should I give them only to the businesses I'm most interested in designing sites for? Or should I look at local websites online, and go visit their owners in person to discuss how a redesign would improve their bottom line? OR should I look in the phone book or walk around to local businesses to find out who DOES NOT have a website... and might want/need one? Or... all of the above? A little bit of each? Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!

I haven't priced my print jobs yet... but the budget will most definitely be tight. However, I feel this is a move that I must make if I don't want to be forced back into another nightmare commuting situation or the like. I do hope I'll get a comment or two on this one that provides a bit of food for further thought!

Plug time...

I've been reading through a site that I feel deserves mentioning here. In fact, I'll probably list it on my links after posting this. The site is http://tor.cc and it is a wealth of information for those who are considering the purchase and rigging of a sailboat, as well as for those who are planning to purchase an RV for land-cruising. For example, one tidbit of information I found was this: many Walmarts allow people in RVs to park overnight for free! Read through Tor's fascinating adventures yourself and see if you don't agree that this fellow has a fabulous ability to paint a picture for you - a talent that I personally value quite highly. He's led an extraordinary life, and I'd love to hear what anyone who reads his material has to say!

Congratulate me!

Today I signed the contract and obtained the deposit for my first REAL freelance website design job. The others were not official... they were either under-the-table or for friends, and there's one that's for charity.... but this one is 20-30 page main site and later 5 - page affiliate sites. Of course, since I have had to fill out a W-9 for this one, I will have to report it on my taxes... but since it's November, it won't be a lot, and I hope to have Rainbow Websites completely legitimized by the time I'm ready to negotiate the next contract. (No later than January 1!)

Update

We had our power restored last Sunday at 5:30 pm, 11.5 hours shy of having been out for 2 weeks.

I'm still in a transitional period, since I left the distant job and have begun to acquire more freelance work. Delayed a bit on getting my new biz incorporated, but got a lot going on right now.

In addition to the NaNoWriMo novel, I'm also working on a nonfiction book and associated products that will be for sale. More about that as it develops!

Got my minivan repaired and next day it was dented by a football. No paint damage though, so I'll live with it. As long as there's no worries about rust!

Managing...

We have not had power since 5am on October 24th... and may not have it back for another week or more. My son's gf's family got theirs back so they lent us their generator.

Sigh. Nice to have power... but it's still not enough to run the washer & dryer, hot water heater or stove! Guess I'll be hitting the laundrymat tomorrow. I need clean shorts to wear... it's been nearly 90 degrees out lately!

Something I got from email... U do it 2!

Bold all those that you ever were guilty of doing. When you are done, add one thing that is true about yourself to the end, then post the list to your blog. (In my case I'm also changing the font color, because bold wasn't showing up on my blog)

I’ve run away from home.
I listen to political music.
I collect comic books.
I shut others out when I’m sad.
I open up to others easily.
I am keeping a secret from the world.
I watch the news.
I own over 5 rap CDs.
I own an ipod.
I own something from Hot Topic.
I love Disney movies.
I am a sucker for hair/eyes.
I don’t kill bugs.
I may kill anything that crawls (Bugs)
I have “x”s in my screen name.
I’ve slipped out a “lol” in a real conversation.
I love Spam.
I bake well.
I would wear pajamas to school/work. (I work primarily from home now, so why not?)
I own something from Abercrombie.
I have a job.
I love Martha Stewart.
I am in love with someone.
I am guilty of tYpInG lIkE tHiS.
I am self conscious.
I like to laugh.
I smoke a pack a day.
I loved Go Ask Alice.
I have cough drops when I’m not sick.
I can’t swallow pills.
I quit smoking.
I have many scars
I’ve been out of this country.
I believe in ghosts.
I can’t sleep if there is a spider in the room.
I am really ticklish.
I love chocolate. (But it has to be rich, creamy and preferably DARK)
I bite my nails.
I am comfortable with being me.
I play computer games/video games when I’m bored.
Gotten lost in the city. (Which city? I've been lost in a few!)
Saw a shooting star.
I have had 2 serious surgical procedures.
I have kissed a stranger.
Hugged a stranger.
Been in a fist fight with the same sex.
Been arrested.
Laughed and had milk/soda come out of your nose.
Pushed all the buttons on an elevator.
Made out in an elevator.
Sworn at my parents. (Mother)
Kicked a guy where it hurts.
Been skydiving.
Been bungee jumping.
Broken a bone.
Played spin the bottle.
Gotten stitches.
Bitten someone.
Been to Niagara Falls.
Gotten the chicken pox.
Crashed into a car.
Been to Asia.
Ridden in a taxi.
Shoplifted.
Been fired.
Had feelings for someone who didn’t have them back.
Had a crush on a teacher/coach.
Celebrated Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
Been to Europe.
Slept with a co-worker.
Been married.
Gotten divorced.
Saw someone dying.
Driven over 400 miles in one day.
Been to Canada. (For about 15 minutes... long story)
Been on a plane.
Seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show. (At home on DVD)
Thrown up in a bar. (Does outside the bar's door count?)
Eaten Sushi. Only JB rolls and Pad Thai... do they count?
Been snowboarding.
Been skiing.
Been ice skating.
Met someone in person from the internet.
Been to a car show.
Gone to college.
Done hard drugs.
Taken painkillers.
Met a celebrity.
I like playing practical jokes.
Seen all nine seasons of the X-Files.
Once swore Disco would never die.
Seen a ghost.
Attended a professional sporting event.
Attended a live rock concert.
Stayed up all night.
Lied about my name.
Thrown something at a spouse
After a night out, have gone straight to work without going home. (I don't remember if I did or not!!!)
I cut all the wires in my husband's car for spite.
Had sex on a boat out on a lake.
Smoked weed at a rock concert.
Left a "paycheck" job to work from home.

The ABC's of employment in web design

A is for attitude. I was told I got the job because of my attitude, and apparently my attitude was the primary reason for my leaving as well. However, while I was told that "bad attitudes are not allowed in the office, they must be left at the door" my boss did not practice what he preached. (Who truly does?)

B is for business. I learned a lot about how to run a web-design firm while I was there... but not how to run a business. In fact, quite the contrary: I learned how NOT to run a business. For example: taking one long weekend a month to go sailing when you have clients whose problems you're ignoring (and whom you haven't even informed of your absence) is a no-no.

C is for Clients. Clients are the backbone of a service-oriented business. Without them: you have no business. It is not good PR to let clients think you're ignoring them. (Or to blame it on your secretary when it's really YOUR fault that you didn't get back to them or whatever)

D is for determination. I have been propelled forward in my determinaton to run my own business and not have to put up with someone else's malarkey again.

E is for Example. I believe that if you're going to sell websites, first and foremost your own should be a shining example. To this end I created a new site devoted solely to that purpose. Clients are put-off by a crappy site.

F is for fun. If you're having fun with what you choose to do for a living... it's not as strenuous as it is if it reaches a point where you're not anymore. I could not live for long with a job that was mundane and routine. When it's no longer enjoyable, it's time to consider a change of strategy. (Like a ship must change course on occasion!)

G is for guts. You have to have guts to make it in any business... if you don't: you'll never get out of the gate.

H is for happiness. Happiness is not as elusive as many profess. The truth is we are all as happy as we choose to allow ourselves to be. Working at a job we hate is a sure-fire way to avoid happiness.

I is for ineptitude. It cannot be hidden, and is only magnified by any attempts to do so. Ignorance should not be confused with ineptitude, as ignorance can be remedied with sufficient education, but ineptitude is often an ingrained ambivalence revealing itself through disinterest in one's work... leading to sloppiness.

J is for J.O.B. This has been defined as "Just Over Broke" which is truly what most paychecks leave you after all your concentrated effort. Rather than make what you can then figure out how to live on it, why not choose how you want to live, then do what you must to support that lifestyle? When the rewards are satisfying it's much easier to maintain discipline and press forward.

K is for kind. It is essential that you be kind to yourself, or you will be less inclined to do likewise for others. When you have treated yourself well, it extends to the world around you, and makes you want to treat others with kindness also.

L is for lies. Lies are never good... and when you tell others that you didn't do what you told them you would because of your secretary, that's just plain lame. Own up to your inadequacies, and overcome them. When you lie, you're truly deceiving yourself more than anyone else.

M is for management. Management must be applied, not implied. Someone has to take control of the situation, and if no one does, everyone loses.

N is for necessity. The old adage, "necessity is the mother of invention" could not be more accurate. In fact, if it were not true: you would not be sitting at a computer reading this right now.

O is for office. While offices are important, it is essential that more office space than necessary be avoided. The extra expense of the additional space could be put to much better use paying someone to telecommute for more hours than you would be able to afford to pay them if you had to maintain another office and its ancillary equipment.

P is for payroll. If you have fewer than five employees, it's ludicrous to have a payroll company or an employee devoted exclusively to payroll. It makes much more sense to hire each individual as independent contractors, responsible for their own taxes, etc. until the business can support the additional expense a payroll entails.

Q is for quick. When you're in the business of creating and maintaining complex web-stores for high-end clients who are accustomed to raking in thousands of dollars daily through their sites, it's not an option to be "unavailable" in case of emergency. For those people, every minute their site is inoperable has dollar signs attached to it.

R is for reliable. Set a schedule and stick to it. If people feel that they can never find or reach you when they need you, they'll move their business over to someone else. If not now... eventually. Loyalty only stretches so far!

S is for style. Style can often compensate for lack of talent to some degree... but all style with no talent will get you nowhere. If you have a lot of style but no talent, your best bet is to partner up with your opposite: someone who has lots of talent but no real style.

T is for tools. We all know that there are special tools for every job. If you have a preference for what you want someone to use, make sure they have it. Don't skimp on this, because it will give you headaches in the end if you do.

U is for unreliable. If your clients continuously get the run-around every time they try to reach you, they'll soon peg you as unreliable, and before long they will be someone else's clients.

V is for vision. It requires vision to propel a successful business through the murky depths of consumer demand and market saturation.

W is for willingness. With willingness to put forth the required effort, an incredible amount of cooperation can be obtained.

X is for the variable x. Your income is x. X can be big or little... but it will not grow without either dedicated effort or unbelievable luck. The latter is so rare it's not likely enough to rely upon.

Z is for zero. Zero is the number of times someone has ever succeeded without making any mistakes. You may want to re-read that. The fact is: we all make mistakes. We're only human. But focusing on the mistakes rather than the solutions will get us nowhere.

Quit my job

Well, I decided it was time to give up the agony of schlepping 50 miles round trip sometimes for less than two hours' worth of work. My boss made it really easy. If I don't get too buried in work here... I'll log in later and post some more on the subject.

Just droppin' in...

And hopefully will be able to do so more and more now that I'm working on shifting to freelance (is it still called that when I finish incorporating my business?) work from home rather than the 50-mile round-trip schlep I have to take to work at my official "job".

Still gonna work for him and the other PT boss for the foreseeable future... but not every day. Wish me luck!

Rainbow Websites

It's finished and online at http://www.rainbow-websites.com. I'm so thrilled with the way it turned out. I still need to add content to a few pages, but I'm at work right now, so it will have to wait. Comments?

New Website

I'm building a new website for marketing my web skills. It's cleanly coded and not at all like my experimental octopus of a site that I currently have. I intend to break down my sites into separate categories, each having its own unique flavor. Stay tuned for the URLs... I'll put them up as soon as I've secured my hosting and such.

BTW...

I've noticed that there are several things I mis-edited on this blog. I'm planning a complete site overhaul... and this will probably be on the back burner for a long time as a result. Sorry.

Shelter from the Storm

Are you looking for a song that will help raise money for charity? Do you need lyrics? I want to help the disaster victims... and the best way I can do that is through offering my unique talent.

I don't know who might stumble upon my blog, etc. but I hope someone who might be able to use my lyrics finds this. I am willing to assign all rights to this song to a relief organization, but I don't currently have the wherewithal to record it properly. If anyone is interested, I can record a rudimentary version to give an idea of the melody.

This song is very deep and meaningful. It took me seven years of rewrites to complete. Encompassing all five senses, I had originally hoped to join it with news footage from disasters and wars, famines, etc. to produce a flash movie or some such for charitable release. Please, if you have any interest in using it... let me know!

Shelter from the Storm

Perceptions

Katrina caught us off-guard here in South Florida. Seriously... we did not give it a second thought. No one here boarded up, put down their shutters, nada. Zip, zero, zilch. At least, if they did: I didn't see it.

A category one hurricane, she gave us a few headaches but moved along swiftly, unlike her sluggish but nasty sister Frances last year... whom we thought would never leave!

THEN Katrina hauled ass into the Gulf to marshal her resources, where she had the optimal conditions to strengthen for her next assault.

I believe the Gulf Coast was somehow as skeptical as we were when they beheld the approach of this monster storm. After so many false alarms and near-misses, when the boy cried wolf, too few were willing to heed that call.

And now? It boggles the mind to consider that the dead are now being projected to top ten thousand. Yikes. In a "civilized" society.

Oh, but they say "who died"? "The bums. Prostitutes. Junkies. People who were too 'busy' to bother saving their own butts". Maybe. But also the elderly and feeble-minded... CHILDREN and the weak whom those of us who are stronger are allegedly foresworn to champion. Or is it all just a grand illusion? Who is really looking out for your best interests. Tell me.

Is it the Federal Government? Charities? Ourselves? God or whom/whatever you deem your "higher power" to be?

Tell me.

You know what I think? There is no use in playing any kind of a blame game. That will not improve the situation, nor will grandstanding. We all know that the only true way to help these people right now is not to just give them a bite to eat and a bag of diapers... although those will help to ease the transition.

Remember the old adage: "give a man a fish, feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, feed him for life"? Well, in a nutshell, we need to teach these poor folks to fish.

We have, in essence, the equivalent of a moderate-sized city, now homeless. Charity can keep them from falling completely flat, but they need to move swiftly beyond that to the next step or the situation will snowball into the worst fiasco the world has ever seen.

What I would like to see here, in my comments section, is concrete, feasible ideas on how that humongous group of refugees can not only survive, but thrive. Hit me! I'm waiting...

Katrina caught us by surprise!

We lost power for the last couple of days but didn't have any serious damage... heading to take my first hot bath in a few days. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Letter to the school board

I felt compelled to send the following email to our school district's superintendant last night. Can't believe it turned out to be so long! (I left out his name here, as well as the county... so it would be more generic)

The subject line on this letter read:
Saving trees and improving efficiency

(Personal letter from a parent)

Dear Sir,

I know you are terribly busy, and I will try to be as concise as possible.

I have five kids, and have not always had them enrolled in public schools, but I've noticed a few things over the course of my involvement with the school system, and feel I would be remiss in not mentioning them.

Primarily, as you may have deduced from my subject line, there are far too many papers which are required to be filled out OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AD NAUSEUM every year, even if the information is no different than it was the year before. I do understand the necessity for documentation... however, it stands to reason that there should be a "short form" i.e. a "nothing's changed" form, if you will... to expedite matters. In addition to this (and I would be pleased to assist in its creation if necessary) a database of this information should be easily accessible and updateable by parents online. Trees... hard to replace, and yet we could save so many by striving to streamline the manner in which our documentation is handled, kind sir.

In addition to this, I have noticed that the agenda books, printed at great expense to (I assume) the taxpayers, have calendars which begin when the school year does, yet the students never receive them prior to the school year's start, when they might prove to be the most useful. I propose that these be distributed earlier, so as to assist students in preparing themselves for the next school year in a properly organized manner. Likewise, the ubiquitous "school supply lists" which are not given out until "day one" could be distributed with the planners, or even incorporated *into* them (and/or the website) to help alleviate the "mad rush" of desperate parents who grow ever more sleep-deprived attempting to find all the (sold-out) items on Junior's list. If the lists were given out along with the planners *over the summer*, then the shopping could be done at (the parents')leisure and the aisles of local stores would not be crammed with maniacs searching for that stuff the teacher said their kid MUST have by tomorrow OR ELSE! (You know how it is with kids!) Never mind the fact that we could just keep ourselves stocked up on "the usual" and stay out of the melee.

Finally, just a thought (I looked for it on the School Board's website) does the district help to organize any car pools? I think it would work wonders for the average family if there were school-organized carpool groups.

I work two jobs and could use a third to help make ends meet in this tough economy. I hope you'll take my suggestions in the spirit with which they're offered... and with a smile. I'm really impressed by improvements I've seen in the past few years, and am pleased to currently have three of my children attending the district's Schools (it would be four, but there's no room in pre-K3).

Sincerely, and with the best of wishes,

Lydia Shelley

I forgot to mention the sold-out "gym" attire (which has to be certain colors for each school)

Long overdue update

Well, I'm busier than ever, and things have a way of working themselves out. Will post more when I have some time... but suffice it to say my bills for the next few weeks are covered, at least. Beyond that, I'm not so sure. However, I think it's going to be fine, because the balance between the two jobs is beginning to emerge.

That still doesn't excuse me from getting down to work on my music again, though. Grrrrrr

Advice, please...

I found myself to be somewhat distraught earlier today,which was further compounded by the lack of a nearby (and sufficiently wise) close friend or relative in whom to confide in for advice.

Running through the list of people I know, I could not think of anyone whose insight would be beneficial... until I thought of YOU... dear readers.

I value your opinions and viewpoints a great deal, and I'm sure you'll have something to tell me... so here is the long and short of it:

I have been working for several months now, steadily... but do not have a full time position anywhere yet. My hours are irregular... and my bills are about to increase due to the fact that I must soon begin to repay my student loan. Not to mention the fact that the kids need school clothes for next month...

I already quit the most distressing job, the one that paid the least and required little (if any) of the education I must soon pay for...

My primary job is shaky. I love the boss, have my own office with a lovely view of a small forest, and do work that I enjoy immensely (stuff that I went to school for). However, although he's a brilliant man from whom I have learned a great deal... he is not managing things well in many respects and I fear that I won't be working more than 20-25 hours/week for him at any time soon. Also, this job is a great distance from home... so it costs me a significant amount each month just to get to and from work. Let me add that when I took this job, it was as a paid internship, and that he agreed to pay what I was asking due to the long distance I have to travel.

My secondary job is questionable... as his ability to pay me rests with his sales... so if there are none he may have to abruptly call a halt to my employment, or I could be laid off until such time as his finances improve. He has given me no indication that any such thing might be likely, however, and recently has been hopeful that I can put in more hours for him (while the other boss is fretting that he's letting me work TOO many hours and that he may not be able to afford to pay me and his other bills) This man can be somewhat short-tempered, but he's not mean like the first one I worked for this year. HERE I must add that he gave me a $1/hour raise two weeks ago... and promises generous bonuses "if and when".

So, as you see, I find myself on the horns of a dilemma. What to do? What to do?

I have come up with several potential solutions, upon which I hope you'll freely comment, as well as offering additional ideas that may not have occurred to me.

1. Find a good-paying full-time job close to home, regardless of whether I like the boss or the work I'm doing.

2. Tough it out with things as they are and have faith that they'll improve.

3. Offer the following three options to boss #1:

a. Volunteer to stay longer hours (off the clock) so we can clear some of the backlog and forge ahead

b. Telecommute and let him pay me less per hour since the gas/tolls will no longer be a factor

c.Barter my time... in other words, stay longer, but work on my own projects, and ask his assistance where required, but in exchange, be available during that time to drop what I'm doing (on my own projects) and sink my teeth into something he needs done on the spur of the moment.

As you can see, I've given this a great deal of thought. I've shed a few tears over it, agonized, and do not want to jump from the proverbial frying pan into the fire.

I sincerely hope someone in the vast blogosphere can illuminate my path through this murky portion of my journey. Thanks for caring enough to read this far!

Gotta share!

Things have been topsy turvy, and I've been working all I can to cover all my bases, which I've done fairly well. Sometimes (like most folks) I get nervous about "keeping the hamster wheel going" and continuing to stay afloat.

This week I had two portentious omens, which I feel are significant to me. On my way to my first (primary) job at the beginning of the week, I saw a rainbow in the west. This job happens to lie west of where I do, so I felt that my week was truly blessed at that point... but didn't have any idea how that would play out.

Suffice it to say that despite a bit of concern over my boss's apparent disappearance on Monday (which was promptly cleared up on Tuesday) this week has been a pretty good one at that office. We are actually going to be written up in a local paper, part of an article about one of our clients that was sparked by a recent press release. As that boss says: "Life is GOOD."

On my second job, sometimes I don't work very many hours... but he has a lot of great ideas for future work, which may really turn out to be beneficial to me.

While leaving the second job yesterday, I saw a faint rainbow, then a glorious DOUBLE rainbow to the east. This job (as you may surmise) lies to the east of where I live...

Today, the east boss gave me a $1/hr raise. Right now that only amounts to about $10/wk... but he also mentioned some other work that he would like me to get involved in, he just wasn't sure if I could find the time for it. I told him I would make time for something particularly worthwhile.

Stay tuned for further developments.

I'm sorry I don't mention the names of my current employers or their companies, but I'm wary of being "Dooced" and prefer to protect them from association with my (ahem) colorful self through anonymity.

However, if one of them reads this and would like for me to add links to their sites and tell my readers who they are, I'd be happy to oblige.
: )

Oh... forgot to mention, I'm also tutoring a former coworker in Miami. I try to make it by there for a few hours every weekend. He had never had/used a computer, so I got him one, initially through Freecycle, then later traded up to a more useful machine when he began to progress. Now he's ready to speed up his 'net access (tired of dialup already) and we're getting him hooked up with broadband cable.

Wow! That was LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG! See what happens when I let my fingers do the talking?

Update... short but sweet!

Okay, I admit it, I've neglected my blogging lately... but in exchange I've begun to have more of an offline life, so there you go. I'm sure if you look back... from September of 2002 'til June of 2004 I doubt I blogged much, since I was a full-time college student.

Anyway, should anyone wish me to return to blogging daily... I figure if I have a sponsor willing to put up about $1,000-1,500/month I could swing it, and have time to write the great American novel as well. Anyone interested?

I didn't think so. But you can't blame a girl for trying, can you???

P.S. I've had a few glasses of wine... does it show?

Glory Hallelujah!

My son couldn't buy the Jeep he wanted, so he bought me a laptop for my birthday instead. Of course, I insisted on repaying him so that he can replenish his car fund, but I sure do love this machine! It has built-in wireless... and my city has free wireless access downtown. I stopped off today after work to try it... it was awesome to sit in my car and chat on an IM + check email, etc.

I think 2005 is going to go down in my books as a very good year. I just hope that doesn't mean that next year's gonna SUCK by comparison.

I'm thinking about buying a condo at the beach in a building where they rent them out for you as hotel rooms during the "season" and that pays your mortgage... so in "off-season" you and your family can enjoy it. (To be honest, I prefer OFF season at the beach anyway... because I like it when the ocean feels like BATHWATER.) Well... anyway, that's a plan for NEXT YEAR so maybe it won't suck so bad after all.

Catching my breath

Well, it's been a while since I took the time to post, so here's the nutshell version:

Finally quit Telephone Takeout, working an average of 20 hours/week for a web design company ($15/hr) and avg of 10 hours/week for Venture Yachts.

Also still doing some tutoring on the side, so while I have a little more breathing space than I did while working for Telephone Takeout, it's by no means RESTFUL, LOL

My 40th birthday came on June 3 and I'm still a size 16 (American) about 160 lbs. Really need to get my ass back to the gym, thinking about trying it one day a week & work my way up from there. Not sure. Don't want to get sick and make things worse!

For my birthday I went to Sam Ash and bought myself a brand new guitar, so now I have an instrument that would be suitable for playing gigs. Stay tuned!
: )

Sick. Very sick.

I've been so sick this week... working THREE jobs is killing me. I need to quit Telephone Takeout SOON.
: (

Never a dull moment!

I have been working two jobs... so I rarely have any free time. Just wanted to drop by here and let everyone know that I'm thinking about y'all even if I can't stop to smell the roses at the moment.

I'll catch up just as soon as possible. I hate that I haven't been blogging... because so many things that I would like to remember will be gone forever! Gotta find the time somehow.

: )

Is it time to make the donuts?

I MADE the donuts!

Ahead of schedule...

For the moment, anyway. That won't last long... but I was expecting someone at noon and she came at 11 and has already gone... so I'm doing good on time!

I still have to work tonight, but since it's payday on that job, I don't mind.
: )

OMG!

I can't believe I have been so busy! I have been working two jobs, and earlier in the week had to give up on trying to work out on TOP of all that. Happy though... earning money faster than I can spend it now, which is good cuz my car payments are going to be as high as our mortgage...

Sooooo tired

Been a long day... had the alarm installed in my new car today, ran some errands, went to work this evening, then performed my cardio w/o

I'm pooped.

Ups & Downs

I had a mixed day today, but more bad than good, I'm afraid! Too tired to talk about it... but I'm about to choke my kid who's being mean to the baby. They lie around here all day doing no chores or anything, then whine when I ask 'em to do ANYTHING. I am SO sick of it!

I GOT A BRAND NEW MINIVAN!

I was afraid my old junker wasn't going to hang on much longer, so I went today to see if I could qualify for a loan... and DID! WITHOUT A CO-SIGNER!!! Needless to say, I am thrilled. It's a 2005 Kia Sedona LX Minivan.
: )

Looooooooooooong day...

And tomorrow looks like a bear. Maybe I'll find the time to fill y'all in on it...

Oh, BTW... my son got a raise: $1.50/hr!

Frantic!

I'm trying to get used to all this running around... can't wait 'til I adjust. Gotta get to bed now... worked both jobs today and working again in the morning. I'll catch up online over the weekend, I hope!

Huge sigh of relief

Got through the taping today for Freecycle, but I didn't have to appear on camera (thank God!) just there for Michelle's moral support... and to watch the baby when they got to the computer part!

Who's that knocking at my window?

I was completely absorbed in my work on the computer today, when I hear this "rat-a-tat-tat" sound, a couple of times... but didn't think anything of it, figuring perhaps my boss was hanging some new pictures (as he is wont to do) or something like that.

Well, a few minutes later, he comes walking into my office, saying "Did you hear that?" and I said "Yes, but I thought it was you!"

So he walks over to the window (mind you, we're on the second floor... no walkway nor stairs outside) and raises the shade.

"I have a little visitor who comes 'round once a year," he said, then modified that to say "well, dunno about that... he looks young!" and there sat a little red-headed woodpecker, just as pretty as you please.

I took a few shots with my camera phone, but not sure how well they turned out. Need to upload 'em.
: )

Frantically busy

Working both jobs tomorrow, then have the Channel 7 News thing on Wednesday... tired. Going to bed. See y'all soon!
: )

Major SNAFU

Hit a snag in typing up the songwriter's lyrics:

My daughter is "helping me" and expecting to get half the pay, no doubt...

Anyway, she typed up a WHOLE VOLUME (A 3-ring notebook) full of lyrics, and when she told me she was done, I took a floppy in there and saved it to the floppy... but didn't check it. (Mistake #1)

Then I got busy and didn't have time to check it for a while... and since she didn't hear from me that I didn't have a good copy: she deleted it from her hard drive (Mistake #2) and even went so far as to empty her recycling bin (Mistake #3)

So now I'll have to re-type a volume she had already typed, because she's already working on volume 5 (I was doing volume 4 when this occurred...)

Needless to say this puts me WAY behind schedule on the project, and I didn't even email with a progress report to the songwriter this week out of sheer embarrassment.
: (

New Job

I worked at both jobs yesterday, so never got online at home to catch up. Here's the scoop:

My first two days at work were great... although I almost got fired for being too slow, but he said that he hired me because of my attitude and potential, so he's just going to try to bring me "up to speed" as quickly as possible.

He's a VERY nice guy, and definitely does need assistance, but it's not just with the web part, I'm really doing more "gal friday" kinda stuff, like answering phones, greeting clients, etc.

I do wanna make sure he doesn't decide I'm not worth the money he's paying me!

Got the world's greatest boss... for sure. It's a long drive, but worth it to me... guys like him and jobs like this one don't come along every day. I want to prove him right about my potential.

Got my own office next to his and my own desk, computer, etc.

Cross your fingers, say a prayer... I do NOT want to lose this job!

Nervouser and nervouser

I am starting my new job tomorrow, and have to drive a long way to get there... then I'm scheduled to work at the evening job, so I'm really nervous about how it's all going to go.

Also, the local news is interested in doing a story about The Freecycle Network and that's really exciting although nerve-wracking!

Better watch what you ask for!

You might just get it.

I have work coming out the wazoo... and no end in sight. Housework, freelance work, two part-time jobs, and the list goes on.

Now if I could only get a halfway decent car before mine bites the dust...

What a day!

I'm glad it's almost over. I will be glad to lie down and go to sleep. Oy!

Strange and stranger

I went to Ft. Lauderdale today to see a guy who needs help organizing a bunch of stuff he has. On my way out of the area, I passed by a very busy bar (it was getting into the evening hours) and several drunk tourists with British accents begged for a ride, so I picked 'em up & drove 'em to Ft. Lauderdale beach, where they got out and paid me $13 for the ride. Not bad, eh?

I dunno if the guy who wanted the organizing done will call me or not. But it made for an interesting evening for me!
: )

Gonna be out late

So I don't know if I'll get a chance to post anything later. Going to work at 6 and tutoring a coworker afterwards. (Gotta remember to bring a phone cord with me... he's itching to go on the internet!)

Probably won't get home 'til 11:30-12 and ain't gonna log on THEN!

Got a job

But not going to say a whole lot about it, since I would rather not join the ranks of the "dooced"!

However, I will say that it's mostly hand-coding HTML (a few other things, but that is the bulk of it) for someone who does cgi programming (shopping carts & stuff)

Starting out at about ten hours/week gradually working up to full time... which is fine for me because I'm really not used to working fulltime outside the home!

A bit of a drive, but he agreed to pay me the $15/hr I said I'd require to work that far from home...

What else is there to say? He's still setting up the office I'll be working in, next door to his, and I should be starting next week, midweek.
: )

Another one drops off the map...

Sigh. I hate to see bloggers disappear. You know who you are... contact me if you read this...
: )

Step into the past

It's easier than you think!
; )

'Nother side o' me

Did I ever tell y'all I REALLY enjoy a glass (or several) of Carlo Rossi Chablis?

Please don't judge me.
: )~

Sleepy

Doing too much... catch up with y'all later.
Sorry!
: )

If I could turn back time...

If I could find a way...

Getting late...

Been up since 5am and it's 10pm... don't think I'm gonna stay up much later! LONG day. Wish I weren't so doggone tired, I'd tell U about it!

Monday, Monday...

Got up early this morning cuz Sarah overslept & missed the bus. She's afraid to miss school due to the FCAT exams, even though she's feeling sick.

After I came home I stayed up to try and get a jump on some things but didn't get as far as I would have hoped. I had two telephone interviews today... one of which I decided was more appropriate for my son, and the other was too far for not enough money.

I also had to go to Ft. Lauderdale today to meet with a recruiter for a temp agency. Dunno whether or not that will become anything or not.

Then I went to east Hollywood to pick up a computer monitor for Annette from a Freecycler. I hope it works! Annette is supposed to come and get it tomorrow.

On the way home from there I got a phone call from Ron, who owns the Computer Cafe at FCC. Frankie and I had taken turns tutoring him... and he had also paid another FCC student for tutoring... and now he would like a website. So I'm going to meet with him next week. Since he's on a low budget, he offered me 5% of the website's profits... sounds pretty good. He's a talented chef, and he'll be marketing a food item that he's come up with.

Later I went to work at Telephone Takeout and one of the other employees wants to get/build/buy a computer, as well as get some tutoring to learn how to use one. I can help with that!
: )

Having a pretty good day, all things considered.

Oh... and I found out stuff my boss wanted me to know in order to help him with a project he has... that's always useful.

D'oh! Today IS Sunday!

So I guess it's time I typed up my movie review for the "Pet Peeves" newsletter!

OOPS again!

I was so tired last night I forgot to post my "Fabulous Friday" Pet Peeves newsletter! And yet... my ds talked me into staying up to watch "Fight Club"

Weigh in on Terry Shaivo story...

For those who don't know what it's all about, here is a link to the site: http://www.terrisfight.org/

Just want to know what my readers think about this situation.

Not tonight dear...

I have a headache. Sorry... better luck next time!
; )

Busy bee

Got my pet cages all cleaned today... and typed several more pages of that songwriter's lyrics. Also worked a bit on the website for Annette... but got burnt out on it so decided to start fresh again with that tomorrow. Gotta work tomorrow night at 5:30... it's so strange to have this part-time job. Glad to have some income... drooling over the soon to be deposited tax refund that's going to replace our ailing AC unit...

Getting there is half the battle...

It's amazing to see the diversity between different people and populations in this world. I'm stunned. I don't know if we'll ever reach a point where people with such diametrically opposing beliefs will see each other's points of view.

Buried Alive

I have way too much to do... never gonna get around to it all it seems. Focusing on bringing in $$ above other things...

Timmy's out of clean underwear so I guess it's time to fold what's in all the baskets and wash some more loads of laundry...

Things that make you go "hmmmm"

It's amazing how fragile life can be. In mulling over what's happened to one of the most talented and kind doctors I know... I'm prompted to count my blessings and be glad for all the little things I'd usually take for granted. Just being able to tie my shoes with the fingers of both hands, for instance.

An open letter to Dr. Joseph Becerra F.A.C.O.G.

Dr. Becerra,

I have no way in which to contact you, so I am hoping that by some trick of the Googlebots, you'll someday run a search on your name and find this.

You are my favorite doctor ever, and I am so sad to think of never seeing you again. But what would make me more sad is if you just stop. It is my fervent hope that you will pass along your wisdom and incomparable bedside manner to new generations of OB/GYN practitioners: TEACH!

While I hope and pray that your injury can be healed so that you may return to full practice in the profession I know you love... I am certain that the world needs people like you to instruct others also. There should be many more physicians with your endearing qualities. And if they ever ask for candidates to be cloned, I'd nominate you in a heartbeat.

Stay strong, and know that we, your many MANY patients truly adore you... and hope to one day be graced with your presence again.

Sincerely and with love,
Lydia Glider-Shelley
Your patient since 1988!

Craigslist

Craigslist is awesome. I just picked up another freelance gig, if you will... typing up songs for another songwriter. I'm now checking craigslist every day for more work. One never knows?

Still got the cough... but I think I'm winning, LOL

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Now I can post photos directly to this blog, in addition to my moblog... and Hello!
: )

Up & Down

Well, I thought I was doing good because I got paid for 15 hours of work last week... but this week... I've only been scheduled for 2 days, unless I'm supposed to add Sunday's pay into this week, in which case it's 3. But I'll be lucky if that makes 10 hours... maybe 11. Well, on the positive side, maybe I can get a little rest and shake this cough!

Not so bad...

Well, I was up half the night coughing... but I took Alka Seltzer Plus before going to work and managed to keep from coughing TOO awful much while I was there.

Since I'm not scheduled to work tomorrow, I got paid early, and stopped to get pizza for the kids. Only two of them were home and awake, but I'm sure they appreciated it. They are in the bedroom playing video games, and getting along well for once, so I'm happy.

Tomorrow I'm going to go buy some Advantage flea control stuff for the bunnies, and clean some cages... joy oh joy... but it has to be done.

The newest bunny we obtained... the one that just "popped up" one day in the neighborhood, has grown to be so dear to us. He is really a sweetheart. I still miss my old Rocky boy, though. I don't think that will ever change. When you grow to love an animal, 20 years can pass by but a tear still come to your eye when you think of them.

I am SO glad to have some income trickling in... and to STOP having to hold out my hand to my husband or son for favors.

Soon our tax refund will arrive, and we can replace our ailing AC unit. That will be AWESOME! I also plan on making sure dh finally replaces his FAR outdated glasses. I need new lenses... but it has been twice as long for him since he got new ones.

I would love to have surgery to eliminate the need for glasses... if I could be sure it would work... and if my insurance would pay for it!

Did the fat lady sing yet?

Some of you may recall this post or this post from last fall... about my resigning from the Freecycle Network as moderator. I did not leave altogether, just stepped down to become a regular member. I believe in Freecycle and what they're trying to do.

Well... the latest blitz is that the two moderators who were giving me so much grief have renamed their groups to "Freesource" and have gone independent. Wow. In doing so, they basically hijacked thousands of unsuspecting members... who may not be upset about it, but in the opinions of many, should have been asked first. This is the problem I had with those moderators to begin with: they decide for other people what is best without asking, or being diplomatic/democratic about it. IMHO a group should be polled to ask what everyone thinks before drastic changes are made... and these ladies never wanted to do that. I suspect that it's possible neither one of them has children, and that both are accustomed to dealing only with animals. With animals, you MUST order them around, and can NOT give them choices. But if you treat children that way, they will rebel... hate you... and in general, it's not a good way to obtain HUMAN cooperation.

It's sad that some people feel the need to control others... but we can't dictate what they do or we'd be just as bad. All we can do is accept that there are folks who truly do NOT believe in a democratic process... and hope to God they don't harm anyone with their behavior.

Work & Wait

Spent all day yesterday revising freelance work... dunno when I'll actually get paid for any of it. At least with the night time job I know exactly when to expect money...

Didn't go to the doc's office for the breathing treatment today. Had a hard enough time dragging myself out of bed before ten without trying to go somewhere. Hope I won't be sorry.

Going to work at 5 today, but THIS TIME I'm going to take Alka-Seltzer Plus cold medicine first as well as remembering to bring my cough drops. I hope between the two I can avoid coughing up a lung!

My butt hurts!

I've been sitting here all day working like the devil on a job I'm only getting $30 for... but I'm such a perfectionist I can't stop!

I spent hours scouring the web for free fonts to match the font in the client's logo... then my partner kept asking me to make tedious changes. Ugh.

I've been so sick I should be in bed resting, but that ain't gonna happen. The doc's office called me in a new 'script for a stronger antibiotic... and I'm gonna go there at 10am tomorrow for a breathing treatment. ($20 co-pay to go there as opposed to $50 for the ER!)

If I stay sick much longer I'm going to have to borrow my neighbor's nebulizer. I can't keep paying $20 for treatments...

I was coughing so badly at work last night, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if one or more of the customers called back to ask Barry why the hell someone so sick was working for him!

Stacey? Are you still around?

I never did hear from Allison again after her blog disappeared... now Stacey's is gone, too. It makes me sad when they vanish without a trace... it's like someone died without my having gotten to say goodbye.

I know Allison and Stacey are probably both alive and well, and just got tired of blogging (or whatever) but I do hope that any of you who grace my blogroll don't drop out of sight. I may not have time to make the rounds and visit your sites as often as I'd like, but I would miss you if you were gone!

Ya gotta do what ya gotta do...

Apparently I've caught another cold on top of the one I already had. Fortunately, it came on my day off... so I am past the itchy, burning sinuses stage today... since I have to work at 5. Can't call in sick... only my second week on the job and the other new girl will end up getting all my hours. I like her, but I need money too badly to give up even ONE hour of work.

I did some more freelance work yesterday... and she says she has more for me. Every little bit will help... but I don't know when I'll stop feeling so godawful desperate.

Yesterday was my youngest son Timmy's 11th birthday, and today is my oldest son Frankie's 19th birthday. Frank says he doesn't want anything for his birthday, and Timmy wants cash. I told Timmy he'd have to wait 'til I collect my pay from the night job tonight... and I'm buying something for Frank whether he likes it or not. But I'm not going to get him something I just THINK he MIGHT like, like his dad did. I'm going to get him something I'm sure he'll use. Probably a pair of blue jeans or a gift certificate to Quicksilver, whose jeans I know he likes. Not sure.

For now, I'm just glad I have income. It's a trickle, but the flow is starting to improve. Sure hope I can replace my car before it bites the dust, though!

Good day/bad day...

I've had a pretty good day in some respects... did some more graphics work and got some errands run with the money I got paid from the previous one... but I'm not feeling very well. My sinuses are burning... even though I'm on an antibiotic. I think I have a sinus infection that may require a different antibiotic... but only time will tell.

Keep Praying!

Whoever's praying for me... don't stop! My new boss called last night and offered me some extra hours today (my day off) and the lady I've been doing freelance work for has a whole bunch of stuff for me to do, too. Seems the tide is finally turning!

But I know better than to take it for granted: thank you to all who have had me in their prayers, and most of all thanks to God!
: )

Another day in the life...

Great. The doctor's office did NOT call in the inhaler yesterday, because the doc wanted me to come in and see her. Did they tell me this? NO! I didn't find out 'til dh went to pick up the 'script and found that it hadn't been ordered. So now I have to go see her at 3, which means dh will have to pick Timmy up from school for me... and I have to get to work at 5:30. Knowing how long it will probably take me at the doctor's office, I'll probably have to scoot straight from there to work, so I won't be able to drop of any scripts she gives me 'til TOMORROW morning. Ugh. This sux. I already had a major coughing fit at work last night, scaring the hell out of my coworkers. I am so damn pissed off right now! And that's probably only making me sicker. I wish I could calm down... but if I try to take a deep breath, I'll cough up a lung!

Lung Transplant?

Ugh. My head cold has now moved into my chest, and I'm wheezing. I called to have my doc call in an inhaler for me... but can't have it 'til tomorrow when dh gets paid. I have tried using my daughter's, but I suspect all that's left in hers is propellant because I'm not feeling any improvement. If I'm not better by the weekend, I'm going to have to see doc on Monday for an antibiotic. In the meantime, I can't work out, I'm not sleeping well... and my appetite is nearly nonexistent. (I'm hungry, but nothing tastes good...)

Carpal Tunnel

I've been having problems with my carpal tunnels... especially in the right hand, so I wore my brace to bed last night. I sure hope it eases up by the time I get over my cough so I can get my ass back to the gym quickly.

I was tested to see if I was a candidate for the surgery a year or two ago, and they told me no... it wasn't bad enough. So I just have to press on the best that I can. Ugh.

What's more frustrating than being unemployed?

Doing some work and waiting to get paid... I start the new job tomorrow, but obviously won't get paid for at least a week! Sigh. SO close!

Better than I expected...

I started training for the new job today, and I'll be fine if I can just remember to repeat people's info back to them so as to avoid mistakes!

I also made it to the gym and DIDN'T choke like I thought I was going to (got a little phlegm in the chest from that nasty head cold)

On the DOWN side... I found out I WON'T be making the $ tomorrow that I was expecting to, due to unforeseen circumstances, but that's okay, because it gives me time to do a graphics project for the same lady, and she really needs that done by Monday.

The bummer is, even though I'm NOT going out to hang flyers, I STILL have to drive all the kids to her house early in the morning, because they ARE.

All's well that ends well...

I DID get a job today. I got it from answering an ad on craigslist.org

PUT IT IN THE AD, DAMMIT!

Okay. I'm not a sore loser... in fact, I think the girl who beat me and got the job is an excellent choice. She is very calm, cool and collected... as well as extremely confident. All of which will most definitely serve her well in the position she has won. However, I was told that the primary factor in choosing her over me was the fact that she's bilingual and I'm not. Fine.

BUT...

If you want someone bilingual for a position, PLEASE state it in the ad, so us poor shlubs who only speak one language won't waste our time applying for the job... and won't flatter ourselves by THINKING you might actually want to hire us.

When I worked in the Career Services Department at school, I posted jobs on the school's website for the students. Since I know how annoying it is to look at an ad, only to find "must be bilingual" buried toward the end somewhere, I got in the habit of putting it in the job title... so that those who were NOT bilingual would not even bother to look at that one. (In other words, instead of reading "receptionist" it would read "bilingual receptionist")

Oh well. I guess it just wasn't meant to be. And I was SO close! They narrowed it down to two of us... so I guess I should feel pretty good that they liked me that much. But with no paycheck and mounting bills, that's not much consolation. Gosh... I wish someone would click my paypal link and send me EVEN ONE LOUSY DOLLAR!

Okay. I'm off my pity pot now. Sigh.

When it rains, it pours!

I'm still recovering from the head cold, but today is shaping up to be a very optimistic day. That's a good thing... because last night I went to sleep with the nagging sensation that something was just "not right" with the world. (Made it damned hard to drop off!)

Anyway, I got a call from the College I attended to whom I had sent my resume for a receptionist position (which I am already 90% trained for, since I worked at the school for over a year as a workstudy employee)

Then I got an email from someone who has been doing her utmost to help me by finding freelance work... and she seems to have a pretty full schedule ahead for my kids. (Handing out flyers, etc.)

All in all, I'm feeling hopeful today, and that's a good day. If I don't still feel this way tomorrow, at least I can say TODAY was nice! Gotta take things, as they say in AA: one day at a time, one hour at a time, or even one minute at a time. Whatever it takes to get through it.

Update: at noon the temp agency I'm signed up with called and they have a job they'd like for me to do next week... so it seems that ONE WAY OR ANOTHER I'm going to have some income. Woo hoo!

Second update: at 3pm someone else I'd sent my resume to called... they're interviewing for M-W-F 8-4:30 at a dialysis center. Gosh. I can not believe how many possibilities have been presented to me today!

Final update: I went to the interview at the college, which was a group interview, and they asked two of us to stay. Then I was asked to come back tomorrow at 10am. I am DYING to see what the second interview will be all about! Wish me luck... say a prayer... cross your fingers... whatever it is you do!
: )

Kill the kids?

Yeah. They're driving me bonkers. I guess that means I'm not so sick any more... because when I was really sick I could barely drag myself out of bed long enough to notice whether or not they were behaving.

On the plus side, my son paid my cell phone bill and gave me some cash to deposit so I could pay another bill as well. Guess he feels guilty about that window that he smashed out (of my car) last month.

TV all day?

I never do it unless I'm REALLY sick... but I've pretty much stayed in bed and watched TV for the better part of the past two days. Today I watched Stephen King's "Rose Red" which, I'm sorry to say, got progressively less credible from the midpoint on. Sigh. Well, hopefully tomorrow I'll be well enough to resume my normal routine, but I'm not taking any bets just yet!

Picnics and head colds

Short but sweet: had a picnic today and it was very windy. Stuff kept trying to blow away. More about that tomorrow if I feel well enough to tell it...

Right now I'm coming down with a mild cold and my intestines are twisted in a knot as they always are when I get nervous. Hope I feel better in the morning...

I was planning to do several things tomorrow, and also intended to chronicle that information here, but I'm beat. Gotta get to bed and hope to GOD I can get some rest.

Worn out but feeling a bit better about things...

Well... I got up at 5am today, got my son up to go to WPB for work and he got on the computer and paid up the cell phone bill. It won't post 'til Monday... but I'm happy!

THEN... I was SUPPOSED to be dropping off two of my kids to help hang door hangers advertising a tax prep service... and one of the other kids reneged so I took his place and made $24 for 4 hours of work. Not much, but better than nothing. Not going to let myself fret over the shortfall today... just too tired for that.

I still have to make potato salad for tomorrow's picnic... and right now I'd like to go to bed and get up at 5am again to do it... but I don't think that's feasible.
: (

Sooooooooo I'll just plug away and hope to God I don't fall asleep while the potatoes are boiling and burn the freaking house down!

Stressed and depressed

The bills are mounting and our income is at its lowest for the year (I hope) so I am once again contemplating getting a J.O.B. despite my lack of success in obtaining one last time I tried. It was a lot easier to get a job when I was young and attractive. Now, they're looking over my shoulder for the next applicant before I've even discussed my qualifications with them. Sigh. Oh well. I don't really want a job. I just need to earn some income. I wish I were better at securing freelance work!

Hopefully going to the gym for a killer workout will take my mind off my troubles. Then I have a lot of work to do when I get home, as well as tomorrow. Gotta quit spending so much time here at the computer since it's not earning me money or getting me anywhere...

What Kind of Intelligence Do You Have?

My Dominant Intelligence is Linguistic Intelligence

I am excellent with words and language. I explain myself well. An elegant speaker, I can converse well with anyone on the fly. I am also good at remembering information and convicing someone of my point of view. A master of creative phrasing and unique words, I enjoy expanding my vocabulary. I would make a fantastic poet, journalist, writer, teacher, lawyer, politician, or translator.

What Kind of Intelligence Do You Have?

R.I.P. Rocky

Well, he didn't make it. I'll miss the little bugger.

He was a friendly bunny who loved to chase people, and I deeply regret that I did not catch his "attack bunny" behavior on video. It's a miracle he never got stomped to death the way he loved to get up under people's feet!

The new bunny that showed up a week ago is beginning to show a lot of personality... it loves to give kisses... a semi-common but not typical rabbit behavior that we find to be delightful. Cute little pink tongue! I wonder if he'll turn out to be an "attack bunny" too?

Sigh. It's hard to say goodbye... but even the dearest of pets can't live forever. Best not to ever have any if you have a problem with mortality!

Poor old bunny...

Rocky seems to be dying. I can't afford to take him to a vet, so he'll live or die based on what care we can give here at home. He's an inbred dwarf with a severe malocclusion of his jaws, so he's always had to have his teeth trimmed, and my daughter suspects he's retarded but I never thought so. His nose was bitten off by the other male bunny when he went and stuck his nose up to the other bunny's cage. That is one of the reasons I hope to soon build new hutches... to get them further up off of the ground so that when one is exercising it can't stick it's nose into another's hutch and get bitten!

Shut up. Shut up. Shut up.

No one ever listens. They're all too busy telling each other to shut up.

I don't know how many times I find myself in the middle of saying something and realize that no one is listening. That is probably what led me to write. When you write, it is irrelevant whether or not anyone is listening... if they read it (and you want them to) great. If they don't, no biggie.

On the other hand, if you make a habit of talking all the time whether anyone is listening or not, you'll either be committed - or5+*
 avoided as if you should be... people are scared of those who appear to talk to someone who's not there.

Besides, when you talk, it's air... it's gone. Unless it's been recorded, which is rare. Writing is more likely to stick around and be there to look at years down the road. I like writing.

Alas, it seems that my reflection time is over. Interrupted by a poopy diaper.

Gainful Employment

Someone I met through the homeschool group I've been loosely participating in may be boosting my family's income shortly... she gave me a data entry job about a month ago, as well as a web job which has apparently been relegated to the back-burner for the forseeable future. However, she has some flyering for the kids to do over the next 3 weekends, as well as a tutoring job for me. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed that she'll keep finding more work. If only I were more adept at doing that for myself?

Just curious...

I'm "on the rag" right now... (sorry guys) and that led to an odd musing. I know that some ladies call it "Aunt Flo" and in the U.K. it seems that "Belinda" is the visitor's preferred moniker. Do you have a name for that time of the month? If so, leave a comment and tell me what it is. (Sorry... no prizes offered here!)

Local and long distance

I was thinking about how nice it is to be able to have friends that are close by and local... the ones you can have a cup of coffee with... as well as those who are on the other side of the globe.

Prior to the internet, our sphere of influence was so limited... remember that "seven degrees of separation" theory? I wonder how the World Wide Web would affect that one. I never did see the movie. Anyone wanna send me a copy?

One step forward, two steps back...

I'm getting there. But I won't be winning any "Suzy Homemaker" awards any time soon. Is there a Suzy Homemaker award? Sounds like a reality TV show to me.

Short but sweet:

Made it to the gym for an AWESOME Lower Body Workout... then took Selena for a nice walk nearby to local shops and see the boats at the marina.

Went home and had a shake, took a quick shower, then picked up my son from school, took some of last night's HUGE ham to a friend, and took my daughter to meet the people that want a babysitter. That worked out well, and now she is gainfully employed at the age of 14!

Now... if I could just get rid of this headache...

Can I have a "do over"?

What a day. I got up and went to the gym, then stopped and got rabbit food. It's a good thing I did, because we found another bunny today, a cute little black bunny that's probably not more than 4 or 5 months old.

I went for a long drive with the baby... during which she took a nice nap... and my oldest son (the one who smashed out my car window, refuses to replace it, and still doesn't have a car of his OWN to drive) calls me to tell me he's cut his finger and thinks he needs stitches.

Well, I was too far from home to deal with it, so I told him to have his dad take him. But when I got home, his dad hadn't taken him, saying he didn't think it needed it. He finally DID go to the ER later, and I assume that's still where he is now. The cut is nasty, but it was borderline, so I can see why his father was hesitant. Our new insurance has a $2500 deductible, so guess who gets to pay through the nose for those stitches? (Thanks Clinton)

Of food and effort

Well, I have made it to the gym every day this week, but I really haven't been trying too hard to stick to my nutrition plan, because I figure once the workouts are an ingrained habit (and I've built some of that wondrous fat-burning muscle) it will be a lot easier to take the next step and tighten up on my nutrition.

Plus I'm figuring if I focus on workouts for the whole first 12 weeks... the next 12 weeks, in which I may officially enter a BFL Challenge again, will coincide with the receipt (I hope) of our tax refund check, which means I can purchase all the ingredients I need in order to cook the Eating-for-Life meals.

Earaches and recycling

Off to a slooooooooooooooow start today. I knew I had to wait for Bob to get a tire put on my car and then go to the grocery before I made it to the gym... but I was planning to sleep in, and that didn't work out.

Selena woke me up around 7:30 crying that her ear was hurting and she wanted an ice pack. Then I heard the recycling truck and noticed that our bins hadn't been put to the curb, so I had to make a mad dash to do that... and when I got back to bed, Selena was heading toward her bedroom, about to wake up her sister looking for clothes. She wanted to get dressed!

So I got a basket of her clothes that I had folded but not put away yet, and found a dress she would wear. But by then there was absolutely NO HOPE of going back to bed for some more much-needed rest. Sigh.

The Mirror Project

Hey! Check it out! My photo got accepted for admission into the mirror project!

Oh the agony!

My punishment has arrived. My triceps are so freaking sore from yesterday's bench dips that I can barely lift my arms. Ugh.

Mixed emotions...

I've had a pretty good day regarding my workout and nutrition... but not doing terribly great keeping up with the housework.

Sadly, my son's beloved cockatiel escaped out the door today... but it's partially his own fault for refusing to clip the creature's wings. I had a feeling that sooner or later this would happen. But it still makes me very sad. I loved that little goofy bird.