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THE EMPIRE
When Nagging Comes Back To Bite You
I was just nagging at my GC about not blogging about the cute things Muffin does these days, or about what's going on in her life, and then it occurred to me I haven't blogged in a month or more, and that's just not right.
****
I've been busy writing and paying the bills with what I've earned. It is a very, very, VERY simple life, but I like it this way and it suits me. It seems, looking back on it now, change has been the constant for the last decade. This isn't necessarily bad, but it can be a lot to deal with. However, I will say it has made a difference in how I process things. Again, not good or bad, but different. And sometimes, different can be difficult especially as you get older.
****
Writing work has been steady enough I have done very little with fiction. I did have a second piece regarding tattoos published in a local magazine, The Biking Life (check out page 44) and I've done a technical edit of a crochet book and a copy edit and index for a clay flowers book (both to be released in October). The index was particularly challenging. If you've ever used an index to find something in a book, keep in mind a human person, not a computer, put it together. An index is much more than just a concordance of terms -- it is cross referencing and tweaking in a way a computer cannot yet master. It was very involved, intense, and hurtied my brain. Loved it.
Tomorrow I investigate another interesting opportunity. I called my Chinese doctor for a refill on some meds, and he said oh, you're a writer, correct?
Yes, sir, I am. (Funny little pang. It was cool.)
Well, his son has just graduated from college and apparently has come over from China. My doctor requested that I see him two hours every day for the next month and teach this kid conversational English. For a fee, of course.
So, tomorrow I meet with them to evaluate this guy's level, if we are able to communicate at all, and discuss the fee. I'll take free medical, but I think I'll just charge him an hourly rate and see what happens. So weird, my life. Heh.
****
I decided to drop one client and look for another. When you have to spend three hours on research, two to write the article, then wait three weeks to get paid, it's not really worth the money. I think this is the second client I've ever dumped. Scary, but I'm learning if it's not economically feasible, I'm taking time away from a more suitable client. Yes, that's a lesson that's taken me a long time to learn. Not the only one.
****
The Divine Mizz M dragged me out garage saleing this morning, although I had other plans for the day. I love it when she does that, because if it were up to me I would never leave the house.
It was so worth it. I scored six complete cross stitch projects, still in the packages, one baggie of patterns, and three hoops for $2.50. I got a queen dust ruffle for my bed -- $1. A boatload of receiving blankets and a top sheet for quilting, which I hope to resume at some point. "White Oleander", the book, $1. The trilogy of "Matrix" movies, "Galaxy Quest", and "The Wedding Singer", all on DVD -- $5.
But the best thing? The BEST THING EVER?
A Starlogic 19" LCD (WORKING!) flat screen monitor, missing the power cord and the cord to my laptop, but still...
FIVE DOLLARS.
Yes. Five fucking dollars! Mizz M was going to offer a buck, but I jumped right in and paid the five. It had returned with the lady's son from Iraq, and he lost the cords. No problem. No was was I going to dicker, because to me, anyone who comes back from Iraq and is selling a monitor for five bucks can have my five bucks.
Ooo, she's a beauty. Borrowed a power cord and it works, now I have to get one of my very own and connector cable (or adapter -- DV15 male-to-male) so after my appointment with the doc I'm heading over to Best Buy.
w00t! I have lusted for one of these for a while and just never had the extra money. This will make my eyes very happy.
:))))
Momma was with me.
****
That's about it. I'll try to be better about updating. I really do have a lot to talk about, but it's late and I'm going to bed. I've got a busy day tomorrow.
I wonder how you say that in Chinese? Heh.
****
I've been busy writing and paying the bills with what I've earned. It is a very, very, VERY simple life, but I like it this way and it suits me. It seems, looking back on it now, change has been the constant for the last decade. This isn't necessarily bad, but it can be a lot to deal with. However, I will say it has made a difference in how I process things. Again, not good or bad, but different. And sometimes, different can be difficult especially as you get older.
****
Writing work has been steady enough I have done very little with fiction. I did have a second piece regarding tattoos published in a local magazine, The Biking Life (check out page 44) and I've done a technical edit of a crochet book and a copy edit and index for a clay flowers book (both to be released in October). The index was particularly challenging. If you've ever used an index to find something in a book, keep in mind a human person, not a computer, put it together. An index is much more than just a concordance of terms -- it is cross referencing and tweaking in a way a computer cannot yet master. It was very involved, intense, and hurtied my brain. Loved it.
Tomorrow I investigate another interesting opportunity. I called my Chinese doctor for a refill on some meds, and he said oh, you're a writer, correct?
Yes, sir, I am. (Funny little pang. It was cool.)
Well, his son has just graduated from college and apparently has come over from China. My doctor requested that I see him two hours every day for the next month and teach this kid conversational English. For a fee, of course.
So, tomorrow I meet with them to evaluate this guy's level, if we are able to communicate at all, and discuss the fee. I'll take free medical, but I think I'll just charge him an hourly rate and see what happens. So weird, my life. Heh.
****
I decided to drop one client and look for another. When you have to spend three hours on research, two to write the article, then wait three weeks to get paid, it's not really worth the money. I think this is the second client I've ever dumped. Scary, but I'm learning if it's not economically feasible, I'm taking time away from a more suitable client. Yes, that's a lesson that's taken me a long time to learn. Not the only one.
****
The Divine Mizz M dragged me out garage saleing this morning, although I had other plans for the day. I love it when she does that, because if it were up to me I would never leave the house.
It was so worth it. I scored six complete cross stitch projects, still in the packages, one baggie of patterns, and three hoops for $2.50. I got a queen dust ruffle for my bed -- $1. A boatload of receiving blankets and a top sheet for quilting, which I hope to resume at some point. "White Oleander", the book, $1. The trilogy of "Matrix" movies, "Galaxy Quest", and "The Wedding Singer", all on DVD -- $5.
But the best thing? The BEST THING EVER?
A Starlogic 19" LCD (WORKING!) flat screen monitor, missing the power cord and the cord to my laptop, but still...
FIVE DOLLARS.
Yes. Five fucking dollars! Mizz M was going to offer a buck, but I jumped right in and paid the five. It had returned with the lady's son from Iraq, and he lost the cords. No problem. No was was I going to dicker, because to me, anyone who comes back from Iraq and is selling a monitor for five bucks can have my five bucks.
Ooo, she's a beauty. Borrowed a power cord and it works, now I have to get one of my very own and connector cable (or adapter -- DV15 male-to-male) so after my appointment with the doc I'm heading over to Best Buy.
w00t! I have lusted for one of these for a while and just never had the extra money. This will make my eyes very happy.
:))))
Momma was with me.
****
That's about it. I'll try to be better about updating. I really do have a lot to talk about, but it's late and I'm going to bed. I've got a busy day tomorrow.
I wonder how you say that in Chinese? Heh.
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