Archives for November 2011

A is for Anxiety

A week ago last Saturday, I sat down for a bit after a party we hosted so we could see as many people as possible before we move. I hopped on to Twitter and saw a tweet from @moonfrye (aka Punky Brewster) and I didn’t even have to think about how to respond.

A little sentence to finish. "I'm feeling really..." loved.
We have had so many great visits with friends in the last few weeks. Maybe I’m in denial but I’m not thinking about moving away from all these people, I’m just feeling grateful to have so much love in my life.

I’m sure some of you are thinking, “Blah blah blah. She’s happy. She’s doing something bold. Whatever.” Well, hold on because I’m going to bring it back down to Earth again for a minute.

Elena based this week’s Be Enough Me prompt on that tweet from Soleil Moon Frye. And this week it’s not so easy for me to answer.

Friday was my last day of work and, despite what some people seem to think, I’m not freaking out about having walked away from my job. I’ve been leading up to this for a while and, though it hasn’t entirely hit me yet, I’m mostly just glad that I don’t have to be responsible for certain things anymore. But it turns out sitting at a desk for eight hours a day is a good distraction from other things.

I’ve written before about how I’m nervous about leaving my parents. But I’m not the only one feeling that way.

For my part, I’m acknowledging and anticipating my own angst (and hoping against hope that Connor doesn’t totally freak out when he realizes we can’t just pop up to Grandma and Grandpa’s house for a visit) while holding on to the faith that this is the right thing for us to do. A necessary thing, even. I can find that faith when I need it. I just can’t force that faith on my parents.

My mom is in the stomach-lurching, chin-wobbling phase of this process, the one that requires lots of deep breaths and some Kleenex. I know how she feels, because I read a post she wrote a couple of weeks ago about what our move means to her and had the same requirement for deep breaths and tissues. I’m worried about my dad too (for all sorts of reasons, actually) and he’s much less likely to say anything about how he feels about all this.

As for how I feel, well, I feel like I’m doing this to them. They’re talking about moving as well, which would make sense because my brother and one of my sisters live there too, but I don’t think they would necessarily choose that for themselves. It means moving out of a house they like and away from a mild climate to a frigidly cold Canadian winter. There’s a reason they moved here from there in the first place.

So my old friend anxiety has returned to watch this process unfold, bringing its sidekick insomnia with it just to make things extra fun. And I guess that’s how I’m feeling.

Pass the Kleenex.

grandparents with newborn grandchild

The first day

 

 Linking up with:

Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Our neighbours put up their Christmas lights this weekend. Normally when people start decorating in a month that doesn’t start with ‘D’ I get a little eye-rolly, but for some reason this year I’m totally into it.

Which is a good thing, because Christmas is EVERYWHERE.

Have you noticed? I mean, I know it starts earlier and earlier every year (and yes I realize I contributed to that when I posted about the Coke Christmas ads and new Christmas traditions) but this year the early Christmas spirit really does seem to have taken hold already. Ah well, I’m no longer employed. I can get into it.

Speaking of getting into things, I got an iPhone a couple of weeks ago. (Stick with me – this is related.) I’m totally eating my words from years ago when they first came out and my husband and I looked at one in an Apple store and I told him I didn’t get why people think they’re so cool. This phone is SO cool. But you all know that…

One benefit to the iPhone is that I can browse things like Instragram and Pinterest when I’m killing time. I’ve been looking at a lot more stuff on Pinterest and finding all kinds of cool stuff, including home decor ideas to play with when we move into our new house (next week – whee!) (also: husband, consider yourself warned) and some holiday inspiration.

I’m not terribly crafty, so a lot of the stuff I like is simple or just fun. One thing I really want to do this year is find another way to display Christmas cards. This idea is in the lead so far:

Christmas card garland

Image courtesy marthastewart.com

 

I like it, and I think I could even pull it off without it looking too cheesy. We don’t have a banister like this in our new house so I’ll have to find somewhere else to hang it, but I think it could work.

If I get really ambitious, I might even try to do photo Christmas cards this year. This one’s great:

photo-Christmas-card

 

So, being unemployed and all, that’s my big ambition right now: Do Christmas up right. (After packing and moving several hundred miles, that is.)

How about you – what do you for Christmas cards? Any other ideas on how to display them? Just don’t make it too complicated – I’m not Martha Stewart, you know.

 

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Disclaimer: I was compensated for this post but the Christmas card garland idea is mine, all mine! And Martha Stewart’s, of course.

Dwelling On Joy

In my inbox this morning:

Once one passes through the entry gates of time and space (Robin, this applies to you), it may be handy to know that simply dwelling upon joy, abundance, or anything else involving people, will literally draw complete strangers into your life, as if they were puppets on marionette strings. Creating new and totally unpredictable circumstances that will bring you more, more, more of whatever you were thinking about.

Rebel yell optional –
The Universe

Puppet on a string

Image credit: Gabriela Camerotti on Flickr

And so begins the last week. One more day of work. One more weekend. One week of visiting and finalizing paperwork and sorting through things and packing. One more week of anticipating what’s next.

One week from today we’ll be out of our house and on our way.

“What are you going to be doing there?” The question has been asked of me many times. “I’m not sure” is the answer and it really is that simple yet that full of potential.

I wrote before about taking a leap and committing to something. That’s what this feels like. It’s impulsive yet deliberate. I’m focusing on making a change while leaving myself open to possibilities.

Once I moved through that entry gate — once I officially quit my job and knew this was real — the new and totally unpredictable started to happen. New contacts, new opportunities, new house purchases that just come together in one day as though it were meant to be. It’s been…well, it’s been cool.

So I will continue. I will dwell on joy and abundance and possibility. I will yell my rebel yell, even if for now it’s silent.

And I will await, and welcome, whatever comes next.

Lame Freelance Writer Postings

help wanted - idiot preferred

A few months ago I started doing some freelance writing, and every day or so I scan the postings looking for freelance writers. Some of them are hilarious, some eye-roll worthy, and some plain dumb. Here, for your entertainment, are some of the goofiest ones I’ve seen recently.

The Freaks:


Work with a CPA

Dear Friend:
I became a CPA 40 years ago.
I hardly practiced.
Instead I became a teacher of visualization and have taught students worldwide.
And these students have attracted their own students.
And so the business prospers year after year.
And what does that all have to do with you?
Simply publish this letter in ads, social media, etc and work with me.
You pay nothing to me.
When someone responds to the letter, as they will, send them to me.
As they begin study with me, you get paid.
Want even more money.
Arrange to be one of my students.
As a CPA, I created the easiest business in America to generate money.
Of course, I am very proud of the good it spreads as well.
I would love to invite you to share how much good it can provide you.

I’m not even sure I understand this, but I’m pretty sure I’m not this guy’s “friend.”

Writer needed to edit and spice up my writing

I need someone to edit and add a little spice to my letters that I send to my potential customers. I am not interested only in a proper english but I also want the letters to sound hot and interesting… I want my phone to start ringing. If you have the skills and experience in writing sales/marketing letters and are not expensive I would like to use you r services right away. Please email me something that you have written.

Yeah…no. (I’m not that sort of girl.)

Copywriter WANTED. Write Faster & Better Than Me? 

This is for serious copywriters only. Please only reply if you can verify the quality of your work.I am looking for a candidate who can write AS GOOD as I can or someone who can at least get close to writing as good and as powerful as I can.

…I’m primarily looking for writers with
* good storytelling
* fast/very good with research
* extremely good writing – that flows and is filled with emotion. When I say emotion I mean emotion that’s appropriate for that specific product.

Example:
* You will be EMBARRASSED if you continue to go days without improving your acne with the XYZ product. Not only embarrassed, but you may continue to go weeks and months feeling rejected, isolated and uncared for… simply because your skin isn’t clear *

1. I have no doubt I can write “as good” as you can. 2. I can get emotional with the best of them, but getting emotional about zit cream is a stretch, even for me. 

The cheaters:

Master’s level research paper needed NOW!

I will pay someone $200 to do a 27 page research paper dealing with criminal justice. Paper needed in 3 weeks! You or we will pick the topic together, get it approved, you pick the reading materials and then you are on your own. I need someone that can start immediately! Thanks!

You know, I have a master’s degree and I really don’t want to write any more master’s research papers, especially if I don’t get the credit for it. And that’s like $7/page – SO not worth it. 

Master’s level criminal justice essays $8/question NOW!

I need help with 5-6 assignments each assignment has 5 essay questions that needs to be answered APA with 300 words. I am paying $8 per question/answer. I need all assignments in 3 weeks (2 per week would be fine). I am willing to negotiate the pay. Need someone that can start by tomorrow. This is a master’s level criminal justice class. I provide the reading and questions and I pay through paypal. I might have another project for you too. Thanks!

Oh hey, it’s you again! Do your own damn papers. 

The cranky freelancers:

I don’t work for free

Please quit posting gigs if you aren’t able or willing to pay. If you can’t afford $100 for copy on your website, then write it yourself.

Also, linking to my site from your site is not payment unless you have over 100k unique visitors a week – and you don’t.

Thank you, now go away.

Noted. (Fair point, though.)

RE: WRITING ASSISTANCE FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN RELATED ARTICLES (what a joke)

You want to pay $0.01 a word? The irony behind that is that it’s slave labor at that rate. Offer something acceptable at least and respect people of this profession you scumbag.

  • Location: what a joke
  • it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
  • Compensation: Slavery

I think you need to take your meds, dear. 

Ice Cream Evaluators Wanted

I am currently seeking local ice cream enthusiasts to evaluate a popular local chain. If you are interested in sampling ice cream and pastries and writing about your experience, please respond to this post for more information.

Is this not freelance nirvana? Ice cream evaluators? Sign me up! 

 

On a more serious note, I’ve been doing freelance writing work for a few months now and while I certainly haven’t figured out the secret, I’ve been reasonably successful for someone who’s just getting into it. I’m thinking about doing a post on what I’ve learned from a newbie’s perspective, so let me know in the comments if you’d be interested (and if you have any questions in particular).

Striiver’s Log, Week 1

Nov. 9, 2011 – Day 1 (Wednesday)

Arrived home from work to find my Striiv had arrived after being, presumably, held up in customs. There was much rejoicing! Opened the box. Whoa, this thing is cool. It’s got a touch screen, settings that can be customized, and a game. And other stuff. Definitely as cool as it seemed in the video.

Later that day: Hmm, the Striiv appears not to be magic. I tried to use it to entice the small, screaming boy to pee before bed and he wasn’t interested. He didn’t even want to help me build stuff in MyLand with the few coins I had earned already. Ah well, I’m going to chalk it up to exhaustion and be glad he’s not going to try to steal my precious Striiv.

office desk

My Striiv in its Lego nest.


Nov. 10, 2011 – Day 2 (Thursday)
Thursday before a holiday Friday, which makes it jeans day at work. The Striiv fits perfectly into the little coin pocket. I didn’t even know it was there! It did its job though, carefully counting steps as I went for lunch with a departing colleague and then later up to the coffee shop for treats. Good thing for the social outings. Sitting at my desk didn’t earn me much, and my poor Striiv had to entertain itself for a while playing with my foam office Lego.

 

Nov. 11, 2011 – Day 3 (Friday)

Spent the whole day packing today. There are approximately 12 steps between the kitchen and the garage, so packed upstairs instead. More work, but more steps too. Even so, by the end of the day I didn’t have as many steps as I would have hoped so I moved some boxes while my husband sat on the couch. The Striiv noticed and I felt morally superior. This ended up being my highest-step day, so the extra work was worth it.

 

Nov. 12, 2011 – Day 4 (Saturday)

A whole morning of cleaning before our going-away party in the afternoon. Note to self: cleaning doesn’t involve very many steps. Best not to do it in future.

 

Nov. 13, 2011 – Day 5 (Sunday)

Hey, I get more credit for running than walking! (I really need to pay attention to the instruction booklet.) Escaped the house today for an afternoon walk when I got sick of packing and felt ambitious so I ran the last section. As a result of my motivational little white device, the dog was treated to an extra long walk and I got some extra lightning-bolt energy credits on my Striiv.

 

Nov. 14, 2011 – Day 6 (Monday)

Productive day at work, but my Striiv got bored. I made up for it by taking the dog, and the Striiv, for a walk in the evening. Hills in the moonlight – nice.

BC Legislature

My Striiv visits the BC Parliament buildings

 

Nov. 15, 2011 – Day 7 (Tuesday)

Very tempted to take my car to a meeting this morning, but the Striiv was watching me. “Walk,” it whispered, so I did. Good thing too – it was beautiful and sunny and the scenery was worth it. Over lunchtime on my way back to the office, I took a little detour to enjoy the sun and take some pictures. The Striiv rewarded me handsomely.

 

My first official week of Striiving to Be Enough got me a total of 31,847 steps. Two observations: (1) We really do have to make an effort to get moving – the average office worker’s average day involves a lot of time sitting on one’s bum, and (2) In Striiv’s MyLand game, money does appear to grow on trees. But only if you move enough to grow and build stuff. Funny how that works.

As of this writing, I’m 130 steps away from my next trophy. Think I can get that in tonight?

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Make sure you visit Just.Be.Enough. on Wednesday to catch up on the other challengers’ Striiv to Be Enough updates and next week the site will have information on our Striiv giveaway at the end of November as well as our very first Twitter party where yet another Striiv device will be given away, along with some other fabulous giveaways from brands that support Striiv’s mission to create a “movement around movement.”  The Twitter party is scheduled for Tuesday, November 29th at 8 pm. Mark your calendars now so you don’t miss it.

In case  you can’t wait for the giveaway or Twitter party, Striiv is being showcased on HSN this month. They are offering a fabulous bundle: just $99.95 for the Striiv device, clip, key ring and screen protectors (normally $129.95). But if you’re feeling lucky, I might have a little giveaway of my own coming up here in a couple of weeks.

 

The Just.Be.Enough. team is partnering with Striiv on a month-long challenge. Striiv provided the JBE challengers with the devices and no compensation was received. All opinions are our own.