Just a reminder that the LinkedIn Secrets & Success webinar is this Thursday at 2 pm ET. Save $39 off the price by joining the Five Buck Forum – for $15, you get forum access and discounts, plus a place at the webinar and a chance to win Susan Johnston’s book, LinkedIn and Lovin’ It. Click here for more info.
How was the weekend? I spent mine catching up on much-needed sleep. Two days off, two naps. Is there anything more decadent than a nap on a Saturday afternoon? I can’t say the one yesterday was decadent – I was feeling awful. Whatever this is I’m fighting off had kicked me hard. I suspected correctly it was a bout of allergies.
Nevertheless, we had a lovely weekend. The sun was out, the leaves are somewhere between a warm yellow and vibrant orange, the air was crisp, and the world seemed ready to enjoy it. Saturday we spent at the farmer’s market, then the whole foods store, then back home where I made my first miso soup. He hadn’t been feeling well, I certainly wasn’t, and we were craving the miso we’d had at a local restaurant the day before. I’d found kombu (seaweed) at the whole foods store, along with the rice wine. It turned out great.
Yesterday we decided to get in the car and drive. He was finishing a liquid fast, so he was feeling worlds better. Me, not so much. But getting out was terrific. We ended up at the Daniel Boone homestead and a neighboring state park, where we enjoyed more sunshine, chillier temps, and nearly got caught in the middle of a six-car accident. In the park.
Younger boys in a car behind us weren’t content with the 25 mph he was driving through the park. Posted speed limit and when there are people everywhere walking, you damn well obey them or someone gets hurt. Sure enough, they swerved to our left unexpectedly, at the top of a small hill, just as three other cars were headed in our direction. Everyone locked brakes, and two people ended up sideways. In a park. You’d think they’d take that as a lesson in patience. Right. They didn’t get off our rear bumper until he came to a stop sign and waved them past us. And they were laughing as they did pass.
I had plenty of reading time and resting time both days, and I decided that the sore throat and headache may not be a cold. I was right. Allergy spray proved it almost immediately, amen.
Today I intend to press forward on one article due – have to contact the source for the last time – then get the invoice out. I have a few client contacts to get back in touch with, then more marketing and the preparation for Anne’s and my Webinar with Susan Johnston. I’m eager to hear more from Susan. Her book was pretty revealing on how to use LinkedIn to its best advantage. I can’t wait to hear her insights on e-book publishing, too.
How was your weekend? What’s in front of you this week?
We're having a heat wave – temperatures expected to rise up to 40 degrees celcius by Tuesday(104 Fahrenheit). So I had to wake up early over the weekend to be able to spend time in my garden. But I did manage to get a nap on Sunday afternoon. Was interviewed on a radio station about an ebook I wrote and got a good nap. And went to a barbacue with friends – what's a rugby game without a braai:-)
Wow! Damaria, that's toasty! Sort of evokes a mood of lounging in the shade though, doesn't it? 🙂
Ugh, I'm suffering with Fall allergies right along with you, Lori. I often wind up losing my voice at some point – hoping to avoid that this year… Need to re-evaluate my diet – I think that will help. As much as I LOVE dairy, I think I need to take a hiatus.:(
Not you too, Kim! Ugh. I've gotten much more relief from Flonase than from Claritin, I'll tell you.
I'm fortunate that dairy isn't a problem. Yet. Then again…
Weekend was busy, conference went well (full details on blog), but I'm still sick.
Got a lot of catching up to do today before I can crawl back into my cozy bed.
The leaf mold is getting to me too. Right when I finally got over my cough and lingering laryngitis, my allergies have given me a cough, a raspy voice and a stuffy nose. (Having two additional dogs here isn't helping much either, I'm sure.)
My weekend was spent with the dogs, literally. Our first hard frost was expected the other day, so I harvested all of my tomatoes and peppers. When my sister dropped her dogs off, she brought more cherry tomatoes (and some uncooked/ "undressed" fresh gnocchi and spinach tortellini). Saturday I turned my green tomatoes into Green Tomato Salsa, and also roasted the tomatoes from my sister with a few of my ripe tomatoes, garlic, a little onion, and one of the sweet Italian red peppers from my garden. Topped it with a little olive oil, salt and pepper. Roasted it a couple hours at a low temp, took it out, pulled out the pepper skins, mashed up the garlic, splashed on some Balsamic vinegar and tossed in a lot or roughly chopped fresh basil, also from my garden. Served it on the leftover tortellini and gnocchi, topped with a little freshly-grated Parmesan. I'm a really good cook, but that was one of the best things I've ever made. It was so simple, too!
Friday I found two trades that sounded like good fits with my background. I contacted the editors with a brief LOI e-mail. One replied saying they have no freelance budget right now. The other (a Canadian publication) replied saying they were thinking of expanding their coverage to include more about the US market. A couple of back-and-forth e-mails about rates, etc.. and they offered me an assignment. Waiting for details now.
I'm working this AM, but taking the afternoon off when my sister comes to pick her dogs up. (If she's hoping for roasted tomato leftovers, she's too late.)
I've got two interviews lined up this week for a piece that is due on the 4th. The weekend was nice, though I didn't grade the papers I brought home. 🙂 Just wishing I could write full-time, but I need to be patient and keep plowing ahead. I'm hopeful that this will be a productive week.
That's just weird. When I hit "publish your comment" it showed up above. Now it's gone. I swear, Blogger hates me, but I don't know why.
My covers are calling too, Devon. Luckily I'm feeling a bit better today. I hope you were able to catch a nice nap!
Busy week for you, Wade! Full time will happen soon enough – you're building. Good for you!
I'm digging it out as we speak, Paula….
You had frost already? Yea, it's about that time. I'd better go dig up the basil and dill….
My basil is speckled, but still standing. We're in for a couple of warm days (today & tomorrow), before we have highs in the 40s and 50s again.
Dogs just went home…now my dog is whimpering and wishing they were still here.
psst- the only thing more decadent than a Saturday afternoon nap is a weekday afternoon nap 🙂
Oooo….you're talking my language, Allena. 🙂
My basil looks the same, Paula. I rescued some early in the summer and potted it indoors so I'd have the big leaves all winter (I hope). Did the same for the oregano.
a bout of the flu has once again confirmed I'm not 20 any more.
plus fall allergies.