Nano count: Still 10,001 words
Very long day yesterday, but I accomplished two of my three goals. I had time-sensitive projects that had to go out ASAP, so they took priority over even my personal writing. Nano suffered. But since Nano doesn’t pay the bills, I made that sacrifice without any reservation. Besides, I have today to put down what I hope is a lot of work on the book.
I finished one project late in the day, then tried printing the invoice. Uh. No. Printer wasn’t working. Really? Nothing had changed since Saturday when it was used last (that I know of). But for the second time in two months, I was trying to get the printer to print. This time, it had somehow been switched to wireless mode, which hasn’t worked since I bought the stupid thing. That’s a battle I gave up out of sheer frustration, so I know I didn’t change the settings. It was (is – I’m writing right after resolving it) 8:30 last night when it was fixed. Amen. Invoice printed.
I’m going to take today for Nano and marketing. I do have to get a project back to a client, which means a trip to either FedEx or UPS (I have no love for UPS delivery in this area, so guess which one I’m picking if I have the choice?). Beyond that, working on the book.
It must be the season for repairs, etc. We have two things going on this weekend that require someone to be at home for the eventual arrival of Someone With Tools. It’s the eventual part that annoys me (and everyone else on the planet). I know tomorrow’s SWT will show up within a half-hour window – very good about that in the past. However, today’s arrival of another SWT is completely up in the air. He may show up right now. He may show up at noon. Two. Four. Maybe not until the next day. Hard to say.
Because of my location, I’m Designated Door Opener. As DDO, I must make myself available for these impromptu visits. In fact, today’s SWT tried showing up three weeks ago to no avail. To which I say uh, use a phone? I had no idea he’d try showing up at all (again, phone?). He’d alluded to a possible stopping by a month prior, so it’s no surprise I was running errands when he did arrive. So I have little patience with a random show-er-upper. Today’s plan is to call him and get an ETA. I have a life and other things to do. Nano.
It’s really hard not to resent or feel a little overwhelmed when you’re the one at home to answer the door (except for Paula’s neighbor, who tends to think it’s Paula’s job to gossip with her) and ask the pertinent questions of the delivery or repair people. Worse is if the requests come in last minute. Here’s how I handle some of these requests:
Say no. Who says you have to be there just because you’re “there”? Physical location notwithstanding, sometimes you just don’t have the fifteen minutes to two hours to spare shuttling the repair people through the house. Or playing taxi. Or deciding on dinner.
Reschedule to suit your schedule. So someone made that appointment when you have a conference call? Reschedule the appointment – not the conference call. Work comes first before any arbitrary appointment time. If it’s not convenient, don’t agree to it.
Make the appointment yourself. The best way to avoid having to work around the damned appointment is to get on the phone and arrange it yourself. That way you avoid any work conflicts.
Ask for backup. Just because they’re out of the house doesn’t mean it has to all fall on you. It’s okay to ask someone to get your back once in a while.
How do you deal with interruptions?
I have a difficult time saying no. That weakness is part of the reason I've been so insanely busy this entire year. It started in January, and it's now, what, November? Yeah. I'm feeling myself burning out very quickly. I understand where Devon is coming from when she says she feels resentful at times like these. So perhaps that needs to be my New Year's resolution that I start practicing right now.
I'm lucky though because it's usually my husband who gets stuck as the Designated Door Opener because of his night work hours. He would just be watching TV otherwise, though. Does that make me a horrible person that I don't feel too bad about it??
People here are pretty respectful of each other's time, especially since so many are freelancers/small business people. And the decades of writers before me trained them well! 😉
I set up appointments. They show up on time.
I don't answer the phone, so that's not a problem. Found out yesterday I'd had my cell phone off for three days. Ooops.
If someone shows up at someone's door unexpectedly in this neighborhood, one of the neighbors is usually there before the guy gets to the door. Everyone looks out for everyone and "just because there's a logo on the van doesn't make it legit."
When I lived in NY, I'd put a sign on the door while I worked, "IF you interrupt me, I will be rude."
If they did, I was.
Rarely did they make that mistake twice.
I'm going to fashion a sign just like that, Devon. I'm hanging it on the doors to my study. Swear to God some of the worst offenders sleep under this roof.
Ashley, that was the hardest part for me – learning to say no without guilt or reservation. Now it comes maybe a little too easily. LOL
Funny you should mention that neighbor, Lori…. I had a slow day yesterday to recover from the insanely busy week last week.
Anyway, that very neighbor has asked me to save a coupon out of the Sunday paper for her and said she'd pick it up Monday. I left the house for maybe 45 minutes in the afternoon to buy groceries and the only voice mail when I got back was from my sister. An hour or so after I got home my phone rang at the exact same time someone knocked on the front door. (There is a doorbell but everyone knocks. Go figure.) I assumed it would be said neighbor coming for her coupon – calling to say she was on the porch since she's done that before. I chose to answer the door instead of the phone. It was a college friends dropping off the first issue of her new monthly city paper. Fast forward a couple of hours…the phone rang. Please note, it was already dark, my lights were on and I hadn't yet closed the drapes and this neighbor has a clear view of my house and could see the lights. The neighbor called, "I wanted to check that you were okay since you didn't answer when I knocked on the door earlier or when I called."
I said, "I was at the store earlier, and you didn't leave a message so I had no way of knowing you called." (I keep telling her – and others – that I don't have Caller ID, so I won't know they called if they don't leave a darn message. I also point out that I pay extra for voice mail so they darn well better use it!)
The other part of working from home that's annoying is when people expect you're there 24/7. Even prisoners get a little time out of their cells.
Yea, that neighbor is whom I'm referring to. Lordy, Paula. You do have patience with her!
Love Devon's sign 😉
In addition to saying no, which I have learned to do and it's worth learning, I'm also learning to set limits when I say yes.
Maybe I should break out the promotional "Interrogation in Progress" sign I've kept from a press kit back when The Closer first premiered. Hang that on the front door when I'm doing interviews.
I must have kept it for a reason.
LOL Devon. You always make me feel better about not answering the phone. I've been known to get emails from friends and family saying "Go find your find phone. I want to talk to you."
Lori, the thought of being able to devote a good chunk of the day to Nano sounds really nice. I wish. I do most of my Nano writing in the evening after client work is done.
Anne, that's a super point. Too often our unconditional yeses become the death of our days.
Paula, hang it on your front door. 😉
Damaria, I know the feeling. I've let my sister go to voice mail and even my mother, but just a few times. At her and Dad's age, I answer. You never know.
I'm considering my extra time a gift right now. I have a small gap between more work (some coming today or tomorrow), and I'm using the time to get words on paper. When else will I get that chance without carving it out of my day otherwise?
Appoint setting is an arranged meeting between the two peoples. it can be a so useful to save a time for a big companies or firm they always like to meet every people via the arranged meetings. in this type of meeting we can know early the at what time when we have to go and who will meet us.
appointment setting