What I’m reading: The Wayward Bus by John Steinbeck
What’s on the iPod: Hardliners by Holcolmbe Waller
Friday. Ahhhhh….wait. No. Can’t relax yet. Why? Because my week, which wasn’t bad in terms of workload, just tripled in size. And yes, it’s the end of the week. I’m about to go into a weekend knowing there’s an anvil of work hanging over it.
It can’t be helped. A close writer friend who was helping out on a big project is sitting in ICU getting over e. coli infection. He’s possibly being moved into a regular room today, but it was scary for a day or so. I was glad to hear him on the phone yesterday, though he sounded absolutely spent. No wonder. That’s one damned frightening virus. I’m happy to say he’s mending.
Secondary to his health is this project. We were on the last phase — putting it all back together and shipping it off to the client. I was walking him through it as it’s a massive headache the first few times you take it on. He has all the formatted files. I do not. Alas, time to improvise.
I will buy a little more time from the client, but I’m in full-on, emergency get-it-done-yesterday mode. I have a game plan and the outline. Part of the project is already put together, so I just have to fill in the blanks, which may not be easy (or could be, depending). Luckily, I’ve figured out a good bit of Word’s functionality (you know, the stuff we never use) enough to cut the work in half.
That frustration isn’t so much a frustration since it’s trumped by concern for my friend. The project will get done. As long as he feels better soon, that’s all that counts.
However, there are other frustrations:
Bad, bad service. I’m talking really bad. I mentioned earlier in the week that we didn’t get to participate in the Firebird Festival like we’d hoped. Oh, we were there, sitting not 25 yards from the spot. In a restaurant. For two hours. Without our food order. Worse, we had guests and they had driven two hours to see the festival. At 10 minutes before 8, I shooed them outside to watch while husband and I waited. No amount of complaining or anger helped. The waitress was new (just a week there and they put her on for the busiest night in December?). She had no backbone, so when the kitchen staff snapped back at her, she gave in. Worse, she told us she couldn’t ask them about our order again or “They’ll yell at me.” F-k that, sister. You get your ass in there and tell them you want that food NOW and if you don’t get it, the manager will make the next request.
Alas, she was not that assertive.
And when my husband went looking for her to ask for the third time when we could expect our food, she bolted.
So I found one of our favorite waitresses and said one word. “Help.”
Within two minutes, the manager was in front of us apologizing.
Within ten minutes, we had food. However, our guests were outside, so they came back to lukewarm food.
The manager cut our bill in half, apologized profusely, and chewed out the waitress on the side (I don’t foresee her being there much longer).
Collection. Unbeknownst to a particular client, the collection agency is about to knock on their door. Worse, this is after the client toted out the attorney to try scaring me off what I’m owed. I’d love to overlook this (and nearly did because the amount nowhere near equals the hassle), but I’m trying to stick with precedent. If you don’t pay, I have to follow my payment/collection process. And lawyers? Yea, they’re not scary when I have a signed contract that you’re breaching. No lawyer can circumvent your signature on an agreement.
It’s the first time ever I’ve had to use collection. Ever. I consider myself lucky to have had clients that, even if they don’t pay willingly, eventually honor their agreements with me. That this one didn’t is disheartening, for it was someone I did like working with. Bit of a shocker.
Other people’s lists. She wants me to go with her tonight to get a party dress. He’s wanting help locating gifts for the people on his list. I want…. wait. I’ve not asked anyone for anything. Think I could delegate something to them for a change? Well, there’s the tree. We need to get one and put it up. I’m thinking tomorrow is our only day to get one as it’s to rain the next few days.
What’s frustrating you this week/month?
I'm sorry it's been such a frustrating week, and glad to hear your friend is doing better!
This week I am most frustrated by the mess that is my office. We had people over last weekend and did a frenzy clean of the house, which means everything that didn't have a place to go wound up in my office, and I haven't had a chance to clean up much yet. I find the clutter very distracting!
1) Projects that are completely different from what is described in the contract. I took on a review project and then found out I was expected to completely rewrite the unusable content.
2) Editors who reject work and include vague comments that don't tell me what requirements weren't met, just that they weren't really "feeling it."
3) Being owed a ton of money and receiving a check without an authorized signature.
Grrr. Yup, frustrating couple of weeks. I'm hoping some time off over the holidays will erase my recent line of thinking about starting to look for a "normal" job.
…(just added) 4) Asking for hundreds of dollars worth of work as a "sample."
Ah, Lori. So glad your friend is healing and so sorry his illness means a ton of work for you.
My week's been pretty smooth. I'll take it!
Allie, I'm guilty of the same "throw it in the study" cleaning. You should SEE this place (actually, good luck finding it)!
Kris, that sucks! I'm sure they don't see the difference between the project described and the one you have to pull out of your hat.
Weren't "feeling it"? What the hell is that supposed to mean? How can you revise it to suit them from that feedback? Idiotic.
You think that check was conveniently unsigned? I had that happen once and only after waiting 90 days for payment.
And I agree — they want it, they pay!
Anne, glad it's been a good week for you, friend. We'll chat whenever I catch up.
Great. Reading you received an unsigned check after it was already 90 days past due right after I was told LatePayer intends to pay all invoices by the end of the year makes be worry my check will be unsigned, too.
Glad your fellow writer is on the mend. I know senior citizen who nearly died from an e.coli infection. Fortunately, she survived. I got a Christmas card from her yesterday.
Okay, Lori – go delegate something!