Spent a great weekend just reconnecting with the man and enjoying some yard time. The lack of humidity made it marvelous gardening. The neighbor’s cat, per usual, was a constant companion. I would sit on the swing for a break and he’d make a running leap for my lap. If they’re not careful, he may move in with us permanently. Not that we’d have any say in the matter – the cat’s calling the shots here.
Today I play catch-up and try to get well ahead of my workload. The thyroid lump that was diagnosed in June? Over the weekend I noticed it. Literally. What I was unable to see before is very apparent on my neck. And I’m feeling it as I turn my neck, drink, wear a seatbelt….I think the four-month wait-and-see is over prematurely. So there will probably be surgery in my immediate future and an endocrinologist in the aftermath to help me understand how removing something so vital will affect the body.
The large project I handle every year is now front-and-center. It normally takes me a month or greater to get the formatting down. However, this year I’ve found a way that may just make the mammoth task easy as a few days. That’s because this year’s project has not changed drastically. The changes I’ve made to the copy may be able to be merged. I’m going to test it later today, but I’m excited. I used to go page by page, applying Word styles to an HTML document. If this works, I’ll be dancing. I’ll still have some cleaning up of widows, but that’s a damn sight better than walking through 300 pages and changing heads, subheads, and bullets.
We’re also looking at a number of weeks in which he wants to travel. He has a lot of vacation time to use before 2011. As much as I hate to, I may be working on one or more of those trips. My laptop is pretty basic, but it should do the trick. I’m never a fan of taking time off and using it for work, but if I get one vacation that’s strictly fun, I’ll have to work the rest. Unlike our 9-to-5 counterparts, when we freelancers take time off, we have to recover those unearned dollars somehow. My plan? Travel articles. 🙂 Actually, the plan is to continue an ongoing project, which normally takes a few hours a day, and limp by on that and two other ongoing-project checks.
How was your weekend? What have you done lately that helps you work smarter?
14 responses to “Working Smarter”
I will be able to work smarter when I don't lose 3/4 of my working day fighting the rat bastard landlords. It's hard to make a living when you're literally fighting for your life, moment by moment.
Sorry to hear about your thyroid problems. Thinking of you. Let me know if there's anything I can do.
Devon, I don't know how you do it. It would be impossible to think under those conditions let alone create.
The thyroid – I was hoping to put it off until the end of October. That's not possible now that it's swelling. Probably a nasty goiter thing, but either way – get it taken care of. Thanks for the offer. I may take you up on it. 🙂
Hey, Lori-
Sorry to hear about problems with your thyroid-we'll keep healthy vibes going your way.
Much cooler weather here meant much nicer training walks for the 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk. Yay!!
Today is the last day of a 30-day blog challenge for me. Went way easier than I expected, but I am looking forward to not business blogging on the weekend. I will try to keep the 5 days a week instead of the 3 I used to do.
July & August were my best months yet so just slowing down a little bit is nice.
Good health, Lori, and hope the huge project goes smoothly.
I hope your thyroid situation clears up on its own. When I was a toddler I had a cyst removed from my neck/throat. This was during my mom's first round with cancer, so despite the doctors telling them it was benign and would likely go away on its own, they decided to have it surgically removed. But did they think to have a plastic surgeon stitch up the gash on the front of my neck? No. If you need surgery, and it's not a high tech/minimally invasive procedure, perhaps they can do it without a 2-inch incision…otherwise insist on having a plastic surgeon close. Trust me, it'll be worth it. Whoever stitched me up didn't use even stitches and it contorts when I swallow. It's always bothered me, but my friends and family say they don't notice – and they're the ones who have to look at it.
I did have a great weekend. My cousins and I went to Chicago for the Chicago premiere of my brother-in-law's micro-budget indie film, Chicago Heights, and got to celebrate Roger Ebert's rave review with the cast and crew. Amazing experience, and great film. (My sister's dog gave a stellar performance as Depression.)
Sorry to hear the bad news about your thyroid. I will keep you in my prayers.
I had a good weekend, but it was over too soon. My "work smarter" plan is to not turn on Law and Order when I need to get stuff done. Because that activates anti-get-stuff-done mode in me.
Also, seriously considering starting a blog, but I need to figure out a plan — need to be able to make time to actually do the blogging. I'm working on an ideas list now… it's a start 🙂
Sorry to hear re your health issues, but best to get it taken care of sooner rather than later.
Be well!
Oh, if it's not one issue it's another, guys! Not to worry. The doc had told me in June it was an issue, but not a huge one. I'm fine with it. I'm just trying to fit it in with all that's going on. But thanks for the wishes and good vibes. 🙂
Cathy, I meant to donate and it slipped my mind with all that's going on. Please keep me in the loop on your future walks.
Paula, super news for the BIL! I'll keep an eye for his movie – will it appear elsewhere?
Oh Ashley, that's me and Bejeweled Blitz. The time I waste on that is ridiculous.
Thanks, Carole! Did that article I sent help?
Lori: Echoing all the other posters here, sorry to hear of your continued medical frustrations — but it's good to know that things will hopefully be resolved. I'm not much of a pray-er, but know that I'll be sending positive thoughts your way.
On the vacation/work topic, dunno if this is of any value to you, but I've been using Google Docs on a few projects over the past few months, & have been impressed by what I've experienced thus far. Good news is that with your stuff stored "in the cloud" you can access your work from any computer with an Internet connection, & you don't need any additional software on your machine.
And finally, regarding your friendly neighborhood feline: You do know that the cat's *always* calling the shots, right =)
Hugh, that cat has us all wrapped around his tail. We're all powerless. 🙂
I've heard of/used Google Docs. Also, I really like Microsoft's newest item – SkyDrive. They're giving a whopping 25GB of storage space. So far, I'm a little frustrated that I don't have the handy instant link on my Word 2007 (the beta version of Office Workspace had it, so WTF?), but in general, I can't argue with that type of storage.
That brings me to my next question – anyone out there using a program to access their desktops? I have a beta version, but I'm not thrilled with its format at ALL.
Lori-you did contribute! :-)In case you did not receive my thank you-thank you, thank, thank you.
I still have just under $800 more to raise to qualify to walk. I'm the little engine that could, "I think I can, I think I can."
Since you asked, Lori… I believe he said it will be heading to Montreal in September, as part of yet another film festival.
Paula, when he gets near Philadelphia, let me know! Even New Jersey or Delaware….
Cathy, for some reason I thought this was a different walk. Glad I contributed. Wish I could've remembered. 🙂
My weekend consisted of chilling out with a couple bottles of Michelob Golden Draft while doing nothing but chatting with friends.
To work smarter, I am thinking about looking into some classes to strengthen my skills. At the moment, I'm going back to basics and going over grammar and punctuation. Not very exciting, but it's necessary.
Now Wendy, if you'd said a couple of mint juleps, I'm there. 🙂
Good for you for going back to relearn the basics! Something we should all do.