What’s on the iPod: Handle with Care by The Traveling Wilburys
I’m channeling Marvin the Martian today as I look back at yesterday morning. Really. Just the morning was weird, but what a weird morning. Like an unexploded bomb ticking away somewhere (hence the Marvin reference, all you Bugs fans). Flash back to Monday around 7 – he calls. The car broke down. In Brooklyn. I’m in Philly. Now what? Worse, he was late picking up our meditation monk in Queens, who was good enough to call looking for him. And he’d forgotten to take my cell phone with him (he’s technology averse).
His plan – limp the car from Queens (he limped it to Queens eventually) and then limp it down 95. My role – drive north. The monk has a cell phone (how bad is it when your monk has more technology than you do, huh?), so we were able to communicate and find each other in New Brunswick. I got home after 11.
Tuesday was a wad of everyone else’s plans spilling out at once and all sorts of requests from all directions. And I’m sitting here trying to work. I opened one email and closed it quickly. Did I see that? Yes, the client wanted revisions. Different client than usual. Didn’t like the one blog post at all because it was “too negative.” I’m a truthful writer – I don’t blow sunshine, so if you want all roses, tell me so ahead of time so I can approach it like a marketing job. Luckily, I was able to get those finished rather quickly, even the one that was destined for the scrap heap. Let’s hope they stick.
Once the blog posts were fixed and I had agreed kicking and fussing to be chauffeur to the household today (it’s his alternator), had relinquished my keys (he went to get his car), had printed the bus tickets (monk leaving today), and started lunch for when everyone but me could eat (interview for an article), my head was pounding like a jackhammer against concrete. And it was noon.
But despite the fun, I got plenty accomplished. Don’t ask me how. It was all a blur. But I finished revisions on the article that was assigned incorrectly, got an interview (and a good one, too) completed for another article, and managed to eat lunch somewhere around 2 pm. That’s actually better than some days – I forget to eat.
Today is catch-up time. I have interviews to go over, a story to rough in, and blog posts for another job due. And then there’s marketing. I’ve located a few forgotten sources whom I need to contact today.
It’s rare when things get so out of control, but obviously not rare enough. I have a label already made for these types of posts – “work interruptions.”
When was your last Kaboom day?
7 responses to “Where’s the Kaboom?”
I think part of it is that the day before a "turn" — as in the day before Merc goes retrograde or direct — are sometimes filled with more challenges. Saturn leaves Pisces today — so, you know, one last smack upside the head.
My day was okay yesterday. My internal monologue was snarkier and more negative than I would have liked, but at least I didn't take it out on anyone.
I'll take my Advil now – I don't need one more smack, but I'll be prepared for it. 🙂
I like this "My internal monologue was snarkier and more negative than I would have liked…." Glad to hear I'm not the only one experiencing that. 🙂
I had a KABOOM day last week. I had to take a medical leave (whatever you want to call it in freelancing) for a couple of weeks before that. It was unexpected, but it didn't hurt my business much, since I had rough drafts done on most of the important projects. I contacted the clients involved; letting them know what was going on and gave them a heads up on where their projects were at that time. No one had a problem.
Last week, I came back to work a little bit, but not to go full force. I let the clients know that I was back and that I was back to working on their current projects. A day or two later a bunch of emails came pouring in with requests of “Can you do…” I don't think I ever had to turn down so many projects before. I can't possibly take anything more on until I'm fully recovered. This week is better, but I still haven't been able to go back full throttle yet.
I'm crossing my fingers that I don't end up losing some of these clients as I really enjoy what I do for them. (Well, there is one that I probably wouldn't lose sleep over if they went elsewhere-But you didn't hear that from me. LOL!)
My KABOOM day involved good ol' technology-specifically my ISP carrier that was down a day and a half. When it was back up-sorta-it would be up, then down, then up again. Heading to a local Starbucks for a wireless connection was not an option (my Mom had surgery and I was nurse Cathy).
Sometimes I have to remind myself that the reason I moved in with my 87-year-old mother last year was to be there for her-like the times I am really in writer mode & she wants me to come see what's wrong with her computer.
Then I totally understand snarky.
Love Marvin! The past two weeks around here has been more like the final scene from "V for Vendetta." Not complaining, mind you, but it is REALLY making me look forward to next week in "Sans" Diego–sans cell, sans computer, sans deadlines, sans responsibility.
Great, you're gonna jinx me, Lori. Why? I haven't had a Kaboom day in quite a while. When they do happen, it's usually because I'm at the mercy of other people's schedules, and those schedules don't align well with mine.
Snarky interior monologue? More often then not mine are fully verbalized. My poor dog will look at me like, "Shut up already. You're disturbing my nap."
Wendy, I hope you're feeling better. I had one client fuss because I was too sick to take a phone call. The fuss was the last straw in an already demanding relationship – I bid them farewell. You don't need that. Most people understand illness. (If you need help, holler! I'll back you up)
Smile, Cathy. 🙂 Moms don't like being dependent either, I'd bet. I get those requests via telephone. "Hey, can you look something up for me…." I'd get her a computer, but the phone calls would increase and the question would change to "How do I look this up?" Oy!
Enjoy, the break from instant connection, Jake! It's so sweet, isn't it?
Paula, I'm doing a chant over here to un-jinx you. 🙂 And I know the feeling about the dog and the "look." This fish of mine is sick to death of my whining.