Uncategorized | Words on the Page

Spreading the Wings

Posted on February 9, 2011 by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: 25 to Life by Eminem Crazy day yesterday. Had some research to do and a small project to handle, but mostly I spent the day going over contracts and arranging interviews for an article. Today starts what I call my Marathon Interview Week – four in two days. It doesn’t sound…

Putting Your Professional Foot Down

Posted on February 8, 2011 by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Night Crawler by Diane ParkinWhat’s on the iPod: One by U2 Yesterday was a day of coordinating interviews and contracts. The only writing I did consisted of a complaint letter. Here’s what happened: Daughter was called for an interview with a company seven states away. She asked for a phone interview. Nothing…

Ups and Downs

Posted on February 7, 2011 by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Night Crawler by Diane ParkinWhat’s on the iPod: Laundry Room by The Avett Brothers There is no joy in Mudville…. Funny how to the losers, it’s just a game (we keep telling ourselves), but to the winners, what a game! Congratulations to Packers fans everywhere. A well-deserved, hard-fought win. Had a nice…

Shipping Up to Boston

Posted on February 4, 2011 by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Shipping Up to Boston by Dropkick Murphys By the time you read this, I’ll have been in Boston and will be heading back. His mom’s 90th birthday party was yesterday and we were all gathering post-storm in Boston to celebrate. Because it’s Friday and I have a BIG weekend ahead (football…

What’s in Your Freelance Basket?

Posted on February 3, 2011 by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Night Crawler by Diane Parkin What’s on the iPod: The Electric Boogie by Marcia Griffiths (Oh, yes I did!) Nice day yesterday. I managed one small project, then had the rest of the day to plan out an article, including lining up interviews and scaring up some experts. The experts part was…

Yes Virginia, You Can Over-promote

Posted on February 2, 2011 by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Night Crawler by Diane ParkinWhat’s on the iPod: No Good with Faces by Jack Johnson Nice slow day yesterday. Slow in the sense that I had time to breathe a little and think as I arranged interviews for a new project. I took some time to read a little industry news and…

Five Stupid Freelance Moves

Posted on February 1, 2011 by lwidmer

What I’m reading: A History of Irish Fairies by Carolyn WhiteWhat’s on the iPod: True Believer by The Clarks A number of years ago today, I looked for the first time into eyes that altered my world forever. A stranger then, he melted me when he latched onto my pinkie with his little hand. He…

Monthly Assessment: January 2011

Posted on January 31, 2011 by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Night Crawler by Diane Parkin (Yay, Diane!)What’s on the iPod: Where You Are by Rascal Flatts Wonderful weekend full of activity. After spending Friday’s lunchtime digging out the mailbox, I finished up an article and roughed in another. Friday night was spent with our monk, whose company is always welcome. He’s family….

Worthy Tip: Take This Job, Not That One

Posted on January 28, 2011 by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Laundry Room by The Avett Brothers There’s one good thing about shoveling snow – it’s great cardio and muscle work. I’ve found if you have enough Aleve, you can pretty much shovel your way from one side of town to the other. Not that I want to or intend to –…

Knee Deep

Posted on January 27, 2011 by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: EZ by Pete Yorn Did I really say I loved snow? I did. Wow. Good thing, because today I’m staring down a long driveway with a ten-inch deep layer that needs to be moved. Maybe I’ll just stay in. Maybe I’ll hope for an early spring, starting today. I got enough…

Devon Ellington

January 27, 2011

I try not to fly any more unless I'm going overseas. Why should i pay them to screw me?

I don't have anywhere near as much snow to shovel as you do — you have my sympathies! Be careful.

Eileen

January 27, 2011

We got plenty here in Maryland, too. Of course, the school systems couldn't decide last night to close or delay; no, they had to wake us up with a robo-call at 5:30am to tell us what they could have told us last night. So schools are closed, including the community college, and I've got all four kids home. Hubby has decided to take the day off too. And I've got a huge project due and a houseful of boisterous people who expect me to make them hot chocolate and find them dry gloves all day long. I'm going to go hide in the basement and pretend I don't hear them banging on the door.

Lori

January 27, 2011

Bar the door, Eileen! Good luck. I have them home, too, and it's already proving interesting.

Devon, I can see why. Trains are much more comfortable. I shoveled, but my car is still garage-bound until we get the entire driveway done. Correction: until I get it done. They're dug out and parked at the street. Guess who will be stranded?

Ashley

January 27, 2011

Oh, how I love living in the South. Beautiful pics though 🙂

Gabriella F.

January 27, 2011

The photos are lovely–but the shoveling isn't! Take your time, and don't overtax yourself. Perhaps it's time to invest in a snow blower or shoveling service?!

On that note, my neighbors and I in our six-unit condo building finally hired a shoveling service to remove snow in front of our garages for $35 an episode any time there's more than 1" of snow.

We're all marveling at how wonderful it is not to have to worry about getting our cars safely in and out of the driveway!

Be careful out there!

Lori

January 27, 2011

Gabriella, it's a ton of work, but my arms are looking incredible! I don't have to lift weights on days I shovel. I'm doing ten-to-twenty times the weight lifting on those days!

I'm scouring the ads for plowing services. It would take nothing for them to push this out of the way in five minutes. For me, it's an hour or more.

Eileen

January 27, 2011

I actually enjoy getting outside and shovelling snow. But today, I don't have time. I'm hoping my big strapping 20 year old son will get inspired and go do it.

Lori

January 27, 2011

Success! I got the driveway AND the front walk done. Amen. Now I can concentrate on work. I think I remember that. 🙂

Paula

January 27, 2011

I don't mind shoveling as long as it's not too cold. I, too, try to shovel mid-way through big storms. I have to admit when I saw the east cost was getting another major snow I felt jealous. We've had lots of piddly little snow systems, but no huge storms.

Your story reminded me of when I was little. We had a foreign exchange student due to arrive in Chicago, from Brazil, on December 23. There was a mega snowstorm, so Mom & Dad packed us all in the car early. We got to O'Hare to discover A) no other host families had arrived; B) no officials from the exchange program had arrived; and C) only one Brazilian student was fluent in English. (Thankfully, he turned out to be our student, Luiz.)

Luiz interpreted the situation for th other students (most were excited about the snow; few had proper coats or boots) and was able to get the other students' family information, and my mom and dad found some pay phones and started calling around. I believe my mom chewed out the exchange program organizers for not allowing for extra driving time because of the storm.

On Christmas Eve Luiz got a big parka, "waffle stomper" boots, and a crash course in snow removal 101. He loved it.

Gabriella F.

January 27, 2011

Glad you're lookin' on the bright side, Popeye!

Wendy

January 27, 2011

Shoveling is a great way to build some muscles. The problem comes when the snowbanks start to get too high, you start using more back muscles and less arm muscles. My back is still feeling the effects of the last snow we had here.

I feel for you having to shovel. I'm still glad that it's not me this time, though. Yea!

Anne Wayman

January 27, 2011

I love the story of the monk who didn't know he wasn't in Philly… tell him namaste from me will you? Bet he wasn't even upset… meditation is wonderful… snow, maybe not so much.

Lori

January 27, 2011

Anne, you're right. He wasn't upset in the least. I will pass along your namaste. 🙂

Wendy, the snow here is really high (and now really heavy to move). But it's outta my way for now! Until tomorrow, anyway…

I'm strong to the finish, Gabriella. LOL

Great story, Paula! We have someone here moving to Brazil, and the snow is no small part of the reason. Do you hear from Luiz? Where in Brazil?

Paula

January 28, 2011

We have an extended Brazilian family now. Way back when Luiz was here, his sisters and a friend came for a visit (a week or two?), and I remained pen pals with the friend, who was studying English. Many years later, Luiz, his wife and parents came to the US for a vacation and spent several days with us. Again, Luiz was the sale translator, but we all managed to communicate with a few common words and lots of hand gestures. The funniest thing? My brother was a bar tender at Chi-chi's back then, and when we pulled up to the parking lot, the Brazilians all burst into laughter and whipped out cameras. (As Luiz politely explained, "In Brazil, that's slang for….what you do on the toilet.")

I stay in touch with both Luiz and the former pen (now e-mail) pal, Luciana. And every so often we'll hear from one (or the other) of his sisters. Luiz is in Salvador. One of his sisters moved way north – I can't recall the name of the area, but the photos are all very beautiful and scenic – no beaches, though. Luciana was from Recife, but moved to Tokyo a long time ago where she still lives. When my sister and brother-in-law were in Japan a couple of years back, they met up with Luciana who helped them navigate the Tokyo subway system. They – a Brazilian ex-pat, an American and a Canadian – even spent New Year's Day at the Emperor's palace where he gave a ceremonial speech.