Words on the Page

Let’s Be Consistent

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Sweet Sophia by Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers Many thanks to my camera company, Fuji, which responded quickly to my call asking for help. I’d sent the camera in for repair and had received mixed messages on when I’d get it back. I explained calmly but with a little “oh dear”…

Of Weekends and Strong Drinks

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: The Clowns by The Clarks With weekends like the one I just had, I’m glad to be able to come to work and sit for a while. Not only are we preparing for a vacation, but let’s throw a party in there three days after we get home. Oh, and four…

What I’ve Learned the Hard Way

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Ah! Leah! by Donny Iris Yesterday was great. I managed to finish a lot of blog posts for the entire month of October for one client, and tried to get some work lined up for when I return. I had time to get some invoices filed and get some work papers…

You, Sued

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Rebecca by Daphne du MaurierWhat’s on the iPod: Happiness Is by The Airborne Toxic Event Yesterday was one of those days. I was motivated enough, but couldn’t stay focused on the projects. Thank goodness there were only two small ones. Never thought I’d rejoice in the lack of work. Daughter called with…

Why Marketing is Simple

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m reading: The Civil War: A Narrative by Shelby FooteWhat’s on the iPod: Wasted Words by The Allman Brothers Band In case you missed it, I have a post up over at About Freelance Writing. Check it out and join the discussion. Busy day yesterday. Between vacation plans and trying to stockpile work, I…

Rallying Around the Cause

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m reading: The Pearl by John SteinbeckWhat’s on the iPod: Just Another Girl by Pete Yorn Maybe someone can explain to me why companies tend to say one thing and do another. My new digital camera went back to the company for repair on September 15th (flash wasn’t working). The website says 10-15 days…

Stress Balls

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Rebecca by Daphne du MaurierWhat’s on the iPod: I Want to be Sedated by The Ramones Today starts the marathon. Time for me to inhale deeply and power through a lot of small projects so I’ll have some money post-vacation. I’ve asked one client to double up on the projects until the…

Grammar Cops Gone Bad

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Rebecca by Daphne du MaurierWhat’s on the iPod: Dream by Priscilla Ahn The tickets are bought! Our official time away is now October 13-27. I can’t believe it. The itinerary is sketched in, and I’m getting the details sorted here at home before leaving. Paying bills, making sure instructions are left for…

Monthly Assessment: September 2010

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Same stuffWhat’s on the iPod: Sometime Around Midnight by The Airborne Toxic Event September was a somewhat abbreviated month thanks to surgery. Who knew that and an impending vacation would impact the workload so much? Oh hell, I did. It’s happened before. And par for the course, I’ll be heading off on…

Taking Advantage of Free Time

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m reading: The Pearl by John SteinbeckWhat’s on the iPod: She Hates Me by Puddle of Mudd It feels good to feel good again. The tightness around my scar has eased up (thanks to Bag Balm and Neosporin), and I’m losing that bruise and bruised-chest feeling. When I met my Vietnamese student for tutoring…

Cathy

So glad to hear you're getting back to your ol' self again, Lori!

I am getting my usual end-of-the month twitch I get for new gigs. It usually happens when I'm coming off being very busy to just busy. More marketing reduces more twitching – especially when it lands something.

I think it's the looming time off in November that has me a bit more concerned about being very busy right now so I can relax – as much as anyone can relax on a 3-day, 60 mile walk. 🙂

I'm finishing up an industry newsletter, some blogging, conducting a rescheduled interview for a white paper and a few ghostwritten articles-not all today 🙂 wish I was that productive.

Ashley

I'm super busy with a million things, some involving work 🙂 I didn't get much sleep last night or really at all this week, so that's a struggle. But I'm hanging on so far. I have a presentation tonight for my class, and I need to make some follow up calls about someone who wants her novel edited. I haven't quoted a price yet, so we'll see how that goes.

I'm glad you're feeling back to normal, Lori!

Paula

This is turning out to be a glorious day for me. It's a beautiful sunny day with an expected high of 78 (weekend highs are supposed to be in the 50s, so enjoy it while I can).

Barely got any sleep since I was dreading the annual mammogram this morning. With my family history this is something I don't skip (already re-scheduled for one year from today), but it's also something you go into knowing your life could well change overnight. Luckily for me, I got the all clear. Woo-hoo! Suddenly the sun was shining brighter and the birds were chirping an even prettier song.

I like going this time of year because the facility I go to – the largest one in the region – has an annual basket raffle. For $1 per ticket or $5 for 6 tickets you can enter to win any of about 40 enormous gift baskets, most with a $200+ value, all donated by the health system's departments. The money raised goes to breast cancer charities. It's hard to choose (I went for Basket 16 – tons of neat at-home spa items "and more…"). It's fun leaving with good news and seeing everyone who'd been nervously awaiting their results with you out there happily "shopping" and trying to encourage people to choose baskets you don't want. There may have been a little trash talking involved.

In a few minutes I have an interview to do. This afternoon I have an article to knock out and a small side-project to squeeze in along with a much-anticipated doggie walk. (Tomorrow my sister's two dogs arrive for 5 or 6 days, and I wont' walk all three at once, so getting a doggie walk in today is very important.)

Good news. Good work. Good dog. Good day.

Katharine Swan

I am jealous of your free time, Lori! Although I may carve out some of my own in a little bit here — I've decided (belatedly) to read a challenged book for Banned Books Week, and I'm excited about getting started!

becky @ misspriss

Do you have any vitamin E capsules? Bust those open & rub it over the scar. I used it on my c-section scar & it helped a lot with the healing.

Still a lot of irons in the fire with nothing to show. YET. Such is the life of a freelancer, right? I have a feeling it's all going to hit at once. Say, the beginning of November? That would be my luck. LOL!

But I am doing my best to follow up with people so they don't forget me — without being a pest. I *think* I'm succeeding so far.

I need to finish my review of a minivan & get that submitted for approval. That was a fun project!

And I need to take a very close look at my to-do list. Pretty sure I'm forgetting something. Can't let preggo brain get the best of me.

becky @ misspriss

PS) I highly recommend HP. I have an all-in-one officejet that is still going strong after heavy usage. It was given to us by some friends who were moving and they used it for business. We don't use it nearly as much as they did, just mostly for faxing or scanning. Other than replacing the printheads, no real problems. Except for expired ink, which is a completely different topic.

I have a small laserjet that I use for a good portion of my day-to-day printing. MUCH more cost effective. BTW, the laserjet is also HP & I bought it when I was in school. Great little workhorse printer. Since I rarely need to print in color, it works for me.

I know some people on Twitter who work for HP & they are fabulous for helping with questions. I can introduce you if needed. No schilling at all. Just happy with their stuff.

Paula

Lori –

As a Mac user I echo Becky. I had my first HP all-in-one for at least 6 years until a tiny bit of broken plastic did it in. I got another (way cheaper!) HP maybe a year ago and so far so good. Due to my ancient OS, I'm limited to the models I can use, but the HPs interact well with Macs.

The thing with some printers and all-in-ones is sometimes it's cheaper to but a new machine than a couple sets of ink cartridges. Those companies all make way more money from the ink than the actual printers.

Lori

The twitch – that's a good way to put it, Cathy. And it's true, too. When we're really busy and things even out, we want more. Addicted to the rush. 🙂

Amen for the good news, Paula! That's a great idea of theirs. Anything to get one's mind off the impending results is a good thing.

Ooo, which book Katharine? That sounds like a great idea!

So can you work from the delivery room, Becky? 🙂 I have to agree on the HP. It was my first printer and they do work beautifully. The trouble then was the price of the ink. But now? I'd say it's all the same. Thing is I LOVE the performance of this Canon. I just can't afford to get it fixed or replaced every few years.

Katharine Swan

Lori, I'm reading The Awakening. I may have read it in school, but I don't remember it, and I'm enjoying it very much!

Lori

Cool. I'll try that one. 🙂