Month: October 2010

Time Is Flying (Picture)

Say what? When did the end of October get here? I mean, seriously! This is nuts.

I worked a TON last week. I thought I’d be sleeping in until noon today, but I woke up at 9:30am. I have so much housekeeping stuff to do. The laundry? Yeah. We’ll be taking a trip to Coin Laundry World and utilizing their Fluff ‘N Fold services. I am also going to gather up the stuff that needs to be dry cleaned. The bedroom on my side is a falldown mess, and so is my closet. I need to get a big bag and throw in all the clothes I can’t/won’t/don’t need to wear anymore and donate it. My body’s changed so much since moving here; so many things I could fit or looked good in look absolutely stupid on me now. I don’t like it one bit. It’s annoying how easy it is for my body to expand but how hard it is for it to contract to the way it used to be.

Last night, I opened the new Excel (I like Microsoft Office 2011!) and downloaded a Christmas shopping template. I already know two things I want to get Adam and I know two things I want to get Aidan. No ideas for anyone else, yet, but little Lola will be easy. It’s hard to believe that Christmas is only 56 days away.

I’ve been buried in work. Today is the first day I don’t have a billion proofreading things to do. (This reprieve is only temporary–things will get crazy again next week when a new project officially gets off the ground.) Freelance projects galore! But it’s all good. Very good. Especially because yesterday, I was offered a full-time permanent proofreader position at Schawk! I haven’t worked in a permanent position since March of 2008 (we’ll just ignore the day-and-a-half I spent at Concierge, Unlimited), so it’s going to be an adjustment. Things won’t end after Thanksgiving this time. It’ll keep going, and going, and going! But I’ll get benefits, and I’ll have a steady income, and I know the work and the people. I know exactly what I am getting into. It’ll be good. I’m not going to lie, though. I will be VERY glad when fourth quarter is over. Having one day a week off, and wanting to sleep halfway through that day, is very hard. I’m behind on TV shows. My reading count has slowed way down. I’ve already mentioned the laundry situation. The free time goes so quickly and there is never enough time to do all the things I need/want to do, plus try to relax on top of it. Plus, people want me to call them, and I just can’t. Socializing is pretty much out the door. I am eager for things to slow down. This is the worst fourth quarter ever. I worked 12 hours last Saturday, 11 hours Monday, 11 hours Thursday, and 13 hours yesterday. I’m also on call for tomorrow. *Really hoping I don’t have to go in, but pretty sure I’ll have to*

I will have to re-evaluate my plans for the winter. I was planning on staying inside, scrapbooking, going to many yoga classes, and writing. The scrapbooking will have to take a back seat. Yoga will have to move to the evenings and weekends, which means no more Tantric Vinyasa 1-2 classes on Tuesdays at noon with Mia. ๐Ÿ™ Fortunately, she teaches a basics evening class at Tejas Yoga on Mondays, and the studio is an easy orange line trip from work, so I can go to those. So I don’t have to lose my Mia fix. ๐Ÿ™‚

Anyway, I need to get going. I have a bunch of stuff to do today. (I’d like to hit the 1:30pm yoga class but I don’t know if that’ll be possible.) I leave you with a photo of Aidan’s Jack O Lantern from our pumpkin carving party a few weeks ago:

Aidan's Jack O Lantern

Happy Halloween!

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Just A Little Bit Busy… (Pictures)

It’s fourth quarter again. Looking at the trends from the past few years on my Web site, it’s obvious that fourth quarter is not the time to be expecting many updates from me! And this year, I am busier than ever.

In addition to Schawk! (where I am working part time this year–three to four long days a week), I am doing freelance work for Critical Mass (an ad agency in Chicago), Shakespeare Squared (an educational publishing company in Chicagoland), and I will be starting a project for Rainbow Educational Concepts (an educational publishing company based in Chicago and Arkansas) in a few weeks. (I have to admit, I am most excited about my opportunity with Rainbow. I saw a sample of what I’ll be working on and yeah… SQUEE!) In addition to that, I am still doing occasional work for Loyola. I am swamped, and even though I am tired, I am grateful.

Most days, I work from home, right here on my couch. Usually, a certain sweet orange kitty cuddles at my feet:

Cuddly Kitty

But the days I go to Schawk, I have a marvelous view, even if it is noisy, sitting by a window.

Room With A View

Since the last time I updated, I went to Ohio to visit friends and family at the beginning of September. First I visited Cleveland, where I saw my mom and my friend Andy. I got to eat at Hartville Kitchen (nom), and I visited the “A Christmas Story” house. I also managed to snag an entire tub of old pictures for scanning. That’s a project I’ll be working on this December, although I got a bunch of them done already.

Then we visited Columbus. It was so nice being in Columbus again. I was sad that I’d forgotten my way around, though. Thank goodness for my GPS. I bought one of those since last updating–a refurbished TomTom that helped us get around with no problems. I got to visit my friend Heather when I was there, and meeting her new little baby was fun. Adam dropped in at the school where Ms. Yingling works and was treated like a rock star!

Adam and Ms. Yingling

Since I’ve last updated, I attended the Urban Pig Roast, which was a block party on my street. Lots of free food and booze, but I didn’t have any of that. I did have lots of pink lemonade, though. And pork. Mmm pork. I went to two yoga workshops (one with master teacher Seane Corn), met Suzanne Collins (author of The Hunger Games trilogy), visited the new Disney Store that opened in the Block 37 Shops downtown, ate turkish food at Pars Cove (om nom lentil soup yum yum mmmm), acquired two new Monster High dolls, read many new books, lost count of the number of Molly’s Cupcakes I scarfed down, and though I did this before my last update, I forgot to mention that I rode in a boat on Lake Michigan in August.

Here is a small photo montage of the past six weeks:

Chicago Skyline from Lake Michigan Montrose Harbour
The A Christmas Story House
Jeni's Ice Cream Aidan and His Plane Cherry Ice Cream Soda
Out with Friends at Pars Cove The Disney Store at Block 37
I Got To Meet Suzanne Collins! Seane Corn and Me

Meeting Suzanne Collins was quick, but she was very sweet in the very short time we had together. Learning from Seane Corn was amazing and I really hope to get the opportunity to attend one of her workshops again.

I had a great summer and can’t believe it’s already over and that we’re pretty much into fall now. Time is flying. Only 73 days until Christmas. I’ve barely begun thinking about Christmas shopping, let alone decorating and things. And travel. Blah. I’m worn out just thinking about it.

Fourth quarter is when I let a lot of things kind of slide by the wayside. I’ve cut down my Facebook games to only two that I play regularly now, and even those get neglected when I am buried in work as I am now. I haven’t cleaned in ages. Writing is definitely on hold. My brain is fried by the time I am done proofreading or copyediting for the day. When I the work of the day is done, I want to eat fried foods and watch mindless TV. Yoga doesn’t happen as often as it used to, either, although I did go Saturday and yesterday. Mia, one of my favorite teachers, even commented on how much stronger I am. (I don’t feel much stronger, but I did rock that long chattaranga pose, so maybe I am.) I plan to get myself back on track once fourth quarter is over. But for now, I’m just makin’ that money.

Oh well. I’d like to update more, but I’m tired. And thirsty. Two long work days ahead, but I’m very much looking forward to Saturday because Aidan will be here!! I hope to take him to the new Disney Store. He has $15 that I forgot to give him when I saw him last, so maybe he can pick out something cool there.

OK then, good night!

ETA: I forgot to post one of the best pictures of summer:

A Real Modern Family!
Aidan’s very own Modern Family

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