Guess what? I found another project at a2zmoonlighter! This one's from a student who needs her computer science thesis edited and formatted to APA style. Well heck, I did that myself in college, and I have the APA manual at home. My proposal's already been sent.
I'm so excited! That's two freelance projects I have bidded on this week. My freelance business is starting to take off!
No, not on the novel. That's waiting for tomorrow.
About a month or so ago, I joined The Blogging Network. The idea is that everyone in the network throws a few bucks in the kitty each month, and the money is distributed to those people who get the biggest audience. I finally got around to starting a few blogs there tonight. The Desperate Gourmet is my challenge to myself to survive off the food in my kitchen until it's all gone. And I'll be pondering on words, stories, and authors in This Scary Thing Called Writing. Woohoo!
Finally got a hold of the UofC employment office. My resume went to the department head on March 27th. Since I haven't heard from them yet, I figure they probably have decided that I don't fit the job description. Wah.
The first round of mass mailed resumes have been out in the wild for over a week. I have only received one response, and that one was "We're sorry, we have no openings in your field." Wah.
It must really be a tight market right now. Dammit, I NEED A JOB! Guess I'd better send out some more resumes today.
So late on Saturday a note appeared on the door to my building, informing the residents that there was a plumbing problem and that the water would be turned off for a few hours, starting at 8:00 Monday.
So Sunday night I dutifully filled a couple of bowls and buckets with water, just in case.
Monday comes, and I wake up at 10:00. I am hesitant to take a shower because I expect the water to be off. I test the bathroom sink and hey, water! So I take a quick shower. The water is not turned off that day.
Monday afternoon, a note appears on the door saying the water will be turned off after 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday. I leave the bowls of water in my tub.
I wake up on Tuesday around 10:30 to the sound of a doorbell being chimed somewhere in the building (our doorbells are obscenely loud). I stumble off the couch, into the bathroom, and again test the faucet. Yes, there's still water. This time, though, I elect not to take a shower, because I expect the water will be turned off at any time.
The water is not turned off until 4:00 p.m. It comes back on a few hours later. I still leave the bowls of water in my tub. And I still have not taken a shower, though I did wash my hair in the kitchen sink.
Wednesday morning. I've run out of Claritin, and so my allergy symptoms are starting up. I would really like to take a hot shower to clear the sinuses. I go into the bathroom and test the sink.
There is no hot water.
THERE IS NO HOT WATER!
I poke my head outside my unit to check the back door. No note on the door.
SO I WAS BEING ALL WIBBLY TODAY AND COULDN'T DO ANYTHING, SO I DECIDED TO JOURNAL, AND AT THE END OF THE JOURNALING SESSION I CHECKED OUT THE WRITER'S DIGEST PROMPTS, AND TODAY'S PROMPT SAID TO SPEND TWO HOURS WRITING A NOVEL, AND I FIGURED WHAT THE HECK?
AND SO I WROTE!!!!
okay, it really sucks, but still, I wrote nonstop for two hours! And it's fiction! It's not just wibbling about my life! Well, it is, but it's in the form of fiction! And yay, I'm happy! You can probably tell because of all the exclamation marks! But hey, I haven't wrote in so long! THIS IS SOOOOO EXCITING!!!!!
Why am I so melancholy today? I've really had a lack of oomph. Didn't want to go to sleep last night. Didn't want to get up today. I have accomplished a few things today, but... I don't know, I almost feel like I'm hiding from something. Maybe I'll do a little paper journaling tonight.
Well, I got a little nervous after lunch, and thus had a mini-binge on leftover Easter candy. Knew I should have thrown it out as soon as I got home yesterday.
Anyway, about an hour and a half ago I got back in the swing of things (cliche alert!). I did try calling UofC twice, but the first time their computers were down, and the second time I got the answering service. Drat. Still, have to give myself props for making the phone call.
Started working on an application for Aquent. I like them because they specialize in placing people in technical and creative positions. A couple of weeks ago I applied to Randstad for similar reasons, but except for a "Thank you for applying!" email, have had no response.
Collected some more addresses for the mass mailing resume, but think I may hold off sending them until I get a few more. I only have six right now. So far I've sent my resume to the museums, zoos, and a few of the theaters downtown. Can anyone think of other fun places to work at?
About the personal website: I've been toying with the idea of starting a freelance business on the side for awhile. Thinking primarily of writing and editing. Commercial writing is supposed to be a lucrative field, so I want to create some mock business documents (brochure, annual report, sales sheet, etc). I'm really, really nervous about this, so anyone who wants to cheerlead me, please do so. *grin* I'm hoping to have a basic site up by the end of the week.
I'm feeling very positive and ready to work today. Have already called Teleserve today, instead of waiting for the last minute like usual. I've just sent out nine resumes, to the museums and zoos.
Am going to take a shower and eat some lunch. Then it's time to do laundry (very far behind). After that I will send resumes to the theatres. And maybe I'll work on my personal website. No, not the xnera one; I have one under my real name.
Oh, and I need to call back UofC and find out what's going on with my resumes there. Still really hoping to get that research assistant position. Though I think it would be fun to work for one the zoos, too. I could visit the monkeys during lunchtime!
I'm so into the denial and ignoring phase right now. Yesterday I took a two hour nap, just because I didn't know what else to do with myself. Today I am reading a book. That's not all bad, because I haven't read in a long time, but still, I know I am doing it so I don't have to think about things. I am still in my pyjamas and I really am feeling quite brain-dead. And my neck and back hurt.
Dammit, x, will you just get your frickin' journal already and WRITE?!?! Geesh.
So far today, I have read a couple chapters in a Kay Hooper novel, danced a bit to Disney DDR, checked various websites over and over, and paced around the house. Oh, and also gotten hungry, and I can't figure out if it's emotional hunger or physical hunger.
Grr. Argh.
I'm all restless again. I know I should probably journal and get some of my feelings out on paper or screen. I think some of my emotions are holding me back. But I'm almost afraid to journal. Afraid of my feelings. Afraid I won't like what I feel, what I think, etc etc ad infinitum. I'm afraid I won't accept myself.
Grr. Argh.
This brings to mind one of my favorite passages from the Big Book:
And acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing, or situation--some fact of my life unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing, or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment. Nothing, absolutely nothing, happens in God's world by mistake. Until I could accept my alcholism, I could not stay sober; unless I accept life completely on life's terms, I cannot be happy. I need to concentrate not so much on what needs to be changed in the world as on what needs to be changed in me and in my attitudes. [...]
Acceptance is the key to my relationship with God today. I never just sit and do nothing while waiting for Him to tell me what to do. Rather, I do whatever is in front of me to be done, and I leave the results up to Him; however it turns out, that's God's will for me.
I'm finding that second part especially relevant right now. I tend to sit around and do nothing, because I'm afraid I won't do anything right, or it won't be the right thing to do. I think I need to start doing whatever is in front of me, and forget about my fears.
And right now, what is in front of me is a shower. I stink.
