Alright, so, I did do laundry during the day, but the wind was blowing and it does a great job drying sheets. My commitment to working, so far, is good. By 10am I have already booked three hours of creativity and research. As an aside, the hardest part is, remember that full larder? Having lost 20 pounds on WW, determined NOT to munch my way back. While writing and working discipline is easy for me, food avoidance is not.
Cold windy days do not pose as much of a will power problem regarding the outdoors as the upcoming warm and sunny days shall. Perhaps I shall have to impose a reward system for allowing myself to go out and play.
Today was an avoidance day. Confessions must be made. Time was spent setting up social networking. Not TOTAL avoidance, as one of the myriad questions publishers want answered is do you have a blog and what social media accounts do you have. As well as how many followers. People, I need your help here, hint, hint. Do you have a blog? Or Instagram, or Pinterest? One out of three “ain’t” bad. Yes, there is an Instagram for me, if you like dog and snow pictures. Yes, there is a Pinterest for me if you like log cabins and country clothes. AND, yes there is a smugmug account for me just because I like to take pictures. (mikicc.smugmug.com). Today was set up selfemployedagain.com and @selfemployedag1 on Twitter.
My new boss just said “We’ve had a hell of a week. Why don’t we call it a day.” Quit early on a Friday? So, my co-workers and I headed up to the back field to rake pine needles off the grass. What may have been a “Hell of a week” for some, has turned out to be one helluva great week. Check out my facebook page for selfemployedagain to see my happy co-workers. https://www.facebook.com/104240764518011/videos/2760483343986818/?t=2
I am a workaholic and drive my husband crazy with my high energy. It is strange not having a “job” to drive through traffic for. However, Friday comes and upon awakening, there is no “thank God it is Friday”. Instead, as I push the dogs of the bed, there is relief. No end of the week joy, that thank goodness it is almost the weekend, followed by the stress of wondering if I will get all my home chores done by Sunday evening. No vacation, followed by wishing life could still remain in vacation mode.
The mares still demand feeding by 7am, but being a morning person, that is not an issue. Last night the dogs curled up with me and were restless with the blowing wind and the howling coyotes. None of us slept well, but, no panic that I did not get enough sleep. Now there is always the restorative nap. 7.30 brings writing time, not stuck in traffic time. Job offers and recommendations are already coming in, but is that where my future lies?
Now for a bit of irony. My mother was a white witch, as she liked to call herself. She could often foretell the future. In my younger days I was pretty good at it. My stockbroker clients would marvel at how I could pick winners. My women’s intuition always stood me in good sted. Odd, that I did not see this layoff coming. Looking back, there were signs. More on that later.
At my former job, it was routine to take a break and go for a walk instead of going out to lunch. Usually a friend would join and we would solve all the problems of the world. One walking companion moved out of state, one went free-lance, one moved on to a better job and career. We joked about how our walks ended up with their leaving and who would be my next companion on the daily outing. The next person destined by fate to leave. I walked alone, and about a week before my layoff, I marveled at that.
I love a good rainy day. Call me weird, but precipitation of any kind brings me peace. Coming back from the barn after sharing a few nuzzles with the girls it was hard to resist not changing gears and cleaning up what had been hidden by the snow. Hay string, leaves blocking the flow of the creek, well, there was some distraction succumbed to there, dog toys once buried, now visible.
Yesterday was paperwork day. File my final papers with the company, fill out the horrendous Unemployment forms. My job description was no where to be found in their database, so it was fudged. Still need to send in my termination papers. Government agencies are a nightmare of paperwork. Since this is my first termination, it is all very new. Having worked hard to pull up my credit rating, now it will probably tank. Self employed people don’t get any respect.
A schedule must be kept. Drive time today however, was a reward. No jumping in the car and fighting Groton traffic. Instead, nursing the beginnings of a cold (probably the result of being paid for unused sick days) it was coffee and breakfast under a heating blanket, window open to hear the rain, dog at my side, watching American Factory which truly hit home given current work conditions. I highly recommend. Shower, get dressed. Focus is better when not in “jammies”. Fire started. Work time.
Priorities must be budgeting. Even though I saved a good chunk in my 401K there was no matching, and we seemed to have periodic crises which depleted it. Maximizing dollars will be imperative. Survivor mode, first on the agenda is to pack the larder. Hay, dog food, a trip to Trader Joe’s, which made me miss my friend Renee. On paydays a scoot down to TJ in Acton, always included Gnocci’s for her. Nashua has a liquor license, so add Prosecco to the list. Market Basket, most I have ever spent, and, of course, the liquor store. Now, here is an issue! For about 50 years I have been drinking Rebel Yell. They changed it. That is for another post, no ranting here. The liquor store had 3 bottles of the old, being now unemployed, only 2 ended up in my cart. Should last a couple of months. Tomorrow is seek publishers for my manuscripts day. I might need that Rebel Yell by the end of it.
Covid shot number one and will still wear my mask.
A year ago, I had a job I loved. One never feels properly compensated, but I was fortunate to make more money than a lot of people. This would turn out to be my downfall. I received an email “can you come to the conference room”. It was review time, so, since the two people involved in my review process were in the room and soon to head out of the country on business, I didn’t think too much about it. They had both continually been praising me for a job well done. That confidence changed when the head of HR came in. It must feel strange to be seen as the harbinger of doom. They politely told me they were eliminating my job and in return would give me a severance package, a vacation/sick day not used cheque, and an escort out of the building. They did offer to let me stay on in other capacities at less than half my salary. Hardly worth the 45 minute drive and I saw no benefit in stepping backward.
On the way home I called, hands free, my family. My husband didn’t answer, my son gave me a great pep talk and some great advice, he continues to do so. My daughter didn’t answer her phone and I couldn’t text while driving. Little did I know Hamilton Bennett was already at work saving the world at Moderna.
I presented my husband with my sick days cheque, which alleviated his stress regarding a nagging bill. Confession, when they handed it to me it was a relief, as we were not sure how we were going to get it paid. Vacation money is free, money given because I was not sick and did not take a vacation. Now, unemployed, I am taking both sick days and many vacation days, sort of. The company switched to a program (massive leavings from the company made it necessary) that calculates your allotted time accrued, in my case 3 weeks on a daily basis. Makes good sense from a business point of view. So, cheque wasn’t huge, some carry over from last year, but it served it’s purpose.
And this is how my life was changed. How lucky for me that I was laid off before the pandemic lock down.
Emotionally, my reaction might seem strange. A writer at heart, and hope this will be proved here, work got in the way of my creativity. While prolific, getting manuscripts to publishers is not my strong suit. It is time consuming and not always rewarding. Now, work cannot be an excuse. In the past I had two, somewhat successful businesses and got along very well with my upbeat, optimistic boss. It is time to work for her again.
Structure works well for me. Coffee and peanut butter toast in hand here I start. It is wonderful not to be rushed. No packing lunch, no worrying about getting the girls’ hay on my work clothes. Actually I never really worried about that. 6.50 ticked off, no concern that the dogs were still out, the birds needed feeding. I would not be late.
Routine is important for success. At least for me. Now, new routine. Blog with coffee, hike with dogs. Work on sending to publishers. Ride my mares, after all it can’t be ALL work, and of course, here and there a household chore as a break.
I had a job. It wasn’t a career, just a job. It was fun and I was good at it. That was not enough. There will be moments of despair, and panic, I am sure, but for now, there is giddiness and excitement for my next chapter. There is a light rain falling and my dogs and I are going for walk. Need to add to Mikicc. My trail guide.
And so began my journey. Blogs are mostly at Miki’s Picks, mikicc.org. I have amassed many followers from around the world. I Have had time to take two tracking courses with Dan Gardoqui, Lead with Nature (highly recommend). Check out my blog about it. Mikicc.org/lead.
Dan Gardoqui tracking Lynx in Northern Maine.
Took a webinar; For the Love of Birds. Linked to lots of interesting people: mikicc.org/cool things discovered. So much information! Started working on a journal.
Even took a webinar on mushrooms through the Harris Center. Harriscenter.org.
And, have started my Wilderness First aide course with SOLO. If I am going to be in the woods, thought it a good idea. Dan of Lead with Nature recommended them. Soloschools.com.
My path progresses. With the help of my son and grandson,
I am thinking of starting outdoor classes for children. All you parents and grandparents let me know your thoughts.
Self Employed Again 