Seven Months Free(lance)

number seven green whiteLast night I went back and read my first freelance Friday post. I wrote it just over seven months ago, on what happened to be my sixth wedding anniversary.

My tone was pretty confident, considering I was secretly six weeks pregnant and technically unemployed, and about to tackle the annual season that had temporarily broken me the winter before. I’d like to call myself brave, but the truth is that I had a bed I’d made and some unavoidable challenges. I had no choice but to adopt a good attitude.

I’m happy to report that, while I’ve not made the millions every freelance writer dreams of, I remain steadfast in my decision to leave my job. The most important reason for this is that I firmly believe my pregnancy has been much healthier than it would have been in my pre-July 22 condition. Stress is an evil, evil thing, and not worth the (underpaid and underchallenged) position I occupied.

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Sushi Love

The Story of Sushi from Bamboo Sushi on Vimeo.

When I became a vegetarian, the animal flesh I most missed eating was seafood.

This might be because a lot of pork, beef and chicken products are well imitated with various meat substitutes, and easily replaced with items like tofu and beans.

But I have yet to find anything that stands in for a nice salmon fillet or sashimi sampler. I’d only come to know and love sushi in the couple years before going veggie, and it had become a significant part of my diet. More than bacon, more than chicken and yes, even more than steak, I missed eating fishies.

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Oh the Generosity

girl yellow shirt writing note

This past weekend saw me attending the last of the pre-baby showers. A couple are going to happen after the baby’s born, but for now, the biggest new parent plans are the weekly OB appointments and a few loads of newborn laundry.

When we got married, friends and family graciously honored us with several showers, and I remember being struck by the generosity of these people. I’d been to plenty of bridal showers myself, and knew the drill. Still, to be in the middle of it, and to attend several (of which I was always the center) was so humbling.

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Link Cheat, Happy Friday

black and white silly baby FridayYup, it’s happened again.

Life and work got in the way of the really important things, like ice cream and Ugly Betty and blogging.

I beg your forgiveness as our Jeep died for good and I’m just about 37 weeks pregnant. I think those are viable excuses.

But, I couldn’t leave you without anything to read, so below is a link to a long list of short stories. If you have a few minutes, pick one from the list, read it, and enjoy a little free entertainment.

The Author’s Den – Short Stories

Have a lovely weekend, darlings!

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Soapbox: Healthful Reminders, Part 3 of 3

pyramid of physical activityIn Parts 1 and 2 I yammered about food. I always talk about food first because everyone has to eat.

Like it or not, healthy eating habits are the best way to get into better shape and health. While exercise is essential, it can’t make up for a poor diet, and let’s face it, most people aren’t going to do it anyway.

BUT, I digress…

Exercise

You must do this. Weight loss is nice, but this is about your health. Weight loss comes with better health.

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It’s Curtains for Unoriginal Nurseries

blue and green nursery curtains with trimLong before having children was something I could think about realistically, I knew I wouldn’t have a nursery that I didn’t think was attractive as a room. I was determined to create a child friendly space that was also pleasant for an adult to sit in.

Fortunately for me, I have a very creative husband who shares my nursery decor philosophy. Our daughter’s room “theme” is based on Van Gogh’s Almond Blossom painting. Interestingly, I learned last night that the painting was created in celebration of a birth, and was to hang over the bed of the new parents. The spot we plan to hang the picture is right over the head of the bed we’ll be using in the nursery for the first several weeks.

Huh.

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Freelance Fees: How Low Can You Go?

cartoon horse doing limbo

I would not call myself a brilliant bargainer by any means.

Like so many women in the workforce, I have no real background or education in being aggressive when it comes to what I deserve for compensation – it’s more about being grateful for what’s offered and not rocking the boat or seeming unappreciative.

As a freelancer, I’m learning to demand the same from my clients. It is ridiculous to expect anyone to work for less than $10 an hour (despite the current minimum wage), especially if the work they do requires specific skill and professionalism.

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Soapbox: Healthful Reminders Part 2 of 3

milk documentray film flierMissed the first installment? Never fear, Part 1 is here.

Now for the second part of my little health rant – originally an email for family, now a refresher for me as I try to control my sweet tooth and get ready to lose 25 pounds of pregnancy weight.

I want to step back a minute and say that, though I might sound obsessed (and perhaps am, a little), my goal is not to cheat death or live to be 120 or anything like that. My hope is to live to the average life expectancy, hitting at least 80 or so.

I want to see my kids and grand kids grow up and do all the awesome things I know they’ll do. And I don’t want to watch from a wheelchair or be weighed down by medications and treatments. Everybody’s going to die from something, but why not put the odds in your favor for not having a slow and painful demise? If you want to live, don’t you want to live well? Then read on, loves:)

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Inclusive, Progressive Humanity

circles within circles rainbow with lines“He drew a circle that shut me out —
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But Love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle that took him in.”

-From the poem “Outwitted” by Edwin Markham, American poet, 1852-1940

This passage was referenced in a talk I heard recently, and it struck me that this should be a tactic adopted by anyone looking to progress humanity.

Duh, I know. Seems really obvious. Still, the context in which I heard the quote was interesting. I think there are two ways we can look at this:

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Fish: Part 3 of ?

celtic man and woman profile over soupParts 1 and 2. Here’s a short little Part 3:

“Fishing,” I answered, and kissed him on the cheek. The soft bristles that tickled my chin reminded me how glad I was that Fintan was growing a beard.

“Well it’s a good thing we weren’t counting on that for dinner then, isn’t it?” he grinned at me and winked, teasing me in the way he so often did. He took the fish and my basket in one hand, putting the other around my shoulders as we started in the direction of our tent.

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