Blisters!
I've got 'em. On my feet. The weather was stupendous today. We walked to the mall and the supermarket early this afternoon to get flour and a few other tid-bits, then walked back home again. My first day of wearing my sandals since last October or so, and I've got some rather raw spots on my feet, but it's all good! Spring time is here! It was mid 60's today (F, not C...I'm still confused on metric terms), or so I assume...it was warm enough that I was in shorts and a T-shirt and felt quite comfortable.
We came home, made some lunch, and she took a nap while I did my work for the day. Then we went out again for about an hour and a half for a walk up to the park and to get some ice cream.
Now we're home, watching the latest episode of Fringe, and I'm tossing my feet up and going "ahhh", twas a good day!
On a side note, someone said recently that using exclamations (!!!) in your writing is a sign of "weak journalism" and "unprofessionalism". I totally disagree. There's absolutely nothing wrong with exclamations, unless you are somehow offended by phallic symbols!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Sourdough starter
So I'll be making my sourdough starter today. Or at least, starting the starter. We are heading out the door shortly to go look over some flour selections so I can get an idea of what I want to shoot for, and if I want to do multiple batches at the same time just in case one of them doesn't turn out so well.
From what I was reading, you won't always get a perfect starter the first time around. It's a lengthy process that can take up to a couple of weeks to get going, and if there are any impurities in the water or jar or it's too hot (or any variety of things that can go wrong!) then your batch can get ruined and you have to start from scratch until you get it right.
However, once you get a starter going, they can last for years. I was reading up on some bakeries who have literally been using the same starter for over 15 years now, so that's enlightening.
I enjoy cooking, and fine wine, great cheese, and good bread are three of my most favorite things in the food categories. I have a passion for good sourdough, and I'm actually kind of happy that they don't sell it over here, because it gives me an excuse to further my cooking skills and take on something absolutely new.
From what I was reading, you won't always get a perfect starter the first time around. It's a lengthy process that can take up to a couple of weeks to get going, and if there are any impurities in the water or jar or it's too hot (or any variety of things that can go wrong!) then your batch can get ruined and you have to start from scratch until you get it right.
However, once you get a starter going, they can last for years. I was reading up on some bakeries who have literally been using the same starter for over 15 years now, so that's enlightening.
I enjoy cooking, and fine wine, great cheese, and good bread are three of my most favorite things in the food categories. I have a passion for good sourdough, and I'm actually kind of happy that they don't sell it over here, because it gives me an excuse to further my cooking skills and take on something absolutely new.
Monday, April 6, 2009
New!
For those of you who haven't already, check out my wife's blog (follow the links on the right) for the latest juicy details in our life.
The latest breaking news is a new bed, which we desperately needed. Since we moved here we've been sleeping on her old bed, which (I shit you not) is at least 15 years old. Actually it's a fold-out sofa. That's what happens when you spend your savings on moving...you deal with old things until you can slowly start to afford the new!
So far this year we have added:
Anyway, that's my quick update. Cya!
The latest breaking news is a new bed, which we desperately needed. Since we moved here we've been sleeping on her old bed, which (I shit you not) is at least 15 years old. Actually it's a fold-out sofa. That's what happens when you spend your savings on moving...you deal with old things until you can slowly start to afford the new!
So far this year we have added:
- A new digital camera
- An elliptical (yay for fitness!)
- A new bed
Anyway, that's my quick update. Cya!
The World is Your Oyster: Part Two
As promised, I'm continuing the discussion from Part One.
One thing that has increasingly frustrated me in recent weeks is the amount of freelance writers who constantly complain about the lack of high paying writing gigs. They also complain how writers who agree to work for low wages are perpetuating the system and bastardizing the writing process, and go on to suggest that writers should band together and "strike" against those organizations who pay low wages for content generation, in an attempt to force those organizations into raising their rates.
Such naivete is frightening.
As I suggested in Part One, we (writers) can no longer afford to think of things in local terms. There is no such thing as local any longer. With the advent of world-wide Internet connections the work force of today is no longer constricted by the geographical boundaries on a map. The work force is the entire globe. Wherever there is an Internet connection there is a person on the other end who not only has the qualifications to perform the tasks required by employers, but in many cases are willing to work for wages that to others might appear as pennies. Why? Because there is no global currency.
It is extremely selfish to think that you (the writer) are somehow special. Are you talented? Sure. So am I. So is the guy in India. Or the guy in Bolivia. Or the guy in Argentina. Are you more qualified than those writers? Possibly. But can you be competitive in the world-wide market? That is something that is entirely up to you as an individual.
The worst is writers from the UK and the US. The reason for this is that during the 90's both of these countries enjoyed a period of being on the top of the food chain in terms of economic success. Enter the post-War-on-Terror world, and the US and the UK are no longer the booming economies that they once were. They are suffering from the highest unemployment rates, the highest inflation rates, and the highest level of social dissatisfaction. Writers who flourished during the 90's and even the early 21st century are suddenly finding that they can't charge the rates they once did, and that the work which was once only available to a select few is now being made available to a world-wide workplace that has potential employees from all corners of the globe vying for the same jobs. And in such an environment one cannot afford to be selfishly absorbed in a bubble, thinking that they are somehow special because they live in a certain part of the world or have worked for a certain wage for a period of time.
The work place is not limited to the US or the UK anymore. The global summit meetings now have 20 countries involved, up from the handful who used to be. Those global summit meetings are expected to continue adding countries every year from here on out as more and more countries meet the economical and technological standards required for membership. More and more of the general population is discovering the beauty of Internet content generation. And employers aren't stupid. They are getting quality work for a fraction of the price it used to cost, and that's just smart business.
Sure, if you happen to live in the UK or the US then a dollar per 500 word article isn't worth your time. So don't bother with those jobs. Look to the higher paying jobs that fulfill your target guidelines for "acceptable" rates. But do not presume to dictate to the rest of the world what rates are fair or unfair. To the person in a smaller country those rates are triple or more what they are to you or me. And while I myself do not necessarily think that such rates are "fair" in my personal view, I do not presume to tell the writer from India that they are somehow bastardizing my job and stealing food from my plate. After all, he is JUST as qualified and has JUST as much of a right to the work as I do, and if 1 USD to him is worth 10 of his own (an example: I do not know the rates off hand, I am just using an example to explain) and he can make 25-30 per hour of his own currency doing content from a US company who is only paying 1 dollar per 500 word article...then more power to him.
I do not have the right to dictate to another writer what rates are fair or unfair. Why? Because I cannot afford to be selfishly absorbed in thinking that I am somehow magically better than the rest of the world just because I happen to be from a certain country. My nationality and place of residence has absolutely nothing to do with dictating rates to my peers. What is fair to the guy from Pakistan might not be fair to the guy from Germany, but neither of those writers is more or less qualified than the other; they are equal. And from an employers standpoint, you can bet your ass they are going to hire the guy who is willing to do the work for the lowest bottom price because it's just smart business.
Writers cannot afford to be self absorbed and selfishly ignorant about the global work force. We need to be continually aware of the ever-changing nature of the career we have chosen and adapt accordingly. Continually bitching about how "unfair" it is that the work we've been doing for years is suddenly being farmed out to other countries is a waste of time. You cannot control the growth of the global work force, and you are not magically better than someone on the other side of the world. You have the same color blood, you breathe the same air, you eat the same food, you are both humans.
My suggestion to writers who spend so much time complaining about low rates is to adapt. Find other avenues for your talent. Spend less time worrying yourself about what others are making and forge your own path. Be aggressive. There will always be clients out there who pay you what you need or want to earn. But do not think that you are somehow qualified to dictate to the rest of the world what is fair or isn't. You are not God. You are not better than someone on the other side of the globe. You are a human being, just as they are. You may be unhappy with the fact that your job is now available to people from all over the world rather than just a select group who enjoyed a period of being "kings of the world", but that time is over. The Internet is opening doors that cannot be closed, and you can either hobble together a boat to ride the tide, sink underneath and drown, or you can fashion a sleek and sexy vessel to cruise the open waters as you explore all the opportunities this world has to offer by opening yourself to endless opportunities.
I'm aiming for the sleek and sexy. How about you?
One thing that has increasingly frustrated me in recent weeks is the amount of freelance writers who constantly complain about the lack of high paying writing gigs. They also complain how writers who agree to work for low wages are perpetuating the system and bastardizing the writing process, and go on to suggest that writers should band together and "strike" against those organizations who pay low wages for content generation, in an attempt to force those organizations into raising their rates.
Such naivete is frightening.
As I suggested in Part One, we (writers) can no longer afford to think of things in local terms. There is no such thing as local any longer. With the advent of world-wide Internet connections the work force of today is no longer constricted by the geographical boundaries on a map. The work force is the entire globe. Wherever there is an Internet connection there is a person on the other end who not only has the qualifications to perform the tasks required by employers, but in many cases are willing to work for wages that to others might appear as pennies. Why? Because there is no global currency.
It is extremely selfish to think that you (the writer) are somehow special. Are you talented? Sure. So am I. So is the guy in India. Or the guy in Bolivia. Or the guy in Argentina. Are you more qualified than those writers? Possibly. But can you be competitive in the world-wide market? That is something that is entirely up to you as an individual.
The worst is writers from the UK and the US. The reason for this is that during the 90's both of these countries enjoyed a period of being on the top of the food chain in terms of economic success. Enter the post-War-on-Terror world, and the US and the UK are no longer the booming economies that they once were. They are suffering from the highest unemployment rates, the highest inflation rates, and the highest level of social dissatisfaction. Writers who flourished during the 90's and even the early 21st century are suddenly finding that they can't charge the rates they once did, and that the work which was once only available to a select few is now being made available to a world-wide workplace that has potential employees from all corners of the globe vying for the same jobs. And in such an environment one cannot afford to be selfishly absorbed in a bubble, thinking that they are somehow special because they live in a certain part of the world or have worked for a certain wage for a period of time.
The work place is not limited to the US or the UK anymore. The global summit meetings now have 20 countries involved, up from the handful who used to be. Those global summit meetings are expected to continue adding countries every year from here on out as more and more countries meet the economical and technological standards required for membership. More and more of the general population is discovering the beauty of Internet content generation. And employers aren't stupid. They are getting quality work for a fraction of the price it used to cost, and that's just smart business.
Sure, if you happen to live in the UK or the US then a dollar per 500 word article isn't worth your time. So don't bother with those jobs. Look to the higher paying jobs that fulfill your target guidelines for "acceptable" rates. But do not presume to dictate to the rest of the world what rates are fair or unfair. To the person in a smaller country those rates are triple or more what they are to you or me. And while I myself do not necessarily think that such rates are "fair" in my personal view, I do not presume to tell the writer from India that they are somehow bastardizing my job and stealing food from my plate. After all, he is JUST as qualified and has JUST as much of a right to the work as I do, and if 1 USD to him is worth 10 of his own (an example: I do not know the rates off hand, I am just using an example to explain) and he can make 25-30 per hour of his own currency doing content from a US company who is only paying 1 dollar per 500 word article...then more power to him.
I do not have the right to dictate to another writer what rates are fair or unfair. Why? Because I cannot afford to be selfishly absorbed in thinking that I am somehow magically better than the rest of the world just because I happen to be from a certain country. My nationality and place of residence has absolutely nothing to do with dictating rates to my peers. What is fair to the guy from Pakistan might not be fair to the guy from Germany, but neither of those writers is more or less qualified than the other; they are equal. And from an employers standpoint, you can bet your ass they are going to hire the guy who is willing to do the work for the lowest bottom price because it's just smart business.
Writers cannot afford to be self absorbed and selfishly ignorant about the global work force. We need to be continually aware of the ever-changing nature of the career we have chosen and adapt accordingly. Continually bitching about how "unfair" it is that the work we've been doing for years is suddenly being farmed out to other countries is a waste of time. You cannot control the growth of the global work force, and you are not magically better than someone on the other side of the world. You have the same color blood, you breathe the same air, you eat the same food, you are both humans.
My suggestion to writers who spend so much time complaining about low rates is to adapt. Find other avenues for your talent. Spend less time worrying yourself about what others are making and forge your own path. Be aggressive. There will always be clients out there who pay you what you need or want to earn. But do not think that you are somehow qualified to dictate to the rest of the world what is fair or isn't. You are not God. You are not better than someone on the other side of the globe. You are a human being, just as they are. You may be unhappy with the fact that your job is now available to people from all over the world rather than just a select group who enjoyed a period of being "kings of the world", but that time is over. The Internet is opening doors that cannot be closed, and you can either hobble together a boat to ride the tide, sink underneath and drown, or you can fashion a sleek and sexy vessel to cruise the open waters as you explore all the opportunities this world has to offer by opening yourself to endless opportunities.
I'm aiming for the sleek and sexy. How about you?
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Whew!
Busy, busy, busy!
Sunday is winding to a close. It's 8:30 p.m. here and I have to say, it's been a long week. Satisfying, but long.
I spent the day watching Stargate SG-1 episodes, wrapping up season 6. I also delved into Chapter 11 (finally!) and started work on the next portion of the book. I rough-drafted an article for Green Diva Mom today, as well as prepped myself for another week of article work towards the project that I started at the first of the month. I also refined my schedule for the next few weeks so I can absolutely be sure to get in novel writing as well as my freelance work. And on top of all of this, I refined my diet course for the next month to continue my fitness regime.
Whew!
April is looking to be very fun. We have a lot of side projects coming up. We need to bleach and scrub the balcony, as well as strip the paint on the railings so we can re-paint towards the end of the month. We have a box we bought for her crafting supplies that we need to paint and crackle. We have more plants that need re-potting, and we also have to buy a few new rail-planters to finish filling the entire length of our balcony railing. I also plan on getting my sourdough bread starter going next week, just as soon as I can find time to get to the store and finalize my choice of flour.
The hardest part? I'm actually looking at getting back onto a "normal" schedule. For the past year or so I've been very much living on a "work when I feel like getting out of bed" schedule. For the most part that means getting up around 8 or 9, browsing for an hour or so, working out, showering, breakfast, browsing...and finally starting work around 11 or 12 and working for 2-3 hours. Yeah...that ain't working for this month. So I'm going back to the old-school "real job" schedule to maximize my time and insure that I get a chance to work on all the projects I have going, instead of being a lazy work-at-home individual, which is soooo easy to do when you don't have a boss breathing down your neck about 15 minute breaks and only 30 minutes for lunch and how you need to be in your cubicle when the clock strikes X.
So now I get to train myself into hitting the sack at a reasonable hour. I.E. before the a.m. hours. I'm hoping to be in bed by 11 or 12 every night and will be getting up at 7 a.m. to an alarm (cry), having a light breakfast, working for 2 hours, then breaking to work out + shower, then finish up my deadline projects by noonish. Then I will break for an hour or so in the early afternoon and do novel work in the mid-late afternoon. Then it's time for side-projects with Evy in the evenings for a few hours, and when she works on her blog + crafts I'll be sneaking in some time to do Demand Studio articles.
Btw for those of you who haven't heard of them, or are wondering...yes, they are a great place to work. I started last week. They pay weekly via Paypal, and the pay is relatively good. I'm averaging 25-30 USD per hour on the projects I've done for them so far, and I'm pretty sure that with some further refinement I can increase my hourly rate to 40 USD per hour. It's a great way to earn a few hundred extra dollars per month for a relatively low time investment, and there are literally thousands of projects to choose from.
So that's my blurb for the weekend. I'm going to go work on an article now and then start watching episodes of Season 7 of Stargate SG-1. I'm trying to get through season 10 this spring so I can then start Stargate Atlantis. Oh, and btw...new season of the Tudors airs tonight! Can't wait to catch it. And Fringe starts up again in a day or so.../drool
Sunday is winding to a close. It's 8:30 p.m. here and I have to say, it's been a long week. Satisfying, but long.
I spent the day watching Stargate SG-1 episodes, wrapping up season 6. I also delved into Chapter 11 (finally!) and started work on the next portion of the book. I rough-drafted an article for Green Diva Mom today, as well as prepped myself for another week of article work towards the project that I started at the first of the month. I also refined my schedule for the next few weeks so I can absolutely be sure to get in novel writing as well as my freelance work. And on top of all of this, I refined my diet course for the next month to continue my fitness regime.
Whew!
April is looking to be very fun. We have a lot of side projects coming up. We need to bleach and scrub the balcony, as well as strip the paint on the railings so we can re-paint towards the end of the month. We have a box we bought for her crafting supplies that we need to paint and crackle. We have more plants that need re-potting, and we also have to buy a few new rail-planters to finish filling the entire length of our balcony railing. I also plan on getting my sourdough bread starter going next week, just as soon as I can find time to get to the store and finalize my choice of flour.
The hardest part? I'm actually looking at getting back onto a "normal" schedule. For the past year or so I've been very much living on a "work when I feel like getting out of bed" schedule. For the most part that means getting up around 8 or 9, browsing for an hour or so, working out, showering, breakfast, browsing...and finally starting work around 11 or 12 and working for 2-3 hours. Yeah...that ain't working for this month. So I'm going back to the old-school "real job" schedule to maximize my time and insure that I get a chance to work on all the projects I have going, instead of being a lazy work-at-home individual, which is soooo easy to do when you don't have a boss breathing down your neck about 15 minute breaks and only 30 minutes for lunch and how you need to be in your cubicle when the clock strikes X.
So now I get to train myself into hitting the sack at a reasonable hour. I.E. before the a.m. hours. I'm hoping to be in bed by 11 or 12 every night and will be getting up at 7 a.m. to an alarm (cry), having a light breakfast, working for 2 hours, then breaking to work out + shower, then finish up my deadline projects by noonish. Then I will break for an hour or so in the early afternoon and do novel work in the mid-late afternoon. Then it's time for side-projects with Evy in the evenings for a few hours, and when she works on her blog + crafts I'll be sneaking in some time to do Demand Studio articles.
Btw for those of you who haven't heard of them, or are wondering...yes, they are a great place to work. I started last week. They pay weekly via Paypal, and the pay is relatively good. I'm averaging 25-30 USD per hour on the projects I've done for them so far, and I'm pretty sure that with some further refinement I can increase my hourly rate to 40 USD per hour. It's a great way to earn a few hundred extra dollars per month for a relatively low time investment, and there are literally thousands of projects to choose from.
So that's my blurb for the weekend. I'm going to go work on an article now and then start watching episodes of Season 7 of Stargate SG-1. I'm trying to get through season 10 this spring so I can then start Stargate Atlantis. Oh, and btw...new season of the Tudors airs tonight! Can't wait to catch it. And Fringe starts up again in a day or so.../drool
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Sourdough Bread
I'm a bread fan. Are you a bread fan?
Sadly, where we live now, many of the breads we were able to get at a moment's notice back in the States are nowhere close to as easy. Same thing with tortilla chips, or anything Mexican, for that matter. No worries, though...I've grown to be somewhat of an expert in the past year at maxing home-made flour tortillas, re-fried beans, and plenty of from-scratch Mexican dishes.
My next project? Sourdough bread. I spent about 4 hours yesterday researching it over at www.sourdough.com. Needless to say, it's a bit of an undertaking, but both Evy and I love sourdough bread (any home-made bread, really), and it's something I'm fairly confidant will keep us supplied year-round once I get the starter going properly.
I'm sure she and I will double-team between our blogs as we get more progress made. I'm going to get a starter batch going next week and see how it goes from there!
Sadly, where we live now, many of the breads we were able to get at a moment's notice back in the States are nowhere close to as easy. Same thing with tortilla chips, or anything Mexican, for that matter. No worries, though...I've grown to be somewhat of an expert in the past year at maxing home-made flour tortillas, re-fried beans, and plenty of from-scratch Mexican dishes.
My next project? Sourdough bread. I spent about 4 hours yesterday researching it over at www.sourdough.com. Needless to say, it's a bit of an undertaking, but both Evy and I love sourdough bread (any home-made bread, really), and it's something I'm fairly confidant will keep us supplied year-round once I get the starter going properly.
I'm sure she and I will double-team between our blogs as we get more progress made. I'm going to get a starter batch going next week and see how it goes from there!
A long day
Enough said. Right?
Somehow I have to find time to work on novel work tonight.
On the plus side we went and got haircuts today and I got rid of my winter shag. This is the first time in years that I've had short hair (thanks to a receding hairline I finally cut my hair all off!), and it's sooooo much nicer/quicker/easier/faster/comfortable.
I can't complain, however :) I've got a month's worth of steady work and I'm more than happy to push back the novel work for a bit while I bring in some cash for us. Seeing as I don't have anything other than a personal deadline for the novel...it's easy to skip a week or two here and there and focus on the more important thing, which is paying the bills.
It'll be nice to transition to full time novel writing, but I don't think that will happen for another year or two. I have to get this one done first, find a publisher, and then bye-bye to freelancing. So hopefully by the beginning of next year...unless I keep getting busy and can't find free time to work on the book!
If I don't post for a few days...don't feel bad :) I've just got way too much on my platter right now. Cheers!
Somehow I have to find time to work on novel work tonight.
On the plus side we went and got haircuts today and I got rid of my winter shag. This is the first time in years that I've had short hair (thanks to a receding hairline I finally cut my hair all off!), and it's sooooo much nicer/quicker/easier/faster/comfortable.
I can't complain, however :) I've got a month's worth of steady work and I'm more than happy to push back the novel work for a bit while I bring in some cash for us. Seeing as I don't have anything other than a personal deadline for the novel...it's easy to skip a week or two here and there and focus on the more important thing, which is paying the bills.
It'll be nice to transition to full time novel writing, but I don't think that will happen for another year or two. I have to get this one done first, find a publisher, and then bye-bye to freelancing. So hopefully by the beginning of next year...unless I keep getting busy and can't find free time to work on the book!
If I don't post for a few days...don't feel bad :) I've just got way too much on my platter right now. Cheers!
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