Pruning Martha's Trees

My friend's brother (whom I consider a friend also) is on the Martha Stewart blog as part of a group pruning her trees. He's in the last photo, pruning away. Pretty cool!

Earlier today my husband's friend popped over to use our Internet access to take care of some things, and when he walked into the place, he saw that I was busy at work. I don't remember exactly what he said, but it was something to the effect of "Ah, you're working again" or "You're always busy at it" ... something like that. "Yep," I said. "I didn't get a lot done yesterday. Took some time off, so here I am."


Now, I am not writing this to pick on him or call him out specifically. He is one among many, many people who comment when they see me or call me that I am always working. What interests me is what it means, what is beneath these words.


I guess I am fascinated/always looking for/interested in metamessages because I am a born English major/writer (or is it the other way around?). I hunt out symbols in good writing and movies like a bloodhound. I trace themes and motifs automatically. So why not be on the alert for metamessages in everything?

I admit I should chill. But today I've been thinking about this regarding my work.

Of course, not everyone comments like this. My friend D is always supporting me to get as much done as I can, but I am sure she wants me to balance things out too (I am sure with a trip very soon to see Baby Mama!!!) But enough people do.

Sometimes I think that they are saying that my working all the time makes them feel less than productive and guilty about it. Are they jealous of my ability to make money whenever I am able to sit down and work? Are they masking a plea for me to get away from the computer and enjoy my weekend by relaxing/exercising/reading? Do they think I am wasting my life in a blaze of editing and I should go smell some roses? Who knows.

It's not possible to explain to someone who does not freelance that the clients do not care when you work, they just want the material done right and back by deadline. I mean, it's possible, but they can't live it and understand. In this economy, I am just grateful to be needed by my clients for all the projects they send to me. Seriously, I count my blessings almost every day and work hard to make them happy.

I guess I should just do what I need to do for me and try not to dwell on it. Right now I need to work each time I get an opportunity when my schedule allows. Bills to pay, money to save, future to plan. I'm very happy with how things are, so that should count for something, right? In the meantime, I'll see when the next comment comes. Maybe a look in the eye will give that metamessage away.

Here's an article from this week in the New York Times regarding freelancers and increasing rates:

Raising Rates Without Losing Clients

by Brent Bowers

Stumbled across this blog while I was researching a reference for my journal editing work today: "UK Shamed Again . . . " Holy crap, did this depress me. I am probably half British (my father was adopted so we can only go by the paperwork ...), so this is a bit sad. I mean, I know the food isn't that great, but come on.

Speaking of depressing food choices, today I have eaten the following: two pieces of banana bread, small OJ, a banana, five pierogies, a small cherry ice, water, and cheeze balls. Ugh! I have to go redeem myself with something good ...

I hardly ever post about my consumer experiences but I feel I must today, as it's tied into the sagging economy.

When Panera first opened locations around us we frequented them often for lunch. The soups and salads were great, and the lemonades were good, and all was fresh and pretty healthy. A couple years later, we noticed that things were starting to shrink. The drink cups shrunk, the sandwiches were no longer piled high, the sandwich breads were smaller, and so on. We accepted this as part of a business trimming costs to keep competitive in business, but we filed it away in case things continued to go downhill.

Eventually the large bread piece that came with the meals became our choice: small apple, small bread chunk, or chips. I appreciated the apple choice, so we went with it. We noticed the prices creeping up but figured that we needed to get out from time to time, so we accepted it.

Last year when we were laid off, we could no longer hit our regular Panera for lunch, but R got a new job near another one. We meet there once in a great while, to see each other during the day and have something pretty decent for lunch.

Today I met my husband at his local Panera. We both got lemonades and the pick two. I got soup and the cafe salad, and R got soup and a half sandwich. I was asked if I wanted whole grain or regular/sourdough (some basic one, I forget) bread with mine, and I said "Uh ..." (wondering what happened to my apple choice) "Whole grain." And then I gathered myself and said, "What happened to the apple?" And the cashier said I had to ask specifically now for it, as costs are higher and they won't offer it right up any longer.

The whole grain piece with my soup was literally three inches long, hardly bread at all. I didn't even bother trying to get the apple. The salad is now in this crescent-shaped dish that barely contains the salad, and much of it was red onion and cucumber. Our total was more than $18.

R said he's filling out their survey tonight and telling them what we think. We've ridden them through their downsizing, and we completely appreciate that times are tight, but to make the customer ask for the apple instead of offering it when it's still sitting back there behind the counter is kinda douchy, pardon my French. For that price I can't see continuing to go there. From now on we'll be packing a homemade picnic lunch and heading to the park. With a big juicy apple in the basket.

Sitting home alone tonight. A nice, cool night outside. The moon is bright, and some stars are visible. The house is very quiet. Thinking about a few things ...

* Friends who have been laid off. Publishers who have closed offices. How scary the world of publishing. How I must enjoy the work I have when I have it. The fear that is part of freelancing.

* Lucky, lucky schizo is planning a cool vacation. Oh how I need to get away.

* Isn't it plausible that just one UFO sighting of the hundreds of thousands reported is real? Amazing what that would mean.

* I want to redesign my blog, take it away from the blue and go with something crisp and sharp, but my superstitions/compulsions are trying to prevent it, knowing that I selected blue as the color that was lucky at a certain time years ago, not wanting me to change right now, afraid at what might happen.

* Will I actually watch the last season of the X-Files again before I see the movie?

* What has happened to A and should I be worried?

* I need to go kayaking again someday. If there is any outdoor activity I miss, this is it.

* I am proud for not taking too much work this month so far. Will I be happy when I see what that means to the bottom line in income at the end of the month? Shouldn't I be happy to have the time I've had to shred and clean around here? Why can't I feel as satisfied with cleaning as with working?

Ahh ... it's good to see a real article about one of my favorite places, The Princeton Record Exchange. I skipped a number of classes to crawl around on my hands and knees and search for old Jon Anderson albums in these crappy cardboard boxes they had on the floor. Sounds like they may have racks now, but I'm sure it's still great there. I'll have to head over and see ...

We found out last night that our cat, Mojo, has cat scratch fever. This has, of course, endeared me even more to him and to the species as a whole.