#and i work a full time monday to friday 8-5 job

[gothcatboygirl]

I FINALLY GOT MY DRIVERS LICENSE!!! kind of...

[zevraholics]

ZevWarden Week 2023

What is it? A week (this year, November 5th - 11th) of creating new content, sharing it, and celebrating the wonderful relationship between Zevran Arainai and Grey Warden(s) of your choice. How to participate: Feel free to follow the daily prompts as inspiration for whatever ZevWarden-related content your heart desires. Fics, art, meta discussions - everything goes! Remember to tag your works appropriately (ie. #nsfw. Also see our full tag list here.) Most of all, have fun!

Prompts:

Sunday, November 5: Tradition and Trying New Things

Monday, November 6: Secrets, Kept and Told

Tuesday, November 7: Fear and Safety

Wednesday, November 8: Work and Pleasure

Thursday, November 9: Bodies and Minds

Friday, November 10: Favourite Things and Pet Peeves

Saturday, November 11: Family, Lost and Found

Tag your content with #zevwarden week 2023 or @zevraholics on your post and we’ll reblog it here.

*Any art found to be whitewashing Zevran will not be shared.

Day 1 - Sunday, November 5 - Tradition and Trying New Things

"It's Antivan tradition to throw coins in such a well as this. Supposedly it brings one luck." Which traditions (cultural, familial, personal) do Zevran and the Warden have in common, and which are different? Are there any that are unfamiliar at first, but one of them shares with the other? What are ways the two of them break with the past, forge their own paths, or maybe even create new traditions?

Day 2 - Monday, November 6 - Secrets, Kept and Told

Morrigan, "Are [the Crows] so powerful simply because they are very good at what they do? Or is there some secret to their power?" Zevran, "If there were a secret, it would only remain so if it were not told, my dear." What secrets do Zevran and the Warden keep from other people? From each other? Are there any consequences of keeping secrets, positive or negative? What truths eventually reach the light of day, and how does that reveal come about?

Day 3 - Tuesday, November 7 - Fear and Safety

"You mean you want to hear about the grueling training? Being locked in an oubliette for weeks at a time? The slavery? The festering injuries? Or are we seeking something more glamorous?" / "Oh, those things never happened to me." There are stand-out moments of fear in the life of any Grey Warden or an Antivan Crow. Share a time one or both of them were terrified. Did they face fear bravely, or did it get the better of them? What was the impact of that moment? Or, share a story about a time the two of them found safety, comfort, or calm. How did that feeling come about? Was it short-lived or long lasting?

Day 4 - Wednesday, November 8 - Work and Pleasure

"Falling down a flight of stairs is an adventure. Falling into someone's bed? Also an adventure. I am assuming what you're looking for are professional anecdotes." How much adventuring do Zevran and the Warden get up to after Origins, either together or on their own? What jobs or titles do they come to have, what anecdotes do they have to tell? Or do they settle down for a quiet life somewhere—either restlessly or happily?

Day 5 - Thursday, November 9 - Bodies and Minds

Alistair, "So those... designs you have all over your back..." Zevran, "They're called tattoos. And I have them in many more places than just on my back, my friend." What stories do Zevran and the Wardens' bodies tell? How have their bodies changed over time? How do they carry themselves, or use gestures or mannerisms? What about a time when they ran, swam, fought, or enjoyed other physical movement? Or focus your work on a part of the body - eyes, hands, hair, scars.

Day 6 - Friday, November 10 - Favorite Things and Pet Peeves

"I fancy many things. I fancy things that are beautiful and things that are strong. I fancy things that are dangerous and exciting.Would you be offended if I said I fancied you?" What are Zevran and the Warden's favorite things about each other? How did they discover those favorite things—slowly over time, or in one particular moment? What things get on their nerves about the other person? Is this something they make an effort to change, or does their partner just have to learn to live with it?

Day 7 - Saturday, November 11 - Family, Lost and Found

"Surely your life has not been so idyllic? People like you and I are not the product of happy lives of contentment, after all." Maybe the Warden resonates with that particular line from Zevran, maybe they don't. What does being part of a family mean to the Warden and Zevran? Does the answer change across different points in their lives? If they regard each other as part of a family, is there anyone else involved in their family? (Friends, other lovers, biological or adopted children, elders?)

[salazis]

Tsp au where everyone has a physical representation of their soul called crystal hearts that are made from 2-6 gems. The more gems the more powerful the person is or the more potential power: 5 and 6 are almost exclusively demigods/minor dieties (5) and Gods/ major dieties (6). There are 10 different gems to choose from based on personality, though there are some traits not covered by the gems chosen. Each crystal heart is represented by a chosen vessel. Narrator has a crescent moon necklace, Timekeeper has a pocket watch, and Stanley has a bracelet.

Giving someone your heart is the ultimate love confession or confession of trust since shattering a crystal heart can kill. Exchanging heart crystals is basically marriage or engagement depending on culture since most prefer to have a ceremony with rings and all

My narrator and co info:

curator and narrator are twin gods/dieties of creation thus have 6 gems.

timekeeper has 4 gems as a Minor god/diety of time. Originally it was 5 but he got demoted due to stealing and attempting to destroy Narrators'.

stanley and mariella have 2

Roles:

Stanley was previously a down on his luck office worker who signed a contract with narrator for a job that was the parable game. he works from monday-friday from 8am-7pm, his job is to be the protagonist of narrators game and act as a the only worshipper of narrator. Narrator pays Stanley 20-25 dollars a hour. He makes money through the game and various other avenues.

Timekeeper-

he dislikes Narrator, Timekeeper is a minor diety under Narrator who can control time. he took a liking to Stanley as well.

The gems and color to use:

1) You're a Sapphire! Light blue

Known for your calm and reflective nature, you possess a deep wisdom and inner strength. Like the tranquil waters that inspired this gem's name, you bring peace and clarity to those around you

2) Peridot yellow

You're positive, open-minded, and honorable in all you do. When you're really interested in a topic, you like to become an expert on it. People admire you for how intelligent you are.

3) Rose Quartz- pink

You, like this stone, are full of love. You're trustworthy and always support those around you while managing to keep harmony in your own life.

4) Lapis lazuli blue

You signify all that is regal and sought after, and have power in both body and mind. Wisdom and truth are at the forefront of what you care about most.

5) Opal orange

You're intense in your emotions and fiercely loyal and faithful to those you deem important in your life.

6) Ruby! Red

Fiery and passionate, you're not afraid to face challenges head-on. Just like this dazzling gem, your vibrant energy and determination make you stand out in any crowd.

7) Diamond! Silver or cream

Strong-willed and resilient, you possess an unbreakable spirit that shines brightly even in the face of adversity. Like the brilliant sparkle of a diamond, your presence illuminates any room, and your unwavering determination inspires those around you.

8) Amethyst! Purple

Imaginative and creative, you see the world through a unique lens of wonder and curiosity. Like the deep purple hues of this gem, your vibrant spirit and originality shine bright in everything you do.

9) You're an Emerald! Green

Sociable and compassionate, you thrive in nurturing relationships and creating harmony. Like the lush green forests that evoke this gem's color, you bring life and vitality wherever you go.

10) You're a Moonstone!- grey or white

Intuitive and empathetic, you possess a mystical aura that draws others to you. Like the ethereal glow of the moonstone, you have a calming influence and a knack for seeing beauty in the simplest of things. Your gentle spirit and intuitive nature make you a cherished friend and confidante.

QUICK EDIT:

I forgot to mention that you can feel what happens to your heart crystal to an extent. Depending on what is done, as long as it doesn't chip, crack, snap, or break your crystal then it can only be described as pressure or a vise like grip similar to a miagraine over your entirr body.

For example; (using timekeeper and narrator): if Timekeeper where to bite Narrators' heart crystal, Narrator would feel pressure similar to a intense miagraine. If Timekeeper threw narrators' heart crystal into a lake, narrator would feel the sensation of being wet and cold without actually being wet as well as the sensation of mud.

Another edit:

Forgot to mention, you can get "demoted" a crystal for trying to or destroying someone's crystal heart

Sidenotes/Creator note:

FEEL FREE TO USE THIS AU FOR YOUR OWN FANDOMS LIKE DANNY PHANTOM OR ANYTHING REALLY! IM INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU CAN ADD OR CHANGE!

[pettyprocrastination]

I turn 23 in 30 minutes

(discussion of mental health, depression, and body image/body weight).

I'm queuing this post ahead of time in hopes that by midnight I will be asleep like a responsible adult because I do in fact have work in the morning (fixing my sleep schedule is a slow and steady race I promise you all) but this is just a sort of. reflection? on my year and my thoughts on reaching another big age.

nobody needs to look at this- I'm just using this as a journal because I'm pretty sure mine is still in the trunk of my car from when I went on vacation.

anywhoo. I turn 23 in 30 minutes. And its. weird?

But still nice.

I started this year off in a horrendous spot.

I was 112 lbs, still working my shit retail job where i'd go and cry in the bathroom just about every single shift for the next two months. I didn't want to eat, sleep, shower, or interact with anybody. I hadn't felt like this since my stepfather died and even then it wasn't as severe. I hated myself and blamed myself for everything wrong in my life, I felt like a ghost in my own body.

But slowly, things began to improve.

I have a new job now, a 9 to 5 that I enjoy yet I'm unfortunately going to have to return to the job hunt soon so I can find one that gives me benefits as I can't stay on my family's health insurance forever (the joys of adulthood) but It still feels good to have that dedicate schedule where I get to work with my hands and get paid for it every Monday through Friday.

I'm spending more time with my friends. Last week I spent a week at the beach with a dear friend of mine and a collection of her own friends, none of which I had met before. I was absolutely petrified initially but had the time of my life with them all, ending the wonderful experience with going to my first ever concert and crying from the joy of it all. (it was hozier.)

I'm pushing myself to do more and go out- I'm in a coaching position for my roller derby league, I recently attended a practice scrimmage with players who have been in this sport for 8+ years and while I fully believed I didn't belong in this space, I was able to hold my own and had so much fun getting to play with all of them. I don't know if i'll be able to try out for the state league because of scheduling- but maybe some day further down the line.

I took a day trip out of state to go to an all women's gym with friends at my university before I graduated. One thing to know about me is that I go to the gym alone about 99.9% of the time. I'm not good at social situations, especially ones in new areas so the notion initially was one I was ready to dismiss- but how often do you get chances like that?

I've signed up for my first ever powerlifting meet. I'm still very new to the gym with less than a year of weight lifting under my belt, but i've told myself this is the year to push myself and become somebody I'm proud of nobody how hard it is going to be. I've always loved powerlifting and want to get into the sport so bad but I can't afford a coach nor do I want to sign up for a full competition without knowing the ins and outs of the first event. I found a local deadlifting competition for a pride foundation next month and signed up for it with the goal of increasing my deadlift by at least 10 lbs by then. I'm simply competition against myself and trying to see how much I can progress during that time, which is something I really love about the sport. I'm still a fucking lightweight loser when it comes to heavy lifting- but at least this way I'll be able to see what a meet is like and learn what to expect.

I started going to therapy beginning of February/late January. It's been a saving grace honestly. Having an unbiased professional I can sit and talk and cry to has been quite the saving outlet. I rent a private study room at the library once every week for our meetings and it's become a little ritual of my own that i'm quite fond of now. (take this as your reminder that your local public library has so many amazing resources that even if you don't read often you can still use!!) though I've only been going for a few months, it's helped me drastically in how I view myself and letting others in during moments of weakness.

I'm allowing myself to rely on my friends. It isn't easy. And honestly sometimes I fucking hate it and feel pathetic for it- but my friends have been there for me so goddamn much within the past few months I honestly don't know where I'd be without them. There are days where I'd rather curl up In my bed and not speak to a single soul about how I feel because there's nothing I fear more than being a burden to those I love- but I have to remind myself that they want to be there for me the same way I want to be there for them. If they need me to pull back they'll simply communicate that desire and I will do so, but I can't keep assuming the worst when I need to rely on somebody for love and support. It's hard to not feel like a burden in those moments, that I'm exhausting those I love- but I also know I would do the same for them any day of the week. "Shared joy is double the joy, shared sorrow is half the sorrow".

I'm back at 124 lbs. I know it may not seem like much to others but gaining back that 12 lbs over four months has been such an uphill battle not only due to my own genetics+metabolism that makes gaining weight a fucking pain in the ass, but also keeping myself accountable when my mental health is at an all time low to still eat full meals and take care of my body. The moment I stepped on the scale and saw those numbers I cried real tears. I still want to gain more weight, but seeing that improvement helped me realize I am in fact improving and not just staying in this permanent transition period of stagnation for the rest of my life as I've feared.

I'm kinder to myself. At least, I'm trying to do so. I've found that the reality of life is that it's infinitely easier to blame yourself for everything and rot in self loathing rather than take a step back to go "actually- that's not true" and find the strength to go forward while also being aware of what you can do to better yourself as a person, not just for others, but for your own sake at well.

That being said- not every day is meant for self-analysis and introspection. Some days it's okay to just cry and eat some fucking candy bars on the couch my friends.

I'm slowly finding the joy and energy to write again. It's been a hassle to do so- working a 9 to 5 while also going to the gym and then doing chores leaves very little time and energy for other passions- but I've found it's annoying but meaningful work to dedicate time for the little things that make you happy. I've started by promising myself to limit my screentime by not using my phone as much during the day- my lunch breaks at work are spent typing away on a little e-ink word processor I treated myself to instead of doom scrolling on my phone. I've written three short little stories on it, some of them fanfiction others are not- while also beginning a horror project that i've thought about for a year now and want to see where it will go in the end. It's nothing as grand at the 10k beautifully written fics you all create- but I'm finding my passion again and it feels quite nice. I'd like to create something submission worthy this summer, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.

I'd like to set myself the goal of being able to afford an apartment next year. My family plans on moving cities within a year so it will give me time to save up more money and maybe even get back to making little things on the side to help earn some extra pocket cash for that dream while also paying off my student loans.

I'm not anywhere near the woman I thought i'd at 23 when I was 18 years old. I still live at home, I'm not using my major for my career, nor am I doing anything particularly astounding in my life. But I think that it's okay- and I'm proud of the progress I have made to get myself to this position.

Tomorrow I will spend my birthday at work. Then I will go for a walk (or perhaps a skate?) listen to some music, treat myself to a little sweet drink in my budget and then go see the challengers movies. Maybe with my friends, maybe by myself. I'm not sure yet. I will likely cry at some point during the day, I always do on my birthday.

But I know that I am growing. Even if Its hard to see.

[hellfireeddiemunson]

W A I T IM SO DUMB OMG

I did the wrong fucking math of when i needed to be at work and i’m actually glad i woke up now bc i need to be awake

i went to bed at like 10pm lastnight bc i was so tired i kept dozing off but also bc i was just soooooo bored i was like why be awake !

the problem now is i’m awake and i don’t actually need to be up for work for another hour and 45 mins. ����🏻

[eponymous-rose]

A full day today, so I figured it might be fun to write up what a professor's day might look like when not lecturing!

6:30AM: Got up early to virtually attend a friend's wedding on the East Coast! <333

8:00AM: I have been very careful this quarter to shuffle lectures/meetings around so that I have a little time to myself in the mornings to sit at home and drink coffee and eat breakfast and pet a cat while I get the day's work started. No exception today! I pull up an application my PhD student has been putting together for a tech grant and use the proverbial red pen to make some (a lot of) comments. It looks good overall, though! I send him a note to encourage him to send it to our collaborator in the computer science department when he's done with edits. Monday's the deadline, we gotta get moving on this.

9:00AM: I load up a bag with books I keep putting off taking to my office, plus some extra Halloween candy I found to add to my office candy bowl, and head out to take the bus in to campus. Also, pet the cat goodbye (she is unconcerned).

9:45AM: At the office, books and candy put away! Time to prep for my first meeting, which is a committee meeting with someone else's PhD student. He struggled a bit with a recent exam (entirely his advisor's fault, but that's a different story), so we're reconvening as a group to see his progress and cheer him on. He sent an update document, so I run through that and take a few notes. Then it's responding to e-mails (setting up my participation in a federal review panel next year, responding to two prospective graduate students interested in working with me - the combo of a fun research topic and a beautiful campus means I'm now up to 20 inquiries so far this quarter, eep - and sending out an update to the department about the charitable giving opportunities I'm coordinating).

10:30AM: Great presentation by the PhD student about all the things he's done since our last meeting back in April-ish. He's made huge changes to his work, and we applaud (literally and figuratively) how much he's accomplished in such a short time. Also, amazing data visualization! Great work all around. He's set to defend his PhD by 2025 at this rate, definitely back on track.

11:30AM: Time to rush back to my office to meet with my own PhD student! We usually meet on Fridays, but we get tomorrow off for the holiday so we jumped the meeting back. He's a few minutes late due to a missed bus, so my next-door colleague and I talk about cats for a few minutes. As you do. When he does arrive, he's got some cool stuff to show me - we talk about the notes I made on his grant application, and I remind him (and myself) to book flights to a conference in December that is rapidly approaching somehow. (I guess this means I have to do some cool and innovative research before then that I can talk about. Go figure.) He also shows me some cool preliminary results from a project he's been doing with a friend out in Pennsylvania. He's late enough in his PhD that my role as advisor is primarily to get out of his way and make sure he has enough supercomputer core-hours to get his work done!

12:30PM: A break for me! I start in on e-mail again, sending a coordinator my bio and abstract for a talk I've been invited to give (virtually, thankfully) at a student conference in January. I also realize that, because of the break tomorrow, I should really put together a homework assignment and next week's lectures for the class I teach Monday-Wednesday-Friday. Hmmm. I dig through last year's lectures and assignments and realize they've gotten a little out of sync this year. The solution? I may just offer 5 instead of 6 assignments over these ten weeks and give them this one a week later. Class average has been extremely high on them, and I think the students will appreciate a bit of a break. Also means today's job is just to prepare a few lectures based on last year's material. I've got a big chunk of open time later this afternoon to deal with course stuff, so back to e-mail. Going to be joining a friend (who I can't help but think of as the undergrad who sat in during all my grad classes, but is now somehow a full research scientist) on a very cool project putting together a new thunderstorm dataset. Also reached out to another friend about setting up biweekly meetings to hopefully start a new research collaboration and... possibly some fieldwork! I also almost forgot to put a forecast together for our forecasting competition, but I got there in time. Phew.

1:30PM: Meeting with a colleague and the undergrad research intern we co-supervise who is sadly having to leave to go attend school closer to home. This meeting is mostly just us reinforcing to her that we're still here if she needs advice/reference letters or ever wants to work on a similar project with us remotely in the future, but we are going to continue with the research until the end of the quarter, at her request. After the meeting, I get an e-mail about another undergraduate looking for a research project! I present her with the options of a cool lightning project with my colleague next door (waiting to hear back about federal funding for that project, fingers crossed) and that other cool thunderstorm project led by my friend in Oklahoma.

2:30PM: Seminar time! A very cool freshly-minted PhD from California tells us all about her research, a complicated topic about which I knew very little going in and now know... slightly more. There was a very geeky moment in which she showed what happened to a particular part of the climate system when CO2 was added, then showed what happened when CO2 was removed, and the asymmetry of it made everyone in the room gasp and then self-consciously giggle.

4:00PM: Post-seminar snacks acquired (a big cookie and coffee are definitely a good late lunch, right? I kid, I kid, I had a big breakfast and have a big dinner waiting at home) and small-talk survived, I scramble back up to my office. Time to get those lectures ready for next week (pretty quick to do - rather than last year, where I'd show the code on the screen and we'd talk about it, I'm having us write the code together live and debug as we go; harder in the moment for me, but the students are learning so much better!). Get an e-mail back from the new undergrad research intern expressing interest in the lightning project, amazing! Time to get her registered so she gets credit for this starting in January. Also finally get a teensy bit more editing done on a draft of a review article that one of the top scientific journals in the world tapped me to write (???? still surreal beyond measure).

5:30PM: BAND PRACTICE. Our department is so nerdy that the faculty/staff/postdocs/grad students put together a giant band to perform popular songs but as covers so we can make the lyrics about our nerdy research. This tradition has been going on for 30+ years, and the big performance is for an hour at our holiday party every year. It's a riot, and this is my first year joining in the chaos (I'm on keys on three songs!). There are like 25 of us, we have a horn section, a professor plays the mandolin, the students create elaborate musical roasts of their professors, it's great. My parts go great, to the point where when there's some trouble with key drift during an a capella part they call me in to play chords under it and keep them grounded. I love playing music with other people!

7:00PM: Time to pack up and head home for dinner. Phew.

Long day, but also LONG WEEKEND BAYBEE. I don't actually have to do any substantial work this weekend, so that means BALDUR'S GATE WEEKEND BAYBEE.

[heyhabibi]

Grateful rant

Todays my first real day off since my birthday in September, and I was just talking about it with one of my friends over coffee, and I haven’t really realized how hectic my life was till now.

Imma rant real quick

I have two jobs outside of being a grad student, a grad student professor, being in 3 clubs, and doing research.

I wake up Sunday -Thursdays at 4 am, to get to work at 530, I’m usually off at 2 sometimes I’m there till 3, (I manage a coffee shop)

My other job I fit in when I can but I work it four hours Monday, Wednesdays from home.

Tuesdays and Thursdays I have class from 6pm-10pm

Fridays i wake up at 5 am to go commute two hours to go teach 2 classes, attend a class, attend a club meeting, and attend a research advisory meeting

By the time my Fridays are over I either stay at one of my friends houses or if I’m lucky I book a hotel (if I don’t tell my friends I’m coming out) but since we teach at the same uni we see each other and they end up coming to my hotel to go out or just to hang out, which isn’t too bad.

Saturday I wake up at 7 am, that’s sleeping in for me. I really pack that day full until 6-8 pm where I end up driving 2 hours home to other spend time with my family or just go to bed

All this and I train and run for marathons, try dating, go to therapy, and try spending time with friends and family

Sometimes a week goes by and I have no fathom to what’s happened

But this week, this week I woke up Thursday, gave myself a half day, didn’t have class, or grading, or a deadline. Hit the gym, played 6 hours of video games, slept till 10 am on Friday, did essentially the same thing on Friday, slept till 8 am on Saturday, and now I’m typing all this in the bathtub while I deep condition my hair.

Y’all I’ve been so tired. But seeing what my family in Palestine goes through, what my friends in Syria are celebrating, how my friends in Lebanon are surviving, I have nothing but gratitude for my hectic life .

This life is perfect

[rebelrayne]

15 people, 15 questions

Thank you for tagging me @beesandfigsart, @mrsbsmooth, @longbobmckenzie and @queen-of-boops

1. Are you named after anyone?

Yes, my great-grandfather's name was Jesse and my parents named me Jessica.

2. When was the last time you cried?

Two Fridays ago when I cried that I had to go back to work Monday after getting a week off- I work a full-time job with my kids at home so it's a lot. My job takes a lot of time from them.

3. Do you have kids?

Yes! I have two sons.

4. What sports do you play/have you played?

I never stuck with anything except horseback riding. I rode English Hunter/Jumper and rode collegiately.

5. Do you use sarcasm?

Often, yes. I even have an emoji I use at work that's sarcastic (but it looks happy so no one knows it's like 'lol who cares tho').

6. What’s the first thing you notice about people?

Probably their eyes.

7. What’s your eye color?

Hazel

8. Scary movies or happy endings?

Happy endings- I hate scary movies (I just can't do it).

9. Any talents?

Obviously there's writing, but I'd say I'm talented in breaking things down for others to understand (why else would I be a teacher?). I'm also pretty observant, as many people in the fandom know. Also I'd say I'm a great mom, which is a talent all its own.

10. Where were you born?

USA

11. What are your hobbies?

I like to run when I can, chat with my friends, hang out with family. I used to do some leather work. I still know how but there's so much stuff out at my house, it's hard for me to get it all out to put it all away. I don't have a space designated for it.

12. Do you have any pets?

Yes, I have a dog

13. How tall are you?

Short as heck. 5'1" (I know, right? I have such 5'7" energy, she said sarcastically)

14. Favorite subject in school?

I liked English and Math. Hate History. Ew, gross, keep it away. Also Science, hated it.

15. Dream job?

This is gonna be so so so typical of me for any friends that read this....

No Job. I want to buy myself gifts with my husband's hard-earned money. I want to be able to buy my husband a birthday gift using his credit card and for him to have to look at me and say, "Oh wow, thanks, Jess." You're welcome- yeah, I worked really hard to buy that. I WANNA BE A TROPHY WIFE. No, I'm kidding but I wanna be a SAHM, just take care of my sons and have more time for them.

Tagging (and really hoping I didn't double tag cause I checked) @lasswithumor, @auds-and-evens, @willkimurashat

[haasegawa]

ok so I'm just gonna vent here for a little while, no need to read this, just skip ahead to the next post

I recently changed jobs, also got promoted from my internship and currently work with marketing and event management for this pretty big company and don't get me wrong, I'm graduating in business, I've worked with marketing for another big company before, I know how things (unfairly) work and I know how stressful this environment can get, that's not even the problem here because I actually quite like my job.

the point is: I got promoted one month ago. that means getting used to working 3 hours more than I did before and with different responsabilities and after just 2 weeks I was already dealing with these big events that I didn't start (so I didn't have the full mechanics) and having to discover how things work by myself because another thing that is very commom within companies is the shit communication. you just gotta make it work and that's fine. these events were a week apart from each other and, on top of them, there was suddenly this huge meeting for a product launch that I had to manage.

two weeks ago, lot of problems along the way, first event happens. and it was atually good that these things piled up because the first event was smaller and great for learning the steps that I'd have to walk for the second bigger event. last week and this second event happens on saturday. spent the entire week mentally getting ready to work for 12+ hours during the event and while a lot of last-minute orders kept coming, I also had to prepare the big launch meeting, that should be ready by friday because it was schedule at freaking 8 am monday (aka today).

needless to say, friday was stressful, friday was very draining for me.

friday I got a fever. went home with this horrible headache, took a pill and had a meal, slept for 10 hours and hoped it was "only" an emotional fever because well I just got promoted, there was no way I could skip working on the big event saturday. I actually woke up feeling better, even with a few flu symptoms showing up, but I could feel myself getting sicker during the event, so I took another pill, shook it off and I made it. woke up the other day knowing that yep I definitely caught the flu and was just feeling very tired after walking the equivalent of 10 kilometers during the event, so I spent my entire sunday napping in between a tv show's ep.

today's product launch meeting happened at 8, so I had to go to work one hour earlier than usual to get the final things in place, voice hoarse, throat hurting, runny nose, but all good! not a problem, I just accepted that I'd be a little less productive after the meeting and people would just have to deal with that. problem is the meeting took up almost all morning and then at like 5 pm my colleagues decided to do a small celebration for my boss' birthday, so everyone stopped working to do it.

and then, during this celebration, I had to listen to one of these ridiculous passive agressive little "jokes" from my boss' boss about how my boss should let her marketing department know that partying is over (quoting the 2 events I dealt with for the past weeks) and that it is time to work now

like seriously??? I was taking work calls on my way home on friday, while having a fever, woke up today coughing out my lungs and got to work an hour earlier (and I did not come home earlier to compensate it) just to hear this bullshit?

hate being sick, hate feeling tired like this and letting these stupid things get to me

[dinosaurcharcuterie]

Would like to add: minimum days means employers, unions and/or other laws can add more.

What does that look like?

Here in Germany, with a minimum of 20, I've got 10 extra atm because of contract stuff (11.5 at my previous job; most people I know get at least 5 added to the minimum 20), but I can trade in half my union negotiated summer bonus for 5 extra vacation days.

If I were legally recognized as (equivalent to or more than) 50% impaired, my employer would have to give me 5 extra vacation days on top of that. Which isn't too-too hard. e.g. needing storebought insulin would be enough to qualify. (The fines employers face for not having enough impaired employees far outweigh the costs of those extra vacation days. That same legal recognition also comes with special protections from termination.)

Someone working a full time, typical office job at our company could theoretically but relatively easily have

- 40 paid days off. You must legally plan some of them so at least 14 consecutive calendar days are not spent sick or at work, to assure you're actually getting rest from at least some of your vacation days.

- 11 federal/state/county holidays. It ranges from 10-14 depending on where your place of work is.

- 2 union negotiated set holidays; Christmas Eve and NYE, in our case.

- weekends off. Usually 2-3 of the aforementioned holidays fall on a weekend. It's not illegal to work Saturdays, but our particular contract runs Monday to Friday, and our employee representatives' council is pretty good at blocking requests for "voluntary" overtime "opportunities" on Saturday from our employer.

Which brings us to a total of about 100 days a year spent not working.

Of course, this scenario means this person most likely has some health conditions that add sick leave to those days. There's no hard limit to it, but pay starts getting lowered after 6 uninterrupted weeks' absence for the same diagnosis. If they're sick too often, an employer can try to argue it's hurting their profits, but they risk being spanked in the wallet governmentally and also getting bad press. As mentioned before, legal recognition of impairment adds protection from termination, making this even less likely for my hypothetical coworker.

If they're a parent, they also get (limited) parental sick leave when kiddo is sick. Because a kid deserves to be looked after when ill or hurt, and schoolchildren deserve to not be infected because some parents can't find childcare on short notice.

Should my hypothetical coworker have more than 8 overhours, those have to get paid out eventually... Unless they opt to have them traded in as extra days off.

And that's a standard year, without exceptional events like deaths in the family (union rule iirc, bereavement leave is 1-5 days depending on family relations), their own wedding (union rule, 1 day, must be on or adjacent to day of ceremony) moving house (union rule, 0-3 days depending on distance, must be on or adjacent to moving day), employment anniversaries (contractual, 1-3 extra vacation days for the year, depending on time spent at the company, iirc), giving birth/having a stillbirth/adopting a child (legal absolute minimum of 8 weeks starting at delivery/adoption date; usually more) or parental/family care leave (legality, several months, with a slight pay cut).

tl;dr: dear Americans, there's PTO you can't even imagine and the pretty statistics maps are showing you less than half of it.

I think adults need summer vacation. Like let's just close down all our jobs for three months and play outside. Please. I'm so tired.

[dollycas]

Sunday Salon / Sunday Post – A Week in the Life of Dollycas – Weekly Rewind – New Arrivals

The Sunday Salon is a Facebook group that has become an informal week-in-review gathering place for bloggers. It is also a place to share our thoughts about things of a bookish nature. You can also link up weekly on Readerbuzz. The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received, and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE! It was a big week around here. When Daughter #2 got engaged we were told they didn't want a big wedding. Then about 2 weeks ago she told us they were getting married on August 7th at 4:30 p.m.. A Wednesday! To put it lightly we were scrambling. Daughter #1 was scheduled for a 12-hour shift and her fiancé was starting a new job. Son #2 and his fiancée were on vacation and had used up all their time off. Mr. Dollycas had to request off. My mother-in-law was recovering from eye surgery. I think our son Kris was watching all this from heaven because Daughter #1's shift was shortened to 8 hours. Her fiancé starts his job tomorrow instead of last week. Son #2's work shutdown was extended. His fiancée worked extra hours every day so she could leave early. My mother-in-law felt great and happy to attend and one of my sisters-in-law was able to bring her. Natalie's mom just happened to be on vacation so they were the only family members Daughter #2 knew could attend. We let her know we were coming as soon as Mr. Dollycas's time off was approved. But everyone else decided to surprise her and boy, was she surprised. It was a beautiful ceremony outside of the courthouse in a small pavilion.  The ceremony was not your typical courthouse wedding. The judge who married them was just awesome. She made it personal, comfortable, and relaxed. After the ceremony, she gathered everyone together, grabbed one of the girl's phones, and took a ton of pictures. We are still sorting through them. Daughter #2 wore my veil from 41 years ago. In her bouquet, she attached a money clip that belonged to Son #1. She also wrapped a garter crocheted by her great-grandma that I wore for my wedding around the flower stems. Then on Friday, we had a cookout/birthday party for two little girls that coincided with the final Waupun Truck-n-Show. The truck show included 2 parades. One, on Friday night, with all the lights, and another on Saturday where you can actually see the trucks and all the work the owners put in on them for the show. This event has been held here for 35 years but apparently, it is getting harder to get volunteers. I am unsure if it is moving to another city or if this is the end of the event. Most important though - Charlotte and Athena celebrated their birthdays. Charlotte will be 5 on August 26 and Athena turned 1 on August 4th. How was your week? Weekly Rewind - August 5 - 10, 2024 Monday - My Reading Itinerary Monday! – Week #32 – 2024 Tuesday - Requiem for a Mouse (Cat in the Stacks Mystery) by Miranda James #Review @BerkleyMystery Wednesday - Cozy Wednesday featuring There’s No Murder Like Show Murder (Backstage Mystery) by M. S. Greene #Review / #Giveaway @matthew.uai Thursday - The Tarnished Son by Elizabeth McKenna #Review / #Giveaway – Great Escapes Book Tour @ElizaMcKenna Friday - Haunting License (A Haunted Haven Mystery) by Carol J. Perry #Spotlight / #Giveaway @KensingtonBooks Saturday -  Murder at Mistlethwaite Manor by AJ Skelly #CharacterGuestPost / #Giveaway Plus - Special Guest Marion Crook – Author of Murder in Vancouver 1886 #AuthorGuestPost / #Giveaway @MarionCrookAuthor You need to find some time to Escape Into A Good Book today! Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent   Read the full article

[steamishot]

new year 2024

this holiday break was pretty fun, despite being sick for the majority of my time off. it was nice to have a big party that was constantly going, with all loved ones together.

i arrived back in LA on the 16th night at 10pm. my brother offered to pick me up because he had some coffee equipment he wanted to drop off at my parent's house. he was coughing in the car during the majority of the drive home. because it was like 2am EST by then and i just got off a long plane ride, my body was probably also weaker. i also thought i became "stronger" because i'm able to withstand the NYC cold so i didn't bundle up as much as i usually would - meaning, i was walking around with just a tshirt instead of sweater. i also went to their house again on monday to WFH before heading to pick my parents up at LAX, and my brother continued to cough a lot around me. anyway, i started feeling sick a week afterwards, coincidentally after my last work week. it started with having a sore throat that turned into a painful sore throat, then a full on cold with a LOT of coughing. i think it's the sickest i've been (minus covid) for the past 5-8 years and it lasted like a whole 8 days.

we spent christmas at my aunt's house. i was masked up with a sore throat, but wasn't feeling that bad yet. she cooked an amazing hot pot dinner. i gifted my cousins $25 each and wrote them a card. i was supposed to pick matt up from the airport that night (he was scheduled to arrive at 12:30am, but ended up arriving an hour earlier due to it being christmas/less crowds). he asked his brother to get him instead so i could rest.

that week, i progressively got worse. we were supposed to go to hot yoga and rescheduled it 3x, but ended up not going at all. on thursday, i went to LAX to pick up my auntie and uncle who were visiting from dallas. i was coughing basically the entire drive back. my aunt is a feisty/funny one with good fashion sense and her man is a white former policeman. we got khmer noodles in chinatown. i gave up my room for them to stay in. that night, i drove over to matt's place to sleep. his dad recently got a new tempurpedic mattress and duvet, and it's now like sleeping on a cloud (big upgrade from the previous spring mattress). his family gave me some antiobiotics and matt made me some hot lemon ginger tea.

friday morning, we were supposed to all head out to indio airbnb for a big family gathering (14ppl + baby). like our previous trip maybe 5 years ago, there was some drama about people not wanting to go or being on the fence about going. it was last minute that my grandma and uncle S decided to join. then even more last minute, uncle M decided to back out. then last last minute, uncle M decided to join again. so, we successfully got everyone out there lol. i was feeling really crappy this morning and almost didn't want to go. but i felt hopeful that taking antibiotics would help. we all met at my parent's house and departed from there - 3 cars total. the airbnb had 6 rooms and everyone got to sleep comfortably on a bed. there was a pool table, grill, jacuzzi/heated pool, and game room so everyone was pretty entertained. i was in and out of resting but it was really nice to have everyone around. the next morning, we took some fun group photos outside and it's a time i'll cherish forever. it's not easy to get the family together like this.

i spent that night and the next day at matt's again. with my family, it was about chilling and having fun. with his family, it's all about work/planning lol. his parents talked to me about planning a trip to japan, and also about a trip to vegas next week when matt's in town again. i let them know that japan is a bit far for us to fly out to from NYC (16 hours) and to wait until matt's job prospects are clearer. it would make sense to go once he has more than a week off at a time. for NYE dinner, we had bbq steak and skewers. i was still feeling sick but on the path to recovery by this time. that night, we retired early around 10pm because i had to drop matt off at LAX at 5am for an early flight back to NYC.

i spent more time with my aunt on her last days here. it took some time for us to warm up to each other, but it's always nice to spot some similarities within the family. she has a very feminine, aggressive strength that i admire. we went thrift shopping together and she helped pick out an elegant simple black helmut lang dress for me. i put on home alone 2 to watch together with her and my mom. i missed her after she left.

SS invited me to a classpass workout on 1/2 but we decided to reschedule for next time. even though we didn't get to meet, i appreciated the thought. i had the goal of running 2 miles multiple times a week and was successful up until the point where i got sick. i haven't done any workouts in the last 10 or so days. SZ will come over later for a baby workout.

therapy: i had my first video session with monica today. i felt a little awkward at first. she looked older than i thought she was (based off of her grad year, she's supposed to be around my age). i felt more closed off with the video on than on our previous phone call. i also noticed that i feel self conscious if i see her eyes looking elsewhere (thinking am i boring you, am i communicating well enough, are you listening, etc) and i share less when this happens. anyway, this session was OK. we had both come back from holiday mode. i had a generally great week and a half or so, so it didn't feel good to resurface my issues that i temporarily forgot about or to rehearse/explain them to someone else. it was like "here's reality again". or even worse, it felt like i was listing out all my problems, which takes even more effort for someone who doesn't already know me/my life. and also a bit more effort to explain the realities of a medical career. she asked a lot of questions, and had more questions after each of my answers without much feedback. i honestly felt worse after this session. i questioned if my issues are severe enough to warrant therapy or if it's more beneficial to chat with friends about it for support. anyway, i have another session with her next wednesday - we'll see how it goes. perhaps it's not a good fit, or this is just part of the process.

babysitting: my brother and SIL have been really really dependent upon my parents for babysitting. my SIL grew up rich and always had this mentality that she's the boss/can order other people around. she has a lot of tact so can get by with it. my parents (mostly dad) really missed my niece during their 3 week cruise, so they were happy to babysit her when they came back. the daycare was also closed for the holidays for a week. however, they're still really tired, from their own duties/chores, running businesses, entertaining visitors, meeting friends, etc. yesterday, my SIL received news that the daycare will be closed for the next two weeks due to personal issues - which means more work for my parents. though they are technically happy to babysit their grandbaby, it can also be extremely exhausting. my niece is also getting to be really spoiled because everyone dotes on her. today, my parents decided to start letting her be diaper-less. my dad spanked her for the first time ever twice today, like really hard, because she peed her pants after having the chance to pee on the toilet. he was only ever loving/doting/accommodating to her since she was born so it was shocking to finally see this discipline. i don't know how i feel about spanking.

[bseverson]

The cost of ministry… from a spouse’s perspective. “Then Jesus said to his disciples,” Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” (NIV) Matthew 16:24 A commandment that is given to all believers to live out. However, when I met a young man, fell in love and said, “ I do.” I didn’t know it’d be more like our life motto. My husband volunteered in ministry in years before it was his full time gig. One of the hardest things I’ve struggled with him being in ministry is sharing him. So many late nights as he’s led different groups, went to conferences or mission trips or camps. It’s not a normal 8-5 Monday thru Friday job.. and it definitely follows him home. Over, the years I’ve done my best to come alongside him helping with youth groups or helping with slides, singing in front or helping host groups in our home. Some of the biggest challenges we’ve faced have been feeling called to leave a community, feeling pushed out and then stepping out in faith. We moved our family to be part of a church plant and it was away from everyone and everything we’d ever known. There was no guarantee it’d be work out, but we boldly stepped out in faith blindly. Honestly, I’ve said it before it was one of the hardest years of our lives. We really had to rely on God and each other. Our foundation in so many ways was shaken to the core. We had moments where we didn’t know how we’d survive, take care our kids and pay our bills. In every moment of literally crying out to the Lord He showed up and provided for us. Fast forward he provided a way home. Having a door open to bring us home brought a lot of unexpected pain and hurt. In a short time we had a lot of heartache and loss, but ministry still calls. In the following days of my husband facing a heartache he still led worship. It was the most authentic, he held nothing back and literally laid everything down before God and it was so beautiful to witness that. (Now it’s not to say he didn’t have time to grieve he did). The last year as I navigated through my own grief I questioned if God could use a hot mess like me. Spoiler the answer was yes as I stepped up to fill a role in helping with confirmation class. Ministry isn’t easy, it’s not always pretty and it‘s downright hard, challenging and not always for everyone. The past fourteen years of marriage I’ve had to navigate for myself what it means to have my spouse in ministry. I’ve struggled with not having a lot of time with him, moving our family and what does it mean to include our family in ministry? It’s not easy to devote not only yourself but your family in an ongoing, ever changing way of life. But how we parent, love our kids that’s our most important ministry. How we volunteer and come alongside our community is our ministry. It’s not an easy life style, but I don’t know that I would choose anything else.

[msclaritea]

BREAKING: DeSantis' Tourism Oversight Board Canceled Walt Disney World Pass Benefit for Employees, Offering New $1000 Stipend Despite Calling Benefit Program 'Scheme to Funnel Taxpayer Dollars' - WDW News Today

BREAKING: DeSantis’ Tourism Oversight Board Canceled Walt Disney World Pass Benefit for Employees, Offering New $1000 Stipend Despite Calling Benefit Program ‘Scheme to Funnel Taxpayer Dollars’

August 21, 2023 by Katie Francis

In a leaked email from an anonymous source, it was revealed that the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District has already ended the Walt Disney World Annual Pass program for their employees with no prior notice.

CFTOD Board Ends Walt Disney World Annual Pass Benefit With No Notice

Our source detailed that this change affects retired firefighters and their families as well as current staff.

Due to what CFTOD claims is a “low usage” percentage of the Walt Disney World Annual Pass benefit, a new annual stipend has been proposed instead. If approved, district employees will instead receive a one-time annual stipend of $1,000 starting October 1, 2023. This stipend can be used on whatever the employees wish, and not just on Annual Passes to Walt Disney World.

Read the full email from District Administrator Glen Gilzean, sent to CTFOD employees, below:

“Congratulations to John Welfel, Fleet Services Manager. John is retiring after 22 years of service with the district. Thank you, John, for your commitment to our community.  

We had great turnout at this month’s Coffee and Conversations. I like to say that my favorite part of my job is getting to know each and every one of you and hear your stories about how you make our district special. Thank you to everyone who showed up. I hope that if we have not met yet, we get the opportunity at the next Coffee and Conversations. A special thank you to Fleet Maintenance for hosting a lively discussion. This was my second Coffee and Conversations event I’ve held since assuming this role. For those who couldn’t make it, here’s a rundown of some questions we discussed:

I work in the Fire Department and require access to the theme parks. I recently tried to use my badge and it didn’t work. Has access been revoked for District emergency personnel? 

Staff that require access to the parks will continue to have appropriate access to complete their normal job duties. If for some reason you are having difficulties, please contact Tanya Naylor at tnaylor@rcid.org or 407-506-8669 to verify your permissions. Director Naylor will ensure your ID is working.

How can District leadership increase communication with employees? 

Communicating with our team members is one of my top priorities, but here are three ways we are focusing on right now:

The first is through regular events, such as Coffee and Conversations. Employees are encouraged to bring their questions to these monthly sessions. It is a joy for me to meet you all face to face and I always look forward to this event.

The second is through our open door policy. Every district employee has the ability to access the 4th floor of the Administration Building from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. I welcome each of you. Please come say hi and share what’s on your mind. If I’m not available when you stop in, please connect with Rocky Haag, my Executive Assistant, at his desk, via email at rhaag@rcid.org, or over the phone at 407-934-7480, to make an appointment so we can make the time to talk. 

The third is for me to come to you. I’ve heard time and time again, people want to see the District Administrator. That means you’ll see more of me around the district in the coming days. I want to see firsthand how you accomplish the great things you do. Experiencing this myself will help me work with our leadership to get the resources you need. Stay tuned for more information on that soon.

Are Annual Passes Being Eliminated from Employee Benefits? 

The District is ending the Annual Pass perks program. However, as District Administrator, I have sought out alternatives for current employees to maximize and retain their benefits in ways that are constructive. In the proposed FY 2024 budget, I have incorporated funding for a new stipend program that allows for individualized flexibility rather than underserving employees with a one-size-fits-all approach. The budget is subject to the Board of Supervisors’ approval.

Based on an internal analysis, over the last five years, approximately 50% of employees never utilized this benefit at all. Given the low usage, a stipend is more beneficial to our team members.

Under the proposed program, employees are not obligated to buy Annual Passes with their stipends. These stipends can be used for whatever purposes team members see fit from theme park passes, to car repairs, to savings.

If the board approves, at the start of the new fiscal year, October 1, 2023, district employees will receive a one-time annual stipend at a net rate of approximately $1,000.

A formal letter will be sent to current Annual Passholders by the end of the week offering additional details related to these changes.

Are my other CFTOD employee benefits changing?  

At this time, it is not expected that any other benefits will change, including employee contributions for medical insurance or any other ancillary benefits. It is also not expected that any other benefits will be modified or eliminated during the upcoming fiscal year. 

What is the status of finding a new Fire Chief for the District?

As we quickly approach Chief Richard LePere’s retirement, we are evaluating national firms to help us establish our search for his replacement. We are undertaking that process now and hope to make additional announcements in the near future. 

We wish Chief LePere a well-deserved congratulations on his retirement! Chief LePere has honorably served the District for over 24 years. With heartfelt gratitude, we wish him all the best during his next chapter of life.

How will the district show appreciation for district employees?

The District is a unique place that is made excellent because of the passion and talent of you, its employees. That���s why I’m working with our team to find alternative ways to show appreciation for each of you. With that in mind, I’m open to suggestions as well and want to hear from you. Please send me your thoughts via email so we can continue the conversation. 

Additionally…  

I know there were other questions that we covered during our event last week. I, along with the team, will provide future updates. Thanks again for taking the time to have an open, honest dialogue with me and your peers. I’m looking forward to continuing the conversation in the days ahead.  

Glenton Gilzean, Jr.

District Administrator

Central Florida Tourism Oversight District

1900 Hotel Plaza Blvd.

Office: (407) 934-7480″

Earlier today, we reported that the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District had issued a press release stating that they had submitted a referral to the Florida Inspector General in the hopes of eliminating the Walt Disney World Annual Pass benefit for district employees.

In the release, the board repeatedly referred to these benefits as “handouts” and a “scheme” by Disney in order to get more money. The board received a bill for $492,382.96 from Disney for “Q1 FY22 Tickets,” which prompted this sudden move. However, with this new email leak, it appears that the move has already been made.

Most theme parks, both in and outside of Florida, provide their employees with free entry to the parks and discounts. Employees of the former Reedy Creek Improvement District, though not Walt Disney World Cast Members, received similar benefits for themselves and their families.

What do you think about the new details revealed? Does the ending of Annual Pass benefits to Walt Disney World for district employees affect you or your family? Let us know in the comments."

That dirty son of a bitch probably just signed himself up for another lawsuit. He already ended the program which will affect even families outside of Disney. Great job, Florida.

[thecheesywritingcabin]

Regular Routine

So, the last two months have been moving at a rapid pace. The third draft feels like it's about halfway done, but it's still too early to start talking about beta-reading and whatnot.

Since I'm working at the moment, I thought it might be nice to talk about my writing/editing routine. It might be nice in terms of catharsis, as well as gives me a little break from my edit today.

So, let me break down how I survive working on this and my job as a pathology collector. Spoiler alert: this is a very, very long way of saying "take some breaks".

What Is Your Current Writing Routine?

Unless I have time off, I only edit on Sundays. Sometimes I'll get spicy and do some the Saturday evening, but more often than not I'm dicking around playing video games and decompressing from work.

Now, sometimes I'll plan some extra writing time in around work, but that can be a little bit of a nightmare.

How Long Do I Work For?

I don't talk about myself much online, so let me give you some context. I'm in pathology, and my roster is a mess. In fact, Wednesday and Thursday I don't know where I am until 6am that morning, or the previous afternoon if my boss has had time to plan. Monday and Tuesday meanwhile I work two shifts that are both three hours long - this used to be eight hours accumulative, but the evening shift had its hours cut. Friday I work five hours and on alternate Saturdays I work three and a half hours.

So, this sounds manageable, right?

Here's where it gets weird. First of all, the mornings of Monday, Tuesday or Friday I can get redeployed elsewhere, working either longer or farther away. One time, I worked from 8-2pm, then 3-6pm about 30 minutes away from the first location. Early in my career, my boss was so short staffed I wound up working close to 12 hours. Never again.

Wednesday and Thursday meanwhile I've more or less been locked into a 9.5 hour shift because few other staff know how to work that particular room.

In summary, most weeks I work about 36 hours, not including the weekend or redeployment. That translates to 75.5 hours per fortnight, just 30 minutes shy of full time hours here in Australia.

How Do I Manage These Hours and Writing?

For those of you who haven't worked in my industry, there can sometimes be gaps as wide as 2 hours between clients. During this time, it's best to do the store orders, stock counts and any miscellaneous tasks since there are a lot of those.

However, doing all these tasks take up about 15-20 minutes of your day. In fact, it's pretty easy to complete them all in the first hour if no clients show up.

In my company at least, you can be sent to rooms where there is nobody but you on site, and your clients are in the single digits.

You can probably see where I'm going with this.

Once the daily chores are done and there's no clients, I will whip out my journal and set a timer for 10-15 minutes, taking advantage of the excess float time. If I'm doing a big chapter, I might even do a draft on my lunchbreak if it's long enough.

In fact, a good chunk of Draft 1 was written like this.

This Sounds Exhausting

Well, that's because it is. There's no nice way to say it, but there's a reason there were 5-6 years where I posted nothing on Tumblr. Writing on the job takes away time that I might have otherwise used to rest in between clients.

It's all about finding balance. I do it on days I have the energy, but if I had a busy day or things have been going badly I won't touch my pen.

I'm sure most of you have heard a variation of this advice: find the gaps in your day, maybe get up earlier or stay up later if you need to, so you can allocate that time to write. That's basically what I do, but sometimes you need to take a break.

The problem for me while writing Draft 1 of Case of the Crawling Shadow, at least for a while, I would try to cram writing into every spare gap I had. This is a side effect of doing Camp Nanowrimo in 2022, but even going into Draft 2 I tried to keep up that momentum.

I wore myself down until I feel like a nub of a person. I was trying to do 3 chapters worth of editing a week, and suffered for it.

What's Happening Now?

At this point, my goal is to finish the Case of the Crawling Shadow's third draft so we can start sending it to beta readers. It's about 50% done, but going slowly. My body is still a bit grimy from the whirlwind drafting process, and I've been working resting into my editing time.

With any luck, we'll finally be able to start getting the ball rolling this year. I'm pretty excited for it. For now, I am alternating editing this chapter and building a McMansion in Sons of the Forest.

[podracerbarrelroll]

A full-time job is 40 hours a week. If you're hiring me for an office job that's 8am-5pm Monday through Friday, that's 45 hours per week. I don't care if I'm supposed to take an hour for lunch somewhere between noon and two, you are still mandating where I am and what I do for an extra five hours of my time. It doesn't take me a whole hour to sit and eat a bagged lunch, and I'm rushing + spending more money + eating less healthy if I get fast food because I definitely don't have time for a sit down restaurant. The errands I can run during my lunch hour are also very limited and also mean I'm rushing if I try to do (1) thing.

Every work shift exceeding 5 hours should come with at least a 30-minute paid lunch break guaranteed by law, longer if you need to do something like take off and put back on PPE. Until then, I will take advantage of working somewhere that lets me be flexible and eat lunch at my desk and work my exact 8 hours like God, Karl Marx, and the victims of the Haymarket Massacre intended.

Call me American, but I would rather take a working lunch than a mandated, unpaid lunch break 100% of the time.