Random Friday

Back to DayJob after four weeks and a half. An interesting experience for when I'll be able to quit! ;-)

The first two weeks I was too sick and depressed to notice time flying. I felt guilty for being sick and felt useless in the world at large.

Week three was the best: I was feeling better and I went out and met some friends.

Week four I was feeling well – too well, actually. I wanted to stay at home and do what I like without bothering to go out and meet anyone. But a part of me was missing my colleagues. I'm antisocial and never get bored at home, and for that reason I need to keep that part-time DayJob for a few more years. Or I might as well become an hermit.

The last three days I was kind of anxious again. Would I find my place? I mean, my nervous breakdown was also caused by a feeling of inadequacy, and that I had become a number, not a person. Would I still be a number or would my long absence make me a person? An employee with a sort of mid-life chrisis who in spite of being hired for a job she doesn't like, can't ignore her duties?

And then on the last day at home my internet connection went sloooow again, at least in the morning, so I took it as a sign to go back to work if I wanted this post to go live and provide Alpha Reader with a printed copy of CVE2 at our next meeting. I have accomplished much in my "freelance month", but I still have a lot to do – hence I'm studying Kris Rusch's Freelancer's Guide (not only for writers, but for anyone who is either forced by this economy or chooses to go full time freelance). Some things I already do, others I haven't considered them yet.

I need to go back to DayJob to set up my vacation time for this year, as I have a few events I'd love to attend, especially in this first half (and let's be honest, it's still DayJob that pays the bills and travel expenses. Mr Writing is taking it very slow, sigh): the Salon du livre de Paris and Torino Comics, where I'll get to meet Terry Moore and ask him to sign my copy of Echo paperback (even if I have to bring a door-stopper on the train to Torino). So, I hope I'll get the days off to do both. And the second half of the year is still open.

Anyway, I managed to set up my writing and publishing plan for the year during January, and hopefully it will go smoothly. I'll have to work around some dates and I'm thinking of doing something in March (if I don't go to Paris) on Goodreads, to celebrate one year there.

And then yesterday I walked to my bus stop as usual (meaning as I did last year, LOL) in spite of the cold and went back to the office. Some missed me, some didn't, and thank God it was a busy day, so I didn't have much time to think.

In the afternoon I checked flights and hotels, and today or Monday at the latest I'll ask the boss for those vacation days, and we'll see what happens. I guess I'm happy to be back, so I can socialize for five hours a day, otherwise, like most writers, I wouldn't talk to anyone for days on end (considering that Mr Writing doesn't answer me, so I gave up having conversations with him! ;-) ).

Oh, and Amazon was kind enough to send the first batch by UPS, so I got a door-stopper graphic novel and a DVD I will soon read/watch and review! :-D