Category: Burningbird

I’m about to head out for a new daily ritual: walking to the closest Starbuck’s for a latte. It’s 1.7 miles away, giving me a 3.4 mile roundtrip walk. I’m hoping this, combined with my walks at Powder, Shaw, the Gardens, and other favorite places, will help me get back into shape for some more serious walking in the Spring. And I need to lose weight; I feel like playdough, fresh out of the can.

I’m also trying to establish a routine in order to make better use of my time and be able to meet my obligations. When you work at home, you can easily lose track of time. However, if you establish a routine of getting up at a certain time, logging into work on schedule, taking true breaks during the day, and limiting one’s free roaming on the internet–including weblogging–one can get a lot done.

Did I happen to mention limiting one’s weblogging?

If I haven’t been giving any detail on jobs or professional writing, it’s because I would rather discuss ongoing tasks once they are completed. I don’t want to jinx the efforts by talking about them ahead of time.

It’s a lovely day here today, in this our up swing of what’s become our winter cycle of warm days followed by freezing temperatures followed by warm and so on. Rumor has it the crocus are up in spots. I can’t believe that Spring is almost here.

It doesn’t rain, it pours, or some such thing. Sometimes there seems to be little work, other times, too much. Lately I’ve had a good amount of work, enough that I thought about going on hiatus with the weblog–focusing on work, the development server, et al. Rather than some kind of formal break, though, I’ll just do what I have been doing. Whatever that is.

There was a possibility of me traveling on one job, but this has had to be put temporarily aside, primarily because of issues of health. I’ve had some long standing work I’ve needed to have done by an oral surgeon, and unfortunately, as I found this week, this work can no longer be put off. In fact, I’m pushing it to hold off on the work until my medical and dental insurance kicks in March 1st.

The great thing about being busily and gainfully employed is knowing that you can take care of what needs to be taken care of. It used to be, years ago, that I would measure the worth of my work in conspicuous consumption. Now I measure it in necessities purchased (new tires) and tasks finished (the surgery). And it feels good. When I do get the rare treat (from friends or what I buy myself), such as a new DVD or book or my new iPod, it makes them that much more special, and appreciated.

Back in the dot-com era, I made a great deal of money, and did not value myself. I spent the money on frivolous toys, overpriced dinners, and clothes I didn’t need. I once took the entire company out for an expensive lunch, just because I could. What a waste.

Now, I make a fraction of what I used to make, I value every penny, and I’m more content.