• 15 minute posts,  Shop Talk,  Slow News Day

    Life As We Know It

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    We are settling in and everything seems to be going smoothly. This has been our first week of our new “routine” and I think I really love it.

    First day at my new job. I work @caleel 's house 3 days a week. Free childcare in exchange for one hour of work. Not a bad deal and I get to be near Bug if she needs me.

    I have a “job” now. It’s not really a real job. I’m doing the same stuff I always do, working for myself. I just go to my friend and publisher, Calee’s house for three days a week and work there. In exchange for one hour of work for her, I get to use her nanny for four hours to watch Bug. It’s really cool because Bug can play with her friends while they are with their nanny and I can be near her if she needs me. So far they’ve gone to the park and gone swimming and done crafts together. I can’t think of a better set up. Such a deal for only one hour of work three times a week.

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    But the best part is that since I’m away from home and someone is around watching me work (Calee has a whole office set up in her house with one other employee) I am more accountable. I can’t just get up and mop my floor if I feel like it or bake a batch of cookies when I want to procrastinate. I have to actually sit there and work for hours on end. You wouldn’t believe how productive I’ve been. I’ve accomplished more in two days than I usually get done in a whole week. It makes me think my old working style was pretty pathetic. I’m really excited about this new set up.

    Morning.

    Since I have to be there at eight in the morning it gets my day started early, which I like.

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    And then when I’m “off” work I can do things like go swimming!

    Queen of the laundromat.

    Or laundry! I love my new laundromat. It’s nice and quiet on week days.

    Helping.

    We’re adjusting quite well.

    The Gang

    Bug is making friends…

    The hood.

    Fresh picked by Bug! I love our neighborhood.

    Yesterday we walked across the street to the Farmer’s Market (it’s open every day!) and picked strawberries and then we walked back across the street and got Thai iced tea at our favorite pho restaurant.

    !

    Life is sweet. I have a lot to be thankful for. Thank you, sweet readers, for convincing me that this could happen. Now if I can just make it stick!

  • 15 minute posts,  Buddies,  Shop Talk

    Anna!

    My friend Anna (aka BeachMama) is here from Canada and she’s been taking photos of me for all my various “head-shot” author needs. Surprisingly, they’ve been many and I’ve been winging it with hand-held crap shots which was not really very professional. Don’t even get me started on the shot that is on the back page of my first two books.

    Anyway, It’s very weird being on the other side of the camera. I’m probably the world’s most awkward model. But she’s making it fun, thankfully.

    I’ve tried to show her all the best sides of the sticks, which is a tiny bit challenging. Of all places to come visit when you’re in California…I don’t think my town is on the top of anybody’s list. Unless maybe you’re working for People of Walmart. There are a few amazing spots but of course since I’ve been on the lens side of the camera (and trying desperately to keep my giant green purse and camera phone out of the shots), I don’t have many photos to show you.

    But I will soon! She’s taking tons of photos of me and making me look fabulous! She’s a pretty amazing photographer.

    So I took her to Palm Springs. She took a thousand photos of me.

    I instagrammed it.

    @beach_mama is here!

    Today I’m taking her to the beach. Then she has to fly away home which is very sad. But it’s been a blast having her here!