Yikes. You guys deserve a proper explanation as to my recent whereabouts…or more precicely, my what-the-hell-have-you-been-doing-all-this-time-abouts.
I owe you that. So, here goes:
Remember when I started working fulltime at DragonSearch? Yeah…an hour away from home and suddenly I was trying to cram the same amount of blogging from before into a block of time that had been cut in half.
Double-yikes.
Then about a month ago, I’d brought my car into Toyota to have some work done. It was making that wonky noise…remember? You don’t?? That’s okay. I barely remember it myself.
Anyway, the General Manager there took me to lunch and said he wanted to offer me a job. (At this point, feel free to conjure a mental image of Kathryn cocking her head to one side in complete confusion.)
Kathryn: “But. I have a job.”
GM: “I know. I want you to work for me.”
Kathryn: (Still confused) “You mean, like…in addition to my full-time gig? ‘Cause I don’t know if I can handle that. I mean, I don’t get home till pretty late as it is…”
GM: (Sighs) “Hoo boy. Okay…let’s take it from the top. I want you to stop working at the other place and you’ll work here and do our social media. It’s only a 25-minute commute. Think of all the gas you’ll save.”
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| March 18, 2011 (It's almost $1/gal higher now. Triple yikes.) |
But I didn’t want to stop being a Dragon. Dragons rule…and when Dragon, Ric Dragon said he completely understood my leaving and wished me the best, I thought I was going to cry. I then offered to continue copywriting for them in my spare time…which is ironic, since I wasn’t aware that I actually had any. Bear in mind that I’ve held down an additional part-time job for the last 14 years that’s done in my spare time. But I’m nothing if not tenacious. Just tell me what to do and I’ll do it. I may be kicking and screaming on the inside but I’m not stupid…I know when I’m living the dream. I’ve always wanted to wear a lot of hats…it mixes things up a little…and it definitely keeps things from getting boring.
So, now my full-time gig is as the Director of Social Media for DCH Wappingers Falls Toyota. The website needs a serious overhaul but I'm tackling one thing at a time. I’m on Facebook…I’m on Twitter…I’m on FourSquare and LinkedIn and YouTube and Google on behalf of DCH. I’m everywhere… but never on From the Inside…Out. For how will I possibly find the time??
But then an amazing thing happened. After a month at the new job, it started getting a little bit easier. Not a lot at first…but there was a definitive ease of that perpetual knot in my stomach. One freelance project was completed…and then another…and I began to realize that maybe I can do it all…and maybe Kathrnville really defines being crazy like a fox…instead of the white-knuckled, white-coat, white-hair-from-worry-insanity we’ve always equated with living inside the padded walls of my head.
And so, here I go again…trying to find that all-elusive balance between work, motherhood and my interminable love for my cyber-friends. May this time be the charm.
Hey. You’ve gotta give me credit for trying…
YAY! You're back!!! I was about to send out the calvary.
It takes time to figure out that balance and when you do - could you share the knowledge?
Gigi: YAY! I'll admit, I was sitting here,staring at the screen...waiting! Yeah, I don't have any answers. You know as well as I do that there are not enough hours in the day. It's a vicious cycle...and the tough questions remain: How can I get someone else to do the freakin' laundry? News at 11. Whee!
I gotta admit I was wondering when your FourSquare kept checking you in at the dealership...
"Damn Kathryn, just get a new freakin' car! This one is in the shop more often than it isn't!"
Congratulations! Now I need to get a real job since you've had 2.
JP: HA! It never even dawned on me that people would wonder what the hell I was doing spending all my free time at a Toyota dealership. I just wanted to be the mayor of it on FourSquare. Never mind the fact that you're (I'm) broadcasting to the world where I am. Thanks for the congrats...and I'm thinking your next gig is right around the corner. Fingers crossed, bud.
I'm so glad to hear that the knot in your stomach has finally loosened up a bit. Now I just have to get to work on mine! <3
Allison: Aw, honey. I hear you. This is one of those occasions when time is our friend. I find that if you procrastinate (I mean, wait) long enough, things have a way of working out. I'm a big believer in the stand-back-and-see-what-happens rule of thought. But then again...you know me!
Congratulations on your new job and good to see a new post!
sage: Thank you, kind sir! I've missed you and your travels. I'm on my way to say a proper "hello". (Gosh...I feel almost...normal again!)Shhhh...don't jinx it.
Great to have you back, Kathryn! I was only two days away from releasing the hounds (glad it didn't come to that!) Congrats on the new(er) job and sense of chaotic, tight-rope walking balance in your life. You were missed.
Alan W. Davidson: Whee! We were visiting each other at the same time! Great minds, Alan... Thanks so much for the well-wishes. Here's hoping for enduring stability for all...and continued presence in Blogville for me.
Wow, what a surprise! I sure hope this new adventure gives you much more time to continue to entertain us as you have. Oh wow...that seemed a bit selfish didn't it? Ummm, I just meant I know that it's one of the greatest joys in your life to make sure that we're entertained. Hmmm, ok, well that's still ringing selfish. Well let me just say that I hope you really enjoy this new job and while I'm sorry you're not a dragon anymore I'm happy that you have a shorter commute! It's so good to have you back!
Is it that you build up enough critical mass then move on to the next.
OR will I on my next trip past Wappingers Slips meet you selling new & used in a sulphuric yellow twinset.
I'm just glad you are back! I really missed your posts!
Alicia: Ha! You are too funny. It's very amusing to listen to you as you try and undo your original selfish thought. Thanks for the well-wishes, sweetie! I'm thinking this may be the perfect union. (Fingers crossed!) Missed you!
Vince: (Rolls eyes) Okay. It's Wappinger's FALLS, mister. Hey, I go where I can make the biggest dent in my debt! It's the name of the game...that and not hating my job, which is HUGE. Now, if I can just get a handle on remembering all of these new names...
dailyseeking: Aw. Thanks, sweetie! I always miss you guys so much...It's depressing when I can't touch base. I have a good feeling about this time though...2 days in a row! Woohoo!
I need a vacation after reading about how much stuff you have to do. Good luck!
Damn! Ya really ARE a glutton for punishment, ain't ya!! :-) But it IS good to see ya back again.
Hell, I can barely do my pissy lil' part-time 8:30-2:30'er without feelin' like I've hadda bus run over me by the time 3 PM hits the clock. I must really look it too as I'm damn near knuckle-draggin' my ass onto the 2:45 bus. But here's the REAL kicker: I SIT BEHIND A DESK ALL DAMN DAY, so what's MY excuse?! LOL
Well, I sit for MOST of the day...except for the couple dozen or so times durin' the day that The Boss hits that friggin' intercom button to blurt out "Donna, come in!" and has me jumpin' up 'n down in 'n outta my chair like a friggin' yo-yo. Not to mention all the "feel like goin' to get coffee?" requests and the "whoops! I need quarters in my meter" statements and the "can ya drop off my suit at the cleaners for me on yer way home?" questions and the "damn, my watch needs a new battery....can ya bring it over to the jewelers for me?" favors and the "I'm almost outta oatmeal. Wanna walk over to the supermarket? Oh, and while yer there can ya pick up some more..." blah blah blah and yadda yadda yadda. My fat ass outta be stick freakin' thin with as much walkin'/jumpin'/runnin' as I do for that wonderful Boss Man o' mine.
Attorneys/Accountants/Professors, hmmmph. They just LOVE to blurt out all kindsa secretarial demands, and they just LOVE that damn intercom button!!!
I tried to leave a comment a few days ago, but my computer was not cooperating.
So anyway, congrats on the new job and I hope you continue to find that happy balance--we are all searching for it as well.
I got a bit confused ....so you are now doing 4 jobs (if you don't count your day job - blogging). Sounds like you don't ever actually leave any of your jobs, just make a bit more room for some more tasks. I'm starting to think that your day is actually a Tardis and is bigger on the inside....either that or you have stolen Hermione Grangers Time-Turner or you are in fact Harmione Granger blogging under a suda name.
I am as ever in awe of your multitasking abilities, as a male breathing, with the odd blink thrown in to prove I can juggle more than one task at a time, is generally my limit….
Christopher:
(Now that I'm on this newfangled comment system, I'm experimenting. Forgive the glitches.)
Well, don't take any vacations without me! Although if I don't stop moving around, I may never accrue enough time to warrant a vacation.
Glad the knot in your stomach is untangling. Sounds good. So, congrats on the new job and congrats on the new burst of sanity.
Pass some along my way!
MeanDonnaJean: Woah! I'm sooo relieved that boss of yours didn't say, "DONNA. COME." I would've had to clock him in a NY minute! I'm picturing you jumping up and down like some kind of crazed Jack-in-the-box. Maybe boss needs to get his own damn oatmeal. Grrrrr.
Slamdunk: Thank you! Yeah, I had some people hunt me down on Facebook and tell me they couldn't comment. I believe it was an IE problem. And Firefox...and maybe a little bit Chrome. I caved. I didn't want to...but I did. Thank you for coming back and trying again to comment. I appreciate it!
BlackLOG OMG....get out of my head! This is EXACTLY what I said (re: I never seem to fully leave any of my prior jobs completely)! You totally nailed it...and yes, it would be 4 jobs with the blogging. But as we all know, blogging isn't a job...it's a social adventure! And c'mon...we all know you can walk AND chew gum at the same time!
Gay Guy: I'm passing, I'm passing. I appreciate the well-wishes. Doesn't it seem like I'm constantly changing something? 'Cause it feels that way to me. This generally does not make one feel more sanity...but I'm working on it.
MISSED YOU_ LOVE YOU MEAN IT!!!
Hugs,
J
and Congrats!
Thats actually really cheap fuel, in the UK we pay £1.35p per litre. For a gallon here it costs £6.14.
And yet its still slowly going up.
It's crazy
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