How to get my MoJo back...

I feel like I need to read a book called 'How Kristy Got Her Mojo back.' or something.

Not kidding on this. Can't seem to be inspired to do much of anything. I'm kinda thinking that when I rearranged my little work space, all I really did was clutter it up. That, coupled with the three weeks of work, left me feeling very 'blah' about jewelry design or even writing.

And that's not good for business. Today I'm going to work on updating Etsy and my story, with more of the story and etsy tomorrow out and about. If I don't game on Sunday, perhaps I'll spend the day cleaning up and rearranging a bit more.

I get that when I start cleaning up, I sit there and go 'OMG, SO MUCH CRAP!!!' and flail about like Kermit at the start of the show. But I have to try and focus, work on a spot and then move onto the next one. I can't live in a mess, it kills me creatively.

Anywho, this is more of a personal 'Do this!!' post, hoping that by putting it out there, I'll get off my ass and work.

Kristy C

AHA!!! I'm here to post!

Ok, I swear I've been trying to type up a post for... Well, weeks now.

See, as ya'll know I'm unemployed/self employed and trying to keep from relying wholly on my father. I'd had an almost job with a company, but they said 'F-U' when I ended up having a past.  'le gasp, you're not perfect?'

Well, I applied at another company and THEY liked me, and don't care about my past, only my current.  So what started as a few jobs locally, turned into a second week out of town, then a third week...

I got home this last Sunday, and I don't think they'll have me go anywhere else, plus I can't go anyplace as I have a show tomorrow.

But, the long hours [67.5 working hours in 4 days, lots of driving around, then more driving, followed by 51 working hours in 4 days, then more driving] have paid off and I'll be doing some updating this weekend, including a new phone, some new tires, oil change, new PC [the old one isn't doing so good] and the like.

All in all, its pretty good and I'm happy.

Except, that I'm three weeks behind in everything else AND trying to remember how to be at home, and active [this week, hasn't been that good at being active] so I can get back to business.  Also attempting to NOT spend all my phone.  I'm planning on putting some of it into a CD account for the Holidays, and perhaps another one for future shows..

Which brings me to exciting news.

WORLD CON 2015!!! You are looking at a vendor!!  That's right, I was accepted as a vendor at one of the bigger SciFi-Fantasy events of the year.  This thing travels around all over the place, and somehow its landed in Spokane.

Its called Sasquan, and its in August... And I'm STOKED!!! To be going. BIG chance to make contacts.

So, that's my life recently... Making some 'big ish bucks' which will mostly be spent in a few days, but also mostly on things I need [ok, I don't 'need' a new phone, but I think I'm making the best choice for the future, as my phone is starting to act up.]

Kristy C

Busy Week of Work

My boss is gonna work me hard this week.

Jerk.

^^

Anywho, today I'm picking up the new photos on models from my last two shoots. Then I'll be cleaning up at home, and updating listings.

Then Tuesday and Wednesday, I'm gonna be taking photos of all the pieces I need to get photos of. I plan on including my latests pieces, rings... And belts.

Thursday is an early day... I'll be taking my dad to work, then picking my brother up from the air port. :P have to be up way to early that day.

Friday has a hair appt and gaming.  No clue what we're doing this Saturday, but I'm hoping we can visit my BFF and Nephew, since I'm the only family member to have seen Theo.

All in all, it should be a nice week, if busy. I need to finish editing Gwen Edur's story, which I'm gonna try and do this week... Along with everything else.

See, my boss is a jerk.

Kristy C

January is about...

Balance!!!

Yeah... I know, August was about balance, but I sense this is gonna be needed every few months.  November and December tossed me for a loop.

So, this month is about getting some kinda temp/part time work to bring in money, continuing to make jewelry, list them and all that, AND push through on edits.

Not to mention, posting daily for blogs.

I hope you'll take part in this adventure with me.

Kristy C

No, new job...

So, I worked 28 hours between Mon-Wed, in two parts only, and 'showed up' for 3 other jobs that i wasn't able to preform, but showed up. They weren't my fault, but were in fact scheduling errors on other sides, so I get paid for 4 hours time.

For my first week of time, which was only 4 days, I should get a paycheck for just under 39 hours [minus breaks]

Of course, the second longest set [12 hours on one job] had a sign in screw-up, leaving me unsure of it being accepted, despite my working it!!!

Anywho, after all that... I got an email today saying that when they did my background check, they saw something they didn't like and thanks, but no thanks and good bye.


Its not illegal, but its BS... You let someone work 4 jobs, without having ANY of their paperwork filled out and filed, only to learn after that... You can't hire them?  What if my I-9 proved to be a lie, and I wasn't legal to work? What if you hired someone and they turned out to have a serious crime against them, and not only don't they meet your companies requirements, but you put others at risk?

So yeah, I'll still get paid for them.. Which I deserve hazard pay on top off, since I had to deal with some pretty lousy people.

Now, I don't want to go into too much detail, but I left my second job a tired, emotional and physical wreck.

In some ways, I'm going to miss what could have been. I love that kinda job. Its got some randomness that's nice, and I really want something that lets me have some freedom, but also brings in some money.  On the flip side, it can be grueling work and leave me drained in all ways. Now, I'll go back to looking for another job of some sort.

Kristy C

A Job!

Ok, sure I'm self employed, but you should know by now that it often equals, broke.

My dad wanted me to start looking for something, knowing that my aim was part time work where I wouldn't be too distracted from my other work. So, I received one of the many 'Job Notifications' from the Mystery Shopping/Merchandising companies I'd signed up with several [as in about 10] years ago.

This one was one I liked working for, even if it was weird hours and lots of pain on my back and knees... But, pay is what I'm after.

Signed up, applied for work, got an interview phone call and last night I sent in the I-9 papers, proving I can work in the US.

It will mean I'll be busier at times, but I think having something to go to and a reason to get up and get out is good for me.

Kristy C

Recouping

Last few days have been nothing but 'blargh.... I want to nap' after the weekend.  Which is pretty typical for con goers.  We're at the end of the season, but for those of us artist we're also at the start of the Holiday season.

No rest for the wicked.

I've been taking it easy, but plan on getting back into my routine next week.  I've got too much to work on not too. Between NaNo, the Etsy shop and everything, I've got to get busy.

That doesn't mean this will suffer however.  I'm going to work on some more posts and have things ready to send out daily.  Its even in my check-list.  :D

Expect to hear more about my my writing and any sales I've got coming up.  I may even include some blurbs.

Plus, I've been reading a fair amount and I want to review what I read for ya, so there's that too.

Meanwhile, this week is focused on getting better and tomorrow night, when I have the Costume Ball and awards show [aka, the HOLY CRAP event].

How are your lives looking?  Busy, boring, in a calm before the storm?

Kristy C

Sorry its late...

Had a long day yesterday.

One of my best friends needed to get a ride to the doctor, and since they're carless... I'm one of 3 people who often help them out.  I don't mind, since I enjoy being with them.  But, I had to pick them up about 8:30 in the morning and I'm normally barely up.

Got home about 1ish, as we also needed to take a quick trip to the store for a bit.  Goofed around on my laptop, before knowing I needed a nap.

Ugh, right now I feel like I could use one, and I've barely been up.

After a good 2+ hour nap, a friend texted me about joining in on a Pathfinder game.  So, I did.  That ended about 12:30 and I got home close to 1am.  Enough time to groggily look at my computer, before crashing.

So today, despite wanting to go back to bed, I've gotta get some work done.  I want to do an Inventory.  I had hoped to have help with it, but I don't think that's gonna happen.  Oh well.

Hope you all have a good day!!

Kristy C

Busy Lazy Person

Sounds a bit like an oxymoron, but I think its what I am.

Here's how my days tend to go...

Week 1, perhaps leave the house once or twice.  I get up, take my morning pills, eat, feed the cat [often in reverse order], take my shower, get dressed and sit in my living room at the laptop.  Sometimes I write, sometimes I play games, sometimes I read.  If I'm lucky, I go out on Friday's to game with my Pathfinder Society group.  I also promote my etsy shop, and in general hang out.  I may visit a friend who's carless and sometimes needs rides.  Luckily, she's one of my best friends and I don't mind all that much.

Week 2, a repeat of week 1.

Week 3, appointments seemingly all week.  Grocery shopping, errands, meetings and perhaps even a show.  Some days I'll leave about 9am, and not get home until after 10pm.

Week 4, spent at home, but making jewelry and taking photos of said jewelry.  There's tagging and pricing and sometimes even listing of those pieces online.  After the photos are taken, I have to edit them and then name them to make it easier to find later on.  I may be home and at the computer all day, but I'm busy at the computer.

Week 5, 2-4 days in a row of being gone, all day.  And not just for simple things either.  Setting up and tearing down my booth, talking with customers, being outside in the sun [and forgetting sunscreen].  Driving 30min or more to my show... In general, not at home and on the run all day.

All of those things happen to me.  And that first weeks comment of up, shower, eat, morning pills and feed the cat?  That's every week.  I ONLY get out of feeding the cat on the weekends, when my dad takes care of it.

I think of myself as lazy, most likely because I dislike exercise and don't like cleaning up [I take out trash, nothing smells and there's no bugs.  But its a mess otherwise].  So those are the worlds definitions of 'lazy'.

But, I'm often super busy... Even when I'm at home all the time.  Yes, I have weeks where I'm not doing much of anything.  But most often, weeks 3, 4 and 5 are mixed up around weeks 1 and 2.  In fact, weeks 1 and 2 tend to be after a week 5, when I need a break from everything.  Worse, week 4 activities are often done instead, because here's the catch of being self employed... If you don't do it, it won't get done.

Several years ago, I watched the Dean Martin roast... Frank Sinatra looked at one of his best friends and commented that he likes to play the lazy drunk.  But he's almost never drunk, and in fact.. He's one of the busiest men in Hollywood.

I realized, that was me.  Calling myself lazy, while tending to be busy more days than I'm not.

This is actually why labels don't work.  A person can in fact be more than one label at a time.  I'm a shy person.  I dislike large crowds and make friends slowly.  But get me around those friends, and I blossom.  Put me at a booth or behind the counter, and large crowds don't bother me.  I'm at work and I'm bold, feel safe and have no issues.

Neither label is wrong, but neither is the whole picture.

So, from a busy lazy person, I hope you start looking at labels a little differently.

Kristy C