Saturday, May 15, 2010

Hey All!

Thanks for all your good wishes recently.

I am still around.

Have just been busy – crazy busy – trying to get things settled on the work front.

Have also been transitioning all kinds of things, things you never think about really when you work full-time. Stuff like my contacts. I had many in my iPhone, but not all, so that was a bit of a mad dash.

Then there was my twitter account. I tweeted on a work account and had over 1,000 followers, but no more. So the first week I was off, part of my time was spent opening up a new Twitter account (you can follow me at @LaurieGrassi!), following those many followers with the new account and letting them know where they could now find my personal tweets. (If you're not familiar with Twitter, that's probably all Greek to you!)

Next: researching new software for my computer. Some of what I had was pretty old, but sufficient, because, well, I didn't actually really do work on it – I did that at work...

Also, I had to research some tax implications for my income this year. Fun, wow! My eyes glazed over while I was doing it, but it was necessary.

And looking at things like how to reduce costs, and how to pay for my medications if I lose my insurance and I have to get the government to cover me, etc., etc., etc. Which, in the whole scheme of things, is my biggest concern, along with getting another job, of course.

Good lord, I'm having a fun couple of weeks. But at least I'm keeping plenty busy!

15 comments:

  1. Amazing how being out of a job can be a full-time job, huh? I remember this one - on one hand, it keeps you from spiralling into a depression, on the other, it's exhausting.

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  2. Glad to hear from you again, Laurie. You've been in my thoughts; I was laid off from my job as the managing editor of a community newspaper several years ago -- and there just isn't anything else remotely like it in my stomping grounds. I know how devastating this can be, particularly when it happens with no warning. Sounds like you're doing everything right, though, and I'm sure you'll find something else that's just as satisfying (and hopefully, as lucrative). How's your RA been through this? I hope you haven't been hurting too much.
    -Wren

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  3. Sorry to hear you've got the added worry of health insurance/meds to deal with on top of the job search - as if life wasn't stressful enough! On the plus side, you're in Toronto (great place, was there last year) and I'm sure there are plenty of opportunities for you, something will pop up when you least expect it.

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  4. Hi everyone,

    Thanks for checking in! I am glad to be so busy with everything. I'm sorry to hear you both have gone through the same thing, Lene & Wren. It truly sucks! And I'm sorry, Wren, that you're not in a place where there's a possibility of another similar job – that's even worse. But it sounds like you're keeping busy writing from all I've read on your blog and I'm glad you have that – you're supertalented! And, Squirrel, as you point out, I'm in Toronto, which is a great city, so I'm hoping there will be opportunities.

    Take care everyone and I will post again as soon as I can!

    :) L

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  5. I'm glad you're still around, Laurie :)

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  6. Laurie: When you spend as much time at work, and thinking about work, it's a crazy time when that disappears. So much of your real life gets tangled up in it. But it sounds like you're taking control and looking at ways to move forward and not let things fall through the cracks. Keep us posted on how you're doing and good luck with everything.

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  7. So good to hear from you. I hope your joints, at least, are feeling good through all of this upheaval. I'm thinking of you often and hoping you're finding some time here and there for calm.

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  8. Glad to hear you have everything under control. It's still a stressful time for you, how is your RA holding up under the added stress? I've not gotten involved with a Twitter account, can barely keep 2 blogs going with everything else. What type of software are you looking at?

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  9. Hey Laurie ~ Just caught up on your blog after not reading it through finals. I'm sorry to hear about your job. Hang in there!! And don't forget to take care of yourself too!

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  10. Hi guys! Thanks for checking in with me. I'm still crazy busy trying to get everything coordinated. I'm hoping for good things to come out of this, so keep your fingers (or whatever!) crossed for me! And thanks again for being there for me through this – that really means a lot to me. L

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  11. Glad to hear you are keeping busy, sorry that it has to be on less than fun stuff.
    I subscribed to MORNING COFFEE NEWSLETTER (all about freelancing) might be worth a shot.... They have proofreaders, writers and editors positions in their listings. Not always the most marvelous salaries (particularly not for the writers... $4.50 US for an article... maybe not so much... want at least enough to pay for more than one cup of coffee) but something to maybe look at.
    There are days when I think that, if I ever got canned as a DBA again... I might go back and actually follow that writing career that my college PROF suggested would be good for me.... hmmmm
    Good luck with the insurance. That, I think, would be MY biggest fear right now...

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  12. Hey, thanks for the info! I'm definitely keeping busy. I hope that I get back to posting regularly on the blog, though, once things settle down. I hope you're well and that you do get a chance to explore writing more some day, although I think your blogs are a pretty good start!

    :) L

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  13. Hi Laurie,

    I've been out of blogger land for most of May and didn't see your post. I'm sorry to hear about your lay-off and I hope you are doing well. Looking forward to hearing more from you in your blog.

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  14. I love reading your blog! It is such a source of strength to read about others who are going through similar circumstances. I too have recently started a blog about my journeys with RA @ http://madrewithra.wordpress.com/
    Hope you'll stop by. Keep up the great writing!!

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  15. Hi Madre – thanks for dropping by!

    I checked out your blog and added it to my blog list. Thanks for letting us know about you. Sorry to have you along on the RA journey, so to speak, but glad we can be of support to each other.

    Have a great day!

    :) Laurie

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