Happy New Year Folks

Here’s wishing to more projects and work for the next 50 years

Work Mode?

After almost six days of doing nothing, I am now back to work and expecting plenty of tasks anytime soon. Luckily, as it always is during Mondays, things weren’t that hectic. Maybe because they were still recuperating from all the drinking and partying in the US. Whatever the reason, I’m glad for the downtime because now I can spend it blogging and catching up with online friends. It’s been two weeks since I blog hopped so I’m very outdated. I would love to read about Christmas stories and Holiday photos as much as I want to blog about mine.

For now, I’ll try to be productive and work on my other sidelines instead. I received two web re-design quote request when I logged in today and although I have no wish of working ASAP, I might accept the first project. You can never have too much extra cash you know.

Enjoy The Holidays!

Time to rest and enjoy now. See you again next week.

I Need a Home Office NOW

I’ve been reading a lot on home office lately. I’m tired of working inside our bedroom for various reasons. One, it’s just too distracting, what with my daughter inside playing as well and two, I think I can be more creative / productive if I surround myself with office stuff instead of a huge comfortable bed.

According to the  article from HGTV.com (where I swiped these photos), the colors bright green, brown and cream can create a warm, comfortable hangout.

Choosing this particular photo for my model was not a coincidence because green is my favorite color. A brown desk, some shelves to hold all my knick-knacks, a nice window treatment to hide the glare and great lighting, I think I can easily achieve this look. The only remaining issue would be if I have a space such as this when we move houses early next year. 

How URGENT are urgent tasks?

One of our client services agent told me he has six designs that need to be updated ASAP. Are you kidding me? Not. Our company has a policy against rush projects but since we are the only ones online, I can’t very well turn him down. It sounded like a very tricky project too so I’ll probably put all the other ‘urgent’ tasks from last week on hold.

I’m still sick by the way but because the agent said the magic word (urgent!), my mind will not rest until I’lI get to it.It’s three days before Christmas and here I am working like the Grinch. I have about twenty million tasks at hand until December 26 and I doubt I can finish half of them in a matter of two days.

I am so thankful for this job. But sometimes, it just gets too much.

My Dell Studio 17

Yes, this is finally mine.

I wanted to blog about it for so long but I just couldn’t find the time. It’s pretty huge and really heavy, not for people who travels a lot. But because of it’s size, it has its own numeric keypad which is a total plus for me. All the specs that I’ve chosen were just right except for the graphics card. I’m still unable to maximize the extra $150 that I’ve spent for upgrading and continues to see pixilated graphics. The 3GB laptop memory was pretty fast too even if I didn’t go for the upgrade. I can easily switch from one graphic software to another while having an apache server running in the background and 10-20 browsers open at the same time.

The downside – it only comes with Windows Vista. Being a Windows XP user for so long, I just had to downgrade and hunt for all device drivers, which is not an easy task. Plenty of impulsive buyers like me have sold or returned their Dell Studios just because of this. But luckily, I was able to gather everything I need. The only thing left for me to fix is the microphone jack and the integrated webcam.

The Downside of Fun

So much for a fun-filled night. Okay, I admit last night was pretty wicked – tequila shots, long-kept secrets being revealed for everyone, exchanging of gifts, deep discussions, good food, good company. But I vaguely remember them because my husband, my daughter and I are now suffering either from hangover (not my daughter) or stomach flu. We are so weak and barely able to get up this morning. I hope this sickness will not last because it’s a Sunday and I can’t afford to be stressed on the night before "Work Day".

Well, I guess this is payment for all those shots that I took last night. I have to remind myself not to drink next time there’s a party since I think I’ve already compensated enough for the last three years that I abstained from alcohol.

Party All Weekend

If you see me complaining that I don’t get to have fun anymore, remind me to read this post. I’ve been enjoying my new freedom lately. Freedom meaning that I can go out of the house anytime I want without worrying that my baby will get hungry. I’ve felt like a prisoner for three years, what with working from home and not being able to meet up with friends as much as I want to. But now, there’s just no stopping me. For the last two months, I’ve been going to dinner parties, meeting up with friends for movie or coffee, or simply going to the mall to shop alone. It was fun halt of the time but when I get tired, I suddenly wish I was home playing with my daughter instead.

Speaking of parties, my close friends and old co-workers are having our Christmas party tonight. Some of our oldest friends will be there so I can’t wait. My daughter is coming so there’s no problem with me staying too late and missing her. There are two big beds there just in case she gets tired but I know she wouldn’t because her friends will be there as well. So you see, my social life is active again. And the weird part is, after wanting it to be this way for so long, I often wish it wasn’t this busy.

Seriously

I need to stop blogging/blog hopping/surfing sites and start working. I have 10 tasks on my  Product Request queue and I can’t ignore them any longer. I’m giving myself five hours to finish all this so I can log off early for once. My husband is probably tired of kissing me hello while my eyes are glued in my laptop whenever he comes home. Plus my daughter, my dearest one, has been missing her mother for so long. I can’t remember the last time we played and talked together.

So, yeah. I need to stop, like right this minute. Well, after I check out this store selling wholesale computers to help me with my business proposal for my client.

Women Who Work From Home Are Lucky (or Not?)

A lot of my online friends are telling me how lucky I am that I work from home. Then, I came across an entry from a work from home mom like myself and decided to list down the pros and cons of telecommuting.

PROS:
1. You don’t have to wake up early so you can sleep really late
2. No need to travel, commute and mingle with weirdos who keeps on “accidentally” brushing your thigh or resting their heads on your shoulder
3. No need to plan what clothes to wear
4. You can brush your teeth / take a bath whenever you want to.
5. Take a nap every hour / sleep in the afternoons
6. Play with your kid, watch tv while working, do some household chores
7. Less expensive because you don’t have to pay extra for gas, cab fare, lunch and new clothes

CONS:
1. I miss conversing with other people (nonsense chit-chats or serious discussions)
2. I don’t get to dress up
3. I get easily distracted: tv, books, playtime, online chats, phone calls w/ friends and digiscrapping
4. Related to #4. I find it hard to focus especially if I need to study a new program or come up with a design for a new site. It’s very different working in an office where you can look at your computer and tell yourself “here’s your deadline, start working!” When you’re at home, there’s just so much freedom that I always find myself saying “I’ll [insert distraction here] for now and work on that later”.
5. Having all the time to rest, I find that I’m always tired.
6. It’s hot!! You just can’t turn on the aircon the whole day.

Working from home is definitely not for everyone. I read somewhere that to be able to deliver efficiently, you need to set a schedule and do your usual morning routine. You should also dress up as if you’re going out and have your own office where no one can enter unless instructed to do so. (I work inside our bedroom wearing my sleepwear with my daughter playing beside me on the playmat.)

It’s really fun and amazing if you can work it out. However, there are times that I feel like I’m losing a part of myself. This feeling could’ve been brought about by something else so I don’t know if I should blame it on my current work setup. At the end of the day, nothing beats watching your little girl’s milestone and mischief. So I guess, yeah…I’m still lucky after all.