Thursday, May 01, 2014

Contents Under Pressure

I suspect that one of the reasons I quit my job so suddenly is that the constant pressure of trying to fit a full work day in with the commute and the kid drop off/pick up schedule was slowly building, and when someone added just a little more pressure, the valve blew, so to speak.

Despite the suddenness of my decision to act, the ideas of what to do had been formed over quite some time. I really do think this new work arrangement is going to be better. My only regret is not making this change sooner, before the valve blew. I was trying to make the change in the usual way, and have new work lined up before leaving the old work. It turns out, I shouldn't have worried. I already have ~20 hours/week of contracting lined up at a rate that means I don't really have to hurry to find more hours, and a couple of solid leads on more hours if I want them. Plus, I've got ideas of other work-like but less immediately lucrative things I want to try, and I'm excited to finally have the time to do them.

However, to take the contracting work, I need to be set up as a business. So I've had the extra work of figuring out what business structure to use, finding a name (actually two, but that is a story for another day), figuring out what I need to do to set up the business, and then actually getting the filing done.

The kids are wondering why I'm at the computer even more in the evenings when I've told them that one of the reasons I'm making this change is so that I can be at the computer less in the evening. I'm even more stressed and short-tempered than usual, too, which I hate.

It is a classic case of things having to get worse before they can get better.

Today I managed to leave work on time and go for my supposedly regular Thursday run by the bay. It has been downright hot here, but there was a nice breeze, and the air by the bay was certainly cooler than it had been inland at my office. I had a good run, and felt great.

I got home and Mr. Snarky said he'd sort out diner so that I could get my incorporation documents filed... he did, and I did. Woo hoo! Doing good.

Not long after dinner, he got the kids in the bath and I started sorting through my bags and such from the day. I went to put my driver's license back in my wallet... and couldn't find it. I spent the entire bath time trying to find it, to no avail. I drove back to the bay and looked, but of course did not find it. I am reasonably sure I brought it home, though- it was deep in the pocket that had the iPod clipped in it. It seems quite unlikely it would have fallen out, and I can almost remember taking it out of my pocket when I got home. But I can't find it. So I've made an appointment to go get a new one. Woo hoo.

My desk is piled with things that need processing. I'm struggling to keep up with all the home administrative things I usually do. Mr. Snarky is picking some extra things up, but he has a work trip coming up and he needs to prepare, so he's feeling maxed, too. We're in one of those time periods where we feel like we're running as fast as we can to not face plant on our treadmill. I know these periods don't usually last long- I can see the end of this one just a few weeks away, if not sooner. But boy, do they suck while you're in them. I think losing my driver's license is an indication that I'm starting to stumble.

I am hoping to post something more than an extended whine about losing my driver's license soon. I promised a list of some of the great podcasts I've found to help me cope with my long commute. I have an Ask Cloud post I promised to write a few weeks ago, before I exploded my work life, and I really want to finally get it written and posted. And of course, I'd love to write a little more about my new career plans.

But it will all have to wait. I still have to figure out how I'm going to file the rest of the paperwork associated with setting up my business and get this done, so that I can release the pressure and hopefully settle into a new operating level that is a little healthier for me.

8 comments:

  1. Anonymous3:04 AM

    Hi Cloud, I'm sure you made the right call. Best to look ahead. Wish it would warm up here. So tired of winter. - S

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    1. It is actually so warm and windy here that we're all a bit worried about the risk of fire. I wish we could share some of our warmth and get back to our usual weather!

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  2. Anonymous4:41 AM

    That's one of the drawbacks with being so much in demand that you need to get incorporated right away. Dh had plenty of time to do it after leaving his job because no clients were chomping at the bits.

    Good luck on your drivers license!

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    Replies
    1. Indeed. I can't really complaining about the crunch... but I'm still feeling it.

      I've accepted that the license is gone. Sadly, I can't get an appointment to request a new one until May 19. I'll have to drive extra carefully until then- and make Mr. Snarky drive whenever possible.

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    2. Anonymous2:03 PM

      Congrats on finding it! (As I see in your twitter feed.)

      Delete
  3. LMK if you have Qs about the paperwork. I just did this in WA state, so it's likely different, but I went to a workshop with a lawyer and got some good tips.

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  4. Anonymous10:55 AM

    I lost my license once too. If you make an appointment with your local DMV, you can skip the long lines. It really helps make a painful situation better. Best of luck with everything.

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  5. Alexicographer6:49 PM

    Oof. I know most of what you've described you can't outsource, but is there anything for which you could hire help? Some meals, some laundry, some child care (including pick ups or drop offs?)? Just for a bit?

    I lost my entire wallet once and thought I'd driven off with it on the roof of my car, so after a few frantic searches I replaced everything that had been in it. About three weeks later it showed up under a pile of clean clothes. Very frustrating.

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