Christmas card from 2004: Working at home

I am repurposing the Christmas card messages I've written since 2001. From old Christmas cards to new blog posts. One a day. Merry Christmas.

I have to admit, for about a day after Tom showed me his artwork for this card, I didn’t get the three wise men thing—about looking for babes. He said you’d be quicker on the uptake.

The first year of my free-lance writing and editing business has been great! I left my salaried job in January and became the sole proprietor of Wiseman Communications. I’ve had steady work (including writing two books) and have learned a lot about estimating project time, negotiating fees, and what to do when you didn’t realize your quarterly estimated taxes were due before the end of the quarter.

These are the best parts of my new gig:

• Working at home: I get to be with the kitties all day, and I can go to the grocery store in the mornings (which happens to be when the firemen are there, and I have a thing for firemen).
• Feeling totally free, independent, and in control. If I have a deadline and choose to play Free Cell or go to the dry cleaners, it’s up to me. I can work at 10 pm if I want (as if I would ever be up that late).
• Finishing a job and sending an invoice for it. There is a great sense of “finishing” and going on to something new.
• The worst part is being alone for long periods (defined as more than 20 minutes).

Tom’s latest project—the pond—just delights me. It has two levels (making a waterfall) and a fountain with seven flexible spouts. When the balcony door in my office is open, I am cheered by the sound of its gurgles and splashes. Looking ahead to summer pond activity, Tom bought the pet store’s last five goldfish, now in a tank in the living room. The cats are highly entertained.

And speaking of the cats, they’re lukewarm about the card design, but they did get the “babes” double meaning before I did.

Love to all.