This is the week where Everything Changes.
It started off fairly innocently--I went in for a routine doctor's appointment (37 weeks today!) only to be told that our baby (who has always been on the small side) is now officially medically small and that our doctor recommends inducing him next week.
Woah.
This shouldn't be a big deal. I mean, I've had nine months to prepare myself for this. David and I had a whole summer off from school to prepare for this blessed event and get everything in order. But somehow I still thought we had a small eternity left to get everything totally ready, and now I'm looking at the calendar and thinking six days.
David, characteristically, is taking everything in stride; he sees this as a wonderful opportunity because he'll have a week with me and the baby before school starts. I, characteristically, have thrown myself into full-blown panic mode and have taken to writing exhaustive to-do lists and such cheerful things in my planner as "Last Date in Forever" for our Friday night outing.
And did I mention that we're moving on Tuesday? Yes, as in the Tuesday before the Wednesday we go to the hospital to have our baby. That Tuesday.
Life doesn't get more exciting than this!
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Why I'm beginning to hate my computer
I’m beginning to hate my computer. Not because it’s a bad
computer, mind you, but because I spend so
much time on it. For two good reasons: a) It is my link to the outside
world, and b) it is my livelihood… or I’m hoping it will be once this business
is launched.
Yes, I am launching a business. Why? Because last week (week four of relatively unemployment) I met with Roger the Encore temp guy and the experience convinced me that self-employment would be way better than working in scary environments for the rest of my childless life. The place was like 25 minutes away (our car was still registered at that point, but that’s another story), and when I got there they asked me to take a risk management test.
I’m a relatively boring person who takes few risks. But these questions were ridiculous. Have I ever wanted to hit someone? No. Was I sure? Because if I had ever wanted to hit someone, now was the time to talk. Yep, still sure—no violent tendencies. Well, then, do I ever party it up? Thinking that my last party involved hot dogs, Pixar, and about 20 kids under the age of five, I said no. I answered questions like these for twenty-five minutes until they were convinced I was sane. (And in case you’re thinking this was some elaborate hoax, it wasn’t; the guy after me failed.)
Then I got lots of practice signing my (newly aquired) married name as I agreed to any number of background checks, and then I had an interview and was told that I was the best thing they had seen in years; I should wait for their call.
Forty minutes later, I was back on the road determined that starting my own business had to be better than that.
So I am. It’s called boldedits, and it’s an editing service for college admission essays. All week I’ve been playing around with business names, trying out different website formats, daydreaming of business cards, searching my hard drive for examples of stuff I’ve edited over the past year... I’m hoping to be up and running next week.
I never thought I’d actually do this. Well, I thought it… but I’m a notorious starter, not finisher. (It’s why I like sight reading so much—people are amazed and forgive you your mistakes the first time around; they’re more demanding after that.) When my aunt suggested this, I thought, “That’s a cool idea!” I’ve been saying “that’s a cool idea” for three months, until now. The lack of editing jobs in this town has made me pursue other options. Who’s to say that’s not how it’s supposed to work out?
Then again, my business is editing—the ultimate last step in the writing process. I love taking unorderly words and insubordinate paragraphs and taming them, turing them into something clear, readable, and enjoyable. Here’s hoping it works!
Yes, I am launching a business. Why? Because last week (week four of relatively unemployment) I met with Roger the Encore temp guy and the experience convinced me that self-employment would be way better than working in scary environments for the rest of my childless life. The place was like 25 minutes away (our car was still registered at that point, but that’s another story), and when I got there they asked me to take a risk management test.
I’m a relatively boring person who takes few risks. But these questions were ridiculous. Have I ever wanted to hit someone? No. Was I sure? Because if I had ever wanted to hit someone, now was the time to talk. Yep, still sure—no violent tendencies. Well, then, do I ever party it up? Thinking that my last party involved hot dogs, Pixar, and about 20 kids under the age of five, I said no. I answered questions like these for twenty-five minutes until they were convinced I was sane. (And in case you’re thinking this was some elaborate hoax, it wasn’t; the guy after me failed.)
Then I got lots of practice signing my (newly aquired) married name as I agreed to any number of background checks, and then I had an interview and was told that I was the best thing they had seen in years; I should wait for their call.
Forty minutes later, I was back on the road determined that starting my own business had to be better than that.
So I am. It’s called boldedits, and it’s an editing service for college admission essays. All week I’ve been playing around with business names, trying out different website formats, daydreaming of business cards, searching my hard drive for examples of stuff I’ve edited over the past year... I’m hoping to be up and running next week.
I never thought I’d actually do this. Well, I thought it… but I’m a notorious starter, not finisher. (It’s why I like sight reading so much—people are amazed and forgive you your mistakes the first time around; they’re more demanding after that.) When my aunt suggested this, I thought, “That’s a cool idea!” I’ve been saying “that’s a cool idea” for three months, until now. The lack of editing jobs in this town has made me pursue other options. Who’s to say that’s not how it’s supposed to work out?
Then again, my business is editing—the ultimate last step in the writing process. I love taking unorderly words and insubordinate paragraphs and taming them, turing them into something clear, readable, and enjoyable. Here’s hoping it works!
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Let real life begin
I keep waiting for real life to start. When I was in college, it was waiting for graduation. Then I graduated, and it was waiting for David to graduate. Then we were both alumni, and I was waiting for med school to start. And now that we've begun this grand adventure, I tell myself that real life will begin when I get a real job (instead of freelancing) or when we have kids...
But I think the joke's on me. This is real life, and it is wonderful. So I'll give you some highlights of our new, wonderful life in Arizona.
Conquering allergies
No joke. We moved to Arizona, and I thought I was coming down with the black plague. After days of illness, I realized they were allergies. Thankfully, I have an awesome grandma who is an allergy expert, and I have fully recovered. (This is my new favorite drug.)
Legally changing my name
I'm
embarrased to admit it, but (after one blissful year of marriage) I was
still Jessica Cameron Ward as of last Monday at 11:09. But as of 11:10,
I submitted my paperwork to the social security people and have become
Jessica Cameron Larsen! And there was much rejoicing.
Pesto sauce
I'm kind of a panini addict, and NO grocery stores in Provo carry this stuff. But I went to the local Winco here (love!), and they had two kinds of pesto for my choosing. I saw it as an omen that we were meant to be here.
Our apartment
I
really loved last apartment (with its Church carpet, cinderblock walls,
and convenient shoebox size) because we had great memories and, well,
it was our first. But I love this apartment because it's actually nice. I
have twice the room, David let me get my own bookshelf, he has a
study area, and we ordered a great couch. As soon as the couch is here
(and the pictures are hung!) I will give everyone a video tour because
it's too fun!
David starting med school
David started med school (!!!!!) at Midwestern University. So far he loves it--well, as much as anyone can enjoy studying for tons and tons of hours. It's just the beginning of a long haul, but I look back at where we were a year ago (writing essays, submitting applications, wondering where we would be), and I much prefer now. Luckily, two of his good friends from BYU are here as well.
Freelancing
So (in case you didn't know--ha), I am a bit of a worrier. And although I have yet to find a job (job hunting is currently on the list "things I hate" along with parallel parking, buying new tires, and eating cabbage), I have been blessed with many freelance opportunites thanks to my old job with the Friend. Its fun to get paid for something you love to do! I also finished a personal website (jessicaclarsen.com) in case anyone knows of potential employers who need full-time or freelance work! :]
The local library
I am such a nerd, but our move felt real (as in, real life beginning) when I got my Arizona library card. The library is a block away, and I think I've already been there twice in a week and a half! I've been catching up on my YA fiction (has anyone else read Delirium? It was amazing!) and renting movies to tempt David away from studying. We had a small marathon the Saturday before he started and watched Disney oldies like Candleshoe and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. So fun.
As I'm writing this, I think of more things to add (our wonderful ward, the Walmart date we went on last Friday, putting together my Crate&Barrel unpaintings), but I have to save something for later! Suffice it to say, it's a wonderful beginning because (yes!) real life has begun!
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Confession of a serial blog-starter
This is my second new blog in two months.
But I can't help it. I'm an editor at a major magazine, and I spend my days editing what other people write. And (delicious as it is to hold the power of the almighty red pen), sometimes I think, "I can do that. I can be on the other end of this equation. I can write." Ergo, the serial blog starting.
They were all very different blogs, mind you. The first was this travelogue about a semester in London--I became so enamored with the place (and my own writing) that I started adding random u's everywhere and switching e's and r's to fit in better. Then I had a blog as a missionary in New York (a different story entirely). My latest attempt was called "Editorial Musings," and I wrote like this snotty editor whose opinion matters. Which was fun, but not entirely true to myself.
So a took another blogger's advice: "Find your niche. Write about what you and others care about." Well, currently I care about medical school--not because I am going, but because my husband is going, and I get to tag along for the ride. So this blog is about David, med school, and me, and all of the adventures that await us in Arizona. It's going to be an awesome ride!
But I can't help it. I'm an editor at a major magazine, and I spend my days editing what other people write. And (delicious as it is to hold the power of the almighty red pen), sometimes I think, "I can do that. I can be on the other end of this equation. I can write." Ergo, the serial blog starting.
They were all very different blogs, mind you. The first was this travelogue about a semester in London--I became so enamored with the place (and my own writing) that I started adding random u's everywhere and switching e's and r's to fit in better. Then I had a blog as a missionary in New York (a different story entirely). My latest attempt was called "Editorial Musings," and I wrote like this snotty editor whose opinion matters. Which was fun, but not entirely true to myself.
So a took another blogger's advice: "Find your niche. Write about what you and others care about." Well, currently I care about medical school--not because I am going, but because my husband is going, and I get to tag along for the ride. So this blog is about David, med school, and me, and all of the adventures that await us in Arizona. It's going to be an awesome ride!
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