catherineldf: (Default)
catherineldf ([personal profile] catherineldf) wrote2021-02-03 02:29 pm

Weekly Accountability Post, Part the 3rd

Here we are on Week 3 of my current "between jobs" adventure! So the big news is that I accepted a job offer yesterday; I'll be working remote for a California company doing data analysis/business intelligence through a contracting company I used to work for a long time back. It's a 3 month contract, with reasonable likelihood of going longer if things go well and it starts in 2 weeks, which gives me a bit more time to deal with the To-Do List o' Doom. On the down side, healthcare benefits don't kick until the 2 month mark so I still need to deal with that. Otherwise, we'll see how it goes. I am massively, chronically burned out from the kinds of work I've been doing for the past few years (and working 60-70 hours a week, between day job, writing, publishing and teaching) and this last round of bad management and nonsense was the last straw. On the other hand, these are amongst the skills I have, the job market is not great, the freelancing areas I'd like to move into are very, very full of good people who don't have the same options right now and this is another part of the IT forest that I think I'll like better. Also, fully remote so no commute time or spontaneous "we decided to call everyone back to the office." Fingers crossed!
Accomplished this week:
  • Finished drafting a new short story that's due this month.
  • Recorded a reading of an Emily L. Byrne short story for a Facebook "campfire" reading.
  • Accepted one manuscript and rejected another; working on contract updates now.
  • Did the Queen of Swords Press P&L and expense tracking for last year (ouch).
  • Followed up on healthcare options, but still need to complete.
  • Interviewed for a job and talked to sundry other people about jobs and referred a few friends who've been on the market for a bit.
  • Started my basic accounting class.
  • Saw The Voyages of Cinrak the Dapper by A,J, Fitzwater, which I published last year and which we hustled our butts off getting the word out about, land on the recommended readings lists for Locus Magazine and the Locus Awards, the Hugo Awards, the Nebula Awards, the Sir Julius Vogel Awards and the Ursa Major Awards (anthropomorphic fiction). Whatever happens, it's been a helluva run for a smol collection of queer joy and I'm super excited for A.J. and our little Queen of Swords Press crew.
  • Started deep cleaning and decluttering the living room.
  • Worked on edits for Blood Moon.
  • Read a submission.
  • Reading Water Horse by Melissa Scott. This is her new queer epic fantasy and I get to blurb it. :-D
  • Went to the Museum of Russian Art (newly re-opened) with a friend.
  • Signed up for my first paid blog tour for Blood Moon and lined up sundry promo and review things.
  • Watched Dickinson (liked!), The Alienist (did not like), Hercule Poirot mysteries and Black Sails (liking!).
And I think that's about it. Working on tax stuff now too so planning on having that for next week's update, along with some other things. If you're going to be at Capricon 41 this weekend, please come to my reading and panels, if you are so inclined!
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marthawells: (Manly Hug)

[personal profile] marthawells 2021-02-03 11:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh yay, congrats on the job!
pameladean: (Default)

[personal profile] pameladean 2021-02-04 03:07 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, hooray! Congratulations!

Also I keep wondering when you sleep. I hope you do.

P.
queenoftheskies: queenoftheskies (Default)

[personal profile] queenoftheskies 2021-02-04 05:17 am (UTC)(link)
Congratulations on the job! I hope it's easier than previous jobs and lasts longer than anticipated!
el_staplador: (Default)

[personal profile] el_staplador 2021-02-04 09:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow, congratulations! That's an awful lot of stuff.
jjhunter: Drawing of human J.J. in red and brown inks with steampunk goggle glasses (red J.J. inked)

[personal profile] jjhunter 2021-02-08 12:25 pm (UTC)(link)
I really enjoyed your Capricon panels! Looking forward to checking out your books as well.
jjhunter: Drawing of human J.J. in red and brown inks with steampunk goggle glasses (red J.J. inked)

[personal profile] jjhunter 2021-02-08 03:04 pm (UTC)(link)
This was my first Capricon! [personal profile] havocthecat lured me into coming, and I'm so glad she did.