Writer for Hire

Issue 09 is just fine

Dec 07, 2021

Welcome. There are 190 of us here. It’s a party. Let’s dance!

This week I took a big leap. I updated my online profiles to say “Writer for Hire.”

After a few months of writing for me, in my voice, I’m inching towards paid writing. I say “inching” because I’m in the midst of a personal journey I don’t want to disrupt.

For context, I wrote for a wonderful brand for 15 years. Some say I was the voice of that brand. Today I work for myself, I write for myself, and I’m hired by people who want my personality in their projects.

Have I told you I’m grateful for your presence? Ah, yes, every week. Well, without you, I’d be talking to myself. Which I do anyway.

Let’s change gears. I love to shop. When I find something good, I want to share it with you. There’s a lot of shit out there. Not here, though.

Here we go.

Wednesday

Someone left a gift box at my door… for the cats. The giver was Romeo’s Other Mother. Who? She’s a woman in her late-70s that lives nearby. We met last year when my kitty Romeo went missing. I posted on Nextdoor. She had information. Lots of it.

Turns out, he visits her daily. Why? She feeds him. Duh. She named him Tigger. Duh.

Seven months later, we text every day. When I tell her he’s not home yet, she says things like, “More gray hairs!” Between us, I think she likes the gray hairs.Know thy neighbor (without the biblical connotation).

Two of two hundred texts between Romeo’s Other Mother and me.

Thursday

I don’t know who you’re buying for this holiday, but there are some sweet things at Sabah. These red and white check socks! These bright blue tumblers!

Here’s another off-beat designer and person I love—Jenny Strange. Her Ts are adorbs. She’s adorbs. The word adorbs is super annoying.

Friday

If you’re a clog-lover, Bryr is having an online sample sale on Friday, December 10 at 9:30 am PST. The experience is ridiculously intense, so read the FAQ, and get ready.

I’ll be busy. Friday mornings, I host a writing group with people I met while taking Write of Passage. I bring a bit of wisdom to our 15-minute discussion before we write for 45.

Last Friday’s was: Thinking is silent talking.

Dear reader, are you aware of what you say to yourself? Like right now, what are you silently saying?

(I may have ruined the moment because all I hear is “clogs.”)

Saturday

Saturday mornings, I meet a group of men online at 7:00 am. It’s not what it sounds like. They’re my accountability team, and it’s a whip-smart group of four dudes + me.

I’m grateful. That’s it.

Sunday

I've made this recipe dozens of times. Nobody doesn’t like it. Nobody!

Monday

I wrote an essay this week!

Pressure is not welcome here. I wrote very few notes during the pandemic. While this would have been fascinating to read decades from now, it would have violated my rule: write when you’re compelled, not when you think you “should.”

Read Notes to My Babies here.

PS: See if you spot the serendipity between this week’s essay and Just ADD Drugs 👀. Pure happenstance.

Tuesday

I’m reminded to remind you of Zingerman’s Mail Order for your gifting needs. Their food is GOOD. Their business is GOOD. Their people are GOOD. Sound good? Order up!