- i'm not really one to give advice on writing as i can't even get myself writing but... something i was taught in uni is to write about what you know. if you are a computer programmer then write a story about a computer programmer. if you're an artist, then write about an artist's life.another tactic is to write about your own life experiences, such as what it's like raising your son.how you write about it is up to you. fictionalize it or turn it into a biography. the main point is to write. open a page and just start typing. set an alarm for 15 minutes and when it goes off stop typing. let it sit for a day. then go back and reread it. here's the hard part (i know, it's all hard :) )... edit it. whether you think it's the worst or best thing you've ever written, edit it. repeat the process until you get a piece you want to expand into a story. it'll happen, you just have to start. ;) as for the job offer,let them know up front you're prepared to walk away if you don't get what you want.i certainly wouldn't settle for less than you're already getting in your current job i know you'll do good with the negotiations. :D good luck! 😀

I really don't like negotiating, but it is like you say, I'm prepared to walk away. Do you still have thunderstorms over there? The snow over here has luckily all melted away, but it's still pretty cold for the time of year. So weird, it was really warm and then suddenly freezing again...

- i hate negotiating, too. i don't do so well with it either. lol i judge how serious they are about filling the position by what the initial offer contains. by quoting a higher salary with no benefits tells me they're not that serious. or they think you're naieve and won't consider the lack of benefits etc a bad thing. honestly, you may want to exagerate your counter offer a bit to show them what you consider a serious offer. ;) all they can do is say no. ;) our weather is quiet today - 15c and partly cloudy. kids are playing outside with a light coat on. its nice right now. i hope the cold goes away soon for you. :D

well most of all my right but cheeck hurts. Can't sit long on it. I hope it won't hurt tomorrow. Walking and doing other things then sittng when i can.

It's a young company so I think they just haven't had time to put a benefits system in place. But that's going to bite you in the ass when looking for IT people. I can go to any generic IT agency and get a job offer with a pension, a lease car (which I've never chosen) and much more paid time off. The thing is, I don't want to work for a generic IT company, so I'm realizing how incredibly difficult it's going to be to find something that makes me enthusiastic and offer the kind of benefits that I'm used to.

Ouch! Are you seeing a physical therapist for this? I hope it won't bother you too much tomorrow

- good luck tomorrow! i hope your first day is engaging and fulfilling. i hope your sciatica calms down soon. how was the theater? :D

- i know you said you don't want to go to an agency to get a generic it job but have you thought of using that agency to help you find jobs you're trained for? i know here in the states some companies use temp agencies to screen possible employees. they take the candidate on in a temp capacity to see if they'll fit into the job culture and to see if they actually have the requisite skills. a lot of times those companies don't advertise all their openings as they like to offer the better jobs to those temps that work out well. don't know if they do that over there. you could be right that they just don't have the systems in place yet but , if and when they do get them in place, would you be grandfathered in or left out because it's "not in your contract"? i hope you had a fun and relaxing weekenD. :D

HI all! I hope the weekend treated everyone well :) I celebrated a friends unbirthday on Saturday since her birthday is today and Sunday I hung out with a friend of mine doing some shopping.

Babysitting juniper today. We had a tea party and she is baking imaginary cookies. I am so glad I got the games up on time this month.

- so, how was your first day at the new job? i hope things went well for you and that your sciatica didn't act up. :D

- sounds like you had a fun weekend. did you get anything good shopping? :D

- that sounds so adorable! are you feeling better? :D

Saw Morbius on Saturday and Sunday was a pure day of rest XD

Ohhh how was the movie? That is one that the hubs and I are still deciding on.

The tea party sounds like it was fun. I'm still seeing my 3 yr olds imagination grow and I love it :)

It was a good weekend and yup, i got some good shopping in. Saturday, we shopped for our friends bday gifts and Sunday it was more for the house. I got a new tablecloth and some groceries that were needed. We ate at a tex mex restaurant for dinner and the food was delicious.

I enjoyed it and had a good time :)

Ah good! The hubs and i may have to do a date night then :)

Finished editing the third book in my Kafka's Men series. Hopefully will get it out in a week at most.

Last week I got no work done on the book hence only getting to editing it now XD

- i gave up on table cloths a long time ago. too many messy kids. lol i started using table runners instead. splash of color down the center of the table and it was so much easier to keep clean. i love tex mex. i love chicken fahitas. i need to find a tex mex place open where i live. as far as i can tell the one close to us closed because of covid and they have yet to reopen. i'm glad you had a fun weekend. :D

- you will get it done, i know it. you're a work hourse and have a good writing ethic. :D

- happy tuesday! i hope your week has gotten off to a good start. :D

I was so tired yesterday from my 1st day i almost fell asleep on the couch so went to bed early. Had a good first 2 days at my new job. But loads of info, people, findimg my way, etc. Standing a lot but not as i am used to so my poor feet and back. My but does not hurt as i am hardly sitting down, lol! Hot showers and sleep help. Anyway i am fne, work is good and finding my way.

- i'm glad you had a good first 2 days at work. :) i always found the first week or so of a new job tiring as they throw so much info at you. i know you'll do well. i'm glad your butt isn't hurting but i'm sorry your feet and back hurt. that should work itself out as you move around more. :D

I'm glad you had a good first two days! It will get less tiring after a week or two.

I've decided to decline the job offer. I could negotiate but my gut feeling is telling me not to take the job. I think in the end it boils down to the fact that I think I'm not a good match for their corporate culture. They value spending a lot of time together in the office. Their office is like a dance club, with disco light and loud music. Having to go there 4 days a week is really going to wear me down fast.

It sounds like you had a nice weekend!I haven't gone shopping in for ages. Well, I sometimes take my son because he need new shoes, but that's in and out the shop as quickly as possible...

That's how I am too with my kiddo. I make a list and get what I need and then get out. There are times where I'll get distracted haha

It sounds like it was a good two days at new job :) I hope you are able to rest and recoup some.

- it's always a good thing to listen to your gut. i think the right job will come along soon. i don't think i could have worked in a disco-like environment. it sounds too distracting. :D