My own Web site!

I've finally done it. After years of tinkering around with other options, I've registered my name as a domain and put up a (rudimentary) Web site, dedicated to my singing, writing, and editing work.

Check 'er out!

Suggestions are more than welcome. I know I need to put up more samples, and a testimonial page would be nice too some day. I'm using a basic template provided by Yahoo, so don't be too impressed with my design skills. Again: someday...

Work? There isn't much. My Microsoft assignment wraps up this week, but realistically, I haven't had anything to do for them for over a week. I've reopened my unemployment claim yesterday; let's hope it's still good and valid.

Singing lessons

I've been slowly starting to teach singing lessons. At first it was a rare lesson here and there, and now I have one regular student who comes by every Sunday afternoon. It's a blast. As with teaching high school way back when, it's really energizing, and I suddenly discover how much I know and how much I have to teach.

So, I've made it official and created a posting on TeachStreet.

Not sure how this will all fit around having a regular day job, but then again, I don't expect my door to get beaten down for this. How many people, really, are into singing Balkan music?

Contracting for Microsoft

I've been a contractor at Microsoft numerous times, including now. There are many, many agencies that place contractors to work for or at Microsoft. Non-compete agreements abound, and Microsoft has its own policies to make sure the contracting game is played straight and contractors don't take the place of (permanent) FTE employees. Well, those policies are catching up to me all at once.

A couple months ago I took on a short writing assignment for Microsoft, through Volt Technical Servies. Since this assignment is short and I'm working directly for a Microsoft manager, not doing work remotely, this is an a-dash position. Oh, let me back up:

There are (basically) two types of contractors: a-dash and v-dash. The names refer to the letter before your e-mail alias at Microsoft when you're a contractor. In the past I've been mostly v-ditrag (I know, great alias), and now I'm a-ditrag@ms.com. The difference between the two is that a-dash contractors work on site, are managed by a Microsoft manager, and have to take a 100-day break after working for one year. Yup, one hundred full days. V-dashes are "vendors" and (usually) work off-site, being managed by the Vendor company managers, and don't (usually) interface with Microsoft directly. (Though they can.) Vendors don't have a limit to their assignment, and can stay on indefinitely. I was a vendor for almost three years a couple years back.

So now I'm an a-dash again. If I want to take on another contract after this is up, and it's another a-dash, but through another agency, I have to take 30 days off first. That's Volt's non-compete. If I find another contract and it's a v-dash, I have to take that 100-day break. That's Microsoft policy. Hmf!

So pretty much my only option/hope is to find another a-dash contract with Volt. Of course I have other leads and possibilities; Volt is not the only fish in the pond. A former manager wants to bring me on through another company as a vendor -- nope. I'll be available for that August 10.

But even if I find another Volt assignment, sooner or later I'll come up on that 100-day break thing. 100 days. That's a nice long vacation if I manage to save up money for it. Of course there's no guarantee if the position I left would still be there -- Microsoft would probably fill it with someone else. Or hire a v-dash.

Well, that's the bind I'm in. My assignment is winding down, and I'm looking for work again, and I'm hoping something *other* besides Microsoft pops up. There's gotta be other employers in town...!

Silly day

This morning R woke up with vertigo. Which was a bummer, since neither of us has to work today and we had a long list of things to do together. After sitting on the couch and breathing a bit, we decided to go ahead with our plans and take it one step at a time. Well, here's how it went:

1) Drove to bank, made boat payment. Success.
2) Drove to REI to drop of installation CDs for R's coworker, who is trying to restore my old tablet PC for us. Forgot that laptop does not have CD ROM drive -- and forgot the external drive at home. Fail.
3) Picked up boxes for packing from REI. Success.
4) Went to bike shop where R has built some wheels, to meet owner to get paid for previous work. Owner wasn't there. Fail.
5) Drove to ActiveSpace studio, which we were going to pack up and move today. Loaded up my car with one load, and drove it to Artwood (our future home). Success, but small.
6) Drove to Credit Union to open up joint account, but realized we didn't have our exact new address yet. Fail.
7) Then also realized we were going to take photos of Artwood to post online, and had forgotten to do so. Drive back? Nah. Fail.
8) Back home, R lies down on couch, still feeling dizzy. Wah!

Better luck at productivity tomorrow...!

Perfect Day...

Beautiful, sunny, warm day in Seattle. I'm at home, sitting at my desk by the open window, working on a freelance project -- helping a consulting firm apply for a grant. On the side I'm pulling together the final pieces for the Dunava CD and our concert in Shoreline this weekend. In a few minutes I'll take a break and go for a run. This is what my working day should always look like. Inspired and productive and sunny.