For the past 2 months, I have had the pleasure of working with two photographers on their photography mentoring project. They are providing support and information to aspiring photographers, which includes a series of six video lessons. That is where Small Wonder entered the picture, so to speak.
This was really fun to work on, and I was privy to some great info on photography, like when it comes to getting great portraits of your family, leave it to the professionals.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Working At Home-Whose Got Your Back?
So, what do you do when you work from home, on your own, trying to run and grow a business, and things go wrong? Who do you ask for help? There is no IT department. There is no head office.
Here is what happened to me in the last few days. The project I have been working on was finished on Wednesday. That is, the editing part was finished. The only thing left, export, convert and send the video files. I know, this can be the most difficult part. And it was. Because of the ridiculous amount of options when exporting and converting, it is a process of trial and error. And because of the enormity of the video files, each trial can take hours.
So, something that would seem to be no big deal, get the files to the client by Sunday evening, became me stressing out Sunday afternoon because the files were still not right, and would take several more hours to convert.
Oh, did I mention that while this was going on, The Little One had a runny nose that needed to be wiped every 30 seconds, a worsening cough and by mid-afternoon, had developed an eye infection? By the time I went to bed last night, at midnight, I had sent 2 of the six files, which were not quite right but better than nothing, and proceeded to spend most of the night soothing a sick toddler back to sleep.
Now, here's the GREAT part of this story. I happen to be extremely lucky because my husband works in the same business as I do, and he also works at home presently. And he is brilliant! Today, while The Little One and I napped, recovery from our long night, my husband put his own work aside, converted all my video files on his computer, checked them to make sure they looked good, and sent them to my client. He sent them to my client! While I was napping! Seriously!?!
Oh, did I mention he drove all over the west side of the city last night looking for antibiotic eye drops? I am not an outwardly mushy person, but I have to say, I feel like the luckiest wife on the planet right now.
Now, not everyone who works from home will happen to have their spouse working at home, who also happens to know everything about their business. The lesson to be gained from this story is to have back-up people. Friends and colleagues who will help you out. People you can trust and turn to when you really need them. And you will, one day, really need them.
Here is what happened to me in the last few days. The project I have been working on was finished on Wednesday. That is, the editing part was finished. The only thing left, export, convert and send the video files. I know, this can be the most difficult part. And it was. Because of the ridiculous amount of options when exporting and converting, it is a process of trial and error. And because of the enormity of the video files, each trial can take hours.
So, something that would seem to be no big deal, get the files to the client by Sunday evening, became me stressing out Sunday afternoon because the files were still not right, and would take several more hours to convert.
Oh, did I mention that while this was going on, The Little One had a runny nose that needed to be wiped every 30 seconds, a worsening cough and by mid-afternoon, had developed an eye infection? By the time I went to bed last night, at midnight, I had sent 2 of the six files, which were not quite right but better than nothing, and proceeded to spend most of the night soothing a sick toddler back to sleep.
Now, here's the GREAT part of this story. I happen to be extremely lucky because my husband works in the same business as I do, and he also works at home presently. And he is brilliant! Today, while The Little One and I napped, recovery from our long night, my husband put his own work aside, converted all my video files on his computer, checked them to make sure they looked good, and sent them to my client. He sent them to my client! While I was napping! Seriously!?!
Oh, did I mention he drove all over the west side of the city last night looking for antibiotic eye drops? I am not an outwardly mushy person, but I have to say, I feel like the luckiest wife on the planet right now.
Now, not everyone who works from home will happen to have their spouse working at home, who also happens to know everything about their business. The lesson to be gained from this story is to have back-up people. Friends and colleagues who will help you out. People you can trust and turn to when you really need them. And you will, one day, really need them.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Gotta Get Away!!!
Ooooooohhhhh, I so can't wait to go on vacation! This is why we try to go South in February, to help get us through the winter. And I have not been fully appreciating winter this year, so I am excited about the break. Thus, I spend way too much time looking up things to do while in San Diego.
Bernardo Winery- Southern California's oldest working winery. Lush gardens, village shops and wine. Who could ask for more?
Belmont Park on Mission Beach- Although this is an amusement park on the beach, it doubles as an indoor back-up in case of inclement weather. And indoor pool, mirror maze and glow-in-the-dark mini-golf. That oughtta do it!
San Diego Zoo- It's a given. (Even though we have one of the best Zoos on the planet!) I have to warn you, if you go to this website, they have LIVE video of the polar bears, pandas, elephants and apes. It is addicting.
Whale Watching- It is the middle of whale watching season in San Diego! What luck! (My husband is super-excited about this activity. In other words, I may end up on the boat with 3 kids by myself.)
USS Midway Museum-Okay, this was a "maybe" on the list until the boys saw it and excitedly asked if we were going to go on a real aircraft carrier. How could I say no? Upon further investigation (audio tours, restored aircraft and flight simulators), it looks pretty cool.
And of course...
Doesn't it make you wanna go??? Me, too!!! Only 20 more sleeps...
Bernardo Winery- Southern California's oldest working winery. Lush gardens, village shops and wine. Who could ask for more?
Belmont Park on Mission Beach- Although this is an amusement park on the beach, it doubles as an indoor back-up in case of inclement weather. And indoor pool, mirror maze and glow-in-the-dark mini-golf. That oughtta do it!
San Diego Zoo- It's a given. (Even though we have one of the best Zoos on the planet!) I have to warn you, if you go to this website, they have LIVE video of the polar bears, pandas, elephants and apes. It is addicting.
Whale Watching- It is the middle of whale watching season in San Diego! What luck! (My husband is super-excited about this activity. In other words, I may end up on the boat with 3 kids by myself.)
USS Midway Museum-Okay, this was a "maybe" on the list until the boys saw it and excitedly asked if we were going to go on a real aircraft carrier. How could I say no? Upon further investigation (audio tours, restored aircraft and flight simulators), it looks pretty cool.
And of course...
Doesn't it make you wanna go??? Me, too!!! Only 20 more sleeps...
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
5 In 5
1. For those of you who are or were editors or producers, did you ever look at footage and say "What is wrong with that camera person???" Yeah, well, I've been saying that a lot lately. Except I was the camera person. (Boy, I am learning fast.)
2. I am looking forward to the next 3 days! Coffee with a friend tomorrow, and another on Friday. Then, going to a play and drinks with friends on Saturday. I mean, the view from my desk is nice, but a person needs to get out.
3. I made the mistake of not putting the older boys in any activities in the fall, except swimming. The result, they were just around here way too much. So, for January we signed up for snowboarding, rock climbing and drama. That ought to tire them out.
4. I have been working on the same project for 2 months. It is almost done. What will I do then?
5. Oh, right. Go on vacation!!!
2. I am looking forward to the next 3 days! Coffee with a friend tomorrow, and another on Friday. Then, going to a play and drinks with friends on Saturday. I mean, the view from my desk is nice, but a person needs to get out.
3. I made the mistake of not putting the older boys in any activities in the fall, except swimming. The result, they were just around here way too much. So, for January we signed up for snowboarding, rock climbing and drama. That ought to tire them out.
4. I have been working on the same project for 2 months. It is almost done. What will I do then?
5. Oh, right. Go on vacation!!!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Chinook Equals Playground
It was warm out, so I forced the boys to pause their video games and go for a walk to the playground. Since we waited until 3:30 in the afternoon, the shadows made fun photos. (These were all taken with my cell phone.)
Play fast boys, we're losing the sun.
The Little One says "Hi" to his very long shadow.
This one makes me a bit dizzy.
Lazing around in the snow. It's that warm.
"Is it time to go home?" "Not yet!"
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Working At Home-Living La Vida Lonely
I know this is a sign that I don't have enough contact with grown-ups. When I was done editing yesterday, I closed the Avid and said to myself "All done!" in that toddler friendly tone usually reserved for the end of the applesauce or the end of the Baby Einstein movie. I need help.
It seems strange to say I get lonely working at home, when I spend all day editing with a toddler sitting on my lap. I don't spend much time alone at all. But when I am busy with work, it takes me a while to remember I have no co-workers, no interaction, no conversations with sentences containing more than 3 words. Then, all of the sudden, it hits me like a ton of bricks.
Thursday was one of those days. I suddenly felt like if I didn't see/talk to some full grown human beings soon, I was going to lose it! There were a few triggers...husband working a few evenings in a row, a sick kid home from school, as well as feeling the pressure of an editing deadline.
Soooooo...I sent emails to every friend I have, begging for lunches, dinners, coffee, anything really. And my beautiful friends came through! A couple of lunches/coffees set up for next week, a night out with friends in the works for next weekend, and the beginnings of a Mom and Kid's afternoon in the near future. And one particularly sweet friend initiated the Immediate Response Plan, and invited me over for coffee yesterday. I am already starting to feel human again. Crisis averted.
I used to work with my friends. I saw them every day, with no effort required on my part. Just show up for work, and hang out with your friends. Now, I work with my family around me, which is why I chose this life, and I LOVE that! But it forces me to remember to contact my friends, make an effort to meet with people and get out of the house once in a while. Effort is required on my part.
But thanks to my wonderful friends, the effort is minimal, and totally worth it.
It seems strange to say I get lonely working at home, when I spend all day editing with a toddler sitting on my lap. I don't spend much time alone at all. But when I am busy with work, it takes me a while to remember I have no co-workers, no interaction, no conversations with sentences containing more than 3 words. Then, all of the sudden, it hits me like a ton of bricks.
Thursday was one of those days. I suddenly felt like if I didn't see/talk to some full grown human beings soon, I was going to lose it! There were a few triggers...husband working a few evenings in a row, a sick kid home from school, as well as feeling the pressure of an editing deadline.
Soooooo...I sent emails to every friend I have, begging for lunches, dinners, coffee, anything really. And my beautiful friends came through! A couple of lunches/coffees set up for next week, a night out with friends in the works for next weekend, and the beginnings of a Mom and Kid's afternoon in the near future. And one particularly sweet friend initiated the Immediate Response Plan, and invited me over for coffee yesterday. I am already starting to feel human again. Crisis averted.
I used to work with my friends. I saw them every day, with no effort required on my part. Just show up for work, and hang out with your friends. Now, I work with my family around me, which is why I chose this life, and I LOVE that! But it forces me to remember to contact my friends, make an effort to meet with people and get out of the house once in a while. Effort is required on my part.
But thanks to my wonderful friends, the effort is minimal, and totally worth it.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
The View From Here
One of the things I LOVE about working from home is the view from my desk. It gets too hot in the summer, the sun shines in my eyes at about 2:30pm in the winter, and the location seems to be a magnetic nightmare for computers. But I will never move from this view.
Okay, there is one view I would move my desk for...
Saturday, January 2, 2010
5 In 5-Little Things
Our lives are a flurry of crazy, spinning, taxing moments that can blur into a vision of a less than wonderful life. But the reality is, between those moments are almost as many sweet, fun, wonderful moments that make it all worth while.
Look at the world through rose coloured glasses? I say why not!
Because it is, truly, a wonderful life.
1) Hot bubble bath. Cold drink. Dark chocolate. Trashy magazine. Miraculously, no sound from the kids. I am set for the week!
2) New Year's Eve, my Mom and I took the kids to Moxie's for dinner. It was awesome! They were so well behaved, (the kids and my Mom;-) patient and fun to be around. We laughed and talked and clinked our glasses of soda, which made the boys' evening.
3) Last night we played the noisiest, most physically taxing game of Monopoly ever. The Little One kept grabbing the houses, and moving the players' pieces. The older boys couldn't sit still, and my Mom and my husband were bartering constantly. What fun!!!
4) We rented movies on New Year's Eve. I got one that we have already seen. Has anyone else ever done this? Clearly losing my mind. My only saving grace is that my husband did the exact same thing a few months ago.
5) On New Year's Eve Eve, we left my Mom with all the sleeping kids and met some friends at The Ship and Anchor. We only had a couple of drinks and some fries, but I really enjoyed it! We saw some people we didn't expect to see, relaxed for a couple of hours, and caught up with friends.
Happy New Year, everyone. Remember to savour those little moments.
Look at the world through rose coloured glasses? I say why not!
Because it is, truly, a wonderful life.
1) Hot bubble bath. Cold drink. Dark chocolate. Trashy magazine. Miraculously, no sound from the kids. I am set for the week!
2) New Year's Eve, my Mom and I took the kids to Moxie's for dinner. It was awesome! They were so well behaved, (the kids and my Mom;-) patient and fun to be around. We laughed and talked and clinked our glasses of soda, which made the boys' evening.
3) Last night we played the noisiest, most physically taxing game of Monopoly ever. The Little One kept grabbing the houses, and moving the players' pieces. The older boys couldn't sit still, and my Mom and my husband were bartering constantly. What fun!!!
4) We rented movies on New Year's Eve. I got one that we have already seen. Has anyone else ever done this? Clearly losing my mind. My only saving grace is that my husband did the exact same thing a few months ago.
5) On New Year's Eve Eve, we left my Mom with all the sleeping kids and met some friends at The Ship and Anchor. We only had a couple of drinks and some fries, but I really enjoyed it! We saw some people we didn't expect to see, relaxed for a couple of hours, and caught up with friends.
Happy New Year, everyone. Remember to savour those little moments.
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