Some fun stuff this week: It snowed last night! (See the white flecks on the bushes in this photo). We were getting ready to take the trash out when we looked out and saw the flakes coming down. The kids had to put on their coats and grab umbrellas and go check it out. There’s just a light dusting on the ground this morning, but winter is officially on its way. Here’s hoping it won’t be quite as eternal as last year.
I have really enjoyed my sleep this week. At the 30-week mark, this is no small thing, and I’m hoping I won’t jinx myself by writing this. I’ve hit the sack by 10:30 every night. I’ve woken up once around 3 or 4 a.m. to go to the bathroom, but then I’ve fallen back asleep until 6 or 6:30 every morning, and slowly pulled myself up sans alarm. Of course, the not-setting-an-alarm thing has its risks. This morning I was doing my drift-awake thing when I noticed there seemed to be a bit more light than usual. If was after 7 o’clock. Whoops. Guess I needed (or wanted) my 8.5 hours.
At the coffee shop yesterday (where I met a friend) the barista made a Hello Kitty in my latte foam. I stayed longer than my time on the parking meter but I didn’t get a ticket!
Before the snow, the sky was gray and gloomy yesterday afternoon. Even at 2 p.m. the light was weak, but that made the remaining red and yellow leaves stand out gloriously. I decided to go for my longer trail run loop. I hadn’t done it in a while for…I don’t know why. Maybe I worried about tripping over roots or getting stuck? But I took my phone and told myself I could walk it, and it wound up being a lovely romp in the woods. Trails are easier on my heavier-now body than asphalt. I love that I’m in my neighborhood, but feel out in the wilderness, crossing a stream by jumping from rock to rock and all that.
I’m over at Fast Company with an essay on The Post Bedtime Ritual Of Successful Working Parents (i.e. working split shifts).
I’m over at Fortune with a story about “the modern traveling salesmen.”
I hope to spend some time this weekend thinking through my list of things I’d like to do over the holiday season. There is definitely going to be some cookie baking on the list.
Sounds like a good day to buy a lottery ticket 🙂
I liked your article about splitting shifts. I am a doctor and work only nights/weekends (urgent care) Then i stay home with my baby the rest of the time. Have also got two kids in elementary school, and their days are busy. The pay at night is roughly double that for a day job doctoring, so I don’t have to log as many hours. It is rough watching an active baby all day after a long night shift, so i can’t handle doing it too much.
@Sarah – thanks! The article is getting a lot of social media traffic, which is kind of fun. I think you’ve got an interesting approach — if the pay is good enough, then you need to work a lot fewer hours to achieve your income goals. Have you thought about getting a sitter for a few hours on the day after you work? Obviously that cuts into the profitability, but that’s what one ER doc I know does after his overnights (his wife works more traditional hours so he usually covers days).
I usually just deal with being tired during the day after, but will often nap with the baby 🙂 and I limit it to one or two shifts per week. If i do a weekend shift, then my husband will take the baby so I can sleep. 🙂 If I can’t get a nap then I reward myself with copious amounts of coffee and chocolate.