freelance life Archives -

freelance life essentials and some running

04. March 2017 · 1 comment · Categories: running · Tags: dogs, freelance life, running

Hi there,

Happy weekend! This was my view when I woke up this morning.

Morning!

I love a good doodle view but I wish I would have got up earlier to see the sunrise. I haven’t seen a sunrise in so long. Facebook shared this photo I took 3 years ago yesterday. I was doing 16 miles in preparation for the NJ Marathon and I got to see this beauty.

sunrise

I just got back from an 8 miler. It wasn’t too bad the first half but the second half my hamstrings were on fire. I guess I kinda knew that they weren’t going to be cooperative so I’m going to have to keep working on strengthening, stretching and foam rolling and possibly go back to see Dr. Williams who helped me when my knee was causing issues. Of course he’s not on my new insurance plan so I’m going to keep trying to fix this on my own. Good news is that by the next day I usually feel ok so I’m not as bad as I was at the end of last year. It was so cold and windy today. But I kinda liked it. We’ve had such a mild winter that my body was yearning for the frigid temps.

before and after selfies. My cheeks got a lot rosier after.

So last Tuesday I went to a networking event in the city. I left Duncan (with his fresh new haircut) at Mr. SOTSS’ house when I traveled into the city. I got in a little early so I stopped in Bryant Park for a bit to enjoy the beautiful day. It was in the 60s. Then a client asked me to send some files so I tethered my phone to my laptop and got to business right there in the park. #freelancelife.

freelance life

Speaking of freelance life….when you work from home there is one major freelance essential: coffee! I was so happy my delivery came last week as I was running dangerously low.

my biggest freelance life essential…coffee!

After my networking event, when I got back to Mr. SOTSS’ house I got to see his girls for a few. His youngest was getting ready to go to gymnastics practice and asked me to french braid the top of her hair. I ALWAYS say yes when she asks me to braid her hair. She has the best hair! It’s so relaxing for me to braid it.

Another freelance life essential is having cute doggie coworkers who don’t really work. They crack me up.

Just stares at me while I work

Chester is just so big! He’s on Duncan’s little perch but enjoyed the breeze coming thru the window.

I had hoped to run 2x during the week but alas only got out once (on Wednesday) for a 4 miler. Meanwhile can we talk about the fact that it was in the 70s when I ran on Wednesday and I wore short sleeves and today it was 28 degrees with winds at 20mph.

But, I’m excited that the weather is finally cold again because I got to wear my new race swag yesterday.

My first pom pom hat ever!

So what’s on your agenda today?

Are you a coffee drinker?

Do you like to catch the sunrise?

What would your freelance life essentials be?

Running, Relationships and Milkshake Madness

02. August 2016 · 7 comments · Categories: recreational fun, running, Uncategorized · Tags: blacktap, blacktapnyc, freelance life, milkshake, relationships, running, weekends

Hi there.

How are you? I’ve been running, spent some QT with Mr. SOTSS and yesterday I had an epic milkshake. Yeah, I said epic.I know the word gets overused, but I mean it. I’m not being dramatic. OK, let me back up and tell you about my week first and then we’ll get back to that milkshake.

RUNNING

I had another solid week in freelance-ville and like last week, I was able to get a few short runs in on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday and the theme for all 3 was HOT and HUMID!

HOT and sweaty…the pits don’t lie

Thursday trail run because shade was necessary

Sunday pictureless 4

RELATIONSHIPS

I ended up seeing Mr. SOTSS 4 days straight which is a lot for us unless we’re on vacation. It was lovely though. We went shopping so I could to pick out a birthday gift for his daughter, spent lots of time with the pooches, rented a movie (we saw Room—and it was really good!) and just enjoyed a whole lot of conversation. He even made me coffee in the mornings and cooked Sunday dinner for us.

The dogs fell asleep while we watched the movie. I think they were hoping we could rent the Secret Life of Pets.

After walking in the rain. Not amused

Duncan loves his “PapaG”

We’ve been together now just over 2 years. The first 3 months were truly the “get to know each other” months. Dates were once every couple of weeks and eventually we added in our every Thursday evening weekly date. Somewhere over the next month or so things really clicked and we knew this wasn’t a casual dating scenario anymore. We really complement each other so well and I’m so grateful that he is in my life, and I am in his.

I told you his smile is as big as the smiley emoticon I usually use to cover his face.

I told you his smile is as big as the smiley emoticon I usually use to obscure his face.

We obviously don’t live together (we don’t even live in the same state—although we’re only 30 minutes away) but we make sure to take the time now to talk about how it will be to share a home in the future. We’re really clear with each other about things we will need, want, be willing to compromise on, etc. It sounds so silly but you can never be too prepared. I’ve lived alone since my husband died in 1999. In 2000, I purchased my home which is my haven and my pride and joy. I love having my own space and I’m not the most flexible when I’m out of my element.

Returning to my home sweet home yesterday

So I let him know that it would be imperative for me to have a separate space for my graphic design studio that would also be set up as a mini apartment for me, a place I can escape to (and hide my stash of peppermint patties so he can’t find them 🙂 . I envision it like a little cottage in the backyard with a pathway of scattered stones leading up to it. Lots of windows because I love natural light! And he will have his shop/garage where he can do his woodworking and home reno projects and work on his car. He’s volunteered to be make the beds and I’ll be the Swiffer-er! The good thing about meeting later in life is that we really have the wisdom and the determination to make a relationship work. Communication, compromise and above all mutual respect and kindness.

MILKSHAKE MADNESS
And now I’ll tell you about the milkshake that changed my life. My sister-in-law emailed me last week asking if I was going to be free yesterday because she wanted to take my niece to this restaurant in the city called Black Tap that she heard about that had some amazing milkshakes. I told her yes which meant doing some work over the weekend so I’d have the window of free time yesterday. We arrived at Black Tap about 30 minutes before they opened and there was already a line to get in. It was a short line and we were seated almost immediately after they opened. I hear that if you try and go later in the day you could wait 2 hours!

Yes that’s a chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwich attached to the side of the glass like a garnish!

cookie milkshake from Black Tap

My sister in law got the black forrest shake. It was chocolate everywhere with brownies on top. Tasted very much like black forrest cake

I got the chocolate chip cookie shake. It was a vanilla milkshake with mini chocolate chips and cookie crumbles tossed in. There was also an entire ice cream sandwich attached to it. And chocolate frosting and cookie crumbs were covering the outside of the glass along the rim.

Niece got the cotton candy shake. It was a strawberry milkshake with insane amounts of sweets on top. Rock candy and lollipops and cotton candy.

My niece who now towers over me. I’m a shortie. She’s a beauty.

How cool is this shot I took of a door to the building the restaurant is in

And now I am off to my couch to work…..oh wait….I’m already there 😉

Happy Tuesday! Happy August! Happy Summer!

What’s the most epic dessert you’ve ever had?
Are you good at relationships? Can you compromise?
How have your running workouts been lately?

Freelance life, running in the heat and a weekend of sailing

26. July 2016 · 2 comments · Categories: recreational fun, running, Uncategorized, vacation · Tags: freelance life, running in the heat, sailing

Hey there internet friends. How goes it? Last week was my first week back at freelance life full-time.

I had a great week. I managed to work enough hours to earn what I need to earn weekly (1 down and 51 more to go for a successful year!), got lots of stuff done around the house and also fit in a few short runs on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

Freelance life! Duncan spent every morning from 9am-noon in this position while I worked.

Running in the heat on Tuesday

Running in the heat on Thursday

Running in the heat on Friday while waiting for my hats to dry

Weekend of Sailing

Friday evening I drove out to Long Island with Mr. SOTSS and his girls for a weekend of sailing with his dad and his dad’s wife. We went last year over Memorial Day Weekend and it was a bit cooler.

This guy! He keeps me on course and anchored.

We had so much fun and really enjoyed the breeze while at sea.

Me and Mr. SOTSS’ daughters just hanging.

We traveled across the Long Island Sound to Connecticut. It took about 3 1/2 hours. We stayed overnight and slept on the boat and then traveled back the next day. There’s no better way to relax than sitting on a boat at sea. Just sit back and enjoy the scenery. Not to mention I enjoyed the quality time spent with Mr. SOTSS and his family. I love his girls so much. They’re adorable, funny and we have so much fun playing games and being silly. Oh, and his oldest has been teaching me how to swim properly! We worked on me just going underwater without holding my nose. Arms and leg kicks will come next. I was the official hair braider. French braids for his oldest, a pair of pigtail braids for his youngest and a single side braid for me 🙂

I didn’t run all weekend but got back to it yesterday with a run/walk. It was in the upper 90s and I figured I’d just take it easy. No sense pushing myself during my non-training season right?

I saw the tallest sunflower in the front yard of a house I ran past.

Then, last night there was a wicked thunderstorm. It blew through quickly but took out my power for about 5 hours but it also left a rainbow!

While I waited for power to be restored I had a few bowls of cereal. Didn’t want the milk to spoil 🙂

Working hard to restore power

This morning I took Duncan to the park for a walk knowing we’re in for another super hot day.

And now I’m going to take care of a few freelance assignments.

How was your week? weekend? Tell me 3 good things.