I must learn to say "no."

I got the first call of the year from my former employer in Houston, asking me to take 2,000 words for a deadline of: "as soon as possible." My contact knew just what buttons to push when he said, "you're the only person who can do this," which inclined me toward taking the job.

Flattery can pave your way.

The other factor that impelled me toward accepting the work was having told the same fellow "no" a little while ago when I was up to my sinuses in work. As a rule of thumb, I dislike like heck telling clients "no" two times in a row. It's what NASA types refer to as "negative training."

OTOH, accepting the work turned an ambitious work schedule into some kind of havoc, let me tell you. I went home at 11 am or so and worked on the project until 3 pm, at which point I returned to the store after e-mailing the completed translation back to the client. (Reminder: Invoice!)

I'm at the store right now; Drew left around 4:30 and will be cooking dinner (some kind of Thai dish, with shrimp), of which I will partake once I close the store.

My "plan" called for me to spend the evening translating the second half of the item due tomorrow, but I figure if I get home around 8 pm, I can work for two hours and then go to sleep with about 2 hours of work left on that project.

I'll then repeat what I did today (finish the job during the day tomorrow), and start in tomorrow night on the item due Friday. (In fact, since the client noted the "17th or 18th" as the deadline for that document, I just might go ahead and submit it on Saturday, which will give me Friday night to work on it.)

Now hear this! Sunday will be a day off! I am not taking any work for Sunday. I am going to goof off on Sunday. Maybe I'll go to Durango for laughs!

* * *No news from Galina, but that is not surprising, as I fully expect her to still be on the road as I am typing this.

(Someone did call last night at 1 am. One ring. No idea who.)

Maybe Galina'll call later tonight. :^)

Cheers...