{ Good help is hard to find }

So, one of the realities of being self employed is that when your sick, work stops. When life happens, it doesn't change the fact that business goes on...with or without you.

Obviously, last week's flu was a reminder for me personally but I'm thinking more of friends this week who are also self employed who have had life emergencies. A dear friend called last night from the ER and her husband was having emergency surgery. (He's expected home by the weekend, scary, but he should be fine.) Today is a HUGE day at her shop and she is set to host a community event that would bring much needed publicity to her business. Obviously, we are trying to rally together to see that event through for her, but it's moments like these that cause most of us self employed people a moment of pause. A few banked sick days wouldn't be bad right about now.

{ Catching Up But Got Caught }

I've been in a dazed, high fever stupor for the last six days. Last week, just as I finally started to feel caught up and ahead of the curve, I came home feeling a wee bit under the weather. Twelve short hours later I was sporting a high fever and a respritory infection. AGH...exactly what I didn't need. I'm on the mend but today I did a few hours in the office and had to stop and take a nap. I have to muddle through this week, but will try to give myself a break on the home front.
This week's projects:
Get WTW features complete
Prep personal tax packets for CPA
Enter 2008 budget into QB

{ May Cupid's Bow Aim Straight and True }

Today, may Cupid's bow aim straight and true. To all hearts, be they young or old, full or empty - my sincere hope that every heart is filled today with love, joy and forgiveness.
Happy Valentine's Day

{ Breaking the Surface }

Wow! Where did January go? Last I looked, we were taking the wreath off the door and packing away ornaments. Then I stepped into my office and that's all I remember!

This was my first January as a full time, full charge bookkeeper for nine clients (instead of three). On a normal week I bill out about 32-36 hours a week. With travel time and non-billable time (you gotta sit and chat once in a while) that's a 40 hour week. That translated into 12 and 15 hour days the last two weeks in January. I just emailed a friend that I had serious flashback moments to a couple of college term papers times 20. The govenrnment doesn't care how stressed you are, they want it posted dated January 31st. When a friend asked, "are you gonna make it?" the only reply was, "do I have a choice?"

So, I've survived my first January, smarter than last year and more confident that I made the right decision to sell my retail shop and pursue this path. The sun is not yet risen over my little island in Puget Sound and as I sip a second cup of tea (thanks, Dori, for the Breakfast Blend home delivery! It pays to have the tea lady as a friend!), I am grateful for all that the Universe has provided me and am pleased with the path ahead.

P.S. Happy birthday to my fabulous father. Who will never read this (because he barely checks his email!) You are most loved and adored. I am blessed with you in my life.