The job is quite interesting. Tonight, Robert said "It must be great to feel like you can accomplish something everyday." It's true. I've gotten right in there and have started writing error messages, have produced a credible first draft of the release notes for our upcoming release, have interviewed several customers about their documentation needs, and have written a documentation vision and most of an initial doc plan. There's a surprising amount of laughter during the day (today was especially silly). And I keep thinking about how grateful I am to have landed in a place so different from the one I left.
For example, the very first day I was there, I wrote some text that ended up, at least briefly, on the company's home page. In my old job, I had lost track of who maintained the web, and never would have had the opportunity to work through the bureaucracy to contribute anyways. Or, talking to customers -- I'm sure that in the later days at my old job, it just couldn't have happened. In fact, officially, to talk to people who talked to customers, I was supposed to go through management first, but some people were kind enough to just talk to me. Here, I ask for permission, and people look at me as if I was a Victorian in the 23rd century.
It feels good to be contributing again, especially because my contributions feel important and wanted. At the same time, I'm reminded of how tiring it can be to work hard -- to actually accomplish something every day. I've been taking Fridays off all along; next week, I'll start taking Tuesdays off, too, though I'll remain flexible if needed.
I have a smallish project to do for my dance group which shouldn't take too long. I'm also eager to get started on the much-delayed second book. Perhaps this fall, my co-author and I can make some headway. There's more to do on the house. Basically, I look forward to having that double life of working and not working in some kind of balance as long as that balance lasts.
We've also hired my counterpart, another part-time writer who will start toward mid-November. I'm pleased. I like her personally and respect her work and think she'll do a great job with us. And finally, after nine years of trying, I'll get to work with her.
We've seen some fun performances lately. We went to a play when Robert's parents were in town. Maynard has its own little live theater now, and I'm trying to support it. The play we saw concerned a nearly-successful playwright who, in seeking funding to stage his next play stumbles into a crowd of mafia minor godfathers. Very funny, with good timing. In a different vein, this Sunday, I got to see Sharon Isbin, a classical guitarist, perform with the Boston Classical Orchestra. One of the pieces she performed was a Vivaldi lute concerto, transcribed for guitar. I was pleased to know the piece well enough to recognize her ornamentations. It was pure pleasure to sit and listen to her. The orchestra performed well too.
We have a baby shower, a dance, and a get-together with a friend this weekend, and I'm looking forward to all our events. Life's good right now. I'm content.
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