Free Range Human

Leftovers

Lots of parts are coming together for the great Winter Training Program, launch date Dec 1. I’ve been on several runs lately, seeing progress each time. I worked up to four miles, then pulled back to the three plus mile course. My injuries and stamina have improved, my breathing and posture. The runs still suck the life out of me and make me sick to my stomach afterward (lingering effects of my illness, I suppose). I have hope for this program to really push me forward.

Note to anyone who wants to try Juniper berries for cooking or meds: don’t pick your own if you have sensitive hands. I picked in the cold and didn’t notice the tree was repeatedly filling my skin with poisons. It cut me to shreds, then made me itch like mad for days.

I am tired of being around these people who mock my sneezes–Jimmy! Some of us have dainty, contained sneezes. We do not all feel the need to blow the roof off the building and attract the attention of everyone within a mile.

J and I are joking about the pile of pistachio hulls and popcorn kernels around our “couch” area. We are thinking of adding them to our next article on how to build your own soil–using sweepings from the living room.

My old hometown is closing my middle school. They already closed my elementary and one of my high schools (well, moved it). I Google Earthed the area recently. It feels sad and weird to see it again through those magical camera bubbles. The trees are gone, along with most of the jobs. The city looks strange. I hate that Google is out taking pictures of everyone’s business. They skipped our road, but filmed in town. I don’t want people looking at my home, but it sure is neat looking at other people’s stuff.

I successfully negotiated a cheaper satellite service charge per month. One big gold star for me! I was also chosen as a secret shopper for my local phone company. I of course used it as an opportunity to be heard on all my other issues. I don’t care for their forcing employees to roll over and show me their bellies when I call. All I want is my problem recognized and steps taken to fix it. BTW, that’s the secret to all good customer service, all you business magnates out there. You’re welcome.

I work for Demand Studios primarily now. The dating start-up I have been building articles for over the past six months has failed for good. DS is my income source as I build my personal sites and occasionally take short term jobs. Demand is a large content aggregator, something that “real” writers call the McDonald’s of the Internet. Maybe, but McDonald’s won’t pay me what I make writing and I’d have to travel, wear someone’s old uniform, work with morons, touch meat, inhale grease, pretend to like the public and smell that awful smell people get from eating that garbage.

I work from home, set my own hours, see regular pay. I would happily field any questions from people looking to do the same. I moved up from even lower paying content generating positions. DS allows me to make (barely) enough money to live. I have never done video, but can attest to the structure in place for articles. Articles pay up to $15 to 20 and require 400-500 words each. You have to have some grasp of research and the ability to spell, string together words. This leaves out most of the people I’ve ever worked with. I repeatedly ask myself how I ended up with a degree, working alongside degenerates and people who can only have made it through high school by a teacher mercy passing them.

The number of available assignments is a bit of a joke, because they are generated titles and frequently completely mental, unwriteable. Also, they have to be written to strict categories and structure, which is occasionally maddening, offering no clear right way to perform the work. And your acceptance hinges on getting past the editors, who can be incredibly picky, clueless and total dicks–or nice as sunshine. It’s like playing the lottery with your livelihood!