The Telephone Conundrum

In general, my quality of working life is as good as it can be. A couple of years ago, I made a decision out of total desperation to STOP working for less than a certain dollar amount per post. It's simply unrealistic for me to think "oh, I'll just write the posts faster." I don't write them faster. I write everything at the same rate, because my name is on them and it's not worth it to me to suck in public. This has worked out: after a few lean months, I fell into a great pattern with solid clients.

But when I stumble these days, it's because of a very specific aversion that perplexes me and, yes, has definitely cost me clients. I can't stand to talk on the phone anymore. Anytime I have to interview someone, I have to psych myself up. And I'm good at the interviews! I'm fast, friendly, perceptive! But the dread just drags me down, and I know I'm not the only one. A Facebook friend had to speak to me urgently - but only via chat. "Don't call me, I'm phone-phobic these days," she said. And I get it.

But guys, we all spent HOURS on the phone in high school, right? Like, not even talking, just watching TV "with" our friends. So. Much. Time. On the telephone.

Maybe I used up my phone time early.

I did get an old-school handset that turns my iphone into a Princess phone. Which has made a huge difference, actually. It's snazzy. Only trouble is I keep trying to "hang up" the receiver instead of pushing the button. Another activity I excelled in in high school.

Welp. Now you know. I'm off to -- **shudder** -- call someone now.

Let Me Be Your Front Door Woman

Thrilling! A couple months ago I hooked up with HGTV's FrontDoor.com to be their Bay Area reporter. After much hard work on the part of my editors, "my" end of the site has relaunched. I'll be doing 3 posts a week for them. Bookmark the home page:

http://www.frontdoor.com/places/san-francisco-ca-us

and take a gander at my inaugural post:

http://www.frontdoor.com/houses/thats-so-bay-thoughts-on-the-san-francisco-decorator-showcase

So far, it's been a ton of my favorite style of reporting -- getting to be a nosy-noodle-looky-loo and obsess over real estate, decor, and Pinterest-type obsession. Yay. YAY!!

ANd this weekend I'm going to Maker Faire with two editors. Hooray!

Richie Havens RIP

I'm so sad to hear of the passing of Richie Havens. I had the distinct honor of interviewing him when I was an editor at Brooklyn Bridge Magazine. He was gracious and generous with his time. Talking to him on the phone was like leaning my ear against a huge purring cat, or like having a soothing hot liquid poured into my brain. As I remember it he mailed me a few pages of handwritten notes that were very easy to organize into this article -- it was just a matter of rearranging and shaping, not rewriting. All words were his. The pleasure was mine.

Richie Havens article in Brooklyn Bridge Magazine

Richie Havens in Brooklyn Bridge, Part 2

Thanks to editor extraordinaire and keeper of ephemera Joe Fodor.