Regarding the Yarn Shop...

Sometimes a series of events happen that cause pieces to fall together so easily that one might interpret the sequence as fate simply because it couldn't have worked out as well even if it had been elaborately planned.

Follow me on this journey...

A few weeks ago, a coworker told me about a new yarn shop in the town next over. It carries fancy yarn, the good stuff made of natural fibers. The kind of yarn I buy only when a project is very special and it needs to be a quality piece, like a chemo hat.

Last week Kay of the House of 4 Cats posted a note on FB about her friend going through cancer treatments. I messaged Kay, asked if her friend needs a hat, and of course her friend does. To make this hat, I need some good yarn.

Thanks to my coworker, I now know there's a new yarn store 10 convenient miles away now (instead of 35). I Google its location and discover a note on the website that says they're looking for someone to help with their digital presence. Interesting!

I drive over on Saturday. While shopping for yarn, I ask what kind of help they need, leave my name & number for the owner, go home and start working on a hat.

The owner called me this morning. She sounded so tired and frustrated with her website experience, wrestling with it for hours only to have it lose her work. She'd given up and was so desperate that she hardly asked about my qualifications and just wanted to know what else she could say to convince me to help her.

Friends, she had me at "yarn shop".

I drove over to her shop after work today to meet her in person. Honestly, I wasn't sure how to do all the things she wants done and I told her so. I gave her every opportunity to back out, to keep looking for someone more qualified, but she wasn't going there. I was her Obi-Wan, her only hope.

On my way back home, I wondered what I'd gotten myself into. Wondered if it was smart to commit to extra work when my full-time job was so exhausting. But at the same time, I was intrigued with this puzzle and was already formulating a plan.

After a few Google searches, I learned the solution to her biggest problem would be doable. I texted this encouraging news to her, and she was SO grateful and SO relieved.

I haven't even done anything yet, but a great burden has been lifted from her mind, and she has made me feel more valuable and appreciated than I've felt in ages.

I have high hopes for this new relationship ❤️🧶

3 Things Day 14 (the one with the yarn shop)

Something that went well

I took a shot and got hired for a side gig today. I'm gonna do some SEO work for a small yarn shop in my spare time. Kind of a hobby, kind of a future part-time retirement opportunity. More on this as it develops. 

Something to look forward to

Start work for yarn shop mentioned above (yarn project #1)

Need to meet up with Kay of the house of 4 cats to deliver chemo hat for her friend (yarn project #2)

Design and start craft for upcoming event at my local library (yarn project #3)

What's the best that could happen?

I might actually be able to help the yarn shop lady get her online store working.

3 Things Day 14

Something that went well

Finished a chemo hat for a friend of Kay from the House of Four Cats.

Something to look forward to

Now I get to deliver the chemo hat, which means I get to visit with Kay!

What's the best that could happen?

I make it to a yarn-themed social event tomorrow after work, and I open the door to an employment opportunity.

3 Things Day 13

Something that went well

My supervisor and I have been struggling to put together a report template that has been mandated by upper management. We had a breakthrough today! All that's left to do is make the slide deck look pretty and figure out how to acquire the data.

Something to look forward to

Three yarn projects.

What's the best that could happen?

Upper management appreciates the slide deck and has no notes.

3 Things Day 12

Something that went well

At lunch with The Husband's siblings today, I had the most fulfilling conversation with my favorite niece. She and I seem to connect on many of the same levels. We talked about dealing with ineffective managers and undiagnosed neuro-spicy ailments.

She and I seek each other out whenever we both attend a family event, but we don't always get the opportunity to talk just the two of us. Today we did. And it was SO so good for my soul.

Something to look forward to

Three yarn related projects.

Getting to see the new in-office workspace this week.

Session with my therapist tomorrow.

Gonna replace "Something nice about me" (which is hard to do every day) with this

What's the best that could happen?

They truly do only want me to monitor the KPIs and won't actually hold me responsible for the performance. 

3 Things Day 11

Something that went well

It's Saturday. I slept in. That was amazing ☺️

Something to look forward to

Yarn craft projects

Lunch with The Husband's siblings tomorrow 

Something nice about me

Younger Son's girlfriend seems to like me

Early Morning Promises

It's Saturday, one of the rare ones when The Husband has to work... and early. His alarm goes off at 4:30am, and I sit with him while he drinks coffee and watches network TV news.

He lists off all the things he needs to do and tells me, "I'll be home by 10:30."

"I'll try to be out of bed by then," I joke. (Pause) "That's a lie. I'm not going to try to get out of bed at all."

3 Things Day 10

Something the went well

Had a meeting this morning about one of our pages that needed a major overhaul. Before the meeting, I reviewed work our SEO agency had sent over. During the meeting, I was able to assure stakeholders that their concerns were heard and would be rectified with the new content.

Then, I relayed the new content over to the dev team who published the changes by end of day.

Bing. Bang. Boom.

Sometimes I make it look easy.

Something to look forward to

Possible Sunday lunch with The Husband's siblings 

Two local communitiy events we can go to if we want

Library is holding a yarn craft project/competition this summer, and I've been mulling over what I can make and submit. It'll likely be cat related ☺️

Something nice about me

I like to read, and I support libraries.

I was a trustee of my local library for 20 of the 26 years we've live here.

3 Things Day 9

Something that went well

My skip-level boss asked me to arrange a product demo for five people. I managed to find a time that worked for everyone. Before I triggered the vendor's invite, I messaged all the participants to let them know an email is coming from an unusual source so they don't flag it as spam. I also explained the purpose of the demo and why their participation is important.

And each person responded with a thumbs up! One person even thanked me for arranging the demo!!!

(I'm aware this is similar to a previous "something that went well", but I need to take my wins where I get them.)

Something to look forward to

- Possible Sunday lunch with The Husband's siblings.

- There are several community events happening nearby this weekend

- Construction on our department's work space is expected to be done Tuesday, and we should be able to work in-office again Wednesday. The new space is being built with new materials and features adjustable stand-up desks and a wall of windows. The work space we've been using for the past three years was assembled with scrap cubicle walls that didn't match in color or height. So, I'm kinda excited to see the new area.

Something nice about myself

My friend with the new cat loved the cat basket that I presented to her over lunch today. She said if I made more, I could definitely sell them. All afternoon she's been sending me pictures of her cat in the basket.

3 Things - Day 8

Something that went well

Met coworker for lunch and shared with her ideas I had to improve conversion rates for one of her vendors. She was very receptive, agreed the ideas were good, and even offered suggestions that enhanced the proposal. 

On top of that, she was having a meeting with that same vendor half an hour later, and she was going to share my ideas with them..

Nice.

Something to look forward to

Cat basket lunch tomorrow.

Possible lunch Sunday afternoon with The Husband's siblings who we haven't seen in some time.

Something nice about me

The Husband's sister likes me. For no special reason. She just seems happy that he brings me to visit ☺️