August 20, 2010

Patched Up

I worked at Patch for six weeks and earned about $4,400. I’m considering spending the bulk of the money on a new camera and telephoto lens so I can shoot nighttime and indoor sports photos. I was as a freelance photographer briefly once and loved it.

Since I left the editing position at Patch last week, I have commenced with my freelance career. I’m looking forward to doing a lot of photo assignments, and I’ll also write whatever I can sell because I will be needing the money.

Cheap apartments are not easy to find, but I be looking. It felt good to begin the search for a home. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a home of my own: Five years. Over the five years, I’ve had a bedroom of my own for a few months in a hippie house, I’ve had a wing of my sister’s house to myself, and I’ve lived in a rundown motel room on the beach for a few months at a time in the off season.

But I haven’t had my own home since I lived in New Hampshire in 2005.

So I worked this job to make some money to spend on equipment to make me a little more money. I don’t want to get ahead of myself, which I am famous for doing, but I think it might all work out. If I make just enough to be financially independent again, the solar systems I have crossed will have all been worth it.

27 comments:

Gabriela Abalo said...

Wishing u the best!!
Go for it and enjoy the process.

loveNlight
Gabi

Claudia said...

wish you the best Ed - it's good to have a place you feel at home…and not everybody can just say "Where ever i lay my hat, that's my home…"
I also think it's great if you are on a start-up point in your life - and lots of things are possible - love that feeling

Brian Miller said...

after crossing the universe it may feel a little odd to be in one place...smiles. all the best Ed...

Anne Gallagher said...

I hope you find what you're looking for in all the capacities that you are looking. Here is some virtual *bread, salt and wine* for your new home.

Bernie said...

Good Luck Ed, the road you travel may have a few bumps but with hard work and dedication I know you can make it.....:-) Hugs

DEZMOND said...

over in my blogroll you have CRISTIN CREATIVE, a blog of a dear woman who was also left without a job in a company recently and has decided to move on with her photographing business. She is very inspirational. :))

Wild Rose said...

Whatever you choose to do am sure it will all work out for the best Ed so go do it :)

Ed Pilolla said...

thanks so much!

william manson said...

sounds like a wise move, congrats friend, enjoyed your post :)

Anonymous said...

No matter how it works out, it'll all work out. But you knew that :-)

Anonymous said...

Enjoy the journey! Remember every moment and detail of it... this is the stuff that caries you through the rest of your days! Much Love...

Lori said...

What is this I am hearing...happiness? Music to my ears!

Anonymous said...

Here is more bread and salt to take with you when you find the right place. An anchored place of your own is right for you now.

Good luck in work and at play.

Su-sieee! Mac said...

Buena fortuna, Ed! You'll never know what happens until you do it. :-)

CiCi said...

Hope you find a place to call home and get all sorts of interesting jobs.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like things are coming together in a good way!

Unspoken said...

Hi Ed,

Glad to see you back!

Took a few photography classes myself,and I get the urge to spend on good equipment. Soooo worth it!

I own a Nikon D-60. Nothing extravagant, but I would if I could :). Someday...

Anyhow, good luck finding a place. Maybe easier with the economy right now?

Finally, doesn't fire look cool caught with the right lens ;).

P.S. Only a Burning Man party for me. Wish it was the actual event. Another someday, maybe!

Vicki Rocho said...

I remember writing a comment on here...but it's not here. AND your post was showing up in Reader as unread...so either the universe is toying with me again or I'm slowly descending into madness.

Either way, good luck with the apartment hunting and all! I always liked looking for new apartments...just hated the actual move!

French Fancy... said...

Sorry not to have been around for so long but am sending you positive vibes from England (yes, not France now) for you to find a place of your own.

Ed Pilolla said...

thanks so much, beautiful friends! i am so touched by your caring and good energy:)

Denise Covey said...

The best for the future. Hope everything works out as you dream. Love the sound of the photos..:)

The Words Crafter said...

I wish you the best of luck. I know what it is to want and need a place to call your own. A place that feels like you belong. I hope you find it and the means to acquire it. I, too, am famous for getting ahead of myself, but it sounds like you're working it out really well. Thanks, btw, for the comments on the poetry blog. I really appreciate them.

Maha said...

first time here, been reading some of your posts and I just love how you are putting your life on track again and going for the things you love. I know this will sound somewhat awkward, but I think your life is adventurous in a practical way. Does it make any sense? Just a feeling....

GYPSYWOMAN said...

hello again, ed - it's been a while since i've seen you 'round my campfires - so glad to hear you're getting your own place - i know what a difference that whole thing makes! anyway, wishing you the best with it! have a great day and come by when you can!

Vickey Kall said...

Here's praying the gods of real estate smile on you... and they should; I sacrificed a cockroach, guardian of rentors worldwide.

Anonymous said...

I worked for a small, community newspaper for two and a half years in the Metro D.C. area. It's also a very expensive area to live in. I made between $26K - $30K during the time I worked there. I worked 75 hours a week. Sometimes more. I was our writer, our editor, our photographer, our social networker, our videographer and updated and maintained our website. I also edited and formatted content for our weekly print edition and designed the page layouts for print. We had no money for freelancers. The company closed in June.

I'm having a hard time believing you gave it your all working for Patch for six weeks. Most of the other editors I know aren't working more than 50 hours a week. It takes time management skills, good news judgment and making good use of freelance writers with the budget you're given but it's totally doable. (For example, I have a meeting to cover tonight. I took the morning off to run errands and get an oil change.) I've been employed by them now for two months and haven't worked more than 50 hours a week, so I'm not sure exactly what you were doing in all that time. While it does always feel like there's more you can or should be doing, you also have to know when it's ok to turn it off and say that's all I need today. Also, those three daily deadlines? Not each has to be a full story (it could be a video or a photo gallery) and if freelance writers do half of them then it's not *that* much writing.

(And I apologize for not using my name but I'd rather not, being that I'd like to keep my job. I'm quite enjoying it.)

Ed Pilolla said...

i'm glad you're able to make the job work for you. if you can do it in 50 hours a week, that's sustainable, for sure. that's awesome.
some personalities are more suited for the position than others. right now i'm working about 50 hours a week freelancing for about $300 a week, and that suits me much better than the local editor's job.
but i don't see how your comments might jeopardize your job at all. writing glowingly about patch will only help your career there.