Sometimes life stinks!
For me, this is one of those times. Last week, I became one of the hundreds of thousands of Americans victimized by the drastic downturn in our economy, as I was laid off from my job as a Technical Writer.
For me, that is twice this year. I was fortunate to quickly land a quality full-time job the first time. This time, I doubt I will be that lucky.
In fact, I am not so sure I want to go back to work full time, especially for another small company.
At 48 years of age, I have finally come to the decision that I need to stop depending on small newspapers or start-up software and Internet companies for a living and start depending on myself.
Getting let go four times in 10 years due to bankruptcies and bad decisions made by others — as I have been — will make a person come to that realization.
It is time for me to use these writing skills I have cultivated for the past 30 years — as a journalist, freelancer, blogger and technical writer — to make a living my way.
That, largely, is why I am here. Shoot, when you have nothing else to do, blog!
Actually, I’m here because this is a new beginning for me. For the time being, at least, I will be out on my own seeking project work, freelance assignments and trying to continue building my other blogs (Big Blue View, Yankees writer at Bugs&Cranks) into more than just a time-consuming hobby.
I am still not 100 percent sure what you will find here at Valentine’s Views. I suspect it will be an eclectic mix of my thoughts on a variety of writing topics, some sports mixed in since it is what I love most and a little about life tossed in. Oh, and there will be self-promotion. I am trying to figure out a way to make a living, after all.
At this point, I am not even certain how often I will be here. It might be every day. It might a few times a week. We shall see.
So, let’s just jump on this ride and see where it takes us. My guess is it won’t be boring.
