A freelance business

Half the reason why I've been so quiet recently is because I've picked up a couple of side-businesses. I'm working on an invitation design company with Clark and I'm also doing some freelance work for Clarks new company. I've been wanting (and trying) to get into the freelance business for a while.

Today, in our ICE staff meeting, we get a 'conflict of interest commitment' that we have to sign. I read through it. We get one from ICE and one from ICE's parent company. They are slightly different. The parent company's commitment is very detailed and really doesn't appy to me. ICE's commitment is broad and applies to nearly everything I do outside of work.

Potential conflicts include (but are not limited to):
• Performing work for other departments or businesses for additional pay
• Participating in decisions or deliberations where your own personal financial interests are or could be affected.
• Participating in decisions or deliberations where a family member is or could be affected, financially or otherwise.
• Performing activities for non-department entities for pay.
• Operating a free-lance business while employed full-time at ICE.

I really don't think this description could get any more vaguely specific. If I don't report all the side income I make now, I can be fired. So, I figure I'm going to write up a large report about all the side income I make, from illustrations to ebay, from designs to freelance, from web to yard sales. Anything I can think of to be horribly obnoxious, I will. I'm also wondering if bullets #2 & #3 include any financial investments, grocery store shopping, lottery tickets, gambling, charity donations, etc.

I hate this job market.

Voodoo, who do?

You do??

So, I was feeling particularly stressed due to Stepzilla being psychotic about NOTHING again, and began rearraging her pins in her voodoo doll in order to relieve my anxiety. It helps me deal with my anger. This time around, voodoo-Stepzilla was getting many-a pin in her eyeballs. I was in the midst of rearranging the last pin when a coworker walks up behind me.

Coworker: Is that a voodoo doll?!?

me: Yeah...

Coworker hits me on the shoulder! Abuse!! Abuse!! Harassment!! Okay, no, she's nice and it didn't hurt.

me (defensively): It doesn't WORK.

My coworker leaves the room

Part-time coworker laughs and says: You have a voodoo doll??

me: I make them for all the marketing people.

Part-time coworker: I'm not going to ask, so long as it's not me...

me: No, you don't bother me.

Part-time coworker: Not yet...

Dysfunction Junction, what's your function?

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. For the few of you that do read this, I apologize. Lots of craziness still happens at ICE. I've been waiting for a good kitchen note to post, but nothing so fantastic.

Clark got a couple of new jobs. One he quit as soon as he got another one lined up. He wasn't what they were looking for, but they didn't realize it. At his newest job, he was cornered by one of his coworkers.

Our chat session:

Clark:This lady here cornered me in the garage yesterday and said "So I have been wanting to ask you...
You worked at ICE right?
me: ????
Clark: So, she said "Why do they advertise al the time? It seems like they always have jobs open
LMAO!
I was like, well trying to be diplomatic
the reason is two fold
first, there is quite a bit of turnover
second, they leave jobs open for so long wthout filling them that they have to repost
i was trying to say tha tthey are all nice
but not the best management
she was like, oh good to know, I thought the place was like dysfunction junction
LMAO
me: LMAO!!!
Clark: that is the 2nd person who has asked me why ICE advertises all the time
you should so blog about that...
me: Dysfunction Junction for sure!