Thursday, September 13, 2007

On My Day Off


Every day, during the month of Ramadan, Muslims around the world go through the fasting ritual and abstain from drinking or eating from dawn until sunset. They’re also encouraged to refrain from anger, envy, greed, lust, sarcasm, backbiting and even gossip. I usually take the day off on the first day of the Ramadan month to gear myself for the next 30 days of fasting.

So when the freelance copywriter takes the day off (and when it’s NOT the fasting period), this is what she does.

She sleeps in late (later than usual); catching up on the much needed beauty sleep she’s been deprived of after burning the midnight oil almost every night. When she finally gets up, she checks on her adorable cats first before preparing a nice healthy brunch for herself. She eats it at leisure while reading her favourite paper (the Malay Mail) or while watching TV - enjoying the afternoon in her living room, rather than in her home office.

Her next stop is her home office, where she checks her emails and answers the most important ones only. She notices some clients persistently sending her jobs despite her being on leave. She winces at the thought of having to work on her day off, but she does them nonetheless so she can spend the rest of the day to herself. The freelance copywriter has difficulties turning down clients, who sometimes can be very ruthless in their demands and ridiculous deadlines.

In her line of work, where her schedule is never fixed, the freelance copywriter is forced to forgo many movies that she’d love to watch but has missed out on due to her busy days and nights. So on her day off, she sometimes likes to settle down on her nice comfy sofa with a bag of cookies and catch up on all the DVD movies she bought ages ago, but never got the chance to enjoy. So she does exactly that, and proceeds to have a movie marathon, with her cell switched off.

When the sun comes down and night takes over, the freelance copywriter finally switches on her cell phone to check on her messages and missed calls. She feels better if there’s only 1 or 2 missed calls, but she gets all agitated when there’s more than 5; upset that her day off was disturbed by clients refusing to believe her need for a short break from working non-stop, months at a time.

Pushing all negative thoughts aside, she goes out for dinner with B, usually to one of their favourite restaurants. She feels more relaxed knowing there’ll be no new jobs waiting for her when she comes back home. After a nice dinner and night out, she stops by for a refreshing Iced Latte from Starbucks and perhaps a yummy banana walnut muffin to go with it.

When the day draws to an end and her leave is almost over, the freelance copywriter begins to worry again. She wishes for more leave time but the piling jobs awaiting her tell her otherwise, so she psyches herself up for another stretch of late nights and crazy deadlines. Is it a wonder then that the freelance copywriter doesn’t update her blog as often as she’d like to?

Have a great day everyone and Selamat Berbuka Puasa to all my Muslim friends!


64 comments:

emilayusof September 13, 2007 4:33 PM

Great work station! I love! Mine is quite messy! Thanks for letting us peep into you life.

Mariuca September 13, 2007 4:37 PM

Yay, Emila is the first commenter! Oh actually my work station is usually messy, I just cleaned it up in this picture LOL! But messy or not, I love my work station and my home office too, looking forward to seeing yours one day! :):):)

Anonymous,  September 13, 2007 5:47 PM

Hmm, wish i could have a clean workplace like that. My comp table is now cramped full with 2 notebooks and an old P3 pc, and defies effort to put it in good ship shape.
Have a good ramadhan this year kay...

:)

Mariuca September 13, 2007 6:14 PM

Thanks Joe, same to u. Fasting or not today? ;)

Maybe u can try and get wifey to clear ur desk for u, girls have a knack of keeping things clean, well most girls! :):):)

FL Sam September 13, 2007 6:28 PM

Marzie, Selamat Berpuasa. You Home office so canggih and neat.

Lot of jobs means good business. But sometime too much, you really have to make sacrifices. I can see that you are a good time manager

Like me, no job but play golf onli.!
Also boring??

Mariuca September 13, 2007 7:50 PM

Yay Uncle Sam visited my home office, thank u!

Oh yeah, I got so much work nowadays Uncle Sam, sometimes really need to take a break u know... Ala, u like to play golf what? Some more win money all he he..Uncle Sam is a pro golfer! :):):)

Bobby Revell September 13, 2007 7:56 PM

May I ask, if during this special time of year, if being extra picky is a criteria? ha ha ha LOL!!!!!
You know, an iced-latte and a yummy banana-walnut muffin really sound good right now:)

Mariuca September 13, 2007 8:04 PM

Bobby! He he, actually it is, especially when I get cranky from not enuff coffee in my system! I replied to ur email already...oh boy...ur gonna get so MAD! ;)

Bobby Revell September 13, 2007 9:25 PM

How could I get mad at a sweet Genie Princess? I am crazy about you:) You're an angel and a princess:):):)

Adrian September 13, 2007 11:42 PM

Hey! Your office setup is exactly like mine...except my monitor is a little farther back! The phone is in the same place...and so is the keyboard and mouse...and if that is a printer behind that lovely chair...it'll be perfect...LOL
Glad you had a day off! :) Puasa month is so tough but it suits your schedule quite well ya...hey did you say bag of cookies while watching the dvds...oops...hutang satu hari ke? LOL

Anonymous,  September 14, 2007 12:26 AM

LOL, I'm glad to see the comment that you tidies up your workspace before taking the pic hahaha
Mine is atypical tip, with so many bits and pieces plugged in, paper scraps with notes everywhere...but hey, I know where it all is and it's MY mess lol

Have a good Ramadan :)

emilayusof September 14, 2007 12:35 AM

Haha Joezul! Mine too is cramped with 2 pcs, 1 laptop, 3 tables, 2 cupboards, 1 rack, more wall racks, my paints, my books, printer, boxes + yassin's toys! Imagine!

Mariuca September 14, 2007 12:41 AM

Thanks for not gettin mad with the Genie Princess Bobby, or else... ur wish might just not come true he he he... just kidding! Of course GP will try her best to fulfill ur wish! :):):)

Genie Princess

Mariuca September 14, 2007 12:43 AM

Adrian!!! I just got a new IKEA chair, similar to this black one but white in colour! So pretty! Anyway, yes, that's a printer behind the chair and I'm also planning to get a new phone/fax sometime soon! :):):)

No la, cookies is for when I'm not fasting obviously. Famous Amos anyone?

Mariuca

Mariuca September 14, 2007 12:44 AM

Colin! He he he... yeah u should see the before picture, it took me quite a while to get everything in place, if u know what I mean! LOL! Thanks for dropping by, it's always nice to see u here!

Mariuca

Mariuca September 14, 2007 12:48 AM

Emila, I wonder how big is your office space then to be able to accommodate everything u just mentioned! Maybe I'll show my entire home office one day so u can see the actual thing. It's all cosy and warm, with a daybed to rest my weary self after working so "hard" he he :):):)

Mariuca

Anonymous,  September 14, 2007 2:32 AM

Oooh, I like the desk, Marzie. Can I have it? :D hehe Mine is such a terrible mess. I don't think I'll ever figure out how to keep it clean :P

Sorry, I haven't stopped by in a while. I've had a lot of attention focused on Tish lately..hehe :D

Nick Phillips (15/03/1967 - 04/11/2022) September 14, 2007 9:01 AM

Ahhh, the joys of working from home and being your own boss, you can approve you own leave forms ... LOL!

I can never work from home, too many temptations like the bed for one one thing, then there's the TV, the internet, did I mention the bed already? LOL!

I tried once long ago but ended up not working out to well, I don't really have that much discipline to work from home. By the way, nice cool office, and so neat so more :D

ps. btw, I managed to go thru a whole day without food yesterday and am doing it again today ... :D

NafaSg September 14, 2007 10:07 AM

Wow cool work space Marzie! Now u make me feel like wanting to become a big boss and own that kinda space. Hehehehe! ;p

J@n!ce September 14, 2007 10:37 AM

Marzie, you have a really neat & well-organized work place. Those wooden shelfs you placed the perfume is it from Ikea.
The other day I told you I went to Ikea with hubs to shop for some cabinets. He was eyeing at this armchair that look quite like the one in the photo. It cost S$128. there is a white version too. I believe its the one you have purchased. But white is really difficult to maintain leh. The display white chair is turning grey... LOL :)
But I believe you could handle it well, white is really cosy & neat :)

Thanks for sharing your day with us :)

Janice Ng

WaterLearner September 14, 2007 11:10 AM

Hi Marzie .. Have a good fasting month! Your home work station is really worth everyone's envy!

Anonymous,  September 14, 2007 12:47 PM

Hi Marzie ... Selamat Berpuasa to you too. :)

-Naz-

Adrian September 14, 2007 12:49 PM

Good! I thot so too but couldn't resist the jibe. LOL

MMMmmmm famous amos...I like the smell of that...LOL!

Mariuca September 14, 2007 1:02 PM

Mikey, long time no see, miss you! Sure, u can have my desk so long u give me Gummy in exchange! :):):)

Mariuca

Mariuca September 14, 2007 1:04 PM

Nick! Congrats on fasting yesterday, 29 more days to go, are u up to it? :)

Oh yeah, I love my home office, it's actually everyone's fav room in the house. I try to make it as cosy as possible seeing that I spend most of my time there working and blogging! :):):)

Oh yeah, I hope one day ul change ur mind abt working from home, I bet ul be great at it, just don't have a daybed in da office like me, then u might wanna zzzzz all the time ;)

Mariuca September 14, 2007 1:06 PM

He he he he, NAFA!!! It's fun to be ur own boss, like Nick said, I get to approve my own leave! Like today, I haven done anything yet, just happily responding to the comments here :):):)

Mariuca

Mariuca September 14, 2007 1:08 PM

Janice! Yes, I got the white IKEA chair and gave B the black one u see here. Unfortunately for me though, the price of the chair went down from RM375 to RM339 3 days after I got mine, as usual la, just my luck! But ur right about maintaining the white chair, which is why I have my sheepskin covering it for now, sayang la! :):):)

And yeah the shelves are from IKEA too, in fact most of my office furniture is IKEA stuff, even the table!

Mariuca

Mariuca September 14, 2007 1:09 PM

Hi Karen! Nice to have u visit my lil home office! Thanks for the Ramadan wish, 2 days down, 28 more days to go! :):):)

Mariuca

Mariuca September 14, 2007 1:10 PM

Hi Naz! Selamat berpuasa to u too, hope ur Ramadan will be a blessed and comfy one this year! :):):)

Adrian, of course it gotta be Famos Amos and nothin less! Except maybe for Mrs. Fields brownies, which is no longer available now! :):):)

Mariuca

Rolando September 14, 2007 2:03 PM

Have a great and prayerful Ramadan!

Mariuca September 14, 2007 2:10 PM

Thanks Rolando! Have a great weekend to you! :):):)

Mariuca

Anonymous,  September 14, 2007 2:52 PM

Wow! Malu to say that my workstation likes 'store room'. :P
Have a nice weekend! :P

Mariuca September 14, 2007 3:17 PM

Ha ha ha ha, oh must see ur 'store room' then Monkey Wong! Thanks for visiting! :):):)

Mariuca

Nick Phillips (15/03/1967 - 04/11/2022) September 14, 2007 3:53 PM

Oh, btw way Marzie, you should try the bazaar they have in urrmm, Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman (I think that's the name of the road) the one behind Globe Silk Store. I simply think that's the god of bazaars, soooooo huge one that place. Kinda crowded though!

Mariuca September 14, 2007 4:01 PM

Are u kidding me? Jln. TAR on a puasa day??? Traffic will kill hubbs for sure! I don't go there anymore unless necessary. I had enuff of that place during my NST days, when it was under my area and I had to visit clients thre, can u imagine? :(

J@n!ce September 14, 2007 5:08 PM

Marzie, such a loyal ikea customer lah you :):)

You should have the Ikea friends card right, can have 2 drinks free everyday :):)

Janice Ng

Jean Chia aka Ms.Yummy~licious September 14, 2007 6:02 PM

I love your workstation! is that emila's painting over the wall? looks like her style.. hehe

it takes a lot of self disciplines to work at home and i think you've done great! :)

JeanChia

Trix September 14, 2007 6:18 PM

Hope your month of fasting is wonderful,Marzie.Thanks for sharing your super-cool work area with us! Hope your weekend is great :)

MakeTraffic September 14, 2007 10:43 PM

Wow! you have a very neat and tidy room! My boss wouldn't let me take leave as there is some many things to clear. sigh...

BTW, Please come to my new house warming! at

http://projectheavytraffic.com/

and leave some comments to initiate the launch! Cheers!

MakeTraffic

Mariuca September 15, 2007 12:26 AM

Hi Jan! Oh I have the IKEA Friends ccard, so I get free coffee every visit! :) I just love shopping in IKEA LOL!

Mariuca

Mariuca September 15, 2007 12:28 AM

Jean! Thanks dear, it is hard to discipline myself sometimes but I've been working from home for 4 years now, so I'd like to think I'm doing pretty well! :):):)

Oh yeah, that is definitely an Emila masterpiece you see, very observant!

Mariuca

Mariuca September 15, 2007 12:29 AM

Hi Jesse! My weekend is coming along just great, esp since I just became an aunt! Happy weekend to u too! :):):)

Mariuca

Mariuca September 15, 2007 12:30 AM

Thanks MT, I try to keep it neat and tidy but that's not always the case, esp when i'm in the middle of a big project, then my office will be in chaos!

Housewarming? You got a new template? Oh must visit, I'll be by soon! :):):)

Mariuca

J@n!ce September 16, 2007 12:01 AM

Marzie : We don't have much luck to dine at ikea over the weekends. Everytime so crowded leh. I went the makan twice only & both was on weekday :(

We din get the chair cos the lever is a bit too short & difficult to adjust the height. But after comparing & shopping around. We still think that this chair from ikea is the most affordable one :)

Janice Ng

Mariuca September 16, 2007 12:59 AM

Yes, get the IKEA chair, it's very comfy actually! I adjusted the height when we assembled it and till today don bother to change cause it fits me perfectly oredi! :)

I just had dinner at IKEA last week, am not sure if they've discontinued the meatballs, hope not! :(

Raghav September 17, 2007 2:48 AM

Hi Dear Marzie,
U'r Work Station is really woderful & very Spacious.
i too would love to get such work station but it is yet to be fullfilled....

maintain it well....
all the very best sayang.

Keep in touch.
Regards

Mariuca September 17, 2007 1:47 PM

Hi Raghav! Oh I need a huge worklstation actually, you haven seen the rest of my home office, I have books everywhere! Hope u get ur workstation soon, it's a must if u write a lot like me! :):):)

Mariuca

La delirante September 23, 2007 5:22 PM

Hi Mariuca! Someone has tagged me to take a picture of my desk and I will do it on Monday :) Thanks for visiting my blog and for your nice comment. A couple of days ago I visited your blog and really loved it. It's so sweet and welcoming. The music is fantastic, it's a very relaxing experience visiting your blog. I think I am going to be a regular :)

Have a lovely Sunday,

Mariuca September 23, 2007 10:22 PM

Hi delirante! Thanks for coming by again! Oh, let me know when ur done posting ur desk post, would love to take a peek at your work station!

I'm glad u had a good time at my blog and I'll be looking forward to ur visits! :):):)

Mariuca

Trinity September 28, 2007 8:53 AM

Marzie, what a great work station! You see there's a picture from Emila hanging on the wall! :-D will add this on my list.

Trinity

Mariuca September 28, 2007 1:40 PM

Trinity! Thanks dear and u too are observant! Yes, that's an Emila original right there YAY! HEy, thanks for adding me to the list! :):):)

emilayusof September 27, 2008 10:32 PM

marzie, your chair, it looks so comfy!

kan lj?

LadyJava September 29, 2008 6:06 AM

OMG! I love your workstation GP! Can't believe I did not comment here..

emilayusof September 29, 2008 9:02 AM

sekarang jugak i rasa nak pi starbuck and have hot latte with blueberry cheesecake! yummy!

LadyJava September 30, 2008 6:12 AM

Eh starbucks nya cheesecake sedap tak.. I love their brownie!

emilayusof October 03, 2008 7:54 PM

but i don't really like brownie, lj. i like the cheesecake..

LadyJava October 03, 2008 11:04 PM

hm.. must try the cheesecake lah like that..

Elara October 16, 2008 7:33 PM

I need a chair like yours, GP! :)

LadyJava October 18, 2008 12:45 AM

I need an office like GP's!

Elara October 20, 2008 2:56 AM

Come to think of it, me too, LJ! :) Tgu lah bila dah ada rumah sendiri! :) Cannot wait lah..

emilayusof October 21, 2008 5:38 PM

i need everything in marzie's office!

emilayusof October 21, 2008 5:38 PM

oh i see that you framed my illos of us bernas buddies!

emilayusof October 21, 2008 5:38 PM

yay! i was first here! chop!

emilayusof October 22, 2008 9:26 PM

not down here but chop up there!

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