Work – The Diary of The Deranged Writer

10-Minute Warning CCII

Good grief. I didn’t expect to have an incredibly busy day at work, and my battery’s drained in the process. So, here’s a post written under ten minutes.

I’ve been working in the same job (in the family business) for three years and counting. In the first year, I’ve gotten used to the processes I learned. But when this year started, I thought I should improve those processes and even the company’s design materials. With those improvements, I made the processes fast and more efficient, and the materials sleeker and more professional. If ever I resign, at least I have a few legacies to leave behind.

But I couldn’t resign. Not yet, anyway. What I do need is another part-time graphic design job so I can push through the plans for the remainder of 2026. I’ve mentioned looking for such a job (and ranting about it) so many times here in The Diary, and I still haven’t found one that I can handle and perhaps juggle alongside my current one… which is frustrating. I’m considering making adjustments like searching for full-time jobs (even if I need to take a graveyard shift) while keeping my current one. I truly don’t want to, but with my situation now, I think I have to.

I feel fulfilled working for (and improving) the family business for many reasons. But I can’t gain financial security, financial freedom, and, more importantly, I can’t push through with my plans for this year if I only have one job. Quite frankly, the current job doesn’t pay well, and now that it’s almost half of the year, I feel like I’m running out of time. I seriously need to work harder (and smarter) and find another job soon.

Wish me luck, and see you in the next post.

Header image: Samer Daboul of Pexels. Edited in Adobe Photoshop 2025.

30-Minute Warning XLIV

I’ve been recovering from the emotionally heaviest week of 2026 by far, so I’ll refrain from pressuring myself to publish a lengthy post tonight. What I can do tonight is share today’s happenings in under 30 minutes.

Like I said, I had an emotionally heavy week, but last night, it ended with a warm, honest conversation and a gigantic mason jar filled with large ice cubes and a refreshing Coke Zero. That made me sleep heavenly (even if I drank something cold and caffeinated), and I feel refreshed when I woke up today.

As for work, today’s stress was tolerable. I wrote proposals like a machine, I politely responded to troubleshooting reports, and I dispatched technicians for the aforementioned troubleshooting. After that, and running an errand, the workday ended early, so I went to Oversight early to observe my Monday ritual.

Speaking of Monday rituals, last week was so awful that even two visits to Oversight didn’t do the trick. Sometimes, habits that protect and ground me don’t work at all if the darkness is overwhelming. But I’m glad my family and a friend helped me through that period, and now I’m back to my safe space feeling lighter.

And now, another light from last week. Last Friday, April 24, my favorite band in the whole world, Foo Fighters, released their twelfth studio album, Your Favorite Toy. If I could write a lengthy album review, I would. But tonight, I’d like to relax more with my favorite affogato. Yet, here’s my short review: I’m elated that the Foo Fighters are back to being loud with the residue of post-Wasting Light albums’ experimental styles. I will make an in-depth album review when I feel 141 2/3% better.

But honestly, if I were to reach Steiner Math levels of wellness again soon, the album review would not be the first long post I would work on. I will talk more about the album’s antepenultimate track, “Child Actor”. Honestly, I didn’t expect the song to be a reminder of many recently depressing things at once, and since I listened to it during an already-dark week, it reduced me to tears. It became the soundtrack of last weekend for me, and I still can’t get enough of hearing it on loop (even as I type this).

Won’t you
Turn the cameras off
Turn the cameras off
Turn the cameras off
Turn the cameras off
Turn the cameras off
Turn the cameras off
Foo Fighters’ “Child Actor”

And my 30 minutes are up. Thank you for reading. See you in the next post, and have a nice week!

Header image: Raul Ling of Pexels. Edited in Adobe Photoshop 2025.

10-Minute Warning CC

200 10-Minute Warning posts. Even my own jaw dropped from the humongous statistic. I’m truly glad I reached a milestone like that.

Anyway, what else should I share in under ten minutes?

Summer is near, so the country will experience unbearable, hell-like heat for a few months. That also means my employer will experience its peak season, and we need to prepare for that. More people will need cool, fresh air this coming hot season, and they will need our services. In our way, we’re helping people, and helping others is one of the most fulfilling things anyone can do.

Speaking of services, that reminds me of my current predicament: a second job. I reevaluated my plans for this year, and if I were to really push that particular plan, I may have to change my timetable. Pushing through that plan later is the wisest choice.

Also, I haven’t seen this week’s WWE Raw, but I saw some clips, like The Usos confronting CM Punk after his unbelievably cruel words to Roman Reigns last week. I’ve been clearing many pending tasks that piled up since March started, so I don’t even have the energy to watch the entire episode tonight. But based on the clips, the road to WrestleMania 42 is getting rougher and more interesting.

My ten minutes are almost up. See you in the next post.