Mihow

I Like You.

—

by

Mihow
in

I quit my job yesterday. It was a really tough decision because I love my boss and coworkers. I’ve grown quite attached to them over the last two years. Right after I told my boss I would be leaving she handed me a present she had picked up while out for lunch and for no reason whatsoever. She got me the new Amy Sedaris book called I Like You. My boss could not know me better. She will be missed.

But there are a few things I want to do. I want to devote more time to exploring the city and shooting her streets and avenues. I want to bake some more. I want to clean and cook and take care of Tobyjoe. I want to design his logo and build Web sites, both personal sites and for clients. The last time I worked from home, I created SPD, which was a lot of fun. (Stop by. It’s been very active lately.) I created advertisements for a local bar and I was able to devote more time to building my portfolio. I hope to finish a project Tobyjoe and I have been working on. I hope to give The New York Post Project an actual home. And I want to write more both online and off. Most importantly, I want to figure out what I want to be when I grow up and I get to because I have the best friend (and husband) a gal could ever ask for.

I also really, really want to travel and I want to do so before I have kids (or “kid” if you ask Tobyjoe). We’re looking to visit India sometime next year and England and Ireland.

I might even learn how to knit.

Who knows what the future will bring. This uncertainty is both scary and completely thrilling.

Comments

36 responses to “I Like You.”

  1. Hemlock Avatar
    Hemlock

    Uncertainty is totally scary but exciting at the same time.

    Good luck with all your projects. They rock.

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  2. greg Avatar
    greg

    sweet……welcome to the world of the self employed! sure it sucks wondering where your money’s coming from, but you’ve got help and you’ve got skills and the ability to make you own way. i’ve been working for myself(technically) for 6 years and i don’t want it any other way. i make enough to survive and at times it’s not enough, but somehow, the money shows up when it’s needed the most. how this happens, i have no idea, but it does.

    i work when i want, i do fun stuff when i want, i vacation when i want and for as long as i want(can afford). i take mondays off for whatever i want, and sometimes i stop working on fridays at noon. all winter i go skiing on wednesdays with friends, and still have mondays off and the occasional friday. hehehehe….if i have to work late, i do but usually i’m all about living and my hobbies…screw the man….!!

    i’m very very very excited for you! you have no idea.
    greg

    and just remember, if the day comes that you have to go back to work, you can, there always is that option….i hope that day never comes for me and i run my business so that never has to happen, you can too!!!!!!!!!!

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  3. mihow Avatar
    mihow

    Man, thanks. It’s scary. I go back and forth but this time I’m going to hit the ground running. I’m in search of inspiration.

    Also, I really want to take more weekend trips. For example, I haven’t ever seen Boston. Now, I can travel that way with Tobyjoe and meet the Boston Barbs (and see heather, of course.)

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  4. raphaelle Avatar
    raphaelle

    Funny- I told the temp agency I want something else yestereday as well.
    I didn’t tell my boss or anything since being temp you don’t need to do that. AND I’ve been at the job for over a year and no promise of hire.

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  5. Sarah Avatar
    Sarah

    Change is always scary, I think, even when we know it’s going to be good!

    I’m so excited for you…I got all jittery reading this! I think it will be fantastic for you and I’m really looking forward to seeing all the things you do. Will you send me cookies? ;-)

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  6. mihow Avatar
    mihow

    I am currently mastering the art of low-cal cheesecakes and the Barbarian Group has been my test case as of late. You like cheesecake? I think I’m ready to branch out (now that none of them threw up or became ill).

    last year, I sent out leg lamp cookies for xmas. Perhaps you’ll find yourself a little bag of Leg lamp cookies.

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  7. ginar Avatar
    ginar

    i am right behind you, mihow. giving myself til the end of this year b/c i want my christmas bonus. yesterday was a rough day here at the office and for motivation i sat down,looked at the calendar and figured out how many more weeks i have to endure. not that many really. and then the fear set in. the fear of being poor. mitch just laughs. he’s worked for himself most of his life and somehow it is true what greg says “i make enough to survive and at times it’s not enough, but somehow, the money shows up when it’s needed the most.” we’ll have to keep each other posted during the transition from “working for the man” to…

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  8. mihow Avatar
    mihow

    Leg Lamp Cookies

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  9. ginar Avatar
    ginar

    also, do you know Paul Ellsion’s work? he’s categorized as “graphic designer” but also essayist, sound experimentation, web developer (his “grrr” page is a smart, silly project). i went to his lecture this week and he talked about leaving the traditional workforce and making your own work outside of the establishment. then i was on a student mid-semester crit and one of the other guests was talking about how to make your own (architectural) practice work. there must be something in the air or the water or the juice this week! who else wants a drink of the anti-establishment kool-aid?!

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  10. jenblossom Avatar
    jenblossom

    Wow – congratulations!

    If (when) you make it up to Boston, you must go to L.A. Burdick chocolates in Cambridge and get hot chocolate. It’s unbelievable.

    http://www.burdickchocolate.com/stores-and-cafes-cambridge.asp

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  11. mihow Avatar
    mihow

    Speaking of such, have you ever tried Jack Torre’s (sp?) hot chocolate? Stuff is lethal. I haven’t ever been able to finish a small.

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  12. jenblossom Avatar
    jenblossom

    I have not (yet), but I’ve heard it’s awesome.

    Donut Plant has pretty good hot chocolate, too, but Burdick’s is still by far my favorite. They use like 3 different types of chocolate in it, and when you get to the bottom there’s about an inch of molten chocolate to slurp up.

    I miss Boston in the fall.

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  13. EricaLucci Avatar
    EricaLucci

    Congratulations! What an exciting decision. I’m totally jealous.

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  14. mihow Avatar
    mihow

    Maybe i’ll design more t-shirts for cash! Lord knows, I made so much money the last time!

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  15. Meghan Avatar
    Meghan

    We are leaving this gig in June. We have nothing lined up and have two kids. Some have said we are irresponsible and others have said the only way to do jump is with both feet.

    We are going to India for our second time in January. It will be our last hurrah to having financial stability.

    If you are planning on going to the Sub Continent you must read A Fine Balance.

    Meghan

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  16. mihow Avatar
    mihow

    Meghan, suggestions as to where we might visit in India?

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  17. Steve Avatar
    Steve

    I’m envious…

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  18. mpap Avatar
    mpap

    dc

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  19. mihow Avatar
    mihow

    mpap, now I can visit! Especially if I can get some freelanc with my good ol’ DNC folks. Election is coming up!

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  20. ginar Avatar
    ginar

    one of my friends and co-workers is leaving for India next week. he is going for 3 weeks with his wife and in-laws who grew up there. will do some brain-picking/ travel planning for you when he gets back!

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  21. mihow Avatar
    mihow

    That’d be great. All the information you can get.

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  22. mpap Avatar
    mpap

    don’t tease

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  23. Meghan Avatar
    Meghan

    No idea , as I travel with two children for luggage. I am sure that you two will be able to do much cooler things.

    That leads to my next thought though. Having a kid doesn’t mean you don’t travel. There are kids who raised in backpacks and they are really incredible people. And once you have a kid in tow many different doors are opened to you.

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  24. mihow Avatar
    mihow

    Meghan, I hope that I can drag my child all over this great big world. I do. My parents took us places growing up. We’re fairly normal.

    mpap, I tease not. Really.

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  25. mpap Avatar
    mpap

    Then it will be nice to see you and Tobey Joe and share a meal and some wine.

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  26. hthrs Avatar
    hthrs

    holy moly! well, i am so excited for you.
    what a cool opportunity.
    i wish i had the guts and wasnt so complacent and spoilt, i would love to do this. its a horizon i keep eyeing and never making.
    oh well.
    i look forward to more mihowness and of course, your impending visit.
    better hurry though, falls almost over.
    p.s. email me your mailing address, i have something for ya.
    xo

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  27. mihow Avatar
    mihow

    Oh, also, Internet, aren’t you glad I didn’t be YOU all for money? hahah! The “I’m-going-to-quit-my-job-and-become-a-fulltime-blogger” phenomenon.

    If I ever DO do that (unless, of course, I develop a really nasty cocaine habit and need help with bail after getting arrested at Scores) you have permission to kick my ass.

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  28. Jonathan Avatar
    Jonathan

    Congrats!

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  29. Brad Avatar
    Brad

    hoooleee, you’re good people. you’ll be missed. i am envious. i am filled with envious rage. i overflow with the bile of envy. and yet, i wish you much fun and wellness.

    ps we should organize the occasional friday lunch near union square, as i will be camped out there for my “second” job most weeks.

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  30. mihow Avatar
    mihow

    Sounds good to me! I look forward to it, Brad.

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  31. jenny Avatar
    jenny

    Congrats on the career change! That’s so exciting!

    I saw these in Bust magazine, and for some reason made me think of your leg lamp cookies: Dia de los Muertos cookies

    Maybe you can start an edgy cookie company…

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  32. jenny Avatar
    jenny

    Oops – guess my mad html skillz didn’t work there. Just check out mexicansugarskull.com. :)

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  33. mihow Avatar
    mihow

    I fixed it for ya.

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  34. aimee Avatar
    aimee

    MAD props on taking the plunge!! It’s scary enough to dare to believe you could make such a drastic change in your life but its a whole different story to actually do it. There are so many ramifications to changing your job but the most important one is that you are happy. Everything works out in the end. I quit my job in August and got hired (with no experience whatsoever) to teach Biology to 15 year olds. I was scared out of my mind on September 3rd and still am a little every morning, but I am loving what I do, I work more than I ever have and don’t even notice it, and my happiness is apparent in every part of my life. I think the most important there is to do something like this is something you and I have in spades and that is a beautiful, supportive partner to hold our paw the whole way through. High five.

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  35. Chapatikid Avatar
    Chapatikid

    Hey,

    If you’re going to visit India, let me know—I can give you some where to go tips and other travel suggestions. Lonely Planet, I am not, but former Indian I am. chapatikid -at-gmail-dot-com

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  36. mihow Avatar
    mihow

    Thanks. I will do that. You’re too kind.

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