Freelance PAY DAY!

I found something even better than pay day every other Friday.  No, it’s not payday twice a month, it’s payday when you’re freelancing.  It’s better than Christmas because you’ve already done the work, you’ve spent the money over and over in your mind, and then bam, finally you have it.  By this point in your life it’s like winning the lottery because you almost don’t remember doing the work.

This pay day stretches back to a project I started on back before I left my TV news job.  Yeah, that’s been a lifetime ago.  It actually took weeks to finish, but the schedule, was here and there, spread out enough that you never really felt like you were working for the man.  (In this case, I was working for several but it didn’t feel like it.)

I only held t he check for about 10 minutes before I ran to the bank and deposited it into my lonely bank account.  I am after all moving this weekend, and the expenses have grown about 10 times what I was expecting.  So even though it’s finally PAY DAY…Breaking News Dudes, I’m Broke, again, but as Anita Cochran now successfully self-employed, I know that someday I won’t be, and that my friends gives me something to work towards.

 

 Standard Podcast [1:07m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Closet

I saved the worst till last and finally tackled the one thing standing in the way of a successful move to a smaller home.  My closet.  As a former News Anchor,  part of my job was to be a clothes horse, and I must have been pretty good at it, because I have a closet full of suits that I don’t plan on ever wearing again.  Ok, that’s a lie.  I’m keeping every one of my St. John suits because they always look good at a wedding or funeral, but the rest, I’m storing in case bad luck befalls me and I have to get a full-time job again.

That’s the good news, because that cut my need for hanging space in half.  Yep, I have that many clothes.  The rest of the clothes, which means all the clothes I wear now that I don’t have to look like a professional news reader, I also cut that pile in oh…..half.  I may have had 50 tank tops hanging in the closet but honestly I wear five of them.  I decided there is no reason to let clothes I hate take up closet space, so they’re off to goodwill.  Wear them in peace dear friends.

Then there are the shoes.  Same thing, I was so proud to have a closet full of shoes, even if I would rather be seen barefoot than wear some of those toebusters.  I finally decided even if that one pair of shoes looks good with that ONE outfit I have, and only wear once every three years…..it doesn’t deserve a 365 day parking space in my soon to be much smaller closet.  Bye Bye ugly, uncomfortable, worn out, or just plain hated SHOES.  They’re vacationing at Goodwill too.

I was almost done, when the last little dittie standing in the way of a clean closet was my jewelry drawer.  Yeah, I think the only thing news anchors buy more than blazers are necklaces.  I split them into two piles, one that I will bury in a storage room for when I need a necklace the size of Texas, the other the smaller pile, the ones that are actually made of real gold, have some dollar value or may actually be worn, those will be tucked into a box and be transferred to the soon to be completely edited Anita Cochran closest.  I can hardly wait to see how it looks, and better yet, how long it will take me to honestly believe, I have NOTHING to wear, even though the closet at the new house will be jammed pack. I give it two maybe three days, MAX.  I’m Anita Cochran, and that’s what I really wanted to say.

 

 Standard Podcast [2:16m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Who Says I Don’t Have Talent?

I was afraid Wednesday might be a total loss, I rolled out of bed, got on the iphone and had a message from one of my tweeps to check out this link.  I’m not posting the link because I never read that blog, on purpose.   I don’t get  why someone like me would, then again I don’t get why people cut themselves with razor blades either.

This link goes to a blog that’s all about local Wichita TV news, and the guy HATES HATES HATES me, always has always will.  I should have just ignored it and went about my business, but I didn’t.  So let’s just say I started the day in a less than upbeat mood.  Just as I was starting to believe that I was the worst thing that happened in Wichita TV news history, the BFF & I decided to get busy.  We were going to paint my chest of drawers, and three night stands.  We used to pride ourselves on always paying to have stuff like that done.anit

Let me just say doing something with ones own hands really does result in a good feeling. My Mom was the kind of person who could fix anything.  She’s the one we went to when something broke and I used to always think, she has enough money to pay someone else to fix it, why doesn’t she? Now I know why, because it’s cheaper and more satisfying sometimes to do it yourself.

So we spent the afternoon knee deep in primer, and paint and sanding blocks, and darn if I didn’t feel like Picasso when we were done.  The best part is, I didn’t have to pay 12-hundred dollars for a built in in the new closet.  I saved myself 12-hundred dollars today, oh, and I painted away any doubt in my mind that I’m a decent person with at least some talent…..so Mr. I Hate Anita Cochran, I can only hope someone out there is writing about your daughter the same crap you wrote about me, because YOU my friend, deserve it.   My name is Anita Cochran, and that’s what I really wanted to say, but I have the guts to put my name on, you Mr. Anonymous, do not.

 

 Standard Podcast [1:52m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Cheap Eats

I know you’re getting used to seeing me ask, “2.99 Are they OUT of their minds?” but the only deal better than the one I’m hawking in the Spangle’s commercial, is a FREE deal.  Yep, I almost forgot about free Wednesday at Arby’s but one of the blogs I followed reminded me of it, and I passed it along to my facebook and twitter friends.  Wednesday was Beef and Cheddar day.  You buy a drink they give you a beef and cheddar sandwich, free.

I am all about free food these days, in fact I ate free fish tacos at Long John Silvers a few weeks ago, because hey, it was free, and I don’t really even like fish.  So the fact that my favorite Arby’s sandwich was a giveaway pretty much made my day.  The BFF & I had a late lunch today, after some serious manual labor painting dressers, that’s another story.  So by the time we walked into Arby’s  we were covered in paint and probably smelling like something the cat would drag in, but they served us anyway, and what I liked, they EXPECTED us to order up the free eats.

The manager was even nice enough to take our picture for us, because even when we’re not camera ready, we’re camera ready.  Just a note to all you businesses out there giving out free food.  I don’t know what it costs you, but I know what you’re getting out of it.  Loyalty.  The easier it is to take advantage of the deal, the nicer your employees are when I show up to grovel for free grub, and of course, if  it tastes even slightly better than the cost, the more likely I am to come back.  I guess you buying us lunch for a change is a smart marketing move, I hope this little trend continues, because Breaking News Folks, I’m broke, but I’m Anita Cochran and I’m not going hungry and neither should you.  I’ll keep tabs for you on any other free deals.

 

 Standard Podcast [1:37m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

My First Free Day

After 20 years as a TV news anchor and four months as a self-employed whatever I am, I had my first FREE day.  A day when the kids climbed on the school bus, and I had NOTHING on my schedule.  Well, nothing until 4:30 when daughter number two gets home, then 5  when I pick up daughter number one, and then 6:00 when daughter number one needs to be at guitar.  Anyway, it was a SLOOOWWW day.

I spent my normal time at Starbucks then Melissa and I ran around checking out saloons for her impending move closer to home base.  We made a couple stops at Woodard’s Mercantile, and Lowe’s doing last minute house things, then she had  lunch plans and I decided to run  a few more errands.  I kept thinking, so this is what people talk about when they say, “I could NEVER work, I’d be bored.”

I wasn’t bored, but I was feeling something.  I felt like I was cheating, like I was going to get caught and be reprimanded.  I was getting things done, on my own time, and I almost went to the pool one last time, but I couldn’t do it.  Why?  Because someone somewhere along the way must have made me feel bad that I decided to jump off the fast lane, and live a different life.  I’m not sure who it was, and I don’t really care, but I want that person to go away, and stay away.  If I’m going to be broke, I’m going to be happy and I’m loving having nothing hanging over my head, except this “crazy guilt” that maybe I should be doing more.  The only MORE I could be doing, is making MORE money.  I’m busy enough, happy enough, and peaceful enough, I don’t understand why that “guilty” feeling won’t go away.  I guess deep down I don’t believe I deserve a better life.   I think I might need therapy because even I know, that sounds just plain CRAZY.  I’m Anita Cochran, and  as weird as it sounds, that what I really wanted to say.

 

 Standard Podcast [1:52m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

20 Minutes and HOLDING

I can’t believe I’m listening to the most awful elevator music possible, and have been, through the speaker of my phone….on hold now for more than 20 minutes with the City of Wichita, and still counting.   This is insane, granted, we’re all stretched thin, but at least Westar Energy had the kindness to take my number and call me back (they promised within 18 minutes)….and they did.

Actually as I’m writing this a nice lady named Tony helped me at the City, I think  the actual transfer of water service took 30 seconds, yet I held for almost 30 minutes.  Please City of Wichita do something.  I used to have a rule as a cub reporter I waited no longer than 15 minutes for someone I was going to interview, either found someone else to talk with or left.  I would have made an exception for the President of the United States but covering southwest Kansas meant there was no time to spare.  It worked great, and in return, I never expect anyone to wait for me more than 15 minutes.  Just a suggestion City of Wichita, just a suggestion.

Having gone through the whole nine yards to get my life transferred a mile down the road, just wanted to say “Go Girl” to the best customer service rep I worked with, all companies included here.   Her name was Meghan  and she worked at Cox Communications.  This chick knows her stuff.  She was smart, and nice, and actually wanted to make things better for us, so instead of switching to AT&T as we intended, we stayed with Cox.  Good for you Cox, I hope you’re paying Meghan at the west office enough, from my experience most companies let the good employees slip away, or at the very least take them for granted.

The best part of the whole moving mess was that all those moving costs and transfer fees I was expecting, are for the most part gone.  From the best deal, of free install with Cox to the highest connection charge of 20 bucks to Black Hills Energy, it’s good to know I won’t be broke just turning things off and on.  No, Breaking News Folks, I’m broke, but the move is supposed to fix that, and at least when it comes to the bills, the new life is looking leaner.  I’m Anita Cochran.

My New Life

Okay, you’re always asking me, what are you doing now that you aren’t on TV anymore. My answer, I’m working on “My New Life.” It actually holds true in more ways than one.
My New Life, personally, includes finding a way to make money on my time, and with my talents, with people I enjoy and projects I love. Yes, tall order but so far it’s so good.
One of the first projects I started working on hooked me up with the folks at IMG with IMG Pictures here in Wichita, you can look them up, they do all sorts of video, graphic and movie work. I hosted one of the 30-minute TV projects they were working on highlighting the Kansas composite industry, and encouraging kids to look into that as a career option. Boy did I learn a lot.
Well that puppy turned out pretty darn good, so we’re taking it to the next level, with a TV series called, you may have guessed this, “My New Life.” Right now we’re working on the funding to turn this into an entertaining reality-based series that highlights Kansas people, job ready educational programs and the new lives so many of you are going after and FINDING.

We started last week with an on-line webisode that introduces you to the idea. My New Life Online, is a few of us sitting around drinking coffee and tea from Mead’s Corner talking to people who said hey, “My New Life!!” I found one, and outlining how they went about getting it. I’m the one decked out in Pink Saloon garb letting the doves fly, trust me, look up the video just to see what’s up with that, and stay tuned, I’m Anita Cochran, and I’m certainly not the only one looking for “My New Life,” and I promise I’ll be the one to tell you all about the ones we find….because these days, that’s what I really wanted to say!

 

 Standard Podcast [1:43m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

It Takes Money to Save Money??!!!

We’ve all heard it takes money to make money, and I often have to agree, but I had no idea it was going to take money to SAVE money. Yep, as we get ready for the big downsizing move this weekend, I’m burning through the check book and money I don’t even have. I know that living the Dave Ramsey, “Total Money Makeover” way means that isn’t possible, but I’m doing it anyway. I’m even considering paying the movers with our once banished credit card.
I can’t wait to see if, in a month or two, if this is just a temporary, moving sucks the life and money right out of you, kind of funk, or whether this is just the beginning of my life being broke. I thought I saw a light at the end of the tunnel with a future that includes no house payments, but I wonder now if that will be enough to cover the expenses I’m tacking on just for the move itself. Ooops that would really stink if I’m making all this worse, trying to get to a less expensive place. Oh well, it’s too late now, I know because I talked with the movers this afternoon, and they’ve already met with the people they’ll be moving into our current home. Yeah, small world, isn’t it. One family moving up, the other trying desperately to stay afloat. Oh well, Breaking News Folks, I’m broke, but I’m Anita Cochran and if this well-thought out plan of mine backfires, somebody take video, cause there’s gonna be a lot more collateral damage than I first accounted for….starting with every single one of my bank accounts.

 

 Standard Podcast [1:27m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Houston, I HAVE A Problem.

I don’t know if you remember when I went public with my obsession with scissors.  It’s not a conscious thing on my part, it’s just an accidental overspending mechanism that seems to kick in whenever I’m around shiny new cutting equipment.  Well that’s not my only problem it seems.

This week the BFF and I went to one of those in-home parties.  Not one of the name brand,Tupperware, Cookie Lee Jewelry or Pampered Chef kind, but the kind where some entrepreuner sets up shop with her picks from market.  The question was what will I buy?   Not WOULD I buy, but what, because we all know you don’t go, and go home with nothing.

Here’s my choices.  Purses, which were knock-offs, that were cute, but as is the style these days were HUGE.  I lobbied for Melissa to buy one so she could carry me around it, but she put the fake Prada back in the end.

There was jewelry but my sister, Shasta Wewe, sells Cookie Lee jewelry so if I’m gonna buy costume stuff I’m gonna have to get it from her.

The final choice was sunglasses.  Your pretty basic knock-off  Dolce Gabana’s caught my eye, and the purple color really made my blonde hair spark, for 12 bucks those babies were mine.  Melissa got the same pair in a brownish color, and since it was her friends party, she decided to go ahead and splurge and buy something else.  She opted for a knock off Tiffany key necklace that was quite cute for 13 bucks, and besides that, Jennifer Anniston wears a real one just like it in Gold.  (Melissa would have paid twice that, had the chick told her that in the first place!)  Anyway, as home parties go, we got out pretty cheap, but when I got home, boy did feel like a loser.

I tossed the purse on the bench, took the sunglasses off my head and as they hit the shelf I heard a clink.   No they didn’t break they just landed on about a half dozen other sunglasses.  I needed sunglasses like I needed a hole in my head.  Breaking News folks, I’m Anita Cochran, and I’m broke, but if you’re havin a party and selling sunglasses invite me, apparently I find them irresistible.

 

 Standard Podcast [1:17m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Spangles, It Just Tastes Better

My Spangle’s commercial has hit the airwaves, and let’s just say it’s a little bit freaky!  You’d think after having been on local TV news for 20 years seeing oneself on television would be no big thrill, but think about it folks, most of the time I was on TV I was LIVE.  I never really had a chance to watch me.  Granted, we did a few promos a long the way, but never enough to get used to seeing myself on the tube.  (Or maybe I just never tired of it.)

Anyway, many of you are seeing the commercial nowadays too.  My facebook friends are asking who I was talking to.    They noticed I’m not looking at the camera when I wondered “if for 2.99, are out of their minds? ”   The answer is, well I wasn’t looking at anyone, but there were at least five people behind the camera, a couple of customers and some Spangles employees lurking nearby, so for the sake of the argument  that I’m not crazy, eating alone and TALKING to myself, let’s pretend I’m talking to Rene Steven.

We all know Rene is THE Spangle’s lady.   So I thought I better set the record straight right now, many of you are gushing WOW, how cool that you’re the new Spangle’s lady.  Dude’s I’m not.  It was a one time appearance.   No this was not my break into the big time money world of commercial modelling…..  I’m still broke, and I’m still just Anita Cochran, but for the next few weeks, wouldn’t it be fun if everytime we went to Spangle’s we all said, “Hey, Anita sent me!!!”   That’s what I’d really like people to say!!

 

 Standard Podcast [1:28m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download