This will remain my blogging office, but the main chunk of my work hours move elsewhere Monday.
Monday morning, I’ll walk into an office and sit behind a desk. I’ll move fingers across my keyboard and work as hard as I can to reduce the pile my bosses put in front of me.
I’ll keep all of the emotions inside. The touch of anxiety. The hint of Happy Dance. The inclination to hug my co-workers as if they’re on shore with blankets and I’m getting pulled out of the surging flood waters.
It’s been 17-1/2 months since I walked out of the offices of the big daily on the day of my layoff.
I’ve worked out of my recliner chair in the living room of the Syracuse city home of my dear wife Karen and I since. That’s where I’ve written my freelance blogs and stories, and the space where I produce markbialczak.com.
I love the creative aspect of all of this writing.
But I also crave the earning aspect of that 40-hour job. So I’ve been judiciously sending out cover letters and resumes in search of that piece that fits this puzzle of my life.
Monday I start at a growing downtown Syracuse company, working within a team to serve clients with Internet content needs.
I’m one psyched 56-year-old.
Some of the friends I’ve made here on WordPress have already wondered what this means to my blogging.
Hey, I’ll be here.
Don’t so many of you produce your great blogs around the effort you put into your 40-hour work? I have you, my friends, as my inspiration.
My plans are to continue to write my movie reviews and my community stories and tales about my wonderful life with my dear wife Karen and Ellie B aka Dogamous Pyle. My sister Frannie just this week sent me about 100 old pictures for Throwback Thursday stories.
They are likely to come at a less hectic pace. That March-April-May post output of 66-68-65? Let’s call it, well, more than unlikely.
I will read your blogs. And carry on our comment conversations at both our places. I won’t be hanging about WordPress as much, because those 40 hours are hard and firm and come first. So I won’t be so prompt. You may even ask me to stay after school for being chronically tardy.
But you can’t get rid of me that easily.
Have you ever gone back to work after a layoff, and how did you feel about it on the first day? What kind of schedule do you set for yourself to meet your blogging goals? How many posts a week do you need from me to keep from calling me nasty names or — worse yet — de-following me?
Mark Bialczak 
Good luck, Mark, I know you’ll be great! 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks, Heather! I appreciate it.
LikeLike
Congratulations, man!!!! Who are you working with?
LikeLike
Thanks, Chris. I will shoot you an email.
LikeLike
Congratulations! Hope it’s going well so far.
LikeLike
Yes, Cat, it is, thank you!
LikeLike
Yeah! Congratulations Mark! I’m so happy for you!
LikeLike
Thank you, Renee. I appreciate that!
LikeLike
How did i miss this fabulous news!? Delighted for you Mark. Absolutely thrilled. Well done. Enjoy the job and the money 🙂
LikeLike
I will do both, Rachel. Promise! 🙂
LikeLike
Hi Mark, I hope your first day back on the job was fabulous! I liked the way you described your co-workers as being on shore, holding out blankets, helping you from the cold waters of unemployment.
As someone who has a full time job and who tries to write and to blog, I can tell you it is all a balancing act. I’ve gotten very bad about getting to bed on time! I need to work on that. 🙂
LikeLike
I notice that you write and blog a lot, Kate. I am impressed to hear that you also have the 40 hours of work, too. Way to go, my friend. My first day back in a office is done, now I am trying to catch up in the blogging world! Thanks for your kind words.
LikeLike
Congratulations on your job. I hope you are successful and excel. I don’t work but still I’m blogging less and it is taking me forever to catch up on reading my emails. So the best of luck.
LikeLike
Thank you, Kim. I will try hard to keep. Up. I just got done seeing the movie and writing my review that will be posted on the Syracuse New Times site tomorrow morning. Very busy, and tomorrow, the new job. Oh, boy.
LikeLike
I hope anxiety doesn’t keep you up.
LikeLike
I am excited for you, Mark! I bet the way you connect with people will continue to make your work experience as great as you did in the past. The gap (in time and work load) did allow you to stretch into a fantastic blogger, which we will all be here, cheering you on and waiting on your next ‘report!’ I had only one time where I went a month, I can never stand it. I never really had a partner that would have filled in the financial gaps, either. So, I take the first or second job offered, continually applying up to 60 times a year, but like my regular ‘little’ paycheck and have adjusted my spending accordingly! So thankful for your new adventure, Mark!
LikeLike
Thank you, Robin, for your kind words of support! I will do my best, as always. It was hard to find this job, and I will make the most of it. Promise to do the same with my blogging time, too! 🙂
LikeLike
Congratulations Mark! On my first day at Drumlins, I turned my computer on and the monitor had one of those quotes that read “Today is a Brand New Day!” Couldn’t have been more fitting for making a fresh start. Good luck! Danielle
LikeLike
That was a very good omen, Danielle. I appreciate your kind wishes! I hope I get that same type of karma, too.
LikeLike
You go Boy! And Congratulations! Glad you won’t be leaving us bloggers since I just found you. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks, Dorann. I’ll be sticking around, just perhaps a little less conspicuous, if that’s possible … 🙂
LikeLike
Best to you Mark—you give all us “North 50’ers” hope that renewed life and productivity does not have to stop.
LikeLike
We still got it, Wayne, there’s no doubt, right! Thanks, sir!!
LikeLike
mark, i cannot even tell you how happy i am for you. and i can openly do the happy dance and hugging all around ) i know it is something you’ve wanted and needed to do, since i began reading your blog and at last the moment is here. i’m glad you never gave up, even though i’m sure you wanted to at times, and you’ll find your way into a blog pattern over time. no worries about us out here in the blogosphere, though we’ll miss the frequency of your musings and visits, it’s all for the good as you work your way back into the 9-5 once more, and we’ll see you when we see you here, no worries on the timeline or number for me at all. best, beth
LikeLike
Thanks, always, Beth, for being such a blogging best friend along this WP road of hard work and great satisfaction. As a great writer wrote and so many great singers took advantage of his lyrics … I’ll be seeing you in, all those familiar places … And with the new job, yes, I will work hard to learn, learn, learn, and thrive!
LikeLike
1. Congratulations, Congratulations, Congratulations! (I hope I didn’t sound too much like Gomer Pyle there.) That’s awesome news! Where are you and Karen going to celebrate this weekend?
2. Will you be keeping the freelance jobs as well such as the movie reviews?
3. The closest thing I have to share about stopping work and going back several months later was when I was pregnant and had hyperemesis so badly that I was unable to work. Going back felt GREAT!
4. I think I’ll still need at least a 4 post minimum from you so as not to miss you too terribly, but I would prefer
five. But I won’t ever unfollow you either way, just miss you and your antics. 🙂 Actually, I think the office life will only add to material you have to blog about. 🙂
5. Congratulations again! 😀
LikeLike
Sorry it took so long to reply, but, to answer, we “celebrated” with the jazz fest on Friday and Saturday, with my blogging reviews Saturday and today. I will keep the movie reviews and community blog and blogging here, just switching times and frequency around here, is all. Thanks, Rachel. I will attempt to meet your exacting standards! 🙂
LikeLike
LOL! No pressure. I’ll just miss you when you’re not around. 😀 Best wishes!
LikeLike
Thanks, Rachel. I do appreciate that. Also, beforehand, an FYI that I am not planning to write about the new job, like you mentioned in your comment. I intend to stick to my usual topics!
LikeLike
You’re right, that might be a wise idea indeed. I didn’t think about it before, but sometimes employers might check those things. But perhaps your drive to and from work might provide some materials. 😉
LikeLike
Twenty minutes out from departure, I’m ready to roll, and I’m still sure the “no-write-zone” is a good idea, Rachel. 🙂
LikeLike
Good luck! I hope you had a great first day! 😀
LikeLike
Best of luck to you, sir.
LikeLike
Thank you very much, Chris. I appreciate it.
LikeLike
No problem. Easy to read usually means harder to write, and I appreciate it.
LikeLike
I was looking for a job
and then I found a job.
And heaven knows I’m miserable now.
LikeLike
OH, I’m sorry. I meant to type “congratulations” but that song just poured out of me. You can delete that if you want.
LikeLike
The comments were so similar in sentiment, Mark, I could see how the first just slipped out instead of the second. No, I won’t delete it. I’m a grown damn man. And thanks.
LikeLike
It’s got a beat and I can dance to it, Dick.
Next week on ‘American Bandstand …’
Yeah, Mark, a man’s gotta work.
LikeLike
I have been on a self-imposed layoff for the past year or so (since I left Afghanistan voluntarily–which looking back–was a huge mistake on my part). I am extremely happy for you my good friend. As one ’57’er Baby Boomer to another: Rock on Brother!
With things heating up once again in the Middle East, I am quite confident my services will be required again soon.
All my best to you Mark.
You have many, many friends out ‘here’. So even if your posts become a bit more scarce, it won’t matter. You have a loyal following and I do proclaim to be right there amongst them.
Congratulations!
LikeLike
Thanks, Lance, for your bolstering words. I will be supporting you, too, no matter the country of origin for your Texan heirloglyphics!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I usually call Egypt ‘home’, but that is just the sentimental in me.
LikeLike
Congratulations again Mark! I know you can do the work juggle with your writing. 😉 I count on it! Seriously, counting on it. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
You can, and I will, Colleen!
LikeLike
🙂 Good deal for us.
LikeLike
In radio, it seems I was out of work every 1 1/2 to 2 years. The longest stretch of unemployment, for me, was two months. For my husband, it was 8. I know what getting back in the saddle means to me. I was excited and nervous and raring to go. Best wishes to you, Mark. Look forward to reading about your adventures in the community and at the movies. 😉
LikeLike
Thanks, Judy. Less than two weeks and we’ll be seeing you guys up here! Yay!
LikeLike
Can’t wait. 😉
LikeLike
Your posts are so great that whenever you pop in, it’s fine. I look at your blog as means for getting tighter with my own page. I should have a set schedule to blog. I have gone as far as picking the weekly categories. I always get lazy and wait until I realize I haven’t posted in a few days to randomly toss something together. I am working toward a better schedule and structure. I’m working on it.
LikeLike
Thanks, Apple Pie, for your comforting words. And I know you can do it, too!
LikeLike
Great news, Mark! Go for it – do the happy dance and give some hugs!
LikeLike
Thanks so much, Angela! I will remain low key in the new space, however … 🙂
LikeLike
It’s hard enough to go on vacation and then catch up. So just give yourself a break and don’t feel pressured to read so many blog posts and respond. No one will hate you if you skip out for days or weeks. You gotta eat, right? The main point is those 100 new photos. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love that you look at it that way, Kerbey. And, no surprise to me! Thank you, my friend.
LikeLike
Wow! Congratulations, Mark! I’m starting a full-time job on July 21! First I got one part-time job (last October), and then I got a second part-time job (April). I really never thought I’d go back full-time, but it is happening. Good luck!
LikeLike
Fantastic news, Vicki! I am glad that the 40-hour job has happened for you, too, after putting two part-times together for awhile. Congratulations. You earned it, and deserve it, my friend.
LikeLike
Congratulations, you happy 56 year old! It sounds like a great opportunity. 😊 Selfishly, I can’t imagine WP without the almost daily cheerful posts from you. I will have to adapt, as will all your followers. Just don’t forget us little people! 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey Mark! Many Congrats to you!! I know how hard it is to be out of work for soooo long. Been following you here and will continue. See you at a gig? Big Smooches to you and Karen.
LikeLike
Donna, so great of you to come by and comment here! I how you and Sam are doing well. Yes, my dear wife Karen and I will definitely come by to see you guys at a gig. Thanks for your kind words, my friend.
LikeLike
I hope to be able to keep everybody satisfied with enough tales of gardens, gophers, golf, my dear wife Karen, Ellie B aka Dogamous Pyle and the travels and travails of little ole me, Mrs. B. Thanks, my friend!
LikeLike
You know, never, ever, Mrs. B! Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Buena Suerte mañana, Mr. B! 🙂
LikeLike
Muchas gracias, Mrs. B. 🙂
LikeLike
Congratulations, Mark! Since you’re going to be that much closer to my work, I’m thinking a few more lunches are in the forecast. (And I wonder if you’ll play bumper-chairs with anyone like we used to at the big daily!)
LikeLike
I will see Monday if the work spaces are literally cheek-to-cheek, Jim. I can’t imagine so. You and I had the smallest cubicle in the history of word farms.
We are going to have to find a fast lunch place, so I can make my hour!
Talk to you after I check out what that hour is on Monday, sir. Thanks again.
LikeLike
So excited for you and wish you well. I was very humbled having you visit me on my blog and thank you so much for all your comments, I will continue to read about your adventures about you and New York. Take care.
LikeLike
Dora, I will continue to visit your garden and your art projects, because I find them both beautiful and interesting, as are the way you describe them and your family. Thank you, my friend!
LikeLike
Hey buddy, what exciting news! I remember the feeling of going to AZ for an interview, getting the job, and staying there from August until Thanksgiving. I remember standing in the middle of the new classroom, needing to prepare for school to start in one week after I was hired…wondering. . . “What have I done?” It worked out ( 7 years) and was wonderful as your new job will do and be for you . And you will be a continued blessing to us , your new colleagues, your family and your new bosses! Good on you . . . . . . . .
LikeLike
Your words mean much to me, Anne T. Thanks so much.
LikeLike
You are my friend. . . Marco
LikeLike
Wonderful news Mark. Hope you enjoy it.
LikeLike
Thanks, Irene! I appreciate your kinds words.
LikeLike
Great news Mark! Congratulations! It is a hard slog out there these days economically. Our town is fortunate that you have been able to stay and write for us! Oh, and I never mentioned it–but really dig the tree background over the mets sign!
LikeLike
I would not de-follow you, even if it was down to one post every two weeks. I mean, that would kind of be boring for my daily blog reads, but I also understand.
I tend to take notes a lot about what I want to write about, then it helps that I can’t sleep very well so I do most of my main blog work in the middle of the night. Or lunch breaks! 🙂
Congratulations again on the job, it sounds like a great and fulfilling opportunity 🙂
LikeLike
Good ideas, both, Jeanette. I appreciate your attendance, attention and articulation! 🙂 Thanks, friend.
LikeLike
I’m ashamed that you felt the need to return to the grind of life. I, however am very glad that you will no longer be on the life sucking teat of the government ‘revitalization’ coffers. I will be starting a pool here on WP titled “BialzcakBum” and set odds on when the first *cough* sick day will happen.
Always bet on a sure thing….
Congratulations Mark, It sounds like a job with an actual creative context to it and a brain stimualting one at that. Starting from scratch in your advanced years is very inspirational to the younger of the herd….
LikeLike
Thanks, Trey. I think. 🙂
Yes, an old dog has to go to the new office and remember not to roll over or play dead for nine straight hours!
Not to mention how embarrassing it might be to scratch any fleas.
Seriously, it’s been a long road back, and a long haul driver such as yourself knows what I mean. Take care, my friend, I’ll still be seeing you in all those wild places you write in your mind. 🙂
LikeLike
Scratching is what makes life worth living.
LikeLike
Congratulations on your new job! As far as your blog, quality is more important than quantity and I am sure your musings and thoughts on the world around you will be as high-quality and entertaining as they were during your 17 and 1/2 month hiatus! I will await your future posts …. much success in your new endeavor!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Mark. You are write about quality being the key.
I still have to live the life to write about the life!
LikeLike
This is the best news, Chum. You sound so pumped already and I have visions of your happy dance. No need to be nervous. You’re amazing and dang it, people are gonna love you!!!
I’m also relieved to read we won’t lose you here… 🙂
LikeLike
I merely have to adjust to making the most of my WP time, Aud. 🙂 Thanks for your kind words, as always, Red!
LikeLike
You’ll do fine, Chum. It’ll take a bit of time, which is to be expected.
LikeLike
Best of luck in your new position Mark. It’s great to see that some jobs are still out there. You give me hope my friend. Your time scarcity will simply make your posts more anticipated, appreciated and relished (with a little mustard and ketchup, Ha!). Congratulations, you deserve it.
LikeLike
Keep up the hope, Paul, please.
And thank you, for all of your wit and wisdom here.
LikeLike
Yay! I’m so happy for you Mark – they’re lucky to have you!
Diana xo
LikeLike
Thank you, Diana. I will work hard, that’s for sure.
LikeLike
I have no doubts about that Mark!
LikeLike
Mark– To quote from an Elvis Costello song, “Welcome to the working world/I know it don’t thrill you/I hope it don’t kill you.” Welcome back to the working life. Being laid off was one of the worst moments in my life (just behind the death of family members), and although I had a relatively soft landing in getting a new (part-time) job soon after getting my layoff notice and subsequently going full-time at a previous part-time job (yeah, that’s right: I’m currently working a 65+ hour work week and looking forward to retirement), I can appreciate what you went through. Wow. Seventeen months. Welcome back. I hope you didn’t drive your wife crazy.
LikeLike
Thanks, Flash. I was extremely fortunate because the freelance duties and this blog work totaled more than 40 hours and I was never the one to sit idly and under Karen’s feet, so to speak. So, no, the layoff did us no harm. Supportive all the way, is my dear wife. And you, hard-working, Perry, don’t grind yourself to a stub before the golden retirement, kind sir. A 65-hour-plus load sounds like something suited for when we were in our 20s.
LikeLike
Just catching up on my messages. I’m counting the years before retirement, and it looks like two (or fewer), so no need to worry that I’m grinding myself down. Besides, no doubt my wife will have plenty of domestic tasks for me to cover when I hang things up and she’s still on her way to the office. So long as the job is enjoyable, it’s not really work. But retirement will give us a chance to travel more, especially to catch up on missed reunions. Looking forward to the 2017 j-program gathering at M’ville.
LikeLike
Good luck my friend on your journey to the worky place! XOXO – Bacon
LikeLike
Why thank you, PigLove. I hope to get off to a sizzling start.
LikeLike
Snorticles! XOXO – Bacon
LikeLike
Mark,
Major congrats! Sorry to see you leave our “unemployment club”…but that’s a good thing. Alas, your golf game will suffer especially since you’d been hitting it so consistently lately. You, KP & Tater will have to have an important “meeting” every so often!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have to bow out of the league, as you have surmised from my work hours, DJ. I was sorry to see you and Bird were not present for my last day Tuesday. But the horn blew on the second hole. Ouch. I hope to see you soon, my friend. You’ve done pretty well for yourself with the growing on the complex, by the way, so you’ve been out of the club for a while now, really ……..
LikeLike
Yay!!! I am so happy for you, Mark. What a huge relief this must be for you and your dear wife, Karen. We know Ellie B hasn’t been worried at all! Can’t wait for your first post telling us all about how awesome your new job is.
LikeLike
Thank you, Barb, I appreciate it. Actually, though, Ellie B is likely to be the household member this effects in the worst way. She was spoiled having me freelancing out of the house this time, and will have to get readjusted to daytime alone time …
LikeLike
That’s so true, isn’t it? I hadn’t thought of that. Maybe you can introduce the idea of “bring your dog to work days” at the new office after you’ve cemented your indispensability!!
LikeLike
That I am sure will not happen at this office, Barb.
LikeLike
Congratulations! I hope you love your new job and that they love you… which they already must, to have invited you into their midst. Good luck!
LikeLike
Thank you, Ali, Exciting times ahead, I’m quite sure!
LikeLike
Yay! Mark’s going to still be my good friend on WordPress! Yippee!
All the luck in the world and my best wishes, for Monday.
Returning to work (after any time off) can feel difficult. Just be yourself. (I could make a “Mark” pun here, but I won’t.) I second mimijk: They are lucky to have you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Ann. You are the one who will have to grant me leniency for my tardiness, my friend. ;-(
LikeLike
Granted, in advance, with pleasure.
LikeLike
Good luck!! I hope they appreciate how lucky they are to have you on their team!
LikeLike
Thanks so much, Mimi. I appreciate it, my friend. I am the fortunate one now.
LikeLike