Friday Guilt...

Well, it seems that Mommy Sheep raised her little girl right. I'm sporting the guilts for having been less than responsible over the past week. First, I failed in my blogging responsibilities in order that I might write a bad paper. Then I missed work today for a doctor's appointment. These would all probably be forgivable under the circumstances. But I can think of no good excuse for my having blown off meeting with my boss at job #2 today. All I can say is that it was cold and I wanted to go home and take a nap. Instead of meeting today, we will be sitting down next Tuesday night. More on that in a bit. Meanwhile, let's all just enjoy my Friday Guilt Post, shall we?

A funny thing happened on the way to the knitting needles today. The plan was to see if I couldn't make some headway on sleeve #2 in preparation for the upcoming school vacation. This struck me as a time with sweater seaming written all over it. In anticipation of a completed sweater, I took a moment to lay out the existing pieces in all their block-resistant glory. To be so close to the finish line must surely give a Sheep that little extra boost of knitting speed.

I mean, c'mon! How can you not see the potential here???

But, like I said: A funny thing happened. I tripped over a spinning wheel. The same wheel that has languished over the past couple of months while I get over a serious bout of the blahs with regard to the whirling of the fibers. I guess I'll do just about anything to avoid pesky finishing techniques.

Fiber that was dyed last weekend. It was pretty much unavoidable...

What can I say? I am weak. I do not see myself plowing through this particular lot of fiber in short order. In fact, I suspect that it will find its way to the yarn state in, at best, fits and starts. But it surely is purty! And soft like the clouds.

Now, about that Tuesday meeting...

I'm in need of a little expertise from those of you out there who might know of these things. I called the office to reschedule today's meeting and discuss a little "development." Last week, in an unexpected turn of events, my name and the word "copyright" were used in the same sentence. As some of you know, I have been writing a series of articles to be used with the Parenting Education program my boss and I are developing. I have also shared that my agency is the much smaller satellite version of the main offices. We operate independently, but are under their umbrella. They have approved of the program and are most enthusiastic. Enough so that they are considering pursuing a copyright. I didn't really think much of it until today when my boss expressed some concerns. I won't go into great detail, but she feels strongly that my work is quite good and should remain under my control.

Being who I be, my first response is always something along the lines of, "Aw, shucks! T'werent nuthin'! They can have it!" Self-deprecation is a skill of mine. But, my boss was persistent. She pointed out that the articles were written based on my own experience as an educator and counselor and not a compilation of previously existing work. There are other issues around the possible copyright, but they are of a larger issue and too complex for my wee little brain to really condense for you.

My boss would like to see me retain control over the material that I have written in the event that I choose to expand upon it or use it in another manner. I have no issue with the agency using the articles since they paid me for the time it took to write them. But I have absolutely no idea what rights that gives them over them. Does anyone have any thoughts or experience around this? My tentative position, given the agency's current circumstances, is that they paid me for my time but not for the content. They have my full permission to use it in any way they see fit. But I would like to retain control over it for future use or inclusion in larger works.

Or maybe I'm just sick of it and want to take a nap. I can't really decide. And it's Friday so the brain cells are not quite in full functioning mode. This is why I like the knitting...once you knit something you can wear it and no one can tell you that the buttons do not meet the terms of the contract.

They can, however, tell you that the buttons do not meet the terms of your girth. This is another issue I'm having with finishing this current project...

SA