On Connectivity

Like a page out of Wired Mag, technology has finally worn down my defenses and wormed its way into my heart. On Thursday Daniel bought me an iPod. The biggest, fanciest, purtiests iPod. I am not sure why or what happened, but in a matter of days I am already slighty obsessed with it. Mind you, I couldn't be called upon to buy any fancy, minutely useful, and clutter-inducing accessories for it. However, true to form, I am already planning the cozy I will knit for it. But, its not just the iPod. Yesterday, after putting it off for years, Daniel and I got our first real cell phones. I don't know if I have ever done such effective bargaining at the Verizon store, but we managed not to pay for a lot of things that were fairly being shoved down our throats. We were convinced to get insurance (did not take any convincing at all as I am a total clutz) and to pay for a text messaging package, rather than pay for 'em as you get 'em. I likened the whole process to mututal milking. I'd get her to waive something and she'd get us to add something. So, we spent more time than we had yesterday putting numbers in our phones, adding music to the iPod, and otherwise exploring our new technological attachments. Hoo-ray.

On *

Nix the last post. I went with the other guy. The guy that makes me happy. I am now officially an asterix. I've been hired as the junior designer at asterixGROUP in Portland, OR. They have "offices" in San Fran too, but I've never been there, and not sure I will. I friggin' love it. The people rock. Today I planned with one of the directors our future Big Slurp Day. A soup party at work. I got to go on a client meeting today. I got to go do photo research. Hoo-rah!

http://www.asterixgroup.com/team06.html

I am an asterix!

Tonight is Pumpkin Carving Night!

On Past and Current Events

What an amazing year this has been. Daniel has an overflowing display case of customized toys and sculpts. I've juggled six different freelance gigs. We've made new friends and rediscovered/found some old ones. I am being asked to work at 2 different places, and they are making it very tough for me to decide. I think in the end (which is tomorrow), I am going to go with the less glamorous of the two that will help us reach more of our goals sooner. And did I mention that Daniel is going to be in at least one book and maybe even two books about toys and toy customizers. We had a fabulous Pumpkin Picking Party. Craft Night is starting tomorrow at my house. We now own a big, long table (a personal dream of mine) for all our friends to sit at. My best friend is getting married to a great guy. Oh, and our wedding...well, that was just so wonderful that I am still overwhelmed thinking about it. There is so much more, but damn...its just so amazing.

Hitched

The wedding was awesome.
This is my favorite picture of us.
We had a very full day and tons of fun.
Here we are taking a break.
Daniel rocks the mothership connection!

(I am still trying to get all the photos corralled. If you have photos you'd like to share-that you didn't already give to us-let me know. We're swamped with work though, so its on the back burner for now.)

On Color

Here are my color predictions for the very near future. I've had them in my head for quite a while and only recently found these ribbons to show them. The top two are key.

The Biography of Things

Minneapolis was great! May Day was rockin'! But our friends....damn! You all kick so much ASS!

ideas I've been playing with:

1) an exploration into the Mother/Provider/Feeder (of food). Emphasis on food/feeding/nurturing.

2) what if .... the experience of an object could be art?

On Relief

I can't tell you the number of hula hoops my mind has been through over this job business. I came to the conclusion, though, that I wasn't going to get it simply because it seemed too good to be true.

And I was wrong.

I'm so friggin' excited, I can barely stand it.

p.s. If you ever come across something called a "Health Rider", back away slowly, turn, and run.
(you'll be less likely to hurt yourself running.)

On Ye Ol' Ego Boost

So, its been a while since I posted but I actually have an excuse (unlike Mr. Quist). Up until a week or so ago, I've been working 60-70 hours a week. I work my 9-5 and then work on phonebook stuff. Just seconds before I completely snapped (and trust me, I came very, very close) the phonebook went to print. We are now on a sort of hiatus. Unfortunately, this translates to a financial hiatus too; with the work went the money. Right around this time, my 9-5 (really an 8-5, but I leave at 4 because fuck lunch breaks in a crappy business park) started to get sucky. I won't get into the details, but being paid less than I am worth combined with crap means I was contemplating looking for a new job again.

Before I go on, let me apologize to those of you who are sick of hearing about my work situation. I have little else to talk about because this has been my principle concern for some time now. I am still looking for "home".

Now you may not know that this crappy 9-5 found me. I was contracting at a photo studio and working the phonebook when I got a call asking me to come in. I have a philosophy that when a job finds you, it would be both rude and stupid to not hear them out, so I went. The lure of "salaried" (albeit low) with quasi-benefits hooked me. Well, just as I am starting to regret getting hooked, I got another call. I creative staffing agency (one of the 3 main ones in Portland) asked me to come in, and at the same time a place that I did an informational interview last summer asked me to come in too. This later event is the subject of my story.

I got an email from the new project manager at this place saying that they had grown a lot in the last 6 months (indeed, her position didn't exist when I was there before) and they needed freelance (cringe) help with some upcoming projects (read: temporary (cringe again)). I had met with the Creative Director and Senior Designer who apparently both really liked me and my work. So, they wanted to talk to me. I have to tell you, I love this place. When I was there before the 3 of us were very comfortable and talked and shared and it was GOOD. Its a design firm (very good). I went in, talked with the project manager, it went well. The creative director walked by the conference room on her way out and said hello. I went to shake her hand and she friggin' hugged me! The pay is unbeleivable. I love the environment. The part-time for 6 months is a sweet schedule. I love the people. The work is gorgeous. I am trying really hard to not get excited, but DAMN its hard. I've been bitterly disappointed before, and I may be again. But the moral of the story is that I am indeed wanted. Someone I admire likes my work. And I probably won't be stuck at crappy jobs for long.

Life is good.