week #30

Whew, back on schedule. I'm starting self defense class this week. I figured, since I'm going to be moving to the big, scary city, I better to be able to defend myself when someone wants to steal the $3 in my wallet. But, wait, I'm not just taking ANY self defense class. Oh no no no. I'm taking Krav Maga!

I will be a lean, mean, killing machine. Watch out. In a couple of weeks, if you tap me on the shoulder, I might just turn around and snap all the bones in your hand and break your nose.

week #29

I'm moving to NYC. I got a new job within my company and it's in our New York office, so come late August, I'll be a New Yorker!

I don't have a ton to say about this right now. I'm sorta stressed with trying to find an apartment, because there are so many, and they're so expensive. Do I want to go through a broker? Can I afford to live downtown? Do I want to live in Brooklyn? Queens? NJ? This posting has no picture of the apartment but it sounds nice, should I call? Email? It's all very daunting and time consuming to sift through all the information.

But, I am excited. Sad to be leaving some really great friends here, but definitely excited. I hope you'll all come visit me. And, if anyone has any apartment advice, or know someone with a really amazing apartment they want to rent me for cheap, let me know.

week #28 - gaga update

Sorry this took so long - I've had a whirlwind week (read all about it in my new thing for week #29 (post to come in like 10 minutes)). So, Lady Gaga. Let me share with you some pictures to get you in the mood.

This is the friend I went to the show with. Her outfit was great. She made her own disco-ball bra.

I took about a million photos of fans who were all gaga-ed out. I'll only post a couple - but let me tell you, this concert was a feast for the eyes even before it began.

Most. Amazing. Outfit. Ever.

Okay, so the actual concert. It was pretty awesome. If you remember back to week #1 when I started all this, you'll know that this was my very first concert ever. And what a way to start. Like her music or not, Lady Gaga put on a show. It was about two and a half hours, 10 costume changes, five set changes, and tons of dancing and lights and pyrotechnics. Her voice sounded just as good in concert as it does on the radio - in fact, I might say better, because it was live and she could add different inflections, and give ol' Cleveland a shout out or two.

I would also like to point out that I was really surprised by the number of parents who brought their 8-9-10 year old daughters. This show was most definitely NOT rated PG. It didn't bother me any, of course, but I'm not sure if I had a kid I would want her seeing and hearing some of this stuff at a young age. Lady Gaga "ate" a heart, there was tons of swearing, the lead singer for the opening act was naked on stage. There were drunk fans puking in the seats (I thought I had a picture of the girl in front of us who vommed on the girls and seats in front of her, but alas, I did not). So, call me old fashioned, but I just thought it was odd for some of those youngsters to be there.

So yah, that was my first concert. Lady Gaga popped my cherry.

week #28

I've been excited for this week for quite a while. Tomorrow night, I'm going to my veeeeeeeeeeery first concert ever. Hello Lady Gaga. Here I come!

I'll tell you more about it later. Tonight I'm just going to try to sleep and think of all the glittery, crazy costumes that I'm going to see tomorrow. I think, to honor Gaga, I'm not going to wear any pants. NO PANTS!

week #27

Happy July all. So for this week and the foreseeable future, I've become a freelance artist. Whoa, I know you're thinking this is out of the blue, but wait, let me explain. I may just be an editor to some of you, fixing commas, adjusting punctuation on quotes (come on people, learn how to quote someone!), explaining the difference between it's and its, etc., but actually, I have a degree in digital design and have taken tons of art and design classes.

My friend Mitch is always telling me to get out there and use that knowledge and talent, but I haven't. I think I'm a little worried about my skill level. Sometimes when you see your work next to your peers and you think, "oh, their piece is great, I should have changed this or that," it does put a little doubt in your mind. But I guess people are probably looking at your stuff thinking the same thing. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that.

Anyway, I joined this web site where I can post my stuff, and people can determine if they want to use me for a freelance project like creating a flyer or illustration or whatever, and I can also browse listings of people who need to have work done and bid on the job. What's the worst that can happen? I make a little extra money, add work to my portfolio, gain a little exposure -- all wins here.

Plus this gets me one step closer to becoming a recluse, expat artist living in an obscure European city. Oh, how very Hemingway.