I’m not dead.

I’ve been busy with freelance and regular work. And my novel. Yes, I actually went through with the NaNoWriMo challenge.

I’m started out ahead, but am now about a good 3000 words behind. Hope I can make it up this weekend. Writing is hard.

Time: January 26, 2008
Place: University of South Alabama campus

It was a very muggy day, but Mr. White wanted to have a photo shoot (he wanted to get some shots of his fauxhawk before he cut it), so out we went. The only good thing about the weather was that the overcast skies caused for there not to be harsh shadows. However, it was this shoot that finally convince me to get my 50mm lens. The shots just weren’t coming out like I wanted. I needed a new lens because I just wasn’t getting what I wanted. I did end up getting a few decent shots towards the end.

(more…)

It is so slow at work right now, you have no idea.

 When I got here at 2pm, the presses were already shut down for the day. That’s never happened in the 10 months I’ve been working here. Without the constant hum of the machines, it’s eerily quiet.

[Sharon goes to the back to check the fax machine for orders.]

Nope. Still nothing.

[Sharon checks the email orders.There are 2 orders to download.]

Ok, so there’s no longer nothing to do now. Still, it’ll probably take me less than 10 minutes to process these orders, then I’m back to square one.

[15 minutes later. . ]

So, it took me a little longer than I expected. I had to manipulate some artwork. And now Richard has brought me three more cards to typeset. With that, I’ll say adieu.

11.02.2007 – Travis from Gym Class Heroes performs for the Young Wild Things Concert Tour in Orange Beach, AL. They were my favorite act of the night, and they performed my favorite of their songs, so it was cool seeing them live.

11.03.2007 – Vincent, age 4. He’s such a cutie.

11.08.2007 – Another late night.

11.09.2o07 – Service awards were presented to employees for their years of working for the company. Food followed. I wasn’t too thrilled about the hamburgers and hot dogs, but the potato salad catered by Naman’s was hittin’. That’s Jessica hamming it up.

11.15.2007 – I have too many photos of myself in the mirror wearing this shirt.

11.16.2007

My sis working on a suit she’s wore on the Special Assembly Day.

While attempting to take my self portrait for the day at work one evening, the shutter fired prematurely.

11.22.2007 – Chloe, age 5.

11.22.2o07 – Maria, age 3.

11.22.2007 – Chloe’s not too thrilled about Maria’s affections.

But, they manage to make peace coloring together. . .

. . . and playing together.

11.25.2007 – Special Assembly Day. It’s Cynthia, looking lovely. I shot her wedding back in February.

11.25.2o07 – Laura and baby Tyler. He’s so precious.

11.25.2007 – Nicole. . .details, details.

11.30.2007 – The caboose. I’ve developed a fondness for the jeans sold at Buckle.

And, I’m 25 now.

My world, it moves so fast today
The past it seems so far away
And life, it squeezes so tight that I can’t breathe.
—”The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill”

Yeah, life’s been crazy busy these last few weeks. Two of my co-workers lost family members in death in one week. Then, at the end of that week, one of my co-workers (Marge) got a new job, so she would be leaving. That would leave me to work her shift, since things are slow and the boss wouldn’t be replacing her. However, it was cool to see what happens when you leave a job on good terms. Apparently, you get pizza and a big congratulatory cake. (Awesome!) I’m really happy for her, though.

But, back to my lack of sleep. It’s crazy, when your circadian rhythm gets off, it’s hard to get it back on. I’m used to staying up late at night. I didn’t have to be to work til 10, but hardly ever got to sleep in because something never failed to come up to rob me of that precious extra hour or so of sleep.

Case in point: A couple of weeks ago I had a freelance job, that was supposedly a rush and I would only have about 5 days to put together this brochure for the company, no more. Monday morning rolls around, and I’ve dropped of the disk and think that I’m done with the thing. That was not the case, and I kept getting calls about the thing and things that needed to be changed/added/fixed. I ended up having an whole extra week to work on the thing. I was more than a little miffed that I had missed all that sleep working on it the previous weekend for nothing.

Whatever.

October has also been a month full of “grown-up” moments for me. Things like going to the dentist on my own dime and insurance. Or missing another dental appointment, so, instead, opting to take a trip to the optometrist and getting that long overdue eye exam, plus contacts and a new pair of glasses.

Still, through all this, my personal art has been neglected. I was greatly inspired by the shoot with Carvin last month, but I haven’t really done anything since. I really need to draw more. Something. Anything. Slam evil. But we buy out the time to do the things that we’re truly passionate about.