Finally

My Christmas present from Mum and Dad. I thought the day would never come.

Sunday Afternoon Fun

After I spent the day thinking about photos and the significance of having a photo in your hands and not just on a computer screen, I decided to go through some of my boxes of pictures I had taken when I was younger. Most of my childhood photos are at my parents house in Oregon, but I managed to hang on to a few, and mostly ones that I took on my parents camera, or my Cannon point and shoot. Which speaking of, I found my old camera and brought it back to Long Beach with me, so if I can just get my hands on some film then I'll be golden. It's a newer cannon, and it's nothing fancy and definitely not ironic or vintage in any way, but it takes great pictures and I would love to start having some hard copies lying around, maybe throw together a few albums. Facebook albums just aren't cutting it for me lately. Maybe I'll get hooked and I'll become an obsessive scrap-booker. Like the kind that go to the monthly get togethers and join scrap booking societies. Sort of like tupperware parties for paper, stickers, and fancy scissors! Anyways, here are a few from my collection, enjoy.

Snap Shots

This weekend was filled with antique shopping and exploring the local flea market in Long Beach. I didn't really have a mission in mind, but I was able to collect a few gems in the form of photographs. These are a few of my favorites.


Not bad eh?

The Perks of Fun-Employment

A lay-off from a job is a lot like a break-up. You were happy...maybe not in love, but really happy--content. Then he calls you up and says "let's get some coffee..."

You're thinking coffee?? Since when do we get coffee? Okay..

This is the part where he tells you that it's not you, it's him, he just doesn't have the budget for a girlfriend anymore. To that you say "What? But I cost pennies compared to your last girlfriends!"

Then you gather your things, get your music off of his computer, and take the walk to shame back to your car, box in hand.

All that being said, and now being over the "mourning" process, no more sleeping in half the day, no more booze and ice cream... I am now reaping the few, but precious perks of Fun-Employment.

1) I made a mix. Yeah yeah yeah, a little dramatic. but seriously, one of my best coping mechanisms. Here are a few songs off of my Fun-Employment mix:

-Time To Move On......Tom Petty

-The Thanks I get.......Wilco

-P.S. It All Falls Down......Richard Swift

-How To Disappear Completely....Radiohead

-Leavin Blues....Lead Belly

Just to name a few.

2) I made more beer. Beer takes time...Time I have plenty of these days. Tyler came by on sunday and we brewed a Russian Imperial Stout. Very excited about this one.

3) I don't feel like I'm 22 going on 85 anymore. Let me explain: When I was working, I would get tired at like 9:00 at night. "Guys I gotta go to bed, I'm beat". But now I can stay up till 3 and wake up at 11...no problemo. Enjoying my youth.

4) More time to sew and make art.

5) I bought a book. I only like reading when I've got the time..vacations are prime reading time for me. I purchased East of Eden, which I have had recommended to me many many a time. 600 pages people! 600! I figure this will be my literature of choice for the next 2 years.

6) Unemployment checks. Obama extended the time available to receive unemployment, so I'm going to "cash" in on that..pun intended. Thanks Pres.

7) Budgeting skillz. This is the best time to perfect my money saving abilities. Joy.

8) I'm really stretching for this one (pun intended) but I suppose I have more time to work-out now. Although I didn't work out at Affliction even when I had a free gym and a personal trainer at hand....FAIL. But IT IS a perk non the less.

9) Assess The Situation..time. I can now figure out what I want to do next. The big question mark.

10) And last but certainly not least, I can go to Portfolio coffee house and update my blog more regularly and drink copious amounts of espresso. Like I'm doing right now...

Some Photos From Metallica

Heavy Metal

Tonight I will have the pleasure of attending a Metallica show at the Honda arena in Anaheim, joined by fellow colleagues and bosses. I'm not a huge Metallica metal head fan, but I can appreciate a band and their important place in music. Hey, it's a classic.
I will be wearing something very very similar to this. More pictures to follow after I rock n' roll this evening. Ciao.

Christmas Things List

Dear Santa,

1) Beer Glasses

2) Robots
3) Puppies
4) Cona Coffee maker
5) Stumptown coffee
Love,

Jody