16 posts tagged “mike”

As usual, not much of importance has been happening for me. I still find myself longing for some sort of adventure or discovery, but I figure I'm the type of person who will always be searching for something else so I'm coming to terms with it... I guess. ;)  I'm just bored. I want to learn new things and I'm horribly impatient. There are a few things that I've wanted now for quite some time and none of them seem to be getting any more attainable. Anyone who actually reads this journal should know by now that the top of my 'to-do' list is to get to Asia. (Tokyo preferably but Bangkok more realistically and likely) At this point, even I'm sick of hearing me talk about it so I really just need to get there in order to get it out of my system, I think. However, maybe upon arriving there I'll be even more infatuated and only return to Canada with a stronger desire to get back to Asia. I guess we'll see... eventually.

Another item on that list of things I'm impatiently waiting for is to get my dog. Unfortunately our new apartment, though ripe with perks, also comes with the drawback of not allowing pets. The other building in the complex does, however, so there's always the chance we'll move into that one sometime in the future. The idea of moving yet again just so we can get a dog seems pretty silly though. Who knows. Mike and I are both pretty serious about it and I think we'd get a puppy tomorrow if we could. I really miss having that companionship. I've always had a dog since I was two years old, so it's been strange not having one for so long.

Work has been going more or less good. I've gotten into one of my design-funks where I lose all confidence in my work and can't seem to produce anything. Fortunately, I've spent the last two weeks doing realistic renderings of things so I'm at least in my comfort zone. I find that even though I still lack a lot of finesse as an illustrator, I feel much more comfortable with it than design. At some point in life I can see myself focusing on it entirely, though it'll be a long time coming I'm sure.

I also have a hard time reading people at work and tend to worry about how I'm perceived. I really like everyone there and think two of my co-workers in particular are hysterically funny but in typical Jared fashion, can't seem to open up to them. I can't figure out whether they intend to lengthen my contract when the woman I'm covering for is back from maternity leave but if I'm being realistic, I really don't think they will. For one, they don't really have the room for me in the office so they'd have to make special arrangements just to bring me on. Plus, I'm not sure if they'd really need an additional person. Things are pretty hectic at work right now, and I know the bosses are working crazy overtime but I get the impression it's not very common for them to be that swamped. And plus, I haven't really done anything impressive enough for them to think I'd be valuable enough to keep in spite of any complications that may come along with it. That's not me being negative, just honest. I think I'm fairly decent at what I do but I can identify my shortcomings and know that there are several areas of design that I struggle with. I think it's fairly lucky that they just happen to have a few illustration jobs coming through the office at the moment.

Anyway, I guess what I'm saying is that at this point, I assume I'll be looking for another job in July if only because they simply don't need another full-time employee. I won't worry about it until then though. I'm making this seem much more dramatic than it actually is. :)

Speaking of work, my whole office and Mike went for dinner and drinks last night. I had an extremely good night. My bosses are ridiculously funny and light hearted. They crack inappropriate jokes, poke fun at some of their more eccentric clients (and there are so many) and are just all-around fun people. I find that I'm a lot more open when I'm not in the office setting so at least they get to see a little more of my personality when we all go on outings - whether that's a good thing or not remains to be seen. ;) Not to mention, they're crazy generous. They paid for everyone's cabs but also paid for seven people's dinner, (steaks with blue-cheese and chocolate sauce :) ) drinks, desserts, etc. Plus, they bought me and my two other co-workers awesome new jackets from Veer. (picture below) Of course, they also bring treats into the office ALL the time, take us out for lunches, buy as coffee, and so on. I think I got very lucky with my first job - which makes it a little crappy that I likely won't be staying around after the summer. <:)

Anyway, I'm ranting. Here's my new design-themed jacket which is geeky as hell but awesome all the same. Oh, and I finally got my beanie from Scott last week and have been wearing it entirely too often considering the unusually warm weather around here. :) I love it.

Ta ta.

This weekend is proving to be quite the expensive one. I'm making good on my promise to make our new apartment a comfortable, inviting home rather than just another transitional, temporary place. My wallet is begging for mercy. :) It doesn't help that Thursday (Friday for Mike and I) was Valentine's Day. I took Mike out for dinner at a charming New Orleans-style restaurant. I spent about what I expected to for dinner, drinks, appetizers, and dessert, but I still have guilt over forking over so much money for food I could have made at home if I would just put the time in. In fact, I've made jambalaya several times at home so it's a tad pointless to go out and order it somewhere else. ;) Whatever. Mike got to have his oysters. Gross.

For my Valentines gift, Mike bought me a new pair of running shoes and insoles. He was going to buy me a Nintendo DS - something I've been considering buying myself for months now - but in a rare moment of maturity and responsibility, I vetoed the decision in favor or shoes instead. Seriously, the fact that I've gone 22 years without proper insoles for my hob-goblin feet and can still walk is a modern miracle. Actually, I like my feet, but my arches are ridiculously high. I have the feet a sexy stilleto dreams of. Unfortunately I've always been too cheap to buy myself the proper shoes, or better yet, get orthotics so I've been know to have serious foot cramps on occasion. So while Mike's gift might not seem overly romantic for the occasion, it's actually very sweet. :) It still feels really weird to walk with my entire foot supported though. I've been walking on the outside of my feet for my entire life...

And those insoles came in handy yesterday for walking through IKEA for hours. With my new determination to love my surroundings, frugality has been abandoned. I spent nearly 700 dollars in a few short hours... heh. Fortunately, when shopping at IKEA, $700 goes a long way and our apartment will basically be fully furnished once the delivery arrives next week. Our loot from yesterday includes:

• a coffee table and two matching end tables
• a bookcase cabinet with doors
• four kitchen chairs
• four thick cushions
• one large area rug
• two hand-blown frosted glass lamps with beautiful pattern (LOVE THEM)
• one orb lamp (funky as can be)
• three CD storage boxes
• one giant glass vase with 6' willow branches
• one magnetic backsplash for the kitchen with three magnetic spice containers. (So fun)
• various necessities such as screws, hooks, etc.

So I think we did alright for the amount of money we spent. So far we've spent less than a grand on our place and we're already loving it. Our next big purchases are going to be a bedframe with hidden shelves in the headboard, (we already have it picked out and love it) a new duvet and sheet set since our current duvet just got ruined a few days ago, and possibly a new computer table on wheels designed for laptop use while in bed. After that, we'll be done and will have only spent a modest amount. I'm still on the lookout for frames for the prints I've picked out and we're still debating whether we're going to paint the bedroom or not. I finally have Mike on board for the gorgeous blue-gray I have in mind. I've never been the materialistic type and I consider myself to be anything but snotty when it comes to having 'things' but I've got to admit that actually putting effort into my surroundings has had a huge impact on my happiness. I'm starting to feel like the old me again. :)

And now, I have to go spend even more money because I split yet another pair of jeans yesterday. That's five pairs of pants in the last year that I've ripped the crotch out of. I cannot explain it because it really makes no sense. If I was splitting the ass out than I'd assume that my butt was just too big and it was time to give up the chocolate (NEVER!) but it's just the crotch. Maybe I should stop buying cheap pants.

Oh, and I'm very thankful that today is a holiday in Alberta. I've never heard of Family Day, but I'll gladly celebrate it.

Love yah. ;)

I picked up the boy yesterday and had the expected teary reunion. It's hard to believe how much time has passed since Mike was here last. I'm impressed we were able to do the long distance thing so well. I must really love the bastard. ;) The good news is that from now on, we're be living together and I won't be the emo, piny, loser I've been this year.

Unfortunately, I had to dismantle the exhibition yesterday and didn't have a lot of time to spend with the boy. He left this morning to visit his parents for a few days, but on Wednesday, he'll be back and the romance begins.

Oh, and Mike had a surprise for me, proving his lasting power as the perfect boyfriend. He bought me a school ring. Mike's more excited and proud of my graduation than I am and I thought it was incredibly sweet that he was determined that I have something to symbolize my education. I love my boyfriend.

I just woke up after less than four hours sleep. I have to work in the gallery all night and will likely be a cranky little bitch hyped up on Red Bull. But I don't care.

Two posts in two days. What's gotten into me? You can tell the school year is wrapping up when I have time to update the journals again. Hopefully I'll make a habit of it as more time frees up.

I was up until six thirty this morning talking to the boy on the phone and working on school stuff. My head is playing tricks on me lately, fooling me into thinking I have more free time than I do since things are so close to being over. I anticipate at least two more all-nighters before I get out of here, but probably more. Mike is home in less than two weeks and I leave for Edmonton in roughly three. :) I never like to wish time away, but nine months is a long time to be away from my guy. I want April 14th to be here now.

Part of my tasks today was aging some signs for our exhibition space. I figured out a cool technique in Illustrator using Opacity Masks which is giving some great results. I like how it remains editable which is something I couldn't'achieve in Photoshop. I really am a geek for this stuff. I love learning tricks.

Anyway, back to work. Got to get the files ready for printing tomorrow.
P.S. Steve and Julé are still my favorite bitches.

When is the last time you stayed up all night?

Ha ha!  Right now.  And two nights ago.. and a few night before that.. hell, basically twice a week this entire year. Soon I shall sleep again.

I got bored tonight after my movie and decided to play around in Painter for a bit. Starting painting the boy. It's nowhere near finished yet, but I'm liking the progress so far. Should I ever finish it, I'll post the results.

I woke up happy today. I was refreshed, alive, and ready to start my day. That has not happened in a very long time. I've been putting in long hours to get work done, but things are winding up nicely. The exhibition is underway and it looks as if things are going pretty smoothly. (I better not have just jinxed us because that would suck.)

My morning was pretty productive. I started off by learning the stripper dance in Beyonce's new video seen here:

Beyonce - Sugar Mama
Yes, I'm that gay. :)

Now pleased with my new slut moves, I went window shopping with Trevor and wound up at the studio to get a little bit of work done on the exhibtion piece. The twenty minutes I intended to spend turned into two and a half hours as I realized my prints were mis-cut and my backing board was fucked as well. Many measurements later, I was back on track and finished my task.

Home, candy, television, and mindless internet surfing filled the time left before I met up with Jenn, GY and Erin to see The Hills Have Eyes 2 which turned out to be as equally gruesome as the first. I know a lot of people think these movies suck, but they're some of the few horror/gore movies that still effect me so I plan to keep seeing them. It's no fun seeing a horror movie without being scared.

Now home, I'm downloading a few horror movies I've been recommended and various music tracks. I also just got some freaking awesome news! Mike found us a place to live for May. Not only is this very relieving, but the place sounds MUCH better than I was expecting. It's a three level, three bedroom, 1.5 bath townhouse with a basement, fireplace, and fenced in yard. :) I can't wait to have a yard again. Barbecues in the summer, and space for the pug to run around.

I feel very happy and very in love. Things are good for me right now and I'm very lucky. Any hesitations I once had are so far gone I can't believe I ever had them. My boyfriend is going to be here in two weeks and I'm going to be a happy little fella. :D

MWAH!

Emotional Rollercoaster...

I think it's a sign of me overdoing it that I practically told off a homeless man on the way home today. I've been working long hours - thirteen hours in the studio yesterday, and then another four when I got home, and another eleven in the studio today with an undetermined amount of hours yet to come tonight. I've been exhausted, stressed, and irritated, not to mention starving from lack of eating during the day. So when a man who likely spent his day sitting on his ass called me a prick for not giving him money - which by the way I was without since I rarely carry cash - I almost lost it. It's pretty fucking irritating to be insulted by someone who sits around for a living* when I'm working my ass off, and paying thousands of dollars to do it! 

Today is very crappy. I've been travelling for twelve hours at this point and I still have three more ahead of me. I'm very tired, very cranky, and horribly depressed. Urgh.

I'm currently in Toronto, which wasn't even one of my original stop-overs. After leaving Mike this morning, crying like a pussy in the cab, and feeling proud for my ability to navigate the Edmonton airport, I was feeling alright. I arrived in Winnipeg on time, the flight was smooth, and my ears didn't bother me at all like I was worried about. There was a half hour delay to board my next flight which was fine because I had a three hour stop-over in Ottawa awaiting me anyway. Well, that half hour delay slowly turned into two hours, during which time we boarded the plane, sat in silence for a good half hour, and were then told we had to get off again. Computers somewhere weren't working. I finally got my flight switched and was lucky enough to get put on a flight leaving twenty minutes later. As I was boarding my new flight, there was an announcement that all other flights with Air Canada Jazz, including my original flight, had been cancelled and were being rebooked for tomorrow. I guess I was lucky.

Despite the major pain in my ass, and the three extra hours of travel time, some good came out of the delay. I literally ran into a movie star in the Winnipeg airport. It was either Shawn Ashmore (Ice Man in the X-men trilogy) or his twin brother Aaron Ashmore(Troy Vandergrafff from Veronica Mars.) They're twins you see, so I have no idea which one it was. Regardless, they're freaking hot and I was mometarily overwhelmed by my fanatic queer side and almost got all creepy. You'll be proud to know I kept it together, however, and I managed to sustain my glee when he smiled at me. Oh yes, he smiled. :D

Oddly enough, on my flight to Toronto, they were playing X3 featuring Mr. Shawn Ashmore himself. Coincidence? Yes.

Oh yeah, and I also got a free meal because of the inconvenience. It was roast beef. Ew.

And that's about all I have to report while I wait. I'm horribly anxious to get home and go to bed. I can already forsee a very emotional night for myself. I'm worn out and sad to be going home alone and it's quite lonely to arrive home after a long day of travel and have no one waiting for you. :(  This whole long distance relationship thing is really no fun, just let me say.

Wish me luck. One more flight to go.