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Monday, April 24, 2006
Life's Work
I went to Whole Foods for a dinner break from work tonight and met an independent filmmaker from Los Angeles. During the conversation I brought up that we had moved to Los Angeles so my husband could work on creating an interactive game-like experience that had the emotional content of a movie. He thought that was a good idea and could see how that would appeal to an adult or female audience that hadn’t been yet captivated by traditional games and game-hybrids. “Well, it is his life’s work,” I said of Jonathan. The man nodded sagely.
I am sometimes jealous that Jon has a calling, something important he feels inside him that he must do. He has his “life’s work” set out for him and it is meaningful and difficult and worthwhile. I think that is why I am so accepting of the sacrifices of moving and moving again, because I know it is in pursuit of his goals and want to support him in that. Besides, it isn’t like that is interfering with my plans, or lack thereof.
What is my “life’s work”? How will I find such a calling? It is a really nice day up here in Seattle and so I really wanted to just sit out on a patio somewhere or settle in by the lake and think about this, but, despite the lovely sunshine and fresh air, I needed to hustle myself back into the office for an another all night work extravaganza.
But I wanted to make sure I wrote down this thought I had, in the hopes of recapturing it on another sunny day when I do have the opportunity to sit down and ponder and scribble ideas into a journal. I need to find my life’s work, or at least come up with some way of searching for it. Perhaps it isn’t one thing, but an array of things that I need to be a part of while I’m still alive. Perhaps it is just a lot of little things I work towards, ever so subtly, every day of my life.
Perhaps what I should do is write down all the possibilities that come to mind on tiny pieces of paper, then arrange them and rearrange them in case they start to form a picture of how all the separate things relate to each other and form a strange, wonderful whole.
.: posted by Zemlet 7:44 PM
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
I Foooound It!
Yes! I found a coffee shop to hang out in! I am SO happy! It is called the Rumor Mill and they have killer sandwiches and my favorite breakfast done just how I like. They also have a cool atmosphere and free wireless, which are pre-requisites for a hangout I can spend massive amounts of time in. The atmosphere reminded me of "Cupcake Royale" not -too- whacky (Cranium Coffee) and not -too- corporate (Cafe Zoka), but just right. And without crying kids (Cloud City). If they could only get a disco ball (Cloud City) they would be set. Apparently they also do music acts and have an open mic (Trabant Lounge). To up the funkiness factor, there is a laundromat next door and an outdoor patio (no Seattle equivalent). I have to say, this was the first spot on my list to check out as a possible official Zemlet hangouts, so I am unsure if I should stop looking or keep going down the list. I also met a guy there named Travis who has some idea for other places to put on my list, and I still need to call Sevina to ask about places she likes. But this looks like a good hangout to me, so I am psyched.
I am trying hard to explore my surroundings instead of just complaining that I miss Seattle (or Oakland, for that matter). I ate at the pop minimalist GR Eats and really liked it there, so hopefully I'll go back again this week. I also learned how to get on the 405 freeway, so I can now tell people the best way to get to our house instead of just "look it up on the internet". Hopefully soon, I'll have found enough cool hangouts, eateries, shopping areas, attractions, etc. that I can make a new LA section for my web site and list it all. Eric and Mel are visiting soon (yay) and Skyhawk said yesterday that he wants to fly down to visit us and Stacy and her crew. So I'll need to play the local guilde and come up with suggestions of where to eat and what to see. My own "map of the stars" as it were.
I also made sun tea, wore dark glasses and drove around with the top down today, so I feel like a real Angeleno. Of course, there was a problem in the garage that set off the fire alarm this morning, so I got to see a lot of my pissed off neighbors in their PJs. Always something going on in the big city.
I worked 32 hours over the weekend, even pulling an all nighter to meet a deadline for a client. Then I take a three hour nap and they changed a 22 page section into a 2 page section while I was asleep, due to a proposal addendum. When I woke up, they were all complaining about how would they be able to turn 20 pages into 1? I told them to give me an hour and I'd do it. AND I DID. That is why they pay me the big bux oh yeah. This project lasts the rest of the week and possibly next weekend as well. Weeks like this make me wonder why I want a real job when I can make so much cash doing this and then goof off the rest of the month. Perhaps I should try to cut a new deal with them where they put me on retainer or something. Hmmm... no. Those people are crazy and my last "on retainer" job didn't work out so well. I better get back to the "get a real job" concept. I can probably make better money with a steady income that with these crazy bursts of activity.
I don't know what the future brings, but I bet it will cost money.
.: posted by Zemlet 2:43 PM
Monday, April 10, 2006
Almost totally unpacked
----------OK here is my countdown to being done--------------------------
Furniture waiting to be put together: while shelves (X2), curtain rod
Boxes still packed: 1
And I have totally not organized the clothes storage, so that every day my husband has to ask me where clean underpants are. (This is an exaggeration, however I think it is funny that it is perfectly acceptable for me to use "underpants" in a sentence, since it also includes, "husband".)
I went to the store today and was freshly reminded of how crazy everyone in LA drives! I always grab a cart that has been abandoned in the lot to take up to the door with me. That way I am a more visible obstruction and if anyone hits me with their car anyway, I will be able to do maximum damage as they mow me down.
Another random tip for living in LA. Take the Airport to Union Station shuttle! It is only 3 bucks and gets you all the way from West LA to the heart of downtown, where you can grab a Metro or Amtrak very easily! You used to have to change trains 3 times to do this, but now you take a bus straight there. Such a deal! While I have no idea why anyone would want to, there is also a shuttle to Van Nuys, so lookout and make sure you get on the right one. I used this to take Amtrak to Santa Barbara and it was SO GREAT. Quiet and relaxing, and such great views! Plus, you get your own PLUG! I used my plug to run my air gun to dry painted art pieces I made while the train was going. I got like 30 ATCs totally done, it was great! I vowed then to tell everyone I knew about this new shuttle service and how great it is also to take the train. I went on a Saturday and had a whole car almost to myself.
I just got back from Artfest and need to post photos of my new pieces. I made this sculpture thing that is a shrine comemorating a fateful spaceship crash, using some crap I bought at Archie McPhee's and a light bulb. While that was my favorite thing, I didn't get many props for it. I don't think people got it. They were more excited about my other stuff. Oh well. I also learned to make my own rivets from wire! That was really the highlight... that and etching metal from xerox transfers. Those were both learned from Kieth Lo Bue who has so much energy, it was really fun.
.: posted by Zemlet 9:06 PM
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