I thought it might be a good time for another "general life update" since I am sure I have been a little under the radar for a while. I type this with two of the fingers on my left hand in a painful state from being jammed during basketball last night... and on last thursday. Ha. I am glad they are not hindering my typing very much. They only hurt if I bend them.
Aspect of Life 1: Financial State/Work/Job Hunting
Holy majoly... I have not done any satellite related work that I have been paid for since March 8... Whoah! And it was pretty slow up to that point as well. Sure the pay for the work was good, and was expected to pick up, but it didn't improve or even surface in any paying form since. Thus, the job hunt ensued...
I have been lucky to get a little graphics work since then. A little. I'll be sending out the invoice for that today so that'll help. Otherwise I have been looking online and calling people in my attempt to find suitable work. The economy the way it is, and the type of work I prefer, makes things all the more challenging and sometimes annoying to wade through. I do have a second interview with Kits Camera so that's cool. At least it is work that I am sure I will enjoy assuming I take the job.
One thing this has all done is cause me to reflect on my future career and stability more than I normally do. It has encouraged me to seek the best ways possible to increase my future job security - namely, do what I can to figure out a way to get back to school.
The thought of school has always prompted mixed feelings in me. I truly enjoy the learning environment of school. I love learning about pretty much everything, generally making every classroom experience a fond memory and something to look forward to. The mixed side of it comes when I consider the cost and time. It is indeed a very foggy area to attempt to peer through... a lot of unknowns and uncertainty. Something I expect to be a positive experience nonetheless.
Aspect of Life 2: Location, location, location
I made the move up here to Washington in the expectation that I would return to my beloved Californian abode in prompt fashion to resume my life there with new financial momentum and purpose. The decision to even make the move weighed quite heavily on me as it felt more like a very hard pill to swallow than I wanted to deal with. The blue pill? The red pill? Ha. Red it is!
Now, as is clearly obvious, I have been up here for about nine months with no clear expectation of when, or even if, I can make my way back to California. I am in worse financial shape than when I arrived(obviously a temporary situation), I don't technically have my own working vehicle(my Dish Network boss is kindly lending me his truck until I can buy it), and above all of that I am inclined to stay in the area to see what might evolve with a girl I am interested in up here(quite an unusual thing coming from me.) I still don't even have a clear idea what she thinks of me. Ha. Talk about a logical reason for
staying put in Washington.
Anyway... I feel inclined to say some sort of good-bye to all the California folk who have been expecting, as I have been, my return to the 'golden state'. This is an awful way to do it, and I plan to make proper parting plans(phone calls, return trip to get my stuff out of storage/party, etc),but I think this is definitely a good, wussy way to break it to some of my friends. Ha... Blast, that stinkin' red pill!
Aspect of Life 3: Health of Mind, Body and Spirit
I am currently, jacked up fingers aside, in pretty good physical shape and only planning to get better. I have been regularly playing pickup basketball at the church 2-3 nights a week for the greater part of the last four months or so and the effects of it are warmly received. I recently made the decision to actually focus on increasing my vertical leap. I have never actually worked out with that intent before so I am hopeful to see if I can add the six inch minimum of my goal... although I am really shooting to add a foot... Ha! Definitely a challenging goal!
I try to make it to the dances when I can for the physical benefits I derive there. I like to burn it up when I can and make sure I get a splendidly potent workout in the process. I wish I could say I go to increase my chances with the ladyfolk but the one ladyfolk I am interested in doesn't usually go and probably would not be particularly impressed by my spastic limb-flinging dance funk. But hey, who knows except her? Regardless... I enjoy the workout.
I have lost about 15lbs or so since I have moved here(still would like to drop another 10lbs or more.) I have cut out fast food almost completely(seems to be about once a month or less lately.) Even started learning how to cook a little. I have made some progress at eating breakfast during breakfast time, although I still have a bit more progress to make on that account. My sleeping habits are improved but still have a long way to go. I have started to occasionally do mini sessions of stretching(very mini) to increase my flexibility. All of this has been quite a blessing to my overall self-esteem and optimism.
I have also made a few good steps forward in the improvement of my mental and spiritual health. The biggest one being the regular, consistent study of the scriptures for a minimum of a half-hour daily. The impact of such an activity is too great to be measured, it suffices me to say I can not see returning to life without it. I have also increased the length and quality of my personal prayer, a likely side effect of the aforementioned step, and a similarly increased benefit in the length and quality of my journal writing, which may also be a benefitting attribute to my mental health.
Aspect of Life 4: Art, Music, Writing, in Creativity and Expression
I purchased a nice little acoustic nylon-string guitar on 'Black Friday' last year after Thanksgiving, taking advantage of a great sale being held at Guitar Center. I had been wanting to pick up a full size acoustic for quite some time and I am quite pleased that I did! I try to keep it with me at all convenient times and places and as a result I have practiced and written with it more and more. Not that I am into 'extreme dedication' mode or anything but I probably play at least a little almost every day and have noticed improvement overall because of it. I am even writing music again. That always feels good, especially when it comes out beautifully rendered.
I also got the bug to get back into my hand-drawn art and picked up a sketch pad to do so. I didn't make it past the first page but found out that digitizer tablets for the computer are cheap now(sub $100 for a small one) and after picking one up have become quite energized for doing art again. It is encouraging as I have never before been able to combine my graphic design skills with my artist skills in quite the same way before. It makes me feel like I could actually be a professional artist or something. Ha. Maybe I am
delusional about it but I still feel it anyway.
I recently started a wedding gift for a couple of friends who just got married last weekend. I thought I would be able to finish it in a couple days but the more I got into it the more quality it became and the more I wanted to make sure I gave it my best. I work on it at least a little everyday and I now estimate I will be able to get it finished in a couple weeks or so. I'll post it up when I am finished since I am sure I will be quite proud of the finished result.
Aspect of Life 5: Family, Friends, and Foes
I have enjoyed being close to my blood-related family since I have been here. They are truly a great source of strength and peace. Something I had surely missed as I was away for all those years. It's really cool to be able to play some basketball and ping pong with my nephews once in a while too.
I love my friends! They are all the raddest, most kind, people ever! They treat me unfairly well... I wish I could return the favor to all of them... they are truly deserving of my effort. California, Idaho, Utah, Washington, and everywhere else they reside. I am exceptionally blessed!
As for foes? I guess I am my only foe at the moment. I would have it no other way as I am quite the foe to conquer sometimes.
So I think that about covers it. I mean, what else is there? Good times, that's what! I guess this has yet again been a bit of a long adventure in bloggingdom. I hope it has been at least informative, since I am sure it has not been very entertaining, and that I have not lost any Califriendians in the process!
p.s. (Hey! What happened to being able to post what music I am listening to?)
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