Back to the busy.

Only one day back in the saddle and I suddenly feel like there is no time for anything else in life except work. It's all good work, mind you, but certainly something that doesn't need to rule my life. I need to work harder to find a balance, that's for sure. Tomorrow should be a nice step in the right direction.

Confidence in the product of myself.

I have spent most of the day rebuilding my demo reel and now, having finally put the finishing touches on it and setting it to upload, I am actually fairly proud of my work. I have worked many long hours in the doing(nowhere near the amount of a truly competent professional, mind you) but feel my work is starting to approach that professional feel and look that should be able to land me something good in the field. I suppose I should expect lots of rejection before that which I seek finally joins up with my daily routine... but that is always a part of truly succeeding, I would say... which is also something to be just as proud of as the successes which follow.

Networking is fun!

I thoroughly enjoy all the interesting interactions I encounter when I meet lots of new people. Some of it comes through their stories and unique perspectives. A little bit of it comes in the semi-awkward parting phase. It's all good, clean fun... and I look forward to the next opportunity to do the same!

I keep forgetting to make new business cards.

Which is pretty annoying. I keep forgetting a lot of other things, too, but few are quite as annoying, generally speaking. I don't want to be represented as a "Director of Photgraphy" forever, you know. Typos are sometimes fun... sometimes not so much. Ha. Anyway, I suppose I am the only one to blame. Thanks, me, for such a splendid memory!

Enjoying a holiday in busy time.

It was a relaxing, yet busy, day for me today. Which, while it might seem like something more annoying than desirable, is pretty much how I wanted it to go. I got to get my stereo installed, I helped my dad with a tow, I watched a movie, I did a little storage exploration, I picked up a six pack of fine root beers... all kinds of good stuff! Tomorrow will certainly pale in comparison... but that's okay. It'll still be good, too.

Relaxing on a Friday.

I am quite glad to be able to take a day off once in a while. Today was an especially delightful day off. Not a lot going on... just relaxation. No work. Nothing stressful. Good times.

Best door prize ever!

I attended a mini-conference for video editing and production in Seattle today. It was a fun little get together from many local industry folks as well as the support folks they rely on. It was the sort of thing I should have better taken the opportunity to network for.

The bonus of the whole experience, however, was the sweet door-prize I won! It was the grand prize of the whole event! I am not sure what I will be doing with it(I might just want to sell it for money)

Calming down the schedule a bit.

I really like staying busy but doing it to the exclusion of prior commitments is not what I had in mind. I have recently realized that I will have to cut back some of my hours doing what is good, but not entirely necessary, work to start catching up on some of the other things I really need to finish. I kinda look forward to it, actually.

Unintended break.

I have taken several days off of my online journalling lately. It was not part of the plan, so to speak, but neither was my creeping physical exhaustion. I suppose it represented the manifestation of my poor sleeping habits. I really need to change something... but what... and how?

Still doing the fun things.

I really enjoy doing camera work... like, a lot! I am quite inspired just by doing it even a little bit when I get the sense that I might be doing it well. And, as strange as it might sound, I think the cameraman is one of those truly unnoticed heroes with an immense level of responsibility for actually creating the best shots. I am always inspired to see the great stuff in action.

The rare good day at work.

This isn't to say that work can't be called good simply by virtue of its nature. Really, any day at work is a good day. The 'good' I am referring to today, however, is that rare day which actually feels as good as it already is. Since the time that I recently took the position of supervisor I have had very few moments/shifts I would consider to be in this category. Mostly, I think it was just a lucky fluke that it even happened today... but I'll take it... and be grateful for it! The next one might be in the distant future but I certainly look forward to that day!

Slowly stepping back.

Back, meaning earlier, in order to get more sleep. I have long ranted on my apparent inability to create better sleeping habits. Lately, however, my degenerating clarity has started to really affect me. It has certainly affected my outward appearance but that is the least of its detrimental effects. And I don't get enough naps to really soften the blow very much. Thus... tonight, I retire earlier than usual. It might only be a few minutes earlier but it still feels like a victory to me.

The fundamentals of fundamentals.

1. Fundamentals are necessary to achieving lasting success.

This is the rule that so easily gets overlooked. People want a short-cut to success and this is the rule that crushes that desire with an iron hammer... designed specifically for crushing desires. Patience is also a trait that is not commonly found among most people and, in the case of fundamentals, is quite necessary in the development of said success.

2. Fundamentals and their importance are easily forgotten.

This effect is two-fold. Firstly, it is easy to forget why fundamentals have relevance to the success of just about anything. People often achieve slivers of success which feed their ideas that fundamentals are not necessary... until those slivers get stuck under their skin... when the person realizes their insufficiency in the grander scope of lasting success. Secondly, fundamentals are easily forgotten by those who have firmly established his or her mastery of said fundamentals. Perhaps forgotten is not the right sort of word to describe it since it is more that those fundamentals have become an afterthought to the greater, more complex, more impactful, less easily acquired skills.

3. Fundamentals are the building blocks of all greater concepts.

Whether an idea, a game, a system, an environment, a skill, a sport, a way of life, or any other element of life which requires any sort of understanding, fundamentals are the simplest, most foundational elements one needs to understand in order to truly comprehend any of the greater, higher level elements and idea they combine to form.

Anyway, this has all been a practice and a reminder for myself how important fundamentals are and a little about why they are important. I need to really work on my fundamentals in so many areas of life lately... perhaps this will spur a little motivation to do so!

Walking with the honors rope in tow.

I did it. Some might say I even did it well. And now I even have some sort of documented evidence of my efforts thereunto. And it feels pretty much awesome to have done such a thing, despite the numerous reasons it may have been a poor choice. I obviously think those reasons don't outweigh the ultimately greater positive reasons for doing it... but there is always opposition to every good thing... and justifiably, aptly so. The greater the challenge the greater the victory. And thus it is for me... and on to the next, in like manner!

Somewhat perpetual ranting.

I have never been to ranty about work like I have been lately. The work part of it would not be so bad if the managerial component was not so challenging. It is really kind of a bummer. I don't like being so negative pretty much ever. On the plus side, it helps me appreciate pretty much everything else I get to do in life... so there is that. Ha.

I really enjoy my work.

Calling it mine almost feels somewhat greedy. Like as if I 'own' it or something. But it's really too fun for ownership... it's more of an experience. And a good experience, at that! I love working with cameras and film. I love the challenges and the possibilities. I love the people and the opportunity to help them shine. All good things, all good things.

Productively grateful.

Today I finally got started on my thank you letters/emails and after having only written a few I am starting to realize that it will be quite the task just writing them all out. I know it will be time well spent, however, as it is something I feel is quite important and I definitely need to practice on top of that. It could be considered an important business skill but, more importantly, I would call it a critical life skill. Gratitude expressed is one of the cornerstones of a happy life.

Kind of setting out in life.

Now it is week two of the new chapter... and it is actually kind of feeling that way. Like as if it is something new and unusual. Sort of open-ended and mysterious. There is so much to be thankful for and so much possibility for new and exciting things. There's also room for new and boring, but important things too!

Rockin' the socks off.

There is something really satisfying about a large audience which really seems to be enjoying your performance. I am sure the statement I just made is almost entirely rhetorical but the fact that I stated it at all certainly emphasizes the point anyway. Tonight's performance really felt different because of that... though, there were more people in the audience than we usually see, as well. Anyway... it was all kinds of awesome fun. That is all.

Learning about a group orgy in the car.

But nothing too freaky deaky, really. Just a goofy ol' time with the fun friends for hours. It was a great way to burn off the week's stress and a really splendid way to start the weekend. I am quite the blessed fellow, I think. And I even got a cookie with it all!

Hey, why not make it 13?

Today was even more absorbed by work than yesterday. Which is not necessarily a bad thing. I am quite tired, of course, but I really dig the sleep deepness because of it. Plus, it makes me really appreciate the more normal-length Friday that I will get to enjoy tomorrow. Ya. It's Friday/awesomeday.