Domestic Geek

Sorry 'bout the lack of posting this last week. Between working 60 hours, commuting 2.5 hours a day (mostly in rush hour traffic), sitting in front of a computer for 7.5 hours total at work and being totally immersed in a particular Harry Potter fanfic, the last thing I want to do when I get home is sit here and think of something to type. I'm also not getting enough sleep because I haven't trained myself to go to sleep almost immediately after I get home from work. As soon as I get some bills caught up and save the money to get my legal software, I'm starting my web design business and dropping the pizza job. God, it's getting harder and harder to be there every day. Especially now that I've had a taste of working somewhere that is NOT dysfunctional--where people have pride in their work and get along, where you're appreciated for your hard work, where the boss is actually competent and leads the company and where it actually feels as if I've accomplished something at the end of the day. I don't think I've ever had a job like that. It actually feels good.

There's one great perk to working at a screen printing company. My t-shirt wardrobe is going to be huge. I can have any shirt currently being printed and all I have to pay for it is the cost of the shirt. Neat, huh? It also gives me the opportunity to eventually have some portfolio pieces.

This week they gave me a shirt printed from the first file I set up as a souvenir. I had to recreate a logo and make the films. It was amazing to watch my work being printed on a shirt and it looked pretty decent, if I do say so myself.

Apparently this company has a line of shirts that are sold to be souvenirs and such. After a certain number of shirts are produced, the designer starts getting a cut. I need to design some of those shirts. If I design something that sells well, I could continue to make money even if I no longer worked for the company.

One thing has become clear to me this week, however. I need to get over my Photoshop fear and really learn how to use it. There is one designer that creates shirts for one of our clients that are absolutely amazing. They do about a shirt a week and I plan on getting all of those designs printed for myself. He submits almost perfect files that are all broken down into channels for the inks. I still find any printing process amazing. The effects that can be created by 4-6 colors floors me.

I'm starting to think the birth control pill I'm on is causing my female problems. Towards the end of my period last week, I was starting to feel better. After taking my pill for two days, I felt like shit again and it got progressively worse as the week went on. I need to talk to someone about changing my perscription and see if that changes anything.

Well, enough of this. I need to get myself ready to head to the pizza place. Damn, I really don't want to go there anymore. That place is so freakin' depressing.

It's amazing how having cool bosses makes working so much easier. My new workplace is really neat. Today we had a staff BBQ. I guess they provide Friday lunch on quite a regular basis. The owner actually comes around personally to deliver paychecks on Fridays and thanks you for your hard work for the week. He also brought beer up to the art department to kick off the weekend with the art director and myself.

The only problem I'm having is trying to be too perfect. I need to learn how to let some minor details go. It will come in time, though. At least this work produces something tangible--not like food that will be digested and then gone.

Got the test results back from the clinic—negative. So, still no idea what's wrong. Maybe I'm just doomed to feel shitty. I've thrown over $300 at this problem. I think I'm getting better on my own, but I can't really tell as Aunt Flo came to visit today. We'll see what's going on in 5 days or so.

OK, I'm really pooped. I'm going to bed.

Yay, first day in the books—all went well. Going to watch CSI:Miami and head to bed.

Have you ever noticed that during the morning hours on television (between 9 and noon) that there is an overabundance of trade school commercials? In the last hour, while watching Regis and Kelly, I have seen commercials for the Denver School of Massage Therapy(three times), CollegeAmerica, Platt College (twice), Bel-rea Insitute for Veterinary Training, Westwood College(twice), Denver Career College(twice). I'm sure I missed a couple of them. It's the same with lawyer commercials, too. They really go after those that can't or aren't working for some reason, don't they?

Thankfully, come Monday morning, I won't be around to see them.
I start my new job on Monday!
Yay me!!!!! *happy dance*

While viewing my counter stats, I found a site linking to me called East Colfax. I'm not quite sure what the point of that site is (except the photolog) but there was a link there to Streets of Pizza by Pizzaman. I love reading sites of pizza drivers. It's comforting to know that I wasn't the only one that put up with all sorts of shit doing that job. He linked to one of my favorite sites ever, Tip the Pizza Guy.com. I'm tempted to get one of those stickers to put on my new car, when I get it that is. That led me on a path of following other driver blogs. I'll have to compile a list someday. Interesting reads.

Well, I'm over $300 short of paying my bills this month. Between the higher cost of gas and making $280 less this March than I made last March for making dough (not to mention that I was also making cash delivering pizzas--I don't think buttmunch had cut my hours yet), I'm slightly screwed. We've got several theories at work as to why sales are sucking so bad. First, our advertising sucks (what little there is of it). Second, our owner raised the prices to be in line with all the major chains. Since our product (and service) isn't as good, people would rather order from them. Third, our carry-out business increased because why pay more and have to wait more when you can get it waaaay cheaper by coming in. Fourth, our area is becoming increasing non-English speaking and our manager refuses to hire anybody that speaks Spanish. Fifth, there is no hockey.

Good news is the screen printers finally called me back and I should be starting there full time in the next couple of weeks. Since I'll be more or less doubling my income (I can't quit pizza just yet), I'll be able to get my bills caught up and get the things I need to start my own business. And a newer car...I really need one of those.