I'm a cheap bastard. I am currently sitting in my car outside a closed restaurant in my neighborhood because I can pick up on free wi-fi. Drinking in the restaurant sounded great, but I would rather be a cheap bastard for the time being and do this ghetto style. Don't act like you haven't done this at any given point in your life!!!!
Again, life has been full of tricks and trapdoors for me to fall through as of late. I work swing shift in customer service hell so by the time I get off of work, everyone I know is already falling asleep for the day and I'm left to my own devices like a shit-house mouse in an attic somewhere scratching around. I've been getting weekends off but with all the OT I've worked for the last few months, I feel like I live at my job and have been cut off from my friends. I finally got to hang out with Eran on sunday and it didn't end well. We laid in a park for about 5 hours drinking a half rack of beer and shunning all forms of sunscreen and water to maintain hydration. By the end of the night, I had "dirt burn" from falling on my ass while wearing a skirt, picked an argument that I'm not sure was entirely valid and sunburned my back and butt. The headache the next day was stellar ---drinking is not equal to socializing....repeat after me....
My computer also took a dump on me and all my neighbors that I used to steal internet from moved away and were replaced by upstanding citizens who know how to set up a closed network. (please, keep your networks open! It helps us cheap bastards that live around you stay calm and complacent rather than drinking until 4am and ranting in the middle of the street and waking up all the neighbors....like 3 weeks ago....I mean--hypothetically speaking...) *ahem* so the computer had a partial crap-out and my Microsoft and Adobe products ate shit, but they can suck it because I just upgraded to better, more complete versions of the programs. Suck it CS3!!! You heard me. Now I can continue to makes design and make more clothes, take pictures and upload with impunity. It will also keep me busy enough that I will pass out and not keep my poor neighbors up with the deranged rantings and late night "home improvements" of a 27 year old who is only posing as an adult.
In other super-fucking-cool news, my model Amelia got married this last month and the Ojala Etsy store has just officially hit its 50-sales mark. All these things are small victories and I will take each and everyone one of them.
Back to enjoying the rest of july. ---CHEERS!!!
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
I've got a job!!
So I finally landed a job, somewhere around the beginning of march and I've been working at least 10 hours of overtime every week since I started, leaving me little motivation to use the leftover time for blogging or other pursuits. It's not my #1 choice, but on the other hand, its a good place to be right now given all the other economic shenanigans that are going on and allows me to search for another job since I have one now. (Since its logical to have to have one to get another, right?)
I would have blamed my lack of blogging on the "transition" into the new job but the more I see it, life is one big fat continuous transition, so you had better get used to it and keep on moving instead of dwelling on the moment. There is so much that I want to do do and see in my life and I'm already near the end of my 20s. Life is only going to speed up from here and that scares the hell out of me.
In addition to the new job, I broke up with the boyfriend of 3 years, realizing that my work schedule was going to not allow us to see much of each other at all and the fact that he had basically quit hanging out with me anyways and I had more or less been single for the last year and not realized it. Seemed like the best time to wrap up that loose end and just focus on moving my life ahead instead of someone who wasn't all that interested in me to begin with.
(can you tell its still fresh?)
~Anyways~
I've been participating in acrobatic classes for the last several months, and exploring my dance/ creative movement side again, which has not only made me stronger and lose weight, but also motivated me to make a new tank top design that is pretty freaking cute. Acrobatics can be very theatre and circus oriented, and I took the opportunity to express a very bold and bright statement through the shirts. Additionally, all of them are reinforced with 2 layers of fabric over the bust and stomach for integrity and support. (Nothing worse than being a D-cup hanging upside down and being worried that a boob is going to pop out).
Apparently I did something right when I made these because they are a hit on etsy.
Check it out!
I would have blamed my lack of blogging on the "transition" into the new job but the more I see it, life is one big fat continuous transition, so you had better get used to it and keep on moving instead of dwelling on the moment. There is so much that I want to do do and see in my life and I'm already near the end of my 20s. Life is only going to speed up from here and that scares the hell out of me.
In addition to the new job, I broke up with the boyfriend of 3 years, realizing that my work schedule was going to not allow us to see much of each other at all and the fact that he had basically quit hanging out with me anyways and I had more or less been single for the last year and not realized it. Seemed like the best time to wrap up that loose end and just focus on moving my life ahead instead of someone who wasn't all that interested in me to begin with.
(can you tell its still fresh?)
~Anyways~
I've been participating in acrobatic classes for the last several months, and exploring my dance/ creative movement side again, which has not only made me stronger and lose weight, but also motivated me to make a new tank top design that is pretty freaking cute. Acrobatics can be very theatre and circus oriented, and I took the opportunity to express a very bold and bright statement through the shirts. Additionally, all of them are reinforced with 2 layers of fabric over the bust and stomach for integrity and support. (Nothing worse than being a D-cup hanging upside down and being worried that a boob is going to pop out).
Apparently I did something right when I made these because they are a hit on etsy.
Check it out!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
GET A JOB ASSHOLE: online applications are fucked
I'm in the unenviable position of being jobless right now.
I apply to several jobs a day, and work on resumes, put on a nice outfit and way more makeup than I'm used to and go stalk people at their offices to get a job, etc etc etc.
Then I come to online application forms and submissions. I feel as if I'm at least moderately tech savvy (not that it takes a lot to fill out an online form) but as of late, I'm ready to lose my shit. I fill out the entire form then after an hour of filling out all the little boxes, MY COMPUTER WON'T LET ME CLICK ON THE 'SUBMIT' button. It sure let me fill out 4 pages worth of online forms, and my laptop's pad and buttons work as they should, allowing me to easily move my cursor from one point of information to the next. Then, in a sadistic fit of computer vengeance and rage, my computer STOPS working at the moment of truth. This happens at least once every other day, and it's usually an hour of carefully thought out answers to behavioral questions. There's no way to save the information and I get so frustrated that I want to throw my laptop across the room to show it who's really in charge (of course it would still be).
I have to wonder; JUST HOW MANY shitty jobs I've missed out on because of this fucked up twist of fate? Can I sue Mac for making a laptop that won't let me go out and get a damn job? And how long can I keep up this excuse? And believe it for myself?
Now that I'm on the subject of getting a damn job. I'm writing this at 4:30am. Time has no meaning anymore and I don't have any money to do anything so I'm stuck in my house all day, making me feel even more insane. Every time I walk back into my house and I've been gone for a little while, I smell the scent of desperation and crazy in the air.
~MOVING ON~
I've had several interviews in the last 2 months. Some of them have been downright insulting, and one of them went amazingly well. You gotta love the employer's market! Too bad I'm not sitting on the same side of the table as they are. Allow me to share a few experiences: I graduated from a commercial design school where graduating students have a portfolio show open to friends, family and potential employers. At the show, I received 2 potential employment offers and I was walking on sunshine, I thought I was going to be able to get a job pretty quickly rather then have to stare deep into the depths of Gadball, Monster and Craigslist for weeks at a time.
A few days after graduation, I do my follow up and one of the companies is trying to have me take on working for them, IN A SUBURB 20 miles away from where I live, for nothing more than a gas allowance and the *potential* of hiring me at the end of a 3-month trial period. Did I mention that they wanted 40 hours a week? When I politely declined, during this phone interview, the owner of the company then said to me: "How's your job hunt going?" in a snide tone of voice. I told him it was going well. In reality, it can only go up from there.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not above working just to gain work experience or pick up some necessary skills. Before I graduated I did 2 part-time internships for a total of 8 months worth of free work for people. I do freelance apparel design work as well, and I'm at the point now where I am getting business every month. It's still not a lot or steady, but IT'S THERE!! Even if the firm had offered me a very low wage, I still would have probably considered it until I found something better because it would have been: 1. compensation for work. 2. work experience.
Remarkable interview #2
Another interview I had was at the opposite end of the spectrum in terms of experience. The pay is alright and its only 1/2 time, but I'll take it if I can get it! It was easily the most comfortable, fun interview I have ever had. We talked the entire time, and they didn't touch their interview questions once. The only downside is that I know I was fidgeting a little bit and showed some small indications of being nervous. All in all though, I would have given myself 85-90% for everything I did right.
Wish for me and help me to manifest a lovely job that will help me grow in skills and autonomy to keep me moderately sane.
oh yeah, this whole "not-having-a-job" posting is a thinly veiled request for you to go look at my etsy shop.
www.ojala.etsy.com
I apply to several jobs a day, and work on resumes, put on a nice outfit and way more makeup than I'm used to and go stalk people at their offices to get a job, etc etc etc.
Then I come to online application forms and submissions. I feel as if I'm at least moderately tech savvy (not that it takes a lot to fill out an online form) but as of late, I'm ready to lose my shit. I fill out the entire form then after an hour of filling out all the little boxes, MY COMPUTER WON'T LET ME CLICK ON THE 'SUBMIT' button. It sure let me fill out 4 pages worth of online forms, and my laptop's pad and buttons work as they should, allowing me to easily move my cursor from one point of information to the next. Then, in a sadistic fit of computer vengeance and rage, my computer STOPS working at the moment of truth. This happens at least once every other day, and it's usually an hour of carefully thought out answers to behavioral questions. There's no way to save the information and I get so frustrated that I want to throw my laptop across the room to show it who's really in charge (of course it would still be).
I have to wonder; JUST HOW MANY shitty jobs I've missed out on because of this fucked up twist of fate? Can I sue Mac for making a laptop that won't let me go out and get a damn job? And how long can I keep up this excuse? And believe it for myself?
Now that I'm on the subject of getting a damn job. I'm writing this at 4:30am. Time has no meaning anymore and I don't have any money to do anything so I'm stuck in my house all day, making me feel even more insane. Every time I walk back into my house and I've been gone for a little while, I smell the scent of desperation and crazy in the air.
~MOVING ON~
I've had several interviews in the last 2 months. Some of them have been downright insulting, and one of them went amazingly well. You gotta love the employer's market! Too bad I'm not sitting on the same side of the table as they are. Allow me to share a few experiences: I graduated from a commercial design school where graduating students have a portfolio show open to friends, family and potential employers. At the show, I received 2 potential employment offers and I was walking on sunshine, I thought I was going to be able to get a job pretty quickly rather then have to stare deep into the depths of Gadball, Monster and Craigslist for weeks at a time.
A few days after graduation, I do my follow up and one of the companies is trying to have me take on working for them, IN A SUBURB 20 miles away from where I live, for nothing more than a gas allowance and the *potential* of hiring me at the end of a 3-month trial period. Did I mention that they wanted 40 hours a week? When I politely declined, during this phone interview, the owner of the company then said to me: "How's your job hunt going?" in a snide tone of voice. I told him it was going well. In reality, it can only go up from there.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not above working just to gain work experience or pick up some necessary skills. Before I graduated I did 2 part-time internships for a total of 8 months worth of free work for people. I do freelance apparel design work as well, and I'm at the point now where I am getting business every month. It's still not a lot or steady, but IT'S THERE!! Even if the firm had offered me a very low wage, I still would have probably considered it until I found something better because it would have been: 1. compensation for work. 2. work experience.
Remarkable interview #2
Another interview I had was at the opposite end of the spectrum in terms of experience. The pay is alright and its only 1/2 time, but I'll take it if I can get it! It was easily the most comfortable, fun interview I have ever had. We talked the entire time, and they didn't touch their interview questions once. The only downside is that I know I was fidgeting a little bit and showed some small indications of being nervous. All in all though, I would have given myself 85-90% for everything I did right.
Wish for me and help me to manifest a lovely job that will help me grow in skills and autonomy to keep me moderately sane.
oh yeah, this whole "not-having-a-job" posting is a thinly veiled request for you to go look at my etsy shop.
www.ojala.etsy.com
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Sweethearts
Cupid just shot an arrow through my heart...
Here are some items I currently have in my etsy shop, in celebration of love and romance.
I love everything about the print and colors of these pants, as well as the Muscha-esque pose of Amelia. As soon as I saw the print pattern of chrysanthemums, I fell in love with the fabric, and I've never been much of a pink kind of girl. They just looks so....organic and supine in these pictures. Exceptions can always be made.
The pants are also made out of a bamboo jersey if you can believe it! For those of you who don't know, you really should get a garment made out of bamboo, it's wonderfully soft and supple as a fabric. It took all my strength not to horde the fabric and make something for myself, but I've desperately been trying to get rid of excess fabric and clothes for....ok, my entire adult life....I'm not ashamed.
www.ojala.etsy.com
The weather has been taking a break from pissing down rain (it's Oregon after all) so I got to get outside and take some pics of the lovely Amelia wearing a mottled fuschia and short sleeved sweatshirt. We dubbed it the "phenomenon sweatshirt" because we each had one for the winter months, and it went with everything and was easy to layer. At this point, there is only one left at the etsy store.
www.ojala.etsy.com
Here are some items I currently have in my etsy shop, in celebration of love and romance.
I love everything about the print and colors of these pants, as well as the Muscha-esque pose of Amelia. As soon as I saw the print pattern of chrysanthemums, I fell in love with the fabric, and I've never been much of a pink kind of girl. They just looks so....organic and supine in these pictures. Exceptions can always be made.
The pants are also made out of a bamboo jersey if you can believe it! For those of you who don't know, you really should get a garment made out of bamboo, it's wonderfully soft and supple as a fabric. It took all my strength not to horde the fabric and make something for myself, but I've desperately been trying to get rid of excess fabric and clothes for....ok, my entire adult life....I'm not ashamed.
www.ojala.etsy.com
The weather has been taking a break from pissing down rain (it's Oregon after all) so I got to get outside and take some pics of the lovely Amelia wearing a mottled fuschia and short sleeved sweatshirt. We dubbed it the "phenomenon sweatshirt" because we each had one for the winter months, and it went with everything and was easy to layer. At this point, there is only one left at the etsy store.
www.ojala.etsy.com
Monday, February 8, 2010
Keeping up with the resolutions
I graduated from college back in mid-December, and that has been the marker of my "new year" rather than the traditional December 31st. I told myself that I would really work harder and be more diligent to get to a place where I felt like my life was in order, and I was living up to my beliefs.
So here is what I've accomplished so far:
1. Quit smoking-- I'm now finishing up 2 months smoke free
2. I started taking a Trapeze and Acrobatics class
3. Started a blog
4. As of today, I signed up with www.paperbackswap.com
The last one is something I recommend everyone get on board with--you sign up, and post 10 books that you are willing to part with. Doing so earns you credits, and you can use those credits to get books that other people have posted. The only money you pay is the money YOU spend shipping a book to someone. In return, when you ORDER a book from someone, whoever you ordered it from is responsible for all shipping costs. It usually works out that you would spend around $3 a book for shipping (on average) and you get to save yourself a ton of money and keep books in circulation. They were meant to be read after all.
Have a great day, its lovely outside....
So here is what I've accomplished so far:
1. Quit smoking-- I'm now finishing up 2 months smoke free
2. I started taking a Trapeze and Acrobatics class
3. Started a blog
4. As of today, I signed up with www.paperbackswap.com
The last one is something I recommend everyone get on board with--you sign up, and post 10 books that you are willing to part with. Doing so earns you credits, and you can use those credits to get books that other people have posted. The only money you pay is the money YOU spend shipping a book to someone. In return, when you ORDER a book from someone, whoever you ordered it from is responsible for all shipping costs. It usually works out that you would spend around $3 a book for shipping (on average) and you get to save yourself a ton of money and keep books in circulation. They were meant to be read after all.
Have a great day, its lovely outside....
Sunday, February 7, 2010
L'amour is in the air
I've been seriously craving mysterious romance and passion these last few weeks. For the first time in a long long time, I'm totally on board with the spirit of Valentine's Day, and all I can think about is deep crimson reds and blacks, and old faded love letters from a bygone era. All things that evoke passion are stirring me currently; not just the concept of Valentine's Day, but also music, dance, creativity and courage in general. I say the word "courage" because I believe that it required bravery to follow your heart and love something with a sense of ferocity and total abandon.
Right now it all feels new to me all over again and its fun to reevaluate what this means to me. I've been watching love films (sshhhh! don't tell) and reading love sonnets by Pablo Neruda. I'm enjoying each day as a blank slate that allows me to pursue the unusual and explore new terrain. I have no idea what has inspired and stirred these feelings, but I'm glad to be exploring and enjoying the moment.
Christian Lacroix always does it for me. The mixture of old world embellishments and religious iconography along with flowing, dreamy, designs ranging from the Byzantium era through the Edwardian period gets me every time. I love the corset vest below that looks like a bejeweled piece of chest armor.
There's no way in hell I would forget to mention Valentino on this post. I especially love the asymmetrical side gather of the chiffon, notably the way it gives the gown that one organic, off-centered element to make it completely perfect to me.
and my favorite Pablo Neruda love poem ever:
Sonnet 17
"I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.
I love you as the plant that never blooms
but carries in intself the light of hidden flowers;
thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,
risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.
I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way.
In which there is no I or you
so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand
so intimate that when you fall asleep it is my eyes that close."
~ Pablo Neruda~
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