This is just a run-by posting. I must get back to work now. ~.~"

When did that happen? The last time I looked at the counter it hadn't even made 5900 yet. Weird.

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The job search is actually moving along. I updated my resume last month and I've starting scanning a few areas for possible jobs. I've been looking around the Catskills in New York and a friend of mine is helping me to search in Ohio. I've even got four letters of recommendation and a fifth on the way. I think that will go a long way in preparation for the job search. One of them is my boss so that's a bonus. She's aware that I'm tentatively looking for a new job. I don't know why but it's important to me that I have her support.

So far I've actually applied for one nice job in Delta, Ohio. Got no clue how I fair in the running. I have no idea what the competition is. I think I'm pretty qualified for the job. It's another municipal position. It has better pay than this one. We shall see.

So… what should I do with my weekend? I’m thinking about going to the Perennial Garden over in Colonial Park. The Rose Garden should be pretty nice as well if the weather hasn’t gotten to the roses. That’s about the only thing that I think I’d really like to do this weekend. Of course, walking in the gardens would be largely dependant on whether or not the hurricane causes us severe weather problems. I haven’t been back to the Perennial Garden in years. That’s definitely going to have to be corrected.

I wonder if Colonial Park will look nice in the fall. We got a little washed out with color last year. I’m hoping that this year the leaves look better. Two years ago the leaves just dried up when it came to Autumn. That was not cool. I love taking my photographs in the fall.

You know, I wish I could spend my life just wandering the country taking pictures. I love photography. I would be immeasurably happy if I could just do landscape and nature photography for the rest of my life. However, since I can’t seem to sell my photographs I certainly can’t pay my bills off of them and therefore can’t live off of my photography. It’s really sad. It’s so incredibly difficult to break into the art field as a source of income, let alone as your primary source of income. It’s why most of the artists I’ve met, photographers, illustrators, graphic designers and others, all have regular jobs and do their art as either a secondary source of income or a hobby.

I wonder if anyone reading this journal would be interested in purchasing my artwork. If yes, what holds you back? If not, then perhaps you could explain why there too? I’m just curious. This is by no means some sort of solicitation. I’m wondering if I’m doing something wrong or if there’s a better way.

One day I think I’m going to get a booth in one of those craft shows to see if I can sell my artwork there. That would be really nice. I know a lot of people like to see what they wish to purchase in person or even hold it in their hands before they buy it. It might actually help me sell my work if I get a bunch of it printed up and sell it at a show. But production costs have always held me back… and costs of the booth too.

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I need to keep this list short or I'll overwhelm myself and I won't get any of it done. I've been horrible like that for months. So this is my new approach.

1 - Update Resume
2 - Choose locations I would like to live. (These are just examples to give myself some place to start. I'm open to any and all suggestions.)
3 - Search these areas for jobs. (Preferably something outside or with connection to the outside and possibly utilizing my BFA in Graphic Design, Specialization in Illustration and/or Minor in Art History.)
4 - Search for a place to live. (Apartment or condo.)
5 - Compare jobs with living expenses.

I'm willing to llive just about anywhere but I'd prefer to avoid large cities. I like wide-open spaces and small towns. It's really the big reason why I want to get out of New Jersey.

So... one step at a time. - Resume first.

On another note, life's been okay for me. I still have my job for now even if it is stressful. I have my health and I've been in contact with friends. I'm just largely discontent with my life and would like to start living now rather than having to wait until I retire... if that ever happens.

Note to self: Make Facebook page.

Still... RESUME FIRST!

I probably shouldn’t be writing this right now but, I have a little bit of time on my hands and this needs to get done. I’ve owed everyone an update for a while now.

First and foremost, many thanks to everyone to offered their prayers and well-wishes. I do have a job. More specifically, I was recalled to my job. My Union did a wonderful job of preserving my job for at least another year. I am not unemployed. I can breathe a large sigh of relief over that one.

On the other hand, being unemployed would have put some time on my hands. For some odd reason, ever since this mess started back on April 30th, I’ve actually had to deal with more stuff rather than less. It’s funny. I get really busy once I’m hit with a lay-off letter. I think it was remarkably unfair of them to make me come to work while I waited for the results of all the bumping and restructuring and still have them dump more work on me than ever. The stress I’ve been going through for the past month and a half has been through the roof. It’s only now starting to ease off. And don’t get me wrong, everyone in the building was affected. Morale in the Municipal Building was at an all-time low. Lay-offs like that are terribly disruptive to a Township.

And that’s all I really have to say about that. I’m sort of taking the hint and looking for a new job. If you’re reading this and see anything productive for clerical staff with a BFA in Graphic Design, a specialization in Illustration and a minor in Art History, please send a job description my way. I’m actually looking to get out of the state of New Jersey. We’re expected to get another series of lay-offs next year and I may not be able to dodge the bullet.

As for the second thing that’s hit me lately, my brother’s home from Iraq. After nearly a year serving there in the National Guard, my brother has finally come home. I’m more than thrilled to have him home. However, spending time with him has been eating a great deal of my time. There’s a lot of stuff he wants to catch up on and I get dragged along for the ride. Just this Sunday I had to finally put my foot down and tell him I had to do other things. He was horribly disappointed. I appeased him by playing World of Warcraft with him. It was a compromise.

I’ve had other business that I’ve had to take care of as well. I had to renew my driver’s license and I’m preparing for a small trip to visit a bunch of friends in two weeks. I don’t want to bore everyone with the other little domestic duties that have cropped up throughout all of this. Apparently my mother has decided that I am also a home and garden redecorator. She’s constantly asking for my opinion on what she should do with either a room in the house or the flower beds outside. I’m rather flattered.
I need a vacation from my life. ~.~”

Finally, I’ve been fighting with my depression like crazy. Stress usually brings out the worst of my depression and the job situation has been horribly stressful. That generally destroys my creativity though I have to say my mathematical abilities skyrocket. It’s weird. It’s like my brain flicks some kind of switch and I go from being emotional and creative to logical and scientific. I much prefer the first. It makes me feel more like myself. The fact that it hasn’t stopped raining here in New Jersey since the beginning of June hasn’t helped my depression either. Things are starting to clear up here, in both the atmosphere and my life. I’m hopeful for the future.