In the past month, I’ve been through a significant amount of changes to my life. Some I chose, some I did not.
Since the beginning of March, I have given up an opportunity at one job to start another opportunity at another job. I have flown back to Houston to visit family and friends. I have said my hellos to new people and goodbyes to others. In just another day, I shall say my goodbye to one more.
I thought this was a really great article about newspaper designs and how most out there are so cookie-cutter. It makes a really great point about newspapers which are a cut above the rest: The Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and USA Today all have distinctive layouts which stand out. Anyway, if you’re interested in print design or design in general, this is a great article. And be sure to click on the right side to see the Bakersfield, California newspaper redesign. It’s very contemporary and looks great!
Now I’m sad.
I was riding the bus back home a little while ago when I was checking the daily news. Seems that there was more to that plane crash than I first realized.
Early this morning as I was working, I caught myself staring out at the beach as I typically do. This time, however, I immediately saw like 5 helicopters hovering above what I soon realized was just north of the Venice shoreline. Then a couple more showed up and there were a total of 7 helicopters flying around, hovering and looking auspicious.
Something happened.
Not too long after that, the local news station websites started breaking coverage of a small one engine plane having crashed anywhere between 150 and 300 feet south of the Santa Monica Pier. Initially it looked much further away until I saw a webcast coverage from CBS 2 News. This was literally just a a mile or two away.
Well, there’s not much we could see because of being on the 5th floor. Sometimes it would be nice to work up a little higher!
The day passed by and the search and rescue/recovery boats were sending divers out around the area trying to find a 3rd victim. They already pulled out 2 bodies from the bay, a man and a woman.
Not thinking too much of it, except for its tragedy, as I checked out the news tonight I found out that one of the two victims was a host of probably one of my two or three top game shows, Press Your Luck. Peter Tomarken was only 63 years old.
The worst part about this whole tragedy is that Peter and his wife were on their way down to San Diego to pick up a lady who needed medical attention at UCLA Medical Center. They were involved with a volunteer program to help others get from one place to another. The plane’s engine failure was the cause of the plane going down.
Press Your Luck Scandal – This dude actually figured out the system and literally cleaned out the gameshow for almost an hour!
Pilot Episode of Press Your Luck:
Yesterday morning was a big morning for me as I made a huge decision to leave my current job. I gave my two weeks notice and have decided to accept a similar position for a company that is closer to my house. This decision did not come lightly, but I believe that for my future it was necessary for me to make this decision. It allows me the necessary lifestyle that I have been missing since I began this job last July. I am sad to leave behind some great people working for a great company, but I look forward to my next adventure and am excited at the opportunity and possibilities that shall await as I continue in my journey!
So what changes are going to be made exactly? I currently live in two places, one on the weekend and one on the weekday. In two weeks, I shall give up my weekday place. I shall finally, once again, be able to live in one place full-time and not having to commute between two places with half of my stuff. This, in itself, is a HUGE bonus personally in many ways. Living in two places constantly is not easy and I don’t expect anyone to try and take on the kind of life I’ve lived these past months. But, I knew what I was facing when I started this job and had every intention of seeking a place closer to work. However, trying to find decent real estate/apartment/place to live near or in Santa Monica is next to impossible, especially with my current financial situation (which isn’t necessarily bad).
Another thing I shall leave behind is the daily bus trip to and from work. I will begin driving to work, and it will take just around 20 minutes, plus or minus 10. This is awesome!! Commuting to Santa Monica back and forth is exhausting from where I live, but wasn’t impossible. Taking the bus was pretty easy because I knew the schedule and was there on time everyday. But, waiting for the bus when it was late or not even coming gets annoying, and that’s happened to me on more than one occasion. Having my car immediately available shall be a nice change of pace.
I think the best part about this whole change will be having more time available to me. When I arrive back to my house on the weekends, I’m pooped. I usually work on Saturday and Sunday, although I should be working on some freelance projects, I typically take the time to rest myself. I just never feel up to actually doing anything productive, so Saturday evening to Sunday evening are typically my time. Every now and then I’ll get to something when I feel up to it, but I won’t press myself either. Knowing that I have a long week ahead of me, with a big commute to another place, it definitely took a toll on me. But with this commute virtually now cut in half and my salary resuming back to normal, I shall have the opportunity to spend time doing things which I have wanted when I otherwise have not had time or resources.
This change is bittersweet, as I expected it would be. There are a lot of great people working here and I wish them the best, but I look forward to the new opportunities that I face and can’t wait for the next adventure!
March 1st marked two years since I moved to Los Angeles. This now marks the longest time I’ve lived anywhere since I graduated high school and left for college. Ever since then, I’ve only lived in several places for no more than two years at a time, sometimes only lasting a few months at a time. I’ve been on the go, from one place to another always looking for the next opportunity. And I have had a lot of fun along the way!
I don’t know what the future holds for me. There are still so many different things I want to do and places I want to experience. I’m sure my life is going to continue to bring new people into my life and I can’t wait to meet new friends! I have hopes of seeing the world in ways that most people can only imagine, and trying to figure out how will be just another journey in itself.
I have not accomplished those things which I’ve wanted to since I moved here to LA, and I know that once I get through this time of being so completely busy with different projects I will be able to pursue doing those things for which I came here. I also have to fight my laziness because as busy as I can be, I take every moment I can to literally do nothing. Maybe it’s an overall stress of being so busy which I fight to waste time doing nothing, but right now I need the time to myself to do nothing. It’s relaxing and I miss it.
I wonder how long I’m actually going to stay here in LA. Obviously, I plan on being here for a while since I’m working a job. I’m making decent money, paying off debt, saving for my future and all the while trying to figure out how to make my next moves after deciding which moves to actually make.
Sometimes, I’m asked about my dating life. People who don’t know me are generally surprised when I say that it’s been a while since I’ve really dated anyone. And by really dated, I mean where there was mutual interest to date someone and enjoy the relationship. I’ve been on a couple of dates since moving here but nothing has ever happened beyond a first or second date because I have truly had no interest. I’d love to find someone or for someone to find me. But I don’t know that who I am right now is selfless enough to give what a person should in a relationship. It would be awesome in the one sense, but a burden in the other. I’m not ready to settle down; I’m just ready to continue having fun with life. So that’s where I stand and probably will stand for a few years to come. And then again, people usually find someone when they’re not looking so who knows what shall happen.
It’s been a very interesting, very different two years since moving here. I’ve changed. The world has changed. And it’s shall keep on going no matter where I am. Hopefully sooner than later I’ll be able to experience some of these remote changes in person, making a difference in ways outside of web design and affecting those around me with the passion I have for life.
Bring it on.
I almost went to see a taping of The Price is Right today. I almost decided to go, too, but never gave a definite answer to my opportunity passed. I just hate taking a day off when I’m sure that I’ll have another reason to later when I go traveling. But, I also hate missing really fun opportunities like this. Who knows how much longer Bob is going to be around doing the show. I should have done this kind of thing a long time ago.
It was nice having an extended weekend. I got some good work done on a website I’m working on, and I’m hopefully on target to get most of it completed next week. I have a LOT to do but I’m chipping away at it. Probably another reason I shouldn’t have gone to the gameshow.
I wish I had something more exciting to say than this but nothing exciting has really happened to me lately. I’ve just been workin’ my butt off trying to complete a bunch of projects and freeing up time to pursue other passions of mine like music. And this website. and a couple of other websites. I have enough to keep me busy for a while. Which is depressing but good for me at the same time.
I need to also consider going back to Texas soon. I don’t know when or how because my money is committed to other things right now but I’ve neglected spending time with friends in Texas, and there are a lot of them! And I miss certain things too. The hard thing is finding the time and money.
My full-time job is keeping me really busy. I have projects which are a little beyond my experience right now so it’s a huge hump trying to learn how to overcome the hump of inexperience. Hopefully I’ll start to pick up on things sooner than later.
Warning: This will only be funny to tried, true computer geeks who know programming.
if ($craigslist->user->checkSkills(array(‘php’,’mysql’,’html’,’js’))){
Digg it!
I hate saying this but I feel like trying to maintain this thing is a chore. I have so much that needs to be done, including a complete redesign but I’m still just too busy to pay attention to it. It’s sad really. I want to have a better voice out there and talk about a huge plethora of things but I just don’t find the desire to as often as I used to. Partly because I’m burned out with everything else I’m having to do so touching this just doesn’t sound appealing at all.
I do write little things every now and then and I know I should probably write more but I’m frustrated that I haven’t gotten other things taken care of. My comment system is busted and it’s going to require me to backup and completely restore everything. My photo section has been down the whole time I’ve had this new webhost. Damn my previous host for being such a crappy host then suddenly pulling the plug at the last minute.
So I guess you want to know how my life is right now. At the moment, this is what it consists of. Monday through Friday I’m at work at 6:45 every morning and usually don’t leave until anywhere between 7:45 and 9:45pm. I stay so long because I am always trying to get things done on my personal projects. I’m almost done with one and haven’t had enough information to really get to the other one. So it’s a waiting game but I always have something to do. Saturday I have another part-time job that I go to in Hollywood which is also web design. It can last anywhere from 3-8 hours, depending on the quantity of work. Sunday is typically my day of rest although I usually spend the evening ironing clothes and packing for my week. Packing, you ask? Yeah. I actually live in two places now. During the week I’m staying closer to work and during the weekend I come back to where I’ve lived almost since I moved here.
Life’s not perfect. That which I am doing right now is not preferable. But, I know that I’m doing what I should be. I am happy going to work. I am happy that I have such great friends and family. I’m blessed because I live in LA. I’m content with who I am. I know that this won’t last forever and can’t wait until what happens next. The best way to get through these times is to remind yourself that it’s only temporary. This won’t last forever. It’s just how it has to be right now until I can figure out my next move. Until then, I’m going to make the best of everything I have. I need to go to the gym more but first I must take care of business and finish these projects that take up so much of my time. I am on fast forward and trying to enjoy the moments which are given to me. No regrets.
I. AM. THE. MAN.
Remember when I was talking about switching over my plan to a better plan? Well, as of this evening, I have everything I had before and as well as a bunch more. Let me break this down to you as it is.
$30 $40/month
$10 4G tax
500 Anytime Minutes
150 Additional Courteous Anytime
National Roaming and Free Long Distance in America
Unlimited Nights and Weekends at 7pm 6pm as of 07/06/09
Unlimited Mobile to Mobile
Unlimited Data & Internet (yes, even in the middle of nowhere!)
Unlimited 100 SMSÂ as of 05/23/07
Unlimited Picture Mail as of 09/06/11
GPS
First Incoming Minute for Free
Pick 3 as of 4/15/08
So what does it take to get this kind of plan? Patience and Persistence. I’ve been a customer for over 5 years. I forked over big money for my previous phone, which is the PPC-6700. But, if I’m fortunate, I will have this phone for the same amount of time I had my other phone. About 4-5 years (I only had it for 3 years :) )
But to get everything I got, I found an exceptional deal from an employee and then called over and over and worked over the customer reps so that the right people finally gave me what I asked for. Now that I have this, I could try to push my luck and get more but there’s no reason for that right now. I have everything I want and will be satisfied for the term of my contract for the next two years!
I am not sure if it’s possible to get this kind of plan with all carriers but if you ever find a deal that seems too good to be true, take it. And then be persistent about getting extras. Why should you settle for less than it’s possible to get exactly what you want?
