Since planning the last festival, and boy did this one come with its challenges. The weather did not cooperate at all, between flying umbrellas and then almost being impaled by one (that was fun), it turned out OK. It most definitely could have been better but that is a discussion I don't want to get into. Now the moment of truth, I'm no longer going to be a foot soldier for the festival, I'll be taking it over. What am I getting myself into? Can I do it, do I have the time or patience for it? I have no idea, all I know is I will be asking my friends for help and support to get it done. Some of you have already come out and told me that you will support me and believe I can do it, well it's time to find out if I can.
In another story I'm slightly becoming more and more tired of the dead end and lack of advancement for my job, so much so as to submit resumes and talk to friends about other employment opportunities. And for the first time in my 27 year life, I've finally gotten a rejection letter, boy those are fun. Oh well I guess I'll keep looking, and asking around. Well I guess that's all for this mini update, until next time.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Just chugging along, barely
It's been a while since I posted on either of my blogs, but it's about time I change that. Ahhh, one word to describe my week: FAIL! The boat I go sailing on is nowhere near ready and nowhere near close to being finished. The city I love/work in flooded due to too much rain, but for a while I had a lake front library. Here's the video for you to see, this was the view out the front door into the street.
I have sadly turned down another exhibit to showcase my photos, I thought I was over my whole fear/uncertainty of my photos, turns out I was wrong. Then to make things better after I turned down the exhibit I went to go visit my friend's art on a one day exhibit. Good for him, good show too.
I'm just going to end this post here, before this just becomes one long complaint list, I'll post something more entertaining next time.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Started a new blog
To keep work stuff off this blog, or only the occasional story, I have decided to start a new blog. Hopefully I can update it more frequently.
Check it out My adventures in accidental librarianship.
Check it out My adventures in accidental librarianship.
Monday, March 14, 2011
I'm really bad at this blogging thing...
I cannot consistently blog and I apologize, life has been just a tad busy recently. So I was offered the biggest photo job of my career so far and ended up losing it. I was offered a gig to shoot the Cirque du Soleil rehearsal and show, but this came at a time when my mother's boiler broke in February, so I was apparently in a dead zone in her basement trying to fix her boiler so she could have heat. I ended up missing the phone call and they had to go to another photographer. Being disappointed is an understatement, but I wouldn't have changed what happened, my mom's house had heat by the end of the day, and I had no photo gig. I'm honored to know that I was thought of for such a prestigious job, and can hopefully be offered similar things in the future. In the meantime I have to get better at responding to people about photo sales that email me. I am being published by two different organizations for publications and am really excited about this. So things are looking up on that front.
About my day time job, well that is just "interesting." To say that I am getting burned out is an understatement, it feels as if I'm being punished for being a good worker and dependable. Being the "go to guy" is becoming really frustrating, I do not enjoy being responsible to make sure everyone does what they are supposed to, or if they don't having to be the one that fixes it. There was a conversation I had where I was told that I need to know how to do everything here, and that I can't rely on the other employees. I'm highly tempted to just pack up and disappear for a while, but alas this stupid mortgage is more of an anchor than I thought. I told a co-worker that I thought of going on an extended vacation to try and save my sanity, his response was: "tell me when, so I can quit, I don't want to be here to see what happens if you're gone." Hey at least some other people can see what I do at work, I guess that's good?
February and March are blending together and moving by too fast, between travelling and lack of sleep/rest I might honestly be going insane. I did have a wake up moment when I saw a friend with an eerily similar life habit as mine, end up in the emergency room with heart troubles. Seeing a friend in the hospital and seeing why he was there, and relating to yourself is quite a scary ordeal. To be able to picture yourself in the same position and not knowing if/when it will happen makes you question certain things. The only problem is neither of us can take our foot off the gas, so to speak, in our lives. We only have one speed and one way of doing things, now we get to think of us as young and dumb with one foot in the grave. Well here's to hoping we can make it for quite a few more years.
About my day time job, well that is just "interesting." To say that I am getting burned out is an understatement, it feels as if I'm being punished for being a good worker and dependable. Being the "go to guy" is becoming really frustrating, I do not enjoy being responsible to make sure everyone does what they are supposed to, or if they don't having to be the one that fixes it. There was a conversation I had where I was told that I need to know how to do everything here, and that I can't rely on the other employees. I'm highly tempted to just pack up and disappear for a while, but alas this stupid mortgage is more of an anchor than I thought. I told a co-worker that I thought of going on an extended vacation to try and save my sanity, his response was: "tell me when, so I can quit, I don't want to be here to see what happens if you're gone." Hey at least some other people can see what I do at work, I guess that's good?
February and March are blending together and moving by too fast, between travelling and lack of sleep/rest I might honestly be going insane. I did have a wake up moment when I saw a friend with an eerily similar life habit as mine, end up in the emergency room with heart troubles. Seeing a friend in the hospital and seeing why he was there, and relating to yourself is quite a scary ordeal. To be able to picture yourself in the same position and not knowing if/when it will happen makes you question certain things. The only problem is neither of us can take our foot off the gas, so to speak, in our lives. We only have one speed and one way of doing things, now we get to think of us as young and dumb with one foot in the grave. Well here's to hoping we can make it for quite a few more years.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Back to Step 0
Damn you Facebook, damn you to hell! Seriously who the hell knew I would need Facebook for work related items. One freaking day away is all I got from that place. So everyone who's my friend, just remember I don't take Facebook seriously, it's a way for me to vent and make bad jokes. Also thank you to my MC for keeping me mostly out of trouble on their.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Step 1 to becoming more productive
Deactivated Facebook.
In a much needed step to increase my productivity I deactivated my account, I'll see how long I can go, or if I'll ultimately delete my account. Hmm back to the days where I missed learning about parties and other things, oh well life goes on.
In a much needed step to increase my productivity I deactivated my account, I'll see how long I can go, or if I'll ultimately delete my account. Hmm back to the days where I missed learning about parties and other things, oh well life goes on.
Friday, January 28, 2011
The ultimate plan for a career change?
Apparently this is my annual rant about whether or not I enjoy what I do for a living.
I am a librarian, and yes that does include all the glitz and glamor that you imagine. I am a keeper of information, I can find information more efficiently than most. I also hear many interesting questions and see many interesting things. And I do this all for a very very low price, FREE! If you are looking to go into librarianship it is a very rewarding profession, you actually can see yourself making a difference in your community and in others. (Personal opinion: do not become a librarian if you do not like reading, books, or helping others.) Also do not think you are doing this for huge amounts of money either, it is a job that is low pay and high rewards. I enjoy what I do, yet I want more.After working in a library for many years many tasks become mundane.
I have had a few talks with people about this, for some reason I'm looked upon as an heir apparent to the so-called throne where I work. People want me to take over and to leave a lasting legacy. I'm currently working on leaving a lasting legacy, but not so much to enjoy in my years of employment, but more so as a parting gift for my departure. It will be my swan song for librarianship, I have put it upon myself to finish a project that has been in the works for years, and yet not much of anything has been done with it. I truly enjoy what I do, don't mistake this as a talk about how my work sucks, but I need a change, I need to get away, and I think I've found my way to do just that.
Although if I ultimately decide to do what I want it will also be one of the most difficult decisions I'll have to make. I've become more involved in my community, and in other organizations, I've made lifelong friends, and people that I now consider family. How will I just be able to uproot and move every few years for a job? The job I'm looking at requires constant travel and moving, I won't be able to plant roots anywhere for long. Yet I somehow find this idea intriguing, I can see the world and still do good things, and as an added bonus with a much bigger increase in income. (I'm not doing this for the money, that's a bonus.) I have spoken to my director about this and this is the first time that even she thinks that I would enjoy that change and fully supports my decision if I make it. This is from the person who would not accept my resignation, at the time I found that odd, and now I thank her for that.
So now leads the time in life where I have to figure out what I really want to do; do I stay on the course I'm on, or do I decide that a drastic change in my life is necessary? I've brought this up to a few close friends and the reactions have varied, but ultimately it's my decision to make. Now I'm left in a state of limbo, and this limbo will last for at least another 2-3 years. How does one leave a job they love and people he cares for? Can I actually go through with it? With which choice will I have the most impact on others? Would I be considered a quitter on my community if I left for another opportunity? These are all the questions I'm struggling with already, I can't wait to see what it will be like if/when I actually try to change careers.
I am a librarian, and yes that does include all the glitz and glamor that you imagine. I am a keeper of information, I can find information more efficiently than most. I also hear many interesting questions and see many interesting things. And I do this all for a very very low price, FREE! If you are looking to go into librarianship it is a very rewarding profession, you actually can see yourself making a difference in your community and in others. (Personal opinion: do not become a librarian if you do not like reading, books, or helping others.) Also do not think you are doing this for huge amounts of money either, it is a job that is low pay and high rewards. I enjoy what I do, yet I want more.After working in a library for many years many tasks become mundane.
I have had a few talks with people about this, for some reason I'm looked upon as an heir apparent to the so-called throne where I work. People want me to take over and to leave a lasting legacy. I'm currently working on leaving a lasting legacy, but not so much to enjoy in my years of employment, but more so as a parting gift for my departure. It will be my swan song for librarianship, I have put it upon myself to finish a project that has been in the works for years, and yet not much of anything has been done with it. I truly enjoy what I do, don't mistake this as a talk about how my work sucks, but I need a change, I need to get away, and I think I've found my way to do just that.
Although if I ultimately decide to do what I want it will also be one of the most difficult decisions I'll have to make. I've become more involved in my community, and in other organizations, I've made lifelong friends, and people that I now consider family. How will I just be able to uproot and move every few years for a job? The job I'm looking at requires constant travel and moving, I won't be able to plant roots anywhere for long. Yet I somehow find this idea intriguing, I can see the world and still do good things, and as an added bonus with a much bigger increase in income. (I'm not doing this for the money, that's a bonus.) I have spoken to my director about this and this is the first time that even she thinks that I would enjoy that change and fully supports my decision if I make it. This is from the person who would not accept my resignation, at the time I found that odd, and now I thank her for that.
So now leads the time in life where I have to figure out what I really want to do; do I stay on the course I'm on, or do I decide that a drastic change in my life is necessary? I've brought this up to a few close friends and the reactions have varied, but ultimately it's my decision to make. Now I'm left in a state of limbo, and this limbo will last for at least another 2-3 years. How does one leave a job they love and people he cares for? Can I actually go through with it? With which choice will I have the most impact on others? Would I be considered a quitter on my community if I left for another opportunity? These are all the questions I'm struggling with already, I can't wait to see what it will be like if/when I actually try to change careers.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
So I've made up my mind.
I'm alright with finishing last, I don't want to pretend to be an asshole. I'm actually a nice guy, and that's what I'm going to be from now on. It's who I am, take it or leave it. Too many things to explain why I'm doing this right now, but I feel good about myself after this decision, and I've been tested once already and I've passed the first test. I'm not sure how long I can do this, but I'm pretty sure it's for good. I need to take a break from the crazies for a while and I need to just relax and be myself. If this changes anything how any of you feel about me, then that's for the better.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Goodbye 2010 it's been a crazy year
Well last year was just awesomely crazy. January was rather dull, February saw me dealing with police search warrants and almost dying. And who could forget about Paczki Day in Hamtramck, that one crazy beautiful day in town where everyone just has a good time. Also the first winter beer fest I've ever attended, things happened.
March has the always fantastic Blowout which was held the first weekend and that's the way to start the month off right. One long weekend of music and memorable moments, most of which I remember, some I don't. Then there was a dull of work, and grant writing - which was successful! Somehow this year I got roped into helping to plan a city festival in the summer we had 8 weeks to save a 30 year old tradition, and come hell and high water we would. A small group of devoted people came together to not only save our town's festival but to also make it one of the best one's ever thrown. It sure was a lot of work and many sleepless nights, but in the end it was worth it. To see and hear the compliments of the people there, to see the city alive for that one weekend packed shoulder to shoulder down the street, you never even realized that the weekend flew bye and how tired you really were. It does all hit you the one day the adrenaline stops but for three days we were the kings and queens of the city. Driving golf carts instead of cars on the street, and just trying to make it a good time. Thank you for this. I never thought I would have enjoyed working so hard but dammit I did. Then we decided to try it again, this time on even shorter notice and in lederhosen, although not as successful still put together well and fun.
But the greatest part during this has got to be sailing in the summer, I will forever be in debt to my friend Shannon for introducing me to this wonderful pastime. It's a few hours of disconnecting from the world and all of your worries, just you water and the wind (and alcohol). I'm pretty sure it's the only thing that kept me sane this past summer.
I'd also like to thank all of my friends for putting up with me all year, you are truly the best and I am very thankful to know all of you. Our up north trips are always a blast and will only get better. The winter trip with the brothers was more than I could have imagined, nothing beats hiking MI trails in the winter, nothing! The trip to New Orleans would have been so much more fun if it wasn't for the food poisoning, but I met some cool people and got to know others a little better.
Well what does 2011 have in store for me? Well a little bit more community action on my part, we all need to chip in and make where we are better. So there's some more volunteerism in the future for me, and of course there's still photography. I made the resolution to take more photos, because for the past few months I have been slacking in photography. So here's to everyone's success this year and hope that 2011 is the best year yet for everyone.
March has the always fantastic Blowout which was held the first weekend and that's the way to start the month off right. One long weekend of music and memorable moments, most of which I remember, some I don't. Then there was a dull of work, and grant writing - which was successful! Somehow this year I got roped into helping to plan a city festival in the summer we had 8 weeks to save a 30 year old tradition, and come hell and high water we would. A small group of devoted people came together to not only save our town's festival but to also make it one of the best one's ever thrown. It sure was a lot of work and many sleepless nights, but in the end it was worth it. To see and hear the compliments of the people there, to see the city alive for that one weekend packed shoulder to shoulder down the street, you never even realized that the weekend flew bye and how tired you really were. It does all hit you the one day the adrenaline stops but for three days we were the kings and queens of the city. Driving golf carts instead of cars on the street, and just trying to make it a good time. Thank you for this. I never thought I would have enjoyed working so hard but dammit I did. Then we decided to try it again, this time on even shorter notice and in lederhosen, although not as successful still put together well and fun.
But the greatest part during this has got to be sailing in the summer, I will forever be in debt to my friend Shannon for introducing me to this wonderful pastime. It's a few hours of disconnecting from the world and all of your worries, just you water and the wind (and alcohol). I'm pretty sure it's the only thing that kept me sane this past summer.
I'd also like to thank all of my friends for putting up with me all year, you are truly the best and I am very thankful to know all of you. Our up north trips are always a blast and will only get better. The winter trip with the brothers was more than I could have imagined, nothing beats hiking MI trails in the winter, nothing! The trip to New Orleans would have been so much more fun if it wasn't for the food poisoning, but I met some cool people and got to know others a little better.
Well what does 2011 have in store for me? Well a little bit more community action on my part, we all need to chip in and make where we are better. So there's some more volunteerism in the future for me, and of course there's still photography. I made the resolution to take more photos, because for the past few months I have been slacking in photography. So here's to everyone's success this year and hope that 2011 is the best year yet for everyone.
Taking a moment to vent about Hipsters in Detroit
Dear suburbanite transplant that has moved to Detroit recently, and by recently I mean the last few years:
You have absolutely no right to look down on me, or have the audacity to tell me that because I don't live in Corktown, or a completely run down part of town that I have nothing to speak of. I'm sorry that I don't dress as ironically as you, or that there is actually some room in my pants to you know move or sit, or not see every part of my lower torso. I have lived here my entire life, I have supported local businesses and supported many local organizations. You have lived in the suburbs and know nothing about real life, you moved down here when some of your friends did, or when you read about your now urban God known as Phil Cooley. I have nothing against Phil, he is a wonderful man who owns a great restaurant and truly wants to improve the city. His so called followers though are a different story, some of you I have no problems with, you came to this city to actually make it better. To the moronic assholes who came here to be cool, and not actually make a difference I despise you with a passion. You came here and complained, you still complain about the quality of life, yet try nothing to improve it, I see you at local bars and and at music shows and somehow because of you I feel like I'm the odd one out.
You hipsters who are not creative enough to come up with your own style, who rummaged around your parents closets to find shirts from the 70s and 80s to wear so you can be retro cool. You who drink your PBR or High life and listen to 7 bands that sound exactly alike that no one has ever heard of, and once this band reaches any form of success they are useless to you. This for some reason I believe is your idea of living in Detroit, you like it because it is desolate and run down, no one wants to bother you, and if you see it is changing, just like your musical tastes you will grow disinterested with this city. It will have become too mainstream for you to enjoy, too popular to be known as the unknown. You will flee yet again just as your parents had years ago, and you will look back down at this city. I will still remain, still endure, and try to make this place better.
This has been brought on by one stupid comment from one person who's been in the city for 3 years, and is the greatest authority on it apparently. More so than people who have worked here or lived here from a time before she was born. But no you are here to correct me and my friend on living in the city.
Can helping the city become as ironic as the clothes you wear, and you actually do something? Or will you remain in the ruins gladly listening to your unknown music, as you sit in the shambles of a once former great city?
I have not had a large impact on this city, yet I have tried. I will help when called upon, and hell I've joined a few organizations to try and improve this city, and dear hipsters I find it despicable that you live here and we rely so much on your parents to drive down from the houses you moved out of to come in and help us. The people who pay for your rent to stay in the city, because God forbid you get a real job, are the people who keep these organizations going. I'm sorry that I moved into a neighborhood that is still considerably safe, I'm sorry I've lived here my whole life, and I'm sorry that I dared disagree with you when we talked.
How dare I say that your thoughts on the city could be wrong, and that others have ideas on how to help this city. You are smarter than me, you look down upon me, my shirt was made recently and that can only mean I'm a corporate shell who has been brainwashed with corporate ideas. I have no idea what real music is because I only hear mainstream music or listen to Pandora. My ideas in no way can be original, may you resurrect this city with your creative originality and lack of passion.
You have absolutely no right to look down on me, or have the audacity to tell me that because I don't live in Corktown, or a completely run down part of town that I have nothing to speak of. I'm sorry that I don't dress as ironically as you, or that there is actually some room in my pants to you know move or sit, or not see every part of my lower torso. I have lived here my entire life, I have supported local businesses and supported many local organizations. You have lived in the suburbs and know nothing about real life, you moved down here when some of your friends did, or when you read about your now urban God known as Phil Cooley. I have nothing against Phil, he is a wonderful man who owns a great restaurant and truly wants to improve the city. His so called followers though are a different story, some of you I have no problems with, you came to this city to actually make it better. To the moronic assholes who came here to be cool, and not actually make a difference I despise you with a passion. You came here and complained, you still complain about the quality of life, yet try nothing to improve it, I see you at local bars and and at music shows and somehow because of you I feel like I'm the odd one out.
You hipsters who are not creative enough to come up with your own style, who rummaged around your parents closets to find shirts from the 70s and 80s to wear so you can be retro cool. You who drink your PBR or High life and listen to 7 bands that sound exactly alike that no one has ever heard of, and once this band reaches any form of success they are useless to you. This for some reason I believe is your idea of living in Detroit, you like it because it is desolate and run down, no one wants to bother you, and if you see it is changing, just like your musical tastes you will grow disinterested with this city. It will have become too mainstream for you to enjoy, too popular to be known as the unknown. You will flee yet again just as your parents had years ago, and you will look back down at this city. I will still remain, still endure, and try to make this place better.
This has been brought on by one stupid comment from one person who's been in the city for 3 years, and is the greatest authority on it apparently. More so than people who have worked here or lived here from a time before she was born. But no you are here to correct me and my friend on living in the city.
Can helping the city become as ironic as the clothes you wear, and you actually do something? Or will you remain in the ruins gladly listening to your unknown music, as you sit in the shambles of a once former great city?
I have not had a large impact on this city, yet I have tried. I will help when called upon, and hell I've joined a few organizations to try and improve this city, and dear hipsters I find it despicable that you live here and we rely so much on your parents to drive down from the houses you moved out of to come in and help us. The people who pay for your rent to stay in the city, because God forbid you get a real job, are the people who keep these organizations going. I'm sorry that I moved into a neighborhood that is still considerably safe, I'm sorry I've lived here my whole life, and I'm sorry that I dared disagree with you when we talked.
How dare I say that your thoughts on the city could be wrong, and that others have ideas on how to help this city. You are smarter than me, you look down upon me, my shirt was made recently and that can only mean I'm a corporate shell who has been brainwashed with corporate ideas. I have no idea what real music is because I only hear mainstream music or listen to Pandora. My ideas in no way can be original, may you resurrect this city with your creative originality and lack of passion.
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