Christmas comes to South Philly

Taken on the next block over on an excursion to get hot chocolate.

remember in school when we used to have crits and everyone would put post its or stars or whatever on your work telling you what was good and what wasnt? i could really use some of the today. maybe ill put some stuff up later this week for people to rip into.

Bummers.

The past few days have been so full of bummers I don't even know what to do. On Sunday I discovered my favorite breakfast place, Butchers Cafe, closed! No warning, and no sign telling me where I can get my banana stuffed french toast. Just a sign that says:
CORNER STORE FOR RENT.

And I just heard the new Spice Girls song, and it sucks. Also a huge bummer. And people are selling the tickets for their reunion show for over a thousand bucks!

And starting today, im begining a total redesign of a magazine which just came under my art direction in the past few days. No lunch breaks til April!!!

My first issue

On a newstand at AC moore!
(I put it in front of the magazine that is supposed to be on the front rack, suckers!)

Since only I believe 3 people read this, and 2 of them live in Kansas City...

Kansas City is the new Greenpoint!

http://gawker.com/news/escape-from-new-york/kansas-city-is-the-new-greenpoint-311864.php


Sometimes, I miss the old 'hood. I prefer the old Polish guys over these old hispanic guys you find in South Philly.


But I dont think there are Polish people in Kansas City. Maybe? I don't know. But I'll find out in 9 days!

Working conditions

The condition of working in this office is deplorable. Its about 50 degrees in here. During the warmer days, which last until today, I would go outside to warm up. Its still warmer out there than it is in here, but its also raining. I have multiple sweaters at my desk, and this weekend im going to pick up a space heater. Fucking rediculous.

Also, lunch time. At Questex, we had 1 micowave, and 1 fridge. The office was also about 4 times the size of this one. So why is it that here, with 2 fridges, 3 micowaves, and a toaster oven, its impossible for me to eat lunch at a reasonable hour? (reasonable being between 12-1:30) People are cooking 3 course meals in there! wtf?!

What my street would look like if I lived here in 1927

Hitting news stands on or around Sept. 20

Fall Fashion

Printers can maybe cause cancer

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/36077

Shit! we ALL HAVE CANCER! Laser printers are everywhere! theres like, 3 within 10 feet of me right now! Ive changed multiple toners before! Im suing Kutztown for exposing me to such dangers.

THANK GOD

New job!

I finally got the offer from Interweave Press today! Im totally stoked, Associate Art Director of Step-by-Step Beads!



Did someone say dream job?! not really, but it's a really cool company, its a small mom and pop type of thing. All craft magazines, you can buy Step-By-Step Beads in AC Moore and places like that.

This is a HUGE step up for me, at Travel Agentbullshit, I was junior designer. Now, Im in charge of an actual magazine from cover to cover. I get a photographer once a week, you know, to take pictures of beads and stuff. Im excited.
The whole B-2-B thing sucks. The circulation of the magazine has nothing to do with the design or having and eye catching cover, so no one in these companies has the drive to really create good design. I've been freelancing at NAPCO, another B-2-B publisher, and they suck too.

Two exciting posts in one day! with visual aids!

My house is getting a mural!

I found out today that my house, well, this 6 foot wall thats attatched to the back of my porch, is getting a mosaic by this guy:



Heres some photos of his work:





If you have ever been to Philly, I'm sure you've seen some of his stuff around town, It's just about everywhere. Theres a lot particularly in the South St. area.

check out more here:
http://www.isaiahzagar.org/

when I get home Ill see what the progress is and maybe take some pictures.

I dont get HBo, or any cable for that matter, but I was at my parents house this weekend and I watched the new HBO show Flight of the Concords, and it was really good.

you can watch it online! cable subscribtion not needed!

http://www.hbo.com/conchords/video/index.html

I got an invitation to my five year high school reunion today.


Its a pool party.


With a Jimmy Buffet cover band.



WHAT


THE


FUCK?

New house!

Its been about three weeks since I moved, so I figured Ill tell you all a little about my new home! I was gonna take pictures, but its still kind of a just-moved-in mess. I have the pictures that the landlord took, so here you go...




The house is really beautiful. This was the kind of place that I was dreaming of in Brooklyn, and I probably never would have been able to find. Its located in South Philly, right around the corner from the Italian Market. The block itself is a garden block, its small, you cant really drive down it, and in the middle of the two alley-sized roads is Paolone Park. Which used to be old crappy houses and after there were torn down, the people who live here took it upon themselves to make it a park. It even as a website! paolonepark.com
So far, I absolutly love it here. Its a small community within a major city. It doesnt even feel like its a city, everyone just sits out on the porches and hangs out and they have a block party every month. Im just thrilled to have neighbors that arent old drunk polish dudes.

Im still on the job search, and Im really not having much luck. Its kinda frustrating, but Im sure itll all work out.

Im not really sure why I tagged this in the "Boyfriend Season" topic, but eh, why not?

Apparently I accidently bought the edited version of the new Avril album. Im pretty pissed about. In the unedited, theres a part where she screams something along the lines of
"BITCH!
SLUT!
PSYCHOPATH!"
and something else i cant quite decipher, but Im sure its fucking awesome.

So I guess I should give an update on things in the past month.

Well, I left New York. Lots of reason, not all of them good, some of them are, but in the end it just wasn't where I wanted to be.

By this weekend, Ill be living in South Philly in an awesome house with Caitlin. Im excited about it, I dont have a real job yet, so I a little nervous, but I've just kinda faced the fact that Im not gonna be that person with the awesome job, so Ill just see what happens. (but if anyone who reads this wants to give me a job, or knows someone or some shit, let me know)

Ill update more once in settled.

Yesterday I thought a good birthday/newly unemployeed gift to myself would be a MacBook Pro. After the loss of Ibook, I got a refurbished 12 inch powerbook, but its just not fast enough to be my main computer. So I need a new one.

Yesterday I tried to get approved for apple credit card and I got an email confirming it today. So I had to sing in and do all this bullshit to set it up, only to find out my credit limit is $750.

A macbook is like, at least $2000.

Its pretty fucking stupid.

Avril still doesnt like your girlfriend.

seriously, she fucking hates her.

Im anxiously awaiting the arrival of the new Avril and Bright Eyes cds. They are late. Hopefully they'll be here tomorrow!

In case you get as concerned about Jason Shwartzman as I do, he has a new band. AND ITS AMAZING.

http://www.myspace.com/coconutrecords


Also, Im pretty concerned about this show shear genius on bravo. Its like project runway, only with hair and somehow a lot gay-er. My favorite person is obviously Dr. Boogie. Thats his name. I dont know why, there hasnt been any explanation for it. Everyone just calls him Dr. Boogie. He wears a different color bedazzled bandana everyday.
Im also concerned about the host guy, who as first i thought had some kinda gay/forgien accent. But after further investigation, Im pretty sure he just has a speech impediment.

Scared, I think

I woke up around 5am today and wasnt able to go back to sleep. Ive been so sure of my decision up until today, and now Im becoming filed with fear and regret.

Ive been trying to think up a way to sum up my feelings on this, but I havent really been able to. For anyone who doesnt know, Ive decided to leave New York City. Im currently working out my last 2 weeks, my last day at work is next Wednesday and Im moving back to Pa the following Saturday, I dont have any real plans, I dont have a new job, I dont really know what Im going to do.

I havent been happy here since maybe, the first month I moved here. I dont really like my job, Ive learned a lot and gotten a good experience, but I cant see myself here any longer than I have been. That, and I cant barely afford to survive here. 2/3 of my money goes towards the rent and utilities of an apartment that I hate where I live with a girl that I really cant stand. Do you know what its like to listen to some girl cry everyday for six months over a loser boyfriend? I do. And it fucking sucks. I have an option to get out of my lease right now, and I decided to take it.

While I can give endless reason for why Im leaving, I can only think of one for staying but Im still scared and worried that I wont be able to move forward. I dont really know what I want, where I want to be, or what I want to do, but Im pretty sure that I dont want to do this anymore.

So, as of April 28, Ill no longer be a New Yorker and Ill be back in Lancaster. I kinda feel like I failed myself, but I think I have. Im just not happy here. Right now, Im planning on moving to Philadelphia. I may move back in with Caitlin, maybe not, Im just going to have to wait it out.

Things

So there are some exciting things going on!

Today, the new Bright Eyes cd comes out. And next Tuesday, Avril comes out! Just in time for driving in warm weather with the windows down in the car that I dont own!

Weekend

This weekend was sucessful. If you measure success in aquiring things you didn't have to pay for. I got a giant design annual from AIGA as a "gradation gift". Its about a year late, but I guess its the thought that counts.

After reading through said book, I went outside to go do some stuff, and sitting right there on the curb was a pretty decent shelf thing. So I took it inside and it filled the empty whole in my room pretty well. So I sat the giant AIGA book on it and felt like I had had a pretty successful day without even having to leave my block.

I also made a pretty big desicion about what Im going to be doing in the near future. I cant go into detail here because all the parties that this effects have yet to be informed. They'll figure it out though.

Bored

Today is more boring than usual. I keep refreshing my email, only to see

0 Unread Messages

which is dumb.

Damnit! I just checked it again, and it was just a message from Cailtin.

Today sucks!

Tonight, I'm gonna build a well! remember those?!

Blogger!

So I started this thing and got bored enough today to actually try and figure it out, And I cant! I made this sweet page header in paint, and I can't figure out how to post it. So if someone could help me out with that, I appreciate it.

Anyway, on to more important things. I was thinking the other day, I'm pretty unhealthy. I mean, Ive lost weight and all since moving to New York, but I still eat pretty shitty. The only beverages I consume in a normal day are coffee and beer. Maybe some pepsi sometimes. So I'm starting to drink water throughout the course of my day.

I also started thinking about what the matchdotcom ads on myspace call "Boyfriend Season". In response to this new revelation, I decided to do that Special K diet. If you aren't familier, your supposed to replace breakfast and lunch with a bowl of special k, and magically lose a dress size in 2 weeks or something like that. The problem is, Special K is kinda gross. Basically, Im just on a cereal diet. We'll see if it works out.

Blogger!