Xmas '07: people annoy me.

Thats basically how I felt all day. Even worse, they were family members.

I hate to be one of those "OMG my family sucks!" people, but seriously...

Around noon I was sitting out back, listening to a record, keeping one eye on a magazine, the other on my younger brother playing in the backyard. It was cool, but not cold, and it was very pleasant and sunny. My mom and stepdad were stressed out all to hell, so I was trying to keep things under control by keeping an eye on my brother (he was home for the holiday...). I could care less at that point about what day it was, what we were going to eat, what presents to give out. The moment was really quite good...day I say, the best in a while.

Then, in what seemed like explosion, *everyone* showed up at once. Ugh. Total Chaos ensued. Oh, I'm sure it was fun for them, and maybe I'm being just a bit of a control freak, but my god, is it too much to ask to have a bit of structure and reason? 8 million things thrown at me at once is no way to live.

Anyway, I did end up with some decent stuff. Well, I got almost $150 in gift cards to Frys, and in the end about $300 in cash. I also got The Simpsons Movie on DVD, and also the latest Futurama release on DVD. I also got some ticky tack stuff which will probably go in the trash sooner rather than later, and a pretty useful gift, a case of motor oil and a filter. My car is just about due for an oil change too.

Last night was pretty interesting. I went over to my dad's house, and we went out to dinner along with his girlfriend and my half sister (whom I hadn't seen in a few years...). It was quite nice.

After that, I went out photographing. Another great moment ensued.

I drove out only a mile or two out of town, but down a road which dead-ends, and no one past a certain point lives down. I had an entire stretch of road all to myself, with nothing but the full moon to guide me. So what did I do? Take photographs, of course.

I think the night photography bug has bitten me.

I need better places to shoot, or at least more interesting places. I also need a more steady tripod. The one I'm using now, my parents got for free like 10 years ago when they bought a video camera (which doesn't even get used these days...). Another battery for my camera wouldn't hurt either, however the company that made my camera stopped making cameras a few years back, so I don't know if thats possible. Lastly, if I could get the remote shutter button to work (it never has...), that would be nice.

All things to th ink about. I have another month until the next full moon.

Going back to work tomorrow will be no fun at all. The only consolation will be that there is only a 3-day week, followed by another 4-day weekend, which will culminate in my annual ritual of debauchery, aka New Years Eve.

Also, I'm going to see Camper Van Beethoven and Cracker on Saturday Night. Kick ass.

Birthday

Yep, here it came, and there it went.

And it wasn't as bad as I had feared. I didn't grow old and ancient overnight. I didn't die. I didn't lose what abilities and talents I had and turn into a bumbling old fart.

Listen to me...I'm only 28!

But 30 is now less than two years away...

It wasn't really a very eventful day though. I went and got breakfast, then my aunt came over and gave me a few gift cards. I watched football in the afternoon (the Niners snabbed a rare victory...) and also my younger brother came over to stay until Christmas Day. Lastly, I went to the grocery store, then shortly ago, went and snapped some photos of a christmas lights display down the road from me. I would have stayed longer...but the batteries died. Theres always tomorrow. After all, the moon will be pretty much full then.

I was pretty depressed last night though. Glad to see that the world didn't end today.

The next two days should be at least somewhat fun. Then its back to work for a few days before seeing Camper Van Beethoven and Cracker again, then the New Years Even debauchery fest.

After that, who knows?

As much as I've been feeling that the story of my life is already coming to an end, at this point...I feel like its more of an open book than ever. Strange how 24 hours can change things.

Late December

Only a week until my birthday (I'll be 28), slightly over a week until Christmas, and silghtly over 2 weeks until 2008.

Yep, this year is almost over.

A crazy one its been too.

I talked to my old production manager on Friday night, and she seems to be pretty happy at her new job. It was great to hear from her too!

And not to give anything away, but I could be reunited with her sooner rather than later.

At my current job, well at least things are slow. Its a double edge sword, because while I'm not nearly as stressed out, of course course the owner is stressed out from not making any money. An understandable position too, although one would think by now he would be able to better cope with the business cycles.

Yeah, I am more depressed this xmas than in past years. I see myself as only getting older, and really getting nowhere in life. I'd like to make something happy with my photography, but at this point I don't know exactly what to do. I haven't shot anything in almost a month now. I might go out next weekend, because of the full moon. If its not too cloudy or anything, I want to give night photography a shot. If anything, I'll find some houses with extravagant light displays to shoot. Theres one just down the street from me(nicknamed "Mr Christmas") that would look fantastic.

I'm not really wondering what I'll get for xmas, because I don't really get much thats significant anymore, aside from cash. I wonder more about what I'm going to get after. Probably a new amp and CD/DVD player (I'm going to try and get a DVD changer and dump both the CD and DVD players, as both are failing me...). After that, maybe a new computer. I'd love an iMac, but good lord, those things are pricey. It would have to be the last computer I get for a while, so it will have to last.

As far as 2008 goes, hell who knows? I want to try and move out, but current salary, while it is nice, wouldn't really let that happen on terms I'm comfortable with, ie, I want to live alone, not with roommates. I'd also love to develop some sort of plan regarding my photography. Where can I take it from here? What kind of equipment should I invest in? What kind of shots should I be taking? And lastly what kind of training do I need? Should I take a class, or find someone I can mentor with? I do get a few compliments, but I wonder just if I can actually do something with it.

Yes, I'm still alive...

My plan to not post as much about my job has led me to not post at all. I guess my job *is* my life, or at least, its the most consuming thing in my life.

Had an interesting, if not disasterous week last this past week. Had a brutal cold, and I still have it. Friday was insanely busy, but I got through it. The weekend was crazy too. I went to a birthday party for my niece.

I'm being too vague.

Yeah.