Today’s Temporary Office Space
Today I decided to step out of my comfort zone and step into a café I normally don’t go to (mostly because it’s about an hour from home–I just had come this way for a dentist appointment* and a visit with Mom). With a few free hours before my next thing and with heading home a stupid proposition since I had be back this way for it, I felt this was the time to give this place another try.
I confess… this place doesn’t work for me most of the time. And today was no exception. If I hadn’t needed something more doughy than flaky (and definitely not crunchy once the Novocaine started wearing off), I would have been highly disappointed in my ordered nibble (a buttered croissant that tasted frightfully like a Pillsbury Crescent Roll from a tube that had been “baked” in a microwave oven–under-baked at that). The tea was good, but then as long as the water is clear and heated right, I usually can monitor the steeping to my taste just fine.
Still, I’m so very glad I came. OMG, the paintings! A local artist, named Tim Dobert, had several works displayed about the backrooms. Incredible stuff. His work with water effects is just… Wow!
Even in this iPhone4 pic you can see how good the water looks (I posted this to my Facebook to gloat a bit about my happy “office away from home”)
I so wish I had the money to buy a painting.
Maybe after I find out what the oral surgeon I need to hire for the next tooth is going to do our bank accounts… Just kidding. Then the money will go to the oil bill, the car and house insurance… trivial stuff.
Guess I need to learn how to paint.
Not now though. In lieu of a career as a talented painter**, let me update you on my progress as another kind of starving artist…
ROW80 Check-in
After yesterday, I bet I’m ready to take up a PT job as a proofreader. The last few days have all been spent editing and beta-ing. Sometimes it hurt to snip and trim… I loved the work so much as it was, even when I knew it didn’t fit the guidelines. Some pieces… I’ll be honest, annoyed me because the creators took the suggestion that this was a place to promote their work very seriously. I’m not big into ‘market speak” and “You too can…” genre of sales-speak just gives me the willies. I understand where it comes from; these days, everyone feels almost forced to sell themselves to someone… audience, employers, even stores! The urge to be the next Best Thing can seem overpowering in our society.
I never wanted “IN” on that. I so very much never wanted IN, that seeing this post by KM Weiland just made the world feel sane and happy again. Or at least a place where I can stay sane, which is good enough for me.
But what all that meant for my goals is… I’m squeaking by. Almost. Sort of…
Not really.
If you don’t mind, I’d rather not go through the list and explore my failures in fine detail. Accept they are there and that I have a bunch of work to catch up on before Sunday, and then go visit some other ROWers here for hopefully more happy news.
Me? I’m off to enjoy a song or two and get my 750words for the day done. Here are two of my favorite car ride and contemplate tunes if you’d like to enjoy with me, both from the Avalanches album Since I Left You:
*I’ve had the same dentist since high school, and I don’t deal with change well… don’t judge. 😉
** As I noted in this post, my brushwork could use some brushing up.
Many Worlds From Many Minds 