The Truffle Is, Like, Totally Undervalued

Barely two days and I am halfway to having the funds to hang my little show in August: huzzah! Thank you Trampas and Rob! The weekend was crazy busy but fun: my god parents flew up from their little airplane community in Oregon (their garage fits their plane), Saturday we attended the Wholesome America Block Party with Sara's mom as well as Rona's friend Stella and her parents. Afterward we retired to our house to to drink Lemoncello (well, Greg and I did anyway) and then tearfully part the girls (at this moment there isn't any other way). Sunday was brunch with the godparents followed by replacing the broken ass DVD player (again) and then barbecue with the godparents at our own house (plus we taught them to play Phase Ten). Followed by the Very Hot Night of Very Still Air Even After the Storm and Rain Moved Through. What the hell is with this weather?

Would anyone like an awful lot of milk crates? I've got quite a few, certainly enough for significant shelfage if you've got the boards...

Let's see. I finished up illustration work. The fact that I don't have a new contract for the work I've nearly finished makes me a little grumpy, thankfully I know I will get paid and the rate should be at least closer to a real rate than before, if not actually a real rate. I did some commercial work yesterday that went relatively smoothly. Shot a model for a salon ad, it was good times. Good things about the shoot are the lack of 50% discount on my labor (yay) and the fact that they are pretty happy with what I handed over. I wish my soft box hadn't self-destructed as I was putting it together but it should be more than fixable and really: what should I expect from knock-off products from China. As long as the lights hold out I'll be happy. I have a meeting next week to go over the future of this endeavor.

I got a new optical prescription today and I am looking forward to seeing properly by next week, plus: new glasses! My cousin's stag night is on Saturday, the wedding next Saturday and then on Sunday we are on our way to Denver/Utah.

Other random things: Rona still misses: Othello, Great-Grandpa Jim and Aberdeen. She has also declared she is moving to London so she can be the big sister for Pascale. Also she finished her Pike level swimming classes and has been recommended to take eal [sic] next: go Rona!

What else is awesome about the world? Look Around You!

So here are the things I have been doing (too much "stuff"):

• tux fitting for Schwanky fundraiser
• get bike trailer (what that actually fits in our car)
• deposit Photography check I got 3 weeks ago
• Work, Work, Work
• photoshoot (what that I almost didn't go to because it snowed)
• unpacking
• trying to get the moving company to replace the griddle they broke
• trying to catch up on phone calls (and failing
• trying to reconnect to old clients so I can keep getting freelance work
• Work
• watching series 2 of Torchwood, also we started series 2 of Robin Hood
• other (as I am prone to forgetfulness of late
• not losing my afternoon temp job since my replacement was hired and supervisor asked me to stay but then "left" before my replacement even started.

Things that have yet to be done:

• get griddle replaced by moving company
• get bike for self
• everything else.

While the new jobs are great they aren't so bad either. My work studies in the morning are mostly competent (some are lacking a little training but that's not their fault) and pretty funny. It'll be nice to get them on their feet and actually doing stuff in the office because the woman before couldn't be bothered to train or trust them. The afternoons are relaxing (even if I'd really like to browse the interwebs) I'm getting a fair amount of reading done and I found the needed third person to play D&D eventually.

Saw Clolverfield twice this weekend (once with Sara and then on Sunday with friend Mike). ( Spoilers? )

I'm mailing off bought prints this week (yay! someone who is not my family wants some art of mine) and MS project is going pretty smoothly. Even better I don't even feel like I am shouting fire in a crowded theater. That's mostly because I think safety messages should be "Don't be stupid" rather than "If you make one mistake on the interwebs someone will steal your identity, drain your bank accounts, stalk you and kidnap your children." I mean really people, let's all just be cool ok?

Oh also: the first episode of Torchwood series two had it's moments but the show is still feeling a little uneven to me like it can't decide what it wants to be. Hopefully there will be a stronger over all series arc this time. Although we're not likely to stop watching anytime soon though...

Life has seen so overwhelmingly normal that it seems like there hasn't been too much to say really. secret_hippie has settled quite well into school and while parts of it seem challenging it is more a function of the professor or specific subject (who wants to learn to speak and think like middle management?) rather than of grad school itself.

Groceries get delivered which is nice, because now we only have to haul stuff up the hill if we forgot to buy it ahead of time or need something specific for dinner. The weather is mostly what you'd expect: overcast, and rain, rain, rain. Except for the days when it isn't. Those days are mild with piercing blues skies and wisps of clouds that remind me of summer.

I am settling into being a stay at home dad. It is a bigger adjustment than I had really thought about, but I am liking it just fine. We read, we play with her puzzles and generally have a good time. I manage to get some work done while she naps or during the morning or afternoon when Sar isn't in class. Sometimes I wish I could just run out and shoot but despite having limited chances at photography of the town I am still discovering new things to shoot.



Absentee ballots arrived here and I've voted. I was relieved to see that at least my excuse for less evil than the other makes a slightly better than average shill and voted against this habeas corpus nonsense. No if only the DDR mat or the box with the rest of Rona's toys could finish making their way through the labyrinthine mail system. Somewhere we should have info to find out their location but we haven't tried looking yet. Perhaps we are afraid of what we'll find.

Today is d&d day and neepheid and percible will be picking me up this afternoon to drive all the way out to Kemnay where we play. If I am lucky my thief won't die this afternoon. He's not to bright really. And when did 17 miles get to be a long way to go? When our parents visit I think we may rent a car so we can see more of Aberdeenshire and the Highlands than just downtown.