A dream in my heart and a dime in my pocket

Last weekend was Blip Fest 2008 in Brooklyn NY. During the concert I looked at Georgia and promised her one thing. I told her "one way or another I will be a part of Blip Fest 2009." When I said "one way or another" I really meant I'd be on the stage playing something or have some visuals played in the background of some talented artist. With only 51 more weeks until Blip Fest 2009, I am not in an impressive position. This is what I"ve done so far: downloaded LSDJ and a Game boy Emulator.

Oh yes, I'm on the road to success.

Today, for no particular reason, I decided to grab a Metro when coming out of the train station near work (Metro = free newspaper). I didn't take a chance to look at, but when I did I came across something that got me very VERY angry:

The MTA should pull some $$ out of their asses.

Today, for no particular reason, I decided to grab a Metro when coming out of the train station near work (Metro = free newspaper). I didn't take a chance to look at, but when I did I came across something that got me very VERY angry:




104 bucks for a monthly metro card. It was 76 no more than a year ago, went up to 81 (not too bad) but 104?!

Damn... time to learn how to ride a bike.

Weekends are for lovers.

This week/end will be a liberating one; I'm finally going to move into my own apartment. For me, this is both an amazing accomplishment (yes I'm a bitch and I will laugh at all the unfortunate friends of mine still live at home) and a terrifying realization of reality; its time to grow up. I like being independent, freely leave and enter my home without questions up the wazoo, but I will never miss being babied, having dad cook dinner every night, not paying for bills etc etc.

This saturday will be a morning of gleefully dropping 400 bucks at everyone's favorite crap furniture store, Ikea in Red Hook Brooklyn. From there, the solemn drive back (with a little piece of my heart in my wallet) will end with four or five long and thin cardboard boxes filled with self assemble metal and wood pieces. I assume the assembly of my small room will be completed 3 hours after the first box is open.

So, this is my excitement. This is what I look forward to. Go me.

Note to self: Make more money.

http://www.mybestjunkemail.com/9-quick-ways-to-make-extra-money-on-the-internet/

http://www.affiliatewatcher.com/need-to-make-money-fast-10-quick-and-easy-ways-to-earn-extra-money-online/#more-328

Hard working, broke, constantly tired--and somehow enjoying it.

For the past 2 months I have been a part of Nola Pictures. It takes up all my time and sucks all my energy. I don't get paid well (at all) but have still managed to pay the deposit on my new apartment in Williamsburg Brooklyn. For those of you who don't know, I've been at my dad's place (in the same area) for the past month or so. Sleeping on a hard futon mattress has caused my back to ache and some restless evenings. BUT my how life speeds up when you put all your time and effort into it. I found (or rather WAS found) by two sweet girls. The three of us found the "perfect" place right off of the Bedford stop in Brooklyn.

It is our perfect 5 room RR apartment in the sky. We also have one of the best landlords. Here is why: "Hey Bill, here is the envelope with all of our money, do you want to double check it?" "No, I trust you girls."

I'll post images soon.

After the keys were dispersed, we scurried to our new home for the next 12 months. Such character the place has. We celebrated with a bottle of champaign that was graciously bought by Margaret's boyfriend, Timothy and talked about how we needed to swiffer the floors, paint the walls and play Cranium.

Amongst that night, other conversation was verbalized and I came to the realization of two things (1) I need to work on my argument skills! and (2) I really have no clue what I want to do with myself.

I have a job at a production company, went to a liberal art school, learned about film/video production, and discovered a passion for the arts. As much as college was a learning experience, it didn't prepare me for anything. Bard is a bubble where the real world doesn't apply. For four years, its wonderful, but then you leave and it has taught you very little. I've also realized that it doesn't matter how much fancy equipment you have or how many expensive computer programs, but your skill is what matters. If you were given a tool box and some wood, would you make a shelf or just boast about the large quantity of shiny tools you owned?

That reminds me of a conversation I had with Georgia about one of her friends. He blocks out times of his day and forces himself to do art, no matter how tired he is. Its a sad concept to have to force yourslelf to do something you love. But in reality, if you don't force yourself to work on a skill, you lose everything you've learned. I'm afraid if I were to step foot in a figure drawing class, my work would be comparable to a 10 year old (which in our modern society isn't always a bad thing). When you haven't worked on something for such a long time its scary to think you might fail at something you once succeeded at. But its having that vulnerability and the courage to deal with that that makes you stronger at your skill.

And I've learned this and though about it all within the span of 10 minutes. These thoughts are nothing new to me. I've thought of them and re thought them over and over again. Its about time I stop thinking about them and start to practice my creativity again.

Lets see what happens.

Jenn

New York, New York.. not the best place in the world.

I know I previously wrote I would not whine about my own life, but this will be an exception. South Carolina was great. The plane ride was easy going (although we were delayed 3 hours), and the car ride to Pawlie's Island was short and sweet. My dad greeted us with a warm hug. Jake and I planted our first steps onto southern asphalt as we walked to the grey rented Nissan. It was also Jake's first time seeing a Palm Tree. We drove maybe half an hour and wound up at Pawlie's Island. Julia's house there (Maurice Cottege) was in a fantastic location. From the front door, there was a small road, and then a bird sanctuary (which was mostly a marsh). Each cottage had its own pier, letting you walk up to the marsh. If you were at the back door of the house, you'd be facing a beach that hugged the Atlantic Ocean. The waves were easy going and not too rough. All in all, it was great. Dinners all together, lounging on the beach, swimming, boogie boarding, eating, cooking, crabbing, Olympics watching.

And now, I am back in NYC. It is not South Carolina. My shiity apartment is not Julia's cottage. We can't leave our doors unlocked. We don't see the ocean from our bedroom windows. We don't have family dinners (let alone bearly have dinners). Everything is isolated, lonley, sad, dirty at this apartment. It is the opposite of full of life. It is uninviting. And this is how I've lived for the past 2 and a half months. I'm pretty bummed out to be here. But I do hope that when I get out of this place, this apartment, things will start to look up.

When I'm settled in, I hate change. I almost didn't want to go South Carolina, only because it was change, scary. That is something I need to get over if I'm ever going to ant to enjoy myself. So until then.. I'm going to try to get some dinner together.

Tomorrow I go to South Carolina. This is a paid vacation from my dad. He was nice enough to invite Jake and I to his girlfriend's house there. We fly into Myrtle Beach and will drive down the coast for roughly 50 minutes. From there, we take a bridge to a private island which has several houses on it, one of those houses being Julia's. The house is estimated 15 seconds away from the beach (and thats a private beach). I will take pictures and post them on here or facebook.

A month and a half later..

So, I'm really bad at updating this. But I thought it would be important to discuss my recent activity at Anytime Bar in brooklyn. Last night, around 10 PM, Jake and I get to the bar. We walk up to the oh so busy bartender and after patiently getting waiting several minutes, I order two PBR's. With three dollars in my hand (thats right, I'm a great tipper) I expect to hear the usualy "2 dollars!" to my surprise, I hear "4 dollars!" wwwwhhhatt? Anytime, a little piece of heaven for recent graduates who want to drink but pay as little as possible ow have to purchase one of the worse beers for twice as much?! Oh well, we got our beer and sat next to the bar as we waited for Winter and John. We meet up with them, and they are sitting at the dining area, only for us to notice the menu has changed. When John asks for Hummus, the waitress says they don't offer it anymore! WHAT? Man, Anytime is going down a little in my book. But hey, I'm pretty sure their happy hour is still 1 dollar PBR's, and if they don't.. I just have to move out of this super expensive city!

While I'm on the topic, NYC is overly priced and I can't stand it anymore. I love the city, but I don't love the prices. Will keep you posted on the job and house search as things start to unravel. Although, i did have a great interview yesterday with Nola Pictures. I thought if I got it, it would be AMAZING. Until I really figured out the amount of money I'd make after taxes. OH MAN! Half of what I should be making! I can't believe it. In desperation and a state of panic, I signed up for those online survey's that pay you .50 a survey. Then I put back all of my half.com books online. I've made a promise to myself though, all the extra cash I get, I'm going to save up the first 50 dollars so I can set up my website (which is made, just needs to go on the internet).

Oy. the life of being a recent college grad in NYC.

A new blog, starting .... NOW!

So, I *tried* to make a blog documenting and sharing the process of my senior project, but that didn't last very long. As second semester rolled around, I tried my hardest to stay away from anything related to it. Consequently, I only put up about 2 posts and that was that. So, since the project is done, I am coming back to this wonderful blog. I first wanted to make a video blog, but that takes time and effort. I think I will try to have some video blogs (which will more than likely be hosted on youtube). But never mind TALkING about the blog, and now time to actually blog...

This blog is going to be a documentation of my summer, unemployment, and whatever else seems relevant at the time. This blog will NOT be me whining about how horrible my life is and who did what with who and when. If you want something like that there are tons of video blogs. I don't find those things nearly interesting enough unless you know them personally.

So right, blog #1.

I'm going review a dive bar that I went to last night called Anytime. My friend John recommended it. It is located on 6th North street in Brooklyn. I can't remember the cross streets but if you want to know it badly enough you can look it up. Anyway, this is why Anytime is a bar I'd go to anytime: CHEAP. And I'm talking... cheap! First of all, no matter what time it is, they will always have 3 dollar well drinks/margaritas and one dollar PBR (Pabts Blue Ribbon). BUT, get this, during their happy hour, which is 6-9, they reduce the well drinks to 1 buck. Yes, that is right, one buck. As to my review of the drinks themselves, PBR is.. well.. PBR. There is nothing more to say about one of the most watered down, piss tasting cheap beers. I did not have any well drinks, but I did have a margarita. It was not the best margarita I have had by far, but hey it was 3 bucks. I enjoyed myself there. The atmosphere was pretty good, relaxed, mostly hipster kids who stacked up PBR cans as high as they could. The food wasn't bad either. John got a chicken burrito which I had some of and it was pretty decent. This is going to be a place I will go to for may times to come. Might already be going there next week.