SPF's new digs

SPF got a new job!!! I know he won't blog about it, or really talk about, or tell any of you about it, so I WILL!!!

24% increase in salary (we are now making the same base) (+/- $4.00/year)
FABULOUS Benefits
FABULOUS Profit Sharing
FABULOUS Bonuses

So, I'm thinking in three or four years, I will quit and become a full time writer/photographer and he can support me. YEAH!!!!

Internet Dream World

So, I found out what the internet is really for the other day.

I had a problem with one of my beautiful new Access 2003 databases and I couldn't get the form to work for me. It was creating quite a problem, and with the time constraints that I am under to get things accomplished, established, and implemented, I was starting to fret. (Just ask SPF, I talked about it in my sleep.)

So I found a friendly little website dedicated to Access advice and answers. I wrote my question, was responded to, answered back, and got my answer all within about thirty minutes.

See, wamez, technology CAN be a good thing.

People are shiny.

Birthday Wishes

My favorite quote from one of my birthday cards:

"It seems like I just met you, but I have known you forever."

I love my family.

Focus on the Positives

As a positive side note to the previous post, my sister finished "Book 1" and she says that she really liked it. It has problems, which she was very helpful in identifying and clarifying, and overall she still liked it. That is a good and positive thing. I am trying to focus on that information while I dive into the rewrite of said novel. I think that now I have some good direction, some things to clear up that should be identified and resolved. When this is complete, I will maybe be ready to start tying to get an agent. That would also be a positive move. Focus on the positives. Focus. Focus.

What the Heck am I Doing?

So, I am now in my late twenties. I know that shouldn't upset me, and in truth, in the general "My youth is almost gone" way it isn't bothering me, but there is just something that I am not comfortable with, and that is my current state in life.

Now before you all get up in arms, let me explain.

I have begun writing again for the first time in about a year. My first book took me over ten years to finish (and, to be honest, I am not sure it really is "finished".)

My second book took me over five years to "finish" and at that point I sent it to TOR, was rejected, and am now starting it over from SCRATCH.

My third book is 3/4s of the way completed and I have abandoned it with the knowledge that it is crap and needs to have a solid foundation of story for it to be built on, and that story rests firmly in the foundation of my second book, referred to as "Book 1." (Book 1 of this series.)

I haven't picked up my camera in months (except to take pictures of the Armageddon that has become my complex) and why? Because I failed miserably at my first shot at a real, professional shoot. Great.

So why am I upset? I guess most of the answer to that question is obvious, but I want to add that I am also upset because I have obviously not learned how to deal with failure. I recognize as a cognitive creative person that I will never succeed if I don't figure out how to learn from failure and become adept at proceeding on my path despite the failure. Not only despite it, but in part because of it. Have I done this? No. Can I? I am starting to doubt that I can. If I get rejected again, or if my work is terrible, I don't see any continuation on this path, which leaves me what? Corporate America forever, that's what.

So why am I really upset? Because I have now written two functional databases in Microsoft Access 2003. I am more adept at the corporate functions than I am at the creative. I have eased the flow of work processing, reduced the potential for data entry error, and increased the demonstration of compliance for a small, medical device company.

This has taken the path of career instead of paycheck.

I am in my late twenties, I am creatively stunted, and I am good at my career-job.

This was never supposed to be.

Page One Rewrite

I started my page one rewrite of my second book yesterday. So far, it is horrible. I might have to get back into the swing of writing and then start again. That's the bad news.

The good news is, I'm writing again. It has been a long time. Since before the wedding. There was just so much on my mind, and then I was emotionally stagnant because of the old job, but now it seems as though I might be clearing my mind for the road ahead. All of the roads, from corporate life (for now) through creative endeavors. I still need to be a little better about Kung Fu, but aside from that, I am on my way.

There is nothing to do now but start.

Six Degrees...or, like, Two

So I was looking around on the IMDB this morning just for fun (every once in a while I like to see my sister's name on the small screen) and found that one of her actresses is credited in an upcoming blockbuster!! How cool!!! Which means that my sister, who is connected to this actress, is now TWO degrees from huge mega stars. That makes me THREE degrees from huge mega stars.

That's right, you can bask in my glory now.

I Think I'm Done Shopping Now

So, for my new job I have gone CRAZY with shopping. In Vegas last weekend, I went shopping with my sister and my Stepmother and we spent a lot of money. Some of it was gifted, some of it was me, but it was a LOT.

This weekend, my good friend S.A. and I went out and went CRAZY again. She spent all of like $45.00. The goal of the trip, make me look professional and get me long enough pants. (Apparently I am a horrible pant length judger. S.A. is very perturbed by this and insisted that the pants I did end up buying are still an inch too short. Something that I am to rectify immediately. That is, when I stop wearing them today...and get around to it.)

SOOO, I bought a lot more on sale (the Vegas trip was also sale oriented) and some that wasn't, and ended up with a WHOLE NEW WARDROBE!!

This, of course, goes along with the whole new job, the whole new haircut, and the whole new, bright vision of the future.

Keeping in mind, however, that my ultimate goal in life is to be a writer/photographer. I am trying not to lose sight of that.

Norman is going to be Mad

I did a stupid thing last night. I got a haircut. I didn't go to Norman. I should ALWAYS go to Norman. I know that he is far away, but that shouldn't matter!! Norman understands my head. He understands my hair. He can translate "cut it all off" into "Wow! That's exactly what I always wanted!!"

"Sandra" could not. Plus, she told me I have dandruff and should buy a very expensive shampoo that she happens to sell. I have a very healthy scalp. I should have left right then, but I didn't.

Norman is going to be mad.

Good Morning, Friday

So, I had a pretty good first week. Yesterday felt like Tuesday, so the fact that today is Friday hasn't really settled in, but I'm sure it's a good thing.

I have been very active in my first five days. I have a two week plan. I already have a "To Do" List. I hope (and think) that I am making a good impression on everyone. I think the CEO likes me.

Osiris Lost His Mane

It's sad but true. I think the fleas took more out of him than we thought, and he scratched and scratched, and when it was all said and done, no more mane. He was so pretty with his big, fluffy mane. Sigh. He looks much smaller now. I think he was probably always this size, but he looks much smaller now.

At any rate, no more fluffer-nutter, just Oggie.

I LOVE MY NEW JOB!!!

So much so that I won't be blogging from work any more. I will try and blog from home on occassion, but you might see a decline...sorry loyal fans!!