Wailing girls and the long morning drive

Now that I have a job I am forced to drive to, I have been listening to music again. So weird...it almost seems wrong to have a working car stereo and time to kick on an album.

I reveal myself here as having a weakness for overly-romantic, lonely, and---poppy?; yes, poppy---female singer/songwriters, but I have to say that I think Ingrid Michaelson is an incredible artist. Almost everything I've heard of hers I like, but this song in particular is just the right combo of creepy/disturbing, and really pretty...

I have had a lot of dreams lately about abandoned biuldings and suicides...

October in the Pacific Northwest

October is my favorite month. Movements feel slower, my favorite music elicits greater emotion, and creativity bubbles up stronger and louder than usual, demanding my recognition. Yellow and red leaves swirling in little patterns across the sidewalks and streets, and that pale quality the sun takes on when it is colder out. It doesn't matter what state or part of the country I am in, I love it all the same---though I must say that changing leaves and cool, crisp air is an important part of the experience. Fall is time for reading things like Gaiman's Graveyard Book, sipping on good coffee and watching the bicycles go by, or napping upstairs with the window open.

...not that I actually have time for any of these things!

Indeed, I am busier than ever. Autumn in Portland has brought many changes; GOOD changes.

After three terms at Portland Community College, I have finally landed that job I have so often dreamed about: I am a full-time, in-house graphic designer with a stable, profitable company! It has been such long, long road, getting to this point, but it was all worth it. I can finally quiet the insecurities and doubts about being back in school at nearly 30, attempting a 180-degree career switch with two two children and a mortgage...

Maybe I can even start thinking again about fixing up my old Volvo and going Autocrossing.

In the personal project realm, I have plunged ahead with an exciting, if rather ambitious project: the first edition of Omnibus, the collection of short fiction and poetry I have been assembling from the work of my friends and myself is due to be printed in less than two weeks. It should be a really fun read, and a good test of my design and editing skills. If you are interested in learning more about it, get in touch with me. It has ghost stories, science fiction, adventures, and more...

Goodbye to the short summer...

...find a lonely park bench and bring your book.