After much time ignoring the inevitable, I think Flickr is finally pulling me in to its grasp. Once I get settled… you can visit my little HRTWRK Flickr page and see some photos. Wait for it.

It’s a fun game to play. I need a new camera. I want a haircut. I need an accountant. I want to go to the movies. You see how that works? I’m all grown up and making tough decisions.

New Spring needs a designer. There’s a PDF of the job requirements on their site.

I feel like I am wasting time right now… having to turn down jobs because I can’t get started on them until Monday… completing lots of tasks but all of the “change oil” or “do laundry” variety… not exactly world-changing endeavors… waiting for UPS… waiting for invoices to be paid so I can buy a camera… waiting to schedule photo shoots. Waiting, waiting, waiting.

“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” - Psalm 27:14

I’m frustrated today because I don’t wait well.

Things are coming together. The new G5 and Cinema Display will be here on Friday. I’m spending tonight putting together my new desk and chair and filing cabinet. I bought other boring things today like surge protectors and dry erase markers and stamps… basically all the things you take for granted when you work in an office. These types of things just magically appear in mass quantity and no one actually BUYS them… right? Somehow my checking account does not agree with that statement.

I feel very much like I am in productivity purgatory right now. I have work to do… but won’t be able to for a few more days and I just want to GET ON WITH IT. Patience has never been my natural tendency. I’m now at the mercy of UPS tracking numbers. It’s quite humbling, I assure you.

Things are still a bit hectic and crazy. Transitions are always interesting… the give and take and looking forward to new things while still feeling a bit of nostalgia over old things. No matter what (and no matter how I feel) I know that this is where I am right now. I am here. There is no other reality. This is my life and there are things to be done and, surprisingly enough, I really love it.

I’ve spent a lot of money in the past few days. Between the new ride and the new G5 and display and software and such… it’s a bit overwhelming. But it’s nice to know that I earned that money… and that i’ve earned these things by working. Credit is evil and brings you down… paying for things with cash (novel idea, I know) makes me feel like a respectable, hard-working person. We are on our way…

In other news, my good friend Summer recently left the dark side and ventured into a new company with some great folks… it’s called lowercase people. From what she’s told me so far… it’s gonna be amazing and actually serve a worthwhile purpose. Keep an eye out.

You can expect a redesign of this blog sometime soon. When I have regular interweb access again… it’s on like Donkey Kong. (Who is, apparently, VERY on… since I hear that phrase often.)

Off to a wedding near the coast today… Mcd was all sickly this morning, so it’s me and a carload of ladies. It’s a beautiful day for a drive, especially in light of yesterday’s insane storms. I love the change from one extreme to another.

I bought a nice little Honda Passport this morning. It feels good to be free again. The only issue (after all it is a used car… there are always issues) is that part of the automatic window assembly on the driver’s side is in need of replacement. Not a big deal, the part is already ordered. However, it straight MONSOONED here today. I’m talking sideways rain you can’t see through and hail. HAIL. IN SOUTH CAROLINA. Crazy. And coming in my window.

I was unaffected… I have a vehicle.

I was trying to think of an eloquent way to phrase it, but i’m too spent. Yesterday I resigned. After two years as the Creative/Art Director at New Spring Community Church, i’m off to pursue other things… namely freelancing fulltime via HRTWRK. The past 24 hours have been filled with meetings and phone calls and buying equipment and talking with the fam and budgeting and more phone calls and lots of encouragement and support from my wonderful friends and family. I’m sitting in downtown Greenville, having just left one client meeting, getting ready to go do a photo shoot (with a borrowed camera… anyone got a Canon Mark II just laying around unused?), and then going to another client meeting. I have to buy a vehicle and a design-ready Mac in the next day or so. The following two weeks will be some interesting transition time. If you’re prone to such things, prayers and thoughts and such are appreciated.

It’s an odd feeling. We’ll talk through it together, ok? (And for goodness sakes, go check out HRTWRK. Pass the word. I am now the self-promotional guru. Let’s enter into relationships that require you to pay me large sums of money to make pretty things for you.)

So i’m at Jittery Joe’s (which just changed their name to eCity Java… ew) to do some thinking and clear my head and get some things together (I have large news of the professional nature i’ll share after I finish processing it all) and all I want is the quiet coffeeshop experience (with free wi-fi) and what do I get? (Other than a multitude of parenthetical phrases?)

REM… they’re playing freaking REM. Were you aware that REM IS THE WORST BAND EVER (EXCEPT FOR THE BEE GEES)? They make me want to rage on something. Taunting me… that’s what they’re doing.

Yesterday, on the ride/crawl through Atlanta rush hour traffic I was suddenly aware of my stategic placement in the middle of the most amazing stereotypical stereotyped experience ever. On my right? An Auburn frat boy… driving a new Tahoe… wearing a mesh trucker hat… LISTENING TO DAVE MATTHEWS BAND. On my left? Two women in a rainbow-clad, earth-friendly station wagon… wearing bandannas on their head… LISTENING TO ANI DIFRANCO.

I could not stop smiling.

Hi. I’m back. The Girl has returned to the 55403. Sad.

I recorded a nifty audio post for you guys because saying nothing aloud is better than saying nothing in typed format. At least, I think so.

(Casey)

Dang. Adobe is buying Macromedia.

(Casey)

If you’re a person in need of companionship, I’d suggest checking out Mail Order Chickens. The individual profiles are quite insightful, helping you choose the chicken best suited for you. Terribly terribly witty, and not so random as you might expect…Ghana poultry farmers and other producers (they’re not all fowl…heh) are in a rough way with unfair trade.

(Casey)

Hi. I’m on vacation right now. Like for real vacation, not the infrequent breaks from the computer I typically take that masquerade as vacations. The 55403 has come down to visit the 29621 for a few days. It’s not that I don’t love you faithful HRTWRK readers… it’s just that a man has to have his priorities. But I won’t leave you hanging. Without further hoopla, allow me to introduce you to my guest blogger for the next few days, Casey Pelot. She’s got a site called Thadwiddle, a home close to San Fran, and a wonderfully wonderful outlook on all things enjoyable and lively. 1, 2, 3, go.

…

Hello? Is this thing on? tap tap.. SCREEEEEEOOOOOWEEEEE!!! Ok, so…what’s green and has wheels? Anybody? GRASS! Hahaha! (I lied about the wheels.)

We’re going to have fun these next couple of days, kids. Wait and see.

But thank goodness for Lecture Musical. Hysterically well-planned and implemented. There are other pranks of varying goodness on Prangstagrup site, but they’re no Lecture Musical. I promise.

There was no Wednesday post. I was TOO BUSY TO POST. I apologize. By the way, i’m posting this from my Treo… which continues to rock me like Stryper.

A double-whammy during lunch… I got my own cell phone plan (the last vestige of being attached to the parent’s wallet is now gone) and I bought a Treo Smartphone. After a few weeks of Blackberry vs. Treo researching… the Treo won by a nose (and a few well-timed rebates) and has become the first official purchase that HRTWRK has made. I have a company… with its own bank account… and PO Box… and a freaking PDA PHONE.

I am no longer a Toys ‘R Us kid.

Evil like the fru-ets of the dev-eel. Ok… not really.