Fun. At least thats what one would think living next to the beach would be. And don’t get me wrong, it is. But there’s something more that is missing. A job where I don’t get paid per story or per page would be nice. An apartment not infested with Termites would be too sweet. A guy can dream right???
Now that I’m done with my obligatory venting, I can start to focus on my monthly, should be more more frequent, blog post. Since my last post a lot has happened. There’s been this BP oil spill, a continued job search, Home Renovation Magazine and an unhealthy obsession with the band LCD Soundsystem.
Talking to friends online or on the phone the oil spill almost always comes up. When people hear oil + gulf of mexico, the connection is natural. Luckily residents along the Suncoast have this nifty thing called the Loop Current, protecting it’s white beaches and shores. If you look at projected movements of the oil slick you’ll see Southwest Florida is shielded by the current as the oil moves toward the Keys and the Atlantic. Yes, we might see a few tar balls and we have already had at least one oil covered turtle wash ashore. Living on the Gulf has given me a new sense of the oil spill’s impact. Growing up in Missouri, while oil spills are not ignored, the impact isn’t felt. It’s like the death of a relative you’ve met one or two times. It sucks, it’s still sad, but life goes on. Unfortunately for many Gulf residents and Gulf wildlife, life doesn’t just go on. It changes in a moment, plans you had are halted. There is a connection between the people and the Gulf here. Everyone goes to the beach, enjoys the waves and watches the reflection of the sun setting across the bay. The relationship between nature and humans is more real here. If only that relationship meant more to parties not living in the Gulf (Here’s looking at you Mr. Hayward) that maybe this type of disaster could be avoided.
In April I got a call from my bother asking me if I was interested in becoming the editorial director for Home Renovation Magazine. He is the graphic designer for the magazine and they were letting go of their editor. He called to gauge my interested and the thought of putting editor on my resume would be great, although my knowledge of homes, interior design and renovating were minimal. I accepted and am now the editor.
Working on a freelance basis as an editor, and writer, means stability does not exist. I got a taste of this early on as I was preparing for my first deadline with the magazine. I had about 10 days until everything was due for our Renovating on a Budget issue. The call came and our bi-monthly publication was turning into a quarterly publication. And just like that, everything I had worked on, assigned to writer and told the clients had just changed. The frustrating move is past and now I’m over it, but my job search that I halted when I first accepted is now up and running. I’m a loyal employee, but when there is not enough gum to plug up the leaking holes of this I need to prepare to move on. I have to keep telling myself that since I work remotely now, that a full-time job anywhere in the U.S. should be accepted since I can still work from home. Now I sit and plan out our Kitchen and Bath Annual hoping the budget allows for this issue to be printed. Fingers crossed. On a better note, the magazine has taken my recommendation from my first presentation and run with it. I suggested the our website become a listing and resource for anyone looking to renovate his or her home. The renovation resource directory/enhanced business listings launched yesterday and should be a great way to offer more financial stability for the publication.
Now on to my unhealthy obsessions, LCD Soundsystem. I don’t know where this obsession started but it’s serious and I don’t know if there is a cure. I’ve had their first two albums (Self-titled and Sound of Silver) for over a year now, but it wasn’t until Spring that I was hooked. Maybe it’s because lead singer and everything hip guru James Murphy writes some of the most relatable lyrics today. Or maybe is the electronic disco dance grooves that make you want to dance yourself clean. I think my love for New York also has something to do with it. Murphy, a Brooklyn native, is one of New York’s greatest proponents … not that it needs anymore. He and the band embody today’s generation. Struggling to balance the line of money/responsibility with living in the moment. When are you supposed to grow up? How do I stay connected with all my friends? His us vs. them mentality helps him describe what it means to just live, which is one of the hardest things to explain.
My obsession came to high when I started seeing YouTube videos of their performances at the Coachella Music Festival in Indio, California. It grew when I watched videos from their four-night sold-out run at Terminal 5 in NYC. Last weekend’s performance at Bonnaroo didn’t help with the obsession either. My plan for the last month or so has been to spend money I don’t have to go see LCD in Chicago at the Pitchfork Music Festival. That plan, however, has to be put on hold. The stability of income is unstable at the moment and I’m choosing to live on what I have and not what I hope to … for now. Here’s to hoping LCD makes a trip to the sunshine state before I OD on LCD YouTube videos.
Until next time. Peace Out.
-Dubya-
