Monday, August 29, 2005

Mike

The weather's just right, only a few months of grad school remain, and we have a 3-day weekend coming up. Hooray!

That's from the latest Minus the Bear album.

Oh, and a HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY to Jen!

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Jen

It's my birthday! Woo hoo! Thanks everyone for the sweet birthday wishes. I've had a great day thus far minus a mini hangover I nursed when I woke up. There's nothing like a pre-birthday party! I'm just about ready to go to (my favorite) Duke's for happy hour. Before I forget to write it, two things:

1) Dear Mr.Hedge/bush cutting guy outside of my apartment:
I know that you are paid to cut bushes and all, but could you possibly put it off to maybe, oh, 10 am or so? 8 o'clock in the morning isn't so fun for me (and most likely the rest of Venice) when you have a headache and your noisy bush cutting tool is griding constatly for 30 minutes.
Hugs and Kisses,
Jen

2) Not once, not twice, but 4 FREAKING TIMES, a man name George contacted our gallery trying to purchase veneer. That's right, veneer. The first time of contact was through e-mail, which I deleted immediately. The second was a phone call. Everytime I answer the phone, I say the gallery name and our book distribution company name. After I say that, the conversation is as follows:
George: So, what kind of vaneer do you sell?
Me: Pardon?
George: (slower, so I can "understand") What kind of veneer do you sell?
Me: Veneer? I'm sorry, we are a photographic gallery and book distribution company. We do not sell veneer.
George: (very confused) You don't sell veneer?
Me: No, just photographs and books.
George: Is this (enter our gallery phone number here)
Me: Yes.
George: And you don't sell veneer?
Me: No, we do not sell veneer.
He hangs up. 10 minutes later, I get a fax from George about how he heard about out veneer from a business associate who went to (and this is so awesome) the "Wood Show" in Las Vegas! There is a wood show! and in Las Vegas of all places? Brilliant. Of course, he asks about our veneer and if we can ship it to Canada. Then 15 minutes later, we get another e-mail, basically re-stating the fax. I wrote him back and explained that at no point and time in history have we ever sold veneer and that we wouldn't stock in the future. And, almost better than the fact that there is a Wood Show in Vegas, is that in all written correspondence to the gallery, he spelled veneer wrong! For someone so persistant about veneer, you would think he would have his facts straight.

Off to Duke's for my birthday Mai Tai!

Saturday, August 20, 2005

Jen

Two more days of work! Huzzah!

I’ve been spending my time here in various ways. If I were to break it down, it would look something like this: 70% work, including but not limited to: cleaning and organizing my desk, organizing files, organizing print purchase proposals, briefing fellow employees about said organization and proposals, formals goodbyes via e-mail and phone to artists and favorite clients, last minute inventory that should have been done months ago, last minute organizing that I said I did months ago but didn’t do. The rest is pretty much: 10% trying to look like I am working, 10% checking e-mail and blogs, 5% making personal phone calls in preparation of move, 5% slacking off entirely and not making any excuses for it.

We always get crap in the mail here, you know – stupid business credit card offers, postcards from artists that take photographs of flowers, special deals on merchandise with our corp. logo on it, etc. I usually don’t even look at these things any more; I just toss them in the recycling bin and get back to the job at hand. However, in my 5% of slacking off entirely and not making any excuses for it, I found this magazine, right up there with “Sky Mall” (you know you look at this when you are on an airplane and you left your book in the overhead compartment. . .) and found these three items (and trust me, there were many more) that were so absolutely ridiculous, that I had to scan and share with you.

I love how this guy is standing naked in front of his computer confused about the orientation of his towel. And he looks so darn happy!
Image hosted by Photobucket.com
Free carrying case!
Image hosted by Photobucket.com
Image hosted by Photobucket.com

I can’t imagine the demand for any of these products (except maybe the Face/Butt towel. . . kidding). And you know what is even more amazing? These are sold in bulk! So, if you decide you want to get the presidential knifes for yourself, you have to buy three to get it for $3.95 or whatever it is. Or it means someone is selling them in their little store somewhere.

I can see it now here at the gallery. . . “This is a beautiful photograph by Mark Ruwedel of a tree in Coachella Valley. AND if you love this, then you will loooove this Forest Face!!! We’ll throw it in for free if you buy the print!!”

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

Jen

I had grandiose plans of posting a new photo everyday until I left. I’ve only posted twice since the month started. Where the hell has August gone? It’s the 17th already? I have less than two weeks left in Los Angeles, and it feels like time has moved so slowly since I got here and I’ve been here for years and then all of sudden, these two weeks are passing by so quickly.

My birthday, um, my 27th birthday is next Wednesday. It’s actually been pretty nice because I’ve been getting early b-day gifts from California folks who won’t see me on the actual day or afterwards, considering we hit the road next Friday. But, in the spirit of birthdays, I have been thinking a lot about age and life in general. In three short years, I will be 30. Looking at the numbers in type make me sad. 1978 seems so far away. I know I’m not the only person ageing at this rate, but it’s just so unbelievable to me that I am this old. When I was younger, I thought 30 was so old. Now that I am closing in on this, and I still feel like I am 22, 30 is almost inconceivable. Ugh. To top it off, after I finally start feeling like I am an important working part of this gallery, I have to leave. AND be unemployed again.

I have these preconceived notions of what a 27 year old should be doing. I should have: a stable job that earns a decent salary with benefits, a permanent residence, and have a significant other. Now, I have very little of these right now (except for Matt!) and still, I’ve never felt better. For the first time in my life, I know exactly what I want to do and how I have to do it, and damn, it is an amazing feeling.

So who cares if I turn 27? It’s just another reason to celebrate and get gifts, which, is never a bad thing.

I also just wanted to say that I love the communication that goes on in the comment section. I love how commenting can start with bowing and end with a life partner.

Friday, August 12, 2005

Jen

Last night I was taken out by my boss, her daughter, and co-worker Juli to “The Ivy” which is this swanky restaurant on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica. Basically, when I say swanky, I mean 9 ravioli for $27.00. Don’t get me wrong, they were very nice, tasty ravioli, but not exactly worth $27.00. You are paying for the view, and I’m not talking about the ocean, I mean rich people. Very rich people. Rich people like Owen Wilson. I am so horrible at picking out celebrities. They look like everyone else. So, of course, we are at the table right next to Owen Wilson and I still couldn’t figure out which one he was. It was also dark and I wasn’t wearing my glasses. Fine. Anyway, he was with 4 other people – one of them which looked liked Hagrid from all my favorite Harry Potter movies. I highly doubt it was him. So with exactly 14 days left in Los Angeles, Owen Wilson is the sixth celebrity I have spotted here. The list, for your viewing pleasure:

1. Owen Wilson
2. Paulie Shore
3. Helen Hunt
4. Brittany Spears
5. Ron Eldard
6. Host from Street Smarts

I went to my second acupuncture session today and my wrist is feeling much better. It’s really hard for me to explain acupuncture if you’ve never had it done. Think of it this way: little pins are inserted to release blocked energy. It may sound like a load of bullshit, but I have found it to be very comforting and extremely helpful in my wrist situation. Here’s an interesting link from the Wikipedia.

It’s official. Matt and I will be the downstairs neighbors of Christie and Mike. I plan on be the annoying neighbor that bangs my broom handle on the ceiling when Mike and Christie are walking too loudly. I like absolute silence when I am at home. I also plan on waiting for Christie at her front door everyday until she gets home from work until I find a job of my own! This is going to be so much fun!

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

Mission of Burma - "Dirt"

Monday, August 08, 2005

Mike

Jefferson Park is a strange place. I miss Lincoln Square, but cutting my work commute in half isn't too shabby.

Monday, August 01, 2005

Jen

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

Anyone care for a delicious oothie?

I bowled the worst three games of my life this past Sunday. We gathered at the Mar Vista lanes to celebrate Eric's 26th birthday and to say our last goodbyes to Mike, who is, as I write, driving back to Michigan to finish up his last three semesters in school. The wrist started acting up and I couldn't bring myself to suck even worse by going lefty. It was still tons of fun and I got to have a slice from cake that was shaped like a bowling ball.

The next couple of weeks in L.A. are going to be crazy busy. I can't even believe it's already August!!! We have more visitors, going away parties, and last minute things that I want to do before we say goodbye to the sunshine state. I still want to go to Tijuana. I also really want to check out King Tut at LACMA, and I have a free ticket to Universal Studios, so I want to go only because it's free.

Unfortunately, this time next week, we have to leave the house for two whole days for fumigation. Basically, we have to bag all of our stuff, pack up the cats, food and other personal items and thankfully, relocate to our friend Greg's place. It's a huge inconvenience and we only got a discount of a whopping $74. off of our rent for the month! That doesn't even pay for us to go to a hotel, and according to our building manager, he is not leagally responsible for putting us up anywhere either. I wish I could afford a condo. I am so sick of landlords.