1.25.99

    I've been spending money like crazy. It's been awhile since I've been able to spend money so any stray dollar seems a little crazy. Of course, after last weekend I won't be able to spend a dime for months. I have to get an interview suit, though. The one I have is very stylish but it's wool and I need something a little less suffocating for summer. T. bought me a beautiful outfit for Christmas but the sizes are a little off. We went to return them and get different sizes but these particular items were out. So, I can wait and return this stuff when there's a suit available. Isn't that smart of me? Ugh.

    This weekend my crazy buying spree consisted of two pairs of shoes from a Foot Locker outlet store. There's a Sport Chalet sort of near us but I'm boycotting them. They people that work there are complete idiots and give poor service. T. always gets good service there but I hate them. So, we went to a Big 5 Sports store. There was some sort of sale in progress so the store was a mess. I couldn't find anyone to help me and when I did get "Hi my name is Dave" to help me he was completely rude. So, I looked at the shoes, set them on the floor and we left. My only recourse as a consumer is to not buy. So, that's what I'm doing.

    Some guy at Big 5 told us about a Foot Locker outlet and that's where we went.

Can't beat that. I found a pair of black, cross-trainer Nike's and some golf shoes. Granted, I'm not yet a big golfer yet but I might take a beginner's class from the community college. I also bought a blue FILA hat for $4.95. It's cute.

    Later that evening, while perusing Amazon, I became possessed to purchase some design books I've had my eye on. The one I went for was The Non-Designer's Design Book : Design and Typographic Principles for the Visual Novice by Robin Williams. I ended up also buying The PC Is Not a Typewriter by the same author and Elements of Typographic Style by Robert Bringhurst. I had a $10 gift certificate from Christmas so I felt justified in spending the money. I'm hoping to get into font design and that these books will give me a little inspiration. I'm also very curious about the Non-Designer's Design Book as I could use a discussion of the fundamentals right now.

    I feel like the artistic and creative side of my brain is stagnating. I thrive in brainstorming and group learning environments. Competition gives me the push to try new things and challenge my boundaries. My ideal job right now would be on a design team in which I can look, learn, listen and contribute. I think that's my ideal. What do I know?

    It might be time to move on. Feeling that military brat's itch to find something new. There seems to be more opportunities for creative development in other places anyway. T. also wants to leave Los Angeles. But, where to go? Moving is not fun but sitting here pondering a pretend future at some pretend job with pretend happiness isn't getting me anywhere.

    I shouldn't write these things late at night.