Quarter Life Crisis

Several discussions between the close inner circle of the Lee Bros has thus transpired the inevitability of the financial downfall of our residence in Washington. I cannot begin to explain how I feel right now, as the utter frustration and obscurity of our future has put me in an overwhelming and emotional state. I feel like I've had to explain this to a few close friends, and thought I might as well share the current innerworkings of the Brothers Lee. Let's break this down.

-Mike and me haven't been able to find a full time job here in Seattle. Mike had a job at Silver Fox that had given us all hope of being financially stable. Three weeks after we decided to move to West Seattle, they laid him off, forcing him to resume his humbling position at the local Target. I, too worked the Target back during the holiday season, but due to the fact it was seasonal, I wasn't able to continue. I have been fortunate to pick up more than a few freelance gigs over the past 9 months, but it's not really enough to keep me afloat. Meaning, I will need to find a part-time job Somewhere here in the next month if nothing else develops.
-Cost of living out here is ridiculous. It's a beautiful, but expensive.
-We have seemed to move at the worst possible time, and in a time where there are more companies making layoffs then actual hiring....Although most companies have freezed up their payroll, there are still a number of organizations that are still hiring, giving me some sense of hope that I could find a job.
-It's been really hard for me to sit at the bottom of the talent pool and try to develop my portfolio as a Washingtonian. Something that I do not want to have rebuild at a later time.

So that brings up to the Great Debate: Should I stay or should I go?
I still have the slightest of hope that I can make it out here. I've gotten good response from my work, just no one in the position to give me a full time job. The real conflict is trying to decide the best route to fly and whether sticking it out in WA is worth it, or going back to OK (or a cheaper location) to regroup is going to be more beneficial. There are many factors that are laying on this decision, as there seems to be an apparent conflict between what I want to do, what I can do and what I need to do. It has undoubtedly put an emotional strain on me, especially as I am trying to formulate the best case scenarios for myself. This time, I feel as though this weight is here to stay, whichever path I choose.

Timing is Everything

It seems we're back on a slippery slope...

Currently

I've been a bit cranky lately. My creative stream hasn't been flowing to its full potential and off to a rocky start on getting things done lately. We've also had a few small scuffles with our landlord, who apparently wears bricks for shoes and totally is oblivious to anything outside her little bubble. Despite a few minor setbacks, here a few things that I've been currently enjoying:

1. Husky Deli-Mostly due to the fact they make NUTELLA ice cream. Quite the awesome. I also recommend the 'dollar mint.' in a homemade waffle cone.

2. ABC3D-A late birthday present from Sadie, but it was a must have for the book collection. Thanks.


3. NHL 08-My mom bought me this game at Hastings when I was done. I hadn't bought a hockey video game since like 99 or something, even though NHL 96 (for my SNES) is the only I played. I can't afford to play real hockey, so smashing guys through a video game has been a bit of a release. I think.

4. Ray Gun: Out of Control. Finally got myself a magazine layout book, although this one really isn't going to help much with work I get.

5. Netflix-I was a late comer to this scheme, but I've been enjoying the consistent traffic of movies and awesome selection. I think what sold me was the ability to stream video online as well. Still haven't caught all the recommends given to me before. I'll get to them though. Que it up.






On the sidenote, I was featured on the Virb Explore. I was quite psyched to see that. Thanks Virb.

Blog B-Sides

Links have just piled up in my draft, so here we go.

-14 Items All Design Geeks Must Have. Yes and Yes.
-Cable Drop Cable Holders. I need about five of those. Seriously. Or maybe I'll just buy this super neat desk instead.
-Typeface Shirts
-Battery Salt & Pepper Shakers
-Digging these Olympic Poster Proposals by Alan Clarke
-Transformer USB Drive
-I Shot the Serif. Type Humor at its best.
-Fast Company's Top 100 Creative People
-Classic Records re-emerged as Penguin Book covers. Great work.
-The Refreshed Logo. A look at rebranding during the recession
-Black Wii Coming soon......in Japan.
-Gothsinhotweather. Self explanatory.
-30 Rock is a Rip off of The Muppet Show. The similarities are uncanny.
-The Front and Back Apartment. I like.
-The Typography and End Credits of Lemony Snicket. I remember enjoying those credits when I first saw them, Nice to see them get some credit.
-Fallen Princesses. Photographs of Disney Princesses in Modern times.
Snow White is the prizewinner.
-Deadline. Stop Motion Post It Note Short. Nicely done.
-Animal Posters by Eleanor Grosch. Nicely done. Charley Harper-esque. Take a look around the rest of the site, there's some nice works up there.....


Note to self: I need to start utilizing images more here on the blog.

What Goes Up

My parents came in for a visit this past week, which was super nice. I took a break from all of my work and postponed any work that I did have for this weekend. Some highlights include: Red Robin, IKEA, Alki Beach, REI Flagship store, Husky Deli, Seattle Aquarium and the EMP (and saw the Jim Henson Exhibit). As always, I'm behind on my photo editing, so those won't be up probably until later this week. With all the time off, it's been ten times harder getting motivated with everything.....

In other news, the computers at the Lee household are still faltering at a consistent rate. Mike's computer wasn't working properly and wouldn't even let him use the internets. While I've been still experiencing a weekly crash, and today InDesign crashed on me twice as well as a few others. Sounds like just minor issues but it's quite a frustrating matter when the computer is your primary tool. This is a redundancy of previous posts. It's just a growing frustration.

Current Projects:
-Trying to figure out what to do with Avantcore
-Revamp of font & paragraph styles and templates for Sports Northwest Magazine
-Ideas for Cue: Issue Two, as well as the emergence of Issue One. I can't seem to get my zine projects flowing, but I've decided that I really enjoyed doing these and will continue to do so, even if it's not making me money. Plus I could possibly use them for self promotional purposes
-Brainstorming ideas for a self identity relaunch (and the ever going frustration of having a common name)
-Assist Mike with relaunch of his personal website
-Shirt Designs for Kotis
-Recontinue the job hunt

Summer Ska Classics, Vol. 1

I had discussed making this compilation probably a year or two ago, and finally compiling the songs together. Summertime seems to be the best time to blast some ska, even though it doesn't even feel like summer yet (70 degrees this week, say what?!). I took a couple suggestions from my good friend Bear and then uploaded it online. Also, if there are some tracks you feel should have made it or anymore suggestions, let me know, I'll be starting Vol. 2 and try to have that up next month. Here's the tracklisting:

1. Buck-O-Nine: My Town
2. Mustard Plug: You
3. Goldfinger: Superman
4. Reel Big Fish: Sell Out
5. The Hippos: Far Behind
6. Mighty Mighty Bosstones: Someday I Suppose
7. The Toasters: Don't Let the Basterds Grind You Down
8. Catch 22: Keasbey Nights
9. The Impossibles: Erin With An "E"
10. RX Bandits: What If
11. Slapstick: Nate B.
12. Link 80: Verbal Kint
13. Voodoo Glow Skulls: Shoot the Moon
14. Less Than Jake: Automatic
15. Big D & The Kids Table: Myself
16. MU330: Tune Me Out

Download Here

Seattle Notes #2

As promised, here is my second installment of my Seattle notes. I am going to try to write a couple notes every month or two, see if I can keep this somewhat consistent. Here it is:

Five Things I Don't Like About Seattle

1. Traffic: It's a bit obvious if you've driven around here, you have to pretty much work your schedule so that you're never Leaving Seattle in the 4-6 range or you know you'll hit quite a sludge of traffic. Anytime you're on I-5, beware of the Old Asian ladies. Sure it's a stereotype, but one that proven quite true as of lately. Other notable dislikes involving driving:
a) Hills-they're everywhere and not fun to drive with a manual.
b) Parking-expensive to park anywhere in downtown Seattle, seems like everyone in residential areas don't believe in driveways and there's quite an abundance of parallel parking (not necessarily my forte).
c) Blocked intersections-there seems to be a lot stops and then cars or trees blocking on coming traffic, thus making it hard to see coming out,
d) Un-4 way stops-They're all over our neighborhood. It's basically an intersection that feels like someone should have a stop or yield, but no one does. You just blindly drive and hope no one else is doing the same.

2. Roads: For one, there seems to be an endless amount of road construction. 1st avenue is the worst, but definately all around. Another issue I've been having is the fact you can never get back the way you came. No, seriously. You can take a highway to get done to IKEA, but in order to get back, you have to take a completely different route. It's a bit frustrating when driving on new territory and trying to find your way back.

3. Cost of Living: This is apparent before we even moved, but I think it's been a growing frustration. Everything costs money, but you throw in an extra 35% on everything, it adds up.

4. Mexican Food: It's not really something the Northwesterners flourish at. Just saying.

5. Taking it for Granted: I've noticed in conversations with people around the office, etc, that there is a lot of people that live here and don't really realize what they have out there. It makes me a bit more grateful moving around as a kid, and experiencing different environments. There is a lot to love out here: mountains, the water, the arts and culture. And I think you definately have to live/be somewhere else to fully appreciate what Seattle has. They like to complain about the 'awful weather' that is bestowed. I'll trade you a month of rain for a tornado and 100 degree weather. The moderate weather is awesome.

Where is my Mind?

That has been the question running through my head this past few weeks. This past week has been a rough one, as I've been questioning myself on why I'm here in Washington. I believe there was quite an immediate innate feeling when we first got here, but it has definately not been easy here. If you aren't in the loop, Mike's g/f and one of my good friends, Lindsay has joined us here at Washington and has fallen into our small support group. No one said it would be easy to just move out here, but I don't think anyone has expected this. All three of us here aren't really doing what we want, job wise, and that has caused somewhat of a weight. I just seem to be in this constant struggle with everything, as I can't seem to get on my feet here. It's been 9 months, and I have yet to land a full time gig. I'm grateful for the work I have gotten (especially my steady gig at SportsNW and Steve feeding me a few layouts for OKT), but it's really hard for me maintain anything with fluctuating paychecks, especially with the incredible cost of living.

I don't think I can even begin the full emotional blanket that is covering me at the moment. Every day seems to be a struggle to get out of bed, and there is an ever decreasing sense of motivation. Last month, I picked up this online job creating shirts for colleges. The pay wasn't great, but I thought if anything, I could pick up a few bucks to help pay for a bill or two. Well, I've been doing that for a few weeks, and all I feel like it's done to me is degrade my abilities as a designer. There is nothing more degrading than a frat boy giving you direction for a "design" which ends up changing 4 times before it's done, mind you it becomes the opposite of what they first said they 'wanted.' It's a frustrating matter.

Among other things frustration, both mine and Mike's computers have been total jerks, as mine seems to be on a weekly crashing basis now. As mine is growing slower and slower as well. I wish I could begin to describe that ever growing frustration as well. It's like if you were a cash register, and every time you had to give cash back to someone, it takes five mins, instead of 10 seconds. I don't know how else to really describe that one. I swear it takes at least five mins for my photoshop to open, and when I have more than one Adobe program open, my computer really starts slowing down.

Oh yeah, and everyone has been late for my paychecks this month. Fun.

That is all for my rant right now.

Other than that, it's been great out here. The Seattle Rain is just been beating us down (hasn't rained in what? 3 weeks?). It's been super awesomely nice out for weeks, and it's been great having a constant view of the mountains here. Seattle Notes #2 will be posted later this week....