Last night, I went to bed early because for some reason, Sunday was immensely sleepy.
And today, despite having tons of work in front of me, I feel fine.
We’ll see how long that lasts.
At least the beginning part of the day was manageable…
-nicopolitan
Good buddy via interweb and someone with whom I instantly bonded during my last visit to Chicago, @phampants (also here) has teamed up with Karen to apply to the Ford Fiesta Movement! Personally, I am going to follow this every step because as someone who works with brands in social media, I'm particularly interested in the process on both the administrative and end-user side of things.
If you don't know what this Fiesta Movement is, www.fiestamovement.com is pretty complete with its information. And if you remember this movement from last year, you know it made an impression.
Ok, enough with the link dump. The point is, among other link love, you should be passing around the videos to support them.
Let's get team John & Karen on the road!
nicopolitan: “The more I listen to you guys sit and go through the music production process even while Art’s still in the composition stage, the more I want to work on my own music.”
TheFoolishHeart: “So write music.”
nicopolitan: “I feel guilty when I work on music. It makes me think that if I’ve already got time to burn, I should be spending more time getting work done on freelance assignments and pet project obligations.”
TheFoolishHeart: “Fuck it. Just do what makes you happy.”
nicopolitan: “Oh, they both make me happy. Making music makes me happy, and working on the internet makes me happy. It’s just that freelance makes me money–”
TheFoolishHeart: “Maybe just don’t think about money, then. Do what you love, and the money will come later. Freelance makes you money now, but maybe music will make you money later on. You just have to remember that it’s what you do that defines you.”
Inadvertently, my roommate has packed Greek ontology and a quote from Thoreau into simple, everyday philosophy for living in the modern era and keeping your sanity.
If I hadn’t lived with a bunch of creative types in the same household, I don’t think I would have gotten this idealistic response to the conversation topic. My parents would say, “Work hard, as hard as you can, and be proud of your hard work.” My college friends would say, “slow down with the work, you’re fucking crazy.” My high school friends would say… nothing, because I don’t really keep in touch with them.
So this is a short post. I was just curious:
Given the topic, what does the internet say?
I don't want to toot my own horn here about how involved I am in helping others because that's an uncomfortable level of self-congratulations even for an American* and a blogger who talks about his own life a lot. Besides, there are other bloggers who are far more deserving of praise for their charitable behavior.
That disclaimer in mind, I've been realizing lately that all the workworkwork I've been doing for others' various projects has spurred a train of thought that I did not expect:
All of the projects I've been working on are not my own. When I have my own personal projects open on my computer, I am finding that they are open in the background and I am really working on the obligations to which I've already agreed. I forget that saying, "I can do that," turns very quickly into, "I'm working on it," the second I utter it.
To be clear, I'm not complaining about this. I don't complain about working on others' projects because robots don't complain -- and robots don't complain because... well, there really isn't anything to complain about.
Any project I join, I truly believe in it from the core of my being. The problem is that I now have a lot of cores to consider.
So I was wondering: If my default settings are to assist people whenever I can, what are the respective priorities?
I had to take a step back and take a breather. Like Thom Yorke once crooned: "For a minute there, I lost myself."
Here comes the tangent: It occurs to me that I'm blood type O-. That's the rarest blood type, and it's the universal donor blood type.
Like how everyone seems to be able to use me for pet projects, anyone can also use my blood.
I have talked with friends before about donating blood, and I think now that I've given funding to Haiti relief orgs, that blood might be a good idea, too. It is, after all, a medical supply. Note that I'm not going to link to a charity here because it's important that you should be doing your own research before choosing a Haiti relief organization.
If my blood does not get to Haiti, then I can still definitely donate for someone, because the need for blood never really goes away.
As this is the case, I'm planning on scheduling an appointment to give blood during what happens to be National Blood Donor month (January) in the US. If anyone in the LA area would like to come along for a feelgood field trip, let me know.
Blood donation. For the time being, this is my project.
*that self-denigrating jab at Americans was for Sebastian mostly, but Canadians are also fully invited to jab at American stereotypes.
Looks like it’s workworkwork season for Nico again, so although he is alive (albeit dubiously undead), he wanted me to let you know he’ll be back blogging soon, as well as visiting all of his wonderful commenters’ own sites and blogs. And maybe, just maybe, he’ll let you take a peek under the hood of some of his creative projects! This requires he’s not embarrassed about them, so I don’t guarantee anything.
We’ll see y’all soon!
-The Muse
telos |ˈteläs; ˈtē-|
noun ( pl. teloi |ˈteloi; ˈtēloi|) chiefly Philosophy or poetic/literary
an ultimate object or aim.
ORIGIN Greek, literally ‘end.’
To be perfectly honest, I myself don’t know where I’m going with this lifestyle I’m leading. This isn’t a statement that’s supposed to induct me into the ranks of a ‘lost generation’ or the hopelessly misunderstood. There is not much of a deeper meaning to this. I’m saying this because I’m not sure what is the point of me working as much as I have been lately.
This also isn’t to say my work is pointless. This can be supported by the fact that my workload has been gaining weight, which is a good sign considering that whole Recession plague (no, not H1N1). I’m also trying to avoid sounding like I’m bragging that I actually have a job in this day and age.
My point: my freelance side projects and taking work home from my main job have made recreational time kind of scarce. I’m even writing sentences of this post in between emails, Photoshop, field research, code, PowerPoint, and spreadsheets.
Don’t get me wrong, I love what I’m doing and it’s a good thing I love what I do for a living. Yes, sometimes I even love the spreadsheets.
And sure, like any kind of career, parts of it are difficult and sometimes, you will want to bludgeon someone with a keyboard. After all, nothing good was ever won easily.
But unlike most other careers, working for the internet is really vague about what is the end-goal. To become a consultant? An independent contractor? A professor? A CEO? A unicorn?
When I take a step back and try to think about where I want to take my career path, I realize that I’m already doing what I set out to do in the first place:
Working in, for, with, via, and on the internet.
If this is a series of tubes, I feel like I’ve scored in becoming a train conductor. I don’t take shit for granted. I am lucky to be where I am and I’m happy I worked that hard to get here.
But I’ve been working a lot lately, and to what end? To work more? To work even harder?
Maybe the means are the end. If hard work is its own reward, then that explains my workoholism.
And maybe this post, which said really nothing more than “Nico is working,” might be a signal.
If I’ve already found a good (albeit confusing) place to be professionally…
Maybe I should work on finding a good (and just as confusing) place to be personally.
And from this point forward, I’m open to suggestions.
Alright. I’m at a point in my day where people like me promise themselves that they won’t ever drink that much ever again, but seeing as how I’m still in my 20’s, this feeling will likely clear as soon as nightfall.
What was the occasion for drinking, Nico? you ask.
I’d answer, a long overdue company outing in downtown LA. I’m not really going to talk about my job here on this blog, but a night out with my agency did teach me something I’m surprised I hadn’t known previously.
Most, if not all, professionals in my age group (heretofore referred as Generation Y) are a part of some kind of drinking culture, and I say “some kind” being fully aware that different drinking cultures exist even among one age demographic. Moreover, socializing over drinks is a character trait of many a previous generation — I’m not saying that social drinking makes Generation Y unique. What I am saying is that social drinking, from what I’ve experienced in being part of Gen Y, is increasingly becoming important for morale like I’ve not seen it before.
If you remember how various sources characterize Generation Y, you’ll recall that they call us “peer oriented.” If that means that interaction with others is important enough to influence our respective individual sentiments, it means that in the professional sphere, a high level of communication is a key factor.
Okay, so that last sentence sounds like corporate gibberish, but that doesn’t make it any less true. And if that is indeed true, then consider the social lubricant that is alcohol.
My simple conclusion from this simple ramble:
If you have a workforce with a large segment from my generation, and a morale that’s been hit by this damned recession, you might want to take a cue from my bosses.
Go out drinking with your employees. It’s good for morale, and thus, good for your company.
And who knows? Maybe knocking back a few might grease up the brainstorm gears.
Some of my most popular posts in the past have been about romantic failings, so to kick this year off right, here’s a handful more.
You see, an old friend and once-coworker and I had an ongoing game, where I would owe him a drink for every opportunity I had to hit on a girl that I didn’t take. No, it wasn’t about getting rejected — it was putting myself in PRIME OPPORTUNITIES to make a move and not following through. I’m that ridiculous.
I suppose this might say something about my sex drive or unwillingness to read into situations, but that’s a post for another time.
But the score as of 2010 is already at an unprecedented four beers in under a week.
New Year’s Fail
I asked you what your name was. I told you I lived next door, in the apartment where the other half of the party was. You complimented my housemates and me on how cool you thought our building was. I found a silly party favor necklace and gave it to you, and you laughed because it was essentially a slab of wood with string run through it. Immediately after this, I was handed a sparkler. Immediately after that, we did the New Year’s countdown. I lit the sparkler and set off the fire alarm (which was promptly dismantled). You covered your mouth and giggled. We danced to Billie Jean with a lit sparkler. I was really drunk and I’m easily distracted.
You didn’t kiss anyone on this New Year’s. I should have asked you if you wanted to.
Castle Fail
The bass dropped and we got down on the dance floor. You liked the move with the hoodie. I liked your dress. You asked me to blow smoke into your mouth, so I did. I totally lost track of you. I don’t even know your name. Mostly, I remember the dress and your glasses. You don’t happen to be single, do you? Guess there’s no finding out now.
Castle Fail #2
You moved to LA to make it as an actress. We talked about your home state, Arizona. We stood in a smoking circle and went through some very weird conversations with the people that passed through the smoking circle. We gave each other wide eyed looks to communicate, “is this… conversation really happening?”
I followed you inside after all that. I got distracted by the music and went to dance. That’s when I lost track of you.
Well, this might be a half-fail. You’re pretty but you didn’t strike me as someone skilled in the art of conversation. If we’d hooked up, I’d most likely never call you. Sorry, lady, but personality counts.
Airport Fail
Yes, it is hard to find other smokers in Los Angeles. Yes, I do have a light. Yes, we both have iPhones. Yes, my jeans are pretty cool, but your jeans are cooler than mine. Yes, it had stopped raining but it was still kinda cold at night. Yes, I’m from LA. Yes, I’m picking up a friend. Yes, picking up friends from the airport is a nice gesture. Yes, that over there is the taxi line.
Yes, I could have given you a ride if you had asked. But no, neither of us thought that far ahead.
And there you have it.
Shit, I have to get better at hitting on girls so I can stop having to buy this asshole so many beers.
This year,
my one and only
resolution…
…is to make sure to take more pictures
by helping to create situations
that should be photographed.
If you are in any way sensitive to chemicals in your system, do not ever try this.
NyQuil™ should only be taken as directed.
Taking it with alcohol my increase drowsiness, chances for medical complications, will produce an undesirable aftertaste, and will definitely decrease brain cells.
Beer (inadvertently) provided by Eric Shonkwiler.
