Labels: computers, jobs, Obama, Sean, sick, Suns

Labels: jobs, John McCain, photography, politics

The night before you do this, stand in front of a mirror. Offer an absolutely astronomical sum, and grin like an idiot. Then, slowly lower the price. Repeat this process until you can keep a straight face. That's the amount you want.

Labels: design, jobs, money, people, psychology

Labels: BASIS, blog, design, family, jobs, mixing, music, MySpace, school

Labels: BASIS, jobs, money, school

5. Starts writing songs that start with "woke up this mornin'..."
4. Still doesn't drink ... but understands why people do.
3. Still doesn't smoke ... but understands why people do.
2. New favorite song: Mercedes Benz by Janis Joplin
1. "I wonder if Circle K will hire me back"

(Note that #1 hasn't happened yet. Yet.)

Currently listening : Pearl By Janis Joplin

Labels: alcohol, blues, jobs, money, smoking

Per month.
$250 Groceries
$180 Dining Out
$330 For the truck and VW
$1200 Mortgage (30-yr)
$300 House decor/repair
$250 IRA
$350 Savings*
$400 Utilities, bills
$300 Spending*
$1000 Children
$0 Debt payments

$4,560 per month
$54,720 per year.

*~1/3rd used on monthly trip, 1/3 used on annual trip.

This is more than enough for me. We'd have trips monthly to a rollercoaster or off-roading or whatever, and annually could afford a trip just about anywhere. And have a big, fat IRA account when we retire. Of course, sometimes I'd use some of the car budget for the house repair (or whatever) - or maybe go out more one month than usual and pare from the grocery budget. But this really would be all I needed, I'm sure of it. I mean ... after 2 years of this income, I'd be able to do pretty much everything I'd wanted to do to my car, and make some improvements to Rachel's truck as well. After 5 years, I'd definately finish, and we'd probably get our third (and final) car - something like a '55 Nomad to drive the kids around with.

And this all makes me really wonder about the middle class and how I always hear about them trying to live above their means. From where I am, their means are plenty. Why are they killing themselves with debt?

Anyway, this is all wishful thinking at the moment since I'm unemployed. But there is a light at the end of this tunnel. I know that very few graphic designers just start out making $50k a year, but that doesn't bother me. That's fine. Rachel is making about $10k from Bookman's, and we don't have kids. We live in a duplex and so don't need the $300 for home repairs, really, or a mortgage (rent is half what's budgeted there). Actually that whole list is a bit inflated just because this is a fantasy world, and the title of this blog is "everything I ever wanted." Between the all that, we're taking $30k out of the above budget per year - leaving me to get an entry-level job at $20k per year. If I can find one.

Am I really asking for something unreasonable? A $20k per year job for a college grad, with hopes of eventually making about $40-55 in about a decade? Or is a college degree worth that little now?

Edit: heh. Even though it's best if you're listening instead of reading. I'll be singing it on the way to DES.

Currently reading : The Chronicles of Chrestomanci, Volume 2: The Magicians of Caprona / Witch Week By Diana Wynne Jones

Labels: cars, debt, idiots, jobs, money, rant, To-Do, truck, true

While I do need another job -- still looking -- I'm going to take this opportunity to jump into doing what I lurrrve doing best: making music, showing said music to people, listening to music, talking about music. Doing graphic design, making websites, and being social and a part of the Tucson scene that is quite cool that I've longed for. Until now.

So yesh, here I am - coming down your street. Get the strangest looks from the people I meet ...

Currently listening : White Blood Cells By The White Stripes

Labels: ambition, jobs, Maloney's, work

So I started thinking about how it must be nice that baseball teams play all the time - sometimes twice a day. But does that make them lesser athletes? Not really - I mean, they train to the highest physical level that they can. That's why they're professionals. There isn't a ton of exercise involved in baseball - it's sitting on the bench or waiting for a pitch. Then I came to a weird conclusion: I bet that baseball players have harder, more exhaustive days on the days that they train - their 'days off' - than days with an actual game. Weird. "Oh, man thank God we have a game today - I could use the break."

Oh yeah and I lost my job. I hated it passionately, so how bad this news is depends on how long it takes to replace said job.

Currently listening : Cowboy Bebop By Yoko Kanno

Labels: exercise, jobs, Maloney's, sports, Suns