JediWright.com

These last few weeks have been some of the most intense I think I’ve yet experienced. Not like I haven’t been through some bad spells before or anything but this latest round has been really drilling and consistent.

From having had to freeze my DF salary, to filing for unemployment, to continuing to adjust to parenthood, to having to cut my health insurance out, then Tristan’s, to filing for medicaid for her and Lee (which still isn’t sorted out, so he’s still without coverage), to wrangling with two startups, to enrolling back into school (with ITT Tech for computer network systems) with full tuition covered but no way to start due to a complete lack of income.

In addition, I had some issues with communication between family and friends that added to everything else, really put me close a breaking point I’ve not recalled reaching before.

Thankfully, things started turning around a little this past weekend with the arrival of a reimbursement check from my canceled Blue Cross policy, confirmation on the start of my U.I. from California and most significantly, the long overdue activation of my solar web hosting service at SolarHoster.com. Granted, it’s still a far cry from what I envision it to be, but at least I can start hosting sites.

Meanwhile, Tristan and I have continued our discussions over what we’re doing concerning our living situation. She doesn’t want to stay here in PA and wants to move back to Ohio to have the support of her old friends and family there. Admittedly, it’s not a bad idea as it’s much cheaper there, she’ll be more grounded (in theory) with her friends, family and hometown, and we are exploring discussions of renting a house with her best girlfriend, Amanda.

We’ve submitted a rental app on one house so far and are waiting to hear back from the landlord. If that goes through, we’ll probably be moving around April 15th.

What this means for Rivertribe, my other startup exploration happening here in PA, is uncertain. Though it’s uncertain anyway as I’m having a hard time getting movement from my friend with the equipment that would allow startup of operations. This is actually kind of okay with me anyway, as I had only wanted to explore the possibility of starting Rivertribe up. Then I asked another friend to go in on it and things started getting out of control and I failed to manage things properly.

So as I should have learned from before, don’t do business with friends. Period. But if you insist on doing so, be very explicit about every little detail from the get go. Otherwise, things can get twisted fast. Which they have done to some degree in this instance, which is unfortunate, but not surprising considering where my life’s been these last few weeks.

Concerning startups and partners in general, I’d venture to say in some ways business mirrors people’s ways and gives greater clarity into the type of person you are. So maybe business together with friends is not such a bad thing, cause it helps cut away to the truth of things that you might not have otherwise seen before.

Anyway, my real priorities are certainly obvious now regardless having lost my salary. All else gets put on hold when you’ve got to find immediate income. It’s tough times to be job hunting though, especially when you don’t even own your own car and are sharing your partners. And more so in my case since I moved us to a rural setting without any public transit. Doh.

Thankfully, one of my LA contacts recently offered up a freelance gig with his company Ijhana. Hopefully things pan out, they’ve offered a few times before but nothing ever came of it. Hopefully now is the time. I/we can’t afford it to be otherwise.
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Update: We’ve found a house and put a deposit down (thanks Amanda!) and we’ll be moving sometime after April 1st.

Several of my recent posts took a downward, perhaps defeatist attitude of sorts. A number of readers felt the need to email directly to share their insights, experience and concern over me/them. So I just want to make it clear that I’m fine.

Things can get intense, as we all know, and recently has been no exception for me.

As a hardcore Capricorn, I come down uber hard on myself. A lot. That’s just how it is. I’m a perfectionist. And quite an impatient one at that, when it comes to certain things. Mostly with regards to my career as so many around me continue to succeed at any number of things.

I have yet to meet any real substantial success in life and it’s just driving me nuts. This is just one of my challenges in life: to be happy where I’m at.

Anyway, thanks for everyone’s support; it is appreciated.

Time for some list-making with my first, Top 10 list of the new year.

This is a Top 10 of all my favorites, spanning any and every category. From favorite travel destinations, films, books, websites, events, jobs, and anything else that tickles my list-making fancy. Also, it should be noted that it’s been posted in no particular order.

1. Favorite Trip
I flew into Barcelona after my first European trip and job with The Do LaB in Portugal and did some sight-seeing with Patricio and finally got to see Amanda, meet her husband and otherwise catch up with her life of 10-years there in Europe.

2. Favorite Job With The Do LaB
I think my favorite job with these guys this past year was the one for SpeakerCraft. Everyone kicked ass for weeks in the pre-fab, load-in and setup in Denver at the Cedia Convention. That job was the most taxing in terms of details we’ve yet done and it really showed. It was so much work but in the end it turned out amazingly beautiful.

3. Favorite Live Show
Nine Inch Nails’ show in Baltimore, MD at the Virgin Music Festival was definitely my favorite show of the year. I always love Trent Reznor’s music and his live performances with a band are one of the best. Plus, I got to bring Tristan and my old high-school friend Jesse Buck along too; it was both their first time seeing NIN live.

4. Favorite New Web Service
I think definitely without a doubt, that Posterous was the coolest new web utility service. I discovered it late in the year but have been thoroughly enjoying its use ever since.

5. Favorite New Book
My favorite new read of the year had to be “From Program To Product – Turning Your Code Into A Saleable Product” by Rocky Smolin.

6. Favorite Gift
Definitely without a doubt was Tristan’s handmade pregnant belly cast she made for me at Christmas.

7. Favorite News
No it wasn’t Obama winning, it was the unforgettable news that I was going to have my first child and a son at that. He’s growing nice and strong and due in 3 weeks.

8. Favorite New Album
This is a bit tough but would have to say Booka Shade’s “Movements”. Then Santogold’s self-titled album, followed by Death Cab’s “Narrow Stairs”.

9. Favorite New Movie
Hmm, another toughie but I’m gonna’ have to say Iron Man I think. Tropic Thunder, Batman: The Dark Knight, Speedracer, and a few others were all great too, but I think Iron Man was one of the most well done comic book adaptations yet, and a great first-time effort in one from Robery Downey, Jr.

10. Favorite Activity
Blogging has proven the most enjoyable activity that I’ve pursued this year. My creative pursuits have kind of been up and down a lot over the last few years so blogging has helped to stabilize and fulfill the need for a healthy, consistent outlet of expression. Plus, I received my first check in related advertising.

Ball Drop

Originally uploaded by JediWright

New Year’s Eve celebrations are a dime a dozen, especially in cities ’round the world. House parties with friends are probably the most common here in the States, next to major towns and cities hosting public celebrations.

This year, er last year, Tristan and I spent our night with my brother Ben and his girlfriend Jen, our step-brother Justin and his girlfriend, and some of our friends, totaling just 11.

We were the first to arrive, getting to Jen’s parents place around 8:30pm. We took a small soundsystem, some food and drink left-over from my 30th bday party (love me some recycling in any way possible . The other guests started showing up not long after.

We had a nice selection of beer thanks to my bro and a great spread of food by Jen. We chatted about relationships, politics, law, beer, the house we were hanging in, our accident from earlier that day, and a host of other random subjects.

We probably had our most fun though when playing Taboo – good ol’ slapstick fun. Or whatever. Not quite my normal activities compared to the last 6-7 years’ celebratons, but still a good time.

Last year we dropped by Tristan’s sister Olivia’s place for a drink and then headed off to our last major Green Sector party, which was held at Creativity in Venice. That was an okay time, but it too was pretty low-key.

Seems like things are mellowing out, year after year. I think everyone’s just so overstimulated these days that not much is super-exciting. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed myself last night. But part of me always craves for the big lights/soundsystems/crowds/etc.

Maybe next year will be that all-out-year, if The Do LaB does another NYE event; their last was back in 2004.

No matter what though, that transition will always retain some measure of magic and excitement. Change is an awesome thing.

Happy New Year!

p.s. The rest of my pics from last night are up on my Flickr now.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from JediWright’s Posterous