Replanting

I did some rearranging this morning.
The peppers are finally doing pretty well, and it seems as though the squirrels aren't apt to take them.

The eggplants are doing SO well, but the fruit disappears.
The tomatoes are pretty much dead.
The cucumbers have passed on.
The poppies were in here, but apparently, no longer.
Scallions said it's time to find higher ground.
So I moved some things around. Scallions came inside. And I managed to relocate the basil into two pots. Much smaller than where they used to live, so I hope they want to live through the winter to go home again:
Look how big Hans's tail is!

Lucky Finds, Good Firsts

Four months ago Alissa sold me a bunch of her stuff, including a travel coffee cup that over the course of the past 7 days, I have learned to love. Yesterday I lost this mug. Today I found it again. I also found $20 in my pocket. Today was my first day at Project Basho. There was no one using the darkroom, but there was a class going on in the back, so it was a nice easy first day. I like Anne and Tsuyoshi a lot.
Hans has been thrilled to play in this random bag.I had so many tomatoes yesterday, that I had to make salsa. I got some things for it from the community garden, but did not realize such a delicate difference between peppers and that which makes them jalepeno-ish. I even added some zucchini.And the only thing I bought myself was the lime at the store where I lost my coffee cup. Oy.
Hansie missed me today. I was gone all day!

Tomorrow is rent day, and maybe even laundry day. And Wednesday might actually be Inspection day.

A Clean Coat of White

So Marty came and sliced all the yellow gook off the window. And then I took some gesso and tidied up a bit. I did the bathroom window too. Lovely!
Spick and span!

Last night was spent at Celia's. I brought baguettes and she made delicious open face sandwiches consisting of goat cheese, spinach, walnuts, and sauteed peppers. So good! We even got to dine with her housemate Elizabeth who brought her boyfriend Mackenzie, and also their friend Toby. We had a very nice time. However, Elizabeth and the boys got there around 9:15 leaving me only about an hour before I had to head back here for sleepytime.

The market today was really nice. Then when I got home I went for a run, took a shower. Talked to Erin on the phone. Made a hella-lot of mac&cheese. Watched Lost and ate said mac&cheese. Updated blog. I should really rabbit skin glue some shiznet right about... now!

Three (?) Jobs... AND an Internship?

So I have bangs, and I like them. Great.
I finally took some photos of the murals on the walk to the Metro. I usually walk there later in the day and its too dark.
They are pleasant on the eyes.

Anyway Barnes and Noble went well. I filled out an application and attached a resume, and I met the Cafe Manager, Jeremy. Bridget from Eastern State had told me to ask for him, since her husband is the store manager. And it can't hurt that everyone loves her, so I mentioned to Jeremy that she sent me to him. Score. He said he'll call me for a formal interview, but I don't need the job til November 30th so who knows if we can think that far in the future.

Some photos of Hans to break up some other things going on:

I had my formal introduction to Project Basho. I start Monday, wahoo!
I have been in touch with a Philadelphia Photographer named Chris Crisman. Mom met him at some Tall Club shindig, and accosted him into giving her his card. For some reason I looked at his website, and was sort of amazed at how lovely his work is. And of course, that he photographed Regina, I was sold. I emailed him 4 months ago, and he emailed me back last week. He would like to take me on as his intern. But again, I'm a little busy until December, but I guess its time to get crazy.
Nishon has been a little busy at work, driving orders to restaurants, since they fired a lot of their staff for being more or less completely incompetent. So I got back from the farmers market today and he was also decorating a cake. I told him if he would teach me, I could totally do that! So he took me right into the back and told me to write "Happy Birthday Jess" on a cake, but I was too scared! I practiced on the table but then bolted out the door because I wanted to go see Regina in concert at the Electric Factory. But I was not about to pre-order tickets: all the service fees add up to a $60 ticket. So I decided that I would see her only if there were tickets at the door for the simple, cheap up-front fee. Of course this was not so smart, since they were sold out. But with the $10 parking, it would have been all the money I made working today, so I'm sort of relieved that I didn't have to spend all that. I've seen her before, so its not the end of the world.

(I stole this photo off the internet, gosh how cute).
The cute little beading stick from the farmers market bouquet, planted, is doing really well.
Cute, in the new window. Marty needs to cut the yellow gook away. Sigh.

Bangs Are that on which the world hangs I'm only holding your hand so I can look at your bangs

So I did neglect to post that my adventure to get my car lawfully inspected proved to be a mishap. GoogleMaps swore that I was to maintain vigilance for this inspection station (the closest I could find online) on 70W, when in fact it was 70E. So I spent about 3 hours last week driving in circles on about 10 miles of 70W. So today, I went back, with advice from whoever I spoke with on the phone, and took 70E. However, when I got there, not only did I discover that I did not have my insurance card with me (apparently a new one has gotten misplaced somewhere), and moreover, they were seriously about to charge me $87 to inspect my vehicle. Well, Eff that. Apparently I am making yet another lovely trip to the Toms River area to get my car inspected for free. So, third try, and probably close to 10 hours effort total should do it for my car.

In the mean time. Today, I was frustrated. I try to not get so frustrated anymore. Shitty things happen, and you can either let them get you down, or you can chin up. So I turned on the radio, drove back to Philadelphia, and where I should have made a left to go to my apartment, I made a right into the shopping plaza, and got a haircut.

It is true. I have bangs. God how I hated them in middle school. But I am not in middle school anymore, and these are *side* bangs. This makes all the difference, you know. So, there you have it.

Then I drove to a place called The Woodshop. I called them last night looking for masonite or MDF, cut into specific small sizes. They are actually a cabinet etc making company, but Frank was so kind and helpful! He cut MDF into all the sizes I wanted, and then gave them to me for free, claiming them to have been just scraps anyway. I asked if I could look to them in the future as I have no saws (or health insurance, if I were to cut off a finger or an arm...) and of course he said sure.

And then I got home to a brand new kitchen window!

Marty installed it all day while I was out. He has to come back and cut back the foam, but how lovely!
Now I should run to Barnes and Noble and apply for a job! But look at this photo of Hans when I got back from Baltimore. Love!

Baltimore Blues and A Little Inspiration

The day before I left for Baltimore, Hans begged me not to leave by sleeping in my box of work clothes.
I had a very nice time in Baltimore. I saw a bunch of awesome kids I know. Really, I saw so many people in such a short span of time. I ate a lot of good food, including Golden West Cafe, Kumari, On The Hill, and of course "yellow friday" at the Meyerhoff. We went to The Book Thing and also had a lovely dinner party. Saturday night I went to a housewarming party for Aisha and Sara at their lovely new place.
I got to see the senior illustration studios: it is plain to see that Becca, Claire, Yelena, and Shannon all got the best studios. (Sorry no link for Claire, she doesn't post her work yet)
Mike Hanes came to hang out with us.
Yelena is a goddess.
Claire is an angel of death.
Becca is a southern belle. She also makes beautiful yarn.
Oh and you can see my old studio building from their studio, alllll the way across the bridge.

It was much more enjoyable than a few photos can show, but of course that's the way it should be.

I got back last night, and Hans missed me (of course he did).

Today was work, and then I went for a run. Who would've thought? I think I should do it after work every day, since I am already awake and shower after work. But it probably not happen that way. Its 9:00 Monday night, and its TIME TO MAKE SOME ART.

Many photos; few words

Beautiful tomatoes from the Lancaster boys on Saturday
Hans is getting so big!I moved some of the windowsill plants around, so the indoor basil is there now. He isn't doing much, and I haven't actually used any of his leaves.This one twig from the second bouquet I got from the Lancaster boys actually sprouted some roots, so I put him in some water and finally into some dirt yesterday.The garden is actually doing really well, but the squirrel has gotten almost every piece of produce all summer. It was nice to grow things, but what a stupid waste.This is what the basil looked like yesterday. Not anymore...This eggplant was also there yesterday, but was stolen by Squirrly this morning. I saw it.Last night Celia and I made pesto! With all the basil in the garden. I think it made just over two cups. Some photo documentation:We had a simple pasta with jarred vodka sauce, and pesto on some sourdough bread. Lovely dinner!

Other news: Landlord came and said he will replace the kitchen window!
I have to get my car inspected today! I totally forgot all summer!
I am going to Baltimore soon!