So, let’s see, what have I been up to? For one thing, working freelance at Lakeshore Learning Materials. Such a different environment that what I’m used to. Clocking in and out, a set lunch time that everybody follows, no internet (rather very slow, like dial-up slow), it’s just so different. Did a couple days at Standard Time, who would have thought I’d miss the agency life. I still don’t like the long hours, but I do miss the creative environment.

I’m still working (ha, funny) on my portfolio. I think I’ve figured out what I’m going to do. I’ll convert this blog to my portfolio and start posting on tumblr. But don’t hold me to that, knowing me, I’ll change it again.

The Japan Film Society has taken a huge amount of my time. I’m doing a couple flyers for them and also re-designing their website. I finally talked them into converting it to a WordPress template. That will make it easier for them to update regularly. Right now it’s just too hard, we don’t have anybody that can code. They’re also working on the film festival. We voted for a name and then decided it wasn’t quite right, so we’re changing it. After that, I’ll be working on that website, too. They’re keeping me very busy.

Melrose has gotten so big. She’ll be 8 months in a couple days. I have her enrolled in a Puppy Obedience Class at Brookside Park in Pasadena. Hopefully I’ll be able to train her (or me) and she’ll be a good doggy. Right now she’s just so wild and hard-headed. Hmmm, wonder where she gets that from.

World Famous Crochet Museum

Thanks to @BeeDazzle for sending me in this direction. Joshua Tree, here I come. Wonder if they have room for Mr. Happy Poo?

But I think I just broke my record time with “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” by Stieg Larsson. 644 pages in 3 nights. At first I was a bit confused, but when they finally brought out the main story, I just couldn’t put the book down. I found myself liking Lisbeth Salander, even though her character is sooo fucked up. Now off to the library to find the 2nd book in the Millennium-trilogy, “The Girl Who Played With Fire”. The paperback has not been released yet and there’s no way I’m buying that. I’m hoping this one is just as good.

Check out the trailer for the movie, opening in the US on March 19th.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Can’t wait to see this, it’s getting great reviews. But I won’t be watching the Hollywood remake, you know they’ll just fuck up the story.

Wow, didn’t realize it’s been that long since I posted anything. Been kinda busy. Working freelance, that actually pays, helping out with a couple non-profits and working on my online portfolio. Of course, the later is the most difficult, I keep wanting to change the layout or pics that I’m using. That’s why my own projects take forever, I can’t make up my mind.

Anyways, this is not what I wanted to post. Take a look at this:

Colosseo: Reimagining the Roman Coliseum with type (Canon 7D) from Cameron Moll on Vimeo.

Fucking Amazing! Oooh, my birthday is coming up and I’d love one of these posters and also my own Vandercook.
Thanks, Luv Ya!

Thanks to Boing Boing for the initial post that got my attention and to U900 for their work. You can see more videos on U900′s myspace.

Melrose

OMG, I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to finally introduce Melrose. Everybody, this is Melrose. She was born on October 4th, 2009. One of 7 pups, but sadly 2 passed away. I first met her on December 7th after a long flight from Arkansas. Thanks to my friend Cindy who gave me pick of the litter, to Celia and Paula who accompanied her on the flight home after visiting with Cindy for the weekend. She is doing well, having gained 10+ pounds in a month. Almost potty-trained, she uses the doggy door to go outside. But on occasion, has an accident on the way out. We have spoiled her and now are dealing with separation anxiety. She’s got it bad.

Photo: Valerie Febre-Yap (thanks for letting me steal her pic!)

Well, I’ve been kinda busy. I decided to actively pursue looking for a new job. I really have no choice, I’m running out of money. I organized my iGoogle to follow a couple job boards, made a spreadsheet showing who, what, when I sent out a resume and am working on my online portfolio. I really like the single page designs. I’ve been researching and getting ideas.

But the hardest thing is not seeing any available jobs as a print production artist. Almost all the available positions are looking for web experience, lots of Flash jobs out there. Frustration is setting in. I’ve even sent my resume out for Studio Manager positions. I’d rather not have that kind of responsibilities. But what can I do, especially at my age and with that many years of experience? There have been a couple internships that I was thinking of applying to. I’d get the experience I need and maybe start an new career doing something completely different. Still thinking about it.

Okay, enough of the negativity. I will get a new job or find enough freelance to support myself and my two kids. It will happen!

My favorite, that I used quite often, was my small Harrods bag. It’s the perfect size and I have 3 of them in the house. The oldest bag, that I received many years ago, I used as Rowdy’s bag. Whenever we went somewhere, all his stuff fit perfectly in it. I now can’t seem to find it. Cute, got lots of compliments on it, white with a Westie pattern. Oh, and it was a bad idea going online to find the pics, Harrods has a couple new designs that I liked. I wonder if I should buy them.

2007 Harrods Bags

I also have the Zojirushi Mini Bento. It’s the perfect size, not too big, not too small. I was looking at the lunch jars, but they’re way too big. I also have a couple inexpensive bento boxes. I get them from the dollar store in Little Tokyo, but they’re not insulated. And me being lazy, usually ruin them after putting it in the microwave. I know, you’re not supposed to microwave anything in plastic.

Zojirushi Mini Bento

This past July, I had to buy this cute neoprene insulated bag up in Carmel by the Sea. It’s a red and white floral design, similar to the one pictured below. Not sure who makes it, I found it at a Longs or CVS, can’t remember which drugstore it was. We were getting snacks and drinks for the ride home and I thought it’d be a great way to keep the drinks cold.

Insulated lunch bag

But what started this post was the newest generation of lunch boxes, TAB from Rosti Mepal. Moco Loco featured them on their blog and I really want one.

TAB lunch boxes by Rosti Mepal

I was going to show you the mini, bento rice cooker. They had them at Marukai earlier this year. You can make 1 cup or rice or use it to heat up your lunch. I couldn’t find it anymore. But I did find a USB lunch warmer available at gadget4all.com. For all those that just can’t step away from the computer long enough to eat.

USB lunch bag warmer

And, since we’re talking about lunch and bentos, check out Anna The Red’s latest bento masterpieces. She has so many, I couldn’t pick my favorite. She even has a “How To” section. If only someone would make me one of those cute bentos. I probably wouldn’t be able to eat it, way too cute.

Hmm, last I wrote about was The Girl Who Leapt Through Time. That was about 3 weeks ago. I applied for an online editor position, did a trial for a week, but haven’t heard back from them. I guess maybe I’ll email them and see what’s going on. I did some freelance, just 2 days. Traffic was a bitch and I really don’t want to sit in traffic. I’m hoping I can find a job closer to home. I finally got my first unemployment check. Geez took over a month. Almost done with my HTML coding class and the Letterpress class. Now to figure out my next steps.

The Japan Film Society has also been keeping me busy. Sending out press releases, designing the website, the latest events and all the meetings. We had a special screening of Mothra on the Sony Studios lot. The family of Jerry Ito came to the screening, his wife is really cute. I enjoyed talking to her for a bit. The turnout was great. Next will be The Winter Shorts @ The Royal/T Cafe in Culver City. If you’re in town, come by and check it out. Should be fun.

There’s so much going on, I don’t know where to start or if it’s even interesting enough to blog about it. Yes, I’m still unemployed and so are so many people in advertising. It’s scary and it doesn’t look good in the near future. Adweek is reporting that BBDO might be shutting down their Detroit shop end of January. About 145 jobs will be cut. And the cuts keep on happening. I just read on AgencySpy that Ogilvy will be cutting 90 jobs today. Many of my friends that still have a job in advertising are worried. Clients are cutting budgets, things are slowing down, print is dying, but interactive jobs are flourishing.

Ok, enough about all this. Need to concentrate on making a million dollars soon. Can’t really say “by the end of this year” cuz it’s coming up fast. But it will be soon. I’ll leave you with pics of my latest crochet projects.

Penny Poo, was so tempted to keep her.

Headbands, still working on perfecting them.

Piglet, a little gift for my friend's baby girl.

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

I love The Girl Who Leapt Through Time. It is one of my favorites. But then again I’m a sucker for the whole boy/girl high school friendship stories. Hana Yori Dango is another favorite. I don’t know what it is? Is it the innocence, the true, non-gender friendship, before the falling in love? Who knows and I didn’t start this post to try to figure it all out.

Anyways, there’s a new live-action movie coming out. Directed by Masaaki Taniguchi, starring Riisa Naka, Akiyoshi Nakao and Narumi Yasuda. At first I was disappointed in hearing that they changed the storyline. But now after seeing the trailer, I’m excited about the movie.

Thanks to Nippon Cinema for your post, you can read more about the movie on his site. I wish I didn’t have to wait until March 2010, well of course after that I’ll have to wait until it gets subbed in English and sent over to the US. Ok, Japan Film Society, make it happen, bring it to LA next year.