Back To The Old Grind

I find the great contrast between your two occupations positive; the more diverse the life of the mind, the better the chances are that your inspiration will be protected, the inspiration which cannot be predicted, that which is motivated from within.--R.M. Rilke to Elisabeth Ephrussi (in a handwritten letter)from THE HARE WITH THE AMBER EYES by Edmund de Waal
I am feeling “swamped” with my Account Manager job at INTER/MEDIA in Encino.  I am back to the old grind. I am working in ‘the valley’ as they call it.  I do find that working in this area is different from the Westside of Los Angeles.  I feel detached.   Then I drive five days a week to the Eagle Rock area of Pasadena to Pasadena for Graphic Design School at PLATT COLLEGE.   The Graphic Design classes will be over in February.   This will be a welcome relief.   Then what?   It’s not like I will suddenly become CREATIVE DIRECTOR at INTER/MEDIA.   That job is filled and it doesn’t seem like something I want for myself now.  I can’t even see myself as a Graphic Artist doing jobs for clients that I don’t really want to do.  
Alan was nice enough to offer me a job to design a brochure for his Apartment Building in Seattle.   This will be incorporated with my last class assignment.  I’m looking forward to doing that project.  I am required to find an outside 'paying' Graphic Arts-related job.  I'm lucky that Alan has allowed me to do this.
I have no time to write letters like I used to do.  I wish I did.  It allows me to reconnect and evaluate my current happenings. 
I wish I had time to get a haircut; however, it’s a good time to test the waters to see how long I can get my hair to grow.  I’ve always wanted long, long hair—but never seem to reach that point.   The hot summers entice me to cut all of my hair off.  My hair grows so fast. 
My six year old niece, Ashley, sent me a postcard to thank me for the Christmas gifts I sent to her and her sisters (Holly and Ally).   That was a super sweet find in my mailbox.   She sent a postcard of Emerald Bay in Lake Tahoe.  I assume she went there for a weekend with her parents recently.
During my drives to work and school I listen to NEWS via the radio in the morning.  In the evening I find myself listening to music.   The songs that seem to be playing a lot right now are by MADONNA (Justify My Love), JANET JACKSON (Love Will Never Do Without You) and SURFACE (The First Time).   I think I really like the MADONNA one the most.  I like the beginning about kissing in Paris and holding hands in Rome.   The lyrics:
I wanna kiss you in ParisI wanna hold your hand in RomeI wanna run naked in a rainstormMake love in a train cross-countryYou put this in me, so now what, so now what?Wanting, needing, waitingFor you to justify my love
Hoping, prayingFor you to justify my loveI want to know you, not like thatI don't wanna be your motherI don't wanna be your sister eitherI just wanna be your loverI wanna be your baby, kiss me, that's right, kiss meWanting, needing, waitingFor you to justify my love Yearning, burningFor you to justify my loveWhat are you gonna do? What are you gonna do?Talk to me, tell me your dreams, am I in them?Tell me your fears, are you scared?Tell me your stories, I'm not afraid of who you are, we can flyPoor is the man whose pleasures dependOn the permission of anotherLove me, that's right, love meI wanna be your baby, yeahWanting, needing, waitingFor you to justify my love

I'm open and readyFor you to justify my loveTo justify my loveWanting, to justifyWaiting, to justify my lovePraying, to justifyTo justify my loveI'm open, to justify my love
Look at yourself in the mirror and ask what drives you.--Jim Rogers
A GIFT TO MY CHILDREN:  A Father’s Lessons for Life and Investing