And now for your viewing pleasure:





That is a real gas station in Oklahoma. I kid you not. I made my husband turn the U-Haul around so I could get this picture. We had pulled off the highway to get some Arby's, and instead we get this little nugget of a memory.


And since I know you are all dying to see my new pad:














I'm not showing you my bedroom, because that's private. And I'm not showing you my bathroom, because that seems weird.



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I am going to start a literary journal, or a magazine, I don't entirely know the difference. Journal seems more research based to me. Something that the MLA might publish. Magazine has more of a glossy connotation in my head. Something to which Cosmo and Allure and Entertainment Weekly are relegated.


But basically I just want to start my own magazine and publish peoples creative non-fiction, fiction and poetry. And if I'm lucky, maybe one-act plays.


I have invited Lorie to join in this endeavor.


I did preliminary research on the cost of such a publication, and for 100 copies, it'd only cost $380. And I could easily make that in advertising space, I think. Like specialty bookstores, creative writing low-residency programs at universities, art supply stores... stuff like that.


The problem is distribution. Outside of sending copies to my professors back at Maryland, I don't know what else to do, other than try to get some book stores to buy a few copies. Oh, and online distribution. But other than that, I really don't know.


Also, a name is in order. I'm thinking: Lady MacBeth's Nipples. If you're wondering how I came upon this name, I recently went to Canada to see MacBeth, and I was reminded of some of my favorite Shakespearean imagery:


Lady MacBeth


What beast was't, then,

That made you break this enterprise to me?

When you durst do it, then you were a man;

And, to be more than what you were, you would

Be so much more the man. Nor time nor place

Did then adhere, and yet you would make both:

They have made themselves, and that their fitness now

Does unmake you. I have given suck, and know

How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me:

I would, while it was smiling in my face,

Have pluck'd my nipple from his boneless gums,

And dash'd the brains out, had I so sworn as you

Have done to this.



Obviously my favorite part is the second half...


Anybody have any thoughts on distribution or other funding ideas? Or even any better journal name? Because Lady MacBeth's Nipples may not encourage advertising space...

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I've only been officially looking for a job for one week as of today. I know I've been in California longer than that, but I was spending some much needed time with the fam.


In said week, I've applied to roughly 50 jobs. Most of which I actually am interested in. Out of the 50, I've gotten 3 leads since Saturday. Which ain't too shabby.


1st job: As a graphic designer for a Beverly Hills health spa. Doing desktop publishing and stuff like that. To be honest, I never followed up after they called me, because I am trying to hold out for something I'm more interested in (read: something in the film industry).


2nd job: As an intern for an art department. Probably for this movie. I only say that because the guy who's head of the art department for the mystery film didn't specify the movie, and I did a little research and figured out that the above mentioned flick is technically the next project. The intern part of the job was they paid for my meals and reimburse me for gas. Oh! And I would have gotten a screen credit.


Would have.


See, they e-mailed me for an interview today at noon--but then didn't tell me where to go. And no matter how much I tried finding that out, I couldn't. I e-mailed the head of the art department three times trying to get a location, but no one ever responded.


3rd job: There's a PR company that promotes independent & foreign films needs an assistant. They left a message on my machine because I wasn't here last night. (Last night was my two year wedding anniversary.) And when I tried calling this morning, the guy was in a meeting and was supposed to call me back today. He never did. So I'm going to try to call again tomorrow.


As for California in general... It's 100% better. I mean, the quality of life has improved a thousand fold. No bed bugs. Not even a roach. Okay. One tiny roach 2 weeks ago. But that's it. We have a dishwasher. A laundry facility that actually works and isn't coin operated (card operated instead). A pool. A jacuzzi. A barbeque area. A sauna. And a workout room. Oh! And ping pong tables & pool tables! And for those of you who have experienced our kitchen in Maryland, our new kitchen is like twice the size, and tons of storage & counter space. It's so nice.


I have other news. But I'm going to have a seperate post for that.

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