The Cost of Things

A long day at work left me thinking about which gas station to stop at on the way home. Naturally money came to mind when I looked at how high these prices are now.

Thought led into thought as I neared home wondering how we are supposed save money when costs are so high. How much more of our paychecks need to be sacrificed to cover living expenses?

A few blocks away from the house I decide to pull in for gas. With a sigh, and another glance at the price on the pump, I began to reach into my wallet for some money.

I had enough money to get me to half a tank. I wanted to use the debit card to fill it, but I had thoughts about money that was just paid, or did “so in so” cash that check yet? By the end of the decision making process I was a mess with the cost of things we need.

With debit card in hand, and slight frown on my face, I walk toward the entrance of the store. I looked near the street and saw this 20 something year old man pull his car near the air pump. He steps out, looks on the ground and spots some sort of insect, picks it up gently and places it in the grass and continues on with his task.

This vision removed all my previous thoughts about cost and sacrifice.

Blending into the TV population

Passing by the water coolers and coffee pots in morning I overhear talk of this TV show and that cast member from groups of people.

“Can you believe that” mixed with “Yeah, she should have done this...” or my favorite, “If it were me I would have…”

Most of our free time can’t possibly be hung up on the viewing and judging of others.

Right?

Hmmm…Romans and the Coliseum? (ok, you got me there…but)

We flow into bars, stadiums, and game arenas to watch people perform. We buy gossip magazines and follow web links on news pages to see photos of scandalous dresses on the red carpet.

Why are we so inquisitive about televised people and events controlled by producers, directors, and paparazzi?

If we’re always watching, what are we doing when we are not – besides working and paying bills?

But the part that gets me about all of this – is that we REALLY analyze who these people are. Condemning an emotional display, actions to win money, down to a cheating spouse with a new baby on the way for a chance to criticize what - someone else’s failure or bad decision making?

Seriously?

Do we really need to collect this information so we can huddle together in awe, frustration, and agreement over a life that is far different than our own the next morning?

When do we not focus on who is doing what and focus on a new book, exercise, language class, or volunteer work?

Just wondering

Deeezigne Lost and Found

A very visual 2006 in commercial art

Seeing the web, software, and technolgy as new again. We have more accessible, informative, interactive, and animated designs.

But...no one speaks of the under current that frustrates designers. - making designs that everyone is used to seeing. I think it sounds like this...

"Can you make it like this site, magazine, or illustration"

or should I say trendy design.

===

As designers we all have had "the one" design that broke the mold, jumped outside of the box and shocked you into staying up till 3 am to finish it. You were sure this was thee design that would wake up all of the other designers trapped into making carbon copied designs. Portfolio, laptop, CD, DVD, flash drive in hand you strutted into work like John Travolta in "Saturday Night Fever."

You were sure it was the piece that would start a national design uprising. But it got shot down, stomped and maybe even laughed at. Too much color, not usable, goal not understood or correctly conveyed. And that is very ok. You worked hard, don't let it get you down. You stayed true to your design heart. ORIGINAL is better! And failure CREATES new growth and thinking. Maybe inspiration too.

We all have do it. Swallow our tongue, bite our lip...whatever. Why? Because we have higher gas prices, internet, cable/DSL, and college loans. Did I forget about parenting suprises or car parts?

This is not a complaint about what is out there in designs, it's more of a celebration of creative thinking out loud. Even if we have to design like this or that...we at least get to design something. (It sure beats workin in a hot kitchen in the middle of summer!)

So dig through your old design folders. Pull out those pieces that still make you excited and work on them some more. Like watering a plant - watch your design grow branches toward new ways of visual production. The growth will keep you from becoming a predictable designer that is content on copying trendy art.

It WILL develop your creativity into a mastery of artistic independence.

This is why we became designers in the first place.


Right?








...right?

When creditors call

I wonder what creditors are made of...

Talking with a friend about a recent phone call he received reminded me how absolutely stupid people can be sometimes.

Do I sound bitter? Come on laugh with me. Many of us have had the pleasure of dealing with one or two nasty people over the phone. Ones that demand payment right NOW or else. Why get so nasty?

Many of us DON"T say or even think,

“ehhh I don’t think I will pay for this service or item EVER!”

It’s nothing like that.

There is a saying – “Real life happens while you wait for your ship to come in”

For me, it was a car accident. The driver had no license and no insurance. I was rushed to the hospital. I was told at the time.

“Sorry, there is no reason to take him to court, that stuff happens”

Huh?

Soon after, the predators call (sorry I meant creditors),
You explain what happened and they seem sympathetic AT FIRST but then they follow up with,

“So can you make payments on $11,000? (not including the lab fees that will be coming from another creditor next week)

“Well uh..I don’t know I am in school, maybe”, I respond

Then they bust out with,

“We can’t take payments of less than $50”

At the time I was in college - $50/month? Um…no way. I didn’t even spend that on groceries.

“Well how bout your parents, they’re paying for your school right?”

No – My mom was collecting unemployment (barely making it) and I was lucky enough to receive a scholarship.

Then here it comes...

“You have to accept responsibility for the bills you acquired sir”

I reply "Yes, I am aware of that, but..." (I am cut off with more words of discouragement)

Why are they so mean? If you want me to pay a bill, be nice to me. Or as I like to reuse from their earlier greeting, (“help me help you”) but instead I hear,

“Well, sir if you paid your bills on time…”

“What?”

I bust out in my DeNiro

“You talkin’ to me?”

And then they keep going. “You have neglected…” Even after you hang up.

But they are wise enough not to leave you a nasty message when you let the machine pick up.

This is my suggestion:
If you want good reality TV, put creditors in the ring with the people they call. And to make it better, if the client wins, they get the bill erased.

Boy, would that be ugly?

Hmmm, might be better for pay per view…

Zen and Time

Is it true - no room for Zen in 2006?

With all of our possessions and need to live in the world of technology, we have escaped the idea of becoming simple. There used to be a fundamental need to shed all of the useless things and become one with nature and living. But is there time for that now? Maybe on Sunday mornings.

Today, many people play duo roles. 8 hours at work, then go home eat, be parents until till bed. That's not including our drive time, bill paying, or grocery shopping.

If people are not parents, they fill there time with clubs, video games, or any other sort of entertainment that seems to move away from the simple ways of Zen. We commonly call it "an escape from work."

These various forms of escape mixed with everday life costs a lot of time and money. (New game controllers, gas, snacks, fees..etc.)

What?

You need new tires for the car, printer ink, and update Virus Software.

How did all of these little things get in the way of stretching, breathing, and meditation?

And for the parents…the kids needs new shoes (again???), braces, and an instrument for band. Now you gotta re-finance to make ends meet or load up the credit card. And you have Pets?

Whoa, where did the Zen Go?

Stop

Breathe in…breath out…slow and repeat 4 more times.

Now I remember. A few minutes of Zazen is better than none. I guess there is room for Zen in the New Year afterall.

A single path

A samurai was chopping wood at an enormous rate of speed outside of a small cabin in the woods. The samurai was smiling and singing as he was splitting through 4 logs at a time on two stumps, with an axe in each hand.

A passing samurai stopped to watch him.

Eventually the passing samurai said, “Wow you are amazing, how’d you learn to chop so fast with an axe in both hands? You don’t have to live out here in that tiny house; you can live in town while making a bunch of money putting on demonstrations and teaching classes with that sort of talent."

The samurai chopping wood responded with,

“When I chop I focus on chopping all of the wood. That’s my only focus.

Accomplishing my tasks fills me with knowledge and happiness about my practices.”

The passing samurai nodded in a thankful motion and kept moving down the path. While walking down the path he meditated on that theory, joyful that he had seen greatness in such a basic chore. He felt at ease seeing that being great does not involve drawing a crowd. It involves a person realizing one’s full potential and being happy to live up to it.

Being great simply means being the best YOU. It takes lots of practice, but it’s possible.

Focus on one thing inside your soul and you will be great. Not for others that are passing by to notice your accomplishments. Because if you acknowledge you are great through the eyes of spectator you are no longer mindful of your actions. You are mindful of the watcher. It’s best to be mindful of you and your skills.

Learn, grow, and become new.

THANK YOU for calling customer service...?

What is that funny looking thing in the banner above?

Hmmm….a phone?

Correct!

It used to be a good tool for customer service.

I know, I know, we are in the age of technology. Email your questions or problems and someone will respond to you.

I get that part.

But what happened to good customer service? When you could get an CLEAR answer right away. And businesses prided themselves for good customer service that actually helped solve problems.

Quiet back there! I hear some customer service reps jumping for joy because they do not have to answer stupid questions from confused customers that are over the age of 70. Follow the phone prompts and you MIGHT reach a human voice.

My beef is not with that.

It is doing all of these pre requisites for problem data gathering to NOT get the answer you need.

You call

You wait…

”all lines are busy at this time, please wait for the next available customer service rep.”

Tell your story to a rep. “Hold on let me transfer you my supervisor”

You wait…

Tell your story to the supervisor. (Yes, the exact the same story)

They respond with “Hmmm…Did you visit our website?”

Why so I can email you the same story?

Good grief!