Day 12

A camera at the Premium Rush filming at Columbia.

I had my meeting with the photo editor and deputy editor at PreviousBigNameMagazine yesterday, and it went as well as it could have.  They explained the freelance position for September, and its possibility of becoming a salaried position--there is a lot of red tape getting from one to the other.  I'm going to take the position in September if they offer it, which it looks like they will (they just have to figure out the specifics with the publishing company), and I'll find out by Tuesday at the latest.  I'm excited to be back there, I miss that magazine a lot.  They also gave me the September issue, and of course I loved it, they really have a great team of photographers and food stylists, prop stylists too, who can make food look extremely approachable as well as beautiful.  Never do the dishes look pretentious, they look like even I can make them, and they always make me want to eat them.

Last night Jeremy and I met up with, basically, the whole gang for drinks: Arielle and Russ were in the city for the night before leaving to go to Santa Fe for the weekend, and Mally had just moved in to her (and Anna's) apartment in Brooklyn, and Anna was there too because they had been shopping for furniture earlier.  Needless to say we all got a little tipsier than we had maybe planned (maybe not Arielle and Russ, but the rest of us did).  It was fun, as always, and I am so happy that it will be happening more and more as I remain off Long Island and closer to everyone and nightlife in the city.  Today I met up with Anna and Mally for lunch uptown by Columbia.  The main event was, clearly, to hang out around Columbia to see what we could see of Premium Rush and, more importantly, JGL.  I didn't get, or try to get, a clear picture of him because they were filming inside (and also I didn't want to feel like a fan-girl).  Somehow the security only appeared to be intense--there were 2 security guards stationed at the entrance closest to the building they were filming at--and we were able to sit on the lawn right in front of the, conveniently glass-walled, building to watch the goings on.  There was one stage-manager type person who I thought was eyeing us as we sat amidst the "background" extras, but she only realized we weren't supposed to be there when they switched scenes and had to change the "background."

Either way, we racked up some spy-time on the ever-dapper, even in just a red t-shirt and jeans, JGL (regularJoe, hitRECordJoe, Joesph Gordon-Levitt).  I swooned a bit, secretly of course, and tried to look normal...I think it worked.  I had a fit of slightly hysterical giggling at some point, but it could have also been due to the deliciously sugary cinnamon bun that I had for post-lunch snack.  The set broke for lunch, hence the blanketed camera, and we explored a little closer to the glass, then strolled out onto the street with the trailers for a minute before feeling like stalkers.  We hung around through the next scene, but left when they broke again for, what looked like, make-up touch ups and cell phone updates.  But, gosh, he really is just as attractive in person.

When I got home I made mac&cheese and watched 30 Rock until Jeremy got back from work.  All in all a very good two days, especially today.

Day 11

This morning; breakfast for ants.

I got out of work early today, and by early I mean on time.  Yesterday I spent at least 4 hours straightening products and placing prices, and probably 4 more re-organizing items for their trip back to our offices, but I couldn't have been happier with the outcome.  Given this, today was a relative breeze.

Some blurry phone-pictures from my attempts at maintaining 365 while working past sun-set, or just before:

Yesterday: that blurry vertical sign on the left is Radio City.

The night before: the fountain across the street.

Day 10

Morning or evening? Sometimes it's hard to tell.

I start a new week today, with a new run-through and new worries to bother my brain with.  I think this wee I'll wind up on top; I'm well rested, well at least I'm rested, and I'm ready to go.

Day 9

Millie, sleeping on the skylight over the stairs.

Day 0, again

As it turns out, it is impossible for me to maintain a (continuous) 365 project while holding a (though temporary) full-time job at a magazine, especially during the time-warp-esque holiday season that is the summer.  It will have to be a modified 365 project, I will do my best to take a picture every day, and the days I don't I will make up for by taking more pictures others

This week was at once insanely long and incredibly short.  I do think I'm cut out for this, but I don't know for how long.  I love magazines, and I love being in control of situations, but at a certain point everything can seem so trivial.  For me, at least, I think that I need to approach this situation from a somewhat distant standpoint.  My interest in magazines, how they come together and function once published, is still an intellectual one.  Eventually I see myself going back to school, and hopefully remaining affiliated with one, but for now my position is treating me well.

However, my body, and brain, are still recovering from the week, and tomorrow I will have to try really hard to get back into business mode.  I took a nap earlier in the day and had a dream about finding prices and laying out products for a run-through; I can't escape.

Day 8, Day 2

Just like watching the world cup, but no bazoozoos.

 Today was even crazier than yesterday, but in a good way.  No more cutting out pictures, just more cutting open boxes.  I moved into my office today, which was sweet, and I felt in control of everything, which was even better.  The hours were long, I didn't leave the office until 8:30, but the job is pretty awesome.

Day 7, Day 1

The view from my office.

I started today.  I was much more confident today when I signed in, and my excitement only grew from there.  Abby met me at the door, and on the way to her office she mentions that this one, two doors down from her, is mine!

...

I didn't wind up leaving until 8pm, and the office is much more for The Stuff than for me. But I'm no longer sitting at home all day wishing I had a job.  I'm not made anxious by the idea that I'm not cut out for the magazine world.  I've, temporarily, stopped worrying about being worried.

Day 6

New pretty things for my new pretty job.

Tomorrow is my first day at InStyle.  I'm nervous and excited; I hope I can sleep!