serenity...

There's a storm approaching. I can see the ominous clouds starting to gather. The Weather Channel showed snow of some sort all week (but I think they were just covering their asses from the last BLIZZARDWATCH2010 that ended in a big ol fail), but we're certainly going to get something.

This morning, I made some coffee and sat down with some design work, while Ben still slept. It's now my bliss to be able to sit and do some creative work while listening to music. I think I've mentioned before, but my job is awesome except for the fact that designers can't listen to music (not even with headphones) while putting together layouts. It's brutal. Either I'm designing at work in dead silence (which puts me to sleep) or I'm designing while the woman on the other side of the cube talks loudly and non-stop about her kids/the news/what her weekend plans are/etc. (which always includes an amazing smattering of the F-word). Yup. Makes for some great thinkin', I assure you.

I'm working on a Save the Date postcard for some friends who are getting hitched this fall. I really enjoy doing projects like this for friends, but lately I feel like I'm so wiped from work that the last thing I can do when I come home is stare at a computer and be creative. This particular project has been going on for a loooooong time, mostly because I haven't been able to work on it like I want. The friends even threw me a paying job from one of their friends, but if I barely have time to do something for people I know, I don't know how I'd be able to handle doing work for a stranger. Ugh.

I'm very happy for the day when I don't have to work full time and I can just take little design jobs here and there. Sure, it's more complicated keeping track of freelance income, and you have to pay your own taxes, but I wouldn't be trying to support a family on that income, so it wouldn't be too hard, right? :)

We had a great time this weekend with friends. Friday, we had an impromptu double date with the professor Ben works with and his wife. They are in the same boat we are...finally not students anymore who can see that the "suffering" portion of their marriage is coming to an end. It's nice having people who can relate to us on that sort of level. On Saturday, we met up with another couple and a grad student in Ben's lab for tapas at a Spanish restaurant near our house. We almost closed the restaurant down, and the sangria was awesome. It was a nice, sociable weekend (a good change from my hermit lifestyle a few weeks ago).

Knitting update: I have to venture out to locate more Vanna's Choice today to finish the baby afghan. It's a must. I tried going through the Ravelry trade/sell route, but with how cheap the yarn is, by the time it actually gets here, I will have overspent on postage and time. I just hope my LYS carries the colors I need! I need to get the blanket done by Friday....eeeeeeeek....