Expert

Lots of work, both at the Gap and Hammerpress. Finally printing again at Hammerpress, which is a relief, I was close to tearing my eyes out putting together orders.

At Gap there is the possability for moving up. A part-time manager job has opened - Brand Logistic Expert. The work encludes mostly dressing mannequins and heading up brand standards. If I do this, I would be trained to open and close the store, as well as work primarily, if not all, visuals.

Totally going to interview, and at very least ask for a move up in the column, since if I don't get it, someone else will and I can take their job.

Yesterday was also Zack's, from Lovely Press downstairs, birthday. The ship opened up and he had a few bands play. It was a good time. I had my hair did and dress up real nice. Joe took some pictures that I'll post when he gets back from St. Louis.

Movin' and Groovin'

Jen, from Hammerpress, and her boyfriend are moving in together and I thought I'd spread the moving help karma and volunteered my services.

Jen's old apartment is on the third floor of a stair entrance only building. I was wondering how I was going to work off eating at the pizza buffet the night earlier, but that problem was solved for me.

I arrived at noon and a half hour later another pair of Jen's friends joined the work force, followed by another couple an hour or so later. With the seven of us, it took maybe three hours to load everything up in the U-Haul and four cars. Car was brimming with art she'd collected from working at a frame shop, gallery, and of course Hammerpress.

It took maybe an hour to unload everything into her beautiful and expansive new place. Jen is living on the second floor of an old home on the corner of a lovely tree lined street. The kitchen is very large and has built in cabinets. There is a dining room with a rounded wall almost over take by windows, hardwood floors, and a Kansas City must - a porch.

After everything was finished we porched it - eating Papa Murphy's, drinking PBR and talking about Kansas City.

I said my goodbyes a little after 5 and came home to take a nap before preparing for a soiree.

After a nap, some non productive watching of Golden Girls, and going in circles with my redneck comps, I finally got ready for Madeline's (the woman who runs the zine around here) 30th birthday party.

The invite said black tie, so I dressed up in my black pencil skirt, gold tank top (with sequin trim), red shimmery cardigan, and my new fabulous black sequin barrett. Even before I arrived at the party I received many compliments from some wedding guests next door. (Speaking of wedding, it was all vintage themed and they had ribbon dancers, the type that hang from the ceiling, as entertainment)

When we arrived, many people had not followed the invite's orders and were dressed very casually. However, a few people, like Halliday, did dress up and looked great.

We partied late and I ended up staying over and cooking a breakfast of my go-to spicy potatoes. They went over well.

Anyways, it was a great birthday party, and a wonderful Saturday.

and it's My Birthday!

Thursday June 25th

Now I am 23. Hmm, funny to think it.

My birthday was fantastic.

Everyone I knew in Kansas City messaged me to say Happy Birthday and more than one group of people wanted to take me out.

At work, Jen made vanilla cupcakes with lemon icing. Brady treated me to a birthday "if you could cut that paper down, that'd be great". Wendy arrived at noon and she'd brought lunch with her. A delicious Indian inspired lentil soup. Around 1:30 we all took some time off in the office and ate lunch together.

As a side note, I forgot to mention on Tuesday a man came through the Crossroads selling oranges and grapefruit. He brought in some samples and lured us with their delicious taste and then used his mind control schemes to force Brady into buying a bushel's worth. He left with the money and we were left with 80 oranges and 20 grapefruit. Delicious though they may be, that many might be more than we can handle. I've been trying to give them away ever since.

Anyways, after lunch I printed some tags on the platen press before calling it a day.

Why the platen press is used for stationary - the biggest and most important difference is the speed. What would take hours to do on a Vandercook, takes only minutes on the platen. The reason being is the mechanism stamps the paper vs. rolling it over the type. By printing some tags I mean 500, and in reality I was going pretty slow since I'm new at using the press.

One other bonus (or drawback depending on what you're printing) the platen has over the vandercook is the size capability. If you're looking to do something small, say a card or business card, the platen is easier to maneuver the paper with. Something large or long would be harder to print. Brady has four platens. Three are motorized and one has a foot treadle. Which one am I using? Well I'll give you a clue, if it was all I printed on, I'd have buns of steel.

After work, Wendy took me out for a drink and Jen joined us. We went down the street to a little mediterranean bar called "extra virgin" and had cocktails. We eventually ordered some appetizers that included the world's best kabobs. Wendy was incredibly nice and paid for our drinks as was Jen who paid for the appetizers. Wendy had to go home, so Jen, her boyfriend (who'd joined us and Jen says looks like Lex Luther) and I went to the Czar Bar for another drink and roasted eggplant.

We hung out for a bit talking about the death of Michael Jackson before it was time for me to go and meet Halliday and Danielle at the Foundry. I got there just in time to have a milkshake before Danielle had to go to her sewing circle. Halliday and I remained to eat some excellent pizza with garlic on top. (I claimed the garlic as my birthday right)

Halliday and I parted ways and I was going to go swimming at Jared's house, but I fell asleep instead. Kind of a lame ending to an otherwise excellent twenty-third.

I forgot to mention that I received two sets of flowers. One was delivered to Hammerpress from my wonderful parents and the other greeted me on the stairs of my apartment. The second bouquet was from my Adam who made me feel very special and loved. He is the first guy to ever send me flowers that are in the form of a real arrangement, well other than my very thoughtful father.

Damn. Have I said how much I love Kansas City? It fits like a glove.