The Evendens

It seems like I've been looking for a job for a year, and well, it's been just about a year now!  Recently this has gotten very frustrating for me because I've been applying for pretty much anything that has come along.  Most of the jobs out there have nothing to do with my degree which is sad to me seeing how long it took me to get it, but I'm applying anyway.  I've had some interviews and been told I'm over qualified for positions have come up empty handed.  

If you remember back to this post and this post, you'll remember that I went on an interview last fall with a magazine called Hilton Head and beyond.  This was a graphic design job and one that I was very interested in.  Well, I didn't get the position, they decided not to hire anyone at that time, however, I've just been in contact with them again this week about the position!  They have me doing a project as part of the interview process this time.  They've given me sort of a fake task to complete and have given a deadline for it.  So this weekend I've been working on 2 ad designs and a 4 page magazine spread.  I'm really hoping this job works out as I would love to have this position.

Right before this position opened up I decided that I was getting tired of waiting around for a job and I was going to try and get my own graphic design business up and running.  I've been working on getting a website with some of my work up and have made a few contacts.  At the very least I hope to get some freelance work rolling in.  I've also been meeting with some friends and taking a lot of pictures in the hopes of also doing some photography on the side.  These are a few pictures of my friend Ellen's little girl that I did this week.

Watching my morning cartoons

The shirt says it all

Grandma with her favorite boys

Reading books with Grandpa

Uncle Chris and Jackson sporting their Tigers hats!

I'm cool

I'd had enough sun so napped right here for a few hours!

Chillin at the pool

Matching Suits

I can't believe how quickly the summer is going!  My mom came to visit the first week of June, just a few days before Joe was done with school for the summer.  She was here just shy of a month.  For one of those weeks my brother was also here and for the final week my dad was here.  We had a lot of fun enjoying the sun (not so much the heat) but hitting the pool most days and the beach a few days as well.  Other than that we just hung out playing with the baby.  She spoiled us rotten, and even though it was such a long trip it was still sad to see her go.  Her and my dad, as well as my brother will all be back the first part of August though as we are having Jackson baptized.  It's looking like they are the only family that will be here so it will be a pretty low key event.  My dad will preform it in the ocean!  

Joe has been off of work since the second week of June and quickly became bored!  He was able to go to Atlanta to Six Flags with the Jr. High youth group we both work with and then from there they headed into Tennessee and spent the day white water rafting.  He seemed to have a great time.  Shortly after he got back he decided to seek out a part time job as he was bored.  So, he's working 25-30 hours a week at Staples.  He's just really getting into the swing of things this week.  School goes back here much earlier than it does in Michigan, Joe goes back August 10th and the students start back the 17th.  I'm in a wedding in Michigan the 15th, so Jackson and I will have to make the trip alone.

Jackson is so much fun!  With each new stage I think I like this one more than the one before it!  He's 6 months old now and getting to be a big boy.  He's learning all sorts of new things and it won't be long now until he's mobil.  He loved having Grandma and Grandpa here, Grandma was the only one that could really get him giggling.  He's sleeping through the night for the most part, and we're working on trying to get the 6am (sometimes 5) wakeup calls to a more reasonable hour!  He's eating solid foods now and it's fun trying new stuff with him.  He also loves our pets but by the fistfuls of hair I've found I'm guessing the dog doesn't always appreciate him!

As for me I'm still enjoying it here in South Carolina.  The heat took a little getting used to, some days it nears 115 with the heat index, but I'm getting there.  I'm STILL searching for a job and it does get quite frustrating.  It's been almost a year now that I've been searching.   I've had some interviews but there just aren't many graphic design opportunities right now.  I've been applying for office jobs and am also trying to get my own graphic design/photography stuff up and running.  I'm working on a website now and then hopefully I can drum up some business.

I think that's all that's going on here right now.  I will post some pictures of what our summer has looked like so far.