Taking a Seven Hundred Minute Breather in Los Angeles

I need a minute. So much has happened already in March that I can’t even believe it’s only about halfway over. I need a minute — or, preferably, about seven hundred of them — to catch my breath.

First of all, I moved. You may have noticed that from my road trip pictures. After living in Chicago for two years, I moved back to Los Angeles (via solo road trip. I have a Cheryl Strayed audiobook to thank for my sanity.). I’m living with my parents in the house where I grew up, and I’ll be working here for a few months to save up some money before I try to move abroad somewhere. I’m hoping to move in July-ish, although we’ll see how the money-saving goes.

One of my favorite stops along my road trip: Durango, Colorado.

And when I say “working,” I mean that I started a new job in the same week I got home. Even though this has been exhausting and somewhat overwhelming at times, I realize that it’s also extremely lucky. I had a friend who was leaving this job around the same time I was going to be heading back this way, and she mentioned to her supervisors that she had a friend who might be a good fit, and that was that! They didn’t even meet me in person before hiring me. Apparently my friend talked me up A LOT to everyone who works at this place, because whenever I introduce myself to someone new they always look really excited and go, “Oh! The famous Jackie!” Clearly, she lied to them.

Anyway, again, this was so, so lucky. If this hadn’t happened, who knows how long I would have had to spend looking for a job. And who knows if I would have found one as flexible or interesting as this one. I work at a photography studio and my official job title is “Creative Academy Director” (added that one to LinkedIn immediately) and basically I run class registrations and work with teachers to design and schedule their classes.

But guys, guess what. I get to take any of the photography classes there for free! Looks like you’ll have to kiss gems like these goodbye pretty soon, sorry:

I remember thinking that this wasn’t that bad. I’m not sure what I was using as a comparison.

In addition to this new job, I’m still doing freelance writing for Rail Europe, behind the scenes stuff for Vagabundo (although it’s been a bit quiet there lately while our editor, Brendan, has been hurling his motorbike off African mountains, or something), and also one or two freelance projects every now and then for other websites. Add that to paying this blog some attention every now and then and trying to read the other blogs I love and trying to unpack my Chicago life and fit it into my Los Angeles life and trying to see my friends and eat and hang out with my cat and read books and plan photography classes, and you’ve got me falling asleep at my computer while the Cloud Atlas sextet that some fan put together on YouTube is lulling my cat to sleep next to me.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. I’m busy, but it’s a good and productive busy. Except that I still need to unpack.

Anyway. A lot of people have been asking what my plans are and what I’m currently doing and I realized I hadn’t really stated any of that anywhere directly on this blog, so I just wanted to give an update and say that I’m busy, I’m tired, but I’m not going to disappear from the Internet. Never doubt my devotion to the Internet. And even though I’ve been reunited with my adorable, sassy, fur-faced little soulmate, I’ll try not to post too many pictures of her on Instagram.

“I’m adorable.”

*Just Googled “how many hours is 700 minutes?” because I can’t do math. Turns out a seven hundred minute breather is actually just a good night’s sleep.

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