Timing in relationships is not my strong point. I mean, how soon is “too soon”? How long are you waiting before it’s “too long”? Usually, I try to go with my emotions in these cases, but that’s gotten me in trouble.

Just ask my ex-boyfriends.

In my experience, it takes three things to make a relationship work: communication, time, and maintenance. It’s amazing just how much of a variable time is when it comes to cultivating a relationship. Communication is a given. You have to talk to your mate and they have to talk to you. There’s got to be some sort of way to know how the other feels. And when things are going wrong, that’s what the maintenance is. You make things better. You apologize. You learn. You continue on with the relationship (if you’re lucky). But time…just how long is all this supposed to take? Is there some sort of magic formula for this?

All of my romantic relationships have been short. We’re talking less than six months (well, except for Opportunity,
but that big lug was a special case; while we palled around for nearly two years, we were really only “together” for four months). And the last relationship I had, while it was the shortest, was quite possibly the most intense. How does this happen?

Now, there’s this other guy who I’m kinda sorta interested him. We’ll call him Boston Butt. He’s a nice guy — very handsome, loves to hike, and he’s quite poetic. When we do talk on the phone, I can tell that he’s into me. He doesn’t live in Atlanta (another LDR…heaven help me), but is planning to move here next month. Or so he says.

The timing has sucked. We usually only talk late at night, and the conversation pretty quickly turns sexual. I can’t really reach him during the day, and he never returns phone calls or e-mails. Huge red flag. He’s already flaked on me about coming down to visit. When talking to him on the phone about it, he says he’s “confused” and can’t come to a decision about it. And you know how much I hate indecisive men.

For the time being, Boston Butt is in a holding pattern. I still don’t know if he’s moving to Atlanta or not.

I’m giving him time.

Whatever that means.

Specifically, my back.

Last week, I was downtown to pick up a check from a client. I was coming out of the MARTA station headed towards my client’s business when my back suddenly seized up like a rusty gear. My right thigh got really tight, and I seriously had to stop a few times before I could complete the three block walk to get the check. It took the power of Jesus, Buddha, and Greyskull for me to make it back on the train and to Casa de Karsh.

I mean, this shit came out of the blue, folks. I’m always walking long distances. Hell, I was in marching band in high school and college. Ambling about on two legs is no problem, and I’ve never had any sort of back problems whatsoever. My father Sperm Donor does have a really bad back, but he was a Navy man for 17 years, worked as a welder…I mean, he wrecked his back. Is this what’s happening to me?

A few Excedrin Back and Body Pain pills later, I decided I should be more proactive about seeing what in the hell is going on with my back. Heaven forbid I end up like my father, doubled over in pain with a bottle of Jack and cursing at his wife, who’s nagging him for not having a better back. (Scratch the wife. And maybe add some ginger ale to the Jack.) And with this being about a week away from me headed to SXSW, the last fucking thing I need is a debilitating injury. Not at this stage in the game.

After talking with Brandon, I realized that there were a few factors which could have contributed to my recent sudden injury. For starters, I have been in the house for the past few weeks banging out client work. We’re talking several hours on end of sitting down crouched over a computer. Also, my desk chair has a broken back (insert rimshot here). The locking mechanism has stopped locking, so when I lean back, this thing goes nearly horizontal. On top of that, there’s my heavy ass winter coat that I’ve worn day in and day out, as well as my heavy ass laptop bag. So it just seems like I had on too much weight after being sedentary for such a long period.

I got a Chinese acupressure massage on Sunday which felt like exactly what I needed. I was in pain immediately after (and the next day), but it quickly went away. On Monday, I saw a chiropractor who had me in their office for two fucking hours twisting me in all sorts of positions and laying on top of my body. I have to admit though — the next day (i.e., today), I felt great. It was also 70+ degrees outside and I was in shorts, so maybe that was part of it as well.

Whatever the case, the back pain (for the time being) is gone. I’ve got another chiropractor appointment later today.

I don’t think I’m going.

• 2010 is getting off to a great start so far. Business is doing really well. My clients do give me some headaches, but overall, without them, my business would be shit. Shout out to those who have me on a monthly retainer! It’s all the security of a steady paycheck without the nagging peskiness of co-workers or office politics! Plus, I can work from home in my draws, or from the cozy nerdiness of a local coffee shop in the middle of the day. Ahh… My project workload will be clearing up in mid-March, so if you’re looking for a website or a WordPress theme, drop me a line.
• Speaking of mid-March, guess what has two thumbs and will finally be at SXSW this year? And speaking of speaking, I’m speaking too! It’s funny — I’ve tried to get to Austin for years, and I either didn’t have the cash to make it, or wherever I worked for at the time wouldn’t give me the time off. Now that I’ve worked for myself now for over a year, I’ve got the opportunity to do it. So if you’re trying to get to SXSW, quit your job! (Actually, you might not want to follow that advice.)
• When I last spoke about Gaara, I mentioned that given our current states, it would either be a recipe for harmony or disaster. And wouldn’t you know it…it’s actually been harmonious. He’s in school now, and we hang out or go to dinner at least once a week. He’s busy out there doing his thing, and I’m actually really proud to see where he is in his life now. We’re both really comfortable around each other, and can pretty much say anything to each other. For what it’s worth, we’ve actually come out on the other side of this relationship as friends (albeit several years later). Geez, is that even the kind of thing a guy should say about his ex?
• While we’re on the topic of boys, there is someone I’m talking to at the moment. That is, I think we’re talking. It’s kind of a long-distance thing, and we’re in that “getting to know you” stage. He might be moving to Atlanta in April, which would certainly hasten what has thus far been a frustrating attempt at courtship. Actions speak louder than words, you dig? I’ll have to elaborate on that later.

Hmm…I guess that’s it for now. The Dew’s wearing off, so I’m heading to bed. Quick, leave me some comments on some stuff you want me to write about.

Go!

I was planning on writing out some long post about what has had me so busy this past month, but then I realized something…I don’t have to explain shit. It’s my blog! Take that, Text Link Ads and your paltry $2.00 ad payment.

But I am going to get back in the swing of regular posting, I promise. I need to prioritize some things, and I might have a big announcement coming. I just wanted to let y’all know I am alive, things are going well, and I need to jet to a meeting in like 10 minutes.

See…busy!

P.S.: Let’s just not mention that whole “31 Days of Design”. I’ll try for that again another month when I’m not so crazy busy.

Star Wars Real Trooper Hoodie by Marc Ecko | Stars Wars Collection | Storm Trooper hoodie

OK, so technically, this one was late too. I was too busy on the phone chatting it up with boys to get this going. My bad. (That reminds me, I have a quasi-review of Compatible Partners coming up soon. No, it’s not the new Pedro Almodóvar movie.)

I seem to be on a bit of a wallpaper kick, so this one kinda came out of nowhere once I got into Photoshop. I was going for this hippie, retro, 60’s kinda feel with the cutouts and such. I think I need some better design inspiration than two Moscow Mules and not-so-scintillating conversation.

Tch…boys. Download and enjoy.

Download “When Doves Cry” (227 KB)

via KicksOnFire.com

Valet. > The Handbook > 31 Days – Day 2: Tip Well – How Much to Tip.

You don’t have to tip if there’s a delivery charge? I’m gonna start using that little tip today.

I know, I know…I’m already starting late out of the gate. But to my credit, I actually did design this yesterday, but didn’t get around posting it until today. It’s 2010, and I’m as happy as a pig in shit about it. Big things are a-coming. So I decided to kick the 31 Days of Design off with a widescreen wallpaper dedicated to 2010. (That’s twenty ten for those of you who were wondering about how to say this year without saying a whole sentence.) Download and enjoy.

Download “Twenty Ten”, 1280×800 (226 KB)

…umm, I got nothing else.

I spent most of the morning archiving e-mail, drinking ginger beer, and watching a Looney Tunes marathon on Cartoon Network. It’s not exactly what the old Masters would have done on the first day of a new year, but hey, this is the future. After getting spurred into action by Brandon and J., now I’m here at Inman Perk Coffee listening to Ghostly Swim and trying to get the ball rolling on a few new things.

Like this website, for starters.

I’m tired of looking at this safety orange background. I’m tired of the boxy sections. I mean, this theme is done in tables for Christ’s sake (go ahead and look at the source, I won’t mind). No slight to the theme author, of course, but it’s time for me to change this shit up. I’ve got a folder of themes to dig through, and one of them will be the new BGB theme. Then again, I have some other properties that need a similar theme facelift. There’s always something, it seems.

Also, just so I can show these bitches *high kick* I still got it, I’m bringing back the 31 Days of Design I started back in 2006. I’ve seen a few design blogs do something similar with WordPress themes and such, so I thought I’d give it another go. I might as well do something to get me back on the design track since I’ve slacked off so this past year.

Other than that, I’m ready to take 2010 by the balls. Now if only I could pick a decent theme for this site….