Maybe it was just because I was exhausted. Maybe it was because I had other plans that I had to cancel. Maybe it was because they asked me at the last minute, after an epic day. Maybe it was the different crowd, the different situation, the different night.

Regardless of what it was, it opened my eyes. Last time I saw the high, the glamour and last time I had a brilliant, brilliant time. This time, this time I saw the underbelly of working in a bar. It’s hard work, and sometimes, it’s shitty work.

At the time, while I was clearing tables of the empties, I thought about how you couldn’t pay me to do this job. There is no amount of money that I would take to do this for a living. I find it ironic then, that there I was working for free. That I was doing it to help where I could, for the people that not only run the bar, but for the people who own it. The people who are near and dear to me. For them, I would do the shitty jobs.

Last time I was behind the main bar. And I loved it, I flirted and laughed and served drinks with ease, and put money in the till. It was easy, and fun and oh so simple.

This time? This time I poured beer in the ice sinks (twice). I couldn’t recognise the people I was serving, and gave the wrong people the wrong drinks. Someone would order a Macs Gold and would end up with a Speights. I burnt my palms trying to pack away hot glasses. I couldn’t figure out how to open the stupid top that keeps champagne fizzy, nor how to put it back on again. I cut myself trying to open a Corona (for serious, who cuts themselves on a bottle top?), and then again when I tried to cut lemons for said Corona. It was pretty abysmal. So I did the clever thing, and left the serving of drinks to people who do this better than I ever could.

And instead, I collected empties. I polished wine glasses, and tried to make sure there were always chilled bostons in the fridge. I cleared and wiped down tables, and picked up other peoples rubbish. I made sure the bathrooms were stocked with toilet paper, and I steralized the glasses whenever a tray was filled. I scraped down plates in the kitchen, I stacked glasses (and then got told that it was a bad, horrible thing to do, because it cracks them) and I was basically the bitch of the night.

And I did this for almost 6 hours. And that whole time I reminded myself that I was doing it for love. I was doing it for the bar. I was doing it because they needed the help, and because they asked. And think it was because of this, because of why I was doing it, that when what I really wanted to do was bitch and moan, throw a tantrum and storm out, instead I bit my tongue and got on with it. No one needs to hear my complaints. I did whatever I could to help, whenever it was needed.

And even though I snapped at the other bar staff, and even though I was exhausted, and grumpy, when I remembered I was doing it for love, it was easier to smile at the patrons. To take the empties with a grin, and a witty one liner. It was easier to stop and chat with the people looking for the bathrooms, the tipsy girls who had gotten themselves lost, and the hardened men who listend to blues.

When I remembered I was doing it for love, doing the shit stuff became easy. And I think that I’d forgotten that. I was glad to remember, and the night passed swiftly after that. Sometimes remembering why you’re doing something is all you need to keep on going.

As some of you know, I work part time as a Web Designer. I design pretty sites. And the blogosphere has been a huge help with that. Our Hosting Guy (from the brilliant CatBytes) is a guy I meet through a blogger friend (who I did a blog redesign for). I’ve donated my time to charities, and blog movements (Love Harder, anyone?) and designed blog headers for a few amazing people. My best friend and I actually own a company, Sinter Design and Development.

Okay, I can’t fib. I’m basically pimping us out. We’ve just redesigned the site (like the little robot guy? I do too! He’s one of my cuter designs), so go check it out:

We do websites, set up blogs, design custom blog designs. We also take care of any hosting, so you don’t have to worry about it. We do email too, if you need. We’re a pretty easy going bunch. I feel a bit weird pimping out my company on my blog, so I’ll end with if you need anything, or know someone who needs anything, then send them to the website to check it out. If we can help, we will. :)

A few of you that follow my posts through Google Reader may have already read this. I hit ‘publish now’ instead of ‘schedule’ and Google Reader grabbed it faster than I could take it back. I’m so sorry. But its a good post, so hopefully you won’t mind reading it again :) – elly x

In the early weeks following the break up, I decided it was a good idea to say yes to absolutely any invitation. And I mean, any invitation. Often it involved me ending up in some very very weird situations. With very weird people. Doing very very weird things. But most of the time, it produced some amazing results. So, when Fiedi invited me to take a photography class with them I jumped at the chance. I paid my fee, and then completely forgot about it.

Well, last month I attended the first the class. It’s a four week course held at the Art Station, which is a community arts facility funded by the Council. It’s held in an amazing old building in Ponsonby, and for serious, has so much texture that I have taken more than enough 365 photos there. The class itself is small, there’s only seven of us (all girls, too!) which makes it more intimate, I spose. It’s less a lecture and more that we sit in a small room and look and discuss photos thrown up on a projector, ask questions and learn from each other.

It’s been pretty enlightening so far, I learnt a bunch about my camera, about the relationships between apeture, shutter speed and iso (I know, camera 101, right?) but it was good to know. We were also given an assignment on Still Life. Three photos, with a focus on colour, and pattern. Here’s what I submitted:

They’re of an old Austin 1100, which has been in my (extended) family for years and years and years. My sister drives it now, but previously it’s been driven by my cousins, and before then my aunts. It’s always been around, and I’m quite sentimental about the old car. It’s a horrible drive, though. I’m glad that Sibling’s driving it, and not me.

I’m hoping that this class will help me produce better photos (because right now I just point and click, and hope that I get a good shot). I’m hoping that it will change my perspective on what makes a photo, and I’m hoping that I’ll understand my fancy new camera better by the end of it. I’ll let you know how it goes.

March, another very crazy month. I got a bit down with the inspiration, and trying to figure out new shots to take. For a while there it was just ‘stand in front of a textured wall and take a photo, yeah!’ But that worked out okay for me. I also did ‘The Week of Random Headgear’ which was pretty fun, too. I dunno, I was super super busy this month, being busy most nights after work, and weekends filling up a week in advance. Madness! I did alot though, I’m glad I did. There were many, many adventures to be had. :)

Anyway, this is my March:

1st of March 2010 to 31st March 2010. 177 down. 188 to go.

Past Months: October, November, December, January, February.