So, I’ve been busting my ass for the last few weeks. The launch party really took a lot out of me. I was pretty damn pleased with it, but it even made me sick… not sleeping for so long. One shouldn’t have to rely on Caffeine Pills. I am so excited about my trip…. when I have time to think about it. I still have to pack. I still have to clean my mess in 2 rooms and the garage. I still have to launch the website. I still have a million photos to color correct and send out. It’s pretty stressful having people waiting on the photos.

The couch situation itself would be pretty stressful if I wasn’t a mellow fellow. Couch #1, Desiree Star, decided that she’s going to have family staying with her… so no more Couch there for me. I found a replacement, one of the models who was in my launch party, Marsha. I called today, and she decided that she too can’t do it (even though we were confirmed, and I’m supposed to come over the next day). I called up Staci. She’s one of Doug Vosler’s models. She had messaged me a small while back, and said that she’d like to shoot… and therefore offer her couch. I had initially told her that I’m booked already, and maybe will catch up with her on my next time in Ft. Myers, but I’d call if things changed. Things changed. She agreed to be Couch #1, yay!

I took off in the afternoon to interview Justin Price. He’s a cool guy, and agreed to do the interview. Too bad I ran out of batteries towards a really good question “Do you always watermark the pictures? How much do you charge per shoot? How do you choose which files to airbrush?” Justin gave me a very good answer to that question: 40 to 50 shots per look, every single picture that’s released is watermarked (whether it’s a paid shoot or not…) - if they want the Justin Price look, that includes the Justin Price watermark… you wouldn’t want a painting without the artists’ autograph. Every shoot, he hands the model a CD of all the images from the shoot - watermarked very heavily across their face with his website. That keeps the unretouched images that are floating around to a minimum. The model than chooses from those images, and those are the ones that he works on. So, while I ran out of battery on the camera, I also ran out of battery - twice - on my car, because I had left my door open too long while I was packing / unpacking my car.

I worked until 10:50pm. Mom & Dad were having a Hebrew Karaoke New Year’s get together… Their friends really seemed to like the Couch Surfing idea. It’s nice to ham it up sometimes. Maybe with enough people telling them that it’s a great idea, Mom & Dad won’t worry so much. I videotaped them singing one song, and then took off to do the New Year’s thing @ Johnny’s. It was nice to finally get away from my computer, and see some friends. Especially since I was leaving the next day! The guard was kind of retarded, and couldn’t find my name on the list… this is the 2nd time he’s done it (and the 2nd time I’ve visited that neighborhood). Johnny was laying on the floor, where I needed to park… I didn’t know it was him– that was pretty friggin funny, yet mildly creepy: seeing someone passed out in the parking lot where you need to drive! I smoked him out, on the basis that I’m leaving the next day. We went in- I didn’t stick around too long, as I had more work to do. So, by 1am, I took off again. At least I got to see Johnny & Sarah, drink champagne, and.. this is kind of funny… get a new year’s kiss by some old lady. I walked into the room as Dick Clark was doing his thing in Times Square, the lady had over emphatically suggested I sit next to her. I thought it was so everyone can squeeze in.. at midnight… Smooch! I forgot people do that… too much damn work. Oh well.. it’s the new year, and I get to say I started it off with a kiss. *chuckle*

I worked until I was dead tired.. must’ve been 2:30am or so…. damn Vodka Redbull without the taste of Red Bull. I faded pretty quickly.

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