Wedding Bells and all that shit

So every spare moment I can afford after my shitty days at Nordtrom fitting bratty kids and stinky feet I've been spending designing and putting together wedding invites for one of my good friends Asian Babe.

Asian Babe has a child and a full time job. Indeed that's a lot to handle. But being self-involved, I'll be out of a job in two weeks and I really can't afford the time or (lack of) money.

Asian Babe asked me to design and create her wedding invites "Sure" I say. "No problem" I say. Then we schedule a date to sit down with a wedding invite specialist (actually my girlfriend who gradated with me from the graphic design course) and she grinned at me ...no, no, not grinned...beamed at me from across the table as she open the 10 inch thick book containing all the wedding invites.

My jaw dropped. Not because I couldn't deisgn a wedding invite. Easy. It's the items and effort involved.

Items:
1) Glossy Photo of Asian Babe and American Hunk couple
2) Vellum cover for photo with invite information
3) RSVP card
4) RSVP card orange stock card backing
5) Direction card
6) Direction card orange stock card backing
7) Map Card
8) Map Card orange stock card backing
9) Envelope with orange interior for RSVP card
10) Foldable envelope/package for layered effect
11) Envelope for entire package

Never having paid any attention to wedding invites before I didn't know what I got myself into.

I turned to my girlfriend and said "I'm having a mild heart attack."

Each piece of paper has to be hand cut with a metal ruler and exacto blade and if there's a backing, dry adhesive has to be applied. I feel like a small asian child in a sweat shop.

I hate wedding invites now. Hate is a strong word and I intend to use it. I also thought that these things were usually a group effort but I haven't received any help. Any days I've organized for the girls to get together have ended with excuses "I forgot I have to work, I'm too drunk from the night before and yes...yes...."I have to walk my dog".

Isn't that like "my dog ate my homework?"

I'm frustrated because with my Nordstroms job and wedding invites combined I've had no time at all for anything. Including search for another job. My manager asked me to stay on at work for another month so I did. But now I realise I shouldn't have. I asked for some time off recently for a funeral and hence missed it because we were too short on staff at work. I miss Asian Babes' bridesmaid fitting day with brnch and now I am told there is no one to cover for the two day vacation I wanted.

I'm glad I'm quitting. And this will be the last free graphic design project I will ever do. Wedding or not. It's not worth my time if I don't get paid. I've realized one thing here. Everyone looks after their own self interest.

It's time to do the same.