Armor

Photoshop Assignment: create 5 images around a specific theme.

Can you guess what my theme was?

*Hint: it rhymes with sbarmer.

New News

No, the news isn't that my blog is now credit card safe, the news is I have a new job! I start tomorrow, and I'm super de duper excited and super de pooper nervous. My time at Heritage (or HIT) was mostly well spent and I wish them well, but I felt that they were promoting people that didn't know as much or weren't as good with people as I was, I wanted somewhere I could be appreciated, somewhere I could make more friends and money, and somewhere closer to home. All of that is at Security Metrics.

I already have a friend there, Brad who told me about the job and pestered my new boss about interviewing me, big great big thanks, Brad!

I'll let you know how it goes after I've been there, but that's my news, now that I've officially quit HIT, I feel it's ok to tell the blogging world!

Look out, Security Metrics Tech Support, here I come!!!

The most adorable calendar countdown ever

True it has a lot of flaws (the design, not the baby) but I was just messing around and thought I'd post it for any NaNo Authors out there. And for funsies.

You've got a lot of 'Splainin' to do

And not enough time to do it. My poor neglected, cobwebbed and moldy blog. And it's not going to improve much in the near future. I've been very busy with work, school, and family, not that you'd know from my performance in any of them. My life is hectic, probably more than it's ever been before. Next month should be better in some ways, but I will be dedicating every second of my spare time to this year's NaNoWriMo. It will be my THIRD year participating, and if the old "third time's the charm" adage proves true, I will finish it. I've tried to get past the roadblocks I had the first two times I tried and failed, because this year I SHALL NOT FAIL! 50,000 words in 30 days. Not 30,000 words of 2 years ago or 10,000 words of last year, FIFTY THOUSAND! I have my story plotted out, my characters developed, I've been writing every day (almost) this month and most of last month to get into the habit of writing again, I am swearing off video games for 30 days, so if I fail, it's my own darn fault. But, as stated before, I SHALL NOT FAIL!!!

School is all right, I really enjoy my drawing class, I love my computer design class (Photoshop: SO COOL!) I tolerate my Geology class and I sleep through my Physics class while those around me get D's I scrape my A's.

Work is work is work (is a cigar? is a rose?) I just found out they're packing up our department and moving it to another section of the company, which makes me anxious a la Arrested Development. "So when do we get to see our shiny new offices?" "As soon as you get your shiny new jobs."

Moby is I think the cutest darn baby on the planet, even when I try to look at him as if he's not my son, I still wanna eat him up and hug him to death while doing so. In a good way, of course.

Tracie is an amazing mother despite what she thinks, and my biggest regret is not being able to be with them more often. But hey, if I DO write this novel and if it sells and if I make millions I can stay home with my family and write when I want, right? Awful lot of if's there, but I'm learning that if growing up means giving up on your dreams, I'm never going to completely grow up.

Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a best selling novel to write.

Starting to really enjoy Graphic Computer Applications

I'm sure I'll look back at this one day and laugh, but right now I'm super proud I did this.

I told you I have class

So I've been back in school a few weeks now, thought I'd give you a heads up as to what they're like.

Mondays and Wednesdays I have drawing, not learning anything new here, I took Art in High School and Drawing in Virginia, plus I've drawn ever since I was old enough to hold a crayon, marker, penny. I already know what gesture, contour, value, line quality are, I already know most people in my class are better than I am, though, I must admit, several times during critiques people have said they like my drawings the best. A few times it wasn't even me. The teacher I like, she's probably my age, but the older I get the likelier that is to happen. She's smart, enjoys her subject (what drawing teacher isn't going to like drawing?) and is actually VERY helpful when it comes to advice and critique. I've already tackled several subjects I had given up on long ago. (Namely: drapery)

Tuesdays and Thursdays are more difficult. Partially because of the classes, mostly because I don't see my family until after 9:00. I start with Computer Graphic Design Applications, or Adobe Creative Suite class. Right now we're doing Illustrator, and while at first I was so overwhelmed and swept up in the pandemonium and difficulty of something so new and different, after a few classes, I'm getting better and almost liking it. The teacher goes way too fast, but most of the class already know the stuff. Then is Geology, I have to take it, but I enjoy it. The teacher is really funny and likeable, he's a Geology nut, plus he teaches Jr. High so he has to be entertaining or they'd eat him alive. I just wish the class ended sooner.

Saturday I predict will be the most difficult. Not to get an A, but to stay awake. My first day, the teacher reminded me of Professor Binns from Harry Potter. The teacher who was so old he died one day and came to teach class as a ghost just the same. The class is Physical Science, which I again have to take, and I think the teacher was around when science was invented. (That's just mean, we all were.) But, after awhile, you find out he's a funny cute old guy with interesting stories. Then you find out those interesting stories are outnumbered by the irrelevant, boring and rambling ones 7 to 1. But, he brought us donuts last time, so it can't be all bad. Bring me a donut and let me do my homework and we'll get along fine.

Those are my classes, just a small handful left until I get my associates and can focus on the good stuff!

I have class

In case you didn't know, I'm a classy guy. Especially this semester. I'm taking 4 classes, so I'm officially a full-time student for the first time in years. I won't say how many years, because it's depressing. (7) Now I'm depressed.

The classes shouldn't be too bad, at least they should be tolerable. And I emphasize should. We'll see. I have 2 art classes and 2 science classes: Drawing, Graphic Computer Applications, Physical Science and Geology.

All 4 I have to take, 2 of them I want to take, which is a higher ratio than most semesters. In case you don't know me or you're one of those weirdos who LIKE Science classes (Justin, you freak), I'll tell you, it's the art classes.

Drawing I've taken before, and sort of done independent study for about 27 years, so I don't anticipate it to be too hard or challenging, just time consuming, but there are worse ways to spend your time than drawing.

Geology I'm sort of looking forward to, if for nothing else than the fact that I'll be done with it come the end of the semester.

Same goes for Physical Science, if RateMyProfessor is any indication, then I'll do a lot, learn nothing, and get an easy A.

Computer Graphic or Graphic Computer Application is a class I've looked forward to for a long time. Here I'll learn Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator, preparing me for a future in Graphic Design, and where I find out if I like it/am any good at it. Very exciting and nerve-wracking. But what would college be with out a little wrack to your nerves once in awhile?

After surviving (hopefully) this semester, I'll move to working part time (30-35 hours a week, which I call part time) and I'll start taking 5 classes, and (hopefully) still see my family enough so that my son will know who I am.