The most interesting post thus far on my blog follows:
I bought a 4 pack of those 13W light bulbs that last for 7 years, and AMAZINGLY, they work. Who would have thought that? I like them... provided they are doing what they claim, which is consuming a little less than 25% of the energy regular bulbs do. They are cheaper now. They used to cost $45+ when they first came out, but now they are within $7-$12 for a 4-pack depending on the lifespan. When you first turn them on, they are not as bright, which is nice. They gently ease into brightness.
"If every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR, we would save enough energy to light more than 2.5 million homes for a year and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of nearly 800,000 cars."
"Some years ago, teenage schoolboys... played an end-of-term prank on their teachers. Specifically, they burned a 20ft-long PEEEPEEE into the school's grass lawn using weedkiller."
Im glad the general consensus is that he sucks, cause NOW, I can put my lifesize poster of the Dixie Chicks back up on my wall without feeling unpatriotic. I sure am glad I kept that one concert shirt I have of them. I thought I would never be able to wear it out in public again.
I could continue with sarcasm about how fickle the American society is, especially country fans... _____
More Work from Work
Hot Laps? I dont get it either.
_______
Also, I don't know if you guys ever watch 'My Name is Earl' but Crabman was working out and he was like 'See that? That's new!' pointing to a muscle on his arm. After 4 weeks of TaeBo, I found a new muscle! Triceps area. It's like a large pimple. Heeheee. I'd like to get one of those abdominal V's, but I still have some flab to get rid of. That's probably something that will show up sometime in June if I continue the workout.
It's a blog by a married woman, mid 30's... Saucy! She writes anonymously so she's pretty straight forward. I might go undercover as well so I can let it all hang out. Cause it's after midnight...
Here's the link to my anonymous blog... -=LINK=- (jokes jokes...) But yeah, I've decided Im going to start another one, cause I have alot to vent... humorously and vulgarly. ;P Im afraid to find out that I might be NAGative and just have b!7@hy things to say, but then again, I might find out, that Im freeking Hilarious.
** UPDATE - Now exists an anonymous blog out there in internetland where I will vent all my frustrations, thoughts, and general one sided palaver! My first post is about marriage. Im not married, but one time a 70 year old man I worked with told me never to get married, that he hated his wife of 50+ years, and that she was a mean, spiteful, nagging woman. It begins there. Here's the link! -=NOT!=-
A-HA, I remembered his named even though the memory is from 1995. His name was Earl!
** ANOTHER UPDATE - Woo. Im excited. I posted a blog, and it's already surpassed 30 views, which is much more than this slow place. I've had a hankerin for writing since a college journalism teacher told me that I had witty writing skills and should do more of it. Hmmm! If this internet thing keeps on existing, I know its iffy sometimes, Ill probably blog til Im old like this guy... the oldest blogger.
Got $2,200? - Top half of the world's wealthiest. Got $61,000? - Top 10% of the world's wealthiest. Got $500,000? - Top 1% of the world's wealthiest.
Im at least in the top half, within 5 years or less, in the top 10% provided there are no major accidents or lawsuits. If I'm worried about retirement, there's gonna be a ton of people workin at Walmart with me.
Im a scatterbrain. I've lost focus on the T-shirts, and am focused on doing a series of paintings on birch. We'll see how far that goes. Usually I just think about it... But I've already purchased a beautiful piece of birch, and a projection machine so I can transfer the finished linework, although I might screenprint it, then paint on it. Hmm...
I ache to live as an free artist. Not an indentured one...
Boring Stuff 1. 4 Weeks and Im still TaeBoing, and no alcohol. 2. Green Tea replacing Diet Cherry Coke Binges during 'arting' weekends. Cheaper, caffine! 3. Kimchi introduced to dinner menu. Antioxidants! I think I might start running? Dunno. There's only a 30% chance of that...
I Dont Know Why, But I Was Compelled to be Saucy Today.
I applied for a summer camp 3D game design instructor. I sent a 'touch base still interested in the position' email. Here's what I received...
Jimi,
I still have you on my radar. I thought your interview went well but I am riding the fence on your tech skills. I simply do not need a 3d character Modeler at that camp. I do need a 3D game designer who can work with Beyond Virtual. If you could get a demo of the program and send me some samples, it would definitely show me that you are qualified, quick to learn, and dedicated.
I will be hiring until the end of May so I will leave the ball in your court.
Thanks,
XXXXXXX
I wrote back:
Hey XXXXXXX,
Thanks for the reply.
Although, Im quite surprised at the 'riding the fence on your tech skills' as the focused questions of the interview were primarily about the handling of children, as well as the fact that when I asked if there was a curriculum, you stated that there was a standard textbook that we would be able to be train ourselves on, and those skills were easily learned by anyone.
Combined with the minimal reimbursement for flying out for training, required CPR certification, and the low pay, I withdraw my interests.
Good luck on your search for qualified candidates.
Regards, Jimi
XXXXX wrote back promptly:
Jimi,
Please don't get me wrong. It was not my intention to offend you.
I simply meant that while you have plenty of tech skills in graphic design and modeling, the course you are most qualified for (3D Character Modeling)is not a course we have at Vanderbilt.
If you were to be able do some work with Beyond Virtual, it would show a great deal about your abilities and the fact that you are serious about the job.
Thanks for letting me know that you are not interested anymore. I hope that you find that "change of pace" you were looking for.
Thanks, XXXXXX
I wanted to write back, but I wanted the interviewer to have the last word so that we would not continue the fruitless exchange. I wasnt offended. I just felt like the reply was a BS response as he stated that the computer skills were not that important on the phone interview, and that the handling of children was paramount.
Although Im sure if I did as he asked, I could have nailed the job. But for a 6 week position @ $550/weekly, massive hours, and having to put out approximately $150 for the plane ticket for training, and CPR training, why go to the trouble? I'd rather take a sabbatical, which is what Im thinking of doing...
While putting some things into storage, I opened a box. In it contained two broken dreams. One was VHS Demo Reel from my college days. I sent 40+ copies of it, along with custom cover letters and resumes, to different video game studios after I graduated. After three months, I became weary of the rejection, and took a job in sales. If only I had tried for a little longer, my path might have been a little different. In hindsight, I let the presence of debt and feeling worthless push me into a job I never would have taken. It was a good experience though, I paid off my debts, saved an decent nest egg, and bought a car. I am no longer in sales.
The other dream came in a peculiar form. My old cell phone. With the contact information of a former love, but more than that, the oddly familiar ringtone that I associated with her beckoning. The ringtone that would begin the hour long conversations about nothing ending with the tender exchange of I miss you, I love you, and sweet dreams.
Both pursuits, I gave my heart in full, in the end, neither was meant to be. C'est la vie.
I tucked both of the memories back into the box. If anything, I tried, and I try. Broken dreams are sometimes sad, but if they were not to exist, the vast emptiness of no memories would be sadder. What proof that we had Truly lived, if there were none?
2:57am - Neighbor slams door. HARD. I bet they have a TON of broken dreams. LOL. Jokes.
A SEED
When I was a child, my parents bought my brother and I a Commodore 64. My interests for digital art was birthed from it. I found this digital art clipping from a magazine I had gotten in the 80's I've kept for all these years. I must have been 10-13 years old? This is where my fascination began. If you click the picture, I've also scanned the back of one, with text from the magazine.
Watching House on the internet using TV LINKS a scientist passed out, and his rats starting eating him (his lips). How horrible is that? Horrible PROPAGANDA! Scoff! I recall after passing out one Saturday afternoon with the rats loose, they did nothing of the sort! Although, I did have to stitch my arm back on, but I think that was just a joke by them. They like to make people laugh. ;P
I ordered some womens tees. Aeropostale has a clearance sale online. Some of the long sleeve and trendy scoop neck 3/4 sleeve tees were only $5 each. Cheaper than I can get them from wholesalers for the same style.
It'd probably be good if I finish the 7 other projects before I start another... Meh.
I met a superb artist, JOHN S. HATTON (CLICK TO VISIT WESBITE), this past weekend at the art show. Probably the best artist I've met personally. I hope he doesnt mind me putting up a portion of his email, but it flattered me and gave me hope. Hope is always good.
"...you are still very young but your art is very focused...I have no doubt your future is very very bright."
The below, Mark, is not connected with the Thank you. Its separate.
I didnt know it was THE MOST MISERABLE DAY EVER, until my peers at work told me about it. Now Im gonna go home and listen to Damien Rice or Julie Dorion and weep quietly whilst staring off into the stark emptiness and solitude that is my apartment.
See what I get for partaking in the mass media. Kill your TV. Id like to quit the internet, but Im too far in...
10 best-selling subjects for paintings 1. Traditional landscapes. 2. Local views. 3. Modern or semi-abstract landscapes. 4. Abstracts. 5. I didnt do a good job copy pasting. 6. Figure studies (excluding nudes). 7. Seascapes, harbour, and beach scenes. 8. Wildlife. 9. Impressionistic landscapes. 10. Nudes.
I'm not a Bush hater. I did like Al Gore as a candidate, but thats only because I met him once.
His mistakes in public speaking are hilarious especially when coupled with Benny Hill type musak.
3 Weeks...
Im still TaeBo-ing. I can tell a slight difference. I feel guilty eating fast food or sugars. Although some days, I proscratinate til later in the evening to exercise, I havent missed a scheduled exercise day. Bodywise, I cant pinch as much on my belly. I know theres a small 6 pack underneath all that flab.
DVD2 is so difficult, even after 3 weeks, I cannot computer the whole DVD using the weights/bands. Once I can, I know Ill have hit a plateau. DVD1, I can now complete with 80-90% efficiency/accuracy, although I could probably practice a little more on form.
I wish I would have taken a photo before I started. I took one today, and made sure that I frowned as it seems the standard in before and after pictures. Ill also need some iodine or some oranging agent, it seems its a requirement for after pictures, that and a smile. ;P
I havent drank, except I unknowingly drank some weak champagne soda mix drink at an art show. 2 cups. Only for thirst.
I take my lunch. Fruit, yogurt, fruit bars, bagels, etc.
The sketching one hour daily is still a hard thing to do. Its busy at work, so Im all arted out by the time I get home.
Goalwise: 1. Finish baby deer women design 2. Finish Tatto Design for men 3. Finish Deer tattoo design for men 4. Finish Valentines womens design 5. Finish Murderous. 6. Finish Octomaid. 7. Finish Logan Portrait. 8. Create Tattoo Script Alphabet
12:44 am - door slams 12:45 am - door slams 12:46 am - door slams 12:47 am - door slams 12:48 am - door slams much louder. im agitated now. my heartbeat has increased. 12:56 am - my heart rate is back to normal. they have stopped for now.
I have no new art for you all. 'All' meaning, my parents and a handful of scattered anonymous surfers. Why do I even blog? I don't know. It's pointless. It's like saying... me, me, me. Read my stuff, make me feel like Im here for a reason. Since I have no new art, in consolation, here's work from work.
These are months old. Im a little better. Just a little, although separations, Im a killer now. I look forward to separations, its like a puzzle with a prize at the end. I can do 10 color jobbies in no time, it's rare for them to require a major revision with film. If its a dark shirt, a small tweak with base white is sometimes required.
This one got printed. The seps were spot on. In hindsight, the letter coloring is very comic bookish? Cartoony?
This one didnt. The wings are shoddy anyways. Too busy.
This one got printed. The separations on it were pretty fly too. The fire and glass effect in the lettering was pretty accurate in translation.
This one along with approximately 11 other designs (3 designs by each artist) were needed "ASAP/immediately" by the client, but they never bought them... They are the elusive Moby Dick. We were so excited back then. We were working with big names.
This ones being sold to Walmart. Ill believe it when I see it, cause Walmart is also another elusive Moby Dick. If they don't buy it, supposedly RTM wants to do short runs so thats cool. Same story.
Woot. This one will be sold at D500 in February. Its that homework on old school tattoos guiding my visual direction at work.
Here's my joke, it might be offensive depending on your beliefs, but I thought it was gold.
The coworkers were talking about music and listening to Marylin Manson. It naturally continued into a stream of palaver about cults and such.
One of them asked "What was that cult called? With the Nikes and jumpsuits?"
Another one was like "I think it was called Heaven's Gate."
I was like "No, no, no, it's the Tennessee Baptist Convention."
Hardy har har.
One of the coworkers is going to school to be a pastor. He enjoyed it... moderately. At least he enjoyed the wit, not the joke. (Thanks Mark!)
If you are offended by that, please feel free to rewind and replace TBC with the following:
Pentecostals Episcopalians Church of Christ Muslims Buddhists Methodists Catholics
or whatever groups/organizations that you choose not to tolerate or vehemently consider to be wrong in beliefs.
After having the pet rats for several months, I finally have a real name for one of them. Meme. The other one is still an unknown, I just call it stupid... sometimes fatty fat fat.
Found this video while perusing my new favorite news source - digg.com.
No alcohol - This one's been tough especially on Fridays and Saturdays. Exercise - Im still on track with the TaeBo Boot Camp DVDs. Today was the first day for DVD 3. Im whooped. Arting - At least an hour a day average, if not more. No morning coffee replaced with water - Except on Saturdays, mostly. No fast food for lunch - Except for Fridays.
When I used to go to church, I met a man who had an exhaustive daily checklist for living a righteous life. This isnt everyone's shtick, but I could relate to his 'to do list' mentality, his 'Pharisee-ality'. He had things like read the Bible, pray, meditate, tell his wife he loves her, etc etc.
Sure, currently my list is pretty basic, probably lacking some major need-improvement areas like communication and relationships, but for now, I can say with my list, at the end of the day/week I can say, 'I lived today. I lived this week' At the end of the year, I hope to say, 'I lived this year.' and... at the end of my life... ;P
Quote from Shawshank Redemption - "Get busy living, or get busy dying."
Went to Old Navy and they still had their crazy sale. I got a hoodie and a western shirt for a total of $8. They must be paying the Chinese jack$XXX to make the clothes.
I should digress because there's a slave labor blog in there somewhere... Google "slave labor China." I'm not much of a consumer, but I'm surprised quite often when I do get out into the market how incredibly cheap things are. I would guess that if you live in America, unless you live in the sticks and dont buy anything, products or services provided by slave labor is so ubiquitous, there is no escaping it.
Anyways, colored this morning. If it works, the hoodie Im putting it on is gonna be fly.
Still working on the word 'LEET' - As long as Im learning tattoo script I might as well make one with some bros in mind. I know Shane, Rick, & Corey, since they are computer nerds ;P, they will love this, if not just get a kick out of it. _______________________
The Wickerman - Nicolas Cage
I watched the Wickerman. Let me wrap it up for you.
If an ex that ditched you at the wedding alter writes you a letter years later about her kidnapped kid, and asks you to come help at some secluded island, don't. You'll just get burned up in a sacrifice after getting both your legs broken and stung by bees.
Beautiful costumes in the movie though. _______________________
Got another consignment check from another boutique. It was more than I anticipated. Im happy about it.
It's interesting how some of the boutiques I consign with compare. At X, I am using a low cost strategy in pricing vs Y which is higher priced for virtually the same product (partially because of other costs and gallery recommendation, also apparel brand is on some products are slightly different). Although Y does not bring in as many sales, they do yield an impressive per piece revenue. Which if I can be frank is nuts. To realize that someone would pay as much as they do at Y allows me to value my work, which I internally know that it is worth that much. I undersell too much.
I was feeling a little unmotivated and doubtful about this shirt thing a couple weeks back, but I guess TODAY I feel alright about it.
Im starting to get distracted by a vision of a series of larger scale natural medium artwork. I wish I had more time. I know I could make some beautiful things.
I had a vision. It was warped. Hopefully moderately entertaining.
I also had a dream that I set one of those RoboVacuums to clean overnight, and it went out the front door, and when I awoke in my dream, there it sit quietly humming at its station.
I looked outside, and the world had been vacuumed and everything except dirt had been erased from the face of the earth.
I wondered why it didn't pick up the dirt...
(Not Really, I didn't have such a dream. I just made it up. Sounds better that way.)
Ive started to really appreciate old school tattoo art. I know it's trendy right now so maybe Ive succumb to media agenda setting, but the simplicity of the art is appealing. Im hoping to make this into a lady's design, where its customizable to your lover's name. With Valentine's coming up... could be a great product for the season no?
Happiness - I hardly have the patience to read, so this was interesting enough to me to get to page 4 of 6.
I hesitate to blog about my exercising resolution because I may end up giving up, but I might as well. Im back on the Tae Bo kick again. Thanks to a Best Buy Gift Card, I got the Boot Camp DVDs that came with workout bands. So since January 1st, Ive been doing the recommended every other day. Today was DVD 2, and it HURT. Even the 'actors?' on the DVD were yelling out, and taking breaks for a rep or two. Last time, I found it hard to juggle exercise, working, art-ing, and at the time a girlfriend, so it got whittled down to work and the girlfriend. HAHA. I hope I can remain a little more disciplined this year. So far so good.
The main reason I started is for health reasons.
"50% of mild depression can be remedied with general exercise."
I hadn't necessarily been depressed, but I could feel mentally that my chemicals? would fluxuate, and I would be moody without any external influences.
In general, I feel much better. I feel accomplishment. I like that I Hurt. It feels good to go to bed.
I used to have a nice older lady neighbor Doris who smoked like a freight train. I never saw her smoke, but I could smell it from the exhaust of her dryer. One time I helped her carry a 24 pack of soda from her car, the door opened and the stench wafted over me as if it was an evil escaping from Pandora's box.
Now, a couple replaced them. They like to slam the door. Repeatedly. This has been going on since they moved in. I dont know if the door is broken but late at night, past midnight, even as late as 1 am, they slam the door with an intensity that makes me think, if only, if only they could replace the fervor they have for slamming the door and letting everyone know of their inner woes and anguish with a fervor for valium,or marijuana, all their aggression would not be privvy to everyone in building #6. In fact, I would say, even their need to go outside would be dispelled. Order take out chinese. Chill and watch the telee my friends. If money is a matter, get a job, get an injury, get disability, problem solved. Git R Dun!
So late at night, I snapped, after hearing one of them slam the door, shaking the building, peeling out of the parking lot, coming back to slam the door once again, but this time several times. Did the drive not simmer you down? Do you just have a forearm of a guerilla and lack the gentile touch? So...
I went outside my door in my boxers and slammed my door as hard as I could several times, and exclaimed "WTF! WTF? Can you hear that S**T? Cause I can hear YOUR S**T! WTF!" After a few moments of silence, I went back in, laid down to sleep.
Although, I did get a new shaver for Christmas like I asked. Since my other shaver was broken, by Christmas I had gotten accustomed to looking all unkept. ;)
I might have quit a bad habit, and started some new good ones. It's only been a week, BUT it had been several months that I had not gone without indulging the habit.
Update
Test Print. I need to adjust the colors, but it looks alright... no?
I channeled my rudimentary sewing skills I learned from my mom and gmaw when I was a wee little lad on this one. Although the small stars and the spider webs are photoshop, the large stars are actually a heat transfer on a separate piece of fabric which I sewed on.
So... on Fridays (end of work shift is at 3:30, sometimes referred to as Beer 30) I indulge in alcohol and usually get pretty inebriated. (Joking but, how do you sober people have fun without getting intoxicated?) I was joking on New Years about how I was going to quit altogether... We'll see about that... But I laid off the sauce today and stayed home, so I was fairly productive.
I'm excited about this design. I also have another one in mind which will compliment it. I have a good idea regarding the design as a product. More later, if it actually comes to fruition.
My worst fear besides becoming old, fragile, and unable to take care of myself, is that I will continue to choose the path of my affinity for art throughout my life as a career, and that it will leave me poor and unsuccessful. What if taking the road less traveled by, really in the end, does make a difference. Frost never mentioned if the difference was a negative or positive one. I know that sounds very pessemistic, but where does one move to from being an artist at a small business apparel shop? It's not like a corporate environment where the path/ladder is obvious. My roadmap is my own to make... and it's daunting. (As a disclaimer, this fear only occurs every once in a while.... most of the time, Im optimistic about my future. )
Good news. The Twist Art Gallery where I consigned my t-shirts at is sending out checks for the holiday season sales. It's more than I was expecting. If I hadn't gone and splurged on some new equipment for experimenting, I would be near break even with a substantial amount of stock.
Youngblood is also sending me one as well, although I feel that the sales there were probably bleak, since I am not a native Atlantian and I am unknown there. I should probably consider having an art show there, if they were to allow me. Maybe something for later this year. Ill have to contact them... as well as have pieces to show.
Did you know you can click on these images? They are linked to a larger version.
