Susie Orman Made Me Do It

Published on November 19, 2009 in 365. 4 Comments

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“Susie Orman Made Me Do It”

A few weeks ago I was sitting in front of my computer (drinking beer) and decided it was a good time to take the advice of Susie Orman and apply for a store card. According to her, everyone should have ONE store card (which we use responsibly of course). I spent a few moments trying to decide WHICH store I should pick, which in hindsight seems a bit silly since I was 99% sure it wouldn’t matter anyhow as my credit is not the greatest and hasn’t been for years. Regardless, I decided I would apply for a Home Depot card. Every man should have a Home Depot card, right?

So the mail came today and with it, an envelope from folks in the Home Depot Credit Services department. Needless to say, I was NOT approved for a Home Depot card. This whole experience got me thinking, however, and I left the house for school a bit upset.

I know my credit isn’t great and I can honestly say it wasn’t until this past year (or two-ish) that I’ve really started to buckle down with making sure my bills are being paid on time. And now, with Carey and I married and a future to plan, it seemed like a good time to REALLY start looking at our financial situation. So I guess what I’m getting at is, I know I still have work to do and bad credit isn’t fixed in a year but it’s really not a good sign when I can’t get a Home Depot card. It makes me wonder how Carey and I will ever be approved for a mortgage (before we’re 50).

… I’m not gettin’ any younger folks.

The End of Where I Began in Art

Published on November 18, 2009 in 365. 0 Comments

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“The End of Where I Began in Art”

I used to draw pictures. I suppose I still do but much less often and not with the same sense of purpose as I did. Drawing things has always been quite captivating to me. The creation of something from nothing, of bringing forth life from a place where there was none before even if the only life you’ve created is a line on a piece of paper … there is something powerful there.

I’ve been known to drag a pencil across paper, staring at that place where lead meets fiber, if only to watch the ebony line vibrate gently across a placid white page, dividing the paper into very distinct places and moments. A line. Such a simple thing but within it all things are possible.

It was the line which brought me Lump. Many of you are familiar with him. He is and always has been an extension of my personality. A visual metaphor for those things I’ve always felt, thought, believed, dreamed and hoped for. But his creation was an accident. His figure was born on the wings of a doodle and defined over the course of a number of subsequent illustrations.

The illustration above was, as far as I’m concerned, the end of where I began in art. And by that I mean, this drawing of Lump was the last of a series of small drawings but the first drawing which I truly felt was perfect in all ways as far as my little friend was concerned. His shape, his expression, the dimensions and the placement of tiny dots of ink on his body. It was in this tiny 1.5″ x 2″ drawing I based all of my future drawings of Lump (and looking back through my milk crate of illustrations and random papers, there were many).

It’s interesting to note that I don’t draw Lump anymore. He has always been such a big part of my life in illustration and although I still do some digital work using him, I’m unable to draw him quite as perfectly as I did and so as to not destroy what he was I’d rather not draw him at all. He has, however, made some friends along the way!

I think soon, however, I may start unloading some of my old Lump illustrations on Etsy to make some extra money in an effort to purchase a lovely printer for the next stage of my creative development. I’ve been saving cash from tips and I’m close but I need that last little bit to buy it before the rebate offer expires.

Fractured

Published on November 17, 2009 in 365. 0 Comments

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“Fractured”

It seems only fitting that it’s currently 11:43pm and I’m just now finding the time to sit down and make my daily post. I’ve been out of the house since 5:30am. I returned home less than an hour ago. By my calculation that’s a total of 18hrs and I need to be awake again at 4:30am tomorrow morning.

This is my life these days. I’m not complaining merely stating a fact. As my Electronics Principles instructor would say, “That there’s fact. Aint nothin’ fictional about it folks.”

Needless to say, as much as invincible as I am (scoff) the lack of sleep is taking an obvious toll on my body. I find myself slipping into a near coma (even if only for a minute or two) while riding the bus or train to work each day which is a new experience for me and I’ve missed my stop a few times because of it.

But in the end, Carey and I will make it work; we always do.

4hrs of sleep, HERE I COME!

‘Roadkill’ Teddy

Published on November 16, 2009 in 365. 2 Comments

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“Roadkill Teddy”
Found Object.

I found the most adorable teddybear… and I used his dead body to make pictures.

SN_roadkill

Post-it Revisited

Published on November 15, 2009 in 365. 0 Comments

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“Post-it Revisited”

Today while I was working on the Head Project website, Carey found something in a pile of things on her desk. At first she wasn’t going to let me see it but soon relented. As she handed it over, she said, “I was going to give you these, one for each day, while we were in NH for our wedding but I forgot.”

As it turns out, while Carey still had the typewriter which she borrowed from someone at work, she managed to type out a number of ADDITIONAL Post-Its which as far as I’m concerned, look more cool than anything I’d ever written. I almsot wish ALL of our Post-Its were typewritten.

The fact that she forgot is of no concern to me as they more of a gift now than they most likely would have been before, lost in the excitement of getting married. I’m sure the world is sick of my confessions of love for this girl but beyond the breakdowns and the trial and error is a love which leaves me more lucky than most.

Here’s a tip

Published on November 14, 2009 in 365. 0 Comments

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“Here’s a tip”

Found Object.
Left in a tip jar at Starbucks. It reminds me of fall.

Shopping List

Published on November 13, 2009 in 365. 0 Comments

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“Shopping List”

Found Object.
2 Totes, Bleach, laundry detergent, dog shampoo, Food/treats, toilet paper

Mmm, beer.

Published on November 12, 2009 in 365. 1 Comment

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“Mmm, beer.”

I never knew what these little wooden tokens were for until we went on our very first beer tour. As most often is the case, I have Carey to thank for this adventure.

I can say now that I’m rather fond of brewery tours and I will tell you, it took a lot of restraint to put that beer token in my pocket (for a souvenier) and NOT use to get myself another free beer.

Fingerprint People

Published on November 11, 2009 in 365. 0 Comments

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“Fingerprint People”

Being that I’ve been employed at Starbucks for three years (god) it’s only fitting that I should have coffee ready for Carey (at least once) when she wakes up in the morning.

We both have very different routines. Mine consists of waking up 10-30 mins before I need to leave the house, putting on some clothes and stumbling out the door. Carey however gives herself slightly more time to relax. I say slightly because on the days that I’ve woken up around the same time as her, she’s moving around the house putting on makeup, doing her hair etc. so I can only imagine she’s only got about 10 mins of ‘relax’ time.

Either way, I thought it would be nice to set up the coffee brewer for her so she could wake up, turn it on and have a few sips of coffee before she left the house.

Sadly these days, we’re lucky to leave notes for each other let alone prep coffee. Our time management skills are being tested as well as our ability to not forget how important it is to keep doing the things we did for each other two years ago. For those of you in relationships, I’m sure you know all too well what I mean.

Let’s be friends

Published on November 10, 2009 in 365. 1 Comment

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“Let’s be friends”

This was actually supposed to be my 365 post for yesterday but as I wrote about literacy (or lack thereof) in America yesterday, it’s only fitting that I make today about my wife. Why? Well, today is the 10th of the month and outside of our wedding anniversary, the tenth of every month is our “day we met” anniversary. Yes, we’re like that, though I have to admit we DO forget sometimes until one of us (the day of) says “oh, hey.. it’s our anniversary today.”

When I found this picture of Carey my first thought was … we TOTALLY would have been best friends… it’s quite obvious.