I think popularity with blogs is commensurate with amount of comment spam. As of late, I’ve had quite a bit of comment spam. It builds up during my long periods of being away, then when I finally return I just empty it out in one feel swoop. I think hooking my blog up with the Akismet plugin is in order this weekend.
Other than working a lot, my 17 month anniversary with Jackie, the government jackin’ me for $1500 in taxes, and not updating this blog — only a few things have been going on that are noteworthy:
I have to be purposefully vague with this in case certain people read this blog, but I’ve set the wheels in motion for making money on a one-time effort that could prove to be quite fruitful. We’re talking one-time payments for services that range from $500 to $5000. Those are pretty substantial chunks of change and not something I would mind making, even if it was just once or twice a month. On a related note, I’ll be redesigning four pretty huge sites in my life: this one, dark driving, B7M (I’ll be vague on this one for the time being), and IntuitSolutions.
Where I used to be stressed about designs for these majors in my life. I’m going to sit down and just do whatever comes naturally for me. If that means that Greater Satellites is a black site with white text and no images, so be it. At least it’s done for the time being and I can expand upon it later. I’ve come to realize, more and more, that content is king, and it’s time I get some bangin content in my corner.
On a semi-related note, I’m thinking about starting a blog solely dedicated to reviewing all the horror movies I’ve ever watched. I talked to a few people here at work and everyone seems to be crazily on board, so there might be more on that soon. Should be pretty cool.
Finally, my five point plan for taking back the web and interacting with others who might like what I have to offer:
Assuming everything pans out, I should have all sorts of interesting contacts across the interwebs in no time flat. Next task: seeing the light of day!
A big prize for anyone who can figure out how to start answering this question:
“How do I get the check box and checkout to receive emails where the box is already checked and they have to uncheck it?”
Gotta love customers.
Yeah, so for two weeks worth of work I get paid a mere $150 more than I made in cash on a week-to-week basis. Andrew = sad.
Note To Self: Put in a couple OT hours.
I just noticed that Wordpress looks really different on a PC than on a Mac. I kind of like the aesthetics on the Mac better, but I have a strong bias.
Anyway, here I am blogging at work. I think I may do this at least once a day. I work really hard in burst mode to get a lot done so I can relax and double check my work to make sure it’s accurate and well-done. In my free time, perhaps even on the old lunch break I’ll take a moment to reflect on my day thus far.
A semi-sad realization dropped on me recently like a Mack truck: working in a job like mine (doing design, coding, etc) is creatively draining, whereas other jobs I’ve held (office work, appraising houses, etc) are creatively restrictive. I’ve basically found the amount of design-centric work I do outside of this job has dropped to practically nothing unless I have an extreme desire to accomplish a set task (example: last night getting this blog set up, wrapping up the design of the new site). I’m going to try my very hardest to get everything all together and find a balance. I admire people who have a great balance in their lives.
Can I also say, as a total aside, that the new Camaro design is probably one of the most bangin things I’ve ever seen. I hope they take that out of concept and make it a reality. I would totally spring for one (if I had a spare 30-40 grand laying around).
Well, it looks like it’s back to work time for Andrew…. ::yawn::
This will be my first blog post in quite a while, almost 2 months actually. So much for keeping this thing up-to-date with bleeding edge news about me and my life. Where to begin? I suppose I can work backwards from today as far as I can remember…
Yesterday was the four month anniversary of Jackie and I being the most bangin’ couple I know. She’s the Eve to my Adam, the Lucy to my Desi, the Juliet to my Romeo. Dare I say: the Lois to my Clark? I’ve never been happier and I attribute a large portion of that to her. That’s not to say she’s my crutch, it’s just me saying that I love her without trying and enjoy every new moment with her more than the last. Am I gushing? I guess I should stop…
A few days back, I was informed by a certain someone that MySpace (bleck!) is hosting a short film contest and all entries must be in on by March 23rd. I decided to really give this thing a shot and wrote up a script that’s (unfortunately) still a work in progress. I’d like to have it wrapped up by this evening and shoot it over the weekend, use next week for editing and other post production work, and then upload it to MySpace and hope for the best. The working title is, simply, 5 or Five. It has just one main character, the up-and-coming starlet Jaqueline Sauer. I’m sure regardless of what happens in the contest, it will eventually make it’s way onto this site and my YouTube as well.
As a brief aside, delete your MySpace account and sign up at VIRB. It’s the greatest social networking tool since the two-cans-connected-via-a-string.
I purchased a brand spankin 24″ iMac about two weeks ago along with some other neat stuff: an Airport Extreme, a set of M-Audio Studio Monitors (speakers), and a spiffy new desk. My workflow has been greatly improved and although I haven’t had too much of a chance to really get deep into editing or web design recently, both of those tasks are on my plate for the coming weeks.
Last Tuesday marked the end of my three month probation period at work. I was fairly confident that I would be asked to stay on and my premonition was spot on. I received my full health benefits (still in the works, actually), a 15% raise, and brand new equipment. That equipment being a new Core 2 Duo machine and three 19″ monitors. Score!
A great lady, a brand new computer (both at home and work), a fantastic new wage, and an all-around readiness to create something great. Life is on the rise with no signs of slowing.
Well, after a lot of saving, spending, saving some more, paying bills, saving yet some more, and ultimately having money stashed aside. I’ve started the process of getting my web site up and running. I’ve purchased two domain names (with a possible third on the way), signed up with a very decent (and affordable) hosting company, and got started on some possible designs. Here’s how I’m hoping things go down in the next month:
There are probably a few more steps that I’m missing, but those are definitely some short-term, doable goals. The next time I check in… it’ll be on a new domain name. YAY!
So little to say and so much time… Here goes something….
My name is Andrew to everyone who knows me and nothing to the people who don’t. I rarely feel inclined to write about myself and this small text blurb is no exception. I’m a film maker, of sorts. A designer, of sorts. A musician, of sorts. A photographer, of sorts. An armada of etceteras march behind these four generals.
The point I’m trying to make is that I enjoy art in all of it’s forms, and try my best to creatively express myself in every medium I take a liking towards. As always, things like life get in the way of being a non-stop idea factory, but that life is something that I’m thoroughly enjoying at the moment.
It consists of my beautiful girlfriend who I am very much in love with, a job that pays me well to do work that I would otherwise be doing for free, and a family and friends that I wouldn’t trade the world for. It’s safe to assume that I’m walking on air/over water/atop mountain peaks (pick one… hell, pick all three).