2008 A year to look upon...in other words... I am sick!

So as I said I am sick with a bacteria infection in my sinuses. Go figure that I would spend my x-mas and new years sick or getting over it. Nothing great planned except sleep and doing nothing.

But to all of you...a happy holiday and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Make some good resolutions as mine will be to get back running again like I mean it and to hit 400 miles.

I also look forward with eager anticipation to my drawing class I will be taking in February.

Be good... Cheers!

Lunch Time Posts

It's cold outside...just enough to say that it's cold outside!

A Trip to Nashville reviewed...

So it's recovery time for me. The trip to Nashville was awesome. We went to several cool places to eat and drink. I saw my first NHL game and the home team one...yes Joe, I checked, it was my first just as I said it was. So I guess you were in a haze and it was someone else who went to the game several years ago.

The Atlanta Falcons won yesterday and are in the playoffs! So the weekend was a good one.

Happy Holidays everyone and be good! Cheers!

Just some recent works done in the sketchbook. Trying to get the facial features down better. Have I mentioned in February I've signed up for a Master Drawing Class for 6-8 weeks at a local college? Yup! Looking forward to it. Happy Holidays! Cheers!

Wasn't it supposed to rain?

So as I was coming into work this morning the announcer on the radio I was listening to said it was to be a rainy day. Now I realize that this one station must have a announcer that smokes something good or uses a Magic 8 Ball to get the weather. This is the 3rd time where he says one weather and the weather becomes the opposite from it. It's a slightly warm sunny day and that is good enough for me.

This weekend I will be hanging with some people I am honored to call "like brothers". Joe, and Pete (they know who they are) are friends of mine that know me pretty well since both were roomy's of mine when I moved down to North Carolina. First Joe and I and then Pete and I...both are short, have awesome senses of humor, play hockey, and are talented individuals. Joe moved to Nashville and Pete and I are road tripping to see him and go to a NHL hockey game. If I am lucky I will see another old friend Jamie Penc' in this trip.

The final thing here is that during this weekend my mind will be thinking about one of my other brothers. Bill...El Fogger...I miss you bro...one year next week since the world I knew changed forever with your passing. Love ya and once again...miss you! Cheers Fogger!

About time!

It's about time something was done to show the public who the jerks are that are killing our planet...

Check out this article:
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/bd4379a92ceceeac8525735900400c27/c159e578522342838525751b0054b25e!OpenDocument

Cheers!

That Capitalist Time of the Year!

Yes that wonderful religious holiday is coming once again...you know the one...the one where everyone wants something from someone. What do I want you ask? Simple things...to get better at my sketching, which I might add I signed up for a 6 week class for Master Drawing, so that is in the works!

Oh let me continue with my holiday list...to have a couple of days off...well that is also in the works...to hang with my wife, dogs, and cats...yup check that off too... Well gee...I guess I am good...except I wish all my friends, family and loved ones...you know who you are cheeky monkeys, a happy holiday season and all that jazz.

Did I mention I wanted to hit a couple more levels with my mage on WOW? Yeah that would be good as well! Speaking of WOW...here is a quick sketch I did of that mage. Yea I'm playing some female mage but she kick some butt! She's currently 71st level and mostly Arcane spec. I usually can be found playing a hunter or warrior on a PVE server but I gave a PVP server a try with the mage and it does make the game more challenging knowing you can be "ganked" at any moment by those cheesy alliance players. Oh yea I am horde 100%. We're not evil we're jsut misunderstood.

Post Thanksgiving Meh...

Hope everyone had a good holiday...one down and two to go! Did anyone see the cool display of our moon, Venus, and Jupiter? Read the details here:

http://www.space.com/spacewatch/081128-ns-moon-jupiter-venus.html

It was a nice sight to see even though a cold wind and temperatures make it something quick to view on a walk and then to escape again into the house. Neat that the next one will not be seen until 2032.

Above - just some quick sketches from lunch...Cheers!

The Joys of Christmas...Making me want to cry!

Christmas Music...now I enjoy it like every other person...but really come on now! I want to listen to it but when you hear some people trying to sing to the song being sung on the radio or whistle it off key it really makes me want to cry. Alas tis the season for off key singers.

And please do not bail out the auto companies! They got themselves into this mess by not listening to the little people all this time. They need to be taught a lesson. Yes people will be out of jobs more than likely. The unions are to blame as well. They tie the hands of the big companies with high salaries and such, and then the companies choose to ignore us as we ask for them to make environment friendly vehicles. We need to change how things are done to get to that next level. I for one believe it is important to set a level on a salary for someone who runs a company. Too long have the rich gotten richer and the middle class and lower get poorer.

But what do I know? Ranting and raving mood today...my apologies. These were from my sketch book during lunch. Nothing special as its tough drawing in my truck and not on a flat surface. Cheers!

A Cold November Day

It is a rather chilly day here in the Charlotte area. But nothing compared to the old home village in NY where I came from. That being said this is the latest of the tiger sketch which can be seen below several posts...

I also have to say last night a group of us that play Warcraft together got to meet up with another guildmate of ours who lives in Japan and was swinging through the Charlotte area. Thanks "Jaiyn" for stopping to visit us! Hope you have a safe flight home, hope you enjoyed the fine food at Big Ben's (English pub and a must visit if in the area), and now you can laugh at the fact that when one of us makes a Monty Python comment on the guild chat we really do make funny faces when we say it!

Ah Fall...the colors and the catching of the sun!

I am thinking this past weekend will be the last you catch the warm rays of the sun and the awesome colors of the leaves on the trees. Two of my dogs took advantage of the sun as can be seen by these pictures and the trees near where I work had some wonderful colors so I snapped off a couple of shots.

Cheers!

A new era!

About time! That is my response to the Obama victory. The United States is about every person, no matter what race they might be, having an equal chance to succeed. Last night many walls that existed about race were broken. Many still exist, I see those every day down here, and I am sure they won't disappear completely but the steps we took forward as a nation over the last 24 hours has given me hope once more for the United States of America.

Of course change brings complaints from those who do not want to change. Some people are used to living in an environment that is stable, and not fluid. For many years we have become complacent and not doing what we used to do...change with the times.

My job as a Quality Manager is one where I am often looked upon as the change maker. That is because if something is broke it's my task to make it work, by finding a better way. I don't like change at times either but I will be the first to step up to the task for the greater good.

To all of those who embrace change I thank you! Cheers! To those who wish to stick to to the old ways I implore you to step outside the comfort zones you have created for yourself. Let's make the U.S.A. strong again!

Nov 1st! A day like no other...

Ah yes...once a year it comes...it happens for a day and then goes on its merry way only to arrive again the same day the following year...so far I have seen 39 cycles of this...or actually will see the 39th tomorrow. I will welcome this one with a pint of ale and much singing! I speak of my birthday of course, and not Halloween.

Either way it will still happen and so check out what I will be working on next. I have a tough time drawing animals and so was giving it another shot (not going to quit you know), and started to get something really cool going. Cheers to me!

Rainy Fall Friday...

Just a quick sketch I did during lunch...Cheers!

Some cool stuff!

So if you have ever had writer's block, designer's block, or any kind of creative stoppage then check out this site:

http://www.gomediazine.com/design-tip/10-tips-avoid-designers-block/

It offers some really good information and tips for getting out of that funk and getting into some creative work.

Fall is so here and I love it. The cool temperatures are rocking and I ran my first 5k since my injury a couple of months ago. No I didn't do good, or half good for that matter, but I did it and it felt good to just go out and run. My plan is to run the YMCA Dowd 5k on November 1st which just happens to also be my birthday. The original plan was to run their half marathon but the injury happened and things change so one has to go with the flow and do what they can do. Therefore...it's a 5k for me.

Every year I think to myself I would love to do a holiday drawing and I never do...this year...I want to and will do one for December. Now...where to start...

Cheers!

Falling Leaves and Running Sneakers

So fall is here and the leaves are falling...running will now be a pure enjoyment as I love this time of year. Above...some practice sketches...I also want to add a link to a webcomic called Brat-hala. The following is the description of it...it's funny and worth starting from the beginning!

Brat-halla is a webcomic about the Norse gods from their elementary school days. All-Father Odin and Frigg constantly have their hands full with Thor (the super strong runt of the litter), Loki (the god of mischief who likes to play with dolls), Balder (the invulnerable pretty boy), Hod (the blind god of darkness and winter), Hermod (the hyper super speedster god), and all the rest of the Norse pantheon.

The link is http://brat-halla.com/

Another good one is http://www.inktank.com/ which portrays gamers rather well especially those who like WOW.

Cheers!

Quick Update to the Blog

Sorry I haven't blogged anything in a while. With the new job I've been plenty busy getting things in order and when I get home it's a matter of relaxation. That and now that my foot is no longer an issue I've been working towards improving my running.

What I can say is that I've had an interesting time getting to know work. At my last job I'd been there for so long I no longer saw the walls, or battles taking place between people. At the new job I am seeing this again for the 1st time in a decade. It's really interesting as you wonder how the walls and issues between people got going in the 1st place. Some of it I will never know (and I really don't need to) as my job is to get everyone working together for a common goal...Quality!

What can I take from all this though? Well...that sometimes to see the big picture you have to stand away and disassociate yourself from it. I have a pretty good ethical side and find I can be neutral to a lot of things but it's still something to take in stride and apply now and then.

I am fortunate that I have two good people in my department. They understand our goal and want to get to it.

I've not put down sketching and still try to find time to do so. I tend to do some when I need to break from something that is perplexing, or when I am on hold waiting for someone.

I've pleased with the progress I've made on my art, please with the way I am working on my running. So when is the big wheel going to drive over me? I mean come on...I hit that period with my last job and my injury and now everything is great! Enjoy life while you can I guess.

Cheers!

She changes every time you look...

By summer it was all gone..Ah fall is here finally!!! The other day was my first real attempt at running since my injury. 2.8 miles and then I finally felt the tendon hurt a little bit. Still a little tender but the thrill of running was back!

This was a little thing I did during lunch today in my sketchbook. The title is from Porcupine Tree's Shesmovedon...yes it is all one word. An awesome piece of music! Cheers!

Happy Birthday Fogger! I miss you!

Tomorrow 9/11 is the birthday of my best friend who left this world just before Christmas last year. I love this man, this brother, this best friend, and I miss him every day. Peace my friend...


Remember to tell those around you that you love them, life is fleeting with a glance. To all those I call family and friends... I love you all. Cheers!

A Time For Change

So I don't often say much on politics. But I've seen the job cuts, position terminations (happened to me), the health insurance issues with friends who couldn't afford it.

I've heard portions of the speech given last night from Obama ( http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26446638/ )and to be honest he rocked the floor. I started as a Republican when I first voted only because I asked my father who represents change for the better and that is the group he suggested. Soon after I learned that is not the case. Hence the last 8 years have been very poor for America. When I moved to Charlotte and had to register to vote I changed to Democrat.

I like what I see from last night. The old politics are just that...old. I'm sure some will email me and complain but this is my opinion and I want to live in a country that cares about its people and not the oil companies. Just my thought on this...Cheers!

For the 1st time in...

Ten years plus some 6 months, I will be starting at a new company, a new job, and seeing new faces! I am so psyched! I leave my current job and start the new on the 8th. I will be a Quality Administrator for Lion Services. They create textile material and help the blind. A worth task that I am honored to contribute my time to and help them.

Am I nervous? Heck ya! New people mean they don't know my uniqueness and won't get my Monty Python jokes and so this means I need to explain my giggles and such when I make some weird references. But hey...it's all good.

I've been working on some minor things and still loving that my 1st piece for a commission was so well received by so many who sent me emails and such. Thank you one and all! Cheers!

A Face Without A Name

So I decided to ink this a tab bit. Just think it looks good just like this but who knows? Maybe I will work more on it, maybe not...Cheers!

And like I said earlier...

Not a bad completion huh? I kind of think she looks like Misty from the comic series Ironfist. Don't know if I will color her as I really like her the way she is now! Cheers!

Gaining An Edge

Rush has a song called One Little Victory...It sums up how I feel right now. Just trying to get one little victory to move me along. I feel like I'm getting some after several weeks of setbacks. The past couple of days I feel I made some good progress with my pencils. The 1st one is from sitting down in a salon while waiting for my wife to get a hair cut. I was using my small sketchbook that I don't use enough. It's funny because the first bunch of pages contain some really bad stuff when I wasn't pushing myself much then out of nowhere you get this!I really like the face on the right side as well as the bird. I will clean both up a little bit and see what happens. Now the second one was in the book I normally draw in and just trying to get back to sketching after working on the commission I was committed to finishing. The female on the left was me trying to get a different "feel" for. Getting a distance sort of view I guess if anything.

The other female was once again using things I've learned of late and really getting a good mindset going.


The foot is feeling better but I still do not have any real sort of strength in it for any long period of time (more than 3 min). If I just walk I feel fine then it sort of goes out on me. Ah...love recovery periods.

Cheers!

And the news is...

So the news on my foot is that I have a sprained ankle, partially ruptured Plantar, and the tendons on the back of my foot that attach to the toes are also damaged. I now am walking, wait...limping is a better word to use, around in a support brace that I will be wearing for the next month. I cannot run or bike (no cardio) for a month, and then after a month I can start again but with the brace. Sucks but it could have been worse.

Some good news! I sold my first piece of art! WOOHOO! It was a nice little project for a t-shirt design and the customer liked it! So I am at least having some good news come my way finally.

Here is the final piece...



Hell of a job huh! I can't stress how much I learned from it and how much fun I had doing it! To celebrate I am listing to Primus "Dueling Banjos"! Only way to have fun with life is to do something you love doing...now if I can only get back to a job that I love that would be perfect! Cheers!

Bad Luck Comes in Threes

So they always say that bad luck hits in threes...must be my turn it seems this summer.

At the beginning of this summer the AC died on us at our house. This is #1.

With issues at work I can't really get into that would be #2.

And a couple of weeks after #2...#3 hit. This one is the worst of the bunch. I ran a 5k on the 2nd of this month. I kicked it into overdrive at the end and for the 1st time this year came under a 11 minute mile on my pace. The last two years were all under 10 and this year I am fighting mental blocks it would seem and couldn't get close to that without dying from exhaustion. By I digress...

By the next day my right ankle, foot, and calve were swelled and in great amounts of pain. Painful enough that if I tried to stand on both feet I would feel like fainting. X-Rays didn't show any breaks which is good. They also, so far, don't show stress fractures, which is also good. What sucks is that we think that I tore my lower calve muscle, and ruptured / strained my plantar. This pretty much ends the running season for me. 9-12 week recovery time from estimates so far. I see the specialist tomorrow. So wish me luck cause right now I need it. The pain is horrible and constant. It's very hard to walk far without some amount of pain on the bottom of my foot making itself known.

On the sketch side of things...I am close to the coloring phase of a commission which is turning out to be very cool! Ok gang...be good and cheers!

20 Years and Rush to finish it!

So it's been a bit since my last post due to travel. I went to my 20 year high school reunion which was quite the weekend. Flying up to NY was the usual, driving from Albany to Ilion was also typical, though nice in terms of scenery. The reunion weekend was a blast. People I had not seen in 20 years were there. I also took advantage of the time and visited my college alma mater, a college professor, and some college friends! I also have some nice photo's to share that I need to scan. So give me some time and you to shall see the sites of upstate NY!

To top off the weekend I flew back on Sunday morning so that I could attend the Rush concert that night and pay my respects to the last time I saw them with my best friend Bill (whom is no longer with us). Joe and I had a blast, wore the shirt that the three of us all decided to buy last time, and gave a toast to our friend Bill. The band was awesome leaving nothing out.

The rest of my vacation was ok. I didn't do much with recent changes in my work bugging me every day in my head. I swear it's supposed to be a vacation and you're not supposed to be thinking about work but noooo...they decide to throw me a curve ball and I couldn't get work out of my head. Curses to my brain for over working every little thing.

To all the friends I haven't seen in so long it was great to see you. To everyone else...chat with you soon! Cheers!

Friday Update!

Happy Friday Bloggers! Though I would throw these onto the blog. The first is one I am gearing up to do for a commission. Just a sketch trying to get to the final one to use and I liked this one. It almost screams as a tattoo to me. I guess I might find some time to mess with colors on it.

This one was some practice of some lessons I have taught myself. The shoulders and neck I like. I also like the torso and sight of the back muscles. The hair style is also slightly different for me. I hate doing the same over and over and the nice thing this commission has done is get me to learn some new things and use them.

I have a 4 mile race tomorrow morning. So at 7:30am if you happen to be awake show up at the Run For Your Life store in Charlotte and cheer on all of us running the 4 miler! Love to hear some Dude Screams! Take care, have a good weekend...and have a pint for me!

Whew...The Weekend is Over!

So the three day weekend is over and many a fine thing happened...

Friday, Donna and I went and saw the movie WALL-E which I give a thumbs up for a fine plot and many points to bring up to the general public. The previews were blah since it was early and most were for kids. Nothing drew my attention and so nothing to report in the way of cool movies coming up.

Saturday began with a 4.88 mile run, which was the longest one this year for me, with Donna running it as well. It took a lot out of me but a nice strong finish was done so I left with a grin. I also saw glimpses of fellow runners Chris, Scott, Bruce and a whistle from Franco. They were all doing 10-19 miles, yeah a little long for me at this point. But seeing those rabbits fly down Providence road was well worth it.

After the run I ended up taking Cleo, our middle dog, out for a six mile hike in the surrounding area. We were both exhausted by the end and a nice nap was then taken to get some energy back for the nights event...which was going to one of my best friends down here, Joe, going away party. We'll miss you bro! He's heading to Nashville and if you see him tell him he's missed. We went to Big Ben's British Pub where Hobgoblin ale and fish and chips were the nights main course.

Sunday was a rest day as it ended up raining for most of it and when it wasn't raining it was way to humid and hot to do anything outside.

Less then two weeks till my 20th high school reunion...ouch! Be well gang! Cheers!

July 4th - Woohoo!

So the 4th of July is nearly upon us. Time to have an extra day off and a good weekend. Did a couple of warm up sketches and found them worthy of posting. Enjoy.

So the 4th of July is nearly upon us. Time to have an extra day off and a good weekend. Did a couple of warm up sketches and found them worthy of posting. Enjoy.

A scribble a scrabble...a doodle by any other name!

So the first is simply a doodle I did testing a new pencil and a some lessons I snagged on eyes. I liked it so much I inked it and then used Adobe to clean it and finish it.
The second is Hellboy from a previous post. I liked it so much that I asked my wife to give it a shot of inking it. I then cleaned it and finished it in Adobe. Hope you enjoy them both...
Cheers and be good gang!

Michael Turner 1971-2008

Going to miss his art. Cancer really sucks and I should know being a survivor of it.

http://www.aspencomics.com/

A article on him explains him best:

http://www.newsarama.com/comics/080628-Turner.html

Here is a good one I always liked...
Be good guys!

Fleeting Thoughts...

An interesting topic is happening on Science Friday Today on NPR...I never would have thought I'd hear something like this but they are talking about smells. And they just said (seconds ago...) that women's farts are smellier than men's. However...men have more gas than women and so therefore it's a draw. I'm actually waiting to hear the story about the brain scientist who had a stroke and researched the whole thing while going through the stages of it. I've heard a good portion on Fresh Air (also NPR) but this should be more involved since it is a actually science show.
The summer air is nice and in the 90's, making runs tough but we'll get through.
If you haven't read any of Scott Bodien's Blog http://publius.bodien.org/ go and check it out. Verbose he is and very good at getting you to imagine everything going on. His one post http://publius.bodien.org/2008/06/stop-laughing-at-me.html is really worth reading about half way down where he explains some fund raising information. Really makes you wonder on how much a person gets paid to help raise money for special causes. Making it even more important that you give any money to local fund raisers and not the big named ones.
And the stroke topic is now starting so I bid you a good day...oh and enjoy the practice sketch of my attempts of the face.


The Hellboy one is my attempt of trying it for the first time after seeing Tim Townsend's one http://timtownsend.deviantart.com/art/Hellboy-sketch-68743886 so give him credit for the idea and give me an atta'boy for the attempt.

The Comic Convention in Charlotte Rocks!

Greetings readers! So now that the weekend has pasted on by here is the best way to describe the comic convention held in Charlotte this year...First off here is the site of the group that handled it:

http://www.heroesonline.com/

Donna and I helped on Thursday and Sunday picking up artists and taking them to and from the Airport / Hotel. There were so many that I couldn't tell you all of them, but every single one was very cool and a pleasure to meet and chat with as we transported them.

Here are some that I got to meet over the weekend that get a cheer from this comic fan:
Frank Cho: http://www.libertymeadows.com/
Paolo Rivera: http://www.paolorivera.com/
Danielle Corsetto: http://www.daniellecorsetto.com/gws.html
Andie Tong: http://www.deemonproductions.com/
Dave Crosland: http://www.hiredmeat.com/

On Saturday night we met a great bunch of guys when we met up with Barry Kitson for a meal and some pool playing. I was schooled in the English rules for pool and let me tell ya they add to the game. The best and easy way to explain them is if you make a mistake (scratch, etc...) the other person gets a free shot. This makes it tough since now you have something to lose instead of just passing the next shot to the guy. I won only one game out of numerous amounts only due a mistake made by the opponent.

So there you have it...the update short and sweet...I also purchased a new sketch book and a new lead holder which I have been looking for. I bought some leads for it and now trying to get used to using it. Cheers guys!

To Bike Or Not To Bike...and Comics Ahoy!

What is up my readers! Hope you're all living it up as best as you can...

Just a quick update on the bike into work this past weekend...the ride in was awesome. Took me 24:57 to bike in and I did go through the park. It was a nice ride into it with very few people and lots of just peace and quiet. Made it worth it to get that moment of peace before work. Most of it was downhill which leads me to the ride back.

The ride back was done in about 43 minutes. About 50% of it was uphill since I took a different route back then what I did to come into work. If I simply reversed the route it might have been about 85% uphill.

The sun was beating down on me and I forgot to bring a waterbottle. So lessons were learned.

This weekend is the Charlotte Comic Convention! Very exciting time to be had. My friend Barry is coming over from across the pond and both my wife and I are looking forward to hanging out with him on Thursday night.

Donna and I are also planning on helping out the convention crew on Thursday by assisting picking up and dropping off the artists from the airport to the hotel. Always fun getting to meet these guys. They are the professionals that I've followed for some time and scold you if you call them sir and such.

I'll update after this weekend for sure! Have fun and stay cool!

And I tell you it's hotter than the goddess Athena!

So last week it finally happened at that one point you depend on it. Charlotte has been getting slammed, earlier than normal, with some rather hot temperatures. We're talking high 90's. So what happens? The AC goes out! The unit was 19 years old and of course dies when needed the most. So for about 5 days we suffered in a house with 91 degrees the average. The dogs and cats kept to themselves with the dogs looking at me with that look "Why? What did we do? Where is the cool temperatures Alpha?".

So now it's fixed...fixed as in the entire AC unit upstairs and outside being replaced. My desire to draw this past weekend was shot since just sitting in one location, one would have sweat pouring from them in every location sweat could pour from.

But now...it's quieter...saves energy and everyone is back to normal. I also started something today that I have wanted to try out for some time now. I started biking into work (7 miles) and will try to keep this up once a week throughout the summer. Maybe even up it to 2 -3 times a week just to, yes I have to say it, save a little bit of money on gas. I figure it takes about 1 gallon of gas per trip to and from work. So that's 4 dollars a day and two days will be 8. Over time it adds up and I will try to keep this up until end of Summer. Once the light of the sun begins to not help out lighting my way as much, I will have no desire to bike through this one park which offers peace and quiet during the moment or two I am in there.

Do you best to conserve. It's not going to get easier for a while and finding new sources of energy will take just as long if not longer.

That being said...I am working on a very nice piece for a friend. I will share once I can get a drawing I am I satisfied with. Cheers!

Summer almost upon us...

Zup!!! So the hot and humid season of Summer is almost upon us! My running is suffering already as I have been having a tough time with endurance...I don't know if it's mental or if there is something else...I think it's just a mental block as I love to run but when I get going I am having a tendancy to quit if I am having a bad run instead of working through it.
I'm working on a commision, my first, for someone and will share it with you all once it's completed. I have the idea down, the practice drawings of what I want are coming along and soon I can get working on the final. In the meanwhile this one took place as I was on the phone talking with someone. Just letting my mind go into doodle mode and liked it enough that I cleaned it up to share. Maybe that's what I need to do with my running just relax and not beat myself up. Hope you like it!
He reminds me of an actor but I can't place a name on it...any ideas? Cheers!

It was a good run...

So this past Friday my wife and I ran the Twilight 5k race in Charlotte. It's a nice race cutting through the streets of the beautiful city in the uptown area. 1177 people ran it and my wife and I cam in 763 and 764. Now you need to know that this is the first time my wife has beaten me.

Our times were:
763 Donna: Chiptime 31:08 Guntime 31:19 Pace 10:05
764 Michael Chiptime: 31:09 Guntime 31:19 Pace 10:05

She's been slowly getting to the point where she can run the distance and the pace and this time proved it. Kudos to her I say!

Now it's my turn to push it to the next level. I'm not one of those fast slick runners, but instead, with the build of a powerlifter, just slow and steady. I can get a good sprint which is in my advantage at the end of a run. My wife just happens to have great form and awesome speed as well in short distances.

Cheers!

A day...unlike any other...

Usually I write something that makes me feel some what intellectual for a moment or two. Today is one where I will try to vent...so bear with me...

Today is the 7th anniversary of being married to a wonderful person, friend, wife, lover, well...you get the meaning...and I took today off to spend time with that person. My wife...unfortunately had to work. But she called me this morning because a coworker, on his way in to work, saw a animal carrying case on the side of the road in some very tall grass. He stopped, picked it up and found a gray cat, not a kitten. He took it to work and my wife, without any argument from me, asked if our house could be its new home. I was happy to have another (It would have been the 3rd cat, and 6th of the pack, (3 dogs)) and during lunch went and got another cat bowl for its food.

Well...she came home with it and from the looks of it, it was in bad shape. We gave it a bath, dried it off, as it had no energy at all. I was concerned and we made several calls and took it to the emergency vet. On the way there Donna told me I should have heard it purr when she fed it a little food, and I looked over and it yawned and tuck its head down. We got to the vets and when the technician took it in she came back and asked if we knew that it was dead. It passed away soon after that yawn.

How could a person leave an animal on the side of the road, a pet that was de-clawed, neutered, and obviously taken care of to some degree, but more importantly leave it caged where it couldn't hunt, or drink. This person has no heart, no soul. If I ever found the person who did this I would curse him before me because we all know that those types of people have a special place waiting for them when they get to that point and are discarded. Does this sound harsh? At the moment I don't think so. I can only think of the cat, who we actually picked the name Kalli for, is now in a better place. But that we gave it a bath, some food, and some TLC before it left this place where someone stopped caring, stopped loving it. So...though I only knew Kalli for a short period of time, that cat showed me that as much as I have faith in some people, I have little for those who would do such things.

Thanks everyone for letting me vent. I am an animal person and whether it is a cat, dog, beaver, chicken, snake...iffy on the snake...I appreciate the unconditional love a pet will give you. But to any one out there who has a pet...kudos to you! Be well and cheers!

NFL Draft only days away!

Can you tell from the topic I am looking forward to this coming weekend? Who will Atlanta pick up? This weekend will be a fast pace collision course to wackiness! Well...maybe not but I said it and I am sticking to my guns on this.

First off...the 2nd road race (5K) in the Gran Prix series in the Charlotte area. I'm not looking to win anything or have a PR but I am looking forward to running it with my wife and running group pals.

Then comes the NFL draft...which gives every football fan a chance to say "maybe this year..."

Then 7 years with my lovely wife hits on Monday! Woohoo!

Enjoy the work in progress as I have no clue where to go with this hot babe.


But aint she a hottie? Proof that my sketching is improving which makes me all happier than a 21 year old going into his first adult bar! Whoops...did I just blog that?

Cheers!

Spring...ah beautiful Spring...How she radiates rebirth!

Sappy? Nah...I love Fall and I love Spring! Fall to me is romance...Spring to me is Mother Nature saying, quite loudly mind you, that she is still here and ready to give it her all into making everything show its colors. That and make us sneeze as much as possible.

So let the Spring Dancing begin! Cheers!

Very Cool Indeed!

So Easter is almost here. Enjoy any time off should you be so lucky! Wait...did you see the top? That's my first attempt at putting something simple together for a wallpaper and using it for a title block as well! Here are the individual works and I might add I really like the one with the girl wearing the towel over her hair!







Cheers gang!

It's a Tuesday sort of thing...

So the last couple of weeks have been busy. Two weeks ago I had a nasty cold that seemed to come my way via coworkers. Nice of them huh? Then last week I attended a class so I can be officially certified as a Lead Auditor for ISO9001:2000. It was quite informative and I am happy to say I passed. This will help leading me down the path of righteous quality! I will be a paladin quality!

And through all of this I actually have added several pages in my sketch book.

Looking for another blog to scope out? Check out one of my running friends Scott Bodien:

http://publius.bodien.org/

OK lads and ladies...time for me to get RUSH tickets to their concert coming this summer! Cheers!

New Work

So as promised here is some stuff I recently sketched. I don't know which one will be the first to be worked into color but they all have promise.

As you can see I changed to using the red pencil just to see what its like. Not bad...Have a good one! Cheers!

Happy Valentines Day!

There...I said it...now go out and get that special someone a gift! Been working on some drawings using a red pencil. Just makes it different and neat at the same time. Will be putting them up soon enough.

But for now just trying to improve on the running and keep in shape and lets not forget work. So thanks for keeping an eye on this blog as you won't be let down. New stuff coming soon (not a broken record sound).

Welcome 2008!

Happy Holidays and a happy New Year to all of you who have visited and read my blog! I know I have slacked on the artwork which was the main goal of this site and so the goal for me is to get back to that with what time I can spare.

Having a best friend who is like a brother to me, pass away was very difficult. But the people I saw at the funeral showed me that I am not alone. There are many I have reintroduced myself to and have committed to working on keeping that level of communication up to snuff. So lets see...last years goal of running over 600 miles - Completed.

2 half marathons - not completed due to illness and injury.

This years goals:
Keep the running up - aim for 500 with 600 being bonus.
Keep artwork going and improve
Keep lines of communication up between friends old and new

That's just the beginning...so thanks again for hitting this blog in 2007 and keep hitting it in 2008!