So, yes I have been absent for...gosh, over a year now. The short explanation being that life simply got in the way. Been fiddling with my art, but haven't had the time nor motivation to finish any of it.

Unfortunately, things have not improved all that much. Adding to yet another unemployment streak (laid off because things got slow), recently because of some glitch with my computer, all my drawing files got wiped out. Even a system restore failed to retrieve them. Got back everything *else*, but some of my more up-to-date pics, as well practically all my reference material are gone. The only saving grace is that some of my older files will still be on discs and/or my old computer, plus I have all the original B/W drawings that I can rescan. But the bottom line is now I have to *completely* start from scratch, including having to copy my pics from here to rebuild a reference library again, and rescan the drawings that I want to work on.

F-ing lovely.

Note to self..... standing on fresh asphalt + walking on linoleum afterwards = potential for injury and/or comedic effect.

Thankfully I didn't fall, but damn that's slick.

Absent again...I know.

This time its not really work, but a couple of other things (one of which is *kinda* related to work).

First off is that my vehicle once again is acting up, and with all the possible things that could be wrong, I really don't have the budget to hunt around again and try to find the problem. So, after 12 years, it looks like I will have to give up on my wheels and get rid of it. It seems to be running fine, but I'm afraid it will crap out if I try to venture out again (it died on me JUST as I got home), so I haven't driven it in a month. In the meantime I've been taking the bus to and from work (which adds some time), so my evenings have lost some private time. Granted, I'm a big fan of public transportation...I just find the current system out of date compared to others that I have read about and (in Tokyo) experienced...but that's a rant for another time.

Second is my new officer's role in a ToastMasters club I am a member of. I took over the role when the previous person left abruptly, and have discovered it would have been helpful had I been able to pick their brain, instead of trying to do this which out any references to go back on. I'm getting the hang of it, but I'm still wary about missing some important function required for the role and having the club suffer for it (I die a thousands deaths before I even get in trouble, let's put it that way).

At least hasn't been as stressful. Guess my manager finally realized that if I go, they're going to have to get up of their lazy ass and do the work themselves. Job security, in a way...

What's worse than having overly-religious neighbors who think they're above the 'NO SOLICITING' rule at our complex?

The fact they like to sing in the shower...and their singing 'ability' can best described by the phrase, "Who strung the cat?". One can only hope earplugs are passed out before letting these guys sing in a choir.

Far too many people who think they can sing, CAN'T.

The other day while I was doing my deliveries, I was in one of the taller building in town. I went to the elevator lobby to go back down, and while I was waiting one of the regular employees entered the lobby as well. As we're standing there waiting, we both nonchalantly turned toward the same elevator door. A second later, *bing!* Of the five doors we both could have faced, we both turned to the one that just happened to come first. We just kinda looked at each other because of that stroke of luck.

I don't think I'll see a repeat of that anytime soon....just plain weird.

Sorry for the absence.
My job still doesn't fill me with joy, and unfortunately up until now has sapped most of my motivation for getting involved with my art. I guess not having my pain-in-the-ass 'manager' away for the past couple of days may have revitalized me to an extent.
Here's an example of the crap I have to deal with....he's supposed to be in charge of production for the jobs that come in through the shop. When I missed one that was apparently so important HE DIDN'T BOTHER TELLING ME ABOUT IT, he tried to fix the blame on me. When I pointed out that he was supposed to be in charge of production and know more about what goes out that me (I spend most of my day out of the shop, driving around, as opposed to him who's in the shop all friggin' day), he callously told me he doesn't keep track of all the jobs that are done in the shop.

....And I'm supposed to be getting my orders from this guy? No wonder they can't seem to hold on to drivers.

These past few days, he was away, I was managed by someone else, and things went smoothly.
Things. Got. Done. Right.
I have to question not only how the regular manager kept his job, but how he got it in the first place. I've been keeping my employment agency up to date with this stuff, btw, so I'm hoping they can find me something else in the near future.

Admittedly, this kind of thing is one of the reasons I'm hesitant to do commission here, even though I've been poked about it quite a few times....life seems to have the ugly habit of getting in the way.

Been a while since I've lurked here, but it's kinda due to a resolution I made.

As I may have mentioned, I'm trying to work in some 3D skills into my art (either with Blender or Carrara 7, or both, if it turns out I can do that). Progress has been a bit slow, so I decided to take a step back and read some book relating to the whole process and the industry. I need a bit more direction, and the user manuals for those two programs make me feel like I'm missing something.

My biggest drawback is getting such a late start with 3D, and I don't have any real connections to anyone irl who can give me pointers, so I'm having to figure this out on my own. Hopefully the notes I've been taking from the books I've been reading will give me a better starting point than what I tried before.

But at least I got back to a point where I can spare some time to work on my regular artwork, even if it's nothing spectacular. Gotta keeps those ideas flowing, right?

Supposedly this is the slowest time of the year for my work.

Yet I just got asked to work OT this week to catch up on stuff not directly related to my job.

To quote Mr. Savage, "That's the textbook definition of irony, kids."

I might loath working overtime, since I'm less inclined to want to do any work when I get home. But it will make up for the fact that because I'm working a contract position, I didn't get paid for being off last holiday.
Another reason this position sucks, but I don't have much choice at the moment.

I always hate it when I have artist's block, which is the reason I'm been absent for the past few weeks.

Work has not been much of a help, since the way things are going, the LAST thing I've been wanting to do when I get home is more work (that includes my artz, ironically). Coupled with some vehicle issues (some of which are still not solved), and some other irl stuff...I've been pretty frazzled.
I suppose one thing that complicates things is my self-imposed goal of learning a couple of programming languages (mind you, I haven't worked with that since I was able to toy with BASIC years and year ago), so that's making my life interesting at the moment.

But now that I have finally got some motivation back, I can start working on stuff for here again. As I pointed out in the submission I just posted, I wanted to get something, ANYTHING, submitted even if it wasn't finished. I realized I can't always wait until things are perfect, and incomplete is better than nothing at all.

Never trust someone who refuses to put their rules into writing.

If you want people to follow your rules perfectly, commit them to paper. Stop making excuses why they should only be done verbally, only to complain when they are NOT followed.

And your argument about 'respecting authority' doesn't cut it.

Several individuals at work haven't seemed to grasp the fact the I failed mind-reading school.

When was that job supposed to be delivered? Oh, TWO HOURS AGO, as opposed to the original paperwork saying that it wasn't due until TOMORROW? Did it occur to you to telling the REST of us about this change and not just sneak in and scribble a couple of notes and not saying anything to anyone?

And you wonder why no one in the place likes you or wants to even deal with you...

You never know true frustration and satisfaction until you've successful fixed your own vehicle with limited tools and limited space.

Just a thought that came to mind in regards to my project for the day. :P

Heh.

As I'm still not happy with my current position, I am still on the hunt for a more ideal location to be a wage slave....and on that note, I had an interview with a company today that was offering a position closer to me and something else...

Familiarity.

The company is not one that I have worked for before, but they are currently running a site I used to work at with my old permanent employer. They seemed very pleased that I was local, and I was VERY familiar with the site (and I did enjoy working there), so there is a good chance they might take me, which would make me very happy.

Still too early and things could still go the wrong way, like with pay or finding someone else they prefer (they were still interviewing), which is why I'm not putting in my notice at my current gig just yet, but I still relish the irony of going full circle without my old permanent employer in tow.

After finding out more about the circumstances surrounding my 'acceptence' with my new job, I've decided to bite the bullet and send them an email simply outlining why I don't think this job is a good idea for me. My frustration only increases with the steady stream of last minute forms they need me to fill out that are required for the postion...yet they still have me working. I don't feel privilaged, I feel suspicious, and more of an incentive to get out of this position before I am truly stuck with it and have no career to speak of, only a mind-numbing job that will only eat away at me further. I wished a permanent position was open at my last assignment...I even told that former co-worker I would rather spend a bad day working with them than a good day at this new place.
I know it's risky being so upfront with my employer about a position I just started, but I feel I didn't get the whole story before I started in the first place. I made no threats about quitting if things didn't go my way, just an outline of what skills I was hoping to aquire for my long-term career goals, and that in general this current position is not the right path to meet those goals. I have ambitions and would like the chance to see what I can learn and just how far I can go. I am not happy with the prospect of being dropped into a position just because they know no one else will fill it because it won't go anywhere. The commute sucks, the pay is laughable, and the location is isolated to where there is nothing to do with my free time. What interaction I have with the customer consists of spending at most five seconds with them, then leaving. That's not the kind of 'career' I want. Even the perks of having access to the great factilities of a global company is not enough to justify me turning a blind eye to how much this job is completely the opposite of what I really want.
Hopefully, they take my email seriously and consider me for something else.

While the saying "Beggars can't be choosers" applies to my situation, my enthusiasm for this new job is severely lacking. In general the job isn't very hard....and that's the problem. There is absolutely no mental stimulation or challenge in performing it. If anything, I feel like I took a giant step backwards and fear I will be stuck with this for quite a while, since I'm desperate and they probably know no one else would be willing to do this job either. The environment is bland and isolated (warehouse-type, which is where I DON'T want to be), and while my new co-workers are okay, there is not much for me to work on my social skills. The pay is also bland and not something that will have a big impact on my life, except to just get by.

After just three days, I've already determined it's a job I will just ride out while I keep looking for something else that will actually be an ADVANCEMENT (which hopefully will be sooner instead of later). Once I get word on something good, I will have no regrets leaving this job. As risky as it might be, if my agnecy asks me what I think of the job, I will be wholly honest with them. The way I feel right now, putting on a fake smile and making fake praises would just eat away at me. Strange as it sounds, I would actually feel some relief if they did decide to not keep me just because of my honesty and desire to do something I can actually feel proud of. I want skills that mentally challenge me. I'm tired of being stuck with all the physical stuff.

I honestly feel like I got conned....

I haven't felt this depressed in a long time. I've even lost my appetite right now just reflecting on this.

Some satisfaction.

After not having a full-time job for about a year and a half, I managed to get a bite. Depending on how long its takes to do the initial paperwork (background check, drug tests, the usual...), I should be starting in about a week. Needless to, I'm glad something finally came up. :P

Welcome to my new page. As you can see, there isn't much here...just like my old page. But hopefully that will change soon...

I don't plan on dumping a lot of submssions all at once, so it might be slow going.

What you may see might be a little different from what you are used to as well. This merely reflects some changes in my own interests that has happened over the course of my absence. Some of the themes I dealt with in the past are 'meh' to me now, so you may not see those resurrected on this new page.

Anyway, I want to slowly ease myself back into this, so enjoy.