OK Time for a brain dump!

Well it has finally happened. I always said the only way I would leave my former employer was to be fired (guess I lied). That wasn't do to the perks at work (i.e. free hosting and location) it was more about me enjoying what I do and getting paid well to do it. I had a good run (7+ years) - but the wear and tear of the daily grind of production and customer support just killed my ability to be creative. I quit... I know - I am still creative and talented but I was becoming something other than the graphic artist I really wanted to be. Having no true job description and continuously taking one for the team just got old.

I have started a new position with a title (even though I hate to have a title) Graphic and Illustration Director. What does that mean? Well that means I get to create again with out getting the calls from angry customers and coding all day! The transition hasn't been as easy as I had thought it would be. The new Company (Inclind.com) has a different way of getting things done. It seems to work well for them/us and I am adapting my skill set as best as I can. It is really strange working with such talented people who communicate well and are so willing to give me a hand when I need it. Its back to the old school critiques where you have to have a think skin and some ideas you agree with and some you don't. But, in the end, it is all in the customer’s best interest.

In the past 2 weeks - outside of work; I have set my sites up (all 3) on a new host, changed dns, set-up email accounts, continued the remodel on our bathroom, bought a new car, gone through drama with my mama at the emergency room and killed 2 bottles of wine. Not to mention that I finished up on the www.imaginariumgalleries.com/www.alfaropuppets.com sites, updating bands on the JuneJam site and www.dejazzbluesfest.com to which I have been handling the marketing materials for. By the way Delaware Blues and Jazz Fest is coming up on May 12, 2007 (hope to see you there)!

Did I mention I got a new car? My lovely wife, Anita, has purchased a book of road trips... We have not been in a while because of all the changes happening in our lives but the new car needs to be broken in:) We are trying some new locations up and down the east coast and I am planning to post a brief synopsis of each of our trips along with some photos. We are heading to Georgia in April and Pota Varta probably in August. We will have several day trips between and of course Hershey Park and PA Renaissance Faire will be in there as well.

The other day we had Chinese buffet (not my favorite but a long shot) but the fortunes are usually pretty good for me. This time was no different. This fortune simple said, "Live everyday as if it were a lifetime".