w w w . a n d r e w s l o a n . c o m / b l o g

Vicious Circle

2009-01-09T08:06:00.001-08:00

It's been a busy time right now...what with getting the necessary things in line for launching my clothing line, Nineteen...raising the baby...trying to catch up on sleep...and figuring out my next move artistically. However, I am excited for what the future holds. I plan on putting a lot more stuff on Etsy...probably some one-off original clothing items that have been embellished. I'll also have some more artwork up there soon as well. We'll see, but I'm hoping we start seeing a upturn in the economy as well as traffic placing orders for prints of mine.

Back With A Vengeance

2008-12-22T13:52:00.001-08:00

It's been awhile for this blog and it's time to resurrect it. Back from the dead like a zombie, only without all the grisly details.

A lot has happened. My son, Gunnar James, was born without incident and has gone on to become a genius baby. Growing ever more cute, he is now a force to be reckoned with in baby world. Becoming a father is not only life-changing, but easily the best thing that has ever happened to me. A true joy no words can accurately express. On the business front, Nineteen Clothing Company creeps closer to becoming a reality, and should be available for all your purchasing needs very soon. In the meantime, I have also just opened an Etsy.com store to showcase and sell my fine art! Please take a moment to stop by and see what's going on with it.

Many things are happening, and now is the time to seize the day my friends.

All Quiet On The Western Front

2008-07-11T18:05:00.000-07:00

I gotta get better about keeping up with my blog! Our pregnancy is coming along nicely, although I really wish my wife's ankles would stop bloating up (and I know she does too). Gunnar is doing fine and growing like a healthy little guy should be, and that's a comforting thought. We're both getting so excited about his arrival...lots to do. Speaking of lots to do, I am getting closer and closer to my clothing company hitting the open market, so keep an eye out in the coming months for Nineteen Clothing Company! "Clothing For The Aggressive Human". I cannot wait...I really feel it is a wonderful expression of my illustrations talents and I know that given the right opportunity, it should take off and fly. Some of my esteemed illustration colleages and I are also looking into the prospect of opening our own design studio together, and my wife is busy conceiving a business of designer couture baby onsies. Yeah...BUSY!! :) But busy is good.

Lovin' That Recession!

2008-06-03T07:49:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about retiring from paintball as a hobby and sport for some time now. Generally, when I seem almost convinced of doing so I drag myself back into the idea of playing...even though my "consistent" years of playing were at least five years ago. By consistent I mean going more than twice a year! I have been playing it for going on 15 years this fall, and have even pursued it all the way to the level of playing small local and inter-state tournaments with my friends. It's just these days, my friends and I have all changed our lives so much no one really has time for it anymore. I mean, we could MAKE time, but we don't. We all have much busier lives than we used to, and we don't take the time to go out and play a game like that anymore. Plus, the recession biting into people's discretionary income doesn't help much either.

Speaking of this lovely recession, I think a lot of casual or discretionary things are going to feel the bite. Tanning salons, paintball, tattooing...anything that's fun and costs money is going to give way to seemingly more "important" stuff like having gas to drive to and from work and buying groceries. It's interesting (and not unlike nature) in how one thing causes a ripple effect in the pool of society and effects everything else around it. People should really take note of this and apply it to their life and how they effect their surroundings...but I digress.

Perhaps if I do finally decide to hang it up in paintball it will give me more time and motivation to pursue other outlets for my creativity and athleticism. Like, for one, getting back into shape to begin with. Two, learning to play guitar. I have always wanted to do that and being an artist and a paintball player (not to mention a middle class income) has always made that impossible all together.

Salutations From The Trenches

2008-05-30T12:43:00.000-07:00

I got some really good advice from a fellow Illustrator, Brent Watkins, a long time ago. He said, and I quote, "Make sure you draw what you like because you're going to be doing it a lot". Well, OK, that might not have been the exact quote, but it was close. Essentially the message was clear...figure out what you like to draw and make sure that's what you focus on. I couldn't agree more. In this odyssey called my art career, I sometimes feel like I have artistic ADD. I tend to do certain things in a style for awhile and then find myself looking to tweak it, or change it altogether. Perhaps that is my style...ever changing.

I know the personal growth is a good thing, but I guess I never have yet taken to the wisdom above. Generally, when I illustrate something, I tend to figure out what it's about just before (or more likely) in the midst of doing it. This is very difficult to produce something because their needs to be that advance research on the topic. But it is the topic itself that I struggle with I guess. I haven't quite figured out what it is I want to constantly illustrate...and furthermore, what to do with it. :) Some of my big influences growing up were artists like Drew Struzan, Hajime Sorayama...people who's main focus was the human body and in Sorayama's case, the female form. I do know that is of great interest to me...always has been...so perhaps that is where my content should lie.

I truly enjoy illustrating in the style I perform now, however I do feel it has further to be pushed...perhaps even into a 3D manifestation. I would like to incorporate my 2D work into 3D sculpture. That seems to be the biggest missing factor to my work now...that hands on feeling of actually doing some by hand. The computer is a wonderful tool and allows me to do many things, but I still crave the hand made aspects of it all.

These Guys Suck

2008-05-15T08:34:00.001-07:00

On The Move

2008-05-14T08:11:00.000-07:00

This past week has been a blur of work, driving, heading home and being at the hospital with my wife. I feel like I've been going 95mph the whole time...but it's all worth it to help her out and keep everything managed and under control. The doctors are still trying to ascertain what is going on with her, but I personally believe they had it right the first time (gall bladder). It seems every single woman I've spoken to has had their's removed at some point in their lives, and the symptoms she has been enduring seem very similar to what happens with gall bladder attacks. We are all hoping that they find something out today and formulate a plan of action for treatment. I know she doesn't want to be in the hospital any longer, and I don't blame her.

Our little guys, Gizmo and Salem, are definitely ready for momma to come home. Our cat and dog are very co-dependent and don't do very well when they don't get some mommy time in their day. I understand that...I don't either. :) Other than trying to be there for my wife as much as possible, I've finally begun to put in some serious hours on some freelance work and that's been very helpful. Extra income is always a good thing.

Feeling the Funk

2008-05-08T14:30:00.000-07:00

My wife's been having it out with a bout of some kind of stomach flu the past few days so that has been pretty awful for her. After taking a trip to the family care physician, they felt it even necessary to admit her to the hospital and get her hooked up to an IV. She hasn't been able to keep anything down for nutrition, so they need to get some vitamins in her somehow. They're planning on running tests, and hopefully everything comes out perfectly fine and they get her on her feet soon.

Schemes and Dreams

2008-05-07T13:53:00.000-07:00

Man, I need money. There are so many fabulous things I want to do to my house, buy for my wife, child and myself that it's just not right. All things in moderation I suppose, but damn. Currently, I am working on how I'm going to get my hands on a Madela breast pump for my wife (which is apparently the Jaguar of breast pumps...if such a thing existed), a PS3 for me, and last but most certainly not least, the cash and time to start the baby's room and finish the kitchen. And people wonder why folks rob liquor stores! :) I need to get my hands on this stuff though because the pump is important, as is the baby's room and the kitchen. The PS3 is the least important of the bunch, but still important to me. This year, after...what's it been...I guess ten years now of NCAA College Football play they have finally made online dynasty mode. My buddies and I have been clamoring for that for years, and it is finally upon us. Now all that stands in the way are $400 PS3's to enjoy it on.

It's a BOY!

2008-05-05T14:54:00.000-07:00

Come October, my wife and I will be welcoming Gunnar James Sloan into the world! We are both so excited it's a boy! We would have been happy with either sex, but both of us really, really wanted a boy. Plus, as an aside, it's wonderful for my family as none of my immediate family have boys to carry on our last name. It was always kind of "up to me" and I'm very proud my wife and I were able to come through in the clutch. Now, we simply pray for a healthy baby and a easy and trouble free delivery. I'm so stoked though...I'll be able to be a kid again, buying Transformers and G.I.Joe's. :) Of course, we have a TON of baby stuff we need to get done before Gunnar comes. We need to get the baby room painted, which of course means we need to get the kitchen finished! I can see why home improvement is a big thing for couples (especially if they don't already have hobbies). It gives you so much to do.

In other news, I'm very proud of one of my best friends in the world, Stephen D. Robideaux, whom just graduated from Tulsa's school of law and will (hopefully) be moving up here to the city amongst the plains. My wife and I will actually be enjoying a little mini-vacation to Fayetteville this weekend to participate in all the graduation festivities. That should be great...we always have a fun time in F-Town with Stephen and Heather.

Babyland

2008-04-23T06:53:00.001-07:00

The other day my wife and I got to hear our baby's heartbeat on the Doppler which was very cool! It sounded a lot like a submarine engine you hear in movies like "U-571" or "The Hunt For Red October", but I would imagine being inside another human will do that to you. Our next step is Tuesday...when we will hopefully find out the sex of the baby. We are so excited to find out so we can begin planning our baby's room and theme. Between now and the ETA there is a lot to do, but I'm confident we'll handle it without any trouble.

In other news, we go on our cruise with my family in a few short months. Wow, what an interesting experience that will be. I've always wanted to go to the Caribbean (albeit to either stay, take up piracy, or both) so it should be a great time. I feel bad that my wife is going to be pregnant during the trip as I'm sure she would have rather been able to enjoy swimsuits and all the other things associated with a cruise, but I know that both of us are happier we're pregnant than anything else.

Additionally, it's really cool that the cruise is in celebration of my parents 50th wedding anniversary! That's a really long time, and we both feel that it is not only an amazing milestone, but definitely one to aspire to.

Busy, Busy

2008-04-21T09:20:00.000-07:00

With the new house, design projects and out busy time of the year at work things are going nuts right now. Plus, we have the added excitement and preparation for our little one who will be born in late September or early October. My wife and I might even be able to find out the sex today, so that will be really cool if we can. I gotta say I am really looking forward to being able to start buying and decorating for one sex or the other, but do not look for us to be using any pink or light blue. That tradition is so outdated and non-creative.

In other news, I did finally manage to finish getting our kitchen painted this weekend although the task of unpacking the remainder of our boxes still eludes me. Customizing a house is some work...and we have lots of things we want to do to ours. I think our next room to move on will be the baby's, especially if we can find out the sex today. Of course, we still have trim and cabinets in the kitchen to be done so I'm quite sure that will encompass a few more weekends before it's done! :)

Fall

2007-09-05T13:01:00.000-07:00

Summer's officially over, and Fall is coming on in like it owns the place. That's OK with me...I've come to discover that as much as I like Summer, I life Fall even more. Why? The clothes for one. I dig the hell out of a nice hoodie sweatshirt and some long sleeve apparel. The nice thing about Fall as well is that it ushers in two of my favorite things...football and Halloween.

I decided to finally get my college football blog back up and running, only instead of trying to devote the time it takes to cover all of college football I went with a very detailed approach to my favorite team, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. I'm looking forward to breaking down each game the Irish have this season as they break in a lot of new faces and new talent.

Other than that, I'm searching for a new hobby and learning to use my new phone. I bought a Motorola Q off eBay, and it being my first PDA/Smartphone I have lots of features to pour through.

Franchisees

2007-08-24T10:50:00.000-07:00

Some friends and family of mine, as well as myself, attended the Chiefs vs. Saints game last night at Arrowhead and taking in the whole experience (since the game was outright boring as hell) it got me thinking. If you know me, or have been following my blog, you know that for some time now I have been trying to select a new NFL franchise to adopt in a "casual fan" way. I used to be a HUGE NFL fan, but after many years I gravitated more toward the college game and couldn't be happier. I am a die hard Notre Dame fan, and will always be a bigger fan of the college game than the pros from this point forward. However, the NFL is so big and such a grand stage, and is football afterall, it almost forces one to care about how some team does. I used to be a 49ers fan, for quite some time and in very obsessed fashion I might add. But over time, the team and it's direction grew away from me and my interests until there was finally nothing left for me there. I didn't so much abandon them as they abandoned me. After spending many months pondering other teams to root for, and even initially setting out to root for whichever team drafted Brady Quinn (sorry, Cleveland is NOT an option), I settled on the Buccaneers.

Tampa Bay is fairly awful right now, but that is irrelevant. What I prefer to focus on is the team concept, the uniforms and logos, the players...a lot of the intagibles you'd expect an artist to dwell on. Anyway, fast forward back to the game last night. I just can't imagine ever being a Chiefs fan...and I live in KC! I just can't. I can't fathom rooting for a club that is so egregarious with it's fan base. Kansas City has an ENORMOUS following...very loyal, always willing to pay whatever it takes to get tickets to the games or buy merchandise and concessions at the stadium. And for what? A mediocre product? The Chiefs have won one Superbowl since it's inception and haven't even so much as sniffed another title shot since. Not realistically. Loyalists will point to the '93 season with Montana and Allen, but that's a fallacy. Do you think, if either wasn't washed up already, they would have come to a small market town like KC? Not a chance. The Chiefs made a quick appearance as the first victim for Indianapolis last season, but they hadn't seen the playoffs in five years prior to that.

Arrowhead has this planned "renovation", which in reality is nothing more than adding a facade and renovating the concession stands (although they say it's going to give fans all the ammeneties of other stadiums around the league. Yeah, right.) It's a shame...the Chiefs have an unbelievably loyal and proud following here in Kansas City...it's a shame that the organization doesn't take better care of their fans and it's a shame the fans let them get away with it.

So, anyway, I'm not quite sold on Tampa as a team to root for and I cannot figure out why. I tried to contemplate this last night while watching the Saints slap the taste out of the Chiefs mouths. The problem with the NFL (in my mind) is that you either root for a player(s), a team from where you live, or you randomly pick some team you like because of logo, uniforms and players. That's how I arrived at the 49ers when I was a teenager. I dug their unis, players and play style. I was hooked from there on out. But, as I grew older and learned about football (and I mean a lot about football), I got into other styles of teams. Then, the Niners ditched everything that was Forty-Niner like and began to demolish the roster and way of running a team and that was it for me. Dr. John York decided to burn the ship down...I didn't stay on board to find out if the ocean would put the fire out.

I know college football is more important to me, and always will be. I find comfort in that actually. Fall Saturdays are my football Sunday. But, the NFL and it's hype machine is next to impossible to ignore. And really, how much do I want to (or can I) invest in another team? Notre Dame is my love in football, and my main supplier of merchandise purchased. I don't need to add another club to spend a ton of money on, so that leaves casual fan status at best.

So...now I'm thinking perhaps I'll pick players to follow and not necessarily a team. I don't know. I do know this...I will be buying a real replica, sewn patches version of whatever team drafts Tom Zibikowski (my favorite college player in a long, long time). So maybe there's that as a future in the NFL.

Bringin The Heat

2007-08-22T09:01:00.000-07:00

So my wife has entered into a career type job which she loves, and is very good at, and I couldn't be happier. She is working as a counselor and staff member for a level five treatment facility taking care of at risk and abused teens. She has always wanted to get into taking care of children of various ages, especially ones at these critical points in their lives, so I am ecstatic she has found a good place to do it at. It also doesn't hurt they have trained her in self defense (something she will not allow me to do, even though I have five years of martial arts), crisis management and CPR among other things. She's making good money and has all the hours in the world she wants, so everything is A-OK on that front. As for me, I am continuing to spread the good word about my artwork. I contacted my old friend Dr. Daniel Fleming with the Apex Art Space about possibly doing a new showing.

Since my work was in the KCAC Rivermarket Regional show a little bit a go, I felt another Crossroads District show was definitely in order. Plus, I love the Crossroads area and it never hurts to get my work in front of the masses. I think this time I will actually have prints for sale on site, so even though I would expect little activity in this department, it'll still be nice to have available. I'm also going to be making more forays into the sculpture world soon, so that should be fun. I always said if I didn't have to worry about making a living as an artist I'd be a sculptor. :) I contacted my buddy Mario Mora about possibly showing with me as he has before and any time I ever get opportunities I like to extend them on to my fellow UCM compatriots. Gotta look out for the brothers and sisters out there fighting against The Man you know.

Revelations

2007-08-06T08:22:00.000-07:00

So my wife and I have been actively trying to have kids for awhile now, with no real luck to be seen. This is especially hard for my wife, considering her main thing in life is to become a mother. She'll make a good one, too. Last night, she found out her sister is pregnant after only having just started trying a very short time ago. Needless to say, that didn't help her feelings toward the subject. She's convinced there's something wrong with her physically or something, while I try to take a more positive approach and simply assume it'll happen at some random time. In reflection of this, I offer these poignant lyrics by Concrete Blonde that I think fit the subject quite well:

Say its been too hard
Say its been too long
You say its all too much
The thrill has long been gone
Well I thought you could
Yes I thought you could
And you thought you could too

But its a place and time
Where the years behind are piled up high
But never mind
Its time to crash and burn or fly
And I thought you could
You know I thought you could
You know I thought you could too

Go to sleep now
Go on dream away
Isn't easy is it, babe?
And I hope
And I dream
And I pray
That sometime
Well find a way

Some say easy come
Some say easy go
Some say time flies by too fast
Some say it drags on all too slow
Well I thought you could
You know I thought you could
And I thought I could too

But if you never find
The heart to start all over again
Remember I was one
Who tried to be a friend to you,
Well you know I tried
Yes you know I tried
And I know you tried too

Go to sleep now
Go on dream away
Isn't easy is it, babe?
And I hope
And I dream
And I pray
That sometime
Well find a way

As for the rest of the time recently, we've spent it getting settled, Kherstin getting into a new job (which I will elaborate on further in another post) and attending my family reunion. That is always a fun event, although I really don't know many of the people on that side of the family. On our way back we stopped by our family cemetery, which is located in secret (or so it would seem) deep in the Ozarks of Missouri. I can honestly say, if you did not know where this place was, you never would. Very quiet, peaceful and serene though. I don't know if my wife and I will ever lay there when our time comes...I prefer the idea of us being cremated and having our ashes mixed together in an urn of some time...probably of our own design. Just something about the whole burial process creeps me out. Probably that whole "death" part.

Makin' Moves

2007-07-18T07:44:00.000-07:00

The weekend was a hot, exercise filled endeavor since it was our move in date. I guess for the most part, things went pretty well. The new apartments we moved in to were furnishing a moving company, and while they were supposed to show up at 11:00 AM on Saturday, their management overbooked them. It was actually Sunday at 7:30 AM before we saw them, but once they got there the move went very fast. Of course, we had already made several trips of our own...but the important thing is the move got finished. Our new place is quite nice, and has a lot of wide open room. We moved down to a one bedroom place from a two, but this place has an extra half bath and the same square footage as our old two bedroom did...it's just laid our better.

Kherstin and I are both pretty dedicated to not only keeping this place spotless, but also being very organized with our approach to living there. We've been meaning to spend more time and money on our living quarters as we spend a lot of time there, but for one reason or another we just haven't in the past.

East Bound And Down

2007-07-12T08:37:00.000-07:00

loaded up and truckin', we goin' do what they say can't be done. We got a long way to go, and a short time to get there, we're east bound and down just watch 'ol Bandit run.

Well, actually I guess it's more correct to say we're West Bound and Down (for Kansas) but Jerry Reed never really sang about that now did he? Speaking of music, I'm currently listening to Lush's "Ladykillers". I swear, was there ever a better time for music than the 90's? I know a lot of older folks will sing the praises of the 60's and 70's...blah, blah. But seriously...it cannot be coincidence that the most interesting portion of the programming on our local alternative radio station is the "90's at Noon" segment. Plus, it seems like all the really good shit I dig up on YouTube was made during the 90's as well. Lush, Edwyn Collins, Space, House of Pain, early Tool and Helmet, Prong...the list goes on and on. I was never a big fan of Seattle rock, but that came out of that 90's era too, as did probably the best ever dance music and gangsta rap. I mean, when you sit back and reflect on the 90's versus the 00's, the 90's were bringin' da heat. These days, everwhere I turn there's remakes of older songs and TV shows into movies (or new TV shows). It's like no one does anything original anymore. Hell, I'm waiting for the inevitable Smokey and the Bandit remake. You know it's coming...starring The Rock as the Bandit and Sean William Scott as Snowman.

The Kansas City Artists Coalition Rivermarket Regional professional show opens tommorow from 5-8 PM in the Rivermarket area (of course), of which I am proudly a part of. I am very excited that both my pieces I submitted gained entry. It would be nice to sell both prints, and they are competitively priced for such an event so the idea isn't outside the threshold of reality, but the exposure and sense of accomplishment is what it's all about folks. If you happen to be in the KC area, and have a desire to see great art from a lot of talented people, then by all means...consider yourself invited.

Sparkle and Fade

2007-07-05T06:47:00.000-07:00

So yesterday as our country celebrated it's independence in the only way it truly knows how, by blowing shit up, my wife and I attended the annual gathering of the like minded at my buddy Tyler's. This was fun as it always is, but this year was a bit different. For starters, Mother Nature decided to treat us to a wonderful display of rain for the better part of the evening which meant the party as a whole was confined to the garage area. The other interesting development to this story is that it is the first fourth of July that I wasn't able to drink. I wouldn't recommend it. Don't get me wrong, the fourth and fireworks are all fun and games, but it certainly makes it much more entertaining when you are intoxicated.

Alas, my brain tumor doesn't mix well with alcohol, so none of that for me. All in all, this fourth of July party was by far the worst in the longstanding series and seems to point toward the event as an institution beginning to show itself threadbare. We're all getting older and more established in family life (and while that certainly doesn't keep us from enjoying the fourth, fireworks or a get together of our closest friends) we cannot run around like drunken idiots anymore. I can't anyway for the aforementioned health reasons, but I doubt any of us really would be. Lots of spouses, lots of kids.

I feel the saddest for my good friend Tyler though. It seems his whole world is changing around him and he has no say in the direction it's going. Most of his closest friends are all married now, most with children, and these obligations make spending time with him (or anyone else) outside of home life and work difficult. Of course, nothing in life is more constant than change, which is why it doesn't bother me anymore. Sure, when I was in my early to mid twenties I hated the idea of change. I loved my life the way it was and fought to keep all my friends around me and happy. But, time has it's way of doing what must be done. My buddy Bryan has moved to Omaha, NE to better his career. My friend Scotty has his wife and two kids now, and with as much as he works, they demand the majority of his time. My friend Patrick has his wife and three kids, although happily I do seem to stay in better contact with him these days than we used to (even if it is only through messenger or once a month flag football).

But Tyler...he is another story. Ever the staunch friend and ally, he has fought hard to remain in his town of choice and to try and keep up the rituals we've had before (like our once a week dinners and the fourth of July parties). But as Metallica wisely tells us, the hammer of justice crushes all. Eventuality always wins out. So in we usher our friend Change. Next year for example, my wife and I will be heading out to Topeka, KS to spend the fourth with her family. It's only fair, and I have no problem with that. But, some probably won't see it that way (and that's OK, they're entitled to think what they want).

I think one of the biggest things to learn from life is how everything is cyclical and everything changes to suit the different seasons of your life. Nothing lasts forever, and such is the way of things. You simply have to roll with the punches, adapt to the new adventures and challenges, and hold dear the memories of things used to be and look forward to what they will become anew in the future.

The Oldest of Schools

2007-07-03T14:34:00.000-07:00

Currently Listening to "Edwyn Collins - A Girl Like You"

I am totally stoked...my revision of my website is finally done as is my online store, so I can begin to sell prints of my work (hopefully). :) I also plan on placing a certain amount of these prints in my brother's wood products showroom as we really cater to the same clientelé. He sells items that dress up a home for those of means and what do you know? So do I. We're actually collaborating on a slim shadow box frame version of the display works to sell as a possible custom upgraded version.

The 4th of July is upon us, which means the opportunity to blow things up. I can't think of a more American tradition to be honest. It'll be nice to have the day off, to chill with friends and family, and enjoy not putting in the straight eight for a day. Here's hoping everyone out there in TV land cracks open a few cold ones for you AND me.

C.R.E.A.M.

2007-06-26T09:30:00.000-07:00

The old rap saying "Cash Rules Everything Around Me" generally rings true no matter where you are. It'd be nice if it wasn't the case, but in the capitalist society in which we live it just is. Of course, the thing is, it's that way everywhere else too. Dictatorships, communist countries...whomever has wealth controls all and that's that. I was watching a show (or re-watching, as it were) on the Knights Templar last night. These fine fellows amassed a ton of wealth before having the Kinf of France turn on them and label them heretics. See, I think where they screwed up was by not raising a massive army...the likes of which the world had never seen. With all that wealth came power and that power could have been sustained through controlled violence. It's what we do today, afterall.

Anyway, the past few days have seen me not doing too much. The weekend had a couple of nice BBQ's and some flag football, as well as some fun in the sun. Currently the wife and I are readying ourselves for the Kansas move and trying to get on top of our mounting medical bills. Man, health care is some expensive shit.

Word from tha 913

2007-06-20T13:22:00.000-07:00

My wife and I will be Kansans after all, and to be honest, I couldn't be happier about that. I have been wanting to leave Missouri for several years now and even though this isn't much of a move away, it's something. Previously, there was a cloud of uncertainty surrounding our move to Leawood as the apartments we were interested in had some incorrect rumors about them. Upon extensive research, we've found them to be quite nice and safer than what we were led to believe. So, armed with that knowledge, we can finally begin packing for our trek (albeit short) out west.

I also stopped in by Lifetime fitness the other day and WOW...that is, without a doubt, the nicest and most complete gym experience I have EVER seen anywhere. Not even in movies or MTV Cribs episodes have I ever seen a more awesome place to work up a sweat. Hopefully, we can find it in our budget to become members as we would spend A LOT of time there. It's exactly what my wife and I need to get back in shape and stay that way.

Run To The Hills

2007-06-18T12:25:00.000-07:00

This weekend was nice. Got to watch some movies ("Alpha Dog" and "Hannibal Rising", of which both were good), got to relax and detail my car (even though it's raining today), and generally chill out. Father's Day came and went with us doing the BBQ thing, and next weekend we have flag football in the Northland. Hellz yeah. My friend Bryan got promoted to manager of his own store, so he has now moved to Omaha, NE. That kind of sucks in the sense that he won't be here hanging with the rest of the crew...but, it's good for him. It's a promotion, a raise in pay, and a chance for him to gain some valuable independence. Hopefully he finds happiness in the Land of the Huskers.

The wife and I are still currently contemplating our move to Kansas. We just cannot decide what will be the best move for us as the place we live at now is supposedly much "safer" albeit farther from our jobs. I've put in emails to the apartment staff and police department inquiring about the state of affairs at this complex we're set to move to, so we'll see. Meanwhile, a pleasant war in the form of us getting caught up on our bills with the help of my family is steadily gaining ground. I'm getting my website updated slowly but surely, and it will certainly be ready before the KCAC Rivermarket Regional show goes up.

Safeguarding

2007-06-14T07:22:00.000-07:00

With the recent abduction and subsequent killing of a teenage girl in our area, all the parents here are on full alert. Witness exhibit A...my wife and I going to the park with her parents and some of their friends from church. The couple from church were completely freaked out about having their children playing on a toy set not thirty-five feet from where we were sitting. We had them in plain view for the duration, although admittedly the toy's immense size did leave a few angles blocked from complete view. However, I just thought this was so over the top.

Don't get me wrong...the girl's plight is horrible, as is the thought of losing your own child (and if I had kids I might act the same way this couple did), but at some point don't we have to let people live their life and stop coddling them? I mean, I work in an industry where we design toys for kid's meals and it's well beyond ridiculous the amount of "dumbing down" we have to do to toys to make them safe to every single type of possible injury. We are so concerned that a child might harm themselves with a toy that we have become sissified. The very same threats have always been there...abduction is nothing new, kids choking on toys, etc. It's just nowadays, we place kids in a protective bubble so stifling it's amazing and we neatly package it as "protecting their best interests" or "making progress where previous attempts failed".

I say it's bullshit. The world has become lazy in it's parenting. Take for example the couple from last night. If they were so concerned about their children's possible abduction (from one of the safest suburbs in the area), instead of limiting them usage of this big toy why not get up off your butt and go play with them? Why not frolic in the park with them and be, oh I don't know, a PARENT!? Why is it the child has to suffer because people are too stupid or lazy to raise their kids? It's just like the safety precautions we follow with our toys we design. When I was a child I could have easily choked on a toy gun or accessory from a G.I. Joe figure or Transformer. But I didn't. And do you know why? Because my parents were smart enough to instill in me the good sense not to do that sort of thing. They also watched me and paid enough attention to me until the could sufficiently trust me to play on my own.

They did not let the TV babysit me, nor did they look to invent lawsuits for get rich quick schemes (like suing a fast food restaurant for your kid choking on a toy part when you, the parent, weren't paying attention). We always say the WW2 generation was so tough (and they were), then we say my generation was tough as kids, but this new generation is learning to be sheltered from everything. They cannot play with certain toys because toys have been redesigned because of lawsuits. They cannot go play down the street or across the neighborhood because of abductions. These threats have always been present, but we as a whole did a better job of raising our kids earlier than we do now.

We have to do better, because if we don't, not only will this generation become used to being sheltered and coddled, but what will future generations turn out like?

To The Rescue

2007-06-12T13:47:00.001-07:00

My parents were in town this week, which is always a welcome occurrence. They live on the East Coast, so anytime they can make their way up here I love spending time with them. This particular trip they have managed to help my wife and I out in a BIG way as we were really getting hammered by bills in general. We had debt and the usual expenditures per month as normal people do, but man...you add medical bills on top of that and it's just flat on. Oh, and as you could imagine...brain cancer is expensive! Eh, anyway, I am profoundly grateful for all the help they give us when they can.

From what I understand, my folks are going to acquiesce to my request of finding me a Honda to purchase and take my Sebring as a trade-in. It's not that I don't like my Sebring, quite the contrary in fact, it's simply the car is paid for and there's no reason to put more money into in when they can turn around and sell it with minimal work for a profit. Plus, I loved owning my Prelude I had before this Chrysler and I would love the chance to rock the big H once again. With any luck, they'll find a nice Civic or Accord for me as those tend to me my favorites amongst their line.