Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Big Time Sensuality


There's this fellow, he's poor. So he starts to pray. It's not one of those self-abnegating types of prayer where Tevya shouts at the Lord that it's no great honor to be poor. It's plain and simple, "Lord, please let me win the lottery today."

"Lord, Please let me win the lottery today."

"Lord, Please let me win the lottery today."

Every day, "Lord, Please let me win the lottery today." For ten years he faithfully recites his prayer and receives no response. Finally, after ten years of reciting this prayer, 3653 days (three leap years) the Angel Gabriel appears before the man, carrying a mighty gleaming sword, fiery eyes, and seriously ticked off look on his face.
"Dude!" Gabriel shouts, "Meet the Man half way! Buy a lottery ticket!"


Please, Lord, Let me get into art school in Chicago and be able to afford to achieve my dreams.

(Though, from a certain perspective...I can't afford NOT to achieve them.)


Sunday, August 05, 2007

The Sound of Rain

Today is an example of the speed bumps I occasionally run into during this journey of seemingly bottomless hope and trust in the God and my future. I am lonely...but not necessarily for people. (This is not to exclude my desire/need for human contact today, but rather to focus on the root of this loneliness). I feel alone in my struggles. I am scared of and intimidated by my goals. The other day, I was not at all daunted by my lofty dreams of becoming a freelance animator via higher education, growing into a famous artist (not necessarily world-wide but I'd like to be known of and sought out), a wonderful cook, an avid reader, entrepreneur, and citizen of a large community-stimulating city...(I dare to continue aching for Chicago.) It all seems like a mountain to me today, and I feel as though I've lost the appropriate gear. I pray this washes over me and that all I believe is in store for me will come to pass; that I have the strength and insight to grab onto the opportunities I find. That I never quench this fire inside.

I borrowed a few books from the library on the subject of Animation drawing. So far, it seems to flow with my dreams as an artist. I think I will find it is the facet of art I will enjoy most. So far, this has just been a guess. I am reading about success and failure stories from animators, and the necessary steps to take in order to enter this field. I seem to have already taken some of the steps, I just need to go a little further. I need to go back to school. I met my friend's brother last Thursday (he was visiting from out-of-town) and had a wonderful conversation with him about my situation. He told me of his friend Sam, who is an animator in San Francisco. Sam is a freelance animator and also works for a catering company. Is he successful? In my opinion, yes. He is doing what he loves and making it work with the catering job. I have his contact info now and his website URL to browse.

I desire a sense of security, yet I do not want to feel grounded...or stuck, if you will. I like the idea of traveling, having jobs that are changing with a variety of projects to keep my mind sharp and creative. When I learned of Sam, I was excited. The security I seek is not to have one job for the rest of my life. The security I seek is to have a flow of artistic opportunities and knowing that I am able to put myself out there to find more. I want to do what I love, make money from it, and have the confidence to grow with it.

I bought a drawing table with the intention of wearing it out.