Ya know, I do feel fortunate and I haven't forgotten to appreciate what I've got going here. Here's the path I took, If you all want to get to know me and where I come from a little better. If not, that's cool to, go chrome or polish something.
Anyway, Went to Colorado State to be a Mechanical Engineer..1991, seemed like the thing to do, hell I grew up in a Machine shop, might as well. After a semester of that I realized that it was design I was interested in, NOT the mechanics. I wanted to design and draw. But hell, everyone knows you cannot make a living as an artist, but after talking to my Grandmother who was an accomplished Artist she convinced me to go the Fine Art Route. Glad I did.
But all is not roses, once I got outta College 1996 I couldn't find a job and hadn't really learned how to find one either. So needing to provide a stable income, healthcare etc for my New Wife 1996, and I, off to the Air Force I go. Lo and behold they had a Visual Information Specialty so that was a natural fit. While I was active the Wife finished her Math Degree with a perfect 4.0 and went on to Creighton where she carried a 4.0 throughout her Masters. Round about that time, after some wierd twists and turns I found myself getting out of the Air Force, slightly battered but good to go. 2000
-The Wife Landed us in Tampa and I found a position at Booz Allen Hamilton. This job kicked ass, decent pay, killer office, royal treatment. Lots of hours.
-Then I got lured away to another "company" 2002 to do some work that included lots of graphics and Photography and "Other" stuff for USSOCOM. Loved it and it paid really well, saw some cool stuff produced and designed some cool stuff.
I wanted the hell outta Florida though so when the wife got wind of an excellent opportunity in Washington I was like "hells yeah" 2005 so I walked away from everything I was doing (Surprised the Shid outta folks), packed my shid and hopped a plane. Took about a month off when we got here. Partially cause I couldn't find a position I wanted, and partially cause... I could. Finally got bored and decided that since I didn't really need to make money that working at a Bike SHop would be a lot of fun. So I started working as a parts guy. Then after a year the Artist that was on staff at CycleBarn left, 2006 and myself, a gentleman with his Marketing MBA, and To others, along with help from upper management have created a whole new Media Department and it's going great. Now I am back in an Office, Doing my thing, and it's fuggin sweet... I can work with Bikes, girls and fun stuff in my art and I still get a killer discount...
It's pretty cool and the pace is brisk so I am never bored. It's Ideal, 1.5miles form my front door to work. I am getting paid well, I get free Harley's, I get to draw, and to top it all off I get to photograph and work with models now and then... *Sigh* It's rough, but with all of your support folks I know I can do it.
There's the long and short of it. So far I have learned that hard work and risk taking will get you a long ways. I learned that if you can imagine it you can do it. I also learned that Luck plays a role BUT...
"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opporunity" True words...
Oh and Luck helps...
OK, Dunno if that helps any, or if this is all that logical, I got a head full of percoset (tweeked My back) so I am typing with mittens is how it feels...
Tomorrow is the actual competition. Should have more photos of the event, prep work and other stuff, in the upcoming weeks. Just been too busy to post up much...
