Is It Over Yet?

Dear Kerby,

Another holiday came and is already over and another one is about to begin. Last week we we just getting ready for Christmas. I was so excited because I had some nice CDs that people would like. I could not wait for a reaction whatever it may be.

My aunt came on the 23 to celebrate my dad's birthday. What an excitement we had celebrating it. We spilled drink, wore sombreros, ate more than we could and even got embarrassed. My dad loves going to Colima, a local Mexican restaurant, to celebrate as he gets up in age.

The next day, my dad's friends hosted Christmas Eve. This was rare because for years we had Christmas Eve with just my family either at my house or my grandmas.We did early diner at their house with a white elephant. I gave some home made burnt CDs but I ended up receiving a small pink bowl with colorful polka dots. No one I cared to trade with. Everyone liked Apples To Apples so we had to play it. Some players take forever to discard but it is meant to be a quick, fun, easy, game.

My brother and his wife were unloading the car as we just pulled up. All weekend the two of then argued and argued. People kept asking me to control their wild dogs. My response was, "Why are they not taking care of them?" It is always wild when the four of them come to visit.

The next morning I though I was going to get just one gift from my parents like everyone else. I get people just one gift and they should be glad that they get that out of me because some people get none. My parents overdo Christmas and make it too tacky.

It is all over now and so is 2010. It looks like my New Year's Eve party has been canceled. I have been going to my cousin's house for years and it looks like I have to find a new way to celebrate it or maybe they will invite us at last minute. I still have a New Year's Day Party to look forward to.

This next year I will try to produce more art and by doing that I have a new site where you can rack me, Half Colored. I know this will keep me busy every day. On a good not i have been keeping busy over my break with these pieces of art. Kerby, let me know what you think.

I would like to do some distressing on them to make them look as they came from a printing press or are screen printed when printed from a printer.

Talk to you later, Bluelaugh

Gone

Dear Kerby,

Every year I know I can not wait for the holidays because I get some family time. We have fun watching movies and playing games. Once you are in the act of doing it I feel it goes by so fast. Where did it all go? It feels like I just got home from school.

I was glad school was over because I struggled with some classes or that they went too fast. They could have been slowed down some from time to time. Why pack so much information into a class? If I could I would like to redo this semester over again. It started off and got going down by half way and that is where it landed. Their are many factors beyond yourself that need to change to also help bring it up. I know I will be refreshed and ready for starting new classes.

I had some things planned for my break but I do not know how it will go. Classes do not begin again till January 18. To me it seems like quite a long while. I wish we could go back sooner. I love living on my own and having my own place but at the same time I love living at home with my parents. They just need to realize I do not come back the same person.

For Christmas I received: money, an iTunes gift card, 3 records which two include digital downloads, a Snoopy as a painter ornament, 2 simple yet funny books, a limited edition Johnny Cupcakes Hockey shirt, a universal camera flash, and a camera mount for panoramic photos. I should not be mad because I directly asked for some of those gifts. I know I should not complain because we could do without.

Talk to you later, Bluelaugh

Everywhere

Dear Kerby,

Back when the internet first came popular in the '90s people did not know how they felt about shopping online. Today, we have something known Cyber Monday. This is where people love to shop online and find deals.

At the start of the computer industry one button click and everything was gone. On the internet one click and someone has information in seconds. My mom hates the computer. Anymore the whole world is on the internet/computer. She got a statement from the bank that said everything is online. She rather go in and talk to someone. No once will she set up an online account.

Before I went to school this year I got a new account because my bang was bought out. I am online all the time checking my statements and transferring funds. I have to use my debit card of I care to use my account because the bank limits us on the number of checks we can use. For any even or holiday I enjoy shopping online because you can find the one-of-a-kind gift to fit that one-of-a-kind person. Even when you shop at the store they will always tell you they have more options online.

Somethings my mom will never do for she is either set in her ways or is an old fashioned woman. One of these days I have to tell her that the world is changing an she has to change with it (unless you want to be Amish).

I love my mom but some times you have to know when enough is enough. Do you know anyone that you love but will try to do anything for you and sometimes does not realize it does not turn out right?

Talk to you later, Bluelaugh

Hired

Dear Kerby,

Have you ever tried to look for something and you can not find it. I am not talking about your car keys. It is more like the wanted ads for a job. Last year I applied at almost every open position I could at the mall. No such luck. This summer I would like to have a graphic design job.

Browsing the internet, as I do quite frequently, I found a website that showcased various graphic design jobs in the Chicago area. This lead to me looking all over the internet for a graphic design/illustration job or intern. One add noted that you must have 4-5 years experience. I am curious to how you find this experience. Another stated that I must be knowledgeable in a Mac. That must be why more graphic designers use them. I know I have to be efficient in at least 4 of the Adobe programs including: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Dreamweaver. I would say I know 2 1/2 out of the 4.

In most cases I learn and gain more knowledge with every project/client I take on. Each time I do a design I try to find a style I would I to do and one that would fit the project/client. When I did a book cover I tried watercolor and when I did a logo I tried my hand at a period piece from the '60s. Right now I am not like Shepard Fairey where you can spot of of his piece a mile a way.

Right now I want to end up doing what I love. Who does not want have that happen? Over break I plan on teaching myself some more art and some new things so I can get ahead in life and start making some money this summer and even straight out of college in a few years time. Having fun is the biggest part because I want a no pressure job.

Talk to you later, Bluelaugh

Sing Song

Dear Kerby,

Almost two summers ago LaPorte, IN (where I live) an even known as Second Saturday. Second Saturday is where the second Saturday of June - August businesses that close at noon stay open till night. People get to support the town and the little shops and restaurants. Who knows why they have to close at noon?

These places are not only open but they support local music. This is when my dad and I began to joke around saying that the two of us can do that, meaning we can play music. My dad knows how to play guitar because he was once in a band. I have recording or his records on my computer. Surprisingly, I know how to sing if I actually have to.

Somehow we continued to talk of this musical idea and group/band names cam up. My day said Mojo and I told him he was Moe and I was Joe. This lead to calling it MoeJoe. This resulted in a band logo. I got the idea of 70s stripes as seen on the side of the van. I like the design but my colors are off. I would like a darker brown but not chocolate and more of a pea green but then have the orange fall in place. You know how designers can be picky. Yes, those are guitars.

This past summer I showed my dad some songs and made a playlist to have something to get started practicing on. A guitar and a singer, acoustic style, maybe two singers as needed.

1. I Will Always Love You - Dolly Parton
2. Father & Daughter - Paul Simon
3. Sea of Love - Cat Power
4. Fields Of Gold - Eva Cassidy
5. Mango Tree - Angus and Julia Stone
6. Dust In The Wind - Kansas
7. I Like Giants - Kimya Dawson
8. Worries - Langhorne Slim
9. Love - Great Big Sea
10. 59 Street Bridge Song - Simon and Garfunkel
11. Desperado - Johnny Cash
12. First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Johnny Cash
13. People Are Crazy - Billy Currington
14. The Sound of Silence - Simon and Garfukel
15. Make You Feel My Love - Bob Dylan
16. Sweet Pea - Amos Lee
17. The Wrestler - Bruce Springsteen
18. John Cockers - John Mellencamp
19. (Everything I Do) I Do It For You - Bryan Adams
20. Dance Naked - John Mellencamp
21. Trouble - Ray LaMontagne
22. Hallelujah - KT Lang
23. Aquarius - The Fifth Dimensions
24. I Love This Bar - Toby Keith
25. Landslide - Fleetwood Mac

Who knows what songs we will pick to start working on first. To me some are a little trickier to sing. What do you think? From the songs I picked how would you classify us as musicians?

Talk to you later, Bluelaugh

Let Go

Dear Kerby,

After Halloween I got right on to start my Christmas shopping. When do you star yours? I like having time to look around an find the just right gift. I hate when people wait till the last minute then do the gift card. Gift cards are nice if you really want them to have cash for just one place that they always go to a lot.

I am not one of those people who buy gifts in May and save them till Christmas. I have seen my mom do it many a time. She forgets she has it and buys another gift which results in finding it months later. This bugs me because you have gifts filling up the house.

My Christmas shopping is done. I got everyone a CD then after that I found some extra gifts. My dad wanted some skull fruit snacks from Ali. They were left over from Halloween. He enjoys them because they have a liquid cherry in the center. Early Christmas gift. More and more I saw the commercials for Just Dance 2 so I got it for my mom. This is get here to play the Wii more. She had to have it. Early Christmas gift. Bonus: we get to play it more during my break. Cyber Monday I got a good buy on some shirts with a hockey theme for my brother and I. Matching shirts! Some people get two gifts this year or an early one. December is the month to give; not just Christmas Eve/Day.

What are some gifts you got for people? What gifts do you have a feeling people will get for you? I am a early morning on the 25 first thing open gifts person (that is if my mom does not make me wait). When do you exchange your gifts? Secrete Santa, who does that any more?

Talk to you later, Bluelaugh

Question Time

Dear Kerby,

I feel that these are some questions I must answer:

1. What is one fragrance you can not live with out? Green Apple
2. If any former president could take place of the current one who would you choose? Nixon
3. What cartoon character best represents your life? Charlie Brown because I try so hard and my mistakes always come back to me.
4. If you had to watch only one sitcom and cartoon the rest of your life what would it be? If I knew the cartoon or sitcom would never end it would have to be Full House and Hey Arnold
5. What is one song you absolutely hate but you own anyhow? Let It Ride - Bachman-Turner Overdrive
6. Do you currently sell anything? I do occasionally get payed for doing art. I am currently trying to find a nice place online to open a shop where they print items for me as needed.
7. Have people said you look like anyone famous? I have heard a number of names from Harry Potter, The Grinch, Stephen King, and Andy Warhol. Oh, and when I had a bad haircut that one time it was Bill Gates.
8. If you could be in any sitcom which one would you choose and what character would you be? iCarly I would be Carly so I could make out with Griffin
9. Seeing anyone lately? No. I wish I was. I see some many people that would be nice for me.
10. If you could have written any song what would it have been? Time For Me To Fly - R.E.O. Speedwagon
11. Do you have a favorite holiday candy? Any falvoured candy cane. Not the traditional ones. For example: Gobstopper or Starburst.

If you have any other questions feel free to ask me. I enjoy answering them for you. Someday I may have some questions of my own for you. Wouldn't that be nice?

Talk to you later, Bluelaugh

Big Money, Big Money, Big Money

Dear Kerby,

When you are in a time of high school all one does is live off rumors. When you get into the real work one realizes that they are all over the internet. I am talking about the new rumors of the Apple iPad. The newest one is that by spring of 2011 it will have a camera similar to the FaceTime feature on the iPhone. The only way I know that this is true is when the Keynote video is on iTunes.

Over the summer I started saving an preparing myself for the purchase of an iPad until I heard that fall of 2010 was to bring an update to the product. The only update I heard of was multitasking. Every time you turn around Apple is updating on device or another. This makes it hard to know when to purchase.

If I do things correctly, over the next couple of weeks I will have more money set aside for the purchase of an iPad. If I buy one before the end of the year I might get a refurbished one from Apple.com or one many of the Mac/Apple sites I currently get emails from. When and if I get an iPad I know two accessories: a card reader where I can use the it as a digital frame, and a nice case to protect from scratches and drops.

Kerby, What should I do? Should I buy the iPad as soon as I have the money or should I wait? How long should I wait? Once I have enough money, that money will only be for the iPad and it will not be going anywhere until I purchase one.

Talk to you later, Bluelaugh

Dun Da Dun Done!

Dear Kerby,

I have taken many computer classes and I get disgusted at some things. People take the class but then they mess around on the computer doing games or social media. Why are you in the class if you do not want to work on the project?

When I was at Columbia I knew teachers who would kick you out of class for doing other things on the computer than class work. If I were the teacher I would kick you out. The thing is, I spent all my class time on my final project while other were messing around. Today, I herd them say someething like, "I should get working on the project."

In the end, if you took all the projects and shuffled them around and looked at them (without names)you would come up with a just way of judging them. Would would me looking at them based on talent, use of the computer and how well one followed the directions. This is my stamp. Kerby, do you think of the squid and what do you think of my complaining?

Maybe today or Monday I have to go back to school and talk about my project from last night and how it failed to get turned in on time. I had some problems with the program. Who knows what happened and what went wrong but I was oh so close to being done and handing it in. I will be glad to not have to deal with Autodesk Inventor for a while.

I need to set some time aside tomorrow on Saturday to review for my math final on Monday. I would be so disappointed if I came this far and did not pass. The class was not that bad but it was the teacher that taught it or more likely how she taught it. A few classes ago we had a sub who had taught the class before. The sub mad the class more enjoyable. I wonder were I would be if I had taken the class with a teacher like her? You can have the dullest, unfun class ever but it is all in how you present the information. One has to remember that not everyone learns the same way.

Talk to you later, Bluelaugh

I Tried

Dear Kerby,

You might have never seen me like this before. I went to school last night to work on my final project. My dad chose a rotary telephone for me to create in the computer with Autodesk Inventor. Whatever I chose had to have a minimum of fifteen parts. While I was working on my project I almost started crying. For weeks I have been working on this project and I got error message after error message. I watched countless videos and studied the book. It took me about one hour to do the simplest part.

As I write you I am checking the grades on my assignments and marking them on my grade sheet. This sheet and my assignments go into my binder. In a few hours I go back to school hours before class and put the finishing touch on my project, I get to explode it. From what I know another student will be in the room to help me. When 8pm rolls around I present my final project and turn in my binder with my assignments and my CGT (Computer Graphic Technology) final of the phone. The other half of the class has a engineering final over another program next week.

This will make me so happy to be done with this class tonight for the final time. This means on to finishing my stamp for tomorrows class. My squid awaits to be turned in (I chose a squid as the animal on my stamp). This means once I am finished with that stamp I am done with that class.

Two classes down this week. A ton of free time next week. What to do? Please do not say shop. Kerby, I do not need to be spending any more money. I could continue some unfinished artwork. That would get me out of the snow. When you see my mom, tell her I am not avoiding her and I love her very much so.

Talk to you later, Bluelaugh