Onward and Upward

A new year offered unexpected opportunities and challenges. When talking to a friend from school who just graduated, he explained that he was going to attend the Academy of Art in San Fransisco and achieve his Master's Degree there with their online program. I had thought seriously about the same thing a year earlier and opted not to do attend due to questions of affording it. From several ponderings, prayers and talks with individuals I decided to go the doctors route, and live on loans until my degree was finished. The Academy has an impressive placement program, and I otherwise could teach on the university level with a Masters. I am impressed more with what a Masters is economically nowadays as well, since a Bachelor's isn't what it used to be. I had several points of unfinished ability in my artistic learning I wanted to formally achieve as well. The business of art is difficult to apply onesself to also. Art is simple enough for me, but the business side of things is a migrain headache for me. My wife is currently enrolled in the school I finished at, BYU-I, and has 4 semesters to go. I do not want her to wait to finish either. We are not getting younger, and by the time our kids are old enough for us to go back (pending on the number of kids we have too) we will have lost so much time, energy, and application of the education. It means that life is complicated and tough, but we are people of faith, and we work with the goals we have to better ourselves. Whatever else falls out of the picture we strive primarily to stick together as a family, have a home, transportation, and education through the work that we do. We will hav a more competent internet connection this Thursday installed to handle the school loads, and we will be purchasing a computer for me so that my wife can have her computer to do school work on. With the obviousness of Loans we have opted to handle some also obvious outstanding financial needs during the demands of schooling. The kids are still adjusting to the move and the stresses of life. Everything has happened. From Taylor cutting Elizabeth's hair, Taylor getting really sick, and car wrecks ( nobody was hurt) that cost 3200...thank goodnes for insurance and a 250 deductible! Also my car is dead, or more appropriately, my fuel pump most likely. The only way to fix that, is to wait for the summer when it is warmer though. The house is in better shape, but still needs a lot of work. We found out the electric bill was about 70, but that the gas bill was 270!!! Needless to say, we were a bit shocked. a 650 or 700 3 bed rental apartment utilitis paid doesn't sound too bad anymore. Remember, this is Rexburg too, very few people make more than 9 or 10 an hour, and most make minumum wage at best. Well, the excitement of school has only just begun, and I will see if the Loans can cover us with the help of some freelance jobs, or if I will need to continue on with part time Walmart. I would really rather not work at Walmart, but all advice from others says to keep jobs, because they are so hard to get into to begin with...and Walmart is a good company apparently in this economy. Best of Luck to everyone, and keep your spirits up. Help someone in need, take a walk and think, sharpen your blade before you try to cut down the forest, and say your prayers. Later.

Moved!

At first I thought I would move my office last and not bother my family and friends with the "stuff" that is so difficult to move. Well, it took the better part of a week and a half to move it unfortunately. Family came over and we moved most of the belongings we have on a Saturday a couple of weeks ago. Fortunately enough it was before the snow fell, and it was a nice day to say the least. We were all surprised at the good weather. Now that being said, when I moved all the paintings and artwork that is so difficult to move tonight...it was snowing and blowing at around 10 degrees above zero. Thank goodness my friend Brent helped with some of that. It takes forever. The kids have had a hard time keeping out of the things laying all over the new house. It is a REAL mess. I ought to take a picture of the before and after to give a better idea perhaps. Last Sunday, we had a bunch of friends over for dinner and games. That was pretty nice actually, and would have been even better had we had the whole house together :) We are so fortunate to have found this home. We don't know what the utilities will amount to yet, but at 400 a month, we could not argue for a 3 bed home of our own. It is pretty old and is settled in quit a bit. We are warm and have a roof over our heads. I hope we can afford the expenses of life. Well, I am really tired, so Sleep must take priority here. More to come I'm sure. Later all.

A better explanation

So, for anyone wanting some better details of what is going on, to avoid redundancy, look at my wife's blog http://williams-zoo.blogspot.com/ to see our current situation. Other than that, I am really stressed and upset most of the time. I really hate being sleepy all day long and missing the sunshine. My life feels really ridiculous right now, and I feel pretty depressed about it right now. I'm not quit sure what to hope for except what I know I want for my wife and kids to be provided with...which is my responsibility. I've been sick for about two weeks now to one extent or another, and I have some nervousness about work since the biggest shopping days of the year are coming, and Graveyard freight is going to be a monster, and the people I work with will also be edgy I imagine. As incredibly uncomfortable as I am, I plod on regardless. I know few people who are having it easy at this time in history, so I know I'm nothing special. I just worry that I will fail this test of my faith...I'm so far passed my limits, which I passed during the summer and went beyond months ago. Here is hoping I survive, that we all survive without losing our minds, or worse. Take care everyone...please take care.

Struggling

So, after two weeks of the world being turned upside down...or starting to go in that direction, things still have not fallen into place quit yet. My wife and I found out two weeks ago that our landlord was going to cut his losses and move out of his house ( which we live in also), try to sell, but otherwise rent out both levels of his home to siblings. His house is poorly zoned for only 1 family, so siblings is the only way. Regardless, it put us both in a serious pinch. Mere days before that my wife found out that she was accepted to school again and finally wanted to go and finish. The day after we found out, Nadia had our third child, Shannon Alexandria Williams. So, with an infant, 5 weeks roughly, nowhere to move to, and no time to do so...........we have just kinda sat here. Of course we have looked for places to move to, but every single one is beyond our capacity to pay for right now. We could have moved in with my folks in the little town adjacent to where we are, but all they have is one little room for the five of us to live in, and they also have a cat and a dog. As concerned as we are with the newborn and the animals, firstly, Nadia is allergic to cats! We've had our own place for so long though, and we already have lived with my folks once already...She won't do it this time. On top of that I was just in the process of going from nights to days at Walmart. I have had a really hard time adjusting to Graveyard shift there. Not that I have any trouble while I am there with the people or the tasks I have, but I really end up as a true grouch during the day...and I sleep poorly, and all day when I am home. I miss my wife literally, and she misses me even though we are in the same household. She is also taking care of three now, and I worry about not being able to help her at all...either in the day or the night when I am not even there. (sigh) We started to work for Meleleuca days before the news also. For anyone who doesn't know, Nadia was working for them before I got my Job at Walmart. She was in the call center working part time while I took care of the kids at home. When she stopped working to come home and be mom, we lost the products we used to get from Meleleuca, so we signed up as preferred customers to recieve them. We save money by buying from them and they are safer for the environment and our kids. Also, we can refer famiily or friends to use the products and actually make money for the advertizing. Potentially it can be a complete income with enourmous possiblities......we are just so short on time and energy. Just like today, I could have gone out and talk to some family, friends, anyone and told them about the Meleleuca Products, but I came down with a serious fever and flu. So I was in bed all day long. We are about to the end of our patience and hopes. With the economy so far down as well, it is dangerous for everyone it seems. Good luck to us all, and God bless.

Alien Friends

Just an update on these guys. I was hoping to finish them to enter into the CGSociety's Expose 7 but won't be able to since we must move in two and a half weeks. Will post progress as I go...if I can find an internet connection after we move. Later

Tracked Down

This is the image I did for the CGSociety Uplift Universe Challenge this summer, but with some new work to the ruins in the background that were sadly underdone. I may also rerender the tree roots, but so far I am much happier. I am entering it in the Ballistic Publishing Expose 7 soon, so keep a watch out for me! :)

Happy Halloween!

So, for Halloween my son said he wanted to be Optimus Prime. After some thought, I decided to go ahead a try it. I found the toy transformer and overlayed my son and the toy as seen here to get an idea of what I might be able to do. Originally I was going to use cardboard, but changed my mind to blue construction foam.


Here you can see the first stages of the costume in blue foam. I was uncertain how to finish the effect since blue foam dents pretty easy, and on a 4 yr old it wouldn't last long. My wife suggested Spandex over the foam in the color of the character.
As you can see, the spandex was a great idea. We got a red long sleeved shirt and gray sweats to go underneath. Nadia sewed the blue and red spandex to go over the foam (amazing skill I tell ya) to finish the effect. I accepted the fact that I wasn't going to get a box form for the chest with so little time left, and I wasn't sure how well it would hold up to him sitting back on it. So, I decided on a chest plate. Nadia simply applied velcro to the back of the plate and front of the shirt so I was removable but would stick. My daughters outfit was simpler, a ballerina. As you can see, they are both really happy :)All in all, he loved it even though I didn't finish it. He would really like me to make the head/helmet still. I have plent of foam to do it, just not a lot of time. We'll see. The bottom one has the fabric colored windows and arms, also with autobots icons on each shoulder I printed off. I hope it is a good memory for them both. I pretty much slept through most of halloween since I work graveyard, but I was able to at least make this much of his costume. :) I don't know how we're going to scrapbook this one?

New Title image

So, some of you may notice my title image has been implemented here.  If not, take a closer look...it used to be blue like my brushdragon site :)  I may refine the rest of the blog, but for now, it is good, or maybe I will change the whole thing.  Who knows, stay tuned!

Brown Background:

So, I thought I would try a dark brown background instead of the black...I think I am tired of the really dark blacks. I would like to add more light to the image I portray through my website.

LOTR inspired

So I was toying with a new color for my website...a lot of work if i did the whole thing of course
but something warmer for a change and inviting. I was looking at LOTR images and wondered at the warmth of the one ring and the idea of gold. This is two of the versions that I liked best. What do you think?