Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Okay, so I started a blog...


Okay, so I went and started a blog. Why? A few reasons. I'll start with the most pathetic: being stuck at home all summer, I felt myself constantly drawn to the affections of my Macintosh G4. Not that being a stay-at-home dad isn't awesome...for the first week. But I go from being in school full-time for two years and, at the same time, working whatever odd jobs I had throughout that period, to staring at a bald-headed kid all day. Don't get me wrong, she's awesome. And I love being a dad. And she's got one hell of a personality. And I would rather be "stuck at home" with her all day, than without her. But she poops. And she also throws up sometimes. And she needs to be fed with a spoon. And she doesn't like to eat at Papa Keno's. But she does seem to like my music (I think she's mistaking Tom Waits for the Cookie Monster, but at least she's listening to him). But, back to this whole obsession with the computer thing. I remember when the internet first came around in the late nineties. I was with my friend, Beau, at the offices of the JCCC Campus Ledger, where he was the residing cartoonist. I just remember being amazed by all the information at my whim, and exclaiming to him that "I'll never be bored again." And why would I be? Think of something, put it in Google, and read everything there is to read about it (fact or fiction). Well, like all things, the internet has become something that's part of our daily lives and we now take it for granted. It's like a toy you got when a you were a little kid. You promised yourself that you would never, ever get tired of that Indiana Jones action figure. And, what happens three months later? The fascination has worn off. Well, after five months of being home with Audrey, I would have given anything for my old Indiana Jones action figure.

Anyway, you'll find that I ramble quite a bit, as there's nobody around to stop me from doing so.

This summer, I was hoping to dedicate to finding work in the field of art education, as well as freelance graphic design. Five months and numerous applications later, I'm still without a teaching job. I did, however, rope a position as a paraprofessional at the Shawnee Mission School District. I figured if there was any one school district that I would want to do any non-teaching work for, it would be SMSD. Afterall, they have the best benefits, best pay and best fine arts department in all of the KC area. This way, I'll already be working for the district when an Art position does open up. As for freelance, throughout the shameless self promotion, and despite the occasional bouts of depression, I was able to obtain a steady contract illustration job for a local clothing company. Oh yeah, and I've been working part-time at Michaels in the framing department, puttin' that Bachelor Degree in Art to good use. It's not that many hours a week, but it gets me out of the house on some evenings and weekends. The irony is that this all happened within the past couple of weeks--i.e. the END of the summer. The other irony is that I'm starting this blog at the same time...when I no longer have any time to write in it.

Being a slave to my computer, I found myself drawn to checking emails, other people's blogs and message boards about every five minutes. All of this with Audrey in my lap, trying to wipe snot on the keyboard. So I figured, why not put something out there myself. And it'll give me a chance to post stuff from my sketchbook.

7 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Swwwwwwweeeeeeeetttttttttttt blog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

02 August, 2006  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Another 'holy blog of obligation'
to add to my growing list. I look forward to being immensely entertained.

Frazier

02 August, 2006  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Love it. Finally, something worth reading while smothered in office politics choking down turbid coffee. Irresistible! Keep 'em coming.

02 August, 2006  
Blogger Steaming bowl o' Calderone said...

Welcome to the blogosphere (is that as pretentious as it sounds in my head?)! Glad to see you're enjoying some catharsis. BTW, 5 points to Milkshake for the use of "turbid". I can honestly say I can't recall the last time I heard/read someone use that. For that, I thank you.

02 August, 2006  
Blogger Mark Teel said...

Pete: That's a great pic of your dad. Was that taken during his short-lived restaurant venture back in the early nineties? As for Milk, she's a walking thesaurus. You should see her take apart the alphabet and put it back together again. It'll make your arm hair stand up!

02 August, 2006  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mark, I loved it! I especially liked the picture of Audrey (cute!) & the artwork you did. You did do the artwork, right? Of course - you're an artist! Loved it! I will check it again in a couple of days.

05 August, 2006  
Blogger Mark Teel said...

"Loved it?" You speak of it like it's in past tense. Do I abandon my projects that quickly?

05 August, 2006  

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