"Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty"
The Holy Bible, Proverbs 28:19 ESV
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
I Wish
This is a song preformed (and I would assume written by) by Blake Gardner of the once existent rap duo called Pushmode. The song is called "I wish".
I wish. I wish.
I wish that I could handle,
I wish that I could sing,
I wish that I could be good example what a man should be,
I wish that I could make people understand my thought,
Forget people, I wish I could understand my own thought.
I wish that I could be a better Christian,
Wish that I could crawl inside your ears and make you listen,
I wish that my position wasn't here on a stage with a Mic, but it's the best way that I know that I can show you all the light.
I wish that I could learn to stop complaining,
Wish that I could learn to enjoy the weather even when it's raining,
And I wish that I could learn to love people, like I know you love people, but sometimes I need reminding that we're equal.
I wish that depression didn't run in my family,
I wish that a lesson could be learned from these casualties,
I wish that oppression could be ended everywhere,
I wish my nation would be changed by a prayer.
I wish that I was different,
I wish that I was better,
But I'm better off writin' off my wishes in a letter,
And I better not take my little wishes too far, cause my own wish is none to next to what you have in store.
I wish that I was different,
I wish that I was better,
But I'm better off writin' off my wishes in a letter,
And I better not take my little wishes too far, cause my own wish is none to next to what you have in store.
I wish my past didn't exist,
I wish that I backtrack and take back what makes me like this,
And I wish that friend would stop cutting her skin,
I wish she knew true beauty truly lied within,
I wish that suicide wasn't easier than life,
And I wish that you and I could sit down and make it right,
And wish I could play chess with my granddad again,
But he died of lung cancer and I'm stuck with the pen.
I wish that could toss my material things, just take up my cross and nod my head to the king,
And I wish that I could eat my own words with a spoon, but if I did that I'd be eatin' here until noon.
Assume just for a second I guess, what if we all got own wishes would it be like this? Or would greed supersede and everything fall apart? I think sometimes we take our own little wishes too far.
I wish that I was different,
I wish that I was better,
But I'm better off writin' off my wishes in a letter,
And I better not take my little wishes too far, cause my own wish is none to next to what you have in store.
I wish that I was different,
I wish that I was better,
But I'm better off writin' off my wishes in a letter,
And I better not take my little wishes too far, cause my own wish is none to next to what you have in store.
That's what I wish.
That's what I wish.
That's what I wish.
That's what I wish.
"I Wish" by Pushmode
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Careers
massage therapist $64,000
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art teacher $48,000
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state police trooper $57,000
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doctor $76,000
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chiropractor $73,000
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mechanic $39,000
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art professor $59,000
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studio artist $41,000
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painter $36,000
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team building facilitator $68,000
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graphic designer $59,000
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comic book artist $68,000
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computer programmer $75,000
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I do not know how accurate these estimates are. I think they are based on http://www.indeed.com/'s listing for those jobs by employers. I was brainstorming today though, thinking that I am probably going to need a better paying job than working in this factory for the rest of my life.
Some of these jobs have higher estimates than I anticipated. Like Studio artist. There must be some studio artists who are doing really well financially. And comic book artists seem to be in demand it looks like.
This all stems from me starting to look at apartments in the area and thinking "Wow. If I pay ___ for rent each month, plus ___ for car insurance, plus ___ for electric, ___ for gasoline and ___ for groceries and ___ for cell phone and etc. etc. .... there won't be much left over, based on my current average income.
Monday, August 12, 2013
Summer
Well, I've been working at CTS for about 10 months now. The 4 month probationary period at the beginning was the long part. Since then time has gone by pretty quickly.
Somewhere in my time there, a new guy named Wesley (who's also a Christian) got a job there. It's really nice having him there because he lightens up the mood in the workplace. He's always got a funny story or a joke or something to keep things light hearted. And God knows I'm the guy who needs to lighten up most of the time.
It seems like lately all I do is work. So, I haven't felt like I really have anything to blog about.
However, I recently (a couple days ago) went to my friend Evan's wedding. He talked with me for a little bit after the dancing got going and the official wedding events were largely over. He asked me if I was still doing that blog that I had started, and said that he had actually started a blog partially because of me doing my blog. He encouraged me to keep writing. So here I am, picking back up with the blogging.
Disc Golfing:
Well, I've started disc golfing with friends from time to time. It's fun. You throw these miniature discs which some people would call "Frisbees," (but I think Frisbee is a brand name. ... and they're not called that. They're called "discs" apparently. ... but if you call it a frisbee I won't hold it against you. .. I probably won't even correct you). Anyway, you throw the discs from the tee off location toward a large basket which may be a couple to a few hundred feet away.
Last night I got a birdie (which I think is two under par) on a par 4. It was really exciting.
It's great because you are in the great outdoors, doing something physical (as opposed to playing video games) together with friends, working on your arm strength and throwing techniques, and socializing. It makes a great activity (if you enjoy disc golfing that is. Thankfully, throwing things like horse shoes or discs seems to come somewhat naturally to me. If I was really bad at it, I might not have as much fun).
Art:
I must admit I have hardly been doing anything with drawing or painting or any of that recently.
Music:
However, I have been playing piano still. And since I recently bought a fancy android smart phone, I can now take pretty decent recordings of the music I play on my phone. They aren't studio recordings or anything, but it's a nice thing to have.
Bair Lake Bible Camp:
For those who have been familiar with the fact that I worked there. I am no longer employed at Bair Lake Bible Camp. However, on rare occasions I still do work for them in their Adventure Challenge Education programming (e.g. leading rock wall climbing activities, or high ropes course activities, etc.)
I was blessed ( and I do mean blessed. It was a blessing to be there) to attend half of camp as a camper last week. I attended Youth Week, which is the camp week for the college aged kids. We had some amazing worship times. I was able to talk with one of the adult counselors, Bruce, for a couple hours about some things I'm struggling with in life. I had some fun bonding time with new friends on a road rally. It was a great time. It also turns out that it is the last year that those directors for Youth Week will be directing that week. It was their 32nd year of directing youth week.
-Stephen
Somewhere in my time there, a new guy named Wesley (who's also a Christian) got a job there. It's really nice having him there because he lightens up the mood in the workplace. He's always got a funny story or a joke or something to keep things light hearted. And God knows I'm the guy who needs to lighten up most of the time.
It seems like lately all I do is work. So, I haven't felt like I really have anything to blog about.
However, I recently (a couple days ago) went to my friend Evan's wedding. He talked with me for a little bit after the dancing got going and the official wedding events were largely over. He asked me if I was still doing that blog that I had started, and said that he had actually started a blog partially because of me doing my blog. He encouraged me to keep writing. So here I am, picking back up with the blogging.
Disc Golfing:
Well, I've started disc golfing with friends from time to time. It's fun. You throw these miniature discs which some people would call "Frisbees," (but I think Frisbee is a brand name. ... and they're not called that. They're called "discs" apparently. ... but if you call it a frisbee I won't hold it against you. .. I probably won't even correct you). Anyway, you throw the discs from the tee off location toward a large basket which may be a couple to a few hundred feet away.
Last night I got a birdie (which I think is two under par) on a par 4. It was really exciting.
It's great because you are in the great outdoors, doing something physical (as opposed to playing video games) together with friends, working on your arm strength and throwing techniques, and socializing. It makes a great activity (if you enjoy disc golfing that is. Thankfully, throwing things like horse shoes or discs seems to come somewhat naturally to me. If I was really bad at it, I might not have as much fun).
Art:
I must admit I have hardly been doing anything with drawing or painting or any of that recently.
Music:
However, I have been playing piano still. And since I recently bought a fancy android smart phone, I can now take pretty decent recordings of the music I play on my phone. They aren't studio recordings or anything, but it's a nice thing to have.
Bair Lake Bible Camp:
For those who have been familiar with the fact that I worked there. I am no longer employed at Bair Lake Bible Camp. However, on rare occasions I still do work for them in their Adventure Challenge Education programming (e.g. leading rock wall climbing activities, or high ropes course activities, etc.)
I was blessed ( and I do mean blessed. It was a blessing to be there) to attend half of camp as a camper last week. I attended Youth Week, which is the camp week for the college aged kids. We had some amazing worship times. I was able to talk with one of the adult counselors, Bruce, for a couple hours about some things I'm struggling with in life. I had some fun bonding time with new friends on a road rally. It was a great time. It also turns out that it is the last year that those directors for Youth Week will be directing that week. It was their 32nd year of directing youth week.
-Stephen
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
CTS, Skateboarding, BBC
Job
I have been working at CTS for about a month and a half now. It's going well. The probationary period for getting into the union, which is UAW, is 4 months. So, I'm almost halfway through that now. A couple of the people who work there are Christians, which is encouraging. I eat my "lunch" with an older Christian guy named Don. He's been there for a good 25 years or so I think.
I say "lunch" in quotes because I work 2nd shift now, 3:30pm to midnight. So, my lunch break is at 8pm usually. It's not bad.
Art
Still painting the back of that skateboard. Been drawing pictures here and there.
Music
I have been playing piano in my free time, which has been fun. I believe God has given me natural talent in playing piano. However, I broke the piano the other night. The pedal that you put your foot on to sustain the notes when you're not pressing down the key, yeah. I was playing and then heard some clanging sound in the piano as something came disconnected (or so it sounded like). I rely on that pedal a lot.
Food
My parents and I went to an amazing pizzeria in Goshen, Indiana. It's named Venturi. Apparently, it has received a prestigous award or two for it's pizza.
Wow. Amazing. That's how I would describe the experience.
It was expensive. I must say that.
They make their own Mozzerela cheese every day by the way.
Leisure
I was given a new CD for my birthday. Good stuff. I have been skateboarding from time to time, and I'm starting to figure out how to do a kickflip. Sometimes I work on juggling a soccer ball.
I've been playing NBA Street vol. 3 again. Sometimes I can't believe how good the other teams are. The DJ/commentator for that game is amazing. I've been able to get together with friends more often now, which has been good.
Media
I have been using Twitter more lately. Also, on my way home from work I listen to BBC's Newsweek (I think that's what it's called). I get the lowdown on what's happening in the Middle East, Africa, China, Europe, and in "football," which we know more familiarly as soccer. It's interesting stuff.
I have been working at CTS for about a month and a half now. It's going well. The probationary period for getting into the union, which is UAW, is 4 months. So, I'm almost halfway through that now. A couple of the people who work there are Christians, which is encouraging. I eat my "lunch" with an older Christian guy named Don. He's been there for a good 25 years or so I think.
I say "lunch" in quotes because I work 2nd shift now, 3:30pm to midnight. So, my lunch break is at 8pm usually. It's not bad.
Art
Still painting the back of that skateboard. Been drawing pictures here and there.
Music
I have been playing piano in my free time, which has been fun. I believe God has given me natural talent in playing piano. However, I broke the piano the other night. The pedal that you put your foot on to sustain the notes when you're not pressing down the key, yeah. I was playing and then heard some clanging sound in the piano as something came disconnected (or so it sounded like). I rely on that pedal a lot.
Food
My parents and I went to an amazing pizzeria in Goshen, Indiana. It's named Venturi. Apparently, it has received a prestigous award or two for it's pizza.
Wow. Amazing. That's how I would describe the experience.
It was expensive. I must say that.
They make their own Mozzerela cheese every day by the way.
Leisure
I was given a new CD for my birthday. Good stuff. I have been skateboarding from time to time, and I'm starting to figure out how to do a kickflip. Sometimes I work on juggling a soccer ball.
I've been playing NBA Street vol. 3 again. Sometimes I can't believe how good the other teams are. The DJ/commentator for that game is amazing. I've been able to get together with friends more often now, which has been good.
Media
I have been using Twitter more lately. Also, on my way home from work I listen to BBC's Newsweek (I think that's what it's called). I get the lowdown on what's happening in the Middle East, Africa, China, Europe, and in "football," which we know more familiarly as soccer. It's interesting stuff.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Art, Art, Music and a Job Interview
Skate Art:
I've been entertained by and attracted to skateboarding in recent months. It's one of those, "That's so cool! I wish I could do that!" kinds of things. Well, my friend Trevor taught me some basics and gave me a skateboard and I started skateboarding. Somewhere in the process, Trevor decided to repaint the bottom of the skateboard that he later gave to me. We primed it white and then splattered orange paint down the middle of it. I eventually broke the skateboard, trying to do tricks on it, and my friend Brett gave me a new one. Now I'm trying to do my OWN paint job on the new skateboard. ... it's coming slowly, but it's coming.
Sandwich Art:
I am officially a "Sandwich Artist" again. I am working at Subway, bouncing between the Niles restaurants and the one in Edwardsburg. It was a little humbling to apply again at Subway, when my hopes were to be in Art College or at a higher paying job at this point. However, I began to see that this could be an opportunity to be faithful with the little that I've been given and then grow and build from there.
Music:
The Lord has given me talent in the area of music. Lately I have been playing piano at home in my free time. Half of the time I play or work on songs that I know from famous, popular artists and musicians. And at other times I make up my own tunes within the same keys that those songs are played. I was recently invited to play piano at an art gallery for an upcoming gallery reception. God knows if I'll be able to make it, provided I can get the evening off from work and nothing else comes up. It's motivating and exciting though.
Job Interview:
I heard back from CTS in Elkhart, they scheduled me in for an interview on Wednesday, and I went and intereviewed with them. They didn't offer me the job on the spot, but I may hear back from them in the coming weeks. I heard from one employee that it takes a while for such things to get done there.
The interview went well; thank the Lord.
CTS is a manufacturing place for electronic sensors for automobiles. They make sensors and are starting to make actuators (no I'm not sure what an actuator is well enough to explain what it is. Sensors tell the computer what is happening and moving. Actuators actually make things move. ... That's most of what I know about it). But it would be pretty good pay. $11.50/hr for the first year, and $12.50/hr after that. It'd be a UAW union job after the 4 month 'trial' period, complete with benefits and such.
:)
-Stephen
I've been entertained by and attracted to skateboarding in recent months. It's one of those, "That's so cool! I wish I could do that!" kinds of things. Well, my friend Trevor taught me some basics and gave me a skateboard and I started skateboarding. Somewhere in the process, Trevor decided to repaint the bottom of the skateboard that he later gave to me. We primed it white and then splattered orange paint down the middle of it. I eventually broke the skateboard, trying to do tricks on it, and my friend Brett gave me a new one. Now I'm trying to do my OWN paint job on the new skateboard. ... it's coming slowly, but it's coming.
Sandwich Art:
I am officially a "Sandwich Artist" again. I am working at Subway, bouncing between the Niles restaurants and the one in Edwardsburg. It was a little humbling to apply again at Subway, when my hopes were to be in Art College or at a higher paying job at this point. However, I began to see that this could be an opportunity to be faithful with the little that I've been given and then grow and build from there.
Music:
The Lord has given me talent in the area of music. Lately I have been playing piano at home in my free time. Half of the time I play or work on songs that I know from famous, popular artists and musicians. And at other times I make up my own tunes within the same keys that those songs are played. I was recently invited to play piano at an art gallery for an upcoming gallery reception. God knows if I'll be able to make it, provided I can get the evening off from work and nothing else comes up. It's motivating and exciting though.
Job Interview:
I heard back from CTS in Elkhart, they scheduled me in for an interview on Wednesday, and I went and intereviewed with them. They didn't offer me the job on the spot, but I may hear back from them in the coming weeks. I heard from one employee that it takes a while for such things to get done there.
The interview went well; thank the Lord.
CTS is a manufacturing place for electronic sensors for automobiles. They make sensors and are starting to make actuators (no I'm not sure what an actuator is well enough to explain what it is. Sensors tell the computer what is happening and moving. Actuators actually make things move. ... That's most of what I know about it). But it would be pretty good pay. $11.50/hr for the first year, and $12.50/hr after that. It'd be a UAW union job after the 4 month 'trial' period, complete with benefits and such.
:)
-Stephen
Saturday, August 4, 2012
This Summer and Fall
Hello, readers.
For the past two months I have been working as an intern at Community Baptist Church of Edwardsburg. Things have been going pretty well. I am learning to manage my time better. I still feel like I waste some days. Other days are very productive.
We are currently painting murals on the walls. We have almost all of the Creation days painted, I believe. Adam and Eve being sent out of the garden of Eden is getting close to done. The birth of Christ has some color painted on it, and the Death/Resurrection mural has only just been drawn sketched onto the wall (at least last time I saw it). My friends Maddie and Becka have been a great help. They have done most of the painting so far, which has allowed me to be manager/concept artist.
We are currently painting murals on the walls. We have almost all of the Creation days painted, I believe. Adam and Eve being sent out of the garden of Eden is getting close to done. The birth of Christ has some color painted on it, and the Death/Resurrection mural has only just been drawn sketched onto the wall (at least last time I saw it). My friends Maddie and Becka have been a great help. They have done most of the painting so far, which has allowed me to be manager/concept artist.
On the art topic (school-wise), there have been several developments.
I currently anticipate not going to college this fall, or in the near future for that matter. At least, full time enrollment is not something I anticipate. Due to a conviction about student loans and debt, which I’ll get back to hopefully later in this post, I have sent my letter of regrets to both of the Art Colleges I had been pursuing. I sent my deferral of enrollment to Kendall College of Art and Design and to The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. In the meantime, however, CCS, the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, has contacted me. I applied there and have looked at the financial aid they've offered. The price is still too high. I need to see if there are businesses and people who would support me financially and cover some of the costs. If not, I don't think I'm going.
I currently anticipate not going to college this fall, or in the near future for that matter. At least, full time enrollment is not something I anticipate. Due to a conviction about student loans and debt, which I’ll get back to hopefully later in this post, I have sent my letter of regrets to both of the Art Colleges I had been pursuing. I sent my deferral of enrollment to Kendall College of Art and Design and to The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. In the meantime, however, CCS, the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, has contacted me. I applied there and have looked at the financial aid they've offered. The price is still too high. I need to see if there are businesses and people who would support me financially and cover some of the costs. If not, I don't think I'm going.
Plan B:
If God is willing, I will get a job somewhere in the area I'm currently living and earn up some money while working my way into the art world through making more of my own art, applying to art competitions, galleries, and art fairs.
If God is willing, I will get a job somewhere in the area I'm currently living and earn up some money while working my way into the art world through making more of my own art, applying to art competitions, galleries, and art fairs.
Part of this process also involves volunteering time at art related events, going to art fairs to talk to artists and do research, and just plain making artwork and doing research. Ask my friend Dave if I enjoy doing research. He'll probably laugh. My parents and many others have been helpful in this process.
Recent happenings:
I have visited a few art fairs with my parents and talked to a few artists, which has been helpful.
I have visited a few art fairs with my parents and talked to a few artists, which has been helpful.
My parents and I went and talked to a nice lady name Lilly, down in South Bend, who is moving out of the country and sold me a lot of her art supplies, including a very portable easel, lots of chalk pastels, oil pastels, and some acrylic and watercolor paints, as well as a box for my oil paints, which included a painters palette. I did not have an oil paint palette, so it’s a wonderful addition to my supplies.
Since then I have been drawing pictures in my sketchpads, playing a little with the chalk pastels, and a little with the oil pastels too.
Interestingly: I pulled out my watercolor paint palette to get a brush, which was sitting with my paints. I was surprised to see my crimson paint looking a weird tan color. ... then I realized it was a fuzzy tan color. I'm pretty sure my watercolor paints have grown mold. ... I've never seen that before.
Alrighty.
Talk to you later.
Talk to you later.
-Stephen
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