My Design won the Business Card Contest

Last week, a science fiction author, Tobias S. Buckell, had a contest on his blog to find a design for his business cards. The magnetic cards will be used to promote his upcoming novel, "Crystal Rain".

I submitted a design, and he picked my design as the winner. I am happy and excited that my design will be used and seen on his cards. I thought that all of the designs were very good so I am quite pleased to have been picked. Personally, I needed a small success to build on, as it has been frustrating and difficult lately.

Check out all the designs at the link above.

Just to get back into the habit

It was easier than I thought to fall out of my habit of regularly updating my blog.
I am just posting this short message in an attempt to get back into the swing of it.
If you're still out there...thanks for listening.

Living Every Day with Your Vacation Perspective

Kirsten Johnson at dream big recently returned from a road trip vacation.

In her blog, she comments on the feeling that comes from being "somewhere else" and the potential for bringing that home.

as i thought more about it i realized it's not exactly one thing, it's more a perspective. a relaxed, adventurous, awe-filled outlook on life. and i realized that if i can feel this on vacation, then i'm settling by not feeling it at home. i'm at home the majority of the time, and i love the experiences i have when i come from this perspective, so why not adopt it all the time?

a very wise friend once said to me in a conversation about life and how to make it what i wanted, "this is your life, kirsten. the things you did since you got up this morning, the places you'll go later today, this is it. this is your life." it has stuck with me ever since, that simple statement: this is your life. today, right now, this is it.

so i'm deciding to stop reserving my vacation perspective for traveling. i am choosing to be present, go for adventure and soak up the beauty and awe all around me - all the time.

I enjoy reading from her Blog. Check it out.

Focus Through The Project to Succeed (fttp)

Right now I’m supposed to be working on a screenplay for the science fiction short film I want to produce. Or I could be working on several short stories I am scheduled to submit as part of my yearly goal. But I got sidetracked -- again.

Currently, my latest obsession is developing a casual game in Flash using ActionScripting. I just started working on learning how to do it and can easily picture how cool the end result will be. But in reality, I have no way of knowing whether I can actually accomplish what I envision or what will be the benefit of doing so.

As a creative person, I tend to follow the passion. When I get hit with an idea, I need to run with it. When some new subject or project peaks my interest, I’m off running in that direction. I’ll go online and do research; I’ll head to the library and bookstore and learn all I can. I’ll make plans on the project, set some goals, and progress along the new path. Until I run into something that slows me down.

I need to learn how to Focus Through The Project. Therein lies the secret to success. To develop the habit of focusing on one project until it is completed, in spite of new projects and ideas that try to thwart your progress. In that way you can build on your previous work and grow into success. It only works if you actually complete what you start.

Now if I can just get this game made before I switch back into Blog writing-mode. Opps. Too late.

Vacations Really Do Make You Younger

Recently I took a vacation with my wife. We drove down to West Virginia to go white-water rafting. It felt good to get away and do something fun. The water was warm and the weather great, although a little hot. We got to go through some decent-sized rapids and surf the holes with our guide.

After a day of rafting we decided to drive over to Mammoth Caves in Kentucky. I had been there before, but my wife had not. We went on a few cave tours. I am always amazed when going through these caves. The sheer size of the caverns is impressive, as is the 360 miles of caves that has been discovered so far.

Next we stopped and visited my niece and her husband in their new house up near Cincinnati. All in all is was a nice long extended weekend trip.

The best part is that I gained a year of life. Before my vacation, caught up in the daily grind of work, and counting the new gray hairs coming in, I lost track of how old I am. For some reason, I thought that I was turning thirty-nine with this current birthday.

After calculating it on the road, I discovered that this is my 38th birthday. What a great present—to gain an extra year for use in accomplishing some goals and in learning to enjoy my life. I guess it not too late for me.