Batman Sighting!

Recently I went on an adventure with two people who I barely know.  Don't get be wrong- I consider these guys friends- but really, I didn't know them very well.  I met these guys because of the show LOST.

A couple years ago, there was a marketing campaign from the LOST folks to create limited edition art prints to celebrate the show.  I, along with thousands of other fans- chased after these elusive prints- but the prints weren't the only precious things I got from this underground art project.  I got to know some of the other fans of this show- and we've become friends.  We would chat online about the prints, our favorite episodes, our favorite characters.  We would help each other out with print buying if someone needed a hand.  Some of us met up at the LOST Gallery 1988 Art Show for the first time in 2009.  A bunch of us went to Hawaii for the season premier of the 6th and final season of LOST. And last year, a group of us went to the San Diego Comic Con. We are each so different from one another- originating from different places from around the world- but we all came together because of this show.

LOST has been off the air for over 2 years, but we're still online talking to each other- visiting one another whenever we can.  It's pretty awesome.  And since I'm currently unemployed, I was able to jump onto this little adventure with  Chris and Pat.  Someone came up with the name AliceChrisPatapalooza for our trek across San Diego county.  I slept over at Pat's house and met his lovely wife for the first time.  We all went out to dinner the first night. Then the next day me, Chris and Pat went on an adventure.  Pat planned an elborate tour of San Diego county- taking us to the desert in the morning, into the mountains in the afternoon and then to the beach in the evening.  It was a beautiful day- full of amazing sights. We took a lot of pictures but that's not what I want to share with you today.

One of the things I wanted to do while I'm unemployed is to start drawing again. Being creative.  Doing some writing and art.  It's something I haven't done in awhile.  Gonna start carrying around a sketch book with me wherever I go and see if I can start a sketch journal of sorts.

A couple of our favorite artists, Daniel Danger and Olly Moss have done some fun Batman sighting pieces and I thought I would do one of my own.  Unbeknownst to Chris and Pat, I saw Batman hanging out at some of the places we visited that day on our little adventure.  Looks like the dark knight is gearing up for his return to Gotham's streets by first doing some scouting around San Diego. This first sighting was at the Borrego Desert Tower.

I wonder where he'll turn up next?

Letting go of being "Let go"

It's never easy to lose a job. Whether you're laid off, fired, "let go of", your position is eliminated... whatever they tell you- bottom line is you are out of a job.  Last week  that happened to me.

It's interesting the range of emotions you go thru during "the talk" and then hours, days, weeks afterward. I think I'll try to keep track of them here.

First, shock. Is this happening? This isn't happening. Did she just say what I think she said? Does that mean what I think it means? Fuck. Me. Sadness. Anger. Disbelief.

The position I was in was being turned into another postion- one higher than me. It was a promotion that I was not "ready" for.  Shuttled off to HR- where the rep didn't really say anything- except give me her business card if I had any questions. Brilliant.

I went back to my cube and began to pack all my belongings.  The co-workers in my surrounding area were apparently told they could go home early- so I had no one to talk to. I had A LOT of stuff in my cube- so I was putting things in boxes for about 2 hours when suddenly someone appeared at my doorway asking "What are you doing?"  I explained that I had just been let go. To see the shock and confusion on their face was gratifying.  Hearing them say it was fucked up and wrong was also soothing. Getting a hug was priceless.  I tried not to seem too bitter or too angry- though the tears flowed freely.  It's kind of like getting your identity stripped away from you- even if your identity was one that you weren't really happy about.  It takes some getting used to.

I finally made my way home and my girlfriend greeted me at the door with arms open and a big smile "Yay Universe!" she sang out.  "Yay Universe?" "Yes" she replied.  And I smiled.  In my heart I know she's right. It was a sign from the universe that it's time to move on.  Despite how shittily the Universe decided to give me that message- it was a message I needed to receive.

I waited a day before posting online of my unemployement. "I'm free as a bird! An unemployed bird, but free nonetheless!"  Condolences came pouring in- tweets, facebook messages, texts, emails.  All love from the universe. 

It's only been 6 days since "The Incident".   I'm trying to be patient with myself and the universe.  But I wish I _KNEW_ exactly what it is that I'm meant to do.  Put out my own artwork? Apply for another animation production job? Write? Learn to Edit? Just chill out and watch tons of TV? Catch up on stacks upon stacks of magazines and comic books? Click links via twitter posts? Make homemade pesto in my new food processor? Pay uber attention to all my cats until they get sick of me?

Hmm... I think the answer to the above is... yes.