"We're very close to the end, Hugo"

I can't even begin to describe the excitement I feel right now. In less than a week we will be closing on our new house. In about two weeks we will be all moved in. In about 4 weeks, everything should be unpacked and fully operational.

Nacho will be allowed to roam free again. I will be able to stay up late and paint and edit video. Lauren will be able to keep up with all her latest TV programming thanks to HD DVR service. It will be just like old times again. Trust me. When we had such things before, I did not take them for granted. And now that they are in such close grasp once again, I am counting the seconds.

We will be closer to work once again, and this time, SeaWorld will be the closest theme park to our house. At mom's, Disney is the closest, and where Lauren and I lived before, obviously Universal was around the corner. But even so, we will only be less than 15 minutes away with traffic. Big convenience!

I have been drawing pretty much my entire life, and I actually do have some "real" artistic training under my belt. I'd really like to start getting my stuff out there in a freelance capacity somehow. In the new place, Im going to have a designated studio area where I will be able to work and create different pieces of artwork on a very wide spectrum. Of course I will be doing custom Vinylmation, so if you want a one of a kind gift for someone...details forthcoming. Also, I'd like to start working on other large scale painting or other kind of renderings. I need to build my portfolio back up if I have any hopes of maybe getting a "real" job someday. The portfolio I have now is pretty dated. By 1996's standards I guess it holds up, but I'd like to think I have grown as an artist since then.

Since we are first time homeowners, Im sure the next few weeks will bring forth many new challenges and obstacles for Lauren and I. And what better way to seek advice and entertain others from our mis-fortune, than updating this blog more often. Yeah yeah yeah. I say that all the time. Well, I gotta keep hope alive...

Have a very happy holiday, and in case I don't update before then, HAVE A SAFE, HEALTHY, and HAPPY New Year!!!

Kiss your momma!

Mikey