Ok, so I'm gonna be a father... but it's time to go to Iraq. Um... but I thought we were at war with... oh whatever. I did my time over there. Stories, life experience, and lessons the likes of which you don't get anywhere else in the world cam in a rush almost too big to take.
After my service over seas, I still had a little over a year to serve out. I did so in an elite unit. It's cool and all... you know... being considered elite... but the price of what you have to pretend to be just isn't worth the glory. So, having seen the belly of the beast, I decided it was time to get out. My second child had already come along, shortly after my return from overseas, and the GREAT surprise... a third due just days before my triumphant return to the normal world. Great... how am I gonna pull this off?
I did, and with a lot of help, or at least I'm trying. You see, I got my last paycheck in December of 2005... I've been doing my best to make money as an "artist" of sorts since then. Needless to say, an un-educated artist can't feed a family of 5. My parents helped out again. They've got a great big house, and have extended a gracious hand to me and my family for the past 18 months. We all live together in a big house, and sort of look out for each other.
To get into the professional art scene... I took a few shortcuts. I am good with electronics. Something I wasn't trained for in the Army, but I figured it out, and honed it for use as a general handyman. I got work making $20/hr fixing little intercom boxes for a huge theater in Norfolk. It was my ticket in. From there, I managed to get an operator job on a few occasions, and even started freelancing for some big companies. Trouble is... no matter how well the work paid... it never lasted.
So.. I got myself a government job. Rachel has been filling the gaps by working at Trader Joe's, a grocery store that until she told me she had been employed at, I had never heard of. I try not to go anywhere else now. I put in for a government job about 6 months after getting out... and here a year later... I'm almost actually doing it. What can I say... the government takes it's time.
I also finally got a design gig. It's for a profitable theater company, but in a small house. I'm just glad to have the chance to actually make some art. I've been going nuts trying to figure out EXACTLY what I want to do. I've even been building a few custom pieces to exact my vision. If you can't find it... build it... that's what I think.
Ok, so past and present down... here comes the part I've been trying to get at.
Ken
