May 22
2008

oh my...

Posted by Brook in RandomnessPersonalChurch

It has been crazy around here.  I barely have time to rest...let alone type.  But, I need to anyways.  If for no other reason, I need to be faithful to my three RSS feed subscribers...I would want you guys to delete me due to inactivity.  So, let me bring you up to date...all twitter-like:

  •  We've been working for  nearly half a year for what we're about to do Sunday at the church (KidStuf for the first time).
  • My driver's license has evidently been suspended for three months without my knowing about it (Insurance/BMV mix-up).
  • We produced a 4Before :: KidStuf Edition in which I got to put a pie in a clowns face (May have ruined a portion of our green screen).
  • I finished reading my 19th book since October.  That's really good for me  (Starting another one tonight).
  • In this next week we're hoping to raise $80,000 for our Family Ministry renovation happening this Fall (New kid's theater and remodel).
  • I spent nearly $6,000 on microphones today (Got them early for Sunday's production).
  • I'm really tired (My mind has been foggy for about a week and a half).
  • I'm really excited (So much happening and lots of faith-stepping).
  • I actually get to take next Monday off (Memorial Day.
  • On New Year's Day and Christmas Eve I had to work (both are calendered day's off).
  • I want to do something on my day off (But I'm afraid rest may be our only option...too tired to go anywhere or do anything).
  • I love my wife (I've got to see her do what she loves and is great at this week when she was designing, painting, etc).
  • I backed into my wife's car last week (It sat in the driveway...not hidden...out in the open...as I was late for a meeting at the church).
  • She pulled her car handle off sitting at Home Depot (She was not happy with me backing into her car).
  • I'm rambling (But it feels good to have the time to ramble).

We'll definitely snag some video and pics from this Sunday's production.  It'll be fun...

 Peace.

May 12
2008

a week gone...

Posted by Brook in Personal

So, it's nearly been a week.  That is hard to believe.  Where has it gone?  Friday night Sara and I went out with my mom and step-dad to Lowe's to pick up some landscaping supplies (plants, edging, weed barrier, this, that, the other, etc.).  Yes, that's right.  Last weekend was landscaping weekend.  I've been telling Sara that we could do that for a while now and never really got around to it last Fall.  So, I mowed the yard early Friday so that she could have my undivided attention come Saturday...about the only sunny day in the last week...

Our Yard

 And she used that attention well.  We started early morning and I believe we finished somewhere around 8:30 - 9PM Saturday night after putting on shutters and landscaping around 3/4 of the house.  An early morning Sunday at church, lunch at mom's followed by rediculous home videos from the mid-90's...oh and a 12 hour nap start at about 7 PM Sunday night.  You need those every now and then...

Today ushered in a new week and I find myself waist-high in a crap load of things that need done for the last Sunday in May, on which we will be putting on KidStuf start to finish for both of our Worship Services to give people that have no idea what it is a taste of what's to come.  So, this week will be busy...   ...Next week will be worse.  The next couple of months don't look better...at all.  But hey, God is moving, and I can sense that.  And, well, that is just the fuel needed to keep on...

 ...Peace.

May 07
2008

photo shoot...

Posted by Brook in Personal

Sara and I went to Huntington tonight for a photo shoot for an upcoming spot we'll have for our alma mater, Huntington University.  We were asked about a month ago to be a part of some of their new material going out to prospective students and families.  Sure, we said, why not?

 The phone interview went well and tonight we found ourselves dressed up in dorky outfits, a fake mustache, a keyboard, lights, mics, etc.  I wish we would have grabbed a picture to show here, but we didn't...dang it!  But, soon enough we'll be released to the world in all the glory we can muster...

To get a decent idea of one of the spots our photos will be used visit www.huntington-youniversity.com and see what some of our friends have done in the "Leverage" section.  It was a good time.  Although, I realized two things:  1.)  I am way too used to being behind the camera and 2.) the glue used to adhere a fake mustache to one's face irritates my skin...

I'll post back with photos as they are available... 

May 03
2008

Thailand page updated

Posted by Brook in Thailand

I added a video we've been showing to our "Thailand" page. Go check it out... It makes us all warm inside!

Get there via the menu above...or just click here.

May 03
2008

mmm...Saturday...

Posted by Brook in Randomness

Today was a lazy day. This morning Sara and I woke up and watched a few recent episodes of The Office that we had missed via Amazon Unbox. Then, I played Mario Kart. Sara left for town to pick up some landscaping necessities while I cleaned up our garage and my work bench that has collected Winter junk over the past few months. Last Fall we put siding on our house and I haven't really had our garage organized since then...

Let's see....I also took out the garbage and took the recycling into town to empty out our "utility room"...I guess that is what you would call it...

Then, we played Mario Kart Wii. Sara and I... We played... I won...

May 01
2008

3D Studio Max :: Creative Chaos 9

Posted by Brook in Creative ChaosChurch

This week's Creative Chaos entry has to do with a 3D model I built in 3D Studio Max. I "finished" the project about a month and a half ago (although I seldom see projects I start as "finished"...there is always something more I'd like to do on them).

As we were looking to ramp up a new children's/family ministry we realized that lot of changes would need to take place. Adult Sunday school would have to be restructured to allow our adults to serve and also to be a part of KidStuf with their children....trying to take away as many conflicts as possible. No excuses not to be there with your kids, Parents!

Anyways, with all these changes I wanted a way to portray what could come of a few classrooms, a bit of money, and a whole lot of love. So, I decided to whip a 3D model of the space to show people. The idea that "a picture is worth a thousand words" really stuck in my head. And, some 130 hours later I had a few images, an animated 3D walktrough, and packets to hand out to our leaders and volunteers as we worked through the details.

I'm pretty proud of the results; although, like I said early, there is more I'd like to do. Here are some images that I came up with...totally to scale and mostly accurate. Take the sound mixer for example...it's the model budgeted for... details, details....

Click images to see larger versions...

 

KidStuf 4 KidStuf 5

 

KidStuf 1