BlakeAtwood.com

Since most of my treasure is hopefully in heaven, I’ve tried out a few money-making plans online. And by money, I mean something like $5/post, if that. And that usually goes toward iTunes purchases. I had been using payu2blog, but now I’m going to try my hand at payperpost, which, in contrast, at least doesn’t put me under deadline and also has higher priced projects available. So, if you’re a reader, just bear with it, or maybe even support it, should the post pertain to you.

Georgetown was once a small town, and they’re trying to keep it that way. But progress progresses progressively. To wit, we now have the very large Wolf Ranch shopping center, with Best Buy, Petsmart, and Target, to name a few of the places I visit. We seldom travel outside of Georgetown anymore because we can finally get most of what we need in town. (Now if we could just get a Barnes & Noble).

Now there’s news of a new conference center/hotel near the same area. I think it’s great, and a necessity, as there’s no large meeting place in Georgetown. Not that I throw that many parties. Or any. Or that I have that many friends. Or any. But I’m sure there’s a need, so it’ll be met. And, judging by the pictures, it looks like it will be a nice place. Georgetown does do very well in its facades and keeping green space a priority.

All of this growth is occurring very close to the church I attend and work at. We’ve been experiencing good growth lately, even despite the lack of a Senior Pastor. But with all the surrounding growth, it makes me think I need to “up my game.” But I need to figure out what game is.

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I’m in the early stages of starting a video ministry at the church. We’re looking at cameras. I have some great ideas from the Willow Creek Arts Conference. I’m talking video editing with one of the guys from Austin’s own eleven72 here in a few weeks. I bought In the Blink of an Eye by Walter Murch, a bible, of sorts, for video editors. I’m getting The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing via Netflix in a few days. Obviously, I’ve got the bug, the fever, and what can cure my fever? More cowbell. Or a nice camera. Or both. Also, a MacBook Pro, a few hard drives, new network cables, Final Cut Pro, and a book on how to use Final Cut Pro.

As such, I’ve taken to watching On the Lot. It’s an American Idol-type show, but for filmmakers. It’s not bad, but it’s not great. I read an article just yesterday detailing how the show could be better and I agreed with every suggestion. (Of course I can’t find the article at the moment). Right now, it’s just a short film festival show (you can see the contestants’ films on their site), with no behind-the-scenes on how the directors actually pulled off shooting a 3-minute comedy in a week, or showing the tensions and frustrations and confrontations that are sure to have happened; isn’t that reality programming at its core?

Sure, the films are entertaining, whether they’re truly good or good in the same way movies on Mystery Science Theater 3000 are. But you’d think it’d be better with Mark Burnett and Steven Spielberg’s names attached to it. Maybe Steve’s too busy trying to make Harrison Ford young. I’m glad the show is on. It’s showing me that it is difficult to be a filmmaker. Pointing a camera does not a filmmaker make.

I don’t want to make films, but I do want to tell stories. Stories that demand a reaction.

I celebrated another birthday today. They just keep coming, every year, and always on the same day, and somehow I still seem surprised. I think this was the first year I received more jokes about being old, getting old, old man, etc. I’m not even 30 yet, but age is such a strange thing. Sure, it’s a physical reality, but it’s so much more mental, right? Do I feel like I’m in my late 20s? I don’t know. What is that supposed to feel like?

If you’re supposed to smile through minor glitches in your day, I don’t.
If you’re supposed to rejoice in your student loan consolidation bills because they signify your joyful college years, I don’t.
If you’re supposed to have it figured out by now, I don’t.
If you’re supposed to know what you want to do with your life by now, I don’t.

However, if you’re supposed to start appreciating the little things the older you get, I do. To wit, the Woman’s car would not start this morning. I had to leave work, during a very busy day, come home, jar open the truck’s hood (which gave me fits and also to which I said to no one in particular (maybe God): “It’s my freakin’ birthday!”), jump her car, and then take the car to wal-mart and get a new battery. On the way home, I was thankful for my job, both that it’s close to my house and allows me the freedom to help my Wife when necessary.

All kids and teenagers want to be older; all middle aged people want to
be teenagers; all senior adults wind up as kids anyways. Why rush?

Maybe my focus is too much on getting there (wherever there is) instead of appreciating the ride. I want to know where I end up, but I don’t want to get there any faster.

Physically, mentally, and spiritually spent - but that’s a good thing. And now to my own bed…

Just met and talked blogs with Kem Meyer. I think she’s about to join the Twitter bandwagon. Because, if everyone else is doing it…

Chicago. Tomorrow. Willow Creek Arts Conf. David Crowder Band. Erwin McManus. Lots of other great speakers…!

“Politics is the art of the possible.” - Bono

…and now I just joined Last.fm. Definitely a holdout, but I don’t know why.

Why must I succumb to every social networking site? (Just joined virb). I still don’t have a social life! Not that I need one, being married