One Open Locker

One Open Locker
Originally uploaded by jtpuck

So I've been doing some traveling lately (and will actually continue to do some more next month). I had a surprise invite to New Orleans for a photo shoot on one of my projects. Sounds flashy, but it wasn't some Victoria's Secret lingerie shoot with hot models and even hotter studio lights. Nope. It was for a concrete manufacturing client of ours that is developing some hot concrete structures & homes for rebuilding in the Gulf Coast region. I was sent with photographer Rick Rodriguez to art direct the pouring & installation of the materials in the hot hot heat. It was still great to be out of the office and work on-site with a photographer.

Secondly, Lyndsey, Ian, and I took a trip back to the valley for my High School 10-year reunion. Hard to believe it's actually been that long. We toured the school, chatted with some of our old teachers, went on a dolphin watch on the same boat we took our graduating class picture on, and had dinner with 40 of my classmates catching up on everyone's history.

It was really great to see everyone, listen to their stories, and see their families. Surprisingly, there were 2 other graphic designers. Ben Jenkins, who's also a printer, and Trent Schulze, who does primarily motion graphics. If the three of us got together, we'd have quite a studio on our hands .

Probably the most surprising, was this lone locker left open in the hallways of our school. Back in our day, there might have been one locker actually closed. We were a fairly open group that respected each other's property. If a locker was closed, chances are there was a Discman, or some other personal property worth some cash. I mean, who would steal my Calculus book, really? Today, these kids are probably hiding their dime bags of weed, or $300 iPods. Funny how things have changed.

Everydaypuck Simpson

Everydaypuck Simpson
Originally uploaded by jtpuck

This is probably one of the greatest marketing ploys in the history of marketing ploys. Everyone has always wondered what it would be like to be a Simpson's character, or at least to see what they would look like as any animated character. The array of characters on the show is greater than anything in animation history, so I'm glad to finally be a part of it.

Create your Simpsons avatar here

Summer Falls.

Closing Time.

The Walk-through.
Originally uploaded by jtpuck

Tomorrow we close on our first new home. It's been a long time coming since we signed a contract in January and they poured the concrete slab in March. With just a couple more things left to complete next week, Lyndsey and I finally get to move out of her parent's house and get back on track with living on our own. Now I can catch up on some thank you notes from Ian's birthday, unpack my design notes from 6th quarter, give my closet clothes some breathing room, eat a home-cooked meal from Lyndsey, sleep in my own bed...

Up for Air.

Needless to say, the past two months have been quite intense.

With the completion of a large website for a consulting company, a 6-piece pocket folder set & 2 sets of trade show booth graphics for a technology company, an 8-page brochure for a law firm, a pre-show direct mail piece & powerpoint presentation template for a financial company, in addition to some other minor project checkpoints and updates, I finally had a chance to enjoy a moment of relief. I did drive through a hail storm last week and crawl into a closet with Ian and Lyndsey when the Tornado Warning sirens went off last night. Of course, in the world of design, just when you think there's time to breathe, something else gets launched. Another big project. Another opportunity to output some exciting creative work. Guess it's time to dive in.

Swingin' Ian.

Swingin' Ian.
Originally uploaded by jtpuck.

A couple weeks ago we took Ian to the park down the street from his grandparents house. It's a pretty large facility with lots of swings and fun contraptions for kids to play in. Ian got to enjoy his first ride on a swing and he loved it! Thankfully, there was a cool breeze that kept him smiling and laughing all the way through.

Initial instinct was to get him moving pretty quickly. His favorite part was coming back to me after being pushed away. That short adrenaline rush really put the giggle in his stride. I swear no one laughs as great as this guy.

Film or TV.

It's funny, in high school and in college, I watched a lot of television; but it was at the movie theater that I had the most fun. Those unique stories were a lot more entertaining than the weekly sitcom; Seinfeld, notwithstanding. And here I am, a working man, father, with only a few hours at night spent at home and less time available for the movie theater on weekends; and I'm paying more attention to television than before. Not that I religiously watch it all the time, but that I'm aware of the big shows and the new shows coming on.

Tonight I noticed 2 very interesting things: 1. "Andy Barker, P.I." was created & produced by Conan O'Brien, obviously for Andy Richter. And there are signs of Conan's comedy all over the place, especially the ending (which was really the best part of the show). 2. "Raines" was created & written by Graham Yost, and the pilot was directed by Frank Darabont.

Very interesting, and not once was any of this information used in the marketing & publicity of these shows. Conan O'Brien is a late-night talk show host who used to write for SNL. He's got the comedic talent and knows his former cohort, Richter, very well. That's a great combo. "Raines" from the writer of "Speed" and the director of "The Shawshank Redemption." Yost won an emmy for writing on "Band of Brothers" and Darabont directed an Academy Award Nominated film. These are high credentials. Although, Darabont hasn't directed a feature film in a very long time....now that I think about it, Jeff Goldblum hasn't really been in the public eye in a very long time as well.

So, it seems like I'm not the only one slowly moving from film to television. Did I mention I lost our company Oscar pool? I bet I'll win this year's Emmy's.

Stealing Shyamalan.

Looks like NBC is at it again. First they took his basis from "Unbreakable" and created a mythical tale of everyday people discovering their otherworldly abilities in "Heroes." Now they're turning his Academy Award nominated story of seeing dead people from "The Sixth Sense" into a detective off-beat dramedy with Jeff Goldblum called "Raines." The funny thing is, I know I'm gonna love it.

Last summer I wrote a pre-emptive post on "Heroes" and believed I wasn't going to enjoy it. I couldn't have been more wrong. Again, NBC has got me, and I get the feeling I won't be the only one. With great wit, double-take filmmaking, and Jeff Goldblum in a revitalizing lead role with some great comic timing, it's Monk meets The Office. Even the catchy, big band tune that scores the previews sparks my attention. It's also good to see Madeline Stowe back on the scene. She hasn't made an impact since "The Last of the Mohicans."

Catch it next Wednesday. It Should be great.

Ian Takes a Seat.

Ian Takes a Seat.
Originally uploaded by jtpuck.

His favorite part was getting down on the ground with the snow. I think he could tell his biscuits were freezing; but at least he figured out why we dressed him in layer upon layer of clothing.

Fall on Me.

Fall on Me.
Originally uploaded by jtpuck.

Ian was amazed at the snow falling on his face. He opened his mouth and tried to catch some on his tongue.

Let's Play.

Let's Play.
Originally uploaded by jtpuck.

Off on a Snow Day.

Off on a Snow Day.
Originally uploaded by jtpuck.

We knew there would be snow flurries overnight, but we didn't expect it to stick. Lyndsey got the call of school cancellations and I heard from my boss to see about coming in after lunch. We'll see. First thing we'll do is make breakfast and take some pictures in the snow.

Happy Holidays!

2006 has been the most intense year of my life. The family and I have had so much going on, and somehow I don't see any signs of slowing down. Funny thing is, that's what I'm most excited about. It's not often you look down at your cafeteria plate and see every placeholder filled to the brim with daily activities. Then you think, well, I could hold another plate in my left hand. Maybe I can balance one on my head. Does it come with backpack straps?

So I look forward to this Christmas. It'll be the first time since high school where I will wake up and walk out to the living room to hand out gifts on Christmas morning. I'll miss my parents not being here this time around. I won't miss having to travel somewhere during this hectic time. What I will do is enjoy every minute watching Ian tear up the Christmas wrapping with his ear-to-ear smile and roll around the floor trying to figure out what all the hoopla is about. It'll be a great way to end the year and an exciting way to start a new one.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

Puck is Back.

There have been many times where I've posted on other blogs begging for updates, worried if they were doing well, what major travesty or hilarity may have happened? And for the first time I've found myself on the other side of the yard. Well, let me just say that the family and I have been the little Christmas capitalists we are, staying late at work, looking at houses, and visiting relatives nearby. I'm happy to report that we are all A/Ok.

Here's a briefing on the past few weeks:
Daniel Craig was excellent as the new James Bond and the opening sequence (the one before the credits) was one of the best 007 scenes in the history of Bond! Ian is rolling like a madman, but can't quite figure out how to crawl yet. A new business client at work chose my design over another making me the lead Art Director on the project. Lyndsey will be teaching Biology in the spring, which is about 4 weeks away. Lastly, we have found a rockin' floorplan that matches just about everything Lyndsey and I have been looking for over the past 3 years....so we purchased a corner lot to start building a house! We were the second people in line to get a lot in a new phase of the neighborhood that was opening up. Unfortunately, we weren't given white flags to run out onto the grounds and claim our land like Tom Cruise in "Far and Away." Man, that would have been fun. It's the craziest, most exciting decision we've ever made together. It's about 12 minutes from where Lyndsey will teach, and 2 minutes from a TRE station where I'll continue to commute into Dallas.

So, that's the long and short of it. The next thing I have to do is upload all the pictures on my camera and post some newbies of Ian, the lot, and Ian's encounter with 'ol Saint Nick. I guess I'll see you in 3 weeks.

Should We Talk About the Weather.

North Texas is getting a major cold front right now. What started out as a 75 degree day has quickly become 35 degrees with a chance of getting even colder in the next few hours. Add to that some rain and what you get are icy roads and sleet in an area known for its year round warmth. The funny thing is how crazy everyone in Texas gets about it all.

It started in the office when someone asked if we were ready for the blizzard coming our way. Then came an email with a phone tree listing of who should call whom upon any circumstances in the morning. And then the obligatory mention of wanting to come in late and leave early to miss the highway traffic. Why is everyone so afraid of the weather? The answer, right after this...

{insert Target Christmas Ad, with that catchy tune I can't find the name too, here}

Everyone anticipates the worst when icy weather comes to North Texas. From buying groceries, to school closings, to office phone trees. If you ask anyone why, they'll tell you it's not because they're afraid to drive on the ice, but because they're afraid of how other people will drive on the ice. I heard it at work, I heard it at On The Border, I hear it from Lyndsey all the time, and then someone mentioned it while being interviewed on the news tonight. "I'm more worried about the other drivers out there," people say. Even the Getty Images rep from Chicago said the lady at the Car rental place told him to be weary of all the other drivers out there. Apparently, Texans don't know how to drive on ice because it's not a common occurrence.

Don't you think if we're so busy worried about how others drive, we might forget how to drive ourselves? I say, if you do plan on driving, worry about yourself, your car, your windshielf wipers, your heater, your seatbelt, your parking brake, your Starbucks Peppermint Mocha in the cupholder, and your break pads. If everyone takes care of their personal travel needs, we won't cause any harm to each other. That's why I take the train to work.

Texas on TV.

It's not a secret to say that Austin has become this generation's version of Hollywood. I'm not from there and I don't live there, but I have been to SXSW 3 times, I read Aint it Cool News, and I love the Alamo Drafthouse. With guys like Robert Rodriguez, Richard Linklater, Mike Judge, and Harry Knowles (and Dentler of course) at the helm of this land of appreciation, it's no wonder they've finally struck a nerve.

Take Monday night's NBC one-two punch of HEROES and STUDIO 60. Last night the Hollywood town of Texas got a mention in each show. In HEROES, the Japanese time bender, Hiro (note the name coincidence), mentioned to his lady friend the chance to go to the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin to see some Kurosawa films. An hour later, Matthew Perry cracked a joke about a target audience that reads Aint-It-Cool-News. I wonder if these guys A. really like Austin or B. are referencing these sites to reach an audience of their own. HEROES: A. STUDIO 60: B.

Gig 'em Ags!

After 6 years, the Aggies finally beat the Longhorns 12-7. I knew the tides would change once we got back to Texas.

Friends in High Places.

It's not selfish to say that I have my blog bookmarked in my Safari browser. The reason is because on my blog I have links to some of my other fellow blogger friends and more often than not, visit their sites for the latest going ons. Tonight I was fortunate enough to visit Aldo's (The Capitalist) site a few days after his recent post. Aldo is in Argentina on business. He wanted to let everyone know. And he wanted to post some other links to fabulous Aldo content.

Thankfully he listed an article written by one of our dear friends from back home, Matt, whose blog for the SXSW Festival is also listed in my links section. It was a link to Matt's last article as Music Editor for The Daily Texan at U.T. It's a great commemorative piece for the guy as he discusses his thoughts on graduating and moving on, written over a year after 9/11. Four years later and Matt has become a high profile producer in the festival circuit.

Thanks Matt for the mention and your prediction of local Austin band, Spoon, was right on the money.

A Hard Days Night.

I'm sure you've all figured out that since I've been working, this blog has collected some dust. I'm beginning to think I should change the title of this thing to 'Puckett Every Other Week'. Fortunately, it's all been for a very good reason. After all, blogging does not count for any additional income. So I thought I'd fill you in on my days and nights:

The official hours at the office are 8:30-5:30. As a test to save a little cash, wear-and-tear on the car, and my sanity, I've been taking the Trinity Railway Express to Downtown Dallas. There's a station about 4 songs from the house and the train ride is approximately 7 songs. It drops off at Dallas Union Station, about 8 blocks from the office, where if I chose to I could walk and be at the office in about 3.5 songs. Or I could jump on the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and be at the office in 2 songs. You see, all this pedestrian time has allowed my iPod and I to become friends again. He's a lot happier when he's playing music than when he was being used as a flash drive. The biggest challenge has been catching the train at the right time. They're really good about staying on schedule and I think I've finally figured it all out.

I've been working on a few projects, catching some quick turnaround deadlines, and keeping our clients happy. Last Thursday, we hosted an Open House to show off our new office space to clients and friends of MasonBaronet. It was a happening gig with food, drink, and music. Lyndsey and Ian joined the fun and got to meet everyone in the office. Ian loved watching the goldfish. I swear, that kid is going to be a Marine Biologist. It's a great space with hardwood and dark polished concrete floors. The best spot is at the production counter around 3:30pm when the afternoon sunlight beams right onto the cutting mat. Printouts never looked so good. At the end of my first week, we had a Happy Hour at the end of the day that included a Champagne toast (and some left over Shiner Bock-good to be back in Texas) welcoming me to the team.

Nights go by pretty quickly. I usually get home around 7:15 after staying a little later and then catching the train. By then, I catch up on dinner and get some play time with Ian before he gets his bath. We all visit and hangout with NBC in the background. Dim the lights around 8:30 calming Ian down to get him ready for bed. He's been having a rough time getting to sleep. I think it's because he misses me all day and wants to stay up and play all night, but that's just me. Lyndsey and I catch up on some things before calling it a night.

I just finished two weeks now which means I got my first paycheck as a Creative. I told Lyndsey she had 3 choices for dinner last night: 1. Bennigans - where I haven't had my favorite Turkey O'Toole in over two years 2. Whataburger - where I haven't had one of their excellent burgers in over two years or 3. Spring Creek Barbecue - which is where we had our Rehearsal Dinner over two years ago & is the home of the most tender brisket in North Texas.

Man, it's good to have Texas barbecue again.

Caption This.

Living with my in-laws has been a great experience so far. There's a few extra hands to play with Ian, a few extra home cooked meals with the family, and some extra words being typed across the television screen...Wait, what are those?

Oh, that's right, they're captions!

You see, Lyndsey's dad wears hearing aids and uses the captions on television to make watching the shows a lot easier than listening at maximum volume; though on occasion he will listen at maximum volume. And tonight, at the end of "Heroes", I noticed the strangest of captions. It said something like, "Buy a guitar pick and play on your new such and such guitar. Visit such and such .com". I find that hilarious. First off, the fact that Ads even make it on the captions is great. Copywriters will always have jobs. Secondly, the fact that a guitar company thought someone who's hard of hearing and chooses to read the captions would want to buy a guitar, is the funniest thing I've heard since "gristletoe." No offense to all the audibly impaired musicians of the world.