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So the replacement laptop broke fairly quickly. Something internal. Since it was a refurbish, Apple took it back and let me order a new M5 Pro. It just came in and seems pretty wonderful so far. Long adventure without a computer. So happy that adventure has come to an end.

new laptop to replace the one that burnt up. time machine backup made the transition almost seamless.

Had a house fire a few weeks ago and lost my laptop. Just put in the order for a new one. Can’t wait to once again have a functional device when I need it. I’ve been making do with alternative workflows and limited devices. The process has not been much fun.

Relevant to absolutely nobody since I’m fairly invisible on the internet, but I did make a neat things post for this week.

I have survived six and a half hours of professional development on a wintry Monday. Hoo-boy I need a cup of coffee.

Second week back with high school students. First week back with college students. First week is always the hardest. I think the semester is starting off really well.

Pitching my class to potential students for next year. This is the annual presentation I need to kick-ass on so I can remain full-time for another year. Built a new class brand today. Happy with how it turned out. Will be showing it off to future students tomorrow. Hoping it goes well. FYI: a rubber …

School starts back up tomorrow. Alarms are turned back on. It is going to be hard as hell to deal with that blaring siren at zero-dark-thirty tomorrow morning. Looking forward to seeing the students and jumping back into design stuff again.

Since it is the start of the year, I’m reviewing and updating things. Good to clear out and reset, right? I updated my tools i use page for the first time in a few years. Turns out there weren’t too many to swap out, although I did add several new ones. Feels like I’ve been …

I took a shower today. This is a big deal.

holiday break beginning. turned off the alarm clocks. two weeks of sleeping in starting now.

80s synthwave music is keeping me going lately. Amazing how productive I’ve been with those beats running in the background.

Pantone color the year is basically off white. This is the year for a much needed calm reset.

spatial relationship to how you are using AI: Lately, I’ve been thinking about my use of AI as a kind of spatial relationship. Where do I stand in relation to the machine—above it, beside it, under it? Each position carries a different kind of power dynamic. To be above is to steer, beside is to collaborate, below is to serve. — Frank Chimero …

curated AI image generation stock photography services? : I was approached by ArtGratis to potentially share a link on my website list of free commercial use images. All of their content is mostly AI generated instead of traditional stock photography. This feels like a novel and yet completely natural development in the creative production world. Why spend …

After several weeks of missing (self-imposed) deadlines to post weekly, I have finally added another weekly neat things post. It isn’t much but does feel damned good to finally get something personal done. Classes start winding down soon so I should have more time to be more consistent with my …

answers to a student : This is a set of questions sent to me by a college student during the Thanksgiving break of 2025. It turned into a longer response than I was expecting. Worth sharing here. How large is the department in terms of students and faculty? I’ve heard that the art/animation industry is losing …

My focus is an elusive little bastard lately.

Pudding cups make everything better.

Watched a Domino’s Pizza delivery car pull into the McDonald’s drive-thru. Then saw someone in a McDonald’s uniform coming out of a Domino’s restaurant. Wonder if I’ve stumbled upon a fast food conspiracy happening in plain view.

My dad died last week. We buried him today. Sitting down to write and my brain is completely empty. Nothing flowing whatsoever.

Need a nap. Coffee isn’t cutting it today.

Surviving Vector Day. For some students this is transformative in how they approach digital art and for some this will be the reason they are in therapy years from now.

just spent an hour talking about adobe after effects to a bunch of high school journalism students at the MIPA Fall Conference. fun times.

Recovering from being sick for the last several days. Amazing how much work seems to multiply when you are down for a few days. It is going to take some time to catch back up.

Looking for design industry folk in the mid-Michigan area willing to come share their thoughts in exchange for free food. Let me know if you are interested in coming to talk shop.

Rather than hiding in my darkened office during my break between classes, I took a walk around campus and went down to the river. Enjoyed the warm sun on my back and the laughter of kids playing on the playground. I need to take daily walks around while the weather is still nice.

Spent a good afternoon hanging out by a campfire with my oldest daughter. Enjoying a mild fall weekend.

From Austin Kleon’s interview with Kate Bingaman-Burt. This accurately captures the sense of teaching for me.

Found out I’ll be teaching a Storyboards class in the spring. That will be a nice complement to the 2D Animation class I teach in the fall. New course to me but should be a lot of fun to build out.

Just added a micro.blog link to the main landing page on my site.

new neat things post on my website. trying to post weekly but it is hard to be consistent when i’m so busy with school lately. happy i was able to get one out this weekend.

new account. new post is feeling cute. might delete later.