whooo… Been a while. Well work among other things have been happening lately. I’ll start with the most important as of now. I am going on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!!!!! I got my call about 2 weeks ago (I think) and I am going to Taipei Taiwan! Mandarin speaking. I will heading for the MTC on December 10th for about 3 months then they will ship me out to the island of Taiwan. 🙂

Other than that just working on things to keep me spiritually prepared. But lately I have been having the urge to draw more often then usual. Been doing alot more sketching and more digital stuff. Check out my gallery http://lachoneus.deviantart.com/gallery/ when you get the time.

But this has come with its own problems. I hate just sketching random things. I do it, but it always makes me feel empty. I know that the practice is good but it is difficult for me to do. And lately I have been feeling like I don’t have the creative dive that many artists, that I have seen, have. It is a little discouraging but I try to not let it get me down.

That seems to be the hardest thing for me. Coming up with original ideas that really make people think and feel. But this might be something that many young and inspiring artists face at some point or many times. I just have to keep my chin up and keep pushing my skills.

Ehh I don’t really want to talk about work. Basically I am working 7/12’s on night shift. And I have found out that I don’t mind that graveyard shift. Plus I get to sit in an elevator and read most the time. I have read two Orsen Scott Card books, Speaker for the Dead and Xenocide. I am also almost done with Frank Herberts Dune. Another amazing writer and a good story.

The nights have been killing my social life. Which is one regret, but I need the money for the mission. I try to see my friends whenever I can. bI will have more time after the shut down is finished in two weeks. I am not planning on working after that. Not until my mission.

That is what is happening as of late. I’m feeling ok. And I look forward to serving the people that I fell in love with many years ago. I see some of the purpose of why the Lord is sending me there, and I hope that through my patience and humility he will reveal many other things that I am required to do during my time in Taiwan. I feel it like no other thing, that this is the right thing to do right now.

I know there will be no regret in going there.

Back from college. Good experience but I am looking forward to a break. Got some of my generals out of the way but I got quite a few digital media classes in the mix. UVSC requires these essential classes that, for a person who doesn’t know what they want to do, is perfect. For me though, it felt like a huge waste of time. There were a few things that I learned but a lot of it was just a rehash of what I have been doing for a while. Yeah it was really daunting but it was required and I did well in those classes.

Moving was interesting. Good experience and in the long run it will help with a mission, I hope. Being back home is nice. Different food is a huge and wonderful change. Plus being back home where I can see family more often is nice as well.

I’ve started on my mission papers. Hopefully I will be able to finish them in the next few weeks. Depends on when I can get my physical done… And it looks like it is going to be a while. Other than that I should be able to get through things fairly quickly. And I am really looking forward to the work that lies in the the next few years. It will be a break from the grades.

Of course not everything has been good. I just lost a good friend. Whats worst is that I am not quite sure how. It had been a while since we had talked. I sent a message and I got a message back saying that we are strangers now and that I should forget everything that has happened. Either this person is serious or is mad. And trying to not escalate bad feelings, if they are there, I said goodbye. Its sad how easily people can give up good relationships.

Anyways looking forward to the coming months. Going to be working at a refinery. Good old manual labor. Get me into shape and its decent money. Also I am planning on helping out my bro Jake with his “Glimpse of Over World” project. They want me to do some of the 3D backdrops for some shots. We’ll see how it goes. I don’t have too much experience in this but I think I will be able to pick a work flow quickly, and get some work done. Visual effects of that magnitude take up a huge amount of time. So we’ll see how much works gets done.

How bout games? This is kinda old news now but I still think it is cool. Team Ico has posted an interesting image which might be about their next game. If you haven’t had the chance to play any of their games I suggest you go out get a playstation 2 and get the games and play them. The two games are first Ico and second Shadow of the Colossus. Just the shear artistic detail and beauty is enough to play it. Ico is a little puzzle adventure game. But the visuals and the kinda weird story just draws a gamer in. If you can find a copy its about a six hour game (on average). But well worth the time. The second game doesn’t have any real solid connection to the first game except for its very aesthetic visual beauty. The game play is like Zelda on steroids. (I will explain it the best I can. It’s very hard to do it justice with just words.) Take the boss battles in Zelda 64, taking out all the puzzles and dorky little enemies, and give yourself the ability to crawl on these huge bosses. It is a game that I have no regrets playing a couple times through.

Another thing that I have been playing is Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core. It was ok. After playing the original game so many times it feels like step down on every prequel and sequel that they have made under the FF7 title. And being so fond of the original story, it almost hurts knowing that some of the original events were changed from the original story. (The part where Sephiroth goes crazy. Of course someone could argue that what happened in Crisis Core is what really happened because it is seen the Zack’s eyes. And that Clouds idea of those events where changed because he didn’t actually experience everything that Zack did.) But if that were the case they never explained it. But I have to keep an open mind and realize that the original story’s past was really left open to speculation. But other than story the voice acting could have really used a shot in the arm, and the corny dialog doesn’t help with this either. But all in all it did fill in alot of gaps that were present, and HEY! it’s Final Fantasy VII.

While we are talking about Final Fantasy, I excited about Final Fantasy XIII. Visually it looks amazing, but that is just expected coming from the PS3. But the main character is intriguing. Yes she is female, that is a plus, but the fact that she is somewhat modest is surprising. And cool as well. I am looking forward to this one for its visual quality and its game play. Which looks amazing as well.

Away from the games. Getting ready to finish my first year at UVU. Looking forward to it 🙂 Been kinda slow. All of these Digital Media class are kinda lazy so I get alot of free time to draw. Which is something that I should be doing more of anyways. ITs just cool to sit down and almost everytime I draw I do something better. It seems like these days I am really paying closer attention to my progression. This is huge encouragment. I have also been studying anatomy a little too. This has really helped my figure drawing alot. Something I highly suggest for those who are even doing cartoon charcters. If you study anatomy the quality of your cartoons will greatly increase.

I am also getting ready for a mission something that I am reallly looking forward to. Alot of hard work but it will be worth it. Plus it will be kinda good to finally get away from school for a while. My Bro comes back in June and I am hoping to leave around august. Will see 🙂