Dragonforce

Last night, Zac, Ashley (zac's girlfriend), Nye (ashley's brother) and I went to the Dragonforce concert at the Cabooze. It was pretty awesome. Nye got 3 guitar pics and gave Zac and I each one.

This is a picture of Herman Li, probably one of the most bad ass guitarists ever. At least to my knowledge with this style of playing.

Family Guy Premier

it...

Was...

AMAZING!

I feel bad for you if you missed it...

oh wait, no I don't. You can watch it HERE.

Surrogates

Went and saw surrogates last night at midnight. Wasn't TOO bad. I liked the concept of it. I expected a little more from Bruce Willis. Even tho he DID play HIS part pretty well. The movie was a bit lacking. Seemed like they didn't really solve anything. Kind of a build up, build up, build up, over.

I don't think it was worth the midnight run but I am glad I saw it and would probably recommend it to the Willis fans, Sci-Fi fans, and action fans...

Chelsey's Tattoo

Before Chelsey died, she asked me to design a tattoo for her. Later, Janaya, Chelsey's sister, asked me to finish it the tattoo, so I decided to incorporate her name into the design. I made stickers with this design and handed them out to people at the funeral and wake. If anyone else wants a sticker please let me know and I'll send one your way.

More on Chelsey

You can visit her Caring Bridge page HERE.

You can write a note about her and read what other people wrote HERE.

Thank you to everyone that posted so far.

Chelsey, I miss you...

This morning, at approximately 1:30am, we received a terrifying phone call that would change our lives forever. My cousin Chelsey had been in a motorcycle accident. The back tire of a motorcycle carrying my cousin, blew out and both riders, her and Jeremy (the driver), were in a terrible accident, neither were wearing helmets. When we were alerted we heard that she was being air lifted to St. Cloud Hospital. She was being brought first because her injuries were slightly worse.

My mom and I were just going to bed when the phone rang. There's nothing worse than a phone call like that in the middle of the night. So we packed up and started heading for St. Cloud. We made it to Rogers when we got another phone call saying that she was being flown to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. We turned around and headed back to the cities.

After meeting many family members we were placed in a few different waiting areas with nothing but the knowledge that Chelsey had damage to her head with internal bleeding. We were told that she would have a piece of her skull removed to relieve the pressure and allow for expanding of the brain. Shortly after we got settled into our newest waiting room, a doctor came in and gave us an updated. It wasn't good. We were told that the amount of damage isn't good. There were many things going wrong. Too much swelling, too much pressure, too much bleeding. It was hard to handle for everyone, but not nearly as hard to handle as when we were first allowed in to see her. She was still alive, breathing on her own, hooked up to many medications. That, to this day, is by far one of the scariest things my eyes have ever seen, even through the layers and layers of tears.

In the hours to follow, we were told that they had done as much as they could and that they would run another few tests as soon as all of the medications had exited her system. In these long and demanding hours, many many loved ones came to show their love for Chelsey. Everyone was making trips in and out of the intensive care unit to visit her and show their love. Holding her fingers, holding her toes, rubbing her shoulders and her ankles. There isn't a doubt in my mind that she knew she was loved.

Today, September 19, Chelsey Nielson, my cousin, a great friend, a favorite aunt, a wonderful person, was pronounced brain dead at 7:04pm. She will be tested and her organs that are salvageable will be donated within the next 24 to 36 hours. It's what she would have wanted. The most selfless person, studying to be a nurse, would have wanted nothing less, than to be able to help as many people in as many ways as humanly possible.

Chelsey,

I don't know what to say, you're leaving us when you are too young, too smart, have too much potential and are entirely too loved. Words can't begin to describe the hole created in each of our hearts. This planet will never again be the same without you. The day is a shade darker for the rest of time.

I can't make it apparent enough how thankful I am that I was able to be related to you, able to know you. I'm so happy that we were able to spend Labor Day weekend together. I had the best time spending that time with you. Thank you so much for staying up late talking with us. I'm so happy I was able to play a few rounds of games with you, and I'm even more happy that you were on my team. I'm sorry I didn't get to design your tattoo. I know Braxton and I had the most amazing time tubing with you. We all enjoyed your company.

I'm sorry that we never got around to eating at Benihana. I'm sure it would have been a night to remember, and I think that I would have been able to get you to try some sushi. And between me and you, I think you would have liked it.

I love you more than I let you believe, and I let you believe every time I saw you.

I'll NEVER forget our times in Alaska, I'll NEVER forget our times at the lake, I'll NEVER forget our times making candy with grandma, I'll NEVER forget the vacation you spent with my family and I. I'll NEVER forget how much you meant to me, and I'll NEVER forget you.

Until I see you again.

Love always,
Jared

the Movie 9

Well, as I said earlier, the movie would have made a great short.... with no voices... Fking CALLED that one... I guess it started as a Short... and as a short it was brilliant... but as a movie, it just sucked.

So I must say, if you feel like watching 9... don't... just watch this free video on youtube.... or here...

And Save your money!

job application acquired

Just stopped in to Game Stop, about 4 blocks from my house, and asked for a job application. The manager said they'll be hiring for the holiday season and said it will probably be odd hours. I told him that's what I'm looking for.

So I picked up a job application, am filling it out now... and will hopefully get this job and it will tide me over till I find a job that will put my artistic talent to good use.

Wish me luck... kind of.

Say nein to 9

Just got back from seeing 9. Not what I was hoping for... and I wasn't hoping for much. Just seemed like an hour and half short that was dragged on and on. There could have EASILY been no voices at all.

Elijah Wood is one actor who I really don't like. He just seems like he is always playing the same damn character. "Hi, I'm a main character with a soft spoken voice who can't act". That's probably not fair but still... not a fan. The only movie I actually liked him in was Sin City... WHERE HE DIDN'T SAY A WORD!!!

The story to 9 just seemed too rushed. The plot was, in my opinion, poor. There were no character backgrounds. There is nothing holding you to each character... So when a couple of them die, you really don't give a damn.

Sure the Trailers look sick, with the ninja one doing all this awesome stuff to some hard hitting music, but when it comes to it in the movie it was just very lackluster.

Don't go see 9... or if you really want to, wait for DVD. This is actually one CG movie where I won't seek it out when it releases to DVD.

More Stickers

Not much to say about these... I guess I finally made a sticker that SAYS "thatANIMATIONsite.com" on them.... so that's promotion right?

now for a bike ride to stick them on signs and such...

just kidding... or am I?.?.?.

weekend at the lake

Spent last weekend, Friday through Monday, at my grandparents place in Osakis. Had a great time. Fishing, catching nothing, tubing, napping, catching frogs, swimming in the lake, relaxing, and drinking beer.

Loads of family and friends were there. My grandpa and grandma Reins, my mom, Gretchen, aunt and uncle, Terry and Byron, cousins, Janaya and Chelsey, Janaya's husband and their son, Brandon and Braxton, and friends of everyone as well... too many names...

Anyway, it was great and I even made it back in time to go fishing with Dan yesterday on the Mississippi River.

WIN!

State Fair: Round 2

Yesterday, Gretchen, my cousin Chelsey and I went to the Minnesota State Fair for the second time. We planned on meeting Chevis and Dan later in the day. As soon as we got there, it was nothing but a food fest. Gorging left and right. Luigi fries, alligator on a stick, corn on the cob, corn fritters, pronto pups, ice cream... then we met Chevis and Dan... Back to the food building. Root beer, cheese curds, check out the grand stand, check out Heritage Square, beer, check out the coliseum, smell some animals, miracle of birth barn...

Then Chelsey left :(

Then Australian potatoes

Back to the french fry stand where we were pointed out to participate as judges for a chick who sang a Madonna song. The guy with the mike told us we had to be the American Idol judges... Dan was the black guy, I was Paula, Gretchen was Simon, and Chevis was Madonna... it was classic... The guy even told us that if we acted the parts that we would get fries too.

When Dan was judging, he threw in a couple of "Yeah DAWGS" and he was golden. I got all emotional and told her how good she was... Gretchen said a Pickle on a stick could have sang it better... and Chevis said that she couldn't have sang it better herself...

So the chick got a 64oz bucket of fries and we EACH got a Free 16oz cup of fries voucher.... I used mine later, Dan gave his to a Chicago Bears fan, Chevis sold hers for $1, and gretchen is giving hers to a friend who will go to the fair later...

then we watched some kids on the dance video game for about 15 minutes and BOOM, time to go.

crazy day... couldn't have gone better.

what's new...

Let's see...

I bought a new (used) bike rack today. Found it on craigslist.com... not a bad bike rack for $30 I must say.

(not my car... found this pic on the web)

Today I drove to zac's house, with my new bike rack and bike, and we rode to Joe's Garage. A nice little bar with rooftop seating. There we gathered with other designers who don't have jobs, to mingle... although we didn't do too much mingling.

After that I drove back home and my my parents and gretchen for a trip out to the trap range. There we had to shoot at two times for a shoot off. The first time was for first place... we lost that one. The second time was for second place... we lost that as well... but 3rd place out of 7 teams isn't too bad... imo...

Now to prep for the state fair tomorrow and a weekend up at the lake...

FUN FOR ALL...

Pon-yo pon-yo ponyo ponyo ponyo pon

Ponyo. Hayao Miyazaki has done it again. Keep in mind that it's not my FAVORITE Miyazaki movie but wow was it good. Just like Pixar, just like Hattori Hanzo swords. They're all good and should be seen by any and all fans, kids, and probably the general public.

The story's portrayed are some of the best in my opinion. Original stories, original characters, original everything. The visual tactics of Miyazaki films are in a class of their own.

If you love, like or have even seen just one of his movies, you should see this one as well.

Worth it.

G.I. Suck

Just Kidding... It actually wasn't all that bad..... mmmmmm... AHHHH... couldn't type that with a straight face. It was bad. Not bad enough for me to say "don't go see it" or "save your money". I obviously heard it was bad but still paid $5 to go see it, and I'm glad I did. I actually didn't know it was possible to cram every catchphrase from an entire TV show into a two hour movie, but they did.

It really brought back the memories of the TV show, what little I saw of it at least. Especially when things like "Knowing is half the battle" are shoved in... yeah they actually said that.

I remember why I liked the show, action, people fighting, things blowing up, action, no plot, more things blowing up, and more action. The action was actually quite bearable, the acting wasn't, but the action was good. Although I found myself thinking "WOW, cuz that wasn't CG" A LOT!

Bottom line, it's another "if you liked the original..." thing, but it goes like this, "if you liked the original... go see it". NOT "you'll like it". Just go see it. But by now you might as well wait for Redbox and save your money.

P.S. - now I remember why the only G.I. Joe toys I bought were the ninjas... they were BAD ASS! can't remember them from the show tho...

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