Finishing old business and beginning a new adventure

This is the first post in my blog that will keep all of the East Coasters up to date for the next few years of my (Eli's) life.

Some of you know that I will finally complete the coursework for my B.F.A. this Wednesday, May 10, and graduate from George Mason University on May 19-20. A few days ago I sat down and tried to remember what my frame of mind was when I started university 16 years ago, at Va. Tech, in the Fall of 1990. I have vague memories of my first weekend at Tech, but really can't remember what I believed I was working toward.

A few of you are aware that I have been accepted to study for a M.F.A. in Animation and DIgital Art in the University of Southern California's highly regarded film school. The film school is ranked #1 in the world, and the animation program is easily in the top 3 in the world, so my 20-hour days of non-stop studying over the last 3 1/2 years have paid off. I didn't expect to get in, and Eli and I were moving forwar don the asumption that I would attend NYU in the Fall, but a acceptance letter from USC in late March started to turn the big ship around.

Things are moving fast. Eli has been offered, and accepted, a job in L.A., and will have to begin work in mid-June. I plan to travel out with her to help set up at least a temporary hopme and then retune d for several weeks to get the house, truck, etc. in order and sold. I'm hoping to be out in L.A. with my wife full-time by mid- to late-July.

School, graduation, and several trips mena that we will have limited time to fix up our house before it goes on the marlet June 1, but we will get done what we can. I plan on doing more work, as opportunity allows, over the time the house is on the market. We hope to have it sold by Labor Day, but the sooner we sell our house, the sooner we can buy in California.

This is a huge adventure for Eli and me, it takes us out of the area we know so well, and far way from the support of must of our family and friends. But, you only live once and we felt we should get out and experience a new city and different corner of the U.S. We are really exciting and very timid at the same time.

Before we leave, we have as busy a schedule as possible, and will be trying to fit in as many friends as possible. Right after graduation, I am heading out with John G. on a motorcycle trip through the Delta country and into New Orleans (where Eli, friends and family will meet up with us) to kick off my "Farewell Tour." I am hoping to get to Virginia beach ot see my brothers and friends, and other places, but I will have to see what our accellerated schedule allows.

I hope to keep this blog up to date, and share plenty of photos with everyone back home and just make sure we don't stay out of sight and mind for too long. So, save the url, and keep my e-mail handy (it's not going to change soon, who else would want my name for a url?), and keep in touch.