The Mill

Interrupting my Sally's graduation nuggets series to introduce you to my new client, The Mill. Check out their work here. I am in Chicago today with one of our demo artist and he is reviewing our latest software release with all of the Flame users in the Chicago office. Flame is the name of the software that high end post houses, like The Mill, use to do the special effects work that you see in commercials. Flame is a software package that is sold with purpose built hardware and cost in excess of $100,000 per system! All high end post houses have fancy, edgy office space, because their clients come for client work sessions to review their work. The Mill Chicago is in an old courthouse in downtown Chicago and would remind you of many of the historical buildings that have been renovated at SCAD.

By the way, I will see Mark and Cindy Fuller tonight and fly back to Austin tomorrow morning. Have a great women power Wednesday.

Nuggets for Sally's UGA Graduation

“Thank you Lord for the things my parents taught me that are working well in my life. I am grateful for these things. And for the things I have learned (from my parents or from others) that are not working in my life, I take full responsibility.”

Sally,

As mentioned previously, I want to write to you during this ‘graduation season’ about a number of topics, some of which I feel I know something about and some of which I am less knowledgeable or skilled in. I want this series of Nuggets to perhaps encourage you to think about these topics, and maybe to also write or dialog about some things in your journal or with others. 

I think they are important topics to think about and to have a certain sense of awareness about as you enter into the next phase of life and ongoing. I hope you will consider these short essays a gift to you, and I hope Emily and Lucy might also read and think about these things as they continue to grow. Ultimately you will want to create your own way of walking in the world, and it does not have to be the same way I do.

There are five overriding themes in these short essays. As I have gotten older, I have decided that these five things should guide me in everything I do. Here they are, my guiding five, by which I strive:

• Everybody has his or her own path.
• Life should be good, fun, and easy.
• This, too, shall pass.
• Wear a smile, and be a friend.
• Stay whole.

I will have a tiny bit to say about each of my guiding five in the days ahead. But remember, these are my five things, and they don’t have to be yours (note #1 - everybody has their own path.) I am repeating myself, but it is important to me that you know that this is a gift intended to get you thinking about life, life transitions, dreams, and opportunities. It is not meant to be preachy or exact in nature. It is far more important that you form your own way of approaching life than trying to emulate my way or anyone else for that matter.

After touching on each of my guiding five, most of which you have heard me talk about before, I will strive to write about ten other topics, broken into two groups of five. (You know I like things that come in fives.) The first group represents five topics that I feel I have some level of understanding or self-mastery. The second group represents areas or subjects in which I hope to learn more - opportunities for growth. Remember the two questions we learned as a family years ago? First, ask, what did I do well? Then ask, what could I have done better? You might think of these two sets of topics as my attempt to answer those two questions.

First five: Some sense of mastery or understanding (What did I do well?)

• On love, marriage, and family
• On exercise and health
• On happiness, contentment, change, and loss
• On spirituality, religion, prayer, and meditation
• On adventure, spontaneity, and intuition

Second five: Opportunities to learn and grow (What could I have done better?)

• On money, stuff, and things
• On fear and anxiety
• On addiction and rituals
• On business and partnerships
• On music, art, and dance

In closing this introductory post, let me say that you are truly a gift to your mom and me. And writing to you over the next few weeks is a special thing. How wonderful and amazing that I have a daughter who has been such a joy to raise and who has set such a great example for her sisters and her friends! So thank you for being the person you have become, and may God continue to bless you in all you do.

Love,

Dad

Women Power Wednesday - The Home Stretch for Sally B. Singletary

Sally:

On Monday, September 6 of 2010 I launched this private family and friends blog and named it 'Nuggets from Dad'. The stated purpose was something similar to what it still is today: "An almost daily message to Sally during her college years at the University of Georgia . . . expanded later to include Emily at SCAD . . . a fun way to stay connected to my college girls and keep them up-to-date on what is happening in Austin with Lucy."

If my math is right, this is post number 765! We had a nice theme going initially. Remember Make it a Great Monday, Stay Whole Tuesday, Women Power Wednesday, Colloquial Thursday, and Fit as a Fiddle Friday? I tried to post everyday that UGA had class and over time I learned how to share family  pictures. Some stretches have been better than others, but I think overall Nuggets has been successful. It has given me a way to let know how much I love you and how I think of you often. I hope you have enjoyed it throughout your college years.

For some nostalgia, here is what the very first post said:

Hey Sally. "Make it a great Monday." I like that expression. Some people might say, "kick Monday's ass." Same thing. The point is, it is always up to you to start your day, and your week, with a great attitude. It is up to you to take what God is giving you today, and turn it into something good.

We are proud of you!

Pressing onward,

Dad

I've been thinking recently that I want to use Nuggets to give you a small graduation gift over the next several weeks leading into your graduation celebration on May 8-10. I am formulating a little 'graduation send-off series' about some things that I want to share with you . . .

Stay tuned for more on this . . .

Women power,

Dad

Happy Easter from Perry

Easter Sunday at St. Michaels

McDowell cousins visit SCAD

Parker in fashionable rain gear, Lauren, Katie, Emily and Brad

Lucy - Studio Photos

Lucy and Mattie do it again

Easy Street - Enhancement

What a great find in Fredericksburg!

Hey Neighbors,

Cathy and I had a chance to spend a few days in Fredericksburg recently enjoying the Hill Country. For sometime now, we have been looking for a way to improve the appearance to our driveway entrance. Easy Street is so special and unique and we want to contribute to that uniqueness. If you can open the attached photo you will see a tin sculpture of a Mariachi Band, which we were so excited to find in Fredericksburg. We have made our final payment on the sculpture and it will be arriving by truck later this afternoon.

Cathy's late father, Ret. General O.C. Malcom played the trumpet in a Mariachi Band in Macon, GA for many years when Cathy was growing up. This morning we were talking and it doesn't seem fair that we would be the only ones to see the Mariachi Band on a daily basis, so we wanted to suggest that we position it just behind the Easy Street sign. I wanted to just surprise everyone, but Cathy felt we should write and let you know what we are doing.

This will be our contribution to the street (as the newest residents) but if Chip would let us run an extension cord from his porch and if everyone wants to contribute, I will hook up some speakers so that we can add some audio on holidays and special occasions!
 
Ole,

Page and Cathy

Happy Birthday Sally Singletary

Cool Sally

Lucy: (1) I love how Sally is always so excited when I call or text her; (2) I love how dedicated Sally is to her job or to whatever project she is working on at the moment!

Emily: (1) I love Sally for setting an excellent example for Lucy and me to follow by always achieving so much and working so hard in school and life.; (2) I love Sally because she has a great sense of humor and we always have a fun time when we are going out in one of our towns or shopping together.

Mom: (1) I love how much Sally appreciates her family and friends. She never takes advantage of the love that people give her and always shows them how much she loves them; (2) I love how hard Sally has worked during her college years. She has made spectacular grades, volunteered in organizations and made lifelong friends. What an accomplishment!

Dad: (1) I love how Sally stays grounded in her faith and how much she loves her family; (2) I love how Sally is always open to reading new books and exploring new hobbies and activities.

Bailey: (1) I love how Sally is always so excited to see me and picks me up and rubs my belly; (2) I love how Sally stays in such great shape so she can play ball with me when she is home.