imagine a different world of grilled cheese.

I would like you to know, that right now, as I type this, my right upper arm and shoulder hurt, my chest hurts and random parts of my legs hurt…and I love every minute of it. Thank you.

I have been a Nintendo user since 5 when my late Nanny bought me an NES. Ever since then, I have been hooked. I have owned an N64, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance SP, Gamecube and now a Wii. Somehow I skipped the SNES, I think that was my folks fault.

I bought the N64 and Gamecube right around launch time. For the Nintendo Wii, I camped out with my mom, bringing two generations together. We went to a local Best Buy around 5am on launch day and sat outside waiting until Best Buy would pass out the tickets. In line were fathers, mothers, little kids and young adults all waiting for the chance to buy one of the 40 some Wii’s Best Buy had waiting for the anxious fans. In front of me was a father with his two sons, and a gentleman in his 30s. Behind me was a dad, waiting in line so he could surprise his son with a Wii for Christmas. All different types, kinds, ages of people waiting to buy one video game system. Again, bringing multiple generations together.

I have to admit, the first month or two, I only played the Wii occasionally, once or twice a week, if that. However, recently, I found myself hooked on Wii Sports: Baseball. Playing it nightly, trying to better my records and skill level. After each night, I was feeling the pain more and more…in my legs, my arms, my chest, everywhere. Even though it hurt, I kept playing and kept trying to one-up myself. When I did not, I became frustrated, but did not quit, instead I continued playing until I hurt so much that I just had to sit down and take a break. Because of these unseen side effects, I have enlisted the help of the Wii and Wii Sports to assist me in losing a few extra pounds from my not so hidden belly. Will it work? I sure hope so. I will keep you posted…

However, Nintendo, that is not why I am writing this post. Throughout the time before the Wii came out, spokesperson after spokesperson was spewing the purpose of the Wii: to attract non-gamers to a video game system; to get grandmothers/grandfathers, mothers/fathers and other non-games to play the Wii and enjoy it. I am here to report, you have succeeded in creating something no one saw coming.

Both of my parents have watched me play video games throughout the years, however, they have never actually played themselves. Well, there was that one time, when my mother tried to play the original Mario, but she was horrible, and we rarely speak of that. Fast forward to a recent evening when I was playing Wii Sports: Bowling and I begged my dad to play; at least try out the Wii. That is when his addiction started. Since then, I don’t believe he has missed a day rolling that ball down the lane trying to knock down all 10 pins. Since then, he has gotten up in the middle of the night, when he couldn’t sleep, and snuck down to beat my high score. Since then, him and I have played, with the novice losing to the expert. My mother has even tried baseball, which was not so pretty and bowling, somewhat pretty. Her exact words to me, “I can see how this is addicting.”

So Nintendo, I blame you. I blame you for making a product that my whole family can enjoy and play together. I blame you for bringing my family closer. I blame you for making me wait my turn to play the Wii, when I was the one who purchased it!

No one at Nintendo had any idea that this product would be as successful as it is, but if my family is any indication of the future, the Wii will be one product that will live on forever.

I feel like now is a good time to reflect on my life and what will become of it down the road. I almost feel like now is a good time for a personal statement, although this will probably be much longer and nothing like that. I am not even sure I know what a personal statement is.

I am sorry at the length of this, but I would appreciate it if you only read bits and pieces. Thanks!

workWorld

I finally have my first full-time, “real job,” at Symphony Publishing. Even just a few months ago, I would have never believed I would find a full-time job that basically has everything I want, but here it is and because of it, I am extremely happy. I enjoy it. Most of the time. 4 out of every 5 days, I enjoy myself and leave happy. I am proud of the work that I have created and designed. (MMR Magazine (created it), SBO Magazine, JazzEd, Golf Event Magazine and Footwear Plus).

I mentioned that there was 1 out of 5 days where I am not happy, and that is the truth. A lot of the times it deals with my boss and my curiosity of what does he actually do? It seems as though that everything that comes across his desk is automatically passed on to me. Oh and gotta love the line, “go learn such-and-such so you can teach me!” He has to do something worthwhile or why would they keep him around? I just wish I knew what it was. Oh and it is a little weird when your boss a) IMs you and b) has dreams about you, but that is a story for another day!

There are also other times that I feel like I can never get organized, that I am always forgetting something, missing something. I always feel that there is some email that comes in that I forget about it until it is too late, or close to too late. I have been there a month and a half (wow!), and I still have yet to get organized, and figure out a way to keep on top of everything that comes in. I have responsibility that I have never had before, I do not want to screw up! My organization skills/management will come in time, but hopefully not too much time or there might be no more time left.

I almost forgot to mention my other job, working at the Cafe at Nordstrom. Most are probably wondering, especially my sister, “Why is Shane still working there?” The simple answer is that I enjoy it and it is a great ego boost. Sure it takes up a lot of my weekends and because of it I almost have no life, but it is something different and my co-workers are great people…who adore me. Haha (Jaja!) It allows me to do something totally different from my Monday-Friday job. It allows me to interact with different people and still stay connected to the food industry, which I have always been interested in. I will stay there until I truly dread going in to work.

loveWorld

I am the sole rider on the Shane Kearns Rollercoaster of life. That is all I need to say, but of course I will say more.

Ever since April of ’05, I have been debating in my head what my future is in terms of a relationship. Do I simply want to date? Do I want a long-term relationship? Am I thinking further ahead to marriage? What do I want? The problem is, I have been too busy trying to answer those questions instead of just enjoying my life. I have been too focused on finding the answers instead of allowing the answer to find me. I will definitely know when I have discovered the answer(s). It might come to me when I am at work, when I wake up, or when I am sleeping, doesn’t matter where, I will know. I cannot force myself to find the answers, or they will be the wrong ones and we know how well that has worked out in the past.

I need to stop focusing on what my future will be, concerning relationships, and just let the future come to me. I need to stop focusing on who will be in my future, and just let her to come to me. I need to stop “planning” my future, because of all people, I know that things are bound to change and never go as planned. I need to enjoy the time I am spending with family and friends and not think of what will become of the future.
For once in my life, I need to stop thinking, planning, worrying and just enjoy every minute of my life with the people who I love. When I am ready, I will know.

generalWorld

Home is where the heart is. Home is where I have lived for the past 23+ years (minus some time at UC). Home is where my folks are. Home is comfortable. Home is great. Home needs to change. After 23 years of living here in Solon, on the same road, in the same house, in the same bedroom, I think it is time for me to truly spread my wings.

When I was in Lexington, KY, living in my own little apartment, I loved it. I came home, did my own thing, didn’t have to worry about anyone else, and it was great. I miss that. Don’t get me wrong, family is great and living at home is great, however, I can’t live here forever.

I don’t know when or how soon it will happen, but I will be moving out and starting a new life in some apartment somewhere on the East side, hopefully a little closer to work! I guess you could call it the Shane Kearns’ bachelor pad…………………sounds exciting, doesn’t it? Jaja.

designWorld

Imagine24.net is stagnant. NATUREKSY is stagnant. Even this blog is stagnant. I need to shed some life into these “brands,” which I want them to become. The last time I updated NATURESKY was in August, 2006. Why? Because even though the site looks nice, updating it is very time consuming and even annoying. Because of that, lots of photographs have not been added to the site. I want to sell these images as prints/designs, but I have yet to do that since the site opened…years ago.

Imagine24.net has a great design, layout and logo, just like NATUREKSY. However, if anyone is viewing the site with Internet Explorer, the amount of information viewable is greatly reduced…by 75%. Oh and it never even mentions that I could do freelance work. It lost its pizazz a few days after I uploaded this new design. It looks good, but that is all it has going for it.

Imagine24.net needs an upgrade. NATURESKY needs an upgrade. imagine a different world. needs a design upgrade. I believe a Content Management System (CMS) and maybe even Flickr will be the answer to my dilemma. It will bring Imagine24.net, NATURESKY and maybe my blog, together, under one umbrella. It will allow for easier updates and more interactive elements that will bring people to the site…multiple times. It will allow me to realize my dream of Imagine24.net and NATURESKY becoming sites that people will want to visit on a regular basis.

It may be a grand idea, but I believe it will work. I have used CMSs at work ever since I got there, and even though sometimes the functionality is a little odd, it works. Stay tuned.

dmbWorld

Say goodbye to DMBWallpaper.net. After 5 years of running the site, I have decided to shut the doors. I have lost interest in the site, in so many ways, and would like to use the money towards my photography and photography web site. It has been fun, but everything must come to an end. Enjoy the wallpaper while you still can.

If you are still reading at this point, thank you very much. The future is bright for me, I just have to realize that.