Jason Black Logo and Graphic Design in Coral Springs Florida

I was fortunate enough to spend this past weekend watching the taping of American Ninja Warrior in Miami. It was the most fun I’ve had of the three I’ve been to (and no, no spoilers so don’t ask 😉 ). If you’ve never seen the show, I suggest watching it!

Onto the logo stuff…

Along the lines of American Ninja Warrior, it was really nice getting to see the logos I designed for Drew Drechsel and David “Flip” Rodriguez being worn by fans.

Drew Drechel’s logo

David “Flip” Rodriguez’s logo

I even wore my “Real Life Ninja” Drew Drechsel shirt (my wife and son as well) to support a my friend!

I CANNOT WAIT until we get to do it all again next year!!

I was going through some of my old facebook notes and noticed something I did a while back. It was something I was “tagged” to do, a “25 things about me”.  I thought it was kinda fun when I did it and reading back was even more fun. I thought I’d share it here just for haha’s…

1. Growing up I never really wanted kids. Now that I have my son I couldn’t imagine or want life without him.
2. I wrote a song about my son called “My Everything” but never really finished recording it.
3. I’ve been playing the drums since I was 10 (that would be 1980).
4. I am a VERY quiet person until you put a keyboard in front of me. Then you can’t shut me up.
5. I’m VERY shy.
6. When I am stressed, I like to sit at my computer and design something… Anything.
7. I met my wife at a Wags (like Denny’s) January 1991 at 1am. Who’d a thought I’d still be with her!?!?
8. I am BRUTALLY honest. I always tell people, “If you don’t want the answer, don’t ask the question”.
9. I can’t stand people that lie.
10. I have no secrets.
11. I am a great read of people. I’ve never been wrong whenever I’ve had a “feeling” about someone.
12. I don’t gamble because I choose not to give my money away.
13. I do play poker with my friends a couple times a month. As long as I’m having fun and spending time with my friends, I don’t consider it gambling (oxymoron????).
14. I like to bike and hike but don’t do either as much as I’d like (yes, I’m a poet too I guess 😉 ).
15. I like to fish but refuse to kill anything (if we happened to keep anything it’s up to someone else to deal with it).
16. I love all types of art especially abstract paintings.
17. Whenever I dress nice, I look horrible 20 minutes later.
18. I have Crohn’s Disease.
19. My favorite color is blue (though I have a weakness for black for obvious reasons).
20. I collect poker chips… There is just something about good design on something so small.
21. I can sit and stare at my son for hours… Yes it creeps him out.
22. I love going to Vegas, mostly to people watch.
23. I’ve been going out to lunch an average of once a week for the last 12 years with my friend Dan.
24. I don’t really care what people think of me but care too much about what I think of myself.
25. I’m glad I’m done with this!

Fun huh? 🙂

For a while now, I write a new blog on my iPhone in the notes then email the note in hopes that I remember to log in and post that new blog.
Well, I have like four blogs that I never did because I don’t remember to do it! Until now…
I found the wordpress app (that has been out for a while) so I can now update my blog right from my iPhone!! How cool is that?!?
Right now I am at a birthday party with my son. Since the last thing on his mind is old dad while he is hanging out with his 9 year old friends, I get to sit here and try out the new app.
So here it is… Spelling, grammer mistakes and all!!

Just as I was wishing this day would come to a close, I recieved and email from Master Alvas, the owner of my son’s karate school. Normally, the emails are just updates that I will open and glance at making sure I remember everything I need to remember.

This time was different. I opened the email, saw their logo NICE AND BIG (I like that part because I designed it 😉 ) and then noticed the title, “Weekly Tune Up”. I don’t remember ever seeing anything like that so I continued to read. It was just what I needed on a day like today. Inspiration needed? Please read…

Weekly Tune Up

What Are You Asking For?

By Master David Alvas, Director, USK Karate Academy

What you look for in life is what you get.  I have known or met a lot of successful people in my life, and the single quality that seems to thread the successful people together is intention towards positive action.  Yes, even the most successful struggle from time to time, but it is their intention to never back down that keeps them moving forward.  More importantly, successful people embrace the idea that whatever challenge is happening to them is happening because it needs to happen.  Actually, some of the most successful people that I have met have told me that they ask for hardship!  They need the opportunity to grow.  They embrace the challenge and all of the potential growth that it has to offer.

It is in the struggle that we find our way.  We find out who we really are and what we are really made of.  Without a challenge, we have no opportunity to overcome, and overcoming a challenge is where all the joy is.  The more joy in your life, the more you will be ready to handle the next challenge.  It’s a beautiful cycle.

So this week I ask, what are you asking for?  If things are not going so well, find the opportunity.  I promise you, there is something there to make you better, to move you forward.  You just have to want to find it.  Don’t focus on the problem, focus on the solution.  If things are going great, then great!  Ask for some challenge to keep you moving forward so you don’t stagnate.

It’s all about growth and movement forward.  Don’t be afraid of the challenge, you have everything you need to face it and win.

All the best,

David Alvas
USK Karate Academy

I just thought I’d share. Thank you Master Alvas!

After 10 years, I’m going back to my home town of Philadelphia!

The last time I went to Philadelphia was for my grandmother’s funeral. Though it wasn’t a great reason to be there, we all tried to make the best of it and see the city (if we hadn’t, my grandmother would’ve haunted us for the rest of our lives), but I didn’t get to see the town where I was raised.

I was born in North East Philadelphia and lived there until I was 7. From there, we moved to a little town called Richboro in Bucks County, PA. I lived in Richboro until I was 19 and I loved it (I always say; I was born in Philadelphia, raised in Richboro and grew up in Florida). When we moved there, there was only one traffic light! It was great small town living (although being Jewish in a small town like that was tough at times).

I haven’t actually seen Richboro (or my friends) since I moved in 1990.  Since reconnecting with a lot of old friends and making new friends from my home town on Facebook, I’ve been craving to get back there for a visit. I decided that it’s something I have to do and booked a trip to PA. I’ll only be there for a weekend (July 24th to the 26th) but it looks to be a PACKED weekend! A friend of mine was even nice enough to throw a party for me and even set up an event page on Facebook!!! How nice was that?!?!?!?

To say that I can’t wait to get there is the understatement of the year.

I know this is pretty much all over the place and not as coherant as my normal blogs (are they???), but I’ve been sick with Influenza A. Between the flu and the flu meds, I just haven’t been thinking clearly. But… At least I posted a new blog!!!!

🙂

When I was little, I would always look forward to the holidays and going over to my grandmother’s house. Not just for the obvious reasons, but because she used to make her own pickles (and I LOVE pickles!), pickled tomatoes and pickled watermelon! That’s right, pickled watermelon! Now I know that it is fairly common to pickle watermelon rind, but this is the “meat” along with the rind. Sounds gross I know, but if you like pickles, especially half sour pickles, it is just GREAT!

Before my grandmother died around ten years ago, she made sure she gave all of her recipes to my mother, aunt and wife. The problem was, she didn’t have ALL of her recipes written down and pickled watermelon was one of those recipes. 🙁

In my house, my wife and I share cooking duties because, if I may say so myself, we are both pretty darn good cooks. I handle most of the daily cooking and ALL grilling while she takes care of baking, soups and stews (which I am REALLY bad at all of them, LOL). I am GREAT with throwing things together and having them taste good. I also make my own marinades and salad dressings so how hard can pickled watermelon be, right?!?

I’ve been searching the internet for pickled watermelon recipes for years now and recently came across two. With a little help from my mom, we were able to piece together what we THINK my grandmother did to make her pickle brine, especially the brine for the pickled watermelon. Well… I tried it yesterday!

It has to ferment for just about a week but if it turns out tasting right, I’ll post how I made it so that others can try it. If not, it is back to the drawing board and won’t give up until I get it right!

I’ll let you know how it goes. 🙂

P.S. – I wanted to thank an old high school friend Tara Frey for giving me a shout out in her blog. If you are into crafts, (interior) design, photography or just a good read, please check out her blog. Also, she has a book coming out soon so I’ll give a plug for that too!