I don't recollect when I first announced VILE. It was a brief moment during early 2012 that faded as quickly as the excitement of following my dreams had taken hold. It was time. Or so I had thought. Shortly after the first person asked what the hell this "VILE" was, work with 16toads Design suddenly picked up a giant head of steam. And within weeks, the day-to-day grind of earning a paycheck had once again bitch-slapped my passions back into submission.
That's my excuse, anyway.
The splash page for VILE was launched over a year and a half ago. The intervening period of time has been the most singularly difficult and rewarding period in my life. Punctuated with exquisite happiness and crushing sadness, triumphs, disappointments, successes, failures, optimism, adventure, drinking my 500th unique beer, and hard-won personal growth. It is often said that adversity reveals the true character of a man. This may be true. Nonetheless, I have come to hate this trite adage as passionately as I have learned to love. Fuck adversity. The lesson here is that you make your own breaks.
Throughout it all, a handful of people have stood by me, believed in me, and pushed me to keep moving forward. Urging me to follow my dreams.
I want to extend my sincerest gratitude to these wonderful people for generously offering their valuable time and infinite patience listening to my hair-brained ideas, critiquing my work, and continually motivating my creative spirit.
"Having confidence in yourself is not the same thing as believing in your talent."
Profound. True. And, perhaps, the most perceptive words of wisdom I've ever received.
Thank you.
Now if you will please excuse me, I have a lot of work to do.