interesting places, new faces

Pictures taken a the Jehovah's Witness Hurricane Relief Center, Mobile, AL


I like tea.


My younger sister, Nicole, working in the Rooming Department.


Natasha from Philadelphia teaches signs to Linsey. That particular gesture is "name" in saying "My name is. . ."


I like the movement in her hand.


Sister Smith looking her cheerful self. I believe Nicole took this photo.


Brother Smith (Sr. Smith's husband) looking stressed. He's not really. He and his wife came down from northern California to help out.


And last, the wonderful David. He's the IT guy. He's from New York.


All in all, a spiritually fulfilling experience.

Sleep to dream

I tend to have really vivid dreams when I sleep. Sometimes I remember them, sometimes I don't. When I can't remember all the details, it's because I was in a very deep sleep when I was awakened. All I remember is that I had a dream that I wished I could remember. I'm left with this feeling. Then, when I eventually remember something from the previously unmemorable dream, it usually comes in the form of a very unsettling feeling of deja-vu.

So, I took a long nap today, and when I woke up I immediately remembered the dream. It was quite disturbing to me. It involved some romance, some death, and then some resurrection. I guess the resurrection was the disturbing part, because the person was brought back by kid who used a video game to do it (It's a dream remember). I vividly remember the feeling of my heart dropping when I found out that the person what dead, and the shock of finding out they had been brought back to life. I knew they weren't supposed to be alive that way. It had been too long (like 30 minutes), and something in me told me that they should have just been left dead. But I didn't want them to be dead, because we had just shared a momentously special moments only minutes before.

It was weird. I was totally going with the irrational events of the dream because the emotions I was feeling were the only thing happening that were appropriate. So, I felt I should try to articulate all this in an entry.

It is a comfort to know that my dreams do not foreshadow anything bad that's going to happen. I know that it's just my brain reorganizing information from that day, so I have a pretty good idea of where the general plot of the dream came from. It had to do with my present concerns, which involve someone leaving, and I guess I' worried about the possibility that I may never see them again, or at least for a very long time.

I don't know if I'm happy or not that I did remember this particular dream. I'm going to be thinking about it for a while; I know that.

Ah well. C'est la vie.

To Bend

I just got home from the movie night.

Only one person we invited came, who happened to be Kevin. He's awesome. He's going on a road trip in two days, so hopefully we can hang out more before then.

I'm so tired. I've been up since 6 AM, with no rest in between.

Serenity was awesome for the fourth time. Kevin liked it too, which was cool. And he wore the shirt I made him. That was nice, too.

I wish I was more articulate right now, but my thoughts are pretty random and basic. Yeah. I just wanted to say that I had a good day. Lots of bonding and meeting nice new people. I even have pictures. I guess I'll post them later today.

Done

+ listening to: an instrumental from some Dave Matthews Band song

For now, anyway.

Yesterday was my last day going to school for the semester. I had lab clean up in photography, and I also picked up my portfolio. I passed by the skin of my teeth with a C. I have never been more relieved to get a C in my life. I really need to get on it with my grades. In the end I know that I stressed way too much over that class, worrying about my concepts and what I was going to shoot, in the end turning my assignments in late. Hopefully I've learned my lesson.

But all is not lost. I made a B in my web design class. I'm not gonna begrudge that grade, because I know I could have put a lot more work into my site. However, I really was struggling with the programs in the beginning, so I'd only work on my site when I was in class. Then, at the end, all the information I had learned came together, and I finally knew what I was doing with the flash animations and how to make them work, but time was short. I do want to use my new skills to redesign my website over the break though. I'll be shocked if it actually happens.

I'm hungry. . .and a bit sleepy. I stayed up til around 3 a.m. last night, then my dad wakes me up at 6 a.m., saying that I spend too much time in bed. Maybe I do, but I stayed up late last night because I wanted to wash my hair before I went to bed, because I wouldn't have time to do it in the morning. Whatever. I'll sleep in the car I guess.

Serenity is out today and DVD. We're having a movie night with some friends to celebrate the end of the semester and just chill. I'm looking forward to it being lots of fun. I haven't hung out with a big group of people in a while.

T-shirts!

So last night I was in a crafty mood and decided to make t-shirts.

Recently I've become a really big fan of the TV series "Firefly." I'm a bit of a sci-fi geek already, and that show is awesome, so it was a natural progression. I had seen advertisements for the movie Serenity, but I thought it would be really cheesy. Then I happened to see a rerun of the show Firefly, on which Serenity is based, and was pleasantly surprised that it was actually good. So I went with my parents to see the movie, and the rest is history. I eventually bought the entire series on DVD. There were only 14 episodes, 11 of which were aired, before the show was canceled by FOX. It's an awesome show, and the cast is amazing.

So, I got the idea to make a shirt for my sister that featured her favourite character, Jayne (Adam Baldwin). I had some t-shirt transfers that I bought a while ago. I went to Hobby Lobby and bought 4 t-shirts for $3.99 a piece. I had also gotten the idea to make a shirt for Kevin to thank him for modeling for me.





I like buying colorful shirts with novelty sayings on them. However, since I am a graphic design major, I figured it would be much more practical for me to create my own shirts, since I have all the tool I need.

There are some design flaws to the shirt that I feel I should mention. One thing is that I used a highly overused font called papyrus. The only reason I used it was because it was the same typeface used for the Serenity movie title. When I saw they had used this typeface, I was somewhat confused, because the movie wasn't low budget at all, and yet they had this really generic, unoriginal typeface for the title. So when Kevin saw my shirt (I was wearing it when I took him his), he pointed this out. He's also a graphic design student. The problem is, that the quote I used for the shirt ("Time for some thrilling heroics") was actually from the television series, and not the movie. So I probably should have chosen a different typeface. I was just being lazy I guess.

Ah well. My shirt still rawks. ^_^





Serenity comes out on DVD this Tuesday, December 20th. Rent it or Buy it!

Late Night at the Lab

Photos as promised. I've had classes with these people for a good while now, and I thought it was about time I took pictures of them, me being a photographer and all.*


Our humble photo lab. That's my stuff on the desk in the foreground. That passageway in the back leads to the darkroom. Someone left the light table on. . .


Hannan photographs Mary, who is looking at Hannan's contact sheet.


Jason, meticulously matting his prints.


Travis, doing something with his phone. Maybe he's texting his girlfriend. She's in the class, too.


These bottles are from Travis' edition from last semester. People have yet to take theirs home with them. I got mine. They were Polaroid transfers of his hand with some song lyrics. Very cool.


Finally, we have Sohil, the lab monitor. He's an awesome photographer. He also likes to take pictures of himself. A lot. Now I have a photo of him. ^_^

*All images shot with a Canon Powershot A60 (digital), except for the last image, which is a negative scan. That image was shot with my Olympus OM-1 (35 mm).

There and Back Again

I just got back from the photo lab. I guess i got there around 10:30. I got all my mattes cut. It was quite tedious. I haven't had to use fractions in a long time. I felt pretty good afterwards that I was able to figure out the measurements without the use of a calculator. I wrote them all down on the back of the receipt for my matte board.

Geez, the last matte gave me heck. I ended up having to recut it twice because I measured wrong. Now all that's left is spot-toning the prints and then mounting them in their mattes. I'll probably put it off til tomorrow morning.

I also have some photos that I took at the lab last night while I was killing time. I'll post those soon.

Light at the End

+ listening to: "happy ending" by Avril Lavigne

Yesterday, I was at the photo lab from around 3:30 in the afternoon til midnight. I wasn't the last person to leave. It was cool though. I got my prints done. I took some photos of my classmates. I'm about to head out right now to get some matte board and then cut my mattes and mount my prints. That is not going to be fun.

But semester is almost done, and then I'll get a much needed break. I even have idea for a photo series. I've been inspired by my photo shoot with Kevin. He's such a great model. I'll admit he's been my artistic muse as of late. Such a great guy.

Anyway, I really need to go. But I'll leave a treat. . .

+ listening to: "Lover I Don't Have To Love" by Bright Eyes

I'm going to be at the photo lab all night working on my project. I just know it. I have to remember to buy matte board as well.

My only consolation is that I'm getting my hair done today. ^_^

Photo Shoot

+ listening to: "life of a salesman" by Yellowcard
+ reading: On Photography by Susan Santog

This morning I had a photo shoot for my final project in photography class. After that, I went to the lab and developed the film and made contact sheets. I'm so happy with how the shots came out; I'm actually starting to feel like a decent photographer. I can't take all the credit, though. My friend is an awesome model. When, I tell him, he just thinks it's flattery, but whatever. . .^_^

At first, I was going to shoot using a light meter. But I couldn't figure out how to work the thing, so I just had to wing it. However, I did overdevelop two of the rolls, but the detail is still pretty good. I like using Ilford film because it's very forgiving. Delta 400 is the best.

Well, enough gushing for now. I have to go scan the images in.

Clarity

Walking from class today, I wondered why there was an ache in my calf muscles. Then I remembered how Monday I had walked all the way across campus in the freezing cold and humidity to my friend's dorm. It felt good at the time, now I'm feeling the consequences. It still feels good now, knowing I did that, the reason for my discomfort.

We had critique in class today, and I didn't have my children's book done. About half the class didn't have their stuff done, though, so I don't feel so bad. I have to get it done by Friday though.

And then there's photography. I still haven't shot anything for my final project, and I'm supposed to have two finished prints to show tomorrow. I have a feeling that's not going to happen. I've been having technical issues, though, with my model, and the concept, so I'll have to change it from what I originally planned.

And there's the fact that I'm so friggin' lazy. This really needs to stop. There's no reason for school to be going as badly as it has. My grades have definitely suffered from my constant complacency. I'm pulling it together though. Being honest with yourself is quite therapeutic.

+ listening to: "away from the sun" by 3 doors down
+ writing: a four-page letter

Well, now that that's settled (see previous entry), for the most part, I can move on. I've wasted so much time it's really sad. Now I've got to throw myself into school so I can pull off some decent grades. It's the last week of class, so I don't know how successful I'll be.

I have to remember to study for my photography final. I bombed it last semester, and I can't do that again. I actually have to study again. How novel is that?


It's good to have good friends who will be there for you no matter what.

Goodness, I've only got a day left to finish my children's book. Looks like it's not going to have color after all. . .

Strange & Beautiful

Sometimes, the last thing you want comes in first,
Sometimes, the first thing you want never comes,
And I know, the waiting is all you can do,
Sometimes...

All these years and we hardly ever touched. Now, for me, our relationship is an exercise in patience.






I wish you knew.

+ recent iTunes dloads:
· "Helena" and "I'm Not Okay (I Promise) by My Chemical Romance
· "Hands Down" by Dashboard Confessional

Yeah. I'm really feeling the emo/ansty music at the moment. The lyrics are always amazingly introspective, and I love that.

So, I went to photo class today and it was worth it. After a few people presented their artist response papers, we watched a video on Richard Avedon. I'd never heard of him before today, even though he's a very influential photographer. I was very inspired by his portrait photography. I'd like to try some shoots that emulate his style, just for experimentation.

I went to the hair stylist today and got a new cut. I like it lots. Hopefully I'll be able to keep it up. Next I want to get some highlights. I haven't dyed my hair in over a year because it's been damaged (mainly because I did it myself), but now that I've been going to my stylist regularly I think I'll try it again. My sister told me that I'm not a real artist because I don't have a cool hair style. I don't know about hair styles being a definitive measure of artistic devotion, but I agree that I needed a change. I truly wish that I could dye my hair extreme colors, but I refrain because would like to maintain a modicum of modesty with my appearance due to Christian values. Still there's always room for individuality, which I mostly express through my shirts with pithy sayings and little accents in the form of Strawberry Shortcake buttons.

^_^

+ listening to: "Everything" by Alanis Morissette

Well, I don't really feel any better than I did last night.

Today I'm going to the hair stylist and I'm planning on a drastic style change. I've been entertaining the idea of getting my hair cut short for years. Now it looks like I'm finally gonna do it. My sisters don't believe I have the guts, so I guess that gives me more impetus to go ahead with it. I'd really like to get some highlights as well, but I don't think I can afford it right now, and my hair is recovering from previous damage.

Anyway, I think a change will do me good.

I'm seriously considering not going to photo class today. We have a paper due, which I have barely started, and I don't know if it's my day to go.


:sigh: It's now 9:11. I guess I'll get ready to go to class. I've just considered some things I need to take care of.

feelin' that feeling

Let me tell you something
Tell you how I feel
When he comes around
I get to feelin ill
It's a achy feelin inside my chest
It's like I'm going into cardiac arrest

Adrenaline rushing in my body
All my power I just can't fight it
No matter how I keep on tryin'
I can't deny I got this...heartburn
Burnin in my soul
Call the fire department
It's out of control

—from "Heartburn" by Alicia Keys

+ listening to: "what if" by coldplay

Looking through alumni of my high school on the thefacebook.com I began to think back to the kind of people I went to high school with. A lot of people have joined fraternities and sororities (I try not to hold it against them).

Then my thoughts traveled to senior honors day. It was a program held near the end of the year in which scholarships were announced and awards were given out for the people with the highest averages in academic subjects and electives. There was one girl who received an award from her church. The presenter of the award told of what a nice and respectable young woman she was, and how honored she was of to be giving her the award?or something to that effect. The girl was overcome with emotion and teared up. I'm pretty sure she didn't know she was getting the award, so it made for a nice little moment.

The entire time, this is playing out, I'm thinking of what type of person she was in class. She was in my government and economics class, and we weren't friends, and I don't think we ever had an actual conversation. I do distinctly recall herbehaviorr in class. She wasn't disruptive or anything, but she did use pretty foul language quite often. I know for a fact that I almost definitely would not have remembered that about her had it not been for her getting the award for her commitment to her church.

Though I was 18 at the time (God, almost 5 years ago), I guess I was pretty naive. I knew that people acted differently with their peers than they did with their parents and other authority figures. That wasn't new to me. I was aware of the hypocrisy of it all, and was, and still am, turned off by it. I'll even admit that I don't act exactly the same around my parents as I do when they're not around. I just recall being so absolutely astounded that this girl was receiving an award, and she had the audacity to be touched by it, like she deserved it. I mean, sure, she probably was really devoted at church and was not a bad person. But that little incident in class just stuck out in my mind. If she was like that at school?so casually using very vulgar language?then how was she when she was elsewhere.

I'm not sure if I have a point, and I may come out sounding like a big hypocrite. I'm just expressing my feeling at that point in time. It was definitely a wake-up call to the ways of the world. I see it more today, and it still gets on my nerves. It's not the fact that the person is doing non-Christian things. It's the fact that they proclaim to be a Christian, but it only last for an hour a week. No, even that doesn't isn't it. It's the fact that they get praised for their few good efforts, when that's not really, truly, the type of person they are, "having some for of godly devotion but proving false to its power."

Stop Thinking About Her

Gone, she's gone
How do you feel about it
That's what I thought
You're real torn up about it
And I wish you the best
But I could do without it
And I will, because you've worn me down
Oh, I will, because you've worn me down

Worn me down like a road
I did everything you told
Worn me down to my knees
I did everything to please
But you can't stop thinking about her
No, you can't stop thinking about her

And you're wrong, you're wrong
I'm not overreacting
Something is off
Why don't we ever believe ourselves
And I, oh, I feel that word for you
And I will, because you've worn me down
Oh, I will because you have worn me down

Worn me down like a road
I did everything you told
Worn me down to my knees
I did everything to please
But you can't stop thinking about her
No, you can't stop thinking about her

She's so pretty; she's so damn right
But I'm so tired of thinking
About her tonight

Worn me down like a road
I did everything you told
Worn me down to my knees
I did everything to please
But you can't stop thinking about her
No, you can't stop thinking about her

Worn me down like a road
I did everything you told
Worn me down to my knees
I did everything to please
Worn me down like a road
I did everything you told to me to do
But you, you can't stop thinking about her
No, you can't stop thinking about her
No, you can't stop thinking about her
No, you can't stop thinking about her

—"Worn Me Down" by Rachael Yamagata

Carpe Diem

+ listening to: "tongue-tied" by Aqualung

Yesterday my friend Kevin treated me to my first outing to a little coffe house called Carpe Diem.







finis.

+ listening to: "crawling in the dark" by hoobastank

"In the homes of the black and white Americans of the same cultural and economic level one finds similar furniture, literature, and conversation. How, then, can the black American be expected to produce art and literature dissimilar to that of the white American?

Consider Coleridge-Taylor, Edward Wilmot Blyden, and Claude McKay, the Englishmen; Pushkin, the Russian; Bridgewater, the Pole; Antar, the Arabian; Latino, the Spaniard; Dumas, pere and fils, the Frenchmen; and Paul Laurence Dunbar, Charles W. Chestnut, and James Weldon Johnson, the Americans. All Negroes; yet their work shows the impress of nationality rather than race. They all reveal the psychology and culture of their environment?their color is incidental. Why should Negro artists of America vary from the national artistic norm when Negro artists in other countries have not done so?"

–from ?The Negro Art Hokum?, 1926 article by George Schuyler

More than once people have asked me why I don't draw more "black" people (males in particular). It's not an common question, but it has come up. So, while I may not agree with the article as a whole, I sympathize with the general idea. My art reflects my surroundings and my upbringing.

I could go way more in depth with my views and feelings about race and stereotypes. . .but I'm not. I'll just point out that I like to draw characters that are racially ambiguous. Of course, all of them have specific ethnicities and cultural backgrounds that I have in mind for them, but unless they're colored, I think, the viewer isn't really sure. Also, I don't draw a lot of males in general, because I'm not that good at it. I'm working on it, though. So, my lack of African-American male figures has nothing to do with my dislike of that particular group. On the contrary, it's because I don't want to do them injustice that I don't attempt to draw them much, if that makes any sense. Since I can't quite execute artistically the idealized version of said male, I stay on the safe side and draw other things (people) that I'm more confident in portraying–like pretty young women. ^_^

+ listening to: "not for all the love in the world" by The Thrills
+ mood: completely disoriented

I was awakened this morning by the wringing of my cell phone. It was on the other side of the room by my computer. I jumped out of the bed to answer it as I realized that I may have overslept for class. As I went for the phone. I looked at my alarm clock: 8:49.

Shoot.

I hastily answered, and after having a brief chat with my younger sister about her anxieties about turning in her argumentative essay on blood transfusion alternatives, I rushed to get ready.

Fully dressed, I went back to look at the clock. 9:02 a.m. My class doesn't start until 10:10. I don't know what was going on with my mind. It is now 9:11, so I've got about an hour to kill before class. I could be productive and work on sketches for my children's book, or layout for my web site design project. . . in so doing, actually being productive, for once.

Well, the first thing I'll do is go find some grub, because I'm always starving after my studio classesÃ?–they last two and a half to almost three hours, and we can't eat in the computer lab. I'll see what happens after that, and return this afternoon with a progress report.

+ listening to: "warning sign" by Coldplay

I just got back from the Photo Lab, working on my late self portrait assignment and my 3200 homework assignment that's due Thursday. I got to the lab at 6:45 p.m. . . .


Yeah. . . 6 hours of standing and I'm still not done. I did, however, get the 3200 print done.






.:sigh:.

What the. . .*what*?!?

This is a quote taken from a song lyrics site. The person was commenting about the song "Jesus Walks" by Kanye West.

"i luv it. its so kool. its the best thing to do with jesus. Jesus is so hot, almost as hot as the song. this is a great song and he explains jesus in an awesum way"

It's a bit unsettling—to say the least—to find someone thinks our Savior almost as hot as a song by Kanye West, or, what's more, that the person could think to put Jesus and Kanye in the same "hotness" category for said comparison.

+ listening to: "Amsterdam" by Coldplay

I am the worst photography student ever.










But I'm aware.
I'm working on it.

+ listening to: "Predictable" by Good Charlotte
+ reading: The final chapters of I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb

I just got back from my morning class, Senior Graphic Design. I had a corporate identity project do, and we had a critique. I'd say my project was pretty successful. The class liked it, anyway. There are a lot of other things that I wanted to do, and I got some good feedback as to what I could change to make it better. Some other people had some really nice designs as well. There's one girl in my class who does these really awesome designs. In all her projects she displays a really good, innate sense of unity and creates these nice patterns with shapes. She's also an awesome illustrator. She always has problems when it comes to craftmanship, but I envy her design capabilities.

+ listening to: "The First Taste" by Fiona Apple

However, I think it's good to have someone in the class who you feel that way about. It pushes me to be more creative with my designs. Not to necessarily be better than that person, but just to come out of your shell more. Interestingly, she really likes the designs that I do.

+ listening to: "Older Chests" by Damien Rice

But it's been a good morning. This afternoon I go to Web Design class with Kyeong. Today we're going to start learning flash. I always end up dozing off during lectures because all the lights are off . . .But that was before I had the text book. If I can follow along I should be ok.

Now I shall devour the bacon, cheddar and mushroom melt that my wonderful sister brought me from Wendy's.

+ listening to: The Ghost of You by Good Charlotte
+ reading: On Photography by Susan Santog
+ watching: The Goonies

I just bought an iTrip for my iPod mini. It lets you play your iPod through the car stereo of FM radio. It's cool, cuz it's a cheap way to remedy not having a CD player in any of the vehicles at my house.

We finally got high speed internet access at my house. I'm so relieved. It was really trying having to go up to the computer lab just to use the internet, especially since I like to go to side that are graphic intense. So now procrastination has become a lot more convenient for me. That's not too good. . .

+ listening to: Get Lifted by John Legend

We had a critique in photography today. I wasn't prepared. Since I went out of town this weekend to the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival this past weekend, I wasn't able to go the lab and get anything done. Realistically, since I knew I was going to the festival back in August, I should have just gotten my stuff done early. I could have gotten my stuff done. But I'm me, so it didn't happen. Now I've got to slave this weekend, but it's my responsibility. Hopefully I can at least get to the movies to see Into the Blue.

Mactopia

+ listening: my dad playing Generals: Command & Conquer
+ watching: Napoleon Dynamite
+ reading: Dreamweaver MX 2004 H.O.T (hands-on training) by R. Yeung

Yesterday evening I received my new Mac in mail. Now when I go to class I'll join the other "islanders" as my friend Kevin refers to the people who dock at the table in the center of the computer lab, away from the other computers lining the wall. The most that I've used it so far is to play and download music, so my dad commented that all he bought me was a very expensive MP3 player. But hey, what else am I supposed to do w/ this thing?

I bought the student version of Dreamweaver MX 2004 for my web design class. The bookstore was out of Adobe CS2, so I have to wait til another order comes in sometime next week. Honestly, when I first got my computer, I didn't really know what to do with it. I mean, it has so much capability, and I'm amazed to actually have something like it. I feel really humbled and fortunate to be able to get one at this point in time.

Enough mushiness. . .

This new computer ROX! : D

+ listening to: "God Put A Smile on Your Face" by coldplay
+ mood: Just got lifted by John Legend
+ reading: I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb

I haven't drawn anything not school-related in the longest time. So I was at movie gallery chatting it up with my favourite Customer Service Associate, Shawn. Currently Movie Gallery is having this promotional thing where customers write their #1 reason to rent, and they post it on the wall. I had done one already, but Shawn asked me to draw a picture, since I had mentioned before that I was an art student. This is what I came up with:

Cause & Effect

Well, hurricane Katrina did a terrible number on the Gulf Coast, where I happen to live. I'm located in Mobile, AL. We sustained some damage, a lot of downed trees and power outages (and we no longer have a fence around our backyard), but nothing compared to Louisiana and Mississippi.

An unexpected result of Katrina's strike is that it's allowed me to get that Mac I've been talking about. A 15" Powerbook G4, to be exact. See, my dad owns a lawn maintenance and tree removal company. So when storms come through, or threaten, he naturally gets more business.

After being out of college for a week, I'm trying to get back into the swing of things. I'm already going to be late turning in my first photography assignment. I've got a logo design due Monday that I haven't even started the computer work on, and I've got a project proposal due for my web site design class that I still need to reference (of the three things it's the nearest to being complete). I've also got three movie rentals that are overdue. So much for getting on the ball this semester.

There's even a career expo at school this Tuesday that I should be preparing to attend, since I plan on graduating in the Spring, but I totally don't feel like it. The professional world seems so overwhelming, but alas, I must join it eventually.

Into the Swing

I just finished the fist week of what will hopefully be my last year of school. It's all gone by so quickly. I can't put it off any longer. I have to seriously consider what I'm going to do after graduation. I also have to concentrate on doing really well in all of my classes, photography especially. Last spring I bombed that class so badly, barely passsing. I'm going to improve my technical skills so can make better images.

I'm also taking Web Design this semester. I'm hoping to translate the things I learn in that class to this site. We've only got one project the whole semester, which is to design a website with a specific theme. . . .I'll see how it goes.

I'm in Senior Graphic Design, and that class is so jam-packed. I registered for it late. So the second day of class I came, and I was late, so I didn't even have a chair to sit in as there are only 18 computer stations. I'm trying to get my dad to get my a mac laptop, so I will be easier for me to work. I've got a PC at home, and though I have the graphic software I sometimes run into problems when I try to transfer the files I worked on at home to the school computer. That's what I'm really looking forward to getting.

Yeah. . . That's what's going on right now. I've got so much work to do this weekend.

Extenstions

Ok, so we ended up not evacuating for Hurricane Dennis. The storm decided to take a dramatic turn once again and hit Pesacola, FL instead. However, about half the population of Mobile County (200,000) people, did evacuate, and were very quick to turn around and come back once they found that the threat of Dennis wasn't nearly as severe as expected. From my perspective it was just like a thunderstorm. A lot of other area did get seriously damaged, though, so I know that we're just lucky. Mobile will get a serious hurricane one of these days.

But the point is that we didn't have class the Monday following the Hurricane. The lab wasn't open over the weekend, and I didn't even attempt to do the project as home seeing as I was anticipating having to leave, and then not being without power, neither of which turned out to be the case. So, when I got back to class on Tuesday, Kyeong informed us that the due date for the museum calendar had been moved to Friday. Yay.

::entry cont'd 07.27.05

So I ended up making an A on my calendar, to my total suprise. I expected a B at most since my design wasn't that groundbreaking. But the layout was simple and consistent, so I guess that's what counted.

I have such a backlog of work that I need to post on my site. This is the last week of school, so I'm stressing about my final project once again. It's due Thursday and I'm so behind on my development. I'll have to work nonstop to get it done, printed and assembled on time.

I've also got a buch of photos to add. I went to a formal this past weekend, so I got all dressed up like it was the prom or something. I even danced quite a bit, which is rare for me, but I'm gradually starting to come out of my shell and be less self-conscious about trivial things.

Storm Watch

My instructor never ceases to amuse me. See, in my Graphic Design II class, we have a project that's due on Monday. Well, is so happens that during that time we're probably going to be in the middle of Hurricane Dennis. So, my instructor is like, "Well, I know the project is due Monday, but watch the weather reports and such, and if class is cancelled, then obviously, that due date is cancelled, and the project is due Tuesday."

Then, later he announces that the computer lab will be closed this weekend so that he can prepare for the storm by unplugging all the computer and covering them with plastic. Ok, school was cancelled for Tropical Storm Cindy. I doubt it will be open Monday. But who knows? Maybe Dennis will suddenly die down or drastically change course. That would be good, except that I'm drastically behind on my project development and coulc use the extra time. But power will most likely be out anyway, so I don't know how that would work out. . .

Yeah, so the governor has ordered a mandatory evacuation for my county, starting at 6 a.m. Saturday, so it looks like I'll be getting a little extended vacation. Hurricane Dennis is headed our way, and after Ivan, people aren't taking any chances. My dad was planning on us staying here, which I was cool with, but we've got to "be in subjection to the higher authorities" and all that, so I guess we'll go.

However, one thing I thought was weird was how people like to run north. . .to cities that are right down the line in the path of the storm. To me, it makes more sense to go west, like to Texas, but I understand that everyone can't afford to travel that far on such short notice. Still, you wouldn't see me in Birmingham or Atlanta, where the hurricane spins off tornados that are way more unpredictable.

With Hurricane Dennis approaching, this weekend should be very interesting.

Jumper

"My hand is the only sane part of my body. Every other part wants to jump off a cliff."
—Adam Sandler as John Clasky in Spanglish



This chair is the only thing keeping me grounded. . .

Sated Boredom

All the results were pretty accurate accept for the second item on the "Keys to Your Heart" survey.

The Keys to Your Heart

You are attracted to obedience and warmth.

In love, you feel the most alive when everything is uncertain, one moment heaven... the next moment hell.

You'd like to your lover to think you are optimistic and happy.

You would be forced to break up with someone who was ruthless, cold-blooded, and sarcastic.

Your ideal relationship is traditional. Without saying anything, both of you communicate with your hearts.

Your risk of cheating is zero. You care about society and morality. You would never break a commitment.

You think of marriage as something precious. You'll treasure marriage and treat it as sacred.

In this moment, you think of love as commitment. Love only works when both people are totally devoted.

What Are The Keys To Your Heart?

Your Linguistic Profile:

65% General American English

20% Yankee

15% Dixie

0% Midwestern

0% Upper Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

Road Trip

Saturday my two younger sisters and I left with some friends from Pensacola/Gulf Breeze Florida, to attend a party in Jackson, Mississippi that night. The party was just a-ight. The trip was all about getting there, and we all had a blast. Once again, Jarad was the ring leader. After the party, we rode two hours through the pitch black Mississippi night on unpaved roads to Greenville, Jarad's hometown. We left the party a little after midnight, and after we got to Jarad's parent's house where we would spend the night, I didn't get to bed til around 3 am. We had to be up by about seven in the morning to get ready for the Kingdom Hall, which started at nine-thirty. By the end of the trip we were all a little cranky due to lack of sleep, but we all survived with friendships intact.

It turns out that Greenville is a pretty historic place, the home of a world-famous newpaper (the Delta Democrat Times), and a lot of writers, musicians and the like. Sunday afternoon Jarad took me on a mini-tour of the downtown area, and I got a lot of great shots of the old buildings. I've got some pictures from the party and the trip in general, so I'll be posting those soon as I can. I'll also include a more indepth description of the trip.

Demon Printer

That is the current bane of my existence.

Last Thursday was was the final day of class before finals in my Graphic Design I class. Our final project was to create a catalogue about a Post-Modern Graphic Designer. I chose Neville Brody. I had never heard of him before, but upon doing research, I saw how awesome his work is. He had actually done some graphics for the movie Hackers (one of my fave movies). So, I don't start on the project until after I turn in my tribrochure assignment, about three weeks ago. So Kyeong, our instructor, expresses his concern about how this is the most important assignment, worth, like, 70% of our final grade. He worried that we (the class) won't get our respective projects done on time.

It turns out his misgivings were well placed. Out of 9 people, one 2 had their catalogues complete. So, the rest of us were still able to give presentations and show our designs on our computer screens. The catalogue had to be six spreads, not including the cover, and I had five of mine done, plus the cover, I didn't know what to put on the last page. I probably could have gotten it done on time, but I had serious printing issues.

I can still turn my catalogue in for my portfolio review this Thursday, but I'm still having printing issues which as depleted my meager supply of expensive photo-quality matte Epson 11' x 17' paper. It sucks really, and it's quite frustrating. This is my third time this weekend trying to get this thing printed. Everytime I came back there was some sort of problem with the printer. I had to come up here three times today--correction, that makes four total. The last time before this, the lab assistant had left the printer running overnight, and it messed up halfway through, so I had to reprint. (I'm using the student computer lab, because it's free, not including the $100 lab fee.) I tried printing at Kinkos, but their exorbitant prices were ridiculous.

The one good thing I can say is that the lab assistants are really awesome people and very helpful, so I'm not mad at them. I'm at the lab right now, waiting for my catalogue to print.

le printemps

It means "springtime" in French. Yeah, I used to be pretty good at it about six years ago. I took the language for a total of for years from seventh through tenth grade. It was in ninth grade that my French teacher, Mrs. Flowers, recognized my intellectual talent. I guess she became took an interest because unlike many freshman, who took the first level of foreign language, even if they had taken it previously, I decided to gamble with French II. (Props goes to an awesome student teacher, Mr. Cooper, who actually taught us, back in eighth grade. He later won a teacher-of-the-year award.)

The same cannot be said for Algebra, which I passed in eighth grade, but my teacher eighth grade teacher suggested that I take it again in high school because I only had a B. She made it seem like I was dumb or something for making a B in a high school level course. Hello? I was still in middle school. (yeah, I know, right?) But I took algebra I again, and aced it the second time around. Later I was glad for repeating it, because that meant I didn't have to take Calculus, and only stopped at Pre. I'm not horrible at math, but I'm not a fan of it either. When I got to college I was relieved to find that only one math course was required for my major, but it's been heavily compensated with drawing, art history, and graphic design courses.

But I digress. It's funny how one memory begins a change reaction to other memories.

So anyway, last week was Spring break. I had assignments that I could of and very well should have completed. Sadly, I spent most of the time lounging around, and playing The Sims 2 University Expansion Pack (a really awesome game), which I bought the Thursday before Spring Break started. I don't get the hold decadent spin that the world places on this time of year. Companies advertise to the most financially vulnerable group—college students—to save up and go on an expensive vacation to blow off the steam of university life. "What happens there stays there" is the motto, hardly ever the case though, because the main point of doing exciting, adventurous, regrettable things is that you have a story to tell your friends when you get back. You surely won't be telling your grandchildren of your exploits at Cancun.

. . .

So, I'm currently taking this class called Writing for Mass Media, where we learn how to write for, you guessed it, the mass media, i.e. newspapers, radio, TV. And what I just wrote sounds like the beginning of a pretty good article. My instructor Mrs. Dardeau has been trying to encourage me to submit my work to the newspaper, but I'm not a communication major, I'm just taking the class to fill my "writing across the curriculum" class requirement. Plus, I couldn't really think of anything to write about that people would be interested in. But we've learned that anything can be news if it interesting to you; that means it can be interesting to others, because people are by nature nosy.

Sounds like a plan to me. :)

Soccer Photos

My entire body aches from yesterday's game. But at least we won. ^_^



I'm behind the camera. =)

More photos -->>

Football

Sunday evening I played soccer at the park with a bunch of friends. I haven't physically exerted myself that much in a very long time. After running half way down the field, I was gasping for breath and my chest was burning something quite painful. I imagine it's what a heavy smoker feels like. Honestly, I though I was going to pass out. After a while, though, the drama passed and I was able to focus on the game. My team won, 4-0.

Actually, they started out playing ultimate frisbee, but I just sat on the bench and watched. I didn't play because I have a maimed finger from a scissor accident I had in the darkroom of the photo lab yesterday (You should always remember to cut away from yourself, preferably not in the dark). But after they switched to soccer, I decided to play because it doesn't require the use of your hands. I'll post pics later today.

Not by Chance

With so many things that can go wrong during a pregnancy, I can really appreciate how precarious it is to bring life into the world.

Baby Improving After Extra Head Removed.

Brief Relief

Well, I got my assignment done for Digital Graphic Design. I hated it though, and really didn't feel like finishing it. But then I realized that as a Graphic Designer, I'm going to do projects and have to complete them whether I like it or not, because it's my job. As long as it doesn't violate my principals I just have to suck it up. My classmates liked it a lot though, and so did the instructor. The main reason I was so adverse to doing the assignment was I didn't do the idea that I had initially, which seemed much cooler than the one I ended up producing. Looking at it now, I guess it doesn't look so bad; I just had a few typography issues mainly.

I purchased the new Keane CD on a whim today. It's pretty good. If you like mellow, sappy love songs with a catchy beat, somewhat a cross between Coldplay and Jimmy Eat World (the lead singer's voice reminds me of them), you might want to have a listen.

. . .

Ok, so maybe that wasn't the best description. . .but Keane rocks, nonetheless. ^_^

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Awesomeness

Last Thursday I had my first critique in Graphic design one, and it went much better than I hoped. The Tuesday before class was due, Kyeong, my instructor, told me to bring along my concept sketches and everything to show during my project presentation. So I did. He loved my final design a lot, which made me very proud because he's such an awesome artist and designer. He attended Temple University, which I've learned is one of the top art schools in the country, so having his approval means a lot. Everyone (save for one) else in the class had pretty nice designs as well, so it was nice seeing what everyone came up with.

I have another project due in my Digital Graphic Design class tomorrow that isn't nearly finished, though. I've procrastinated famously on this assignment, and I really don't feel like doing it, but I must. I already bombed my pinhole camera assignment in Photo, so I need to get back on the ball with keeping a calendar and such. I've also got to finish writing my feature article for my Writing for Mass Media Course. That's not so much work though, since I've got it written; it just needs a lot of editing.

Gosh. . .School is so much work, it's really tiring just thinking about it. Even so, I always seem to find time to waste surfing dA and reading CSI fan fiction. I'm such a nerd.

I've been so stressed lately that I've had to resort to impulsive consumption to keep me grounded. While at movie gallery returning a tardy rental, I came upon a great deal: buy 2 get 2 free on select DVDs. So I got some pretty good titles (pictured above).

My current DVD collection:
Barbershop 2
Bend it Like Beckham
Big Fish
From Justin to Kelly
Girl with a Pearl Earring
In America
LadyHawke
Legend of Johnny Lingo, The
Pieces of April
School of Rock
Swiss Family Robinson
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
Whale Rider

I had my first project for my Digital Graphic Design class due this past Wednesday. I hadn't had to time to go to the computer lab, so I had to finish it at the last minute. I had to design two postage stamps that would be part of a series, so they had to be similar in imagery, style, color, or whatever. You just had to be able to tell the two went together. I had an idea to do one on purple triangles, the symbol that Jehovah's Witnesses were forced to wear in concentration camps during the Holocaust (like the Jews had to wear the yellow Star-of-David). The other stamp was Jewish themed. The JW one didn't turn out as well as I'd like, because I ran out of time. I'll post the designs soon, though.

In photography class, I made two pinhole cameras—I'm quite proud of them—so I'll be shooting with those this weekend.

So. . .because, it's a scientific fact that stress does in fact kill, I must remember to "never be anxious about the next day, for the next day will have its own anxieties. Sufficient for each day is its own badness." (Matthew 6:34)

It's all about retention

Your Intellectual Type is Word Warrior. This means you have exceptional verbal skills. You can easily make sense of complex issues and take an unusually creative approach to solving problems. Your strengths also make you a visionary. Even without trying you're able to come up with lots of new and creative ideas. And that's just a small part of what we know about you from your test results.

I guess reading all those books when I was younger really paid off, because I have hardly any time to read as much now. I'd really like to start reading novels again. There are many that I started but never finished, like The Chosen and My name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok; or Bandits By Elmore Leonard. (He also wrote Get Shorty, which was made into a movie starring John Travolta and René Russo.) The last novels that I read were the Pendragon series. It's geared towards pre-teens and young adults, but I thoroughly enjoyed the story.

My point is, reading is fundamental. ;)

Slide

I just got this new shirt, with lyrics from a song by Rachael Yamamgata, called "Would You Please", from her EP. The full lyrics are, "Would you please let me slide a few words under your door / The first three say I love you / The last five / but I can't no more."

Yeah.

School is back in for the Spring. I have to make a serious effort to be organized, because I have a lot of work to do in all of my classes—Writing for Mass Media, Digital Graphic Design, Intermediate Photography I, and Graphic Design I. So, that will mean that I'll have even less time to draw recreationally, but I'll be posting more stuff related to photography and graphic design.

When I got my fin-aid funds, I took the opportunity to buy a few new CDs. Actually, they were free, I just paid shipping and handling (BMG Music is great for that).

What I got:
—Avril Lavigne - Under My Skin ****
—Three Days Grace - self titled ***
—Yellowcard - Ocean Avenue ***
—Alicia Keys - The Diary of Alicia Keys ****
—JoJo - self-titled **

And while I'm rating entertainment I'll go ahead and give some movie recommedations. I just saw Coach Carter twice this weekend. It was that good. The story was engaging, even though I don't know how much it was actually factual. It had nice character development, and it wasn't all about the basketball, which I really appreciated. What I appreciated more what that Ashanti could actually act. My only crit would be that Ashanti has a distinctive Philly accent, and the character she was playing was from Cali. Other than that, she was great. Rob Brown has grown up nicely since Finding Forrester. He's so natural. But one performance that stood out to me in particular was that of Rick Gonzalez, as the conflicted character of Timo Cruz. I've had my eye on him ever since I first saw him in The Rookie, but that was just because I thought he was cute (He's got a purty mouth). But now it's refreshing to see that he's actually a pretty good actor. Even so, the other supporting actors were good in their respctive roles as well. I'm not gonna go spoiling the movie plot, so I don't want to say anthing else about the movie other than it was really good, and I went away quite entertained and satisfied both times I left the theatre.

I'll conclude with a photo I neglected to post on my last entry. I found this bottle of lotion on my dresser in my room. I don't know who it belongs to, but I found the packaging and product name amusing enough to share.


The label reads:
Enriched with Natural Canabis
Sativa hemp seed extract
THC Drug Free

Overrun

I've got some photos from the last two months that I've been wanting to post. We have way too many dogs at my house right now, the current count being six, not including the puppies.


Ana is my sister Nicole's puppy. I think they look alike.

Ana sleeping in the car.

Jaime, with his intense ice-blue eyes, is the mastermind of the litter. Every time the puppies escaped from the backyard, he was the ringleader. The day this pic was taken, he had gotten out of the fence yet again, and my sis decided to bring him with her to pick me up from school.

One day, for whatever reason, Max decided to break a board out of the fence, and hop through the resulting hole. He chain wasn't long enough and he couldn't get back through. My dad found him like this the next morning. He was lucky that he didn't hang himself. The pups we have right now are Max's grandchildren. They get their blue eyes from him.

This one has ice blue eyes as well. He was the quiet loner. We gave him to a friend of my little sister.

The puppies play around Nicole's legs.