So, as the scriptures say, 'I noised it abroad' that we were moving. I was impressed to do so, but we were also very excited. I went to Facebook and contacted all of my FB world, telling them. I was originally just announcing it as an FYI to everyone so they knew we couldn't be reached, but it turned out to be something more.
Within 15 minutes of my Facebook post, one of my friends got back to me, asking if I had a job lined up or if I was looking for one. I told him I was looking and no, I didn't have one lined up. He told me about his company and said they were hiring.
Remember, that I've been hunting for an internship for the past 3 years. I had just finished up my online portfolio class this last semester. I had just finished my physical portfolio class this last while. While we were apartment hunting I was able to go to 2 different portfolio conventions in SLC. Both good and bad came from those experiences. But either way, I had some portfolio/interview experience under my belt.
I asked my friend if there was enough stuff at his job to qualify for an internship. He assured me there way. So I asked him what to do.
Another 15 minutes later I had an interview lined up for the next week. Like my previous, long-distance interview attempt, it was an all day thing. It was stressful enough, and I fought to make everything work. Donna, our son, and myself stayed over the night before (again) at her folk's house so that helped. Regardless, I tried to give myself plenty of time because I always get lost at new places. Found it, had the interview, and my friend and I went out to eat afterwards.
It was a great experience, but I had learned that just because I thought it was a great interview it doesn't mean that a good time was held by all. As we learned about in my Organizational Psychology class, both me and the interviewing company had to make a 'good fit' - we both had to be a match for each other, not just in skills and experience, but also in personality. After all, who wants to work with someone they are going to butt heads with all the time. No one wants to hire a jerk, a yes-man, or a whiny patsy (if that's not what they like or want). Personalities have to match.
Okay, I'm babbling just to stretch out my own drama, needlessly. My friend told me later that his boss, the guy who interviewed me, said he was going to hire me the same day that he interviewed me. But my friend said he refused to tell me that so that I would be surprised.
We all were.
This company offered all benefits, including salary and benefits. We were esthetic. As it turned out, I ended up moving into our new apartment a full week and a half earlier than our actual move date so that I could go to my new job. That was a hard week; no family, just work and school for company. The first few days I didn't have any hot water. I had to boil enough water for an hour and a half so that could have 3 inches of water to bathe in.
As for my internship, here is what I've been able to apply so far:
Page Layout, Copywriting/Editting, Photoshop/Illustrator, Animation, Typographical Heirarchy, and Photography. I haven't gotten it all figured out yet, but I'm getting there.
And our ward is simply fantastic. That's the story of our move.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Semester 14A
Wow... I know I've said this before, but I'm constantly blown away by it. The last I blogged my wife and I were pretty discouraged by the poor attitudes of the inhabitants in my hometown, wanting to get back to SLC, and still jobless.
How Heavenly Father and the Lord have blessed us.
Right now, I am sitting here, typing, in our own, new little place. I have a salaried position with a new job/company, and we love the neighborhood.
It started when Donna and I began the ugly process of trying to find a place to move to up here. Typically, the Lord makes it known to us where to go or what to do. Not this time. Our search took between 2 to 3 weeks, only on the weekends. I'd come up for school, packed with enough stuff to supply us for the weekend. All three of us would stay at my wife's parent's house, which really got on a lot of nerves after 3 days. During that time, we'd rush around and try to look at apartments with the time we had. My parents offered the same amount of money for us to find a place.
During our search we found a lot of places that were disgustingly bad, some truly terrifying, some cosy-but not quite there, and a handful of scams.
The scam story is fun. My wife's neighbor is a realtor and he helped us out in the process. We heard about this house and went to check it out. We were only interested in renting and there was a sign out front, saying it was for rent. It was great so we tried to contact the guy. He had broken english, claimed he was a doctor who was out of the states with a new job and had taken his whole family, and wanted someone he could trust to take care of the house. He claimed he wasn't there to take us through the house, either. We called him and his cell phone was so bad we couldn't understand him at all so we tried to correspond by email.
In the end, we told our realtor-neighbor about it and after investigating the post he told us with a smile, 'yeah, this is a scam.' Sure enough, when this guy responded back to our email he was as sweet as honey but he was still asking for money before we could move in.
The surprise of the story is this: in our searching we found 3 situations total that all smelled of the same, rotten scam. The individual in question was out of the states, couldn't be there to show us the house, some drastic, life-changing event had happened in their life, and were desperately looking for someone good and nice to take care of their place.
No thank you.
In the end, the best decision for us was a little tri-plex. One of the big sellers for us was the fact that the neighbor lady next door has 2 boys our son's age. They have all been fabulous neighbors and our son loves to play with his new friends any time of the day.
After we made our decision, the thoughts that came in my and my wife's head from Heavenly Father said, "There, that wasn't so bad, now was it? You can make the right decision without me." Sheepishly, I must agree. Of all the places we looked at there really was just one place right for us. I guess it's important for us to make some decisions on our own.
How Heavenly Father and the Lord have blessed us.
Right now, I am sitting here, typing, in our own, new little place. I have a salaried position with a new job/company, and we love the neighborhood.
It started when Donna and I began the ugly process of trying to find a place to move to up here. Typically, the Lord makes it known to us where to go or what to do. Not this time. Our search took between 2 to 3 weeks, only on the weekends. I'd come up for school, packed with enough stuff to supply us for the weekend. All three of us would stay at my wife's parent's house, which really got on a lot of nerves after 3 days. During that time, we'd rush around and try to look at apartments with the time we had. My parents offered the same amount of money for us to find a place.
During our search we found a lot of places that were disgustingly bad, some truly terrifying, some cosy-but not quite there, and a handful of scams.
The scam story is fun. My wife's neighbor is a realtor and he helped us out in the process. We heard about this house and went to check it out. We were only interested in renting and there was a sign out front, saying it was for rent. It was great so we tried to contact the guy. He had broken english, claimed he was a doctor who was out of the states with a new job and had taken his whole family, and wanted someone he could trust to take care of the house. He claimed he wasn't there to take us through the house, either. We called him and his cell phone was so bad we couldn't understand him at all so we tried to correspond by email.
In the end, we told our realtor-neighbor about it and after investigating the post he told us with a smile, 'yeah, this is a scam.' Sure enough, when this guy responded back to our email he was as sweet as honey but he was still asking for money before we could move in.
The surprise of the story is this: in our searching we found 3 situations total that all smelled of the same, rotten scam. The individual in question was out of the states, couldn't be there to show us the house, some drastic, life-changing event had happened in their life, and were desperately looking for someone good and nice to take care of their place.
No thank you.
In the end, the best decision for us was a little tri-plex. One of the big sellers for us was the fact that the neighbor lady next door has 2 boys our son's age. They have all been fabulous neighbors and our son loves to play with his new friends any time of the day.
After we made our decision, the thoughts that came in my and my wife's head from Heavenly Father said, "There, that wasn't so bad, now was it? You can make the right decision without me." Sheepishly, I must agree. Of all the places we looked at there really was just one place right for us. I guess it's important for us to make some decisions on our own.
Monday, April 1, 2013
Semester 13A
Another semester down. My family and I are still residing in Spanish Fork. When the rug was pulled out from underneath us my parents found a cute little house for us and have been paying for it since. I'm still not working, despite my attempts to apply to every internship and Graphic Design opportunity to come along (that didn't interfere with my homework). This is the second semester we've been there. With any luck, it'll be the last.
Donna is a big city girl. After the 8 years of living in Salt Lake City, I've realized that I'm a big city guy. There isn't any descrimination, judging, or condemning. People in SLC are too concerned about themselves to worry about the guy next door or the person across the street. Also, there is no sense in trying to judge the weirdo across the street because there are a dozen or so even worse, or differently, just a block away. So, while my differences may be blown out of proportion in SF, they are greatly diminished in SLC. People don't care and I love that.
In SF I've also learned, sadly, that there is a HUGE feeling of 'competition.' I first came to that realization when people in our ward were reacting so strongly, and pridefully I might add, to the local high school's current state championship win. They even went as far as to quickly begin to highlight past wins/victories, and competitions. Which is an indication of their very long memories (and short ability to forgive, as it were).
Unfortunately, this spirit of 'competition' filters down into other aspects of the people's lives. IE: how many kids a family has, what kind of car they drive, what kind of job they have. It's the whole concept of 'keeping up with the Jones',' which I absolutely hate. While people are judging themselves with the 'who' we are now, they fail to take into account the 'who' we used to be. I am adamantly against the whole 'competition' concept to begin with but if we must play the stupid game, these people fail to see that we actually ARE winning, compared to where we came from. They fail to see that we actually ARE winning.
In the end, my wife and our boy is the best thing happening in my life right now.
Because they love me, they try to help us to increase our situation. They offer all kinds of potential opportunities to 'help us win;' improve our situation. However, without truly knowing what our needs, goals, wants, or desires are they begin to throw all kinds of advice at us like missiles intended to paralyze. I've been told to apply as a gas station attendant, a warehouse-shelf stocker, and a painter that maxed at $8 an hour. All of these potential opportunities, which they fail to see, would: 1. not only impede our intended progress, but also 2. tie us down to SF and trap us there indefinately.
I am (gratefully) in my last year of school. Thank heavens, literally. In order for me to graduate I require a Graphic Design internship. This I would be unable to do if I am spending 8 hours a day in such a job. I would also not be able to get my homework done.
Each of these suggestions would also do more harm that good. I have horrible back and neck problems and am in constant pain on a regular basis. We are currently relying on food stamps. An $8 an hour job would do nothing to pay the bills but it would be enough to qualify to loose our food stamps. Both sets of parents would still have to help us out financially.
Also, I am not going to school for 4 years to try and create a better life for us just so that I can take two steps backwards. We are trying to move 'forward,' not backwards.
With this in mind, we are under the impression that those Spanish Fork individuals are trying to thwart our progress. Whether or not this is true we don't know. But the logic behind their suggestions only comes to one conclusion in our minds.
Their philosophy is 'get any job now and apply for a better job tomorrow.' They give these suggestions without thinking of our time restraints. They don't understand exactly how much homework my school requires. So, I have a choice with a full time job: come home and do homework or search for jobs. I can't do both.
So the conclusion that we come to is that with these suggestions the good folks of Spanish Fork are setting us up for failure. Why? So that in the spirit of 'competition' they continue to win. They would still be better. They can still offer poor advice. They can still keep us down.
I hope I am wrong. I hope that in their ignorance, they are stabbing blindly in the dark for any opportunity, hoping it will help. However, my thinking is if they want to help, why don't they ask what our needs, goals, and desires are? Assuming takes less energy, I suppose.
Sadly, this is an example of their suggested help. In fact, it's the straw that broke the camel's back. It's situations like this one where my wife and I looked at each other and said, "We're done." We then knew it was time to move back to SLC.
One of the good folks of SF recommended a friend who worked for the state, who had a program available that worked with Art Institute students in the past. This government program has been known to pay for school, find jobs for them, and even pay for their houses. Excited, my wife and I gave them a call only to find that the program in question was Vocational Rehabilitation. They deal with handicapped and disabled individuals.
My wife and I were livid. Did these persons of question truly believe me to be disabled? Did they think me to have no more successful potential than a handicapped individual? Our trust in their belief in me plummeted through the floor and I did everything in my power to keep my wife from going ballistic.
We knew we had to confront the issue, but the next day was Easter and we didn't want to ruin the holiday's festivities. We decided to not bring it up, let things play, and see how it played out. During the time of our lunch it came up in conversation. I simply said that I didn't qualify because I wasn't disabled. The reply we got indicated that they didn't expect that to happen. I asked if they knew what their friend did for a living and they said, 'yes.'
So the hope lies in their ignorance. It's still a better frame of mind than their deliberate intention to hold us down.
Here's the other straw that broke the camel's back. With the completion of this past semester, and my Portfolio Preparation class, I immediately attacked the job market by applying to 11 new jobs. I also responded to 2 past places I applied to that responded back. I didn't get to respond to them because of Finals so it was good to respond back to them.
Within 15 minutes of turning off the computer one of these locations called, asking for an interview. I set up a time 2 days later and they said they'd send an email with instructions.
The next night I checked for the email with no results. I even checked my spam folder-nothing. I checked other email accounts, just to make sure I didn't give them the wrong address. Still nothing.
So, I went to try to find this place myself. All I had to go off of was the one word I recalled over the phone, "Medical." From this I found the only email address I'd sent out with the word "medical" in it. I returned to the job board, trying to find the original job posting but it had been removed.
So I did a search to find they were in Salt Lake City. In time I finally found the location. I got the directions, printed them out, and prepared to go to the interview.
The next day I checked my email addresses again. Still no email. From there I drove an hour and a half into SLC. The directions said it would take 45 minutes but I got lost, following the directions incorrectly. Gratefully, I left with plenty of time. I finally stopped to ask for directions and from there was able to find the place.
I was only 7 minutes late when I found the place. It had high security so I couldn't even enter the building. They had an intercom system which was not working so I had a full conversation with the lady by yelling at each other through the glass. To make a long story short, the lady said the man in charge was busy and wanted to reschedule. I told her I didn't have any contact information since I never got an email. She popped the door open for half a second so that she could launch a business card at me.
By the time I finished my additional business in SLC (my wife's dad and I went to get new tires for the car) it was rush hour. So I hung around at her parent's house for an hour and a half before leaving for home.
My whole day was ruined. I made the whole trip for nothing. They never even bothered to call, let alone send an email like they said they would, to let me know I had to reschedule. My thought was, if they are going to do that to a potential employee how do they treat their customers? I knew from then I didn't want to work for them anyways.
As I explained this to my mom, I mentioned that if I did still live in SLC then it wouldn't be a problem: it's only 15 minutes (give or take) from one side of the valley to the other. But as it stands, I felt like a fish our of water. I'm struggling to get a Graphic Design internship and job but all the best companies and opportunites are in Salt Lake City.
From there, my mom agreed it was time for us to return back to the place we both call home.
Donna is a big city girl. After the 8 years of living in Salt Lake City, I've realized that I'm a big city guy. There isn't any descrimination, judging, or condemning. People in SLC are too concerned about themselves to worry about the guy next door or the person across the street. Also, there is no sense in trying to judge the weirdo across the street because there are a dozen or so even worse, or differently, just a block away. So, while my differences may be blown out of proportion in SF, they are greatly diminished in SLC. People don't care and I love that.
In SF I've also learned, sadly, that there is a HUGE feeling of 'competition.' I first came to that realization when people in our ward were reacting so strongly, and pridefully I might add, to the local high school's current state championship win. They even went as far as to quickly begin to highlight past wins/victories, and competitions. Which is an indication of their very long memories (and short ability to forgive, as it were).
Unfortunately, this spirit of 'competition' filters down into other aspects of the people's lives. IE: how many kids a family has, what kind of car they drive, what kind of job they have. It's the whole concept of 'keeping up with the Jones',' which I absolutely hate. While people are judging themselves with the 'who' we are now, they fail to take into account the 'who' we used to be. I am adamantly against the whole 'competition' concept to begin with but if we must play the stupid game, these people fail to see that we actually ARE winning, compared to where we came from. They fail to see that we actually ARE winning.
In the end, my wife and our boy is the best thing happening in my life right now.
Because they love me, they try to help us to increase our situation. They offer all kinds of potential opportunities to 'help us win;' improve our situation. However, without truly knowing what our needs, goals, wants, or desires are they begin to throw all kinds of advice at us like missiles intended to paralyze. I've been told to apply as a gas station attendant, a warehouse-shelf stocker, and a painter that maxed at $8 an hour. All of these potential opportunities, which they fail to see, would: 1. not only impede our intended progress, but also 2. tie us down to SF and trap us there indefinately.
I am (gratefully) in my last year of school. Thank heavens, literally. In order for me to graduate I require a Graphic Design internship. This I would be unable to do if I am spending 8 hours a day in such a job. I would also not be able to get my homework done.
Each of these suggestions would also do more harm that good. I have horrible back and neck problems and am in constant pain on a regular basis. We are currently relying on food stamps. An $8 an hour job would do nothing to pay the bills but it would be enough to qualify to loose our food stamps. Both sets of parents would still have to help us out financially.
Also, I am not going to school for 4 years to try and create a better life for us just so that I can take two steps backwards. We are trying to move 'forward,' not backwards.
With this in mind, we are under the impression that those Spanish Fork individuals are trying to thwart our progress. Whether or not this is true we don't know. But the logic behind their suggestions only comes to one conclusion in our minds.
Their philosophy is 'get any job now and apply for a better job tomorrow.' They give these suggestions without thinking of our time restraints. They don't understand exactly how much homework my school requires. So, I have a choice with a full time job: come home and do homework or search for jobs. I can't do both.
So the conclusion that we come to is that with these suggestions the good folks of Spanish Fork are setting us up for failure. Why? So that in the spirit of 'competition' they continue to win. They would still be better. They can still offer poor advice. They can still keep us down.
I hope I am wrong. I hope that in their ignorance, they are stabbing blindly in the dark for any opportunity, hoping it will help. However, my thinking is if they want to help, why don't they ask what our needs, goals, and desires are? Assuming takes less energy, I suppose.
Sadly, this is an example of their suggested help. In fact, it's the straw that broke the camel's back. It's situations like this one where my wife and I looked at each other and said, "We're done." We then knew it was time to move back to SLC.
One of the good folks of SF recommended a friend who worked for the state, who had a program available that worked with Art Institute students in the past. This government program has been known to pay for school, find jobs for them, and even pay for their houses. Excited, my wife and I gave them a call only to find that the program in question was Vocational Rehabilitation. They deal with handicapped and disabled individuals.
My wife and I were livid. Did these persons of question truly believe me to be disabled? Did they think me to have no more successful potential than a handicapped individual? Our trust in their belief in me plummeted through the floor and I did everything in my power to keep my wife from going ballistic.
We knew we had to confront the issue, but the next day was Easter and we didn't want to ruin the holiday's festivities. We decided to not bring it up, let things play, and see how it played out. During the time of our lunch it came up in conversation. I simply said that I didn't qualify because I wasn't disabled. The reply we got indicated that they didn't expect that to happen. I asked if they knew what their friend did for a living and they said, 'yes.'
So the hope lies in their ignorance. It's still a better frame of mind than their deliberate intention to hold us down.
Here's the other straw that broke the camel's back. With the completion of this past semester, and my Portfolio Preparation class, I immediately attacked the job market by applying to 11 new jobs. I also responded to 2 past places I applied to that responded back. I didn't get to respond to them because of Finals so it was good to respond back to them.
Within 15 minutes of turning off the computer one of these locations called, asking for an interview. I set up a time 2 days later and they said they'd send an email with instructions.
The next night I checked for the email with no results. I even checked my spam folder-nothing. I checked other email accounts, just to make sure I didn't give them the wrong address. Still nothing.
So, I went to try to find this place myself. All I had to go off of was the one word I recalled over the phone, "Medical." From this I found the only email address I'd sent out with the word "medical" in it. I returned to the job board, trying to find the original job posting but it had been removed.
So I did a search to find they were in Salt Lake City. In time I finally found the location. I got the directions, printed them out, and prepared to go to the interview.
The next day I checked my email addresses again. Still no email. From there I drove an hour and a half into SLC. The directions said it would take 45 minutes but I got lost, following the directions incorrectly. Gratefully, I left with plenty of time. I finally stopped to ask for directions and from there was able to find the place.
I was only 7 minutes late when I found the place. It had high security so I couldn't even enter the building. They had an intercom system which was not working so I had a full conversation with the lady by yelling at each other through the glass. To make a long story short, the lady said the man in charge was busy and wanted to reschedule. I told her I didn't have any contact information since I never got an email. She popped the door open for half a second so that she could launch a business card at me.
By the time I finished my additional business in SLC (my wife's dad and I went to get new tires for the car) it was rush hour. So I hung around at her parent's house for an hour and a half before leaving for home.
My whole day was ruined. I made the whole trip for nothing. They never even bothered to call, let alone send an email like they said they would, to let me know I had to reschedule. My thought was, if they are going to do that to a potential employee how do they treat their customers? I knew from then I didn't want to work for them anyways.
As I explained this to my mom, I mentioned that if I did still live in SLC then it wouldn't be a problem: it's only 15 minutes (give or take) from one side of the valley to the other. But as it stands, I felt like a fish our of water. I'm struggling to get a Graphic Design internship and job but all the best companies and opportunites are in Salt Lake City.
From there, my mom agreed it was time for us to return back to the place we both call home.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Semester 12
Well, it's been just about a year from my last post. That's how busy the 3 classes a semester has kept me.
It turned out that I was only able to work a year and a half at my temporary position, due to their internal company policy. Because it was a call center, but they were kind enough to have me only do data entry, no open positions were available for me to become employed there. I can't complain, however, since they did allow me to get in a good year and a half of school.
Prior to my departure from that company I had a dream that I had died. It was very heartbreaking, and oddly (plus terrifyingly), real. When the last day at that company came all of those feelings came back in sickening detail. Leaving that job, although it was intended to just be temporary, really did feel like dying. I had a lot of good friends that I had made there. I loved the low-stress and no-demands atmosphere. I did my work every day to the best of my ability without anyone micro-managing me all the time and I loved it. In many ways it felt like home.
The other odd shock was the work load began to diminish before my official time was up. They began to send me home early just because there was not enough work for me to do. As it turned out, they decided to have my last day be almost 2 months earlier than expected. The good news was it allowed me to put my focus on my school's finals right when I needed it. The bad news was that it really hurt us financially.
That was just the least of our concerns, though.
When I went home to give Donna the bad news that I would be leaving work 2 months earlier she had even worse news. We had been living in a small, 3 bedroom apartment on top of her dad's workshop for the past 7 years. Because the apartment was very run-down her dad only charged a minimal amount. Even though our ceiling collapsed on us due to years of dripping rain, constantly broke down in various aspects, and allowed the heat to escape in droves it was still our home. Well, not anymore.
Because the building required constant repair dad was unable to pay the property tax for 3 years. Without his knowledge, it went up for auction. In the same day we learned that I no longer had a job we also discovered that also didn't have a home.
Miraculously enough, I felt strangely calm. In time, my wife and her family did, too.
Dad's building and our home were purchased by a group of people who made all kinds of promises, none of which were upheld. In the end, they gave us a time frame in which to leave. To make a long story short, my parents provided the miracle we needed. As we were hunting for an apartment my mom suddenly called with the news that she found us a house in my old home tome to rent for the same price of an apartment in Salt Lake. It is a very cute little place with a basement and upstairs. We had quite the adventure moving down here. Dad started hauling his big load, only to find the trailer unhitch from the truck as he was getting onto the freeway. Gratefully, no one was hurt, although both her parents and my wife's aunt could've been killed.
In the end, it took several smaller trips to get everything moved.
Until our situation changes for the better my family is living on the generosity of others. My parents are paying for the monthly rent on our house and allowing us to eat Sunday dinner at their house every other week.
The building my wife's dad was working out of was such a money-pit he gained a huge amount of money from the finalized sale of his building to the buyer's group. His lawyer, a customer of my wife's dad, made sure that he was (and is still) not taken advantage of. Now that he no longer has to deal with the tremendous responsibility of trying to upkeep a 50+ year old building he has money in his pocket. As such, my wife's family is kind enough to pay our bills. They also supplied us with funds for this year's Christmas. Aside of that, we are living on food stamps.
Despite our desperate situation, we are quite well provided for, for which I am eternally grateful.
The drive to school is my one complaint. It previously took me 15 minutes to get to school. Now it takes me 45 minutes and I have to get up at 5:45 AM. I have to get up that early in order to beat rush hour. I've actually been getting to school at hour early, which I spend by catching back up on sleep. When I first started out I was getting up 6:00, only to get stuck right in rush hour. It was very stressful and I'd get to school right before class started. I found it amazing that with an extra 15 minutes I could get an hour's worth of sleep.
The stress of it all has had an impact on me physically, as well. Every Tuesday night I've had a very difficult time in falling asleep. I've tried warm milk, mental exercises, and finally had to rely on taking a quarter of melatonin.
I still have all of my classes on Wednesday. I've been doing that for the past 3 semesters, I believe, going on 4 went school starts again in January. I just finished a semester and looking forward to spending a long, 3 week Christmas break before the stress starts all over again. In that time I'm aching to get some more project done and posting my school work online.
As I've also been working to get my game created I finally sold my first one to a nephew who is a big fan. We played his version this last weekend at my parent's and he is pleased to have won his very first game on his own copy, as well. He's been playing for years.
I just finished my Digital Prepress, Concepts in Motion Design (Animation), and Organizational Psychology classes. I learned a lot.
In Digital Prepress we used a handy website to make books: blurb.com We made them with InDesign and had to go over all of the aspects used in printing; RGB vs. CMYK, line quality, text color, flesh tones, and moires. I was not allowed to create a rulebook for my game so I did the next best thing: a visual tour. I received the final book copy in the mail and opened it today. It really did make a difference to see the printed copy vs. on screen. It was cool to see all my hard work in a physical version, as well.
My instructor for the class told me that after this class I was not allowed to work on anything for my game as a class assignment. She said I needed to have stuff for my portfolio that was not my game. I told her I agreed. I have my next portfolio class already lined up for next semester.
In my Animation class I was the only Graphic Designer student among the 30 or so Photographer and Animation students. We learned how to use Photoshop and Illustrator to do simple animations used in web graphics, such as banners and ads. On our first assignment I spent 9 hours doing a simple animation. I learned all too quickly that animation is a time constricting project!
We we started to use AfterEffects I thought I was going to loose it. I didn't get it, I was having trouble all over the place, and I was going to go bonkers. Gratefully, the instructor was kind enough to give me some serious one-on-one coaching that helped me to pass the assignment. From there I had to come back to school on Saturday to work on assignments since I didn't have AfterEffects at home.
For the final I downloaded the trial version. It took me the whole of the 3 weeks to complete. It was nothing but suffering and stress. I had to start over several times and at one point I'd accidentally deleted all of my important elements. We were doing a Kinetic Type animation and I'd deleted the words!
On the last day I hunted down the school's tech guru 3 times to try and get it to work, to no avail. The necessary Quicktime upgrade was not available for the school's CS6 and we could not get it to play the video segments I had included. I was finally impressed to save it in a CS5 version, open the program, and render it from there. After that it took close to 30 minutes to download it onto Vimeo and have it be available for presenting.
When the instructor came into the class he could see everyone hunched over their machines, still working like I was. Because of everyone's busy scrambling to get the final assignment done he was kind enough to decide to not have the final test. I had been trying to study between fixing rendering errors so I was grateful.
Only 5 kids had their animations ready to show at the beginning of class. When he showed them, we could see why. One kid complained that he'd spent 5 hours on his and didn't want to mess it up so he didn't do anything else. One girl did a fantastic job, but limited hers to only 90 seconds, which was the minimal time requirement for the assignment. None of theirs had pictures, graphic elements, or additional video segments, which the assignment required. The others were equally disappointing, with the exception of one. It was a full song and had some great elements in it. However, as I said, no video or graphic elements.
Once the students showed their finals they were allowed to leave. I was able to show mine next, 30 minutes after the last animation was played. By then, the completely full classroom only had a small handful of working students left in it. The instructor was telling some of them that he still required previous assignments from them, as well as the final. So, many of the students showed up for class, watched the animations that were shown at the beginning of class, and left. It just blew me away.
Upon seeing my animation, the instructor had plenty of good things to say. He showed me which parts he liked the best (particularly the winding road) and I caught him toe-tapping to the music. He also thanked me for taking the time and effort to complete the assignment. He immediately then asked if I'd like to see my final grade. I rushed up and looked over his shoulder to be greeted with an "A+." It made me feel really good, knowing that I was the only Graphic Design student among so many Animation students and since I'd had such a hard, hard time with it.
As I was looking at my grade I inadvertently caught sight of the grades for several of the students listed under my own name. Without even trying to count I took in at least 4 'D's.' Again, I was shocked. I could only hope they were for students that had yet to turn in their final and were still working hard to do so.
In my Organizational Psychology class I learned what I felt to be some of the most important information, exactly when I needed it.
First, I panicked a little in the middle of last semester when it came time to register for classes again because I couldn't find my 3 classes all on the same day. Alan Murdock, the Academic Adviser who had been helping me for so long, already had the solution in hand. For my 3rd class he was able offer me the choice of an independent study class. With the independent study the class requirements could be negotiated between me and the instructor. So I chose Organizational Psychology since I was taking Cognitive Psychology at the time and liked the instructor. She agreed so we met for only 30 minutes in the library after Animation class.
She was very relaxed and chill, which made the difficult concepts of psychology better to enjoy. Her requirements included reading 2 extensive chapters a week (30 pages each) and answering 2 of 5 provided questions on the chapters. This required me to keep track of what the questions were and what they were on. I also had a final paper, midterm, and final test. Both tests were open book at took about 4 hours apiece to take.
Organizational Psychology is the study of psychology within groups, specifically jobs in businesses. I felt it was the best class I could've taken while unemployed. It taught how people should act and why while employed in a business so that they can advance. It taught the reasons and benefits of working freelance. It also taught me the pros and cons of a business that does or does not follow moralistic values. It also verified my emotions and feelings regarding some of the treatment, or mistreatment, from my past jobs. That helped me to feel very good.
All in all, it provided some serious instructions on what to do when out looking for work and even more importantly, what to do when you finally get in one.
For this last semester, I've been trying to have my classes be on Wednesday so that I would be able to take advantage of the Life Drawing lab. As it turned out, the lab was to be held on Tuesdays, so that would not be an option. Instead, like I said, I went straight to the library to meet with my Organizational Psychology instructor.
I finished the big Life Drawing picture I'd been working on at the end of the last semester, one of the reasons for taking the lab. I posted it on my Life Drawing class site and even sent a copy to the model at her request. I now needed a new project and decided to focus on my own characters. After discussing it with my wife I was starting to feel that I'd learned just about all I could from the class and lab. I was ready to focus on my 3 class instead and do my action figure drawing projects from home - without a live model.
The good news about starting school again is this will be my last year! Alan Murdock helped land me another independent study for the next semester so that all of my classes could be on Wednesday again. He also outlined all the rest of the classes for the next year that I would need to graduate. As I mentioned before, 3 of those semesters will include portfolio classes.
He also told me that now is the time to start looking for an internship. When my assignment was to end at my last, big temp job I had already been thinking about it. I've been applying to as many internships as I could up to this point without any worthwhile results. Now, the school's Academic Adviser is telling me, 'now is the time.' So, I'll keep looking and applying. Here's hoping something can turn up soon, since an internship is required to graduate.
So we've been living the past 3 months or so in my old home town. Our little house it very comfortable, with the exception that it has no insulation and holds heat as well (if not worse) than our previous little apartment. The garage was constructed with old, military ammunition boxes. There are a few places in the wall where pieces are missing and you can see the old boxes.
We love the room of the basement which allows us to have a make-shift gym, music nook, and playroom. During our time here, we are unable to visit sensai and my beloved karate classes. So, instead, I've been focusing on workouts/training/therapy to try and overcome some of the major areas of pain that have been holding me back from progressing for so long. I've had some great results so far but I can tell I still have a long way to go.
I was able to organize a fantastic study/office/project room upstairs and my wife has her own small room for sewing (she has a small sewing service she does). Our son's room is adequate for his needs and we love the bigger kitchen space. I, personally, love having a tub in the bathroom. I also love being able to work and keep our car in the garage. I love having a fenced yard, cement driveway, fruit trees, and storage areas.
I add all of this because my mom says she keeps needing to hear that we like our place. Part of this is because she needs to know that their hard-earned money is being appreciated. Another reason is because we all miss living in Salt Lake.
Being back in my old home town has put a lot of stress on my nerves. I've already run into a handful of people from my past, a few I'd have rather not have met the first time around. I've spent the last several years working myself to be who I am now. The last thing I need and/or want are any reminders of who I no longer want to be. Being at home is just that: home. Stepping outside, however, is just... hard.
One good thing about being back here is my wife. For years I've been telling her stories about my upbringing and the overall mentality of this place. She's been a good listener but reluctant to believe all of my words. Until now. Unfortunately, she now is having first-hand opportunities at seeing what I've been talking about.
Another reason I bring this up is for this the situation of my wife's grandpa. He is not doing well and is not expected to be with us for too much longer. He owns his own home, which is in my wife's parent's name. When the time happens that he is no longer with us it has already been arranged that we will be allowed to move in. His home is smaller than the one we are renting. It is also missing the usable basement, a fence, a fruit trees, and an upstairs. But it won't cost 2 arms and a leg to be in and it will be back in Salt Lake. With that possibility comes the option of being closer to school and (*knock on wood*) and karate/internship/job.
It turned out that I was only able to work a year and a half at my temporary position, due to their internal company policy. Because it was a call center, but they were kind enough to have me only do data entry, no open positions were available for me to become employed there. I can't complain, however, since they did allow me to get in a good year and a half of school.
Prior to my departure from that company I had a dream that I had died. It was very heartbreaking, and oddly (plus terrifyingly), real. When the last day at that company came all of those feelings came back in sickening detail. Leaving that job, although it was intended to just be temporary, really did feel like dying. I had a lot of good friends that I had made there. I loved the low-stress and no-demands atmosphere. I did my work every day to the best of my ability without anyone micro-managing me all the time and I loved it. In many ways it felt like home.
The other odd shock was the work load began to diminish before my official time was up. They began to send me home early just because there was not enough work for me to do. As it turned out, they decided to have my last day be almost 2 months earlier than expected. The good news was it allowed me to put my focus on my school's finals right when I needed it. The bad news was that it really hurt us financially.
That was just the least of our concerns, though.
When I went home to give Donna the bad news that I would be leaving work 2 months earlier she had even worse news. We had been living in a small, 3 bedroom apartment on top of her dad's workshop for the past 7 years. Because the apartment was very run-down her dad only charged a minimal amount. Even though our ceiling collapsed on us due to years of dripping rain, constantly broke down in various aspects, and allowed the heat to escape in droves it was still our home. Well, not anymore.
Because the building required constant repair dad was unable to pay the property tax for 3 years. Without his knowledge, it went up for auction. In the same day we learned that I no longer had a job we also discovered that also didn't have a home.
Miraculously enough, I felt strangely calm. In time, my wife and her family did, too.
Dad's building and our home were purchased by a group of people who made all kinds of promises, none of which were upheld. In the end, they gave us a time frame in which to leave. To make a long story short, my parents provided the miracle we needed. As we were hunting for an apartment my mom suddenly called with the news that she found us a house in my old home tome to rent for the same price of an apartment in Salt Lake. It is a very cute little place with a basement and upstairs. We had quite the adventure moving down here. Dad started hauling his big load, only to find the trailer unhitch from the truck as he was getting onto the freeway. Gratefully, no one was hurt, although both her parents and my wife's aunt could've been killed.
In the end, it took several smaller trips to get everything moved.
Until our situation changes for the better my family is living on the generosity of others. My parents are paying for the monthly rent on our house and allowing us to eat Sunday dinner at their house every other week.
The building my wife's dad was working out of was such a money-pit he gained a huge amount of money from the finalized sale of his building to the buyer's group. His lawyer, a customer of my wife's dad, made sure that he was (and is still) not taken advantage of. Now that he no longer has to deal with the tremendous responsibility of trying to upkeep a 50+ year old building he has money in his pocket. As such, my wife's family is kind enough to pay our bills. They also supplied us with funds for this year's Christmas. Aside of that, we are living on food stamps.
Despite our desperate situation, we are quite well provided for, for which I am eternally grateful.
The drive to school is my one complaint. It previously took me 15 minutes to get to school. Now it takes me 45 minutes and I have to get up at 5:45 AM. I have to get up that early in order to beat rush hour. I've actually been getting to school at hour early, which I spend by catching back up on sleep. When I first started out I was getting up 6:00, only to get stuck right in rush hour. It was very stressful and I'd get to school right before class started. I found it amazing that with an extra 15 minutes I could get an hour's worth of sleep.
The stress of it all has had an impact on me physically, as well. Every Tuesday night I've had a very difficult time in falling asleep. I've tried warm milk, mental exercises, and finally had to rely on taking a quarter of melatonin.
I still have all of my classes on Wednesday. I've been doing that for the past 3 semesters, I believe, going on 4 went school starts again in January. I just finished a semester and looking forward to spending a long, 3 week Christmas break before the stress starts all over again. In that time I'm aching to get some more project done and posting my school work online.
As I've also been working to get my game created I finally sold my first one to a nephew who is a big fan. We played his version this last weekend at my parent's and he is pleased to have won his very first game on his own copy, as well. He's been playing for years.
I just finished my Digital Prepress, Concepts in Motion Design (Animation), and Organizational Psychology classes. I learned a lot.
In Digital Prepress we used a handy website to make books: blurb.com We made them with InDesign and had to go over all of the aspects used in printing; RGB vs. CMYK, line quality, text color, flesh tones, and moires. I was not allowed to create a rulebook for my game so I did the next best thing: a visual tour. I received the final book copy in the mail and opened it today. It really did make a difference to see the printed copy vs. on screen. It was cool to see all my hard work in a physical version, as well.
My instructor for the class told me that after this class I was not allowed to work on anything for my game as a class assignment. She said I needed to have stuff for my portfolio that was not my game. I told her I agreed. I have my next portfolio class already lined up for next semester.
In my Animation class I was the only Graphic Designer student among the 30 or so Photographer and Animation students. We learned how to use Photoshop and Illustrator to do simple animations used in web graphics, such as banners and ads. On our first assignment I spent 9 hours doing a simple animation. I learned all too quickly that animation is a time constricting project!
We we started to use AfterEffects I thought I was going to loose it. I didn't get it, I was having trouble all over the place, and I was going to go bonkers. Gratefully, the instructor was kind enough to give me some serious one-on-one coaching that helped me to pass the assignment. From there I had to come back to school on Saturday to work on assignments since I didn't have AfterEffects at home.
For the final I downloaded the trial version. It took me the whole of the 3 weeks to complete. It was nothing but suffering and stress. I had to start over several times and at one point I'd accidentally deleted all of my important elements. We were doing a Kinetic Type animation and I'd deleted the words!
On the last day I hunted down the school's tech guru 3 times to try and get it to work, to no avail. The necessary Quicktime upgrade was not available for the school's CS6 and we could not get it to play the video segments I had included. I was finally impressed to save it in a CS5 version, open the program, and render it from there. After that it took close to 30 minutes to download it onto Vimeo and have it be available for presenting.
When the instructor came into the class he could see everyone hunched over their machines, still working like I was. Because of everyone's busy scrambling to get the final assignment done he was kind enough to decide to not have the final test. I had been trying to study between fixing rendering errors so I was grateful.
Only 5 kids had their animations ready to show at the beginning of class. When he showed them, we could see why. One kid complained that he'd spent 5 hours on his and didn't want to mess it up so he didn't do anything else. One girl did a fantastic job, but limited hers to only 90 seconds, which was the minimal time requirement for the assignment. None of theirs had pictures, graphic elements, or additional video segments, which the assignment required. The others were equally disappointing, with the exception of one. It was a full song and had some great elements in it. However, as I said, no video or graphic elements.
Once the students showed their finals they were allowed to leave. I was able to show mine next, 30 minutes after the last animation was played. By then, the completely full classroom only had a small handful of working students left in it. The instructor was telling some of them that he still required previous assignments from them, as well as the final. So, many of the students showed up for class, watched the animations that were shown at the beginning of class, and left. It just blew me away.
Upon seeing my animation, the instructor had plenty of good things to say. He showed me which parts he liked the best (particularly the winding road) and I caught him toe-tapping to the music. He also thanked me for taking the time and effort to complete the assignment. He immediately then asked if I'd like to see my final grade. I rushed up and looked over his shoulder to be greeted with an "A+." It made me feel really good, knowing that I was the only Graphic Design student among so many Animation students and since I'd had such a hard, hard time with it.
As I was looking at my grade I inadvertently caught sight of the grades for several of the students listed under my own name. Without even trying to count I took in at least 4 'D's.' Again, I was shocked. I could only hope they were for students that had yet to turn in their final and were still working hard to do so.
In my Organizational Psychology class I learned what I felt to be some of the most important information, exactly when I needed it.
First, I panicked a little in the middle of last semester when it came time to register for classes again because I couldn't find my 3 classes all on the same day. Alan Murdock, the Academic Adviser who had been helping me for so long, already had the solution in hand. For my 3rd class he was able offer me the choice of an independent study class. With the independent study the class requirements could be negotiated between me and the instructor. So I chose Organizational Psychology since I was taking Cognitive Psychology at the time and liked the instructor. She agreed so we met for only 30 minutes in the library after Animation class.
She was very relaxed and chill, which made the difficult concepts of psychology better to enjoy. Her requirements included reading 2 extensive chapters a week (30 pages each) and answering 2 of 5 provided questions on the chapters. This required me to keep track of what the questions were and what they were on. I also had a final paper, midterm, and final test. Both tests were open book at took about 4 hours apiece to take.
Organizational Psychology is the study of psychology within groups, specifically jobs in businesses. I felt it was the best class I could've taken while unemployed. It taught how people should act and why while employed in a business so that they can advance. It taught the reasons and benefits of working freelance. It also taught me the pros and cons of a business that does or does not follow moralistic values. It also verified my emotions and feelings regarding some of the treatment, or mistreatment, from my past jobs. That helped me to feel very good.
All in all, it provided some serious instructions on what to do when out looking for work and even more importantly, what to do when you finally get in one.
For this last semester, I've been trying to have my classes be on Wednesday so that I would be able to take advantage of the Life Drawing lab. As it turned out, the lab was to be held on Tuesdays, so that would not be an option. Instead, like I said, I went straight to the library to meet with my Organizational Psychology instructor.
I finished the big Life Drawing picture I'd been working on at the end of the last semester, one of the reasons for taking the lab. I posted it on my Life Drawing class site and even sent a copy to the model at her request. I now needed a new project and decided to focus on my own characters. After discussing it with my wife I was starting to feel that I'd learned just about all I could from the class and lab. I was ready to focus on my 3 class instead and do my action figure drawing projects from home - without a live model.
The good news about starting school again is this will be my last year! Alan Murdock helped land me another independent study for the next semester so that all of my classes could be on Wednesday again. He also outlined all the rest of the classes for the next year that I would need to graduate. As I mentioned before, 3 of those semesters will include portfolio classes.
He also told me that now is the time to start looking for an internship. When my assignment was to end at my last, big temp job I had already been thinking about it. I've been applying to as many internships as I could up to this point without any worthwhile results. Now, the school's Academic Adviser is telling me, 'now is the time.' So, I'll keep looking and applying. Here's hoping something can turn up soon, since an internship is required to graduate.
So we've been living the past 3 months or so in my old home town. Our little house it very comfortable, with the exception that it has no insulation and holds heat as well (if not worse) than our previous little apartment. The garage was constructed with old, military ammunition boxes. There are a few places in the wall where pieces are missing and you can see the old boxes.
We love the room of the basement which allows us to have a make-shift gym, music nook, and playroom. During our time here, we are unable to visit sensai and my beloved karate classes. So, instead, I've been focusing on workouts/training/therapy to try and overcome some of the major areas of pain that have been holding me back from progressing for so long. I've had some great results so far but I can tell I still have a long way to go.
I was able to organize a fantastic study/office/project room upstairs and my wife has her own small room for sewing (she has a small sewing service she does). Our son's room is adequate for his needs and we love the bigger kitchen space. I, personally, love having a tub in the bathroom. I also love being able to work and keep our car in the garage. I love having a fenced yard, cement driveway, fruit trees, and storage areas.
I add all of this because my mom says she keeps needing to hear that we like our place. Part of this is because she needs to know that their hard-earned money is being appreciated. Another reason is because we all miss living in Salt Lake.
Being back in my old home town has put a lot of stress on my nerves. I've already run into a handful of people from my past, a few I'd have rather not have met the first time around. I've spent the last several years working myself to be who I am now. The last thing I need and/or want are any reminders of who I no longer want to be. Being at home is just that: home. Stepping outside, however, is just... hard.
One good thing about being back here is my wife. For years I've been telling her stories about my upbringing and the overall mentality of this place. She's been a good listener but reluctant to believe all of my words. Until now. Unfortunately, she now is having first-hand opportunities at seeing what I've been talking about.
Another reason I bring this up is for this the situation of my wife's grandpa. He is not doing well and is not expected to be with us for too much longer. He owns his own home, which is in my wife's parent's name. When the time happens that he is no longer with us it has already been arranged that we will be allowed to move in. His home is smaller than the one we are renting. It is also missing the usable basement, a fence, a fruit trees, and an upstairs. But it won't cost 2 arms and a leg to be in and it will be back in Salt Lake. With that possibility comes the option of being closer to school and (*knock on wood*) and karate/internship/job.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Semester 8 & 9.10
The miracle came with the preparation I didn't know I already had. It turned out the Life Drawing lab had been mentally preparing me the whole time for being able to take that third class.
As I am now halfway through this semester, I can tell how taking the 3 classes has worked out so far. First, all of my classes are on the same day, Wednesday. So, I only travel to school once and that helps cut down on gas bills. Also, the semester before I was missing some hours to get to school. As a result, I was not getting full time hours even though I was working extra hours to make up for the loss of time. So, having all classes on the same day has given me the opportunity to get all of my hours in (10 hour days) and make more money than the semester before.
Another big miracle has been the homework load. That was my biggest concern regarding taking a third class, since my time consisted of being at work, being at school, or doing homework. I didn't have any free time, at all. As previously said, I was taking time off from work, karate class, and church to finish my homework.
This semester I'm taking 2 general classes that are taught by the same instructor. He is so laid back he really works with us to help us get our work done, including time in class to work on assignments.
Also, I've been working hard this semester to jump on assignments early.
Usually, my presentations are so big I'd been going all out to include as much as I could. While they ended up fantastic, it did take a lot of time to get ready. At the end of last semester's Marketing Design class I felt like Peter Jackson, working on the assignment right up to when I was to present it.
So, trying to avoid that, I've been working to pace myself and also start as early as possible. We just past midterm and so far, so good.
Not only have I been able to spend time with my family but I've managed to take Quinny almost to every karate class this semester, which he enjoys thoroughly. It's our daddy-son time together and gives my wife a chance to breathe each week.
Here's hoping we can keep it up.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Semester 8 & 9.9
At the middle of the previous semester I was feeling the impression that I needed to go back to the Life Drawing lab. I'd been feeling it for a while but was unable to for the last 2 semesters. Finally, the opportunity opened up.
I had my doubts but I still felt that it was important.
Because of my current school schedule I was able to leave my temp work assignment on Wednesdays early to go to school. However, I had night classes on Wednesday so I was able to take advantage of the Life Drawing lab, which I'd been trying to get back to for the past 2 semesters. I'd been missing the simple pleasures of just drawing - no computers or digital graphics. Plus, I'd kept up my figure drawing and had developed plenty of questions that only an instructor and real life experience could answer. I learned from these experiences that, like any talent, it is something that does need to be kept up or the talent cannot progress. And my projects have lots of figures that need help being created.
There were plenty of new models that came in each week; not a lot of familiar faces that I could recognize from my Life Drawing class over 2 years earlier. Some were fantastic and some were not. Either way, I learned something from each.
My goal was to build up my practice to the point where I felt I could break out the good paper and creat a completely finished piece that I could be proud of. That was last semester; we just hit midterm and I've officially now upgraded to the good paper.
When midterm hit during this semester I was in Group Production Team Layout class and the instructor told us that he'd give us extra credit if we enrolled for the next semester on that day. He was part of the Graphics Department so it meant less paperwork for him.
So I went in to see the Dean on a 15 minute break, hoping simply to get the extra credit. What I got, instead, was a whole lot more.
Mr. Dean Murdock (no relation, although we'd been in close association in the past. He has a great open-door policy) threw a curve-ball surprise at me. The school (across the nation, not just the local branch) had a big policy to only allow so many part time students. According to their experience the longer a student remained in school, the more likely they will drop out without graduating. In order for them to retain their reputation of being some of the best they needed to keep the number of their graduating students high. As a result, they needed their students to be graduating as soon as possible.
So, the dean was requiring me to increase my number of classes per semester by 1. Otherwise, he and the board of people-in-charge could not approve of my school schedule fot the upcoming semester.
I was floored. I had already been spending every teeming waking moment that was not associated with work to either being in class, getting to class, or doing homework. My family was already being more neglected than I would have prefered and the guilt for that was pretty much a constant companion. In this last semester alone I took off 3 days from work just to work on homework and I missed a lot of church. Often times I would only go to sacrament meeting. Once, close to Finals, I didn't go at all. Not to mention the multiple martial arts classes I skipped for homework instead, too.
How on earth could he expect me to take one more class?
Semester 8 & 9.8
We had a Christmas miracle, as well, when my day job assignment was willing and/or able to keep me on through that semester, as well. I was very worried, as they had previously said that our assignment would be ending. I was very much relieved to find out that they were able to keep me on through to the end of Christmas.
It has been a semester-by-semester thing. That has caused some certain amounts of stress, for sure.
During that time they announced, that for the first time ever, they were allowing temps to officially apply for permanent positions. I asked if they had a place for me, since all I am doing is catagorized as simple data entry. The positions the others have are customer service phone positions. I still have not regained the full use of my voice and it still taxes me to talk for too long face to face. On the phone a full conversation is painful and almost impossible for any length of time.
Unfortunately, they said they did not have any full time positions for someone just doing the data entry I was doing.
Again, the miracle of working here was extended through this last semester, and then again through this one. However, they did let us know that their company policy does not allow temps to work here any longer than a year and a half. So, at the end of this semester this assignment will end.
I've been very gratful for the chance to be there. It's a wonderful atmosphere, with great, professional people, with a very easy, no-stress work load. I will miss being here.
After talking it out with my wife, we've come to an agreement. For my degree I need to have an internship in order to graduate. Since we thought I'd be unemployed at the end of last semester we started talking about how we'd make things work. We based a lot of our decisions off of our situation 2 Decembers ago, where I didn't work at all for the whole semester. We came to the comclusion that with some help and taking advantages of programs available to us that we could make it. So, with this semester and assignment closing I'm applying for internship positions now. Our hope is that perhaps it can turn into something better and permanent later on.
That's our hope, anyway.
It has been a semester-by-semester thing. That has caused some certain amounts of stress, for sure.
During that time they announced, that for the first time ever, they were allowing temps to officially apply for permanent positions. I asked if they had a place for me, since all I am doing is catagorized as simple data entry. The positions the others have are customer service phone positions. I still have not regained the full use of my voice and it still taxes me to talk for too long face to face. On the phone a full conversation is painful and almost impossible for any length of time.
Unfortunately, they said they did not have any full time positions for someone just doing the data entry I was doing.
Again, the miracle of working here was extended through this last semester, and then again through this one. However, they did let us know that their company policy does not allow temps to work here any longer than a year and a half. So, at the end of this semester this assignment will end.
I've been very gratful for the chance to be there. It's a wonderful atmosphere, with great, professional people, with a very easy, no-stress work load. I will miss being here.
After talking it out with my wife, we've come to an agreement. For my degree I need to have an internship in order to graduate. Since we thought I'd be unemployed at the end of last semester we started talking about how we'd make things work. We based a lot of our decisions off of our situation 2 Decembers ago, where I didn't work at all for the whole semester. We came to the comclusion that with some help and taking advantages of programs available to us that we could make it. So, with this semester and assignment closing I'm applying for internship positions now. Our hope is that perhaps it can turn into something better and permanent later on.
That's our hope, anyway.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Semester 8 & 9.7
I gave it to my mom at Christmas during our family's big Christmas party. We had just gone through the whole tradition of making gingerbread houses, Christmas program, and opening presents. My parents have been giving us items for our Emergency Prepardness for the last several years. So, this year we have been working to add to the lists.
We were preparing to leave so I smuggled it downstairs and worked to take it out of it's concealing garbage bag. I quickly took some photos for my portfolio before I gave it her and never saw it again. I took it back upstairs and turned its back away from her. I then went and got her, bringing her into the back room. I picked it up with my back to her and turned it around to show it to her. Her eyes didn't blink at all as she tried to register what she was looking at. Once I handed it to her and did some quick simple explaining she ran off like a, well, a kid at Christmas with a new toy. In very fact, she way. I heard her calling to everyone in the front room, "Look what Kerry made for me!" I didn't see her again after that so I had to hunt her down and explain how the lights worked and show her the comparison between the original photo and the finished piece like I did in class.
I wish I had my camera just for the expression on her face. It was priceless.
When I painted a picture to commemorate of my dad for his seminary experiences he fought to supress some tears. My mom's reaction was sheer excitement. On a scale of emotional reaction, I'd consider that a Home Run. :-)
We were preparing to leave so I smuggled it downstairs and worked to take it out of it's concealing garbage bag. I quickly took some photos for my portfolio before I gave it her and never saw it again. I took it back upstairs and turned its back away from her. I then went and got her, bringing her into the back room. I picked it up with my back to her and turned it around to show it to her. Her eyes didn't blink at all as she tried to register what she was looking at. Once I handed it to her and did some quick simple explaining she ran off like a, well, a kid at Christmas with a new toy. In very fact, she way. I heard her calling to everyone in the front room, "Look what Kerry made for me!" I didn't see her again after that so I had to hunt her down and explain how the lights worked and show her the comparison between the original photo and the finished piece like I did in class.
I wish I had my camera just for the expression on her face. It was priceless.
When I painted a picture to commemorate of my dad for his seminary experiences he fought to supress some tears. My mom's reaction was sheer excitement. On a scale of emotional reaction, I'd consider that a Home Run. :-)
Semester 8 & 9.6
when I presented it to the class I brought it in a box to not only protect it, but so I could have that 'surprise' element. The messages that others had used had some serious 'doom-and-gloom' aspencts to them. As the school as drilled into their heads, one student's was barely decorated, afraid to add too much and clutter it up. However, the one critique was that it needed more.
I presented mine with all the theatricallity I could, complete with a built-in lighting system. We had previously talked about brainstorming everything that everyone could do for a project and then pulling back to avoid the clutter; finding what the project could do without. I confessed that with this particular project I insisted that I keep every idea. I further confessed that if I were to add anything to it, I would have had a mini-music option. I said I knew was possible but I didn't know where to find the mini-disc players. I felt bad because the other students did.
I further confessed that up to that point I had been trying to entertain with my projects instead of trying to communicate, as a Graphic Designer is supposed to. And I said that the stage was why; that was my upbringing, where I had come from. With my previous assignments, that was what I was trying to recreate.
The theme was intended to uplift, encouraging people to stand in the 'center stage' of life and not in the wings.
I got nothing but proud approval from the class. They said they could almost hear the kids singing from the stage and the colors pulled them in. They went on and on about the color, detail, and layout. I showed them the comparison with the original photo so they could see the extensive Photoshop work I had to do to recreate the missing figure's pieces, which they were impressed with.
When I showed them the lighting they ran to turn off the classroom's lights. The reaction envoked a surprised but excited "Ah..." from the group.
The one critique I received was in reference to the fonts I used, which I couldn't argue with. Over all, it was a very positive experience.
Now I just had to present it to my mom...
I presented mine with all the theatricallity I could, complete with a built-in lighting system. We had previously talked about brainstorming everything that everyone could do for a project and then pulling back to avoid the clutter; finding what the project could do without. I confessed that with this particular project I insisted that I keep every idea. I further confessed that if I were to add anything to it, I would have had a mini-music option. I said I knew was possible but I didn't know where to find the mini-disc players. I felt bad because the other students did.
I further confessed that up to that point I had been trying to entertain with my projects instead of trying to communicate, as a Graphic Designer is supposed to. And I said that the stage was why; that was my upbringing, where I had come from. With my previous assignments, that was what I was trying to recreate.
The theme was intended to uplift, encouraging people to stand in the 'center stage' of life and not in the wings.
I got nothing but proud approval from the class. They said they could almost hear the kids singing from the stage and the colors pulled them in. They went on and on about the color, detail, and layout. I showed them the comparison with the original photo so they could see the extensive Photoshop work I had to do to recreate the missing figure's pieces, which they were impressed with.
When I showed them the lighting they ran to turn off the classroom's lights. The reaction envoked a surprised but excited "Ah..." from the group.
The one critique I received was in reference to the fonts I used, which I couldn't argue with. Over all, it was a very positive experience.
Now I just had to present it to my mom...
Semester 8 & 9.5
The second assignment was to do a diarama; a 3D box of something with a message or design that could be hung on a wall as a decoration.
My first thought was to make the arena of the Tournament but I didn't like what direction my mind was taking me. After talking to the instructor she said something to stimilate my creativity. I then came up with the idea of recreating one of my mom's stage production pieces from a photograph. I wanted the mini-3D stage to look exactly like the picture but have all of the people/characters pop out and overlap each other.
I then had the extra idea to give it my mom as a Christmas present.
The first step was to ask my mom for a large photograph of her favorite show. I was not surprised when she provided me with a photo from her own, "Beauty and the Price," which is her musical theater take on the story of "Sleeping Beauty."
I was hoping she would have something from "Beauty and the Beast," as it was her last big community theater show. I was hoping my diarama would be a trophy/reminder of all of her many years of doing such big, fantastic shows. I guess it only makes sense that the subject would be her favorite instead.
My first thought was to make the arena of the Tournament but I didn't like what direction my mind was taking me. After talking to the instructor she said something to stimilate my creativity. I then came up with the idea of recreating one of my mom's stage production pieces from a photograph. I wanted the mini-3D stage to look exactly like the picture but have all of the people/characters pop out and overlap each other.
I then had the extra idea to give it my mom as a Christmas present.
The first step was to ask my mom for a large photograph of her favorite show. I was not surprised when she provided me with a photo from her own, "Beauty and the Price," which is her musical theater take on the story of "Sleeping Beauty."
I was hoping she would have something from "Beauty and the Beast," as it was her last big community theater show. I was hoping my diarama would be a trophy/reminder of all of her many years of doing such big, fantastic shows. I guess it only makes sense that the subject would be her favorite instead.
Semester 8 & 9.4
The other class was Environmental Design, which was taught by the influential teacher who taught the Copywriting class. I originally dreaded the stress of similar, previous classes with 3 super-tough assignments. But she might have been paying attention to what some of the students were saying and other teachers were doing because we only had 2. Although, thinking back now, that doesn't remotely compare with the dozen or so mini-projects that made up the one big project I had to do for both Corporate Identity and Media Design in the same semester.
Our first assignment was to rebrand an existing local company. I chose a local farm in the middle of a big city that is a tourist attraction. With my previous photography class, this was an excellent excuse to go to the location and take my own pictures. To this day, I am still amazed how each class builds on each other, even when last night my last class' instructor told me to my face that it's supposed to work that way. I guess it's still a relief.
That project wasn't so bad, comparing. I drew dozens of mini-icons/mascots for the updated map of the location. In the end the hardest part was the layout, which my instructor was kind enough to walk me through, step by step.
I got to do a big presentation at the end and once more she told me that I had a knack for it. As she did in the Copywriting class, she reiterated that if people could learn to do sales they could make a lot of money.
It wasn't until the end of this last semester I finally realized what she was saying: with my 25 years of theater I'm good at doing presentations. I also enjoy it.
The big thing about that class was I finally, after 2 years of schooling, got my displays mounted on the hallway's walls for the next semester.
Our first assignment was to rebrand an existing local company. I chose a local farm in the middle of a big city that is a tourist attraction. With my previous photography class, this was an excellent excuse to go to the location and take my own pictures. To this day, I am still amazed how each class builds on each other, even when last night my last class' instructor told me to my face that it's supposed to work that way. I guess it's still a relief.
That project wasn't so bad, comparing. I drew dozens of mini-icons/mascots for the updated map of the location. In the end the hardest part was the layout, which my instructor was kind enough to walk me through, step by step.
I got to do a big presentation at the end and once more she told me that I had a knack for it. As she did in the Copywriting class, she reiterated that if people could learn to do sales they could make a lot of money.
It wasn't until the end of this last semester I finally realized what she was saying: with my 25 years of theater I'm good at doing presentations. I also enjoy it.
The big thing about that class was I finally, after 2 years of schooling, got my displays mounted on the hallway's walls for the next semester.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Semester 8 & 9.3
I studied hard and in the end, I had a great final and a great presentation. I worked hard with my volenteer friend to get the last bunch of shots I was hoping for for my final presentation to no avail. I only learned in the very end what I had done wrong to not get the images I was looking for. Because of my other class I was given the tools I needed to prepare and have a great presentation. As always, I was the only one that dressed up for the presentation.
It was a hard semester but as I drove away from my camera class I found myself crying. It's then that I realized how much I really enjoyed that class and how much I would truly miss it. I saw it as the subtle, humble beginnings of what I REALLY want to do: direct films. It finally gave me a chance to be involved behind and with a camera in a performance-type setting.
One of the reasons I wanted to pursue the direction of my photo's final was my previous semester's web class. I was hoping that with some seriously cool photos of my wife's costumes I could use them to build her a website.
She still has a lot more costumes. So I guess that gives me a reason to keep right on shooting.
It was a hard semester but as I drove away from my camera class I found myself crying. It's then that I realized how much I really enjoyed that class and how much I would truly miss it. I saw it as the subtle, humble beginnings of what I REALLY want to do: direct films. It finally gave me a chance to be involved behind and with a camera in a performance-type setting.
One of the reasons I wanted to pursue the direction of my photo's final was my previous semester's web class. I was hoping that with some seriously cool photos of my wife's costumes I could use them to build her a website.
She still has a lot more costumes. So I guess that gives me a reason to keep right on shooting.
Semester 8 & 9.2
For extra credit our class took a Saturday field-trip as a way to make up for lost time, due to a holiday earlier in the semester. We went to an army-surplass store that ended up being more like a junk depot on the outside. Our little group was thus so due to the poor weather. However, by the time we got there we were all shedding layers. I ended up taking over 200 pics.
A lot of them was just trying to catch the right angle or timing of the subject, like the water dropping. I did have a hard time narrowing down the small handful of pics to show for class, though. I had a good handful that I was wanting to show off.
On the way back we got into a discussion regarding the majority of the school's attitude towards responsibility, homework, and due-dates. I was very relieved to hear that my own personal gripes were not just my own and that an official teacher of the school felt the same way regarding the lax behavior and "I-don't-care" attitude among many of them.
I really enjoyed that class and spent a lot of time after class to ask questions. She even let me borrow some of her own filters to play and experiment with. The presure came on when our instructor told me that she was looking forward to my final. I had some good ideas but I'm not sure if her excitement helped or hurt.
A lot of them was just trying to catch the right angle or timing of the subject, like the water dropping. I did have a hard time narrowing down the small handful of pics to show for class, though. I had a good handful that I was wanting to show off.
On the way back we got into a discussion regarding the majority of the school's attitude towards responsibility, homework, and due-dates. I was very relieved to hear that my own personal gripes were not just my own and that an official teacher of the school felt the same way regarding the lax behavior and "I-don't-care" attitude among many of them.
I really enjoyed that class and spent a lot of time after class to ask questions. She even let me borrow some of her own filters to play and experiment with. The presure came on when our instructor told me that she was looking forward to my final. I had some good ideas but I'm not sure if her excitement helped or hurt.
Semester 8 & 9.1
Wow... It's been two semesters and I'm only now getting back to here. I thought that if I'd have a 3 week break then I'd have plenty of time to catch up on stuff like this. No. It took me the 3 weeks to catch up from the previous semester alone... and that included rest. The end of the year is the busiest time of the year for us, starting in September, which is my wife's birthday. October is a big deal for us, especially with my wife's costume and sewing at-home mini-business. It's also the month of our anniversary. That leaves November to recover from Halloween and prepare for Christmas, including my school's finals.
Sometimes it seems like we'll never get a break. But we're always glad when we do.
This last set of finals had me running around, firing off final's shots for my photography class.
My theme was using shutter speed adjustments to create special effects for costume movie photos. I grabbed my wife's costumes and wore them, using what we learned in class to create special effects for them.
For the first set of pics I asked my photography friend to help. I had a handful of shots I wanted to get. With his help I was hoping we could nail down at least 3 different costumes. I had no idea how technical it was for real professional-grade pictures and that's what he brought to the table.
I only had so much time and he was not only feeling sick but had a performace to go to that night. He was feeling so ill he ended up not going. Fortunately, his cast was able to pull off the performance without him. It helped that it was a singing choir performance and not an acting-theater performance.
We met at our local church and used the stage's lights to get the color we needed for our lighting. It took us half an hour just to unload the stuff from his car. It took another 2 hours just to set everything up. His new wife spent the majority of the time steaming the backdrop I'd chosen to get the creases out.
Then, the actual work began.
I started with what I considered the lamest of the costumes; a hodge-podge of black clothing pieces with some of the weapons from my collection to create a type of ninja garb. At one point, for the picture to actually look good, I had to stick the back of the sheath in my pant to hold it in place. As a joke, I mentioned to the pair that was the reason why no one becomes ninjas anymore.
The first shot had me throwing sharp ninja shirken (stars) at the camera. I just lobbed them onto a small trampoline so that the camera would hopefully capture them as they fell. It scared my friend's poor wife to death, who was standing behind him, holding a mirror so that I could see what I was aiming at. She finally solved the problem by holding the trampoline in front of her for protection.
When my friend ran out of time I was paniced: we had only gotten through 2 costumes. Following inspiration, I ran around the building until I found a member of our ward who was willing to help with the last costume for the night.
He actually ended up helping me through all of the rest of my shoots and was a great help to me and my wife.
I thought I was mad at my friend for all of the technical mumbo-jumbo he made me wade through until I was able to compare my pictures with his. He then convinced me of the importance for the rest of the equipment he had. I hope that somehow I'll be able to acquire some of my own in time.
Sometimes it seems like we'll never get a break. But we're always glad when we do.
This last set of finals had me running around, firing off final's shots for my photography class.
My theme was using shutter speed adjustments to create special effects for costume movie photos. I grabbed my wife's costumes and wore them, using what we learned in class to create special effects for them.
For the first set of pics I asked my photography friend to help. I had a handful of shots I wanted to get. With his help I was hoping we could nail down at least 3 different costumes. I had no idea how technical it was for real professional-grade pictures and that's what he brought to the table.
I only had so much time and he was not only feeling sick but had a performace to go to that night. He was feeling so ill he ended up not going. Fortunately, his cast was able to pull off the performance without him. It helped that it was a singing choir performance and not an acting-theater performance.
We met at our local church and used the stage's lights to get the color we needed for our lighting. It took us half an hour just to unload the stuff from his car. It took another 2 hours just to set everything up. His new wife spent the majority of the time steaming the backdrop I'd chosen to get the creases out.
Then, the actual work began.
I started with what I considered the lamest of the costumes; a hodge-podge of black clothing pieces with some of the weapons from my collection to create a type of ninja garb. At one point, for the picture to actually look good, I had to stick the back of the sheath in my pant to hold it in place. As a joke, I mentioned to the pair that was the reason why no one becomes ninjas anymore.
The first shot had me throwing sharp ninja shirken (stars) at the camera. I just lobbed them onto a small trampoline so that the camera would hopefully capture them as they fell. It scared my friend's poor wife to death, who was standing behind him, holding a mirror so that I could see what I was aiming at. She finally solved the problem by holding the trampoline in front of her for protection.
When my friend ran out of time I was paniced: we had only gotten through 2 costumes. Following inspiration, I ran around the building until I found a member of our ward who was willing to help with the last costume for the night.
He actually ended up helping me through all of the rest of my shoots and was a great help to me and my wife.
I thought I was mad at my friend for all of the technical mumbo-jumbo he made me wade through until I was able to compare my pictures with his. He then convinced me of the importance for the rest of the equipment he had. I hope that somehow I'll be able to acquire some of my own in time.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Semester 7.4
The last miracle is in referrence to my day job-assignment. I am still a temp, working through the temp agency, at my same assignment. They said they would have enough work for me until October. Well, here we are in October and I've yet to receive my walking papers or next assignment.
The other big part is that they have accepted my even weirder school schedule: both classes in the afternoon, on Tuesday and Thursday. Wow... I really didn't expect that.
Also, I've made arrangements to make up for the lost hourse. So, I'm working 10 hours a day on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. For school, I only work part time in the mornings before I go to school.
It's only been a few days and I already miss my sleep-in schedule. But, as I remember, if I can get up at 5:30 AM to work full time in a warehouse and then in an arcade then I can certainly do this. :-)
The other big part is that they have accepted my even weirder school schedule: both classes in the afternoon, on Tuesday and Thursday. Wow... I really didn't expect that.
Also, I've made arrangements to make up for the lost hourse. So, I'm working 10 hours a day on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. For school, I only work part time in the mornings before I go to school.
It's only been a few days and I already miss my sleep-in schedule. But, as I remember, if I can get up at 5:30 AM to work full time in a warehouse and then in an arcade then I can certainly do this. :-)
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Semester 7.3
Anyway, I jumped on the assignment early, feeling impressed to do so. That was the miracle. As the days and weeks progressed I felt impressed WHEN I should work on the assignment and when I should instead focus on my family.
As always, I even worked on my lunch breaks at my day job assignment.
As the critiques continued, the mocking continued. However, I was one of the few people to arrive at class with anything to show. Others showed up with thoughts and ideas or questions; not physical work to show their progress.
The weekend the assignment was due I poured my heart and soul into the assignment. Because of my previous paced work I was not stressed and had tons of excellent material to work with and off of. It was excellent.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, however you choose to look at it, I worked so long in one sitting the Sunday before it was due I ended up hurting my neck and I made myself sick. As a result I was unable to finish. I also discovered right before I decided I had to stop for the night that our class instructor emailed us templates that we were supposed to include our work with. I did not have the current version of the program needed to pull up the attachment he provided so I was not able to apply it.
The next day I was still overcome from the day before and decided to call in sick to work so that I could recover. I slept in and woke up 2 hours prior to class.
I hustled to school and pulled up the program I couldn't access the instructor's file in the night before. I finished applying my last minute changes and was just finishing the application of my pictures to the template when the instructor walked in to start class.
I was set up to go third but I didn't save the file from the template program correctly into the PDF file I needed in order to be able to see everything. So, I ended up going next to last. Now I'm glad I did.
Most kids only provided the minimum of 4 pictures. 2 of the students' work strongly suggested that only the minimal amount of time was spent on the assignment (20 minutes or so. Sometimes the students do the assignment right before class, just to have something to turn in).
4 of the students did only a red, white, and black theme. Several of them conveyed how they didn't know anything about the convention they picked and had not done any research.
More than 2 students used cut-out people in their designs to show size vs. dimension, as opposed to real people. Multiple students either didn't use perspective in their designs or claimed they didn't know how. My arguement to that is we were given 3 weeks to do this, so if they didn't know how to do it why didn't they ask?
Only 1 other student created some time of shadow effect and none of them used any lighting effects.
Many actually showed up with questions about the assignment!
When it was my turn I had heard and seen enough of the competition I knew how to present myself. All I can say is, it was awesome. I spoke, what I felt, was with power. I conveyed my ideas clearly enough, with excitment and energy. I had 3 more pictures than required, for a total of 7. I used photos of people in costume at the convention to show dimision, which is a big deal at those conventions. I had the posters I used for my inspiration (Mood Board) decorating the walls. I told them that I wanted to do more than just put up banners; I wanted to decorate for a party!
In my research I also included copy on the banners regarding who the guest speakers would be, upcoming movie stars/directors, and various events. I do a lot of artwork that could be seen at conventions like that one so I even included a banner of my own work at the convention. I used shadows, illumiation effects, posters, cardboard cut-outs for fans, and even a 3D globe in the signs!
I wanted to make it an event that everyone would want to go to.
When the discussion came around I got lots of good reports. One student tried to argue a piece of my designs. To my surprise, another student, who was a fan of such conventions, spoke up in my defense. That had never happened before!
She and I then had a quick banter specifically regarding the topic. Our instructor looked at us as though we were speaking a different language (which we pretty much were) and said, "Well, at least you know what you're talking about." That was proof that I had discovered the way to connect with the target audience!
I also made a special mention to the student whose previous critique made me so mad. I mentioned how I actually decided to take her advice and I pointed out where and how I did it. Her response was simply, "Cool..."
So I was really pleased with how it turned out. I'm actually looking forward to adding those pieces to my portfolio.
I've yet to receive my heart-shaped Package Design box back. The instructor said he wanted to hold on to some of them so that he could put some of them up on display. I should be getting mine back after the next semester starts.
As always, I even worked on my lunch breaks at my day job assignment.
As the critiques continued, the mocking continued. However, I was one of the few people to arrive at class with anything to show. Others showed up with thoughts and ideas or questions; not physical work to show their progress.
The weekend the assignment was due I poured my heart and soul into the assignment. Because of my previous paced work I was not stressed and had tons of excellent material to work with and off of. It was excellent.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, however you choose to look at it, I worked so long in one sitting the Sunday before it was due I ended up hurting my neck and I made myself sick. As a result I was unable to finish. I also discovered right before I decided I had to stop for the night that our class instructor emailed us templates that we were supposed to include our work with. I did not have the current version of the program needed to pull up the attachment he provided so I was not able to apply it.
The next day I was still overcome from the day before and decided to call in sick to work so that I could recover. I slept in and woke up 2 hours prior to class.
I hustled to school and pulled up the program I couldn't access the instructor's file in the night before. I finished applying my last minute changes and was just finishing the application of my pictures to the template when the instructor walked in to start class.
I was set up to go third but I didn't save the file from the template program correctly into the PDF file I needed in order to be able to see everything. So, I ended up going next to last. Now I'm glad I did.
Most kids only provided the minimum of 4 pictures. 2 of the students' work strongly suggested that only the minimal amount of time was spent on the assignment (20 minutes or so. Sometimes the students do the assignment right before class, just to have something to turn in).
4 of the students did only a red, white, and black theme. Several of them conveyed how they didn't know anything about the convention they picked and had not done any research.
More than 2 students used cut-out people in their designs to show size vs. dimension, as opposed to real people. Multiple students either didn't use perspective in their designs or claimed they didn't know how. My arguement to that is we were given 3 weeks to do this, so if they didn't know how to do it why didn't they ask?
Only 1 other student created some time of shadow effect and none of them used any lighting effects.
Many actually showed up with questions about the assignment!
When it was my turn I had heard and seen enough of the competition I knew how to present myself. All I can say is, it was awesome. I spoke, what I felt, was with power. I conveyed my ideas clearly enough, with excitment and energy. I had 3 more pictures than required, for a total of 7. I used photos of people in costume at the convention to show dimision, which is a big deal at those conventions. I had the posters I used for my inspiration (Mood Board) decorating the walls. I told them that I wanted to do more than just put up banners; I wanted to decorate for a party!
In my research I also included copy on the banners regarding who the guest speakers would be, upcoming movie stars/directors, and various events. I do a lot of artwork that could be seen at conventions like that one so I even included a banner of my own work at the convention. I used shadows, illumiation effects, posters, cardboard cut-outs for fans, and even a 3D globe in the signs!
I wanted to make it an event that everyone would want to go to.
When the discussion came around I got lots of good reports. One student tried to argue a piece of my designs. To my surprise, another student, who was a fan of such conventions, spoke up in my defense. That had never happened before!
She and I then had a quick banter specifically regarding the topic. Our instructor looked at us as though we were speaking a different language (which we pretty much were) and said, "Well, at least you know what you're talking about." That was proof that I had discovered the way to connect with the target audience!
I also made a special mention to the student whose previous critique made me so mad. I mentioned how I actually decided to take her advice and I pointed out where and how I did it. Her response was simply, "Cool..."
So I was really pleased with how it turned out. I'm actually looking forward to adding those pieces to my portfolio.
I've yet to receive my heart-shaped Package Design box back. The instructor said he wanted to hold on to some of them so that he could put some of them up on display. I should be getting mine back after the next semester starts.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Semester 7.2
The next story didn't seem like much, but that's why it was such a miracle.
We were given three weeks but I wanted to jump on it early. The Final assignment in the 3D class was to create outside and inside signs for a convention at a local expo center. I had lots of ideas and I was hoping to encorporate them all.
At the next class period, our regular instructor was again off on business. The same substitute again 'graced' our class with his foul attitude and snide, mockery-remarks, I did manage to take one helpful piece of advice away from his critique, although I did unfortunately lose my cool over one of the really dumb remarks from one of the other students. In the end I not only felt bad for loosing my cool but I decided to 'make amends' by finding a comprimise with their suggestion and applying it to the final design.
For the past 1.75 years I've been going to school there have seemed to be no end to really, really bad and/or dumb critiques launched at me and others during the "helpful" critique time. I've even seen some obvious stuff simply looked over (one particular scenario in the 3D Design class is too embaressing to even mention here), for whatever reason I don't know. I have been at my wit's end over many of the critiques and have had my limit passed. I do not find it fair that I take my frustrations home with me, to relate the sad tales to my poor wife who doesn't need to hear my complaints.
So, when I received yet another dumb (and often times hypocritical) critique I couldn't let 'dumb just slide.' So, part of me is glad I spoke up (although a bit verbally stronger than required) and part of me is not so much.
We were given three weeks but I wanted to jump on it early. The Final assignment in the 3D class was to create outside and inside signs for a convention at a local expo center. I had lots of ideas and I was hoping to encorporate them all.
At the next class period, our regular instructor was again off on business. The same substitute again 'graced' our class with his foul attitude and snide, mockery-remarks, I did manage to take one helpful piece of advice away from his critique, although I did unfortunately lose my cool over one of the really dumb remarks from one of the other students. In the end I not only felt bad for loosing my cool but I decided to 'make amends' by finding a comprimise with their suggestion and applying it to the final design.
For the past 1.75 years I've been going to school there have seemed to be no end to really, really bad and/or dumb critiques launched at me and others during the "helpful" critique time. I've even seen some obvious stuff simply looked over (one particular scenario in the 3D Design class is too embaressing to even mention here), for whatever reason I don't know. I have been at my wit's end over many of the critiques and have had my limit passed. I do not find it fair that I take my frustrations home with me, to relate the sad tales to my poor wife who doesn't need to hear my complaints.
So, when I received yet another dumb (and often times hypocritical) critique I couldn't let 'dumb just slide.' So, part of me is glad I spoke up (although a bit verbally stronger than required) and part of me is not so much.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Semester 7.1
I'm beginning to see a miracle in each class and each semester. Sometimes, each assignment.
The first story was for my 3D Design class. When I first presented my rough draft package design to the class it received lots of unnecessary ridicule. Without the image representations to show what it was intended to look like it drew lots of skeptisism, mockery, and unhelpful critiques. It also didn't help that the instructor was a substitute, as our regular instructor was away on business. This particular instructor was not helpful, in either offering any of his own useful critiques nor quelling the disrespect of the others in the class. It didn't help when he admitted that, as Graphic Designer, he considered himself a snob. There was little in his demeneor, attitude, or speech to help prove otherwise.
The report of that class' critique that I took home to my family was less than satisfatory but it was very frusterating.
I spent my time home after work on my family, following my gut that I would be able to complete the Package Design class on the weekend. I don't regret having spent my time with my family; that was important. I'll always be a dad and husband first; I'll only be a student for the next 2.25 years. My wife and son didn't argue, either.
I hit the assignment hard on the weekend. When Sunday rolled around I attacked it with zeal after dinner. I didn't feel that I could put my trust in school's print shop, given how they'd messed my assignments so many times in the past already. So I purposefully designed the package so that I could print the templates at home.
I had worked on the assignment by myself for several hours and had to come to conclussion that I was burned out. I was exhausted and realized I was spinning my wheels without getting anywhere. I needed a fresh set of eyes and hands.
I quickly called my wife, who was next door at her mom's, visiting. I swallowed my pride and asked for her help. She agreed without a moment's hesitation. I considered that a miracle in and of itself.
I had direction but didn't seem to know how to go about it. My wife was a great help with that. Between the two of us we were back on course. She had put our boy to bed so we both worked as quickly and feverishly as we could.
It was frusterating in the fact that we would try to apply printouts with the new changes, see something that had to be changed, and have to start again. We did this several times. I was worried I would waste the entire brand new cartridge of ink and full pack of photo paper before we were through.
There was lots of cutting, editting, printing, and gluing.
The big miracle came when suddenly it started to rain outside. The rain was followed by very large cracks of thunder that seemed directly over our heads. The night sky was lit up by increasing bolts of lightening. We hardly ever get storms like that here in Utah.
My wife looked out the window to see the power go out on the houses on the hill. Then, the people across the street lost power. Then her parents next door.
I had a silent prayer in my heart and my breath in my throat as I printed like mad, hoping we would not lose power. The assignment was due the next day.
Sure enough, our prayers were answered. The storm passed on by without taking out our power. We were able to finish around 2:00 AM.
It turned out it was worth it; as my box (though far from perfect) was one of the best presented in the class. I got lots of great feedback and it made me feel really good.
Heavenly Father does answer prayers - even the ones offered silently in our hearts.
The first story was for my 3D Design class. When I first presented my rough draft package design to the class it received lots of unnecessary ridicule. Without the image representations to show what it was intended to look like it drew lots of skeptisism, mockery, and unhelpful critiques. It also didn't help that the instructor was a substitute, as our regular instructor was away on business. This particular instructor was not helpful, in either offering any of his own useful critiques nor quelling the disrespect of the others in the class. It didn't help when he admitted that, as Graphic Designer, he considered himself a snob. There was little in his demeneor, attitude, or speech to help prove otherwise.
The report of that class' critique that I took home to my family was less than satisfatory but it was very frusterating.
I spent my time home after work on my family, following my gut that I would be able to complete the Package Design class on the weekend. I don't regret having spent my time with my family; that was important. I'll always be a dad and husband first; I'll only be a student for the next 2.25 years. My wife and son didn't argue, either.
I hit the assignment hard on the weekend. When Sunday rolled around I attacked it with zeal after dinner. I didn't feel that I could put my trust in school's print shop, given how they'd messed my assignments so many times in the past already. So I purposefully designed the package so that I could print the templates at home.
I had worked on the assignment by myself for several hours and had to come to conclussion that I was burned out. I was exhausted and realized I was spinning my wheels without getting anywhere. I needed a fresh set of eyes and hands.
I quickly called my wife, who was next door at her mom's, visiting. I swallowed my pride and asked for her help. She agreed without a moment's hesitation. I considered that a miracle in and of itself.
I had direction but didn't seem to know how to go about it. My wife was a great help with that. Between the two of us we were back on course. She had put our boy to bed so we both worked as quickly and feverishly as we could.
It was frusterating in the fact that we would try to apply printouts with the new changes, see something that had to be changed, and have to start again. We did this several times. I was worried I would waste the entire brand new cartridge of ink and full pack of photo paper before we were through.
There was lots of cutting, editting, printing, and gluing.
The big miracle came when suddenly it started to rain outside. The rain was followed by very large cracks of thunder that seemed directly over our heads. The night sky was lit up by increasing bolts of lightening. We hardly ever get storms like that here in Utah.
My wife looked out the window to see the power go out on the houses on the hill. Then, the people across the street lost power. Then her parents next door.
I had a silent prayer in my heart and my breath in my throat as I printed like mad, hoping we would not lose power. The assignment was due the next day.
Sure enough, our prayers were answered. The storm passed on by without taking out our power. We were able to finish around 2:00 AM.
It turned out it was worth it; as my box (though far from perfect) was one of the best presented in the class. I got lots of great feedback and it made me feel really good.
Heavenly Father does answer prayers - even the ones offered silently in our hearts.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Semester 6.2
I really hope this works, because I've been having some serious problems with Blogger lately.
I consider it a miracle that I got 2 A's again this semester. My Copywriting class was great.
Here are some of the positive comments I got from my instructor in regards to my important Scrapbook Assignment (a collection of all the assignments we did over the semester):
Nice presentation. Outstanding effort. Good bite words. A natural ability to use words. Able to lead reader in. Able to play up benefits. A knack for copy. Good words-broke information down into easily read chunks. Love the headlines-Yearn to learn (one of the sub-heads I used). That's what parents want to hear (for the kid's school assignment). Very good sub-heads. Looks like you enjoy copy and the challenge of copy. Words come easy. Magazine is much better! It is readable. Love the catalog description.
You really worked on your copy. You put the process to work and guess what? It worked.
Super student. Good job, Kerry. You should continue to pursue your copy skills and ideas.
She is right: I love to write copy. I've been doing it for so long it's almost natural for me. I'd love to get a job where I am writing copy for other people. In the class they taught that someone who can write good copy can make more money than a regular Graphic Designer. And a Graphic Designer who can make copy is an Art Director.
That's what I would love to aim for. That would be great.
I did not do so well, at least I thought so, with the Print Production class.
We had little quizzes every 2 weeks that were worth 10 points. But like I learned in the 1st semester 10 points can make a big difference between an A and an A-. Part of the problem was miscommunication in the questions. I did the reading and understood the material that I read but the way some of the questions were worded got lost in translation.
Some of them were just dumb mistakes. We had one question where the instructor said, "If you miss this one...", meaning none of us should miss it. I missed it - because my eyes skipped over 1 word. Changed the whole meaning of the question so I got it wrong.
A lot of the problem was also anxious impatience. I wanted to hurry and take the quiz to prove that I knew the info. In my haste I made dumb mistakes like the last example and also didn't give myself time to think out the answer.
But in the end the quizzes didn't hold me back. What held me back... was surgeries. 4 of them.
First, my dad had been complaining for 3 months that his back and ribs were hurting him. Mom told him to go to the doctor and get a CAT scan. He went into the doctor but they gave him an X-ray instead. Dad didn't argue, saying an X-ray was cheaper, anyway.
They said he had a rib out, which he assumed was from coughing. He had caught a really bad flu from one of his grandkids that was quickly turning into pnumonia. He said that as he and mom were watching tv one night he let out a big cough and felt a pop in his back. He was sure that was the rib going out. The doctor gave him some instruction and he left alone.
However, 3 months later it was still hurting and getting worse. Mom made him go back in again and told him to tell the doctor to give him a CAT Scan, not an X-ray. Dad had to fight with them a bit because they provided other options but he finally got the CAT scan.
Turned out dad had a major cancer growth on one of his spine's vertebrae. It had practically eaten almost all of the bone away and was working on nearby bone.
Dad went in for immediate surgery. We were all on pins and needles but it turned out positively. The doctor said a few years ago they would have told him that he had 2 to 3 years left to live. Now, the possibility was as good as 10 years. The surgeon told him that they'll work to keep him alive to die to something else. It was a joke intended to be taken in good humor, which we did.
I went and visited my dad in the hospital. He was fine when I walked in and was telling his nurse the different projects I was in and such. Then they gave him some medicine. Then they added something to his morphine drip. Then they gave him some more medicine. What I was hearing my dad say and how he was saying it I'd never heard from him before. It was quite unreal, given his candor, elegence, and proper refinement. It sure didn't seem like my dad.
He eventually dropped off to sleep and I did my homework. I stayed until other family arrived, gave them my report, and left for school.
Unfortunately, I got caught in major traffic jam due to construction. I got to school just in time to turn in the assignment I finished at the hospital.
My dad is back home now and doing well enough. However, the chemotherapy is making him as sick as a dog. After the surgery but before the chemo he went back to working on the house and yard, feeling well enough to have put in a full 8 hour day of work. Now, he sits all day and hates it all.
He is under strict no-lifting or working rules and every day he is just trying to get by.
His spirits are up, though, and has seen these trials as some major faith building situations. We all hope he is able to get through the chemo well and back onto the road of some great recovery.
I recommended blue-green algae to my mom, which has been monumental in helping to keep my lypoma count down. I've fought with the little brutes most of my adult life. My eldest brother has, also. They are random cancer-like growths that develop randomly throughout my body and over time can cause some real pain. The products with blue-green algae help to support a higher stem cell count, which in turn, helps to not only support healing but also better cellular nutrition. However it works exactly, it has been only thing I've found that has functioned to keep my lypomas down without expensive surgery.
Time will tell if mom will adhere to any of my nutritional advice. I've been giving it, and having it be ignored, for years. Kinda like what I did to them as parents when I was a kid.
Secondly, my wife and I had bought a new treadmill over the weekend and had an adventure getting it home. We had our son in the car seat when it tipped over and threatened to squish him in his seat. My wife had to climb back there while I was driving and fight to get it off of him. She said she couldn't lift it when it was on the ground but somehow she managed to get it all set up so we could get home safely. It didn't help when the guy in front of us slammed on his brakes, forcing me to swerve into the next lane to hit him. We all could've been killed. I am very grateful that nothing bad happened. Especially since we were in her parent's van. The treadmill wouldn't fit in our vehicle.
I ran on the new treadmill that night and it really did me in. I thought my core muscles were hurting just because they had not been worked on for so long.
I stayed home from church the next day, not because I hurt, but because I had homework to do. I was already behind in the Print Production class on assignments and I wanted to make them up. So I was redoing many of my old assignments as well as finishing up my current assignment. I took me a good part of the day but I finished them all. I'm glad, too.
The next day's morning started out fine. I got to work ok and started my work but as I continued on the pain got worse. Two hours into the day I got the impression that I had to go home. I was shriveled up at my desk as I waited for the response to come by email from my supervisor that I could leave.
As I drove home it hurt too much to push on the pedals. I knew that if someone slammed on their brakes ahead of me again I would not be able to stop. The best I could manange on the freeway was to get it up to 40 MPH so that I could turn on the cruise control.
As I got off the exit there was a large diesle in front of me. I felt that I needed to follow the diesle but instead I decided to go down a side street so that I wouldn't have to wait for it. The side street was loaded with pot-holes. Every small little jolt sent shockwaves of pain through my gut. I didn't even have my foot on the accelerator; I just crawled through.
As I got home my pain was at level 10 and I had tears streaming down my face. I curled up in a ball on the bed after my wife took off my shoes and pants. My belt and pants were killing my gut like crazy. Still believing that it was just sore muscels I asked my wife to get me a heating pad.
Fortunately, she was smarter than that.
First, she called her mom, who used to be a CNA. Then she called her sister who had also been through similar problems. She then looked online for some quick answers. Finally she called our doctor.
When she came in and pushed gently on my abdomen I groaned in pain. She decided to take the doctor's advice: go immediately to the Emergency Room. My wife called her dad and off we went.
We were not there long when they got me hooked up on some fun-lovin' morphine. That's when I realized I didn't know what pain was.
After a few tests later it came back positive: appendicitis.
I was falling asleep like crazy; pain, drugs, and recuperation will do that to you. But I had homework that had to be turned in. I made my wife write down the instructions of what to take to my instructor that night to turn in. She said she'd hurry because she wanted to be back before I went in for surgery.
I was up in my room for 2 hours when they told me I had to wait for another 2. I was sure my wife would be back by then as I gave her mom a call. They immediately then came in and said they changed their mind-they were ready for me now. I gave the message to my wife's mom and they hurried me to surgery.
I woke up in recovery feeling much better already. Donna had successfully dropped off all of the homework and had been waiting for me to wake up.
I stayed the night, which was a few avalanches short of a bad dream, and about half of the day before they finally released me.
They said they had caught the appendicitis early, which was good. I asked them how long it takes to develop. One nurse told this story: a lady came in on Thursday and they couldn't find anything. By Saturday it had ruptured. I considered it a miracle that for me they found something but in the early stages. If they had sent me home I don't know what I would have done.
I was to not do any heavy lifting for 30 days (4 weeks) but I could return to work when I felt up to it. The timing was actually pretty good: it was coming up on finals. So, since I was stuck at home all day anyway I got to focus on homework. It just took me a week to get to that point. In between: lots of movies and lots of sleeping. By the time I could get to the computer it was only four hours at a time here and there.
I went in for surgery on Monday and came home Tuesday night. That weekend I was signed up to show my game at a local fantasy convention down the street from us. It almost killed me but I went anyway. I had someone to help me, gratefully. There was a lot to carry.
I learned then that I could only do things for 4 hours at a time. After that: crash and burn.
When I tried to go back to school the next week I had a similar experience. I went to meet with the Career Services counselor, Life Drawing lab, and run 2 errands. By the time class was about to start I was DONE. I had to tell the Copywriting instructor and then went home just as class was about to start.
By my third week I was back to work part time but moving very slowly. By week 4 I was back to work full time and going to school.
On the last day of Print Production class I asked the instructor what my grade was. She looked it up and told me B+. I accepted that: I missed a lot of school because of the surgery, I didn't do well on my quizzes, and felt that my assignments weren't really up to specs.
When I asked her if the quizzes were what held me back she said she'd check. After a while she said she was glad that I had asked: she gave me the grade of the kid whose name was below mine.
I had gotten an A.
She also mentioned that she was impressed that I had sent my wife in on the day that I was in the hospital to turn in my homework for me.
I thought it was interesting that my dad went in for surgery and 2 weeks later I did, too. It gave us similar things to talk about, too.
Third, about 2 weeks after my own surgery (I'm seeing a pattern here...) I was at home one night doing my homework. Suddenly, Donna was calling from the front room, yelling that our dear little ferret was freaking out. They are generally very quiet animals, so a ferret to be making any kind of noise is a surprise. Our poor, little Sally was screaming in uncontrollable fits, arching its back, and barking in pain. Donna paniced. She didn't know what to do as every 5 minutes or so, the poor dear would relive another episode. Donna indicated that it was having seizures and they seemed to be getting worse. Even between the episodes she was still shaking. Donna was in hystarical crying and neither of us knew what to do.
I held Sally and tried to comfort her while Donna called her sister, who also had ferrets. Ironically, it was the same sister Donna called when I had my appendix pain. However, she didn't know what to do.
I was trying to comfort both Sally and Donna I was suddenly inspired with how Donna looked online for me when my appendix was hurting. I quickly did the same for Sally to find out she was going into the ferret-equivilant of hypoglycemic low-blood sugar count shock. The info online said it was caused by a swollen gland that affected their blood sugar. It recommended giving honey via a Q-Tip and a high-protein diet. It said it would help but didn't say it was an overall life-saving remedy.
Taking matters into my own hands I looked up pet stores online and called to see if they had any soft, high-protein ferret food. The stores were basically closing but their manager said soft cat food was good enough. Donna's parents didn't have any more so I grabbed the bare minimum that I needed and rushed out the door.
I believe this was the first time I'd tried to drive since my surgery. I couldn't even wear real pants yet and a sprint for me was a slow shuffle to everyone else.
I got to the store, found some some puppy food instead, and made my way back. I got woozy once on the return trip to the car and fought the urge to run.
I still made it back in generally well enough time. We sucked the soft food into a feeding syringe and began to alternate between honey and the soft food. Sally was still having her poor screaching fits every 5 minutes but after a while they seemed to decrease in potency.
Donna was in such poor shape that both of her parents came to give what comfort they could. Her mom helped to feed the poor thing, too as we held her loosely in a soft towel. We did everything we could to make her feel as comfortable as we could. Even our little boy tried to give what little comforts he could to his distressed mom.
It was nearing midnight and Donna knew she couldn't go on like this for much longer. She began searching our contacts for a pet store that could help us when her eyes were draw to a magnet on our refrigerator by inspiration. It was the same place we'd taken our previous ferret when he was really sick, too. Unfortunately, he had passed away there. Donna was not about to avoid the fact that not too much could be done for Sally but she quietly hoped that we could at least decrease her pain and make her comfortable so that she could pass away in peace.
We left our boy with grandma and grandpa and drove our poor ferret to this little emergency pet vet. Donna callced them and they said to come immediately. Donna drove this time, gratefully, and the drive seemed to both distract and calm poor Sally. She had one more attack before we arrived at the vet and it was the smallest one yet.
When we arrived we were told we were in luck; the vet on hand was familiar with ferrets and he was only at that location half of the time. We explained the situation and he did a quick check-up. He said that her blood-sugar count was slow enough that he could not rule out the fact of hypoglycemic shock. That made me feel good; that maybe we were able to make a difference with the honey and protein food.
The doctors put Sally on a ferret morphine and muscel-claming drip to take away her pain and attacks. Her eyes looked tired and droopy as we said goodbye. The doctored wanted to keep her there overnight to see how she reacted.
Donna was in a bit of a panic regarding funds to pay for the visit. We did not have insurance when I went in for my surgery and now she was worried about having to pay for our Sally. She told me that she knew we could afford $300 but that was it.
On our way out they gave us the bill: $299.00. We saw that as a bit of a miracle.
We drove home and tried to look at the situation positively: the doctor familiar with ferrets was there that night, it added up to the amount we could pay, we were able to find info online, get food that could help, find peace for herself, and I didn't have any problems either in the process.
When morning came it brought good and bad news. Sally had sleep peacefully through the night without any more pain, spasms, or crying. However, she passed away peacefully that morning.
Just as Donna wanted.
Donna and her dad gave her a quiet, private funeral in dad's back yard, burying her next to her good friend Jack. We had gotten her as a present for him our first Christmas together and now they were both gone. Jack and Sally-the two characters from Time Burton's, "A Nightmare Before Christmas."
We missed them both and Donna was heartbroken.
In the end she was very appreciative of what I was willing to do to help and the good in how it turned out.
Fourth, and last, my uncle's wife has recently been diagnosed with cancer in her overies. However, she is a very large woman with prior surgery experience that could create additional complications. As a result, the doctors have decided to not operate on her.
It's a dire situation and no one is sure what to do. I feel impressed to give them a call and tell them also about my blue-green algae situation. Who knows if it will help.
So, lots of painful and tough situations this semester. Even my Print Production class' instructor had a surgery in their family. Her husband got in a car accident and broke 3 ribs. She said that at any moment they could puncture a lung so things were hard for them, too.
In the end school worked out well for me. I feel much better now. I got A's in both of my classes. I am enjoying our hard earned 3 weeks off between semesters. The recuperation time off helped me with the Finals. And I finished healing in time to enjoy the 3 weeks summer time off.
Now we just need to find a way to pay for these bills...
I consider it a miracle that I got 2 A's again this semester. My Copywriting class was great.
Here are some of the positive comments I got from my instructor in regards to my important Scrapbook Assignment (a collection of all the assignments we did over the semester):
Nice presentation. Outstanding effort. Good bite words. A natural ability to use words. Able to lead reader in. Able to play up benefits. A knack for copy. Good words-broke information down into easily read chunks. Love the headlines-Yearn to learn (one of the sub-heads I used). That's what parents want to hear (for the kid's school assignment). Very good sub-heads. Looks like you enjoy copy and the challenge of copy. Words come easy. Magazine is much better! It is readable. Love the catalog description.
You really worked on your copy. You put the process to work and guess what? It worked.
Super student. Good job, Kerry. You should continue to pursue your copy skills and ideas.
She is right: I love to write copy. I've been doing it for so long it's almost natural for me. I'd love to get a job where I am writing copy for other people. In the class they taught that someone who can write good copy can make more money than a regular Graphic Designer. And a Graphic Designer who can make copy is an Art Director.
That's what I would love to aim for. That would be great.
I did not do so well, at least I thought so, with the Print Production class.
We had little quizzes every 2 weeks that were worth 10 points. But like I learned in the 1st semester 10 points can make a big difference between an A and an A-. Part of the problem was miscommunication in the questions. I did the reading and understood the material that I read but the way some of the questions were worded got lost in translation.
Some of them were just dumb mistakes. We had one question where the instructor said, "If you miss this one...", meaning none of us should miss it. I missed it - because my eyes skipped over 1 word. Changed the whole meaning of the question so I got it wrong.
A lot of the problem was also anxious impatience. I wanted to hurry and take the quiz to prove that I knew the info. In my haste I made dumb mistakes like the last example and also didn't give myself time to think out the answer.
But in the end the quizzes didn't hold me back. What held me back... was surgeries. 4 of them.
First, my dad had been complaining for 3 months that his back and ribs were hurting him. Mom told him to go to the doctor and get a CAT scan. He went into the doctor but they gave him an X-ray instead. Dad didn't argue, saying an X-ray was cheaper, anyway.
They said he had a rib out, which he assumed was from coughing. He had caught a really bad flu from one of his grandkids that was quickly turning into pnumonia. He said that as he and mom were watching tv one night he let out a big cough and felt a pop in his back. He was sure that was the rib going out. The doctor gave him some instruction and he left alone.
However, 3 months later it was still hurting and getting worse. Mom made him go back in again and told him to tell the doctor to give him a CAT Scan, not an X-ray. Dad had to fight with them a bit because they provided other options but he finally got the CAT scan.
Turned out dad had a major cancer growth on one of his spine's vertebrae. It had practically eaten almost all of the bone away and was working on nearby bone.
Dad went in for immediate surgery. We were all on pins and needles but it turned out positively. The doctor said a few years ago they would have told him that he had 2 to 3 years left to live. Now, the possibility was as good as 10 years. The surgeon told him that they'll work to keep him alive to die to something else. It was a joke intended to be taken in good humor, which we did.
I went and visited my dad in the hospital. He was fine when I walked in and was telling his nurse the different projects I was in and such. Then they gave him some medicine. Then they added something to his morphine drip. Then they gave him some more medicine. What I was hearing my dad say and how he was saying it I'd never heard from him before. It was quite unreal, given his candor, elegence, and proper refinement. It sure didn't seem like my dad.
He eventually dropped off to sleep and I did my homework. I stayed until other family arrived, gave them my report, and left for school.
Unfortunately, I got caught in major traffic jam due to construction. I got to school just in time to turn in the assignment I finished at the hospital.
My dad is back home now and doing well enough. However, the chemotherapy is making him as sick as a dog. After the surgery but before the chemo he went back to working on the house and yard, feeling well enough to have put in a full 8 hour day of work. Now, he sits all day and hates it all.
He is under strict no-lifting or working rules and every day he is just trying to get by.
His spirits are up, though, and has seen these trials as some major faith building situations. We all hope he is able to get through the chemo well and back onto the road of some great recovery.
I recommended blue-green algae to my mom, which has been monumental in helping to keep my lypoma count down. I've fought with the little brutes most of my adult life. My eldest brother has, also. They are random cancer-like growths that develop randomly throughout my body and over time can cause some real pain. The products with blue-green algae help to support a higher stem cell count, which in turn, helps to not only support healing but also better cellular nutrition. However it works exactly, it has been only thing I've found that has functioned to keep my lypomas down without expensive surgery.
Time will tell if mom will adhere to any of my nutritional advice. I've been giving it, and having it be ignored, for years. Kinda like what I did to them as parents when I was a kid.
Secondly, my wife and I had bought a new treadmill over the weekend and had an adventure getting it home. We had our son in the car seat when it tipped over and threatened to squish him in his seat. My wife had to climb back there while I was driving and fight to get it off of him. She said she couldn't lift it when it was on the ground but somehow she managed to get it all set up so we could get home safely. It didn't help when the guy in front of us slammed on his brakes, forcing me to swerve into the next lane to hit him. We all could've been killed. I am very grateful that nothing bad happened. Especially since we were in her parent's van. The treadmill wouldn't fit in our vehicle.
I ran on the new treadmill that night and it really did me in. I thought my core muscles were hurting just because they had not been worked on for so long.
I stayed home from church the next day, not because I hurt, but because I had homework to do. I was already behind in the Print Production class on assignments and I wanted to make them up. So I was redoing many of my old assignments as well as finishing up my current assignment. I took me a good part of the day but I finished them all. I'm glad, too.
The next day's morning started out fine. I got to work ok and started my work but as I continued on the pain got worse. Two hours into the day I got the impression that I had to go home. I was shriveled up at my desk as I waited for the response to come by email from my supervisor that I could leave.
As I drove home it hurt too much to push on the pedals. I knew that if someone slammed on their brakes ahead of me again I would not be able to stop. The best I could manange on the freeway was to get it up to 40 MPH so that I could turn on the cruise control.
As I got off the exit there was a large diesle in front of me. I felt that I needed to follow the diesle but instead I decided to go down a side street so that I wouldn't have to wait for it. The side street was loaded with pot-holes. Every small little jolt sent shockwaves of pain through my gut. I didn't even have my foot on the accelerator; I just crawled through.
As I got home my pain was at level 10 and I had tears streaming down my face. I curled up in a ball on the bed after my wife took off my shoes and pants. My belt and pants were killing my gut like crazy. Still believing that it was just sore muscels I asked my wife to get me a heating pad.
Fortunately, she was smarter than that.
First, she called her mom, who used to be a CNA. Then she called her sister who had also been through similar problems. She then looked online for some quick answers. Finally she called our doctor.
When she came in and pushed gently on my abdomen I groaned in pain. She decided to take the doctor's advice: go immediately to the Emergency Room. My wife called her dad and off we went.
We were not there long when they got me hooked up on some fun-lovin' morphine. That's when I realized I didn't know what pain was.
After a few tests later it came back positive: appendicitis.
I was falling asleep like crazy; pain, drugs, and recuperation will do that to you. But I had homework that had to be turned in. I made my wife write down the instructions of what to take to my instructor that night to turn in. She said she'd hurry because she wanted to be back before I went in for surgery.
I was up in my room for 2 hours when they told me I had to wait for another 2. I was sure my wife would be back by then as I gave her mom a call. They immediately then came in and said they changed their mind-they were ready for me now. I gave the message to my wife's mom and they hurried me to surgery.
I woke up in recovery feeling much better already. Donna had successfully dropped off all of the homework and had been waiting for me to wake up.
I stayed the night, which was a few avalanches short of a bad dream, and about half of the day before they finally released me.
They said they had caught the appendicitis early, which was good. I asked them how long it takes to develop. One nurse told this story: a lady came in on Thursday and they couldn't find anything. By Saturday it had ruptured. I considered it a miracle that for me they found something but in the early stages. If they had sent me home I don't know what I would have done.
I was to not do any heavy lifting for 30 days (4 weeks) but I could return to work when I felt up to it. The timing was actually pretty good: it was coming up on finals. So, since I was stuck at home all day anyway I got to focus on homework. It just took me a week to get to that point. In between: lots of movies and lots of sleeping. By the time I could get to the computer it was only four hours at a time here and there.
I went in for surgery on Monday and came home Tuesday night. That weekend I was signed up to show my game at a local fantasy convention down the street from us. It almost killed me but I went anyway. I had someone to help me, gratefully. There was a lot to carry.
I learned then that I could only do things for 4 hours at a time. After that: crash and burn.
When I tried to go back to school the next week I had a similar experience. I went to meet with the Career Services counselor, Life Drawing lab, and run 2 errands. By the time class was about to start I was DONE. I had to tell the Copywriting instructor and then went home just as class was about to start.
By my third week I was back to work part time but moving very slowly. By week 4 I was back to work full time and going to school.
On the last day of Print Production class I asked the instructor what my grade was. She looked it up and told me B+. I accepted that: I missed a lot of school because of the surgery, I didn't do well on my quizzes, and felt that my assignments weren't really up to specs.
When I asked her if the quizzes were what held me back she said she'd check. After a while she said she was glad that I had asked: she gave me the grade of the kid whose name was below mine.
I had gotten an A.
She also mentioned that she was impressed that I had sent my wife in on the day that I was in the hospital to turn in my homework for me.
I thought it was interesting that my dad went in for surgery and 2 weeks later I did, too. It gave us similar things to talk about, too.
Third, about 2 weeks after my own surgery (I'm seeing a pattern here...) I was at home one night doing my homework. Suddenly, Donna was calling from the front room, yelling that our dear little ferret was freaking out. They are generally very quiet animals, so a ferret to be making any kind of noise is a surprise. Our poor, little Sally was screaming in uncontrollable fits, arching its back, and barking in pain. Donna paniced. She didn't know what to do as every 5 minutes or so, the poor dear would relive another episode. Donna indicated that it was having seizures and they seemed to be getting worse. Even between the episodes she was still shaking. Donna was in hystarical crying and neither of us knew what to do.
I held Sally and tried to comfort her while Donna called her sister, who also had ferrets. Ironically, it was the same sister Donna called when I had my appendix pain. However, she didn't know what to do.
I was trying to comfort both Sally and Donna I was suddenly inspired with how Donna looked online for me when my appendix was hurting. I quickly did the same for Sally to find out she was going into the ferret-equivilant of hypoglycemic low-blood sugar count shock. The info online said it was caused by a swollen gland that affected their blood sugar. It recommended giving honey via a Q-Tip and a high-protein diet. It said it would help but didn't say it was an overall life-saving remedy.
Taking matters into my own hands I looked up pet stores online and called to see if they had any soft, high-protein ferret food. The stores were basically closing but their manager said soft cat food was good enough. Donna's parents didn't have any more so I grabbed the bare minimum that I needed and rushed out the door.
I believe this was the first time I'd tried to drive since my surgery. I couldn't even wear real pants yet and a sprint for me was a slow shuffle to everyone else.
I got to the store, found some some puppy food instead, and made my way back. I got woozy once on the return trip to the car and fought the urge to run.
I still made it back in generally well enough time. We sucked the soft food into a feeding syringe and began to alternate between honey and the soft food. Sally was still having her poor screaching fits every 5 minutes but after a while they seemed to decrease in potency.
Donna was in such poor shape that both of her parents came to give what comfort they could. Her mom helped to feed the poor thing, too as we held her loosely in a soft towel. We did everything we could to make her feel as comfortable as we could. Even our little boy tried to give what little comforts he could to his distressed mom.
It was nearing midnight and Donna knew she couldn't go on like this for much longer. She began searching our contacts for a pet store that could help us when her eyes were draw to a magnet on our refrigerator by inspiration. It was the same place we'd taken our previous ferret when he was really sick, too. Unfortunately, he had passed away there. Donna was not about to avoid the fact that not too much could be done for Sally but she quietly hoped that we could at least decrease her pain and make her comfortable so that she could pass away in peace.
We left our boy with grandma and grandpa and drove our poor ferret to this little emergency pet vet. Donna callced them and they said to come immediately. Donna drove this time, gratefully, and the drive seemed to both distract and calm poor Sally. She had one more attack before we arrived at the vet and it was the smallest one yet.
When we arrived we were told we were in luck; the vet on hand was familiar with ferrets and he was only at that location half of the time. We explained the situation and he did a quick check-up. He said that her blood-sugar count was slow enough that he could not rule out the fact of hypoglycemic shock. That made me feel good; that maybe we were able to make a difference with the honey and protein food.
The doctors put Sally on a ferret morphine and muscel-claming drip to take away her pain and attacks. Her eyes looked tired and droopy as we said goodbye. The doctored wanted to keep her there overnight to see how she reacted.
Donna was in a bit of a panic regarding funds to pay for the visit. We did not have insurance when I went in for my surgery and now she was worried about having to pay for our Sally. She told me that she knew we could afford $300 but that was it.
On our way out they gave us the bill: $299.00. We saw that as a bit of a miracle.
We drove home and tried to look at the situation positively: the doctor familiar with ferrets was there that night, it added up to the amount we could pay, we were able to find info online, get food that could help, find peace for herself, and I didn't have any problems either in the process.
When morning came it brought good and bad news. Sally had sleep peacefully through the night without any more pain, spasms, or crying. However, she passed away peacefully that morning.
Just as Donna wanted.
Donna and her dad gave her a quiet, private funeral in dad's back yard, burying her next to her good friend Jack. We had gotten her as a present for him our first Christmas together and now they were both gone. Jack and Sally-the two characters from Time Burton's, "A Nightmare Before Christmas."
We missed them both and Donna was heartbroken.
In the end she was very appreciative of what I was willing to do to help and the good in how it turned out.
Fourth, and last, my uncle's wife has recently been diagnosed with cancer in her overies. However, she is a very large woman with prior surgery experience that could create additional complications. As a result, the doctors have decided to not operate on her.
It's a dire situation and no one is sure what to do. I feel impressed to give them a call and tell them also about my blue-green algae situation. Who knows if it will help.
So, lots of painful and tough situations this semester. Even my Print Production class' instructor had a surgery in their family. Her husband got in a car accident and broke 3 ribs. She said that at any moment they could puncture a lung so things were hard for them, too.
In the end school worked out well for me. I feel much better now. I got A's in both of my classes. I am enjoying our hard earned 3 weeks off between semesters. The recuperation time off helped me with the Finals. And I finished healing in time to enjoy the 3 weeks summer time off.
Now we just need to find a way to pay for these bills...
Monday, May 16, 2011
Semester 6.1
I'm actually halfway through this semester already and they are requesting that we register for next semester.
My daytime job assignment has informed me that they have no intention of hiring me but they do have enough for me to do until October. So, here's hoping I can land something before then.
My wife just finished up her play for our local area through the ward, Kenneth Cope's "Women at the Well." The show depicts through music and testimony the women of the New Testimant as they interact or meet our Savior, Jesus Christ and His teachings to them. We had a great reaction, turnout, and testimony. It has really helped me to build my own testimony of our Savior and I have a better understanding of His character and the part he also plays in our lives.
I had to grow my hair and beard long for the show and after 5 months I'm ready to take it all off! Our film community is also doing a new depiction of the New Testiment. I was hoping to be able to participate in that but no such luck. Wrong bone structure and skin tone, I guess.
I am enjoying our Copywriting class the most this semester. I have loved to write since I was 12. I knew I would write a lot in my life so I started to learn to type on my own before it was taught in school... as best as I could. I've gotten some great comments from the instructor and this has really given me a boost of hope. My dad encouraged me to keep writing but I could never see how I could use it to make money without sacrifcing something important in my life (it takes time to create a complete and perfect novel!). This class, and my instructor, have shown me that Copywriters actually make more money that just Graphic Designers, and my ability to form words has always been a stronger skill than my art work. At a lecture last Thursday the guest speaker, who was an Art Director from a local business, proclaimed that a Graphic Designer who can write copy IS an Art Director. That gave me a lot of hope.
Here's an example of how the class has been:
On our last assignment we had to create copy for a clothes sales magazine that only provided photos. I did some research and talked to my wife who makes costumes before I sat down.
When I showed the assignments to the students for a critique, one didn't even do the assignment (his sister got married) and the other one said I had too many words on the page. This student either came into the class late or was just visiting. When the instructor saw it she freaked out, saying it was gorgeous and now it actually looked like a real magazine ad. She then rushed the entire class over to view my piece as an example and had me explain what process I followed to do the assignment. She then encouraged everyone to follow the steps I used for their assignments.
When I told me wife this story she smiled and said, "Teacher's pet..." With the looks I've gotten from the other students I tend to agree. But given the fact that my work has been shot down for the entire previous year it felt really good!
As for Print Production class, the instructor understands it's a snoozer of a class for the students so she is working to make it as interesting as possible, including using "Bingo" on the first lecture, which I appreciate.
We have a lot of print assignments so far, like 4 color seperations with the composite mounted; duotone with the same requirements, etc. Even though it's covering everything else I've learned from my all my other graphics classes it's still good info in relation to the final product.
My daytime job assignment has informed me that they have no intention of hiring me but they do have enough for me to do until October. So, here's hoping I can land something before then.
My wife just finished up her play for our local area through the ward, Kenneth Cope's "Women at the Well." The show depicts through music and testimony the women of the New Testimant as they interact or meet our Savior, Jesus Christ and His teachings to them. We had a great reaction, turnout, and testimony. It has really helped me to build my own testimony of our Savior and I have a better understanding of His character and the part he also plays in our lives.
I had to grow my hair and beard long for the show and after 5 months I'm ready to take it all off! Our film community is also doing a new depiction of the New Testiment. I was hoping to be able to participate in that but no such luck. Wrong bone structure and skin tone, I guess.
I am enjoying our Copywriting class the most this semester. I have loved to write since I was 12. I knew I would write a lot in my life so I started to learn to type on my own before it was taught in school... as best as I could. I've gotten some great comments from the instructor and this has really given me a boost of hope. My dad encouraged me to keep writing but I could never see how I could use it to make money without sacrifcing something important in my life (it takes time to create a complete and perfect novel!). This class, and my instructor, have shown me that Copywriters actually make more money that just Graphic Designers, and my ability to form words has always been a stronger skill than my art work. At a lecture last Thursday the guest speaker, who was an Art Director from a local business, proclaimed that a Graphic Designer who can write copy IS an Art Director. That gave me a lot of hope.
Here's an example of how the class has been:
On our last assignment we had to create copy for a clothes sales magazine that only provided photos. I did some research and talked to my wife who makes costumes before I sat down.
When I showed the assignments to the students for a critique, one didn't even do the assignment (his sister got married) and the other one said I had too many words on the page. This student either came into the class late or was just visiting. When the instructor saw it she freaked out, saying it was gorgeous and now it actually looked like a real magazine ad. She then rushed the entire class over to view my piece as an example and had me explain what process I followed to do the assignment. She then encouraged everyone to follow the steps I used for their assignments.
When I told me wife this story she smiled and said, "Teacher's pet..." With the looks I've gotten from the other students I tend to agree. But given the fact that my work has been shot down for the entire previous year it felt really good!
As for Print Production class, the instructor understands it's a snoozer of a class for the students so she is working to make it as interesting as possible, including using "Bingo" on the first lecture, which I appreciate.
We have a lot of print assignments so far, like 4 color seperations with the composite mounted; duotone with the same requirements, etc. Even though it's covering everything else I've learned from my all my other graphics classes it's still good info in relation to the final product.
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