Snail-of-Fury-STORE

Originally uploaded by badbird

Oddly enough, i think snails and slugs are cute, so whenever an artist can put emotions into these simple shaped creatures, I’m in love.

I think one of the things that surprises the left-brained universe about my gruelling work schedule at Portfolio Center is the amount of research I have to do.  I guess when some think of grad school in an artsy setting, it’s just about gathering around the table and making cool pictures.  Well, on so many different levels it is different than that…However, it is similar to other grad schools in the fact that we have to do a lot of research.  A lot lot lot.  The first day as a PC student, you are required to go get a library card.  Library?  Musty old books that you can’t hit control+F to find what yer lookin for?  Yep.  Old school research, where the pages have real sources and often realiable facts.  These long forgotten buildings suddenly have a new purpose for me, as research papers and proposals require more ligetimate sources than Wikipedia.  And yes, in that artsy school that teaches us to design purty stuff, we have to research, we have to write long papers, and we have to compose proposals and briefs…all with strong facts to back them up.

So, while browsing online to see what the local Buckhead location has currently on its shelves, I found a most unusual title.  I’m actually in a writing class this quarter (I act as the designer and am paired with a copywriter), and from what I’ve picked up in the short time so far, this title is not working.  I believe I was looking up books on Judaism when this jem appeared.  If you’re read it, let me know how it turned out…

Birds have been chirping 24/7 here, which establishes Spring is officially here and soon to be on its way out.  I never liked spring very much, but now I think it’s actually a nice time, as the weather has been cooler than I remember.  I think it just gets a bad rap because summer follows right behind it…and I’m no fan of the uber-humid and scorching Atlanta summers.

But I don’t mean that the birds are chirping 24/7 as in everyday - no, I mean every hour.  Well, I mostly notice it in the middle of the night while working on an endless supply of projects.  As my design mind stars cranking at late hours and I sometimes relapse with insomnia, this means between 1-4.  Sometimes it really annoys me, as if they’re telling me the night has already ended, and if I want to get any sleep, I’d better stop working and get to bed.  You already wasted how much time?  You’re only that far along?  Other times they’re not so bad - it seems a little less isolating to know someone else is awake, at least until the 5:30 rounds of garbage trucks start up.

So, here’s to enjoying spring before it melts away into the hellish months known as summer.  As for the noisy birdies in the middle of the night, I hope you guys are getting your work done too.

Mediocrity - is that even a word? But more importantly, how does one beat it? It seems to be a theme for me right now, whereas 4th quarter I had a teacher trying to teach me “sophistication.” The “s” word didn’t stick too well, but at least it was pointed out as something I was lacking. Maybe it did sink in, but I just felt it doesn’t represent me that well. Me, sophisticated? beh.
So I feel lately like I’m treading water, staying afloat but not taking things to a new level. I try, I want to, I really really want to, but somewhere between concept and execution I fail. It becomes mediocre, could’ve been better, maybe even great.
Sometimes I just want to accept mediocrity; it’s like that idea of loving my body for what it is. But then the realization that a rotund bodice is not only ugly, but also very unhealthy, begins to push me to think acceptance is not the right answer. Same with design. I could be content that I’ve fallen between the cracks; afterall, it’s better known as an average designer than a bad designer. Maybe there is a contented, peaceful life out there for the mediocre, if they just accept their mediocrity. Perhaps, but then there’s something in me that want to buck acceptance and would rather be depressed over not being anything than accept being mediocre.

I haven’t done any homework today. I feel a bit guilty, and will probably do a bit of reading later, but my brain feel like it finally has had some time to breath.
I haven’t gone to bed before 4am all week, and I’ve been wearing myself down terribly…but now I’m eight hours from PC and going to spend a few moments in the Atlantic before heading eight hours back. I’m just along for the ride, I keep saying.

Off to Hartsfield, a visit from the in-laws awaits…

Passover greetings from a bucket of matzoh ball soup.  Yes, one more holiday our melting pot family of Christian, Jewish, and Russian Whatever celebrates.  

The soup actually didn’t turn out as good as it usually does (how do you ruin matzoh ball soup?), but the turkey was actually much better than it looks.

Getting a point across without words can be a difficult task, but when done successfully it definitely creates a strong message…

Nibsy Pancake, the Pancake Thief

Originally uploaded by spleenboy

After working all day on mindless (souless?) powerpoint presentations on ancient PCs for corporate America, this cheery little pic saved the day. Sometimes days like these are useful reminders why I’m suffering through 2 years of design boot camp…hopefully to avoid powerpoint, at any rate…

Occasionally I get some weird links to my wordpress site.  I can’t see how I’m linked to The Hookah Lounge, but WordPress says it’s an incoming link.  Upon clicking this particular entry on that blog, I guess it partially makes sense:

Hookah Tips 4 Squirrels