boiwater's Xanga

The Twang

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 02:18:39 GMT

So a lot has been happening at PUC.

I'm done with triple majoring. The stress had gotten to my body and I had developed an ulcer which prevented me from taking all these classes, if I wanted to live.

Life is so much easier now with 17 hours of work. =)

DOJ

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 17:52:45 GMT

I'm here in downtown LA visiting my mom's office.

...Well now I'm in the courtroom using a government computer to type on xanga =)

Vacation

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 07:42:02 GMT

So one of my big goals this vacation was to finish a book. The book of my main focus is The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis. Long story short, I didn't finish it. Honestly I've been having too much fun hanging out with friends and catching up on sleep.

So I am updating this blog now with my annual Christmas wish-list, usually something i'd never buy for myself:
A pillow
A titanium Spork
A molecular model of Caffeine in keychain form
Graphic tees are always nice
Socks
cologne
organization tools

...And I think that is all. haha... yea... night night

Many Questions

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:53:31 GMT

I just had a moment in the day where I wanted to know everything. From the purpose of life to who the light travelled between the tree branches at PUC through the thick fog, and why it shined golden rather than a lunar blue.

I wanted to know why the soles of my shoes wore so quickly, after concluding that it was the many stairs on campus that ravaged them, I wanted to know why there were so many stairs on campus.

It's those moments of innocuous curiosities that I probably am most thankful for this year.

I do have bigger questions, to why the world was made round and why I was placed on it. But the smaller things in life sufficed and I smiled for the first time in a long while. I smiled for myself, and for no one else, not even for Jesus. But that little bit of selfish bliss is what I feel is going to get me through everything.

Outsided

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 07:25:09 GMT

I figured I need to type this out somewhere. Something, and I'm not quite sure how I feel.

Perhaps it is mixed emotions. Both Gladness, disappointment, and stress.

I'm glad someone thinks of me as a great confidant. I am disappointed to know that we are in the same boat. It is also stressful in the fact that not only do I have to worry about keeping secrets.

It's a good thing, really. There are a lot of things that I feel rather free spirited about, but there are others that I wish I can lighten up on, but just can't.

I've listed a set of priorities that I need to keep for myself.

I now have, finally, a reason to be real...

Triple Major

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 05:23:43 GMT

Here's an email I sent to my advisor:

Hi again,

I've got the question of double minoring, possibly double majoring... Just maybe triple majoring but it is out of the question. In short, I need major guidance. I've reached a point where I don't have moments that I'm not sure what I want to do anymore as much I am at a point where I want to do everything. Sound odd? Perhaps it's just not me facing the reality that the quarter has only been halfway done and that the hard part isn't over yet, but I've been picking up genuine interests in other fields such as communications and writing.

Don't take me wrong, Art is first and foremost. I just feel that communications and writing minors (or majors) will only make my graphic design discipline more well-rounded

Well, here are my thoughts on why I should: At this point, 19 units is not all that bad. 4 of which are in music which I enjoy as a way to unwind, so in a sense they are a form of recess rather than academic credit. In the field of communications, public relations/journalism seems fitting with Graphic Design in following ways: a designer should be able to speak proficiently about one's work, should be able to write headlines and copy when creating concepts in document form, and overlaps with a Publication Technology class. Plus, I am already taking COMM 134 which is a required class for the minor. Since the minor in Public Relations/Journalism deals with a lot of writing courses, it overlaps into creative writing. With an emphasis in Illustration, a graphic way of story-telling, I think that a minor in writing would help as well. Especially if the job requirements of an Art Director require visual translation of written concepts, why not the other way around?

And here are my thoughts why I shouldn't: There aren't enough hours in a day. At this point it's hard to tell what is to come. Overloading every quarter might take it's toll. More difficult to fit in classes to graduate within a 4 year track. Not to mention, I'm still not taking in consideration any generals.

I'm just wondering if I am in the right mentality in taking on these loads. Of course I won't have any room to take on any electives, but electives are used to indulge oneself in different fields of academics anyways, why not make 'em count for something?

I thought I should also let you know that there is also the possibility of an AS in Music-Vocal Performance... Being in I Cantori and having voice lessons has influenced me in taking it in consideration. With only 14 hours of Core Courses, and performing in 3 ensembles along side Voice Lessons, it seems feasible to reach the 37 hours minimum requirement. Although I have heard that it is very time consuming, so it is not a big deal for me to take it on since Art is a long process in itself, of which I enjoy much, much more.

You're probably thinking that I'm crazy for wanting to do all this, but I know from the experiences of others that sometimes specialization isn't enough and that one has to diversify himself in order to make it. And after a few weeks here at PUC, it just all seems possible and I don't want to pass up any chances of exploring every interest I have.

Would you consider me insane for wanting to take on all of this? If not, will you help me find a way to somehow make it all come together?

Sorry to bother you with such a long e-mail, but it's just easier for me to write it out and has given you a better idea about where I'm coming from.

Best Regards,
AJ

----He responded with the good news that I can actually graduate within 4 years. He says that communications is a good fit and that since music is already benefitting me, that I should consider the AS degree. So what I am I going to do?

Triple majoring just might be the death of me. So I've been thinking about Minoring in Writing, and double majoring in both Communications and Graphic Design. Although communications recquires a lot of theory work, I think I'd rather stick with a music AS with graphic design BS, wit writing minor.

It's not that I'm not sure what I want to do, it's just that I want to do a lot of things. It's kinda like creating a career day costume out of a few different fields. Wish me luck.

Blood, Guts and Gore, oh my!

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 06:26:04 GMT

So I spent this past friday night with the "MOD Crew", consisting of Richard, Barrister, Neil, Wade and yours truly (although I drift now and then.) It started off with a chapel featuring an Olympic gold metalist in rowing team and a "Kwan" moment Richard and I laughed our asses off about. Richard and I then caught up with Neil and the rest in Grainger where we took pleasure in late-night snackage.

Then we decided to watch the most screwed up movie I have ever seen in my life. It's in japanese, so that explains just a bit of it.

That is all.

Work

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 02:04:13 GMT

So it is finally rainy season for PUC... at least until monday. Which is great because I love the way, but it is horrible since i have 20 flights of outdoor stairs to climb. Also, I need new shoes. My sole has been worn away, both figuratively and literally.

So I've been trying to find a way to visit SoCal for Thanksgiving break. I'm too broke to purchase a plane ticket, and I'm too late to ask anyone with a car for a ride home.

Luckily I have a friend who is visiting relatives for vacation. Phew...

Well I am done with most of my major projects. Tonight all I have are petty assignments. I might get started on that in a half hour or so. So yea, c'est la vie.

In Sight of Mid-Term

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 17:23:23 GMT

Yikes. I'm out of ink.

I wouldn't normally be worried about ink if I were back at home, but the bookstore has absolutely no ink for my model of printer, which sucks ass seeing as I have to print out a hundred sheets of paper or so. I have an essay draft due tomorrow, which only means that I have to print out at least 3 drafts before hand.

I got an A on my first college paper, how exciting. But in result, I am now cocky and I have an aura of academic invincibility. Fortunately, that is soon to be kicked in the ass by my Graphic Design Fundamentals grade. Now, does my teacher like giving assignments? I think he does. He enjoys it. Which sickens me.

I find it how ironic how my ipod can hold 4 days of music and only have enough battery life for 5 hours. I swear if the new iPod comes out it will be on my christmas list, second only to a Pony.

So, mid-terms for my communications class is tomorrow. This class isn't creditted, but I like the class enough to actually try.

Hmm... time for lunch. Laterz.

Matchy Mashy Mod

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 04:35:14 GMT

So it's the end of the 3rd week here at PUC.

Fucking finally!!!

I'm not one to usually use four letter words on my blog, but this week deserved it.

My monday went from 9 am - 9 pm, tuesday was no better, wednesday again I went from 9 am- 9pm, thursday I took a 3 hour nap which made me groggy, and friday was no better. And then, it ended just tonite! Fuck yes... fuck fuck fuck yes...

For some reason I joined drama for church, and not the actual DOS (which is the one you get credit for) bad mistake on my part. So unorganized, choppy acting... sometimes it felt that I was pulling stuff out of my ass to save the dialog. But we got through it. Thank god I got through it without any embarrassment. I actually felt talented. Sure, I might be cocky right now, but I have good reason.

I also joined bell choir, well sorta peer pressured into it. I play E flat to G sharp, fun. We got sorta lost on our measures. But I have good neighbors that turn pages for me. yay. I found out how horrible my note reading was. I can't even read three notes. wth.

Ever been through so much unneeded crap that once you have a night of no responsibility, just the empty moments alone feel as good as sex? I feel it, it's my big WT PUC, (welcome to PUC)

Right now I'm in my friend's room in 334 listening to Avenue Q. The good olde days. Back when cussing was cool, but nowadays it's just messy. To be 16 again... oh wait... that was only over a year ago.

So I planned out the rest of my year, seems pretty chill. I absolutely love the fact that I am not taking classes I don't care for. I heart college? I think for now I do. I've developed a sincere interest in just education in general here. I don't know why. Maybe I just like feeling needed.

The stress-free theory. I have this theory that people choose to be stressed and choose to live outside the moment without anything about it. Perhaps it has caused a placebo effect since the only sign of stress (or aging rapidly) are a few white hairs that pop up nowadays. At least I'm happy, and grateful for it. Well I just felt like writing today. I've done a lot of good things I'm proud of so I'm gonna enjoy my jubilant emotions as of tonight.