So I haven't updated in quite a while...so I'll just give you a run down. I just thought I had an odd or eventful (whichever floats your boat) week; for a summer break at least.
5/11: Morningstar interview, after not hearing them for a week and a half I assume they probably overlooked me and I was prepared for a barren summer. I got to go in neck and tie attire to the interview. Wasn't able to show my working sites cause of weird wireless, and was not able to show them a solid web template.
5/12: Joyee's with AARCC/AAMP people. Random moments and conversations. Had to go home and get dressed for a CPS event; recognition for perfect attendance. All students with 8 years get a digital camera and a lucky few get a laptop via lottery. The lady next to me who apparently attended all of them cause her entire family got freaking perfect attendance (she has 4 kids mind you). She kept bragging... Me being a college student felt like I was the overgrown kid in the bunch. I don't think I'll attend any more of these; future note.
5/13: I got to dress down for a day. Thought the scheduled appointment for my grandmother at the Eye Clinic was today, turned out it wasn't. The lady just said Wednesday, I thought this Wednesday, turns out it was next Wednesday; comes back and bites me in the ass much later, wait it was today.
5/14: Follow up interview at Morningstar, with some other guy. He seem impressed, but also overly optimistic of me. I couldn't help the feeling of being a false paraiyah in there.
5/15: Had to dress up and go to City Hall and meet the mayor yet again. This time in the mayor's office. Got the tour of it from the man himself. I never knew why people see him as a bad man, as far as Chicago politics go, everyone should be skeptic. Though, I was genuinely sold on his idea of bettering CPS. Chicago has changed a lot because of him, though not a lot that is worth praising, but Chicago is definitely a lot further ahead then it was a couple years ago. His office is pretty awesome.
5/16: Biked around the neighborhood to UIC, through Chinatown and in my old neighborhood. Trying to break in my legs for an LSD trip the following day. Ran into an old friend, Steven. Convinced me to bike LSD with him; I'm too easily swayed. We ended up getting to the end of the trail, hungry, cold, and tired. We found a Greek place where we grabbed a hot dog to refuel ourselves only to take the Red Line back to Chinatown. That day I biked 21 miles.
5/17: Planned LSD trip. Met up with Rachel, biked all the way to North Ave. As I explained to her, I did the whole route and I would probably kill myself if we did the whole dam thing. We didn't, thank god. Hung out at the beach, ran into my cousin Julie as we got there. On the way back I can feel my ass in pain from the terrible seat and my legs getting worn. Though, we made it back. On my way home, I ran into Annie Mei, an old acquaintance of the family. I ran into a couple Meis that day, haha. Distance biked 14 miles.
5/18: Went bike shopping with my friend, Anna. Had a long discussion of CPS on the drive as we went looking around for bikes. I'm no bike expert, and I didn't felt like pressuring her into getting anything way over her head, we settled for a reasonably price cruiser for $85. It was hell to get in and out of the car. Lent my bike to Danny to bike to x-sport, he couldn't even make it through 5 blocks on that bike; sometimes I think I might just be a bit more tolerable than most.
5/19: Bike down to campus to do some work at the B.A.T cave, a bit down to have not heard back from Morningstar, and I was planning on just coming into the EVL to do some work. Talked with James and it seem like there are quite a bit of neat projects that I can get myself involved in. James apparently is doing stuff for the Planetarium and another group in EVL is doing a disaster scenario simulator for some organization to prep high school students. Was building up excitement for that. Distance biked 4 miles.
5/20: Woke up at 7 to prep for the AAMP picnic event just so I would have my part complete, before having to take my grandma to the Eye Institute. What I thought would be an simple eye exam (1 hour and half) turned to a 3 hour ordeal cause they kept doing further exams because she apparently has pigmentosis or something like that, forgot the name. Was not able to make it to the picnic being slightly late, but being completely late. Though, it didn't end when I got there. Anyways, it was still fun despite half the crowd. All I have to say is, "So long seniors, may the real world treat you kindly."
I had some more specific thoughts to put down, but over the course of the day it drowned out.
-David M.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
5 Years
Today, I had a strange dream. I decided to leave without telling anyone and I come back 5 years later. People were not happy...I guess they have every reason not to be happy.
-David M
-David M
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Starting Point
I can feel a lot of the negative energy (I won't deny the fact I've been extremely emo this last semester) just flushing out of me the last couple of days. Maybe, it was just all the pressure that was pressed on me that I didn't had anything to push back on that got me more flustered than normal.
However, these last few days have been pretty much enjoyable. Even, though I didn't get anything done at this point, I'm still happy that I can just sit and enjoy the passing of time and dreading it. Even though, a lot of things are still not in my favor, I'm not worrying about it.
Though, somewhere in the back of my head something terribly wrong is going to happen somewhere in the coming weeks, is none of my concern at the moment.
-David M.
However, these last few days have been pretty much enjoyable. Even, though I didn't get anything done at this point, I'm still happy that I can just sit and enjoy the passing of time and dreading it. Even though, a lot of things are still not in my favor, I'm not worrying about it.
Though, somewhere in the back of my head something terribly wrong is going to happen somewhere in the coming weeks, is none of my concern at the moment.
-David M.
Monday, May 4, 2009
End of Spring 09: A Quarter Left
Is a seasonal thing...I end the semester with a note; recollections.
Grab some pop corn if you're actually going to read this.
Class Summaries:
AD307 Electronic Visualization II: 305 was an awesome class and Daniel is an awesome professor; should take his class if you're in A+D, but if you don't like coding this isn't your piece of cake. The class discusses information aesthetics and I think it is a topic worth exploring. Wish there were more active participant in the class, would had made the class more interesting.
AD309 Advanced Topics in Modeling and Animation: If there were only more time to work on projects oppose to tutorials the class would had seem like less of a hell. Sabrina still needs to up her enthusiasm in the class. She doesn't have the most captivating voice. Though, I would say I learned a lot in the class, just not how to be productive in that class.
AD230 Painting: I did not know painting was such an expensive (and toxic) hobby. I knew it was time consuming, but that's about it. Other then the heckle of the over-hyper TA didn't make the class all that enjoyable. I did like building stretchers, but the class took too much time, more than required. However, on a side note, Julia is the sweetest old lady I've met.
AH236 History of Design: The same old routine, a long Friday morning of hearing Robin speak super fast. Though, a lot didn't stick compare to last semester. After she left for maternity leave over Spring Break the guest professor (don't even know her name), did even less so to captivate the class. I know the TA still suck too. The class seemed so crunched on time when it came to exams compared with last semester.
COMM 140: Communications in Media: Have I ever hated a class so much? Maybe MUS 107. The class seem redundant and remedial in the way that the people in class regurgitated the information. Things in the media I'm already aware of. It wasn't a stimulating class for me, being in there just made me want to get out. I hate it when people think things that come out of their mouth are the smartest thing they've said; it isn't.
So, I'll begin here.
This semester was probably the hardest semester I had to deal with. A lot of things didn't really go my way, and what more can I say, "things happen." Though, during the semester I come to judge the quality of a lot of characteristics of people, though in the end I spent the last couple weeks judging the validity of characteristics. I'm not better than the next person, and that's exactly what made this semester, so, hard. I wish I was able to juggle a couple obstacles that were presented this semester more effectively, but I didn't. When I tell some people that I'm just having a hard time, their response would be, "You're David Mei" as if I'm some what extraordinary; in the end I'm nothing special. I found myself making a lot of compromises this semester, mainly on projects and maybe my own leisure time. Sorry, if I might seem dodgey about what I'm talking about, I just am about certain topics.
A certain fear I have when I meet people is how is a good thing. Not to sound emo, but good things in my life usually turn sour pretty quick, or at least I somehow slip up. Maybe, I'm not much of a people person. Makes me wonder why I try; maybe I just want to learn and stop making the same mistake with people. I think I was able to append old relations with people, but along the way I think I broke a few this semester.
Though, one of the greatest thing I learned about myself this semester is that I set up certain boundaries in places I made mistakes in. Recently I realize it was all a psychological thing, and I've been holding myself back in some silly childish fear. As of now, I think I'm going to make it my goal to crush existing borders I placed on myself. I must admit I'm still hesitant and restrain from doing so. I've been telling myself the last couple days that I have to GET OVER MYSELF. I'm my own biggest obstacle and I'm just being stupid holding myself back.
Overall, I think there were a couple great instances throughout the semester that reminded me that there are people and things that I can still look forward to, despite simultaneous events that were going on. I am always thankful for the people that has made me smile, laugh, and felt welcomed. The last couple years had made me realized there is much others can do for you, and I can do for them. I'm still learning to reciprocate by my own means. This is still all a learning process, I'm bound to mess up along the way.
All in all, I hit more walls then I had ever hit in one semester. It wasn't the best semester, I'll admit it was a pretty shitty semester; shittiest one to date. It had is highlighting moments and I'm extremely grateful for that, but still this semester was very hard to get through. I compromised a lot and I'm not happy with a lot of end results (ie projects). Hopefully, next semester will be something to look forward to.
Speaking of which, I'm 3/4 complete with my time at UIC and I've grown quite attached with everyone. The last 3 years has definitely been the most enjoyable part of my life, and I hope the coming years would be enjoyable as well. I hope beyond this following year that I am able to maintain these relations I made. I've been so bad at keeping in touch with people, I'm a bit fearful about it. Not as fearful as I am of the real world however.
Thanks for reading,
-David M.
Grab some pop corn if you're actually going to read this.
Class Summaries:
AD307 Electronic Visualization II: 305 was an awesome class and Daniel is an awesome professor; should take his class if you're in A+D, but if you don't like coding this isn't your piece of cake. The class discusses information aesthetics and I think it is a topic worth exploring. Wish there were more active participant in the class, would had made the class more interesting.
AD309 Advanced Topics in Modeling and Animation: If there were only more time to work on projects oppose to tutorials the class would had seem like less of a hell. Sabrina still needs to up her enthusiasm in the class. She doesn't have the most captivating voice. Though, I would say I learned a lot in the class, just not how to be productive in that class.
AD230 Painting: I did not know painting was such an expensive (and toxic) hobby. I knew it was time consuming, but that's about it. Other then the heckle of the over-hyper TA didn't make the class all that enjoyable. I did like building stretchers, but the class took too much time, more than required. However, on a side note, Julia is the sweetest old lady I've met.
AH236 History of Design: The same old routine, a long Friday morning of hearing Robin speak super fast. Though, a lot didn't stick compare to last semester. After she left for maternity leave over Spring Break the guest professor (don't even know her name), did even less so to captivate the class. I know the TA still suck too. The class seemed so crunched on time when it came to exams compared with last semester.
COMM 140: Communications in Media: Have I ever hated a class so much? Maybe MUS 107. The class seem redundant and remedial in the way that the people in class regurgitated the information. Things in the media I'm already aware of. It wasn't a stimulating class for me, being in there just made me want to get out. I hate it when people think things that come out of their mouth are the smartest thing they've said; it isn't.
So, I'll begin here.
This semester was probably the hardest semester I had to deal with. A lot of things didn't really go my way, and what more can I say, "things happen." Though, during the semester I come to judge the quality of a lot of characteristics of people, though in the end I spent the last couple weeks judging the validity of characteristics. I'm not better than the next person, and that's exactly what made this semester, so, hard. I wish I was able to juggle a couple obstacles that were presented this semester more effectively, but I didn't. When I tell some people that I'm just having a hard time, their response would be, "You're David Mei" as if I'm some what extraordinary; in the end I'm nothing special. I found myself making a lot of compromises this semester, mainly on projects and maybe my own leisure time. Sorry, if I might seem dodgey about what I'm talking about, I just am about certain topics.
A certain fear I have when I meet people is how is a good thing. Not to sound emo, but good things in my life usually turn sour pretty quick, or at least I somehow slip up. Maybe, I'm not much of a people person. Makes me wonder why I try; maybe I just want to learn and stop making the same mistake with people. I think I was able to append old relations with people, but along the way I think I broke a few this semester.
Though, one of the greatest thing I learned about myself this semester is that I set up certain boundaries in places I made mistakes in. Recently I realize it was all a psychological thing, and I've been holding myself back in some silly childish fear. As of now, I think I'm going to make it my goal to crush existing borders I placed on myself. I must admit I'm still hesitant and restrain from doing so. I've been telling myself the last couple days that I have to GET OVER MYSELF. I'm my own biggest obstacle and I'm just being stupid holding myself back.
Overall, I think there were a couple great instances throughout the semester that reminded me that there are people and things that I can still look forward to, despite simultaneous events that were going on. I am always thankful for the people that has made me smile, laugh, and felt welcomed. The last couple years had made me realized there is much others can do for you, and I can do for them. I'm still learning to reciprocate by my own means. This is still all a learning process, I'm bound to mess up along the way.
All in all, I hit more walls then I had ever hit in one semester. It wasn't the best semester, I'll admit it was a pretty shitty semester; shittiest one to date. It had is highlighting moments and I'm extremely grateful for that, but still this semester was very hard to get through. I compromised a lot and I'm not happy with a lot of end results (ie projects). Hopefully, next semester will be something to look forward to.
Speaking of which, I'm 3/4 complete with my time at UIC and I've grown quite attached with everyone. The last 3 years has definitely been the most enjoyable part of my life, and I hope the coming years would be enjoyable as well. I hope beyond this following year that I am able to maintain these relations I made. I've been so bad at keeping in touch with people, I'm a bit fearful about it. Not as fearful as I am of the real world however.
Thanks for reading,
-David M.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
For Lack of a Better Title: "BAH!"
I know I should be slaving away on my computer and I had no intentions of writing anything new till the end of this week, but I'm thinking this is note worthy. Other than the last 2 days slaving inside the AA building with little interaction with the outside world, I only got "SO MUCH" done. Though, I think I've set up the foundation for a quicker pipeline; lets hope so.
The last couple of days felt like Spring, which made the days a little easier to bear. Though, it still doesn't stop the firing of a thousand ideas.
Lately, I felt like I've been stuck in a rut, not because of just one thing, but the accumulation of many other little problems becoming the megazord of all conscious thoughts. Luckily, they haven't manifested themselves into some strange dream that will only lead me to more confusion. Maybe after all this, I can look forward to a strange dream.
Today, as I was working, I didn't know if it was frustration or excitement that I was feeling as I was clicking away on my computer, I think it was a good mixture between the two, as there was drastic pushing and pulling from each end.
As I thought, all this clutter calls for a lunch break. Who would have known coincidence would work in such a strange way; god always want to slap you in the face when you least expect it. What I was hoping to be a lunch where I sit and think of methods, and techniques of approaching my project. I was stuck thinking of "feelings", as I was eating. I guess I would not elaborate anymore about this.
Got back to the lab, and working on the project seem to have been working in my favor. I got a lot of things the was being funky to work. Though, at the end of the day I only manage to get 20 seconds of footage into the render farm. I hope they turn out alright.
As I was leaving, the Spring wind and the fragrance in the air made me realized I sacrificed a nice Spring day on my laptop.
As I was waiting at the bus stop, I saw my cousin-in-law Ken making deliveries on campus. I stopped to talk to him, as he was offering me a ride home, the bus approaches. I asked him to drive me down to Taylor, so, I won't disrupt his deliveries. As I got out, the bus was approaching, and I was on the street, the bus driver pointed me to go wait for the bus on the corner. I got on, and got a lecture, but the driver was probably the nicest driver I had encounter. She was chatting with the passengers as they got on. I guess, that was nice to see on my way home.
Anyways, sleep deprecation will probably start tonight. I hope I'm conscious as I meet el mayor tomorrow.
-David M.
The last couple of days felt like Spring, which made the days a little easier to bear. Though, it still doesn't stop the firing of a thousand ideas.
Lately, I felt like I've been stuck in a rut, not because of just one thing, but the accumulation of many other little problems becoming the megazord of all conscious thoughts. Luckily, they haven't manifested themselves into some strange dream that will only lead me to more confusion. Maybe after all this, I can look forward to a strange dream.
Today, as I was working, I didn't know if it was frustration or excitement that I was feeling as I was clicking away on my computer, I think it was a good mixture between the two, as there was drastic pushing and pulling from each end.
As I thought, all this clutter calls for a lunch break. Who would have known coincidence would work in such a strange way; god always want to slap you in the face when you least expect it. What I was hoping to be a lunch where I sit and think of methods, and techniques of approaching my project. I was stuck thinking of "feelings", as I was eating. I guess I would not elaborate anymore about this.
Got back to the lab, and working on the project seem to have been working in my favor. I got a lot of things the was being funky to work. Though, at the end of the day I only manage to get 20 seconds of footage into the render farm. I hope they turn out alright.
As I was leaving, the Spring wind and the fragrance in the air made me realized I sacrificed a nice Spring day on my laptop.
As I was waiting at the bus stop, I saw my cousin-in-law Ken making deliveries on campus. I stopped to talk to him, as he was offering me a ride home, the bus approaches. I asked him to drive me down to Taylor, so, I won't disrupt his deliveries. As I got out, the bus was approaching, and I was on the street, the bus driver pointed me to go wait for the bus on the corner. I got on, and got a lecture, but the driver was probably the nicest driver I had encounter. She was chatting with the passengers as they got on. I guess, that was nice to see on my way home.
Anyways, sleep deprecation will probably start tonight. I hope I'm conscious as I meet el mayor tomorrow.
-David M.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Target: Easter
I was planning to go to the local Target (The one on Roosevelt) today to get some a tube of Neosporin for a cut that I got from my xacto on Tuesday; I know is a bit late. Also, some fabric glue for my dad. When I entered the parking lot, I found the lot to be desolate. It seem almost apocalyptic, even though society was still functioning outside. The empty second floor lot made it seem like scene from a Fast and Furious or Transporter film; I wished I had a camera on me, it was a rare sight. Other cars, entered the lot only to be confused.
The bigger question is, Why is Target closed on Easter!?
-David M.
The bigger question is, Why is Target closed on Easter!?
-David M.
Odd Dreams...
Last night I had a dream, it was bit odd. No, it was not a strange as my normal dream, does that make it more odd than previous dreams?
Regardless of such, I had a dream about someone I haven't consciously thought about, or at least I would like to think about it that way. Though, it wasn't anything noteworthy, it was still a good dream. It was just a conversation, though parts of the dialogue has become extremely vague at this point; it was still reminiscent of something familiar (Yes, I'm being vague here for a reason too). It was pleasant however, that rarely happens.
Though, there was a strange flip in channels afterwards. I ended up being in a room handcuffed to someone in a room with 6 other people cuffed in pairs, and one person watching over us. Turns out it was a zombie scenario, and when the siren went off the people cuffed somehow broke free, and I stayed behind. No relevance either, but probably should be mentioned as well.
I wonder what will I dream about tonight?
-David M.
Regardless of such, I had a dream about someone I haven't consciously thought about, or at least I would like to think about it that way. Though, it wasn't anything noteworthy, it was still a good dream. It was just a conversation, though parts of the dialogue has become extremely vague at this point; it was still reminiscent of something familiar (Yes, I'm being vague here for a reason too). It was pleasant however, that rarely happens.
Though, there was a strange flip in channels afterwards. I ended up being in a room handcuffed to someone in a room with 6 other people cuffed in pairs, and one person watching over us. Turns out it was a zombie scenario, and when the siren went off the people cuffed somehow broke free, and I stayed behind. No relevance either, but probably should be mentioned as well.
I wonder what will I dream about tonight?
-David M.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)