Oh the world we live in!
This morning I was searching the world wide web for various forms of signage. I wanted to use a modern yet slightly humorous construction of the everyday ideograms we see. Oh... the reason I was on this small excursion was all for a project I'm working on in my Graphic Design class. With my eyes glued to the screen and half glazed over with the usual daybreak of tuesday morning, I came across this picture and realized a spelling error. I felt obligated to bring this up mainly because in a world of graphic design, mistakes like this are drastic. We as designers of graphics must ALWAYS recheck our work and if spell check tells you that a word is wrong, most likely it is wrong. Also if you are not sure on anything, there are people out there to help you. People are always ready and willing to offer a helping hand whether you need it or not and for them to be asked for help surprisingly enough gives them a sense of importance and value.
On the lighter side, I did come across many beautiful designs and spell checked works, so I guess there are enough quality designers out there to balance the field. To the graphic designers out there, power to you and make an impression with the skills you were given and be a role model to those who are looking to be in the field. Competition only improves everyones dexterity.
This weekend I was sifting through my excessive amount of "junk" that has accumulated in my dorm room over this past year of college. I was hunting for items that I had no problem sending home before school was out, mainly because I didn't want to have a lot to move out at one time when it came to me doing my final victory dance out of student housing at IPFW. (Side note: I am never going back to student housing unless it's to visit a friend)
While I was digging through the unnecessaries, I came across a monstrous stack of old mix CDs. Those CDs that you throw together in a jiffy that consist of the craziest mix of songs; Songs that sit on opposite ends of the music spectrum, songs that aren't even the language you speak, and best of all, songs that make you laugh and enjoy life just that much more because of how ludicrous and preposterous the content of the song was. For example: "Who Let the Dogs Out" by Baha Men. The first time I heard that song, my dad, my brother and I were driving around Elkhart (to hacienda if I'm not mistaking) and we all thought it was the coolest song EVER! I even want to say we were rocking out to the song haha... Now the song seems just ridiculous. You get the point.
So, one thing that has continually amazed me about listening to old music favorites has been the ability to recall long lost memories through audible recognition. For me, it hit me when I was driving down Coliseum Rd. euphorically screaming to an old favorite of "If I Told You This Was Killing Me, Would You Stop" by The Juliana Theory.
"Windows were open, sunglasses were on; I was driving down the toll road with an old friend, allowing the fond and fresh summer air to fill my lungs and the one pound bag of twizzlers to fill my stomach. Every now and then I would catch eyes with a passing car that had the same direction, if not destination as we had. We were driving to Notre Dame University to work concessions and see friends because it was an easy point for Key Club and an easy excue to leave home. While we were on our brief, half-sized road trip, this song wold every now and then fall on my car speakers and we would find joy in mouthing, singing and dancing to the song."
So what I am getting at is that although years have passed and music preference has somewhat shifted away from that exact scene of music, the same euphoric emotion could be expressed. And the best part is, those emotions weren't exactly expressed because of the the music style but because of the memories we recollect in that brief moment of audible pleasure.
I challenge you to either find your old CDs or search some of your old favorites and see where those take you. Even if there isn't a sharp memory attached to the song, you will still withdraw an emotion and feeling of that time period. It is most definitely worth every second.
Take care and smile more. You'll live a longer, healthier life.
I looked through my music in my xanga to see what I use to listen to back in the day and i was surprised to see all the bands that I forgot I listed to... here is a few of them that I found quite enjoyable.
- Daphne Loves Derby (posted new songs on their myspace)
http://www.myspace.com/daphnelovesderby
- Wheatus
- JamisonParker
- The Evans Anthem
- Baha Men
- Eiffel 65
- Will Smith
- Cake
- Dispatch
- etc.
All I hear is word vomit as it is spat out left and right. I spend more time wiping off the remains than trying to pay attention, but I feel like everyone else feels the same way. My ears burn and my eyes wander. I catch another stare from across the room every now and then. I can't help but want to scream after every distilled pause. Not because there is silence, but because my eyes have already glazed over with checkered confusion. The air gets stale and my mouth dries out; my hands just want to draw, but I know that I will get called out if I try and do anything other than stare with the habitual empty face I have in this class. It's not like I am always this way, but when I feel like there is nothing productive happening my mind goes crazy, my head spins.
So today on my drive back to Fort Wayne after an amazing Easter with family, I listened to a stuffyoushouldknow podcast on death. Basically, it was talking about how us as humans are so afraid of death and yet we have it on our minds so much. To me, death is a scary thing to talk about. I know it happens and I am at ease with the idea that I am leaving this world for a better place, but there is this slight doubt on how will the transition happen. In one moment, it crossed my mind that we work so hard to prolong life yet we have this fascination with death. We take medications, we eat healthy, and we avoid all activity that poses any risk at all to our health which in many instances dampers the quality of life. We avoid the experimentation of our capabilities and what we want to try to keep us on our toes.This avoidance in most cases is presented as fear; for example the fear of riding a roller coaster or fear of skydiving. I don't know about you but I would go skydiving in a heartbeat. This summer you could call me up to go and I would be packed and on my way to your place within minutes as long as my schedule allowed it.
I don't really know what sparked this, I guess I just wanted to let you know what I was thinking... but hey, isn't that what a blog is all about? Till next time, I will keep you all in mind. As always check out my art on http://www.greeneacres.deviantart.com
Hey there everygoodbody,
Here's a new update for the soul. Recently I have been wanting to throw some of my art online but I haven't had a place to put it. Yes, I do have a deviantart website (greeneacres.deviantart.com), but I feel as though I am to that point where I need to considered a true artist and what true artists have is a personal website. Also, as a graphic designer, this gives me a chance to present my skills in web and layout design. I can kill two birds with one stone... woot. So, on to the world of web. These last few days have been a turmoil of tutorials learning the latest in HTML, ActionScript, Javascript and so on, but my brain is beginning to hurt and program codes are starting to mesh. I forget what goes where and for what program... bleh, it is a big headache if you ask me. So back to my goals. I plan on constructing my own personal website within the month, wish me luck, and I will do my best to keep you updated and in check. The plans are creating the entire setup in actionscript (FLASH) so the entire site is animated!! Till next time, take care and keep reading!
Sorry, I don't want to give out my website domain name yet, because I don't want to disappoint anyone when they try and go to it now, because it isn't up yet.
It has been three days.
My mind is free and my mouth is bone dry.
Yet it is raining and I have a drink sitting an arm reach away.
I try my best to sneak my head around the window sill without being seen,
but there are those moments of embarrassment when I end up locking eyes.
It has been three days.
I see people gliding in the rain doing their best to avoid each intoxicating drop,
but as persistent as they are, the moisture wants to cling to whatever it can gets it's hands on.
They take quick stride after stride in response;
some laughing, others emotionless,
but in the end there is a sign of achievement in their faces when they are able to take cover.
It has been three days.
I find myself slightly poisoned by the cold, gloomy and wet night.
I pull tight the one blanket keeping me from possibly losing a finger or two.
It keeps me constricted, leaving only that profound gut feeling of loss.
To ease the tension I rip open my chest only to find an open sky.
Clouds are accented across the piercing blue canvas,
while a breeze rolls past torn ends of flesh only to tickle what nerve endings are exposed;
a few butterflies from three days back take the opportunity to leave while the coast is clear.
It has been three days.
my mind is free and my mouth is bone dry.
my life is still and my heart is sky high.
I feel the warm sun beating in my chest,
while I sit in the cold, hoping for the best.
We have those moments of fear and doubt,
but it is only our ability to cast them out.
Live life to its fullest and you will never look back.
