The Bucket List & The Sublist

My bucket list has grown at an increasing rate the last few years.

In fact, I didn't even have one until a few years ago.

Rest assured, it's not an increasing realization of mortality that brings this about, but the freedom from an anchor holding me down that has made me realize that there IS so much more to aspire to, so much more that it was possible to want, to do, to deserve.

Unfortunately, every time I cross a monumental item off my list, it again is added with a renewed vigor.

The first true instance of this was my trip to New York for a collegiate journalism convention.  It was the opportunity of a lifetime to visit Manhattan, stand in Times Square, to pay my respects at the 9/11 Memorial.  I came home with irreplaceable memories, and a whole slew of things I need to next time I even have the remote opportunity to visit.

This past week I scratched off yet another milestone: Las Vegas.  It was a spectacular experience (with much fodder to write about in the near future, both for this one and my beloved foodie outlet - Accidental Foodies Blog), and I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to have had my senses overloaded with the wonder that is Sin City.

While big goals are awesome (and accomplishing them even more awesome), I find myself yearning for some of the little things.  Not necessarily things I have to do before I "kick the bucket," but simply things I want to do, because there's really no reason not to and I have no good excuses as to why these items aren't regular occurrences instead of wistful yearnings.

These aren't resolutions - because no one ever keeps those - and I'm not putting a time limit on any of it, because that feels like I'm dooming myself to failure.  These are... "why the hell not?" items on an ever growing to-do list that I should really pay more attention to.  Categorized simply out of a misguided need to organize my thoughts, here's my preliminary list:

Shows

I use this term broadly, a blanket expression with an extraordinary sub-list that highlights things quite often readily available in my immediate area and beyond.  It includes (but is not limited to):

• Movies - quite honestly, this desire comes from being tired of having the same answer to the question "Have you seen...?"  I used to be a wealth of trivial knowledge regarding movies (seriously - I used to be awesome at the Kevin Bacon Game), but that's tapered for a number of reasons.  Quiz me on 90's trivia and I could likely still rock it, but I'm beginning to realize how that kind of knowledge can date me in every stereotypical way.
• Concerts - from dive bar house bands to big names on big stages, there is so much I'm missing and experiences I'll regret not having.  While I'm not the biggest fan of crowds, the goosebumps that result from listing to some really good live music can be worth it.
• Theater - considering I spent three years of high school excelling in technical theater (including an inspiring backstage tour of one of the theaters at Portland Center Stage and clear foreshadowing for my future career as a graphic designer via posters, programs and more), it's sad that I haven't kept up on the promises I made to myself back then - to continue to enjoy the art of live performances.  I used to be the type to check out and read plays from the library - for fun.  Really, what happened to that person?

Sports

Yeah, you probably aren't the only one surprised to find this topic on my list so let me elaborate.  I've never been good at sports (my ability to trip over my own feet probably have something to do with this), however I consider myself a stellar spectator.

First and foremost on my list is baseball.  While the details of America's pastime may blur by me in a statistical daze (RBIs, batting average, even the score for that matter), I enjoy sitting in those plastic seats - most memorably within foul ball territory - eating an overpriced hot dog, listening for the umpire's name despite knowing I won't recognize it (my uncle David would have most likely, having gone to umpire school), the telltale crack of a ball being hit out of the park, and rooting for the home team - whether they win or not.

The Angels have and always will be my team, no matter where I call home, but I wouldn't mind checking out what the more local teams have to offer while I root for my beloved team in spirit.

Following baseball would be basketball.  Living in the Portland Metro Area, it is near shameful to admit I have never been to a Blazer game, let alone a basketball game outside of my years in high school.  I've watched plenty of games on television, even had a peripheral emotional attachment to the outcome of particular games, but it's not the same as sitting in the stands hearing the roar of the crowd.

Also on my list believe-it-or-not is football (again, another sport that I haven't seen live since my days of getting into the game free with a student ID card), and hockey (stemming from a long ago wish to see the Anaheim Ducks play at the Arrowhead Pond - which is no longer the Arrowhead Pond).

Social

I get too wrapped up in work, that's no secret, but I've been trying to take strides that will lead me to better enjoy the time spent not working.

For instance, for lunch I've began frequenting the local bar.  It's not alcohol that's the allure, but two other perks: socialization, and forcing myself to enjoy 60 minutes of work-free time that I would have otherwise spent working regardless of whether or not I was getting paid.  Time not staring at a computer screen, not stressing over clients, not obsessing over tasks needing to be done.  Novel concept, isn't it?

It's been an interesting experiment and I'm thinking it's time to expand its parameters.  I hear that (now don't quote me on this), that people go out after work and on weekends.  This is a fascinating phenomenon that merits further exploration on my part, though I fear lack of acceptance by the indigenous creatures will have me scurrying back to the relative security of a computer screen and keyboard.

(I exaggerate for dramatic purposes of course, though the truth probably isn't far off.)

In a lot of ways, I think this "goal" revolves around the urge to share these experiences.  I want to include people in my life who would like to enjoy these things too, mutually motivating and inspiring each other to do these things and more.

Overall, these aren't lofty goals and above all else require little more than motivation (both my own and whatever friends I wrangle into joining me in above mentioned activities) and a realization that it is okay to take a break every once in a while.

I work dang hard for my clients and always go above and beyond what is called for.  I put in more time, energy, consideration, focus, blood, sweat and tears into projects than necessary - because that's just how I work.  I worry about a lot, beyond my job title, beyond by job scope and responsibilities, beyond what is required.  I need to get it into my head that these goals aren't goals - they're rewards for that hard work I take so much pride in.

As my wise boss recently said, "You work hard so now it's time to play hard. Capish!?"

I think I'm finally starting to get it.  

Shooting For the Moon

Ambition is a funny thing.

By definition, it means a strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work.  In practice, more than anything I believe ambition requires patience.

Why is this funny?  Mostly because I'm notorious for a lack of patience.

For the past few years, I'm proud to say I've been very ambitious.  Went back to school, studied hard, graduated with honors.  Started a tiny little side business, took on an extremely wide variety of projects, gained invaluable experience.  Got an awesome job, actually use my degree, validated for my talents.  Pretty dang cool if I do say so myself.

So what have I been striving for lately?

Hehe.

To prove that there's so much more to my praised, mad skills - and I'll do so every time I get the chance.

In my time as a graphic designer I've created: logos, business cards, letterheads, tee-shirts, social graphics, website graphics, envelopes, product labels, greeting cards, memes, newspaper ads, magazine ads, website ads, tabletop ads, stickers, bumper stickers, pens, pins, hats, CD cases, zines, book covers, flyers, brochures, pamphlets, posters, banners, feather flags, trade show booth panels, even a graphic that ended up plastered to the side of a party bus.

Not too shabby, eh?

As a web designer, while I relish in and quite enjoy many of the technical, tedious and tiresome aspects of the job, it's the design - the visual and aesthetics, the look and feel - that will always drive me because no matter how much time, effort, blood, sweat and tears I pour into a site, it's the user experience that will keep people there once they've found it.

Bringing these two distinctly different but remarkably similar designer sides of myself together has always made sense to me.  I take great satisfaction in bringing a certain coherence and continuity to every design, and if I can bring that into not just a single design, but into a brand, I see nothing but potential.

I'm excited to be a part of a company that's growing, a position that's growing, that's enabled me to develop this side of myself.  I'm lucky really, damn lucky.

I learned several years back that's not enough to maintain status quo, there's no fulfillment in it.  I plan on continuously proving myself as an asset, continuously learning something more and striving towards something greater.  It's who I've become, and I'm pretty okay with that.

This is progress dear blog, progress and I gotta say, it feels good.

Flippin' for Inspiration

So I managed to stumble upon yet another thing there isn't enough time for in my day: Flipboard.

According to Wikipedia (which we all know is internet law now-a-days), "the app Flipboard was launched in 2010 by former Apple iPhone engineer, Evan Doll, and former Tellme CEO, Mike McCue. The duo set out to create an app that merged the simplicity and feel of a magazine with the accessibility and collaboration that technology provides. The app integrates news from media outlets from around the world and presents it in a magazine format."

Available across pretty much all platforms, it's an app worth checking out.

It's a nifty program that allows for integration from numerous social networks - more than most of these social hubs, some of which I haven't even heard of - along with RSS feeds from Google Reader and a ton of Fipboard's own "magazines" to choose from.  On top of all that, it's an easy to use "flip" interface that makes navigating through an endless abundance of information somewhat manageable and easy to read.

To be honest, I've had it installed on my phone for over a year.

So why mention it now?

Because I've fallen for the Graphic & Web Design feed.

Nifty statistics regarding WordPress, validation concerning my obsession with fonts, inspiring designs using parallax scrolling... watch my heart go pitter-patter!  I thoroughly wasted at least an hour of my morning this way, when I'm sure there was something more worthwhile I should have been doing.

But alas, it just makes me hungry for more.

What's more daunting?  I've only brushed the surface.  The Flipboard feeds holding treasures about marketing, social networking, and so many other applicable topics stand proud, waiting - but I'm afraid.  I'll get lost you see, I'm already looking for that 25th hour in the day - where am I supposed to find the 26th and 27th?

Ugh, what's a gal to do?

Perpetual Student

Do you know why I fell into web design?

Partly, because it's a brilliant mix of a couple things I hold dear:

1. Computers.

SimCity - The Original
(I even had the expansion pack!)

Despite my die hard affinity for PCs, my love affair with computers began with a Mac - A Macintosh Classic (named "Murphy") to be exact.  While my experience was limited to the Oregon Trail, Carmen Sandiego and above all else, the original SimCity, it was only the beginning.

2. The Internet

With my first PC I was hooked.  It had been a gift from my uncle, if only he knew what he started with that simple gift, because it wasn't long after that big bulky box was set up on the coffee table, that it was plugged into the phone line.

My first taste of the internet:  AOL 2.5.  Dial-up.  2400 bps.  Yeah.  Aside from that, it was a light bulb.  It wasn't just information at my fingertips, it was people, a connection.  To this day, I still say that's a pretty awesome concept.  (On a side note, it's AOL chatrooms I have to thank for my relatively awesome typing speed, not my 9th grade typing class.)

3. Art & Design

This trait runs strong in my family, most notably on the female side.  We're crafters, innovators, resourceful - from grand paintings passed down through a couple generations to modern day unmatched MacGyverisms, the women in my family tree are certainly something to aspire to.  

While I occasionally find the time to apply my skills to a more tactile medium, my artistic eye and the above mentioned left-brain addictions pushed me into graphic design further than I had anticipated.  My right-brain is satisfied by this combination so who am I to complain? 

The other BIG part that makes web design pretty dang perfect for me?  

I'm in a field that is forever changing, evolving and improving.  Even with everything I DO know, there's still a wealth of information out there that I haven't utilized yet that will only make my skills that much more valuable.  Combine it all, and I'm pretty lucky.  

I'll always have a way to improve, to learn and to contribute more.  

Gotta admit, that's pretty dang cool.  

I Heart CSS

I'm  sure there's a support group out there for me so I might as well admit it:  I'm addicted to CSS.

To others in the know of the Jedi way of the website code - yes, I know I have a problem.

To those who don't have this geeky privilege, it's a nifty part of website coding that dictates styles, i.e., design.

While I primarily consider myself a web designer, this lovely infographic (I also heart infographics, but that's a discussion for another time) depicts a rather conflicting message to me.

The obvious lack of a stubble-beard aside, unlike our web designer persona here, I would never be caught dead wearing skinny jeans or carrying a Macbook Pro.  I am un-regrettably a PC gal through and through, and while I don't bring my own keyboard to work, it's only because I have the EXACT same keyboard at work as I do at home.

(On a side note, I did take my own mouse to work, until my awesome employer bought me another so I didn't have to.  Let's face it, my boss is cooler than your boss.)

The esoteric tee-shirt is another glitch in my web designer claims.  Why I am a spectacular fan of esoteric humor, only the code-snob's "There's no place like 127.0.0.1" statement is the one that made me chuckle.

As for the fears?  Aside from Perl and server crashes, most of these rank a big "eh" on the worry-meter.

I'm not sure what all this says about my nerdtastic ways, but after having spent the weekend doing exactly what I spend all week doing (for projects outside of work), I can't help for it all to be running around tirelessly on that hamster wheel I call a mind.

I spend half my day (every day) bouncing back and forth between Photoshop and Illustrator, and the other half of my day lost in coding, most notably CSS (and of course HTML), with a dash or two of text documents, emails, databases, FTP clients, multi-tab/multi-window/multi-browser research and the occasional conversation on the telephone.

So what does that make me, a web designer or a web developer?

Hell if I know.

Either way, it's time to get back to work.

Hmph.

Wallflower

I've got a lot on my mind these days, and I’m combating it with pure determination but I can't help but think of the consequences. 

I’m throwing myself that much more intently into my work – so much so that I've actually lost count of how many projects I've churned out so far this month.  My to-do list has become a daily thing instead of weekly, a check-list that I bounce around more than a steel ball in a pinball machine.  I've got enough on my plate that it’s hard to prioritize, but gratifying when progress is made and things get completed.

Outside of work (and my non-work-work), writing has been the best escape.  It’s the best way I've found to stop thinking about… well, pretty much everything that is just going to add to any alleged gray hairs I may or may not have.  All I have to do is start reading through where I left off and instead of worrying about “this, that and the other thing” it becomes “hey, what if this happened...” and I’m off on a new wild tangent, telling a story to some far distant future reader who may or may not be listening. 

Over the last couple months, this impulse has led me 28,207 words into my latest story.  (I apologize to the other 3-4 in-progress works gathering dust during this process – I can’t be blamed for inspiration leads me.)

It’s a distraction, and a good one at that.  

If it's not one thing, it's another, but I certainly try and be optimistic.  Think a little less, do a little more, and not let my ever reliable comfort zone turn me into more of a wallflower than I already am.  

That's not too tall of an order, is it?

Flipping Switches, Switching Gears

Some of you won't find this too surprising, but I happen to spend a lot of time in front of a computer.

(I know, shocker, right?)

"Got anything special planned this weekend?"  Asks... pretty much everyone.

"Working," I almost always reply.

Mind you, I like being busy, but there's gotta be a breaking point, right?

At work, it's a fine line.  On the one side, I'll be just busy enough that it's not a matter of what to do, but what's in need of being completed first.  On the other side, I'll be just slow enough to let my mind wander - not necessarily to activities outside of work, but more I can do to in the grand scheme of things that will in turn increase my workload.  (Nuts, I know.)

Outside of work, there's much more gray area.  "Work" takes on a different meaning outside the hours I spend at my job, in the sense that on top of a few personal clients, I also have the occasional self-imposed writing assignment (or obligation) that glue me to the computer as much as any design project that comes my way.

I realized on the way home from work today that I spend an average of one hour a day (my commute) without the internet, and that's only because I was conservative enough NOT to use my 4G.  I'm not sure if this is a sign of the times or a sign of a problem.

Within 15 minutes of being home, the computer was fired up and ready to go with no less than three browser windows open - a combined total of a minimum of 35 tabs (while a number of which are simply because I chose to "restore last session" it is still a good indication of my habits) in addition to two Adobe products (Photoshop and Illustrator), an FTP client, Microsoft Word (three documents) and Notepad++ (just in case).

Yeah.

I'd like to say that I'm not a computer addict, but I'll tell ya, back in my younger years my mom knew the best way to punish me was to change the password on the internet (AOL in those days - good ol' dial-up).  It worked way better than any sentence of being grounded would have - hats off to that one Mom - and looking back on those times, it really is no wonder I ended up in a field that is severely cut off at the knees without internet access; I quite suitably gave myself an excuse to not be able to go "disconnected."

I'm not entirely sure I actually have an off switch when it comes to work in some fashion.  I think I'm always on and just toggle between work time and my time, sleeping whenever fuel gets low.

This isn't complaining, it's an understanding.  If it was a complaint, I would shut off the dual screens of computer and enjoy "The Big Bang Theory" in more than just my peripheral vision.  But alas, that time has to be worthwhile and I'll be damned if I can't multitask.  Not only am I female, but I'm a Gemini: I was built for this shit.  (Excuse my French.)

Brushing Off the Dust

I'm still a designer.

I'm still flawed.

Not entirely sure why I let this blog fall off the map, especially considering I rededicated myself to it more then once in the few posts I managed to spare time for.

Alas, here we go again.

Catching Up

A lot has happened in the last year, some of the best and worst experiences I can ever hope to encounter and I can't help but realize the irony that it is almost a year to the day since my last post.

Right about now last year, distraction was taking forefront in a major way and it's likely the reason this outlet of mine that was buried at the bottom of the priority pile.  Don't worry dear blog, you weren't the only beloved self-imposed writing assignment that fell to the wayside - NaNoWriMo met the same fate.

No, I haven't given up writing - far from it in fact.  I have no less than four fiction stories in the works, each at the "novella" stage and aspiring to be novels.  I'd have a second completed novel by now if I didn't keep getting swept up in the different stories, but oh well - I work on whatever one inspires me most that day and eventually I hope to have something worthwhile.

While I can go on and on, I won't.  A writer writing about writing?  That has the potential to be an endless circle and that's a lofty goal for a "rededication."  For now, I'll stick to the broad strokes.

From Classes to a Career

Long story short of what you missed:  Graduated college, with honors.  Hired a week later, the day after my second interview.  Promoted three months after that and I'm now a full fledged web designer and copywriter.  (Seriously, that's my title and everything!)

I know, I know - who would have guessed that after three years in school studying web design and working as an editor on the school newspaper would have led to this awesomeness?  Not me, that's for sure.

I managed to find a home at a company that has not only welcomed me with open arms to the family (you know - like those family members that only occasionally embarrass you in public), but has also provided me with the opportunity to work with businesses of all kinds from coast to coast doing exactly what I spent the last few years prepping for and more.

Again, awesome.

On top of that, I still have a couple of treasured website and graphic design clients of my own who tend to keep my otherwise unoccupied time rather busy.

While I'm still trying to figure out how to incorporate the long lost, forgotten art of a social life, if you were to ask me five years ago where I would be today, I would have never guessed this.  I didn't dream enough for myself back then, though I should have.

Now?

Now I have no reason not to dream and I'm looking forward to seeing where the stars take me.

If I don't post again soon, it's been good seeing you again dear blog.

2,857 Tabs

I saw this meme on Facebook today, and I couldn't help but think it's incredibly applicable.  Not just in the minds of men vs. women, but a perfect description of the way I've been feeling lately. 

My to-do list is infinitely long at the moment, and for each thing I cross off, I add three more.

The funny thing?  I'm not complaining.  While scatterbrained is a fair descriptor (all 2,857 tabs are equally important, by golly), I have no choice but to soak it all up like a sponge.  Sixty-three days from now, a good chunk of my life is going to change, I'll be closing several of those tabs in favor of new ones and every bit of effort I put in now will ensure I'm ready for it.

So, to my sometimes confusing, complicated, overwhelming, infuriating, satisfying, gratifying life... here's to tab 2,858.

This Week and the Countdown

Monday began my official countdown to graduation, and as if today (as the clock has ticked past midnight), we are down to 70 days.  It's been an amazing journey and while it's hard to complain about so much good, I can say this: I'm swamped.

I'm taking my last two computer science courses this term, web server administration and AJAX development.  On the one hand, while web servers don't exactly excite me, a graphical interface is not just more appealing, but thankfully an option.  On the other hand, I'm at a bit of a disadvantage with AJAX as I took the classes leading up to it before the HTML standards changed.  My knowledge of the changes since then is self taught, not out of textbook.  I'm hoping this hurdle will be just that, a hurdle, not a roadblock that I'll have to rent a tank to barrel through.

For The Print, as with school, it's my last term.  I'm hoping to leave on a high note, feeling confident of the work I did while I was there, and proud to have been a part of that legacy.  So far, so good.  While it's still a couple weeks before our first issue of the term hits newsstands, we have potential and I'm going to do my best to take advantage of it.

In addition to all things college related, I've got An Axe Design keeping me busy.  On the plus side, it's extremely satisfying work - I get to play around on the web and in programs I love!  I've got a couple of clients sitting front and center on my never ending to do list, and I couldn't be more grateful for them.

Rocco Edivan Bail Bonds was my first real client back in 2011, a huge step for An Axe Design!  Two years later, and on top of a minor facelift to my original design, I've been working on increasing their web presence and making them more mobile friendly.  It's still a work in progress, but I've certainly learned a lot in the process.

The World Famous Cannabis Cafe has been a client of mine since January of this year and has probably challenged me in the best ways.  Not only am I working on another web project (soon to be unveiled), but the continuing requests for printed graphics for various purposes has been awesome.  It's certainly the graphics side of things that I've always preferred and the work I've done for them has been invaluable experience.

Yep, this is my week.  Even my grandma would ask me if I was having any fun.  Except for the fact that I do in fact enjoy what I do and I'm taking a few minutes here and now to let my fingers tap out something other than code or nifty typography, not so much in the way of fun.  I've even neglected to put any effort into Camp NaNoWriMo, which will likely leave me as I was in November - at the end of the month and still staring at a blank page.  It's a hard challenge for me to get started it seems, especially when it coincides with especially busy terms of school. 

I wonder if that will change 70 days from now.

Eh, I have too much to think about this week to worry about that - back to homework!

Spring Term - Part III: The Print of It

As I mentioned a few months ago, I had applied and gotten the position as Associate Copy Editor for my school newspaper (The Clackamas Print).  Because of this, my days were filled with yet another obligation, this one not counting towards my degree unfortunately.

It took me a while to accumulate, to observe and see where I fit, but I think it happened.  I am truly part of the dysfunctional family that is The Print.

I started out by buying an AP Styleguide, this was a necessity given that all of my previous writing training was in MLA format, and while the differences were subtle, they weren't obvious and were often important.

My time was served editing a couple articles a week (some easier than others) and then combing each page (along with several others) over and over again on production day, ensuring as close to perfection as possible on production day.

My big contribution didn't come until the second to last issue of the term.  I wrote an article on green beans, wrote two food reviews (Mazatlan and Toki) for a special food insert, took a photo for each and designed six ads.  I was also part of the production staff that created the food insert.  That was a BUSY week I tell ya. 

Towards the end of the term, it was time for editor applications, so of course I applied for the position I had been training for all term, Copy Editor.  Guess what?  I am now Web Editor.  I suppose my stregnths showed through and I am where I should be.

I also found a way to use this opportunity as Cooperative Work Experience over the summer, redesigning and reorganizing the website, getting it up to par so it will hopefully only be in need of the typical regular maintenance that comes with updates.  I took a baby step in the right direction, taking the reigns of The Print's Twitter account and giving it a facelift.

All and all, I've got my work cut out for me.  Step one, learn Joomla.  Yay.

Spring Term - Part II: The Thick of It

Web Application Designs - Spring 2011

Even with all of the time I spent on campus, it was the online classes that kicked me in the backside this term.  Business Strategies for Computer Consultants, and Web Application Development.

Business was probably the easier of the two, but required a lot of reading, research, and relying on the advisory of a third party to get the work done.  On the plus side, there were some aspects that I was ahead of the game on, such as business licensing.  Having been through the process of completing and filing a business license application (which by the way it turns out I didn't need since I am outside of city limits), as well as actually being in the process of starting my own business, came in very handy within the realm of this class.

I learned a lot of valuable information that will likely be put into play in my own business, and I am glad I took this class.  However, what I didn't like was I always felt rushed and stressed when it came to the assignments.  I turned things in the day they were due, instead of ever being able to get ahead, which is what I prefer.  I tip-toed through that class uncertain, which is strange given that I aced it and received nothing but positive feedback.

Web Application Development was a class that somewhere deep down, was determined to bring me to tears.  During the last 12 weeks, I delved further into the world of JavaScript and began my introduction to ASP, PHP, SQL, and MySQL.  Can I buy a vowel? 

With JavaScript, everything was familiar and I got through it with minimal frustration, however when ASP came along, the hair pulling began.  Once I finally got a slight understanding of ASP, PHP came along, and it's just similar enough to almost understand, yet different enough that minor differences are no where near as minor as you would think.  Access databases are straight forward enough, it's just the syntax to use it that causes steam to emit from my ears.  The combination of PHP and MySQL drove me batty, because I didn't have access to the database in the first place.  I had to figure out how to create a record before I could edit or delete it.  Ugh!

Some how, after many nights dreaming of roaming semi-colons and sinister radio buttons, I passed, with flying colors no less.  I even managed to get 100% on the debugging part of the final (blink-blink, huh?).

Books on all of these topics are residing as we speak within the safety of my Amazon shopping cart.  With a couple classes down the line being extensions of these topics, I plan on being thoroughly prepared, even if it means keeping a spare box of tissues around, just in case.

Stepping Stones

Last term flew by fast. 

I learned more than I ever thought I wanted to know about Microsoft Windows in Operating Systems II.  I was introduced to the wonderful world of Adobe Flash in Multimedia for the Web.  I explored my talents for graphic design and turning those designs into a finished product in Computer Graphics I.  And I learned how to draft an argument and use better research and citation practices in my second term of English Composition.

The final result?  Another 4.0 (four in a row now).

More news?

I applied and got the position as Associate Copy Editor for the college newspaper.  It's requiring an additional five credits on top of my 12 credit, full time course load, but the rewards could quite possibly be worth it.  The sort of attention to detail the job requires is going to be a welcome addition to my resume.  It is my understanding that I am now a part of a great big dysfunctional family.  I'm looking forward to it.

Can you believe there is more?

"An Axe Design" is officially a registered business name in the state of Oregon.  Soon to follow: a business license.  Got any freelance work?  I am open for business.

And finally:

I got my first paid freelance web design job via a friend since birth.  More details to come.

Updates Are Here!

Celebrate!
Rejoice!

Updates have arrived at AnAxeDesigns.com.

I've revamped the whole site, added several pages, and content is still coming!  Please visit and support a budding web designer in their efforts!

Thank you!

New Updates

New updates are definitely on the way!  I've got the start of several pages created, and hopefully by tomorrow I'll have them uploaded.  Please stay tuned!

Swept Away

Guess I didn't realize how much time had passed.  I am sorry for neglecting you dear blog, that truly wasn't my intention.  I will try to be more vigilant in the future.

First off, my first term of college ended on an awesome note, 4.0 GPA.  I'm not sure I've ever gotten a 4.0 so proud is a bit of an understatement (especially considering I even aced algebra), I'm head over heels.  It's a great feeling, and it's really given me incentive to try and continue to do well.  (Hopefully I haven't set the bar too high.)

My second term has started off great.  I was able to get into my wait-listed English Composition class (so I can take the class online versus a four hour class every Thursday) and I am thrilled with it.  Online classes are awesome.  For the most part, it allows me to go at my own pace, which especially in a class about writing, is a huge benefit.  Plus, I can be more inhibited with my writing in online setting verses in a classroom.  It's easier for me, I feel like my voice is stronger here.

For my Advanced Web Design course, as part of our final project, we need to create a web site, as if we were actually web designers (not students) and basically it needs to be real (or at least realistic), something that could hypothetically be taken to a company or person in a professional compacity.  After much deliberation, back-and-forth, and nail biting, I finally decided on (for now at least) creating a web site for the little beach town I used to call home in Southern California.

As far as I have been able to determine, they don't have one solely dedicated to themselves (just portions of other sites) and it has plenty of elements and history that I think it deserves one.  Whether or not it will ever see the light of day remains to be seen but the effort will be fun and it could end up being a good addition to my design portfolio. 

My Computer Applications course has been both interesting and a breeze.  The entire focus of the class is Microsoft Office (a program I have been familiar with for many years).  The section on Word took me three days to complete (three weeks worth of the course calendar) and I learned a few little things that I didn't already know.  I enjoyed learning more about Excel, I had little experience with it before now and I didn't know all the nifty little things I could do.  The only thing left in the Excel section is the exam, which isn't yet available.  The next section (and last) is about Access, which I know virtually nothing about but accept the challenge.  Best part?  It's not even the end of week 3.

Algebra 2 is going well, I took my first exam yesterday and I'm not feeling too bad about it.  Polynomials.  I can't say that they are fun.  I am glad I have the same teacher again, he's pretty cool.  It's more about understanding it than memorizing it (hence being able to use a cheat sheet during exams) and I think it really makes a difference. 

Hopefully I'll have something to update my web site with soon, I just don't want to clutter it up with a bunch of unnecessary elements to try and conceal the fact that I really just don't have much experience yet.  I'll get there dangit, I will.

Spring Break

I have never wanted to skip spring break more.  Can you believe I actually found myself reading a textbook, when the new term doesn't even begin until the 29th?  I want some assignments, I want homework!  (My mom would probably collapse hearing me say those simple words.)

One of my classes next term focuses on Fireworks and Dreamweaver.  While I have absolutely no experience with Fireworks (I don't even know where to begin after opening the program), Dreamweaver has been a little easier to understand, however I can't wait to go through the class tutorials to really see what I can do with this baby.

Adobe Creative Suite CS4 is my newest toy and I have the feeling it will be much more enjoyable once I actually know how to use it.  PhotoShop has been fun, it's been interesting to compare with GIMP (the free alternative provided by Linux).  Some things are very similar while others are quite different.  I almost feel like using both programs until I gain a better understanding of PS.  Flash is a program that I am looking forward to getting to know, however I won't be taking a class in it until a couple terms from now.  Suppose I could wing-it until then?

I made some improvements to my web site yesterday, mainly adding some attractive headers (created with PhotoShop) to replace the plain-Jane default fonts supported by most browsers.  I decided to use tables in my layout (having used frames in my initial school project) and so far it is working out well, though I haven't much content to complicate things just yet.

That's another thing, what about content?  What should be on my "portfolio website"?  Especially if I haven't done much yet to actually put on display.  How do I show what I'm capable of without inflating my site with a bunch of pointless content (beyond the obvious of getting a job in web design, the goal though currently relatively unrealistic)?  Is it better to have close to nothing displayed rather than excess baggage possibly reeking of desperation?  If anyone can offer up some advice on that one, please do.

I added Site Meter to a couple of my pages, to figure out which browser(s) and screen resolution(s) to cater to for my audience.  I figure it's a worth while effort, given the importance my HTML instructor (and pretty much every other web design teaching resource) stressed upon compatibility and accessibility.  I intend to keep up the high standard I set for myself during the first term, continuously validating through the W3C, if nothing else, because I like when it tells me my site is valid and free of errors. (Though I can't say the same for my blog: tisk, tisk blogger.)

Question:  How can someone hack into an e-mail account that was closed three months ago (the person having passed away) and send Viagra ads to the person's friends and family?  It was quite a surprise to see that e-mail in my inbox this morning.  Is there anything I can do?  Isn't there at least a code of ethics, morals, or respect that this falls under?  Bad form hacker, bad form.

Officially Offical

Yesterday I made the big leap from a free web host (which was flagged by my anti-virus software so I'd avoid x10hosting if I were you) to my very own domain.  I feel official, like I just went legit.  I may still be a student when it comes to this whole web design thing, but that's no reason not to take me seriously, right?

So after the big deal to secure my very own place in cyberspace, what do I do today?  I start a free account with blogger.  What can I say?  I like the community.  I'm a blogger from way back, been out of touch for a while, and now I've got new adventures to share with the world, so why not do it here?

This little blog is going to be the place I unload everything that can't fit into one hundred and forty characters (Twitter, my newest addiction) and for anything I deem "less than professional" or "too informal" for my portfolio web site.  So yeah, I'll be putting pretty much anything I want here.

Oh yeah, my adventures...  Sooner or later you are going to want to know a little about me so here goes:

You know that feeling, when you wake up and suddenly you're almost thirty, divorced, unemployed, uneducated, with cats instead of kids, and living in the room that managed to survive your years of attempted teenage angst?

No?  Is that just me?  Huh...  Anyway, that was then, this is now (oddly enough, then wasn't that long ago and now isn't ENTIRELY different, but I digress).

I am now a full time student, studying for an actual career, making steps towards becoming a professional, and trying out this new-fangled thing called "networking".  It's an interesting process for an shy introvert such as myself but I have to say I'm proud of my progress.

Tomorrow is the last final of my first term of college, algebra.  Believe it or not, I think I may not just pass, but actually do well.  I've done amazingly (in my eyes) during this term, I may even complete it with all A's.  Better than expected, making me nice and giddy inside of course, like a first grader bringing home that first gold star.

For the moment, I can't really think of much else to add to this lovely introduction, so I'll bid the blogger universe goodnight and go shove the critters off the bed so I can catch some zzz's. 

Goodnight!