Category Archives: Posts

inspired to get things done

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My last day of school was Thursday and although it’s only Monday already I am anxious to get back to work. To be doing something. Last night I began cleaning and it lasted until three in the morning. I went through all of my school things and cleaned out my backpack. I need to scan and/or photograph all of my work from printmaking and sketching for my online portfolio. Also I would like to include the work that I have done in Computer Arts, esp. logo development and web design comps.

I also feel really motivated to job hunt. After looking through the student job listings I feel like I am still not ready for a job in SF in the design world. Next year though I promise I will be up to the challenge. For now I have been thinking about serving because I enjoy it and have a lot of experience doing it. The tips also make for a better wages. I have an interview at a small cafe here in Berkeley on Wednesday. Woot! *_*

Jason mentioned taking Japanese this summer through the local community college and that also really interests me. I know that it will be a lot of work but I am in the best environment for it right now having so much support from my house mates! I already only watch anime in Japanese and read the English subtitles so I have picked up many words and phrases in the past year. I am nervously excited at the prospect. I hope that all of this energy holds up and keeps me busy. I do not like to remain idle for long!

tales of a gamer girl

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Friday maiki and I went to Game Stop and picked up two new black DS Lites. This was my very first game console and I also got three games to play with. I picked out Brain Age, Mah Jong and Arctic Tale. So far I am having a lot of fun with it. Playing games on the Bart really makes the time go by super fast. I have been looking at getting a gel skin for it and there are lots of neat artists on this site. I am having a difficult time deciding which one to chose.

I also made a character for Lord of the Rings Online, a game which my friends love. She is a hobbit minstrel and I named her Lilyfoot. I played through a bit of the beginning, just long enough to kill some spiders. I am hoping to be a healer for my friends and learn more about the crafting and baking abilities that you can have. It sounds fun and the world is really beautiful. This is really my first venture into the world of video gaming and it seems that since school has ended I have dove head first into it. hehe *_*

what I’ve been watching & listening to

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Watching:
BattleStar Gallactica This is Kimi’s favorite and I am the only one that hadn’t seen it. I fell asleep the first time but then finished the movie and am now on to the first season. It is an interesting story and I think that I will really enjoy it.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Cute movie, and planning on going to the movies with Neko to see Prince Caspian soon.
Stardust Neko got this and the first Narnia movie from Netflix and we watched them at her house. I had seen Stardust for the first time on New Year’s Eve 2007 and loved it so much. I am really interested in getting the book to read soon.
There Will Be Blood Wow. Daniel Day-Lewis is amazing. I want to watch it again but it is an intense film.
Tekkonkinkreet One of my favorites! Luckily Justin and Kimiye have it in their collection. I am cosplaying as Shiro for Fanime next weekend so it was for “research.”
Honey and Clover Cloud Ninth had decided to watch the first season again before continuing on with season two. We put it off because we had been so busy but got back into it. It makes me laugh and cry and smile. It is a beautiful anime.
Naruto I had never seen this one before but it Jason and maiki are both current with it. I watched the first five episodes and they are pretty fun. I have been told the next story arc is really cool.
Iron Man We went to the theatre for this one. I thought it was awesome and I feel a bit geeky saying that but I really enjoyed it.

Listening:
Wolf Parade Two years ago Justin gave me a lot of cool music and Wolf Parade and Social Scene were part of that package. I have just now become obsessed with their music. I am loving it.
Broken Social Scene I could listen to this always. It would be great background music for my life.
Godspeed! You Black Emperor This band makes long, epic tracks that can last an entire Bart ride. I have always been a fan and have even been fortunate to see them live. When I listen I get lost in the sound.
Nujabes Ever since watching Samurai Champloo a year ago, the music of Nujabes (along w/ Forces of Nature, Tsutchie, and Fat Jon) has been a part of my regularly played tracks. In fact the soundtrack from that anime dominates my Last.fm. His solo work is inspiring and infectious. I just can’t get enough.
Juno Soundtrack So cute! I am really enjoying Kimya Dawson, Belle & Sebastian, and Cat Power’s lovely version of “Sea of Love.”

friends & food in santa cruz

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Saturday maiki and I took the train to San Jose where Colin picked us up and we made the journey over the hill. The weather was so warm and we went for a walk along the coast when we arrived. Made a trip to Marini’s on the wharf to get Jolt colas and I had a caramel apple. We walked through the arcade and then downtown. I traded in my old Reefs for a new pair at Pacific Wave then got some real food at the Taqueria Vallarta. Next we met up with some friends for drinks at 515. I had never been to 515 before and really enjoyed the atmosphere — they played the Squirrel Nut Zippers! We sat in the upstairs lounge and I ordered a raspberry lemonade martini. It was an amazing drink and the glass was rimmed with sugar. I was in heaven. ^_^

The next morning we went to the Bagelry, the best bagel place evar. I got a bagel with onions and lox and we purchased lots of jalepeno bagels to eat and share with C9th. Next I walked around Pacific, taking pictures and looking in all the shops. It was warm and felt like summer. I picked up the fourth volume of Sgt Frog at Borders then met up with Colin and maiki again at Lulu Carpenter’s for a chai. We all had our laptops out and sat in a nice shady spot by the Octagon. maiki and I shared a veggie sandwich and soup from Zoccoli’s then prepared to pack up for the journey home. One more stop at Marini’s for Jolt to for the road and I got a chocolate covered banana. It was extremely delicious but it almost made us miss the 17 bus. We ran back to the metro with Colin following behind hollering “Stop Banana Thief” and giggling as we hurried past the crowds of people. Thanks to maiki (who has long legs and wasn’t wearing flip flops) the bus driver saw us and we got on without any trouble.

On the ride back over Hwy 17 I reflected on how wonderful it had been to take a break and get away for a couple of days. I thought about all the fun touristy things that I wanted to come back and do. I will definitely return when the semester ends and go to the beach and the boardwalk. The trees were so lovely and cool and I would love take the Roaring Camp train and walk through the giant redwoods. I miss them. As fond as I am of Santa Cruz was I was so ready not to live there anymore and am quite settled here in Berkeley. Luckily I have many friends there that I can visit!

Spring final projects

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This past week has felt both very productive and positive. I am beginning three different final projects to be completed over the next few weeks of the semester. In Sketching I am drawing a five panel storyboard about maiki and I getting ice cream. Sunday Neko took of us for reference shots and I have been drawing up my ideas. Next week they be will drawn again in ink and with more detail. The instructor stressed that we keep it simple and I think that it is going be really cute. I am also assembling a portfolio of all of the work that I have done in the class this semester to turn in and then keep for my records.

In Interactive Design I am working with a partner to construct a website for the W hotel that will be fifteen plus pages. So far it is coming along really well and we have been e-mailing each other Illustrator files back and forth. It seems that we will have no trouble at all exceeding the fifteen page minimum. Also I am glad to report that having a partner means that I have someone to share the work with and help me to generate ideas. I am excited to see how it will come together!

In my Printmaking class I am busy making a ten plus page book of new prints. I decided to chose the theme of bicycles and my love of them for my artwork. During the first lab I cut out a girl on a bicycle from a linoleum block and have two different versions printed. The first was made when the linoleum was wet and the paint looks like a crayon rubbing. It has a lot of motion in it and I was pleasantly surprised by the results. The next was a flat print that I printed over with a thermofax later. The second lab class I made many thermofax prints and they all look great. I have been choosing bright spring colors and I think they will look beautiful all together.