“Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.” –Albert Einstein

It’s Friday and I am Finishing up my first week of the New Fall Semester.  Getting use to this schedule, I think I may dig this schedule.  Less gas and less running around town.  Most of Tuesday was spent messing around because the only class that didn’t get out early was Algebra.  My Graphic Design classes seem to be easy, but I am really going to push the limits to make sure I get the most out of the opportunity.

Geography

I enjoy this teacher she is very quirky and easy to follow, something I need from a science teacher!  I love science, I just suck at it.  I don’t hate Scientist though, just ask Lauren.

Computer Illustration

Love Jenkins.  His digital imaging class did wonders for my photoshop skills!  Now I am taking him again in this class and hoping that he does that same with my illustrator.  I look forward to this class!

Intro to Digital Media

This is our departments catch-all 101 class.  It is going to be pretty mind numbing at times like Graphic Design 1 was, but I think I can push the envelope.  We are starting off with a photography project, I am thinking about creating some very pretty HDR images.

Algebra

Maybe I am being naive but I think I am going to better in this class.  We actually started back further then my last class!  The Teacher is very easy to understand!  One thing that sucked was another goofy student knocked my book when we walked by and spilt my coffee all over the place!

The Killers // Hollywood Bowl / September 16th

The Killers at the Hollywood Bowl!

Lauren and I plus her sister and friend are going to see these guys September 16th at the Hollywood Bowl.   The Killers are probably the newest band that I would enjoy to see in concert, they pretty much  single-handedly brought Indie Rock to the the mainstream!  I am excited enough to put up with the Hollywood Bowl, let’s hope The Duke Spirit doesn’t open for these guy too.  HAHA

U.S. History

I enjoy this class much more!  Although it is just as much work as Algebra!  I have a 100 question take home exam this weekend which is due on Monday, and a written exam on Monday as as well.

Algebra Update

After eagerly awaiting for my Algebra Grade to post, it finally came through this week with a B!  I am happy about that, after the 46 I scored on the Wednesday before the final.  I was pretty much in the pressure cooker!  I am not sure what I scored on the final but I am pretty sure I was just a few points from an A.  The only downside is my overall GPA drops from 3.74 to 3.66, it is a big hit because math classes are 5 credit classes!

Fall Registration

I registered for my fall classes this week.  I had priority registration so I was able to get everything that I needed.  I am going to be doing a Tuesday / Thursday 8am to 7 pm schedule this semester.  It will be nice to have any night classes this semester.  The last Fall, Winter  and Spring, I was taking classes night classes Monday – Thursday!  I am excited with this schedule because I do have some large breaks between some classes that will allow me to relax or get some studying needed.

My Fall Schedule
08:00-09:20am – Geography
10:30-12:55pm – Computer Illustration
01:15-03:40pm – Intro to Digital Media
05:00-07:25pm - MORE ALGEBRA

Work Updates

I don’t talk about work very much, probably because I am pretty content with it at the moment.  I don’t get paid a ton, but the people are great, and the environment is about as stress free as a work place can be.  We all pretty much do our jobs and work as a team.  My boss is flexible with school, something that I would never get in Corporate America!  You would never hear a boss say education is the most important thing!

I had a 1 on 1 with my boss’ boss, which I think went really well.  I think he does a fabulous job of running our department.  Not really planning on going anywhere  anytime soon.

This Weeks Yelp Reviews

The Habit // Santa Clarita

Temptation Beauty Supply // Canyon Country

Pearl Jam Poster I designed for Typography

Pearl Jam Tickets

A few months back after designing a Pearl Jam poster, I join the Pearl Jam Ten Club, which was a great decision, because I got to purchase tickets for one of their upcoming Los Angeles shows at the Gibson Amphitheater before even the Radio Pre shows! The Best part are the tickets will be some where in the first ten rows! Freakin awesome! I am very excited! I actually sent my poster to Pearl Jam and got a response.

Hi Nate,
Great poster!
We’ll pass this email along to the appropriate person.

Cheers,
Ten Club

School Updates // U.S. History Starts

Sigh of Relief! Algebra is over! I am pretty sure at very least I landed a “B” in the class. After crunching the numbers… I think It is even possible that I could squeak an A! The Final will replace the test that I bombed last Wednesday. I also got the welcomed surprise of finding out that the bogus “C” that I got in CWE [Cooperative Work Experience], is getting changed to a “B”! It should be an “A” because I did the assignment that they say I didn’t, but at this point I will take what I can get. The assignment in question was an online survey, which I did and emailed proof to them. They say they never got it, but went and checked the online log and guess what? I had done it! So apparently that is worth half credit. This will bring my overall grade point average to 3.74 from 3.69 and last semesters GPA to 3.86 from 3.71! U.S. History starts this week, I got an “A” when I took the first part last semester with the same teacher. I am very much enjoy Prof. Varga’s style and rational.

Art Stop Project

Picked up Paints at Blick's Art Supply in Pasadena

I was finally able to make it to Blick’s Art Supply in Pasadena on Saturday, which is always a fun trip! Love that place! I picked up a bunch of golden paint for my latest project I am working on. I am planning on entering it in a contest that the city is having called the Art Stop Project. They are selecting work from ten artists, then putting their art work on bus stop around the city. The winners will also get a booth and $200. This will be the first Art Contest I have ever entered. I am doing a special painting for it because I am not sure most of my art would have a chance at winning. Not because of the quality but the subject matter is probably something that city doesn’t want to put on bus stops! I am working a Pop art inspired piece of my birds. I have already designed what it will look like in Illustrator. I am in the painting stages now, I can’t wait till it is done.

Related Blogs

My Entry In Art Stop Project // RileyBird

Nope the bombed test was just the beginning!  Actually the bombed test doesn’t really matter at all.  What matters is my puzzlement at educational discipline that lacks emotion.  I am artist!  My discipline is nothing but emotion!  An emotionless aritist is like a nurse without compassion, a leader without wisdom or a Soldier without courage!  Emotionless art is like Emotionless sex…  An Artist like this is just a prostitute!  A goes into B slot = C physical enjoyment!  Kinda makes me throw up in my mouth a little…

My frustration is from my lack of being able to put my emotions into artistic expression!  A ghost from my past comes back into my conscience and I really don’t know what to do with it…  I love this ghost.  But the ghost makes me sad, happy, and angry all in the same moment.  I can usually make fun of most things that come into my life but this one… I can’t!  So what does an artist do when he can’t express himself…?

I guess he writes a blog?

I am excited this is the last week of my 5 weeks Algebra torture session!  Right now, I think I am in the B range, which I will gladly take being I haven’t been in a Math class in probably 13 years!  Last week of any session is always exhausting, and this week will be no different with a test on Wednesday and the Final on Friday!  After this class, U.S. History will start on Monday which  will be a welcomed change!   I will be taking Prof. Varga again who I took in the Spring Semester and   got an A, so I am hopefully I will pull another.

Incubus Tomorrow

Incubus at the Hollywood Bowl July 13th

Tomorrow.  I am going to see INCUBUS at the Hollywood Bowl!  I have never been really impressed with the Hollywood Bowl in the past.  Last year, I saw Stone Temple Pilots and John Williams.  This time I got a little better seats so hopefully, it will be better then those concerts.  After going to the Greek Theatre on Friday,  I would much rather see them there!  Much less walking and about 3X smaller!