Been Here, Done This 10.7.04

Attending classes at Queensboro Community College is quite similar to that of Broome Community College. They are both part of larger government provided and mandated school systems. QCC is under the CUNY (City University of New York) system. I am currently attending four classes, English 102, American Film History 1, Advanced Photographic Skills, and Modern Art.

English 102 is a class on literary analysis, which I have learned at least twice over at BCC. It's not entirely bad though, because it makes me look like the smartest kid in there. I readily participate in class and have already earned an A on my first written paper.

American Film History 1 is a class where we basically just watch old movies. This is another class I have already taken, however, this time there is a much better selection of films and a much greater sense of organization on the part of the professor. At BCC, it was basically a free-for-all. We even got to choose what movies we watched which, for the most part, were meaningless pieces of mainstream garbage. I also speak out regularly in this class often and have achieved a 9 out of 10 on a bonus quiz, which means 9 bonus points! The professor did not take off for questions wrong, only rewarded for those which were correct.

Advanced Photographic Skills is the exact same Advanced Photo Class from BCC; create 15 final photos matted with one central theme. No actual class, no quizzes or tests, he just wants us to show him our progress and give suggestions tentatively. I just recently recieved my new lens in the mail, so I have little progress to report. I also recently realized I have a few more supplies to purchase yet. I had to buy my own film and printing paper, but I still need developing chemicals and a developing canister for my film. For my main theme, I think I may do character portraits. This is a kind of portrait that would show not only a person's face, but also more aspects of their characteristic traits with clothing and backgrounds.

Modern Art is essentially just an art history class dating from the late 1700's to the mid 1900's. This looks to be the only really challenging class because it is essentially memorization. We have a test in two weeks, so it's time to study.

Overall, I would defiently give QCC a good rating for a Community School. Despite the similarities with BCC, the professors seem much more qualified and have much less instances of drugery. So many instructors at Broome were so disgruntle and seemed to hate being there, but all the prof's here seem genuinly interested. Clearly, a much better situation. However, soon this should all be over as I apply for Cooper Union, the School of Visual Arts(SVA), and possibly Pratt and Parsons.

Easy as Pie10.22.04

I am currently working at a fitness club in Manhattan called New York Sports Club (NYSC). It is one of the largest fitness chains in the U.S. They have several locations in and around NYC, Washington D.C., Philadelphia (if you have seen the newest Real World on MTV, they often go to PSC, which is Philadelphia Sports Club), and Boston. It's a very nice club. I work in one of the smallest locations and it still has at least the same ammount of equipment as American Fitness. As it turns out, there's actually an NYSC just down the street from where I live in Astoria. I have yet to check the place out, but I might do that today along with the rest of my errands. Hopefully, I'll be able to regularly go to the gym now. Before, it was extremely inconvenient to go all the way to Manhattan just to work out for two hours.

Although the setting of the gym has changed my position has not; I work at the front desk. The responsibilities are much much easier now. All I really have to do is fold and hand out towels, check people in and direct memberships inquiries and phone calls. I occasionally sell things, but not very much. We don't even have anywhere near the volume of products that American Fitness had. We only sell locks, gloves, wraps, and some clothing.

Luckily, the front desk is where most of the cardio equipment is and there are televisions right there. I get the news updates and comedy central when I'm bored at work now. I also actually have a break now. Any employee who works 5 hrs or more gets some kind of break: five hrs get 15 minutes, 6-7 gets half an hour and 8 hrs gets an hour. This is a 180-degree flip from the whips and chains mentality at American Fitness. The employees here actually matter, and the managers actually have a life outside of their work, so they don't spend the whole work day trying to make their co-worker's lives miserable.

As I have implied in the first paragraph, I get a free membership which is good at all the locations during off-peak hours, which means I can even work out if I'm in Philly or Boston or Washington! That's soo crazy. The only downer to the whole deal is the pay. I only get $7.00 per hour. I pick up extra hours all the time because the other front desk workers have kids and stuff and just always seem to be ditching out. No problem for me. However, it's still not enough money, so i'm on the lookout for more opportunities to make the dough. So far nothing promissing but I'm still looking. I'll keep y'all updated on my progress.

The Interview and...11.8.04

Well, work is going well, but as I said in my last entry, it just doesn't make enough money. So, about a month ago, I sent a resume' to another fitness club called Clay Gym ( insideclay.com ). However, if you take a look at the website, you will see that this is no ordinary gym. It shouldn't even be called a gym. It looks like a freakin' work of art. So, a week ago they called me to set up an interview, which was a complete surprise that came out of nowhere. I set up an appointment for Thursday of last week. I got all spiffed up in a nice shirt and pants and shoes and all the good stuff. I got there early and the front desk workers seated me in a strangely shaped piece of leather furniture, a little uncomfortable and sporting some light classic Westby pits. Luckily, I had enough time to dry out and get a limited view of the club.

The manager was about five-eight plus heels, blond and in very good shape. We exchanged introductions and she grabbed a front desk worker to take notes and led me to what I thought would be her office, but was instead a very curious setting. First of all, everything is this place is white with indirect lighting everywhere, including some light coming through grates out of the floor. Instead of an office, we sat in a sort of communal area with a square recession in the floor. Rectangle leather pads made for fairly comfortable seating on three of four faces of the square. The side missing a seat instead had a very curious fireplace. It was a shallow, wide rectangle with white rocks laid out along the bottom with flames apearing to come out of them. Needless to say, this place was very sheik. I couldn't help but say, "this place is really cool", I tried to keep it as calm and conservative as possible.

The interview consisted of a much more professional line of questioning than I am used to. They asked me, "So what are you doing right now, in general?" I explained that I am a student at QCC,that I am employed at New York Sports Club and that I am a freelance graphic designer, photographer and artist. My response clearly prompted her to ask me, "why are you applying to Clay if you already have another job?" I explained that I wasn't making enough money and that I needed either more money or more hours or both. I have three days that are very open and I'd like to make use of that time. She then told me, "well, we start our front desk at $10 per hour" (chuh-ching!!!). She also then asked about my availability which, after hearing the wages, I knew now included possibly saturdays and sundays if need be. I could easily quit my job at NYSC and trade in those $7/hrs for $10/hrs. More money is clearly more necessary right now than a gym membership. I think I would probably get a free one at clay, but like an idiot, I forgot to ask if it was included. I guess I've kind of begun to expect that as a given having never run into a situation where a free membership wasn't a perk. The woman then asked a question that made me laugh inside myself, "how computer savy are you?" I answered somewhat foolishly in the midst of my self-amusement, "I'm extremely computer savy." Dumbass. "My whole profession is computers." She said back, "what kind of programs are you using at NYSC?" I briefly named and explained the type of programs used and it seems that the only new responsibility I will be picking up is scheduling people into personal training sessions, if I get the job. She caught me off guard a little when she asked me why I thought I would make a good employee at Clay. I responded by siting my numerous responsibilities at american fitness, showing my ability to multi-task. I also mentioned my ability to relate to and befriend customers and adapt to various situations. This brought up an interesting fact that they had recieved a copy of my resume which didn't include my experience at American Fitness at all. How key is that? I had prepared myself for a like situation and handed her a complete, printed version of my resume' with a business card (she said the card was "interesting").

Overall, it seemed like a good interview to me, but it was impossible to read her reaction to me. I could have done better, but I feel pretty good about it. I really hope I get the job, so I'm crossing my fingers 'til I find out.

I have returned to the face of the earth2.6.05

Well, it's been quite some time since I last updated. Where to begin? Vacation was a blast. Christmas just wasn't the same without Georgie around, but still a good one.

New Years was pretty uneventful for me. I had to work at 8am in the morning of the 1st. Downside to my easy-ass joe job.On the bright side, I'm am gaining a reputation as the best front desk worker at my location. Wa-hoo. What an achievement. Good thing is, I might make some extra money for doing extra work and I might join the technicians team, since I work pretty good with the technology and all that. I'm going in for training this week.

I applied to The Cooper Union and School of Visual Arts for next fall. The Cooper Union is a very reputable private school and very selective. Only 62 or so students are privelidged enough to be enrolled to the graphic design program each year. If you are accepted, tuition is completely free and you get "the best education in the country." I have six projects to do, just as part of the application process. Just being accepted to this school would be a great honor for me. As for School of Visual Arts(SVA), I had an portfolio interview on Friday January 3rd, 2005. When I left, the interviewer lady said, "you can have every confidence that you'll be accepted. You certainly meet the visual requirements and I believe you are the type of student we are looking for at SVA." I'll give my acceptance speech later. I will go to Cooper Union if I get in, but I am greatly attracted to the less restraining, free thinking of SVA. So I feel it is a solid and sufficient plan B.

The weather haas been nuts around here. First we get a foot of snow, then it was -9 winchill. Today it's 50 degrees with no wind and clear skies. Not that I'm complaining but it's a drastic mutation to happen within the course of two weeks.

Is anybody watching the super-bowl? Who won? I guess that means I didn't watch the super bowl. Go Eagles? Underdogs. Rah. Rah. Rah.

I have gone to several interviews, sent out insane numbers of resumes, and I haven't heard a word back yet. And, yes Dad, I called back several times. I was a persistant bastard every time after I had an interview. No luck. So many jobs, but none for me.

We now own one long-haired chiuhuahua. We christened him Wellington. A big name for a little dog. He's doing pretty good with his training. But Lately we've been having a little trouble keeping our puppie poop off the living room carpet and the shower rug. Take my advice, it is not a pleasant thing to step in hot, moist puppy poop during your midnightly urination. Aside from the bowel movements, he's a great dog. He likes to lick all things within neck's distance. He's really listening to "come" now, which is important. Anyway, I posted some pics which you'll see to the right and below. Enjoy! Cute, aint he? He must know I'm talkin to ya, he's in my lap, acting very interested in the computer screen.

I had dredlocks for a month or two, so beware of those pics.

Well, I gotta get going but write me e-mails and tell me how ya'll are doin if ya feel like it.

State of the NYCity3.21.05

So, as you may know, school is just passing it's halfway point this coming week. Actually I have some time off from school this week, but I'm already scheduled to work everyday but Thursday and Sunday. I THINK Easter is one of the two days we actually are closed at New York Sports Club. Work is better. I've been doing alot more of it, now being known to many mid-town NYSC's as "a good sub". People are such unreliable workers at this level that all it takes to achieve that position is actually showing up on time regularly. I guess I'm a good worker too. I don't know, I guess Dad has really spoiled my work ethics, cuz I really don't feel like I work hard.

Anyway, back to school. School is fine. Easy as pie. I am basically a T.A. in three of my five classes this semester and I excel at all. I am taking Ceramics, Advertising Design I, Web Animation, American Film History II, and Video Art. Ceramics is 10th Grade OFA ceramics with a few minor differences. I've made five completely worthless flower pots and five more small tea-cup size worthlessnesses. I'm working on something useful called a plate. Japanese Style. Advertising Design is Adobe Illustrator for dummies. Luckily the teacher can see that I'm a bit ahead of the game, since I have all the projects done in a matter of minutes while the rest of the class is spending 2-3 classes to finish theirs. So, I get to do more advanced projects than everybody else, at times, combining multiple classes into one project. Yay for me. Web animation is Flash for dummies. I really think "for dummies" just comes from the professor's teaching style. That class will, however be very useful by the end of the semester, and I should be able to renovate my website and make it super-nifty. American Film History II is basically the same as the first one. We watch and breifly analyze movies and the tests are about the production of movies, not necessarily the individual movies. Video Art is pretty cool. I have never used the software before and I know more about it than the professor does. Plus, I think I know a little more about movies than he thinks I do, because he's always telling me to do things while I'm in the middle of doing them. I am now currently working on a project for the Queensborough Community College Student Art Exhibition. I will attempt to combine my learned skills in flash, a recent New York City Photo shoot and selected musical compositions from griegor von vestpe including work from the most recent album, "Music for Broken Elevators" and brand new, unreleased works as well. Stay tuned for a posting of the finished product on this page!

As you can see from the pictures at your right, I have gone through quite a few interesting hair issues lately. I have now been called "one of those white-dreded guys from Matrix reloaded", Rod Stewart, Billy Idol, an assasin, and a "demon-type guy". Enjoy. I do!

So Much to say! 7.26.05

I'm going to try to do this chronologically. To start off, the QCC art show went well. My professors were very happy with the production and it was by far the most elaborate and well put-together flash project at the exhibit. I should probably mention that while I had no previous experience with flash, I did have alot more computer experience, in general, than most of my classmates. I ended up walking away this semester with a 3.9 GPA. I don't know what happened therebut I intend to find out where that .1 went exactly. For those who were unable to make it to the show, here's a link to the presentation I made. You need to have shockwave player and adjust your volume because there's sound to this baby!

click here to see: CNYC05

My other classes all ended well also. Check out all my projects, I posted links for them at the right. I started taking summer classes at School of Visual Arts almost right away; the first week of June. I took Studio Photo 1 and motion graphics with Adobe After Affects. Once again, Adobe rocks the house! I love this program. I've decided that once I get my graphic design degree, I will attempt to pursue a degree in motion graphics. The thing is, I love all types of art, and I've always wanted to combine them into one big package. I can finally achieve this and most of the time, I can do it all myself! I'm a little selfish about my art. There are some projects I won't allow others to take part in. Those classes have since ended but they both went very well. See the pics and videos posted to the right.

I have located and closed a deal on an apartment. It is located in the Crown Heights area of Brooklyn. I'll put some pics up once I get settled in there. In the mean time, check out the rough sketch I broke out to the right. I'm moving all my stuff over on Saturday, July 30th, so time is closing in, and I'm getting pumped! Chris is moving in the first week of September. It's gonna ROCK!!!!

And that's the news, goodnight!