jeffrey + upstairsloft

Why Sacramento State?

Kate and I had our hearts set on Cal Poly SLO for most of our junior college careers. Sacramento State was second on our list. This excludes art school. We visited the campus, gave ourselves a tour, found the building, found the office and ran into a lady. She gave us a tour for nearly an hour during her ‘day off’ and showed some stowed away projects that were exhibited in the Spring Show. She concluded the impromptu tour by giving us her business card and answering our questions. Her name is Gwen Amos.

Two and a half years later, Kate and I have succeeded into the Graphic Design program. The “cohort” is divided into three sections. No swapping, period. Kate and I, along with several close friends within the program, are fortunate enough to have Gwen. Her reputation is underrated, and over labeled. She is a taskmaster, eccentric, moody and brilliant. She is the reason Kate and I are in this godforsaken bit of land.

I’ve been anxious into getting started into this program–none of this “Hello, My name is John DeZine. Welcome to Visual Principles 1.” After a disappointing 2-day streak of introductory monologues and waiting between classes with early dismissals, today I received what I wished for and I might have just prepared to burry my own grave.

I’m the dumbass kid who says “As soon as we get to the beach I’m jumping in the water! No hesitating.” Well, I jumped in waist-high and I’m already trying to catch my breath in the needles- stabbing- me- all-over- my-body coldwaters. I didn’t even stretch to swim.

I’m not sure how my other classmates feel but from here on out, it’s balls out. If the only assignment for the day were to just write a 1-paragraph, brief problem statement, I’d spend a good few hours, meticulously choosing the words to describe the project. That’s just two classes burying me under some work. I still have bullshit Nutritional Sciences and Ancient Greek History to worry about. As for Silkscreening, that’s all fun.

It’s about time I felt bombarded in work.

Summer didn’t end with a bang but I enjoyed my time with my family. Being lazy is one thing but being lazy with my brother is another thing. It felt like I lived with my parents again. I haven’t been able to say that for nearly 2 years now. As for next weekend, the raping waves await. I just hope I don’t have to say any last goodbyes anytime soon.

3.5 months of ass-busting work and dodging bludgers, here I come.

I thought blogging that would make me feel better. Now I just feel aware of how tight the walls are closing in on me. Now I want spray paint the walls of a children’s day care center, stick a paper clip into an electrical outlet, pee on a cop car (while a cop is in it) and throw rocks at senior citizens. I’m desparate for adventure. Nobody understands. I can’t stay idle for too long or I start to lose my mind. My summer ends here. No bang. Just a fade out. The ‘burbs can do that to a fellow.

I’m not complaining about family. Hanging out with family is almost always a good thing. But what a waste of a Friday. This is the 2nd weekend that Kate and I are spending separately. She’s in the Bay with the friends, having a good time. And I am spending time with the family again, since they bought a weekend house 4 miles away from where Kate and I live in Sac. That’s fine and all but this is what I do on a day-to-day basis–just chill. Double dose. Chill on the weekday. Chill on the weekend. Not much human contact.

Again, what a waste of a Friday. My parents are nearly asleep and my brother is doing what he always does when he’s in Milpitas–playing those wretched, life-sucking computer games that should be banned along with reality TV shows. As for me, what am I doing? Well, I’m doing what I normally do to entertain myself. It’s Friday night and I’m doing exactly what I do on a weekday. Nothing special. Just entertaining myself to about an hour of internet time, pool at my parent’s Sac house, a DVD, a book and just thinking to myself. That’s cool and all, BUT IT’S FRIDAY.

How can I expect to live my Saturday? While everybody is having a blast at Jun’s BBQ, I will chill for what seems like a consecutive million hours or so Once again, Jeffrey is missing out–3rd time within the span of a month. I feel 7 years old and I feel left out. Like I’m grounded, ‘cept all of this was my choice.

Balancing family and friends is definietely tough when you’re trying to juggle 115 miles and outnumbered weekends. I hope I dream something aventerous and exciting tonight. Harry Potter books do that to a guy.

I’m such a nerd. I’m excited. I bought and assembled my drafting table. I also purchased a combo desk lamp with a circline fluorescent and 100w incandescent bulb. From total darkness to daylight lighting. Very exciting.

On another note. I feel like I’m living in a box. I haven’t interacted with people for two weeks. The only rendezvous I had was a for half an hour when I took an extremely extended break to talk to Rob and Vince since they were oncampus. I was supposed to catch up with some friends at a bar tomorrow but plans changed. I won’t see Milpitas for another week. I’m living in a box. I need a fix. I need to go home and see my friends. ‘ can’t to hit the beach next next weekend. Help me ’til then. Thank you for school.

[ ] metal gear 3
[x] harry potter iv goblet of fire
[ ] corinthians of menlo park identity
[ ] csus library desktop wallpaper
[ ] edit 22nd bday video
[x] start saving for chair bought 2 accent chairs on clearance at a furniture store for $60/chair. Score.

Metal Gear is 10 minutes of gameplay from being completed. Seven days until school starts. Can’t wait. I saw one of my design instrcutors in the library, John P. Forrest Jr, looking pretty hip with his new wave do and a stud in his ear. JPFJR servin’ them hoez.

The great thing about my relationship with Kate is that we can live together without fully tearing each other’s heads apart. When we need time away from each other, we simply just go on doing our own thing. I guess the great thing is that we don’t demand too much alone time. The simplest things suffice; I have simple means of keeping sane.

For instance, every Thursday and Friday, I live the mornings and noons alone. We pretty much have the same work schedule to save money on gas but these two extra days I don’t work give me time to live how I would live as a bachelor–fry eggs naked. Well, that and resume my routine as an old fart who cooks breakfast, drinks a cup of sludge or tea and reads a book. Anything leisure, pretty much. And I go on with my day satisfied, away from the bad drivers, away from the assholes, just calm, at ease. That is my Thursday and Friday objective.

Summer is playing Metal Gear 3 before Kate goes to sleep and still playing when Kate wakes up for work. Damn you ‘The Pain’–stupid sniper.

You know… $234 could have bought me a Nikon Fe-2, a used American strat, brand new pickups, a used Mesa Boogie, a sturdy drawing table, a gig of RAM, 4 used copies of Wolfgang Weingart’s book so I can sell 3 and make a profit and buy the Pantone swatchbooks, a digital spot meter or 234 5-piece nuggets at Wendy’s.

You know, $234 could have went into my savings for a romantic vacation with Kate.

Lucky Floridans… well, we don’t get tornadoes. O wait. Sacramento does (?!?!) Anyhow, I heard gas is $2.75 for 93 octane gas. California doesn’t even have 93 octane. Otherwise I’d pump that into my 1984 civic crx with an h23 engine, sr20det engine jetfuel calibrator NOS Mugen hatchback with my AC Schnitzer turbo supercharger m3 hemy.

Kate and I live near one of the cheapest Chevron stations we’ve experienced and 91 octane will cost you $2.97. Imagine San Francisco’s prices. I rather not. Well, I’m happy. 4 cyl. 4 lyfe. Poor Kate, Jun, Dad, and Mom are stuck with 6 cylinders. Paul’s got a 5 cylinder (?!?!). Well, according to my credit card statement, in the past month I have sacrificed a testicle and $234 for gas. At least we don’t have to commute to Frisco for class anymore. Being an adult sucks (and yes, I admit that with my mama still helping me out A LOT).