jeffrey + upstairsloft

Tonight, Zero 7 with Sia and Jose Gonzalez at the Fillmore. The best way to end the best summer (albeit the shittiest year).

A huge problem I have is being productive in company. I am most productive when there is something to ignore, or rather, someone. When I’m designing in the studio, for example, it’s tough. It’s like you’re being watched to concentrate. There’s too much focus going into one thing—simply because there isn’t anything in the background to ignore, like a professor lecturing or something.

I’ve had my best ideas in class. That is why I find lecture classes so valuable, because they get me to think—sure, they’re not entirely relevant the lecture material, but it’s something to let play in the background while you think. It’s ambience—probably the only value I get out of GE classes.

And another thing, It’s hard for me to sleep when I am the last one up. I can easily go to sleep when people are in my company. I can work better when people are around me. When I’m alone I pop in a DVD or play music very loudly and try to think I am not alone.

That’s why I like writing thoughts during lectures. That’s why I love to do work at bookstores, coffee joints, and places with cool lighting that I won’t feel guilty for hours of indoor loitering.

I can’t focus when my environment encourages focus. I need distractions in the background. I need sound to ignore, people chatting, a lecturer to ignore. Silence sucks. Dedicated focus sucks. It’s just too damn hard to focus when I’m supposed to.

As fast as time flies, this last year as an undergrad at Sac St. will be my hardest semester. I mean this in a “I must fight the demons within myself” kind of context—just not that corny-sounding. This last year will demand a lot of my psyche to stay leveled as I will take on mystic dragons and encounter wild flowers that must not be eaten. Why?

Well, this year will be a nasty mix of anxiety and eagerness to get out of here(I gotta find me a job.) Yes, with that comes another package of details to look through. I know what kind of designer I want to be. I know who I want to be. Well, I have an idea of it. But I know when it’s crunch time, I need to write down the bible-long worth of stuff on my arms and forehead to remember all of that and what it means.

I have one more year in Sac. You know that feeling when you have a 9 hour drive ahead of you, and you’ve drove 6 hours and you think to yourself, “Wow, that went by quickly?” Then the last three hours become the most grueling and impatient hours of your journey. Yeah, that feeling.

I yearn to get out of here. I have to keep checked, balanced and I must keep writing. I need to write these thoughts, leave no details out, and when crunch time comes, take a break. Sit down. Read those thoughts.

Reading past journal entries is reading past revelations; they’re thoughts you “thunk” that didn’t make too much sense at the time and when you re-read them, it’s like, h it-you-over-the-head clear.

Birthday of Happiness to you Kate!

Planning trips is one thing. The day of the trip is like violently scratching your scalp while wearing a black shirt.

I totally forgot I had digital pics to post from the end of the semester. They were just kinda sitting in my iPhoto album. Anyhow, it’s been since May since I’ve put my Rebel XT to use.

The end of the semester compilation includes June’s visit to my parents’ Sac house, the Spring Show, a family party, Paul’s visit to Sac and the American Eagle parody photo set. I believe these pics are from the end of the spring semester to the newborn part of our summer vacation.

They’re a couple of months outdated. You can tell. My brother continues to climb up on the pubetry ladder. Puberty is funny. There should be a national holiday called Puberty Celebration.

>>> End of the Semester
>>> Kate’s NYC Olympus XA2
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>>> First Rebel XT series

Congrats to me. I just finished prepping my files and package for press. Since I was hired, I’ve been working on several design projects. The one that will reach press tomorrow is print collateral for an artist’s exhibit, Robert Therrien. This kit includes a 7.5×15 ft vinyl banner, a gallery guide brochure, a postcard, website banner and poster. Dome Printing will be handling the presswork.

The other projects will follow within the next few weeks. I am psyched. I can’t wait to see the final output. I used a dull spot varnish over glossy stock, meaning the images on the pieces will have depth. The celebration will only for 5 minutes since there are other projects in the works.

To the people who say I will get tired of design, well, all I have to say is this. Eat it. That offended the hell out of me.