Geek Perspective

Archive for the ‘My Life’ Category

• Portland, OR

  Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

  

  Hours after my last class of the semester got out in San Francisco, I was stepping off the plane in Portland. My longtime friend and roommate, Mason, is from nearby Tigard, which is basically Portland but pretends it isn’t.

  I had a blast running all over the “City of Roses” with Mason. I got to meet some of his friends, who I really think would fit in perfectly with my own crew back home and look forward to seeing again. Also, his family was about as gracious as hosts get.

  Thursday

  1. Flew into Portland
  2. Met Mason’s family and his friends Donovan and Marcus
  3. Hearty spaghetti dinner and birthday cake (belated celebration for Mason’s 21st)
  4. Bannigan’s Pie House

  Friday

  1. Mason’s dad made breakfast
  2. Walked around Washington Square Mall
  3. A gallery/toys/lol place I wish I could remember the name of
  4. Theo’s Sandwiches
  5. A comic book shop I also can’t remember the name of
  6. Saw MacGruber near Pioneer Courthouse
  7. Mason’s dad made steak dinner

  Saturday

  1. Met up with my old pal Zach at Rocco’s Pizza
  2. Powell’s Bookstore
  3. Deschutes Brewery, then said bye to Zach
  4. Met up with Marcus and headed to Saborro’s Sushi
  5. Tea Chai Te
  6. Joined by another guy named Jon on the way to Ground Kontrol Arcade Bar

  Sunday

  1. Elmer’s Diner
  2. Saturday Market
  3. Voodoo Donuts
  4. Widmer Brewery
  5. Max’s Brew Pub
  6. Ordered from Pizza Caboose
  7. Hung out with Donovan and Marcus

  Monday

  1. Another amazing breakfast made by Mason’s dad
  2. Sushi Hana
  3. House of Reptiles
  4. Bounty Hunter Saloon
  5. Bannigan’s Pie House again
  6. Flew back to San Francisco

  Portland was fantastic. It’s definitely on the list of places I can see myself living, and I can’t wait to go back again.

• What I Took From You

  Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

  A few months ago, I started thinking about all the things I got from other people. I noticed things like how I have different laughs that come from different people. When I started making the list though, it turned into mostly what I’ve learned from other people.

  Without further delay, here are some of the lessons other people have taught me and other things I picked up from them.

  Show full post?

• Winter Break: Mission Objectives

  Friday, December 18th, 2009

  I’m done with another semester at AAU, and holy smokes does it feel good. I flew home yesterday right after my last class. Every few hours, “I’m done” pops into my head and I smile.

  So here’s a selfish list of random things I want to do, preferably with wonderful friends just like you.

  
  This is very important.

  1. Grill some steaks and/or have a Star Wars marathon.
  2. Go ice skating in the temporary rink at the Hotel del Coronado.
  3. Have a lazy picnic on a sailboat some afternoon, preferably with a piña colada and a bucket of chicken wings in addition to whatever else we decide to bring. (Don’t judge me, Mason. I still want more wings.)
  4. Watch every remaining episode of Kitchen Nightmares.
  5. See Sherlock Holmes.
  6. See Avatar.
  7. See Princess and the Frog.
  8. Go to Knott’s Berry Farm.
  9. Find a new coat.
  10. Go to a Charger’s game.
  11. Convince my dad to make his unbelievable rack of lamb one night.
  12. Get down to Clayton’s for chocolate chip pancakes, and maybe some corned beef hash too.
  13. Eat a bowl of Applejacks, just because it’s been like ten years since I’ve had a bowl and I was reminded of them recently.
  14. Make cookies— from scratch for once. With lots of chocolate. And spices.
  15. Spend a sunny day finding out how many cherry pits fit in my mouth.

  Bonus: Shave my beard so I can see what I look like without one for the first time in years.

  Also, I’ll post up the final versions of all the stuff I made for my design classes plus the video presentation I made for my art history class. But that can wait. Stuff from my narrative storytelling class is already up anyway.

  Update: I uploaded the work to my Deviant Art. They wouldn’t take my video files though, so you can watch them here. Watch out, they play kinda fast. It feels that way especially because of chaotic camera movements, but hey, not bad for having used that particular program for only two weeks, right? I’m happy with all of them.

• Upcoming Classes

  Friday, October 23rd, 2009

  I just got back from registering for my next classes at AAU, and here they are.

  Winter Intercession
  January 11 to 29

  1. Art History Through the 19th Century – Monday through Friday, Online

  I’m taking a class during the intercession to get more credits out of the way, and it’s going to be tough because it’s compressing a 15-week class into 3 weeks. To put it another way, that’s a 1-week module of art history per day, so I’m going to hate my life for a while but it should be over pretty quickly. And since it’s online, I can still come home at least.

  Spring Semester
  February 1 to May 22

  1. General Psychology – Tuesday, 12:00-2:50 pm
  2. Digital Design 1 – Tuesday, 3:30-6:20 pm
  3. English Composition: Creative Persuasion – Wednesday, 12:00-2:50 pm
  4. Digital Photography – Thursday, 12:00-2:50 pm

  I’m at the point now where I’m starting to take electives, so I think my spring semester is going to be really enjoyable. I don’t think the workload will be super heavy like the semester I naively took Fundamentals of Graphic Design at the same time as Materials, Tools, and Comping Techniques. I might even join the swim team too.

• Turn-ons

  Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

  They were just kidding, but I’ve been accused by my friends of being asexual more than once because I don’t talk about girls and hotties and stuff like they do, but that’s not the truth. I’m just embarrassed is all. Not uncommon. I’m not shy when it comes to other things, but I suck at talking about that stuff and get disgustingly bashful.

  From listening to my other friends, it seems like everybody is a little different with regards to what they’re attracted to, but I think my friends are more similar to each other than I am to them. I know what I like though, but I’m curious what others (guys and girls) think because, well, it’s an interesting topic, no?

  Personality

  I’m putting personality turn-ons first because they’re the biggest turn-ons for me. I don’t think that’s nearly as uncommon among men as some people think.

  Here are some of the traits that I notice:

  1. Playfulness! I want to be with somebody who knows how to be silly, fun, and carefree. Everybody should be able to let go when they’re around the people they love, especially their significant other.
  2. Intelligence! You choose how to hold yourself, so don’t talk, act, dress, or otherwise present yourself as stupid. Talk confidently when you know what you’re talking about, and ask interesting questions when you don’t.
  3. Not too chatty! Knowing how to talk and feeling the need to keep talking are two separate things. I’m socially comfortable, but I’m in my own head a lot. I’m best with people are like that too.
  4. Some edgy interests! It doesn’t have to be much, but if you like horror movies or heavy metal, then don’t hide it. I like that stuff, and I don’t think other people find me freaky. Sure it’s possible to go too far, but that just means you’re for somebody else who is also “that far.”
  5. Passionate! I care about stuff, and I feel like I can connect with people when I see them caring about stuff too. It’s good to be relaxed and down to earth most of the time, but it’s nice to see a little fire in the eyes every once in a while for a few things you really like even if they’re just little things you like a lot. I want to fall in love with the whole person, including the dark side. Again, it’s very easy to go too far with this one.

  Physical

  One of the things I realized that differentiated me from my friends was how we were physically attracted to girls and how that affected whether or not we decide to date a girl. Personality is important to all of us obviously, but they think that the guy has to immediately think the girl looks great or else the relationship will collapse. For me, instead of high physical attractiveness being a prerequisite, it’s more like high unattractiveness is a disqualifier. See the difference?

  So I’m still human, and looks do affect how attracted I am, though I feel a little primal and vain for admitting it.

  Here are some qualities that I notice.

  1. Friendly, comforting face. You probably already picked up on how I get nervous with girls. But every once in a while, I’ll encounter a girl who just has something about her expression that puts me at ease like we’ve already been friends for a long time.
  2. Sparkle in the eyes. Like a rascally, grinning kid about to pounce on an unsuspecting parent. Eyes are already nice in general which is why everybody always talks about them, but it’s that particular cunning, fierce glint that I really like, and not all eyes have it.
  3. Subtle but unique expressions. I’m pretty good at reading people and apparently I’m easy to read myself, but some people naturally express themselves through tiny but noticeable tweaks in the corners of their mouths or squinted eyes. Not overly dramatic expressions though. The pureness of the expression should be matched by how private it is for the two of us. I like that.
  4. Thin body. Heh, I feel even more primal and vain for admitting it, but yeah. Not unrealistically skinny or anorexic, but thin is nice. I like when girls look nimble. Maybe it’s connected to how I like when they can be playful.
  5. Sophisticated, but a little daring too. I’m an artist, but I don’t think people should feel like they need to make excuses for being able to appreciate aesthetics. When people dress interestingly, pleasingly, and appropriately at the same time, we should be able to enjoy it for all of the same reasons as being able to enjoy anything else that looks nice. Relaxed outfits like jeans and a sweater are nice too, and “adorable” is always way better (and less scary) than “hot.

  Post in the comments what you agree and disagree with, and if you think I missed something critical, say so.