Chasing jigsaws.

Today was my first, full day off.  It feels like it's been more than forever.  I really should have started on some work that's coming up this next week.  Instead, I woke up, did my usual Internets thing, watched 3/4 of the new Futurama movie, and then fell asleep during the last fourth of the movie..  for a couple of hours.  Amazing.  I never know when I'm tired anymore, until it just actually hits me and I have no time to respond.  I woke up, watched the rest of the movie, cleaned up a bit, and continued to roam the Internets.

I found this mash-up of Adele's Chasing Pavements, and Radiohead's Jigsaw Falling Into Place.  I've been into this new Adele song lately, and I just simply love Radiohead.  If anything, finding this mix was a nice surprise for today.

Also, my brother tells me I'm 098.

BOOMBOX from Ely Kim on Vimeo.

Do I regret this unproductive day?  Hardly.

The lonely stoner.

The day has interestingly developed toward its end.

Not quite as satisfying after all.

Wants:

- simplicity

"You are capable of tremendous creativity" (2/26/09).

Today was satisfying.  Today was good.

It started with wanting something, and then we went out and got it.  It was that simple.

Came back and volunteered for Vietnamese American Coalition's Shadow Day.  It was my first involvement with a high school outreach program at UC Irvine.  It was quite interesting, getting up and presenting a few words about my school and major among a panel of peers to these excited high schoolers.  I believe the best part of my day was when we went on a tour, showing the students around half the campus.  It was a really small group of maybe eight or so aspiring social science/ social ecology students.  I liked that it was a smaller crowd, because I felt we made that much of a stronger connection with them.  I really didn't realize our impact until one of them came up to my friend and I to thank us before leaving the campus.

I imagine this was only a glimpse of what it would be like if I ever was a SPOP staffer.

Feelings of satisfaction, and the day is not even over.

Hello, I'm awake.

It's been ten days since I last went to take a nap, and ended up passing out for 13 hours.  It's also been a long time since I've had such a crazy lucid dream.  Since the beginning of my 3rd year, I've been averaging around 5-6 hours of sleep a night.  It's been normal.  But now..  Is this my body's way of telling me I'm taking on too much?  It's true that almost every aspect of my life has been making my energy spiral down.  But, it's more like those little helicopter leaves I would throw up into the air, and slowly watch spiral down.  Oh, childhood.

Asian Pacific Student Association-

This past Saturday was our 24th Annual Asian Pacific American Awareness Conference.  This year's theme was, "Our Rising Artists."  Are we not being critical enough with our conference surrounding Asian Pacific American arts and media?  I don't think we could have brought out anything better.  We are not just social activists (although I am almost afraid of using this word), but being Asian Pacific Americans, we are cultural activists as well.

DJ Phatrick couldn't have put together a better mixtape to illustrate all of my feelings right now: A Song for Ourselves.  Download it.  It's free.  Thanks DJ Phatrick to coming out to APAAC with Bambu.  Despite all of the tribulations that occurred during the planning and the actual event, I am happily satisfied with our final product.

Cross-Cultural Center-

Last Thursday, Februrary 12th, was the Cross-Cultural Center's Annual Pictionary Tournament.  I am really sorry I missed this.  This was the night I went to take a nap, and woke up the next morning with all my clothes still on from the day before.  Experiencing this design and publicity internship I have with the Cross has taught me a lot.  I learned that I will probably not go into publicity or marketing as a career.  It has also reinforced the fact that I enjoy and feel more comfortable with web design than graphic design.  Although, It's sad when I know I have the opportunity to work more with web design and development at the Cross, but I simply do not have enough energy to.

Student Parent Orientation Program-

The past month has been amazing.  I never knew how much I could actually balance in my life until this program actually started rolling with interviews.  Yesterday, we finally started the selection process for returner staffers.  To say the least, it's been hard.  There are so many good people out there to be chosen, but I feel it's really been coming down to two things: how well everyone will work together as a team, and how hard someone is willing to fight for another.  I honestly didn't think it would be this difficult because of the cohesiveness of our team.  However, I am thankful for these people- these other coordinators.  I've seen how strong each of our characters are, and I want to trust each other.  As hard as it may be, I like it.

Classes-

I have definitely been lacking in this department of my life.  I purposely chose to take only 12 units this quarter, imagining the stress I would be getting into.  My plan backfired on me, and it turned out all three of my classes have been packing me with work.  It's like going to school with a bagged lunch, given to you by your loving mom, but opening it to only find all the foods you don't like.  The only one that really matters is my potentially last psychology and social behavior class.  Although my classes have been hoarding work, there is one I have been enjoying- but for really odd reasons.  Experience Design is my third class I've taken by Professor Mazumdar.  His classes are the ones that make me proud of my urban and regional planning minor.  Every Tuesday, I am reminded how much I love design- not just any singular design like architectural design, graphic design, web design, interior design, etc.- but, loving design for what it is.  Also, my Experience Design notebook has somehow become my new sketchbook..  Haha, love those three hour classes that are always taken to the end.

Despite the realities, there hasn't been one thing I regret (except maybe not being able to focus as much on my studies).  With all of the struggles to balance my involvements, it has made me want to enjoy my leisure time that much more.  I've picked up and dusted off my guitar.  I've started drawing again (somewhat).  I've been given the urge to design something for myself for once..  It's been years since I've done this one, but we'll see how that one goes.

Montag's finally beginning to shed his head- maybe it's time to ease up a bit, myself.

Crosswork.

I realized the other day that I didn't actually have any of the designs that I've made at the UCI Cross-Cultural Center. So, today at the end of work, I compiled all of the designs I've done so far. Before beginning this design & publicity internship, I already knew I didn't particularly care for graphic design. Through my experiences so far, it's been pretty much confirmed. Although I knew I didn't really like doing graphic design, I entered the position more for the web design. A lot of people think it's the same thing, but it's completely different. I could go on about this, but I'll just let these images speak instead.

Posters:

 

Flyers:

Misc:

Icons:

Websites:

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Symposium 2009

Busy.

Like the humming bird who cannot and will not stop.

I am doing so much with my time during my last year here, at UCI. Yet, I feel like there's so much more I want to do. I'm honestly beginning to get really unmotivated about my classes, but it's not even from the "can't wait to graduate" mindset. Ever since I made the decision to start getting more involved on my campus, way back when- during my 3rd year, it's become like a continuous roaring of a snowball. I'm already feeling the drain.

Good. Great. Wonderful.

But really, I am excited for what's ahead of me.

Wants:

- clarity

- reassurance

- sketchbook