Why do I try to stay awake?
What a loaded sentence. Let me give you some context. Its Saturday afternoon. I have window fans going, but its still hot and humid. I'm tired still from the night before, I have some relaxing music going, and I have my homework notes in front of me, in preparation for a test. A perfect recipe for a lazy Saturday nap, right? Yes. However, I resisted that urge.
But why did I try to stay awake? I knew I had homework to do. Other things could've been accomplished. And yet, I probably spent more time trying to stay awake, rather than just lying down for an hour and getting a few quick z's.
At the time, this does not seem to make sense. It is Saturday afternoon. There is stuff to do. It is not time for a nap. I have not done anything deserving of a nap, I tell myself. A nap is a reward. (Unless its Sunday, then, its a right.) So I spend a couple hours, dozing in and out of consciousness at my desk, telling myself that I shouldn't nap. I'm telling myself that I should not waste time. In that process, I end up wasting more time.
The next time I feel the urge to fall asleep at home, perhaps I should just do so. Its lazy, but apparently, less lazy than the alternative.
Showing posts with label On a Personal Note. Show all posts
Showing posts with label On a Personal Note. Show all posts
In Defense Of Twitter
Have you been to a news web site, read a newspaper or a magazine within the past six months? If so, you have no doubt heard about Twitter, a popular microblogging service. And yet, some of those stories don't get the point of the service at all.
Take for instance, this column from LATimes.com. The fiery columnist -- who, to be fair and throw a compliment her way, is an excellent writer and writes a compelling column -- says this about the program in her conclusion: ". . . along with "what am I doing right now?" maybe it's time to ask "what the hell are we doing"?" Her take on the system is that the tweets bring people down to an idiotic, superficial level, full of uninteresting details on the mundane events of every persons right.
Before we go any further, I must disclose this: I tweet. A lot. So much so that I know what a hash tag is, I @ reply someone, I know what a DM is, along with a RT. My screenname is @charlesjurries.
What these columnists, who no doubt need to find a ax to grind to meet deadline, fail to miss is that the "mundane" aspects of a persons life are what makes a person a person. Does everybody care that I was walking around downtown Grand Rapids? No. But some do. Maybe they haven't been in a while. Maybe they're expecting some pictures from that afternoon (sorry, the answer is "no"). Maybe someone didn't take me to be the person to spend an afternoon down in GR.
Its those kinds of simple details that make us a complete person. Imagine if your random thoughts on your niches, and your life details, were each a piece of straw. Over time, your Twitter feed would give your followers a more complete scarecrow, a sense not only what this person does, but how they think.
Does Twitter have some superficial people on it, full of just mind-numbing boring tweets? Yes. You don't have to follow them. You follow who you want, at your pleasure. If you find them interesting, if they give you a unique insight into their world, into others, that's why you'll go to them. People don't want to be bored. So they won't allow themselves to be.
Another advantage Twitter has over traditional blog posts: It cuts right to the chase. While you can say a lot in 140 characters (their limit), it also limits you to creatively say what you want in a concise sentence or two. No bloating. No filibustering. You have to say what you mean, the first time. This amazingly forced clarity helps to improve communication (surprising, right?) and the exchange of ideas.
Another thing... Twitter can be a conversation starter. By tweeting those fleeting - but momentarily important - thoughts, instead of forgetting them, you could (and I have) wind up talking about more conversation points than before.
Does Twitter and the world of microblogging have a ways to go? Yes. In future years, Twitter could turn out to be the Xanga of this genre, the early adaptor that is improved upon by a better service. For what we have right now, though, its pretty good. And its good to know what's on your mind right now. Because it makes you more of a whole person. It allows me to pick what's on your mind. And you on mine.
Go ahead and let the doubters doubt. They've picked on the negatives and refuse to see any positives, and chances are, will not allow themselves to. They've created Twitter to be this sort of terrible ideal, many times without columnists giving it a fair chance. (At times, I wonder if some writers have even signed up for the service at all, and instead are reading Ashton Kutcher's feed and coming to their own conclusions.)
* Sorry if this post seemed a little disjointed. I was just writing down what was on my mind. (Oh, writer's snap!)
Planning my career AND school?
I am in a unique life position.
Whereas most people take serious worry over their careers once they have graduated and have an established reputation, I am starting to wonder what I should do now, before I've graduated, before my name is well-known.
For the 2007-2008 academic year, I was a reporter and Web Design Editor for the Collegiate, the college newspaper serving Grand Rapids Community College. I won an award for my reporting from the Michigan Press Association. My work on CollegiateLive.com won first place awards from the MPA and the Michigan Community College Press Association.
During the summer, I sent out my resumes to a few media professionals. One group bit, interviewed me, and now I am completing an internship at the still-unnamed Media Group. (Blog manners say it is polite not to mention your present company. You can still figure it out.)
With one chapter in my life about to close, I'm trying to figure out what the next one will be about. I may talk to the people at the Lanthorn, the college newspaper serving Grand Valley State University, and seeing if they need any help in any capacity. (Having some background in photography, writing, web and limited graphic design, I am sure there's something I could do.)
Another option to explore, I feel, may come up during one of my winter classes. Among the classes I am slated to take is Broadcast News I, which the college describes as:
News writing for radio and television. Projects include writing and producing newscasts and interviews.
Production, in the TV sense of the term, is not something I have had really any experience with. That would be another nice tool to add to my skill set. Might I even work with the Grand Valley TV station?
Why not just kick back and enjoy a couple semesters of just school? Well, journalism jobs are not terribly abundant. Some jobs that exist are there because media companies fire the old fogies who don't want to adapt to new media, so they hire one new spunky kid to do 2-3 people's job. The appearance of jobs does not mean that everyone gets jobs. There are more graduates than available jobs. And I've been "scoping out" some competition, and the issue is not that I'm qualified - I definitely am, to toot my own horn - it is that other people are as qualified, if not more so.
To prove that I can be a worthy performer is more than just saying "I can" in a job interview. Everyone will say that to get a job. The interviewer doesn't know your true capacity. They are trying to. But people give lip service in interviews. To prove that you can do what you say you do, you need examples. Portfolio pieces. And current ones at that. I won't be able to use a piece that I wrote in May, 2008 for a job interview in Nov., 2019. That's five years old. It's dated. Old. Stale. (Not to mention media companies have no money, and will be having even less in the years ahead, so whoever they hire has to be worth it.)
By having an "easy semester," with only fifteen credits and my part-time job, I could be open to a gap in my resume and not many skills gained. Is it unfair? Maybe. College offers a lot of theoretics and analyzing, which is terrific, but there is often more talking than doing. And journalism is an industry about doing.
Hopefully, at the very least, the broadcasting class will allow an opportunity to do. And maybe I should start thinking about another internship in the summer.
Sharing my homework
It is not all that often I share my homework with other people. Especially when some parts are a little "messy." Nevertheless, this is "Web 2.0," the day and age of sharing. To that end, I here have my Nonverbal Communication class final project, presented to you in three 5-page Scribd documents for your enjoyment.
Final Part 1
Get your own at Scribd or explore others:
Final Part 2
Get your own at Scribd or explore others:
Final Part 3
Get your own at Scribd or explore others:
A mouse in my shoe
Men's shoes are not shaped like men's feet.
This is very important to remember.
Friday morning I was getting ready to go to work. I live about a mile and a half from my place of establishment. (This too is very important.) And I was not in a terribly big hurry, although I was cutting the clock a little close. I put my shoes on - which are about two weeks old, and I am still not completely used to the feel of them.
I left and got in my minivan. (Yes, I drive a minivan. It drives very nice!) After about half a mile, I felt something in my shoe. It felt like any kind of random object that gets in the shoe: a small stone, a twig, or a piece of cat food. It moved around a little bit, but it didn't bother me that badly.
Once I got to work, I decided that I should take the stone out of my shoe before I start working, just so I'm not distracted. So I untied my shoe. And thinking that I'd be dumping whatever was in my shoe on the ground anyways, I got out of my van and put my foot on the ground. I lifted my food out of my shoe....
...when a small mouse ran out of my shoe.
It seems that in the extra space in the "nose" of the shoe, the mouse had curled up before I put my foot in the shoe, and it didn't have any real room to move around. I try not to think about what I felt, which in all reality, was probably it's tail. Gross.
I still have a life, am living it
As warned, blogging has been cut down quite a bit since school has started. I am still alive, however. So that is good news.
I am taking 12 credits worth of classes, working about 12 hours a week, and spending time with my internship at Unnamed Media Company (UMC). And I do not feel that stressed out... yet. Any deviation from my schedule might do just that, however.
Tuesday nights this summer were spent bowling with some friends. I have decided to keep that up over this semester, to ensure that I make at least some effort to socialize. Some semesters I bury myself in homework and barely see any friends - apart from the ones I work with - so that has been great for me as well. Except since the semester started, the stress has obviously kicked in and affected by bowling game, bringing me down from scoring 100+ a game to being fortunate to get 70 points. I think I need to use the bumpers.
I have two discussion classes this semester. These 400-level classes are spent with students doing reading and talking about what was read, while the teacher facilitates what goes on. This works great for one class where it is just four people talking.
I have more or less adjusted to the Grand Valley State University Allendale campus. I know where my buildings are, and I think I know where all the other classes are. I can get from building to building in just a few minutes. Most buildings are not too big, either. Except for Mackinaw Hall, where one can expecting to find a shopping mall hidden inside that labyrinth.
Grandpa J. had a small stroke. He's fine. He lost half his vision. That's about all I can say in a nutshell about that.
I assume the rest of the family is doing okay. I barely see them.
The new television season is starting to come back. I have never missed 24 less.
Heroes decided that "villains" means having some generic no-good-doers look menacing while everyone else becomes morally ambiguous. The Office decided that after receiving harsh criticism for their hour-long episodes last season to open this season with another hour-long installment. Smart!
Bones has not yet found a replacement for Zach in the lab. This past week's episode seems to hint that we're just a season away from the serial-killer-apprentice being reinstated to the land of the squints. House remains as comfortable has it always has. If only they would update the theme song with the other half of their cast. Ugly Betty remains the brightest thing I ever did see. Now that the show is filmed in New York City, I can try to identify places they are filming at that I recognize. So far: Times Square, and maybe that sprawling graveyard, which were all over the ride from LaGuardia to Manhattan.
I'm looking forward to the return of 30 Rock, Pushing Daisies and Private Practice. And Chuck, but, they debuted it one week prior to television broadcast, so it's already kind of come back for me.
Work is going fine at the Family Dining Establishment. People start, people leave, it's the perpetual revolving door. I get sad when people cut back on their hours. Then I remember I did the same this semester. It feels more wrong when others do that, though.
The internship at UMC is going good. A little... (complicated?) at times. But I am very fortunate to be working with some very nice people. I was afraid it would be a "stereotypical" newsroom with angry, egotistical people, but, I also have not met everyone. Those I have, do not fit the mold. Unless I am one of those people and I just don't recognize others like me.
I will probably be getting some more free time in a few weeks. The ratings for Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles have been hemorrhaging lately. If that gets cancelled, I'll gain an hour on Monday nights. Until Samantha Who? comes back, that is.
Quick update
I have started school this week. I am now a Grand Valley State University student. Their sports team is the Lakers, but, I think I will always be one of the Grand Rapids Community College Raiders at heart.
One interesting thing about GVSU is, I pay more money for less instruction. For every credit you take at GRCC, you get one hour of instruction. So a 3 credit class would meet for a total of 3 hours, every week. And the teachers don't like to get our early, because you paid for three hours/week, you should get your moneys worth for these three credits. Well, at GVSU, a 3 credit class meets for 2 and a half hours a week. I am not yet quite sure why this is. It's kind of nice, spending less time in class. (Which is the worst part of collegiate education, next to homework.) But it's an interesting shift, one that I'm not yet sure how to respond to.
I cut back on hours at Unnamed Family-Oriented Tourist-Trap Restaurant, to do an internship at Unnamed Media Organization. So I will be juggling a full credit load of classes, work hours, plus an internship. If I blog less this fall, you now know why.
In other news, the new television season starts up again very soon. I still have to figure out which shows I'll watch on the same night as they air, which shows I'll catch up on over the weekend, and which shows I'll save for summer. I am a little bit of a television nerd, so, this is a very important decision for me to make. Monumental, even.
That's the short and sweet of it. More posts to (hopefully) come later.
One interesting thing about GVSU is, I pay more money for less instruction. For every credit you take at GRCC, you get one hour of instruction. So a 3 credit class would meet for a total of 3 hours, every week. And the teachers don't like to get our early, because you paid for three hours/week, you should get your moneys worth for these three credits. Well, at GVSU, a 3 credit class meets for 2 and a half hours a week. I am not yet quite sure why this is. It's kind of nice, spending less time in class. (Which is the worst part of collegiate education, next to homework.) But it's an interesting shift, one that I'm not yet sure how to respond to.
I cut back on hours at Unnamed Family-Oriented Tourist-Trap Restaurant, to do an internship at Unnamed Media Organization. So I will be juggling a full credit load of classes, work hours, plus an internship. If I blog less this fall, you now know why.
In other news, the new television season starts up again very soon. I still have to figure out which shows I'll watch on the same night as they air, which shows I'll catch up on over the weekend, and which shows I'll save for summer. I am a little bit of a television nerd, so, this is a very important decision for me to make. Monumental, even.
That's the short and sweet of it. More posts to (hopefully) come later.
Keep it to yourself
You know what I don't like? When I explain how I'm feeling, and people tell me I have no right to feel what I'm feeling. I might say, "I've been working for ten hours, I'm kind of tired right now!" and then someone will say "Well, I've been working for twelve hours, so you have no right to complain!"Guess what?
I do.
Just because you feel tired also does not make me magically not tired. It does not negate what I am feeling.
Even better is my personal favorite, "stop acting like that." Not only does it make it sound like they are treating me like a three-year-old, it also assumes they have some sort of power or dominion over me. And it usually just amplifies whatever I'm feeling at the time. Not too long ago, I had a very bad day at work. My mind was scattered with all sorts of stressful stuff, I did not want to be there, I had very little sleep, I had a headache, and all other sorts of complain-able stuff. I had a bad day, okay? Everyone has them. Except for me, apparently, because everybody told me to snap out of it and be in a good mood. Although my friends were very well-intentioned, it does not work like that. Genuine attitudes are a shift, they are not turned on and off at will. And it just makes me upset that people have decided how I can and cannot feel, and apparently I cannot deviate from their will.
You can ask me how I'm feeling, or why I'm upset. But please, oh please, do not think that I will suddenly feel better because you are having a bad day as well. And please do not tell me to just snap into a new attitude, because, really, if I could, wouldn't I?
Extended Vacation
I'm back from my camping trip at Brower Park. I'll have a post about that coming soon. But until then, this blog will take, in theory, one more vacation day.
Overheard on set
Sometime this year, I was a background actor for a movie. (Until I know for sure that shooting is done, I won't mention the name on this blog. It's a silly policy I have.) But I can share this unique observation.
The scene had a boyfriend and his girlfriend interacting with each other. In-between scenes, all the talent was sent away so the crew could work with the set. I overheard the actor playing the boyfriend talking to one of the stagehands about what porn sites each other goes to. And a couple minutes later, one of the crew is talking to the actress playing the girlfriend, talking about what church she went to that previous week.
How random.
The scene had a boyfriend and his girlfriend interacting with each other. In-between scenes, all the talent was sent away so the crew could work with the set. I overheard the actor playing the boyfriend talking to one of the stagehands about what porn sites each other goes to. And a couple minutes later, one of the crew is talking to the actress playing the girlfriend, talking about what church she went to that previous week.
How random.
Resolution
I will now be a Communications major.
I still have to do the paperwork, but, this is what I have decided. Under this track, I should be able to finish school in two years. ("The best laid plans. . .") The Communications degree offers a few different areas of study (apart from the core classes), one of which is Journalism. So the classes I have already taken, and will take, will count towards this degree. And I can dip into some other areas, too, like Film / Video, Broadcasting, Photography, Theater, Advertising and Public Relations.
It may not be as "specific" as the Journalism degree (which is kind of broad enough as it is), but, it is still a degree. And it is one of those "trainable" degrees, like Psychology. Many employers will look for people with degrees in humanities, and then will train them for the specific tasks. They want to make sure that they can get someone who can relate to people well and interact well. I even heard of an accounting firm who was taking in people without finance degrees, with something like Psychology, and then training them for the tasks. They want a good person. So that is how I will also have to further market myself. As a nice person.
I will still take some "extra" Journalism classes, when I can. I still hope to work in media in some way, shape or form. I think I am drawn to that area. But a Journalism degree? In this day and age where most other professions require Master's and Doctorate degrees to be considered employable, the value of a Bachelor-level J-degree is still being debated. That is how incredibly awesome journalism is. It is not about education, it is about doing. If you can tell a factual and accurate story and tell it well, you are in. Just a degree alone will not necessarily get a foot in the door. And that's why I want to continue with those classes, so I can keep writing and keep having more and more recent writing samples.
The main difference between the Communications degree and the J-degree is that for Comm. majors, they have to do a Senior Project / Thesis. J-majors need an internship. So for my senior year, if I become a complete recluse while working on my thesis or special project, you'll know why.
So that is the status of my college career right now.
I still have to do the paperwork, but, this is what I have decided. Under this track, I should be able to finish school in two years. ("The best laid plans. . .") The Communications degree offers a few different areas of study (apart from the core classes), one of which is Journalism. So the classes I have already taken, and will take, will count towards this degree. And I can dip into some other areas, too, like Film / Video, Broadcasting, Photography, Theater, Advertising and Public Relations.
It may not be as "specific" as the Journalism degree (which is kind of broad enough as it is), but, it is still a degree. And it is one of those "trainable" degrees, like Psychology. Many employers will look for people with degrees in humanities, and then will train them for the specific tasks. They want to make sure that they can get someone who can relate to people well and interact well. I even heard of an accounting firm who was taking in people without finance degrees, with something like Psychology, and then training them for the tasks. They want a good person. So that is how I will also have to further market myself. As a nice person.
I will still take some "extra" Journalism classes, when I can. I still hope to work in media in some way, shape or form. I think I am drawn to that area. But a Journalism degree? In this day and age where most other professions require Master's and Doctorate degrees to be considered employable, the value of a Bachelor-level J-degree is still being debated. That is how incredibly awesome journalism is. It is not about education, it is about doing. If you can tell a factual and accurate story and tell it well, you are in. Just a degree alone will not necessarily get a foot in the door. And that's why I want to continue with those classes, so I can keep writing and keep having more and more recent writing samples.
The main difference between the Communications degree and the J-degree is that for Comm. majors, they have to do a Senior Project / Thesis. J-majors need an internship. So for my senior year, if I become a complete recluse while working on my thesis or special project, you'll know why.
So that is the status of my college career right now.
Complete and utter confusion
The following is Chuck breaking his promise not to vent about school anymore.
If you saw my Facebook status, you would know that I am still confused about school issues. I really should go talk to my counselor and get his take on my school education. You know that spreadsheet comparing the two degrees I am interested in? I shaded all the classes I will have completed by May, 2009, and guess what? One of the two degrees will only have five classes left to take. 5. Five. Cinco. Normal amount of fingers on a hand. THAT many. The other? 8. Or, depending on which track I take, 10.
My choice is between taking 5 more courses to satisfy requirements for one degree, or taking 10 more courses (these all being, of course, after this upcoming academic year) to satisfy another degree. The easier degree to obtain is Communications (of course), the less prestigious but still employable degree, whereas the tougher of the two is Journalism, which carries more weight around it, at least, in my opinion. But you need either one of the two degrees to get a job in media, so it does not matter so much in that regard. And a fair chunk of employers just care that you have a degree, and it does not matter what it is in. (Not all employers, but, a good amount are like that.)
And it still kind of does not matter since I need a lot more credits anyways to graduate from Grand Valley. I know why the University doesn't want me to just transfer in right away and get a degree from them shortly thereafter; they want to make sure that I have been educated for a good while according to "Grand Valley standards," and then I can be truly counted as a "Grand Valley Student." I get that. I really do. But it still stinks that I have to spend time taking courses, courses that don't even matter, to get my degree.
In the fall, I'm currently scheduled for 12 credits. In the winter, 16. (I know!) That makes for a total of 28 credits. (See my mad math skills at work there?) That leaves 30 credits left to qualify for graduation at GVSU. The remaining classes for the Communications degree fills up about half of that. Meaning I have a "wasted" semester. Which, I can fill up with Journalism classes, A/V production, cross-stitching, or what have you.
But then there's another terrible option. There aren't many sections available for the classes I'll have remaining in the second year. Which means if I can't sign up instantly, I may have to take extra classes and wait for another semester to get the classes I want. This would be horrible. The reason being I want to be done with school yesterday. I spent the summer applying to jobs I had no business applying to, hoping that I could become employed and then start my career, rather than finish getting my 'training' for it at college.
And then there's the finances.... !!!!
If I go for the Bachelor's in Communications, I can conceivably be in and out of the college in two years. Which is what I said about the community college, and I stayed there for three. Of course, then I started as a Photography major, so, being decisive about that degree is probably not my specialty.
If you saw my Facebook status, you would know that I am still confused about school issues. I really should go talk to my counselor and get his take on my school education. You know that spreadsheet comparing the two degrees I am interested in? I shaded all the classes I will have completed by May, 2009, and guess what? One of the two degrees will only have five classes left to take. 5. Five. Cinco. Normal amount of fingers on a hand. THAT many. The other? 8. Or, depending on which track I take, 10.
My choice is between taking 5 more courses to satisfy requirements for one degree, or taking 10 more courses (these all being, of course, after this upcoming academic year) to satisfy another degree. The easier degree to obtain is Communications (of course), the less prestigious but still employable degree, whereas the tougher of the two is Journalism, which carries more weight around it, at least, in my opinion. But you need either one of the two degrees to get a job in media, so it does not matter so much in that regard. And a fair chunk of employers just care that you have a degree, and it does not matter what it is in. (Not all employers, but, a good amount are like that.)
And it still kind of does not matter since I need a lot more credits anyways to graduate from Grand Valley. I know why the University doesn't want me to just transfer in right away and get a degree from them shortly thereafter; they want to make sure that I have been educated for a good while according to "Grand Valley standards," and then I can be truly counted as a "Grand Valley Student." I get that. I really do. But it still stinks that I have to spend time taking courses, courses that don't even matter, to get my degree.
In the fall, I'm currently scheduled for 12 credits. In the winter, 16. (I know!) That makes for a total of 28 credits. (See my mad math skills at work there?) That leaves 30 credits left to qualify for graduation at GVSU. The remaining classes for the Communications degree fills up about half of that. Meaning I have a "wasted" semester. Which, I can fill up with Journalism classes, A/V production, cross-stitching, or what have you.
But then there's another terrible option. There aren't many sections available for the classes I'll have remaining in the second year. Which means if I can't sign up instantly, I may have to take extra classes and wait for another semester to get the classes I want. This would be horrible. The reason being I want to be done with school yesterday. I spent the summer applying to jobs I had no business applying to, hoping that I could become employed and then start my career, rather than finish getting my 'training' for it at college.
And then there's the finances.... !!!!
If I go for the Bachelor's in Communications, I can conceivably be in and out of the college in two years. Which is what I said about the community college, and I stayed there for three. Of course, then I started as a Photography major, so, being decisive about that degree is probably not my specialty.
5 years
I have now officially been working for Family Dining Tourist Destination Restaurant for five years. And while blog manners say it is polite not to mention the name of your employer on your own blog, I will say that it has been a good five years. And considering how many unwanted credits I will still have to take as part of my college education, I will probably be there for a little while longer until I can get my Bachelor's degree.
Speaking of which, the classes I will have this year will make a dent towards getting an overall degree, but not many classes relating to my major, which is a bummer. That is just as well, as it gives me more wiggle room to decide if I want to major in Journalism or in Communications. The difference in classes can be seen below... but you need some explanation.
Classes in GREEN are completed. Classes in BLUE are ones I completed at GRCC. And for the Journalism degree, I must decided between A or B, not take them both.
As you can see, for either degree, it would not take terribly long to "eat up" the requirements. I would then have all the training needed for my particular craft. But would I have those 58 credits needed to graduate? No. So I need to "waste" time to get those credits, so I can graduate. (Seriously, the GVSU handbook says that "A minimum of 58 semester hours must be earned at a senior institution.") And the last 30 hours must be a GVSU, which, that's fair. But I want to start a job, start a career. I don't want to stay and pay the college money when it's not needed.
Sorry to rant on you like this. You come here to the blog for my take on journalism and entertainment, among other things, and I give you documents, college data and nonsensical rants. But I wanted to get it out there in a public forum. And I needed a blog post for today.
Mission accomplished.
Speaking of which, the classes I will have this year will make a dent towards getting an overall degree, but not many classes relating to my major, which is a bummer. That is just as well, as it gives me more wiggle room to decide if I want to major in Journalism or in Communications. The difference in classes can be seen below... but you need some explanation.
Classes in GREEN are completed. Classes in BLUE are ones I completed at GRCC. And for the Journalism degree, I must decided between A or B, not take them both.
As you can see, for either degree, it would not take terribly long to "eat up" the requirements. I would then have all the training needed for my particular craft. But would I have those 58 credits needed to graduate? No. So I need to "waste" time to get those credits, so I can graduate. (Seriously, the GVSU handbook says that "A minimum of 58 semester hours must be earned at a senior institution.") And the last 30 hours must be a GVSU, which, that's fair. But I want to start a job, start a career. I don't want to stay and pay the college money when it's not needed.
Sorry to rant on you like this. You come here to the blog for my take on journalism and entertainment, among other things, and I give you documents, college data and nonsensical rants. But I wanted to get it out there in a public forum. And I needed a blog post for today.
Mission accomplished.
I might be a visionary
I had the strangest form of Deja Vu the other day. I was on set at a movie, as an extra. While in the holding room, they were telling which extras would be needed in a scene, and which ones would not. Then, being seated, I saw how everything looked in the room, and I recalled the dialogue and it felt like a dream I had years ago.
That is to say, that afternoon felt like the realization of a dream I had years and years ago.
How's that for a way to kickoff your weekend?
That is to say, that afternoon felt like the realization of a dream I had years and years ago.
How's that for a way to kickoff your weekend?
Choosing the right role
Last semester, I took an introduction to acting class at school. It was one of the most unique, relaxing, fun classes I have ever taken. We would start the session off with warm-ups (stretches, yoga, all that good stuff), then have some lecture, usually do some "improv" acting on the spot, rehearse our acting scenes, discuss how to break down a scene, and more. It was refreshing and a terrific class to take. And it was an excellent follow-up to a public speaking class. This class had public speaking, but it also had you with no notes, doing physical movements, impacting your scene partner, and dividing your attention. No easy feat. And if I took away one thing, other than more public confidence, is to choose your role carefully.
During the course of the class, I played Henry II from a scene in The Lion in Winter, and Polonius from Hamlet. Both were terrific roles, full of subtext, danger, intrigue, and hidden meanings. They also had very "ye olde English"-style dialogues. And the prose of Shakespeare - it was terrible to memorize! Both roles wound up being too much to chew off, especially for an intro to acting class. It is not that I did terrible. There were many elements that the class told me were good. But I would forget lines. Because they were tough. Very tough. And the characters were not exactly like me. I am not a spiteful old king, manipulating his estranged wife. I am not a conniving court jester hoping to wreak havoc. Having to step into those shoes further added to the troubles.
For our last scene, our teacher suggested that we get into groups. Everybody had to think of actors and actresses that inspire them, and why. What did they do? What makes them compelling? Why do we like them? Then we had to think of the types of character we would like to play. For our last scene, we would be doing monologues without a scene partner, so there was more flexibility in finding a role that was more suited for us. Finally, we had to tell our group partners what kind of character we thought they should play, and why. I was told that I seemed like the kind who would play an honest type who would be put upon a lot. Kind of a "Ray from Everybody Loves Raymond," someone who tried to keep things under control but things got out of control from underneath him. I left class that day, reflecting on those exercises and what that could mean for my acting roll.
As I was dwelling on those thoughts, I was flipping through monologue books at the school library. Many of the scenes were either too long (we had a time limit), or too boring. Too uninspired. Too controversial. Too unlike me. I picked up another book, opened it up and found it: my perfect role. The role I would do wonders with in class. The role that fit my criteria, that fit others criteria, the role that would be absolutely perfect for me:
Charlie Brown.
He is shy. Socially stunted. Afraid to try new things. He feels his life is terrible, unaware that he is the one making his life so burdened. It is a terrific character, full of irony and subtext, and had many entry points to which I could relate. I read over the role and it was perfect for me.
Performance day comes and I play my short scene as Charlie Brown. I am very nervous, which plays great into the character, who is made up of nothing but nervousness and worry. I can tell that the whole class is studying me, watching me. Which is great, because if they were looking away, I would know I was not giving a great performance. I get a couple laughs where I was supposed to, which is an amazing rush. It is the same rush you get from public speaking, only slightly more so. Seconds later, the performance ends. I get applause. And I get mostly terrific feedback. I got a couple compliments on choosing a terrific role, one that fit me well.
Life is kind of like that. We go through life, we try different things and hope to figure out what we do well at. We might bite off more than we can chew, absolutely. But through some patience, wisdom and guidance, we just might figure out what role we were meant to play after all. I don't think I quite know what that role is for me yet. All I know is that I'm pretty sure I'm looking in the right section. And I've had advice from people on what careers they think I'd be good at. And I've taken dozens of "what career is best for you" job placer tests and personality quizzes. Unless everybody and every quiz robot gave me bad advice, I'm on the right track. But I just have to find that right role. That perfect job, which may not get me as much applause as playing Charlie Brown did, but will give me an equal amount of satisfaction.
During the course of the class, I played Henry II from a scene in The Lion in Winter, and Polonius from Hamlet. Both were terrific roles, full of subtext, danger, intrigue, and hidden meanings. They also had very "ye olde English"-style dialogues. And the prose of Shakespeare - it was terrible to memorize! Both roles wound up being too much to chew off, especially for an intro to acting class. It is not that I did terrible. There were many elements that the class told me were good. But I would forget lines. Because they were tough. Very tough. And the characters were not exactly like me. I am not a spiteful old king, manipulating his estranged wife. I am not a conniving court jester hoping to wreak havoc. Having to step into those shoes further added to the troubles.
For our last scene, our teacher suggested that we get into groups. Everybody had to think of actors and actresses that inspire them, and why. What did they do? What makes them compelling? Why do we like them? Then we had to think of the types of character we would like to play. For our last scene, we would be doing monologues without a scene partner, so there was more flexibility in finding a role that was more suited for us. Finally, we had to tell our group partners what kind of character we thought they should play, and why. I was told that I seemed like the kind who would play an honest type who would be put upon a lot. Kind of a "Ray from Everybody Loves Raymond," someone who tried to keep things under control but things got out of control from underneath him. I left class that day, reflecting on those exercises and what that could mean for my acting roll.
As I was dwelling on those thoughts, I was flipping through monologue books at the school library. Many of the scenes were either too long (we had a time limit), or too boring. Too uninspired. Too controversial. Too unlike me. I picked up another book, opened it up and found it: my perfect role. The role I would do wonders with in class. The role that fit my criteria, that fit others criteria, the role that would be absolutely perfect for me:
Charlie Brown.
He is shy. Socially stunted. Afraid to try new things. He feels his life is terrible, unaware that he is the one making his life so burdened. It is a terrific character, full of irony and subtext, and had many entry points to which I could relate. I read over the role and it was perfect for me.
Performance day comes and I play my short scene as Charlie Brown. I am very nervous, which plays great into the character, who is made up of nothing but nervousness and worry. I can tell that the whole class is studying me, watching me. Which is great, because if they were looking away, I would know I was not giving a great performance. I get a couple laughs where I was supposed to, which is an amazing rush. It is the same rush you get from public speaking, only slightly more so. Seconds later, the performance ends. I get applause. And I get mostly terrific feedback. I got a couple compliments on choosing a terrific role, one that fit me well.
Life is kind of like that. We go through life, we try different things and hope to figure out what we do well at. We might bite off more than we can chew, absolutely. But through some patience, wisdom and guidance, we just might figure out what role we were meant to play after all. I don't think I quite know what that role is for me yet. All I know is that I'm pretty sure I'm looking in the right section. And I've had advice from people on what careers they think I'd be good at. And I've taken dozens of "what career is best for you" job placer tests and personality quizzes. Unless everybody and every quiz robot gave me bad advice, I'm on the right track. But I just have to find that right role. That perfect job, which may not get me as much applause as playing Charlie Brown did, but will give me an equal amount of satisfaction.
My hate has made me powerful
(Click on the image to enlarge. That will probably make it easier to read.)Working at Unnamed Family Dining Restaurant, I have the privilege to talk to customers on a frequent basis through the drive-thru. And while most of them are nice and friendly, there can be some oddballs that come through. Like the person who drove up and asked for a "Mr. Fabulous," a burger belonging to a joint that closed about ten years ago. Of course we would know what a Mr. Fabulous is! Or the people who will ask you to recite your 13 different pies, then recite your soups, your salads, and will order only a cheeseburger.
More innocent is the common mistake of ordering the food "to go." At a drive-thru, that is standard. But, considering at the movie ticket counter, when the attendant says "enjoy the show," I will reply "thanks, you too," I may not have the most right to criticize this.
What I love about that cartoon is that, although the daily comic strip is set in retail, as the name suggests, there are plenty of ideas and ideas that will cross over into other job situations. (Like Dilbert.) And the idea of having an explosion of frustration on a customer, like the one in the strip, can be very enticing after a hard day's night.
It could never happen, of course. The frustrated customer would talk to another manager, probably a district manager, I'd get a few "talking's to," reprimanded and something written on my permanent record. But I absolutely love the cashier's retorts. Almost Catbert-like.
And for those few times I get really frustrated at work, I prefer the term "channeling my energy into something productive," but I do like the alternative phrasing: "My hate has made me powerful." Enchanting.
To Live or Die an Extra
I had the opportunity and privilege to be a background actor for the Grand Valley State University film project, To Live or Die in Dixie. The film is based on true events surrounding a murder at Dixie State University and the woman who tried to bring the accused murderer to justice.
The film crew, being college students, had the good sensibility to put out a casting call for extras on craigslist. After responding to the ad, I was contacted by the crew and given a time to show up to be in the film. The day was long, at least six hours, most of it standing around. This is common for movies. Television also, but less so. Movies move at a legendary slow pace, with everybody having to be patient as the directors, cameramen, sound people, engineers, electricians, lighting department, casting, producers, and everybody else figures out the next shot. Then you have to do a few practice shots, to make sure everything looks and sounds right. Then you do a few takes for the scene. And the scenes have to be reviewed before the director decides to end filming. It looks terrific on camera, but making a movie is perhaps the least glamerous experience you could ever embark on.
The above picture is a still from the movie. Grand Valley student will recognize that as being part of the lobby inside the fieldhouse. If you don't know me, that's me in the red striped polo, shaking the hand of the man in the yellow shirt. (Man in the yellow shirt is the accused murderer in the movie.)
That's me in the movie, again. I'm in the background, in the same shirt. In this shot, I was barely visible for just a second. The person I'm talking to, in the blue shirt, worked on the film. We came up with an elaborate story to tell each other for each take, as we mouthed "watermelon, oranges." As the story went on, we would start laughing. And I think at this point in the movie, we are just about to start laughing. A pity that the scene was missed.
I had the fortune to be called back for another scene in the film. This time I was a dignitary at a ribbon cutting ceremony, filmed on the Gilette Bridge in downtown Grand Rapids, MI. This scene took a few hours to set up and film, and was only in the movie for thirty seconds. (Again, that's how the business works.) You can see me in the shot, between the characters hugging in the foreground and the American flag waving in the background. We were asked to be happy and jubilant, and I tried. I really, really did. But when it was over 90 degrees outside, and you are wearing long pants, long sleeves and have been sitting in a warm holding room for hours, being happy was far from anybody's mind. The crew handled it like pros, though, and they made sure that everybody (including extras) had plenty of water to drink. We joked that the muggy weather was actually good, as it would be more "Dixie-like."
Grace and I were called in for another scene, set in the film's whites-only church. However, the camera angles did not include us in the frame. Again, that is also like the business; you may spend multiple days on a few scenes, only to have the director and editors cut those scenes out entirely.
All in all, it was a great experience and I was very glad to have been a small part of it, and to see a little bit of how a movie is made. I'll have another oppertunity to be a background actor in the future, but, that will be another blog post for another time.
The film crew, being college students, had the good sensibility to put out a casting call for extras on craigslist. After responding to the ad, I was contacted by the crew and given a time to show up to be in the film. The day was long, at least six hours, most of it standing around. This is common for movies. Television also, but less so. Movies move at a legendary slow pace, with everybody having to be patient as the directors, cameramen, sound people, engineers, electricians, lighting department, casting, producers, and everybody else figures out the next shot. Then you have to do a few practice shots, to make sure everything looks and sounds right. Then you do a few takes for the scene. And the scenes have to be reviewed before the director decides to end filming. It looks terrific on camera, but making a movie is perhaps the least glamerous experience you could ever embark on.
The above picture is a still from the movie. Grand Valley student will recognize that as being part of the lobby inside the fieldhouse. If you don't know me, that's me in the red striped polo, shaking the hand of the man in the yellow shirt. (Man in the yellow shirt is the accused murderer in the movie.)
That's me in the movie, again. I'm in the background, in the same shirt. In this shot, I was barely visible for just a second. The person I'm talking to, in the blue shirt, worked on the film. We came up with an elaborate story to tell each other for each take, as we mouthed "watermelon, oranges." As the story went on, we would start laughing. And I think at this point in the movie, we are just about to start laughing. A pity that the scene was missed.
I had the fortune to be called back for another scene in the film. This time I was a dignitary at a ribbon cutting ceremony, filmed on the Gilette Bridge in downtown Grand Rapids, MI. This scene took a few hours to set up and film, and was only in the movie for thirty seconds. (Again, that's how the business works.) You can see me in the shot, between the characters hugging in the foreground and the American flag waving in the background. We were asked to be happy and jubilant, and I tried. I really, really did. But when it was over 90 degrees outside, and you are wearing long pants, long sleeves and have been sitting in a warm holding room for hours, being happy was far from anybody's mind. The crew handled it like pros, though, and they made sure that everybody (including extras) had plenty of water to drink. We joked that the muggy weather was actually good, as it would be more "Dixie-like."Grace and I were called in for another scene, set in the film's whites-only church. However, the camera angles did not include us in the frame. Again, that is also like the business; you may spend multiple days on a few scenes, only to have the director and editors cut those scenes out entirely.
All in all, it was a great experience and I was very glad to have been a small part of it, and to see a little bit of how a movie is made. I'll have another oppertunity to be a background actor in the future, but, that will be another blog post for another time.
IKEA Idea
Yesterday, I traveled with some of the family to the IKEA store in the outer metro Detroit area. My goal was to purchase a couple lamps. I did not really go in intending to buy anything else. I even gave myself a small spending limit.... which I maxed out. I went from not buying anything there to turning stuff down because I would go over my budget.The store, if you have never been to one, is separated into two parts. The first part, located on the second floor, is the "showroom," in which they have all their furniture and decorations used in real-life settings.
There are dozens of model bedrooms, kitchens, living rooms, dining rooms, and the like scattered throughout. This gives you an oppertunity to see their products in a relatable setting. Then the second floor is the actual store, where you can buy the items you just saw.The items I bought would go to my eventual apartment, dorm, house, or back alley. I bought:
- The 2-pack of GRÖNÖ lamps
- An ironing board, on sale for $8
- Pot holders, $0.99
- Toilet brush/holder, $0.99
- 3 rubber spatulas (2 black, 1 white), $0.59 each
- 3-piece kitchen utensil kit, $0.59
- Kitchen shears, $1.99
- 3-piece knife set, on sale for $0.89
- 3-pack of heat pads, $1.99
- 2-pack of bendable chopping boards, $1.79
Yes, I got an ironing board. It was on sale, and I'll need one someday. It's not pretty, but, it is functional, and that's all that I require out of an ironing board. I do look forward to going back to IKEA in the future, and spending more time in their store. Especially their kitchen area, which, if you didn't notice, is where I got a lot of my items this time, and where I'm sure to buy from again.
I might be in a Japanese movie
No, I am not joking. And I totally forgot about this, too.
While going through my pictures from my too-short stay in midtown Manhattan, I found a picture taken outside the United Nations:
It is a warning that people walking through that area automatically consent to have their likenesses filmed for a movie tentatively titled "20th Century Boy." I remember seeing a camera, but I do not think they were filming. So I very much doubt that I will be discernible in any scene. And the movie is, I believe, actually 20th Century Boys and is a film adaption of a comic series, 20st Century Boys. (The reason I think that is because one of the studios mentioned on that photograph is "Toho Studio Production Center." Toho is based in Japan, where this movie is being filmed. Why they are at the United Nations, I do not know.)
While going through my pictures from my too-short stay in midtown Manhattan, I found a picture taken outside the United Nations:
It is a warning that people walking through that area automatically consent to have their likenesses filmed for a movie tentatively titled "20th Century Boy." I remember seeing a camera, but I do not think they were filming. So I very much doubt that I will be discernible in any scene. And the movie is, I believe, actually 20th Century Boys and is a film adaption of a comic series, 20st Century Boys. (The reason I think that is because one of the studios mentioned on that photograph is "Toho Studio Production Center." Toho is based in Japan, where this movie is being filmed. Why they are at the United Nations, I do not know.)
Just some more random thoughts
- I saw the new Indiana Jones movie. I enjoyed most of the movie, but not the movie as a whole, if that makes sense to you. The ending really was stupid. It was a great ride, right up until they entered the room. And even though they were only in for about twenty seconds, this movie has single-handedly killed the monkey. The monkey will no longer be popular for at least a year, guaranteed. Also, drop out of school IT WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE SPOILER WARNING.
- I am considering adding more computer classes to my expensive college education. I'm also thinking that there might be more for me, creatively, as a producer, rather than just a "normal" journalist. But it's the beginning of the week. Talk to me about my career plans on Saturday.
-M.J. moved on Friday. I was scheduled to work 11-8 that day. But I decided it would be a nice surprise for me to take night off and then come and help finish moving him into the apartment. Except when I got home, he was already moved in. So I spent that night tearing up his old carpet. True story.
- Maybe I need to empty my cache or something, but YouTube has been acting really slow for me lately. All other online video players (the less popular ones) work absolutely fine.
- I will get my own room in just a couple of days.
- Let's talk school again. You know how many students you talk to go through a phase in their life where they go, I hate school I just want to get out into the workforce and become, like, a member of society, like, you know? I'm kind of in that phase right now. I've applied to more jobs than I could ever remember. Jobs I'm not exactly qualified for, either. But it feels good to apply. Really good. It's a sense of accomplishment all on it's own. I wish I could get a job where I just applied for jobs, for me, every day. And I would rarely get hired. I would just apply for any job posted onto the internet. I would love that.
- I've hit a snag with one of my fiction projects. (You know, the ones I just plan, but never write?) I want to encompass lots of my church experiences into a single story. And at first I thought about a group of friends who would visit three or four churches, and then just talk about them over dinner. Nice, simple, understated. But then I began to worry that the characters I had might be too compelling that they take away from all the church stuff. So then I cut it down to one man, but now it's really lonely. And I'm not comfortable with just two or three people, at least, not any characters I've created yet.
- Did I mention some of the jobs I've applied to are out of state? I have no clue financially what I'd do if I got offered a job, but I'd be grateful for the opportunity. Especially if I got a job in the Village in NYC, or in Ojai, CA. The Ohio job would be closer to home, though, so I could visit on holidays.
- I've been playing tennis and bowling every week this year. I'm not very good at either - tennis especially, but it is a lot of fun.
- I am considering adding more computer classes to my expensive college education. I'm also thinking that there might be more for me, creatively, as a producer, rather than just a "normal" journalist. But it's the beginning of the week. Talk to me about my career plans on Saturday.
-M.J. moved on Friday. I was scheduled to work 11-8 that day. But I decided it would be a nice surprise for me to take night off and then come and help finish moving him into the apartment. Except when I got home, he was already moved in. So I spent that night tearing up his old carpet. True story.
- Maybe I need to empty my cache or something, but YouTube has been acting really slow for me lately. All other online video players (the less popular ones) work absolutely fine.
- I will get my own room in just a couple of days.
- Let's talk school again. You know how many students you talk to go through a phase in their life where they go, I hate school I just want to get out into the workforce and become, like, a member of society, like, you know? I'm kind of in that phase right now. I've applied to more jobs than I could ever remember. Jobs I'm not exactly qualified for, either. But it feels good to apply. Really good. It's a sense of accomplishment all on it's own. I wish I could get a job where I just applied for jobs, for me, every day. And I would rarely get hired. I would just apply for any job posted onto the internet. I would love that.
- I've hit a snag with one of my fiction projects. (You know, the ones I just plan, but never write?) I want to encompass lots of my church experiences into a single story. And at first I thought about a group of friends who would visit three or four churches, and then just talk about them over dinner. Nice, simple, understated. But then I began to worry that the characters I had might be too compelling that they take away from all the church stuff. So then I cut it down to one man, but now it's really lonely. And I'm not comfortable with just two or three people, at least, not any characters I've created yet.
- Did I mention some of the jobs I've applied to are out of state? I have no clue financially what I'd do if I got offered a job, but I'd be grateful for the opportunity. Especially if I got a job in the Village in NYC, or in Ojai, CA. The Ohio job would be closer to home, though, so I could visit on holidays.
- I've been playing tennis and bowling every week this year. I'm not very good at either - tennis especially, but it is a lot of fun.
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