Peace out

At some point in 1997, I joined a mailing list with other students in a distance education university program. It was an opportunity for everyone to 'connect' in a time before classes actually became online. We'd sit alone and listen to tapes of lectures and if enough of us were taking the same course, it was like we were all in the same class.

I had a number of strikes against me in joining the group:

1. I'm a man. There's only been a few males join (and all have disappeared, I think) in the 9 years I've been around.
2. I was one of the only people on the Pacific coast. Almost everyone else was in Ontario, with a few exceptions.
3. I was a history major. I recall there being one other.

Dreama, or whatever you're calling yourself these days, was also in the group. She's been around the longest. We've gotten along well... :)

Dreama left the group today. Can't say I blame her. The easiest excuse is that she graduated like a century ago. She could've left when most people did. When they were done.

A majority of the group has gone onto a new group: a diet group. I don't need that. Well, a diet, yes, but not a diet group.

so, I'm thinking I'm really done now. Dreama said her goodbye and I think it's time for mine as well.

From the group, not my blog.

Hehe. Scared ya!

11 Weeks

Effectively, as of Monday, I have 11 weeks of school left before I graduate. Usually about 8 weeks into a semester I'm totally annoyed and sick to death of the classes and just continue by looking forward to the next semester.

This coming semester: 2 days away and I'm already sick of it.

On Mondays, I have my portfolio review class. This class consists of the B.S. we were handed 6 months ago about how our work isn't good enough and how we're going to improve upon it in order to get permission from the instructor to put it on our demo reel DVD. We've already been given homework for our first class (nice). It consists of a number of questions:
1. Please identify three preferred employers that you are targeting with your portfolio. Describe how the content in your demo reel and printed material will directly interest these employers.
Welp, the 3 companies I'm looking at all do fairly realistic productions, so I'm steering away from fantasy, cartoony, and simplistic art styles and looking more toward realistic or photo-realistic. How I'll convey "photo-realistic" in printed material....
2. Please expand on how the content of your portfolio will demonstrate a personal brand that will distinguish your work from all others?
Why is there a question mark for a sentence beginning with please? My personal brand at school is having things done on time, so chances are my personal brand is that I'll be finished before the rest of these little.... blighters.
3. Explain how you will conduct research on technical and creative aspects for your portfolio work, including what resources you intend to use and how you will present this to the instructor for review.
... What? Well, research is usually done by looking things up, so I imagine I'll use the Internet. Also, I have these neat things called "textbooks" that I picked up so I actually knew what was going on in some of my classes. My technical aspects will come from the textbooks and online tutorials. And, websites have addresses. I'll write them down for you. How will I present these to the instructor? I'm thinking of throwing them at her.
4. What else do you think you need in order to help achieve your goals and complete your portfolio show readiness?
See, that one should have ended with a question mark. What do I need? Clarity. I need to know what you're actually asking me. "Complete your portfolio show readiness" makes no sense to me. Also, the next instructor or Dean who looks at me and says "You're fine" is going to pay dearly. I'm serious. So, some quality feedback would be great, for once. No "You're fine's" and no "that looks like ass." Neither comment actually helps me improve my work.

I don't have class on Tuesday. I've submitted a course challenge. It's a resume-prep class and I have years of experience with that and seeing as how this course isn't even industry-specific for our program --f@#! it. Oh, and the instructor is one of the guys we hated because he was so high on himself. Apparently, there's a 4-hour session where he does nothing but shake your hand. I don't want to touch him, so I'm out.

On Wednesday morning is the first half of my grad project class. WE have 8 hours of lab time a week to complete our project. Although I'm leading the group, I have 3 people working directly under me. One, for sure, has stepped down as he doesn't understand documentation at all (yeah, don't worry --no one documents anything in the real world). Another may have stepped down. He can't seem to make up his mind. He's told some he's done, but he's asked me what his status is.... putz. The third one is staying on, fortunately. So, I've stepped up and asked 2 of the more "with it" people to fill the seemingly empty roles. One punk, who's never seen the real world before, has bitched and whined for weeks about things and now is bitching about me selecting people for positions. As far as he's concerned, it should be a team decision. Ah yes, just like it is with any company. I always loved picking my boss. The second part of this project falls on Friday afternoons. By next Friday, I may be responsible for the execution of one team member. Maybe two.

On Thursdays, I have another 3D modeling course, unfortunately with the guy we had 2 semesters ago and barely taught us anything because he was too busy taunting the ESL students and ridiculing 'Loser-boy' because he just doesn't get it. The instructor still passed him, of course, so there's a 50-50 chance he'll be in my class again. If that's the case, I'll be switching blocks post-haste. The instructor is an annoying pain in the ass and I don't see me actually getting anything out of that class.

On Friday mornings, we've been promised a drop-in workshop to help us get our 3D work up to a proper level. Depending on who's there to "help" us, these may or may not be helpful.

So, there you go. Absolutely nothing to look forward to over the next 11 weeks.

Except leaving the damn place... in eleven weeks.

The Sounds of Silence...

Oh bitch, bitch, bitch --ya bitch.

Yeah, you Dreama ;)

Not posting anything? Well, once I figure out WTF happened to my last 3 posts, I'll post 'em again. Damn blogger... this close to moving elsewhere!!

Don't Talk to Me - Part 2

So, for an hour-plus yesterday I got to argue with one of the people on my production team. A few people had posted files in public forums for something still in the early stages of production.

That's bad.

And, sadly, it appears I had to tell people that that's bad. One of them... for over an hour.

His "justification" for posting it was that it's his work. I wouldn't have a problem if it's his, and not from our production... and not based on my written description and the original drawings of two others. His work. Good lord.

So, for an hour or so, I tell him that we'll be meeting as a group in early July (really can't wait for my two weeks off now!) and we'll discuss 'policy' behind posting in-production items on public forums. Y'know, let everyone know the "do's" and "don't's" behind leaking confidential information... yeah, I know: Any sensible adult should understand this already.

Well, "Mr. Numbnutz" decided that even though I'd managed to stave off the #1 guy from coming down hard on the people who posted their stuff. "I'll take care of it" and stop him from removing people from the project. Lesson learned for all of us. So, the plan was to discuss this as a team and see what is and what isn't hamrful to "release" about our production.

Mr. Numbnutz made that decision a whole lot easier when he questioned my memo saying "DON'T"...

No one gets to play anymore.

Between he & most of the other people on the team hounding me on MSN Messenger yesterday, I've set up a new MSN account just so I can talk to intelligent people. So, if you get added to my VIP list, feel fortunate ;)

One for the Money, Two for the Show

Yeah, that's 2 down and only one to go. A single project between me and 2 weeks of freedom.

And the project's basically done. This is the first time I've glided into finals, really. It's also the first time I haven't missed a class in a semester.

coincidentally... no Tuesday class this semester either. Hmmm.

I was pretty stressed about tonight's presentation. Apparently, the presenter this morning had 10+ extra guests, but they could handle a 9am presentation, but balked at a 6:30pm one. No biggie :)

hehe

My Monday presentation coincides with my Saturday afternoon one, so I basically had everything done Sunday night --a week in advance. I have a few touch-ups to do, but basically it's ready and pretty.

I also forgot about my test Saturday morning, but I jsut need to watch a few tutorial videos to remind myself how to use the programs. Not an issue, really. 'course, the instructor'll probably try distracting me with more Angelina Jolie movies.... It worked last time!

One and Two...

As, one project completed and two to go! Then, I'm finished for another semester! Whoo!

I have an exam too, but I'm basically discounting that class --yet another fine example of why we need electives instead of having fluff forced on us...

I got my revenge on 'Loser Boy' tonight as the instructor encouraged us to critique each other's work. To summarize, his work was crap and I let him know it in a verbal barrage that'll keep him in cold sweats tonight.

Hehe.

I have a presentation to do on Wednesday night, the fluff exam on Saturday morning and my other project (which coincided with the one due tonight) due on Saturday afternoon.

And that's it. Rightly earned 2 weeks off before the FINAL 11-week push to graduation.

It's hard to believe it's coming so quickly. Freakin' scary too.

Don't Talk To Me

One of the things really stressed into us at school is "look around." Look and see what your peers are doing right now. See what they're working on. If can make a helpful suggestion to make it look better: do it. They'll do the same for you.

And we do it. Well, a lot of us do it. We'll review each other's work and let each other know if it looks like 'ass' (which is the common term around here if it looks bad). I've had people suggest changes to some of my 3D work and they've made it better: fresh eyes. It's all about fresh eyes.

But there's always a 'but.'

One classmate, not working on the same team project as a lot of us, asked my opinion on some environment work he's doing. I liked it overall, but thought for "ancient jungle ruins" the rock looked to bright (and therefore too clean). As I was making suggestions, his friend (the BrainAge wunderkind) started yelling at me:
What gives me the right to look at other people's work?
How high and mighty am I to make suggestions and corrections?

Someone with the intelligence of salt water taffy should avoid arguments. At all costs. Especially after the lame-ass replies to my forum posts (mentioned in the previous blog entry). I lashed out.

See, when we were taught the importance of doing this (the industry as a whole can be blunt and if you can't take criticism, you're in the wrong business), because it helps us understand the critical eye and how others perceive our work (which is the whole point in doing the work in the first place). 'Loser-boy' failed that class (a class that consisted of 2 quizzes and a weekly progress report on our other classes to give us a cumulative grade) and is convinced he failed because the instructor has a crush on him.

Seems like a good time for a mental pause, yes?

I highly recommended to him, that he ask those same questions to her. I mean, if anyone will give it to him straight, it's her. She'll also probably fail him again as he still doesn't get it.

Just a few more months and I never have to see him again.

So, after this, I'm being much more selective with my 'observations.' I mean, this guy asked for my help and I helped him --just because his loser friend doesn't get it... So, the people on my team are going to get any help theyask for. They want suggestions, I'll give them suggestions (if they need it). If I want help, they'll be the first ones I'm going to. Anyone else comes up: don't talk to me. I'm not there for you.

Itemizing

There's been a few changes and things around here in the past week. I still look at this blog and think there's more to say, but...

Writing in this blog = time... I have no time.

With 'no time' also comes increasing frustration. And I mean a lot of it. People everywhere are pissing me off at the moment...

But I digress... Sometimes writing out frustrations doesn't help. So, anyhoo, here's a list of things on my mind at the moment:

1. An instructor asked me to get active on a local website for artists. Start posting my work and help critique other people's stuff. While I don't have time for it (hmmm, a theme!), I thought it might give me at least a minor break from the frustrations I'm having with my courses at the moment. But that didn't work. One of the guys working on our big group project posted some work and got pissy little comments back. All it proved was there's a supreme lack of intelligence on the boards when most of the people are from the same school. Then the moderator, who is an industry professional, ripped the artwork apart on the forum, stating that it's majorly flawed and poorly planned. No one --not one post-- had the ability to acknowledge that it was a work in progress. Idiots.
2. I decided to add some helpful hints to one post for a game idea. First off: I hate the word 'will.' If anyone recalls posts about 'Fluffy' (my old office roommate), he hated the word 'that.' 'That,' in his opinion, is just a filler word. "Players that receive a reward" is just a really bad sentence. "Players will receive a reward," to me, is just as bad. "Players receive a reward..." just sounds better. So, here I am stating that adding "will" anywhere lends itself towards passive voice. Someone replies that there's only one sentence that's actually in passive voice (I didn't say they were passive sentences, I said 'will' lends itself to passive voice). They back up their response by pointing out their experiences at Future Shop as a sales associate... Yeah, fine. Your Future Shop employment history beats my college education. Yep. Mmm-hm. Screw helping out, I have enough idiots to deal with.
3. My parents apologized on Friday. They dropped by and we had a discussion. They relented and apologized. I refused to accept their apology at first and made them apologize to my kids. I wasn't the one who was hurt, after all, I've dealt with them for years.
4. My parents sold their house and their offer on a condo (about 25 minutes from both my sister & I) was accepted while they were apologizing. They'll be local again by August.
5. I'm going into week 10 of 11 in my current semester. I still haven't figured out my schedule. I've had 2 Monday classes cancelled because of holidays and one of those clases was rescheduled to a Sunday morning. I've also gone in for an extra day on a Friday. So, yeah, still haven't figured out my schedule.
6. Next semester, my final one, is looking like weekday classes only. Nothing at night and nothing on weekends. SWEET. It means my commute is by train, not car. It also means I'll be there Monday-to-Friday, 8-5.
7. Actually, I'll be there 4 days a week. We have another 'fluff' course next semester and I won't be taking it. My life experiences negate the class.
8. No one else wants to take the class, either. It's called 'professional development,' but it's basically 44 hours of preparing your resume and working on interview skills. 44 hours I can spend doing something else, thanks. Most people seem intent to skip the course altogether. Good luck graduating.
9. My carpool buddy is doing 2 annoying things right now. First, he's moving back into Vancouver this summer. That means no more HOV lane commute for me. :( Also, he's skipped one of our classes 3 times which most likely means he receives an automatic fail. Going into our final semester is not the time I'd want to have 6 classes. Sucks to be him.
10. My meeting on Friday was awesome!! I got to hear all about the company that's #1 on my list of dream jobs from the guy who runs the place. I was introduced by my instructor as: "One of the most organized and responsible producers I've ever seen." Seriously, coming from someone with over 25 years' experience, that means so much!
11. One of my classmates paid me a rather large compliment the other day. He said whenever he gets frustrated with his work progress he just thinks of me and everything I have to deal with and that gets him motivated again. If I can do it, so can he. He asked me how I cope and I said: "I work hard, I make sure my kids now I exist, I talk with my wife and share my work with her, I cry alot and then I poo a little."
12. OK, I didn't really say that. I could imagine the look on his face, though!!
13. Latina Lady IM's me daily and we 'chat' for a few hours while I work. We've both complained recently about the lack of time to go work out. She said she needs a new workout buddy and I jokingly said I could never be her "w.b." because I'd be distracted all the time. Somehow that convinced her I'd be a good "w.b."
14. Uh oh.
15. Fortunately, nothing will happen exercise/health-wise until I"m done this semester. I don't have time to exercise!!
16. One of my 3D models is giving me a major headache. It's so simple too. I've made a roadway for my environment piece. Part of it is cobblestone, part of it is road with a sidewalk on both sides. The rest is just country road. I've made 3 textures out of 4 (there's some t-intersections where the cobblestone meets the pavement), but the model's all screwed up now. I'm not impressed. :( I've spent 5 hours on it today.
17. I'm convinced 'Alberta' was on 'Battle of the Jaywalk All-Stars 2.' But everytime I try and download the video from the NBC site, the computer crashes. Or the site. I've tried from 7 different computers with no luck.

OK, I think that's enough. I'm sure there's more I've forgotten.

Bouncy Bouncy

Never have I dreaded the walk to campus more than on Wednesdays of this semester. It's a time-consuming class with a growly insctructor. He yells at a lot of people, he patronizes students when they just don't get it. If they try and tell a joke, he usually lashes out at them. He's told 3 students that they won't make it in the profession without getting fired in their first month. It keeps me inside of 2 classrooms from Noon until after 10pm.

Yeah, I only said 'me' in that last sentence. He actually likes me. He doesn't yell at me. He laughs at my jokes. He talks to me like I'm his best friend and confidante.

And he's invited me to have lunch with the CEO of the company for which I want to work after I graduate.

So, as usual, coming home around Midnight (or 2am this week), I was bouncing off the walls for a few hours before finally falling asleep. I never thought I'd be in a position like this. A position where I can start networking. A position where my networking starts at the top.
A position where, no matter what happens, I come up smelling like roses.

Then, this morning, my inbox has a message from one of the members on the team. He's been in touch with friends working for a (not naming them) Major Japanese Company. MJC has a North American division and their interest is piqued because they've never heard of a small group doing such an ambitious project in 6 months. We have 19 people working for 6 months, they usually have 75+ people work for 2 years. Yep, it's ambitious. His email:

"Just wanted to make sure it was okay with you that I'm talking about our project to [MJC]? If so, good because if they like what they see, they'll probably just hire our entire team and move us down to California."

Wha?

Man, time for more bouncing!