This is Bliss?

So I never could make time to do my bliss assignment. I took Monday off of work to finish to my bliss assignment before class, because I didn't want to miss class to do the bliss assignment. Then I realized that I didn't need to take time off of work, because class had been canceled. It was too late, I had already taken the day off... but oh well. Ginny was working, I feel like my bliss probably involves her. I'm not really sure what makes me happy, but I am certainly happy with her. I figured I would hang out with Ginny after she was off of work to complete the assignment, but she had class. So I had talked to my friend Logan and we were going to go shopping. Shopping is usually not a blissful time for me, however I had just gotten my taxes back and a short-term incentive from work. The moral of the story, I had quite a bit of money that didn't have to go anywhere. It's better spending money in those moments. Anyway, Logan ended up getting called into work. So it was just me. I ended up getting some pretty cool stuff. I got some awesome deals. I also ended up finding two things I have been searching for. Ironically they were underwear. So yeah. I bought work clothes, underwear, chocolate for my girlfriend, and a vegetarian cookbook that I will likely never use. It wasn't really blissful at all, so I plan on making another attempt at it. This weekend Ginny and I are off of work. We plan on hitting up Chicago for the weekend. I think it's going to be a good weekend. I have a little something up my sleeve. Yeah, I think I'll have at least 2-3 hours of bliss.

Midterm quesions

What has been the single best aspect of this class thus far?
I think it's been seeing my classmates for the people they are, or possess inside, as opposed to the people I think them to be. I think we have some really gifted, really determined, really pissed-off students in the class. Regardless if I agree or disagree, you have to admire their strength, commitment and dedication. I don't know if I would have the courage to tell everyone what I believe religiously, to delete a creation I haven't seen, or to talk about racism as a white person. That takes... balls, big ones, Like REALLY BIG BALLS! I consider myself to be a liberal, free-spirited type of person. My fellow students at IUPUI usually leave me discouraged. I hear people say things, or watch them do something and think.... "Really? Seriously!" The slogan of the month appears to be "It takes all kinds," I can't seem to escape it; but it's true. It does take all kinds. I just don't expect to see all kinds in so many places. Last Thursday Ginny, our friend Logan, and myself went to a Thai restaurant that a mutual friend had recommended. It was buffet night, which was strange to begin with... but it got even stranger. We were surrounded by white people, in Indianapolis, at a Thai restaurant. This never happens! I mainly eat ethnic foods these days, and the restaurants are never ALL WHITE. It was strange. Not only was there little color in the place, but there was little space. This place was packed with people, big ones, and lots of them. I know it sounds like I am being mean, but I am not passing judgment. I am just trying to create a visual. Picture the Golden Corral crowd at a small Thai restaurant... it just doesn't fit. I took two things from that experience. One, buffets bring people together, build bridges and mend fences. If we could buffet the world, all of our problems would be solved. Two, people will always surprise me. The redneck Hoosier pallet is much more sophisticated than I had originally believed. And yes ladies and gentlemen, "it takes all kinds." All joking aside. The Thai buffet is a meeting in the middle. For someone that has never experienced something, a buffet concept is perfect. You are not obligated to one particular thing, and we will give you endless options. It's a Thai hand outreached, then accepted by an American grip. I thing this class is like that. Seeing Sideways is the buffet of New Media. Hopefully we will all leave the course a little more open-minded*.

*Food baby optional


What is the single most important thing you want to walk away with from this class?
I feel like the nature of this class is not to see things ‘sideways’ but more to open your mind. For me, I feel like I already work hard to keep my heart and mind open. To be willing to step outside of my comfort zone and accepting of things that are beyond me and my comprehension. I feel like this course is more empowering then it is described to be. Essentially it’s designed to make us better people, and hopefully that will carry over to our working lives. It encourages us to walk away from stifling situations. This class is the glimpse into what our lives/careers could be. We’ve learned the rules, now break them and do what you want. My freshman English teacher was amazing; I will never forget that guy. Mr. Baize, he looked just like Mark Twain. He was one wiry guy, amazingly passionate about reading creative writing. He gave A+++’s because some work was just that good. He was so motivating because he would get so excited about writer’s creating their own work. He taught us that we needed to first learn the rules, and then break as many as possible. Essentially you need to play by the rules to earn the respect, than you’ll earn the freedom to do what you want. I feel like I at that place with my New Media experience. I have learned essential skills and techniques. However, through learning those skills and techniques, I have also learned that I have no desire to have a New Media-based career. However, if I pick up what I have learned about myself in this course, and run with it... who knows what the future might bring? This weekend Ginny and I went to Columbus, OH... because Ginny needed "to get out of Indianapolis". We found this really awesome 32-room book store (http://www.bookloft.com/). While in this store I found this book, 500 Wedding Rings (http://www.larkbooks.com/catalog?isbn=1600590543), which Ginny and I basically perused from back to front. Marriage seems to be something in our near future, and we are a different type of people.... so of course we need a different type of ring. Anyway, on the way back to Indy we were talking about the rings. How some were just absurd and not at all practical, but we really appreciated the art aspect. That then lead me to the 'other' art... ya know, the kind of art you never will do in your average art class. I appreciate that kind of art, I don't always know what to do with it... but I appreciate its creativity. I hope that's what New Media will become for me. I hope I will make it my own, because we aren't really taught to do that. We are taught how to please a client, and how to recreate... but I don't want to recreate I want to create. To have something all my own. I want New Media to be enjoyable for me. I have seen outside work in other classes that basically tells me the creator work very hard to make something to surpass or match everything else that is out there. I want to create things on a new plane, or totally different direction. On the tree of New Media work, I want to be the roots. I want to continue to strive and grow... but I want it to be completely independent of what the 'field' is doing. I really just want to do it for myself... to have the love back... or at least the enjoyment.

I sense pain, fear, and someone watching

I decided to close my eyes and type. More often then not, I rely on my vision when on the computer. I don't do a whole lot with sound for the majority of my computer work. This is what I came up with.....

"I am having trouble relazing my eyes. The fan from my laptop is extrememly loud. My dog is making noises with her mousth. I hear cars outside. I feel as if there is a small current of electricity flowing through my fingers as they sit on home row. I feel like I can’t relaz my eyes and focus my other senses at the same time. My house is creaking in. The fense across the street is shaking. I hear sirens. It’s a little shilly. The window must be vlowing pretty strong to make the chain link fence sjakes. I hear a car approaching, I wonder how far away it is. It seems to be in the distrance. II just took my finders off of home row. I left my eyes closed and tried to find the row agaoin. I wanted to see if I could feel the ssame current on different rows. I could. I found home row by reliixing that my laptop has pretty noticableestentions on two of the keys. Keeping my eyes closed actually hurts wuite a bit even thought I am trying to relax."

The big thing about this is I realized how visual I am. Even when I am trying to not be, my eyes continued to move. As if I had no control over them. When I tried to relax my face and eyes, my eyes would start to open. So I had to quint, which really made my face and eyes hurt. I was pretty taken back by what my eyes were doing. It really seemed like they were fighting to stay alive.

To examine my visual tendencies some more, I blindfolded myself and did some things around the house. First I got up and headed toward the bedroom with my eyes closed. Even though I feel comfortable in my house, and confident where things are my heart immediately started to race. I could feel my heartbeat in my throat. I was being more cautious. It took me much longer to move through the rooms than it normally would. Due to the caution, I was no longer confident where things were. I had to lift my hands up to make sure I wasn't going to run into a wall. Once in the bedroom, I found a handkerchief that I used as a blindfold. I then went to the restroom, which was a very interesting experience... once that I think I will spare you... for the most part. Figuring out if the lid is up or down, can be interesting. If you don't check you could end up going to the bathroom all over the place, or yourself. If you do check, you could end up with a wet hand. Additionally, I learned that I would not use Charmin if I were blind. I had a hell of a time just trying to find the end of the paper, because Charmin sticks to itself. I then needed to finish filling up our Brita pitcher that I had left in the sink from earlier. I stuck my finger on the fill line and turned on the water. I didn't know until the pitcher was almost full that I was using hot water. If I were blind I would probably prefer two separate water knobs as opposed to the singular control that is found in many kitchens. I had no issue getting the pitcher back to the fridge. I did, however, think about how difficult it would be to find the food that I wanted if I were blind. Cooking relies heavily on look. What about variety. In my cheese drawer will often have various types of sliced cheese, among other various cheeses. However, how would I know which slice cheese I wanted to put on my sandwich. What about frozen dinners or boxed meals. Would it always be a surprise? After I was finished in the kitchen I decided to play the drums. I realized my drums actually sound pretty good. I listen to the drums in various music I listen to and thing wow, their kit sounds amazing. I now realize that mine actually sounds pretty good as well. I think I play a little more deliberately when I am blindfolded. I play through the drums instead of to them. I was comfortable and enjoying myself until I started to think about the possibility of someone watching me. I was alone, but my drums are close to the front door, and we have 3 little windows in the door... so someone could be watching me. I felt like there was someone right in front of my face. My head continued to reel with the possibilities before I had successfully freaked the shit out of myself and had to rip the blindfold off.