Pacific Purgatory

-I coined that term a couple weeks back, in discussion with Mike and my status here in the State of Washington. I still feel that I have yet to move that much foreword or backward. Mike and I did move last weekend though, which does bring me one step closer to making progress and also indeed helps maintain our sanity. The house is probably 50% set up, and by house, I mean, our living space underneath a house. We are now located in West Seattle, which is seemingly pleasant. If we step outside, we can see the Sound and Olympic Mountains, which I think brings a breathe of fresh air to Mike and me. One thing I've enjoyed about living over here so far, is driving over the West Seattle Bridge. On a clear day, you have the view of Mt. Rainier and I really enjoy seeing the Seattle skyline during the night. Just a nice view to have. I'll be venturing out on some photo adventures probably sometime shortly, as there is a park here in walking distance (in view of the Sound) and Alki Beach is a few miles away (Seattle View), amoung other various sites and sounds around the area.
-All and all, it's been really nice to have our own space now-meaning, Mike and I aren't sharing a room anymore. And we can listen to music, talk on the phone/computer and not have to worry about the other person. or wake up to crying babies. We were able to get the internet set up this weekend, so we're up and running over here. I'll try to post more now that the move is done with and I can start worrying about more important things...

Your Mid-Month, Friday the 13th, End of the Week Update

-It's done. In 7 Days, Mike and I will embark on our new adventures in the West Seattle area. In other words, we're moving. We'll be living on the bottom half of a house in the Gatewood neighborhood in West Seattle. We're quite excited slash apprehension of the new experiences. We will be about 20 mins away from downtown and mins away from stores, parks and beaches. I'm definately excited to embark on some new photographic adventures in the area, which will probably be more promising in the spring time. Anyways, we'll probably be all settled in within a couple weeks (after getting to unpack most of our stuff finally). Feel free to contact me for our new address so you can stop on by and such.

Noteworthy Links:
-Helvetica Vs. Arial. Being the true nerd I am, scored a 9/10. The Frutiger is with me.
-Printable Checklist. Find of the week: create your own 'to do' checklist, print out, voila! Genius.
-Toyota Venza. Ms. Sadie G sent this over to me this week, primarily for the fact that the closing scene shows the Glass Museum. Also noted is the Tacoma Convention Center at beginning. Just neat seeing those things when they're so close.
-25 Random Graphic Design Facts. In lue of the facebook lists, except this one is worth reading.
-Someone was kind enough to post the 27 page PDF of the presentation given to Pepsi regarding their new identity, which is pretty much 95% BS. Anyways, the only thing I really got out of it was, they did a lot of research for no reason at all, and decided to rebrand the already recognizable logo to look like emoticons. Come on Pepsi. If you have a little time, feel free to read through the comments as well, or you could get a shirt demonstrating how you feel about the new logo.
-The Action Figure Toy Museum in Paul's Valley featured in Wired magazine. Still a bit upset I never went down there.
-The new Tropicana boxes. I'm still not sure how I feel about it. It's definately clean and more presentable, but definately brings in the idea of being more "generic." Quite a toss up. The article sums it best: the Crate&Barrel orange juice.
-Check out some concept art for the Lost video game. Nicely done.
-Seattle Public Library. An extensive article covering the library in the heart of Seattle. I somehow haven't ventured inside yet. I love this building and will be taking my own visual adventures sometime soon.

The Shifting Month

It's been a bit of a roller coaster of stressful and unstressful days here. To give everyone an update, Mike and I (mostly Mike) have been looking around for a new spot to call our own around the Seattle area. Monday, we embarked on quite a venture, looking at some spots and quite possibly might have found one in the West Seattle area. I had never been over in that part of the city until Monday, and am growing quite fond of the idea of being within a few miles radius of parks and beaches, and a short drive to Seattle. With that being said, my financial situation has plateau-ed over the past month or so, but in hopes of recooping myself and hitting it hard after we move. Nothing has been finalized but we will be sure to keep everyone posted when things happen so that you can send us some housewarming presents slash toys slash gummi bears (whichever you prefer).

ETA

Hello Gang,
As most of you know, my good friends Shannon and Emily will be giving the gift of life here shortly, as their baby has the due date of March 6th. I was on discussion with a few people and decided to take a poll of when everyone thinks the baby is really going to come out. Please post below. Have to post exact date though. I haven't come up with a prize yet. you get a high five....

WHOOPS.

Shannon has informed me that the due date is the 8th. Sorry, I messed that up.

Covers and Covers

I came across these articles today involving the redesign of classic games and movies. I think the entertainment business needs to take a hint and realize it wouldn't hurt to have an occasional well designed poster/cover or finally come to their senses that red type isn't funny or you don't have to put everyone's face on the dvd cover. I am not saying they should be done in these particular styles, as I don't think they would all work. But rather put out design work that reflects the game or movie (considering half the movies out today are crap anyways).

-ReImagined Game covers


-Spacesick's "I Can Read Movies" Series


-Also noteworthy: 8 films in black and red

And for anyone and everyone that has seen or posted those "25 facts..." on facebook, I found this article to be quite humerous.

Baby Apocalypse Now!

-I'm trying to mentally recover from a quite uneventful involving: missing shows from two of my favorite bands (Album Leaf, Broken Social Scene), not receiving my paycheck from work I did over a month ago, shifting my work station between a shared desk and a dining room table, trying to find a place to live in Seattle that I can't afford to live in because I don't have a consistent job yet (and consequently being rejected by the art space because Mike makes too much money), tolerating my increasingly slower computer and trying to survive what seemingly is Baby Apocalypse at the house.
-I've been doing my best to stay afloat and try to keep everyone around me up, but it's starting to wear on me. A lot of things are starting to wear on me. I think I'm just tired of hearing "it'll get better." Sure it will. but who wants to wait for it to get better? I'm ever grateful for the good friends I do have and the Hawkins who have given me more than enough to be grateful for (roof over my head). I'm just starting to feel guilty about it all and need space. and need money. and need more money. I do have a couple freelance gigs which has been an ever saving grace in a time like this, but it's not going to be enough for me to function in the real world.
-Amoung all other things, I feel in a creative rut of sorts. I'm lacking my normal resources. I've tried to sit down and create just something for myself and have just failed. Ideas come and go, but the overall design and production rate of these projects is just little to none. There just seems to be a stutter in my normal creative flow.
-I don't want this post to make it seem like I'm totally in the dumper and ready to give up on everything. Definately not the case. I'm just having one of those days, and somehow felt the need to express this week's current events. Tomorrow will be another day, a Friday, and hopefully the weekend will give sufficient time to full recover myself and take hold of next week.

Faking The Books

-I've been pretty slow with updates here lately. I just don't feel like much has happened: mentally, physically, financially, emotionally, etc and etc. But all and all, I've been feeling pretty good. The job search has been slow as ever. I spent last month working double time on two magazines, which was a nice change. I had a brief intermission, and I think I'm back again working on Sports NW here shortly. I'll just be feeling a bit better when I start getting regular checks. Financial security has been my main issue as of lately, and my inability to get a job. My dad and Mike have been pushing me to do more with my search, so I'm slowly working that way. Just no one is biting lately. I apply to some postings online, but almost never get a call back. and last week I actually tried to call places (yes, I actually talked to people...) and they were like, just submit your resume through our website. and I'm like, this isn't getting anywhere. So I've been trying to develop some self promotional ideas. Haven't really come up with anything SOLID quite yet. I have a couple ideas swarming around, but this really needs to pop. And saying that, I do feel like I'm in some sort of creative rut of sorts. Just seems harder to create things when I'm not surrounded by my 'stuff' or can't blast music at high volumes or worry bout my typing waking Mike up or hearing babies cry or whatever. Sounds like I'm making excuses, but I really do believe creativity strives off our surroundings (another reason why we moved). I just haven't found my home here quite yet and growing impatient doing so.

-Anyways.
-I saw the Coca-Cola Commercial (see below) online a couple weeks ago, and then the Quiksilver one on tv last week, and I was very intriqued with them. It was nice to see Microsoft actually develop really nice commercials and not trying to sell some horrible-vocal-making-and-most-irritating-audio-program. There's a nice visual style to it and a nice concept to bring the words to a literal translation. What really makes the commercials great is that idea that Microsoft is using the high execs of other companies to sell their product and ideas. Genius. I recommend a viewing, they're all brilliant.

Coca-Cola Below/Quiksilver/Method



Other noteworthy links:
-Lemay Car Museum: Mike sent this over to me, and we were kind of amazed that it was going to be built here in Tacoma of all places. Either way, if and when it is built, I will be taking photos of the architecture.
-The Future of Online News in 1981: interesting look at the first forms of online publications were 28 years ago. OH, how far we've come.
-Graphic Designers in Love: Hilarious comic and so true. and warning for some, drops the F bomb.
-Time Lapse of Baby: I'm a sucker for time lapse, and it was nicely edited. And I somehow feel like it seems more interesting since I live with babies.
-And if you're feeling especially nice, you can buy me this wooden Vespa

Fifty People One Question

I came upon this video tonight and I rather enjoyed it. It just has a nice sensibility and a nice concept. Just a nice blend of film/music/ that somehow draws a connection with the interviewees. I recommend viewing the other videos on the site.


Fifty People, One Question: London from Fifty People, One Question on Vimeo.