I love Tim Gunn

Will someone buy me this shirt?

More here:

http://www.wireandtwine.com/

It's not dead...and neither am I!

Chivary is not dead on the CTA! Yesterday as I stepped off the bus to go to work, the bus driver grabbed my arm. It scared me at first but in a split second I knew exactly what he was doing. At the particular spot where I get dropped off downtown the lanes are set-up kind of weird and the buses can't pull over to the sidewalk to let passengers off, leaving another lane open where sometimes cars go to turn right. It's very odd. Anyways, usually I look before I step off to make sure no cars or bicylists are coming. However, this time I did not...but the bus driver did! He saved me from stepping off the bus and into oncoming traffic!

Never Forget The Tragic Events Of May 21, 2008

Remember the days when you were this passionate about something?

YMCA

About a week ago my friend Olivia and I joined a nearby YMCA. I really felt like I needed to be doing something to move my body and to work some more exercise into my day. I started looking into the Y when I realized that I was interested in swimming. Swimming has been an exercise that kind of runs in the family. My dad and my aunt have turned to swimming to help with back pain...something I may be experiencing in the future due to my scoliosis. With no contracts, the only indoor pool in the area, access to all the classes (including yoga, pilates, and spinning) and $47 a month membership...I couldn't go wrong. Plus it's less than half a mile from my house!

I'm really enjoying being in the water and using the kickboard to strengthen my legs. It's WAY better than running and it's great for your joints. I think I've finally found an exercise routine I can get into and enjoy. Tomorrow we will be trying the water conditioning class where I think we will be treading water for an hour straight. It's gonna kick our butts.

Chivalry and the CTA

Every morning I ride the #11 Lincoln bus to work. Lately I've been using public transportation a lot, in preparation for not having a car. Sidenote: My parents are coming up to Chicago for Thanksgiving and driving my car back to Florida. This is happening by choice. It's pretty easy to live in Chicago without a car.

Something that has begun to irk me is how young people rarely relinquish their seats to the elderly and to pregnant women on the bus. It just really bothers me when I see this. It's like we live in this society that won't man-up and do the right thing. Not to be sexist but... hey guy, if you see an elderly lady struggling just to make it up the bus steps, get up! Don't let the young lady sitting a couple rows back who gives up her seat make you look bad. It's like people don't understand that if you're sitting at the front of the bus you have to be extra aware of the elderly...those seats are meant for them, not you.

A lot of times it's obvious when to give up your seat. But I will say, sometimes it's not so obvious. For example I've struggled with whether or not to give my seat to someone like an older man in his 60's. A man with grayish hair, looks older, but looks in overall good shape. In these situations I don't want to insult him by offering my seat...especially since I'm a girl in my 20's and there's some weird age/gender things going on there. Plus I don't want to make anyone feel old.

One thing that I always look out for is pregnant women. I make sure to give my seat to them always. Sometimes they decline...but you gotta ask.

Sometimes I think chivalry is dead on the CTA. The other day while we were boarding the red line, my female friend was nearly knocked over by a guy trying to get into the train. Seriously?

Bye bye Mac

Sadly I think my days of being an Apple user are coming to an end. I have to buy a new computer soon and during my research I have found that Dells are half the price for the same hard drive and memory. I can no longer ignore this fact and continue to buy the Apple computers for twice the cost. It's such a painful realization to come to and one that makes me feel like I'm turning my back on the design world.


I'm not sure if I'm ready for this.

Random photo of the day

I am so due for another trip!

That's me in front of Stonehenge.

LOW FAT cupcakes!!!

It's easy and it's yummy! All you do is buy some cake mix. THEN instead of adding the eggs, water, and oil...you add a can of diet soda. I bought the white "Funfetti" mix and added a can of diet Sprite. It tastes just as good, if not sweeter, then regular cupcakes and it's low fat. The only trick is, you have to let them sit for a while (like an hour) after you've pulled them out of the oven. If you try to eat them too soon, like I did, you'll find that the cupcakes stick to the paper cups. If you can hold out for an hour ( I know it's hard), you'll be happy. :)

Candid Photos

Came across some cool candid photos of Barack Obama and his family watching the results on election night.

http://flickr.com/photos/barackobamadotcom/sets/72157608716313371/

Photos from the Obama Rally

Before the Obama rally Tim, Ana, Matt, Tom, Beth, and I had dinner at the historic Berghoff Restaurant in downtown Chicago. As you can see, I enjoyed a pre-celebratory flight of Berghoff brews (for only $8!). After dinner, Tim and I went back to his place to watch the results while the rest of the crew went to the rally. Below are some photos that Beth took.

A New American President

What a long two years it's been. I remember first hearing of Barack Obama's bid for presidency on a cold February morning in 2007 as I climbed the stairs to the Metra platform. Wow, I thought, a black man and a woman will be running in the same race. I guess it was from that moment on that I was hooked. I'll admit, I had my doubts when it came to Obama. The thought of a woman president became front and center in my mind. How could I not get excited about that. She had the smarts and the experience. When it became apparent that it was just not going to happen for Clinton, I looked towards Obama. And perhaps what made it even more of an obvious choice was McCain's selection of Sarah Palin. A woman I had basically nothing in common with and who was so far right, it hurt.

The election of Barack Obama is a sign of our times. The youth vote finally came through. I've never seen a presidential campaign relate to the youth culture like this did, with it's internet savvy and use of design. Sheppard Ferry better be getting paid the big bucks for his Obey-like Obama illustrations.

This morning as I headed to work, I saw African Americans on the street shaking hands, hugging, and rejoicing. How important this moment must be for them...and for all of American. For the first time in my adult life, I am proud of who my country elected as president. And it feels good.

Halloween '08

Happy Halloween

To start your morning right, how about some of my favorite, most scariest horror movie scenes.
Watch it you dare!

For the record, at 8:50am I already saw my first Joker of the season. The guy had bright green hair, a white face, and that crazy red smile...in the middle of the loop! That takes cojones.

New Presidential Candidate... It's someone we know!

Hi,
There's an effort to elect an unknown random person as President... and it's someone we know!

See this news website about the surprising new nominee:
http://www.tsgnet.com/pres.php?id=370617&altf=Njdifmmf&altl=EfmQsfuf

Jot back a note to let me know what you think!

Vote: Michelle HUSSEIN DelPrete :)

Innies v Outies

I just read an insightful article on AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts). The author was describing the differences between an "innie" and an "outie" in the design world. I've always been an innie, while secretly wishing to be an outie. An innie is an in-house designer, a graphic designer who works within a larger group, providing for that group any design needs they may have. They are usually the only designer on staff. An outie is a designer who works at a design firm or agency, (with many other designers) and relies on outside sources for their "survival".

While I've always envied those outies for their creative environments and high profile design jobs, I've come to discover that being an innie isn't all that bad.

One commenter on AIGA summed up the pros and cons pretty well. Here is what he said.

by Saurabh Gupta Sun May 25, 2008
Hi, I have spent the better part of my 8-year career as an in-house designer in India, and here are some of my observations with respect to design environment in India:

1. I get paid more than what I'd have been in an agency - for any stage of my career.

2. Corporations give much more benefits and job security.

3. I get to work with the latest and best hardware and software, whereas agencies are not able to upgrade so promptly. Design equipment costs are very small and affordable for corporations than for agencies.

4. A lot of recognition and entire credit for every work.

5. Colleagues see you as the 'creative guy', different from them, a guy who has the luxury to come in jeans while they are tied up in grey corporate attire.

6. An in-house designer is better able to tune his creativity to the spirit and vision of the employing company than due to his constant involvement and physical presence within it. This kind of involvement is far more difficult to achieve with outside designers - unless the company is a big enough client of a big enough design agency.

7. Being inhouse helps me keep my creativity grounded and practical and result focussed.

Of course there are some things I miss:
1. The creative environment

2. You have to report to a person who doesnt know much about design - you have to let your work be judges by someone who knows less about your subject than you do.

3. You will always be a support function (unless its a design driven product your company is into), long to be counted as a core professional. You are afraid you will not be missed much if gone.

Scientists develop artificial heart that beats like the real thing

A truly fascinating article, but what was even more fascinating to me was the reaction of a small number of people who left comments at the end.

Two women commented about feeling sorry for the animals who were tested on. Quite a few people disagreed. Including myself, for obvious reasons.

Another comment was made that suggested if people just ate healthy and exercised more, they wouldn't need a transplant in the first place. Well, I've got news for that guy...ever heard of genetics?

Such naive comments are to be expected from people who probably have never experienced a health crisis first hand, or with someone important to them. Idiots.

An Evening With Don Herzfeldt

Last night Tim, Kris, Erin, and I went to the Music Box Theater for an Evening with Don Herzfeldt. Don is an animator known for his dark, stick-figure cartoons. I first became a fan in college when my design class became obsessed with the short film Rejected. We had to buy tickets for the 11:30 pm show because the 8 pm show sold out. We got to see Don's new film I Am So Proud of You, as well as Rejected, 3-D Intermission, Billy's Balloon, Everything Will Be OK, and The Meaning of Life. Other than Rejected, I enjoyed I Am So Proud of You. However, because the show was so late, it was pretty difficult to stay awake, and once the show was over, Tim and I skipped out before the Q&A session.


Official description:
Cult animator and Academy Award nominee Don Hertzfeldt (Rejected, the Meaning of Life, Billy's Balloon) visits Chicago for a special one-night-only event on October 24 at 8:00 and 11:30. A selection of Don's classic animated shorts returns to the big screen, culminating in the exclusive Illinois premiere of his brand new film, I am so proud of you. His longest piece to date, I am so proud of you is the eagerly anticipated second chapter to Everything Will Be OK, winner of the Sundance Film Festival's Grand Jury Award in Short Filmmaking and named by many critics as one of the "best films of 2007". The screening will be immediately followed by a live on-stage interview and audience Q&A with Don Hertzfeldt.

Dignity Diner

On Tuesday night, Olivia and I volunteered at Holy Covenant Methodist Church's Dignity Diner. Dignity Diner happens every Tuesday. The church opens it's doors to the hungry and serves a hot vegetarian meal. I've been looking for a volunteer opportunity like this for a while, so when I learned that the church offered it, it was perfect. What is different about Dignity Diner is that instead of having the homeless line up to be served buffet style, the volunteers go to them, like waiters, while they sit and enjoy dinner. This proved to be a bit of a negative. Let me explain.

We went straight from work because dinner was served at 6. I really should have brought a change of clothes because heels weren't the best option. We were introduced to the other volunteers and event leaders. On the menu was salad, pizza, and desserts. For the most part interacting with the diners was fine...most were thankful for the food and sort of sat quietly, ate, and interacted with the other people. Only one man aggressively asked for his food, and most understood the concept of making sure the food was evenly served. There was one man, however, who was a bit of a problem. Let's just say he was very fond of the lovely young ladies serving him dinner. He liked hugs, kissing our hands, and talking very closely to us (with his breathe reeking of alcohol). This is where I kind of would have preferred the buffet method of serving. That way there's a barrier between you and the diners.

Overall the experience was a good one. I left feeling good like I'd definitely do it again; next time keeping a bit more of a distance and maybe volunteering to do more of the prep work, rather than serving the food. Oh, and wearing nice work clothes probably wasn't a great idea. I will definitely bring a change of clothes in the future.

Dancing with the Stars

Kyle Cooper reel

You know his work, you just may not know you do...
Well-known movie titles designer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kf2yk1x-Fis

U2 Eucharist

I went to church today! Wow...I know. My friend Olivia regularly attends a local church and is always talking about how much she loves it. Recently she asked me to come with her to a special service where U2 songs would be sung. I wasn't exactly sure how that was going to work, but I was interested. I knew we didn't have to be there until 11 am, so it had that going for it. I live for my weekends and sleeping in.

I have to say I really enjoyed myself. The pastor, Trey, was a very effective speaker...something I'm not really used too. Growing up as a Roman Catholic, I am used to standing, sitting, and speaking, all in unison. I'd zone out during the readings, and would only kind of pay attention during the sermon. I'd get lost during the whole thing, probably because the church was huge and lacked an intimate feel. So it was cool to experience something a bit different. It got me thinking about how I'd like to sort of revisit my church roots. There's this beautiful Catholic church by my house that I've always wanted to go into. It would be nice one weekend to attend a mass...I'd like to see if I might get more out of it, now that I'm older. I'd also like to go back to Olivia's church to see what a normal service is like. Her friend Carolyn meet us at church and was a visitor as well. She's Jewish, but thought she'd check out the service. Sometime I'd like to go to Temple, to see what that's all about too. Hey, why not?

So...I guess this is something I'd like to explore and I'm happy I got the chance today to pause and think about it. Is faith something I'd feel comfortable sharing with a group of people? Or do I want to continue to hold it close to me? I don't know yet, but I'm open to think about it.

County Line Apple Orchard, Bogart IN

Yesterday I picked an apple right off a tree and ate it! This kind of blew my mind...and that is probably sad. The County Line Orchard is the closest of it's kind to Chicago. It's right over the state border and gave me a reason to go to Indiana (a state I never thought I'd visit). It seems my GPS system has trouble in these parts, because it took Tim and I to an area where we were scared someone with a shotgun might find us (it's a look story).

We eventually found the orchard and it was really cool. For a while I've been wanting to do an "apple flight". Just like a wine flight, but with apples. This was the perfect place to finally find out which kind of apple was my favorite. Tim and I strolled down each lane of apple trees, picked one from the tree (!), buffed it on our jeans, and took a bite each. Of the apples that were ripe and ready to eat, my favorites were Golden Delicious and Gala–least favorites were Red Delicious and McIntosh ( I found them too dry). In the barn, they served apple donuts, pumpkin donuts, apple pies, fudge, caramel apples, and ton of other yummy apple goodness. Behind the barn was a BBQ area, where Tim and I had apple fries, apple cider, and apple BBQ sauce (which was so good, I bought a jar for my brother). Just when we thought we were appled-out, I wanted to grab a dozen pumpkin donuts to go, but the line was so long, we had to pass. I need to look into finding some pumpkin donuts in the city.