A test in patience

There are few things more trying than being unemployed.

and I think I'm failing my test...

From the Front

Who ever thought being unemployed would make one so busy?

The job search continues, but some progress has been made. I have been talking with Jason again, and we now have not only a concept, but two installation spaces already lined up. Networked chimes to be shown in Stockholm and Oslo.

International... this is the big leagues.

We're aiming for NIME in May. Lichty will be in on it too.

I'll update when I know more.

It is time.

Feeling kind of torn today.

I am comfortable here in Chicago. I have a wonderful apartment is a gorgeous neighborhood, and am surrounded by great friends.

But I feel like I am being called away. I don't know where to...

It scares me. 

Growing up, I was moved around a lot. School to school. State to state. I never went 4 years without a major life change.

It's that time again...

photos

So my photo section of my site is finally back up.
Check it out.

www.finesense.net/photos

Hello again.

My apologies for the long pause in posts.

I am now finished with the sailing job. I will post more on that later when I have had time to really write it well.

I am 90% sure I have another job lined up, but I will not say for sure until I know.

The real reason I am here today is to share this:

http://thesmallishthings.blogspot.com/2010/10/dalai-lamas-18-rules-for-living.html

This is my aunt's blog. She is not only an amazing person with a lot of insight on life, but also a fantastic writer. Take a read. This specific entry is just something everyone should read.

Titles are for the awake...

Good Morning all.

To catch you all up, I have a job. I am teaching sailing for the Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing Program in conjunction with the Chicago Parks District. The goal of the program is to open sailing to people with disabilities. All they need to have is a willingness to learn and the ability to float comfortably and safely in a life jacket for 5 min.
So far, I've met all sorts of wonderful and amazing people. It's a very different experience from teaching children,  but it is just as rewarding. Seeing a blind person sail, or someone who can barely walk... It gives them a new freedom and sense of confidence. It's a fantastic program.

And on a side note, check out the amazing progress of the World Opera Project, the project that Jason is working on.

A New Chapter

Pardon the cliché...

Well, my time at Columbia College Chicago is finished.
It was fun. It was painful. It was amazing. It was heart-wrenching, mind-blowing, time-consuming, head-first-learning, life-sucking, best-rollercoaster-ride-ever kind of time.

Now it's time to do that portfolio so I can get into grad school.

This summer, I will be looking for a job, and doing projects such as:
- finishing cuddleBots
- 3D printing gauges
- talking to the Chicago Landmarks Committee to see if I can get a grant to do my QR code thing...
- and just for fun, the CTA crossword.

I get to assign my own homework now...
Yay?

4 more days...

Black Tide is done and installed. It looks really wonderful... Thanks so much to everyone who helped!
Morgan Robertson
John and Jean Thompson

Matt Green

Dave Gerding

Patrick Lichty
Pumping Station: One

and dedicated to Jason Geistweidt; For everything you taught me and all the work you set before me.

And, I graduate in 4 days.
Then it's all over.

Until I try to get into Media Lab...

Oh April...

It's a wonderful month. Spring is fighting it's way through the Chicago weather, which is no small feat...
The tree outside my window blossomed only on the side close to the building. Everything is finally turning green and gorgeous.

Qeej Hero is done. The MFA thesis show at UIC, where it will be shown, opens on Wed. this week.
I have 16 days to finish my Manifest piece, and the dance center thing... let's just say it's gonna be close. I don't even have the sensors in yet.
So... hopefully April's beauty and relative warmth will see me through this month.

"progress" over break...

Project Updates:

Black Tide: Ordered 4 PING))) sensors, a meatgrinder spiral, and Morgan (my lovely boyfriend) has been working with the electromagnets. He found that using a computer power supply gives much better amperage for cheap, since they're lying around all over.
The setbacks are that there's only one junkyard I could find in this city that sells junk back. ...and it's in Humbolt Park. Also, I'm probably going to have to get the table fabbed for me. That's not gonna be cheap...

Qeej Hero: The controller works with the wireless adapter, and when I screwed the boards down, I stripped the screws... and now I realize that the sync button is now screwed face down to the wood form.... fantastic.

Dance piece: ... don't even ask.

I'll be lucky to make it through this semester alive...