The Jack Noodle Journal

Hey there! Yes. Every single day of 2004 I will be writing in this here journal. Woo Hoo! Hey, I really started off well. I think that the next time I try to write a journal entry every single day of the year, I will focus my efforts on the last 6 months since that seems to be a hard time for me to write. I am going to read over this years entries to have a bit of a recap. What a year it was huh? Nothing really Earth shaking happened, but it wasn’t that dull of a year either. We do have one more month left though so I should hold my judgements until then.

I hope your Thanksgiving holiday went well. Only one more holiday left! Well, two holidays if you count New Years. That isn’t really a holiday though is it? More of an event? Our Christmas break schedule is solidifying now. We will be heading down to California to my grandparents house where we will be celebrating my grandpa’s 80th birthday. Then we will be driving over to Arizona where we will be spending a few days with Mr. Baptist and Ms. Bee. Then we will fly back here to be with our lonely puppies and kitty. It should be fun I think. It will be an adventure for sure.

It is week 9 in the school realm. Two more weeks left of the Fall 2004 term. This wasn’t a great term and it wasn’t really a bad term. Pretty much the middle of the road. I think next term will start the excitement up again as I work on my portfolios. That will be fun. Let me start the run down for this term finish up. First off I have a Flash website thing due for my scripting language topics class. It will be a photo and journal viewer of my Europe trip. I have 4 pages of a group report and presentation due in my usability class. Next I have the usual homework load and what I’m anticipating to be a difficult final exam in my computer science class. In my fundamentals of computer based training class I have my lame Flash, environmental learning course due. Last and probably least, I have a paper / proposal thing due for my career development class. There’s the work load for you. I think it is manageable.

I have been think about and planning for my DVD project next term. I’m going to do up a nice product. A portfolio of my work that you can view in the comfort of your living room. I’ll have my Phillip movie on there, my K movie, and a gallery of my illustration work. I need to finish my Modest Mouse animation so that I can put that on there also. This puppy really has to be good. I am going to have a section that loops through everything so that I can have it playing on monitors in the background at my portfolio show. I should start writing up some plans for it now. Oh wait, I still have homework and the end of this term to deal with first!

Happy Thanksgiving to you. Yep, turkey day. I went and had a nice meal at my dad’s house. Things are just great out there in Beavercreek.

I don’t have too much to report today. We finished watching the Sopranos season 4 last night. It was very good. The acting on the last episode was super. Man Tony and Carmela fighting was gut wrenching. Now we have to wait on the end of our seats for season 5 to come out.

It’s nice having a few days off of school. I need to make a list of all of the things that I have left to do before the term is over. I think I have about 4 projects that are going to require some effort.

Hey there kids! Good evening to you. How’s it going? I am doing pretty good tonight. I’m kind of hungry right now, but K will be back soon with some yummy groceries. I am really craving potato salad today.

This is a rare entry today. I am typing this in the front room right now. I guess the monitor on my laptop is fine now. Isn’t that crazy? It had been out for over a year and it just decided to get better one day. Good thing I didn’t go in and spend money on getting it fixed. It is nice being out of the laboratory and mobile again. I remember now why I love this laptop so much.

The reason I am typing in the front room is because I am siting here with the resting Phillip. He’s back! He had to spend the night at the vet last night and we picked him up this morning. His operation was a success. The doctor says that it went perfect and Phillip is due for a hundred percent recovery. He is a strong dog! Phillip is going to have one hell of a scar on his leg now. He is on pain pills now and has to really take easy for at least two weeks. He is very tender, limping and we have to carry him up and down the stairs. Phillip is going to be fine and we are very relieved to have him back home.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Gosh, who cares. No, come on Noodle, cheer it up man. We are having our Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday when Mr. Baptist gets back here from elk hunting. Perhaps we will go have a turkey dinner over at my dad’s house tomorrow. I’ll have to see what K thinks. She may want to have one us stay with Phillip. Thinking about turkey now is really making me hungry. I’m watching the news now and am glad I’m not doing any traveling now. Traffic is a mess.

Is it Tuesday? It doesn’t feel like a Tuesday. I’m not sure what kind of day it feels like. Maybe a Thursday? We have got misty rain falling outside now at this hour. I had three layers of clothes on when I went outside earlier so I am not entirely sure if it was overly chilly or not.

Well people, keep young Phillip in your hearts and minds today. He has gone in for his knee surgery this morning. Poor little guy. He’ll be fine. I think the whole process is more traumatic for his parents than for him. What he has is a luxating patella, a dislocated knee cap. I don’t think I gave you the official term before. He’ll be at the vet all day today. The operation only takes a couple of hours but they have to keep him in recovery for a while. I hope this fixes it.

Looking back at previous years journal entries I noticed that I barely write anything during November and December. I don’t think I wrote in December at all last year. I don’t know why it gets so hard to write this time of year. I’ll try to do better. Can you believe that 2004 is almost over? That every single day of the year mission that I was so diligent about for the first six months of the year is becoming a distant memory. I’ve been in a funk for the last several days so I am going to blame it on that.

I am going to do some more work on the Noodle web today. I’m starting to think that I am going to have to open up another website that is more business oriented. I have been pondering the different levels of business seriousness lately. I think if I have a serious get work, business, freelance, website, then I will be able to get crazier here on Noodle as a more creative outlet. We’ll see. Allowing possible employers the opportunity to read about my dog’s knee surgery probably isn’t the most professional thing to do.

Yep, so websites and homework is the plan for today. I have computer science again this evening. Some of my school chums complain about that class, but I actually really like it. I have been hearing quite a bit of complaining lately at that school. I wonder if it is because everybody I’ve had classes with is getting close to graduating and suffering from burnout? I wonder if at schools all over the World there comes a point in the students learning that they suddenly think they have all the answers and turn to bite the hand that educated them? I don’t remember this much complaining when we were just starting out. Now that we have more knowledge, we think we know what’s best and can see how our education has been lacking? That’s very interesting I think. Like that image of the snake eating it’s tail. I think I will try my best not to complain about the school even though I am smart enough now to do so.

Hi there. How are you doing? I’m pretty fair. I’m a little sleepy right now. I don’t think I had enough coffee this morning. It’s been an okay day so far. I got up and went to school in the morning and came home and had a nap this afternoon. I just now finished washing some dishes. K is having some school friends over tonight so we were trying to straighten things up a bit. You know, I just had a crazy idea. I think I am going to make some coffee right now. That would keep me up late though and I’m not sure if I really want that right now. I am going to a show later, maybe I should have some coffee and wake up. Yeah I’ll make some coffee.

I am going to go see the young Martin, Eric, and Joel play as “Patio Death Songs” this evening at the Beulaland. Should be good. Those boys are superb rockers. High energy music. I think I am going to walk over there later.

I spent quite a bit of time working on some graphics for the Noodle website yesterday. I was happy with some of it. After my career development class this morning, I’m a little troubled. I’m at that worrying stage wondering if my work is professional enough. I’m also trying to balance that with my urge to be creative. Gosh what a mess. Some of my fellow students were kind of being downers today about the state of the multimedia work world. That pain of always wondering if you are good enough weighs heavier on some days more than others. I need to get a good plan and stick with it.

I’m listening to the Tyrannosaurus Rex album “Unicorn” right now and that seems to be calming my nerves. That, and this nice fresh cup of coffee.

Hey yo! Happy afternoon to you. Is it a good day for you? It is pretty good for me now. The dogs keep barking and that is a bit annoying. My goodness, Abby’s bark is ear splitting. Her frequency is quite maddening. The Sun is breaking through the dark clouds a bit and it is a beautiful fall day outside. The trees in the yard are almost completely done with their leaves. Their skeletons are showing. Gosh, again with the barking! Hold on. I’ll turn up the music volume.

Yes, the third journal entry in a row where I have been listening to the new U2 album, “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb”. It is really growing on me something fierce. I have been feeling kind of blue and melancholy this week and it is a good soundtrack to feel that way to. It’s like a warm sweater I tell you. Of course I may be reading it entirely different than you will. I’m not sure if it is a good album beyond the fact that it currently speaks to me, so beware. Seth being in town now may also be affecting my U2 view. He has always given that band the benefit of the doubt even when others like myself have lost faith. We watched the video for “Vertigo” over at Armondo’s last night.

Phillip’s knee seems to be getting worse. It looks like going under the knife is going to be good for him. He has been limping quite a bit today. It makes me so sad. That turkey isn’t taking it easy at all. He’s still playing at full speed. At least he isn’t in the kind of pain yet that debilitates him. His knee seems to be popping out of it’s socket with more frequency now. Oh worry!

Today I started officially on Version 06 of this here website. Woo hoo! Should be good, people. I am getting excited. I’m going to try to work on it a bunch this weekend. I’m going to be working hard on some good hand coding so that you can see what the college money has been going towards. I realize that I have missed the deadline of October that the previous versions have had. I’ve actually been thinking that I am going to move the future version changes closer to January and away from October. Why? I don’t know. Maybe to get more in line with the New Year equals new website thing. Version 6 will be here before January though.

Ah yes, another gray top of the morning to you! How are you doing this morning? Are you awake and up yet? I’m feeling better this morning. I was kind of bummed out yesterday. I am in much better spirits at this hour.

I have a bunch of annoying work to do for my computer based training class that I am avoiding now. Nothing difficult, just time consuming and annoying. I should probably hang up here and work on that. Have I mentioned that class is my least favorite this term? Hold on one second, I have to go take the dogs out to go potty.

I’m listening to the new U2 CD again right now. I still think it’s pretty good. A few of the songs I really like. I like that “One Step Closer” song. Very melancholy and heart warming at the same time.

Well not much going on today. I’m trying to get a hold of some freelance work to do this weekend. We’ll see about that. My peeps haven’t got back to me on that yet. I think I am going to start seriously working on this web site and my portfolio this weekend. I need to get something presentable that I can use to start hawking my wares. This web site is okay now but it really isn’t representative of the kind of work I’m after now. I need to start bringing the benjamins back to the compound. Poppa needs a brand new pair of shoes.

I’m going to do this page up using CSS, JavaScript and pinch of XML. I’m also going to have to bite the bullet and get some Flash up here. Everybody out there really digs that Flash stuff so I should give the public what they want. I don’t like Flash that much. I think a designer looks more tough if they use hand coding and make it shine within the limits of the code.

Hey! Kitty just stepped on my power strip and turned the power to my external hard drive off, cutting the music. I guess Pierre doesn’t like this album.

Hey howdy all. Good morning to you. So sorry about the gap in posts. I have been a bit under the weather. I have been teetering on the edge of being sick. I felt stomach wooziness yesterday. I’ve been kind of tired. It’s a cold and foggy morning out right now. My hands are cold. I’m going to have to go put some mittens on to warm my hands up.

Well, we have some bad news for the young Phillip. He blew his left back knee out. Yep, sounds horrible doesn’t it? Don’t worry he’s not in pain. He’s walking a little stiffly. “Blowing out” is a bit harsh. His knee slipped out of where it is supposed to be and some tendons(?) snapped. I guess that is a common problem with muscular dogs like Phillip. It has a name that I have forgotten. Poor guy. Telling him to take it easy on his leg doesn’t work with a pup that has that much energy. I guess we are going to be taking him in to get surgery next Tuesday. Yeah, like we can really afford that. Gosh darn it Phillip!

I have a bit of school work to do today. My computer science class is this evening. It’s week 7. I’m feeling a bit of a drag on the term now. I’m ready for it to be over. It’s been a good term, so I shouldn’t complain too much. I registered for next term’s classes yesterday. I’m taking a couple of good classes this winter. Here’s the run down: DVD Authoring, E-Commerce Business, Foundation Portfolio, Multimedia Production Team, and Data Base Management. I’m pretty excited about the DVD Authoring class, and am in desperate need of the Portfolio class. After winter term I only have two more terms left! Woo Hoo!

I am going to make a real effort to get an internship for the spring term. It would be cool to get in with an awesome company. I think I also need to start looking hard for some freelance work. We are going to have to figure out a way to get some money in this place to pay for Phillip’s medical bills.

Stomach wooziness, yeah right. I swear to God it’s a giant ulcer growing.

Good morning again my friends. How are you doing this lovely morning? It is another sunny day out there again today. Maybe we’ll go for another walk later. I may go out and rake some leaves for fun. We’ll see. Gosh. Not much going on here today. What do you kids have planned?

I am listening to Yo La Tengo’s album “Summer Sun” right now on my iTunes as I type this. It is a very good album. I really like Yo La Tengo. They are spectacular on fall mornings exactly like this one. They are also good on cold winter mornings wrapped in warm blankets with hot cocoa and loved ones.

The dapper young Seth acquired the new U2 album “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb” from our secret sources. It is pretty good! I listened to it once this morning and may listen to it again a bit later. I am enamored with that “Vertigo” song. I can’t get it out of my head. So tell me what you think: Are these supposed “leaked” albums really accidently leaked or are they being released on purpose to the internet to create a buzz? I believe that they are released on purpose. How hard can it be to keep a CD under wraps until the day it’s supposed to come out? Maybe it is hard. I think that bands and record companies in today’s market have to think of new ways to use these leaks and buzz to their advantage. For example they could make 2 CDs, the “leaked” one and the “released” one with totally different songs.

I have been doing more web surfing this term than I have before. I have been reading a lot more articles and blogs. Surfing the web hadn’t really been my thing. I have been finding some good stuff. I have been reading a few things about my current topics of interest, HCI and usability. I was encouraged today because I found a job posting that was exactly the kind of job that I would like to be doing. It was cool because one of the requirements to be able to apply for the job was a masters in HCI. See, I’m not crazy, there is such a thing.

I should probably get off the internet though and read some of my school books. I have a few chapters to catch up on. I also have to prepare for my big Star Wars speech tomorrow. I think I am going to type up my notes today and get my thoughts organized better.

It is a sunshine filled day out there right now my friends. We just got back from taking the dogs on a walk to Hawthorne. It is gorgeous out there. It is Veterans day today and K has the day off from her student teaching duties. We are having a fun day so far.

Right now we are listening to TOOL “Lateralus”. Quite a tasty CD. K has a thing for Maynard James Keenan, and I am trying to encourage it. Chicks that dig TOOL are so hip. I was just on Amazon looking around and I saw that they are starting to make their best of 2004 lists. I should check my notes and figure out my own best of lists. I listened to a lot more music the first 6 months of this year compared to the last 6 months. I’m going have to read the earlier posts of this year and refresh my memory.

No classes scheduled for me today. That’s good. I was frustrated with my Computer Based Training class yesterday. I think that class will win the least favorite class award for the term. I’m not interested in the work that we are doing in it and it’s affecting my attitude towards it. That’s okay. There’s only 5 more weeks left of the term anyway.

I must get going on my portfolio. That is going to be my focus coming up. I MUST have a sturdy portfolio. My other important focus is the school application to U of M. An excellent portfolio and an amazing application package. That is the current plan of attack for Mr. Noodle.

So what’s going on this weekend? Oh yeah, it’s still just Thursday isn’t it. It’s close enough to start weekend planning. I don’t think we have any major plans yet. I have quite a bit of reading to do. I have really been reading quite a bit this term.