State of the union: Winter Break 2021

I have two weeks. Here's where I'm at: 

  • I just dropped all my classes for next semester except for Computational Creativity and University Band. That is IT. This First Day of June thing is GOING to happen. Lots of math, code, writing, art, and visual effects. 
  • I have not worked yet for ASG. First day was just errands and now I've been trying to finally get my dad's website revamped. I have deemed it a worthwhile endeavor to finish that first because he will pay me. Plus, I've been saying I'll do it for-freaking-ever and I haven't, and there's no way it's going to happen after I've already worked for 8 hours. I am learning Adobe XD as a part of this, for prototyping, so I can get his design approval before I actually code it up. Then, I'll slam straight back into IT, math, and possibly a coding project (probably just deeplizard's Keras series in order to prepare for Computational Creativity). I also need to do some algorithms. And of course, launching the BYU Cellphones website with ASG, which will happen in February. 
  • Art: honestly, after finishing my VEX caustics and the mediocre fluid sim for CS 655 (which I got 100% on, THANK YOU Dr. Egbert!), I was so fried that I decided to take a break and draw for a bit. Hence, two Adastra fan art colored pencil drawings, Christmas themed. I will try to finish them before relatives start arriving on the 23rd and put them on my Reddit, FA, and DA. I've got the first one done in pen and I'm going to color it, then I'll see if I can sketch the second one. After that, Pixar in a Box and Drawabox (just rebought my pens at Michael's today because I lost the previous ones alongside my CPMS pen and a bunch of mechanical pencil lead). Then, I'm going to plow through some Maya and Houdini tutorials in order to review the fundamentals. 
  • My 4.0 GPA for grad school is nixed due to CS 601. For some reason, Dr. Jones kept consistently giving me 84% exactly on the last like 5 assignments which was enough to drop me to an A-, despite me following all of his feedback AND all of my peer feedback. This is very annoying and I am currently debating whether or not I am going to bother him about it. On one hand, eww social interaction, plus I know he's going to be irritated. On the other hand, I don't like going down without a fight. I pushed myself in that class, but not enough I guess, especially because 655 was all-consuming in a lot of ways. DANG IT I WANT MY 4.0 AUGH. I know employers don't care. But I care. On the bright side, I have an A in my hardest class, CS 655 / Advanced Computer Graphics. Hell. YES. 
  • Similarly, I really hope my participation grade in CS 650 doesn't knock me down, or else I'll have to message Dr. Morse too. And I'd really rather not. But I HATE HATE HATE talking in class; always have, and I was late quite a few times when my depression was going whack and I was recovering from that awful cold. Plus, I missed a few classes altogether due to IAAPA...
  • Fitness: ooh boy. I am DONE being inconsistent with this crap. I've been running 4 miles a day and have resumed both weight lifting and ab workouts. I'm getting my weight down to 150 before spring gets too far underway. 
  • Music: Well I did play piano yesterday. Surprisingly I can still play the treble part of Vanilla Twilight decently. I have not played anything today yet, but it is time to get serious about clarinet with University Band coming up next semester. Have not practiced singing at all but it's not like there's ward choir...so. -_- My mom really likes playing Christmas music and I don't like interrupting her to play, but if I do it too early in the day, I get in the way of my own coding and art time. These things are better done when I have full brainpower. 
  • I have been remembering more of my dreams, so there's that. I was "stupidly lucid" the other night in which I spent the entire time trying to find a portal and accidentally woke myself up. Intent method isn't working super great (yet) but it has made me more cognizant of what happens when I sleep, wake up, etc. I've been daydreaming but not as much, due to being home (less of a need). Other things in regards to my imaginative/otherworldly arts have not been happening, and they need to. 
  • Writing: I have hit my 429-words-per-day goal twice so far. Actually on one day I doubled it! Yesterday I did not make it as I was falling asleep in front of my computer. I will try again tonight! I still have no idea how to incorporate fanfiction and regular poetry practice and integrate it alongside my original fiction. Plus, it's just difficult to find time to stay caught up on my favorite media in general -- yet, this is necessary for improving my creative skills. Regardless, draft 1 of Carnivile will hopefully be done by April. Oooooh boy! 
  • I will talk to Dr. Egbert after break is over to figure out what on this cursed earth I am even doing with my life, with my degree, etc. I've got to apply for more jobs, and maybe give DreamWorks another shot. But I don't really know. I also just need more money for January rent, and being a programmer I should NOT be struggling with money lmao. This is irritating. 
  • Sometimes I think "you should get active in the cybersecurity club" or "you should get active in the competitive programming club" but in all honestly, ain't nobody got time for that. Well, maybe I will. We will see. Regardless, I'll have to figure out when we will do BYU TPED depending on whether or not I get assigned to Tuesday or Thursday night band. But let's be real, I'm always on Thursday night for some reason lol. Probably because it's for the people who suck and while I will eventually stop sucking, I currently still suck 

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