Hemisferio derecho

Hoy acabe mi clase de dibujo. Fui interesante, y es la primera vez que me inscribo en una curso con deseos completos de tomar clases. Cada día que iba era con una meta. Cada momento que quería quedarme en casa me daba una galleta (no literalmente claro) y me decía: "ok, tu entraste a esto por algo, sácale provecho!". Tambien ayuda el hecho de que estaba pagando por un clases de verdad, el profesor tiene vocación y el progreso se notaba en cada semana.
Cosas a mejorar:
- Tengo que seguir practicando. Si quiero llegar donde me prometí tengo que poner mi mejor actitud, olvidarme del mundo y estudiar más.
- Enfocarme. Con cada paso que tomé, debe de haber una razón para tomarlo; el enfoque va hacia dicha razón. Me hace lógica que concentrándome alcance las metas de corto plazo.
- Saber como invertir/tiempo y dinero, o planificarme bien. Quiero aprender maneras de como ahorrar tiempo y dinero para ayudarme. No va a ayudar de dónde consigo mis materiales, sino qué hago con ellos.

Eso es todo, espero que escribiendo esto me despavile más.

And the fuss is about what?

ok, i hate blogging about this, but what the hell? The whole thing about whomever is elected shouldn't even concern the Dominican Republic. Yes, it is news. Yes, it's the "leader of the free world" elected (that term is more fitting of the XXth century by the way); and yes, it's history that a member of a minority group anywhere was elected president. Good, and valid.

NOW! My question: Does that change any diplomatic policies? I'll start asking people who've been using their time to promote votes for the US democratic party to tell me how they think that it affects the US-Dominican relations over all. I can bet the one answer I fear will be the most popular one: "there's going to be more acceptance when we apply for US visa". LORD! I'm not telling anyone to stay and fight for the country, but if I've learned something about every time I've passed through immigrations to enter the US is that my country, like anybody else, it is my home. I like the US, heck I learned their culture from an early age and as you might have noticed English is my second language, but I'm in tone with the fact that as American as I might sound, I'm really Dominican and I'm proud of where I come from.

Being zealous about another country's elections is understandable; but if international policies do come with a party power change, and the Dominican people do get something out of it (far fetched by the way)THEN it would be relevant.

Also, one thing to discuss, who CARES what the color of the presidents skin is, or what religion he follows? It's what the guy can do in the position that counts. The whole "first black president" has been taken to an obnoxious level. On one hand its good that people see that there are equal rights at all levels, yet the guy still a politician, that's not related to race or gender issues; it's a whole other way of thought from the rest of us, believe me.

Proyectos - Semana 1

Faltando poco para mi cumpleaños tengo planes para cosas que quiero cumplir en el tiempo que tengo aquí. Reconozco que no he seguido como hubiese querido las cosas que deseo y por ende no las tengo; más sín embargo, el reconocerlo me ayuda a reaccionar en contra de esta inercia.

Cuál es el plan? Simple: en las proximas semaanas tengo que completar tareas que programe el domingo en la noche. Objetivo: Demostrar que puedo seguir un plan para hacer lo que sea en x tiempo y hacerlo efectivamente. Me gustaría que me dieran apoyo, dejandome comentarios pero no veo que tenga muchos lectores que quieran dejar mensajes, pero no importa.

Esta semana me toca planificación: tengo que desarrollar 24 ideas diferentes de las cuales al sabado ya tengo que decidir cuales son las que se van a producción. Hoy lo hago público, ya los resultados se veran si sigo disciplinado con esto.

Deseenme suerte!

Jorge

Seedy was the word of the day

I found myself in front of this: "describe seedy", and I described it with the help of merriamwebster.com, finding 4 definitions for one word (that's called homograph I think). Seedy can be something that has lots of seeds, something that is run-down, irresputable or slightly unwell. Bliss, for those of us who want to enrich their vocabulary.

The day didn't call much for things that were seedy, albeit it being a homograph (that's a new term for me also, i'm psyched!). I like how everything went today, not at all shabby. I feel like I learned something that I can't quite put my finger on, or just that I don't want to say it aloud because I don't want to forget it (a bit on the supersticiously clingy side). Regardless, I feel good.

I was in a vacation, from myself. The trip kinda sucked, though. I forgot how I liked going to the movies by myself and watching a film and just thinking about the dialogue and the effects and where it was taking me. The nights eating sushi at the bar went away, not making conversation about things I didn't care to talk about.

Last sunday all of this came to happen: movies, dinner, happiness. No nagging, no hissing; just me. I forgot all about that. I noticed how people see me as being something that I'm not, and I remembered how those words are really best left to the wind to carry. The few souvenirs I took are writing, my blog, my photographs and my undying liking for drawing. I discovered that no one is suppossed to get me, I shouldn't ask for miracles. "I am what I am" said Popeye before tooting his pipe; and I agree with that weird version of David. I liked walking home and talking to my family. I'm lucky to keep that thing from my teen years. I used to go with my brother and sister; but they moved on, and so have I.

Steps going back home, walking at my own pace, not listening to anyone talk about anything; just me. I don't get what's not to like.

Y para qué estamos aquí?

Figurese usted lector: Esta ya fuera de la universidad, con un buen trabajo y pensando avanzar más en sus estudios, pero con un pequeño detalle en contra de su camino... O quizas más de uno. La realidad mía y de terceros cercanos es que estamos en ese punto:

Sí, ya tenemos un estudio de grado hecho.
Sí, ya estamos trabajando y ganando decentemente.
Sí, estamos haciendo cosas que no podíamos hacer en la universidad por que, como estaba la situación en esos tiempos, tuvimos suerte de que haya dinero para pagarla.

Pero ahora por dónde tomar camino? Las tardes se vuelven las mismas, haciendo las mismas cosasm, el sitio variando, y el tiempo pasando. Vemos a nuestro alrededor y todas las otras personas, o se casan, o se van del país a hacer un estudio post-grado, el punto es que ahora uno se siente como que si se paró el tiempo a los 21 años.

Habemos un grupo de gente que estamos como sin rumbo. Tenemos deseos de hacer algo para terminar una era, pero no sabemos qué. Llegamos a esa conclusión. Estamos cansados de estar en el mismo sitio, pero es que también no hemos decidido dónde ir!

Ahora, en mi opinión, lo que nos queda es ya ver cómo salir de este hoyo existencial. Se dice que el primer paso para recuperarse de un vicio es reconocer que uno tiene un problema, y ya lo hicimos: identificamos que dónde estamos no estamos felices. Mi aflición es estar dependiendo de mi familia, y viviendo con ellos, como una especie de adolescentismo (adicción a ser adolescente); ppara ser sincero ya estoy viejo para eso, voy ya a cumplir 26 años y quiero salir de aquí.

Se despide...

trivial meaning

I was walking home today from dinner with friends, and someone decided to start singing so the others guess what the song was; when my turn comes I wind up singing a Spark from Tori Amos and no one guessed. I think I have odd musical tastes. I listen to what the lyrics are, and then there's the beat and the melody comes last. There are some exceptions to this, for instance, the Mars Volta, which has a sweet guitar intro, and the whole ensemble of instruments is awesome. The lyrics from the first song I heard from them (L'Via L'Viaquez) are tough to follow, so it's better to pay attention to the music.

I like it when I hear a story, it doesn't have to be close to home, and it doesn't have to be an epic fantasy; I believe that explains why I analyze lyrics. One of my friends told me he likes to listen to the whole album of one artist, to understand what they wanted to say with their production. It made sense, after all, a painter has a collection of work that he/she displays; a movie must be watched completely to understand the message; a book can't be read in excerpts, by doing this you will fail to understand what the writers ideas were; a haute-couture collection has to tell a story, each piece linking with each other; all the acts in a play go together in a consecutive manner to efficiently convey a tale. All of the forementioned basically seeks to provide a message.

The arts are used for expression. Let's face it, we like a challenge. An artist can and will present us with an idea; some will be clear, others will be abstract as to incite pondering to the receiver of the message.

I think about all of this, and I believe that gives me an idea as to why I go for the meaningful expression; I like to figure out songs, I like to listen to Tori Amos talking about her losses and her grief; I like to listen to Duncan Sheik talking about the bad relationships; I like to listen to Erykah Badu, talk about life and how the people she loves; I hope one day I can express myself like that. I know I have it in me.

Wish I

As I read the words on the screen, and heard them to the beat
Wish I'd seen you the moment they were conceived.
And the songs never grow old, and the stories can always be told
Wish I'd seen the things you see.
Pen and paper hold you true, and show the world your mind in truth
Wish I'd express the things I feel.

I sit here writing what hopefully will be an homage
since you sing, write and talk to me about your life
and every word seems to compel me,
as every sentence unravels feelings in me,
and every paragraph sends me away from the things I run from.

I hear about women that shimmer like the California sun.
About the ones that mystify the simple things, and cover us with poetry.
About little girls that traditions have them in a strangle hold.
About the friends that we lost. And the ones we gain.

The ground is fertile with hope for newer generations,
as others come and tell their stories, i sit, listen and wonder...
Why can't I sum up the courage and discipline?
What is it that prevents me from letting the words flow,
let the images paint themselves in a canvas...

I speak of nothing happy, nothing amusing.
I sing of things off-key, that really don't impress anyone.

I don't feel like competing,
my life is not that interesting
I have no voice to sing or speak.
No stories to tell,
but when I hear and read your words,
I forget that I can't do it,
what the world says I don't and can't,
and I sing, I draw, I write.
You help me come to this,
This is why I've shown you this.

Ventana

Me siento en este cuarto,
viendo al mundo por la ventana,
escribiendo cosas al aire.
Se oye en el fondo algo animado,
mas no se ve nada.

Si fuese por mi, todo cesara
no soy yo quien controla esto.
Mi ventana brilla con todo tipo de cosas,
Cosas que llegan, me arropan, me abrazan.
Cosas que matan.

En el fondo... En el fondo no se que hago aqui.
Parece que estoy perdido.
Fuera de donde estoy,
se oye todavia ese murmullo.
De nuevo salgo, y no hay nada.

Me muevo: camino, corro y salto.
Pero nada pasa...

Me traiciona mi razon?
Me traicionan ya otras cosas.
En qué confió?
Ya el murmullo se va poco a poco.
Si regresa, bien; pero ya me canse.

Mi ventana brilla de nuevo,
las palabras me ahorcan, casi ni respiro.
No puedo salir ya. Me veo atascado,
se siente la arena movedisa
la tierra tragandome. No grito, me quedo inmutable.

Quizas sea mejor asi...

Ping!

Ding! Someone answered when I personal messaged that person at work. Long time since I posted, almost a month. I have not been giving the priority I should to my journal, amongst other things. I keep getting involved in the lives of other people, and just forgetting that I have goals that I want to reach. All of the resolutions for new years involve me investing some time on them, and require some concentration, and TIME INVESTMENT on my part; even if it means partial social isolation.

I have to fight against my procrastination tendencies and also deal with the fact that people require attention. Acknowledging the fact that I have a life and plans can be difficult for some people; thus I end up putting myself after them, and being unhappy. I don't want that anymore. I want to end a year successfully and happy. I can't avoid problems, the only way through is handling each issue; but I can't keep sacrificing my plans at the whim of any of my friend, regardless of how much they have done for me in the past (or believe they have).

And yes, I finish yet another angry post.