Tuesday, September 27, 2011

E=MC^2


"Imagination is more important than knowledge."
-- Albert Einstein

Friday, September 16, 2011

Photoshop and Other Things

In a random change of life events, interests, and self-discovery, I have embarked upon a new career pursuit: Web Design and Development. After moving back to Salt Lake City from Toronto, graduate school, and the direction I thought my life was supposed to take, I landed a job at my alma mater. I work for the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Utah, where I do many things. It is extremely similar to my previous job at the Utah Society for Environmental Education, only for a bigger organization and without the program facilitation aspects.

Currently, my main function at work is to design a new website for the department. It has become a huge undertaking, since I have to deal with the bureaucracy of the university to make things happen, rather than just striking out on my own. This has forced me to learn more about web development than I ever would have thought possible, and I am completely loving it! I 'm exploring this interest further.

Since I am an employee of the university, I get discounted tuition rates, which I am completely taking advantage of. This semester, I am taking an HTML/Javascript programming class through the Computer Science Department, in addition to the Web Design Tools Certificate through Continuing Education. There are three certificate programs for web development and design. I started the first one earlier this week with my first class: Photoshop 1. Most of what we went over I have already learned from working with the program, but I also learned a ton from the class and going through photoshop the "right" way, rather than just blundering along and figuring it out as I go.

I am extremely excited for the series of classes the certificate offers. Next week is Photoshop 2, and then we move onto Illustrator, CSS, XHTML, Dreamweaver, and finally finish the 10-class certificate off with something called "Web Design: An Integrated Approach." Sweet!

While my professor was discussing the intricacies of layers last night, I made this little gem from the "layer sandwich" demonstration and a bit of fun time.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Retallack - In the Mail!

I just ordered this movie today. It looks awesome! Can you tell I am excited for ski season?




I'm thinking I might even have a ski-movie party to kick it off right! I'll have to find a tv first though...and a couch.


UPDATE: (10/11/11) I'm glad I didn't have a party and make a big deal about this. Apparently it's only 27 minutes long! What?!?! There was a lot of great footage and awesome skiing and massive amounts of powder...but I would have loved more.


Also, I have a couch now. It's green. Super green. As in it was donated by the cricket store. 

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Great Basin National Park

After my roommate's half marathon, Roomie, Sister, and I packed up and made the 4 hour trek to Baker, NV. Baker is the closest "town" to Great Basin National Park. I say "town" because it is an extremely small place with only two places to stay, two restaurants, and a convenience store (with not at all convenient hours).

Our experience in Baker was not good, unfortunately. I love little towns, so I was excited to see what this scrub-brush pitstop had to offer. Apparently, not much, except for bad food and a generally constant uncomfortable feeling. The hotel was really bad - you'll just have to trust me on this one.

But the park was GREAT! Pictures:


Sister and Roomie, killing time before
our Lehman Caves tour.
Wheeler Peak, on the right.
So, my camera didn't like the caves so much. But here are a few photos from others of Lehman Caves.

Underground Lake
Photo Credit

"Cave Bacon"
Photo Credit

Lehman Caves
Photo Credit

Lunch Break


Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Roomie's SLC Half Marathon

Over Labor Day weekend, my roommate ran her second half marathon. And she did great! The Salt Lake City Half Marathon and Relay is a punishing course. There is a steep mountain hill that the runners must climb right off the bat - 4 miles of pure uphill. Then the course mellows out through a sloping canyon and ends after another brutal uphill push at the University of Utah.

My favorite quote from one of the runners crossing the finish line was, "What kind of a messed up course was that?" Clearly, the people who originally mapped this race did not run the route before committing it to the city.

Anyway, just wanted to post a few pictures from the event:



Friday, September 2, 2011

This Cracks Me Up

I joined Pinterest today. I thought I'd share this gem: