I always held the believe that God, has a really morbid, cruel sense of humor. If you have been reading this blog, you would probably know my reasoning for me making such a statement. However never has I felt that I am truly the star of his divine comedic genius. On Friday, by his divine intervention, he made me that comedic star.
Since I started work at this graphic design studio, I had never been broke. Well, not terribly, left with 2 dollars and still 20 more days to go broke like in the army days. I have been living rather comfortably, able to eat (thank god), the occasional taxi ride back home and shopping (though, since my shopping partner, namely Farhan has been jobless since, I have yet to go shopping in quite a while) . And even better, last Friday, an old freelance client of mine called me and said he has transfered all the money that is required for the services I had done. Overwhelmed with the prospect of having more money than before, I rushed to the nearest ATM to withdraw some mulah.
Of course, if everything went as planned, it wouldn't be a divine comedic intervention. This would have been really funny if I was just a spectator but no – I was a player in this. The main and probably only player. My card had to be rendered unusable. I couldn't withdraw any money. And it had to be a Friday, the last day the bank would stay open. And it had to be 6pm. The time all the banks had already closed. And perhaps the divine punchline in all of this. I had to be left with only two dollars in my wallet.
Isn't life wonderful?
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Excuses
You know those mornings. When you just showered, and you are drying yourself and then you saw your naked reflection in the mirror and then you realize that you are fatter than you were yesterday. But in deep inside you had this inkling, that the mirror is probably playing some tricks on you, or this is one of your i-am-so-self-conscious days. Well today, was not that day for me.
Today I woke up, looked into my naked reflection, all wet and disgusting and know that I am truly a fat ass. For some reason or another, every thing looks wrong. My chest was droopy, my abdominals, pouchy and my dick seems a little shorter than it should. Well too much information there, but this is my blog and hell if I want to write about my dick, I would. Then I began to regret the fried nugget eating frenzy I had the night before and quickly thought of hitting the gym – twice.
I know I need to go back to my gymming sessions, before its too kilo-fat late. It's scary. At one point of my life, I practically do not care how I look like (yes that's why I had that hair) and now I almost had a nervous breakdown at the mere though of gaining some kilos. I stepped gingerly onto the scale, and sure it enough, I gained 2kgs. Which is okay, but why so much difference physically?
To lose weight, you have to cut back at least 500 calories from your daily calorie intake. The problem is of course, I do not know what my daily calorie intake is. I never knew. I don't read every label, count every calorie or remove the skin from every chicken. I try my best. My mum once told me that your body is going to remember every insult that you give it. That chocolate, potato chips and fries. Your body is going to react, and not in a nice way.
Food is always a problem for me. I take breakfast and a good light lunch, but when it comes to dinner, I could not control myself. I just get really hungry at the end of the day, and god damnit I hate being hungry. And researchers said that dinner is really what make people fat. I am not a follower of the no food after seven bullshit, and I am beginning to think that its a good idea if I start practicing it.
My job is not physically demanding I must admit. The only job hazard that I have to deal with is the occasional paper cuts that I get when I am doing some mock-up. As much as I like to go to the gym three times a week, I am simply too tired after work to go to the gym near my work place. And it does not help that the gym is frequently crowded and considerably smaller compared to the gym near my home. Also it also does not make it easier that this particular gym is filled to the brim with neck less muscle thugs who grunts and hog all the machines.
As I read back this entry that I am typing, I realize I am typing out nothing but excuses. And that sort of realization really hits you hard at the back of your throat (or head, or any other place that can be hit hard). I need to make some changes in my life. No more excuses Wan!
Today I woke up, looked into my naked reflection, all wet and disgusting and know that I am truly a fat ass. For some reason or another, every thing looks wrong. My chest was droopy, my abdominals, pouchy and my dick seems a little shorter than it should. Well too much information there, but this is my blog and hell if I want to write about my dick, I would. Then I began to regret the fried nugget eating frenzy I had the night before and quickly thought of hitting the gym – twice.
I know I need to go back to my gymming sessions, before its too kilo-fat late. It's scary. At one point of my life, I practically do not care how I look like (yes that's why I had that hair) and now I almost had a nervous breakdown at the mere though of gaining some kilos. I stepped gingerly onto the scale, and sure it enough, I gained 2kgs. Which is okay, but why so much difference physically?
To lose weight, you have to cut back at least 500 calories from your daily calorie intake. The problem is of course, I do not know what my daily calorie intake is. I never knew. I don't read every label, count every calorie or remove the skin from every chicken. I try my best. My mum once told me that your body is going to remember every insult that you give it. That chocolate, potato chips and fries. Your body is going to react, and not in a nice way.
Food is always a problem for me. I take breakfast and a good light lunch, but when it comes to dinner, I could not control myself. I just get really hungry at the end of the day, and god damnit I hate being hungry. And researchers said that dinner is really what make people fat. I am not a follower of the no food after seven bullshit, and I am beginning to think that its a good idea if I start practicing it.
My job is not physically demanding I must admit. The only job hazard that I have to deal with is the occasional paper cuts that I get when I am doing some mock-up. As much as I like to go to the gym three times a week, I am simply too tired after work to go to the gym near my work place. And it does not help that the gym is frequently crowded and considerably smaller compared to the gym near my home. Also it also does not make it easier that this particular gym is filled to the brim with neck less muscle thugs who grunts and hog all the machines.
As I read back this entry that I am typing, I realize I am typing out nothing but excuses. And that sort of realization really hits you hard at the back of your throat (or head, or any other place that can be hit hard). I need to make some changes in my life. No more excuses Wan!
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Sweating Design
Strangely enough, when I started this blog, I sought of knew that this thing here wouldn't be updated too often. Never a good sign. Not only that, but I have resorted to use tricks such as posting photos with vague unrelated titles, to appear smart and intelligently mysterious. Of course, I realize I am insulting my readers (all 3 of you) - my readers who I know happen to be very smart and not easily fooled by silly tricks.
So today, I have decided to indulge you and satisfy your need of Sudirwan's ramblings - and if you do not want to be sated with my ramblings, just read on and pretend you are interested anyway.
So it has been two months that I am working at this design studio. I am a Graphic Designer, to the still uninitiated folks. And, if you, like most folks, would probably be wondering what a Graphic Designer really do. Yes, what do a Graphic Designer really do? You probably have some assumption of what we do. Yes we design posters and pamphlets and brochures and we do advertising and all that. But today I am to walk you through of my typical day, and hopefully you would appreciate the work that go to designing that booklet or poster or little price tag.
On most days, I would wake up at 5.45 am, do my morning prayers and try to do a little cardio exercise. Sometimes I would use the machine if I'm lazy, but most of the time I just jog outdoors. My work starts when I am exercising. I think best, when I am sweating in out, with my iPod blasting music into my ear hole. Design assignments or problems are rarely solved instantaneously. Inspiration don't come easy - at least for me. They are usually solved through a tedious process or system - which includes word play, random sketches, brain storming and in my case sweating it out, as I burn my calories.
I commute to work on the MRT and sometimes, design solutions do come to me when I am stuck in the morning train crowd, but usually like most people, I try to get some shut eye. When I reach the office, at about 9.00 - 9.15 am, I fill up my water bottle, on my computer and try to clear my email. The first part of my morning are reserved for clearing email and corresponding with clients and vendors. I realize I am less bitchy and blunt in the early morning. Do not try to pull no crazy stun surprises on me on in late afternoon, unless you want a nasty putting down that had make people cry. I am working on trying to be less mean, but sometimes stupid people have to be made to realize that their existence on this planet is probably a mistake made by someone up there who has a really morbid sense of humor.
After all that corresponding, I would then try to catch hold of my art director and other designers for their opinions on certain designs. This is the most productive time of my day. A lot of design problems are solved through these discussions. Though I trust my sense of design direction and aesthetics, I do get lost and stuck sometimes. No harm asking for opinions I always believe. I would also do the same, if my opinions were asked for, which these days, happen quite often - my colleagues are now used to my blunt and sharp comments.
Once I get design problems solved and the visuals are done and ready to be presented to the clients for their opinions, I would try to give them the visuals as much as possible through email. I like meeting clients, but these days, I realize that much could be done through email, without actually meeting them. Emails also allow for clients to be more honest and brutal, since some clients do shy from giving opinions when they do meet face to face with their designer.
Most of my time is spend doing design production (computer work) and corresponding with clients for their opinions. Rarely do design go out of the studio without being filtered through other designers and clients. Some become extraordinary work of design and some becomes diluted pieces of mediocre work. I always start on every new design project, hoping for the best design possible, fulfilling both the client's brief and my creative soul. Rarely do both happen at the same time, but when it does, I would realize again why I chose to be a designer in the first place.
At the end of the day, whenever that is – sometimes it stretches to midnight – I would shut down my mac, clean up my desk and quietly remind myself that I am a lucky bitch who gets to do what he wants do and still get paid for it.
So today, I have decided to indulge you and satisfy your need of Sudirwan's ramblings - and if you do not want to be sated with my ramblings, just read on and pretend you are interested anyway.
So it has been two months that I am working at this design studio. I am a Graphic Designer, to the still uninitiated folks. And, if you, like most folks, would probably be wondering what a Graphic Designer really do. Yes, what do a Graphic Designer really do? You probably have some assumption of what we do. Yes we design posters and pamphlets and brochures and we do advertising and all that. But today I am to walk you through of my typical day, and hopefully you would appreciate the work that go to designing that booklet or poster or little price tag.
On most days, I would wake up at 5.45 am, do my morning prayers and try to do a little cardio exercise. Sometimes I would use the machine if I'm lazy, but most of the time I just jog outdoors. My work starts when I am exercising. I think best, when I am sweating in out, with my iPod blasting music into my ear hole. Design assignments or problems are rarely solved instantaneously. Inspiration don't come easy - at least for me. They are usually solved through a tedious process or system - which includes word play, random sketches, brain storming and in my case sweating it out, as I burn my calories.
I commute to work on the MRT and sometimes, design solutions do come to me when I am stuck in the morning train crowd, but usually like most people, I try to get some shut eye. When I reach the office, at about 9.00 - 9.15 am, I fill up my water bottle, on my computer and try to clear my email. The first part of my morning are reserved for clearing email and corresponding with clients and vendors. I realize I am less bitchy and blunt in the early morning. Do not try to pull no crazy stun surprises on me on in late afternoon, unless you want a nasty putting down that had make people cry. I am working on trying to be less mean, but sometimes stupid people have to be made to realize that their existence on this planet is probably a mistake made by someone up there who has a really morbid sense of humor.
After all that corresponding, I would then try to catch hold of my art director and other designers for their opinions on certain designs. This is the most productive time of my day. A lot of design problems are solved through these discussions. Though I trust my sense of design direction and aesthetics, I do get lost and stuck sometimes. No harm asking for opinions I always believe. I would also do the same, if my opinions were asked for, which these days, happen quite often - my colleagues are now used to my blunt and sharp comments.
Once I get design problems solved and the visuals are done and ready to be presented to the clients for their opinions, I would try to give them the visuals as much as possible through email. I like meeting clients, but these days, I realize that much could be done through email, without actually meeting them. Emails also allow for clients to be more honest and brutal, since some clients do shy from giving opinions when they do meet face to face with their designer.
Most of my time is spend doing design production (computer work) and corresponding with clients for their opinions. Rarely do design go out of the studio without being filtered through other designers and clients. Some become extraordinary work of design and some becomes diluted pieces of mediocre work. I always start on every new design project, hoping for the best design possible, fulfilling both the client's brief and my creative soul. Rarely do both happen at the same time, but when it does, I would realize again why I chose to be a designer in the first place.
At the end of the day, whenever that is – sometimes it stretches to midnight – I would shut down my mac, clean up my desk and quietly remind myself that I am a lucky bitch who gets to do what he wants do and still get paid for it.
Monday, November 06, 2006
Sunday, November 05, 2006
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