January was a mixed bag of WHOA. What does that say for the start of 2015?
FEAST FOR THE EYES>>
- The Design of Everyday Things. Don Norman. Yeah, guys. I started reading this September 2013 and just finished it last month. I only ended up reading it while I was in airports and finally on my flight back from Chicago-Pittsburgh I finally wrapped it up. Verdict? I did really like it! It’s great for non-designers too even though it sounds super designerly. Whether you like it or not is up to the person, but it talks about how we can make things that better serve each other. So, if you do something kind of like that…
- Fight Club. Chuck Palahniuk. It’s crazy that I haven’t had a chance to read a single one of his books even though I’ve been meaning to forever. I have been under the impression that they aren’t good to listen to over audiobook so I’ve never gotten to reading it. I did really like the book, but I think seeing the movie a head of time spoiled it for me.
- Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage. Haruki Murakami. I love Murakami’s books. This one was less fantastical than his other books, but still a pleasant listen.
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Victor Hugo. I’m still listening to this book, a little bit in the middle. It’s good, but I also don’t think he needed to spend a chapter talking about Paris’ architecture (in my humble opinion). La Esmeralda is 16 though, not the adult lady that Disney tells us she is.
ENTHUSED>>
- Graduating. I know I’m looking forward to it way to soon, but it’s the truth.
- I’ve also already been looking ahead to summer plans even though actually planning it gives me a headache.
- I’m going to Interaction15 this weekend! Yeay! It’s a design conference for interaction designers. It’s in San Francisco this year.
COMPULSIONS>>
- Maybe not sleeping has been a thing I’ve done a lot of in January. The picture at the top is of me waiting for the campus shuttle at 4am.
- I’m super obsessed with this chicken that my friend made. I made a series of videos about him on my instagram. Like, I’m really in love with him.
COMPUNCTIONS>>
- My thesis almost killed me last week. Barely slept at all and was so stressed out. It was really a blur. I tried to fill out my 5-year diary at the end and I didn’t even know what days were days.
- I was stressed out about which classes to take for the first two weeks, but I ironed it out. I guess.
SIGHTS>>
- I saw Sarah, Katie, Shanna, and James in Chicago!! My heart overflow-th.
- I went to the Chicago Art Institute. Twice. It’s so good guys and I didn’t even scratch the surface.
- My friend had an extra ticket andI ended up seeing comedian Kevin Hart perform…random. Not my favorite kind of humor, but I enjoyed it.
- I joined the nation in seeing the greatest moment in sports.
STORIES>>
- Big Hero 6. Super cute! I really liked it. And it’s not just because I’m studying stuff in the technology field and am taking a service design class.
- Boyhood. I liked this and could relate to the painfully slow moments. When he was an angsty teen I could relate to the angsty teenage conversations with my fellow angsty friends…It was interesting to see the story unfold. Just life’s little moments, not the big Hollywood climaxes.
- The Theory of Everything. This was like, my guilty pleasure. I was ok with being like “you should see Big Hero 6 & Boyhood with me!” but then I was kind life…”maybe also maybe this movie is playing tonight…mumble.” But, yes, I really liked it. The dorky boy main character slew my heart, even though I knew he’s a regular handsome guy in real life. I liked it. I also saw Hawkin’s documentary over winter break too, so, you know…not all fan girl. (CMU is plays movies for free every week and winter break rekindled my love of movies).