A little pomp with a side of circumstance

Sorry about being so absent lately, but it really has been a whirlwind of insanity - albeit the good kind - around these parts.

So what's going on with me? Well...

I graduated! Well, sort of. I mean, my name was in the program as an August 2009 graduate, and I just have one last loose end to tie up before I technically earn my degree (my summer internship - more on that later). I could have walked in the ceremony if I'd wanted to, but I didn't. You might think that after everything I went through to get this degree I would have wanted to march proudly across that stage, but there was just something about getting all suited up in the regalia and going through all the pomp and circumstance for my second undergraduate degree that felt a little wrong, perhaps a little dishonest - especially considering the degree wasn't actually finished. To those who couldn't understand why I felt this way, I likened it to a middle-aged bride wearing a fancy white gown with a full train and walking down the aisle of a cathedral in front of thousands of guests for her second wedding, and doing it without a marriage license. Not necessarily wrong, but just somehow...out of whack, against tradition. And as much as I buck tradition otherwise, there are just some things I like to keep in order on a personal level.

Despair not, however. All of you who were hoping to see me in my cap and gown will get the chance to do so in a couple of years when I get my MASTERS DEGREE! I've been accepted into the graduate program for a Masters of Science in Creative Studies at Buffalo State, so I'll be heading back to the hallowed halls at the end of August. I opted to go straight in, rather than taking any kind of break. Am I worried about burning out? A little. But the course of study is so different (a lot of theory and critical/abstract thinking) from the hands-on world of design that I think it won't really matter. I'll continue to freelance (and hopefully work part-time in a design capacity) while I go to school, though, because I don't want to lose my skills as a designer. The whole idea is to use my experience as a Creative Studies major to enhance my career as a designer, so I must strike a balance somewhere. Ah, the life of a professional student.

So then...roping this back in a little, for those of you not in the know, I'm interning this summer in the art department at Artvoice. If you're in Buffalo, you know what that is. For those of you not in Buffalo, it's our free news and arts weekly paper. I do ad layout and design for them, and I must say it's a fantastic gig. I'd said a few years ago that I never wanted to do print work, but I will extract my foot from my mouth long enough to tell you how wrong I was about that. I absolutely love it. I'd love it more if I didn't have to pay almost $1500 in tuition to be doing it, but I love it nonetheless. I do that two days a week, and will continue to do so until mid-August.

When I'm done with my internship, I will officially have my B.F.A. and THEN there will be pomp and circumstance - in my backyard! Invitations forthcoming, so save August 15th on your calendar, because if you're local, you're invited!

Thanks for all your loyalty and support these last four years, everyone!