Weblog entries posted on this day.
Past Sunday, I was working late hours for Interactive Media class on Monday morning. I had planned to work during my week off, but of course I didn't do shit untill a couple of hours before I had to attend class again. I went to bed far too late, yet got up very early, leaving me with only two or so hours sleep.
Dispite the fact I only had a couple of hours of sleep, I had no trouble getting out of bed, and getting ready. On my way to the Academy, I went through the brand new tramtunnel for the first time. It came as a bit of a surprise that we went underground all of a sudden, as I was daydreaming a little and hadn't realized my line would use the tunnel. I have to say the tunnel looks pretty good (as it should), and—to my surprise—it was actually quite a bit faster.
At the Academy we discussed our project (which is to redesign the website of the KABK) with the teacher (Bram Simons). Another student from our class overheard our discussion, and showed interest as he was working on a related project. He's now the fifth member of our group.
After Interactive Media class, we had a couple of hours off, and then the whole class headed—by foot—to one of the best known design companies of The Hague, NLXL. Ironically, they are the very studio that designed the current version of the website we discussed a couple of hours earlier. The reason we went to this studio (instead of having the usual Typographic Design class) is that the teacher, Huug Schipper, wanted to give some insight on how companies like this (can) work.
On our way to the studio, we came across the monster of Laakkwartier:
I hadn't seen him for a long time, and … man, I forgot how big he was.
The studio appeared to be in a neighborhood I know pretty well (I had no idea), and it's a pretty impressive one. They have an entrance room where they receive their clients, a little coffee room, and a pretty big work space with two large dormer-windows (and no other windows).
After our visit to NLXL, we didn't have to go back to the Academy, so we could do whatever we felt like. The four initial members of our little project group, plus an extra classmate (Casper), went to my favorite pub (Zwarte Ruiter). First, we did a lot of chatting (after all, we hadn't seen eachother for a week), and than I finally got up in order to get some drinks.
After our drinks, we decided to head home, as we all had quite a bit of work to do for Graphic Design class the next day. Casper and I went to the USA Sport Store to have a look at the new collection of basketball shoes, and then headed to my place.
At my place, I showed Casper some of my new shit, and we talked (in the end accomponied by my mom) about how we should stop doing stuff at the last minute. He didn't stay very long: we agreed to start working for the next day.
I did put myself to work right after he left, but it simply wouldn't work: I couldn't seem to think of anything, let alone create something. I downloaded some images from Google Image Search, and stared at my monitor for some time. I then had dinner, and went outside to play some basketball (something I might be slightly less good at, but need no inspiration for).
Back in, I watched some television, and then—when it was pretty late again—I started working again (and keeping half an eye on the FIGHT NIGHT Chat With the Mortal Kombat Development Team that was happening in #mortalkombat, where I function as operator). I decided to not attend class the next morning, but use that time to work on it some more, and then discuss it with the teacher in the afternoon (during class of the parallel group).
I got up pretty early in the morning, worked on my posters, and headed to the Academy. It appeared I wasn't the only one who had planned to join the second class: many of my classmates (including Casper) where there to discuss their things. (Mine was perceived pretty well, but I was told it'll require some more work to be sufficient.)
During this class, I started to feel the symptoms of depression and anxiety I've been experiencing for about a year now play up a bit stronger again. I did stay untill the end of class though; I even went to (the last) Film History class—which I already succesfully completed last year—with Casper. On our way, we ran into Tessa, who asked for my help earlier this month: we agreed to meet up at the Academy tomorrow at 14:00. The movie that was shown was nice, but because I wasn't able to relax, I couldn't really enjoy it, and left during the break.
On my way home, I was—surprisingly enough—feeling more and more anxious. At a certain point, while I was going to a shopping street in the middle of town, I tensed up so heavily a couple of times, I couldn't swallow and felt like I was choking. Since I've become pretty much a heavy weight on anxiety, I didn't think I was going to die, but realized I was being rediculous. That realization by itself releaves some tension, but—unfortunately—doesn't put a end to it.
I didn't start running towards home (or a hospital; like I'd do when it was one of my first anxiety attacks, and I didn't know what the fuck was going on) either. Heck, I even went to USA Sport Store again to ask whether they had a specific shirt in store, and to buy a new ball. I was still pretty anxious, but I simply wasn't intimidated by it. I don't think people in the store even noticed a thing. (They probably would have if they'd shaken my wet, cold, trembling hand).
When I arrived home, I started feeling a lot better. I still had quite some tension left to relieve, though, so I put on my basketball gear, and went outside. On the court—as is often the case—it was all good.
I expect to get more sleep tonight, and I expect to feel much better tomorrow.
This day, elsewhere.