Hello all!! This is a quick update. A friend of mine from back home has offered me a CS5 program and some other helpful bits to boot. As far as I know a lot of the stuff he is giving me is Mac compatiable. So anyone wanting to hook me up with a Mac or a really good deal on a Mac, this is your chance.
Also here is the website to my schools store. If you want to browse through there to check out prices and so forth here it is; The Art Institute of Portland store. (It will ask to select a campus...make sure you select Portland.)
Okay, I got to get back to school junk. I have a Midterm today. Ugh.
Thanks, Pip

I have been crazy busy with school and this is why I have not updated this in almost a year. I'm entering the middle of Spring Term 2012 here at The Art Institute of Portland, Oregon (Aipd). I have finished a year here and this is the start of my sophomore year. I'm struggling along and am getting close to a 3.0 GPA. But there are a few things I need to help me.
First of all is my time management. I suck at it and am working on it every term. I also work part-time here at school as a work study. The thing about my school is that there are a lot of projects. I feel it's more of an effort than writing a paper but then again I suck at that too. So prayers for my ability to focus and manage my time well is much appreciated.
Second is that I lack the tools at home to succeed here. The school is fully stocked with equipment for me to do my projects. The trouble is I really need the software and hardware at home. The courses go over basic tools and techniques but the key to be a success is being REPETITIVE in these tools. I have a problem with that because I have no room for the programs on my home laptop and I live far enough away that it's very time consuming to go back and forth from school. I currently take public transit. (Yes, Thunder is at my moms in San Jose.-Thunder is my pick-up truck.) I actually need some stuff that cost me a pretty penny. I decided to list some of those items on here for those who like to help out people but rather know what they are paying for instead of just giving cash to the person. So in future posts I hope to list some of the items and prices along with links if possible.
Off the top of my head, I need a Word software (I bought my laptop for cheap from Best Buy. It was their floor model and I never had the password to access Microsoft Word.) This has hurt me greatly while being at school since I have had to do power point presentations and essays. In case you are unaware, I am going for my bachelors in fine arts so this means I have to take real academic course like Math and Writing classes and other random liberal arts courses.
I also need a desktop computer to work at home with and to continue my homework at home and to continue to go over the things I learn in class. I prefer a Mac since I have been using them a lot at school and find them easier to use than PC's. But both are used in the industry so in the big picture I suppose it don't matter. Haha. But until I can get a desktop I will need an external hard drive. I do not have enough memory on my laptop to hold the Adobe programs I need. I also need the Adobe programs in CS5. (Photoshop,Illustrator, InDesign, Bridge.) My school offers tons of resources at dirt cheap prices compared to the actual prices. I get student discounts that make programs that are usually in the thousand range down to less than $300.00.
I have been looking into refurbished computers and that seems to be the way to go to get good discounted prices on computers.
I need to have these programs and tools so I can continue to go over what I have learned in class. I have already started to forget a lot of stuff since I did them once or twice in a class and then that's it. But I need to start burning this stuff in my head so I can start doing quality work. I'm starting to leave behind the introductory courses and the instructors expect us to already know how to do basic abilities. And my courses are now going to play a part in my portfolio for graduation. This is what i will be showing to potential employers at a special portfolio show at graduation.       
Thanks for reading this and taking an interest in my life.

 Love, Pip 

Summer Term 2011

I may have forgotten to mention that I have a few friends that moved here before I have. I do not get to see all of them and the ones I do get to see is not all that often. I mainly hangout with my friend Brooke, who I know from Modesto, and my friend Rich, who I know from the Ska/Rocksteady/Reggae band The Israelites. Both friends have been more than gracious in helping me out. Which I am embarrassed to say that I have over stayed my welcome and taken advantage of. I am looking for work but also suffer from severe anxiety which I find to be crippling at times. But the fact remains that I have been here almost a year and have no job or means to support myself. Prayer in this area would be greatly welcomed.

Above is my friends and I at a club in Portland awaiting to see The Israelites and Dave Hillyard & the Rocksteady 7 perform. (right side of table/left to right: Brooke, me, and Rich)


So I find myself in need of income for school and for housing. And this is quite stressing at times. But on the flip side, my life at school is amazing! The work load for some of these classes are quite heavy and challenging but exciting. Last term, my first term, I was able to achieve a 3.2 GPA and was able to make some friends with classmates within my major. This term some of those new friends and I have choose to take some classes together which I have found to be relieving. This means I will have friends to work on assignments with and not feel stupid. I have decided to take the Summer Term since this will put my projected graduation date in 2013. The Summer Term started here at The Art Institute of Portland (Ai PDX) on Monday 11, June 2011. I am very excited for these classes and yet a bit nervous about the work load and extra expenses for supplies for a few classes. My only concern this term is finding a job and a place to live in a month or less.

On a more personal note I have found a Major League Soccer (MLS) team I have a passion and love for. I have been a San Jose Earthquakes supporter simply because that is our home team in Northern California. But there is a new team to MLS that has stolen my heart, the Portland Timbers! This team has been around for generations with a rich history and an adoring fan base. This year, 2011, is the inaugural season for this team to the MLS. Portland (and all of Oregon) are very proud of their team and have been fighting for years for the Timbers to become part of the MLS. There is a huge buzz up here in Soccer City USA. Their supporters, the Timbers Army (TA), are setting the standard in North America for the experience not unlike what you would experience in English Football. I was excited to find out that Ai was offering free tickets to a match last term. So of course I signed up and got to take a friend to see the Philadelphia Union play against the Portland Timbers at home! It was a perfect, beautiful, Portland day for a MLS match; grey and wet!! Brooke was the friend I took to the match and now we are both hooked. So hooked that we learn the TA chants and bought our TA "No Pity" scarfs!! Below are some photos of that match.

Brooke and I so excited we got there early!!


The Portland Timbers Football Club backed by the Timbers Army. The TA get there early and leave last. They stand and sing the whole time, win or lose. Brooke and I are the white dot just above the goal post in this photo. This is before everyone got there for the match and the teams where still doing their pre-game warm up drills.

"So, how's San Francisco?"

Well, I did a great job with this Blog! My last entry was shortly after my move to beautiful San Francisco, California. I am still getting asked how I like living in San Francisco. Apparently you folks do not stalk me on Facebook like I thought. Well, friends, I no longer reside in The City by the Bay any longer but in The City of Roses!

After months without work while living in San Francisco, I finally landed a transfer within In-N-Out Burger. I was now making money for rent once again. However due to the crackheads and a couple murders on my block I was pleased to hear that I had to move out of the Tenderloin District. My friend (and roommate) had to, unfortunately, move back home. Opportunities for a new place for me to live continued to fall through left and right. I ended up crashing on friends couches and staying in Motels. At this time I was encouraged by a few friends in the North West to move up there. So in October 2010 I left In-N-Out Burger and moved to Portland, Oregon. I also had to say goodbye to my church family at Reality SF. I was full of mixed emotions. But I had some great new (and old) friends awaiting me in Oregon.

I moved in with a long time friend until February 2011. Then I had to move back to California for a few months due to not finding work. Something I never thought would ever happen to me finally happened! I explored options to attend school for Graphic Design, a dream of mine ever since high school. I was accepted to The Art Institute of Portland and started classes in April 2011! I am currently awaiting the second term to begin in a little over a week from now. I am a full time student with 12 units per term heading toward a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Graphic Design.

I'm reluctantly seeking a part-time job to help pay tuition and a roof over my head. My projects in some of my classes are very time consuming outside of class. I worry if I can keep my grades up with a job. But I'm afraid there will be no school if I have no job. What can you do!? So far, for the first term, I have managed to get a 3.2 Grade Point Average (GPA) with two B's, an A-, and PA (Pass). The PA was for a class I get no credits, towards my degree, but it helps me get to the level I need to be so I can take the classes I do need. The class was a grammar class which I felt I did extremely well in. I feel more confident in my writing and as time passes I hope to explore this new found fondness. In the meantime do not judge my writing abilities. I have a lot of work ahead of me in that area. Haha.

Now let's see if I can keep this up from now on?? Enjoy your Independence Day weekend! Below are some photos of me during the Rose Festival and Fleet Week. Grace and Peace!!!

7 Months In...

Well, I have been in San Francisco, California for almost 7 months. I now work at In-N-Out Burger in Mill Valley, California (Store#141). And have been living in the Tenderloin District of S.F.
Now, my current roommate informed me that he has to move back home to Modesto, CA for a season. :O( So now I must find a new roommate and/or place by the end of August.
Well, I have met a amazing friend at work who just happens to be in need of a place too!! We are currently looking for a place in the Sunset District of S.F.! I'm super excited about this next season!! I will be out of the ghetto and have my own parking spot. I will be able to bring Thunder (my 1998 Nissan Frontier pick-up truck) up to the City!!! And no more Golden Gate Transit to commute to work!!!
I could use all your prayers on this transition.
I also would like to visit my friend Emma Rees in Surrey, England. I was hopeing to this Aug., but not having a job for almost 6 months killed that dream. Now I hope to go in December. Perhaps spend Christmas and the New Year/and my 35th Birthday?! My friend Emma has and is going through some crazy stuff in her life. As much as I want to be there for her right now and try to lighten the burden....I cannot. The earliest I could possiably visit would be in December.
So please pray I budget my monies properly for this trip.
That is it for now. Reality SF is doing amazingly!! God is blessing us so much!!! Such a sweet time to be here!!
Love, Pip

My Bad...

Well, I currently live in San Francisco, California for the last six months. It's been rough for me. I JUST got a transfer to an In-N-Out and this is my second week working. I've been in this city jobless and broke this whole time. I was blessed to do a moving job, here and there, with a friend from my former church in Modesto, California. And the support of various friends with rent has gotten me this far. Things are starting to settle a bit for me.
My current church, Reality San Francisco, is launching its very first missions trip this summer. Space is limited and is teaming up with Reality Los Angeles. Our first missions trip is to London, England. We are coming alongside Reality London for a Prayer Tour of the city.
I am currently praying about this trip and am on a waiting list. Many of you already know my strong desire to live in London and in England. I'm praying to see if it is the Lords will for me to join this team or not.
I am going to do a Support Letter soon and give more info. But for now I just want to quickly get you up to speed. I seriously need to update this Blog, so please be patient with me. Thanks!!

As Of Late...

So, I'm still in the middle of moving to San Francisco, California. I moved out of my house and am crashing at a friends for a bit. Nothing solid for living situation in S.F. yet and got denied my transfer to the store in S.F.! Was told to try again in a few months. It is in a high tourist spot and thus is very slow outside of the Summer months. I may have to try and get a transfer to the nearest store right below S.F. in Daly City, California. Keep me in prayer. I know God will get me through and He has a plan. But I am being stretched loads!! That's a good thing, but also very difficult to go through at times. Thats it for now.