I was just looking through my Phi Delta Theta Pledge manual from 1999 and I found a series of note cards that I used to use as speaking points at chapter meetings.  We were in the process of re-founding the fraternity and the following are the quotes I used to light the fire of change with my peers. 

“As you walk through life, you may be solo, but not alone.”
- Unknown

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.”
-Margaret Mead

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
-Eleanor Roosevelt

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
-Martin Luther King Jr.

“Guard well your spare moments they are like uncut diamonds.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

“We are often so caught up in our destination that we forget to appreciate the journey.”
-Unknown

“I can’t understand why people are frightened of new ideas, I’m frightened by the old ones.”
-John Cage

“An Idea is salutation by imagination.”
-Frank Lloyd Wright

“Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee and just as hard to sleep after.”
- Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Technorati Tags: quotes, inspiration

story_ti.jpg, originally uploaded by hypermodern.

Reading Pat the Bunny with Ben and Ollie.

Pete_Ipp.jpg, originally uploaded by hypermodern.

Ice cream, mirrors, and smiles. Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois.

Pete_Ipp.jpg, originally uploaded by hypermodern.

A lovely lilly flower from my mother’s garden in Morris, Illinois. A nice respite from the stresses I’ve been feeling since I’ve been out here…At least the corn is still sweet, and the summers are hot and humid, and there’s plenty of propane in the tank for sweet, sweet grillin’.

For three weeks in July, I spent my Wednesdays taking BART over to UC Berkeley to teach in the secondary division of Academic Talent Development Program. I’m very happy with the final projects, please take a look at the completed ATDP page on hypermodern.net where I outline my course (complete with downloadable syllabi), and display student animations ranging from the hand-drawn to claymation. Also there is a photo album for the digital photography class.

Hand Drawn by Sophia Balkoski

I found these from my last semester at Cornell University when I was taking 29 credits and applying to grad school. I really had to prioritize, (the first time in my life since the 6th grade that I didn’t have track practice every day) hence my thesis show was named PRIORITIES. I’ve notated the results next to the goals.

1. Stay fit, 165 lbs. of twisted titanium (presently 161)
2. Finish graduate applications (accepted to SFAI, SAIC, and SVA)
3. Graduate (BFA art, BA psychology)
4. High jump 2.18 and constant over 2.06 (2.03m 2004 is my post collegiate PR )
5. Enjoy company of others (This is certainly an ongoing project)
6. Be true when deciding grad school (Um, I was true when I decided to live in San Francisco…SFAI was tough to deal with at times)
7. Thesis show that is amazing (check out PRIORITIES I was very happy with it)
8. Publish results from psych study (I had the stimulus drawings published, you can see what personal projects I was working on in the research section of hypermodern.net)
9. Get good hand care, no nail biting (this has come a long way, but I still bite rarely, especially during basketball season, than goodness for Orbit gum I really like Bubblemint)
10. All sport champions (Phi Delta Theta New York Alpha Chapter was second in 2002)
11. Turntables and DJ gigs. (Never got a gig, but did DJ some parties at CU, and used the turntables I got in my thesis video)

Pete_Ipp.jpg, originally uploaded by hypermodern.

Hanging out with Mom in San Francisco fog and roses…

Over the past five years, I’ve been working very hard to make Jackson Manor very livable and professional, and I’m happy to say that with all the support, it’s been a great learning process, and ultimately a resounding success. Nearly 20 dancers have gone on to San Francisco Ballet and scores more are professional dancers throughout the world. Check out the San Francisco Chronicle article on the day-to-day life of 26 pre-professional dancers under one roof.

I am so very thankful for the support and contributions of Patricia Swanson, Kirsten Gamb, Jason Blackwell, Andrew Harvill, and especially Jim Sohm for being such a great mentor, and helping me develop as a manager through his calm and fair example.

I have been moving forward with my show installation bit by bit, and have been working on being diligent with my time while still having time to decompress and relax. Thank you for respecting my need to focus on myself a bit during this potentially stressful period.

I have keeping an old Chinese saying in mind, as excerpted from the Gold Mountain Monastery newsletter based here in San Francisco.

“I make my own destiny and seek my own fortune; fortune and misfortune are not predetermined but acquired by my own actions.”

The newsletter continues…

If we want to stop being muddled and attain understanding, we must first do our best to get rid of our bad habits and faults, for only then can our wisdom shine forth…

This day is already done,
And our lives are that much less.
We’re like a fish in an ever-shrinking pond.
What joy is there in this?
Great assembly!
We should be diligent and vigorous,
As if our own lives were at stake.
Only be mindful of impermanence,
And be careful not to be lax.

Moving forward, I do feel as though my artistic life is at stake at the moment, and I’m investing all my resources to make sure when the opening comes, I’m ready. Procrastination is a fault that I’m growing out of as I have more experience.

I’ve been handing out cards, getting photos ready, and making plans. I also just got a fortune cookie: “You believe in the goodness of mankind”. I do, and I’m excited to share in the joy more each day.