“What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure.” – Samuel Johnson
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Behind the Story — Softball Feature
Apr 17th
First off, let me say that I’m completely out of rhythm in my life. It really just seems disjointed. There is very little fluidity in what I do. It seems like I do something and then it fades away or I’ll do something and then I’ll burn out and then need another break from it. Either way, once I get into form again, I’m sure I’ll have better stuff.
But enough of that ranting, I’m going behind the story for the first time in the Delos Diaries. I’m going behind the story that I will say summed up my two years at The Spectrum.
If you haven’t read it already, I’d be surprised since I can’t stop talking about. But now, I don’t look at it in the same light as it was a good read. I now look at it from the perspective on what I could have done differently to make it better.
A changed element here. A different question there. A new approach. I don’t really know. But I know that story could have been 100 times better than I got, but I’ll accept the good things people have said about it.
But honestly, I don’t think I would have done a good job if I wasn’t as motivated as I was.
The photo we got was amazing. Great art to go with the story and it helped in an attempt to write to.
I probably spent a lot of time, thinking on what I was going to write and how I was going to write it. I don’t think I’ve taken that much time to write a feature. I’ve done features in two hours, but this one. I don’t know. I just took my time to weave it properly. Taking into account everything I’ve picked up about this girl from interviews, observations at practice to game memory.
It almost seemed like I had to really key in on what would be the best way to describe this person’s story, which is cliched in theory. I wrote out the bottom half of the story. Filling the bottom with the quotes and stuff that was going to be talked about in the story.
Then I had this left over quote I wanted to use, but now way of masterfully putting it in the space where it mattered. There was also a case of a missing lede. How often do I write a story before I write a lede? I’d say for every 10 stories I write, I’d write backwards two times and this was one of the times where I had to do it.
But nothing was coming to me. Nothing was “good enough” to lead off the story with a catchy, memorable start. I don’t remember what I did, but I just decided to start describing that day and soon it started to flow. By doing so I was able to weave that quote into the story and provide my best story in nearly two-years.
Why I thought it was great?
Like a pitcher, I threw everything I had at it. All of the elements I’ve developed in the two years, and it seems like the final project before the semester ends. Thing is, I just started my third year.
Looking back, there are a million ways I could change the story and do it over again. But then again, space constraints and other quirky things we talked about would have to be kept locked away to memory.
That’s the story behind “Burning up bases.”
The Adequate Asian
Mar 3rd
So I watch all around me as my friends, who somehow match the Asian stereotype of being good at math, science, musically inclined, dance, get good grades, are ridiculously close to their families and have some type of story of having “Asian” parents.
I don’t.
Musical talent? Does playing the drums in the freshman year of high school count? Along with not really being the lead percussionist rather than a role player in the percussion section.
Good grades? Try a 3.2 WEIGHTED GPA in high school, and a desire to really just get by with the bare minimum.
Good at Math and Science? Only when I studied and actually cared. Other than that, unless it’s concerning the odds of drawing out a straight with two cards to come, I really have no desire to do math. Science? Ha! I love it, but I just don’t want to do it as a job ya know?
Dance? Yeah…I somehow think I can dance, but I’m also fully aware that my skills are ground level and really aren’t that great.
Story about Asian parents? Um. They never really pressured me into anything. Never really pushed anything on me. Let me do my own thing. Maybe it’s the guy thing.
But other than that, I really can’t see how stereotypical Asian I am.
In fact, I’m somewhat an anomaly.
Stereotypes.
They’re relatively annoying and I’ve discussed it numerous times with my friend, Maddie.
We hate them.
The thing is part of me wishes I had ONE of the traits that make a stereotypical Asian. I mean, I have to be artistic in some way right?
Seriously.
Where is my stereotypical Asianess and I don’t mean height?
Oh.
Yeah.
I write.
I guess I am Asian.
It’s artsy right?
Small victories.
Release No. 1
Feb 12th
I don’t know what I’m feeling right about now. I should be happy. In fact a lot of me is happy.
But then why do I sit here at 3 a.m.?
The weight is starting to get to me. But I’ll let it out bit by bit.
So when I’m stressed…
Feb 10th
I tend to write. Go figure. It’s a sad state of affairs. I truly will always write even when I don’t want to write no more.
That is. Until at this very moment.
I tend to wear my emotions on my sleeve, though I can hide it when I utterly have to. Right now? I’m livid. I’m pissed. I’m not happy. I’m miserable. And it makes me feel terrible.
Let’s put it this way: When I screw up, I’m not feeling good. I hate “losing” and each failed day at work is considered a “loss.” One mistake is a “loss.” Even when it’s not fully my mistake. I hate the feeling and I never want it again.
I’m short and to the point.
There are so many other things on the mind right now. Maybe I’ll write about them another time. But all things in the life of Paul Delos aren’t peachy, perfect and ideal. Why am I playing more video games? It’s a distraction from having to deal with the other stuff around me. I’m lucky like that.
Swing highs.
Swing lows.
I got a million ways to get it. Choose one. I’m on to the next one.
Going Live
Feb 2nd
PaulDelos.com vs. TheDelosDiaries.com — What are the differences? Hopefully this manifesto will help define it.
I agonized for a good day and a half trying to figure out what to do with this Web site and the domain PaulDelos.com. I thought about killing the original blog: The Delos Diaries. I thought about just using PaulDelos.com as a way to link over to the DD.
All of those options were good, but ultimately, I went with this one:
- PaulDelos.com will give you everything you need to know about my thoughts, musings and other random stuff that I hope makes for interesting and fun reading. That includes: Sports thoughts, Findings on the Web, Entertainment Reviews and just random other stuff.
- TheDelosDiaries.com will feature deeper, more intimate content. It will feature my thoughts on my state of affairs. It will feature the story behind the story, and just really personal things.
On some occasions, there will be a post on both Web sites, but I will try and keep those to a minimum to keep both sites independent of each other. The beauty of Tumblr hosting PaulDelos.com is how quickly I can post a new blog relatively quickly and from my phone if I really want. I also have my Twitter linked to both sites, so you can keep up with my random thoughts from wherever I am. The best part? More updates for all those fans of Paul Delos — all three of you.
As for The Delos Diaries, I prefer those to have a lot of thought and have some type of impact. I want to take my time writing those and having WordPress host it, it helps me take my time and write out a proper blog post. I want to thank Robert Ludwick for hosting The Delos Diaries at no cost, so I want to give him a shout out. Check out his blog at darqbyte.com.
So there it is, PaulDelos.com is live. The Delos Diaries still exists and you get twice as much Paul Delos in your life.
Until next time,
Paul Delos
Feeling Heat
Jan 24th
Happiness is nothing more than having a short memory
If that was true, then I’d be the happiest person when it comes to work and doing things correctly.
Well, I haven’t.
I’m struggling.
In fact, I’m in a deep slump and it sucks. The fact remains that I can’t seem to have a good stretch for longer than two weeks without some type of mistake or some type of issue is the worst part of it all. The thing is, I’m way better than I’m capable of. If it’s distractions, then I need to clear them. I have an idea on how, but it would be a pretty large step to do so.
I can try and slow down. But even at 3/4 my speed, I still awfully quick. I don’t try and hurry as much any more. I’m starting to slow down. It’s just one of those things, where if I want to go deeper in this industry I have to improve and improve quickly. I keep thinking that I want to leave, but every day I wake up at 11 a.m., I’m reminded that I’m not working. I’m just doing something I like to do, no matter how stressful or how shitty the pay is.
But at this point, I don’t know what more I can do. The harder I try, the more I seem to slip. The more tense I get about doing something right, the more I screw up. I’m not relaxed, which is good and bad at the same time.
Maybe, it’s just temporary. Maybe it’s part of adjustment. Or maybe, I’m just doing what many of my favorite athletes did in the past: Sit on their talent, and never worked on it.
All I know is that when tomorrow happens, I’ll probably would have already moved onto the next thing.
Modern Warfare 2
Jan 5th
An addicting game
So I’m addicted to the video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. I want to play it whenever I can and with people who are actually good, so I can watch them and pick up the tips on how to become a better MW2 player.
I play with people so much more better than and me and it’s not going to get easier. My level is more out of playing so gosh darn much, rather than actual ability. I need to find a way to improve fast and quickly.
There are certain levels where I’m good at, but it just feels like I’m getting worse. Then again I don’t play consistent enough for me to become an elite level player. I guess I’ll keep working on having better reactions and stuff and aiming properly.
But until then, you can guarantee that I’ll run around the stage, hopefully killing people and in the mean time shooting down choppers, harriers and other air to ground tactics. I guess that’s my role.
Thoughts from the Copy Desk: Disappointment
Jan 4th
So far this year, the best thing I’ve gotten to do was layout Kobe’s triumphant victory over the Magic in the NBA Finals.
That was a lot of fun. Putting together a page with an athlete I admire and seeing him at the highest point of his season.
But with great victory comes great disappointment.
Enter today’s Fiesta Bowl.
I’m a TCU fan. Make no questions about it. There isn’t much more I can say. I’ve been a fan since Dennis Franchione and LaDainian Tomlinson. I rooted for them in college, in fact when I got my free pack of Mountain West Conference helmets, I only kept one — my TCU helmet that to this day sits on my desk at work.
Yes. I didn’t bother with the UNLV helmet because I loved TCU football so much. I have no ties other than my friend, who I haven’t met in person, Tim Bella, a graduate of TCU. I just liked the program. I liked the team and I LOVED the mascot.
So naturally, when over the last two seasons, fans have been going crazy over Texas Christian University and their potential to burst into the BCS picture, I was in it to. From riding high after last year’s crushing victory over BYU to the pain of Ross Evans missed field goals to this year’s great march to the BCS.
I was there all the way, riding the highs and lows of the team.
So along comes Monday, I’m riding high in my spiffy purple shirt with black Dickies on.
Me in purple. Go Frogs!
I’m hyped for this game like no other.
When the game ends, and TCU is on the losing end, it hurts. Hurts as much as it should — fan rooting for his team. I wasn’t really in the mood to hear crap for about 10 minutes (the NCAA mandate for after the game.) But now I’m over it and have to accept that the season was good, but not great enough. To go 12-1 is a good season, but the disappointment I’m feeling. It’s easy to say there’s always next year, and odds are they’ll be playing in a bowl game then. Even so, we’re in the now and I’ll look back at the season and say it was fun.
I guess, my revenge was taken when my Road to Glory athlete in NCAA 2010 rushed for 325 yards against Boise in the exact same bowl game.
However, I still had a job to do and that was to finish the page and how it looked. All hatred aside, I put the best photos and gave a good layout for Boise State, as I would have for the Frogs.
It comes with the territory. When you’re going to layout a big game with your team involved, be prepared to do so if they lose.
So here’s the design for you non-St.George Folk.
The page finished.
Nature of the industry. You win some and lose some. But the sun still comes up tomorrow.
Five Random Thoughts Jan. 3,2009
Jan 3rd
Random Thought No. 1: I tend to fall into my own world, when my headphones are on. I’ll dance, thinking that I can choreograph a good routine. I focus strictly on having fun when my headphones. I listen to a lot of hip-hop, more so recently with the events in life. I guess, I just like to think I can dance, not so much knowing if I really can. It’s just fun.
Random Thought No. 2: I’ve realized one big omission from my musical library: Aaliyah. She was one of my favorite artist when I was in elementary school, and I think I need to add her stuff to my iPod and music library.
Random Thought No. 3: I work faster than anyone else. So I guess I’m built for this industry right? I don’t know, with speed comes the drawback of more likely to miss. High-risk, high reward.
Random Thought No. 4: I’m wearing purple tomorrow. Awesome! TCU FTW! BEAT BOISE STATE!
Random Thought No. 5: If I keep this up, then I can have 365 blogs up this year. I’m sure I’ll have something to rant about soon. But for now, I’ll end this by saying, blogging is more fun when I don’t think of topics to write about.