Friday, December 28, 2007
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Monday, November 5, 2007
Concerning Hedgehogs
The snow settled in on the evening of the 3rd, and the cold weather seems to be here to stay now. As much as I don't like the cold weather, I know of a little beastie who likes the cold even less than I do.
Algerian Hedgehogs, like my sweet little Hazel, can't stand the cold. If their surroundings are too cool, they will become lethargic and will try to hibernate. However, since they are a desert species, they don't have the proper metabolism to hibernate properly, and most who do try will slip into a coma a die.
That's why I always have a heat emitter aimed at Hazel's pen. Unfortunately, I'd failed to account for the draft coming in from a nearby window. I'd checked in on her before we'd left for dinner on Sunday night, and she was showing the first warning signs of hedgie-hypothermia - cold paws, dry nose, and a wobbly gait.
Layne and I quickly rearranged her pen to move her bed more directly into the path of the heat lamp, and I gave her tons of extra blankets. She seems to be doing better now, but I'm still checking her regularly. When the radiator finally kicks in, it should more than negate any drafts getting into her pen, but I still worry about her. She's quilling right now - shedding last year's quills and regrowing a whole new set, which always lowers her immune system and her appetite, so any extra stress on her system could make her very sick. Poor little quillbeast.
And now, on a cheerier note : A Bunny Sticking Its Tongue Out At A Grumpy Hedgehog.
Algerian Hedgehogs, like my sweet little Hazel, can't stand the cold. If their surroundings are too cool, they will become lethargic and will try to hibernate. However, since they are a desert species, they don't have the proper metabolism to hibernate properly, and most who do try will slip into a coma a die.
That's why I always have a heat emitter aimed at Hazel's pen. Unfortunately, I'd failed to account for the draft coming in from a nearby window. I'd checked in on her before we'd left for dinner on Sunday night, and she was showing the first warning signs of hedgie-hypothermia - cold paws, dry nose, and a wobbly gait.
Layne and I quickly rearranged her pen to move her bed more directly into the path of the heat lamp, and I gave her tons of extra blankets. She seems to be doing better now, but I'm still checking her regularly. When the radiator finally kicks in, it should more than negate any drafts getting into her pen, but I still worry about her. She's quilling right now - shedding last year's quills and regrowing a whole new set, which always lowers her immune system and her appetite, so any extra stress on her system could make her very sick. Poor little quillbeast.
And now, on a cheerier note : A Bunny Sticking Its Tongue Out At A Grumpy Hedgehog.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
I feel loved!
Tonight I met a whole bunch of folks out in St. Albert for my birthday dinner, since yesterday evening was pretty much entirely taken up with the game. The food was excellent as always. I had a fish and crawdads dish that was so delicious it actually caused me to forget what I was saying. I also got to try a root beer glazed dish, and even though it tasted exactly like A&W root beer, it still went fantastically well with the sweet onions and pork. The chef out there has never failed to please. (Well, except for not having any hush puppies. That made me sad.)
But, as great as the food was, far better was the company. We managed to fill a huge table, and I had a great time chatting with everyone, even though there were so many folks I had to migrate along one edge of the table just to speak to everyone! It was a ton of fun, and I am so lucky to know such awesome people. Yay! ^_^
Tonight I met a whole bunch of folks out in St. Albert for my birthday dinner, since yesterday evening was pretty much entirely taken up with the game. The food was excellent as always. I had a fish and crawdads dish that was so delicious it actually caused me to forget what I was saying. I also got to try a root beer glazed dish, and even though it tasted exactly like A&W root beer, it still went fantastically well with the sweet onions and pork. The chef out there has never failed to please. (Well, except for not having any hush puppies. That made me sad.)
But, as great as the food was, far better was the company. We managed to fill a huge table, and I had a great time chatting with everyone, even though there were so many folks I had to migrate along one edge of the table just to speak to everyone! It was a ton of fun, and I am so lucky to know such awesome people. Yay! ^_^
Saturday, November 3, 2007
My birthday, so far, has been wonderful and weird. I don't know if it was just the full moon or some wonderful serendipitous attempt to delight me on my birthday, but the world has seemed to conspire to endlessly amuse me today.
First off, there was the flasher.
I had decided early this morning, while playing Katamari in my pajamas, that I would like to go to the river to feed the birds. I puttered around for a bit, deliberately not thinking about the massive pile of things I still had to do, because, hey, it was my birthday and I would be damned if I was going to spend the day working. Before we left to go to the river, I needed to go across the street to the bank.
There was a woman standing on the corner, looking as though she also wished to cross. I stood beside her, waiting for a break in traffic, when suddenly she turns to me a lifts up her shirt.
"HI!!" she says, grinning hugely.
"err." I manage. "Hi. Nice day?"
I crossed the street. The ladies in the bank were lined up at the window, bemusedly watching the woman flash cars at random. They got back to work as I came in, and one of them halfheartedly suggested calling the police. Layne also got flashed as he came across the street to meet me, and we chuckled about it on our way back to the car. That little incident done, we picked up some sandwiches from the little cafe down the street, and then headed down to the river.
It was a little cooler than I would have liked, but it did mean that the river was nice and quiet. Layne and I found ourselves a picnic table, and had a nice lunch. While we were eating, I glanced over and saw a small figure in the distance. It was wearing a fox suit.
"Aww," I said, "Isn't that cute? That kid's still wearing his Halloween costume."
The figure came closer, and loomed larger. "I don't think that's a kid..." said Layne.
I spent the rest of lunch watching the furry and his photographer have a wonderful, frolicking photo-shoot in the leaves. I was highly amused by his antics (which included rolling in the leaves and general cartoonish romping) and by the sheer random weirdness. I kept wondering if his suit was homemade - it looked to be pretty well constructed, but after a moment or two of my inner costume-geek trying to figure out what one would use to make a full-sized mascot head (foam and lightweight tubing, obviously) I gave up the line of thought and continued on with my lunch.
After lunch, we wandered down the trails by the river and fed the chickadees. I normally would feel guilty about feeding wild birds, as it's a nasty habit to get them into, but man... I went for a walk down there a few weeks ago and was astounded that I could get them to perch on my hand if I just held it out to them. At one point I looked like something out of a Disney film - I stretched out my hand and a dozen little birds flitted about me cheerily. I half expected them to start darning my socks.
Anyway, they're pretty darned cute and I certainly enjoy watching them, so Layne and I strolled along and occasionally stopped to be mobbed by hungry little birds. The entire walk was, as usual, punctuated by me going, "Oh! Hoary Woodpecker!" and "That one, over there!! Are its wings barred???" and flailing at some nearly invisible bird off in the bush.
Tonight - Hell to Pay. Mmm - yummy demon game. I plan to wear something a little comfier this time, as it will be held at someone's house and goddammit, I want to be able to climb stairs. My other costume, fun though it is, is not made for doing anything more strenuous in than a brisk walk.
First off, there was the flasher.
I had decided early this morning, while playing Katamari in my pajamas, that I would like to go to the river to feed the birds. I puttered around for a bit, deliberately not thinking about the massive pile of things I still had to do, because, hey, it was my birthday and I would be damned if I was going to spend the day working. Before we left to go to the river, I needed to go across the street to the bank.
There was a woman standing on the corner, looking as though she also wished to cross. I stood beside her, waiting for a break in traffic, when suddenly she turns to me a lifts up her shirt.
"HI!!" she says, grinning hugely.
"err." I manage. "Hi. Nice day?"
I crossed the street. The ladies in the bank were lined up at the window, bemusedly watching the woman flash cars at random. They got back to work as I came in, and one of them halfheartedly suggested calling the police. Layne also got flashed as he came across the street to meet me, and we chuckled about it on our way back to the car. That little incident done, we picked up some sandwiches from the little cafe down the street, and then headed down to the river.
It was a little cooler than I would have liked, but it did mean that the river was nice and quiet. Layne and I found ourselves a picnic table, and had a nice lunch. While we were eating, I glanced over and saw a small figure in the distance. It was wearing a fox suit.
"Aww," I said, "Isn't that cute? That kid's still wearing his Halloween costume."
The figure came closer, and loomed larger. "I don't think that's a kid..." said Layne.
I spent the rest of lunch watching the furry and his photographer have a wonderful, frolicking photo-shoot in the leaves. I was highly amused by his antics (which included rolling in the leaves and general cartoonish romping) and by the sheer random weirdness. I kept wondering if his suit was homemade - it looked to be pretty well constructed, but after a moment or two of my inner costume-geek trying to figure out what one would use to make a full-sized mascot head (foam and lightweight tubing, obviously) I gave up the line of thought and continued on with my lunch.
After lunch, we wandered down the trails by the river and fed the chickadees. I normally would feel guilty about feeding wild birds, as it's a nasty habit to get them into, but man... I went for a walk down there a few weeks ago and was astounded that I could get them to perch on my hand if I just held it out to them. At one point I looked like something out of a Disney film - I stretched out my hand and a dozen little birds flitted about me cheerily. I half expected them to start darning my socks.
Anyway, they're pretty darned cute and I certainly enjoy watching them, so Layne and I strolled along and occasionally stopped to be mobbed by hungry little birds. The entire walk was, as usual, punctuated by me going, "Oh! Hoary Woodpecker!" and "That one, over there!! Are its wings barred???" and flailing at some nearly invisible bird off in the bush.
Tonight - Hell to Pay. Mmm - yummy demon game. I plan to wear something a little comfier this time, as it will be held at someone's house and goddammit, I want to be able to climb stairs. My other costume, fun though it is, is not made for doing anything more strenuous in than a brisk walk.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Post #13 - In Which Alina does Layne's nails and talks about costume stuff
Yesterday, being November 1st, was a good day to be a costume geek. I took full advantage of the post-Halloween bargains, and got a whole bag of goodies with which to supplement or add to my Tickle Trunk. Strangely, they had no carts or baskets in the store, so when I showed up at the counter with a full armload and a jack-o-lantern filled with creme makeup dangling from my wrist, I think I made the day of the girl at the counter.
I even managed to find several bottles of liquid latex, which was good, because the order I'd placed earlier this month didn't come through. The supplier, unfortunately, didn't have the neutral fleshtone I needed in stock, and hadn't updated the site. I got my money back, and made sure they knew of my displeasure at having to wait nearly a full month to hear back from them, despite my several emails.
The latex is for a pair of gloves for Layne. We're making some creepy clawed latex gloves, similar to the ones I made for my Ifrit costume. I'm hoping to take a few pictures of the process, because I want to make a tutorial. I had to figure the darned thing out on my own, and there's a few things I've learned.
a) It's easier to sculpt something on someone else's hands (duh)
b) Latex gloves worn underneath make removal of the sculpted claws a thousand times easier
Tonight I sculpted the claws on his left hand. I use the bone-colored sculpey, and then bake it until it starts to brown. It makes for a nice, natural looking claw color. Then, I put a few coats of clear nail polish over top to give it some sheen and to keep it from chipping.
Tomorrow - the latex gloves themselves, which should be nicely cured before Hell to Pay.
Also, tomorrow's my birthday, so I suppose that there may be something involving cake.
I even managed to find several bottles of liquid latex, which was good, because the order I'd placed earlier this month didn't come through. The supplier, unfortunately, didn't have the neutral fleshtone I needed in stock, and hadn't updated the site. I got my money back, and made sure they knew of my displeasure at having to wait nearly a full month to hear back from them, despite my several emails.
The latex is for a pair of gloves for Layne. We're making some creepy clawed latex gloves, similar to the ones I made for my Ifrit costume. I'm hoping to take a few pictures of the process, because I want to make a tutorial. I had to figure the darned thing out on my own, and there's a few things I've learned.
a) It's easier to sculpt something on someone else's hands (duh)
b) Latex gloves worn underneath make removal of the sculpted claws a thousand times easier
Tonight I sculpted the claws on his left hand. I use the bone-colored sculpey, and then bake it until it starts to brown. It makes for a nice, natural looking claw color. Then, I put a few coats of clear nail polish over top to give it some sheen and to keep it from chipping.
Tomorrow - the latex gloves themselves, which should be nicely cured before Hell to Pay.
Also, tomorrow's my birthday, so I suppose that there may be something involving cake.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Ok, this is bugging me.
I found this article on the Herald Sun. It claims that the revolving image can be interpreted as spinning both clockwise AND counter-clockwise, depending on how you look at it. Apparently, left brain thinkers see it spinning counter-clockwise, while right brain folks see it spinning clockwise. But, they also claim that it's possible to switch the direction she's spinning while you watch it.
I've tried. I've tried a lot. Hell, I've sat here for the last ten minutes, watching her revolve stubbornly clockwise, and the only thing I'm getting from it is that whoever animated her certainly didn't have their xy axis locked. Maybe that's where the trick lies?
I'm usually pretty good at these optical tricks. Magic Eyes don't phase me, and those concentric circles spin pretty damned fast. But this one? Can't do it. I can't even puzzle out the logic of how the illusion would work. I just see a poser model, spinning clockwise. Maybe my left brain's broken?
LINK! : Right Brain vs Left Brain
I found this article on the Herald Sun. It claims that the revolving image can be interpreted as spinning both clockwise AND counter-clockwise, depending on how you look at it. Apparently, left brain thinkers see it spinning counter-clockwise, while right brain folks see it spinning clockwise. But, they also claim that it's possible to switch the direction she's spinning while you watch it.
I've tried. I've tried a lot. Hell, I've sat here for the last ten minutes, watching her revolve stubbornly clockwise, and the only thing I'm getting from it is that whoever animated her certainly didn't have their xy axis locked. Maybe that's where the trick lies?
I'm usually pretty good at these optical tricks. Magic Eyes don't phase me, and those concentric circles spin pretty damned fast. But this one? Can't do it. I can't even puzzle out the logic of how the illusion would work. I just see a poser model, spinning clockwise. Maybe my left brain's broken?
LINK! : Right Brain vs Left Brain
Monday, October 29, 2007
Big Things from the last week:
Tuesday - Submitted my portfolio to Bioware. I am not by nature a nervous or superstitious person, but damn. Until I hear back from them, I can see a lot of nail-biting and crossed-fingers in my future. Here's hoping.
Thursday - The day of wandering. Spend several hours killing time in South Edmonton, due to the fact that no buses run anywhere remotely near where I had taken my car in for repairs. It was frustrating not being able to catch up on all the comics I need to draw, but it wasn't a total bust. I got to check out an awesome costume shop and restock my stash of nifty costume-y things, and I spent nearly a full hour in the pet shop talking to the budgies and watching the pile o' ferrets sleep. (Not as boring as it sounds - they move like crazy even while sleeping!) The afternoon was capped off by sitting in Chapters, drinking some really excellent white tea and reading Anansi Boys.
Friday - Dave & Quinn's birthday/Halloween party. Full of awesome. There was some great costumes all around, but I was mostly just glad to get a chance to hang out with some awesome folks. Helo and Ajax loved their cat tree, and spent the entire evening pasted to it. Later on in the evening, I got to try out D's karaoke machine. I approve.
Saturday - The Second-Last Inheritance Game. Shani, Layne and I headed out a little later than we would have liked, and so I got to drive very, very fast in my newly tuned-up car. The game turn-out was pretty low, thanks to Halloween parties and the like, but it was an amazingly heart-wrenching game none-the-less. I expect that next month's game will be even more spectacular.
Sunday - Had breakfast at Traegers before hitting the road. Discovered that red cabbage for breakfast is a fine thing indeed. Drove like a maniac all the way back to Edmonton so that I could finish Monday's comic. Swore to rebuild my buffer. I can't understand how so many webcomic artists can work without a buffer. It sucks. It sucks a lot.
Tuesday - Submitted my portfolio to Bioware. I am not by nature a nervous or superstitious person, but damn. Until I hear back from them, I can see a lot of nail-biting and crossed-fingers in my future. Here's hoping.
Thursday - The day of wandering. Spend several hours killing time in South Edmonton, due to the fact that no buses run anywhere remotely near where I had taken my car in for repairs. It was frustrating not being able to catch up on all the comics I need to draw, but it wasn't a total bust. I got to check out an awesome costume shop and restock my stash of nifty costume-y things, and I spent nearly a full hour in the pet shop talking to the budgies and watching the pile o' ferrets sleep. (Not as boring as it sounds - they move like crazy even while sleeping!) The afternoon was capped off by sitting in Chapters, drinking some really excellent white tea and reading Anansi Boys.
Friday - Dave & Quinn's birthday/Halloween party. Full of awesome. There was some great costumes all around, but I was mostly just glad to get a chance to hang out with some awesome folks. Helo and Ajax loved their cat tree, and spent the entire evening pasted to it. Later on in the evening, I got to try out D's karaoke machine. I approve.
Saturday - The Second-Last Inheritance Game. Shani, Layne and I headed out a little later than we would have liked, and so I got to drive very, very fast in my newly tuned-up car. The game turn-out was pretty low, thanks to Halloween parties and the like, but it was an amazingly heart-wrenching game none-the-less. I expect that next month's game will be even more spectacular.
Sunday - Had breakfast at Traegers before hitting the road. Discovered that red cabbage for breakfast is a fine thing indeed. Drove like a maniac all the way back to Edmonton so that I could finish Monday's comic. Swore to rebuild my buffer. I can't understand how so many webcomic artists can work without a buffer. It sucks. It sucks a lot.
Friday, October 19, 2007
As suspected, the art-blockage cleared up after a hot bath and a good night's sleep, and things have been going smoothly the past two days. Tonight, I sat down and pulled together everything I have ready for my portfolio. It's looking good, but it could use a couple more pieces to really flesh things out. I want to show that I can do good weapon and vehicle designs as well as the more standard character and environment stuff.
These are my favorite sketches from the past few days. They're still works in progress - the greyish bits haven't been colored yet, and I might still do a little more shading on the jungle piece.
Also, I got some awesome news today! Season One of Wapos Bay won the Gemini award for the Best Children's Program!! Dude! They've won a Gemini before for the pilot episode, which I didn't work on, but this time, it's for stuff I was a part of! How cool is that?? The awards ceremony will be in Regina, the day after the next Inheritance game... It'd be cool if I could swing it to get down there and attend them, but the logistics for something like that is making my head spin, and I'd have to check and see if they'd even have tickets for me.
Besides, I have to be back in town on Monday to drop off my portfolio.
These are my favorite sketches from the past few days. They're still works in progress - the greyish bits haven't been colored yet, and I might still do a little more shading on the jungle piece.
Also, I got some awesome news today! Season One of Wapos Bay won the Gemini award for the Best Children's Program!! Dude! They've won a Gemini before for the pilot episode, which I didn't work on, but this time, it's for stuff I was a part of! How cool is that?? The awards ceremony will be in Regina, the day after the next Inheritance game... It'd be cool if I could swing it to get down there and attend them, but the logistics for something like that is making my head spin, and I'd have to check and see if they'd even have tickets for me.
Besides, I have to be back in town on Monday to drop off my portfolio.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Hit a bit of a brick wall today while trying to do a few more environments to pad out my portfolio. For some reason, I was completely incapable of proper perspective today. And I'm not talking about complicated, 3-point perspective or a picture with objects that require multiple perspective points.
I mean, I could not, for the life of me, make a simple cube.
Ok, ok, so it wasn't that bad. But it was sufficiently frustrating that I started and discarded 3 sheets of good paper and 8 pieces of scrap before abandoning it for another day when I was less artistically brain-dead.
Spending some time with Layne after dinner helped get rid of the frustration. A hot bath with mango-scented bubble bath got rid of the lingering stress.
I'm taking the rest of the night off, as I suspect that a certain amount of hormones were involved in my lack of creative mojo. (Stupid hormones... They've stopped trying to alter my moods, having given it up long ago as futile, and now they're attacking my art. How low will they stoop?) I suspect that I will curl up on the couch for a few hours with a good book, and by tomorrow everything will be going great again.
I mean, I could not, for the life of me, make a simple cube.
Ok, ok, so it wasn't that bad. But it was sufficiently frustrating that I started and discarded 3 sheets of good paper and 8 pieces of scrap before abandoning it for another day when I was less artistically brain-dead.
Spending some time with Layne after dinner helped get rid of the frustration. A hot bath with mango-scented bubble bath got rid of the lingering stress.
I'm taking the rest of the night off, as I suspect that a certain amount of hormones were involved in my lack of creative mojo. (Stupid hormones... They've stopped trying to alter my moods, having given it up long ago as futile, and now they're attacking my art. How low will they stoop?) I suspect that I will curl up on the couch for a few hours with a good book, and by tomorrow everything will be going great again.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
I've been putting my head down and just plowing through these past few weeks. It feels like I've only been taking breaks from work to deal with pressing human needs - food, bathroom breaks, and the occasional social outing so that I don't go completely bonkers and start chewing through the walls. I run in the mornings. And then I work.
The few breaks I've had have all been exceptionally nice. On a whim last week, Layne and I decided that we really needed German food, and called DG, who is a guru on the local German food scene. We met up with he and DD at a wonderful little place that served the finest jägerschnitzel I've ever had. (And some odd quotes - "Jägerschnitzel! I can pronounce it, because it's like a cross between weinerschnitzel and jägermeister!") We talked until well after closing time, and once we finally got the hint and left, stood around in the parking lot talking until we all got too cold to stand it anymore. It was a wonderful evening.
This evening was also wonderful. Layne and I had intended to simply go out and get some groceries, as we needed milk and a few veggies, and instead wound up on a grand adventure courtesty of the local LRT system. (I love that he's as prone to random fits of exploration as I am.) We rode the LRT from Stadium to Central, whereupon my sushi-senses were activated and we left the tunnels in search of raw fish.
On the way to the sushi place, we were attacked by zombies. It was a close call. I was alerted to the presence of the foul undead when a spry older gentleman suddenly sprinted across the street in front of me. I looked back to see what he was running from, and saw shambling hoards pouring out from the shopping mall. (I always knew the malls would be the first to go...)
Well, I suppose shambling hoards is a bit of a misnomer, really. They were more like casually sauntering hoards. They were the most laid-back zombies I've ever seen. I believe I even saw one of them with an i-pod. Jeez, zombies these days. No sense of the eldrich horror...
We amusedly watched the zombie mob try to navigate a crosswalk, and then continued on in search of sweet, succulent brains....I mean, sushi. The sushi place was great - a reasonably priced menu, and a quaint decor that included side-booths with kotatsu-style tables. We tried the sushi tapas, after marvelling at the concept for a few moments ("will there be olives?") as well as a nice selection of nigiri, and did our usual amateur-food-critic appraisal of both. Long story short - we'll definitely be back.
... You know, I'm not actually sure where I was going with this post. I believe it was to say that I am very, very tired, but also a hell of a lot closer to getting my portfolio finished, and therefore, to have a good chance at a job that I really, really want. But, in typical fashion, I got distracted and rambled at length about zombies and food. Now I am hungry.
I want more fish!
The few breaks I've had have all been exceptionally nice. On a whim last week, Layne and I decided that we really needed German food, and called DG, who is a guru on the local German food scene. We met up with he and DD at a wonderful little place that served the finest jägerschnitzel I've ever had. (And some odd quotes - "Jägerschnitzel! I can pronounce it, because it's like a cross between weinerschnitzel and jägermeister!") We talked until well after closing time, and once we finally got the hint and left, stood around in the parking lot talking until we all got too cold to stand it anymore. It was a wonderful evening.
This evening was also wonderful. Layne and I had intended to simply go out and get some groceries, as we needed milk and a few veggies, and instead wound up on a grand adventure courtesty of the local LRT system. (I love that he's as prone to random fits of exploration as I am.) We rode the LRT from Stadium to Central, whereupon my sushi-senses were activated and we left the tunnels in search of raw fish.
On the way to the sushi place, we were attacked by zombies. It was a close call. I was alerted to the presence of the foul undead when a spry older gentleman suddenly sprinted across the street in front of me. I looked back to see what he was running from, and saw shambling hoards pouring out from the shopping mall. (I always knew the malls would be the first to go...)
Well, I suppose shambling hoards is a bit of a misnomer, really. They were more like casually sauntering hoards. They were the most laid-back zombies I've ever seen. I believe I even saw one of them with an i-pod. Jeez, zombies these days. No sense of the eldrich horror...
We amusedly watched the zombie mob try to navigate a crosswalk, and then continued on in search of sweet, succulent brains....I mean, sushi. The sushi place was great - a reasonably priced menu, and a quaint decor that included side-booths with kotatsu-style tables. We tried the sushi tapas, after marvelling at the concept for a few moments ("will there be olives?") as well as a nice selection of nigiri, and did our usual amateur-food-critic appraisal of both. Long story short - we'll definitely be back.
... You know, I'm not actually sure where I was going with this post. I believe it was to say that I am very, very tired, but also a hell of a lot closer to getting my portfolio finished, and therefore, to have a good chance at a job that I really, really want. But, in typical fashion, I got distracted and rambled at length about zombies and food. Now I am hungry.
I want more fish!
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Layne and I were in the living room last night, in that few minutes in between me getting home from work and he having to leave for the lab, and we realized something.
Our anniversary was a few weeks ago. Like, in early September.
Usually, I can tell when our anniversary is because we'll be sitting around, and one of us will say, "Hey? When was it that we started dating again?".
Then, we'll mull over that a few moments, remember the night that we were walking by the river in Saskatoon and I mentioned how my grandpa had brought home a bunch of moose, and Layne said he'd love to cook a good moose roast, because he had some of his father's homemade wine and it would make a great wine gravy and he invited me over for dinner that Friday and it wasn't until that Thursday that I realized that being invited over to someone's place on a Friday and having them cook for me sounded suspiciously like a date.
It's not that we can't remember when our anniversary is because it was such an unimportant date or anything. (Quite the opposite, in fact) It's just that the things we would do to celebrate our anniversary are things that we do all the time - treat ourselves to a nice dinner, go for an evening walk by the river, and then cuddle up on the couch to watch some Top Chef. And that is a very good thing!
This week's a little crazy, but maybe next week we'll do something special. I vote for sushi - I hear there's a great place downtown.
Our anniversary was a few weeks ago. Like, in early September.
Usually, I can tell when our anniversary is because we'll be sitting around, and one of us will say, "Hey? When was it that we started dating again?".
Then, we'll mull over that a few moments, remember the night that we were walking by the river in Saskatoon and I mentioned how my grandpa had brought home a bunch of moose, and Layne said he'd love to cook a good moose roast, because he had some of his father's homemade wine and it would make a great wine gravy and he invited me over for dinner that Friday and it wasn't until that Thursday that I realized that being invited over to someone's place on a Friday and having them cook for me sounded suspiciously like a date.
It's not that we can't remember when our anniversary is because it was such an unimportant date or anything. (Quite the opposite, in fact) It's just that the things we would do to celebrate our anniversary are things that we do all the time - treat ourselves to a nice dinner, go for an evening walk by the river, and then cuddle up on the couch to watch some Top Chef. And that is a very good thing!
This week's a little crazy, but maybe next week we'll do something special. I vote for sushi - I hear there's a great place downtown.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Went to Saskatoon over the weekend for the third-last Inheritance game. It was, as usual, full of lots of emotion, especially as a number of characters died. It's getting close to the big finale, and things are really ramping up.
I'm going to be sad when it's over. I've really enjoyed playing Mahalia, and it'll be one less excuse to see the Saskatoon folks. (Well, assuming they don't all end up here!) We stopped by the Hoifloth's house on the way out of town, and it was great visiting with them again. They've got a nice house and a great yard for their little girl to play around in.
They're both temping too, so we shared some stories of our differnent placements. What I've learned from this and the past few weeks:
Temping at random offices sucks. I want a real job. Preferably one where I don't have to answer phones.
I'm going to be sad when it's over. I've really enjoyed playing Mahalia, and it'll be one less excuse to see the Saskatoon folks. (Well, assuming they don't all end up here!) We stopped by the Hoifloth's house on the way out of town, and it was great visiting with them again. They've got a nice house and a great yard for their little girl to play around in.
They're both temping too, so we shared some stories of our differnent placements. What I've learned from this and the past few weeks:
Temping at random offices sucks. I want a real job. Preferably one where I don't have to answer phones.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
I've been quiet the past few days. I brought some sort of nasty stomach bug back with me, a consequence of fighting off all of my families' germs AND the invasion of deadly air-borne cat-poisons that they like to dust their houses with, and it's had me completely laid out.
Well, not completely. I've still had time to work like mad on my comics. Holy hell, when did my buffer slip down so low? Oh yeah, this weekend was supposed to be my big chance to catch up again. Oh well. I'll make it up next weekend... oh crap. There's a game in Saskatoon next weekend. Well, one way or another, the updates will keep happening.
I'm glad I went though. It was a whirlwind trip - I spent more time traveling than visiting, and was on the road by 7:00 most mornings, but I got to see a lot of family that I hadn't seen in years. My aunt (great aunt, really, but she liked it when I called her auntie) was very careful in her preparations. She didn't want a traditional funeral - either Cree or Catholic, like most funerals on the reserve. Instead, she wanted her family to sit down together and talk, and eat, and laugh. It was a wonderful idea, and even after her death, she provided for the whole family. The cabbage rolls we had were one of the last things she ever cooked - she had made and frozen several huge tubs of them back when she was still well enough to do so. I have a huge amount of respect for her dignity and for her tenderness. She did all she could to make her death easier on her family.
Her family... I had missed them all dearly. These people, my great aunts, uncles, and even more distant relations, were the ones whose homes I would visit while wandering the Qu'Appelle valley with my cousins, chasing tadpoles in Crooked Creek or climbing the hills in search of "dinosaur eggs" and cacti. Some, like my great great aunt, look exactly how I remember them. Others have changed so much it made my heart ache with the memories of other times.
I also got to spend some time with my Mom and my sister, which was nice. They've been going through a rough time lately - since my brother ran away to live with his dad, it hasn't really felt like the same family, or so my sister says. We shared a room that night, and stayed up late watching Grey's Anatomy. It was very comfortable and familiar - sort of like before I moved out on my own, when my sister was still very young. Of course, back then, my brother would have come in for cuddles as well, back before he decided that being an addict with a crack-ho girlfriend was the way to go. Stupid little shit.
Like I said before, it was nice, but it required a few days of downtime to recover from, emotionally. Maybe the stomach bug was well timed?
Well, not completely. I've still had time to work like mad on my comics. Holy hell, when did my buffer slip down so low? Oh yeah, this weekend was supposed to be my big chance to catch up again. Oh well. I'll make it up next weekend... oh crap. There's a game in Saskatoon next weekend. Well, one way or another, the updates will keep happening.
I'm glad I went though. It was a whirlwind trip - I spent more time traveling than visiting, and was on the road by 7:00 most mornings, but I got to see a lot of family that I hadn't seen in years. My aunt (great aunt, really, but she liked it when I called her auntie) was very careful in her preparations. She didn't want a traditional funeral - either Cree or Catholic, like most funerals on the reserve. Instead, she wanted her family to sit down together and talk, and eat, and laugh. It was a wonderful idea, and even after her death, she provided for the whole family. The cabbage rolls we had were one of the last things she ever cooked - she had made and frozen several huge tubs of them back when she was still well enough to do so. I have a huge amount of respect for her dignity and for her tenderness. She did all she could to make her death easier on her family.
Her family... I had missed them all dearly. These people, my great aunts, uncles, and even more distant relations, were the ones whose homes I would visit while wandering the Qu'Appelle valley with my cousins, chasing tadpoles in Crooked Creek or climbing the hills in search of "dinosaur eggs" and cacti. Some, like my great great aunt, look exactly how I remember them. Others have changed so much it made my heart ache with the memories of other times.
I also got to spend some time with my Mom and my sister, which was nice. They've been going through a rough time lately - since my brother ran away to live with his dad, it hasn't really felt like the same family, or so my sister says. We shared a room that night, and stayed up late watching Grey's Anatomy. It was very comfortable and familiar - sort of like before I moved out on my own, when my sister was still very young. Of course, back then, my brother would have come in for cuddles as well, back before he decided that being an addict with a crack-ho girlfriend was the way to go. Stupid little shit.
Like I said before, it was nice, but it required a few days of downtime to recover from, emotionally. Maybe the stomach bug was well timed?
Saturday, September 22, 2007
How was your day yesterday, Alina?
Why, it sucked very much. Thanks for asking!
Lunchbreak - 12:15. I go outside to check my phone messages. (No cell phones in the office) I have a message from my grandpa, saying only to call him back urgently. I know something is wrong by the tone of his voice.
My great-aunt passed away Friday morning. She had cancer. Last time I saw her, she had started chemo but still looked strong. That was two months ago. I took a moment, out amongst all the towering steel buildings, to remember her house. It smelled of smoke - tobacco and sweetgrass. Her hair was so long it brushed the top of my head when I was little. She had a deep, gravelly voice from years of smoking, but a beautiful laugh.
I went for a walk, and then went back to work. I was supposed to meet with my supervisor after lunch to talk about extending my contract. They were quite happy with my work, and I had heard a lot of talk about them keeping me on permamently. The meeting got pushed back, so it wasn't until I was getting my timesheet signed at the end of the day that I found out that I wouldn't be filling one out next week. It was like straight out of a British comedy.
Me: "Thanks! I'll see you on Monday!" (pause) "Something wrong?"
Her: "Well, no, no... It's just, we won't see you on Monday. We're not renewing your contract after all. Budget restraints, you know. The CEO has made his decision." (helpless shrug)
Me: ... "Oh."
Her: "It's not that we weren't pleased with you - we were! If we could have kept you on, we would have. Really." (pleading, uncomfortable smile)
Me: "...Right." (brightly) "Well, it's been a pleasure working with you. Really. I enjoyed my time here." (awkward silence) "I suppose I'll be going now."
It's no big deal - I was working there on a temporary basis, the temp company I was working through has already promised me another placement sometime next week, and I have a good lead on something even better and -not- through a temp agency. But, still...
I worked the rest of the afternoon without showing my displeasure - professional as always, if slightly less sunny than usual. Then, I packed my things and left.
I finally broke in the line at the Swiss Chalet Express while Layne and I were getting supper and left him, rather bewildered, holding our receipt and wondering why I'd suddenly decided to go sit in the car for a bit. It had been a long day. I wanted to be with my family.
* * *
Which is why, at the time I this post, I am sitting at my grandfather's house in North Battleford. I took a bus as far as Lloyd, where he kindly picked me up. Tomorrow, we'll drive from here to Regina. When am I coming back? I don't know. How will I get home again? No clue!! I'll figure something out. I always do.
Why, it sucked very much. Thanks for asking!
Lunchbreak - 12:15. I go outside to check my phone messages. (No cell phones in the office) I have a message from my grandpa, saying only to call him back urgently. I know something is wrong by the tone of his voice.
My great-aunt passed away Friday morning. She had cancer. Last time I saw her, she had started chemo but still looked strong. That was two months ago. I took a moment, out amongst all the towering steel buildings, to remember her house. It smelled of smoke - tobacco and sweetgrass. Her hair was so long it brushed the top of my head when I was little. She had a deep, gravelly voice from years of smoking, but a beautiful laugh.
I went for a walk, and then went back to work. I was supposed to meet with my supervisor after lunch to talk about extending my contract. They were quite happy with my work, and I had heard a lot of talk about them keeping me on permamently. The meeting got pushed back, so it wasn't until I was getting my timesheet signed at the end of the day that I found out that I wouldn't be filling one out next week. It was like straight out of a British comedy.
Me: "Thanks! I'll see you on Monday!" (pause) "Something wrong?"
Her: "Well, no, no... It's just, we won't see you on Monday. We're not renewing your contract after all. Budget restraints, you know. The CEO has made his decision." (helpless shrug)
Me: ... "Oh."
Her: "It's not that we weren't pleased with you - we were! If we could have kept you on, we would have. Really." (pleading, uncomfortable smile)
Me: "...Right." (brightly) "Well, it's been a pleasure working with you. Really. I enjoyed my time here." (awkward silence) "I suppose I'll be going now."
It's no big deal - I was working there on a temporary basis, the temp company I was working through has already promised me another placement sometime next week, and I have a good lead on something even better and -not- through a temp agency. But, still...
I worked the rest of the afternoon without showing my displeasure - professional as always, if slightly less sunny than usual. Then, I packed my things and left.
I finally broke in the line at the Swiss Chalet Express while Layne and I were getting supper and left him, rather bewildered, holding our receipt and wondering why I'd suddenly decided to go sit in the car for a bit. It had been a long day. I wanted to be with my family.
* * *
Which is why, at the time I this post, I am sitting at my grandfather's house in North Battleford. I took a bus as far as Lloyd, where he kindly picked me up. Tomorrow, we'll drive from here to Regina. When am I coming back? I don't know. How will I get home again? No clue!! I'll figure something out. I always do.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
I pretty much missed Talk Like a Pirate Day. (Though, thankfully, my comic didn't.) There was no question of even uttering a halfhearted "yarr" at my new job.
I am now working on the 23rd floor of an office tower in the heart of downtown Edmonton, working for a corporation with a name so corporate that you can't even tell what sort of business they do just by hearing it. Law firm? Accountants? Professional assassins? Who knows??
I am their new "graphic designer". The quotation marks are because though I have a fairly nice set-up graphics wise, with all the latest Adobe toys to play with, all of the corporate branding has already been done and everything from the brochures to the flyers to the invitations to the corporate lunches (sorry, morale building nourishment sessions)has already long since been cast in stone. There's a forty page document describing the proper Pantones and spacing to use in all publications, right down to what sort of bullets are acceptable for use in a proposal. (Myriad or Times, with the possibility of certain Arial diamonds. Garamond is right out of the question.)
So what do I design, then? Not a whole lot. I'm less graphic designer, and more assembly line girl. Open file, insert .eps logos, update text, proof, convert to .pdf, rinse, repeat.
Is it a bad job? No. Not really. My key strokes are logged, so I can't check my email or take a break to surf the internet (not keeping up with my comic's forum is killing me!!), and I'm on the edge of cubicle city right by the main thoroughfare, so doodling is a no-no. There's not much to do but grind through the work, and man, is there ever a lot to grind through.
So, pros and cons? Pros: I'm kept busy, I'm paid well, I get my pick of all sorts of fancy teas from the break room, and the view out the windows of the executives' offices almost makes the bee-hive bearable. They look right over the river valley, and the early fall colors are breathtaking.
Cons: Jesus, it's been a long time since I've had to wear a suit to work. It feels...wrong. Like a blander version of me. Also - I can't tell the bosses apart. They seem to be identical clones in expensive suits and haircuts with very white teeth. I feel the urge to label them with different colored sticky notes.
I am now working on the 23rd floor of an office tower in the heart of downtown Edmonton, working for a corporation with a name so corporate that you can't even tell what sort of business they do just by hearing it. Law firm? Accountants? Professional assassins? Who knows??
I am their new "graphic designer". The quotation marks are because though I have a fairly nice set-up graphics wise, with all the latest Adobe toys to play with, all of the corporate branding has already been done and everything from the brochures to the flyers to the invitations to the corporate lunches (sorry, morale building nourishment sessions)has already long since been cast in stone. There's a forty page document describing the proper Pantones and spacing to use in all publications, right down to what sort of bullets are acceptable for use in a proposal. (Myriad or Times, with the possibility of certain Arial diamonds. Garamond is right out of the question.)
So what do I design, then? Not a whole lot. I'm less graphic designer, and more assembly line girl. Open file, insert .eps logos, update text, proof, convert to .pdf, rinse, repeat.
Is it a bad job? No. Not really. My key strokes are logged, so I can't check my email or take a break to surf the internet (not keeping up with my comic's forum is killing me!!), and I'm on the edge of cubicle city right by the main thoroughfare, so doodling is a no-no. There's not much to do but grind through the work, and man, is there ever a lot to grind through.
So, pros and cons? Pros: I'm kept busy, I'm paid well, I get my pick of all sorts of fancy teas from the break room, and the view out the windows of the executives' offices almost makes the bee-hive bearable. They look right over the river valley, and the early fall colors are breathtaking.
Cons: Jesus, it's been a long time since I've had to wear a suit to work. It feels...wrong. Like a blander version of me. Also - I can't tell the bosses apart. They seem to be identical clones in expensive suits and haircuts with very white teeth. I feel the urge to label them with different colored sticky notes.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Haven't felt much like blogging lately, even though there's been plenty of stuff to talk about. Heck, it's likely I haven't blogged lately because there's plenty of stuff to talk about, and little time to do so. But now, I blog again. We'll see how long this lasts. I'd like to do a random thought a day, and while that sounds easy, I have no idea if I'll keep it up.
So, here's today's random thought - Every have a night where you were exhausted, but just couldn't sleep? Ever had a night where everyone in your house was the same way? It happened frequently to me when I was younger. I'd come downstairs in the early hours, red-eyed and restless after finally surrendering to the fact that I wasn't going to sleep that night or maybe ever again, and the rest of my family would be milling about doing much the same.
The past few nights have been a repeat of this experience. Lying in bed, utterly exhausted but almost feverish with a surplus of this weird energy running through me. Not "Oh hey, let's go running!" energy, or chasing-your-thoughts-around type energy, just an odd electric current that won't let you sleep. Poor Layne's been getting just as crappy sleep, and it's not just because I've been thrashing around. (Actually, there's surprisingly little movement - I spent most of last night pressed against the wall on my side of the bed, praying to whatever gods would listen to just let me sleep.)
I hope I can sleep tonight.
So, here's today's random thought - Every have a night where you were exhausted, but just couldn't sleep? Ever had a night where everyone in your house was the same way? It happened frequently to me when I was younger. I'd come downstairs in the early hours, red-eyed and restless after finally surrendering to the fact that I wasn't going to sleep that night or maybe ever again, and the rest of my family would be milling about doing much the same.
The past few nights have been a repeat of this experience. Lying in bed, utterly exhausted but almost feverish with a surplus of this weird energy running through me. Not "Oh hey, let's go running!" energy, or chasing-your-thoughts-around type energy, just an odd electric current that won't let you sleep. Poor Layne's been getting just as crappy sleep, and it's not just because I've been thrashing around. (Actually, there's surprisingly little movement - I spent most of last night pressed against the wall on my side of the bed, praying to whatever gods would listen to just let me sleep.)
I hope I can sleep tonight.
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