free-form pursuits of happiness

Mini-life crisis

2009-07-13T12:18:00.000-06:00

I'm at a point in my life where I'm kind of reevaluating things and
figuring out what I really want and who I really am.
Some recurring themes in my life are:

How do I decide what to commit to?
How do I know if I'm really passionate about something before I commit to it?
How much weight should I give to Passion, vs. Practicality?
I'm either not disciplined enough to too indecisive to become incredibly great at one thing.
I like too many things!
I always only want to be doing what I'm not currently doing. Or I just haven't found out which thing I really want to be doing.
Nearly everything I'm interested in is in the creative realm, as in creating stuff. (Tangent: Creating kid is not a part of this statement. I like to decide how much control I get to exert in the process of creation and then exert it. There's no control with kids. If I ever decide to have kids it's not going to be like they are my ultimate art project.)

So anyway, I'm really just not digging the idea of being stuck in a
job that I don't really like that much, and sucks up time and
happiness, for the rest of my life.
And none of the things I really like to do carry a very big chance of
me being able to actually make a living off of them.

Stuff I like to do the most:
Paint, draw, and general art-making
Compose music
Design and make clothes and accessories and stuff
Other stuff I like:
being outside
making delicious food
working with plants
webdesign
roleplaying (in some ways)
playing musical instruments & singing
dancing
acting
stop-motion animation & other filmmaking stuff

What I know for sure is that I am a designer in the most fundamental
sense. I like to play God in a way. I like to create stuff, obviously,
but it's about making decisions. Forming, sculpting, molding,
following a process where I decide what I control and what I let
evolve on it's own. So I nurture some growing thing until it perfectly
fulfills the purpose for which it was created. (that's the theory
anyway.) and on top of utility I'm also, of course, concerned with
aesthetics. Whether something is trite and silly or earth-
shattering... Both have a place in this world. Something well-made is
such a source of joy to me.
I guess the only way I could make a living with any of these would be
to throw myself completely into it, tossing all doubt & inhibition
aside. Should I take the plunge? (not without a backup plan or
stabilizer of some kind, right?)
So... I guess I should marry some hot rich guy that can provide
everything for me, allowing me the freedom to just play with all my
silly artistic hobbies everyday for the rest of my life, right? Heh.
(then I have to deal with my hangup of not liking to rely on other
people... I don't think anyone else is truly reliable because no one
cares about the same things as me as much as I do, or just no one
cares about me enough, for me to be able to rely on them as much as I
can rely on myself. This is another issue for another day, I guess.)
But yeah. I really don't have any idea what I should do for the rest
of my life. I've got about 2 years figured out. Until May 2010 I will
be finishing school, working at the Chrony still and I've got to do
that internship so I can graduate. After that I've decided I am going
to go teach English at a university in Japan for a year or two,
because i really want to and I really don't want to get a real job.
After that.... Who knows. Maybe the real Mr. Right will appear and i
can have a perfect life where I do whatever I want on his dollar. But
I'm not going to count on that. I guess I'll get some drudgy design
job that I probably won't like at all, and hope I have enough free
time to have fun outside of work. Or maybe it is possible to make a
living selling my art and clothes and stuff. Or maybe i really am
destined to be a rock star, hahaha :) I'm just gonna keep treading
water for now.

Night of cloak, cloak of night

2009-07-07T22:21:00.000-06:00

Stayed up literally all night making this cloak with Redoubt's
instructions (those of you following me on Twitter got to read all
about it) but I totally finished it! Flat-felling the seams took
forever but most of them look pretty good. The corners on the gores
suck but it's hard to see details with this fabric so I don't really care.

Here's a creepy thing, the hood is so large I can do this to cover my
face, but I can still see out too.

I can and will wear it huge, sparkly shawl-style in public.

Rogue sith t-shirt

2009-07-05T23:54:00.001-06:00

Tshirt design I have been spinning around for a while. This is like
version 17 or so.
Plan is to stencil print it in 3 layers. If I get involved with a
screenprinter I will definitely screenprint this one.
But this may not be the final design... I dunno... I know that those
swirly things are kind of trendy. But that's what I want for this. I
wanted something textural behind/working with the type so it's not
just "a saying on a shirt."

(You know this is the best excuse for doing something you kind of knew
you weren't supposed to do.)

ok wait, so a few days later I decided those swirly things sucked balls and went with some echo text in the bg. I kinda like it but I'm afraid it's lame. Irl I don't think it's worth cutting the stencil for. I think I will just cut the stencils for the large type (2 colors) and count on the texture from the paint process for that extra visual interest I am craving.

Cloak

2009-07-03T19:13:00.002-06:00

While cleaning up I rediscovered this shimmery silver & black fabric I
bought a while ago, even though I thought it was cheesy, you know I
can't resist corny fantasy type stuff.
So I decided it would make a great cloak for my Gray Lady costume.
Also drafting a cloak pattern sounded like more fun than cleaning.
Using the type of rectangular drafting skills I have observed from
Redoubt, I tested this pattern out on paper... Looks like it will work
so I'll do it with this fabric (it's cheap) and if I like it, it might
become my cloak standard :)

edit: redoubt with her far superior rectAngular drafting skillz showed me a better method for this cloak. I will be using techniques from this here paper model for my wontercloak when I get around to making that.

Comics vs. other things

2009-07-01T00:06:00.000-06:00

Drawing comics is hard. So hard! I'm such a pathetic loser!
So there are several things I really like to do: painting & drawing
from life, designing clothes, composing music...
These things are similar in this way: they take a spark of creative
inspiration and then a lot of not-thinking-too-hard-about-it work that
follows a system based on technique or logic.
Example for each:
Painting & drawing from life. You have to get the idea for what to
paint or how to make your subject interesting. Once you've got that
starting spark, you just do it. you know, you sight some lines, block some shapes, whatever. If you have models, photos or a still
life subject or whatever, you look at it for direction. Your subject hides you as you apply your drawing process to it. Yes, it takes
skill to get something to look right but once you learn it it's
basically a system you can rely on to get you through to the end
product.
Designing clothes. Same thing. You get an idea, however it is people
manage to get ideas, and do it. There's all the work of cutting and
sewing or knitting or whatever, but you know what you need to do to
get the end product once you've acquired the skills to do it. So you
go through these processes according to your system. No problem.
Composing music. Same thing again! You somehow get inspiration for a
tune and then you just have to follow steps to get it written; play
it, transcribe it, set up chord structures according to your learned
or intuitive system of how you think music should sound, etc.
Yes, with all these things it's not that easy, it's not exactly
autopilot. The artist is always entering and exiting these states of
reevaluation, making decisions throughout the entire process, it's the
artists' job, the artist's hand makes it's presence known.
But. Comparing that kind of process to drawing comics... For me at
least, at the point I am in comics-drawing-skill.... Comics=hard!
There's no easy, ride-through-it part. Everything is constant be-
present-and-alert hard work. There's thousands of drawings involved in
the making of a comicbook and all of them have to be partially, if not
entirely, invented inside the artist's mind. Sure, you can use some
photo references but seriously, I don't think you can get people to
pose for every single panel. And the need for consistency, it's
killer! Characters and settings both have to remain constant in
appearance, from any angle. Style has to stay consistent too. It's
more than I can bear! The pressure... It's killing me!
Seriously, it doesn't look so hard until you try it. I can draw
practically anything. But comics? They kill me! Seriously!
I also just don't really like my default style.
I know this is all a matter that diligant practice will solve.
Unfortunately, I'm not that great at being disciplined, even for stuff
I really want.
Anyway, that might just me one reason comics are one of the greatest
media for story telling. It's difficult... But I think it will be
worth it. I will draw comics someday! You will see! I dare you to defy
me! I will have my revenge! Oh wait, those last couple were for a
different dramatic ending.
< /whinefest >

Comics

2009-06-22T14:40:00.001-06:00

So I made a goal on solstice that I would finish a (well-drawn) comic
by the end of summer. It might be short but I want it to be something
I'm proud of. Or at least, not embarrassed to be associated with.
While I have some stories floating around, I'm starting fresh with
this and am spending the day formulating some kind of character-driven
dark fantasy story.

Ice cream faire!

2009-06-22T03:31:00.001-06:00

My little sister drew me a 2-page comic about myself as some kind of
ice cream loving superhero. It's basically the best thing I've ever
read. I can't scan it right now :( so I traced my favorite panel into
illustrator to make this exciting promotional piece!

Seriously though, this comic is so full of rock, I hope I can share
the whole thing soon.

2009-06-20T10:36:00.000-06:00

Hair accessories!!

2009-06-18T17:55:00.000-06:00

My sister held a hair-accessory-making party and I made 10 things!

(for now I can only do one pic per post so here they are all together)

Donut necklace

2009-06-07T20:05:00.001-06:00

This is one of my favorite necklaces. I've been trying to sell it at fairs, I may put it in my Etsy shop but if it doesn't sell, I may just keep it for myself :)

Painting's sketch

2009-06-06T10:38:00.001-06:00

So I can't stand to keep a secret. Here's a sketch of what the
painting will be like. And it probably looks better than the painting
will, haha.

New painting

2009-06-05T20:20:00.000-06:00

Started a new painting today. I'm not going to talk much about what it
will look like... It's a mystery to you for now... You people will get
the pleasure of seeing it evolve, hopefully. That was the whole idea
with this blog anyway.

So here's a starting pic. I had already texturized this paper, so the
white blocking is what I've done so far.

I'm actually feeling kind of nervous because I haven't painted for a
while... But i know I have the skills to get it right with enough time.

upsy datey

2009-05-19T21:28:00.002-06:00

I owe the world an update.

The Ren Faire was not the smashing success I envisioned. I learn that the large majority of people simply do not care about quality materials or handmade items. they want things cheap. that was a major disappointment.
I had a lot of fun though and met some really cool people.
I guess I could do a big post about what I learned and tips for next time and all that jazz, but I haven't been thinking that much about it because I have some other serious things on my mind.
One thing in particular is that my husband and I have separated... we all know where that's likely to lead. I don't care to talk about it much here, but just wanted it out and on the record.
Also work just restarted and there are some awkward new people relations going.
And one of my cats is sick! :(

Fortunately it's summer and I can cope with practically anything when the weather is warm! (not that i want to be tested further on that.)
Despite all that crap I am actually pretty happy. My true friends and family are here for me, I'm getting a new start in life and can shed a lot of the bad things that have been dragging me down. My former manager offered me a part-time temporary job that I could certainly use. I've been invited to a lot of girls' nights and parties, it's going to rock. Maybe I'm romanticizing a few things here but, why not? It's summer. I want to have a summer of adventure and fun for once. and now I can hang out with guys in addition to girls, hint hint (well, I should wait for a while to see what happens on that front, but you know.)

Summer!

2009-05-04T01:22:00.005-06:00

School's over, so no more angry posts for a while :)

(haha the color got messed up and i don't even care)

The Ren Faire is only a few days away!! D=
Come geek out with me, you know you wanna! it's $6 if you're wearing a costume, $12 without.
It's fun, there's lots of entertainment, and not very many snobs at all.
Also, I can't speak for the others in my shop, but I will probably give a discount to any of my friends who show up and want to buy one of my items (it has to be something I made, I can't give a discount on someone else's stuff.)
it's two weekends long so you know you don't have an excuse not to go. (except if you actually aren't nerdy enough, then I don't know why you're reading my blog or why I even know you.)

after the ren faire, I dunno what I'm going to do with my life. I have been putting all my energy into school and the faire for like, 10 months now. I guess I will have to concentrate hard on finding an internship for school. and maybe actually get something done with my band. and start working on next year's ren faire stuff? and should I throw a Harry Potter party again? I don't really want to be in charge of it this year. someone else do it and I'll just help.

I've temporarily closed my Etsy shops until after the Ren Faire so that I can sell things there and reorganize the shops after. Hopefully I'll have lots of new stuff, but actually not too much because it'll be whatever doesn't sell at the faire.

On another note, I can now take credit cards for stuff, in case anyone is inclined to give me money. I should try to do more freelance stuff, I guess.

DI Day

2009-04-30T20:21:00.000-06:00

Stuff I liked at DI today (the one on 700 S. between State St. and 200 E.... and this was right at closing)

Almost bought this but didn't... and will probably regret it (or go back tomorrow for it?)

Cute!

bought this one, last minute decision.

i thought it would be a cute, pared-down semi-lolita-type dress (it looks better IRL) but the previous owner sloppily added her own darts in the back and it was too tight for me to get on :(

I don't know much about electirc guitars but i thought this was a nice looking bass. $50

bought these silly toe socks!

also bought this yarn and good-looking coat pattern.

the dresses were all $4-$5.. i really do think i will go back for one of the black ones.
I'm always on the look out for a nice cocktail-type dress but i can't ever find any that meet my requirements... but i will buy cute little dresses to wear as tops if they are too short for me to wear as a dress.

paranoise

2009-04-26T02:29:00.000-06:00

the other day in class i was semi talking to these two guys about our assignment for our other class, which i had missed 2 days in a row because: A) I hate it and B) i was feeling really sick that week. (for real.) kind of off to the side one of these guys said to the other, "should we tell her?" and the other guy looked at me and said "no" and they also said some things like, "it'd be funny" or "it's too soon."

obviously i have no idea what they were talking about and it could be something totally unrelated to me, but that kind of thing makes me paranoid. (i have the feeling that the teacher for the earlier class i missed said something about me...)

stuff to make your house more awesome

2009-04-24T22:23:00.003-06:00

i love browsing Etsy...ok, there's a lot of ways i could finish that sentence. or just leaving it there would work.
but what i wanted to say is, i love browsing Etsy for really finely made, handcrafted housewares that are awesome and i could never make myself, especially in metal, wood, and ceramics. :)
a few years ago i did a trade with some historical reenactors, i made them historically passable canvas bags and they gave me AWESOME THINGS! among the awesome things were: tin mugs, a wrought iron candlestick, an iron spoon, a wooden spoon, and a horn bowl.
I love that kind of thing and there's surprisingly little to be found on Etsy. but once in a while i stumble upon a true artisan of their craft and it makes me excruxiatingly happy inside.

Here are some recent favorites:

Makye77's Natural Selection Studio

Unbefreakinlievable, eh? I really love the pieces that accentuate the wood's natural characteristics, but the fully finished pieces are gorgeous as well.

Hardwick Housewares Medieval Wares & Handforged Copper

I just love copper. And I've been looking for a functional (stove safe) tea kettle for ages, I think this is the only one on Etsy.

Eager Creations

An earlier find of mine, beautiful bowls in a range from rough to finished.

Twisted River Clayworks

I just like this style. A lot of the pottery on Etsy is kitschy (and some of the other stuff in this shop is, I'm not gonna fake like it isn't) but I think these are really nice.

Note: you can always check out more stuff I like on etsy by peeking at my recent favs over in the sidebar—>

Note#2: I haven't bought anything from the artists listed here. But this is the kind of thing I'll be looking for to fill my own house with someday.

moving right along

2009-04-23T13:56:00.001-06:00

it's "finals" time at school which just means i'm procrastinating more serious projects than usual and the deadlines loom ever drearier. Finally the weather is nice outside, and that makes all this sitting around staring at computers in air conditioned rooms even worse.
projects:

a website design (not a functioning, oh, except that the teacher secretly told a couple people he would like THEM to make a functioning website—in the space of 5 days—and if others of us don't, we'll be severely marked down even though it wasn't part of the assignment. I HATE THIS)
a smegging idiotic "process book" for all of the projects in that class this yar which i should have been working on all along but haven't been... i want to do it in the form of a blog so i can change the dates to pretend like i've been doing it all semester, if i can find enough content to post. (i shouldn't post such derogatory stuff about that particular class and teacher in public. but it's too late, he already dislikes me anyway.)
a "way-finding system" presentation for signs and directories in the art building. i like this project but i'm not sure how to present it. :P
a portfolio CD and booklet... :\

SO those are all due next wednesday.

IN OTHER NEWS. sent in the application and payment for the URFFF, the powers that be allowed us to apply like, a week after the final deadline. PHEW!

working out administrative details myself, like how to get things set up and staffed and blah blah blah. i don't even know if we are going about this in any kind of right way. i don't htink we will be able to take credit cards, which i've heard would increase sales by 20-70% if we did, but this thing is seriously in the middle of nowhere. no power, no internet, and no going home in between. but some of our stuff is pretty expensive and i know people are more likely to buy more stuff with cards. AAHH credit cards are so complicated! :( i seriously don't know anything about this business crap, i'm totally faking it! i'm in over my head! someone bail me out!

well, better get to work on my homework. I just need to get through this one week at a time and suddenly everything will be over.

A More Natural Me, pt. 2: A personal problem

2009-04-22T22:00:00.000-06:00

(What better day than Earth day to post the next section of "A More Natural Me," which I have put off for a couple weeks?)

I have stalled on writing this post because it really is quite personal, and I'm never sure how many details to indulge. But here we go. Boys and the more fastidious of girls be warned: this post is about MENSTRUATION.

This is one of the first areas in my life that I decided to goo all-natural of my own accord. That time of month is unpleasant enough, but there were other things I didn't like. I didn't like how much waste was created. I didn't like how pads felt. The only time I tried to use a tampon I instantly became very sick (maybe TSS.)
When I moved out of my parent's house I suddenly didn't want to be responsible for buying my own "feminine hygiene products," so I started to research alternatives. Women have been around for a lot longer than factory-produced maxi pads so I figured they were using something else before that. I found out there's a whole museum dedicated to historical menstruation (freakin weird, but not exactly surprising.)
So anyway, I decided to make my own cloth pads, by buying washclothes of a different color than what I would use at home and folding them into 6ths or 8ths. (I also sewed a mark into the corners of them so they are more identifiable.) If I was really hippy I would use organic, unbleached cotton, but even dyed cotton has less harmful chemicals than commercially produced pads. I mean, do you really want those things close to or in the most absorbent part of your body? (I don't.)
Later I read some zines about this subject that go into detail about how bad conventional ladies' hygiene products are for you. I don't remember which they were but there is a lot of info out there about that kind of thing if you want to do research.
I've been using the same set of cloths for about 5 years and it doesn't require any more washing and drying than I'd do with my regular laundry.
Now that I'm older and... everything, I am planning to try out something like these: The Moon Cup or The Keeper. I would chose the Keeper because it's natural material, but I don't know if I'm allergic to latex :\ (How do you find out?)

I encourage all ladies who want an alternative to tampons to look into these solutions. Better for the earth and better for you, too!

Upcoming in the series of "A More Natural Me"

~~1. Goals & Beliefs~~
~~2. A Personal Problem~~
3. Keeping Clean
4. Such a Pretty Little Thing
5. Household Chores
6. Serious Business
7. Wear it Right
8. Gnome Sweet Home

Renaissance Faire Update

2009-04-19T12:37:00.006-06:00

The name of our shop is Faire Sisters.

Here are a few samples of items we'd like to sell at the URFFF this year:

(click any image to view larger.)

Garb
Mostly based on early period/medieval and viking styles.
All of this clothing are made with wool, linen, silk, or cotton—historically accurate fabrics only, no synthetic materials!

Accessories including:

Belts made by the tablet weaving technique

Armwarmers, Legwarmers, wrist cuffs, spats, etc

Hats (and hoods!) in historical and fantasy styles

Hair accesories... including circlets

Jewelry

Metal chains made by the technique Norse wire weaving

Wire knit bracelets and necklaces

Beaded jewelry (including Viking bead strands) using stone, glass, wood and bone beads on hemp, leather, or wire

Textile-based jewelry such as Celtic knot rings and plaited adornments

Misc.

Miniature plush unicorn and phoenix toys

Handmade paper

Art prints of original fantasy artwork

Quotecard tags with quotes from Renaissance figures

Other stuff that I don't have pictures of right now:

Hand-cut feather quills
Pennywhistles (not handmade)
Cast metal rings and pendants
Medieval recipe books

There's a lot more of everything within these categories! Everything is handmade or original designs/artwork (except the pennywhistles, those are just great to have around at any time.)

Artisans:

Myself
Camilla
Brynn
a few things here and there by other members of our family

We know and can demonstrate the following historical fiber techniques:

Tablet weaving
Pin weaving
Norse wire weaving
Drop spindle spinning
Knitting
Lucet weaving
Naalbinding
Plaiting & braiding

We will have an online shop running at fairesisters.etsy.com but probably not until after the Renaissance Festival as we're hoping to sell a lot of our stock there first :)

Dangerous idea

2009-04-12T21:22:00.001-06:00

This quote has been sitting around one of m classrooms, probably for the current students of a class I had last year about stretching your creative muscles. and ya know, it's true. really, really, really, really true.

if you don't believe it you haven't experienced the hindsights one has after executing the only idea they entertained. because you don't push yourself hard enough. and you may not know it, but that means your ideas are mediocre. sorry.

I know because I do it all the time, and regret it about 5 minutes after turning in the project.

nerds

2009-04-04T02:15:00.001-06:00

A long time ago I got this album called "Old Nerdy Bastards" of remixed songs by nerdy bands (most of them hip hop style).
I'm listening to it tonight and I set it to play straight though in order, not shuffle (as i prefer when listening to one specific album.) But for some reason this one song, Nerd Lust (Peeved Remix) by Schaffer the Darklord, is playing every other song, it just keeps moving down the list, freakin weird. but since i've listened to it so much now, i really wanted to get the lyrics and found out that there are no transcriptions of the lyrics anywhere on the whole internet! that i can find! so I've got to do it myself.

for your reading pleasure. (the best i could do)

NERD LUST (Peeved Remix)
Schaffer the Darklord

La-la-la-ladies and gentlemen
lend me your ears
i love every last one of you, I want to be clear
it doesn't necessarily mean that i'm some fetishist freak
but if i have to pick a favorite it would have to be geeks

oh those nerdy girls
those oh so perty girls
those wordy girls, they'll love a joke
only if it's dirty girls
those flirty girls
the blue jeans and t-shirty girls
averting(?) nerdy girls
are pearls of the world.

I see you in every venue, city and state
you're off and awfully awkward, baby
i can relate
when i play "Cat People" live and in your town
you're the one in the crowd
howling "meow meow meow!"

tell me about your kitties
do they fill you with laughter?
and which cartoon characters
did you name them after?
your house is full of stacks of DVDs and CDs
you've seen Star Wars even more times than me

like me, you find summer a bummer
you've been bummed since the finale of
Six Feet Under
another number bombed hard at my show
but you got it
you've got a closet full of skeletons
you bought at Hot Topic

Can I ride your bike? I like ringing the bell
I know you'll dance to hip hop if you're drunk as hell
I know that on a date no one will talk about sports
and if you do have a thong on, it's under boxer shorts

How many Smiths tunes can you recite?
And which of your blogs do you most frequently write?
Which Sci-Fi languages can you understand?
And which instrument did you play in your high school band?

In so many ways, our similarities are eerie
We share so many paranoid conspiracy theories
We're watching Twin Peaks
You know all the characters' names
quoting Aqua Teen and playing video games

I couldn't care less about your height or your size
if your IQ's high and you've got four eyes
12-sided dice, elf dies and I'm lovin' it
you're hot not in spite of being a geek, but because of it

Nerds, nerds, I love those nerds
Shallow, vapid model types are for the birds
now lemme see you shake it, (c'mon) shake your inhaler baby
freaks and geeks, you make me crazy

Nerds, nerds, I love those nerds
Smug, aloof hipster types are for the birds
now lemme see you shake it, (c'mon) shake your inhaler baby
freaks and geeks, make me so crazy

(Yeah girl, I was uh, I was thinking about coming over later, with a box of white wine, and a bottle of grape snapple, and I made this portrait of you. Out of Legos.)

you're looking goodie in a dirty hoodie
let me see
is that an "Ask me about my SAT" pin
on your backpack strap? That speaks to me.
You pass hours, Dungeon Master powers, D and D

Your new animated avatar looks hot, wait
I got great big goosebumps
I made your Top 8
Great great, I left a dozen comments
all of them flattering
like, "When we kiss, girl, it's like
Magic: the Gathering."

Come a little closer, girl,
no need to be frightened
I'm not gonna bite, I'm just a little near-sighted.
You are too, ooh, this ain't gonna hurt,
I wanna see your silhouette in your Strong Bad shirt.

our glasses click when we nuzzle
organic milk we both guzzle
a couple hot nerds pouring over
crossword puzzles

filling letters wearing sweaters
in any weather, forever
feel the books of The Lord of the Rings were better

You and me, girl, are going to have some fun
We'll play Simpsons chess then watch Season 1
Hours of Risk, tsk, we'll quit when we're done
and with the sun comes a Daily Show rerun

I brought my high school yearbook,
you wanna see
what I looked like back in 1993?
I was skinny and pasty and I had terrible hair
and still do. You too? Do you still have high school nightmares?

Were you a loner, dark and brooding
cruising through school anonymous?
Or were you on debate team, hanging with the drama kids?
Did you take shop? Did the jocks call you Tom?
Did you ever dream of blowing up a bomb at the prom?

Nerds, nerds, I love those nerds
Shallow, vapid model types are for the birds
now lemme see you shake it, (c'mon) shake your inhaler baby
freaks and geeks, you make me crazy

Nerds, nerds, I love those nerds
Smug, aloof hipster types are for the birds
now lemme see you shake it, (ooh) shake your inhaler baby
freaks and geeks, make me so crazy

I've loved every last nerdy girl that's been in my life
so much in fact I even made one my wife
and my wife's name is also "STD"
which stand for "Schaffer the Doctor" cuz she's a PhD.

I love you dorks, I love you geeks,
oh how I love you nerds, oh
Although for this last verse I didn't write words
so I'll go, "Meow meow meow, meow meow meow,
meow meow Meow meow meow meow," girl
meow meow meow meow meow meow
meow meow meow meow
Meow meow meow (meow meow meow, meow meow meow, meow meow meow)

i was thinking about starting a meme where you copy the lyrics of the song and then highlight all the lines that apply to you or you agree with, as a way of calibrating nerd points. how painful would that be, hahaha. surprisingly no mention of Star trek (except an implication in the sci-fi language part).

the afore mentioned album was a free download for a while and includes gems such as remixes of the following songs:

Red Hair
Felix Felicis
Halloween at Hogwarts
This Arboreal Coil
Code Monkey

and then some other ones that have to do with robots. I don't know if the album is still out available, but i'm sure someone could think of some way to somehow get some kind of copy to someone else.

A More Natural Me, pt. 1: Goals & beliefs

2009-04-02T17:32:00.003-06:00

I have been stewing some thoughts in my head for a long time. I think about stuff like what's healthy for me and for the environment, and what are my responsibilities to implement things I believe in, and just what do I believe in?

A lot of my beliefs about health and the environment were strongly influenced by the book Cradle to Cradle, which discusses the difference between natural and synthetic materials and how mixing them together is bad for the environment, and that a lot of synthetic things are bad for the environment and the people who use them.

Natural things that are pure, with nothing synthetic mixed in, biodegrade back into the earth, no problem. And the humans evolved in a natural world, making our bodies vulnerable to a lot of synthetic compounds that they have no natural guards against.

Also, for some reason (can't imagine why) I'm scared of getting cancer. I don't have a lot of scientific studies to recite to but I have a good feeling that, the more our bodies are exposed to unnatural toxins or synthetic chemicals and stuff like that, the more susceptible we are to certain diseases.

There's other stuff I believe in too, like supporting a local economy or supporting small businesses. and preserving the natural integrity of plant life. And not supporting the oil industry. (I'm not talking about vegetable oil, which is a good thing.)

So I've decided to transform my lifestyle a little. or a lot. Call me a hippy if you want, but I seriously want to change my life to be based in a more natural philosophy. Some things I can start now (and have.) Somethings I don't have control of now but maybe someday will.

Upcoming in the series of "A More Natural Me"

~~1. Goals & Beliefs~~
2. A Personal Problem
3. Keeping Clean
4. Such a Pretty Little Thing
5. Household Chores
6. Serious Business
7. Wear it Right
8. Gnome Sweet Home

Unicorn Digital Painting

2009-03-21T01:49:00.000-06:00

I'm just going to keep adding on WIP images of the piece I'm working on here and moving it up each day I post...
2-26-09:

2-28-09:

3-14-09:

3-17-09:

I'm not feeling too confident about the horse/unicorn yet. :\

3-20-09: I worked on it a lot today.

This last image is at 100% (at least the full-size version is). Everything looks good until I zoom in and realize everything still has soft edges and looks out of focus. i still need to bring the lips up but every time i try i mess it up really bad. :\ eventually I'll get there. the other eye is probably the last thing i will do (before the BG i guess.)

Sustainability web design

2009-03-20T23:26:00.003-06:00

I designed and built a small and simple website (with 4 pages!) for class, check it out. It's about ways that print designers can be more environmentally friendly, but the same concepts work for anything. It's based on the Cradle to Cradle philosophy.

I did all the html and css myself, the only thing I let Dreamweaver do for me was the code for the image map (the linked icons on the top banner.)
A lot of designers ignore the code... and that's about standards. I mean, if you're gonna get onto the internet of nettyness, you've got to have some well-formed code.