Ah, the long Tuesday stretch. I feel eight again, waiting excitingly for the Christmas morn and a new thing of Moonshoes wrapped under the tree.
Actually, I never got those damned Moonshoes, despite year after year of request. Maybe that’s a bad analogy.
Though I can’t think of anything else I wanted as much as those Moonshoes. Man, they looked cool.
Tangent!
But with only two sleeps as of this writing left, plus a short day and what I suspect will be an agonizingly slow few work hours (although I could be pleasantly surprised and find the time goes by rocket fast) and it’s to the movie. I can’t remember the last time I’ve been so excited for anything. I’ve been hyped a few times in the recent past, yes, but this I’m anticipating with every vibrating atom of my being. I have been watching the Prologue and listening to the soundtrack non-stop, I’ve been pulling up the preview clips on Youtube, watching a scant few second before closing them, not wanting to preview/spoil any more scenes that I already have. I’ve been playing the trailers on loops, I’ve watched Gotham Knights about sixty times now, I’m going utterly, pun-intended batshit here. I say that as of now the world beyond the 18th don’t exist and I just may be right.

But beyond my Batsession right now, it’s been the average life as usual. Despite picking it up over a week ago, I had only just really turned on and started playing my DS on Saturday. I played literally the opening cutscene of Phantom Hourglass before decided to stop fooling myself and popped in Pokemon Pearl. I still have my Blue game, from bygone days of yore, with my level 50-something Charmander who can kill your dad, but it was still a great little memory trip back, getting a whole new field of Pokemon and still finding myself fighting Zubats and Geodudes.
I fucking hate Geodudes.
I’m still in the beginning hours of the game, I don’t even have the first badge yet, and I may eventually crack and get the guide in order to, per instructions, catch ‘em all.
I have avoided it’s grasping grasp for many a year, but it’s finally reclaimed me. Damn you, addictive game that is a defining point of a generation. Damn you.

Work otherwise is slow. I’m still sore over the fact that we can’t watch movies anymore. Period, although I’ve been trying. I get why, I understand their reasoning, I get the message, but holy love of god I cannot spend 8 hours focused on one thing. I simply can’t. A half-hour lunch break isn’t enough to cool my brain, and music simply won’t do to keep the brain buzzing low. I’ve tried the audio book approach, but all that does is distract me from work entirely because I’m trying too hard to focus on the story being narrated privately to my ears. So what have I been doing to keep sane? Wikipedia.
One of the few sites unlocked to our prying browsers, I usually spend loading, exporting or any and all other waiting times (my computer is an ungodly sort of slow) popping on, typing in a random thing of interest and reading up what the common Internet knowledge is. I am becoming an expert on many useless, trival things. I’m mostly trying to stick to the entertainment field, but every once in a while I flirt with actual knowledge of the worldly kind. I’m becoming learned in the ways of our global village, and one day when I retain the words I’m skimming through to fight off boredom, I will be a somewhat fearsome force of facts. They will whisper my name in forums and libraries, dispute my publicly-submitted factoids with that of hard-bound encyclopaedias, they shall fight, flee and fear me, and when the day that my own Wikipedia article is submitted, I shall begin my task of ruin.
GodDAMN I just want to watch Venture Brothers.

So today went well as the first day ect for the new plan. Found out last night after the update that Mercury IS in fact hiring, which threw a wrench in the spokes of my think tank. And after some talk, and some sleeping on the subject, I eventually decided to not go after that job, or any job in fact, for at least one more month. I'll still be looking here and there for odd cash gain, and by May, where I figure I will be full and secure, will I really stick my thumb out and pick up what may. While I would love to stay in Halifax I'm going to prepare as though I won't be - I'll be selling everything I figure I can be comfortable without to make moving that much easier when the time comes. If the time comes.
Funny how I made the decision to move to Halifax pretty much on the spot, yet it's so hard to figure whether I should move out again. By the end of this month I know I will know for sure. Ears and eyes open, and all that jazz.

So! Today I drew, as there was little else to do with the weather. That's right. It's snowing. Full out fluffy flakes, all day, and the world is a winter wonderland again. In December, it's a beautiful sight. In the third-last day of March, it's gross and makes me want to kick a puppy. I like snow, but now when I know I could be doing other things.
So I drew a little, read a little, Brawl'd a litle and had some fun.
And to keep on my drawing schedule and to make sure I don't get caught by my own laziness I'm going to start updating ye old LJ with my daily doodles. And doodles they are - most of what I drew today is a mess of various things, but I did get something fun that I figure I'll pop up.
( Childhood things )
Goddamn it's cold!

Linkspam:
Yoshuku: Japan looks west, culinary-wise
Kid flattens the tires of 40 busses to avoid going to school
Canada goes nutso over Earth hour
Ten best April Fools gags
Victim treats his mugger right
Smash bros lyrics interpertation
Children of Men: The television series
Most prophetic science fiction movies
Toys R Us sells temporary tramp stamps for kids

Oh man, so yesterday evening as the sun's setting I notice it's getting a little murky outside. With the last strains of light, the bridge is almost invisible in the mist. I chalk it up to the three-day snow and drizzle we've been having and ignore it to continue my daily activities.
Then this morning I wake up and open the curtains and grey greets me. I can see my balcony and faintly the trees in the backyard, but beyond that is all devoured by a Stephen King nightmare. After my thirty-second freakout, I realize this can only mean one thing: warm.
And boy was I correct! It was plus five today, I got to enjoy pleasent walks to the grocery story and park with only a light sweater on. The only downside was that with the warm comes the melting of the snow and where I wasn't walking, I was swimming.
Now that I've fully enjoyed a week of doing diddly-poop I've gotten back on track and am now working on animation projects, for fun and to stay fresh, ect. What with getting JLU for Xmas and being fairly active in the Batfandom right now, I'm totally back into superheros and am working on two superhero projects - one involving Batman which will the big storyboarding task as I'm planning on making a full silent short, though I will probably only animate a little, and one involving a character I invented about two years ago that I'll be animating full out and it's all FIGHT SCENE BABY YEAH. Should be fun. :)
Video Cloverfield viral reveals attacks on station - video with offscreen monster
Cloverfield screening next Tuesday
Free air guitar
New Line follows WB to blu-ray
Disney bans children from its fanciest restaurant
Natural selection
20 super brain foods
Muslim American women defy abuse
Redneck mailboxes
You mean Batman wasn't real?

Firstly, I just got back from Enchanted, the new Disney movie that's part animated and mostly live action. It's spectacular!
Firstly, this is clearly a Disney movie, musical numbers, cute animals, happy endings ect. But regardless of being usual family movie fare, it's a great treat for anyone in the nineties generation (meaning born in the eighties and kids in the nineties; I have no idea how to label these things) who grew up with the Disney films. From the very first scene it's a callback to the original classics and there's lots of references from subtle to tongue-in-cheek. I don't want to spoil anything, but one scene is shot for shot referenced from one of the Disney greats.
Animation wise, it was stellar. There was less of it than I would've liked, but considering how much there was and how much time they would've had to work on it, it came out great. Not only was the animation smooth and fluid but the detail was incredible. Every character had soft subtle shading and the dresses Giselle wore were frilled and ruffled and flowy. And the designs, while still Disney-esque, were nicely updated to a clean, more angular look. The only thing that was bad was the dragon. And that was cringeworthy. The design was awkward and for some reason was given a horse-like mouth instead of a crocodillian one, making the lipsync look awful and the dragon much less threatening.
I still loved the movie though. Great callbacks, cute musical numbers, everything I love in a Disney movie. Recomended for any Disney fan!

My birthday was equally stellar last night. No big parties or to-dos, just some friends over for burgers and snacks and we played some Orange Box. I finished Portal and had cake. It was the best day ever. Yay 21!

o.m.f.g.z.

I had an interview with a Halifax studio on Friday that I was sure I had bombed, but they asked to send in some of my Mercury stuff anyway. I did and they asked for pencil tests that I couldn't give them because internet is lame but they decided that I'm good enough anyway and offered me a job as a clean-up artist.
Shit shit shit, I'm SO going to take this.
Leaving Ottawa and Ontario as a whole will be sad and leaving the stable job that I have right now seems a little hasty, but I'm only 20, nothing to tie me down and I might as well search around this crazy world to see just where I want to work. Plus = Halifax! The only other city that could entice me as much would be Montreal, and even that would take a think break. But Halifax is a super-sweet go. I've already found an apartment too, which should be steller.
Hardest bit won't be the move, but the telling my parents of it. They're gonna fre~eak.

omgomgomgomgomg

alright. It IS March 17th, right? Not, say, December 25th? Because looking right outside right now, with the trees covered in white and the ground a sea of pure snow, with big fluffy flakes floating down it looks more like Christmas than actual Christmas did this year! It's funky in a freaky way.

Man, I've been off my game this week. I didn't wake up until 11 and that was mostly because of the cat's prodding. I haven't actually done anything yet either - I sent off a demo to an animation company in Halifax but I don't know if I'll get it or not. I'm half hoping not, because it's a sweet deal that I got here already, but over there sounds like an equally sweet gig. The only big diff (because the moving hassle) is that I know noone out there. Of course, that's half the fun, like college and summer camp, amirite?

Gots a party to go to tonight, of the birthday sort. I think I'll spend the rest of the day trying to get up and get moving from my lethargic state. I'll just down some coffees, that should work.

And hopefully 300 tomorrow.
Also I need a PS2 and God of War 1 & 2. Badly.

Haha, just came back from an animation collaberation at a film place downtown. Most of it was pretty awesome, with Hertzfeld stuff and a super crazy film about a woman recording a friend's wedding go wrong. Just all the insane perspective issues with the fact that the camcorder is moving around everywhere! I was just simply floored. Of the two films I could only find Rabbit and Overtime online in short noticed, but they're both incredible so no worries. Rabbit's pretty trippy while Overtime's just so heartwarmingly sad. You'll see what I mean.

Well, last weekend of the crunch is over! And just in time for St Patty's too. But I don't really know what it is I'm doing, since the coming weekend is one of double celebration. I gots me a bday party to go to, but I don't know if things will be chillin' afterwards or not. I want to be drunk from then until Tuesday, you see. Although I may just default back to karaoke if need be. I shall get with the gathering of troops and see just what kind of plan to be getting on.
Can't be too hungover on Sunday though - gonna go see 300, omgsquees.

We were talking today about how much effin' work the studio's going to be getting soon. Two new shows by the end of April it looks like, and then two more new shows by Sept/Oct. Which means a good stream of steady work and moneys. This is very promising for my toy/DVD collection. And apartment living.
Man, nothing like driving through downtown to make me want to live downtown.

Also: Maybe be going on cruise next Nov. Will be awesome.
Also: Toygers Gay name, ADORABLE kitties.

I was just taking a break from work by trying to pick clothes for tomorrow brainstorming for next year. For those not in the know, next year is my final year of college - I'm in the animation course and so third year (ie next) consists pretty much of just working on a short, independent animation. A 2-min animated short of whatever we want, basically.
Now, two minutes takes a lot of time to make but really isn't a lot of time for much of anything. It's hard to think of a way to create an entire story to show the audience, without actually explaining anything - the audience has to be able to understand what's going on pretty as soon as it happens.
While brainstorming I remembered this short. (download link) It's just over a minute and everything is right there for you, simple as pie. By a girl from Quebec, if I recall, although it's been so long since I first found it. It's a great little movie and def. one of my inspirations.
so, just a little something for y'all, as I get back to desperatly digging through my wardrobe my homework. Yikes.

I really like tonight's House ep - then again, I always love a good God vs Science debate. After all, while I'm not deeply religious or nothing I do have faith in God/higher power but at the same time need a logical explination for everything - and I don't think God is a good enough excuse for people's actions. Had a nice debate with my sister about that tonight. Fun times. :)

Homework status:
Animation - Scene 1 done, scene 2 keyed, scene 3 half-keyed dialogue scene 4 not started. Yikes.
Design - Both views badly, badly roughed out.
Storyboards - 3 out of 5 rendered, 10 out of 10 lightsourced. Just need to scan/photocopy.
Lifedrawing - all scanned in. :)

That looks resonabley decent, I guess. Another hour of finishing storyboards tonight, and then finishing design tomorrow (once Tom emails me back) and then just panic over Anim. Hurrah!


My arm is hurty and I want cuddles. :(
Talking to Mich isn't helping either. I totally want it to be next Tuesday.

Also, I'm in fanart100 now! Am going to be doing 100 Harley/Ivy doodles for all the world. Should be a nice exercise and hey - it's something to keep me occupied.

ETA: Also, made new LJ friend today who happens to go to my old highschool, where PVA is still totally queer. This has been a totally bizzare Tuesday.

OH MY GOD

I am too excited about this.

Remeber way back when, when I got that animation job working on Caillou? (New friends - I got a job working on a Canadian kiddy show back in September, which ended up eating my brain because I was still in school and working at the shop)
Well, in late August when I went to the 'Learn Flash Animation' little class Pip was holding, the very first test I animated in Caillou was him and his little black friend standing in front of a lego building, and Caillou says 'We made a skyscraper mommy. See?' and he turns and motions to the thing behind him.
THAT EPISODE PLAYED TODAY. OMG. FREAKOUT.

Wanna know something even better?
Either I just learned fast, or because I already knew what was what, I managed to finish the initial animation before everyone else. So I got bored.
What does Ama do?
I replaced the skyscraper with a sheep on an altar covered in blood and covered Caillou in blood. This was encouraged by my classmates at the time, so I'm not the only sicko. Actually, I think I have a repuatation as 'the freaky chick who hates animals' because I animated a cat eating a butterfly and dying but ANYWAY.

After seeing that, I just HAD to find that animation. AND I DID. CAPSLOCK OMG

WATCH THIS BECAUSE I AM AWESOME

Holy moly, what a weekend.

Firstly I'd like to say that schools over yay! I know have three weeks of retail hell nothing to do before next term starts. I know what I'm going to do. Clean my room, design some threadless (I have some awesome and lame ideas like you wouldn't believe), work on my personal short animation, paint MLPs, and... well, I don't want to overdo it. This is supposed to be relax-a-cation.

Anyways, this weekend? Let me begin.

Friday.
Stayed up all night Thursday, went home for a quick nap and the shower and things, and then come back to finish everything. Arm hurts (still does), but must perservere. Finish all my animation by noon. Can't actually film it until 3. After that, I waited around and kept Jayme company until 5, when Tom returned, we said goodbye and left to go see Narnia.

( NARNIA )

After Narnia we went to the LCBO to get tequila, as was the plan. Unfortunately it was after nine, and it was closed. So we rush to Quebec! Still closed. Tired, cold, and mocked relentlessly by Jayme's boyfriend, we went home to mix vermooth (it was all Jayme had) with orange juice and play poker. Tom got drunk, at least.

Saturday was all work, and then I went carolling, yes carolling, with Chris, Steph and Randall. I had a grasshopper (mixed drink) before hand and three or four shots of whiskey during. I got to hold the bells and called myself 'Jojo'. Afterwards we went back to Chris' and played Naruto Dub drinking game (by that time I realized that I couldn't drink anymore because we had to drive back to StephRan's) and then I slept for a few hours while they played the Naruto fighting game for PS2.
Then we went back to StephRan's, Randall went to sleep, we had tea and I got to give The Big News to Steph. Then it was sleep.

Steph was drunk, btw.

Sunday I went to a pub for the first time, for the Mercury Studios Xmas party (I went with one of the animators). It was fun, I ate a lot of bruschetta, and I got a ton of insider information. I am she with her foot in the door. Everyone got drunk, there was blacklight, and I didn't get carded. Lack of right of passage, oh noes.

Monday was LAST DAY OF SCHOOL OMG. Spent the morning rushedly finishing homework, by five I was at school and we handed it all in and then went to a restaurant across the street for the SCHOOL OMG party. We filed up a third of the restaurant with loud, noisy, 30-40 animators in one corner. Some first years even came to join us. Jayme, Tom and I spent a few hours there, had dinner and chatted with our classmates before we decided it was getting a bit dull and everyone else was getting a bit drunk and loud. So we said our farewells (see half of you next year) and went to actually buy the booze this time.
We got one bottle of Tequila, one of fireball whiskey and a sixpack of holidayChristmas vodka shooters.
I can't actually tell what happened, being that Jayme and/or Tom might bring the hurt, but it involved all that alchohol, strip poke and Katamari.
It was fun. >:D

Then yesterday we went shopping, got Tom some clothes and had lots of fun. And then I missed House, because I didn't know it was new. Sad Face.

Good time all around though. It has been a SUPER FUN weekend.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a very, very, very messy room to clean up and only two hours in which to do it. Catch y'all later.

I'm still sick. Jumping monkies, what's wrong with my immune system right now? I had to leave early from school today, went home and just slept. I feel terrible still. Ugh.
Also didn't manage to get to PIP today, thanks to sickness. (and getting lost >.>) I'm going in tomorrow, so all should be good then. Then I'll be professional. Yey!
Got my Figure in Blue figure today; a nice surprise, considering I thought the order had been cancelled. Checked out on my LOST order, and Amazon says that I should get it on the 13th. 13th?! I think that's when the new season starts, isn't it? I should check. (feels like a bad fangirl)

Tomorrow is the meeting for the animation festival - I think. Tom says that we're supposed to go up to the room at nine tomorrow for the meeting, but I'm a bit nervou about it, as I don't have all the details and I hate circumstances like that. Maybe I'll just go up to the animation lab at a bit before nine and sit there - if Jayme's class goes then I'll follow, knowing all will be good. Otherwise, I might feel dumb. And I hate feeling dumb.

I'm going to get some more sleep now - I've been sleeping like a koala as it is already - and hopefully feel near right as rain tomorrow. If not then, if by the way things have been going are any indication, I won't have my voice for the next few days.

Just finished watching the new last year Nickelodeon show, Avatar the Last Airbender. And wow,/i>. New favorite show? Snatch. The art style - that pseudo-anime kind - can be off putting at first, but they manage to pull it off in that fluid Nick style. It's well written too - I was laughing through most of it, and the good kind of laughs too.

Still getting over my sickness. X|

Going to PIP tomorrow though, and getting mah stuufs. t'will be all fun and such, or so I hope.
All headachy. Can't do much. Wrote 'do' as 'so' about fifty times. Rawr.