Just enjoying the sun…

For the first time in forever, it’s sunny outside. I know it won’t last (I don’t think we’re supposed to see the sun again until Sunday), but it’s pleasant to remember that it’s still up there. On the other hand, hopefully the rain will get out of the system this week so next weekend will be beautiful. It may also mean I have more time this weekend to relax.

Aleve has torn up my stomach something else this week, which has made me unmotivated to move, but I’ve stopped taking it, so hopefully the pain will soon fade. Thankfully it seems to settle when I put food in it, but I can’t be stuffing my face all day either. I feel like a marshmellow. It’s not pleasant.

I feel a little guilty about not going out to the barn today, even though it’s lovely out at the moment. But with my stomach acting up, I just don’t have the energy. I wouldn’t want to be in the middle of the ride and double over in pain. Not safe etiquette.

I’ll spend today writing and drawing and grocery shopping. And bathing in the sun that’s coming through my window, like some giant cat.

Meow.

Theory of Living (Okay, Not Really)

“Every day is a new beginning.”

I’m sure someone before me said that thing in quotes, but I don’t know who. Maybe I’m just really that inspired.

Aside from lacking internet this weekend, it was a very nice time. And when I got home on Sunday I moved my bedroom around, which I enjoyed way too much. I didn’t even move much, but I got a different feng shui thing going on now. I also started sketching again, and writing a new story, and working on my projects. Let’s here a happy “Go you!”

I know it’s only Tuesday, but I already know the next two weekends are going to lack BL-time. This weekend I have movie night with some friends, then saturday is riding, community day, then Kw-time. I’ll somehow wake myself up Sunday morning for mother’s day and head home. I should probably do something for mother’s day. Curses.

The next weekend is the Tom Curtin clinic, which involves leaving early Friday morning and not getting back until late Sunday. I’ll be bitchy on Monday, for certain, but I get a long weekend after that, so hopefully I’ll survive.

Ironically, nothing planned for the long weekend. I ❤ Memorial Day. Though I'm still in shock that it's May and soon it'll be June. (O.O) I was actually fairly certain I had something important to post here…but it seems I was mistaken.

Back dated: 5.02.09

“Breaking News: Google Docs Defeated by Slow Internet Connection

Today as BL attempted futilely attempted to read and make changes to her word documents through a modem-esque connection to the internet, she found the one downside of the well-liked program: It was more than her internet could handle.

Already expecting slow page loads and the ability to cook three-course meals between load times, she was startled to find that while Google Docs would load her pages, the documents themselves could not save because the internet-based program did not recognize a connection to the network—an understandable mistake.

Although most homes and businesses have access to high-speed internet, or at least medium-speed DSL, BL found herself in an isolated location without access to cable, DSL or even a flicker of wireless internet to pick up. Desperate to be in touch with the world, she succumbed to the powers of the modem, growing older and more frustrated with every click.”

HOLY SHIT.

Okay, so I’ve mentioned before that I like Google Docs because it is so flexible and everywhere there is internet. I was especially happy to consider that this weekend, home visiting Cara, I’d be able to continue working on some of my pieces without the distraction of easy internet, my movies and books, or the crafts I have planned.

Plugging into the internet on my old laptop (which I’m fairly certain isn’t the cause of the problem) and Google Doc loads (rather speedily since it uses such clean interfacing), and I open a document. Victory, or so I thought. I’m reading over the last piece I worked on when I try to save. After several seconds-minutes of being unable to click on the document, I get, “Error connecting to network, data was not saved, please check connection and try saving another time. If this error continues…”

Thankfully as my changes had involved a comma so far, I was not bothered. I read on, tried saving again, the error was repeated. I glared suspiciously at my modem and contemplated. It wasn’t worth the risk that if I did write more it wouldn’t be saved. My plan is maybe to try another time and just keep the document open for reading purposes, or even save it to my computer and reload it after I’ve finished writing.

The moral of this story is that dial-up modems ruin everything.

(PS. Thanks to Microsoft Word and Windows 2000 for saving this file for later posting on my blog. Seriously.)

ETA: My solution involved writing in a normal document and c/p the new text into the older document later at night. Although I still received some of the errors regarding saving, it still seemed to save (sometimes) and the document was updated. Yay.

Gloves: Bane of my Existence

-Sigh-

I’ve made several pairs of gloves, and yet I still make stupid mistakes. I have the benefit of stretchy material this time, so of course I put the stretch the wrong direction. -headdesk- ETA: The next one I made then was too big because I over compensated. I now have 3 almost finished gloves that don’t quite work how I want them to. Least I’m learning.

I took a half day today, because it was lovely out, I hadn’t slept well the past few days (damn heat) and I’d been wanting to for a while. Slept. Went riding. Crafting. Good times all around.

Still can’t believe I didn’t realize I put the stretch the wrong direction until I went to put my hand in the finished product. I should be able to mod. it and make it useable. Not that gloves are the hardest thing to make. But these have half fingers, so it’s slightly more annoying.

To not make this a total waste: People who like learning new things and hearing other’s ideas should go here. People who like the weather should go here. You can check out my arty side here. And if you’re bored and like puzzles, check out this.

And finally:

Update – Nearly May

I’ve been extremely productive and motivated recently, which has been wonderful. Here’s the update.

* Reading has increased. I finished The Education of Little Tree and have started Scratch Beginnings. Also, I’m reading Air Gear, the manga, and I read the third volume of Petshop of Horrors: Tokyo, finally.

* My Death Note notebook arrived (with surprise necklace and helicopter), and it was Light’s notebook and prefabbed names were in it. It was also smaller than I expected (5.74 x 8 inches–ish). I suppose that’s to size. Kinda disappointed with it, but thankfully didn’t pay much for it. I’m now on the lookout for alternatives to make Jealous’. ETA: Found and purchased. Should arrive this week.

* Besides wig making, Near is done (err, and dice gluing, but that’s aimed to be finished this weekend). (Plus if I make the mask. Damn, I keep forgetting I’m adding things :))

* Out shopping for dress shirts, I picked up Serenity and Mirror, Mirror (the first is a movie, the second a book). Both cheaply. Plus two boxes of Gertrude Hawk chocolates. Which probably wasn’t wise, but I’m hoping freezing them will help.

* On the note of candy: I was asked how I eat poorly, and yes, it’s mostly from snacking. I seem to lose self control around things like chocolate. Or food. Thankfully I also enjoy running. I’m working on regaining my ability to resist.

* This morning I had a riding clinic (which continues tomorrow night) and it went well, although I didn’t get as much feedback as other riders. I assume this is because I was doing better than them. My pony rocks. I came home and went running, a habit I hope I continue, because running after riding isn’t that bad, especially if it’s only a mile.

-My next two weekends are rather busy, or involve being places with slow internets. updates dependent upon my level of caring-

Sidenote: sending off two copies of my “book” to two friends for editing/reviewing/criticism. Very nervous.

Doublesidenote: Need to get back on the reviewing bandwagon for a certain someone. Sorry about that.

In amends of fatitude

This post is in reply to the outcry I heard from my comment (two entries ago) about me being a fatass.

I understand I am not actually a fatass. Sometimes I just feel like a fatass because of circumstances. I’ve been eating rather terribly lately and it’s done nothing to console me. Also, I think the workout DVDs I’ve been doing have been building more leg mass than I’d like.

In order to cut down on my leg strengthening skills, I’m changing my routine. First, I plan on making my own workout, based on that which I’ve learned from the DVDs. Second, I plan on incorporating alot more cardio into my routine, which is easier with nice weather, because running is excellent cardio. In fact, today after getting back from the barn I went running.

So the plan is to run on nice days and do my routine on rainy days (like tomorrow promises to be). I’m going to try cutting back on the gorging, but we know how that goes.

So just to quiet any worries people had: I am not anorexic and think I’m fat and OMG I need to get thin. I merely realize I’m not in peak physical condition, and I’d really like to be.

(On a side note, for Soba: It probably doesn’t help that I’m cosplaying two really young boys this year. But I’m coming to terms with that. Sorta :))

Of Dice and Men

If anyone were to ask me (and they won’t, but if they did) what I spent my Saturday night doing, I can honestly say “I was gluing dice together.”

Let’s start…well not from the beginning, but at least the start of today. Riding (of course), then a horse clinic (no surprise there). Then home, showered, fed. Out shopping (here’s where it gets interesting) for cosplay stuff. I was successful, and that success enticed me to get working on one of my cosplays’ props…a dice city. It’s something I’m enjoying (which should probably terrify you a bit), and I may add onto it after Otakon. But we’ll see.

Otherwise, I think I’ve purchased most of the items I need for my characters, missing only a shirt, things I need to order online, and some metal bits. But I’m feeling the mood a bit more (this Friday helped alot. It just felt…more right?)

Side note: Having gone to bed around 1 AM and woken up at 6:45 and been up and busy all day, I can feel myself crashing. Hopefully I can hold out until 10 and I will sleep well tonight (although most likely wake up stiffer than a log).

Planning to be Brief

Hopefully a brief update…

…my left eye is once again puffy from some irritant. It only hurts a little, the most annoying thing is wearing my glasses (which need updated and uncrookedized).

…my 4-H responsibilities have become more than I was expecting, but still, I suppose, nothing I can’t handle.

…I skipped Group last night to edit, and I’m over halfway done.

…I realized I am, in fact, a fatass and need to really focus my eating habits.

…DL’d WavePad (a sound editor) for, you know, stuff.

…it’s finally sunny again! The weekend is supposed to be beautiful (at least saturday) and hopefully not too muddy by then.

…my company decided to close between Christmas and New Years; this means I’ll either take PTO days or NPTO days. This is both awesome (because I get a winter break!) and sucks (because I either don’t get paid or waste my pto days). I’d rather have a week off in May, but I understand the financial reasons for doing it.

…because of stress and anxiety, I’ve been eating poorly and more than I should. It’s also made me extremely restless (although on this end, at least I’m being kept busy at work).

…finally: Brother o’ mine, if we want to get together in May, we should schedule a day, because I’m sure both our calendars are filling fast.

That’s a Valid Point.

For those of you who follow Neil Gaiman’s blog, I’m sure you’ve read about Amazon’s Fail. I first heard about it this morning from one of my web comic authors, here. I’m hoping this was just one giant “WHOOPS” that will be remedied. I haven’t read everything there is on the topic, but it’s kinda really aggravating. But most things are in this world. Part of me concedes that they are a business and they can do whatever they want (within limits). Part of me thinks that if they are/were to follow through with this, that they’d realize it’s not a good idea. Here’s hoping.

I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday weekend, although I got no extra vacation out of it. Just candy. So my exercising is offset by candy eating. Hopefully balancing it out. I’ve been pretty good about exercising on days that I’m not at the barn (or Fridays when I’m with my friends) and walking anytime it’s not raining or too cold. But of course work is causing more stress so I stress eat. I may do some meditations before bed to chillax–or something like that.

My writing has shifted focus again, this time in the form of a girl named Justine. I’m not sure where she’s taking me, but I’m just going along for the ride at this point.

Tonight I edited about 10 pages worth of story, which felt good. I’ve also begun a list of things I seemed to have forgotten, so I’ll have a chance to add more length to the story–which is hopefully a good thing. My goal is to be done editing by the end of the month. I want my first two test subjects to get it as soon as possible. Go team!

Still undecided on the cable decision. Part of me thinks that it’s a really good idea, and the other half thinks it’s not really worth what I’ll save. I suppose I don’t really have to rush to make a choice.

Trapped Between Busy and Exhausted

Holy Miracle Worker Batman, I’ve been busy this week, and it’s only Wednesday. And the rest of the week doesn’t slow up any. Whoooosh.

Monday I got my car back from the shop, did some writing, some editing and wrapped up some loose ends that needed wrapped. Not too busy-rushed feeling, but it’s amazing how time consuming things are.

Tuesday, yesterday, was a barn day and I got back and baked some oatmeal pumpkin bars. I’ve begun eating poorly again and I’m hoping to jump kick myself in the head. The bars are pretty healthy, so I’m hoping that helps.

Today I have Group and a small slot of time beforehand which I’m still figuring out what I’ll do with it. Exercising is a must! But otherwise, torn.

Tomorrow I have barn and then a meeting, which is at 7 and will probably take way too long.

Friday is friends. Saturday is riding and then groceries (unless I get REAL motivated and do that tonight) and whatever else I can fit into that time. Sunday is Easter.

I should be clear from posting for a while, unless anything interesting comes up.

Side note: Movies have soundtracks, and it’s obviously not plausible to have a soundtrack to a book (unless it’s a book on tape), but have you ever created a playlist for one of your characters?