update

Gray skies are smiling

/ Alex Whitehall / 5 Comments

I’ve been in a strange way lately–not easily distracted, but not completely focused. I’ve been writing, but also reading and watching some old favorites on DVD. And riding, of course. Just feeling a little restless.

I read Anima which was good. It wasn’t amazing, but for what it was, not bad. It had a strange way of having plot, but still leaving me with feeling it didn’t have enough plot. Maybe because it lacked depth.

Still reading Bloodsucking Fiends. It’s good, but not really inspiring. Not one of those books you gobble down. I also finally purchased Coraline (the book). I’ve never had one of those moments where I went to a bookstore and didn’t really find anything I wanted to buy. But now I have (except I did end up buying something, because that’s what lists are for).

I rewatched Ouran, because although I can’t seem to finish other series that I watch, Ouran is like candy. Candy laced with cocaine. I think I enjoyed it more this time too, because I knew what was going to happen, so I could just sit back and studying everything while being less involved.

My computer has been rebeling like an angsty teen lately. At first AIM was glitchy, and then my computer stopped recognizing my internet, but still let me use the internet. Thanks to a certain zombyhero, I was able to fix that, but AIM still isn’t working (I’ve changed to Trillian), and it won’t even let me uninstall. Things also feel a little slow. I may defrag, run some virus and malware searches and see where I come out at.

Work is exhausting me. Overworked, underpaid, overstressed. We have cut hours, which you’d think would mean “yay, time to relax” but it just means that when we go back to work we get stressed out all the more quickly because there is so much to do. Plus, while normally during our busy times we’d be willing to take things home and work on them, I have no desire to do so since it’s their own fault that they put us in this position. Sure, it’s fine for sales to have cut hours, but we’re all expected to get the same amount of work done in less time. It’s not possible without something breaking. I don’t want to be the one to break.

I’m going to go try to fix the world.

This side of morning

/ Alex Whitehall / Leave a comment

Hmmm, I’ll be brief: Otakon was a blast!

I didn’t take too many pictures, but my friends did, so I have pictures, but nothing like the first year I went ^.^ Anyways, it was a really good time and it sucks to be back at work. Any stress that left while on vacation has returned sixfold with the backlog of work. And an editor who doesn’t really realize all that I do.

I didn’t do alot of writing while at the convention, but I did a fair amount the day I got back, and the day after (which I took off for recooperating purposes). It was mostly just an exercise type thing, but I kind of like the world I created, so I may return to it. It’s also something I don’t feel comfortable sharing with people I see face-to-face yet, so it’s hidden on my other dA account. Feel free to try and find it 🙂 My writing style may give it away. I’ll even give a hint: I’m an angel 😉

And one picture, because it’s the main character from my thesis and he pulled it off well with Smiley-Face Blades and all:
The picture came out dark, so I tried to sharpen it and blur the background to keep people from being in the pic who maybe didn’t want to be. The closest group of people are my friends waiting for me to get done humping on this guy.

Maybe a real update later….*giggle*

Perhaps my last post before vacation

/ Alex Whitehall / 3 Comments

First off, I enjoyed today’s XKCD, here. Be sure to hover your mouse for the secret message ^.^

Second, I’m tired! I’m looking forward to vacation although it will most likely involve little rest. Speaking of vacation–in this world of technology we seem to take more and more stuff with us. I always make a list of what I need to pack and it used to be all clothing. Now I have clothing (and essentials) plus my ipod, cellphone (+ charger), laptop (+ cables), camera (+batteries).

Third, one day of work left! I’m actually leaving things in somewhat of an organized way so nothing should explode. Let’s hope it stays that way.

Bloodsucking Fiends is pretty good so far. It didn’t really win me over, but more of the individual characters are starting to meet, so I see the beginnings of plot. I’ll be taking it with me on vaca, but I don’t know how much reading will happen. Boy Meets Boy is also being deliciously funny (how can you say no to a book with a drag queen named Infinite Darlene?). Sadly it will not be heard on vacation, because even though it says it’s ipod compatible, my ipod disagrees.

Yay Vacation!

Midnight walks in Paradise

/ Alex Whitehall / 6 Comments

Happy 4th of July, America. Okay, now that that’s done with, onto the post!

My new loveseat arrive with some adventure* but arrived and is being used and has found its place among us. It’s green and big and awkward, but I have seating for more than two people, which is really nice when..you know..more than two people show up.

My current book list hasn’t changed much lately, which happens when you don’t read. Hah. It’s too nice out to spend the time inside reading, and I feel weird reading in open public spaces. It could be said that if I spent less time on the computer I could spend more time reading. I could also hold my breath until my face turns blue, but I’m not gonna!

The audiobook I’m reading is going well, but I run into a slight mixed feeling about it (not the book, the audio version). The reader is good, but per its format, they can’t talk as fast as I read. I wonder if I was reading the book if I’d be done by now (I probably would be, or at least could be). But then I consider how much time I spend reading the books I actually read and I wonder if it would be sitting in a pile with the rest. It’s nice to do work around my apartment and get reading done at the same time (though I’m highly amused when I find myself talking to the air, making snarky comments about what was just said in the book).

I have two days of a riding clinic, which hopefully will be fun, and then another day off before I go back to work. All this time off is spoiling me something rotten. It also makes me want to bake. A lot. I made angel food on Thursday, angel/demon cookies last night, and Monday might be monkey bread. It’s a good think I like feeding people.

Hope everyone enjoys what promises to be a beautiful weekend!

* The adventure: Took one vehicle (Honda Fit) to location. Not big enough. Drive to get truck. Bring truck to location. Not big enough. Strap couch to roof and drive (slowly) to apartment. Get couch off roof (with just two itty bitty girls) and half way through first door. Get stuck. Neighbor comes. He and I get it unstuck and up 3 sets of 8 steps, with me on the bottom–for some reason. Second door is not a problem and I have a couch! I should mention I did this on 2 hours of sleep. And that four hours later I went riding.

The sky is the color of a mango..the inside fleshy part

/ Alex Whitehall / Leave a comment

Today was my first day on mandatory closure, which I think I desperately needed and it was nice. Just like getting out of a shower after a long day of sun and sweat and a full belly of spaghetti. This is my current state and it is good.

I lounged around most the morning, doing none of the things I swore I would. Eventually I went running 4 miles. I showered, lounged around some more (mostly because I was doing a task, got distracted, and forgot the task I was doing).

I headed to the barn, where I lounged for a bit (a small bit) and then rode, a nice long trail on a horse that didn’t seem to understand the meaning of “move forward”. My legs snarked, “Maybe you shouldn’t have run 4 miles this morning.” I ignored them and we arrived back in time to clean off our horses (and ourselves), grab a bite to eat before heading to the ring to judge the pony camp. After that (which involves more manual labor than most judges do at shows), and after helping the kids get done their horses, and putting out horses, and scheduling my horses for the next week, I went home. 7 hours at a barn isn’t unreasonable, right?

Home offers me food, cleanliness and places where my feet can rest above my chest. It’s good.

I’ll probably be lacking internet for the next two days *weeps* but will be back to business once the work week starts. It will either prove very productive or very unproductive. Knowing me, it’ll be the latter. Although my apartment is cleaned enough to welcome a second love seat into my home. The only productive thing I’ve done all day. Yet. Hopefully more will come.

I’m craving Rita’s Water Ice right now. I’m not really dressed for it and it sucks to go alone. So no water ice. Just more of Lipton’s Diet Raspberry White Iced Tea*.

* Which is good, but not as good as Turkey Hill Diet Peach White Iced Tea. Perhaps just my preference of peaches.

I keep thinking ‘Today is the day’

/ Alex Whitehall / Leave a comment

Another week has slipped by.

Even when I’m not busy I’m busy and it’s kind of an odd feeling. Wouldn’t it be great if we could take those “in between moments” (like the few minutes before you leave for something or while you’re waiting for the bus or the likes) and gather them up and use them all at once? Maybe this is just me, since I try to never be late (thus am always early) and so I always am waiting for the set time that I planned to leave.

I’m hoping to go to the Celtic Fling this weekend. It’s not really hoping, since as long as it’s not perfectly miserable out we’ll be going, I’m sure. I had fun last year and I think I’ll have fun this year. It’s one of those things to not do anything, just experience. No pressure.

Riding has been normal, when I get to. We’ve gotten so much rain I’ve missed alot of days, and then Sunday instead of riding one of my horses I rode someone else’s, which could lead to more riding of his horses, but we’ll see. I’ll be exercising someone’s horse this week, which matches up to pony camp well, so it works out.

*I also just realized that while typing in “edit html” option I can still use the shortcuts for italics, bold, etc. Perhaps I’m silly for not realizing this earlier.

it’s always been forever

/ Alex Whitehall / Leave a comment

I keep thinking, “It’s been forever since I updated my blog!” when in reality it’s never more than a week. I’ve just been busy, none of it terribly important, or news-worthy.

1. Cosplay is going well. Updates can be found on my Whimsy blog. I have one major thing I need to do, one major thing I may do and a few minor things I keep putting off. Plus buying super glue and tide pens.

2. Writing is going well. I’ve been spending much of my free time the past week writing. Thus the state of my dishes. But I’d rather be writing. Mmm, writing.

3. In fact, I was so busy writing Sunday that I forgot that I had to cook food for lunch this week. It’s cool, I had PBJ today and cooked the food for the rest of the week. Err, and may have been too busy writing to realize I overcooked it. Que sera, or something.

4. I may have decided on the topic for Nanowrimo. Of course it’s several months away, so I may change my mind. Actually, the odds are probably in favor of me changing my mind ^.^

5. If I’ve been ignoring you, or being vague and distracted, it’s because I’m probably thinking, “I could be writing now.” I do this probably twelve times an hour at work. Please don’t take offense. I just hit 30,000 words with my one story while the other X take hiatus. I’m sure they’ll get their chance to play too. But the vampire boys are taking over for the moment.

6. I’m pretty sure I’m forgetting something. But, HI EVERYBODY!!

Planning to be Brief

/ Alex Whitehall / 2 Comments

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.

Sitting before work

/ Alex Whitehall / Leave a comment

I’m sitting with my bowl of oatmeal before work, taking a deep breath and relaxing.

It’s going to be cold today, well, colder than other days, but this weekend is supposed to be beautiful and warm, which I’m really looking forward to.

I’m glad it’s Thursday, but I really wish it were Friday. Though compared to some weeks, it’s not too bad that it’s Thursday. I still have two more interviews to conduct for my article on the Wii’s use in “old folks homes”–I’m using that phrase only because it’s used in a wide variety of facilities. I’m finding them easy to do, but still nervous-making. One day I’ll be as confident as my coworkers–maybe :D.

Because I’m insanely busy this weekend (Friday: going to see Coraline, then hang out with friends; Saturday: Ride then go hang out with friends, shopping; Sunday: Ride and then maybe some deserved relaxation), I’m going grocery shopping tonight, which is odd to me, but the best time. But I’m trying to make miracles happen with pennies, so it’s always an adventure.

Amusing…

/ Alex Whitehall / Leave a comment

First off, I just finished looking at GoodReads and under “popular books” it listed the 4 twilight books, to kill a mocking bird, and then all the Harry Potter books. I was highly amused. If you enjoy books, you should sign up. It’s nice getting reviews of what friends have read to see if you want to read it too.

Secondly, I’ve been spreading my web comic reading wings. Mows is mildly entertaining. Kind of like a weekly comic strip (or daily) that you’d find in a newspaper. Not funny every day, but it has it’s moments. A Softer World is very “Indy” I think. It’s very funny at times, just plain weird other times, and then disturbing and dark. I enjoy it. I enjoy it enough that I took some strips to make my computer’s wallpaper. After all, where else can you read, “When I play doctor….I play to win.”

I think this image is beautiful. It’s by LadySybile on deviantArt:

That’s about it for now. Things are okay.