For any of you wondering where the fuck I've been, the answer is, "Working on my projects. Yes, really."

You have Theo to thank for the fact that my Corel Painter Essentials is up and running.

As for myself, I've banned myself from video games until the CD covers are finished. The only game I've even reinstalled so far is Black & White I, and I haven't even played it yet. On the other hand, my mental block regarding the front cover was officially pwned, again with input from my critique bitch fellow artist Theo. (If I'm his official auxiliary brain, he's whatever part of me that keeps me from chewing off my own limbs with indecision.)

So it's:
Front: 100%
Inside Front: 19.6%
Back: 100%

Ah, if only I was as dedicated to my schoolwork.

It feels like it's been longer, but it's not really even been two months, but Theodore, may his calculations never go awry, has finally fixed my computer. I've all my data (it was the hard drive, after all), I just need to reinstall some programs (such as Corel Painter and the Wacom tablet...and Kodak) and then it's all gravy.

Yaaaay

Okay, so it's cheating a little bit, but I can't upload my own photographs at the moment. (Besides, it's bloody impossible to get a good photograph of a tiny creature whose primary method of transportation seems to be teleportation.)

After a bit of research, I've determined Agatha (the mouse) to most likely be Peromyscus leucopus, the white-footed mouse (barring a sudden phenomenal growth spurt that would make her P. gossypinus -- I taxonomy.)

Here is what she looks like: [link]

With the common house/domestic mouse for comparison:
[link]

I should interrupt here to say that raising wild animals is very often illegal, and definitely for the experts, and should you find an orphaned or injured wild animal, you should NOT attempt to raise it yourself, but rather take it to your local wildlife rehab center. However, the director of the center I worked at did admit that pest species and invasives are often discreetly euthanised after you bring them in, and it's fairly well-known that I have 'SUCKERRR' printed across my forehead when it comes to rodents. Rodents that are not squirrels, as squirrels are bastards.

P. leucopus is not a protected species. Thus ends today's wildlife moment.

Regarding my computer, Theo assures me that another weekend and close to $400 in new parts will definitely fix the problem (and save me future repairs down the road). Glad I had all those dogsitting jobs, but still...ouch.

The titles for these things, while not meaningless, rarely relate to the actual journal contents, but in this case I feel like I must say: Sorry for the potential mindfuck.



THINGS I AM WORKING ON
Night Shift
thistledown CD covers (1/3 100% complete, yay) (halted by Cromwell)
Huge 'warpwood' unwinding' piece (halted by Cromwell)
Various things involving writing (halted by Cromwell...somewhat.)
Huge Art Nouveau nerd poster
Replacing the lining in my coat
Gloves!
Miscellany

Note To Self: Never publicly announce your boredom. Because then the universe will contrive to alleviate it.

Which is why I am not only taking care of my mother's ill sheltie (who is doing quite well now, which I rather suspect has less to do with my skills as nursemaid than the supposition that she survives solely on the power of Hell), but I find myself a new mother to a field mouse kitten that Daisy brought up from an expedition to the basement. For the time being, a good portion of the night where even I might be tempted to sleep is spent in the kitchen, a domestic zombie mixing minute portions of kitten formula and preparing licking towels.

Yes, I have taken pictures, insomuch as I can clearly photograph a subject both dwarfed by some spiders I have met and in constant motion. I shall post them when I am able; I do intend to rig this computer I am using now to interact with my digital camera. Then at least I can post sketch photos.

I miss the furtive, sweaty nights spent with my tablet, illuminated only by the sickly light of the monitor.



THINGS I AM WORKING ON
Night Shift
thistledown CD covers (1/3 100% complete, yay) (halted by Cromwell)
Huge 'warpwood' unwinding' piece (halted by Cromwell)
Various things involving writing (halted by Cromwell...somewhat.)
Replacing the lining in my coat
Gloves!
Miscellany

Yes, my computer is still little more than a well-put-together, sleek, sexy paperweight, but my new hard drive is sitting on the dining room table, ready and waiting for my flatulent tech to return and manage getting all of my data moved around. Fun stuff. And by 'fun stuff' I mean 'phenomenal pain in my ass'. Watch, it'll be something else wrong with it. Just you wait and see.

In the meantime, despite being unable to work on anything digital/upload anything, I've been busy sketching, naturally...and more bizarre things as well, such as sewing and cooking.

Yes, you heard me correctly. Surprisingly, I am actually competent at those activities. ...If you can overlook the fact that I still refuse to use the sewing machine, or that my delicious chicken stew looks like someone barfed it into the crockpot, then, yes, I am indeed a decent tailor/cook.

Anyway, sketch-wise, all of my digital projects are now so meticulously plotted out, once Cromwell's back up and running, there shouldn't be any hiccups in finishing thistledown or the massive 'warpwood unwinding' piece. That goes for the 'Night Shift' cover as well -- although for obvious reasons, I've been somewhat disinclined to work on projects involving dead dogs as of late. And, in case I haven't mentioned it before, the story IS fully plotted out, from beginning to end (!!), so, I just have to man (...?!) up and plunge into it.

Lastly, I now intend to keep a list of major projects I'm doing, so that every time I look at this page I am filled with guilt inspiration for things that I should be doing instead of spending time on the internet. Said list is can be mocked viewed below.

Okay, I lied, this is the last paragraph. Although I can't actually POST anything, really, if there is anything you would like me to do that is not listed below, please tell me, and I'll draw it/lay out the sketch for digital work/write it. Don't be shy; I am bored.




THINGS I AM WORKING ON
Night Shift
thistledown CD covers (1/3 100% complete, yay)
Huge 'warpwood' unwinding' piece
Various things involving writing
Replacing the lining in my coat
Gloves!
Miscellany