As anyone can see I have severely neglected my blog. Why? I'm not entirely sure. Well a couple reasons, really.
I was planning a trip to Germany - which is done and over.
And the weather here in England has been so nice that I haven't been indoors a whole lot.
I know, neither are really good excuses - but I'm back on the Blog-train so let's get this thing rollin'!
Keith and I spent 6 glorious days in Germany at the Edelweiss resort which was ah-may-zing!! Due to me being neurotic we flew instead of driving. For me its just nice knowing I don't have to worry about getting from point A to point B. I really enjoy just sitting back and not worrying for a change.
I don't want to go all picture crazy, so here's a link to the flikr set that Keith uploaded: Germany Picture Set. Bare in mind that is only a small piece of the 500 pictures we took - but since we have a free flikr account we're limited in what we can upload every month ... so more pictures will be uploaded in May.
Showing posts with label Keith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Keith. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Long Time No Post
I've neglected my blog a bit - and it shows. Its all for good reason, though (kinda.)
Keith's been gone all day over at his friends house playing video games and I've been working on random things here and there.
Things are a big weird between us at the moment. He hasn't even been home from Iraq as long as he was IN Iraq yet already he's taken over everything and changed the way that I've done everything for those 5 months he was gone. Its frustrating.
I thought that all that junk people say about when their men come home was a load of rubbish. No way would I get mad because he's put the towels somewhere that I haven't been putting them - that's dumb. Its insane that couples would fight over what day to do the grocery shopping! But for the most part its kinda true.
When you're forced to adapt to a foreign situation and not given any transition time - you quickly develop your own way of doing things. When you used to share housework you now do it all yourself and you find your own routine of things that you become comfortable with and maybe even enjoy. Then when your man (or woman I guess) comes home it all gets blown out of the water.
Maybe you enjoyed splurging on a caramel mochiato from Starbuck's once a week, but now you can't. It could be that you enjoyed doing the grocery shopping without a list and just getting things you liked, but you can't anymore. Perhaps you even stacked the dishes in the sink a certain way before you actually washed them, but now things are just all helter skelter in the kitchen. These all seem like small trivial things - but its hard not to take it personally when your significant other throws out your way and demands a different way.
It makes me miss the days that when I didn't want to cook I'd eat a bowl of rice with tons of butter and a couple spoons of sugar. I am so so glad my husband is home, but at the same time I resent him for changing everything that I worked so hard to put in order in his absense.
I don't want to say he doesn't respect me - because I like to think he does - but I think that maybe he doesn't think about things. He doesn't know how it was for me here at home because he wasn't here. He doesn't understand why I get frustrated when I ask him to do something and he doesn't do it. Well its because for 5 months if I wanted something done I had to do it - and now that I have someone to help I expect it to be done when I ask. Only because I am used to it being done right when I wanted it done because I did it myself. At this moment I am seeing just how complicated this whole matter is.
Even though I:
cook every night
Do the dishes
Make sure he takes bills with him to work so they get paid
Check account balances so that he doesn't overdraw the checking (he does it a lot)
feed the cat
do the litter box
wash the clothes
vaccum
pack his lunch (which sometimes involves cooking/packing a breakfast as well)
He just makes me feel like I'm useless. I'm the one who doesn't work so I should be just living it up at home while he's gone all day. That isn't how it works.
I quit my job on his advice. They weren't going to allow me to have the 15 days off immediately following Keith's return from Iraq and Keith said "Fuck 'em. Just quit." so I did. I quit my job. This is the job I took after hearing him bitch for 6 months (roughly) about how he feels he has too much responsibility and I don't. The job that he still reminded me almost daily that his job is harder than. The job that I would come home from and STILL do almost all those things listed above.
I haven't had a job since the 2nd week of September (he came back the last week of that month.) And even though while he was still in Iraq and promised me that 'this time' it would be different. This time he wouldn't belittle me and make me feel unimportant. This time he promised he wouldn't make comments about HIS money or things I'm not allowed to buy because HE thinks it isn't needed. It only took about a month for all those promises to be forgotten.
Day in, day out I am in this house. Sometimes I walk into the village to buy a pasty or some tobacco and papers - but that only happens once or so a month. I can't be arsed to walk the mile to the village if its raining or too cold. I just won't. Anyway - I'm always at home. I guess always being at home and having no interaction with the outside world apart from an occasional phone call, Ventrillo, or SL is his idea of heaven.
I've gone off on a huge tangeant but in a way I don't really mind. Its all stuff that's bothered me that we have either discussed a half million times - or I just don't have the energy to have a 'discussion' about. I'm just frustrated is all. We've done all this before - and now we're doing it all again.
He thinks I'm being immature in thinking that he's being controlling. I think he's just being more of a dick for clamping down even harder for no apparent reason. I can't spend a few bucks on a burger from Burger King cuz its a waste of money. BUT he can pretty much do whatever he wants because its his money (he reminds me that its his money any time I talk about buying something.) Am I just being immature? Afterall he's the one who works so technically it IS his money -- but don't I earn some of that by doing all those things in that list? I mean, that's sometimes a full 8-12 hours of work a day.
I don't know. I just know I'm frustrated with how things have been going. I feel like I'm kind of ignored in the equality department. Granted, last time I didn't work I expected Keith to do half of everything here at the house. I don't expect him to do that now - but I do expect to be treated equally. I don't like feeling that I'm less of a contributor just because I don't leave the house to work. I do work. if I didn't we'd live in a mound of filth and he'd never eat or have clean clothes.
Bah.
Men.
Keith's been gone all day over at his friends house playing video games and I've been working on random things here and there.
Things are a big weird between us at the moment. He hasn't even been home from Iraq as long as he was IN Iraq yet already he's taken over everything and changed the way that I've done everything for those 5 months he was gone. Its frustrating.
I thought that all that junk people say about when their men come home was a load of rubbish. No way would I get mad because he's put the towels somewhere that I haven't been putting them - that's dumb. Its insane that couples would fight over what day to do the grocery shopping! But for the most part its kinda true.
When you're forced to adapt to a foreign situation and not given any transition time - you quickly develop your own way of doing things. When you used to share housework you now do it all yourself and you find your own routine of things that you become comfortable with and maybe even enjoy. Then when your man (or woman I guess) comes home it all gets blown out of the water.
Maybe you enjoyed splurging on a caramel mochiato from Starbuck's once a week, but now you can't. It could be that you enjoyed doing the grocery shopping without a list and just getting things you liked, but you can't anymore. Perhaps you even stacked the dishes in the sink a certain way before you actually washed them, but now things are just all helter skelter in the kitchen. These all seem like small trivial things - but its hard not to take it personally when your significant other throws out your way and demands a different way.
It makes me miss the days that when I didn't want to cook I'd eat a bowl of rice with tons of butter and a couple spoons of sugar. I am so so glad my husband is home, but at the same time I resent him for changing everything that I worked so hard to put in order in his absense.
I don't want to say he doesn't respect me - because I like to think he does - but I think that maybe he doesn't think about things. He doesn't know how it was for me here at home because he wasn't here. He doesn't understand why I get frustrated when I ask him to do something and he doesn't do it. Well its because for 5 months if I wanted something done I had to do it - and now that I have someone to help I expect it to be done when I ask. Only because I am used to it being done right when I wanted it done because I did it myself. At this moment I am seeing just how complicated this whole matter is.
Even though I:
cook every night
Do the dishes
Make sure he takes bills with him to work so they get paid
Check account balances so that he doesn't overdraw the checking (he does it a lot)
feed the cat
do the litter box
wash the clothes
vaccum
pack his lunch (which sometimes involves cooking/packing a breakfast as well)
He just makes me feel like I'm useless. I'm the one who doesn't work so I should be just living it up at home while he's gone all day. That isn't how it works.
I quit my job on his advice. They weren't going to allow me to have the 15 days off immediately following Keith's return from Iraq and Keith said "Fuck 'em. Just quit." so I did. I quit my job. This is the job I took after hearing him bitch for 6 months (roughly) about how he feels he has too much responsibility and I don't. The job that he still reminded me almost daily that his job is harder than. The job that I would come home from and STILL do almost all those things listed above.
I haven't had a job since the 2nd week of September (he came back the last week of that month.) And even though while he was still in Iraq and promised me that 'this time' it would be different. This time he wouldn't belittle me and make me feel unimportant. This time he promised he wouldn't make comments about HIS money or things I'm not allowed to buy because HE thinks it isn't needed. It only took about a month for all those promises to be forgotten.
Day in, day out I am in this house. Sometimes I walk into the village to buy a pasty or some tobacco and papers - but that only happens once or so a month. I can't be arsed to walk the mile to the village if its raining or too cold. I just won't. Anyway - I'm always at home. I guess always being at home and having no interaction with the outside world apart from an occasional phone call, Ventrillo, or SL is his idea of heaven.
I've gone off on a huge tangeant but in a way I don't really mind. Its all stuff that's bothered me that we have either discussed a half million times - or I just don't have the energy to have a 'discussion' about. I'm just frustrated is all. We've done all this before - and now we're doing it all again.
He thinks I'm being immature in thinking that he's being controlling. I think he's just being more of a dick for clamping down even harder for no apparent reason. I can't spend a few bucks on a burger from Burger King cuz its a waste of money. BUT he can pretty much do whatever he wants because its his money (he reminds me that its his money any time I talk about buying something.) Am I just being immature? Afterall he's the one who works so technically it IS his money -- but don't I earn some of that by doing all those things in that list? I mean, that's sometimes a full 8-12 hours of work a day.
I don't know. I just know I'm frustrated with how things have been going. I feel like I'm kind of ignored in the equality department. Granted, last time I didn't work I expected Keith to do half of everything here at the house. I don't expect him to do that now - but I do expect to be treated equally. I don't like feeling that I'm less of a contributor just because I don't leave the house to work. I do work. if I didn't we'd live in a mound of filth and he'd never eat or have clean clothes.
Bah.
Men.
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Holiday ... sushi?!
That's right. Yesterday the husband and I put up our badass Christmas tree and I made us sushi for dinner. Sushi doesn't mean 'raw fish' (for those that don't know) and doesn't even HAVE to contain any kind of seafood. As a matter of fact: the ever popular California Rolls don't contain any seafood at all. They have nori (seaweed wrapper), avocado, carrot and usually a tiny bit of wasabi or wasabi mayonnaise. I did use seafood however.
You will also need single grain rice. You can NOT use instant rice or 'boil in the bag' rice!!! The rice will not be sticky enough and each grain will CRUSH! In sushi - each grain is very visible inside(or outside depending how you prefer!) and the rice is very sticky. Instant, boil in the bag, and normal white rice are NOT suitable for sushi making. Don't do it, mkay?
I thought for blogger's sake (and for a bit of my own good, really) that I would post how I made the sushi step by step. It isn't as easy as just using boil in the bag rice and saying "TADA!" I wish it were! Instead - you'll have to allow at least a half hour just for the rice and a good half hour or more for prepping your sushi stuffers. So all in all - though sushi is easy and fairly quick - there is a lot of prep time involved. Let's get started! (don't worry I'll blog about other crap later!)
First you'll need some rice vinegar. Will regular vinegar work? Probably! I haven't tried it - but I would think that vinegar is vinegar. I wouldn't use white vinegar though. And I definitely wouldn't use normal vinegar if you can get your hands on real rice vinegar! That would just be silly wouldn't it? 
This is the exact bottle of rice vinegar I use. Pic taken in my messy kitchen while making sushi. Forgive the mess, please! This is a very common brand, by the way.
You will also need single grain rice. You can NOT use instant rice or 'boil in the bag' rice!!! The rice will not be sticky enough and each grain will CRUSH! In sushi - each grain is very visible inside(or outside depending how you prefer!) and the rice is very sticky. Instant, boil in the bag, and normal white rice are NOT suitable for sushi making. Don't do it, mkay?
So here's the exact rice I use. As far as I know - its pretty common.
And the other thing you'll need (besides things to put IN your sushi) is nori. Nori is dried seaweed. This is probably what makes people think of raw fish. Since its seaweed, it does have a fishy smell, but it does NOT have a fishy taste. As a matter of fact, it doesn't really taste at all. Its usually really dry and almost brittle when in the package, but when wrapped around your sushi its softer.
Again - same popular Orchids brand (just to show I didn't ONLY buy that rice vinegar because of the company name!)
So you will certainly need everything that has a picture! Now for the instructions:
Place 2 cups of rice into a plastic or glass bowl
(2 cups of rice makes enough sushi for 3 people - or 2 hungry people. Always better to have too much than too little!)
Cover with water
Swirl the rice/water around with your hand until the water is very cloudy.
Drain water and repeat until water is clear (usually about 3-4 times)
In a medium saucepan (make sure it has a lid!) place:
2 cups of washed rice
2 cups of water
Place lid on saucepan and bring to boil over medium heat
(if you haven't done any prep I recommend doing your prep work at this point)
Once boiling use a wooden or plastic spoon to stir the rice (NO METAL SPOONS)
Reduce heat to medium high and cook for another 5 minutes
Reduce heat once more, stir, and cook for another couple minutes
Be sure not to burn the rice - but be sure all the water is absorbed
Remove rice from heat (leaving lid on) and set aside for a 5 minutes
After rice has set - put into glass or plastic container while Rice Vinegar is prepped
Making up the Rice Vinegar:
4tbsp. Rice Vinegar
4tbsp. Sugar (I use white granulated sugar - as long as you don't use brown you should be ok)
2tbsp salt (I use sea salt - I'm sure it doesn't matter)
Place all the Rice Vinegar ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat
Stir ingredients with wooden or plastic spoon
!!DO NOT BOIL!!
Heat/stir until all granules are dissolved
Finishing Up the Rice
Add the HOT Rice Vinegar mixture to the rice
Stir the Rice Vinegar Mixture into the rice with a choppy motion with your plastic or wooden spoon
Stir the Rice in the choppy motion until it is at room temperature (takes about 5-10 minutes)
My best advice at this point is to have a small bowl of water sitting nearby. This is to moisten your hands and knife to keep the sushi from sticking to you too badly. Its going to stick to you - no matter what - but the water keeps it under some kind of control.
So you place out a single sheet of nori. You cover the nori 85% with the sushi rice. Leave about a 1/4 inch gap at the top (this allows for a roll that doesn't look folded on one side. Perfect circle!) Once you have covered your nori - place your stuffing (I will put a list of things that I like to use inside sushi at the bottom) in the center of your rice. Just eye it - you'll find the perfect positioning once you've done this a few times.
Once you have all the things on the rice you wish to roll up in the sushi - grab the end nearest you and fold the nori (which includes the contents of your roll!) away from you until the piece you grabbed is now touching the edge of where the rice stops (this is why that 1/4 inch at the top is important!) Squeeze the sushi roll until it feels the seaweed will not come unwrapped and wet your knife.
From what I know - its traditional to serve sushi in two rows of 3 (equalling 6 lil sushi rolls) but I really don't see the point in being so traditional at home (unless you have guests - in which case be traditional and show off!) and you will probably mess up one or two if this is your first time - so no worries!!! Cut the roll in half and place the two halves side by side. Wet your knife again - and cut 3 times across the two halves which are side by side. You now have 6 sushi!!
Now you just stick them on a plate (stuffing side up) and serve! Not too hard I don't think. From start to finish it usually takes me about an hour to make sushi (using the 2 cup method I shared here) which is about how long it takes me to make dinner when I'm cooking something like spaghetti. This shows that making sushi (which is pretty darn healthy!) doesn't take any more time than anything else you're already doing. Its just something you aren't familiar with and only SEEMS like more work.
The first time IS a bit hectic - but the steps and instructions that I've put here are pretty much fail proof. There's almost NO WAY you can make bad sushi with the above 'recipe'! Promise! As you can see my rolls are FAR from perfect - but that doesn't effect the taste. The roll you see my husband holding has salmon and mayonnaise in it.
As you can see we aren't going for the whole traditional thing here at my house. We're even drinking a bottle of Andre (pink champagne haha!) with your sushi. I think we're also watching Top Gear or X Factor -- so really just make it your own.
I have to say though - it was really nice to sit back and relax and basque in the glory which is our badass Christmas tree. Our neighbors kept peeking through their window to see our tree - and people were slowing down outside to see our tree as they drove past.
I'm proud of my husband for not only caving and letting me have a WHITE tree - but letting me choose purple, hot pink and blue balls for it! Yay husband!
Now
Things you can put in sushi:
Salmon
lettuce
spinach (wilted in hot water)
avocado
carrot
ginger (pickled)
water chestnuts
sesame seeds
mayonnaise (NOT salad dressing!)
wasabi
wasabi mayonnaise
shrimp
crab
lobster
chicken/duck/goose/turkey (hey why not?!)
Honestly I think anything you can put on a sandwich can be put in sushi - but if you are going for traditional Japanese sushi - its best to use traditional items. I just prefer to have fun with my cooking is all!
EDIT: More pics of our weekend (my messy kitchen and more!) @ my Flikr
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Super Dickmann's - and other things
Yes - I only bought this because its called "Super Dickmann's". As a matter of fact - I forced Keith to hold the box while I snapped this pic in the kitchen AS SOON as we got home from the store with it. But turns out - these things are WAY awesome. Its a huge chocolate covered thing with the creamiest softest marshmellow center and a tiny wafer on the bottom! You get almost an immediate sugar rush upon devouring!
How huge is this Super Dickmann's?
We've now eaten nearly all of them (I think there are 9 to a box) and they are my new love. Forget Galaxy bars or even ice cream. I love Super Dickmann's!!
Germany - thank you for this most yumtastic chocolatey treat. How sugary are Super Dickmann's? Well put it this way: we drink a LOT of energy drinks in my house - and ONE of these things made me hyper for like 3 hours. I'm talking completely rambunctiously annoyingly hyper. Yeah I'd totally feed one of these to someone's kid right before they went back home with their parents. I'm evil like that.In other news - I have decided to only post paintings on my art page to say "Hey look this is for sale" once I get my Etsy shop going. This way it allows MORE people to see my artwork and gives me extra opportunity to sell them. I did look into the option of selling prints - but unless I do the prints myself I would be losing a lot of money. I'd make about $.50 per print. Instead I'll just sell the original on canvas and not offer prints at all.
This means that every painting purchased is a one-of-a-kind. I highly doubt I'll price anything over $30 because I'm mostly just interested in paying for art supplies to paint more - and not looking to make an actual living from it right now. Perhaps in the future. Of course I'll post something here when I have everything all set up - including figuring out where to get proper boxes to ship things. It'll all come together eventually!
I feel like Keith and I are still getting acquainted with each other now that he's back from Iraq. Small things about both of us have changed while he was deployed and we're both working on getting used to those small changes. Nothing major - but still. It was kind of disturbing at first when I noticed there were any kind of change at all ... but then I realized that its pretty much natural.
We still have a lot of fun together. I even gave him a spa facial treatment a few days ago. Cucumber peel and avacado mask - the whole works! He didn't actually say it .. but I think he enjoyed it :) Looks like he's having fun to me!I think we get on each other's nerves a bit more than we used to (we're both terribly annoying) but we're starting to get used to it. I make his lunch almost every morning - and he seems to like going to work. Maybe its because he isn't working 12 hours a day 6 days a week like he was in Iraq.
I think that's all for now. I mostly just wanted to share the awesome that is Super Dickmann's - but I got off on another subject!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Just Groovin'
Song of the Day is now located on a widget over there ----------------->
I finished another painting - but I have a lot of stuff to do :(
I have to get pictures taken of a lot of other paintings, as well as try to find a decent printing company that I can team up with. I've had a lot of inquiries about my paintings, but a lot of it is people wanting prints - not the actual canvas painting. Sooo yeah I definitely have to look into that. It wasn't even something I'd thought of!
Keith goes back to work next week and our sleep schedule is totally wonky. We stay up till 7/8am go to bed, wake up at 5pm and do it all again. We're going to bed here in about an hour and hope that our first day of being awake during daylight hours will be eventful!
So yeah! Busy busy painting! And I'm sure once I set myself up with a printing company that I can hopefully just sell enough prints to pay for my art supplies! Weee!
I finished another painting - but I have a lot of stuff to do :(
I have to get pictures taken of a lot of other paintings, as well as try to find a decent printing company that I can team up with. I've had a lot of inquiries about my paintings, but a lot of it is people wanting prints - not the actual canvas painting. Sooo yeah I definitely have to look into that. It wasn't even something I'd thought of!
Keith goes back to work next week and our sleep schedule is totally wonky. We stay up till 7/8am go to bed, wake up at 5pm and do it all again. We're going to bed here in about an hour and hope that our first day of being awake during daylight hours will be eventful!
So yeah! Busy busy painting! And I'm sure once I set myself up with a printing company that I can hopefully just sell enough prints to pay for my art supplies! Weee!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Manic Artwork - Soon for Sale
I paint. A lot, actually - and I've decided that instead of letting all these paintings pile up that I would try to sell them ... and possibly take on commissions for art. The commission part is still iffy - but I am definitely going to try to sell my paintings.
How am I going to do this? Well to start out with I will do it on a first come, first serve basis. I'll post a picture of the painting on my site : ManicStatic with a price. The first person to email me and say 'Hey I want that picture' will be the one who will own it. Then I say 'Hey dude, you got the picture" and they say "Wowee! Gee golly really?!" and I say "Yup!" and they'll say "Well here's my address!" then I mail it to them. Sounds easy huh?
Anyway - that will be my thing. I refuse to do videos for people in SL anymore. 90% of SL Society fucking pisses me off. My husband was deployed to Iraq for 5 months - I was working 50 hours a week - and people were STILL on my ass about things. But ya know what? I bet if I had told them I was in the process of leaving my RL husband for my SL boyfriend they would give me all the time in the world. It seems people are more understanding about fake SL shit than they are about vital RL shit. Surely I can't be the only person who thinks this.
As far as my paintings .. I guess you'll just have to wait till I get one posted to see my 'style'. I've always called it vector -- but that might not be 'technically' right.
How am I going to do this? Well to start out with I will do it on a first come, first serve basis. I'll post a picture of the painting on my site : ManicStatic with a price. The first person to email me and say 'Hey I want that picture' will be the one who will own it. Then I say 'Hey dude, you got the picture" and they say "Wowee! Gee golly really?!" and I say "Yup!" and they'll say "Well here's my address!" then I mail it to them. Sounds easy huh?
Anyway - that will be my thing. I refuse to do videos for people in SL anymore. 90% of SL Society fucking pisses me off. My husband was deployed to Iraq for 5 months - I was working 50 hours a week - and people were STILL on my ass about things. But ya know what? I bet if I had told them I was in the process of leaving my RL husband for my SL boyfriend they would give me all the time in the world. It seems people are more understanding about fake SL shit than they are about vital RL shit. Surely I can't be the only person who thinks this.
As far as my paintings .. I guess you'll just have to wait till I get one posted to see my 'style'. I've always called it vector -- but that might not be 'technically' right.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
Updatus Majoritus
MAJOR UPDATE ALERT!!!!
I have been reallllly busy the past few weeks, and for good reason I assure you!
We found out a couple weeks ago that Keith is deploying. Where? He can't say - all I know is that he was issued dessert gear. He's been really busy getting shots every other week as well as us having to go to appointments at the legal office. I don't really want to go into a lot of detail about it because honestly I've JUST gotten myself somewhat used to the idea of everything.
Yes, of course I'll be worried. I'm really just trying to not be a big baby about everything because I don't want to stress Keith out. I think that he would have taken the news of his deployment a LOT harder if I had reacted all like 'OMG NOOOOOOO' or someting.
I already have lots of activities and whatnot planned for myself this summer - and have found a great friend in Tree. Its also nice working on a military base and having access to at least talk to other spouses of deployed peeps. Just kinda eases the stress knowing that someone is going through the exact same thing - which makes one automatic thing you have in common with someone!
This will be the first time in two years (roughly) that Keith and I have been apart - which makes me go :( but at the same time I'm looking forward to seeing how I handle alone life. I'm sure the cat will keep me company - and if she doesn't I have a few canvases on top of friends and work. The first month I think will be the hardest but once I get into my own 'groove' it should get easier.
I did a painting over the weekend. There's actually a funny story that goes with it. Guess I should show the painting first.
So this is my painting ... and I call it "Boldly Go". Its my little "Ode to Star Trek" you could say. why? I don't know! I just know that I thought of how Captain Kirk always got to shag the hot aliens while on other plants - but what if SPOCK got his hands on one?! What if there's a Spock love child roaming some galaxy far far away?! And there you have the inspirational thought which started this painting. There's a bit more to it, but I sat it on my lap and took the pic with the webcam on the laptop ...
So yes that is the jist of everything. My husband is deploying to a dessert somewhere on the globe and will be gone for at least 5 months and I've just been trying to mentally prepare myself for everything. Seriously though - I almost lost it when we had to prepare his will. That was the HARDEST thing ever. For those that don't know me - I don't do funerals. Ever.
Alrighty! Well Keith got Grand Theft Auto IV a whole day earlier than its even released - so I've been sitting here watching him play... enjoy the screenshot :D
I have been reallllly busy the past few weeks, and for good reason I assure you!
We found out a couple weeks ago that Keith is deploying. Where? He can't say - all I know is that he was issued dessert gear. He's been really busy getting shots every other week as well as us having to go to appointments at the legal office. I don't really want to go into a lot of detail about it because honestly I've JUST gotten myself somewhat used to the idea of everything.
Yes, of course I'll be worried. I'm really just trying to not be a big baby about everything because I don't want to stress Keith out. I think that he would have taken the news of his deployment a LOT harder if I had reacted all like 'OMG NOOOOOOO' or someting.
I already have lots of activities and whatnot planned for myself this summer - and have found a great friend in Tree. Its also nice working on a military base and having access to at least talk to other spouses of deployed peeps. Just kinda eases the stress knowing that someone is going through the exact same thing - which makes one automatic thing you have in common with someone!
This will be the first time in two years (roughly) that Keith and I have been apart - which makes me go :( but at the same time I'm looking forward to seeing how I handle alone life. I'm sure the cat will keep me company - and if she doesn't I have a few canvases on top of friends and work. The first month I think will be the hardest but once I get into my own 'groove' it should get easier.
I did a painting over the weekend. There's actually a funny story that goes with it. Guess I should show the painting first.
So this is my painting ... and I call it "Boldly Go". Its my little "Ode to Star Trek" you could say. why? I don't know! I just know that I thought of how Captain Kirk always got to shag the hot aliens while on other plants - but what if SPOCK got his hands on one?! What if there's a Spock love child roaming some galaxy far far away?! And there you have the inspirational thought which started this painting. There's a bit more to it, but I sat it on my lap and took the pic with the webcam on the laptop ...
So yes that is the jist of everything. My husband is deploying to a dessert somewhere on the globe and will be gone for at least 5 months and I've just been trying to mentally prepare myself for everything. Seriously though - I almost lost it when we had to prepare his will. That was the HARDEST thing ever. For those that don't know me - I don't do funerals. Ever.
Alrighty! Well Keith got Grand Theft Auto IV a whole day earlier than its even released - so I've been sitting here watching him play... enjoy the screenshot :D
Sunday, March 23, 2008
One Day I Will Get a Break!
So the past week or two I have been really busy - both with work and with Keith. Keith had been working on videos for an Air Force banquet, and I was busy playing executive producer.
The banquet was good, actually. Fancy three course meal and all that - but the problem was .... I didn't fit in. This still REALLY bothers me! I was looking around at all the other wives and how differently I was dressed, and couldn't help but feel like I should just hide behind Keith's coat tails. I don't have a picture at this moment - but when I do I'll post what I looked like to prove that I didn't look THAT odd but I definitely stood out.
Honestly though, I think my appearance was welcomed by the commanders, Colonels and others. My off beat appearance caused lots of people to take notice of me first instead of greeting Keith first - which I think will make him more memorable to them when it comes promotion and award time next year. But its all over with now so I feel much better!
I still feel like I'm working a LOT - and I'm starting to have some serious problems with my feet. I have a strip of bruise down the bottoms of each of my feet and its starting to worry me. At first it was pinkish and made me think "Oh great I have athlete's foot!" but as the week went on it went from pink to black to blue and now a steady purplish color - so its definitely a bruise. I don't know what would cause a bruise on the bottom center of my foot but I hope its nothing serious. I know, I worry about the stupidest shit.
Later this week I hope to do an actual vlog with a little editing and post bits of us going to work ... y'know our daily routine. I know that sounds really boring - but lots of my friends and family and Keith's also ... well they check my blog and much prefer my vlogs to reading my text. Most my family hasn't seen me in over a year now so they like being able to watch me talk.
Okay! Going to find some dinner and hopefully I remember to vlog this week!
The banquet was good, actually. Fancy three course meal and all that - but the problem was .... I didn't fit in. This still REALLY bothers me! I was looking around at all the other wives and how differently I was dressed, and couldn't help but feel like I should just hide behind Keith's coat tails. I don't have a picture at this moment - but when I do I'll post what I looked like to prove that I didn't look THAT odd but I definitely stood out.
Honestly though, I think my appearance was welcomed by the commanders, Colonels and others. My off beat appearance caused lots of people to take notice of me first instead of greeting Keith first - which I think will make him more memorable to them when it comes promotion and award time next year. But its all over with now so I feel much better!
I still feel like I'm working a LOT - and I'm starting to have some serious problems with my feet. I have a strip of bruise down the bottoms of each of my feet and its starting to worry me. At first it was pinkish and made me think "Oh great I have athlete's foot!" but as the week went on it went from pink to black to blue and now a steady purplish color - so its definitely a bruise. I don't know what would cause a bruise on the bottom center of my foot but I hope its nothing serious. I know, I worry about the stupidest shit.
Later this week I hope to do an actual vlog with a little editing and post bits of us going to work ... y'know our daily routine. I know that sounds really boring - but lots of my friends and family and Keith's also ... well they check my blog and much prefer my vlogs to reading my text. Most my family hasn't seen me in over a year now so they like being able to watch me talk.
Okay! Going to find some dinner and hopefully I remember to vlog this week!
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
My Weekend and Other Stuff
Keith and I went to Cambridge last weekend. I took him to Mill Road which is where Tree and I hang out when she and I get together. I even took him to the awesome cafe (The Black Cat Cafe) that Tree introduced me to. They simply have the BEST cafe latte I've ever had. He wasn't too impressed. He was more impressed with the fact that I knew my way around and got us FREE parking. Huzzah!
So we walked the 10 or so blocks to downtown where we found a store to buy some sheesha (flavored hookah tobacco) and even a new bowl! We came across a Chinese market where we stopped in to buy some Koalas (its candy) and some sugar coated fish jerky that we haven't eaten yet. We will get around to it though, and I'll post how bad or good it is. It just sounded odd so we bought it.
I updated my flickr account with some of the pictures we snapped. By the time we had walked around downtown for about a half hour my back was killing me. I really think its the shoes. Anyway, we went down to the market and looked at random things, and I even got a neato multicolored velvety top that I simply HAVE to find something to wear with.
I got a job, but am waiting for HRO (Human Resource Office) to call me back to set up an appointment for me to go in and fill in all the necessary paperwork for me to start working. So yay. Is it sad that I've already made a mental list of things I plan to buy with my paycheck? I've also decided that once I start work I will also start working out since Keith and I will be getting off work around the same time. This way it just feels like less hassle. He doesn't have to drive the 15 mins to come home and get me for us to drive the 15 mins back to the base to work out for an hour .. then drive back home.
A week ago I did my first real painting in years, and have already started on another. It isn't leet awesum or anything, but I'm still proud of it because its mine. I'll have to buy new supplies soon though. I have a nice sized canvas, but I need to either FIND a wood frame to staple it to, or just buy new canvases. New paint wouldn't hurt either. So here it is, my painting!
My bright pink hair has faded to a dirty pink - so I'm trying to decide if I want to dye it some other awesome color, or if I want to go back to normal. I really like having wild colored hair. It makes me feel more energetic, and just overall happy. I am definately not cutting my hair again, and am growing it back out to its once wonderous glory. I miss having long hair. I'm still trying to talk Keith into allowing dreds, but so far no dice.
So we walked the 10 or so blocks to downtown where we found a store to buy some sheesha (flavored hookah tobacco) and even a new bowl! We came across a Chinese market where we stopped in to buy some Koalas (its candy) and some sugar coated fish jerky that we haven't eaten yet. We will get around to it though, and I'll post how bad or good it is. It just sounded odd so we bought it.
I updated my flickr account with some of the pictures we snapped. By the time we had walked around downtown for about a half hour my back was killing me. I really think its the shoes. Anyway, we went down to the market and looked at random things, and I even got a neato multicolored velvety top that I simply HAVE to find something to wear with.
I got a job, but am waiting for HRO (Human Resource Office) to call me back to set up an appointment for me to go in and fill in all the necessary paperwork for me to start working. So yay. Is it sad that I've already made a mental list of things I plan to buy with my paycheck? I've also decided that once I start work I will also start working out since Keith and I will be getting off work around the same time. This way it just feels like less hassle. He doesn't have to drive the 15 mins to come home and get me for us to drive the 15 mins back to the base to work out for an hour .. then drive back home.
A week ago I did my first real painting in years, and have already started on another. It isn't leet awesum or anything, but I'm still proud of it because its mine. I'll have to buy new supplies soon though. I have a nice sized canvas, but I need to either FIND a wood frame to staple it to, or just buy new canvases. New paint wouldn't hurt either. So here it is, my painting!
My bright pink hair has faded to a dirty pink - so I'm trying to decide if I want to dye it some other awesome color, or if I want to go back to normal. I really like having wild colored hair. It makes me feel more energetic, and just overall happy. I am definately not cutting my hair again, and am growing it back out to its once wonderous glory. I miss having long hair. I'm still trying to talk Keith into allowing dreds, but so far no dice.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
I am NOT ready for my close-up
I have an appointment today at a hair salon to get my hair cut, and after that Keith and I have an appointment at a photography studio to get professional pictures taken. Sounds fab, huh? IT ISN'T!
I always get a bout of anxiety and get real 'uppidy' when it comes to things like this. Okay fine, you got me - I get high strung about nearly everything and have a little freak out session often ... but getting my hair cut is always one of those things that just freak me out!
Part of the reason is up until about 3 years ago, I had the same hair dresser since I was 9. She knew my hair. She knew that no matter what haircut I WANTED she always knew what would look better. The problem with getting a new hairdresser is if you walk in and say "I want my hair cut like THIS" that they will cut it like that and if its complete shite you're stuck with it. *MY* hairdresser would never do that to me. To make this all worse we're having pictures taken afterward.
So a stranger is going to be chopping at my hair and probably not caring if the haircut clashes with my fat face. She probably won't know that even though my hair has turned a brownish reddish color with my age - that it still shows EVERY cut you make as if it were still blond. I had the hardest time as a blond. It took *MY* hairdresser a few years to get the hang of cutting my hair just right so that you couldn't see every cut she made. When I was about 13 that "Rachel" haircut (y'know .. from friends?) with the millions of layers was in. I could not sport this haircut because of my blondish reddish naturally highlighted hair because every layer looked as if you had given me different facets of a bowl cut.
Will this hairdresser butcher my hair? Will she actually listen to the things I tell her like:
I know that all seems like a lot, and some if it is contradictory ... but will she even listen?! Will she humor me and just grin and nod and then just do her own thing? Does anyone else ever freak out like this before getting their hair cut? I feel so juvenile!
My other 'freak out' thing right now is pictures. The last time I had professional portraits done was in high school. I didn't mind it so much because hey - its a portrait and I thought I was totally friggin' hot back then. Well I've gained probably 50 pounds (if not MORE) since then, but was lucky enough to marry a very VERY attractive man. Now, I feel inferior in looks (which drives Keith up the WALL and he wishes I'd just stop it!) and I wish I were thin enough to hide behind him for this whole ordeal. Vertically, I can hide behind him - but otherwise FORGET IT! I know that these aren't going to be full nude pictures (or even partially for that matter) but I do know the extra work it takes to photograph such contrasting couples for classic portrait photography. I know that I would feel more comfortable if I could somehow take our pictures myself - but we'd end up with these 'weird' photos that would just play off our contrasting appearance and it would be more minimalist slash modern portraits .. but GAH!
Regardless of my level of freak out (we are at Def con Bravo right now on my Freak Out Meter, people!) I will end up somehow pulling myself together to do all of this stuff. I'll sit in that salon chair and make small talk while a strange lady touches that weird mole on my head. I will then probably have to go into a story saying how my mother AND grandmother both have a mole in that same spot, and probably then say the same for the one near my ear which we all 3 have in common. We'll talk about the weather and about what we got our families for Christmas. I'll then thank her for her work on my what COULD be butchered hair, then I'll pick Keith up from work. After that I'll stand around in a studio drooling over the cameras, asking the photographer what school they went to (if any), and simply wait for the discomfort which comes once they start squinting behind a tripod (because few photographers actually look through the finder anymore with these new digital thingies) while I keep saying "don't blink don't blink don't blink" to myself in my head.
Ugh, am I losing my mind?!
I always get a bout of anxiety and get real 'uppidy' when it comes to things like this. Okay fine, you got me - I get high strung about nearly everything and have a little freak out session often ... but getting my hair cut is always one of those things that just freak me out!
Part of the reason is up until about 3 years ago, I had the same hair dresser since I was 9. She knew my hair. She knew that no matter what haircut I WANTED she always knew what would look better. The problem with getting a new hairdresser is if you walk in and say "I want my hair cut like THIS" that they will cut it like that and if its complete shite you're stuck with it. *MY* hairdresser would never do that to me. To make this all worse we're having pictures taken afterward.
So a stranger is going to be chopping at my hair and probably not caring if the haircut clashes with my fat face. She probably won't know that even though my hair has turned a brownish reddish color with my age - that it still shows EVERY cut you make as if it were still blond. I had the hardest time as a blond. It took *MY* hairdresser a few years to get the hang of cutting my hair just right so that you couldn't see every cut she made. When I was about 13 that "Rachel" haircut (y'know .. from friends?) with the millions of layers was in. I could not sport this haircut because of my blondish reddish naturally highlighted hair because every layer looked as if you had given me different facets of a bowl cut.
Will this hairdresser butcher my hair? Will she actually listen to the things I tell her like:
- I don't have a natural part
- Even though I don't have any cow licks - one side of my hair always seems longer than the other
- If I can't style it with and walk out the door in 10 minutes - I'll hate it
- Bangs/Fringe make my face look fatter and I don't care what you say
- I have a weird mole thing on my head so if you even HINT at it I'll be mortified
- Even if you thin my hair out its still REALLY thick and will take you a half hour to blow dry
- If you have to use a curling iron on my hair to make it look good - you're trying too hard
- I prefer to not use more than two products on my hair on the rare occasion i DO style it
- Take into consideration I get a haircut once a year when it hits that awkward grow out stage
- The messier the better
I know that all seems like a lot, and some if it is contradictory ... but will she even listen?! Will she humor me and just grin and nod and then just do her own thing? Does anyone else ever freak out like this before getting their hair cut? I feel so juvenile!
My other 'freak out' thing right now is pictures. The last time I had professional portraits done was in high school. I didn't mind it so much because hey - its a portrait and I thought I was totally friggin' hot back then. Well I've gained probably 50 pounds (if not MORE) since then, but was lucky enough to marry a very VERY attractive man. Now, I feel inferior in looks (which drives Keith up the WALL and he wishes I'd just stop it!) and I wish I were thin enough to hide behind him for this whole ordeal. Vertically, I can hide behind him - but otherwise FORGET IT! I know that these aren't going to be full nude pictures (or even partially for that matter) but I do know the extra work it takes to photograph such contrasting couples for classic portrait photography. I know that I would feel more comfortable if I could somehow take our pictures myself - but we'd end up with these 'weird' photos that would just play off our contrasting appearance and it would be more minimalist slash modern portraits .. but GAH!
Regardless of my level of freak out (we are at Def con Bravo right now on my Freak Out Meter, people!) I will end up somehow pulling myself together to do all of this stuff. I'll sit in that salon chair and make small talk while a strange lady touches that weird mole on my head. I will then probably have to go into a story saying how my mother AND grandmother both have a mole in that same spot, and probably then say the same for the one near my ear which we all 3 have in common. We'll talk about the weather and about what we got our families for Christmas. I'll then thank her for her work on my what COULD be butchered hair, then I'll pick Keith up from work. After that I'll stand around in a studio drooling over the cameras, asking the photographer what school they went to (if any), and simply wait for the discomfort which comes once they start squinting behind a tripod (because few photographers actually look through the finder anymore with these new digital thingies) while I keep saying "don't blink don't blink don't blink" to myself in my head.
Ugh, am I losing my mind?!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Bah Humbug!
I'm the first to admit that I've never really been one of those 'Christmasy' types. I don't like hearing carrols on the loud speaker in EVERY store I go in. I don't really like wrapping presents, and I really like the fact that we have a 1 foot tall fiber optic tree because I don't like decorating, either!
My parents always hated that I was never excited about Christmas. They hated to buy me gifts because I wouldn't absolutely flip over them when I opened them. Now that I think about it, it was really rare that they actually got me something I wanted. For instance - when I asked for a No Doubt CD I got Maria Carey. All in all, they didn't really know me. I can assume they knew me as well as any other parent knows their teenager, but Christmas presents were always so ... hollow to me.
Keith complained the other day that I am too easy to shop for. Mind you my mother used to be LIVID trying to figure out what to get me.
So on our first married Christmas together we're kinda mixing traditions. My family really doesn't have any other than we normally just cooked a big breakfast Christmas day - whereas Keith's does the big dinner thing. We didn't open any presents early, but even up to the time I was 19 I would get up at like 5am - but it was a strict rule that I couldn't wake my parents before 6am. My mom even fixed up a coffee filter to brew a pot of coffee as soon as she got up to save time. So once mom had her morning cup and fag - we could start dishing out the presents. The stockings were always last. Always.
Dad usually dished out the presents to all of us because there was some mystical order in which the presents had to be opened. Even though we took turns being "Santa" mom would yell "NOT THAT ONE!" so we'd have to push it aside and open whatever it was she slid in front of us until we got the green light for the one she was sooo adamant about us NOT opening. If this is all sounding like a scene from A Christmas Story (Y'know "You'll shoot your eye outtt") then that's really how it went at my house.
Keith's parents sent us advent calendars - which I've never had before. Why? Well like I said - my family really isn't into holidays. Keith has also bought a thing of paper lunch bags and tea light candles that he says he'll line our driveway with .. for some reason. He just shrugged and said "tradition" so I'm not sure he knows what possible meaning could be behind it all.
Keith is also having a much harder time being away from his family than I am, but I think its because of lots of different reasons. For one - my parents aren't really involved in my life. I can honestly say that I don't think they have ever had any interest in what I do - other than just making sure I wasn't getting into trouble as a teenager. Keith's family calls him at least 3-5+ times a week, whereas I feel like I win a lottery if my family even picks up the phone.
It could just be that I feel he takes too much for granted like his parents always backing him up, or knowing that no matter what decision he makes that his family won't denounce his existence ... and maybe that's caused me to be a bit more bah humbug this year? I'm really not sure. I do know that I got him some kick ass presents so this Christmas should be better than last year (I got him a few video games and some other random things.)
My parents always hated that I was never excited about Christmas. They hated to buy me gifts because I wouldn't absolutely flip over them when I opened them. Now that I think about it, it was really rare that they actually got me something I wanted. For instance - when I asked for a No Doubt CD I got Maria Carey. All in all, they didn't really know me. I can assume they knew me as well as any other parent knows their teenager, but Christmas presents were always so ... hollow to me.
Keith complained the other day that I am too easy to shop for. Mind you my mother used to be LIVID trying to figure out what to get me.
So on our first married Christmas together we're kinda mixing traditions. My family really doesn't have any other than we normally just cooked a big breakfast Christmas day - whereas Keith's does the big dinner thing. We didn't open any presents early, but even up to the time I was 19 I would get up at like 5am - but it was a strict rule that I couldn't wake my parents before 6am. My mom even fixed up a coffee filter to brew a pot of coffee as soon as she got up to save time. So once mom had her morning cup and fag - we could start dishing out the presents. The stockings were always last. Always.
Dad usually dished out the presents to all of us because there was some mystical order in which the presents had to be opened. Even though we took turns being "Santa" mom would yell "NOT THAT ONE!" so we'd have to push it aside and open whatever it was she slid in front of us until we got the green light for the one she was sooo adamant about us NOT opening. If this is all sounding like a scene from A Christmas Story (Y'know "You'll shoot your eye outtt") then that's really how it went at my house.
Keith's parents sent us advent calendars - which I've never had before. Why? Well like I said - my family really isn't into holidays. Keith has also bought a thing of paper lunch bags and tea light candles that he says he'll line our driveway with .. for some reason. He just shrugged and said "tradition" so I'm not sure he knows what possible meaning could be behind it all.
Keith is also having a much harder time being away from his family than I am, but I think its because of lots of different reasons. For one - my parents aren't really involved in my life. I can honestly say that I don't think they have ever had any interest in what I do - other than just making sure I wasn't getting into trouble as a teenager. Keith's family calls him at least 3-5+ times a week, whereas I feel like I win a lottery if my family even picks up the phone.
It could just be that I feel he takes too much for granted like his parents always backing him up, or knowing that no matter what decision he makes that his family won't denounce his existence ... and maybe that's caused me to be a bit more bah humbug this year? I'm really not sure. I do know that I got him some kick ass presents so this Christmas should be better than last year (I got him a few video games and some other random things.)
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Turkey Day!
We ate re-heated food from the squadron thing. That was enough of a Thanksgiving for me. After that Keith and I pretty much just started playing video games.
My Minstrel in LotR:O is now level 17 (Landroval server -- name Madge) and I spent a big part of the day seeing just how far I could run before I got killed. I actually got a popup message that more or less said "DANGER! This zone is very dangerous and things will attack you from far away!!" I did eventually die.
I'm debating heating up some of .. whatever's left and making a sandwich out of it. Keith is on the phone right now with his family. I called my family earlier and got hung up on 3 times before my mom answered the 4th time.
I won BOTH the things I was bidding on so I was really happy about that. Sooo hopefully Keith thinks the stuff I got him is awesome.
Keith is also making me pissy because I set up a filming appointment - and I had to throw a fit for him to actually do it. I'm really close to throwing in the towel on the video thing. I'd rather work in a fucking fast food joint - bring home my paycheck and not hear a damn word out of him instead of me going out of my way to communicate with these people and get things scheduled just for him to be a complete ASS about it.
Whatever.
I'm making a sandwich.
My Minstrel in LotR:O is now level 17 (Landroval server -- name Madge) and I spent a big part of the day seeing just how far I could run before I got killed. I actually got a popup message that more or less said "DANGER! This zone is very dangerous and things will attack you from far away!!" I did eventually die.
I'm debating heating up some of .. whatever's left and making a sandwich out of it. Keith is on the phone right now with his family. I called my family earlier and got hung up on 3 times before my mom answered the 4th time.
I won BOTH the things I was bidding on so I was really happy about that. Sooo hopefully Keith thinks the stuff I got him is awesome.
Keith is also making me pissy because I set up a filming appointment - and I had to throw a fit for him to actually do it. I'm really close to throwing in the towel on the video thing. I'd rather work in a fucking fast food joint - bring home my paycheck and not hear a damn word out of him instead of me going out of my way to communicate with these people and get things scheduled just for him to be a complete ASS about it.
Whatever.
I'm making a sandwich.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
2007 Machinima Festival - Europe
Okay then! Most everyone knows that Keith and I attended the Machinima Festival (the first EVER in Europe) which was held in Leicester (pronounced Lester). It was technically a three day event of which we attended one day. A two hour drive (each way) may not sound like a lot - but by the end of Saturday I was worn out. We did have a VERYYY busy day though!
We arrived early - and we were both kinda bummed when the girl didn't find our name on the list. I told Keith not to worry about it .. but he later ran back downstairs and had them look again. Lo and behold we were on the list. Anyway we got our goody bags and sat down in one of the many rooms in order to hear some presentations.
The first we heard was Paul Marino. For those that don't know who Paul Marino is ... he's like the grandfather of machinima. Other people may have brought machinima into the mainstream (which I'll get to later) but he more or less started it all.
"So what are they like?" Keith and I spent a lot of time talking to different people at the Festival throughout the day. Paul seems to be a very reserved guy with a strong 'matter of fact' sense about things. Even though he was being ushered everywhere and people were wanting interviews and such - he still found time to talk to everyone who wanted to talk to him - which I find highly admirable. Paul is definately a guy I'd like to sit and talk to more - the type you want to pick their brains, really.
Keith with Paul Marino
who had a film or two shown during a couple presentations. One of the teammembers even contacted Keith in SL so I think he's made a new friend out of it.
As far as the SL end of things went at the Festival .. it seemed everyone was familiar with it - but no one really knew how to utilize it. De Montfort University even has a sim there (as well as La Interactiva head Ricard having a Machinima Sim) but the guy behind the computer really didn't know how far Second Life reached. We sat in the room a couple of minutes before taking the keyboard away from the guy and cutting loose. moo Money and Geius Dassin were in the sim and watching the festival on the feed so Keith said - "Hey watch this! I'm gonna run down to the main room .. get in front of the camera - and wave!" He did - and it was funny. Not only that it was nice to show the other guys "Hey look we DO have friends!" Anyway - moo and Geius took a screenshot/snapshot:
At any rate - that's all I'll post for now. The other post would dominate all this as its more of my documentation and not a mash-up of info from both Keith and I. Just a first person narrative on what went down :)
We arrived early - and we were both kinda bummed when the girl didn't find our name on the list. I told Keith not to worry about it .. but he later ran back downstairs and had them look again. Lo and behold we were on the list. Anyway we got our goody bags and sat down in one of the many rooms in order to hear some presentations.
The first we heard was Paul Marino. For those that don't know who Paul Marino is ... he's like the grandfather of machinima. Other people may have brought machinima into the mainstream (which I'll get to later) but he more or less started it all.
"So what are they like?" Keith and I spent a lot of time talking to different people at the Festival throughout the day. Paul seems to be a very reserved guy with a strong 'matter of fact' sense about things. Even though he was being ushered everywhere and people were wanting interviews and such - he still found time to talk to everyone who wanted to talk to him - which I find highly admirable. Paul is definately a guy I'd like to sit and talk to more - the type you want to pick their brains, really.
Keith with Paul MarinoI didn't do a whole lot of interacting with the folks attending the festival - I'm shy like that. Keith was walking up to people left and right "So what video have you done? I've seen that!" And I just sat back and took pictures.
The funniest thing about the entire festival is that even though we felt like we knew a lot of those people through their work alone - we couldn't pick them out. ASIDE from one incident which I'll document later ;)
We were talking to Paul for a bit when I snapped the picture. He heckled me about not submitting a film for the festival. I thought that since the director of the festival had asked if she could show our films that it would be in bad taste to submit one ... I was wrong and it'll never happen again! So Paul gave me a razzing before another guy walked up and he and Paul started talking, shaking hands - anyway it was obvious they knew each other. Paul asked us "I'm sure the both of you are .. but I'll ask anyway. Are you familiar with FRAPS?" Duh yes! Its practically all we use. Then Paul said "Well this is the guy that made it."
Keith laughed a bit and shook his hand "Well you have about $30.00 of mine!" He was kinda coy and shy and just laughed "I thought it was cheaper than that these days." We all talked briefly and of course I took a picture.
Keith and FRAPS Guy (I forgot his name SORRY!)
The funniest thing about the entire festival is that even though we felt like we knew a lot of those people through their work alone - we couldn't pick them out. ASIDE from one incident which I'll document later ;)
We were talking to Paul for a bit when I snapped the picture. He heckled me about not submitting a film for the festival. I thought that since the director of the festival had asked if she could show our films that it would be in bad taste to submit one ... I was wrong and it'll never happen again! So Paul gave me a razzing before another guy walked up and he and Paul started talking, shaking hands - anyway it was obvious they knew each other. Paul asked us "I'm sure the both of you are .. but I'll ask anyway. Are you familiar with FRAPS?" Duh yes! Its practically all we use. Then Paul said "Well this is the guy that made it."
Keith laughed a bit and shook his hand "Well you have about $30.00 of mine!" He was kinda coy and shy and just laughed "I thought it was cheaper than that these days." We all talked briefly and of course I took a picture.
Keith and FRAPS Guy (I forgot his name SORRY!)I sat in on the "Distributing and promoting your machinima" panel while Keith jotted off to attend the "legal" panel. He got a lot of questions in (to hear him tell it) whereas I simply listened on most of the event I was at.
Keith even hung out with a group that was filming the festival - Lit Fuse
Keith even hung out with a group that was filming the festival - Lit Fuse
As far as the SL end of things went at the Festival .. it seemed everyone was familiar with it - but no one really knew how to utilize it. De Montfort University even has a sim there (as well as La Interactiva head Ricard having a Machinima Sim) but the guy behind the computer really didn't know how far Second Life reached. We sat in the room a couple of minutes before taking the keyboard away from the guy and cutting loose. moo Money and Geius Dassin were in the sim and watching the festival on the feed so Keith said - "Hey watch this! I'm gonna run down to the main room .. get in front of the camera - and wave!" He did - and it was funny. Not only that it was nice to show the other guys "Hey look we DO have friends!" Anyway - moo and Geius took a screenshot/snapshot:
At any rate - that's all I'll post for now. The other post would dominate all this as its more of my documentation and not a mash-up of info from both Keith and I. Just a first person narrative on what went down :)
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Running Behind
I really meant to do a 'How My Birthday Went' post .. but I am just swamped.
Keith and I had dinner at my favourite pub, I had a couple pints and a glass of wine. We finished watching Austrailia v England rugby match (England won!) before we head to the Commissary. He wouldn't let me get out of the car .. so I waited. He came back out with a cake he had ordered earlier in the week along with some cake spray paint, sugary decor that you just lay on the icing (it was Barbie stuff) and some sprinkles.
He then complained of how hard it is to buy things since we are always together. Yah I know, remember? Your birthday was in July and I had to make up a dentist appointment just so I could get the car for a day! Anyway ... we didn't really "do" anything for my birthday other than hang out at the pub for a few hours which is fine by me because as I said its my FAVOURITE pub!
This weekend is the UK Machinima Festival. We got an e-mail a couple days ago which is like a programme more or less - but it doesn't say "your video is being shown on THIS day at THIS time". That's what I had really wanted to know. The even is ALL weekend and I really don't want to have to try to find some form of lodging just so we can be there BOTH days. Its just frustrating is all.
I've been working on our lecture material .. which I still have to get everything put onto the laptop and all that in order to be ready for the lecture at Solent University on the 26th. When I say busy I mean BUSY! I don't really mind it though, I mean, its better than having nothing to do at all.
The downside is that lately I've been slacking on normal things. The house isn't as clean as it should be .. I spend so much time in e-mails that I forget to lay something out for dinner .. things like that. I know Keith doesn't mind eating pizza every night .. but it doesn't keep me from feeling guilty about it some days.
I've got a big rant coming up too. I won't make it a Mean Girls post because its just business related and even though it does have to do with Second Life I'm not sure that it belongs on MGG2SL. We'll see though. I mean, I could always double-post.
Lots and lots of Halo 3 multiplayer lately. I really sucked at first because I haven't picked up an XBox controller for the better part of 5 years .. but I've gotten better. And as sad as this sounds ... I really find enjoyment in busting up a few 12 year old boys' cussing coversations with "Haha you just got your face PWND by a chick, bitches!!!!!" I know. I'm immature.
Keith and I had dinner at my favourite pub, I had a couple pints and a glass of wine. We finished watching Austrailia v England rugby match (England won!) before we head to the Commissary. He wouldn't let me get out of the car .. so I waited. He came back out with a cake he had ordered earlier in the week along with some cake spray paint, sugary decor that you just lay on the icing (it was Barbie stuff) and some sprinkles.
He then complained of how hard it is to buy things since we are always together. Yah I know, remember? Your birthday was in July and I had to make up a dentist appointment just so I could get the car for a day! Anyway ... we didn't really "do" anything for my birthday other than hang out at the pub for a few hours which is fine by me because as I said its my FAVOURITE pub!
This weekend is the UK Machinima Festival. We got an e-mail a couple days ago which is like a programme more or less - but it doesn't say "your video is being shown on THIS day at THIS time". That's what I had really wanted to know. The even is ALL weekend and I really don't want to have to try to find some form of lodging just so we can be there BOTH days. Its just frustrating is all.
I've been working on our lecture material .. which I still have to get everything put onto the laptop and all that in order to be ready for the lecture at Solent University on the 26th. When I say busy I mean BUSY! I don't really mind it though, I mean, its better than having nothing to do at all.
The downside is that lately I've been slacking on normal things. The house isn't as clean as it should be .. I spend so much time in e-mails that I forget to lay something out for dinner .. things like that. I know Keith doesn't mind eating pizza every night .. but it doesn't keep me from feeling guilty about it some days.
I've got a big rant coming up too. I won't make it a Mean Girls post because its just business related and even though it does have to do with Second Life I'm not sure that it belongs on MGG2SL. We'll see though. I mean, I could always double-post.
Lots and lots of Halo 3 multiplayer lately. I really sucked at first because I haven't picked up an XBox controller for the better part of 5 years .. but I've gotten better. And as sad as this sounds ... I really find enjoyment in busting up a few 12 year old boys' cussing coversations with "Haha you just got your face PWND by a chick, bitches!!!!!" I know. I'm immature.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Some days it seems all I do is bitch
I do read what I write - and I'm fully aware that it seems that all I do is bitch about my life. The fact is: my life is pretty good - and the ONLY things I have to complain about are small things. Yes I realize that I just ADMITTED that they are 'small' but when they occur over and over again - they become bigger annoying things. Anyway - bitching about my amount of bitching isn't any sort of incentive to make me NOT bitch on my blog. Its my blog, after all isn't it?
Last night I went through a lot of trouble to make shrimp alfredo, garlic cheese biscuits (like the ones from Red Lobster) served with a nice Australian shiraz (that's wine). I had to yell at Keith 4 times to get him to come sit down in the kitchen at the table ... by then the shrimp alfredo was already barely above warm .. at any rate I gave Keith more food than me thinking that if I didn't that he'd tear through it and would get up and go back to filming straight away.
What was I hoping for? Hours later after sleeping I can't say for sure. I can say that I was hoping for maybe a little romance. Lately it feels like I go out of my way to do cute and romantic things just to get an "Awww thanks!" then he skips away like I have cooties on the playground. My friend (of like 13 years) Stef says "Oh that just happens over time. Its called being married. Once you're married for so long ya don't really care about those things, and the other person isn't so much the center of your universe anymore ... its getting comfortable." Well I hate it! I don't want to be comfortable!
I'm glad that winter is coming on here in England - all these skinny pretty girls will be hiding themselves in coats and I won't feel so bloaty :D Hahah bitches! That was mean :( But its true!
Last night I went through a lot of trouble to make shrimp alfredo, garlic cheese biscuits (like the ones from Red Lobster) served with a nice Australian shiraz (that's wine). I had to yell at Keith 4 times to get him to come sit down in the kitchen at the table ... by then the shrimp alfredo was already barely above warm .. at any rate I gave Keith more food than me thinking that if I didn't that he'd tear through it and would get up and go back to filming straight away.
What was I hoping for? Hours later after sleeping I can't say for sure. I can say that I was hoping for maybe a little romance. Lately it feels like I go out of my way to do cute and romantic things just to get an "Awww thanks!" then he skips away like I have cooties on the playground. My friend (of like 13 years) Stef says "Oh that just happens over time. Its called being married. Once you're married for so long ya don't really care about those things, and the other person isn't so much the center of your universe anymore ... its getting comfortable." Well I hate it! I don't want to be comfortable!
I'm glad that winter is coming on here in England - all these skinny pretty girls will be hiding themselves in coats and I won't feel so bloaty :D Hahah bitches! That was mean :( But its true!
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Flickr is too thorough!
Alright so for those interested I uploaded a few more pics to Flickr. I had fun with that whole 'map' thing for a while but now it wants you to zoom in more to drop the pics ... ugh I can't remember streets we took the pics on - is just the town not good enough for you, flickr?!
Anyway - so I put up our London pics (some of them) and a few others from Norwich that I forgot to post last time. Keith is STILL editing that footage and its a gorgeous day out. Kinda didn't want to be in the house today since we were inside yesterday but what can ya do?
Nothing else to really update with other than a song of the day ...
Can't Stop Moving by Sonny Jim --- this song makes me feel all happy inside.
Anyway - so I put up our London pics (some of them) and a few others from Norwich that I forgot to post last time. Keith is STILL editing that footage and its a gorgeous day out. Kinda didn't want to be in the house today since we were inside yesterday but what can ya do?
Nothing else to really update with other than a song of the day ...
Can't Stop Moving by Sonny Jim --- this song makes me feel all happy inside.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Inebriated Hilarity
So I picked up a couple bottles of wine. Keith said he wasn't a wine fan - but I grabbed some white zinfandel and said "Weeee!" He likes it, he likes it!
Alright so the Andre (pink champagne) was cheap and we picked up a couple bottles of that, too. We're bargain shoppers what can I say?!
He's editing the video that we filmed earlier - and I'm sitting here reading blogs and drinking wine - which was relaxing about an hour ago ... but now I'm pretty much drunk. So now I take random breaks to entertain myself ... luckily the laptop has a built in camera.
Even though the quality isn't so great - the pictures themselves crack me up ... except for one and its kinda scary - but still funny in some weird way.
Oh and Keith is drinking wine too! I wanted wine glasses so he bought me some a couple weeks ago. Wine isn't quite the same without a wine glass. Maybe I was just prissy at the moment. I think now that Keith likes wine enough that we'll actually put our wine glasses to use! Wine is soooo good with seafood (of any kind!)
Anyway I took a bunch of random pics with the webcam on my laptop -- and I thought I'd post em. Why the hell not?!
Nail Polish feels like happy
Most know that it doesn't take a whole lot to make me happy. Ice cream makes me skip, and wild colored nail polish makes me sing.
I took Keith to his class the other night and decided that I needed some loud purple nail polish. My nails is the only 'girly' thing I do. I will spend money on a manicure before I buy myself new underwear or shoes. Its just my 'thing'. Anyway - I haven't owned any good, bright, or colorful nail polish since I moved to be with Keith. I keep forgetting that HE'S the one in the military - not me - so I don't have to conform to their rules. I don't have to keep my hair a certail length .. I don't have to dye my hair 'natural colors' only .. and I certainly can wear any color of nail polish I want! So I did!
I had forgotten how hard it was to paint my left hand (I'm right handed) and needless to say I made a bit of a mess on my fingers - but its the overall effect I was going for. Looking at my hands makes me go "WEEE!" so mission accomplished.
While I was out I also picked myself up some perfume. Seems every time Keith and I go to the BX I have to make a detour at the perfume rack and smell all kinds of perfumes. Most of them I don't like .. but I did find some that gave me a happy feeling inside when I smelled it. Keith said it smelled like cotton candy - which is probably why I like it so much ... but I bought a bottle. I later found out that it was 'made by' Britney Spears (its called Fantasy) but y'know if she ran around smelling like cotton candy maybe she'd be a happier person!
Today Keith decided to put a video idea into motion and started filming .. I was kinda BOOOOO about it because it was a REALLY pretty day .. and its going to start getting nippy here soon.
So Oct 13 or 14 he and I are going to the UK Machinima Festival since they are showing one of our videos .. and on Oct 26th we'll be giving a lecture in Southampton so we have a lot going on next month!
Proof that we do stuff
I was gonna do a song of the day - but I'll save it for a later post :)
I took Keith to his class the other night and decided that I needed some loud purple nail polish. My nails is the only 'girly' thing I do. I will spend money on a manicure before I buy myself new underwear or shoes. Its just my 'thing'. Anyway - I haven't owned any good, bright, or colorful nail polish since I moved to be with Keith. I keep forgetting that HE'S the one in the military - not me - so I don't have to conform to their rules. I don't have to keep my hair a certail length .. I don't have to dye my hair 'natural colors' only .. and I certainly can wear any color of nail polish I want! So I did!
I had forgotten how hard it was to paint my left hand (I'm right handed) and needless to say I made a bit of a mess on my fingers - but its the overall effect I was going for. Looking at my hands makes me go "WEEE!" so mission accomplished.
While I was out I also picked myself up some perfume. Seems every time Keith and I go to the BX I have to make a detour at the perfume rack and smell all kinds of perfumes. Most of them I don't like .. but I did find some that gave me a happy feeling inside when I smelled it. Keith said it smelled like cotton candy - which is probably why I like it so much ... but I bought a bottle. I later found out that it was 'made by' Britney Spears (its called Fantasy) but y'know if she ran around smelling like cotton candy maybe she'd be a happier person!
Today Keith decided to put a video idea into motion and started filming .. I was kinda BOOOOO about it because it was a REALLY pretty day .. and its going to start getting nippy here soon.
So Oct 13 or 14 he and I are going to the UK Machinima Festival since they are showing one of our videos .. and on Oct 26th we'll be giving a lecture in Southampton so we have a lot going on next month!
Proof that we do stuffI was gonna do a song of the day - but I'll save it for a later post :)
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Weddings Weddings Everywhere
I've done a pant-load of weddings this month. Okay so Keith actually filmed and/or edited 80% of those - but if he's home and doing nothing why NOT have him do it? At any rate this is my 2nd wedding in two days and oddly I'm totally fine with it.
Lately with the wedding video scene folks have started picking songs I haven't heard - or just haven't already used in a wedding vid which seems to make the editing process go a lot more smoothly. When you have to hear a song you don't like over and over 40 million times it starts to eat at you.
We did a drow wedding this month which was awesome! Finally something totally different than the 'norm'! I only filmed the reception (cuz Keith had to go to work) but still! It was nice to see something different for a change.
Not sure if I've updated about it or not: But I'm renting a plot of land for about 6k a month and when I don't want it I don't have to worry about selling it or anything. Keith kinda didn't get it at first - but now he's cool with it. And its really upped business! Which was my overall goal anyway. Haha! I win!
Staying at home is really starting to wear on me. Even though I try to keep myself busy with videos, scheduling, cleaning, cooking what have you - I still feel really blah. I think its because I don't get any alone time. Yeah yeah I know - I'm home alone while Keith is at work - but that's the only time! I don't even go shopping alone which just the thought seems like a luxury. I love my husband so so much ... and he's so so great ... but there are times I'd like to go to the bookstore and browse books by myself. The two of us go out and do things almost every weekend (unless there's a video scheduled) and I love doing that ... but there are days I want some solitude I guess.
When I'm home alone - I'm still here. The only time I leave this house is when its with Keith. Hell he even takes me to my dentist appointments. I love spending time with him and all that - but like I said there are times I just want to go to the coffee shop and sit and have a cup or two while reading a book or something. I know I could easily do that at home while he's at work - but I think its because I associate home WITH work now. When I'm here and he's at work ... I'm at work too. I spend a lot of time in SL doing marketing and advertising work. I know he doesn't see it as work because for one: He's good at it and two he really likes it --- but for me I have to struggle to do even a fraction of the quality he does. So YES it is work! Anything that you have to really try to do and fret over I would consider work. Anything that you do that you're good at and can do with great ease is a hobby. Natural Selection Studios is a hobby for Keith - but its constant work for me.
Well the wedding I'm filming starts in about 15 minutes so I'd better cut this off. I'll update more later!
Lately with the wedding video scene folks have started picking songs I haven't heard - or just haven't already used in a wedding vid which seems to make the editing process go a lot more smoothly. When you have to hear a song you don't like over and over 40 million times it starts to eat at you.
We did a drow wedding this month which was awesome! Finally something totally different than the 'norm'! I only filmed the reception (cuz Keith had to go to work) but still! It was nice to see something different for a change.
Not sure if I've updated about it or not: But I'm renting a plot of land for about 6k a month and when I don't want it I don't have to worry about selling it or anything. Keith kinda didn't get it at first - but now he's cool with it. And its really upped business! Which was my overall goal anyway. Haha! I win!
Staying at home is really starting to wear on me. Even though I try to keep myself busy with videos, scheduling, cleaning, cooking what have you - I still feel really blah. I think its because I don't get any alone time. Yeah yeah I know - I'm home alone while Keith is at work - but that's the only time! I don't even go shopping alone which just the thought seems like a luxury. I love my husband so so much ... and he's so so great ... but there are times I'd like to go to the bookstore and browse books by myself. The two of us go out and do things almost every weekend (unless there's a video scheduled) and I love doing that ... but there are days I want some solitude I guess.
When I'm home alone - I'm still here. The only time I leave this house is when its with Keith. Hell he even takes me to my dentist appointments. I love spending time with him and all that - but like I said there are times I just want to go to the coffee shop and sit and have a cup or two while reading a book or something. I know I could easily do that at home while he's at work - but I think its because I associate home WITH work now. When I'm here and he's at work ... I'm at work too. I spend a lot of time in SL doing marketing and advertising work. I know he doesn't see it as work because for one: He's good at it and two he really likes it --- but for me I have to struggle to do even a fraction of the quality he does. So YES it is work! Anything that you have to really try to do and fret over I would consider work. Anything that you do that you're good at and can do with great ease is a hobby. Natural Selection Studios is a hobby for Keith - but its constant work for me.
Well the wedding I'm filming starts in about 15 minutes so I'd better cut this off. I'll update more later!
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