Concert and Interview

So last night I went to The Sounds' concert in San Francisco. I went mostly to see Shiny Toy Guns, though, as I had arranged to interview Jeremy (keyboardist) after their set. As a result, I missed most of The Sounds set. But it's okay, I interviewed Jeremy for 45 minutes.

It was fun and crazy and I recorded the entire interview on my phone. I've been transcribing for a while now, but it's only a few minutes into the interview. I have a lot more to do.

Once it's edited, I'll post a copy up here. :)

EDIT:
Here it is! It has swears in it, I'm afraid.

APE? Yes.

I went to APE con. Here's the down low:

Error page win!

I came across this somewhere and quickly snatched it up. Take a gander!

Listen up!

I was recently exposed to an artist whose style speaks volumes to me. So I wrote this entry in my art blog.

http://bit.ly/14B5ml

It's frustrating having a dream and trying to balance it between school and a social life. School has to come first above the other two, and I usually end up sacrificing socialness to work on the dream. Not that I aim to avoid being with my friends, because I really want to be with them. So often.

Anyway, it's hard finding time to balance myself. Like I can't really draw until Wednesday evening--when my essays will be done.

Gr, 3 essays due on Wednesday. Gr.

Little things

I really enjoy life. Sometimes, as humans are prone to do, I forget. But some little thing will remind me how awesome it is. So here's somethings I like to rely on.

Cold Honey Bunches of Oats w/Milk
A finely sharpened pencil
Marbles
Knitting
Wind chimes
The first sip of new soda
Sunbathing on the carpet in the quiet house
Origami
Brisk wind
Scarves
Sunlight making green leaves glow
Caterpillars
A clean bathroom
A new fan of my art
Brady hugs
Blankets far larger than me

Anyway, today was frustrating and disappointing so I needed some time to enjoy life a little. I feel better.

Life accomplishments

My sister has a list of 100 things she wants to accomplish in her life. This is my attempt at seeing how many things I hope to accomplish in my life.

1. Get Married
2. Have kids
3. Live in a foreign country
4. Publish a novel
5. Publish a graphic novel series
6. Learn to drive stick shift
7. Become accomplished on the guitar
8. Learn to the play the Piano
9. Sing in a band (Just once, doesn't have to be famous)
10. Have a booth at ComicCon
11. Shoot a handgun
12. Ride a Bullet Bike
13. Learn Japanese
14. Go to Japan
15. Get a Bachelors Degree
16. Get a Masters Degree
17. Hike a Volcano
18. Go to all 50 states
19. Roadtrip with a friend
20. Travel across Europe
21. Go to Australia
22. Teach English in Japan
23. Go through the temple
24. Knit/Crochet a hat
25. Make something out of glass
26. Learn to dance
27. Make a quilt
28. See my siblings all married and become parents
29. Finish illustrating Collide
30. Illustrate at least 3 graphic novel stories
31. Learn to snowboard or ski
32. Meet the Prophet
33. Hold a monkey
34. Learn Welsh
35. See my children married in the temple
36. See my sons go on missions
37. Have grandchildren
38. Go on a cruise
39. Meet Kazu Kibuishi & wife, Amy Kim Ganter
40. Have a short story in a comic anthology
41. Be a missionary
42. Return to Wales
43. Never get cancer
44. Have a dog
45. Go to India
46. Go to Russia
47. Be accomplished on the Violin
48. Get a degree in Geology
49. Have some of my art featured on a book cover, or in a movie
50. See the Northern Lights

50 isn't so bad. :)

To do

I have realized I love making to-do lists. I get so much more done. Probably?

[ ] Knit Matty scarf
[ ] Read Geog stuff
[ ] Page 12 (or more)
[ ] Ancient Studies paper
[ ] Clean room

What to do first?

Figures?

I went through my Google Reader subscriptions today, and started unsubscribing from things that often post items that are... not completely evil, but they are not uplifting. Away they went. I'm not even remotely sad about it, either. I don't need to be bombarded by inappropriate sexual humor.

On the home front, I hurt my shoulder about a week ago. I was confined to a chair after that, and did basically nothing. No school, even. Which is a little stressful because I missed a lot of deadlines. But my teachers are being supportive and have given me alternatives and extensions. :)

I was feeling a lot better yesterday (each day brought me a little closer to fully healed) and was able to walk around and do a few things. I decided to sleep in my bed last night. Silly me. I woke up with bad neck pain again. The problem with my bed is that I roll around in my sleep and put bad pressure on my neck. It's always been a little rough on me, and I would wake up with neck pain more than a few mornings a week. But it always dissipated and I was fine.

Clearly, it is not fine.

But I will not be conquered by this little hill. I'll get past it, and find a solution.

A day that is really two days

Today was an interesting day. Why? I shall tell you. At this moment. Please proceed below.

Here.

And here.

Also, here. Good, I have you now.

I suppose my "interesting day" began last night when I watched a documentary called, "People Like Us" with my family and it brought to the realization that I am a high quality individual. Not that I did not know this, but I had forgotten. Or something akin to forgetting (Ignoring?). Such a realization instilled a burning panic that screamed, "Buy new clothes!"

So we went to Gilroy this morning, and my father was kind to me and invested some money into a very nice wardrobe for me, including but not limited to, 2 new skirts, 2 blazers, a silk blouse, and a white collar shirt. Also, a pair of caramel colored heels.

It's like my legs are dipped in caramel, making them delicious and desirable (Food analogies are the best).

I then proceeded to my sisters house to hold the baby while she had a very important conversation with a very important man about her very important book which she has devoted very important years to. The result? A fabulous, epic win.

An agent.

There was a lot of excitement when the phone turned off, followed by the phone reactivating as she called some loved ones. I was lucky and heard it first, being in the room with her. The baby was asleep and also has no conscious memory yet. I think.

This happening made me feel unaccomplished for a while. Then I realized that I am 22 years old, in college, teaching myself the guitar, writing 4 novels simultaneously, illustrating a graphic novel I spent 5 years writing, and saving infrequent dollar amounts to have an opportunity to sell my art in a public forum.

So, I'm not doing so bad.

Too many spiders

At this moment, I wish I had my own apartment.

So I could put paintings and illustrations up on the walls, and fill shelves with all of my books. To stick my guitar in the corner, near a chair and a plant. A shelf for my glass blue birds of happiness, and a wooden box for my video games. Also, a small filing cabinet for my art, since the little file box is too small now.

In the corner I could set up my dual screen, keyboard, and tablet, next to my printer/scanner, and CD burner. There would be open space and I would not feel frustrated at the lack of room for anything.

So, anyway. We're watching Hudsucker Proxy downstairs, so I'll probably be going down soon. Or just drawing something to sell.

Oh, and "Owl City" is a fabulous band. Especially, "If my Heart was a House."

So, what have you been up to?

What have I been doing for the past week and a half?

This.

Of course, you have be a member of the site to read the story, and though it's totally free, I know people are adverse to signing up to everything they see. Unless I'm the only one. Which would make sense.

Anyway, it's a story for a contest I probably won't win. But if they hadn't chosen the semi-finalists over a month ago, I might have had a chance. Because it's a cool story.

About dragons.

My birthday?

Why yes, it is my birthday! And yes, it is my magic birthday!

22 years ago, on this day, the 22nd, at this time, 2:22 am... I was born. Do you see what I'm getting at? It's my magic birthday.

I expect amazing things this year, as a rule.

Totally Idiotic Type Left Elevated

What can I say? Sometimes I just hate titles.

May I recommend some wonderful bands?

The Bravery
Miou Miou
Eisley
The Myriad
Yeah Yeah Yeahs

That's all I wanted to say for now. Really.

My excited self

I am, once again, attending another Shiny Toy Guns concert. Tonight! :D I'm so excited, that my stomach is upset! Which is unfun. But I'll recover.

In other news, which feels less exciting than the aforementioned information, I have been drawing a lot.

AH, I'm too excited!! Time to plan my outfit.

10 things women supposedly do

Specifically, things women supposedly do that I have never done:

1. Forced myself into a pair of jeans. Mostly because if I can't fit in easily, I will be uncomfortable all day if I have to battle them to fit. If they aren't working, I toss them aside and pick a different pair. AND I HAVE NEVER LAID ON THE BED TO GET A PAIR ON.

2. Sat around with other women talking about my diet. It's weird. I don't know anyone who does that. It seems like the kind of thing you do with your nutritionist. Or personal trainer.

3. Lied about my exercise habits to impress a guy (or anyone). I mean, really? Really? There are so many ways this can, and will, come back to murder you, why bother?

4. Tormented myself with extreme workout regimes after consuming chocolate/sugar/fat. I'm a believer in exercise and keeping in shape (true, I'm not the best at it), but I'm not going to guilt myself into a physically painful 3 hours of intense lifting, running, and aerobics because I had some cake. I'll go ride my bike, or go on an extra walk. Eat less calories for the rest of the day. But not torture.

5. Cry more over a hair stylist/personal trainer quitting than a break up. Actually, just crying over one of them leaving in general. But to be fair, my hair stylist is amazingly fabulous at what she does. But I wouldn't sob and die if she moved to New York. I'd be bummed. I'd ask her to refer me. But not cry.

6. Been thrilled when an illness makes me lose weight. Sure, it's nice to know you lost some weight, but to relish your disease because it's trimming you down is weird. People die because they are too sick to keep weight on. So many other things to be thrilled over. And better ways to lose weight.

7. Dread summer because of swimsuit season. I have a body, it's my body, and it will be seen in a swimsuit. I'll do my best to help it look good, but I will not be as fabulous as a supermodel in one. I accept that. So I will still swim and enjoy myself. Not mope and suffer because people will see the healthy amount of body fat my body carries. Oh noes!

8. Blame someone for "letting" me do something I didn't want to do. If I told someone, "don't let me do this thing" and then I force them to let me do it, I am not going to turn around and chew them out for letting me. Heck, I won't even ask them to prevent it. Well, okay, I have done it and I will probably do it again, but it's not a frequent thing.

9. Obsess over self help books and tapes and live by them religiously. I know the appeal of those books. It's very tempting to believe a single book will reveal the missing knowledge to you that will perfect your mind-over-matter problem, or help you get why guys are so confusing. But they won't. Oh, one or two might have a gold nugget for you that you never thought of, but all in all, nothing. Still, it's fun to peruse them and giggle at the silliness.

10. Bought an article of clothing that didn't fit and swore to slim down into it. That's just silly. It doesn't fit. Odds of you slimming down into it are slimmer than you'll ever be. Just buy a size up and feel good when you tailor it in to fit you.

Where disappointment and regret... Collide

Not really. It's just a great line.

I met a very cool lady this week. She's a singer in LA, but visiting the bay area for a few weeks before she starts he album. Very chill and good people. Russian, so there was a nifty accent.

We discussed music and our passion for it, and my art. She said some things that really made me think. I can't really repeat what she said, for the exact words have mushed away and the deeper meaning is all that remains. Like the film of the ocean on my skin.

I am very afraid of really starting the process of drawing my special project. I keep starting and restarting. I get a few pages in and set the drawings aside in displeasure. And it's getting me nowhere. I feel disappointed in myself whenever I do it, and I dislike that feeling.

Really, though, I just need to do it. Just pour myself into it and draw it. I can go back and redraw things later. But if I don't move, I'll never get there.

So I picked up an old version. One I still like to look at. It's detailed and lovely. And I'm going from where I left off. I'm restarting the last page I left half done, but that's fine. And so far, it looks good. When I have 10+ pages done, I'll show them here. Maybe.

I'm shy.

Caffeine and Headaches

I am prone to migraines. I have been this way for almost two years. Lame. In January, I went back to my neurologist for some medicated help. I asked for something non-addictive that wouldn't hurt my sensitive stomach. He prescribed me something and I went on my way.

Now, 7 months and three refills later, I find myself with awful headaches that require me to take my little pill a few times a day. The conclusion drawn is... I am addicted to caffeine. My Dad looked the medication up on the interweb and found it's SUPER FULL of caffeine. And I've been downing it like crazy. So I'm crazy addicted to caffeine now.

I hate being dependent on a thing. A drug. I HATE IT. I spent my life avoiding sodas and heavily caffeinated things so that I would not have this addiction. And I got it anyway because no one told me I was taking it. I am severely upset by this.

Which leads me to my current predicament. Day four of caffeine withdrawl. Yes. I cut myself off cold turkey. And it's awful and painful. Terrible headaches. But it'll be worth it once the addiction is gone. I am determined in this. And as such, I don't have too awful of a headache right now. Just a little one. Here's hoping it doesn't grow throughout the day!

Yes. It's my favorite band. No, I will not stop talking about it.

Accept it.


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Star Trek

My responses to Star Trek episodes:

1:7 -
Gasp! He looks like a pirate.
Oh my, why would a piratical looking fellow be traveling with three tempting ladies?
Seduced! Snap!
They are not so pretty..!
Drugs are bad for you.
Lost in a storm is not the best way to go.
Oh, I thought he hated her. Now he is saving her?
Nope, still hates her.
Are they gonna fall in love? Totally.
He has accepted her ugliness.
Turns out she can make HERSELF pretty!
This is an episode about self confidence.

1:8 -
D'awww, bff!
Why do the ladies on board wear tiny dresses with matching undies?
Well, if you hold hands with the captain, your fiance will think you're cheating on him.
Oh no, that red shirt just tumbled to his doom!
No wait, he was pushed by the extremely awkward looking man.
My... She's perky. And almost naked.
Oh snap! They're androids!!
Hm. The captain is naked. Strategically. :3
Doubting your fancy science man now, nurse? tsk. He'll never love you if you do that.
Way to make the androids feel, captain!
Aww, robotic love. Romeo and Juliet style.

1:9 -
There's a man in that box!!
NO Captain! Don't go down there!!
Dr. Noelle is made of pretty. And the Captain TOTALLY remembers her.
Way to put down the lady, men, way to do it.
Oh that is definitely a chamber of horrors. No mistake there.
So wait... that isn't the doctor? Hm.
Spock is going to share his mind with a crazy man?!
NO! Don't get in the machine!!
Machine commandeered!
Noooo!!!!!!!!!!!!! Captain!!! D:
So now he's programmed to love Dr. McSexy?
Well guys, he's dead, let's leave the body here. It's cool.

1:10 -
It's a cube... in space... Borgs? Nahhhh!
Yeah, Mr. Bailey, no need for shouting. You should have those adrenal glands removed.
Wow, Bailey is a roll of "wrong" today.
Sweet, cube is gone, courtesy of Bailey and his lasers.
Oh no, now we're facing off with a sphere. Are you sure this isn't the Borg??
Right, so not Borg.
It's a muppet! :D
I doubt you'll kill them in 8 minutes... There's 40 minutes left in the show!
Bailey just went crazy.
These muppet aliens are jerks.
Are Bones and the captain breaking up?
Seriously, Sulu, countdowns are annoying!
Omigosh, are we going to sit here for the last twenty minutes while the muppets DON'T fire?!
Being towed by a lightbulb, brb.
Nice that every alien life form speaks english.
Aww, we're going to save the muppet now.
Uh... Not. Muppets. Small adult/child. What. The. Heck.
Okay, so the muppet/baby is not evil but testing them...
Now he wants a BFF! And Bailey wants to be that friend. I'm thrown for a loop.
Weirdest episode ever..

1:11/12 -
Already, a mystery unfolds! Thanks to a spacey looking female.
Awww, Pike is a Dalek now...
Is Spock kidnapping the mutilated Captain Pike?!
Spock this is almost villainous!!
I am at a loss for words...
Spock--what the heck!!!!
Now he acts all concerned and ashamed. AUGH!
So, this is about lost people?
The commodore seems very suspicious right now...
Ooooh, mysterious bulby headed aliens.
And a creepy girl! D:
Zomg, kidnapping of young pike.
Oh what will happen!!
I'm guessing the aliens are making a zoo.
So the creepy girl is a prisoner too?
Oh, good idea, jump onto the sword.
We're going to shoot this continent destroying laser at a door. Quick, hide behind this nearby rock!
These aliens are selfish.
So the creepy girl is actually old?
Ohhh, so silly!

That's it for today. I'm feeling tired.

Summer stuff

I miss Palo Alto and being close to my friends. I feel very far away from them down here. Unfortunate.

Anyway.

I am writing! A mystery! It's very fun. I enjoy my characters. Well, the girl feels a little bland, so I'm looking for something to spice her up with. She's too nice. I'l fix her, though. But the main guy is awesome and interesting. XD

Also, I'm watching the original Star Trek series. It's so much fun!!