Sir Lancelot, please get down
Current mood: bouncy

Long time, no blog. Here's some random updates to chew on.

Been having some dreams. Dreams with zombies, dreams with excited query letters coming to my mailbox, dreams where I am rudely denied any chance at modeling and, my favorite, dreams where a crush from high school is learning how to pas de deux - and he's not bad.

I've been sick. Horrible, burns-when-you-breathe sick. I went to the emergency room for something the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and they did a nice array of blood tests and gave me an IV for dehydration. Josh supported the process from across the room in the fetal position, since he's totally terrified of needles. I got no diagnosis outside of "we don't know, but come back if you start vomiting or dying". In a related vein (ha ha!), Bronchitis is the opposite of fun, especially when you have it three times in four months. Three in a row should have a prize... is there a prize? I'd like a prize, please. One that involves an adequate amount of oxygen.

Thanksgiving was a success, even if I wanted to die around 7 pm on Thursday. Illness and 3 glasses of wine (whoops, bad call) will have that effect on you. As usual, Oose performed wonderful magic in my kitchen and we actually had enough plates and silverware for all. I've been nibbling on leftovers for a week, and I'm happily stuffed with gravy and risotto at any moment.

Football is losing some of its luster for me. The fact that I'm losing in my fantasy league with an astounding 1-11-1 probably has nothing to do with it. Probably.

Josh bought Guitar Hero III. I would like to play it, but I would have to pry Josh's cold dead fingers from the neck of that tiny, plastic guitar. The 3D crowd boos you mercilessly from the stage if you suck too badly, anyway, and polygons or not, I don't know if I could take that kind of rejection. Also: if I hear Pat Benatar's "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" one more time, I'm taking that as the universe's permission to murder.

Various parts of my car have decided to mutany this month. The radio does this awesome thing where it ONLY GETS LOUDER, no matter what direction you turn the dial. There is a delicate way of bringing down the volume that involves lightly pulling on the knob and rotating, but the radio must of course be on while doing this, and it's already gotten to horrible, painful levels of sound... therefore, I must scream while performing the aforementioned action to battle the decibels and keep from going deaf. The passenger window also won't roll down, and my dashboard looks like a Christmas tree, what with all the lights. I'm not complaining, just recording: it's still running, after all. ...for now.

At the start of the month, we went to see two movies: Bloodcar and Murder Party. I will now fail miserably at trying to sum them up.

Bloodcar is about the future (two weeks from now!) when gas prices soar up to $30/gal and no one drives because it is too expensive. To combat this, a non-violent vegan tries to get a car to run on wheatgrass when, in classic "Little Shop of Horrors" fashion, he cuts his finger and gets blood into his test motor, which miraculously works. After a bizarre set of circumstances, he rigs a sharp bladed fan in his car trunk so he can dump people in to provide the blood he needs to run the car and have crazy, dirty, weird sex with a slutty girl in the town. There are boobs, there is the shooting of puppies and fourth graders, there is that girl that was in My Girl in the 90's. The end completely lost me, but it's a fun(ish) ride for the first 85 percent of the movie... sort of, kind of, if you've been drinking.

Even though Murder Party wasn't the focus of the double-feature, I enjoyed it more. Basically, a guy finds a random invitation to a "Murder Party" on the street. The party ends up being in an abandoned warehouse full of "artists" that are trying to find the most artistic angle in murder -- and since he was stupid enough to show up, he's the victim. So they tie him up, and horrible gorey humor ensues. The whole thing is just a little off, but most of the time it's in a good way. You should probably drink for this movie, too, and possibly wear costumes.

If you're looking for more blogging wonder from me you can always go to my other blog, which is updated much more frequently than here on myspace. It's technically more of a creative blog, but it's been catching more of life lately, too... I like to use this one for more personal topics and fierce language (damn! shit! whores!), but I only come round here once in a while now...

7:19 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

--
Current mood: guilty

I fix things.

I don't break them.

Please believe me when I say I am so, so sorry.

2:46 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

oodles and bees
Current mood: awake

Wowzers, it's been a while since I posted on here. Just a couple updates, since MySpace has been turning me off lately. (Ads! Ads, everywhere! and friend requests from people that want to help me with my mortgage rate, make my penis larger/harder and girls borrowing their 'friends' account. NICE.)

This Saturday is the Creative Treehouse's Halloween party, so don't put away your costume. It's 3 dollars at the door if you're wearing a costume, 5 bucks if you're not -- but it's all to a good place and we'll have a blast whether you're dressed up or not. I'll have some artwork up and I've carved a zombie pumpkin to submit to their pumpkin carving contest. I want to do another one, but time will dictate whether he gets a victim -- er, friend.

Originally, I was going to be a wuzzle, specifically Bumblelion.
But then I realized it meant I had to a) get an orange unitard or b) get a yellow leotard, make stripes and just wear nothing on my arms and legs. It would take a braver gal than I to pull either of those form-fitters off, so I'm opting for the bee portion. I had high hopes for the creativity of that, but it's since gone downhill with, you guessed it, lack of time. There will be wings, there will be yellow, there will funny glasses and probably poofy pigtails. Beyond that, it's anybody's guess.

I actually wish I had the balls to pull off the silly stuff some ladies wear during Halloween. Yes, they're silly and slutty and whatever, but I think a lot of girls use the time as an excuse to feel sexy when they might not every other day of the year. I can't fault them for that. Besides, if you're wearing lingerie outside when it's 40 degrees, you're SOME kind of tough anyway.

November is National Novel Writing Month, if you're interested in writing that Great American Novel you know you're destined to create. I'm not participating according to the official rules of NaNoWrMo, but I am using the excuse and support of the thousands of people that are.

My heart is too big sometimes. Turmoil isn't fun, but I will admit it's at least great for writing. Nothing breeds creativity like a little inner discomfort. It means I'm writing a blog at fucking 1 am, however. But this too shall pass, I suppose.

9:47 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Screw you, CVS
Current mood: excited

Dammit. I hate the cards that grocery stores require you to get these days. I know it's not technically required, but they have sales (which is a crock in itself, too) and you can't take advantage of them if you don't have the card. poo.

I resisted for a long time. I did! But then Josh and I stopped going to Walmart as often in the hopes of supporting our more (relatively) local establishments... and it got stupid to buy things we knew we could get cheaper.

I know why they do it, and I hate the Big Brother aspect of someone knowing what I'm purchasing... but wtf? I want my salsa for $2, not $3.29. So I have a card for Giant Eagle, Shop'n Save, and now: CVS.

I was getting away with not having a CVS card for a while because the nice man at the front just scanned the store's card for me every morning. That was nice, but unpredictable. So I just got the goddamned card.

I only buy a couple things at CVS, when I'm en route to work and need food for breakfast or lunch. All of these things are surprisingly expensive.

But today, oh today, all those things were all on some kind of obnoxiously ludicrous sale. Oh yes. So whereas I should have spent $28, I spent $10. I walked into work with two large bags packed full of cereal and noodle bowls. In fact, I'm having problems finding file cabinets to store it all in.

Okay, CVS: You've won this round. But I'm still watching you... while you watch me...

(Damn my cheap nature!)

5:31 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

August remembers
Current mood: amused

...or something else appropriately nostalgic-sounding.

This will be Josh and I's first weekend of not traveling in August, and we're kind of excited about it.  I do want to keep up on traveling, though: it's been really cool to have some road trips with my honey, and it's a nice change of pace. We're both itching for something new and different, and changing your surroundings is an easy fix.

MySpace is pissing me off lately. I have begun to find it uninteresting. Maybe I will check out Facebook? There's also humble, which is an artistic social media site... The idea of setting up another thing annoys me because I'm already skating several sites already, with maintenance to keep up with. As it is, I only update the Sum of David blog once a week. My main addiction right now is Twitter, which has thrown a bizarre, stalkerish kind of yearning to know what everyone is doing. You don't think you need to know until you know, man. And then you can't stop. Josh gets the updates to his phone, and had 1000 text messages last week. Madness!

Also: on Justine. Pittsburghers seem to be crucifying or saint-ifying her, when she's just another person doing something in Pittsburgh. Everybody is judging her to their own list of specs -- they are throwing standards and expectations on her, none of which has anything with what she's doing. Don't judge her on her looks, or what you think her material should be. Judge her on what she actually does, and if it's not your thing, let it be: or do your own version and improve upon her model. We're all experimenting with this access to media.

Writing on my next novel begins on Tuesday of next week, and I'm excited/petrified by it. Staring down the barrel of a 200 page m.. scary. But the cloud of ideas is beginning to shape into something more solid, and it's going to be fun. ...if not to read, well, fun to write.

As a part of research, a girlfriend might give me a tour of her coffeeshop, since David's mom will own her own place... I used to work at a coffee/ice cream place in Charleston, but I always sucked at the coffee part. I distinctly remember handing a man a cold cappucino -- it was supposed to be hot and I hadn't steamed the milk hardly at all. whoops.

Okay, kids: be good. Work is cracking that whip.

5:45 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

whew
Current mood: chipper

yowzers, it was a full weekend.

I went to Podcamp Pittsburgh 2's Meet'n Greet on Friday night, which was tons of fun. My social skills are getting better, but damn do I thank the heavens for alcohol: it really does make talking to people/strangers easier. I grabbed Keli from work at 6 and we went over to AIP for a couple hours, then moved the party across the river to Houlihan's, where Keli's hook-ups not only got us a table (or two, thanks K!) but partied 'til the a.m. hours.

Then, up and early to be back at AIP at 8 am for set-up, registration, and general food and knowledge. I think the turn out was good -- 240 or something registered and although all of them didn't show up, we had a ton of walk-ins. When I ran around in the morning for a general count, there were about 100, and they just kept coming.

Josh and I stayed until about 1:30 and then left Pgh (it was SO hard to leave, boo) to get to Charleston, WV by 6ish. We ended up being a little late for the reunion, but it all worked out -- it seemed fun was had by all, and I did end up knowing/recognizing a couple of people. We extended the night by heading to Bobby's (?), where we realized that the Steelers had won and Josh was drunk. All in all, a good time.

Sunday was sleeping in until a Tudor's breakfast with Josh's fam, Go Fish with my neice Katie, and dinner with my gpa Bill. We drove briefly though the apocolypse on the way home, and then fell into bed with exhaustion once we got back to the 'Burgh.

It was a good weekend.

6:44 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Busy, busy
Current mood: tired

To start out a few bad decisions, I ordered a great big coffee at 9 pm last night. Historically, I've been drinking decaf after about 7 pm so I can get to sleep at night. The caffiene helped me steam ahead working until 12am (which was good), but then wouldn't let me sleep once I made it home. whoops.

This is going to be a super busy weekend, probably the busiest I've had for a while not counting when J and I got married in June. So that's not the way I would have liked to begin Friday morning.

On Friday night there is a meet and greet for Podcamp Pittsburgh 2. If you're interested in any kind of new media -- blogging, vlogging, web video, stats and a whole bunch of short, hip words that I can only guess the meaning to -- then AIP is where you want to be 8/18 and 8/19. There will be a lot of great people sharing experiences, information, teaching... and then probably some heavy drinking. Because we geeks party hard, yo.

Josh and I won't be a part of those rocking hard this year (sadness!), since Josh's high school reunion is tomorrow night. We'll be leaving Podcamp around 2 pm to drive back to WV for that. My only memory of Josh's grade is getting berated in 6th grade by a big bad 8th grader that belittled me for a rap (yes, a rap) I'd written and performed about "respect" during that morning's announcements. It was fun at the time of taping it -- I recall one of my bandmates wore his jean shorts backwards (Jump! Jump!) -- but the girl quickly destroyed me over it. I have to assume changes have been made since then (I no longer have bangs, after all) but it's all my brain can conjure up about the class 2 years my senior. I'm sure it will be fun, though, and if nothing else there will be booze and probably dancing. And I do better at one when the other is involved.

Besides: Alcohol - the great social lubricant.

Sunday will be breakfast (at Tudor's?) with Josh's dad on Sunday, a possible visit with my neice, and dinner in Fairmont with my grandpa on our way back to the 'Burgh. It's going to be busy, but fun.

Then: sleep. Sweet, exhausted sleep.

6:08 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

"And don’t call me Pammy..."
Current mood: bored

So, I've been having a minor mid-twenties crisis lately. Something needs to change, but I don't exactly know what. A couple years ago, that would mean it was time for a new piercing... but I've got holes in everything I'm willing to put holes in, and I'm no longer patient enough for the long, 8-month healing process my body takes to get over the new metal thing stuck in it. So I need another outlet.

I went and got my hair hacked off. I also considered coloring it some kind of crazy color, but my realistic/conservative side kicked in -- I don't keep up with dyeing my hair, as evidenced by the AWESOME ring of roots that circled my crown for a couple years. If I could play with crayola-colored dyes, that might be a different story... but shades of brown and blonde aren't fun enough to keep up with. And the workplace wouldn't appreciate pink or purple; I'm lucky they've pretended my nosering doesn't exist for the last four years.

I've been keeping up with cleaning the house, which is a different spin on life. We've been eating at home A LOT, which is also a nice change (and cheaper). I bought some 4-inch heels (very 50s style) and an obnoxiously red hoody, and I'm wearing eye shadow. Zounds!

Josh was commenting on the shift yesterday, and I think we figured it out: I'll be submitting David to agents starting on Sept 1st, and I think I'm bracing myself for the flood of rejection letters I'm going to get. In theory, I am aware of this very likely possibility and totally mentally prepared for it -- in REALITY, I think it's still going to be a big blow to get the letter that politely says "thanks for your submission/interest, but seriously what the hell were you thinking".

I'm also tired of shy and over sensitive Rachel... so I'm restructuring the outside in the hopes of toughening up the inside a little, I guess. We'll see if it works. If I throw myself off the roof after my first "get lost" letter, we'll all know it didn't work.

"Look out world, here comes the new Pammy!"

6:43 AM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

thanks, but fuck you
Current mood: bitchy

Here's the thing with being a designer: no one respects what you do.

Okay, I know there are LOTS of professions out there where no one respects what you do. But chances are, if you are in one of those professions, people would still consider whatever it is that you offer a "service". Oftentimes, designers don't get that benefit. An ad, logo, or stationery is so close to art that people reason it must be fun. Because, you know, that business owner totally had art class in school and it was fun. Why should they pay you if you're just having fun anyway?

I answered an ad on craigslist that was asking for a simple logo. They didn't want anything necessarily fancy, but a logo is the first and fore-most branding tool for a business -- and that costs money. I emailed her for more details, and that I could provide a quote when I had more information.

The next day I got what was apparently a mass email to the "hundred" designers that she said had responded. I'm not going to post the whole thing, but here's some highlights:

"...I like alot of your work, and others you leave alot to be desired, but I do like the response I am getting..."

"...You may have talent, but there is alot of talent at the lower costs also..." (and then goes on to say that if you are looking for $XXX for a logo then "that won't happen".

The whole tone of the email is really "you're lucky that I'm offering to pay at all". In reality, I guess I am comforted that it is a service she is willing to pay for, but still: she also asked for options for the logo she describes BEFORE she chooses who she will pay. So she's basically asking for the artists to do the work and she'll pay for the best logo -- those who did options won't get paid for their time. That's BULLSHIT.

I think what annoys me most is that so many designers responded to the post and provided options WITHOUT being paid for them. Breaking into the industry is tough (I know!) but you can't offer your services FOR FREE, at least not to generic Craigslist posters. I've done pro bono stuff for friends, but there are different pay-offs there. By providing services for free or at some extremely low-balled cost, it dilutes the pool of work (free, low quality work VS. paid, probably superior work) and it trains business people that our time/work isn't worth money.

Design isn't an art contest you give prize money for. You wouldn't have three contracters build you a deck and pick (and pay!) your favorite... Design is a SERVICE.

dammit.

*end soap box rant here*

11:15 AM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

footloose and fancy free
Current mood: contemplative

I'vehadsomecoffee.bearwithme.

It rained like crazy this morning. It was darker at 8 am then it usually is at 9pm. The streetlights were on and everything.

I am upset that they are redoing the movie Footloose. I guess this is how people must feel when Hollywood remakes their favorite cartoon series into a movie. I saw the kid that's playing Ren and he looks twelve years old; also, he is not Kevin Bacon, which is another strike against him. I don't think a movie should be remade when its actors are alive or could still play a part in it, especially if it is the same part. John Lithgow could still totally play the overprotective preacher/town leader. That fact alone should make it out of bounds.

I took a ballet class last night at my normal place. I think I am going to change schools. I really like the women I dance with and the exercises are good, but everyone is easily 15 years older than I am. There's always a lot of socializing and conversation, and I think I need to be more challenged. I haven't gotten a correction for probably a year, and I want somebody to kick my ass a little bit. Plus, a good floor would be nice. Right now we dance on the same kind of floor that's in Shop N Save (because the school is in the basement of one). I'm nervous about the knees now, so I'd love a good marley floor.

A co-worker and I were talking about personalities and childhoods... I said I had a really stubborn streak and she was very surprised... which I find suprising. I don't know that being stubborn is a defining trait of mine, but I do consider myself stubborn sometimes... I've been known to dig my heels in on a point. Just not on unreasonable points.

But that got me to thinking: if you had to describe yourself, would the attributes you appoint to yourself be the same ones others might assign to you?

7:14 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment