Monday, December 19, 2011

Auf Wiedersehen to this blog.

I have a new blog now: my very own livejournal! It makes me a little sad, because I feel like this blog has been a good friend, but I have wanted an LJ for a while.

So that's that. I may still snoop around here every once in a while, mostly to see the people I'm following.

It's been fun!

Sunday, December 11, 2011

TL;DR. Ye be Warned

I am so tied to my computer. It's an addiction, it really is. I'm thinking of restricting my internet usage a lot for the next year; A resolution, if you will.

It became clear to me this past week, when we were starting our final project in my drawing class. I had so much trouble coming up with an idea. (As whined about in this post) All I could think about was, "The internet will save me! The internet will give me ideas!" instead of coming up with ideas on my own. It's like I've become lazy when I have to be creative. Like I have no mind of my own. Instead of thinking something up myself, I check online to see what other people have come up with.

It explains the serious lack of writing, the major writer's block I have, and the artist's block. Another thing that sucks up any creativity I may have is mindless browsing. There is really no need for me to check my facebook and email more than twice a day, really. And yet, I spend my time on the internet clicking on yahoo and facebook and youtube over and over and over again, as if I expect something to change.

It's also been affecting my concentration. I never, ever have only one tab open. (even now. I'm typing this up and watching Fire and Ice on youtube.) If I ever, do, I quickly open a new one, because it feels like I should save time by multitasking. Now, I notice that even when I'm doing something not computer-related, I have to be doing something else too, just to save time. When I'm doing that, I don't fully concentrate on either thing.

Another thing that's bee a problem with me lately is spending way too much time watching TV shows. I feel like I'm watching too many at a time, ad I can't even keep track of what happened in which show. I swear, right now I am watching Battlestar Galactica, Clannad After Story, Mushi-Shi, Last Exile, X-Files, Avatar The Last Airbender, Doctor Who, and Firefly (the last three for the second time). Lost and Doctor Who alone have cost me most of my year. Now, I'm a lover of a good story, so I am definitely not cutting out TV shows altogether, but I am going to limit how many I am allowed to watch at one time (probably two is all I can handle).

Now, I don't want this post to be just about the things I am going to cut out, but also what I am going to focus on this year. Reading, for one. I miss the feeling of getting sucked in to a story to the point of not being able to put it down, to the point that I cry at a character's loss and cheer at their successes. I have not gotten to that point in hardly any book that I've read this year, because of my internet-an-tv-fueled ADD. I've read a fair few books, but too sporadically. So a focus on reading for next year.

Playing video games may come as a surprising thing to focus on, but it is something that I have too long abandoned. I am talking specifically about Final Fantasy X and X-2. I miss the satisfaction of leveling up and defeating bosses. It is something that required quite a bit of dedication. I am one to replay old games like Spyro the Dragon and Jak 2 and Shadow of the Colossus over and over, never moving on to new games. So, finishing FFX and X-2, and trying out new games. Skyrim and KOTOR are on the top of the list.

Writing and art are, obviously, a huge thing I want to focus on. I still have to many characters in my head whom are begging to have their stories told, and I will not let them turn to dust. I have too many dreams that should have been drawn and made real, but have sadly wasted away in a brain that goes in a million different directions and has no time to concentrate on anything. I need a little bit of discipline.

Also, blogging. I still like blogging, because if feels like a grown up version of journaling, but I need to update less when I have nothing to say. I think I have one too many posts that just say LOL NOTHING'S HAPPENED BUT I FEEL LIKE POSTING MY FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS ANYWAY. No more. (I still may need to vent sometimes, but that's different.)

In conclusion (I know, finally) I really want to discipline myself, to learn to concentrate, to multitask less, and to finish more. Turn off the TV, turn on the music. Close the laptop, open a book. Yeah, that sounds good. It's my new mantra. And screw waiting until January. I'm starting now. :D I feel very motivated.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Pontypool review, AKA, the Only Movie That Has Scared Me In Years.

I love scary movies, and I love the feeling of being scared. However, I haven't been truly frightened by a movie since I was about ten. Until last night, when I watched Pontypool.

I don't know if it was the fact that I watched it in the middle of the night with the lights off, but for some reason, in the middle of the movie, I had to pause it, go to my parents' room just to make sure they were there, and then return to the movie. I know. I actually felt fear when watching a movie.

Let me start off by saying that this is not your usual scary movie, at least not at first. There is no blood and gore until the second half of the movie (which is admittedly not the better half of the movie, but I'll get to that in a bit). It gets to you by playing on your primal fear of the unknown. It leaves you with a feeling of dread and unease, because you don't see what's happening, you're being told what's happening outside. You could almost close your eyes and it would scare you just the same, since it is being told as a "radio play." As you start to understand, you also begin to fear for the safety of the characters, because by now, you feel you are one of them.

The second half, as I said, isn't its strong point. It gets a little illogical. I won't spoil it, but it gets a little out there, and all feelings of uncertainty give way to incredulity. However I'm not saying it's unwatchable. It's well worth seeing until the end.

*SPOILER*


The only problem I had with this movie was the illogical explanation for what was happening. A virus? That spreads by words? It seems to me that all attempts to make this sound believable failed. All logic was abandoned. I really think the writer could have thought of something better, but I suppose that this movie wasn't really anything more that symbolic, but I'm not up to analyzing anything today.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Listening to Epica. Epica is God.

My hair is very insane today. All I did was scrunch it, and this is how different it looks!



Which is weird, because usually all I do is... not scrunch it. Never thought scrunching was so powerful.

Don't like my fringe area though. The hairs are annoyingly short and thus they frizz the most. Oh and apparently, all of the red from my last dye job has faded to a sad brown. I must re-dye soon.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Oh, god I just realized I haven't had a single glass of water today. That explains the Sahara desert residing on my tongue.

So, crisis averted from last post. I am going to draw two cowboys, an old western showdown. Shut up, it makes sense in my mind. <.<

Uh, so. Semester's almost done. I have two essays to write. For my art classes. yeah, I know. Stupid.

Anyway, doing some quizzes, not because anyone cares, but because I'm bored.


What Mythical Creature are you?
Your Result: Elf
Elves are skilled, intelligent craftsmen and warriors. An elf will devote his or her life to a certain trade, and thus become the best in the universe at what they do. Elves are commonly very quiet and reclusive, causing them to be shy. However shy, they are not naive and posess a great deal of knowlege and wisdom that seems to be inherited at birth. Elves are immortal, and very dedicated to nature. They walk in harmony with their surroundings, but are not wholely over emotional beings. Love is not thought of as deep or passionate for these creatures, but rather a pairing, or mating that is ultimately result in offspring.
Nymph
Vampire
Siren
Werewolf
What Mythical Creature are you?
Quiz Created on GoToQuiz


Cool. I guess.





You Are 25% Left Brained, 75% Right Brained




The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning.

Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others.

If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic.

Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet.



The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility.

Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way.

If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art.

Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.


Yay.




Your Mind is Purple




Of all the mind types, yours is the most idealistic.

You tend to think wild, amazing thoughts. Your dreams and fantasies are intense.

Your thoughts are creative, inventive, and without boundaries.



You tend to spend a lot of time thinking of fictional people and places - or a very different life for yourself.


K.




You are a Romantic Realist




Okay, so you fall in the middle.

You know that love isn't like a greeting card...

Yet you can always find a greeting card to describe your feelings.



You are the best of both worlds

Girly yet independent, dreamy yet serious.

Almost any guy can find balance with you.

YOU SEE MEN, I'M A FUCKING DREAM TO BE WITH- ahem. Look away.




You Were A Famous Poet.




Where You Lived: Egypt.



How You Died: Decapitation.


In a previous life, because it fails to state this. Jackpot? I totally knew this, anyway. :P

Monday, December 5, 2011

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I have procrastinated on my art project, and now I have no idea what to do. The project is to show action and reaction. Like, a political cartoon, maybe, but it could be anything that shows action and reaction. BUT I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO. I was going to draw Jane Austen sitting at her desk with a bunch of female authors standing behind her, kind of symbolizing how Austen made it more mainstream to women to publish their work. But then I researched a bit more, and I realized that Jane Austen wasn't exactly viewed as anything more than "cute" until the 1940's. SO THERE GOES MY IDEA. I don't like Jane Austen anyway.

So I'm too ashamed to go to class today. Except I have to, for the grade. With any luck, some people will have theirs done and will critique, so I can get some ideas. :(


Saturday, December 3, 2011

Sims not working, FFX seems like a good alternative. :)

Feel better since the last post. Writing really helps. I haven't talked to my mom about it, but I don't think I will. She'll just get defensive, and I don't want that right now.

I was trying to install the Sims 3 on my new computer and it wasn't working, then I realized that it has been scratched into oblivion. And I know who did it. My sister owes me a new one. >:( That wench never puts disks back in their boxes. I am annoyed.

I really want to play Skyrim. From what I've heard, it seems like a very cool game. :)

Christmas decorations are up in my house. Everything feels so Christmasy and nice.