A Safe Space for Moogles

Huzzah for Dad's laptop and hotel wireless! This may be the last time I can get on the Innernets until, oh, Thursday at the latest, so this is me making the most of it. (It seems to be a bit unreliable though. I'm on Meebo but it keeps fillipping on me.)

Saturday was pretty uneventful (except for the whole thing with Prime, Motormaster, and flowers, of course) until around nine-thirtyish when we decided to finally stop for the night. It's dark, we're tired, we're in the mountains near West Virginia somewhere so we're pretty much in the middle of nowhere (but at least it's a prettier nowhere than Illinois), and wouldn't you know it, the Hyatt's full. As a matter of fact, every hotel in the area's full. And so is every hotel at the next exit up for that matter. We know this because Dad called every single one of those suckers. We were just resigning ourself to the idea of having to drive two more hours just to find a place to sleep when the girl at the desk said, "The EconoLodge up the road has a couple rooms left."

"Scamperfoom," says we.

We managed to get there in time to get one of their last rooms: a Jacuzzi room, which sounds great until you realize that there was only one bed for the three of us. I was ready to sleep in the Jacuzzi until Dad remembered that there was an aero-bed in the van. Huzzah! :D

So that was yesterday. Today I learned that a) while Dad drives quite fast, Mom, er, does not; b) no matter how much you like to drive, seven hours of it is gr-u-e-ling, and c) West Virginia is really, really pretty. Not close enough to the ocean for my taste, but pretty. Of course, all that green started getting a little blurry about hour four. x_x It was all I could do to keep both Mom and Dad in sight, especially when traffic got busy. But anyway, we're in Virginia now. I haven't seen the house yet (the final ceremonial sacrifice of a chicken is tomorrow), so we're staying in a hotel suite in which (this is important) I get my own room. Yaaaaaay!

Also, TF07 was on TV tonight, so now my mind is filled with shiny robots. ^_____^ *skibble sketch drabble plaaaaaay* *.....flop* homigod so tired.

But! Tomorrow I get to see our new house! And meet the fishes! And pick my room! There's a blue one and a yellow one, and whichever one I don't sleep in will be my playroom, Mom says. That's not even counting the basement with the big projector screen. ^_^ I'll probably set up my PS2 down there. Mmm, FF12 on that huge screen, prettypretty... *_*

EDIT: Somebody remind me later when I get Interwebs at home that I have a major edit to make on my Fluffirothfic. I got hit in the face with a mental image earlier but it doesn't work if he still has Mako eyes.

The good news is, ravynfyre and I had an awesome time yesterday, and I am now fifty bucks poorer but seven toys, a pile of comics and a lot of hugs richer. ^_____^ Ravyn is awesome. *squeebounce*

The bad news is, I have to babysit my ten-year-old cousin tomorrow. She's, shall we say, a talker. Not a bad kid and of course I love her to pieces, but I've never had to spend long hours in enclosed spaces with her before. My feelings may change. -_-

(Mom says she will owe me a present. I am disinclined to argue.)

The best news is, day after tomorrow we leave for Virginia! Yaaaaaaaaay! :DDDD My life is finally starting...

Her name is Irene, and she lives in the group home with my grandma. She's sarcastic, bitchy, loves cake and has a closet full of shoes. She and Grandma and Mom and I sat and talked in her apartment for a while, and she welcomed me, teased at me and gave me a hug when we had to leave.

Irene also has cancer. It will kill her in about a year.

Grandma told us that when Irene was diagnosed, she had a choice: she could have foregone treatment and let herself die within a couple of months. She's holding on for the sake of her family and the people who love her, even though she suffers for it. And she may be one of the kindest and sharpest and funniest people I've ever met.

I can only hope to be that badass when I grow up.

(In other news, still not dead. Am crocheting and playing Phoenix Wright. Also, I love my grampy dearly, but if I have to sit and watch another Old Movie I am afraid I will scream.)

So, Dad's retirement ceremony is coming up, which yours truly will be obliged to attend. Of course I don't mind showing my support and all, but the spotlight on Dad will naturally extend to his family by extension. Which means near-perfect strangers will find it necessary to accost me with... The Questions.

They're all the same, too. In high school it was "What college are you going to?" In college: "What major are you in? Oh, history? Are you going to be a teacher?" And later: "Oh, graphic design? Is that one of those new-fangled Internets majors?" And I can predict what The Question will be this time, too. "Oh, you've graduated! What are you going to do now?"

Impress us, o moogle, tell us you are worthy to carry the blood of our honored clan.

I'm sure "I just graduated from OIP&T, I don't have a job lined up yet" will satisfy the minimum requirements for most people, but frankly I get tired of saying the same thing ten times to ten different well-meaning strangers. So I've been coming up with lines to deflect said line of interrogation that will hopefully not get me dismissed as a surly teenager. Here's what I've come up with so far:

"I'm going to be a unicorn."
"I thought I'd take a year off and go to Mars. I hear they need women."
"I'm going to be a bitter, disgruntled Wal-mart employee."
"I'm going to go crab fishing on the Bering Sea."
"I've gotten an offer as a superhero's wisecracking sidekick."
"I've been training for the Olympics. Cheesecake-eating event, here I come!"
"I'm crocheting an Optimus Prime. To scale."
"I'm going to be a ninja."
"I think I'd like to be an alpaca rancher."
"I'm going to visit my long-lost twin brother, get into a car accident, get amnesia, and wind up having the King of Spain's love child."
"I'm moving to Narnia."

Obviously this kind of goes against the whole improv thing, but I find a safety net helps me feel more confident and secure about opening my mouth and saying something silly.

So. Any more suggestions, loves? :D

Well, my graduation ceremony went off without a hitch on Friday - well, as non-hitchy as could be expected. It ran a bit long, and the guest speaker they had was some former coach from not-even-our-school-for-heaven's-sake, and he seemed to have forgotten that we were not a) his grandkids or b) football players. It was either screaming in our faces or "When I was your age blah blah poverty blah blah mastodon for breakfast." Oh, and he did a magic trick with a newspaper. I passed the time by contemplating Rodimus/Starscream ghost porn.

But in the end, it was worth it to walk across the stage. And dance off it. (I told you I would.) And toss my hat up in the air. ^_______^

And now? Now, ladies and gentlemechs, I am taking a nice long well-earned rest. My therapist told me today that I look much more relaxed, and yes, lifting that weight from one's shoulders will do that to a person. I spent a little of my graduation money today, and squeed over presents, and now there's just an Extended Family visit to get through before we officially move. Once I'm settled there I'll start looking for Jobs.

Speaking of Family, the day after I graduated, my grandmother (the one in Poor Health) fell and broke her ankle. Like, through-the-skin break. She was going to come down for Dad's retirement ceremony, but now it's a toss-up whether she'll be out of the hospital by the time we come up to see her in a couple of weeks. So, there's that going on.

Also, I just beat Magical Starsign, which is really good for me considering I only bought it a couple months ago. I would recommend it to anyone who's a fan of quirky RPGs. *checks off list* One down, seven million and three to go.

For those who've missed it so far, (lj)childofatlantis and I are doing an impromptu round robin. The Life and Times of Ghost!Starscream on Autobot-Controlled Cybertron: Full of co-existing pet ships, angst, tantrums and lulz. ^_^

In other news, Mom and I went shopping today. Mom spoiled me shamelessly due to Impending Graduatedness, but she's not going to let me have the books I picked out 'til after the ceremony. I'll pretend to be surprised. ;)

*sighs contentedly* Life, she doesn't suck.

So, room-cleaning with Mom was more painless than I'd dared to hope. She gave me some guidance and let me go, and we got a lot of work done while watching an all-day Deadliest Catch marathon. My bookshelf hasn't looked so organized literally since we moved in. :O (And it took her all of half an hour too, which is amazing considering the state it was in before. I swear that woman is a machine.) And she stayed out of my drawers, so the fact that I have a sexuality remains mercifully un-remarked-upon. ;) Anyway, I've pulled out most of the stuff I want to keep with me when we car-trip to Illinois and then head out to Virginia. There's not all that much - between books, my DS and my yarn what else do I need? ;) I also may go ahead and get a paid account on LJ sometime before we get on the road. My Internet access will be sporadic for a couple of weeks and I would hate to deprive you all of my brilliant musings for that long. ;)

Also, another character has set up shop in my head: a wolf who, due to the magic equivalent of heavy pollution, sometimes can be shaped like a human. I think this'll be my next story after The Rose Bearer is done. *sighs* I'm never going to get out all the stories in my head before I die at this rate. Currently I'm making a pouch for my tarot cards to replace the one it came with (fell apart quite spectacularly). When I'm done (and get new batteries for my camera) I'll post pictures, as well as the pouch I did for my DS. (It's felted and I'm very proud of it. ^_^)

In the meantime: this travesty is all lookingforsigns's and (lj)vani_nessa's fault.

Today in therapy my psychologist took me through some simple meditation.

I'd done stuff like it before, during Renfest rehearsals specifically, but it was mostly visualization techniques and anyway that's a place I don't want to go back to right now. This was very basic: focusing on the breath. It's... surprisingly difficult. It doesn't feel natural to me to focus on how I'm breathing, because I keep wanting to try to breathe deeper, slower, more in the belly, and trying to force your breath to do that kind of hurts after a while. My psychologist said that's normal, and that I'd get better with practice, which was encouraging.

While doing this, I also started noticing how tense my body was in places. My legs, then my arms where I had my elbows on the armrests - like I was straining to hold myself up even though the chair had a back. I managed to relax them with some effort - not, I admit, the point of the exercise, but it felt like the thing to do - and toward the end of the meditation, I actually felt something. Like om. That's the best I can explain it. I know it sounds weird, but I wasn't even looking for it, it just came to me.

...This is going to be an interesting journey.

In other news, my parents have officially bought a house. It's in northern Virginia, I don't remember exactly where, but it's close enough to Washington to make little difference. (I would've preferred Maryland, given my druthers, but it's their house.) I've seen pictures of it. It's very nice, quite huge (vacuuming is going to be a pain in the butt), and the backyard has an honest-to-goodness koi pond. With actual koi in it. :O

There's also two guests rooms which Mom is making noises about putting me in, and a finished basement with a projector screen. It all sounds lovely, but... I dunno how much I'm going to enjoy it. I'll be too focused on finally moving out of my parents.

Lastly, a memething from (lj)lighttomoyo:

( I'm afraid of 19 out of 72 common fears. )

So there's this guy at the old folks' home where my grandma lives, whom I shall call Ernie. Ernie doesn't have a lot of friends, but he's made good friends with Grandma, in part because he raves about her cooking to no end. When Grandma makes something she knows he likes, she makes some extra and brings it to him. So it's a nice little friendly arrangement they have going: Ernie gets fed, Grandma gets flattered, it's all good.

Mom told me today that Ernie found it necessary to have a serious talk with Grandma recently. "Mooglegrandma," he said, "my girlfriend has been getting phone calls recently that I've been cheating on her with you. We both know that's not true, but would you like to have my girlfriend's phone number so that you can talk to her as well?" "Why yes, that would be lovely," said Grandma (or something to that effect).

Guys, my grandma is in the middle of a sex scandal at the old folks' home. Have I mentioned how very much I want to be just like her when I get old? ^_^

And also, more from "Raph Has a Student"-verse, because jennielf asked and I got another scenesquirrel. ;)

( Student actually gets a speaking part here, but is still unnamed. )

First, Mom and Grandma locked themselves out of the house at around 9:30 this morning and had to wake me up via cell phone and many, many doorbell-ringings so I could let them back in. That last, sweetest half-hour of sleep was denied me! ;_;

Second, Photoshop decided to freak out while I was working on one of my many, many projects. When I re-opened the file, it had corrupted pixels! ...Yes, there was much panicking and re-opening and re-closing and flailing, as I had done way too much already on this picture to lose it now to the whims of the technology gods. And my advisor was on break and Not To Be Found. ...finally, I guess I opened and closed it enough times that the pixels sorted themselves out, and I saved that sucker absolutely everywhere. ...My poor heart can't take much more of this. -_-

Third, I talked to my Other Prof and she said that my packaging project was in fact fabulous and portfolio quality, but that I might want to change the text so that it is not in fact packaging for a sex toy. Now I just need to think of something that could conceivably be made by a company called "Moongarden" and have a picture of Venus de Milo on the front. (And no, I don't think feminine hygiene products would exactly solve the basic underlying problem here.)

Fourth, I totally kicked ass playing Mom and Grandma at Phase 10. It's all about the strategy, yo. ^_^

Fifth, I finished LilMegatron's body and tail today. It kinda looks like a fat purple sperm.

Sixth, I have a sneaking suspicion that Ratchet is going to be on the rag.

Bowing to the inevitable poptartodoom's request, I crocheted a bomb over the weekend. (Pictures after Botcon, as I really just want shots of Wheeljack holding the bomb.) Last night I dreamed that said crocheted bomb got me arrested when I tried to bring it back onto the base.

"But it's made of yarn, you idiots," I kept explaining. It didn't make much difference.

In other news, I totally fell asleep in the bathroom half an hour ago. Definitely taking a nap after class. -_- Hopefully I'll be energetic enough afterwards for a game of cards. Grandma's staying with us this week, and if you're not at the top of your game she will eat you alive.

PSA: You're probably going to hear a fair amount of whining from me about schoolwork over the next couple of months (more than usual, anyway). Said whining may include but is not limited to complaining about professors, other students, the music choices of same, the technological shortcomings of school equipment, the length of time it's been since I last did Flash, the sheer tonnage of work I have to do, demotivational posters, pleas to shoot me now and oh my god I am going to die.

*hem* Please don't take it too seriously. Regardless of how I talk, I am going to do this.

In other news - the military accepted Dad's retirement today,* which is just plain weird. Dad's been in the Air Force longer than I've been alive - hell, he was in ROTC when Mom met him in college. He's no Patton or anything, but I still have a hard time picturing him in a civilian role. He's been looking for jobs all over the place, but he and Mom are probably going to be moving to the Baltimore/DC area come late July. Assuming I don't find an OUTRAAAAAGEOUS job elsewhere (;D), I'll probably tag along. I really did like that area.

poptartodoom and I are actually making visible progress on our costumes now, despite my Bright Idea that sidetracked us for a couple of weeks. Now I just need to find a pair of friggin' red gloves. *rummages through Goodwill* ...Speaking of Botcon, I've been havin' me a thought. See, David Kaye (the voice of Beast Wars Megatron, among others) is going to be there. And me? I have a 3.75mm hook and half a skein of very, very purple yarn, and a penchant for making plushies.

.......Oh, yeeesssss. >D

(Remind me later and I'll do my "Fuck You, She's Awesome" list. Right now I have a date with high explosives.)

*The retirement was accepted yesterday. This afternoon a Colonel Whom Dad Doesn't Like called him up and asked him if he'd like to maybe delay his retirement to go serve a tour in Korea. I would've liked to be there when Dad laughed in her face.

It's been fandom dream after fandom dream lately.

First there was the one where I was in the Slums under Midgar, which was under siege by the Heartless. But that was okay, because Zack was there and he was looking out for me. I felt so secure that I could go shopping in Wall Market without worrying about getting my heart eaten. I got a nifty weapon-carrying belt. ^_^

Number two involved being mooglenapped by Beast Wars Megatron. I think it was sort of a hostage situation, since he wasn't doing me any mischief - mostly we just snarked at each other and he allowed me the run of a backyard with a pool. Then for some reason the pool got a whirlpool in it, and I had to find my way to freedom through there.

Then this afternoon was sort of a Kingdom Hearts/Lion King thing. Except it was in a factory facility with all these animals trapped in captivity everywhere. I was running around as a lion cub freeing everyone, and eventually I hooked up with Simba and Riku to go after the Bad Guys. I think a spaceship may have been involved.

That last dream may have been partly the fault of the raspberry martini I had during Mom's birthday dinner. (She adored the scarf I got her, yay! ^_^) Normally I only drink if I know I don't have to drive anywhere anytime soon, but I figured my parents would be able to tell if I was too impaired to drive home afterwards. As it was, Mom had us walk around a bit after lunch, which put me in the perfect place to get absolutely drenched by the rain right as I got to my car. XP That'll sober you right the hell up.

On the way home I saw a rainbow. :D

Also, I found a Spider-man book by Jim Butcher. MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN, I swear to God. *hearts the Holy Grail of Snark*

Anyhoo, a quizlet:



...Hee. ^_^ I also has Five Questions. Comment if you'd like some if your own - you know the drill.

multiclassgeek

( And go! )


thorne_scratch

( And go! )

Really need to make a new layout.

My dog died today.

More later.

What I Did On My Thanksgiving Vacation, by Moogle Girl.

( Lemme break it down for you again. )

*Note that it was my mother and not myself who was doing the showing off. I swear that woman's more excited about stuff I do than I am.

**Funny story about that: when I went to turn in my camera this morning, I got el mondo lecture from the guy at the desk. "You're not allowed to have cameras out over days when we're closed! You should've had it in by ten on Tuesday!" "Um, that's not what my professors - " "Not allowed!" So I need to have a conversation with my AV and photography teachers as well as the lady who rented me the damn camera. Because someone is steering me wrong.

...Not angsting today, so I can wish y'all a proper Happy Thanksgiving. Me? I'm thankful for porn. Speaking of which, remind me that I need to draw a companion piece to this drabble (NSFW). Not that I think I'll forget that image anytime soon. (Tseng, you bastard.)

In other news, I've had so many ideas for crochet plushies lately. I may have to just break down and get myself an Etsy account soon, since it doesn't look as though I'm going to be working. ;P I can't see making a living off of that or anything, but at best it'll bring in a little extra money (which I will probably turn around and spend on more yarn). At worst it'll be an entertaining diversion. Currently trying to work out the logistics of crocheting Phoenix Wright's hair. Oh, help.

- Final project in A/V due on Monday. I really hope I shot enough footage today to get a decent thirty seconds' worth of frames. Video cameras are a pain. I don't think I'll be opting for a career in the film industry any time soon.

- Mom's after me to get new clothes for my cousin's wedding over Thanksgiving. Today she bought me a gold lamè tank top and gushed over how good it looked on me. o_O I told her I'd wear it if I got to wear a shrug over top. I wish I had time to make one, but eh.

- I spent all of my $50 gift certificate to the local bookstore. It took me maybe twenty minutes, tops. ;P I got three manga (Negima 13 & 14 and Aqua 1) and a book on amigurumi that had a humanoid pattern I thought was adorable. Might adapt it to make fandom plushies.

- I have a Seph-and-Zack ficbit floating around in my head, as well as a bit of Lambo Sammich; I should really see about writing those out.

- I've managed to mislay my DS, possibly at the cast party, and I'd really really like it back now please.

...and it's even better when you share the image with others. I have learned this. ^_^

So. Today. Record-breaking heat day. Obviously a great day to come to a blazing hot Renfest! :D Srsly, it was really crowded and people were massively grouchy. I still managed to have fun, though. I took a lot of water breaks, played with babies, and hung out under a nice cool bridge. ^_^

Only five more faire days left... ;_;

OH OH ALSO. This probably has no significance to anyone but me (but I've never let that stop me from blogging before!) but today I went to the kilt booth and discovered my family tartan! ^_^ Well, my mom's family tartan anyway, as my own last name is hopelessly German. It's the Tara district (scroll down, it's on the very bottom of the page - the picture I saw at the faire had that green as more toward olive, though). I'll probably never do anything with this, but it's just fun. I can has history!