A Safe Space for Moogles

Have I mentioned how much I love the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History? If they'd let me set up a cot in the gift shop, I'd totally spend a week there. I may attempt it once they open the Hall of Human Origins. I'm a bit of a geek.

The reason I gush is because my parents took me to the Museum today, as a birthday Thing. It's been a while since I've been in DC, now that I think about it - not since the Cherry Blossom Festival, which was in early April. Anyway, was a lovely time. We spent most of the day in the fossil exhibit and the Hall of Mammals. Dinosaurs! :DDD And and ancient ancestors of dolphins and horses and turtles and dogs and something that I swear is an ancient ancestor of a chocobo. XD So that was a lot of fun, and now I have a plushie whale to play with too. (Needs a name.)

And then after that there was amazingly-awesome dinner at a Korean barbecue place. Om nom nom.

.......Tired now. *thud*

EDIT: Almost forgot! I found a Chick tract entitled 'Who Is Allah?' on the Metro on the way back. It's currently stashed in a plastic bag in my purse until I figure out what to do with it. A ritualistic burning and burying of the ashes seems ideal, or I could just scan in some choice bits and let y'all mock it.

THESE GUYS RIGHT HERE, that's who!

I'm feeling a lot better about things today. ^_^

My family and I don't do Valentine's Day (it's the day my grandpa died, among other reasons), but Mom's a second-grade teacher, and what's she going to do, refuse to accept the cards and candy her adoring little sprogs or their parents shower her with? So Mom came home last night with like three gift bags full of processed sugar, and as she is a firm believer of "only eat it if it's worth the calories," she gave me all the stuff she didn't like.

I've been sitting here gorging myself on Pixie Stiks and Fun Dip all afternoon. I'm going to be bouncing off the walls, guys. ^____^

Ah, nostalgia in powdered candy form... *licklick*

Thanks, everyone, for your kind words yesterday. I feel a bit better now. ...Well. More able to deal with this, at least, which is not exactly the same thing.

Good things about today:
- My boss pulled me aside and told me that I was doing a good job. I managed to hold in my squee until I was alone... except for the cats, and they probably think I'm nuts now. XD So, nothing new there.
- I got Inspired for a short comic, which I've been wanting to do for a while. Details forthcoming, maybe.
- I ordered a couple boxes of Girl Scout cookies. ^_^
- Leg warmers, omg. Why did they ever go out of style? They are LOVE. *toasty calves and ankles right now, yaaaay!*
- President Obama (*brief squee break*) is already getting the ball rolling on shutting down Gitmo and setting ethics standards. Jolly jumping Primus, the man does not waste time.
- This meme:

The first five people (edit: or more, if I feel like it) to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make.
- What I create will be just for you.
- It'll be done this year.
- You have no clue what it's going to be. It may be a poem, or something else written. I might sew, color, or take a specific picture. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure! Also, not me!
- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

Keep in mind that I have an LJ too, so if you're the fifth person to comment here, you still might not be the Fifth Person. ...Though you still might get a Something. On that note, once I'm done with said Something, I'll want to let you know via email, so drop your email addy here if I don't already have it. (If we don't email regularly, assume I don't. *is disorganized*)

What is this feeling...?

It's kinda... light. Almost floaty. But at the same time it's animating. It makes me want to run out and do something amazing.

It makes me feel like I could do something amazing.

Is it... hope?

President Obama has some sort of glamour going, I would swear. If it is enchantment, I hope it is forever.

Just watched the inauguration ceremony on TV. Can you tell? ^_^;;; (And I was warm and cuddled while I was doing it, not like those poor suckers freezing their butts off on the Mall.) Aretha Franklin and the dude what gave the benediction also rocked. But oh my god, the new President's speech. My heart is still in the lower stratosphere somewhere spinning and going "WHEEEE." I feel like I can finally be proud of my own country.

*runs around glomping everybody and giving them big smooches* :DDDD

...O hay, it's Christmas.

(Yes, I'm still up. I'm not done with Mom's blanket yet. *crochets furiously* If I hurry, I might still get a few hours' sleep before I have to go to work. But I will damn well stay up all night if I have to!)

I don't really have any deep thoughts this year. I'll save the introspection for New Years'. Just... I love you all. Thanks for sticking around and listening to me whine and encouraging my vices. ;) Stay safe and enjoy your Winterthing, whatever that entails.

Hugs, kisses, cookies and porn for all.

Love,
Moogle

Golden retriever puppy! Sweet friendly beautiful golden retriever puppyyyyyy! *hearts* Not a puppy-puppy, she was in that all-knees-and-elbows adolescent stage, but that didn't make her any less cute. I fussed her lots and played with her when we were out on our walk. ^_^

Also, note_to_dog_owner: what would possess you to name your poor pooch Puff Puff? She's got enough issues just being a chihuahua. ...*ducks*

Also also, from the 'worth reading' files: What happened to Michael Vicks' dogs, courtesy of Sports Illustrated. It made me so happy, you guys. The strength of those dogs and their caretakers is amazing. I want to give them all hugs and treats.

*...is a dog dork*

So jlsigman has been posting one thing that makes her happy every day for 8 days and invited her flist to do the same, and since I wrote a followup fic for that Roddy/Galvatron awesomeness that (lj)vani_nessa wrote for me, today seems a good idea to take her up on that.

Day 1: The existance of Galvatron/Rodimus as a pairing makes me happy. I have a long history with it, encompassing both Joy and Drama, and it's made me some awesome friends. And it, uh, pushes all my buttons. ^_^;;;;

JOBJOBJOBJOB.

*bounces around the room*

:D

Chimpanzee helps raise two white tiger cubs! I adore the obvious affection on the chimp's face. *squees* And look, more pics here.

Warms my fluffy little heart, it does. ^_^ Speaking of fluffythings, I went ahead and filled out an application for the animal hospital today. So, we'll see what happens.

And also, some porn I owed (lj)sister_dear from this meme. You thought I forgot, didn't you? Well, I didn't! ;D *waggles fingers at* I was just, uh... busy. Yes. Ahem.

Anyway, this plays with the recent fandom-convention that Jazz has doorwings, he just hides them under his roof. (Look, his toy has doorwings, okay? It's perfectly legit.)

( Whoa, Jazz. When'd you get wings? )

...after several hours' fighting with my computer, argh. My graphics software kept choking. I cannot wait to upgrade.

ANYWAY. Herein, in rough chronological order (warning, picture heavy):

( Grampy's garden )

( My new backyard )

( Fish! )

( The zoo )

( The Renfest )

*twirls sword over head and poses victoriously* I finished my room today! :DDDD

...of course, there are still boxes of Stuff that have to go into storage for now kind of hanging out in my room, but my toys are all displayed and my bookshelf is all neat and pretty and awesome. Happy and accomplished moogle! ^_^

I also tried to get a new drivers' license today, but, uh, I couldn't prove I live here. XD That's what happens when you're a dependent. The only mail I get is my game magazine and a metric buttload of credit card offers (note to all banks everywhere: DO NOT WANT). And apparently those don't count as proof. So I'm going to get a change-of-address form at the post office tomorrow, so yes. *nods*

Still sleeping in the basement, though. We finally gave up on the Great Bedbug War and left my mattress behind, and Mom says that they're going to wait to get me a new one 'til Labor Day. I don't mind, really, the couch is plenty comfy, but the problem is there's no windows down there, so no matter how late I sleep I still feel like I'm waking up at 5 AM 'cause it's still dark. *nyeh*

Got my grades today.

B- in Interface Design.
B+ in Computer Graphics 4.
A- in Senior Project.
A in Portfolio.

And I get my diploma tomorrow.

EEEEEEHEEHEEHEEHEEEE. *flailyarms* So going to dance off that stage. ^______^

Also, my nails are painted a pretty light blue. *waggles them so they sparkle and shimmer*

...this has been Pepper Is Kinda Hyper Today Theater.

Last night I stayed up 'til oh-my-Primus-o'clock in the morning porning with lookingforsigns.

Today I took a brief nap and was generally happily-lethargic all day.

Sunday I shall take a day (evening, rather) trip up to Columbus with my Cincy friends.

None of these things I have been able to do for the past month or so. *flops out on bed and kicks little feet* Eeeeeee. ^_^

(There is some cleaning in my future, though. Getting ready for the Movers, dontchaknow. Which I don't mind except Mom insists on helping - she's promised she won't Go Through My Stuff, but I'm still terrified she'll find my vibrator.)

I ARE DONE.

*turns stereo up and dances around in underwear*

Behold the baby goslings, in all their fluffycute glory!

These turned out a lot better than I was expecting. They're very photogenic little fluffballs. ^_^

It's the first of May (and we all know what that means). It's beautiful outside, mid-70s, sunny, breezy. I'm trucking along on my schoolwork, no worries there. Aretha Franklin is wailing over my earphones. And I just took about three dozen pictures of omg fluffy baby goslings and didn't even get pecked for my trouble.

It's a good day. The only thing that would make it better would be if my uterus would quit with the Primusslagging cramps. -_-

In other news, a couple more things that get my fire going:

A rant on feminism by Tamora Pierce, one of the authors I grew up with. Is it any wonder I adore this woman? She informed a lot of my own beliefs, growing up. *hearts for eyes, shameless fangirling*

John Stewart's take on abstinence-only sex ed. YOU JUST UN-BLEW MY MIND.

You heard me! I made a complete, balanced meal, start to finish, without even using the microwave. No pre-made noodle bowls or flavor packets for me. I cooked! With a raw chicken breast and fresh vegetables and everything!

It might sound mundane, but guys, you have no idea how happy this makes me. I've been intimidated by the kitchen for the longest time. I've lived on peanut butter sandwiches and ramen for weeks at a time when Mom wasn't available to cook. I'd pretty much resigned myself to dying of malnutrition when I finally moved out and didn't have a mother to make sure I ate properly. I really, truly couldn't fathom ever being able to cook.

But! I did! I made a meal and I ate it and it was delicious! OMGYAAAAAAY! *dances and tosses confetti* Thai Pasta Salad, for the curious. ^_^ I made enough to last me a couple of days even though I only used one chicken breast. (Was a rather large breast, though.)

...And the fact that my cookbook is called Help, My Apartment Has a Kitchen totally does not count against me.

Today in class we were introduced to GarageBand, and and and I made musics! Look, look! :D

First song: about 2 minutes, sort of techno-piano-ish.

Second song: about 3 minutes, far-east themed and heavy on the percussion.

Now I remember why I'm doing all this. The chance to be creative and make shinies.

Well, it's Christmas. I'm feeling kind of introspective.

It's been kind of a rough year for me. I've gone through some of the happiest and saddest times of my life. I've made some new friends, struggled and bitched my way through classes, taught myself to crochet, loved and lost, been frightened and exhilirated by the future. And wrote porn. Now the year is coming to a close, and I feel like I've walked a million miles just to come home safe again.

That's really what Christmas has always meant to me: a homecoming. I don't have any real place I call home, being a military brat, so for me it's about the stupid little things that never change from place to place. The smell of Dad's sugar cookies, and Mom's candles, and pine. Decorating the tree, telling the same stories again for every ornament. The sign Mom puts up in the hallway that says "Dear Santa - I can explain." How The Grinch Stole Christmas and The Muppet Christmas Carol. Mom cajoling me into helping her bake despite my insistence that I'm hopeless in the kitchen. Bantering and stealing cookies and having smartass contests with Dad. Hugs and kisses and the comfort of the people I love.

It's been a long, rough road, and I'm exhausted, but I'm home again at long last.

So, here's my Christmas wish for you: may your patron deity, Mother Terra, and the universe bless you as I am blessed. May you find yourself among family, friends, those you love. May you fight and bitch and laugh over stupid things, be warm and fed, and lay down at the end of everything and know that you are home.