A Safe Space for Moogles

*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.

...and it will squee. ^_^

It will squee even more if its mom (who is wonderful in every conceivable way) takes it to the Columbus Zoo. I get embarrassingly excited over animals of all kinds, of course, and the park was practically empty thanks to that whole 'school' thing so I got to spend some personal time taking pictures. Which I now share with you, 'cause I'm a share-y person like that.

( All links, but there's lots of them. )

They also had pumas, red pandas and bobcats, but I couldn't get good shots of them, sadly. :( But it was still an excellent and wonderful experience. This is me, squeaking madly. Squeak! :D

And as long as I've got my camera out, pics from Rocky Horror on Saturday:

Me in my costume! It's only after I see this pic that I realize how see-through my blouse was. Ohgod. XD
Deliver the booty or walk the plank! Arrrrrrr!
_kyri is amused by my antics.
I have no idea how I got the streaky lights, but I kinda like 'em.

As you can see, it's been an interesting week. ^_^

The feeling of having finished a project you know your recipient will adore is second only to the feeling of having a challenge ahead of you: the challenge of creating something from your skill and imagination that you know the recipient will adore.

Bouncy, squeaky, happy moogle. ^_^ ^_^ ^______^

EDIT: No, self, a Phoenix Wright/FF7 crossover would not be a good idea. On the long list of things Sephiroth needs, 'legal counsel' does not appear. And a Phoenix/Seph/Edgeworth sandwich, while hot, would probably just be messy.