A Safe Space for Moogles

- I just typoed 'Phantom of the Opera' as 'Phantom of the Opry.' Interesting AU, that.

- Am marathoning Ouran Host Club - just found out that Haruhi wants to be a lawyer. Guess what I'm crossing it over with now. Go ahead, guess.

- At work I spent half an hour blow-drying a bobcat. The bobcat was unappreciative.

(It's cold and rainy over here, ugh. How's the weather where you are? If it's nice, can I come over?)

Today I did some paperwork for a local clinic (gotta get back on them mood-adjusting pills!), finished one of the springkink prompts I failed on last round, and skipped my workout because oh my sweet mercy everything hurts. Which is probably a positive sign (as I learned from elementary school on: if it's not painful and humiliating, it's not exercise), but all the same, I think I'll rest my weary old bones today.

( We all hate it when chicks complain about their weight. )

I shorted out the stove today. Spilled a little instant-ramen broth on the controls, and zap! That was all she wrote. Lucky thing I figured out how to unplug the whole shebang, or we'd have a smoking crater for a house right now, and then who'd feed the fish? Still, we are left stove-less until Dad fixes things.

I think the next level of fail is to set something on fire. This is why I really should stay out of the kitchen. -_-

On the subject of Winterthing presents (NOOOOOOOOOOooooo....), I think I'll be giving out skibbles or something this year. I about killed myself crocheting something for everyone last year, and I'm pretty sure everyone's sick of yarnthings anyway. ;P I'd do baked goods, but, well, see above re: kitchen fail.

I'm a week from turning 25, and I still feel like I have no control over my own life. Case in point: despite my misgivings I'm getting down the names of some colleges to apply to. I'm absolutely dreading going back to school,* but I just don't have any other options.

*little black raincloud over mooglehead*

I was actually researching degrees in game art, because as long as I have to go back, I might as well go for something really cool, right? :D ...Apparently that was a bad idea. Dear readers, my search took me into the dark and slimy underbelly of the American educational system, where degree factories tart themselves up with glittery programs and beckon the unwary into dark alleys. I'm not sure I still have my wallet.

True to form, it took me most of the afternoon and well into evening before I thought to look up some actual job openings in the field. Turns out nobody in the gaming industry's actually looking for someone with a 'game design' degree. Art, yes, animation, yes, architecture even. But a holder of a game design degree from Art Institutes may as well tattoo 'sucker' on her forehead.

...Yes, I'm aware of the irony, considering where I got my associate's. Don't think I'm not kicking myself over that.



*Except in the case of the school in England, but that's my 'infinitesimal chance' school - I'd have to sell a kidney to pay for it.

Accomplished today: picked up more b.c, dropped off my Very First Art Commission at work, and finished editing my wolf-story aside from some fiddly bits with the names that I'm frankly too tired to mess with right now. (deepbluesquee and navigatorsghost, keep an eye on your inboxes. ;) )

On the other hand, this 'constant dizziness' business can go take a flying leap.

My parents have gently suggested (lulz) that I consider going back to school for my bachelors'. *watches shadow of Overhead Anvil of Issues grow rapidly larger*

( Cons and pros. (Cons first, because that's how I am.) )

So, that's what's currently running on the hamster wheel in my brain.

This actually happened a few days ago, but I'm just getting around to posting it.

One of my jobs as a Kennel Girl is to clean up in the lobby when somebody makes a mess.* I was summoned to do just that; a mixed-breed dog of some sort had made a solid deposit at the Bank of Linoleum. No big deal - I grab my trusty Mop and some paper towels and get to work.

"I am so sorry," the dog's owner tells me, with heartbreaking earnestness.

Dear lord, I think, the poor man's about to cry. So I turn on my Cheerfulness full blast. "Don't worry about it!" I chirp. "This isn't the first time this has happened and it won't be the last! For this is an Animal Hospital!" There might have been some :D in there too. Working at the Renfest has prepared me for engaging with total strangers.**

I continue roughly in this vein while I'm cleaning, and as I finish, the guy finally cracks a smile. Proud and no little relieved, I return to my accustomed spot down in the kennel.

Ten minutes later, a vet tech somehow penetrates my ninja veil and finds me. "Hey, moogle, would you come help me with something?"

"Of course!"

I follow the vet tech up to the exam room and there on the table is the poor man's dog, having shuffled off his mortal coil and joined the choir invisible. I just about committed seppuku with a scalpel right there. The man wasn't sad because of the poo, he was sad because he was bringing his dog in to be put to sleep, and on top of everything else he had to listen to me being cheerful at him. Sweet merciful chocolate, I suck.

...I may have apologized to the dead dog where no one could hear me. And patted his poor head.

*......hides*



*Even if the vet techs usually take care of it, because apparently I am a ninja and it's impossible to hunt me down. ;P

**Much the same way boot camp prepares you for a brisk walk around the block.

I went to the doctor's today to get a prescription for birth control pills, All By Myself! And I got the doctor to give me a list of therapy clinics, so I can start working on finding a shrink before my happy pills run out. (I've got less than a month's worth left. Better get on the stick.) Also, while I was in the area I went to the mall and bought myself My Weight Loss Coach for the DS. I figure that I've got my nose in my DS half the time anyway, so I might as well make it work for me.

Gee, it's almost like I'm a grownup, isn't it? XD


*....goes back to playing with my robots*

First it was the Temple Baptists (not to be confused with the regular kind, apparently). Then it was somebody shilling for some political dude or other. Then it was - I don't even know.

Regardless, I'm seriously considering not answering my doorbell for the next couple of weeks. It seems to be canvassing season. *hides under the bed*

So, Saturday I went to King's Dominion with my first local friend, her son, and her mom. Which, I think, is about the perfect party for an amusement park. Two thrill-seekers, two people to hang back and keep each other company while they watch the thrill-seekers' stuff. ;) Seriously, I had a lot of fun, even if 'Crypt' kicked my ass. XD As did the heat - I swear to you, I am just now recovering from the heat-sickness - though it was worth it around two when we finally got into the lazy river. Zomg so gooooood.

In other news, my bosses still haven't gotten back to me about full time and-or website work, and Michael's is hiring. Argh. *headdesk*

So, Michael Jackson has gone on to that great stage show in the sky.

..And was promptly bitchslapped by Farrah Fawcett for stealing her limelight.

I do not envy Mom her job. But as a rare diversion, it was fun to interact with the little terrors this afternoon. ^_^ The whole deal was like a mini-funfair for the end of year (although they still have a few days to go), so besides me they had a temporary tattoo place, games, hot dogs and candy. Overall the kids were all nice, but - as to be expected this time of year - supremely hyper. Somehow I managed to read them a Story when I arrived despite the squirrelyness, then went outside to get set up with my face-painting supplies. It was HotAndHumid, but I was set up under a shade tree so I was okay. And one of the nice Helper Moms brought me a water.

The paints I had were more like crayons, kinda thick, so I couldn't do anything real detailed. ...Which is probably a good thing. If I'd been capable of it, I probably could have sat there for hours doing one butterfly. ;P As it was, I managed to skibble out some credible things for just about everybody. Requests ranged from butterflies to lightning clouds to mermaids to swords, and one kid said 'Just do whatever' and I did him a phoenix. He guessed what it was before I was done drawing it. X3 I think my favorite, though, was the real-little guy who asked for Spider-Man. I did him an awesome Spider-Man, you guys.

And then we all trooped back inside and I got to read them another Story before final bell. ^_^ And then I let Mom show me off to a couple of her coworkers and helped her take some of her wall decorations down. (I'm probably going to be doing that some more next week. Curse my better nature.)

Tomorrow I get to go to my mom's school for their end-of-year party and do face-painting for the kids in her class. If I get there early enough, I might get to read them a story too. ^_^ ...And hopefully Mom will save me a popsicle. :D

And now, for your Shamless Plug portion of the evening:

Shoyu Ramen Western, or, How Ryuuki Earned His Cowboy Hat - Story of Saiunkoku, no sex, but lots of crossdressing and Western-style hijinks.
The Angel's Sweet Curse - the Bible, Michael/Lilith, and now you know why I'm going to hell.
So Lost Together - Galvatron/Rodimus, exorcising each others' demons just a little bit.
Patience and Practice - Power Rangers, Jason/Billy being cute.
Insatiable - Transformers G1; Galvatron/Rodimus/Cyclonus in various combinations. In which Cyc and Roddy try and fail to wear Galvatron out.
Into the Wild Black - Transformers G1; a pirate AU, in which Jazz saves the world by being utterly shameless. ^_^

And, and, fics by Other People!

Ten Reasons Why Iruka Thinks He Might Hate Kakashi - Naruto, Iruka/Kakashi. The pitfalls of dating, when your intended is an utter perv.
Wasted Time - The Doctor, Q, Marty McFly, and Vector Prime sitting around bitching. XD
Shots and Stories - FFVII, Tifa tending bar. Funny and sweet in a heartbreaking sort of way.
The Key - Robin Hood: Men In Tights, Robin/Marian, exactly as hilariously awesome as it sounds. This was one of my prompts. ^_^
Upping the Ante - Phoenix Wright, Nick/Miles, short and sexy. Nick getting the upper hand, so to speak. ;)
Just Like Flying - G1, Silverbolt/Slingshot, sparksex, and zomg. Just. *flail*

And now, if y'all will excuse me, I've got some serious porning to do. >)

So it cost me a hundred and fifty dollars to go to the fair today.

Actually, it cost me a hundred and fifty dollars to go home afterwards, when I came back to the parking lot and found that my car had been towed. Turns out it was a pay lot and I had not paid. (The sign, when The Guy pointed it out to me, was in plain sight. I am a dumbass.) So I had to call my dad to come and drive me to the impound lot (and finding the place was a Joy and Wonder in and of itself, let me tell you. Almost more wonderful than the Impatience and Contempt Rays that my dad is so good at putting out).

I'm really still sulking about the whole thing. But the fair was nice, as small-town fairs go. There were Booths, there was Unhealthy Food, there were Rides (which I didn't go on. It didn't seem as fun without someone with me). I bought a little air plant, because it was pretty and seemed low-maintenance enough that even I could keep it alive. It needs a little pot or dish to live in, and a name.

Re: the song in my music slot - I've looked up the real lyrics, but I keep hearing them sing 'this is so exhausting, this is so exhausting.' Which is oddly easy to picture, a bunch of people in a ritual frenzy-dance all singing about how exhausted they are.

They've been setting up for the fair downtown all week. Traffic and parking is kerazy down by my work, yo. They actually issued us all parking passes for the teeny-weeny gravel lot that also serves as the dogs' poop lot. And there's strange men in hard hats doing arcane things all over the area. Hard hats, guys. If I see a guy with an open shirt, a beer belly, and yellow galoshes, I will not be responsible for my actions. ...But in any case, I have spotted a Ferris wheel and a merry-go-round, so it's already worth the price of admission. So I'll be popping down there tomorrow or Sunday. There may be pictures.

Speaking of work, there is an English bulldog named Hemingway who is the coolest dog in the world. I can't even express how awesome he is.

Another day, and the wank goes on. Frankly, I'm hip-deep in my springkink right now so I don't care. ^_^ Current count: five down, nine to go, and number six is puttering along nicely due to Jazz being such an enormous slut. *hearts him so much*

*crosses off item on list* Done! I don't ever need to do it again.

( TL;DR: It was fun, but not quite worth the hassle. PICTURE HEAVY! )

...which, I suppose, is a good thing. There seems to be a lot of hate directed toward April Fool's these days. At least on my flist.

The bug guy sprayed the hell out of our house, but a year and a half of the Recurring Bedbug Nightmare has made my parents even more neurotic than me. Along with washing everything in hot water (I hope my blankets get done soon, or I am going to be one cold moogle), Mom has gotten me new bedding, which is nice, and informed me that I have to bag up all my yarn and store it in the garage indefinitely, which sucks. My plans for an Etsy store are officially on hold, and (lj)ravynfyre's Magnus plushies are going to experience a Significant Delay. Mom says she's willing to buy me more yarn, but that's still a lot of projects - plans - hopes going Away for me. I'm kind of really bummed out by this.

She was very apologetic and told me over and over that I wasn't being punished, which of course only made me had to work harder not to start crying in front of her. Though the fact that I've been forgetting to take my meds probably accounts for some of that. Sleeping in the basement messes with my routine.

And just to add icing on the cake, oh my god, they're making the Anita Blake books into a TV series. I don't usually bitch about this, but Anita Blake broke my heart years ago and it's never quite healed. I dread to think what a bunch of executives will do to it. They're apparently aiming for a core audience of men 18-34, which is never a good sign, because most TV execs seem to think that 18-34-year-old men are a bunch of vacuous, self-absorbed fatheads.* About the only people they have a lower opinion of are women 18-34.

*Whether or not this is accurate is probably beside the point.

Have I mentioned how much I love being able to pop down to Washington D.C. on my days off? ^____^ Seriously, it rocks. Even if I'm mostly interested in the museums. (There are a lot of museums.)

( Fun and educational! )

So, good day. But I am worn out now. *sighs and flops out* ^_^ ...Who knows, maybe I'll go back next weekend for the cherry blossom festival. :D

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*