Cozz says:

The last few days?

Craaaaaaaaaaaaaaazy.

Between school, the internet, the typing gig, the murals, the writey and the family... waaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!! *rips out brains* Can't say I'm bored, though.

Thanks for the grats on getting the college! Done with finances now, starting the entrance exams soonish (probably tomorrow). I still have to go over the FAFSA results, but it looks like I may get a free ride while I'm in school, which is amazingly awesome. I'll have hella loans to pay back later, though. Heh!

Anyway, my OS is linux ubuntu, and according to the rep, I'm going to need to use a lot of Windows applications. Therefore, I had to download Virtual Box and Windows 7. Pray everything works right! I know Windows is still a working edition, but I'm sure everything will still work on it... right? Had a good look at it, and it seems mostly Vista anyway--Aero edition, but Vista.

*crosses fingers and toes*

Despite all the fretting, though, Virtual Box is AWESOME. I have no idea why I didn't do this sooner. Check it out:

( Pics! )


So! Computer geeks! Do you think Dreamweaver, Adobe things, and the MS Office Suit will work on here? Well, maybe not Office so much. I hate Office. I hope I can work around that...

Also, I want to remind the world that I hate Windows. I installed it, played around, and it ALREADY had an error. Working edition or no, that's just sad. Not to mention it's slow as all fuck. I'll probably have to use a Windowmaker desktop when I use VB more often. *stabs Windows*

I signed up at Westwood College.

It's a huge step for me--I looked at all the colleges on offer, decided it was best to go online, and then I got a call from Westwood, and the rest is history. I'm taking their graphics design course, and I've already applied for the loans and all. Most of the hard stuff is squared away--I just need to convince one of the parents to be a cosigner and support the bills if I fail.

I still need to get a hold of the Americorps guy and find out if I can apply the scholarship to Westwood, because the school does seem expensive, even if it is awesome. Still, I'm not the least bit nervous. I should be, but I'm not. I don't know why... it just feels right.

Going for a Bachelors Of Science, but I should be able to finish it in 3 years. Then I'm going to get a career, save up, and go back to school and take what I really, really, really want to do: creative writing.

But I'm not going to take creative writing without a backup plan, and I've always sort of wanted to be a graphics designer, so there you go. Besides, as a graphics designer, I can do freelance and still get paid substantially--which fits in nicely with my on-the-go lifestyle.

I've also decided that when my parents move, I'm not moving with them, so I'm still looking for a part-time job to keep me going. There are some pretty cheap places around here, so I'm sure I could do it--I have to, because I know that if I stick with them, I'll never get out of here. The economy isn't much cooperating, however... I'm still sending out applications, still getting rejected in favor of someone else. My parents keep saying it's because I'm not hispanic. I think it's because my employment history, though colorful, is all self-employed. Period. Wah!

Overall, I've sort of become one of those unstoppable brick walls that is bashing through obstacles and determined as hell to move on in life. I've lost a lot of friends because of it (and it really, really hurt), but I'm not letting that stop me. It's important that I dig myself out of the hole I've been wallowing in since forever, and it was also my new year's resolution this year. I plan on sticking to it. So far, I have.



Anyway, we'll see where that goes. I start August 5th... I won't finish the murals by then, but doing this online makes things a bit more flexible.

Speaking of, I do have pictures. I should upload one of these centuries!


(As for the writey, it's coming along. Slow due to many, many, many RL situations, but coming.)

Trying to stay positive, but it's not been easy lately. Things are getting complicated in both online and RL. Still, others have it much worse right now, so I'm hugging you all! Sorry if any of you have been experiencing my mood swings--I'm not dealing with the stress very well, I'll admit it. Just know I'm not mad at anyone... that is, if I've been giving the vibe because it's hard to tell on this end. Yes, I am a paranoid git. Hee!

Anyway, this test result is uncanny...

I feel the interwebs has seen my soul, LOL.

EDIT: Amazon... sort of... apologizes. Um. Sort of.

How To Kill A Dying Fandom

Heh!


EDIT: Major Amazon Fail. Homophobia is sad, you know? I signed the petition. I ask anyone who disagrees with their actions should sign too. I don't think I'm going to be shopping on Amazon anymore, IMHO.

Did anyone else see House?

Just... wow.

Finally caught up. And that was... yeah. I mean... and... Kutner...

*loss for words*

I'm still clawing my way out of the hole I've been digging for the last several years, and sometimes I forget I'm not quite in the clear yet. Sunshine is laying down on me, but I'm still stuck here, until I can find something better. The job search is not going well. I'll keep looking, but until I can find something...

You know how they say the grass is greener on the other side? It's like that, except I haven't even seen the other side yet. I'm starting to have my doubts, and the only thing pushing them back down again is sheer will. I can't fall back into old habits. God knows where that will take me.

I'm pretty much finished with the murals in this hall now (will post pictures... eventually!), and I'm hoping that since I can't get what I'm worth on the next two, I can convert it into scholarships to go to Trinidad. I'd be fine either way, but I really am tired for working less than I'm worth. And maybe a scholarship would be better pay, in the end. I honestly don't care, as long as there's something... I need something.


But enough about that. Did anyone else see the newest Dollhouse? OMG yay. I knew they'd get better once Fox got over its This Is The Way We Should Do It games the first five episodes in. For some reason, Fox believes that ratings improve when the highest quality to an episode is half-naked mindless chicks on display, but considering the exceptional quality of the episodes these last few weeks compared to earlier, I have to say, all it ever did was annoy people.

Loving Echo's character more and more, and am seriously growing into the other actives as well (especially the guy, the one who has a crush on Sierra?). The British Lady (always forget her name too) is also getting more of a character now, and I think I'm even starting to like her. Could still lose her and be perfectly happy, but at least now I can see some individuality in her actions. And Boyd is still as great as ever. I can't wait to find out where this is going! I really hope we get another season out of this.


Also been watching Dexter lately--OMG talk about one hell of a show. The relations between Dexter and his brother especially had me going--the finale of season 1 was just... total wow-factor. Also loving Rita... to be honest, Julie Benz's voice always annoyed me when she played Darla on BTVS... I'm not sure why, I think it just takes some getting used to. I loved her acting there, however, and in Dexter, it's even better. The woman seriously is the hottest thing on two legs, for more than one reason. I really admire the way she can play a character like Rita, and transform her into a strong, capable, don't-mess woman who slowly learns who to take what she needs in life. I would say I love her even more than Dexter himself, but honestly, there's just something about serial killers... Basil on LJ said he reminds him of Duo, and some sad little part of me agrees. Bahahahahahaha!


/babbling. It was ralphiere's birthday yesterday! *kishies* I hope you had a great one, luffy!


Edit: I really, really, really hate the term "fag hag." I really, really do. Argh!

I've been abusing my sleep so badly this week that I couldn't tell you what I did yesterday. Or the day before.

I think I was getting myself sick, because even after sleeping all day yesterday and last night via being awake for 25 hours for the second time in less than a week, I still feel like crap warmed over. So as a result, I'm going into work this evening and *not* overnight, to maybe try actually sleeping at night for a while. Insomnia + night shift + running around during the day = major owies.

I did, however, manage to take pictures of the newest mural, finally. I'll get them uploaded and posted ASAP.


In other news, is anyone else watching Dollhouse? I admit, I've hated just about every episode (including the pilot) thus far, but Man On The Street was fantastic. Finally, I'm seeing Joss for the greatness he is, and I can't wait for the next batch of episodes. I'd heard that Fox was harassing Joss for ratings and kept getting the way of the writing in the early episodes, which caused the ratings to, ironically, plummet. Frankly, the episodes have sucked in the first 5 eps, and I was getting really disappointed all around. But now things are finally beginning to get in high gear--the question is, do you think it's too late? Already, fans are saying there won't be a second season, and I have to agree. Which would be sad, because not only would we lose the chance of seeing more Amy Acker and Eliza Dushku, but also more of Joss because he's already said that after Dollhouse, he's finished doing TV.

The blame does not go on Eliza, though. There have been many, many attacks not only on her acting skills, but also her sex appeal. Personally, I don't think there's anyone hotter than Dushku, and she's a fantastic actress who just needs the Joss touch we've been sorely lacking. I'd hate to see her go through Dollhouse without really being given the chance to prove just how great she really is, but Man On The Street gives me hope.

*crosses fingers*

Feeling a lot better after some sleep, although I should go back and sleep a little more before work tonight. I probably won't, though.

The mural is going well, I'll be finished this one at the end of the month (hoping)! I still need to take pictures, and I'm bringing the camera to do just that. Hopefully, it will be made of awesomesauce! That is to say, it is made of awesomesauce, but I'm hoping you'll think so too. ^^;

Happy Equinox, dudies!! I tried balancing an egg, and it didn't work. Doh! Oh well. Maybe next time!

( Various memes. )

Lookie what I made! :D



*loves toys*

No time to reply to comments, but I really, really appreciate them. Will hopefully get to them tomorrow. *kishes*

That headache? It's a sinus infection. A fairly bad one, and I got the meds for it yesterday. Feel a little better, but the stuff doesn't come with a painkiller, so... OW.

Yeah.

Because I've been under the weather, I haven't gotten the ram yet, either. Hopefully tomorrow... I'll try to remember. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!

See you when I see you...

I met up with one of the women at the nursing home today (I think she's one of the head's of the entire facility) and she took pictures of me with the mural! I hated the pictures (not the best picture taker IMO), but apparently this is going in the newsletter between the nursing homes (from this one to the others), so I'm all excited anyway. Wooooooooooooooot! Now if only I could lose a billion pounds, wear a bikini, and get a really hawt sun tan! :D

No word yet on the newspaper itself, but this is good in itself!! The first thing customers are showed when they want to put their loved ones in the nursing home is the mural (they say it makes the place look less like an institution and more like a home), and lots of people see it every day. Yayzors!

Will continue working on pictures to upload. Hopefully, I'll have a post ready soon!

I also got also got watercolor pencils recently, and I"m working on mastering them! They are SO COOL. Dude, you color with the pencil and then you paint with water! OMG AWESOMECAKES! I'm hoping to draw something really, really kewl with them. Hee!

Also, while I'm on the subject of art... do you think it's worth going to Adam's State for an art major? I want to use the murals to get in (as well as some scholarships, hopefully, because I do not want to pay loans forever and ever and ever), but some people are saying that I don't need to. I think I do--I have room for improvement, and going to school would be great. A CNA at the nursing home went for his master of apprenticeship in woodmaking, and he said the art program there is AWESOME.

So, yesh, thinking about that.

*dashes off to get ready for workies*

GUESS WHO'S GONNA BE IN THE NEWSPAPER?!?!

YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT BABY!

MOI! ME! MYSELF! I!!!!!!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!!!!! *dances!!!*


Well, the Courier (I think, either that or the SLV one) wants to put me in the paper!! Apparently, they've been taking pictures of the mural in progress at the vet's center and when I finish, they're gonna do an interview!! Dude!! Can you believe it!?!?!

It's only a small paper, but OMG!!!!

I faint now.


I'll be online around 8-9 my time, girls!

Yes, I know, I'm still awake. I'm gonna be dead tired tomorrow! Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!

Okay, quick question. I was wondering if you guys think this ad in the Craig's list is authentic. My dad wants me to call and consider writing the novel for him, but 1) he's a weird stranger I never met, 2) I can't find this story anywhere, and 3) although interesting, I have a feeling we're going to disagree on certain issues.

*ponders*

So! I've been meaning to do this for some time, but life as it is keeps getting in the way. But when you don't have time for your friends... well, that's just bad.

For the record, I have most of your Christmas/New Years/EXTREMELY LATE holiday stuff ready to mail, I just need money to... err... mail it. But I'm almost done with the mural, which will give me enough to take care of packaging, which means that soon--SOON--your gifts will actually get out of the valley. Heh! Anyone who has mailed a card to me will be getting something in return, I promise you (and Cinderzol, if you're reading this--I'd love to mail you a card back, because the card you sent me was so beautiful and it made me wibble. If you can, send me your addy at cozzybob@gmail.com. LOVE! *squish*).


Moving on! That meme from a while ago where you requested stuff for me to draw? I've drawn most of them, but the scanner is being a real bastard. The printer/scanner combo I got for Christmas was sent back after it refused to work on the puter, and apparently, my dad and brother ordered a new one via the internet, but I have no idea if it's actually going to arrive--it's yet to get here, at any rate. If I can't get dad's scanner working soon, I'm just gonna end up taking a picture with the camera... which I hate to do, because it comes out all blurry. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

But, yesh, I do have drawings upload for y'all, and you may even get to see them before the next century. Heh!

Don't believe me?



Hee! Sorry I've been such a crappy friend lately. *huggers*


/ *seriously tries to sleep at least a little bit, now*

Slept through it. LOL! Oh well--this is what YouTube is for. Heard some of the speech second-hand, though, and it sounded beautiful. Wooters!

And for something decidedly non-politics... sort of... Sueworld really sums up my opinion of the BTVS comics rather well. I am not wasting my money on these. Not even my time to steal them online. That's how horrible they are. That's Joss for you--once the rising voice of feminism, now the voice of fanboys everywhere. Let's watch women fuck screw each other for the sake of showing boobies. Argh!

Stupid fanboys.

/arghity.

Fic note: I've been working on A Dead Sinner pretty heavily the last few days, and I was wondering if anyone still wants an update. I'll post the fic when it's done, but I know kitsune_wolf was reading it in it's progression... ^^

Since I'll never get to this tomorrow (read: later today), I'll say this:

I am proud of my country.

I did have a much longer, rambling essay about the whys and hows of the thing, but that's really all that needs to be said. In the last 8 years, I haven't had the opportunity to say anything prideful very often. This is a good day. I want to remember every last detail.



Random Facts Of Randomness:

1) It's my mother's birthday today. OMG!

2) The Onion was psychic.

3) I had no idea Obama's middle name was Hussein. This amuses me greatly (especially considering the ignorance that results). Heh! Now we leave before I get back to the Why We Still Have A Long Way To Go rant...



I love you all, and I hope you have a fabulous, awesometastic, OMGYAY4US kinda day. *squish*

Now that I got the last post out of my system (heh!), onto a much happier topic! Another mural update! Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!

WARNING: VERY PICTURE HEAVY, NOT DIAL-UP FRIENDLY.

( OMG SUNSET COLORS YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!! )

And that's it for now! More updates soon as I take pictures tomorrow. ^^

EDIT: I also did this completely random photo the same day:

( Read more... )

Sorry about comments--thanks so much for the support on the mural, I'll reply back soonish. And the questions about the programs for backing up LJ--I don't have the time to answer right now, but hopefully, tonight I'll be able to grab some internet to explain things. ^^


Anyway, let's face it--there's not a lot of activity going on in IJ. Everyone goes to LJ. But LJ is Doomed right now, and the company is rather horrid, anyway--so why not just bring everything to IJ and post here. Hm?

The thing is, you go and look for an active comm to post in and meet people, and the only things you can find with actual activity is either RP comms or meet-you-ups. And while those are all good and dandy, I'd really rather like some actual content. For someone who is actually based on this site and not just posting between LJ and IJ as backup, it's important.

So! I'm looking for ideas to start a comm that everyone will be happy to post in and make friends with others, so we can explode with activity. We have to start somewhere, right? I'm thinking maybe a writing comm like writing101, since a) content, b) friendly, and c) everyone loves them! The problem is, I don't just want a writing comm to post stuff in and never have any replies to posts. I want something that's interactive, with prompts and events and such! Maybe if we combined both ofic AND original fic in the same comm? Is that possible? Like, any writing in general, just as long as there's love abound? And we could have contests, because everyone loves contests!

*thinkers*

Anyway. If not writing, then something. *shakes flist for ideas*

Don't mind me. It's early for me, I'm off to work, and I haven't even taken a shower yet. Doh!

I decided another post would be better, since a few friends both here and on LJ seem to be having trouble with LJ Archive, ect.

• LJ Book is a well-known site that turns your LJ or IJ into a PDF, and then later, if you want it, book form. Mostly for writers, but it's been used very heavily the last few days to back up LJ's. The site is down constantly lately because of overload to the servers, and it's hard to grab a time when the conversion will actually go through because of the traffic. Still, if you can manage to sneak through traffic and get your PDF, the service is completely free as far as I can tell, and it works on all systems because it's totally online.



• LJ Dump is a program that works with Python and it's usable on both Linux, Mac & Windows (and just about every system that uses Python). The program is probably confusing to new users (it is for me), so there's a lj community for the program if you have any serious questions. I tried running this one, but the terminal use is confusing (since I'm not big on terminals), so I "dumped" this. Heh!



• Instead, I found this site for Linux people (may work with Mac, too, come to think of it). All you have to do is open a terminal, copy/paste the first code (while online), and then copy/paste the second one with your specific changes. This works automatically with LJ and it converts every post in your journal into a txt file in your puter (in Linux, it'll put them in your home folder, BTW). If you have a lot of posts, it'll take a while, but it works! All posts are organized by subject title, not date. Still, it's easy to search through them if you're using Konqueror. It worked just fine for me! ^^
  
  The only thing is, he says all you have to do is change the top variable to make it work on something like IJ, but I'm too brain melty to figure out how, right now. So instead, I went looking for other, more stupid-friendly alternatives...



• For Windows users, there's also LJ Sec (sorta like lj archive). Instructions for this program, here, and another set here.



• Antennapedia posted yet another alternative for all three (Windows, Linux, Mac)... similar to LJ Sec (transfers your entire LJ to another journal service, like IJ as backup). All you do is download the zip file / tar file / whichever, and read the instructions. I'm still working on this one! (Because I think the idea of transferring cozzybabbles (yes, it does communities!) to LJ would be kewl.)



• Mac Book also works with LJ, from what I hear! For Mac users, obviously. ^^



• There's also this from LJ itself, if you're computer savvy. Apparently, you CAN use this to backup your stuff and put it all on Wordpress.



• And this thing--another perl! Hee!



• XJournal for Mac.



• Another Windows program.
  
  
  
  ...And I'm totally done now. Hee!!

Have you guys heard about the current LJ drama? Apparently, they've laid off 20 out of 28 "a few dozen" employees, and now everyone is worried that it's going to go belly up. I can't blame them--if LJ goes belly up, it's clones are sure to follow. I'm going to try and get lj archive working on my computer so I can back up everything just in case. After the disaster that happened last year, I'm not taking any chances.

Although, I must say--I really do have a lot more confidence in Squeaky than I do in LJ. For one thing, the rule of all things is thus: the bigger they are, the harder they fall. Trust me, if it's one thing I've learned from running my own company (at 20 years of age), it's that (and yes, it was my company--it was in my name, for tax reasons. ;) ). The less expenses you have, the less debt you have--and the more you have, the more debt you will have when you're checkbook goes in the red. I have met men who were millionaires and lost their entire fortune in three weeks. It does happen. It's been happening steadily since fall last year, and it'll continue to happen until the ecomony restarts itself, and the world gets a huge booster shot. Doh!

Anyway, I don't know of LJ will actually fail, but if it does... things will get interesting. Imagine the huge flow into IJ. *ponders if the servers will handle that*


/morbid thought of the day.


All this has reminded me to wish you well, though. If you're struggling, you have my prayers and sympathy. The world is in a dark place, but the sun's still shining, isn't it?


EDIT: Okay, I've found some alternatives. If you're really, really worried about this:

LJ Dump works on both Linux and Mac. Yay! Instructions here.

The actual LJ archive download only works on Windows, but if you have Wine on Linux, it *almost* works. It needs the .net framework, though, which is a pain in the ass to install, so... yeah. Heh!

There's also this page, if you can understand it. Which I can't. ^^


...and there are others, if you need them! :D