Shuffle It!

Meme, ganked yet again from musesfool.

the "Be Pete Wentz" meme:

1. Put your music player on shuffle
2. The first lines of twenty songs = a poem; the first line of the twenty-first song is the title

I had this perfect dream

See a glimpse inside the pool it's hollow

Givin' up is hard to do with you

If I were a sculptor, but then again no

In the deserts of Sudan, and the gardens of Japan
Here I am, and within the reach of my hand, she's sound asleep

Sometimes I feel I've got to run away
That's all right; learn there's a voice in this howling night

You didn't stop to look round
My story is much too sad to be told

Cecilia, you're breaking my heart
There's nothing you can say to make me change my mind

Hey, where did we go?
There's a song that I recall my mother sang to me
One of these days
If you change your mind, I'm the first in line

Life is a mystery, everyone must stand alone

High, higher than the sun
This could be heaven for everyone

When you try your best but you don't succeed
A hand above the water, an angel reaching for the stars


Key to the songs used:
( Read more... )

I should imagine this song/poem/thing probably works better as a duet - it doesn't make a hell of a lot of sense either way, although Winamp seemed to get into a groove from Cecilia onwards...which is kind of odd, kind of annoying, and kind makes me want to do it all over again...

And yes, there are three a-ha songs in there. There would've been more if I'd let Winamp have its way (but I didn't, obviously).

New work up at my dA!

Celice - (obvious reference is obvious, but I couldn't resist. Its companion will be getting just an obvious reference as its title and to exactly the same bunch of Norwegians *g*). For those of you that either know it's me or recognise me, please don't let that be known on there. I'm pretending it's not me *snerk*.

Comments here or there would be good.

( cut for not a great deal of rambling about the above pic )

~*~

I was quite distressed to learn yesterday that of four pairs of ripped jeans, only one fit me now. My favourite pair are incredibly uncomfortable to wear - I could hardly breathe when I had them on, which...pains me greatly (no pun intended). I wore those jeans a lot while I was in my very late teens and extremely early twenties, which is why they're in the state they're in. But while they look good on my legs now (I used to weigh so little that they were baggy), I'd rather not pass out from not being able to breathe properly.

Oh well, I guess it happens. Good job I have a new favourite pair of jeans now (which got covered in plaster dust today 'cause I love them so much).

~*~

I went into college today, which is rare (usually I'm asleep till dinner time on a Monday). But I was itching to play some more with my lump o' plaster (and didn't want it to have dried out too much. Now I am of the opinion that it's too damn wet. I can't win).

I also harangued a few (four) people on their opinion of Albatross. Three of the four said "Wow" on first seeing it, I suppose because it's so different to anything I've ever done before (even with other photographs). And one of them was Jeannie, who I adore but rarely ever talk to any more, 'cause she doesn't teach HND students (i.e. me and my ilk). But it was all very interesting, and she's of the same opinion as Tony, that I should follow this through and see where it takes me.

I'm kind of nervous, but then again, I always feel like that about the unknown. The very worst that could happen is people won't talk to me, but eh...I can probably live with that.

(Why yes, this may very well be my new favourite icon...)

Today has been pretty successful. While not essay-wise (I think I'm writing myself in circles at the moment; I need to Have Words with someone...), I seem to have got a lot done in five hours.

I found my curling tongs (not where I thought they were); put away all my clean clothes (the pile was...a bit big); found a pair of strappy shoes (with killer heels) that actually fit me now I seem to have put weight on my feet and also found some clothes that can work for the photos; set up and tested both shots for the photos and whether I could take them, or if I'd need a gopher to take them for me (provided I remember where I put the camera, I'm OK!). And then I did some writing and very nearly ended up in tears (only because it still hurts to write about it is all). But as I say, I think I'm writing in circles now.

And then I watched Return of the Jedi. Well deserved, I think. Although while the original trilogy has been on for the last three weeks, Jedi is the only one I've managed to see all the way through in recent times. Which is somewhat depressing as Empire is my favourite. Eh.

I found myself saying to mum I hoped it wasn't the fiddled with version where Anakin's ghost has been changed to Hayden Christensen.

FAMOUS. LAST. WORDS.

Three guesses what the next shot showed?

I've managed to successfully avoid that one for how long now? I would've smashed things if I hadn't been in such a generally good mood because George Lucas makes me stabbity.

>_<

Anyway, I showed mum some of the test shots for the boy pic, and she says I look a bit like John Lennon in one of them. Which...I've heard before (although not from her, so that was kind of new). Although then again, she did say that with my guitar I looked like someone out of the sixties (just 'cause it's a bloody acoustic! BLEH. Some of that might be down to my haircut, though. It is a bit floppy and useless).

She also said she likes the one of me on the stairs (test shot for the girl pic).

Now I just need to set aside a couple of days and get them taken (a couple of days because of hair gel and other stuff. Although if I curl my hair one day and gel it the next, I'm sure I have enough gel that I can get it to do what I want. May have to think about that. It's been a long time since I've done anything with hair gel).

I THINK I EVEN HAVE TITLES FOR THEM, WHICH IS KIND OF SCARY.

(And one of them's a deliberate song reference (and I bet you could guess it, especially if I tell you I need a boy's name for the other one), but I've been doing this with writing for so long now, I don't even stop to think about it. Although this one was consciously chosen. Actually, I chose the title before I even knew what I'd be doing in it and it probably dictated what the picture would be like...Oy oy oy...now I'm confused).

I was going to post the test versions, so you could see. But I am feeling evil (and I don't really do works-in-progress), so y'all will just have to wait for the finished things.

Also thinking about casting my left arm in modroc and then maybe in plaster (will need to ask for help with that, though). Not sure what I'll do with it, but I'm sure I can think of something.

Am going into college tomorrow to play with a lump of plaster that Angela gave me. It's all good! (Also for the first time I've not got a solid idea of what I'm doing with it. I'm taking chunks out of it, and then smoothing bits over at the moment. With a knife and a spoon. SRSLY).

I just posted my last kinkfest prompt, after banging it out in the space of about an hour and a half. Which I've been doing far too often this round. *headdesk* Even when I was busy with school, I used to have my prompts written out well in advance. This month, writing was like pulling teeth and I usually wound up having to come up with something either the night before or the day of. I really think my quality suffered.

Maybe I need a break. It's not as though I don't have a metric ton of crocheting to do, after all. *zoom zoom yarn becomes blanket, alakazam!*

Thanksgiving was actually very nice. I baked the pumpkin pie (and it turned out amazing, thankyouverymuch!), Mom made gravy from scratch, and Dad did pretty much everything else. He'd wound up getting a twenty-five pound turkey because that's all he could find. It barely even fit in the oven. So, uh... anyone wanna come over for turkey sammiches? XD It's really good turkey, too - usually I could take it or leave it, but Dad did a really good job. I suppose that's a good thing if you're going to have leftovers anyway.

EDIT: Oh god, lol. Dad put up the Peanuts characters today (see this post) and has a spotlight shining on Sally so it casts the shadow of her head right on the front window. I... never realized how much her head looked like the Bat signal before. XDDD This calls for a crossover, you know. "Good grief, we need a hero!" "I've got an idea. Sally, hold still." "What are you doing, you blockhead!?"

.......oh god, my brain.

SURPRISE JAMES SPADER!

(Stargate's on BBC1. w00t!)

Move To Memphis (album version) - a-ha - uploaded for das_dingsi

(Sendspace link, although I can upload it elsewhere if you like?)

Analogue (whole album) - a-ha - uploaded for jyuukoi.
I will readily recommend this album to anyone, though. I think it's excellent, and bears up to repeated listenings. I also think it works well as background noise you don't really have to concentrate on or pay attention to (this is not a bad thing), especially the second half of the album (Halfway Through The Tour onwards). Also having not heard Magne sing before (The Summers of Our Youth) makes for an interesting and awesome experience. His voice is obviously very different from Morten's, but oh...*dies*.

(Megaupload link; Sendspace doesn't seem to like it for some reason. If you'd like me to upload it somewhere else, let me know)

shinigamirocker: I'll leave uploading Mike Oldfield till nearer Xmas, as I think my timing is off, and you probably won't see it before you leave for uni (sincerest apologies).

Meme, ganked from musesfool:

01. Answer each of the questions below the cut using the [Flickr] search engine.
02. Choose a photo from the first three pages.
03. Copy the URL of your favorite photos [here].
04. Then share with the world.

( answers under here )

Best waste of time ever.

~*~

I'm quite excited about my potential photos.

I've been working out ideas and angles and things. I want to talk a bit about it, so I'll stick it behind a cut and then anyone who wants to read it, can, and I have a tendency to ramble when I'm excited about things.

( Read more... )

So. Yeah. Not sure when I'm gonna get to them yet (still got to write *rolls eyes*), and I'm still a bit undecided as what to wear (contrary to popular belief, I do actually own some girly clothes. I just don't wear them often). It may require me struggling into a pair of ripped jeans which no longer fit me since I put weight on my arse. That could be good for a giggle or two...

No doubt I'll post the results on here and dA when I've done them :)

Quick question, guys!

Anyone know a relatively quick and painless way of faking facial hair without resorting to, you know, real hair?

Anything that works at a distance would be OK (because it won't be under close scrutiny). I need to know for one of the photos I'm gonna take.

Also any way to make myself look less feminine in general would be help (although I think I can figure out a few things...)

Thanks in advance :)

(Mood doesn't fit how I feel, but I love that picture *g* One day I may make an icon out of it).

I love Tony.

God...I mean yeah, he's always enthusiastic about my work in one way or another, but today was just, like, even more awesome than usual.

I took my photo into college. Before I went into life drawing, I stuck it up in my space. So now practically everybody at college has seen my boobs. Yeah, strange feeling, that.

Anyway, life drawing went well, even if it does always make me feel stupid (you think you know how to draw a human, and then you're proved wrong). I'm better at drawing than I think Tony gives me credit for. I could be wrong about that, but I don't think I am.

We had a male model, which is actually something I've needed, and what I've learnt is that blokes are hard to draw! I think women are easier (the last time I did life drawing, we had a female model), I know where all the bits go, if that makes sense. Men are difficult!

I asked Tony if I could have a word with him after the lesson, as I had something to show him. In short, he likes the photograph. ( cut for art babbling and to save your flist )

But. I came away from it feeling really good (like dancing down the freaking street good), and with a few ideas I'm gonna exercise. LIFE IS GOOD.

Albatross (dA link; mature filter firmly in place for obvs. reasons).

Albatross (non-dA link for anyone who wants to comment but isn't on dA).

I've also had my first "LOL! BOOBS!" comment. I wanted to hit the person in question, but I was very good, and I didn't. I just got mildly narked instead.

~*~

Sendspace still hates me. Working on that.

shinigamirocker, would you like me to reupload Mike Oldfield for you somewhere?

~*~

K K K K K

Promised gushing.

Train of Thought - a-ha.

I can't gush lots about this without giving something significant away. So. The most I will say is if you love rotoscoping (or even the video for Take on Me, which uses said technique extensively), watch it. There's some interesting ideas with the way it's done. The other reason is I love the reveal at ~3:25 - makes watching the video again interesting, knowing that tiny fact. Although if I mention it it will spoil the whole thing. So.

I also love the way the light flickers in time with the beat (at about 1:24), too, and it goes from film to the rotoscoping. SO MUCH LOVE.

On the subject of mildly bad videos, Pål, you're not fooling anyone with those panpipes. Honest. (Mind you, this is one of those videos where Magne is not trying AT ALL with the keyboard, so...eh...)

You didn't know
you were swimming with sharks
did you?

You had no idea even
that this was out to sea
many miles from shore

You did not see
fins closing in
with the afternoon light fading

You had no clue they were sharks
- did you?

Their silent glide
masking the seriousness
of their purpose

Full of faith
in the nobility of your own,

you never thought that
keeping my limp body afloat
would put you in harms way

But I am leaking
and their sense of smell
is legend

~*~

I haven't posted a poem in ages, and I fucking love this one to itty bitty pieces.

Dear a-ha,

I love you guys so much and you don't even know it.

I hadn't listened to Celice before looking up the video on Youtube. I was intrigued to see the video 'cause I'd read some stuff about it being...well...scandalous? Now, personally, I don't get what the uproar was. I've seen worse.

BUT. (And this is a big but, you guys)

I totally fell in love with the song. And now I can't listen to it without feeling dirty. If that was your aim, mission accomplished, boys. If not...eh...maybe it's just me.

Anyway, I just thought you should know. Call it future reference or something...

much love,
Me x

~*~

No, seriously: Celice - a-ha.

There are two versions of it (second has some different shots for the first minute or so, but that's it), but I can't find the second one *kicks Youtube*

I'm not sure exactly why it has that above effect on me. Usually I can distance myself from shit like that (I certainly don't imagine two naked women at it when I hear Smack My Bitch Up). Could have been watching the two different versions of it close together and then just playing it and playing it and oh god did I mention I love this album?

(I seriously do. I'm bad at replaying music till I get sick of it. I can only just listen to Sanctuary/Passion again because I hammered it so hard when I first found it. I've listened to the full album about three times today. And I've hammered Celice a lot. It's a good job mum doesn't often hear me when I'm in the full throes of this. I think if I shared a house with anyone, they would get sick of me fast. I had Cold as Stone on a loop for half an hour when I was setting up and taking that photo last night).

It's been a long time since I've loved every single track on an album. Even U2 albums I like I tend to skip tracks on (Zooropa's a notable example), and I love U2 like whoa (I love a-ha like whoa, too. This fact is becoming more apparent to me as the days pass).

~*~

Ugh. Apparently my internet hates me. I was going to upload both Analogue and Move To Memphis, as well as upload Albatross to dA, but I can't upload anything tonight.

Maybe it's a sign?

*shrugs*

~*~

Double ugh.

I have surprise!life drawing tomorrow.

Although I kind of made a deal with Tony about it. Or, rather, he made it and I agreed. I go to one lesson, I prove to him that I am perfectly capable of drawing a human, and I don't have to go to any others. Mainly because I think I will be writing solidly from now till at least my birthday. *rolls eyes*

I also have to take previous life drawings in at some point, as well as my paintings (he didn't know I'd done any painting in the last three years! Where the hell has he been?!), and any sculpture I've got that I've done since I've been on the HND.

It's times like this I wish I had a car.

I mean, I can do it, it's just faffy on public transport. And I'd have to do it on three occasions, and know that he'd be there.

Anyway, tomorrow might prove a laugh (or maybe not). I'm gonna ask his opinion on my photo. I'd ask Mike, but I don't think he's in at the moment (his wife just gave birth, so he has a perfect right not to be). And as for anyone else, I don't really care what they think (well, not true, I care what you guys think as you're my friends, but that's it).

So yeah. I have to get certain written stuff in by Xmas, or I get my arse kicked seriously. One is one of my essays, which I spent five hours on today. I don't know as it makes much sense, or even if it's what Tony's after (he said he didn't care what I wrote about as long as I wrote something and it didn't require research). I'm gonna write an alternate version on Sunday though (busy tomorrow and Saturday *eye roll*).

~*~

OK...icky feeling related to Celice is starting to go. GOOD. (But I still stand by what I said above).

ETA: I totally meant to gush about the video for Train of Thought! I'll do that tomorrow night (provided I remember). [/eta]

Have a happy Thanksgiving, y'all who celebrate it! :D

(Please do not pick up, meta_roundup

...Everything is wrong with this.

Combining the idea for the Bad Ass Demyx Club @ Yaoi Gallery and the kairi_in_shadow asylum here on IJ and its mirror on LJ, I have the most fucking warped Demyx/Kairi idea in my heaaaad.

It's so warped and everything is wrong with it and OMG WHY and it's not Happy Fluffy Rainbow Sparkly Clouds like I USUALLY think of when I think of Demyx and Kairi together and augh.

Okay, so it's Happy Fluffy BUNNIES OF DAAAAAAAARKNESSSSSS in this case, along with bloodshed, Random Death, Fucking Creepy-Ass!Demyx, a Kairi who can probably force Heartless into cardic arrest, corruption and WTF am I thinking am I becoming a Demyx/Kairi fan!? ONOES! I AM A PAIRING TRAYTER!1

Yes I am.

FUCK IT!

Making a Demyx/Kairi general relationship asylum, 'cause I think they'd like each other, even not romantically. *is shot*


mama we all go to hell, well, it's just me
~Rubyfr00t.

Also look at all the new tags I had to MAKE for this!

ETA: demyx_kairi and its mirror on Livejournal. DONE.

ETA2: Also One on DeviantArt. DONE

So now I have to learn how to use the shift on the right side of the keyboard since Lala has trampled my keyboard beyond all recognition. I'm waiting for Mines of Moria to upgrade on my laptop (LOTRO) and oh yes, I am so bugging mad about Lala destroying my keyboard. But anyways beside that point, I have been really interested in making stock photo icons. I actually did one of my favorite castle, Neuschwanstien.. and it looks rather well and almost ethereal, dreamy and misty, though I'm still rather pleased with how my Lucky Charms icon looks. (They're magically delicious).

Which brings me to my next subject... icons.

I usually do a specialty icon for Christmas. however I am going to expand it this to include ONE manga picture colouring. (Or black and white.. doesn't necessarily have to be manga per se.. just something with a complete absence of colour. I will colour the scan and then I will make it into an icon for you. (AND ONLY YOU). You will get both in the scheme of things.

If you choose to participate in this, I will need a scan or a request from you.

If you want me to surprise you, I can do that too... I will just need a rough list of things that you would like to see me icon and I'll pick something out of what you've chosen.

For those of you who don't want anything coloured. THEN link me to five pictures that you'd like iconed in some way shape or form (or send it to me via email) and I will do that.

I know, I know.. so many options, so little time.

Examples of my icons that have been black and white before I've coloured them:



HAPPY REQUESTING!

I'd like to know the general consensus on the following, please. Your honest opinion; but see also the comments below the picture.

Warning: NSFW in any way, shape, or form. Also if you don't like/approve of nudity, don't click the cut tag.

( Albatross )

My head, she is still stuck in the eighties (see below).

~*~

Holy fuck, my day has been all over the place.

And it's been really long. Turns out, on getting to the hospital, that they weren't taking my other wisdom tooth out yet, but checking on it. Apparently it is more rotten than a rotten thing, and we agreed it should be taken out as a preventative measure. The doctor I saw also told me something I didn't know, which is that I have a filling in the tooth next to it, which is sitting on the nerve, and probably could be the source of the pain I've had. She recommended that one be taken out, too.

At this rate, I will have no teeth left by the time I am thirty, and my dad will have been proven right (*sigh*).

So really, I travelled all the way to frikken' Halifax (an hour on the bus *rolls eyes*), for twenty minutes sitting try not to stare at people (I find people infinitely interesting, so this is really hard), and then about ten minutes with the doctor (who was really nice but damnit, she made me decide! I HATE making decisions). And then home.

Although not straight away, actually. Since it'd taken less time than I intended, I went book shopping. AND I BOUGHT THE BEST BOOK EVAR!

Hands up who remembers Smash Hits? (Yeah, just me then...) Well, I used to love this magazine, and bought it all the time when I was in my teens - it was a British music magazine, but aimed at teenagers, and not as...elitist as the NME or likewise (and the NME are elitist). Well, the book I bought was basically the best of what they published during the eighties.

I bought it because...OK, I don't remember much about the eighties. I more or less aged with the decade (I was born in '81), so a heck of a lot is hazy, but there are things I do remember. And this book is like some of the most awesome stuff, condensed into one book. It summarises everything I ever loved and adored about Smash Hits (the humour being a top priority; they never took themselves or anyone else seriously). And there are some parts I feel you guys should read, so I will get them up at some point in the near future (but you may have to wait, since apparently I have writing to do...*sigh*).

I can safely say that finding and buying and reading that book was the high point of today.

I came home, deposited the books (along with one I'd bought for mum), and had to head straight out again to sign on. And then on to the surprise tutorial! (I have to ring the benefits people, as apparently there's something weird going on with my benefits, which I can't really afford to lose right now).

Yeah...I was waiting for Tony to show up, so I could kind of say, "Look, here's some things I need to tell you, but can we leave the serious stuff for another time?" But, well, I didn't. And the basic lowdown of it is that I need to get some written work done, or I will be kicked off the course.

This never used to happen, you know, and it makes me SO. FUCKING. ANGRY. I may go into details at a later date (and probably f-locked). All I will say is: I AM AN ARTIST. MY WORK SHOULD SPEAK FOR ITSELF. WHY THE HELL DO I HAVE TO FUCKING WRITE ANYTHING?

It...I...It makes me think of all those pretentious people I studiously avoid. You know the ones. They spout shit and know nothing. They use long, Latinate words like they mean something. And all the while, they are faffing about, pretending they're artists, when the truth is they're not. And they get my back up all the fucking time.

I'm gonna stop there, however. Because this is making my blood boil just thinking about it.

~*~

On a happier note, I just fell in love with Birthright. There are no words. Seriously. Just, if you have it, listen to it.

So I'm super excited about Thanksgiving in this household. I mean even more then I am for things llike Christmas. Why is this you ask? It is because of the TURKEY! It is because of the fact that shukoi makes the most wonderful and fabulous turkey ever. I mean it's something to truly fangirl and if this turkey was it's own series, I'd be the BNF of this fandom (or else everyone else dies). It's magical and delicious -because- it's brined in this wonderful maple and brown sugar substance, which makes the turkey so damn tender and juicy. Not to mention the drippings from which gravy is made.. as I was describing it, it is truly orgasmic in all the best ways.

The stuffing is also pretty awesome, because it has cranberries in it, and olives. Mmm olives. That makes everyone happy.

There are a select few staples for me during thanksgiving.. and I mean i can't have thanksgiving without olives (at all), and dinner rolls. But the olives are more important in the scheme of things. What else are you supposed to eat while you are waiting for the turkey to be done? (And I've gotten strange cravings for olives just recently.. where I will buy a can of olives and just eat the whole thing. Screw ice cream, screw potato chips.. JUST GIVE ME OLIVES.)

Most normal people crave candy, chocolate and/or salty stuff. I happen to want salty yummies rich in Omega-3. (As Bruce would say, "You're a wierd one, Nia" and he would be speaking the truth)

This leads me to another subject, cravings. I just don't crave normal things. Chocolate comes at THAT TIME OF MONTH (tm). And chips, occasionally I will get a really strong chip craving, but other then that I just rarely snack. When it comes down to it, I'd just rather have some toast or something simple. You know, honestly I had really crappy eating habits as a child.. and there are things that i can't kick *and refuse too.. like soda* but generally I've gotten -so- much better with my eating habits. I eat when I feel full now and I don't try to stuff myself *unless we go to Applebees once in a blue moon, to which point BRING IT ON, I WILL EATS IT ALL!* so I'm proud of myself on that score.

I think I've outworn my journal post, so well.. until I post again!

Last night I dreamed I was pregnant. Oddly enough, this did not induce gibbering panic, though it did occur to me to wonder how this had happened seeing as how I'm still a virgin. But even then it didn't seem like quite so big a deal: I just went about my day, going to work and all, just with the constant presence of a baby bump riding along with me.

In other news, ow headache. Early bedtime.

Okay, because of sharing with jazzymegstar my love of the cheesy music video for "The Chauffer" (by Duran Duran) in which nothing happens but a bunch of near naked chicks dance around together (the unrated version they are topless), I inadvertantly stumbled across the most AWESOME acoustic version of it, but it was on YOUTUBE. I NEED THIS VERSION because it makes it an infinitely warmer song, especially the guitars in it.