Sunday, September 6, 2009

Note to Self
Never go a day without checking your student e-mail. (At my college they provide you with an e-mail address for which to contact your profs so you don’t have to use your personal e-mail… in fact, they don’t allow you to contact them via your personal e-mail anymore.)

Because I neglected to check said student e-mail recently until last night, I had to re-submit the rough draft for my English paper and have to wait a little longer for feedback, after which I gotta type the final draft. Thank GOODNESS I don’t have school Tuesday other than my CPD class at night (which I’m now halfway through! ^0^ at least that class is only six weeks)… and that I don’t have school on Monday this week. Because if I did, any time to work on that draft for my paper as well as feedback to those two other people in my peer edit group on their essays would be eaten up by math work.

Ren: then shouldn’t you send your feedback on those two papers now so your classmates don’t have the same problem you might be faced with if this were a regular school week?

CCR: I can’t, it’s Sunday. I will tomorrow morning after I get back from the gym with Mom though. And then after that I’ll get to work on my draft if I have the feedback to do it (if not just do it Tuesday – that’s when everyone’s feedback to eachother is due and therefore I should have all I need by then)…. And depending on how much more I have to tweak with my paper, writing the final copy shouldn’t be too hard. Which leaves plenty of room the rest of the day to work on Rae’s cosplay and/or just finish the paper on Tuesday (after all, the paper isn’t technically due until Friday).

Yesterday was spent mostly hanging out at Rae’s, and working on filling out the Hetalia meme for dA, which is now up on my dA account. We also had fried chicken for dinner, the smell of which for some reason decided to stick to my clothes.

Today, after church was over I pretty much just came home and slept until 4:30, then put a frozen lasagna in the oven for dinner… and may still make lemon sugar cookies tonight; I finally found a recipe for which I have all the ingredients – difference is though that I have lemon juice, not lemon extract. But it’s close enough, right? If not I can just look up another one.

Ed: as long as the recipe you use doesn’t call for milk.

CCR: milk is hardly ever put in cookies… I think.

So that’s basically it. Until next time, ja ne~!

EDIT: WHAT IS IT WITH THESE PEOPLE AND CREAM OF TARTAR?! End of rant.
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Tuesday, September 1, 2009

You have GOT to be Kidding me!
Apparently, that Staff Bingo sheet that I thought I had to get those signatures for…

Extra credit.

WHAT THE FLIP?!

In other news, I got all of my homework done before 4 pm today! =D

Ren: no you didn’t. Those study plan problems –

CCR: hey, that’s not my fault. The extra study plan problems they’re making me do for the previous chapter is because of my score on the test. Which thankfully I’ve got my self-esteem back since with that sample test I tested out of ALL of the Study Plan problems for yesterday’s chapter sections. ALL OF THEM! The less Study Plan stuff I have to do, the less time I have to spend on math! ^0^

… and I am listening to Gackt for the first time in my entire life. For that, I blame Pandora radio (I typed L’Arc-En-Ciel because that was one of the only J-pop/J-Rock groups I could think of that I’ve actually listened to before). I must say though it’s rather good – and I never quite thought I’d like Gackt before now. … it does have a teeny bit more of a “punk/metal” flair to it though than what I’m used to… or maybe I’m categorizing it wrong. >.>;

Woot! Yoko Kanno! I’m loving this site/station! Ooh, and the song’s from GitS: Stand Alone Complex.

Ed: and you barely even watched that anime.

CCR: true… meh, maybe this isn’t the best stuff to be listening to. I’mma try another group after a couple of songs have played. *notices the “add some variety” button* ooooh, better yet. >D at this rate Pandora is gonna end up on my bookmarks!

Ed: … should we be worried?

Ren: *shrug* depends.

CCR: anyway, moving on…

So yesterday was a fairly good – okay, as far as days go it was a bad day, or at the very least a lot of minor stuff went wrong… like how the little thing on the zipper that zips and unzips it on my pants came off completely. And then my math test, I guess I got a bit too cocky just because I did well in this chapter with few difficulties. The test… I got a 73. That’s a C. A low C. Not only does that deliver a blow on my A-average self-esteem (please, none of the stuff on how college is significantly harder than High School, I KNOW THAT)… but it means I only BARELY passed it. By the skin of my teeth. It’s Algebra II all over again – in both material and grades, apparently.

Ren: I thought we were over this – it’s only the first test! You did fine on everything else in that chapter, even the quiz you got a 91 on!

CCR: I know, I know…

But then thank goodness today was better! I knocked out the rough draft for my English paper in one sitting and got it sent out to my peer editing group, and also it was a productive math day. The only thing that really frustrated me was how that stupid sheet that I went ALL. OVER. THE CAMPUS to get the signatures for… was merely extra credit. Ah well, in college you need all the points you can get, right? So in the end I suppose it was worth it.

Tomorrow, I get to start my first big college project (I don’t count that English paper because, let’s face it, it’s almost just like high school except you have to reference every little thing): either a survey or an observation study for Sociology. And I get to do this in a group. True, group projects aren’t normally my thing… but for this project I’m glad I’m working with others and not on my own.

Well, I better go now I guess. Until next time, ja ne!
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Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Commencing Week Number 2
Second week of college, and so far I’ve got one essay assigned me.

… Is there anything else to say?

“How about announcing what you told Rae through that last comment?”

Huh. I thought you wouldn’t –

Yuki (a character from my original story, Kitsune Assassin Yuki): hey, if this gets me further away from Muramoru, I’m going to bug you every step of the way until you update.

CCR: has he really been that much of a jerk within the gap between after I finished chapter 13 and now?

All K.A.Y. characters who’ve decided to break the fourth wall (others are Kit, Lian-Yue, and Kai): yes.

CCR: o.O Lian-Yue, even you agree?

Lian-Yue: *shrug*

CCR: any-way… before this gets too out-of-hand…

Yeah, I’ll try to work more on both K.A.Y. and Sky. That is if I don’t start rewriting what chapters I have first. See Rae, now you know how Kana and I feel every time you tell us that with Two Halfs and a Quarter!

Anyway, moving on… Other than homework, not sure what I did today. Except for… well… yeah.

Ren: just say it.

CCR: oh alright.

I’ve hopped on the bandwagon that it seems at least a semi-large amount of American Hetalia fans have: I’ve created a state-tan.

Two, actually. One for my “home state” (I feel odd calling Arizona such since I was technically born in California, but then out of the two I’ve been living in AZ far, far longer), and Utah. I MAY create a California later (‘cause it IS my state of birth after all), if I get even more caught into this… but I’ve already got a couple of one-shots highlighting backstory for these two characters, so I don’t know. D: and I’m nervous about Utah-chan and I don’t want her to come off as too blaringly stereotypical (though I know that’s part of what Hetalia’s all about, but still)… and, and, I’m not sure if I’ll get bashed for making Arizona-kun (part) Hispanic, and – gah! Now I don’t know why I didn’t go and draw concept art for them sooner (though the characters have been forming in my head for a little less than a month now). They’re note even fully developed and already they’re causing me so many headaches…

Whoa. Déjà vu. It has nothing to do with the topic, but I got the strangest feeling of déjà vu when typing this and thinking back on my English assignment. But then I’ve had déjà-vu about stuff as random as taking cornbread from a pan in my 8th grade cooking class, so that’s semi-normal for me.

Anyway, I’ve still got some study plan stuff that I have to do for math tomorrow since the prof’s requiring we fill out the study plan for the first two chapters “to see the benefit in it.” I see the benefit alright, but I also see it takes a LOT of time. Until next time, ja ne!
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Monday, August 24, 2009

Random Mini-Fic Night: Eye of the... Monkey?
Tail (from Dorothy of Oz) : AND Lion!

CCR: o.O you already know the content of this fic?

Tail: *shrug* when we all live in your head, it’s hard not to.

CCR: good point…

But yeah, this post is gonna be a mini-fic. Because I haven’t written one in a dang long while! Though I’m gonna work up to it instead of straightway writing it out. Because when I try that it turns out sounding even cheesier than these things tend to in the first place.

o.O what’s that sound coming from the dryer?

Ren: if that isn’t a cheesy way to start something, I don’t know what is.

CCR: no seriously, the dryer’s making scraping-type noises… *shrug* someone must’ve left change in their pocket.

*dogs start barking loudly and a crashing sound can be heard from the… ceiling?*

“Ignore the crashing sound and the dogs barking! I am NOT trying to sneak out of the house and go steal Kana’s food.”

CCR: -3- Son Goku, get back inside right now or I’ll call Sanzo.

Ren: let him go. He stole from my peach stash earlier, so if he came down here now I’d kill him.

….. …. … *no response, footsteps from on the roof disappear*

CCR: guess we’ve got no choice in the matter now. But wait – if he – CRAP! *runs outside with a ladder to make sure there isn’t a hole in the roof*

Ed: *walks into the kitchen* what happened in here?

Ren: the reason CCR shouldn’t read in her archives, especially when it gives the local monkey ideas that he forgot about six months ago.

Ed: oh… by the way, did the insurance company from that truck you sliced in half years ago EVER chase after you?

Ren: what the heck brought THAT up?!

Ed: remember Christmas a couple years ago? Someone called you and I asked if it was them.

Ren: *facepalm*

CCR: *comes back in, ladder in hand* thank goodness he DIDN’T make a hole in the roof. Still… I wonder how this whole ordeal will work out.

Zelgadiss (from Slayers, for those who don’t know): that’s almost a rhetorical question: he’ll be kicked all the way back here in half the time it took him to get over there.

CCR: I know, I’m just curious: will Itachi be the one to punt him back over here or will Sesshomaru…?

Ren: I’ll bet on Itachi.

Ed: Sesshomaru.

Zelgadiss: *turns to CCR* I thought you didn’t approve of gambling.

CCR: I don’t, but I can’t really stop them – they have their agency.

Zelgadiss: are you forgetting you and Kana are the only existent parties mentioned in this post so far?

CCR: no.

But anyway… hmm, how to describe my weekend so far?

Ren: I thought this was going to be a mini-fic.

CCR: *shrug* might as well include some substance too, at least until Goku gets back. By the way, only rewards you guys can bet for that bet is food or other non-monetary items.

Ren: *shrug* meh, whatever. That was my plan anyway. Fullmetal, I’ll bet you a shrimp cocktail it’ll be Ita -

Ed: WHO’REYOUCALLINGANINSIGNIFICANTTINYOTHERSYNONYMSFORSMALLSHRIMP?!?!

Ren: cool down, I was joking. Three of CCR’s oatmeal cookies if she gets the brown sugar called for in that recipe.

Ed: make it five and it’s a deal.

CCR: okay, moving on…

So my weekend was okay. Friday I started College and Beyond and colored an old fan art, went over to Rae’s house after they got back from school… and ended up sleeping over because there was a storm coming in and Shana was scared it would be bad. But then it wasn’t too bad staying over there – and I saw Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for the first time. Saturday we just kinda spent the day hanging out, and today was just church, taking a nap, and… snacking on ice cream. Yeah, I’m not proud of that, but meh. *shrug* … and my brother’s ramen is making me hungry.

kyyyyyyaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!
*More crashing on the roof and dogs barking*

CCR: he’s back isn’t he?

All but CCR: yep.

Goku: *walks in* Yeah… note to self: never try to invade Kana’s house again. Hey CCR, are you her and Rae gonna hang out on Labor Day? Maybe we’ll get lucky and she’ll make lunch.

CCR: *facepalm* you didn’t learn a thing.

Ed: so who punted you back here?

Goku: Gojyo.

CCR: guess both of you guys lose that bet.

Wait… where’s Tail?

All: not again.

CCR: at any rate, I better end this post now. Until next time, ja ne~!
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Thursday, August 20, 2009

All in a Day's Work...
YES! I’m finally DONE! At least with everything but reading the rest of chapter 1 for Sociology – but I really, sincerely think that I’m ahead on that – she hasn’t even mentioned that stuff yet, just the Nacirema (Read the beginning of my previous post for the scoop on that), the first half of chapter 1, and chapter 5. And we’ve only done the Chapter 1 lecture notes so far, and the second half of chapter one is -

Ed: they get it.

CCR: oh hey, you haven’t been in any of these posts for a while.

Ed: how’s that relevant to anything?

CCR: just saying.

… Man, should I even be posting today? All I did essentially was work on my homework and IM with Kyarri. I just recently finished my HW about an hour ago, and since then… well, not much has been going on. Maybe I’ll go on chat tonight and see what’s going on over there, as well as work on my entry for wallpaperotaku’s challenge. Until next time, ja ne~!
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Nacirema
Spell that backwards. What do you get? If you don’t understand how it’s relevant to anything at all, google it (spelled as it is in the title).

… After reading the articles assigned to our class in Sociology regarding this “little-known tribe” and realizing when someone else pointed it out what it REALLY was, yeah… I feel dumb.

Other than that, the chapters in our textbook for that class are also long. And MyMathLab seriously truly is the most wonderful math program I have ever been required to work with.

But anyway, regarding my art class earlier this evening – I LOVE IT SO FAR. :D Not too much book work, and there’s even some art projects! And thankfully no nude models (that’s partially why I only took art appreciation instead of a higher art class – even though I’ve seen far worse no thanks to my Mythology textbook last year… as my art prof said when we discussed this, “blame that [the acceptability of nudity in classical art] on the Greeks.”). So, as it was in 7th grade, my last class of the week (though obviously in grade 7 it was my last class of the day) is the best. ^^ but when you think about it, it’s better to have it that way – take care of the serious business like math first so you don’t have to deal with it later, and the best class for last so you can relax, unwind and enjoy yourself (without as much thinking as is required in my second favorite class this semester, Sociology).

Ren: and the fact that you don’t think when you work on your art probably explains the lower quality of it compared to the rest of your peers

CCR: wha – I didn’t mean that! It’s just… drawing is practically second-nature to me now.

But at any rate, I’m tired…. But then it is 11:30 pm, but then I also have no more classes for the week (I still have math work to do, but no more actual class meetings). Until next time, ja ne!
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Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Phew!
Meh… I posted on dA AND Livejournal already regarding my first day. But of course, I told you guys I’d post here too. … I just gotta make it fast because it’s almost 11:30 pm.

So surprisingly I got up at around 6:30 this morning, took a shower, got dressed, read my scriptures – you know, the things I needed to do. Then I went on chat for a teeny bit on theO and waited for Kyarri to pick me up. When the event for which I’d been waiting occurred… that’s when things got interesting.

First we had to make a quick stop back at her house so she could get her water cup. She came home to find that her dog had gotten into the cat treats… As if that weren’t enough, a bird decided to commit suicide and hit the windshield on MY side of the car. But those were just the amusing, if not a tad inconvenient, things of the day. Later at the bookstore things just got hectic, but I suppose I can let Kyarri explain that. After all, at the end of the day it was eventually settled. ^^

As for my classes… math surprised me. For the first time in my life, I understand factoring well enough to only having to rely on MyMathLab’s “help me solve this problem” feature on our homework assignments a couple of times and still get a near perfect score on that assignment. … The sad part of it is that one of the times I had to use that feature was to remember how to find the x and y intercept on a graph. (_ _);

Sociology is interesting so far…

Ren: if only you would stop writing pointless notes in that class.

CCR: what? It was just an intro day anyway, so I just wrote down a summary of what the material was -

Ren: no, the other notes.

CCR: oh, those? *shrug* won’t happen again unless I get to class early, nine outta ten.

Anyway, so far I think Sociology is gonna be my favorite class. Why not English? Well, it comes kinda-close, but I can explain why it’s not at the top yet…

At this rate it threatens to totally swamp me. On top of that ALL of the essays we’ll be doing in that class are gonna be “academic essays.” Don’t get me wrong, I can write a pretty dang decent essay… but it doesn’t mean I enjoy it. Ah well, at least there are no redundant grammar exercises. And thank goodness I brought my laptop with me! They ran out of computers in English class this evening when the prof was having us do our first Blackboard assignment, so if I hadn’t I wouldn’t have two thirds of my assignment for this week done and over with. The other third I gotta read from the textbook to answer, which I’ve already got a third of this week’s textbook selections done. So far really the only class I haven’t gotten started on my homework for yet is Sociology, and I plan to work on that, Math and English tomorrow until I have my orientation class in the evening.

… And depending on if I can get enough of my homework done by a reasonable time that day, I might also start working on some of the stuff for the first set of Randomosity comics for the new series (College and Beyond). That reminds me I still have to draw a cover for that series.

But now it’s even later than when I started this, and I hope to get up pretty early tomorrow so I can get a good amount of my studying in while my mind’s still fresh. Until next time, ja ne!
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Sunday, August 16, 2009

Last Week of Freedom
Meh, wasn’t too special… heck, I barely remember much of it.

Though I did get some drawing done, that’s good I suppose. And we went to Joann’s today and found a pattern we can modify for Rae’s Ivan cosplay… yeah, drawing out the pattern ourselves wasn’t gonna work. Now let’s just hope we can find time with me starting college and all to work on it.

Well, not much else to say. I’ll report Monday either during lunch or when I get home before my English class in the evening on how my first day was. Until next time, ja ne~!
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Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Yet Another Productive Day... Not.
Mom decided to sleep all day today. I don’t know if it’s because she’s hit rock bottom again or what. Hopefully though I’m wrong and she was just really tired today.

But it was kind of productive on my brothers’ ends. They both finished cleaning their room today, even switched the beds around when they finally started moving crap back in there and out of the kitchen… and the living room. The bathroom… I have no clue if it’s still cluttered because I used my mom’s bathroom, but more likely than not it isn’t. Yeah. They had THAT much stuff in their room.

As for me… I spent the day on the laptop, either talking with Kyarri over IM or working on that Hetalia meme that I’m finally doing. The only “productive” thing I did today was attempt to make breakfast before my brother came in and decided he had all the power in the world to take over, and then successfully making dinner without his interference. By the way he STILL NEEDS TO DO THE DISHES FROM THAT! *sigh* like he’ll listen anyway. In the end I’ll probably end up doing them in the morning before Mom and I go do what we need to do for the day and Kyarri comes over for pasta and making cookies. Take THAT, Rae. I CAN resist coming over to your house! At least until you finish that book report, or until Wednesday or Friday, whichever comes first, Lithuania is independent from Russia! Again! XD

Ren: cheesy Hetalia reference is cheesy.

CCR: I know, I know… though when you think of it it’s more of a Hetalia-related inside joke than anything. *yawns* either way though, I guess I need to go to bed. Until next time, ja ne!
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Sunday, August 9, 2009

Of Sleepovers and Cosplay Work
Friday, Mom went and completely cleaned out her closet – as in it’s mostly hangers now. Since I knew she was going to go to DI to drop them off (DI is a thrift store/donation center in downtown Mesa, full name of which being Deseret Industries; basically a Mormon equivalent to Goodwill), and I needed to get some stuff for my cosplay (as well as for Shana and Rae’s) , I tagged along hoping we’d actually look around the store for some of the stuff I need. Before you ask, yes, I’m weird in the fact that I shop at Goodwill and DI for my cosplay materials – modifying pre-existing items of clothing is significantly easier than going from scratch, let me tell ya. But of course, this wasn’t accomplished without a bit of a misadventure…

Mom’s car overheated. So we had to stop, go down the street to get some water for the radiator, and wait an hour or so for it to cool down. Thankfully though this didn’t all go down until we were just down the street from DI, so after that ordeal we still went there. Donated the stuff that Mom was getting rid of, and then we browsed for a bit… ultimately, all I found was a skirt for Shana’s Belarus cosplay (even if it is a bit long and Belarus technically wears a dress, but when all else fails, one must make do with two-piecing. We did the same thing with her Tsubaki cosplay). And a belt for my Liet, but meh. Technically I either gotta make a buckle or find one that has the right kind of buckle I need. Then on the way home we went to Wal-Mart to pick up more soda, and I found two tops that can work for Shana’s cosplay (she’ll have to wear one on top of the other, but hey, it’ll be Halloween by the time Saboten rolls around, and whatever works works). … So far, hers is the closest to being complete. As of Saturday mine is 50% done, and I’m sitting here thinking for sure that I’ll need to get some material and attempt to make Rae’s from scratch… darn it, why are we attempting to have her cosplay Russia?

Ren: if I recall, it’s because she’s the only person among your circle of friends tall enough for the job.

CCR: you do bring up a point there.

Later that evening, I went over to Rae’s house to show Shana what we’ve got so far for her costume, threw out some suggestions for how we can get the rest of it done (apron, the rest of the sleeves, and hair ribbon…)

Ed: wig.

CCR: I’m not sure if we’ll be able to do that part. If need be, Shana’s hair is long enough… just far too dark. And I’m not sure how she’ll feel about temporary dye; so we might just have to fudge that detail.

Anyway, getting back on topic – and I found out from my mom that my brother was supposedly having a friend over for the night. A friend that even Rae’s family thinks is bad news (his family lives next door to them). I went over there, ate one of the burgers that Mom fixed for dinner, and IMed Kyarri as fast as I could to see if she was able to “kidnap” me. Luckily her mom said yes, I packed up and she picked me up from there. Even though ultimately there was no need because my brother’s friend got called home that night, it was still well worth it. We talked for a bit, and I got some drawings at least line-arted. Thus I have a so far uncolored cover, a yet-to-be-inked prologue comic and a chapter cover for College and Beyond… that are still sitting in Kyarri’s sketchbook (aside from the cover – I just gotta beta-ink and then color that one). Along with yet another Hetalia fan art there too (though it can also kinda be considered crossover… no, it doesn’t have anything to do with the fic).

The next morning we got up early with promises from Kyarri’s mom of going out to breakfast… and lo and behold, we end up going to the restaurant that my dad used to work at before he started with the mines. XD Afterwards it seems they had some stuff to drop off at Goodwill, so Kyarri and I got to do some more cosplay-shopping where we found a base shirt and blue material so she can work on her Lenne cosplay (FFX-2; not sure if the “ne” is supposed to be there, but eh.) Me, I found an outdated army uniform jacket that I could use for my Liet cosplay… except it’s too small for me, even with our fail-attempt at binding my boobs. BUT Kya did have a pair of slacks that her dad no longer fits into, so I can say I’ve got that cosplay halfway done, probably soon to be finished after I run back to Goodwill tomorrow… and we FINALLY finished my Crona outfit. It’s been sitting in my drawer at the 95% mark since February. Now that I think of it, If Kyarri was still working on it when she texted me after dropping me off back home, I think she’s got the top for her Lenne done now too.

Today, I went to church while nearly falling asleep in Relief Society, and came home without staying after for choir practice because I knew I wouldn’t last… and then when I did get home I crashed until 4:30. And I had some weird dreams too - including one where I got electrocuted and survived, and then right before I woke up I was having lunch with Ivan… who was, well, being Ivan. Worse yet, I think he had ordered a bottle of Vodka. That part was a little scary, I’ll admit.

After waking up, I made dinner for my brother and Andrew, who are both now cleaning up their room to the point where they’re tearing it apart. Andrew says it’s because he’s moving back in for the school year (he’s been living at his mom’s for the summer like he almost always does), but… I dunno. Maybe the whole family’s on a big productive streak. Think about it – I’m well into working on my cosplay needs for Saboten a good two to three months ahead of time, where normally I don’t get that stuff done until the week before the con because my mom is either working or sleeping all the time (though thankfully that’s changed now that she’s changed her meds). And Mom actually CLEANED the house Friday after we got home, and made dinner at that! Maybe it’s because we’re all heading back to school that we’re pumped (even my mom). Or it’s just a bug, who knows. Either way, I like being productive. It feels better than being lazy, that’s for sure.

Well, I probably should wrap this up for the night. Until next time, ja ne!
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