prepare to die, obviously

Friday:

Solo task day! No printing. I just weeded tons of text for an upcoming Nikki McClure exhibit at the MAH. The vinyl text that goes on the wall, not anything to do with her art. One of the institutions that helped put together the show was PNCA! That took me back, weeding out those old familiar words. I also cut vinyl and stickers and stuff. Listened to podcasts, which was nice.

Went home, had some food. Relaxed.

Later in the evening, I went downtown and met up with Ryan and Anita and Daniel at Rosie McGann's. Anita is leaving her job, and so it was a bit of a goodbye celebration. I didn't know most of the people, but the company was good. Oh, and Crystal was there! Ryan, Crystal, and I got tickets for the midnight showing of Scott Pilgrim vs The World at the Del Mar (everyone else had other plans). We wandered around till it was time to get seated. Such a fun movie! So imaginative and great. I think I've seen it more times in theaters than I have on DVD. I listened to an Edgar Wright interview today and he talked about watching Midnight movies, and now one of his films is one of them, and how that was great. It was a really charming podcast overall. I can't wait for Ant-Man (his next movie).

I dropped Ryan and Crystal off at the Tannery and UCSC respectively. I give lots of little lifts, mainly because Santa Cruz has horrible public transit that stops really early. I'd rather people have fun and I go a little out of my way, than have people leave early due to catching a bus.

Saturday:

Got up for the quarterly yard clean up! I was assigned back patio clean up, wood hauling, pinecone pick up, and sweeping at the end of the clean up. I got the back patio looking nice, and hauled a lot of branches back and forth. Justin cut out a lot of dead wood, so that was good. It was a very intensive clearing, and lots of trees were trimmed back. Now we have a big pile of wood that needs to get ... mulched somehow. Jeff treated us to pizza after, so that was great! It was tasty too, heavy on the garlic.

Then I took a nap.

6ish I swung by the Tannery and picked up Ryan and we went to Daniel and Anita's for another shindig. There was chili and fizzy water and cornbread and chips and cookies. There was also beer, but I was driving so I skipped that. There were... 12 people in total at the shindig but I've forgotten their names. We played card games and laughed and ate more chips. Sorry, not being very descriptive. D & A live down near Natural Bridges, and during the day you can see the ocean from their balcony. Really nice place. I got a slice of cake in good tupperware, so of course I'll be back.

Now I'm sleepy and want full on sleep.

up and awaaaay

Did another major step today! I'll make the big announcement soon, but yaaay I'm feeling good about things! I'm not feeling good about the popcorn I over salted though. Boo. At least popcorn is cheap.

Work was okay. I made a mistake though, which wasn't good. I don't like making mistakes.

We printed posters, which was fun! Only single color. They covered all the flat surfaces in the studio. Lots of me running about finding places to set things and checking to see if I could double stack (they dried fast, so it's all good). Did some stickers. Burned some screens. Taped some screens.

At home, I had a nice talk with Jeff about art and thesis and art making and the way that art changes from mental image to completion. It was a really nice chat.

Things are looking up!

step step taking steps

Today was a big day. I won't put it out there just yet, because there is one more party concerned that I need to talk to about things. But today was BIG. It's a step in a new direction for me! AHhhh!!

My middle 20's are winding down, so gotta go big for the latter chunk of it. Kinda rather exciting, all in all.

Today ended up being rather solo. I did a bunch of reclaiming and coating. Got a few big shirt orders coming in. ... Oh and I did catch some shirts early on! But it was mostly screen cleaning and squeegee cleaning. Talked to boss.

Got home and relaxed and watched Luther. Jeff and Jan had a little bluegrass shindig, so that was nice to listen to, though I didn't sit in the living room and join in/draw. I'm finding it hard to be social, just kinda want to be in my Hobbit Hole of a room.

Anyhoo. Now it's late. And it's Thursday! Already! Daaaang!

pink and lemon and gray

My hoodie and track jacket arrived! I ordered them through wholesale, so they were a third the price. Booyah! My hoodie is brighter than the picture indicates. It makes me so cheery.

We ran the lower print, back prints, and front prints on a job today. Still have 8 windbreakers, but that'll be done tomorrow. It was warm and calm and all went well.

Washed my work shirts. Finished the second series of Call the Midwife and I'm almost done with Luther. But now I wanna go to bed and read! I'm reading Gone Girl and it's grabbed me and now I must read more of it!

Also Guardians of the Galaxy looks boss.

if only it were like a real Tardis and just continually poured tea

Another three day weekend! I think I'd rather work four 10 hour days than five 8 hour ones, honestly. I like this rotation.

I did my nails. My right nails are yellow, my left are orange.

At lunch, took it easy. I made myself a Tardis bottle full of iced tea, grabbed some cookies to nibble on, and walked down to the park on Brommer Street, and sat against a tree for a few hours and read from my Kindle. I feel like I'm reading more with the Kindle. It's just so light and easy. And I can bounce through a few samples if I want a change of literary pace.

I ended up taking a nap when I got home. Just felt really tired and needed a lay down.

I'm almost done with the second season of Call the Midwife! I love to marathon shows. Ma, keep an ear out for a familiar voice when watching Miranda. Let me know if you like it!

Now I shall retire to bed. Starting early tomorrow!

Also I think some guy hollared at me from his car, but I had my headphones in so I had no idea if he did or didn't. Pfft. Guys with their hollaring.

girl (not) about town

Oh dang. Today was a total wash. A full do nothing day. I did go to Trader Joe's and get some food stuffs and do a crock pot chicken recipe. So that is something? I just sorta shuffled around the house and let the hours pass.

Did my makeup for funzies.

Didn't draw or read or do anything.

Where did my creative energy go?

Argghhh.

The chicken was very good.

dawn of pink

I uncovered a Macy's gift card and it had actual dollars on it, so I went to Mac and used it towards my first Mac lipstick:

The color is "Girl About Town". I'm partial to fuchsias (see: my beloved Covergirl lipstick in Spellbound). I went to the store and did testers on my arm (which is what you are supposed to do, do NOT put testers on your face because of GERMS) and then asked the lady at Mac to clean the lipstick so I could try it properly on. Gotta be sanitary. It applied so well and was so bright. But you know I already bought it. The Mac ladies were really nice. And the lipstick lasted until I ate dinner! Which is always a good sign for lipsticks. I hate it when they wear away in the middle and then you have a lipstick ring.

Stocked up on Yakult at Target. Bought some more compost bags. Had some pasta later on. Took a hot bath-OH I forgot to get more bath salts at Target. Darn. Oh well. As I was saying, I took a bath and read in the bath. That was nice.

Tomorrow I might try a fancy makeup look ala Audrey Horne. Maybe I'll do something in the crock pot? Hmmm.

Cillian Murphy is in it

Had a full day at work, with lots of running around and odds and ends getting stuff done. Hoodies and tees were run. Lots of hoodies. Still more hoodies to go. But nice to be printing big orders, instead of tinkering and problem solving. I did an inventory. I ordered two sweatshirts wholesale for myself. Nice ones. I'm stoked for them to arrive. Nice to have the work wholesale discount.

I also put grommits in some banners which Ryan had cut and coated screens. A nice day.

Had some dinner. Had some tea. Watched the first episode of Peaky Blinders, which has film work that is trying WAY too hard. Good actors and sets and costumes (period crime drama) but overall...damn the filming is annoying.

Weekend!!

Justen is bad at Jenga

Whoo! Fun night! Justen (old housemate) is in town for the weekend. So we (him, Tara, Michael, and I) hung out tonight. We walked to Trader Joe's and picked up pizzas and meatballs and salad and bacon, and had a feast. Then played telephone pictionary and then Jenga. It was great to hang out and gab and drink a bit. Good company. Lotsa laughs.

Work was fine. I reclaimed. I caught. I taped. Didn't do anything too fancy, but we finished a big job which lightened the mood considerably.

It was also very hot at work! Almost shorts worthy! So toasty.

woonsdey

Got up earlier. Went to the Post Office. Counted out some shirts. Reclaimed. Weeded. Was a general shop assistant. Chatted with Kara. It was a shorter day and I was feeling woozy so I went home. Coulda done a few things, but I needed some more food.

Made a Trader Joe's run. Had some potstickers and sushi. Watched telly. Felt better and not woozy.

Guess what? Still no congestion!

The weather is nice and clear. So a weekend of rain. Still, I hope for more.

toosdey

I was feeling a bit down all day, and a bit scatter brained. Dunno why. Will try to go to bed earlier tonight and see if more sleep does anything. I didn't get the best night sleep.

I didn't blow my nose ONCE today! I've rarely been doing it since I've been having my honey. It's still early, but I have no reason to stop.

Oy yoi yoi. I'm watching Call the Midwife, a period show about, well, midwifes, and due to all the screaming birthing mothers I keep turning the volume down. It's a bit awkward to be overheard watching. It's on Netflix Instant!

Caught shirts at work. Did some custom jerseys. Weeded vinyl. Coated screens. Like I said, I was scatterbrained and not on my A game.

It was a nice sunny day. Rain came. Rain went.

another Holly photo

My Internet keeps fluctuating! It will be really good, and then down to nothing. Dunno what's up with that. I just pay for a bit of it, so I don't have control over provider.

Work! Work was stressful. Lots of trial and error and restarts. Probably set a new daily pallet change record. Oy yoi yoi, so much. Coated screens. We are going through screens at a nice rate, but we have a really good system down now with Ryan. He'll reclaim a few, put them in the room to dry, and I'll coat them at the end of the day.

Had some Annie's pasta at home. Annie's is so good. Need to buy some more. Rewatched the last chunk of the latest episode of True Detective a few times, because there was a 6 minute single shot scene and it was amazing. Intense. Just dang.

A mellow Monday night.

green & blue

Set my alarm so that I wouldn't sleep further in than yesterday. Got work in the morning, gotta get up for it!

Maybe got work. Boss may not have returned from Tahoe, so maybe it'll be a four day weekend?

Anyhoo. I had some tea and oatmeal. Did my Trader Joe's weekend run. It was rainy and overcast. What I would call totally lovely weather. I honestly kinda missed it. I know I've bragged about the sun and the shine, but dang if a gray day doesn't make me feel comfortably me.

I caught a matinee of The Lego Movie, and I must say that it was amazing. The audience was full of kids, but I was laughing the hardest. It seemed more like a near-nostalgia movie than an outright for kids movie. Either way, I had so much fun. It was so happy through and through. And the animation was great. Heck, all of it was great. I really recommend it. I didn't see it in 3D, but it probably wouldn't hurt to see it in such a manner.

I was thoroughly rained upon on my walk back from the theater. I put on my jammies and got to cleaning. I swept and vacuumed, and even mopped the dining/kitchen area. I've got my chores, so I shall do them. I don't mind cleaning though. Just so long as I have a podcast to listen to.

I had gyoza and edamame for dinner. Yum yum. Painted my nails green.

Holly

Found out our beloved Holly doggy has passed away. She was well loved in her later years. I hope she feels like she got enough cuddles. I tried to give her plenty.

I slept way in. My bed was so cozy and I felt so weary.

I think I've only blown my nose twice today. Had a spoonful of local honey in the morning and a spoonful in my tea at night. Can't say it's working totally but only time will tell.

I misplaced my car rego sticker, so I spent a few hours cleaning my room properly (i.e. sorting through paperwork and dividing it up) and tidying my spaces and keeping track of where I put things. I found my rego! So that is good. I'll stick it on my car tomorrow.

Finished off my crock pot food. Did some laundry. Unloaded the dishwasher.

Just a sort of lazy day. Thinking about Holly.

honey, tangerine, maple sugar candy

Thursday:

It felt like a short day, and it was shorter than usual, but not so long. Boss left to do an install and will be gone snowboarding so Friday was going to be light. Don't want to run a bunch of stuff wrong, ya know? I weeded some things that are going to be applied to stuff. Cut some stickers. Ryan and Jeff ran the job.

Did a little art supply errand in the evening. It was a nice night to walk.

Friday:

Jeff called and said I didn't need to come in to work, as they were all planning to leave at noon and there wasn't much for me to do. Yay! Day off from work, and I was already up and showered and dressed. I got in touch with Ryan to see if he wanted to hang out (he has irregular hours).

Oh, and it was raining. Rain rain, so much rain. But so much needed rain!

So I drove down to the Tannery, and met up with Ryan. We walked up to the Pogonip Trails and took a little hike. It was mildly raining, but not so bad. I occasionally used my umbrella. It was totally a Mom friendly trail. We had a few mountain bikers pass us, but none going at Nate speed. We hiked up the trail till 1, then headed back. I reclaimed my camera from Ariel (I left it in the car after the Welcome to Night Vale LA trip), and then Ryan and I headed downtown for food and fun.

We got out of the rain at Zoccoli's and had warm sandwiches. I introduced Ryan to the blessed existence of maple sugar candy. He had never had any! What a loss! We decided to catch the 4:20 showing of Monuments Men at the Del Mar, but as we had an hour to kill, it was book store browsing time! We ran into his friend Daniel who I think I may have met previously a while ago. I browsed cards, and looked at books, and made mental notes about books to get excerpts of for my Kindle. I'll still buy books, of course. I just...really like samples. There was a stop in at Logos too. No purchases, just browsing. I should get a proper book about David Hockney. He is one of my major art inspirations. I should know more about him.

Then movie time came around! Yay! And it was a good film. All the art destruction scenes had me in tears. It wasn't as flamboyantly cinematic as other war movies are, but in a way it didn't need to be. It felt like a good supplement to movies like Saving Private Ryan. Like, hey you've seen all this stuff already, so we don't need to take that route. It was more funny and endearing, but also heart breaking thinking of all the lost and missing art. A good, important film with many talented actors. I'd recommend renting it.

There was an hour between this movie getting out and the showing of the Oscar nominated animated shorts screening that was happening at The Nick, so we grabbed a quick beer at 99 Bottles. I checked off #91, which was Lost Coast Tangerine Wheat Ale. VERY tasty, highly recommend it. Tasted like a beer orange.

The animated shorts were so good! I loved the Japanese one Possessions and the UK one Room on the Broom. Feral was disturbing. I hope either of those first two I mentioned win. They also showed some short listed ones, and the Irish one The Missing Scarf was brilliant. Very fun note to end a lovely day on.

I drove Ryan back to the Tannery.

And holy hell, I don't know if I've forgotten how to drive in the rain, or if Santa Cruz just has really terrible roads for rain driving! It was really hard to see the dividing lines. Don't worry! I went slow and all was well. Just like, dang. Santa Cruz also has really horrible road sign placement. No one told them to put the signs of the streets on the stop light pole above the intersection. Noooo it's way over to the side and you can't read it till you are half way through the intersection. It's an old gripe, but it's still a gripe.

What a day! I'd like more days like this, but OHHH I forgot, I also bought some local honey at the Homeless Gardening Project store front. We printed hats for them. I didn't buy a hat. But local honey is apparently good for allergies due to introducing local pollen into your body in a good way. So I'm going to try a spoonfull of it in the morning and evening, and see how my snuffles go. It's tasty stuff, either way.

what the eff, Wednesday

Bought Burger King on the way home, and it sit the cold night, long day spot. Mmm.

It is damp in Santa Cruz! And it is scheduled to rain tomorrow! There is a drought right now, so some rain is very much needed.

Work was long and a bit nerve wracking at times. I did hats, then I moved to screens, then catching shirts, then vinyl, then more burning, and more catching, and more vinyl, and burning, and coating. Lots to do, and I got home late after. So my evening has been fast food, and relaxing.

Why isn't it the weekend already? Gaaahhh.

My Alpacasso needs a name

Another rather solo day, which wasn't so bad. I was able to put on my podcasts, as no one else was in the studio. I counted in a 14 box order (which had pieces for 4 different sub orders). I did a bunch of hat transfers. I weeded and papered some vinyl. Taped some screens. Not a bad day. A bit cold, but not bad.

I guess Santa Cruz decided to bring back winter for the time being.

Tonight was house meeting night! Dinner was made by Jeff, and it was tasty rice and curry chicken and salad and mmmm very good.

And the house meeting went very well!

I showed Tara my Alpacasso stuffed animal and she was all :O over how cute it was.

can always count on Mom to comment on my blog

Edamame is just the best thing ever. Had a nice little lateish night snack of it.

At work I played Electric Six, Odd Owl, Gorillaz, and Beck. And finished with some podcasts when I was the last one there weeding vinyl. Almost done weeding!

I also counted out some shirts and sweatshirts. We got a huge shirt order in today, so we got some overhall print jobs coming soon. That'll be good. I also did two big banners, but they didn't need to be banner taped, so that's good!

At home I snacked. Watched Archer and Spoils of Babylon.

Now I shall cozy up into bed. Trying this whole getting to bed earlier thing, and being well rested. Also, reading is cool!

winner winner chicken dinner

The Seahawks annihilated the Broncos, so that is awesome! I was refreshing the score and just saw it go up and up and up. Go Seattle! Go sports! I was wearing my Seattle socks and the only sports team shirt I own: Ravenclaw Quidditch.

The first thing I did in the morning was leave to get foodstuffs for crock pot cooking. Can't get too late a start when you have 8 hours of slow cooking ahead of ya. So I got the chicken going, then I showered and had some tea and breakfast. And I had some pasta later on. And some celery and creme cheese. And more tea. And some lemonade. I spent a lot of the day consuming food. But I think I've been eating light lately, so that's a good thing?? It's hard to find that balance of eating too much, and eating not enough to sustain my days energy. Either way, I have easy meals for the week! Yay!

It was rainy/moist in Santa Cruz! It's been a drought, so it some moisture has been much needed.

Bummed about Philip Seymour Hoffman dying. He was such a talented actor, and still relatively young in terms of having a great, full career ahead of him.

hourly comic day

Sharpie and Tombow markers.

An Alpacasso is this plushie line, and the large one came on super sale so I bought one, and damn it is a really big plushie! And so soft!