Scorchcake

Art, like memory, presents itself without regard to chronology.

2008-06-12T00:12:00.000-07:00

Well, I uploaded a lot of new art to the gallery, both new and old. I was, however, careless with my batching and mucked up the order. I am too tired to fix it right now, so... yeah. There are some images from 2002 right next to ones from 2008 and some new photos ended up at the bottom of the page, somehow preceding older entries...
Deal with it.

Kittenwaaaarrrr!!!!

2008-03-12T23:40:00.001-07:00

Holy crap, look what I got! ^_^

Filling in the blanks.

2008-01-27T22:55:00.000-08:00

I wish the rain would stop! Not that I don't appreciate foggy, drizzly weather, but I really am quite tired of commuting through the daily downpours. There's just something discouraging about knowing that you are going to be soaking wet by nine in the morning, and no amount of umbrella coverage is going to prevent your inevitable inevitable moistness.
This is the semester I graduate, so don't expect me to be overly verbose until about April.
In the meantime, here is a very blurry photo of the new house (we actually moved in three months ago, I just didn't care to mention it).

Osashiburi desu ne?

2007-11-27T22:13:00.000-08:00

Wow, I really thought I had made a few posts during the semester, but I guess I really have completely ignored this thing since school started, haven't I?
I can't really offer a sincere apology for this, since I think academic preoccupation is a pretty valid reason for blog-blackout. Also, I did end up getting new job with the school, I am officially a library technician, although my job description this semester would more accurately by expressed as assistant researcher. I have been working, on behalf of the CCSF Rosenberg Library Archives, out of the Oakland Museum for the semester, doing everything from basic biographical research to crawling in and out of museum artifacts (pictures later). So, yeah, my job rocks. But, my point is that I guess I've been swamped.
There's two and a half weeks left in the semester, and I must admit that my brain seems to be checking out, prematurely. Must correct that, as soon as possible.
I have to finish writing a paper... I have some photos to upload, though, but I'll do that later.
Oh, yes, and Bioshock is the best game ever made. In case you were unsure.

Titles are for suckers!

2007-08-26T23:36:00.000-07:00

Well, my computer died. Sorry to those of you who have left me messages over the past few weeks.
Fools! ^_^
It actually crapped out on me the day before the semester started, its sense of timing never failed to amaze me. It started with the motherboard, which could not be replaced due to it being basically just an abacus with some funny gadgets glommed onto it. Then, it turned out that just about every part in my fantastical magic box was obsolete. So, what started as a routine part replacement turned into a frantic overhaul, ending with all new parts, a total rebuild, and of course a reinstall of all of my software, which I have actually been to lazy to complete... It turns out that some things I really can live without, for at least another week, because goddamnit I am just not in the mood. The nice thing is that, despite having just spent half of my financial aid on this, I have actually not experienced any buyer's remorse, whatsoever. I love the thing, selecting all the stuff and putting it together was a blast (crappy customer service not withstanding... thanks for perpetuating those stereotypes, computer-store clerks... way to go... remind me to tape my tits down next time I need something without also needing to be talked to like I am a four year old... assholes). In fact, you know you are a nerd when your husband accuses you of having "practically thrown your underwear" at your new case, the first time you laid eyes on it.
Other than technical issues, school is already kicking my ass, everyone was right, Matsumura is a difficult professor if you are not prepared to spend four extra hours a night on her class, alone. Seriously, I am taking at least three units less than I was last semester, and I am already behind on my workload, just due to her class. She makes me feel retarded.
Also, I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job. ::sigh::
Oh, yes, and to whom it may concern, Oakland can burn in hell. The end.

::sigh::

2007-07-19T15:12:00.000-07:00

Ok,
so my summer employment ends July 31st, and my vacation-time with my sister ends August 7th. Does anyone know of any positions opening up around that time? I really need to find something that has kind of a flexible schedule, because I will be in class from nine a.m. to 11a.m. mondays through fridays, and from nine a.m. to 2:30p.m. mondays and wednesdays.

Why am I up so late?!

2007-07-12T00:55:00.001-07:00

Uploaded two new pictures to the gallery. The second image is unfinished, but I wanted to get some feedback on it, anyway.

PS - If you are a representative of a large coffee corporation, please don't sue me...

I just can't help myself!

2007-06-26T21:31:00.001-07:00

Ok, that was unfair, I am sure after seeing that last photo at least some of you are mildly curious. So, here is a link to the beginning of the photo archive, which chronicles abandoned sites in Japan, of which there are many:

Spiral

Check these out, for instance. If you're a Ghibli fan, you've seen these images before!
(Whisper of the Heart, ne?)

Makes me wonder what the squatting laws are like in Japan.

Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance

2007-06-26T21:19:00.000-07:00

So, I was looking at photos of abandoned Japanese themeparks, as I often do, when I stumbled upon this photograph:

I can't read everything on the page, and I can't find specific location information regarding where Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance was filmed. I assume Korea, of course... but damned if this building doesn't give me spooky deja-vu from the scene where the protagonist gets his kidney stolen. The structures just look so similar, to me. If only I had a copy of the movie laying around so that I could refresh my memory...
Any thoughts?

::clears throat::

2007-06-26T18:10:00.000-07:00

I just want to go on record:

I HATE CSI

Did someone call for a hot water bottle?

2007-06-24T18:10:00.001-07:00

This is Ripley, she is a local celebrity who resides at Borderlands, the mecca of science-fiction literature in San Francisco. The first time I met her I was squatting in one of the aisles, looking for a book on a bottom shelf. She climbed into my lap and refused to be moved, and who am I to deny petting?
Needless to say, it was love at first sight. If you'd like to know more about Ripley, just click the picture!

Don't feed him after midnight!

2007-06-23T13:13:00.001-07:00

Seriously, I need a chinese crested. Who will buy me one?
Welcome to a new mini-series of posts, entitled : "How can something so adorable be so ugly?"

Side note

2007-06-19T10:46:00.000-07:00

I'm sure I am the last person to have read this, but apparently taking the pill may damage your ability to not have water-head babies.

"I'd like to thank..."

2007-06-15T10:05:00.000-07:00

I made the Dean's List!!!

Haha!

2007-06-13T15:05:00.000-07:00

Just when you thought I could be counted on, I got a job!
Prepare to wallow in not-posting-with-any-sense-of-regularity-land!
But, I digress...
Work is incredibly busy, my biggest-headed friend, Brad got me a job at a design firm. Whoohoo. Now, I am sure you are thinking this means that someone was blind enough to give me a design job, and I would like to be able to say yes, but actually I am a project manager. That basically means I proof-read, schedule job timelines, make design suggestions, write copy, and order people around, but in a nice way. It's quite a bit of work, but it's really fun. Yesterday, I put my library skills to use and reorganized the office library, which I thought would only take a few hours but which actually ended up taking from the wee hours of the morning until well past the five.
In other news, I have not yet been able to see my grades for last semester. I am retarded. I, the library major, checked a book out of the library just before finals (why am I so stupid?!) and completely forgot to return it. I realized this last week, but the library was closed until the beginning of the summer semester, so I have to go down there today and return the damn thing, and pay the $20.00 I now owe, so that they will release my grades. Urgh.
Anyway, back to work, my lunch break is over.
Happy Natsuyasumi!

Blah

2007-05-26T11:43:00.000-07:00

My first Saturday sans collegiate obligations. I am going to do absolutely nothing, all day. Thank fuck.
Check out the gallery, I uploaded a new picture.

Finally

2007-05-24T19:02:00.000-07:00

The time is now 7:04 p.m. and the semester is officially over.
How excited am I?

Very.

Now, if I can just make it to my first day of work tomorrow in a punctual manner, everything will be fine.

Click it!

2007-05-21T21:28:00.000-07:00

Behold, the great black beast!

2007-05-16T16:45:00.000-07:00

My sister, Trish sent me this hilarious picture of Mama (my cat).

Ding dong...

2007-05-15T13:32:00.000-07:00

Jerry Falwell's dead!

I would be more sensitive... but, come on, the man spread hate-values.

Space Spice!

2007-05-12T16:07:00.000-07:00

I just found out that they use the same type of wasabi on the space station that I use at home! Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

(Thank you Space Channel)

The time has come...

2007-05-11T10:47:00.000-07:00

You know that point in the semester, right before finals, where your brain just sort of dribbles out the side of your ears? Well, I have officially reached that point. I will never take six classes at the same time, again.
(Ok, technically five and a work-experience internship, but you get my meaning...)

HELP!

Notice

2007-05-09T10:51:00.000-07:00

I have about a ten minute break from class, and I just stopped in to change the comments settings, so now anyone can post comments.

One other thing that I just noticed is that apparently, if you are viewing this blog via Internet Explorer, the right side of the outer wrapper stretches off into eternity, making the layout look like crap. I have no idea how to fix that, right now... and, frankly I don't have time.
SO. If you are using IE to read this, STOP, and go download Firefox so it looks like I know what I am doing.

When did you outgrow screaming?

2007-05-03T17:15:00.000-07:00

So, I have a five hour break between classes on Thursdays.
Ugh.
I try to use the time constructively, doing homework, research, spending time in the Language Lab and the Tutoring Center, etc. But some days I just run out of things to do. I mean, seriously, five hours is a long time...five... hours... Today I decided to go off campus to get some lunch and purchase some supplies for a Business Research presentation* that I have to make, tonight. Buying my supplies and eating a quick snack took all of about thirty minutes, after which I walked to the bus stop and awaited a ride back to school. And waited... And waited.... for almost a full forty-five minutes, while bus after bus passed me by, headed in the opposite direction. It was mind-numbing! Adding insult to injury was the crowd of twelve to fifteen year old girls standing next to me, screaming. I shit you not, they weren't just loud and obnoxious, they were insane. Alternately swinging each other over the edge of the platform out into traffic, chucking empty big-gulps at passing cars, and making obscene phone calls to people at the top of their lungs. Oh, and singing, they wouldn't stop singing. I thought I was going to lose my mind. I kept envisioning myself walking over while they were hanging out over the lanes of traffic, and just pushing one of them, but I thought that might just make them louder.
Seriously, parents. COME ON. Can you not explain the difference to your children between inside voices, outside voices, and "Oh my god, I'm being raped or the house is on fire or possibly my leg has just fallen off" voices? Some of us don't want to go deaf before we're sixty!

*By "presentation" I mean I have to give a speech outlining the company history of Marvel Entertainment, Inc. And by "supplies" I mean that I had to go buy thirty Spider-man bouncy balls and mini-frisbies to hand out to the other students. Isn't college grand?

Errata

2007-04-30T18:56:00.000-07:00

When we moved, I decided to throw away all of my makeup. I don't like shopping, besides the fact that I loathe the rampant consumerism, I occasionally have bouts of social anxiety, and it's not a pleasant experience. As a result of these feelings, I had been avoiding the purchase of replacement products.
Well, I got a Sephora gift card for Christmas of last year, and it had been burning a hole in my wallet. So, I went out to Union Square and bought some new stuff. Just basics, mostly. Eyeliner, mascara, and a palette. Now, I don't tend to wear a lot of makeup, it takes a lot of time to put on and for day to day activities, I hardly see why one should bother. When I do use it, however, I want it to look dramatic. Of the few things that I love about the 70s and the 80s, the makeup was definitely one of them (the clothes, not so much... I mean, gold lamme???) The Harajuku girls have done an exemplary job of taking the style aspects of punk and goth and taking them to their (il)logical extremes, and I applaud them for it. So, I ask you, with all the new advancements in pigmentation, making bright and vibrant colors possible, why is it that earthtones are suddenly all the rage?
Sephora is a big store, it has makeup from dozens of different brands available. It offers a dizzying array of shades to choose from, almost all of which are fucking earthtones, I discovered, today. Oh, and pink... fucking pink for god's sake. Pink is for prom-night hussies, and earthtones are made to accentuate your pre-existing pigments. Spending a half hour just to make myself look more like I already do seems like a gigantic waste of time, to me. Everyone is beautiful in their own way, if you want to look natural than be natural.
I just feel that if you are going to go to all the trouble of covering your skin in powder and paint, you should end up looking like an exotic bird. I want to show off my plumage, damnit, and Sephora let me down. I suppose I was fooling myself when I thought that a corporate outlet would offer anything but a myriad of ways to look like everyone else, I just wish everyone else would stop being so fucking drab.

Here we go!

2007-04-29T20:51:00.000-07:00

I'm too tired to write a decent post.
So, ehm... Welcome! Prepare for disappointment!

-Chloe