Cameras part deaux

I've been steadily adding photos to my flickr. I've taken about 400 photos so far, and of those, I've only posted 42. Obviously I'm not a great photographer otherwise that ratio would be a lot better. I'm learning though.

Also, in addition to Vagiant, you really, really, really, really need to listen to the new Raconteurs album. Despite what a lot of "music critics" are saying, Consolers of the Lonely is a wicked-awesome-bad-ass album. In my opinion, Consoler of the Lonely, The Switch and the Spur, Shades of Black and Carolina Drama are the standouts, but I love every song on there. I demand you go purchase it this instant if you haven't. You would be doing yourself a disservice if you didn't

This weekend I will be venturing to the horse farm with Corley and, if the weather permits, taking a grip load of pictures. I'm very excited to have a change of scenery in which to photograph. The results should be interesting.

If you must know, the truth about the tale, go and ask the milkman.

Cameras

This is going to be a quick post.

I got my camera and I love it.

I've set up a flickr account and uploaded some of my best photos so far. You should be able to view them up in the right corner. I'll keep adding more as I take them.

We'll talk more tomorrow.

Goodnight.

Raging Semis

There is one movie in the entire Disney collection, Pixar movies excluded, that is my absolute, all-time, mega-super favorite. That movie is The Sword in the Stone.

It's an older movie so it has all the kick-ass hand drawn animation and the story is wonderful. I have searched for this movie on DVD ever since I've owned a DVD player. The only time I was ever able to find it was at Disney World, for 30 fucking dollars! And when I went to a Disney store in the mall, the lady working said that she was pretty sure Disney didn't even make the Sword in the Stone. What the fuck?

So tonight while waiting in line at the grocery store, I looked at some magazines and my gaze settled upon Sword in the Stone on DVD. I think I almost died. Needless to say I purchased it, or rather Corley purchased it because as fate would have it, I forgot my wallet. Thank god for Corelys. I don't think she's aware that the only thing she could of topped this purchase with is the purchase of Delorean. That's how special this movie is to me.

I can't wait to watch it.

Great Scott!

Most of you who know me are quite aware of my Delorean lust. It is awoken from time to time by various occurrences in my life. I can't rightly say what made me think of them in the past 15 minutes, but it caused me to look up videos of the Delorean on YouTube as well as pay a visit to one of my favorite sites: www.delorean.com

Someday I will own one of these magnificent pieces of modern engineering. Someday.

You say bark, I say bite

Well, I was able to bike my way to and from work today. A grand total of four miles. Sure, it pales in comparison to what other people have done, but considering I haven't ridden a bike more than a mile in god knows how long, it's a pretty good accomplishment. I must say I am certainly not looking forward to waking up tomorrow morning. It's going to be painful.

You may have noticed that I got around to changing my masthead up top. I kind of cheated and used the original as a template. I'm a little low on creative juices these days. It's tough when your job requires you to be creative for eight hours a day. I kind of feel mentally drained sometimes and unable to create anything after I get outside of work. I suspect it might be more from lack of motivation.

Going back to the bike thing, riding today made me consider that now might not be a bad time to quit smoking. It's only slowing me down. It's not something you can give up easily unfortunately, but I think it's something I'm going to have to do if I ever want to be able to ride my bike farther than four miles a day.

Madeline

Today I join a new echelon of Austin society. I am now the proud owner of a red Schwinn Suburban. Her name is Madeline and she's probably the finest piece of steel and rubber I've ever owned.

I've been meaning to get a bike ever since I lived in West Campus. It's a cleaner way of traveling and it's great exercise. Honestly it'll probably be my only form of exercise aside from the walks that Corley and I go on. I look forward to taking her on her first long distance trip tomorrow morning to work. My only wish is that I had gotten one earlier this week so I could have ridden all week during spring break. Now the only times I'll be able to ride it to work are on Wednesdays and Fridays.

In addition to that I also got a hair cut; another thing I've been meaning to do. I've been letting it grow for a long time now. It was past my shoulders and probably about 12 in. long and now it barely touches them. It feels a lot nicer and it's not as hot. I think it looks a lot better too.

As soon as I get around to it I'll post some pictures of my sweet new ride and possibly my haircut which isn't as cool as the bike.

Oh, and since I failed to post it earlier, Corley and I celebrated our two-year anniversary this past February. It's a wonderful thing while at the same time a significant landmark in my life. Until I met Corley I hadn't dated a girl consecutively for more than six months. She's pretty much my best friend of the female persuasion and I think that's the way it should be with a significant other. We can comfortably sit in silence for long periods of time and we never fight. However, we really suck at talking on the phone. Strange.

My birthday also happened to occur last month. I am now 24 years-old which I didn't realize until a week later. I mean, I was fully aware of my birthday and a few friends and I went out to Hole in the Wall to celebrate, but I wasn't aware I had turned a year older until I was sitting in traffic on my way to school a week later. I suppose I was caught up in the celebration of an event rather than fully understanding what the significance of said event was. Again, strange.

And if you still haven't checked out Vagiant, you really should get around to doing that.

As an aside....

I'm glad I have an s in my last name.

Anxiety

I think everyone should check out Vagiant. They're an all-chick punk band from Boston that's been featured on Guitar Hero and Rock Band. They'll give you a shot in the arm that you just might need.

What do you do when you find your motivational level gauge tapping E? You post a blog!

Some of you may have noticed that I recently changed my layout and profile picture. In an effort to be more proactive about blogging I decided to do those things. When I feel up to it, I'll probably edit the colors and graphics, I just haven't decided what I should replace the current ones with. However, I do have a plan.

Step one involves investing in a nice digital camera.

With said camera I plan on taking a metric shit ton of pictures which I will post on this, eventually, redesigned blog. Thus I will have created a portal on the web for which to display my mediocre attempts at art.

Of course this also means that I'll have a need to purchase an account with Flickr.

I've already tackled a few other steps towards my goal. I finally bought a new hard drive for my computer. 500 gigabytes of space now rest within my trusty G5 allowing me to store all the pictures I plan on taking. I feel better now that I know I have a much smaller chance of losing all of my artwork I've created as well as the music library I've accumulated.

Eventually, once I actually start taking more pictures and doing more art (I really need to start drawing on my tablet more) I'd like to invest in one of these. I'd really like to get a Cintiq before I buy a camera but my lovely girlfriend insists I get the camera first.

Now you might be asking yourself, "How is Casey going to afford all these new toys?" The answer, my friend, is simple. I got a raise.

Allow me to start at the beginning. I started an internship at a local screen printing shop in July-ish. I loved it and continued working there and eventually started getting paid part time. At this point I started working only one day a week at Kinko's. In a few months they hired me full-time and quit Kinko's completely. Two weeks ago I got a raise to salary. So in about six months I went from unpaid intern to salary. I don't think I've accomplished anything like that in my life.

So to the handful of people that read this blog, just remember: Nobody suspects the Spanish Inquisition!

Christmas Time

Christmas is here and that means we're closing in on the end of another year. For a lot of us that also means we're moving. That is, if you lease started at the beginning or end of a year; mine did. So I'm packing up my huge pile of stuff and moving somewhere else.

While there are a lot of things I'll miss about my old place: the UT Tower chiming, the cozyness, the close vicinity of various shops, I definitely won't miss the construction and all the frat goings on. Soon I'll be living in a house in a quieter neighborhood that's still relatively close to a lot of cool places and also with a good friend.

Other than moving, a lot else has happened this year. I finally broke free from the bondage they call FedEx Kinko's and have found myself a pretty rad job working in the art department of a screen printing shop. I've learned a lot in the six or so months that I've been there in addition to climbing from intern to full time employee in a matter of six or so weeks. I love the people that work there and the company sponsored parties are killer. Sure, I took a pay cut and I don't have any benefits, but I think if I wait it out a few more months I'll be making close to what I made at Kinko's.

Moving on, if you haven't played Rock Band yet, you're missing out on one of the best video game experiences ever. Sitting down and playing with three of your friends on either Guitar, Bass, Drums or Vocals is a shit ton of fun. I had the chance to do so recently at a party I attended. It was originally a Christmas part but as soon as we fired up the Xbox it became a full blown Rock Band party. I'll have to do it again sometime.

It's also really nice to be playing the aforementioned on a high-definition television, which it so happens I just got for Christmas. How could I have already received my Christmas gifts you ask? Well, my family celebrated early because my Grandparents we're in town. Corley and I ventured north to the land of Burleson for a weekend and had a wonderful time hanging out with my family. I only wish I could have spent more time with them.

Anyway, I'd like to wish everyone a happy holiday and happy new year. I can't be thankful enough for all the friends and family I have that care about me. We've all got another year to tackle, 2008, and it's looking to be a killer year.

Pumpkin Party Reminder!

Hey friends!

Just a reminder, this Saturday, October 20th, 2007 at 8:30pm at Corley's Apartment (call for directions), Corley and I are having our first ever (possibly annual) Pumpkin Party. You're invited as long as you know me well enough to know how to get a hold of me.

There will be Pumpkin themed food and fun for everyone! The cost of admission is a pumpkin food or drink or a carving pumpkin (yes, we will be having pumpkin carving as well!). Other fall-ish food items are allowed, but we'd prefer something pumpkiny. We are providing cups, plates, napkins, and eating utensils. We also have 3 or 4 sets of carving tools so please bring some if you have them and we also have some carving patterns if you're not feeling particularly creative.

Please call, email, or text message myself or Corley and let us know if you're coming and what you will be bringing. Items already confirmed are:

Pumpkin Ravioli
Pumpkin Soup
Pumpkin Rolls
Pumpkin Muffins
Pumpkin Pie
Candy Apples(?)
Pumpkin Bread(?)

P.S. If you'd like to improve your chances in the carving contest, bring alcohol!

Hope to see you there!

Change

For those of you wondering, I did indeed get the internship that I interviewed for. I start tomorrow and will be working Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Unfortunately it's not a paid internship, but according to the big boss that could change. Potentially, I could be hired on as part-time help as time goes on. Once I graduate school, if I'm still there, I can be hired full-time with salary. I hope I meet their expectations.

In other news, unless you've been living under a rock the past year, the brand new Apple iPhone is coming out this Friday. Chances are good that I will be getting my hands on one. Most of you who know me also know that I'm an Apple nerd and will probably be rendered comatose once I do obtain an iPhone. It's a dangerous thing buying first revision hardware, but I'm guided by blind faith in Steve Jobs. I have a backup cell phone, so if it DOES break, at least I won't be phone-less.

Other than that there's nothing new. I still hate my job, but at least I'm headed in the right direction with this internship. I just hope it pans out.

General Irritation

A lesson in sociology.

Labeling Theory essentially states that an indvidual will take on the traits of a certain stereotype if they are labeled as such. For instance, if a student is told that they're not very bright and won't make it very far, generally the student does poorly in school. The self-fulfilling prophecy is related to this theory.

Now, let us look at a real world example. At work, I am constantly told that I suck at my job or that this person or that person is better than I am. Granted, all of these comments are in jest and for the most part I take them in stride and fire back my own put-downs. However, depending on my state of mind, I take these comments to heart and eventually I start actually sucking at my job. I feel worthless and unappreciated and stop caring about whether this or that job get done. It's very frustrating and the sole reason I have been looking for a new job. I am not worthless. I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and gosh darn it, people like me.

In other news, Mark is in the studio this month recording his grand vision of an album. As far as I know he doesn't have a band and while a lot of people know who he is, I have a feeling that not many people are going to buy his album considering a vast majority of Austin has no idea who he is; in addition to the fact that he's played very few venues. Mark is an amazing musician, don't get me wrong. He's very talented and creative. However, without proper motivation and people skills, unfortunately he won't go anywhere. It remains to be seen if he will succeed. And if he does, that's wonderful. If he doesn't, he's going to owe an arm and a leg to his parents.

On a side note, it really hurts to read about what he's doing in the studio and see pictures of the whole undertaking because although I'm pretty much over it, somewhere deep inside I feel like I should be there too. But unfortunately, I'm not a "serious musician."

Oh well

Yet another temporary loss of sanity

For some reason, I can't seem to get anything done at work. For the past four work nights, things have been so fucked up at work that I have consistently not been able to get jobs done on time for the morning. As much as I'd like to believe it isn't my fault and as much as people even TELL me it's not my fault, I can't help but think that somehow if I would have done something differently, everything would have been done on time. It's extremely frustrating to have my managers come in in the morning and be pissed that jobs aren't finished. I just wish I could figure out what in god's name I'm doing wrong and fix it.

As if that weren't enough, I was unexplainably depressed for most of my weekend and even managed to have a panic attack on Friday that ended up with me walking ten miles in sandals. I have yet to recover and don't really feel like I will for a while. My life feels like it's coming apart at the seems and while I run around trying to re-stitch parts of it back together, other parts come further undone.

On the bright side of things, I finally managed to get my apartment arranged the way that I've wanted it. On the whole, I feel more settled and it has helped me to regain a little bit of groundedness and sanity. Corley helped with that and I am tremendously thankful.

I know I promised at the outset of this blog that I wouldn't write sappy, depressed shit, but it's all stuff that I really need to get out of my head and onto paper or in this case screen. So in other words, I'm sorry. Thankfully, there's only like three people that read this so I'm not offending too many people.

Gunpowder, Gelatin, Dynamite with a laser beam.

The cloudburts thunder in your ear

How appropriate. I sit down for lunch with my laptop and press play on iTunes and what should come on? Here's that Rainy Day. A version featuring Stan Getz. I'm not sure how many of you have heard of him, but he's a phenomenal saxophone player. It sounds like he's barely blowing into the sax it's so smooth. When I briefly played saxophone, I listened to him a lot completely enthralled with his sound. Definitely a good choice considering how stressful work is this evening.

When she walks it's like a samba

Car Trouble

It's times like these that I really wish I got into cars growing up instead of graphic design.

If I had, I'd be able to do most, if not all, of the repairs on my car and never have to worry about whether or not the repair shop I'm taking my car to is trustworthy. In addition, I've always wanted to know how to work on cars because I love working on mechanical stuff. I'd be able to buy a rundown hunk of junk 1966 Catalina and get it up and running. Or buy that Delorean I've always wanted and keep it running.

The Q suggested that after I get my degree in Interactive Design that I consider going back to school for automotive repair. I think I might just do that.

Car Trouble

It's times like these that I really wish I got into cars growing up instead of graphic design.

If I had, I'd be able to do most, if not all, of the repairs on my car and never have to worry about whether or not the repair shop I'm taking my car to is trustworthy. In addition, I've always wanted to know how to work on cars because I love working on mechanical stuff. I'd be able to buy a rundown hunk of junk 1966 Catalina and get it up and running. Or buy that Delorean I've always wanted and keep it running.

The Q suggested that after I get my degree in Interactive Design that I consider going back to school for automotive repair. I think I might just do that.

Sleeplessness

Every morning I get off work, I feel tired; exhausted even. What I don't understand is that I'll go to bed, and wake up five or six times sporadically and not feel rested once I finally get out of bed. It seems to me that if your body is tired and you don't have to get up, you'll sleep. Apparently that's not the case. I'm sure it has something to do with the sun shining through my window and my circadian rhythms being screwed up. Damn those circadian rhythms and all their circadian rhythm-ness.

Worst of all, I keep having dreams about work. I'll wake up thinking that 100 comb binds are due in 15 minutes and be all freaked out until my brain catches up and realizes I'm half-naked, lying in bed at home.

-=sigh=-

By the way, if anybody has any leads on a weird and/or wacky job or perhaps some sort of design job, please, by all means, let me know.

I'll choose my own shit scene.

Photography

Well, Apple finally got around to uploading all the photos for their Insomnia Festival. I guess they did it a couple hours ago because their server is so slammed I can't even log in to vote on my own submission. Here's the link: Outside Chance.

If you decide to vote on it you'll have to set up an Apple ID here. However, if you've ever bought an iTunes song or bought something off the online Apple store then you already should have an Apple ID and only need to login to vote. If you can't log in today, the voting last until the 14th so you have some time. I'd really appreciate it if you guys could send me a little love. Even if you only want to rate it one star, that's more than I've got already.

An oldie, but a goodie

I was searching on google a few weeks back. Words of the day were my name, The Q's name and aNoobia. I always like searching aNoobia because it's a word I created in high school that I pretty much use for everything. Seeing as how it's pretty unique I get very few hits and they're usually all related back to me.

In doing so, I found an old blog that I had totally forgotten about. I thought I had deleted most of my old blogs due to their depressing and retarded content, but I guess I missed one. Anyway, I just got done perusing all of the entries on that particular blog and realized why I deleted all the other ones. It's full of whiny, high school crap and I am ashamed that I ever wrote it. I understand that it's okay that I wrote that stuff because it's how I was back then and I've changed since. Still, it's embarrassing.

Time for class.

But I glow in the dark and I won't sit still.

Boredom

What a really boring night. I haven't had a night at work where there was nothing to do in a looooooong time. I am now reminded of how much it blows.

I guess it wasn't all bad. My coworker and I decided to make shields, swords, and helmets out of cardboard. It was interesting to see our different styles. I tried to keep mine consistent and I think I accomplished my goal. I'll bring my camera to work tomorrow night and take pictures so you all can see what we did with our time at work.

You all might remember a few months back when I entered the Threadless competition. I didn't win. No worries, I still got a laptop which was my intention by entering. I have since entered another contest: The Apple Insomnia Photo Festival. Basically I was given 24 hours to shoot one photo that I felt best represented the word growth. Unfortunately I cannot post it here due to the rules, however, in a few days it will be posted on Apple's website and I'd like to ask all who read this to please go vote upon it.

I know the prize is a MacBook Pro and yes I know I already have a MacBook, but I don't have a MacBook Pro. Besides, if I were to win, I'd end up giving The Q my old MacBook so she can have a nicer laptop, and she in turn would give the iBook I got her for Christmas to her sister. So it's not like I'd be keeping two laptops. That's just ridiculous.

I'll understand if you don't vote on my picture. I'm sure there are much better photos that have been submitted, but I'd appreciate your support.

Sing news with passion of the pistol