Whitechapel - OPEN MIC -- the Three Act Speakeasy Thread (Closes 28th February)

OPEN MIC -- the Three Act Speakeasy Thread (Closes 28th February)

Horrible Warning Si — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:01:58 -0800

Still experimenting here. Want to see if there's room for a once-in-a-while 24-hour thread - as with yesterday's - as well as these Open Mic gigs. Which I rather enjoy. Let's see.

The Rules:

OPEN MIC is here for you to vent, to express, and to learn. This is your chance to perform -- but you're also in the audience, guv, and are expected to behave as such. So your skits at the steely Whitechapel microphone will ALL and ALWAYS be divided into three sections:

1: The Boo. The Get-It-Off-Your-Chest. The "I've-Had-A-Shit-Week-And-I-Need-To-Vent". Your chance to scream silently into the face of Internet apathy, and trepan your pressurized consciousness. Deposit your spleen here.

2: The Huzzah. Wherein you tell us something which goes just a teensy way to mitigating the effects of the psychic turd you just laid on our heads. Perhaps it's a tiny hint of hope in an otherwise bleak situation. Perhaps it's an unrelated Thing Which Happened which made you smile rather than frown. Shit, maybe it's just a silly joke. Show us you can cope as well as carp.

3: The Applause. You will choose one of your fellow whitechapellers, from this same thread. Doesn't have to be the person who posted before you - just someone whose story touched you. And you will offer them a word of advice, or comfort, or support, to help them with their own SECTION 1 Whinge. Doesn't have to be much. A sentence, a word, a bloody emoticon - whatever. Just a paltry donation to the art of Thinking Of Others. And try to avoid schmaltz, please, or the Urethral Maggots will feast anew. Circle of life, kids.

Naturally, the first person to respond here is excused from Stage 3.

Begin.

OPEN MIC -- the Three Act Speakeasy Thread (Closes 28th February)

Sonny — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:31:45 -0800

1. I've already vented a little about this. But... GODDAMN THESE NO TALENT BASTARDS NEED TO GO HOME AND FUCKING PRACTICE. Don't believe me? Take a look. It's embarrassing that there's shit like this from St. Paul, where I hail from. Don't get me wrong, the majority of music around here is boss as all hell. Holy shit though... FUCKING TAKE A FEW MONTHS TIME in one of your basements and practice a little for fuck's sake. And neither of you are gangsters, you're fucking posers is all.

2. I got the highest score in my class in our first big test of the year (out of 2). I feel I am well on my way to this career I'm pursuing, and I feel I will enjoy it quite a bit and maybe even be good at it. Thankfully it isn't really a corporate gig, the nature of the job; that is something I've been trying to avoid my whole life. It is very, very interesting. Also, I think I have the concept down for my next LP and I think it could be really, really neat. I wanna tell a story with an album. Then... lastly, I scored a free ticket to ATMOSPHERE tomorrow, which has been sold-out since the day it went on sale.

OPEN MIC -- the Three Act Speakeasy Thread (Closes 28th February)

Soviet Rocket No. 9 — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:14:47 -0800

1. Got an email back from Department of Homeland Security, applied there a few weeks ago and a rejection letter. Basically saying, "Sorry, but you don't have any experience." FUCKING hate the fact that in the legal profession, experience is necessary for any goddamn thing.

2. Started reading Johnathan Frazen's "Freedom", and it's the first novel in a long time that struck me to the core, and leaves so many ideas in my head like planted bombs.

3. @sonny. I have never liked rap, and I find them a mess. I like the fact that the people in the background, have nothing better to do, than to ignore them.

OPEN MIC -- the Three Act Speakeasy Thread (Closes 28th February)

Koltreg — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:27:51 -0800

@Mostly Harmless I've got similar sentiments as far as job searching goes. I graduated almost 5 months ago with a web degree and despite having an internship for over a year, freelancing and doing a bunch of stuff that is "cool" but unrelated to web design (such as booking concerts, running Kickstarters and organizing events) and I'm having issues getting a job in any field.
I decided today to just make myself a resource - find everything that I can on web design, start up a site for people in the same position (who are getting into the field at the beginning or who are looking for work.) Now I can call up companies for interviews for the site and find out what they want. If a company sees me doing this and says "hey we like what you are doing, we want to hire you!" Plus theoretical ad money, program samples and everything else are additional benefits.
Looking for work sucks so make work for yourself as much as you can.
I know it doesn't pay but there are usually a few places that look for free legal consultation that they can give out - that type of work can look good on a resume or do a blog on whatever legal stuff you focus on - there are plenty of people getting angry about the law they find in the news that screws them over - get them angrier by making them understand it.
Either way keep at it.

OPEN MIC -- the Three Act Speakeasy Thread (Closes 28th February)

brittanica — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:50:56 -0800

I had a kind of half-hearted hope that the Mic would be Open, as it were, when I got home, because I need it. Thank you.

BOO: In kind of a weird headspace at the current moment. Spent the day w/ my family, and there's this cloud of memories... not bad ones, it's just... I don't like thinking about the past, because it's gone and I can't do anything about it. On top of that, helping my dad work on the building that's gonna be the storefront and kitchen and storage for their berry farm makes me afraid for my relationship w/ the fella. He doesn't want to stay in Tennessee forever. He makes industrial and electronic music, there's no real place for him in Nashville. I don't think I want to leave though. I'm proud of my parents' work on the farm and I want to be a part of it and I know that when they die, it'll be mine. No one really wants my half-brother to be involved, as we're all pretty sure he'd sell the land and just buy beer w/ it. My brother's cool, don't get me wrong... he's just not responsible. The fella and I have talked about it before and it's basically come to "we'll cross that bridge when we get to it". Still.
Also, the cat I had as a kid passed away today. My grandparents' took her in when we moved years and years ago, and I went to see them before coming home, and my grandmother was crying. They had just buried her right before I got there. Ruby was a good cat. She was probably 15 years old (she was a stray when we found her, so I'm not sure), but she never seemed that old, the few times I'd seen her recently. Still running around outside, sometimes not showing up for a day or two. I'm just happy she died quietly, in my grandparents' house.

HUZZAH: While working w/ Dad, we talked about stuff. It's really great to know that he wants to encourage me, whatever I do. It's still weird to hear him tell me to go after my dreams, as pragmatic as I see him. "The future isn't scary. The past can be, yeah, but the future ... Anything can happen in the future." It just means a lot, you know? Telling me that I should be more confident, take small steps (like skydiving! "If you can push yourself out of a plane, you can do anything!") to build up my confidence, stuff that I need to hear, even in my own head, more often.
Oh, and tomorrow, I'm going to the movies w/ a friend I met on Tumblr. We met through a mutual admiration of Mark Lamarr, and we realized we lived in the same city. We met up for dinner once, before the holidays, so it's cool that we're gonna hang out again. We're going to see The Iron Lady, since it's the only movie out now I know anything about.

APPLAUSE: Oh my, Sonny, those fellas in that video aren't very good. Do you have a link to some of YOUR work, since you said "next LP"? I'd like to hear anything musical from my Whitechapelians.

OPEN MIC -- the Three Act Speakeasy Thread (Closes 28th February)

Sonny — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:37:50 -0800

@ Brittanica: Last thing I made is called "The Parallel".

OPEN MIC -- the Three Act Speakeasy Thread (Closes 28th February)

oldhat — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:23:02 -0800

Oh, hooray!

Boo:
- CRIPPLING LONELINESS. Well, kind of. Money has been tight lately what with a lot of saving, so I haven't been going out too much. Plus a lot of my friends have reached a point where they aren't really available (a fair spread of people who don't call unless they need advice on something, people addicted to work and people who are complete slaves to their significant others who either don't like me or don't like them doing something that doesn't involve a date night with just the two of them). Soooo I've been having a lot of meals for one lately and that's been getting to me a bit.

- IMPENDING CAREER THAT ISN'T REALLY WHAT I WANT TO DO WITH MY LIFE. Potentially well-paying job is just a six-month internship away and if I'm good at it, I'll get some good money. While one half involves listening to great music and finding new talent, the other half involves a lot of legal mumbo jumbo that I'm not sure I'll be able to be savvy on. And the pressure my parents (primarily my father) is putting on me for this is REALLY getting on my nerves.

Huzzah:
- GOING TO LA IN APRIL. See above for the impending career. I'm going there for MusExpo to learn more about The Industry. Have never been to the West Coast, so it should be fun!

- PUNCHING THINGS PROVIDES BURST OF ENDORPHINS. Nothing more to add, really. Boxing tonight and working myself hard REALLY got me out of the depression funk I've been in.

- SAMURAI CHAMPLOO. Mister Hex loaned this series to me and it's just DAMN fine.

- ALAN IS A DARLING. He really is.

Applesauce:
@Britt that's awesome that you enjoy working on the berry farm. And don't worry too much about things with the boy. Something will get figured out. Just don't leave if you don't want to, okay?

@Mostly Harmless. Man...three years in film school along with a collective three years of internships and LOADS of freelance experience later and I STILL can't get hired in this town. I feel ya.

OPEN MIC -- the Three Act Speakeasy Thread (Closes 28th February)

Pooka — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:43:45 -0800

BOOOO!
everyday is a god damned let down...i've basically been under house arrest since my truck broke down. I rarely get the chance to leave, so i'm going kinda crazy. I've barely seen the sun in months...it's no good for me but what the fuck am i supposed to do? I can't walk anywhere because of the arthritis, and it's so cold most days out there that the ache and pain I'd go through for a few minutes of sun isn't worth it anyway...
i've tried to cheer myself up with painting, but while i have a lot of fun doing it, i'm not getting too many positive responses from folks. my skills aren't what they used to be...not remotely...and it's frustrating feeling like i"m starting over again.
that girl I really wanted to hang out with...i guess i scared her off before I even got to meet her in person. heart is heavy...
i've had company the last few days...unfortunately it's in the form of my hubs, my dj, and another old guy friend of mine, and they've all decided to basically form a "let's see how annoying we can be to pooka before she kills us all" club. I just can't have a pleasant time with other people apparently...
I so desperately need some fun in my life...i've been in this kind of low to neutral mood for too long...i tried ordering a new copy of skyrim (first copy got destroyed by others), and for weeks I sat and waited, excited as hell about finally having a nice distraction from the monotony. When I got my package in, I opened it....empty box...no disc....I...was...not....happy.
there's a big nerd convention run by one of my friends next weekend. only forty bucks to spend the weekend with free food and drink and partying and all sorts of fun, but I don't even have the forty it would take to go. I wanted to go last year too but couldn't. it's so fucking frustrating i'm trying really hard not to break down right now. i'm waiting on two very large chunks of money in the form of three years worth of taxes and a large disability settlement check but right now, I'm broke as hell and barely keeping afloat.
My husband keeps going back and forth from being supportive and optimistic, to soul crushed depression within the span of a day or so...he keeps going back and forth between us spending a big chunk of our refunds on merchandise to resell (and make a huge profit on), or him quitting the collectibles business altogether and just going back to school. I get upset when he says he wants to quit. It's been something we've done together since we owned our first comic book store...and i'm not so sure the kind of job he'd be getting would be much better than what we're doing now.
Kinda pissed off at one of my ...well, used to be my star artist. I hosted his first comic book show and helped promote his first comic. last year at my show i sat down with him and a couple other guys and planned out this years event. When I invited him this year, he refused to even reply at all...Ya know...I went through MONTHS of frustration and hours of my time putting an event together to help promote HIM. the least he could do is give me a "sorry I'm already booked" message....ya know...something...
don't ignore me dammit...i hate being ignored...
AND I'M OUT OF TEA GOD DAMMIT!

HUZZAH?
Dj brought us a clothes dryer last night (ours broke). finally I can take down the stiffly drying clothing that's festooned my house for the last month. YAY SOFT TOWELS AND BLANKETS!
ummm....hmm....well, i've at least kept a steady stash of weed to help calm the nerves, deaden the pain, and keep the food down. that always makes all this bullshit a little easier to deal with...

APPLESAUCE!
@oldhat (i always end up commenting on your stuff...i can identify with your issues a lot :)
if i were remotely anywhere near you I'd keep you company for dinner...and i promise i wouldn't bitch as much as I do on here :P

OPEN MIC -- the Three Act Speakeasy Thread (Closes 28th February)

keyofsilence — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:56:55 -0800

The Boo

I am still unemployed after over a year and my employment insurance has expired. While there's nowhere near as much pressure accompanying that as there should be, I really do want to get back into work. My money's dwindling and I just need a damn job.

The Huzzah

I'm currently being considered for three jobs. It was four up until about an hour ago, but I obviously didn't get that. I had an interview on Monday with a magazine publishing company who need a Journalist/Editor and I believe I'm going to be invited back to meet the heads of publication and perhaps take part in a writing test. I hear back from them on Thursday or Friday. I'd very much like this to put an end to a particularly shitty round of joblessness and get back to earning good money.

The Applause

@Mostly Harmless, boy oh boy do I understand the whole fucking experience schtick. I'm sure everybody on this forum does, actually. Keep hacking away at the bastards and someone will eventually hire the shit out of you. That's all people such as ourselves can do.

OPEN MIC -- the Three Act Speakeasy Thread (Closes 28th February)

icelandbob — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:03:19 -0800

i will hold off on this till tomorrow. Then i may have some news fo y'all....

OPEN MIC -- the Three Act Speakeasy Thread (Closes 28th February)

Doc Ocassi — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:16:45 -0800

### The Boo ### & ### The Applause for Sonny ###
This has been at the top of my play list for the last while.
Immortal Technique - Rich Mans World

### The Huzzah ###
My use of the word 'Fuck' has increased in the last few days.

OPEN MIC -- the Three Act Speakeasy Thread (Closes 28th February)

Ben Gwalchmai — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:24:01 -0800

Le boo

I cannot seem to write poetry: I am a poet. This is a problem.

I just...I just don't seem to have it in me - I can write witty ditties or deconstructive clever-clogs poems that take forms that fart over cliches but can I write a poem that I like and comes from me without direct emotional stimulus from another human and that's genuine?
Can I balls.

I can write prose that's genuine and I can write plays, opera, film, performance of all sorts but I'm a poet, dammit.
I tried writing a poem as a break from the prose today and it was terrible.
I've felt like this for close to a year now - it's possible...it's possible I just don't have any poetry left in there at all.

Thanks for listening interrornet.

Le celebré

Chapter 4 got done today, this is my final WNO week so all focus will be on THE BOOK [to me it's always in capitols until it's finished, I'm not shouting - don't worry, I'm not crazy yet...that's for when there's another one of these in a month and I've almost finished THE BOOK] and the short film.

l'applaudissement
@ Oldhat & Pooka - be patient, Whitechapel veterans. Good things come to those who...Also, if I remember correctly, you've pulled through worse before.

OPEN MIC -- the Three Act Speakeasy Thread (Closes 28th February)

JP Carpenter — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:07:04 -0800

BOO

An Unholy Trinity of utter bullshit today. 1) My friend emailed to say his dog had died. I'm not a dog person, and I don't normally get emotional about animals but I considered Milly a friend. She was a guide dog until she retired a few years ago - my friend saw her as both his saviour and as a surrogate daughter for giving him back his independence after losing his sight through a degenerative eye disease. She was a wonderful and highly patient companion, and we got on extremely well - she'd always get really excited when 'Uncle Jonny' came to visit. She found adjusting to retirement quite hard at first - a younger, fitter dog had taken her place, but the last time I saw her, about eight months ago she looked old but still happy and healthy. Old for a labrador I believe, but still immensely sad and I'll miss her, and I know he's going to be devastated.

2) My partner had some bad medical news today, not life threatening in any way, but she's facing an agonizing decision that's going to be hard for both of us whichever way it goes and I. Just. Want. This. Stuff. To. End...

and then 3) thirty seconds from hearing about that and still in the clinic, I get an email from my mother to tell me that a very close relative, who's had some severe health troubles for some years quite possibly has a really bad degenerative illness. The good is that they're getting closer to a diagnosis, the bad is what they think it is and I'm worried sick for both her and my parents whose stoicism is being tested.

HUZZAH

I spent the weekend in Brighton, went to the Outer Church on Friday and then to Simon Price's Spellbound eighties indie night on Saturday, both of which were utterly, utterly awesome despite leaving me exhausted and broke. Came home with ideas and plans, and when I've recovered might start executing them. And I'm not in the office tomorrow, I get to drive around a few locations near to home and then go for a pub lunch with a dear colleague. And then Friday I'm off to a work related awards dinner in Derby, where hopefully my corporate hackery has won something...

APPLAUSE

@bob - intrigued, hope it's good news.
@oldhat, keyofsilence, mostly harmless, good luck with the whole 'future/employment' thing. I don't envy being in that position at all and count my blessings of being in tolerable employment daily.
@brittannica - I cried like a baby when my childhood cat died... sucks

OPEN MIC -- the Three Act Speakeasy Thread (Closes 28th February)

texture — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:22:31 -0800

@Ben G - I find poetry is the hardest art to force. Stop trying, it will come back (works for me anyway, I have huge periods of no poetic inspiration, and intermittent bursts where | just have to scribblle madly to get it all down).

@Sonny - Exciting news about the new album ideas man. And yeah, those guys suck. Glasgow's full of no-talent dickwipes doing poorly conceived "hiphop" about stabbing people and drinking. At their shows they get drunk as fuck and basically bellow thinly-veiled, pseudo-ironic ned pish into mics... for every talented emcee like the incredible likes of Loki or Louie Deadlife, there are ten fucking un-evolved, proto-simian assholes... I hate hiphop shows here for the most part. I almost (not quite) miss the unattended, shit-sound-quality basement gigs in Edinburgh, where even if the venue sucked and the audience were nonexistent, I got to listen to the likes of Eaters.

(aaaand breathe....)

IZ GUD

Moved house - the new place is smaller but in good nick and really cosy. Settled into routine, working at the kitchen table on stories and tracks... I can deal, basically. Stuff between myself and The Woman is better than its ever been, and I feel like I'm starting to circle round some sort of actual style and approach to writing that is my own and no-one elses. My writing tutors are incredibly supportive and keep reassuring me that it's all about producing quality work, rather than getting there first... I no longer feel like the local folk I consider my peers are rushingon ahead to fame and glory while I'm left wallowing in obscurity, afraid to submit my stuff anywhere for fear of failure. Instead, I'm confident that when I'm ready, I'll find my place. I'm finally, at last, getting some confidence in my own abilities as a writer.

NOT SO GUD

I have to get a job again next month! That's a stupid bloody thing to bitch about really, but being a full-time student has been HEAVEN. Anyway I'll shut up about that, The Woman is reading over my shoulder and hitting me in the arm.... I think if my life had a face she would punch it, to paraphrase the drummer from Sex Bob'omb.

APPLAUSE

Well done to Sonny and OOldhat for the good job news! Killer work guys. Hope it's loads of fun and financially rewarding.

PEACE!

OPEN MIC -- the Three Act Speakeasy Thread (Closes 28th February)

Koltreg — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:13:11 -0800

Huzzah -
My semi fake scam attempt of calling up companies for interviews to go on a blog on web design is actually proving beneficial as I am figuring out what I need to learn and coming to terms with the fact that I could easily just work as a business manager and deal with clients and finances. It's like Dungeons and Dragons but for boring people.
Also doing the blog is letting me retrain my skills and work on my nonfiction writing.

@texture Glad to hear you are getting to write and you are getting somewhere with it. Finding inspiration and getting to run with it is pretty fantastic.
It seems like the forum could support a job search griping thread that would eventually lead to forum members starting an online business to make money.

OPEN MIC -- the Three Act Speakeasy Thread (Closes 28th February)

Ben Gwalchmai — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:39:04 -0800

gratis kudos

@ Koltreg -

"It's like Dungeons and Dragons but for boring people."

Yes. This. Welcome to the world of office work, sir. I'm glad we'll be on the same page.

OPEN MIC -- the Three Act Speakeasy Thread (Closes 28th February)

Cameron C. — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 01:47:32 -0800

BOO: My Neighbor, who last time I talked about bringing her to the hospital, I found out definitely does have cancer and she is not returning to the apartment. She is in a rehab place. She has been given a time frame.

HUZZAH: Tomorrow I will (hopefully -_- ) be giving a Scrambled Circuits story to someone to doodle. I've already given one to a very talented illustratoress to draw and she has just been very excited to draw a comic of mine. So, the fourth collection of Scrambled Circuits comics looks like it will be five stories written by me with one drawn by me and four drawn by four other (far more talented than me) artists. We're pretty much gonna make the greatest comic ever. Or, at least, not many will say it sucks. I'm incredibly excited.

APPLESAUCE:
@Brittanica: I recently had to put my kitty down, I know how that feels :'(
@Doc Ocassi: This is good but it can always be increased even more. Always.

OPEN MIC -- the Three Act Speakeasy Thread (Closes 28th February)

trini_naenae — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:27:58 -0800

Boo:
I have a borderline cold. There was going to be a date on Saturday that I ended up having to cancel because I don't like getting people sick, especially just before their birthday. So my throat is raw, my nose is slightly congested and I have raw nasal passages, and I'm trying to not pass that on to anyone else. It also apparently makes me become tired faster than I already do, so by the end of work yesterday I was barely functional, which is very bad for efficiency and the job. Guh. I want my fucking energy back, dammit. I also want to spend time with that cute guy and talk to him and cuddle and get some questions answered and all of that stuff, but that's obviously not going to happen anytime soon.

Then there's the entire unemployment/partial unemployment not really bothering to mails checks to me (and my co-workers, apparently). I really could use the money, and I'd really rather not take money out of my savings account. I've got some resources I'm going to check out to get the checks coming in, but it's still frustrating. Especially when one of my co-workers, who is a single mother, had to jump through all sorts of hoops and still didn't get any help whatsoever. At least I don't have any children to worry about. And I don't have to worry about holidays coming up and trying to decide if I can work or not because daycare is so expensive.

Not to mention the bureaucracy dragging their feet with getting some paperwork done so small businesses can sell food across state lines. Because the USDA and the state of WI have to be self important wankers and nitpick over unimportant things like logos instead of signing papers. We could be selling our pizzas in Duluth, which is much closer than Madison, Milwaukee, etc.

Huzzah:
I'm picking up the uke again until I get bored of it again, but it's nice to learn new songs and practice ones I know, and I found the tabs for "Blues Run the Game" which is one of the songs I've been wanting to learn and the chords are wonderfully easy. The intro is complicated finger picking stuff so I won't be bothering with that for a while, but at least I can learn it on the uke. Also, the lowest note on the (soprano) uke is C, which is very limiting. But new songs mean more songs and practicing staying fun longer.

Also, I've been trying to get matching sets of flatware (silverware) via thriftstores and I have have been mostly successful with two patterns. It's very domestic and simple but it makes me happy, and it's been fun looking through the silverware sections to find one or two more pieces for the set. Interestingly, butter knives are the easiest to find, spoons are the hardest.

Applesauce:
@oldhat & Pooka and others suffering from the lonelies: *Hugs* I wish I could teleport and hang out and all of that stuff because being lonely sucks. Especially when there isn't much you can do about it.

@keyofsilence & Koltreg & everyone else dealing with unemployment/money problems/job problems: I wish I had some useful and clever to say. Kudos to those who are keeping at it, and hugs to those that are struggling.

OPEN MIC -- the Three Act Speakeasy Thread (Closes 28th February)

phill_sea — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:58:07 -0800

Applause and Hugs:
@oldhat RE: Crippling meals for one. I feel you on that front. It can be a miserable thing, sharing a delicious meal with the spirit of someone you miss.

@Trini If the man's worth his salt, he'll be around to answer questions and cuddle once you're mendt.

The Boo:
Sick. Haven't felt good since Monday night. Haven't been to work since Monday, either. Haven't really talked to my wife in what feels now like forever. We had our baby in November, and life has been so baby focused. Baby focused is fine when that's where both partners are, but I'm starting to rearrange again, and she's still baby-momma, which is fine, but lonely. It doesn't help that we've been having mental-intimacy issues that she has issues about, but refuses to talk to me about, though can talk to a mutual friend who (better or worse) told me about the issues, but refuses to open that can with me, when i present the opener.

The Huzzah:

My job is such that paid time off is something I have, so three days just means a busy week next week and no loss of income.

I've made it to my classes, and recorded them for listening once I'm well again.

My son continues to amuse and astound with simple hand eye coordination, smiles, giggles, etc.

I've got concert tickets for two shows in March (Mindless Self Indulgence, and Electric Six) and one in April (Fader Head [lol?])

Spring break means I can catch up on homework next week

Thanks.

OPEN MIC -- the Three Act Speakeasy Thread (Closes 28th February)

Koltreg — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 13:35:54 -0800

#Huzzah
Got news about a job via a person from my school doing their job and recommending me for it so now I get to schedule a job.

Also figured out how to solve my web portfolio via my interviews for the site I no longer need to do.

And I found a collaborator for a new 4 page mini comic that I need to write now.

So when good stuff happens it happens a lot. Now I get to wait for all of that to fall apart.

OPEN MIC -- the Three Act Speakeasy Thread (Closes 28th February)

Dextra — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 21:41:37 -0800

The Boo: I have eczema. It appears on my hands when it does. Right now it is being a motherfucker. I also have the misfortune of working as a barista part time at a place that rhymes with buttfucks. This only exacerbates the problem. My main job is doing freelance art, and right now, my skin is being difficult enough that drawing is getting to be a problem to accomplish. Before anyone asks, yes, I have medication, but once an outbreak starts, all you can do is medicate and ride it out. Also, I feel like a leper and tend to want to avoid human contact, but at the same time could really use a cuddle. *sigh* Ain't life grand?

The Huzzah: I've been on quite a roll with doing a daily sketch project. I have some really good encouragement and support on it, so that helps. Also, I've become addicted to ponies. I'm not sure if it's a good or bad thing, but I'm amused, and so are others, so I'd say it's good. I've also gotten a couple of nice commissions, hopefully, I'll get more. I'd much rather do that than destroy my skin by making my eczema worse, or nearly boiling my hands off with hot liquid, like I did a couple weeks back.

Also, I realized today that the Ood (from Doctor Who) look like what Cthulu's vagina would look like. I just wanted to share that.

Applesauce: I wish we were closer, Pook. I'd help keep you company. Or beat up the boys. Whatever. You know I'm good for both. ;)

OPEN MIC -- the Three Act Speakeasy Thread (Closes 28th February)

Pooka — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 05:17:53 -0800

Boo:
can't go to concave this year (a big scifi con run some buddies of mine)...no money...bleh..second year I've had to cancel the plans...
body hurts really bad and I had to resort to some pain meds, now the acid reflux is burning my throat and making me hoarse....i hate how any meds i can take to help my problems have so many side effects that its an internal debate everytime to decide whether it's even worth it or not.
completely out of cash until either the end of the month or my hubs makes some selling toys...almost out of smoke too..which means i won't be able to eat solid food in a couple days, and liquids are kinda hard to keep down (unless we get some more). last time i was out of smoke for about a week, and I ended up losing five lbs (very bad for me since I barely break a hundred on a good month) and in the end was so weak i could barely walk across the apartment.
still not recovered the weight back. I'm worried that if I run into another rough patch without meds it's going to take me too long to recover. I've got so many events coming up in the next month that I really need to try to get my strength back up to be able to handle them.
Once again...i can't get anyone to help me put out fliers for my show...i've got three weeks and i can't advertise...i'm so pissed off...i've got alot of attention already for it, but I really wanted to put fliers out in town...god ...dammit...every year it's something...

HUZZAH!
getting my new copy of skyrim today. I had a copy months ago, and played the hell out of it until it mysteriously stopped working (no scratches...nothing...just fucked up)...so Dextra sent us some valentine's day cash so I bought a new copy...waited the two weeks deliver...opened my package...found it empty. Got pissed...reordered...now it should come in today....fate can't hate me that much, so i'm expecting to be playing skyrim by midday YAY!
Also the hubs and I are going off to visit a friend this weekend most likely...which means good food and fresh country air and scenery...
I am really excited about botcon this year. in late april I get to make a road trip to dallas texas for four days of absolutely awesome geekery...and I'm hoping to hang out with Scott McNeil and David Kaye during the weekend. I've decided to front my business partner the money for the con so he can go too...for two reasons: One: Road trip with my hubs and my best buddy and fellow geek are great...but they have HORRIBLE taste in music and will freeze my ass to death....my business partner refuses to ride anywhere if he can drive, and has wonderful taste in music...so...yeah..i'm riding with him...as aggravating as he is, we have fun on the road Two: he can get a press pass and is very good at convincing con celebs to come party with us. the big olnerd in me wants to chill with Megatron and Dinobot...just saying...plus the great thing about going full package to botcon: you get a six or seven figure set of exclusive toys you can turn around and sell for about a thousand bucks or more (depending on how popular the set gets)....so if I pay for my business partner's entry, I get his set (minus the figure he wants out of it...but that'll still cover everything).
I can't wait guys...i'm so excited.
more huzzaaah.....in the next couple weeks we should be getting a NICE three years worth of tax returns. I'm excited. I can finally get a car! yayay! all my money troubles will at least temporarily be fixed! I can finally leave the house without having to feel like a burden on someone!

Applesauce! I know Dex :). I'd be a hell of a lot less bored with you around :P. Oh, on top of the cream...tea tree oil..i throw that advice around a lot with skin conditions, but it will help speed up the healing too. I had the exact same thing happen to my hands a couple years ago. It only spread to two fingers but it was painful as hell. the tea tree oil and medicated cream combo seemed to help the quickest. Also..YAY ponies :)

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Fauxhammer — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 06:51:13 -0800

With Big Poppa Si's indulgence, I'm going to start with

YAY: Good Things. A major issue at the workplace is being resolved, my wife's medical issues may be taken care of, and I got eight hours--EIGHT HOURS--sleep last night. Things are fecund creatively. I'm firming up my plans to get in shape.

BOO: Kind of have a toothache.

App Laws: @Dex: Feeling you on that. I break out in dead face-skin, and if I'm not careful, my hands crack and bleed like a shitty stigmata.

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chiaslut — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 09:37:17 -0800

The Boo: I have The Sick, in the form of some painful chest congestion. My job is still ... vague and amorphous. I also have The Anxious Depression. This sucks the joy out of even my most favorite things.

The Huzzahs: My particular brand of The Sick isn't so bad that I can't work or enjoy life in general. More of a nuisance. I have a job. It pays well. I work with super smart, really nice people. This thread does help me focus on these good things by writing them out.

Apple Salsa: @MostlyHarmless and @keyofsilence - Not having a degree of any kind, I've had to rely on my experience and goodwill to land gigs. Here's to hoping you'll both find that person(s) to let you get your foot in the door.

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dorkmuffin — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 10:13:53 -0800

The Boo:

Fiona Apple tickets sold out instantly. She's one of my favorite performing artists and I've never seen her live, and goddamn profit-mongers made it sell out instantly and then immediately posted tickets on StubHub for >3x the original asking price. People are douchenozzles.

The Huzzahs:

I'M IN MOTHERFUCKING BELGIUM.

The Apple Condiment:

@Oldhat, find small inexpensive ways to pamper yourself. Or as they say on Parks and Rec, TREAT YO SELF. (Except without the money-spending, obviously.)

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oldhat — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 10:40:27 -0800

Thanks folks, for the responses to the crippling loneliness. Some days are better than others as it always goes.

@dork, Oh, I'm doing that. Just little things like springing for some fancy cheeses, baths, kicking more ass at the gym and such. Tonight: Beer and Little Nemo's Adventures in Slumberland.

The Boo:
Weight stuff. Surprisingly that's it.

Huzzah:
- The upcoming job stuff...I'm feeling a bit better about it the more I learn about it. Getting in to contract agreements and royalty percentages and stuff will be kind of intimidating since I have a dyslexia with numbers, but so far I'm feeling better about it.

- Getting REALLY excited about travel this year. So far it's looking like Chicago, LA, Washington, NYC and Montreal (with a slight possibility of England). I hate staying in one place and a year of travel is SO what I crave.

- On the Chicago note, I maaaaaay have found a good hostel for us to stay in (need to talk with Alan about it). It'll be a private room, so thankfully we can have alone time without some dude from Oslo asking us where he can score some pot.

- Been kicking ass in the gym.

- Best friend might be coming over this weekend for fancy dinner of Beer Sausages Inna Bun and a dessert of whatever she make.

- Tonight I have schnitzel, beer, Mass Effect and hopefully the Little Nemo movie of my childhood.

Applesauce:
@dorkmuffin HOLY SHIT BELGIUM! Try cheeses from the Trappist monks! Chimay has a pretty nice one!
@Dex ah hell. I second Pooka's suggestion of Tea Tree Oil but would also like to throw in the suggestion of Polysporin, which I find helps reduce the redness.
@Pooka Hooray for Skyrim!

OPEN MIC -- the Three Act Speakeasy Thread (Closes 28th February)

icelandbob — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:43:28 -0800

hi everyone...

This might be a decent post from me...

THE BOO!

- This insomnia that's hit me over the last 2 weeks is really messing up my life right now. I'm getting by on 3-4 hours a night and i feel like a hollowed out shell through the day. Naturally of course i try to get to bed early and have tried all the other stuff. Hot baths, milk and camomile tea, getting away from the PC and TV and reading a book (and academic texts on Psychogeography). But then it gets to 2:30 am and my brain is on fire, and i´m almost tried to tears. but still i can sleep...

It's really getting me down. any advice (including booze & pills) is appreciated.

Oh and the cat tried to run away twice this week. We're getting calls from people all round town going "your cat is eating our food!" It's getting pretty embarassing.

...And now for THE HUZZAH!

Ok here goes.... I'M GOING TO BE A DAD! Yes, Sigga and I have finally done it! She is 6 weeks pregnant (and not a moment too soon. We were about to start IVF this month!). It was a lot of crossed fingers when she was a week late, then 2 weeks. But we went for a sonograph yesterday where we saw the "Thing" beating heart and everything. We now have a due date of around the 16th October. but i have a stag doo 3 week ealier and a major music festival 3 weeks after!. Bloody hell!

Needless to say we're pretty buzzing about it. Well Sigga is... It's still going to take a few week for it all to sink in with me. But the bloodline will be continuing over here. SHIIIIIIIIT!!!

the APPLESAUCE!

@Oldat - you deserve a lot better, the way you'Ve been workgin at your career. Plus you have some decent friend on here i hope. I'll be sending you a message over the weekend, ok?
@Brittanica - Hang in there at the farm. And maybe Nashville needs some decent nidustrial music, no?
@keyofsilence - Good luck in getting a new job!
@Sonny - Reminds me a little fo the local rap scene here (joke - the scene here is waaaaay better than that dogshit lol).

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Beamish — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:46:20 -0800

HUZZAH INDEED BOB. That's great man.

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razrangel — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:53:47 -0800

FUCK YES BOB!!! I've been thinking about it since you mentioned you two were trying but feeling frustrated. So happy for you!! Yes! little baby Bobs with a big daddy Bob!! Woo!

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Cameron C. — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:05:55 -0800

OMG BOB CONGRATULATIONS TO YOUR FUTURE AWESOME KID
8D

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icelandbob — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:08:35 -0800

-To everyone

don't tell Sigga but if it's a boy, i may call him Símon Warren Robertson. (In Iceland they use my first name for the child's surname - Plus Warren wouldn't be allowed as a first name)

Catchy, eh?

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Argos — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:10:30 -0800

CONGRATS BOB!!!!!

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nigredo — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:40:40 -0800

Hyperawesome news Bob, congrats dude!!!!

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dorkmuffin — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:44:51 -0800

Bob, I'm selfishly hoping she delivers a few days early and you get a kid with my same birthday.

OH MY GOSH CONGRATS

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brittanica — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:52:32 -0800

@bob -Mazel tov! /breaks out the gender-neutral bubblegum cigars

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Rachæl Tyrell — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:03:19 -0800

The BOO:

The weather keeps killing me. I love rainy days, and it's unendingly awful to have the grey days be the barometric pressure shift that makes the brain swelling knock me down with Scanners-skull. I was invited out by a lovely young man last weekend, and I had to cancel. It kills me, because he seems like a fabulous person to befriend. Tonight is an old friend's birthday shindig, but unless the weather clears up, I fear I won't be able to attend. I am in brain throbbing pain.

Also.

Because I am seen as a nag and have offended my roommates, I have agreed to stop asking that others clean up after themselves (nor shall I clean it myself). The apartment is now a fucking filthpit, which does not bode well for the whole getting-rid-of-bedbugs thing. In fact, the past few days I've seen dozens of new baby cockroaches, which I pretty successfully had eradicated. So, instead of the apartment having LESS vermin, we have more.

Also.

I've got about $500 in medical bills that have gone to collections, and I'm trying to figure out how Medicare Part D works, and every other social program I have to wade through.

The YAY:

I have ... shifted my energy. This sounds silly perhaps, but... I've surrendered myself to the world again, and I suppose this is how people feel when they "surrender their will to god". I feel as though I'd been tied in a knot to keep my insides safe while walking uphill, and instead decided to just relax, unfurl, and give in to the flow of gravity and find the crest of a wave to float on. I'm not walking around like a guru, I still get angry and frustrated at much in the world, but I'm not straining upstream like I had been. I think part of the catalyst was struggling to come to terms with having to get rid of most of what I own, of what I'd been working hard to amass for the past few years after the last time that most of my belongings were eaten. This has happened to me a few times in my adult life. I've decided to use my normally battered ego as incentive, and explain to myself that I only have so much oomph, and that my oomph and energy is too important to waste so much of it on creating nice living spaces for myself the way I have been. I still find attractive surroundings just as integral to my peace of mind, but I have to find another path. In general. For everything.

I must stop using the same methods most seem to use, and instead use the tools of oddity that I naturally posses.

I must go back to being me, as much as I can.

So. I dyed my hair purple, bleached out my eyebrows, started working on long forgotten art projects, enjoyed hours of philosophical conversation, felt my chemistry tweak upwards.

And things immediately started to fall into place. Synchronicity abounded.

A new place to live without effort. Sudden emails from long ago clients. Sudden messages from old friends I'd not seen. Possible gigs. Social invitations. Meeting a fellow who, days later, I heard interviewed on my favorite non-commercial radio station (WFMU), which I will be volunteering at next week during their fundraising (something I'd been meaning to do for over a decade).

Yeah, my one invitation got dashed last weekend, but I've had other new friends to hang with. I got to see a free show with an amazing gospel-style double set (featuring one of the members of TV on the Radio) where the singer noticed me and addressed me from the stage to compliment my necklace, after which my friend and I sat at a diner and chatted til long past dawn. The next day, another friend invited me over for an amazing homemade dinner. The day after that, another friend brought me with him to a free screening for Act of Valor (terrible propagandist horseshit, but free). THREE DIFFERENT NEW FRIEND OUTINGS! IN A ROW!

And then, last night, one of these new friends of mine decided to treat me and get us tickets to see WILLIAM SHATNER on BROADWAY for this Saturday!! (I am unsure exactly how much this might be thought of as a date, though. Is it rude to accept if I am not interested beyond friendship? I hope not, because I'm certainly going!)

The clap clap clap clap...

@icelandbob - CONGRATULATIONS!!!

@dorkmuffin - JEALOUS!

@pooka - I live on tea and weed, so I can understand the pain of it's loss. I'm almost out of this month's food stamps, and I'm recycling burny bits in my vaporizer. HOWEVER, if you have any left over dottles (omg, the first time I've EVER gotten to use that word in a sentence!), you could try frying them up in a small omelet (which is my method). If you can get the omelet down, it may inspire more eating!

@trini - I like your flatware method. I imagine spoors are hardest because they get bent so easily trying to eat icecream and such.

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oldhat — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:57:29 -0800

@bob Said it on twitter, but I literally wept for joy for you to. Give Sigga my ABSOLUTE best. :) And can't wait to get that message...thanks.
@rae, embracing yourself is the best possible thing to do. Doing that really got me out of a breakdown.

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Pooka — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:07:47 -0800

BOOO!
I think i'm done with alcohol for the time being....makes me pretty sad. I do enjoy drinking, but i think the acid reflux has fucked up the little sphincter muscle that keeps the acid outta my throat. I've had mostly permanent heartburn for months now, and I'm taking two prilosecs a day...eventually when I get my disability health insurance I can get the operation to fix it, but for now...stickin' to weed.

HUZZAH!
I Argonianed the fuck outta skyrim today :). FINALLY GOT MY NEW COPY!! YAY!!!!
Now I get to go away from skyrim for the weekend (and possibly the internet altogether) to go chill at a friend's big fancy house, and eat their yummy yummy food and play with their fuzzy fuzzy kitty....and they've got smoke so I'll be taken care of. I'm fairly well taken care of at the moment actually. Friends that care have been saving the day for me.

Applesaucy goodness:
@icelandbob WOOT!
@Rachæl Tyrell *hugs* I get so pissed when I have to cancel fun stuff due to health issues. I've had to put off so many dates and parties because of my body crapping out on me, but don't let it stress you too much. You'll feel better soon and you can reschedule. if he's that awesome he'll understand. folks like us just kind of have to go with it, and not let it stress us out too bad. We just need to make the most of the times when we do feel good.... and YAY for purple hair!

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Rachæl Tyrell — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:58:04 -0800

@Pooka - Hooray for friends with smoke!!!! Socially, yeah, it's true, we do just have to accept it and deal with it. It's one of those things that I do try and warn people about upfront, but they never do seem to get it until long after the fact. Some days my intestines hate me, and using the lavatory every 45 minutes means i can't go out. Some days the weather shifts and my head explodes and I need to be laying down, so I can't go out. Some days i feel physically ok, but agoraphobia grips me by the throat, so I can't go out. I think people just don't understand if they can't physically see it. I wish I bled from my pores when I was in pain. Also, ditto on the not drinking. I just came to that renewed conclusion again myself. I didn't drink for a few years, and I really didn't miss it very much. I like socializing though, and in NYC people rarely entertain at each other's homes as much as we all just congregate at bars, get loaded, subway home. I just have to bring my weed out with me, or start to cook it in food for myself on my way out. I just tend to get angry at myself for not making use of EVERY MOMENT that I don't feel terrible.

........*breathe*.... accept it, me! ........ *breathe*

@oldhat - Yknow I think I didnt realize how much I'd let the last two people I was .... involved with, really helped to further isolated me, and in doing so, I lost all identity beyond what they provided. The one five years ago was terrible, the one three years ago, much less so. i think I might finally be shaking off the last few vestiges, as the voice in my head that says shamefully "what would HE think of you doing that?" is hardly a whisper now.

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Fishelle — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:35:09 -0800

Yay Iceland Bob! Congrats!

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JP Carpenter — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:44:44 -0800

APPLAUSE

@Bob - I'm delighted for you, keeping everything crossed that it all works out for you and Sigga - that's really awesome. YEEEEEEEEEHAHAHAAAAA

BOO

All from earlier post applies...

HUZZAH

I am supremely drunk, in a hotel somewhere in the Midlands but I don't know exactly where, the corporate magazine I edit has just won an industry award and I've been celebrating. So, very proud of the agency and team I work with, and yeah, screw it, I should go to sleep sometime soon.

APPLAUSE

Bob - hell yes. Again. Very pleased for you

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Alan Tyson — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:33:32 -0800

I'll do a proper post in a moment, but:

BOB! HOLY SHIT, BOB! Fucking congratulations, man! Give Sigga our best, and, just, fuck, Jesus Crack Cocaine, this is awesome news!

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Jay Kay — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 22:37:18 -0800

The Boo:

Biggest thing is that after I think two years of uncertainty, our house is officially being foreclosed--between job crap and probably some mismanaged choices in refinancing, we just can't afford it anymore. Outside of the fact that where we're going to live is kind-of up in the air, what really bums me about it is that it still feels like "ours"--I've lived here I want to say thirteen years, we literally build it ourselves. I knew I wanted out of the house at some point, but not this way.

The Huzzah:

Hmm...not a whole lot to huzzah about, really. I mean, I'm doing pretty well in my classes. I've even gotten back on the writing habit again, doing some outlining for a pretty cool comic project that I want to start with an artist friend of mine this year.

The Applause:

Of course, congrats to Bob and Sigga, wonderful news to hear...er...read. :)

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trini_naenae — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 23:04:01 -0800

Boo:
Having a cold sucks. It'll end soon enough (I hope).

Huzzah:
I discovered a new antique/collectibles store, which was lots of fun, and I ended up getting a greeb iridescent beetle encased in glass pendent that I have been having waay too much fun looking at. Also, had fun hanging out with my mom at my apartment today. I'm so lucky to actually have a good relationship with my mom.

Applesauce:
@phil_sea: Thanks. I hope he's worth his salt.

@dorkmuffin: OMG that is so cool! The touristy part of me wants to know if you've seen (or are going to see) Manikin Piss, and the art nerd part of me is hoping you'll get to visit Antwerp and visit the Rubens museum(s).

@icelandbob: Congratulations!! Happy Dance! Yay! Because of my Swedish background, I'm familiar with the Scandinavian tradition of Father's First Name-son, but I thought they didn't do that anymore (in Sweden at least). Kind of neat to find out they still do this in Iceland. If the baby is a girl, would her surname then be Robertdóttir?

@Rachael: Hooray for new friends and doing things! And your roommates are gross and filthy and I hope you get out asap because ewwww. Cockroaches too? How have they not been evicted? Appalling.

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Morac — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 00:12:51 -0800

BOO:

Bus home was filled to capacity with drunky drunk people. Not a great way to end a day (nor was the vomit one of them left as a present for whichever poor sap has to clean the bus).

HUZZAH:

The game is coming along really well. Also, new screenshots and info!

List of Karst crystals

APPLAUSE:
@IcelandBob: Super congratulations!

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government spy — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 10:29:05 -0800

Boo: Actually doing fairly well. Other than stressing myself out in the pre-engagement night jitters... I don't actually pop the question until Tuesday night. But until then, I haven't actually picked UP the ring, since I'm having it made custom, it won't be ready until THE DAY OF, and I'm a little nervous about that.

In preparation for the money I'm spending before I have it, I'm working a double-shift tonight, getting a total of 11 hours of OT this week. All things said and done, when this is over, I'll probably break even, while only having to pay off about $350 spent on my pre-paid credit card.

Huzzah: Tomorrow begins one week of paid time off, what I call mental health days. Not really a vacation per se, but I don't have to go to work. I'm going to a fancy barber and having my beard professionally shaped into something reasonable, before I take the future Mrs. Spy out for dinner.

We're going to Americas, which is this totally fancy South American place that we've been to once before. Menu includes several different types of ceviche, lobster corn dogs, corn smoked crab fingers, and reportedly one of the best steaks in the country.

After vacation, I have one week of training. Which means two weeks of not having to be inside a prison, and ending with me shooting things. WIN!

Applause:

Icelandbob !!! Huge congrats! Keep up the good work *wink wink nudge nudge saynomore*

Mostly Harmless: You were going DHS? As a lawyer? Any specific reason you were trying DHS (other than their budget is still getting bigger)? Are there any other Fed agencies you applied at or are considering? If you need any info about trying to get into the Feds let me know, if I can't help, I might know someone who can.

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chris g — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 20:29:00 -0800

Bloo: Ugh I really fucking try to be a nice an decent person in real life but there's always gonna be mother fuckers with chips on their shoulders who don't fucking get it. This black dude came into my store yesterday eating some gross chili fries, I told him "oh great you're gonna eat here? better not drop anything." and then he dropped a fry and I was like "Great! There ya go, now pick it up" and he got all tough guy about it. I just ignored him 'til he left on his own, then I saw he left his trash outside on the hedges. The motherfucker had the nerve to come back today with a little kid and was acting stupid about the other day. I told him I saw him throw his trash outside my door and I'm not selling him shit for being a little dick, then I snapped a pic of him with my phone as a mind game. I had other ladies in my store when he walked out yelling "Ay day racist here!" Whatever, he was the one being an asswipe. All my best customers are black so it irks me when some jerkoff with a complex starts looking for an excuse for being a piece of crap with no manners and wonders why they aren't getting what they want. It's always the males who act like fucking drama queens. Men are trash and fuck the patriarchy. Anyway, the badass mohawk chick I was into for a while is black so hurrdurrr it's not about race with me it's about being nice and not a stupid fucking human. But this kind of shit makes me really excited about all of us getting wiped the fuck out in a ball of fire soon. There really is no point in humans anymore, the experiment failed a long time ago. It's all about killing time now (lol, that was bleak).

Huzzah: ANYWAY yay Kate Beaton retweeted me today. That was really sweet of her to use her following to get the word out about other comics. She fucking gets it. Also I went to a WWE show last night. Some nobody threw TP at Chris Jericho. It was a cool time but the height of the cheap seat nosebleeds section freaked me out so I didn't even bother finding my seat and just got a row of handicap seats to myself! And security creeps in orange blazers were all over, it was annoying, I thought if you buy a ticket you're a guest, blahhhh. I do not recommend a night out at the Staples Shitter, or L.A. in general, HA! All the bright lights outside felt like I was in Blade Runner except not as gritty and diverse and more about consumer sponge fuckery.

Applause: Yay for Seed of Bob! Hope it slaps the doctor right back and doesn't take shit from anybody!

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razrangel — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 02:30:11 -0800

Boo I have tried like a motherfucker to make myself go to bed by 2am so I don't end up hauling myself up past noon and still feeling like hammered shit. It's not working. When I did it a little it felt great. But then it crashed again. I have no idea how to get a workable schedule into my life so I'm not constantly playing catch up with stuff I've committed to doing and not get around to doing the stuff I really, really want to do. This means I'm sort of keeping up with my Japanese because I'm in an ongoing class and so I have homework and tests and things. But I'm not doing shit for voice over because there's no external points to meet - or, that is why I don't prioritize it. The time to get things done isn't magically showing up and I am at a complete loss for how to organize my day - well my waking hours - so that I get to it all.

Huzzah Went out and gamed a little bit with some good friends tonight. It was an experimental game my friend cooked up with many layers of characters guiding other characters, I was the in the last layer and subsequently the most important since I helped decide who won. As it happened - me! I won! Well, my side won, but I walked away with the "Winner" medallion. Heh. It was silly and fun. Better yet, i got to hang out with my friends and have a good old time in a gorgeous Victorian style house in a lovely little town just a few minutes from where I live.

In between BOO and HUZZAH is the news on my brother. I still don't get all the fucking details on the damn case and the law and whatnot. But the date that was his "pre-trial" got the whole thing sorted, sentence given and release date planned. He should be home on Tuesday. I don't know what state of mind he'll be in by then. He's not doing so hot and he's been on a different dosage of his meds while in custody. He did not sound great when on the phone. Really has me worried. But at least he won't be over there for much longer. He'll even be home for his birthday. Surprised jail time will be so short, but his parole time will be long - three years. Eek. In the meantime if officers come by to see him at any time we have to let them in...

Gave Applause to Iceland's very own Bob already, so now a *hug* to Trini. Just because. (And a };> to Robin because I might get to meet her in two months!)

OPEN MIC -- the Three Act Speakeasy Thread (Closes 28th February)

taphead — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 17:25:10 -0800

BOOBOO

Boo The First: I have just returned home from The Club after a very nice evening of making things sound unreasonably good (seriously, a hollowbody electric though a DI straight into the board and the PA has no business whatsoever sounding that good) and playing some relly nice rounds of various boardgames with lovely people. And yet. Every time I come back home alone, I can't help that undercurrent of loneliness. This mix of crippling shyness in making the first (or nth) move and utter obliviousness in noticing when someone might be interested in me is not very conductive to Things Happening. It's not even a sex thing, I just think sleeping alone is the most useless thing a human being can do with their time. So yeah. Boo hoo. Sob.

Boo The Second: Money. It seems in a month I'll be on the other side of the Atlantic, and my budget appears to be very very slim. Now, my previous experience with NYC showed me it's actually pretty easy to get by there on a tight budget, but I wouldn't want to make my companions go light, too. After the two weeks in NYC I'll be on my own, and I'm pretty sure things will go rather well on just goodwill toward a performing musician and so on, so that doesn't really worry me as much. Still, if you feel like spreading the word, I'd be much obliged.

HUZZWHAT

i) FUCK YES I'LL BE IN NEW YORK AND GOD KNOWS WHERE ELSE (TORONTO, I'M LOOKING AT YOU) IN LESS THAN A MONTH. And the idea of having just a one way ticket is very very VERY appealing. I keep looking at the number of things tethering me to Helsinki, and coming up with a rather small number of actually binding anchors. At the moment my goal (such as it is) is just to not fly back from NYC. Chicago, maybe? Or if I manage to make my way to the left coast, Seattle, SFO, LAX?

(Oh, and in the past few days I've realized I'm landing in NYC on St. Pat's. I feel the drunken culture shock is appropriate.)

ii) Robin is going to LA and that's both Major Applesauce as well as Huzzah. Boy howdy. (Too abstract to think about.)

iii) SIZERIZED.

THERE'S AN APPSAUCE FOR THAT

Robin: I hear ya on the loneliness. Making food for one is a sad thing, and eating alone is even worse. If I make it to Toronto when you're around, cookings will happen, yes?

Also, I realize this section is meant for COUNTERBOO MEASURES, but: BOB! Goddamnit, that there is the most awesome wonderful thing right now on the globe! Best of luck to you and yours. <3

OPEN MIC -- the Three Act Speakeasy Thread (Closes 28th February)

Beamish — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 18:40:35 -0800

BOO
I am seriously getting burned out at school, over the last few weekends I have spent closed to 15 hours doing math homework and I am having a hard time giving a shit any more.

HUZZAH
Picked for publication, again!

APPLESAUCE
I love having a place were I can come and meet with internationals who all care so damn much about each other, in many cases never hugging them but always wanting too. I love all of you and hope the boos get better and the Huzzah's change your lives for the better.

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trini_naenae — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 19:00:50 -0800

Boo: Being sick sucked. It felt like I was hacking up chunks of phlegm at one point. Pretty gross stuff. But really, that's not that bad.

Huzzah: I'm getting better. About damn time! And maybe a date this coming weekend? Whatever. I'm at the point where I'm not going to worry about this shit because things will happen or they won't, and things seem to be getting better. Also, affordable health care!

Applesauce (the most important part): @gov spy: Exciting times! I'm looking forward to how things go. And time off, you totally deserve that stuff.

@Chris: Crappy customers are crappy customers. Sorry to hear it.

@razrangel: :D *hugs back* I hope your brother can get the help he needs, at least at some point. It sounds like he needs a massive amount of it. And that you and your family can get the help you need too. It's so easy for the average person to forget that when someone is sick or has mental health problems, it doesn't just affect them, it affects the people who are taking care of them too.

@taphead: Sorry to hear about the loneliness. Like I've said before, that shit sucks. If I may, learning to be alone without being lonely is pretty powerful stuff. Sometimes sleeping alone is kind of ok, ya know? That said... FUCK YEAH TRAVELLING!! I'm totally looking forward to hearing about your plans and whatnot. Where you able to get some contacts in California and etc going? And obviously, any help I can give you with it, you know where to find me, etc etc.

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texture — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 05:05:06 -0800

@icelandbob- Belated congratulations man, that's awesome news. Also, re. the sleeplessness, try valerian tea, double up on the teabags, (and if available, a joint).

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Vornaskotti — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 05:55:13 -0800

Boo:

Flipped a lid in a situation where the said lid should've remained unflipped, and currently I'm hoping I didn't make a very messy situation any messier. Against a large body of evidence, I'm quite a conciliatory guy in the end and very hard to anger properly, but just managed to slip over the border this time. Well, I'm feeling far lighter myself, got rid of ten bucketfuls of resentment, and don't really care that I'm not on speaking terms with the person in question. Still, sigh. I don't like losing my temper, since although gradual, it always takes me a little bit by surprise. I enjoy the quality wine of being constructive over the crack of throwing a tantrum.

Yay:

More or less everything else. I'm been annoying the fuck out of my pals by telling how great I feel about life and how well everything is. There's hobbies, friends, art, filthy lucre and creativity. I know. I'm currently a horrible person to listen to! :)

Applablaa!

Congrats to Bobmeister for probably having had sex at least once!

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Ben Gwalchmai — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 07:08:11 -0800

@icelandbob- Belated congratulations here also, sir.

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Beamish — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 09:44:36 -0800

Sorry, I just received another boo.
If you haven't heard there was another school shooting today at the Chardon High School in Ohio. My nephew attends there and three of the students shot are friends of his. He was with them 10 minutes before the attack and is physically okay. I understand that one of the students has passed away and at least one is in critical condition. If you pray, please do so.

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Koltreg — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 09:48:32 -0800

Boo.
1. Inadvertently did a section of an application for the job I hoped to get that I was not supposed to do. Won't know until tomorrow if I am still a viable candidate for the job as such. I went and sent the supervisor an email though apologizing and offering to fill out everything again. Hopefully that might help.

2. Also found out I am not on the current list of SPX Exhibitors despite getting the application in early so I might just check out HeroesCon as an alternative.

@beamish I'll add in a prayer for you.

Edit: Yay.
Just got back interview responses from Chris Roberson so that makes things better.

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Alan Tyson — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 12:18:00 -0800

@Beamish: God damn, man. I'm sorry to hear that. Glad your nephew wasn't hurt (physically), but still, that's awful.

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Fauxhammer — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 13:23:41 -0800

Christ, Beamish--what a horror.

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keyofsilence — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 13:55:56 -0800

I'm very sorry to hear that Beamish. I'm sure all of our thoughts are with the victims and their families.

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razrangel — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:22:24 -0800

Oh my goodness, Beamish. Yes I'll pray.

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trini_naenae — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:34:09 -0800

@Beamish: That's horrific. My thoughts are with you and your nephew.

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Beamish — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:54:04 -0800

Daniel Parmertor, 16, has passed away after from the shooting today. My nephew Brandon was one of his best friends. Sorry to keep bringing this down.

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dorkmuffin — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:23:52 -0800

@Beamish, no need to apologize. My thoughts are with you and your nephew.

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Fishelle — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 20:36:01 -0800

Boo:
I have a fuckton of work to do in the next 2 weeks. I don't know how I'm going to manage it. 3 studio classes is proving to be a bit much. I don't get credit for my most stressful project, but doing it means I get half my hotel and plane cost back for a trip that's coming up. And that brings us to...
Huzzah:
Flying in to New Orleans for a print conference 2 weeks from tomorrow. First time there. Will be there on St. Patrick's day, which sort of seems a waste since I don't drink, but it should be entertaining nonetheless. Also have a friend visiting next week, and plans mostly include cuddling and making out and stuff, so that should be fun. And I got a letter today that I've been waiting for for the last 10 weeks or so.

@Beamish I'll be praying. *internet hugs*

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Rachæl Tyrell — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 11:08:46 -0800

Good god, @Beamish, that's tragic. No child should have to deal with that kind of event. I'm so sorry.

Hey @Flecky, where you at, yo?

@Trini - It's not my lease, and it was filthier than this when I first arrived, cochroaches and all. I'd rid the place of them by... y'know... keeping things clean... but that's not the way my roommates want to live. So, ok then.

@Taphead - Hoorah! There will be outings!

@Government Spy - good luck tonight, man!

The Yay:

Due to punding headache, I didn't leave the house on Friday night until after 2am, didn't meet up with my friends until 4:00am, and then suddenly found myself in a car with seven others on our way to buy forties and find a boat. We parked in the middle of an urban wasteland, walked down an alley, on a maze of wood planks, and then ... to a private party on a decrepit tugboat on the water somewhere in Brooklyn. The main room had a dj booth and dance area, and by some couches you could see a lit fireplace. We partied there until past dawn. It was amazing.

Saturday evening I was treated to see Shatner on stage, and it was awesome. The man still has it, y'know?

The WAH!

I have a cold, I have cramps, I have headaches. I think one of my friends is far too interested in dating me, and I think another might be slightly stalking me?

Also, a few moments ago i got a fb IM from a woman my mom went to art school with 25 years ago, telling me how much my mom misses me.

I tend to get frustrated at these instances, because really, there are a great many excellent reasons I don't keep in contact with my narcissist mother (Picture a combination of both female leads in Arrested Development, the mom from Spanking the Monkey, and a smidgen of Mommy Dearest). This happens, from time to time; someone from my mother's sphere of influence will get taken in by the sad puppydog eyes and BINK! there's an email from someone I've not seen since I was 8, telling me how very sad my mom is.

For this, I call upon my internal voice of reason manifested as Admiral Ackbar (as played by Samuel L Jackson):
"It's a TRAP, motherfuckers!"

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Brian Schirmer — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 12:53:29 -0800

@Beamish: Dreadful on all counts. Words cannot do this justice.

Forgoing my own Boo/Huzzah/Applause as a sort of moment of silence.

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roadscum — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 13:31:51 -0800

The Boo:

The goo, the snotty glue that fills my head i has manflu. And i am not happy about it, especially the bit where my head feels like it's going to explode every time i sneeze. There are probably more important things to be unhappy about but for the time being this is all i can think about. Uuurrhh! Leave me now! I die!

The Hurrah:

KK's birthday celebrations were a great success and she was most pleased with her uke. Life in general is good and the manflu does appear to be slowly receding, with luck i may just survive.

The applause:

Oldhat - Stick at it, things are changing, loneliness is a bugger and i hope it soon gets swept away for you.

Brittanica - Weird headspace? Memories? Yes, it's not difficult to drift off into melancholia but you're right, gone is gone. Your Dad sounds like a very sound man, onwards to the future and the new dawn of the Nashville industrial electro country scene. Or something.

Everybody - Stay strong, stay bright, stay sparkley and stay well away from big hairy snotty sneezy things, they are infectious and carry the plague.

Right, i wanted to write more but i'm struggling with a head full of doom snot, my poor little brain just wants to shut down. Time to crawl back to bed and die.

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roadscum — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 13:37:08 -0800

@ Beamish: You have my sympathy, there is too much misery and not enough joy in the world, i wish i could do more to change that.

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Jay Kay — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 23:06:42 -0800

@Beamish--I'm so sorry for you, your nephew, and especially his friend's family.