Whitechapel - Vile November Hugs

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-01T22:07:53-07:00

Happy November.

So me...a couple of things.

- Beer is doing well. Have some frozen blueberries being added soon.

- Had the longest e-mail conversation with Person Of Significance since August. Jokes. Laughter. Meant a lot.

- Going to a homebrew event on Saturday.

- Evan Dorkin comics make things better. Thanks again, Hex.

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-02T17:28:31-07:00

Had a pretty cool shift today. So, an older (much older) gentleman walks into my Starbucks today, and gets a coffe and a paper. I compliment him on his very fine cap, an old gray-green forage. He says it's a good hat, but it's a shame they're so hard to find nowadays. "Used to be," he says, "they were all over the place, and you could just pick them up off the ground; especially if the Germans walked into an ambush."

Later, I went outside for my break to get some air, and it turned out the old guy was still there. He came over, and we had coffee and shared a smoke together. "You want quantity," he said, "shop American. You want quality, shop Third Reich."

Coolest old guy ever.

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-03T20:06:42-07:00

MY BIG BROTHER IS GETTING MARRIED!

I don't care about getting married m'self but he does and he's marrying a girl I like so YAY!!

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-04T02:32:00-08:00

@oldhat - as a Two-Fisted Comics Evangelist, I approve this message.

@ Alan - I shall dine out on this story and always give credit to my friend in the CIA.

@dorkmuffin - weddings can be fun! (Notice I said "CAN be".)

Me? Today? Clock change means I'm up early. So I'm taking charge and SHIT'S GETTING DONE.

All you other combat-happy joes be careful out there. Jerry's got the whole band playin' and they ain't takin' requests.

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-06T07:04:02-08:00

Dorkmuffin: Dont forget to download your own set of my WEDDING DJ BINGO
cards to play during the reception!

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-06T08:08:21-08:00

I goddamn walked to work this morning because the trains in my neighborhood ARE STILL OUT. 4 miles, bitches, much of that the slow agonizing uphill climb of the Williamsburg Bridge.

@Sizer, I'm pretty confident I'll dodge that bullet at my brother's wedding. He and his fiance are not the types to listen to pretty much anything on that list. I hope.

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-06T16:01:57-08:00

Working on the website. Putting all the photos/images that are on the website on the corresponding tumblr. Brain is going kaputz from focusing on fiddly boring sort of stuff. But! Even though I'm probably going to lose money from doing this and I'm not making enough money from the job on top of it all, this is a step in right direction to going back to being A Proper Artist and who knows maybe I'll actually make some money. And be able to build/buy a new desktop and etc etc. And not being using the computer at my parents (technically, the computer is mine, but the internet is theirs). And I finally got a call back from my former boss so maybe we'll actually manage to hang out before she leaves for a week! (Or two?) Anyway! At some point, do you think y'all would mind being my marketing sample group of sorts? Like look at photos/images I've uploaded and tell me which ones you would be most likely to buy? Aside from the fabulous ego stroking, it would help me order prints that will hopefully actually sell and as a result, hopefully will mean I won't be spending money I really shouldn't be spending. I mean, if you do mind, no worries ignore me and all, but if y'all are up for it, I'll put up a link and you can like the images on tumblr or say the names of the ones you like or whatever works best.

I might be heavily caffienated. And excited. And scared shitless.

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-07T18:27:28-08:00

Saw a place up for lease in a nice area in the city and allowed myself to fantasize about owning a bar and having a Firefly "You buy this ship, treat her proper, she'll be with you the rest of your life." moment. While there's no way in hell I'll be able to afford it, I'm still going to call the realtors and look around the place taking pictures.

On a related note, if anyone here has gobs and gobs of money that they don't know what to do with, I'd like to buy a place and get a bar going. Just throwing that out there.

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-08T06:50:55-08:00

@Trini, where is this website/tumblr? Go on, deep breath and give us a link!

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-08T16:27:42-08:00

Here's the tumblr: http://reneeondine.tumblr.com

It'll probably be another week for the website, so the tumblr will have to do for now. I would have liked to have organized stuff better on tumblr, but I'm really not sure how to do more fancy things and I figure I should be focusing my energies on the website. The tumblr is significantly heavier on photography than drawing/collage/solvent transfers/etc, but that has a lot to do with the fact that the photos are already in a digital format, so I don't have to pay for the high end scanning, just the printing. Hopefully, by the time I have the website up, I'll have most of the business kinks ironed out. And I should probably shut up now before I babble on and on about all my hopes and fears.

@oldhat: As much as it is a bummer that you can't buy the place and get a bar going now, that is a wonderful dream to have. And should you ever visit my corner of the world, I'll be sure to show you the restaurant/bar/brewery that my beer loving cousin and his wife make a point of visiting (and buying beer from) whenever they are in the area.

And as for exciting things today, I got to hang out with my more than awesome former boss who is now my neighbor, and she got to complain about those horrid narrow minded missionaries (she's a Methodist Minister who is not your typical pastor, to say the least) and I got to hear how things are getting better for her, and I might get some work for her playing piano for her church sometimes. And I got to visit the "granola guys" which is the couple who make this amazing organic granola and now trail mix (that I would buy if I could afford it), who are in the building the pizza factory used to be. Anyways, now I need to start practicing piano like hardcore.

edit: because somehow it's easier for relatives to stumble upon this page than typing in the actual web address. Apparently google likes whitechapel?

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-08T17:18:01-08:00

@trini, ah...it happens. For what it is, it might not be the ideal location for it (near two bars, both with kitchens). But still...good to finally think "Fuck it, I'm gonna DO IT" instead of just thinking "wouldn't it be nice?". Also, hooray your tumblr!!!

As for me, I think the only awesome thing about this day was that I forgot it was International Stout Day (There's a "day" for everything, really, but still) and a brewery sent over a complimentary 12-pack of a stout they're releasing. I put some in my stew tonight and am sipping some now. It'll be a while before this goes!

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-09T02:44:35-08:00

REHEARSALS ARE FINALLY OVER!!!!!!11

Finally tomorrow we open this damned show! Actors are freaking burnt out on rehearsals. The only thing that will solve the remaining problems is putting a fire under 'em called "WE OPEN TOMORROW!"

Finally. God, fucking finally.

And I better fucking get paid tomorrow too, dammit all.

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-09T06:00:11-08:00

OUCHA! I just burnt me fingers whilst cooking.

I've hit the 60 Day-Clean Interzone; Give me your plastik-craptastik keyring, El Narkotika Anonymissmo!

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-09T13:25:32-08:00

I just wanted to send out hugs to this place really. I used to be a bit of forum junkie, ending up as an admin on one, and I just got sick of the circular arguments. Also on the wider internet the entrenched immovable positioning that seems to prevent debate by going straight to slanging match. Whitechapel is a big old antidote to that. When debates develop they're intelligent and insightful. Thanks for being a calm centre.
Also I've lost half a stone.
Also my bairn has started sleeping 9 hours on a night regularly.

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-09T21:30:30-08:00

Thanks, everybody, for your kind words.

Means a lot to me.

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-10T02:57:31-08:00

fuck yeah!! Opening night! survived, didn't kill anyone. No disaster, a great house and even a friend of mine managed to make it! Woo!

And then the friend liked it, the audience seemed very happy about it all, a taco bar after plus a great new wine pouring liberally and one of the guys privately sharing his stash of Bulleit. Hell yes.

Oh, and I got paid. Probably the best part of the night. };>

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-10T16:33:20-08:00

I have a bottle of Eagle Rare Single Barrel bourbon in my cabinet. I am happy.

Also earlier this week a Tinariwen gig pretty much saved my life.

Yeah, things have been a bit rough.

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-10T17:40:05-08:00

@Raz, FUCK YEAH!!! Glad to hear it went well!

Me, I went running. And then went on a long walk while carrying heavy bags. And now I'm exhausted, but the endorphins have kicked in so I'm feeling pretty good.

Tonight, Beans on toast for dinner, a couple of beers (one of which being a Belgian number that celebrates the birthday of Charles V), a warm blanket, an episode or two of Rumpole of the Bailey with my family and then, maybe, hopefully, some sleep.

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-10T20:58:08-08:00

I moving to a new job! Yay! I start on December 3rd. Wooooooooo!

My current boss has been driving me nuts (loud angry German that doesn't quite get where jokes end and being a discriminatory jerk begins). Also, he doesn't pay me very much, and the work, while mildly interesting, is not really want I want to be doing.

However, as of Dec 3rd, I shall be officially paid to make video games! Wooo! Living the dream!

Of course, the place I am moving to primarily makes licensed Disney tie-in game for kids (Finding Nemo and a host of Disney princesses are featured on their website). That doesn't mean they have to be bad video games. Hopefully my love of the general work will overcome the slightly lackluster subject matter, and lets face it, I'm not going to be entirely happy until I am making my own games full time anyways. Also, did I mention they are paying me double my previous salary? Plus adding benefits?

Yeah, I'm in a pretty good mood as of late.

Still, have to get to the end of the month. Just got to keep on trucking until I am in the clear.

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-11T01:29:27-08:00

@Morac: Cool beans! What company?

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-11T12:07:07-08:00

Finally among the employed masses once again ! Which means I have interbuttz again.
I haven't frequented these halls for a while. Good to see you all!

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-11T12:31:36-08:00

@DavidLejeune: InLight Entertainment.

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-13T18:24:04-08:00

Congratulations, Morac. :)

After pulling an all-nighter, I finally finished some Juno Award submissions for work. I hope our client gets a nomination.

Spent the evening eating chocolate chips and watching Megamind (a very cute film). And now...bed, I think.

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-13T18:32:43-08:00

Let's see, what's good?

Started an internship yesterday. Love it already. I love tangible, ongoing projects, you know, where you can continuously generate improvements, rather than trying to cram all your best work in before a set deadline. School is alright, and all, but I really do just need to get a cool job already.

Visit home over the weekend was fantastic. Spent some quality research time at the public library (there's no genealogy research access at my university, nor the public library system here in Montreal) and decided on a laptop. Waiting for someone to order it in here so I can get started on the horrific learning curve that will be Windows 8.

Moving this weekend. The guy whose room I'm currently subletting came home yesterday, so it'll be cozy for a few days -- then I'll have way too much space for myself, as the apartment I've found is really a two-person couple's spot. Weekend after will involve a carful of friends visiting from Toronto, which will be even nicer, although scheduled right in the crunch time of my essay-writing. Meh. I'll need some bloodletting and drinking by that time, I'm sure.

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-14T00:10:38-08:00

Birthday dinner for my mom's uncle, Alfonso, 85, visiting from Mexico with lots of extended family. Fun stories, crazy jokes and crazy heavy Mexican food.

Ok, diet starts now. Ish.

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-14T12:23:46-08:00

guys, saw the Hurricane Sandy Thread...bloody hell,
is Thor mad at America or something??

Glad to see everyone's OK!

We should have had a complete roll call for our American Members,saluting and everything.
Oh well...Roll on December 21st!!...Er...

Heri Mkocha
https://www.youtube.com/thearklight

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-16T01:15:23-08:00

I had the time of my life in the last 1,5 weeks while attending the AESD research diver course. It's great to finally land on the thing that you were clearly supposed to do since you were a kid, and the life took some weird turns. I burned my last holiday days for this course, which was about biological underwater sampling techniques. Up at seven every day, more or less 12 hour long days on and in the sea, learning a shitload of new things every day, both about practical fieldwork, diving and science in general. I got some tentative but very promising comments that just may lead to some actual employment in the field of marine biology even in next spring or summer. This is awesome as balls, but a leeeetle bit of a long shot. Nevertheless, the light in the end of the tunnel just might be a disco ball after all.

I'll have to say, without any hyperbole, that the AESD school has been the most rewarding and motivating thing I've done in my adult life. Now I'll just have to figure out where to get the money to pay the 900 euros this autumn's course costs, plus a couple of hundred for a VHF radio license and a coastal navigation certification >.<

EDIT: Bloggery! Diving For Science – An Autumn Of AESD Research Diver School

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-16T10:56:32-08:00

I just put the green stain on the telecaster.

I think my erection punched a hole in the ceiling.

It glows.

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-16T23:15:22-08:00

So huh.

First I be one of the lucky ones to get a very special edition collaboration brew in advance for review, making me the source of jealousy of a LOT of people in the country right now.

Then I have one of the best nights out with one of my oldest and dearest friends. Really was able to relax.

As that's happening I checked my e-mail and it turns out that I've been asked to be a part of the committee for the Toronto chapter of Barley's Angels, a group that sets out to educate women about the world of craft beer.

Damn.

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-17T02:28:05-08:00

Weekend suddenly went from being a working weekend to a traffic jam of stuff to do. But it's all theatre and so I love it. (I'd love it more if I could make a living on it, but anyway...) Getting a friend out of a jam by running board for a staged reading, going to part of a clowning workshop (yes, clown class, make the jokes if you like it'll Make Me Better), and coffee with my bud first thing in the morning.

No sleeping in though. Barely any sleeping at all in fact.

And then tonight after the main show I'm doing I hung out for nearly two hours talking theatre and things with a cute young man. I expect nothing but mutual understanding of each other's creative interests...but it was nice. I guess I'm at that old lady stage where it's just nice to share the company of an attractive youngster. *goes off to get her walker*

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-18T06:24:57-08:00

Here's where we are after two coats of stain and one coat of oil:

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-18T10:33:28-08:00

So, yesterday, THIS happened...

Baby girl, don't know her name yet, it'll come to us. Mother fine, very very happy and relieved.

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-18T11:12:14-08:00

@JP CONGRATS!!

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-18T13:09:58-08:00

@JP Congratulations!

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-18T13:36:55-08:00

woooo!!

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-18T13:46:34-08:00

Welcome to Earth!

Congrats, JP!!!

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-18T14:04:43-08:00

Woohoo! Congratulations to the new hoo-man and the parental units!

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-18T15:16:33-08:00

Warrenetta?

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-18T16:14:21-08:00

Congrats, JP! Taking any name suggestions?

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-18T16:37:54-08:00

Whooohoo! Congrats JP!

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-18T19:43:31-08:00

Congratulations! That's wonderful, JP!

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-19T01:01:19-08:00

Woohoo!! JP-ette! YAY }:D

Mad theatre weekend is over and glad to be home again. 34 hours of theatre work from Friday through Sunday. Plus two hours of seeing a friend's show on Thursday. }:>

Life is tough with a bunch of debt and no income, but when things pick up and go so fast that I don't have time to notice...they usually get chock full of the stuff I think I was put on this planet to do. Niiiice. }:>

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-19T08:26:33-08:00

Fantastic news JP!

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-19T11:14:13-08:00

awwwww. cute baby JP. congratulations :)

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-19T15:05:55-08:00

Nice work, Mister Carpenter!

My best friend (also in England) just became a father, 10amGMT today. The pictures are disgusting. Newborns are creepy, all with their soulless alien eyes and confusing nipples.

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-20T06:29:14-08:00

Yep - lovely snaps, JP. Wishing you and yours all the best.

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-20T07:06:57-08:00

Congratulations JP Carpenter!! She's lovely!

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-20T13:54:10-08:00

Thanks all!

Welcome to Earth!

As I took her through the doors of the hospital and into the night, I said to her 'come on, let's see the world'...

And then I took a wrong turn on the way back, and we ended up on top of Portsdown Hill, high above Portsmouth, with all the lights of the city stretching out far below us, and beyond them, the lights of the ships in the English Channel, and at that point I lost it and wept like a small child.

Newborns are creepy, all with their soulless alien eyes and confusing nipples.

I haven't, and won't, post the placenta pics that Partner forced me to take. And yeah, I'd forgotten just how weird a newborn looks for the first few hours, until they get their proper shape and turn the right colour.

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-20T14:38:02-08:00

Mini Carpenter looks gorgeous. Congrats dude.

Now about the name. You sure Dreadnought doesn't work for a girl?

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-20T18:06:30-08:00

Allana, ladies and men and babies, our Resident Romantic Soul! Tune in next week and see her slaughter a sacred cow, live on camera! (Kidding, darling.)

Best to your family, sir. The Vile Hugging thread was made for such momentous occasions.

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-20T20:47:18-08:00

Carpenter: \o/ Well fucked, good sir!

Had a surprise call-in to a marine biology assignment on Monday for the next day. Pulled a 13 hour workday so I could take a few hours off and took my tendonitis wracked hands to rest on the sea yesterday (cold and compression actually seem to genuinely help me on that!) This has nothing to do with the school, this is an actual marine biology/archaeology cross-discipline project that has a good chance of netting me a name in a peer reviewed study. You know, this with nothing but a 101 course of the actual science done in an open university. Followed up a day on the sea with a 7,5 hours of work yesterday evening, now it's almost 7am and waiting for my ride for a second round of the same - driving out and spending the day getting and sifting sediment samples, followed by translating a book on design in the evening for the dayjob.

I'm so tired I feel nauseous, but happy as a clam. I see the exit from the current job situation, the endgame is near, and I'm doing something I want to do. That's worth a little bit of exhaustion.

Vile November Hugs

2012-11-21T03:17:25-08:00

After years of being told by the optician who came into the office to do our quick free eye tests that everything is fine, I finally decided to get a second opinion and go and have a proper full eye test.

Turns out I have a bitching astigmatism.

I pick up my glasses tomorrow.

And this is good, because I will be able to SEE properly again.