Stressful week, not going to go into it. It was just… stressful.

I need some fiberfill for the Frog Beanie (Ravelry link) I’m making, but I only ever see it sold in big bags and I know I won’t use all of that polyfiber unless I make like a dozen amigurumis and I don’t even know how to make ONE. Blah. I’m half tempted to gut an old pillow but that would be kinda nasty, so that won’t do.

Aaaand, I also drew this. Nate requested it. Yes, it’s quite absurd… and it’s supposed to be.

After doing my homework on this kind of problem, I’ve narrowed it down to the starter motor - specifically the solenoid. I believe either the plunger and the contacts inside are caked up with carbon buildup or worn down to the point where they don’t make contact anymore. If they don’t make contact, juice does not go from the battery to the starter and you get no ignition. Thankfully, it also seems relatively easy to fix, and we’re going to try to take out the starter and see if we can’t clean out the solenoid to get a bit more life out of it.

Worse comes to worse, I guess I’ll be having to pay about $150-$200 on a new starter. If anyone wants to buy some of my prints to help out with that expense, I would be forever grateful.

RIGHT ON, HARD–HADRON COLLIDER, WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

Get your HEV suit on, bust out that crowbar and keep an eye out for headcrabs.

So anyhow, that’s a pain in the ass. Especially when certain RSS bookmarks don’t want to load or can’t display posts because of friends only stuff. Blah.

Feelin’… ehh… not my usual self. Like I’m stuck in some kind of rut. Usually happens around my birthday, so whatever. I’ll get over it; I always do.

Anyhow, here’s some art crap:

• Lurk
• Skoekaki

And Nate said to me yesterday (well, technically it was the day before yesterday) after he got his 1920’s dapper gentleman haircut, “Hey, draw me a Deep One.” Usually his requests for me to draw him things consist of ideas like Cloud Strife vs. Busta Rhymes, to which I typically say no, in so many words. But a Deep One, although I have not actually read any Lovecraft myself and have only watched him play The Call of Cthulhu, I was willing to oblige.

HOWEVER, there is a twist! He wanted me to draw a Deep One with a head more akin to a Dunkleosteus than a more modern fish or frog. THAT is what sold me, friends!

Anyhow, it sketched up and inked quickly and easily. Working on color now, which was a minor challenge because I’m not used to making things look wet and slimey with traditional media. Good practice, though!

Some of the crosshatching on the armored head makes me think of fingerprints… .___.;

OH, it was my birthday yesterday. Whoops~

Typically, I only used my Tensor lamp when I was doing something at my desk that required a significant light source: drawing, reading, writing, crocheting with darker yarn or with crochet cotton (very small) or some kind of detail work, so I didn’t think it would make that much of a difference, but now that I am quite simply unable to use the lamp at all do I finally feel the loss of it.

So, that’s kind of a bummer.

Another bummer is that my birthday is coming up on Monday. I guess it’s cool that it’s another one of those years where it happens to fall on Labor Day, but aside from that, it’s a pretty ho-hum kinda deal. I’ve not been particularly enthused with birthdays since I was probably about 12 or so.

It’s an original, dieselpunk-esque persistent world setting, with both a character RP and a military/nation RP layer (you can do either or both). No word or post requirements, no approval trial. You can bring in any character, race or organization you want (within reason, no spaceships or people with super ultra nukelasers - that doesn’t fit the setting) to contribute to the growing continuity.

I’ve also been doing crap in my sketchbook a lot lately. Here’re two new concept pieces I’ve done in the last couple of days (first one isn’t quite worksafe, second one is fine):

I’ve been having issue opening windows, programs, switching windows, closing windows, playing games, selecting files and clicking links because I’ll often end up doing more or less than I intended and it just frustrates computing in general.

This is odd, though, as it’s a logitech mouse and I’ve always had good luck with their products; the mouse is only about two years old, so it really shouldn’t be flaking out yet. I must’ve either gotten a lemon or logitech’s quality is taking a nosedive. I may crack it open and see if debris or something may be impeding the button’s ability to function properly, or just buy a new mouse.

There’s been a lot of growth, a lot of stress, hardship, triumph and joy. We’re not officially married yet, that will come eventually, but we love each other regardless. Here’s looking forward to many more anniversaries to come. We endeavor to be that eccentric old couple everyone is afraid to deal with.

Please forgive the lack of mushiness. I’m not very good at that kinda thing. :p

Edit: Here’s a picture from google image search

Once upon a time (back in June of this year), I joined a little site called Roleplay Gateway. Yes, now it’s time for me to admit my horribly shameful secret… I do text-based roleplay. All original characters and fully freeform, but I find it a good creative outlet and it supplies me with plenty of inspiration.

Anyhow, they were having giveaways this month in celebration of their birthday as a site and I managed to win a free print from DA that cost up to $20 USD. The one I chose was Back to Paris 1900 by the awesomely talented Zhaana. It’s a 12″x18″ print and is quite lovely on paper. I was actually apprehensive about the quality of prints produced by deviantART, but they managed to do a fine job of this one. Now, I just need to find a suitable frame. Just felt like bragging.