[un-edited]

plug

2010-04-02T12:08:00.002-04:00

just plugging a link for the norwalk masonic center to get its website listed a bit higher. oh, and you can totally check it out too. it's being built as we speak.

norwalkmasoniccenter.com

yay.

MOVING!!

2010-02-15T20:33:00.005-05:00

attention everyone!
my blog is moving to soup!

sweetedge.soup.io

you'll like it better there. i do.

..
.

happy new year!

2010-02-13T11:27:00.002-05:00

kk! so it's 2010, and chinese new year is tonight, so i'm killing two birds with one stone here. also, happy valentines day to all my lovelies!

thursday night was livestream night. if you missed it, you can catch parts that managed to upload at livestream.com/shannonott.

i'm pulling together an etsy and a cafepress, so stay tuned for that.

livestream

2009-09-22T15:25:00.002-04:00

holy crap.

i haven't been on here since april? what. i totally missed summer.

i did a lot of work and homethings and family things, and little bit of arting. some were notable enough to get posted to deviantart or such places. i'm sure you noticed that before you bothered to come here, since you know i don't ever update here.

school started for the girls a few weeks ago. the girls? yes, pennigan started kindergarten and we also have a japanese exchange student! her name is nanaho and she is just delightful.

i started a livestream: check it. i'll post somewhere when i go live, maybe twitter or any of my other haunts. in fact, i might even embed it here. yes, let's try that. tell me if you hate it.

<3

just how it is

2009-04-30T13:30:00.004-04:00

i was thinking of writing the other day. i didn't care enough.

we've been busy with everything but work, for once! i was out of town for the week of easter, and upon my return, i had enough time for a night of rest and to repack my luggage. joshua finished his job at the nuclear plant in monroe, michigan, and we took the opportunity to head up north and visit our families. after a few days in naubinway, we trekked back down to grand haven to stay at the harbor house inn. what a delight! we have recently returned home and last night we had a big cookout/party. it's a mess out there now.

pennigan had her fifth birthday last tuesday while we were away. i still don't feel (or act) old enough for this to be possible. i've started teaching her japanese.

joshua is leaving for maryland on monday, for four months of military training in aircraft metals. it's rather exciting and opens a lot of opportunities. i hope i am able to go out east and visit and see some areas that i haven't been to yet.

i have some interesting things growing in my little design world. i hope i have something to reveal soon, but there is still much planning and preparations.

speaking of the arting, i've had a piece featured by shoperella in boston in a blog about deviantart. visit her blog and read the article! every entry is a delight, entertaining with frills, finds and insights.

i have a bit (okay, a lot) more school work to finish up, then i intend to art!

...so busy, me.

title: sleep when i'm dead - the cure

gonna find new priorities

2009-03-27T15:15:00.003-04:00

it's that time again!

tomorrow is
EARTH HOUR

8:30-9:30pm
in your local time zone

shut off your lights

you can do it.
oh, and eat a pb&j while you're at it.

title: down to earth - peter gabriel (wall-e soundtrack)

from years before

2009-03-16T12:58:00.004-04:00

it's about 1 o'clock on a monday. i rather like mondays. it's nice out.

i've been productive today. the return of sunlight helps, even though i like to believe that is one of those things that you can overcome, like it's all in your head.

this weekend was spent at the palace of auburn hills, watching my brother win second in the state wrestling finals. he is awesome. i'm a bit proud. okay, a lot proud. it was a good weekend.

a week ago, i became a classic. 25 years.

a little brown package sat happily in my mailbox this morning waiting for me to come gather it and open it up. the perfect little package, from mrs. ott to mrs. ott. i'm tickled by how exactly like me the mug is: i love not camping.

ps. someone remind me to use "but home is nowhere" lyrics next year for my birthday. spanks.

title: love like winter - afi

we will be the future

2009-02-04T10:22:00.003-05:00

it's been another month, so i'd better write about something.

i met innerpartysystem at a show last month. they are fantastic. it was cold, but not as cold as it is today.

kevin is building a big pole barn on the east side of my house, obscuring the pretty view. i'm trying not to be angry about it since it's out of my control. everything yesterday was making me angry. today, i'm sick with a nasty cold.

i started getting into the local vegetarian society. i hope it turns out better than the other community things they have going on around here. it all turns out rather disappointing. i just had a peanut butter sandwich, and you can too! check this out: pbjcampaign.org.

i'm taking classes online and i wish i had more homework! i do love school. i'm also teaching a small art class now. i like it. i think i might have finished and posted an art piece or two on deviantart, but i don't know, you better go check it out. i did start a vector last night that kept me up and aggravated my cold.

perhaps i caught cold because joshua and i gave blood this weekend. he's sick too. he's up in saginaw, michigan for work now.

oh, did i tell you we got a dog? his name is velcro and he's everything i could want in a dog. he's a rescue, and a sharpei-black lab mix.

that's all for now. i want to go back to bed instead of up to the studio.

title: this town your grave - innerpartysystem

all you had to do

2009-01-05T10:29:00.004-05:00

my new year's resolution: promise less.

my intentions are good, but i find myself overwhelmed, stressed and less accomplished than i mean to be. this way, i'll complete a higher percentage of my endeavors expected of me by others.

the holidays were good. spent many a day out of state with both of our families and a crapton of snow. i didn't think about work...too much. i did finish a couple jobs: a show poster and a business card design.

i need to get more prints made of my photographs. i used to be really good about it, now i worry too much about the quality and end up putting it off until i can sit down and shuffle through all the files and choose the good ones.

here is pennigan in rollerskates for the first time. she loved it.

lately we've been enjoying lots of boardgames and staying in. we got wii fit for christmas (didn't even ask for it!) and a bunch of other great things. i didn't get the thing i asked for, but i don't blame anybody, since it was a $400 set of artist markers.

HEY. does anyone wear a 7.5 size shoe?

title: kicked it in the sun - built to spill

blinded by a promised word

2008-11-21T08:36:00.004-05:00

a few things, as i am perched on my chair:

1. couldn't sleep, still can't.
2. purchased the coolest cure-referencing shirt ever, made by davey havok.
3. everything is white.
4. i enjoy the company of little old ladies, nearly as scatterbrained as i.
5. i'm out of the funk!

i just need time.

title: brought back to life - nekromantix

but you're so cute when you're frustrated, dear

2008-10-14T11:11:00.001-04:00

as you can see on my site here i have posted yet another davey havok drawing. this one was for a girl who is trading me a drawing of her own. her name is jessi. i am exceedingly jealous of her talent. i cannot wait to see her drawing for me.

i have been working on some projects and hopefully some of them will be wrapping up soon. i lost my last piece of watercolor paper that i cut for hunter for my troubadour tetra set. he's all i have to paint to finish that up. still looking.

picked up another commission outside of my graphics business. this is one i'm excited about.

i may be making a coloring book for pennigan's preschool class. too cute and also exciting.

chad was showing me some usb rechargeable batteries on a website called geekologie.com. looking through other things on the site, i found a computer case that looks like a classic nintendo controller. i've been wanting to build a new computer for a while, but this is the first time i've been inspired to consider making my own case and make it a work of art! just bought a new bluetooth mouse on newegg.com. yay.

title: interpol - pda

you couldn't stop it now

2008-09-11T10:38:00.004-04:00

last night i finished my jade portrait for mdot and posted it up on deviantart.com. there was instant reaction to it, people adding it to their favorites and commenting, and that sure feels good. i was more amused, however, that immediately after posting when i checked my messages on the site, it timestamped some of the messages as "in the future".

i recently returned from dropping off a clingy pennigan to her school and i have had some time to simply browse the internet. i stumbled upon a fun new website called "the awesomer.com" and i found this neat video filmed in berkely at the nasa science laboratories and animated by art students.

watch it here on vimeo.

and a quote for the day: "feeding plants to animals then eating the animals is like filtering water through a sewer then drinking it" - bruce friedrich

title: underwear - pulp

pay for my crime

2008-08-30T18:27:00.004-04:00

for those of you who live near:

kasper toyota

american red cross blood drive

tuesday, 9.2.08 from 3 - 7 pm

you get a free oil change coupon!

title: david bowie - can't help thinking about me

can you feel it?

2008-08-19T20:23:00.001-04:00

i've been busy with this that and the other thing and as much as i'm on the computer, i'm not so much online updating stuffs. i've been trying to more art, both traditional and digital.

i've been working in illustrator a lot more lately, not just for my studio work but now more for myself and art for art's sake. lots of reading and studying. i hope i have something to show for it.

just got done with nearly 12 hours of intense computer repair. *grumbles* i'm ready for some dessert.

title: too long - daft punk

can't find the spoon that we once had

2008-07-29T12:56:00.004-04:00

i did a little sketch in bed before i got up this morning. it needs some work, but i thought i'd post.

i'm not feeling up to par these last couple days. maybe i'm just worn out. too much to do, and as much as i like being away, i just want to be home. i've been doing so well.

i finally got my new monitor up that i bought nearly a month ago, and i still haven't gotten my new sheets onto my bed, and it's been weeks. i just want to sleep in it, that's all!

my shoulder hurts from wii tennis.

title: cibo matto - spoon

i am a virus

2008-07-08T16:47:00.002-04:00

playmate lauren anderson >>

*wiggles eyebrows*

some of you may know that i've been busy with family and things lately. i was gone for a few days in pymatuning, and out of 23 people, i was the only one entirely unaffected by a nasty stomach virus that went through, in and right back out of everyone there. poor vomiting sick people. maybe it's because i'm vegan. maybe it's the noni and acv. i was more than exposed. i expected to be one of the next to get sick, but it never came.

you can infect someone. today, i'd like to announce patrick has taken the final step to becoming completely straightedge, and he too is a new vegetarian and doing well. i'm proud of him. look at how much you can change. let's be amazing. they don't shine like us.

i just heard word that joshua's conditional release went through. this is fantastic news, and all of you out on the east coast, i'll be coming to visit while he's in maryland for his 5 month training.

oh, and our fifth wedding anniversary was this saturday. sometimes i feel that we've hardly known each other that long, but then i look at what we've built together.

title: audioslave - bring em back alive

when will you stop and realize

2008-06-19T11:12:00.002-04:00

i'm amused at today's title song lyrics. sounds a little hardcore for talking about pms... like maybe i had something good to say, or something to vent about. nope.

this one is for becky, and all the other cranky females. i like to use natural, safe and intelligent solutions for whatever problems need solving. i was reading a bit about holistic remedies and treatments for various ailments, and i know becky is one to not want to take medicine for her pains.

exercise - it improves blood and oxygen circulation, including through the pelvis, and releases feel-good endorphins.
get a massage - massage therapists can target your abdomen to ease the tension.
avoid caffeine - it constricts blood vessels and increases tension.
eat less dairy and meat - antibiotics we add to certain foods may make cramps worse.
spice with cayenne - cayenne pepper also improves blood circulation.
b vitamins, which may also help with nonmenstrual cramps.
primrose oil - widely used in europe for pms symptoms, it packs healthy omega fatty acids; so does borage oil.
jasmine oil - another pms symptom-soother; use it to massage your abs.

these may not be as effective as popping a pill, but they're gentler on your liver, and mean less toxic chemicals going into landfills. not only this, but avoidance of the animal products and caffeine, and getting good exercise are just plain good for you.

title: 401 kill -rise against

whatever we want whenever we please

2008-06-16T13:44:00.003-04:00

everyone loves pam anderson, right? check this video out.

i've been pretty busy with workywork and running.

joshua was home for abour 24 hours this weekend. father's day was like christmas for him.

i'm inspired to art more, so watch for it! watch me on deviantart.com! more coming soon!

title: nofx - mattersville

smoke pours out the stack

2008-06-05T15:44:00.005-04:00

reading some news headlines, taking a break from work and cleaning. i'm feeling a wee bit depressed about things, and especially this:

Four Nations Attempt to Become Carbon Neutral

World Environment Day is being marked around the world today. It comes as four countries are competing to become the first nation to go entirely carbon neutral. Iceland, Norway, Costa Rica and New Zealand are all attempting to reduce their net emissions of greenhouse gases to zero. Jeanette Fitzsimons of the Green Party in New Zealand said great progress has already been made.

Jeanette Fitzsimons: “Our electricity system is nearly 70 percent renewable now, mainly from hydro, but with some geothermal and increasingly a little bit of wind. We have a goal, a government goal, to raise that to 90 percent renewable by 2025.”

Meanwhile, Reuters is reporting the United States will announce next month that it cannot meet an international goal of making big cuts in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. Chief US climate negotiator Harlan Watson said, “It’s frankly not do-able for us.”

the united states' stance is pretty much 'we don't care, we give up, we're not even gonna try.' how can i be a proud american? *puke*

however.... today is still full of good things:

baking applesauce bread on a ridiculously hot and humid day
shopping for the best father's day gift ever... done!
dancing with penny
joshua is coming home tonight
and we're having company too
listening to a new love; metro station

title: letting you - nine inch nails

as the sun retreats to the hills

2008-06-04T11:44:00.003-04:00

i'm procrastinating again.

i got back from kentucky again, last night. fell asleep at 6, woke up at 11, and was awake until it was getting noticibly light outside.

i bought a subscription to deviantart.com, yay. you can check out my gallery.

jessica grey also bought one. we kept each other company last night. she is also an amazing artist, and you should check out her gallery too.

i started a major overhaul/redesign of my website, ottsgraphics.com.... go check out the 'under construction' page. it's looking good already!

title: wester - afi

we don't question what we've become

2008-05-27T13:24:00.002-04:00

i've been busy landscaping and arting and reading. much to do. listening to lords of acid, and it's not majorly inspirational. it is cloudy out, and i'm in a damp mood. this must be remedied. however, i am a bit excited about zombies in columbus.

title: nofx - we march to the beat of an indifferent drum

immune to your consultations

2008-05-14T12:08:00.002-04:00

yay! i found my lost pencil!

i'm feeling like i need to change my studio office around again. it's still not perfect. also, i think i may curl my hair for work today. i've never done that before. once more, things are changing and starting to fall into place again.

there is much to look forward to. next week is vacation with nicole for her birthday! that will bring good stories to tell, and hopefully lots of photos. let's hope i remember everything i need to pack. i need more than this snow-white tan.

title: david bowie - changes

i want to ride my bicycle

2008-05-12T18:49:00.003-04:00

i have an update on the troubadour tetra set! i worked on adam a bit at work yesterday. i brought him again today, but it's 8 o'clock now, and i doubt i'll have time before i leave to work on him. i don't have a scan here, but i swear i posted one on my photobucket. well, crap. i'll do it later. last night i did a quick sketch of a zombie, so i suppose i can post her instead. again, i'm sure jen would appreciate this.

yesterday was mother's day, and i worked. i got the cutest little plaster mold of penny's hand. she and joshua met me after work and took me out for dinner to applebee's. their menu is very veg-unkind, and i ended up with a boring veggie burger that i'm almost sure wasn't vegan.

today, i put in my two weeks notice at kasper. i will no longer be their receptionist ninja. i will be working strictly for myself and freelance. [commissions welcome! contact me!]

[note to self: acceptance letters to hogwarts community college]

title: queen - bicycle race

you don't need one word to talk to me

2008-05-08T15:06:00.003-04:00

a few things:

- joshua may not be able to come home until october, unless there are special circumstances

- retailtherapy and techtherapy *nerds*

- dinner with meg

- my good laptop needs repaired

- i wanna arts. too lazy today

- i email myself shopping lists and to do lists

- i want warm and sunny

- feeling semi-accomplished today

and

- ZOMBIE PINKIE PIE! [haha, it's old, for jason by penny]

title: cibo matto - king of silence

you can't always get what you want

2008-05-06T19:50:00.002-04:00

joshua is fighting with me, more or less, and i'm trying not to fight back. i'm still losing. i hate sounding emo, but i'm feeling numb. so i'm going to self-medicate by posting an old watercolor i did back in high school.

here's some penguin love, and i dedicate this to jen.

relax.
deep breaths.
aromatherapy.
carrietherapy.
gratefulness.

i really just want to yell at him and make him see that i'm not worthless and it hurts me that he's mad at me. i'm over it, and i'm not being selfish by choosing to let it go. i wish he would see that although i'm far from perfect, i am good enough. count your blessings and don't dwell on the petty things. xanax, i wish you were here.

for the honor of love

2008-05-06T14:35:00.003-04:00

psh... honor? love? right now that sounds like a load of crap to me. getting over it, though.

just got back from kentucky, and it was a good visit except for this morning. the weather was beautiful and we had a no-pressure evening to relax.

here is another old assignment: number 5.

i'm bringing my watercolors to work today. i hope i don't get in trouble.

title: she-ra theme song... it's stuck in my head.

i could not get enough

2008-05-05T11:42:00.005-04:00

here is assignment 4 from last month, for you to enjoy. for carrie.

i scanned some pages out of some old old sketchbooks, and i think i'll be posting those to deviantart.com when i get the time.

i'm off to kentucky on a last minute run. i'll bring little black.

"water goes over a dam and under a bridge, you blabbering school boy."

title: under the bridge - red hot chili peppers

whatever you think of me

2008-04-30T17:51:00.004-04:00

how to win a street fight

this was rather disappointing. i was ready for an article on ass-kicking. pshhh. i'm going to recommend my little brother Chris for further and better 'if you're ever getting attacked...' tips, tricks and information. i'm sure he's on myspace somewhere. watch me not link you.

i want to go home and paint. hopefully i can do some drawing here.

i'm setting up a myspace for my dad's band. this makes me feel slightly silly.

oh yeah...
there is a show (not my dad's band) on friday night at the underground, and you all should come out. mmyes.

title: new order - as it is when it was

time to apply your magic touch

2008-04-30T13:56:00.010-04:00

i started outlines for a series of watercolors yesterday.

i started painting today, and really, that's all i've done besides take a shower. i've got pandora.com hooked up to the big amp, and i'm working away. i'm mostly satisfied with the first piece, and i hope i finish them all soon. i have to play receptionist tonight, and i cannot take them with me. maybe i'll try, though!

here is a photo of the progress, and a couple links to additional photos of 3 of the set:

draft outlines

progress

title: boyfriendgirlfriend - infatuation dot com

you're older than you've ever been

2008-04-29T23:51:00.004-04:00

and now you're even older, and now you're even older, and now you're even older. you're older than you've ever been and now you're older, still. time is marching on, and time, is still marching on!

how did i forget to post this? we are the official mascot of alltel in norwalk. the allel ninjas!

mah leg has fallen asleep, my throat is tight with frustration at something i have no control over, and i should sleep now. maybe a bit of reading. yes. but she keeps popping up on my screen. deep breaths. i can handle this.

title: they could be heroes

you savor the flavor

2008-04-29T14:14:00.002-04:00

i just found this crappy photo and thought it was funny, for some reason.

NOT STEAK.

title: the smiths - meat is murder

on the way

2008-04-20T09:07:00.004-04:00

today is pennigan's birtheve! we're having a small get together here at our home for the celebration of her 4th birthday, which is tomorrow.

i found this she-ra dvd set at the record store, and with her being an avid he-man fan already, thought she might like this!

i'm praying she doesn't get any loud obnoxious toys. jen and i had this conversation yesterday, and we concluded that our girls like movies, clothes, drawing and games more than the toys they get and forget about.

...and everything seems to be made overseas anymore. give penny a nice recycled, made in usa sketchpad, and she's thrilled.

now we blast the music and clean and prepare for par-tay!

title: 6 to 8 - afi

take your canvas bags

2008-04-19T17:38:00.003-04:00

to the supermarket!
tim minchin and a bit of green humor: watch
eyeliner! rawr! carrie! rawr!

and i bought a new cd today, well, a used but new to me cd...
blue sunshine by the gloves
i hope its great

...but not as much as you, you see

2008-04-16T13:56:00.002-04:00

GARRRRRRRARRR.
suqking technology.

that is all.

ay, pistolero!

2008-04-14T23:09:00.002-04:00

i've done a bit of extreming in the last day and a half. yesterday morning, joshua, pen and i.. and maddie... we all packed up and drove down to kentucky. everyone rode in the big truck pulling the camper but me. i was driving the little lunchbox car. penny and i got to meet andy and robin, joshua's neighbors. they are lovely people, and they have a nice dog, lady bird. we stayed the night in the camper with joshua, then penny and i drove back in the big truck. i had to work today and i feel like i've done nothing but sit. well, except for that crazy impulsive cleaning that i did in the basement inbetween driving and work.

as far as my artwork--i have been sketching, but i haven't had a chance to get photos/scans, and i've also started another piece of digital work. it's for jen, and it involves zombies.

title: pistolero - juno reactor

take me to the place i love

2008-04-04T21:40:00.005-04:00

today was a lazy day.

i spent the day reading and drawing. i like being taken away from the stress of reality, into a fantasy world of words and pictures. sometimes the best place to go is nowhere. we made brownies and did some minimal cleaning and laundry. i didn't shower till 6pm.

meg, brian and brody came to visit today. it's always nice to have them.

today's assignments:

title: under the bridge - red hot chili peppers

it's cold out, but her popsicle melts

2008-04-03T15:53:00.008-04:00

the other night, i was up late, lonely and sad. i was looking others' artwork, and feeling like i had lost who i was. i'm gathering up the broken pieces, bit by bit.

yesterday i made a commitment to draw something everyday.

i have requested the help of some friends, in an effort to keep me motivated. each day, i'm given an assignment, or something(s) to draw or sketch, and i do.

right: this is my first assignment from yesterday.

left:

today i was given another photo to sketch, and it was yet again davey. no complaints. i gave him a tiny hint of color.

i am enjoying this.

i hope my notebook fills up quickly!

title: these things - she wants revenge

earth hour

2008-03-29T10:23:00.004-04:00

earth hour is today!

march 29, 2008 at 8 pm to 9pm local time.

the goal is to shut off all your lights and non-essential electrical appliances for an hour this evening, in an attempt to promote energy conservation.

from WWF: " at 8pm local time on the 29 march millions of people in some of the world's major cities will use the simple action of turning off the lights for one hour to deliver a powerful message about the need for action on global warming. "

here are some links:

earth hour
wikipedia
google
wwf earth hour
earth hour 2008 youtube video from wwf

i'm going to do it, and i've been telling everyone. i'm putting up a sign on my desk as receptionist at the biggest car dealership in sandusky.

every little bit counts, people! join in!

diary full of trash

2008-03-18T19:03:00.003-04:00

yay! i managed to sign in on the first attempt!

i haven't been updating as much as i want to, but sometimes i have nothing great to say. even my own journal missed a complete month...not that it, or this, is anything fabulous.

my favorite holiday is halloween, for those of you who don't already know me well enough to know that by now. it came up in conversation today.

i have been working a piece of photoshop digital artwork for erin, and i was getting frustrated with my lack of knowledge and skills when it comes to digital painting. i decided to take a break and draw in a sketchbook. i practiced sketching jade puget's facial features to help with my digital work. here's what i came up with:

i'm much better with a pencil than a shotty tablet and vista. but i wanna learn! *cries*

title: by your side - tokio hotel

'cause someday the bricks are gonna fall

2008-03-10T13:56:00.006-04:00

yesterdy was my birthday, and it's wasn't a great one. i have much to be thankful for, and things could always be worse. i seem to have an above average amount of things that go wrong in my daily life, but sometimes i figure that i'm the one to get it, because i can handle it. maybe it's trying to teach me patience.

thursday, march 6, nicole took me out in royal oak to a vegan restauant and to a nofx show. oh, it was more than wonderful, and just a perfect night. we were front and close to center, first on the barrier. i got a guitar pick from el hefe.

i was already in the detroit area, at the palace [where the pistons play]. my little brother, chris, was wrestling in the state tournament, and he placed 8th. i'm so proud of him.

i'm listening to nine inch nails' new album set titled ghosts. it's strictly instrumental, and i love it, like all trent reznor's other work.

title: screaming at a wall - minor threat

and all that jazz

2008-03-03T02:41:00.003-05:00

i'm hella pissed off.

i hate vista.
i hate old laptops.
i hate failing hardware.
i hate networking issues.
i hate how all the bad stuff seems to happen at once.

deep breathing....

hey you guys, remind me to post, would ya? i owe someone a new video. nag me.

title: from chicago

i'm all lost in the supermarket

2008-01-30T09:46:00.000-05:00

you guys know i'm all out for a better healthier world. i learned something recently that i read knowing i was going to let you know.

you know those little annoying stickers on the fruit and veggies in the produce section? that is, if you even shop in the produce section...that would be a good place to start: getting away from all the unhealthy processed and preserved foods in all their wasteful packaging. anyway, the stickers...

the numbers on those little stickers let you know whether they've been conventionally grown, or organic, or even genetically modified (GM).

GM foods are a bit questionable to me. they haven't been around very long, so we don't fully know any long term health risks, and there are questions of reducing biodiversity.

Look for the labels stuck on your fruits and veggies:

a four-digit number means it's conventionally grown.
a five-digit number beginning with 9 means it's organic.
a five-digit number beginning with 8 means it's GM.

title: lost in the supermarket - the clash

i gotta new sensation

2008-01-16T19:30:00.000-05:00

gravity(red)

soooo... chelsie made a blog!

it's not much yet, but we're all eager to see what she has to say.

check it out at http://gravityred.blogspot.com/

title: new sensation - inxs

never looked better, and you can't stand it

2008-01-16T18:07:00.001-05:00

here are a few more pictures from jamie's visit. these are from her camera. i haven't even seen what is on my camera yet!

title: there's a good reason these tables are numbered honey, you just haven't thought of it yet - panic! at the disco

that's when you stu-stu-stutter something profound

2008-01-16T16:41:00.000-05:00

my sister was here this week! we had a fabulous time. we did lots of things:

went shopping in cleveland and got hardly anything at all
ate food
made a pretty little dude out of a broken take-out box of fries
rented and watched silly stupid movies like superbad and hot rod
took our pictures with mclovin
slept in
IMed each other even though we were maybe 20 feet away from chuthers
took some silly pictures and movies

now, see, i worked every day that she was here, and we still had fun. not as much, for we really couldn't go anywhere for very long. oh well.

when she left for michigan, she took pennigan with her for the weekend. yay for time off! i'm sure gonna miss them both.

title: nails for breakfast, tacks for snacks - panic! at the disco

i'm in a funky way

2008-01-10T09:51:00.000-05:00

i'm...horny horns! hhhorny toad! haha, we watched o brother, where art thou? the other day. oh, that reminds me, joshua's birthday is coming up, jan 14. he'll be 26.

i'm currently listening to big head todd's newest album that came in the mail for free, and watching pennigan dance like a fool. we're throwing popcorn and catching it in our mouths.

i was surfing around, reading articles and checking my feeds as usual, and i came across a little tidbit that i thought i might share with you. now you all know that i tend to frown upon unhealthy habits. i'm becoming less enthused about being an american. even though the evidence is there, it seems you would rather eat your junk and destroy yourselves than eat a little broccoli and live a longer, happier, healthier life. article

title: vibeology - paula abdul

i'm smitten, i'm bitten, i'm hooked, i'm cooked...

2008-01-08T18:47:00.000-05:00

i'm stuck like glue.

uh, here's a mucha video. *skips off*

title: why can't i be you? - the cure

we called the truth a lie

2008-01-05T08:53:00.000-05:00

here i sit, at my great and spacious desk, in the middle of the great and spacious showroom of kasper toyota of sandusky, looking out of the wide expanse of the surrounding walls of windows, and i am tired.

i have been spending as much time as possible helping the lovely carrie with her writing endeavors. i find much enjoyment from being her soundboard, brainstormer and "acting" partner. aside from her amazing writing, carrie also has an astounding digital artistic streak in her. she is pure brilliance. she motivates me and makes me feel creative and helpful. thank you, carrie.

joshua saw our phone bill and saw that i use thousands of texts in a month, and i only laughed.

sometimes i want a chihuahua to carry around with me. i don't know that i even like them that much. ha! i just had a crazy notion...i do have a bunny that i might be able to fit in a purse...

hella.

*dances*

title: lost in translation - apoptygma berzerk

they find me, intangible, invisible

2008-01-05T08:18:00.000-05:00

last night i had planned on staying in. it was 8:30pm and i was still in lounge pants and an oversized hoodie, sitting with my feet tucked under myself, pecking away at my laptop keyboard. i had made previous arangements with nicole to go out, but things were falling out of alignment for a good night. then niki called. nicole called again. they were going anyway...so alright, i'll go.

i threw on some jeans with a rip in the back pocket, my new "curiouser and curiouser" hoodie and pinned my hair up. we started off in dreary dull norwalk, but soon headed off to sandusky, singing loudly to afi; poor niki. we had red lobster open their doors for us, freezing outside, so we could collect shawna on our way to crowbar. bryce and ron were pleasantly surprised to see us, and we had an enjoyable time.

we were nearly attacked by a group of three "men" who were to be performing that night. they took pictures with us, being the prettiest group in the place. boys 2 men, was it? something like that. we will undoubtedly be posted online somewhere.

nicole and niki both looked beautiful. ron was quite pretty, even without his typical bandana. i don't know how much i had going for me in the looks department, but i was covered all over in the softest material, making me more than touchable. bryce appreciated it, even noting that my purse was soft.

and i totally forgot to mention that they played the leaving song pt. II for nicole and i when we walked in. sweet action.

title: where would you like them left? - blaqk audio

they come out when they eat

2008-01-02T13:06:00.000-05:00

this holiday has been rather uneventful and average. christmas went by without seeing hardly anyone, and not too many phone calls were made or recieved. as far as gifts go, the only thing i asked for, i bought myself. joshua saved the day and got me tickets to go see cirque du soleil! erin brought me a beatiful sparkly bracelet and a hella sweet afi shirt *loves*. amanda sent me a whole set of colored sharpies and some other cute things, and nicole brought me some sensual delights (oils and candies).

here are some photos from december of yours truly...

chad is awesome, and i'm curently loving reading and collaborating with carrie.

title: beatles - aphex twin

...if i only had a brain

2007-12-19T14:31:00.001-05:00

so it took me 6 tries to log into my blog today. my memory is getting worse and worse.

i found this website where you can buy a poster about our water footprints. basically, it shows the virtual water use of certain things, like cheese, beef, grain, apples and oranges. on the reverse side it shows water footprints by country.

those of you that argue with me about watering plants vs. watering cattle, take THAT.

wait for a love that never dies and you've lost life

2007-12-14T00:21:00.000-05:00

i can't believe i missed an entire month of posting! that's insane! and we're already half way through the next month. guh.

so i'm not very excited about christmas this year. i don't have the money to spend on the people i want to buy for, and the people i have to buy for could care less. i'm pissed because that is NOT what it's about anyway, and why do i feel all this pressure?

here's a picture of me and nicole being happy and cute, to make up for my absence. look at my cute shirt! i love this picture of us. below is a picture of me and ron. i love you pretty people! let us drink our pineapple juice as we take over the bar with our sweet music and retarded laughing!

title: cities of night - blaqk audio

just when I'm inspired, you drain the drive right outta me

2007-10-31T08:35:00.000-04:00

happy halloween!

i'm eating leftover vegan pizza for breakfast. yesterday was norwalk's trick-or-treat. firstly, i would like to express my disappointment that it was not on halloween night, nor even on a weekend. a tuesday? what the crap. halloween here in ohio is not like it was when i was growing up in michigan. we would run from house to house and yell and carry on. you had to yell "trick-or-treat" to get people to come out and give you candy. it was dark. it was so much more. here and now, it's simple and uninvolved. most kids had a store-bought costume. i made our own costumes, just like i've always done.

we were ninjas! a whole family of ninjas. joshua carried nunchucks, penny had her sais that she picked out herself, and i had a sword. i was so darn excited. we trick-or-treated with nicole, shannon and killian. haha, and their dog, shrapnel. killian went as robin, and shrapnel was batman until he peed on his cape.

we had to scoot outta there right when we got back, because i had ordered a half vegan, half meat lover's pizza. i felt kinda awesome walking in with a full-on ninja outfit, complete with sword, to pick up my pizza. then we went to ken and kelly's to see them and joshua's grandparents, and show them our costumes. i found out that one year, grandma dressed as a ninja, too!

there are two reasons for the title lyrics i chose for this entry. the title of the song is this secret ninja. the other reason is that lately i've been feeling so overwhelmed. i have much to do, and much that i want to do, and when i finally get the motivation, something else comes along and sucks it right back out of me. i'm trying to do as much as i can, but sometimes, i just don't feel it's worth it.

title: this secret ninja - afi

your blood, their blood, serves the same

2007-10-28T14:20:00.000-04:00

i'm at my new job as a receptionist for kasper auto group, at the toyota dealership in sandusky. i answer all the incoming calls for all 5 dealerships, but mostly sit and look pretty. i enjoy it, whether we're busy or not. it can be boring at times, so i spend the time reading, drawing or researching.

today i'm researching more indepth about vegan and vegetarian options in non-vegetarian restaraunts and fast food chains. i'm reading a book published by the vegetarian resource group that answers a lot of common questions. it has a lot of good resources, and does an excellent job of pointing one in the right direction.

on their website, www.vrg.org, i found a good article on tipping your servers when you eat out. i think this is good for everyone to read, be you vegetarian or not. keep in mind how economics work. generally, vegetarian fare costs less, and if you tip on a percentage, you tip your server less than is even fair. they need to eat, too! support your choices! you can read the article, "rethinking restaurant tipping" here.

in our world, the biggest influence you have is where and how you spend your money.

make a difference.

title: conflict - meat is murder

i've got the straight edge!

2007-10-24T11:45:00.000-04:00

i enjoy this little chart that i found at the we like it raw blog. it helps remind us where our priorities really lie. i also like how the bars are home-drawn. cute.

click to see it larger.

taking care of yourself and your health is so important for a happy life. try not to worry so much, but do what you can. it starts at home, with yourself and your family. teach your kids how to stay healthy and happy, and care for each other.

keeping away from smoking, drinking and drugs can up your chances exponentially! i'm straight edge, and stay away from all those unnatural highs, and it's not a temptation when you know where you stand (and how nasty it is). watching what you eat can help, too. stay away from processed foods, refined sugars, preservatives and pesticides. if it comes pre-made, that's a good sign it might not be good for you. learn how to cook!

title from minor threat

in the orchard

2007-10-20T15:38:00.000-04:00

wednesday, nicole and i drove up to cleveland without tickets, to see tiger army. we we're able to get in without any problem, and were within the first 10 people there. we snagged a spot directly in the front and center of the stage. the beauty of the small room at the agora is that the stage is low and there is never a barricade. the first band was static age, and they were pretty decent, with a bassist that had this crazy hand. the second band was called street dogs. turns out the singer used to be in the dropkick murphey's, and joshua has seen them before. i enjoyed their set very much, and their bassist, johnny, (who was rather hot) took a couple pictures of us with my camera, while they played. the singer, mike mccolgan, put his hand on my face, and sang to me, and then later on the top of my head. it was odd, but i didn't see him do it to anyone else. maybe he thinks i'm cute. *shrug* still made me feel special, even though i was weirded out a bit. while waiting for tiger army, joy division played through the speakers! i was in heaven.

it's so good to see such an all-around good show like that. the openers didn't suck. tiger army was incredibly awesome. nick13 was incredible. jeff, the bassist, plays a stand-up bass. he was hit in the head with something right as they came on, and he bled hard the whole set. he's so hardcore! they were intense, and performed well. nick13 was delicious and amazing to watch, and sweat-soaked by the end of the show. we were able to touch him, but i didn't want to interfere or offend him any, so i kept back (although it was quite hard not to reach out). nicole got one of jame's drumsticks. she said "looks like he used this one." yes. it looked like a chipmunk had attacked it. very used.

i'll upload pictures later, but now i have to go to a halloween party!

i've uploaded the pictures!

title from tiger army

i love you, you pay my rent

2007-10-08T19:32:00.000-04:00

tonight i made the most delicious homecooked vegan dinner, that even joshua liked. it consisted of a fancy pants salad with the works, followed by some healthy whole wheat spaghetti with a cabernet marinara sauce and "meatballs," and some "cheesy" basil and rosemary garlic bread. i'm happy that i can cook so healthy, and be so completely satisfied without overeating.

i've been wanting to make some pumpkin pie, seeing how it is october now. however, the last couple days have been a freakish 90 degrees out, and not at all good for baking. i love baking. well, maybe i just love eating what i baked. haha, yum.

i took a glorious nap today, on grandma mary's amazing reclining lounge chair, outside in the warm breeze. one of my most favorite things is simply breathing the fresh air, listening to the cacophony of birds and insects and enjoying a gentle breeze on bare skin. the simplicity and wonder of it brings me such a sense of relaxation, stillness and quiet joy.

and the dang phone rings while i'm recounting my little reverie. bah.

title from some pet shop boys song that was amusing me yesterday

what if there were no hypothetical situations?

2007-10-02T16:44:00.000-04:00

sunday was a day full of fun. joshua and i took the big truck and a trailer full of fourwheelers, along with casey and amanda, and adam, nick and justin, in another vehicle down just south of columbus, ohio. we spent the whole day riding trails. it was so beautiful, and we had such nice weather.

i am sore!

my back is sore. we did some pretty hard rough riding. joshua showed me where he flipped his fourwheeler a few months back, and got a 3 month vacation off of work from his injuries. we did not go down there. we had a good time, and i could easily see myself going again.

we took a photo of all of us in a neat rocky area. there were so many places to take beautiful photographs, but no one was interested in stopping for me. maybe next time.

she's gone, oh, why? what went wrong?

2007-09-27T21:35:00.000-04:00

last night was brian's going away party at the crowbar. i love that place. when you step inside, it's like stepping out of northern ohio. it's pretty and clean. i didn't arrive till well after midnight (good thing i'm not cinderella). brian looked amazing. he was sparkly and i could just eat him. i'm so sad to see him go, but happy that he's going to be in a lovely place that i can hopefully visit someday soon. i'm predicting many a joyful gallery, museum, and zoo visit, and shopping! i think he'll be very happy.

i met nick, brian's new closest friend. i enjoy him emmensly. we made an appearance at club x, which was not fantastic, in all it's newly carpeted and karaoke-night splendor. there was a little excitement when nick and i decided to steal brian's artwork right off the walls and leave with them. look at us! little thieves with our jeans rolled up! we also got a good group photo, with greg (now known as sparkly mcspade) and jimmy, too.

nick is a riot.

title: daryl hall and john oats lyric

*shrug* it was in my head.

just like everybody else does

2007-09-25T15:05:00.000-04:00

i can't believe i haven't posted in 20 days. it doesn't seem like it's been that long. i gave up after my eye surgery, since i couldn't see. all i would have had to report anyway would have been: "today i laid on my couch/bed/chair/floor and listened to music" that's all i was able to do for over a week, and not noteworthy at all. since then, i've been so busy with work, a poster contest, family, camping, appointments, work, laundry, shows, work, wasting time with joshua (yay), cooking, cleaning, entertaining, work, and amazingly enough, not shopping.

exciting news (for me): i beat psychobilly freakout on hard!

on monday the 17th we went to a blaqk audio show. it was great, and i giggled a lot. we were right up front in the small room of the agora, and there was no barricade. i danced as well as one can being smashed toward the stage from behind.

here is one favorite of the many photos i took of davey havok that night...delicious.

although it is immensely enjoyable, blaqk audio is not comparable to afi. the end.

title from the smith's how soon is now

somehow I ended up here in between

2007-09-05T21:43:00.000-04:00

i've been soo soo busy lately. we went to a party at nick and stephs on sunday, followed by a night of camping with jerry and heather. i much prefered the camping, actually. that monday morning, we all went out for breakfast at vansons. upon going home, we all fell asleep and slept the day away until we scrambled to make it to john's birthday dinner. yesterday i don't even remember. i know i tried to get a lot of cleaning and work done, but it just flew by.

today i had therapy. whoo. i'm liking my therapist less than i thought i did. i also worked a lot. and i also danced like a retard, and i continue to try. i plan on being up late and reading a lot. i'm having lasik done in the morning, and i'll have to rest my eyes (very similar to how your grandpa would) for the weekend. i'm not nervous yet. i don't know when i'll post again.

yay for manips! boo for working hard for nothing.

title: the lyric in amy's head

tarina tarantino and tokyo hardcore

2007-09-01T11:06:00.000-04:00

i am in love with the glamour and sparkle of tarina tarantno.

she makes such beautiful fabulous jewelry, and she seems to embody a plethura of concepts and culture that have always intrigued me.

but more than that, she is the success story i keep in my pocket to keep me chasing my dreams.

she is releasing a catalog this month, called tokyo hardcore. i'm so excited. *sigh* ...tommy jet...trashy rockstar...

there are teasers you can view on buzznet. i died.

when you wish upon a star...will never give up again

2007-09-01T10:41:00.000-04:00

here's some exciting news! i'm getting lasik on thursday! i'm nervous and excited, but mostly still suprised that it's really happening. i kept having doubts that i could even have it done, what with all my sour luck sometimes. and it's happening so fast. i had my appointment to meet with the surgeon and get all my measurements and all that jazz yesterday, and in less than a week, i have the surgery.

on another note, i did a teeny tiny bit of shopping. i got some more MAC (yay), and met Sarah at the counter. she is quite the coolest thing. the other day, along with errand running and a trunk full of groceries, i went to kohl's and picked up a very pretty sparkly ring and the most delightful hello kitty perfume. it smells like sugar and i want to lick myself.

title lyrics from da pump's bright! our future

cover your face and we'll pretend

2007-08-30T06:05:00.000-04:00

it's early early thursday morning. i know i didn't post yesterday. it was a crappy day.

we did have some good company around noon.

after that, just badness. it got warm and sticky. one of our dogs got loose. ruined my day. couldn't get to the grocery store. couldn't draw. couldn't read. i don't like being stresed like that. couldn't even be alone for a split second. penny was a little monster as soon as the sun set. i didn't blog and only managed a single sentance in my journal. i got woken up in the middle of the night. the list goes on. i didn't get anything accomplished and i enjoyed nothing. all i wanted was to get something done and have a cup of tea. i didn't even get tea.

but...

jeffree star myspaced me tonight. it kinda makes up for it all.

title from killing lights

there's ladders and snakes and we've all made mistakes

2007-08-28T21:32:00.000-04:00

i started a new project. i know i have so many that i'm working on, but it's the only way i keep from being bored. i used a pen instead of a knife on my vinyl cutter to draw out a big big coloring book-like outline of jade playing his acoustic guitar. i'm going to fill in the shading with bits of printed paper cut from a magazine. i'm already gluey-sticky, and i barely started.

penny is painting another picture today. "yeah, you jealous" she said last time. she knows i think she paints better than i do.

we're both up here in the studio, working and dancing all silly to hunter revenge. i'm imagining jon (who looks just like hunter in the most uncanny way) dancing around singing in that prince-like voice... "'lectric....lover.... got-ta got-ta turn you on!" i'm laughing and loving it. i hope he reads this.

hehe. penny is singing, too. "who's gonna love you now?"

check it out at www.myspace.com/hunterrevenge

title lyrics from hunter revenge's who's gonna love you now?

i will paint you in silver, i will wrap you in cold

2007-08-27T14:54:00.000-04:00

sealion

acrylic. i painted this sometime in 2001 or 2002, i don't remember. the photo doesn't do it justice, doesn't show how eerie it is and how he really pops out. it's always fun to go dig it out and look at it. one of these days i'll have it framed.

i'm listening to jamiroquai. i'm feelin' dancey. it's all blur's fault.

joshua is over in the toledo area taking a pipe welding certification test. i hope he's staying relaxed (of all things), because i already know he's doing well.

i'm feeling inspired and motivated today. i wonder what i'll do. i already hung out some wash. it's a beautiful day.

title lyrics taken from afi's silver and cold.

if you show me heaven i will meet you there

2007-08-26T20:33:00.000-04:00

today, penny and i enjoyed a nice lunch at olive garden. we shared a plate of capellini pomodoro. delicious. it was a baby shower for niki, and meg also joined us along with some other friends/coworkers from kasper. niki's having a little boy. here is a photo that penny so kindly (and excitedly) took for us. niki is in the lower right corner. can you find the two other pregnant girls?

meg went with penny and i to kohl's after lunch. i found hello kitty perfume! and i loooove it. i might have to go back and get some. it's a lot like the pink sugar perfume that i loved. go smell some for me.

i just offered joshua an apple or some water... and i said "waahhter." mike, you're right. i have an awful accent. jeesh.

title lyrics taken from blaqk audio's stiff kittens.

13 hours

2007-08-25T20:43:00.000-04:00

i wanted to share this little stream of thought from Chad Hannah:

13 Hours

13 hours I sat here trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life
13 hours I worried and fidgeted and squirmed and compiled and endless amounts of adjectives
and you know what?
after those 13 hours it dawned on me
It doesnt matter what I do
I have to wait in line like everyone else
I cant just take my life and run with it
there are forms
there are files
there are people ahead of me trying to do exactly the same thing

Why does it matter what you do in life if everyone else has to do the same thing?

I believe that what you should really try to accomplish in life is....
Figuring out a way to do what you want
to go around this system without breaking any rules
people have done it
why cant I?

what did you do on your last day?

2007-08-25T20:19:00.000-04:00

on jamie's last day in norwalk, we ran a couple errands that included borrowing a 'sprinkles' costume from coldstone, getting gas, and playing in the floodwaters near my house. i like youtube.com.

awww....smith plushie inside joke. "uhhhmm...prolly when i was-"

i just smeared my eyeliner with a hardcore eye-rub. *sigh*

in the begining

2007-08-25T19:45:00.000-04:00

now, here i've gone and started myself a real blog. i used my myspace blog for artwork posts, which i have given up on. i used buzznet for weekly journals. i think this will be good.

i have been chewing on the idea of publishing a zine. where i live, this isn't really the place, but i figure, oh well, i'll do what i want. this blog looks like something just right. i'll give it a try and if i have something zine worthy, i'll move along. (somehow, i doubt it. this might just be perfect).

in this blog, i will post my journals, thoughts, artwork, photos and little scraps of my life. i'm looking forward to it.

chad, you are good to me. thanks.