Below are the most recent 25 friends' journal entries.

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Thursday, December 24th, 2009
juri_anne	12:53a	Thank goodness for PTO! No work until next year for me! :D You know what I need? I need some Big Love animated gifs. Like this one: Anyone have any? I've been re-watching the seasons the past couple of days in preparation for season 4 next month. I love this show so freaking much! Can't wait!!! :D Current Mood: excited Current Music: Leverage - 1x08 (Comment on this)
Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009
chuu	8:24p	It's a few months away, but is anyone in need of a room for ACen? My friends and I have 2 rooms booked for ACen and it would be helpful if the 2nd room (which I'm in 8D) had more people in it to lower the cost. And since people seem to like to drop from hotel rooms at random, it's nice to have backups!~ Room 1 Victoria katsuke Christina katgi Laura aoi_menai Debra Friend of Debra(?) Room 2 Me! chuu Nikki greenridernikki Jeremiah (Nikki's bro!) Calli Joyce That's what I was told was going to happen anyway. So with at least 5 people per room it's about $105 per person. Lucien might be coming if he can afford it (because I'm soooo special and he wants to see me again :B) and I'd like to push matt_alan into going as well, but he probably has school during that time. In which case they would be staying in Room 2.. and would therefore make this post pointless (Or I can push Joyce and/or Calli into room1 or something). But you know.. things happen. And financial responsibilities suck. But ideally, at least 7 people would be nice to get the cost down to about $75 per person >_> Sooooo if anyone is interested, let me know :O Current Mood: bored (4 Comments |Comment on this)
juri_anne	5:57p	Merry Christmas to me! I'm still upset about the whole thing with Maggie, but I'm trying to be happy since its the holidays. I haven't really been able to get any gifts for Chris. I want to get him a really nice telescope, but since we just bought the house this year and I have no way to pay for it without Chris wondering about this couple hundred dollar purchase, I'm going to have to wait a least a year. I might see about putting some money aside each month as a fund so I can get it somehow so its a surprise. :) It would be great because I know he's always wanted one, and now that we have a house with no one behind us, its perfect. This year, however, Chris bought his own gift. There was this really nice computer mouse {$80 for a stupid mouse!} that he really wanted, so he bought it. Silly him, had it sent to his work so it wasn't sitting outside our house all day, so he stared at it the entire time. When he got home from work, he was itching to rip into it and use it. So, to make up for it, he let me open the smaller of the two gifts he bought me. I kinda already know what he's got me {he's not exactly good at surprises}, but he did manage to surprise me a little. The small package was computer speakers cause I've been using large headphones for about 3 years now. The surprise? PINK! They're great and I LOVE them! Late last night I was finishing up an episode of Big Love I was watching, so I was looking around on the web for a place that sells nice curtains and bed sheets. Somehow I ended up on Amazon.com again, and they had two new magazines on sale for $5/1-year. I apparently can't help myself. >.< Ended up requesting quite a few catalogs from various places too. Now I'm off to go home and finish wrapping gifts. Current Mood: calm Current Music: Big Love 2x11 (Comment on this)
Monday, December 21st, 2009
chuu	9:31p	Uhhh.. okay. So matt_cruea requested a trip report? Ok, I guess D: I'll try my best to remember what I can. ( I can't think of anything clever to put here. ) Current Mood: thoughtful (13 Comments |Comment on this)
chuu	2:03p	Part of me wishes my flight had stayed canceled so I could stay in New York a bit longer but at the same time, I'm really glad to be back home. Current Mood: indescribable (7 Comments |Comment on this)
juri_anne	11:00a	Britney Murphy Another life taken way too soon. :( I will ALWAYS remember her not for Clueless, but for this one line. Scroll to 4:32. Current Mood: gloomy Current Music: Big Love 1x10 (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Sunday, December 20th, 2009
sadsiren	8:19p	Progress Well, Fall semester just ended. I believe that I did well enough in History of Opera and Japanese 2. I'm unsure if I'll get a passing grade in US History, but I'm hoping so. If not, then I'll just retake it, and as a normal class this time. x.x For the winter interim, I registered for an English class and a Developmental Psychology class on children. Even though I took and passed English when I took it at CSUN years ago, I feel I should retake it (especially if I'm not wanting the burden of CSUN's other grades along with it >.> ). The psychology class should be similar to the one Jon took at RIT. I'm hoping it will give me some insight to myself and others. Hopefully it won't be too tough to handle both so compacted. As for Spring, I signed up for Intermediate Algebra, a Contemporary Health class, a Techniques of Musical Theater class, and some Music classes: Theory, Keyboard Skills, Concert Music, and Concert Choir. I'd debated signing up for the Vocal Performance Techniques class, but it would have to be taken with Individual Instruction, which requires an audition. I don't feel quite prepared enough for that yet. But hopefully next fall I'll feel ready. I've been able to do several performances in Second Life now. I've had 5 performances, and feel like the more I perform, the better I get. I still feel nervous at first, but once I'm into it, it's like taking flight. I feel such a rush, putting my heart into it and expressing the songs, and feeling like I can honestly believe I nailed it! I really want to expand my repertoire though. Which means I need more karaoke, and to practice, practice, practice. I'm barely able to do an hour set before my voice gets a bit rough. So I also need to build up my endurance. I sometimes wish I had a faucet near my desk. >.> There's been bits of dramarama going on. I may or may not have a visit from a friend in January. I don't know how it's going to go. I just want to have some enjoyment. I hope you all are enjoying the holiday season though. Take care. =) Current Mood: hopeful (Comment on this)
juri_anne	10:39p	Maggie The sweetest dog I have ever known had to be put down today. I'm not a dog person, but she was hands down my favorite animal I've ever owned {and that includes my two little babies}. Apparently her liver was shutting down. A few days ago, things were looking up, but my dad just called to say that it had gotten so bad they had to put her to sleep. I will always remember her and no other dog will ever compare to that sweet thing. RIP Margaret Grace 1995 - 2009 Current Mood: sad Current Music: Big Love - 1x07 (8 Comments |Comment on this)
matt_cruea	3:21p	Guilt:Christmas :: Peas:Carrots So a few days ago I was asked by my mother if I wanted to go to a family get-together for Christmas. Normally my family (mom's side) has Christmas dinner or something a week before, just to get together and whatnot. I often opt not to go, just because it's really boring. I mean, it's not like I dislike my mom's side of the family. They're good folks. Really, though, I have absolutely nothing in common with them. If I hung out with the older men we'd be watching a football game I care nothing about. If I hung out with the older women I'd be just sitting there, listening to their awful gossip. The ones my age, my cousins and whatnot, are all bringing their wives and their own kids, which is not a scene I'm a part of, I guess. The younger kids are cool, but they're now fewer than ever before. Really, the main attraction of such a gathering is normally the home-cooked meal. However, this has fallen by the wayside in recent years. Last year they just went to a Mexican restaurant. This year they're apparently just ordering a Subway party tray. How festive! So I could spend 5-7 hours sitting in a small house silently being bored or I could stay at home and find something to do (was probably gonna hang out with Adam tonight). I decided upon the latter choice... and then my mom gets pissed off. Like my presence there is going to have any effect on her time spent with her sisters. I so rarely go anyway, I'm not sure why this year matters so much. In an effort to make her happy, I'd even decided to go, but then she got upset and stormed out the door. I don't mean to make myself a black sheep or anything, and I know how my mom is. She'll immediately go and talk about me behind my back there. If I was there she'd say unkind things too, but now it'll be all about how I don't want to be with the family, etc. etc. etc. It's ridiculous. I don't think Christmas is an event where I need to put on a show or make a cameo appearance. It's about having a good time, and I don't think I would've had a very good time there. I dunno, it's lame, I guess. Also: January will be the best month ever. (6 Comments |Comment on this)
omahdon	3:43a	Oh goddammit I forgot to change the episode number and had to render the whole thing all over The VG Cats Adaptation With No Name - Christmas Special Nine strips in a single video: that's a new record for me. Admittedly they also happen to be, for the most part, extremely SHORT strips - but hey! I was looking for VG Cats strips with a Christmas-y sort of theme to adapt! Gotta work with what I gots and there weren't too many strips with that sort of theme. In fact, this Christmas Special has about all of them Christmas-y themed VG Cats strips, barring the unfinished series starring Jack Thompson as Scrooge (why I didn't throw it in this special, see "unfinished") and any that Scott may choose to write for Christmas 2009 onwards. Heck, I even threw in a re-make of "#133 - Presents" which I had already done previously. It's like.... all George-Lucas-ified. For your pleasure. Apart from that, mixing for this special was mostly straightforward. I'm quite happy with the way "#83 - Road Rage" turned out; using the original Unsolved Mysteries theme was D-Mac's suggestion and it turned out really well. The mood and shifts of the music really meshes well the flow of the narration. Of course, D-Mac did the narration as well, so maybe that was all part of his CUNNING PLAN. Who knows? "#182 - It's The Thought That Counts" had me trying to imitate the way Megaman 3 "power up get!" screen used to shift things around and reveal its text and what not - that probably took more time to set up than everything else in the strip. Oh, and for those of you wondering: Kirbopher was doing the classic Captain N version of Megaman's voice at my request. You know, the midget chain smoker version? That made absolutely no sense for the character, even back then? Good times, good times. "#264 - Trigger Happy" was also quite interesting to do as it originally had no lines whatsover apart from "BOOMER!" and "Merry Christmas!" so it became adlib city for all the actors/actresses involved. We can get pretty silly. Especially that Edward Bosco fellow. Oh, what merriment we did make! But the strip I'm most happy about in this special is "#265 - A Magical Wonderland". This was all thanks to the combined efforts of Cody Coleman, Druoxtheshredder and Peter Gresser: Cody for the wonderful Frank Sinatra-styled crooning, Druox for the "Death Metal" Frosty music and voice and Peter Gresser for basically composing a whole new truncated version of "Frosty the Snowman" out of cloth - trying to match the version that Scott used in his strip. The audio mixed together beautifully with hardly any effort at all, and the translation to video was pretty much equally seamless. I love it when everything comes together so. Anyway, many, many, MANY (many) thanks to all my actors and actresses involved in bringing this special to life. Wow, there sure are a lot of you for this 'ere thang. Sixteen in total and that's not including the joke credits! Thank god I'm not making any more of these! Errrr.... I mean. APART from episode 12. Yes. That is exactly what I mean. Oh and of course, a whole lot of thanks to Scott Ramsoomair for creating VG Cats! Please don't sue me. Adaptations of the following strips in order of appearance: #48 - Soylent Green #83 - Road Rage #133 - Presents #134 - The Crying Game #135 - Ode To A Python #182 - It's The Thought That Counts #230 - Judgmental #264 - Trigger Happy #265 - A Magical Wonderland Cast: Edward "Darkwolf" Bosco as Santa Claus Calculon000 as RED Spartan John Cleese as Leo (partial) Cody "YdocNameloc" Coleman as Pantsman, Dad and Frosty the Snowman "Jazz Crooner" Singer Druoxtheshredder as Frosty the Snowman "Death Metal" Singer GForce as G-Man Jeremy "Jembo985" Harrington as King of All Cosmos Lamar the Christmas Headcrab as himself "D-Mac" Deven Mack as the Announcer and Narrator Erica "Rikachuu" Mendez as Crying Elf #1 and Crying Elf #2 Chris "Kirbopher15" Niosi as Master Chief Petty Officer John-117 and Megaman Psyguy as BLU Spartan Rina-chan as Samus Aran Sabien as Stan McNormalGuy Autumn "autumnarr" Stroble as The Prince and Aeris Edwyn "Omahdon" Tiong as Krug, Gordon Freeman, Zombie, Major Payne, Little Girl, Nemesis and Leo (partial) Treg as Hermey the Elf VidGameDude as Unhappy Fanboy VG Cats created by Scott Ramsoomair Mixed by: Edwyn Tiong Soundtrack: (in order) Team Fortress 2 - Rocket Jump Waltz Tomoyasu Hotei - Battle Without Honor or Humanity Santa Claus is Coming to Town (Karaoke Version) Unsolved Mysterious - Main Theme (Original) Frank Sinatra - Santa Claus is Coming to Town Metroid Prime - Samus Aran Appears Metroid Prime - Record of Samus Halo 2 - Halo Theme Mjolnir Mix Metroid Fusion - Title Ren and Stimpy - Saw Theme Peter Gresser - Frosty the Snowman (Jazz Crooner version) Valve Logo Megaman 3 - Boss Introduction Megaman 3 - Powerup Acquired Trocadero - Intro Katamari Damacy - Katamari March Damacy Resident Evil 4 - Save Theme Death Note - Death Note Theme Left 4 Dead - Blood Harvest Left 4 Dead - Boomer Bacteria Left 4 Dead - Pukricide Left 4 Dead - Death Left 4 Dead - The Monsters Within Druoxtheshredder - Frosty the Snowman (Death Metal version) Sound Effects: Druoxtheshredder Final Fantasy 8 Half-Life 2 Halo 2 Left 4 Dead Max Payne 2 Megaman 3 Psychonauts Rayman Raving Rabbids Sony Pictures Sound Effects Series Soundsnap.com Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Team Fortress 2 Valentino Productions SFX Library Miscellaneous stuff from online Thanks for the listen! And watchin'! Current Mood: sleepy (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Saturday, December 19th, 2009
juri_anne	1:20a	TBBT Pics & some Peacock Concepta spam. :D EW did a photoshoot with the cast of The Big Bang Theory and someone posted them over at sheldon_penny. They are pretty funny! However, I hated that they were all seperate {cause they're scans from Entertainment Weekly}, so I put them together in Photoshop. No fancy stuff. Just put the two images in one image and saved. :) I LOVE all the Sheldon/Penny moments in the pics. I wonder if they're hinting at something! ;) And doesn't Kunal {Raj} make a PERFECT Kanye? Its kinda scary! Enjoy! ***** And now for some random Peacock Concepta spam. :) I was playing a little and gave her a makeover and she turned out SUPER cute! I thought I'd take a few pics with her next to the graveyard. Putting them under a cut just in case people don't want to see what she looks like until the actual post of her becoming a teenager. ( 5 pics under the cut ) Current Mood: tired Current Music: Christmas with the Kranks (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, December 18th, 2009
ignomius	5:40p	To all people who wanted to be card'd, your card is on the way. Look for the manic scrawl of your address upon the envelope. (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, December 17th, 2009
juri_anne	11:50p	feeling better & a question for Simmers with legacies. I'm feeling a little better now that I've been home with Chris. He always makes me feel better. :) I'm curious to know when I should put my legacy Sims up for download. From what I've posted, none of them are adults yet, so I've been putting it off. However, for The Foster Legacy, I've still got quite a few more updates before Gen 2 becomes adult. What do you guys normally do for your legacies? Wait until their adults in the update, or post them whenever? Current Mood: sleepy Current Music: Glee - 1x11 (3 Comments |Comment on this)
juri_anne	5:10p	Why do I torture myself? I do this all the time, and I can't seem to stop. I saw something in EW mentioning a series of documentaries on MTV called "16 and Pregnant". So, I'm watching them now. I thought it would be for the laughs at how stupid this young kids are and their expectations on having this child. Instead, I'm near tears as I see how lucky they are to have the child, and how stupid they are for not realizing what they have. I'm tired of dealing with this biological clock. I want to get through a day where I'm not thinking about babies or pregnancy or any of that stuff. I pray every month that I miss my period. Though we haven't really been trying, we haven't done anything to prevent it. This might be TMI, but Chris and I haven't used any type of conceptional since before the wedding. Almost two years without prevention and nothing. Its like a weight over me that I can't lift. I'm tired of getting teary-eyed thinking about it. I mean, right now I'm at work and I'm trying VERY hard not to start crying. I just want to go home and cry myself to sleep. Current Mood: depressed Current Music: nothing
juri_anne	2:35p	womanly issues You know what I hate about being a woman? The lethargic feeling I get around my monthly visit. I just kinda want to put my head down on my desk and sleeeeeeeep.... Current Mood: lethargic Current Music: nothing (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009
ignomius	8:08p	A little Scotch tape and a lot of X-Acto knife can go a long way. The skills I honed in my youth concerning the ninja-like ability to remove the gift wrapping from a present to manipulate the contents and then re-wrap it with virtually no sign of tampering returned to me quite easily ealier today. I opened up the gift I got for my brother and replaced part of the multiple item package I had previously prepared with something much nicer. Not that anyone but myself will ever know...but I suppose that's always been the point, hasn't it? ;b ( 'Tis the Season - my Christmas list of things I really really want under the cut! ) (Comment on this)
nyssane	7:29p	The Blue Snowman appeared in Power Girl #7 this week. I'm so ecstatic. I went years without Blue Snowman. Just last year, her last appearance was in the 40's. Now, she's suddenly appeared in two comics and been revealed to be in a video game. I like to credit myself for my Blue Snowman love and spreading that love like a cheap whore spreads her (his?) legs. Unfortunately, she's treated as a joke, but that's okay. This is her first actual post-crisis acknowledgment, thus I'm happy. I'm kinda irked that she appeared to have died, though. But I'm sure people can ignore that shit like DC always does. That's all. (Comment on this)
matt_cruea	4:09p	Two Front Teeth That last story is a bit big that I should have cut it, but I feel like nobody reads it when I cut them, and I really like it. I've had that idea in my head for about three years now, and could probably find the radio play script I wrote for it on my old PC. Anyway, I told Erin I would make a Christmas list, which is a bit tough because there's not a lot I need/want that I haven't just bought for myself. So lemme think: - iPod accessories. My iPod is a used one, a 30 Gig Classic Video. So I could use a case/protective screen. I could also use a wall charger if you're into that kinda thing, though the case is more of a necessity. ifrogz.com has a pretty cool custom feature for cheap that can make a swell Captain America-esque design. - Movies are always fun. I wouldn't mind a copy of Dark Knight, Iron Man, Wolverine, or Inglorious Basterds (2-disc please). I'm still trying to get Justice League/Justice League Unlimited on DVD, too, but those are hard to find. I am such a dork. - I could use another Wii controller, I guess. Do they sell them with the Motion+? That would be neat. Another Xbox 360 Rock Band guitar or mic would be cool, too - as it stands, I can still only make a three-piece. Or perhaps a Play-And-Charge Kit? - Make something original! Paint me! Sculpt me! Paper mache me! Something ridiculous! - Honestly, though, gift cards are fine. It's all gravy. (Comment on this)
matt_cruea	3:49p	The Silk Hat Joyce and I arrived at 8:00 sharp. As we knocked on the door, Mark and Grant let us in with a warm smile and a handshake. The cottage was decorated for the holiday and warmed up via freshly cut firewood. The crackling embers brightened the room, and illuminated the eight chairs that were set up in a circle in the den. There were normally six of us, as there had been since we found Grant in 2002. We gathered here each year, in this cabin in Colorado, to share our lives and experiences: Joyce, Mark, Grant, Nicole, Yuri, and I, George. Karen was a new addition, and this would be her first year with our group. Nicole had found her in some chat room online and found she was like us. The six, now seven, of us were... are, I guess... different from most people. "Where's Yuri?" I asked. "His flight is running late," Grant replied, "I think he'll be here within the hour. He was coming in from Moscow." I nodded and happily accepted a glass of cider from Nicole. Mark motioned for us to take our seats in the circle, and we did so without hesitation. "So, well," Mark stuttered, "since we have a new addition this year, I thought it might be best to... share? We haven't really done that since we found Grant. Anyone object?" There was a silence. We loved to tell our stories, how varied and different they were. However, it was also one of the hardest parts of our lives. It was hard to live with what we'd experienced and lost. "I guess I could start," Joyce replied, raising her hand sheepishly. Joyce and I had met at the very first meet-up here, and over the years we'd found our attraction growing. When you have something so strong and intense in common with someone, like I do with Joyce, and everyone else here... it's hard not want to spend the rest of your life with them, you know? "I was eight years old," she began, "wearing a green knit cap kinda like this one. I grew up in New Hampshire, so, I mean, it's not like snowy days like this one were out of the ordinary. I loved playing in the snow. Making snow angels, igloos, all that stuff. That was me. "But I guess the problem was it was just me. I didn't really... have a lot of friends, I guess. So then, one day... there he was. Out of the snow he showed up, smiling and happy like we've all seen, you know? He touched my shoulder and I looked up and smiled right back at him. It was so cold, but I'd never felt so warm. "Just one day was all I had, just like all of us. We had snowball fights, and man was he good at those. Heh. Then, the next day he was just... gone. He taught me how to have fun and be happy, and I'm so thankful for that." I grabbed Joyce's trembling hand as she shot me a teary-eyed smile. Grant raised his own. "I'd like to go," he said, "I grew up in Savannah, Georgia, so we didn't really get as much snow as Joyce. It was pretty hot, even in the dead of winter. I was maybe six years old, and I just remember dreaming and wishing for snow. Just one day for that magical white sheet that would blanket the land. "Then I woke up, Christmas Day no less. There it was. The proverbial winter wonderland; a White Christmas. I walked out the door, my unused winter clothes firmly contouring to my movements, and there he was. Watching and waiting, he leaned against the side of my house. He motioned towards the snowy expanse before me, as if to say, 'you're welcome.' I played all day in the snow. It never snowed again in Savannah." We nodded and smiled and even laughed. All our stories were similar. The magic of the season and the man who arrived and showed us all what happiness lay inside us. It was what brought us together, our encounters with that man. Karen, the new girl, shyly raised her hand. I noticed finally that she wasn't smiling, and perhaps, hadn't smiled at all the entire time. She'd been quiet and shy. She was a mousy, bookish girl and kept her arms held firmly across her chest. "I want to talk a bit," Karen said, "and... I don't understand how you can all still love him." There was a pause. You could hear our hearts beating. He'd taught us love. How dare she! "I met him when I was nine," she continued, "my friends and I, we found him... made him, really, you know? He appeared in front of us and, my God, I've never had a better day. He marched around and sang and danced and never had I experienced such joy. He could laugh and play just like the rest of us. "We marched all around the town, and I didn't want it to end. Lots of stuff happened that day, good and bad, but then, the sun came up, and he said he had to go. He told me he didn't want me to worry, and the one day, he'd be back again." I didn't know how to respond, and apparently neither did anyone else. Karen's voice sounded so bitter and spiteful, like she was mad at him, or even at us. "He said he'd be back on Christmas Day," she sighed, scowling, "he said he'd be back, but he never was. I never saw him again. He promised me, though. He promised and he lied. How can you all love this man if he lied to you!?" Karen stood up, addressing us all with anger. "How can you revere him so? He gave you happiness, showed you what you could be, and then he left you, just like he did me! He left you empty, he took away what you had! Imagine falling in and out of love once and never being able to again. That's what it's like! He lied! He lied!" Karen sat back down, burying her hands in her gloves. Her blond hair hung down around her head, but couldn't mask the sobs that came from her muzzled face. We sat in uncomfortable silence, thanking our lucky stars when the knock came from the door. Mark got up to grab it. "Hello, friends," came Yuri's voice from the door, his accent still as heavy as the last time I'd heard it, "it is good to see you all well, though... I must admit, I'd imagined more reverie coming from here! That is no bother, though. No bother! I bring great gift for you all!" I turned to the door and saw him standing with a large, black object in his hand. I recognized it immediately. "Where-?" I gasped. "A man in Volgograd," Yuri answered, smiling behind his bushy brown beard, "he'd found his child with it five years ago. It was why we'd not heard of more sightings, you see! He'd kept it away from the children. Come, I have already made him outside! Come!" I rushed to the door, grabbing Joyce's scarf for her as she ran before me. We stood outside in the Colorado snow, beholding the reason we met each year on Christmas. "Oh boy!" he said, smiling at us, as we stood, frozen as he should be, "all of you... here together? Why, 'cause of me? Gosh, that's swell. What a neat thing to happen to a nice guy like me." He sauntered, tipping his hat to each of us as we watched him, most of for the first time in decades. Karen stood, shivering. She sneezed into her tear-filled gloves and wiped her nose. "Karen, are you cold?" he asked her, "Now that's a silly question. You wouldn't be sneezing if you weren't cold, would you?" "You-" she stuttered, shivering, "you remember my name?" "Well, of course I do!" he laughed, "I remember all of you! Markie and Georgie and Joyce and Nicole and Karen and Yuri - gosh I had to travel far for you, Yuri - and little Grant. Little Grant, wishing for snow. How could I forget you guys? You obviously didn't forget me!" "But..." Karen spoke up once more, "where... where did you go? You promised to come back. You p-promised..." "Well, gosh, Karen, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I guess, see, what I do is I go around and I make children like you and everyone here... I like to make the kids happy, right? But I'm back today! I'm back, and it's even Christmas Day!" "It is..." Karen choked out, "God, it really is." He hugged her tightly and we all joined in, holding each other tightly. We knew this would be the last time we'd see him. He was right. He was meant to do what he did for us, but with a new generation. With our own kids. He needed to help them laugh and play and learn what happiness is. We were just afraid of letting go. "Oh gee," he smiled, breaking the hug, "you all are so warm and so kind, I'm liable to melt! And when I start to melt, I get all wishy-washy." We laughed and watched him step back a bit. "You kids know," he smiled, though we could see the sadness in his big round face, "you kids know I love you, right? I'm so happy for what you guys have given me." "Ditto," Joyce laughed through tears. He turned back to us and waved as he stepped back into the snowstorm. We waved back as he vanished, saying the only words the needed to be said. "Goodbye, Frosty." "So..." I asked, "what now?" "Well," Yuri replied, "now I am wanting to partake of the warm fireplace you have all made! Come! There are still stories to tell, I think. I am loving a good story!" We followed Yuri back inside, and I held tightly to my wife. Our group would meet again for years and years afterward. We didn't just have that magic man from our past in common. We weren't just brought together by that old silk hat we'd found. We were friends. We were family. I suppose it all started with the snow. You see, it was a very special kind of snow. A snow that made the happy happier, and the giddy even giddier. A snow that'd make a homecoming homier, and natural enemies, friends, natural. For it was the first snow of the season. And as any child can tell you, there's a certain magic that comes with the very first snow, especially when it falls on the day before Christmas. For when the first snow is also a Christmas snow... Well, something wonderful is bound to happen. (Comment on this)
Tuesday, December 15th, 2009
juri_anne	6:38p	An Awesimsauce Challenge // The Foster's Legacy - 1.4 Warning: Witchery, voyeurism, & really bad attempts at humor by the narrator. Cameos from Sims by: bondchick_nett, iliketoplaygod, lemon_lime35, dolly_riot, simsforaranya, katu, & moi. 61 pics & 2 animated gifs ( Secret door, secret door, secret door, secret door, secret door, secret door! ) Missed one? Catch up here: 1.0 // 1.1 // 1.2 // 1.3 Current Mood: anxious Current Music: nothing (23 Comments |Comment on this)
matt_cruea	5:07p	Wasteland "Roy, grab my hand," Eric said, pulling his friend up from the crumbling abyss below, "you okay?" "Fine, I guess," Roy replied, dusting off his green Starter jacket, "man, I figured we were safe. Keep walking." The two men, grizzled and dirty, made their way through downtown Los Angeles as the sootstorm showered them with ash. Eric had been a television reporter prior to the Cataclysm, and his sense of adventure and curiosity had not been stifled by the destruction of civilization. Roy had been his best friend since grade school, but the time for spitballs and flag football had long since passed them by. Roy was afraid of the great unknown they were entering head on, but hesitated to tell the last friend he had on Earth anything of the sort. "So what's the plan today, Eric?" Roy asked. "Staples Center," Eric replied, "it's probably the biggest quake-proof building in the city. The outside was mostly glass, so getting in is probably no problem, and the inside... well, we'll see what we find, eh?" Eric pulled down his hood and pulled the binoculars from his beard. Standing on the wreckage of a nearby office building, he looked into the distance. "What do you see?" Roy asked, "people, maybe?" "Not people," Eric sighed, stepping back from his easily visible perch, "not people at all." Roy knew what that meant. Morlocks. They'd taken their name from H.G. Wells, and like the fictional future species, were once human themselves. The Cataclysm did something to them, however. Whether it was radiation, cosmic activity, plague, or just mass insanity, no one knew the true cause of the Morlocks' existence. They just were - feral people who feasted on the bone marrow of still-living humans. Bloody, feudal, and skilled in the bestial arts civilized man had long since put behind him. In their first encounter with Morlocks, Roy had seen them eat a baby raw. "Did they see you?" Roy asked, "you think... from that far away? You think they saw you?" "Can't tell," Eric responded, "if we wait to find out, it'll be too late. We gotta get out of here. But..." Roy knew what "but..." meant. He didn't like what it meant, but he knew it. "You can't be serious," Roy urged, "you were right the first time! We need to move!" "Saw more Morlocks than I'd ever seen over near Staples," Eric muttered, seemingly to himself, "seen more and more of 'em on the trip from Marin. Seemed to increase as we headed South. This might be the epicenter of everything, Roy. We might be on the verge of answering a question that has plagued humanity since its downfall." "It could be our downfall, Eric. Those things will kills us, rape us, and eat us, and not necessarily in that order!" There was a bit of silence between the two, followed promptly by Eric pulling his red hood back over his head. "Take the binoculars. Watch me. I'm going for the Staples Center. If you see anything get me... run. Run away. If not, I'll be back in an hour." Roy nodded his head and grabbed the binoculars with shaking hands. Eric, meanwhile, stayed low and made his way around the rubble of former buildings where people made their livings and their homes. He was still in awe of the destruction of life on Earth - that the world had ended, and he was around to see it and experience it. It was a terrible time, and a terribly intriguing time. It was also a terrible time to be alone. The blow from behind came swiftly, and Eric's world went black. When he awoke, he saw a room of flesh and metal. Hooks and chains hung from the ceiling, covered in all manner of viscera. Eric found himself pinned to a wall, hanging by his wrists. However, he was whole. He was alive. Roy's body, next to him, was not in the same shape. His abdomen had been ripped open and his entrails had fallen to the floor in front of him. His green Starter jacket had turned red. Eric fought back the urge to vomit. "Man," came a low, gruff voice from the other side of the room, "the dead thing called you Eric. Are you an Eric?" Eric couldn't stop crying. Why couldn't he stop crying? "Y-yes..." he growled, "I'm Eric. You?" "I am Morlock," the man, short and muscular with armor of human bones, laughed heartily, "all of us here, we are all Morlock. You are trespassing on the home of the Cataclysm." "The home...?" Eric wondered, "what happened? Do you know the cause? What do you know?!" The short Morlock laughed and snorted. He pulled a bloody, comically large butcher knife from behind his fur pelt. He brushed it against his dirt and gore-covered tongue. "Do you really want to know?" he asked, "do you really want to know what happened to your people? Your friend, here? Do you really want to know?" "Yes," Eric replied, shaking, "yes..." The brute moved in closer, literally breathing into Eric's ear, his sweat dripping onto his face. "Eric..." he whispered, "are you scared?" "Y-yes..." Eric whispered back. There was a tense silence as the Morlock moved back and tipped the knife against Eric's jaw. He smiled, threatening to push it into his skull without even a word. Then, he said the words he never thought he'd hear. "Scared?" the Morlock laughed, "well, Eric... you shouldn't be." "You're on Scare Tactics." The lawsuits about the SyFy Channel show's wanton destruction and murder for the sake of just one segment of Scare Tactics was debated in the courts for decades, and went undecided up until a true cataclysm erupted and mankind was truly erased from the Earth. The few surviving humans lived on in solidarity, fruitlessly trying to rebuild a species despite their ruined reproductive systems. These people, true survivors, had seen the world destroyed and everyone they knew had died. Their remaining lives were filled with sadness, depression, and eventually they ran out of things to smile about. But SyFy Channel having someone eat a live baby just to scare someone on a hidden camera show? They thought that was hilarious! (1 Comment |Comment on this)
matt_cruea	4:21p	Break Ya Neck, Come On! I felt kinda bad making the post that I made last night. Admittedly, I had a horrible night, but, Marc, it was your night, and I hate to take anything away from that. Let's get together soon and discuss how life is different now that you have a degree! You're like a whole new person, man. Transformer sounds happened and now you're a car. Now back to my life, and speaking of cars, my car was merely scratched in the accident last night. My neck hurts pretty badly, though. I'm sure it'll go away in a few days. It's been a few weeks since Thanksgiving, and it's really kinda just hitting me how bummed I am about failing to get that trip together. I feel like it was mostly my fault, but what can ya do? I'm tired of the same day-in-day-out I've got going on. I want to go to Alaska. Or Chicago. Or New York. Or anywhere, really. Who's in? Yes, I'm serious. My grades came in and I did a lot better than expected, especially in my rather devious science class. Two A's and two B's for the semester, bringing my GPA back into range to regain my scholarship. However, I still have to complete 30 credit hours before they'll review my status again, so... lame. Next semester I'm going to start working my way into the English Education program by taking the first two EDUC classes. One of them requires a background check, which comes out of my pocket. I guess I understand it, but jeez, it's not like I pay ENOUGH fees for this school! I miss a lot of you guys. I've never been the initiator of a conversation, and apparently neither is anyone else, and I never IM anyone with an away message up, so I just don't even sign onto AIM anymore unless I need to. I want to rectify that. Let's talk. Let's iParty. Let's do jumping jacks and strap rockets to our backs. Let's dance the night away. Marc, Joe/Erin: What do you guys want for Christmas? I still don't know. I buy most stuff online so last-minute stuff like this isn't helping. :( Those of you who are online, I love you dearly, but your gift is already here! It's two posts down and it's called "The Last Christmas!" Okay, now to pretend to work! Goodbye! (5 Comments |Comment on this)
juri_anne	3:59p	Question to my Simmers: Is there an actual Simlish font? If there is, where do I find it? I don't have any plans for it, yet, but I'd like to have it just in case. :) Current Mood: nostalgic Current Music: nothing (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, December 14th, 2009
matt_cruea	10:48p	There Are A Lot Of Ways I Could Title This So what sucked tonight? - Driving to Georgia Dome. Rainy, foggy... REALLY foggy. Like, Silent Hill foggy. - As I sat in a turn lane, this lady rammed into the back of my car. As I was running late for Marc's graduation, I tried to get us pulled out of the street ASAP so we could exchange info and I could be on my way. - The first place I pulled over, I was immediately accosted by a bum. He proceeded to half-heartedly wash my windshield and ask for money. When I told him I didn't carry cash, he called me an asshole. NO, fuck you! You're an asshole! - Parking was hellish. Not unexpected, however. - As I've been without my phone for almost three weeks now, I had no way of finding Marc or his family. So I just found an empty-ish place in the bleachers in front of a big white sign in the hope that I would stand out. I did not. - I sat through the ceremony and walked from one end of the Dome to the other three times, through MASSIVE crowds of people, hoping to find someone I recognized. I did not. - I sat in the parking lot for literally an hour as people couldn't figure out how parking lots fucking worked. So I dunno. Shitty night and I might as well have not gone. Nonetheless, congrats, Marc. Today's the first day of the rest of your life, buddy. (2 Comments |Comment on this)
matt_cruea	4:39p	Punched In The Femur Last night I attended a rather enjoyable piano concert. There were sixteen pianists on six pianos, two keyboards, and an organ. They played a lot of Christmas arrangements and did some pretty impressive musical chairs between pieces. Afterward, I ate dinner with some of Adam's friends from his church and chillaxed at some girl's house playing games. I'm a bit awkward at religious places and when interacting with religious proceedings. It's not that I'm anti-religion or anything. I love religion! It's awesome! I just don't really consider myself very religious in the same way they are (I think my beliefs are very personal and ill-defined, which is how I like them). I'm instantly reminded of saying grace at the Jolly Roger during AX 2005. It's not part of my culture or upbringing, though I certainly respect the rights of others to practice, but I always have this slight, awkward pause where I'm grabbing my fork and others are bowing to say grace. Still, they're cool people. I just wonder what they'd think if I didn't just silently go along with everything. I also went to a birthday party a few days ago. Most of the people were drinking. I had a bar of soap (long story). I can blend well with most people, but I think it's a matter of fitting in. It sucks when you think you've found a place to fit and then that place seems to pass you by. I am also going to attend Marc's graduation today. He was the first and the best of us. Godspeed, Marcus Testman. And finally, it's crunch time. Two weeks before the end of the month, and I don't think anyone's gonna want to live in my house. Blarrggghhh. (Comment on this)

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