http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:AbdhitanMireen&section=today deviantART RSS for by:AbdhitanMireen en-us Copyright 2010, deviantART.com Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:43:46 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/29468259/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/29468259/ Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:24:50 PST )

I walk in today, and my boss tells me she got someone offering to buy the practice. If this happens, we would all three be kept on the payroll. So, my boss would still be there as a supervisor, but not signing my checks anymore. And, the person who is looking to buy us out is apparently a younger dentist who would bring in better business for us. And let me tell you, at the rate things are going, this couldn't have come a moment too soon.

You know the expression "The customer is always right?" Well, that's been proven false to me on a regular basis working here. I've been having to tell our patients "No" to everything lately. No, you can't set up a payment plan. No, that doesn't come with a warranty. No, you can't get that fixed free of charge. No, you can't get it back the same day. It's been costing us a lot of business. But hopefully, if our conditions change, we can start meeting our patient's standards and make them happier. If they're happier, they'll stop bitching at me and that'll make me happier.

When my boss told me this, I went out in the lobby and did a happy dance while silently mouthing "Yes!!!!" (I'm sure the people out in the parking lot though I was nuts. ) She is still considering it, but will probably do it so that the stress of running the business doesn't fall on her anymore. Please pray/cross your fingers/whatever that this will come to pass. It will make everything sooooo so so much better.

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/29395160/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/29395160/ Sat, 02 Jan 2010 12:41:32 PST
This meme stolen from *tiamatrouge, to reflect on the things that did happen.

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?

I went to Dragon*Con in Atlanta. My first convention.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I don't even remember if I made any resolutions last year. I want to make one this year to help turn things around for me...but I don't know what it should be.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

My cousin did, although I wouldn't say we're exactly close.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Nope.

5. What countries did you visit?

None. My passport still has a baby picture in it.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?

A job that doesn't make me want to pull my hair out.

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

August 15th. I met up with an old friend from high school and we had a fun day together.
September 5th. The day I met ~GrayFox7 in person for the first time at Dragon*Con.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Tough one. Well, with unemployment rates rising, I have still managed to hold onto the same job for almost a year. I guess that's something.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Relationship with "blind date guy." Because it also cost me a friendship with the girl who set us up.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Not really. Just colds and the like.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Assassin's Creed 1 and 2.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My best friend Willa. Meeting back up with her was probably the single best thing that's happened to me this year. She's a terrific friend, so open-minded, and I feel accepted for who I am around her.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

I believe I've addressed that in my last twenty entries or so.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Into savings so I can move out of the house...followed closely by the trip to Dragon*Con and the resulting car problems.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Dragon*Con, and the release of Assassin's Creed 2.

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?

Oooh, anything off of the Nightwish: Dark Passion Play album, or the Apocalyptica: Worlds Collide That was pretty much my soundtrack this year.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
 a) happier or sadder? 
b) thinner or fatter? 
c) richer or poorer?

a) Sadder. Because of work, because of things I've lost, because of the general feeling that I'm going nowhere. Hopefully all that will change soon, though.
b) Maybe just a little fatter (more time sitting at a desk = less exercise)
c) Richer. My bank account now resembles an adult's instead of a college student's.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Writing and art.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Being lazy/procrastinating.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

At the grandparents, as always.

21. Did you fall in love in 2009?

Nope. Maybe this year, though.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

I don't watch TV that much--only when someone else is watching it and I happen to walk... ]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/29275303/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/29275303/ Tue, 29 Dec 2009 08:48:20 PST Zelda-OC-Club, but I'm at home sick this morning, so I figured why not?
--Mindalia Storm [link]
--Sandira Yasmin [link]
--Ephemerra Carter [link]
--Mekias Justinian [link]

1. Where do you hail from?
Min: That never-ending mountain of laundry known as Hyrule Castle.
Sandira: Gerudo Fortress of course, silly.
Ephemerra: Um...I was born on Windfall Island.
Mekias: Castle Town.

2. Which deity or spirit do you hold allegiance to and why?
Min: My Dad taught me to respect all three Goddesses, but says that Nayru takes a special interest in us Sheikah. So I pray to Nayru for wisdom to guide my actions.
Sandira: We Gerudo hail the Goddess of the Sand...although if you ask me, I think she is just another representation of Din, from the Hylians' faith. Regardless, we firmly believe that the deities send us a god in human form every 100 years, to be born as a Gerudo son. During this blessed time, we are fortunate to have the Great Ganondorf as our ordained ruler.
Ephemerra: Deities? Spirits? It all just doesn't make sense. Why would deities and spirits respond to the people's cries for help by drowning them?
Mekias: *Sigh* After the things I've seen, who can be sure about all this "deity" stuff anymore?

3. What's your favorite color and why? (God I hate this question. )
Min: *Shrug* Dark colors made it easier to blend in the shadows.
Sandira: Orange, purple...sunset colors are always nice. So serene.
Ephemerra: Teal. *Holds up her moth pendant* Like the wings of a moth.
Mekias: Do I really have to answer this?

4. Who is your greatest influence or hero and why?
Min: Gildea the Silent. She was the greatest Sheikah warrior of all time...and her betrayal by her closest friend, the Hylian knight *growls* Vagnous the Radiant, is the reason our all-seeing eye symbol now includes a crimson teardrop.
Sandira: *Giggles and blushes* Obviously, it'd have to be the Great Ganondorf. I mean, no other man is worthy of being compared to him...especially not a Hylian man--could we change the subject, please?
Ephemerra: My father--I mean...stepfather--has been good to me all these years. But it just hasn't been the same between us since I found out...
Mekias: The man who served as Captain of the Hylian Guards before me, until he retired. He left some very large shoes to fill, I'll tell you that.

5. What would you want your last meal to be?
Min: Depends, what am I dying of? If it's poison or sickness, can my last meal contain an antidote?
Sandira: When you live off the desert and scrape for food, you tend to forget to be picky about your meals. ...Course, there's a little joint in Castle Town that makes a mean dish out of the wild game in Hyrule. You'd be surprised how tender Peahat larvae is. It makes a good stew.
Ephemerra: Heh..."last meal" is kind of a paradox for me. It's feeding that keeps me alive.
Mekias: Cucco gumbo would be fine.

6. If this was your last day on earth, how would you spend it?
Min: *Scoffs* Probably fighting off the cause of the apocalypse. Just like every other day.
Sandira: *Looks off distantly* There is someone I never got a chance to meet. I'd want to finally meet her, before it's too late.
Ephemerra: Well, I'd be disappointed that I never got to find my real father. But I would spend it at home with my family. They're the most important thing of all, when it comes down to it.
Mekias: I'd make my peace, and prepare to be reunited with my wife and sons...I mean, if this "afterlife" business is to be believed, anyway.

(Where the heck is 7? )

8. If it was a matter of life or death, would you kiss Ganondorf or Tingle?
Min: I don't kiss egomaniacs. ...Well, except the white-haired ones, anyway. *rolls eyes and smirks*
Sandira: I'm not worthy to kiss The Great Ganondorf.
Ephemerra: Who are they?
Mekias: And you're sure death is an option?

9. If you could go back and change one event in your life, what wou... ]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/29244452/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/29244452/ Sun, 27 Dec 2009 20:47:37 PST

---

Just got back from seeing Jeff Dunham. Unfortunately, my brother didn't get a chance to talk to his friend and ask him to go with me. So, that was kinda disappointing. But my brother just went instead, and we still had a really fun time.

Our seats weren't the best--they were on the second floor right next to the door. Everyone on the stage was a little stick figure...and not just the puppets. But, at least that made getting out to use the bathroom easier...and we could see everything just fine on the big screen over the stage. While waiting for the show to start, they played a slide show on the screen consisting of a lot of "Ask Walter" jokes and other trivia. At one point, it even did "Which character is your favorite?" and had you cheer for the one you liked. Achmed the Dead Terrorist got thunderous applause. Peanut was second.

The show was opened up by "Guitar Guy." He first appeared playing "Jingle Bombs" with Achmed awhile back, but appears to be making a name for himself. He did some of his own jokes, and played some parodical songs, including one about Tiger Woods with such lyrics as "Tiger can't control his Wood," and "He's not content with just a 'hole in one.'"

Jeff was funny as ever. The puppets used in this routine were Walter, Achmed, Peanut and Jose Jalepeno on a Stick. If you've seen all the DVD's, some of the jokes would have sounded familiar to you. I recognized a lot of them from the Christmas Special, particularly. There were some new ones added in as well, however.

The most hilarious part was at the end, though. Apparently Bubba J has quite a fan following in Nashville. (Can't imagine why. ) So, when we thought the show was over, Jeff came back out with Bubba J and said there'd been a lot of emails asking to bring him back, but admitted he hadn't used him in so long that he'd forgotten most of his jokes, so he had them written down on a cheat sheet. He then started doing the Bubba J routine from "Arguing With Myself." The audience caught onto this pretty quick. They actually started saying Bubba's lines before he did.

Jeff: So, Bubba J, is your wife pretty?
Bubba: Yyyyeaaaah...n--
Audience: Naw.
Jeff:
Bubba: Man...kinda sad when your audience knows the show better than you do.

Jeff: Where did you meet your wife?
Bubba: At the--
Audience: --family reunion.
Bubba: ...What the hell? This is like a weird-ass version of church. We're now going to read from 2 Bubba 2:19.

Bubba: She was--
Audience: --leaning against the Ferris Wheel, making it tilt.
Bubba: What is this, the "Rocky Horror Bubba Show"?

I was laughing so hard through all this. How do you script that?

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/29211963/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/29211963/ Sat, 26 Dec 2009 10:09:05 PST
Visiting the grandparents is always incredibly boring. All we do is gather around the TV. I'm not a fan of TV in general. There are so many more productive--or at least stimulating--things you could be doing with your life in the 30 minutes or couple of hours it takes to sit in front of a big glowing box. (Of course, some may say that sitting in front of a video game or computer isn't much better, but still. ) Also, being around my aunt on my Dad's side for very long bothers me...for reasons I won't get into here. Regardless, I got halfway through reading "The Templars and the Assassins" while I was there.

Yesterday afternoon, I went briefly to visit my aunt and uncle on my Mom's side, when I couldn't stand being cooped up at my grandparents any longer. My uncle is the coolest old guy I know. He plays a lot of video games and stuff just so he can have some common ground with his grandkids. And he's into a lot of history, collecting coins and such. While I was in his den looking at the books he had on his bookshelf, what should I find but one of the Crusade books I had on my Christmas list but didn't get! "God's Warriors: Crusaders, Saracens and the Battle for Jerusalem." He even let me borrow it! He asked me what got me into that subject, so I told him all about playing Assassin's Creed, and how it's set in a stunning rendering of 12th century Israel, and that some of your assassination targets are based on real historical figures, so that made me really curious about the actual history behind it. He, in turn, told me about a World War 2 game he was playing that had the same effect. Overall, it was a fun visit.

We opened gifts yesterday night at my grandparents, when the whole extended family showed up. Since we have such an extended family, no one ever sees each other or knows what anyone likes, we cut down on extravagant gift giving by drawing a name at Thanksgiving for one person to give a gift to, and we also each buy a small $5 gift for a raffle game. I got a pair of socks, then watched as everyone else's gifts got handed out. I thought maybe my name was overlooked in the drawing at Thanksgiving, so no one got me anything. It was that awkward feeling where you feel really sad and left out, but you don't want to say anything because it'll make you look greedy/selfish/ungrateful. Finally, someone found my gift accidentally pushed under a chair. It was from my aunt in Florida, and it was two gift cards: one for Applebee's, and one for Macy's. So, I was happy. Was glad to get home late last night, though. Mom had already taken all the decorations down. She said "You weren't even to the interstate before those suckers came down."

My brother's and my tickets for Jeff Dunham are on Sunday night. But my brother made me the sweetest offer. He knows that I've always had a bit of a crush on his friend (aka "my other brother.") I never really thought he was interested, though...until recently, when he participated in "No-Shave November" and grew a beard. He came over around the beginning of December and still had the beard, so I made a comment--just in passing--along the lines of "It's time for a shave." His Mom apparently had been trying to tell him to shave, but he wouldn't. Then finally she told him, "Michelle says the beard has to go." And he shaved. I didn't even mean it seriously; I could have cared less whether he shaved or not. But still, it made my inner girly side all giddy.

Anyway, my brother said he wasn't that much into stage shows, so he was going to ask his friend if he wanted his ticket to Jeff Dunham, so he could go with me as, like, a date. I feel like a teenager, all excited to see if he says yes or not. I may... ]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/29143750/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/29143750/ Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:34:30 PST Oh mah gah! Guess what I got in my stocking this morning! A ticket to see Jeff Dunham! Eeeeek!

My Dad, brother and I are supposed to head out early tomorrow to spend Christmas with the grandparents. That being the case, we went ahead and opened our gifts to each other tonight. I've had quite a haul. I got:

-A color printer. My old one was broken and only functioned as a scanner. I think Dad saw a benefit in me having a new one because it could be used wirelessly by any other computer in the house.
-A DVD tower. Movie collection was overflowing out of the cabinet.
-A new bag for my laptop.
-Two books. "The Templars and the Assassins: The Militia of Heaven" and "Warriors of God." Guess what kindled an interest in that subject.
-$40 worth of iTunes gift cards from my brother. Every time he gets Best Buy rewards points, he can't think of anything else to spend them on, so he gets iTunes cards and gives them to me. I called him my iTunes drug dealer, hooking me up with my music fix, and saying "sometimes I wonder why I need him at all."

Overall, I'm very happy. Won't have Internet access at the granparents, so see you all late on Friday night or Saturday morning. I should at least have a black and white version of the family portraits done by then...although access to those two aforementioned books may interfere with that.

Have a good Christmas. God bless you, everyone.

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/29102066/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/29102066/ Tue, 22 Dec 2009 08:58:48 PST No more work this week! Woot!

Still no Christmas decorations up. I've got some gifts to wrap, still. And on top of that, Mom decided since I'm at home this week, I get to be put to work in the kitchen. Not that I mind--I love cooking--but I need as much time as possible to finally buckle down and focus on the family portraits. Check out the complete list of characters who will be featured if you feel so inclined: [link]

I'm actually pretty behind on it and I got a lot of catching up to do...so if you see me online procrastinating, do kindly tell me to "Stop screwing around and get back to work!"

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/29061611/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/29061611/ Sun, 20 Dec 2009 12:53:50 PST [link] There are still two open spots in the Templar portrait, one of which might already be claimed.

After today, I need the rest of the week to finish drawing and coloring the characters, so I won't be able to change the portrait(s) around to put in another new character.

Thanks, everyone who already submitted a character. I'll try my darnedest not to let you down. I only have to work tomorrow, then I'm off for the rest of the week. Usually, the blood in my veins requires me to visit my grandparents on Christmas Day, and the day after. This year, however, we're driving up on Christmas Eve and coming back Christmas Day. So, I shall be diligently drawing this afternoon, on Tuesday and on Wednesday in an effort to get everything done in time. (Monday night, however, I already promised to rent and play Soul Calibur 4 online with ~GrayFox7)

Oh, yeah. And we're the only house on the street who doesn't have their Christmas decorations up. That may need to be amended this afternoon as well.

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/29038333/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/29038333/ Sat, 19 Dec 2009 11:08:50 PST rueyeet, under no duress. *cough*tagged*cough*

1. Fill up the blanks with your favorite characters or OCs / Put their names by the numbers, too.
2. Answer the questions, or try to.
3. TAG 3 people.

1 – Ephemerra Carter [link]
2 – Redric Leonid (No references yet. He’s a Hylian vampire who may remind you loosely of Lestat…or Jareth the Goblin King with fangs.)
3 - Sandira Yasmin [link]
4 – Mekias Justinian [link]
5 – Mindalia “Min” Storm [link]
6 – Scott Adler [link]
7 – Godelieva “Eva” de Naplouse [link]
8 – Rashid (Mentioned in “Waif’s Lament” fanfic. [link] )
9 – Jabr (No references yet. I always wanted to make an Informant OC from Assassin’s Creed. This’ll be his debut. )
10 – Altair (Don’t have any more Assassin’s Creed OC’s, but just so it’s half Zelda and half AC, here’s a canon.)

---

1. What if 7 (Eva) and 4 (Mekias) kissed?
I knew Mekias was into redheads, but…eugh… pedophilia? Depends on the nature of the kiss. If it was a gentlemanly kiss on the hand, no big deal. Anything else, and Mekias would be answering to Eva’s guardian.


2. Where would 2 (Redric) bury a treasure?
These days, Redric seems more likely to be looking for treasures rather than hiding them. But should the need arise, Ikana Kingdom is always a nice place. The eternal stench of death tends to keep most brave and stupid gravediggers/treasure-seekers out.

3. 6 (Scott) and 10 (Altair) get into a fight. Who resorts to violence first?
Time period differences aside, that fight would be over too quickly to even be interesting.

4. 1 (Ephemerra) is kidnapped and their kidnapper demands a ransom of 1,000 dollars from 5 (Min). Do they help 1 (Ephemerra)?
Min doesn’t have $1,000 (Or the Hylian equivalent) just lying around. But given Ephemerra’s family ties, her kidnapper is likely to be a vampire that Min has a vendetta against, so Min would find and attack the kidnapper for her own personal gain.

5. Who is stronger? 6 (Scott) or 8 (Rashid)?
Scott does have the advantage of not being half-starved and scared to death.

6. Who is 3's (Sandira)’s secret love?
Mekias. Sandira can’t resist a Hylian man in uniform. But shh! If his wife, or the Great Ganondorf found out, it would spell trouble for both of them.

7. Can 8 (Rashid) juggle?
What would he have to juggle with? Apples? Look, if your family was destitute on the streets of 12th century Jerusalem and you came across some apples, is juggling them the first thing you would think to do?

8. 1 (Ephemerra) is asked on a date by their favorite actor/actress. Do they accept the date?
Ephemerra lives on Windfall Island, so if she has a favorite actor, it would have to be some kind of street or stage performer. And if said performer asked her out, she would only consent if her parents agreed to it. Even then, she’d most likely be really nervous and distant the whole time…for fear of her “illness” acting up.

10. A Meteor is about to hit the planet, can 7 (Eva), 2 (Redric), and 10 (Altair) stop it?
Eva would be about as helpful in this situation as a band-aid. If there was someone else to stop the meteor, then she might at least try to take care of anyone wounded by the smaller, preceding meteorites in the meantime. Otherwise, if death was imminent, she’d just be huddled in a corner crying.
If the meteor was conjured by some wizard and defeating said wizard would stop the meteor, Redric would have it in the bag. (It’s also entirely likely the entire apocalyptic event was a setup to gain the people’s favor when he stopped the meteor.)
As for Altair…hmm. The full extent of the Piece of... ]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/29012571/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/29012571/ Fri, 18 Dec 2009 05:34:31 PST
I think what you said about my father yesterday was very inappropriate. You don't hear me blaming your behavior on your daughters being sluts. I take it when you comment on my "social disorder," my memory loss, or my personal life, but this is crossing the line. I interviewed with another job earlier this week, and if they offer it to me, I'll be out of here before you can blink. If they don't offer it to me, I will not stop looking until I can join [ex-husband #1], [ex-husband #2], [last secretary] and [last lab tech] in the ranks of people who couldn't wait to get the fuck away from you.

I thought it'd be better to get it off my chest now than end up regretting it. And believe it or not, this is actually holding back some other, less constructive things I'd like to say.

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28995693/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28995693/ Thu, 17 Dec 2009 08:58:44 PST
Better start coming up with a list of projects to work on in my upcoming free time.

1. The Assassin's Creed family portraits for #VisionaryAssassins
Due date: December 25th. (This will be done by Christmas on my word of honor, even if I have to use the wireless at a Starbucks in my grandparents' town at 11:59 PM Christmas Day! )

2. *rueyeet's one-shot challenge.

3. My first venture into the realm of smut.

4. The third chapter of Waif's Lament, and revisions to the first two.

While I'm going to try to get as much art done on the break, I also intend to apply for one job per day, if possible. Also, AC2 has just started to get interesting, so...

---

That's enough about me for now. How are all my watchers doing? Got anything to get off your chest? Christmas season a pain? Finals been bogging you down? If so, please comment. I'd like to hear from you.

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28976598/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28976598/ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 08:30:37 PST
I didn't feel nervous until I walked in the front door. I got there a little early, and the receptionist went back to let the guy interviewing me know I was there. While she was gone, I heard an announcement on their intercom saying something about people who were being interviewed to please wait their turn. I thought that meant there were other people already there, so I thought there was a room I was supposed to go to and wait. I asked someone where that was, which I'm sure made me look stupid. The intercom must have been either a miscommunication or a mistake, because there was no one else there yet and I got called back right away.

The actual interview must have been barely ten minutes. They asked me about myself, so I told them about my college experience and what I've been doing in graphics since then. They didn't ask me anything about my current job at all. They did go over what all this job would entail, asked me if I would still be interested, and I of course said yes.

They had me sit at a computer, gave me a printout of a Wendy's coupon, and told me to replicate it in a design software just to show I did know the programs I said I knew. You know how it is when you know how to do something, but you're so nervous you fumble through it? That's how I felt. I'm sure I made it a lot more complicated than I had to, and took much longer than I should have. I left just under an hour after I arrived.

Maybe it's just because I'm so anxious to get out of the dentist office that I get nervous and pessimistic. But when I go back to work tomorrow, it will not be with a hopeful demeanor.

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28951567/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28951567/ Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:56:14 PST It's with the printing company I applied for last week. Please please please wish me luck, everyone. There's no longer any such thing as a "good day" in my current job--only a day that sucks less. I have to have this. 'Course, I'm trying not to get my hopes too high, because I'll be twice as crushed not to get it and be condemned to a longer time in my current personal hell.

It's been some time since I've had a job interview. A little practice couldn't hurt. If anybody would be very kind, could you possibly comment on this journal with some potential interview questions, so I can think of how to answer them ahead of time? At some point, I'm even thinking of making another Flash animation like Interview With A Sheikah: [link] only it would feature me personally and go up on my digital portfolio website's homepage. That way, prospective employers could "interview" me and get the basic "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?" stuff out of the way, then I'd provide an e-mail address at the end so they could get in touch with me to talk in person. If and when I do this Flash, I'll use any questions asked in this journal.

Don't be afraid to make them a little silly. I wanna be prepared for anything.

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28880994/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28880994/ Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:10:58 PST "Get me out of here!" So, I'm a little bit released of the stress I was feeling earlier this week, and may or may not be feeling up to working on art this weekend.

Today at work's kinda slow. We only have one patient coming in, but they're getting veneers, which takes a long time to set up for. So, with nobody coming in to distract me, I've been able to get a lot of busy work done. I gotta put our Christmas tree up this afternoon, too. In the meantime, I'm rather bored with no messages to check.

How about another game? In the spirit of the old improv show "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" I'm calling this one "Song Titles."

1. I'll ask a question.
2. Someone will comment to answer that question, but they have to use a song title to answer it. Then they will ask a new question.
3. Either I or someone else will reply to that comment with a song-title answer, and a new question.
4. You may start a new reply chain, or you may reply to someone else's.

First question:
How would you describe your first boyfriend/girlfriend?




Are you in ? Do you have an Assassin's Creed OC? Then you are hereby invited to have your OC featured in a "Family Portrait" for the holidays! Full details here: [link]

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28854534/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28854534/ Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:46:18 PST
I will be, once again, looking for a new job. Everything I was working on is hereby postponed, with the exception of the Family Portraits for #VisionaryAssassins. I would make myself sick to accept all those entries and then let them all down. For every other contest and challenge I'm wussing out of (you know who you are) I'm so sorry. I will make it up, I promise.

That said, tomorrow I'm applying for a part-time position at a printing shop. It's working with Adobe software, which is exactly the sort of thing I went to school for. It is only part-time, but then again so is the one I have now, technically, even though it doesn't feel like it. And it is more relevant to what I went to school for, and could lead to better opportunities later on. Please, please wish me luck, prayers or whatever you do. I really want this job...anything to get me out of the position I'm in now.

If that doesn't work out, I did the math. My current job is only 28 hours/week. If I can find a 40 hour/week job, even if it's $2/hour less than what I make now, I'll still get a bigger paycheck. Please keep your fingers crossed that I find something. Anything. This job is turning me into an angry, hateful person--someone I don't want to be at all--and I have to get out of there.




Are you in ? Do you have an Assassin's Creed OC? Then you are hereby invited to have your OC featured in a "Family Portrait" for the holidays! Full details here: [link]

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28805578/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28805578/ Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:06:33 PST

Let's play a game. I'll start a sentence, someone finishes it in a reply, then starts another sentence for the next person to finish, and so on. (By the way, you can reply to some else's comment chain.)

Finish this sentence:
"Before Twilight ever existed, I..."



Are you in ? Do you have an Assassin's Creed OC? Then you are hereby invited to have your OC featured in a "Family Portrait" for the holidays! Full details here: [link]

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28742869/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28742869/ Fri, 04 Dec 2009 08:53:25 PST

Yesterday, I ran a thought I was having past my boss. Some dentists' offices have two or three minimum wage secretaries to do the job I'm doing by myself here. I suggested, if I had to take a pay cut, that's fine, but what if we started looking for another person, even just part time? It would help my boss because that way when I find another job, she won't abruptly have to find and train another person, since there will already be someone beginning to learn the job. (My boss knew from the start I expected this job to be temporary and I would eventually find something in my field of study, so it's not like I was springing "I'm gonna quit!" on her.) That, and it would help me to have someone else answering the phone or messing with insurance while I deal with patients in the office, or vice versa. My boss seemed okay with the idea, but not during December, since this is our slowest month. So, hopefully, that'll work out and things will begin to improve around here. I could deal with this job so much better if I didn't have to do it alone.

I've got sooo many artistic ideas right now, I dunno how I'm going to find time for them all. I guess it's not a matter of finding time, but rather making it. My current priorities are:

1. An entry for =TwilightSaint's music contest. It will be a web comic with lyrics from "In The Air Tonight" by Phil Collins, will feature Zelda OC's not yet introduced on DA, and will lean towards erotic. (That always sounded like a song from a sex scene to me. )

2. The Assassin's Creed family portraits for *VisionaryAssassins

3. *rueyeet's challenge of a one-shot about Garnier.

4. The third chapter of Waif's Lament, and revisions to the first two.

There are also a lot of smaller ideas floating around in my head, and oh yeah...I gotta stick work and a job search in there somewhere. Why can't there be two of me?

http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28681144/ Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:10:04 PST [link]

Also, the fact that my brother set up an X-Box Live account for me and I got started playing Assassin's Creed 2 might have helped a little.



Are you in ? Do you have an Assassin's Creed OC? Then you are hereby invited to have your OC featured in a "Family Portrait" for the holidays! Full details here: [link]

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28676776/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28676776/ Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:23:22 PST
Thanksgiving break was great. Willa spent the night Tuesday night, and we started one more Assassin's Creed 1 play-through on Wednesday. Thursday, Mom cooked, and we ate at the dining room table (we only use the dining room table on Easter and Thanksgiving). Friday and Saturday, I was at my grandparents', but brought my laptop and worked diligently on the Flash animation for *VisionaryAssassins. When I came home Saturday night, I found my copy of AC2 on my bed waiting for me! It was supposed to arrive tomorrow, but got here early. Sunday, I finished up the Flash before I got sucked into the game.

Five whole days of feeling contented, peaceful and happy.

One day back at work, and fttt. It's all gone.

I know this is just a temporary job, and not my career that I'm going to dedicate the rest of my life to. Being unemployed right now would be a nightmare, since there are so few jobs. (Today, a guy actually came into the office and gave us a flyer for his janitorial service. What does that say about the times, when you have to go door to door just to be a janitor?) I should be grateful to pull in a paycheck at all.

I'm just so worn out. It makes me feel so worthless, knowing I spent four years in college just to answer a telephone with the same greeting 50 times a day, battle insurance companies and take crap from patients. It's exhausting me.

The worst part is that I wish I could talk to someone...but I no longer feel like I have a right to do so. After Phoebe gave me brush-off for complaining too much, I now feel like I shouldn't talk to my friends at all when I'm in a bad mood. I should only appear as a happy person all the time, and keep it to myself anytime something isn't right.

I want to feel appreciated. I want to feel like I'm doing something that benefits someone, somewhere.

Meh. I'mma go play some AC2 now.

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28555513/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28555513/ Tue, 22 Dec 2009 08:42:28 PST UPDATE! No longer accepting new characters! Thanks, everyone, for your participation. I'll do my best to make your characters look good in their respective portraits!

Please check out the fabulous array of OC's who will be appearing in these Assassin's Creed family portraits, alongside the Assassins or the Templars.



.::Featured In The Assassins Portrait::.
Canon characters:
-Al Mualim
-Altair
-Malik
-Kadar
-The Damascus Rafiq
-The Acre Rafiq

OC's:
-Leyla Ara Bint Hazar, by ~StarStalker333 (Altair's companion.)
-Kitty, by ~LollingHippo (Altair's trainee.) [link]
-Nadia, by ~Rekey (Malik's nurse.)
-Ysbal, by ~collaredren (Malik's wife.) [link]
-Nedra Bint Jinn, by ~LadyVe (Kadar's friend.) [link]
-Mâred, by ~VisaLaMiraluka (Kadar's friend.) [link]
-Salene, by ~Wolf-Ashes (Al Mualim's trainee.)
-Avaiiden, by ~magegirl (Al Mualim's niece.) [link]
-Xhab, suggested by ~LostAngelDemon (The Acre Rafiq's cat.) [link]
-A'isha Al-Saif, by ~misamattnmello (The Damascus Rafiq's friend.)

http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28551195/ Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:41:29 PST Fruesday! And I'm freeeeee!

No more work until Monday. I think I may cry. So much free time. So much opportunity to get creative stuffs done. I think first and foremost I shall take out that Flash project for .

...Right after my nap. Later.

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28523200/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28523200/ Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:39:22 PST
So, I'm off work Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week. Only two measly workdays...should be able to endure that. And even better, I don't have to go to my grandparents' for Thanksgiving until Friday thru Saturday, so I'm free to do whatever on Wednesday and Thursday.

By the way, my copy of AC2 just shipped on Saturday and it won't get here until December 1. That's okay, though. I needed to take care of some things before I get distracted with that. For example, I'm running behind on my contest entry for Only one week left. I may as well go ahead and say what I have planned for my entry. We're supposed to show what the "Codex" is. Everyone else probably knows by now, but I still don't. My entry is going to be a little more on the humorous, parodical side anyway.

It's going to be a Flash animation of the book, with pages that can be turned. It's like Altair's scrapbook of the game. Each page features the maps, letters etc. that you get during the information-gathering parts of the mission, as well as all the memory log quotes, and at the bottom corner of the page is the bloodied feather from that assassination target.

It was going to be modeled after this demo: [link] I really wanted this code because it allows you to tear the pages out, which would account for why you have to gather the loose pages in AC2. But I don't think my measly little Macromedia Flash MX supports Javascript that advanced. I tried downloading a trial version of Adobe Flash CS3, but when I click "download," nothing happens. Maybe my computer doesn't support it. Sigh.

Oh, well, I can still do it in Macromedia Flash, it just won't be as good.

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28445797/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28445797/ Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:41:07 PST
That brings me to my other concern. I've gotta spend more time looking for a new job. The one I'm in now was always supposed to be temporary. It's been nine months. Nine months in a job that has nothing to do with my degree, where everything I do results in me catching crap from my boss or from our patients, with nothing to gain from it except a paycheck. I no longer care about it at all. When a patient on the phone goes into their life story about why they need dentures, I just want to tell them to shut up and tell me what appointment time they want, so we can both be done with it. I've given up on trying to please my boss as well. If her last two secretaries and lab tech couldn't, chances are pretty slim that I can. It's time for me to find something else.

If anyone was hanging on the edge of their seat for Waif's Lament, I'm so sorry. I haven't abandoned it, I'm just moving it to the back burner for now. I'm going to be working on my contest entry over Thanksgiving, though. So, it'll probably be around Christmas when I finally knock that fanfic out. At that time I will post the third and final chapter, and I'll post revisions to the first two as well.

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28408970/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28408970/ Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:19:43 PST It would be intended as a forum for aspiring writers to get help from each other...particularly in the "staying on track" category.

The most prominent aspect of this club would be the writing challenges. Writers will be free to set their own goal (be it a certain number of words, a certain number of pages, a scene or concept, etc.) but they have to have it done by a given due date, announced in the club's journal. If a member doesn't complete their goal by the due date, then they get an "interest charge," or something else they have to finish by the next week in addition to their original goal. (For example, let's say my goal was to write 1,000 words by Saturday. If I don't finish it on time, then I get an interest charge and have to finish 1,100 words by the next Saturday, and so on.)

Everyone could upload their pieces to the club on the due date, and then writers could critique each other on it.

There would also be forums and/or live chats for helping to keep each other on track, or even for RPing and other exercises to get the creative juices flowing.

Anyone think this is a good idea?

---

Yesterday was amazing. There were just so many little quirks that kept me in a good mood throughout the day.

For one, yes, I did order Assassin's Creed 2 on Amazon. I had two gift cards left over--one from last Christmas and one from my birthday--so I only had to pay $20 out of my pocket. I was a cheapskate and didn't order rush delivery, so mine probably won't be here until the weekend. Which is fine; I probably wouldn't have had time to play it until then anyway.

Also, brother was kind enough to get me an iTunes gift card with his Best Buy rewards points. I promptly bought a few bubbly pop song guilty pleasures, as well as the AC1 soundtrack. The Jerusalem music is so pretty.

Oh yeah...and this may be a small thing, but a day-brightener nonetheless. When I was taking out the trash at the end of the workday, I found some bubble wrap in one of the boxes. Seemed like a waste of good bubble wrap to me, so I took it out. You cannot underestimate the power of bubble wrap to keep you entertained in traffic on the way home.

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28384945/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28384945/ Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:13:00 PST

-Brother's friend = Other Brother
-Best friend = Willa
-Friend who isn't talking to me right now = Phoebe
-Friend who took the picture I'm using for my DeviantID = Anja

Friday was fun. My other brother came over. We all three went out for Mexican, and then they talked me into watching the Multiverse Family Guy episode. I have not been a fan of Family Guy since it came back from cancellation; it has gotten too offensive for my taste. But the episode wasn't as bad as I was expecting. I didn't feel personally attacked, even by the religious jokes. The animation in the Disney universe was actually pretty impressive. And when it got to the part of Stewie making Brian pick up his poop, I laughed out loud. My other brother said "I knew you'd laugh at least once."

Saturday, Anja called with an interesting proposition. She currently has three roommates, and one is moving out in January. She asked if I'm still looking to move out of my parents' house, would I want to take the room that will become available. It's only $300 a month, so I could probably do it. And it might just be the opportunity I'm looking for, to make a change in my life and see things start to improve. Of course, after what I went through in college, I am nervous about moving in with people I don't know. I've never met her roommates, so I'd want to try and get to know them first. Plus, I'd have to sign a 12-month lease, and who knows what may happen in my work life in the next year? Anja says that because it's near campus, if I had to leave they shouldn't have a problem finding someone else to finish my lease. So, we'll see what happens.

I got ~PageofSwords23's request done, and make a scratch in Waif's Lament. I dunno what's the matter with me. I had everything I needed to write this weekend. My brother was out of the house working yesterday and at Gamer's Guild today, so I had the game room all to myself. It was peaceful and quiet. My friends were all busy, so there was no temptation to go hang out. But I still couldn't get the story done. I hammered out a few paragraphs...but then when I looked at the screen, my mind just went blank. I don't get it. What else do I need, a whole week off? (Not that I'd mind it. )

Think I'll try something new tomorrow. Dedicate a whole hour just to writing, and nothing else. Perhaps I could do it first thing in the morning, so there's no chance of putting it off. I'll try anything at this point to overcome my attention span problem.

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28329812/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28329812/ Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:05:37 PST Those 60's pop icons clearly loved their dairy products.

Yesterday for the most part was rather come-and-go-ish. The writer’s worst nightmare happened to me. I woke up...wanting to write. That never happens. I normally have to block out any and all distractions, sit myself down, and force myself to get started on writing. But I had a dream, or inspiration struck me in some way, and I felt a creative surge.

The reason this is the writer’s worst nightmare?

Because I had to work. And nine hours later, once I was free from the shackles of mundane wage-slavery, that creative spark was gone like dust in the wind. C'est la vie.

I just knocked out some more Assassin's Creed achievements instead. The only one that remains beyond my reach is "Keeper of the Lions Passant." Only 3 pesky King Richard flags out of 100 left somewhere out in the world. ...Finding massive quantities of collectible items in video games is always a chore. Because it always gets down to the last few, you know all the easy ones are gone, and you get tunnel vision scouring the map for the last of them. (This was true of Heart Pieces in Zelda games as well.) Ah, well. Nice thing about achievements--after you've done them once, you never have to do them again.

An hour left until lunch? Hmmm. What else can I talk about?

My artistic forecast is getting rather ambitious. In addition to Waif's Lament, I've got two contests coming up that I want to submit entries to.

is holding a contest to interpret what the Codex is, in AC2. I have no idea myself, seeing as I usually don’t follow promotional materials much before a game is released. (I have a spoiler phobia, it seems.) So, my entry is going to be a little more on the humorous side. Don’t wanna spoil the surprise, but it will be a Flash animation.

is holding a contest to depict what song inspires you. I could probably come up with something for every song I listen to, as most do tend to stimulate my imagination in some way. I'm thinking I might re-visit an old idea for a Flash music video of my Gerudo character, Sandira Yasmin, singing "Pocketful of Sunshine," though.

On top of that, I still have a drawing to finish for of Robert and Sibrand as drinking buddies. (It's drawn and scanned, just needs to be colored.) And after Waif's Lament is done, a short one-shot fanfic or two may be soon to follow, featuring only Eva and not Scott. That little girl is demanding to be heard more.

Wish I had as much time and motivation as I had ideas.

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28265315/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28265315/ Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:03:43 PST
Dude! Only one week left until Assassin's Creed 2 is out. I'm going on Amazon first thing next Tuesday and using up the gift cards I still have left over from my birthday for it. None of that "waiting for Christmas" bull for me. I've been fairly avoidant of all trailers and spoiler material so far, but yesterday I was in Walgreen's waiting for an ink cartridge to be refilled, when I picked up a Gamer's magazine and flipped through the article about AC2. Woo! Last time I was this excited for a game release was Twilight Princess three years ago. (Only this time I'm counting on my expectations to be shattered, not just barely met. )

It's weird, though, because I only first played AC1 in May, and the game still feels somewhat new to me. I haven't even gotten all the achievements yet. Though I'll probably be diligently at work on that for the rest of this week. I was also gonna see if a friend of mine wanted to come over and play the game through one more time before the sequel comes out.

And God willing, I'll finish Waif's Lament before everyone loses interest in its fanbase.

Oh, yeah, my brother just bought a PSP, too. Which means I could even add Bloodlines to my "must-play" list.

*fangasm complete. Was it good for you? *

I'm getting hungry. C'mon, lunchtime.

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28224866/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28224866/ Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:41:25 PST
On Saturday, my brother was supposed to pick a friend of his up and give him a ride somewhere. My brother ended up having to work, so I was going to give his friend a ride for him. He was supposed to call me around 11 AM. I hung out at home, I sketched in my sketchbook...but never got called. Around 4 or so, my brother comes home. I wasted a whole day. After that, I tried to sit down and write...but I was too distracted. Fellow writers, please tell me the secret to focus on writing and turn off all the other little thoughts and distractions around you. Procrastination is the biggest muse-killer. I've got Eva's part of the story all worked out. I know how it'll end. (No real surprises there.) It's that pesky Scott that's refusing to cooperate.

Today I made a little bit of progress. But some slightly alarming news put a stop to it real quick. I've been trying to call my friend--the one who hooked me up with "blind date guy"--for the past week or two. I thought she was mad at me for calling it off with him. Found out today she was mad at me...not for that, but for another reason I wasn't counting on.

Because I complain too much. Because it's all about me. Because I've got a "princess" thing going on.

It is true, I haven't been in the best of spirits lately because of this whole thing that's been going on with my boss. But I had no idea I was coming across that way even to my friends. It was a bit of a shock to me. If it was because she would have been stuck in the middle between me and her guy friend, I suppose I could understand that. But I'm really disappointed that I might lose a friend that I just got back in touch with from high school because of something I didn't even intend.

Just goes to show, you should never let your conflicts go unresolved. They will affect you in more ways than one.

So, yeah, I now have a feather on my head. It goes quite well with the rest of my headdress. Who knew Al Mualim could be so chique?

Man, it's only 8:30? Wow. Feels so much later.

On an unrelated note, I now believe Monty Python: Holy Grail is the most quotable movie of all time. What other movies do you catch yourself reciting in a given situation, anyone?

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28182603/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28182603/ Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:26:57 PST
I stood up to my boss, but first prayed that I wouldn't do it in anger, that I wouldn't make it about revenge, but that I would try my best to amend this work relationship. Then I said what was on my mind, that I've felt intimidated working here since the incident a few weeks ago, where I felt I was being accused of losing or stealing money. And she was really cooperative. She apologized, saying she didn't know I'd taken that so personally, and in the future, please say something right away so this tension doesn't go on. She mentioned a few things she thought I was doing well in my job that I wasn't getting enough credit for, but would still like me to try and be more approachable for the patients. (Not an unreasonable request, I don't think.)

A great forgiveness has taken place. I really feel liberated. Yeah, I'll probably still keep looking for a new job, but I won't do it spitefully. I won't leave this office high and dry without any consideration for whether they can still function without a replacement, or anything like that.

I solemnly swear to finish Part 3 of "A Waif's Lament" this weekend, or may Al Mualim place a feather on my head.

Also, I'm really excited about the new contest. I've got a pretty neat idea for it. I'll say nothing more...other than it will be a Flash animation.

I'm off to have dinner with my Daddy. By-eee!

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28175306/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28175306/ Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:56:37 PST
This morning, I scheduled a patient for a certain kind of appointment that he would have to pay for...which is what he asked for on the phone. When he showed up, we discovered he needed a different kind of appointment that he wouldn’t have to pay for. Naturally, as always, this is my fault for not checking, and for wasting a half-hour time slot that we wouldn’t be making any money. But the thing of it is, the last time I tried to ask a patient to clarify what kind of appointment they needed, my boss gave me crap for insulting the patients’ intelligence. ‘Coz it’s not my job to diagnose; it’s my job to be all warm and inviting and give them what they want.

So, there was no way I could have done right in this situation, and I told my boss this. She said, and I quote “We’re going to have a long talk before this day is out. I know you have a social disorder, but you need to be more gracious, starting with me.”

Oh, yeah, we’re going to have a talk, and I can’t wait for it. I’m going to say exactly what I’ve been feeling for the past few weeks. How hurt and offended I was to be called four times at my other job and accused of losing/stealing/throwing away $2,000...which somehow magically ended up deposited in her bank account anyway. How inappropriate I thought it was to be told to call another dentist office just to find out what a secretary should sound like, and how intimidated I’ve been coming to work every day since then.

I’m not taking this anymore. I'm done playing the quiet little peon. I'm standing up for myself. If I get fired, then good. More free time to look for another job, working for a sane, rational person.

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28132575/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28132575/ Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:32:54 PST The ones I love most are:

--Chase The Morning [link] This is a beautiful, beautiful operatic song, from one of the most surreal scenes in the film. You almost have to wonder what it's doing in a hardcore slasher movie like this. Plus, there's something oddly empowering about the lines "Chase the morning, yield for nothing."

--Legal Assassin [link] It's just a really good character study. I like the ghostly whispers of "Assassin, murderer, monster," that are tormenting Nathan as he mourns his wife, and in the end of the song you find out, yes, he is the RepoMan. Le gasp!

--Mark It Up [link] I want to hate this song, but it's just too damn funny. The way Luigi sings his solo reminds me in a demented way of The Lollipop Guild from Wizard of Oz.

--Zydrate Anatomy [link] Would it be a REPO playlist without this, now really? "Zydrate comes in a little glass vial." "A little glass vial?" "A little glass vial!" (And by the way, Grave Robber is the sex. )

---

Tagged, by request, by

1. Post these rules.
2. Each tagged person must post 10 things about themselves on their journal.
3. At the end, you have to choose and tag 5 people and post their icons on the same journal.
4. Go to their pages and send a message saying you tagged them.
5. No tag-backs.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. I'm eating a bowl of melted chocolate chips right now. (Only thing I could find in the house to satiate my sweet tooth.)
2. I'm trying to get back into the habit of doodling in my sketchbook at every available opportunity.
3. I'm also trying to become not only a better writer, but a faster one, too.
4. My current dominant fandom is Assassin's Creed.
5. Until recently, most of my closest friends have been online...and while many of them still are, I've also been catching back up with old friends from high school as of late.
6. I would choose any means of death over Alzheimer's Disease.
7. Unlike most writers, I don't find myself thinking of my characters as real people or imaginary friends. To me, a story is like a cake, and the characters are an ingredient. But that isn't to say I don't grow fond of my characters, and want to make them the best they can be.
8. I've been told I do a scary-accurate impression of the blue unicorn from Charlie The Unicorn.
9. Part of me would secretly love to act on stage...but there is one very important thing theater actors can do that I can't: sing.
10. I have a serious fetish for men with accents.

I tag , , , *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28124548/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28124548/ Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:37:37 PST for unintentionally winning my challenge and being the first to make me laugh with this little gem of a humor fic.

Ve respectfully declined the art request, however, unless I just choose to do it. The second runner up was , with some good old-fashioned epic fail. [link] So, what'll it be, Epona?

Today's not as frustrating as yesterday, but I'm still rather bored. Would someone be so kind as to tag me for a meme?

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28103201/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28103201/ Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:43:34 PST
Lo and behold, I did. I dreamed that I was at this park where I used to play as a kid. It had a creek running through it, and in the dream I was in the water collecting treasure rocks...which is what I called rocks that had a pretty color. Then suddenly the creek was overrun with these giant, multicolored snakes. And I was like, "Okay...guess it's time to get out of here."

It's not that I really believe dreams are significant, but just for fun I thought I'd look up dream interpretations and see what snakes meant. Since they were big snakes in the dream, I'm thinking they were either anacondas or boa constrictors. After going on DreamMoods.Com, here's what I came up with:

Anaconda
To see an anaconda in your dream symbolizes your creativity and potential. This snakes also calls attention to your sexuality and your need to be more in tune with your own sexuality.

Boa Constrictors
To see a boa constrictor in your dream, suggests that you are feeling suffocated or restricted in some personal relationship. Alternatively, it represents repressed sexual urges or hidden enjoyment of sex.

Interesting about the creativity bit, since the snakes were brightly colored and such. The bit about being suffocated in a relationship is also very true, if employer/employee relationships count. ...And of course, apparently there's nothing I could see in a dream that couldn't be interpreted in your typical Freudian, sexual way.

This morning, I dreaded going to work. It's just been rampant with the usual annoyances. I'm holding my breath for lunch, but in the meantime, I'd like to ask a favor.

Could someone please make me laugh? Send me a picture, joke, whatever...anything funny at all. The only thing is, it can't be a Youtube video or have sound, since I'm on the office computer. I'll give an art request to the first one to brighten my day. I'm okay with dirty jokes, too...just as long as they're not racist, against religion or demeaning to women.

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28081193/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28081193/ Sun, 01 Nov 2009 07:44:18 PST

I did have to work at the Mac Store until about 2:30. Immediately afterward I headed to the costume shop to find some accessories for a Blind Mag costume. It was while I was looking that my brother called and said he was about ready to leave for the Gamer's Guild party. So, I had to cut the costume search short and head home. I ended up wearing my old Goblin King costume after all. He went in his Garnier costume from Dragon*Con again. (I would have taken it as a compliment if he won the costume contest...but I think only a select few people got his costume. )

The Gamer's Guild had a Repo: Genetic Opera screening in one room, then after awhile we left for the Rocky Horror Picture Show at the downtown theater. Both of these things combined are what prompted the exclamation I'm now using for a subject line. After the Picture Show, I went out with a few friends to Steak n' Shake. It was about 3 in the morning when I got home...although thankfully Daylight Savings Time spared me an hour and made it only 2 AM. That's how I always remember Daylight Savings is on Halloween weekend--because I always get home from a party late but still get to sleep an hour more. (Don't forget to set your clocks back, if you haven't already.)

Oh, yeah, another thing I almost forgot. I just had my first brush with the DA authorities. One of my stamps got removed.

I guess they were justified...it was just screen grabs, really. I'm sort of glad to be rid of it, in fact, because it was one of the most popular pieces in my gallery and was getting like 10 faves a day. Any Deviant can relate to that...when their effortless just-for-fun work gets more attention than their serious work. As a precaution, I'm thinking I'd better remove the rest of my fan stamps too.

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28026125/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/28026125/ Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:30:47 PDT I took one yesterday at around 11 AM, right before going to work on making screensavers at the Mac Store. I was exhausted all afternoon anyway...and then I was up all night. It was weird.

Also, my boss is out this morning with her son and his wife as they're having their baby. I haven't had quite as much peace and quiet as I did on Tuesday afternoon, though. The phone has been ringing ceaselessly. Got one of your typical irate walk-ins with a broken denture that they insist they shouldn't have to pay for because of how much they spent on the denture already, to boot. I'm really worn out...and since I didn't get any sleep it's just gonna get worse this afternoon when the crash hits me. Ah, well. Lesson well learned. Never trust over-the-counter miracle products.

On a lighter topic, last night to fuel my Halloween movie binge I dug up "Halloween is Grinch Night." That was one of my favorites from childhood, even more so that the more widely-acclaimed "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." I'd say in the right hands--like maybe Tim Burton's, perhaps--I think it could be an interesting live action movie.

Check it out on Youtube if you wish:
Part One: [link]
Part Two: [link]
Part Three: [link]

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27994278/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27994278/ Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:31:06 PDT Woo! This means I get to listen to whatever music I like, and with no patients here all I have to do is sit here and answer the phone if it rings. I'm gonna take the opportunity to give some love to my sketchbook.

When I was in high school and college, I never went anywhere without my sketchbook. I've decided that's a habit worth picking back up again. Anytime I got done with schoolwork, was waiting on something or had free time, I'd spend it doodling away. Dunno why I stopped, but I should start again. It was always fun times.

What I'm drawing right now (and yes it's all Assassin's Creed fanart. Your point? ):
-~LadyVe's OC Nedra, fighting Maria.
-Robert and Sibrand as drinking buddies, as requested by ~PageofSwords23.
-A Halloween-inspired pic of Garnier and Eva, from Waif's Lament. (Which I hope to have done along with Part 3 of Waif's Lament, ideally by October 31st.)

Speaking of Halloween, I'm totally getting into a Halloween spirit right now. It's taken me longer than usual. Halloween is normally like Christmas to me...and my eyes start lighting up the moment the costume shops open. This year, I'm thinking I'll go to the Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Capitol Arts Theater. It's a bit late notice, but after seeing Repo: Genetic Opera, I'm feeling very compelled to put together at least a knock-off version of a Blind Mag costume. If my wallet gets the better of me, however, I'll just re-use one of my old costumes. Most likely the Goblin King, from Labyrinth. Should be fun, regardless.

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27957425/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27957425/ Sun, 25 Oct 2009 10:34:41 PDT

Friday, the office was closed because the dental staff had to go to a seminar...but I was supposed to go in anyway to answer the phone. When I got there, the door was locked. I called my boss but didn't get an answer, since she was already in the seminar. So, I took the opportunity to throw myself headfirst into the search for a new job. I think I'm going to follow through on my idea to apply for desk jobs at various Art Institutes around the country, so I can take classes there free or discounted. I made a list of every Art Institute branch, ordered it from nearest to farthest, and started making the calls. The courses I'm most interested in are Game Design--surprise, surprise--and the nearest school to have that is the Art Institute of Virginia at Arlington. Oh, and I've put in a word with my aunt who lives in Florida, asking her to keep me informed of any possibilities down there. So, we'll see how it all plays out.

Oh, and on a side note, don't expect anymore "blind date guy" stories. That's all I'm saying on the matter.

Saturday, I went to help out my old boss at the Mac Store again. Got the new pricers done. Now all he needs is new screensavers for the Holiday season. Should have that done by Wednesday. Then, around 8:30 at night, I got a call from a friend of mine. Of all my friends, this one is probably the most...girly, for lack of better word. She wanted to get dressed up, do make-up and hair, and have a girls night out. So, I figured why not? I went over to her apartment, we took some pictures (which may end up here) and went out for dinner.

Also...lately my crackpot sense of humor has been re-emerging. I sure did miss it, tucked away all these years. I guess it started after my old sketchbooks from high school and college were dug out earlier this month. While the drawings are all ridiculous, stupid, and no doubt perverted in many cases, just looking at them made me remember how happy I was to have that in my life. So, as of late I've been filling up my newest sketchpad with...less than serious doodlings. Perhaps I should share them here.

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27913658/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27913658/ Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:35:08 PDT All my artwork is hereby on hold while I spend my free time finding a new place to work. Today was the last fucking straw.

My boss was telling me about another dentist office she visited, where the receptionist focused all her attention on checking in and out patients, and there were no phone calls to interrupt her. I said that office must have used a communication service.

Later that afternoon, I was checking a patient out, when another one came in to pick up a denture. It hadn't come back from the lab yet, so I said "Please sit down, and I'll bring it to you when the lab brings it here." Being preoccupied with the first patient, I must have said it too curtly, because my boss decided to go back in her office and page me at the front desk...which always means I'm in for a lecture about one thing or another.

She tells me I sounded rude. She tells me I offended the second guy. (Which he later told me I didn't.) And get this. She tells me to call the office she visited--which she just told me doesn't have phones ringing--just to find out what a receptionist should sound like. She wanted me to call some office that I've never been to...and say "Oh, I don't really need anything; my employer just wanted me to hear how bad I suck compared to you."

That did it. I had to go in the bathroom, splash my face with water, and pray "God, take this anger from me" over and over just so I wouldn't storm out the front door and say "Consider this my two weeks notice."

Luckily, I got in touch with "blind date guy" after I got off work. He came over to watch Repo, which made me feel a whole lot better. I loved it. The story was so dark and chilling, and the music was great (with some exceptions). I loved Blind Mag, and GraveRobber. "Zydrate Anatomy" is now stuck in my head.

The movie will most likely spark some more lyrics-inspired drawings at some point, too. Shilo reminds me eerily of Eva in "Waif's Lament."

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27901046/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27901046/ Thu, 22 Oct 2009 06:13:59 PDT New featured deviation: check.
Updated club list: check.
Now all I need is a new DeviantID picture.

Yesterday, my old boss from the Mac store asked me if I could come in. He needed updated pricer sheets and screensavers for the Holiday season. He basically handed me my internship credits in school, so I'm never opposed to helping him out. I was supposed to meet my friend at noon to watch "Repo: Genetic Opera," so I called her and said I was working and I'd let her know as soon as I was off. When I finally got done at 4, I gave her another call, and got no answer. So, while I was looking forward to an afternoon seeing my friend and finally getting to watch the movie I bought two weeks ago, instead I ended up sitting at home alone. No one else I called could make it, either. Deeply, deeply disappointing...but, serves me right for making a last-minute change.

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27866910/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27866910/ Tue, 20 Oct 2009 06:14:57 PDT The squirrel ended up running back into the grass anyway. Then last night, I had a dream that I opened up a door of my house, and there were a bunch of baby white squirrels all over the floor.

I've been on a Beatles binge since Sunday. That afternoon, I went with my brother to Gamer's Guild to help him record his video. (His friend got sick, and we couldn't do the interview as originally planned, so we did a segment on Gamer's Guild instead.) There was one guy there playing The Beatles version of Rock Band, so after recording I watched him and sang the songs to myself for awhile. Then he hooked up the microphone and let me sing karaoke style. Much fun for me...maybe not so much for everyone who had to listen to me. "Drive My Car" was especially fun to sing. It's never been one of my favorite Beatles songs, but the guy playing guitar commented on what a sexist song it was, and how it was okay to be sexist in the 60's. I've a newfound appreciation for it after getting to be all sassy and sing "Baby you can drive my car...and maybe I'll love you."

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27833552/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27833552/ Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:10:44 PDT Expect Assassin's Creed fanart to continue.

Oh yeah, and it occurs to me that I ought to give my profile and gallery a makeover. New avatar, new DeviantID, re-organize the gallery, all that.

---

So, about my week. Went on another date Thursday, to see 9. The movie was fine. The date was fine. I'd actually prefer not to discuss it any further than that, except maybe with a close friend or two. Again with the wishing I could make my journal entries private or friends only.

Friday, I was mercifully off work. It's becoming clear to me how spoiled I am with this 4-day work week. Because since I didn't get time off on Wednesday, as I usually do, so by Thursday I was counting down the minutes to the weekend. I used my free time on Friday to finish up Part 2 of Waif's Lament, which is now posted.

I'm actually kind of ashamed it's taken me almost two weeks to come up with a story segment that's not even 5 pages long, especially seeing other friends who can write something longer than that in one day like it's nothing. I have such a short attention span, and am so easily distracted, it's not even funny. If other writers have any advice on how to overcome this, it'd be much appreciated. I'm actually starting to worry I have ADD and need to get help.

Saturday, as always, was snoresville. The parents were out, my brother was lost somewhere in the world of X-Box Live. Late in the day, I did manage to get in touch with a friend and have her over to watch a movie. But, other than that, nothing to report.

My brother's supposed to be inviting his friend over today. He has a project for Video Production class where he has to record an interview, so it's going to be me and his friend in the interview. Wish he would let me post these on Youtube, but he seems to have an overbearing fear of copyright infringements.

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27761068/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27761068/ Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:28:20 PDT

This week's schedule is kinda weird at work. Normally we're working Tuesday and off Wednesday. But yesterday our hygienist had something come up, so we were out that day and rescheduled for today. I had to go in yesterday anyway, to answer phone calls. Odd, considering there were hardly any. I've learned it's somewhat creepy to sit in that completely silent, empty office all by myself. Every little noise starts to makes me jump.

Today after work, I have to take a CPR class. So, the movie I was going to go to will instead be on Thursday. It may be about Friday before I get focused on any art or writing again. I may or may not have Friday off. My boss has a dental school reunion, but will probably once again want someone to come in and answer the phone. I've asked the hygienist if she could do it, since I already did yesterday.

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27704286/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27704286/ Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:43:33 PDT So, we had dinner and a drink, exchanged life stories more or less. It was a huge pick-me-up. The only thing that was moderately irritating was that the waitor seemed to want us to hurry up and leave. He kept coming by the table and interrupting me in mid-sentence, sometimes commenting on what I was saying.

Me: "So, we were listening to the song "A Little Priest" from Sweeney Todd, and then--"
Waitor: "Yeah, that's a great song, great movie. Can I get you another drink?"

I admit my "barrier" is still up just a little bit, as it usually the case in meeting a new person, and I haven't quite gotten to where I completely trust this guy I'm dating. But, there should be plenty of time for that. We're planning on going out again this week to see "9" in the theater.

Friday kinda came and went. I had the day off, thankfully, and I had every intention of finishing ~GrayFox7's birthday gift. However, my attention span decided to go on strike. My brother was home on Fall Break, his friends mostly seem to be out of town for break, so he was trying to make me his best buddy. Ordinarily, I wouldn't have minded. But, since I kept moving from room to room in the house and he kept coming in after me, I ended up not getting much done. Also, had to stop by the grocery store and the bank, anyway. As far as Gray's birthday goes, I hope my effort to re-apply myself to our RP has sufficed as a gift.

Oh, and speaking of the bank, I finally have my coveted $5,000 saved up. Rather than move out, as was my original plan, I'm thinking instead I'll start expanding my job search outside this city. Because I no longer have any qualms about moving, and can more afford to do so. I'm tampering witht he idea of applying for office jobs at various art colleges around the country that offer game design, and taking classes for free or a discount there.

Saturday is always a drag in my house. Nothing much going on. After I cleaned the house, I headed out to the mall for awhile, then went over to my friend's house and we played the original Super Smash Bros. That so brought me back to my early teens. I'm glad I caught back up with her. Not just because she introduced me to the guy I went out with, but also because she remembers things about me from high school that I've totally forgotten about. She'll be like "Remember that time you [insert some off-the-wall crazy thing I did]" and I'll be like "No, I don't remember that, but it sounds like me."

The parents just got home today, about an hour ago. I made chocolate chip cookies in observance of this.

Brother wants me to study some Spanish with him. Off I go.

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27655231/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27655231/ Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:22:33 PDT
Yesterday I was frustrated all evening over a tangle with my boss. Long story short, she couldn't find something and called me four times at my Mom's office to accuse me of losing it or throwing it away. Today that missing thing turned up, more or less, so it all worked out. However, I was still enormously pissed that her first reaction to anything that goes wrong is to assume it's a result of my incompetence, carelessness or stupidity. -_-

I was so irate I didn't get anything done that I wanted to do yesterday evening, including a certain person's birthday gift, so that makes me even madder at myself.

We were extremely busy today. A ton of our patients weren't even scheduled; they just walked in with some huge emergency. A lot of running around and accomodating ensued. The phone wouldn't shut up. I didn't get any lunch, and it was an hour an a half after quitting time before the last patient left and I finally got home. I'm so tired and hungry.

I hope the guy I'm going out with tonight doesn't mind going somewhere with a bar.

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27631057/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27631057/ Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:58:19 PDT I didn't have any kind of insurance whatsoever, so this is a huge relief for me. I feel almost guilty, though. Like I haven't been working hard enough to be worthy of such coverage. I'm getting my boss a restaurant gift card as a thank you this evening.

Today, since I'm off from my regular job, I'm here at my Mom's office filling in for her, as she is still on vacation in California. I have pretty much no expertise as a paralegal...so any time that I fill in for Mom here, it's just to take phone messages. I don't think I could stand to work in a law office full time. Divorce is already a sensitive subject to me, and to watch all kinds of divorce/child custody cases each day...I'm just not calloused enough in the heart. I'd cry myself to sleep every night knowing there were monsters going home with children that they shouldn't have gotten.

I'm beginning to understand exactly why Mom needed a vacation.

Anyway, I've got more on my art agenda than I have time for currently. I'mma try to have Part 2 of "Waif's Lament" up this weekend whatever it takes, though I do have one other priority to finish by Saturday. I won't get a chance to work on it Thursday night, because that's when I'm finally going out with the guy I've been talking about, just the two of us. Luckily, though, I do have Friday off this week. My boss is going to a seminar, and I asked my Mom's bosses if they'd need me on that day, and they said no.

May also do some more joke comics, like the one of my brother using Old Spice.

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27609981/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27609981/ Tue, 06 Oct 2009 06:09:15 PDT
On Saturday, my girl friend brought her guy friend over to my house for me to meet. He was really nice, and seemed very...wise, for lack of better way to put it. According to my girl friend, he's been through a lot of rough in life. But instead of becoming bitter about it, as some would, he seems to have learned from them and become wiser for them. We played Brawl for awhile, and then my friend decided to humiliate the living soul out of me by digging out my old sketchbooks from high school and showing them to him.

I was beyond mortified. My sketchbooks are like my diaries of that time period in my life. I was protective of them even then, and wouldn't let anyone look at them that I didn't totally, completely trust. You can't imagine how nuts I was in high school. Those pages are full of the most random, psychotic, and often perverted drawings you'll ever see.

Neat thing, though, he actually thought it was cool. My girl friend told me later that on the way home, he was talking about specific drawings and how creative, funny and whatever he thought they were. That was reassuring. The one thing I look for in a guy above all else is acceptance. Someone that I can be myself around, and not have to play the whole "act a certain way so he'll like me more" dating game. So, for him to look at all this crazy stuff that I drew in high school and still think it was cool was kind of a relief.

Sunday, my girl friend and I went to church together, played Pikmin 2 and then watched Wall-E. She stayed pretty late, so I didn't get to go food shopping until yesterday. I bought all frozen dinners. Don't feel like cooking this week.

In other news, I think an era of my life may be about to end. I know it's silly, and probably something I shouldn't feel so divided about. But, it's the Zelda RP that my friends ~GrayFox7, *epona4 and I have been in for the past three and a half years or so. It's about to collapse. Everyone, including me, has other obligations and interests on their agenda, so nobody's really posting much anymore. On one hand, I'd be glad to be free of it, because any time I make a post in it, it's because I just feel obligated to keep it going, and I don't really enjoy it so much as feel burdened by it. On the other hand, I always promised I would never shut it down until it was done. It is responsible for bringing two of my dearest friends into my life. It spawned most of my best characters, including Mindalia. And, it would just feel strange to suddenly have it gone.

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27548318/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27548318/ Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:44:00 PDT I am going on a blind date.

I just recently got back in touch with one of my old friends from high school. On the phone, she briefly mentioned a guy friend of hers who was single. I didn't press the subject. Today, however, we went out to lunch. She had apparently also mentioned to her guy friend that she had a girl friend who was single, yours truly. According to her, he said he'd like to meet me. I said sure, and passed my phone number along to her to give to him. This is so not the kind of thing I'm used to. I looked forward to it all afternoon and came home with my hands shaking in excitement.

From what I asked her about him, he seems like he could be nice. He is only a couple years older than me, goes to church and is into video games and stuff. I didn't ask the question that I imagine everyone always asks, or wants to ask: "What does he/she look like?" I'd feel bad about myself...though I won't deny my superficial evil twin has reared up and hoped he's cute.

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27530833/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27530833/ Thu, 01 Oct 2009 22:04:26 PDT

Seriously, though, this couldn't have come a moment too soon. Tensions were getting very high in this family. Everyone's frustrated with their jobs...which in turn carries over to being frustrated with each other. Every little thing seems to be setting us off. My parents leave on Saturday morning for California, and they'll be gone all week. I'm praying they'll get the rest they deserve, and we can be a little bit more harmonious for awhile once they come back.

Course, I also have to put a little more effort into playing "house." Grocery shopping, cooking cleaning, the whole shebang. Also, my Mom wants me to cover for her at her office on Wednesday, since that's my day off from my regular job. No complaints there. An extra day of work means an extra day of pay...plus my Mom's bosses are usually pretty cool to me.

I am looking forward to having the living room all to myself, too. I find I have trouble concentrating on writing in my bedroom. Perhaps it's because this is where I sleep, so I tend to get lazy in here. Sometimes I set up shop in the game room when my brother's not at home occupying it...and amazingly, I seem to focus so much better in there. But this week, while no one's downstairs watching TV, I can use that room instead and not have to worry about impeding on my brother's "Halo" time.

---

Here's to passing the time at work. Stolen from ~aquavibe1
1.This survey gets a little personal, can you handle it?
Bring it on. I wear my heart on my sleeve.

2. If you married the last person you texted, what would your last name be?
Still the same. Incest, much?

3. Were you happy when you woke up today?
Not too bad...aside from the whole "Ugh. Time for work" thing.

4. When were you on the phone last? And with who?
One of our patients. Had to reschedule them.

5.Do you like someone?
It's complicated.

6.Is this poll to long?
Nah.

7. What are you excited for?
This coming week of my parents being on vacation. Oh, the possibilities!

8. What were you doing yesterday?
Went to work, came home and did some drawing.

9. Honestly, who was the last person to tell you they love you?
~GrayFox7 ('Course, he did just get back from a church retreat.)

10. What's the last thing you put in your mouth?
Coffee.

11. Have a best friend?
I doubt anyone I would name as a best friend would say the same about me.

12. Are you scared to fall in love?
Not at all; I'd like very much to fall in love.

13. Do you think teenagers can be in love?
Ehh, I think it's rare to be in true love so young. Infatuation, definitely.

14. Last person you wanted to punch in the face?
Brother.

15. What time is it right this second?
9:59 AM

16. What do you want right now?
To finish the character bios I started drawing last night.

17. Who was the last person you took a picture with?
I think it was ~GrayFox7 at Dragon*Con.

18. Are you single/taken/heartbroken?
Mama's a rolling stone.

19. When was the last time you cried?
Last Sunday.

20. Do you have a good relationship with your parents?
So-so. Things are a bit strained at the moment.

21. Do you find it hard to trust others?
Sometimes. When I'm first meeting someone and they're overly nice to me, I get suspicious.

22. How fast does your mind change?
I'm pretty set in my ways, I think.

23. I bet you miss somebody right now?
Not really.

24. Can you honestly say you're okay right now?
Mmm-hmm.

25. Why do you think so many people cheat?
They set unrealistic expectations of a relationship that their significant other cannot possibly meet, so they seek to satisfy their desires elsewhere.

26. Tell me what's on your mind?<... ]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27476918/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27476918/ Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:50:20 PDT me.

Basically, I was repeating my sentiments on the movie from my last journal to my brother. My Dad overheard me, and pointed out to me how hard I am to get along with...and how no one would ever want to be in a relationship with me the way I am now. I see myself as a person who contemplates things, even little things, perhaps a little too much. Someone who has no problem speaking their mind, but who honestly means well.

If I could look at myself objectively, I fear that isn't what I'd see. Instead, I'd see someone cold, withdrawn, obnoxious or snobby. Someone even I can't stand. That isn't what I want at all.

And so I'm sorry. Sorry if I have ever hurt you by blurting something out when I should have just kept my mouth shut. I need to learn the difference in what I want to say, and what others need to hear.

Sorry if it wasn't what I said, but the way I said it. Sorry if it was something I did, or didn't do.

And sorry if I'm irritating the living heck out of you right now. I'm going to sleep.

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27435892/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27435892/ Sat, 26 Sep 2009 19:52:25 PDT Warning: May contain opious amounts of complaining.

This was such a downer of a Saturday. Did the usual weekend stuff...cleaning the house, doing laundry, scribbling a bit in my sketchbook. It's beginning to dawn on me why I'm still single.

It's been pouring non-stop all week long. Even when it stopped today and I went outside to give my car a much needed vacuuming, it was so humid I almost couldn't stand it. It finally cooled off a bit around 5 PM, and I went for a walk to get out of my energy-less funk so that I may focus on writing.

I get back in the door. Dad asks if I'd go see "Fame" with him, since Mom didn't want to go. I said sure, why not.

Perhaps you need to have seen the old version to appreciate the new. Perhaps you have to be in Theater school to enjoy a movie about Theater school. As I am neither, the movie was just slow, re-hashed and unbearable to me. It's every conceivable singer/actor/dancer "rise to stardom" movie you've ever seen, all slowly regurgitated at you over a two hour period. I am not in the slightest bit happy that I wasted an evening of writing to see it.

Just wanted to get it off my chest. Carry on.

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27418658/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27418658/ Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:48:45 PDT Fridays have a strong tendency to be anarchy at my office. I guess it's because everyone scrambles in to get their denture work done at the last minute so they don't have to go the weekend without teeth. We had one appointment in the morning run long, which caused a domino effect resulting in the loss of 15 minutes of our lunch break. And in the afternoon, we had a patient who needed the last appointment of the day because of his work schedule, so I gave him 3:30 to 4:30. He ended up working late and didn't show up until 4:15, meaning we couldn't start closing up until about 5:15--45 minutes later than usual.
I was already exhausted and ready to go home by 3.
I did get my paycheck today, though, along with a little surprise: a $50 bonus. That was quite unexpected. There are some days I go in just knowing this is the day I'm gonna get fired over some little thing I've done to push my boss over the edge. This gesture on her part was like a reassurance that it isn't me personally she's unhappy with, and she realizes the hygienist and I have been dealing with the same crap that she has.

Also, finally got to see "Watchmen" tonight. Definitely my kind of movie. I enjoyed it...though in my opinion it did fall apart a little bit in the end. The final climactic battle was rather anti-climactic and disappointing, given the 2+ hours of buildup. I think I'm in love with Rorschach, however.

---

As far as art and writing goes, here's what's on my agenda currently.

A Waif's Lament (About 85% done)
Assassin's Creed fanfic. Scott Adler was a transient, drifting aimlessly through life in pursuit of a purpose...until one was chosen for him by Abstergo as Subject #5 of their memory-decoding machine, the Animus. During the course of their research, he will watch the unfolding life of his distant ancestor--an orphaned little girl in Acre, 1191, who bore witness to a secret coveted throughout the ages.
(1 spoiler question still available by note.)

The Reunion (working title) (Not started)
Original short story. Two best friends from high school take very different courses in life after graduation, and over time they lose touch with each other. Both get married, but for very different reasons. A few years later, they reunite and reflect on the demise of their once-great aspirations, as well as the new paths they have forged. Contains a lot of inspiration from my own life experiences.
(3 spoiler questions still available by note.)

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27336812/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27336812/ Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:22:50 PDT

Then, that night, my friend invited me to a bonfire at his house. It rained, so we ended up inside watching "Death Race." ...Or more specifically, everyone else did. I'd been up since 6:30 AM or so, and I fell asleep on the couch. I did get to try some mead, though. Another guest's boyfriend made it for an upcoming Renaissance Faire, so she brought one bottle for us to try. It was good...like drinking liquid honey.

I didn't get home and in bed until about 3 AM, so I slept late on Sunday. My brother was at a Gamer's Guild function on campus and my parents were downstairs watching the Emmy's. So, I had plenty of peace and quiet to get some writing done. I made a lot of progress with "The Waif's Lament," and may actually finally finish it this week. I love the way it's turning out and I'm really excited about posting it, but I am wary that it won't get read much, seeing as that's often the case with literature pieces on DA. I know of a few people who I think will read it, though.

Today's schedule is a little light. I'm taking the opportunity to call the stack of insurance companies that I filed claims to months ago and never heard back from. Always a fun aspect of my job. Though, the results are likely to be better than billing patients the amount, only to get irate protests of "But my insurance should have covered that!"

Oh, yeah, I got a new sketchpad this weekend, too. My old one was full. Expect my art output to no longer be limited to spur-of-the-moment stamps and the like.

---

As far as art and writing goes, here's what's on my agenda currently.

The Waif's Lament (About 75% done)
Assassin's Creed fanfic. Scott Adler was a transient, drifting aimlessly through life in pursuit of a purpose...until one was chosen for him by Abstergo as Subject #5 of their memory-decoding machine, the Animus. During the course of their research, he will watch the unfolding life of his distant ancestor--an orphaned little girl in Acre, 1191, who bore witness to a secret coveted throughout the ages.
(3 spoiler questions still available by note.)

The Reunion (working title) (Not started)
Original short story. Two best friends from high school take very different courses in life after graduation, and over time they lose touch with each other. Both get married, but for very different reasons. A few years later, they reunite and reflect on the demise of their once-great aspirations, as well as the new paths they have forged. Contains a lot of inspiration from my own life experiences.
(3 spoiler questions still available by note.)

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27296487/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27296487/ Sat, 19 Sep 2009 09:23:34 PDT
I'm feeling very tempted to be resentful towards my boss lately. By this point, I'm pretty used to being the scapegoat that patients yell at when they're angry about the prices or their services, but recently it dawned on me that I'm getting it from two ends. When we get our weekly lab bill, my boss has a nervous breakdown over the price and takes it out on me, asking me if there was any way we could have scheduled more money-making appointments--like I was deliberately holding back on her--or asking me why a specific case cost so much. What I say is "Would you like me to review that case?" but what I think is "What do you expect me to do about it?! I'm not the lab tech!" Even more frustrating than getting spoken to accusingly is when I get spoken to like I'm four years old, and reminded in very small syrupy words of why it's important to schedule money appointments, get billing statements out, etc. I know!

Even little things that aren't a big deal are starting to irritate me, like how she mispronounces certain words. I can't let this go on unamended, because if I do, I know that I will just grow more and more resentful, and it will affect the quality of my work. Quitting over something like this is not acceptable. There's no guarantee that the next employer will be any different, and you can't just go through life running away from your committments every time it stops being as fun.

Please pray that these hateful thoughts may be taken away from me. I'm reflecting on Colossians 3:22-24 in this situation:
"Slaves, obey your earthly masters (or in today's terms, "Employees obey your employers") in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."

I've also wondered if, in her concern for the well-being of the business, perhaps she is depending on me to support her in the effort to keep us in business, and may be afraid that I won't. Please also pray for her, to trust God to get us through a difficult economic time.

(Also, I really wish that DeviantArt had a way to make journals viewable to Friends Only, because I feel awkward posting things like this for everyone to see.)

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27270336/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27270336/ Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:49:02 PDT
Here's his: [link]
And here's mine: [link] (Now posted as my webcam, too. My hair looks awful, but that look on my face is kinda cute. )
Oh yeah, and there should be a Youtube clip floating around out there that contains at least a few-second segment of me dancing in that Lucy costume. I have yet to find it. If anyone should happen to stumble across it, do point me in the right direction.

So, last night I could not freaking get to sleep! And on top of that, I was awakened an hour earlier than I would have preferred. Not fun for me when I have to work the next day. Whenever I don't sleep well, I'm usually fine in the morning, but by the afternoon I am the walking dead. Also, for extra fun, we just ran out of coffee at the office, and I'm probably drinking way too much of it as it is, and it would take a gallon at this point to even have an effect on me. So, on the way to work, I spontaneously decided to stop in a gas station and get one of those 5-Hour Energy Drink bottles I've seen ads for. I drained it right after I got back from lunch.

I swear, it was like a wonder drug. (Hence the "Magical Mystery Tour.") I didn't feel tired like I normally do around the middle of the afternoon, and I also didn't feel all jittery like I do when I've infused myself with semi-lethal amounts of caffeine. I actually felt normal and not tired at all, like I had slept a full night, and I got more work done because I could actually focus. I took it at around 1:30, and then, as the name "5-Hour Energy" would imply, right around 6:30 the exhaustion hit me. But that's okay, because I was home by then anyway.

---

As far as art and writing goes, here's what's on my agenda currently.

The Waif's Lament (About 55% done)
Assassin's Creed fanfic. Scott Adler was a transient, drifting aimlessly through life in pursuit of a purpose...until one was chosen for him by Abstergo as Subject #5 of their memory-decoding machine, the Animus. During the course of their research, he will watch the unfolding life of his distant ancestor--an orphaned little girl in Acre, 1191, who bore witness to a secret coveted throughout the ages.
(3 spoiler questions still available by note.)

The Reunion (working title) (Not started)
Original short story. Two best friends from high school take very different courses in life after graduation, and over time they lose touch with each other. Both get married, but for very different reasons. A few years later, they reunite and reflect on the demise of their once-great aspirations, as well as the new paths they have forged. Contains a lot of inspiration from my own life experiences.
(3 spoiler questions still available by note.)

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27244051/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27244051/ Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:50:23 PDT To pass the time, I went ahead and moved my Con photos to Scraps. They're not deleted; they can still be seen here: [link]

---

Usually I'm so lazy on my day off that I let it pass me by without doing much. Today's been somewhat interesting so far, though.
I was awakened by my brother knocking on my door and saying he needed a ride to school. His car hasn't quite been fixed since the "Weekend That Shall Not Be Named," so the whole family's been playing Carpool Tag to get to work, school, etc. Not that I mind it much. We've been spoiled up until now, having our own cars to come and go as we please. I have no problem with contributing my part until he regains freedom of mobility.
So, I took him to campus, where he rented a video camera. He said he had an assignment for Video Production class where he had to shoot the scenes from an already-provided storyboard, utilizing certain camera shots. The scene depicts a person getting up and getting ready for work in the morning, only to slam on the breaks while driving and stare in shock at something in the middle of the road. You get to make up your own end for what it is in the middle of the road.
We went home to shoot the video. I was the star. He filmed me getting out of bed, turning off the alarm clock, drinking coffee while reading the paper, and then finally getting in my car and backing out of the driveway. We tossed around ideas for what it should be in the middle of the road. He wanted to use a headless baby doll. I wanted to use a llama at the farm down the street from our house (which I still maintain would have been awesome ). Eventually, however, we decided to use a wad of money with google eyes and make it a parody of the new Geico commercials. I asked him for a copy of the video to put on Youtube when it's done.
Currently, I'm at the Mac store where I used to work, mooching off their wireless connection and waiting for him to get out of class. Gotta make dinner when I get home.

---

As far as art and writing goes, here's what's on my agenda currently.

The Waif's Lament (About 55% done)
Assassin's Creed fanfic. Scott Adler was a transient, drifting aimlessly through life in pursuit of a purpose...until one was chosen for him by Abstergo as Subject #5 of their memory-decoding machine, the Animus. During the course of their research, he will watch the unfolding life of his distant ancestor--an orphaned little girl in Acre, 1191, who bore witness to a secret coveted throughout the ages.
(3 spoiler questions still available by note.)

The Reunion (working title) (Not started)
Original short story. Two best friends from high school take very different courses in life after graduation, and over time they lose touch with each other. Both get married, but for very different reasons. A few years later, they reunite and reflect on the demise of their once-great aspirations, as well as the new paths they have forged. Contains a lot of inspiration from my own life experiences.
(3 spoiler questions still available by note.)

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27224671/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27224671/ Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:03:11 PDT
Oh, yeah, I also applied for a new job yesterday. It'd be as an Office Assistant for an Honor Society at the local college. I'm of two minds about it. On one hand, I don't know if there's any point in changing from one temporary desk job that I don't plan on having the rest of my life, to another temporary desk job that I don't plan on having the rest of my life. I've already had ten jobs since high school...I wonder if it reflects poorly on my resume as having commitment issues, or always chasing greener pastures.
On the other hand, this other job does look like a much nicer environment. My day-to-day contacts would be college students and staff...not retired, grumpy old denture wearers. The hours and pay are better as well, and maybe there will even be other office workers around so that all the responsibility doesn't fall on me alone. It'd probably be a more secure job, too. Sometimes I worry my current boss would fire me when I walk in the door if she just had a dream that I burned the building down. Oh, well. The nice thing about job-searching when you're already employed is that you're less desperate. So, if this goes through, fine. If not, fine.

---

As far as art and writing goes, I confess I've been idle. I'm the world's worst procrastinator, with the world's shortest attention span. When I was busy making the cosplay and preparing for the convention, that was one thing. Now when I do have free time to write, I always manage to find something to distract me. As far as I know, nobody's on the edge of their seat waiting for me to upload anything. (If they were, I'd feel even worse. ) But I have got to stop wasting so much time, and focus on writing whenever I have the chance. "I'll get around to it later" is the number one killer of inspiration, and I've let way too many ideas slip through the cracks because of it.

Here's what's on my agenda currently.

The Waif's Lament (About 50% done)
Assassin's Creed fanfic. Scott Adler was a transient, drifting aimlessly through life in pursuit of a purpose...until one was chosen for him by Abstergo as Subject #5 of their memory-decoding machine, the Animus. During the course of their research, he will watch the unfolding life of his distant ancestor--an orphaned little girl in Acre, 1191, who bore witness to a secret coveted throughout the ages.

The Reunion (working title) (Not started)
Original short story. Two best friends from high school take very different courses in life after graduation, and over time they lose touch with each other. Both get married, but for very different reasons. A few years later, they reunite and reflect on the demise of their once-great aspirations, as well as the new paths they have forged. Contains a lot of inspiration from my own life experiences.

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27147842/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27147842/ Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:24:38 PDT
Who's up for a game of "Granted" to pass the time? Whoever goes first wishes for something, and then the next person says "Granted, but" and messes up the wish, then makes their own.

Example:

Person 1: I wish for ice cream.

Person 2: Granted, but the sprinkles are made of moldy Parmesan cheese.
I wish for a million dollars.

Person 3: Granted, but you get in a car wreck and die on the way to the bank.
I wish for...etc.

Me first.

I wish for the ability to read minds.

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27075767/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27075767/ Mon, 07 Sep 2009 13:37:04 PDT
Friday evening. The trip got off to a CATASTROPHIC start.

I was all set to go by about 2 PM...but then my brother decided he wanted to take his car instead of mine since, quote, "The air conditioning is better." But first he had to go and get gas, air up the tires, and some other things before we went. It was around 4:30 PM when we finally left. Factoring in the traffic and the time zone change, we expected to arrive in Atlanta around midnight.
A wrong turn in Nashville amended that plan, and I called the hotel saying it may be about 2 AM before we checked in.
Right around the time we crossed the state line from Tennessee into Georgia, the f*cking transmission blew out. We pulled into a gas station, called a tow truck, and waited. We were picked up and dropped off at a local hotel roughly around midnight. I had to reduce my reservation at the hotel in Atlanta from two days to one. Luckily, they took pity on me and didn't charge me.

Saturday. I experienced a mix of terrified, let down, and pissed off that I never knew existed.

It was decided that we should rent a U-Haul with a car dolly, leave the dolly with our broken down car, and drive the U-Haul to Atlanta. Then on the way back we'd pick up the car and bring it on home. We had to take a cab from the hotel to the U-Haul center. By this point, I'm verbally abusing my brother for ruining this weekend for me, and asking him if the air conditioning was worth it. By the time we got the truck rented, dropped off the dolly with our car, and got on the way to Atlanta, it must have been about 1 PM. The $200 cash I had budgeted for our spending money is now completely gone, what with all the tow/hotel/taxi charges. I had to go to an ATM and get more. My hopes of moving out of the house this month are a dashed and distant memory.

It turns out that the Google map directions we printed to the convention center were nowhere near right, meaning we were on our own finding our destination. By this point I was likening our trip to the maiden voyage of the Titanic, where every feasible thing that could go wrong does go wrong.
We finally pulled into downtown Atlanta and parked in the first parking lot we could find. It was near the football stadium and there was a game going on. The guy who owned the lot said that because of the size of the truck, he'd have to charge me extra, bringing the parking to a total of $40. I practically tossed it at him, not caring anymore and just wanting to get out of the truck and on my way.

What we thought would be a short walking distance ended up turning into a monorail ride up town, phone plugged to my ear talking to ~GrayFox7 and trying to figure out where to meet him. We finally caught up right outside the train station. Seeing him in person and practically falling into a hug was the biggest relief of this entire day. I felt like we were reuniting...not just meeting for the first time.
It was already after 5 PM by this time, so we didn't bother getting passes, and just walked around and hung out for awhile before heading out to the hotel I reserved.

Sunday. I was determined to make this whole trip worth it, and so it was.

My brother and I found a better (and cheaper) parking spot, closer to the event than the day before. We got one-day passes, and browsed shops for awhile with Gray and his brother. I would have been having fun just doing that; it's so cool to be in a normal, everyday setting and watch people walking by so casually in costume. Makes you feel normal, as Gray's brother put it. To make it up to my brother for having to drive the truck the whole way (as only he was insured), I left him to play board/card game tournaments in the basement of one hotel. Gray and I went to catch some independent animated films being shown in another room. Most of them were pretty good. Some almost reminded me of Pixar shorts. Other than that, I just spent a lot of time walking around, sightseeing and taking pictures...which are soon to be posted, by the way. At the end of the day, we headed back to the same hotel we stayed at on the first night, when our car broke down.

Monday. I'm starting to get to where I can laugh about Saturday. Somewhat.

We were supposed to turn in the rental truck by noon, so we set the alarm for 6 AM. We heard the alarm...we said "Screw it,"... ]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27003033/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/27003033/ Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:51:24 PDT

For starters, I'm so terribly relieved that I'm not sick. My Mom said that her boss called in with swine flu earlier this week...and yesterday I wasn't feeling too well. I planned to do some writing, but ended up curled in bed unnaturally exhausted and wanting to puke....and hoping to God I wasn't catching swine flu as well. I could live with it if I got it next week...but I would have given anything not to miss this trip to Atlanta tomorrow. But, a few Echinacea tablets and some Tamma-Flu pills later, I'm feeling just fine. The show can go on.

While that would have been enough, I was further blessed when "Mr. Grinch"--the disgruntled patient I was nervous about--did not show up today. Only his wife came. I was totally prepared to face that fear, too...but perhaps it's like the story in the Bible of Abraham being called to sacrifice his son Isaac. He didn't have to actually do it; the fact that he was willing was enough.

A funny thing happened this afternoon, too. My boss asked me to take her car to, let's just call it, "Joe's Auto Shop" to get new tires. The shop she gave me directions to was just around the corner, so I could just drive the car there and then walk back to the office. ...Only when I got there, it wasn't "Joe's Auto Shop," but rather another shop. There they gave me the right directions to Joe's...but it was a good 2 miles or so away. I dropped the car off at the right place, and then I would have called someone at the office to come and pick me up, but I figured were either in the clinic not hearing the phone...or just letting the machine get it for me to answer when I got back. So, I just walked. I didn't mind. I'm usually half-asleep by that point in the afternoon, so it was good to have an excuse to energize myself. Only thing is that my feet really, really hurt afterward. I was wearing the same shoes that are meant to be part of my cosplay...so from this experience I learned that I had better acquire a pair of Dr. Scholl's Insoles before I plan on walking around all weekend in them.

And finally, the icing on the cake of my spectacular, joy-abundant week. I got a camera phone! My Dad got a new phone from his office, and handed his old phone down to me. A quick memory card switch with my old phone, and I've successfully joined this trend of taking photographs on the same device that makes my calls. Yeee! And what fantastic timing, too, as I anticipate many photo ops within the next 48 hours.

I'm off to skip merrily and be happy now. I'm leaving tomorrow afternoon for Atlanta and probably coming back late Sunday night. I'm not promising anything, but I'll see if I can get a "beta version" of my Assassin's Creed fanfic posted before I go. It will be just a sample excerpt from just one chapter, to give a feel for what the story will be like and test the audience's reception. As for a summary:

The Waif's Lament
Scott Adler was a transient, drifting aimlessly through life in pursuit of a purpose...until one was chosen for him by Abstergo as Subject #5 of their memory-decoding machine, the Animus. During the course of their research, he will watch the unfolding life of his distant ancestor--an orphaned little girl who bore witness to a secret coveted throughout the ages.

]]> *AbdhitanMireen http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/26947117/ http://AbdhitanMireen.deviantart.com/journal/26947117/ Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:03:22 PDT
There is one guy, however, I hoped I wouldn't have to deal with again, and he's coming back on Thursday. It makes me nervous just thinking about it.

Let's just call him "Mr. Grinch." Back at the end of June, we had a mad dash of General Motors retirees scrambling in to get their dental work done before they lost their insurance at the beginning of July. Mr. Grinch was one of them. At the time I made a mistake filing his insurance claim. I thought he was getting a specific kind of service, but he was actually getting a similar, yet more expensive kind, which means the insurance compensation was less than what it should have been.

He hated my guts from that moment on. Even after I fixed the problem and got the amount corrected. Even after he got a refund. He reminded me of it in an accusing way every time he came in the office aftward, talking about how it was my fault and he was sick of paying for other people's mistakes. He's threatened to sue. He's used profanity. He also started going of his way to find things about me to complain about, like how the candles I burn in the lobby make his allergies act up, or how I waste time getting coffee when I should be doing my job.

I do not want to hate this person. I want to feel sorry for him. Because my boss says that General Motors retirees were hit very hard by the company going bankrupt. They've invested pretty much all their lives into this company, only to have it suddenly snatched away from them. I've seen a few of them taking it the way Mr. Grinch does. I'm just expecting Thursday to get really ugly. It'll be a test of sorts, of how much I have really grown in dealing with people. Any support or advice would be sincerely appreciated.

]]> *AbdhitanMireen