http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:GreenGosselin&section=today deviantART RSS for by:GreenGosselin en-us Copyright 2009, deviantART.com Thu, 17 Dec 2009 03:59:41 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/28634212/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/28634212/ Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:32:50 PST
Writing to you from Beijing using the hotel lobby's computer. Beijing is amazing! I'll fill you in with the details when we get back.

We've checked out of our hotel an are waiting to catch a bus to the airport so we can fly south to Fuzhou city where we will be picking up our daughter TODAY! We'll also be doing more paperwork so she can get her passport.

I don't know if we'll have access to computers and internet at the other hotels.

Thanks for all the support and the great messages/notes.

Wo ai nimen,

Karen, Thomas and Sandra.

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/26706839/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/26706839/ Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:57:37 PST
We're leaving to pick up our daughter on the 25th and will be back on Dec 11th. Thank you all for all your support! I'll update you when we get back.

UPDATE!

We just got the last of our paperwork approved! All we're waiting on now is our travel date and getting our Visa's. LOL!

Tom put the approval notice on our bed when I came home, (He changed around our bedroom so we could move stuff out of Xia Bing's room). When he brought me in to see the new improved bedroom I saw the approval notice on the bed and couldn't believe what I was seeing. I didn't think it was real. I asked him if it was a notice stating that they recieved our paperwork. When I looked the 3rd time it finally dawned on me.

I cried a little. Shmoopy me.

Closer and closer.
---------------------------------------------------------------


We're getting closer to finishing up the adoption process. Hopefully the last of the paperwork will be done in a week to a week and a half. Then we get our travel dates and visa's to pick up our daughter.

Tom and I have run the gambit of emotions in this process. Excitement, fear, worry, anguish, anger, joy, nervousness, zen. This past week was particularly painful when the Hague Program (a group under the Department of Homeland Security) insisted that because our daughter was 2 1/2 and not 2 we had to fill out extra paperwork and pay a fee of 340 dollars. This was AFTER they had already approved our paperwork. Tom and I were livid, hurt, and felt helpless. Tom ended up with a low blood sugar that day (he's diabetic) and I was so upset I was sick to my stomach. Holt (our adoption agency) pulled together and gave us a grant to pay for the unexpected fee. They have also been in contact with the Hague officers to smooth things over, move things along in an efficient manner and to make sure there are no other surprises. Our congressman's staff is also looking into getting us reimbursed because, in their words, they thought it was unfair and that Hague was holding our child "hostage for the chance of and extra fee".

Tom is working on Xia Bing's room right now. XD He's working so hard moving stuff, cleaning out her closet and making room for her. It's soooooooo sweet. Exept now he's moved into my study and started cleaning that...THAT kind of makes me nervous. LOL! I'm letting him because I know he's bored.

He still hasn't found a job yet. He's applied to several places but they either never contact him, tell him they are hiring people within the company first, contact him that they've already filled the possition AFTER saying that they would look at his resume or "Your skills are admirable but not what we're looking for at this time". And NH is supposedly one of the better places to look for a job in the country. He's frustrated and his self esteem is suffering a little. He'll find something eventually though. I know he will.

He surprised me last night. He's considering going back to school to study the culinary arts. He's thinking about becoming a chef. He's going to talk to his aunt, who works in the restaraunt (restaurant?)(spelling) business. I'm so proud of him. For all he's done in his past job, for all he's done at home, for his interest in and courage to consider changing professions. I'm gushing....But I really am proud of my husband. He's faced this so well.

Getting caught up on all your deviations and comments. I have the time now while I'm waiting for product data to come in. Our department is VERY under utilized right now, mostly due to the trimming of our old product line. Did I mention I found another possition in the company? Yup. I did. Miraculously. It doesn't start until January with some training this November. Kind of wish it would start sooner so I wouldn't be so....bored. But I can't complain too much. It means I can still afford to pay the bills and care for my family. It also promises to be an interesting job with a chance to travel to India next February. That's exciting.

Well, that's my novel. Love yo... ]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/26080118/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/26080118/ Tue, 21 Jul 2009 05:08:09 PDT
His career also highlights the woeful state of current corporate journalism. The bland "Everything is 50/50" reporting despite the facts leaning to one side or another. The harping on celebrity deaths and "scandals" while events that shape our daily lives go un-noticed and uncovered because they don't get the ratings celebrities do. The schmoozing and kissing up to the politician/person of the day just so they can have "exclusive" access.

It makes me wonder what Mr. Cronkite would have thought of today's journalists.

Or what Edward R. Murrow would have thought.


These are the people who kept us truly informed. We should honor men like Walter Cronkite just as much as we honor Michael Jackson if not more.

It's men like Cronkite and Murrow and other old school journalists that really gave us the news as it was intended. Honest, thoughtful, factual and insightful.

Rest in peace Mr. Cronkite. Thank you for all you've done in your career.

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/24718252/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/24718252/ Tue, 12 May 2009 10:19:50 PDT
Normally I like to go to each person individually and thank them but There is such a back log in my messages at this point that I'll never be able to catch up to them all.






]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/24214440/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/24214440/ Mon, 13 Apr 2009 05:44:35 PDT
Unfortunately, many of my best pictures got deleted from my camera. I don't know how. I cried. There were some really great pics and I was eager to share them. Ah well, we'll be back at some point.

Never, not ever, have a Moorish Expresso at 8:00 Pm at night. It was a small 4 oz drink and it packed one hell of a punch. I walked the whole of the resort we stayed at, lapped people then jogged. I went to bed physically exausted and my brain still didn't shut down.

I didn't get a chance to check on messages and get caught up on Devart. O_O All the best laid plans, right? I ended up working on finishing a mural on the kitchen wall that's been unfinished for 5 years. Almost done with it. We also worked on MORE adoption paperwork. Fun. (I swear so much of it is SOOOO repetitive.)

Which leads me to my next announcement. Tom and I have been placed with a beautiful 2 year old girl from Xiamen City in Southern China. Her name is Xia Bing. We just got our acceptance letter from China. I flip back and forth from excited to euphoric to apprehensive and frustrated. (the last two because of paperwork.)

It's good to be back.

Love to all.

GG

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/23845438/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/23845438/ Mon, 23 Mar 2009 08:42:38 PDT
I'll be going this Saturday and returning Sunday the 5th of April. I have the next week off too and I've made it my mission to get caught up on the comments, favs, replies, deviations and so forth here on DA. (100 messages and growing with little to no time to look at them. I'm afraid to see how much is in the deviations list.)

I'll try to take many pictures and post some of them here. I have some cute little clip art that I created too. I've been playing with the marker set I got from a friend. (thanks Mouse!) Nothing elaborate just little pictures of birds, bugs and flowers. I'm also hoping to have one of my other commissions done too so I can post that as well. The pictures from the children's book won't be posted until the book is published. (out of fairness to the author.)

Well, that's all for now. My work break is over and I need to go back to the grind. I miss talking to all of you on a regular basis. I hope all is well.

L

K

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/22816557/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/22816557/ Mon, 26 Jan 2009 04:24:03 PST
I'm pissed. Super pissed. Pissed and scared. I see my loved ones all around me losing their jobs, or about to. And there isn't a damn thing I can do. I can't protect any of them. I can't help them. Not my family, not my friends. I'm watching, not just the corporation I work at, but work places everywhere wallow in greed and selfishness.

T.A. Keeps getting rid of the contracts that actually make us millions. God knows why, THEY tell us that these contracts aren't strategic. What's strategic about loosing money? As a result, they are laying off workers left and right and it's not over. Many of our jobs will end up in India when this is all over. This is a case of it being more than just the economy, this is pure stupidity at it's finest coupled with greed.

One family member is in danger of being pushed out of the job she's worked at for almost 40 years. (lawfirm)The reason? Because her boss doesn't bring in "the big money". Because he handles vanilla cases instead of big corporate cash cow cases.

Another family member is worried that a coworker is going to "bump" her job. (pretty much get her fired so this other person can keep her possition). If this person were younger with a family I might be more understanding. But this person is older and stands to get partial retirement. Partial retirement is more than my family member will get if she's bumped from her job. I can sympathise to an extent, the older woman is worried about supporting herself in a bad economy. But she is willing to leave my family member with absolutely nothing when the woman has at least the ability to draw some kind of retirement money.

I suppose, in the long run, these poorly run corporations deserve what they get. They'll fail, go under, loose millions if not billions, and wonder how it all happened. We, the workers, will struggle on until the economy improves. But until then, people go with out health care, are struggling to pay bills and support families.

All in the name of greed and fear.

And there's not a damn thing I can do about it except wait it out just like everyone else and be there for my family and friends to support them emotionally if nothing else.

This ones for you, all of you.
[link]

I may just post it on devart too.

Wo ai nimen. (love you all)

K

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/22537670/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/22537670/ Mon, 12 Jan 2009 05:22:54 PST
One guy got out of his car just in time to see one of those trailor trucks sliding out of control right towards him. He managed to jump over the gaurd rail and down the slope before it hit his car. He said on the news that he will remember that for the rest of his days. He went back after to help other people out of their cars.

Another guy couldn't stop to avoide the pile up. His choices were to slided into and hit a bunch of cars with people still in them or hit a trailor truck. He steered his truck towards the trailor truck and hit it to keep from injuring more people. His vehicle ended up stuck under the trailor truck and he was trapped there for 45 minutes. He's ok too.

I've never seen anything quite this bad in NH. We're used to driving in the bad weather and people generally are pretty cautious. The roads in that area were covered in black ice it appears. One bus tried to slow down to avoid a car on the side of the highway and that was that. The ice took over. 51 cars latter the highway was closed down for 4 hours. Kudos to the firemen and police for getting everyone out as they did.

No friction is no friction.

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/22294234/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/22294234/ Wed, 31 Dec 2008 05:01:49 PST

Christmas was a blast! I GOT A TABLET!!!!!! 8D

Tom bought me a Wacom Graphire. I'm having fun playing with it and seeing what it can do.

I bought Tom the live action 1970's Japanese series "Red Baron". It's a giant robot show and it's campy as all hell. Some of it in a fun way and others of it in ways that are wrong a million times over.

I've been surviving the campiness by burying (if that is the correct spelling) myself in "Harry Dresden" novels, which I also got for Christmas.

We also got to listen to Tom's 91 year old grandfather tell an amusing tale about how "That bahstid drove his truck 'cross thuh ICE" one winter while he was "cuttin' ice foh thuh ice house. That bahstid made it up 'n bahk with two cahds 'o wood in thuh truck. 'An that ice bohed right 'n thuh middle, 'an I thawt he wuz gonnah go undah." (cahds 'o wood = cords of wood. Bohed = bowed.) That good 'ol NuhHamshah accent and drawl comming in thick and wonderful for the whole story. Tom and I never laughed so hard.

And most everyone got their power back for Christmas. Most of the 2 feet of snow that fell melted. But that's ok the customary freezing fun that is New England weather came back yesterday. Probably to remind us all that we still live in New England...just in case we forgot.

We probably won't do much for New Years. We're in too cold and too rural a place to go outside and watch fireworks. I may stay up and watch the ball drop in New York City.

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/22027338/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/22027338/ Wed, 17 Dec 2008 06:09:14 PST
New England's been having a tough time of winter and it only just started. O_O The ice storm on friday took out power to about 250-300,000 people in NH alone. That number dwindled down to 50,000 yesterday.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from mid NH down south to the majority of Mass and east into ME everything looked like it was encassed in glass or crystal. (don't know how hard ME was hit or if VT was hit at all). Trees were bent over double or snapped in half all over the place. There are still schools that are out because they are either being used as shelters or the roads leading to them are still closed.

Just this morning Tom and I saw a huge train of trucks from several different electric companies head south to help repair the damage.

Tom and I were lucky. We didn't loose power. My in laws did. My aunt did. My aunt went north with my 91 year old grandfather to the condo she owns, it still had power. We let Tom's folks borrow our generator because they couldn't get theirs to work. We'll probably have them over thursday for a hot meal if they still don't have power. (we're trying to convince them to come over either way.) Right now we're in the middle of a blizzard...literally, it's snowing like crazy outside.

The good news, people are pulling together and helping each other through the mess. :3

Hope the rest of you are warm and dry and having a better start to winter than we are. (yes, I know some of you live in Brasil, California, Malta etc. You have my envy right about now.)

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/21763068/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/21763068/ Mon, 01 Dec 2008 09:18:32 PST
To "The Dresden Files" by Jim Butcher. O_O (fun name. A guy who's last name is Butcher writes some amazing novels about a wizard in Chicago.)

I can't stop reading them! I'm rereading the ones I have to keep myself from buying more so that certain relatives have something to get me for christmas.

I highly recomend these books.

Christmas can't come soon enough.

Hope everyone's Thanksgiving was good. I have a large tupperwear container of turkey that my father in law cooked. The man is a genious with turkey. GENIOUS!

L to all

GG

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/21675133/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/21675133/ Wed, 26 Nov 2008 05:17:51 PST I added the awesome email a friend sent me for extra giggles. then I added my own bit....as I am over 30. (by 2 years)

THE SPOILED UNDER-30 CROWD!!!
If you are 30 or older you will think this is hilarious!!!!

When I was a kid, adults used to bore me to tears

With their tedious diatribes about how hard things were. When they were growing up; what with walking Twenty-five miles to school every morning.

Uphill... barefoot...

BOTH ways

Yadda, yadda, yadda

And I remember promising myself that when I grew up,
There was no way in hell I was going to lay A bunch of crap like that on kids about how hard I had it And how easy they've got it! But now that... I'm over the ripe old age of
Thirty, I can't help but look around and notice the youth of today.

You've got it so easy! I mean, compared to my
Childhood, you live in a damn Utopia! And I hate to say it but you kids today you
Don't know how good you've got it!

I mean, when I was a kid we didn't have The Internet. If we wanted to know something, We had to go to the damn library and
Look it up ourselves, in the card catalogue!! There was no email!! We had to actually write
Somebody a letter, with a pen! Then you had to walk all the way across the street and put it in the mailbox and it would take like a week to get there!

There were no MP3' s or Napsters! You wanted to
Steal music, you had to hitchhike to the damn record store and shoplift it yourself! Or you had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio and the DJ'd usually talk over the beginning and @#*% it all up!
We didn't have fancy crap like Call Waiting! If you
Were on the phone and somebody else called they got a busy signal, that's it!

And we didn't have fancy Caller ID either!
When the phone rang, you had no idea who it was! It could be your school,
Your mom, your boss, your Bookie, your drug dealer, a collections agent, you
Just didn't know!!! You had to pick it up and take your chances, mister!

We didn't have any fancy Sony Playstation video
Games with high-resolution 3-D graphics! We had the Atari 2600! With games
Like 'Space Invaders' and 'asteroids'. Your guy was a little square! You
Actually had to use your I magination!! And there were no multiple levels or
Screens, it was just one screen
Forever!

And you could never win. The game just kept getting
Harder and harder and
Faster and faster until you died! Just like LIFE!


You had to use a Little book called a TV Guide to find out what was
On! You were screwed when it Came to channel surfing! You had to get off
Your ass and walk over to the TV to change the Channel and there was no
Cartoon Network either! You could only get cartoons
On Saturday Morning. Do you Hear what I'm saying!?! We had to wait ALL WEEK
For cartoons, you spoiled
Little rat-bastards!

And we didn't have microwaves, if we wanted to heat
Something up we had to use the stove ... Imagine that! That's exactly what I'm talking about! You kids
Today have got it too easy.
You're spoiled. You guys wouldn't have lasted
Five minutes back in 1980!

Regards,
The over 30 Crowd (Send this to someone you'd like to make smile,

Whether they are under 30 or not.)

---------------------------------------


What I added to it:

And forget about owning a cell phone, blackberry, Iphone, with cameras on them and text messaging. Some of those weren’t even invented yet. The ones that were, were HUGE. They were blocky, ginormous things that took up a whole car seat….and only grown ups were privileged enough to own one. Even when the bloody things got smaller and pocket sized, only grown ups had them.

LCD TV’s and High definition DVD’s? Fuhget abowt it! You had to watch your movies on VHS on standard TV’s that weighed about as much as your refrigerator. If you were lucky, there would be a minimum amount of scratchy snow on the VHS tape and the color vaguely resembled real life.

AND Animated movies were made BY HAND. None of this digital cr@p. Artists slaved away in little caves, hunched over in poor lighting in Disney Dungeons working with PENCILS and PAINTS with BRUSHES. You Whipper snappers just plug in a laptop now and BAM, faster than Emeril can “kick it up a notch” you’ve made your own animated movie.

AND NINTENDO was a big square thing almost as big as your TV. The only things you could play on it were Super M... ]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/21448937/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/21448937/ Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:44:43 PST
I wont be able to post as often as I would like. Work is getting more picky about how much time we spend on the net. My breaks will no longer be spent browsing DA.

I will still post and check in, it just wont be as frequently. It means it will take longer for me to reply to all your comments and Deviations.

^^

to all.

:3

K

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/21311822/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/21311822/ Wed, 05 Nov 2008 05:27:27 PST I mean, I thought he'd win but not like this.

And ALMOST every other country in the world is having huge parties. I'm pleased and surprised that they were all paying such close attention.

And I didn't know there was an "Obama" Japan. XD They're partying it up with live bands and the whole nine yards.

Europe is partying as well.

Kenya has declared a 2 day national holiday. O_O

Australia is gettin'it's grove on. Brazil is joining them.

The only people not celebrating is the middle east. They are skeptical that our new President Elect will offer anything new.

History in the making today.

----------------------------------------

I don't remember what the title of that Alec Baldwin movie was, but I love that quote.

The weekend went well. Nothing dramatic happened. :3

And FINALLY, our two year long election cycle comes to a close TODAY. O_O just in time for the 2012 candidates to start their campaign. Yikes.

Always be closing.

Y'know, I had to close commissions. I was going to open them up here on DA but....I CAN'T. O_O

Hopefully this also means updates soon. I won't be updating with the children's book commissions until the book is published. It's a contract thing. But the other stuff I can post.

I is still ZEN. :3

Always be closing.

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/21230643/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/21230643/ Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:04:00 PDT
OK, I know I promised some of you I'd post pictures of the convention. I will. I spent longer than I anticipated carving my giant godzilla sized pumpkin last night. Pumpkinzilla. Pumpkin guts were every where....it was GREAT.

I actually caught up with all the deviations and messages. O_O took a while. (phew!)

ANNNNND.....

-_- I'm seeing the folks for my mother and brother's birthday for the first time in a whole year. -_- I'm expecting drama, guilt, etc. The usual passive/aggressive m.o. Of course the only time my mother contacts me is via email and with a short single sentence "We'd like to invite you to the birthdays." I thought about it, decided to give them the bennefit of the doubt, and said "sure, I'll go". I tried drawing an ACTUAL conversation out of her by giving her an update on the adoption. THat was a no-go. I got back a "I'm glad it's going well for you". and that was it. I haven't heard from her since. No phone call, no email, nothing.

Some of you already know why I haven't been talking to my parents for a whole year. in short, for those who don't know, my parents are emotionally abusive. I stood up for a family member last year because they decided to turn their abuse on a 4 year old. They didn't like it very much and here we are, a year later and total, blissful, guilt free silence. Like I said, I'm giving them the bennefit of the doubt and going to see how things go. IF, and that's a huge IF, things go well I'll return for Thanksgiving. I plan on taking it one event at a time,(although my mother expects me to now show up for every family event on the calendar regaurdless. So said my sister). *rolls eyes* We'll see.

Tom and my two sisters (one of them is being ignored by our parents still, she's the one with the 4 year old, and wont be going to the party) are staying at my side the whole time. Tom has declared that he's not letting my mother drag me off into another room to give me the old "What you did hurt us very much" speach. God bless my beautiful husband. :3 My sister has already declared the same thing. LOL! BOOYA!

The odd thing, I'm not upset or anxious. I was last week but not now. I'm totally zen right now.

That could change by the end of sunday. I may need something high in alcohol content after the drama. But right now, it's all good.

Wo ai nimen

GG

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/21212253/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/21212253/ Wed, 29 Oct 2008 05:05:10 PDT
It can be anything you want - good or bad - BUT IT HAS TO BE FAKE.

When you're finished, post this little paragraph in your LJ/dA journal/where ever and see what your friends come up with. Well, you don't HAVE to, but what's the harm in doing it?

From

Good times.

I like cheese.

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/21135569/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/21135569/ Fri, 24 Oct 2008 05:17:44 PDT

We had a great time. WE STAYED IN A CASTLE! 8D Litteraly. The hotel was built in the shape of a castle. (not sure if I mentioned that before.)

We actually made it into the black for the first time in a convention. YAY! We made money!

I sold my soul a little though and drew a Naruto chibi belly dancing for a customer. I didn't mind so much because the young lady was GUSHING over our coconut ninja and the fact that he's from Puerto Rico. She was from Puerto Rico also and she ran around the entire convention pimping our table. XD I couldn't have ASKED or payed for better PR.

I do have to say though, every year I run into at least ONE person who thinks they can get a custom sketch for free or 3-4 bucks. *rolls eyes* whatever. I turned away one disolutioned 12-14 year old when she found out she'd have to PAY for a custom sketch (she was almost insulted when I told her it would cost her 20 dollars, even after I told her that it was for a finished, professional sketch). Ahhhhhh, she's got a lot to learn in her life. Oh well. No harm done.

We're looking forward to going next year. I'll probably do a panel too.

L

GG

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/21011743/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/21011743/ Thu, 16 Oct 2008 04:49:36 PDT
Headed to AAC tomorrow. It promises to be fun. The place we're staying at HAS A SPA! (not like I'll have time to enjoy it, but it's still nice.) It's also built like a castle. I'm a gonna stay in a CASTLE that has a SPA!

I'll be dressed as a pirate on Saturday too. I bought a sexy little pirate costume. Tom likes it. ;D Tom may be a tad biased though as he is married to me. ;D

We're going to have people vote for their favorite T-shirt design. Then we'll save up to have the winning t-shirt made and sold at conventions.

The contenders are;

ESU Design [link]

Coconut Ninja Design [link]

Cat Girl Design [link] (note: This one has to be converted to black and white or grey scale. We don't have the money to pay for a color version yet.)

Which one would you choose? How much would you pay?

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/20852704/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/20852704/ Mon, 06 Oct 2008 04:57:21 PDT
Ok, so I was commissioned by this guy at a convention who wanted me to do a romantic picture of Cloud and Aeris (Aerith ???). I was given complete artistic license as long as I kept the costumes and characters in their original FF design. That was fine with me so I agreed to do it. Drew up a rough sketch and handed it to the guy for approval/changes etc. He decided that he didn't want a romantic picture done after all. called the pose "too stoic".

So, ok. That's fine. "What would you like to see in the picture?"

A week later I get an email back. He wants me to do a whole detailed roll reversal of Cloud and Aeris. Aeris is the one trying to save Cloud and fighting Sephiroth (SP). So far, I'm with him. Or was until he decided two paragraphs down in the email that he wanted a whole comic depicting the entire roll reversal F.F. death scene where Aeris is yelling at Sephiroth "you'll pay for this!" (yes, complete with dialog) He's already saying he's going to be "picky about the details". Completely within his rights, he IS the paying customer after all.

But now this just feels.....awkward.

Here's the thing. He's willing to pay more. I could probably name almost any price and he'd pay it. AND it would give me some extra experience on how to deal with difficult clients.

BUT...I'm wondering if it's worth the frustration. I've had difficult customers before but this one is starting to take the cake.

I guess I'm wondering if there is any amount of money that would compensate for the frustration. (Or if ANYTHING would for that matter.) That, in the end, is something only I can decide but I really want to hear what others have to say.

It's not as though I'm hurting for cash right now. If I was that would probably change the situation a bit.

Thanks

L

GG

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/20630061/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/20630061/ Tue, 23 Sep 2008 04:31:43 PDT We celebrated my nephew's and my neice's birthdays. One is 12 the other is 5! O_O and the oldest of the bunch is IN HIGHSCHOOL! Time flies too fast.

We made two cakes. One with a "Flying V" guitar on it, the other with a dolphin. My sister and I spent friday night eating cake batter and left over frosting. I have a few cute pictures of the 5 year old licking the frosting off the egg beater. XD

The party was a blast! The sugared up children ran around outside chasing eachother with wiffle bats and locking eachother in the dog kennel while the rest of us just watched in bewilderment.

And the kids got to play Halo with Uncle Tom. XD

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/20563762/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/20563762/ Fri, 19 Sep 2008 06:04:07 PDT


On to the topic. Has anyone seen the latest "America's got Talent"? I don't watch these things normally but I've been hypnotised by these past few episodes. I can sum it up in one word.

Kaitlin.

Is it me, or does anyone else think it's just a tad inapropriate to have a 4 year old compete for a show in Vegas? Vegas, 4 year old girl, not a good idea.

I mean, don't get me wrong, she's cute as a button. Absolutely adorable! And for a while she was the kiss of death for any performer who went up against her in a vote. But I don't think it's appropriate for a 4 year old to be performing in Vegas.

She wont be. She didn't make the cut in last nights show. But It makes you wonder.

Love

GG

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/20199872/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/20199872/ Thu, 28 Aug 2008 10:45:28 PDT
And I am, once again, behind. Both in viewing your deviations and I need to post stuff. Photo that I've taken and some new artwork. (not much in the way of artwork, I sort of took a couple weeks off from drawing anything.)

I also promised to feature people to, didn't I. O_O

I'm also delaying opening commissions because I just gained a bunch of them over the last couple of months.

And there are experiments I want to try. Oh! So very much to do!

Tom and I are also going to be designing a t-shirt for conventions next year. I want to post the slogans we will be using and have people tell us which ones they like best. All of them will have something to do with the comic we run.

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/19913981/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/19913981/ Tue, 12 Aug 2008 10:40:17 PDT Needed it.

So, I decided to clean a couple of the rooms downstairs and you know what I found? MY ART STUDIO! WOOT! It has returned from the depths of crap I piled up in the room.

After cleaning up and finding my art studio I realized something. I live in a mini library. Every room in the house has books of some sort. Sci/fi, fiction, occult, classics, history, religion, kids books, comics, manga, weather, animals, plants, people, cultures, politics, "how To" books. The only thing we're missing is trashy love novels featuring guys with rippling muscles and flowing hair wooing women with barbie doll proportions and epic breasts.

That's it. Just random stuff. It serves no purpose other than my own amusement.

L

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/19784148/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/19784148/ Tue, 05 Aug 2008 10:46:23 PDT

Tom and I had so much fun. Friday was a slow day but all the web comicers went out to eat, about 50 of use, to this little pub and grill restaurant. Brian (Hookie Dookie Panic and Geist Panic) bought a beer bong of the pub's home made brew. BEST BEER EVER! And I hate beer. I loved this stuff though. They called it "naughty nurse" beer. XD

We got back to the hotel room at about 12:00 at night. Saturday morning was the webcomic auction. Most people auctioned off spots in their comics (if they were well known comics). Brian auctioned off Kilika's plane tickets (blue and blonde). XD they do stuff like this to eachother every Connecticon. The first year, Brian auctioned off the pants Kilika was wearing. The second year Kilika auctioned off a pair of Brian's undewear, signed by all the webcomicers and framed with a lovely plaque. This year, Kilika's plane tickets! I'm looking forward to seeing what Kilika does next year. XD Brian drove Kilika home after the convention and Kilika shook Brians hand and said "Well, you got me, and got me good." XD

What did Tom and I auction off? LOL! Are you sitting down? We auctioned off one of my bras. Signed by artist and everything. Hawk (applegeeks) ended up with it. Then when Mookie (Dominic Deegan) went up to auction off a spot on his comic Hawk put the bra on Mookie and Mookie danced around in it. Then Mookie gave it to his girlfriend who had all the webcomicers sign it. XD
(no I wasn't braless for the two hours the auction went on. Though, no one else knew that.)

Garth (comedity) sold "the 2x4 that pwned the internet" You have to read his comic to know what that refers to. (A fictional fight between him and his internet provider.) We joked about him selling his "wood" on stage.

Good times.

Tom took me out to a romantic dinner that night. It was wonderful. The food was amazing and the wine just as good. :3

We made enough money to pay off the table, our badges and the parking for our car in the parking garage at the hotel. We met a TON of great new people, some are one devart. And saw a lot of incredible costumes. We are deffinitely going back next year.

K

Comics and web comicers:

Tom and myself [link]
Garth [link]
Hawk and Ananth [link]
Brian [link]
Mookie [link]
Kilika [link]
Dirk [link]
David [link]
Andy [link]

Pass the word - We could always use more readers. Well, Tom and I deffinitely could, I'm sure the other certainly wouldn't mind either.

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/19693556/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/19693556/ Thu, 31 Jul 2008 05:11:34 PDT [link] is her site.

I've already sent in a complaint of harassment to devart and urged Kays to contact the police just to be safe.

This turns my stomach. You know there are these creepy people out there but you never expect them to actually appear.


The two sites of his that are known are bellow. He's already threatened on one of these that he'll just make another account. He also says he's "enjoying the Chaos". For that reason I haven't personally commented on these sites. It's almost like he's enjoying the attention.
[link]
[link]


This was one of the messages he sent to Kays. It's wrong in a million different ways. She posted it on her journal.

This kays-elle-belle-fan account just left e a message:
"Impressive. In half of a day, you already have an army. I am learning a lot through your reaction. Why did you try to get me banned before confirming that I was the stalker? I am learning about group psychology as well. For this, I thank you. Several of you're friends contacted me, when you didn't. You have saved me lot of trouble. Why don't you directly ask me who I am? If you are willing to believe me, I am willing to give you a hint. I will not lie to you, nor anyone else who will ask me anything. I have no malicious intent, related to this. I simply analyze.
Don't worry. I will leave you alone, if you want, as soon as I am done with my experiment. You are, after all, a very interesting specimen."


My advice, send harassment complaints to devart urging them to take action and alert authorities.

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/19658629/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/19658629/ Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:26:21 PDT

Incidently, go visit her gallery. She's a tallented lady.
[link]

The picture is here
[link]

I need to give much needed props to other people too. Just haven't had the time. After Connecticon there will be time.

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/19654443/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/19654443/ Tue, 29 Jul 2008 04:27:55 PDT
I've been trying to load a couple small files, 111 KB and 100kb, and 2 hours latter Devart is still trying to load them.

EDIT: Never mind. I figured out a work around and was able to get them up. O_O Geez....

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/19566887/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/19566887/ Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:55:13 PDT )

this is the link.
[link]

ANNNNNNNND, I actually FINISHED my Seraphim painting last night. O_O Now I just need to let it dry so I can scan it and make prints.

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/19530898/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/19530898/ Tue, 22 Jul 2008 05:03:34 PDT
I want very much for this painting to be done for connection. I don't know if I'll be able to do it though.

It doesn't help that I had NO sleep last night. It's muggy, hot, icky, rainy, thunderstormy weather. You lie in bed with the fan blowing on you, mostly because it's nice to feel air that's on the semi dry side and you think that maybe, just maybe the white noise from the fan will help you sleep. You put one too many blankets on and your too hot to sleep, you take that one blanket off and it's suddenly too cold.

Man, listen to me bitch. O_O

At the moment, I also wish I was working anywhere other than here....and a fast food place because I'd probably loose it with my lack of sleep and sling a burger at someone. ("Super size this, MOFO!") Couldn't you see me doing that? I could. It's amazing what lack of sleep does to your personality. XD

I so need a nap.

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/19424249/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/19424249/ Wed, 16 Jul 2008 08:47:44 PDT
I just picked up 3 lovely commissions. One just gave me 200 smackers that I'm going to use to update my chibikarenstudios site. YAY!!!!!!

Now, if I could only get my mentor to pick up the painting I did for him last year. -_- Ah well.

Tom and I have been watching the new Dr Who series.
Season 1 and 2 have been awesome! I geek out everytime the opening theme song comes on. I remember, back in the day, when I was little watching Dr Who all the time. Thems were the days. I like what they've done with the new series. 8D I like that the Dr gets a romantic life on top of everything else. Not much of one, but he gets something. Like "snogging Madame Pompedore" (sp). XD Awesome!

Is it wrong that I find the Dr Who in season 2 sexy? It's his personality...and probably the suit. I'm a sucker for a guy in a suit. Deffinitely the personality. Those eyes light up and he gets that smile....

OH! and I'm getting closer to actually finishing my Seraphim painting. 8D So far I'm reasonably happy with her. I hope to have her done for Connecticon.

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/19181592/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/19181592/ Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:17:08 PDT
Much wootness! XD Enjoy your BBQ's and fireworks and parades and sparklers and independence.



]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/19144400/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/19144400/ Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:14:18 PDT

The Belgian office of the company I work for lost about 50 million dollars. To put it shortly, some executives mades some bad decisions despite a few people saying these were bad decisions. As a result, the company is laying off about 135 people. My husband had to lay off two people he cares about very much. One of them is here on Devart, which is why I couldn't say anything until he broke the news to her himself. The other is his best friend.

So, Tom is upset. the people he let go are unhappy. I'm sad and angry for all involved. Tom feels like if he hadn't hired them from the departments they were originally working in a year ago, then they would still have jobs and be ok. (pf course, back then the company was still doing well.)

To top it all off we aren't even sure TOM will have a job in a year. My own job may go that way in two years. But at least we have time to prepare, unlike the two Tom was forced to let go.

The person who really needs the hug is Endejester. If you have time just stop buy and give her one.

She's here.
[link]

I still can't change the emoticon. -_-

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/19054621/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/19054621/ Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:12:47 PDT
And I wanted to share this little deviation with you from Mageprydain. One- he's just a fabulous photographer. Two- what really touched me was the comment below the photo. It's beautiful.

[link]

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/18924919/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/18924919/ Thu, 19 Jun 2008 06:49:29 PDT
I will repost this picture later tonight or tomorrow, depending on the time I have available to me.

Sorry to any who made comments on this piece.

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/18814190/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/18814190/ Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:17:48 PDT
You ever have a moment when your creative muse just kicks itself into overdrive? Mabey keeps you up later than you should be?

I bought a new "Disturbed" CD "Invincable". I started listening to it and couldn't stop drawing. As a result, I have some fairly decent line art plus a fun Cthulhu sketch with the stereo typical curvy busty gal at his side. ('Cause that's how the 'Thulhu rolls, baby!) But it's way more detailed a sketch than I've done in a long time.

Which reminds me, I need to scan a few things in and post them. O_O

So....that kept me up late the other night. Way past my bed time (GAWD I FEEL OLD!). I'm tired this morning but feeling really good about my art at the moment.

Is it wierd that I'm a woman and draw sexy women? I draw them the way I would like to be drawn if I were ever drawn....if that makes any sense. XD

EDIT: A friend of mine turned me to this article on alternative fuel. It's really well written and thought out.

[link]

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/18743556/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/18743556/ Mon, 09 Jun 2008 07:20:52 PDT 1.)I, and my coworker, have been spending one of those the three months in the quarter training on how to test a new product.
2.)I've been training to take on a second product.
3.) My co-worker and I had to test a third different kind of product that we hadn't been trained on yet.
4.) I still have to do all this PLUS test the 10-15 products that still come to me on a monthly or bi monthly basis.
5.) AND we have to train a second group how to test the old products we're testing so we can have time to test the new stuff.

So when exactly do I have a moment to LOOK at these "goals" much less DO them? Below is what I sent to my boss. It's edited to keep certain things confidential.

"Hi (boss),

I need some help. With all the work we’re doing (New Product "A" testing, Being trained on "A", Training Joe’s group and old product "B" testing) I won’t be able to get the goals of learning SQL and Python done by the end of june. I need a week, each, to be blocked off, at some point this year, where I can concentrate solely on taking an online course for these two skills and not have to worry about Product "A"/Product "B" testing at the same time. They don’t have to be back to back. Actually, it would be better if they weren’t back to back as that would be overwhelming.

Thanks
Karen


Karen-
I try not to micro manage your schedule. My suggestion is to schedule one or two days when there is some open time in your schedule after the July releases, allocating you two weeks during final production month for 8.07 release is not going to happen. You should be more proactive on these; e.g. you should not wait till 3 weeks before the deadline to think about how to finish an objective that you think is going to take 2 weeks to complete. You should have been working these all along.

(boss)

I almost don't have a problem with the first two sentences...until I re-read them. The training in question can't be done in a couple of days. As my boss it's kind of his responsibility to make sure I have the time to get my goals done.

After that.... WTF! One; I didn't ask him to schedule something for THIS quarter. I told him that it COULDN'T be done this quarter. I don't know where he's getting the whole "allocating you two weeks during final production month" thing.

I should be more proactive on these when I HAVE NO TIME TO DO THEM? When I have no time to even THINK about them? Not mentioned are the 5-6 other goals he listed that I actually finished. -_-
My problem is, he knows what we do for work and what we have for time to do them. He keeps piling on shit and expecting us to just get it done. He's more than aware that sometimes the product is just ker-Fk'd and gets rerun 3-4 time over and you end up testing the same product 3-4 times in a row. (as what happened last quarter.) and yet I'm supposed to do something that takes a weeks worth of time and do it in 2 days whenever I have two days to do them. -_- On top of it all, he pushes it back on me for not looking at the stupid things until 3 weeks before the quarter ends.

Did I mention that the rest of the company has thrown out the quarterly goals thing? HR isn't even supporting them or authorizing them. WHY? Because no one realistically had time to work on them.

I have so much more to bitch about than this but I'll leave it here.

Thanks for listening.

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/18555057/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/18555057/ Thu, 29 May 2008 05:31:57 PDT I won't tag anyone though. Do it if you want. If you don't, no biggy.


RULES:

1. tag 10 people (not the one who sent it to you!)
2. answer all truthfully
3. take it in public!
4. tell all tagged on their profile that they have been tagged,
and link to your journal.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Info
[ ] I am shorter than 5'4.
[x] I think I'm ugly sometimes.
[/] I have many scars. (internal ones.)
[ ] I tan easily.
[ ] I wish my hair was a different color.
[ ] I have friends who have never seen my natural hair color.
[ ] I have a tattoo.
[x] I am self-conscious about my appearance.
[ ] I have/I've had braces.
[x] I wear glasses.
[ ] I would get plastic surgery if it were 100% safe, free of cost, and scar-free.
[x] I've been told I'm attractive by a complete stranger. (and those who aren't strangers.)
[ ] I have more than 2 piercing.
[ ] I have piercing in places besides my ears.
[ ] I have freckles.

Family/Home Life
[x] I've sworn at my parents. (sworn, yelled at, told off. take your pick. )
[ ] I've run away from home.
[ ] I've been kicked out of the house.
[x] My biological parents are together.
[ ] I have a sibling less than one year old.
[x] I want to have kids someday.
[ ] I've lost a child.

School/Work
[] I'm in school
[x] I have a job.
[x] I've fallen asleep at work/school.
[] I almost always do my homework.
[x] I've missed a week or more of school. When I was sick.
[] I've been on the Honor Roll within the last 2 years.
[ ] I failed more than 1 class last year
[ ] I've stolen something from my job
[ ] I've been fired

Embarrassment
[X] I've slipped out an "lol" in a spoken conversation.
[X] Disney movies still make me cry.
[x] I've peed from laughing.
[x] I've snorted while laughing.
[x] I've laughed so hard I've cried.
[x] I've glued my hand to something. (gorilla glue...good times)
[ ] I've had my pants rip in public.

Health
[/] I was born with a disease/impairment (does asthma count?)
[ ] I've gotten stitches/staples.
[x] I've broken a bone
[ ] I've had my tonsils removed.
[x] I've sat in a doctor’s office/emergency room with a friend.
[x] I've had my wisdom teeth removed.
[ ] I had a serious surgery.
[x] I've had chicken pox.
[ ] I've had measles

Traveling
[x] I've driven over 200 miles in one day.
[x] I've been on a plane.
[] I've been to Canada.
[ ] I've been to Mexico.
[] I've been to Niagara Falls.
[ ] I've been to Japan.
[ ] I've celebrated Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
[x] I've been to Europe.
[ ] I've been to Africa.

Experiences
[x] I've gotten lost in my city.
[X] I've seen a shooting star.
[x] I've wished on a shooting star
[ ] I've seen a meteor shower.
[x] I've gone out in public in my pajamas. (still do, if all I have to do is get mail or something.)
[x] I've pushed all the buttons on an elevator.
[x] I've kicked a guy where it hurts. (Yes it was on purpose. He should have kept his hands off me when I told so the first time.)
[ ] I've been to a casino.
[ ] I've been skydiving.
[ ] I've gone skinny dipping.(I so want to though XD )
[ ] I've played spin the bottle.
[ ] I've drank a whole gallon of milk in one hour.
[x] I've crashed a car. (slid on some ice.)
[x] I've been Skiing.
[x] I've been in a play.
[ ] I've met someone in person from myspace.
[x] I've caught a snowflake on my tongue.
[ ] I've seen the Northern lights.
[x] I've sat on a roof top at night.
[x] I've played chicken. (on a bicycle)
[x] I've played a prank on someone.
[x] I've ridden in a taxi.
[x] I've seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
[x] I've eaten sushi.
[ ] I've been snowboarding.

Relationships
[] I'm single
[ ] I'm in a relationship
[ ] I'm engaged.
[x] I'm married.
[ ] I've gone on a blind date.
[ ] I've been the dumped more than the dumper.
[x] I miss someone right now.
[ ] I have a fear of abandonment.
[ ] I've gotten divorced.
[x] I've had feelings for someone who didn't have them back.
[ ] I've told someone I loved them when I didn't. (
[ ] I've told someone I didn't love them when I did.
[ ] I've kept something from a past relationship.

Sexuality
[/] I've had a crush on someone of the same sex. (sort of. More like a desire to have a one night fling.)
[ ] I've had a crush on a teacher.
[x] I am a cuddler.
[x] I've been kissed in the rain.
[x] I've hugged a stranger. ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/18538090/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/18538090/ Wed, 28 May 2008 04:38:20 PDT
I do plan on posting something about when I'm starting commissions again. Right now though I'm trying to get stuff ready for Connecticon in August, put something together for an artshow in a town nearby, and renew some adoption paperwork, plus get a few art pieces done that are just for me and not for a gaming company.

I have to say, It feels good to paint for myself for a little while. I like taking commissions but getting out some of my own creative energy put into a few of my own ideas is great.


L

GG

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/18393631/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/18393631/ Mon, 19 May 2008 05:11:17 PDT It was a perfect day for it too. Warm and sunny. Sophie looked amazing in her dress. :3 I almost broke down in happy tears twice while standing up there with her as she and her new hubby took their vows. The reception was great. We all had fun dancing.

And I got drunk. XD LOL! And to top that off, the lady who was taking the pictures for the wedding thought I should be the one to cut the cake. O_O I was looking at a 3 tiered cake with a realy long knife in my hand, inebriated and swaying just enough to let me know that this was going to be a bad idea. So I looked at her and told her it was a bad idea. She ended up cutting the cake. Which was good because I was holding the knife with the cutting edge facing up instead of down.

The flower girl and ring bearer were ADORABLE! They were supposed to follow me down the isle but they made a sharp 45 degree turn to the front of the seated wedding guests shouting for mom and grandmom. Long blonde curls and ring pillow bouncing and almost dropped in the middle of the lawn as they ran. LOL!

The next morning, (sunday) We all went out for breakfast at a realy cute VT dinner and had pancakes and omlets. We all didn't get back from VT until mid afternoon yesterday.

I'm so happy for Sophie and her husband. They make a fabulous
couple.

In other news. After August/September ish I'm going to take up some more commissions for anyone interested. I'll post more on that in a separate journal though.

Wo ai nimen. (Love you all)

GG

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/18208401/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/18208401/ Wed, 07 May 2008 08:14:57 PDT
I try to keep things more possitive in my journals. Don't know if I succeede. I'm frustrated with work. Mostly communication stuff.

Is it too much to ask to document an issue thoroughly so when someone tests a product for that issue they know, where it occured, what version, what "rules" were broken? bla bla bla. I'm litteraly getting stuff handed to me that says "there's an issue here. You have to find it." O_o When I ask them to provide more detail they give me the same two sentences, just worded differently.

Here's my foot. Stuff it up your backside.

Sorry. As I said. I'm frustrated. The trainer is a peach. She's helping me as mush as she is able. It's the F' wits that create the reports that are supposed to detail the issues that are driving me nuts.

On a better note. I'm painting "Seraphim". I finished my commissions, finally, and decided to take a break to paint something for myself. People seem to really like her so I thought she would be a good one to paint. I redrew her using myself as a model (because I don't have anyone else) snatched a ton of reference material on weather, city scapes and metal from my down stairs studio, and started her. So far I'm happy with the way she's coming out. I'm only in the under painting stage though. This might take a while as I only have 1-2 hours after work to paint her each day. (and time is being taken up with getting ready for my friend's wedding in two weeks. )

Anywho...that's all. Hope everone else is doing well.

L

GG

PS: YAY! IT'S SPRING!

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/18017534/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/18017534/ Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:04:21 PDT I'm pretty proud of most of them.

I'm also in traingin at work. My breaks are few during the training so I wont be able to check messages and deviations as often as I would like.

L

GG

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/17906774/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/17906774/ Fri, 18 Apr 2008 05:10:53 PDT
I'll be taking my memory card to our local Photo store to see if I can get them to download the pictures directly from the memory card and onto my USB stick. I'm sure they'll be able to. They have al kinds computer equipment there that I'm sure will be able to do what I need.

Gees.....just..... *sighs*

I'm still catching up on stuff here on devart. XD I haven't had much time to visit it this week. All I've been able to get through is my mail.

On a happier note. tom and I are celebrating our 9th wedding anniversary. He's taking me out to dinner tonight. I'm dressed all up. I'm even wearing a skirt, makeup and heals which almost never happens. I'm all dressed to the nines and feeling pretty. LOL! I don't doll myself up often. Only when it suits my mood. I do like dressing up in something nice (sexy if you will but in a classy way) just to see Tom's reaction. It's always a good one.

HA HA! I don't get very girly often. Once or twice a year in a little black dress is more than enough. I've have to say, I'm feeling pretty damn good about how I look in this skirt. HA HA! Does that sound vain? Ah well.

Tom is such a sweetie. I couldn't have found a better husband. He's kind, gentle, intelligent and strong (as in strong of will and heart). My Beautiful. He makes me smile and laugh. He's a rock that I can lean on for comfort and is always understanding. Tom has always supported me in my art and helped me heal in ways I never thought possible. I could not imagine myself with anyone else. That's my Sweetie.

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/17859660/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/17859660/ Tue, 15 Apr 2008 05:19:34 PDT
OMG! It was GREAT! It was 80-85 degrees all through our stay. Disney was doing their spring flower festival while we were there so there were flowers and topiaries in bloom everywhere. Even little sections where they were demonstrating organic plant growing. Using alternatives to pestisides and so on. The point is, everything was green and in bloom, a welcome change from 6 months of snow and ice.

Tom took me to the Polynesian resort to eat and see a lu'au. The native dances were amazing, even if the parts in between where they tried to fit a story were so sugary sweet that you nearly got a cavity just watching it. XD It didn't ruin it for me though. I just ignored the candy coated parts and watched the dances. O_O WOW! Especially the fire dance! Tom also took me to a restaraunt called the Coral Reef in Epcot where you got to eat in front of one of Disney's three giant fish tanks. He had a good chuckle watching me try to eat my dinner and watch the fish, sharks, turtles and scooba divers all at the same time. Have you ever seen a goliath grooper? THOSE THINGS ARE HUGE! It looked like it could eat the Sand Tiger Shark that was swimming around in the tank. I didn't get a chance to take a picture of that one though. Google it though.

I also got to "swim" with the dolphins. When I say swim I mean it was more standing in hip deep water while the trainers brought the dolphin up so you could pet it. IT WAS STILL COOL! They had 4 male dolphins (they aren't equiped for breeding so they keep only one sex in the aquarium). It was spring time and we were warned that we should not, under any circumstance, pet their bellies. Other wise you would have a 500 LB horny Dolphin suprise. We all carefully followed that advice. But I got to pet their backs and learned a hand signal to make them do a trick and then get my picture taken with one! 8D I might post that picture. They also warned, as with any animal, not to stick your hands in their faces. Dolphins are understandably protective of their blow holes. The money for the Dolphin tour all went to a global animal protection fund. That made me feel even better about the tour.

Tom and I saw all kinds of shows. The Indiana Jones one, there was a Stunt Show in "Hollywood Studios" (used to be MGM Studios). I gritted my teeth and stuck around to take a couple pictures of the High School Musical show for my Niece. (The sacrifices we make for loved ones...) Then Tom and I did all the usual rides like Tower of Terror. It was more of the same in Magic Kingdom except there were more crying, screaming young children who were over tired and over stimulated. We got out of that park quick due to massive crowds and being unable to get on any of the rides because of the crowds. Wait time was about 2-3 hours average for the popular rides. O_O

Animal kingdom was great. I love the walk through tours of the animals. Tigers, Gorillas, Hippos, Water Buffalo, the whole nine yards. We did a water ride and got soaked, always fun on a hot day. They had two wonderful bird parks with exotic birds from all over the world and a bird show "Flights of Fancy" that showed off some of those birds.

We ate at some of the greatest places too. We had a prepaid meal plan. You pay for the week for dinner, lunch and snacks, then you just book whatever restaraunt you want and enjoy. Ther isn't even a difference you have to make up if you book a ritzy place. As a result we booked the expensive places that we never used to visit because it was too costly. Ever have a steak that just melted in your mouth? I did. It was BLISS! It also made me realize how much I suck as a cook. LOL! Ah well.

OH! and we had a tiny baby gecko the size of my thumb stuck in the bathroom of our room. I saved him and put him back outside...assuming it was a him...could have been a her. Tom wouldn't let me bring it home. XD LOL! He was right of course. I have no way to feed it and getting it past airport security would have been interesting to say the least. But it was a cute little thing.

Before I leave to continue catching up with my copious email. I'd like to thank a very thoughtful lady who gave me some great advice on taking bird pics.

Thank you ParadigmParadox!

's for all.

L

GG

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/17843130/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/17843130/ Mon, 14 Apr 2008 05:00:37 PDT

so, I check my Devart account and see 97 messages and 209 deviations. O_O You all have been busy! I'll whiddle those down gradually over the week. Bear with me until then.

:3 I'll fill you in on vacation in a little bit. Right now I'm playing catch up with just about everything at home and at work. XD

Love you all

K

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/17551907/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/17551907/ Fri, 28 Mar 2008 04:40:37 PDT

Everything is packed. My cold is mostly gone with only minor congestion left. And I am soooooooooo ready for warm sun and green plant life.

To top it all off it's snowing again here in NH. O_O 2-4 inches. It'll be gone by the time my plane leaves on sunday but.....GEEEEES! WTF with the snow!


WOOOT! Love you all! See you when I get back. I promis to post some pictures too.



]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/17503685/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/17503685/ Tue, 25 Mar 2008 04:33:12 PDT
Love you all.

K

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/17437010/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/17437010/ Fri, 21 Mar 2008 04:49:07 PDT
My most favoritest hero (other than Major Motoko Kusinagi from 'Ghost in A Shell'. 'Cause, lets face it, she just kicks SOOOO much ass.) is being made into a series of Anime movies coming out THIS SUMMER!



I've been drooling ever since I found out last night and saw the previews! The art and action looks pretty darned good.

IT MUST BE MINE! 8D

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/17392060/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/17392060/ Tue, 18 Mar 2008 09:04:15 PDT
I is goin' to Disney World! 8D I'm gonna swim with the dolphins, eat lots -O-food, turn my pastey self tan...or as close as I can get to it, show off in my new bikini, ride the Tower of Terror, Feed the duckies, and....and....and ALL KINDS OF FUN STUFF THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WORK!

YAY!!!!

*takes a deep breath*


YAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY!!!!!!

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/17268332/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/17268332/ Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:48:01 PDT
I wasn't. I just didn't feel like going into work and dealing with certain morons wandering around there.

So I reworked my regular website a little. I put all my professional works that I've done as Illustrations/portraits on my business site and will keep the Deviant Art site as my "Everything" site. (professional and otherwise.)

It's been something I've been meaning to do for ages.

I also need to start pimping out our (Tom and myself) comic more. I've been lazy about it. I should do something. I don't know what, thought.

Lurve

On another note..... [link]

O_O WOW!

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/17207926/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/17207926/ Thu, 06 Mar 2008 10:41:03 PST
They obviously haven't forgotten their page, some of the fav's are recent, so why aren't they posting their own stuff? (if they have stuff to post) What is the point of only having a favorites page and joining an art community without communicating to anyone here?

It's nothing important. It's just a curious observation.

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/17162667/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/17162667/ Mon, 03 Mar 2008 10:45:21 PST
Just when I thought I was caught up!



And easter stuff is out already!

What the hell? Didn't we just work past christmas?

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/17083995/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/17083995/ Wed, 27 Feb 2008 05:03:46 PST
Uh.....WHAT?

As it turns out, something got passed in our government called "Real ID". The name alone is laughable. It basically means that your drivers lisense is no longer viable as an ID at airports if you're traveling withing the country. You have to have a passport now just to fly from one state to another. NH is one of four states that are not participating in the program. Maine, North Carolina, I forget the fourth state, are others. Which makes lines at the airport insane becuase if all you have is a drivers lisense then you are pulled aside, all your stuff is taken out of your bag and your are given a full pat down that, for a few dollars more, should have a happier ending.

Normally I pride myself on knowing what our government is doing, what kind of laws they are passing, bla, bla, bla. This one suprised the hell out me. Our represenatives in congress (for NH) are fighting this demanding that a Driver's lisence should be considered a valid ID and that the federal government should recognize them as such. They and our Govenor argue that it is unnessecary and doesn't add anything to our security on an airplane.

I agree....unless someone can define for me the difference in security between a drivers ID and a Passport ID for simple travel between states.

Personally, I don't see it. It doesn't make sense. I can understand it for international travel but if your not leaving the states then WHY?
HOW is THAT going to make our airlines safer? You can forge a passport as well as a drivers lisense.

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/17070290/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/17070290/ Tue, 26 Feb 2008 08:39:16 PST
Donato Giancola
[link]

Tom Kidd
[link]

Bob Eggleton
[link]

Rowena Morril
[link]

And a friend of mine Robert. Be warned some of his stuff is very adult. If you're under 18 I wouldn't advise going to his site to casually browse.
[link]

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/17003635/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/17003635/ Fri, 22 Feb 2008 04:42:37 PST

I'm not ignoring people. I'm just running like crazy to get stuff done here at work and at home.

Sorry it took so long to reply to some of you.



]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/16894230/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/16894230/ Fri, 15 Feb 2008 06:15:41 PST And the gentle breezes blow
Seventy miles an hour
At twenty-five below.
Oh, how I love New Hampshire
When the snow's up to your butt
You take a breath of winter
And your nose gets frozen shut
Yes , the weather here is wonderful
So I guess I'll hang around
I could never leave New Hampshire
'Cause I'm frozen to the ground!!

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/16827560/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/16827560/ Mon, 11 Feb 2008 05:04:51 PST
And eventually I'll have to scan a couple of paintings so I can post them both here and on my other website.

I want to post a few of the comics up here too. Just a little teaser of our "Chaos Express" comic.

And there are curtains that need hanging.

And I need to order my brides maids dress for my friends wedding. I also have to help plan a bridal shower. D8

So.....busy.

If anyone has some fun ideas for a bridal shower I would love to hear them.

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/16718198/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/16718198/ Mon, 04 Feb 2008 05:05:55 PST
I just picked up a sexy new bikini that I can't wait to wear when we go to Florida in a month an a half. *SQUEEEEEEE!*

AAAAANNNND I get to swim with some dolphins while I'm there.

Tom also took me shoping this weekend. I picked a badly needed pair-o-jeans. That's it. nothing glam. Not even a hawt little black dress.

OH!....And gormet cheddar cheese from Ireland. *drooolz*


And authentic french pasteries. Madelines and opera cake mostly and a fruit tart for Tom.


Opera cake ROCKS. It's a caffienated dream.

If every your are in a place where you can try opera cake....DO!

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/16638614/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/16638614/ Wed, 30 Jan 2008 04:44:38 PST
The hard drive of my computer is ker-f#cked. We had to get if fixed yesterday.

That means I can't scan in the really awesome painting that I'm super proud of and show it to everyone. Or any other art for that matter either.

So I went looking for a picture of a raven for my next commission. I have vast library of books with photos and art books. VAST. Can I find a picture of one little raven? Nope. Not even in my books on birds of North America from National Geographic. I could find all kinds of other things though. Photos of mice getting eaten by snakes, bats napping in caves, massive amounts of fluffy butted cuteness in the bird books, deer humping in the woods (to wich I ask my self WTF is THAT doing in my photo binder?) a cheetah taking a pooh and some guy in a far off country actually licking his machette.

Yeah...all kinds of crazy pics, but no raven. Not until I looked into a National Geographic about the Tower of London. There! A tiny 2x3 inch picture of a raven getting his wings clipped. Good enough.

And to top it off I've been having these wierd dreams. I have this bad ass sorcerous war lord that is in my stories. Not a nice guy. The kind you kind of want to avoid at all costs because he might, I dunno, eat your family or something.

And I'm dreaming about him picking lillies in a garden and then shopping in a clothing store with a bag over one arm in a flamboyantly homosexual manner.

AND THEN I start to dream about my youngest nephew! Tom and I are walking with the 4 year old and his mom down our dirt road in this dream. Normal enough, right? Then my 4 year old nephew lifts his cherubic little face and says. "AUNTY! Aunty, so-n-so wants to smoke the hog!"

If you have NO IDEA what that means then let me just tell you to slip into the gutter with me and then tell you the other phrase that means the same thing is "smoke the sausage." Now if you are properly in the gutter, as I sometimes tend to be, I'm sure you can imagine what that means....especially if you know what the word yaoi means.

O_o I think I'm going to cut back on the caramel popcorn just before bed time. O_o

Edit:

So, after reading my own journal I come to a couple conclusions:

A.) there's something my bad ass warlord isn't telling me.

B.) My Nephew is going to grow up to be a bad ass war lord with homosexual tendencies and a knack for gardening.

C.) The next chapter of my book is going to include my young nehpew ratting out my bad ass warlord about his hidden sexual preferences.

D.) Someone is drugging my popcorn.

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/16546522/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/16546522/ Thu, 24 Jan 2008 05:00:51 PST
The weekend was awesome! We went to see my sister and her children. We had soooooo much fun.

We caught the 2nd youngest's basket ball game and I enjoyed every minute of that. Auntie had a crazy moment when the young 'un finally got the ball and was under the basket ready to shoot but stood there like a deer in the head lights. (he's only 9 and this was his 2nd game.) The coach and everyone on the sidelines were trying to encourage him to shoot. Auntie got a little louder and more excited than the rest and bellowed out "SHOOOOOOOOT MICHAEL!" at the top of her lungs, fairly stunning everyone in the gym with that little battle cry. My nephew shot and missed but I cheered him on all the same (and just as loudly) just because he tried and it was a pretty darned good shot.

Did I mention I could yell REALLY loud? Yeah.... everyone in our bleacher was laughing really hard about that. So was the coach who I happened to be sitting behind while next to my sister. XD We were still joking about it an hour after the game. XD

Then we went to my sister's to relax and have pizza and chips and other junk food. Tom played Halo on the xbox with the oldest and 2nd youngest while my sister, my niece and myself sat on the couch and untangled balls of yarn and knitted and watched "She's the Man". The 4-year-old was dancing and singing in the middle of the living room creating some interesting lyrics for a Smashing Pumpkins song.

Youngest: "Hey now your a rock star go on get wieghed" (all though it sounded more like "get laid") "Not all that glitters is gold. Only shooting stars freak alone."

I was laughing so hard I had a stomach ache. XD

And then we were listening to Tom and the boys. It went something like this:

Michael: HEY! WHO SHOT ME!?
Tom: That was David.
David (the oldest): THAT WASN'T ME! I'M NO WHERE NEAR YOU! D8
HEY! Where did that come from? I'm DEAD!
Tom: That was Michael.
David: Michael's dead too. -_-
Tom: Oops. Thought you were someone else. (all this with an impish smile.)

2nd round

David: Uncle Tom! I need covering fire! Michael is all over me!
*michael was a couple feet away from david in the game shooting his older brother.*
Tom:*pulls out a rocket launcher* Yup! I got you covered! *blows up both the boys characters*
David and Michael: HEY!!!! D8
David: *sarcastic* Thanks for the "cover fire" Uncle Tom.
Tom: Anytime. 8D

They had fun. Then my Neice started playing and unmercifully wiped them all out. XD The girl was ruthless. XD Tom was pretty proud of her.

And then Uncle Tom and David tag teamed on me and pulled me off the couch and tickled me. O_O The 4-year-old was trying to help me but unwittingly made Tom and David's job easier.

As I said, It was fun. 8D Can't wait to see them again.

]]> ~GreenGosselin http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/16518074/ http://GreenGosselin.deviantart.com/journal/16518074/ Tue, 22 Jan 2008 09:01:05 PST
I also wish to offer hope for others who may have gone through the same thing or something similar.

I was emotionally abused for the majority of my life by my father and my mother and Aunt enabled that abuse.

There it is, so simple and straight forward. A fact that caused no end of frustration and hurt. The details are far more complex and sticky as details often are. I was not allowed to have an opinion of any sort. If I had one it was squashed efficiently and loudly and with much name calling and yelling and guilt tripping. The same happened if I showed dislike for something my father said. I was made to feel like a monster many times in my life. Literally. I would sit and think “How could I have done that to them. What kind of horrible person am I?”. I would be yelled at for simply leaving a light on or a shampoo bottle out. Not just yelled at, called stupid, idiot, Dad would get in my face and scream endlessly about it. If I voiced dissent over the treatment then it was me being the person in the wrong. I was trying to make Dad look like the bad guy.

And of course I did it all on purpose just to get back at Dad or to get Dad all worked up for what ever reason.

I was only hit once and I don’t remember why.

Dad would stomp his way down to my room start yelling that it needed to be cleaned up and then start throwing stuff around shouting “what’s this?” just before tossing whatever it was across the room.

Where was Mom in all this? She was busy quietly asking me to apologize to Dad for my behavior. My Aunt? Well, she saw it and was aware of it and said nothing because she wanted to keep the family together. (seriously).

I was lucky. My poor brother got much worse treatment and with a learning disability to boot. My poor brother is thankfully finally getting the help he needs from the state government. He’s in therapy, has people helping him with his disability and a place to live that is warm and secure. It took 30 years for him to finally get it but he has it and that’s what matters.

My little sister was only a little luckier than myself. She got out of things by telling jokes and making everyone laugh it away. She still got her share of manipulative, guilt wrenching emotional abuse. The same for my older half sister from my Dad’s previous marriage.

The snapping point for me came this past thanksgiving. Everyone was at my mom and dad’s including my 3 nephews and 1 niece. The 4 year old, the youngest, was doing what 4 year olds do. Exploring his surroundings. Mom and Dad had tons of beautiful glass wear all over the house right at eye level for the youngster. He was obviously interested in the pretty objects and tried touching them. Dad was losing his temper at having to repeatedly tell the boy not to touch stuff and losing his temper with me at telling dad that the boy was 4 and didn’t understand that he wasn’t supposed to touch everything that was in easy reach of his tiny hands. That went over like the Hindenburg. Dad snapped, growling at my nephew, “you need to learn to keep your hands to yourself, little man.” I looked at Dad and said as calmly as possible “Dad, He’s four. He doesn’t understand.” Dad growls back “He may get away with this kind of thing at home but HERE there are RULES and they will be followed.” Then myself again “when you were four, did you understand everything?”

Kim had gone down to one of the bedrooms and started crying. She was, still is, going through a messy divorce with a husband who preferred being drunk to being a dad. She was already strung out and then had her own father go all spastic over her 4 year old being a four year old and insulting her parenting ability at the same time. She then said she wasn’t going to come back to the house to see mom and dad. Can’t blame her.

So I confronted Dad about it. Again, trying to be calm because I sometimes let my temper get away with me. “Are you happy? Kim is crying and says she may not come back.” Dad launched into a tirade of how there are rules in HIS house and that he would not be corrected by anyone in his house. -_- Yeah…that’s when I lost it. SNAP! Tom and My brother took the ki... ]]> ~GreenGosselin