deviantART: by:SheZoom

Just to Update

~SheZoom — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:58:08 PDT

Nothing new, still working, still on dA (only not very often)...but we do play a lot of RockBand here during our free time.

Why? Why Not?

~SheZoom — Sat, 16 May 2009 13:51:55 PDT

I don't have anything to blab about here; I'm just tired of looking at the old journal. Hope you're all well, and feel free to gab to me here if you'd like...I promise I won't wait a month to respond. (Apologies to those I've done that to lately. I suck.)

Is she crazy, or...?

~SheZoom — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 20:52:04 PDT

I had a great big rant about my job, then I got too paranoid to post it..."If someone from the corporate office *sees* this, they'll *know* it's me, and I'll be so screwed!"

That paranoia alone made me delete a perfectly delightful rant...which brings me to my point: the worse the economy gets, the harder management likes to stick it to the employees. And I mean "eight ways til Tuesday" stickin' it.

Most of you probably knew that already. I knew it, too, but I thought maybe I was just being paranoid. Big difference between being paranoid and being aware.

Anyway, I may be too paranoid to go into the specifics of what brought this up, but feel free to vent your own job-related rage here. I promise I won't call your manager. Really.

This May Help You

~SheZoom — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 18:51:31 PST

In a way, this has something to do with art. Yes, I know you're shocked that I'm actually writing about something that has to do with art, and not about laundry or other weird shit (since I have very little to do with art in real life).

If you're one of those people who slouches over their desk/ in front of the computer/ at the drawing table for hours...STOP NOW. After you read this, I mean. You may be doing serious damage to your back without realizing it.

Whenever possible, take a break- get up and walk around, stretch, move a little. Do it at least once an hour. Be aware of your posture while you're sitting.

If you do have back problems, see a doctor or chiropractor if you can. If you have general soreness, try a heating pad. If you have real sharp pain, it could be inflammation. Either way, it's better to let the experts figure it out.

Here's the most important thing I've learned from experience: if you're told to use a heating pad or an ice pack (or both), then don't use it for more than 20 minutes in an hour. (That is, use it from 8:00 to 8:20, then don't use it again til 9:20). If you use an ice pack on your back for longer (like I did when I fell asleep), you can actually give your skin freezer-burn. Not only that, but it will mess with your nerves in other parts of your body. It's like getting frost-bite, then you get than burning sensation like when you start to warm up again. My legs were actually numb for an hour, then they hurt like crazy.

I think the same goes for heating pads, but I don't have personal knowledge. I'll assume too much heat is just as bad.

There you go, my friends. So save yourself a few bucks by not messing up your back to begin with. If you do, then don't fall asleep with the ice pack on.

Blah blah update blah blah

~SheZoom — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:44:49 PST

It took me five minutes to figure out how to post a new journal entry; that means either the new DA is confusing, or I'm just easily confused.

In other news, my f-ing back is shot again. I want a new one. I'm looking on e-bay to see how much new backs are going for. Oh, and I have a cold, so every time I cough, my back hurts more. Wah.

Hope you're all having a grand new year.

Something something and other stuff

~SheZoom — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:40:22 PST

For no apparent reason, we've been watching a lot of movies this past week or so, and it's got to stop. I need to read more. Or something, anything. I don't like going to the theaters to see movies because of the audience. You all know exactly what I mean by that, so I'll say no more about it. I do enjoy watching movies at home, because I can be all comfy and sloppy, and because I can behave badly, just like the badly-behaved people who annoy me at movie theaters.

Okay, I'm rambling.

I'm trying to quit smoking for the 1,000,000 time in my life. I've managed to cut back on my usual intake, which is actually a triumph for me because I couldn't even do that previously. I've also managed to cut back without eating every molecule of food in the house. I try to keep myself busy so that I don't think about smoking or food. So I watch a lot of movies and write DA journals that make no sense.

Suggestions and encouraging hugs are welcomed.

And now...

~SheZoom — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 05:48:20 PST

Some things are looking better, some are getting worse, and some things haven't changed a bit; whatever the case may be, I'm indulging myself in some holly-jolly happiness, because I LOVE THE HOLIDAYS.

I'm one of those maniacs that has eight-thousand little foo-foo knick-knack sparkly shinies that I throw all over the house the day after Thanksgiving. YES, I am one of those.

We've been watching "It's a Wonderful Life" and "The Grinch" and "Charlie Brown's Christmas" and laugh and cry without shame. I am going to make all kinds of cookies, and this year (for the first time ever) I made peppermint bark!

Presents are a bit "on the cheap" this year, and we bought lots of "gently used" items at garage sales and from discount tables, but they'll ALL be wrapped in happy shiny paper- just because they aren't expensive doesn't mean they deserve less.

The times I like best are when Erin and I are both home from work, just hanging out, and we can sit quietly outside (when it's not too cold) and watch the lights on the neighbors' houses blinking. We actually drink hot apple cider, because I think it's a law that you have to to REALLY be in the holiday swing.

Uhm....lost my train of thought. Anyway, the point is, whatever you do this year, give yourself some time now and then to just relax and enjoy the the good moments. The bad stuff will always be around to worry about, so put it on the back-burner for a little while. Enjoy the presence of a friend, or the quiet of the night, or the sight of snow falling, even if it's just on television.

Happy Holidays to all~

You Can't Make This Stuff Up..

~SheZoom — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 18:26:14 PST

I can't.

I just received a form letter from the headquarters of the company I work for; one of their laptops was stolen last month, and this laptop contained personal information of their employees.

No apologies.

They took a MONTH to inform us of this.

Why was this info on someone's laptop, anyway?

Me and 97,000 people have our personal info floating around God-knows-where. Yeah, I said 97,000 people. 97,000 fairly pissed-off people.

And no one will be held accountable, either.

I *wish* I was kidding about this.

EEEE!

~SheZoom — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 09:42:16 PST

Thoughtlessly pushing aside everything else at the moment:

Happy Anniversary, Erin!

EVERYBODY...

~SheZoom — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:04:57 PST

Please go tell to STAY IN SCHOOL.

You can get grunt-work ANYTIME, but you CAN'T always make time (or have the money) to go to school. GET THAT PIECE OF PAPER.

If you don't get a career in your field of choice later, THEN go take grunt-work. But DO NOT throw away the opportunity you have NOW.

I'm actually SERIOUS about this.

Oh my!

~SheZoom — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:31:55 PST

Yep, I got really sick for a while, then as I was getting over that, I manage to get a pinched nerve in my neck, and that was way worse than the virus I had. (It's one of those things that sounds really wimpy, but it's really pretty awful.)
So... kinked-up neck for two days, go to the doctor, get three different drugs which made me pass out for hours on end, but didn't offer much in actual pain-relief. Then I went to a highly-praised chiropractic clinic, which did give me some relief, but the experience ended quickly and badly; "Dr. Slick" and company demanded I sign on for a long-term plan. (Something about me coming in for treatments three times a week for eight months or I was doomed to...something. They weren't real specific about what.) I decided to take that chance, and shook them off like a bad sweat.
Anyway, found a WONDERFUL chiropractor, and I'm healing up pretty well, although I'm still somewhat limited in stamina. Give it time.
That's the story, morning-glory.

Thanks to for checking up on me, and thank you to those who dropped notes & comments with good advice & warm fuzzies. Sorry it took me forever to write back.

Onward and upward.

Hope you're all well.

Oh So Sick! & Other News

~SheZoom — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:47:29 PDT

Looks like I won't be needing a flu shot since I've just gotten the flu- or something like it. It started as a cold, got better, then got worse enough that now I'm on antibiotics. Eurgh. Hopefully this will build up my immune system to make me FLU-INVINCIBLE!!

Happy Congrats to and on their wedding!

New watch on who is not only talented but also really nice, too!

Best wishes to on her new digs!!

And condolences to for crushing his phone.

That's the latest!

The 2-Hour Job

~SheZoom — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:53:53 PDT

Call the repairman on Monday, make an appointment for Thursday, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m... Take the day off work to wait for the repairman. Two o'clock arrives and passes. I call to ask why the delay, and I'm told, no, it's not this Thursday, it's Thursday two weeks from now.

Screw that. I cancel the appointment and call another repairman. Okay, he will be here on Tuesday (not in two weeks, but the next Tuesday), anywhere from 8 a.m. til 6 p.m. That window sucks, but at least I don't have to wait two weeks!

I take another day off work and I wait and wait and wait. At six-thirty I call, and am told that there was "a delay", but he'll be there any minute.

At seven-thirty the repairman arrives, and looks at the problem. He announces that he has to pick his son up from the babysitter's at eight o'clock, so he won't have time to do the job. He'll call the office and they'll send another guy right over.

Screw that. I send him on his way. The next morning I call yet another repairman. I explain the problem, and he asks why I waited so long to call for a repair.I blubber the sad saga to him...the empty promises, the lies, the deceptions I've suffered. I sound desperate or insane at this point, but he chuckles nicely, and says he's sympathetic to the situation, so he will be over this very afternoon. That would be great, except that I have to go to work.

We settle on Monday. Two p.m. No quarter given, none asked.

I take yet another day off and my boss is beginning to get weird about it. But on Monday at 2 p.m. the truck rolls up, and the nice man steps in, investigates the problem and explains that he'll have to go pick up some parts, but that'll only take 15 minutes. The labor itself will only be 2 hours.

He leaves and returns at 4 p.m., explaining that there was an accident on the road, so he had to take the long way to get back. When I mention that he could have called to let me know this, he chuckles warmly, saying he doesn't use his phone while he's driving. Oh, and besides, I took the day off work, so what's the difference?

I leave him to the job. I go about my own business. After an hour I walk through the room where he's working, and notice he's not there. I peek out the window, figuring that he's getting parts out of the truck. He's standing in my driveway, smoking a cigarette and cursing into his phone.

He comes back in a half-hour later, explaining that his wife had called. They had some issues to discuss. On my time.

I will finish this by saying that yes, the repair was eventually completed. I have also purchased a large "how-to" book of home repairs.

There is no moral or point to this, I'm just bitching.

Peace out!

Shrug

~SheZoom — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 06:35:07 PDT

I'm not very keen on this V6, but nothing to do about it, I guess! I'm sure others who don't like it will rant on their journals, and other people who OMGLOVE everything that happens on DA will write nasty journals about the "whiners". So I guess other than this little blub, I won't whine.

Aw, Damn...

~SheZoom — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 06:23:00 PDT

I just read that George Carlin dies yesterday. That sucks.

Nicknames

~SheZoom — Sun, 04 May 2008 08:35:31 PDT

After reading the latest journal by , I got to thinking about nicknames.

Do you have one? If so, how did you get it? Do you like it or hate it?

If you could choose your own nickname, what would you like it to be...and why?

As for me, my nicknames are as follows:

"oh miss"- at work from customers

"honey" by my husband, because I guess I'm "sweet as" or something

and if I could choose my own nickname it would be "Tic Tac" because I have no imagination. (Don't really start calling me that; I'm just kidding about that.)

People Stuff & Updates

~SheZoom — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 19:48:20 PDT

Whew, a lot of my friends are going through troubles that they don't need/deserve, and it really bugs me that I can't *do* anything to help. I can listen, offer advice, be kind and gentle, but I can't say or do any one thing to make them feel better.

So, to those of you reading, you know who you are, and you know I care...and if it seems like I'm not saying or doing enough to help...it's only because I don't know what to do.

*****

Over in my end of the pipe...I don't have too much to gripe about. I know, what a shock, right? Except that my job is currently really frustrating to me. That popping sound you heard earlier today was my brain exploding while I was at work.

I haven't done anything art-wise lately. Yes, again, what a shock. Why do I even stay on DA? Mostly because a lot of my friends are here, I guess.

Did I Miss the Memo?

~SheZoom — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 17:11:41 PST

What's the difference between "Faves" and "Collection"?

Credit Where It's Due...

~SheZoom — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 13:21:10 PST

Check this out:

[link]

See the nice artwork? That's by ...once again, artwork has been taken without credit being given! However, since this page gets lots of hits, I've encouraged blackmago to write to them, asking for credit. Then lots of people will see his work and know how fab he is...

Or is this a bad idea? The more your work is seen, does it make it more prone to being taken without permission? How do you get "known" without being ripped too much in the process??

What's New?

~SheZoom — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 06:14:23 PST

by of course

The Wyliman Book!

~SheZoom — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 07:34:05 PDT

Time to go get Mario's first collection of the "Wyliman" comic strips!!!

Go here: [link]

For more info:

Congrats, Mario!!!

My Current Favorite Place

~SheZoom — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 20:46:17 PDT

...on the internet: [link]

Lots & lots of words, and they're all there to be your friends.

And a thesaurus, too.

Blub blub

~SheZoom — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 11:38:57 PDT

I watch lots of wonderful artists who update their galleries quite often, and I never get a chance to look at their beautiful work anymore...and when I do, I can never think of anything to say besides "Me like", because I am not good at comments.

So...

Yeah.

Guilty Pleasure

~SheZoom — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 19:38:51 PDT

We never miss "Hell's Kitchen". I like it. I like it a lot. I pretty much hate everything on tv, but I really like that show.

Do you have any guilty pleasures??

WYLIMAN

~SheZoom — Wed, 30 May 2007 07:54:30 PDT

Pimpin' for my friend Mario

True Trivia

~SheZoom — Thu, 24 May 2007 09:14:24 PDT

When I go to sit outside to read a newspaper, the wind starts to pick up like crazy. Weird, huh?

Yoink!

~SheZoom — Tue, 08 May 2007 21:17:25 PDT

Zorgia made this, I just glommed onto it.

Didn't Get the Message

~SheZoom — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 06:58:45 PDT

I just realized that not all DA messages appear in the "messages" section that shows up when you log in...so, unless I go looking for them, I miss messages on my front page, and comments left in the "polls" section as well. Oh, and on the Shoutboard, too.

So if you commented to me somewhere and I didn't reply...I wasn't being snotty, just ignorant.

Happy Birthday!

~SheZoom — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 06:46:38 PST

To my love!

Send props to for his 25th!

Have fun!

SOOOO Confused

~SheZoom — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 07:21:52 PDT

Listening to: Plenty
Reading: Too many
Watching: None right now

I don't get the new stuff on here. Where is the little emoticon that went in under my info? What are these emoticon-selection buttons that are showing up everywhere? Why are the journal-page selections all tweaky?

Not Again?! Yes, AGAIN!

~SheZoom — Sat, 12 Aug 2006 15:34:50 PDT

Mood: Bummer
Listening to: Nirvana
Reading: Trashy mags
Watching: Pirates, finally!

Well, RIPPER STRIKES AGAIN, the headline today! Not on me, but on . Check out his journal for the update.

Oh, new DA

~SheZoom — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 12:33:00 PDT

Mood: In the mood for food
Listening to: Nirvana
Reading: Trashy mags
Watching: Pirates, finally!

I don't love it, I don't hate it. I kinda liked the old format better. This new version isn't horrible, but it doesn't really *do* anything for me, either.

I guess I'll get used to it. Eh.

What do *you* think of it?

A great new stamp!

~SheZoom — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 20:24:49 PDT

Mood: Sleepy!
Listening to: Bowie
Reading: Some book...
Watching: Pirates, finally!

Check out this cool stamp!

This was made by , give appropriate props!!

Tell Me... The EXPERIENCE!

~SheZoom — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 17:42:24 PDT

Mood: Summery, I guess!
Listening to: Joe Jackson "Jumpin' Jive"
Reading: Chester Brown's older stuff
Watching: P. O. T. C.

I really love some movies, but I really hate going to most movie theaters.

Notice I said "some" movies, because I don't really love most movies. I'm kind of a drag that way. I'm movie-fussy.

I'm really not a smarty-pants-artsy movie snob. I enjoy a lot of popular movies (usually for the wrong reasons. I'm not going to see the new "PotC" movie for the *story*. ) but the theater-experience (the ticket price being Problem Number One) puts me off. It's generally not much fun. It's worse if the movie stinks. It's worse than *that* if the movie is the NUMBER ONE HIT OF ALL TIME and it stinks.

Having said that, tell me what's YOUR biggest problem with the theater-going experience? Ticket prices? The seats? Other people? The movies themselves?

SHOUT OUT, PEOPLE!

Angsty or Lazy?

~SheZoom — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 08:26:51 PDT

I'm feeling like an art-dinosaur. I have little to zero skills with computer/digital graphics & programs. I'm not very good with traditional media, either. So I don't feel much like doing anything artsy lately...

Actually, I *want* to, I just don't feel like I *can*.

Or maybe I'm just lazy & looking for a reason to not do anything. Do you ever do that?

Send MORE Love

~SheZoom — Sat, 13 May 2006 18:37:17 PDT

I didn't realize how sick my friend May Ann has been recently, til I read her latest journal. It was like getting another one of those wake-up calls...you know what I mean.

Recently, I've been slightly stressed out with stuff going on, this and that... you know what I mean, don't you? And, of course, just as I was feeling good and sorry for poor little me, I read a journal about May Ann's illness and operations. So of course I feel like a total jerk. Then I really got over my own self and found myself actually crying because I felt so badly for her. (Although I *am* happy to hear she's recovering.)

So, yeah, I know you hear it: someone else's troubles can give you a better perspective on your own, but this *really* did it for me. So if you hear me bitching about anything pathetic or stupid for, oh say a *year* or two, if I'm acting like a snotty little diva, just straighten me out. Say "May Ann" and I will stop being a brat and maybe count my blessings.

If you have a minute, read her journal. look at her art, and maybe say a nice word to her. She's a real peach, and I'm sure she'll enjoy a friendly comment from a new friend or two.

Freak

~SheZoom — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 07:31:47 PDT

Mood: ...uhhh....

I've been told that I'm a major wuss-puss for copping out on the Tag Game, so let me try again...

Six Weird Things About Me.

1. I cut my nails every Friday. Friday only. I won't do it on any day except Friday.

2. I own lots of cookbooks, but never actually cook anything from them. I love to cook, I love the cookbooks and look at them frequently, but these two worlds never collide.

3. I have to memorize phone numbers. When I dial a phone number from a list or a phone book- anytime I'm looking at a phone number that's written down- I inevitably dial it WRONG. I transpose numbers when I write them too. That's why I ask people for their phone numbers so much, because I always copy them wrong.

4. I suck at small talk. When I try to socialize (not often) I usually blab something that's socially inappropriate (not on purpose), so unless I'm really comfortable with you, I may appear to be either snotty or stupid.

5. This sort of goes along with #4. I'm deaf in one ear, so I miss a lot of conversation. I need to ask people to repeat things a lot. If you don't know this about me, you probably think I'm stupid or brain-dead.

6. I pasta. I would eat pasta every single day, except that Erin likes hamburgers so much that we have to occasionally eat hamburgers.

OK- NOW I TAG!!!!

Public Service Message!

~SheZoom — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 09:33:45 PST

Listening to: The Cars "Shake It up" Hee hee!

I was sad to learn that a wonderful artist will be (hopefully, just temporarily) leaving DA. She's understandably upset; someone swiped her art and she wants a little time-out to cool down and regroup. (If she's reading this- we'll not only miss your lovely art, but YOU!! One of the most kind-hearted people on this site, always with a good word for others... don't stay away too long!)

But anyway... You see this happen a lot. And you know if you post your work where others can see it, there's an open chance that it will be swiped. I've been told that even using a "watermark" over your work can be gotten around... (Y'know, if people are willing to go to the trouble to copy a pic, make the effort to remove identifying watermarks, or make JUST enough changes to keep it from being a complete rip... why not just make your own art?!?!? I'm so confused.) There's no foolproof prevention for rips at the moment.

Maybe one thing that would help is all of us looking out for each other- cooperative effort. If you see a rip, report it to the helpdesk and to the artist, privately.

I've got your back, you've got mine. Luckily, you don't have to watch too much for me; I suck so people don't rip me, HAW HAW HAW!!

Peace out! New poll on the way soon!

Yes Said I

~SheZoom — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 05:54:57 PST

Listening to: The Beatles- "Something"
Reading: Not telling

Maybe you've already heard this, but on Feb. 12, Erin officially asked me to marry him.

New Watches!

~SheZoom — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 16:41:39 PST

Swiped from

My japanese name is Shiraishi (white stone) ä¸åä»£ Michiyo (three thousand generations).
Take your real japanese name generator! today!
Created with Rum and Monkey's Name Generator Generator.

Here are some people I've recently started watching... I haven't had time to check out all of their galleries, or make many comments myself, but what I've seen so far is really impressive!!

I hope you'll go check them out and leave lots of good comments!

And if you haven't done so yet, check out !!! Have fun!

Holiday

~SheZoom — Tue, 20 Dec 2005 09:36:50 PST

This beautiful creation is, of course, made by

Mood: Festive again!
Reading: "Ballpoint Pen" by Erin Humiston
Watching: "The Christmas That Almost Wasn't"

We're getting down to the wire! Now begins the last-minute preparations, shopping, mailing, all of that good stuff.

Erin & I will have Christmas together at home, then on to the family visits! Since both sets of folks have horribly slow internet connections, there won't be much online activity...Plus, there won't be a whole lot of time for internet activity. There's snow-forts waiting to be built, friends to visit, walks to be taken, stars to be watched, cookies to be eaten... But my friends know that even if they don't hear from me, they have my love & best wishes for a beautiful holiday and a wonderful new year.

No matter where I go or what I do, I keep my friends in my heart always!

Now...ONTO THE NEW POLL!!!!

Blame ZORGIA!!!

~SheZoom — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:28:34 PST

~ created by the Amazing

Mood: "In the Zone"
Reading: "Ballpoint Pen" by Erin Humiston
Watching: Rankin-Bass Holiday Cartoons

I said there would be no more tag-games from me this year... I hadn't counted on being tagged by and how can I refuse??? SO.........

10 people/things you like:

1. Erin
2. My friends (yes, even YOU, Eric) & (sometimes) my family!
3. Animals
4. My brilliant ability to fix my own plumbing, saving me a fortune in plumber's bills
5. When the weather is just perfect, like today
6. Laughing (not tv shows, not comedians, but my friends! My friends make me laugh more than anything, bless 'em!)
7. Food (probably almost as much as Sandora)
8. When Erin & I have time to just kick back & relax together
9. Getting ready for the holidays, making plans, wrapping prezzies, making cookies!
10. Watching my enemies being crushed... um, no, wait! I mean: PEACE!!!

5 things that make you happy:

Pretty much the same as above

10 things that you hate/dislike:

1. "B.S. People"- that includes people who are deliberately mean, abusive, manipulative... You get the idea.
2. When I do/say stupid things
3. Being rushed (usually it's my own fault- I procrastinate, then have to rush to make up for it!)
4. Being broke!
5. When I can't help someone
6. Seeing someone I care about get hurt
7. Allergy attacks
8. My front lawn
9. Lies
10. My hair

3 facts about your name

Nothing to report!

2 things you expect (at least for now):

1. That the people I tag won't play
2. That I'm going to be tagged again by someone else I can't refuse

4 random thoughts:

1. Erin's getting a really cool surprise for Christmas
2. I have to address holiday cards
3. I have to wrap change
4. Where are my keys?

Song you're listening to:

Nothing right now... Just the quiet

12 People you'll tag this to:

I'm leaving it up to whoever wants to play. TAG YER OWN BAD SELVES!!!!! PEACE OUT!

Don't Read!

~SheZoom — Thu, 08 Dec 2005 16:50:23 PST

~a beautiful holiday gift from to all!

Mood: Festive
Reading: "Ballpoint Pen" by Erin Humiston
Watching: Rankin-Bass Holiday Cartoons

Honestly, I have nothing exciting to report... It's just a flurry of getting ready for the holidays, you know the drill. My current headache is a certain travel company that can't quite get it together. Oh, and we're so broke. But that's the holidays for ya!

Check out the gallery of and tell him to submit more of his art!

So... Go take the new poll then!

Ghost of Xmas 2005

~SheZoom — Mon, 05 Dec 2005 16:57:34 PST

~a beautiful holiday gift from to all!

Reading: "Ballpoint Pen" by Erin Humiston
Watching: Rankin-Bass Holiday Cartoons

I'm going thru the usual pre-holiday traumas: the travel plans going haywire, the malls are frickin' insane, people suck... All that good holiday cheer.

I read the latest journal by which left me feeling pretty stupid about being so petty over minor setbacks. Yeah, maybe holiday stuff gets wacky... But I'm going to sleep in my own bed every night, in my own home, with the one I love. Damn, I have it good!

I'm hoping if you read this, you'll stop by to say hello to GMAN, check out his gallery (maybe even leave a comment or two), and wish him a Happy Holiday.

Look Two!

~SheZoom — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 08:54:36 PST

Mood: Allergy or Something
Listening to: Still is Still Moving to Me - Toots & the Maytals
Reading: "Ballpoint Pen" by Erin Humiston

I'm a little run-down today, so I'll cut to the chase: here are some more wonderful artists! Please go look thru their galleries, put them on your watch-list, drop a note to say "hello"...

I found her gallery thru and am soooo happy about that! She does teeny elephants. I love teeny elephants.

Lovely, fun, colorful... Just go!

Mmm...Paintings, like comfort food for your soul...

I'm having a tough time coming up with a good descriptive for this gallery. Again, just go!

My words can't do justice to any of these artists or their work. (I kinda gave up trying.) I hope if you have a few free minutes, you'll go look at their work. Drop me a line if you want, let me know what you think of them, or let me know if there's an artist you like a lot that you want to see get some recognition!

AND!!!! A new poll today!!!!!

Moving Ahead

~SheZoom — Mon, 07 Nov 2005 07:38:20 PST

Listening to: Holiday Music (Still!)
Reading: "Ballpoint Pen" by Erin Humiston

Thanks to all of my good friends for your nice birthday greetings! Some of you sent me special messages, so to you!!!

Thanks to all you lovely people who participated in TAG!! If you enjoyed that, stayed tuned. I have a new game in development. (Why bother doing boring old artwork when I can spend time coming up with GAMES?!?!) XD

There's some new faces here, I hope everyone will get familiar with each other & check out one another's galleries. I don't know about DeviantArt altogether, but I hope all of you will find this little corner one of those friendly sort of places where strangers can become friends.

For those of you who may not have been informed, the very brilliant is now the equally brilliant , only with a larger gallery, and prints available! Stop by, peruse his work & drop him a comment and a fav or two!

Drop a note here if you'd like, tell us all what's new at *your* place!

****EDIT: NEW POLL!!!****

TAG!! (Update)

~SheZoom — Fri, 04 Nov 2005 22:34:14 PST

EDIT!!!! The answer (that is, the LIE) is #3. I started wearing glasses when I was 13. All of the other statements are true. Weird stuff, huh?

Thanks to those of you who played! Hope you had fun with it!!

Mood: Silly
Listening to: Holiday Music (yep)
Reading: "Ballpoint Pen" by Erin Humiston
Watching: Wallace & Gromit

I was tagged (on request) by to play Tag: you post 20 facts about yourself, then tag other people to do the same. Since I don't have 20 interesting facts, I'm going to post 5... only 4 are true, and 1 is a total lie. Can you spot the lie? (You don't win anything if you guess, ha ha.)

If I tag you, please respond!!! You can do it here, or on your own journal. Tagging others is optional (but fun)- NO TAG-BACKS!!! And remember: 4 truths and 1 lie!!! Then we get to guess your lie! Some fun, eh, kids???? If I don't tag you, play along anyway- spot the lie!

4 FUN/STUPID FACTS & 1 LIE:

1. I have numerical dyslexia; this is a real condition. I have problems reading/writing numbers in their correct order.
2. I am completely immune to poison ivy.
3. I have been wearing glasses since I was 11 years old.
4. If you look up my name in a book of Saints, you will find "St. Christine the Astonishing"
5. My elbows are double-jointed so I can do weird twisty stuff with my arms.

I TAG:

(I picked these by shutting my eyes & poking at your icons on my list, so it's all fair & random.)

The Aftermath, an Update

~SheZoom — Thu, 27 Oct 2005 07:21:29 PDT

Listening to: Holiday Music (yep)
Reading: "Ballpoint Pen" by Erin Humiston
Watching: Wallace & Gromit

It took less than 24 hours for the admins to remove my avatar from the person who stole it. Dang, I'm impressed. THANK YOU to the admins who took action so quickly- I wish I knew your names- and especially hexentanz at the Help Desk, who got the ball rolling. THANK YOU to my good friends, both old and new, for providing me with support and laughs.

I'm no stranger to art theft. I've been ripped off myself. The first time it happened, I felt awful, like some stranger deliberately chose me to be the victim- I took it personally... but after the first time, I got nice and numb to it. Sure, I'd still be outraged, I just didn't take it so personally!

I didn't create the avatar in question, but it was a gift for me. Erin gave me that. He came up with the idea and did the work to bring it to life. That meant quite a lot to me. It was a gift he *made* for me! So of course, I was upset *for* him; *his* work was stolen...but I was indeed upset for myself, too. It's like having your favorite sweater go missing, then you see it in the hands of a stranger...and it's some filthy jerk who's using it as a snotrag!

But I digress. Back to the topic at hand...While I won't go into any details, I will just let you all know that while the person who appropriated the avatar had it taken away, and was reminded of DeviantArt's policy, this person was not banned. I honestly didn't expect he would be. I wonder if he plans on trying that trick again. Maybe, maybe not...

On a final note: if this happens to you, do yourself a favor, and play by the rules. You may want to send your friends off to spam the person's page, you may want to send off a vicious note...DON'T DO IT! Because *you* will be "harrassing" that person, and *you*will be violating policy! Don't get yourself banned over some jerk!!! Collect your evidence, and give it to the admins. Let them handle it. In my case, this was effective. I've been told that it doesn't always work, some people don't see resolution... Well, in that case, um... I don't know what to suggest.

October has just been a crazy, crazy month...and the month *still* isn't over yet.

NEW POLL- of course!!! Can you guess the topic? GO TAKE!!!!!!!

Damn Lucky, Me

~SheZoom — Tue, 06 Sep 2005 16:13:09 PDT

Mood: Blissed-out
Reading: "Ballpoint Pen" by Erin Humiston

Erin: Thank you

So I Can Still Get Amazed

~SheZoom — Tue, 23 Aug 2005 09:27:06 PDT

Mood: ...wow...
Reading: "Ballpoint Pen" by Erin Humiston

It was a lovely cool night, so Erin and I went out walking along the docks, and stopped at "our" bench to sit and talk... We heard a noise from the water- not a splash, but a noise, something we'd both heard before- and both looked in the direction it came from to see two fins disappearing into the water. What the heck...?
"Did you see that?"
Then right in front of us, from the water the noise and the fins again appeared and disappeared. "Oh my God, were those dolphins?"
Several feet further down, the noise- yes, that "blowhole" puff/squeak noise- and two fins popped up and right back into the water. We got up and quietly ran alongside to watch them... We only got so far before we hit a fence, so we stood there and watched them as they appeared and disappeared in and out of the water until they were gone from our sight.
"I've seen them at aquariums, but never out in the "wild" like this."
It was late, and we were the only ones who saw it happen.
I'm sure people experienced bigger events, but for me, last night will stand as one of the most exciting nights of my life.
Erin, I'm so happy that you were the one to share that with me.

What's Your Beef, Jerky?

~SheZoom — Tue, 19 Jul 2005 14:36:19 PDT

Mood: Unfathomable
Listening to: Old Funky 70's Music
Reading: "Ballpoint Pen" by Erin Humiston
Watching: None at the Moment

You can't get laid. You're not as popular now as you were in high school. Your job sucks. Your life sucks. It's all bad, and your plan of action is to take immediate steps to correct your situation by pissing on the rest of the world.
I strongly suggest that you refrain from doing so at any place where you plan on getting food served to you.
I've been waitressing for over 10 years, off and on; I know what I'm talking about. Let me explain my job function to those of you who have never been blessed with such a brilliant opportunity: I greet you with a smile (usually fake), take your order, bring you your food, check to make sure everything's fine (I deliberately time this to ask you how everything is when you have a big mouthful of food), bring you your check, then, with any luck, collect a small gratuity for doing so. (Fun Fact: Did you know that food servers make less than minimum wage?)
Should the occasional problem arise- the food is too hot/too cold/overcooked/undercooked/has a dead rat in it- I am happy to assist in correcting the issue. That's part of my job. That's one of the things that I do so you will leave me a tip. (Fun Fact: Did you know that today's "average" tip *should* be between 15-20% ?) But I digress...
Why is it that so many people come in- pissed off at the world- and take out their pain on food servers? I don't understand. I don't *know* the people that I wait on; *I* didn't cause their personal problems- yet I am the target of their angst. Don't get me wrong- if you have a legitimate gripe with the food or the service, you are absolutely right to complain about it. But when you walk in angry because you're having a bad hair day, then you are *not* entitled to give me crap for it. And chances are, if you do, well...
Let me say this: *I* do not take out my personal unhappiness on strangers, especially if they have access to my food. Not because I'm pure of heart, but because I have *seen* what goes on in many commercial kitchens. (Fun Fact: Did you know that a Philly Cheesesteak with Onions can be scraped off the kitchen floor with a dirty shovel, and still look good?) Chances are, the nastier you behave, the nastier your food server will be... behind your back.
Next time you walk into a restaurant with your bad attitude at the ready, remember this: Giving the wait-staff shit will not improve your looks, will not make your penis bigger, will not get you a new wardrobe, will not make you popular... it might just get you a meal with some "extras", tho.

Just Wondering...

~SheZoom — Fri, 20 May 2005 11:35:25 PDT

What are YOU having for dinner tonight?

It's a small crowd, so...

~SheZoom — Thu, 05 May 2005 21:39:44 PDT

The topic for discussion:

Do you think people actually read descriptions you put on your deviation submission?
Do you read the descriptions on other artists' works?

Talk amongst yourselves!

And for grins, go see

For gasps, go check out

Support new Deviants!

Maybe You Had to Be There...

~SheZoom — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 14:00:59 PST

The scene: SheZoom is reading a book about "relationships", specifically, what a woman's needs are, and what a woman's partner should knowabout the woman they're involved with. Got that? Her boyfriend Paco is waiting for her to start throwing a lot of shit his way about how men are insensitive jack-offs. However...

SheZoom: "This is a pretty good book. I wonder if this author's ever written anything about what a *man's* needs are?"
Paco: "A man's needs? Are you kidding? That's not a book. That's a business card!"

Now for more Big Laffs, go visit: [link]