http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:babygray&section=today deviantART RSS for by:babygray en-us Copyright 2009, deviantART.com Wed, 23 Dec 2009 03:17:49 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/26306904/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/26306904/ Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:04:36 PDT
... In other news, I'm on vacation. That's good, right?

]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/25169706/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/25169706/ Sat, 06 Jun 2009 21:55:05 PDT
(Although, I guess diabetes could be the exception to the rule.)

You know what's also good with everything? Bacon.

(There's even a recipe out there for bacon chocolate chip cookies. Really. [link] )

You know what's not good with everything? Cheese. Super delicious, but never on lo mein, I think. Peking duck, maybe.

That also goes for mayonnaise. Although I have heard of mayo margaritas. [link] It's all very strange, but just what you would expect from the Japanese, I think.

... Why am I rambling about food? (Probably because I'm hungry and I would really like some chocolate right now.)

No plugs 'cause I can't find them right now. (Too hungry?)

... Mayo-covered bacon chocolate cheesecake... I think I've just created the latest nightmarish craze.

]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/24314654/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/24314654/ Sat, 18 Apr 2009 20:14:08 PDT Warning: This is a fangirling entry.

Let me go ahead and say this:

Yamada Shiro ( 山田シロ ) is amazing.

I know nothing about the chick (if, in fact, she is a chick. You never know, yeah?) Something tells me that she's one of those professional manga-ka that still moonlights as a doujinshi artist, but I don't feel like putting in the effort to research it too much.

I'm happy enough just drooling over the artwork.

I bought three Gintama fanbook anthologies last night, all three of which were GinxHiji only's. And, I swear, all three has at least one comic from Yamada-sensei. AND, she did the cover for all three of them.

Apparently, she's hot. At least when it comes to GinxHiji.

Oshiete! Yamada-sense~i, I lurv yuuuuuu! /fangirling

Maybe I'll get to see her at Super Comic City or at Monochrome, both of which are next month. Maybe not, but you never know.

Here is the Amazon page to one of the anthologies: [link]

I really do like her detailed style...

]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/24286120/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/24286120/ Fri, 17 Apr 2009 06:24:07 PDT
People actually click to watch it.

This I do not understand.

I first signed up with dA because a girlfriend was posting her artwork here. (She's no longer active and I have never interacted with her, not with my first alias, and certainly never as 'babygray'. Considering that we had a major falling out long before I came back to dA, I guess that's a good thing.) Soon after, I forgot all about my account, and when I decided to join for myself (and for my less-than-stellar doodling), I had forgotten all the details about it, like name.

It was a bit embarrassing.

I know it now, of course, and maybe, just maybe, I'll figure out a way to put that username to good use.

But, since there's nothing there, still...


In other news: Work is really hard this year. Two-hour-plus daily commutes are such a grand, magnificent pain. The students seem okay, though. They don't make up for all the time I lose in the car (and sleeping, 'cause I don't want to be too utterly exhausted by Friday), but they do try.


Clubs I'm in:



... I'm also really reluctant to do anything else but keep it nice and inactive, so yeah...

]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/22706189/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/22706189/ Wed, 21 Jan 2009 01:37:40 PST
Do you know Mame Shiba? [link] I don't know much about it myself (only started researching it today ), but I can say it is quite a cute (and maybe horrifying) concept.

The commercials themselves are pretty similar. A person starts eating, only to be interrupted by a talking bean dog, which then goes on to tell the person an interesting kernel of knowledge. The person, understandably enough, is spooked by the experience, and the knowledge that hippo sweat is pink, among other things.

I think my favorite mame shiba is the peanut one, who informs a man currently on a date that, in one second of kissing, 2 hundred million germs are shared back and forth.

Even if you don't know Japanese, maybe you will enjoy them. The music is eerie, and the beans are simply adorable.

I wouldn't want to find one in my salad, however.



Clubs I'm in:




... And then they have the audacity to giggle after ruining these people's lives (and appetites) with their oddly appropriate bits of knowledge...

]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/21856422/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/21856422/ Sat, 06 Dec 2008 22:49:31 PST
Paint Jump [link] ... This is a coloring book, isn't it. Sure, it gives you advice on how the artists color them, but it's a coloring book.

Fun bit: .Too, the makers of Copic markers, have even put together a couple of packs based on the first two coloring books [link] (scroll down a wee bit.)

... No, I didn't buy one. I'm not a big fan of either series, although I will admit, the Bleach one is somewhat tempting. However, if they come out with a Death Note one, I would buy it, only because I am a fan of the extremely detailed artwork of that series.

EDIT: Now that I think about it, I hope they release one for Gintama. I would enjoy that very much.

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]
My tegaki blog
[link]

Clubs I'm in:


... Where the heck are my markers... ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/21605660/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/21605660/ Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:22:19 PST

Read my novel excerpt and other things here: [link]



I can't wait for November to end. NaNoWriMo can be so stressful sometimes.

That's not to say I haven't been having fun, though. I'll probably take it back next year, but this is probably my best effort yet.

For example, the main character this year isn't a major Sue. He's only slightly Sue-ish compared to my last four attempts.

And there's fun stuff to try, like this from Wordle:


A bigger, nicer version is here: [link]

Do you see how big the main character's name is? I thought it was a little freaky... until I remembered that he is the main character and that's expected.

And now, ze plugs:


It's NanoWrimo time again! I'm participating this year, and so can you!

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]
My tegaki blog
[link]

Clubs I'm in:


I should find a way to mimic that Twilight chick's fame, get myself a crazy movie deal and some guy from Harry Potter to play Meacon... ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/20946078/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/20946078/ Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:31:53 PDT

Read my novel excerpt and other things here: [link]



So, how do you go about breaking a creative dry spell?

I have been writing and doodling a bit, here and there, which is a bit of a good sign, but I have yet to do this during my free time. I've typed a little, yeah, but no drawing. I've seriously got nothing.

I kind of hope all this was a result of being sick. I was vomiting for a while there last week, and much of my weekends were, unfortunately, spent on my back, sleeping. I feel a little better now, though, I think, even if my throat feels downright terrible at the moment.

I can only hope that I'll feel as right as rain in time for my planned trip to Disneyland on Friday. And I still hope that this creative dry spell will let up in time for NaNoWriMo. Not sure I can even participate this year...

And now, ze plugs:


It's NanoWrimo time again! I'm participating this year, and so can you!

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]
My tegaki blog
[link]

Clubs I'm in:


I'll see a doctor about it -this- year. Yeah. ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/20417349/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/20417349/ Wed, 10 Sep 2008 04:05:22 PDT fall illness". It actually started up two, three weeks ago, after a night or two back in my home away from home.

Being here literally sickens me. I don't blame the country, however. I blame only the house I live in. I am quite certain that it is the cause to this particular ailment.

I should consider finding a new place to live, but the rent's awfully cheap... Yes, yes, price I pay and all that.

Either directly related to my, uh, compromised health or just another sort of malaise is my complete lack of productivity. I doodle every other day and I write a line or two, but nothing is coming from it. It's all very scrapable.

Perhaps I'm not pushing hard enough for it. It's there, the things I want to show, just underneath my skin. (Cue unnecessary sound clip, and yeah, these wounds? They won't heal.) I just can't seen to get them to surface.

Speaking of surface and skin, not a day passed since I came back here that these hard bubbles appeared underneath the skin on my fingers. Only now are they reaching the surface, making the skin peel above them.

This country really isn't good for my health, I'm afraid. ... Oh well.

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]
My tegaki blog
[link]

Clubs I'm in:


I'll see a doctor about it -this- year. Yeah. ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/19609159/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/19609159/ Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:25:56 PDT
One of the least pressing things, but the more... idiotic? Typical? problems I'm having is trying to decide whether to take just one or both of my laptops.

I think that answer is an easy one: Just take the Macbook. I hardly use the Vaio for anything. But, when I do use it, it's for art, and what if I want to doodle something out on Painter, huh?

It really is an idiotic question. There's no need for me to take both computers. I'll only be gone for a month, and it's vacation time. I'm probably obligated to be busy doing things involving the outdoors and swimsuits.

Well... now that that's settled, I can get working on packing everything else I need... or, rather, want to take on vacation with me.

Now, should I pack the fancy carrying case along with my fancy camera? How many sketchbooks should I take? Do I really need to pack all my markers...

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]
My tegaki blog
[link]

Clubs I'm in:


Packing is hard. ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/19100668/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/19100668/ Sat, 28 Jun 2008 22:10:57 PDT
Not that there's anything fundamentally wrong with June. It's just another month in a ever-turning cycle of them. I did have a feeling that this month would not be particularly exciting, however, and the fact that I was right does not help to alleviate my mood.

I would especially like to blame the rain for sapping away all my energy this month. I certainly can't explain why things seem to feel unbalanced. It certainly hasn't helped me produce anything of passing importance. In fact, the only things this month has managed to bring were the aforementioned illness and ants, and, to be frank, I could have done without either.

I'm almost looking forwards to the oppressive heat of July, and not just because Celebration Japan happens next month, although it does play a big part in my enthusiasm. (I heard that Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher (o.O) are planning to make appearances, which is quite awesome. Anthony Daniels is, too, but I have a feeling that he's always on the convention circuit...)

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]
My tegaki blog
[link]

Clubs I'm in:


This place is just an island full of Star Wars Fans. (Like PR, but with raw fish.) ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/18604071/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/18604071/ Sun, 01 Jun 2008 04:31:35 PDT
God, I feel so miserable. Physically, I'm a wreck. Emotionally, I'm teetering. I need to do something to relax, but I can't figure out what. I want to travel, but I don't know where to. I want to gamble uselessly, but I know that I shouldn't. But if I stay here any longer, I know I will go mad. It'll all very distressing.

I am looking forward to July, though. Celebration is coming to Japan on the 19th, and my very expensive three-day ticket is already bought, paid for, and gathering dust on my refrigerator. I've never been to a Star Wars convention before. The thought brings a smile to my face, because my raging migraine doesn't allow for anything else at the moment.

And a week after Celebration Japan is the start of my summer vacation, during which I'll be roasting away back at my mom's house in the U.S. instead of broiling in my matchstick house in Saitama Pre. I'm not sure how I feel about the possibility of hanging out with my little sister the whole summer. I love her to death, but I think my being nearly ten years older would be a hindrance to her.

Whatever. I just wish June would just end already. I have a feeling things would get better for me in July.

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]
My tegaki blog
[link]

Clubs I'm in:


I hate the song so much but, Celebrate, good times, come on! ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/18048126/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/18048126/ Sun, 27 Apr 2008 03:06:02 PDT
Yesterday, I drove to the mall over in the next prefecture and spent no less than 50 dollars on medal games. You know, the ones where you just insert coins onto sliding slabs of metal in hopes of pushing a few back to you? That. Fifty dollars' worth. To be more specific, I was playing Grand Cross [link] , which uses a combination of bingo, slots, and roulette in its gameplay.

Boy, howdy was it addictive. (Or, rather, was it just entrancing enough to keep me sucked for hours, and then for a couple of hours more.)

(To be even more honest, I did blow the first 15 on another medal game, a Mario Party derivative [link] . It wasn't nearly as fun. And definitely more coin-sucking.)

So now, along with planning shopping trips, I'm planning trips to all the arcades I know in hopes of finding a medal game as fun as Grand Cross. Or as addictive, I should say. I really do need to do something with my time, now that whatever passion I had last month is gone.

I've also been thinking of taking up a Star Trek addiction, which only shows how desperate I am becoming for something to do with my time. (I mean, me, a Star Wars fan taking up Star Trek!? For shame. ) Dodging old art projects and half-finished stories, stressing out over work and occasionally money, and literally running myself ragged every night doesn't seem to be enough. A little Kirk/Spock obsessing may be just what I need to pick myself up.

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]
My tegaki blog
[link]

Clubs I'm in:


Current favorite Star Trek character: Dr. McCoy. ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/17452499/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/17452499/ Sat, 22 Mar 2008 03:13:09 PDT
Not sure what sort of mood, yet, however, but when I figure it out, you'll be the first to know.

I have been rather busy lately. For someone who usually posts something (maybe) once a month, I have been on overdrive. And, I don't think I'm finished, but you never know. I may end up burning out whatever creative fire I have at the moment by the end of the month, and not post another thing till Christmas.

Eh. Might as well enjoy it while it lasts, I guess.

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]
My tegaki blog
[link]

Clubs I'm in:


Note to self: Stop trying to cut your own hair. ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/17033766/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/17033766/ Sat, 23 Feb 2008 23:06:46 PST
Last night, it was slow and steady. I was working on some lineart that I've promised someone, and it came out pretty okay, but probably not. (The slight mistake on the hair can be blotted out with some white-out later, I'm sure.)

Today, I'm coloring the same picture digitally, and after putting some effort into the skin (it may or may not have come out okay), I started on the hair and then stopped. Hair takes more dedication and patience than I have at the moment.

... And the clothes! I colored them (mostly) randomly, and I have no idea what sort of color scheme I want to use. I would ask for suggestions, but... what the hell. If you got an idea as what I can do with this technicolor work in progress [link] , let me know.

I think it's best if I just take a break. Maybe I'll find some inspiration that will help me pick a good color set for the drawing, if not enough patience to deal with the hair properly.

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]

Clubs I'm in:


A little late, now, but... happy birthday to me~e... ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/16810482/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/16810482/ Sun, 10 Feb 2008 03:12:05 PST

I got a chance to call my mother earlier today, and I told her that I was afraid of my upcoming birthday.

My fear is not so much because I'm growing older, but because I'm probably going to have a very shitty birthday, and, by correlation, a very shitty year.

I don't want a crappy year. I want a good year. Guess the only thing I can do is make sure my birthday is the best ever.

I was feeling this dread since New Year's, and after I actually said it out loud to her, i suddenly realized that I was being a little silly.

Eh. I'll go back to dreading my birthday when not a single person wishes me a happy one. I would mention it, but no one ever remembers... or cares.

I'm gonna go lie underneath the table now.

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]

Clubs I'm in:


February 26th, yo! Give me something!!! ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/16381910/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/16381910/ Sun, 13 Jan 2008 03:38:17 PST
Maybe later, when I get over the block I'm suffering from.

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]

Clubs I'm in:


Don't get me started on how hard it is at the moment to focus on finishing a drawing...

]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/16033557/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/16033557/ Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:05:14 PST absolutely nothing something or another these next two weeks. I still have to put the finishing touches on my New Year's postcard and get it printed up on the post office postcards and mailed by the 24th. (I hope it's still not too late.)

And there's all the dumb things I keep telling myself to finish so that I can post it here and show off how much of a talentless goof-off I am. (I'm guessing that's not too bad as long as it's fanart... I bet if I post one decently drawn, semi-funny comic about Sora and Riku, all the fangirls'll come a-running... Or not. Not sure.)

So, on my first day of winter vacation, I'm going to ignore both the greeting postcard and the backlist and I'm going shopping. I wonder if I can still buy that cute calendar I saw last month...

And if I forget, Feliz Navidad and all that jazz. Santa isn't getting me much this year, people being broke and sick and all, but I'm sure the Three Kings are getting me something special.

Like a bike.

(And no, I don't feel like a little kid, admitting that I want a mamachari for Christmas/Three Kings' Day.)

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]

Clubs I'm in:






... I wonder if being a materialistic, shallow, vain person a bad thing... At least the goodies are good... ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/15741788/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/15741788/ Fri, 30 Nov 2007 21:51:43 PST
Back, way back on the 3rd, I was a very bad girl and I bought myself a fancy new camera. I'm still not sure how to use it, especially when it's on manual, but I didn't even get the chance to use it all month because I had to write.

But enough about that.

So, on the third of November, I bought a fancy new camera (for some reason, I didn't feel like finding the English page after finding the page in Japanese: [link] ... but then I did, I think: [link] ). And, on the same day, I bought some fancy new charms at the Animate, particularly a cute new Tonberry strap (at amazon: [link] ), and then, some days later, I bought a cute green bag to hold the camera (the small, green messenger bag, if you're curious: [link] ).

So, I put the camera inside, and the Tonberry strap on the strap and... unfortunately had to write for the rest of the month, but now that it's December, the first thing I did (besides sleep) was go out and play around with my camera and try to figure out what all the numbers on the display mean.

One thing I noticed afterwards, besides what 1/400 means (I think), is that the Tonberry strap is just like a real Tonberry in that it stabs anything within reach. Mind you, it's plastic, but twice now it has stabbed through my sweater, getting snagged in the process.

It's almost annoying.

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]

Clubs I'm in:


OMG! November is National Novel Writing Month
Join the insanity ----> [link]




And now, for more shopping! (I hear Wii Fit goes on sale today...) ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/15428456/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/15428456/ Fri, 09 Nov 2007 01:12:03 PST

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]

Clubs I'm in:


OMG! November is National Novel Writing Month
Join the insanity ----> [link]




I need to get some more writing done this month... ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/15297510/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/15297510/ Wed, 31 Oct 2007 06:36:04 PDT I'm convinced no one wants anything from me... and I give up too easily...

Happy Halloween!

I spent an amazing two hours celebrating the holiday by actually wearing a costume and watching The Rocky Horror Picture Show. After the movie was over, I washed the makeup off my face and got ready for bed. Not bad when you live in a country that doesn't really celebrate it, I guess.

Tomorrow starts the beginning of this year's NaNoWriMo. This is my fourth year participating and I think I got a good story in the bad of my mind this year. It's to be a tale of alienation and isolation... filled with the ache of regret and a protagonist with gender issues... It's gonna suck so bad...

... The idea that no one expects anything from me only lightens my workload for November. Less things to do means more time to write, and after three years, I know better than anyone that 50K words in 30 days is no easy feat, I tell you.

Wish me luck, if you want. And if you're going to try too, let me know. I'll cheer you on (and maybe read your novel too!)

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]

Clubs I'm in:


OMG! November is National Novel Writing Month
Join the insanity ----> [link]




No one wants anything... ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/15182763/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/15182763/ Tue, 23 Oct 2007 03:59:03 PDT Kiriban at 2000! Send me a note or email me at wavy babygray at yahoo dot com if you're lucky enough to be #2000.

Woe is me. Last night, I went ahead and updated the firmware on my MacBook and tonight my tablet refuses to work right. It acts as if there's pressure being applied when the pen is hovering above the tablet, and it doesn't respond when there is pressure being applied.

Pity me.

I knew installing that firmware was a bad idea. And it's not like I can take it back...


EDIT: On second thought, the pen that comes with this tablet seems to be the screwy bit. The pen from my older tablet (which has a faulty wire) doesn't give me the same hassle. Perhaps it's time for me to look into buying a new tablet altogether?

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]

Clubs I'm in:


OMG! November is National Novel Writing Month
Join the insanity ----> [link]

Grr, man... grr... ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/15048648/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/15048648/ Sat, 13 Oct 2007 19:12:43 PDT ... I wonder if I should offer a Kiriban at 2K.... I mean, it sounds fun, but...

Is it really the 14th today? Everything feels like it's sifting through my fingers. I can't seem to get a grip on anything.

Next weekend is 24 Hour Comics Day. I may just decide to sleep through the whole thing. I have a plan, for the day before, and part of me doesn't even want to try again after failing so neatly back in April.

I'm indulging my id today, I think. I have laundry to do eventually, but for now, I want to twirl around the house, pretending I'm a Dervish and whirling in my loosest skirts. I want to jauntily wear the straw hat I bought on a whim a couple of weeks ago, flirtatiously giving the empty house saucy winks. I want to play-pretend I'm someone more marvelous and free than I am, even if it's in the privacy of my quiet little home.

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]

Clubs I'm in:



... In case you want to try...

OMG! November is National Novel Writing Month
Join the insanity ----> [link]

I think I should go draw now... ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/14959292/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/14959292/ Sun, 07 Oct 2007 16:58:57 PDT ... I wonder if I should offer a Kiriban at 2K.... I mean, it sounds fun, but...

I wonder if I'm going to be sick all this month. I was flat on my back last Sunday because of this cold, and yesterday I was barely mobile for most of the day. And I think my voice is on vacation.

Perhaps it's better to say that I'm too tired to even speak, but I'm tapping rather fast, so that can't be it. I do feel a bit better, today. I may even be healthy enough to go to Omiya (but not Tokyo... too far) today if I wanted to, but I probably won't.

There's an ache around my ear, and I think it's best if I just hung around the house today. Clean a little, mess around with some clay. Maybe even do some character development for NaNoWriMo or even go see a movie today.

But there's nothing interesting showing that I haven't seen so I may rent something instead...

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]

Clubs I'm in:


OMG! November is National Novel Writing Month
Join the insanity ----> [link]

... I'm gonna go take some DayQuil now... ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/14881194/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/14881194/ Tue, 02 Oct 2007 06:36:46 PDT ... I wonder if I should offer a Kiriban at 2K.... I mean, it sounds fun, but...

I was checking out the listings for the next Comic City (Hot Shit! Comic City Spark is -this Sunday- ), and before I knew it, I was -this- close to filling out a form for a space at Comic City 117 in November.

What stopped me? Well, considering how slow I am, I don't think a month will be enough time for me to get everything ready. The Magatama charms, the promotional stuff, even the cloth to drape my table with... I'll probably need two (non-NaNoWriMo) months to get it all together.

Although... having a deadline for once would be nice. Half of the things I start now-a-days just never get finished because there's no goal to work towards.

I did have a revelation, however. I don't think I can do this just for the recognition, because, let's face it, I'm a dull artist and I don't have to skills to compete with the big names. I'm just a one-girl show with minor skills at best.

And, unless I, one day, end up developing that sort of talent or name-recognition, I will never be in the black when it comes to fan events. A new face, a nobody like me, can only hope for the chance to give back to the fandom that she has enjoyed so much.

It's a labor of love.

... Might as well get to work, huh. Well... maybe tomorrow. It's kind of late.

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]

Clubs I'm in:


OMG! November is National Novel Writing Month
Join the insanity ----> [link]

Come on NaNoWriMo! Come on Comic City! I'll be crazy not to take you both on at the same time! ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/14732846/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/14732846/ Fri, 21 Sep 2007 18:17:49 PDT
I finally decided a month or so back what my circle name should be. I shall call my fangroup of one...

Baile de Ranas

It's cute. It's catchy. It's a foreign language and there's no way there's another group could be named that. No way.

I'm still kind of stuck as to what sort of pseudonym I should use. I could stick with 'babygray' and use direct people to get in contact with me already-established means. Or I can create a new one for myself and make things a tiny bit more difficult.

But that's just a minor problem I have to deal with before making the name cards. I'm still in the planning stages concerning what exactly I'm going to offer the community. I have some good ideas too, but it's going to take a lot of man-hours and a bit of cash to realize them.

I don't want to talk about them too much because it would suck (for me) to gush over things that may never come true. I guess I can say that the easiest bit right now would be the Phoenix Wright-related goods, followed by some charms based on Gintama. The hardest thing will certainly end up being a Snarry comic that I'm going to force myself to start next month.

(This month, I'm too focused on making my costume for a fan event on the 30th to do much else. I've hit a snag at the moment, but I intend to finish the parts I'm working on this weekend.)

The comic is the hardest not just because I haven't even drawn it. It's going to be a four-pager based on someone else's story, so even after I draw it, I'm still going to have to ask the author's permission before distributing. There's also the problem that the story is in English, which means that I must translate it as well. The final product I want is an 8-pager with both the original story and a translation as well as the comic.

Something that small is very cheap to produce as long as I stick of black-and-white and use only two sheets of B4-sized paper and a couple of staples. In other words, if I print it on my own. Charging for it may be a problem, only because despite how much work I put into it (and it's looking like a lot of work), it's still based on someone else's words.

I may even end up giving it away for free, which isn't a big deal as long as I don't print too many. But this is the one thing that may not happen.

Shit. I told myself not to do that. Go on and on about things that may never happen.

In either case, I have to get back to my costume. I fucked up the hem last night, and I need to add the collar. (It's going to look like shi~it.)

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]

Clubs I'm in:


Put that froggie's spell on me... ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/14632509/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/14632509/ Fri, 14 Sep 2007 15:17:57 PDT
I actually drew something yesterday, a quick thing for the S.N.A.P.E. Art Contest. (It wasn't that good, but feel free to go look at it, and maybe even participate so that I won't feel too much on the fringe. [link] )

In other news, I'm only half-inclined to do anything right now.

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]

Club I'm in:


So many plans for this weekend... ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/14526493/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/14526493/ Fri, 07 Sep 2007 06:00:28 PDT 1. Kids in Cars

A couple years ago, the town I lived in had a child seat campaign, encouraging parents to buy one and protect their kids. Despite the obsession over safety in this country, however, it's not that uncommon to see 3- and 4-year-olds horsing around in a moving car. The parents don't seem to care that their liitle kid is not only unbuckled, but in the front seat, trying to lick the windshield.

I just can't wrap my mind around how little the parents seem to care. (Maybe it's just a cultural misunderstanding...)


2. Sports Festivals

My schools will be having theirs next week, all on the same weekend, and while I hope the windbreaker and matching pants I ordered on Wednesday will get here by next Friday, I don't think that's going to happen.

The closest I'm ever come to something similar to Sports Day back home was Spirit Week back in high school, only because many of the activities were competitions between the four grades. It's not the same, however, and I don't think there's anything similar to it in the US.

Damn slow ass shipping...


3. Typhoon!!!

Typhoon number 9 rolled onto Tokyo and headed north yesterday. It passed my area late last night, and with all the precautions everyone was making, I thought it would have been a lot worse. I mean, I've seen some bad storms, and that thing that passed by last night was a bit over-hyped.

Oh well. The coolest part about the storm was the it flooded the rivers, particularly the Arakawa. It looks like it deserved the name 'Wild River'. Nothing like how it looks in that one picture in my gallery.



Yeah, that one.

I'm going down to the river tomorrow to take some new shots of the dangerously flooded river Yay!

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]

Club I'm in:


[Insert comment here.] ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/14218255/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/14218255/ Fri, 17 Aug 2007 22:00:02 PDT
I think I'll spend my day working on all the stuff I've been postponing because it was so hot. It's quite the list, that.

There's...
- the Ema Skye costume I'm making for the winter...
- all the comics that are half-draw and completely out-of-date...
- the clutter of Goth-Loli sewing books, cosplay mags, and BL comic books in that corner of my living room, notebooks in my kitchen, fanzines on my table...
- the half-dissected kimono I have to do something with...

... On second thought, maybe I should have gone to Comiket after all. What's another day of postponing the inevitable?

Hopefully it will be nice and cool on Monday as well. Heading to Nippori that day. Hopefully by then, I would have figured out whether or not leather is necessary for Ema's handbag. (I'm hoping that I can get my hands on some pleather or vinyl instead of having to spend the yen on real, dyed leather, if I end up deciding that, yes, that handbag is made from leather.)

Any thoughts? Probably not.

In either case, picture is courtesy of Court Records [link] , which has a much bigger picture than Photobucket would ever let me upload.

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]

Club I'm in:


Gotta get back to the mess. ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/14099778/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/14099778/ Fri, 10 Aug 2007 02:52:46 PDT
... I don't like being forced to fight the bimbo/sociopath.

I went to the video game stores today because it's much too hot at home (and I had my second dentist appointment, so why not get out of the house early), and I admired the FFXII International display... only to have something else catch my eye.

OMG!!!111oneone.... Phoenix Wright Three on the DS! Hot Shit, that's awesome!

That's such a much better surprise than the one I had last night, when I learned Square-Enix is releasing yet another FFVII sequel. Or rather, I was reminded of the fact, kind of knew about it when Before Crisis came out, but it's a little startling to see a big ol' poster of Zack behind the counter of the 7-11.

But whatever! Phoenix Wright 3! Kyaa!

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]

Club I'm in:


*bounces about in court-room-drama-induced glee* ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/14045908/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/14045908/ Mon, 06 Aug 2007 15:19:45 PDT
Yesterday, I went to Universal Studios Japan, and I'm not particularly sure if I had fun or not. I'm pretty sure I had a grimace on my face most of the time. The heat and the crowds put me in that mood, and a couple of those rides just made it worse.

I did see Woody Woodpecker, though. That made me happy. And Jurassic Park was neat. I think all the rides scared me a little too much, however. (I really got into it... or am a tremendous puss.)

Today is my last day here, and I'm still torn over what to do and where to go. I have to be home by tonight, so I'll have to leave by the afternoon at the latest. I still haven't had some of Osaka's favorite food, or even went out to visit Spa World, but I guess I'll have to shrug my shoulders and tell myself that there's always a next time. Just make it something to look forward to the next time I'm in the area, even if I don't know if I'll be back.

I also don't know if I'll be buying omiyage today. If I do, I'm going to have to buy for four different schools. That's four different workplaces when most Japanese people only have to buy for one. In other words, that's a lot of fucking cookies. ...I think I'm not going to bother. I really can't afford to. Also, lugging around all those boxes as well as my luggage won't be a lot of fun.

Dammit, I'm gonna have to buy those cookies, aren't I.

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]

Club I'm in:


So ready to go home... ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/14024865/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/14024865/ Sun, 05 Aug 2007 06:35:31 PDT In which Ileana learns her most grievous mistake and rests in preparation for Hollywood adventure.

I went to Minami Osaka late in the morning today, wondering all the while what the hell happened with all the thunderstorms predicted for the area last Thursday. My legs were sore from all the walking the past two days, and the sun was out in full force, making the day that much more unbearable.

I did little. I bought some clothes, mostly because it fit... Unfortunately, I find Japanese fashion sad. There is no compensation for the boobs (maybe because Japanese girls have tiny ones), so my own assets are left looking flat or forgotten underneath all the frilly things. (There's also the fact that most young girl fashion is a colorblind mash of colors...)

My time there did help me decide what I'm going to do next weekend, but I'll probably forget. Never mind.

It also reminded me the reason why I even took this vacation. I used two days wandering through places I've already been when I first booked this hotel room so that I could go to Osaka. I'm not sure I will be able to see all I want to see in that city tomorrow and Tuesday and still be able to make my dentist appointment on Wednesday... Sigh...

The other thing I did was go to a sento that my guide book suggested. Considering how much that book has failed me so much, I shouldn't have gone. Although, I'm kind of glad I did. There's nothing like a hot bath after a few long, tiring hot days. (I don't recommend the place, however. It's old and depressing, a true home-town bathhouse. The only thing that recommends it is the fact that you can ride the elevator naked to get between the two sections of the bathing area... but it's not worth it.)

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]

Club I'm in:


I hope I have fun tomorrow... ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/14012395/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/14012395/ Sat, 04 Aug 2007 08:28:44 PDT
I went to Kiyomizu Temple around 10, after taking a completely roundabout bus route there and then climbing a 50 degree slope to reach the front gate. Not many people at the time, but there was still a long enough line waiting for their chance to drink from the temple's famous fountains that convinced me to not bother.

The crappy tourist stuff for sale on the way back down wasn't as bad as I remembered. Jishu Shrine, which is part of the Kiyomizu complex, on the other hand, was even better than the first time. Of course, their 'love stone' was there, but apparently the whole shrine is dedicated to Okuninushino-Mikoto, a god of love, and all matters of the heart. (I bought a Cupid love charm. Supposed to increase my chance encounters, but with love, not with monsters in the dungeon levels.)

From the main road downhill, I caught a bus to Ginkaku-ji. I have to admit that I like Ginkaku-ji a lot more than Kinkaku-ji, and here's why. The Golden Pavilion, while a symbol of Japanese culture, is just a tacky, gaudy building sitting in the middle of a pond. The Silver Pavilion almost became just as gaudy, but due to lack of funds, the silver was never put on the building, which makes it a failure. Sure, the Japanese try to rationalize it, saying that it represents Japanese refinement and restraint, but that's like saying, 'Oh, I meant to sit on the cake and light my ass on fire.'

Maybe.

Also, they're really into moss there.

After that, there was a lot of walking. At least it was through the Path of Philosophy, otherwise I think it would have been unbearable.

(I was making up names for the path as I went. The Thinking Man's Stroll... the Wise Man's Walk... The Enlightened Dude's Footpath...)

I met a man down by the side of Nanzen-ji who tried to sell me a rock (which had pictures painted on it, sure, but for a thousand yen? Forget that.) I walked down the Lake Biwa Canal (as if this day wasn't filled with water as it was: Kiyomizu-dera and its fountains, Ginkaku-ji and its pond, the Path that follows a small stream), after which, I caught a crowded bus by the Museum of Art so that I can get back to the hotel.

The only other thing I did tonight was going up to Sancho in search of a dance club. The one I found sucked so I wandered down Kiyamachi-dori and ogled the hosts. Well, not ogled, exactly. I mostly stared at their hair and winced at all the damage they have done to it with wax and dyes. I found a special spot by the Kamo-kawa that brought back a good memory, and then rode home with a bit of a pout because I never got to dance.

Food note: I had dinner at a tonkatsu restaurant called KYK, which is underneath Kyoto Station. There were two foreign women there in the same section that I was in, and the way they were eating was making me cringe. One woman kept leaving her chopsticks sticking up in her rice, and I trying to suppress the urge to tell her not to do that. (It's rude and for a good reason, too.) And then they left all the cabbage (which I don't blame them) and nearly all the rice (which I find reprehensible) and even some pieces of fried cutlet, which I didn't understand. All the food I got, even the cabbage, was so delicious. The rice was perfect, and I never had miso soup that good in years. And the pork fillet I got, so juicy. To see those two women leave that much food behind... it makes me mad enough to write a whole rambling paragraph about it.

PS. Check out KYK is you're ever in town.

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]

Club I'm in:


Wonder what I'm doing tomorrow... ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/13996325/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/13996325/ Fri, 03 Aug 2007 04:42:02 PDT
For the record, this is my second time in Kyoto. The first was years ago, long before you were even a glimmer in your grandfather's eye. It was an alright trip, considering that I had no money, I had to cut it a day short for classes, and I ended up with either the flu or heat stress on the second day, making that aforementioned cut a good idea, I guess.

This year, I'm on my own (not a big surprise) and I'm planning to go to Osaka as well. (I half-thought about going out to Lake Biwa [I like the water... ], but I'm planning to use that Sunday for sento-soaking and sleeping off the Saturday Night Dance Partying.)

Really quickly, I left the house today at 7:30 to arrive at Tokyo Station at around 9:30. Never mind that Shinkansen train I bought a ticket for at my home station leaves at 11:20. I arrive at my hotel in Kyoto at exactly 2 with a growing headache and a couple of sandwiches I bought just before catching a taxi. I ate, hoping the headache would go away (it didn't, not really), and went back to Kyoto Station to catch a bus to the Arashikawa area.

There were some troubles. The plan I was using had listed a bus that probably doesn't exist. And the bus ride made my headache return, as well as made me fall asleep. But, once I got to the area, it was okay, because they have a river there.

Yay! Water!

I ate dinner at a tourist restaurant/shop that overlooks the river, but I never finished the food. I was also an idiot for ordering a cream soda as a drink to go with the Japanese-style dinner. Sugar with tofu. Not a good combination, which fortunately taught me that when eating Japanese food, stick with the green tea. You'll never go wrong.

Best shot of the night was taken at Kyoto Station tonight. Unfortunately, those three of you that want to see it will have to wait. I can't seem to import my photos tonight.

No matter! Tomorrow I shall tackle not just Kijomizu-dera, but also the treacherous Philosopher's Walk and then spend a night evading gangsters and good sense alike in Gion and Pontocho. And I'll need my sleep for that.

Hopefully this headache will be gone by morning.

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]

Club I'm in:


Right, time for bed. ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/13910068/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/13910068/ Sat, 28 Jul 2007 05:07:29 PDT
Woe!

.... Wait, I have a spare in the closet. Nevermind.

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]

Club I'm in:
]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/13729281/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/13729281/ Sat, 14 Jul 2007 05:57:37 PDT
I told him the idea of participating scares me... which is true. I've been in a couple of speech contests back in middle school, centuries ago. Both times, it was a disaster for me. I have some talent with public speaking (that is to say, I have a nice voice and I can speak in front of people as long as I know what I'm supposed to say), but writing speeches is not my strongest point, especially since I can never think of anything that I'm really interested in and am willing to talk to strangers about.

The fact that this contest is a Japanese speech contest for non-native speakers is besides the point. The topic of my speech is up to me, and I can't think of a single thing to say.

... And should I mention now my current disinclination to do anything other than to indulge in my addiction du jour?

If you have suggestions for a topic, feel free.

In the meantime, I'm going to go make myself scarce again.

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]

Club I'm in:


I'm gonna go sleep this three-day weekend away... ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/13494054/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/13494054/ Tue, 26 Jun 2007 04:22:49 PDT
Maybe it's fate that I haven't gotten around to getting rid of the PC, as opposed to just laziness.

I could just get a copy of Windows XP (Vista doesn't sound too dependable to me) and use Parallels (which is already installed on this Mac), but I haven't gotten around to doing that either, actually. (There's another program that allows me to use PC software on here, Crossover, but it doesn't support the Deleter programs at all. I tried it once, and it was a disaster.)

Um... Maybe I'll just fire up the PC this weekend after all...

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]

Club I'm in:


And a pox on Deleter for not porting their stuff to the Mac. (... maybe just a sexy or a delicious pox or something....) ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/13185040/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/13185040/ Sat, 02 Jun 2007 04:37:07 PDT eikawa activity books that I, uh.... borrowed from somewhere. (Probably from the klepto that lived at the dorm for a while before he skipped down and left all his shit, as well as a massive telephone bill someone else was forced to pay.)

While looking through the book, I found an old picture that I drew over two years ago. I did it for one of my students, who asked for a doodle before she graduated and the year finally ended. I drew her the picture, but she never came to pick it up on my last day at the school.

Looking at it now, I'm almost glad that I wasn't able to give it to her. It's quite a crappy picture. First, it's of a guy, and the males were never my strong point. Second, it's in color, and as I state over and over again, I color like a fourth-grader.

(Although, I am working on improving that. I bought a coloring book based on Mucha's work [link] , and while I can't post my efforts here, I may post it in my scrap journal. All I can hope that his style will improve my skills enough to raise it to a six-grader's level.)

Back to the picture... it's lying among my books right now, and, when I get around to it, I'll put it in one of the clear flie folders that I have to hold what loose doodles I have around. In that folder, I think there's also a picture of a couple of lesbians I called 'Assault' (it's a good assault, I assure you), as well as a bad version of a particularly subtle piece of fanart I did years ago.

That's right, I'm sending that requested picture to the graveyard.

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]

Club I'm in:


Sad thing is, I don't think my art has improved much since then, either. ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/13160382/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/13160382/ Thu, 31 May 2007 06:32:07 PDT
Work, by the way, has been exhausting. And demoralizing. I have never taught more disheartening, selfish, unconcerned packs of baboons in my entire life... At least, I don't think I have.

My only relief is on Tuesdays, when I teach at one of my elementary schools. If it were up to me, I wouldn't step foot inside either of my junior high schools ever again, what with their simple heartlessness and casual cruelty.

Don't give me that look. You know middle school kids are the devil. They are Legion. Legion!!!! ...And I know that, too, but why do they act the way they do? Are they trying to make me break down and cry in front of them or something?

Where's the Great Teacher Onizuka when you need him? Or Kinpachi-sensei? Or even that chick from Seito Shokun! She can come by if she promises to bring Kanata Hongo with her so that I can molest, I mean, meet him.

... He's pretty for a boy...

And once again, I go off the rails.

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]

Club I'm in:


LEGION!!! ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/12675109/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/12675109/ Sat, 21 Apr 2007 01:46:17 PDT ....

Just found out what kiribans are. Shh. I'm not as helplessly stupid as that implies. Good thing I will never have to do one for anybody in the near future.... Especially since 1.5k is such a lackluster benchmark.

Crap, I just remember I owe one...

I should get working on that, huh.

Pimpage!


And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]

Club I'm in:


Disjointed! Yay! ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/12440368/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/12440368/ Tue, 03 Apr 2007 05:43:48 PDT
Oh, well, nothing I can do about it now, other than rest. (Learning experiences really tucker me out.)

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]

Club I'm in:


Moo, man. Moo. ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/12344543/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/12344543/ Tue, 27 Mar 2007 01:29:21 PDT
Today is the start of my spring vacation, two whole weeks were I don't have to mess with many people and deal with bunches of shit. Not a complete vacation, but good enough, I say.

Unfortunately, I came down with something yesterday, something that has made my nose a drippy faucet that sprays everything in sight when I sneeze, along with everything else that comes with the flu? a cold?

Also today, I had to get a replacement alien registration card, which meant I had to report it missing to the police, get passport-sized pictures of myself, and fill forms at the city offices. While sick.

And no one pitied me!

If I was a smarter froggie, I would have taken some of my NyQuil, pulled out my bed by now and declared 'Fuck this!' by taking a nap. But I don't have the energy at the moment to get up... -and- D.Grayman is on in an hour.

Fuck it, I'm going to bed.

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]

Club I'm in:


Being sick sucks, man... ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/12201883/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/12201883/ Fri, 16 Mar 2007 04:04:27 PDT
--came to me during today's commencement ceremony at Kawa Chuu.

(Another thing: the latest SMAPxFlets Hikari commercial features the song that was used as my school's ceremony's theme. Is everyone using it? I personally think my students sing it better than the students in the commercial.)

The commercial---> [link]

And now, ze plugs:

Last call for free postcards! Offer ends on 3/26.
[link]

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]

Club I'm in:


Crap. What was that song called... ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/12029227/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/12029227/ Fri, 02 Mar 2007 16:22:07 PST
I didn't buy much: a white watercolor pencil to replace the one I lost, a couple of pastel pencils, a brown pen, and this really neat pencil case.

I'm beginning to love pencil cases. Most of the time, I see only cutesy, kiddie cases that I wouldn't be caught dead using at my age/at work, but Loft, that marvelous store of all things chic, had these pencil cases from a company called Artemis, called the Arc-en-Ciel Roll Pencil Case, that grabbed my attention.

[link] Scroll down about halfway, and you can see them.

What am I using it for? For my watercolor pencils. The case they came in broke months ago, and I've been keeping them together with a ponytail rubber band since. (So... ghetto....) I just love that I have to do is unroll the case and Ta-Da!

And now, ze plugs:

Get yourself a free postcard, kid. I certainly don't need them.
[link]

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]

Club I'm in:


... So I'm a dork. Shut up. ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/11975177/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/11975177/ Mon, 26 Feb 2007 14:08:00 PST
.... It's my birthday today? Yesterday? The whole time difference is so confusing. February 26 here is partly February 25 back home. But, whatever, a birthday is a birthday, and mine was really really good.

I'm pretty sure that by now I'm officially a year older. That's hot.

As part of the festivities yesterday, I had a nice, hot, purply bath (the color courtesy of a bath salt ball thing I bought at the store.) Inside the bath salt ball, there's a toy that's supposed to give you some sort of luck.

My good luck charm is a white sheep, which is supposed to help make my dreams come true. Just what I needed. (Told myself as much as I hummed in the bath.)

Dream Sheep Power!

And now, ze plugs:

Get yourself a free postcard, kid. I certainly don't need them.
[link]

My doodling/muttering journal. Go check it out, yo!:
[link]

Club I'm in:


Ribbit. ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/11941189/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/11941189/ Fri, 23 Feb 2007 22:42:48 PST
Not my art... Just a lot of cards I've collected over the last six months.

To view the selections, click here---> [link]

To Get One:
Just send me a note saying which number you want, a name and an address to mail it to, and that's pretty much it. You get a card, and I get a warm fuzzy feeling inside for making someone else happy. (Although, a Happy Birthday shout from you wouldn't be so bad, either... ) OH! And it's first come, first served, so jump to it, man!

That said, I doubt I'll get much response for this, but on my birthday, I can either give some presents to folks, or be miserable, and I prefer the gift-giving.

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal:
[link]

Club I'm in:


Free, man... ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/11851111/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/11851111/ Sat, 17 Feb 2007 06:00:17 PST [link]

Birthday's in a week, and I'm feeling... twisted apart, perhaps?

The signs are telling me that I have to find another company and a new job for April (and I better get started on that now before it's too late.) And, I'm not certain I'll be able to stay at my apartment/house thing after the end of March (I'm pretty certain I won't be able to if things go the way I'm worried they will.)

I'm becoming more and more convinced that the best answer to my problem is either to go home (which I don't want to do right now) or sham-marry a Japanese guy.

Yeah, neither of those things are going to happen. (If I smarter and less prone to paralyzing fear, I would get out there and fucking DO something, even if it's just applying for jobs with other companies in case of the very real possibility that my company goes under next month.)

... I wonder if this whole 'I may not have a job or a home in April' thing is the reason why I'm so moody and funked out.

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal:
[link]

Club I'm in:


Oh God.... why can't I be moody for other reasons, like the weather, or because I'm getting older... ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/11767390/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/11767390/ Sun, 11 Feb 2007 01:03:20 PST [link] )

I went to Pottanco CanCan [link] today and that was entertaining. I saw the one that created the extremely smutty _{Draco-based chan} fanbook I accidentally bought last year. (How smutty? Well...) There was a group cosplaying as Lily and the (good) Marauders, which I didn't get unil I noticed Lupin was holding a bar of dark chocolate. I also bought some good Snape and Snarry-friendly fancomics, which was what I was looking for and totally made the whole thing worthwhile. I'm quite happy with it all.

There was also a Bleach event two floors up, called Bleach Impact 2 [link] . That was hotter (because there were more people there, making the room quite warm). Bought a few small things there.

Wandering back to the station, I checked out Sensouji Temple for the first time.... (counts her fingers)... in five years? It was crowded. I burned an offering for personal reasons and saw a monkey. Besides the crowds and the monkey. there were also cosplayers??? there, mostly hanging out behind and around the side of the large temple. Took pictures of a few, particularly of a large group of Gintama characters. I need to get into cosplaying.

Got lost, ate curry, and eventually found the station again. Realized I shouldn't got to Animate in Ikebukuro on a Sunday (too crowded), learned that a good camera costs as much as half my paycheck, and had a hankering for Coca Cola.

Not bad for a day off. At least I think so...

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal:
[link]

Club I'm in:


What? I like Snarry... ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/11583481/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/11583481/ Sat, 27 Jan 2007 03:33:33 PST
So I've been oversleeping and not taking good care of myself, and I can't seem to figure out why. I don't think I'm in a bad mood. I've just been a bit busy, studying for the Japanese proficiency test as well as working on my doodling, both of which I'm hoping will pay off in December.

Snort. Doodling.

Although I've only been following my study schedule for a couple of weeks now, I think I've made some progress. Unfortunately, I think I made more progress in planning my study schedule than I did in implementing it. That said, take a look at the cover of my doodling notebook:

I'm using this notebook as a place where I can jot down ideas as well as keep a record of the progress I'm making with the doodles I'm working on. That said, I spent two days (and much of the time I alloted to practicing, studying, and working on various WIPs) doing the cover. I think the time was well spent and doing the illustration was a good learning experience. For example, I learned:

-I have a very shaky hand
-plasticy paper doesn't absorb ink
-said paper can make erasing aforementioned ink a little too easy
-blotting can be entertaining
-crosshatching can actually look bad, and
-there is such a thing as too little black.

However, while I want to show it off (hence this journal entry), it's too messy for me to feel right posting as a deviation. Hm... might as well call it the honorable mention of the week and leave it at that.

And now, ze plugs:

My doodling/muttering journal:
[link]

Club I'm in:


Solid. ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/11442997/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/11442997/ Mon, 15 Jan 2007 04:05:21 PST
Anyway, I've been thinking of names for my circle of one, in preparation for a debut at Comiket 73, and I came up with three names.

-Outsider's Moon- I actually had this in Spanish first... and then I forgot. I thought of this one because it described what I was, an outsider just orbiting around the fandoms, and that seems even more significant here. But, then I realize that's too much, and I need something lighter.

-La L・U・G- I've always wanted a group named this. And while I detest being labeled so distinctly, and I would go have sex with a girl right now just to prove I'm not a LUG... I still think the term is funny. And finally...

-God Save the Queen- For some reason, I've been thinking of this phrase for the last few days, but I don't think I'm going to really consider it as my circle's name. There is a possibility that someone else has called their circle this, and besides, who in their right mind would call their group after a Final Fantasy weapon. (Nevermind that FFVIII's version is a whip and I'm such a wanna-be dom.)

And now for ze plugs.

My journal, as interesting as it ever was.... which it ain't
[link]

Club I'm in


I wonder if Too-dai is a big party school. After all the hard work they put in just to be accept, those kids deserve it.

]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/11346114/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/11346114/ Sun, 07 Jan 2007 06:06:05 PST Alternate Title: Me? Tired? Nah... :3

Last week was Comiket 71, today was Comic City Tokyo 115, and I think I seriously geeked myself out.

I went on two of the three Comiket days, and I don't think my feet have forgiven me yet. I've talked about Comiket before, and this time was pretty much the same. The only difference this time is that I avoided the 'little girls covered in mysterious white liquid' day, going on Friday, which was predominately games and comics, and Satuday, which was mostly Shonen Jump with some June and TV/movies on the side.

I always forget how popular Shonen Jump is until I'm face to face with its influence. One Piece, Naruto, and Prince of Tennis were popular enough to merit their own marked sections, but titles like Bleach, Death Note, D.Grayman, Reborn!, and my new current obsession Gintama had strong showings as well. I lined up that day for the East Halls (of which 2/3rds+ was devoted to Jump titles) so that I can get a look at most of these titles (not a big fan of Reborn!, thanks), but there were hundreds of people with the same idea there as well, and entering that morning was insane.

Japanese fangirls... they can be obsessive (as fangirls tend to be) and the scene was chaotic. Near-silent, staff-controlled chaos at parts, but chaos nonetheless.

Comic City was much smaller in comparison, one day and at a third of the hall space... and they charged 800 yen to enter/for their brochure. Also unlike Comiket, there were whole sections devoted to crafts and people selling jewelry, hats, and other accessories that goth/lolita/punk girls (and Catholics, for there was a pair selling rosaries) enjoy, as well as a section for amateur artists selling stationery with their artwork. Great-looking stuff, man...

One other thing they had that Comiket did not (for I looked and looked in spite of my aching feet) was a few circles with Harry Potter fanbooks... AND info on a Harry Potter only event next month. Yeah, Harry Potter is a bit of an obsession of mine as of late as well...

Both times, I didn't buy many books, just cute things that caught my eye. A Cactaur rubber stamp, six calendars (I didn't thing I bought that many... DX), a couple of Kingdom Hearts stickers, a handful of Gintama buttons, a set of Naruto bookmarks...

I'm quite glad Comiket is only twice a year. And that the next small event I'm going to attend is next month. I'll need that long to recover.

Club I'm in:


Pottanco CanCan event's web site (though I doubt I'll see any of you guys there, if you're in town, let's check it out together ) :
[link]

What's a good name for a circle of one...?

]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/10692899/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/10692899/ Sat, 11 Nov 2006 18:01:30 PST
I usually just clean my house a bit as a way of distracting myself.

My journal (where I prove I'm a talentless monkey):
[link]

Club I'm in:


National Novel Writing Month:
[link]

]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/10616200/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/10616200/ Sat, 04 Nov 2006 16:51:09 PST o~ho ho ho...), and Sesame Street is on. So I have much to celebrate.

.... Grover has a quiro!! From Puerto Rico!! And he's explaining how it's made in Japanese!! Oh man, this day is just getting better!

I actually have nothing to do today other than to type another 2000-3000 words for my NaNoWriMo story and pay my rent and bills. I haven't found my rent book, so that's going to be awkward, but there's nothing I can do other than apologize profusely.

I think I like my story this year. The beginning so far has been difficult, but it has a plot, and the main character is somewhat likeable. Whatever I don't like, I'll get around to fixing next year. This month is only for writing the damn thing down.

I wonder how many people it takes to make Big Bird walk and talk.

And now it's time for Onegai! My Melody. YAY!

... And to think, watching these two shows will end up being the highlight of my Sunday. Although, I could always end up with something worse than cute Sanrio-based animation.

And now the plugs!

My journal (where I may or may not post my NaNoWriMo story):
[link]

Club I'm in:


National Novel Writing Month:
[link]

YAY! Usa-Mimi Kamen-sama is in this episode! I can't stop grinning!

]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/10310168/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/10310168/ Sat, 07 Oct 2006 02:04:52 PDT
But, even as I try to mentally tally the things I have to do before I go, I don't want to go. I want to stay here, or even more reasons I'll just have to save for another time. I don't know what sort of job prospects there are for me back in the US. And... I don't think I can bear leaving again.

Today, after eating breakfast, I sent an email to the Art Institute in my hometown for information about their fashion design program. I want to get into that, fashion and costume design, and actually learn a trade for myself. Especially since I'm not certain what sort of good job (aside from teaching) I would be able to get with my B.A.

This afternon, after talking to my coworker, he asked me why I don't try going to school for fashion design here? To be honest, I would say it was because I am afraid. My language skills are pitiful, and I'm afraid I won't be accepted on those terms. With his suggestion in mind, however, I started looking for schools online for information.

Feeling frustrated, I looked at Yoyogi Animation School's website for a bit. Their advertising is everywhere, so the name is familiar to me. I now want to apply there and enroll in their professional comic artist/writer program, but, in order for me to feel confident about it, I'm going to have to hold off applying for one more year, to get my Japanese ability up as well as move myself closer to a campus. (I believe the closest one is in Omiya.)

I'm worried that, if I go to Yoyogi, I won't be able to pull it off. I also worry that AI will be too expensive.

... I just needed a sensitive ear.

And now the plugs:

Club I'm in:


24 Hour Comics Day (yeah, I'm trying).
[link]

.... gosh, typing in the dark is hard....

]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/10149659/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/10149659/ Fri, 22 Sep 2006 06:00:23 PDT
And I'm not going to talk about the diplomat's son that wants me. A lot. (Because I'm a coward, and I'm sparing you from all the boring details.)

And I don't think I'm going to talk about my work schedule (because it tired me out just thinking about it.)

And there's no way I'm going to talk about the Tokyo Game Show (because I haven't gone yet.)

And I'm not going to talk about the new programs I bought for my computer (because none of them are of the boys'-love dating game variety.)

So I guess this entry is a waste of time.

Oh, and before I forget, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang was a great movie. You should go check it out and stuff.

And now the plug (just one because I've been neglecting my thought journal as well.)

Club I'm in:


... Sleepy... ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/9935190/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/9935190/ Fri, 01 Sep 2006 21:54:38 PDT
The first 10 people who comment on this journal will get a sketch, free. However, in return, you must offer 10 free sketches in your own journal.

Anyone can request, as long as you don't break any of the rules listed below and put this in your journal in return. =B

WARNING!!! any and all requests will be of a rushed and incoherent nature.

Request List
1:
2:
3:
4:
5:
6:
7:
8:
9:
10:



RULES:
1. Nothing pr0nish XD
2. I will NOT draw your request until I see this in your journal.
3. One character per person.
4. No characters too complicated pl0x
5. Please, only request art of your own, original, character.
6. In your comment, include a link to a reference picture of the character you want me to draw.



... In either case, here's the plugs:

Club I'm in:


The cure for insomnia/my Blogspot journal:
[link] ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/9786659/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/9786659/ Sat, 19 Aug 2006 20:46:05 PDT
I can't explain how. One moment it's fine, and the next, the entire display is pushed and warped into the middle third of the sceen, which is very difficult on the eyes.

Well, it is.

So, as an alternative, I am using my television as my display, which is vaguely disheartening. I liked being able to watch/listen to TV why rummaging through things online. And, I also liked opening Photoshop every once in a while to doodle.

That's actually a bit of a difficulty with the TV because, as a dated 13-incher, it simply refuses any settings outside of 800x600, and there has to be a lot of zooming in to make things legible... Hm.

So, yay, I have no monitor.

And now the plugs:

Club I'm in:


... yawn, whimper, spit. ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/9722317/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/9722317/ Mon, 14 Aug 2006 07:57:12 PDT
For those of you who don't know what it is (and are too lazy to look it up in Wiki), the Comic Market, or Comiket, is a three-day market out in Odaiba where fan groups and circles sell their wares, which tends to be fanbooks, novels. and fancomics, but I also saw paper fans and stone jewelry being sold, among other things.

Because there are so many circles that sign up for a table, and each focuses on one or two particular fandoms, each day is full of specific things. For example, according to the catalogue for this one, the Gundam and Fullmetal Alchemist fanbooks could be bought on Friday, and Bleach and Naruto fan were selling their fangoods on Saturday.

So guess what Sunday was devoted to? That's right. Porn.

More specifically, full-on cute-girls-covered-in-suspicious-liquids comic book porn. The East halls of Tokyo Big Sight, where the Comiket takes place, was filled with circles offering sexualized versions of almost any anime girl you could imagine, and some you really shouldn't, you pervert.

I didn't know this until I bought a catalogue at the door. I was wondering why there were so many guys in the line with me, and so few girls, and, as I flipped through the book, I got my answer... in a rather disgusting fashion.

Needless to say, I avoided the East Halls like the plague, but one of my group, a nice girl that calls herself Yuuki, accidently wandered into one of the halls there. The 'hell are you doing here' look the men there gave her are quite expected, and encouraged her to back away.

We mostly stayed in the West Hall. Our first stop was outside where, exposed to the hot sunshine, were the cosplayers. We took pictures of those that caught our eyes, like the Colonel Sanders dopplegander shilling Coke and chicken, and made fun of quite a few of the boys that had the balls to dress up like schoolgirls. (... I may have to bother one of the girls I was with for copies of their pictures.)

We even had our own pictures taken, despite not wearing any costumes. I am more than certain the pictures were more of our boobs than our faces, however. (I could be even vaner and say there were mostly of my boobs, but... Hell, we weren't even showing cleavage, but there's no mistaking the way the man was holding the camera.) We couldn't stay out there forever, however, the heat was getting to us.

The West Hall, by the way, had its share of porn, also. West Hall 2 had the het stuff, and West Hall 1 did have a share of it as well. However, part of West Hall 1 had slash fanbooks as well, which was another winning point that made the day less of a loss. But it wasn't as if they weren't frightening as well. The majority was of the by-women, for-women variety, with their hairless, androgenious men, but a few were obviously more for gay men, and it was those that seemed to have scarred my companions when they saw it.

I did buy something aside from the 2000 yen catalogue, a fancomic for Hagaren. (I also saw one of the circles selling a hot-looking fancomic for FF7: Advent Children called 'No Reset', which I really wanted, but was sold out by the time I noticed it.... ) It's a bit of a shame that we went on Sunday.

I intend to rectifly my mistakes in December, during Comiket 71... At least it won't be as oppressively hot, yeah?

And now, some plugs:

Check out my BlogSpot journal, yeah?

Club I'm in


... I hope I can buy No Reset in December before they're sold out again... Maybe I should stop typing now. ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/9201398/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/9201398/ Tue, 27 Jun 2006 15:27:45 PDT
Did you know that there's a program called Comic Life that comes with the MacBook? I practically squealed when I found it. It let's you arrange your photos into a comic and even add quotes, which would be hella useful if I ever make another Tiffi comic.

God, why aren't I rich? Why am I addicted to high-end electronics? (That's a major question right there....)

Now the plugs:

Check out my stupidity at [link]

The club I'm in


I wonder if it would be a bad thing to spend my food money on that sweet, sweet MacBook. I eat too much anyway, I'm sure. ]]> ~babygray http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/8956131/ http://babygray.deviantart.com/journal/8956131/ Sat, 03 Jun 2006 03:58:08 PDT
You may say, girl, that's no big deal, but it is for me. I find it simply glorious to walk into a random bookstore, wander to their school supplies section, and find a display rack full of 0.5 leads waiting for me to buy, from 4H to 4B and every type in between. And in 0.5! Back home, a random store would only have 0.7 lead, HB, available.

But here!, which the choices, and the availablity of 0.3 and 0.9, just makes me utterly giddy.

And, on Thursday, I bought a 8B pencil. Oh my god.

I don't know much about anything, pencil leads included, but working with the 8B was almost like working with charcoal for me. The darkness of the lead was near black, unlike the grayness of the HB and 2B I usually fill my mechanical pencil with. I spent a little too much time at work messing with it, using it to add shadows and whatnot to old sketches. Here's the better of the two I fiddled with.... which doesn't mean much...: [link]


Club I'm in:


... Man, I need to draw more.... ]]> ~babygray