http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:meowmaddness&section=today deviantART RSS for by:meowmaddness en-us Copyright 2009, deviantART.com Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:52:08 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://meowmaddness.deviantart.com/journal/26558246/ http://meowmaddness.deviantart.com/journal/26558246/ Wed, 12 Aug 2009 21:52:53 PDT
Just in case you don't know; I've been away for 5-6 weeks to help build a Bible Camp in the Northwest Territories. While I was gone, Alberta has been suffering terrible droughts, hailstorms, gas shortages, and other problems that I was unaware of until a few days ago. I spent the past few days at my Grandparent's farm near Edmonton, visited my Grandma who is recuperating from her leg snapping in two places, and got to meet my eldest brother's three new ferrets. My eldest brother drove me home an hour ago, and now I'm trying to figure out what to do with myself.

I was really enriched by spending my summer up in the Northwest Territories- more than I could have ever expected before I went. Inside, it made me realize how much I've been depraving myself of my physical, mental, and spiritual needs back home. Even more important: I got to know new people from diverse walks of life- people from Africa, people from the US, from Eastern Canada, and the Natives up north. I got to learn that there is more going on than I could have ever thought, and that I should continue to be expectant of miracles.

Now that I'm home and on Ye Computer of Old, I can't help but think of how... strikingly depressive the atmosphere is in this basement. The minute I came in the house, certain family members are STILL having trouble with bickering with each other. Honestly, guys. All of those times I would stand back and attempt to ignore these sorts of things flooded into my mind again. I don't want to become the person I used to be... Ack. What in the world... I know it's partly culture shock from being away from home for so long, but I'm just boggled. This house is not in good shape... How was I so oblivious and uncaring before?

It's definitely not going to be easy, but... I'm going to try my hardest to sort out the huge messes in the house. I can see they've already tried to start sorting file boxes, but there's only a couple moved over here and there. (We've been struggling with this huge load of boxes and garbage everywhere in our house for 5 years, and it's rather disturbing to fresh eyes.)

Enough about the disappointments... There's a lot to look forward to here. Especially if my family is motivated to help me out. And after all, if there's things that need drastic improvement, that just means we have more opportunities to cooperate!

Hooray! My ferret Jetta is in good shape! I'll definitely visit the horses tomorrow morning too. :> (OH WHAT THE? D:\ It would only get dark at midnight/1AM in the NT, but it's only 10 now and it's dark out! XD)

I also apparently have a Tablet now...? Eheh. There's a brand new one beside my computer, and so I guess my mom must've been thinking about me while I was gone. (Even though I'm perfectly happy drawing with a mouse or traditionally.) *confused huzzah?* I'm not sure if I'll have much time to practice with it, because I have bigger concerns on my mind right now. But it'll be interesting to use when I do get the time! (I've never tried one before. xD; )

I knew that once I got home, I would feel very questionable... but this is bigger than I anticipated. I just have to keep my Lord's will in mind for my actions, even when it feels like everything wants me to sink back into my old routine.
(I guess being on this computer isn't helping my case right now. Still, it helps to write things out to gather where I'm at.)

All right... here we go...

]]> ~meowmaddness http://meowmaddness.deviantart.com/journal/25910902/ http://meowmaddness.deviantart.com/journal/25910902/ Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:30:33 PDT I'm sorry I haven't really been keeping up with you guys. I don't have quite the dedication to my favourite websites as I used to, which is good for me in a way. But I feel I've sort of... cut you off by doing that. Please know that I still want to talk with you guys, and don't ever think otherwise.

I am really excited to talk about things that have been going on here.
So, I'm going to type out my adventures to you in my very rambly manner. If you read quickly, you might be able to get through alive. Also note there is no automated spell-check on this computer. Gasp.

The Dookster is currently located in the Northwest Territories right now. Hay River is like a bigger and more industrial version of my farm-towns, and it's the hub to the 9th largest continential lake (the Great Slave Lake) in the world. It's where the train track ends going into the Northwest Territories. There's a whole lot of rocks, trees, and water. (But you could say that about most parts of Canada, eh?)

I've been here three times now, but the third time has been the most charming.
"Man, it's great to be back up here. You can just step a few feet from town and you're in the wilderness! ...Oh, hey there mosquitoes! ...And sand flies. And Bulldog-flies. Please stop biting me in swarms and crawling up my nose constantly. :3 "

Nahh, it's not that ba-- Okay, it is pretty bad. It's rainy/hot bug mania season, and I've been bitten more times in the past two weeks than I have for a combination of summer camps in Alberta. But it's great all the same, and you get used to it after a while. ...Okay, you don't get used to it, everyone here just perseveres. It's awesome! (Or they wear bug nets. XDD)

Besides the bugs, there's so much more to this place than I'd ever thought or expected. Did you know there's massive, beautiful waterfalls up here? It's just a few miles out of town. The river that goes into the Great Slave Lake is just a few houses away from me right this moment, and it is beautiful. I've seen about two or three bears/a couple moose/foxes/porcupines/beavers just on the drives around here. And ohman the fresh fish from the lake-- it's the best fish I've ever had.

But anyway, my older sister Naomi moved up here last year, and has been a nurse for a good chunk of her life. She came up here because God called for her to. So she works at the local hospital and lives by herself with her two adopted dogs most of the time. I don't get to see her as much as I used to, but now I get to live with her in her house for the summer! She knows a lot more than I do about the Northwest Territories, and I am excited to learn more about it too!

ANDD THENN... Summer camp! Whoa. You'd think an old couple living on the land at the end of a river-bend would want to have a nice restful life, eh? But they're starting a camp for the youth in Hay River. I've heard from natives here that many of the youth are troubled and don't have much to put their energy into, so they confide in substances. I hope lots of those youth come join us! : D

I know there's a group of 10-15 formerly-in-jail youth that were some of the first booked to come. This will be for the older teen week- the first week- which has the most helpers coming up. (A large group is coming from Calgary, AB for that week to help be there for a good 35 or so campers. So we are expecting 60 or more people in camp altogether.)

I think this will be the start of something great... God works through whoever has faith, it doesn't matter what he/she has done before, or how good or bad people are thought to be.
I am so excited about the people here. Everything is a little new to me still, but they've been extremely helpful to me.
On my second time up here, I met someone who originally learned about the "neat little stories" in the Bible from a prostitute- and that person had a huge impact on my life.

Then I met the couple providing land and starting the camp, who work on the Hay River radio, and can't even begin to tell you how sweet they are. Gahh... <3

I also met a carpenter, who lives in a HUUGE LOG HOUSE just a minute away from the camp. He has been helping the camp out, and he has been teaching me how to do carpentry for the buildings, too! I just learned recently that he and his family had lived in a bus for seven years... (I got to see the inside of the bus, too. It's run-down now, but it's so cool. It had two levels in it. They had to crawl to move around in their master bedroom. He said it was great fun watching his young kids grow up to be too tall for the upstairs roof and have to start crawling. XD) Anyway, he told me how he had no money for those seven years living in a bus with his family, but he had faith that God would provide for him... And wow, did He ever!

A... ]]> ~meowmaddness http://meowmaddness.deviantart.com/journal/24420788/ http://meowmaddness.deviantart.com/journal/24420788/ Sat, 25 Apr 2009 01:57:33 PDT
Every year we have a blast naming the lambs. We usually name them after obscure characters- or whatever fits their personality. This year- well, here, I'll show you:

My lamb is named after Clueless, the goat muppet in Muppet Treasure Island. As you can see, they have a fair resemblance: [link]
Clueless was skittish at first, and she loved bounding around and head-butting everyone (ATTACK SHEEP!). But sometimes she would lay in my lap happily. (See here: [link] )
She would even sleep in my lap for a few hours while waiting for the next performance. x3

My little brother's lamb was named after Mister Burke: [link]
I'd say they share an incredible resemblance. It's that sinister grin, I tell you.
But yeah, Burke is a sweet little lamb. She seemed to like humans more than her fellow sheep.

Oh, oh! Here's a video of the lambs running around! [link] : D
(Yes, they have to wear diapers. It's policy! xD )

The week went very well; all of us had bad colds, but we managed to trudge through.
On the first night after practice, I came down with a bad fever... my stomach and head felt horrible, and I was all pale and shaky- but my parents were there to take care of me. I'm so glad they were.
And y’know, Levi (our donkey: [link] ) wasn’t bad. He just gets really stubborn with not wanting to go out to the front of the stage, but he was better with some practice.

And yeah, we did two full-stage practices Mon/Tues, a full performance on Wednesday, two full performances on Thursday, a full performance on Friday, and one on Saturday.
All of those performances are two acts, and over two hours long. We usually got home at around 12-1 AM, depending on the day.

It was worth it.

Anyway, you can see more of the pictures here: [link] if you want! xD

]]> ~meowmaddness http://meowmaddness.deviantart.com/journal/24062310/ http://meowmaddness.deviantart.com/journal/24062310/ Sat, 04 Apr 2009 17:43:06 PDT Best of all, the show has been running for nearly 40 years. (I think it's the 38th year now? x3 )
The people who volunteer are usually the ones paying for the tickets, too.. to give them away to people. It really is about the message of love and hope.

...Anyway, 'tis something I love being a part of, though it takes a good chunk of my time out. I grew up in this play. Both sides of my family grew up in it. Even though I've heard the songs a million times, I get swept up in them every time. And I'm just the dusty little sheep/donkey caretaker. *happysigh*

Let's hope my donkey (named Levi, he lives on our farm, and was originally trained by my older sister) doesn't get too cranky this year. xD It's kinda nerve wracking. Little person trying to lead big animal on big, scary stage. Though he's done this longer than I have, so... yeah. Eheh. I just have to work hard. Woo. I'll make sure to keep him happy.

Since we don't keep any sheep on our farm (sheep + grain farming = big troubles), every year my little brother and I pick two bottle-fed (AKA motherless) lambs from my aunt Kathy's sheep farm. We bathe them, dry them, feed them, play with them, etc. They're so adorable, they definitely steal the show when they're with us on stage. And even AFTER the show they steal the show, because we *show* them to the audience. We have our little setup right beside the handicapped entrance, so they get first dibs on petting the lambs. Hehehe. :3
Last years' lambs were named Souvlaki and Gruntilda II (I named the latter).
2007's lambs were named Yue and Suki. <3 (I'm such a geek.)

Sometimes we get to see our lambs grow up to be successful herd leaders in my aunt's farm... one example was Olive, a black sheep from 2004-2005(I think?). They grow up to be extremely friendly because of all of the special attention.

Anyways... I'm getting the sheep tomorrow or monday, and Jubilee Theatre rehearsals start on Monday. Sooo... I'm gone starting tomorrow. See you in a week! Or 8 days or so... something like that.
I'm hopefully going to finish up on the doodles I've been working on, and put them up before I go. xD

]]> ~meowmaddness http://meowmaddness.deviantart.com/journal/24005482/ http://meowmaddness.deviantart.com/journal/24005482/ Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:19:41 PDT Happy April Fools!

]]> ~meowmaddness http://meowmaddness.deviantart.com/journal/23505545/ http://meowmaddness.deviantart.com/journal/23505545/ Tue, 03 Mar 2009 11:20:09 PST The Dookster's Log: 04

Oh, look; it’s one of those MP3-shuffle-things. (OH NO.) And I’ve decided to make a couple atrocious doodles with it. (FLEE!)
I don’t really listen to much music other than Star Wars/Old Cartoon/Video Game music… so… (Prepare for the worst!)

”IF YOUR LIFE WERE A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE SOUNDTRACK BE?
So, here's how it works:
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to α new question, press the next button
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool...”

Opening Credits:
Ending Theme from Metroid.
Oh, I see, my opening credits are ending credits now.

Waking Up:
Super Paper Mario- Bleck Showdown Remix.
That is an obnoxiously loud and cruel way to wake me up.
…Yay Super Paper Mario boss music!! : D

Falling In Love:
Star Fox Corneria – Super Smash Bros. Melee.
HARDCORE.
This was meant to be. Corneria always *was* my favourite Super Smash Bros. Melee level!
Sorry, Hyrule Temple.


Fight Song:
Star Wars Throne Room/End Title.
…I WON!

Waitwhat.


Breaking Up:
Half Life 2: City 17
Well, it is kind of depressing… being in City 17… I guess… D:> *whimper*

Prom:
Rockin’ K.K. Slider – Animal Crossing
AH-MWAY-ME-NAH-OH! AH-MWAY-ME-NAH-OH!
This is totally the song I expect to hear at a prom.
Don’t try to tell me otherwise.

Life:
Donkey Kong Country Title Theme
One of my life’s goals is to ride a rhino one day, like DK did. Or a swordfish…


Mental Breakdown:
The Rain Rain Rain Came Down Down Down- Winnie the Pooh
Heheheheh. XD Oh man- mental breakdown? I just had a crossover idea…

Aaah! Don’t lose your pots of precious psychic-camper-minds, Coach Oleander!

Driving:
Data Selection Screen – Metroid Prime
Dwweeee! Doodoodoo dweeee~!
Heeey, since Metroid has been popping up so much, let’s check up on those two Space Pirates!

Looks like Zero-Suit Samus Zuko has found more than a stun gun to defend against them!

Flashback:
Everybody to the Limit (Fhqwhgads) – Strong Bad
I said- Come. On. Fhqwhflashbacks.

Getting Back Together:
Super Mario Bros. Water Theme
Doooo~ Doooo! Dooooo~ Dododododo Doooo~ Doooo! Doo-dooo!

Wedding:
Banjoland Challenge – Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts
HAHA! Now there’s a wedding likely to crash! Eh? Eh?

Birth Of Child:
King Dedede’s Theme (Kirby’s Dreamland)
LLLOLOLOLOL!! XD YES.

Final Battle:
Green Plant – F-Zero GX
Maaan… I think I remember that level.
I fell off that track a whole bunch.
Though, I usually fell off of ALL the tracks way back when.

Death Scene:
The Council of Elrond – The Lord of the Rings
…..?!

Funeral Song:
Harmony – Tales of Symphonia.
OH MAN. The end-cutscene theme from Tales of Symphonia!
I love this song… I’d totally play it at my Funeral.

End Credits:
Bob-Omb Battlefield - Super Mario 64
Going out with a bang!

...... ]]> ~meowmaddness http://meowmaddness.deviantart.com/journal/23031769/ http://meowmaddness.deviantart.com/journal/23031769/ Thu, 05 Feb 2009 23:29:28 PST The Dookster's Log: 03

Almost forgot about you!
Just kidding. I was away for about two weeks, going off and doing western-Canadian things. I'm sure you don't need to know about that, but I'm going to talk about it anyway.

Of course I had a few times to peek at the internets again on my travels, but I need at least a few hours to get myself organized enough for a journal-type-up. (Even after fifteen hours of being on the road.)

So I went to FARM TECH and learned FARM TECH-Y THINGS for three days last week. From the information I've gathered from one of the speakers, some keys to starting your own agricultural business are: luck, listening, trust, and loooots of patience. I'm lucky enough to start out in a well-learned farmer's family, so I'm going to need a lot of the other three if I want to do something in agriculture when I grow up. xD Of course, I'm one of those people who would rather just do all of the mindless physical work rather than ordering things... hmm... Well, I won't have to worry about that for a while. <_<

Anyway, after a day's break from Farm Tech, I hopped in the car on Sunday and did four or five hours of LAJ practice (It's an all-volunteer Easter play that's been going for 35 years). An hour after that, I celebrated birthdays with my family. : D Then my brother, father and I drove the long road up to Hay River, Northwest Territories, to visit my older sister. Over-all, it's a 14-15 hour drive there. We saw two moose on the way up, one of which had a truck-shaped imprint on his side. D: The other one was better with its road pacing and was still very much alive. xD;

Visiting the Northwest Territories was really cool! My sister walked around town with me and my brother (and her dogs), and it's quite something. They have one of the only purple High Schools in Canada, and also one of the only High Schools in Canada with no corners. ...Quite something. XD

Hay River is beside one of the largest freshwater lakes, Great Slave Lake. From what I could see of it looking on from the mouth of the river, it was a huge expanse of nothing but ice for miiiiiles. I doubt you could see the other side of the thing; the lake itself is bigger than some states down where the USA-ers roam.

I'm planning to go back to Hay River in the summer- they're trying to start their first summer camp up there, and I'm hoping I can help out for the entire duration of the camp. They could probably use some volunteers.

Aight, I think I'll stop rambling. xD I hope you guys are doing well! Tell me what's up, if possible!

The Dookster salutes you!

>8{|> ]]> ~meowmaddness http://meowmaddness.deviantart.com/journal/22595470/ http://meowmaddness.deviantart.com/journal/22595470/ Thu, 15 Jan 2009 12:42:41 PST The Dookster's Log: 02

I am putting my thermal underwear to good use.
If I were to do that one meme with the whole "favourite underwear" thing, that'd be mine. Thermal Underwear.
...See? You didn't need to know that. Sheesh...

...I forgot what else I was going to say.

Oh yeah!

BRB on Jan 28. Going to a farming convention with my dad and my brother. [link]

<_<
PossiblyMaybe more ferret art coming your way.

... ]]> ~meowmaddness http://meowmaddness.deviantart.com/journal/22292415/ http://meowmaddness.deviantart.com/journal/22292415/ Wed, 31 Dec 2008 01:50:45 PST Captain'sDork's Log: 01

BlahfarmingblahBlahblahblahschoolblahBlahblahblahblah, eh?
BlahblahblahfamilyblahBlahblahblahvideogamesblahBlahblahblahblah.
Blahblahdrawingblahblah... Blahblahblahblahsaluteblah.

CEILING WANG DOES NOT APPROVE OF THIS MESSAGE. ]]> ~meowmaddness http://meowmaddness.deviantart.com/journal/22202689/ http://meowmaddness.deviantart.com/journal/22202689/ Fri, 26 Dec 2008 01:29:06 PST [Header? Like on a Combine?]
*?!

...Okay, so... this is going to sound really weird, but...

I think my ~ wavy line thingy grew up into its final form (?), or died and was replaced. Either way, now I have a weird * thingy behind my account name. I do not know what this means. But the * thingy started talking to me, and it's scaring me.

I wouldn't have noticed the change if it weren't for its high-up, watching, eye-like similarity. It's staring at me from the top left corner of the browser.


RIGHT THERE! See it? Kinda like The Great Eye. Eerily close.

I miss you, humble ~ wavy line. I... I never knew a website could be so scary without you...

--AAGH! Waah, * scary eye thingy is still watching me...

I'll just scroll down a bit... I hope it doesn't try to communicate again...

Footer?!

Head? Foot? Oh man. I bet it's the * scary eye thingy placing random body parts in my journal!

Excuse me while I re-assemble my scrambled mind... and also give a huge hurgly to a certain someone...

The Dorkster Salutes You! ]]> ~meowmaddness http://meowmaddness.deviantart.com/journal/21784118/ http://meowmaddness.deviantart.com/journal/21784118/ Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:53:05 PST
Do you guys write journal updates and never send them? I've been doing that for the past three months. I guess I'm never good with public journals. xD;
After all, I haven't updated since harvest... with my combine spazzing.
Pick up that can.

I'm looking forward to the family times, anyhow. Dookster's quite close to the family- you know those farmers. And lots will be happening, including my sister coming home from the Territories, my aunt and uncle coming home after years in Africa, and having a newborn cousin that I haven't met yet... Plus my grandparents are still alive and awesome. Gotta see 'em while I can!

I also... haven't started school yet. Which is kinda really bad. I was expected to get my books and everything sorted by late November, but I really... don't know where it's going at all. >: I feel kinda stupid and unworthy compared to my hard working peers. Maybe I should be taking most/all internet time off for this month...
Internet: The Dookster: No... you're right... I learn lots of things with you, too. But people might expect me to start studying for a career! I can't do that by drawing on Tegaki...
What am I going to do when family/friends ask me "How's school going?" ...You're making things so awkward for me, internet! Argh! ARRRGHH!
Internet: ...
The Dookster: SIGH. I'll just... sorry. Sorry. ._.

Where am I going with this journal, you ask? Well, let's end it with a hypothetical question.
Suppose that you liked my clay work... You know, the sculpy ones? Assuming that I was feeling in the sculpting mood again after bringing the four-year-old box of little coloured gobs out, which character would you want me to sculpt?
A. Ford Cruller
B. Dogen
C. Vernon
N. Dookster?
E. LLLLINNNNDAAAA?
K. Kochamara?!
F. Other (specify)
G. No! Forget clay! Make a Jinjo ball! Out of those balls you find for cheap in supermarkets. In fact, make several Jinjo balls! It would also satisfy my desires if you sumo wrestled and/or hurled them.

The Dookster salutes you and demands that you love your family!

]]> ~meowmaddness http://meowmaddness.deviantart.com/journal/20752138/ http://meowmaddness.deviantart.com/journal/20752138/ Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:00:07 PDT Today I did my first "on-my-own" combine grain dump... I could've done it earlier, but I'm a big chicken. What? It's a big machine... a big, veryveryveryvery expensive machine... if I clogged that thing, I would feel so horrible. ANYWAY. My brother and I sat in the same combine for a 10-15 hour shift of harvesting canola seed... I did it to gain experience in this area... and maybe to pay off buying Tales of Vesperia, too. XD (I just got that yesterday- er- two days ago- er- Sunday. I should really go to bed...)
Anyway, exciting times! I'm all combined out. Maybe I'll go back to the trucker-helper shift tomorrow... XD; It pays less (I don't really get paid-paid, I just pay off everything I buy/use by doing chores... still, they count up the work.), but I prefer being the little-do-thinger-out-of-the-way-person.

Though, driving a big machine with deadly teeth on the front is AWESOME. 8D I'm sure I'll dread ever going near a combine again for the next many years... (somanyrows...somanyroooowssss... *zombiemoan*) but for now, I'm the eager combine-newbie who gained a few experience points. XD

I'm feeling much better from my wooziness (haha, let's see how long that lasts)... thanks for your concerns, guys! <3

I've been thinking about ye all the time. And I have more art in store- which are definitely inspired by your suggestions! |D

Have a good one! XD I don't know how much time I'll be able to spend on the internet for the next few days, but I figured I'd stop by and blabber. Let me know how you guys are, too, eh?

]]> ~meowmaddness http://meowmaddness.deviantart.com/journal/20652944/ http://meowmaddness.deviantart.com/journal/20652944/ Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:18:15 PDT
Sickblahblahblah

Ah well... this ferret's not doing so great currently. xD; I've been having these days where I wake up to dizziness and a headache and start throwing up out of nowhere -- It almost feels like an ear-ache, but it's hard to tell? I wonder if this is what a hangover is like...



D8 !!!

Though I am Canadian, I haven't taken to that heritage!
REALLY, NOW...

Helpme. D:

I've been wondering... could I draw anything for you guys? Like, is there anything that you would like me to draw? Art requests? Art mediums that you'd like to see more of? ...I feel like drawing stuff for people. \8D Feel free to shout out a request! xD; Suggestions would be wonderful.

I miiiight be asking this because I like to sketch when I'm possibly half-bedridden for the day. <_<

Paper Mario!
I've been playing Paper Mario: TTYD... I only got past the Pirate's Key a while ago, so no spoilars! I'll finish when I find a good time-measurer? (There's a part in the game where you HAVE to measure 30 seconds... and I can't find a watch anywhere. IT'S SAD, I KNOW.) Even when I do try counting in my head, it fails, so... xD; *SHAME*
But yeah, once (if) I get past that and finish Paper Mario and the Thousand Year Door... I'd have played all of the games in the Paper Mario series! : D They're a great set of games- each with their own unique and thrilling storyline/characters. I can't quite pick which one is my favourite yet... they're all really good. Though, I haven't played the first Paper Mario (for the N64) in YEARS, but I remember it being one of my favourites when I was a kid, too.
(Yes, I played them in a mildly weird order... playing Paper Mario first, THEN Super Paper Mario years later, and *then* PM:TTYD... ah well. XD)

Erh-- I hope you're doing well! xD Sorry I'm not very involved... I've been trying to help that though!
The Dookster salutes you!

]]> ~meowmaddness