Everything all at once!

Here I go again being a bad blogger...sorry folks.  It has been relly busy at work and it feels like I haven't done anything too exciting since I made that coffee video!  But seriously - things are going CRAZY.  My friend from high school is moving to Japan for a year, we upgraded the studio cameras at work to HD and I'm trying to get VERY familiar with them so that I feel comfortable using them, the old man and I are preparing for two very special house guests and yes, I heard the news about Cory Monteith.  Who didn't, right?!
I heard the news via Tumblr while I was uploading my coffee video.  It sounded like a Twitter death hoax for about 15 minutes and then, The Hollywood Reported confirmed the reports.  So tragic!  I think the Glee crew was supposed to start filming at the end of the month or something.  So crazy.  I've been trying to write a post about it since last Monday but I can't seem to find the words...

In other news - my sister is on the cover of the most recent Creative Loafing! You can read the cover story about +Fresh.i.Am+ here.



Oh - and because John is moving to Japan, he bestowed upon me the greatest collection to archive for us to enjoy forever:



Yep - there's WAY more than just those VHS tapes - there are quite a few mini DVs as well. I was hoping to have them all captured by the time our guests arrive so that I don't have to worry about capturing them in stages but sadly, I'll have to put this project on hold until I can get more free time.  Here's an Instagram video of one of the first tapes I was able to capture.  Too bad I can't figure out how to embed those things yet!  Oh well.  I'm hoping to at least get one more captured before my nieces get here!!!

That's right - our two very special guests are my nieces that live in New York!  They'll be staying with my Mom and my Aunt for about a week and then the old man and I get to take them for a few days.  I'm stressing because we've never had the kids stay with us and I'm a little freaked out.  If I wasn't freaked out, I'd be worried.  Ha!  But seriously - we're getting ready for them to stay with us and we are so excited!!  I bought them their own personal Smash books so they can journal while they're here and since I'll be able to go with my Mom to pick them up at the airport tomorrow, I'm hoping to snap the first photo for their books!  I'll try to stay updated but with the plans we have for them - like going to the pool, going to the mall (A's request), checking out the World of Coca-Cola (I haven't been since I was a kid...),  Amicalola Falls (I hope!) and a bunch of other stuff - I might not be able to.  Maybe I'll make a Tumblr for easy posting?  Or maybe I'll just keep the one I have ^__^

Now - I'm off to help out with moving some stuff.  Happy Monday!!

Update! Update! Update!

I'm not even going to scold myself about being a glad blogger because I've already done that over here. Believe me - I've been busy.  Like, super busy, but I've been posting to my other individual, specialized I guess you could say, blogs.  Not to say that that means this little gal is getting the axe - because she's not!  I've just been really particular with my postings and I thought it would be appropriate for them to be at their respective blog places.  Would you like some highlights?  That is, in case you don't follow me at the other places...

I recently made my version of the Hambo from Victory and it was awesome!  Not as good as the original, of course, but still tasty!



My recipe / Victory Sandwich Bar

I updated my Adobe Creative Cloud info and "unlocked" the Cineware update!  Well...technically, I didn't unlock anything - I installed it but "unlocked" sounds so much cooler!  What does that mean?  GIFs, GIFs and MORE GIFs of my intro to 3D adventures!



Yes, you can tell I was bored with animating my name so I did a little blurb for my brother. Check out his artwork!!!

Speaking of GIFs, we recently went to B and B Roastery and were taken on a super-awesome coffee journey! You know I went photo crazy with my iPhone.  I had to try my new HipstaPak, ya know!  And because I went photo crazy, I had enough to make this neat little GIF!



After years and years of this tape eluding me, I FINALLY met up with John and got The Art of Making a Tape to rip it out of its analog shell and put it in WAV form for all of us to enjoy - courtesy of my audio guru Paul.  It has only been 12 years since that tape was made...and quite some time since I last heard it.  Transferring it was hilarious, noisy fun!  Thanks Paul!



 So, there you go - you're all updated!  I'll try to be more on top of everything, I promise!

Goodbye Justin

This weekend was a sad one.  I found out on Tuesday that my sweet friend from high school, Justin Dixon, had passed away.  Fucking Facebook, am I right?  I hardly ever get on FB and the one time I do, I see that.
It broke my heart.  Justin was such a good guy.  He always knew how to make me laugh.  Actually, he always knew how to make EVERYONE laugh and I hardly ever saw him feeling down so to hear that he had passed was CRAZY.  It also put a lot of things into perspective for me.  And after talking to John, I decided I wouldn't let the gap between my friends and me get even bigger than it is now.
After Justin's funeral, I went to lunch with John and Tim - two of Justin's closest friends.  It was great!  We had TONS of laughs and tried not to dwell on what we had just been through.  We kinda felt bad for having that much fun after a funeral but we knew that Justin would've been enjoying some laughs with us if he had been there.  He probably was hovering over us as we ate greasy burgers in our funeral garb and was laughing at some of the stupid shit we were saying.
And I realized something: my friends are HANDSOME.  I hate that it takes a funeral to see them in suits but, dammit, my friends are super handsome!  I felt the same way after Nate's funeral too.  It's a strange feeling because as I snuck glances over at Nate in his suit, it only amplified his handsomeness and it hit me that he had left this world too young.  The same with Justin.
Actually, my situation with Justin was a bit different because I was thrust into his mother's arms as we both cried over the loss and when opened my eyes, there he was - right under me in his formal Army uniform.  It was bizarre and almost traumatizing.  After I shared some words with his mom, I immediately went to the next room and cried.  I couldn't bring myself to be that close to Nate and yet, there I was hovering over Justin.  It was a strange feeling.
I still don't know the cause of death and what sucks is that I asked his mom what had happened after we hugged at his wake.  I couldn't help it - it just came out.  I guess we all say stupid shit when we're grief-stricken.
The lunch and conversation with John and Tim gave me lots of things to think about as far as where my life is headed and how I can make a change for the better.  I'm ready for a major change and I'm hoping that I'll be headed in the right direction because right now, I'm not happy with the way a lot of things are going for me...

And I hate that I had lost touch with Justin.  He was such a great, fun guy and I wish I had messaged him a little more on FB.  I plan on doing that with my friends now.  I want to check in every few months, or so, and see how everyone is doing because they've all had a major impact in my life and I can at least check in every once in a while.

We'll miss you, Justin.  I hope you and Nate are reconnecting and having fun together!