Mr. Bob's Jibber-Jabber

So...has anyone else noticed how advertising is exploiting the word "stimulus" like a cheap harlot?

I'm sick of the word now. Thanks, American media! I'm so glad you're making me begin to detest certain words so you can make some money.

Ugh.


On a side note, it's April now!

I've had an incredibly voracious appetite lately... I have no clue why... but all of my efforts to slim down to the 223 I currently am are in jeopardy at this rate! RAAAH!

I probably shouldn't worry... I'll calm down when I can't afford my snack attacks once again.



In the meantime... mmmmmmm...homemade chocolate chip chunky peanut butter cookies...

*drool*

I think I'm going to start posting an image of me with each post...for some reason I'm unsure of at the moment... ihh.



I've forgotten how very thought-intensive traditional animation is. D:

It's been a full school year since I've hand-animated anything on paper, and I'm in a class that CG Animation Majors, like myself, aren't required to take, but Traditional Animation Majors have to. I almost feel like I'm stepping onto others' proverbial turf here and I'm kind of intimidated, considering I feel like hand-drawn animation isn't my forte. The professor is extremely professional with the way he teaches, and I feel out of my league. So I guess what I'm saying is that I'm psyching myself out over this stuff, since I took the course to get better as an animator.

Not to be snobbish or a braggart, but I haven't really had my animation talent tested thus far in school. All of the things I've been taught about animation I'd already learned on my own, so I'm changing gears in the fact that I need to start learning again, which is good and bad. Good in the obvious fact that I'll be expanding my knowledge, and bad in the fact that I've become sedentary in my learning and, like with physical exercise, if you sit down, it's harder to get up and get that momentum going.

I'm certain after my first project I'll realize there's nothing to be so paranoid about, but it's just so strange that I feel this way about something I love. I suppose I'm just eager to impress and my desire to rise to the top is dominating my laziness of craftsmanship.


So, all in all, it's a two-fold deal.


In other news, California gave me a cold. :< I still had fun though!

In other, other news, I'm planning on asking someone out this upcoming weekend and I'm not nervous in the least...weird.

I was in Northern Wisconsin this past weekend and had some good times up there with my church. It was coooooold and REALLY snowy, but awesome. I'm ridiculously sore in the legs from snow fights between all the younger kids. It was apparently see-if-we-can-take-Kevin-down weekend or something. It's possible that I MIGHT have perpetuated it with some taunting... >_>;

Anyway, they wound up trying to take my legs out for several hours in the snow, and trudging through the knee-deep stuff puts a surprising amount of strain on your thighs. So I'm sore.

One unfortunate result of it was that I didn't realize Pseudopod, my iPod Nano, was in my pocket throughout the ordeal, and when I removed it from my snow-soaked jeans, I discovered the screen was cracked.

It still works when it's hooked up to a computer, but it's basically become a Shuffle now. :/

My father was gracious enough to humble me by buying me one of the brand-new 4th Generation iPod Nanos Apple just released not too long ago.

I have dubbed it Gallus, named for the character in Reliquary. Hopefully with the name it'll be a little more resilient than Pseudopod.

Has anyone ever looked at their life, the bad times in particular, and asked themselves, "Did I really deserve that?" That thought's been plaguing my mind for the past few weeks. I feel wrong about asking it, as I know it won't change anything, but I still wonder. I've felt like I've gotten my teeth kicked in, emotionally anyhow, by a few friends of late, and it's really wounded me deeply.

Inadvertently I ask myself what I really did to cause them to act that way, and I can't help but ask if the way I was treated was just or not.


But, as always, we fall, we stand back up, dust ourselves off, and keep going. It doesn't mean I won't have a few scratches though. :/

Why is it that I have a knack for finding songs that so vividly describe my feelings at crucial moments?

I finally got around to getting ahold of Bioshock and playing it through.

Wow.

That's all I have to say. Also:

School starts in less than a week for me.

I'm looking forward to being distracted from one hard fact; my wonderful girlfriend, Becca, is in Texas at grad school, and I'm up here in Chicago at Columbia. This is by far the greatest conundrum I've ever encountered in my life. On one hand, I'd love nothing more than to be with her, as I'm the happiest I can ever be in her presence. On the other, I want her to live her dream and continue on with school, as is her wont. I want her to be happy, and I'm pleased that she takes such pride in her education. I too need to finish school, so that other possibility is out of the question, even though I've taken it into serious consideration.

She's such an inspiration to me. I want what's best in her, and she innately brings out all that's good in me. I've decided that I'm aiming for a 4.0 this semester in school. I've never achieved one before. I came close in 8th grade and was thwarted by English, of all things.

I want to show Becca just how much of an inspiration she is to me and how much of a drive to succeed she's provided and continues to provide. I know I don't need straight A's to prove that, but I'd think it'd say a lot.

I'm also going to do everything in my power to graduate from Columbia as soon as possible, even though I love it here. I've made some fabulous friends and live with four wonderful people, but really, I'm just not as happy as when I'm with Becca.

I've set my goals, and I'm going to bust my rear to see that I'm successful, so help me God, because I know what I want, and my vision's never been clearer.

Why is love with the right person so intoxicating?

Two people who are right for one another seem to be able to do the most mundane tasks together, and as long as they're with one another they're not just content; they're happy.

They may not even be conscious of it. Unaware of it, that is, until they're apart. If the feelings two individuals in love share is a true bond, even the most subtle times apart weigh heavily on the couple.

Sometimes this feeling over a distance becomes overbearing and they could give almost anything for merely a few moments to share a warming glance, a gentle caress, or a loving embrace.

It's the time in the absence of one you truly care for that you realize how fleeting life is and how excruciating something as simple as a day, a week, or a month apart can be. It's invariable torture, separation, and there's only one true cure. How deeply those apart crave it; a proverbial tiny rivulet of pure water in an ungodly wasteland as far as the eye can see.

Perhaps I speak too generously of this plight, time apart. Perhaps this is just the inane rambling of a lovestruck romantic who's feeling the sting of separation, but my heart goes out to those of you in love who have to endure such strife. To those who must merely grin and bear it when your friends around you can hug and kiss their sweethearts, enjoying the wonderful things physical closeness can bring while you are deprived of the same joy, no matter how worthy you may be of it, you have my sympathy.

So why do those of us who must endure such heartache bear such a burden? I may not be able to speak for everyone else who happens to be in love and distanced from his or her significant other, but I know in my heart and in my mind that, if nothing else, true love is worth the hardship, for the triumph after the trials and tribulations is a grand thing to behold.

To those of you in a relationship, tell your partner how much you mean to them, face-to-face if you can, because time is a fickle, fleeting thing, and you never know how long it may be until you get to again.

I have pets!

Well, I own one of the two.


This is Zelda. She's a black hooded rat. She's large, mellow, and adorable.


The other is Shiek. Shiek is the inverse, though still adorable. She was a handful to try to get a non-blurry image of. I took this video and Ben so graciously provided his hands:
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v423/mrbob0822/?action=view¤t=Video15.flv

I know I haven't updated this thing in a long while, but I've been busy.

I'm finished with spring semester and got some awesome grades that I am, and more importantly, my parents are very proud of. All A's with the exception of a single B made for an awesome GPA this semester, and a great improvement from my semesters at other schools.

I'm also a permanent resident of Chicago now, having moved into an apartment with four other people. It's a nice place, and I actually like living in Chicago, though everything is rather pricey. :/

That said, I've been searching for a job. I really wanted to work with the Interactive Arts & Media department at school, as they use Photoshop and Illustrator, and can work with my schedule come school time in the fall, but the department coordinator is being a jerk and hasn't gotten back to me in about a month, despite my numerous e-mails. I think it's time to pay him a visit in the department to see what the deal is. Other than that, Barnes & Noble seems to be the only place willing to even give me a chance, and that wouldn't be a bad place for me to work at all.

As for really big changes, I wound up breaking up with Julie last month. I don't want to get into too great of detail on that subject matter, but I'm more pleased with how things are now. I've fallen in love(once again, leading me to believe I never truly fell out of love) with the first woman I've ever had feelings for, and, this time around, she returns those feelings wholly. I'm much happier than I've been in a long time and don't have to constantly live in doubt as I trust Becca without error. She's an incredible blessing upon my life, and I'm glad things are looking up for me.

Hooray for happiness!

<3s to Becca! *snug*

Quite officially one of the most adorable things evar:

http://www.weebls-stuff.com/toons/death+kitty+and+the+fat+man/

Yay!

I built a new Weighted Companion Cube!





It has 3D, beveled edges and stoof!

Mweeeee!

<3


I also think I'm going to buy this shirt from Valve: http://store.valvesoftware.com/productshowcase/productshowcase_PortalShirt_WCC.html


~Not in cruelty,
Not in wrath,
The reaper came today;
An angel visited
this grey path,
And took the cube away.~

Know what I really hate?

I hate it when I find a song or a group that I simply love because of the music, but can't stand the lead vocalist.

I came across a group today by the name of Trivium. The song that caught my interest is called "Fugue". Yes, I do happen to like metal, so long as it's melodic, which it is. Why is it they threw in the death-metal-esque screamer for the lead vocalist though? Did they really think it sounded good? It ruins the song in my opinion. Otherwise, the song is quite enjoyable.

I find this to be a trend in the metal industry, where the song will be great, but the lead singer, if you can call him that, sounds like he's belching his guts into the microphone or something.


Does anyone know of any metal groups or songs that either don't have a screaming lead singer or don't have any lyrics at all?

I know this is kind of rock/metal, but here's an example of what I'm talking about: http://www.bn.free.fr/sonata.mp3



That is all.

The cake may be a lie, but the Weighted Companion Cube is accompanying me on my Aperture Science Enrichment test!





:3

After viewing today's strip from Penny Arcade, I can't help but see a strange correlation between Tycho Brahe and myself...



Anyone else see it? :P

For those who know what's up, Julie and I are still together.

For those who don't and would like to, you'll have to ask me.

There may be a very, very big change impending very, very soon...

I'll post the results after it occurs later tonight...

Not feeling too hot about my relationship of late... :/

That feeling worries me.

1.Will you be looking for a new job?
I wish I didn't have to, but almost definitely I'll have to have one when I get on-campus at Columbia. It's a fair trade-off in my opinion.

2. Will you be looking for a new relationship?
Sufficed to say, I'm not planning on it.

3. New house?
Yes, actually... well... new housing arrangements. We'll see if Ben wants to kill me by the end of the semester.

4. What will you do differently in '08?
I have some changes I'd rather keep private. One is to lose some darned weight. Another is to be a better Christian. I've been less than "presentable" at times, which I'm displeased with. :/

5. New Year's resolution?
Isn't this just restating #4?

6. What will you not be doing in '08?
Things I don't wish to discuss with the public.

7. Any trips planned?
Other than traveling to Chicago to live there for school, no.

8. Wedding plans?
None I'm aware of. D:

9. Major thing on your calendar?
Winter camping trip - Jan 18
Wisdom teeth - Jan 24
School begins - Jan 28

That's it so far...

10. What can't you wait for?
The great games being released this year. Metal Gear Solid 4 and Devil May Cry 4 to name a few. Also, I'm pretty pumped about living on-campus at Columbia.

11. What would you like to see happen?
I'd like to see a less obnoxious and sickening America this year. I haven't held the majority of the populous in high esteem for a long time. Also, I'd love to see people give a crap about their spelling and grammar usage. It's important, whether or not you knock it.

12. What about you will you be changing?
Again, planning on losing some weight. If I get the residence hall of my choice, it has an exercise room... I can read and bicycle at the same time.

13. What happened in '07 that you didn't think would ever happen?
I finally got a new computer.

14. Will you be nicer to the people you care about?
I wasn't aware that I wasn't nice to begin with...

15. Will you dress differently this year than you did in '07?
Nope. I like my style, regardless of how others feel.

16. Will you start or quit drinking?
I never picked up the dirty habit, and I don't intend to. Ever.

17. Will you better your relationship with your family?
I'm on very good terms with my family already. I don't think it needs much improvement.

18. Will you do charity work?
When it comes to artwork, I'm pretty charitable.

19. Will you go to bars?
Only for Golden Tee, as per usual.

20. Will you be nice to people you don't know?
As long as they don't give me a reason not to be, I'm always pleasant to others.

21. Do you expect '08 to be a good year for you?
Who am I, Cleo? I expect little from things.

22. How much did you change from this time last year 'til now?
Why don't you ask someone else about this? I can't look at myself in the third-person that way and compare to how I was a year ago. I suppose that means I've changed little.

23. Do you plan on having a child?
Not this year.

24. Will you still be friends with the same people you are friends with now?
The friends I chose are friends I have for a long time.

25. Major lifestyle changes?
Do losing weight and a changing of one's housing situation count as major changes?

26. Will you be moving?
Temporarily. I'll be back in Wisconsin at home when the semester ends in May.

27. What will you make sure doesn't happen in '08 that happened in '07?
Private items.

28. What are your New Year's Eve plans?
I'm obviously doing this a little late, aren't I? :P

29. Will you have someone to kiss at midnight?
I didn't.

30. One wish for '08
A me I can be proud of.