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Hey guys.... I'm really sorry that I've fallen off the . uh.. voxosphere? I dunno what's going on. I want to blog, I need to vent, I need to write, but it's just not in me... I don't know what's going on. I technically have more 'free' time than I did when I was more actively blogging (just one full time job, as opposed to one full time job and a part time job or one full time job and school, and volunteering, and etc...). I'm starting to think I need to be busier! Cause, I'm just depressed this way :(
Anyways.. I try off and on to keep up with how everyone is doing, but in short, I just can't. Thus I will have to delete some people.
I truly hope everyone is doing well, and I will try to update more often... seriously.
<3
Hi All,
Just a quick note to say that I started a new blog (not to replace these, but just in addition to...). It's just for my Project 365 stuff. It's fun so far. :)
Do check it out if you're interested. You can comment there too, or subscribe to the RSS feed and what not. I will be updating it frequently (much more frequently than I have here lately... heh). I just started it 2 days ago, and am back dating the entries as I add them so it looks like they're posted on the day I actually took the photo. LOL I've got some catching up to do, which actually works out well for getting it updated regularly as I try to catch up.
I miss blogging, but don't have time to update fully on here, so I'm finding this a quick, and easy way to keep things going, whilst keeping on track with my project!
:)
Also, I am on Twitter again (sigh... yeah I said it.. lol)... and you can find that here: twitter.com/ashenflowers
Woot!
Hope all is well in your world.
You have received a New Message. http://pxt.virginmobile.ca:80/share.do?invite=OEZr44J0m7zSYYJ77kGk
So I already wrote most of this up, but then vox is stupid and deleted it. One thing I really dislike about vox is their inability to auto-save drafts. They really need to work on that.
Anyways... I've been staying on track with taking the photos for 365, but I just haven't been updating them, as I haven't had time. Tomorrow morning I leave for my 2 week excursion in California. It's going to be interesting. :) I was more enthusiastic and detailed in my original writing of this entry. Now I'm just tired and irritated and want to get it done with. Sorry.
Photo time. (click for bigger)
So, with the photos, I left off for January 5th. It was Monday. I wanted to not be rushing around the last couple days before the trip so I started packing what I could in advance. I'm a keener. Sorta.
My mom got me this carry on for Christmas. :) Along with a cute little travel pack of various things.
On the 6th, for some reason I was extremely tired, and got home from work and ended up having a 2 and a 1/2 hour long nap. ????!! That seemed a little excessive, but apparently I needed to catch up on sleep. Kinda felt like I wasted my evening though.
So, this pic is of my bed frame. It's basically my view when I lay down and face the wall. lol
On the 7th, I took a pic of the outside? Crappy weather I guess. This is from the front door. That's my car. I'd been watching the weather info all week, trying to gauge whether the weather (hah) would be good or not. We had a storm mid-week, of course. Nothing like freaking out about the thought that I'll miss my flight or connection or something like that because of snow. I'm going to try to get switched to an earlier flight once I get to the airport, so hopefully that'll work out ok. Weather looks good now though, so that's promising.
On the 8th I realized it was 2 more sleeps until I left. So I kept thinking that all day... omg.. 2 more sleeps.. omg... etc etc. haha Can you see a theme? Yes, basically this week was all centred around trying to get ready to go.
Today's pic is Kitty, again. This is her peering over my now-packed suitcase. Kitty is almost 6 and a 1/2 years old, and I've had her since she was old enough to leave her mom. In those 6+ years, the longest I've been away from her is one week, and that happened only twice. I'm a bit concerned about going through Kitty-withdrawal actually. I'm kind of sad. I hope she's ok. Thankfully Dan's family has 2 cats, so I'll at least have some cat company, but it won't be the same. K, I need to stop talking about this, I'm getting all teary.
Consider this fair warning that many, nay, all of the pics for the upcoming 2 weeks will be in, around, about my trip to California. There might even be a pic or two of the infamous California boy. We'll see. ;) I'll be in the Santa Barbara area for the first week of the trip, then we're taking a road trip northish a bit for the 2nd week. I'm really excited but a bit frustrated at waiting and what not too. I just want to GO, and BE THERE, and not do this airport shizzat. Someone needs to hook me up with a private jet and pilot's license. STAT.
Take care, and let's hope my plane doesn't crash. Oh great, like I need that thought in my head.
~ ~ ~
“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.”
~ Henry Miller
I've had an interesting sort of weekend. After the ridiculousness of Friday, I went to a friend's birthday party on Saturday night... ended up uh... drinking a lot. But it was really fun. This morning hurt.
Haven't decided what to use at today's 365 photo. Took a couple but didn't really like how they turned out, so we'll see.
This is Friday's photo, or rather, photo series.... I couldn't decide which one I liked best. Votes???:
I took a picture of the DS because 60% of the crappiness of the day centered around it basically I think. And Kitty looked angry at it, which I thought was funny, and appropriate... and other times she was just kinda squishing it, which also seemed appropriate, or sniffing it suspiciously... again, appropriate.
This is Saturday's photo:
This is me... after I got home from my friend's party.. at 3ish in the morning I think (I hadn't gone to bed yet, so I considered this Saturday, even though it was after midnight). I was going to take some photos at the party, but forgot my camera at home. argh. The hat belongs to my roommate. The picture is blurry. It's appropriate. lol Couldn't hold my hand steady, and it's basically as clear as my vision was :P I think it represents the day well.. lol
So, I decided after all to use this pic as today's pic. It's my friend, the birthday girl. This is her birthday tiara... hahaha
I'm thinking of making a separate blog for my 365 photos. Dunno why... it's what I do. lol Maybe so I can share them with people without them getting access to my whole blog. We'll see. I'll let you know. lol
Off to watch more Heroes now before bed.
~ ~ ~
~ Emile Zola
So in case anyone hasn't paid attention at the sporadic posting this summer, I've been taking some night classes which have taken most of my 'free' time. I only have a couple more weeks to go then I'm done for now though... so yay for that.
Anyways, for one of my projects I had to make a 'fake' business plan and I have to do a presentation for it as well, and I'm having a hard time picking which presentation template I like best... haha So there are 3 choices. Also I am bad at narrowing down font choices. Please let me know what you like best. I will be making a logo that matches the template (in theory). Also, please let me know if the slogan/catch phrase is stupid lame, cause I think it's hilariously cheesy/lame in a good way... haha
Anyways, the business is an event planning business... It will do any kind of party or business meeting, but will also do itineraries and arrangements for day trips to specific places focused on fun/adventure/outdoors (aka, an amusement park, the zoo, hiking, white water rafting, camping, etc... group trips mostly)... so it's kinda event planning, but also kinda a specific branch of travel/tourism. So basically, I'm not going for the cutesy flowery wedding planner look, i'm going more for.. well, funky/professional. lol That said, Option 2 is still cool, cause it's not overly flowery.
Option 1 - Green Dotty
(btw... I totally LOLed when I realized the office assistant dude was on the pic... oops... hah Yeah, I'm one of those rare people that LOVES the office assistant... they're so cute!! Usually it's the cat or dog... haha)
Option 2 - Flowers, but not really
Option 3 - Darker Green
Anyways... yeah, lemme know, stat! lol ;)
Sorry that I kept forgetting to update about this. I did of course see The Dark Knight. It was GREAT. I really liked it. I did not exceed my expectations, mostly because they were so high, but I'd say it met them. The audience was great.... movie audiences in London are very quiet and conservative and no one claps at the ends of movies or anything (for example). No one did for this one either (rather, imagine a slow clap starting with two or three people, but then only those two or three people keep clapping and no one else joins in because they're losers... awkwaaard...)... but some scenes got a big reaction, which was awesome. A couple things I liked:
*MIGHT BE SPOILERS DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH YOU WANT TO KNOW, BUT AREN'T REALLY SPOILERS*
The pencil trick
The ejecting from the Batmobile
Biggest reactions from me (and audience) for sure, at least on the pencil thing... cause that was awesome... I also freaked out about the Batmobile thing because... I do that... Speaking of which, I saw the actual Batmobile in Toronto when I was there for Edgefest a couple weeks ago (at least, I saw the 'promotional' batmobile). Can't believe I forgot to mention that. I got a picture, but it's from the back, so not so good. I was actually so surprised and awestruck (aka freaking out a la 'OMFG IT'S THE F'ING BATMOBILE!! OMG) that I forgot to get out the camera when were were driving RIGHT BESIDE IT. I suck.
Speaking of spoilers too, unfortunately some jackass leaked a photo to the internet of Harvey Dent post-two face so I knew what he looked like before I saw it, so I wasn't surprised, but I was still grossed out. And seriously, I was just looking up a dark knight-ish icon to use for my msn icon for the week leading to the movie so it's not like I googled 'two face' or something. Assholes. Anyway, the makeup rocked. I don't envy the actors would have to put on serious make up like that. I couldn't do it (seriously, we had a project in college that required making a mold of our face and I refused.. hah)
So yeah, the movie was great, and Heath Ledger DID rock, and I'm not just saying that because he's dead. He was AWESOME as the Joker. The laugh was insane, he was creepy, and his voice and mannerisms in general were great. He was better than Christian Bale... YEAH I SAID IT.... I actually hope Heath is nominated for an Oscar (and I'm not just saying that because he's dead). Because honestly, if Johnny Depp can be nominated for things like Pirates of the Caribbean, and Sweeny Todd, (and Finding Neverland... I'm sorry, great movie, but honestly?) than Heath Ledger definitely deserves at LEAST a nomination for the Joker. Johnny Depp is great, but let's be serious.
Unfortunate for Aaron Eckhart that he is being overshadowed, because I thought he was also great as Two Face. Not Oscar great, but worthy of recognition great. A co-worker of mine thought his transition to the 'dark side' was too quick, but she apparently doesn't understand the concept of avenging someone's death, and being, oh I dunno, PISSED OFF that your face is destrooooyed and you'd rather be dead.
P.S. I totally 'yay'ed! out loud and clapped when Gordon... um... wasn't.. you know. Cause I was like, 'how could they... but he's the.. and the... whaaaat?!?'
DARK KNIGHT TALK OVER
So the next movie I'm looking forward to seeing is The Mummy, and/or Tropic Thunder. I can't remember which one is released first (but I think The Mummy is out next week). Though, one thing that will annoy me about The Mummy though is the fact that O'Connell (Brendan Fraser)'s son seems to look about as old as him. Are they serious??? I realize Brendan Fraser hasn't aged in the last 10 years, but honestly...
Also, another thing that will bug me is that, I hate when actors don't return to a film to finish up a sequel or trilogy.... Maggie Gyllenhaal aside (cause she did a good job as Rachel in TDK, and let's face it, it's not an important character, she honestly looks like Katie Holmes anyways, and Katie Holmes is retarded for staying with the Cruise disaster), I don't like seeing new people in a movie series.
Rachel Weisz is not in the next Mummy movie... Maria Bello (the replacement as Evelyn O'Connell) will probably do an equally fine job, and I like her, but still... Rachel Weisz dropped out to spend more time with her baby apparently (who's already 2 years old now)... I don't have children so anything I say to this will sound heartless, but unless it's a scheduling conflict with another movie, then just BE IN THE F'ING MOVIE. IT'S YOUR JOB. There's nothing wrong with taking time off from other movies, but this is a series of which you've already been the character in two movies, and I call BS on that excuse because she's going to be in umpteen other movies coming up anyway.... Half the job of being in a movie, especially one like The Mummy series, is the audience entertainment factor. Audiences like consistency in the matter of who plays what role. Other articles about the movie (yes, I looked this up, I'm not going on a huge rant without something to back it up) say part of the reason she dropped out is because the script sucked. Look, a lot of people hate their job, but they do it because they have no choice. IT'S YOUR JOB... DO IT. And I'm sorry... script issues? Was she worried that being in a shitty movie would ruin her reputation? From a woman who was in Constantine, and Eragon, AND The Fountain? Don't make me puke. Even Hugh Jackman couldn't save The Fountain for me. Backing out of a movie sequel because of stupid reasions ruins your reputation worse than just being in the stupid movie.... I used to like you Rachel Weisz. I used to even consider you in my top 10 fave actresses.... recently you dropped to say... top 20, but now.... YOU'RE OFF THE CHARTS. And I don't mean that in a good way.
p.s. I had no idea that bothered me so much, but there you have it. And to clarify, I don't care THAT much that Rachel Weisz is not in The Mummy... I think it's more of a significant irratation... and the principal of the matter... and I also think I envy people who actually have a choice and can turn down work and still pay the bills. Bastards.
~ ~ ~
I have been looking forward to seeing The Dark Knight for MONTHS and MONTHS now... since last year.... since even before Heath Ledger died.... since the first inkling of a teaser trailer, or whisper of a rumour of the movie came about... since I saw Batman Begins for the first time and almost peed my pants at it's awesomeness (ok so I didn't almost do that... but it is still pretty awesome)...
Unfortunately, due to a number of circumstances, 90% of which are beyond my control (like stupid boyfriends, and work, and previous engagements with friends, and other people's wedding receptions), I am unable to see this movie until Sunday... SUNDAY people... that's like... FOREVER after it's released. :P (considering early showings have already begun as of last night, and tonight, and if it were up to me I'd have already seen the movie, or would be standing in line for it right now instead of typing this... alas...)
As such... I will hunt down and STOMP HEAVILY upon anyone who says any iota of a word about the movie without labeling it clearly that you are talking about the movie, so that I and others like me can ignore and/or skip beyond it (aka 'spoiler alert' or something.) Yes, I am a geek about certain movies, and a bitch about these things. :P
Some people hate it when people ask things like this and think it's rude... and I expect that there are many of you reading this who are thinking 'who are you to tell me what to write about in my blog'... please understand that that's not my intention. You can write whatever the crap you want. I just think it's nice when people appreciate that others are really anticipating something and don't want it to be ruined for them. PLEASE don't ruin this movie for me. Write about it all you want, just mark is as a spoiler or something... Surely I'm not the only one who feels this way.
I will likely not have much time to read blogs and such this weekend anyways, but just in case.
I can GUARANTEE that I hate being spoiled for a movie more so than anyone hates people asking them to not spoil movies.... I don't even read reviews about movies before I see them, I hate it that much. Someone spoiled I SEE DEAD PEOPLE before I saw The Sixth Sense people... HONESTLY (and I saw it the same year it came out, so it's not like I SEE DEAD PEOPLE was yet the common catch phrase that it is today, and yes it was almost 10 years ago and I HOLD GRUDGES... hahaha). Don't piss me off. LOL
So again.... Dark Knight Spoilage = HEAVY STOMPING OF WHICH YOU WILL NOT ENJOY
And I mean that in the nicest way possible...
Thanks in advance.
:)
Your unspoiled bitch,
D. (ashenflowers)
Recently I subscribed to blog updates of Tim Ferriss, the author of The 4-Hour Workweek. I haven't yet read the book, but I do own it. I just have to find 'time' to get to it. So far his blog has been great, mostly because he doesn't update every day so it doesn't get annoying in the inbox, and also because so far he's had mostly interesting things to say.
I've always been quite intrigued by the concept of time; such as time travel, time passing, awareness of time of day and so on. I HATE wasting time. As such, I can't sleep with a ticking clock in my room because the ticking simply reminds me that time is passing and I can't sleep. That's another story. Anyways, imagine my glee, especially with my current frame of mind (explained further down), when I came across today's entry. Also, some of you may remember that I was previously a stock broker, so I certainly could relate to the concept of comparing time with investments.
To make a long story short, Tim says he received the following email from a David Kutoff (CEO of MPC, and I have no idea who he is...lol), whom he met recently at a party. I thought it was really interesting, and wanted to share. It's a bit long, but worth it.
Bear with me, this is somewhat rough at the moment — my initial quandary was whether time, like currency, could be invested to produce a compounding effect. After a bit of thought, my conclusion is that the value of ones time could experience a significant gain, and perhaps a compounding effect over time, given an investment of [that present-state] time in knowledge, skill or other capacity, and a reinvestment of future gains (just like currency).
Money and currency — accumulated excess money — represent one part of your capacity to transact in the marketplace, and can be exchanged for help from others in the form of products or services, including “things” like consumables, depreciable and appreciable assets. Similarly every action you take, whether it be transaction-related or not, requires the expenditure of some amount of time, which is roughly fixed for all of us (say 10,000 working days between the ages of 22 and 62).
Much like currency can be exchanged for appreciable assets that can grow with a compounding effect over time if the gains are re-invested, my theory is that time can be thought about in a similar way, which may lead to more effective action.
To put this in terms of your thinking from your book, lets say you work 40 hours per week simply performing tasks requested by your employer, none of which produce any additional future potential for generating income for yourself.
This is the equivalent of spending your money on consumables or living expenses. It’s single use, and gives you no real future gain, aside from whatever currency you might earn in the moment. Now, you decide to outsource 50% of your tasks to India, producing the same outcomes with 50% of your time. You just doubled the value of your time compared to before (less the additional expense for the help). Now, with that free time, you get more rigorous about working out, studying, and building your networks. You increase your energy, skill, and capacity working with others and manage to produce yet the same results that were taking 50% of your time with only 30%. If you keep reinvesting some of your time in additional gains in your capacity to act, you can theoretically have a compounding effect with the value of your time (rather than time itself). Just like investing currency, the earlier you start this process, and continue to invest in your capacity, the more time your capacity has to compound, and the greater outcomes you can produce during your lifetime.
This seems extremely relevant to me now, especially since I have returned to school part time (night classes), and am eager to return to school next year for a full time program. Every day at my current job, and the jobs I've been working the past little while, I have felt like they are NOT producing "any additional future potential for generating income for" myself. Basically I'm going nowhere, and the jobs are not benefiting me in any way with increasing experience, skills, knowledge and so on. I've been thinking about this a lot recently, enough that I've been looking for another job (also because I'm barely able to pay the bills, and that kinda freaks me out). I have always thought that having a job to pay the bills is not enough. I want a job/career that is useful, interesting, and quite frankly, I want one that allows me to be independent, and do the things I want to do. Yes, I realize that's a lot to ask. And yes, I am a college graduate already, but it's obvious I am no longer working in a related field.
If I CAN go to school next year though, I will finally be investing in my future again, something that has been missing for a long time. If I "spend the time" to get further my education I'll be gaining skills and knowledge; I'll be increasing potential for future income and happiness (hopefully). The only problem is finding the money and income to get to school in the first place. Right now that is my only hurdle; and I hate it.
~ ~ ~
“Yesterday is a canceled check; tomorrow is a promissory note; today is the only cash you have - so spend it wisely”
~ Kay Lyons
