Sena's DW :: Watermelon Life

So, I conceptualized Wayward Daughters and ever since then I have been working on it to the exclusion of basically everything else, even though it's #28 in the post-SS one-shots and I REALLY should be working on ones closer to the beginning like I mean?? BRAIN WHY?? Anyway, I finished it tonight and it came in at 16,714 words and 36 pages long, and does NOT have a happy ending. The beginning of Halcyon Days is going to have to be rewritten because of it, but that's okay I was never really a giant fan of how Halcyon Days started off, anyway. :P

Now that I've got Wayward Daughters out of my brain the plan is to work on TKA some more, at least 10,000 words before I switch to something else again. I really want to get TKA finished so I can focus on finishing the Storm Season one-shots and then move on to Freefall or My Zombie or maybe Sundown Valley, just something original again. idk maybe I'll just try writing a short story for once? I feel like that's something I could do, now?

.....

I did like a SUPER deep-clean of the axolotl tank yesterday and fucked my back doing it, but it was worth it everything looks so nice and clean now. I took all the hides out and then let the gunk settle again before suctioning the tank. I also cleaned the filters and did a couple of buckets worth of water change, which I can do now that I have dechlorination tablets. Also means I can get rid of one of the buckets that was taking up space.

Kaida, Haku and Ryuu were NOT happy while there were no hides and I was suctioning, though. At one point Kaida was literally climbing a plant. But they seemed MUCH happier with things once I was done, so that made it better, and I gave them wormies for dinner, which they always really like.

.....

I made three bracelets (the other three in the set for my brother for Christmas) and three necklaces yesterday, but I can't actually FINISH the necklaces because I can't fucking FIND my necklace tabs, so I had to order new ones off Amazon and they won't be here until the 11th, which is a pain. I was hoping they would come in next day like most Amazon stuff. Then again it's probably a moot point because between now and then I'll probably find the tabs I already HAVE. That's the way it always works, right?

Clearly I need a new organization system for my jewelry stuff. :|

My black tourmaline and chalcedony chip beads came in today! I'M EXCITED.

Basically, in writing Horror High (and Cheap Motel) I had to do some research into gemstones and what they're used for in wiccan/pagan circles (chalcedony in HH and black tourmaline/black obsidian in CM) and decided that I'm going to steal Charlie Bradbury's idea and make some gemstone bracelets for different "uses" to sell on Etsy. Black tourmaline is for protection and chalcedony is for balance and good dreams. I started with those two very specifically because of HH and CM, haha. :D

I know it would be better coming from a practising wiccan, the lady at the old new age store downtown made that VERY clear, but I haven't practised in decades. Does a lapsed wiccan count? I'm just gonna say it counts, okay?

Anyway, I want to get more and different gemstone beads as well, I just figured I'm start with a couple and go from there. I'm still doing more research into other gemstones and whatnot at the moment, but I can at least start with the black tourmaline and chalcedony! <3

Squall has been acting up the last couple of days. Not sure what's wrong, I've run diagnostics/antivirus/disc cleanup/defragmenter and everything is telling me there's no problem, but he's running slowly and earlier today I tried to turn him on and he wouldn't load the first time 'round. Might have to send him in to be checked out. =/

Other than that things today went pretty well.

Today was the day that Dion was scheduled to be neutered and Tia went in for exploratory surgery because of the whole Hi I'm Tia And I've Been Spayed But Am Still Going Into Heat Anyway MEOW thing. We had to be in Barrie to drop them off at 8am, which meant leaving here at 7:15am, which meant getting up at 6am. ~_~; But it needed to be done, so whatever.

We dropped them off without any problems and then went to the Sunset Grill for breakfast, where I got a greek omelet with hashbrowns and sausage and then proceeded to feel sick from it. So I brought it home to have tomorrow for lunch (hopefully). Mom has waffles with fruit salad and whipped cream and it looked AMAZING.

After that we came back home for a couple of hours before heading back to Barrie again. We went to Michael's so I could get the things I needed for doing the jewelry for the wedding next month. Then when I got home I realized I'd forgotten gold eyepins and the pedant I picked out is in silver instead of gold DURR SENA YOU'RE AN IDIOT. *facepalm*

We have to go back to Barrie in two weeks anyway so I can get the missing things then.

Wow, though. It's the first time I've bought actual gold components (14k) and it cost SO MUCH. ;A; I was putting everything on the counter to be rang up and GAH I didn't even want to know. It cost like $120 for everything because I had the 14k gold, some sterling silver and two strands of actual freshwater pearls. Also, the pendant that was silver instead of gold is pink cubic zirconia. SO EXPENSIVE ASDGH. But I'm still kinna excited to work with it anyway. :3

Anyhoo~

After that we went next door to the huge pet store to look at the cute animals and Mom almost bought a cat from the adoption center. XD;; She was this little cream coloured cutie with grey tabby markings on her face and from her feet to her knees on all four feet. She was really, really pretty. But Lee would have murdered us if we'd come home with another cat. xD; Ah well. She's so lovely I'm sure she'll be adopted really fast. ♥

Then we went to the dollar store because I needed AAA batteries.

After that we went to Walmart, where I got a drink at the McD's there and also bought two happy meal toys because they currently have LPS. *geek* I also bought an LPS monkey from the toy section. We originally went in to find an outfit for me for the wedding, but nothing really jumped out at me. I did get a black shirt for f!Kyo cosplay this summer, though.

That done, we drove across town to Bayfield Mall. :D

We poked around a few stores there and managed to find me a really nice outfit (beige dress slacks and an aquamarine button-down shirt that is really pretty!), though I still need to get some shoes that will match, since my black ones don't go with it very well.

With that all done we went into a couple more stores. One of them is this really awesome curio/collectible shop called Green Earth. I always love pretty much everything they have. This time though, we were about to go inside and in the display window was this stone statue of a cat, sleeping with wings on it's back.

And I stood there for a couple minutes trying really, really hard not to cry. Mom kind of gave me a little one-armed hug and dragged me in to look at shiny things to distract me. All I could think of was buying that statue to put at the top of Tri's grave when I bury him in a month or two.

Speaking of, I've decided on wrapping up a few of his favourite things to bury with him when the time comes; a packet of soft fish catfood, a yogurt cup since he was a yogurt fiend, a catnip pouch and his laser light toy. Maybe other things, but that's what I've decided on so far. I know it sounds stupid, but it makes me feel a bit better about burying him. It's going to be so hard for me to do when the time comes...

Anyway. After that store we stopped at the cafeteria to pick up Taco Bell burritos for my brother, as per his request, since he ♥'s Taco Bell and the one here closed like fifteen years ago. >>;;

Then we had to go pick Dion and Tia up! Everything went fine (which I assumed was the case since they didn't call me at all during the day) and the two of them were sleepy, groggy and pretty much high as a kite on painkillers.

Unfortunately, despite the exploratory surgery, they didn't find anything; no tissue that they missed, and no ectopic tissue either. So they think there's a chance that Tia was going into heat as a response to Dion transitioning from kitten to male cat and therefore starting to reek of testosterone. Now that he's fixed there's a chance she won't go into heat anymore.

Then again, ectopic tissue can be microscopic, in which case even if it's there they would have no way to find it. So I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Tia has to go back in in two weeks because they had to use staples to close her up this time (the incision site this time is 3x the size of the first one), so we have to bring her in to have them removed. That's no big deal though, and it'll only take 20 minutes or so. (And that gives me a chance to go back to Michael's for the stuff I forgot, too.)

So groggy kittens went into carriers and into the car, and then Mom took me to the awesomesauce aquarium store so I could poke around a bit and pick up a couple more catfish for my tank. I also got two emerald green tiger barbs. I asked for three and paid for three, but when I got home and was setting them up in the tank I realized they only gave me two. By then it was too late though. Oh well.

Then we came home. 8D;;

Dion and Tia have just spent a lot of time sleeping, obviously. They're not feeling too bad, though, and had good appetites when I fed them earlier. So it's all good. Another day or so and Dion can go back into the basement with the other boys, but Tia needs to stay in my room for at least a week before rejoining the pride.

So basically, today was super busy and tiring but I got a lot done.

Also? I'm so worried about some of my friends over in Japan (and area). My prayers go out to them and everyone else who's being affected by the earthquake and aftershocks and everything else. Oh, and America can BITE ME. Honestly, some people are serious fucktards. >/

I loooove my Studio ghibli box set so much! It's epic love and I'm so happy to be able to watch all the movies for the first time! Which, admittedly, is most of them since before I'd only seen Grave of the Fireflies, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away and Castle in the Sky. And Princess Mononoke and Castle in the Sky I'd only seen the English dubs of. >>;

So a couple days ago I watched My Neighbour Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service (I loved Kiki, it was really cute!) and then tonight I watched the Japanese version of Castle in the Sky, and now I'm watching Howl's Moving Castle.

Ghibli films are all so unique, I think that's what I love about them. For the most part the art style isn't to my normal taste, but the storylines are always amazing and the writing/music is awesome so I can overlook the differences between me and the art lol. ♥

Movies aside! Been working on more stuff for Otakon. A bunch more earrings and phone straps and one more necklace today. I was going to do another necklace as well (I started it, even) but then the tendonitis in my right hand started bothering me so I had to stop. I think I've been overdoing it lately in preparation for the Otakon/Matsuri, so my hands are starting to rebel a little. Ah well, less than a month to do so I can't let up now! Haha.

So the other day I finally booked my ticket down to Baltimore. lmao I still need to talk with Maddie about the rest of the transportation stuff, but we can't seem to catch each other on aim. ~_~;; Anyhoo, once I talk with her I can plan the rest of my actual travel.

Oh, I also finally got my Internet set up for wireless! I bought the router a couple of days ago and I love being able to just bring my laptop into whatever-room with me. Plus if I have people over it means they can hook into the Internet too without me having to unplug my laptop from the Internet cable.

And then today I totally bought the self-cleaning cat litter box that I've been pining over for like two years. It's a really good one, and has a complete dome over it (which is necessary because Neko, for some unGodly reason, feels the need to stay standing while he pees >>;;) and is suitable for multiple cats. It cost almost $400, it better be as good as it appears to be. Plus it has a warranty of like two years. Whoot!

I'm very excited to have it, it'll make cleaning up around here about a million times easier. X3! It's being shipped to me, but it should get here by next Wednesday. ^^~

EDIT: Howl's Moving Castle was amazing! And now I'm watching Nausicaa and the Valley of the Wind. But I'm starting to get sleepy FINALLY, at 4:15am so I might turn it off soon and finish watching it tomorrow. I once again fail at sleep, despite it being a necessity of life. :D;

Sharing photos of some of my recent beading projects (for selling at Otakon/Matsuricon) I've done all these over the last week or so, and a bunch of them are from the last couple days when I wasn't sleeping because of worrying over Lee and everything. Anyway.

( Necklaces~ )

The black and red butterfly one is my favourite, but the blue mermaid one is a close second. I actually wore that one out yesterday and got compliments on it from the girls at Magpie Beads. ♥ lol I almost don't want to sell them. XD;;

( Bookmarks~ )

BOOKMARKS. They were fun to make. I also made another red one for Lee, with a guitar charm on it and etc. (since he plays guitar) as a present and took it to him in the hospital when I visited yesterday, but I didn't actually take any photos of it for some reason. xD;;

Speaking of Lee, he's been discharged from the hospital. They did all these tests on him and can't find anything wrong (even when he was having the attack all the monitors and everything said things were fine and normal wtf?) and he's doing fine again. They did every test they could come up with but as far as they're telling the doctors there's nothing wrong with him. It's frustrating. But Lee's feeling alright again so they just sent him home. IDK, I'm still worried. =/

Maddie has got me watching Destination Truth. Which is awesome because I can watch it online and I've been lacking in new stuff to watch lately. Bad news: She sent me to two specific episodes that SERIOUSLY CREEPED ME OUT. One with this island that was full of freaky dolls AND ONE OF THEM FUCKING BLINKED BY ITSELF ON CAMERA, and the other one was typical haunted forest stuff until one of the camera guys got FLUNG ACROSS THE CLEARING BY NOTHING. >.O!!

I am so glad I only have Cali to deal with here. Shut up, I named the calico cat ghost Cali for lack of anything else to call her. She's actually kind of fun to have around and plays with Loki and Tri all the time. Loki is particularly fond of her, it seems. He has a ghosty girlfriend haha.

Anyway, now I've found a site that has all the eps of it, so I'm starting from the beginning. Then Imma move on to Ghost Hunters and Ghost Hunters International. I'm a glutton for punishment, what can I say? XD;

For another topic, I now realize why the beaded chopstick hair ornaments are so expensive. I have made one. It took six hours all together for one chopstick, and hurt my hands like WHOA. Plus over half the beads in it are swarovski, so that'll raise the cost too. All in all, an expensive and time consuming thing to make. But it turned out really pretty.

( Photos of my first hair ornament. )

Swarovski rondelles in crystal and pink, swarovski bicones in crystal, round crystals (non-swarovski), gold coloured round spacers, gold coloured stars, white mother of pearl rounds, pink seed beads, and flat pink flowers + A LOT OF TIME AND PAIN. I love how it came out. :3

It's the most awkward thing ever to photograph though. .__.;

I started two more tonight too, but it'll probably take me a while to get them finished.

EDIT: Oh also lol. Before I started watching DT I watched a couple eps of Monster Quest and one of them was about giant rats in New York. And they were talking to biologists who were saying how a rat that gets to be over a pound in weight is HUGE and rare... and I was playing with Sora at the time. Sora, who weighs A POUND AND A HALF. I OWN A GIANT MONSTER RAT. xD;; (Roxy and Riku are only about 1/3 of his size. He dwarfs them haha.)