On my current work schedule, the only day I have completely clear is Saturday (luckily this will be changing at the end of the month). Which means that I haven't been up to much in my free time lately, but this weekend I made it out of Seattle! Went East to Snoqualmie Falls.
Got a good walk from the top viewing area down to the rocks. In the sevenish years since I last visited they built a high wooden boardwalk along the bottom with signs cautioning leaving it, but, like everyone else, we climbed over the rail and scrambled down to the rocks. Had a very calming picnic.
Here are some beautiful roots on the trail to the bottom of the falls:
I like Seattle, but driving through the countryside was like letting go of a breath that I didn't know I was holding. Guess I'm a country mouse at heart. Saw about two cows, got nostalgic for VA.
Today I went to the Woodland Park Zoo and petted a tarantula. It was soft. I thought its hair would be coarse, but aside from the drastically reduced surface area, it felt like petting a cat.
It's snowing here: huge fluffy clumps, floating like down feathers.
Absurd, but amazingly lovely.
I've been working on a website for Ingrid's photography business. I'm really challenging myself, learning a lot. Today: I am working with Drupal. I think I like it. Nothing's online yet, though.
It's getting colder, and I'm drinking more tea. And mostly black tea these days. My top three flavors:
Earl Grey (I have Ahmad Tea London)
Vanilla (such as Harney & Sons Vanilla Comorro)
Mango (Republic of Tea: Mango Ceylon is subtle and Hawaiian Islands Tea Company: Mango Maui is supermango)
I drink coffee too sometimes when Mom's making that, but I like putting lots of milk and usually some sugar in it. Tea is a lot healthier! I pick teas that are naturally sweet-flavored. What drinks do you guys like?
I just beat Devil May Cry. It was great! Thanks wensleydale for lending this epic badass game to me!
I didn't realize I would like this game. I thought it would be too fighting-oriented (I tend to go for games with adventuring/exploring or character customization). I must say it was a lot harder for me (on normal mode) than other games I've played (except for Myst). But it was totally satisfying to finish each mission. And the moody setting really added a lot. It was pretty funny too. In summary, I love it.
Next Topic: Here's a linkpimp: EMG-Zine "an e-zine for artists and writers of fantasy and science fiction"
It's more weighted to the art side, I'd say. Current issues are public online, the archive is subscriber-only. This issue isn't their strongest, since they had to run an old column by ursulav (she writes Wombat Droppings) and they don't have any reviews, but I wanted to link it before I forget. Check it every month.
I bought my plane ticket to Seattle. Leaving December 1st.
Right now I'm going through boxes of old papers. Mom gives me a lot of the stuff related to me to sort, and I've come across a whole slew of evaluations from early elementary years. It's kinda neat to see the parent/teacher perspective on me. Stuff like, "Katie recognizes numerals 0 to 20 except 13, 15, 17, and 19." Childhood: the Behind-the-Scenes Special.
It's also a little strange. I don't recognize my younger self as myself at all. But I guess it played into the current me somehow, with a series of little changes that add up to a fully-developed person.
Well, it's been a while since I posted about my life. Mom has decided to sell the house and move West, and I'll most likely be going to the West Coast as well to be in a better position to hunt for an animation job. So we've been doing more of the same: cleaning, sorting, etc. Which bring me to my first point: we now have furniture in excess of what we need.
FREE STUFF Any of ya folk moving into apartments around here need bookcases? Or possibly a large table? If you come get them, they're yours.
I've also got some actual work to do now: A freelance project, that I should be finishing up in around a month, depending on how quickly talks with the client go. It's exciting! And also stressful, what with needing to whip the house into shape at the same time and all. But I'll keep it under control.
Plus, yardwork. I've discovered that it's grueling, but satisfying. Makes me sleep well, anyway. Get up at 8:00, rake/transport magnolia leaves till the afternoon, and I feel ready to go to bed at 3:00 PM!
