Creepy neighbor guy who is always up here taking coffee and blathering endlessly about Neon Genesis Evangelion got here just after the editor-in-chief took the last of the coffee.

I like it when his visits are shortened, though really, acting like my boss dude did this to spite him is just ridiculous. Grow up, you aren't going to die without it, and go steal some other department's coffee and time and patience.

You know, compared to sitting at a desk, being at a conference is a nice change of pace. There were points that were extraordinarily boring, but parts that were fun and interesting too. I think I'm happy I was sent.

A few points were made that I'm not so sure I agree with, like everything needing to be experiential if we want to reach 20-somethings and 30-somethings, but more experiential stuff does work. Of course, it works more if you don't wind up alienating the disabled. But I know that people with disabilities are rarely at the forefront of people trying to sell their brand or product, so we kinda get lost in the shuffle. It's a little disappointing.

They served us a pizza lunch today, hee. And while eating, I'm looking around at our group. Someone was missing. I glanced at R. "Hey, R, where's D?"
She glances around. "She was just here..."
M walks in. "Hey, weren't you guys riding with D? Any idea why she just left?"
Yep. We were ditched. She didn't bother to say a thing to us. I'm less than impressed. I got a ride home, though, with another coworker, an hour after the planned departure time, but an hour before poor R.

I'm home, though! Yay! And I can rest and play and be gleeful about MarioKart coming out tomorrow, hee! :D

We leave in an hour and a half.

We still don't know what bits we're meant to attend, hee...

Anyways. Broke my budget yesterday getting an eye exam and ordering new glasses. Yeah, ordering. Apparently my eyes are to the point that the lenses need to be sent out to a special lab to be made. Wound up spending $300... I'm just glad I prepurchased MarioKart, because at this point I wouldn't be able to justify spending $50 on a game, unfortunately.

I got a new haircut too, though, and I'm liking it. It's apparently called an inverted bob or something like that.

The conference work is sending me and a few others to starts tomorrow.

We have our namebadges (woo!) and tickets.

What do we not have? Our schedules. We don't know when we're leaving from here, we don't know when we're leaving from there.

We know that it starts at 1 and goes until ten on Thursday, starts at nine in the morning and goes until ten at night on Friday, and from 9 am until 3:30 pm on Saturday. We don't know which sessions we're being sent to, or really much of anything else regarding time.

Did I mention it starts tomorrow?

It would be nice to know some stuff, really. Please.

Edit: Nothing to put my minor grips into perspective like hearing about a worldwide shortage of grains - rice, barley, wheat... I wonder if this will inspire the government to stop paying some farmers to not produce...

Our moron affiliate has a new moronic idea. I'm not surprised. But I'm beginning to think I should bring Tylenol to the office. When what he wants up starts with "[his country] is strategically located in [region]," you know you're in for a headache of a time. Dude. Forts are strategically placed. Tricorders when on a nudist planet are strategically placed. Countries? Not so much. And it just goes downhill from there. He has an ego the size of fifty countries, really.

Oh well. I'll be meeting with the two pipers again tonight who are planning their competition next year around mine, and we've found one lovely tune already. They're still looking for more, but the tune they found (hills of gilliecraic, something like that?) has suggestive swoops that would be perfectly complimented by twirls and flourishes. It's also an older tune, so theoretically no one else would be playing it, and judges like variety.

And, of course, since Monday night practice is at the normal place, I'll be venturing to the anime store to see if they have gotten in a Quincy cross or a Zaraki plushie. And now I'll be checking for anything YYH, too, since I'm in love with it. I don't recall seeing anything before, but since I didn't know the characters before, I doubt I would have noticed.

This week is going to be insane. We have a working-lunch meeting tomorrow, and a conference/seminar this weekend. I might be scarce from Thursday through Sunday, I don't know what my schedule will be like, or when we'll be getting back. Add to this that MarioKart for the Wii comes out on Sunday... heehee.

I need to finish my magazine article. It's not cooperating, though. I know what it's going to be about, but the first line is just being evil and stupid. I'll get it worked out.

The BleachMob seems to be up for movie cosplaying. :D I've talked to most of them except Lisa. This will rock. :D

The parade in The Villages went well. Our snare didn't show up until last minute, which had a lot of us worried, but she made it just in time. The band was split and playing at two different locations on a weekday afternoon, so it wasn't easy to get a lot of people out there, but we have a sufficient number. Our group has six pipers, a bass, a swing tenor (guess who) and a snare. The other one wound up with seven pipers, I believe, as well as the three drummers.

Fiddler's Green was awesome. I love playing at that pub. There's always so much energy, even if it does feel like a sauna inside. A very cute cop told us swing tenors we did an excellent job, but we had to get back to help the pipers warm up again instead of being able to talk further. We had all four swing tenors there. When Kelly, Jeff, and I are together, things get even more fun. Jeff and I can improvise at the drop of a hat, and Kelly goes with it. Alex... would be okay if he actually tried. But he's a pre-adolescent boy. Nothing holds his interest, and he doesn't practice.

The last of three performances at Fiddler's was awesome. Jeff and I had the stage and were going all out. In the crush of the crowd poor Kelly got stuck with Alex. The lights were hot, I kept hitting the microphone stand (Jeff hit the microphone) but it was a blast. The band performed our competition medly, and the whole crowd got into it. The strathespey, which is a dance tune, had the perfect bounce to it, and our jig was fast and crisp. The ending wasn't precise, but it didn't have to be, not in a crowded pub where people are bumping pipers. Yay St. Patrick's Day!

Of course, on the other hand, I got back to work this morning to find out policy/doctrine guy inadvertently pulled the rug out from under us. He told our moron affiliate essentially "In the end, it's your site, and you can do what you want, but we all should be aware of how things affect us as a whole, and strive to be aware of the implications regarding what we publish. We need a unified image." Moron affiliate read that how he wanted to as a "Go for it!" and so now I have to put up the rubbish he wants on his site.

Oh well. Monday was awesome. :D

Our affiliate has been very, very quiet ever since editor-in-chief yelled policy guy into doing his job. This is good, because it means they're not making bizarre demands every other day. However, this also could be bad, because it suggests there's tension and frustration. The affiliate likes having stuff promoting them and how great they are on their website, and they want new stuff regularly. That they're not asking for it yet... not sure exactly what it means, but I really don't think it's a good sign.

ETA: Spoke too soon. Now I've got a flood of stuff affiliate wants. Botheration...

Anyways, stolen from Janet and Jill and someone else who I'm forgetting: Everyone has things they blog about. Everyone has things they don't blog about. Challenge me out of my comfort zone by telling me something I don't blog about, but you'd like to hear about, and I'll write a post about it. Ask for anything: latest movie watched, last book read, political leanings, thoughts on yaoi, favorite type of underwear, graphic techniques, etc. Repost in your own journal so that we can all learn more about each other.

Editor-in-chief, a mild-mannered and mostly soft-spoken man, is yelling at policy guy. The problem is not yet solved, but... he's yelling on my behalf and I didn't even ask him to.

incandescens replied to my Iroh drabble prompt.

Mishima's Yumichika met The Beautiful Suzuki and they're discussing fashion, of course.

The Mishima thing looks like it's settled. It was not nearly as bad as I thought things were going to be. And Maes is awake and eager to leap into things.

There have been a couple of cheerful emails from our pipe major on upcoming events. Granted, he's a very cheerful guy. But there doesn't seem to be any tension there. I'll know for sure when practice rolls around tonight, but... maybe they got things settled. I know our snare corporal was still talking to the pipe major when I got hauled off.

Speaking of being hauled off... that story is a little amusing. One of the other drummers went to my ride and said "Hey, it's Jackie's birthday. She decided to head out to the bar with us." My ride accepted that, grabbed the drums, and left. I got outside to see no car. This was, of course, the one night I forget my cell phone. So I'm standing there wondering if I've been completely forgotten when half the drum corp comes up and says "Hey! You're going out with us! Get in the Corvette!" So I got in the Corvette, and wound up at a bar, drinking Sprite and playing darts. And while they completely kicked my butt at real-life darts, I can take them all in Wii darts any day.

Basically, I'm doing a lot better. Especially since I can eat again today.

Work had an appreciation dinner last night, catered by a good barbecue place. That was nice, though... a little odd. I was by far the youngest person there. There was at least a ten-year age-gap between me and the next person. Oh well. The table I sat at was friendly, and we chatted quite a bit. Now I know some of the people who work on the floor below mine, hee.

I've been stressing a bit because I think my mishima Maes Hughes is OOC... but talking to a couple of people, I've been told he's only slightly that way. I was toying with the idea of taking a week break from just him and trying to focus more on who he is, figure it out, but if it's as little as I'm being told, I think I can keep him going and steadily refine him. Also, taking him out for a week would really affect the Turks, and Reno, Rufus, and Cissnei seem to be having a great time. I'll back Maes down a bit, make him not-so-much overt... The big problem is that canon Maes is clever and subtle. And I'm making him blunder and stumble. I'm really going to pay more attention to that. The SFPD investigations will likely tone down, slow down... he won't go so hard on Cissnei since it was only a little slip-up on her part... He deserves the work.

Mishima Kenpachi is stressed. But there is a Yumichika now, and Kenpachi knows he can trust Ayasegawa's judgment. That's going to be a huge help, I think.

Highland Games again tomorrow! Please let Javier show up this time... I need someone who knows how to compete for drumming competitions.

Another thing I like about my job? I get to try lots of new stuff. As long as I understand what the parameters are, it's fun. Today, I'm trying my hand at a quarter-page magazine advertisement.

Guy explaining it: Be short. Be catchy.
Me: I am short. But I don't think my bronchitis is contagious.
Him (with smirk): Good. We want it stuck in their heads, not their lungs.

Alas, I had no witty comeback. But 'tis fun nonetheless.

This morning there was a sign put on the front doors with a grammatical error.

Just went by it, it has already been edited. Twice.

I don't feel quite so odd, hee.

Edited to add: Someone accidentally printed out something in wingdings (symbols) on the printer. One of my coworkers was apparently as bored as I am, and started it through editing. I got to use my 'No smileys in articles!" rant. Hee. Now it's going around the office. :D


Also, I wote a very fluffy, G-rated Hanatarou/Hinamori piece. This is likely my muse striking back because of writing too much Kenpachi. That and the fact that Mishima Kenpachi is very, very moody at the moment. It can be found on Bleach_het.

And the third entry in the Drabble Challenge: ( Ricochet )

Niggsy's icon for this prompt is here.

Neighbor dude?

You're creeping me out. Your vibe is creepy and off. I know you're trying hard, but you're trying too hard, and it's really, really getting creepy. I'm using creepy too much, but there isn't a better word for it.

Your whole aura is "just got outta mom's basement oh a girl look a girl look she's into anime too ooooh girl girl girl try to be funny." You're doin' it wrong.

And I know that since I live in the same vicinity as a lot of the people who work for my company, and you're one of them, I'll see you at work from time to time. But every morning? And you try the same comments about Neon Genesis Evangelion (NGE) and coffee every morning? You're starting to make me sick of NGE, and that's not very nice.

I don't mind conversation. However, 1) constantly trying to one-up someone and gloating when you succeed because you hit wikipedia for obscure facts last night is not conducive to conversation, 2) Yes, a woman born and raised in Colombia makes our coffee, commenting on it every blasted morning annoys people who are trying hard to fake-laugh, and 3)I KNOW SHINJI IS WHINY. Everyone who has watched NGE knows Shinji is whiny. Saying "____ is as whiny as Shinji. You do know who Shinji is, right?" is ridiculously tiresome.


Today's meme is stolen from teh_elb

1. Put your iTunes/music player on Shuffle
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER WHAT

( Ichirin No Hana )

I've confirmed my reservation, selected my seats, checked the size limitations for carry-ons, and stuck my little travel-size stuff into a quart-sized baggy.

Sister and I have discussed some of what we're planning on doing: see Chairman Mao, a restored section of the Great Wall, the Imperial Gardens, and seeing what we can see of the Beijing Olympics site from a higher elevation, among other stuff. We're also, of course, going to Harbin for the Snow and Ice festival. Sister was telling me about chairs made of ice that they put on ice and push around for fun, she wants to see if we can do that.

I am so very excited. Everything is falling into place.

Oh, and we're voice-testing for radio spots at work. This is also cool, though not quite China-cool.

This man is Gendo Ikari, from Neon Genesis Evangelion:



Give him white hair, and he's a new guy working on the floor below me. He walked through and I started giggling. Luckily I had the presence of mind to avert my eyes and appear to be reading through an online article.

As soon as he left, I showed the picture to the co-worker near me. Her eyes widened, and she said, "Yeah. Wow. Just color the hair and wow."

I get it. Half the office is on vacation, including our main editor. Therefore not so many people are keeping an eye on others. It makes a nice atmosphere to chat with your friend in the coffee-break room. That's fine, you're both nice girls, I like you both.

But those two articles, the ones that should take about twenty minutes each to go through, I need to have back by 11:30. You know the deadline as well as I do. They need to be reworked and put up for tomorrow.

Please, please work with me here. Then you can go back to chatting and giggling about your new boyfriend.

Oy, boss,

When giving me two handbooks to completely rewrite, and a pdf file with handwritten notes as far as directions, please, at the very least, make them readable. I think part of this is in Klingon. I can't read your cursive. Your printing is at least legible, but unfortunately, the few things you put in print are useless. "Fix this please! :P" will get me nowhere. Crossing out two whole pages and simply writing "Help!" Sure. I'll help. But direction would be useful.

And seriously. This one word looks like monkeys. But what monkeys have to do with passports I cannot tell. Also. What does checkmark-arrow-"prayer card" mean?

Did we seriously recommend women bring makeup for trips just two years ago? For crying out loud, people...

Head/desk is my OTP.

For two weeks I've been dealing with acheyness and scratchy throat. I think my body actually wants to get sick. I've fought as hard as I could, but my throat is now sore too. I think I'm losing. :(

Oh well. At least I have cough drops.

We have changed around how articles go through editing here at work. This is good, because our website content-manager was getting a little... heavy-handed. Changing titles, teasers, ledes, anything he felt like it, when he felt like it. So this should make all of us writers/editors happy, which is not an easy thing.

I've also moved desks. This makes me happy. Instead of being shoved into a back corner, I am now near the other writers. This is also closer to the chocolate stash, which may or may not be a good thing.

Taichous Invade is going to kill me. Szayel's release is just obnoxious. I realize the evil creatures have to get more and more powerful, but... Agh. Oh well. At least it's Byakuya against him. If it was Shunsui, I'd end up spending hours just writing suggestive dialogue between the two.

Oh, and look! Moodtheme! Bleach! Made by niggsyisabore and myself. Not quite done, but close, and so pretty. Now I've just got to choose whether to really use what mood I'm in, or go for a pretty picture. So full of our four favorites: Kisuke, Kenpachi, Shunsui, and Ukitake.

Forget this. Have a pretty. Favorite mood, right here. Yay CloudPurse!

I am published. Both things are small, and they're through work, but it's official enough to make me happy. I have an article in the magazine we put out, and one of our brochures to my name. Also, my article for the next magazine is ready.

'Tis a good day in Jackie-land. :D

It's been a very slow week at the office, and at the moment it does not appear that this will change. Don't know what it is, maybe it's just end-of-the-month slowness with news. Due to this, I am rather bored. So, on that note, I open myself up to drabble or ficlet requests.

Is there a character (or pair of characters) you want to see something of? Request and I shall do my best. This is open to anyone. The fandoms I think I know enough about to tackle are: Bleach, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Full Metal Alchemist. Suggest a character (or two) and a prompt word.

Edited to add: No more crossovers. They're not good for ficlets and drabbles as I have to get the characters in the same world first, and THEN try to write. If ever I do a story thing, then maybe crossovers.

When Lisa and I shop for something I'm wanting to find, I find nothing, and she ends up buying all sorts of stuff.

When we're shopping and she's wanting to find something, she doesn't find it and I end up buying stuff.

She was looking for the My Neighbor Totoro soundtrack last night. Guess who ended up finding stuff?

However, the two things I did get were nice - volume 14 of Full Metal Alchemist, and the soundtrack from the first Myst game. Now I've got to play the games again. It's such a gorgeous series. It should have been long enough that while I'll remember the basic gist of how to solve the puzzles, I won't remember the solutions. Riven's the only one I might not want to play again. Got stuck with that horrid marble-placement puzzle for DAYS. Ran back and forth between the islands (which meant switching discs too), trying to figure out the right spots, kept trying... only puzzle I broke down and got online help on. Uru's a dangerous one because I don't know how long I spent sitting in the Kadish Tolesea gallery just listening to the music. But free movement through D'ni... so awesome. [/geek]

Finished the first draft of my first magazine article. It's one thing to have lots of articles online, but this is gonna be in print. I'm only slightly excited. :D Got it back from the other editors, and now I've got to refine it, but it's on its way. :D