It seems that fate has a wonderful sense of humor. Apparently, things were going too well for fate’s taste, so it felt the need to sprinkle a little shit on my epic ice cream sundae.

My hard drive failed. At first, I thought it was just my computer being overloaded with activity, and getting a bit frozen (ah, gotta love PCs!). But no, turns out the hard drive finally decided to retire. So, I’m just gonna try to salvage the few files I’d created in the short time since the re-format, and then just buy a new hard drive. I’d rather buy a new hard drive rather than a new tower, since I’d rather have Windows XP and not Windows 7. However, hopefully with this new job, I’ll be able to buy myself a Mac instead. We’ll see.

I’m definitely not as stressed out as I was during my last computer troubles. This is more of an annoyance than anything else (currently typing this on my iPhone’s WordPress app, btw).

Anyway, here’s to hoping I get a comp again some time soon. Ciao!

Life, Rants computer, hard drive, movies

I got the job, ladies and gents! Yippee! Today was my first day of work, and I gotta tell ya, it was pretty damn sweet. The job is basically this: Photograph the abstract metal art pieces and sculptures, edit the photos so that they look spectacular, and prepare the eBay listings for them. The main goal that the studio is aiming for is to make the images look as close as possible to how the pieces look in real life. A lot of times, people will see the images and think that it has blue or orange when it really doesn’t; it’s simply a light reflecting the wrong color onto the piece. My job is to correct old images and take new photos with the correct lighting and camera settings for the best final result. I spent the majority of the day taking photos, which is like heaven for me, since I love doing that anyway!

One of the nicest things about the job is that I get paid on Tuesdays. That means next week on Tuesday, I’ll be getting my first paycheck, which is so desperately needed right now, even if it will only be about $240 for Friday, Monday, and Tuesday. I work 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, 9 to 5. I’m so excited! Hopefully now, with the money coming in from the two book covers, and this job, I can finally fix my DAMN CAR! LOL. Until then, my wonderful hubby Audi is driving me to and from work.

Tomorrow, my parents are coming up to visit my family in West Palm Beach, and Audi is gonna drive me over there so I can spend some time with all of them. Later on in the evening, I’m going to the movies with the neighbors to see Alice in Wonderland in 3D. Audi’s really not in the mood to see it, but he said that if I wanted to go with them, that it would be cool. Heh. What a party pooper! ;D

Anyway, that’s pretty much it for now. Still waiting for a final confirmation from Random House, and planning on enjoying my weekend before *giggle* going back to work on Monday! XD

Ciao!

Art, Audi, Entertainment, Family, Friends, Fun, Job, Life alice in wonderland, Art, Audi, car, Family, studio, work

Thank the heavens, it seems the good news just keeps pouring in.

So I got a call from that art gallery/business, and they want me to come in tomorrow around 12:00pm to talk to them some more. Oh, lordy, I DO hope I get this job. This $10/hour is SO needed at the moment. Wish me luck!

The other good news is that the latest issue of Advanced Photoshop magazine has come out, and they’ve featured my work in it. I’m currently trying to find someone on deviantart.com who has a copy that can maybe scan the pages I am on for me. *giggle* I’m so excited!

I am praying and hoping that things just continue to go well.

Art, Fun, Job, Life advanced photoshop, feature, Job, magazine, studio

So I was contacted by Random House Australia, and they’re going to be printing Amelia Atwater-Rhodes’ “The Shapeshifters” in Australia/New Zealand. They want to use my work “Dirige” for their covers as well! Hooray!! I’m so happy and excited.

I called the art gallery/business I visited last week, and it seems they still haven’t filled the position. So, here’s to hoping they call me up! *crosses fingers* I’m still looking around at other potential jobs, since I don’t want to hang all my hopes on just one location.

On Sunday, I went down to Miami to spend some time with my parents and my best friend Chris. Sunday night we went to the movies to see ‘Shutter Island’. It was pretty intense. It’s the kind of movie that you need a really strong stomach to watch. I don’t mean in the sense of gore or bloodshed, but some of the subject matter is just… wow… like a punch in the face. I thought it was really great, though. The story was definitely unique and gripping. Now, I’m even more interested in buying the novel it was based on to see what might have been edited in the film.

Right now, the hubby is over at our friend’s house helping her out, since she is very pregnant and has a busted ankle. I would have gone with him, but I just wanted to enjoy being home today. I’ll be going over there tomorrow.

Anyway, I must continue my commission work. Ciao!

Art, Audi, Family, Friends, Fun, Job, Life Art, book cover, chris, Job, miami, shutter island

Yes, yes I am lonely. Why? Cuz my hubby has been away at his dad’s house for the last few days and I want him back. Now, preferably. Thankfully, he just called me and let me know he’s on his way. Yay! While I do enjoy having the bed to myself, I do miss having him in the bed with me. Awww. How romantic. =P

I’ve got some great news. Amelia Atwater-Rhodes and her agent seemed very happy with the book cover, and after fixing just a few minor things, I’ve sent off the (hopefully) final revision. Wee! I’m so excited. Plus, I’m so grateful because we really needed this money. Things are getting tougher every day.

I’ve sent out a BUNCH of resumes and job applications in the last few days, but I’m most excited about this one job in particular. An artist with a studio literally down the street from my apartment needs someone to work in-house with digital photography, Photoshop, event planning, etc. I am planning on going down there tomorrow and dropping off a resume in person to accompany the one I sent via e-mail. I am really hoping that they haven’t gotten someone to fill in the position already. It pays $10/hour, which is excellent considering right now I’m making $0/hour. Haha.

I’ve also entered a contest on deviantart.com being held by a OOAK (One of A Kind) miniature and figurine sculptor. The premise of the contest is to use a photo in her gallery of her dolls and create a digital work with it (meaning a photomanip, digital painting, mixed media, etc). You can see my entry here: Fairytale. I REALLY hope I win, because the prize is either a custom doll, or the cash equivalent once she sells it on eBay. To be honest, I’d rather have the money since I could definitely use it more. Thankfully, the lovely lady holding the contest is understanding of this, and said that if the winner prefers the money, that it would be totally fine. Here’s to hoping I win! *crosses fingers again*

Still busting my butt on those commissions. The hardest part is actually finding the stock. The three ladies I have left to do commissions for had A LOT of demands for their works, so it’s taking longer to finish them. *sigh* But, that’s OK. I don’t mind a challenge.

Anyway, that’s all for now. Now, just gotta wait for my hubby to come home. Ciao!

Art, Audi, Job, Life, Love Art, Audi, book cover, Job, studio

So, I was wondering why so few people were commenting on my blogs, and I believe I found out the reason why. I had it set so that you had to be logged in to comment, which is really dumb because some people don’t have a blog of their own… So yea, hopefully now I will get more comments. Sorry, folks!

I came home from visiting the family on Sunday, and my hubby bought this huge pizza at Walmart for us to eat. Let me tell you, that thing is a monstrosity, but at a killer 8 bucks, it’s worth it. We had pizza for two days. If you wanna check it out, it’s MarketPlace’s 16″ pizzas.

I finished a mixed media piece last night that I am really proud of. You can see it here. I actually made it specifically so that I could enter it in Ballistic Publishing’s Call for Entries for their next publication, Exposé 8. I’m planning on making maybe one or two more to accompany the 6 I have already sent in. It’s funny, because I received an email (that was sent twice, btw) from the man who organizes the publication, and at the end it said, “Consider this a personal invitation to submit to our books.” I was like, “Whoa… maybe I should submit something, then!” Past experiences dictates that none of my shit will be chosen, since it seems they are much more interested in digital paintings and 3D renders, but we’ll see. Maybe this year will be different! (Hooray for being so frickin’ optimistic)

INTERMISSION

Right now I’m at my cousin’s house. She called me up a few hours ago saying she was really sick and needed to go to the hospital. Her mom, who lives with her, would take her, but neither of them wanted to leave my cousin’s kids at the house with just my grandmother. So, I had my hubby drop me off at her house, so that her mom could drive her over there and I could watch the kids. Finally, they’re all fast asleep. I’ve called my aunt several times, and it seems like my cousin is going to be fine, thank goodness.

I’m watching Adult Swim to pass the time, since I’m the only night owl in the house. Most likely I’ll just have to wait for the hubby to come pick me up. Heh.

Anyway, I’m pretty much done, so… ciao!

Family, Fun, Life Art, ballistic publishing, cousin, hospital, pizza, walmart

I visited my family again today. My cousin came to pick me up, and surprise, there’s my mama coming up the stairs. She figured, why not just drop off all the stuff that she got for me right now? Here’s a rundown…

- A liquid concealer from Cover Girl.
- Some bamboo place mats for the dinner table.
- Important car papers I needed.
- Two webcams (but after testing them a few hours ago, only one of them really works).
- And best of all, a Minolta 5000i 33mm camera with two lenses, a Minolta flash, two battery packs, lens cleaning cloths, and this awesome camera bag with spaces for everything. She got all this from a friend of hers who was just going to give them away to Goodwill. My mom stopped her and said that I was a photographer and that I would probably love to have it. Wee for mommys who support your craft!

So off I went to my cousin’s house after my mom dropped all this off. My brother and his two kids were also there visiting. So picture this: My mother, cousin, my aunt, my brother, my niece, my nephew, my three godkids, and my grandmother, all in one house. Hahaha. Hooray for big families! All in all, it was a pretty drama free day, thank goodness, and I took the cutest pic with my niece. You can see it here on my Facebook. I also took another really cute pic with my youngest goddaughter, where we’re pressing our noses together. haha.

Around 5 or so, my cousin went and dropped off my mother, brother, nephew, and niece at the train station while I babysat my godkids. My youngest goddaughter gave me the worst scare. We were in my cousin’s room, coloring and playing with those Webkins toys. I’m taking a video with my iPhone of my oldest goddaughter throwing the Webkins at me, when all of a sudden I see the little one fall head over heels off the bed. She must have miscalculated where her knee was supposed to land on the bed and took a nosedive. I panicked and rushed to help her. Other than a big scare, she had NO signs of damage. Thank you, baby Jeebus! I thought at first that her arm was broken since she wouldn’t move it. But then she relaxed a bit and I flexed it back and forth just fine. *phew*

Anyway, the day went on as usual. A few hours later, before my cousin dropped me off back home, the whole lot of us (except my grandmother) went out shopping to different places. I bought a really cute jacket at Walmart, and I plan on taking some photos in tomorrow. Wee! I’ve already got a make-up idea planned out for them.

At the present moment, I am camming with a good internet buddy of mine, Jenest. Hey, look, I plugged your name, girl! She’s super adorable, and very sweet.

Well, I am off for now. Ciao!

Audi, Family, Friends, Fun, Life camera, Family, gifts, shopping

Well, the commission for my friend Carolina and her buddies is thoroughly kicking my butt right now. I’ve been sick with a head cold all day, so I haven’t worked on it that much today, but I was up all night on Wednesday/Thursday. I haven’t slept in over 24 hours, save for the little unscheduled nap I took in my computer desk chair. TEHE. I’ve been pretty much just watching tv, lying in bed, and randomly surfing the web… the stage that I’m at with the commish is laber-intensive: painting blonde hair. UGH, kill me. Dark hair is SUPER easy to paint. Block out the shape of the hair, and then just ad highlights. But lighter colors take a lot more work. You have to account for all the highlights, lowlights, shadows, etc etc. Regardless, I think it’s coming out pretty kickass so far.

My hubby is currently housesitting for a friend, so he’s not gonna be around as much for the next week. Poo! =( But, our neighbor invited us to hang out with him and his girlfriend this Saturday in honor of her birthday, so that should be a lot of fun.

I’ve met a really awesome person recently, apart from Jenest (she already knows she rocks my socks), named Amela. She’s just frickin’ amazing. And it’s so strange. The more I chat with her, the more we realize how similar we are. It’s like she’s my doppelganger or something! Everything she says, I find myself saying, “OMGZ ME TOO!”… So yea. Pretty cool and creepy all at the same time.

Oh, and I’d like to share these amazing remixes of Lady Gaga that I found on Youtube:
Lady Gaga – Bad Romance (Grum Mix)
Lady Gaga – Paparazzi (HeartBazz Remix)
Lady Gaga – Poker Bass (DJ.JINREI Industrial Dance Remix)

Enjoy! Ciao!

Life