embley

embley @ 2005-07-16T19:26:00

2005-07-17T02:34:35Z

So. Well. Okay.

At least it set up Book 7 well. Right?

I did enjoy it, I really did. I would be hard pressed NOT to enjoy a Harry Potter book. However, I do have to say... it was much less action packed than I thought it was going to be. I mean the end was pretty intense, but... that was the end! C'mon! Where the hell was Bellatrix? Where was Peter? Where was Voldemort. They were blips!

I am a sucker for romance stuff, but... there was a lot, guys. I wanted more blood. I wanted chaos and panic! The first two chapters, they made it look like there was gonna be some shit going down.

That said, I'm not gonna be some asshole fan who gets all, "No way, man, no way. I am totally disregarding that shit." 'cos guys... c'mon. They are her goddamn characters, she can do what she wants with them.

So, final verdict.

I did like it, but it's not my favourite. It's gonna give me drawing fodder for the next while, and that's good enough for me.

Vancouver is the craziest city.

2005-06-19T06:46:09Z

Overheard today at Shopper's, from a man by himself in front of the paper towels:

"Uh oh... got a short fuse tonight... temper's flaring up, not good... NOT... good..."

embley @ 2005-06-11T16:31:00

2005-06-11T23:35:04Z

Man, how good was the second Scott Pilgrim?! Damn, it was really good. And so pleasingly pretty. You can't really beat a fight sequence in the reference library. And that whole skateboard scene was just too clever. ... I didn't realize Bryan Lee O'Malley was born in London either. Huh.

... and now onto Finder. I'msoexcited.

Edit: ... okay. How... okay. Gimme a moment here. Dream Sequence was fucking amazing. I can't even believe how much I love those comics. Seriously. Carla Speed Mcneil, you are my idol. Now I have to attempt fan art while every few minutes thinking "JEEZ what a good comic". ... Plus I'm a sucker for goddamn footnotes.

embley @ 2005-06-07T15:10:00

2005-06-07T22:13:22Z

Well, HELLO INTERWEB. ... huh. This keyboard is a very, very loud keyboard. It belongs to my new computer, Duncan, who is very attractive and comely for a computer, just his keyboard is apparently like... dropping rocks down a medieval staircase.

IN OTHER NEWS... Dan (the Man) has arrived out here in Vancouver, which is completely awesome, and what's even BETTER is that he helped me cut up and move tons of boxes left over from the great Ikea fest of last week. So good on Dan. I still need to get my apartment in order, but I just went out and bought cleaning supplies for the main room, and I'm gonna nail some furniture GOOD before it gets too late to do so.

Also, tomorrow is my birthday.

embley @ 2005-06-02T09:49:00

2005-06-02T14:55:32Z

Haircut is in my lap and being really purry and cute and affectionate, probably because she feels bad for knocking my hairbrush into the toilet this morning. Like, really far in there too. Going down the chute and everything.

Stop licking me, cat.

Today is MOVING DAY. Furniture is getting delivered sometime this morning, and I should be getting a call from the bed place in the next half hour or so to tell me when they're coming. The good news is that I get the day off from work, but the bad news is that today's gonna be stressful, and that I will no longer have the interweb at my fingertips. Bah. I also saw Jon/Kyle/Dan's place yesterday, and it is completely the King of the Vancouver apartments. It's like being in a really old, solid house. So much wood, and really high windows, and the scariest bathroom ever. But huge. FIE.

Cat's trying to brush my hair with her tongue... that's nice.

Anyway. I'll be putting furniture together (with some help, don't worry, Kate-o) for the rest of the day probably. THE END.

embley @ 2005-05-26T11:36:00

2005-05-26T18:39:55Z

Server's out at work, so my shortcuts are lost. I messed up on really stupid things on my last set of builds. There is an AIR CONDITIONER right next to me (this is so, SO not needed). TODAY GODDAMN ROCKS.

argh.

Okay. COMPUTER PEOPLE. You must be out there somewhere. I am in the market for a new computer, and I have no idea what to get. I want something that will be good and fast (as I have NEVER had this in a computer), and that will be able to run games without lagging (never had this either). That's it. I have money, so... could people tell me what to look for? And what to expect to pay?

There's a dude around the studio who builds them apparently, but he seems surly (if it's who I think it is) and I don't want anything hardcore. I just want a computer quuuick so that I can set it up in my new place next week.

... SO COLD ARGH

embley @ 2005-05-21T11:44:00

2005-05-21T18:54:03Z

Ugh, so much to cover, and I type so badly on Steve's keyboard...

So. I'm in Vancouver. I work at this animation studio now that is really pleasant and full of nice people who whip paper balls at each other and have serious discussions about funny ways to get your head caught in a blender. It's very surreal. I've been moved around a couple times, which is garbage 'cos I used to be near Steve and get to see homeless people out the window, but I guess where I am now is alright too. Soon other Sheridan people will be in the same area, so that's fine. Oh, and I get to draw on one of these, which I at first HATED but now it's pretty decent.

Uhm. Highlights!

- Getting up hella early and taking the bus every day!

- Watching Aguirre: The Wrath of God again. What a great movie. Oh, and also watching the series "7 UP", which is an hour long documentary made every seven years, starting in 1964. They chose about ten kids from England, from different social classes, interviewed them, then interview them again every seven years. It's great for 7-14-21, but then it seems that everyone gets pretty dull. We've watched up to 35 UP, and we've still got 42 UP to go. The lessons I've learned from it are thusly: 1) If you're a funny looking kid, you will only get funnier looking. 2) Rich people stay rich, unless you have serious mental problems, and then you will wander Scotland when you're 35 starring in the saddest children's plays ever. 3) English men have some kinda thing for women who rapdily grow wider and wider as they age. 4) "Doing the Knowledge" means researching how to be a cab driver, not something seedy. 4) Just because you were an asshole rich kid, it doesn't mean you may one day turn into a benevolent goblin who helps disabled children in Bulgaria.

- Calling home last weekend and getting the answering machine for two Mormon missionaries. Then calling again and again to make sure I was dialing properly, only to get the same result. Then going into work and finding that my computer no longer had any of my information on it. I was starting to think I was pulling a Neverwhere, but fortunately it was all a series of mix ups, which are fixed now. .... fortunately. .... *sigh*

- Buying new shoes and new shirt and new pants! ... only to rip the new pants on a nail in Steve's house. Fuck. Still mad about that.

- Buying the best comforter in the world. Seriously. It's like Japanese prints went to the seventies, and they made a comforter out of them. So awesome. And reddish-pink and cream. Yeah.

- Getting an apartment! I have pictures, but not uploaded, so... there we are. But! It is red and white striped, and the landlady is about two feet tall and half made of dust, and goes by "Miss E". I fucking love her. It's a one bedroom, and awesome. The kitchen is all old timey. Now I just need to actually BUY furniture, first things on my list being a new computer and a new bed. Awesomeness. ... shit, that reminds me, I need to get some cheques...

- I also bought a hairdryer.

- And Haircut really isn't as awful as I thought. She's no Tuco, but she's pretty good. She's pretty much a female Henry (my cat at home for anyone who doesn't know), which means that she doesn't REALLY like to be picked up but most of the time she takes it, and she also will randomly lash out and cut-cha. She also walks all over me while I sleep, which is awful nice of her, thanks Haircut.

- Finding the best used bookstore in the world! Seriously, books piled everywhere, little wooden gates leading from row to row, and staffed by cute hipster girls! I got a couple there, including a new Ukiyo-e book that has tons of crap I've never seen, a little book on the Italian Renaissance, and an original edition of Dune which is so HIDEOUS I absolutely love it. The paper feels like it's made of nettles. Fantastic.

Anyway, I'm sure there's more, I just can't think of anything. Vancouver is awesome, and there is lots of really good places to eat, and big heavy trees lining the street I live on, and generally it's very agreeable. The weather's kinda touch and go, as everyday has like... a sunny five minute break, then sorta mists rain for a few hours, then rains harder for a little bit, then sorta evens out for the rest of the time in between (like right now, actually). I live in the West end, for anyone who wants to look that shit up. I'm a couple blocks from the beach, and a couple blocks from Stanley park (which I still haven't been to yet). This area is boo-tee-ful.

Kate, I can't wait for you to see it, 'cos you are going to fucking love it. Plus I miss you. :)

... that's all. I need to dry my hair.

More to come. Mebbe. When I remember.

I'm going to go on about Dune now.

2005-05-03T18:06:41Z

I'm at my dad's house, waiting around for more Steve characters so that I can fumble my way through building them in Flash... but since the dude that sends them is three hours behind I sorta have a lot of time on my hands (actually he's going over the test build I did right now. I'm pretty sure I really suck at Flash, so I hope he's not too disappointed).

ANYway.

My point is I wandered around LJ randomly and decided to check out some Dune fan groups. Some Dune fans are kinda dumb sounding, which is too bad, but others (like the guy who changed his last name to Atreides) sound pretty awesome. Now. Okay. I understand that slashing canon characters is very popular with some folks, and that's all very well and good... but C'MON. Paul isn't going to do his son. Stop making him do his son. I understand that in the mini-series Leto's age is bumped up to sixteen, and both of them are played by attractive young fellows, but even within the retardate mini-series universe the idea is still... GAH.

Actually, I don't really care that much what people write about, I just remembered. Write Leto II/Duncan GEoD slash, I don't care. Don't need to read it after all...

Also, this is amazing:
http://www.duneinfo.com/unseen/jodorowsky.asp

He makes Lynch look sane.

Next project! Creating a possible RP based after Chapterhouse dealing primarily with the Bene Gesserit assimilation of the Honored Matres! WHO'S WITH ME?! YOU CAN SLASH TEG AND DUNCAN!

.... /geekout

embley @ 2005-04-27T22:39:00

2005-04-28T02:38:16Z

HOLY CRAP I'M MOVING TO VANCOUVER.

ps: Kung Fu Hustle = Best Movie I've Seen All Year.

embley @ 2005-04-22T16:54:00

2005-04-22T20:57:12Z

So. Industry day.

So it didn't suck. Not really. I got an interview with PIP animation in Ottawa (who was in a giant orgy of hiring, barely looking at portfolios), an interview with Rockstar games (which I think I totally blew, as I came off as too fancy I think... BUT I WANT TO ANIMATE ORGANIZED CRIME! PLEASE!), and an interview with Studio B in Vancouver (I liked them best, as they are animating Pucca and it looks amazing).

The last was because Steve recommended me, so... thank you, Steve. You rock so hard. They seemed to like me, and gave me a Flash test thing I have yet to do, but the guy who was there seemed to really, really like my drawings (he mentioned them a lot, and thought they were good, so... that's a plus, right?).

Anyway. Now to learn Flash and make a demo reel, so I can drop it off at Rockstar (OAKVILLE BRANCH! FUCK YES!), because I would be the most badass girl around if I worked there. The end.

PS: Jenn, Jon, Vera and Dan are superstars and are trying out for story jobs at Dreamworks. That is awesome.
PPS: Saud was hired on the spot at Sony apparently, to be a character designer. That is fucking awesome.

embley @ 2005-04-08T12:37:00

2005-04-08T16:36:02Z

Don't want to go to school and do more work. Head hurts. Want sleep.

In other news... I want to be done my film. But in actual other news, life drawing portfolio is due today and I have absolutely nothing to show for it. Fortunately I'm a touch beyond caring, as my film due Monday is more of an issue currently.

Ow, my head.

After Monday, I'm going to sleep for a day straight. ... this is how I celebrate things.

embley @ 2005-02-27T22:16:00

2005-02-28T03:14:30Z

Ryan won?!!? .... ?!?!?!

... well, boo to that. Yaay to publicity for Canadian animation.

Let down your Garden State! HAR.

2005-02-27T19:29:11Z

What? What?? What makes people like Garden State? It makes me feel like I'm asking what makes a woman stay with an abusive husband or something. I just don't understand it. I watched it last night, considering that Vera and Jon wanted to see it again (after all, they must've missed something, 'cos everyone else liked it), and it was just awful. It was stilted, cliché, and poorly written. If it was intended to be a joke, like they were purposefully making such a transparent movie, then yes, Braff, you are the most hilarious person on the planet.

Oh, and thanks for ripping off The Graduate. I hate you.

In other, more cheerful news: Snake Eater (Metal Gear Solid 3) is pretty rad. Very pretty, and you get to kill and eat rabbits! Really! I love how their only method of reminding you it's 1964 is to have the Save girl continually mention movies from that time person (and I'm not being sarcastic, it's great). It continues with the same homoerotic themes as the first two, so I wasn't disappointed.

... can you tell I haven't been working on my film lately? ARRRGH.

embley @ 2005-01-08T19:44:00

2005-01-09T00:47:58Z

SO. BORED.

Animated a bit today... holy crap am I rusty. I shouldn't be, but I am. Lousy Sheridan. Every drawing was garbalooshe. Now that I have my fish at the studio though, it means I have to go in every day, or Bill Kurtis dies. ... although I have the feeling he's going to anyway.

ANIMATION TAKES SO LONG.

I want to draw something actually good today. Mah.

Edit: No drawings, BUT! I found one of my Ultra Lounge cds! Score one for the good guys!

embley @ 2004-12-28T01:01:00

2004-12-28T06:03:05Z

... I want to die.

The Ennio Morricone box double disc set I got from my cousins... seems to be all tribute recordings. And by tribute, I mean every instrument is played on the same machine. The same, horrible, synthesized machine. The Man with a Harmonica theme opening sounds like there is a cartoon fly buzzing around my head.

To hear the GBaU theme played like that... I'm feeling an odd mix of sorrow, rage, and amusement.

... that pretty much sums up my Christmas.

EDIT: I got a C+ in life drawing too. See, I knew there was something bad about always leaving class an hour early...

embley @ 2004-12-16T16:37:00

2004-12-16T21:57:27Z

ARGH! School is over in one day and I still have so much shit to do. Like my craptastic design pack. It is just awful. Oh, and my lifedrawing portfolio, which is even worse, considering that I'm just going to randomly select drawings once I get into school tomorrow.

I hope I have ten decent drawings around. I know I have like... 3 or so.

...

argh. I want to sleep until Christmas.

I AM KINDA ALIVE

2004-12-06T02:03:49Z

I need to change the heinous, heinous colours of this page.
I promise you, one day I will.
One day, I foreswear.

I'm currently, like as of this second, working on my leica reel. I still have so many panels left to do, and I'm slated to have a Tony meeting tomorrow and discuss my progress. Since I think he expects me to actually show him something, and since I don't have "storyboards" per se, I think I'm going to have to show him my leica reel.

Ugh.

It is so rough. I'm only about a third done the nice panels and it's due in exactly a week. Crap.

CRAP.

Alright, there is nothing else new. Really, if there is something else new, I can't talk about it right now. I'm too worried about this stupid leica reel.

EDIT: San Andreas is the best thing ever. I am so impressed. The map is goddamn huge, there is tons of shit to do, it's not too easy and not too hard, and I've had two different women - one feisty gangsta girl named Denise, one batshit insane latina named Catalina (who is the main character's girlfriend in GTA3, the one who screws him at the beginning and sends him to jail. Realizing that blew my damn mind). ... Plus David Cross does the voice of a computer hacker.

embley @ 2004-10-07T09:43:00

2004-10-07T16:50:32Z

Alright, so, this weekend I'm going back to London for Thanksgiving.

...

What... else...

School's been going alright, although we don't really do that much, and the teachers are particularly disconcerting and intent this year. I've been learning a little from DQ's classes, and we've had some guest speakers which is a nice change of pace (including the cutest Indian man I've ever seen in my life - you just wanted to bundle him up and put him in a tiny tin box). Life drawing is going a bit better, though I left THAT early yesterday too... we had this really large model, which was the first time we've ever had (a female) one that heavy, and she was awesome. Nice poses too.

The teacher's nice too. Often confusing, but it makes me laugh when he's unnecessarily harsh to Dan...

Oh, and I completely and utterly skipped Layout class today considering that I made plans to miss it yesterday, and I drew those plans in concrete instead of sand, so...

I have to go draw more Japanese panels for Andrew's project this afternoon before I'm stolen away though, so I think I'm going to go do that.

embley @ 2004-09-16T23:06:00

2004-09-17T03:15:22Z

Buh.

Going back to London tomorrow for Alison's wedding. Hope my dress fits. Hope I don't go insane going back there for even a few days. Apparently my brother has a job now though, so good for him.

Uhhmm...

Yeah, we have a motivational class at school now, which is at once irritating and heartbreaking. I mean, this poor Italian layout guy, best intentions in the world, and part of him actually believes that we're buying into all his powerpoint presentations on Highly Effective Habits. ... makes me want to cry. Also, it's at eight in the morning, for three hours, so that makes me -actually- cry.

Drawing a lot lately... stuff for my film? Ha, no. For assignments? Oh, what a laugh! ...No. Though the teachers liked my film idea, and gave me a thumbs up, so that's nice. It's such a horribly emo idea - at least I didn't make it up, and at least it makes sense, and people can read into it SO MUCH so it'll look like I'm an artiste. More to the point, it'll be fun to animate, and hopefully nice looking too.

... I dunno. There's room for serious films too, I guess. I don't want to make it wacky just to try and one up people or impress them (...and because I SUCK AT THAT). I mean, I doubt I'll even be animating for a living, so might at least take this time to make something I actually -like-.... BAH!

Started Handmaid's Tale today... probably will finish it on the train to/from London. Gotta say I dig it. ... I hope the day never comes that I regard playing Scrabble as a treat. ... I hate Scrabble.

Alright, that's it. Nothing else.

embley @ 2004-09-06T11:18:00

2004-09-06T15:26:49Z

Alright, new post.

I've chosen a new picture to commemorate the new school year. Some of you may recognize his handsome face as... AGUIRRE, DER ZORN GOTTES. No, I haven't chosen this picture because this is an awesome movie, or because Kinski was batshit insane, but more because, like Aguirre, I shall too begin an epic quest down the might river (3rd year Animation) and I too shall face obstacles (having to work) and in the end I will get what's coming to me (complete and total insanity). I expect I'll have to kill some men along the way too. Conquistador men.

Still tooling with colours and all...

There's not much new news. I went to the zoo, and that was fun, but since I suck at picture taking I don't think I have any pictures. Maybe I do. I'll check later. Get the hell off my back.

Gah, tablet's acting all funny...

I went to my first Ren Fair(e?) yesterday! Jenn, who is roommate to Vera, and Queen of costume having... er... lent me a costume. I was a Cooper's daughter! Jenn, on the other hand, was Queen of Town. So many little girls followed her around, and lots of men told her how fancy she looked. She must've been dying though, 'cos she was draped in velvet, and the day got progressively hotter... I was alright, but I've decided I love corsets. I was told I could've pushed my boobs up more, and I could've but at that point I didn't want to adjust in front of the children and lewd glassblowers.

Oh, also, there was a girl doing hair braids who looked so much like Jess in freaked me out. Especially when she smiled. Not Kate, just Jess. Scary.

I finished reading the Blind Assassin, so Jess if you're looking for your copy of that... it's up HERE. At least, I think it was your copy. Might've been Kate's. In any case, it was pretty good, although the first, er, THREE HUNDRED pages are a bit rough to get through... after that though it gets really good. Last 150 or so are especially choice. Just, if anyone reads it, I'm telling you now - the other bits are worth the wait through Iris sitting around and being old. I mean, those parts are written stupidly well, but when you've got all that other stuff in the book you'd rather be reading, they can be a bit tiresome.

What... else...

Cat's being stupid.

... I'm going to go play video games.

embley @ 2004-07-03T17:04:00

2004-07-03T21:09:30Z

So bored.

Work was crap the other day, as even though Summer Hours were posted on the door as 8-12 on Fridays, I still had to stay the extra 3 and a half hours because... ... I'm not really sure why, actually. Stupid school board.

Next week I gotta be there at 7:15 in the morning, 'cos die cutting waits for no one apparently...

Bought Fistful of Dollars today. Nine dollars. ... oh, and that Murder Ballads cd by Nick Cave. .... WHY did no one tell me this existed?! This thing is so up my alley it's knocking over trash cans and scaring the hobos!

I wish I could listen to it at work, instead of stupid Bob FM... which, for those of you who don't know, is a mix of the "eighties, nineties and, hee, wh-HAAAA-TEVER!"

Cockpunches for that radio station. And it's constant pimping of Johnsonville Brats.

embley @ 2004-06-28T16:43:00

2004-06-28T20:53:53Z

What? What's that you say? Emily's new job sucks?

Well, it does. Sorta. Only because I'm going to have to start work at 7:15 sometimes. And that those art students they promised I'd be working with are all working at the other Thames Valley Place, the one I thought (because they told me, what? four times?) I'd be working at. And I did work there a little today. I found out the other three (which are goth boy, sporty boy, and hunchy friendly draw-boy) have all been working there for two months. Hm, I say. What this probably means is that they were actually called back after the interview I had two months ago, a couple days after the interview actually took place, like I was supposed to have been. But wasn't.

Now they're all laughing it up about old movies and stupid stuff while doing the ridiculously pleasant task of putting barcode stickers on brand new children's books, and I'm way away in sketchy Wheable die cutting 1000 red apples. I mean, goddamn, I'm not even at 1000 yet, and already the shape has lost all meaning.

Stupid Thames Valley for jerking me around so much... SO much.

The actual place I work at is nicer though. It's bright, and has those art school-ish mottled mustard yellow counters everywhere. And big paper cutters. However no one actually tells me what I'm doing. I was even introduced to the other people who work there. Just some mumbly low talking guy came up, gave me 250 sheets of red paper, and told me to laminate it.

"How ... how many sheets should I do?"

"Oh, about... y'know... I'd say... hmhmhmammmma...mhm."

"... all then. Okay."

Also when the end of the day came, no one told me, they just start closing. Then looked at me and said, "Well, I guess you're out for the day then, right?" To which I sorta blinked, then slowly nodded, and went out the only door I knew to. Of course, they gave me a funny look before I left, but didn't say anything. ... they should've said "You KNOW, they're closing the school in five minutes and no lights are on, use this other door instead!" But they didn't. So I called Kate in a hallway with no lights, and then a man came by and told me he was locking the school so I needed to get out.

GO ME.

However, I discovered it's only like, less than a five minute walk to Angelo's from there, and I walked to and from Angelo's almost every day last month. Score. No buses home for Viktor!

Buuuuut, it seems okay. I kinda want to yell at the people around there to actually tell me what the fuck I'm supposed to be doing, instead of just kinda shrugging and mumbling when I ask. I don't need to talk to people though, not really, and it's like a store but just for adorable old first grade teachers, and there were barely five customers in there today. ... the radio station is stupid though. It's like, a mix between Emotion FM from Vice City and... a pile of shit.

But I think I can wear jeans.

embley @ 2004-06-27T15:24:00

2004-06-27T19:25:07Z

THOSE JONES BOYS..

embley @ 2004-06-27T14:57:00

2004-06-27T19:05:37Z

This journal is ug-a-leeee.

What's new, what's new... had a little trip up to Ottawa last weekend, and then brought back a Jon with me, and he stayed for a couple days before getting a job at some creepy bridge. I have a little video of him swearing loudly on the rope swing at Sharon Creek (that's CRICK mind) before crashing into the water. So... that's my proof he was here.

He also approves very much of GBandtheU... and on a related note, the cat is now officially Tuco. I wanna make some little half chaps for him, or get him a leather collar. Or sombrero.

Start work at the new place tomorrow. As usual I'm stupid and nervous about it, but, time is constantly passing, and working there will pass too, so in awhile I won't care. It'll be like getting up for highschool every morning again though, and I did that once, for more than just two months, so I should be able to handle it.

I'm more worried about driving. Goddamn. DAMN graduated licensing. Fucker.

Colleen and I watched The Postman last night, just for fun. Apparently after civilization ends everyone will be given five sweaters, which they must rip apart and make into five new, patchier sweaters. Oh, and hats for all. Only to be worn cockeyed. And Tom Petty will be mayor of the Hoover Dam. And when you no longer need a house you burn it down, because damnit, she's just weird that way.

So yeah, if you've watched Battlefield Earth and Cool World and you still can't get enough of fancy, crazily publicized, but really bad badness, watch that.

embley @ 2004-06-15T18:23:00

2004-06-15T22:29:55Z

Hey, look! They named him stupid stuff.

Oh, and he has a name now. It's Briscoe. Or Lenny Briscoe. Named after... well, Lenny Briscoe, who has so recently left Law and Order after being the most awesome guy on it for like, ten years. Well, the actor left, not the character. Though he left too. Yeah.

My brother's moving back in. Tomorrow. It was supposed to be this weekend, goddamnit. What happened to that amazing mood I was in? Must've been the wisdom teeth drugs...

Oh, I also spent all my birthday money on a digital camera. Now just to find a not retarded place to put them all...