Yep that's right... 11 days til finals are over and my happy ass is back in Maryland!

I've been feeling better over all but I am so impatient for finals to be over. I have been cramming damn near non-stop.

... which led to me taking a 15 min break to doodle up something that now I'm even more impatient for finals to be over for so I can clean it up and actually look half decent.



I've got a few things I have been stewing in my brain that I'm really wanting to get down on paper/canvas.

11 more days!

location: UIUC dorm mood: artistic music: "I'm Under Your Spell" - Amber Benson

Hope everyone enjoys their "Pre-slaughter of a race" day feasts.

location: New Apt in MD mood: blah

New apartment is AWESOME!

Almost done unpacking and will get photos up soon! :)

location: Bel Air, MD mood: happy music: "No Ordinary Love"- MYMP

So outside of the pain, which I suppose is normal for me this time of year, things have been going really well. I'm getting caught back up in school, finalizing apartment paperwork soon, and I've gotten some art commissions to put a little extra cash in pocket for the move. I also priced all of the furniture that I want for said new apartment and it's just within what I budgeted!

Oh yeah, I traded in Sylia for Jango! Sylia was my 2002 Toyota Celica at 109,987. Jango is my white 2003 Ford Escape with 9835 miles. Jango was named Jango because Jo is riding on the dashboard. ^.^
Jango:




AND!!!! I have tickets to go see Avenue Q on December 6th with a couple of my friends!!!

location: Sherman Hall mood: amused music: Lecha Dodi

A few weeks back the left side of my body collapsed and I had to go to the ER. Been on meds and been taking it easy.

I have cervical radiculopathy due to degenerative disc disease at the c5-c6.
Explained here: http://www.spine-health.com/video/cervical-radiculopathy-interactive-video

(Short summary: because the disc is fucked up the vertabre is pinching the spinal cord nerve root)

I got my updated disability rating... I am now officially 60% disabled.
You would think I would be a bit more excited/happy considering I just got a huge lump sum of money in my bank account that will pay off all of my debt plus about $2000 left over for moving in 6 weeks... but instead I find myself dragging my feet kinda depressed at the idea that I'm a 22 yr old stuck in a 60 yr old's body.

So I engrossed myself into an MMORPG called Aion and yeah... it's kinda addicting... glad I never played WoW o.O

location: Dorm mood: blah music: "So I Need You" - 3 Doors Down

Damn it has been a long time since I last updated... sorry guys. My schedule has been hectic and I made the mistake of taking two foreign language courses at once... NEVER TAKE TWO LANGUAGES AT ONCE UNLESS YOU WANT TO KILL YOUR BRAIN!!!!!

Honestly the only reason I'm updating is because of... yep... INSOMNIA!!! xD

Anyways... update... hmmm...

1. Schedule: MWF @10-11 = Japanese Lit in Translation
M-F @12-1= Korean 201
M-F @1-2= Japanese 203
Tues @5-8 and Sat @10-2= Medieval Combat
Thur @8-9= Taekwondo
Fri @6:30 = Shabbat services

2. Yes I have actually been going to Shabbat services and really thinking about converting.

3. Yes I have been doing medieval foam fighting combat and yes it hurts like a bitch and no I won't stop just because it hurts...


I'm am auxiliary to a unit called Black Company and my first big event is this weekend called Octoberfest... I'll be sure to get a report up with pics afterward.

4. Physically I have been holding up. Working out everyday and can actually do some push ups again! (100 in a 24hr period in sets of 10) ... although I will admit I have been in and out of the hospital coping with flare ups. Call me stupid...but I'm getting stronger and I'm living my life instead of bitching.

5. I met a guy a little over a month ago that is in my unit and I can't believe I'm admitting this... but I may be interested in dating him. He's a firefighter and an EMT... he's looking for work out in the MD area and so if he ends up moving out that way... yeah... who knows.

6. It's 100% official! I'm moving back to MD permanently at the end of December!!!

location: Dorm bed mood: accomplished music: Geu Rim Ja "Love Song"

So karma is definitely on my side because court today was very quick and painless... and I won! It was completely thrown out with no complications.

Heading back to MD in a few... going to Taekwondo tonight.

Update on my current events shall commence once I get settled in tonight.

location: Tom's Floor mood: ecstatic music: Idina Menzel "Defying Gravity"

The lyrics of the song I dedicate to you all:

Don't know just where I'm going
And tomorrow, it's a little overwhelming
And the air is cold
And I'm not the same anymore
I've been running in your direction
For to long now
I've lost my own reflection
And I can't look down
If you're not there to catch me when I fall.

If this is the moment I stand here on my own
If this is my rite of passage that somehow leads me home
I might be afraid
But it's my turn to be brave
If this is the last chance before we say goodbye
At least it's the first day of the rest of my life
I can't be afraid
Cause it's my turn to be brave

All along all I ever wanted, was to be the light
When your life was daunting
But I can't see mine
When I feel as though you're pushing me away
Well who's to blame, are we making the right choices
Cause we can't be sure if we're hearing our own voices
As we close the door even though we are so desperate to stay

If this is the moment I stand here on my own
If this is my rite of passage that somehow leads me home
I might be afraid
But it's my turn to be brave
If this is the last chance before we say goodbye
At least it's the first day of the rest of my life
I can't be afraid
Cause it's my turn to be brave

And I might still cry
And I might still bleed
These thorns in my side
This heart on my sleeve
And lightening may strike
This ground at my feet
And I might still crash
But I still believe

This is the moment I stand here all alone
With everything I have inside, everything I own
I might be afraid
But it's my turn to be brave
If this is the last time before we say goodbye
At least it's the first day of the rest of my life
I can't be afraid
Cause it's my turn to be brave

mood: complacent music: Idina Menzel "Brave"

It's up! OMG Guys!!!

Our very own Jill as Riddler "One Uping" Otakon's Spec Ops!!!! <3

location: Tom's Couch mood: ecstatic music: Jill's "One Up"

So after essentially working 12-16 hr shifts Thurs-Sun of Otakon (had an hr break here or there but I used them for photo shoots so I was still up and on my feet) and the mix of drama/stress my body finally collapsed from over exertion/pain on Monday. It hadn't collapsed like that in 2 years but then again I haven't pushed myself that hard since I got hurt in the first place.

At any rate... between medication, Tom breaking up the knots in my back/neck, and sleeping for the majority of yesterday I am feeling much better today. Still a bit stiff/sore but I can walk alright now and I'm thinking much clearer/less emotionally.

Timing couldn't be more perfect cause I have that court date tomorrow morning to fight that parking ticket I shouldn't have gotten and then should be feeling up to helping out with the Taekwondo summer camp kids by Friday.

I apologize to any of you I offended by blocking on aim/un-friending. I am retracting my previous statement and I won't be blocking anybody unless they continue to bring up this drama bullshit. I am done and over with it so I don't want to hear it.

Thank you all and have a good day!

location: Tom's Sister's Bed mood: amused music: Escaflowne "Mystic Eyes"

I'm sorry but after all of this shit with Mia I will not be associating with her or Sama....and at this point I don't even want to associate with anybody associated with them because I don't want the drama to have any kind of access to my life. So it's nothing personal but right now I need space. There is so much he said she said bullshit that I don't know what to think or do so I'm just cutting it all out. Mia is a fucking liar making fabricated or exaggerated statements that make direct attacks to my character and Sama is more fucking two faced than the two face makeup I did for Mia so they can both go to hell for all I care. I'm sorry but I'm really hurt right now. Please understand that this is nothing personal against any of you but right now I just can't have any kind of connection with them. I just don't know what to do anymore. I don't know who to trust.

I don't want to break off our friendship…I just need space and to isolate myself until all of this shit passes. Mia, Sama, and Ted are the only people I'm cutting all relationship from.

I will be blocking people from AIM and un-friending on facebook. Again… it’s nothing personal but I need space. Most of you have my phone number so can contact me that way but via internet I am done. I’m not going to bother with LJ because I’m rarely on it… and I won’t be on it again until I am ready to be.

People involved in the drama… I'm not happy with the fact that people know she is lying but not saying anything to counteract it. THAT hurts me that you don't consider me a friend enough to d so. It will be much longer/harder for me to open myself back up to you guys… if I do at all. I haven't decided yet.

Dedicated to my friends… this is how I feel about all of this:

location: Toms mood: indescribable music: Idina Menzel "Brave"

Dedicated to all of those in my life that may be struggling... I really believe in the message of this song.

location: Daryl's Bed mood: peaceful music: "Greatest LoveOf All" - Whitney Houston

Happy celebration of not so civil disobedience!!!

location: Daryl's Bed mood: amused music: Keith Urban

ATTENTION OTAKON COSPLAYERS!!!

The last few cons I have had a lot of people approach me about makeup ideas and so forth and while I LOVE doing sfx makeup Otakon is going to be extremely busy for me as I am staffing as well.

I CAN STILL DO MAKEUP! I got permission from my department head to have people come in for me to do their makeup when we're not busy.

Times I am NOT available:

Thurs:
11:30am-midnight (You may be able to catch me between 4:30 and 6:45 but no guarantees)

Fri:
8:00am-3pm

Sat:
5:00am-7am
11:00am-12:30pm

Sun: (I have no clue what my schedule looks like this day)

If you already know what you want please send me a message on here that you will be emailing me... then email me a picture of yourself and a reference picture of what you want... that way I can prep as much as I can prior to as well as give a price.

My email is dnmakeup@gmail.com

People that schedule makeup prior to con get priority over walk ins and I am giving free to 50% discount same day touch ups depending on complexity of said touch up.

location: Daryl's Bed mood: amused music: Days Go By--Keith Urban

For those that don't know... I'm on the East coast currently residing in Maryland.

The drive from Iowa to Maryland was long but not bad at all. Depending on finances, I may do this again next year... or possibly consider transferring to Towson University.

Colossalcon was amazing! The hotel was awesome with two queen beds and pull out couch. Came with frig, microwave, and 3 large mirrors. Room was huge, parking free, and a walmart less than 5 minutes away so buying a new swimsuit last minute was easy. The water park was fun and the con was relatively well organized. I give it two thumbs up and I am definitely going again next year! I also did my sfx makeup panel went through almost all 100 of my business cards. Afterwards I snatched up my friend Lee and we made our way out to the East coast for Anime Next.

Makeup I did for my panel (yes I have shards of pencils sticking out of me):


Me and Lee as Tyki and Allen from D.Gray-man:


AnimeNext was a shit load of fun! I didn't cosplay at all but I did take a huge step up in my makeup work. Slit Theresa's throat Thursday evening. Then I did my sfx panel Friday morning while Theresa and Daryl made up the peanut gallery as Kyle and Stan from South Park. I had a blast at Daryl and Sama's 18+ dating game Friday evening then turned Daryl into T-bag from Prison Break and held onto his pocket for the Yaoi panel he hosted Friday night. Saturday morning I put together Harvey Two Face Dent on a whole new level and it was a huge success. I walked around with them all day and ran out of business cards fairly quickly. It got so overwhelming from not being able to go two feet without them being stopped/asking me about the makeup that my nerves were shot by 5pm...landing me in the bar with a nice Midori sour in my hand. Daryl got me my first commission doing a guy's scar across his face for his Scar cosplay from FMA. That night he called me back wanting Scar's tattoo on his arm so put that together with the help of Theresa. Once he was finished I turned everybody in our room into zombies and we crashed the Zombie Survival panel. It was full of epic win. Sunday I had my fencing tournament 10 minutes away that I shouldn't have gone to due to pain and definitely regretted afterwards but made it back in time to see Daryl dressed up as Kanda for the D.Gray-man shoot.

Theresa on Thursday:


Kyle and Stan Friday:


Yuri and his chosen contestant after the 18+ Yaoi dating game:


Joker and Two Face (still on the search for better quality photos):


Scar's Scar from FMA (before blending with makeup):


AFTER Katsucon, I gave Theresa a ride back home and stayed at her place for a couple days. I got to meet her sister Jill, a couple of her friends, and her bf. All of whom are really cool. Oh oh oh! And super uber cute cats of doom! <3

Last day there was my birthday and I woke up to a very super wonderful rainbow gay batman cake!


Oh yeah... and I cut my hair:



As for Otakon...I'm staffing with random off the wall cosplay that came out of my/Daryl/Theresa's ass at AN:
Yuri from Kyou Kara Maoh
Ryuichi from Gravitation
Craig from South Park
Christophe from South Park Movie
and some how... Bruce Wayne from Batman (only for you Daryl...only for you)

location: David's basement mood: sore music: Sleepless Beauty-Nittlegrasper tags: colossalcon anime next conventions cospl

Tyki:






Tyki kidnapped Allen!:

location: futn! mood: amused music: Ayashi no Ceres "Scarlet"

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location: bed mood: blah

I have been officially accepted to the University of Illinois-Champaign/Urbana; my first pick University! I start in the fall ^____________________________________________^

mood: ecstatic

So as of May 1st I will be the proud owner of a 2002 Toyota Celica GT. Finally saved up enough cash so I don't have to worry about car payments! Yay!

location: Home Sweet Home mood: happy

Gay marriage approved in IOWA!!! O_O

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090403/ap_on_re_us/iowa_gay_marriage

mood: amused