Happy Lunar New Year!  Year of the Dragon~  Hopefully this will be a good year for everyone, myself and other dragons in particular

Let’s see, I got my computer early, but the enclosure just came Wednesday.  I’ve been off and on transferring files to my new compy but there’s so much that I haven’t decided what I want on this hard drive.  Then again it really doesn’t matter, it isn’t like I could take a desktop on vacation  At least I have my pictures, save data and other files back~ Not to mention another external!

I broke down and bought the monitor

I’m loving this computer ♥ (I can do alt characters now!) Started a new game for DA2 and it’s sooo nice!  I’ll have to see how high I can set the graphics quality and have it run smoothly.  Wish I could afford Skyrim, but it can wait.  Been obsessing over Beat Hazard anyway.  Oh and Amnesia is so scary!  I made it to the desk with the note and had to take a break.  Haven’t touched it since…  Maybe tonight?  But it reminds me of a horror-based Myst, it seems like the player will have to make a decision at the end but there won’t be a “green book” to pick. Anyway, I have to keep a lamp on or else I can’t see the keyboard.

Ohkay. Classes.  Art, I still feel like I don’t know what I’m doing.  Just turned in our first project yesterday (we haven’t gotten the first assignment back yet) and did a class critique.  Apparently no one had anything they would change about mine, or criticism for that matter. But I probably looked terrified so maybe no one wanted to say that it needs work.  I dunno, just gonna try to make it through the semester. Math isn’t too much better, I understand the concepts, I can do the homework, but for the take home quiz I had to look everything up.  It seems like I can’t remember what I learned, maybe that’s what studying is for…

Now site related stuff.  I was going to make a new layout, but I think I’ll wait.  Seeing that the art class I’m taking it the pre-req for graphic design classes, maybe I’ll learn some stuff I can apply to a layout.  I’m not procrastinating updating the coding I swear!  But one thing math is doing for me is re-kindiling my desire to learn a web programming language.  Still have no idea what I’d use it for, but Javascript and PHP (and MySQL) are sure to come in handy.  Just need to decide which one to learn first and find some good tutorials.  Also gonna try and get that Sozai site up next month, I wanted to get it up before Chinese New Year and have some dragon stuff, but with my laptop dying and just getting my files back that didn’t happen.  Just need to figure out some Valentines Day (and SAD ) stuff.  I have the layout ready to go, but I really want to make it in frames.  It makes more sense to me, but professionally it’s a big no-no.  Not that I’m professional to begin with, but I should try to be.  Maybe that’ll be my pet project, where I can break as many rules as I want!

Long post is long. And my server time is 5 minutes slow >:(

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Not only have I gotten a little more motivated, I feel like I have a better handle on PHP and MySQL!  By no means could I do anything on my own though.  It’s just that I spent weeks using a book geared towards people who already know a programming language and screaming in frustration.  So finally I looked online for tutorials and bookmarked 10+ pages that have helped me, or will help me once I understand it all better.  There was a book recommended (the name escapes me now) that I’ll buy sometime, or I’ll ask for it for Christmas!

Speaking of Christmas, my sister’s boyfriend is spending Christmas with us so that’s one more person I need to think of a gift for.  And buy.  I don’t have any Christmas gifts yet, but the birthday gifts are taken care of!  There are 3 birthdays between now and Christmas that I buy gifts for.  Hopefully, I’ll get more hours than I have been getting so the gifts this year will be nice.

Well, we didn’t go into Chicago on Halloween.  A pipe underneath my car broke so I had to get that fixed instead.  So I passed out candy :c  Also made the avatar/icon for this post, it’s Iggy! xD  He’s not a real favorite, but his “marshmallow” song cracks me up!  I think I may do something else with the background, he looked better without it…  And I may add a ghost or something.

Lastly, site stuff.  Made a decision to keep only the domin names I love.  What?  Why yes, I have other domain names.  They just have nothing there.  Hence why shouldn’t keep more than I’d hopefully use.  Planning to make one of the remaining ones a site for sozai, or at least have it on a subdomain.  Gah!  They all are amazing (at least to me) yet I can’t think of anything suitable for that specific name.  Anywho, I’m making sozai now, mainly “one point” but I’ve got a few other things on peppery-peach that I’ll use.   Yes, peppery-peach is one of the ones I’m getting rid of.  Unless someone else falls in love with it and wants me to host their site.  Which probably won’t happen.

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I’m realizing how to be more responsible.  I know it’s rather late to realize it, but I guess I feel like acctually doing something productive.  Like dishes, cleaning up, learning a new language.  Ok, the last one’s not a responsibility, but I’m gaining some momentum.  So, to get feelers out to see how much of what I’m feeing is long term, I’m going to set a goal. *gasp!*  Something I haven’t done in years.  I’m going to start small and fairly short-term in the grand scheme of things, not only because my moods fluctuate so quickly but also due to my fear of failure.  My first goal (in forever) will be an artistic one (because it sounds attainable), I must create something artistic once a week for a month.  Sounds pretty easy for art majors, but I lack thier drive and talent.  So on Saturdays, I will post a picture of what I made be it clay, drawing, or something else I feel like making/doing.  I’ll try and challenge myself a bit but I dubt anything will come out well.  But it’s ok, it’s just a test.

I’m also planning to open up free hosting for those who are interested.  And meet requirements.  But I guess my fear of failure is hoding that back a bit, I’ve never done it before and I’d hate to let people down.  So, meh, not sure when it’ll happen.  If you happen to be interested and want more information, leave a comment or e-mail me (admin@melancholy-dream.net).  /shamelessplug

One final note on contacts, maybe due to the fact they’re a higher perscription I get kinda drowzy when doing close work with them.  Driving and such is great because I’ve got about 20/12 but everything else is “oh, this was interesting/fun about 10 minutes ago, can I sleep yet?”  They’re still a pain to take out and put in >.<  *sigh*  Hopefully my glasses will be in by the end of this week.

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A people sort of storm, not the natural disaster sort.  Well for my emotions it may as well be a natural disaster.  Yes, I’m talking about my cousin and grandma.  They’re due to arrive in less than a week now.  I have a horrible feeling that things won’t go well.  I’ll do or say something rash, I won’t call it stupid yet, and there’ll be another fiasco like last time.  If that does happen, I hope my dad will actually stand by me instead of cater to my bratty cousin.  Time will tell.  In a more practical sense, I’m cleaning the bathroom.

May as well get the negative stuff out of the way now.  Some jack ass on VDex is trying to, in essence, steal from Shiro.  I won’t quote the article or go into detail, but that’s unjustifiable and inexcusable regardless of their economic standing.  It really pisses me off how low some people are.  I feel horrible for Shiro that she has to deal with all this crap on top of her own life.

Back to more mundane topics.  Started playing Aika with a few people from Gaia.  I’m only lvl 10 but I can’t tell what the fuss is about.  So far, it’s just grind, complete quests, and purchase skills.  Not much in the way of character building or community so far.  I really want to play Rift though!  Unfortunately, it’s $50 and I’m broke T_T  Oh well, it’ll have to wait.

Completed my first trade in Pokemon Black!  Got a couple White exclusives (Solosis and Petilil).  Right now I’m grinding to make sure I can beat the last gym and am planning to get a legendary or 2 before that.

Oh!  That reminds me, I’m switching over the fanlistings to a collective site.  Link is on the right.  And along with that, I kinda started archiving my games and pokemon…  Yes, I have no life.  I’ll put up FCs sooner or later for trading purposes.  I think that’s all the site news.  Probably, I don’t do much with my hosting x.x

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Ok, so things may or may not still work (i.e. links) but I thinkI covered everything.  In a nutshell, my host was attacked and around 19 nodes were brought down.  Of course everything was erased, so this is the first post since June!  Wow!  I’ve been gone forever! /sarcasim  I actually am surprised that I kept the backup from then.  This definitely teaches me to backup more often.  Back on subject, I’m staying with my host seeing that they were up front about the attack.  Honesty is something I really respect, especially if telling the truth could be harmful to you.  This wasn’t their fault and while I’m peeved that it happened, what can you do other than be proactive?  And learn from your mistakes of course ^_^

Obviously this is a new layout.  Started work on it before all the downtime but kinda threw it together trying to get everything back up ASAP.  I’m satisfied with it, meaning while it doesn’t look the best it won’t be tweaked, it’s simple and in my opinion, can represent both winter and spring well.  Yes, I drew the sakura…  Don’t laugh at me!  *runs away*

Hopefully catch-up will occur in the next entry.  Right now I need food and a pain killer.

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Well, I edited the entry to add in the Kurayami walkthrough links and started working on a layout for Shattered-Sky.  Layout is being thrown together because I don’t have any inspiration, I figure the blog layout can wait.  I need to find happier avatars too, most of the ones I have are quite depressing.

Yesterday, I went to a middle school to jog on the track with my sister.  Unfortunately, the gates were locked so we had to hop the fence.  I hate climbing over fences, my shoes never fit nicely in the chain link.  Anywho, we walked/jogged a mile and then walked a least another mile, wasn’t keeping track for that.  We had an interesting conversation about running styles, she jazz runs with short steps and I jog.  Well, I guess I kinda run, but not just with my toes like sprinters.  She jogged almost the entire time and I walked the curves and ran the straights.  We kept about the same distance.  I really need to work on my endurance and muscle strength, my legs feel kinda tight and sore.

Made an appointment for my car because the check engine light is on and I need to take it to Chicago on Monday.  Well, my dad will probably drive it.  You know the family trip I’ve been mentioning?  That’s what Monday will be.  I haven’t started packing or getting things together that I’ll need.  I have no idea what I’ll take specifically, just in general.  But what’s really stressing me out is my parents.  I have a feeling that when we get there, it’ll be chaotic for us.  Prioritizing, planning things out, and actually getting things done.  My dad has to plan just about everything out and nothing has been planned other than our tickets.  I don’t think he reserved a rental car or set anything up for him coming back.  Tangent: Rental car; I would love to rent one but it’s super expensive!  Not to mention I’m under 25 and would have to pay extra everyday.  That’s not what’s bothering me, my dad is only putting one driver on the rental is what’s pissing me off.  He would probably put himself on and not my mom even though he’s coming home a few days earlier!  We (my mom, sister and me) would have to rely on him or my grandpa.  We could take my grandpa’s car on the weekends but he works weekdays.  Grr…  I’ll try and talk to him about it.  Back to what I was saying.  I have a feeling that my dad will be a dictator and plan everything out according to him, not taking into account the rest of us.  We’ll have to see.  But I’m anxious about seeing my family, I haven’t seen most of them for at least 5-6 years.  Not sure how well I’ll get along with them/they get along with me.  Not to mention obligatory family stuff.  Gah!  I don’t want to go!  My ticket has been purchased and it would look really bad if I didn’t go.  A bright spot about it is that’s a free wi-fi hot spot within walking distance from my grandparents house, they don’t have internet.  I deliberately left out where we’ll be going.  In this area at least, it’s a big deal going there.  I want as few people to know as possible (ironic that I blog), but will reveal the location in another entry.

Enough about that!  Something else that’s ticking me off is Gaia.  I’m not exactly sure why, but it feels like everyone on there is really stupid and obnoxious.  All take and no give.  They’ll keep you around when they need you but stop talking when they have what they wanted.  Most conversation is about them and they don’t care about the person they’re talking to.  I admit, I am guilty of this in a few cases.  But I ask about them and they don’t ask anything back!  Make me angry.  I read one person’s post how it’s all about having the best/most expensive avi and not about decent conversation.  Maybe it’s just me, but Gaia is turning into a place where immature teens go to act out, get attention, and be idiots.  Ok, that was 2 rants already.  I’ll just shut up and make dinner.

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So I moved…  Again.  Over to VPS this time, so now I can mess with more stuff!  lol  Initially I was going to let melancholy-dream.net expire so I wouldn’t have to mess with transfering it over.  But, as you can tell, I couldn’t let it go and transferred it after purchasing 6 new domain names.  Why would I purchase 6 domain names?  I really don’t know.  It kinda snowballed I guess, from trying to find a domain name I liked as a replacement, to thinking up ones that I liked in general, to trying to get free privacy protection.  Unfortunately I mis-spelled one so I’m down to 5 new ones.  But fortunately I had a coupon so I didn’t waste as much!  Anyway, I have no idea what I’m going to do with 5 of my domains that I plan on keeping.  I’m going to let fanciful-cafe.net expire in October as it’s too narrow of a domain name for me.  I’m pretty sure I’ll keep star-storm.me and we’ll have to see about the 5 new ones though I have no plans to give them up.

So where have I been the past few months?  In the state of unmotivation.  Somewhat depressed, kinda bored, and very stagnant.  I realized I missed blogging a couple weeks ago and decided to get the ball rolling again.  And its taken me a week to get everything set up, while using the same layout!  Sad isn’t it.  I really wanted to make a new layout before I re-opened but I didn’t get to it and had no inspiration anyway.  So when I get an idea I’ll work on it, hopefully it won’t be too long from now.

Back to what I normally blog about: my life.  Last week my parents went on vacation and I got the house to myself!  For all of 3 and a half days…  And I had to work on 3 of those days so it wasn’t as enjoyable as it could have been.  But I took what I could get.  I had about 4 things I wanted to do and 0 were accomplished.  But I did clean my toilet, that takes all of 2 minutes though.  I really wanted to start playing Kurayami no Hate de Kimi o Matsu, but I need a large chunk of time to concentrate and look up all the Japanese I don’t know.  So that’ll have to wait till Tuesday, if I can get up before noon.

And speaking of games, I bought Age of Empires Collector’s Edition because I loved the first Age of Empires game!  No, I couldn’t win sans cheats and yes, I kinda like tedious building and upgrading.  I have yet to actually play it, though it is installed.  And I ordered Heart Gold on Amazon because I love fell in love with the Pokemon games in elementary school and it was about $10 cheaper there plus free shipping.  I’m feeling very nostalgic now I guess.  Though I lack the desire to play Might & Magic VI or VII, 2 games I enjoyed when I was a kid.  Lemmings was also fun, I should look for that game for XP or Vista.

Ok, I know I had more I wanted to share but I can’t remember any of it.  Besides it’s almost 4 AM and I should get to sleep.  Sorry if this didn’t make much sense, I’m quite tired.

Filed under: Games, Life, Website by Victoria
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