Why is it that I always get all sentimental and sappy when I go to my parent's house? I walk in the door and suddenly it's as if I haven't been back there in years, when really I was just there the week before. Is there some sort of reverse empty-nester syndrome? I walk around and look at all the family photos on the walls and have a habit of touching the furniture and feeling up the fluffy linens and towels (but obviously a sentimental feeling up of the linens -- not the creepy crazy kind.) Or maybe I just don't do the laundry at my place enough...

Oh old bedroom, you are now a giant bedroom-sized walk-in closet for Dad. Beloved NASA-like computer room (though slightly-less NASA-like without my own dual-monitor computer) -- I miss you and strive one day to build a computer room in your grand image. Smelly little green software fridge... you are still smelly. *Hugs*

I love the fact that I'm moved out and have a place of my own and everything, but I guess there will always just be things that you miss from a place you grew up in for half your life. It's cozy. It always has lots of warm, fuzzy memories (in addition to the linens.) And may I also add that it's such a rip that once the kids move out, the parents finally take the opportunity to prettify and renovate everything? Seriously. Pretty bathroom now? Not fair. *Deadpan expression as her computer chair rumbles and rolls across the slanty apartment floor of it's own accord with her still sitting in it*


PS. I haven't gotten a chance to play any Guild Wars in the past couple nights because of art-related things, which is very sad. Ula is level 20 now! She must quest more! Art and Guild Wars... why must you always make me choose between you?! D:

Huzzuh! Take that, Photoshop coloring / Wacom tablet!

Okay, so obviously I didn't get it finished in time for the DeviantArt contest like I said I would back before Christmas. Not surprisingly, I got frustrated with the coloring, put it in a drawer to come back to the next day when I was less bitter, and then promptly forgot about it. =_=; Better late than never, right?

But look! Color! Sure, the shading is probably all wrong, and the background is complete rubbish because I have no idea how to draw anything scenic, and I was too lazy to put in all the battle droids like originally planned; but I'm happy with it anyway. I think I finally found a method of digital coloring that is less pain-in-the-assy than what I started with. Fuck you, burn and dodge tools! Think of all the time and teeth gnashing I could have saved if I hadn't been trying to constantly work around your bitchy PMS.

So Christmas was good, a little more relaxed this year for a change which was pleasant. I am happily overflowing with chocolate in my house now. X3 I also got four seasons of Doctor Who burned from my lovely sister, which I've started to dig into as well as the first seasons I've downloaded of both The Tudors (YAY! Henry is HOT!) and Dexter (very creepy... but good.) I have the first episode of True Blood ready to go too but it's taken a back seat for the time being since I have all these other splendid series' to watch.

I went out and immediately bought the Dark Knight on special edition DVD since I didn't get it for Christmas, and while the movie is still absolutely amazing, the so-called "special edition" features leave something to be desired which is extremely disappointing. Seriously, they're crap. You'd think with a blockbuster this big they'd pull some punches and do up a sweet set of extra features. :P Where are the interviews? The deleted scenes? The so-badly-craved featurettes on the making of the Joker and Two-Face? Where's the MEAT? ;_; Apparently there's a completely new documentary as well as extensions of the other features on the Blue-Ray, but not on the DVD? Christopher Nolan, you cheap bastard.

I've always enjoyed the Joker as a character, but the Dark Knight has put me in somewhat of a Joker craze. Ledger was piles of awesome in the film and I'm fairly confident he has a pretty good chance at the Oscar this year even despite his death, and I'm on the wagon that believes he deserves it; despite whether or not there were other actors who could have done just as amazing a job with the character.

With that said I have to admit though that I'm a little torn at certain aspects of Heath Ledger's Joker. Sure, they had the green hair and the trademark purple suit, and while I adore the downright creep factor he brings to the screen, I can't get away from the fact that the Joker in DK always looks like he just dragged himself out of a garbage bin. He's tussled and mangy and reminds me a little of a homeless drug-addict you'd see staggering around in the gutter. A familiar part of the Joker's character from the comics and television has always been that -- while yes, sure, definitely crazy -- you also rarely see him without his hair carefully slicked back and his clothes impeccably clean and pressed. The Joker is a clean-cut and usually charming narcissist in addition to being a stark raving psychopath, and it's always a little jarring watching DK and not seeing that familiar polish to the Clown Prince of Crime. It was a radically different approach to the character and I can't help but love them both but for different reasons.

While in my fangirly craze over the past week, I re-watched the Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker animated movie (uncut version) from 2000. I remember now why I loved both the original and BB cartoons, they're so great. *LOL* Kevin Conroy will always be the voice of Batman for me. The Joker in RotJ (now I feel like I'm talking about Star Wars) is the same as the one in the original series but a little darker and sleeker, it's great. (Hahaha and I love the movie commentary during when the Joker is literally killing hundreds of innocent citizens with his OMG GIANT SPACE LAZER D: and the producers and other commentators are like "Oh no no no, those cars you see being vaporized aren't being driven by people! Those entire city blocks of buildings? Oh they're in the abandoned part of town! Don't worry, those people by that blown up fountain were really quick to dodge! We swear!" Sure sure. Way to cover your ass, guys. *More LULz*)

EDIT: OMG I just noticed that the Joker doesn't have eyebrows in the animated series. WTF? o_O Where did his eyebrows go?!

On a final note, I'm a little in love with KidNotorious' Joker art~ *Hearts*

Gaaaarrglhhblarrh... WHY am I so sodding USELESS at coloring? D: *Flails pathetically on the floor*

*Wacom tablet laughs at her pain*

;_;

I can now play the first bit of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" on the piano by myself! *Feels proud* I really like this Synthesia program, it's fun times. I think I'll try to tackle "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" next, that one looks a little trickier because there's chords... :x My goal is to some day (years from now, I realize) be able to sit down and play some Journey -- they played it at the dueling piano bar we went to for the Nex Christmas party and I was like *hearts* and *sparkly eyes*.

In lieu of a holiday potluck which were originally going to do, we gathered everyone together and went to the new little Asian buffet. Somehow it managed to escape my razor-sharp casual observation that with the oriental-flavor of the restaurant name it was going to serve primarily Chinese food, but it turned out to be really tasty actually. And they had these wonderful little cheese-covered potatoes that were fantastically yummy~ I'd go back, but considering that they were in the midst of their grand-opening with only a couple tables filled, I don't think they'll be around long... *Sweatdrop*

I am so close to being done my Christmas shopping it's sick! If this damn weather would let up a bit, I would venture out and quickly finish up the last few items! It's really not fair how Alberta can go from a mild -5 to -30 practically over night... may I add that it's also very unfair how my car starter has developed an annoying habit of stopping to work as it gets progressively colder, which defeats the entire purpose. -5? It's good to go. But -30? I have to go out and start it by hand. Someone hates me.

I actually logged onto Guild Wars this weekend for the first time in... *strains* ...ages. I forgot how fun it is and how ridiculously AWESOME my necromancer is. Mason says I only have a couple more missions before I beat Prophecies, and then I want to start using my new ritualist~ With GW and piano, I don't know if I'm going to finish my Grievous picture in time for the contest deadline. >_<

We've embarked on the Whyte Ave adventure, our tree has been set up, the *motherfuckingsonofabitch* snow has fallen, and as of today I have been to the annual Butterdome Christmas craft sale. I always spend far too much money at those dang craft sales when I don't intend to, this time I came home with another gorgeous Shi Studio necklace -- now I have a green and a pink one! -- as well as giant pile of delicious fudge. I'm not usually a fudge gal, but they had flavors of fudge I didn't know existed! Oreo! Cookie dough! Nanaimo bar! :3 I brought home some Baileys and Tiger flavored ones too for Mason~ I also found a cute bunny-shaped tree ornament to hang up for Toby's first Christmas (he's very excited, I can tell.)

I thought about doing Christmas cards this year, but the realist in me knows it won't happen. =_=; This month is already filled up almost and I just won't have enough time. Next year hopefully.

I went out this evening and finished up half of my holiday shopping in one fell swoop~ I'm going to try avoid going out shopping tomorrow because after this damn rain the roads are going to be like a freaking ice rink, but later in the week I hope to pick up the rest of the stuff I need and be done nice and early. *Crosses fingers*

Closing notes: 1) I am re-discovering my love for my Wacom tablet. I finally found a setting and style of outlining that actually works for me in Illustrator, and looks so very nice~ I can't for the life of me draw trace a path properly with the tablet yet though so I have to practice until my brain can start to move my hand with the right direction and length to match the screen. *DETERMINED* 2) I am shamelessly stealing Tawnie's fabulous seasonal bunny avatar for my own. Lookit how cute he his! :D