Chase your dreams but know your limitations
In whatever you do- do it well or don't do it at all

-parents (didn't expect them to be that inspirational n_n;)

Another art dump. I know that I can't draw wolves very well. Haha- I'll get wolf drawing lessons from Gen next term, I guess.
Excited for tomorrow's meet-up.

All your bass belongs to us.

Nothing particular attached to the title, just that is sounds cool. If you must ask, it's a song title.

I don't really have much to say. I hardly do anything in the holidays- like most people. Yes, we awesome private school people have an extra week. >:D

I am doing art more and more often- though hardly getting anywhere, I can't come up with my own ideas out of thin air. Perhaps I should read or look around more. This time I decided to do a contest. I dunno if I'm good enough, but I'm giving it a crack. The promise of virtual money is also overwhelmingly tempting- that is, if I'm selected. So I'm making an extra effort- a twist in style and colouring this time.
I'm trying out a stylised- high contrast monochrome look- with a splash of red?

Yeah I know the arms are off along with a great many other things. I'm just too lazy to fix it right now. I also need to do some weapon study. I have no idea how a sword should be held. Q_Q


Highlights today: I skipping coaching because my 'illness'. Heh heh.
Had lunch at Plunge in Summer Hill after picking up the umbrella I left at art class yesterday. The guy seriously talks too much.

IMVU: Yeah, my imvu life has been pretty much non-existent the past few months. The credits have still stacked up though, I hope I don't get hacked. I can't sell or do anything with them, and I can only get rid of 300k at a time, maximum. I also have no idea who to donate to. .__.
I think I might comeback to do some housekeeping and shoving competitive devs out of the way (jk) when the internet speed comes back. I did take a look around on my mule-I can't say much has changed actually- I hate how clothing is showing more and more flesh. I had to put more fabric on a screenshot I was editing. .__.;;

That pretty much sums it up.

Forget silver, clouds have golden linings

They do, seriously. The cloudy morning cleared to beautiful sky in the afternoon- wisps and large clouds alike illuminated with gold by the sun. A pack of wild wolves can be sen gliding across the expanse of blue. I wanted to take a picture of it, but the train was moving too much.

Didn't do much today. Had art classes, coughed a lot, lunch at Burwood (handmade noodles=yum), more coughing and then window shopping at Westfield. Felt like a sweet tooth and ate white rocky road and raspberry sorbet.

More art dumping:
I like this one a lot better actually.


Inspiration:
I don't usually include this bit do I? If this had been with good old fashioned pen and paper, I'd be surrounded by heaps of magazine clippings of things I like.



Actually looking back at it, I think I need to show more of the ground. Shallow water and reflection perhaps?

Celebrations

Apologies.I haven't posted for ages.
Illness is not exactly the best thing to get the brain motors going. I've lost the stuffy nose but my voice is almost gone. If it goes completely, I'm pretty sure it's the first time I've ever lost my voice. D;
Another art dump. Commission for gaia. Her outfit was hardly creativity material (although expensive) but I made the best out of it.

On a lighter note, it's the last day of term today, but also the last day for Kath at this school. We celebrated by throwing a party at lunch. Unfortunately, I forgot my two packets of TimTams. And I scoffed so many chips that my throat was slowly dying afterwards. We also had a lovely surprise visit from mancandy as well. Very good sneaky photography Carrie. Master Jo has taught you well.

Aside from that, we had a very *successful* eye dissection in science. Me and Dora destroyed most of the eye on the second step- and made eye soup when we were done finding the lens: or what was left of it. To Veronica's dismay, the black stuff squirted in her direction. I can't imagine how Jo would react here. -heh heh-

Last period- we watched Amelie. I love it! It was extremely photographic. New favourite movie! : D

Second bit of good news: If my calculations are correct, my internet speed will return tomorrow- precisely a week after bill payment.

Quickie

Sorry for the lack of posting this week. Too busy! Balancing school with gaia-not good. I look at my heap of maths homework and back to the art comissions I need to do-back and forth. I know my priorities are screwed, but I can't tell which is more important.
And also, I've caught the illness that was supposed to be due last Friday. But now I don't want to be sick- and sleep deprived. So tired.

Lazy Sunday

I spent the whole day out today. (Mum insists on taking the Sunday discount on transport fares for our advantage, Catch: one adult and one child at least -.-) It wasn’t as bad as I made it out to be. When all the way to Marrickville (partially out of curiosity- we decided Parramatta was too far) to check out one cardigan. I decided I didn’t like it because it was to black-white contrasty (D:!). Mum keeps complaining about dressing appropriately for her age and how had it is. If you're out and about the city often you'll know what I mean. Woman in their sixties wearing plaid miniskirts! I almost had a shock when one turned around.

So we went on another bus down the road to Newtown. I love Newtown, almost like a mini-Melbourne in Sydney, and the perfect place for shopping or just people-watching. Heaps of quirky shops and people, but waaay to much of those dodgy bondage-fetish boutique thingoes. Mum told of a funny experience with what I figured out to be cosplayers. It must have been the supernova convention (it's pitifully pathetic compared with other overseas cons). She thought they were some random hobos, and got particularly spooked when they started following her to find their way to the station.

Perhaps I should organise an outing with friends there? Dunno, much of it's reputation from the ghetto days is still around. xD
Then I went to "Junk" and picked out a drapey-type cardigan. Always needed one of those! Please this one has an awesome grey collar against the black. Then another frilly-sh black top for 15 bucks. Not bad. Makes up for the $50 spent on the cardigan. >< I couldn't find a catalog on their website but lucky for me, it was featured on the front page. What a coincidence.




Then off to the city (in a bendy bus! woop) to eat some sushi near Capitol. I was too guilty to take too much because of the prices. I swear they changed them. >>

Then after that, to dreaded tutoring. Bonus: I was half an hour late. Minus: The teacher kept us in until someone apart from the smart girl could answer a question. I made a point that it's not far because not everyone has done log yet. Apparently they have. Except for me. D; I wanna downgrade to my actual grade more than ever.

Right now, I have finished a finished my creative writing task I left to the last minute.

Meh.

Tribute to the cheeselord.

In case that you don't know that I'm talking about, look >>>>

I hate that amazing realistic-type artworks are often superseded by chibi. Sorry, I don't see why chibi or "desu" manga is worth that much more. So I always end up halfway between styles. Should I do what I want, or what others want? Unfortunately, what I want is unpopular and worth a lot less. But I still try to make the best of it.
I need to work on my colouring the most, so at the moment it's a little uncertain-experimental at least? I don't know. I like it, but I still think it sucks. I compare myself with others too much. D;



...
I don't want to bend towards manga/anime because it's a more popular option.

The empty cup.

Oh come on! Don't die Don't die Don't die. please
Of course I'm talking about my internet.

I actually have a few things to say, but I'm far to tired to type it all.
Today, we were told to plan a narrative based on the title "The empty cup." Exactly what my mind (and I'm sure the rest of the class too) was like. No ideas.

Bright idea! (light-bulb please)
I'll just google it.
Actually it was Annie's idea. It's definitely the most common solution for any 21st century teenager. I didn't expect much, but I found something interesting.

'A university professor went to visit a famous Zen master. While the master quietly served tea, the professor talked about Zen. The master poured the visitor's cup to the brim, and then kept pouring. The professor watched the overflowing cup until he could no longer restrain himself. "It's overfull! No more will go in!" the professor blurted. "You are like this cup," the master replied, "How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup."'

Actually the first search term was a 10 page essay on why western philosophy was bad because presenting arguments closes the mind. The absolute irony of it was that the author was presenting arguments to prove his point. Haha!

This is a popular zen story. Think Buddhist parable. I recognised it from a few Asain movies I've watched, except the over-filling of the cup was a metaphor for ambition- not about the problem of preconceived ideas conflicting with learning.

I would steal this story, but it's too obvious. >> Then I spent the entire reading other zen stories. Still no ideas.

I only ever come up with a very good story idea once a year . And the only time it can come to me is if I'm in a state of complete boredom/blankness where technology is out of reach- opportunities of which are increasingly rare.
I'll have to work hard on this one- but if an idea doesn't come soon, it's going to be crap. I hope it isn't marked for next semester report. >>

I don't want to do waterpolo on Friday. Definitely NOT in the middle of winter, and especially when my body is more wasted than ever (too much sitting in front of computer). I'll come close to hospitalisation by the end of the lesson. Not kidding! Incoming god-sized leg and arm cramps horray. o_o I must devise an evil scheme...

Hello there...CAN'T YOU GET A ROOM?

I've been avoiding drawing guys for many, many years. Hey give me a break. It's not easy when you go to an all-girls school daily. What does a (young) man even look like? o_o. How does Veronica even pull off only drawing guys. I decided that today was the day I should stop putting it off. I read a few tutorials, looked up some photos (it was seriously had to find refs of guys that weren't anorexic/too buff/topless o_o)...and this is what I came up with. I was also under pressure from a fellow friend/comissioner to give it a go. Please don't laugh. D;


...
You're probably laughing now. >_<

But that was art.
As I was walking home with my sister today, we walked past a young couple-looked who at us and then purposely put on a show as soon as we went past. Seriously. Even their dog seemed apologetic about the awkward situation.
Kissing in public (in this situation, the definition extends to full-on groping and heavy breathing) is restricted in some cultures for very good reason. A reasonable amount of affection is fine, but what is this? Get I room if you can't hold it back that badly! >>It's not like I'm going to sigh and wish I had such an amazing boyfriend as yours, and neither are you proving anything to anyone.

"Love" can be so painfully superficial at times. For the most part, what people call "love" is just sexual attraction. Then what when you're not interested anymore? No wonder divorce rates are higher than ever.

Perhaps the true meaning of "love" is just too difficult to search for anymore? Has technology changed our attitudes to long-term commitment and pleasure-of-the-moment?

Yeah, I know I'm cynical. I just would not be quick to say that you're feeling love towards your partner. To me, if you can't express those feelings other than a sexual way, or without pressure from others, then your love is built on a very weak foundation.

World Cup Blues.

{Australian lost to Germany. 0-4
Now go away cause I'm depressed. D:<
asafr...html? i'm not even using html. I don't know html. Now go away error message.>>

Why I can't see my keyboard...+angry rant

...because I'm sitting in the dark
-because I'm (mum is) avoiding someone
-and that someone is the neighbour who is in the middle of moving houses
-and is not exactly the honest type (if you're Asian, you'll know what I mean by parasites >>)
-so we're hiding in the dark till they get all the furniture out.

yeah good one mum. o_o

-it's almost nine at night and they're still here. If they want house-warming gifts, you're not getting any. That's a job for your new neighbours. >>

Went to coaching/tutoring today. The teacher (normally spontaneous and happy in a mad-maths-teacher-kinda-way) seemed depressed today. So much so that he let us out on time! I'm in a class a year above my actual grade (to keep up with the acceleration system), and he has a habit of comparing the year ten class ('normal' in a chatty way, a failure to teacher's and parent's eyes) to his year nine class (obviously obedient in a brain-washed way). Poor guy, I know he puts a lot of effort in his teaching, but no-one seems to be listening to him towards the end of the lesson- or does any homework. Our test marks are umm... not so great despite him repeating himself over and over so that we understood (hey! I have an excuse >>) Perhaps I should make an extra effort to look like I'm listening? (not doodling my character concept sketches all over my notes) I don't know. I hate to look like the teacher's pet. What do you reckon?

On the way home, I missed my train, and my butt froze onto the bench because of the cold. What happened to good old fashioned wooden benches? Anyway, I saw a large cross on the ground of the station in neon orange spray. I joked that it might be a sign of buried treasure. We got on the train quite near to where the cross was. When I got off the train, there was a similar cross on the ground again! My younger sister muttered; it's been there for ages. I thought it was a sign for construction workers?
You probably don't see the significance of this, but I wonder how many little things, that concern us more than large neon crosses painted on the ground, that we miss or realise too late? Some domestic animals have the ability to tell of one is about to have a heart attack or develop cancer or even when they're about to die. Most people dismiss the miracle of this because they believe most animals have sharper senses than humans. So what? We have the sense of thinking. It's not merely limited to medical symptoms. Other emotional, social and physical signs and details may be arranged to make sense by the mind.
We live our lives with greater speed than ever, only lending eye to generalisation. We must stop occasionally to analyse our environment and realign ourselves, before realising a bad situation too late.

Edit: for those that use firefox, you will know that there is a spellcheck. Damned American spelling! No I don't want a z, leave my s alone! Did I also mention the ou's? ;__;

Edit Two: Eww I'm sick of doing tekteks for others! I spend an hour layering and making it perfect. Then get rejected because she didn't like the eyes. Seriously? So bad eyes overthrows a whole entire good outfit. And I see other people who have worked their ass off to be rejected for a desperately bad clutter-monkey. Just like art these days! They'd rather see something pretty and typical than something skillful. Yes, I'm talking about anime/manga style. And they let themselves be bled dry of money/effort to get it. This applies to my imvu developing. I don't want to see any more scene kids wearing lingerie. Please.You probably don't know what I'm yapping on about, but it's good to vent it out.

The Simple Pleasures

Likes:
-Crunchy leaves (speaking of that- new page layout!)
-Nutella and Peanut butter sandwich
-Flapping your arms, then run circles around your confused parents
-Staring out the window and imagining that a wild group of horses are running beside your car
-Saying shoop da woop/ woop for short, repeatedly
-Browsing page after page after page of photography avoiding other things that you should be doing
-Doodling hearts with wings all over your maths notes
-Doing fiddly things, like constantly changing the outfit of your avatar (whatever the website might be)
-Looking cross-eyed at something and making it look like it moves.
-Origami.

Dislikes:
-The fact that facebook does not accept my real surname, yet other people can change their name to something- 'Bieber'
-Gloaters and loudmouths
-Grouchy adults that give you looks on trains only cause you're remotely disturbing them with your conversation.
-Being addicted to Restaurant City again

Art Dump.

Don't really have anything much to say today. So I'll let pictures do the talking.
Here's some artworks I've been working on. The first one is a personal project, like I mentioned in my last post. Ugh, and don't tell how I should line properly. I'm too lazy to put it shortly. And it's only a monochromatic colour, so I can fix lines on the way. Yeah I like corsets. A lot.

This one is a gaia commission. I like how it turned out, considering the whip was added last minute. Didn't expect it to fit so well. Haha bonus.
If you're curious, I use a tablet and gimp. I know I have photoshop on my much better and non-screen-flashy school laptop, but I'm sticking with gimp. I insist they work the same anyway, minus the huge computer usage.


What I'm doing right now: Watching Charlotte's Web (so cute ><), browsing Gaia, facebook and last.fm. Woop. Multi-tasking.

Oh such strange fetishes...

Okay I'm preparing to get shot. I actually like Lady Gaga's new Alejandro video.
...
Not what I expected, but I liked quite a few aspects of it, in particular the costuming. That first outfit was such a lovely mix of something military-futuristic over the good old steampunk. (It must have been the goggles). But yet again, Lady Gaga has managed to stir the cooking pot of controversy but slipping in subtle or not so subtle references of sex (bondage, ahem), war and even anti-Christianity. Can't say I'm surprised by the anti-Christian bit though- years of listening to industrial bands and looking at hardcore alternate fashions has made me used to that particular theme. It's not really an insult (for touchy people out there) but more for the tough and 'out-there' image- and it gives you quite a bit of bonus attention. If you ask me for any particular metaphors or hidden meanings, I wouldn't bother. It's just better to enjoy it at face value.

Speaking of music videos, I found a heap of great videos by the amazing artist: Dragonette. I had no idea really, till today, I thought money needed for videos was reserved to the more popular successful singers/bands. Did I mention she had awesome outfits? If you're interested, here's a list of their best videos: Easy, Fixin to Thrill, Boys and Girls, Pick up the Phone. Another more elusive one is I Get Around, which was a soundtrack for "horror" movie Soronity Row...and it was used on Vampire Diaries. I'm sorry Vampire Diaries (you'll learn later on that I have a particular dislike for what I call the "modern Gothic Revival") but Dragonette is too cool for you. D:<
Here's one: Hilarious.



The day out in Broadway was fun. I got there an hour early wit another friend. When we all met up, we watched Prince or Persia. For me action movies>chick flicks, so I was more or less pleased. Didn't expect much content in the plot, but that's okay. The fighting scenes and the CG made that up, so all good. Then we went out together all 'helping' to shop for Kath. Apparently she's outgrown all her clothes already! Then off to k-mart to look at books. What's this? Vampires (obvious) Fallen angels? Succubi? Murder and morbidity to the uttermost. Umm. I guess teenage angst has decided to go off elsewhere. The oddest thing, I was somewhat expecting it, not such much to this extent though. Haha. I wonder what the next 'thing' is. Perhaps I'm being a little cynical. I haven't read many books this past year because quality and concise-ness was dropping. =/
Ah! And we should've taken more pictures! But then again, that's a little dodgy inside shopping centres. (we're the only school who has the day off, I'm pretty sure.)

Now, though, I'm finishing off the rest of my maths homework, then I'll go off to draw something on gimp. (...someone with big hair and feathers and a corset covered with buckles and fringes? ...)

Ugh.

Oh such pretty hair. I've probably mentioned to my friends that I've always wanted to bleach my hair almost white ash-platnium. It just goes so perfectly with black frilly neo-Victorian clothing... They gave me funny looks. Well, nevermind, I guess people have different interests.
Image courtesy of Silent-View.

On the same topic, I've found out who the designer of that famous armor-corset is. You know, what Beyonce wore in Sweet Dreams, what Gabriella Climi wore in Woman in a mission, what Lady Gaga wore in Paparazzi. Sorry, getting a little obsessive here, but it's hard to deny that it is fabulous piece of design. His name is Thierry Mugler. I have known that name for ages, but never thought to browse his collections. And when I saw it, my eyes popped out, for most of the outfits anyway. You know how high fashion goes, one moment you're bowing at the designer's feet, and the other times, you're scratching your head trying to figure out what it is. Nevertheless. It's a shame he is retired. Here's a video that shows a summary of his works. The latter half is more interesting.


Now away from my whimsical daydreams and back to real life. I'm going to Broadway with friends tomorrow, except one. It was agreed on that if she could go, then I would to, so that we can travel together, but her mum wasn't too sure, and decided not to go. I was originally not going, but my mum decided I should since I was so eager. So should I go without telling her? I don't know, I don't think she's too happy right now, yet at the same time, knowing her mum, she probably half-anticipated it. Umm.

Oh well... Long weekend! Celebrate!

Okay. I surrender.

Yep.
Alright, I've been persuaded to write in my blog more often. I'm surprised that someone has seen something worthwhile in it!
I feel that, the feeling boredom and lack of purpose in life can be potentially disasterous. Sometimes you need a little something to cheer you up. Beauty is the easiest to observe.I love to notice little details within a mundane environment, when I'm not being occupied by my tiredness- to mentally frame a particular moment and store it in your gallery. Like those silly photos you have filling up your memory of your digital camera, yet you can't delete them. Because, musing over seemingly unimportant things is not a pointless indulgence, it is healthy to remember how a child wonders at the world and to be grateful for the small things.

My list collected the last few days:
-A large cloud with an small peephole in the centre. Did a plane purposely fly through it?
-A sunset reflected in the dark glass panels of the Wests Ashfield club.
-A trunk of a sapling covered almost entirely with yellow lady-beetles. Why did they choose this particular tree?
-How light falls through stained glass on the carved railing of the stairs next to the entrance of the canteen.
-The silence of coming through the school early in the morning , when no-one is about.(haha I shouldn't be going through the gates near the Croydon >>)

End of the philosophy lesson. Now onto the whinging like most teenage girls would do in thier blog. I have finished the two english writing tasks. Well I didn't say I finished them well. My teacher can be so temperamental! If her mood swings could be compared to a actual swing, my gosh it would be flying off it's chains. Nevermind, looking forward to the long weekend.
I'm hoping to go to Broadway with my friends. I admit I don't go out very often, and it's not because of my mum. She's pretty easy with it, as long as I have a transport buddy. >> You'd better be coming with me Veronica, or I'll be after you. Alternatively, I could organise with Carrie to have her dad drive her to, and pick her up from his office in Ashfield, and catch public transport to Broadway tomorrow. But I haven't asked her yet.

Second thing. I must be on the edge of being a gaming addict. Blame it on the genes. It's a well known fact Asians are gamers. Especially when it involves grades and levels. Especially when it's DDR or some online multiplayer game.

Note to self: Need a prettier blog/ post layout.

My gosh third edit: Gotta post the awesome pieces of photography I've been collecting on deviantart, and I better get into some art-making of my own too. I know you guys are curious to see because I rarely have the self-esteem to show them off...

And hi to my mystery follower, Tali. ^^