Vic-tor-ia

Ahhh...Victoria Day! A day that celebrates a Queen who is long since dead; who coined the term "We are not amused" and who created The Torchwood Institute.

Anything for a holiday, eh?

Untitled

I like the way the eyes turned out. Kind of authentic.

Weed control

The other day a couple guys came by offering " weed control and lawn care" and would I be interested in a free assessment of my lawn. "Go ahead, knock yourselves out", I tell them.

Now, this never happened in my old 'hood, where my lawn was like 90% weeds. The lawn at my new place actually looks quite good and I'm certainly not feeling that it needs a $300 care package.

So, they give me their expert advice, which I'm only partially listening to, as I am trying to keep my eyeballs on my son who thinks he's Evil Knievel these days on his bike. They hand me a sheet of paper and I tell them that I will pass it along to my husband, who's domain is the lawn.

Just then I look across the road to my neighbours, the " diplomats". Their lawn is full of weeds and makes ours look like a golf course.
"Why don't you guys go there?", I suggest. "It looks like their grass can use more help then mine."
"Thanks for the tip", they reply and off they go, to offer their lawncare services.

Knit at your own Purl.

I finally finished the vest I had been knitting for the last year. The one that I called "my Waterloo" (see earlier blog entry regarding this.).

I had thought of burning the pattern in a bonfire, lest someone else find it and think it a grand idea to try and knit it up, only to suffer much pain and heartache doing so.

Instead I posted the following reminder, in case I decide to be clever and try it again.

I will wear this vest everyday for the rest of my natural life.

Wooden you know it?

Upon walking in on a conversation, that was going on in the office kitchen, about Star Wars: Clonewars (the animated series), I had remarked, having recently seen The Phantom Menace, and how 'wooden' the acting was (I realize I'm probably hit a nerve or 3 saying this.). It bugged me beyond distraction, frankly. "That's because George Lucas only gives his actors the script one page at a time", I was told.

Now that's something I didn't know. So much for method acting.

Not all coffee machines are alike...

Ok. One thing I do remember is coffee making etiquette. That is if you take the last cup, you make a fresh pot for the next 8 people as there is nothing more rude then someone leaving the pot empty or nearly empty. Right?

So, I start making a fresh pot and having thought I had switched off the coffee machine in question, I pour in the water. Well, as it happens, the water starts percolating through the machine while I'm getting the filter, coffee grounds etc. ready, all over the counter and on to the floor. Thrusting the coffee pot into the machine to stave the flow, I am now punching all the buttons to try and stop the darned thing. Eventually, it does stop, but now I have a coffee pot with 8 cups of hot water instead of delicious coffee.

From that moment on, I decide to get my coffee from the Starbucks around the corner.

Piles 'n piles of cookies!

Last week, at least 6 dozen (I kid- you-not) cookies were baked and left for the studio's crew. Do you know how long ( or how short) it took for all those cookies to be eaten?

Exacty one day.

Animator's are really cookie monsters in disguise.

Scene it, done it, got the t- shirt

I finally finished my first scene of FX animation today.

Yup, all 7¹ hand drawn frames of it (2 levels).

7¹hand drawn frames of...wait for it...

...contact shadows.

(Funny looks all round.)

Trust me, if they weren't there you would definitly notice, as everyone would look like they're floating instead of standing on solid ground.

Contact shadows, the unsung heroes of all 2d animation.

Throwing Rocks

I was walking with my friend D. at lunch today, who commented that the Liberty Village had "so many animation studios, that you could throw a rock and easily hit someone you know."

I actually ran into someone I hadn't seen in 10 years- twice! ( no, I wasn't throwing rocks, if you must know.)

Wheeeeee!

Overheard at lunch yesterday:

One of the animators was sketching at Paramount's Wonderland theme park and was asked by an interested soul if he was an "artist". "No, I'm a ride. Hop on!"

I love this place.

The Guilt Angel.

Who is the " Guilt Angel"? Well, according to sister Jenn, she comes down from the heavens once you become a Mother and magically bestowes the sacred powers of guilt upon you forever more.

These powers of guilt will never fail you. You just look at your intended victim's (i.e. spouse/children) and they will feel your powers immediately.

Admittedly, some have stronger powers then others.

Never say neverland.

OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!

I start my first animation job in 8 years. Tomorrow.

My Pete keeps telling me it's like riding a bike...that it will all come back and such...

Never the less...I am still a little freaked...

WTH? Where'd these mouse ears come from?

Watch me remember at 3 a.m.

I was having lunch and a chat with my mom; I wanted to tell her something, but got so distracted within the conversation that I forgot what it was.

3 hours later and I still can't remember.

God, how I hate that!

Knotty Girl

Can you believe I actually spent a good portion of my afternoon learning to tie knots? ( I can now tie 5!) Now I am able to actually teach the Cubs in the pack to tie 'em.

Thank You animatedknots.com.