So Far, So Good

I've been 4 hours on the new job. No bad vibes like I had from the one at NHC. There's a lot of repetitive stuff I need to learn, but that will happen with time, I'm sure. I like the folks I work with. Everyone is down to Earth and pretty laid back, so that's good.

I'm home for lunch. Man, I've missed Aunt Tudi and the beasties! It's horrid having to work, but I really needed to get off my arse and do something. ::heavy sigh::

It only takes me like 2 minutes to get to work. Two minutes! When I told my boss and the 2nd in command how close I lived, they both laughed incredulously, just like everyone has so far when I tell them how close I am to work.

Once I'm comfortable with the system, I'm pretty certain I will do fine with the job. The only thing I really hate is answering the phone, but that's to be expected, given my phone phobia. I have Internet access at work, but I don't know the regulations with that yet, so I'm not going there until I'm certain it's kosher. They're so cool and laid back, I don't think it'd be a problem if I updated my journal now and again during slow patches.

Brian, the boss, already had me install Norton anti-virus on Doug's (the 2nd in command) computer because he'd been informed I knew a lot about computers. Anyone can do an install, but I think he was just testing me to see if I would mess something up or just go with the flow.

I'm thinking that the rest of my job-related posts will be Friends Only just to be on the safe side. I would prefer not to air everything about the new job in a public forum as that might not be the most appropriate road to take. Just sayin'.

Even though I'm sad to not be at home anymore, I'm a happy camper to have found such a laid back and groovy job so close to my domicile. I've no right to complain. None whatsoever. So I won't.

---

Got a letter from Barry giving me the go ahead to put up song samples from "Haunted Box of Switches," "Stic Basin," and his earlier material. It's just a matter of getting the music to Llew so he can create the samples in the correct format for me. I was kind of excited about delving into something like this, but B's obvious excitement has gotten me really charged now. I can't wait to create something astounding for everyone to enjoy. I just hope I'm up to the task.

One of the things I'd really like to do when I get back into school is take some web design classes to further what I've already taught myself. I'd prefer and actually need to learn some Flash and Cold Fusion. There's so much more stuff I could do if I were just educated a little!

Okay...I must get back to work. That's just strange to write.

Really Laid Back

They're cool with Internet access, so yay!

Why is it all the good parties are held when I have to work?

Todd sent this to me, accusing me of being the grand marshal of the event, and I would be if I could make it. Hell yeah!

Party in Hell on 6-6-6

I have been interviewed by moad_terran_hq

So now I have to do the whole megillah, which is okay, 'cos I knew what I was getting into.

Rules
01. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."
02. I will respond by asking you five questions of a very intimate and creepily personal nature. Or not so creepy/personal.
03. You WILL update your LJ with the answers to the questions.
04. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the post.
05. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

1. Tell me about your Creative Process. How did you come up with Cadmus, Kelat, et al - and how did the plot for your book(s) evolve?
Oh jeez.  You're killing me here.  When it comes to The Chalice, my creative process has taken almost 20 years and reams of paper, dozens of coloured pencils, and at least a full sketch tablet.  The first character created was Vasily Tenin (original name Thiyennen) in a short story called "Vasily's Kiss."  Originally, the story was going to revolve around Vasily living in modern-day Asheville and being discovered by an obnoxious Yuppie.  I wasn't happy with this and didn't develop it much at all.  It was around this time that Timothy urged me to read a book called Holy Blood, Holy Grail.  That, combined with my research on traditional vampires and the development of my personal myth of the Tarmi, created the idea of Kelat'menan and her "anti-grail."  She was initially the villain of the novel, and Thiyennen was the hero.  There were other things at work, though.  I needed to process the fact that I had met my soulmate and that he was married and we'd never ever be together in this life.  Our relationship became a vampiric one, each of us taking what we needed from the other, but never taking enough.  The grievous situation begged for address in my writing, so the story of Kelat and Dmitri was born.  This created the need for another villain, which came on soundwaves in the shroud of "Deeply Lined Up" by Shriekback.  An instantaneous vision of abomination gave birth to Cadmus, who initially had only a cameo in the developing story.  Over the course of 16 years, like any good vampire, Cadmus has eaten up every scene in the story, making it his own.  Somehow, it all fits perfectly, though, with the arc-story of the mysterious grail and its protectors over the years.  Sorry for the length of the explanation.  This was the short one.


2. What would Your Dream Job be? (Derivative, but a good question, so I'll snatch.)
I'd like to be the subject of a sleep test.  Just hook me up to machines and let me sleep and dream all the time, and get paid for it. 


3. What do you find attractive in people? (Physically, spiritually, personality wise....)
   I pull off auras a lot, so looks mean very little when it comes to my attraction to others.  I do have my preferences when it comes to appearance.  I like men with meat on their bones, and with hair, lots of hair.  Beards, moustaches, long dark hair, hairy chests, so on and so forth.  Spiritually, again it's the aura.  Seekers appeal to me as do Priests (not in the Catholic sense, but in the spiritual sense).  I'm drawn to unusual personalities, those who can see the weirdness in everything around them, and can laugh at the darkest situation because they can see the ludicrous within it.  For instance, the story about the people on the plane that depressurised, freezing them all, but the plane was still flying.  Someone who can see beyond the horror of that situation and just cackle at the thought of the Death Plane flying overhead is someone with whom I could probably fall in love.  John Kricfalusi is a perfect example of a man I could love.  Anyone who can think up Ren & Stimpy is a man after my own heart.


4. Just how many critters do you have, anyways? And are there any kinds you'd like to own, but can't for some reason? Any critters you don't like?
I have 3 dogs, 22 cats (I just found out that Lynx was mooshed by a car....), and 2 opossums.  Four of the cats are thoroughly domesticated and the rest I'm working on in hopes of getting all their shots, getting them "fixed," and finding them homes.  I'd love to have a couple of llamas or alpaca, but I don't have enough room.  If I were certain the neighbours wouldn't fuss, I'd get a couple of goats in a heartbeat.  Some other critters I've had in the past:  a hedgehog, a skunk, a raccoon, various tropical fish, a rabbit, a couple of turtles, and some Mexican jumping beans.  The only creatures on this planet I cannot tolerate are centipedes and (especially) millipedes.  Anything with more than 20 limbs is abomination in my world.  ::shudders::  BUH!


5. As Mistress of the Alpaca Lips, do you think it will be a total reset (removing All Life), or just a removal of homo sapiens from the Oxygen Consumers List? If the latter, do you think some people might survive, just in smaller/more managable numbers?
I think we've been given enough chances to do the right thing and we've screwed it up one too many times.  The Alpaca Lips for which I'm hoping is one in which the meek shall truly inherit the Earth, meaning that all Humanity will be wiped off  the surface of the planet by the Terrifying Squeegee of God and all the little critters can come out and party like it's 1999.....even the millipedes.  Amen.

dostoevsky_girl did ask me....

1. i know your feeling on suburban sprawl type crap (and agree wholeheartedly) but how do you feel about cities? are they also an infringement on nature? or are they a sort of necessary evil that you're willing to overlook?
If humans limited ourselves to just cities, leaving the country to wiser creatures, I'd be a happy soul.  I think that cities develop a certain sentience after a time, becoming entities unto themselves in which the individual can work and grow as part of a whole they probably can barely comprehend, if at all.  A countryside barely touched by humans in which humanity works in harmony with its surroundings is a wonderful thing, but so are cities.  It's Suburbia that drives me to distraction.  Suburbia is like a soulless landscape, devoid of primal nature or urban personality.


2. dubya's impeached and you find yourself president. what do you do?
   Declare a State of Anarchy and resign so I can sit back and watch the fun.


3. ghosts: real? have you had a supernatural encounter? if so, elaborate.
Yes.  I saw a "shade" while touring the Biltmore House at the age of ten.  Also, I lived in a house where anything that could rock or move did so at least once a day, at various times.  We checked the train times to see if maybe a train was causing the phenomenon, but it wasn't that. 


4. back to high school. did you go to your prom? if so, any amusing stories?
No, I didn't go to the prom.  If I had gone, it would have been Carrie:  Revisisted.  Lucky for those softheads I wasn't invited by anyone.


5. best way to waste 2 hours of time
Well, the Internet of course!

I am for answering the_gil_monster's questions.

1. Who are the Four Horsemen of The Alpaca Lips?
   The Dolly Llama, Joe Camel, the Sopwith Camel, and Camilla Parker-Bowles.


2. How would you have scripted Darth Maul's demise? Does he survive?
   Of course he survives in my world!  And he sues Obi-Wan on Judge Judy.  I posted that tale in my journal 1000 years ago and now I can't find it, which means I have to repost it now so I can use it as reference in answering this question.  Stay tuned for a linkie.


3. How do I perform The Superior Llama Dance? Or is it exclusive to ordained priests of the Alpaca Lips?
   Rent The Emperor's New Groove and watch the scene right after Kuzco llama saves Pacha.  That is the superior llama dance.  Study and learn.


4. When (if) George W. Bush leaves the White House, what is your first order of business?
Pitch a big honkin' party, dance nekkid in the street of Duncan (not streets, mind you....street.), shake my money-maker in the general direction of the local offices of the Republican Party, and work on getting out of the country before the evil empire regains power and closes our borders for good.

1. Vas ist das Psychic Vampire Codex?
   Probably the most defining work in explaining the phenomena and reality of the psychic vampire community.  It's written by Michelle Belanger and delves into explaining what psychic vampirism is as well as giving a loose set of ethics and guidelines most usually common to the community as a whole.