No Vacancy

Christmas is tomorrow, but look what I found today!

No really...

No Vacancy is a showcase lot on the quiet end of the QV Square featuring diverse works in monthly intervals that go on for a fortnight each. I happen to pass it by on the last day of it's showcase on the "24 Page Book". There was no one around but seeing as it was Christmas Eve, I guess that's a given. Even the internet shop I worked at was only receiving 30% it's normal customer intake.

"No Vacancy Press is excited to announce our foray into publishing with two books put together lovingly by Charlie Lance and Ghostpatrol.

The books will be launched at an exhibition of the original works, collaborative pieces and selected prints from within their pages on the 17th of December at No Vacancy Gallery.

For the inaugural No Vacancy Press series of books, which is intended to facilitate the crossover between original work and collectable books, a simple “24 Page Book” format has been chosen to showcase two artists with a uniquely intrinsic narrative quality to their work.

Books are limited edition with special editions available for purchase only at the exhibition."
excerpt from website no-vacancy.com.au

The 24 page hardcover burst bound make very delicate collectors items, with one going for $35 and 2 for $60. The contents were beautiful illustrations, one containing poems. I love self-defining books like these.

All of them were pencil illustrations coupled with light watercolour on thick sketch paper.

Too bad there was only one large canvas art. But then again even the walls became their canvas. The man attending to the space was a little hungover, so he was glad there weren't many people coming in. He was checking his facebook :P

The gallery wasn't extensive, but there were open copies of the book on the benches to look at.

Click me for full view!

What really drew me into the space was the art graffitied on the wall opposite. It was amazing.

And had my favourite bird, the owl!


Nice.


And why did I only pass it then? Well I was rummaging around in Laguna to find this Milk caramel a friend recommended to me to share with my cousins on Christmas.

Speaking of Christmas, I got a surprise this morning!

SAMAROST POSTCARDS!!!

I spent the whole day gushing about Amanita Design when I saw the demo of the game at ACMI last week. Looks like someone remembered =D

Merry Christmas from a mad monkey... I got him a chocolate fish as present back.

Merry Christmas!

-D

Spoke too soon

So my 22nd birthday was a couple of days ago (yaay, I'm getting old), and as always (since it's one the same day every year) it seemed to be on an odd time. I still remember my 17th was on the first day of my final secondary school examination. Talk about heart-stopping present.

Moving on, my cousins really spoil me so. They gave me a really cute card;

.. that had a great caption

(Sorry, not enough light for camera phone)
But the funniest part is that reading that, I remembered we had tried that once already, ended up feeling odd or going home to eat proper food XD

Thanks so much cuzzies and nephews :)

Now comes the guilty part.
When I was given the card, I did not know what it was and through some hints deduced that it was for a bookshop. Unfortunately, I blurted (gotta love that word) out that I have yet to use a gift card given to me for the bookshop Borders (whoops, ditto on the gift).

Now I feel guilty I said that because this afternoon I had a real good look at what Borders had in stock... and came back with these three items (yes, I could steal 3 books from Borders. My cousins are too generous!);


I'm sorry I lied when I said I don't have much to get from Borders!!! D:
First up is Angie Sage's Septimus Heap (7th son of a 7th son) book 5!! And I thought she was all done in the last book when they met Hotep-Ra... and there's a spoiler for you. As you can see by the receipt sticking out of the book... I've already begun :D

Next up is this magazine I found on the mag shelf.... Have not heard of it but I did flip through it and looks like it's going to be an interesting and enlightening read. I hope.

Then there's Computer Arts.... To awesome for words. I didn't think I'd find it in Borders. What I think is one of the best design resources there is because it's so much more than tutorials :) I've always flipped through them but this is the first edition I personally own!
E-P-I-C, I will treasure it forever.

Not to forget the CD and exclusive 2010 calender that comes with it! *nerdy squeal*
Illustrator CS4 training...
Royalty-free textures...
Video tutorials...
Did I mention epic?


Thank you so much!!
Eeek don't spoil me!! :D

D

Sprummer

Tis the season for quick-drying clothes, cold deserts, flies and- OMG DOUBLE FLUSH THAT TOILET CAUSE THE SH*TS JUST GONNA FLOAT!!11!!!one!!11!

I'm so serious right now :D

Blankitty blank

That's what I said :D




-D-

4th November

I woke up late this morning. There was nothing much to do. There were a dozen things to do. I just didn't feel like doing them. Lethargic. I thought I'd stay home today, give my legs a break. But by lunch time, I felt an itch. I needed company. Even from those I don't know.

It's lunch time and I wander. The offers seem vague. People passing by, none catch my eye. I don't even stop for the rabbits. They'll still be there on the morrow when I go by again.

I thought I wouldn't walk so far. I walked further than I planned. But what's in a plan when the plan involves getting nothing done. I thought maybe I'd buy a slice, sugar treat unusual to the norm. I didn't in the end. And buying a bag of chips I sit, not weary but with a tiny hope that something might happen. After all, anything happens in a food court. I read digital.

The day wears on. Make of it what you will. Outside it's getting colder, windy, might have rained. I do not know and did not care. Slowly getting colder from the outside in, and the inside out, sitting under the air con duct. I may check, nothing much changes.

It's not that I don't appreciate. I do. But the heavy heart does hamper and alone I feel adrift. My brother encourages me. My friends are out there he says. I do not wish to impose. They have lives of their own. Besides, the working hours are not done. I do not wish to impose. I'm selfish. I'm prideful. I wish not for attention, but I seek it. My parents call and say they'll call upon me again tonight.

It is getting late. Almost dinner time when I move. Still nothing much has changed. Everything has changed. I've fallen into a glut of gilt and depression. I wish for pity now, but I wish you would not know I wish it. Why can't I be frank? To be frank is to be clear, to be seen, to show what's ugly. I hope you would not see it. I dare you to find out. It is not as complex as it seems. Whatever you may wish it, I will do wrong by it, like a fun house mirror meant for entertainment but is secretly luring you in. Til you cannot find the exit without some frustration.

My eyes brim with salt on the walk home. I have no thoughts in my head. They are filled with memories. Time travel is possible though only in ones head. I might have scared the passerby, I apologies for that wasn't my intention. It would not have been as selfless an act. Maybe one day you may see, a walker shedding sad drops. Maybe you wont stare with pity, for that's the sharpest tool you can use the gauge the tears out.

I've reached my door, but they wont stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. It seems illogical. Isn't it enough? My life is great. I need not worry. Not for the rent, until the next month. Not for the bills, calculated at the end of each day. Not for the job I said I'd do, because I know I'll do it soon. But what happens now at the end of the day? I can count you by the handful. Life isn't a movie. I keep telling myself that. Prince Charming does not do dishes, in real life there is no castle waiting. And so they keep flowing, whether I want to or not.

You may have stopped reading. I will not begrudge you that. It's just a passing feeling after all. I will forget it and so will you. And I will probably regret. I've come this far. The story begs and ending.

The beginning of the end starts with negation from my parents. A message left offline. They went to see a movie. Will talk tomorrow. Or the next day. I feel nothing, I laugh. Brother mine, tell me my friends are out there again. Tell me cousins spare not a thought on imposing. I scream, if only in my mind. It's funny how others have more confidence in me than I in myself. The little voice in my head is asking me to shut it. I will soon.

I'm ready to go to bed. I'm thinking horrible thoughts as I wonder; would you ever see me this way. Guilty of all sins. Guilty of clinging desperately to the past. Guilty of doing nothing. To be so eloquent with words never spoken, would that be a sin as well. I'm tired now. A simple word or voice would send me running. Maybe tomorrow when it doesn't mean a thing, I'll be myself again. The self you know.

But this has got to be the worst birthday in 22 years.

-D-

I see what you did tharrr....

You might have been wondering what I've been up to since university released me from it's stuffy, mildew, dusty, grimy arms. If you weren't, why the heck did you click the link?

The title? Doesn't mean anything.

Back to the topic. Last Monday I handed in all my assignments for hopefully the last time. I've never had to retake a semester and I hope I don't start now.... If I had to do it again, it would be fun, but my rational part of the brain probably wouldn't survive the shock. But I digress.

copy pasta from deviantArt journallll!!!one!11!!

The past fortnight has been sheer... well there's no word coming up in my head contradictory enough to describe it. It was the last fortnight of my life as a student. For now. And for a long time more I hope. My schedule had included working on my assignments for 16 to 17 hours a day, not inclusive of walking to campus at nine or ten and going home at 1am the next day and back again. Working with another student as a client and designer was certainly interesting. Web design was a blast. It was also too much to teach in that short span of 12 weeks. There's so much to learn still but at least I've gotten a hang of html, CSS and a snippet or javascript (omg i touched jQuery! *squeal*). I wish they'd implement some of the stuff from CSS3 already.... Then there was promotional design where i was secretly working for PeTA and Mitsubishi... so secret they have no idea and am not going to get wind of it... ever.

Loads of fun happened within those last days. I made more friends during that time than I did the rest of the year. Note to introverts: working on campus with everyone will increase the probability of someone talking to you in comparison to working at home. I for one loved the environment. Late nights with people walking around bare foot, a rubbish bag full to the brim with popcorn, beer in the locker (not that i had any, i've a weird aversion to alcohol), cinema ice cream, and lots of biscuits. I must have finished a carton of that at least this week. Bad for brain cells though, I'll need to get back to eating solid food and vegetables again. Mmm the road to recovery is filled with green munchies.

END copy pasta from deviantArt journallll!!!one!11!!

Unfortunately, the greenie munchies have not surfaced... as you will see.

What else have I been up to, you may or may not ask? For one, I've been browsing clothes and see what suits wardrobe wise. But I shall spare your eyes and not post the pictures here. Other than that...

eating crap

planning top secret hoo-haa


watched Paranormal Activities free courtesy of Student Union. I found it scary, but then again I find an open window with billowing curtains scary

catching up on reading


Dirt Cheap Books opened a store in the city! Lollipop Shoes (Chocolat sequel for 9.95) was a great read!


bought myself a 2009 birthday present, seeing as my mum went to England and bought 2-3 pairs of boots


browsed bookshops - love the cover of this book, which looks like it's gonna be a great read as well

Not to mention catching up on my reading of RSS feeds that I've ignored during the rough weeks. So much to absorb! Life's a never ending learning and improving process. In short, we live, we work, we die. Yay.

Well, it's going to be 1am soon and I need to get to work in 8 hours. Time for bed!

-D-