I'm going to be 25 on August 25th of this year. Holy shit.

Okay. The Internet is amazing. While searching for a Dancing Shiva image in order to have a referrence for my Dancing Astroboy (a work still in the design stage), I ended up finding dancingshiva.at, which seems to be a pot-smokers' site. In German. Wacky.

Anyway, let me tell you a bit about my excellent weekend. I picked up Carrie a bit later than intended on Saturday morning, arriving shortly before noon. The roads were all closed or packed because of the pilgrims and my way was mighty hampered. We got on the road and had a boisterous and enjoyable ride to London and we were both very happy to have Scarlette's air conditioner working properly again. Joy ! We arrived a Tanya's after a series of right turns (which should have been left turns) and were greeted at her appartment by a very excited hostess (and clean, since she JUST got out of the shower). We talked, and talked, and talked, and headed to the Fanshawe Conservation area, which happens to boast a lovely little pioneer village. We enjoyed it, though some of the signage could use an update and the print shop and blacksmith were closed. We talked to some of the interpreters and Tanya called me a freak when we were in Paul Peel's house (you know, that Canadian artist obsessed with painting naked children) because I knew who he was and the names of his most famous works. Hah. She can talk about psychological disorders that are lost on me, so who's the freak now? Anyway, we also talked to a nice guy who told us about some very nice oxen in a field. None of us had every seen oxen before, at least not to our knowledge. Also, stick candy was greatly enjoyed. Mmm.

We left the village at closing time and discovered a hedge maze with hedges that were actually taller than us and we threw outselves into it with the full intention of getting lost. Well, Tanya was a remarkable leader and we took what was probably the most direct route out only to find ourselves confronted with a bride. A stunning bride ! It seemed that we'd stumbled upon a Carribean-styled wedding about to happen at the edge of the little lake on a public beach. The bride, who was black, was stunning in her classicly beautiful gown and trailing head scarf of lace. The groom was a beaming white guy in summery clothes and the whole wedding party was breezy and nice. All the women had their shoes off, including the Justice, and the men were all in sandles. There was even a steel band ! The one thing that marred an otherwise lovely wedding were the slug-men in their low-riding bathing suits sprawling too near the guests. We took photos and cheered when the ceremony was over (along with all the bathers on the beach).

That night, we feasted on a delicious dinner of mashed potatoes, baked chicken and candied carrots. Following that, a mad race to the liquour store, before heading to a friend of Tanya, named Jackie, who was hosting a small party with a campfire in her back yard. That was good fun, too, and Carrie and I, feeling no compunction to sobriety, decided to make merry. The weather was silly, threatening rain, drizzling enough to make everything moist, and then being sticky and humid, but when the storm blew in, we hoofed it before the downpour. My voice was hoarse from all the laughing and talking, and to make it worse, when we got back to Tanya's, which was blessedly cool thanks to subversive air conditioner use, we talked more. Not even when her male cat peed in my suitcase could bring down the jovial mood. In fact, it was kind of humourous. I don't think I now own a suitcase or bag that hasn't been peed in by a cat. Good thing I like cats.

Sunday was very laid back (with one substantial misadventure that threw Tanya's brand new television to the floor) with us not getting up until around 11:30 in the morning or something. Breakfast was nothing exciting - cereal and coffee and things. We lounged around with books and had showers (not together, you dirty bastards), and then mid-afternoon we piled back into Tanya's car and took a tour of London. We walked around the campus of Western, which was sprawling and vast, but mostly quite stately in the manner that university campuses ought to be. We went into a little art gallery on the campus and looked at the small collection currently on view. They seem to rotate them every month, or so. There were a couple of pieces I liked, one, an abstract work dating from the '50s appealed to me quite a bit, and another that was simply amazing by how it appeared three-dimensional even though it was painted on an utterly two-dimensional surface. We also went to a mall (whee?), but the coolest stores were closed. There was one that looked very neat that was full of celtic-styled art and clothing, which I definitely would like to see from the inside.

Following that, we returned to Tanya's and when her boyfriend, Chris (who is a lovely, cute, charming fellow who made me think of a gigantic hobbit), arrived, we had a barbeque of burgers and whatnot. Delicious. Then, Carrie and I, who were intending to leave by 7pm, ended up getting engrossed in conversation (yet again) and we didn't get out of there until twenty past eight. Naturally, more talking occured on the drive home and good fun was had by all. Tanya is a superb hostess. Thanks for having us ! Also, one bit of important wedding business was determined. Burgandy bridesmade gowns. Yay ! No seafoam for me !

Today, I met Mom and Ray at the ROM in order to see the "Images of Salvation" exhibition, which has a wide selection of interesting and inspiring works from the Vatican Museum in Italy. There were still plenty of Pilgrims not yet heading home who were enjoying the exhibit, too, including a group from Germany that was being led by a very artistically knowledgeable priest. The high point for both Mom and me were the sculptural pieces, though the Cistine Chapel ceiling sketches by Michelangelo were pretty amazing as well as a stunning piece by Guido Reni were amazing, too. The absolute pinacle of the exhibit, however; was the full plaster cast of Michelangelo's "Pieta". It was mind-blowing. I cannot adequately describe how it made me feel. I did not burst into tears as I did before the van der Weyden in Philadelphia, but I was definitely moved. And awe-struck. To see the awesome skill that moulded such completely human figures is beyond expression. How one figure, Christ, can be so utterly without life, while the other, Mary, can be so completely alive is beyond me. It was just incredible. I am very pleased to have gotten to see this exhibit, it was absolutely worth it.

Okay, I put my old template back up because that other one just stank and frankly, I like this one the best.

Last night, Carrie and Al joined Rick and I for the Dream in High Park (A Midsummer's Night Dream) and it did not disappoint. It amazes me just how many times they can do this play and it never gets tired. Each time, just about, they do it differently, and it never stinks. Ever. This time they used a child to play Puck, something I've never seen before, and you know what? It worked. It worked well. The boy was excellent, truly. It had music, as always, and wacky costumes, and generally, it was really good. If I have any complaints it's that the lord of Athens (I forget his name) was stiff and spoke his lines in a manner that did not reflect the punctuation, rather the lines as they were printed in the book. The other complaint was that the woman playing Titania lacked ALL the grace of a faerie queen, truly. Her voice, however; was marvelous, so she can be forgiven somewhat. Sadly, the whole event was marred by my low-grade migraine that sat in my head the whole day. It waited until the play was over to get worse, though, so that's good, or at least, better than it might have been. Everyone should see the Dream, though, if they can, because it was great. Go !

Today at Heretic it was mostly boring, though Rick dropped in mid-day and was quite buzzed from running into someone he was friends with in Hamilton and going for beer together. He's so ... cute when he's buzzed. All kissy and inappropriate for a place of business. *teasing*. I had a crazy person, though, which certainly wasn't boring. He wasn't the nice sort of nutjob we usually get. I don't mind them; no, this guy was a crazy jerk. First he pretended to pee in one of the chalices, then he molested the manequins, and then when he put a skirt on his head, I cracked. I've had it was jerks in the store. I told him to take the skirt off of his head. When he gave me attitude, I told him again. When he said he was planning to buy it, I said, "Fine, when you give me the money, you can wear the skirt anyway you want, but while your in the store and it's not yours, it comes off your head." He then muttered something and finished whatever he said with, "...or would you just rather have sex with me?" I said, "I would rather you take that skirt off your head and get out of the store." He introduced himself as though talking into a microphone ("Hi my name's Joe, what's yours?") and I said, "My name is take off the skirt and get out. Now." So, he did. I've never been mean before, not to the crazies, not to the jerks (at least not that mean), Hell, not even to the neo-nazi. This one, though, was a real offensive little prick. And since the store's closing anyway, I didn't give a rat's ass. Anyway, both Sandra and Nicole agreed with how I handled it. Go me !

I walked home after work, in order to get good exercise, to Dufferin. Hahahaha. Big mistake. All the good fun stuff for the World Youth Day pilgrims is happening at the Exhibition grounds, where the Dufferin bus goes. Well, to make a long story short, I walked most of the way up Dufferin, too, because the buses were all full of pilgrims. I walked with some Canadian pilgrims (with the exception of one girl from Florida), a girl whose name escapes me, a Franciscan monk who never told me his name, and a guy from Salmonarm BC named Tyler Piccini. The surname was on his flag, which is how I know. *grin* We had WONDERFUL conversations about faith and Judaeism as the foundation for Catholocism and wow, they were awesome. I'm not talking about the girls, they weren't interested, but Tyler and the monk were amazing. People who think that faithful Catholics must be walking through life with their eyes closed are fools. Sure, there are plenty of ignorants, just like there are in secular life, too, but there are plenty with eduation and open minds. My Om Steen in Holland would have been pleased. It was wonderful and I had a lovely time with them. I hope they enjoy the rest of the week and Mass with the Pope. I think it's amazing.

Well, damn. This new look blows. I'll maybe play with a new one at some other time. *sigh* Oh well.

Tonight, a bunch of us (Rick, myself, Carrie, Al, and possibly some others) will be seeing A Midsummer's Night Dream in High Park. I go every summer, just about, and this is the signature play. Every few years they do a new version of it. And it never sucks. Unlike this template. Gah. Anyway, a bit of a digression.

I found out today that I did not get the Online Interactive Producer position in New Media, despite rocking out the interview. My disapointment is enormous, though I knew I wouldn't get it. Just as I suspected, my weakness was a lack of web publishing skills. I guess my own sites don't count. However, the manager in the department asked the human resources woman to let me know that another position will be opening. It's an admin assistant job, a one year contract. I don't want to be an admin assistant. But, if it will pay me more than data entry, watch me be keen. It's a foot in the door, too. Come September, my job search begins anew, hardcore, with applications to all the game and film companies under the sun. I kid you not. But, for now, I'll just enjoy the time I have at my cottage and get stuff done for the convention. Cards. Must get cards done.

Anyway, that's enough for now.

This is an entry I've been trying to publish since Monday the 22nd. Silly Blogger. Maybe by changing my template, it will work. Here's hoping, though I rather liked the old one.

I still haven't really felt like writing of late, which I'm certain is more than a bit apparent. Anyway, I'll do my duty and enter a bit of something.

I'll tell you about the interview. Basically, it went really well, lasting an hour and fifteen minutes with a lot of back and forth question and answer. I was so nervous going in, but soon warmed up to the whole thing. My interviewers were extremely nice, well spoken and not lacking in humour. I think I really impressed them and, as hard to believe as this is, apparently, I was the only candidate (up to that point) to bring in a portfolio. When I came out, I was so pleased, nauseous, but pleased. I thanked Richard and Peter profusely for their help with the mock interview - it was invaluable. Then I persuaded Stacey to eat sushi and have some sake with me in celebration of a good interview. Regardless of whether or not I get the job, the interview was excellent and I am pleased.

I will probably hear back about this job sometime this week. Do I think I'll get it? To be honest, no. That said, I was asked if I were only interested in that specific position or whether, should another become available, I would consider a different position in the same department. Duh, of course ! Well, I said it a little more eloquently than that. ;)

I'll just skip ahead now, because I can't really remember all that went on last week. I went home after Heretic on Thursday night, packing up Willi and my laundry (not together, mind you) and stuffing them into the car. Scarlette got a new blower motor put in on Friday so I have the luxery of air conditioning once again. Joy ! Then, basically, my plan was to work on art. I went to Ridpath's, an art supply store in the Petes, and picked up some Sculpey (polymer clay that hardens when cooked in the oven) and some illustration board.

I started with the sculpey that night, sitting down and trying to figure out how to do a head. It has been a very, very long time (like ten years, at least) since I worked with clay (FIMO doesn't count) and it was a bit of a challenge remembering how to do it. It's a question of building up, not carving out, but once I got it, I was flying. I created a little head, then left it at that for the evening in order spend some quality time with Mom.

I went riding at Kerri's on the Saturday. That was fun. Twice in a month ! Woo, amazing. I rode Velvet for the first time in a long time. She's newly pregnant again, something that makes her rather moody personality quite pleasant, but she's out of shape because thanks to her arthritis, mostly only newbies ride her. She was happy to be worked, but she didn't have the stamina to keep it up. Then again, neither do I. The nice thing about riding Velvet is that I don't ride in a helmet when I ride her. For one, she's lower to the ground than the other horses I ride, and for another, I know her so well that I have no fear of her being unpredictable. She just... isn't.

I got a bit of sun stroke, though, and when I came home, I passed out on the veranda recliner for an hour and a half, and when I woke up, I hadn't the energy to do anything. I drew in the garden, but that was about it. I don't even know how I spent that night. It's a haze.

Sunday, I gave my sculpey man a body, using wire to add strength to some of his limbs. The whole sculpting process took about seven hours and then I cooked him in the oven for a little over an hour. I figured that when the top of his head was starting to brown, he was ready. *laugh* I'm extremely pleased with how well he turned out. Heck, I'm proud. For a first attempt, he's more than good. Go me ! I spent that evening scanning old photos for Mom and printing them on photo paper. She's putting together an album for Jean at the cottage. It's going to be a lovely gift.

Anyway, I'll leave you with this link to my new Elfwood page. Ya. Another one. This one is sci-fi stuff. I'll probably get one for my written stuff, too. Heh. This week, though, I have GOT to get Ray's page worked on. Grr. I just haven't had the energy. I hope this entry was satisfactorily lengthy and now I won't have people whining. What? My friends whining? Impossible. *grin*

Ya, I know. I haven't written. *sigh* I just had so much going on last week that I haven't had the time or energy to write in here. I hope I'll get back into the swing of things soon. There was a mock interview... the REAL interview. There was me DM'ing a campaign for the first time in three years... I don't know. Somewhere in there sake was imbibed. It was busy.

And there were nuns at the ROM today. The World Youth Day calebrations are going to start up soon and it's like they're practicing at the ROM at the Images of Salvation exhibit. It's going to be insane. Oh, also, opening tomorrow, at the Textile Museum will be Moral Fibre, an exhibit where both Sandra and Nicole (of Heretic and Nocturnalia) will have pieces on display. Apparently, my dragon masque will be featured in a photo, too. Hey neat.

Okay, make due with that. I'm going to bed.

I went to Court today and... won? Sure. My case was dismissed because the ticketing officer (yes, he actually came) couldn't prove beyond a reasonable doubt that I was in the wrong. Especially with me being in the possession of a notice of cancelation for previous tickets. The judge was a surly gnome but he liked it quick and for every case I saw, though is tongue was less than kind, he suspended every sentence or dismissed the cases outright. Was I stung by his rapier tongue. Nope. I just was polite and went on my way. John came with me, rather than Mark, which is good. John provided a most calming presence.

Before I went to Court, though, Mark came by with a present, I suppose, for being so awesome as to watch the Nocturnalia booth for 4.5 hours - 3.5 of those on my own. That's another story. Anyway, the thing about Saturday was that I had to miss Amber Benson's (Tara on Buffy) autograph session. It was the only one I really wanted to go to and Nicole was very appologetic, since it was Mark's inability to prioritise that left me there for so long. Happily Stew had been with me, but anyway... So, Mark came by with a present and it was a very nice present. Someone either he or Nicole knew who happened to be there, and happened to be an actress, was able to go get Amber to sign an autograph for me. He brought it over and I was thrilled.

While I'm on the subject of Saturday, I'll talk about the much happier things that happened. For instance, the AMAZING Ringwraith that just happened to be walking around. He was part of a costumer's booth and he strolled about in a reproduction costume including real articulated armour (yes, even the claw like fingers) and sword. I had to leave someone I was tying into a corset with someone else in order to get a picture of him. He got part of his robe tatters caught on one of the edges of his leg armour and with his armoured fingers, he couldn't get it off, so I bent down and unhooked it, at which I said, looking up at the people with the cameras, "OOOoooOOoo I'm touching it's leg !" and then pretended to swoon. It was pretty swoony as far as costumes go, and when I posed for a photo with it, Stew said it had totally checked out my cleavage (from it's seven foot vantage point). I have trouble believing this, but unless it's IN the photo, we won't know, but it's a funny idea. Actually, since the face was invisible, we can't ever know for sure. *cackles* So, that was very cool. Also, listening to Amber Benson's talk was excellent. She is delightful, and very down to earth. She even drove from Los Angeles to Toronto with her mom... she's a star and she had a roadtrip with her mother... how cool is that?!

Anyway, Saturday night, I bundled Willi back to Peterborough for a couple of days in order to ride with Christopher Todd out at Kerri's. Chris doesn't do clinics if he can avoid them because he can't stand people who think they can ride but can't (and they are often the ones most in need of his attention and least likely to listen). For Kerri, an old student of his, he will make an exception and does every year because he likes her so much and because, as he said to her, "I like teaching out here, Kerri, your students all know how to ride." Mom and her friend Heather came up to watch, too, Heather taking photographs with her fancy digital camera. Mine was the last ride of the weekend and I think that not only I, but he as well, thoroughly enjoyed it. I impress him because I don't ride for a year between his lessons and I don't lose it. Sure, I'm out of shape, but basically, I can get on and do what he wants me to do and succede at it. Plus, we're both so very irreverant. He's great. If I had the money and time, I would definitely go and stay up at his barn for a few weeks in order to ride. If only. I miss riding very much. It has always been so important to me, but I just can't see how to reorder my life to include it again.

Nick is bitchy about my cat, who he is apparently alergic to (he might have considered this before we moved in), and keeps his door closed, which makes the rest of the house hot. He said that at least the downstairs neighbour's airconditioning was coming up through my vent, but it's not true. My vent is dead when there's no heat coming through it. I haven't even smelled the basement tennant's cigarette smoke lately. Somehow, I doubt it's because he's not smoking. Anyway, this is something that will definitely need to be sorted out, because we share the front porch and if he continually closes his door, that means any cross breeze that might exist with it open can't. I'm not sure what can be fixed, frankly, other than vacuuming more to pick up stray hair or getting rid of the cat, which is really not going to happen. I don't know.

Anyway, my Elfwood page has been updated again, and that's probably it for the next while, as I get work done on my real webpages, but there's some fun old art up and some fun new art up too. Have a look.

News from the first night of Toronto Trek 16: I GOT 'FANNED' !!

I got 'fanned' tonight at Toronto Trek. I was wearing my Sith Lords Kick Ass shirt and my vendor tag (I'm working in a friend's booth in exchange for free con attendance), which says my name. A girl kept looking at me and my shirt and then squinting trying to read my tag, then finally said, "Hey, you're not Maya who writes and draws for the Sith Academy, are you?" So, I said, "I sure am Maya that wrote and drew for the Sith Academy."

She SQUEALED. And bounced. And blushed. And said, "Ohmygodohmygodomygod ! I LOVE you !"

I admit to being slightly taken aback but was very gracious and shook her hand. Then I plugged the fact that I'll be selling my SA art at SFX in August and she squealed again. "Oh my goodness ! For real? For sale? I will definitely find you !!"

Okay then. The legacy lives on. I was mildly stunned for about an hour afterward. Nicole, the woman who's booth I'm working in thought it was... amazing.

Woohoo ! I found the CDs I was looking for and my old sketchbook !! Go me ! My to-do list for the day includes reorganising my CD rack and getting the clothing up off my floor and putting the stuff in the box (underneath the pile of clothing) somewhere more appropriate. I am tired of living in grossness and since it's not so hot today (it's so nice out) I can work up a couple hours of energy to do this.

Anyway, so, let me bring this weblog up to date.

Monday, I went bridal shopping with Carrie, which was an utter bust since the only place open, it being Canada Day, was this shitty little store called the Princess Bride in the Chinatown Centre. The woman was less than helpful and all the dresses (and I do mean ALL) were hideous and under plastic. Every single dress had grotesque amounts of beadwork, and the one that didn't had rhinestones, instead. So, finding the humour in it all, Carrie and I went and hung out in Heretic and I got myself a bubble tea. Then we dropped in at Ryan and Colleen's place which we were happily NOT helping them move into. The place is nice, but considering they're paying for location (Yonge and St. Clair) the place is a fucking shoebox. A nice shoebox, but they could have used the 1300$ a month rent and gotten a fully fuctionaly, appointed two-bedroom in a nice neighbourhood, easily. I swear, their livingroom/dining room is as big as the room Nick sleeps in here. Their bedroom is not much bigger than what I am sleeping in, which is scary. The short story is that they are dorks for living there. It's pretentious and overpriced. It certainly will test their relationship considering they'll be in each other's faces every friggin' minute of the day. *shudders* I wouldn't even TRY that.

Tuesday: unexciting and utterly spacey day at the ROM. Everyone was feeling it and there were absolutely no managers present. One thing that happened was that I ran into Professor Nagel at the membership desk. I told him about seeing van der Weyden's Crucifixion Diptych at the Philadelphia Museum of Art back in April and how it brought tears to my eyes. He was thrilled that I'd had the chance to see it and that I'd found it so moving. I guess I don't have to email him now, but maybe I will anyway. Hah, maybe I'll ask him for a coffee. That's what graduates are supposed to do with their favourite professors, right? Or is that just in stories?

Wednesday: Okay, ROM staff party. Free booze. Yep. I don't think I'm allowed to drink on the job, but... whatever. :) Excellent food, too. The best potato salad I've ever had, which is pretty impressive since as a general rule, I find potato salad mildly unpleasant. I had to stay a bit later, though, to finish up what I would have had done by 5pm had I not spent half an hour at the party. Oh well, fair enough.

Yesterday, which would be Thursday, I worked a ridiculously dead day at the store. The heat had finally gotten to me, too, even though it was cooling off and the humidity had finally discipated. I had a low-grade migraine (the sort that can be dulled with painkillers but keep you feeling mildly queasy all day) and with permission of Sandra, I closed the store half an hour early. It was dead anyway. Rick came and wanted to suggest a picnic and I might have said yes were it not for my desperate need for airconditioning, well, that and the piling of garbage in parks thanks to the outside workers strike (and now there's an inside workers strike, too). We went to Tokyo Sushi instead and had delicious sushi and tempura. Much tastiness, though the new waitress made it less pleasurable than usual, but we can forgive her because she is soooooo cute. All their waitresses are. After dinner, the temperature outside being something akin to wonderful, we walked along Bloor to Book City where I picked up three sale books. It's amazing, three hard-backed books for less than twenty-five bucks. I love Book City.

Tonight and tomorrow, I'm helping Mark and Nicole with their booth at Toronto Trek. I'm also going to scout the prices that other artists are selling their work for. I need to start my planning for the Expo next month, afterall. Anyway, time to do do some organising with The Flaming Lips playing on my stereo. Nick will be happy that I found it. Long live geek rock.