I am currently distracting myself from telemarketing (lol I love being hung up on IT IS MY FAVORITE PASTIME) by looking at the current job market. I don't want to quit my job--my boss is nice and forgiving, and while I p. much hate the work, the environment's good, plus job secuurity!--but I'm just not making enough. I know a couple of you guys have two jobs, so my question is--how did you go about getting them? Even when I've only been working part-time, I can never seem to find another part-time job that will work around my working somewhere else. It's also a huge turn-off when I go into interviews saying the job would be a secondary one. Do you guys have any advice in that arena? Where should I be looking, what should I expect in terms of hours/interview issues/etc. I was looking at like, idk, delivery drivers or data entry--something easy and non-taxing I could do a couple late nights a week and weekends. I'm trying to save up money to move out of state, and with student loans coming up soon, I'm just not making enough right now to even ballpark how much I'd need.

EDIT: More RP-related, but who wants to make and/or find me icons of newspapers/stations/anchors/reports/etc.? Just generic ones for the Theo mod account. ty in advance~

( I AM CUTTING THIS TO SAVE YOUR FLISTS )

ALSO PLEASE ANSWER THIS: I have tweaked it slightly.

Do any of my characters have distinctive catchphrases/ways of speaking/writing? If so, which ones would you associate with them? Do you think any of them overlap?

I have made it more thinking-intensive for you guys, sry.

I sort of maybe think I should take a hiatus, but I don't really want to. I'm not feeling burnt out on RP or anything, but work and school keep throwing curve balls at me left and right and I don't want my writing to get shitty just because I'm functioning on one hour of sleep every couple days or w/e*. I spent all weekend with my bffl and my little brother, and it would have been so relaxing if the constant threat of a paper and work and people fucking up work for me and my boss not understanding things and people all asking for the same materials when said materials only have a finite supply--anyway, I guess this is to say I'm sorry if I'm slow to reply or quiet on AIM. I had to ditch class tonight to work on my paper (and also because the required textbook wasn't anywhere on campus, lololol, so now I have to order it and the shipment is backordered and I had a presentation due today) which will thankfully be over by tonight, but it's getting to that time of year where nothing ever slows down. So. :/

In happier news, Kate Beaton's Wonder Woman is my favorite Wonder Woman.

* Then again, I'm pretty sure sleep deprivation caused about 90% of Compolitik convos, so.

I have a feeling today is going to be another one of those lol-three-to-four-hours-of-unpaid-overtime days. Please placate me with images of cute, small things. Macros are also acceptable. And if anyone feels like writing the first half of a 15-page paper on African American religion up to Reconstruction (you will also have to think of the thesis, sorry), I will not stand in your way.

As Julie said, my computer has officially given its declaration of war. It's been crashing periodically over the past year or so, but usually with, oh, a few days in between, at least. I went to try and update the drivers, but apparently one of them is the problem, and any sort of attempt to fix it makes my computer crash again. So basically it's crashing, but when I try to address the issue, or get within a city block of the issue, it crashes to...prevent it becoming an issue? I don't know. I'm going today to pick up an external HD, and once I've got all my files on there, I'll take it in to have it looked at -- either tonight or tomorrow, depending on how long it takes to save everything. Considering how frequently the thing shuts off, idek if I'll be able to salvage anything myself. The tech guys will probably be able to handle at least that. CROSS YOUR FINGERS THEY CAN FIX IT QUICKLY and I don't have to buy yet another new computer. It is a curse.

Either way, Theo's opening is still on for Oct. 3, don't worry! If nothing else, I will buy one of those itty-bitty laptops you can get for like $200 and work off that. If they can get my files onto an external HD, it shouldn't be an issue. Here's hoping!

SUPER FUN UPDATE TIME: Hit up Best Buy on my lunch break, and they p. much confirmed my fears: they didn't run a diagnostic (didn't have time, also lol am poor), but he said from what I told him and having it about 2 years now, that it sounds like the hard drive is dying. AWESOME. They can back up my data, run a diagnostic on the HD, then replace the HD and OS, but that's all like, idk $400 altogether. I mean, it's cheaper than dropping money on a new comp -- but I can pay a comp in monthly installments, as opposed to ponying up $400 right there. Also, I just bought an external HD, and I don't want to pay for them to do a data transfer if I can do it myself.

So I have a couple options here:

1. Go drop it off now. Ask about the payment -- installments? Up front? After they give me back my laptop? PROBLEM: I will not have money for another two weeks, so even if they gave it to me on Monday or Tuesday, I couldn't pay it.
   
2. Wait until my external comes in and transfer over what I can, then have them do the rest and replace the hard drive for about $300-$400 altogether. PROBLEM: Again, no money, and not enough room on my credit cards atm.
   
3. Wait it out. Transfer over what I can, and then on the 5th, go and hand in my laptop to get a new hard drive and OS. About $300-$400 (presumably) upfront. PROBLEM: MONEY. Also, what am I supposed to do for the next two weeks? It would also involve pushing back the Theo opening, and I'd really rather not.
   
4. Transfer over what I can onto the external when it comes in. In the meantime, apply for (and presumably get?) a Best Buy credit card and buy a new cheap laptop I can pay off in installments.
   
5. Same as above, except get an Apple credit card and sell my soul for a Mac. Plus side: no viruses ever! Easier to do my comic shit on there! NO VIRUSES. Down side: It's a mac. Also, it's $1000, ffs. This is sort of a last resort if my current laptop is completely unsalvageable. Getting a new hd is still half the price of a mac, so.

The second-to-last one is the most feasible option right now. I just applied for the card online, so hopefully their "instant approval" actually means instant. GREAT SUCCESS. This means I can probably go over there tonight and pick up a small laptop for cheap, and use that while my big one is out of commission. I will have limited access to a lot of my docs, but at least I'll be able to get online and all that. So, not completely resolved, but it looks like there's some solutions. Wish me luck in finding a cheapy tiny computer, bros. ♥

THIS IS EASY. I am avoiding doing work, so give me stuff. Past, present, apping, whatever, and you can give multiple people for #3!

Comment with one of my characters (and one of yours for #3) and I will tell you:

5 icons that I feel best represent them
4 icons I don't use often enough
3 icons that best represent my character's feelings towards yours
2 icons that are my favorites
1 icon that doesn't really fit the character, but I can't live without.

alkj;wlekja;lkej QUICK APOLOGY: all of you who were waiting on getting the premise emailed to you yesterday and didn't, I'm so sorry. There was a work dinner thing and I had planned on going to it about 5, getting some work done, etc.; but my boss came in at 4 and was like TURN OFF YOUR COMPUTER WE'RE GOING.

So if everybody who still needs the (unpolished) premise could comment here, and I'll email it right out!

This post will probably have edits at some point.

speedforce: omg wow why am i so hungry
hello_from_dis: have you eaten, perhaps
speedforce: you know
speedforce: i think the answer to that
speedforce: is no
hello_from_dis: i think we have solved this mystery.
speedforce: omfg you're like
speedforce: the scooby gang
speedforce: except one person and you're probs not a hippie
hello_from_dis: however, i am very fond of snacks.
speedforce: ruh roh
speedforce: scooby snax
hello_from_dis: raggy
hello_from_dis: rive me rose fucking rooby rax
hello_from_dis: fact: scooby has just become kate beaton's garfield.
speedforce: HAHAHAHA
speedforce: don't you mean
speedforce: charles guiteau

hello_from_dis: god i hate being sick
chthonian: :(((
chthonian: GET BETTER
chthonian: ALREADY
hello_from_dis: abilities i wish i had
hello_from_dis: 1) instant healing
hello_from_dis: just of myself
hello_from_dis: fuck everyone
chthonian: HAHAHAHAHA
[...]
chthonian: is there a #2
hello_from_dis: ...no
hello_from_dis: 2) the ability to finish lists :(
chthonian: HDKLJFDG

I have a sinus headache and am refusing to work. ERGO:

Give me a pairing and I will write a love note from one to another. The pairing can be my character and yours, mine and someone else's, or anything that strikes your fancy, as long as I know who they are.

I need another brash retard in my roster. Eddie is dumb, but not quite dumb enough. :(

edit: Aaand people should go hit up exemplar! I need to do that. At some point. When I'm not supposed to be working.

OKAY SO, my boss pulled me into the office today and changed around my responsibilities for the next month or so -- that is, he gave me less, because that gives him less to do (I set a shit-ton of appointments for him, so if I'm not doing that, he can focus on other stuff). I'll be doing some other things instead, but I think there'll be a little more free time to, YOU GUESSED IT, DICK AROUND ON THE INTERNET AT WORK. So while I'm not off hiatus entirely -- I did the math and I should be able to get it in early September -- I will start poking my head around and catching up. Pulling a Julie, if you will.

So, the verdict is in: I'm not getting internet for at least another month, in favor of things like...food, and a bed. SO EXCITED TO HAVE MY OWN BED THAT ISN'T IN A DORM ROOM YESSS.

Anyway, I (obviously) can get online at work, but aside from poking my head around the CDJs, I can't/won't actually be RPing, for the most part. Depending on finances next month, I should be back in the swing of things though. Maybe. None of my characters are doing much besides chilling (or, uh, losing their damn minds, in Jacob's case), so they will just be...you know, around. Idk, does anyone need specifics?

edit: Also: Say something nice about a) a character of mine, b) a log of mine, or c) my writing/RPing style. Don't have to do all three, and it doesn't have to be long, but be kind with the intent of making me smile! Post in your journal, and I'll do the same for you and yours. I LIKE THIS ONE A LOT :D

EVO: Today is a light day at work, so I'll be able to tag a couple of straggling comments on Emma's compliment entry. Please pretend those suckers are coming in on the day people actually commented and that I am not a giant fail. I will likely follow up with a ~real comment~ post, and a couple of the other requests she got. Also, lol, Caroline commenting Remy, it is happening.

MH: ;_____;

XOVER: I'm chugging along on Frank's app! There's a lot of backstory with his mom, but then his childhood is like SO BORING until he hits 18 or so and goes off to the military. JUST LIKE DAD. Point is, I am going to focus on getting him done in the next couple days, then I will move onto Elinor. Which brings me to my next point:

RL: I will be out of town again this weekend! I have to go back home again; last weekend was to spend time with my bff who I haven't seen in months, and this weekend will be to go through my old bedroom and the garage and start sorting through stuff for my ~big move~ into my first real apartment. I.E. I am going up for manual labor, awesome. I'll bring my laptop with me, of course, but I'm not sure how much time I'll have to actually be on it. Aside from cleaning, boxing, moving, and sorting, my mom wants to take me to go look at beds/mattresses asnd furniture, and I will probably be ridiculously tired after all that. SO, yes, I will pretty much not be around this weekend. :/

edit: Also I finally saw Star Trek last night. Aren't you guys proud.

GOALS FOR THIS WEEK:
1. Finish my fucking Crossover apps. I poked around at them (notably, Elinor, before I passed out) this past week, but they're nowhere near done. Well, Elinor is once I finish her history bullets, but other than that, lol no. I really need to do them, omfg.
2. Moar notes on Ivy for Breed!
3. Reiter/Hana pre-emptive lulz. A hired killer who will burn down a house but hesitate to ruin a Christmas tree? Yes please.
4. Not RP at work. No, seriously, I am so behind. I can poke around periodically, but I have got to stop spending hours idly refreshing pages because I do not want to cold call people.
5. Hit up Yes Week posts with appropriate requests/responses; you guys will be getting belated comments, as trying to write everything Emma says as a come-on is REALLY HARD.
6. Figure out which lie Emma is going to tell Val.
7. XOVER: Respond to old comments: Jacob/Margot, Anne/Tom. Hit up Georgia's post (Anne, Zara, Jacob, Carrie?). Post: ...idk who.


In other news, I started reading The Left Hand of Darkness to follow along with the NYT Book Club -- and because it's just One Of Those Books you're supposed to read at some point in your life -- and I'm having a really difficult time getting into it. To be fair, I'm only about 20 pages in, but usually by 20 pages I have a vague feel for authorial voice and tone and pacing, and I can figure if I'm going to stick with that book or not. But it's just kind of...trundling along, and I'm having difficulty keeping track of who's who, what's what, where the hell they even are. I looooved Le Guin's introduction to the novel, but the novel itself just seems lacking to me. Have any of you read it? Should I keep going or just chuck it and move onto the next?

Maybe I'm just not in the mood for science fiction. Or novels! I've been reading so many novellas and anthologies lately that getting back into a novel is like eating those crazy chips that are like blue and purple and green. I just don't know how to go about it. But I just dropped $150 on books at B&N and have a stack waiting from my library, so I should prooobably get over that hurdle quick.

Iiiii feel like I need to apologize for the drabbles I seem to be flooding everyone with. Idk what's up lately; I can't actually make myself play but I have been churning out these motherfuckers like a sweatshop worker who just got a raise. I AM SO PUMPED TO WRITE PROSE, IT'S DISGUSTING. Hopefully I can channel some of this into apps, since lol I have three due tomorrow for xovermods and they are nowhere near done, but w/e w/e I am riding the fic train while I'm on it.

ANYWAY MY POINT IS: sorry for spamming you guys with drabble after drabble. On the plus side, those of you who requested them are getting them much quicker than you probably thought? :D?

This week I'm hoping to knock out a few more. I have this ridiculously epic (and by epic, I just mean stupidly long) Leah one I've been picking at from a few different angles, and I already know what I'm doing for about half of the requests -- I just have to actually sit down and write them. I also need to do the polaroid memes still, so I'm going to add those as a separate prompt post at my fic journal to keep it all in one place. So you will probably see some repeats as I transfer everything over.

Also, apparently our office is closed on Friday, so I will be harrassing people to pay attention to me. You've been warned.

Just a quick update -- following the crowd, made the writing journal I mentioned earlier today: coffeespoons. The giant prompt table is posted here so feel free to comment. I still need to post the list of ones in progress/requested last time, but I haven't forgotten about them.

Sadly, that is absolutely all I accomplished today of my to-do list. We had that work thing (which wasn't as horrible as I feared, as I was totally allowed to drink on the job yessss) and I basically passed out on my face on the floor twenty minutes after getting home. Awesome. Carpet marks all over my cheek. 8|

Crowning moments in playing Jubilee:

knockemdown: Anything else you guys want to know, just ask. I might even answer.
cracklepaf: what happened to the american dream
cracklepaf: am i looking at it

THAT IS REALLY FUNNY TO ME, IDC.


I have an absurd ~Western-themed~ work function to go to tonight, but hopefully I won't have to stay past the networking portion. I will lie and say I have a date or something if I have to. It ends around 7 and there should be free food (hopefully free food that I can eat), and I will probably -- hopefully -- require RP to decompress afterwards. Just so you guys know.

Haven't put these on my main to-do list, but today I must:
1) Make a fic/writing journal. Having all my writing in a separate place will help, I think.
2) Post the old prompt table with requests.
3) Post new prompt table. Badger people to tag it.
4) Feel like crap about not getting to old prompts...ever.
5) Maybe scribble notes for one or two of them down at this networking thing. 8| I have a vague idea of what every single prompt is/will be, but actually writing them has been a trial.
6) Get list of Madoc's ideas up on abundantideas.
7) Talk to Julie and Emily re: rules for above? I think "don't be a dick" p. much covers it.
8) Tag: Emma's entry; Emma/Luce thread; Zara/Eddie comments on Esther's entry; Asher/Anne comments. Have I missed anything?
9) WRITE THE FUCKING LORELAI NARRATIVE UGH. That is my goal for tonight, guys. >:|

Being a general list of general things:

1) My boss is going to put extra money in my paycheck every month to cover gas expenses while I'm ~out in the field~. YESSSSSSSSSS.
2) I got like zero app work done this weekend aside from some notes on Bigby -- although, to be fair, I had only decided to work on Bigby anyway, so. He's going through some conceptual changes (i.e. I was pretty sure he would go by Frank and still be like Frank, just with a lot of Bigby characteristics; now he's Bigby in a Frank-shaped body, with Frank slowly losing hold), but so far coming along nicely. :D
3) Leah and Caleb are so fucking adorable. I'M GLAD YOU'RE BACK CLEZ, BECAUSE I MISSED THEM. Also just glad you're back, ilu etc.
4) I'm considering succumbing to the trend of fic journals and making one. I've been pondering having an actual writing journal for a while, so that would fit in nicely. I will probably post the new prompt table in it (along with the old one and the old requests WHICH I STILL HAVEN'T DONE UGH), and firmly expect everyone to comment. Firmly. Expect.
5) I've been kind of a fail on activity lately, even on weekends, and I have to apologize for that. I feel so drained when I get home that I just want to collapse into bed with one of my 9000 library books and pass out. I'm keeping up with everything though, even if I'm not commenting!

Also, Emily posted in her LJ the other day about this article, which a few other people (myself included) had read in Neil Gaiman's blog, specifically the part about the Sandman stories. I don't how serious she/Julie were in the post about it, but I think it'd be a fun summer project and a way to write with everyone without it having to be RP-related, if that makes sense? I know sometimes I want to write with people, but I can't dredge up any of my characters, or logging isn't really something I can do at that moment. I don't know, is anyone interested? I'd be happy to set up a comm and get the list of stories from somewhere, figure out a way to get it organized, if I thought people would be down for the actual writing. Thoughts?

UPDATE: abundantideas
For those of you who are interested -- go join! I've invited everyone who's replied to this post. That'll be the main comm, where the sticky of ideas/prompts is posted, and also where you will post your stories/art/comics/poems/photographs/whatever. Once we've got all the kinks hammered out, we'll post up a general rule page, but mostly it'll be pretty low-key. We want to keep this just to the people we know and write with regularly (i.e. you guys), so we'd rather not advertise. YAY COMM

Status update: looks like I'll be semi-scarce on the internets during the week, outside of harrassing people on gchat during the day. Now that I've gotten into my new schedule at work, it's sort of -- busy and draining, and only going to get worse when we have (as is our goal) 12 agents in here working and needing marketing shit done, as opposed to the current 2. Then I only have a few hours at home before I have to go to bed, which are taken up by eating and working out and showering. There's still a couple hours in there to dick around online, but usually by the time I get there, my brain is just refusing to do anything but vaguely skim over flists.

That being said -- I will totally be around ALL THE GODDAMN TIME on weekends, so be prepared for obsessive harrassment. And please let me know if there's an entry/comment/thread/log whatever that needs tagging (especially if it needs attention ASAP), and I will get right on it. I can get there with a kick in the pants on weeknights, just not on my own.

Also, my life needs moar Xover, you guys, as exciting as super student councils are. I'm tagging back comments tonight (I HATE BEING TIRED EVERY NIGHT UGH ADULTHOOD) and I expect some commentbombing okay.

Hey guys, just so I don't drop the bomb on a bunch of you, I'm going to be leaving Neo. I'll be making the official post later today after work, so this is just to lessen the blow, I guess? Anyway, I've been struggling with it for a while; some of you have even had to listen to me debate (ad nauseum) the pros/cons of staying or going -- and trust, it wasn't an easy decision, since I will totally miss playing with like, all of you, and some of you aren't in any of my other games at all. But Olivia was sort of my plot anchor, and when I was told to drop her, most of that fell away, and I'm kind of floundering. I don't really want help getting back in, because I think -- between working full time and trying to get back into non-RP writing -- Neopolis is really too much of a committment for a pretendy funtime game. It moves too quickly, and for someone already struggling, not being constantly up to date on all game happenings is more of a death sentence than anything. And really, it just becomes no fun at all when I'm so focused on trying to stay afloat I can't enjoy the writing itself. So I'll be plucking myself out, no big hassle. Feel free to use and abuse John, Alma, and Hildr as NPCs as much as you like; you guys pretty much get how they operate by now.