Wait, it's not Christmas...cards.

I never seem to post my Christmas cards in time--mainly because I never finish them on time--but here you go!





I do feel a little silly since it's so late, though...so I thought I'd give it a little update:


Now it's holiday-appropriate AND I'm ahead of the curve!

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I wasn't very good with cards this year....I mainly just gave them out to co-workers and anyone who sent me their address. I was also a little over-ambitious and tried to do four different cards. That didn't work out so well. Here are the rejects (I am rather sad about cutting the whale :C ):





Hope everyone has a very happy new year!

The most wonderful time of the year...

...OR IS IT?


Ah, Christmas. When I think of Christmas, I typically think of bright lights, that crispness of the air, time spent with family--really, just a general, gingerbready sense of joy and well-being.

But lately it seems like Christmas is less about fuzzy festivity and more about

SHOPPING SPREES THAT DEVOLVE INTO OPRAH-LEVEL INSANITY:

"The Last. Reindeer. Mitteeeeeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnnn"*

PRESENTS. PRESENTS. MUST GET PRESENTS FOR EVERYONE, WHAT DO I BUY?!


RELENTLESS BOMBARDMENT OF CHRISTMAS-THEMED PRODUCTS!!


Remember this?


Yeah, neither do I.



I think all of this has played a part in my complete lack of Christmas spirit this year. Usually my Decembers look something like this:











But this year I seem to have had a complete Christmas meltdown. I change the station when holiday music comes on. I have no Christmas tree. I'VE BAKED NO COOKIESSSS. My December has had a noticeable lack of holiday cheer:































































I've pretty much ignored Christmas this whole month, but even I can't escape the inevitable. As the date draws near I'm increasingly aware of things that I MUST DO and presents I MUST BUY. I'm feeling the pressure of the holidays. It's almost like something is...following me....

'WHOOOOOoooooooooo....cookie tiiiiime.'

But I do I think I'm starting to break (I've bumped my number of peppermint hot chocolates up to three! Go with The Coffee Bean's).So now I'm rather desperately trying to conjure some of that ol' holiday spirit, since I have to play catch up with gifts and such. It's okay though, it's only December twenty-something! It's not too late, right?


Right?



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FYI: I actually started this post about 1.5 weeks ago. Yet another victim of my holiday procrastination! I'm not actually trying to buy all my presents on dec. 23rd...and in fact, I do feel a little more Christmas-y, thanks in part to my wonderful family and co-workers. I DID feel this way, though, so everything here is totally legit (I didn't want to waste a post, OKAY :[ )

*fun fact: a lot of these expressions were taken from actual oprah audience screencaps. Oh, Oprah...you so crazy.
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edit: hehe

distractions!

Preciouusss

Soooo....I was totally planning to update this thing, but then I got distracted by the Hunger Games series! I borrowed the first book from a friend (I had to see what all the hype was about!) and immediately bought the other two after I finished. I don't think it's as flawless as my friends describe, but it's pretty compulsive reading. I think I might be hooked.

I know I'm kind of late to the whole thing, but I'm determined to catch up! Probably no more arts until I finish the series. Here are some book-related sketches, though:










I haven't been doing enough non-work drawings...I am majorly rusty :(

Happy Belated Halloween!

I've been at Nickelodeon for a few months, and honestly it's the best place I've ever worked (okay, the bakery was a pretty close second. how can you argue with free baked goods every day?!). One of the perks is that they take Halloween very seriously (though that seems to be the norm with all studios?), so they always throw a fantastic party. So...for the first time in many years Halloween did, indeed, feel Halloween-y. Cheers!

To legitimize this post, here is some kinda-halloweeny art:

I got a little frustrated with it, so it's pretty much urggghh/unfinished but whatever. Need more painting practice :( It was nice using oC again, such a fun program. Anyway, after I gave up on it:

Smile!

...more like commuter's vent

I've been commuting to work for about 2ish months now, about 1 to 1.5 hours each way...AAAAANNNND I end up having a lot of time to think while I'm on the road. Two hours is a long time to fill, y'know. I'm not cultured enough to listen to audiobooks, and taking naps didn't work out so well, so I'm reduced to pondering about deep, philosophical issues....like "What am I going to have for dinner...? Did I turn off my computer...? Does maple syrup expire if it's never been opened...?*" I also think about traffic, since once in a while I have to pay attention to what's going on around me.

I usually find my commute to be ever so lovely and refreshing, and there are a few patterns/things I've picked up. I generously share them here, in order that you, too, may have an enriched commuting experience. I PRESENT:

(to one very small section of California)
*COMPLETELY UNSCIENTIFIC*
by Carrie Liao
21 year California veteran

You wouldn't take jogging tips from a crocodile, so in the interest of full disclosure:

take that for what you will.
ahem.

So, as everyone knows, you generally have 3 - 4 lanes + carpool (if you only have one lane open...well...good luck). I never take the carpool lane (because I'm so...so alone...). Now, in really heavy traffic lane 2 might be a good option, since people are always moving out or in to it--at least it'll be moving. Stay out of lane 1 because of incoming cars--pretty much no one does the zipper merge so you'll be stuck. I usually stick to lanes 3 and 4 (I know that in reality they --i think?--count the lanes from inside out, but whatever. I gave you a chart--follow, friends!).


When traffic gets nasty (which is every day) and you can no longer weave in and out, it'll move in blocks like so :

(H for head, B for back!...of the line). Once you are in one of these lanes I've discovered it's a good idea to choose one (like a favorite child, if you will) and stick to it. It might seem slower at times but when people start switching back and forth between lanes--which they will, in a desperate attempt to be in the fastest--you will make up the time. To determine the flow of your lane, pick a Marker Car in the other lane. Throughout your commute, your position relative to this car will help you gauge the traffic flow.

This chart describes the usual movement within these blocks:

If everyone were a MIRACLE DRIVER then the start-stop effect of these blocks would be reduced, thereby maintaining flow of traffic (as well as my sanity). Unfortunately absolutely no one in California is actually good at driving.

There are three notorious types to look out for:
-Lane squatters (exception: old people)

These people think that life is their highway, and they're going to ride it at 35 miles an hour. No amount of honking or...um...finger-pointing will convince them otherwise. An all-lane offender.

When they're old people, though, you just can't stay mad at them. Well, I can't, at least. Look at them! They're so cute. I do think the freeway is a bit too dangerous for them. I think they'd be much better off if they stayed home and fed their ten cats.

-Douchebags

It's a really flexible definition...but usually that one that cuts you off while using the electric shaver and texting with his toes. You understand, though...don't lie...you've been that douchebag at least once in your life. So have I.


We've all been douchebags.

-Big GAPPERS

The cousin of the Lane Squatter, and the MOST VILE. These people feel like they need to maintain a gap of 5 cars no matter how clear the road is at the moment. THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY PUT ON THE TEST, DID YOU TAKE IT? Really, I'm all for safety/maintaining a distance, but if you're moving at 15-20 mph and you can't stop within a smaller gap, then you're a little simple.

Honorable Mention:
-Wishy-washies!

CHOOSE A LANE ALREADY.

Last tips:

1) Have A/C and snacks, especially if you have passengers. Or they will look like this:

oh, water's good, too.

2) Just give up, you're never gonna win. Welcome to California
disclaimer: these observations are generally contained to my experience with the 210, 134, and 57. if you hit the 101 and 110 all bets are off.

*DOES IT?!

Kiss

Kinda hastily done--colored up some old lineart. I just had to work on something for myself tonight :(

I'm not very good at working out colors. TOO SLOW.


here's the black-line version. I'm not sure which looks better hmmm

hopefully it won't be another month before I update again. ha. ha.

i love work, but it's just...

...one of those days.