beaglej

I'm still here guys. Really. I don't post anymore, but I do check my friends page daily. That it is also serving as my ghetto RSS reader for webcomic updates has a lot to do with it, but sometimes I am surprised to find my LiveJournal friends still post too.

So you know, hi. Again.

The contact info in my profile is all accurate if you wanted to connect outside of LJ or whatever. I think I have everyone at least on Facebook and/or Twitter, which is where I am most often. I'm on MSN/AIM during work hours too, but it can take a bit for me to reply, especially if I've got people at my desk.

Hey guys. I'm on LJM now. Except, really, it's just MSN.

So if you want to add me, I'm artbeagle@hotmail.com

Sorry Mom, if you're reading this, but Josh wanted to see it and was sad he had to work when we had made plans for.

( Psuedo-spoilers and mini-rant )

Josh and I are going to Blizzcon this year, and we had decided to go to Vegas afterward with our BFFs Jon and Christy. We had the trips all booked, convoluted as it was to book from Edmonton to Anaheim, a bus in between, and then a flight from Vegas to Edmonton, and associated hotel bookings.

But then Jon was transferred to a different branch and someone already had that week booked off and he was told, tough shit, rebook. So we decided the week before Blizzcon would be fine. It took me a while to get the approval to move my vacation since my boss was currently on vacation. So now that I have the approval, I call Expedia to change things around. I expected a service charge, but not this much.

To move our Vegas Vacation from August 23-30 to August 12-20 incurs:
- $150 per passenger to change the flights (this is for all flights involved)
- ~$5 per ticket difference in airfare
- $395 price difference for ONE WEEK earlier at the hotel.
TOTAL: $720

I'm still calling around to the airlines/hotels/etc to see if I can get a better price any other way. It's not looking bright.

I finally managed to finish a drawing/painting/whatever term you want to use on my new laptop. I was rather pleased with it actually. Not my best picture ever but I was playing with different techniques and liked where it was taking me. So I uploaded this picture to a few different spots on the internet.

Then a few hours later I went to show it to my husband on his computer and... what?? The colour is so fucked up I can't even quite describe it. Several hues are off, it's over-saturated, the contrast is fucked up, basically every way you could describe colour balance was broken on it. As best as I can with a copy of Gimp on my work computer, I have put together a demonstration of how broken it is:



I hooked up my PC monitor to the VGA port in the back to have a direct side-by-side comparison and was blown away by the difference. Managed to find the laptop's monitor display settings and toy with them a bit, but with only brightness/contrast/gamma to play with when saturation was the biggest (but not only) problem, I couldn't get it close.

Looked up the Intel drivers page, found that they'd put out a new utility that includes saturation adjustment, but woops, I can't get it because Toshiba uses a custom driver/chipset/I don't fucking know. So I got to Toshiba's support site and they don't have anything remotely resembling the new utility and I already have the most recent driver.

So now I might have to return it because the ENTIRE reason I bought it (for artsing around on the go) is completely void because I can't get the screen to look right. Giving them one more chance when I call tech support tonight after work, but I'm not holding out hope.

I don't expect much for advice (though if you have anything I've missed, I'd be glad to hear it), I just wanted to FFFFFFFFFFFFF-- at anyone who'll listen.

I just wanted to share this because it made me giggle.

• 23:15 only just realized I haven't eaten since about 10 this morning. Woops! Having some pasta now. #
• 09:25 Have to drink 6 x 8 oz glasses of water in the next 20 minutes GO! Worst part about ultrasounds D: Or rather, in an hour it will be. #
• 10:02 I would like an option on Google maps to avoid the freeway when giving me directions. I'm a nervous driver :x #
• 10:03 Oh hey, there is an option for that!! #
• 10:48 Made it to the clinic without incident (no thanks to @geebie who tried to jinx me!), now playing the waiting game. Also, my DS. #
• 17:26 Off to meet my mom for dinner and Star Trek! Let's hope the second viewing is as good as the first! #

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• 11:13 Called in sick today before realizing if I'd just suffered through today, I had a long weekend to get better in. Maybe it's better this way. #
• 16:54 WOAH I just accidentally found a new shortcut in photoshop. This will save me SECONDS in my work! (alt-right click+drag to resize brush) #
• 18:52 I thought "Wow, this picture is coming along really well and so much faster than usual!" then I noticed I'd been working on it for 7 hrs. #

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I try not to post my dreams on LJ very often because they can get pretty Effed-Up but I need to get this down.
( Dream after the cut )

• 20:41 Hmm. My media player seems to have disappeared. It *was* on my task bar but now it's not. Music is still playing but I want a specific song! #
• 22:11 Okay, Windows Media Player. I get that I have an Audioslave album on my computer. Could you not play a track from it every third song? #
• 08:04 is.gd/48QR Some of these tattoos are incredibly profound, thoughtful, and most importantly AWESOME. I need to revisit my design. #
• 10:31 Having a good time looking up interesting pose references. It's something I really need to work on. #
• 12:13 Looks like 2 kinds of Twitter users: advertisers and community members. Do any of the latter actually read the former?? Why keep trying? #
• 12:15 I know I'm not the first person to consider this, and in fact, am very slow to the punch. Don't judge :p #
• 13:42 Hey everyone, twitter is back up #
• 14:41 What does this say about me? I noticed #mcfly was a trending topic, and my first thought was "Oh, will there be a new Back To The Future?" #
• 16:25 Well would you look at that. I have June 26 off! Terminator day! #
• 17:34 Walked past a man walking briskly through the mall while a 4 year old girl hurried to keep up behind him. He didn't even look back at her D: #
• 17:46 Oh hells yes! I have a 4 day weekend, and except for one appt on friday I have nothing planned the whole time! I need some downtime so bad. #
• 18:58 'I baked a cake today but it imploded in the oven. It imploded harder than Vulcan. ... ... too soon?' #

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• 22:59 my computer shat a brick and I had to reboot. wonder if it has anything to do with running torrents for the last week non-stop? #
• 07:12 Hm, eating breakfast before I leave for work is much less expensive than eating it at work. I should remember this for next time. #
• 09:19 Maaan, where's my tax return? I wants a new laptop! I wants I wants I wants! *tantrum* #
• 10:24 #YEG Free pulled pork sandwiches available at the Legislature Grounds today from 11 - 2pm. You can't get swine flu from eating pork, people! #
• 10:59 I wonder when it became so popular for icon artists to fuck around colour/saturation on EVERYTHING. I just want one with the colours right. #
• 13:00 There's a guy on the legislature grounds protesting the fact that he has gophers in his garden. He is dead serious. #
• 13:37 RT: @frostedbetty: HAHAHA.. this is hilarious awkwardfamilyphotos.com/ (via @MissAmyO) #
• 15:50 To everyone not living in Edmonton: you are officially allowed to make fun of where I live. It is snowing IN MAY. Fuuuuuck. #
• 16:59 Sometimes it is really tempting to interrupt conversations on the bus and ask if they ever get tired of bitching about everything. #
• 17:12 Retweet @stormbrew Tweet from space: bit.ly/4eOb3
  via @Astro_Mike #
• 17:22 Ooh! Recorded Castle for tonight! @Nathan_Fillion makes me swoon whether he's in suspenders, a silk-screened tee or a tailored suit <3 #
• 18:05 Woops, my last tweet should have linked @nathanfillion! My mobile client... "has room for improvement" so I had to guess #
• 19:57 Tonight's dinner at the Anderson's: fries. Yeah, I am all about gourmet cuisine. Hey, I seasoned them! (with seasoning salt) #

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• 09:08 Hm, to get something bad to eat now or wait for lunch when I can go out and get something decent? #
• 10:20 I think I need to start charging a couch fee for playing therapist over MSN for two friends that seem to be trying to dominate my attention. #
• 10:56 Just found out one of the dramas I was having a nice hearty schadenfraude lol at had me at the center of it and I didn't even know. Awkward. #
• 12:53 I've gotten emails from Twitter that @peternwolc is following me like four times in the past week. Doesn't look like a bot, but still odd. #
• 13:04 "Alcohol may be man's worst enemy, but the bible says love your enemy." - Frank Sinatra #
• 14:49 Hey neat - new Facebook chat enhancement: have yourself show online/offline by group. #

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• 22:19 housewarming party for friends tonight. for every new friend, I had a drink. Incidentally, I am having a FABULOUS time! #
• 09:13 In class instead of having brunch with my mom :( making it up to her later today. #

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• 22:51 I had it in my head to shoot the shit on MSN for a couple of hours, and maybe try and finish a character ref sheet. But instead, I'll sleep. #
• 11:31 Very interested in the course I'm taking this weekend, but having such a hard time staying alert. No rest for the weary, I guess. #
• 12:10 At Subway for lunch. I got L, N, O, and U for Scrabble peices. Do I win? #
• 16:43 Waiting for Star Trek to start. Eeee! <3 (phone going off now!) #

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• 20:53 Hoo boy... I just ended up getting someone else's breakup notice from Facebook because it was posted on a photo I commented on. AWKWARD. #
• 07:28 Who's bright idea was it to put a school bus stop on a one-lane road when 2 lanes are open around the corner? Blocked traffic for 10 mins. #
• 07:35 Digging through my purse for some gum, I found a lipgloss that I have NEVER used or even seen before. Where the hell'd it come from?? #
• 09:04 The current Achewood storyline is so ridiculous it's hilarious and I love it. #
• 09:30 Apparently the planets are aligned just right for drama and breakups. I better watch my ass. #
• 10:00 I want to go out for lunch today but got nobody to go with. Anyone free around noon for downtown? #
• 11:31 So nobody for lunch? Ok, guess I'll hit up Subway on my own. #
• 12:29 Having a laugh at the #annoyatrekkie search results (and ignoring the automated spambots that fill their tweets with trending terms) #
• 17:06 Chatted up by a super cute guy on the train, but of course as soon as the conversation got interesting , it was my stop. Sigh. #

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• 08:17 Holy shit. The work day hasn't even started and I am already done. Looks like a project day to me! #

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• 23:52 Just realized I have class until noon on mother's day (wtf, NAIT??) and we were gonna take her to early brunch before she has church :( #
• 10:19 I'm getting spam messages in my gmail inbox. This is very disappointing. I guess Google isn't infallible like we all thought. #
• 12:35 Auggggh, I got Melba Toast crumbs down my shirt. This is awkward and uncomfortable. #
• 13:36 I should have gone to subway for lunch instead of watered-down broccoli soup from the cafeteria. #
• 16:47 did it finish raining already? am on the lrt and it's just a little damp here, no actual rain. #
• 16:50 oh there it goes #

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• 21:57 Husband and BFF were convinced Wolverine would suck. I was more optimistic, and more importantly, RIGHT. Also, impressed by the beefcake. <3 #
• 22:11 halfway to bed before realizing I have no clothes to wear to work tomorrow. Have to stay up another hour and a half to get it done now. #
• 08:37 I'm reading reviews and commentary on Wolverine after the fact... how can you people hate that movie? At least admit it was fun to watch. #
• 12:52 My coworker, a relocated Newfie is currently on the phone with his family. I THINK they're speaking English... #
• 13:26 Hope Telus is next! RT: @mastermaq: Lots of Rogers/Fido people wondering why they started receiving updates from 21212. #
• 13:46 RT: @jabberwocky_: Researchers hijack botnet, score 56,000 passwords in an hour - arst.ch/1bs via @arstechnica #
• 15:09 RT: @stormbrew: Note: when jerking it outside an office, close sunroof. tinyurl.com/cndaz3 (mildly nsfw) #
• 19:09 Blizzcon tickets on sale May 16! #WoW #
• 19:17 OK something in here smells like burning food. I think someone is fucking up their BBQ because it's not from in here. #

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• 23:35 I am going to bed. I am not ready for monday, but here it comes anyways. #
• 07:03 Good morning. Fresh, rainy air has me in a good mood - let's see what I can get done with it! #
• 07:24 May the fourth be with you today! #badjokes #
• 11:38 Reading through the specs of the Portege laptop (not a typo, that's how it's spelled) I'm buying, I managed to knock another $500 off it #
• 11:41 also the though of all the AWESOME I can get done on it is giving me great ideas for projects. Can't wait, except that I have to anyways! #
• 12:21 hey look it's lunch. I'm not hungry. #
• 14:09 RT via @Spoon8787 Let's start something real through the power of the Twitter. Swine Flu is now Hamthrax. Spread the word, its communicable! #
• 15:23 Everyone seems to be getting time off for #hamthrax except for me. #
• 16:29 Off work now, heading to WEM to catch Wolverine and some dinner. I <3 my friends. #

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Happy Star Wars Day, everyone!

May the Fourth be with you!

(groaning and other such lamentation at such a horrible pun can be made in the comments)