... because I'm always crazy enough to sign up for NaNoWriMo!

To make things worse, I'm going to Taiwan for a week and a half, which will effectively eat up two weeks of writing time. My plan is to get a lot of writing done on the flight out and back. 12500 words is reasonable for a flight, right? I got a shiny new netbook specifically for it too (the Lenovo S12 ideapad gets the Bonsai's thumbs up).

Last year, NaNo started while I was at MangaNext. I'm a bit bummmed that there is no MangaNext this year, but I guess it's for the best. I think I'd be a zombie if I had to juggle that along with the trip this year.

I'm hoping NaNo will give me some motivation to do something. I've been in a bit of a rut. It didn't help that I caught a cold two weeks ago, and bits of it are still lingering in my system. I can't be sure, but I just haven't been feeling of clear mind since I caught the cold. Hopefully, things will clear up soon (they'd better! I'm going to be really pissed if it interferes with my trip).

It's been a while since I updated this, but things have been hectic in a very good way. I've been keeping occupied with creative stuff pretty much non-stop for the past month or so.

First, there was the weekend where I was the TA for Kristina Logan [link] who was teaching a class at the studio where I rent time because the person who runs it ended up being out of town that weekend. Although I was essentially working, I ended up picking up a lot of info from the class.

Then, I had to prepare and pack because the weekend after that, I was off to Penland [link] for a week to take a flameworking class. That place is amazing. I think I would be happy taking any class there, and I definitely plan on going back. Although the class I took was an "all levels" class, I still managed to pick up some things. Also, just being in that environment really gets one's creative juices going.

After getting back, I had a week to catch my breath, and then this past weekend, I was off to Snowfarm [link] since the local chapter of the ISGB essentially takes over the place for a weekend every year to offer its members the chance to take classes or work in their facilities. I ended up taking a bronze metal clay class and a welding glass (postings of those works are forthcoming).

Then, this week, there's Maker Faire RI [link] so, I'll be making the drive down to Pawtucket after work most of this week to attend. The festivities last until Saturday.

After all that, I'm not sure what's next. I guess I'll figure it out after this week.

My cell phone battery degraded to the point where it couldn't hold enough charge to last a day, so I ended up buying a new phone. Since I'm really not the type of person to replace my phone (or my car) until it eventually doesn't work anymore, I figured I should get a phone that will last me for a while... which ended up being one of the new iPhone 3Gs.

I hardly ever used to use my cell phone. There aren't too many people who end up calling or txting me. I still don't call or txt on my iPhone very much, nut now since I'm paying for an unlimited data plan, I'm actually using the iPhone all the time.

It's surprising how easy it is to tie into what has become almost a global consciousness. Like it all, the interwebs are an amazing social advancement. For better of worse, the ability to tap into the most extensive knowledge base in the world with the bonus of being able to be in constant contact with almost anyone else who will consent to it is something that would have sounded like a fantasy just 40 years ago when the world was witnessing the seemingly miraculous achievement of having someone walk on the moon. I can remember a time when I couldn't even dream of what has become common place today.

So, I've never really been an early adopter when it comes to social networking. I'm not really a social person, since I've long ago decided that following trends is boring. However, I've been realizing that I need to at least be aware of the trends so I'm slowly getting more and more involved in online communities.

The next point of no return for me is probably going to be Twitter. No matter how much I try, I just cannot see actually tweeting, but there are a handful of channels that I would be interested in watching. Heck, I don't even think that many people bother to read these journal entries, so I can't imagine anyone actually wanting to hear what I have to say in 140 character chunks of text.

It's already July? When did that happen?!?! The days are already getting shorter! ZOMG!

Okay, so things have been a little weird. We ( ~BonsaiMechaGirl and I), finally found out that we got our Artists' Alley table for Otakon. Due to certain circumstances the management of the Otakon Artists' Alley this year didn't have it quite as together as they did in the previous years, which lead to us ending up on the waiting list and only being able to get one table instead of the two that we would have liked. Also, not knowing whether we had a table or not really threw a wet towel over our motivation to get ready for the con. Anyway, we've got space and we'll make due, but the whole process was just more stress that really wasn't needed.

So, yeah... Otakon. I can't believe it's only a couple of weeks away. woo-hoo! I can really use some time away from work. I'll be bringing mostly glass pieces for sale in the Alley, so stop by if you want to check my work out in person.

I'm also trying to finish a few pieces for the art show, but who knows if I'll manage to finish in time.

Then, after Otakon, I have my week at Penland to look forward to, but I'll elaborate on that once the current craziness ends.

I can't say that I have a particularly large stake in the events that happened twenty years ago in Tiananmen Square. I was born in the US and I was 12 at the time it happened. The thing I can comment on is my reactions to how those events have influenced the world around me.

In listening to the various reactions and news stories in the media, I am shocked that there are people who are more directly affected by the events that have not heard about it. There was a story on the radio as I was driving to work about a student in China who only recently found out about the events at Tiananmen. It highlighted for me exactly how important freedom of speech and of the press actually are and that in the society I live in that freedom is easily taken for granted.

Another story that struck me was one where an ex Chinese official spoke about the priorities of China these days. He said that the Chinese government's primary interest was in building wealth for the nation. I couldn't help but think that China is actively trading its rich cultural wealth for hollow monetary wealth.

Those who know me, know that I do not actively try and incorporate Chinese culture into my lifestyle. I follow a handful of traditions, but not nearly enough to say that it is a large part of my life. I wonder if that is because I feel a sense of shame at what China has become these days. They may be rich in terms of economical and political power, but they seem to be hollow underneath that shell.