One hectic convention (loved it)

Perfect.

The guy who posed here chose the perfect costume to wear that day.

Ghost...I really miss playing video games with my cousins. They were the ones who got me hooked on Call of Duty and I thank them for it. They also dislike how I can kill them from freakishly long distances.

No one knows who this man is, but I do. I will keep it that way since "they" might be watching. "They" as in the people who start liking a show and then ruin it by doing something embarrassing that hurts my pride.

I don't know who this guy is supposed to be. He was passing people cards though.

Ah, two singing synthesizer applications. How lovely.

Sakura and...crap, I forgot his name. It starts with an S. I never finished this anime, but I plan to...someday when the workload lightens.

Aw, Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Mars. I wonder if people still remember this show from back in the day. It used to play all the time on Cartoon Network.

The show was called Sailor Moon. It is one old anime, but not as old as Astro Boy or Voltez V. My older cousins used to watch it in the Philippines when they were very young.

A character from another show I like.

And more characters.

and more...

Yea, him too even though I never got into the show because, it is over 400 episodes. I don't think I will ever reach it even if I tried.

I wish I knew what he was.

Oh, Tim Burton, I will forever love your work. :D

I only know one of them from a show I watch. The one on the right...Medusa.

And the Toki Doki creator was there, but you had to get a ticket in order to see him.

Wish I knew what this man was, but I bet he was hot. It was very hot in the convention and with hundreds of body heat destroying the cool air, the environment was perfect.

They look familiar, but I can't recognize them. I am frustrated.

HULK.

Naruto pajama person, Akatsuki and Fullmetal Alchemist people.

Uh...I don't know who he is, but he looked interesting.

He was really tall...and I didn't know who he was. The artist gallery behind him was lovely. Many artists by name were listed and we tried to see everyone (and of course their art pieces).

Hayao Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke. I will always love that movie.

Ah, they look familiar again, but nothing is clicking. They looked cool though. Those are dolls, not kids. I was scared when I saw them for a second because, they were carrying their kid oddly. I was fearful they might fall...however, they were dolls. People did bring their kids though. I felt bad for them since they might be uncomfortable due to the thousands of people there.

NE-YO was there! I was so shocked. He had a tendency of looking down. It was also difficult to see him through the cameras and such.

He has a comic! Whoever drew him captured him well. I wonder who the artist is. I shall look into it soon.

My friend who went with me to the convention ran and snapped this as fast as she could. Ne-Yo was trying to avoid the crowd. While this happened I was in line for our lunch. Expensive lunch...they are money grubbing.

The guy looks so familiar...

On an ending note.

Writing in defense for people who stare.

Staring is one example of a pet peeve that many people have. 

Imagine yourself eating and talking to your friends at a public eating facility, let it be Five Guys or Cold Stone Creamery (whatever your heart desires), when this person walks past you drilling holes into your forehead. The stinging pain of the nail catches your attention and your eyes see this person staring at you. You take in their facial expression and it seems as if they have seen a three headed human. 

Your reaction?

You can respond in a extremely negative fashion. "What are you looking at?" Falcon punch.

You can respond in a calmer negative fashion without jail time. Look up and raise your eyebrow. Give them a glare and see what happens. 

Of course you can ignore them. Ignoring is good sometimes. You don't know this person looking at you. You don't owe them anything and your mother did not born (ha) you into the world to be hurt by some random human staring at you (like you have three heads). Who knows? They probably know you from somewhere.

That's probably it. They recognize you or they think they do. 

My advise is this. Ignore them and think positively. Maybe the person staring at you was stunned by your overwhelmingly, joint-stiffening beautiful (or handsome) features. Your eyes could be as blue as the bluest ocean or as dark as the darkest night in Antarctica. The Gods and Goddesses could have personally weaved every single strand of hair on your head. Cupid pierced their heart and you were in their line of sight. Wrong time. You were just a victim of wrong timing. 

Yes. Think that way because, you are an amazing person and don't let anyone ever tell you otherwise.

To be honest, this confidence boost of a blog is partially aimed at myself. I hate people who stare. It is rude.

I am only defending people who stare right now because, my mother does it with no shame. She has no shame. At times, she is embarrassing and at times she is hilarious:

"Hey, Mom, did you-....Mom? Mom? Mom?"

"......Huh, what Yan? Did you see that?"

If only I can record my mother whenever she is shocked by something. I love my mother.

Patiently Waiting ~An Original Story by me, myself and I~

Celestial diamonds sparked over her eyes that dawn and every single dawn that came before it. Even when she departs from the dark room the stars still remain in her eyes. Even when my light appears and she disappears those stars shine brightly in my memory. The nights where I can see her eyes are my favorite. Eyes can express emotion and seeing her live makes me content for the time being. Her eyes are black as the darkest depths of the oceans that I can see into. Not to toot my own horn, but I can see pretty deep into the ocean. I can see those fishes with lights. They are called angler fish if my memory serves me right.

Yes, those nights are the best because, everything else I see is how should I say, boring? Not that I am insulting the back of her head, her right shoulder, left foot, right elbow, knee or her right ear. No, I have no desire to offend her,

However, it is all I can see every day until our perfect day arrives. I can only see them one at a time too. How should I say, um...it sucks.

I shouldn't ever complain and yet, I can't help myself. I learned it a while ago and now it is incorporated into my personality. I should be thankful I see her at all since there are days where I can't. Those are the worst days of my life. 

 The only thing I am able to conclude by looking at these specific body parts is that her skin is perfect. They also appear as an off desaturated porcelain color in my eyes, but oddly up close she has a nice tan. It is very light, but still healthy looking. It pleases me to know that she remains stable and is eating her vegetables, even though she told me she hates mushrooms. I still remember the time I saw her. It took me a while to notice that it was her since her skin color looked different. Shocking, right? I was pretty shocked myself the first time I saw her. 

The first time we met, which was the first best day of my creation, we did not speak nor did we really interact. We just stared at each other intensely for six hours.  That may sound unappealing let alone monotonous, but I loved every minute I spent with her that day. After we were done registering each other in our minds we sat down next to each other and looked at the ball before us together. 

We did that same exact thing for a really long time, but I didn't mind. We were happy to see another face other than the faceless and lifeless ball at that time. It is so hilarious how we both still call it "The ball." 

Some things just don't change. 

Back then we were so naive to the highest degree. The last time we talked together she agreed with me when I said that and we both laughed it off. Well, we were young and the young has the privilege to be pure, innocent and untainted as much as they want. And now that we are older, stronger, knowledgable and more experienced about the world we can converse and laugh. It took us a while, but we had so much time to learn it when the little ones started using it.

Just thinking about her repeatedly over and over and over again makes me sad. Whether is it the memory of her eyes, her form and her illuminating glory that takes in all the good and bad that happens before her, it is all that I have. She is all that I have that keeps me sane in this crazy place I watch filled with death and violence. 

Of course, I know that it isn't all death and violence in existence. Peace and love exists as well.

I wonder if I am all that she has that keeps her sane as well. 

I wonder how she is doing in Alaska. Wait, I think she said she was heading for Canada. I will have to ask her where she her new chosen place to wander the next time I see her. 

I hope it is soon. I pray that it is soon. Please, whoever you are, please. My memory of her is all that I have until that time arrives and the waits always hurt me. I wish my pleading worked more efficiently. 

Everyday I plead. I plea that the only time I can see her short silky black hair, her hands that reach out for mine and the little freckles that scatter across her face to arrive. Please and when it arrives I will talk to her and learn more about her again since a day isn't enough time every...I don't know anymore. I can't predict when it happens anymore. The wait is too long for me. That wonderful day just appears unexpectedly. So I can't count down to a certain day it just arrives. One should never get lost in an endless repetitive cycle. Yet, I still am within one and I can't escape it. Nor do I want to since I love being me. I am content with my existence together with her and so is she, even though our lives are immensely repetitive. 

Wake up.

Wander. 

Sleep.

That is our schedule. Lovely, isn't it? I have come to embrace it though since my reward always arrives that wonderful day.

I do have a social life. My schedule sounded bad didn't it? Yes, yes it did and I did not have any intention of making myself sound as exciting as fried couch stuffing. During work, I talk sometimes. Nah, actually I am pretty obnoxious and full of myself. I quoted that from her. So, I retorted that she was a conservative little cupcake. She got so mad at the cupcake part. 

I cannot wait to call her a cupcake again.

I want to see her.

I want to see her. 

I want to see her now. 

Please.

"Hey, sunshine, can you put these books back in there respective places? Thanks, you're a doll." More books were place on the cart I was pushing and my best friend Rob patted my back. 

"I know I am one sexy doll, Rob, don't be jealous there, huh." We had a tendency to talk to each other like we are those nice friendly diner waitresses in the morning that serve eggs with a "hun." 

"Ah, hush there, Platinum I am not jealous of a boy like you." We also had the tendency to insult each other randomly. He also loves to point out that I am a natural platinum blond. 

"No you didn't just go there little boy," was my come back as I snapped my fingers once in the air. Sassy angry chick was also a part of our gig. "I am going to hurt you."

"You are just all talk. Talk, talk, talk, talk, talk." Rob burst out laughing as he ran off to get more scattered books in the library. 

Pushing the cart into the elevator I was taken up to the fourth floor. It was the dead quiet zone area, so I always have to die down my awesomeness up there. I like my job here in Virginia. I work at this University campus library and it is one big library. Those Virginia Commonwealth University students are lucky. They even have a Starbucks with all the green tea frappuccinos my immortal body can handle. I love the forth floor since it is so quiet. It would be a cool place to sit down and listen to my ipod, but sadly they don't allow ipod usage here nor cellphones. Well, it is understandable since little ones have to get to work in order to pass their required education. I wish those people who I see studying here in the library luck. One has to be completely academic on the fourth floor, so no cellphones and no ipods. 

Muttering to myself I say, "It gets kind of boring having no music while I work up here though..." 

"Shhhh."

"S-sorry!" My nervous laughter emerges from the back of my throat and I turn to leave the little one alone to their work. That wasn't the first time someone told me to hush up here. Oh, well, no harm feelings. Fixing my white dress shirt, I bent down and placed the last book I had where in belonged. I did not noticed the being that crept up behind me and place headphones on my ears.

Cobra Starship's song, "My moves are white (White Hot, That is)" invaded my ears. 

The intense base and techo-alternative beat took me by surprise. Jumping up to my feet I spun around with wide eyes as I gazed down at the short five foot four inches woman before me. Such a mischievous grin this beautiful woman had. 

"Ah, my fair lady of the night," I pulled the red Skullcandy headphones off and bowed swinging my arm over my midsection, "I am graced by your presence once again. How long I have waited for this day."

"So immortal those days were and yet, my radiant prince, my heart is once again lifted by having you near me." She curtsied towards me and took back the headphones when I returned them. A dark purple messenger bag was slung over her shoulder and I watched in amusement as she struggled to throw her headphones in it and turn off her ipod.

"Having some trouble there?" 

"You shush, I am still not used to these human gadgets."

"They were out for a while now you know there cupcake."

Her constellation eyes glared at me, but it died off fast. Her voice lowered and her face got red, "Um...I am really happy to see you again, Sun. I missed you."

I covered my mouth the tried not to burst out laughing as she stubbornly pouted. She will always be such a stubborn woman and I love her for being her. One day...one day I will confess to her that I love her. It has only been our four and a half billionth time we saw each other and rushing is not something I plan to do. Nope. I don't want to scare her or something by randomly saying, "Hey, I love you." 

I want to wait. I want to wait for the perfect moment to come. Maybe during the next solar eclipse...or maybe the next lunar eclipse I will tell her. The moment will come.

"I missed you too, Moon."

"Hey, why are we being so formal again?" Her giggle can be the one thing I would love to listen to over and over, but they are gifts given to me as a rewards for waiting. She continued speaking while rubbing the side of her freckled face, "And I am the one who started it too."

"This is a recurring problem and as of right now I will change it. I missed you too, Luna."

"Sonny, I missed you."

I will wait.

The End.

Inspiration...

What inspires you as an artist?

I find this a difficult question. Most people around me have a specific artist in mind while, I do not. I do have a few people though, but they are not art...art artists. They are not the charcoal, pencil on paper artists, but they are artists. Alfred Hitchcock, Hayao Miyazaki, Corinne Bailey Rae, Amy Winehouse, Frank Sinatra, The Who, Queen, Three Dog Night, Panic at the Disco, My Chemical Romance...I have a wide variety of things that inspire me. And they are just a hand full of things that make me want to create. However, most of them are not the drawing-type of artist.

They all inspire me and I shall go in depth with why they do soon, but for now I will just name some. This is all about the feeling of Inspiration and can get inspired by the most random things. I know I do. When someone does something out of the ordinary to help someone, I feel really happy. When people are laughing and enjoying themselves in class, I feel happy that they are happy. My little baby nephews who are so adorable make me happy, so whenever I pick them up or watch over them I feel somewhat rejuvenated. I am inspired by things like that...

I do look at other art art artists and become motivated to do my best and yet, music and movies mainly get me going. I sing whenever I am working and dancing whenever I feel the need to. I also make sure I am alone when I dance. (My dancing is like...interpretive dance.) When I can I play a movie while I am working and I watch those intense scenes in awe. Russell Crowe gently walks in the wheat field  touching them and I get teary every time. "Gladiator" for those who do not know the movie.

I get inspired by them.

Broken controls (Words and only words)

"...Hey, wake up, hey, hey."
"...Hmmm...five more minutes mom."
"You farsighted fool, get up now."
"....."
"Hey."
"Cold! Why'd you take away my warmth? It's bright...the sun, SUN!"
"I'll give you your jacket back when you open your eyes and witness the damage to your headquarters."

"...Oh. My. God."
"...Guess everyone enjoyed themselves including us. My head kind of hurts."
"My house is trashed..."
"Indeed."
"Where is everyone?"
"I don't know. I just woke up in the middle of your living room floor and I found you curled up here."
"Of all the places I could have slept...the kitchen. Ugh, my head...and neck."
"Shall we survey the damage?"
"I suggest you wash your face first though. Someone drew stars on your cheeks and a shark on your forehead."
"Good lord..."

"No way...just no way."
"That sucks."
"No....no.."
"We have to stay calm."
"No way...just no freakin' way, man, no way."
"Are you even listening to me, Andrew?"
"No, no, no, no, no...why?"
"Andrew..."
"Shhh shh shhhh, don't cry...I know it hurts."
"Would you stop mumbling sweet nothings to an inanimate object and listen to-"
"Why did it have to be you my friend, my lover, my-Ow, the hell was that for?"
"I said to keep your composure, you bloody idiot."
"...That didn't call for a slap to the face to someone who wakes up to see their beautiful car damaged!"
"I know...you love your car and this situation is devastating so-"
"Devastating? You think I'm devastated?"
"..."
"I am NOT devastated you British-blabbering buffoon."
"Wow alliteration."
"Shut up! My car!"
"Well, I got your attention didn't I?"
"My car!"
"So, I think this British-blabbering baffoon reacted perfectly to the situation at hand."
"Blah blah blah, you talk too much. My car!"
"Is there anyway of saving it?"
"Yea, but it is going to take a chunk out of my pay check..."
"..."
"..."
"Your...uh...bumper fell off."
"A bigger chunk out of my pay check...oh, God. Oh, God my parents..."
"Stay calm."
"I need to find out who did this and fast and make them pay!"
"Andrew."
"Dearly..."
"Andrew,"
"And when I do...oh ho, and when I do...I will so fu-Ow! Godda-Ow! Arthur!"
"I won't have cursing in my presence."

"Don't act like you don't drop the occasional fuuu or shiii! Anyway, back to my babies being killed. I bet it was Ivan. Ivannnn..."

"Ivan?"

"What makes you think it was him?"
"Are you really defending, Ivan?"
"No, it's just that everyone was probably drunk, so you can't accuse him."
"Okay one, he is evil."
"Go on."
"Two, he is creepy."
"Uh-huh..."
"And three, he is out to get me."
"Those are not valid-"
"I have never seen him drunk too. He drinks, but I have never ever witnessed it."
"Maybe because, you go to sleep before you ca-"
"Shut it. I bet he was just smiling with his stupid smile and silently laughing at us all in our drunken stupor."
"Well...it is Ivan we are talking about."
"Where the hell is Ivan, now?"
"Hm. Besides the girl hugging your lamp post and the shirtless man sleeping on your drive way wearing a shiny masquerade mask, no one is outside. You know we shouldn't automatically accuse him."
"Look for his car! Help me look!"
"Okay okay..."

"And here is perfectly intact. Well, its bonnet is a little bent."
"Yea Ivan's car hood is dented, so it was him!"
"But it was already like that when he arrived remember?"
"Da-..Darn it."
"You know...I remember one of our friends trying to get you to stop the car."
"What? When?"
"I think you were trying to back up out of the driveway last night."
"Now that you mention it...that tree across the street is broken."
"..."
"Did we...have a storm or something?"
"No."
"So then did I?"
"I think you did."
"...I am so stupid."
"And a wanker for blaming innocent people without any evidence."
"Shut up, I am not a wanker."
"Let's go find everyone."
"......okay, Arthur."

"Heh heh, that's what you get."

"Hey Ivan!"

"Ah, Andrew, good morning!"

I don't know....I really, don't know. I had fun writing this though. Don't drink and drive.

Well worth the effort.

I have yet to sleep in the Studio. And I hope to keep it that way. There are many horror stories of artist sacrificing sleep in order to complete a project and the after effects is the worst part. There was this boy in my class who finished all of his art assignments, but ended up staying awake all night to morning in the studio. He was able to move with enough efficiency to clean up, eat, change and run back. I felt so bad for him as he snored in our class and our teacher didn't know about him pulling an all-nighter. He call him out mentioning that he missed half of the video example we were watching. My teacher didn't know and we couldn't say anything because, we all know that we have to suck it up.

(I was able to finish...it was difficult.)

We have to suck it up and fight through the first year by doing our best in whatever we create. Eventually, we would all do the same thing and sacrifice a lot in order to meet deadlines. Whether is be working for 8am to 8pm, to running back and forth from the remote Bowe Studio countless of times or sleeping in the studio...we will all face it and succeed.

Determination: I keep on telling myself that I will fight, fight, fight. I am going to be positive.

Positivity: It is important in everything, not only art. One has to be positive and accept the good and bad in art...and life as well. However, it all depends on the situation. Sometimes a person has to listen (like during a critique) and something a person has to fight.

Acceptance or Reluctance? That is the question...

As an ending note, I will do my best in everything that is thrown at me and if I mess up, I will smile and overcome the situation.

There I go again...telling myself to be confident. (I like giving myself a boost every now and then. hehe. :D)

Man I love his voice

Franklin D. Roosevelt, I mean. It could be just the way people talked back then (due to trying to be clear enough for those listening on radio probably), but his voice is just so interesting to listen to. Whenever I hear his voice, I can feel the strength, power and sadly his frustration with the situation at hand. With all the weight of America on his shoulders and everyones' attention turned towards him, his speech becomes enhanced. I can picture all the Americans huddling around their radios listening intently to his voice.

"Yesterday," and then he says the date slowly, but clearly, "December 7th...1941...A date which will live...in infamy. The United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by Navel and Air forces of the Empire of Japan." I get shivers at the ending part: Japan. The dot is placed hard at the end of that sentence.

I cannot imagine, if I were him, how I would have reacted when I was told of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. As President one would have to appear collected. They would have to dull their inner turmoil and horror in order to appear and sound strong yet calm, cool and collected. Appearance and sound is key. That is what I think. A shaky voice isn't going to intimidate the enemy or address the nation. Let alone address anyone. No one would want to listen to a frightened herbivore on a microphone or a frightened piece of prey on stage. 

The audience attention is another key thing. People in general, a crowd, the nation, will probably not listen to anyone who is boring. A hooking first sentences, word, or action, anything that draws us in and keeps our mouths shut. 

It's easier to point out the things that make a speech amazing and yet, it is hard to speak for certain people. Of course though, with the situation at hand in WWII, the President was fueled by the attack on The United States of America. (and he is after all the President, voted into office by the people of this land and so, he obviously had a pleasing persona)

I am happy right now...since I found it on Youtube. Here is Franklin D. Roosevelt's speech. FDR Speech

Another speech I love is Gregory Peck in the movie "To Kill A Mockingbird." It's a movie, I know, but his voice just grabs ears and lures those nearby closer. Might I say his voice is appealing. (If I were a man, I would want his voice, but I'm not so...I don't want a manly voice.)

That is the scene too. It is the scene where he defends...-Oh, watch the movie I don't like spoilers or giving them out.