So.. I haven't been using my desktop lately for anything but listening to music, because the monitor's getting so bad (and it doesn't want to play WoW.. but that's a different story). I'm finally looking into replacing it, but I thought I'd ask you people if you had recommendations.

It seems really difficult to find CRTs anywhere, but based on the comparisons I've read tonight, it looks like CRTs are still preferable over LCDs for graphic output - color capability and resolution handling is still better than with LCDs. And they're cheaper. The one I've got now is a 16", I think, but it came from an eMachine, which is not particularly... cutting edge..

If I went with a CRT, it seems Sony or ViewSonic would be the way to go. (This one seems pretty nice.... ) Thoughts? Anyone care to defend the side of the LCD? (I use LCD monitors at work, and it would be really nice to have more space on my little desk at home, but I don't know..)

In case some of you are interested but haven't been keeping up.. the Twilight movie is about to start filming. Yesterday we got a press release on Stephenie Meyer's website with a few shots of the Cullen family - all dressed in cool blues and grays and blacks. I have a few issues (in essence, Alice's hair should be shorter and styled better, Jasper's too short and looks like he's wearing a bad wig, and they should all be paler), but for the most part, I think they look *great*! I'm very excited about the movie. It's supposed to be in theaters in December.

Go see the photos at [link] !!

You might be wondering what I've been up to lately, considering my last journal post was in August.. (!!)

I moved to a new apartment at the end of August, and it's quite a bit smaller than my last place. Though most of my stuff fits okay, my desk doesn't have enough room for my scanner. There *is* stuff I've been working on, but it's a pain to scan things now, so I haven't made the effort. When I have something I'm really excited about, or when I put up another comic page, I'll pull out the scanner. (If I could find a tray thing to put it on, and have my mouse underneath it, that would probably work, though. For now it sits on my bookshelf with my out-of-ink printer.)

For much of October my creativity was poured into my costume project. I made an awesome sideless surcoat with underdress with the intention of wearing it to SCA functions (I want to start doing SCA, cuz it sounds like so much fun), and ended up wearing it for Halloween.. I need to take some photos of it, and post it. It turned out pretty awesome - the underdress is light green, and the surcoat is a dark green viney pattern jacquard, with white fur trim on the armholes. And it has a sweet train!! And though I called my mom several times for troubleshooting and clarification purposes, not once did she actually drive or fly up to help me - there was only talking. I count that as doing it myself. ^_^ And now that it's done, I feel like I should be working on another sewing project.. Hmm.. More garb..?

I've also been focusing a lot on my book, which is why I haven't worked on my comic lately. I've been writing scenes and planning and brainstorming, and recently I've begun drawing things for my book, too. I figure that drawing the different races will help me differentiate them in my head, and then in my writing. So you're going to get a lot of elves soon. Hope you don't mind. ;

Also, to those of you who requested stuff.. in July.... I haven't forgotten about you, don't worry. (`DragonWinter, do you still remember what you were going to request?) I'm working on them.

Self-tagged by *raiagirl

The rules are:
1. Post these rules.
2. Each person tagged must post 8 random facts about themselves.
2. Tags should write a journal/blog of these facts.
4. At the end of the post, 8 or more persons are tagged and named.
5. Go to their page and leave them a comment telling them they're tagged.

1. I generally don't like women's choirs, or acoustic versions of songs on the radio. This makes sense to me - I want a full spectrum of sound when I listen to music, and women's choirs and acoustic versions are like cutting off half the scale (the lower half).
2. I worked several summers at a company that designs and builds satellites. The kind that go into space. (I was their business intern / art intern.)
3. I love libraries! It's not "home" unless I've got a library card there. And I couldn't make it through a semester of school without bingeing at the library for fun books. Usually when I had the most to do.
4. My favorite color is green, but my second favorite color is *grey*. (And I refuse to spell it with an "a". It just looks ugly.)
5. There are eight kids in my family, and I'm the only one who's left-handed.
6. I don't like pearls. Nothing personal - you can like pearls if you want - but I think they look horrible and pretentious on me. (I like sparkly things, though.)
7. I also don't like trucks. Unless you have a legitimate reason, like you live on a farm (or you're a geologist, Rachel). My perception is that casual truck-owners are by-and-large jocky, selfish, insensitive show-offs. And they're the most aggressive and unthoughtful drivers. *shrug* Sorry.
8. Some things that soothe my soul are birds, rain, and leaves. I adore leaf motifs. I need more jewelry with leaves on them. And little bells, ahhh....

I don't know who all reads my journal, so I'm going to leave the tag open, too. You're tagged if you want to be!!

It was glorious. And now I have approximately 363 days left to wait for the fourth book. I can't help but wonder what's going to happen, though.. not a ton of threads were left loose.

What can I say without giving spoilers? Let's see.... In an interview on Amazon.com, Stephenie says that if Twilight is about finding true love, and New Moon is about losing true love, Eclipse is about choosing true love. Pretty much the book is Jacob vs. Edward, and there is angst up the wazoo. It's wonderful. I typically describe Twilight to people as being the "good parts" of every book you've read, crammed together in one book - well, this book is even more "good parts" than Twilight. Of course there's plot in there.. But when you take two very different, very powerful boys who are after the same girl and put them all in the same room together..... it makes for some very entertaining, intense, and angst-ridden scenes. ^_^ Welcome to Eclipse.

I didn't love this book. I adored it. And if I hadn't relinquished it to my roommate so that we could fangirl about it together, I would be rereading it right now. Instead it looks like I'll be forced to go to bed at a decent hour. DX


In other news, I apologize for being away for a while. First I was avoiding the internet for fear of Harry Potter spoilers, then I had some commissions to do, and I went out of town, and now Eclipse consumed me.. But I've got a few ideas for some Eclipse fanart, and those requests to take care of, so you'll see a little more of me again.