Gremlin Blog!

I'm well aware that the chances of anyone actually reading or keeping up with this but me- and possibly not even me- are pretty slim. Nontheless, while I'm proud of my graphics hoards, I wanted to add a little piece that's uniquely my own contribution to the world wide web! I like the idea that with my own blog, I don't have to fight an algorithm just to be seen; if someone is interested in my stuff, they can seek it out. It's fun to have my own corner of the internet that advertising and politics can't touch unless I explicitly put it there myself. I used to think all social media had lots of customization as a kid but, after taking a single coding class in high school, I discovered how you can really customize a website!

I'm still learning HTML, so be patient with any bugs or janky layout bits you might find. I'll have a functioning guestbook soon enough, I hope, but in the meantime, just leave a comment on my site's neocities profile!

I graduated my college class! My certificate arrived today and we framed it and everything! I clawed my way through this course but I'm proud to say that I'm finally a proud owner of a Certificate of Information Assurance and Security from the University of Phoenix online. I honestly thought about quitting several times but I figured, if I quit this time, I'll have anxiety about school things for the rest of my life, and I genuinely don't think I could handle that.

If I finished at least one degree or certificate's-worth of higher education, I don't have to feel guilty about never having finished something after high school.

Alrighty, the home page now has a proper link to this blog, a button to open the Webdeck music player with a custom playlist, and a link to sign my guestbook! I'm still trying to figure out what's up with the images stacking on the main page instead of displaying side-by-side, but it doesn't look too unnatural, so I think I can cheese it a little longer. I've been into Webfishing a lot lately. It's just a cute little pixely game about fishing as a cat. It's very reminiscent of old-web chat rooms with the PS1-2 style graphics and simple chat feature. Highly reccomend for people who like cozy games that let you turn your brain off!

Tomorrow, my mom, dad, younger sister, and I are going to Philadelphia for her gymnastics meet. If I remember, it's her first one this year, but I could be wrong. I believe the day after her meet, in the morning, My dad and I are going to Vampa; the vampire museum and largest collection of vampire-related artifacts in the world. After that, on the same night, we're taking my little sister to see Chayce Beckham perform. My parents already went to see him at the same venue a while back, but he recently became her second favorite singer, and now she's jealous XP. I'll consider adding photos, but we'll see if I have the energy.

Been makin' lots and lots of kandi bracelets lately! Fallen in love with how many I can wear at once and, as someone with social anxiety, it helps me start conversations about a shared interest that I might have with cool people who I'd normally deem 'too cool' to approach otherwise.

A friend and I are making fursuits! I've never done anything like this before, and they've only ever made partials prior to this, but we're making practice partials and utilizing different techniques and styles to help us prepare to make the full suits. If these suits go well, we'd like to make a rat and an opossum full suit as well. So far, I've re-learned how to hand sew multiple stitch types, how to make a duct tape dummy for sizing, and somewhat gotten better at carving blocks of foam. Well- into something vaguely cone-shaped, at least, but it's progress nontheless! Along with these large projects started at the end of last month, yesterday I attempted to learn to make a kandi cuff bracelet and read a pattern. I was thwarted by the realization of just how many beads are needed for ONE cuff alone XP. I can make beaded rats, though! All they need is a ladder stitch and about three colors of bead! I've always known having real hobbies was expensive at times, but I've never had to look it in the eye until recently, so to speak.

In addition to my little sister making USA Gymnastics Regionals, Region 7, my dad and I went to Pennhurst Paracon. My mom got me special VIP tickets for my birthday that allowed us to get early access to the convention part of the expo, before the general public, as well as exclusive access to the Rockwell Tunnels and the tunnels beneath the Philadelphia building during the overnight investigation the night prior. We stayed in a Holiday Inn Express in Wyomissing, about 45 minutes up the road from the event. There were celebrity investigations going on throughout the campus during the overnight investigation; most groups and appearances having their own designated building to keep fans from overcrowding and contaminating too many other people's investigations. They also held signings and meet-and-greets the following day during the expo to give those without VIP/RIP passes a chance to meet them. My dad and I got to investigate with Patti Negri and Celina Spooky Boo, opting to get signatures from Project Fear and Jay Wasley as well as pictures with them. We also got to see Katrina Weidman, Nick and Tessa Groff, Amy Bruni, and Adam Berry, though the lines were too long for pictures and proper meetings; It was still amazing to even see them all in person. We got lots of Mel Meter activity in the Mayflower Building and lots of REM pod activity in the Rockwell tunnels. I can't quite remember which building Celina Spooky Boo was in for the overnight investigation, but we did an Estes Method session in the basement with her that was pretty consistent and eventful!