Woo! I got a layout done for this journal. I didn't create it, because at this point I'm just trying to figure out how to do the damn thing. I'm just happy I got one up at all.

This layout is courtesy of grrliz from thefulcrum.

The tutorial for bringing over an LJ layout and creating a custom theme to go with it is here.

It was kinda on the complicated side. I had to create the layout itself, and then do the theme layer for it, and then combine it all together.

A note for the designers out there, I don't remember who I got it from, but in order to use the theme layers you need to remember to use the function print_stylesheet before any css you add.

Next step, creating a header.

Current Mood: accomplished

You know me, short attention span and all. I can't quite decide what to do with my next layout. I've got so many favorites right now that I can't seem to choose. You guys pick your favorite, and I'll make my layout in whatever fandom y'all choose. Poll is open to everyone.

[Poll #1395955]

Current Mood: contemplative

Working on backing up my entire LJ here, posts, comments and tags only. I love that import tool. It's so handy!!!

Don't have enough icons. I only have 6. SIX!!! *flails* This is like over a 100 less than I'm used to. I may have to switch these out daily. How can I live with only six?

...

SIX!!!

*flails and goes for chocolate*

Current Mood: cheerful

I've got five four available if there's anyone out there that still needs one.

Current Mood: sore

I setup a Tumblr account, mainly to follow friends from outside the fandom that have accounts there. Oddly enough, quite a few are over there. It'll be a mix between cross-posting from my LiveJournal and my Blogspot entries that aren't on LJ.

If you've got account, you can follow me here.

Current Mood: amused

Hey there! Sliding in under the radar from my LJ (same username). Just getting this thing started and working out the kinks.

I'm pretty open on my friending policies. If you know me from LJ, friend me. If you're curious about me, ask questions and friend me if you'd like.

Gimme a bit to find my way around here and I'll see what else I can't post here. FYI, I'll cross-post most entries with my LJ for now.

Current Mood: accomplished

I've got a Dreamwidth journal. My username is the same. I've mainly done it to reserve the name, but also to keep up with the folks that have decided to permanently migrate there. I'll likely cross-post almost everything, barring some exceptions.

I AM HERE

I haven't kept track of who's already over there, so please link me if you've got an account there too.

Current Mood: pleased

I've been playing. I got bored, what can I say? This time I downloaded a few gadgets to spruce up my desktop.

• I got a thingy that will arrange the icons on my desktop in cute little designs - Desktop Icon Toy
• I got another doodad that will simplify the process of making my Windows taskbar transparent - Transbar
• I downloaded a bunch of custom desktop icons from various people - deviantART

Current Mood: bored

Just had some odd thoughts today. Watching the children on my bus, who are all pre-school age (the year before kindergarten, which makes them about 3 to 5 years of age). One little boy had been sick and was so tired. He really just didn't even want to move. When he discovered he'd sat down and wasn't comfortable, he cried for either my driver or I to go and help him. We sat him up further in his seat, sniffed and said thank you, and then fell right to sleep.

It's interesting in my line of work to see children grow up. I've noticed that students are able to speak fairly well, and interact with others, by the time they reach kindergarten. They've started to learn how to reason, and how to sound things out when learning.

It's when they're pre-schoolers that they're so adorable. They're just beginning the process of learning how to function in society. Not just merely learning the language, but how the world works in its most base elements.

But the thing is, they're still babies. They still cry when when they're upset. They still cling to the closest adult when they're scared. They giggle when they're happy. They find joy in the most simple of things.

It's just so heartbreaking to see in a way, because it only lasts such a short time. This transition between babies and growing and learning children lasts maybe a year.

I enjoy every minute of it though, and that's the part that I'm thankful for in my job. They're just adorable to work with. I love 'em to bits. Every last one of 'em.

Current Mood: grateful

I put off my shopping trip yesterday until today. Didn't snow yesterday at all, so I thought.

Apparently it did after I went to bed. All the lovely plowed roads are snowed on.

I haven't been in my car since the last time it snowed, so I just got back in from brushing snow off of it. There's piles of it drifting around my car knee deep.

I knew there was a reason I didn't want to get up today. Did I mention I hate snow? Well, okay that's not quite true. I don't hate snow. I just hate driving in it. I live at the top of a great big hill, and no matter which way I go I have to go down one to get to the nearest grocery store.

I'm giving it another ten minutes for the car to warm up since the snow plow guy just got here for our complex, but then I'm gonna head on out for my last minute grocery shopping trip.

Wish me luck!

Edit: Besides the road I live on, the roads were great. The prices at the store were not, but that's another story.

Current Mood: nervous

I fiddled with my layout again. Same design, but I changed the sidebar. I curved it along the top, and then lightened the color a bit (thanks to a comment from bunnyohare).

I pushed the navigation links up to the right side of the header image. Didn't plan it that way, but it actually works very well with the half logo there. Plus, I rather like having the title of my page in one neat package all by itself without the links messing with it.

I think I like version 2.0 better than the original one. Comments?

In other news...

• I've been working through plot holes in my head for my Nano. I haven't written it all down yet, but I'll get around to it one of these days. I'm planning on getting caught up during Thanksgiving vacation, which starts next Thursday for me (four-day weekend).
• I uploaded a bunch of new icons (including this lovely specimen featuring the lovely Bill Kaulitz of TH). *points to entry icon*
  
  
• My mother's been driving me insane with her comments making fun of my new favorite band. It's a debate every day. Her current most favorite way to bug me is to ask about "that Tokio Rose band." When asked, she said she likes Tokio Rose better as a band name because it fits the lead singer better. *sigh*
  
  One day last week she got into a debate with me over the gender of the lead singer (if you're confused, he's the one with the black hair that often resembles a lion mane). Then I told her the lead singer and lead guitarist (the one with dreadlocks) were identical twins...
  
  Mom: No they are not twins. Look at them!
  Saifai: Oh yes they are. I've got photographic proof!
  Mom: *looks at pictures* I don't see it. Are you sure that one is a boy?
  Saifai: *rolls eyes* Yeesss, Mom.
  Mom: Hmph. Well I still say they're not identical. *points* That one has a smaller nose.
  Saifai: *sigh* There's only two difference between them, that I know of. *holds up two fingers* Two!
  Mom: Riiight. Like one has a vagina and the other doesn't?
  Saifai: *head.desk*


LOL - That's my Mom for you. But I gotta love her. She keeps me smiling, I'll give her that.

Current Mood: bored

Y'all probably saw this coming a mile away, but I've got a new layout. As much as I love Lucius, I got rather tired of the washed out look.

So, I've got a new layout. *pets screen*

Notice the distinct lack of anything kinky. I think I did rather well restraining myself.

Current Mood: pleased

I'm currently using the internet in stealth mode. Mom has a day off. Her new favorite place to perch and read a book is in the chair in her room (which incidentally is RIGHT BEHIND THE COMPUTER).

*sigh* So, no porn. Well, I can read it. But only if the print is REALLY small and she can't even hope to read it even if she had her nose to the screen. *squints*

LOL - and if you're wondering, I only do it to avoid my mother teasing me incessantly. She'd drive me nuts.

In other news, have I told you about my new favorite sandwich? Smuckers Uncrustables. The epitome of laziness. *sighs happily*

Current Mood: bored

You know, I just saw a banner for a fan art site that got me wondering. *stares*

I've honestly never thought of Chewbacca and Han Solo cuddled up together. *idly wonders if it'd be considered slash*

I've got the visuals now though. Can't decide whether I should be disturbed or not. All that fur, he's probably really warm and cuddly.

...but then, all that fur. *shudders*

Enough said. *runs off to find fan art of ANYTHING else*

Current Mood: contemplative

Music
Pull up a browser and take yourself over here. If the link doesn't work, then go to Yahoo! Search (because they pull up video and music links with the search) and look up "Amon Amarth".

I must have watched these guys for endless minutes, watching their heads going around, and around, and around. The spinning heads, and the twirling hair...

It's truly mesmerizing. Also kinda makes me dizzy watching it.

On a side note, their song "Thousand Years of Oppression" almost has a tune to the lead vocals.

Happy
Top five things that made me smile today:

1. Children's laughter
2. The sound of going under a bridge with the windows rolled down
3. Chocolate Zingers
4. It's my Friday! No work for me tomorrow.
5. Most excellent traffic conditions for me wherever I went today.

"Jones and Bennett vividly convey the testosterone-saturated world of fantasy fighter pilots in this fast-paced debut. When the stereotypically Asian Ke-Han threaten the Volstov empire, graduate student Thom is sent to rehabilitate the Dragon Corps, an ersatz air force of rebellious, violent young men who fly enormous metal dragons animated by magic. As Thom struggles with his task, challenged most by the brutish ace Rook, the Margrave Royston, banished for an illicit homosexual affair, befriends Hal, an innocent but brilliant tutor who eventually becomes Royston's lover. These four join minds and skills to solve the mystery of a devastating plague and defend Volstov from the foreign army. The insular corps culture of combative homoeroticism and masculine archetypes dominates the book, as female characters fade far into the background. Despite few surprises or original flourishes, Jones and Bennett credibly bring the decadent empire and its inhabitants to life."

Current Mood: relaxed

Got the layout done (finally) for txrabbit. Yay!

Kinda messed up my own while I was fiddling with that one, but only because of the way the new Customize Journal system works. It confused me big time.

I put up a new layout for myself today. I call him Lime Lucius. :) The layout for both txrabbit's and my own are based on carriep63's work.

*gloms on Lucius*

Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a Sauder Computer Work Station to put (back) together. *whimpers* Wish me luck.

Current Mood: accomplished

LJ Coding Woes
I've been coding today. I had to sort out some messes with a Bloggish layout for txrabbit. The new customize wizard that LJ has been a bit of a booger. It does make things easier for those wishing to just copy and paste a layout and have at it. But you know me and my endless fiddling. Apparently the new system is fiddle-proofed. You fiddle with it and it just puts up a blank page and says, "Oh yeah?! Well take this!!! See how you like it now!!!"

...or something.

New Blogger Layout
I'll have to make myself a new layout soon. To make myself feel better before I do that, I hooked myself up with a new layout from carriep63's website for my Blogger - http://saifaifox.blogspot.com/. Though now that I've done that I might actually have to update the damn thing. *moop*

Stalling Now
Okay. Back to the drawing board. I'm actually only stalling on the one last image needed for miss rabbit's layout. I'm doing it now, I swear!

P.S.
I gave up on the hamburger bun recipe. However, I did find in my family's cookbook a lovely recipe for both potato rolls (which work great for hamburgers), and angel biscuits. Angel biscuits are an all time fav of mine. Thought I'd share the recipe for those that are interested:
( Angel Biscuits Recipe )

Current Mood: accomplished

Thanks to Kristen (miggy)for her post that helped me to get started. Once I get a hang of all this, I suppose I'll try customizing the look of the journal. You can expect to see my ramblings here. If I've finished a story, but have yet to post it, you'll see it here. Links to my sites will be added if there's something of interest to see there when I update. More on this later...

Current Mood: calm