Take my picture

[mood: expressive]

My new favorite thing is a sweatshirt that looks like a pea-coat. It’s called a pea-hoodie and it sort of makes me look like I’m three months pregnant but for the first time in three weeks, I’m not freezing at work. I would call that a worthwhile purchase.

I’m eating a cupcake for breakfast. Good call, me.

I also have now taken a time machine back to the 90s where I am outfitted with a pager. Snazzy.

I am almost caught up on Battlestar Galactica - just two more discs to go before I can start (restart, I guess, because I caved and watched the first two episodes) this season. Yay. So exciting.

It’s kind of freaking me out how quickly May is disappearing. Especially since it barely feels like May with the consistent overcast skies and chilly mornings. I wouldn’t know how it is during the day because there are no windows near me. It’s all white stucco ceilings and criss-crossing pipes, which is really not helping my impending blindness due to computer screen-staring.

However, with the end of May, comes the beginning of June and my 25th birthday. Yikes. 25. Birthdays have never been much of a deal for me, as most people think I’m older than I actually am, but for some reason 25 feels like something. Perhaps it’s because I’m actually feeling settled for the first time in a while. After six-some years of constant coast-jumping, I’ve managed to stay in one place for over a year -a place that I really like. I had a job for longer than six months and though I ended up leaving recently, I did it to start at a place I’ve planned on working for a very long time. And I wrote a book. Basically after a lot of mucking through different plans and options, I feel - more than ever before - that I actually got myself on two really solid paths going in the directions I want to go in.

And hey, any chance to celebrate with cupcakes, parlor games and cheese is a opportunity I will grab with vigor.

Until then, though, old photography websites like this and this are making me really happy. Especially after discovering the below picture. I’ve always given great snarl, but this puts even me to shame. I aim to emulate in the upcoming year.

The Carnival’s Coming to Town

[mood: sleepy]

Guess who’s working on a Saturday? That’s right - this girl. Then again, my “work” consists of watching reference footage with our directors which means I’m certainly not complaining.

Week two at the mouse house and it’s going very well. I still don’t know any of the computer programs or how to work the scanners, but I’ve only gotten lost once and if you’ve been inside this building, you’ll realize what a huge accomplishment this is.

An example of why I like working here: on my first day, our supervisor sat me down to go over some general tips on work and life at the studio. Some of her words of wisdom? Don’t wear a dress or skirt or heels. Why? Because you’re going to be running around, pinning boards, lifting things and if you come to work all dolled up no one is going to think you’re taking your job seriously. Not only is it better to dress casual, but discouraged to dress fancy. Um, awesome. Hello Converse in every color known to man.

After work tomorrow, I’m taking my mom out for Mother’s day. Yes, I know it’s actually the day after, but on Sunday I’m going to the carnival that occasionally springs forth from the grounds of the park across the street. Ferris wheel, here I come!

Mouse Ears

[mood: overwhelmed]

Obviously there is very little I can blog about my job, but let me tell you that thus-far all is good. My head is still spinning from a very busy couple of days as tons of people tried to cram tons of information/names/locations into my tiny little brain. 

But you wanna know the coolest thing? My cube is right behind the sorcerer’s hat. And it has a little mini-hallway. 

Awesome

It’s gonna be my finest hour

[mood: woozy with lack of sleep]

Things I learned during my week off: 

Item 1: That all I need in life is a pint of mango sorbet, new summer sandals and the double feature of Sister Act and Sister Act 2

Item 2: That whoever decided to make the classic 80s film Teen Witch into a musical (soundtrack available on iTunes) is a fraking genius. I bow to them. 

Item 3: That left with copious amounts of free time, I have a tendency to shop quite passionately. I need to be curbed and controlled. 

Disney orientation today. We’re not done, but at least tomorrow I’ll be finishing it at the studio and maybe actually doing some work. Or at least meeting people. Or getting painfully hazed. Or something. All seems fun and peachy. Got my little badge and ID (in which I look about 84% hair and 10% face - the remaining 6% is all pert flushed cheeks) plus my parking pass. As per usual, I barely slept last night so I’m hoping tonight I’ll just pass out. 

Also fun for all: a new blog to check out! The fantastic Abi, who has been creating the most amazing drawings for my insane ramblings, has an art blog, so you can check out her gorgeous work. I’ll be obsessively checking, trust me. 

The goodbye girl

[mood: antagonistic]

I opened a bunch of boxes for my interim boss this morning and just now realized that I cut myself doing so. Awesome.

Yesterday was my goodbye Nickelodeon lunch at the fabulous Ribs USA. Most of the animation team is in NY for NY Comic Con today and tomorrow, so we did an early farewell that was really quite nice. My favorite VP who couldn’t make it yesterday was totally bummed and expressed it this morning by telling me: “you and Ribs USA - like Christmas in April!” He’s the best. I can’t say enough how much it sucks that I have to leave all my awesome co-workers behind, but as the week progresses I become more and more aware that this is the right move for me.

Change is good. When my boss left in January, I became quite adrift and never quite found my footing again. Since then its been a lot of demeaning personal errands and confusing calender juggling, all the while getting pushed further and further from actual development and production. Now I’m going to be completely focused on production, which is scary and exciting. I’m sure there will be plenty of exhausting and non-fun errands/jobs to do, but I’m really looking forward to being productive in a way that feels productive. The less time I’m at a computer - the better!

I’m not exactly sure what I need to do before I leave tomorrow. I don’t have a successor currently, nor do I want to just trash everything that’s in my desk drawers. I’ve already cleaned out all my personal stuff (did so last week, actually - it’s been a barren and lonely week in my cube) so there’s not much to take home.

It’s only hitting me now that tomorrow is it. The last day. Not only is this the longest job I’ve ever had (sixteen months!) but it’s one where I really, really like the people I work with. I’m really sad that I won’t see them everyday anymore. And, being me, I’m totally nervous about my first day at Disney where I imagine myself in some Molly Ringwald-esque outfit (hat and tie) with my lunch tray looking pitifully around for someone to eat lunch with. I hate first days. Scary.

So hopefully I won’t spend the next week freaking out about all the things one freaks out about when starting a new job. I have to remind myself that every single time I drove by the Feature Animation building I would tell myself (or the person sitting next to me): “I’m going to work there someday.” Hurray for that day. Hurray.

Piracy is our only option.

[mood: romantic]

There’s nothing like a good Jane Austen film adaptation to get you in a twitterpatted mood. I watched the recent PBS adaptation of Sense and Sensibility and though I still declare Emma Thompson’s to be the best, it was still a pleasure to watch. Three-some hours of the actor playing Edward Ferrars? Yes please. There’s something so attractive to me about a moderately awkward mouth with kind of wonky teeth. Whew.

Only four more days here at Nickelodeon. It’s been a really weird week because I fully expected to be kicked out on my rear the day I spoke to HR (as my boss was - leaving for a competitor and all), but my interim boss wanted me around to help with the transition. But I’ve basically cleaned off my desk and subsequently, my brain, so it’s a bit difficult to focus. It also doesn’t help that this upcoming weekend is one of the more busy ones I’ve had in a while so I’ve barely had time to process or appreciate these final few days and get in some goodbyes. 

But then! A whole week off. Hurrah! I’ll be taking Greg to the airport on Tuesday and going to San Diego with Evan, but beyond that I have no idea how I’ll spend those precious days. Hopefully I’ll start book #2. It helps that I had a fantastic idea last night regarding the plot, so I’m feeling a bit energized. Whether or not this means I will actually sit down at that daunting first page, remains to be seen.

Until then, I’m playing around on Mixwit making my super awesome/lame mixed tapes for all to enjoy.

*trumpets sound*

[mood: cheery]

Three months, seventeen job interviews and loads of handshakes later I have a job.

Hurray!

I start at Disney Feature Animation on April 28th. I’ll be working as a Production Assistant in the Clean-up department for the upcoming “The Princess and the Frog”. I am thrilled.

I’ve wanted to work at Disney for as long as I’ve wanted to work in animation. The film will be the studio’s return to hand-drawn animation, plus its a princess musical, which they haven’t done in years. It’s going to be awesome.

I know nothing about clean-up besides its definition and vague understanding of the process. What I know is that it’s towards the end of the production and entails, as expected, the clean up of art and animation. I’m going to be at the bottom of the totem pole, but I can go to Disneyland whenever I want and going to work everyday with the best animators and designers there are. I’ll be taking a break from the schmoozy, network-y side of animation and working on a production with artists and I can’t wait.

As great as this opportunity is, I’m quite sad to be leaving Nickelodeon (my last day will be next Friday). It’s been one of the best working environments and I genuinely adore my co-workers and will miss them terribly.

But onward to completely new and uncharted territory. Onward fair traveler!

Better

[mood: whew]

Tomorrow you’ll get news and details but know that I smiled today. 

There is excitement and possibility and fear and anticipation. 

 

Head between my knees

[mood: manic]

I may be on the verge of my first real emotional breakdown.

I’m sure I’m being mildly overdramatic, but all this build-up for the past few weeks seems to be leading nowhere but disappointment and everytime I feel like I’m going to be ok, something comes careening out of nowhere and smushes me like a really, really flat, unhappy piece of gum.

Sticky.

If I had the capacity for tears, I’d probably be hysterical right now. Luckily I am heartless and made of stone. But my ticking clock of a heart is going into overdrive and might pop right out of my fucking chest.

And how is your April going?

Meatball/Pasta ratio

[mood: anxious]

I may have to hide my cellphone.

I’m having a really hard time not checking it and my email every five minutes. Must find a way to distract myself.

I outlined yesterday - which kept me somewhat busy. It’s really hard controlling twenty-some characters over a span of seven books, especially when some (most?) are grossly underdeveloped. It means a lot of lists. Luckily I love making lists.

So I make lists. I scribble badly on sheets of paper (does someone want to draw me a map?) I read agents’ blogs. I shake uncontrollably.

I hate waiting.

I also hate eating lunch and realizing that I have the incorrect ratio of meatballs to pasta. Stuff like that just makes you aware that you are having a bad day.

I’ve been going to bed at 11:30pm every night and I’m still exhausted. This is a problem.

I’m taking Monday and Tuesday off. I’m hoping I’ll be celebrating. That or crying alone in my room while sharpening my razor blades.