Team Fortress, too

I've been trying to avoid getting sucked into the news about Japan. It's terrible, and I feel awful that I can't do more to help. I can barely afford to send money, but I plan to anyway.

One way to distract myself is to play more Team Fortress 2.

And to draw pictures of TF2 people with my fun new multi-colored pencils!

Ugh

In Rikusentakata, a port city of over 20,000 virtually wiped out by the tsunami, Etsuko Koyama escaped the water rushing through the third flood of her home but lost her grip on her daughter's hand and has not found her.

"I haven't given up hope yet," Koyama told public broadcaster NHK, wiping tears from her eyes. "I saved myself, but I couldn't save my daughter."


This is the first thing I've truly felt emotional about since the Tsunami. I can't imagine the broken hearts in Japan - it must feel like their lives are over. They've lose their houses, jobs, family members...

A big part of me wishes I could drop everything here and go there to help. I wish I could do more than just send money, and I'll be doing some research today to find out if I can!

My heart goes out to all of them and those involved.

Going Places

Yesterday I was supposed to shadow for my possible new job again, but Sam was sick. This meant going in early and working the job I had only shadowed for once! It was tiring, but I had fun, and afterwards went to work at the comic shop.

When I got home, sleepy and exhausted, I opened up some mail from the Maine College of Art to find out I was accepted into their New Media program! The real shocker was reading the second letter...

Dear Melanie,

Congratulations! It is my pleasure to inform you that you have been selected to receive a Maine College of Art Merit Scholarship in the amount of $8,000.

You were slected for this award based on your current accomplishments and the high level of promise and potential you have demonstrated throughout your academic career. We believe Maine College of Art is a place where you will thrive as a student and artist, and we are excited to imagine the impact you will have on the MECA community.

Your annual Merit Scholarship begins with your enrollment in the fall 2010 semester and is renewable each of the following three years, contingent upon you maintaining satisfactory academic progress and full-time enrollment.

You had me at Scholarship, MECA.

As sleepy as I was when I got home, I couldn't sleep until 2am.

I'M SO EXCITED!

Sparky's Charlie

Yesterday I bought The Art of Charles M. Schulz. The man was a genius. Sparky and Hank Ketcham were both phenomenal comic artists.

I'm disappointed in myself for having thrown out my first printing of A Charlie Brown Christmas back when I moved out of my parents' house. It was my favorite book as a kid, and brings back a lot of memories.

I regret that I'll never have a chance to meet the one and only Sparky, and I'm so glad that his legend has lived on so strongly, and hopefully it always will!

How to Train Your Toothless Dragon

With the differences in the books, the How to Train Your Dragon movie could have been named something completely different, and it wouldn't have mattered. Aside from the names and SOME of the character similarities, the two aren't even closely related. Astrid isn't even a character. And Toothless actually has no teeth. And he's like, 10 inches tall. He's also super whiny, and lazy. And I don't even remember if Hiccup's best friend Fishlegs exists in the movie...

But the books are awesome and I'd recommend them to anyone that has enjoyed the Harry Potter books (:

Presidents Day!

I hope those of you that have the extra day off get to enjoy the long weekend! Go buy some cars and or mattresses, I hear there might be a sale!

One time I drew 6 in a row

I was on a kick last night and busted these out while watching Pawn Stars!

Happy Heart Day!

Aww yeah, Twi'lek!

Ingrid

Someday I will put together a children's book. It will be about a little girl that dreams big, and it will be bright and fun!

I will have a lot of messing around to do with the style as well as her age/intelligence, but I think, if I actually do this, it could be something awesome.

Year of the Wabbit

Hooray! I haven't had any meat today per New Year's tradition, but I can't say that will last.

Yesterday was Tim & I's one year together. We spent most of it in our pajamas. (: