Posts tagged penguins
Woah. Has It Been That Long?
Jan 14th
Well, I’ve finally worked up the ambition to post something! I’ve been busy with various things and sidetracked by situations for the past couple weeks and generally haven’t felt much like writing here. But I don’t want to abandon this place entirely, so I figure I should fill in the gap with a general summary.
My last post was on Christmas so let me start there. Aside from Wassy’s awesome Frost art gift (which I love and is now being displayed in the living room), my parents gifted me an Amazon Kindle 2. So far I’ve finished reading the Lord of The Rings trilogy (Started with the paper book and switched to eBook a couple of chapters into The Two Towers), Down and Out In The Magic Kingdom by Cory Doctorow for the Sword and Laser book club, and I’ve started working my way through the Xanth books again. The kindle is not without it’s issues, but I’m enjoying it a lot. My biggest gripe is the screen contrast could be a bit better.
Lets see here. Oh! My dad now has an XBox 360 and We both have copies of Madden NFL 10 so that we can resume playing our weekly football games. We played once a couple weeks ago to test to see how the online franchise mode would work and it seems like we can deal with it’s little quirks, but we haven’t had a chance to play again yet, due to me being busy friday night’s for a while and the actuall NFL playoffs starting up. Hopefully we can get a game going next week.
Other than that I’ve been mostly hanging out and relaxing a bit. A little too much actually, as I’ve let my experimentations in graphic design stuff kinda fall to the wayside over the past couple weeks. But I’m getting back into the swing of things now. Over my vacation at the end of 2009, I worked up a page for the City of Heroes Forum Art Competition that Wassy is in charge of this year. Nothing special, but I think it turned out pretty good. I was experimenting with using a grid system when setting it up which was a bit…odd for me at first, but I think I managed to get the hang of it.
I also came up with an idea for my personal site which could work, but required that I draw up a penguin logo that was kinda blocky, like an old sprite from a video game. I’m fairly happy with the result (See to the right) and I’ll be headed full steam ahead on the rest of the design in hopes that I can complete it before I decide I hate it again. I’m also working on and off with my mom’s store type website but I’m stuck on that…again. Not certain if what I have going on feels right for the content. I really want to get something finished for her though.
As far as school goes, I’m in for another class this semester. This time it’s a course focusing on Photoshop. After this one I’ll be down mostly to classes which I have to take during the day (all the core design classes) so I’m not sure what’s going to happen. I suppose I’ll have to try to modify my work schedule but I’m really not sure how receptive management will be to that as we get busier. I’ll probably post more about that particular issue later as I have a lot more to say about it.
In other news, we have a new toy around the apartment. Wassy recently picked up a Nikon D60 camera which she’s allowed me to play around with. I’ve been trying to take some better pictures of my Fish, along with other things if I can think up a good picture I’d like to take. I’d love to get into photography but the equipment is just so freaking expensive…
Anyway, here’s the best picture I took of my newest fish:
Not bad at all I’d say. It came out a little too blue and I couldn’t quite get all the blue out without making the rest look funky, so that’s the best I can do. In conclusion, I want one of these cameras. I need to think up some more arty type photos to try out.
Racing The Rain
Mar 8th
Yesterday was fun. My friends and I, tired of winter, decided to take one of the few nice days to come our way in a long while to head outside and do some walking.
The plan was to head out to the zoo in Syracuse to wander around and look at some animals while we cured our cabin fever. The plan was complicated by the fact it was going to rain sometime in the afternoon so we were in a race against the rain pretty much. Thankfully, it held off until we were done walking around the zoo. There were lots of animals to be seen, and lots of kids too. It was way busier there than we thought it would be, but I guess we weren't the only people to have the idea to get out while the getting out was still good.
The most notable thing at the zoo was the lions. They were right up next to the glass so you could literally stand inches away from one of them and see all the little details. That was very, very neat. The penguins were actually wandering around outside too and even did some swimming around. We also saw a pair of very frisky otters. Well, one of them was frisky. The other seemed totally disinterested. Also, one of the lemurs was moving and they never move. I still think it was a robotic lemur…
After the zoo we went out and did some shopping and then headed to Chili's for dinner. Which was excellent. I've never had ribs but I wanted to try them so I stole one from the plate of one of my friends (well, with permission of course) and mmm…tasty. I think I'll have to have some next time we go out that way.
After the food we went back to their place and hung out for a while. Clerks was on which I hadn't seen in a while. But by the end of the movie I was falling asleep, so I made my way home. All this outdoors stuff really tires you out.
Hopefully real spring doesn't take too long to come. I'm getting very sick of all this winter and snow.
The Weekend Report
Oct 20th
What's that over there on the right? It's a Penguin! Which means that this weekend was the annual Penguin Pilgrimage out to the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse. There have been previous penguin pilgrimages but I had always forgotten my good camera. But this time, I remembered and got some neat penguin shots along with some other animals. There's more pictures up on my flickr account.
Plans changed slightly as my friend Jay had slept badly and was feeling kinda blargh, so he decided to stay home and get some sleep while Wassy and I went out to the zoo. We had intended on going when it was cooler out, with the supposition that the penguins would be more active and the zoo would be less crowded.
Well…we had one out of two correct. The zoo was much less crowded since it was around 50F out. But the darn penguins were hanging out indoors mostly! And they weren't really swimming exactly. Boo!
There were a couple of them that were out and about and sunning (like the penguin on the left there), but most of them were hanging out indoors. Jerks! They're supposed to be cold weather animals! You're not supposed to huddle inside…
But as much as that part of the idea turned out to be a flop, it was made up for by the rest of the trip. Fall is definitely the best time to go to the zoo, just because it was much less crowded. A lot of the animals were more active too, which is probably because it was much cooler out.
We saw them feeding the elephants, one of which was a greedy bastard who took all of the food for himself. Pushed it all over into a little pile and wouldn't let the other two elephants get anything but a couple scraps here and there.
The biggest surprise was seeing that the red panda was up and about. (That picture is a lot better if you check the full size). The thing is usually sleeping in a little hole and you can never see it, but it was out and walking around very close to the fence area so i was about to get some good pictures.
It was excellent weather for just wandering around outside. Probably one of the last really good weekends before it starts getting too cold out to wander around comfortably for a while.
After we took in the outdoor sights, we headed inside to check out the various monkeys and birds and things. They added an exhibit of Sand Cats since we last went. They're basically cats that are adapted to living in the desert. They were the first domesticated variety of cats and I can see the resemblance to the modern day house cat. One of them was spazzing out and doing continual figure eight patterns around the exhibit while the other cat was staring at it like it was crazy
After we went to the zoo, we went around shopping as Wassy needed to pick up some art supplies and then headed back to their place to hang out for a bit. Jay was more awake. We ended up hanging around watching TV. She showed me how to do her version of Chicken Scampi which was excellent…adding another dish to my inventory. Then we watched the first Futurama movie which is something I really need to get the DVDs of. I missed the show when it was first on and it's totally awesome.
Sunday was just a very lazy sort of day. I played some Rock Band 2, did my laundry and a little cleaning…but mostly it was just kinda lounging around and relaxing. This week is going to be short and long. I'm taking Thursday and Friday off but this weekend We're planning a get together with my friends. And old school halloween type sleepover deal. Scary movies, visit to a haunted house, interspersed with various games and lots of rock band (I'm bringing my 360 over with me). I can't wait until friday!
I'll leave you with a final zoo picture, of a Meerkat and his lounging buddy.
Saturday Activities…In A Cup!
Jul 13th
Yesterday I went over to my friends place, as per usual on weekends. This week we had planned on going to see Wall-E, having dinner at their place and then generally hanging out for the rest of the evening. Which we did.
Wall-E was incredible. I can't say much without totally spoiling the story for anyone who hasn't seen it so I won't discuss the plot very much. What I will say is that it jumped instantly to one of my favorite Pixar movies, if not the absolute favorite. It's very different from their other movies. While the other Pixar films are aimed at kids with things thrown in for adults, Wall-E seems like it's aimed at adults with some things in there to please the children. I can't imagine this movie keeping the attention of young children for long.
The animation and everything was spectacular and they were really able to get across a lot of emotion in the way Wall-E moved and sounded. The story had a message to get across, but it wasn't overbearing. This truly was an example of animation as an art in moden cinema. GO SEE IT. And the short in front of the movie was my absolute favorite Pixar short ever.
After that we went back to their place after a couple quick stops to pick up a little ball they could stick a ferret in so it can roll around the apartment and stuff for dinner. While the food was being prepared, Jay played a little more Silent Hill 2 (which has finally gotten to the scary parts). We watched Batman: Gotham Knight while we were eating dinner (mmm…spaghetti and meatballs) which was kinda eh. The movie…not the dinner. It's a bunch of little batman shorts with animation from studios in japan. It was…strange and I really don't think the caliber of the people who worked on it managed to show through. A "the whole is less than the sum of it's parts" kind of situation.
After that it devolved into a general hanging out type situation as Wassy wanted to work on her art. I had brought my laptop so I played some City of Heroes while we watched a special on the Galapagos Islands. It was neat. Except for the part about the turtles mating habits. That was disturbing. I also didn't realize that there were penguins that lived on the Galapagos Islands, but there were. And after that discovery I was eagerly awaiting the section where they discuss the penguins…what I got was a brief mention and a little bit of footage when they were discussing the ocean currents that play a role in the climate of the islands. However, fate is cruel. Just after I left they started playing the documentary over again and Wassy sent me an e-mail saying that I had missed the penguin part because they did it right in the beginning. Bah!!!
All in all it was a very relaxing day
The Week Of Paper Penguins
Jan 23rd
I think I may have mentioned that I have a 2008 Origami page a day calendar for this year. If not, well…I just did.
Anyway, this week is the one that I and my unhealthy obsession was waiting for. Yes, that's right, the week I get to fold lots and lots of origami penguins! The first one was done today, after much trial and error. The wings in particular were quite difficult to figure out what the heck it was they wanted us to do.
Vox Hunt: What The Weekend Holds
Sep 30th
Show us what the weekend has in store for you.
A little too late to show what the weekend holds. How about what it did already:
Yep, I went to the Zoo and picked up my drunken penguins. They're now holding my wine. Woo.
Since I was at the zoo, I snapped a couple of mandatory pictures of animals. So here we go.
I'm too tired to post much more right now though, so a full roundup of today's activities will be forthcoming tomorrow at some point.
Moving Day!
Sep 17th
Well, not MY moving day. I went over to my friends place today to help them carry their large items from their storage space into their brand spaking new apartment.
Yeah…their couch is really heavy. REALLY heavy. And their mattress is HUGE. I never want to push a mattress that big up a flight of stairs ever again.
I'm going to be extremely sore tomorrow I think. We managed to move all the big stuff in around about 5 hours (with lots of rest breaks, one bottle of lemonade and one bottle of water). I should have wore shorts today. I'm definitely very tired right now.
Oooh, in addition to stealing their air conditioning unit (right after the weather started getting cold) I was surprised with an extra gift for helping in the move.
Penguin wine! Wooo! I have no idea how that penguin is holding that wine glass over there, but it doesn't matter. The artwork is just cool…and sophisticated too.
Anyway, I need to head out to the Syracuse Zoo and pick up a wine bottle holder thingy for this to use for some display action. Why the zoo you ask? Because the zoo had the absolute best wine bottle holder. It makes the wine bottle look like it's being carried off by a bunch of drunken penguins.
It rocks!
Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'm going to pass out…
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PENGUINS!
Aug 5th
I promised penguin pictures from the zoo and, darn it…I'm going to deliver! I forgot my full camera, but I took these using my camera phone. I want a penguin 
But since I can't have that…here's some pics of the Homboldt penguins at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse.
Too Hot To Think Up A Subject
Aug 3rd
You may have noticed I changed my blog theme. That's because it's been so hot out the past few days, I've decided to try and trick myself into believing it's cooler with penguins and icebergs. I don't think it's working.
It got up to at least 90 yesterday, probably a little higher and it's going to do the same thing today too. Last night I escaped to my friends place which was much, much cooler than my apartment was. We went out to dinner and then did some more music listening. I also played with their cat some. I want a cat someday…Well, I actually want their cat (or a clone of their cat) but, it'll probably be a while before both things are actually possible. In any case, going over to their place last night made yesterday feel like Friday, which it wasn't. So now I feel like I'm working on the weekend and, since we're planning on going out to Syracuse to the Zoo this weekend, well…today is going to crawl by too.
I also spent some time yesterday reorganizing my facebook profile since another one of my friends uses the site that I didn't know about, so I figured now that I have 3 friends, I'd spruce the place up a little bit. There's an awful lot of face book apps out there these days.
That's about all there is to report for now…I promise penguin pictures when I get back. Higher quality penguin pictures considering I now have an actual (although broken) camera.
Washington DC Trip – Day 4 and 5
Mar 22nd
Day 4 was a low activity day for us. After feeling like we were going to die from all of the walking the night before, we decided to cut back on the planned activities. We dumped Mt. Vernon, the interactive science museum and the aquarium. I was looking forward to the aquarium the most out of all of them, but I'd rather make sure that we did the zoo.
It was a good decision, since we spent the entire afternoon at the zoo. It was (thankfully) a shortish walk away from the metro stop.
There's not really a heck of a lot I can say about activities here since it was mostly just looking at animals. Memorable creatures included the Maned Wolf, which as we learned, has very, very strong smelling urine which they apparently use to communicate.
We saw a lot of birds as well, especially of the common variety. Squirrels and ducks showed up in force, including where they were least wanted…in a crane's water hole. We saw one crane that looked rather annoyed that they were there.
We also saw an Emu that I could have swore was showing off for the camera. It enjoyed hanging out by the fence with all the people there, striking bird like poses and basking in all of the attention.
One of the more active animals we came across was the Red Panda. This little guy was running and jumping all over the place which was semi surprising since the red panda's at the local zoo just tend to sit there and do nothing.
They had Giant Pandas as well, but I was unable get a really good shot of one because of how far away from the fence they liked to hang out.
Unfortunately, my camera battery died about halfway through the zoo, so I wasn't able to get as many pictures as I would have liked. I was so tired from all the walking that when we got back to the hotel room the past two nights, I forgot to charge it. It's got a pretty good battery life otherwise though, as I found out.
Another camera hiccup…it seemed to enjoy focusing on the cages the animals were in and not on the animals themselves. So I ended up getting an awful lot of pictures of wires and bars with fuzzy animals in the background. Oh well…I know for next time.
Lunch was at the zoo. A little over eight dollars for a Mcdonalds style burger and small fries. I suppose it was going to fund animal conservation though, so that's all right. I bought a little stuffed penguin at the panda gift shop even though they don't have penguins at the zoo (figure that one out) and was teased by my friends for collecting "dolls". Everybody has a hobby! There's nothing wrong with it! NOTHING!
Dinner on Day 4 ended up being at the hotel restaurant which ended up being really, really good for a pretty decent price. After that, it was bedtime since we were leaving pretty early the next day in order for me to be back for the second round Syracuse NIT mens basketball game I wanted to see Monday night.
Cut to the next morning we were all feeling pretty blah. We pack up, and go to load up the car. Tragedy strikes…we left the dome light in the back on when we were unpacking…4 days ago. The battery was dead and the maintenance guys with the jumper cables and battery stuff weren't going to get in for another 20 minutes. We waited back in the hotel lobby. Eventually they arrived, but they weren't the brightest group of people in the universe and it took them about an hour and a half to figure out that they needed to bring their truck around and jump start it that way.
Finally we left and after an almost stop-free ride back home, my friends dropped me off at my parents house and then we left immediatley for the game.
Vacation…complete.
For more day 4 pictures, you can check my flickr account. Click here!
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