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elcome back to my newsletter, it has been a NOVEMBER. I started off pretty productive creative wise, then went on vacation, then came back, started work, and now I kinda just pass out every day. That's the american dream baby!Projects
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began this month on a bit of a roll with the neopet sprites, churning out 3 new sprites as well as 3 remakes! I'm actually really proud of how these came out. I particularly like cybunny and the way her fur looks. Jubjub was strangely difficult considering he is just a ball with feet.
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nd for the remakes... ultimately I just needed to make them smaller since they looked out of place next to the larger neopets, like there was too much empty space. Acara's head highlights feel wrong but I might just revisit it another time.
Books
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his month I got libby (free reading app you just need a library card) which means I will actually be reading regularly.
Annihilation : Jeff VanderMeer
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have finally gotten around to reading the book that my favorite movie is based on. I have heard in the past that the movie and book are different, but I was not expecting the amount of changes made, to the point where the entire meaning of the story was changed (imo). Interestingly though... I feel that both versions were uniquely great. While the movie had a greater focus on visual horror and action, the book really went all in on the psychological / "horrors beyond your comprehension" aspect. Also, the movie did the main character, the biologist, so dirty. She has so much more depth and her relationship with biology is extremely relevant to Area X and how she interacts with it. Also she doesn't cheat on her husband...T
he book is definitely slow, but I found that it works well for this story considering the book acts as her observational journal. Personally I loved reading through that style of narrative, but I understand where some may be disappointed, especially if they watched the movie first and were expecting the same kind of action and pacing. I felt that the biggest change, though, is the role the psychologist (leader of the group) plays. Without spoiling too far, it changes literally the meaning of the title, lol. Even with so many differences, I loved so much about this book, and still have so much love for the movie as well."In glimmers, in shreds of thought, in the aftermath of my reading, I wondered if he kept a journal still, or if the dolphin's eye had been familiar for a reason other than that it was so human. But soon enough I banished this nonsense; some questions will ruin you if you are denied the answer long enough."
Who Goes There? : John W. Campbell
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his was unintentional but I guess I was craving turned-into-a-movie books this month. This is the book that The Thing is based on. I have not seen the movie in a very long time (christmas movie for next month??? there's snow!!!) so I can't make too many comparisons from memory, but the book was okay whereas I remember the movie being much more interesting. The ending was a bit corny in my opinion, and I am almost positive it was omitted from the movie (rightfully so...). Also, it is much harder to keep up with so many characters in book form, especially with such a short story. Ultimately though, not bad and it is pretty short so it doesn't take long to get through. Still a fun read all things considered.Life
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e visited my home state, California, for a week. I really try to appreciate where I live now, but when I go and see the ocean and the mountains and its all just right there... man I miss it.
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lso... shame on so many people!!! The main lookout from the mountain we visited was absolutely littered with trash!!! And this isn't just "oops a wrapper fell out of a few pockets" and "napkin blew out the car", I'm talking full blown TRASH everywhere. I can not imagine making a whole trip to visit a mountain and throwing your garbage all over it? Like you have to have atleast a bare minimum appreciation of nature to make so much effort to get out there but apparently not! I can not emphasize how appalled I felt seeing trash all over the TOP OF A MOUNTAIN!!! Genuinely evil you guys.
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ell... atleast one final domain that humans can't fill with trash (yet?) is the sky. There were some very lovely skies I got to capture in California, which have been added to my sky collection.
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n other LIFE news, I started my new job at [COMPANY]. It is a warehouse job with a lot of lifting so I am going to be absolutely ripped soon. The other day I had to get groceries after work, and I bought a rotisserie chicken and just ate half of it for breakfast. My upcoming BUFF BOD needs protein...
