BTW, the first draft of the last entry had a few righteous "fuck"s in it, but I'm trying to cut back on the swearing and save it for REALLY important bitch-fests, like when I complain about you unmarried twenty-somethings like a good grognard.

Amusingly, the other day I did actually yell, in all seriousness "You damn kids get off my lawn before I call the cops!" at the damn kids in the neighborhood. The fact that they were trashing my kids' toys and being rude little bastards might have had something to do with that, though.

Fuckin' kids. No respect for anyone else's property. Fuckin' lazy parents more interested in drinking and TV than controlling their spawn. PARENTING LICENSES! It's not just a good idea, it should be THE LAW! Fuck!

(See?)

I've been aware for some time that the Wild Hunt Studios website isn't exactly a stunning piece of visual design (though the coding was a pain in the ass), and since your website is basically an advertisement for your company and products, it needs a facelift.

The current design was originally thrown together as a placeholder until I could come up with something a little more catchy and visually intriguing (never underestimate the ability of a design to draw visitors, who may come just to look...but note, they did indeed come).

The aggravating part is that I used to be a world-class web designer and worked in the field for years, but for whatever reason once I left the business my design skills left me. Design work has been frustration and failure over the last few years. For examples, note the differences in design between Electric Ghosts and ORX, or my websites from the 90's and my current set of sites.

Seriously, I used to receive actual fan-mail about my sites that read along the lines of, "I have to confess, I browse to your site daily just to look at it. It's beautiful!" This wasn't fan mail about the content, just the presentation.

Thus, obviously I can do it...but where did it go? The stuff I have now is tame, constrained, uninspired. So I'm soliciting feedback, suggestions, and pity (hah! This is LJ, afterall). Seriously, though. Other sites to look at, specific designs to take inspiration from, critiques of the current layout/graphics/design would all be appreciated.

Yesterday sucked. Nine-and-a-half hours straight through, no breaks. Gah. Plus I unintentionally insulted someone I respect and so felt just "ugh" about that situation all day. Yay, internet: the greatest tool for communication ever invented that doesn't work!

Today, back at work again. Oy. I was sick of being here yesterday. Icing on the icky-cake.

I have tomorrow off, at least, then I'm producing at least two, maybe three, evening games this week. I'd actually be producing a game next Saturday evening, too, but I'll be out of town taking a day off for a Vampire tourney in the Cities. My boss isn't too happy about the timing, given:

1) the person I switched shifts with ended up not being able to work that day thanks to unforeseen personal issues and

2) I am the only person (other than him) who is trained to/knows how to run the equipment for the games.

I feel bad about leaving the station in the lurch, but I'd unfortunately committed to going well before I knew about the game. That included a promise to take a bunch of folks down with me who don't have a ride otherwise.

Though given the number of freaking shifts and other various work forth I've covered for other folks around here the last couple months, I feel bad, but I don't feel TOO bad. Still, I have to wonder if this is going to screw me for getting the time off for Forge Midwest.

Gods know there are times being the most consistent and reliable employee is a pain. Maybe I should take ridiculous amounts of time off, just not show up when I'm scheduled, never cover for anyone else or pull doubles, leave my work for everyone else, never learn how to run the equipment correctly, and etc. like half the other employees we've had.

Too bad I prefer being dependable and invested in the success of my workplace, especially when I like the job as much as I do.

So Jen picked up a DS for what us po' folk like to call Second Christmas, and she also picked up Zelda: the Phantom Hourglass for me, even though I don't own a DS. But I am a manly man and so I play it using her pink DS, secure in my masculinity.

Ok, I'm lying: I whine about it like a bitch. I mean, it's PINK. Fuck. The bedroom sheets are pink, the pillow cases are pink, and now the DS is pink? COME ON!

Regardless, I have spent the last week or so playing Zelda and completely neglecting my Xbox 360 and Assassin's Creed. In fact, I played it so long one night that I was physically sore, mentally exhausted, and beginning to hate the game, yet I couldn't put the damn thing down.

Honestly, it was a bit like eating too much cake: you can never have enough cake, until you've had too much and the very thought of more cake makes you want to gag, until the following morning when you think, "Ummmm, cake," and lick your lips expectantly, like a zombie about to bite down into some fine, fresh, irresistible brains. Ummmm, braiiiinssss...I mean cake.

Also, Jen has out-written me. Over twenty-five thousand words and a complete short story in a week. I would shake my fist at her but what's the point? I would only be shaking my fist at myself. And sleeping on the couch...which is occasionally more comfortable than the bed...hrm...

Ok, so I won't because I'd only be shaking my fist at myself.

But I am very happy for her, and grumbly (...wish I could write twenty-five thousand words in a week...mumble, mumble, grr...) The rest of us un-gifted peons should commiserate now. I'll buy the alcohol.