Apparently, it only took me a little over a year to change a layout. Aren’t I amazing?

Yeah, I still need to put up the RSS link, the search form, add the contact form… and finish re-styling the Q&A page, but COME ON: it’s a bloody new layout!
Yes, this means that I have most of the old (make that ancient) content up, again. It hasn’t been rewritten because… I’ll get to that soon enough, hopefully. Feel free to notify me of any inconsistencies and broken links. It’s quite possible I missed some stuff

Next time, I’ll try to reduce things to exactly one year. You know: baby steps and all that.

P.S. Happy (somewhat belated) New Year

I… have no idea how to start this without sounding all pathetic and apologetic. First of all, let’s make something clear:I’m not sorry for not updating. As such, I express this singular fact by bolding the words. Nothing convinces people more than screaming at them¹.

To prove my dedication to this site, I’ve decided to take on a new challenge! No more Photoshop! Instead I’ll go with open source/free software. In theory this is all nice and fine, but GIMP SUCKS BIG TIME! The next person to insist that GIMP could easily replace Photoshop is going to… um… get glared at? I’ll be working on my technique, for maximum efficiency.

Just as I experienced with finding a “less bloated” CMS²: I started out, by expecting to find Photoshop only for free and possibly with a different name. Still, I have finally managed to settle with Paint.NET… after I installed a truckload of extensions. Still miss the custom shapes from Photoshop though. *sulks*

Oh yeah, and I’ve been trying to find inspiration for a new layout. Things look… almost promising?

Current status:

• » 20+ new screenshots of web2.0 style layouts for inspirational purposes
• » 50+ stock images of crumpled balled up papers
• » 50+ stock images of shopping bags
• » 20+ stock images of hat boxes
• » 10+ bookmarked tutorials for drawing notepads with a graphics software

So basically, I have all the best intentions. It’s just that there’s a certain… ah… type of manga that’s so shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy³…. I swear, every single day I promise myself, I’ll start working on that new layout. If only I wouldn’t get inspiration while at work…

________________
¹ That’s sarcasm, in case a certain someone is doubting my sincerity.
² I’m still convinced that Chyrp has a personal vendetta against me.
³ Minami Haruka’s works being the spotlight these past weeks.

Apparently packing brings out the best in me. Better said: it seems to amuse others around me greatly. Then again, maybe this was just a side effect, of a day filled with stress and swearing at Internet Explorer. Oh yeah… and trying to do everything at the last possible minute also counted… probably

Cousin: You know . those shoes look like sneakers with high heels.
Me: Well… they ARE sneakers with high heels!

…

Cousin is eagerly eying me as I’m emptying a jewelry box.

Cousin: And now, we shall witness the complicated process of choosing one’s earrings.
Me: … or simply, my inability to remember where I’ve stored the necklaces.

Cousin is visibly disappointed, until I shove a simple pair of hoop earrings into my luggage.

Cousin (nodding sagely): Excellent choice!

Technically, I wasn’t quite this coherent… and I was planning a really surprising blog entry, but then this sounds so much more bloggable.
What are your packing woes?

That said, I’m off to Greece. *cue frantic waving of white handkerchief*