I posted the files for my freelance client this morning, so now I'm just waiting for feedback and potentially more work. I'm using today to work at the library on preparing another job application based on the HR query I received Friday night. I plan on submitting that tomorrow. I'm also going to work on a few illustrator tutorials so I can revisit some t-shirt ideas I had. There's a sketchbook somewhere in my apartment with some old ideas that I'd like find. Drawing time was so craptastic last week, that I'm reluctant to continue. Still, I'll give it another try this week. Ugh. I really need another anatomy class.

The central library in Brooklyn is having another book drive, so it's time to take another look at my bookshelves to see if there's anything I can donate.

I watched an ep of Mystery Files this morning on Netflix about Pope Joan, a woman who disguised herself as a monk and was elected pope. There's a debate among medieval scholars about whether or not she actually existed. The next documentary I watch will probably be about a Michelin star sushi chef who lives in Tokyo.

I received more work from my current freelance client, which I finished on Friday. That means I have at least one more invoice to submit! I also got a call from a new recruiter about a potential freelance project, but we mutually agreed to follow-up after Labor Day weekend, since I have this project plus some photoshop work to complete for the magazines.

I finished PENNY DREADFUL last night and according to Wikipedia, it was renewed for a second season.

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I finished the Graduation eps of Buffy this morning during breakfast/email time. Yesterday, I watched the finale of True Blood, which left me kind of meh. [Spoiler (click to open)]At least they didn't kill off Lafayette. I'm still kinda pissed about Tara and Alcide. ::shakes fist:: If I don't watch tonight's SPN repeat, I'll check out the remaining eps of PENNY DREADFUL.

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I've been doing a bit of work on my art director inbox, and that will continue tomorrow as well. I'm still searching for new artists via the web. I have a few leads I can follow up on. I spent some time googling for more stuff to draw, and I found a few possibilities. I'll probably work out of the library tomorrow, since I don't have anything scheduled.

I started watching HAPPY VALLEY this afternoon, a police procedural set in Yorkshire. I noticed that there are Inspector Lynley books available at the library, but the waiting list is long, so I think it's going to be a while before I get a chance to read it. I'm on the fence about the Iris Johansen mystery I'm reading.

I've been crazy busy this week with my freelance project, but I spent part of today following up on a couple of job leads and my art director inbox. I have a couple of hours left of the freelance project that I plan to wrap up tomorrow morning. I also need to spend part of this weekend outlining a ux design idea for the potential interview. The company is based in CT, but because I'd be a contract worker, I could work remotely. I sent off the mobile UI animation I did in After Effects, so we'll see if I get the interview.

I watched part of last night's VAMPIRE DIARIES ep, and realized I have no clue what's going on. I then switched back to re-watching Buffy eps on Netflix. I'm currently in the Mayor's arc. I'm a few issues behind on the Buffy and Angel comics, but I should check the library to see if they have the most recent anthology.

I'm curious to see the new Doctor Who premiere tomorrow night. I think there's some sort of special about the tour on tonight.

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I have yet to watch ep1 of OUTLANDER, which I think is still available for free online. I spent my birthday alternating between first Buffy Xbox game and watching it on Netflix while doing small stuff around the apartment. I took the whole day off from doing anything work related, so that was pretty exciting. I have Buffy: Chaos Bleeds for the Xbox somewhere in the media cabinet, so I'll try to find it sometime this week. I'm still behind on ARROW s2 and THE ORIGINALS so I may to watch a few eps this week.

I'm on the fence about THE LEFTOVERS, but I'm 2 eps behind, so maybe something has happened. I'm only behind on this week's ep of TRUE BLOOD, but based on the live feed comments from twitter last night, I don't think things have improved.

I also need to check my lj feed for vividcon recs.

This past week was a bit weird. Like most people, I've been watching my social media feeds explode with the police shit show happening in Ferguson. I watched it start with all the other black folk I follow on facebook and twitter then all the white people I follow on twitter and tumblr. I don't think I've ever seen that happen before. That was super weird. I wonder what it will mean long term for the conversation about race relations in America? What will happen the next time a black person dies in police custody? I'm wondering if there are more than a few police departments across the country being put on notice because of it. Here's an article about stop and frisk here in new york.

My actual birthday was on Friday, but I got a birthday surprise from a bunch of friends on Thursday night, which included Castiel cupcakes from counteragent. Technically, the ban on buying me gifts is still in place, since I'm still building up my freelance work, but I got a couple of gifts from friends anyway. I'm enjoying my new sketchpad, art books and digital comic book subscription immensely. I also got a call from my nieces in TN and I believe I'm also getting some new refrigerator art in the mail from them soon. I had a nice conversation with my sister as well, but that's nothing new since I get along with both my siblings quite well. They are awesome and the only reason I bring myself to deal with other parts of my family during the holidays. The real surprise was the nice conversation I had with my mother. My guess is its because she is too busy being annoyed with my brother-in-law. I feel bad for him, but its nice to have a break from being the one on the receiving end of her crazy. I guess I will tag in at some point to take the heat off them.

I have a freelance project coming up that represents from repeat business from a client. I'm hoping the trend continues. I'll find out more on Monday, but I'm hoping the assignment will go for the full week.

The tech support house call went ok and I wrapped up a small delivery job this morning. I decided to stay in Manhattan in case any other jobs came up, and spent the day working out of a starbucks and the b&n in usq. I also spent some time checking out the art and design section of the bookstore and found a few titles I plant to search for at the library. I had a brief glimmer of a freelance job for next week, but the company decided they didn't need help after all. :P Unless something comes up, I'll spend Friday at the library working on a couple of design and programming tutorials.

I saw a few cookbooks in the bargain books section of the store, but managed to resist. I see that b&n allows you to save books to pinterest, which is handy. Wagamama and The Complete Irish Pub Cookbook were the ones that caught my eye.

I may have a phone interview coming up with an company based in Jersey City. I spent today at the library doing a bit of research in preparation. I also spent some time working on some art director tasks.

Still rejoicing in having such a powerful laptop. I got so used to staring at the beach ball for extended periods whenever I did something in photoshop, it's a little shocking to have things done so quickly. I look forward to checking out how the new macbook performs when I start to explore Adobe Premiere! Working in After Effects is also pretty snappy. I only needed to do the first three beginner tutorials in order to complete the mobile UI animation tutorial I found. I posted the result to my work twitter. Still working on something of my own design that I can animate for my portfolio.

I went to a friend's house on Wednesday to get some help with my dev environment issues, which resulted in a lot of errors I only sort of vaguely understand. :P

Still stalling out on my anatomy drawing work. I'll try attacking that again this weekend.

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I'm still making my way through the AE tutorials. I'll hopefully finish another one this afternoon. I am anxious to get to that mobile UI animation tutorial I found. I'll probably try to spend a few days at the library this week with my laptop. I also need to start a new drawing. Anatomy continues to kick my butt.

I sent out a bunch of artist queries this week, and I got a few replies. I still have a bit of a wait to find out if I'll receive any signed contracts this week. I did finally sign one artist to the new magazine assignment I got in May. I think I only need one more artist to close out 2014 on the other magazine, which will give me a bit of breathing room to focus on the new one. It's proving a bit more challenging to source art for the new one, since they have a specific look they're going for.