Imogen Heap at Shepherds Bush, London UK

In this pic, Imogen is using the Roland ax-1 for voice sound effects. My dad will be proud when he sees this one!


Last night, Jassen and I were lucky enough to attend the Imogen Heap gig. All in all, it was a good performance, but on another note, the audience was pure and utter rubbish. You know the saying that one rotten apple spoils the whole barrel? Well, that was this case, especially during the two opening acts.



The first to appear was Zoe Keating from California. She is a cellist and did a most excellent job at what she does. She records the cello at the same time she is playing, since she is a one woman band, and it sounds beautiful. The crap part was that the audience were all talking and shite and it was hard to hear her and Jassen and I were the 2nd row centre!

Zoe made it a point to slyly remark on how loud the audience was, but they really couldnt take a hint. Granted it was only about 35-40% of the people being arseholes, it was just so disrupted. You could tell that Zoe was fed up with the audience on her 3rd song and when she left, the audience all clapped, but i think it was just because it was something to do. Half the people, im sure were sincere in their clapping.

Next was a guy named Jon Hopkins. He was a cross between Jonny from Radiohead and a DJ. I thought he was average and it made me feel my hurting feet and back quite a bit. FINALLY, at 925-930, Imogen took the stage. What a vibrant character. She had come out before each of the opening acts to support them, which i thought was super cool on her part.

(Imogen Heap aka Frampton Comes Alive remix)

Her songs are almost nearly as good if not better than on her albums and she has a talent for her voice. She did about the same thing as Zoe and really is a one-person band as well, but tonight, a few times, she had zoe come out as well as Jon and others to help her support her sound. There was also this rapper dude that came out and I had no clue as to who he was.



For the encore, Imogen came out in her dress that was used for her latest video that isnt out yet. She wanted an excuse to wear it again!



And a backview!

I'm still just a bit peeved at the audience, the people in front were annoying and you just knew they were complaining about how close we were to them(but its a concert people). There was a bunch of fcukin chatty birds behind us with quite atrocious laughters. They complained about the fact that Jassen was only there to take picture. Granted we did take over 100+ fotos, it isnt our issue that they werent quick enough to be in front of us(plus they were all short and probably couldnt see). Then one of the friends managed to squeeze next to me, and I had even less room, felt a bit sick and uneasy and the atmosphere was pretty much negative.

I commented on the Imogen myspace about the audience not being that great, and one person commented that it was rude of me to say that. Instead of being childish and commenting back on the myspace public forum, i sent her an email instead, so that was fun. People kinda suck, but there are some good ones out there. Sometimes I wish i was still as naive as I was when i was small, but I know that could never be me.

Am I that cynical? If that is the case,I need to tapper down.:-/

A little ditty

that I wrote a few minutes ago...
I dont know if I like it that much, but Jassen thinks that its one of my better writings in a while...

so, here goes..

What if we are as old as the universe
With out a beginning or an end
Would all of our enemies
Eventually become our friends?

And this life we have together
Will it always be
A part of each other
An infinite harmony…

And when this life is over
Is dust the only thing remains?

Is love stronger than our physical chains
And human mortality?

We are not a “chemical romance”
Although sometimes it may seem
The spirit is the momentum
Of you and me.

YET Another AI creation!!

In the spirit of spring and pervy old men!

Another AI creation!

Here is something else that I cooked up, via Adobe.....I think I am getting a bit better at the program, but there is still loads to learn, in regards to manipulation.

ENJOY!

Okay...round 2! T-shirt idea

(TIME PASSES)

YAYNESS! I figured it out!!

:-)

More piccies...

This is Ally Pally, when I went on Thursday....brrr, what a frigid day!



These are the trees that I sat under while I wrote in my journal of sorts!



THIS is a funky looking picture and since I like to embarass both myself and Jassen, I hope you guys enjoy this!:-p



And I love this picture. I came downstairs from some reason or another, and what do I find? The cutest kits ever!! So, of course, I just HAD to take a picture...awww, so sweet!

T-shirt Idea

Sparked by the idea of possibly submitting for a tshirt design, or just a mess with Adobe Illustrator, here is something that Id like to call Bunny in love...To me, it makes me think of FUNNY in love...cuz I really am....plus easter is around the corner, so I thought id hop to it, and do something festive.:-p

Enjoy and comment, please!;-)

PS...After looking at the dl of the picture, the colours, I believe, have been inverted and I dont know why....the bunnies are indeed suppose to be red, so we shall see what is up!!

Sooo....while you wait...have some cake!!Jassen and I made it yesterday!

Late in the hours of a sunday...

that just seemed to have passed my ass by....:-/

Today was somewhat eventful.

On Jassen's agenda, he had the greatest of intentions to test out our new cake tins as well as our culinary skills.

Result: We made a chocolate cake from scratch. It didnt taste half bad either. The only drawback was that it was a bit dry, but we will fix that for next time, by creating a layer cake and putting either some kind of frosting or nummy jelly in between, OR make chocolate frosting from scratch.

The kits were uber active today, so hopefully they sleep well tonight(my little gemini kitties!!)

It is SUPER windy out this evening. The window in the bedroom is opened up a weeeee crack, but the wind is hissing through it like its is business! I kinda find the sound soothing...kinda like the sound of winds after a storm....so calming...*falls asleep*

Tomorrow, I should be working on animating with Raf. I need to get together the animations that i did for a scene, put it into Adobe Premiere, check its flow, and then continue on drawing of my part of the scenes. I am on Scene 1 Part 5, in regards to the drawing bit and I think after that I have about, either......4 or 5 other parts for that scene. My goal is to get it sketched out and inputted into the computer and tested, etc. so that maybe for the following week, I can go over it with pen and ink to finalize it a bit.:-)

At the moment, I think we have about 30 seconds of the animation inputted into the computer, although, not complete, but its something. In total, we are looking at the project being along the lines of 2 to 2.5 mins. So about 25% or less there!!

That is something cuz these things take forever, plus I was sick for pretty much more than half of March....I CANT BELIEVE THAT TOMORROW is the 27th of March!!! It seems like this month just flew on by...where does the time go???

On the 30th, Jassen and I are heading to Shepherds Bush to see Imogen Heap, so that should be good, from what people have said about her, in regards to past experiences of her concerts.

Also, Jassen and I have been fortunate enough to get tickets in the presales for Radiohead in May. W00t!! Its been nearly 3 years since I have seen them last, so it will be a nice little "refresher course" to see them once more!

I hope that they end up playing at Glastonbury next year, cuz that would totally rock my socks in a major way! We shall see, I mean that is more than a year a way!!

I will post some piccies of the cake as well as the kits, etc as soon as I get some sleep and that sort of thing. Oh, also, Ive been kinda hooked on the new Tetris for the Nintendo DS...SOOOOOO GOOOD...but the addiction is not so good.:-S

Ah well...

Take care all!!

x

Hiya!

Warning: Thinky/weird post of my internal ramblings.


Here I am, in the abyss of me..I guess I must see the outcome(the concept of my abyss); I mean, if I can label something, is everything that I say and do based on a faith that I sometimes subscribe to?

Maybe I am just another lonely god in a universe that I have created for no one?!

I felt the need to read up on a little Friedrich Nietzsche:

"One must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star."

Are we the essence of something so very self containing, but we don't know how to control? OR, are we caged animals in a cell, wondering what holds us here, thus the "chaos in oneself...give birth to a dancing star"?

If you only had one choice, between being something that contains(like a box) or the thing contained within, what would you choose?

What I am wanting to compare is that of existance to essence. Is existance just the box that contains the essence of something? Or does existance exist because of itself thus cancelling out the idea of essence, because one is the other?Therefore making the concept of something contained and the containment, nonexistant....

Do we look too deep into matters? Heck, I know I do, but how deep is deep? I mean, have I reached the core of the earth now or have I landed into a different dimension?

The stars are the blueprints of our existance, so many believe. But let's take it a step further; Go beyond horoscopes, past numerologies, and take a left after the palm reader....our egos seem to be bigger than any universe, but how would i know that? My perceptions and interpretation can only be executed by me and only me. Have you ever wondered if we created everything we see in front of us? All of our friends and relationships...I mean, in some sense, we do choose to develop relations with people around us, but why?

I feel like I can pose questions all day and but my answers most often, if not always are answered by more questions, making the plot even thicker. Are we not suppose to think so deeply, or is deep thought just a lilypad in the water; we can only hop to it, and not dwell, because surely the weight of our egos would sink our temporary foundation in to the murky swamps of our minds.

Life, the great balancing act....I am a trapeze artist, welcoming my fears, swaying too close to the edge. But I lie to myself, pretending I am afraid, so that I may learn something more about myself....this self that i discover in different ways each day.

Sleep, is it just a temporary death, or is it death itself and we are left unaware?
There are memories that die, that I collected like a little child on a warm beach elsewhere.

I get sand in the car, as my bare feet and calmy body slams down on a towel strategically placed in the backseat for my arrival. I look at my pail, my collections of bits and bobs, calms, rocks, and chards of colourful glass, that my mom would spank my wet backside, if she only would see, but it is up to me, my choice on whether or not I decided to sift through my collection, and perhaps and accidentally I would cut myself on the very thing I once thought as beautiful....beautiful enough to add to my collection of bits and bobs and other sedimentary things.

I get home and run to the back yard, and skimper to the ground below one of my favourite trees. The summer sun is pelting me with its excitement, it's only purpose in my mind was to warm my backside from the lakes, oceans, and seas that had it's way with me earlier on. I flatten my self on my stomach to the ground like that of a smooshed peanut butter and jelly and re-inspect my new findings. The sun felt soooo good in those days. It makes me want to cry, just a small bit, just to see if its rays are still brave enough to dry them away.

So much history can be found in rocks and such, so much. So, much that little do i realize my influence and impact on it, for I have moved its existance to another place, to be enjoyed, possibly by other people, or other little girls like me but could never be me. For it is me that is look at the shapes and the imprints of the sea at that very instance in time. No one else could be in that spot, really the only spot I own is me and my existance.

So, iIt looks as though creatures have lived here before as I look deeply at a shell. Is its existance only to be realized by a little girl? Maybe my imprints will be discovered someday, like the grease from my fingers, as the bits and bobs of the sea are analyzed thousands and thousands of years later on. It probably doesnt work like that, but you just never really know.

I exist. I am.
I'm Jen.
Nice to meet you.

:-)

Happy SPRING!!!

Today, makes me officially happy! Spring is my favourite season so BRING IT ON!!

Spring officially begins around the 20th of March in the Northern Hemisphere and then following suit, spring begins in the Southern Hemisphere around the 23rd of September. It would be interesting living on the other half of the world....just maybe.:-p

Anywhoz...Ive been pretty productive when it comes to the animation. I had it suggested to Raf that we do pencil sketches hardcore and then after some time, work on the inking of em. Ive been feeling like things have been slow when all we did was sketch and then ink forever, so Im glad I spoke up. I managed to get nearly 3 frames sketched out yesterday, so today when I head in, I will finish the 3rd, test it to see if it flows and then attempt to do a few more scenes. I am working on the first part of the animation at the mo, so quite possibly, I will have the first main scene and its frames sketched out by the end of Wednesday. I think the animation has picked up some more momentum, since really I have been sick for a few weeks. Luckily, my sickiness is nearly gone and out of my system, which makes me a really REALLY happy camper.

I hope everyone enjoys their day!

TaKe Care!

Happy Saturday!

Oh,...Im so glad its the weekend, not that I have been terribly busy, but sometimes there is such a build of the weekdays that I look forward to the weekend.*exhales*

This weekend, I will try to make the attempt to be a bit more motivated and go out earlier so that there is more of the day. I and well, both Jassen and I have a knack of just sitting around until its like 5 at night and think, whoa, we havent done anything really today, so lets go take a walk.:-/

I am really looking towards it being Spring. Less than a week now, but its been soooo freakin cold especially in the house as of late and it totally makes me not want to head out of bed, even if its to eleviate some pressure on my bladder, if you get my drift. Oh man, Im getting huuuungry! Toast sounds nice. I think I might have just that!

Oh, I am 15 pounds away from my goal of weightloss. I mean, I can't believe that since coming back from the UK in October/November last year, I have lost 20 pounds! Go me!

Take Care all!!

Happy St. Patty's Day, All!!

I do have to say, have a very greeny kinda day and remember to wear that green so you DONT GET PINCHED!!

On an odd kinda note, I really have to share a story with you....as to why St. Patty's day creeps the shit out of me!

When I was younger, I remember watching a little bit of that scary Leprechan movie. The night that I watched it, little did I realize what my dreams would be like.

In my dream, I was watching around and I ended up befriending a leprechan. All good and fine, but then somehow while we were playing, I stepped on him and he died. So, I was really sad when all of a sudden the little man came back to life. I thought, GREAT! He didnt die!! But instead of being playful and friends with me, he was coming after me to kill!

Needless to say, I screamed myself awake and my mom rushed to my bedside(which was a loft bed, me being on the top bunk). Man, that creeped me out. So, yea for celebration of short plaided green men with funny hats and gold, but boo to the terrible dream that scars me to this day.

:-S

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Piccie piccie Randomness!

This here is a picture of me in the alleyways of Edinburgh(pronounced Edinburra), Scotland June/July 2004. My my..dont I just blend in...:-p My face is also a bit weird looking. Kinda like a greek goddess.:-pHAHA




This is when Kyle(buddy I traveled to Scotland and Liverpool with) and I got a bit hungry and went into Edinburgh Castle to look around. Inside, there were a few converted shops and restaurants and this is one of the places. The food was good!




This is a an inverted picture of me in Liverpool July 2004 at the Merseyside(Mersey River). It was REALLY windy that day!



Alright Folks! You know that this HAS TO be done if you come over to the UK. This was in Liverpool and I just could NOT resist this phone booth.:-p




RAWR! This is me at the cavern club bar. They took the original wall of the OLD cavern across the way that I think was torn down and lo and behold its behind me. The significance of this is that artists that would perform there, would sign their names on these. Cool eh?

Allllllright!

I have my bowl of frosted flakes and a cup a tea, so here I am.

It's been a while.

OH, just to let you guys know, I NOW have a music myspace, so check that out when ya want to!

Music Space

Pretty much for a week and a half, I have been a sickly one. I am nearing the end of my sickiness and hopefully I will be at 100% in the next day or two. The Imogen Heap tickets that were ordered for her concert at Shepherds Bush 30/3 are in the area, but we missed the post guy to get them, so we will have then specially delivered this Saturday!

I got some feedback of her live performances by randomly messaging people on myspace and I got good responses, so I am very looking forward to the show!

So, yesterday, I went over to Raf's around 1130 and worked on things until close to 430. I managed to pencil the whole scene and need to do one more acetape thing, which is this transparent sheet that you draw a stationary object/s on, so you dont have to do it over a million times! So, I will do that and then I will start the grueling process of pen and inking 39ish frames, with the help of Raf, cuz this is alot of frames for just one scene.

Basicially, this is the scene in which Jack opens his front door and steps outside, walks down the steps, turns and walks off towards the bus stop. There is also a few other details in it. The process is fun, but if youve been sick, it makes you tired faster, at least IMO. I will probably head over to pen and ink at about 1130/12, cuz ive been feeling superly tired as of late.

Last night, Jassen and I watched Dancer in the Dark. I have already seen the movie once with my best buddy Val, so it was nice to see it again, although its rather depressing.

It is a bout a woman who moved to the states with her son in order to work and make money for his eye surgury that he has no idea about. What Selma(Bjork's character) has is a hereditary disease that makes her go blind and he son has it as well. So, she is a factory worker that daydreams and shit happens that makes the story uber uber sad. I recommend it if you are a fan of Bjork and like sad movies. Alright, i am going to enjoy my tea now.

Take Care!
x

Double ARGH!

This just makes me a bit erked.

I tried convincing Valparaiso to get Guster to come play when I was attending school there. They said, "no, they are too expensive,blah blah blah..."

So, two years after I tried to convince them, they are playing there, for the first time(although they might have played at a frat house there before). ARGH!!

Not fair.

:-/

Remember that comment I made in Remix Magazine?

Here is the link where you can see it!

I didn't realize that the best letter of the month would get stuff! Unfortunately, mine was eclipsed by others. :-p

Jen's comment


From Remix Magazine-March 1st, 2006

HOMOGENEOUS ART

I just wanted to comment on how much I enjoyed reading the February 2006 “Editor's Note.” I agree with the whole point of “focusing so much on one thing” because life is a balance, and too much or little of something isn't always the best.Nowadays, it does seem that there is a lot of recycled music out there. The intent for most groups is to emulate other groups already out there because, for the time being, that formula seems to work.

It makes me think of the downfall of MTV. In the beginning, it was new, zesty and happening. Then it started appealing to the demographics. By doing so, it allowed the viewers to shape the programming when many of the viewers are clueless as to what they really like. MTV focused so much on pleasing its demographic, that it lost the plot.
Jen Abbott
Portage, Ind.

So, yes...

Ive been away for a few days due to the flu.

Ive been uber ill, so its really hard to concentrate and write blogs, etc.

Im noticing that im getting more spam so it kinda makes me want to put up the word verification, but i hate those so i dont have it activated.

So, now I think Im gonna go keep my cup of orange juice company. You guys take care and keep well!

x

Oh no! Dare I say it?

Another survey....

W00T!

1. Do you still talk to the person you had your first kiss with?
heck no! Apparently, he just got out of jail after raping a diabetic comatose girl. wow. i knew how to pick em.:-S

2. What would you do with 1,000 plastic spoons?
create a spoon castle!

3. What did you do when you were in school in the 2nd grade?
I read A LOT of books...over 500+ and just so i could eat all the personal pan pizzas at Pizza Hut!

4. What is the best thing about your job?
That I don't really have one? :-p I am doing an animation project at the mo and it's fun cuz I think I have a talent at it!(thus far)

5. Do you have a crush on more than one person right now?
Just my boo!!

6. Are you against same sex marriage?
No, but if people are only getting married for tax purposes(this goes for the heterosexuals as well) that kinda irks me.

7. Did you vote for Bush?
I have voted twice..>TWICE against him...voted for the lesser of two evils.

8. Where are you going on your next vacation?
Maybe somewhere in France or Germany, depending on if i would have issues or not visa-wise.;-/

9. Have you kissed any of your myspace friends?
Yes and on their cheeks too!(not butt cheeks, mind you)

10. Are most of your friends guys or girls?
I would say that girls and guys are about equal, but at the mo, I am guessing I have more guy friends since im surrounded by sausages...:-S

11. Do you own any furniture from Ikea?
In the states I do...duvet cover

12. Last book you read?
Oh think think think....I read the BFG. That was good!

13. If you could have one super power what would it be?
To know the future when i want and if i dont like it, to then resort to not knowing.

14. Where have you lived most of your life?
NW Indiana

15. What was the last conversation you had about?
Mystery shopping

6. Where do you see yourself in four years?
Let's see. In four years, I will be nearing 29, probably in the UK, and preggers?:-p

17. What's your favorite smell?
Fresh cut lawn, warm rain, cucumber melon, lilacs, sweet pea, my bf's farts...sooooo kidding. Just seeing if you are paying attention still!

18. What is your favorite sound?
Thunderstorms, my kittens purring, Jassen's voice, good music

19. Are you moody?
What are you talking about? me? moody??? grr....yes.

20. Favorite movie of all time?
This is a tuffy, since I like a few...but I really do like Garden State and I really do like Vanilla Sky, but I will throw a wrench in the spokes and say the Ghost and Mrs Muir

22. Have you ever gone to therapy?
No....but maybe i should have

23. Have you ever played Spin the Bottle?
Not really...no

24. Have you ever toilet papered someone's house?
Not that I can recall

25. Have you ever liked someone and not told them?
Of course!

26. Have you ever gone camping?
Yes...a few times. Does Glastonbury count?:-p

27. Have you ever had a crush on your brother's friend?
No...since i dont have a brother...but sister's friend, sure.

28. Have you ever gone to a nude beach?
Sorta....but i didnt see any nudes..

29. Have you ever gone streaking?
In my house.

30. Have you ever had a stalker?
Maybe....a really good one that i still dont know about.

31. Have you ever gone skinny dipping?
in my bathtub.

32. Have you ever laughed so hard you cried?
that's usually how it works.

33. Have you ever gone to a party where you were the only one
there?
as in no one else showed up? what kind of party is that?

34. Have you ever felt betrayed by your best friend?
Yes...ive had a fewwww best friends in my day.

35. Have you ever lied to your parents?
Who doesnt?

37. Have you ever been out of the country?
Yes...and I am now.

38. Have you ever thrown up from working out?
Nearly.

39. Have you ever gotten a haircut so bad that you wore a hat for a month straight?
Nope

40. Have you ever eaten 3 meals from 3 different fast food places
in one friggen day?
heck ya!

41. Last song you listened to?
Probably an elbow song....but to be honest, the theme song to brokeback mountain as i watched a preview.

42. Have you ever spied on someone?
Yes..

43. Have you ever slept with one of your coworkers?
Im not a skank.

44. Have you ever seen your best friend naked?
Not really best friends from the past...I would consider Jassen my best friend, so if that answers the question.

45. Who was the last person who called you?
Rafster

46. When was the last time you slept for more then 12 hours?
Probably when i was sick.

47. Have you ever been arrested?
Nope.*cue angelic halo to appear over noggin*

48. Most embarassing CD you own?
I cant think of any write now, so i must have good taste!

49. Have you ever stolen anything?
Maybe...

50. Have you ever had surgery?
Nope...*knocks on wood*

Wowzers...

I haven't really updated in a few days, so...

Ive been working on the animation project and I have about 3/4th or more of the scene on working on sketched out. After that is completed, I will then be doing some pen and inking. Raf is sick today and I didnt have but about 4-5 hours of sleep, so I believe we will be calling this a day off.

I found out some bad news as Jassen and I were looking up news about Janet Jackson. Apparently, Johnny Jackson, the original drummer of the Jackson 5 was murdered. I actually KNEW him, since my dad was in a blues band that went to Japan, so he came over to the house a small bit. Also, his other cousin Smooth Jackson(forgot his real name), who played the trumpet, me thinks.

My social studies teacher from middle school, Mr. Fessler, also died a few days ago. Seems like winter has some people at their clutches or something. *sighs*

Anywhoz, I think today, I will JUMP into the shower and get nice and SqEAKy clean, then climb back into bed sleep a bit more until i feel rested. Later on, Ill do some drawing for my portfolio.

Take Care ALL!

What a..

tiring day!!

I went out to Central London with Raf and the first plan of attack was to find Kenton Wireless, in order to return my dad's broken wireless System. Mission Accomplished!

The place, although considered to be London was actually in Surrey, so that was cool!

Raf and I stopped at the local Burger King and the food was soooo delish, cuz i was ravished!

Here is a piccie of the inside!


After that, we got a bit lost, asked direction at a corner shop and then got on the right path. In the end, there was a more direct route that we discovered on the way back to the station, which was Colliers Wood!

After, we got off at the Embankment Station and grabbed a Starbucks, which was delish!! Then, we headed towards the London Eye. Hey there folks! I got my third eye!!




Here is a piccie of Raf posing like Atlas...but with the London Eye on his back!




We then walked towards Big Ben and then down the road towards the tube station once again. At this pt, we got off at Charing Cross Station and went to Trafalgar Square in which i got a bit of water from a terracotte dolphin!
See photo below.




We then briefly popped into the local museum, i forgot the name, and then headed towards an art store. After, we went to starbucks so that i could od on another coffee thang! We then got on the tube at Leicester Square and made our way back to Wood Green. It seemed like it took forever to get back home, but here I am...and im TIRED!!!

At least I have Elbow playing to soothe my aching muscles...*le sigh*

TGIF!!

This week has been long but short.....yea, a bit of a contradiction, but it makes sense to moi!

So, today, what the plans are involve a bit of busing, tubing, starbucks-ing, as well as picture taking, and returning...

IN reference to the animation project:

For one of the scenes, it will involve Jack going all monty pythonlike on our a$$es! So, sightseeing is in order! I will be heading to Central london in a little more than an hour with Raf to take pictures, also go to the natural history museum(i think thats the one) to see a huge pickled squid!!

And somehow through all this commotion, I will have a coffee from the bucks of star!

I am also on a mission to return a UHF wireless midi system to Kenton to be fixed or whatever. So, that will be a bit more south west-ish. It should be a good day, me thinks. After all of this, We are heading to some kinda tree looking bar place and Jassen will be off of work by then and will meet up for a round of drinks, or two, or three, or five..:-/ Robert, another one of Jassen and Raf's friends, will also be meeting up with us...

YAY FOR FRIDAY!!