momecat

It is 5.30am on a Saturday and I'm awake. I don't tend to sleep more than 7hours max, and since I usually get up at this time on workdays it's not too surprising. At least it means I finally have some time and headspace to update my journal with a recap of the past week before I hit the gym.

The Festool cases finally arrived at work Monday. I got them as a belated (work related) birthday gift this year. Figuring out a preferred system of organization in them is a bit more daunting than I had expected when work is so busy. I'm going in to work today for a few hours, so might take a moment to sort through my tools while I do.



I've joined a sculpting club at work. Haven't really had a lot of energy or time to get much sculpting done the past few months, but last weekend I played around with nature vs man themes - having lichen/coral overtake the models face. Note that any potential similarities to 'the last of us' was wholly unintentional.



On Tuesday me, Joe and Jenny went and saw James Cameron's Aliens at the local Cinema. They were having an event called "Eat the Film" where they serve themed food throughout the movie. It was a great experience, delicious food that had some real creative tie-ins to the movie. My favorite has to be the "stomach caul impregnated with chicken & bacon mousse that's been inseminated with a soft-boiled egg, chicken leek casserole & crispy sweet potato tentacles" booy the texture/description really fit with the scene it was served for (it was real yummy though!).



( Work musings )

But hey, look at some cool stuff I worked on instead...

BTS video from Wētā Workshop about designing and manufacturing for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

3D printing Gwaihir for the Masters Collection: Salvation At Mount Doom collectible. Click through for BTS video.


Alright time to get ready for the day...

After a long time agonizing deliberating over what my first post on this journal should be, I've decided to simply and unceremoniously start - rip the bandaid off. Otherwise I'll probably end up never posting anything at all - and that kind of defeats the purpose of setting it up. And anyway, I've been missing and wanting to get back to livejournal'ing. Given that livejournal is a shell of its former self, it made sense to finally get on the dreamwidth bandwagon instead.


A rare lockdown walk in Southern Wellington.

Like most places around the world at this point (except, notably, my home country of Sweden) New Zealand is in Coronavirus lockdown.

( my coronavirus lockdown experience )

I don't know about other people but I find it really hard motivating myself to get into new things or engaging with stuff, and my sleep schedule is really messed up. I've heard some people call it Pandemic Insomnia? I just find that normalcy doesn't set it. And maybe that's bc of my living situation? Or because a lot of the people I interact with are in different time zones, so there's no incentive to get back to a normal routine? Yeah I don't know either...


WIP image of Walt from GK, click through to see the finished version.

But honestly one of the things that have truly helped me stay afloat and not completely lose track of days, or heck even weeks, has been heavyartillery's discord server and the lovely people there. Discord has really been functioning as a window to the world and other people in these trying times.

I feel blessed that internet allows me to stay connected, if remotely, to the people I care about. I'm trying to hold on to that and focus on the good things. Because they do exist!

I guess it's just so much easier to get caught up with the challenges and difficulties when writing and being introspective. I definitely aim to let this journal continue being a sincere but hopefully more upbeat account of my life. I've got some fun stuff planned and I intend to share creative pursuits as well as my opinions on shows, books, and other things I get up to.

I think I'll leave this first entry on that hopeful note.


One of few walks I've been on since the lockdown.