zOMG I'm still alive!

Yes, I know you've all been wondering if I'm still alive and I figured I'd drop in to say that I am. I've been pretty busy with work and other shit in my life. My management job takes a lot out of me. I'm sad to say that I've hardly even thought about doing any type of art lately and I'm glad that my wireless mouse died or my Wacom would just be sitting and collecting dust, but instead I do everything with my stylus instead of a mouse and find that to be pretty convenient.
I finally got my Canon PowerShot A70 repaired and am quite happy about that. I miss having that camera. It takes such wonderful pictures and was my first digital.
I'm currently transferring old videos to DVD for my parents, and of course for myself. I rented an old super 8mm film projector and have had bad luck with it lol. The first one came with a broken belt so I traded it out and the second one worked for about an hour before a different belt broke on it. Now I have to talk to them about trading that one in for a third, but I don't think they will be open again until the 26th, so I'm working on transferring the old Hi8 to DVD, which luckily I can do since we located my dad's camcorder.
Oh, I've also gotten addicted to this site called Furry Paws. It's a pretty cool site and is kinda like Neopets in a way, but not really. If you check it out and want to join say that user #606927 told you about it. ;p

But yeah, like I said, I'm alive.

ttfn and until then...
Chaz

Humberto update

Well, The Houston/Galveston area was spared. Luckily we didn't take a direct hit from Humberto. We didn't even get the 10 inches of rain that was predicted. I'm glad about that. I wouldn't be able to drive anywhere in a Firebird if it was flooded...

Preparing for TS Humberto

We're getting ready for a direct hit from Tropical Storm Humberto. Currently, the wind is 15 mph with 21 mph gusts. The rain hasn't really hit yet. It's just been a light rain. If you want to see what it's currently like for my area you can go to [link]

Finally some good news

I finally got a new job. I'm currently in training to be a weekend manager at the local Schlotzsky's. So far I've been enjoying it. My feet are tired cause I'm not used to being on them so much, I'm used to sitting behind a desk for the most part lol. The people are great. I've only met a few of the people who will be working under me and they seem pretty cool. After this week is over then I'll be done with my training and will be going to weekends, plus a few week days so I can get my 40 hours, or close to it.

It's been a hard week...

I haven't been on here much this week and I'm not sure if I'll have the time soon. Hopefully I will. General Bailey, my old ROTC teacher and my old boss at CCISD and my current boss at BMI, and his family are going through a very rough time. His daughter, Yolanda (39), was a victim of a murder-suicide, where her fiance shot her then took his own life 6-8 hours later. She left behind two children, a son who is 10 and a daughter who is 8. Luckily the kids were staying with their grandparents last weekend. I've spent the better part of the past week at their home helping as much as I can. I met Yogi a few times but never really got the chance to know her. After spending so much time with the family I know that her death is truly a loss. She was a wonderful person and had a huge heart.

New Addition to the Family

As some of you know, Dox passed away on the 5th around midnight. He was almost 15 years old. My parents went to a local shelter (Pasadena Animal Control) and found a cute little guy who needed a good home. Hank looks like he might be a Dachshund/Beagle mix. He was found wandering around outside an apartment complex in Pasadena. He's already fitting in perfectly. He's four or five months old and already goes to the door when he needs to go out. He's only had two accidents, both being on the rug by the door, I guess we just didn't notice he needed to go out in time. He already knows that an open fridge means food and will stand there while you pull things out.



Ok, my parents have gone little dog crazy lol. When they went to the Pasadena Animal Shelter they originally went to look at a female Dachshund, but found that a couple had already said they wanted her, so they looked at Hank and got him. Friday my mom called the shelter to ask about the little girl and they called her back on Monday and told her that the couple backed out and decided on a different dog and that she was available... so my parents got her. She's 1 year old and LOVES my mom. Her name is Cleo and she seems to be a little submissive, not sure what her background is. The shelter told my parents that her previous owner brought her in because they got a new dog and couldn't keep her, but her submissiveness doesn't fit into that. When you say "No!" she cowards down like she's going to get hit. She growled at me on first contact, but warmed up a little by the end of the night and was letting me pet her. Tonight when I walked into the house she barked then when she saw it was me she ran over and jumped up on my leg. She let me hold her and wanted to jump in my lap while I was sitting down, but Hank already had his head there lol.

Rain, rain GO AWAY!! Don't ever come back!

No, it's not raining, at least not the type of rain you're thinking about. It seems that somehow I've managed to get a dark black cloud over me and it's not just raining bad things, it's in a fucking downpour. I lost my job 2 1/2 weeks ago and still haven't found a new one. I'm going to have to move before the end of the month because I am behind on my rent and have no job to pay my bills. And now, my parent's dog has passed away. He was almost 15 years old. I'm ready for this evil storm to finally go away. I can't handle all of this shit. I need hugs and support, but the people that I need the most live too far away to be able to do that, so their words and hugs online will just have to do.

Rest in Peace Dox

Unemployed

Well, I can finally say screw you O'Reillys! Today I was let go. Am I sad? Nah. I'm actually glad that it's finally over. Yeah, it sucks that I don't have a job and that I have to find one ASAP, but O'Reilly's doesn't know how to treat their employees. They treat us like shit. We work anywhere from 8-11 1/2 hours with NO LUNCH OR BREAKS. You better believe that I'm reporting them for that. I've also applied for unemployment. I kinda knew it was coming. Last week Mitchell (ass kisser) told Anna that I hadn't been pulling tickets and hadn't helped. Well, no, I hadn't pulled tickets, but Gina pulled a bunch and asked me to put them on the HUB shelves and said she'd pull the other tickets, so that's what I did. He saw me doing that too, but I guess that isn't helping. And when Anna confronted me she didn't want to hear my side. She told me "I don't want to deal with this. Just clock out and go home." So I did. They can all go screw themselves. Well, except for the few that are cool. They know who they are.

Sorry I haven't been around much. Life sucks as usual. Been dealing with a lot of shit.

27

Ok, so I am now offically 27 years old. On Satuday, Cara and I went to Scout Bar for the St. Patrick's Day concert. There were 5 bands playing that night, but I only really cared about Faktion. I hung out backstage with them while Deadbold Zen, Feeding James, and Melovine played. I was rocking out at the stage for Faktion, then hanging out with them by their merch while Vallejo played. Jeremy gave me one of his drumstick after they played :D I got the guys to sign it. Then some dude was passing out these cheap Miller Lite St. Patrick's Day hats and I got them to sign that too lol. I also got a very stylish Faktion hat that I absolutely love! Cara got me a few shots for my b'day and she made me some yummy cookies.

Yesterday I went out to eat at Olive Garden with my parents and my grandma. I honestly wasn't expecting that since my parents paid for me to get an eye exam, contacts, and glasses for my birthday a week ago.

Today I'm debating on going to a stupid inventory just so I can make a little more money, but meh, it's my birthday and I don't think I want to spend it with stupid people at work :D

Tomorrow I'm supposed to go have lunch with Cara's mom, Judy (the lady I do silk screening and digital art for), and General Bailey (my old boss from the school district).

Maybe this year won't be so bad.

26 + 1

Monday is my birthday. Not really looking forward to it. I'm actually expecting it to suck as usual. I'll probably be working on the 19th, so it will be just like any other day. Cara and I might get together this weekend. She was talking about getting together for St. Patrick's Day and drink a little green beer. We might also go out and take some pictures on Sunday. So, don't be surprised if you see new pictures in my gallery.

Ranting and raving watch out I'm on my soapbox

I realize that I'm not all that active on deviantArt lately. I had thought about leaving, at least for a while, if not longer... But then Sarah got a hold of me on MSN the day I was going to post a journal saying goodbye for a while and made me feel all loved and stuff and asked me to come back to her chat so she could make me a co-founder. How could I possibly pass up an offer like that? Even when the person I'd really rather not deal with is in that chat. So of course I told her I'd go back into chat, as hard as it may be to even look at that screen name. Some of you know who I'm talking about, and as for that person, if you just happen to read this, I just want you to know that what you did was a fucking sorry ass thing to do. I should have cussed your ass out right then and there but no, I'm too nice of a person, I push the hurt and pain aside and try to be civil and say that maybe we can still be friends. All I have to say now is fuck that idea. Anyhow, I don't know how active I'll be. I've been in a serious bought of depression since the beginning of the new year, ya know, that kinda happens when someone makes you feel like you aren't worth shit. Too bad you can't be a fucking man, grow a set, and deal with what you did to me. But anyhow, I'm getting by. I'm trying not to dwell on shit I can't change. If I can pull myself together and get some art done then I'll post it.

Oh, on another note, my brother, Matt, is going back to Iraq around the end of the month. What a great birthday gift huh?

S.A.D.

It has come to my attention that we are only less then a week away from S.A.D. Just in case you don't know, S.A.D. stands for Singles Awareness Day a.k.a. Valentine's Day.

Gone for 5 days

Just wanted to let everyone know that I will be visiting my family in Sealy for the next five days. Crystal is in town with Lane so I finally get to see my baby nephew. I'm sure I'll have a camera full of pictures when I come back home.

God Bless Texas

There are 5,000 types of snakes and 4,998 live in Texas.

There are 10,000 types of spiders. All 10,000 live in Texas, plus a few no one has ever seen before.

Raccoons will test your melon crop, and let you know when they are ripe.

If it grows, it will stick you. If it crawls, it will bite you!

Nothing will kill a mesquite tree.

There are valid reasons some people put razor wire around their house.

A tractor is NOT an all terrain vehicle. They do get stuck.

The wind blows at 90 mph from Oct 2 till June 25; then it stops totally until October 2.

Onced and twiced are words.

People actually grow and eat okra.

Green grass DOES burn.

When you live in the country you don't have to buy a dog. City people drop them off at your front gate in the middle of the night.

The sound of coyotes howling at night only sounds good for the first few weeks.

When a buzzard sits on the fence and stares at you, it's time to see a doctor.

Fix-in-to is one word.

There ain't no such thing as "lunch". There is only breakfast, dinner and then there's supper.

"Sweetened ice tea" is appropriate for all meals, and you start drinking it when you are two.

"Backwards and forwards" means I know everything about you.

"Jeet?" is actually a phrase meaning, "Did you eat?"

You don't have to wear a watch because it doesn't matter what time it is. You work until you're done, or it's too dark to see.

You measure distance in minutes or hours.

You can switch from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day.

Stores don't have bags. They have sacks.

You see cars with the engine running in the Wal-mart parking lot with no one in them, no matter what time of the year.

All the festivals across the state are named after a fruit or a vegetable.

You install security lights on your house and garage, and leave both unlocked.

You carry jumper cables for your own car.

You know what "cow tipping" and "snipe hunting" are.

You only have four spices in your kitchen: Salt, Pepper, Ketchup, and Tabasco.

You think everyone from north of Dallas has an accent.

The local papers cover national and international news on one page, but require six pages to cover Friday night high school football.

The first day of deer season is a state holiday.

You know which leaves make good toilet paper.

You find 100 degrees a "tad" warm.

The four seasons are: Almost summer, summer, still summer and Christmas.

You know whether another Texan is from East, West, North, or South Texas as soon as he opens his mouth.

Going to Wal-mart is a favorite past-time known as "goin Wal-Martin" or "off to Wally-world."

You describe the first cool snap (below 70 degrees) as good chili-eatin' weather.

A carbonated soft drink isn't a soda, cola, or pop....It's a Coke regardless of brand or flavor.

Texans understand these jokes. If you do too, forward them to your friends from Texas.

AHHH Hell is frozen!

Ok, not really... But it's currently 33F (1C) in Houston, TX and well...that's close enough to being hell for me. Not only is it almost freezing, it's also drizzling, freezing temps...rain on roads...ice...Houston drivers... bad wrecks... Ok so Amanda is staying off of the roads now that she is back home in her very cold apartment. Why is it very cold? Well, because I hate gas heaters and am only using my little space heater, which doesn't do a whole lot since the window next to my bed isn't sealed properly and it leaks cold air in. Which could be part of the reason that I'm sick right now. Stupid dumb apartment.

Truly Original Survey

Would you do this?

1. Join the Military or the Mob?
military

2. Turn a close friend in if they committed a serious offense ex. murder?
yeah

3. Make one porno if it meant never having to work again?
no

4. Cheat on your bf/gf with your biggest crush if there was no possibility that they would EVER find out?
no

5. Eat spoiled food from the garbage or go hungry?
hungry


What if...

1. In your relationship you find out you are going to have a baby but one of you doesn't want it. Who has the right to choose?
I do

2. Your partner had to work overseas for a year, would you consider playing around?
no

3. You find out before having sex for the first time with your partner that they have a highly contagious STD, would you still have sex with them?
no

4. You are in a serious accident in the middle of nowhere and your only chance of survival is to cut off your own arm, would you do it?
maybe

5. You had to kill a member of your family if it meant you would save thousands of lives, would you?
If it was that bad of a situation then yeah, even though it would be harder then hell to do it


Yes or No

1. Have you had cyber-sex?
no

2. Would you masturbate in front of your partner?
if they wanted me to

3. Would you tell your partner (who you really love) that they are bad in bed?
no

4. While having sex, have you ever thought about someone else to keep you turned on?
n/a

5. Have you ever looked at a family member and felt sexually attracted to them?
no


What do you think?

1. Gay marriage is wrong?
hell no

2. The night of your best-friend's wedding their fiance comes on to you, should you tell your best-friend?
of course

3. You catch one of your parents having a one-night-stand, should you tell the other parent?
I’d talk to the one I caught first

4. Your partner wants to go to a "swingers" club, would you go to keep your partner happy?
don't know

5. You are about to tell your spouse that you want a divorce but they just found out that a close family member is dying, do you still tell them?
no


Finale!

1. Would you/Have you ever fake illness to get attention?
no

2. You are the first to arrive at the scene of an accident but it turns out that the person hurt is your worst enemy, do you help or walk away?
I’d help

3. You have a non life threatening sexual disease, would you have a one night stand without telling the person?
no

4. Do you think it is important to tell the truth or spare someones feelings?
would depend

It's 2007!! Survey

1. HOW OLD WILL YOU TURN IN 07?
27

2. WILL YOU BE IN SCHOOL?
no

3. WILL YOU BE WORKING?
yes

4. ARE YOU PLANING A CAREER CHANGE?
not at the moment

5. WILL YOU MOVE OUT OF TOWN?
not that I know of, but who really knows

6. HOW MANY WEDDINGS WILL YOU GO TO?
none that I know of

7. HOW MANY BABY SHOWERS WILL YOU GO TO?
one that I know of, even though she’s already had her baby

8. WILL YOU GET MARRIED OR ENGAGED?
doubt it. Not even in a relationship

9. ARE YOU SINGLE OR TAKEN?
single :(

10.DO YOU THINK THIS WILL CHANGE?
I hope

11. WHAT IS YOUR MAIN FOCUS FOR 07?
become the person that I think I should be and stop being what everyone wants me to be

12. HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU WANNA MAKE IN 07?
enough to live comfortably

13. ANY NEW RITUALS FOR THIS YEAR?
not really

14. ANY NEW HABITS?
I’m sure I will obtain some

15. ANY HEALTH GOALS?
lose some weight

16. ANY RELATIONSHIP GOALS?
yeah, to get in one that’s worth it

17. ANY CAREER GOALS?
make more money

18. WHO WILL YOU HANG OUT WITH THIS YEAR?
Cara, among others

19. ANY BIG TRIPS PLANNED?
no

20. WHAT KIND OF CAR DO YOU DRIVE?
96 firebird

21. WILL YOU BUY A NEW CAR THIS YEAR?
hell no

22. WHAT WILL MAKE YOU MOST HAPPY IN 07?
not sure. Probably just being myself. If I make more money then better finances. If I get in a relationship then that.

71 things

1. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again?
never been kissed

2. What song describes your relationship status?
Hate – Plain White T’s

3. How much does your dog weigh?
umm around 20 lbs I think

4. Are you a heart breaker, or the heart breakee?
breakee I guess

5. Ever waxed your legs?
nope

6. Earrings or necklaces?
both

7. Who have you talked to most today?
people at work

10. Color of your shirt
green

11. How many years have you taken a language?
Oo

12. Who's on speed dial 2?
don’t use speed dial. Voice recognition rocks

14. Do you wish on 11:11?
Oo

15. Good advice if you ever go camping?
beware of the boogey man!

16. Are you a bad influence?
>.> NEVER

17. What color are your eyes?
brown

18. Would you rather have your name or your siblings name?
I used to want to be named Crystal, I didn’t know that I had a sister named Crystal at that time. I tend to go by Chaz but that’s not any of my sibling’s names.

19. Would you do anything for someone?
Yeah

20. Have you ever been called a whore?
yeah, but jokingly

21. Favorite color?
blue, green, purple, and black

22. Do you use smiley faces on the computer a lot?
yes

23. What song is on?
none watching grey’s anatomy

24. Are your grades good?
not in school

25. Do you have any friends with benefits?
no

26. Would you date anyone on your top friends?
no

27. Does your best friend have a myspace?
yeah

28. Who's page did you last visit?
cara’s

29. Last time you went out to lunch?
yesterday, didn’t have lunch today

30. Do you watch the Gilmore Girls?
No.

31. Have you ever enjoyed listening to Jack Johnson?
Oo who?

32. Have you ever seen or enjoyed watching the O.C.?
nope

33. Do you have one or more Britney Spears C.D.s?
I have the first one. Not sure where it came from lol. I think it was left at my place by a friend when I was living with my parents and it first came out. Not sure if I still have it or not lol

34. Which radio stations are your favorites?
94.5, 92.9, 97.1

35. Are you a Lost fanatic?
used to be. Haven’t watched in a while cause of work

36. Still have pictures of your Ex?
yeah

37. Do you have a song by Ozzy Osbourne in your library?
I think

38. Alanis Morisette?
Love her

39. Do you watch Family Guy regularly?
no

40. King of the Hill?
used to

[[Admit it]]

41. Do you read trashy romance novels often?
I used to and there is a really funny story that goes along with that...

42. Do you ever forget to give a Christmas/birthday present?
yeah

43. Do you sing obnoxiously in the car?
of course I do

44. Do you sing obnoxiously in the shower when no one's home?
yeah

45. Have you ever watched a little kid's show?
Yeah

[[The Necessary Love Questions That Aren't So Necessary]]

46. Have you ever pretended your crush was with you when they weren’t?
no

47. Did you draw pictures for your first crush back in elementary school?
Oo how should I know

48. Have you ever liked a girl/boy but didn’t ask her/him out because you were afraid?
too many times. Going through that right now actually

49. Have you ever written a poem or story about your life?
yeah

50. Have you ever spent over an hour thinking about nothing but your crush?
yes, all the time

51. Have you ever liked someone solely for their appearance?
yeah, but mainly like celebs

[[The Questions You Love: Completely and Utterly Pointless Ones]]

52. Do you eat all the servings in the food groups on a daily basis?
No

53. Are you ever a freak about cleanliness or organization?
no

54. Have you ever been to South America or Africa?
no

55. Do you know how to knit?
kinda

56. Do you have a cell phone or iPod with a patterned cover?
no

57. Have you ever written love song lyrics yourself and put them in your profile?
no

58. Do you keep a diary or journal online?
kinda

59. When you open your closet, what is the dominant color?
darkness

[[Truly Unusual This or That Questions]]

60. Baskin Robbins or Coldstone?
Baskin Robbins

61. Physics or chemistry?
neither D:

62. Earphones or headphones?
either

63. Pink or teal?
Teal

64. Earrings or a ring?
both

65. Commitment or casual dating?
both, but I’d like the real thing

66. Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings or Star Wars?
Lord of the Rings

67. Fly or road trip?
I love both

68. Starbucks or Caribou?
Starbucks

[[Another Wave of Random Questions]]

69. What is your favorite Disney movie?
Pocahontas

70. How much jewelry do you own?
too much

71. Have you ever bought clothing at Sears?
probably. I know my mom got me stuff from there. Don’t remember me buying things from their though