Personal Digest Saturday: March 21 – March 27

Life news this week:

• Saturday I just hid from the world mostly and made a cake that was supposed to look like it was moldy on purpose. That was a lot of fun, haha! But now I won't know if it's actually gone bad. :/ I finished my blogging, talked to my sister, and did my dishes. Also got some more drawings done for a comic.
  
• Sunday I did laundry and karaoke as usual. And I made some meringues which I fashioned into a cloud. Talked on the phone to Meg and finished all the drawings for my fan comic. This has been a long time coming--I wrote it over a year ago!
  
• Monday I was up and working by 8:30. I did a bunch of adjustments to a proposal to add a team member, which meant changing a bunch of stuff throughout. Did some website updates for the company and took a break to go to the post office to send packages. Wrote my usual webcomic and processed the fan comic I was making. Paid my taxes. Got my outlines written for upcoming podcasts. And watched a new episode of SU that got released ahead of the finale.
  
• Tuesday I baked the smaller cakes for my graduation cake: 4-inch, 6-inch, and 8-inch. Also worked on Negative One drawings. Found out we ranked #1 on another project. Wow! But we still have to do an interview. I made a cake topper out of fondant for my cake. It was a lot of work because I had to dye all the pieces myself. I exchanged funny photos with Meghan and planned food with Jeaux.
  
• Wednesday I made the large cakes for my graduation cake: the 10-inch cakes. At work I updated Access databases and got more drawings done. Jeaux came over to take me grocery shopping and we made pasta at home while listening to a funny podcast. We watched Owl House and after he left I stayed up super late to finish my Negative One processing.
  
• Thursday involved a LOT of database work. I was in and out working on it all day, like late into the night, because I wanted the next day off. I also had to take a quick trip to the store to get powdered sugar because I did not have enough to make enough frosting. I talked to my friend Steve and had a weird problem with my garage door that I fixed. I also talked to my mom while drawing a picture for the upcoming Steven Universe finale. And I paid my bills.
  
• Friday happened. I worked early to submit a proposal and send my boss some reports, and I popped in at the end of the day to send out timesheet reminders and voicemail checks. In between, I posted my webcomic and I made my cake. It had four tiers (each 2 layers) and in between each layer was three kinds of filling. Plus various ribbon decorations and frosting. Wow! And it came out so well and was delicious! I cut two pieces for Jeaux and me. Later he picked me up and took me to his house for the finale of Steven Universe. It wasn't as hard to see it go as I thought, but I still cried of course! (So did he.) We ate our cake and also some frozen food to avoid complications. We talked about the show and then I went home. And just kinda . . . spent the evening taking it all in.

New reviews of my book:

• Concetto Salvatore gave it a five-star review on Goodreads.

Reading progress:

• Finished Reading: Nothing this week--I haven't been riding the bus and was too busy to make time for reading.

• Currently reading: Emma by Jane Austen. I'm on page 225.

New singing performances:

This week's karaoke song is "Wild Child" by Enya.




Stuff Drawn:

A link to my fan comic "Always Be There":



Promo drawing for the episode "The Future":

Webcomic Negative One Issue 0776: "Looking at Us."









New videos: 

None!

New photos:

Mold cake

Mold cake

Mold cake

Meringues

Amethyst on a cloud of meringues

Meringue breakfast

Cake topper: Off Colors

Cake topper on the top tier!

Graduation cake!

Detail on the graduation cake

Overhead view of cake

Posing with cake

I am so proud

Inside the cake

Cake after the finale

Social Media Counts:

YouTube subscribers: 5,270 for swankivy (no change), 681 for JulieSondra (lost 1), 18 for v & V Vids (no change), 88 for Not-So-Giant Women (2 new). Twitter followers: 963 for swankivy (lost 4), 1,357 for JulieSondra (lost 1). Facebook: 300 friends (lost 1--I unfriended someone for racist comments) and 217 followers (1 new) for swankivy, 645 likes for JulieSondra (1 new), 62 likes for Negative One (no change), 162 likes for So You Write (no change), 26 likes for Not-So-Giant-Women (no change). Tumblr followers: 2,498 (lost 1). Instagram followers: 197 (2 new).

Personal Digest Saturday: March 14 – March 20

Life news this week:

• Saturday I got a bunch of my work done early on my blog and my planning for my podcast recording. I also managed to make a little bit of fun food before jumping onto the podcast recording. It was a pretty good day.
  
• Sunday I had plans with Steve but we decided to cancel because of social distancing. We talked on the phone instead while I made funnel cake! I usually don't like funnel cake but this was surprisingly yummy. Later I made corndogs too so I could use the oil twice. Homemade corndogs are delicious! I did laundry and singing, and got some drawing done too.
  
• Monday I started working from home. It was the beginning of one of my most stressful work weeks for some reason! I got up early and went to work online and there was SO much to do. I put on my big girl britches and tackled everything, got a bunch of input done on my contract for District 1, and had to quickly edit and submit a letter at the end of the day. I had to tackle utility stuff and a proposal too. Very hard! I talked to Steve again on the phone while sorting comics I received (mostly for a friend).
  
• Tuesday was a bad day. I worked (from home) for a long time entering data for the new contract with District 4. The project manager has quit so I didn't have anyone to ask for help, and though I was able to figure out what to do with some struggling and some researching, I also found out there's a whole second aspect to the submittal that no one told me about (and the ex-manager didn't know about). I also tackled a bunch of hard stuff because when I'm stressed out I just go into overdrive and do All The Things. I had to proofread and coordinate with utilities and deal with a postponed proposal. After I finally got off work I talked to my mom and Meggie to calm down. Then I just did a bunch of fun recipe research.
  
• Wednesday was another pretty bad day. For the first half of the day I did the final data entry for my project (wow, entry complete in a day and a half!), and then my boss picked me up to take me to the office because I didn't want to ride public transportation during the virus outbreak. My boss needed me to help produce some proposals. We decided not to reply to a couple opportunities because there were no delivery options that would get us there in time, but I produced one and got it ready for my boss. We also looked at the requirements for the District 4 submittal. Deadline on Friday. Yikes. Then I went home and started a transcript that was needed. Jeaux picked me up and we went grocery shopping carefully. Then we made chili! And I could actually eat it even though I thought I wouldn't be able to! We watched some of the new Brooklyn Nine-Nine season.
  
• Thursday was another hard day but not as bad as the previous two. I got up super early to finish the transcript I'd been asked to make, and then took a nap, and then got up to complete a changes list for my data entry and update a tracking chart. Eventually I took off a little early and made some hash browns and later made my own homemade oyster crackers! Victor called me and we chatted while I was cooking. I got most of my art done for my webcomic.
  
• Friday was the most stressful day. My boss had figured out what he wanted to do with the deadline and he pulled in one of my other co-workers to help me bust out this data once we figured out what to do with this inventory stuff. We were both uncertain about how to do it but we gave it our best try. (And the other lady had to call me nine times to coordinate because we were both working from home.) But we finished it and got the submittal in before we quit for the day. Whew! So after all that I managed to get a doodle done for the SU episodes in the evening, and Jeaux picked me up. We got takeout pizza and watched the episodes. They were kinda traumatic. Yikes. We talked about the show a bit and went home. I had to finish my comic and then I watched the episodes again and cried a lot. Next week my favorite show is going to be over.

Reading progress:

• Finished Reading: Nothing this week--I haven't been riding the bus and was too busy to make time for reading.

• Currently reading: Emma by Jane Austen. I'm on page 225.

New singing performances:

This week's karaoke song is "Every Breath You Take" by The Police.




Stuff Drawn:

Promo drawing for the episode "Fragments":

Webcomic Negative One Issue 0775: "In Three Dimensions."









New videos: 

None!

New photos:

Homemade funnel cake!

Cooking homemade corndogs!

Corndogs done!

Amethyst cosplay while eating corndogs! (She likes to eat 4 at once.)

Homemade chili!

I put cheese on mine!

Homemade oyster crackers!

The cutouts of my oyster crackers.

Me with my oyster crackers!

Wearing my Mr. Universe shirt while watching an episode called "Mr. Universe."

Social Media Counts:

YouTube subscribers: 5,270 for swankivy (3 new), 682 for JulieSondra (2 new), 18 for v & V Vids (no change), 86 for Not-So-Giant Women (2 new). Twitter followers: 967 for swankivy (2 new), 1,358 for JulieSondra (2 new). Facebook: 301 friends (no change) and 216 followers (1 new) for swankivy, 644 likes for JulieSondra (lost 1), 62 likes for Negative One (no change), 162 likes for So You Write (no change), 26 likes for Not-So-Giant-Women (no change). Tumblr followers: 2,499 (lost 2). Instagram followers: 195 (no change).

Personal Digest Saturday: March 7 – March 13

Life news this week:

• Saturday I got some cleaning done and got all my blogging done before my friend Kari arrived to hang out! She brought pizza! We hung out and caught up for a long while, and watched some cartoons too (episodes 141 through 146). She secretly brought me a golf ball for my collection that was painted like a Steven star. :) After she left I just made an Amino post and went to bed.
  
• Sunday we had our clocks go forward an hour but I didn't really notice. And it was my sister's birthday; happy birthday L! I cleaned up last night's mess and did some laundry, recorded a karaoke song, processed a podcast, and did some drawing. Then my dad came over for dinner! We went out to our favorite sushi place and caught up on everything that's been going on with us. He gave me some good advice.
  
• Monday I did some proposal stuff and worked on a long letter of response, and had to wrestle more utilities and data entry. Tried to hang out with my mom after work but she didn't wanna so I did more drawing.
  
• Tuesday I had to come in early to bust out a proposal. We had it ready in time but the website for submission was messed up and when I notified the client they said they would fix it and postpone. Welp! Did some data entry and utility stuff afterwards, and then again couldn't get Mom to come by so I did more drawing. I got a featured post on Amino so it brought out the buttholes and I had to deal with an argument there and also some wrestling with weirdos on Reddit. I hate when I give undeserving people too much of my time.
  
• Wednesday I updated the company website and worked on paperwork and photos. And utilities! Jeaux and I ate at Saki, went shopping, and watched Owl House and Colbert.
  
• Thursday was pretty disappointing. All the cancellations and regulations slamming down over the virus finally made my New York trip impractical, so Jeaux and I put forward the motions to cancel it. Spent the work day dealing with signatures and forms for upcoming proposals. Mom finally came over and she gave me lemon cake and pudding! We hung out. It's usually the day I talk to Victor but I ended up being able to talk to him after my mom fell asleep on the couch. Then she woke up later and went home. I got all my drawing done.
  
• Friday was another weird day. It was my coworker Mike's last day because he's moving to a new job. So we had a group lunch at Outback to send him off, and he got a nice clock as a parting gift. We spent the rest of the day wrestling utilities. I tried to get some reports done too but I didn't finish. I also sent my tax documents to a CPA firm to get them done for the first time! Whee! After work I went to Jeaux's house for new SU episodes. They were pretty emotional and I cried over both of them because I'm a nerd. Then he took me home and I finished my comic posting and watched the episodes again and went to bed.

Latest reviews of my book:

• Jess gave it a three-star review on Goodreads.
• Ria Bridges gave it a five-star review on Goodreads.
• Dan gave it a four-star review on Goodreads.

Reading progress:

• Finished Reading: Nothing this week.

• Currently reading: Emma by Jane Austen. I'm on page 225.

New singing performances:

This week's karaoke song is "Carrie Anne" by the Hollies.




Stuff Drawn:

Promo drawing for the episode "Together Forever":

And also here's a silly two-panel comic I drew called "Favorite Couple." But you have to be up to date to get it and pretty well-versed with the show.

Webcomic Negative One Issue 0774: "Do It Like You."









New videos: 

Not-So-Giant Women Episode 6: Cat Fingers




Also I forgot to show you this ukulele song last week: I recorded a pretty bad rendition of "Happily Ever After" from the Steven Universe movie. I sing all four parts--a verse for Steven, a verse for Pearl, a verse for Garnet, and a verse for Amethyst, with a wrap-up.



New photos:

Just some cool pics from our going-away party for my leaving co-worker.

Parting gift

Group at the table

Group outside Outback

Social Media Counts:

YouTube subscribers: 5,267 for swankivy (lost 7), 680 for JulieSondra (no change), 18 for v & V Vids (no change), 84 for Not-So-Giant Women (no change). Twitter followers: 965 for swankivy (1 new), 1,356 for JulieSondra (3 new). Facebook: 301 friends (2 new--I friended a SU fan from a group and a new name for an existing friend) and 215 followers (2 new) for swankivy, 645 likes for JulieSondra (2 new), 62 likes for Negative One (no change), 162 likes for So You Write (no change), 26 likes for Not-So-Giant-Women (no change). Tumblr followers: 2,501 (lost 1). Instagram followers: 195 (1 new).

Personal Digest Saturday: February 29 – March 6

Life news this week:

• Saturday was a nice packed day that involved preparing for my podcast recording, busting out a So You Write comic, and writing my blog stuff. I had a great time with Daria discussing episodes 23 and 24. After the recording was completed, I spent some time arguing with silly people about quizzes.
  
• Sunday I did things in a weird order. I did some pizza-making and cleaning, and then it turned out I forgot an ingredient so I had to bike to the store to get it while my dough was rising! Also made banana bread. I was able to get all my usual Sunday stuff done too--laundry, karaoke, trash. I did get to finish my pizzas and they were lovely.
  
• Monday I wrote some letters (getting closer to caught up!), worked on some letters for work and some utility stuff, and talked to my friends. I was happy to hear Victor got an interview! I connected with an OKCupid friend on Facebook and chatted with her while making and eating a nutritious cartoon-inspired dinner!
  
• Tuesday I had fallen asleep early the night before so I got up super early and cleaned up the kitchen. I slept a couple more hours before going to work. One of my longtime co-workers put in his notice! Yikes. I did some proposal stuff and some drawing. I received the new book The Art of Steven Universe The Movie and devoured it.
  
• Wednesday was a slow day at work. I did more drawing and hung out with Jeaux. We ate at GrillSmith (outside) and watched Owl House and Colbert and talked.
  
• Thursday I worked on a client list and dealt with another co-worker putting in his notice. (His day of giving notice was also his last day of work so we had to scramble to figure out who's going to do his work.) I processed my comic nice and early. Victor called later than usual and told me about his interview. I drew some promo drawings for the upcoming new Steven Universe episodes.
  
• Friday involved more client list stuff and more proposal stuff! After work I went to Which Wich? with Jeaux and we got sandwiches. We took them back to his house and watched two new Steven Universe episodes ("In Dreams" and "Bismuth Casual"). There are only 8 more left in the whole show! How sad! They were great. We went back to my place and I played around online enjoying the fandom response and contributing to it.

Interviews, articles, mentions:

• My book and a quote from me are mentioned in an asexual man's story about his arranged marriage.

Latest reviews of my book:

• Steven gave it a four-star review on Goodreads.

Reading progress:

• Finished Reading: The Art of Steven Universe the Movie by Rebecca Sugar/Cartoon Network. Five-star review.

• Currently reading: Emma by Jane Austen. I'm on page 164.

New singing performances:

This week's karaoke song is "You're the Inspiration" by Chicago.




Stuff Drawn:

Promo Art for SU episode "In Dreams"

Promo Art for SU episode "Bismuth Casual"

Webcomic So You Write Issue 105: "Distracted."










Webcomic Negative One Issue 0773: "Pictures of Bad Things."









New videos: 

None.

New photos:

Reenacting a cartoon (with tomato soup)

Pizza 1

Pizza 2

Social Media Counts:

YouTube subscribers: 5,274 for swankivy (lost 2), 680 for JulieSondra (lost 1), 18 for v & V Vids (no change), 84 for Not-So-Giant Women (no change). Twitter followers: 964 for swankivy (lost 5), 1,353 for JulieSondra (1 new). Facebook: 299 friends (2 new--I friended two people from OKCupid) and 213 followers (lost 1) for swankivy, 643 likes for JulieSondra (lost 2), 62 likes for Negative One (no change), 162 likes for So You Write (no change), 26 likes for Not-So-Giant-Women (no change). Tumblr followers: 2,502 (lost 1). Instagram followers: 194 (lost 1).