Tokyo Jungle Guide - It's Finally Done!

I love working on big, extensive projects.  They bring on a rush of creativity and get me so excited.  I delve right into the project with a really strong beginning.  By the time I get halfway through the project, however, I start to fizzle out.  The project becomes more laborious than fun, and the end is still a long way off.  At this point, I am always sorely tempted to "take a break" from the project and start a new one.  This was the case with my Tokyo Jungle Guide.  Typically, if you want to get some tips about a video game, you can Google the title and find a lot of different fan-made guides to help you out.  When I typed in Tokyo Jungle, however, I could not find a single guide on the Internet.  I was all like:

"Now's my chance to do something no one else on the Internet has ever done before!"

So I got started on my Tokyo Jungle guide right away!  I love collecting data and organizing it, and plus, I got to play one of my favorite video games over and over.  It just didn't get any better!  But when I hit the halfway mark, I was sick and tired of Tokyo Jungle.  The thrill of the project had worn off, and since I was spending so much time playing a video game, I felt like a neglectful wife and a worthless bum.  But right-brainers are infamous for not finishing what they begin, so I was determined to complete my project before starting a new one.  I've been working on my Tokyo Jungle guide for over a month now...and it's finally done!  I'm sure only a few people will actually download and use it, but I'm proud of what I have accomplished.  Being able to finish this guide means I have what it takes to push through the pain and put out a finished project to the world, something that I've always had trouble with.  Who knows, maybe this success will be the catalyst that helps me finally finish my book.  Whatever the future may hold, behold!  My Tokyo Jungle guide!  Read it and be amazed!  :D

Oh, and the Tokyo Jungle guide will also be placed under the "Products/Services" menu, "Books & Pamphlets" sub-menu.  I hope to add more stuff there in the future!

Check It Out! - The Cat That Got the Milk

There are a lot of Indie games out on the Internet right now, and even though I like to browse through them, sometimes they all start to look the same.  An unusual game title, however, caught my eye today: "The Cat That Got the Milk."  This is a unique and beautiful game that anyone can play.  It's has the same basic concept as the old-fashioned computer game Snake, but with a challenging and artsy twist.

A screenshot from "The Cat That Got the Milk" game

You control the cat with the up and down keys, guiding it to the bowl of milk.  It starts off easy, but the environment quickly becomes more abstract and difficult to traverse.  "The Cat That Got the Milk" is just as much a work of art as it is a game.  It's a dazzling and refreshing change to all of the cookie-cutter, jump-scare Indie games out there.  The game is short, taking only about 10-15 minutes to complete, so feel free to give it a try.  The game requires the Unity web player, which is free and safe software similar to Adobe Player.  There will be a link to download this at the game website.  Save and download the Unity Web Player and the game will begin loading on the webpage automatically.  I really enjoyed playing "The Cat That Got the Milk," and I hope to see more unique games from the developers in the future.  Below is the link to the game as well as a preview video of the actual game play.  Have fun, and get that milk!

Click here to play "The Cat That Got the Milk."

Darn Those Tears!

I'm an emotional person, which is pretty obvious considering I have anxiety.  I'm also terrible at hiding what I'm feeling.  If I'm having a bad day, it's written all over my face.  And I'm a shameless weeper.  Okay, shameless isn't exactly the word, because I'm quite embarrassed when the waterworks start.  And I guess I don't cry easily.  But if my tears are triggered, they don't stop for a while.  I'm especially moved by movie moments.  Below are some scenes that ALWAYS make me cry:

Scene: "The Lion King" Mufasa's death

Scene: "Up" Ellie and Carl's life

Scene: "Homeward Bound" when Shadow comes home

Scene: "Inception" saying good-bye to Mal

Scene: "Marley & Me" putting the dog to sleep

Crying is such a raw, intense emotion that is all-consuming.  Yet there's something refreshing about crying, too.  It's a release of epic proportions that washes away all dignity and mascara.  If someone accepts you in these blubbering moments, you know you have a true friend.  I don't like to cry, and I try to avoid it when possible, but I suppose crying is part of the human existence.  We all do it, so therefore, it's something that we all can understand.  If any of these scenes have made you cry, or any other movie scene, post it in the comments below.  Then we can all cry together.  ;)

Lip Art

I recently did a post about theatrical make-up and my first attempt at using it.  I'm still attending the make-up class with my brother, but since I help him a lot during the class, I only have time to do little make-up projects with my lips.  It might sound strange, but it's a lot of fun.  Below is some of the lip art I have done:

Week 1 - Crabby Lips

Week 2 - Old Panda Lips

Week 3 - Whale Lips

 The best part about lip art is making your creations talk (the crab was especially fun to watch).  I'm all out of lip ideas, so maybe I'll start another mini make-up project: eye art.  I've always been inspired by such creative geniuses such as the person who made the eye art below:

Art by PixieCold

Whether I do more lip art, eye art, or a complete face project, I'm sure you'll be seeing more make-up in future posts.  :)

A Happy Fool

There is a lot of danger out there, and don't get me wrong, bad things happen to people everyday.  Severe illness, rape, house fire, and unexpected death are just a few.  Bad things could happen to you, and they could happen to me.  As a person with anxiety, you would think I would be tormented by the countless "what-ifs" that could happen to me at anytime.  I do worry about losing my husband, or getting attacked, but surprisingly, I don't worry about stuff like that too often.  I do some things to prevent and prepare for the "what ifs," but in the end, I don't really think about them.  Maybe I'm a fool for it.  On the one hand, I live without fear, so life could blindside me at any moment.  On the other hand, I live without fear, and that is a blessing in itself.

My husband is very interested in self-defense techniques such as reading body language, and he's always practicing drills with his gun.  He'll probably be a lot more prepared than I am to handle an emergency.  I want to learn how to use a kubotan (future post, maybe?) and take karate lessons one day, but I do these things because they're interesting to me, not because I am driven by fear.  There was a time when anxious thoughts clouded my mind.  I was afraid of the smallest things, and worried about the future constantly.  I was miserable all day, every day.  I just could not live like that.  One of the practices of unconditional living is to let go of the past and don't worry about the future.  This doesn't mean that I don't plan for things, especially emergencies.  It means that if I focus on the 5% of life that is bad, or could be bad, I miss out on the 95% of life that is happy and beautiful.  A boiling tragedy may be waiting around the corner for me sometime in the future, but as long as I live in the present, I am happy today.  I may be a fool for being like this, but at least I'm a happy fool.

This concept also applies to my religion.  Even the most stalwart saint has doubts sometimes about their religion.  Is there really a God?  What if I'm wrong and there's nothing waiting for me on the "other side?"  What if this life is all I got?  These fears might drive someone to live on the wild side of life and do what they want (like that silly phrase "YOLO").  But honestly, when did riotous living ever make someone happy?  No amount of money, partying, or sex can bring the kind of joy that unconditional living brings.  YOLO is all about seeking more; unconditional living is all about appreciating what you already have.  I might be a fool for believing in God, but since my religion makes me happy, then I will be a happy fool.  I'll worry about what will really happen on the other side when the time actually comes to go to the other side.  Until then, I will live the way that makes me happy, and unconditional living is that way.

I know what it is like to live in constant fear because anxiety made me that way for a long time.  Even if it's "realistic," I just won't live that way.  It's too dark and miserable.  I choose to embrace unconditional living because it combats my anxiety and brings happiness to my life.  No matter what life throws at me, good or bad, I want to be a happy fool.    
 

Image from Live Life Bigger