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Animals, Photos, Random
Old camera, new camera, same cats
12.29.09 | Permalink | Comment?

These are some of the last kitty photos I took with my old camera:

Tabbouleh’s cute face.

Tabbouleh’s cute face and a curtain tie.

And here’s some of the first kitty pictures I took with the new one:

Tabbouleh with her eyes set to “stun”.

Nikka with her eyes set to “kill”.

Oliver and I. I’ve got my eyes set to “dork” and Oliver has his on “get that camera out of my face dawg”.
Angry Art, Animals, Life, Random, Sketchup
Cobra Christmas cannon!
12.29.09 | Permalink | Comment?

At 28 years of age, my brother bought me my first Nerf gun – and it’s a Vulcan! The best Nerf gun of all (pay no attention to the fact that it jams every third shot, I assure you it’s badass). I have had fun playing with it so far, but I can’t wait until summer when me and the boys can take them outside and have a real firefight. That’s when I’ll get to experience the full awesomeness of the Vulcan, a clearly logical Christmas present.

He got me guns, I got him and Lisa this:

It’s a poster I had made out of a drawing I did of robot versions of them. I’ve been dying to post the models of each of them, and Vader, but since they both occasionally read this blog I didn’t want to ruin the surprise. Hopefully Lisa doesn’t see this before she gets home to find it on their wall. I also hope she likes it. I wish I could have painted it, but I don’t have the skills required, or the time.

*Lisa, I’m going to fix the drawing so that you’re crocheting. I wasn’t aware that was your preferred technique. Sorry.

Here’s a closeup of one of my favourite parts of Chris and Lisa’s present (aside from the amount of robot bewbs I got to model):

Don’t be fooled, he will kill you.
Angry Art, Life, Love, Random
Brief Christmas re-cap
12.29.09 | Permalink | Comment?

My first Xmas with Rousseau family was a learning experience. I learned that it takes a real long time to open presents when everyone goes one at a time. I also learned that I have a long way to go, as far as my patience and tolerance levels go. I’m still getting use to hanging out with an 8 year old every day. I often forget he’s only 8, and he’s not going to remember everything, nor will he care to worry about “my” rules when there are fun things about. I’m the same as he is in many ways, and I need to remember that. I’m sure I can be more annoying than an innocent 8 year old most of the time, and I should know better.

My poor attitude aside, it was still a fun time. I enjoyed watching the boys rip open their toys, and then show them off like everyone should be jealous. I told the boys about a month ago that the Lego factory burnt down, and all the Legos and Bionicles metled together into one huge ball of plastic. As a result, we wouldn’t be able to buy them any for Xmas. I was hoping they would believe me, and then when they opened up their gifts they would be even more surprised. It actually kind of worked. I figured Roan would believe me (he loves me, and believes most of what I say), but didn’t expect Gage to fall for it even for a second. After they opened all the Legos and Bionicles, I asked them if they believed me about the factory burning down. Roan totally did, and Gage said “I didn’t think you were serious, but then I actually started to get worried the other day.”.

Thankfully the factory didn’t burn, and we got to play with the coolest Legos I’ve ever seen. The other morning Roan asked me to put together his Scorpion Tank. I was happy to help out, and was looking forward to building something from a video game. It didn’t take long for my giant, awkward hands to get frustrated with all the piddly little bits, but after about 25 minutes we got it all together and looking perfect. Five minutes later Roan had already lost a couple pieces. Even without those it looks awesome, and is capable of taking down a Guitar Hoodie Monster in checkered pants.

This week is another week of me and the boys here all day. Hopefully with all these new video games and nerf guns (thanks everyone!) we’ll have plenty to keep us occupied. And since I’ve got a new camera (thanks mum!) I’ll hopefully capture a lot of it on film, and share it with the Cobra clan.

Here is the Xmas card some of you WOULD have got if I finished it and printed it, but I didn’t.
Animals, Photos, Video
Cobra cats cuddle, make-out to midday metal
12.23.09 | Permalink | Comment?

I caught these two making out on the couch yesterday, while I was cleaning up, listening to some 3 Inches of Blood. I wish it wouldn’t taste like shit for me to lick a cat. I’d like to try it some time. They seem to have a blast.
Random
Cobra combat essentials
12.23.09 | Permalink | Comment?

This morning I slept in pretty late. Last night Jon and I had some amazing zombie matches that lasted pretty long, and were hard to walk away from. Then my brother came online, and we played even longer. Roan has been playing a lot of Nazi zombies with me, and when he has nothing else to do, he watches me play with people online.

When I got downstairs this morning, he handed me this drawing he did when he woke up. I love it. His drawings remind me of mine at his age. I mostly drew guns, and ridiculously muscley commando dudes with guns – the blame for that goes mostly on G.I. JOE and Contra. On this particular drawing I love how the sniper rifle, and how it is some how either thinking, saying, or shooting my name. I don’t think I’d use that gun if I was a hit-man however. My second favourite thing about this drawing is whatever that thing with the heart is. I don’t know what it’s for (he gave no explanation) but I think it shows he obviously loves me, and I figure it’s got spikes because he knows how effin’ tough I am.

The other thing I love? it’s clearly the “Mega mgae Rocket roocket cannon”.

For the record, even after I got the explanation, I haven’t got a clue what a “Zodiac” is. I guarantee it’s badass though.
Random
More English language revisions by an 8 year old
12.18.09 | Permalink | Comment?

Swoop (the past tense of “sweep”) – “I can’t help it if mom swoop me into the pile of dirt.”

Sarcasticness (sarcasm) – “I can tell your sarcasticness Eric.”

Attempted (a mash up of two words – “attempt” + “tempted”) – “Hey Eric, I’m almost attempted to try being vegetarian.”
Fuck Microsoft, Gaming, Random
Codra chronicles
12.18.09 | Permalink | Comment?

I’ve got my television here now, and my xbox is hooked up to it and XBL, so I’ve been able to somewhat cure my video game cravings. I still have no money, so buying (or even renting) new games is completely out of the question. As a result, I’m playing COD:WAW for kicks. I’ve recently reconnected with a friend I lost touch with back when I owned the tattoo shop, as well as his younger brother who used to do Co-op at the shop, and we’ve been teaming up regularly to battle Nazi-zombies online.

I’ve also been playing a lot of Halo3 with Holly’s boys. They play over at their friend’s house, so Gage is pretty good already. Roan on the other hand, is just getting use to using dual analog sticks all the time. He’s more familiar with games like Ratchet and Clank, where you’re not required to control the camera so much. He’s been getting better at killing zombies, but he has that tank mentality that gets people killed – he sees a group of enemies and runs right for them, trying to get as close as possible before shooting and drawing attention to himself, but by this time they are well aware he’s standing in front of them, and they destroy him. I’ll put Halo in for him to play the single player campaign and practice, but that game is balanced so terribly he gets pwn’d or lost before the half way point in any given level.

The other day he asked if I could set him up to play online with his friend Matthew. They were going to play a level of the Co-op Campaign together, but after a half hour on the phone with his friend, trying to exchange gamer tag info I gave up and told Roan to write down my gamer tag (Johny Cobra, of course) and tell Matthew to add me when he got home the next day. Above is the note he wrote for Matthew, complete with awesome gun doodles (no sarcasticness at all, seriously).

With a little more practice, I’m sure Roan will pwn.

Jony Codra, out.
Animals, Fuck Microsoft, Photos
Tabbouleh <3’s windows (not the O/S)
12.18.09 | Permalink | Comment?

This is the special retreat window. It only gets visited on breaks from normal window duties, and holidays. It’s more for relaxation than fecundity.

This is the main window “stance a”. This is where most of her daily work gets done.

This is main window, “stance b”. Sometimes productivity can be dramatically increased just by shifting stances for a short period of time.
Animals, Photos
Tabbouleh <3’s Oliver
12.18.09 | Permalink | Comment?

I’ve never seen a cat rub up against another cat so much. She cries out then lovingly rubs all over Oliver every time she sees him. I’m so glad she’s happy here, and has found another kitty to hang out and bond with all day.

Every time he comes in a room, she comes running over, head first, and puts everything she’s got into rubbing her cute little head all over his body.

Sometimes Oliver is less welcoming than others.

Sometimes he gets completely tired of her needy shit, and greets her with a bitch-bat.

Cats are just like people.
Life, Love
De-sad-ber 2009
12.18.09 | Permalink | Comment?

I’ve been incredibly depressed. Not only is this a shitty time of year to have no money whatsoever, but it’s also the one year anniversary of when I said goodbye to some of the people and things I loved most. A few days ago I thought I’d look through blog posts from a year ago and write about how much I’ve done or changed in the last year. When I went back to look I saw a lot of things that reminded me just how depressed I was at this time last year. Although I’m thankful I’ve found such wonderful people to start a new life with, I can’t help but question why – what have I done to deserve the love I feel from the people I care about?

I wish I could do something nice for everyone who has helped me over the last year. I wouldn’t have survived, or even attempted to if it wasn’t for most of you. I can’t thank you enough, and I’m forever indebted to you all.

Since I have nothing to share with any of you (besides a growing mountain of debt I doubt anyone wants) I want to tell you all I love you, and that next year I will do better.

If there is one person I couldn’t have lived without, and owe more than anyone else (besides my loving parents who always make sure I’m taken care of) it’s Holly. She has been the best part of life ever since she came into it. She’s beautiful and smart, and a very generous and kind person. In the last year, she’s been kind enough to make me part of her family and cared for me like I’m one of her boys.

Holly, I love you so much, and don’t deserve you one bit. I’m sorry I’ve been so down the last little while, and for lacking patience with the boys. I love you all, and I don’t mean to be such a douche all the time. I hope you and I live a long, happy life together. And one day, when I’m all grown up and have a job, I want to build you a gorgeous home for us to grow old and die in.