Myriam's entropic space

Writing in English, a practise

2008-06-18T18:42:00.006-05:00

I expect to write an article about my master's research in a few months. So far, everything is doing good : I already produced a series of results which I presented to my director and he was quite amazed by those. I wonder if my case is every student case, surely not, but I have collected a huge amount of data since I started my master in January and I'm already able to present preliminary results. Lucky me. If I am given the occasion to write an article by the end of the year, it will mean my work will have been well done. Perhaps my director would even consider hiring me as his doctorate student. For certain I would appreciate such an offer. He already mentioned my resourcefulness and a few of his colleagues also brought up my first and only presentation to be instructive and very interesting for a beginner.

The possibility of composing an article leads to my capabilities of communicating in an understandable English. For practise, I expect to post often on this blog. I need to improve my vocabulary and sentence structure. At the moment, I'm counting on Mozilla Firefox built-in spelling corrector, www.synonym.com and Google Translator which act like as online dictionaries, but I will not necessarily have access to these all the time. Since I will also visit London for a week, I surely want to clearly communicate with the people of the English metropolis. I would feel a bit uncomfortable if I was to seek all the time for my words in my French-English dictionary.

A few people say my English is, so far, pretty good. I believe I still need a lot of practise.

*****

I am all by myself in the apartment until July 16th. I have never been alone more than a few days and it kind of stresses me. Perhaps I care too much about my security, being paranoiac sometimes. Or simply I despise being alone more than a few days. It seems I always need someone to fill an unknown and mysterious emptiness that surrounds me. I believe this void was born from my lonely years back in high school where I was separated from my friends from Friday afternoon to Monday morning as well as the week evenings. When I started college I remember partying every week with many people and maybe I became "people addict" then. I fear being all alone though I sometime need loneliness. I simply love to be with people I appreciate, even if we have nothing to say, though it sometimes creates awkward situations...

*****

Soon I will try to write one of the 2 stories I have imagined. I wonder how it will come out. At the moment, both stories seem to be in a comic format which obviously suggests pictures. Can I draw well enough to create a comic of my own? Are my writing skills good enough for a comic? I have always asked myself these questions and I am still not confident about my abilities. I could write in French, but after a few pages I get bored because I am not following my imagination pace. And I hate to write drafts...

*****

That's enough for today. I think I'll go to bed earlier than I thought. I feel damn sleepy.

Myriam

Got that weird feeling

2008-05-15T14:55:00.008-05:00

I don't know if you ever experienced a lack of imagination because you have too much. Somehow, that's my case at the moment. I have plenty of ideas, my imagination is surely dreaming of new stuff but I just can't get the hold on it.

I wonder why.

Is it because I don't have the time to grab those great ideas swirling in my limbo-esque imagination? Or is it, perhaps, that I'm simply not satisfied by the perfection of my art when I need to give a realistic medium to my ideas? Probably both. I would really like to release my ideas, all of them, quickly and beautifully. I can't, like I impose to myself perfection, not less and perfection is a matter of taking my time.

I'd love to draw nicely and quickly, but it seems I can't. It's probably what bothers me most. In the end, my ideas are slowly merging, getting so big that they can't stay together and then POP!, they explode, disappear from my imagination and I never was able to get a hold on them.

It all started at the beginning of the year when I had that huge drawing craving. My imagination simply popped out of its narrow physics prison. But I started my master a week after. Though I had time to draw back in Tucson for keeping myself occupied, it wasn't enough. It's never enough!

Same thing about writing. I'd love to write something. Perhaps creating a comic of some sort. I'd love it. I have a few strong ideas I haven't forgot yet, but damn! I just don't know how to write it well in the first place! I don't have my evenings like I had back in high school when I went to bed after hours of creating new stories. I also think my boyfriend is an imagination inhibitor. Not that he lacks of imagination (he surely does have a lot), however I would like to please him with what I create, and that's hard!

Am I thinking too much about the people's reaction to my art? I now a lot would say I shouldn't bother about their comments. But listening to such comments is a way to perfect my art...

What I'd like to do :
- Draw tattoos ;
- Write short stories based on our Victorian London Exalted game ;
- Finally draw on Photoshop ;
- Create a comic and perhaps posting it as a weekly strip.
- A lot of things...

*****

I'm still in the process of creating a sort of tattoo-esque picture. It isn't my first attempt at drawing tattoos (I did a couple of them and two are permanently decorating my body), but my first attempt to draw non-tribal tattoos with complex curves, shades and design. I'm doing good for now, the main design is fixed (I hope), but I haven't started the hardest part yet. I hope I'll be able to get something good out of it soon.

Here are parts of this project :

Punky girl representing the our present or a near future. I don't know how I ended up with such an haircut, but I love it. The aviator sunglasses, well, are doing good. She looks a bit emo though, but I don't give a damn about it. I simply love her style, that's enough for me. I love the feeling of emancipation she's showing by her pose, the taste of freedom, curiosity, adventure.

The lady besides is from another epoch, probably the lat 1800's. She's representing romanticism, love, sweetness. She is somehow restrained by her epoch, dreaming of inconceivable freedom. She's obviously the opposite of the neo punk girl above.

Then a couple of roses I draw for practise. I expect to draw one (probably not from the three beside) in order to split the 2 girls epochs. The rose will probably be nature on one side and made of metal on the other. Well see...

Well, that's enough said. Lets draw!

Myriam

2008-05-12T17:05:00.003-05:00

Hola!

Yeah, I'm kinda back. I just used my blog today to test a few things and seemingly everything work just fine... Well, almost. Since I lost the allowed space I had on my budy's server I lost a few images from the blog which I'll probably have to redo once again. Redo is the perfect word : I have deleted all the images, PSD files and others for these. Too bad, as they say. But hey, that's not such a big problem.

Master, master, who's the master? That's me! I started my Master in January by flying to Tucson, Arizona to observe a star under a magnificent dark sky. Way better than in Montreal, that's for sure! I spent a month (2 trips) in the Saguaro land and I really enjoyed it though I really missed Alex. And since I felt sick back there at the beginning of my second trip which lasted 3 weeks, I really wished I was home at the end. However, it was great besides having my eardrums pressurized. I will start to analyze the data we gathered in Arizona very soon, probably this week.

Still drawing! Meh, I just can't stop. Still the same page (http://sicmentale.deviantart.com)! It's been a bit over a year that I restarted to draw and I keep improving myself. Pretty cool.

Gotta leave for now since I have to give a math course in 45 minutes. Since I'm paid, I really don't mind.

Myriam

One session left

2007-04-26T17:11:00.000-05:00

Finally the 6th session is over! You don't know I much I was waiting for this present day, Thursday April 26th! At noon, I was done with my last exam and just left school for the whole summer. A month and a half ago, when the mid-term exams where done, I was already eager to quit school for summer. I wanted to draw, to write, to listen to all kind of animes and read a bunch of mangas. Studying wasn't my priority. Anyway, summer vacation are starting well : I received a B+ grade for my astronomy course.

So what now?

There's a lot of things to do. I gotta work for the summer so I could afford the last session of my physics degree... and other needs like a new computer, a new bike, maybe a graphic tablet... I would also like a table like those architects use for drawing huge plans. I'd like to draw bigger, but I have no place but the floor to let me drive by my artistic instincts (did I write it right?).

I'm also eager to play Exalted, which should happen often this summer. It's been like 3 weeks we didn't fight any creepy vampires in our 1800's London-like game and I miss my character as well as the other players. And it's been almost 10 months the other Game (with a big G) is been left aside. I'm building up a new character, an Lunar archer with a jackal totem. I think I spent a good 16 hours just to complete all of her stats and still I have to create her a past and a story. Got few ideas, I'm still waiting for the approval of the Storyteller.

Now listening to Hellsing OST. I'm addicted to it!

Myriam

Hi honey, I'm home!

2007-04-13T12:42:00.000-05:00

I think that's the first thing that came to my mind when I entered my new apartment on April 1st. Since then, Alex and I settle ourselves comfortably in our new love nest (that's a direct translation of "nid d'amour", but I think it's good). We love it! It's a huge apartment, lots of room, and close to all of our needs : grocery, subway, drug store, friends, etc. Name it, it's close. Actually, I'm just repeating myself (I'm getting old, you know, 22 years old!), I remember writing in a previous post about our new apartment situation, but never mind.

6 out of 7, I'm done with this 2007 Winter session. I attended to my last course this morning (didn't pay attention though, I was finishing my last subatomic homework). There's only 3 exams left, starting Monday morning. Then, on April 26th, I'll be free as a bird from school until next fall, to complete my degree. I have 3 courses left, including an astronomy project, a stellar atmosphere course and another course that's yet to be chosen. I'm hoping I could take a physics didactics class, trading it for a option course.

I'm still in the middle of this artistic mood I was writing about last time. Things are getting more serious as I speak about it to my friends. One of them is ready to lend me is Wacom tablet so I could try it out and another one showed me a few Photoshop tricks. I bought myself recently a pen and ink to get use to the technique (is it right to write it this way?). I'm thinking about building myself a little drawing table with a few pieces of scrap wood so I could improve my drawings on a bigger scale. Still, I can show you a recent fan art drawing I inked, Alucard from Hellsing manga. It's a whole original fan art and not just a copy from another picture. I had a hard time with it actually, got big headaches just to complete it.
I did a little modification on Photoshop to color the background. It may have worsen some details, but nothing terrible. I just have to mention that this is not the original drawing, just a photocopy I inked for a test.

Myriam

Moving soon, sooooo soon!

2007-03-31T18:12:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow is the day. I'm finally going to live with my boyfriend! We've been talking about it for more than a year now. I'm starting to get excited (it's 7h15 pm, Saturday night) and yet it seems I don't realize what's that all about. Damn, I'm freshly 22 years old but I can't stop to see myself as a irresponsible teenager... Like I was still a kid but with adult responsibilities. Actually, I think of myself this way quite often and others tend to say all the contrary.

Maybe I'm still lost in this part of my childish imagination. I'm acting like a 22 years-old woman, but I may never lose those childish fears of adulthood.

I should stop worrying. I'm moving, God damn! I should be happy and proud about it! And this blog is not fit for any psychological analysis. It's a bit too personal and only my diary know those things, and yet...

All I was going to say is that I will not be over the Internet for the next 3 days. Since we're moving, we need to get a new Internet connection which we'll have next Tuesday. Until then my boyfriend and I will be, in a way, cut out of the world. If we manage to get the TV working good, we'll probably be able to check out Sunday's latest news.

There's not much left to do but to wait for my laundry to dry and to dismantle the racks from the wall. I'll probably read again Hellsing manga and hopefully Naruto Shippuuden 348.

Myriam

March 28th, absurdity day!

2007-03-28T21:20:00.000-05:00

But I did nothing absurd... Meh. I spent some time sleeping and doing my subatomic homework (still 2 LONG questions to do).

Here's my new creation, drew on Flash over a sketch I did almost a month ago.

I'm kinda proud of this pic, for a first time!

Myriam

20 minutes to go

2007-03-27T16:39:00.000-05:00

Then I'll be as free as a bird from job 'til next Friday... But not necessarily from packing or homeworks. I managed myself to work today so I'll have my Saturday off, just before moving the day after (Sunday). I have this damn subatomic homework that's due for Friday afternoon that I don't understand at all and I have to cover static newtonian physics as well for my physics student.

15 minutes to go...

No customers today at job, I had the time to pass through half of Bram Stoker's Dracula novel and finish my reading (something about 200 pages, pocket-size book).

By the way, I went to Heaven & Hell concert yesterday and I was disappointed, my best friend as well. Suprisingly, Down did their opening show, as we weren't expecting them because Phil Anselmo (singer) was recovering from a throat infection. It was good, heavier than what I was used with their studio albums. I should have brought my digital camera so I could have immortalize Phil's face... As bad as he can be as a role model, I like his attitude. Bought myself a Down sweatshirt, very nice. Then Megadeth followed 15-20 minutes after Down and they seemed far better than last time I saw them, back in the Gigantour, 6 months ago (Alex and I left the show after 5 songs because we were bored). Sound was great and they played well, but hated it in a way because they didn't chat with the crowd, just played lots of pot-pourris. Finally, Black Sabbath with Ronnie James Dio as their leader came, but only played recent songs when I was expecting AT LEAST Iron Man or Paranoid. They were not that bad for old rock geezers, but still they played reduntant songs for 1 ½ hour. For 70$ (saw the price on the ticket), I was expecting something far better. Or maybe Megadeth playing longer (they played for 45 minutes or so...).

5 minutes to go...

I'll get my stuff ready, I'm leaving pretty soon. Gotta head to the grocery store to get some food until Saturday evening... and tonight's supper. I'm still thinking about what to eat, but my belly seems to think otherwise...

Myriam

March 26th, at home

2007-03-26T09:30:00.000-05:00

School's off today because of the election day. I'll go vote this afternoon before heading to Heaven & Hell Concert with Ronnie James Dio, Black Sabbath's former members (not including M. Osbourne) and Megadeth. My best friend bought me a ticket for my birthday! Meanwhile, I'll probably pack some books, CDs, clothes, etc. After all, Alex and I are moving in less than a week (exactly 6 days from now) and we need to be all set up.

I'm in a horrible drawing mood by now. Since March spring break, I can't stop drawing and I leave my studies a little behind... Right after spring break, I had a subatomic exam and got what I can qualify as a poor result (61%). If I had studied, I would have have something like 70% (the average actually), but still I'm not satisfied. I just feel like drawing all day long and things are going worst since I have too many ideas for future pictures. I've posted my recent work on deviantART, if you want to check it out. I think I'm actually improving my drawing methods as well, I find my late drawings quite pleasing.

What's new then? Well, I turned 22 last Friday and maybe another white hair appeared... Friday, we played Exalted and had quite some fun. Saturday, I went in Alex's family for supper (nice food with Chinese inspirations) and received a few cooking books, a sun necklace as well as a asian tea set (that will do just fine for sake as well!). And today I'm going to see some old rock geezers, lol!

I think I have nothing else to say. That will keep you in touch for the next weeks, probably...

Myriam

Springbreak week is over

2007-03-09T17:20:00.000-05:00

It was a short week (if I can say a week can be short or long...). I uploaded a couple of drawings on my deviantART website.

My bedroom is a mess since I'm packing.

Myriam

Springbreak week

2007-03-04T08:36:00.000-05:00

Ahhhh! After a long 6 incredibly boring hours at job (no customers at all, not good for the business), I'll be in vacation for a week! I may have to work 1 ½ hours giving a mysterious physics course (by mysterious I mean I don't know which subject I'll cover with my student but I'm damn sure it'll be mechanics... since it will only concern newtonian physics, I won't be as comfortable as with hamiltonian physics), but that's all.

Still my week schedule is already arranged :

- Monday : Alex & Mimi day. I'll be sleeping at Alex's house tonight and tomorrow we'll spend good time together. After heading to l'Université de Montréal because Alex has to present a lab report, we'll go buy myself a new watch since mine stopped during my classical mechanics exam (bad omen?). Then I'm thinking about a nice movie in the afternoon. Finally, in evening, we'll play a little Exalted to try it out.

- Tuesday : My father will be here (my apartment) in the morning and we will go buy my new bed handles and share some time. I may work in the afternoon but since my student has left for a trip last week and that she doesn't like me as her tutor (I hate her as well...), I may stay home for the rest of the day, probably drawing or studying for my subatomic particles exam.

- Wednesday : Alex is going at the university to visit different labs during the morning. I'll try to sneak my way in (I'd like to see the accelerator lab once again. So many machines!) and spend time with my boyfriend (he's cute and awesome, a big and sweet teddy bear!). We're planning to get to le Dieu du Ciel! in the afternoon to finish our epic D&D game while drinking good beer and have a good time.

- Thursday : That's my day off, for now...

- Friday : Morning is off, we'll play our first 1800 London-like game since we switched from D&D to Exalted during the evening. Lots of beer and fun!

Busy schedule!

*****

Yesterday was all but a stressful day at job since we had about 5 customers in 7 hours. I spent some time reading Naruto Shippuuden mangas over the Internet, but then my place was stolen by my colleague's daughter. I was prepared for any situation and brought my sketch book (and pencils) and drew what could be Seamus Longbottom in our London game. I've got some advices from another work colleague to draw guns, but none for the look. I tried to be as realistic as possible and fit with JF description of his character. That's why I called it "take 1".

I think that's all.

Myriam

1 month before moving

2007-03-01T16:08:00.000-05:00

Still one exam left for mid-term and it's in 2 weeks. Until then, spring break week vacation will take place as well as a lot of packing. My boyfriend and I are moving on April 1st and we can hardly wait. I've already started filling boxes with the most non-useful stuff (books, sheets, DVDs...), but now is time to pack clothes, CDs, and everything else.

I registered myself on deviantART yesterday to post my pictures. People seem to like my drawings and Kylie looks popular :). It gives me inspiration.

Leaving for FFXII now. I also have to watch the laundry.

LEAVE SOME COMMENTS! even if it's not for this post. It's been a while...

Myriam

15 days since last post

2007-02-28T21:01:00.010-05:00

I'm supposedly in the middle of mid-term and I have a few exams for which I must study (hard?). Good reason to avoid my blog for a while. Anyway, I had no inspiration for a post. I spent the last 2 weeks reading, studying, and playing a little FFXII. I also watched EVERY Naruto episodes on YouTube and couldn't stop until the very last. I love this anime!

For our 1800's London-like D&D game, Alex decided to switch it to Exalted, which pleases J-F a lot as well as myself. We only have to exalt our character. We will be able to test our newly half-god characters next week, I can't wait! I already build up Kylie as a Solar Exalted (Night cast) and it fits well the way she is. Since I constantly think about her, I drew Kylie twice as well as her reaver daiklave.

This is the first picture of her, holding her father's reaver daiklave (done on Sunday February the 25th). I like the way she stands, parrying an attack with her huge sword. I'm proud of the fighting gauntlets since I suck at drawing hands. The only thing that bothers me is her face. Her eyes are looking just fine, but her mouth seems a bit too big and her "portrait" just glued to her head. Scanning the picture happened to emphasize this effect. Like there was no volume...

Kylie's new reaver daiklave (done on Tuesday February the 27th while bathing...). I'd like to have such a sword. Don't forget it's 5 to 6 feet long!

My newest creation (the date is written on the picture -- today). I bought myself a 3H pen and a sketch book and I couldn't wait to try them. I ended up drawing Kylie in the move to smash an opponent with her new reaver daiklave. I think that's one of my favorite drawings and probably one of my best. I changed the way I draw shadows, using perpendicular lines instead of fulling areas, and it looks great. You also have to understand the way she uses her sword : it's like she's holding a 5-6 feet-long dagger!

Hope you enjoy!

Myriam

No English review

2007-02-13T20:01:00.000-05:00

French review. No English. I won't have the time to let people correct my text since I didn't write it yet. I'm just stressing with my hydrodynamics course... I'm pulling the plug out, giving up the course. I had no time to do all the preparative exercises and the exam is next week. I wouldn't continue a course in which I'm sure I'd have a unsatisfying grade and by the same way lower my G. P. A. When I'll be applying to my Master, the minimal G. P. A will be 3, not 2.7, and I'd like to be a bit over 3. I'm already close, but still I'm counting on this session to boost it up to 3.

Big concerns.

I just drank a beer and I'm feeling it. I lost all my strength and motivation, but I have to wait another 1h30 before my Guinness roast beef is ready! I think I'll spend a little time writing my Bad Astronomy review (in French) and hope someone will send me the astronomy homework I didn't pick up last week...

Myriam

Might need your precious help

2007-02-11T13:12:00.000-05:00

I'm currently writing a review for this Bad Astronomy book I presented to you last week. I already typed the introduction and a little presentation about Dr. Plait, the author, and I believe I'll be able to conclude it up tonight. However, the text is due for next Thursday and I have to find someone who's willing to correct my crappy english (especially my sentence structure and my verb tense).

I might include to my blog a Word document with my review for people kind enough to spend a huge 30 minutes of their time reading over and over my 200-words text and finding every little mistakes. I'm currently at job so I'll probably add it tonight.

Myriam

Ashcroft Family

2007-02-10T13:29:00.000-05:00

Kylie Ashcroft met her father yesterday in our 1800's London-like D&D game. Shocking!

At first she thought the man she was fighting was her grandfather, but it appeared to her a bit later that he was her father. She didn't expect her old man to be alive after what she heard happened 160 years ago. Her uncle (her mother's brother), a proud police officer that died quite recently, told her that M. Ashcroft was all but a gentle man, involved in mysterious and diabolic plots. He had been killed with her mother one day by the "Great Big Ball in the Sky", a floating light globe -- 2 angels defending the city while it was set in the Planes of Shadow.

It has been 6-7 years since the city switched to the Material Plane. Kylie became in charge of the police's tactical squad after being one of the security leaders. Her colleague Seamus Longbottom, a well-known policeman in the city, became the security leader, which didn't bother Kylie at all. But she got bored with her new job since she didn't have to engage in battle as frequently as she did. In 5 years, she was involved in one major mission concerning a rogue group in the Plane of Shadow. Seamus, MacGuilvernay (a dandy bard-rogue), Moriitsu, Mikari (both monk-like fighter--a samourai and a war fan specialist-- that were first involved with the rogue group), and her had to return there to finish the job and clean up the place so the city would be left in peace once again. Still, it was a quick strike. Moriitsu and Mikari, which were half-forestspirits, made harakiri on themselves, leaving their weapons in case their reincarnations would come back to the world.

Five years later, Seamus came across Moriitsu and Mikari as their childish reincarnation. He took care of them since both were injured. While probably bringing them to a healer, Kylie and Mac attented to a rendez-vous with the local mage, since he had magical items to sell them (that's were Kylie got her speed, +1, kind-of-a-sun-blade, 8-feet long claymore). They returned promptly at home, trying their new toys. A bit later, they heard people running and screaming across the street. Mac and Kylie just exited their respective houses when they saw a collapsed building not that far from their homes.

Kylie attended to her usual business as a police officer. Mac followed her to the battlefield.

They appeared in the middle of a skirmish between the local mage and a bunch of vampires. They got rid of the bloodsucking undeads when a guy from the top of a close building dispelled the mage's buffs. Less than a minute after they realized where did the dispell come from, a man appeared beside the mage and trapped is soul in a gem. The guy looked kinda weird.

He had long black hair with blue highlights and weird yellow eyes. His deep-blue skin looked thicker than leather. Scales were covering part of his jaw and what seemed like a horn was bumping out on one side of his forehead. When he smiled at Mac, he showed his bladelike teeth... He looked a little like Kylie...

Father and daugther engaged quickly in a struggle. Both were fighting with the same kind of great sword but Kylie had more strenght while his old man could use his magic tricks with easiness. They seemed to handle the fight pretty well and shown themselves to be equal in battle. But then Kylie missed badly one of her attacks and felt on her knees, ashamed, at her father's mercy. He casted Otto's Irresistible Dance upon her, humiliating Kylie in front of Mac. She couldn't stand the fight anymore and left Mac all alone, wandering in the city, trying to understand her father's presence. After an attempt to intimidate the blue half-dragon Ashcroft, Mac left the battlefield, shaken by the man.

*****

Kylie will obviously meet her father again and they won't probably fight each other. But she'd like to. After her uncle explained to her what her parents were involved in, she decided she'd hate the man and reject her past and lineage. Somehow, she still keeps all of her parents belongings at home and in a way, Kylie would give anything to speak with her father once more. She believes it is his father's nature that made himself a bad and evil man.

She'd fight him because he doesn't fit with her idea of law and order. Since she has been in the police, her only goal was to restore peace in the city by literally destroying evil and chaos. She wants to repent for her father's acts, but also her previous chaotic behavior. Kylie was left alone, had acted erratically because of the death of her parents and was brought to the right path 70 years after by her caring uncle. She doesn't want to forgive her old man for leaving her with the weight of his crimes.

We'll see what will happen next, but she'll probably be shocked by her father's presence.

Myriam

I should be studying...

2007-02-06T12:41:00.000-05:00

... but instead I wonder how to resolve the last 2 problems of this damn homework since I don't know how to do them. So I spent a little time trying to finally get FFX to stop bugging (didn't work) and made myself a cup of tea. At least I did one third of my classical mechanics homework (for Thursday) before wandering in my bedroom, surfing the web or simply doing nothing.

Obviously, I think about our future apartment and its decoration. My sense of design is making my girly-o-meter ring loudly, which happens rarely.

It'll be better if I read once again this Bad Astronomy book I bought last year. I promised french CUPJ editor to write down a review about this funny and accurate book explaining few misconceptions in astronomy. Talking about CUPJ, my atmospheric physics paper finally came out! Here's the link (PDF document) if you'd like to read it.

My cup of tea is close to empty.

I hope to play D&D 3rd edition this Friday. I like my character, a selfish and not-that-wise intimidating brute that fights with one of those Exalted daiklave (call it a claymore or a huge great sword). Kylie only lives to impose her vision of a lawful city, repenting herself from her previous chaotic behavior and mistakes.

Here's a picture I drew (the swords are not well done) of her. Imagine her all dressed in black with ebony hair, spawn-like eyes, and bluish skin. Those "bugs" whirling around her head are ioun stones.

Statistics :
- Strenght : 16 (+3) ;
- Dexterity : 17 (+3) ;
- Constitution : 18 (+4) ;
- Intelligence : 13 (+1) ;
- Wisdom : 8 (-1) ;
- Charisma : 15 (+2).

She fights as a 8th level fighter with a +2 claymore or with 2 keen and shocking long swords (she got few two-weapon fighting feats) and cast as a third level sorcerer. She's presently the leader of the police's tactical squad, after being one of the foremost security leaders in the city (London-like city at the beginning of the 19th century).

I don't want to tell everything about her since she's kinda mystery to the other members of her team (and D&D players as well).

Myriam

Thinking...

2007-02-03T08:35:00.000-05:00

Since yesterday (read previous post) I'm just thinking about how we will set up everything once we will live in this apartment I'm writing about for a week now. Where will our office be? How we'll manage to find ourselves an oven? What will be the future color of our bedroom? A lot of people helped and will help us, finding electronic appliances, couches, kitchen stuff... Alex and I are a little cheap and we try to get almost everything free.

Later on, we will need a new computer, probably a laptop that we could carry for school projects. It may be our biggest purchase, close to a thousand dollars with taxes. I'm ready for this purchase, but it's still a lot of money...

I'm also thinking about space... The apartment is very spacious for a 4 ½, but I wonder if we will be able to put all our stuff there. We've got many books (since we're studying both), 2 huge desks and my father will build a box for Alex's bed, which is a queen mattress and is kind of big.

I suppose I should stop wondering about those details and enjoy the fact that we'll live there. We're so happy about it!

If we paint the living room in grey... Sorry.

*****

Since the beginning of the year I bought myself few mangas (more than 10, let's call it a few anyway), including Gunnm and Berserk. You may have never heard about the last one if you're not a japanese comic fan, but if you do, you know it's one of the best. "Gorry" enough with lot of blood, talented swordsmen (and women) and a demon chasing berserker named Gutts (written in french) branding a huge claymore (8 feet long and 1-2 feet wide). I like the story (2 friends, one betraying the other to become a powerful demon) and Gutts character, sensible and intelligent being even if all his rage consume him. Another character, Judo (is it the right way to write it?), who dies cruelly because of Griffith's betrayal (and dream), makes me think about myself, being talented in many domains, but not enough to be strong in one in particular. He spoke with powerful and wise words and seemed the voice of reason of the Band of the Hawk.

I'll probably do a Berserk slide show of my favorite images, like I did for Gunnm.

Anyway, I got to leave for job soon...

Myriam

No more stress

2007-02-02T17:40:00.000-05:00

Finally we received an answer for this nice apartment we visited last sunday (the 28th). We were first to visit and first on the list for it. And...

WE ARE THE ONES!

WE GOT THE APARTMENT!

That's so nice!

I can't say more... I'm just so happy! When I read the confirmation email this afternoon, I just freaked out, call my dad and gave a huge kiss to my boyfriend.

Myriam (happy)

Stress

2007-01-29T16:00:00.000-05:00

I'm stressed by now, awfully stressed. My boyfriend and I are waiting for a call to confirm if we will get this 4 ½ apartment we saw yesterday. I'm almost panicking, fearing that we could not live there. The place is just great and everything we are looking for is there : plenty of space, cheap price...

ARRRRRG!

I want to live there!

Myriam

Beating boredom

2007-01-19T19:15:00.003-05:00

Yep. I'm actually at job and as I thought, things are quite boring (as an activity to occupy my mind and to improve my vocabulary, I was looking for a synonym to "boring", but I didn't find anything. I'll check it out quickly on the internet... I have boring, deadening, dull, ho-hum, irksome, slow, tedious, tiresome, wearisome... I'll keep boring, thanks anyway to synonym.com).

I think I'll write about a guy that came at job recently (a little over 2 weeks, maybe 3). He was of the annoying type, a conspirationnist, looking for governments' malevolant plots. He was nice at first, an usual customer that would like to buy a nice 'scope for his daughter.

Problems started when he seeked for a astronomical pictures book. I showed him a NASA picture book, presenting a bunch of beautiful images of NASA work, from amazing nebulae pictures to Hubble Space Telescope. When he looked at the Moon Land pictures, he just said to me he didn't want his daughter to see these since he don't believe in those "lies". Then it got worst...

I asked him why he didn't believe Americans landed on the Moon and he only told me that they set up the whole thing. Then I asked him for proofs and he couldn't afford any. Instead of answering me, he changed the subject to the World Trade Center tragedy! Damn! He told me about the 7th tower (I never heard of it before that) and how the media manipulate the public so it don't bother with government conspiracy. And he told me about "irrefutable" proofs that proven his point of view.

I said I didn't trust him. Actually, I had a hard time with the value of his proofs, but I wasn't quick enough to tell him.

And the guy just told me I didn't have a scientific mind! Just because I didn't find his says of any value! Me? Not having a scientific mind? Why am I in physics?

I didn't really heard the rest : I couldn't stand the guy anymore. He spoked to me for half an hour or so about government conspiracies. All I was thinking was about this conspiracy-freak's head blowing up or my beer hiding close. He finally left, but wrote a few movie titles that I "should" check out one day. I think I've dropped the paper in the garbage "accidentaly" last week. Nevermind...

I hate those guys.

Myriam

Eating a chicken salad bagel

2007-01-19T08:21:00.000-05:00

That's pretty much what I did for the last 10 minutes. Gotta eat before going to school or I'll be as aware as a vegetable (let's say it this way). Especially right after my one-hour course about stellar structure and evolution, I'll go move and lift a lot of weight.

Then I'll go to work. Selling telescopes or microscopes and probably just sit on my butt and do a sudoku. I'll maybe talk a little about role-play games with one of my colleagues.

Nice schedule!

Finally, after I wonder how many years (probably just 4), I'll go see my little cousin next week! Well, he's not really my cousin, but my mom's ex-boyfriend nephew. It's just simpler to say cousin, since he was a cousin for me for over 10 years. My mom is still in touch with his. He's heading to Cegep next fall and I'm very proud of him!

Gotta dress up and leave. My hair is all messy, but I'm fine with that, hehe.

Myriam

Stupidities

2007-01-17T18:41:00.001-05:00

When I arrived at home after school today, I did my usual internet survey to check out for any interesting news. I just found out that a psychologist has proven that beautiful people in a couple will have more girls than "bad looking" couples. Here's the article (in french).

Right over the link of this 56%-of-good-looking-couples-have-girls crappy article were the results of another research (probably made by the same damn psychologist, lol) demonstrating that vegetarians have a higher IQ than omnivore people (still in french, sorry).

What the hell?

Did I say I hate statistics? You can say whatever you want with statistics as long as you don't present the terms of the research (which seems to be the case in both articles I read).

That's why I'm in physics : I don't have to bother with statistical interpretations. Only with the laws of physics, fundamental and "ever-applying" laws. Even if it's a science of approximations.

Myriam

Made some changes, now it's fine

2007-01-16T10:41:00.000-05:00

You may have seen that I've made a few changes to the blog's template. I'm always trying to make this page as pleasing as possible for me (at first) and the others.

I changed the background with an image from Gunnm : Last Order 6 when Sechs is waiting for his next fight against the Starship Cult team in ZOT Tournament. I also added a link to a slide show I've created for my best Gunnm images (I'm proud of the Flash workout).

Gotta go to school now.

Myriam

Snowy day, winter day

2007-01-15T20:05:00.000-05:00

Got snow?

We've got snow!

It's so beautiful outside! A snowstorm hit Montreal this morning around 6-7 am, leaving on its way more than 15 cm of magnificent little ice flakes. It's the first time in the whole 2006-2007 winter that we've got a snow cover.

I like to spend some time outside, looking at the snow falling gently on the ground. Usually the weather is nice, a comfortable -6 degrees that's not too chilly when wearing a hot coat. It makes me act like a little girl!

Myriam

Family reunion

2007-01-14T10:18:00.000-05:00

I've finally seen my aunt Linda after 2 years. She came to visit us with her husband (Alan) and daughter yesterday (which I haven't seen for over 5... no, 6 years!). They were looking pretty good and God! Charlie-Ann has grown! Of course, when they left, she was 4 years-old and now she's getting taller, approaching her 10 years.

The whole family joined for supper at a restaurant (Melina? something like that... lost in the middle of Ville d'Anjou... what a crappy place!), including my uncle Yves, my grand-mother Rejeanne, grand-father Gaetan, mom (Sylvie) and her boyfriend (Mike), and my cute teddy bear Alex (what would I do without him anyway?). I found it actually quite boring (sorry guys, I think you saw I wasn't in the mood for a wedding-singer guy who likes western) since Alex, Charlie and I were kinda left alone with a few paper and crayons. It would have been great if we just stayed at home, ordering pizza or St-Hubert's chicken, and been able to talk without this horrible Gloria Gaynor cover. At least we could have drink good beer, watch TV and been more comfortable.

It's not that I don't like my family, I think they just don't know a good place where they can reunite properly. I saw that even my mother and grand-father were bored. C'mon! And we had to wait until 9 pm to eat... we got at 7 pm at the restaurant! No one thought about our bellies?

I should stop complaining, get my stuff and leave for job...

Myriam

FFXII, my review

2007-01-11T19:22:00.000-05:00

As a recent Final Fantasy series lover, I've naturally bought myself FFXII. Last year, my boyfriend bought Dragon Quest VIII and a FFXII demo was available. No story, just a practice before the REAL GAME. I believe the demo was out so gamers would have time to get use to the game-play, very different from the other Final Fantasies. It's like a real-time game in combat mode.

FFXII came out at last year's Halloween. I received it a week after and I had just pass through
the mid-session term and all its exams. Right on time! I spent a lot of time on the game, close to 90 hours over 2 months (I know, I know, I should have studied instead).

At first I really liked the game. Graphically. The game-play is great and the story seemed nice. Leveling up was a little challenge by itself. I've used walkthroughs when I reached the middle of the game and they were pretty useful sometimes. Especially in the Crystal Dungeon and the Pharos Dungeon (close to the end).

But I grew tired while playing. The story isn't attractive to me, being too political. I decided to go further and do some side-quests. Many of these were a real challenge (actually, there is a few side-quests I haven't tried yet, having no time and no patience : they seem a bit to hard). I also grew tired doing those side-quests because the story didn't follow. After my last exam, I did finish the game, but I found the ending boring and the boss wasn't as threatening as I previously thought.

Overall, I give FFXII a 7/10, because of the story. If the story was more appealing, I think I would have give a 9.4/10 or close.

I'm not that nice!

Myriam

ARRG!

2007-01-11T07:07:00.000-05:00

Why is school always starting at 8h30 in the morning? Gotta get up from bed at 6h30 and it takes a while before I'm able to act normally. I remember when I was in Cegep, I woke up quickly and didn't take much time to prepare myself and leave, even at 5 am. I also remember I was in a better shape than now... *snif*

My grades are "feeling good" however :

A- in my 3rd Electrodynamics course ;
A- in Statistical Mechanics ;
A- in Differential Geometry ;
B- in Atomic and Molecular Structure (spectroscopy course).

I'm a little disappointed with the B- (2.7/4.3), but quite happy with those A- (3.7/4.3).

Anyway, gotta go eat and prepare myself for a Classical Mechanics course, a Subatomic Physics course and a Hydrodynamics course. I'll be home around 4h30 pm.

Myriam

My university winter session schedule

2007-01-10T16:29:00.000-05:00

Since some of you want to know when I'll be busy or not, here's my winter session schedule. Just don't forget I'll also have to study a lot, doing one or 2 homework every week. I also work on week-ends and sometime on Fridays. I might also be a science and math tutor on week-day evenings once or twice a week.

I know it's in french, but I'm sure you understand.

Oh! I've finally fixed post hours on the page, leaving it to Eastern Standard Time instead of Western Standard Time. Gotta moment to check out every settings for the blog.

Myriam

Leaving for school in 15 minutes

2007-01-10T07:15:00.000-05:00

That's pretty much what will happen in the next 15 minutes or so. I'll leave for l'Université de Montréal to assist to a Hydrodynamics course. Meanwhile, I'll probably eat a bagel and dress myself enough to endure a chilly -8 or so outside. Don't mind about the hour written at the post's end since it's not right. Looks like californian hour (Google owning Blogger and Google is based in California...). Ad up 3 extra hours and it should be fine.

Now is 10 minutes! Better hurry or my boyfriend will be waiting for me!

Myriam

It's about time!

2007-01-09T20:20:00.000-05:00

After 3 long hours, I've finally come out with a nice template for this blog. It took a while to get back in HTML editing, but it was fun... and a bit frustrating at the beginning. I like the look, the colors. I think I'm gonna keep the heading picture this way, but it bothers me a little... I've played with Photoshop a bit too much today.

Anyway.

School has started Monday (January the 8th), it felt nice to get back there. Things are going pretty well : interesting courses, good grades (good... I still think I can do better), and I'm completing my degree in physics this year! Still thinking about the future, a master in physics... I'm interested in 2 different fields, astrophysics and atmospheric physics, but I have to wait until someone has the cash to get me in.

Now I just wait for next Saturday. First my aunt will probably be in town for her birthday (and my mom's) and it's been like 2 years I haven't seen her. She moved last summer to Ottawa after living a couple of years in Vancouver. Being a little closer helps a lot. Secondly I'll be able to upload a bunch of pictures on my website. I have to wait until then because of the damn upload limit imposed by Videotron.

Gotta get myself a bowl of chili.

Myriam

Another blog, another start

2007-01-09T09:36:00.000-05:00

I've build another blog, in english that time. I need to practice my Shakespearian language a little...

Gonna try to post as much as I can, when I'll have a 5 minutes free from homeworks, job or other activities. I'm completing my degree in physics this year and I'll need all my time to study.

I'll also try to keep you in touch with all the latest news.

Don't have anything else to say. I have to make some adjustments on the blog's template and quickly go to school after.

Myriam