I'm doing okay. I've been distracted and scatterbrained of late - as if the summer heat had shot my ability to focus - so I'm trying to find something to occupy my mind. I'm organizing a book sale for the non-profit writer's community at which I volunteer! so that's been fun. I am really hoping this state of distraction won't woo me away from ZU too soon - I have really missed talking to you and everyone else here who's so interesting, D:

That carpet cleaning does sound like a chore! What else have you been doing with yourself?

I am doing fairly well. This week has been brutal though. I'm currently working part-time as a janitor at my church, and this week that means heavy-duty carpet cleaning, which takes forever and requires lots of moving of furniture and other fixtures and things. I suppose it's a much-needed workout, but it's still all work and no fun.

How have you been? I never see you around these parts. :<

How have you been?

Hi there, lady! =D

Hi, [:

It's the dry southwestern kind, although we've been getting a rather interesting amount of rain so it's looking mighty green lately. =D and if you can't hike it it might be nice to at least go see it and explore around its foot, if only a little. Take advantage of whatever scenery you have!

Hehe, I'd love to see your work, no matter how skillful - sometimes it's our first works that are our most endearing. *nod*

We took tons of wedding pictures. I'll see if I can get the photo album URL from my wife- I don't really remember these things since I just have to look underneath the coffee table to find the prints. She walked down the aisle to Zelda's Lullaby. Such nerds we are!

There is a bit of redundancy in Zelda, I'm afraid; it's been one of my least favorite things about the whole "spans several generations" thing the series has going. Of course, we get to see Hyrule in many different shades because of this, but it still loses that continuous feel that most other series have. But maybe that's a good thing; we're constantly getting reimaginings to make sure the series returns to its roots every now and then.

I haven't had the time to sit down and plan out any further yet. As for Valley of Blood, I'm not sure how I'm going to work it. I liked the original concept, and if we could try the collaboration again (with better cooperative planning!) that might be fun. It's not as integral to the other stories though so it's not my highest priority.

And I'd love to help out with your fiction! Theorizing how to bring people back from the dead is my specialty! =D

It's wonderful to live near mountains, <3 When I lived in Arizona, our house was ringed in mountains, and my parents would take me and my sister hiking every Saturday. But now our house is ringed in marshy country roads and wild dogs, D: It makes walking anywhere very difficult. What kind of mountain do you live near? The dry southwestern kind or perhaps the forested eastern kind? (I live out east, but I have never yet hiked the Appalachian. And probably won't ever, xD)

I now have pictures of my crochet! I've been meaning to take them for some time, but I was inspired by your VM to actually take them. Now I just have to get them off the camera, xD Ha ha, thank you for the kind words. My crochet is a series of masterpieces of the sometimes lumpy and lacking in integral stitches kind, x3

I do remember now that you were getting married! I bet it was a lovely wedding, ^^ Did you all take lots of pictures?

I read your ZI articles and I mean to read them again, 8D Gosh, I LOVE Zelda speculation. I particularly liked "Ganondorf's Beginnings" - Ganondorf before he was the king of evil would make an excellent villain (in my humble opinion, because really, my humble opinion is based on the fact that Ganondorf is my favourite villain and what's so humble about favouritism? xD) Though it does seem a little odd to have Link fighting Ganondorf... only to fight him again in Ocarina of Time... again and again. Their circumstances, I mean to say, seem a little repetitive. Then again, since when has Nintendo shied from repetition?

Have you started outlining your fanfiction ideas any further? (And how are you planning to approach Valley of Blood? With the same outline as previously or a bit differently?)

Would you mind if I asked you a question about a Zelda fanfic I'm outlining? I'm having a dreadful time trying to justify how a character who died in canon is alive in my fic, and now I'm stuck... >.>

This, also

Ideas swimming in my head for fanfiction

I really do need to! Or at least some kind of hobby that keeps me active so I'm not just twiddling my thumbs wishing I had the inspiration to write. I really need to start mountain climbing more often as spring rolls around - there's one about a mile from my house! Do you have any pictures of your crochet masterpieces? (because of course they are masterpieces, I'm sure ;D)

I think I alluded to the fact that I was getting married the last time we talked before you vanished from the Interwebs, but you sort of missed all the fireworks. =)

I write a bit about Skyward Sword - mostly it's been summaries of impressions on the game so far, speculative pieces about where I think the story might go (we still know hardly anything about it, so it's all shots in the dark), wish-lists and don't-want-lists. Some samples below (the first one's kinda dated):

Zelda Skyward Sword E3 Impressions - Zelda Informer
Skyward Sacred Realm - Zelda Informer
Ganondorf's Beginnings - Zelda Informer

Blast that creative impulse! xD

Without a doubt, find yourself an alternate channel for your creative energies! I've found it so relaxing to be able to pick up a project that has a clear ending and presents a very defined set of challenges (unlike writing sometimes, D=) So far, I've been crocheting everything I can: messenger bags, mittens, hats, scarves. My next project is to crochet slippers and socks! Though I may wait on the socks until I can knit, which I've started to learn today.

Oh wow, I didn't know you were married! I'm glad to hear things are working out for you, =D

Writing for ZI sounds like fun! News of the Nintendo kind has got to be entertaining - have you written much about Skyward Sword? (Which I still don't know much about - I'm torn between the horror of possibly spoiling it for myself and the desire to know all that wonderful pre-OoT back story right now. The fanfiction writer in me cries out for the knowledge, xD)

Predictable? Naw, just when it comes to your creative impulse ;p

Glad to hear that all is well, (even adulthood, that damnable thing), and especially that you've found another way to channel your creative energies when writing just can't do it. (I need one of those I think.) What kinds of things do you normally crochet? Clothes, blankets, decorative knickknacks? (I suppose that'd depend on how long you've been practicing it!)

Writing nothing and going nowhere? Seems nothing's changed for either of us ^_^

And yes, mawwiage is pretty nice, as the rumors say =3

I'm free to write basically anything I please, as long as it's about Nintendo - I do mostly news (which is not so bad as you might think!), but I also like to do editorials, retrospective pieces, and the occasional look at the working themes of the Zelda series (I've got a running column going right now called Themes in Motion that releases every other Tuesday).

I must be a rather predictable person, xD

Life has been good! =D I've finally some learned rudimentary skills of adulthood, such as driving and job hunting, and I tutor writing. I've also taken up crocheting! which is wonderfully relaxing hobby to indulge in when I find myself wound up by the frustration of writing nothing and going no where, xD

I'm so glad things are going well for you! True love sounds like heaven, ^^

What do you write for Zelda Informer?

I've been fantabulous. Made lots of excellent life changes that have put me in a really good place. I've got an outlet for writing in Zelda Informer, found true love, and am just doing well overall.

And I had a feeling the changes to the arty section would draw you back.

How have YOU been? I can't believe it's been a couple years now!

Hey Lex! It's so wonderful to see you too! :D I didn't realize how much I missed ZU until I dropped by a few days ago (and went wild with glee over the improvements to the Art and Writing boards). How have you been?

Hallo =)
Nice to see you on the forums moreish these days. Your presence has been missed, let me tell you!

Hello Lex! Now named Artemicion. How have you been? ^^

Moving? Where to? I get the impression that it might be a big move by your description, but I don't want to assume. In any case, I trust you'll find those creative ways to get the packing done =]

The wedding's not to be for at least another few months--June at the absolute earliest. Kassi needs to conquer a few of the darker aspects of her personality--or at least get them under control--before we proceed with that. We've got the family involved, now, though (we'll be meeting with our priest tonight to discuss our journey through the engagement process). Very exciting things happening there. Her family actually says they love me and such now. It started as sort of a joke, but it's rather heartening. =]

Hello!!

Life is determined to be stressful for the both of us, it seems. My family is moving and packing is proving quite the challenge, nothing that creativity and a little overzealousness in throwing things away can't eventually solve, but an adventure in the meantime. How are you? I hope things aren't too stressful on your end, and that you're getting enough rest to deal with every exciting turn you take! Have you had your wedding yet?

Aloha, Stephanie =]
How are things? I pray much better than they are for me! (but I won't get into that...) Life is taking some exciting (and stressful!) turns, and I hope it has done the same (without the stress!) for you. You've not been around much so I figure I'd better catch up while I have the chance.
-Lex

Happy (belated!) birthday, Lex, :3 Hope you're doing well.