Just finished some cool user interface projects at work. We added a Developer’s Corner to the web site in order to help user’s build applications on the Alexa Web Search Platform. The corner has tutorials and sample applications. They’re some pretty neat little apps, check ‘em out!

Steve’s sister, Shana, arrived yesterday and we were a little bored last night so we decided to draw. I was showing her my watercolor technique and then she asked me to draw her dog, Tobie. It came out pretty well and she loves it! I’ve added it to my portfolio.

Finally, what we’ve all been waiting for – or what I’ve been waiting for anyway – the Hover Cat on a t-shirt, screw you Threadless!

Hover Cat
by
nhanusek
Get this custom t-shirt at Zazzle

I just added Re:Sources to my portfolio. I was presented with a design that had already been implemented in CSS. The client was not satisfied with the art or the code and wanted me to clean up both. They were extremely happy with the new results. Here is a link to the original mock-up. And here is www.re-sources.com

Over the weekend we went to see the Kfog Kaboom fireworks. I had really high hopes and expectations because last year they were phenomenal. This year however, they weren’t quite as good. One reason might be that the music started late and so it wasn’t synced up quite right.

I mean, that was why it kicked ass last year, I’d never seen fireworks synchronized to music and so well. And it isn’t just that they sync up, it’s also good because the type of firework really matches the type of music that is playing.

But, despite the delay they were still really good. One of the works was shaped like a cube, how the heck do they do that?

During the day while waiting for the fireworks to start we were all just hanging out chatting on our blankets, when all of a sudden someone threw a tortilla through the air. Then there were about 10 more, then 20, 40, and finally 100’s of them!

People were getting hit left and right! And everyone was laughing, including me. It was a gut buster. How many crowds of people have you been in where no one would get angry about that? I seriously think that if it happened back east someone would have been pissed. But here everyone was happily laughing. Oh that was so much fun

(photo by smjphoto)

This has got to be one of the silliest things I’ve ever heard of – the US Air Guitar Championships. Who would have ever thought such a silly thing existed? That anyone would take air guitar that seriously??? I found the link on Tinou’s blog.

I’ve decided to take singing lessons. At first this seemed very strange to me, singing is simple why take a lesson? But a voice is an instrument like any other and you need to learn how to play it. So I found a studio near by, Rocío Guitard Vocal Studio, and have taken three lessons so far.

I’ve been singing at karaoke for about, oh say, 8 or 9 years. I have no problem getting up in front of a bunch of strangers and singing – though I usually do a lot better with red spotlights (I blush terribly), but I can cope without them. I also sang in chorus from sixth to eighth grade, which was not a problem. But put me in front of someone – one on one, just the two of us – and I can’t do it. Just can’t. (Especially if it’s someone I know well.)

So that’s just one of my problems. The other is that I don’t really know if I sound ok. My first lesson was three weekends ago and my teacher, Iari, seemed to think I was alright. But he’s getting paid to teach, so of course he’s going to think I sound alright – enough to continue teaching me anyway. I bought a recorder last week and have listened to myself, which I have to say is a very strange and surreal experience. My voice sounds so different in my head compared to what someone else hears, which is true for everyone.

Two weeks ago I was thinking I don’t know why I’m doing this, don’t know if I should continue. And if I do continue don’t know if I could ever really get up in front people and do the real deal. But then in the lesson that followed these thoughts I had a blast, and Iari had me singing really well. I suppose the reasons don’t matter, if I’m enjoying myself that’s reason enough to go on.

I really had a good time at this past weekend’s lesson. Iari’s boss, Rocío, came to observe him teaching. I was a little nervous about it, but I think he may have been more nervous. She helped out in a spot or two during the lesson and in the end she said I sounded great, that I have a lovely voice. It was nice to get the compliment, and I hope she’s right

I’ve been meaning to take some pictures for a very long time. And I suppose now is a good time because I’ve had my Ninja for a about a year now I also took some pictures of Steve’s bike, a Honda VFR. Here’s the entire motorcycle photo set of both bikes.

I don’t know why I think it’s a she, but isn’t she the coolest? We found her on the garage. She’s so fuzzy! And above her right eyes the fuzz is a little curly, so cute!

She’s no where near as ugly as this spider, and maybe I don’t mind her as much because she was outside as opposed to in my bathroom.

Spiders are fun

Just added another item to my portfolio. A logo for ClassHat, an application that will create Java classes on the fly, like magic. The site isn’t available yet, but I’ll let you know when it is.

(Update) – here’s the link www.classhat.com