These last few weeks have been a blur. Other than the Writer's Block and fluff posts, writing while on the road has been tough. So here's a non-chronologically ordered summary of my life.

1. Galina emailed me and finally forgave me for not attending her wedding. That meant a lot to me. Galina was my Jewish Russian best friend from Jr. High and much of high school. She had a big influence on my life. It pleased me to no end to hear from her.

2. My road trip with Misty B. was super awesome! In Minneapolis, she introduced me to a designer who asked me to be in her runway show on May. The designer gave us a great tip on a website with inexpensive dancer shoes.

3. I went out to dinner with Harlequin, stayed at Karen's place (what a hostess) and found some amazing clothes at Sarah's marvelous Naked Lady party. It was so nice to see so many familiar faces at the party. Can't wait until the next one.

4. Volunteered at the WARM exhibit's pick-up day and read my first complete book since I closed the print shop.

5. Work has been treating me well. My main promo agency has been providing me with gigs galore. I picked-up two new venues for art modeling, one unsolicited. Been sending my headshot to a few film opportunities. If Sunday's film gig falls through, I'll have a day off. Otherwise, I won't have one until next week.

6. Amazingly, Rasputin Catamite has been updating every week. The Rasputin Barxotka archive is finally back on a much smaller, and less violent scale to appease the censors. As per request of Gino, there's a one-month non-recurring subscription option available until the site is updated again on a regular basis. As soon as I download my Flash software, SIF will be back. No Killerdyke.com content because Loki has been working even longer hours than I have at the farm.

That's it for now. I have to ready myself for today's promo gig. I'm looking forward to going to the GRAA International Sampler Fundraiser afterwards with mom and tasting yummy foods from around the world.

As if you weren't sick enough of my endless collection of networking site profiles, I am now listed at the Ice Network.

Once again, for the third time in less than six months Windows Vista pulled some more malevolent file chomping shenanigans once again.  Adding fun to the mix is the fact that its local backup utility is completely worthless beyond words.  If I had wanted a freaking Mac, I would've bought one!  Thankfully, I listened to Rush Limbaugh this time and did a remote backup with Carbonite.  I am so happy that all 90,394 Vassie files (this is not an exaggeration, this is an actual number) are still alive in the Internets and neatly filing back into my computer. Yay for the vast right wing conspiracy!

I am feeling like a super hot female, even though I had a shitty night of Vista hissy fits, nightmares, horrid sleep and one of those exciting schizophrenic paranoia adventures.  Misty B and I are off on our model adventure road trip.  It should be NEAT-O!

I am uploading a buttload of backdrop photographs on Flickr for Creative Commons use.  I figure they will probably be used once for Ace and Bog or Catnose, and they're just cellphone snapshots so I might as well share them with the world for creative purposes.  YAY!  Practical use for cell phone camera.

Loki is starting to load my car with Naked Lady Party stuff.  I am almost ready to get the rock out of here.

ART OPENING!  NETWORKING!  PARTY!

Tomorrow: Promo, crashing at Karen P.'s and some rest before BIG SUNDAY!!!

As soon as Vista SP1 is downloaded and my scanner works again, I am going to be  back to normal... relatively speaking.

I am very excited to get to work. I had a great modeling gig this morning, and I am looking forward to a very busy weekend! :)

I spoke to our local Librarian (at the non-self-service library just outside of Rice)  about the stupifying situation I find myself in (that I cannot really go into detail because the case is pending.) She actually understood the hell I am enduring because she was an advocate for battered women and children.  It was so empowering to actually have someone who didn't just emphasize.  It was incredible to have some one actually get it from my angle, and endured it more than once.   It was even more incredible to have it be the person I least expected to find such solace from.  The Universe rocks!

With that said, there is something I can talk about.  The chemical abusing roommate we kicked out, sent my in-laws a copy of the unreleased limited edition Velvet Rasputin (kind of like Rasputin Catamite without the censor button) comic book in retaliation.  It probably would've been an amazing piece of evidence against her, but unfortunately my in-laws ripped it up in disgust before telling us about it.  D'oh.  According to my husband, his father believes that I have sullied the Wojtanowicz name in perpetuity and I have brought shame upon the family name... like I did in the now forgotten incident when my in-laws found out I modeled nude and made money exotic dancing, five years ago.  At first I was sad, but then it dawned on me, I've been here before.  I'm still exotic dancing. I'm making more at modeling than at the loathed print shop.  Frankly, they are pretty much over themselves on those topics.  *Grins* I suppose this saves me from having to explain my outrageous art to them.  Then again, the first few shocks are always the hardest.  

When I was thirteen, it was awful listening to my mom scream at me because I was making underground art in Junior High.  In 1999, she gave me a nasty lecture about degrading myself, when she bumped into my figure work at the art gallery.   Then, I started making money and minor fame for my art and modeling work.  My mom realized I wasn't a freak and her opinion of my work sort of mellowed over the years because.  She realized that I wasn't going to change who I was to gain her approval.  By  2004, mom read the first issue of Polska, Sucka! in front of me and actually told me that it was hilarious.  A few years later, she was bragging up my modeling and outsider art with her colleagues at art openings.  Last year, she was actually lobbying for an arts Co-op in Little Falls, so I could actually do more art model work closer to where she lived, thereby giving me an excuse to visit her more often.  Even my dad, who is more Born-Again Christian than Born-Again Christian still loves me and respects me in spite of my work, which he chooses not to look at.  It took my poor parents nearly thirty years to get used to my responsible shenannigans, and the Colon-Ortiz family names still stands proud.  Loki's parents just need some time to get over themselves and used to the person I am.  I love them very much, even if I give them heart attacks every once in a while.

I send kisses and hugs from Vanesa Barbara Littlecrow Colon-Ortiz y Wojtanowicz, (told you my name was too freaking long for my Social Security Card.) The proud daughter, artist, model, food connoseiur, anti-chemical-abuse activist, person of confusing sexual identity, helper of people (even those who suck,) atheist who thinks that Catholicism is the bees-knees for the most part and all around awesome person.  People might try to bring me and my family down, but people, I am here to fly to the stars.  Success is inevitable.  Abundance is all around me.  Humanity will trump the suckas.

GO ME!!!

Because of the steps we are taking to ensure the well-being of Little Blond, it is necessary for me to secure my blogs for the time being.  I will gradually reopen portions of my online journal that do not affect the situation we are facing, but for now, I would like to apologize to anyone following her story. 

I am not at liberty to publicly discuss the situation in detail, but it has been absolutely difficult.  If you have questions, please call or email me.  My blog will remain public for the most part, but there are some very important reasons for the self-censorship regarding this issue.  Thank you for understanding that this is in the best interests of a vulnerable child in an unimaginable situation.

What we can say is that Loki and I will resume work on our Foster Parent certification (just got the information packet today.)   We will continue to do our best to ensure that Little Blond's environment is safe and positive, even if we no longer have communication with her.  If nothing else, Loki and I are prepared to make a difference in the lives of other children, just as we did for the child who we called our daughter.  Most of our experiences with our informal adoption had been positive and we feel like we made a huge difference in a little girl's life, but the risks with this type of adoption are absolutely real.

Thanks to everyone who responded to our previously public entries.  Loki and I truly appreciate the support you have given to us.

My schedule has been absolutely brutal.  Between working at the colleges, doing promo work, taking care of my ill friend and Little Blond, and not to mention my in-house work, I haven't been able to rest very well.  I know I already spoke ad nauseum about the absolutely mind-blowingly surreal problem with our adult art site.

For the next few weeks, its not looking any better.  Now, there's a possibility I *might* be able to work on stuff outside VL on  Wednesday or Thursday, because on Tuesday (my first day off,) Misty and I have to restore all of the lost sales record databases that we lost when our new Vista machine decided to corrupt these files, along with ALL of our 3D work (of which we have been able to restore or reconstruct 80% so far.)  We had to disable the RPS site because things have gotten so out of hand with our own projects and trying to recover from all this craziness.

Somehow, things are a lot less stressful than they used to be.  Figure that one out.  Maybe I am slightly overworked, rather than completely overworked and emotionally drained.  On the upside, Loki and I are having a lot of fun with art stuff again.  It's nice to be collaborating with him on a regular basis again.

The video today is "Dare" by the Gorillaz.  :)  It is one of those songs that give me energy when I have none.

A comic strip inspired by an actual conversation that Lucinda and I had about gay men and cleavage. (Mentions of breasts warning)

The first finished  Rasputin Catamite video puppet show in a long time.  It is also based on another conversation about "gay" metal clothes and Manowar, but I can't remember with whom.  If you do, speak up.

In this month's Somewhere in Fargo, Joojet shares her dieting secrets.  The website also had a new look that is much easier to maintain for me.  It's all about simplification.

I am about 80% done with downloading and reinstalling all of my 3D files (It's taken two very long days thus far.)  Once this is done, The Nine Lives of Catnose and the Ace pin-ups will return.  :)

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Due to my success in getting enough modeling work to pay my bills without any special insanity, the first inklings of stable advertising income for my web comics, my grueling art schedule, and the fact that I need to dedicate more time to Little Blond's upbringing, the Rice Print Shop will no longer be doing ANY external projects.  No printing, no graphic design, no illustration (Tim, I still owe you a project.  Would you prefer a refund?)  It's all in-house and related to my art from now on.  I will be shutting off the RPS site shortly and redirecting its contents to VL.  Sorry about the inconvenience, but the little kid's happiness is way more important than doing projects for other folks at this point in my life.

Cartoonist Conspiracy next week.  I will send Evites after I take a nap, model in Minneapolis, go back home, fall asleep, do the promo gig, transfer all of my info to the smartphone from my ancient Palm Zire, and go back to the office on Saturday.  Then I'll go to sleep again.  Thank goodness for weekends at Grandma's.

• This morning, I finished post-production for "Khuy," the first promo clip/music video for Upir's Mark. I am going to be making a censored version as well for general, but this one should be a pretty good introduction for what the band is... extremely perverted, Soviet-ish, violent, disturbing and stupidly kitsch-generic-pseudo-satan-occult-ish. Thanks to you-know-who for all the good feedback for the video. I will be getting it critiqued for one final time before I release it, and then I shall release it into SlaveButt.com (not-safe for children or work) and if I can find some clubs that can deal with the content... THE WILD. If any of you (who don't have a membership there) want a downloadable copy or a DVD, let me know and tell me where to send it. Feel free to reply with your mailing address/download link request via email, or here, as all comments will be screened.  You have to be over 18 to play.
  


• Speaking of videos, our roommate Jim and Stickmin who is visiting from Detroit (I hope I spelled that right,) maneuvered marionettes, while I digicam recorded a bunch of stuff for the Rasputin Catamite vlog. Jim even had trained mice for these latest adventures.  We also did a small portion of a rather odd "documentary" film about what goes on behind the scenes in the RasputinSpace.  It will probably take a while, but there you go.
  
  
• Speaking of Jim and Stickmin, Loki and I went to St. Cloud with them and gorged cheap happy hour food and booze.  The latter not for me, alas.  We met up with Maria and Naomi to grocery shop and gawk at Weekly World News, before it gets canceled.  (Thank you Ayperi!)
  
• Krissy's best friend's brother is among the missing in the 35-W bridge disaster, and his father is trapped in the control building beneath.  I am hoping the best for them, but also bracing for the worst.  Also Jim's sister's  school bus avoided falling off the bridge by about 40 seconds.  Thankfully, she and her fellow students, are okay.
  
  
• I've been working on business cards, and finally I'm almost done collecting my accounts receivable.  I only have one left!  This means that I am closer to paying off the business credit card debt.  I am very happy about this.  Hopefully I get a few more big money jobs, so I actually feel like I'm going SOMEWHERE!  Considering I needed no money to subsidize my click-counts and sales tax, I am absolutely thrilled.  Although it was really scary to only have $40 in the bank.
  
  
• AJ is visiting tomorrow.  YAY!  It will be nice to have a visitor.
  
  
  
• That's it for now.

I realize that most of you hate the following song, but I don't care.  It's the most perfect 80's Mexican soap opera cheese ballad EVER!  I love singing this song, and I have the stupidest parody ever.

Today I finally have a few is to actually blog and at least say hello to you all. Tax season this year has been a special hell for me this year. I usually have everything filed around February, but my well-meaning mother-in-law suggested I wait until March, so no amendments or corrections would be necessary. Loki thought this was a good idea. I personally didn't, because I thought that I would lose something important, from there to here. As it turns out, I was right. And, it looks like one of my W-2 forms for my promo agencies, is missing. Hopefully, I can find it tonight, when I go home. I am not especially optimistic, but I'm crossing my fingers. Oh well, if worse comes to worse, my agency can always fax a copy to me. It's going to be a bit of a pain in the butt to take off work and drive to St. Cloud to deliver all of this insane paperwork to the accountant, since I'll probably have to close the print shop. At this point, I'm happy to pay the extension penalty, and just deal with it. I'm just happy that this crap is near an end. One positive thing about this crazy adventure, has then the fact that I've finally broken down and decided to invest in the services of a professional organizer. My filing system is rather pathetic, and it stresses me out. While surprisingly tidy, it really isn't appropriate for an office, and it is clearly the work of an amateur Vas. It is in moments like this, when I really miss yellowchameleon, who I hope had an absolutely wonderful birthday. Fortunately, this professional organizer seems pretty decent, and she still seemed willing to work with me after I told her that I have worked as a cheesecake model, and after explaining to her about my underground comic book work. She seemed or really positive and nice, and her specialty is to create an organizational system that closely resembles the logic of the mess, rather than inflict some California Organizer anal-retentive thingy upon someone whose eyes into a glazed pair of glass orbs that express nothing but a sense of quiet desperation and a hatred for straight lines. Straight and boxy works for some people, but Vas sometimes has difficulty fitting into boxes or doing the straight thing, if you know what I mean.


On other wacky business related news, I made my first majorly expensive mistake, on a print job. It was a $300 mistake. While I am glad that I found a satisfactory resolution to the problem that pleased everyone, (except me, but I'm the one who screwed up, so I have no right to complain,) I am kind of annoyed that I can get the fancy fax machine that I had my eye on. Boo-hoo!

Business Tip: if you do retail, are located anywhere near the St. Cloud area and your city regulations allow for it, I highly recommend calling up DeZürik's Portable Sign Company, in getting one of those nifty black signs. This seriously has been the best form of advertising, I've ever done. The return-on-investment has been phenomenal. 320-293-4118 is the number. I am not getting paid for this endorsement, it's just that good. Enough with the plugging.

I'm working on a Ace and Bog right now, as I am speaking this entry. I normally don't wait until the very last minute to do my comics. I'm usually done with them a week in advance, however this week has been stressful, full of work, and just plain bizarre. To make matters worse, it's planting and cutting season in the world of potatoes. The weather has been stupid so the planting has been delayed, however, cutting and piling of potatoes wait for no man, so Loki has been working ridiculous hours controlling the huge potato Mecha robot-arm (I'll have to get a picture of that one of these days.) As a result, I have been more bitterly understaffed than usual, but what can you do. I am glad comic is finally getting done, because I am not going to let all of the faithful fans, who tune in every week to read about Ace being an exhibitionist wiseass or, Mat being a cat tree. It is my duty. I will be so glad when life gets back to normal.

By request, team Rasputin has added something new for those of you who follow any of the two Upir's Mark serials on Sucka.US or, the freaky adult site. I am sure a few of you MySpace fiends will appreciate it.

I've come to a rather interesting conclusion about most of life's problems. Sleep can solve a surprisingly large number of them. I should sleep more often. Thankfully the weekend is coming up. So I will be doing a little game of catch-up than. But aside from Ace and bog. I have a rather large number of graphic design and jobs on the slab. In addition to some book illustration jobs. So life is going to be a little nuts for me, this Friday. I'll manage, especially if I get to bed before 2 a.m., which is the plan right now. And judging from the art work, grays and bog it looks like I'm almost there. Go me!

Wish me luck, as I will be entering my first animation contest. I am hell-bent on winning it. The feature is will be adults-only and very, very disturbing, so if you want to see it, you need to let me know or go to the adult site. When I give you more information. So far it looks pretty good, but I have a ways to go and accidentally deleted 342 frames, some of bit behind schedule. But the deadline is May 1, so I'm not going to sweat it too much.

That's it for now. Man I really need to catch up on my reading of people's blogging adventures.  I feel SO out of the loop.  I finally finished inking the comic (I didn't feel like using the Wacom tablet tonight,) and now I need to letter it. That means, I have to finish this post and free up Dragon NaturallySpeaking to do my nefarious typing for me. Cheers!