Seeing as these seem to fail everyone, my resolutions are:

1. To never go out and try new things
2. To go onto dating sites, mathc with somebody, send 5 lines of dialogue and then ignore them forever in case they want to actually meet up out in the real world where things are scary.
3. Continue sitting on my butt waiting for the perfect partner (or, a good one, at least) to fall into my lap like I have been (at least until the last year or so).

Here's to the worst kept new years resolutions yet.

How about you people?

There's nothing quite like being home bored and alone. You think up old things you'd rather not, you worry for future things you don't need to. At least I do.

Staying wtih my sister in LA and all I can think of are relationship things, should I go back to school, should I continue down the restaurant path, do I value a varied social or a social work life more, will I find something that I enjoy as much as I do cooking with a the other chefs in the restaurant.

How the fuck do you go on dates with people anyways. The only love that's ever really blossomed for me has started online or been a friend that turned into something more later, or both. That and I have no idea how to react to actually being hit on, which is hilarious because I will flirt back and forth with my female friends all the time... and then if I get hit on by a guy I just lock up, stay quiet, and immediately start thinking about everything that could go wrong and how many ways it could.

Life is weird man.

Side note: If anyone wants to talk, skype is Alexi Vallen. Hit me up. Alleviate the silly thinking (though, at the same time, it is also necessary.)

Whelp. I've been in Australia for the last year. Coming home to the states in a little over 5 hours.

To be honest, I don't really want to live. I understand why a lot of americans migrate here.

So, a heads up on an IRS scam to anyone who might be listening.

If you get a phone call from someone saying anything along the lines of "Hello, we are calling to tell you that we have discovered a discrepancy in your wages reported/your earned income credit over the past X years. The police are going to be at your door in 2 hours to investigate/arrest you." is a scam that was going to at least TRY and target my mother. The problem is, 2 people in the immediate vicinity, my grandma and my aunt, are taxpayers. So if you get a call, here's how you know that this is clearly a scam.

1. The IRS would not call you. they would not bring people to arrest you over the phone. That is level one of scam. you would first have someone sent to you to your door, trying to tell you of it, along with a letter in the mail.
2. a discrepancy in wages or a problem is again, NOT SOMETHING TO CALL ABOUT. they would NEVER tell you that you are going to be arrested over phone, and, if something is really truly wrong would just send police to your door for evading arrest. seriously, how good is it going to be for the police knowing you have 2 hours to prepare for their arrival. think you're still gonna be there if there is a problem?
3. Multiple other reasons that I forget. HOWEVER, CLEARLY SCAM BY NOW. YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE.

Now, if they call you, realize that this is a scam designed to make you panic. They will probably say something like listen we just need your credit card number to verify that we do in fact have the right person, to which case, obviously don't give it. Same if they have an account to which you should post things in. It's to scam poorer families out of money they got through confusing tax programs they had help getting and don't fully understand.

How do you go about making them feel stupid?
Ask for their IRS number and name. Tell them that you are going to call and verify it and to hold on for a moment. I guarantee you they will hang up. Don't want to go that far? Just hang straight up on them.

I'm bad at writing warnings. Learn the signs. Tell them no. Hang up. Do whatever. Just, as usual, don't get scammed, and remember, the IRS is usually a hell of a slow moving bureaocracy.

3 weeks and I'll be back to normal things again... but, for 3 weeks, I'm going to be... very bored in life. you guys can contact me anywhere I've said here already (think I put my skype on) and I'd love to make more friends. Just let me know to talk. Alleviate the loneliness. <3

Thank you lovelies.

So this is why I keep a bank account! cuz I can do this and still feel okay with things. Also, because due to lack of stops in the middle of the country I probably won't hit anymore than the east coast and some places in california I can train/bus to on that road trip (I can live with my sister for a bit over there.)

But there is a Sake certification class which should be fun, interesting, informative, and give me an actual piece of paper certifying my knowledge of the drink... However, it costs 475$.

GOOD TIMES! http://www.urbansake.com/sake-blog/.....l-america.html

I will most likely if I stay anywhere near NYC probably go for the sake sommelier certifications later on as well, which cost 750$ and involve 17 more hours of coursework... realistically it's not that bad.

So, i kinda want to go to a con... I went to anthrocon once a long time ago (try 8 years.) and it was really weird because... I was invited by a friend... and I didn't know anyone. Aaaaand it was awkward. So... I'd love to be friends with people when I next go to a con, and the two big ones I know of that are doable are Anthrocon once more, and MWFF. Thoughts? Roommate possibilities? Other suggested cons? Estimated travel costs and such?

I. Will be. A drunk fox.

Skype is Alexi Vallen. twitter is alexivallen.

Entertain me. Be entertained. w/e

Hey everyone!

For those of you who know me, you probably already know this part, but this is mostly for those that don’t know me particularly well.

I am a chef. A cook. A beverage and service extraordinaire, master of the knife pan AND pot, among many other things. Well. Someday. Right now, I’m training. Training takes time, and it usually involves doing ANYTHING YOU CAN to get better, learn more about your skill. So here is my plan;

I have a sizable bank account coming up, and I am graduating from my culinary school, The Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park, in May. Afterwards, I plan on using that bank account to travel across the states, experience the best of areas, and spend a month or so eating at and trailing in some of the best restaurants I can find. On top of this, I want to meet friends and new people, learn home cooking recipes as well as some cool restaurants in the areas.

“Why does this involve me?” you might be asking.

Well, as you might expect it, traveling across the country is expensive. Gas is an expensive issue. Food is expensive for travel snacks. Ways to keep yourself awake while driving betwee destinations (currently, there are some LENGTHY travel days… Im hoping to at the least eliminate the multi-day trips, which are currently between texas and California, then again between California and Minnesota. *Shudders* The big second part of that is a multi-day trip is really expensive if it’s in a hotel, and I REALLY don’t want to spend the night in the back seat of my car…

So here I am with a special request. Could you house a fox in return for some good cooking? Probably not something that’s going to be super fancy, but I’ll take some food in your fridge, we can pick up some other stuff to pull a good meal together. Want some lessons on cooking? Some tips and tricks from someone who’s been in the industry for a bit? I’ll be happy to do what I can for you. All I’m asking for is a couch, chair, or floor to sleep on for a few days, I can’t imagine staying anywhere for a full week, most likely come in late one night, stay for 2-3 more days, leave the morning of the next day to my next destination.

I promise I won’t make things creepy or awkward (to the best of my ability). However, I’m 24 and I know that there are lots of people out there who live with their family, go to college, work from home, and might still want to house me. See, not that I have an issue showing up to a family, but I find it would be awkward to talk with people and have it be like “Hey, where’s he from?” “Oh, I met him on a furry website online. He asked to use the couch and cook for us for a few days.” Because you know, that’s normal. If you can figure out some way to make it okay that some 24 year old guy from culinary school can come and have that be okay, I’ll see.

Also, (though I don’t see this being an issue except maybe in some parts of cali) while I’ll visit multiple people in an area, I don’t really want to say hey, I know four people living in, random example, Asheville NC or the immediate vicinity… I’ll talk to all four, stop by, say hey and hang a day or so and all that, but I gotta keep things moving, so I probably won’t stay with every person for a few days (though maybe? I dunno. If you’re good friends, or if I have some incentive like getting just a little pocket change or free meal or something in return for some services, I CERTAINLY wouldn’t turn you down. :P)

But… Yeah, I think that brings us to the end of this. My name is Alexi Vallen on Skype if you want to add me there to work out details. I’d like to speak with people a little bit before giving out my real name, my phone number, etc., just to get to know someone first and to avoid having creepy stalker kinda people.


TL;DR

There is a white fox cook, traveling the nation, looking to couch-surf as best he can, spend some time in restaurants in areas and cook for people in terms of his payments. You should totally accept him and he’ll bring some pots pans and knives so that he can cook for you in return.
DO ME A HUGE FAVOR! PIMP THIS JOURNAL OUT HOWEVER YOU CAN!
I think it’s against FA’s ToS to have journals specifically posting to other journals, so I’m gonna go ahead and say don’t do that… BUT THERE ARE OTHER PLACES!
TWITTER, TUMBLR, WORD OF MOUTH, ANYWHERE ELSE, pimp me out. Make people want me in their home, and my food in their tummies! ^^

Thanks. Direct questions below, in notes, anywhere, I’ll start laying out a groundwork for my travels and a general plan on how things are going. ^^

HELP ME MAKE THIS TRIP A SUCCESS. ^^ THANK YOU. MUCH LOVE TO ALL.

Depending on how things go, I might make my way to Canada in certain places, but I don’t have much reason at the moment… nor do I have any places except Minnesota too close to the Canadian border. Might change as things on.

OH MY GOD IT'S FOUR FUCKING AM AND I CANT SLEEP.

I HAVE CLASS IN FOUR HOURS.

WHAT THE FUCK.

I hate the world right now.

http://gamesdonequick.com/

So, some of you may already know this about me, but I'm a pretty avid gamer.

There is currently a speedrun marathon going on from speeddemosarchive.com where they play games incredibly quick, and have a variety of prizes for donation. The donations go to the prevent cancer foundation for this event. In previous years the event has grown hugely. When they first did it several years ago, they raised about 11,000 dollars in about 50 hours of gameplay.

Today they raised 10,000$ in less than an hour.

through donation raffles they have a wide variety of gifts given out, to include art, t-shirts, sometimes a grand prize though I don't know if there is a grand prize for this tournament, grand prizes in the past have included a hylean shield, a hammer from super meat boy, and a variety of others.

Give it a look see, watch something get beaten super quick, enjoy the entertaining casters. ^^ check the schedule and look for your favorite games. some have times where you just have to go ...what. For example, They are doing a race this year for legend of zelda link to the past. The estimate is 1 hour and 45 minutes. They aren't doing the fastest way because it's not entertaining to watch.

in the top left is a schedule and you'll be able to find donation incentives to make people do goofy things, extra things, or what you need to donate to be put in the raffle for prizes.

The goal this year is 500k, and will most likely be met and exceeded.

GET HYPE!

http://gamesdonequick.com/

New year. New times. New people. New Resolutions.

New recipes. New lessons. New successes. New failures.

New ups, new downs. New smiles, New frowns.

New loss, new love. New heart, new dove.


We'll see what happens with the new year.

You never forget where you come from.

Sometime, it's gotta be time to move on, but there are times, secretly or openly, that you just wish you could go back to the way it was.

Sometimes you can. Sometimes you can't. Either way.

To new beginnings.

Hooray for turning 24 this year. Rather large amount of maturing and understanding compared to the last few. Though I have to admit, feels a bit odd this year.

I say this mostly because after all of these different ways I can see how I've changed... I still, quite honestly, want to be an attention whore for a day.

Is that so wrong?

So happy birthday to me I guess.