Ding Dong

Christmas bells are ringing??
So, for those of you that are here for the stock rules, I'll post them first, then the ranty bit later. So:

RULES FOR USE OF MY STOCK

If you use any of my stock, it is a requirement that you give credit where credit is due, andlink back to me. If I do find anyone that has used stock here, and has not given proper credit, I will bite hard. Please note me as well, because I really want to see what everyone can do. (even if you think it's bad...believe me...you haven't seen the things I've tried to manipulate) Also, I, like many stockers, spend a lot of time, energy, and inspiration on making the best quality stock I can for you guys to use, it's only right that you put forth this small effort too. I'm also an actual photographer, so be glad you don't have to deal with all that copyright permission stuff. Just follow the rules.

Stock may not be used for commercial purposes such as book illustrations, websites, or sold products without my written permission. Note me if you would like to, I am quite forgiving as long as you play by the rules. This is a form of art too, and you wouldn't appreciate it if I ganked a picture you drew without permission.

Please, respect my models. Not only are they all beautiful people, but they have feelings too, and put a lot of modeling hours in with me. Do not put them in pornographic images.

If you have questions, or reasonable requests, just note me. I'd love to know what people are looking for, but please keep it reasonable. No "I want to see people jumping off a cliff into a vat of Smucker's Preserves". For those of you that like this idea, well...we have jumping stock, and well...thats what manipulating is for.

Have fun already!

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THE CONTESTS!!   (these change like, every ten minutes, but still, good to know right?)
There are a couple of fun things happening in the DA Universe, but I wanted to mention just a few.

1.) is holding a...wait for it...wait for it....STOCK CONTEST. That's right. A contest for stock artists to come out and do their best work. Read! untodarkness.deviantart.com/jo…

2.) 's Music Project. Read about it here: legolasofthewood.deviantart.co…

3.) 's "Tell Me A Story" contest. Check out her site.

4.) is running a new contest with an awesome wintery theme! Read AAAALLLL about it here: behana.deviantart.com/journal/…
and be inspired!
She would like everyone to get involved, so...what are you waiting for? It definately put me in the holiday spirit

5.) is currently running a challenge featuring some of our stock. All you avid manipulators out there, if you don't know about ManipulateThis, go forth and be enlightened.
You should check it every week to see what's new.

6.) and are holding a three ring contest under the big top. Step right up and be amazed, and if you would, enter!! It's going to be nifty!

7.) NEW! is having a small contest that looks fun. The topic? I will quote her:
"Simply put, the theme of my contest is CHERRIES!!!!!"
See? lalianna-nyrobi.deviantart.com…

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And now. The rant. Don't read it if you are already in a bad mood. I might make your mood worse.  *takes a deep breath*

Welcome to the holidays folks. It's that time of year again. The time where every possible thing that could go wrong, will go wrong. And every possible debt you may have had or forgotten about will rear its ugly head shortly. It's been a bad semester for me. My mental and physical health have decided that they would be better off somewhere that isn't wherever I am, and there isn't a thing I can do about it.

I'm not even sure what I'm on about really. I'm tired of the same things happening all the time. The redundancy of it all.  Having to sit in a doctor's office breathing through a little tube thingy(AGAIN!) while you try and treat this asthma you suddenly seem to have, coupled with this bronchitis you've had for about two months(AGAIN!), and all the while wondering how in the world you're going to afford..well..life (AGAIN!). Need medicine, right?  Then having to explain to everyone, including instructors, why you weren't in class, (AGAIN!) and why you couldn't get the proper documentation of your illness to them in time. And then listen to the same lecture about how most faculty need tons of warning. Well, duh. I know that. I've only been listening to the same speech my entire life. My friends get irritated with me, telling me I should fight the school and all. But I just don't have the energy. I'm BORED with it. Fucking depression.

I'm also bored with people in general. Sitting back and witnessing other people cause others SO much pain is ultimately numbing.  Like, for example, who, in their sane, human mind, would stop at a four way stop sign, then upon proceeding after stop, runs over a dog, and KEEPS. ON. DRIVING.  Never in my LIFE have I EVER understood this level of human cowardice, especially after about the third pet we've lost this way. Whoever you are, you disgrace me. And now my sister has lost one of her best friends. Poor Sammy. It isn't just an animal: it's as good as murder.

Oh! And guess what season it is also? It's that time when holiday shoppers go into auto pilot. Believe it or not, the percentage of teens shopping in the mall I work at has raised so exponentially on the weekends, some stores have had to enstate a curfew. It's nothing against the kids who are there to do shopping, and hang out, because that's what a shopping mall is for. It's for the groups of shoplifters and teens who play watchdog for other teens while the two are having sex in the hallways. Not just there. In the parking lot. Outside. Sometimes IN stores. I'm just amazed by all this. Not really surprised but...I gotta know... ?? Why would you?? I mean...is there some kind of thrill involved in ducking behind an escalator or sneaking off to see how many department stores you can get horizontal in before you're caught? I guess I'm getting old or missing something here...because I think some kids need a good drop in the mall fountain.

Anyway, I'm up way too late, because I can't sleep. It will probably all pass once I'm out of school, and the holiday is over, and I don't have to worry about how many ways I'm splitting myself up so that I can be four places at once for my disagreeable family this year. Blaaaah. I should really stop ranting, but some days, I just want to kick people in the teeth.

Like today.

Sorry to subject you guys to this. I just needed to write some of this down to get rid of it.

-Ash