I’m a (sometimes) blogger, (mostly) photographer, webdev and video game and anime nerd. Online, I go by giantpaper or thegiantpaper (if giantpaper is taken).

I’m slave to 2 guinea pigs that are both rescues. I’m pro-adoption, being a volunteer for the local county shelter for 7 years, and occasionally volunteering and fostering for local rescues around Southern California.

New Guinea Generation

I’ve had guinea pigs since I was 8! Kiki was my first guinea pig and the one that started it all.

In 2014, I adopted two male guinea pigs, Peanut & Butter who were “bonded”, in that they lived together, but didn’t really like each other. Neutering didn’t fix it. After one too many fights, I separated them for good, and had to get each of them a baby girl guinea pig that they took to quite well.

I’ve added a few more to my herd, mostly to fill the void of someone losing their roommate (except for very specific cases, guinea pigs should never be alone). I’ve never been able to rejoin the two “clans”, even after the two original patriarchs departed for the Rainbow Bridge, due to each clan member hating someone on the other side.

Until recently…

Cookie passed away June 2023, leaving Rose by herself. At this point, Rose was an older lady, and Belle & Bianca from the other clan were old. Maaaaaybe they grew out of warring ways and were willing to make peace.

It was a success! Belle is still pushy and bossy, but no longer harasses other guinea pigs for lulz. Rose is still a diva, but is learning it’s ok to let shit go. And Bianca is still socially awkward, but is understanding that very few people (including other guinea pigs) like it when you chew your food right into their faces.

As of November 2023, they’re still together. Belle was laid to rest November 13 after 8 long years, leaving just Bianca and Rose. Two weeks later, Rose passed away from an unrelated cause. Since Bianca was alone (guinea pigs should not be alone), I needed to get her another friend. I got two friends instead.

Tulip (L): 6 mo Abyssinian
Bianca (M): 8 yr old Abyssinian
Lilo (R): 6 mo shorthair

Names of previous guinea pigs
Kiki, Cookies & Cream, Amidala, Hampton, English, Weepee, Mocha, Peanut, Butter, Belle, Peppa, Cookie, Cashew, Rose

About Giantpaper.org

Giantpaper is my playground on the Internet.

It’s where I can express myself through its design and code. I’ve used it to take on challenges for myself (how fast can I make a site load? can I make a site look like [blahblahblah], etc). (In case it wasn’t obvious, this WordPress theme is 100% custom-built by me.)

The Beginning

This site started years ago, back when I was still learning the Big 3 (HTML, CSS and JavaScript). It’s always been a personal blog since it’s inception, even when the Age of Personal Blogs (run by normal people–not celebrities or professional web designers, SEO experts or internet marketers, about half of them teenagers) started to die down, and everyone migrated to social media.

I’m on Facebook* and Twitter, but nostalgia is making me yearn for the “good ol’ days”. And even though I use Facebook, I have serious trust issues with them and don’t want to rely on them or other social media completely, which is another reason for Giantpaper’s continued existence.

*Friends list is limited to people I actually know. I might not have met them in person, but if we communicated at some point regularly and are on good terms, I will accept a friend request from you.

Around the Internet, I go by giantpaper, thegiantpaper or rarely, hippohumongous. But not all giantpapers, thegiantpapers or hippohumongouses are me(whatever isn’t taken on that particular service).

Fediverse

Giantpaper is @giantpaper on the Fediverse! I’m still working out some bugs, but I know for sure, you can find me on mastodon.social!

Tech Specs

It’s hosted by the uber amazing Hawkhost*. It’s registered with Namecheap. Both are great, and I have been with them for more than a decade now.

*NOTE: that IS an affiliate link so yes, I get 💵 if you click and sign-up through it

Is that…Gutenberg?

Yes, it’s Gutenberg. I’m determined to master it, which is why I have it on my site. 💪😤 I will not be beat by it!

Why Giantpaper?

Literally this: