LJ just sent me a notice that my paid account is expiring. It gave me a bit of a nostalgic pang, but LJ isn't what it once was. I don't post there anymore and I only remember to check my flist once or twice a month. It's certainly not worth paying an annual fee for.

But you know what hit me harder? I'm about to lose all my extra icons. I'm one of those people who had 100+ icons and had one for every mood, occasion, or fandom. My icons were carefully chosen to be a commentary on each post and comment. And now most of them are going to be gone.

I suppose it doesn't really matter. It's not like anyone is going to be reading eight year old comment threads I participated in at this late date. But dammit, I miss having an arsenal of icons at my disposal.

Because I love icons.

1. Reply to this post with "UNICORNS", and I will pick five of your icons.
2. Make a post (including the meme info) and talk about the icons I chose.
3. Other people can then comment to you and make their own posts.
4. This will create a never-ending cycle of icon glee.

These are the icons chosen by sgflutegirl. (I bet you thought I'd forgotten. And you'd be right. 8-P)

( Icons )

- Reply to this post (only if you wish) and I will pick six of your icons.
- Make a post (including this info) and talk about the icons I chose.
- Other people can then comment to you and make their own posts.
- This will create a never ending cycle of icon glee.

These were the icons chosen by just_ruth:

( Icons )

Grabbed from all over my flist. I wish there were more categories. There are some icons I love that there was just no room for.

MY ICONS.

default	oldest	newest
saddest	happiest	angriest
cutest	sexiest	funniest
fave ship	fave fandom	fave animated
best quote	best textless	best stolen idea
use the most	favorite

HOW MANY ICONS DO YOU HAVE: 77
OUT OF HOW MANY AVAILABLE ICONS SPACES: 110
IF YOU COULD BUY SPACE FOR MORE, WOULD YOU: Probably
DO YOUR ICONS MAKE A STATEMENT: They usually represent what I'm thinking or feeling in a post or comment
WHAT FANDOM DO YOU HAVE THE MOST ICONS OF: Supernatural (24)
AND THE SECOND MOST: Stargate Atlantis (9)
WHAT SHIP DO YOU HAVE THE MOST ICONS OF: McShep (sorry, my ship is slash)
ARE YOUR ICONS MADE MOSTLY BY OTHER PEOPLE: Yes, by a margin of 2-1
DO YOU MAKE ICONS: Yes
ARE THEY ANY GOOD: I like 'em
ANIMATED ICONS ARE: Something I wish I knew how to make

DO THE MEME.

<center><font size="4"><b>MAH ICONS.</b></font></center> <center><table cellpadding="6" cellspacing="5" style="text-align: center;"><tr bgcolor="#dddddd"><td> default </td><td> oldest </td><td> newest </td></tr><tr bgcolor="#dddddd"><td> <img src="DEFAULTURL" /> </td><td> <img src="OLDESTURL" /> </td><td> <img src="NEWESTURL" /> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="3"> </td></tr><tr bgcolor="#dddddd"><td> saddest </td><td> happiest </td><td> angriest </td></tr><tr bgcolor="#dddddd"><td> <img src="SADDESTURL" /> </td><td> <img src="HAPPIESTURL" /> </td><td> <img src="ANGRIESTURL" /> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="3"> </td></tr><tr bgcolor="#dddddd"><td> cutest </td><td> sexiest </td><td> funniest </td></tr><tr bgcolor="#dddddd"><td> <img src="CUTESTURL" /> </td><td> <img src="SEXIESTURL" /> </td><td> <img src="FUNNIESTURL" /> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="3"> </td></tr><tr bgcolor="#dddddd"><td> fave ship </td><td> fave fandom </td><td> fave animated </td></tr><tr bgcolor="#dddddd"><td> <img src="FAVESHIPURL" /> </td><td> <img src="FAVEFANDOMURL" /> </td><td> <img src="FAVEANIMATEDURL" /> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="3"> </td></tr><tr bgcolor="#dddddd"><td> best quote </td><td> best textless </td><td> best stolen idea </td></tr><tr bgcolor="#dddddd"><td> <img src="BESTQUOTEURL" /> </td><td> <img src="BESTTEXTLESSURL" /> </td><td> <img src="BESTSTOLENIDEA" /> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="3"> </td></tr><tr bgcolor="#dddddd"><td> use the most </td><td> favorite </td></tr><tr bgcolor="#dddddd"><td> <img src="USEDTHEMOSTURL" /> </td><td> <img src="FAVORITEURL" /> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="3"> </td></tr></table></center> <b>HOW MANY ICONS DO YOU HAVE:</b> <b>OUT OF HOW MANY AVAILABLE ICONS SPACES:</b> <b>IF YOU COULD BUY SPACE FOR MORE, WOULD YOU:</b> <b>DO YOUR ICONS MAKE A STATEMENT:</b> <b>WHAT FANDOM DO YOU HAVE THE MOST ICONS OF:</b> <b>AND THE SECOND MOST:</b> <b>WHAT SHIP DO YOU HAVE THE MOST ICONS OF:</b> <b>ARE YOUR ICONS MADE MOSTLY BY OTHER PEOPLE:</b> <b>DO YOU MAKE ICONS:</b> <b>ARE THEY ANY GOOD:</b> <b>ANIMATED ICONS ARE:</b> <center><font size="6"><b>DO THE MEME.</b></font>

Comment and I'll pick seven of your icons, and then you will explain why you love/are using the icon (who doesn't love talking about their icons, seriously) and then post your explanation/this meme in your journal for other people to squee about their icons, and basically it will be a huge squeefest of love and 100x100 square pixels.

These are the icons chosen by sgflutegirl:

( Icons Ahoy )

I'm still interested in hearing people's views on IrfanView and GIMP, but in the meantime, I made an icon I really wanted all by myself! Yay!

I found a great site here. It has anime-related pictures you can use to make your own icons with their built-in editing software. It even allows basic special effects and text. I'm so pleased. As a bibliophile and librarian, I really wanted this picture as an icon as soon as I saw it.

It came out a little blurry, but hopefully any graphics software I end up with will be able to clean it up at some future date.

ETA: That date has arrived! Original blurry icon replaced with new and improved version. You can actually see what color her eyes are in this one.