Casey Anthony surfaces on YouTube 'video diary'

Six months after she was acquitted in the death of her 2-year-old, Casey Anthony is talking publicly – at least online.

Anthony, who is serving probation in Florida for check fraud, talks about her life in hiding and her optimism for the future in a "video diary" posted on YouTube.

It's unclear who posted the video, and Anthony's defense attorney Cheney Mason says it was put on YouTube without his client's permission. Mason suggests Anthony's computer was hacked and says she was "maintaining some notes for her personal use and for future counseling purposes."

Anthony says on the video it was recorded Oct. 13. She has short, blond hair and wears glasses, a far different look than the long brunette locks she had when she was released from an Orlando jail July 17.

"It's just a little surreal how things have changed since July and how things haven't changed," she says during her rambling comments on the black-and-white video.

The recording makes no mention of her daughter, Caylee, who was reported missing in June 2008 and whose remains were found later that year. She also doesn't discuss last year's highly publicized six-week trial in which a Pinellas County jury found her not guilty of killing the toddler.

However, she does say she has "adopted" a dog. And she also has a new computer and webcam that allowed her to make the video. She also expects to post more videos.

"I'm extremely excited that I'll be able to Skype and obviously keep a video log, take some pictures and then I have something that I can finally call mine," she says.

"It's been a long time since I've been able to call something mine and now I have something – even if it's as silly as saying I have a computer and a camera and a phone."

After spending nearly three years in jail awaiting trial, Anthony is serving probation at an undisclosed location because of threats against her.

On the video, she talks about being lonely in isolation. She says the webcam, which was a gift, has become her "friend," although "it's a little scary because I hate being on camera."