I spent the summer I was 17 in central Massachusetts, just outside Worcester. I'd taken US history the previous year, and had gotten to the state level with my History Day project on Hamilton and Jefferson. So to say I was a little bit fixated with the Founding Fathers would ...
![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/syndicated.gif){kind=small}
Nothing much to tell about the week-long trip, other than the hotel has cable TV, and I woke up to Honey & Clover every morning. I missed that series. Tremendously.
I posted a few lines from Sebastian Barry's The Secret Scripture at ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small}
literaryquotes. Has anyone else read the book?
Naruto 407: What does Shikamaru getting a fangirl someone who's got a crush on him accomplish, other than to give inspiration to fic writers, and for light-hearted moments? Or did I just answer my own question?
( A couple of Blogthings results )
- Mood:
thirsty - Music:Aitakute ~DJ Mitsu the Beats PM1:30 mix~ - MONKEY MAJIK
Computers
So I'm probably going to take the leap and buy myself a 15,000 yen laptop to keep in my locker. Almost sure of it. Especially because I can tinker with Ubuntu at home on days off, if I feel like it. I guess all systems go.
So I'm probably going to take the leap and buy myself a 15,000 yen laptop to keep in my locker. Almost sure of it. Especially because I can tinker with Ubuntu at home on days off, if I feel like it. I guess all systems go.
Hiiii guys, I just finished watching the Nodame Special a few minutes ago, and I totally wanted to get the song listing! I looked d-addicts and I only found the music list for the Nodame series, but not the special. Can anyone link me somewhere, or tell me the whole list for the 2 special episodes? Thanks so much :) :) :)
So~ Bad movie day was... full of bad movies. XD
First up was the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Talk about bad cheerleading routines. XD; And they totally did not make use of her "keen fashion sense" or whatever she claimed to have. XD; Pike cleaned up well, at least. But geez. Giles could put that other Watcher-guy to shame. :x There was much missing of Giles, for sure. (There was not, however, much missing of the early nineties or whatever. OH GOD THE CLOTHES. ;_;) The bad guy was... Gay. Very gay. Not scary at all because we were too busy laughing at the GAY. I'm still not convinced it's really a comedy. I think it might just be dumb. XD; Oh, thank God Joss Whedon's writing got better, and quickly. At least toward the end of the movie things got a little better... ish. XD;
BUT THEN. OMG. The bad movie of the millennium cake was won by Fantasy Mission Force. OMG. WTF. Wow. I wonder if that one even made sense in the original Chinese. I don't think there's a way on the planet you could make sense of that movie. Ever. BUT I suppose that made it all the more amusing to watch. OMG with its... Spartan Nazis riding their cars that came from Dukes of Hazzard like they were horses and attacking log cabins in the middle of CANADA in WWII and OMG GENERAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN. FOR SERIOUS. What a movie. XD It's really a pity MST3K never did it. I mean, it put Overdrawn a the Memory Bank to shame, and it didn't even have anteaters. XD;It did have She-Ra, Elvis, and Cowboy!Jackie Chan though. XD
And finally~ They didn't have The Shadow at Blockbuster so I picked Clash of the Titans. XD I hadn't seen it in so long... I didn't know McGonagall was in it. XD Also, ahaha, I obviously saw the "adapted to TV" version the first few times. ::snickers:: But anyway, at least it was amusing. And made of old-skool Greek movie goodness. Complete with guys in too-short skirts, stop-action monsters, and stereotypical Greek gods. I really need to reread more of my mythology book. I'm not too rusty, thanks to Mr. Jackson and his friends ;D, but I could definitely use a refresher. (The writers of that movie could, as well... they kind of mixed a whole bunch of myths, but ah well. XD It was a decent-ish adaptation... though I don't think Andromeda and Perseus were all lovey-dovey before he saved her? Must look that up. XD)
Oh, the world needs more Perseus of the Jackson sort~ I STILL HAVE TO WAIT A WHOLE YEAR AND A HALF FOR THE MOVIE WHY. ;_;
Anyway! I come bearing pictures? Of CSTS and Disneyworld and this afternoon~ Not that they're very exciting, but. ^^; A couple of links, for those few who might be interested.
CSTS~
Star Wars Weekends!
Storm Trooper Valerie :D
Storm Trooper Ali-chan!
Scott's so evil, he has a shell for a pet instead of a cat. XD
Bad Movie Marathon group!
The whole album is here if anyone wants to see a couple more semi-exciting pictures. ^^; And speaking of pictures! Steph is amazing~! :D She made me a mini-Sashi and it is SO CUTE! Eeeee I love it~ <333
OH BUT. XD That was fun~Awesome abs with no work! Woo~
Okay and randomly, after Anne Marie declared it Disney Music Day, I realized... I probably haven't gone a day without some kind of Disney music since Hannah Montana first premiered. Ahahaha.As evidenced by the music WINAMP YOU BETRAYER. I'm pathetic. ;_;
First up was the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Talk about bad cheerleading routines. XD; And they totally did not make use of her "keen fashion sense" or whatever she claimed to have. XD; Pike cleaned up well, at least. But geez. Giles could put that other Watcher-guy to shame. :x There was much missing of Giles, for sure. (There was not, however, much missing of the early nineties or whatever. OH GOD THE CLOTHES. ;_;) The bad guy was... Gay. Very gay. Not scary at all because we were too busy laughing at the GAY. I'm still not convinced it's really a comedy. I think it might just be dumb. XD; Oh, thank God Joss Whedon's writing got better, and quickly. At least toward the end of the movie things got a little better... ish. XD;
BUT THEN. OMG. The bad movie of the millennium cake was won by Fantasy Mission Force. OMG. WTF. Wow. I wonder if that one even made sense in the original Chinese. I don't think there's a way on the planet you could make sense of that movie. Ever. BUT I suppose that made it all the more amusing to watch. OMG with its... Spartan Nazis riding their cars that came from Dukes of Hazzard like they were horses and attacking log cabins in the middle of CANADA in WWII and OMG GENERAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN. FOR SERIOUS. What a movie. XD It's really a pity MST3K never did it. I mean, it put Overdrawn a the Memory Bank to shame, and it didn't even have anteaters. XD;
And finally~ They didn't have The Shadow at Blockbuster so I picked Clash of the Titans. XD I hadn't seen it in so long... I didn't know McGonagall was in it. XD Also, ahaha, I obviously saw the "adapted to TV" version the first few times. ::snickers:: But anyway, at least it was amusing. And made of old-skool Greek movie goodness. Complete with guys in too-short skirts, stop-action monsters, and stereotypical Greek gods. I really need to reread more of my mythology book. I'm not too rusty, thanks to Mr. Jackson and his friends ;D, but I could definitely use a refresher. (The writers of that movie could, as well... they kind of mixed a whole bunch of myths, but ah well. XD It was a decent-ish adaptation... though I don't think Andromeda and Perseus were all lovey-dovey before he saved her? Must look that up. XD)
Oh, the world needs more Perseus of the Jackson sort~ I STILL HAVE TO WAIT A WHOLE YEAR AND A HALF FOR THE MOVIE WHY. ;_;
Anyway! I come bearing pictures? Of CSTS and Disneyworld and this afternoon~ Not that they're very exciting, but. ^^; A couple of links, for those few who might be interested.
CSTS~
Star Wars Weekends!
Storm Trooper Valerie :D
Storm Trooper Ali-chan!
Scott's so evil, he has a shell for a pet instead of a cat. XD
Bad Movie Marathon group!
The whole album is here if anyone wants to see a couple more semi-exciting pictures. ^^; And speaking of pictures! Steph is amazing~! :D She made me a mini-Sashi and it is SO CUTE! Eeeee I love it~ <333
OH BUT. XD That was fun~
Okay and randomly, after Anne Marie declared it Disney Music Day, I realized... I probably haven't gone a day without some kind of Disney music since Hannah Montana first premiered. Ahahaha.
- Mood:
silly - Music:Connect 3 (Jonas Brothers) - Play My Music
Antique Bakery
I kept hearing about this. Now that an anime is out, I shall have to try it.
Playing Notes: The Sims Build Theme #2 ("Bittersweet")
And I thought the consecutive 8vs in Still Doll were bad. I'm playing 10ths on a regular basis, here. *stretches the C-G-E triad, and then winces as she hits C-F-B-flat-E-flat* Ouch, that hurts to play! ... and then we hit bar 11, and all hell breaks loose. *gives up for now, finger joints hurting* I need to warm up a lot more before coming to this one. Definitely pedalling all the way for this, there is no way for me to hit the 11ths and 12ths any other way. I don't have hands THAT big.
Playing Notes: The Sims Build Theme #3 ("Since We Met")
Where does one stop to turn the page? *whimper* 11 pages does not fit sideways on the piano, I HAVE to turn a page somewhere... And now I'm going to have to actually mark up the score with highlighter. The key notes to the melody are completely hidden amidst the rest of the background jazz notes, and when played together everything blurs into one. *sigh, pulls out her yellow highlighter* (Also, this damned thing sounds a lot better at twice the speed. Crap, I can't even play this at 50 crotchet beats, too many chromatic running notes.)
Playing Notes: The Sims Build Theme #4 (no other title)
Only three pages, thank god. All the other Sims themes were LONG. I'm not used to playing both hands in the treble clef, though this is the easiest of all the pieces. The treble clef confuses me--I keep wanting to play the bass clef instead, and I can see this is one of those "don't mix with other pieces" songs if I ever want to play them all in one. That, or I get into this one first, play the treble clef, and then switch back to the bass. This is like writing with my left hand. *winces*
Inkjets
I have no more ink now, I spent it all printing music. ^_^; Thank goodness I'm going to Akihabara in a bit. (As a side note, I find it hilarious that the printer's "low ink" dialog box actually tells me I have no more ink and to make sure I buy the one with the little rabbit on the box! I never thought about it before, but... YES. THERE IS A RABBIT ON THE BOX. And all the others have different pictures! *laughing, cheers* CUTE!
Today
Whoops, alarm went off, time to go shower and get out of the house so I can go to Akiba and meet![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
kevinsensei. Tonight we will join ontogenesis and cienna (and hopefully one more person), and there will be dinner and karaoke!
Man, I like having Saturdays off. Too bad this is just a one-time thing. Oh well, gotta enjoy it while it lasts!
I kept hearing about this. Now that an anime is out, I shall have to try it.
Playing Notes: The Sims Build Theme #2 ("Bittersweet")
And I thought the consecutive 8vs in Still Doll were bad. I'm playing 10ths on a regular basis, here. *stretches the C-G-E triad, and then winces as she hits C-F-B-flat-E-flat* Ouch, that hurts to play! ... and then we hit bar 11, and all hell breaks loose. *gives up for now, finger joints hurting* I need to warm up a lot more before coming to this one. Definitely pedalling all the way for this, there is no way for me to hit the 11ths and 12ths any other way. I don't have hands THAT big.
Playing Notes: The Sims Build Theme #3 ("Since We Met")
Where does one stop to turn the page? *whimper* 11 pages does not fit sideways on the piano, I HAVE to turn a page somewhere... And now I'm going to have to actually mark up the score with highlighter. The key notes to the melody are completely hidden amidst the rest of the background jazz notes, and when played together everything blurs into one. *sigh, pulls out her yellow highlighter* (Also, this damned thing sounds a lot better at twice the speed. Crap, I can't even play this at 50 crotchet beats, too many chromatic running notes.)
Playing Notes: The Sims Build Theme #4 (no other title)
Only three pages, thank god. All the other Sims themes were LONG. I'm not used to playing both hands in the treble clef, though this is the easiest of all the pieces. The treble clef confuses me--I keep wanting to play the bass clef instead, and I can see this is one of those "don't mix with other pieces" songs if I ever want to play them all in one. That, or I get into this one first, play the treble clef, and then switch back to the bass. This is like writing with my left hand. *winces*
Inkjets
I have no more ink now, I spent it all printing music. ^_^; Thank goodness I'm going to Akihabara in a bit. (As a side note, I find it hilarious that the printer's "low ink" dialog box actually tells me I have no more ink and to make sure I buy the one with the little rabbit on the box! I never thought about it before, but... YES. THERE IS A RABBIT ON THE BOX. And all the others have different pictures! *laughing, cheers* CUTE!
Today
Whoops, alarm went off, time to go shower and get out of the house so I can go to Akiba and meet
kevinsensei. Tonight we will join ontogenesis and cienna (and hopefully one more person), and there will be dinner and karaoke! Man, I like having Saturdays off. Too bad this is just a one-time thing. Oh well, gotta enjoy it while it lasts!
The day after tomorrow I'll be back in Christchurch for a vacation. It's been ages since I've been back - I wonder if much has changed? Mum's been doing a lot of renovations around the house since I've been gone, so it'll probably look quite different.
I think I'm more or less done preparing, though I always worry that I'm going to forget something important. I don't want to bring too much though, no point in having extra heavy luggage.
It looks like I'm leaving at just the right time to escape the heat. The past couple of days have had a bug jump in temperature. Though of course, I'll still have to deal with August. Queuing for Comiket is not going to be easy.
I think I'm more or less done preparing, though I always worry that I'm going to forget something important. I don't want to bring too much though, no point in having extra heavy luggage.
It looks like I'm leaving at just the right time to escape the heat. The past couple of days have had a bug jump in temperature. Though of course, I'll still have to deal with August. Queuing for Comiket is not going to be easy.
Well, the master lists for round one were posted, so I can share these with you, now~ The second isn't as finished or well proportioned as I would have liked, but. :/
1 - prompt: "It's the fear of what comes after the doing that makes the doing hard to do. But you can almost always live with the consequences." (Angels in America)
( Read more... )
2 - prompt: no pants day
Also, I can't decide how I like Sirius's hair. :/ I think I've drawn it differently in every picture I've made of him... Finding out he kept his hair long when he was depressed was a blow to my personal views on Sirius.
- Mood:
good
So like a total genius, I managed to run my toes over with the rolling chair in the hotel room. On the other hand, I totally managed to eat most of two more pieces of the pizza, leaving the fourth piece staring at me, taunting me with its delicious taste. Unfortunately, on the third, awkward hand, my stomach is not having with any plans for eating more.
Despite it being eleven Chicago time, I am not sleepy, but just out of it enough that working on fic is not going well. The solution to this, of course, is to watch vids online (though it's kind of creepy to know that Google has been ordered by the court to give Viacom all of its Youtube information, including the viewing habits of users and their IP addresses; boo, Viacom, boo). So for anyone else in the same situation, the fourth Psych Vid Rec post!
If you were gay by Shotaphile
If Gus were gay, Shawn would totally be accepting.
( Two more gen and four slash vids )
Despite it being eleven Chicago time, I am not sleepy, but just out of it enough that working on fic is not going well. The solution to this, of course, is to watch vids online (though it's kind of creepy to know that Google has been ordered by the court to give Viacom all of its Youtube information, including the viewing habits of users and their IP addresses; boo, Viacom, boo). So for anyone else in the same situation, the fourth Psych Vid Rec post!
If you were gay by Shotaphile
If Gus were gay, Shawn would totally be accepting.
( Two more gen and four slash vids )
The genre for July at genrechallenge is Biography/Memoir (nonfiction).
Sleep, a parody of Hamlet byaiwritingfic. Well-written and, for a fan, may be disturbingly familiar.
genrechallenge is Biography/Memoir (nonfiction).Sleep, a parody of Hamlet by
aiwritingfic. Well-written and, for a fan, may be disturbingly familiar.- Mood:
MONKEY MAJIK is awesome - Music:Morning-Evening - MONKEY MAJIK
Urgh
Urgh. My desk is completely unsuited to mental exertion. I can't even focus on the application to a voice casting agency. I am definitely looking forward to moving--this room is too small and I can't move anything around at all.
Piano
*struck by the need to play* Considering how much I play White Line, you'd think I'd have it memorized by now... *starts learning Still Doll (Vampire Knight ED) and Caramelldansen, too*
Playing Notes: Still Doll
Make sure you are comfortable with playing consecutive 8vs and 6ths. *groans* My right arm is sore because I've been doing the consecutive 8vs from the C major chorus! (The left hand is difficult to play. *groan*) Overall? I'm looking forward to learning this, and it's very short (2 pages!) The effects (tinkling in the high notes) are going to be difficult, especially with the bass being heavy enough that pedalling will blur them all together and kill the effect. *winces* And here is where I wish I had a grand piano.
Playing Notes: Caramelldansen
WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE IN B MAJOR? *cries at the five sharps* This stupid thing could be transposed to C major and STILL WORK. *mentally transposing, then just throws the sheet music away and plays it by ear* Two motifs, alternating and repeating, and all you change is the base depending on what tempo you want. *plays it by ear, scandalized* SEE I CAN DO IT TOO. In C major, with no sheet music, and NO PRACTICE WHATSOEVER. ARGH. *hates because she wasted 8 pages of ink on this stupid thing* *tears sheet music up and throws it away* I don't need you and your B major.
Playing Notes: The Sims Building Theme #6 ("The Simple Life")
Wow. It looks easy at first, but all the running notes and unexpected dissonances that make this so beautiful to listen to? Make it HELL TO PLAY. *can't help but laugh* I'm going to enjoy learning this one.
Playing Notes: The Sims Building Theme #1 ("New Beginnings")
OH. MY. GOD. Syncopation is all right when it's ragtime or something like that, and everything is on the same sort of syncopation throughout. Syncopation when I don't know the notes and it's interspersed with normal time? *weeps* I really regret not practicing, I can't control my fingers! This one is definitely on the "OMG SO COOL TO PLAY BUT OUCH TO LEARN" level.
Urgh. My desk is completely unsuited to mental exertion. I can't even focus on the application to a voice casting agency. I am definitely looking forward to moving--this room is too small and I can't move anything around at all.
Piano
*struck by the need to play* Considering how much I play White Line, you'd think I'd have it memorized by now... *starts learning Still Doll (Vampire Knight ED) and Caramelldansen, too*
Playing Notes: Still Doll
Make sure you are comfortable with playing consecutive 8vs and 6ths. *groans* My right arm is sore because I've been doing the consecutive 8vs from the C major chorus! (The left hand is difficult to play. *groan*) Overall? I'm looking forward to learning this, and it's very short (2 pages!) The effects (tinkling in the high notes) are going to be difficult, especially with the bass being heavy enough that pedalling will blur them all together and kill the effect. *winces* And here is where I wish I had a grand piano.
Playing Notes: Caramelldansen
WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE IN B MAJOR? *cries at the five sharps* This stupid thing could be transposed to C major and STILL WORK. *mentally transposing, then just throws the sheet music away and plays it by ear* Two motifs, alternating and repeating, and all you change is the base depending on what tempo you want. *plays it by ear, scandalized* SEE I CAN DO IT TOO. In C major, with no sheet music, and NO PRACTICE WHATSOEVER. ARGH. *hates because she wasted 8 pages of ink on this stupid thing* *tears sheet music up and throws it away* I don't need you and your B major.
Playing Notes: The Sims Building Theme #6 ("The Simple Life")
Wow. It looks easy at first, but all the running notes and unexpected dissonances that make this so beautiful to listen to? Make it HELL TO PLAY. *can't help but laugh* I'm going to enjoy learning this one.
Playing Notes: The Sims Building Theme #1 ("New Beginnings")
OH. MY. GOD. Syncopation is all right when it's ragtime or something like that, and everything is on the same sort of syncopation throughout. Syncopation when I don't know the notes and it's interspersed with normal time? *weeps* I really regret not practicing, I can't control my fingers! This one is definitely on the "OMG SO COOL TO PLAY BUT OUCH TO LEARN" level.
Happy birthday, America!
You're now 232 years old and ever growing. ^-^
The Day
Blargh. I couldn't sleep until way after 5:30 AM last night and the rents dragged me out of bed at 8:40 so we could go into the city with our temporary house guest. I think I ingested more caffeine than I ever have in a 12-hour period today. >.>
So we all went and took pictures by the pier. Then we went to the Sears Tower and I went up on the Observation Deck for the first time in NINE YEARS. It was kind of fun, but a little boring. Lots of interesting info learned though.
Then we drove around a bit and parked by Millennium Park and went to get tickets for a boat tour along the river that I already took two years ago, thank you very much, Dad. Same as I remembered it. Only warmer. But before that, we walked for about an hour and I ended up calling Alex and talking to him most of the time while Mother acted like a total tourist and took pictures of everything. >.>
We went to Millennium Park and took some pictures by the Bean, which was cool and shiny and very distorting. Then to Buckingham Fountain we went, passing through the Taste of Chicago. It smelled really good...
But alas, no food for Rose. So we went and listened to this band called Gomez (I think) from England for about fifteen minutes, then headed to Chinatown for dinner. I forget how good Szechuan cooking can be. <33333
And we headed home after I got my probably fourth caffeine fix of the day, an iced coffee tapioca drink from Joy Yee Noodle's. They went to see the fireworks in my town while I stayed home and typed this up. Hooray. Fun.
The Rights
The Cosplay
THANK YOU COSWORX FOR FINALLY SENDING OUT MY ORDER. It should be here next week, which means I get to inhale hairspray fumes. Hooray. Alex's wig ought to arrive sometime before the last week of July at the latest, which means I get to style it. Woohoo, I get paid at last! Hope I don't screw it up...
You're now 232 years old and ever growing. ^-^
The Day
Blargh. I couldn't sleep until way after 5:30 AM last night and the rents dragged me out of bed at 8:40 so we could go into the city with our temporary house guest. I think I ingested more caffeine than I ever have in a 12-hour period today. >.>
So we all went and took pictures by the pier. Then we went to the Sears Tower and I went up on the Observation Deck for the first time in NINE YEARS. It was kind of fun, but a little boring. Lots of interesting info learned though.
Then we drove around a bit and parked by Millennium Park and went to get tickets for a boat tour along the river that I already took two years ago, thank you very much, Dad. Same as I remembered it. Only warmer. But before that, we walked for about an hour and I ended up calling Alex and talking to him most of the time while Mother acted like a total tourist and took pictures of everything. >.>
We went to Millennium Park and took some pictures by the Bean, which was cool and shiny and very distorting. Then to Buckingham Fountain we went, passing through the Taste of Chicago. It smelled really good...
But alas, no food for Rose. So we went and listened to this band called Gomez (I think) from England for about fifteen minutes, then headed to Chinatown for dinner. I forget how good Szechuan cooking can be. <33333
And we headed home after I got my probably fourth caffeine fix of the day, an iced coffee tapioca drink from Joy Yee Noodle's. They went to see the fireworks in my town while I stayed home and typed this up. Hooray. Fun.
The Rights
The Cosplay
THANK YOU COSWORX FOR FINALLY SENDING OUT MY ORDER. It should be here next week, which means I get to inhale hairspray fumes. Hooray. Alex's wig ought to arrive sometime before the last week of July at the latest, which means I get to style it. Woohoo, I get paid at last! Hope I don't screw it up...
- Mood:
drained - Music:7 Things - Miley Cyrus (tv)
tiredI arrived safely in Chicago! There were . . . a couple of detours and some googlemaps being made of fail, but I arrived! First, I went past Chicago to Mitsuwa and picked up Meiji chocolate (in those cute little boxes!) and a couple of surprises for lizfu and blackheisei, not to mention a bunch of manga (though they only had up to 36 and then 41 of Naruto, meaning I'm still missing 39 and 40; something to order online, maybe).
I then came back to the hotel, because I'd driven something like six, seven hours today. I used the internet and basked in the air conditioning so I could cool off some and stop railing at my inability to find gas stations in my immediate vicinity or to get onto the right road for turning onto LSD so I could actually get to the ones I knew where they were located (eventually I gave up and just went to the hotel, because at least I was close to that--tomorrow I will get directions from a desk clerk and buy a quarter tank so I don't run out near Gary).
I then walked to Taste of Chicago, which was both crowded and delicious. I bought mostly dessert-type items--a chocolate-covered strawberry with free walnut fudge (currently in my purse wrapped in plastic), vegan sweet potato pie from Soul Vegetarian (and if the rest of their food is as delicious, I would gladly dine there), a Taste-size of sweet potato hash browns (sadly wasted, as they were very much Not My Thing and I couldn't take more than a bite), and drinks. After lots of aimless wandering, I eventually headed to Gino's East. Partway there, I decided maybe taking a taxi would be a good idea considering I'd forgotten my walking shoes and my arches are definitely not thanking me.
At Gino's, I wrote out notes and some more scene snippets of the long Dresden Files fic! \o/ After a several week dry spell (up to Steak 'n Shake withlizfu), I'm finally back in the game for this fic. I'm glad to have finished the four closest-to-finished/highest prioritized fic in my wip folder, but . . . whoo, Dresden Files! I was only able to eat one piece of pizza, though, before I realized I was weak and my will was not strong. I brought it back with me, but the fridge is crowded with drinks. I could slide the pizza in above if not for the two Miller Lite beer bottles, but I'm not sure I want to pay for them just so I can preserve my pizza and take it home with me. This is something to think on.
Right now, there should be fireworks either going or starting soon, but . . . allow me to make a confession. I am uneasy around fireworks. My brother once set the roof on fire with them. Only a little bit, but still. And while I trust the city of Chicago to show a little more restraint and be a bit safer and more professional about it, they're also going to be bigger. This is very pretty, but I also get an odd sense of vertigo and extreme nausea. It's less fear than the worry that I will puke and not even have the excuse of being drunk.
And so I am hiding in my hotel room and taking mad advantage of the hotel's free internet.
lizfu and blackheisei, not to mention a bunch of manga (though they only had up to 36 and then 41 of Naruto, meaning I'm still missing 39 and 40; something to order online, maybe).I then came back to the hotel, because I'd driven something like six, seven hours today. I used the internet and basked in the air conditioning so I could cool off some and stop railing at my inability to find gas stations in my immediate vicinity or to get onto the right road for turning onto LSD so I could actually get to the ones I knew where they were located (eventually I gave up and just went to the hotel, because at least I was close to that--tomorrow I will get directions from a desk clerk and buy a quarter tank so I don't run out near Gary).
I then walked to Taste of Chicago, which was both crowded and delicious. I bought mostly dessert-type items--a chocolate-covered strawberry with free walnut fudge (currently in my purse wrapped in plastic), vegan sweet potato pie from Soul Vegetarian (and if the rest of their food is as delicious, I would gladly dine there), a Taste-size of sweet potato hash browns (sadly wasted, as they were very much Not My Thing and I couldn't take more than a bite), and drinks. After lots of aimless wandering, I eventually headed to Gino's East. Partway there, I decided maybe taking a taxi would be a good idea considering I'd forgotten my walking shoes and my arches are definitely not thanking me.
At Gino's, I wrote out notes and some more scene snippets of the long Dresden Files fic! \o/ After a several week dry spell (up to Steak 'n Shake with
lizfu), I'm finally back in the game for this fic. I'm glad to have finished the four closest-to-finished/highest prioritized fic in my wip folder, but . . . whoo, Dresden Files! I was only able to eat one piece of pizza, though, before I realized I was weak and my will was not strong. I brought it back with me, but the fridge is crowded with drinks. I could slide the pizza in above if not for the two Miller Lite beer bottles, but I'm not sure I want to pay for them just so I can preserve my pizza and take it home with me. This is something to think on.Right now, there should be fireworks either going or starting soon, but . . . allow me to make a confession. I am uneasy around fireworks. My brother once set the roof on fire with them. Only a little bit, but still. And while I trust the city of Chicago to show a little more restraint and be a bit safer and more professional about it, they're also going to be bigger. This is very pretty, but I also get an odd sense of vertigo and extreme nausea. It's less fear than the worry that I will puke and not even have the excuse of being drunk.
And so I am hiding in my hotel room and taking mad advantage of the hotel's free internet.
- Mood:
content
Holy crap, Funimation's going to be releasing a bunch of ADV titles as well. On the one hand, this is a further death knell for ADV, but on the other, Keroro Gunso's in there! And if anyone can pull off Keroro, Funi can.
Right, so as of 6:30am or so I'll be on a plane to Minnesota to visit with various family members and attend weddings... my favorite things in the world...
Not sure what my internet access will be, but I'm betting slim so don't expect to hear from me for the next 6 days or so. If I'm gone longer than that, assume monkeys were involved.
Bandit out
Not sure what my internet access will be, but I'm betting slim so don't expect to hear from me for the next 6 days or so. If I'm gone longer than that, assume monkeys were involved.
Bandit out
- Mood:
rushed - Music:Enjin Second Lap - Turbo Custom
This year’s Anime Expo, although not nearly as exciting as last year’s all star guest appearances by Halko Momoi, Ishikawa Chiaki, Nagahama Hiroshi, and Hirano Aya & Co., has nevertheless been as crazily entertaining as ever. From guest discussion panels to anime music videos to wacky cosplayers lined up in the halls doing Carmelldansen, there’s no shortage of fun and frenetic activity to be found.
Anime Expo 2008’s Guest of Honor roster can’t touch last year’s amazing guests, but it seems they managed to get together a great guest roster nevertheless.
(click the photos for larger versions)
From the left: Toshihiko Seki, Masahiro Ando, Masamitsu Hidaka, Hiromi Kato, Takada Akemi, Dewa and Manami of Jyukai, Nakagawa Shoko (Shokotan), and finally David Hayter, a.k.a. Solid Snake. I think he got as much of a crowd reaction as all of the other guests combined, especially when he did his Snake voice. =P
I had the opportunity to attend the focus panels for both Toshihiko Seki and Shokotan, and both were highly entertaining, but very down-to-earth individuals. Shokotan in particular, for all her e-fame and top singles and whatnot, was just like another congoer running around taking cosplay photos with people and just generally enjoying herself. It was really a nice change of pace from most of the guests who tend to stay aloof behind their wall of agents, and who don’t interact with their fans at all outside of sanctioned events.
In addition to all that, she was more than happy to demonstrate her crazy kung fu skill for us, as well as doing an impromptu Sorairo Days rendition in order to teach us all the proper motions. Note the Kamina pose, hand upraised. ^^
And yes, she is cosplaying as Rurouni Kenshin. Lots of fun and a very nice change of pace from the more usual celebs like CLAMP two years ago, who were hardly seen the entire show except for select glimpses by a few lucky fans.
Omae no doriru de ten wo tsuke!!
Photography was, as always, prohibited in the AMV Contest so no images from that, but let me just say…man, they REALLY raised the bar this year with the quality of the AMVs that were shown. Almost all the entries were not only well done technically, but were also thematically or humorously creative.
I haven’t had time to look and see whether any of the creators have made their videos available on the ‘net yet, but two in particular to keep an eye out for are a Gurren Lagann AMV starring Kamina singing the “Be A Man” song from Mulan, and a second AMV from Haruhi using the song “Girlfriend” by Avril Lavigne…but sung by Itsuki. Good Lord I nearly laughed up a lung at that one. To all the creators whose videos were shown, cheers! This year’s was definitely the best AMV show I have ever seen.
Now I must be off to catch more of the ridiculous animu action, so I’ll have to leave it at that for the time being. I’ve got tons of great cosplay shots I want to showcase later (including some cool uncommon ones like Itoshiki Nozomu from Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, and a great Shinigami-sama outfit from Soul Eater), as well as broader coverage from the con, but time’s a wastin’ so I must be off.
Again sorry for the sparse details, but the con calls. More coverage coming soon assuming I don’t get run over by by the thundering herds of yaoi paddle wielding crazed fangirls. 
~0rion
Okay, so the thing that Dad spends his money on is movies and tv shows on dvd. That's his thing that he collects. It's probably one of the reasons that I both don't watch much real tv shows (on x night at x time), and that I have seen so many tv shows without doing so.
The one we're watching right now is The West Wing. It's to the point where last night, I dreamed about running a presidential election for Bartlet, and woke up thinking that the president needed to nap, and that this ruckus (my alarm clock) would not do. Then I rolled over, and distinctly remember saying out loud, 'the president won't be pleased. Distract the press.'
... so. Happy Fourth of July~
- Mood:
confused
Today, I went to times square with a bunch of people from my suite + Dennis. The downtown subway wasn't working, so we had to go up to Harlem and back down. The native NYC-er in our group scared us by being super paranoid ^^
But we went through so many stores ._. I hate shopping. And though there were many pretty colors in the make up store, I don't wear make up? So..
We came back, only to go out again to the barbecue. Where we promptly got RAINED ON A LOT. And there was a hot dog eating contest between one of my suite mates and an RA. They tied ^^ 8 hot dogs in 10 minutes. After that we went back.
Just as it was starting to rain really heavily.
I'm really wet now. And glad I didn't wear white, like I usually do.
But we went through so many stores ._. I hate shopping. And though there were many pretty colors in the make up store, I don't wear make up? So..
We came back, only to go out again to the barbecue. Where we promptly got RAINED ON A LOT. And there was a hot dog eating contest between one of my suite mates and an RA. They tied ^^ 8 hot dogs in 10 minutes. After that we went back.
Just as it was starting to rain really heavily.
I'm really wet now. And glad I didn't wear white, like I usually do.
I just bought myself...way more pie than one person needs to eat. So if anyone wants independence day pie, please stop by :D (blueberry and key lime, if it matters to you.)
It's almost 3am and I'm at maiki's using her computer. XD;
Quick recap of my journey here includes a drunk guy on the train vomiting, and everyone near him moving quickly away. ^^; I also lost my notebook where I keep track of my expenses (non-receipt expenses), but apparently someone picked it up and left it on the counter thing where they sell tickets. I saw it by pure luck! Wow, so glad that they put it there. XD;
Um, yeah. Not much else. We played a little bit at the arcade.
Sleep now. =P
EDIT: Oh yeah,peroxidepest17, you know there's the Antique Bakery anime, right? It just started. =D
maiki's using her computer. XD;Quick recap of my journey here includes a drunk guy on the train vomiting, and everyone near him moving quickly away. ^^; I also lost my notebook where I keep track of my expenses (non-receipt expenses), but apparently someone picked it up and left it on the counter thing where they sell tickets. I saw it by pure luck! Wow, so glad that they put it there. XD;
Um, yeah. Not much else. We played a little bit at the arcade.
Sleep now. =P
EDIT: Oh yeah,
peroxidepest17, you know there's the Antique Bakery anime, right? It just started. =DThey made an anime of this??? I am confussed.
- Mood:
confused
Dear America
Happy Fourth of July! ♥
Gay Rights
It does occur to me that perhaps being gay helps the whole "I support gay rights thing", in the way that being bisexual and publicly closeted means I will be the last one left standing when they come for me, and no one will be there to speak up for me. (For the record, I am bi leaning straight. What was that again, a 2 on the Kinsey scale?) I don't like forcing opinions on others, and the only reason why I oppose gay rights _bans_ is because they force people's opinions on others. I make exceptions for public safety, but I see no reason why public safety is threatened by gay rights, and so anyone trying to stomp on them gets no support from me.
Question for the f-list: Do you support yaoi/yuri (or any sort of homosexuality/bisexuality) in your fiction, be it anime, drama, or otherwise? If you do, do you support it in real life, including equal rights?
Hikaru no Go
The extra copy of the Hikago character book arrived today. Now I have a copy whose binding I can break with impunity. I expect I shall be doing some things with it.
Wonderful Life
10 episodes in, two to go. Ah, feel good baseball dramas. *hearts*
Voice Acting
I was filling out an interview for a fan magazine (I still think interviews are for celebrities; why am I getting interviewed? O_o) but the answers are getting more and more incoherent. I shall have to do the rest tomorrow before I readkishmet's fic.
Sleep
*collapses*
Happy Fourth of July! ♥
Gay Rights
It does occur to me that perhaps being gay helps the whole "I support gay rights thing", in the way that being bisexual and publicly closeted means I will be the last one left standing when they come for me, and no one will be there to speak up for me. (For the record, I am bi leaning straight. What was that again, a 2 on the Kinsey scale?) I don't like forcing opinions on others, and the only reason why I oppose gay rights _bans_ is because they force people's opinions on others. I make exceptions for public safety, but I see no reason why public safety is threatened by gay rights, and so anyone trying to stomp on them gets no support from me.
Question for the f-list: Do you support yaoi/yuri (or any sort of homosexuality/bisexuality) in your fiction, be it anime, drama, or otherwise? If you do, do you support it in real life, including equal rights?
Hikaru no Go
The extra copy of the Hikago character book arrived today. Now I have a copy whose binding I can break with impunity. I expect I shall be doing some things with it.
Wonderful Life
10 episodes in, two to go. Ah, feel good baseball dramas. *hearts*
Voice Acting
I was filling out an interview for a fan magazine (I still think interviews are for celebrities; why am I getting interviewed? O_o) but the answers are getting more and more incoherent. I shall have to do the rest tomorrow before I read
kishmet's fic.Sleep
*collapses*
Hi all!
First, thanks for reading. I've been requested to come up with ideas of stuff you'd like to see on a LOCAL sports website. Scope of website will cover ALL local sports. We already have ideas like blogs, up to minute reporting, analysis and other standard items on our checklist, but we'd like (like most companies) something a little bit more.
What features would keep you coming back to a local sports site that covers everything from your usual major sports (e.g. football, cricket) to school meets and competitions?
Are there any interactive features you'd like to have?
What type of content would you like to see and why?
At this point in time we're open to anything and everything, so feel free to throw ideas and suggestions! Your help is greatly appreciated!
Crossposted tomistressnaoko and malaysians
First, thanks for reading. I've been requested to come up with ideas of stuff you'd like to see on a LOCAL sports website. Scope of website will cover ALL local sports. We already have ideas like blogs, up to minute reporting, analysis and other standard items on our checklist, but we'd like (like most companies) something a little bit more.
What features would keep you coming back to a local sports site that covers everything from your usual major sports (e.g. football, cricket) to school meets and competitions?
Are there any interactive features you'd like to have?
What type of content would you like to see and why?
At this point in time we're open to anything and everything, so feel free to throw ideas and suggestions! Your help is greatly appreciated!
Crossposted to
mistressnaoko and malaysiansOkay, stealing the day in history meme from thehoyden. I don't post generally post everyday, but I did post on or around July 5th every year.
July 5, 2003 (Actually July 10th) - I was actually procrastinating packing for my trip to Japan. The trip that I still haven't returned from. lol. Also, interesting about this entry is that there are comments fromjuin, who I met in RL recently. I don't remember this at all.
July 5, 2004 (Actually July 7th) - This entry is about Tanabata. Not too exciting other thantakadainmate's comment about it being the only day the stars get to have sex.
July 5, 2005 - (Actually July 6th) - Seems to be about Comiket troubles. Or something. And I finally got my scanner. I've certainly put that to good use!
July 5, 2006 - Stressing about the move to Tokyo. Also, had dumplings attakdainmate's and raved about Tsubasa Chapter 121.
July 5, 2007 - I was very very happy that I got my three year work visa in time to go home for summer vacation. And I still am. No more Shinagawa Immigration office for me!
thehoyden. I don't post generally post everyday, but I did post on or around July 5th every year.July 5, 2003 (Actually July 10th) - I was actually procrastinating packing for my trip to Japan. The trip that I still haven't returned from. lol. Also, interesting about this entry is that there are comments from
juin, who I met in RL recently. I don't remember this at all.July 5, 2004 (Actually July 7th) - This entry is about Tanabata. Not too exciting other than
takadainmate's comment about it being the only day the stars get to have sex.July 5, 2005 - (Actually July 6th) - Seems to be about Comiket troubles. Or something. And I finally got my scanner. I've certainly put that to good use!
July 5, 2006 - Stressing about the move to Tokyo. Also, had dumplings at
takdainmate's and raved about Tsubasa Chapter 121.July 5, 2007 - I was very very happy that I got my three year work visa in time to go home for summer vacation. And I still am. No more Shinagawa Immigration office for me!
(Chang W. Lee/The New York Times)
Happy Fourth of July, from Frank Bascombe:
It is an odd holiday, to be sure — one a man or woman could easily grow abstracted about, its practical importance to the task of holding back wild and dark misrule never altogether clear or provable; as though independence were only private and [...]
Happy Fourth of July, from Frank Bascombe:
It is an odd holiday, to be sure — one a man or woman could easily grow abstracted about, its practical importance to the task of holding back wild and dark misrule never altogether clear or provable; as though independence were only private and [...]
- Mood:
chipper - Music:"Find Your Grail" - Spamalot
where is maaaaooouuuu *pines*
( Brief ramblings on DP 84-85 )
Here's the latest trailer for movie 11. I still can't believe it's going to be out in cinemas in just over a week or so. To be honest, I'm not even that bothered about seeing it anymore. Too much Hikari and Pochama whoring can do that to a person.
Anyway, here's a link to the PV for the movie's ending theme by Crystal Kay. I also ripped an MP3 version of it for anyone who's interested:
♥ Crystal Kay - ONE ♥
It's... fine, I guess. Better than the last movie's theme, for sure, but not nearly as good as previous ones.
Have some of the calendar movie wallpapers while I'm at it. They're pretty. ♥
January // February // March // April // May // June // July
Here's the latest trailer for movie 11. I still can't believe it's going to be out in cinemas in just over a week or so. To be honest, I'm not even that bothered about seeing it anymore. Too much Hikari and Pochama whoring can do that to a person.
Anyway, here's a link to the PV for the movie's ending theme by Crystal Kay. I also ripped an MP3 version of it for anyone who's interested:
♥ Crystal Kay - ONE ♥
It's... fine, I guess. Better than the last movie's theme, for sure, but not nearly as good as previous ones.
Have some of the calendar movie wallpapers while I'm at it. They're pretty. ♥
January // February // March // April // May // June // July
Whew! The first day that totally felt like summer to me, and it's the 4th of July. BTW, Happy Independence Day! It sounds like they're going to party it up back home, I wish I could be there for that... *sigh*
A thunderstorm is brewing as well. We haven't had one of those yet either. While I don't like living in rain, I do enjoy a good thunderstorm every now and then. (Or if I were back home, every afternoon around 4 pm, lol)
Oh I picked up an information pamphlet for the local gym. I'm probably going to pull the trigger on Monday. Dang, I need more workout clothes. Time to hit up UniQlo. They have a nice collection of fitness wear. I figure 2 shorts and 2 shirts, added to what I already have, will suffice.
The shoe situation
I also have to buy a pair of shoes. The gym requires shoes that have not been worn outside. My gymnasium shoes at school fit that bill. They're low top cross-trainers. I coach basketball at the elementary school, but I don't have actual basketball shoes. It's a little embarrassing that the kids have better shoes than I do actually. So I'm thinking I'll just buy a new pair of basketball shoes to show the gym, and then swap them out in a week or so.
As I was typing this entry up, the thundersto
A thunderstorm is brewing as well. We haven't had one of those yet either. While I don't like living in rain, I do enjoy a good thunderstorm every now and then. (Or if I were back home, every afternoon around 4 pm, lol)
Oh I picked up an information pamphlet for the local gym. I'm probably going to pull the trigger on Monday. Dang, I need more workout clothes. Time to hit up UniQlo. They have a nice collection of fitness wear. I figure 2 shorts and 2 shirts, added to what I already have, will suffice.
The shoe situation
I also have to buy a pair of shoes. The gym requires shoes that have not been worn outside. My gymnasium shoes at school fit that bill. They're low top cross-trainers. I coach basketball at the elementary school, but I don't have actual basketball shoes. It's a little embarrassing that the kids have better shoes than I do actually. So I'm thinking I'll just buy a new pair of basketball shoes to show the gym, and then swap them out in a week or so.
As I was typing this entry up, the thundersto