Sunday, November 30, 2008

*I just spend half an hour looking for that *&#^ed document*

I found it but grrr. I asked the blanking manger of my ex-apartment in Warabi what I needed to bring for our meeting today, when I give the keys back and get my January rent/deposit back. She told me I just needed my keys. I assumed this meant that they would use the copy of our rental agreement, which I know they made, as I was there when they photo copied it.

Of course, then they look at me like I'm some kind of idiot for not bringing my copy. And we can't use their copy. Why!? So, I guess it's okay for a friend to bring my paper and get the money and bring it to me. I don't really have any "friends" from that place, but there's a close acquaintance that I talk to a lot in class, who I've done tons of favors for. I know that she lent out the equivalent of $100 to another acquaintance, so I think she is trustworthy. Also, if she does steal my money, I can make her life hell.

Oh, that wasn't very nice, was it?

I keep thinking Jeffrey Donovan's "And I'm VERY good at raining down hell" talk to the second-biggest heroin dealer in Miami. Ah.

Anyway, I'm not actually worried. I'll ask her tomorrow if she'll do that for me. Oh, and I did find the document. After half an hour. I put it someplace "convenient" gr. This is why I will never win the Nobel Prize.

There might be other reasons as well...

I met with Kayoko and we talked about Huck Finn. She had this list of literary terms, but I only knew like, half. v.v I am not very helpful, I think. But I did tell her that they are on Wikipedia (English version), if she can handle the difficult language. Her next book is Frankenstein, which I think will be easier. Not thematically, but English-wise. At least they speak properly! Unlike me >.<

I can't believe it's almost Monday. Gah! The weekend's go so quickly. I cannot go to try the Indian restaurant tomorrow, because I forgot that I have an essay due in Japanese class on Tuesday. I'm essentially done with the drafting, but we have to write it on special paper. Ah, it's confusing, but it's basically a hand-writing exercise as well. Very difficult @.@ It should only take an hour though. But it makes my brain hurt!!!

Oh, I also went crazy today and bought more baby stuff. Baby is now cut off. O.o Because I think I've spent more on the baby using the Japanese government's money than on everyone else combined. I like to think it doesn't count, because it's not for me, but I guess the world does not work that way. I think it is a little bit okay though, because it is an endeavor of love! I see cute little Japanese babies and think "Gyee! I will be able to play with a cute little baby in only a few months!!!". Then I go buy baby presents. But when you see them, you will think that they were worth the monies. Plus, the onesie I got today was made of organic cotton, which is good for baby skin!

So, you see, it was necessary.

I must go now, alas! I'm going to try to finish Aesop's fables really really quickly, and then go to bed! I think I'll just finish Japanese at lunch. Oh snap, and I've got a test tomorrow.

T.T

<3

Saturday, November 29, 2008

*Trying to Catch Up*

Sorry for not posting anything yesterday. I was just too tired! I'm really tired now as well, and I've got to get to bed, so I'll try to spit this out as quickly as possible. Sorry for the grammatical/spelling/etc. mistakes that must, of necessity, come with rushing! Burst of genius- go!

Yesterday yesterday yesterday, what did I do? Oh, school and stuff. I watched a movie with the people I live with (I'll ask them if I can use their names tomorrow >.<), called Grosse Pointe Blank, about an assassin going back to his high school reunion. It was funny but there was a LOT of random violence that seemed out of place in what was otherwise a romantic comedy. And there was a ton of swearing. John and Joan Cusack, Minnie Driver, Alan Arkin. The disturbing scenes were just really disturbing, especially for a comedy. It was a confusing mix of genres! In a bad way...

I also finished Faust for the book club meeting. It was awful. Don't read it, if you don't have to. It's just, like, the guy can have anything in the world he wants and he asks for this 14-year-old girl. Because he can't win her over on his own. And then she dies. He ruins everything. It was stupid. Anyway.

The book club meeting was really great. The people were from all over- U.S., Japan, Australia, Germany, New Zealand, London, Paris. The book shop we went to has cheap used books in English, RARE, and I got four books:

Lives of Girls and Women- Alice Munro
Walk Two Moons- Sharon Creech
New Moon- Stephenie Meyers (I'll read it just for you guys. It's a brick...)
Fingersmith- Sarah Waters (I loved the BBC movie, so I'm excited)

It's really close to where I live now, so I intend to go back and get more of the lits. Also, randomly cheap dvds. I forgot to check the price on TV seasons tho. And they're used, so...

Then we went to an Israeli restaurant for lunch. We had falafels and pitas. It was very good, though I would have liked refills for my drink! There were a variety of people from all sorts of businesses and of various ages. I didn't feel quite like the young 'un I was at the Museum Meetup! Seriously though, everyone was REALLY friendly. I'm planning to meet with them next month near to when I'll be leaving to the U.S. for Christmas.

Less than a month away- yee!

Then we went to Thanksgiving dinner (no it is not T-day here either) at an American restaurant. It was pretty durned good and I had WINE (I am so adult O.O) which wasn't very good (I think I have high standards from free PONCHO wines... like we just happen to have really good wines lying around up the wazoo). The turkey and the pumpkin pie were great. It was pretty pricy tho, even though we did get a lot. I hope I can really get the deposit back tomorrow- I'm running low (or I could just withdraw more money ^^* but then my bank account wouldn't be as pretty).

I was planning on being lazy and just settling the apartment matters tomorrow with no other plans, but Kayoko is having troubles with Huck Finn and she has a midterm Tuesday, so I'm going to meet with her to talk about it in the PM. So, probably straight from Nishikawaguchi to Harajuku. Or as straight as it can possibly be ^^* given that there are three transfers involved. Ugh! I hope I gave myself enough time...

Actually, I'm sure that there is a quicker route- so I'll come up with it.

Anyway, as I said, I have to get to sleep so I can get up semi-early-ish to read more Tale of Genji. 80-ish more pages for Monday. Then I'll need to study for my Japanese quiz! Yeek! I'm so happy to not have school on Wednesday, though we got assigned a skit project for Japanese (UGH group work AGAIN?!?!?!) and I might have to meet with my group. They have a lame ass (sorry) idea of us deciding to get a new heater for the classroom, asking for directions, taking a taxi, buying it, and throwing a "new heater" party. Seriously. Seriously? Seriously?!

It's going to be lame. Sorry for the negativity, but I've had all of these people as partners before, and I haven't high hopes. We can do this skit on ANYTHING so why not pick something INTERESTING and fitting in the vocab/grammar around it? We don't have to mirror the book's situations to do that! I feel like my creativity is being shoved in a 2"x2" box.

In a non-diamond sort of way.

Anyway, I hope I don't get home too late tomorrow. I want to watch more Touching Evil- gyah! T.T It has been two days since Jeffrey Donovan and I last met. I am going through withdrawl.

Love <3

Je Crois en Toi

Except maybe fun?

1.) Put your iPod/MP3 player/whatever on shuffle.
2.) Answer the questions with the first song that appears, no matter how weird.
3.) Continue going through your player until you finish the survey.
4.) HAVE FUN!


If someone says “Is this okay” you say?
Mr. Tambourine Man. It's alarming how accurate this is.

What would best describe your personality?
Love Changes Everything. ??? I'm a romantic at heart? Get it- romantic, heart- ha...

What do you like in a guy/girl?
Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations- I go for the classy ones?

How do you feel today?
Hello (I think this might be a silly exercise)

What is your life’s purpose?
C'etait un Jour de Fete (auto-translated to: It was a Day of Celebration)-- I like this one! ^___^

What is your motto?
Amen. Ha!!!

What do your friends think of you?
Dawn's Ballet. (that so doesn't make sense)

What do you think about very often?
Smooch. O.O It's a lie!!! (and a Miles Davis song... knew the jazz would be my ruin)

What is 2 +2?
Oh! You Pretty Things

What do you think of your best friend?
Where is Love? (which is pretty much true at the moment -_- <--- irritated)

What do you think of the person you like?
Country Road (I think I need a psychiatrist to work this all out for me)

What is your life story?
Cut Across Shorty (?)

What do you wanna be when you grow up?
(They Long to Be) Close to You (I think it means I want to be a Carpenter- get it?)

What do you think when you see the person you like?
Blame it on the Summer Night (because it's fake love?)

What do your parents think of you?
Pied Piper. What? What does this mean? Oh, parental units, please explain.

What will you dance to at your wedding?
My Sanity (?????)

What will they play at your funeral?
Never Forget (wow, I finally got an appropriate one. Hoorah!)

What is you hobby/interest?
I'll Keep it with Mine (That sounds dirty...)

What is your biggest secret?
あの夏から一番遠い場所
(From that summer, the farthest place... I think it's slang for "That summer is far away")- oh, I guess I have some "I Know What You Did Last Summer" kind of secret...)

What do you think of your friends?
おとぎばなし - Fairytale... because they don't exist?!

What’s the worst thing that could happen?
You're So Vain (vanity is just that bad, guys.)

How will you die?
Sayuri (it's a name) I guess she'll kill me then.

What is the one thing you regret?
Bailamos (so no more dancing, lovelies)

What makes you laugh?
Unfinished (it is a really sad song though...)

What makes you cry?
Alive (two X-Japans in a row)

Will You ever get married?
Something to Sing About (I think that must be "yes," right?)

What scares you the most?
At Last (well, it is a song about death)

Does anyone like you?
Ready, Steady, Go (yes?!)

If you could go back in time what would you change?
Yummyman Farewell (He should never have left, durnit!)


What hurts right now?
Death of the First Born (from Prince of Egypt. That would hurt, yes, but I've not a first born yet...)

What will you post this as?
Je Crois en Toi --I Believe in You

Thursday, November 27, 2008

*"And Penny will see the evil in me..."

"Not a joke, not a dork, not a failure. And she may cry but her tears will dry when I hand her the keys to a shiny new Australia."

I've had that song stuck in my head all day. Again, if you haven't watched Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-Long Blog, get to it. Free online. Whoa. And then we can share a camaraderie. A la ReBoot. Wow, it suddenly occurred to me why I was never popular in high school @.@ (lies, I have known that people are jealous of my nerdiness for years. How many people know that the PC term for a Star Trek fan is Trekker, not Trekkie? Snap, my spell check accepts Trekker but not Trekkie, ha)

Anyway, I've got homework up the wazoo, so I'd better get at it. Today my back hurts from moving, so I can only complain anyway, gyah! And that's just not very fun to read.

Or is it?

Sadist!!!!

Anyway.... Happy T-day! Save me a leg... ew...

Loves <3

Adding later, because I feel bad not writing very much like... a million days in a row, O.O how long is a million days? Let's use our handy dandy calculator! On the computer... wowsa, over 2700 years?? I guess that makes sense? I just divided by 365, not counting Leap Year MADNESS. Why do they call it a Leap Year anyway? We're not leaping days, we're adding them (it? It's been a VERY long time, my lovelies. Three years, I think??)

In any event, what else what else? Oh, I bought a cat calendar. This cat is crazy cute. I don't usually like animal calendars, to be honest, but this one is just AMAZING. Maybe I can find it online...

Wowsa, the cat has media galore. Here is his (?) website:
http://hatchan-nikki.com/

It means Ha-Chan's Diary. Chan at the end means like, a term of endearment. Like for kids and animals. In't the kitty cute tho? Whoa... even videos.

So I bought the calendar because he/she's so durned cute. The pictures are really great, so you can come see them next yea-uh.

This lady today left her kids outside the drugstore right next to where I eat lunch. It was the most terrible thing! The baby was in the stroller and she left him/her with the older brother (by older, I mean about four). And she was in the store for like TEN minutes. I was keeping an eye on them, because there were tons of people passing by and they were like five feet from a very busy Tokyo street. They were really cute too, so I thought about stealing them. It was one of those moments in life where you can be a good guy or a bad guy.

Now we know that I am pure of heart. Because I didn't kidnap the kids... See?

Not enough? No?

Genji says that he's a good man because he didn't rape his niece. Of course, he rapes LOTS of women but they don't call it that. I'm really not enjoying Tale of Genji. He's an awful person.... I'm excited for his downfall.

Oh, I'm watching Touching Evil (the U.S. version with Jeffrey Donovan of Burn Notice). It was cancelled after the first season, but I really think it shouldn't've been. It's really dark and interesting with spontaneous bits of hilarity. Also, one of the lines showed up in Burn Notice, so I wonder if maybe it has some of the same writers, since it has a lot of the same crew, and the same lead actor and is on the same network (USA). They're serial crime detectives. The best line so far:

Branca: Doing some moonlighting?
Creegan: Yeah. Exotic dancer. G-man by day, G-string by night.

Everything's a lot funnier when he says it. Seriously, Donovan's amazing. I heart him. Like this <3 (so, if you didn't know what I was doing, that's a heart. see?)

Wow, that second wind was strong. Are you impressed? No? What?! Your expectations are so high, I'd have to jump through hoops to make them! Ha... or not. No more bad jokes tonight. Or random references.

<3 again

edit: I keep switching the their/there/they're s and the your/you're. It's because I write this very late at night. Or at least not early. So you must forgive me. I type many a many word a day for you chaps, so if the quality is bad at least mark me up in a positive way for quantity. I think I secretly do a Nanowrimo amount of typing every month with this silly thing.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

*I am Moved... Literally*

So, I am now in the new place. Moving took very little time but has left me SORE from lugging suitcases down the stairs all by my onesie. I think the cab driver now has a hernia. Which must be very difficult, being a cab driver. I think I may have caused him to rethink his career goals.

It is VERY quiet. Someone upstairs plays the piano, but the walls are thick so I can only hear it a little bit, and it is very pretty. Plus, it is not yet nine o'clock. I hope I can play my flute tomorrow- worry free!

I'd better do some Genji reading for class tomorrow. I had it packed, so I couldn't do it earlier- egads, what a maroon! Ha, I said "egads!".

Love and chocolate to you all, but not the movie, because I haven't seen it and cannot endorse it!

<3

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

*Calling Taxis is Hard*

Especially if you are calling in advance and in Japanese @.@ The English-speaking service only serves Tokyo. I'm like, right on the border, but I guess they have to make the cut somewhere. I hope I did it alright... I guess we'll find out? I'm kind of nervous that I might have messed it up, but they are supposed to call me, so I hope it's ok! I think, worst case scenario, I told them half an hour early. It should be okay though. I guess I'd just sit with my bags outside the apartment if the lady I'm staying with is not home yet, right? Maybe get arrested for loitering? Wait... maybe they can just give you a ticket? I hope she told her landlady that I"m coming!!!

The drama test was okay. One of the questions was pretty hard. I had to compare kabuki to noh (they are very different) and explain why these comparisons were important. I got the comparisons but how the heck should I know what they're important? Especially if she DIDN'T TELL ME! My brain is not so big >.<

BTW, I submitted my manuscript:



I am moving tomorrow and have more homework than you can flop a boomerang at, so I'd better take a shower and get to it. I still need to finish the last bit of packing. I've been sneaking things I don't want to take but are perfectly usable into places where someone will "steal" them. I figure if little things like this were "stolen" while I didn't want them to be, I can use it to my advantage, right? My hot water pot will be hard to deal with, but I'm putting it in the kitchen tomorrow morning with a "Free" sticky note on it. I can't take so many things! It all has to fit in the back of a taxi (which really, should be easy, since it's a backpack, two suitcases, and a box).

I also need to update my address with the school and do all sorts of crazy things. But since I don't have to leave until 4:45, unless the taxi sit's all messed up, I should have plenty of time after class. Oh me, oh me, I am worried I messed everything up.

I got A's on both of the Japanese midterms I got back today- three more to go! One of them, though, man, I'm sure I blanked up on. Seriously, it was tough. I hope the one I'm not sure on turned out fine! Let's hope, right? You are sending me lucky vibes? No? Well, get vibing! Goodness, what am I paying you for, anyway?

And might I say, what a fabulous window treatment!

See, I'm paying you in COMPLIMENTS. This sort of thing's priceless. In that you can't sell it. Hrml.

I'll let you know how it went tomorrow! Let's hope I didn't shnag it up. That's not even remotely a word...

<3

P.S. My new address (so please don't send anything to the old one!!!!)

Azalea Hills #303
3-44-20 Nishihara
Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
151-0066
Japan

OR

^.^

東京都渋谷区3丁目44番20号
アゼリアヒルズ303号
151−0066
日本

やった!でも、多分だれも日本語が分からない。。。自信のためにこれを書いた。どもすみません。。。

Sunday, November 23, 2008

I'm Moving, I'm Moving, I'm Moving*

So, I shall officially be moving, and as early as next week (my "landlady" (ha) suggested TOMORROW, but I have a midterms Tuesday...). Thank goodness! It is so loud tonight, I want to scream. Which would just make it louder. And then I'd be a hypocrite. And Jesus hates hypocrites.

It's true. He does.

So do I.

Um, what else? I'm exhausted, kittens, so I will probably watch one Burn Notice episode and "hit the hay". I must get up earlier than I'd like tomorrow in order to study study study and get a perfect score/not fail. If you want to call me, tomorrow is a gooood day!

Today, I went to the new place and we watched part of a movie called "Always" with Richard Dreyfus, and most of "The American President," and ALL of (really long) Peter Jackson's "King Kong," which I really like an awful lot. This was my second viewing. If you're willing to devote that much time, you must truly like it.

P.S. I must wear make up because I have BAD SKIN but that is not to say I am commenting on you ladies who DO NOT wear make up. I think thin girls who think that that's enough and do NOTHING with their hair NOR wear make up AND have ACNE and AWFUL hair (lookit the caps) ought not to say mean things about me due to weight. These girls are awful. Some of the kids won't even say "hi" back to me. Seriously, what's wrong with them?

And they aren't so pretty as me, even though they think they are just because they're thin. There, I've said it. And I don't care if I sound like a mean mean person! Gr! Say "hi" back, you [censored, due to parents/grandparents possibly viewing this purposes]!

Edit: Maybe no one got the Jesus hates hypocrites reference... I just realized it is REALLY obscure. v.v

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Big/Not Small, at Least, is Beautiful

I think women are pretty regardless of size. I am getting a little exhausted of these other exchange students making snide comments about my weight. For goodness sake, most of them don't even do their make up. There was a Post Secret once that said "I think women who don't wear makeup are lazy," and, shallow as it sounds, I kind of agree. At last I make an effort to make myself look pretty- arrange my clothes nicely (not all the time v.v I didn't pack much to be fashionable in Tokyo), do my hair, wear make up. It's like thin girls just depend on their thinness to make them attractive.

One of the meanest girls has terrible acne. I guess that is better than being curvy. What the hey-ho?

But then I think about these women who are on tv and in movies who I think are crazy hott and who don't have the size two body "every man/woman dreams of". And you know what? It's like you have to be more stylish or something. Or at least learn to love your body and exude confidence. Thin women can be beautiful but the large woman can be a goddess. I'm sorry, but that's where I'm at right now. That's not to say that I haven't lost my eternal love for Gabrielle Anwar. Her nothingness of a body is still gorgeous ^.^

And so, loves, I offer you sexy bigger women:













Here is a list of the Top Ten Sexiest Plus Sized Celebrities:
http://listverse.com/entertainment/top-10-hottest-plus-sized-celebrities/

Lookit their sexiness!

<3 and <3 to your body

Happy Mix! --Music

I made a happy/triumphant mix yesterday at school after my Japanese midterms were through. So, if you need happiness/triumphantness, you can listen to these songs.

Sorry, I haven't watched all of these videos. Oh, and sorry for the cursing:

"Good Day"- Dresden Dolls


"After Today" from Goofy Movie (wow, this will probably be taken down ANY DAY. Disney's rough):


"Everything's Alright" from Jesus Christ Superstar (This is a college performance but LISTEN to that voice, wow! Um, except Judas sucks >.<)

or watch the movie version, which has an AWESOME Judas


"Living in the Sunlight" -Tiny Tim (this song ALWAYS makes me happy):


"Love You I Do"- Jennifer Hudson (not the movie version.. though it is from Dreamgirls. Wow, she's gorgeous)

(Do you think she'd marry me if I asked nicely?)

"Pay Me My Money Down"- Bruce Springsteen (I love his folky phase)


"Sunshine"- Jonathan Edwards (wow, that's a crap video. But the song's great!)


"Try a Little Tenderness" -Otis Redding (Wow, Youtube had a LIVE version. He's amazing. It gets SO FAST! And it reminds me of Duckie dancing.)


"We Can Work it Out"- The Beatles (just the song and lyrics)


"You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile"- from Annie (this is the version I have, actually. I didn't realize it was from a movie.) BTW, this song also makes me happy EVERY TIME. I love them.


"Another Believer"- Rufus Wainwright (it's a tribute to Meet the Robinsons! er, the video, not the song..)


"一半女生"- Twins (title translates to "Half of the Girls" as in 1/2 of the female population, acc. to Google. This is the official music video and yes, they are happily singing and dancing while singing, in English "bye bye love, bye bye happiness" a la the Everly Brothers)


"Freeze Ray" from Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-Long Blog (or you could just watch the whole thing- forty-five minute commitment and it's FREE) (1:30 is my favorite part- oh, he's in love with the red-haired girl btw, but he's too afraid to tell her- cuuute!)


I hope that you are now HAPPY and TRIUMPHANT. No? What? You are as impenetrable as Superman, you.

^_^ (?)

*Today, and Today, and Today*

Like Shakespeare, only me. Anyway, I'm really tired. I went to Odaiba with Kayoko today. It is very pretty there, especially on sunny days. I saw the Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Tower (from afar). Also, a miniature model of the Statue of Liberty and a gigantic Ferris Wheel. It was an amazing place to go.

Pictures:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2049806&l=6547b&id=32404300

I made comments on all the pictures, so they will tell you the story. Sorry, but I'm spent. Zzzz.

Loves <3

P.S. I added more commentary on the Mashiko post.

Edit: I might try to finish my other book, the one with literally ten chapters left (of thirty total) by the end of December. I think it might push me along if I had a deadline. Except, since it's been MONTHS, I really ought to go back and read it all. But then, it might be so crap that I lose all inspiration. Or MAYBE I should just do my durned homework.

Ouch.

It seems cruel that I have homework. Think I'll go have myself a good cry. Oh, or watch the zillion happy videos/songs I posted, and by a million, I mean 12. Which is the same as a million (I don't count the two that have the same song as separate)

Friday, November 21, 2008

Mashiko Pics

Edit: I guess I wasn't very clear about the Mashiko trip- it was actually LAST weekend. I went on Sunday with a group of people in a Museum Meetup Group I joined at meetup.com. Yes, these were strangers, but LOTS of strangers=safety, especially in Japan. No lectures, please.

It took THREE hours to get there and THREE hours back. This was a long way to go, but it was worth it for the lovely landscape and pottery. We went to two different pottery makers' kilns/studios/shops. The first one is in the earlier pictures, the lady with the OLDEST kiln in Mashiko. We saw a lot of her things, but her pottery was really expensive, so I didn't buy any.

Then we went to the Reference Museum, and saw crazy lots of pottery. We also saw a HUGE kiln that went up the side of a hill. I took some pictures of things inside the museum, though not all of them turned out. It was a lovely museum but the group was FLYING through, so I couldn't enjoy it very much. I think they preferred the shopping aspect to the museum aspect. Anyways, it was very nice.

Afterward, we went shopping at a few places. The last shop we went to also had food, so while we waited for coffee to heat up, we went to the kiln and pottery making place (O.o word choice?) and watched the lady at the shop's husband make some cups and a tea pot. It was very Ghost. I got some pottery at that shop, but it is all for my mom v.v It's hard to carry for THREE hours!!! I did get a few things at other shops tho.

Oh, we also went (earlier, ha) to a restaurant for lunch, which was notably vegetarian. You'd be surprised how hard it is for vegetarians in Japan. There's secretly meat product in EVERYTHING. It's a mystery. Anyway, it was very nice. There was a painting that seemed to say "Oh You Who Come to the Abode of Pain" but everyone else said I was just being morbid, and it said "abode of rain." I'll let you be the judge.

I also have a lot of snapshots on or of the train. The last of the trains was steam engine- NEAT. So, please enjoy, if you have the time. Sorry there are so many >.< (300?!?!)

Here are the links. Again you DO NOT need Facebook to view them:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2049775&l=f1537&id=32404300

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2049777&l=c01dc&id=32404300

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2049778&l=19038&id=32404300

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2049779&l=30ae3&id=32404300

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2049780&l=7d6fa&id=32404300

Scroll Down!

On the right side of the page. Keep looking, below my picture and the Alice Walker quote. Do you see the little Nanowrimo image? Do you see what it says?!

WINNER!

Hoorah! I have finished my second novel (a third is almost done/has been for um... months)! Yay for me?

I need to take a shower O.O

Edit: Cryptoquote was really easy today, but, nonetheless, I got a GREAT time:

kattie 0:40

Whee! Ego trip day!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

I'm the Only Girl

In the entire computer lab- and it's a big lab! It's eleven Japanese boys and me. What the heck? I feel so... in the minority? Actually, I must be paranoid because I'm a little nervous. Big groups of men often turn into random footballers, and we're indoors. What will happen to the computers?!?!?

Like eight people just left. Do you think I offended them? Maybe they are bilingual telepaths? Oh, but this is in writing, so supposing I don't think at all when I write (which I proudly do not), then they are like bilingual technotelepaths. Technopaths? That sounds like Jake 2.0.

So, I am done with my final, ginormous test. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, but I thought it would be so hard I'd want to jump out the window (underneath which, there happens to be a fire escape, but let's not dawdle on the details). So, it was so-so. There's one type of problem that I really hate, and we had a WHOLE PAGE of that kind of problem!:

Example: fox , the lazy jumped dog's the quick brown over back

So they take a regular sentence and mix up the words and you have to arrange it to become a sentence, i.e.:

The quick, brown fox jumped over the lazy dog's back. (BTW, this is a sentence for typing practice, that uses every letter, a comma, and an apostraphe. Some people use "the quick, brown fox jumped over the lazy dog," but this is crap because it has no "s"- see!!)

Which seems a lot easier than it actually is. Because if I'm going to say something, there are lots of ways I could, but having this list makes it so you have to say it in EXACTLY the way they want. So one of the sentences was basically, "My building is a place with a parking garage on the second floor." Now I can say, very easily, "There is a parking garage on the second floor of my building" or "My building has a parking lot on the second floor." Obviously the nuance is different, but you see what I mean. It's VERY specific. So it's hard for me! I think I did okay though.

I've got a drama midterm on Tuesday, so I'm goign to try to make notecards for about twenty-five minutes then go to lunch before most people are out of class (the cafeteria today for a change of pace!).

Let's hope the tests went okay! At least they're doooooooooooooone! Hoorah!

<3

*Money Talks*

Edit: (If you skip the music rant, there's actual ness at the bottom that isn't me blabbing on and on. I did not realize how long winded I was until later. I think maybe it's because I have to study when I'm done writing this, and I'm soooo tired of it! I watched 10 episodes of Burn Notice while studying last night! That's like 6.5 hours! Gyah!)

But it don't sing and dance and it don't walk! Oh, Neil, your lyrics are always so awful. I was listening to music in the cafe I usually go to for lunch, and I couldn't help but compare lyrics. Obviously, I will get an A for effort on my test tomorrow, self burn. In any case, it turns out I listen to some pretty crappily lyriced (I tried three spellings, so it must not be a word...) songs. And these were on my "best of" mix (see previous entry O.O which I will make beautiful this weekend). This song that just made the list, Life, by Des'ree.

Here is the song (I've never seen the video so...):



Listen to her sneak extra syllables in during the second verse- "ladders" doesn't quite fit! Here are the other crappy lyrics:

Life, oh life, oh life, oh life,
doo, doot doot dooo.
Life, oh life, oh life, oh life,
doo, doot dooo

I'm afraid of the dark,
'specially when I'm in a park
And there's no-one else around,

Ooh, I get the shivers
I don't want to see a ghost,
It's a sight that I fear most
I'd rather have a piece of toast
And watch the evening news
(Repeat Chorus)

I'm a superstitious girl,
I'm the worst in the world
Never walk under ladders,
I keep a rabbit's tail

I'll take you up on a dare,
Anytime, anywhere
Name the place, I'll be there,
Bungee jumping, I don't care!
(Repeat Chorus)

life, doo, doot dooo
doo, doot dooo

So after all is said and done
I know I'm not the only one
Life indeed can be fun, if you really want to

Sometimes living out your dreams,
Ain't as easy as it seems
You wanna fly around the world,
In a beautiful balloon
(Repeat Chorus)

-- It's like she'll just make a line that means anything in order to get a rhyme. I didn't intend for that to fake rhyme... Anyway, also, this song is very similar in lyrics to Shivaree's Goodnight Moon, but listen to how DIFFERENT they sound! This song is much darker (though randomly a love them in Jake 2.0, which might be one of the reasons it was cancelled d'oh!)

Again, I haven't watched this:



Lyrics:

There's a nail in the door
And there's glass on the lawn
Tacks on the floor
And the TV is on
And I always sleep with my guns
When you're gone

There's a blade by the bed
And a phone in my hand
A dog on the floor
And some cash on the nightstand
When I'm all alone the dreaming stops
And I just can't stand

What should I do I'm just a little baby
What if the lights go out and maybe
And then the wind just starts to moan
Outside the door he followed me home

Well goodnight moon
I want the sun
If it's not here soon
I might be done
No it won't be too soon 'til I say
Goodnight moon

There's a shark in the pool
And a witch in the tree
A crazy old neighbour and he's been watching me
And there's footsteps loud and strong coming down the hall
Something's under the bed
Now it's out in the hedge
There's a big black crow sitting on my window ledge
And I hear something scratching through the wall

Oh what should I do I'm just a little baby
What if the lights go out and maybe
I just hate to be all alone
Outside the door he followed me home
Now goodnight moon
I want the sun
If it's not here soon
I might be done
No it won't be too soon 'til I say
Goodnight moon

Well you're up so high
How can you save me
When the dark comes here
Tonight to take me up
To my front walk
And into bed where it kisses my face
And eats my head

Oh what should I do I'm just a little baby
What if the lights go out and maybe
And then the wind just starts to moan
Outside the door he followed me home
Now goodnight moon
I want the sun
If it's not here soon
I might be done
No it won't be too soon 'til I say
Goodnight moon
No it won't be too soon 'til I say
Goodnight moon

--So, some other songs have great lyrics, surprisingly so! I don't want to murder you all with more videos and lyrics, but I think that the Pogues have GREAT lyrics, especially "Fairytale of New York" (the one song that randomly got quotations), and, of course, Lovin' Spoonful, who I've ranted over before. But anyway, I got really into music this afternoon, more so than I've been in a long while. I think it was because I was listening to it louder than usual, to drown out the cheesy soft jazz repertoire (six songs on repeat) in my lunch place.

AND these random Englsih-speaking dudes came in and were really weird. One was very flamboyant about his homosexuality and the other kept calling him a "fucking faggot" and a "retard" and things like that. But it honestly appeared as though they were friends. Like, who talks to a friend that way? They came in and left together, and they talked the whole time (really loud) but it was just abuse abuse abuse from the tough, young guy and rant about some random thing in a happy-go-lucky way with the other guy. But I can't handle people using that kind of language (I can handle swearing, it's the derogatory language that bothers me. I mean, if you're going to be called a "faggot" at least you can be getting some, right? Think about it. It's the second word that hurts.)

The listening test was not good. Gah! The speakers were terrible, so no one could really tell what it was saying. But it's only worth 20 points (versus the kanji test, which is 100), so I'm not worried. And the interview went well, hoorah! So, it's basically the test tomorrow that's going to sink me.

So maybe I should study...

Anyway, if you are reading this, grandma and grandpa, I'm sorry to have curses in quotations. I hear that you got my blog from my mother, and I'm sorry the e-mail didn't work, so I couldn't give it to you myself! Also, thank you for the birthday card! It made me so happy! It is prettily on my desk now, making all the other kids jealous. Or it would be, if I allowed them to enter my domain, which I don't, because then I couldn't call it that anymore. I'd have to call it a "room" or something.

But it is Mandaframe, my domain.

If you've been reading the ReBoot craziness, you know what I mean. If not, well go back and read it! You got a look with those words, btw.

OH! I couldn't remember what I was going to post, but here is the picture of the lady from Burn Notice, a crime boss, whose make up I copied today. Er, HERE I mean:



The colors aren't quite right in the screen cap, but my make up actually does look pretty similar, despite me having less than my usual allotment of colors to choose from:



Anyway, I took three pictures and that one was the weirdest. What do you think? I actually tied my hair back in a unique way as well, but I hadn't done it yet when the pic was taken/I took the pic. I was trying to wear my hair down but it was too crazy. Crazy hair, down boys! Er or girls? Or random endogenous masses? That's a big word...

Must to my studying get! Gah! I've been attacked by the Yoda monster again! Is he a monster? I think he's just an alien. Or... interworlder? There must be a nice PC term we can come up with, for if we actually run into someone from another world. We should think of one, just in case.

"Steve's a pretty name."

^___^ Get it? No? No one saw that movie...

<3

Edit: I beat one minute in Cryptoquote again (third time!!! but it was short...)
kattie 0:52

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Playlist

This is the playlist of my current favorite songs. It changes a lot. If you made me a mix CD, there's probably at least one song from it on my list. I love mix CDs so please make me one!!!

The Hard-Knock Life (Annie, Orphans: Pepper, Duffy, July, Kate, Tessie, Molly) Alicia Morton, Kathy Bates, Victor Garber, Audra McDonald, Cast
Libertango Astor Piazzolla
Los Sueños (tango) Astor Piazzolla & Su Quinteto
Sad Song Au Revoir Simone
Fallen Snow Au Revoir Simone
Oh! You Pretty Things Au Revoir Simone
The Luckiest Ben Folds
You Don't Know Me (feat. Regina Spektor) Ben Folds
Workingman's Blues #2 Bob Dylan
Arigatou Bon'z
Seuls Bruno Coulais
We Used to Vacation Cold War Kids
Dreaming of You The Coral
Life On Mars? David Bowie
Triangle DBSK
Shankill Butchers The Decemberists
Tiger Phone Card Dengue Fever
Life Desree
Rockferry Duffy
Shores of White Sand Emmylou Harris
Don't Let It Fool You Empires
A Little Respect Erasure
Volver Estrella Morente
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Flaming Lips
Lies Glen Hansard
Falling Slowly Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova with Marja Tuhkanen and Bertrand Galen
Ultimate Gogol Bordello
If You Could Read My Mind Gordon Lightfoot
Standing In The Way Of Control The Gossip
Santa Maria Gotan Project
Una Musica Brutal Gotan Project
The Crime Window Grand Archives
Boats & Birds Gregory & The Hawk
Little Round Mirrors Harvey Danger
Happiness Writes White Harvey Danger
Barracuda Heart
Pink Spider hide
Seattle The Hot Toddies
Pop! Goes My Heart Hugh Grant
I'm Yours Jason Mraz
Get Rhythm Joaquin Phoenix
Your Own Personal Jesus Johnny Cash
The Show Lenka
Bleeding Love Leona Lewis
darling be home soon lovin' spoonful
Little Bit Lykke Li
The Hill Marketa Irglova
Anyone Else but You The Moldy Peaches
Welcome To The Black Parade My Chemical Romance
Famous Last Words My Chemical Romance
Forever in Blue Jeans Neil Diamond
My Freeze Ray Neil Patrick Harris
At Last Neko Case
if i wrote a letter to myself nikki
Savannah Smiles Okkervil River
There's a Good Reason These Tables are Numbered, Honey, You Just Haven't Thought of it Yet Panic! At the Disco
The Orange Tree Philip Glass
Fairytale of New York The Pogues Featuring Kirsty MacColl
I Want You Rachael Yamagata
Samson Regina Spektor
On the Radio Regina Spektor
Real Love Regina Spektor
Konayuki Remioromen
What Becomes of the Broken Hearted Robson & Jerome & Nigel Wright
Another Believer Rufus Wainwright
Goodnight Moon Shivaree
Hoppípolla Sigur Rós
Walking To Do Ted Leo & The Pharmacists
Birdhouse in Your Soul They Might Be Giants
I Don't Wanna Grow Up Tom Waits
Oxford Comma Vampire Weekend
NEVER FORGET Various Artists
HIRO'S SONG Various Artists
Warmest Part of the Winter Voxtrot
Rise Up In the Dirt Voxtrot
Raised By Wolves Voxtrot
Your Biggest Fan Voxtrot
Trouble Voxtrot
Stand Out Walt Disney
The Whole of the Moon The Waterboys
Shine a Light Wolf Parade
Track 01 Yael Naïm
New Soul Yael Naïm
Kimi Dake Dakara YOSHIKI
Lain's Theme 仲井戸"CHABO"麗市
A Goofy Movie - I2I

What a mess!

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

*I am Glorious Today*

I feel rejuvenated, and I don't know why. Today is very sunny and the autumn leaves are in various stages of decay. I wish that people could die as prettily as leaves. Maybe it says something important about nature that it is so old, and so lovely in its old age. Maybe the Little Mermaid turning into foam on the sea was the happy ending we were waiting for, and Disney ruined it.

I had the first day of midterms today, and they were far easier than I had imagined. Of course, now I've done it, and the jinxing monsters are climbing up my back to sneak in through my ears and into my brain. I'm sure they will whisper nasty little high pitched nothings all morning and I shall fail my every exam miserably. Although, tomorrow's tests are not the worrisome ones. It is Friday's Grammar test (tests?) that steal the white blood cells from my veins.

I need to stop using such vague and creepy metaphors.

In any event, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (I always insist on saying or writing the entire title, if I have the time, because it is so wordy- I love it!) has started off very well. The descriptions are like dialogue and though I can't explain it any other way, I suppose that is difficult to understand. It kind of reminds me of Kiss of the Spider Woman that way. As though it were a real person relating everything that's happening to another.

"Animal crackers in my soul. Monkeys and rabbits loop the loop!"

Do you remember when they used to have those deals on tv for the Shirley Temple collection? And they'd always have the clip of that song. And her saying, "When you look that way, it makes me want to cry!" and the tap dance number on the steps. I wonder what made me think of that?

There are a few things that I will miss when I go back, consumables-wise. I like the tea that I've found very much. It comes in a bottle or a jug and is iced. It is a mixed green tea blend, and is made by Coca Cola. It is called "爽健美茶” soukenbicha, which is a "beauty" tea mix of 12 different green teas. It took forever to find one that I like, and I'm not sure this'll be available when I get back.

Also, the gelatin thing with the satsumas inside. It's like jell-o but not really sweet, just goopy. But there's basically a whole satsuma broken into each slice and embedded. It is ridiculously tasty, and I think there is nothing much like this back home. Maybe Uwajimaya? Ho ho? What, am I Santa?

Must to my studying get, a la Yoda. Wish me luck!

<3

Edit: Also, now Tropic Thunder and Blindness are playing at the movie theatre, and I want to see them both, so I might do that next week. But Blindness is listed as in Japanese/English. What does this mean?! It isn't the same listing as P.S. I Love You, which was in English with Japanese subtitles, or Red Cliff, which was dubbed, or Gake no Ue no PONYO, which was just in Japanese, OR Red Cliff (the earlier showing) which is just in Chinese, with no subtitles. Then what can it mean? I'm going with it being in English with Japanese subtitles and they made an error when they put it up, but I guess I'll check if I go to see it.

I missed Paco and the Magic Book but I think it might be better to see with subtitles anyway.

Burned

BTW, there was mention of Michael being SIX and sneaking out to see a Star Wars movie. Since they came out in 1977, 1980, and 1983, and this season ran in 2007, we can assume that Michael is somewhere between thirty and thirty-six years old. The actor, Jeffrey Donovan, was about 43 at the time the episodes aired, so probably 42ish when they were filmed. He also states that he has thirty years of karate, so unless he's rounding, I'd go with the thirty-six. But he might be rounding... (Obviously, I need a hobby.)

Edit: Also, in the fourth episode, someone Michael went to school with is introduced as a client and HE looks nearly fifty. I am so confused. But the guy was under a lot of stress, so maybe he was supposed to look haggard.

Burn Notice quotes will be posted for awhile now, since I'm on to that show again. Third time's a charm? Oh... this is the fourth. Hrml. Anyway, I'd pretty much be posting episode scripts if I put every fantastic line up for your ULTIMATE viewing pleasure, so...

(BTW: If you watch Burn Notice, check out the episode basic summaries on Wiki for the rest of season two, particularly the finale, if you don't mind spoilers, then e-mail me and we can scream together)

Season 1
Episode 1 "Pilot"

Michael: (First lines) Covert intelligence involves a lot of waiting around. Know what it's like being a spy? Like sitting at your dentist's reception area 24 hours a day. You read magazines, sip coffee, and every so often, someone tries to kill you.

David: Are you going to shoot the people that robbed Mr. Pine?
Michael: No, no, that shouldn't be necessary.
David: But what if they shoot at you?
Michael: Well, in that case, it would be necessary, so yeah.

(Maybe it's funny just because Jeffrey Donovan's so good...)

David's depiction of Michael killing the thieves (notice that Michael's shirt is pink and his pants are green ^__^):



Michael's such a softy- earlier in the episode he talked about how important it was not to get attached to your clients, and how he was always bad at this (he ALWAYS gets attached to his clients).

Michael: Thirty years of karate. Combat experience on five continents. A rating with every weapon that shoots a bullet or holds an edge. Still haven't found any defense against mom crying into my shirt.

Michael: (to the FBI agents tailing him) Can I borrow your binoculars?
Tail: Um..
Michael: Now, I know you got some and you're not using them because you need them to see me and I'm right here so... (pause) Please?

Episode Two: "Identity"

Madeline is Michael's mom, btw.

Michael: I need to ask you something. Anyone unknown to you been around the house the last few months? Any unfamiliar faces on the street, maybe a repair truck that just seems to sit there?
Madeline: I don’t know. I really don’t notice what my neighbors do. I’m not interested in them.
Michael: You notice if the neighbor hasn’t vacuumed his car, if the postman isn’t wearing his wedding ring, just tell me.
Madeline: As a matter of fact, a few months ago there were two men here taking pictures. They were very nice.
Michael: You met them?
Madeline: Mm hmm. They came in for coffee. I made them deviled egg sandwiches.
(below is a screen cap that doesn't quite show you the look on his face when he hears this news- he's checking for people following him, btw, thus his hand on the blinds)


Michael: (referring to Sam's intel work) Not bad for a man in his underwear.
Sam: You think that's good. You should see me without 'em.

Episode 3: "Fight or Flight"

Narration (Also Michael): The important thing is to disappear before people can ask questions.
Security Guard: Excuse me, sir. Sir!
Michael: Great! (takes off running)
Narration: If they do decide to ask questions, you just have to hope you’re in a building with a lot of hallways, a good service basement.
Michael: Locked!
Narration: And plenty of exits.
Security Guard: Stop right there!
Michael: (tries another door, which is also locked) This is a fire hazard!

Episode 4: "Old Friends"

Wilkelm: I'm not a pimp!
Michael: You say "tomato," I say "pimp."

Episode 5: "Family Business"

Sam: Mike, I save your ass at the warehouse, the least you could do is have some decent beer in the fridge.
Michael: Next time you plan on saving my ass, tell me before I go to the store.

Episode 9: "Hard Bargain"

Every time a new character is introduced, he or she gets a little subtitle stating his or her name and occupation/relationship to Michael. Sometimes these subtitles pop up at hilarious times. Later in season two, a character is begging Michael to help him and the subtitle suddenly pops up, stating "The client." Michael's such a softy >.<



Episode 11: "Dead Drop"

(Michael's going to meet the guy who burned him. Sam is eating fried chicken.)
Sam: Do you want me to come with? Back you up?
Michael: Sure, bring your bucket of fat.
Sam: I'll bring the chicken too.

Episode 12: "Loose Ends"
Carmelo: And I should do this because...?
Michael: Because he's an importer. He sells to your competition. I put him out of business, it's a win for both of us. And, if you don't do what I want, I will reign Hell down upon you until one of us is dead, and I am really, really good at reigning down Hell.

Season Two: Episode 4: "Comrades"
Michael: How's our friend Ivan behaving?
Fiona: Like an alter boy. He even asked me to use the stun gun on him again.
Michael: He asked you with a gag in his mouth?
Fiona: Oh, he has expressive eyes.

Episode Seven: "Rough Seas"
Seymour: (to Fiona) Keep Jack Ass company. He'll like you. He's attracted to shiny objects.

Episode Eight: "Double Booked"

Michael and Madeline (his mom) are going to a therapist, who tells them each to make a list of five things they are grateful to the other for. Michael's list (we only get to hear one other, at the session, which is his eyesight):


BTW, just finished the half-season finale- gahhhh! Such a cliffhanger, really. Like, you know that he can't die but, man! I am so tense! Can't wait 'til new episodes!!

*R.I.P.*

Anyway, mostly I just wanted to do something, anything, that wasn't writing kanji a million times over and over and over and over until my hand fell off and I had to figure out how you preserve your hand long enough to have it reattached by a robot. Oh wait, I guess Luke got a whole new hand, didn't he? Well, then... I guess I just feed the old hand to the dogs? But then they might get the taste of flesh and become zombie dogs. Then again, I don't even know where any dogs are near by. So far, I've misspelled "zombie" and "near" and the spell check saved my arse.

I finished "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman." He kinda turned out to be a womanizer. One chapter he was really irritated about women in bars. He kept buying these women drinks and then they wouldn't sleep with him, which he thought was awful of them. Because if you accept a free drink, it means you've been paid for? Like, barflies are just REALLY cheap prostitutes? Anyway, then he got this attitude that all women were "bitches" and it got him laid a lot. He's kind of an ass in that chapter and a lot of others when the issue of women comes up. So I was pretty disappointed.

I'll start reading The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford on the train tomorrow (I read on the trains), coming BACK from school. I'll be studying my kanji cards (I made some) on the way there. There will be 240 new kanji on the test tomorrow (+150 we already were meant to know), so my brain will redecorate the walls at some point, I'm sure. Nonetheless, I'm excited about reading the book afterwards and for having my short day an ACTUAL short day. I don't have to go do any errands after school tomorrow so I can come straight home.

And study.

Maybe I'll finish my Nanowrimo book really quick. I've got two chapters left and they're just sitting, unfinished. It is too busy. FYI, if I'm really busy and I have a tiny bit of time, I put the blog over e-mails because there are a lot of e-mails and my blog basically says "this is what I'm doing instead of e-mailing you, forgive me!". I think...

I'll finish ReBoot tonight (actually, 20 minutes left >.<) and I think I'll start rewatching (I first typed ReWatching... ) Burn Notice. I'm excited that it's a split season, so there'll be new episodes in the winter (January??). It was kind of a cliffhanger/ kinda not. You know they aren't going to kill the main character or even damage his gorgeous face or bod. So basically, he'll be okay.

I am calling your bluff, BN writers.

I think that the counselor I've been seeing at school isn't very good. Though, my sessions with her are free, so... But anyway, her advice on the noise situation was to write down the name of everyone who's loud at night and turn the page in. And I was complaining about water getting spilled by someone all over the laundry room floor and not being cleaned up, even though the mop is RIGHT THERE and her question was, "Well, did YOU clean it up?"

I said "yes," but I didn't clean it up. Now I feel bad. Mostly, I was just peeved because everyone makes these messes and leaves them. I think if I clean them up, then they won't end up stepping in the water they spilled and realizing what a pain in the arse they are. I don't know, but it made me feel worse instead of better. And I think that's the opposite of what counseling's meant to do, isn't it?

Anyway, I really do have to study now. Wish me luck! Like, honestly, lend me some of yours. Now, don't be greedy! I need it more than you, and I'll totally pay back the favor. Pleaaase?

I need a lot of luck T.T I did bad on another test, so I think I have a B+ test average, which can be slaughtered by bad midterm grades.

Yikes!

Love! <3

Monday, November 17, 2008

*Out of Office*

I'll try to post this week, but I'm trying to get A's on all my Japanese midterms, so I probably won't be updating much at all. I'll get the Mashiko pics up as soon as I can, but it'll probably be a bit.

On the plus side, I'm nearly done with ReBoot from all the notecard making, brainless activities. But the notecards are pretty much done O.O (600!) and I need to actually memorize (re-memorize).

Tests start (Again) Wednesday! Wish me luck!

Sunday, November 16, 2008

*I Survived Mashiko!*

Sorry, I was just thinking those "I survived Jurassic Park, the RIDE!" things, and other similar type mementos. Anyway...

I really did survive, not that it took a lot of effort because it was amazing. I'll post pictures and info on the morrow. Honestly, the sleepiness of this weekend has sucked the milk and honey out of my tea and all that's left is the bitter underneathness. I'm not half so grumpy as I think I am.

Basically, the commute was 3 hours one way, so six hours on various trains, which did not include the Shinkansen. Boo! Sorry, I'm not actually upset. I'm just sleepy.

I read those 160 pages of Genji and the play, and have succeeded in all the goals of this weekend, save Nanowrimo. Maybe I can "haul ass" and finish tonight.

Then again, maybe not.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

I Really am Studying

But in my "study break" I tried my hand at the daily Cryptoquote, and again solved the problem in less than a minute:

kattie 0:48

Which means, it did turn out to be a very short break, indeed. Thus, you needn't scold me for it. As you may have surmised, I have been reading Genji for such a long time, that it's language has invaded my mind. Perhaps I now appear to you as an old romantic?

Or perhaps not.

This post, you must understand, begs sympathy. I think I suffer greatly from self-neglect. Alas!

Edit: While I am immersed in reading, I distract my subconscious with various lovely albums. I have thus rediscovered the Les Choristes soundtrack. Although my particularly beloved piece, Seuls, does not appear on Youtube for your listening pleasure, I include another wonderful piece. This performance is outside of the film and these boys are singing in front of a LIVE audience. Most impressive!!!!:

Friday, November 14, 2008

*Tired and Sleepy*

Sing it Cochran!

I gotta go to bed 'cause I'm tired and sleepy
I can't love you baby 'cause I'm tired and sleepy
Tired and sleepy, ooh baby so tired


'cept I can't sleep. Too much homework- gah! 160 pages of Genji left for this weekend! Comedy of Errors! Gah!

Actually, I still haven't responded to e-mails because I was working since I got home until now+. I must get back to reading. Genji's got himself into trouble. I don't like him. He basically rapes women and stole this little girl. It's icky. Why is he a romantic figure?

?

I guess the previous entry is more day-describing. Sorry!

<3

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Busy busy busy

It is very busy lately! I haven't written anything for Nanowrimo for TWO DAYS (gyah!) so I'll try to do a few chapters tonight. I want to finish this weekend, BEFORE midterms. But, anyway, I have unavoidable plans tonight to finish my homework for the entire weekend and next week in one go. As in, eight chapters of Tale of Genji, two plays (Sukeroku, Love Suicides at Sonezaki, possibly Comedy of Errors as well), kanji worksheet, and take-home kanji test. BUT I also want to watch ReBoot 3.3.1 and 3.3.2 because those, due to plot arc reasons not actual otherness, are my two favorite episodes. Eek, so excited to finally reach them!

Thank you for the birthday well-wishings. I shall try to respond to the many messages I received ASAP but it is VERY busy, so please know that I do appreciate them. It is the fourteenth here- we're a day ahead, so it's ovuh now v.v I bought wine at the grocery store and it was god awful. That is what you get when you buy cheap wine? Don't cry sour grapes? Ha?

OMG OMG, I did not realize that I can take the SHINKANSEN back from Mashiko. Re: a post a million years ago, I was going to go to Osaka or Kyoto during Winter vacation via the SHINKANSEN (it is too exciting not to use capitals for) but obviously have more exciting plans now (aka sleeping in my mom's huge, comfy bed watching tv all day for a week+), so I thought I wouldn't have the chance. It'll be like $50, and I'm only going to take it coming back, but it will be AWESOME. I will post pictures of it, if I get any good ones- because it may be too godly to capture on film... even if it is digital film. Hrml...

I'm oddly not stressed about midterms. What the heck? I probably will be, at some point. But there are SO MANY tests as part of my Japanese midterm, that if I do crap on one, I'll probably be fine enough on another. Right? Of course, right! Gasp! I'm the Matchmaker! Are you bursting into song?

Too lazy and in the computer lab to post the song. If you don't know the reference, well, you can harass me and I'll be less lazy in the future. And possibly less in the computer lab, though one never knows.

It is one of the great uncertainties of life.

I'm sure I spelled that wrong and there's no spell check to save me.

Balls.

Love!

*I Should Dye my Hair Purple*

Because that's what a lot of old women randomly do in Japan. I'm not sure what it means. Do you? I'll look it up eventually, but I'm too lazy at the moment. Yes, I know it would require a minimal amount of effort. The point is, that is still SOME effort, and I'm simply too much of a lazycakes.

I don't think "bum" is very nice. I was going to write that, and then I suddenly realized that it has unkind connotations, and really isn't a nice word at all. Um, random political off-topic ness. Anyway...

It is my birthday- yay? I actually did go to lunch with Kayoko today, and she bought me a mini cake for my b-day and a pin. It was really nice of her. Gah, I'm too depressed- mostly hormones because, well, it is the particular one day a month when I am always depressed on account of hormones. Peh.

So, I have random things to talk about.

I always go home past certain houses- like, I have altered my route to include them, because they have automatic lights. They just come right on when you walk past them. I know this isn't the most energy-conscious sort of thing, but it makes me feel really happy, like someone's welcoming me home. It is lonely living alone, with not even a kitty or pup to welcome you and ask how your day was. Blub.

Also, there is just a lot of racism. Like both Japanese and non. There was this British lady on the train platform talking really loudly about how all Japanese people walk really really slow (I'm paraphrasing, not agreeing). Then she did this imitation of how Japanese people walk, and it was really offensive. And she kept going on and on about how lazy Japanese are. It was so embarrassing! I was walking behind her and I just gave her this "are you an idiot or just plain bitchy?" look. I wanted to say something, but it really wasn't my business I guess.

And yesterday, these Japanese schoolgirls on the train were making fun of the way 外人 which is an offensive (yes, I know it's funny in the U.S. to some people, but it is meant as an insult, so really... it's not funny) way of saying 外国人 which in itself offends me as it literally means "Outside Country Person" aka OUTSIDER (not nice) women toss their hair. That was a little complicated. They were making fun of the way foreigner women toss their hair. And they went on to say "Especially Americans" and were laughing and mocking women tossing their hair. But do you want to know something?

Tossing one's hair is sexy. And it makes the pretty scent of the shampoo carry to nearby peoples' noses. Mmm.

Anyway, that's my mini rant.

Gah! I think I am misunderstood out of context. Okay, so one of the kids in my Japanese class missed this morning, but we have another class together Monday and Thursday afternoons. So I offered to go together to make copies of the homework. So I put the 70 yen in (about 70 cents) for the copies and he promised to pay me back. He sounded a little too serious about the whole thing, so, of course I made a joke:

"You'd better, or I'll take it back in flesh."

Now, I think this is quite obviously a Merchant of Venice reference. As in, I shall cut into his flesh, like a hand or a finger of something, as payment. Like in MOV, it is a pound of flesh nearest the heart. But of course, he thought I was making a dirty joke/come on, and he got all awkward. So I had to explain that it was from Merchant of Venice, and I didn't mean for it to be dirty v.v But I think he still thought it was a come on, and he gave me the 70 yen back right away.

Which might be an insult, by the by.

In any event, I don't think I'm asking for the moon when I assume that people get Merchant of Venice pound of flesh references. Am I? Now I feel like a snob for using Shakespeare. But this kid is an American, so he ought to have read it in school if nothing else, right? Whatever, he's uneducated and I quoted the bard in everyday speech, so kudos me!

Do you see how big my head is getting? That may secretly be the reason behind the pain in my shoulders, etc.

AND I totally didn't get this part in Tale of Genji where Murasaki loses her virginity. TOTALLY missed that that was the case. I just thought she was sick and pouting. Oh, so that's why she was in bed all day. So you see, I'm not such a perv, I'm so innocent, I don't even catch things like that in the text. What a maroon!

Anyway, tomorrow it will not be my birthday anymore. So wish me luck with that?

Loves! <3

To Write Love on Her Arms

Is November 13th- aka my birthday, so I did it. Even though it isn't really big even in the U.S. and is pretty much nonexistent here. Anyway, here's the deal:

Actually, never mind. I'm not going to quote the actual source because they are cheesy writers, and I can't handle it. It's just really poorly written. Honestly. You can check out the original site if you want by searching it out on Google, but I'll summarize (whoa, inflated ego much?).

Basically, the people who started this program/day had a friend who was a cutter and eventually slit her wrist. Her reason, she explained after surviving the suicide attempt, was that she felt as though no one loved her. So the girl's friends all wrote "love" on her arms, so that when she went to cut her arms or wrist, she'd see their message and remember that she was loved.

Okay, I'm not convinced that this really solves anything, but it's pretty anyway, so I did it. November 13th, you write love on your wrists or arms as a suicide prevention effort. I think most people just thought I was too cheap to get my sentimental tattoo.

So here's the bilingual pic (but backwards):


Wowsa, I look soooo tired. Lookit those wrinkles and shadows! OMG, I am getting old. No, just tiiiireed! But tomorrow's Friday (PRAISE THE LORD) so I shall have the weekend to look forward to, then next week should fly by on account of MIDTERMS and then THREE-DAY WEEKEND. Lotsa caps= lotsa BIG thoughts. You must forgive me.

It isn't an option.

Anyway, if you want to do "To Write Love on Her Arms", then do. But otherwise, I don't think it matters ^^**** nice thought...

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

ReBoot Musings Continue

/mostly quotes. Anywho, I don't want to keep going back and editing post, so if the thing gets bumped to a new page, I'll make a new entry each time. Except, I'll probably be done pretty soon. Lots of studying. Pooh.

So, season three is exciting- very different than the previous seasons! The rules for what you can show in an animated program for children became less strict, so Dot and Mouse no longer have uni-boob. The episodes are broken up into different story-line segment-things, so it's confusing but cool. Lots of intenseness/spoofs.

Anyway...

"To Mend and Defend" (which is the motto of the Guardian aka the Guardian protocol) Episode 3.1.1

[SPOILER]
Enzo (he's meant to be in charge): You! Get down before you're shot! Now, go and find the ammo!
Sprites: (ignore him)
Dot: Just do it! This is important!
Sprite #1: Why didn't you say so?
Sprite #2: Yeah, you don't have to shout. Bob would've known better. He never shouted. He was nice!

"Between a Raccoon and a Hard Place" Episode 3.1.2

Megabyte's "propaganda":


"Game Over" Episode 3.1.4

Hack: What are you're doing?
Slash: Releasing the little fellow from what, to me, looks like certain death.
Hack: Yeah, that's right, and we're supposed to BE that certain death.
Slash: (releasing the prisoner they're supposed to be executing). Go, little fellow. Run. Be free.
Hack: Now you've done it. Megabyte's gonna be mad!
Slash: Oh, what's new? I miss Bob.
Hack: What?! Sh! Are you crazy?
Slash: Bob always stopped us before we could do anything really bad. Now no one does.

"Icons" Episode 3.2.1 (SEE?! It's confusing!)

3.2 Opening:

Matrix: I live in the games. I search through systems, peoples, and cities, for this place—Mainframe, my home. My format: I have no format. I am a renegade, lost on the net. [pause] Reboot!

Virus: What?! A guardian?!
Matrix: There's no guardian here! I'm Matrix- renegade!
Virus: Please renegade! Mercy!
Matrix: Mercy? To a virus? Never! (deletes him... it?)

3.2.3 "Number Seven"

FYI, you should just skip this episode. It is awful. I lied when I said the other was the worst- this one really is. Um, but it is obscure... Okay, it's just that something really big is coming up and I don't have time for a novelty episode! Especially one that references a show NO ONE has seen. Rant end.

3.3.4 "Mouse Trap"

Matrix freaks out and is pointing his gun at the web riders, who get ready to attack back.
Ray: (trying to speak their language) Handbag... Teakettle... Barbeque...
Web Rider #1: What in the web is he talking about??
Web Rider #2: I think he wants us to calm down!

Mr. Christopher: What are we going to do?!
Crimson Binome: Steady, lad! We've gotten through worse scrapes than this!
Mr: Andrews: No, we haven't.

"I come from the Net. I search through systems, cities, and peoples, for this place, Mainframe, my home. My format: guardian, to mend and defend."

This episode was so good it gave me happy chills!

3.4.4 "End Program"

Mike the TV: Wait, wait, there's more! A special offer! For those viewers out there who missed ReBoot season three and have NO IDEA what's going on, we proudly present, for your appreciation, this cycle only, the marvelous, magnificent, Mainframe Strolling Players!

Recap song follows- I have it memorized, it is so great. It's just funny because this is basically the last episode of the series (the final season "four" is actually two movies) so if you're JUST watching this episode, it's like- STOP AND GO BACK! Silly Mike!

I'm not posting the recap song, because it'll ruin the entire series for you. You'll just have to trust me that it's AWESOME!

(The first movie, secretly posing as a fourth season)
4.1 "Daemon Rising"

Bob: But, Hex-
Hexadecimal: Now sh, hush. There, I knew it, you're a bundle of knots. You're working too hard. It's that Dot. She's a workaholic. She expects too much from people. You need some down time... We could go down together.
Bob: Uh, that's a good idea but- but I can't! I've got to defend the system.

4.3 "What's Love Got to Do With It?"

Hex: It's not working! Oh, give it up!
Dot: We're talking about my father! Would you give up?
Hex: I was born in the explosion that created Lost Angles. An explosion doesn't usually display the best parenting skills.

4.4 "Sacrifice" (Which can never be the title for a happy episode)

Hex: I infect the entire net. I have spread through systems, peoples and cities. From this place: Mainframe. My format: Virus. The Queen of Chaos! Ha-ha-ha Ha-ha-ha-haaaaa! Ha-ha-ha-ha.

(The second movie, see above)

4.5 "My Two Bobs"

(During a Brady Bunch parody)
Enzo: Hey, it's Cecil. Our foreign stereotype comic relief!

(In a Pokemon/DBZ style game)
Matrix: I'm a Pan Su Heavy Trainer, you're a Pan Su Heavy X-a mutant creature. I keep you in that tiny container and release you to fight for me.
"Bob": You keep creatures in cages and release them just to fight?
Matrix: Yeah.
"Bob": That is sick!

4.6 "Life's a Glitch"

Glitch Bob: What's the password for the archive? Maybe I can splice some code together and- Phong, what is the password?!
Phong: Password, ah, yes. Well, it's, ah...
Glitch Bob: Oh, this is great, now you don't trust me!
Phong: Oh, do not be silly!
Glitch Bob: You don't think I'm the original!
Phong: Yes I do!
Glitch Bob: Well, then give me the password!
Phong: Oh...Um...
(alarm suddenly blares)
Phong: Oh, an alarm!
Glitch Bob: (scoffs) Saved by the bell.
Phong: No, no, no, that is a klaxon.

AndrAIa: Hi, little Sparky.
(She calls Matrix Sparky, so Enzo's Little Sparky. It's funnier in context...)

4.7 "Null Bot of the Bride"

Slash: Mum's the word. Discretion is our middle name.
Hack: I thought your middle name was Elden.

4.8 "Crouching Binome, Hidden Virus" (the titles for the second video are AWFUL, aren't they?)

Turbo: So, it's confirmed. Megabyte has Trojan Horse viral capacity now.
Bob: He can duplicate any form. He could be anywhere, right in front of us, and we'd never know.
Enzo: No way! He could be here! He could be even be ME! What if I'M Megabyte now?!

Phong: (to the citizens of Mainframe) This is a system wide announcement on behalf of the Principal Office. Due to some ... circumstances, we are advising citizens to return to their homes, file lock doors and windows, and remain there until further notice. We apologize for any inconvenience, but assure you that normal status will be resumed as soon as possible. There is no cause for alarm. Well, maybe a small amount of cause for alarm. Just make sure you stay in pairs at all times and do not walk the city alone. Oh, and, uh, before I forget, here is an artist's impression of Megabyte's new form:



(Citizens panic!)

Pictures from My Phone

Sorry for the quality, but these were taken from my cellphone. Almost all of them today, but one from like, right after I got my phone. Anyway, here some are:

So, these are near the Tennozu Isle station, which is basically surrounded by garbage sorting facilities and such. Very stinky and not pretty, so obviously I had to take a zillion pictures of this ugly part of Tokyo:





The below picture is of graffiti- and it really was that blurry as it was painted. You don't see all that much graffiti here, so:

On reflection, perhaps not THAT blurry ^^*



Below, the water looks a lot cleaner than it was. Garbage was floating about:


This picture actually makes the area look pretty. Why did that faded blue randomly turn out vibrant? Oh, the brightening feature on my phone. I should take more pictures of my teeth....:




Garbage...


Engrish, just for you, my darlings. "Build-in"? I love the multiple explanation points!!!



Garbage or something (I assume, based on its location, but it could be other crap in the garbage district) in boxes. How nicely stacked. How stinky..


A humongous spider- that is the real size. Not a zoom effect! Isn't it HUGE!?


Condiments at the Starbucks in Akihabara... or near there anyway!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Wish me Luck!

I am going to try to get my reentry permit today. It is in a faroff land, somewhere still in Tokyo, but nowhere near anything I've been to. And I have to take a PRIVATE train line. What does that mean? I don't think it's actually private.. I think that PRIVATE here is code for "expensive." I know that it's like double the price, but can I actually take it? Or maybe, quite serendipitously, it is PRIVATE for me only. Because, you see, I do make many offerings to the traffic gods. My first child shall be named Stoplight McGee.

And he/she will hate me O.O but have the fastest commuting time this side of NASCAR.

Loves!

Hope?

So, I talked with the people at the Oversea Liaison Center, and they say that I need to look over my rental agreement. If it says that it is meant to be quiet by 10:00PM, which I think it does, which it isn't, then I have basis for terminating my stay here and having my prepaid rent returned for January. So, the last month could potentially be somewhere else- yay! I'm hoping I can stay with a family- I think they'd be much more likely to take someone in for one month versus five. Let's hope, shall we?

Also, getting excited for my trip this weekend! Going to Mashiko to see the pottery! I hope I actually can meet up with the people I'm meant to, I hope, I hope! Otherwise, I'll just hang around Ueno and go to the zoo. Either way, you'll get pictures. Though it will be Sunday, so it may take me a bit, especially because of TESTS. Although... apparently my drama test is week after next and I've been wrongly complaining about it being next week. Oh, dear. Whatever, only FOUR days of testing- sorry for the EXAGGERATION. Oh my goodness, I may have been a little sarcastic.

Obviously did not collapse upon return. What is the world coming to? How shall we survive these vicious lies? How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?

Let's find out!

Whoa, random 90's reference. I so dated myself. Anyway...

Oh, and I won two free coffees at the convenience story because I did the silly raffle thing because my mom told me to and obviously I just do whatever the heck ANYONE tells me to do so there you have it I wonder if they taste any good. Ha, run on!

Loves!