Hey guys!

A friend of mine needs some help! She needs someone to come help man her table at Anime USA this weekend. All you'd need to do is hand out flyers, pens, and sell t-shirts. She has an extra badge to give the person who helps!

If you're interested please let me know ASAP and I'll put you in touch with her.

Thanks!

Music meme! Ask for a letter, post five songs beginning with the letter you're given.

omnipresentdmat gave me an F


Fuyu wo Dakishimete -  Arashi
Funkastic - Rip Slyme
Fett's Vett - mc chris
Fell in love with a girl - The White Stripes
Fel del av gården - Movits!

In honor of the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Yokohama port. French company "La Machine" unleashed crawling robotic spiders to invade the bayside area, spew water and smoke at the gathered crowds, and then escape from whence they came on flaming barges.

There's really not much else to say. But check out some awesome pictures and video of the event.

The full article (by The Japan Times) is here.

Well, mildmodern_girl and I are back from NYCC and let me say it was AMAZING. So incredible in ways that I NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD OR COULD BE. I'm going to try to record it all here but I'm sure I'll miss something and have to keep editing. Also I'll have to add pics later, since I'm not on my own comp.

( Cut because I rambled and OH MY GOSH HOW DID THAT HAPPEN!?!? )

In my opinion, the weekend was a great success. We got to see Sho Sakurai 3 times in 2 days! And the first time from only 5 ft away!!!!! It probably goes without saying but, having that happen on Thursday made the entire weekend better. Even when we had been waiting for hours outside of the theatre Jess and I would look at each other and start flailing because, OH MY GOSH WE SAW HIM IN PERSON!!! FACE TO FACE!!! WHAT ARE THE ODDS!?!?!? (Jess informs me they're about 8,310,212 to 1, more or less.)

I know some people are complaining about the actions of some fans, but overall I think as American fans (and as non-Japanese fans in general) we made a really good impression. We showed Sho as well as the accompanying staff that he and Arashi do have a dedicated fanbase here, but we didn't go crazy and try to stalk him, or destroy property because we didn't get what we wanted. It seemed like almost everyone stayed respectful and enjoyed what we were able to get. (Some fans were so respectul of Johnny's Ent. rules that they even tried to correct the Yatterman booth guy when he said we could take pictures of Sho!) My hope is that Sho shares his experiences with the rest of Arashi, their management, etc and we get one step closer to having a concert in America!!

MAOU-Y CHRISTMAS!!! **shot**


Hope you all have a wonderful day!!!

So, I've been taking a Japanese class since September. About two sessions into the class I found out that my teacher loves dramas and keeps pretty up to date with them (I also found out that she's a NEWS fan, heh) . Since then, at the end of each class I've been hanging back and we talk about the shows we're watching for a little bit. Now that the first semester is almost over, and she knows I'll be continuing on to 102, she's asked me to recommend some dramas to watch during class...

...I'm kindof drawing a blank. So I'm wondering, what would you guys pick?

We're looking for something that is:
-- Interesting to/Appropriate for a diverse audience (Since the ages in the class range from 16 to 60, this means no epic romances and no sex scenes Or questionably incestuous relationships, sorry Wolfie.)
-- Relatively easy to follow (a.k.a. Not completely full of crazy hard Japanese, which ruled out Gokusen, because of all of the Yakuza-speak)

It should probably also be something with a good amount of humor, since that would hold the class' attention. My first thought was Stand Up! but that's way too raunchy. So the only thing I'm left with is Kimi Wa Petto, which is technically a romance, but has alot of other stuff going on and is pretty funny. Though, that has some sex too... -_-**

Anyway, any suggestions?

P.S. I found out last class that my teacher just started Last Friends. I wonder what she'll have to say about it next class. >_>

The Enneagram Test

I'm a Type Nine: The Easygoing, Self-Effacing Type:
Receptive, Reassuring Agreeable, and Complacent

Type Nine in Brief:

Nines are accepting, trusting, and stable. They are usually creative, optimistic, and supportive, but can also be too willing to go along with others to keep the peace. They want everything to go smoothly and be without conflict, but they can also tend to be complacent, simplifying problems and minimizing anything upsetting. They typically have problems with inertia and stubbornness.
At their Best: indomitable and all-embracing, they are able to bring people together and heal conflicts.

Basic Fear: Of loss and separation
Basic Desire: To have inner stability "peace of mind"
Enneagram Nine with an Eight-Wing: "The Referee"
Enneagram Nine with a One-Wing: "The Dreamer"

Key Motivations: Want to create harmony in their environment, to avoid conflicts and tension, to preserve things as they are, to resist whatever would upset or disturb them.

The Meaning of the Arrows (in brief)
When moving in their Direction of Disintegration (stress), complacent Nines suddenly become anxious and worried at Six. However, when moving in their Direction of Integration (growth), slothful, self-neglecting Nines become more self-developing and energetic, like healthy Threes.

 

( Nine Overview... )

 

This is a very accurate description of my personality. Particularly the parts about "numbing out" or retreating into my own mind. Also I'm very likely to find my identity in how I relate to others, and how I fit into a group, rather than what I really am/want. In my mind Nines can sort of become the mortar between the bricks, helping hold groups of friends together, but also being shaped by those around them (Or rather, wanting to please those around them). Even though I ganked this meme from aatash  I  actually already own a book on "The Enneagram" because a friend recommended it to me. The profiles in the book are slightly different and a bit longer than the one listed here. It's an interesting read.

If you want, take the test here and share your results!

Awhile ago, nagoya_mewmew  was nice enough to translate this omelette rice (with tomato and chicken) recipe. I had some free time yesterday so I decided to give it a try.

( Umai!! )

Yay, a new layout and new profile page.

||mint_and_mochamint_and_mochamint_and_mocha||

I figured I was way overdue. There's still some tweaking going on though, so don't be surprised if stuff appears, disappears, or moves.
Profile Code credit: resplandor Layout credit: thefulcrum

lela_s tagged me for a meme! (I think this is the first time I've ever been tagged *g*)

My last undergraduate semester is officially over~~!! I got my grades this morning. Three As, Two B's which means I can keep my 3.5 GPA and graduate Cum Laude!!! /shameless bragging>.

I don't think it's quite hit me yet though, that I'll be receiving my diploma on Saturday. I mean, I've been in school since I was four, and now it's over (well, over-ish since I want to eventually go back and study Japanese and Chinese). But I'm more than ready to enter the "real world". I've been searching for apartments and making all sorts of lists of things I want to get to begin my "adult life". (A sewing machine is at the top of that list, followed closely by Mandarin and Japanese Tutors)

In other news, we finally got new store music at my job. It's got a lot of female BritPop on it, which I remembered that I LOVE. I highly recommend Lily Allen's, Alright, Still Album (you can sample it here, please remember to comment!!) it's light and sweet but with more than a hint of bitter sarcasm.

Other stuff on my mind in no particular order:
★ Ohno's starring in a drama, as a revengeful lawyer!!! (credits to aatash)

★Speaking of Arashi, I had another Arashi dream a few nights ago. (That's four if you're counting.) It's an odd trend but I can't really complain.

★Speed Racer was good, but waaaay too much talking. I think the Wachowski brothers got too caught up in trying to prove that Speed's story was deep and meaningful. (Which it was, but still after 30 minutes of exposition and emotional family conversations I was all but yelling "RACE! RACE ALREADY!!!") That being said, the races were excellent and gorgeous, particularly the finale. Rain was really really good too. His role was much bigger than expected and now I can't wait to see him in the next Wachowski film.

★ Doesn't this guy remind you of a young T.M. Revolution? Just a little?

★ GReeeeN rules! So do their  videos.

This news is so weird I don't even know where to start (nor do I have the correct icon to properly convey my shock, though Jiro looks a little confused). So, let's just start from the beginning...

"Gackt to star in a new movie with Josh Hartnett and Demi Moore." (Credits to JrockRevolution forum and staff)

In the film, being tentatively described as a "Japanese Spaghetti Western", Gackt will be playing the role of "Yoshi", Hartnett's samurai partner.

SERIOUSLY!!! I COULD NOT MAKE THIS STUFF UP IF I TRIED!!!!

All joking aside, I'm really looking forward to this. (No really!) Yay for Gackt possibly getting more name recognition stateside and yay for the possible effect on the American Japanese music scene in general. It's just...where did this come from? 

So yeah, keep an eye out for Gackt hitting American theatres in 2009!

Link: The Bem Sex Role Inventory Test written by weirdscience on OkCupid, home of the The Dating Persona Test

Both my scores seem to be in the middle range, but within my age and gender I scored higher than 99% in femininity and higher than 99% in masculinity. Interesting...

So BULLET, Duel Jewel's first full-length album in a long while, was released today and of course it took only about 12 seconds for the new PVs to make it online. (Not that I'm complaining). After (finally) watching the full Es PV, which was released as a single without the PV this summer, and the new PV for BULLETxSTAR all I can say is, I'm so proud!!

I hope the new album brings them many more fans and a US tour!

This past weekend I stayed at my dad's house. I took him out for lunch (his birthday is halloween) and then later on we went to see Tyler Perry's "Why Did I Get Married?". I don't know if any of you guys have seen this but I went into the theatre rather skeptical.( However I was pleasantly surprised... )

In other news, I know I'm getting to this rather late but have any of you guys seen this?:



FUZZ by MUCC. Can I just say that this is awesome!? I know there's been some fan fallout over this song but I like that MUCC doesn't seem afraid to make some drastic changes in their sound. It's different, yes, but to me it still sounds like MUCC. Just maybe a MUCC I've never considered before (MUCC of the future!...?) .

Alright...back to work...

So school has started and I'm actually really excited for it. Because I'm technically done with my major I have a very light schedule: French 300, French 320, Chinese 101 (woo!), Theatre 321 (Costuming). Credits wise it's the lightest semester I've ever taken, I'm glad too since that means:
a) No fashion classes so no spending countless nights in the studio.
b) More time to focus on my french classes, which are taught IN french. (..eheh...>_>)
c) The possibility of free time means I could plausibly start some personal projects like ::gasp:: sew something for myself! (Cosplay anyone?)

I'm thinking of doing some Abingdon Boys School  (Or Abingdon Girls School...witty) cosplay for Katsucon, as well as some Venture Bros.

In other news:

Evangelion to be spun off into a Super Deformed (Chibi) comedy tv series!?!?

Yeah... random. (Then again the more I think about it, that little 5 minutes of comedy during the last episode was pretty good.)

Andrew's on his way to come and get me so I have no time, but I'm off to Otakon to see AAA, Mike Sinterniklaas and a bunch of other crazy awesome things. Also I'll be volunteering a little bit for Jrock Revolution/ S.K.I.N. online so come say hi!

See ya!!!

So back from California and still recovering from what was possibly the best vacation of my life. So much stuff to talk about, so I'll try to cover it all in no particular order:

Travelling with Clelie:
    I have to say that Clelie and I are extremely compatible travel buddies. It helps that for the most part we want to do the same things at the same time, but travel was really smooth. We flew from Richmond to Cincinnati (which by the way is in Kentucky...yeah, don't ask -_-) on a tiny plane, then from Cincinnati to L.A. in a huge one. The entire time we kept cracking jokes, listening to Jrock (and Fei Lun Hai, of course) with Clelie's earphone splitter, and generally annoying everyone around us. Good times. 

The Hotel/Little Tokyo:
    Staying at the Miyako was awesome, great choice by Sam. It was in Little Tokyo which meant that all of us Japanophiles were really happy to be surrounded with things like Boba Tea shops and Ramen resturants. All of our roommates were great. We especially bonded with Montana and Sam/Kyo (also Anya and Juliana!). I miss you guys already!!!! Shopping in Little Tokyo was ALOT of fun. We found a music/dvd/manga shop that had alot of old CDs for cheap (now I FINALLY have some more Dreams Come True!) but I think the biggest highlight was the Japanese Grocery store. Clelie and I stocked up on food candy and drinks soda/juice that were o-so-delicious due to 'advanced asian flavoring technologies'. I don't know what it is about Asian candy flavors but they are FAR superior to what we have here. (Plum wine icecream and Peach flavored Kit-Kat bar FTW) Also I finally found Pocari Sweat which I had been trying to find ever since J-camp (Japanese Governor's School)!

Jrock Revolution:
    Oh my gosh. Just... wow. Worth every penny!!!! I actually still have a hard time believing we actually went and had such an amazing experience. Part of what made it so great was the fact that all of the performers were excellent. Even the bands I didn't know that well before hand (Girugamesh, alice nine., and D'espairs Ray) put on unbelievable shows and have completely won me over. I FINALLY got to see Duel Jewel perform. Generally they performed a much 'harder' set than I thought they would considering their most recent singles (Azure and Aishuu Melancholia/Life On) were lighter. I think it helped them gain alot of new fans. 

There were some unexpectedly great performances too, such as
Not to mention...
Another part of the Jrock revolution experience was the long, long wait outside of the Wiltern. I have to say that we had some awesome line buddies both days. Though not everyone was there for the same band we were all really open and supportive to everyone and it made for a great time. Plus the spot we had in line on the first day put us on the side of the building where the bands were constantly coming and going. It was crazy.

Sunday and Monday:
    Sunday was a day of rest... almost. After shopping in Little Tokyo we went to the Jrock Extended party which featured the Japanese-American rock bands Artbeat and Keshiki. Both bands were really good.  It was a bit weird to be in such a small venue after two days of the Wiltern, but the entire event was well done and the music was fantastic. Clelie and I were right in front, rocking out and taking tons of pics. Keshiki gave the impression that they perhaps just formed recently, but I'll be on the lookout for them in the future. Artbeat is a great band and I hope they continue to gain popularity (which is especially  likely after marketing themselves to the jrock revolution crowd).

    Monday we went shopping in Little Tokyo (again) and then started to head to LAX when Takeshi offered to give us a ride. Then, after learning that our flight wasn't for another five hours, offered to take us all to Santa Monica. It was so amazing and I can't thank him enough, especially since because of him we actually got to see some of California instead of just the area around the Hotel and the Wiltern. California really is beautiful and I can honestly say I wouldn't mind living there. The Santa Monica beach and pier were gorgeous and I took lots of pics. All and all it was enough to spark an interest in coming back to California for vacation and a great way to end an amazing trip.

So in the end... Jrock revolution+ Great jrock fans/roomies +California  = Crazy Unbelievably Awesome

Finishing up things here at home. Double and triple checking everything before we head out to the airport. I almost can't believe we're really doing it. Anyway there's no time. Wish us luck, happy thoughts, prayers and whatever else you can! See ya next week! >_<!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I JUST finished watching. Crap man!



I missed the previews though, so if anyone wants to fill me in that'd be much appreciated.

In other news I'm still experiencing crazy periods of excitement everytime I remember that I'll be in California in a WEEK! In preparation I've been fangirling it up. Today I'll start making gifts (yeah that's right) for DJ. I figured when would I have the chance to do this again?? Also I'm trying to figure out what I'm going to wear for the Jrock after event since I don't dress even the least bit Jrock-ish.

School is OVER! And grades are in... all As wha? Seriously suprised. Now I've gotta re-learn french over the summer so that next semester doesn't knock that back down. Also this summer looks like I'll be living with three other girls in an apartment in DC. Sharing a bedroom (bah!) but living on my own and covering my own rent (750 a month!!). I'm excited (come visit me!).

P.S. antiTHESIS, the senior student fashion show was perhaps one of the best nights of my life. Pics will be up on myspace as soon as I can find the energy to resize them.