Brushstrokes

So, been a while, ne? Can't say I've been busy--more like simply lazy. Not much has been going on lately, so not much to post about. Until recently, that is.

I've been watching a lot of anime again, most of it with my sister. We've gone through the first 8 episodes of Baccano, the first 5 of Code Geass, and all of Haruhi Suzumiya. I like them all well enough, and I'm glad I finally got her to watch Haruhi with me; I knew she'd enjoy it. In fact, she liked it enough that she's considering cosplaying Haruhi herself to AZ next year. If we end up doing a Haruhi group, I'll probably go as Yuki ('cause she's my favorite), although Ryoko would be good as well, with the whole yandere-esque thing she has going on. Still, if one of us is going as Haruhi, I want the other to match better. Haruhi and Yuki make a more sensible pair than Haruhi and Ryoko.

Speaking of yandere, I also started watching the Shuffle anime, which holds IMO the best example of a yandere character in anime: boxcutter Kaede. So far its standard based-on-a-dating-sim fare, but I can already see evidence for Kaede going yandere, and I'm only on episode 6. Come to think of it, I might want to cosplay her as well--what can I say, I like the trope.

Apart from anime watching, my friend Heather is coming back from Arizona to stay with use for two weeks soon! I'm very excited about it; my sister is in fact counting down the days until she arrives. We even bought her presents! A Death the Kid figurine from Becca, and an Eighth Division armband from me, to match my Eleventh Division and Becca's Third Division armbands.

I finally broke out the Bleach fighting game I got for Christmas last weekend. Various circumstances had prevented me from being able to play it, such as the fact that my sister and I both got a Wii, and we weren't sure if she was going to keep hers or exchange it for an iPod, and I was thinking of taking mine back to the dorm after break was over, etc. But the point was, I finally got to play it--and I love it!! ^^

I had already claimed Momo and Aizen (my absolute favorite characters) in advance. Momo was par for the course in my fighting game character choice--I tend to gravitate to the smaller female characters, even though it only ends up being a pain for me, as those types are harder to win with, in my experience, and require more strategy and dexterity.

Of course, neither of them were available in the initial bunch, so guess who I ended up picking? Zaraki-taichou. xD

Yes, the big, hulking, Eleventh Division Captain. I have a fairly long history of liking the Eleventh (a strange thing, for someone like me), but there it is. I picked Taichou, and preceded to PWN wit him! >D Yesterday, I had a friend over, and he, my sister, and I played a few rounds of the Bleach game.

My friend, Daniel, who I have known for almost ten years (him and his brother, Brendan), played as Hitsugaya. My sister played as Yoruichi. I beat her both times we played, and him three out of five (he switched to Ichigo halfway through and, in true canon-style, beat me the last two rounds).

Still, it was fun. I felt very Eleventh, jumping up and down at the beginning of a fight, yelling and carrying on the entire time, and generally reveling in the battle. I think Taichou would be proud.

In other news, I succeeded in getting my sister into Hetalia. I've been wanting to cosplay Belarus for quite a while, and now that she and my friend Stacey both watch it, I might have a cosplay group forming. x'D One can only hope.

So...I'm out of school for the year! Passed all my finals, came away from it all with a B average, which is about standard for me. Got an A in my Poetry class though, w00t! I'm all signed up for next year's classes, too. Of course, now that the year is over, I'm not going to think about school at all until August! xD

Animazement was AWESOME, as usual. I think my favorite part was the Bleach photoshoot. I really enjoyed cosplaying as Momo; I'm definitely bringing her back next year. I might post a full entry about the rest of the weekend...might not, though; it's been a few weeks already. xD;; Ross really enjoyed himself, though, which I'm glad of. I wasn't certain if he would have fun, but he found his niche in the fandom and ended up making a ton of new friends and having a blast. ...Still have no idea about cosplay for next year, though, since the Soul Eater idea has been put on hold a year.

My sister's and my friend Heather will be coming up from Arizona to stay with us in a month. I'm sooo excited; we really missed her this year. We'll go to the Y, take a ton of pictures, stay up late every night, and finish watching Babylon 5 together! I'm super excited; can't wait for her to get here!

Speaking of sleep, my sleep schedule was pretty crazy until this week. I (having no job as of yet and little obligations of any other sort) usually stayed up at least until two in the morning, and woke up around noon or later. Sure, I was having a blast (and my likewise crazy friends approved xD) but my parents told me that I was going to start screwing myself once a got a job or school started, so I decided to amp down the craziness for the time being, and opt for a midnight curfew and an eleven a.m. alarm setting. It's worked out pretty well for now; although I've felt occasionally that I don't get everything done that day that I want to...

Speaking of getting things done, I recently downloaded the Katawa Shoujo OEL visual novel that a lot of people are talking about. It's a Bishoujo game with a twist: the game is set at a school for teens with disabilities, and the issue is handled surprisingly well, the girls not defined by their disabilities, not plauged by the usual bishoujo-genre cliches.

I completed all the routes yesterday, and ended up liking all of the girls, though Hanako (the painfully shy girl with bad burn scars) was my favorite. No surprise there, as dark-haired shy girls have always been my weak spot. However, I also surprisingly really liked Shizune (a meganekko Tsundere who is deaf/mute and enemies with Hanako and her only friend Lilly), something I did not expect at all. Her confidence/competitiveness/assertiveness won me over, though girls like her haven't really interested me in the past. I'll shut up about the game for now, but if you're a Bishoujo fan, I definitely suggest downloading the game.

In other news, my friend Stacey has invited me to Anime Weekend Atlanta. I'm very excited to go; it'll be my first time at a different convention than Animazement, and my fourth convention total. It'll also be my first time sharing a hotel room for a con, which means I either have to find a job before summer's over, or start being really frugal about my money. >>; Still, I'm very excited. I'm definitely bringing my Momo cosplay, as well as Naomi Misora to her Misa.

That's all for now. Hopefully I'll write up a full convention report, but...you never know... xD;;

So, I survived my first year at college. Passed all my final exams, and ended up with a 3.00 GPA for the year, which, while not as great as I would have liked, isn't too shabby.

The week before exams, my friends Stacey and Ross took me ice skating, which I've never done before. It was a little scary at first, but once I got the hang of it, found it pretty fun! ^^~ I'm hoping I can go again before school starts again, cause I enjoyed it a lot.

I'm going to be practicing driving again this summer, because I want to earn my license before school starts up again, and hopefully get a car so I can drive myself where I need to go. I also want to get a job; there's a local aquarium store I'm thinking of applying to, because I love fish. If I don't get accepted there, Hot Topic would be my next bet, because I shop there more than any other store, and I would fit right in working there.

Other than that, Animazement (the local con I go to) is this Memorial Day weekend! I'm so excited! I'm going with my sister like always, but this time Ross is coming as well, although he's not cosplaying. My sister and I, however, are and will be going as Gin and Momo (respectively) from Bleach, Deidara and Sasori from Naruto on Saturday, and I'm going as Naomi Misora on Sunday (don't know about my sister).

They moved to a bigger venue this year, which means that, among other things, the dealer's room is going to be EPIC. Since Ross has a car, we'll have more freedom and can stay as long as we want, instead of needing our parents to give us a ride back to our grandparents', where we're staying (and them refusing to get us after midnight on account of how late it is).

I'll be getting bangs for the cosplay this year, as both Momo and Naomi Misora have them (and I'll be wearing a wig as Sasori anyway), as well as touching up my black-dyed hair a week before the con, so it'll keep the blue-ish tint it gets right after dying. I want to look my best! ^^

Well, that's it for now. I'll hopefully post a con report after I get back.

So...it's been a while since I lasted posted, right? Yeah...that's what I thought. Just when I thought the coast was clear...LIFE attacked! I've basically got a week of classes and then exams, so right now I'm trying to edit my Poetry portfolio, study for my exams, get my regular classwork done, and finish up those last couple projects professors love to give their students right at the end of the year to torture them.

In other news, I've been hanging out a ton with my close friend Ross. He's a Business major, as opposed to my English-majoring self, and really hasn't liked his classes this semester, resulting in a lot of work piling up that he hasn't done. Right now he's trying to get everything together and pass the classes...or at least maintain a high enough GPA to stay in Queens.

I'm really worried that he might not make it. Unlike me, who pretty much has had a clear plan of where I want my life to go since middle school, Ross really doesn't know what to do with himself. He knows he wants to major in Business, if only because it's practical (his parents are the pragmatic sort who want him to have a career where he makes a good amount of money and a secure future) and once he's got his degree he'll be able to do pretty much anything he wants with it.

( Cut for personal stuff )

But first I have to survive exams here. The future can wait until I pass the semester.

And I hope Ross passes, too. I don't want to be apart from him any longer than I have to.

Rules:

1. People who have been tagged must write their answers on their blog and replace any question that they dislike with a new, original question.

2. Tag eight people. Don't refuse to do that. Don't tag who tagged you.
Don't have eight people, so here's the best I can:
janners_7
jessieheart
xleavemelonelyx

1. Make a list of 5 things you can see without getting up.
- Neuromancer (amazing book, by the way)
- Leftover M&Ms
- My headphones
- My alarm (which I forgot to set last night D:)
- My lamp

2. How do you style your hair?
I just brush it in the morning.

3. What are you wearing now?
My dark blue jeans, blue faerie T-shirt, Sweeney Todd hoodie, and black socks.

4. What do you want to be when you grow up?
A writer. :)

5. The best thing to happen of you as late?
Going to Hazmat!! W00t!!

6. What is one word you would use to describe yourself?
Awesome. ;D

7. What's your current fandom/obsession/addiction?
Soul Eater!

8. What's the last thing you ate today?
Lion’s Den spicy chicken sandwich.

9. What calms you?
Music, reading, venting to someone understanding.

10. Where do you want to go on vacation?
Japan, Europe, Alaska

11. What's the last thing you bought?
Sunkist and M&Ms.

12. What are you listening to now?
A new fanmix I downloaded.

13. What do you think about before you go to bed?
What I have to remember to get done tomorrow

14. What was the last CD(s) you "bought"?
MSI’s You’ll Rebel to Anything

15. What is your favorite weather and why?
Sunny, bright blue sky, a light wind.

16. If you could play any musical instrument, which one would you play?
Violin or Guitar

17. Anything exciting as of late?
Chorus concert Sunday.

18. What's the last thing you watched on TV?
The Colbert Report.

19. What’s the one thing you wish people would stop saying to you?
I dunno...I can’t really think of anything. :/

01) Do you like this character?
Fuck yeah. There's a reason I'm cosplaying her this May!

02) What name/s do you call this character?
Momo, Momo-chan, etc.

03) What image/color do you associate with the character?
Color would be purple...image would be...Aizen? Fffft, lolz.

04) What image-song do you associate with this character?
#1 Crush by Garbage.

05) What blood-type do you think this character is?
I think she's O--I hope so, as that's mine, too. ^^

06) Of all of the titles that this character appears in, what character do you like to put this character with?
Aizen! Aizen! Aizen! Aizen! Aizen!

07) What would you want to say to this character?
Aizen loves youuuu!! Hang in there and do what you think is right!

08) What do you want to do with this character:
Just...give her a hug; the girl's been through so much...!

If anyone else wants to do this meme, comment and I'll give you a character!

Hazmat ROCKED. Stacey couldn't go, actually, so I went with Ross. He and I were dressed rather plainly, by comparison (I felt sooo underdressed; it further underscored my need for decent Goth clothing. NOW), him in a plain black shirt, camo pants, and combat boots; me in my strapless purple corset, black pants, my black lace-up platform boots, fishnet armsocks and fingerless gloves. I had my hair down, (it's black right now, and I've grown it out so it almost reaches the small of my back.

But compared to everyone else....Man, there were so many awesomely-dressed people there. I saw a ton of CyberGoth chicks there, including a girl who had armsocks that were tight at the elbow, loose at the wrist, black and had glowing green replications of computer interfaces on them, (WANT. NOW.) another girl who had made skeletal fans out of metal and glowsticks, and of course a million different variations of the CyberGoth hairstyle, which looks awesome regardless.

I spent most of the 3+ hours I was there dancing, (I was so sweaty when I got back...and probably smelled like clove cigarettes, which everyone seemed to be smoking), and the music ROCKED. When we first went out on the dance floor, the music was playing so loud I could feel it reverberating through my blood; I had trouble standing! And they had a great light system set up; multicolored lights, strobes, the works.

So, that was the best thing to happen to me in weeks. I finally felt like I was among my own kind again, a feeling I had missed since coming to college. As much as I love the school and my friends, most of the student body are mindless sheep who like getting drunk and gossiping. Individuality isn't celebrated here. But actually going to something like Hazmat, meeting awesome people, dancing til I was drenched in sweat, and then driving back at two in the morning with my mix CD blasting out the open windows...it was a joy and a release, all in one.

I had to get up reasonably early on Saturday, because I was going to see Watchmen with my family. I really enjoyed the movie, (and that's all I'm going to say about it, because the fandom can be a bit...judgmental...at times) and definitely want to check out the comic book.

I also started a new book (having finished the previous one on Thursday), so I picked up Neuromancer, which is considered the seminal cyberpunk novel, and I'm now fifty pages in and IN LOVE. The plot is great, the characters awesome, the mood perfect, the story itself gripping, and the writing itself is nothing short of high-tech poetry. If I ever write any cyberpunk-inspired prose, I want to be able to write it even half as fitting and well.

Today I also downloaded a couple fanmixes (both John/Cameron from The Sarah Connor Chronicles) which I am playing now. They both have a great selection, and a perfect cyber/industrial tone for the pairing and the series.

So...yeah, I'm kind of on a Cyber-craze right now. I'm even thinking of changing my avatar on Gaia to match the look of the culture.

I have a ton of other things to say, but this post is long enough as it is. So I'll leave you with my little love-letter to cyber culture and check back in later. :D

I think I did well on my History exam...whether it will be enough to bump my grade up to the A I want is another matter...right now I'm sitting on a 87.5 or something. I'm really enjoying that class, though some of the things we cover I like more than others. My professor noted that I'm most interested in intellectual history, which is definitely true. That's also the reason I'm not going to be minoring in History.

I'm really ready for school to be over, but I've got another whole month or so, then finals. I really want to sign up for classes next semester, and I'm already looking forward to book buybacks--my funds are tighter than I would like. :/

Tomorrow me and Stacey are going to an Industrial Rave-type thing. I'm totally excited! It's like a first cousin once removed from a Goth club; something I've always wanted to go to. I'm already planning what I'm going to wear. I wish I had more interesting pants...I need a pair of bondage pants in purple to complete the outfit I have picked out. ;_;

I'm glad tomorrow's Friday...is it possible to have freshmanitis? Cause I totally don't want to do any schoolwork...or go to class...or write essays or do group projects. The only class I really like exerting myself in is Poetry...and that seems to be getting harder now that we've started writing in strict form.

I submitted three pieces to my school's creative writing contest. I doubt I'll win anything, but at the same time I'm hoping I do. $75 would be nice right about now...

Well, I guess that's all for tonight. Next entry should be less whiny. ^^;;

Yeah, I should prolly be writing my sonnet (about insomnia! :D) or studying for my History exam on Wednesday, but I'm not, so...lolz.

Ross came over Saturday afternoon, and hung out until, like, midnight. He drove us down to the outdoor mall-ish place, where we had sushi and milkshakes (not at the same time, though. That would be a little...strange) then we went and got coffee, came back to my house for dinner, then played video games (DDR, Soul Caliber 3, Katamari) until he had to go. It was super fun, and we got the Animazement stuff figured out...except for cosplay. ):

The rest of the weekend passed very lazily. I hung out with my sister, worked on my story (which is still nameless) a little, and did my homework for today.

I'm on episode 49 of Soul Eater. I'm super, super glad Mifune didn't die in the anime...! Also, it should give my sister a bigger kick in the gut once she finally reads the manga *is mean*. I can't believe the anime is almost over...I have no clue when the manga is going to end!

Well, I need to write the final two lines of my sonnet and then go to my History study session, so until later! :D

So~...it's been a while since I last posted anything decent-sized here...so here we go!

I finally succeeded in getting my sister into Soul Eater. I've tried my hardest to keep spoilers from her, especially about Chrona, but hints about my OTP (Maka/Chrona) may clue her in as she watches further. ^^;; She's watching the anime first, because it was harder to get into the manga for her. She's around episode 10, I think. Of course, her favorite is Stein...she really wants to cosplay Maka.

I'm finally catching up on the anime. Just watched episode 45 (which was amazing and intense as all get out) and was SO glad my roommate was gone, because I was sobbing and gasping and screaming at the screen the whole time. Love that episode!

I'm participating in a student's psych study for extra credit in psychology. I have to memorize a list of words and recall them over a period of five days. My second meeting is today.

I've found a really awesome FST for Buffy. It's HUGE, and has a ton of music that is right up my alley but I've never heard before, so that's playing now. There's a ton of CDs I want, but I'm totally broke! D:

The reason I'm broke, of course, is that I gave in and bought a Hinata cosplay outfit to wear to Animazement in May. After recent developments in the manga, I really wanted to cosplay her this year (she's always been my favorite), so I'm excited to actually be doing it! :D

Next year I'm definitely going to be putting a Soul Eater group together. Tentative plans are me as Stein (or Chrona), my sis as Maka, my ex-bf (and close friend) Ross as DtK or Spirit, and my best friend Stacey as Marie or Medusa.

I can't wait until this weekend. Ross is coming over, series finale of BSG (:O), and hopfully finalized plans between my friends for Animazement this year!

Me and a couple friends went and got freezies at two in the morning on Monday. Mine was cherry-flavored. :3

I have a test today in Psychology. I think I'm going to do well.

I refuse to believe it about Hinata!!

That is all.

( Cut for spoilers and me suddenly caring about the Naruto series again )

School is tough.

Life is tough (sometimes).

Friends are awesome.

3+ hours of homework is not.

Yay college! -___-

I now have a hundred icon spaces. :D

I recently (read: Sunday) got into Soul Eater. I had insomnia that night, and had been hearing good things about the series, so I read the manga through in basically one go.

Yeah, Stein is my favorite character. Damn if he isn't amazingly sexy. I also like Chrona (who I can relate to a little), Death the Kid (I think my sister will like him), and Mifune (I love samurai characters!!).

Right now I'm working my way through the anime. The opening theme is awesome, btw.

Yes this post has no relevance, but I wanted to get something up here to replace the emo-fest I previously posted (which no one responded to, thank goodness!).

Also, I've been listening to Love Me Dead by Ludo on repeat for over three days. I love that song!

OMFG, a new BSG episode tonight!!

I can't waaaait!! xD

You know, five (plus?) years later, and Rurouni Kenshin is still the SHIZ.

My mom got season two of the anime for Christmas and we finished it the day before I head back to college.

Aoshi and Misao skill rock. So does Yahiko!

In the tradition of all things Internet-related (for me, at least), this is two days late. :P

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Graduated from high school, started college, learned to drive, got a boyfriend.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
2008: To be more open about my feelings and become more independent. Yes, I think I did keep those, in the most part.
2009: Keep in touch with friends and try not to let things get to me as much.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thank goodness.

5. What countries did you visit?
…Uh, none? xD;

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Greater skill as a writer, but more so my inspiration back. Other than that…more confidence in myself? As always… ^^;

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
May 23-25, July 19, November 4, November 7

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Probably graduating high school. ^^;;

9. What was your biggest failure?
Probably something in the social department; goodness knows I have enough problems there.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I seem to suffer a rather persistent cough most of the year…

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My laptop Kenpachi or my camera…or my Wii.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
ALL MY FRIENDS, both high school and college. I love you all so much for actually putting up with me on a regular basis.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
A few people, who I do not think deserve recognition.

14. Where did most of your money go?
The usual places: anime-related things, music, clothes.

15. What are you really, really, really excited about?
Going back to school! Going to Animazement with my friends!

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Can’t really think of one. I don’t tend to relate songs to my life. xP

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? About the same, I guess.
b) thinner or fatter? Thinner.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Hung out with friends, written.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worry. :/

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
With my family at home.

21. What was your favorite month of 2008?
May! Animazement, Lit Mag, end of school!

22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
No…

23. How many one-night stands?
No thanks. xP

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Avatar!

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Yeah…will not mention who, though.

26. What was the best book you read?
Sword at Sunset.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I can’t name all the cool songs/bands I’ve found, especially recently. :D

28. What did you want and get?
A new camera, a new computer, a Wii, a bunch of other material things.

29. What did you want and not get?
Can’t really think of anything big. ^^

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Prolly Hellboy II. TDK was good, but I was never as awed and amazed asmost people.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 18, and just had a quiet little celebration with my family.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Probably keeping in better touch with my high school friends after I graduated.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Gothic. ;P

34. What kept you sane?
MUSIC.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Hmm…Johnny Depp is pretty awesome, but Voltaire is the shiz.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Gay rights, as always.

37. Who did you miss?
A whole lot of people… D:

38. Who was the best new person you met?
STACEY, ROSS, ARINA!

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
“Don’t let go of the ones close to you.”

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Hrm…not coming up with one here, either. >>;

I wish it was Monday!

Then I would be done with school and would be able to chill all I wanted...!

Sadly, first I have to finish that creative writing portfolio. Just my short story left; that's it...

*Works hard*