Friday, August 22, 2003
Well this has been an 'exciting' day... :S Least I can say I know all the hiragana now... in fact, it looks, and feels, kinda odd to be writing in english right now (not that I knew most of what I was practicing, but there we go ;) ). Started practicing at about noon, took a couple of breaks with anime and meals, and just stopped at 9:15. It wasn't supposed to be that late, but I got a little carried away. ;)
I've come up with a neat idea for practice. Writing out the lyrics of songs into hiragana from romanji. I also have a program that writes Japanese properly, so I can then type up with lyrics and compare it to check I got it right (and to practice reading). I made more mistakes with poor typing than with the writing. ;) It's been a while since I've used a pen. Felt quite odd. ;)
I'm going to keep at the hiragana practice for the next week or two before I start onto katakana. I'll just get confused and mixed up if I rush it and I will ruin what I've learnt so far. Considering I've only managed to write out 2 songs all day, I think I'm going to need a lot of practice to speed myself up somewhat. ;)
Considering I haven't done anything else, there isn't anything else to say... except my head is killing me but it's what I get for concentrating so hard. I would be so stubborn as to get bogged down in intellectual stuff. It's always what I've done best. And it feels so good too! I've missed it! :D
Well, I guess I could talk about anime. Watched the last 3 episodes of the 2nd Fruits Basket DVD. Li-chan forgot to take the... ::snaps fingers:: Oh yeah, I never did mention where I was yesterday! Saku's birthday meal-thingy. Technically her birthday is on Monday (but 1: that's when college starts, and 2: Thursday was the closed day that suited most ppl). We ate, and I tried to play stuff on the piano (beyond the theme to Red Dwarf and The Entertainer [sort of], I'm useless. So much for the years of my life spent learning that bloody thing!), mucking around with The Sims (I got to see Death again. I really must be a curse... or certainly 'unlucky' when it comes to that game. Everytime I watch someone play it, someone dies. ::sweatdrop:: Not my fault. I don't mean to... :S ), driving the cat insane, fights over my gun-stick... that's all that comes to mind. ;) But anyway, I took a couple of DVDs to give back to Li-chan, but oh dear, she forgot to take them. I guess I'll just have to take care of 'em for a little while longer. ::holds tightly to the 1st Fruits Basket DVD:: Mwahahahahaha!!! >D
I got some more Stellvia of the Universe as well today. I really really like that series. Well, I would considering the astronomical side to it. Wai wai wai! Stars! Space! Planets! Ships! BIG catastrophies! >D I gotta adore that! Can't wait for more. Got to wait for Rice-box to release more, and probably there hasn't even been any more shown on TV yet.... aaaahhhhhh!!! THE SUSPENSE!!! ... deja vu... oh yeah, my Star Wars fic! I was such a crap writer when I wrote that, but it didn't make it any less funny. That's the great thing when you mock everything that makes up a story. Nothing gets taken seriously! ;D
I'm off to Memorabilia tomorrow... can I spell? I don't think so... But anyway: sci-fi! ANIME! WEAPONS! >D Plus Craig Charles and Chris Barrie are gonna be there! Hee hee! Coolies! (where did I pick that word up from?) I'll most likely be too cheap to actually pay for an autograph, but that doesn't prevent me from being in awe from a distance. ;) Hmmm... I wonder how much money I should take with me, cos the chances are I won't have anything when I come home... yet... still... I'm due £20 pocket money, and I already have about 20 quid in my wallet... that... 'might'... be enough... on the other hand... Ah, taking £50 out of my bank account. I can always put it back in if I don't spend it, and just to make sure I don't miss some great sale just cos I'm a few quid short... But I... I don't... but then... ::groans:: I loathe spending money! :S ...oh yeah, and I haven't even got anything for Saku yet... aaahhhhhh I'm getting money out the bank!
::glares at download:: I demand more Onegai Twins! Hurry up! ... I enjoy that show. Ecchi humour, complete with aliens (in there somewhere)! What more can I ask for? ... I enjoy being a pervert! Leave me be! :P I've also downloaded more Now and Then, Here and There for me to watch. This time high quality (cos Streamload was giving me those evil errors again) so I'll get to see everything so very clearly! Wow! :D ... ::kicks download:: 12 minutes? Gah! And I closed another download to get you moving faster! You don't even have a speed limit anymore! Move your blasted digitised ass! I'll start the other one up again! Don't think I won't! ... ::gets very strange looks:: See, this is what happens all day when no one is around! :P
Oh, I'm off to get some supper. Maybe when I come back, it'll be behaving somewhat better. I'll skuttle off for now. Mata ne!
Xilmin visited the elves at 09:52 p.m.
Wednesday, August 20, 2003
Ayame-san! Aya! SUTEKI!!! I want his episodes on DVD!!! But for now, I'll just listen repeatedly to him on the drama CD I downloaded. His voice is even better in that! Koyasu Takehito! Sugoi desu! That'll be even more fun that any other song I could listen to. ::goes all faint:: I can't wait 'til I can understand everything he says! ::sweatdrop::
Been watching more Fruits Basket DVD. Just 3 more episodes. Made me cry again! Oi oi! Have to hand it to the director to get tears outta me! ;) And now I want to watch the dawn... but there is no way I'm getting out of bed early enough for that... plus, I'm tired. I want sleep, so I ain't staying up that late either... ::sniff:: I'll do it some time. Maybe this New Year (since I never did it last time, even though I wanted to :( )
Gotta stop listening to Ayame's track on this thing. It's not fair. Aya talks the most, but I understand the others better. He's just as bad as Shigure! How come the best characters talk the fastest? :( ... although I do catch on when he tries to speak english. Should I ask why he's going on about a 'happening scene'? Ah, I understood that bit. "Kimitachi wa baka da!" Yuki & Kyou: "Baka wa omae da!" ::sniff:: They're always so cruel to my Aya! ... ok ok, this is the last time I'm listening to it! I promise! I'll just listen to the Fruits Basket soundtrack instead. It may not be the same, but I think I've imprinted his voice on my mind by now anyway. Woohoo! :D
Learnt some more Hiragana... I think anyway. I've not tested myself since I was learning this morning, so I don't know how much sunk in. But I was praticing, and I only forgot one and I can remember that one in my head just now, so I think I'm doing not too badly. I've just got to get it in my head that 'ga' comes from 'ka', 'gi' comes from 'ki' and 'da' comes from 'ta' and 'ba' and 'pa' comes from 'ha', etc. But I'll catch on eventually if I just keep practicing. I'm too determined to give up on this. ;)
That's where the morning and early afternoon went. Hmmm... let's see... what else have I done today? I know I walked the dog. Was attacking random branches with my stick. Was feeling in a slashing mood, bouncing around the woods and trying to sing the ending song to Ultra Maniac, even when I don't know most of the lyrics. ;)
But my head has been hurting more than usual today, and I'm feeling kinda tired, even if I am kinda hyper. I remember playing Mahjong for ages again. I tried out a couple other games, but one bored me, and the other crashed my computer, so I stuck with Mahjong. :S Actually Compy has been crashing a lot today. Playing games, trying to watch the DVD... ::snaps fingers:: oh yeah, and I was working on the Ryusuke 'me' pic as well (why must Compy be so stubborn with Photoshop?). I think I've actually completed it to a satisfactory level. Hold on. Now I've had a little break from working on it, I'll look at it again and see if I see any new bits to work on... ::checks:: Well it's not as good as I would have liked, especially considering how much time I've spent on it, but it's not bad. I can't do any better than that anyway, so it'll have to do... oh wait, I missed the shadow behind some hair on one side! I'll need to fix that! Well, there had to be something. ;)
And so my day has passed. Nothing else to say. I'm off to enjoy more anime and get some grub (need food! so hungry). Sayonara!
Xilmin visited the elves at 09:37 p.m.
Tuesday, August 19, 2003
I'm learning hiragana!!! Successfully!!! I know 25 of 'em! ... ok, technically 10 of those are just variants of 10 others, but thinking like that will destroy my sense of achievement! :P Spent 3 or so hours working on that. I can actually read some words now. I'm really chuffed. It's a lot easier to memorise them when I know how to write them off the top of my head instead of just trying to recognise them. I'm even making sure I do the strokes in the right order. Hee hee. Working off of this site: Teach Yourself Japanese. I think it's really good. Even gives you practice words to read after each lot of new letters. So you learn vocabulary at the same time! :D
I want to try some of this stuff: Energy Gum! Caffeinated chewing gum sounds a great idea! Plus it's sugar free, so my parents can't complain. Ok, there ain't a chance in hell I'm spending money on this stuff, but still I want some! ;) I would be seriously hyper after something like that! Woo! Think of all the havoc I could cause then! >D ...that isn't going to encourage anyone to buy it for me... oh well... I'll just imagine! ;)
I settled down to watch some of the 1st Fruits Basket DVD LI-chan let me borrow and I ended up watching every single thing on it. And I mean everything (all except the DBZ movie trailer, just cos I want nothing to do with that)! Discovered that it had the 'making of' special that I had downloaded (but never actually watched all of). Considering the fansub version I had cut off half way through and the other version was raw, neither of them were any good. But I feel fulfilled now I've seen it and actually understood it! ;) I guess I can give that DVD back now... ::glomps it:: Well, I always have the fansub episodes if I get really desperate at some point in the future. ;) And I've still got the 2nd DVD to enjoy yet! >D
What with the hiragana and the Fruits Basket, there went my day. It's amazing how long I can spend doing one thing and now realise it... which probably is why I spend so much time rambling here too. :S But I did make a horrible discovery today: Anime-Kraze are dropping Gundam Seed! NOOOOOO!!! Just when I relaxed, thinking I would be able to keep downloading it! Apparently someone from Bandai got in contact with them! ::cries:: No fair! Cos I point blank refuse to download AnimeJunkies subs, even if they have got further than any other group! I suppose I could buy it when it comes out on DVD... HA! HA HA HA!!! Yeah right! ::sigh:: Why must I be so incessantly cheap? But then again... I think Gundam Seed is the best Gundam series ever produces (not that I've seen to much of many of the less popular ones, but I do have at least the 1st episode of a number of them and that's enough to tell). Seed got me hooked right from the beginning. Plus with all the fantastic seiyuu, how could I not want more? All it's missing is Okiayu Ryoutarou, but it's got almost everyone else there: Hoshi Souichirou, Ishida Akira, Koyasu Takehito, Seki Tomokazu, Seki Toshihiko! Sugoi desu! Ok... taking that into consideration, I probably will buy it. Why must I get so hooked on voices? Cos they sound soooo-oooo-oooooo... ::runs out of words and just ends drooling::
I'm getting really interested in this Now and Then, Here and There. It certainly wasn't what I was expecting. Been a while since I've seen a true serious series. NTHT seems to me to get the reactions of characters more realistically than most would. Well, Shuu's is somewhat light-hearted, the way he looks at things, expecially considering how many times he's been beaten to a bloody pulp! But he's probably had some brain cells knocked out at the time or something. That's my explanation anyway. I want to write a story with a similar plot to this some day. Certainly something that catches you so well and delves deep into... stuff... but I think I'll need to work on my vocabulary for that to work first. ;) But the really great thing about NTHT that I'm getting, it's small so I don't have to wait days to get more episodes. I don't care about quality that much when it comes to something like this. As long as I can see what's going on and can read the subtitles, that's what matters. This might be another series I contemplate getting on DVD. Supposedly it's been licensed. Hmmm... maybe... just maybe... when I'm in the mood to part with my money that is. ;)
I'm in the mood to watch Konjiki no Gash Bell. Finally downloaded more of that. Such a weird anime... then again, anime does tend to be weird... but still... doll-like boy/child/thingy that keeps insisting on appearing naked... ::refrains from making any comments:: ... wait, why do I want to watch this again? ... oh yeah, the fights. Spells and demons and what-not, set in high school (as usual ;) ). Fun! :D So I'm outta here for that! Ja!
Xilmin visited the elves at 09:18 p.m.
Monday, August 18, 2003
Whatever was keeping me hyper and energetic has run out. All that's left is pain! ::grumble grumble grumble cringe:: Tried to go on a cycle ride today. Wasn't that successful. :S I blame the wind! ... even although I wasn't going much better when I started for home again... :S I think I'll stick to walking the dog until I'm hyper again. :(
Spent a lot of time browsing round the net. I tried to watch more Naruto, but it's just as screwed up as ever! First the entire screen was green with just black where the outlines were. I fixed that by uninstalling every single codec I have, and installing the important ones. Of course, this removed all settings I had, so even although I'm sure I fixed the lagging that Naruto ends up with, I don't know how I did it and I can't seem to get it around it again. Nearly completely screwed up my entire PC in the process, so I'm just going to have to put up with the crappiness. >(
I tried today to learn some Hiragana. Don't know why I suddenly decided to aim for that, but there we go. I actually still remembered a couple of letters from ages ago when I was trying to learn it. I think I may even have learned more... however most of the time I think I was just getting lucky with my guesses. :S I need some way to make it easy to learn! There was a site that might have been good, but I broke it. :S I do wanna learn though. I just don't know how to go about it. :(
It's finally dawned on me that I have seriously lost weight. Yay! If it weren't for my sticky-outty bones, my jeans would never stay up any more! ;) I might even be able to fit into a size 12 again! :D That's what I get when I refuse to eat! ;) I can be so cruel to myself. But the way I see it, if I'm not starving to death, there is no reason to eat excess food. I never snack, not unless I really think I deserve it... ain't I just a barrel of fun with food? :S
Got Excel Saga OST I!!! It's fantastic! But there is one track that is seriously bugging me. I know the music, but I don't know where else I've heard it before. I'm sure I've heard it with lyrics at some point. It might even have been in english. On the other hand, it might just have been a different version that I heard on anime radio ages ago. But still, I wanna know. I really like it! "Sokomade hisanni narunante iwanakettayan"... but I searched for that and I didn't get anywhere. ::sniff:: I'm so confused! Wanna know! :S
Not really anything else to say. I think I'll go watch more Gundam Seed. Really getting into it and Anime-Kraze seem to be releasing new episodes daily! Hee hee! Sugoi! :D Plus, I need to go relax and nurse my head (or rather try to negotiate with it, then curse at it when it does work... just like usual :S ). Ja!
Xilmin visited the elves at 08:13 p.m.
Sunday, August 17, 2003
I'm in such a 'bouncy' mood. I can barely sit still and I haven't stopped grinning all day that I'm aware of... well... while I was at the police station but I can't grin like a lunatic there. I would seem suspicious! ;) I blame Excel Saga! I blame Okiayu Ryoutarou! It's just so good! >D
To blogging: Was at the identity parade today. The actual thing didn't even take a whole minute, just the waiting for them to get ready. The police were all blaming the guy's lawyer. Amazingly I actually recognised the guy. He was fatter than I remembered... ::sweatdrop:: As you can see, I'm taking this ever so seriously! ;) I was also amused by the fact a guy from school was there. I wasn't sure if it was him, but when I saw the extras from the ID parade walk out, he waved at me! Quite scary! I'm remembered! :S
The police taunted me as well! They asked me to sign these card things cos they had forgotten when I gave them the clothes I was wearing at the time. They were in bags within my reach! Then the woman says "Ok, that's everything. Thanks for coming" and takes them away! Nooooo!!! My short shorts! ::cries:: So cruel! I was very tempted to leap over the desk and grab them off of her, but I recalled that this was a police station and I would barely get out the door before they stopped me. :'(
Watched the other episodes of Excel Saga today! Hee hee. Pissed me off though when they had the 'women only' episode! ::pouts:: Least I could still hear Okiayu Ryoutarou even if he barely had a part. :') Need to go through all the extras now. And I'm going to go through all the episodes again and read the little bubble thingys that give info on various things like japanese usage. I'm going to torture myself by listening to the dub while I do so (well, otherwise I'd never be able to keep up with all the words on screen. but still... the horror... and extreme lack of Okiayu Ryoutarou! :S )
Later this afternoon I bounced down to Pan's, pointing my gun-stick at random things I passed, trying to refrain from attacking the children. Ended up watching Endless Waltz in japanese. Well... some of it anyway... I was somewhat distracted by the Gravitation manga Li-chan has (Ok, I've read it before on the net, but that was ages ago). Speaking of which, I have downloaded more of that recently, but I never have read any. In fact, I have several mangas waiting to be read. Speaking of which, I should check if there are more to be downloaded before they disappear. I really shouldn't continue to download this stuff when I don't actually look at it... but I'm not that smart. ;) ... ::gasp:: This site has the Gravitation OVA OST! I probably have most, if not all, of the tracks, but still! It's worth getting! ;) ... ::another deep breath:: Oh, Excel Saga OST I! That's definitely worth getting at some point! Ah, and the Utena soundtracks. I think I'll like those. ::tries to gasp again, runs out of air and practically dies:: Yami no Matsuei OST I & II!!! AAAAHHH! And more Gravitation music! I don't have some of these! ::big shock:: ... and Weiss Kreuz music! SUGOI DESU! No wonder I bookmarked this page. Need to remember to download these when I'm not killing the bandwidth at some point... well, that's unlikely to happen, but I can try and remember. :S
Anyway, wasn't at Pan's for long. Dinner called. ;) So I bounced my way back up the street, pointing my gun-stick at everyone I meet... I'm rhyming... that can't be a good sign. But I really need to get myself a K-suit at some point, complete with gun-holsters. There is somewhere I can get one in Glasgow... but I don't know where. ::cries:: Hmmm... I wonder what else there is... Also need to get my hands on a guy's japanese school uniform, not to mention a samurai outfit. ::sigh:: I'm only interested in clothes shopping if it involves cross-dressing! ::laughs her head off:: Oh well, it's to be expected really! ;)
My mum is getting all panicky (as to be expected with her) so she's going to get someone from some organisation to phone the house tomorrow to talk about what sorts of things there are to protect one's self with. I'm not interested in those hooter thingys. And I'm only interested in pepper spray if it comes in a water gun! ;) What I hope I can get my hands on is one of those stun guns! I think those are safe enough to be legal! ::looks up some info:: Oh, they can come with holsters too! Hee hee! Sugoi! Oh oh oh! Stun batons! They sound even funner! >D ... I'm getting too into this idea! :S
One last thing I never mentioned but meant to: I broke my sunglasses! I can't believe I forgot yesterday! ... probably was trying to ignore the fact. :S What am I without them? I feel so naked without them! It's not right! ::cries:: Not fair! Hopefully they can be fixed, or maybe my parents will buy me a new pair... well, I'm no payin'! :P If they don't, I may need to improvise to fix it. Ah, memories of 'improvisation' and 'fixing things'... sometimes it even worked! ;) If only it hadn't broken where it had. Otherwise I would have amused myself with celletape around the middle bar thingy. Can I help it if I'm proud of being a geek? ;)
Ok, I'm done, I'm done! I'm going to watch some downloaded anime for now. More GetBackers. And I need to decide if I'll watch Gundam Seed (which Anime-Kraze are going to continue subbing! Woohoo! :D ), Naruto (finally Toriyama World subbed more) or Now and Then, Here and There (cos I'm really intrigued with it). Tough choice, but I'll leave and work it out for my own. No need to type it. I'll just talk to myself instead. ;) Should get out the habit of that but... nah! :P Mata ne!
Xilmin visited the elves at 09:17 p.m.
