Some events did transpire over the last 5 months (good God, I'd hope in that amount of time something would happen). Y'know... in case you're interested in the update. No need to grab a beer or snacks or anything - it's nothing THAT earthshaking-ly interesting.
December - I purchased that computer I ranted on and on about in my previous post. I just HAD to have it because I was in fear of running out of HD space on my external and I'd have nowhere to put my anime/music/yaoi. Ironically, I bought the damned thing and I think I've downloaded 10 episodes of anime, 20 songs, and 100 or so yaoi pics. Plus, I've hardly logged any hours on it compared to the time I'd spent on the laptop previously. Regardless, I now have this fabulous HD monitor and more space than I know what to do with (for the time being).
Christmas was calm. I got the programming books I'd asked for with the intention of enrolling in a CSS and XHTML course in March. I never did enroll in the class, but more about that later. And that's all I've got to say about Christmas and December.
January - Fairly slow month with the exception that I booked a trip to San Francisco in July. No parents. No friends. Just little ol' me! I figure by going alone I can actually accomplish most of what I want to do with little frustration. Oh, and I ordered and received my Shiki and Akira Togainu no Chi figures that I'd be searching months for. Now I need to grab the ones with them in their military uniforms. *nosebleed* Anyway...
February - I doubled my family. Yes, on a totally compulsive move I added a 10 week old rat terrier puppy to the household. This did not - and STILL does not - sit well with the now 12 year old rattie (HAPPY BIRTHDAY INDY!) that I already own but I knew I had to have something else in place when the time comes that she heads towards the light. Here, let me be the annoying parent and show you a few pics of my kids:
Mar... okay, now this is getting stupid. Just update like a sane person already!
I hit 38 this year and bought myself a couple new pairs of Rocket Dogs to celebrate. Also, I've decided that for my 40th birthday I'm going to spend it in Baltimore and have Charm City Cakes (Ace of Cakes, if you're into the Food Channel at all) make my birthday cake. Yeah, it may be pricey but a girl is obligated to have at least one fancy, overpriced, memorable cake in her lifetime and I ain't getting married, so...
After I get back from San Francisco in July I will be enrolling in that CSS and XHTML class I'd mentioned earlier. I couldn't do it back in March because Spencer was consuming all of my time (and attention). It's only just recently that I've been able to sit at the computer without him demanding to sit on my lap so by July I should be able to code with little to no interruptions. One of these days I'd like to get back to web design and I can't do it with the archaic knowledge I have now. Actually, I'd like to get back into it well enough to make a little side income on my own or with some company.
On the gaming front I broke down and purchased a PSP if only because Final Fantasy: Crisis Core was being released. Loved the game, by the way, but it was far too short and I accidentally beat the boss without realizing it (don't ask). Oh, and Lazard was absolutely worth the price of both the game AND the PSP. But anyway...
I was supposed to do the midnight release of MGS4 with my cousin next month but my parents planned a vacation and assumed I'd be free that week to watch all the dogs. It sucks because midnight releases are always so... bizarre? Ah well, you can't win 'em all.
So yeah, that's about it. Nothing spectacular but it's damned good to be back!
Yeah, so we found out at work today that we earned our huge bonus for racking up a million and a half in new commissions for 2007. It wasn't enough that we'd already received a rather generous Christmas bonus (earmarked for 6-month car insurance payment) or a ginormous turkey for Thanksgiving, but now we get this chunk of change just for doing our jobs.
So, as I'd promised myself, I'll be purchasing a new compy to replace my laptop. I managed to talk myself out of the beast that I'd initially wanted simply because... well, because I really didn't need overclocked this and overclocked that - I just need something faster with more memory and enough HD space that I don't start twitching when I start a batch load of torrents. Constantly teetering between 5 and 2 gigs of space is no fun despite the fact that I immediately pull them from the main HD and transfer them to the external. Which brings me to another fantastic part of the new compy: ginormous external HDs!! Why they can't make bigger HDs for laptops I'll never understand but having a desktop again means I can really chunk up on the storage space.
Yeah, so I'll be shopping around between now and Christmas hoping that some fantastic deals start popping up. With any luck I'll have a nice chunk of change left over to put away for a trip to San Francisco this summer.
On the anime homefront - Not much to say. Of the new series that I'd intended to watch I'm only following a few with a higher than average interest: Gundam 00, Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro, Minami-ke, Ghost Hound, and Kimi-kiss ~ pure rouge. Clannad and Myself; Yourself I'll watch, but I'm not dying for the next episodes any longer. Pretty much everything else needs to be put "on hold" but I can't be arsed to do it just yet.
Shigurui is still the next best thing to sliced bread as far as I'm concerned. Once the series is complete I'm definitely going to have to spend a day watching it from beginning to end. *sighs* It makes me pine for my days in college when I studied East Asian history.
Oh, and the Odin Sphere OST is phenomenal. If you're into gaming music I highly recommend it. ^^
Ugh... I really need to adjust my standards regarding gamers. Why I assumed that there'd be a mess of single, professional, well-adjusted male gamers (my age) at a midnight release of Halo 3 is beyond me. I reckon it's the whole "hope springs eternal" mindset I have in these types of situations.
Still, you can't tell me that those types don't exist - they're just not whacked-out enough to stand around in the type of crowd I did and take a personal day to spend the next day playing (or observing, in my case).
I stood in the largest sea of man-boobs known to mankind. Man-boobs, bad, bad hair, and puberty gone awry. Please don't think I'm jaded to be overly surprised at this but I was expecting at least ONE piece of eye candy. Well, there was the guy who works for Gamestop but I know from the midnight release of FFXII that he's already attached. ...damn.
The conversations are always interesting at these types of things though. The guy beside me was the same guy I attempted to talk to at the FFXII launch. I knew this because he was talking to someone else about the very same things that he'd been talking to me about and spouting out his stats on WoW and some other online game. I had to chuckle (READ: laugh) when he got a call from his mom who was inquiring when he'd be home. This, in itself, is not altogther funny. That the guy was my age made it hilarious. Although, not so long ago I lived in my parent's basement surrounded by my comps and consoles... But I don't anymore and that makes it different. ^^
I also caught the tail-end of a conversation wherein some guy declared, "DUDE! I so went to that convention and I was the BEST Squall cosplayer there!" Naturally I had to check out this guy - he just HAD to be HOT! Oh. My. God. He was the furthest thing from what would constitute a decent Squall let alone the BEST Squall. Squall is pretty. Squall has great hair. Squall does NOT HAVE MAN-BOOBS! It took everything I had not to go over to him and set him straight. If that wasn't bad enough, his little friend next to him declared that he was the best Vincent at the place, too! *blinks* Okay, so I'll give him credit for at least having long, dark hair. But again, Vincent is lovely and sans man-boobs. It all just left a very bad taste in my mouth and I had to move to avoid hearing anything else.
There was some "cool" at the release, though. Some father drove up in his H2 with a plasma screen that took up the entire back of his Hummer and hooked up the Xbox so his kids (the oldest couldn't have been more than 10 years old) could play Halo 2 while they waited. Cool but a little overkill for the situation. We were content with the guys breaking out the grills and handing out burgers and dogs.
Anyway, been there, done that. The game is pretty great, I guess. It's my first time really sitting down and watching it for any extended period of time. I love Arbitor now. He's, by far, way cooler than Master Chief. ...just don't tell my cousin I said that.
Next up: MGS4. We're gonna try a different location for that release and hope it proves more fruitful for the both of us. ^^
This weekend was glorious! Because of a fat bonus in my paycheck I took the opportunity to go shopping and buy myself some stuff that I wanted instead of stuff that I needed. Ah... I tell ya, shopping is defintely more fun when you can actually participate rather than sit on the sidelines and observe.
First stop was Gamestop. Since the 'rents have a Wii I could finally play Trauma Center: Second Opinion. So I bought it. Plus, since I got it used (and I had set a limit on my video game spending... otherwise I'd easily break the bank) I checked the cheapo PS2 bins and hidden amongst the thousands of Madden games was a copy of Xenosaga for CHEAP! Compusively, I can't turn down any RPG if it's in a bargain bin. Plus I'm aiming for a little redemption here, so it's now MINE! Mom even got into the gaming action by purchasing Wii Play for her and dad (babysteps, babysteps).
Second and third stops were busts. I went to Famous Footwear hoping to find some decent Rocket Dogs but they didn't have the plaid flannels that I was looking for. Gah! I can't believe how expensive Dogs have gotten ever since they've become "trendy." I bought my first pair a year ago when they were still relatively unheard of and the price was reasonable. Now they're asking $60 for the newer styles. They're sneakers, for piss sake! Hell, even Chuck Taylor's have gotten to where you need to exchange your first born child just to afford a pair. Back in high school (before most of you were even born *sigh*) I was wearin' pink hi-top Chucks (we called 'em bobos) that cost $10. The low-siders I was looking at yesterday were almost $50! ...yes, I'm aware that the cost of living has increased in 20 years but seriously. But enough about the price of shoes. Next stop - Kohls: Vera Wang's got this new collection out and since I'll most likely never have the opportunity to wear one of her wedding gowns, I wanted to check out her casual clothing line. *grimaces* Look, I love Vera but she should just stick to wedding gowns, mattresses, and eyewear.
Fourth stop - Target: Nothing special here except I managed to find a two-pack of the Omen - both the original and the 2006 remake. The original is probably my favorite horror movie and I've not been able to make myself watch the remake but now that I have it I'll probably watch it on Halloween (alone, which is stupid 'cos I'm a chicken-shit).
Last stop - Wally World: Again, nothing special except I picked up my own Wii remote and a glove for it. Now I can easily distinguish it from my 'rents remotes. Plus, it's green. ^^
So as the title states, I killed my third patient while playing Trauma. It's no wonder considering that I had dad on my right bitching that I was scrolling too fast through the dialog and telling Nurse Mary to shut the hell up through the first two operations and mom on my left yelling at my dad to shut up about telling Nurse Mary to shut the hell up. GOOD TIMES, I TELL YA! Yeah, so after rushing through my first two patients out of frustration I totally blew the third operation. Who can truly blame me though when dad's yelling "SCALPEL, SCALPEL!!! NONONO! FORCEPS!!!" and mom's on the other side yelling "NONONO! GEL, GEL!!! NO, LASER!!" *sighs* The poor guy was doomed from the get go. Meh, they're going on vacation the last week of September so I'll have the damned game to myself and perhaps I'll be able to save the poor guy. ^^
Anime anyone?
Yeah, so I finished Uta Kata today. *rolls eyes* All I can say is that I'm much dumber for having completed the entire series. Thank god it was only 12 episodes. Bah, and all that hype about it being tragic was crap. Maybe it's because I'm older than the average fanbase age but the stuff that was supposed to be tragic and "adult" was anything but. Anyway, it's done and over with.
While we're on the subject of unimpressive anime, if the final episode of School Days doesn't have every character meet their end by spontaneous combustion I'll be sorely disappointed. That's the only thing that will save this series. I like how morality is somehow only discovered once a chick gets knocked up. No point of having an ounce of it prior to whoring yourself out, eh? *shakes head*
Anyway, I'm absolutely loving Monster despite the fact that Dr. Tenma looks remarkably like the guy I went to Italy to meet who managed to break my heart in one fell swoop. Meh, it's such a great show that I can overlook that one painful similarity. It's 74 episodes though, so I'm a little concerned that the storyline might get a bit repetitive.
Speaking of which, I've got some episodes to watch. Ciao, ciao!
Some thoughts on the anime I've been watching the past few days:
Romeo x Juliet - I was leery of picking this up as I generally despise most adaptations of storylines I'm familiar with. As I'm not particularly fond of Willie's rendition of R x J I was even more leery of this show. How freakin' pleasantly surprised I've been! It completely lacks the cheese and fluff I was expecting. In fact, I have sat mesmerized through each of the 11 episodes I've torn through and I've even shed a tear or two through some of them (hopeless romantic and emotional fool I am). The artwork is superb, the characters are completely endearing and believable (even Juliet, who I expected to hate based on most female leads in romance storylines), and they even gave me Tybalt! *purrs* Good stuff! I'm glad I decided to take a peek!
School Days - *glares* I don't particulary like this show but it's like a train wreck that you can't look away from. I don't want to say much because the show is almost over and I don't want to rant prematurely, but why all the hate for Makoto? If I remember correctly he was a pretty decent guy in the beginning until a particular female got involved. Then it all went to hell in a handbasket. Yeah, he's tappin' it all through school but if you put an apple on the table in front of a hungry person they're bound to eat it. And I guarantee that if you keep bringing apples they'll keep eating them. ...that's all I'll say about that. For now.
Uta Kata - Look, I'm going to admit that I'm watching this show purely for the twins, Sei and Kai. Other than that there's not a whole lot I enjoy about it. The sheer volume of gratuitous panty shots is damned near killing me (Why is it necessary to show so many? WHY???). So I'll get introduced to a new Djinn each episode and sit through costume changes ala Sailor Moon (although I have to admit the costumes are far cooler than the ones in Sailor Moon!). Not much else there so far. The promise of some tragic event involving the twins is the only thing pulling me through.
I did take a break today from my R x J and Uta Kata spree to do a little gaming. While I was at the barn this morning a Zelda remix came on the iPod. Inspired, I decided I'd pick up Wind Waker and give it another shot. It's not that the game isn't good it's just that my attention span has gone to crap in the past few years. In fact, it wouldn't be inaccurate to say that I'm a collector of video games moreso than an actual player. The last game I actually completed was FFXII and that was last November. I've bought at least 7 or 8 games since then and I've barely gotten through an hour in any of them. Ah well...
There's some bad news in all of this. It seems as though mom and dad are actually enjoying my their Wii. It was questionable if they'd even be able to figure out how to turn it on and use it let alone play it extensively without my help. I'm both proud and torn at the same time. Sure, they still bicker and yell at each other when they play but I reckon that's just how their relationship works. Good for them, I guess. ^^
[Currently Playing] Rasputina - Transylvanian Concubine
Sheesh... talk about wasting an entire day on nothing. It seems as though ImageShack does not approve of the background image I was planning to use on my anime list. After breaking for dinner I came back to tweak and re-upload and I was politely asked to re-read their Terms of Service (READ: Bad girl! "Porn" is for deviants! Go directly to Jail, do not pass GO, do not collect $200! When you upload that picture of the bunnies in the field of flowers you may then again access your account).
*sighs*
I guess Inu is just too much sexy for them to handle. It's the full version of the same image that's in my profile pic so in addition to the pony bit gag and slave mask you also get an eyeful of latex and a half-dozen captive rings down his chest. Not to mention the "Master's Mark carved down same said chest (anyone else besides myself a bit wigged out that I'm apparently knowledgeable of the terminology of bondage gear? ...where I pick this stuff up I'll never know *ahem*).
*tch* And it was a fairly tame picture considering which folder it came from... *whistles innocently*
Heh... perhaps that was my first mistake! ^^
Regardless, I now have to start over and re-code and hope to hell that my next image of Gunzi doesn't set ImageShack all aquiver and cause them to lay the smackdown on me again.
Honestly though, it's a good thing this happened. As I look back it was, perhaps, an inappropriate image considering the age demographics of the site and the amount of members that fall into the lower bracket. Having said that, I promise I will learn to curtail my habit of pushing the envelope. I swear!
Okay, y'all can laugh at me now for actually feeling badly about this and worrying that ImageShack won't be my BFF again. *sniffles*