February 28, 2002

Erg. We interrupt what would have been "Who's the Bigger Uke?" because Geocities is poo snot and is stopping FTP access so I have to go move this page. Le sigh. If it's not one thing it's another.

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 22:15 | link |
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February 27, 2002

Today's headline discussion topic - Subaru: Shagged?

Yes, that's right, inquiring minds want to know: is Subaru still a frustrated virgin or did Seishirou have his way with our skinny onmyouji? There has been and still is much debate on this important character issue. Speculation abounds and the fandom is decisively split. The following interview outlines one obsessed fangirl's views on Subaru's private life.

Interviewer: Why don't you introduce yourself before we get started?
Usa-p: *stands up* Hi... I'm Usa-p and I'm a slashaholic. *sits back down quickly*
Intvr: err.. right. Anyway, how familiar are you with the character in question?
Usa-p: I own and have read Tokyo Babylon multiple times. I've pored through X so much I know most of Subaru's scenes by heart. Wanna hear me recite some?
Intvr: Uh, no, that's quite alright. So, that means that you should have a decent, if not fairly good grasp on what is currently known about the Sumeragi's life.
Usa-p: Pretty much.
Intvr: First question. Do you think Subaru & Seishirou got jiggy with it?
Usa-p: No. I very much think they didn't for reasons I shall now extensively outline because that is what fangirls do. *evil grin*
Proponents of the opposing theory usually base that on the fact that we aren't told 'exactly' what has happened, and there have definitely been ample opportunities for the Sakurazukamori to get his claws in, as it were. The most common of these instances was the night they spent at Tokyo Tower. However, I think a closer look needs to be taken at the characters.
-First off, I'd think that one would be able to tell if Subaru got lucky. That boy would NOT be able to hide it. Not then.
-Subaru was uncomfortable when he was teased by Hokuto and Sei-chan, and he was especially uncomfortable with any advances. Even in private. It isn't until the end of Tokyo Babylon volume 5 that Subaru eventually accepts an embrace by Seishirou, and even smiles to boot. Right after this Sei-chan gets his eye poked out and Subaru FINALLY realizes that he's in love with him. It stands to reason that had they been getting it on, Subaru would have figured this out already and he would not have been thinking that Sei-chan was just teasing all that time.
-So, if you accept that at that time our pretty little fashion doll was as pure as freshly fallen snow, then there was no time afterwards, between the hospital and the revelation of Seishirou's identity, for them to have done anything. Subaru gets his heart torn apart, and he's off for revenge.
-Subaru getting it from anyone other than Sei-chan is nigh impossible (except for possibly Kamui in the future. *waves SxK flag*)
Intvr: I suppose that makes sense. It's hardly definitive...
Usa-p: Didn't say it was. Just my view. I think it's got merit.
Intvr: Seishirou has that ability where he can cause people to fall unconscious. It's been shown that he often got touchy-feely during that time. Is it possible that there was more groping going on that Subaru wasn't aware of?
Usa-p: Possible? Sure. Likely? Unlikely. Sei-chan did seem to get off a bit on fondling Subaru's hands, (well, as much pleasure as one who is supposedly emotionless can have), but I don't think that's Sei-chan's style. He would want Subaru to know what he was doing; see his face. He plays with the mind. The marks on Subaru's hands are a physical manifestation of that, of course he'd be interested. But really, is Sei-chan going to do it with an unconscious Subaru? He could easily have swayed him if he wanted to without having to knock him out. The purpose of the bet was emotional love, however evil and sadistic he may have been. I don't think his goal was to bed Subaru.
Intvr: You ultimately identify as a Subaru x Kamui fangirl, not as a Seishirou x Subaru fangirl...
Usa-p: *nods*
Intvr: Does being an SxK fangirl make your opinion biased?
Usa-p: Not in the least. At least I don't think so. I was rooting for Sei-chan up until the very end. Of course I was rooting for Kamui too, but they're different. I wanted Sei-chan to deliciously pounce and ravage; I also wanted Kamui to soothe a broken heart.
If Subaru blows himself up before he shags Kamui I will be very annoyed indeed.
Intvr: That's all the time we have for today. We'll pick up next time with "Who's the Bigger Uke?: Subaru or Kamui, Who's on Top?"

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 19:23 | link |
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February 26, 2002

A while back on the Shoujo Manga ML someone put up a notice for an auction of the Rhapsody artbook [Maaru-oukaku no Ningyou-hime in Japanese], and I loved the game, the art from the game especially, so I jumped on it. I finally picked up the package from my moms house and I absolutely *HEART* this artbook. It's got a lot in it and it's very cute. I am happier with it than I expected. *snuggles book* It seems I'm snuggling lots of books lately.

My Feb Ribon came in ::cheers:: I miss Atashi wa Bambi, but Ultra Maniac and Max Lovely are more than making up for it. Time to break out the dictionary.

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 00:20 | link |
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February 25, 2002

I Am A: Chaotic Good Half-Elf Ranger or Druid
What Dungeons & Dragons Character Are You?

Alignment: Chaotic Good characters are independent types with a strong belief in the value of goodness. They have little use for governments and other forces of order, and will generally do their own things, without heed to such groups.
Race: Half-Elves are a cross between a human and an elf. They are smaller, like their elven ancestors, but have a much shorter lifespan. They are sometimes looked down upon as half-breeds, but this is rare. They have both the curious drive of humans and the patience of elves.
Primary Class: Rangers are the defenders of nature and the elements. They are in tune with the Earth, and work to keep it safe and healthy.
Secondary Class: Druids are a special variety of Cleric who serves the Earth, and can call upon the power in the earth to accomplish their goals. They tend to be somewhat fanatical about defending natural settings.

THERE'S a big surprise. ^_^ Me? A Chaotic Good Half-elven Ranger? NAW! [Check out my 1st D&D character at the side bar] Although I am more neutral good than chaotic good. My score was only 1 more on the chaotic side. It's because I dislike politics.

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 23:53 | link |
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February 24, 2002

IP12 cookie! COOKIE!! ::does admirable impersonation of Cookie Monster as she gobbles it up:: What a horrible ^_~ way to end the section. Leaving us hanging with a sentence of double meaning! I do hope the full chapter comes out sooner rather than later.

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 18:28 | link |
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February 23, 2002

I just read the translation to March's X chapter [which I won't get for a month, since I only got Feb's issue two days ago] It's not even a chapter, it's a glorified paragraph. This and the past few segments have been chicken feed!

Aoki-san and Karen-san live to see the light of another day. Yay! I really like Karen-san. After this issue especially. This is the first time I've gotten into a character of her type; a relatively young mature woman/mother figure. Eek, does that mean I'm getting old? Stupid biological clock.

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 17:23 | link |
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It's that time of year again. Pigeon mating season. Ah, spring is on the way.
I happen to LIKE pigeons. Think they're flying rats all you want, but they're just the avian versions of people. Survivors, not too bright, and often annoying. Most don't like them because they poo in inconvenient places and they don't look particularly pretty. Pigeons are in the dove family and no one seems to have a problem with doves. Symbol of purity, if I'm not mistaken. I think it's cute watching the little male pigeys puffing up, lowering their tales, and struttin' around in circles pestering disinterested females. I think it's cute watching them waddle and stalk the girls until they give in saying, "fine, enough already!" I also happen to think that the mating call is beautiful and soothing. Sure their courtship ritual is simpler than the others I've seen: it isn't as artistic as the blue-footed booby's or as amazingly rhythmic as the dueling drumming albatrosses, but it's CUTE. Anyway...

Kell and I went ice-skating today so she could try out her new hockey skates. She let me try them on too and I got two laps in before the zamboni drove out. My first time using hockey skates and they were so comfortable! I need to ditch my figure skates for a nice pair of hockey skates when they wear out.

And as far as big pleasant surprise of the day goes, I was looking for a summary of Arina Toshimi's Midnight Sun manga since I remembered seeing them once, and although I understand enough to know the basic plot, I haven't bothered with the dictionary for the details of it. In searching for that I discovered that she has done tons of Yuu Yuu Hakusho doujinshi and many have been fan-translated into scanslations. I know less than nothing about YYH, aside from character names, but I looked at those doujinshi and oh my GOD... I think they look better than her current professional stuff. They were beautifully poetic, and very spicy! Oh my GOD were they spicy. ::melt:: I have to get a copy of my own [Great, more doujinshi for me to want to track down. The scanslations are censored.]

As if I needed anything new.

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 16:38 | link |
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February 21, 2002

I *heart* X. ::pokes through latest Asuka even though she gets it almost a month late:: I hope Karen-san and Aoki-san come out of that alive. Why does it always have to be about death?! Quoth Karen-san, "No one will cry for me when I die." Tsk tsk. See, that made both you AND Aoki-san in increased danger of beheading/entrail spilling/fist-through-chesting/ (take your pick). A cute pair, too. Such a shame.

I looked over a bunch of the shounen-ai mags just checking for artists I like, and lo and behold there in the fine print on two Chara Selections was Tachibana Kaimu. Now, I KNOW I've looked at at least one of those before and didn't see her. Grr. But I happily have them now, although I'm missing the beginning of the story. It's about time I've seen her draw some proper kisses *snee*. There were also a couple of things in there by other artists whose stuff I've been looking into recently. ::snuggles mangazines::

In random news, there's nothing freakier than those cell phones that are microscopic and hide in your ear and on your collar. As I was walking to lunch today a man in an expensive suit coming from the other direction suddenly started gesticulating wildly and talking to thin air! Now usually lunatics who talk to themselves can't afford such fancy suits, but it took that thought and a double take to realize he was on the phone. It's strange enough when they talk to the air in Star Trek, but to see it happening on the street is really disconcerting.

The new anime music radio station I'm listening to via WinMP seems to be on a Sailormoon marathon. That's 5 songs in a row now. Make that 6. ::happily sings along to 'Route Venus'::

And every time I go into Book Off, no matter what day or time, they're always playing the same J-pop CD and I always come in during the same song. It's WEIRD.

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 19:07 | link |
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Awww! Ain't this the cutest chibi Kamui-chan wallpaper you ever did see? And we all know that when it comes to boys, wet = sexy and very wet = very sexy (even if the latter needs some tweaking with the hue/saturation option of Photoshop so Kamui won't look so sunburned). I've always equated Yue in the picture above to be wet even though he isn't. Probably because the whole atmosphere is very watery. Helps explain my fondness for that picture, doesn't it? If there's anything better than long-haired winged bishounen, it's a sopping wet long-haired winged bishounen. ...not that I've got a thing for that or anything... ^^;;

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 05:30 | link |
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February 20, 2002

I changed the layout again. I know I know... the last one was up nearly a month, wasn't it? It grew sour on me very quickly. I think it's because I had really liked the original 'Many Faces of Kamui' layout, and then changing it just for the sake of changing it made me a little bitter towards the Touya/Yuki version. Maybe I'll resurrect it one day. For now you all get to stare at Yue! *stares intently* I like the way it turned out. I finally managed to create a layout that gave me only minimal problems (I'm not getting my hopes up for a problem-free one). Editing that picture, on the other hand, was difficult. I might even say it was just short of torturous except there's no way spending time zoomed in on Yue's features could possibly be torture. ^_~

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 01:05 | link |
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February 19, 2002

 I am Kong.

"Strong and passionate, I tend to be misunderstood, sometimes even feared. I don't want to fight, I don't want to cause trouble, all I ask is a little love, and a little peace. If I don't get what I want, I get angry, and throw barrels and flaming oil at whatever's stopping me." What Video Game Character Are You?

That's me in a nutshell! Eerily accurate. So was Steve's. He got a Gauntlet Warrior. (So did most of my male pals, actually... methinks this says something about me)
The rest of my friends got Asteroids or Mr. Do's. [Steve and I both got Asteroid as our 'if you're not this, then you're this']

I am alone in my Kong-ness. And no comments about big hairy monkeys! Hmpf.

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 21:09 | link |
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February 18, 2002

This is quite cool. Now I have to go dig up that link where you can run people over. That was even better.

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 22:48 | link |
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February 17, 2002

Read all the posts to date regarding the last DV chapter. So many theories, and a lot of them are along the same lines as I am thinking. I have to go reread the chapter now. Gotta comb through for the fine details. Such a passionate chapter! ::fans self:: All that intrigue and anger and betrayal... ack, was that a spoiler? It's a wonder none of the characters have had a nervous breakdown yet, though Harry [and most of the others] seem to be on that threshold. Will be a very bad thing if they all break simultaneously.

::mutters:: What a fic... what a fic!

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 02:48 | link |
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OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG!!! Draco Veritas Chapter 6 came out and... and.. ::breathe breathe:: it was extremely exciting. Not exciting in the way the DV5 alternate scene was ::hyperventilates at the memory:: but quite amazing nonetheless. Some very telling Draco quotes re: Harry, Ron's mystery woman revealed(?), and of course... those very telling Draco quotes... wait, did I mention that already? And it annoys me that I missed whatever clue there was about Harry's funky vial of dirt. I'll just have to reread it then, won't I?

I haven't yet read the discussions on the C&R list, but that's next on the agenda. *squeal squeal*

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 01:04 | link |
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February 15, 2002

LOL! Dear Cassandra Claire has done it again with the LotR slashy diaries. Tonight's new entry: Arwen. Gotta remind myself to let Steve know. He enjoys them too, but obviously not for the same reasons as I. She is also about to release Draco Veritas Chapter 6 at the earliest, today, at the latest, the weekend. ::dances excitedly:: so many questions will be finally answered BWAHAHAHAHA!

HOODY HOO! New Knights of the Dinner Table flash cartoons coming soon to a hoodyhoo.com near you! The first set was hysterical. The comic itself is amazingly funny, and the animations even more so. They've got a great trailer up. Role-players should move their butts over there post haste.

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 03:52 | link |
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Tis a good night. A very good night. I was following a little rant war across several blogs I don't frequent (along with a few new ones in the process) and this led to stumbling upon new fansites and collectives. It's been a while since I've surfed anyplace new since I've been hanging out on the mailing lists so much and reading fanfic from only select few authors. So imagine my incredible delight at having stumbled across an 'ukelicious.net'. UKELICIOUS! That's such a great word! Of course adding the -licious suffix makes a lot of words really cool: sacrilicious, snogalicious, Potterlicious, etc. I'm just extremely annoyed that I didn't think of it first especially given my fondness for ukes.

Within the borders of said ukelicious.net was a nifty little page called Slashy Boys Make Things Go BOOM! ::heart eyes:: This is what it's all about! First the Shrine to Tasuki's Horse, then the Shrine to Fuuma's Frog, and now this. ::sniffle:: I *heart* unabashed fangirlishness (for lack of a better term).

Even though it's partially a poke at yaoi fangirls everywhere, Slashy Boys Make Things Go BOOM! is a marvelous piece of work, and as for the title, I couldn't have said it any better myself. BOOM SHAKALAKA! Them pretty boys is gettin' it on! (Though I personally think notFuuma looks more like a Harry Potter gone hard rock music than Fuuma's long lost little brother. In fact the character looks almost too remarkably like my mental vision of ickle Harrykins.)

N.B. I want to state for the record that I will in no way be going back through my Feb. Asuka issue just to take a closer look at the above featured story. Really. I'm not kidding... Stop looking at me like that!

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 03:07 | link |
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February 14, 2002

Happy Valentines Day all.

Every Valentine's Day I bake Steve something. Brownies, cake, cupcakes, what have you. Last year I tried cookies. Didn't go perfectly, but they were at least edible. This year I decided to try my hand at them again and am that much worse for the wear. I think this is where I learn my lesson that I'm not any good at making cookies. I haven't had the heart to try them; hours of baking will do that to ya. Dad said he liked the chocolate ones, but I don't know if he's just being nice, or if it's because he's more fond of dark chocolate than I am. But then I also don't trust Dad's tastebuds... peanut butter, banana, and ham sandwiches? I don't think so...

I hope at the very least Steve thinks they're tolerable. Next year I'm going back to cupcakes. Tried and true.

Speaking of cookies, I found Draco Veritas Chapter 6 snippets (called cookies) in my mailbox today. Yay yay! It seems like only yesterday that DV5 came out. It usually seems like forever. I usually prefer the cookies on the C&R list rather than the POU list because they focus on the slashy subtext. The C&R list rocks muchly and I love contributing. It actually forces me out of lurkerdom! I hope they like my inspirational haikus.

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 15:44 | link |
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February 13, 2002

Funny thing happened today. Wish I'd been there to see it.

Steve went to the local deli after work and who should already be in there buying something but my Dad. Freakier things just do not happen. So anyway, after Steve figures out who he is and goes up to him, my Dad asks what Steve's doing there. To which Steve replies that he lives around the corner and what's HE doing there [Dad was working on that block]. At this point the lady behind the counter asks if the two know each other. [Methinks that my Dad is probably a regular visitor lately since he works by there and Steve goes in from time to time] And my Dad says, "He dates my daughter." Pause here to watch the lady's eyes grow large as she looks at my Dad and Steve and tries to figure out how old they are that one has a kid and the other one is dating her. Steve looks his age, but my Dad, for those of you that haven't seen him, looks much much younger than he is. My Dad refused to tell his age [the lady was asking... "Are you 40? You can't be 40..." and Steve answers that I'm 21 and he's 29, and as for my Dad, he doesn't know and thinks that I probably don't know either. [haha! But I do, actually]

Steve thought it was very funny, and it was very funny when he called me up the minute he got home to tell me about it.

I wish I'd been there. Last time my Dad met Steve he proceeded to poke his tummy a la the Pilsbury Dough Boy. I was mortified. Steve assures me this time there was only a 'manly handshake.' {giggle}

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 03:44 | link |
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I was just relooking over the screenshots from X TV 16. I had complained that Kamui hadn't cried... well I take that back, he did shed a tear at one point, but then he got all stick-up-butty and so it doesn't have the same effect.

Printer doesn't work with XP. Shout if you're surprised. ::crickets chirp:: Didn't think so.
Poo on hunting for drivers.

Reread Tokyo Bablyon, X, and Clover the past couple of days. It's been a very CLAMPy week, it has, and I've come to the following conclusions about CLAMP manga.

1. UST is the name of the game, no matter how darn OBVIOUS it is. Pretty, needy bishounen angsting their bloody hearts out [pun intended], and handsome, suteki biseinen prancing around all with almost nary a word on relationhip status while they're all nose-deep in innuendo. I've always been surprised we managed to get a confession out of Yukito. Someone repeatedly kick Kamui, too, until we get one out of him.
2. Never say that no one is going to cry for you when you die; it just leads to 'true wishes' and death and a whole boatload of other unpleasant things.
3. In CLAMPverse it is a very bad idea to have a 'wish.' Even if it doesn't end horribly it still causes a slew of trouble and suffering for everyone along the way.
4. CLAMP has an unhealthy obsession with the idea of a 'one true wish'. A very very BIG obsession. An obsession that is a void into which all else is pulled and cannot escape. Inside this void you find CLAMP's hefty supply of crack.

But, man, it's quality crack.

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 01:00 | link |
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February 11, 2002

::weep weep:: Argh. Computer problems. What else is new. The dual boot was successfully installed... the reinstallation of the programs was not as successful. The version of the Global IME I have for this version of Internet Explorer does not work with Windows XP. I am not in the mood at the moment to see if there is a replacement. To make matters worse, my Kanjikit program, my LEGITIMATE program which would allow me to type in Japanese anyway, would not install. It would not accept the product number, and now it accuses me of trying to install an illegal copy and will not let me try again. ARGH!

Waaaah! Photoshop installed correctly, or so it seems, so all is well there at least. AOL and AIM are working. Dad gave me Office XP to install, and Office just gets worse and worse the more versions they make. Much like Windows itself. But that was successful as well, I just have to tinker with it. Nothing else is installed.

I am not in a good mood. Things just never go well. Sigh. Headache. Ow.

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 19:20 | link |
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Derr, now I remember what I had wanted to say. I rewatched the Tokyo Bablyon OAVs today. I first watched them after Shoujocon before I had read the manga. I knew the general idea of the story, but of course reading it is another thing entirely. Subaru had a cute voice; don't recall who it was. Snickered at Koyasu-san voicing Seishirou. Overall it was nice to see (Subaru was very pretty) but was extremely unfulfilling. That's to be expected, of course, with only 2 stand alone episodes. Infinitely better than the X movie which is a painful monstrosity and I'm glad that it didn't turn me off to the manga. I'd heard the manga wasn't finished so that gave it the benefit of the doubt. Now it's hard to remember life before the X obsession.

I saw a documentary on the Book of Revelation in the Bible and it was quite interesting. (Of course I was looking for X parallels the whole time.) Lots more connections than I, or the site that does the X research, had found. I didn't catch the show from the beginning, and I didn't think to tape it. I feel articles coming on. If I come up with anything interesting, I'll let the other researching girls know.

I was cleaning up and reorganizing my video tapes today to make room for the ones that didn't have any room. I came across the book of all my old poetry! I'm glad I found it because I thought they were lost forever. However, looking back at them, most are pretty sucky... more than I thought. I still like my vignettes.

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 03:06 | link |
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Yay yay! Chapter 3 of A Fearsome Business is up. I'm curious about what direction she's going to take the story and how long it'll be. A chapter a month on average is nice to look forward to. It's a long wait for DV and IP [though granted those chapters are longer.]

Finally read the translations to CLAMP's Clover vols. 1-3. CLAMP be on crack, but this time it be some mighty fine poetic crack. My taste for Clover was whetted by Canis M's Clover fics. I read them before I read the manga. [I know, I know... bad me for reading fic before the story, but jeez, have you seen her writing?! How could I not?] Clover's slightly trippy, especially since it's unfinished. It does, however, bash its main theme over your head pretty effectively.

I do wonder why Angelic Layer and Chobits get to be animated and Clover doesn't. I know there was talk of it, and I think there was like a film short like they sorta did with Wish [with Sakamoto Maaya as Suu even! My favorite female seiyuu!] While I rather like Chobits' unabashed male ecchiness, it just seems odd to animate. I haven't looked at Angelic Layer yet; manga or anime.

Sigh. CLAMP CLAMP CLAMP what shall we do with you, oh mighty torturers of fangirls. It's so ironic that they're not even my favorite, though they're next in line.

Argh. There was something else I meant to say, but I forgot. Erg. Need sleep.
::mumbles about wanting the next Ribon and Asuka::

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 02:43 | link |
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February 7, 2002

Guess who's gotta wipe the computer again.
Guess who's not happy about it.
Dad wanted to install XP on here for a dual boot. I had told him to do that THE FIRST TIME [see previous blogs] when I asked him to wipe the hard drive. But, as we know, he got 'confused' as to what "WIPE THE DRIVES AND INSTALL THE OPERATING SYSTEMS" means.
So then I told him to leave it.
Then he installed stuff, despite the fact that I've asked him countless times never to do that. I yelled. He stayed confused.

We need to replace the hard drive because it's faulty, because hey, he didn't replace it last time either... even though THAT WAS THE POINT
Well, one of the points... there were many. Only one of which was achieved.
So he's got another hard drive. I tell him to do this additional installation when I am not here because if I am here I will have an aneurism. Simple request. I always request that he do things when I am not home so that way I don't go bonkers. Can we see where this is going?

I came home yesterday with him having the computer guts hanging out saying "it didn't work." I wept, but at least the computer still worked. He was unable to install XP because it needs to be on a different partition than 98. He didn't partition the new drive. I thought that this was rather COMMON SENSE... and a technician of all people should know to do so.

So then today I come home and he tried it AGAIN but he said it wouldn't install correctly. I again yell about what part of "DO IT WHEN I'M GONE FOR THE WEEKEND, NOT WHILE I'M HERE!" he didn't understand.... then he says it's not installing correctly and he's having problems because he has to 'work around' everything because I don't want my files to be destroyed.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR Well exCUSE me. I don't particularly want this done. I ALREADY had backed up my stuff to give him free reign of the computer WITHOUT all my files on it, and HE'S the one who didn't do what needed to be done.

::SCREAM CLAW RAGE::

So I yelled more and said FINE. I'll REbackup all my stuff AGAIN and go through the process of installing all the software AGAIN and spend hours downloading the new browser AGAIN because he couldn't do it right LAST time.

He did not catch my blatant dripping sarcasm. He just said "Yeah, ok! That'll work."

And mind you he's tried twice this week to install XP and still didn't get it to work, and he KEEPS INSISTING that it's quick and simple and will not listen to me when I remind him that nothing is EVER SIMPLE WITH HIM. And he always denies that we ever have any problems with this computer! ::sob::

I can't go on... too painful.

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 20:48 | link |
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It never ceases to amaze me how CLAMP manages to make blood look so pretty and sensual. [Was rereading Tokyo Babylon, which has less blood than X] I hope to hook up my scanner today because I want to make a layout featuring all sorts of bloody Kamuis. He's just... not Kamui unless he's got more blood on him than in him.

Dad says he will be adding Windows XP to my computer tomorrow... I fear. I really do. I am only agreeing because if I don't upgrade at all, I'm going to regret it. Of course I may just regret this as well. How much do you want to bet half of my programs won't work. Of course, it will be a dual boot, which should ideally eliminate the problem of my programs rendered useless, but I fear my computer having 2 different operating systems with which to cause trouble. Double the OS; double the hassle.

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 13:44 | link |
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Someone was kind enough to upload screenshots from X episode 16, which is ::cue dramatic music:: the episode where Subaru gets his eye poked out AND the episode where Sei-chan dies AND we get to see Sei-chan's side story. I wish I had the actual episode so I could hear what they sound like and watch them mooooove. As for the screenshots, what did I think of what I saw?

Good points:
* Oh my dear lord, Subaru looks so... so... SUBARU-LIKE! [aside from the wrong eye color...] ::swoon:: I am VERY pleased.
* Touching bed scene!... but not as touching because Kamui still ain't in full uke mode.
* Subaru still did his papercut on his ofuda. That always struck me as mighty painful. {has no tolerance for paper cuts}
* The Sub/Sei scenes were pretty good. The Hokuto death scene was mostly verbatim, which was nice.

Bad points:
* Kamui just doesn't look very much like Kamui. He isn't nearly pretty enough, still has a stick up his butt, and dude, he's got Gumby legs.
* Did Kamui even cry once? DID HE? Did he BAWL his eyes out? DID HE? Did he collapse in front of a hospital door? Did he fondle Subaru's knee when asking for forgiveness? Did he do ANYTHING like that at all? DID HE? DID HE???? NO!!!!!!
* Some of the translations were funky (assuming they're straight from the manga) including:
* 'Member of the Blossom Estate'? 'Victim to the Blossom Star'? -- I don't know whether to laugh hysterically or scream, cry, and whimper in agony... Oh my GOD... how can you take either of those expressions seriously? It's 'Food for the Sakura' [affectionately known as Tree-san] and 'Prey of the Sakurazukamori', respectively. ::snorts:: 'Victim to the Blossom Star'... HAHAHAHAHAHA ::sob sob::

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 01:56 | link |
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February 5, 2002

Been rereading Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne... it's even better than I remember. ::squeal squeal:: Oh it's so cute and so sad and OH SO UNBEARABLY ROMANTIC ::dies:: The anime simply does not do it justice. It just doesn't. The first season I thought was very good, because it prolongs the relationship between Maron and Chiaki, therefore making it more believable, but by messing with the plot for season two all they managed to successfully do was have a story that doesn't make any sense. Sigh.

The X anime, too, seems to have things a bit backwards. It's Kamui holding the unconscious eye-poked-out!Subaru, not eye-poked-out!Subaru holding an unconscious Kamui... that makes no sense. Blah.

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 22:34 | link |
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The Grand List Of Console Role Playing Game Clichés
Absolutely hysterical, and of course, so very true. Part of the fun is also connecting the names of the characters to the RPGs that you've played.

The girl who writes the massive DD/DS/DV Harry Potter fanfic also wrote some hysterical slashy 'diaries' for the characters in Lord of the Rings. Intended for many humoring purposes, mostly fans, it somehow made it's way over the web to Steve's e-mail via his DM... they found it amusing, but not for same reasons we fangirls did. It was just so strange for it to have circled around. He didn't seem to have any reaction when I said I knew of the girl who wrote it because I'm on her mailing list. The world suddenly seems so small.

Steve's DM gives them a list of 25 questions to fill out about their characters when they begin to play. I asked to see it, to see if it would help me round out the motivations of my characters. I must say that it actually did. Not to the point where I have a whole elaborate backstory, but I'm closer to it than I was. If it wasn't so long, I'd post it here. Perhaps I'll type it up as a link later. And won't it be popular? I'm sure everyone wants to hear about the lives of my D&D characters. ^_^

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 22:17 | link |
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February 3, 2002

OMG! OMG! OMG! DV5 Alternate slash scene... ::swoon::

I was originally posting to complain that I can't find a decent selection of (read: ANY) Ranger oriented D&D Prestige Classes. I always felt that the Ranger in himself was rather prestige-class-ish only without enough of the prestige, if that makes any sense at all. But darnit, I wanna give Soron a prestige class. I don't think I have the skill to create one of my own at the moment, and even so, I'm not sure what it would entail. He's such an odd character to work with. I see him mostly as being some sort of more specific type of animal lover or... well... a forest ranger ^_^ in the modern sense though. Making sure travelers through the forest are safe and don't get lost and etc. I'll find something eventually. The D&D guide for Druids/Rangers/Barbarians should be out soon. I did manage to find an animal lover basic class that I may just multiclass with instead.

I was looking up prestige classes for Ghayth, my monk, as well. He's not of level for prestige class, but he's easier to work with. I found a few Monk classes that were decent ideas, but none really worked for him. He's not an assassin nor is he any kind of do-gooder. Just a regular obnoxiously sadistic guy who's got a major beef with God.

In more D&D news, being the sole mage of the party is HARD. Either that or I'm just inexperienced, this being my first character who casts spells other than 'speak with animals'. Hamako, my fighter/shugenja spent all of the last battle casting sanctuary and cure light wounds right and left while the party, including herself, got slaughtered. That's the last time we encourage the DM to give us random bandits to fight. However it is now unanimous amongst the group that the sanctuary spell is the most awesome spell ever created.

Kell came over to play Settlers of Catan yesterday. Unfortunately there was a coup and she had to step down from the throne. Steve is now the current Lord Of All Catan, and I remain the Lowly Serf of All Catan. Technically when it comes to the last game played in this house, I was the last Lordess of all Catan, but Kelly's coup online robbed me of the crown.

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 19:10 | link |
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