September 28, 2002

I did a short bout of shopping with my mother today (she offered to drive me home... was incentive). We came across little Halloween goodies: light up ghosts, flying bats, and in a bit of cosmic humor, a giant tarantula. Have I mentioned I hate cosmic humor? Someone needs to do a case study on me about my ungodly severe arachnophobia. I 'spider sensed' it out of the corner of my eye as I was passing by an aisle, and stayed clear away from it. I mentioned it to my mom, who just had to go see. After all, Kristen (her 6 year old) might like it. Of course she would. It had about a foot long leg-span, was fuzzy and animatronic. It crawls around, makes freaky 'spider noises', and its beady eyes light up.

She bought it.

I told her I'm never coming over as long as that thing is in the house.

Oh, and yeah, Kristen loved it. Probably going to go run around hugging it or something. ::shudders::

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 20:17 | link |
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September 26, 2002

It just occurred to me, in a moment of who-knows-what, that any kid that has to be told 'reading is fundamental (RIF)' probably doesn't have any idea what 'fundamental' even means.

Or something. Whatever. I am currently writing the most forced and boring essay ever, so I am bitter.

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 21:58 | link |
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I love Kamui. Granted, a lot of it is superficial since he's got gorgeous eyes, is awfully pretty, and is very very uke. He just oozes "ravage me senselessly" appeal.

I was digging around in my folder of images when I came across this (right). How could I forget I had such a picture? It's strung-up-naked-winged-bondage!Kamui! Strung-up-naked-winged-bondage!Kamui is my favorite kind (wet!Kamui takes a close second, and bloody!Kamui takes a close third.) There simply aren't enough of said pics, but the ones that do exist are beyond beautiful.

My copy is a 2.5MB jpg, and I am determined to somehow, somehow, turn it into a layout. I have no idea how, but I'll figure out something.

I'm going to pick up my Asuka and Ribon subscriptions at the bookstore tomorrow. Issues 10. A little behind? You bet. It's also time for renewal, and I am poor. Perhaps I'll get a short subscription until I can scrounge up enough for another full year. It's my own fault that it renews so close to Christmas.

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 00:21 | link |
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September 24, 2002

D.N.Angel animated? That is what it seems to be, right? Hmm... I hope they play up the slashy subtext; the het triangles are rather dull.

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 19:53 | link |
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September 22, 2002

SQUEEEE!!!!! SQUEEE!!! If it were humanly possible to SQUEE any harder, I would!

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 15:55 | link |
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September 20, 2002

Re: Fruits Basket chapter 64 (latest)
Akito is suuuch a selfish snot. It's like he's having an uppity little tea-party and the Juunishi are his little porcelain dollies to play with and to break as he chooses. Nooo, Tooru can't play with his dollies; they might like her better because she's not quite so psychotic.

I always like when Akito shows up.

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 00:59 | link |
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I need something new to watch. I'm content on the manga front, but some gushable anime would be nice. Recs, anyone?

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 00:11 | link |
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September 19, 2002

I was sexually assaulted by some creep pervert on the train this morning. I'm not hurt, but I'm feeling rather gross and icky. I bolted, yelled at him, and fended off further advancement with my massive heavy backpack. It was scary though, because I was trapped in the subway car and the doors were all closed. After he fled I went straight to the transit security people and they called the cops. I spent the morning filing a police report and retelling the event countless times. The police were actually really fast and started looking for the guy immediately. They got one guy who fit my description, but it wasn't the right guy. Still, it shows they're looking.

Ugh. Sicko perverts who can't keep their hands to themselves or their things in their pants. If they want to expose themselves that badly, cut it off and then they'll be permanently exposed.

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

I have been busy scanslating the last 3 chapters of Gouhou Drug for a pal of mine who's of the school that sucky translations pulled out of anal orifices are better than no translations at all. Mind you, my quasi-translations are pretty pathetic even considering my knowlege is so limited. I understand enough to know what's going on, and she doens't mind if I make up stuff when I'm stuck (though she thinks that people might notice if I tried to make Kazahaya say, "I'm too sexy for my skirt," even though he IS!) It's all in good fun; too rudimentary to be taken seriously. I am still doing my best.

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 23:47 | link |
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September 17, 2002

The whole ff.n debacle is giving me a headache. The webmaster can do as he pleases; the world does not revolve around what you want. Now everyone go run off, learn some manners, and stop clogging up mailing list/message board threads. Hmpf.

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 21:54 | link |
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September 16, 2002

I can't find CLAMP's Clover music video anywhere. I have the CLAMP in Wonderland one, and I have the Wish one, but the one I really want is Clover. Anyone know what rock it's hiding under?

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 22:56 | link |
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Not dead, just away. Was up in Massachusetts; had a dentist appointment. Why a dentist in Massachusetts? It's a short story, and not a very interesting one. Have relatives-in-law across the street, so it becomes a weekend trip.

Is always a nice trip. Neither the house nor the Dr.'s office have changed at all in 15 years; the only things that change are the seasons. Gives an eerie sense of stability and timelessness. It's a tiny, residential, typically New England town (Chicopee) north of Springfield, and south of Holyoke. Pretty as all get out, but I imagine the children must go stir crazy.

It's a nice change of pace to be cut off from civilization for a while; maybe go hiking, or just sit on the porch and feed squirrels. (They have stars! In the sky! Don't get to see many stars here; you can see Orion in the winter if it is a clear night and you are in Staten Island)

Off to read backlogged mail.

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 13:21 | link |
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September 11, 2002

Watched some of the President strolling around on TV today. Saw the old scuplture of the Globe that used to be in the middle of the World Trade Center; they put up the remains of it as a monument. I'd always thought that it was one of the butt-ugliest sculptures in the city, and there are some really butt-ugly sculptures decorating manhattan to compare it to. It probably sounds callous to say it, but I think the sculpture getting banged up a little bit was an improvement. Mom agreed.

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 20:58 | link |
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September 10, 2002

It's going to be weird here tomorrow. All over the city, I mean.

Long story short, my mother was working in the World Trade Center when they smashed it. Tower 1, 23rd floor. She hasn't really been taking it too well; she's paranoid to begin with. (As she would say at this moment, "I had good reason to be paranoid, didn't I?") I also had a friend there; he got out safely as well.

I went downtown only once, about 2 months ago, ironically to show out-of-towners where the Towers used to stand. I wish I had gone earlier; it looks almost like any normal construction site.

I refuse to call it "9-11" or "Sept. 11" or "Patriots Day" or what have you. Especially annoying is "the events of 9-11." Just say it! Too afraid to speak of what actually happened? Need to distance it off where it's almost not real? Ugh. They destroyed part of my city and they made a hole in the sky!

There's a hole in my sky.

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 23:39 | link |
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September 8, 2002

It has been finally confirmed that Earthian by Kouga Yun is going to be republished and this time include the ending. Endings are good, especially when they are no longer rumored and elusive.

My copy of Earthian really shows its age, moreso than my other secondhand volumes. I'll get the new volume, but I hope they don't change the covers of the others (they probably will, since it's being published by Shueisha, not Shinshokan). I hate being tempted to buy rereleases because of new art; not so much the covers, but new internal color art. I'm poor enough that I don't seriously consider buying them (just that longing feeling, like when you look at sparkly, pretty jewelry with your nose pressed up to the store window), but I curse the lure of the Fushigi Yuugi and Koko wa Greenwood widebans. More artbooks, please.

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 15:10 | link |
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I've joined the fans in doing some research for the author of the Draco Trilogy. I have surveyed a resident straight boy with 'the question'.

Usa-p: ok, here's the situation
Usa-p: would you ever say to your absolute best male friend: "I would follow you to the gates of Hades"

Straight!boy1: in what kinda setting, am i an anime character? or ... as me a person..?

Usa-p: Person. Now, there's a war! Either or both of you might die!
Usa-p: You are very important in this war

Straight!boy1: who am i fighting against

Usa-p: the bad guys

Straight!boy1: what race are they
Straight!boy1: its a war with guns? like i nthe army and tanks? or what?

Usa-p: {snicker... why did all the men surveyed ask these same kinds of questions lol}
Human, and not human. All.
Usa-p: magic. it's a magic and swords war

Straight!boy1: I wouldnt say that quote .... it sounds gay

Usa-p: even if it's in a war and you might die?
Usa-p: well, if you wouldn't say that particularly, would you do it?

Straight!boy1: uh ... maybe if I was told to say it, but I'd never think to say that .. I'd be like "lets f them up"

Usa-p: but lets say he actually went to Hades... would you follow him?

Straight!boy1: well, if im locked into being at war, id get out for being diabetic and id go home, and my best friend has flat feet. Another out. ;-)

Usa-p: :-P

Straight!boy1: We can be home and watch the war on tv.


Sigh. Boys.

It seems all the responses have been going along the same lines. I wonder what this will mean for the future of our two dear main characters ^_~. And if you haven't read the fic yet, do. I have it listed on my side bar.

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 01:28 | link |
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September 6, 2002

Just watched my fansub of the Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi movie, soon to be released in the theaters here as Spirited Away. I've had it for a while and for various reasons just never got around to watching it. In a nutshell, it was very good. The story was interesting and the execution was good. It will, however, cause me to have nightmares for weeks. Nevermind that almost everything in this movie is grotesquely freaky looking, it's got excessive regurgitation, of which I am severely phobic. Luckily I'd heard about it ahead of time so I knew when to look away. The style of his movies tend to have something in it that scares me senseless. The tree-knocker things in Mononoke-hime - ooh those were freaky. And what's with the pigs? Personal squicks aside, (I'm just weird), it was definitely unique and I liked all of the characters, especially the main girl, Chihiro. It's wonderfully meaningful and worth watching.

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 01:11 | link |
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September 5, 2002

Blergh. FINALLY. All this annoyance for something so simple.

I present to you a monochrome layout. Temporary, I imagine, since it irritated me so much getting it to work. It will probably taunt me in a couple of weeks and I'll change it. I did really like this one when it was still just a Photoshop document. HTMLing makes you bitter.

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 00:28 | link |
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September 4, 2002

I am baffled.
I am coding this website. Everything works fine except that it refuses to be the colors I specify. It doesn't matter how I specify them: I can say "color=green"; I can use style sheets, internal, external or inline; it simply refuses to change any colors.
I upload it and show it to a friend and the colors don't work for her either.
I am baffled. We are baffled. There is much befuddlement.
So, I decide to copy it over from scratch. Letter by letter.

And now it works.

?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

I give up. The code is identical. I don't understand the world; it is made of cheese. I hate cheese.

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 23:13 | link |
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Have been working on a new layout for this blog. I love this one, but it's been up for six months and it's finally starting to wear thin with me. I had a replacement already made, but I just don't feel like using it. I considered reverting to the blog's original layout, but I didn't feel like using that either. Instead I've adapted a layout I designed for something else, and I plan to use that. That is, of course, assuming that it will start doing as I tell it. It refuses to change the text color; it refuses to do a whole lot of things that seem to be completely arbitrary. Makes me want to smash things.

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 21:58 | link |
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September 1, 2002

Cover of Gravitation volume 12
Yuki looks ok, but Shuuichi? What on earth is he (not) wearing!? As I have said before, that boy should not be allowed to buy his own clothes.
At least it's not the banana suit.

Usa-p internally wept for Kyou at 03:02 | link |
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