I am keeping a blog at http://shiena-kun.blogspot.com/ (you probably did if you're on my LJ friends list)? I just updated it with a million entries about spring break in Tokyo, so you should go read them. Thanks.

LIFE. IS. AWESOME.

I finally received official word from Kansai Gaidai that they are going to permit me to grace their noble Japanese halls in the spring. Everyone told me not to worry about it, and I wasn't really worried, but it was still hanging over my head as an uncertainty. It didn't help that the other two kids who applied heard from them last Friday (and were accepted), where I was left lonely. I guess it just got lost somewhere in the realm of e-correspondence.

This is awesome. I was going to feel like such a jerk if I told everyone I was going and something fucked up happened. But I did it. I did it. I'm going.

This news, coupled with a few other ridiculously amazing things, has made me delirious with joy. You wouldn't even believe me if I tried to tell you how happy I am.

It's incredible how your life can be filled with so much uncertainty and so many questions, and then things just fall into place and BAM, you are exactly where you always wanted to be but couldn't dare hope that you would actually get there. Here.

日本に行こうよ。

ひさしぶりな。

It's the start of a new semester, which is always rough, exciting, and all that stuff. I always miss everyone who isn't here anymore. But you know blah blah, new experiences and all that stuff. This semester should be good, I hope. I'm not sure if I want it to go quickly so that I can go to Japan (and play with Jess) or if I want it to pass slowly because once it's over I'm one step closer to becoming a senior, graduating, dealing with the rest of my life... all things I can't really think about right now.

I feel like I've been at Oberlin for about a thousand years (not this week, but in general). But at the same time, being a junior is all wrong. I feel like there should be more upperclassmen. I remember feeling this way when I was a junior in high school. When I realized that the only people who were older than me were seniors, I kind of freaked out a little bit. I think right now I'm in denial.

Freshman year feels a million years away. I was thinking about watching anime in my room in East with Jess after (well, and before) Anime Club. lol??

But um right, this week. Things are going well, but I hope that I don't have to kill myself this semester like I did last year. Our room is REALLY cool, I really like it, even though our bedrooms are on the small side. We're still kind of deciding what to do with our common room... it's huge. I caught myself thinking that I wished I could stay here the whole year, and then retorted in my head: Well yeah and then you can just NOT go to Japan. But yeah it's cool.

Here are the classes I'm taking:
-Japanese 301. Looks intense. Our textbook is all in Japanese. But it's Kurasawa, so. I'm ready.
-Chaucer. I'm actually kind of in love with it so far, which really surprises me. I've had to do the Canterbury Tales twice already and I hated it, but we're talking a lot about Middle English and medieval stuff and I'm totally entranced. Which is a good thing.
-Sexuality in Ancient Greece and Rome. It's fantastic. I had this professor for my freshman seminar which I loved, so, I already knew. We've already discussed pegging.
-Faulkner. This is going to be my most painful class I think. I am previously unread in Faulkner but I think I can handle it. Discussion the other day wasn't that exciting. And I hate when you read 5 stories but only discuss one. Fuck that.

I applied for the Circus Skillshare ExCo. I didn't get into Swing but I didn't think I would. Circus is better anyway.

Um, so, right, I really just wanted to write about Anime Club tonight. I had been a little skeptical about this first showing as I didn't see any posters (although other people did) and I was kind of just generally apprehensive about running things and wanting to do a good job.

A staggering THIRTY-NINE people showed up. I know a lot of people turn out for the first showing, but Craig was packed, it was amazing. I was so excited. A fair number of people stuck around for the meeting afterwards, and there were a lot of zealous freshmen. I think Gurren Lagann is going to draw a big crowd. I want to do some crazy advertising with it, like write "PIERCE THE HEAVENS WITH YOUR DRILL" in chalk in front of Stevie or something. I'm really excited to see it. And to have some new faces in AC. And to be President. HAHAHAHAHA.

TokiKake went over well. It didn't get quite the rise out of college students as it did from me and Jess's high school kids over the summer. But, you can't win them all. It's still a really great movie. I was pleased.

So, um, yeah, I hope things go smoothly this semester. I had to head-cook lunch in Pyle this week which was not ideal but I pulled through, SOMEHOW.

I do feel really at home here, and I always like that point that comes when people know who you are and you don't know who they are, because you're cool and they're n00bs.

Anyway. I'm thinking of all of you. <3

So here's this meme care of Andy, where you get a letter and pick 5 songs that start with it and talk about them or something. My letter is

O

(they're in alphabetical order)

1. Incubus - Oil and Water

you and I are
like oil and water
we've been trying
trying
trying
to mix it up

So Incubus has a special place in my heart, and lately I realized that they have held up well all these years instead of me being really sick of/embarrassed by them like most of my other middle school music. This song is from their latest album which I bought over WT freshman year and I was pleased that they're still writing good music. This song is one of my favorite tracks on the album and while the lyrics are kind of simple, there's a lot you can read into it by just listening to it. The idea of trying to make it work with someone who's sort of fundamentally different than you resonates with me.

2. of Montreal - Old Familiar Way

there's a skip in my step, a divine state of joy
in everything I do
'cause I am feeling new again
in that old familiar way...

I've already talked about this song in this journal... my brother plays it on the piano, and it's really cute. There are a lot of really good harmonies in it, and I really dig the overall vibe of the song.

3. the pillows - One Life

きみはぼくのひかり

I shouldn't even say anything about this song. They use it in the very first scene of FLCL, and it actually wasn't until I learned how to play it on the guitar that I realized what a beautiful song it is. I still need to memorize the lyrics, though... there are a lot of いい思い出 attached to this one.

4. Weezer - Only in Dreams

you can't resist her
she's in your bones
she's in your marrow
and your ride home
you can't avoid her
she's in the air
in between molecules of oxygen and carbon dioxide

This song is 8 minutes long but it carries it very well, which is maybe something you wouldn't expect from Weezer (but then again, this was at their prime pretty much). I really love this song. Rivers does do a really great job of catching that nerd teenager feeling without being too nerdy or too emotional about it. And the first few lines of this song have always struck me as oddly beautiful.

5. Detroit Cobras - Out of This World

I'm gonna love you when the sun goes down now
I'm gonna love you when no one's around now
I'm gonna keep the love all nice
'cause when we meet it's paradise

you really got something that's out of this world

For the Cobras, it was between this and On a Monday but I picked this one because of the significance in my life recently. This is one of my favorite tracks from Mink, Rat or Rabbit although it took me a while to notice it.

QUICK UPDATE!

Jess and I got the job at Kent State, we are SO COOL.

There's a party at my house in August, you should come, too.

I am in love with the circus. This summer, I'm going to become a juggling master. It's been decided.

Finals are soon, but I will overcome. This summer is going to be awesome.

Computer science totally kicked my ass just now, but it was so nice outside even at 1:30 AM when I rode my bike back that I couldn't be that mad.

And Drag Ball was pretty great.

Plus Phil is coming to visit this week. Stamina +100.

Some of you may remember this entry from the beginning of the school year. Well, tonight I FINALLY put some air back in my front tire (in case you forgot or I didn't tell you, I accidentally took all the air out of it about a month and a half ago and it's been too cold anyway for bike riding) and after a truly uplifting time at Mudd doing homework, I decided to do a repeat bike trip since it was really too nice outside to resist, even though rain is threatening.

The whole way down, I laughed. In a word, I felt alive. When I got to the playground, I hopped off my bike and walked around a little bit. I'm so glad that I have these things to carry with me.

Today I really didn't want to get back to work. I'm determined to find more time for myself in the half of a semester that I have left. I want to hold on, and to smile so much that it makes my face muscles hurt, which is something I had never experienced until this past Saturday.

To all my いい人たち: I love you. Thank you.

もうすぐだろう
目の前だろう
一人じゃない
一人じゃない
またたくほしみしらぬやみ
半分だけ月が笑う

I decided that I wanted all of my icons in my LJ, because they're not really anywhere else at the moment. And maybe someone will want them. There are a lot.

Also, I totally wrote a Java program to give me my table output instead of using one of the ones on the Internet that would do it for me... BECAUSE I'M A 1337 H4X0R AND I CAN. Using HTML and Java at the same time kind of broke my brain a little bit, though.

This is pretty much all of the icons I have made in the past 3ish years? I used to make a lot.

66 Bleach
31 Blood+
12 Ouran High School Host Club
7 Oruchuban Ebichu
8 Misc (Yu-Gi-Oh, Nodame Cantabile)

I don't really give a shit about crediting, as long as you don't say that you made them when I did. And if you want to change them, just don't make anything that looks like crap.





( you lone flower )

There have been a few things rolling around in my head lately. Here they are.

( 好き )

( Scarecrow, some lyrics and translations )

I am so so so so so so so excited for Anime Boston. My costume is about 90% done. Maybe even more like 94% done. I'm already daydreaming about all the pictures we're going to take and how awesome we're all going to look. Let's not even talk about how excited I am for this con.

This week was my first typical week of the semester, and I have to say, I'm busy. I kind of just don't stop going all day. I'm hoping I'll have some time to myself somewhere in there. I did manage to find time to watch some more Nodame live action, which really touches me even though I know the story already, and also the Taiko no Tatsujin anime which is, get this... clay-mation. That's right. Some of it was more awesome than others. It was 8 short shorts.

I listened to My Foot today since I missed it after listening to Wake Up!x3 so much. The opening chords of the album still force me to take a few deep breaths. Being able to play all those awesome 2-guitar parts someday is pretty high on my agenda.

Also, I really can't wait to see the DVD-only Baccano! episodes. I'm really kinda holding out for a second season... here's hoping.

You guys are cool.

I am reminded now why I don't ever use mood themes... it's because I always fill in my own. But now that I'm using this sweet Baccano! theme (maho_kiwi) I guess I'll have to make an exception.

This is the long-awaited Japanese entry of justice. Prepare yourself.

( things that surprised me about Japan )

( new words I learned )

( most used vocab words/grammar patterns )

( things to learn before I go back to Japan )

Ummm that's just basically a lot of lists. Enjoy.

This phrase (pay close attention to the punctuation) runs through my head a lot.

This is not going to look good on your friends page.







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So, as some of you know, I am taking the Super Smash Bros. Melee: Theory and Practicum ExCo.

I signed up for this ExCo to learn how to kick ass and take names, not to play SSBM for two hours. I know it's still early, but I can't help but feel like I'm there for different reasons than everyone else and I just don't have the same enthusiasm. These guys, it's like, as soon as they can, they jump on that controller and drool all over it. Now, it may be because I'm chill and not that obsessed with video games, or it may be because Jess has that GameCube and we can play whenever the fuck we want, but I can't help but feel a little disgusted at their desperation.

With that said, I totally dominated tonight, won a couple rounds and was consistently getting the most KOs. I chalk this up to two reasons rather than me getting better: 1, that the guys I was playing with were not that good compared to other people in SmashCo, and 2, I'm a bit of an opportunist. But, it feels good to win, even when you're just beating down freshmen n00bs.

Hopefully, I'll learn some sweet-ass techniques, and then you can all cry and beg me to tell you what Brawl is like, because holy fucking hell it's coming out December 3rd and I will still be in this ExCo then and you can bet I'm getting a piece of that.

I play as Zelda/Shiek btw, sometimes C. Falcon. I'm half-assedly trying to branch out. Show me your moves!

Sophia made me do it.

The seven songs that define my summer are...

1. the pillows - My Foot
2. SUEMITSU & THE SUEMITH - Sagittarius (2nd Nodame ED)
4. They Might be Giants - She's an Angel
5. Weezer and the Rentals - I Just Threw Out the Love of My Dreams
6. Hirasawa Susumu - Byakko no (Paprika Version) (Paprika OST, ending theme)
7. ORESKABAND - Tsumasaki (Bleach)

I tried to find a spot on this list for ELO - Twilight but I couldn't do it.

I tag anyone who wants to do it. YOU'RE IT.

There are AX pictures coming but I don't feel like dealing with Photobucket right now. Here, you can have one, I guess.



BOHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!11 I look far too excited in this picture.

Also, I finished Nodame Cantabile yesterday, and it was really fucking good. I recommend it to anyone with a quirky sense of humor and a small penchant for romance. Or if you're even remotely into classical music.

Or, how to make an awesome shirt awesomer

( for great justice )



Now you're ready to become the world's greatest detective and TRACK DOWN KIRA!

I PASSED GAWS LOL

I also just got way too excited for a pillows concert that happened last year in LA because I thought it was this year. I still think it's 2006, anyway, like, all the time, srsly. so sry. lol. *shot*

Not to be a hard-ass or anything like that. Viz did a really good job with the Bleach dub, I just want to point out some things that are kind of lulzy. I was watching episode 35 from Adult Swim this week...

I wish they would have stuck to the given/family names where they were in the original dub... there's no way I'll ever get used to Inoue and Ichigo calling Ishida 'Uryuu.' Also, this means that Kira (lol) and Hitsugaya-taichou call Hinamori 'MOMO.' There's something really funny about Hitsugaya-taichou saying MOMO really reproachfully.

Pronounciation is pretty good but still kind of inconsistant... someone (Hinamori?) called Hitsugaya 'TouSHIrou'... lol.

Spike Spencer as Hanatarou is hilarious, still. And I have totally accepted Johnny Yong Bosch as Ichigo. He's real good.

And I heard once that 'Squad' was the incorrect terminology for the divisions... I must say, 'squad' is a really funny word. But what do the fansubs say, division? Kind of clunky I guess.

I love Bleach, heehee! I can't wait to cosplay as Rukia at Anime Expo. I bought my wig yesterday, oh man. Rukia is so hot.

Oh man, I need to finish Blood+! This episode is cool... Solomon is totally coming this episode and he is way hot. Also, Karl is the lulziest character in this show.



I love that he and Mello have the same seiyuu because I love picturing Mello wearing that bat outfit. YES.

How cool is that? I always thought that maybe it would be really hot if I called myself 'ore.' 'Boku' is really cute, too. Or I could just go for the super-feminine 'atashi' and giggle a lot. But I don't really think that's as fun.

There's no new Bleach this week, how much does that suck? BUT OMG, Desu Noto was sooooo good. Mikami is hi-larious. He never really did anything for me in the manga, but now I think he's great. Especially his backstory... oh... the lulz.

I did that daemon thing and I got a tiger which I think is pretty sweet. It also said I'm humble, which I'm not... haha.

O YA, I was going to post pictures of me doing inappropriate things with my copy of DEATH NOTE VOL. 11 but I decided against it. Light is such a ladykiller. And Matsuda is totally lulzy. Misa is also pretty amusing, for once in her sorry existence... stupid bitch.

Ummm in other news...

Goddamn! wth, Rich Text sucks. Guys, come on, LJ is so lame, why do you have to drag me down with you? And like, images behind cuts is so uncool? ily anyway? And also, in this entry, I am stealing Wikipedia's bandwith, and also using Photobucket, because I think I'm actually not renewing my domain this year... I'm kinda bummed about that, but there's no reason for me to have it anymore. :( 'Tis the end of an era. I had it for 4 years?! Sheesh. RIP kickthebeat.net, 2003-2007.