I feel like I abuse this blog a little bit, but I've been a bit down lately. So I've sort of shut myself away, but that's going to change. I'm going to do something called BEDA which is Blog Everyday in April. I need to get things to change, and maybe this can help me see where I'm going wrong.
I have to get ready for J-Soc, seeing as I'm chairing that today, so I guess I'll be back tomorrow.
I need an anime post, okay? I know, I'm sorry, I really am. Things that I'm loving start finishing in the next week, and I need to talk about Fall 2010 and Winter 2010/2011. I just need to talk about this season. And I'll just link every anime to a page about it. Just cause I can.
I know a lot of stuff has been pushed back, so finishes a lot later because of the earthquakes and tsunamis and most of what we're getting is terrible quality because of warning maps over half of the screen, but I'm so not ready for some of these shows to finish. Not only is everything I picked up from this season ending at 11 or 12 episodes, but my two favourite shows from the fall line-up are ending too.
Everything I was watching this season was released on Thursday evening, a Friday morning, or a Saturday afternoon. So I'd group most of them together for my post-club watch on a Friday, and that was kind of nice, aside from me trying to pick what to watch first.
Star Driver is probably the ending that I'm most looking forward to, but at the same time, I'm dreading it. I love Star Driver. I love Takuto. I love Tauburn. I love Sugata. I hate Wako, but I love every other aspect of this show. At first, I was majorly confused about what was happening. I was like "Why are these mechs fighting? Why does he always have the same transformation sequence forever and always? Why is he fighting the same mech again 13 episodes down the line? Where is fish girl? What the fuck is zero time?" This anime has pretty much always kept me guessing, and it's actually had kind of, little filler. I'm interested to see how it'll all be tied up I suppose. But seriously, I love Takuto.
Tegami Bachi Reverse is another fall show that I literally caught up with just over a week ago. It's incredible and miles better than the original series. After the cliffhanger of the first season, and then Lag trying so hard to keep his promises to Sylvette (those two better end up married, I swear to God) and the whole Reverse story line, I've been squealing internally at every single little plot twist. I suppose this would get a favourable vote from me, purely because Tegami Bachi is by far my favourite manga and has been since I first got it in 2009 I think. It's just such an original shounen story that I hope has another season, or a spin off, just something.
I think this season, Freezing was the first thing I picked up, and for an ecchi show, it's not actually too horrible. It's far from great. It's actually pretty far from good, but it's okay, and watchable, but the story just isn't gelling with me. We get pretty much filler for the first seven episodes, and when stuff happens, I find myself caring very little. My theory is, if it's a 12 episode anime that has more than an episode of filler, it doesn't deserve an adapation. This is assuming they didn't just sneeze and Freezing came out.
Fractale was next, and surprisingly, a refreshing gem to come out of the woodwork amidst the ecchi, and the plain ordinary. I can't find myself hating the writer of this, regardless of the fact he is probably the biggest drama queen in the anime industry that I'm aware of. He's a really good writer, and he somehow manages to make characters that I don't relate to, but are beyond likeable. It's just a joy to watch something so well animated, and well written. Will be sad to see this one go.
My friend Adam reccomended me Madoka Magica, and I'm glad that he did. SHAFT working on a Magical Girl anime? It absolutely had to be amazing. I don't understand how people couldn't see a twist like the witches in there because, as anyone who likes anime beyond any normal level should know, SHAFT WERE THE PRODUCERS. SHAFT works because the shows they make are kind of messed up. Seriously, has no one seen the pattern? Bakemonogatari? Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei and its beyond dark sense of humour? I'll admit Arakawa was just plain funny, but with some pretty, uhm, unique, characters in there. I've had this discussion with Ed and Jon, but if there ever was one, I'd actually buy a Kyuubey plushie. Fantastic show, I'm looking forward to seeing if it'll get a second season or not. (Since writing this, the show has been suspended indefinitely. SHAFT, you are cack.)
Hourou Musuko or Wondering Son. What an adorable little slice of life/coming of age anime that actually kind of makes you, as the viewer consider a few things, like gender identity and transexuality. I'm not saying your own, but you get the point. I'm glad I watched this show. The idea of the play they did of Romeo and Juliet, and seeing how they portrayed Romeo wanting to be a girl, Juliet wanting to be a boy and them giving each other their names as gifts was just fantastic to see. I don't think there will be another show like this. Slice of life is very hit or miss for me, and the only thing this really lacked was comedy. There was next to none, and I think it was needed at times.
Dragon Crisis is something I've talked very briefly to Jon about - it looks pretty, it sounds pretty, but it's not pretty as an entire product. The story doesn't work. It just doesn't work. It's been done before, and that didn't work. For once, I would love to see a fantasy anime take place outside of a school. Oh, but when I say this show looks pretty, I mean it's actually beyond stunning to watch.
IS: Infinite Stratos. I don't know what to say about you. I enjoy you, I have no idea why though. Harems are my least favourite thing in the world, and you're riddled with clichés, but I just want to watch you for a few more weeks. Charles made this show for me. Completely and utterly made it for me. But sadly, Charles changed and was washed away with the sea of other characters in the show that I care very little for.
The other little bits and pieces that I'm watching are the Ah! My Goddess (2011) OVA, and the first episode was really nice and nostalgic for me. I think back to watching the 5 episode OVA repeatedly and it just tugs on the heartstrings. The Kuroshitsuji II Specials. Ciel in Wonderland was just fantastic, the interactive one was a little meh, and The Making of Kuroshitsuji II was amazing and hilarious. The Heroman Specials are just too short for me to form a proper opinion on, and coming out far too slowly. Koe de Oshigoto is my guilty pleasure seeing as it is pretty much a hentai. It's just funny, and cringy, and I think that's why it works. And the finger fellatio scenes were just the least erotic things I've ever witnessed in my life. And Starry Sky, I really couldn't care less about. It's still going to be with me until the end of the Spring Season.
I'm too sad it's over. I'm planning to buy Black version as soon as I have the money just so I can replay that story over and over again. It's my favourite Pokémon game by far, and I actually can't describe my love for N.
At least on the positive side, I have something else to track now, as well as my WoW level (hasn't gone up any lately, with the wedding, and Pokémon if I'm honest). I'm determind to finish this Pokédex. All 649 of them caught. This is how I'm fleshing the game out a little bit. I think I have to or otherwise I'm going to get majorly bad withdrawals. The next Pokémon thing that'll happen will probably be Ruby and Sapphire remakes, which were my second favourite games to this, so I should be happy when that rolls around in a year or so, by my guess.
Hopefully going to be trading and entralinking with Lee tomorrow in TCG before a bit of the Pokémon card game. I don't think I could ever forget why I have the friends I do, y'know?
I can't really say much about the wedding really. It was amazing, and lovely. Not as emotional as Tosh and Beth's wedding a couple of years ago, but still, really lovely.
Becca, I think you have to agree, looked completely stunning. The dress was just, beautiful, It was an ivory colour with burgundy rosebuds down the train, which isn't actually in the photo, and the bouquet had glittery flowers in it. The way to my heart is glitter in moderation.
And my niece Jaden looked so pretty too. She has nicer clothes than me. She had a fur coat too, and it was the nicest thing ever - not real fur, mind you. She's not rich. And she has an auntie that disproves of real fur.
I'm looking back on these photos and I'm really not sure I like my dress anymore, but it doesn't matter. I'll probably never wear it again anyway, and I haven't worn those shoes since my prom. I only wore them to the wedding because I forgot how much they hurt the first time and I don't look stumpy in heels.
The Hardwick Inn was something I looked forward to after half an hour of taking different group shots and posing for photos as the brides sister. I wanted a well deserved drink and a hefty slice of the chocolate cake I'd seen that morning. But I had a prawn cocktail as a starter, which was lovely. Then this Vegetarian Pasta which was horrible, so we sent it back to be replaced by a Goat Cheese Bake with Vegetables which was better, but still not fantastic. Then cake. Cake was fantastic. Derek spoils us with his fantastic cooking skills.
Honestly, there really wasn't all that much to the day, but it was nice to spend it with my family, and it was even better to see my sister so happy. I know that Allan will look after her, and honestly, I couldn't have hoped for any better. I'm happy that I have a new Brother-in-Law who I can talk to about getting wasted and stoned and he'll always have a good story about New Zealand to tell me over the Sunday Roast.
I honestly don't know two people better suited for one another, and I couldn't be happier for them. I was thinking of you today, Joshua. We still love you and miss you.
I have to write this in word pad and I'm not going to be able to post it until after the wedding now. Maybe before if I can coax the internet password out of Lee while he's concious, but probably afterwards now.
I'm currently at my sisters house. The sister being Helena, not Rebecca who's getting married tomorrow. My mum rang me up on the way back telling me that she was ill and it was best I not go home today, so I ended up here. Luckily, I got a lift back from Wolverhampton from Wardy. I would have been ever so slightly screwed if I was training it, seeing as my sisters is a mission away from any train station.
So I actually haven't done a proper update in a long time. So the short version of events would be club, Pokémon (as soon as I have my final team, I'll post something about it) and Propaganda last Friday. It seems like ages ago. I ended up in the smoking area pretty much all night and I made a lot of new facebook friends from it. I seem to suprise people when I say I play WoW, but similarly, it's kind of cool when you find a couple of them. I feel like I learn a few things about the game.
I ended up staying at this guy called Marc's house, and he was such a legend. He lived somewhere called Northfield which was way too far away from Birmingham and I was practically falling asleep in the taxi, so he let me have his bed and he stayed in his sisters room. Although I woke up at about six the next morning completely confused as to where I was. And then when I woke up properly, I was thirsty beyond belief and I had no idea what to do. There was like, half an hour before he made a reappearence, he made me a cup of tea and then pretty much escorted me all the way back to my front door, then he left again. He's someone who I wouldn't mind seeing again, he was really kind and quite the gentleman.
So I had club on Monday and I'm pretty sure that Megan isn't speaking to me at the minute because, well, I guess it's kind of stupid in writing. Let me get this straight, and put it on record, and Claky will back me up here - I fucking hate Digimon. Laura had brought in a bunch of Pick and Mixes as a back up, and Digimon was on there, and I outright refused to put it on. I think I might have said that if it was put on, I'd leave. And then Megan just decided to say that Digimon was a million times better than Pokémon, which is shit.
Just so you know - don't ever, ever, ever say that to me of all people.
I guess you could call me a hypocrite. But the thing is, I never asked for her opinion on Pokémon, which she quite obviously knows so little about it's frustrating that she has this need to bring it up every time Digimon is mentioned. I think if Digimon is ever brought up, which it rarely is, I might say that I never got into it, but I don't force my invalid opinion on everyone and make them feel utterly bullied by it. I guess I just feel bullied by everyone in that society. I'm probably still going to run for vice-chair next year if no one else does, I guess we'll see. We ended up watching Princess Princess by majority vote which I was so thankful for it was unreal, and I actually enjoyed it a little bit too. Only a little though.
After that, I went back to Cam's for turbo-rants on everything, and we played Pokémon, and entralinking is kind of cool. I did a mission for him where he got double exp for half an hour, he did the same for me, and we battled. I think it's obvious that I won because my Pokémon are pretty good stat-wise compared to his because he's still quite near the start. I get my Cottenee next week from Lee, and I can't wait to evolve it. It causes a grass-clash on my team though, and I'm not sure how to handle it.
Anyway, Tuesday, I had myself an anime day because I had nothing better to do other than sit around in my pyjamas and watch thirty one episodes of Tegami Bachi, three episodes of Pandora Hearts, an episode of Pokémon Best Wishes, the Nichijou OVA, an episode of Bakuman, and re-do my list design on MAL with an N theme. It was absolutely refreshing. And I've fallen in love with the second season of Tegami Bachi, I think there might be a third unless they're actually going to tie up all these loose ends in two episodes. Definitely considering getting a Tegami Bachi tattoo of some description, and probably replacing Clannad: After Story on my favourite anime list with it. There's a lot of anime I want to watch in my life time, so cramming it in whenever I have the chance is a good thing for me, and it kind of brings me back down to earth after having my head in the clouds for so long. That will sound stupid to anyone who reads this, but I don't care.
I guess I never really realised how much anime had impacted me before I watched Tokyo Magnitude 8.0. I think it's rekindled something.
-x-
Okay, I stopped writing there so I could go to sleep. Everyone's gone out and I'm locked in the living room, and nearly in tears because I have no idea what to do. The door is physically jammed shut, and I need to start getting ready for the wedding ;-;
-x-
I managed to get out reletively unscathed, and I'll post about the wedding tomorrow.
When this picture was taken on Friday, the death toll was a confirmed 60. It's thought to be closer to 10,000 now.
I don't really know what to say. Obviously, by now pretty much every human being will know about the earthquakes and tsunamis in Japan over this past weekend. And I just don't know what to say. I spent a portion of my weekend watching an anime called Tokyo Magnitude 8.0, just so I could have a vague idea of what could possibly happening over there and it's scary.
I guess as a silver lining, there's a list of anime/manga/video game industry members who have checked in and let everyone know they're alive and well. I'm going to carry on checking that list for a while in the hopes that Mamoru Miyano checks in soon.
This has just hit me incredibly hard. I plan to move to Japan still. There are a lot of things I want to experience there. I wish I could do something to help, but I just can't, and that bothers me more than I can actually mention.
So, I'll talk about my returning home a little further. After hearing my mum rant which is where I last was when I wrote on here, we headed to Mansfield. I actually hate Mansfield beyond belief. We went so that I could get a dress for my sisters wedding next week, and I managed to find one in TKMaxx for about £24. It's grey, it's pretty, I like it a lot. There'll be photos next week.
After that there was the sales that me and my mum hit in Republic, and I got the cutest things I own from there. I got a new pair of shorts, these amazing grey wool tights, a jumper and two new tops. One of which is white and I've already managed to get a tiny little bit of red wine on. And
my mum also treated me to the first foundation I've ever owned and I'm ridiculously attached to it already.
Then I tried so hard to find something for my mum to wear, but she has worse self confidence issues than me and refused to get anything that looked absolutely lovely on her. I refuse to believe she's a size 20, seeing as I'm the middle ground of 6 and 8. She's impossible to shop for, even though she's actually beautiful.
After BHS was a complete loss, we headed home for baguettes and attempted to strip at least some of the colour out of my hair, which actually kind of worked. And then we just lounged around for the rest of the day until I managed to get out from my warm little corner in the sofa and get ready for the cinema.
I went with Wardy to see Paul, which I loved far more than Hot Fuzz, but not as much as Shaun of the Dead. I just found it hilarious, and definitely my kind of film. We even got premier seats. I've never had someone pay for my premier seat before in my life. It was amazing, the leg room was just completely awesome.
After that it was McDonalds, where I had a lot of chips, and a lot of tomato sauce. I started thinking about Mansfield a little more when I saw some of the people around me.
This was something else I considered on the train back to Wolverhampton too. I've realised that there is nothing left for me back at home. I hate living in Kirkby, and in Wolverhampton, I'm really happy. So unless it's unavoidable, I don't plan to go back, apart from to see my friends and family. I don't plan to live there again, and that actually changes a lot of things. I'm pretty certain it's not going to affect a great deal. I've been living here for nearly 2 years and I've kept in touch with a lot of people.
So on that note, I'm going to reply to some facebook messages, and get ready for my house viewing today at 1:30pm, with Kris and Lee. Should be interesting to say the least.
Pardon me for sounding a little self centred here, but this is the first time I've been home in two months. I was hoping that my family would at least act a little happier to see me.
So I'm going back to Wolverhampton tomorrow, and so far, this weekend has just been about me playing on Pokémon and not really doing a great deal else. We're going into Mansfield in about half an hour, and my mum's stood in front of the fire ranting about the Chad's advertising services. I love my mum, but this is the third time I've heard this rant today, and it's only just turned 9am.
I saw a load of my family yesterday, chatted with Helena as I usually do about my hair and what kind of stuff I need to get for hair project number 1532. It's either going to turn out amazing, or I'm going to regret it straight away. I saw Rebecca, and we talked wedding-y things. Found out Badge has a date for the wedding, and I'm going to be Miss Only Lonely there, which is just great.
There's something about booking a taxi now, so I guess we're going out a lot earlier than I'd thought, but I'll do my progress with Pokémon now, and then it might be another thing I track along with my WoW level.
I have a team consisting of:
Servine: Lvl 29
Herdier: Lvl 26
Bliztle: Lvl 26
Scraggy: Lvl 17
Just completed the 4th Gym, my Pokédex is like 26 or something like that, and I'm really, really enjoying it. I can't wait for more event scenes with N. N is officially my favourite character in this game aside from Hilda, the main character, even if she does have a ridiculous name. So pretty much the last 50 liked posts I have on Tumblr are of N and Volkner. So I think since my mum is looking at me like she wants me to turn the computer off, I think I'm going to finish by just throwing a picture that I found on Tumblr and then fuck off. I'll do a better post when I'm not pressed for time listening to my mum rant on about stuff I couldn't care less about. Ho hum.
"There's always some Pokémon you like. That's the reason it's very popular and the reason it's liked all over the world."
I'm getting Pokémon: White Version this Sunday as a late birthday present from Badge, and you have no idea of the level of my excitement. I plan to start off with a Snivy. I love grass Pokémon the most, so it's not really a big choice for me. Plus Oshawott was annoying as fuck in the anime, and Tepig is a pig, therefore it's automatically a no-pick for me.
I've done posts on Pokémon before, so it's not exactly a secret that I'm still a complete Pokémaniac. And it's definitely not a secret that Pokémon changed my life in ridiculous ways that games never should, but I'm sure I've already talked about that on a blog before.
I was hoping that there would be another Pokémon event around the time of its release, but no such thing. The last event I went to was the Village Fete and that was incredible. Like, properly awesome. But it makes me feel old. I've been into this franchise for the best part of 12 years and that's terrifying.
I'm just excited that I get to relive that part of my childhood again until I clock up 100 hours on the game and decide to leave it alone for a while. I'm also majorly looking forward to the remakes of Ruby and Sapphire versions. They were some of my favourite games of all time. I don't regret giving my version of Sapphire away to Simon - I'm totally sharing the love.
So basically, I get the game on Sunday, I'm choosing a Snivy, not evolving it further than its second stage, and probably nicknaming it Keima. I might do another post about Pokémon when I have my team sorted out.
The amount of squiggly red lines in this post is hurting, so I'm going over to Kris' for toast, and then going home tomorrow. Probably won't be online much while I'm at home, but I do plan to take a shit tonne of pictures.
Yesterday, I had an awesome time at TCG, and it's been one of the only times I've ever been disappointed that it was 8pm and that I had to leave. I spent most of the day with Andy beforehand, as he pretty much needed the company. It gave me a good chance to get some of the End of Year Party sorted. Which is going to crash and burn, but still.
I had a really nice time with him, and then we found Lewis who was without Iain. So the band meeting just didn't happen and I decided to go to TCG to hang out with Cam, Lee, Paul and Jon. It was the first time since Christmas I've felt like I was included in that group, and I think that was down to the fact Lewis had left because he was apparently starting to get quite angry at something. Never told me what, but he left before 6pm and that meant I got to spend time with those guys again, without Lewis glaring at them.
We talked about the new season anime, and there are about a million things that we want to watch. Lee is the person who I enjoy talking about anime to the most out of anyone because our tastes are ridiculously similar. And people like him make me realise why chairing club isn't all that bad. He admitted that I seem to have it worse than him with members.
We played Pokémon, and I lost so badly because his deck is wrong. He said he'd build another one for next week because I don't actually stand a chance. But when everyone was getting kicked out, Cam was saying I seemed in a better mood. And to be honest, I felt better than I had in absolutely ages. I know I'm going to go to J-Soc later and Jazz will do something to piss me off, but I don't even care. I'm going in to see Megan, Andy and Laura more than anything else to be honest.
Though this whole situation has it's bad parts, I'm trying not to focus on them. But I've been trying to get this party sorted since the start of last month, and Fet-Soc have stolen my date, so I don't know how I'm going to work around that. This is all uninteresting, I will get it sorted, but the hardest thing is going to be getting people to go. I don't really know how to convince people that it'll be a good night.
But basically, at the minute, the source of me not enjoying hanging out at Societies is Lewis, and there's not a whole load I can do to change that. Going to be sending off the proposal for the party tomorrow and then all I have to do is book another band and we're sorted. People better come to this bastarding party, I swear.
I've spent the last half an hour reminiscing about Amecon to myself, and I remembered that I was posting the videos that Claky was uploading on here, but totally forgot to embed the 10 minute one that he made me as part of my birthday present. It's made me miss Amecon, but that bit more determined to get to Ayacon.
So yeah, there's a few things I need to catch up with on here. Firstly, Mayday Parade have a new song called Terrible Things which is completely amazing. Me and Laura are going to see them again in May in The Rescue Rooms, which I can't wait for. Plus, even after being all over the country for gigs, The Rescue Rooms is one of my favourite venues. One of my favourite bands in one of my favourite venues, what is there not to look forward to?
So, there's a few things to talk about. Anime club being the first I suppose. I'd love to post about that club and it not be a bad thing, but mostly it's just far too much stress with no reward whatsoever, aside from a tiny thing on my CV. I think the fact that I'm far too sleep deprived lately isn't helping the fact that it just exhausts me, even on my best days. I have no idea how Cam did it last year on top of the commute to and from Shrewsbury.
But on Friday, my laptop was being a bit of a dick as usual, and for some reason I couldn't get it to switch back from the multiple monitor set up that I have going off at home for anime watching and WoW playing. And for some reason Luke and Lewis decided to crowd me which freaks me out as it is. I had Lewis leaning over the front of me and Luke standing behind me trying to fix it and I just completely flipped because I felt so fucking trapped. So I started shouting, telling them to get out of the way and I just ran out, in front of about 20 people and felt like a complete dick because of it.
I'm fortunate that Andy was there because he took me outside and he bought me a salad and a chocolate bar because it's quite apparent that my lack of money is sadly sending me into a state where I don't get the option of eating and he could see it. He's been such a legend with sorting me out with money, and I can't help but feel guilty that he's the fifth person that I pretty much owe my health to. After that I managed to calm myself down enough to power through the rest of club.
So I was a little worried about the next day being a bit too much for me to deal with, and even though I'd been awake since about 3am, it really wasn't too bad. It was a Rock Band night with Iain and Lewis, who are my bandmates, and the theory behind it happening was that my self-esteem is pretty low, and I need to start singing in front of them at the very least so we can, y'know, rehearse. It was actually a pretty good time, where I got to the level of drunk that was just comfortable but I could still stand up.
Me and Iain have the plan of getting incredibly drunk before this gig happens because neither of us will be able to do it sober. But I managed to sing a little bit in front of them both. Lewis bought a Mayday Parade song for me because they had very few that I knew how to sing. So when they happen again, I'll be singing Jamie All Over quite a lot. I managed to get 99% on hard singing, so I'm pretty happy with that. Lewis also busted out the N64 at some point and it was like, nostalgia central because it's been years since I've played anything on an N64. Iain is another person who hasn't played on Ocarina of Time. This disappoints me greatly.
We actually managed to all sit up until about 6:00am-ish. Then Iain went to bed, and Lewis was playing on Banjo Kazooie so I decided to bail and did the ridiculously long walk home. I don't want to move to Lewis' because of how stupid that walk is, and seeing Kris, Lee and Andy would be far too much effort. I'd make it, but still. I'd rather not.
When I got back, my computer had gone completely mental, so I tried to sleep, but couldn't. Seriously, I don't know what was going on, but it wouldn't open any programs and it changed the desktop background to a blue screen with shit wrote on it like "DANGER. YOU ARE ENDANGERING YOUR WIFE, YOUR KIDS, YOUR BOSS, YOUR LIFE" and it was terrifying.
Oh yeah, I went to Planet on Thursday. That was pretty interesting. I ended up hanging out with Chris Black and his friends, which turned into a kitchen thing that Warren was at, and then someone decided to let of a fire extinguisher. It was a big mess.
The only other interesting things that have happened have been things like having terrorism discussions with Andy and Kris and watching Andy play on Viva Piñata. I'm still unimpressed that he killed his Mousemallow.
I’m Ebbie. Twenty years old. British. Born on January 13th. I’m an otaku.
I love anime, manga, video games, Pokémon, Vocaloids, Madina Lake, pyjamas, Bones, Tauburn, pandas, N, vodka and coke, larger and black, Richmond Menthol Superkings, Wolves Anime Club,
Nottingham Rock City, Babylon, Luxray, Luxio and Shinx, Yen Press, Tegami Bachi, Tattoos, Travis Touchdown, World of Warcraft, Shounen Jump, Brad Swaile, Converses, oversized jewellery,
Photoshop, Gendou, Gaia Online, cosplay, conventions, plushies, pillows, figmas, Japanese sweets, Momiji, Persona 4, Yuya Matsushita, Kuroshitsuji, Nintendo, Link, Studio Ghibli, autumn,
Tumblr, Scott Pilgrim, drawing and Disney films.
I feel like I abuse this blog a little bit, but I've been a bit down lately. So I've sort of shut myself away, but that's going to change. I'm going to do something called BEDA which is Blog Everyday in April. I need to get things to change, and maybe this can help me see where I'm going wrong.
I have to get ready for J-Soc, seeing as I'm chairing that today, so I guess I'll be back tomorrow.
I need an anime post, okay? I know, I'm sorry, I really am. Things that I'm loving start finishing in the next week, and I need to talk about Fall 2010 and Winter 2010/2011. I just need to talk about this season. And I'll just link every anime to a page about it. Just cause I can.
I know a lot of stuff has been pushed back, so finishes a lot later because of the earthquakes and tsunamis and most of what we're getting is terrible quality because of warning maps over half of the screen, but I'm so not ready for some of these shows to finish. Not only is everything I picked up from this season ending at 11 or 12 episodes, but my two favourite shows from the fall line-up are ending too.
Everything I was watching this season was released on Thursday evening, a Friday morning, or a Saturday afternoon. So I'd group most of them together for my post-club watch on a Friday, and that was kind of nice, aside from me trying to pick what to watch first.
Star Driver is probably the ending that I'm most looking forward to, but at the same time, I'm dreading it. I love Star Driver. I love Takuto. I love Tauburn. I love Sugata. I hate Wako, but I love every other aspect of this show. At first, I was majorly confused about what was happening. I was like "Why are these mechs fighting? Why does he always have the same transformation sequence forever and always? Why is he fighting the same mech again 13 episodes down the line? Where is fish girl? What the fuck is zero time?" This anime has pretty much always kept me guessing, and it's actually had kind of, little filler. I'm interested to see how it'll all be tied up I suppose. But seriously, I love Takuto.
Tegami Bachi Reverse is another fall show that I literally caught up with just over a week ago. It's incredible and miles better than the original series. After the cliffhanger of the first season, and then Lag trying so hard to keep his promises to Sylvette (those two better end up married, I swear to God) and the whole Reverse story line, I've been squealing internally at every single little plot twist. I suppose this would get a favourable vote from me, purely because Tegami Bachi is by far my favourite manga and has been since I first got it in 2009 I think. It's just such an original shounen story that I hope has another season, or a spin off, just something.
I think this season, Freezing was the first thing I picked up, and for an ecchi show, it's not actually too horrible. It's far from great. It's actually pretty far from good, but it's okay, and watchable, but the story just isn't gelling with me. We get pretty much filler for the first seven episodes, and when stuff happens, I find myself caring very little. My theory is, if it's a 12 episode anime that has more than an episode of filler, it doesn't deserve an adapation. This is assuming they didn't just sneeze and Freezing came out.
Fractale was next, and surprisingly, a refreshing gem to come out of the woodwork amidst the ecchi, and the plain ordinary. I can't find myself hating the writer of this, regardless of the fact he is probably the biggest drama queen in the anime industry that I'm aware of. He's a really good writer, and he somehow manages to make characters that I don't relate to, but are beyond likeable. It's just a joy to watch something so well animated, and well written. Will be sad to see this one go.
My friend Adam reccomended me Madoka Magica, and I'm glad that he did. SHAFT working on a Magical Girl anime? It absolutely had to be amazing. I don't understand how people couldn't see a twist like the witches in there because, as anyone who likes anime beyond any normal level should know, SHAFT WERE THE PRODUCERS. SHAFT works because the shows they make are kind of messed up. Seriously, has no one seen the pattern? Bakemonogatari? Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei and its beyond dark sense of humour? I'll admit Arakawa was just plain funny, but with some pretty, uhm, unique, characters in there. I've had this discussion with Ed and Jon, but if there ever was one, I'd actually buy a Kyuubey plushie. Fantastic show, I'm looking forward to seeing if it'll get a second season or not. (Since writing this, the show has been suspended indefinitely. SHAFT, you are cack.)
Hourou Musuko or Wondering Son. What an adorable little slice of life/coming of age anime that actually kind of makes you, as the viewer consider a few things, like gender identity and transexuality. I'm not saying your own, but you get the point. I'm glad I watched this show. The idea of the play they did of Romeo and Juliet, and seeing how they portrayed Romeo wanting to be a girl, Juliet wanting to be a boy and them giving each other their names as gifts was just fantastic to see. I don't think there will be another show like this. Slice of life is very hit or miss for me, and the only thing this really lacked was comedy. There was next to none, and I think it was needed at times.
Dragon Crisis is something I've talked very briefly to Jon about - it looks pretty, it sounds pretty, but it's not pretty as an entire product. The story doesn't work. It just doesn't work. It's been done before, and that didn't work. For once, I would love to see a fantasy anime take place outside of a school. Oh, but when I say this show looks pretty, I mean it's actually beyond stunning to watch.
IS: Infinite Stratos. I don't know what to say about you. I enjoy you, I have no idea why though. Harems are my least favourite thing in the world, and you're riddled with clichés, but I just want to watch you for a few more weeks. Charles made this show for me. Completely and utterly made it for me. But sadly, Charles changed and was washed away with the sea of other characters in the show that I care very little for.
The other little bits and pieces that I'm watching are the Ah! My Goddess (2011) OVA, and the first episode was really nice and nostalgic for me. I think back to watching the 5 episode OVA repeatedly and it just tugs on the heartstrings. The Kuroshitsuji II Specials. Ciel in Wonderland was just fantastic, the interactive one was a little meh, and The Making of Kuroshitsuji II was amazing and hilarious. The Heroman Specials are just too short for me to form a proper opinion on, and coming out far too slowly. Koe de Oshigoto is my guilty pleasure seeing as it is pretty much a hentai. It's just funny, and cringy, and I think that's why it works. And the finger fellatio scenes were just the least erotic things I've ever witnessed in my life. And Starry Sky, I really couldn't care less about. It's still going to be with me until the end of the Spring Season.
I'm too sad it's over. I'm planning to buy Black version as soon as I have the money just so I can replay that story over and over again. It's my favourite Pokémon game by far, and I actually can't describe my love for N.
At least on the positive side, I have something else to track now, as well as my WoW level (hasn't gone up any lately, with the wedding, and Pokémon if I'm honest). I'm determind to finish this Pokédex. All 649 of them caught. This is how I'm fleshing the game out a little bit. I think I have to or otherwise I'm going to get majorly bad withdrawals. The next Pokémon thing that'll happen will probably be Ruby and Sapphire remakes, which were my second favourite games to this, so I should be happy when that rolls around in a year or so, by my guess.
Hopefully going to be trading and entralinking with Lee tomorrow in TCG before a bit of the Pokémon card game. I don't think I could ever forget why I have the friends I do, y'know?
I can't really say much about the wedding really. It was amazing, and lovely. Not as emotional as Tosh and Beth's wedding a couple of years ago, but still, really lovely.
Becca, I think you have to agree, looked completely stunning. The dress was just, beautiful, It was an ivory colour with burgundy rosebuds down the train, which isn't actually in the photo, and the bouquet had glittery flowers in it. The way to my heart is glitter in moderation.
And my niece Jaden looked so pretty too. She has nicer clothes than me. She had a fur coat too, and it was the nicest thing ever - not real fur, mind you. She's not rich. And she has an auntie that disproves of real fur.
I'm looking back on these photos and I'm really not sure I like my dress anymore, but it doesn't matter. I'll probably never wear it again anyway, and I haven't worn those shoes since my prom. I only wore them to the wedding because I forgot how much they hurt the first time and I don't look stumpy in heels.
The Hardwick Inn was something I looked forward to after half an hour of taking different group shots and posing for photos as the brides sister. I wanted a well deserved drink and a hefty slice of the chocolate cake I'd seen that morning. But I had a prawn cocktail as a starter, which was lovely. Then this Vegetarian Pasta which was horrible, so we sent it back to be replaced by a Goat Cheese Bake with Vegetables which was better, but still not fantastic. Then cake. Cake was fantastic. Derek spoils us with his fantastic cooking skills.
Honestly, there really wasn't all that much to the day, but it was nice to spend it with my family, and it was even better to see my sister so happy. I know that Allan will look after her, and honestly, I couldn't have hoped for any better. I'm happy that I have a new Brother-in-Law who I can talk to about getting wasted and stoned and he'll always have a good story about New Zealand to tell me over the Sunday Roast.
I honestly don't know two people better suited for one another, and I couldn't be happier for them. I was thinking of you today, Joshua. We still love you and miss you.
I have to write this in word pad and I'm not going to be able to post it until after the wedding now. Maybe before if I can coax the internet password out of Lee while he's concious, but probably afterwards now.
I'm currently at my sisters house. The sister being Helena, not Rebecca who's getting married tomorrow. My mum rang me up on the way back telling me that she was ill and it was best I not go home today, so I ended up here. Luckily, I got a lift back from Wolverhampton from Wardy. I would have been ever so slightly screwed if I was training it, seeing as my sisters is a mission away from any train station.
So I actually haven't done a proper update in a long time. So the short version of events would be club, Pokémon (as soon as I have my final team, I'll post something about it) and Propaganda last Friday. It seems like ages ago. I ended up in the smoking area pretty much all night and I made a lot of new facebook friends from it. I seem to suprise people when I say I play WoW, but similarly, it's kind of cool when you find a couple of them. I feel like I learn a few things about the game.
I ended up staying at this guy called Marc's house, and he was such a legend. He lived somewhere called Northfield which was way too far away from Birmingham and I was practically falling asleep in the taxi, so he let me have his bed and he stayed in his sisters room. Although I woke up at about six the next morning completely confused as to where I was. And then when I woke up properly, I was thirsty beyond belief and I had no idea what to do. There was like, half an hour before he made a reappearence, he made me a cup of tea and then pretty much escorted me all the way back to my front door, then he left again. He's someone who I wouldn't mind seeing again, he was really kind and quite the gentleman.
So I had club on Monday and I'm pretty sure that Megan isn't speaking to me at the minute because, well, I guess it's kind of stupid in writing. Let me get this straight, and put it on record, and Claky will back me up here - I fucking hate Digimon. Laura had brought in a bunch of Pick and Mixes as a back up, and Digimon was on there, and I outright refused to put it on. I think I might have said that if it was put on, I'd leave. And then Megan just decided to say that Digimon was a million times better than Pokémon, which is shit.
Just so you know - don't ever, ever, ever say that to me of all people.
I guess you could call me a hypocrite. But the thing is, I never asked for her opinion on Pokémon, which she quite obviously knows so little about it's frustrating that she has this need to bring it up every time Digimon is mentioned. I think if Digimon is ever brought up, which it rarely is, I might say that I never got into it, but I don't force my invalid opinion on everyone and make them feel utterly bullied by it. I guess I just feel bullied by everyone in that society. I'm probably still going to run for vice-chair next year if no one else does, I guess we'll see. We ended up watching Princess Princess by majority vote which I was so thankful for it was unreal, and I actually enjoyed it a little bit too. Only a little though.
After that, I went back to Cam's for turbo-rants on everything, and we played Pokémon, and entralinking is kind of cool. I did a mission for him where he got double exp for half an hour, he did the same for me, and we battled. I think it's obvious that I won because my Pokémon are pretty good stat-wise compared to his because he's still quite near the start. I get my Cottenee next week from Lee, and I can't wait to evolve it. It causes a grass-clash on my team though, and I'm not sure how to handle it.
Anyway, Tuesday, I had myself an anime day because I had nothing better to do other than sit around in my pyjamas and watch thirty one episodes of Tegami Bachi, three episodes of Pandora Hearts, an episode of Pokémon Best Wishes, the Nichijou OVA, an episode of Bakuman, and re-do my list design on MAL with an N theme. It was absolutely refreshing. And I've fallen in love with the second season of Tegami Bachi, I think there might be a third unless they're actually going to tie up all these loose ends in two episodes. Definitely considering getting a Tegami Bachi tattoo of some description, and probably replacing Clannad: After Story on my favourite anime list with it. There's a lot of anime I want to watch in my life time, so cramming it in whenever I have the chance is a good thing for me, and it kind of brings me back down to earth after having my head in the clouds for so long. That will sound stupid to anyone who reads this, but I don't care.
I guess I never really realised how much anime had impacted me before I watched Tokyo Magnitude 8.0. I think it's rekindled something.
-x-
Okay, I stopped writing there so I could go to sleep. Everyone's gone out and I'm locked in the living room, and nearly in tears because I have no idea what to do. The door is physically jammed shut, and I need to start getting ready for the wedding ;-;
-x-
I managed to get out reletively unscathed, and I'll post about the wedding tomorrow.
When this picture was taken on Friday, the death toll was a confirmed 60. It's thought to be closer to 10,000 now.
I don't really know what to say. Obviously, by now pretty much every human being will know about the earthquakes and tsunamis in Japan over this past weekend. And I just don't know what to say. I spent a portion of my weekend watching an anime called Tokyo Magnitude 8.0, just so I could have a vague idea of what could possibly happening over there and it's scary.
I guess as a silver lining, there's a list of anime/manga/video game industry members who have checked in and let everyone know they're alive and well. I'm going to carry on checking that list for a while in the hopes that Mamoru Miyano checks in soon.
This has just hit me incredibly hard. I plan to move to Japan still. There are a lot of things I want to experience there. I wish I could do something to help, but I just can't, and that bothers me more than I can actually mention.
So, I'll talk about my returning home a little further. After hearing my mum rant which is where I last was when I wrote on here, we headed to Mansfield. I actually hate Mansfield beyond belief. We went so that I could get a dress for my sisters wedding next week, and I managed to find one in TKMaxx for about £24. It's grey, it's pretty, I like it a lot. There'll be photos next week.
After that there was the sales that me and my mum hit in Republic, and I got the cutest things I own from there. I got a new pair of shorts, these amazing grey wool tights, a jumper and two new tops. One of which is white and I've already managed to get a tiny little bit of red wine on. And
my mum also treated me to the first foundation I've ever owned and I'm ridiculously attached to it already.
Then I tried so hard to find something for my mum to wear, but she has worse self confidence issues than me and refused to get anything that looked absolutely lovely on her. I refuse to believe she's a size 20, seeing as I'm the middle ground of 6 and 8. She's impossible to shop for, even though she's actually beautiful.
After BHS was a complete loss, we headed home for baguettes and attempted to strip at least some of the colour out of my hair, which actually kind of worked. And then we just lounged around for the rest of the day until I managed to get out from my warm little corner in the sofa and get ready for the cinema.
I went with Wardy to see Paul, which I loved far more than Hot Fuzz, but not as much as Shaun of the Dead. I just found it hilarious, and definitely my kind of film. We even got premier seats. I've never had someone pay for my premier seat before in my life. It was amazing, the leg room was just completely awesome.
After that it was McDonalds, where I had a lot of chips, and a lot of tomato sauce. I started thinking about Mansfield a little more when I saw some of the people around me.
This was something else I considered on the train back to Wolverhampton too. I've realised that there is nothing left for me back at home. I hate living in Kirkby, and in Wolverhampton, I'm really happy. So unless it's unavoidable, I don't plan to go back, apart from to see my friends and family. I don't plan to live there again, and that actually changes a lot of things. I'm pretty certain it's not going to affect a great deal. I've been living here for nearly 2 years and I've kept in touch with a lot of people.
So on that note, I'm going to reply to some facebook messages, and get ready for my house viewing today at 1:30pm, with Kris and Lee. Should be interesting to say the least.
Pardon me for sounding a little self centred here, but this is the first time I've been home in two months. I was hoping that my family would at least act a little happier to see me.
So I'm going back to Wolverhampton tomorrow, and so far, this weekend has just been about me playing on Pokémon and not really doing a great deal else. We're going into Mansfield in about half an hour, and my mum's stood in front of the fire ranting about the Chad's advertising services. I love my mum, but this is the third time I've heard this rant today, and it's only just turned 9am.
I saw a load of my family yesterday, chatted with Helena as I usually do about my hair and what kind of stuff I need to get for hair project number 1532. It's either going to turn out amazing, or I'm going to regret it straight away. I saw Rebecca, and we talked wedding-y things. Found out Badge has a date for the wedding, and I'm going to be Miss Only Lonely there, which is just great.
There's something about booking a taxi now, so I guess we're going out a lot earlier than I'd thought, but I'll do my progress with Pokémon now, and then it might be another thing I track along with my WoW level.
I have a team consisting of:
Servine: Lvl 29
Herdier: Lvl 26
Bliztle: Lvl 26
Scraggy: Lvl 17
Just completed the 4th Gym, my Pokédex is like 26 or something like that, and I'm really, really enjoying it. I can't wait for more event scenes with N. N is officially my favourite character in this game aside from Hilda, the main character, even if she does have a ridiculous name. So pretty much the last 50 liked posts I have on Tumblr are of N and Volkner. So I think since my mum is looking at me like she wants me to turn the computer off, I think I'm going to finish by just throwing a picture that I found on Tumblr and then fuck off. I'll do a better post when I'm not pressed for time listening to my mum rant on about stuff I couldn't care less about. Ho hum.
"There's always some Pokémon you like. That's the reason it's very popular and the reason it's liked all over the world."
I'm getting Pokémon: White Version this Sunday as a late birthday present from Badge, and you have no idea of the level of my excitement. I plan to start off with a Snivy. I love grass Pokémon the most, so it's not really a big choice for me. Plus Oshawott was annoying as fuck in the anime, and Tepig is a pig, therefore it's automatically a no-pick for me.
I've done posts on Pokémon before, so it's not exactly a secret that I'm still a complete Pokémaniac. And it's definitely not a secret that Pokémon changed my life in ridiculous ways that games never should, but I'm sure I've already talked about that on a blog before.
I was hoping that there would be another Pokémon event around the time of its release, but no such thing. The last event I went to was the Village Fete and that was incredible. Like, properly awesome. But it makes me feel old. I've been into this franchise for the best part of 12 years and that's terrifying.
I'm just excited that I get to relive that part of my childhood again until I clock up 100 hours on the game and decide to leave it alone for a while. I'm also majorly looking forward to the remakes of Ruby and Sapphire versions. They were some of my favourite games of all time. I don't regret giving my version of Sapphire away to Simon - I'm totally sharing the love.
So basically, I get the game on Sunday, I'm choosing a Snivy, not evolving it further than its second stage, and probably nicknaming it Keima. I might do another post about Pokémon when I have my team sorted out.
The amount of squiggly red lines in this post is hurting, so I'm going over to Kris' for toast, and then going home tomorrow. Probably won't be online much while I'm at home, but I do plan to take a shit tonne of pictures.
Yesterday, I had an awesome time at TCG, and it's been one of the only times I've ever been disappointed that it was 8pm and that I had to leave. I spent most of the day with Andy beforehand, as he pretty much needed the company. It gave me a good chance to get some of the End of Year Party sorted. Which is going to crash and burn, but still.
I had a really nice time with him, and then we found Lewis who was without Iain. So the band meeting just didn't happen and I decided to go to TCG to hang out with Cam, Lee, Paul and Jon. It was the first time since Christmas I've felt like I was included in that group, and I think that was down to the fact Lewis had left because he was apparently starting to get quite angry at something. Never told me what, but he left before 6pm and that meant I got to spend time with those guys again, without Lewis glaring at them.
We talked about the new season anime, and there are about a million things that we want to watch. Lee is the person who I enjoy talking about anime to the most out of anyone because our tastes are ridiculously similar. And people like him make me realise why chairing club isn't all that bad. He admitted that I seem to have it worse than him with members.
We played Pokémon, and I lost so badly because his deck is wrong. He said he'd build another one for next week because I don't actually stand a chance. But when everyone was getting kicked out, Cam was saying I seemed in a better mood. And to be honest, I felt better than I had in absolutely ages. I know I'm going to go to J-Soc later and Jazz will do something to piss me off, but I don't even care. I'm going in to see Megan, Andy and Laura more than anything else to be honest.
Though this whole situation has it's bad parts, I'm trying not to focus on them. But I've been trying to get this party sorted since the start of last month, and Fet-Soc have stolen my date, so I don't know how I'm going to work around that. This is all uninteresting, I will get it sorted, but the hardest thing is going to be getting people to go. I don't really know how to convince people that it'll be a good night.
But basically, at the minute, the source of me not enjoying hanging out at Societies is Lewis, and there's not a whole load I can do to change that. Going to be sending off the proposal for the party tomorrow and then all I have to do is book another band and we're sorted. People better come to this bastarding party, I swear.
I've spent the last half an hour reminiscing about Amecon to myself, and I remembered that I was posting the videos that Claky was uploading on here, but totally forgot to embed the 10 minute one that he made me as part of my birthday present. It's made me miss Amecon, but that bit more determined to get to Ayacon.
So yeah, there's a few things I need to catch up with on here. Firstly, Mayday Parade have a new song called Terrible Things which is completely amazing. Me and Laura are going to see them again in May in The Rescue Rooms, which I can't wait for. Plus, even after being all over the country for gigs, The Rescue Rooms is one of my favourite venues. One of my favourite bands in one of my favourite venues, what is there not to look forward to?
So, there's a few things to talk about. Anime club being the first I suppose. I'd love to post about that club and it not be a bad thing, but mostly it's just far too much stress with no reward whatsoever, aside from a tiny thing on my CV. I think the fact that I'm far too sleep deprived lately isn't helping the fact that it just exhausts me, even on my best days. I have no idea how Cam did it last year on top of the commute to and from Shrewsbury.
But on Friday, my laptop was being a bit of a dick as usual, and for some reason I couldn't get it to switch back from the multiple monitor set up that I have going off at home for anime watching and WoW playing. And for some reason Luke and Lewis decided to crowd me which freaks me out as it is. I had Lewis leaning over the front of me and Luke standing behind me trying to fix it and I just completely flipped because I felt so fucking trapped. So I started shouting, telling them to get out of the way and I just ran out, in front of about 20 people and felt like a complete dick because of it.
I'm fortunate that Andy was there because he took me outside and he bought me a salad and a chocolate bar because it's quite apparent that my lack of money is sadly sending me into a state where I don't get the option of eating and he could see it. He's been such a legend with sorting me out with money, and I can't help but feel guilty that he's the fifth person that I pretty much owe my health to. After that I managed to calm myself down enough to power through the rest of club.
So I was a little worried about the next day being a bit too much for me to deal with, and even though I'd been awake since about 3am, it really wasn't too bad. It was a Rock Band night with Iain and Lewis, who are my bandmates, and the theory behind it happening was that my self-esteem is pretty low, and I need to start singing in front of them at the very least so we can, y'know, rehearse. It was actually a pretty good time, where I got to the level of drunk that was just comfortable but I could still stand up.
Me and Iain have the plan of getting incredibly drunk before this gig happens because neither of us will be able to do it sober. But I managed to sing a little bit in front of them both. Lewis bought a Mayday Parade song for me because they had very few that I knew how to sing. So when they happen again, I'll be singing Jamie All Over quite a lot. I managed to get 99% on hard singing, so I'm pretty happy with that. Lewis also busted out the N64 at some point and it was like, nostalgia central because it's been years since I've played anything on an N64. Iain is another person who hasn't played on Ocarina of Time. This disappoints me greatly.
We actually managed to all sit up until about 6:00am-ish. Then Iain went to bed, and Lewis was playing on Banjo Kazooie so I decided to bail and did the ridiculously long walk home. I don't want to move to Lewis' because of how stupid that walk is, and seeing Kris, Lee and Andy would be far too much effort. I'd make it, but still. I'd rather not.
When I got back, my computer had gone completely mental, so I tried to sleep, but couldn't. Seriously, I don't know what was going on, but it wouldn't open any programs and it changed the desktop background to a blue screen with shit wrote on it like "DANGER. YOU ARE ENDANGERING YOUR WIFE, YOUR KIDS, YOUR BOSS, YOUR LIFE" and it was terrifying.
Oh yeah, I went to Planet on Thursday. That was pretty interesting. I ended up hanging out with Chris Black and his friends, which turned into a kitchen thing that Warren was at, and then someone decided to let of a fire extinguisher. It was a big mess.
The only other interesting things that have happened have been things like having terrorism discussions with Andy and Kris and watching Andy play on Viva Piñata. I'm still unimpressed that he killed his Mousemallow.
