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*Thanks to Jenna for putting the pic up for me and basically single-handedly making this layout for me!!!!! Sankyuuuuuu---^.^v
Archives
Comments, please ^_^v
Name:
Jamie
Age:
21
Interests:
Japan, Japan, Japan. And reading :P My world revolves around things Japanese
I am also a complete and utter addict of the tv show The West Wing, and a Josh/Donna shipper 100% ^_^v
Ever been to Japan?:
Yup, twice. First time, 6 weeks, summer of 1998, Nagareyama-shi, Chiba-ken. Second time, Fall 2001, 4 months, Nagoya, Aichi-ken ^.^v
Manga:
Okay, here goes, in no particular order:
Mars, Kanata-kara, Hikaru no Go, Inuyasha, Sekai de ichibandaikirai, Hanazakari no kimitachi e, New York New York, Massugu ni ikou, Itazura na Kiss, Gertrude no Recipe
and a TON more!
Fav. j-pop groups, in no particular order:
V6!, Yuzu, Porno Graffiti, Spitz, Kiroro, Misia, Something ELse, Fukuyama Masaharu, Chemistry, Gospellers, Kuwata Keisuke, Skoop on Somebody, Arashi, Kinki Kids, SMAP, Matsu Takako, Exile, Panicrew, Tokio
and again, a ton more
Fav. Japanese dramas:
Long Vacation, Virgin Road, Meguri Ai, Love Story, Namida o fuite, Aishiteiru to itte kure, Nemureru Mori, Koi wa aserazu, Bokura no Yuuki, Beautiful Life, Summer Snow, Long Love Letter, Asunaro Hakusho, Perfect Love, Team, PS Genki desu Shunpei, Hitotsu Yane no Shita 1 & 2, Oishii Kankei, Itazura na Kiss, Mukodono etc.
Contact:
e-mail: jun_inohara@hotmail.com
AIM: JunInohara (might still sometimes use old name, HikaShin)
ICQ: 146249241
MSN: sueyoshi03@hotmail.com
Layout: v. 6.0! Done by Jenna, as it says at the top ^.^ It's of V6! Top row Sakamoto, Inocchi and Nagano, bottom row Okada, Gou and Ken ^.^ My boys!!
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Friday, November 1, 2002 :: Comments []
And the holiday train begins to move
Listening to: Doitsumo Koitsumo/TOKIO
Ahhh, had this nice little exchange this evening on WinMX:
Guy *msgs me*: Why, may I ask, won't you give up the damned song?
Me:
Have some courtesy. Were it up to ME everyone would get every single song they tried to download from me. As it is.my computer is a bit of an ass. I think it has to do with my firewall. But since you're so damned rude you can kiss my ass and sit there waiting and try to get the song, because even if I COULD help you get it, I certainly as HELL wouldn't do it now!
Fwee~~~ it's so fun to yell at people that so richly deserve it!
Kira!! I left a message in your blog, but I'm free all next weekend, so we've GOT to go do karaoke ^o^ Meg works though, so it'd just be me ^^;; I can just picture my mother now, so excited for me to be driving up there by myself. Lord, you'd think I'd never went to a foreign country all by my little old self for 4 months, the way she freaks about us driving long distances. Still, I'll convince her somehow, because, after all it is her car. And if you're free, of course ^_^ ikitai~~~~~~~~~
;____; depressing thoughts for Jamie: KuboYou with a shaved head in his newest movie Sakura no Kyouki. ^^ hehe I watched the trailer for it, and was really surprised to see Eguchi Yousuke! My image of him is basically gleaned from both series of Hitotsu yane no shita, Namida o fuite, and Lunch no Joou, so trying to imagine him as a tough guy is kind of hard....and not really something I want to imagine. He's An-chan, for god's sake! >D
Thursday, October 31, 2002 :: Comments []
Algernon no hanataba o
Listening to: Koko ni iruze/Morning Musume (yes, I really AM O_O)
Rented the first tapes of Algernon no hanataba o and Mayonaka no ame. The first one is a Japanese version of the story Flowers for Algernon, and stars Yusuke Santamaria and Kanno Miho. Mayonaka no Ame is a medical drama starring Oda Yuuji. It's supposed to be kind of dark, but I really like Oda Yuuji, and it's the first drama he's been in since Rocketboys ^^;;
Anyway, we just finished the first ep of Algernon no hanataba o and I have to say, I agree completely with what an article said that I read. I don't think you could have cast this role any better than with Yusuke Santamaria. I'm continually amazed at his range in acting ability, from series like Nemureru Mori to Omiai Kekkon to this ^^ All quite different characters. What helps with this particular drama is that both Meg and I were in the play when we were in high school, so the story is pretty familiar to us. Of course, this also means we're fairly certain how it will end, which at least in the play, IIRC, wasn't the happiest ^^;;
Melissa! If you're ever using WinMX and you have time, look for *****Channel Japan***** on there :P I'm in there all the time as Jun_Inohara ^_-
It's hard to believe that this time last year Meg, Katherine, Jason, Mark and I were on our way to Kyouto for the weekend ^_^;; It was my first trip with friends for any distance without some kind of adult figure >D Gah, I remember it like it just happened ^^;; *sigh* It was a great trip, and we had a lot of fun ^.^ Touring Kyouto and wasting money at that game center near our hotel ^^;; okay, I'll shut up, it'll only succeed in making me meloncholy ^^
Woo! West Wing was FANTASTIC last night!!! ^_____^ It was such a great episode. Seriously, if there are ever episodes that have frustrated me, this wiped them clean out of my head ^.^ That and Amy is finally GONE!!!! Ah life is sweet again ^.^ Meg and I nearly died laughing at the beginning scene with the bet about Toby yelling, and the part where the First Lady snipped Bartlett's tie off >D ^___^
Woo, had some kids to the door for Halloween ^^ but I missed the first few groups, so I'm not sure what the total has been. We never get too many kids, cause the popular area to trick-or-treat is a couple of streets over ^^;;
Wednesday, October 30, 2002 :: Comments []
Ao no Jidai
Listening to: Aisareru yori AishitaiKinki Kids
^________________^ Won my auction on Ebay. About 5 days ago Meg noticed that someone was selling Ao no Jidai, which is a summer 1998 drama that I saw the first half of my first time in Japan, but never got to see full to the end. Akemiya never got it, so I pretty much gave up on seeing it. It's a drama starring Doumoto Tsuyoshi, Ando Masanobu and Okina Megumi ^.^ Actually, Meg and I came upon a manga of it, and as far as I remember it follows the drama pretty closely. Or the other way around...I'm not sure. I can't tell if the manga or the drama came first, although it's usually the manga version of course. But the publishing date in this manga was later than 1998, so I'm just not too certain. But anyway, I'm really happy to getting it ^o^
So yeah, I've been missing my puppy a lot lately ^^ I dunno why. I feel bad looking at Blue because I adore him, but I'd still trade him in a second if it meant getting North back ^^ It is helpful having another dog around, but you also compare from time to time ^^ I don't suppose I'll ever stop missing him ^.^;;
Hmmm well I had other things to say, but they've escaped me ^^;;
Tuesday, October 29, 2002 :: Comments []
The Great Pumpkin
Listening to: Karappo/Yuzu
Nothing like finding your pumpkin for a jack-o-lantern two days before the holiday ^^;; What can I say, I've always professed to being lazy ^^;; But it didn't take me long to find a couple. Casey's had a really good selection. There was a mother there with her two kids, who couldn't have been older than 2 and 4 and oh my dear lord, were they all adorable ^.^;; Anyway, Hye-jin's coming over tomorrow to help me. I thought it'd be a good experience for her while she's in the US ^^ since it's something that's a pretty big tradition...and for some reason since she's a graduate student in children's lit., it just seems even more appropriate ^^;;
Melissa!! I really liked your yaoi/june/slash/shouen-ai rant thingy! I'm hardly an expert on the whole thing but I've been apalled for a long time at the number of yaoi fans that seem to think the definition consists only of "guy x guy relationships" and frequently use the term "yaoi" when they're really talking about something like New York New York, or say "Shouen-ai" when they're talking about older couples or what not. In fact, you're the only person I know that even uses the term "june". Hell, before reading your rant, I wasn't even sure what it meant, I only know I'd heard it. So believe me, in the future when people make completely inaccurate statements regarding the term, I'll be sure to point them to this particular entry of yours ^o^
I also appreciate your mini-rant about "bishounen"!!! ARGH, this irritates me soooooooooooooo much!!! I think too many fans seem to go by what other people say and don't even bother to look words up. I can't even count the number of times I've heard Kenshin referred to as "bishounen". I just want to throw a dictionary at them and tell them to look it up. On a side note, I'm getting sick of hearing people say "He's sooooo kawaii" when what they really mean is "Kakkoii" T___T But yeah, thanks for writing about it all ^.^ Maybe I'm too anal as a student of the language? Nah, people should be responsible for words in a language they're using, IMO. It's not too much to ask.
Monday, October 28, 2002 :: Comments []
Finishing "Lunch"
Listening to: Mata aeru hi made/Yuzu
Finished up Lunch no joou tonight ^.^ More specifically....rushed home to watch it ^^ Then remembered I had to take the tapes back to Akemiya first *grar*
Okay, I gotta say, I thourougly enjoyed this series. By no means is it a favorite, but it's definetly just a fun watch. I love Takeuchi youko and Eguchi Yousuke...and I'm dying to see a drama in which Eguchi Yousuke plays the male lead in a love story ^^ I just really like him a lot. Respect him as an actor ^^;;
Thing is though, I really wish I knew how it "ended". Of course it had an ending. A nice, happy-go-lucky ending where everyone and everything seems happy (yay those kinds of endings...because honestly who wants a serious ending? Not me!)...but I want to know who Natsumi ultimately chose ^^ Of course, in my head she absolutely chose Yuujirou....I just have that feeling. That and I was rooting for him the whole time ^^;; I know that's not really what the series as a whole was about, and it was just one part of the story, but dammit...this is me we're talking about...^^ I have my priorities :P
But it was a wonderfully entertaining series otherwise. That is to say, it's a fun family story ^^ Sometimes for me great stories of the importance of family are almost better than love stories. Probably because my own family isn't as close as I wish we were ^^;;
I liked the how in the ending credits, to the tune of "Joy to the World" (NOT the x-mas song :P) they show clips of the cast eating all kinds of food, interspersed with clips from shooting the show....so you get a nice feeling that everyone got along well. Of course, it might not be true, but hey, it's nice to think so ^^;;
While I'm in the mood to recommend things....I suggest the song at the top of the page ^o^ I'm a huge fan of Yuzu, and this is a great song. Just a really fun to listen to , feel good song ^.^/
Don't you hate those days where you feel like you're not too much of an idiot in regards to the things you love (in my case, those things Japanese) and then you come across a page, etc. that makes you feel like a total idiot? Not that I have a specific example, but some days i just feel like that. grar >D
Sunday, October 27, 2002 :: Comments []
What's on the Menu?
Listening to:Shiny Day/V6
6 episodes into Lunch no joou ^.^/ I like it quite a bit ^.^ Although, I'm fairly certain that Eguchi Yousuke doesn't play parts that aren't the dominant male in a series that walks around giving orders and seems stern, but is really "yasashii" (don't believe me? Watch both series of Hitotsu yane no shita, Namida o fuite). Watching it makes me extremely hungry though, especially for Japanese food ^^;;
I'm not sure what to think though....Okay, most of you that know me, and know that I watch dramas...well you know I tend to be a sucker for a love story. But I can't tell if that's really part of the plot or not. Sure there's the whole side of the story where Jun (the character's full name is Junzaburou >D spiffy!) like Natsumi....but then Natsumi's given Yuuichirou these looks when he's not looking, and he the same to her...but there's nothing happening. So I dunno what to think! Grar!
But anyway, that's not the important issue of the series anyway :P I love series like this....where you watch it and you just get to feel good about the people and the atomosphere, and the importance of family is really emphasized....but also because it's a story of a family that runs a restaurant, there's an emphasis on doing your best to make the people that come there happy.
Hee hee, it's too bad I'm missing tape 4 (eps 7-8). V6's Morita Gou is in it....I'm not really that disappointed. I mean, he played a cute part in the 4 ep drama Kimi o miagate, but I'm fairly certain he's just playing in this ep what they play up his image as "tough guy" (and they did the same thing in the eps he's in in the second series of Hitotsu yane no shita >D)...when...teehee...I'm sorry, he's Gou....maybe I just eternally have my image set from Pu-pu-pu in which he plays like...an uber nice guy *Lol* That and I've seen Gakkou e ikou enough that fwee, that image just holds about as much water as a collander!
But anyway, I'm thouroughly enjoying this series, and I really wish I knew how it ended NOW, but I have a few episodes to go ^o^
So last night Tacchan came over last night and she, Meg and I watched Aladdin, since we all love it, but haven't watched through it in years. It was a lot of fun ^.^ Especially because it's my favorite Disney movie, and one of my favorite movies period. As 11 year olds, Meg and I were completely and wholly obssessed with that movie >D
Fwee, we have a new couch! Wooooooooooo! a new couch! Which to most of you out there is probably not the biggest deal in the world, but we have had the same couch since...well, we've had the same couch my entire life, so the advent of a new one is like....fantastic!! You should have seen us all trying to get the damned thing in here though. It was like a comedy routine. I don't doubt that the neighbors were watching from behind their curtains and snickering at us.
Friday, October 25, 2002 :: Comments []
Tough Decisions
Listening to: Summer/Hisaishi Jou
I won't graduate for nearly a year at the very least. Most likely not until December, 2003. Already I've been thinking about wether I should do JET or go back to Japan through a program like Aeon. Here's my problem. With JET, I've no choice but to wait until the summer of 2004 to go because of the way the program works and when they send the people they choose. Aeon's much faster. However, and I know I've said before this shouldn't matter, JET on the whole is not only socially more acceptable....I just...I've already gotten advice from two people I respect a lot (my tutor and my penpal) who have basically cautioned me to think carefully, and both think JET's a better idea, even if I have to wait. I suppose when I put the whole thing in perspective I get this:
My Japanese isn't great. It's passable to an extent, but frankly, I don't think it's going to get any better than it was when I left Japan. Japan will still be there in 2004, and even if I don't get much better until then, I want to work hard to make sure I don't lose what I have already. It might be tough to wait, but won't it make the reward that much sweeter when I get it? I'm not saying 100% that I'll wait for JET just that with advice like that, plus both my Japanese teachers having mentioned, I think I'd rather do something that people might find more respectible later on, since I don't exactly have what you'd call a "real" major in Japanese. Anyway, it's something I'll have to keep in mind.
So I was walking the dog this afternoon, and on one street I passed a group of cross country runners from U-High who passed me on the street. Lagging about 30 seconds behind them was another runner. I went around a few corners and met up with them again....except this time a few of them were now on the sidewalk (where I was)....so by the time they got to me I moved Blue and myself off the sidewalk and let them pass. Let me tell you, not one damned "Thank-you" among the lot of them. So I continued walking and about a minute or so later I saw the runner who'd been lagging behind before that, so I moved off the sidewalk again, nodded at her and heard a "Thank-you"! I gotta tell you, it's one of those situations where the small things make you really happy. I have this idea that this girl's probably not among the popular members of the cross country team (sorry, but the people that lag behind rarely seem to be. I should know, I've been there...at least in soccer :P) but she has more courtesy than that whole group could ever even catch a whiff of.
^o^ Finished my second book this week, called The Invisible Ring. Yeah, I know, not too creative a title, but hey, the fact it was a good read completely makes up for it. The funny thing is, this author has a trilogy that's set in the same world as this book, but I haven't read those books ^^;; But this was a fun read....although I've never enjoyed it when authors are pretty blunt with there references to certain, ahem, male anatomy :P I realize it help sets the story, but gah >D hee hee Prude Jamie shines *lol*
Thursday, October 24, 2002 :: Comments []
A stressful week nearly complete...
Listening to: American Child/Phil Vasser
Hmmm I never did mention that I had to go to a frat house, did I? T___T Having grown up from the age of 7 1/2 near a college campus, my general opinion of frat houses in general is so poor it can barely be registered. I have only my college's campus as reference, mind you, and belive you me, I have reason to think they're less than stellar. Anyway, one of the members of my group is a frat house guy, and we had to rehearse a dance and decided the basement of his house was the best place. So I was forced to go to one U________U grar I know it sounds stupid to complain, but....muh, I don't like sorority or frat houses =.=
Anyway, so all my stressful stuff is nearly over. Just my tutor lesson tonight and I can relax for a few days! Which is good, because Meg and I rented two tapes of a couple of dramas (I know, bad us since we have three others already bought that need viewing) that we haven't really looked at, Lunch no Oujo and Wedding Planner. I hadn't realized until a short time ago that Takeuchi Youko and Eguchi Yousuke are in Launch no Oujo which was why my interest was piqued, as I like them both a lot ^^;; The weird thing is although I knew Yamashita Tomohisa was in it, we're sitting there watching it and here he comes on screen and he and a friend are walking down the street. And who should the friend be but Yamada Takayuki ^^;; hehe (who, for those of you that don't know, also played his best friend in the winter drama Long Love Letter). I quite like Yamashita Tomohisa when he has Yamada Takayuki to play off of. They make a great combo....they're like a palatable Takki & Tsubasa (especially Yamada Takayuki....I adore him).
Ack!! It's almost 8!! Gotta go to my tutor lesson!!!
Wednesday, October 23, 2002 :: Comments []
The Price the Avid Reader Pays...
Listening to: Ookina furudokei/Hirai Ken
I knew I needed to study last night. Really. It was foremost in my mind when Chinese class ended (at 4:50) yesterday. Still, a Borders has just opened in our town (I almost feel sorry for the Barnes & Noble!) and Meg and I decided to wander out that way and check it out. My brother and his girlfriend work there, actually (bwahaha so we shall be guaranteed a copy of the fifth HP book right away ^^;; whenever it comes out). Anyhoo, so we did went out there and spent about 40 minutes checking the whole place out.
Must say, their layouts fine, but the shelves are rather too close together o.o But they have a great language selection, and fantasy section, and I have to say, if I bothered to read Japanese manga in English, they have a pretty decent selection. But it's odd, seeing manga in English. *Lol* I guess because since I stopped reading translated manga I've barely even glanced at them. Also, I found a copy of Wish 2 and flipped through it....and I thought it wasn't going to bother me that they refer to Kohaku as "She" but honestly, it bothered the bejesus out of me. I mean, I understand that some kind of pronoun is necessary...but....*shifts uncomfortably* it's just weird.....Kohaku's genderless and it completely and utterly ruins the fun of the story, IMO. I've met people who don't even have a clue about this. I had to explain that in the Japanese version Kohaku says "watashi" so you're never quite sure. *sigh* Ah well ^^
Anyway, I got a book called First Truth...and this is where the studying part really comes in. See, I knew I was going to end up reading this book at least for a while last night. I mean, it's a new book, and a person can hardly pass up the chance to at least become acquainted with her characters, right? So I sat down and ate dinner and propped my book up.....that was shortly after 6:00 p.m.
......I finished somewhere around midnight. ^^;;;;; Which means I got very little studying done....but it was completely worth it! I enjoyed my book soooooooooooo much!! Honestly, there's something so gratifying about just curling up and reading a book, especially when you enjoy it's characters so much (as I did Alissa and Strell in this one ^o^). Honestly, I will never understand people that don't like to read. People that have difficulty reading is one thing, that I understand. But to really not enjoy reading? I'm serious when I say that saddens me. I just can't fathom not liking it...at all...it's completely beyond any capacity of mine to even remotely imagine not loving to read.
But I digress ^^ I barely studied and took my test this morning, so hopefully I did okay on it. I'm not sure when I'll know the result...Friday or Monday most likely ^^;;
Yay! Finally managed to download Hirai Ken's Ookina furudokei as you can all see there at the top ^.^ I knew it was a new rendition of an old song, and I'd wanted to download it, but I didn't hear it until I rented a tape of Music Station last week...Crimeny, download this song! It's absolutely gorgeous!! And Hirai Ken's live version was great ^.^ *melts* He sings this song so well ^^;;;;
all right, well....I'm done now, I think ^^;;
Monday, October 21, 2002 :: Comments []
014971
Listening to: Sayounara Bus/Yuzu
Hee hee, so if any of you read Meg's blog you'll know she downloaded at least the second half of the final episode of Meteor Garden, which is a Taiwanese drama adaptation of the popular Japanese shoujo manga Hana Yori Dango (which my sister particularly adores ^^;;). Anyway, I have to say, as a student of the Chinese (Mandarin) language, listening to that....makes me fairly certain I can never ever sound remotely like that. I swear they're dropping consonants and vowels and whole words all over the place! Half the time I couldn't even hear it when they said "Wo" even though the subtitles clearly stated they should be (FYI, for those of you that don't know...while Cantonese and Madarin sound different, everyone reads the same characters, so Chinese tv is subtitled so everyone can watch it)!!
Anyway, it was campy, and cheesy and somewhat like a bad Japanese drama *coughTengokunokisscough*, and I can't for the life of me figure out why the Doumyouji's (of course, they have Chinese names :P) had such a freakishly white interior in their house, but it was fun to watch >D I mean, who can beat Tsukushi (I can't tell what her Chinese name is) collapsing in Domyouji's arms and cue a montage of scenes of all sorts from earlier in the series that includes several kisses, Tsukishi getting hurt, and her tagging him with the red flag? Honestly, it's wonderful >D
Although, the camp comes to a high point at the end where Domyouji wants her to say she likes him, and she says it low enough he can't hear it well and prods her to say it louder. She refuses and starts walking away and he has the BEST pout look I have ever scene. He looks like Miyake Ken! >D Then she turns around and says loudly (smiling) "wo xihuan ni" (I love/like you) and he gets such a goofy smile on his face that you can't help but love him >D
So I met with my group tonight, for our presentation about Irish music on Wednesday. Actually, I'm about ready to strangle one girl in particular. For the most part I think the people in my group have been on top of things. But ARGH, three of us met last week and this one girl was like "Yeah, I just got some books" >_______________< We've known about this project since the second week of school for christs sake, and she's just now?!?! ARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But, we did go over the dance we're going to teach everyone >D It was a blast, because it's a really simple but really fun. Makes me wish I could go to ceili's in Ireland myself ^o^/
Oh yes, "Because I'm the GOOD sister, I'm saying HI to Saruchan! HI LAUREN! ^_^
Went to Tachibana tonight for the Nihongo Kaiwa. Sat with Jason and this other girl (named Martha, who was very nice ^.^). Blew $20 on unajuu...because honestly, who can resist unagi?! Heheh Meg lamented that she couldn't have shabu-shabu yet again....and I got Nagoya pangs all over again...which weren't helped out by Katherine's current entry, nor Elizabeth's!!! *lol*
Sunday, October 20, 2002 :: Comments []
Interesting Review
Listening to: Agolo/Angelique Kidjo
So I read an interesting review of Sen to Chihiro here. While I disagree with most of what she says about the movie (since I think it's a gorgeous movie ^^;;) I like the way she explained why she felt the way she did. She was extremely thourough, which isn't always true for everyone. I guess the one thing I read that I just really didn't like was that she thinks Haku is what makes the movie worth it. I can't even beging to explain how much I disagree, and this is coming from a girl who adores Haku. I love him! He's mysterious, he's cool (but he's no Pazuu! Pazuu will always and forever be my favorite Ghibli character). I really like him. But that the movie is worth it because of him? No, I disagree. I dunno, I guess I just feel this movie has every bit of Ghibli imagination and tenacity thrumming through it as Tenkuu no shiro Rapyuta does, it's just that the story is vastly more serious, and somewhat more strange. Anyway, you can go to her blog and read her review and see what you think. I'm by no means panning her review, just saying that I disagree with it ^.^
Oh yeah, forgot to mention that over spring break Meg and I plan to go visit our friends in NYC ^o^ We're planning on taking the train out there, as I refuse to fly and the difference in ticket price roundtrip is a paltry $12. So no amount of begging and pleading will get me on an airplane bound for New York if the price in transportation by train differs by a meager $12. Although it's several months off, I'm really looking forward to it. It makes up slightly for not being able to graduate in May. We're planning on going to the Met, a broadway show, and a taping of Conan O'Brian among other things. This time we plan on getting quality time in New York's Book-Off :P I'm fascinated that they have a suwariomi area ^^ as no Book-Off in Japan that I ever went to had one.
As it's gotten colder, I find myself thinking more and more of Nagoya. I suppose it's because about this time last year I was buying my toggle coat and wore it everywhere around (I adore this coat ^.^). Plus, now being able to see my breath outside reminds me that I'm at least very happy that this fall I don't see my breath when I'm indoors. Gotta tell you all. I loved my time in Japan and pine for it like there's no tomorrow, but I do not miss the fact there's no central heating. >D
Anyway, off to bed ^o^
Sunday, October 20, 2002 :: Comments []
Swamped
Listening to: A TomorrowSong/Skoop on Somebody
I swear to god, Sweetest Day is easily the most inane, dumb-ass, money grubbing holiday They've come up with yet. You understand I say this because I work at a grocery store, and often help in the floral department (hell, for a short time before I went to Japan, I ran the damn thing). Well, here we've gotten in all kinds of stuff for it and our floral person has to prepare all this stuff....and mind you, Valentine's Day is a madhouse for the floral department (but honestly, guys...DON'T buy your girlfriend/wife/significant other, flowers from a grocery store. T*A*C*K*Y) but today she helped all of two people, and she was there from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Crimeny, what a waste of money and people's time. It's ridiculous. We have Valentine's Day, why the hell do we need this one? I can't believe it made all that much money to be even remotely worth it. ^^;;
Anyway, as my subject heading so clearly indicates, I am quite swamped with schoolwork. Two tests, a quiz, registration, and a presentation, all between Monday and Wednesday. Plus my tutor session I moved to Thursday, and I imagine we'll have a quiz in Chinese sometime this week. Honestly, I thought midterm craziness was supposed to be last week! I guess it's a good thing that even though I'm studying like crazy, at least I've done well enough in these classes so far that one less than perfect grade probably won't hurt me too much ^^;;
One thing I realized though, was that since my group's meeting on Monday evening, this means I most likely have to pass up eating @ Tachibana with the Nihongo Kaiwa group. Not that I'm too distraught, but Meg and Jason are going, and it would have been fun to eat with them. There are a couple of massively obnoxious guys in the group thought, so I thank my lucky stars I don't have to put up with them (who wants to hear another story about how they go to Tachibana and write stupid names like "Doraemon" on the sushi ordering list U_U).
Speaking of Boku-sama (that's Jason), he, Hye-jin and Talia were over for a while Friday night ^O^ Hye-jin only stayed for about an hour, because I think she wasn't feeling well, but I'm glad that both Talia and Jason could meet her. At 8:00 we ran over to pick Meg up and while Jason and Tacchan waited for us to cook our dinner, we just talked. At that point though, Tacchan bailed on us (hee hee >D :P) and we watched two episodes of Gormenghast with Jason (which is this 4 ep fantasy series shown on the BBC and is based off a book....very strange).
Anyway, I'm glad you liked Jason, Tacchan. Weren't we right to say he's easily one of the most amiable people you'll ever meet? Although we sometimes feel bad because he's somewhat of a pushover. Although I guess I don't really mean that in a bad way. He's just very very laid back and easy going and doesn't mind doing what other people are doing. I don't want it to sound negative to the people reading this (all 2 of you, I'm sure >D).
So, I've read okay reviews of Nakayama Miho's drama ("Home & Away") , as well as Oda Yuuji's (forget the name of at the moment)....but not so stellar reviews of Double Score which kind of sucks ^^ because I was really looking forward to seeing Sorimachi Takashi and Oshio Manabu together. I'll still check it out, but it's always discouraging when you read poor reviews, you know?
You know, I completely forgot Arashi and Yuzu had singles out o.o
Thursday, October 17, 2002 :: Comments []
Can't Argue With That
Listening to: random fiddle themed Irish Ceili song
I swear to god Katherine I love it when you have long blog entries, because they're always a very interesting read! I agree completely about pretty much everything you said, and I have the same fears about how I'll be viewed as an English teacher in Japan myself. I think it's great if fans of Japanese anime and manga want to visit Japan, but feel ill when they purify Japan and demonize the US, and it happens far too often. There are a frightening amount of fans that simply can't or refuse to put a realistic twist on things. Perhaps this comes from having been there ourselves (and certainly you can speak even more, having been there longer) and just lived the every day life there? (Personally that's what I loved about it, but try explaining that to anyone o.o)
Anyhoo, you're right about people that would look down their nose at you. Granted, idiotic foreigners have probably given those people legit reason to look down their nose, but then again, who wants to know the kind of people that don't judge each person for him or herself, right? ^^;;
One more thing, I really really understand the conversation ability thing. Especially coming from someone who's conversation abilities weren't that great to begin with, but were just starting to really open up when I left Japan, these many months being home have just caused it to take a dive. I'm still less afraid to speak up, but hold a conversation well? No ^^ So the fact I won't finish all my classes until at LEAST this summer, and probably not until next December...the idea that if I apply for JET that I'll have to wait until summer 2004? It drives me nuts. So I'm kind of in the same position. Which to apply for? I think JET is a little more....socially accepted? :P but Aeon gets me back sooner. And I'd rather not wait 3 years to get back again, like I had to last time.
Moving on :P I forgot to mention yesterday that Meg and I paid off one of our school loans! WOO!!! Well, it was a loan mom and dad had to take out because freshman year we were late in applying for student loans ^^;; But yesterday Meg and I each paid $900.93 to finish it off. So while giving up that much was painful, it by no means drains me completely, and I feel good I still have a decent amount left in the bank (the total is a secret :P). So that's only $14,000 left that we owe for school >D yay! (hey, it's good debt)
Wednesday, October 16, 2002 :: Comments []
Listening to:Mrs. Steven Rudy/Mark McGuinn
So we did, in fact, watch Interview, last night ^.^ hee hee, this is a girly thing to say, but I can't decide whether Lee Jung Jae (I've seen a variety of spellings of his name, so forgive me if it's incorrect) looks better with his short hair in Il Mare or his kinda long-ish but not hair in Interview. Anyway, I really liked this movie ^^;; It was kind of confusing at first, because you see a number of events and then the movie backtracks and ties them together. The one thing Meg and I can't really decide is if Euntuk knew that it was Younghee he filmed dancing in Paris or not ^^;; We have a feeling that he did, but we're not 100% sure. Anyway, I recommend this movie. It has a nice, if not big-bang ending. It's a really quiet, nice, comfortable pleasing ending ^_^v
Woo, today I watched A Wedding Story on TLC ^___^ This may not seem so special, but it was. See, my entire life my family has listened to WGN radio out of Chicago. The overnight hosts during the week are a couple named Steve and Johnny and sometime last year, live on the air, their producer was proposed to (I was listening that night! It was fantastic!). Anyway, sometime later in the year they had the producer of A Wedding Story on, and sort of joked that they should do Denise's wedding. Well, everything worked out and today was the episode ^^ It was great. Of course I don't know these people, but when you listen to the same station your whole life, you sometimes feel like you do, and your really happy for them because of it ^_______^
We had a "Drum clinic" in my World Arts: Music class today ^^ It was pretty exillerating with all those drums going ^^;; The funny part was, that at the beginning and end of the class my teacher made us dance (she's a VERY out going woman ^.^) and at one point she says "Put your hands on the waist of the person in front of you".....and I swear....for a bunch of people, at least half of which are probably having sex, the mere suggestion by a teacher to touch the waist of someone else in class is like asking them to touch someone with leporacy! It's extremely amusing and very ironic.
Woo! Who's the smart student of Chinese? Me! Me! WOO! hehe Actually I'm just really relieved ^^ I got a 98% on my midterm! w00t!!!!!! Actually, it's stupid because I could very very very easily have gotten a 100% U______U I just made two very stupid mistakes (one of which has to do with thinking in Japanese terms of kanji, not Chinese....I knew that was going to catch up with me) and lost 2 points.
My copy of the video of Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi arrived today ^.^/ YAY! Of course I'd rather have the DVD, but as I don't own a DVD player myself, let alone one that plays Japanese DVDs, I asked my penpal (Eddie, er, Eiichi rather :P He worked in the US for 5 years up until March, so his nickname here was Eddie) to send me a copy of the video. I feel a little bad though, because he got me an omiyage on his trip to Taiwan which turned out to be "V6 Clips III and more"....but Meg already bought the same VCD when we went to Chinatown last summer. Still, I appreciate it, and I'm glad I don't have to make a copy from Megan's. We're thinking of taking Sen to Chihiro with us to the next Nihongo Kaiwa meeting, even if there are no subs ^^;;
Tuesday, October 15, 2002 :: Comments []
Hotto shita
Listening to: Tsubasa no Sekkeizu/V6
So had my Chinese midterm ^^;; Was quite worried about it, but was studying like crazy ^^ I thought I was going to forget some kanji but in the end it turned out okay. Of course, I won't really know how I did until tomorrow or Thursday, but at the moment I'm relieved. Although I realize I still need to make the next tape for my World Arts: Music class, and look up all kinds of stuffy for my group project. Lord, but isn't school fun. ^^;;
Interview came today! Woo! I was starting to worry about it ^^ The last time we ordered movies from this place they came in a couple of days, but this one took a week. Anyway, I think we're going to watch it tonight, so I can tell you tomorrow what it's like ^.^;;
So I heard another thing today about the whole situation with those 13 Japanese people kidnapped to North Korea 20 or so years ago. I'd heard that they were going back to Japan, but only today did I hear that in fact they're only allowed back for a couple of weeks, and that they're children are being kept behind as a way of making sure these people will return........well FUCK YOUNorth Korea >____________________________< What the-....christ, I don't even have words for how utterly and wholly DESPICABLE I find this.
Monday, October 14, 2002 :: Comments []
I hope you're happy
Listening to: Mr. Sampling Man/TOKIO
Okay, Cali and you Jenna, I hope you're happy now. I have now signed up on Moonfeathers because of the two of you. And already, since last night, I have been aggrivated at the complete lack of logic and reasoning some people have. I know it doesn't really mean anything to have arguments online, but sometimes it's fun, and haven't really been in one in months, so I figure my time has come round again :P Anyway, we'll see how it goes there ^^;;
I started reading Cipher, which is a manga about twins. This I highly approve of, being a twin myself ^.^v The two twins in this series are the title character Cipher and his brother Shiiva, whose honmyou (real name) are Jake and Roy (ugh....horrid awful names, IMHO). In the beginning they're befriended by a girl named Enise (sp? In katakana is Anisu) who figures out they're trading places at school (that is to say, only one goes to school at a time, but everyone thinks he's always Shiiva). She discovers what they're doing and threatens to tell everyone, but they make a deal with her. If she can, after two weeks, figure out who's who just by looking, then they'll tell everyone. So she goes to stay with them for two weeks, and at the end.....well, you'll have to read for yourself...plus this is only volume one. We have five and I think the series runs about 12 ^^ There's a character in it, that apparently becomes the main character of Alexandrite, or so Meg tells me. Anyway, I quite like it ^^
Speaking of twins, I heard on the news this morning that one of those two soldiers that were killed last week (or was just the one killed?) in Kuwait while on training exercises was a twin ;_______; That depresses the hell out of me. Apparently his brother was leaving his post in Japan to attend his service. It really really kills me to hear this. Not that if he wasn't a twin it wouldn't be sad....but being one myself....christ...I couldn't handle. I just couldn't....were anything to Megan ;.; gyah....
So, anyone want to study for my Chinese midterm for me? Anyone? Any takers....any at all? No? Damn ^^ I guess I'll have to go do it myself ^^;;
Saturday, October 12, 2002 :: Comments []
Mou 2 ka getsu
Listening to:Soul/Liv
Hard to believe already two months have passed since my "puppy" passed away ^^;; Or that we've had Blue now for nearly 5 weeks. As much as I adore Blue, and his personality is really coming out, there are times I still miss North so much it's practically palpable ^^;; *sigh*
Anyway, yesterday we headed up to Mitsuwa....again...second time in two weeks, a record for us even if we have been going more and more often lately. We dragged Talia and Jason with us. It's the second time we've told people to be here at 9:00 and we didn't leave until 9:30 because Megan can't get ready on time. Anyway, we made it there just after 11:30 because I am the world's greatest driver (And somewhat of a leadfoot when I need to be :P) and padded our way into the bookstore.
I must tell you, there's a reason our manga list has kept getting large so fast even after we've come home. It's because many times, like yesterday we've come home with a pretty big stack of manga between the two (meg and I) of us. I myself got 6-10 of Akuma de sourou, 1-3 of Saikometora- Eiji, and the final volume of Yawara. Meg got 7-12 of Renai Catalogue, 3 & 6 of W Juliet, and 1-5 of Cipher. That's about 23 manga between the two of us. Frightening, I know u.u
Btw, I flipped through my first three volumes of Saikotmetora- Eiji to see how closely the drama version of it follows the manga and for the most part it's pretty close. Details are different, and Shima-san is a lot more like Shima-san in the second drama series of Eiji than in the the first ^^;; That, and I like a cuter Shoukichi like Inohara, than the way the guy's drawn in the manga *Lol* But it has the same feel, and Eiji's such a typical high school tough-guy wannabe with a heart of gold that you can't help but like him. Plus it's an intriguing twist on the mystery/crime solving genre that otherwise pretty much bores me (that is, I don't like mystery books ^^;; etc.)
Anyway, we met up with Katherine and Kira and all had lunch together, and listened to Katherine tell funny stories >D I think Tacchan's right. Katherine needs to put those stories together, because despite what she thinks, they're very very funny :P Btw, Katherine, since you seem to be more and more serious about the Aeon thing, I wish you the best of luck. And if you do do it, I'm glad I'll know someone first hand who can give me advice on it once I do finally graduate next year ^^;;
Anyhoo, aside from manga I also bought Liv's (Oshio Manabu's band) new single Soul, which amuses me because hearing Oshio Manabu say "Fuck" would amuse anyone (plus I do like the song. Not quite as well as Try but that one had the fact it was also a drama theme going for it), and I also bought Tokio's 5 Ahead which gleefully includes an accoustic version of Hitoribocchi no Haburashi which makes this Mukodono/Tokio fan a very happy girl ^^
Anyway, that's about it ^_^v
Thursday, October 10, 2002 :: Comments []
I shouldn't be this amused...
Listening to: It's A Great Day to Be Alive/Travis Tritt
My poor poor sister got her wisdom teeth taken out this morning. And me, being the thoughtful older twin sister that I am, left a note saying "Have fun" (which apparently she kept in her pocket throught the whole thing :P *Lol* We're sentimental that way). She was actually pretty lucid when she got home, although now she's asleep. Things like this are good, because we get spoiled >D Well she gets spoiled. I play extra special nice sister for a couple days because she'd do the same for me (and did, when I had my stupid oral surgery, although she doesn't seem to remember *lol*). What's really funny is that because of the gauze/novacaine affect when was trying to talk earlier, she sort of ended up sounding like the stereotypical New York accent: "Jamie, I need you to do some lawndry" >D It was pretty amusing.
AAHAHAH amusing little thing I found ^^ One of my favorite young Japanese actors, named Yamada Takayuki (who's three years my junior), apparently released a single back in July called Manatsu no tenshi ~ All I Want For This Summer is you~. Now, you'd think I'd be used to this concept. As many singers/artists as there are in Japan, there are an equal, if not greater, number of throw aways. This also includes actors turned singers, which is a very very very common concept in Japan. This doesn't mean I don't enjoy those songs, because some singer/actors (like Fukuyama Masaharu, Fujii Fumiya etc.) are fantastic. But for some reason, with Yamada Takayuki, I find it infinetly amusing >D Even more so because I listened to the small 44 second clip they have on the page, and I liked it a lot ^^ He's not too bad a singer :P So anyone who knows/likes him, I recommend going to listen to this song...although I can't seem to find it on WinMX, which isn't shocking ^^
Wednesday, October 9, 2002 :: Comments []
A Journey of A thousand miles...
Listening to:Good Enough/V6
So the week just keeps getting better! Yesterday was "Jamie finds out going to Japan will take longer than she thought" day, today was "you're co-worker lied to you" day ^_^v So I wasn't supposed to work on Saturday. I had it off. Which was great...the whole weekend off for me. Yay! time to relax and study. Well last Saturday when I was at work two of my coworkers asked me if I might cover for one of them the following Sat. and I said that sure, if they needed me then to let me know, see as I do need the money. But I was clear that I didn't want to work 8 hours. I just didn't want to work that long. I told him this several times. So he called me Monday and asked if I'd work, and said I could work 6 hours but it had to be from 6-12, since someone had to open the department. So I agreed reluctantly, because I didn't want to work that early, but I needed the money. Well, I go into work today and I'm scheduled 6-2! WTF?? >___________< I repeated several times last week and at least 3 times on the phone I did not want to work for 8 hours!!!!! And my manager said the guy told him I could work 8!! I am SOOOOOOOO pissed!! Especially because this co-worker I consider a decent guy!!!!! I need to study, and I need those two hours >___________< I never once said that I'd work that long U_________U and the fact I was helping this guy out and wasn't even scheduled irks me even more. I may need the money but it pisses me off he screwed me over.
Anyway, finally watching Sennen Tabito, a movie starring Toyokawa Etsushi (Aishiteiru to itte kure, Love Story, Aoi Tori, etc.)from 1999. It's about a pianist who has only a month left to live returns to a house on the ocean (a place he once loved). There he meets a 16 year old girl named Yuma who lives there with her grandmother, the mother of a woman he was once in love with. It's there he chooses to spend his last month, and over that time he and the girl grow closer (don't get ideas dammit, he's her father). They rescue a man who tries to drown himself, who becomes something of a savior later on...but you'll have to watch it yourself to find out how.
I've had this movie since we went to Chinatown in NYC back in July, just hadn't gotten around to watching it. I really quite enjoyed it (hell, I'd enjoy just about anything with ToyoEtsu in it) although it's a very quiet movie, both soundtrack and dialogue-wise. It's also quite sad, no happy movie to be sure. But I do recommend it. It's bittersweet, but quite good, and I love the transition ToyoEtsu makes from when he first arrives in the movie to the end, when he's quite weak.
So poor Meg has to get her wisdom teeth out tomorrow. Which is good....but you know, also sucky in a general way ^^;; She goes in at 10, which means she gets out of going to Chinese tomorrow. Which is good but bad. I really like that class, I'm doing great on the quizzes, but I'm worried about the midterm. Although knowing me I'll cram really well, probably do perfectly fine, but come away not really knowing how to make sentences up :P I'm so far great at reading them because of already knowing a bunch of Japanese kanji ^^ so it's not hard reading chinese so far, but remembering the pronunciation, etc. ^^ And I hate Pinyin, btw :P It's confusing to learn pronunciation by, even now ^^
Mah, I wanted to write more, but I've got nothin'! ^^;;
Tuesday, October 8, 2002 :: Comments []
Disappointed but Not Surprised
Listening to: ~nothing, watching tv~ :P
So Meg and I just got back from seeing our advisor a few minutes ago, and discovered we will be graduation next December, not this coming May U__U Which means no applying for JET or Aeon or anything this year. I'm not surprised, just as my subject header says, disappointed. I have 6 more hours to take that go toward my actual major but still have 15 hours that I have to take just because. They're not for anything except to say I have X number of senior level hours. This added to two other things:
1.) I might have to take a class over. I took History of East Asian Civilizations which was a HIS 103 course, but now for classes I need too take for my major it says I need a 125, which is the same class, but a different number! If the sub-waiver isn't accepted I have to take the damned thing all over!!! WTF? How messed up is that! It's ridiculous!
2.) You're not allowed more than 6 hours total of Independant study during your undergraduate career...and this semester we're doing 3. Which means either in the spring or fall we won't be able to.
So I'm frustrated and disappointed....I won't be able to get back to Japan at all until I'm at least 23, and I won't even turn 22 until December U.U Plus I'm worried and wondering if FAFSA covers more than 4 years...which means I've have to shell out the approx. $2750 for next fall semester personally. So this just means I feel like spending an exhorbant amount of money @ Mitsuwa on Friday to make myself feel better U___U
ANYWAY.....=.=
Tuesday, October 8, 2002 :: Comments []
The Rare Use of a Credit Card
Listening to:Promise/Gospellers
I rarely, if ever use my credit card. The reason? I'm scared of them. ^^;; It's too easy to spend money you don't have with them. So I never use it until I have the money to pay for it but say, need to order something online. So I did just that last night, when Meg convinced me to cave and order this Korean movie called Interview, which sounds like a movie that's right up our alley ^^;; And it only cost $11 with shipping. I've never had more than $35 total owed on my credit card, so I think I'm pretty safe. I refuse to be one of those college students that leave school thousands of dollars in debt that's not student loans! Unfortunatly she's also pointed out that there's a copy of Odoru Daissosasen on Ebay...which has a Buy It Now price too ;.; Oh Japanese dramas you will be the end of me financially ^^;; (and other asian films/series)
So if we do go to Mitsuwa on Friday, I've dediced to buy Tokio's 5 Ahead which is the album that includes Hitoribochhi no Haburashi ^^;; It also has Dr. as well as a couple of other songs I'm fairly familiar with.
I almost feel sorry for poor Nagase Tomoya ^^;; He's sort of the "flavor of the month" for Meg and I *lol* First was KuboYou in Long Love Letter, then Oshio Manabu in HaruRanman, and now Nagase Tomoya. What makes it worse is the fact he has a drama coming up this winter season called Yanpapa (Young Papa)...in which he plays this guy that (I think) has to end up taking care of the kids of this older woman (he's 25 (well really almost 24 IRL) and she's 37) who I thinki is some famous geinoujin in the series (or something like that...check the HP out and you'll see where I'm confused). I find it kind of amusing, since i think this older woman becomes the love interest ^^ This is at least Nagase's second role as the younger guy interested in an older woman, like he played back in summer 1998's Love to Eros (which I never watched actually, but I remember the ads for and caught a few minutes here and there over my summer in Nagareyama). But anyway, I'm on a Nagase roll right now, and I think Yanpapa sounds cute if not anything else....although with Katou Ai and Goto Maki in it too...that makes me a tad bit dubious. Still, I'll give it a chance if only for his sake *lol*
Aside from that, I'm interested in seeing Nakayama Miho's series Home & Away, even if a part of the premise sounds a bit far fetched. I can suspend my belief for the sake of strict enjoyment if necessary :P The other one is a series starring Oshio Manabu and Sorimachi Takashi called Double Score, which is a police drama, but I think is supposed to be a comedy. Seems like they'd be a good match for a comedy....plus the fact I like both actors and have liked other dramas they've done seperately helps. Hope it's good and that Akemiya gets it.
Almost forgot to mention that Kanno Miho and Yuusuke Santamaria are doing a version of Flowers for Algernon. I think Yuusuke Santamaria is a great choice for that part. There's just something about him that I think makes him perfect for it. The bad part is, since I know the story, I also know it's something that doesn't end exactly happily ^^;; So I'm not sure if I want to watch it or not!! Decisions decisions! ^^;;
Well, I had more to write but I need to go meet with my advisor soon, so I'll close here ^^;;
Sunday, October 6, 2002 :: Comments []
Tv shows, how do I love thee
Listening to: Long Time Gone/Dixie Chicks
Hee hee, so I just finished watching the first episode of Scarecrow & Mrs. King that was shown after they got married ^^;; I swear to god, it's a truth to say a wedding ring makes a man...hmmm...well, in my case let's just say more kakkoii (because I mean, honestly, the idea of me saying "sexy" just causes one to giggle :P). Although admitedly Lee wasn't wearing it in every part of the ep....just when he wasn't around people that shouldn't know (like Amanda's mom). But tee hee, it caused me to squeal in silent happiness, because I am a geek like that ^^;; And made me happy to hear the part in the tag when Lee says to Amanda, "I love you, Mrs. Stetson" (although I have always wondered on the wisdom of a name like Stetson...o.o but I guess it sounds good for a spy?). Of course, Amanda was basically not in the episode...she gets shot in the beginning and barely says two lines...which makes me sad...not for the character, but Kate Jackson, who was diagnosed with breat cancer around the time this episode aired...so the whole hospital atomosophere wasn't that far off reality for her. Only a week of "new" episodes to go before we get hauled back earlier in the series. Noooooo...this sucks ^^ but maybe I'll get more work done? Hmmmmm unlikely, knowing me!
Anyway, for this extra credit assignment in my Citizen's and Governance class we're supposed to look up homepages of Neo Fascists etc., by keying in certain words, like militia, white supremacist, aryan etc., and good lord do these pages make me feel physically ILL. It's all a load of bullshit. That these people believe the bull they write is completely and utterly imfathomable to me. People accuse me of needing a reality check when I get too wrapped up in my dorama or manga or tv shows or what not, and now I feel like pointing my finger toward these (the ppl with these awful pages)....abhorrent, base, small minded people that (esp.) think 1.) the white "race" needs to be saved. AHHHHHHHHH!!!!! GET A LIFE! IT IS NOT THAT IMPORTANT YOU MUHWITTED CRETONS >______< Who gives a flying fuck (pardon my language) how many "white europeans" there are left. I could care less and I am one (ok, white european descended American). ARGGGGGGGGH I WILL THANKFULLY NEVER UNDERSTAND THESE PEOPLE!!!! *throws things around*
Anyway ^^;; as I wrote hastily last night before bed, we finished up Mukodono! Yay to mega-uber-drama happy endings ^^ because it really was :P Yuu-chan apologizes to all his fans and basically says that he learned a lot from and came to love the Arai family etc. It was all very cute and weepy and adorable and of course, after he sings and gets changed and is ready to head home, who should turn up but the Arai family (minus Azusa and Tsutomu, since he's still recovering), of course Sakura included, and there the teary reunion unfolds ^^;; Anyway, if you want a cute series with really likable characters, a dash of angst thrown in, and one hell of a great theme song, Mukodono is for you ^.^v
Saturday, October 5, 2002 :: Comments []
Kya---------------------- ^___________^
Listening to: Hitoribocchi no Haburashi/TOKIO
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE UTTER CUTENESS!!!!!! ^_______________________^ Meg and I just finished watching Mukodono and I have to say, it's absolutely going down as one of my favorite series of all time. It wasn't a fantastic script or anything is was just incrediably, amazingly likable and I wholly and utterly enjoyed it! I loved the characters, I loved the actors, and I got all the wonderful fangirly WAFF-y moments a drama addict could want. And a drool-worthy looking Nagase Tomoya to boot! ^__________________________________________^
Saturday, October 5, 2002 :: Comments []
Yatto Mita
Listening to:We Must Say Goodbye/Kim Hyun Chul
So I finally watched Monster's Inc. last night. Rather I should say that Meg and I started watching it, then had to stop because Monk came on, and then Meg decided she wanted to use the computer for a while. So, I ended up finishing it by myself and I have to say, it was adorable! I really enjoyed it ^.^ Plus, I have to say that I'm a genius! In the beginning when Boo cries and makes the lights flare and then laughs and everything goes bright suddenly and explodes, I figured it out right away >D Of course....it really doesn't take that smart a person to figure out where they're going with that....but I felt smart anyway, so muh ^_-
I also started watching Panic Room which I as of yet haven't finished watching. It makes me a bit nervous ^^;; I have to say though...If I were going to by myself and my daughter a 3-story Brownstone I'd certainly as hell light the place up better. Lord, you couldn't even try watching this movie with the lights on, because you'd never see anything on the screen, it's so dark! Anyway, I'll probably finish it sometime today, although I'm not sure when...seeing as I have to finish/start writing my nikki for my tutor session tomorrow.
Anyhoo, after that we put in another hour or so of Mukodono (honestly I don't know if it's my computer or not, but after like 40 min. the VCD started slowing down on itself >___< even if we shut down and start up again, it happens after 15-20 min U.U I don't think it's the comp). I gotta tell you....Nagase Tomoya suddenly throwing on the Kansai-ben (which I'm confused as to why ^^ Has something to do with where the family's from/lives...whatever, I didnt' catch it) is....dangerous to Johnny's fangirl ^^ Especially one that thinks he's pretty damned kakkoii. Although, Meg and I agreed he reminds us a lot of SMAP's Shingo, although more slimmed down and slightly prettier ^^;; Anyway, this episode was good because it had a great ending where Sakura goes to visit her mother's grave and no one else is in the cemetery and just once she wants to say outloud that she is married to Sakuraba Yuuichirou...so she's shouting this and of course Yuu-chan turns up and they have a teary make-up, complete with Sakura saying no he shouldn't be hugging her because someone might see and Yuu-chan saying that that doesn't matter. All the fodder a shameless Japanese drama fan loves :P
Actually, this is one of the elements I love about this series. I mean, you see affection in other dramas, but to me Yuuichirou and Sakura are the stereotypical newlyweds....who just adore each other to death and show it...but even in Japanese dramas you don't see that fully carried out normally...but Yuu-chan and Sakura are just bubbly and adorable and cuddly. *lol* I love Yuu-chan....Meg and I have decided that aside from HaruRanman's Souta and Hitotsu Yane no Shita's Kazuya, that Yuu-chan is definetly one of our favorite drama guys (although Souta beats everyone out for the kind of guy you'd like to date :P). Not to say characters like Long Vacation's Sena aren't great...but....anyway :P
Friday, October 4, 2002 :: Comments []
How I Do Miss Those Sounds
Listening to: One ~English Version~/ V6 feat. Shoo
Last night Meg and I were talking about sounds in Japan we missed. Which is actually really stupid, because they're every day sounds that nobody misses *Lol* Like the ringing a door makes as you go into a konbini, or the beeping of the street lights, or hearing "Irasshaimase!" as you go into a store. I'm not mulling here, just saying *Lol* Although I can hear all those sounds perfectly fine in my head, so I guess I don't have to miss them :P
Anyway, that's all the comment I have for today...it's been pretty boring >D
Thursday, October 3, 2002 :: Comments []
Do You Take This Spy?
Listening to: Shake it Up/Oda Yuuji
I swear, it's pathetic a 21 year old girl is obssessed with a mid 1980's television show about a spy and a housewife, but such is the way of the world sometimes :P Today was the episode in which Lee & Amanda's "mystery marriage" (Lee's words, not mine) really begins, as I'm sure you can tell by my little subject heading there ^_- It's kinda sad though, because we're winding down to the end of season 4 which was the final one for Scarecrow & and Mrs. King which is sad enough for a show you really like, worse because of the fact that Amanda is seen less in the last episodes because Kate Jackson was diagnosed with breast cancer.
It'll be fun to see the first season episodes, but I'm sad we're coming to the end. This show was corny and silly, but I swear, Bruce Boxleitner and Kate Jackson had fantastic chemistry. Although I have to tell you, genki, enthusiastic Lee is somewhat amusing and scary *lol* because it's a lot different from Lee in older episodes ^^;; But it's really cute. Kind of like how in HanaKimi it's nice to see Sano's point of view...you don't always get the guy's side, and it's nice to see enthusiasm, ne? *lol* But anyway, it's winding down to it's final episode....kinda sad ^^;; I keep telling Meg to think of it like a dorama :P then separation anxiety is less *Lol*
So I'm a little irked....my city has this great think they do every year about this time called the Evergreen Cemetary Walk. Evergreen is this huge, old cemetary in town and every year they take guided tours through and actors and actresses play different historical figures in my town's history. Included have been Judge David Davis (Supreme Court Justice and friend to Abraham Lincoln), Adali Stevenson II, etc.....just people from my town's past. Every year they change the people, and I went on this tour when I was a freshman in high school. I loved it, thought it was great. A really interesting way to get people interested in the town's history. But this year the tickets are $10 U___U I know that's not much money, but it's never been so high before, and I really wanted to be able to take a few people (especially a couple of the exchange students)...but I guess it's a no-go. Still, I might go do it by myself, because ....well...history just excites me, and the more I've learned about my town's own history the more interesting and proud I am to be from here ^^;;
Wednesday, October 2, 2002 :: Comments []
A Bit of Advice
Listening to: Hitoribocchi no haburashi/TOKIO
Yeah, so if you don't want the aching, longing feeling of days gone by, I don't suggest sitting down and re-reading your journal *Lol* Monday and Tuesday night I plopped myself down and re-read my two journals from last fall (and believe me when I tell you I never missed a single day my whole time in Japan ^^;;) which did nothing to put me in a good mood. Of course it's fun for me to re-live those 3 months and 3 weeks because every entry I can relieve in almost perfect detail. That is, I remember everything I wrote so clearly that it's good and bad. ^^ If you know me at all, you'll know that I can get attached to things, situations pretty quickly, but I'm also the kind of person that tends to know right away when a situation I'm in will be the sort of thing that stays with me ^^;;
I knew it during Outdoor Ed in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade, knew it my first time in Japan, knew it the second I stepped back in Japan last September. I'm sure you all have felt this at some point...the kind of thing you're going to remember clearly you're whole life, right? Last night I felt it so strongly I teared up, I miss it so much.
I suppose I feel frustrated because I went to see my advisor yesterday. Let me re-phrase that....my interim advisor, since my "real" one is on sabatical this semester because not only do I register for spring class in a couple of weeks, but I'm not positive whether or not I'll be graduating in May, and to even apply for JET you have to be graduated by the time you'd leave (which is next late-July and August) and the application itself is due in December, less than two months. Well, I go in to see this woman and she has none of my paperwork for my Japanese Studies contract-major. She even asks me how far along with it I am. And I'm like "It should be done completely!" and I had even brought with me the copies of the subwaivers (that showed my application for the contract-major had been approved) with me to prove it. This woman didn't even know what I'm contract-majoring in! Christ! Can't anything at the college level be easy?!?! And why the hell did she have all of Megan's paperwork when she turned in everything later than me? I'm not blaming Megan mearly grating at the way things work at universities. ARGH! This woman knew nothing about me! No file on me or anything and she's supposed to advise me?!
So I guess that's what set me off on my "I miss Japan" thing....because I feel pretty confident I'll be accepted by JET, but not knowing how long I'll have to wait is irritating >_____________< Of course conversely I'm worried about the next time I'm in Japan....which will almost certainly be as an English teacher...whether with JET or Aeon or what I don't know, because there's something special about doing a homestay or going there as an exchange student, like I have in the past...but it's entirely different as a job...you know ^^ It's a lot more...hmmm "adult"? I'm not sure how to put it...and I worry because frankly it has a lot to live up to *lol* But then again, one of the things I found fascinating about both my times in Japan is that life there is ordinary, and that's honestly part of the fun. It never stopped being amazing to me how comfortable and at home and ordinary I could feel in a culture that while it may have similarities to my own is really very different. Trying to explain to people that i didn't have to have these amazing adventures to have a blast is kind of hard, and I suppose it's something you have to experience on your own to discover, huh? Those of you who have studiend abroad can probably relate ^^;;
Anyway, on a lighter and less brooding note....someone gave me this link this morning O_________O HOLY CHRIST....it's like....the cutest thing and yet conversely the most frightening thing I've ever seen in my life!!!! O_______O
Elizabeth, reading that blog entry that you linked was really interesting although I should point out the with many of the host family's I knew, many of them had adult children still living at home, like with my own, my sister's, my friend Jason's...etc...so I guess it's just like here, you maybe not want to live with your parents, but sometimes it's a necessity....>D Anyway, it was great to read, especially having experienced life there, a lot of the stuff I laughed out loud in agreement with^_- although I don't, nor may never know certain...ahem....slang ^^;;
Tuesday, October 1, 2002 :: Comments []
Parararu Parararu Sakuraba Yuuichirou no oyomesan ni na---re
*lol* Nothing like an homage to Hime-chan no Ribon...
Anyway, our VCDs(Meg's really) of Mukodono came yesterday ^^;; It's a drama starrring Nagase Tomoya and Takeuchi Youko from spring 2001. In it, Nagase Tomoyo plays a famous musician (not to far from his real life, eh? :P) named Sakuraba Yuuichirou who, although he looks cool, confident and composed is in reality pretty geeky. That is, he dresses/acts far differently from his stage persona....preferring sweatpants, t-shirts and sweatshirts to the "cool" style his fans know him for. Moreover, unlike his stage personality, his real persona is warm, effervescent, and extremely happy. Well, one day he meets Arai Sakura, who doesn't even realize for a while who he is and they begin to date.
Finally Yuuichirou asks Sakura to marry him, and she agrees right away...they only have 2 problems. 1.) her family, whom he hasn't met and 2.) It would be bad for Yuuichirou's image as a musician if his fans found out he was getting married. The family problem is solved before 2 episodes are out, but it's agreed that they'll keep the marriage a secret for a while (I'm not sure how long) which of course means set-up for people nearly finding out, I'm sure :P
Anyway, we just finished the second episode and I have to say, I'm utterly enjoying this series >D Nagase Tomoya is adorable playing the enthusiastic if geeky Yuuichirou. He's so exuberant you can't dislike him, and he and Takeuchi Youko have great chemistry, I think ^^ It's funny because this is the third drama I've seen her in and in each one she had a "Johnny's" suitor. The first time I saw her in the remake of Shiroikage (god that was awful) with SMAP's Nakai Masahiro, then in Gakko no sensei with Kinki Kids' Doumoto Tsuyoshi, and now in Mukodono with Tokio's Nagase Tomoya. ^^;;
It's a really fun series so far...funny, cute, endearing and you really want to root for Sakura and Yuuichirou's relationship to work out (which of course it will....because...well....crimeny, of course it will). It's no Long Vacation by any means, but it's really likable...kind of like HaruRanman. It's not masterpiece but you can thouroughly enjoy watching it and love the characters.
Monday, September 30, 2002 :: Comments []
X Continued
After I got home Saturday I took a shower and headed over to Hyejin's. She has a good room at Atkin-Colby (the international students dorm)...it's on the top floor at the end of the hall (which means people aren't going past it all day) and it has one hell of a view! Her roommate was out, so I got to steal her chair for a while, and we watched 3 more episodes of X.
It's funny, because while I'm by no means a great fan of X I'm quite enjoying watching the series, even if I want to bash Kamui over the head and knock some sense into him. I felt bad for Hyejin when Subaru and Seishirou came in....she loves Tokyo Babylon and kept commenting on how sad the story is (I haven't seen it, but I know enough about it to be able to agree ^^;;). I'm also quite pleased that I'm following the story pretty clearly. No subtitles on this, mind you, and while I'm freakishly used to no subs when I watch Japanese dramas, I'm not so used to it with Japanese anime....and honestly, the majority of dramas I watch...well...they're like shoujo manga ^^ You miss a few things and they'll catch up to you later because the story isn't that hard to follow :P
Anyhoo, she also treated me to dinner, although we had to trek from Atkin over the the Watterson Tower food court (about a 10 minute walk) because the cafeteria in Atkin-Colby was closed. A bit of advice...don't get the pork tenderloin....tender it was not...but I was happy with my orange juice and chocolate chip cookie >D
Btw....I really like Akuma de sourou. Honestly, it's a pretty typical shoujo manga story, but for those of you that know me well (or even those that don't :P) cliche manga stories rarely tick me off, especially shoujo manga love stories *Lol* I just have a real zest for them. For me, it's the character's that are the pivotal element in a story, and even if I can guess what's happening before it occurs, as long as I like the characters I'll go headlong into it ^^
The basic plot of Akuma de sourou is that this girl named Kayano really likes a classmate of hers named Kamijou. When she finally gathers enough courage to give him a love letter, she does so with her eyes closed, and he actually walks right past her, so that her letter ends up in the hands of a kid a year younger than her named Takeru. Well, of course at first glance we're to think Takeru's a jerk (Which is why you immediatly have to like him :P you know automatically he is the real love interest here, not Kamijou) She gets so flustered she runs off, leaving her letter behind...and not long after a copy of it ends up on the chaulkboard of her classroom. It must have been Takeru, right? (hee hee...sore wa himitsudayo ^^) To make matters worse, Kayano's mother announces that she has become engaged...and in true shoujo manga style who is she engaged to? Yup, Takeru's father (who's also the chairman (??) of the school)! bwahahaha...and wackiness and "plot twists" ensue from there. So as you can see....pretty typical shoujo fare, which means I love it :P I love the style this is drawn in and I really like Kayano and Takeru (honestly, I will always love that name...ever since first watching Bokura no Yuuki ^^;;)...it's a fun series and I really recommend it to those of you that are shoujo manga fans ^.^v
Ohhhhhhh yeah ^^;; I've been forgetting to mention. If you think there's nothing good on tv, I highly recommend Monk which stars Tony Shaloub and is on the USA Network on Friday nights (at 10:00 or 10:30...I forget). They also re-run it at another time....which I forget as well ^^. It's about a detective with OCD...sounds stupid, but it's a fantastic show. I've only seen about 3 episodes thus far, but I really enjoy it!
Oh, I nearly forgot ^^;; The newest issue of Inuyasha I dunno what to think about ^^ Kikyou's been "killed" and IY's not taking it well...poor Kagome...I wish I could read the next chapter now ^^;; gya-
anyhoo, must get my chinese HW done ^^;;
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My Japanese Dorama List
My manga list as well!
Let's not forget my j-pop list while we're at it!
This gif of Jamie ddr-ing was made by Amy and it was edited from the ddring bunny. YAY AMY!
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Links:
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+Pitas' Main Page
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