Time: 04:13 p.m.
Listening to/Whining About: :(
Sad. That's all.
Katy smoked a mascot on Saturday, January 10, 2004
Time: 11:34 p.m.
Listening to/Whining About: Heh...
I just ordered *the* spiffiest wallscroll ever. All shall ph34r indeed... ^______^
Katy smoked a mascot on Friday, January 9, 2004
Time: 09:14 p.m.
Listening to/Whining About: It's nice to see...
...that
even now there are people so behind the times that think to mention that. It puts me off ever making my Hellsing website, it really does.
Anyway, the chief purposes of this blog entry are twofold: to express my greetings of the birthdaytacular kind to Andrew, and to talk about a few bits of news. So.
Happy Birthday Andrew! I hope I got the day right. Your card would have gotten to you on time but for the fact that it was being sent by me, and from America. Expect it somewhen after Easter. And probably with a request for extra postage payment. ^____^
News. Well, first things first, I finally booked Daniel's tickets to England this morning. We ended up having to go to the airport to do it, somewhere I didn't really want to be three days before I have to leave, but hey, at least it's done. This makes me feel happy.
After that, Daniel and I went to have dinner with one of the people we were working with at the museum over the summer. We've popped in on them a few times this week just to say hello and discuss some stuff (some of which very exciting but I should probably keep it under my proverbial hat >_<) but we actually went out for a meal this time. Then I had a zip round the museum to say hello to the people I haven't seen since September, which was jolly.
I should probably stop avoiding Coptic now. >_<
Katy smoked a mascot on Thursday, January 8, 2004
Time: 12:39 p.m.
Listening to/Whining About: NEWSFLASH
MY MUM BOUGHT A MICROWAVE FOR MY ROOM! WE CAN HAVE HOT FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!! ^______________^
PS How many of the collective shall be in Oxford a week on Wednesday, cause I'm coming back and I need to rope foolish people into helping me get things up the stairs. ^__^;;;; I will bring sweeties...and hot food!! (At least I'm giving you warning so you can think of excuses now! ^_~)
Katy smoked a mascot on Tuesday, January 6, 2004
Time: 08:38 p.m.
Listening to/Whining About: Alright
That promise didn't last very long. I'm feeling vaguely pragmatic at the moment so I think I ought to do something about the situation. Incidentally, what I said about not wanting to come home, I don't mean that in a "I don't want to see any of you people ever again you make my life a misery" way, cause I should hope by now you know you don't. It's just a little, hmm, tearing sometimes to have the people I care about dotted around the world like this.
Anyway, for a start I may as well recount a few of the things I've been doing this week otherwise I'm not going to remember a few of the things that have made me happy. New Year was alright, even if it was a relatively quiet affair. We stayed at Daniel's, had dinner and watched the fireworks going on outside. All very pretty so that was fine, and as un-challenging as I like my new year to be. Frankly by about ten I was ready to go to sleep anyway.
Much of the week has been taken up by trying to write the world's crappiest essay. Not on purpose, of course, but it's just turned out that way. And if Andrew wants to know more about it, tough, I'm not interested in the purposes of the building projects of Amenhotep III enough to write a blog-essay on it. ^__^
Some interestingness in that we went to the one big museum I hadn't been to in San Antonio yet,
the Witte Museum, which as far as I'm concerned is a Proper museum. I think my definition of a Proper museum differs wildly from that of just about every other person on the planet, but if you to make me describe a museum it would probably end up being closer to something like the Witte than the BM. It's basically a family museum - lots of interactivey things and models of native indians and
big dinosaur skeletons which are a *must* for every Proper museum - the kind of thing my parents took me to all the time when we were little, thus earning Proper museum status for the Witte and all its kin. Anyway, we had much fun there, despite being far too old to play on most of the exhibits but doing it anyway. ^___^ They had a make your own giant dinosaur movie camera. It was cool. o_0
Alright, so that's about everything I've been doing up to now really. Now I guess I ought to start getting a bit more optimistic about the future. I've been attempting (since about half an hour ago in the shower) to compile a list of things I have to look forward to this year to make the whole business of 2004 better. Additions to this list would be *hugely* appreciated.
Okay, well, 1. Daniel is coming to England.
Yes, all may finally meet my elusive boyfriend. Except for Ivan who has met him already, of course. It's looking like he should be coming a few days before my finals finish and possibly staying in Oxford for the week my finals finish/the out-of-character-drunkeness starts. I am hugely excited about taking him lots of fun places too, given that he's going to be here for two months. ^____^
2. The End of Finals. Finals are going to be a horrible piece of poo, I've come to terms with that, but I think I should start focusing on the *end* of finals now. Someone count how many days it is until June 16th. I invite everyone to the Turf right now for the celebrations on that very day.
3. Ohhhh yes. *fangirlism* Advent Children comes out in a few months! ^_____^ Much of this thought is being spurred on by the fact that I've forced Daniel into playing FFVII and much to his surprise *he actually likes it*. He's been maintaining a severe distaste for the game thanks to my Sephiroth ubergleeing, but frankly it's just a jolly good game. And this year we get to have pretty CG Sephiroth! Heeheeheeheeheeheehee *falls off chair with fangirlish squeaks*
On a similar note, 4. Time to play videogames! I'm not sure if Final Fantasy X-2 is actually something I ought to be happy about playing, but since Squenix own my bank account along with various Transatlantic airlines I will be buying the horrible horrible fanservice and it will probably drain hours from me like an evil Yuna-shaped Mako Reactor on the face of my young life (mm, that was a truly geeky simile, I'm almost ashamed...) I may even get round to finishing FFVI and Chaos Legion one day...
5. No. More. Coptic. And that's that.
Anyway, as I said, if anyone wants to tell me more things that will make 2004 a more enjoyable place I'll be most glad.
Katy smoked a mascot on Sunday, January 4, 2004
Time: 04:42 p.m.
Listening to/Whining About: *sigh*
I think I may take a break from blogging for a while. I'm beginning to get depressed about the idea of having to come home, and everything that it's going to entail. So I'll spare everyone that for a while.
Katy smoked a mascot on Saturday, January 3, 2004
Time: 12:57 p.m.
Listening to/Whining About: New Year blah blah blah
You may have guessed I'm not really a New Year person. I just find it boring, frankly. I never do anything interesting at new year, and this year won't be any different. I shall forcibly attempt to stay tucked away at home possibly watching anime or playing videogames with Daniel. Yes I am boring, but I don't like going-out-and-getting-plastered events.
But if you're doing something for New Year, have fun.
Incidentally, Lizzu, they're releasing a Saiyuki Reload Playstation 2 game in March in Japan. Get your brother to chip his PS2, I say. ^___^ Pictures if/when I find some.
Katy smoked a mascot on Wednesday, December 31, 2003
Time: 04:23 p.m.
Listening to/Whining About: Blog Entry that Will Probably Get Me Lynched #3984
Yes, so, Daniel and I went to see Return of the King today. I could lead up to this is an interesting/useful/well-argued way, but I'm too sleepy. So my opinion commeth now.
The Lord of the Rings is probably the greatest fantasy novel ever written, I don't dispute that. The Lord of the Rings flim trilogy pushes the limits of the highest-quality fantasy epic filmaking, I don't dispute that either. Both are works of incredible quality and should be lauded as such. However, I can't say I was too enthused by Return of the King. It was a good film, it was an exceptionally good film, but I was expecting that, as was everyone in the world. And perhaps that's where the problem lies. I don't really have any great affinity with the LOTR story because I'm a Philistine and I didn't read it at a young and impressionable age, so I didn't have the excitement about seeing how memorable bits of the books would be presented. So I probably lost a great deal there.
It's quite hard to present my opinions on this film without looking like I didn't like it. I think I have become a bit jaded (as usual...) about the series because of they hype, hence the fact that it didn't exceed my expectations, rather, fulfil them. I mean, I find it perfectly satisfactory as a film version of a book I'm probably never going to read (yes, I know that's to my detriment, but I just don't get on with books. I'm a retard, let's leave it at that) *but* it just didn't grab me as something I want to watch again.
So, in conclusion, Return of the King is an exceptionally good film, but <*insert insult here about my jaded/retardedness*>.
Katy smoked a mascot on Sunday, December 28, 2003
Time: 04:06 p.m.
Listening to/Whining About: *balances bags of ice on head*
I should like to go somewhere very cold and very quiet at this moment. I have a horrible headache. And thus I will play on the computer, just because everyone always says that's a bad thing to do in this situation.
I actually managed to stay unconscious for most of Christmas day, which was strangely pleasing. Was woken up about nine thirty by younger siblings of boyfriend for purposes of present openage, but crawled back into bed about an hour later. And slept until three, when it was decided that actually seeing some of Christmas Day might be a good idea. I love sleep.
Presentage was all very lovely and appreciated. Got the model I'd been eyeing for months of the Yojimbo aeon from Final Fantasy X from Daniel, and lo is it a big scary Japanese dude with swords and dog. ^________^ I would post a picture, but frankly none of the ones I can find do his scariness justice. ^__^ Got a quality haul of pyjamas and socks on the other items front, which amuses me muchly since I never ever get stereotypical Christmas gifts. Various other little things all of which were spiffy, including Nightmare Before Christmas stationary from Daniel's little brother. And much chocolate. So much chocolate. ^_____^
Spent the conscious hours of the day playing SSX 3 and watching Pirates of the Caribbean. And everyone else who got that dvd for Christmas (that's most people, isn't it? o_0) you must watch the bonus stuff on the second disk, provided the British version is the same as the American. The outtakes are excellent, and Jack Davenport actually has the best quote ever about his costume as Norrington - "I look like an ice cream." ^________________^
Anyway, have been braving taco shops and North Star Mall today, which makes me happy, despite the hideous number of people around, which does not. The things I will do to find Cheap Stuff...
Katy smoked a mascot on Friday, December 26, 2003
Time: 12:08 p.m.
Listening to/Whining About: Seasonal tidings of festive glee
The staff of Mascot Roadkill (that's...me! ^___^) wish you a spiffy celebration of the birth of Christ. (That's Jesus Christ, not Santa Claus...:p). May your Christmas puddings be saturated with brandy and may all of the poppy things in your crackers pop.
Failing that, have a nice day tomorrow. ^_~
Katy smoked a mascot on Wednesday, December 24, 2003
Time: 07:53 p.m.
Listening to/Whining About: Filler.
Because I can't be bothered to think of any *actual* content for this blog entry, I'm going to steal Laura's quiz! Hurray theft!! ^________^
1. What did you do in 2003 that you'd never done before?
Well I hadn't met Neil Gaiman last year, as far as I remember. Never been to an anime convention either.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't make new year's resolutions. I *know* I'll break them. o_0
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not this year.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No. And that's a horrible question. o_0
5. What countries did you visit?
Gee, let me think... America, America...oh and America. Oh and Texas. *Some* people count that as a country. Crazy people... ^_____^
6. What would you like to have in 2004 that you lacked in 2003?
Mo-neeeeyyyyyy. And more Hellsing manga. With English translations.
7. What date from 2003 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I'm crap with dates, so none.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Doing an internship at the museum in San Antonio.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Budgeting, or lack thereof.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
For the greater part of last term, in various mingtauclar forms. Oh and there was that day in Trinity after we went to the Botanical Gardens then I spent the next morning unable to breathe through hayfever. Oh happy memories!
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Far too much Hellsing crap. ^______^
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Those who nest in my room (besides the Alukatys), the majority od anime soc and, of course, The Boyfriend.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Herr Next-Door-Neighbour-With-Guitar-and-Alcoholism, for oh-so-many reasons.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Fliiiights.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Spending three months in San Antonio.
16. What song will always remind you of 2003?
Stray from Wolf's Rain for the karaoke shameness, or Invoke from Gundam Seed. ^____^
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
Stressier, but not really happier or sadder.
ii. richer or poorer?
Oh poorer, so much poorer. I'm thinking of putting a Paypal button on this blog it's so bad. o_0
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Sleep. Oh and that work crap...
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
T i m e w a s t i n g.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
In Texas.
22. Did you fall in love in 2003?
Well, um, I am *in* love... o_0
23. How many one-night stands?
Dude, none. o_0
24. What was your favorite TV program?
For flithy western television, probably The Simpsons, as usual. For delicious anime, Hellsing. Or Azumanga Daioh. And now Bottle Fairy. o_0
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I generally try not to "hate" people, but various people I dislike very very much. See answer to question 13, for instance.
26. What was the best book you read?
Good Omens. Definitely.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Urm, do Electric Six count as this year? o_0 Failing that, dunno.
28. What did you want and get?
Trips to Texas.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Hum. Probably Pirates of the Carribean.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you
Dude, it says that, like, three entries or something ago. ^____^ And oddly enough I was 21.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Intelligence.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2003?
Fa-shun con-sepped? o_0
34. What kept you sane?
The Bottle Fairies. And people who let me say swear words around them.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Well I've been told by Daniel that I'm officially allowed to fancy Johnny Depp and Johnny Depp alone as far as people other than him go, so, uh, Johnny Depp?
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Um, Iraq, probably.
37. Who did you miss?
Phinn, Jo and Eisuke.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Haven't met many new people this year. Helen and Jenny are very cool though.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2003:
Sleeping in the Botanical Gardens is not a good idea. Also, singing to best of Queen tapes does not help your navigational skills.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Bulbous bouffant blubber macadamia blubber gazebo.
Ha.
PS Many squillion thank yous to Laura - the Christmas card came today! It's so cute! ^________^
Katy smoked a mascot on Tuesday, December 23, 2003
Time: 09:55 a.m.
Listening to/Whining About: *tuts*
You people suck, you should *like* chirpy music. :p Anything is better than that dirgetacular crap. *insert rant about condensed musical depression being entirely unsuitable for a happy Christmas along with most other things people enjoy in the Home Country*
I will spare you the Evils of Modern Christmases rant for a few more days yet. :p
The Matrix Revolutions was fairly impressive at the IMAX. It's better than Reloaded, but frankly that's not saying much, is it? Dialogue was
incredibly trite and cheesy for most of the time. Had no one spoken in the entire film, I might have enjoyed it more. Particularly Trinity and Neo. >_< It very much suffers from trying-to-be-more-intelligent-than-it-is syndrome. The effects were, well, standard impressive Hollywood blockbuster special effects really. *insert jaded through overuse of special effects rant* Oh and the ending. Yes. Do not expect much from that. In fact, expect nothing useful/interesting/closing, but rather cheesy unfulfiling crap. Except the ending theme *really* sounds like One Winged Angel. *Really*. ^____^ To the point where Daniel and I were walking out of the cinema screeching "SEPHIROTH!" at the relevant moments. ^_______^
Anyway, yeah. Matrix Reloaded enjoyable on uberscreen, but not a good movie. I was more impressed with the way the skyscrapers (well, as close as San Antonio has to *real* skyscrapers) looked downtown in the dark yesterday evening. It was so cool. o_0 It looked like something from a Batman film (and *that's* why I was running down the street singing the theme from the Batman movies). The clouds were reflecting the light from the ground so they looked white-ish grey and the rest of the sky was totally black. Batman or other suchlike person really should have been standing on top of the weird illuminated building next to Rivercenter for dramatic effect. One day I shall attempt to take a photo and maybe I won't sound like such a crazy person. ^____^
Oh, and I finally have the last volume of Hellsing on dvd. Hurray! ^_______^
Katy smoked a mascot on Monday, December 22, 2003
Time: 02:31 p.m.
Listening to/Whining About: Filmage glee and musical complaining
Daniel bought me an early Christmas present yesterday - Pirates of the Caribbean on dvd! ^_________^ Jack Sparrow glee!! Filmage glee continues as we're going to the IMAX downtown this evening to see the last Matrix movie. Well it might be crap, but hey, it's going to be on a huuuge screen. ^___^
By the way, I am disgusted at England today for the choice of Christmas number one. How could you let that awful dirgey crap Donnie Darko song beat The Darkness? *weeps* There is something very wrong with the world when a Christmas song that perky doesn't get to be number one. *beats country with stick* I know many people like that Mad World song, but I'm afraid it goes into my box of supposedly relaxing music that makes me want to hurt things. (Alright, so most pop music makes me want to hurt things, just this song in particular.) Anyway, disappointment, England, disappointment. Recognise your quality cheese bands.
Katy smoked a mascot on Sunday, December 21, 2003
Time: 08:08 p.m.
Listening to/Whining About: Far too overdue update...
Alright, I think I'm out of the post-birthday blues that seem to have been hanging over me the last couple of days, so I may as well blog about everything. Had I done this yesterday it would have been a depressing read... o_0
So continuing where I left off, we went to the
McNay art museum. And has joyous spaz fits of the highest order when we found out what the special exhibit was: props and sets from The Nightmare Before Christmas!! ^__________________^ So. Very. Cool. So we wandered around there for ages gawping at the Jack Skellington-ey goodness.
Went out for dinner with Daniel's family in the evening (it being his birthday and all) then came home and played stuff. Woke up the next morning and guess what? It was my birthday. Amazing how these things creep up on you.
Got manifold lovely presents from people, including a beautiful Final Fantasy X box-type-thing from the boyfriend which may actually help eliminate some of the clutter on my desk next term, and a new watch from my parents. Also got a spangly necklace from older sibling with a wyvern pendant. ^__^
Things went a bit skewiff in the day so we weren't able to do everything according to plan, but in the evening Daniel took me to an Italian restaurant on Riverwalk (it's a river, you can walk down it! People in San Antonio love it! :O) Twas very posh and the food was excellent, so we were happy.
Anyway, so, that was my birthday. That and a lot of playing SSX 3. Which is wonderful. As is Viggo, its Swedish manho dude. I have very sore thumbs thanks to that game.
For some reason I've been on a bit of a downer since my birthday, I don't know why. The promise of Christmas ought to make me happy but it's not been really. I think I have a few too many things to stress about at the moment. Work is a horrible big one for a start. I'm panicking about that at every opportunity, but not getting anything done about it. >_< And then trying to sort out university stuff over here about where I'm going to apply to next. That's being a bit of a headache. It's all making me a little miserable through. o_0 But I think I might be over the worst of it, I hope so anyway.
Retail therapy has been called upon a few times this week and I've made some spangly purchases. I feel soiled for buying the American version of Hellsing Raid, but it was only $13. *beats self with not-the-Japanese-soundtrack stick* Also bought a spiffy artbook of The Nightmare Before Christmas with the Borders gift token Daniel's parents gave me, which is luffly. And a puppy. It was a Beanie Baby toy, but I couldn't resist it because I looked on the tag and his name was Mukluk! ^_________^ And since Daniel has now been initiated into the joys of the Bulbous Bouffant song, it had to be bought. And lo did we walk out of Borders screaming about mukluks.
Right, well, today has been uneventful. I went to UTSA to see about their graduate courses and they seem rather good. Campus is very nice, has squirrels in. Gets my vote.
And now I'm going to go and kick Daniel off the Gamecube so I can play SSX. ^________^
Oh, but PS -
You are the best. I got the card and artwork yesterday. ^____________^
Katy smoked a mascot on Friday, December 19, 2003
Time: 10:06 p.m.
Listening to/Whining About: ^__^
Am 21. Good birthday. Blog later. ^___^
Katy smoked a mascot on Wednesday, December 17, 2003
Time: 12:01 p.m.
Listening to/Whining About: *throws streamers and sparkly things*
'Tis the start of the me birthday season today, cause it's The Boyfriend's 21st! Huzzah! Not that he will be reading this today because we're going out in a few minutes, but hey, it would be mean of me not to say it.
In celebration of the aforementioned event, we have spent all morning doing nothing. ^______^ Which is a most fun thing to do. "Nothing" involving making boiled eggs and tea and playing SSX 3, which was my present. ^__^ We're going to one of the art museums in a bit, cause it's apparently very pretty.
And something's happening tomorrow, but I really can't think what... ^____________^
Katy smoked a mascot on Tuesday, December 16, 2003
Time: 12:52 p.m.
Listening to/Whining About: ^____^
Heeheeheehee!! ^__________^
Katy smoked a mascot on Monday, December 15, 2003
Time: 10:44 a.m.
Listening to/Whining About: Big ol' update
Right, first things first before you get my tale of airline woe...HAPPY BIRTHDAY IVAN!! :O
Second, DMC comic...heeeeeeeeee. ^________^ I will indeed be picking that one up.
Right, as you may have guess, I am now in Texas. And as you may also have guessed from my above comment, it was not easy. >_< Heathrow airport must join the list of things Crowley invented in our fair capital because it's actually the most disorganised place in the world. It makes the M25 look like happy happy fun time. I don't consider an hour an a half to be an acceptable time to wait to check in, no British Airways, I don't.
Anyway, after that mammoth check in time we had to sit on the plane for over an hour waiting for everyone else to get on and to get flying, which meant that I didn't get to Chicago until half an hour before my flight was meant to leave. Suffice to say not even belting it as fast as I could off the plane through customs and immigration and almost collapsing didn't get me to the flight on time. Was exceptionally angry, got put on a flight two hours later. Which I waited for...and waited for...and waited for...and the flight time got later and later and later, until they finally decided it was going to leave.:p
So, I was on the flight to San Antonio wondering what else could possibly go wrong today, when the pilot comes on the pa system "Ladies and gentlemen it's come to my attention that we've lost part of the hydraulics system during our flight..." Now, for all I knew about aeroplane mechanics, the hydraulics system could be what keeps us in the air, and was more than a little panicked at that point, given that we'd been having a bumpy flight already... "...but it's nothing to worry about, we're just going to have to get towed away from the runway when we land." Thank you, thank you so much. Why couldn't you have said that first? o_0
And so we landed, and had to wait another twenty minutes to get taken off the runway. Yippee, I thought, Daniel shall be fed up of waiting at this rate. -_- Got off the plane eventually, and was rather surprised to see the terminal had changed since I'd last been there. Hmm, where did the escalator go? Never mind, carry on to the baggage claim ...where I found out I was in terminal 2, not 1 where I usually land and had told Daniel to be. >_< So I panicked and wondered what I was going to do, and eventually managed to get someone to page Daniel over the announcement system. Which evidently didn't work because it seemed only to be broadcasting to our terminal. Ha. Ha. Ha. So about half an hour later I resorted to calling Daniel's house and seeing if he'd taken a cellphone with him, and fortunately he had. Phoned the number and got some lady who evidently didn't want to be woken up at twelve at night by wrong numbers. >_< Tried again and actually got through, and finally got found at about half past twelve. >_< Entirely not Daniel's fault, but not what I needed to round off my day at all.
Anyway, spent most of yesterday asleep thanks to stress/jetlag, until the evening when we decided to go on a Hellsing manga hunt. Mmm nasty Dark Horse translated volume. I'm not desparately impressed, but then it was going to take a lot to do that. The blurb on the back is the biggest pile of nonsense I've ever read, and they've mangled a few bits of the translation....but it could be worse, I suppose.
Anyway, going to find some food now.
Katy smoked a mascot on Saturday, December 13, 2003
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