++ Thursday, October 25, 2001 ++

I have only seen two Japanese movie in my whole life: The Ring and Battle Royale. The first one scared the shit out of me but didn't leave much of an impression. Battle Royale on the other hand sickened me but it was damn fascinating. But I think I will add another movie to that short list and that movie is called Gohatto. It came out in 2000 and was made by a really famous Japanese director. The best part, it's about the Shinsengumi!!! *_* When I was reading the story summary, names I recognized just jumped at me. Thank goodness I am reading Peace Maker or I wouldn't have recognized some of these names. I am so happy that Okita Souji is in the movie!! He is my favourite Shinsengumi! For people who don't know who he is, he is the real life person that Seta Soujirou from Rurouni Kenshin is based on. If you saw the OAVs, you will also know who I am talking about.

Anyway, the movie is based on two short stories that a really famous writer wrote. In it, a beautiful young man named Sozaburo Kano joins the Shinsengumi and causes havoc due to the fact that almost everyone is lusting after him. ^^;; In the original story, he is Okita Souji's lover but the movie changed the plot!! So now he is being chased by another new recruit named Hyozo Tashiro...among other men. ^^;; The thing is, Sozaburo is blissfully ignorant of the effect he is having on these men...poor innocent boy. ^^;; Add a few unknown murders fueled by jealousy, lots of cool fight scenes, and a few *cough* compromising positions and here is a movie that I really wanna see!! *_*

One thing about this movie that I really liked was that they captured the samurai tradition of homosexual relationships very well. Until the Westernization that began around the early 1900's, a homosexual relationship between a mentor-like older man and a younger man was VERY common. Almost exactly like ancient Greece actually. The movie is called "Taboo" but it was very accurate and honest about the portrayal of samurai sexual life.

I am ordering the DVD with English subtitles so I will have it soon. But I found out most of this info from this site. It's a French site because the movie was shown at the Cannes Festival but the pictures are nice to look at. At the main site, click on the bottom left corner where it says "Le Making Of et La Bande Annonce" You can download the trailer (which is in Japanese), scene clips, and actor interviews. Get Making Of file 2 and 4. *_* Those are the Okita and Sozaburo interviews!!

Another thing that amazed me was the actor who starred in the movie, Ryuhei Matsuda. Most actors would be hesistant to play a gay samurai who is seduced by an older man but he did it. x.x;; Heck, the director offered the role to the guy when he was 15 years old!! He said no because he said he didn't have the will to be an actor but he later said yes. I believe he was 17 years old when he filmed this. Here's a poster of Sozaburo.

++ Inuyasha kissed Kagome at 12:55 a.m. ++

++ Tuesday, October 23, 2001 ++

Downloaded a whole bunch of Inuyasha music stuff. I have almost all of the tracks on the soundtrack. I was reading an Inuyasha fic earlier and I had the music on...it was like having BGM music for the fic. ^_^

Did a mountain load of laundry today. o_O;; I've been lazy and kept saying "I'll do it tomorrow"...but then I was down to my last clean underwear so I really needed to clean my clothes. ^^;; I won't be one of those University students who go to class wearing smelly clothes!!

I am totally in love with Naruto. I want to read more!! But for some reason, the site that has it keeps going down. ;_; Well at least they keep coming back...I can at least depend on that. ;_; I need to see Kakashi sensei more...and I want more info on that new villain guy. *_* He makes me think of Voldemort. Wait a minute...would that make Sasuke = Harry??!! And since Sasuke got a curse scar from that snake dude...and Harry got a scar from Voldemort who is associated with snakes...and Naruto is kinda silly and clueless like Ron...and Sakura is the smartest one in class like Hermione...Kakashi sensei kinda reminds me of Remus...and Iruka sensei is kind of like Sirius...do I smell a crossover fic? *_* SOMEBODY!! WRITE A NARUTO/HARRY POTTER CROSSOVER FIC!! *_*_*_*

++ Inuyasha kissed Kagome at 01:48 a.m. ++

++ Saturday, October 20, 2001 ++

Oh geez I am tired. @_@;; Hungry too...didn't eat all day. Anyway, I finally finished the layout for Lemon Soju. This is the site that is giving me space for my blog pictures. I swear, this layout was just an excuse for me to try out all the cool fonts I downloaded. ^^;; I hope Esca and Coanteen likes it. ^^;; I know they haven't really seen much of Yami no Matsuei but I really wanted to do a YnM layout. You guys don't mind right? ^^;;

Lika chan, if you want Alison to make your blog layout, I am ok with that. But if you do want me to do it, just email me ok? I don't have any other planned at the moment...although I am seriously contemplating a Naruto layout for myself. *_* Too bad I can't find any decent pictures. -_-;;;

++ Inuyasha kissed Kagome at 08:00 p.m. ++

++ Thursday, October 18, 2001 ++

I GOT NEW INUYASHA EPISODES!! I have up to #44 now. *_* SO HAPPY. People, go and download Morpheus. Really good program for finding music and videos!! I got to see some of my favourite scenes animated so I am happy. ^__^ At one point I thought I was gonna have a huge nosebleed because of all the naked Naraku shots. Especially the one where he was holding an unconscious Kikyou and the camera was at a up angle. o_O;; His family jewels were just barely covered. O_O;; For those people who only know Naraku as a baboon fur wearing masked dude, click this and see what he looks like. Trust me, he looks even better in the anime. I really liked how they animated Sesshoumaru and Rin's meeting. It was so cute!! ;______; I want Rin and Sesshoumaru to get together!! When she is older of course...*cough cough* They would make such beautiful half-breed children. *_* Just like Inuyasha. And the Kouga episodes were so cool!! I love that scene when he challenges Inuyasha for Kagome.

Kouga: It's not a lie! Kagome is my woman! I have fallen in love with Kagome!
Kagome: O_O;; EH???
Kouga: Kagome would be more happy with me than some dogface. So to get rid of Kagome's bad memories, I'll kill you! And if I do that, Kagome, then you can fall in love with me too. HAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!!
Miroku: ¬_¬;;
Sango: o_O;;;
Shippou: O_O;;

*ROFL* That wolf youkai has no shame!! ^_^ That is probably why I like him so much. And it's so funny how badly Inuyasha reacts to all this...he's such a jealous puppy. ^_^

In other anime/manga news, I downloaded even more scanlations. I believe that is her term for scanned and translated manga. My favourite site has Hunter x Hunter, Hikaru no Go, and best of all, Naruto. GO TO THIS SITE AND DOWNLOAD NARUTO!! TRUST ME, IT IS GOOOOOOD!!! *checks updates* OH MY GOD!! THEY JUST DID A NEW CHAPTER OF NARUTO!! AND HUNTER X HUNTER!! AND HIKARU NO GO!! MUST DOWNLOAD NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*cough* Umm anyway, that site has other good stuff too. But seriously, I am head over heels in love with Naruto. It is so good. In the first 2 chapters, I laughed, I cried, and I sat on the edge of my seat in suspense. It's a story about this boy being a ninja. I know that is so typical but trust me, this manga is not typical. IT IS VERY GOOD. I CAN'T STRESS THAT ENOUGH. Yesterday night, I was bawling my eyes out because of volume 4. I was crying so hard that I was having trouble breathing. It was so sad, so tragic, and so so heartwrenching!!! I keep reading that chapter over and over again...I can't stop myself. And I keep crying too. @_@;; It doesn't help that the first time I read that chapter, I was listening to Luna Sea's "Love Song" and the lyrics fit the scene perfectly. ;_; It was almost word for word what was on the manga translations. Every time I listen to that song now, I think of Zabuza cradling Haku's dead face...as his blood and tears mingles with the falling snow...and joins him in death...*CRIES CRIES* I have never read a manga that effected me like this. I felt so moved by all of the characters and their pain. But I was also moved by their strength and courage. I am totally in love with this manga. Did I also mention that the fight scenes were really cool?

++ Inuyasha kissed Kagome at 11:17 p.m. ++

++ Sunday, October 14, 2001 ++

Finished installing new scanner. Won't work. I don't know why. Very angry. Very frustrated. This is the third scanner that wouldn't work for me. My old scanner that runs on a printer port can still connect...but since I lost the right driver, it doesn't scan very well. All of the new scanners I tried were USB ports...is something wrong with my USB ports? But that can't be right...I checked the status and all of them are without conflict. IT SHOULD WORK SO WHY ISN'T IT???

Maybe I can take my computer into some place and get this problem fixed. At first, I thought it was the scanner model that my computer was having conflicts with. But now that I tried this new model and I get the same problem...there is something definitely wrong with my computer. Oh gods...I feel such an urge to break something...*grinds teeth* And oh yes, did I mention that this new trouble is screwing up with my computer again? I love my life.

++ Inuyasha kissed Kagome at 03:26 a.m. ++

++ Saturday, October 13, 2001 ++

So very tired. I went shopping with my roommate for food and stuff. I exchanged my faulty scanner for a new one a few days ago...but then I discovered that the second one also didn't work. >_<;; I was on the customer help line for an hour with the guy instructing me on what to do. It was so horrible I tell ya. At the end, it still wouldn't work so I gave up. Today, I went in and got a totally different model. I am so sick of going to Future Shop now...if I have to exchange THIS scanner too, I will literally scream. People, stay away from Hewlett Packard Scanjet 2200c!! It sucks! When I was at the store, there was a guy who was giving advice to his friend not to buy that scanner too...it turns out it got very bad reviews. I agree. I bought a Canon N676U instead. It's was a bit more expensive but if it works and doesn't crash my computer, I think it will be worth it.

I have been listening to a lot of Luna Sea lately. I don't like all of their songs but some of them are really good. I think my favourites so far are "Hurt", "Rosier" and "Gravity". I am also horribly hooked on Noir music. The show is kinda boring and slow but the music is just lovely. "Salvos nos" is constantly on repeat. ^^;;

My sleep pattern has been totally screwed up lately. Going to sleep at 7 am has become normal. >_<;; So I stayed up all night yesterday and all day today so I can be totally exhausted and go to bed at normal hours. I spent the night making Olivia's pitas layout since I promised her I would. She said she wanted angels, pink, cute, and Sakura, so that is what I gave her. But she still hasn't written an entry yet. ;_; I hope she likes it...

Hey Kiri, haven't heard from you in a while. Hope all is good. Say hi to Dave and the cats for me.

Esca, now that I am done with Olivia's layout, I will start work on Lemon Soju. Hopefully this new scanner will work and I can scan something pretty for our site. ^_^ Woo boy I am busy...

Hope everything is ok with ya, Tsukineko. Don't feel about not blogging. We all miss you very much. *hugs* Just hang in there ok?

Missed you too, Satsuki chan. *huggles* I hope to stick around...that is if my computer will behave. -_-;;

Alison, I haven't talked to you in ages. How are ya doing? I loved the pictures of your cats...they are very beautiful. *envy envy*

Good news, Lika chan!! I found a free server that will let you post pictures and link them. ^_^ As soon as I am done with my other project, I will make your blog layout. You still haven't emailed me what you want, woman! ^_^

Stella dear, I hope you don't mind the way I described you in your sister's blog. ^__^ I am sure no one will think you are a junkie. *snickers*

++ Inuyasha kissed Kagome at 08:37 p.m. ++

++ Tuesday, October 9, 2001 ++

Wah I am so tired. x.x; Instead of going to sleep right after tinkering with my computer, I decided to surf around a bit. I mean, I haven't had my computer in ages...I really missed it you know? It was a horrible mistake. x.x;; I found the motherload of all scanlation links and found so much manga I wanted to read. So I was downloading stuff like a mad woman. @_@;; I managed to find Hunter x Hunter 1-7 and a bit of 8!! *_* URESHII!! But the best part...I FOUND SCANLATIONS OF SHINSENGUMI IMON PEACE MAKER!! *_*_*_* It's only the first book and a bit of 2 but now I understand my manga MUCH better. *hugs scans* Hey Kit!! Could you tell me what is going on from book 2-4? ;_; My Japanese sucks!!

++ Inuyasha kissed Kagome at 08:41 p.m. ++