Alpha Yami's Journal

Some story plots that irk me - pt. 1

Jul. 2nd, 2009 at 6:12 PM

1. Killing off older characters, or anyone offering help to the 'hero.'

First off this has become so freaking predictable. Some older person comes around an offers some grand wise advise. Moments later they are killed by a villain.

Please stop now. Please. If your 'hero' must proceed on their own, find some other way to seperate the characters.

I find plots much more enjoyable when they are mult-generational.

2. Character who is old and experienced gets their butt kicked by a noobie.

Okay. White belt meets black belt. And white belt not only easily wins but wins by a mile. Riiiight. How often do you seriously expect this to happen? Be honest now.

You might be able to explain it off by experienced fighter being off guard. Might. You can try "my goodness and virtue trump your skill." I might buy that. Once.

Seriously though. Experienced people should act accordingly. People just learning a skill should stumble. Let the noobie have to work and use strategy. It makes both characters believable.

3. Arranged marriages are terrible things, and only the woman can complain about it.

This is a two-in-one lament.

First the perception that arranged marriages are terrible things. How awful of your parents to marry you to a complete stranger. How unloving and uncaring.

Um in some cultures and time periods arranged marriages are/were normal and accepted. I'm willing to bet when possible the parents checked out the prospective spouse-to-bes. They just spent years supporting and loving their children. They would make sure their future spouse could take care of them.

Now some arranged marriages were made to create or solidify a truce. Okay. But that doesn't automatically make their spouse-to-be automatically bad.

Second issue: only women can lament about it.

Here's the obvious fact. It takes two people to make a union. Both of them are having their spouse picked out by their family. Both are in the same boat.

And yet I read about the woman lamenting on the unfairness of it all. Not the man. She cries. Not him.

The message to the future husband must be "suck it up and be man." And if he does lament: he's complaining, he's feeling sorry for himself (ignoring the fact the future bride is doing this), he's a wimp, a baby, etc.

Wow. What a message to send to all the men out there. Deal with it. Tough luck. Who cares how you feel.

It gets worse when he's portrayed with really bad personality problems. He's cruel, controlling, abusive, harassing, alcoholic, etc.

Then comes the cliche of the woman being rescued from this bad marriage by a handsome kind man. And I try not to gag.

How about a story where both people in this arranged marriage have to deal with the uncertainty of it all? They have to learn about each other. Maybe they're from different countries and cultures and have to learn those. They try together to make their marriage, their treaty, work. No over angsting. No handsome person to rescue them.

There are more plot points that irk me, but I'll just start with these.

Location:Home, typing this on my iPhone.
Mood:Meh.

Tags:

writing rant

And for Valentine's, I got...

Feb. 14th, 2006 at 9:17 PM

My car back from the repair shop aka Dealership.

Backing up now. A little over a month or so, I took Haku in for an oil change. It turned out my belts were cracking. The oil change place did not have them in stock. So as soon as we could, Giuliano and I took the car to Pep Boys to get the belts replaced. Now the priced they quoted on the phone turned out to be only for 1 belt. The person on the phone didn't realize there were 2. So they kept to the price and changed them.

A week later I started having problems turning my steering wheel. Then as I turned the wheel too far in one way or another, the belt squealed really loudly.

Haku went back to Pep Boys, but they were already busy with repairs. I mentioned the car was getting hard to turn and the person I talked to came out to look at the car. We turned the wheel as he watched. He said that when we turned it, the pump stopped working and the belts were getting frayed. Now Giuliano had checked the belts earlier, and one seemed loose. The guy pressed on it and said it was tight enough. The mechanic said the pump or the rack was failing. However they had to order a pump. As this was right before MLK, we worried who would be open. We decided to go to Subaru, the dealership, for the repair. If it was something slightly major, we wanted a professional taking care of this car.

My car went to Subaru on Jan 17th, and the verdict was.. the belt was loose, the pump is fine.

Now I had noticed a noise under the hood from time to time after the belts were replaced or so. But it went away, so I couldn't take it anywhere since they wouldn't hear it. The noise remained, even though I had hoped it was related to the previous car problems. Then it started to happen more often and get worse. Finally it didn't really go away.

So I convinced Giuliano to take Haku back to Subaru and an appointment was made on Jan 30th. At first it seemed that the crankshaft was bent. Then the news got worse.. much MUCH worse.

The bolt that held the pulley for the crankshaft got loose. The key ripped off and the end of the crankshaft got chewed up. Unfortunately by the time I heard the noise the damage was already done. The whole engine block had to be replaced. The rest of the engine was in good shape and could be rebuilt into the block.

Subaru lent me a loaner for free, a 2006 Subaru Legacy sedan (blue), complete with a sun roof and leather interior. I enjoyed driving it a couple of times, but I spent most of the time depressed about Haku.

Finally today I got word that my car repairs were done. The final verdict, the block was replaced with a new one, the oil pump was built into the block and was stuck so it was replaced, and the timing belt was stuck so that had to be replaced too. The repair cost just over $5,100. :(

Giuliano and I came to an agreement on the repairs. I, of course, cannot afford a repair that costly. So Giuliano paid for the repairs. In turn all of my tax refund will go to Giuliano to pay him back for repairs. I'll also most likely have to divert money to him whenever possible to continue to pay off the repairs. (Depending on how much of a refund I get.)

So instead of a nice dinner and a nice engagement ring for 5k, I got a new engine block, oil pump, and timing belt.

*Sighs.*

Well at least there aren't many big repairs left now. The car should last till at least 160k or so now, I hope. Now I just have to get used to driving Haku after driving the loaner for 3 weeks.

Mood: depressed

"Radical Militant Librarian".. soo, can I get that added to my job title?

Dec. 18th, 2005 at 10:46 PM

I wanted to blog this a few days ago, but work always keeps me busy, and weekends are busy doing things I can't on weekdays. That and recently our internet connection has been having problems.

On tuesday I was listening to NPR while driving to work. I was listening to them talking about the Patriot Act. At the time I was too busy watching traffic ahead of me to really listen all too closely. That is until I heard this, "While radical militant librarians kick us around, true terrorists benefit from OIPR's failure to let us use the tools given to us."

Quoted from the NPR report found here.

Radical Militant Librarians, eh? I suddenly had the urge to wiggle my fingers while saying "OOoooo" in a spooky voice. (For those who do not know, I work as a library assistant.)

Already I have seen a spark in cafepress items related to this.

So can I have that added to my official job title? It sounds nice and powerful and needing of a pay raise. :D

Well I guess I should go and gather together some camouflage clothing for work. Though I'm not exactly sure what one considers as camouflage in a library setting.

It also should be worth noting, that perhaps the number of times this 'tool' has been used isn't exactly zero. (If that story link is true.)

Mood: lethargic

The big news... finally

Oct. 9th, 2005 at 9:06 AM

Sorry about the long wait on the news. I needed to upload the picture to show everyone. With my PC giving one final gasp and needing a nearly complete overhaul.. well.. it took time to recover everything I needed again.

So here's the news. On August 27th in the morning I became the brand new owner of this:

I wasn't kidding when I said my old car has to go. The AC repair job was the last and final straw for me. So I went car shopping and bought a 1998 Subaru Outback Limited (automatic transmission) which had just over 61k on it from a used car place.

I took the car for an inspection at a local Subaru dealership prior to purchase since it seemed to shake when driving. It was discovered that the previous owner was either unaware or just an idiot or both, because they put different type and size tires on the car. Different type/size tires + all wheel drive = differentials get busted. Other than that though, the car was solid. Even the first owner wrote down all their repairs on the owner's manual which was in the glove box. (I did a background check on the car to find it had 2 previous owners.) So after some haggling over price, buying car and adding on some amount to car loan for repairs, I had my car. (Aside from the fact the other 2 Subarus I found online were both already sold.)

A friend/former boss of Giuliano's (Jim) knew someone who could work on the car and save us (er.. me) a lot of money. (The dealership was quoting 1.5k for just one differential.) In the end the cost of repairing the differentials cost 1.4k for all of them. I also bought 4 new tires prior to the repair to make sure the new differentials would be just fine. (Note: Picture above taken after buying car, and before new tires and repair.)

So now the car runes extremely smooth. The AC is fantastic. The acceleration on this car.. wooo. I tap the gas and it starts racing down the road. (My Geo you have to press down just to get it to budge.) The steering wheel is either leather or leather like, as opposed to the plastic of the Geo. There's auto windows, locks, cruise control, cup holders *grin*, fog lights, a rear wiper.. all things my Geo lacked. I'm actually taller than some other cars on the road as opposed to so low to the ground that other vehicle's headlights blind me at night. (When civics and the like are higher up than your car, and you can't see past them to view traffic, that's a problem.) People more often than not yield for my new car as opposed to cutting me off in the old smaller coupe. Heh, heh, heh, heh. The windows of the Subaru are also tinted. The back is heavily tinted as are the passenger windows. The front windows are slightly tinted and the top part of the front windshield is also tinted. It's taking some getting used to the tint.

At first I had called the new car Dragon due to it's length and power. The name has now changed and seemed to settle on "Haku" after the character from Spirited Away. (Mostly in the hope that the car will live up to its name. That and it's fun pressing the gas and shouting "Go Haku!":D Yes I'm weird, get used to it.)

My old car will be hopefully donated. I have to look over and fill out some paperwork before sending it out. Right now it's sitting at the end of our driveway while the new car gets the garage space. :P

So there's the big news. I have a new car. (Hurray for car #2!)

Mood: awake

Go Go Naruto!

Sep. 4th, 2005 at 5:52 AM

Naruto has been dubbed and is about to be shown on network TV!!!

In case you haven't heard yet, Naruto will be showing on Cartoon Network on Saturday September 10th at 9 PM EST. The first two episodes of the series will be shown back to back. Apparently it will also appear again at 10 PM. (Source of info from last two sentences gathered from: Naruto Fan.)

Definitely check it out if you can! It's a great series.

I, of course, am anxious and nervous on how good the dub will be now that I'm used to the Japanese voice actors.

Mood: Really excited

Death to the Cursed Jade Car

Aug. 4th, 2005 at 8:57 AM

Major car rant incoming!

To sum up, what I have replaced on my car to date:

Within the first 100 or so miles after buying: (Car was bought at 50k)
- Radio replaced because back light did not work.
- All 4 tires
- Entire exhaust system minus catalytic converter

Within the first or second k or so miles of ownership:
- All 4 struts
- AC condenser
- AC fan
- AC converted to new system
- AC refilled several times
- Thermostat housing (?) - When I was loosing coolant on a daily basis. Literally had to refill coolant every evening. No pool of coolant seen on ground, ever.

Since my move to GA:
- Ignition module
- Both axles including CV joints/boots
- PCV Valve
- Timing belts and other belts replaced
- Water pump
- Front breaks
- That metal round part that connects tire to car via nuts, 2 replaced along with said nuts

Total cost of all repairs: ~$3,300.00

What needs to be replaced to finally fix AC:
- Compressor
- Drier
- Expansion valve
Cost for that repair ~$1,200.00

What I plan to do:
Buy a new (used) car. (Especially since I finished paying off the loan a couple of months ago.)

So until then I'm driving in 80-90 degree heat (plus humidity) in a car with NO ac. The people who checked my car's AC drained it cause the AC was leaking (yet again), and so now I have none, zippo, nada, big goose egg AC in my car.

Have I been giving Giuliano nasty looks for picking out such a bad car, and saying it'd be okay? Have I been grumbling about when he said "We'll repair the AC later." before buying the car (which meant I'LL repair it later)? Definitely to both.

There's nothing but pure hate for my car.

Mood: frustrated

I got a library job again! YAY!

Apr. 10th, 2005 at 10:31 PM

It's been a while since I really updated this thing and a few important things have happened. Well at least one big important thing anyway.

I received a call a week and a half ago or so offering me the library job of Library Techincal Assistant at Georgia State University. It's full time, 25k a year, located in downtown Atlanta. (I'll be moving from a job working in cubicles, to a job working in, well, a bigger cubicle.) Which means I'll be taking the Marta in to work. I'm supposed to get an official offer letter in the mail but it hasn't arrived yet. Hopefully nothing has changed since I have already given my current job my notice. My last day at my current job will be this Friday, with my new job starting on the 18th.

So I'll finally be in library work again. Yay! (I've only been looking for library work since I moved to GA in December of 2003.) I feel so rusty now though, since I have been out of the field for over a year. Though I have been out for long times before and got back into the swing of things.

Just thinking about the new job is getting me those nervous butterflies in my stomach. I want to do a good job and I hope I live up to my new employer's expectations.

Then there's the joy of permanent full time again. Medical benefits and direct deposit (No running to that 1 deposit taking atm in that Motorola building, tapping a window that looks into security, and waving my atm card. YAY!). *Long pause.* Oh sorry. Just thinking about the direct deposit thing for a while. *Happy sigh.* Damn going to that 1 atm is a hassle as someone has to be there to let me in to use the damn thing and then sometimes it's currently down. (As it is not exactly on my way home, it ends up being a waste of gas and time when that happens.) 9 months of weekly runs to that atm has really made the whole deposit paycheck process very weary.

I have to report at 9am which means getting used to the morning shift again. I have to get myself up early. I still need to figure out how long it'll take me to get to the nearest Marta station, how long to get into Atlanta, and then the walk into work. At least maybe I'll get back into reading again by reading something to and from work.

The most amusing thing of the day happened as I was enjoying some Chinese food. I opened my fortune cookie and it said, "Change is happening in your life, so go with the flow!" I'm not kidding. I laughed when I read it. To which I thought, "Okay!" I'm almost tempted to pin that to my cube at work.

Giuliano left his job at Home Depot this past Friday. He too was a contractor for 8 months. (One month less temp work than I've had.) He starts his new permanent job tomorrow at Network Appliance. He's really exstatic over this new job and says it's what he's been wanting for years now. (Probably since he was laid off from Compaq years ago.) So I'm really hoping this coming week is a good one for him. I'm excited for him. It's good to see him happy and in a position he loves.

Now if I can only pull him away from his constant building of his Car PC. Alas this is the not so good part of dating a geek. When he sets his mind to doing something, he gets lost doing it and spends the majority of his time on it. :( (*Feeling neglected sometimes*)

Ah well time to bed and have one last week of work at my current job.

Mood: excited
Music:Jakenpyon - Minimoni

It's Framed! (My Masho Poster)

Nov. 29th, 2004 at 12:06 AM

Okay a real late entry from me just to say.. it's finally framed! Woo! Now I just have to hang it up.

Mood: excited

Why do people..?

Oct. 20th, 2004 at 11:08 PM

A few "Why do people" ponderings.

Why do people walk through a drive thru? I saw that happen tonight. I ponder just what was in that stuff they were smoking. They walked behind cars and mimed that they were driving. Finally they actually tried to see if the restaurant was open and walked inside to order. Wow.. walking inside to order! Who would have thought that's what you should do instead of walking through a drive thru lane.

Why do people talk on their cell phone in a public bathroom? Really I want to know what makes anyone think that's a good idea. And who the heck on the other side of the line is okay with that? If someone said they had to use the bathroom and then continued to talk IN the bathroom, I'd hang up. Sorry there are some things I don't want to hear.

If I have to use a bathroom and I have my cell phone on me, I turn it off before entering. I do the same in dressing rooms too. No conversation is THAT important.

I mean come on. Hang it up or leave it behind on hold while nature calls, okay? And do not answer it if someone calls you while you're so preoccupied.

Why do people drive the wrong way down a parking lot? There are painted arrows showing that you can only drive one way down that lane. Then there's the angle of the parking spaces that tell you which way you are supposed to go. And yet while I am driving down the correct way down a one-way lane, someone's usually driving the other way on that same lane. Sometimes they have the galls to look at me like I'M the crazy one who doesn't know how to drive. I almost want them to hit me so I can tell their insurance what an idiot they are. I mean it's not even READING, it's looking at a picture. Are you so stupid to not know what an arrow pointing toward you means?

Why do people stop on a highway? I mean a literal dead stop. Lalala I'm driving in the left lane. Wait a minute. That's the exit I have to take. BREAAAAAAAK! Now I have to wait for traffic that's actually in the right lane to take the exit and for someone to let me in. Oh look the person behind me is trying to stop so that they don't rear-end my stupid ass.

If you miss your exit, take the next one. Then get back on the highway going the other way and take the damn exit then. You don't stop on a highway. I've had this happen to me THREE TIMES!

Once someone was slowly moving to the right, supposedly taking the exit. I was skeptical as they were kind of swerving before. So I waited until they were actually about to turn off. Then I begin to pass them. As I'm RIGHT NEXT TO THEM, they suddenly veer back into the right lane. I have to veer into the left lane to avoid being hit! I'm sorry but if you make a mistake, you deal with it and backtrack. You don't stop, you don't change your mind as someone's passing you, you don't back up on the highway. You backtrack.

I swear one day a stupid driver will slam into me and total my car. Either they won't break soon enough while I'm sitting at a red light. Or I'll be stopped at a yield, waiting for traffic and they'll slam into me. Or they'll drive through a red light. Or they'll make a U-Turn on a red light and hit me. (I've seen someone actually U-Turn on a red.)

This is why I was so afraid to start driving. It's not that I don't trust my driving skills. It's that I don't trust anyone else's.

Man. The stupidity of people astounds me. It would be funny if it wasn't so damn sad and pathetic.

Mood: ranting

Ronin Warriors DVD Box Rant, Part 2 (aka Bad Bandai. No treats for you.)

Oct. 5th, 2004 at 4:30 PM

This is a follow up to this previous rant

Okay so on Sunday Giuliano and I stopped by Fry's Electronics. I was eventually lured over to their large anime DVD display. Of course I was looking for a certain something, and I found it. I saw the box dvd set for Ronin Warriors there.

Thus begins my rant on the box set.

First of all, it's not really a box. It's a slip cover with 4 sides. It goes over the dvd set.

Second, they changed the DVDs to slim cases. That means the regularly sized DVDs that are available to buy separate can't fit in it. So there's no chance to somehow buy the box and fit my collection into it.

I just stood there in disbelief over this. Anyone who bought the dvds separate have no hopes of a box to house their collection now. I was also surprised at what seemed like the lack of effort to put a quality box set together.

Just to give you RW/YST fans an idea, here are some pictures of the Japanese box set. ( click here )

Now THOSE are quality box sets in Japan! Why couldn't we have that?!

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad a box set is finally out. I know a few people who have been waiting for it. It will probably create more fans of the series. I just wish it was done differently, more like the Japanese version.

And an add on rant about Bandai on another anime series: I read on LJ's Clamp Campus community that Bandai said they are not re-releasing Clamp Campus Detectives. They once had it on VHS, and I was lucky enough to get v.1. Now the tapes are nowhere to be found, and apparently won't make it to DVD. It makes no sense when the manga has been out for a long while.

Bandai needs to wake up and smell the coffee, so to speak.

Mood: aggravated

JapanFest 2004

Sep. 26th, 2004 at 11:33 AM

So yesterday Giuliano and I went to JapanFest in Stone Mountain Park, GA. I had been looking forward to going to this ever since I found out about it online by chance a while back.

The first thing I began to regret was forgetting to put on any sunscreen. We arrived late so it was around 1:15-1:30 when we arrived. The sun was high in the sky and there were no clouds. I repeatedly sought out shade and tents in order to keep myself from burning. It didn't take long before my arms began to feel warm, which I already know by now is not a good sign. I know all too well on conditions like that, my burn index is about 15 minutes in the sun. After that I begin to look like a cooked lobster.

Being my first time at this festival, I made my way first past the bonsai tent. Then we saw at a distance some kimonos hanging from a display in a large building on the top of a hill. We walked there so that I could check out the kimonos. That was one thing I had come to get, a good kimono for myself. (And if I was lucky a kimono for Giuliano.) Also maybe we could find something I could at least cover my arms with.

Well the building was packed as was this small table seller. A lot of people were looking over the t-shirts hanging and on their table. The shirts all had anime designs. I found myself soon wishing they had brought more displays to hang them from. It would have made it easier to get around.

I began to look through the kimonos, but soon realized I have no idea what size I am. I tried a few on, but they didn't fit. I tried to find someone working at the booth and get their attention. However with it being so packed, I couldn't get anyone's attention. So Giuliano and I looked at the other sellers to see if someone else was selling kimonos and could help me. The only other ones I saw were much more elaborate and I knew I wouldn't be able to afford them.

I made my way back to the first seller. By now I'm getting disheartened and a bit disgusted. I began to remember why I hate crowds. I looked through the kimonos again, frustrated that I had no idea what would fit. I just wanted someone to tell me what size they thought I was and point out the kimonos I could fit to me.

I began to snap a bit at Giuliano as he was only following me around like a lost puppy. I needed his help to flag down someone to help me. After waiting and waiting and waiting at the seller's table, we finally got someone's attention. We asked and she said that the kimonos were one size. I sighed. She pointed to some kimono tops on sale. I went to look through them, audibly mentioning to Giuliano how the seller needed signs saying the kimonos were one size. It would have saved me the trouble of waiting.

So I looked through the tops, but most of them were pink (ick) and light green. I really wanted a blue kimono. I tried one and and surprise it didn't fit.

Now I was to the point of crying from frustration and depression. I had imagined some kimono tent at this fest and someone to help measure you and help you into your kimono. That wasn't happening. I looked at the other side of the display of the kimonos, and lamented again. I saw one that was blue. "That looks nice," I said truthfully. "I bet it won't fit either." I took it down and started to put it on. "Just watch." I wrapped it around me and to my surprise I could get it around me.

"That looks like it fits." Giuliano remarked.

"Really? You don't think it's too small?"

"No." Wouldn't you know it, a saleswoman walks by then and Giuliano flags her down to ask her if that looked like it fit. She seemed to agree.

I had also noticed what looked like men's kimonos and pulled one down when I found this blue kimono. So we asked if it was a men's kimono and she said yes.

Well I had pestered and pleaded with Giuliano to try it on. He kept asking me why and what he would wear it for. (It's always a pain to get him to at least humor me.) Then he said "Unless you're going to buy it for me."

I rolled my eyes. Giuliano at this time is short on money, and I had two large paychecks under my belt. It was my 'duh' look. "Yeah I'm paying for it."

"Oh." He smiled and put it on. *Mental groan.* He put it around himself and looked down. It looked really good.

"That looks good on you?"

"You think so?"

"REALLY good on you."

The saleswoman straightened he kimono on Giuliano and smiled and agreed it looked great. That finally convinced him and he agreed to let me buy it for him. Finally!

We then asked if there was a sash (obi) for my kimono. She had to help someone else with a sash, so we waited. Finally as we purchases our kimonos, she got one for me. Of course I forgot to ask for a sash for Giuliano's kimono. (I didn't see any men's sash's anyway.) The sash I got I'd say is like a long scarf. (So we both need an obi at this time. I need a wider one, and Giuliano just needs one.)

Then we walked around. I asked Giuliano to see when the archery was taking place. We had just missed one. So we walked through vendors. I bought a Japanese fan. (I really needed it.) We looked at various things.

Finally we saw a tent at the Konnichiwa Club (I think it was) where they were doing your name in kanji. As Giuliano's name is so unique, I always wanted to know how it would write out in Japanese. So we waited and finally Giuliano could ask for his name. He wrote it down and pronounced it. The woman wrote it down and explained the kanji to him. The first kanji was actually the woman's name. (Heh.) She said the first kanji meant "long life". However he couldn't hear the rest. Giuliano seemed very happy. Then Giuliano asked if I wanted to go. I supposed so. I could probably find "Christine" online in kanji. So I wrote my name down and pronounced it. She slowly wrote it down and gave it to me. I thanked her heartedly. Then we made a donation to their club. Now we just have to frame those.

We then noticed it was almost time for the next archery time. We made our way and there was already a crowd. They talked about how it was done as someone demonstrated. It was beautiful to watch. I turned my head to see a man dressed up in Samurai armor. I tapped Giuliano's arm and pointed to him. (We would later discover they were doing pictures with a Samurai at the fest. We missed out on it.) I lamented that I forgot my digital camera. My attention turned back to the archery display. I watched as each person got up and displayed their skill and art. We overheard that they have classes to teach this. Giuliano later told me he would not have the discipline to do that. I probably would as I'm very serious about my work and very focused. However I'm far from in shape and would not have the arm strength to handle that bow.

Finally we left and went to see the rest of the vendors. One tent had what I'd call geeky stuff. Computer CDs, storage tapes, displays of the inside of a cell phone, etc. Giuliano looked through all of it, as was to be expected. Nearby in another tent, they were showing an elaborate toilet with controls. Giuliano picked up a few brochures. (I know I want to replace the house toilets, but this is a bit much.)

After we finished up looking around, we decided to get some lunch. Giuliano stopped a few yards away under the hot sun to look at the booklet to see what each vendor was selling. I started baking and pleaded with Giuliano to keep moving. He still didn't know what to get. I saw a nearby tent that was selling fudge, drinks, and some hats. I told him to figure it out as I went for the shade. I picked up a very colorful triangular shaped hat. I had to wait as they had PC problems at the register and had to reboot. Suddenly I felt very hot. I fanned myself faster as I stood in line. No doubt about it, I was dehydrated. It was already after 4 o'clock and I hadn't had anything to drink since I got here. Finally I got the hat and put it on. Already I began to feel a bit better.

Giuliano picked a place to get food and we got some. He slowly made his way to find some shade. I told him I'd sit on the ground if it meant having shade. I was feeling really warm. Luckily someone let us sit near them on a shaded picnic table. I took off my hat and started panting out loud. I'm sure those people thought I was strange. I was baking and probably starting to suffer from really bad dehydration. I'm lucky I didn't pass out right then and there.

I had Giuliano open for me my can of green tea. I took a long sip before I began on my food. I ate my food as if I was starving all this time. Maybe that was heat related too, trying to regain my energy. Afterward I felt a bit better.

The fest was beginning to wind down. We walked to a tent that was talking about Commodore Perry and the opening of Japan. A few people tried to talk me into taking a picture behind some cut-outs. I was not about to do that as I was still feeling tired. I looked through the tent. Then we went to the bonsai tent and the sponsor tent next to it. Giuliano filled out a form to win a trip to Japan. By that time it was after 5 and the fest was over. Before walking out, I told Giuliano that we didn't have any gelato from that vendor. I never had gelato before. So we both got some chocolate gelato. Now I know it isn't good to have, but again I've never had it before. As my boyfriend is Italian, he's known about it while I asked about it a while back. (Making me feel uneducated.) It just goes to show that even after 6 years, I still need to immense myself in more Italian culture.

Finally we left the fest and I slowly walked back to the car. I was beginning to feel sick. Definitely not a good sign. I was completely miserable from the heat and humidity. When we got in the car, Giuliano turned up the AC. I think I drifted off a few times on the drive home. I actually do not remember some parts of the drive home and I was the navigator.

When we got back to the house, I turned on and up the AC downstairs. I sat on a chair and rested as Giuliano got me something to drink. It took me a while before I finally began to feel better.

So overall it was fun. Next time we need to find a way to bring water or buy drinks more often. At least I have a kimono now. I just need some shoes to go with it.

Later that night I put on the kimono and posed for a picture. Then I had Giuliano do the same. So here's us in our kimonos.

Me:

Giuliano:

Mood: content

Son of a ... ARRRG! (A Ronin Warriors/Yoroiden Samurai Troopers rant)

Aug. 29th, 2004 at 1:05 AM

So today I found out that Ronin Warriors aka Yoroiden Samurai Troopers will be coming out as a Complete Collection box set on September 28th.

ARRRRGG!

I already have the whole set on DVD! I even got the first DVD before the official street date. I was probably one of the first RW/YST fans to get their hands on it.

I have been envious of the box set available in Japan. I would love a box set with some beautiful artwork on it like they have.

Now they're finally putting it into a box and I won't have it.

ARRRRGG!

Here all of us who already have the DVDs went out and preordered and bought them like crazy when they first came out. We even surprised the people releasing the series, and that in turn made them want to dub the OVAs.

Now they're coming out with the boxes, and those who have already bought the series won't get it.

Can't I just buy the damn box/boxes?! I would love to have something to put all my RW/YST DVDs in. Is that so much to ask for in return for my devotion?

Distributors should seriously start doing that. Once as a series becomes a box set, you should be able to buy the box if you already have the DVDs of the series. Or do as others do, release the box with the first DVD included.

Of course this rant is probably falling on deaf ears. Meanwhile when that date rolls around, I'll be eyeing the box set with all of the RW/YST DVDs with a lot of envy.

Mood: frustrated

Bad luck comes in threes...

Aug. 19th, 2004 at 10:53 AM

I've heard that bad luck comes in threes. I just didn't want this to be the third..

Yesterday I made the final decision to put my first cat Muffin to sleep. (I got her 18 yrs ago when I was in the 4th grade.)

For quite a while now Muffin had been getting thinner and thinner. She doesn't eat much. Even then sometimes she throws it back up or has loose bowels.

My parents are leaving, as I am, to my brother's wedding this weekend. They'll be gone 5 days. They worried that by the time they got back, Muffin would already be dead.

So when my mom first told me all this on Sunday night, I had to decide if I wanted her buried or cremated. Among all my tears and sobs, I had to make a decision I have been dreading for years.

When I was last at my parents house before my move to Georgia, I hugged Muffin and said my goodbyes then. I knew I would probably not see her again. I thought that would help heal my pain. But it didn't. I wish I could be there now, today, when she finally gets put to sleep.

I had decided it was best to put her to sleep and end her suffering. Muffin isn't getting any better. Also we wouldn't be wondering if she'd still be alive when my parents returned home.

I also decided to have her cremated. I had promised Muffin that I would show her my first house years ago. I had to break my promise because by the time I was about to move into this house, Muffin had gone deaf and she was already starting to get thin then. At least up in CT she had a home she knew and a vet who knew her. I figured that was for the best for her. But if I had known it would be less than a yr later that this would happen.. I may have thought twice about it. So anyway I figure this way I can bring Muffin's ashes to my house, give her a spot in it, and keep my promise to her.

This whole thing has wracked my emotional well being all week long, like giant waves crashing into a cliff. I've been sleeping poorly, and my work is starting to be affected by it all. I'm having a difficult time keeping tears at bay.

The worst part is that Muffin has been holding on all this time. I wonder if maybe she thought I was coming back home. She always did follow me around the house and outside the house. If I was crying she came up and comforted me, even if we were outside. She was my friend when I had none. Maybe if I came home she would have gone in her sleep, content.

Yesterday while talking with my mom and making the final decision, Muffin was sitting in my mom's lap. She put the phone to her and Muffin was purring. That just killed me right then and there. She has no idea what's coming.

There's so much more I can say about this and about her, but unfortunately I have to head to work now. I just wanted to type something up about her before I knew she would be gone forever.

Mood: depressed and crying
Music:Tsukamaeteite - Yoroiden Samurai Troopers - Hana CD

Am I the only one who pays attention to ordinary details?

Jun. 13th, 2004 at 7:38 PM

So yesterday late afternoon and overnight we had a lot of strong thunderstorms pass through our area. In the afternoon one storm had 2 very loud crashes of thunder that sounded just a split second after lightning flashed. Overnight lightning was seen flashing in our windows.

Today Giuliano and I went grocery shopping at the local supermarket. They were stocking their freezers around the yogurt and ice cream sections. On the ice cream freezers there was a sign. It started off saying, "Due to the electrical storms last night our freezers our down." I stood staring at that sign in disbelief. Then I gazed at the other copies of the sign around. All saying the same thing.

Then when we were about to leave, someone was driving the wrong way down the parking lot. (You can only drive either down or up the lanes, not both.) Now the arrow clearly marks which way to go. And then there's the way the parking lines are slanted.

*Shakes head.* It just makes me wonder.

Mood: puzzled

More Quizzes

Jun. 8th, 2004 at 10:02 PM

( More Quiz Results )

Mood: amused

Explaining "Alpha Yami"

May. 14th, 2004 at 1:11 PM

Well I know some of you must be wondering about the nickname/user name I use to post my blog entries here. So I thought I'd use a post to explain what it means and how I came up with it.

The name is in reference to an anime series I like.

Now the American version of this series changed the series title, along with most of the characters' names. So to avoid confusion, I'll just talk about the Japanese version.

I'm a fan of the anime series Yoroiden Samurai Troopers (which I shorten to YST). When the American dub came on a local tv channel in the summer of 1995, this one series along got me into anime.

Now one of my favorite characters from this series is Yami Masho Anubisu. (The u is silent.)

So I had been toying around trying to think of a new nickname for myself to use for my website dedicated to Anubisu (and the other three Masho). Then I got to thinking of Anubisu.

Anubisu's armor looks like a wolf. Indeed in one episode it seems that Anubisu is controling the wolves.

So I got to thinking about wolves. I thought of how in the wolf kingdom there are two alpha wolves; one male, one female. Well I am the first Anubisu fan to post a website dedicated to him online. (I know because I was there. I checked.) I'm also obviously female. Thus I thought that being the first fan to say online, "I'm a fan of Anubisu and here's my site dedicated to him and the other Masho", that makes me the other Alpha wolf.

So there's where the Alpha comes in.

Now you're probably already figuring where the Yami part comes from. It comes from the character's title Yami Masho. Yami means dark or darkness. Yami is also the name for Anubisu's armor. Plus "Yamis" was a term I used for all Anubisu fans. (Though now with Yu-Gi-Oh! using the word Yami as well, I'll probably have to come up with another term.)

So I decided to use Yami so that in YST communities everyone knows who my favorite character is right away.

Then I just put the two together and came up with Alpha Yami.

So there it is. A nickname meaning I'm the first Anubisu fan online. So no more mystery on what "Alpha Yami" means.

Oh and for those wondering about the dub of this series. The dub title is known as "Ronin Warriors". In the dub Anubisu's name was changed to Cale. (Meanwhile Oni Masho Shuten's name was changed to Anubis in the dub. Why? I have no idea.)

Mood: geeky
Music:Kamen no Shita no Namida - YST "Best Friends" CD

"My Keyboard!"

Apr. 19th, 2004 at 5:31 PM

Giuliano stepped away from his desk at work early in the day. When he got back, his keyboard was gone.

I'll try to explain without going into those sticky details. (No pun intended.)

Basically some coffee got spilled on a wireless keyboard that belonged to another coworker at Giuliano's workplace. So someone else went to get a replacement. Instead of going to a room where other keyboards are kept, they swiped Giuliano's keyboard while he was away from his desk.

Least to say Giuliano was shocked when he got back to his desk. He then went to that room that has spare keyboards and got himself a replacement. Unfortunately the keyboard is older than the one he had.

Now it's a working keyboard, which is good. But I mean come on. Who swipes keyboards while someone is not at their desk? Don't even say anything. Don't even find that person and ask if they can have it. Just take it. Plus what if that was someone's personal keyboard? (Meaning that someone bought themselves a keyboard out of their own pocket.) And then the person swiped that.

I don't know, but in my little world when you take something without permission, it's called stealing. I mean geeze! At least have the courtesy to ask if you can have the keyboard. Or if you must have that keyboard because it's the same type that was damaged, at least replace the person's keyboard that you're taking. Don't just grab, run, and never look back.

Giuliano and I just find the whole thing irritating. Hopefully the coworker whose keyboard was damaged is having a replacement (better) keyboard ordered for them. Then when the new keyboard comes, Giuliano will get his old keyboard back.

I've heard of people swiping pens, pencils, markers, but keyboards? I guess we have to somehow prevent our keyboards from disappearing while we're away from our work desks now.

Edit/Update:

Just when you think it can't get any better, it does. Giuliano just told me a bit more about this whole situation.

Apparently the person who took Giuliano's keyboard tried to clean the keyboard that the coffee spilled on. Then that person tried to give that damaged keyboard to Giuliano to see if it'd work.

So the person doesn't clean the keyboard, try it on their PC, and plan to give it to the original owner. They try to pass it off to my boyfriend.

*Sigh.*

Mood: Puzzled

Worst Day Ever

Apr. 15th, 2004 at 5:08 PM

Well my car broke down.. again. This time it actually died while I was out and about job hunting.

I was in a left turn lane, preparing to turn when the light turned green. Suddenly my engine just died. Just like that. Poof! It was as if the car stalled. I tried to start it again. The car would try to start, but it wouldn't engage.

So I called Giuliano as I put my emergency blinkers on, put the car in park and put on the break. I opened the hood to check the oil and everything else. At that time a very nice man turned into the street I was on and tried to start my car. He said he thinks it's something electrical, because the car wants to start but can't. Then he rolled it in reverse and down a side street so that my car would be out of the way of any traffic.

I checked the car's fluids. Oil and coolant were both fine. I cried and sighed in disgust.

Now as things go, I was fairly lucky the car broke down where it did. It could have been much worse. The car could have stopped in the middle of an intersection. Or it could have stopped while I was driving downhill, or worse uphill.

Still it cost me $55 for a tow to the nearest car repair shop. They can't see it until tomorrow though. Even then it'll cost about $75/hr for labor.

Of course I'm still unemployed. Any remaining money on any credit cards went right to the cost of the tow. Giuliano is down to about $30 after paying bills and mortgage right after getting paid on Tuesday.

So now both of us are asking our families for some emergency money. Least to say this is the worst tax day ever. I can only hope my refund of $400+ will deposit into my checking account soon.

For those who do not know the woes of my car. In the past 15k miles I've owned my car I've had to replace:
- All 4 tires
- All 4 struts
- Entire exhaust system minus catalytic converter
- AC Condenser
- AC fan
- AC changed to new system
- AC fluid filled and refilled several times. AC still doesn't work and the AC fluid somehow still leaks out when it's in a gas form. Stopleak has been used at least twice and it still happens.
- Various other small parts.

So I've paid at least $2k work of repairs, not counting regular repairs cars need. I still owe about $1.5k on the car, and I originally paid $3k on it.

Right now I wish I could pay off the car. Then nothing would make me happier than seeing the car launched on a giant catapult, sailing in he sky, plummeting down a cliff, and plunge into a vat of acid.

The car probably went between 100-200 miles since I moved to GA before it broke down today. The damn thing can't go as much as 1k without something breaking down. Damn piece of crap.

Oh the irony. I need a job for money to pay for car repairs. But if I had a job I wouldn't be able to get to that job. Or worse I could be stranded several miles from home on a busy highway.

So now I have a revised wish list. For a combo birthday (in early Dec) and Christmas present I want a better car.

Mood: sad

Emily and News

Mar. 26th, 2004 at 2:55 PM

So here are a couple of pictures of Emily.

Here she is playing with our feather teaser toy.

And here she is sleeping.

Also I'm officially an Aunt! Here's the info I have:
Name: Ian Brogan Cooney. Born: 1:33AM on March 26 2004. Weight: 7 pounds, 3 ounces.

I'm so happy right now. :) Now if only I get this job, then all would be right with my world. (Well until Giuliano proposes that is. ^_~ )

Mood: excited

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