Grrl

Just when I thought I could hold off from purchasing the Xbox 360, I have to open a gaming magazine to find a gorgeous 4 page preview of DOA4 (Code: CRONUS). For all those DOAX fans, it looks like Lisa (random "tour guide" from DOAX) could be making her debut in the game. One of the three new characters is "Mystery Wrestler" but the picture they have of her sauntering into the ring 1) looks suspicously like Lisa's beach frolick, 2) she's African American, 3) they've decided to make her a Lucha Libre ("high flying" Mexican style) wrestler, and 4) her costumes seem to favor Leopard (animal) prints [another signature of Lisa's from DOAX]. There is another female charcater named "Kokoro" (Japanese fights in sexy kimono) and English boy named Elliott.

Oh the costumes... the character design... and Brad Wong with his long hair down... and the costumes... and the game rending... (*_*) I'm so going to die between this game and the release of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children in Sept.

Did I mention the costumes?
EDIT: kalindara you need to see the game trailer for DOA4 from E3. It was an emotional experience.
1. "Mystery Wrestler" might just become one of my favorites purely based on her ability to showboat and high lightning fast her moves are.
2. The FMVs are GORGEOUS!!
3. It's looking like the backgrounds can be used in the fight (like dragging people down stairs, slamming them into fruit carts, bounding off/running on surfaces, and taunting them while they get hit by cars)
4. Hayabusa, Hayate, Hayabusa, Brad Wong, Hayabusa, Jan Lee (on mute), and HAYABUSA.
5. Oh my God, the costumes

As I was making the final turn into school this morning, my engine shut off. I tried starting it again, and nothing happened except the oil light, batter light, and engine light turning on. I opened the hood (with traffic swirling around me; the street is one way each way) and saw it. Green fluid was sprayed all over the battery and the engine block. I started to cry. Mr. Ishida saw me in the middle of the road, pulled into the entrance road to school and parked his car. Not only did he stop the traffic for me, but he got five boys from the baseball team to push my car into school.

People I am thankful for:
1) Mr. Ishida for actually stopping and helping me out (note need to buy jumper cables for car just in case).
2) The five boys on the baseball team who stopped my crying my shouting "Don't Mind, Karen!" over and over while they were pushing my car into school.
3) Aya: who worked with the office to get a local garage guy out to school to look at and take my car to the shop.
4) Ren-chan, my lovely spikey haired custodian at school who instantly was able to diagnose the problem by looking under the car's hood (the hose connecting the radiator to the engine came off and the green fluid went everywhere; strange thing = the clip that is supposed to hold the hose in place was missing completely).
5) Mr. Fujiwara (the baseball coach) who asked me if I was okay after hearing from the baseball team what happened.
6) All of the second grade homeroom teachers who were trying their damnest to cheer me up.
7) Uru-chan for keeping dropping my by desk to check on me.
8) Kazuya & Hasegawa-kun who rescued me from my desk while the homeroom teachers had their meeting.
9) Nami, Mami, & Marimo from 2-6 (sports class). They gave me hugs and more "Don't Mind!" encouragement.

At the moment, I am car-less. The worst part was that I was supposed to take the car in for with two-year inspection this weekend. Europe might be off the menu for summer vacation, now. We'll see how much it costs to get the repairs and shaken.

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EDIT:Yuriko took the afternoon off and we went to the shop together to pick up my car. The fluids have been replaced and there is no engine damage that they can see. I have been advised not to drive my car until after its shaken inspection this weekend. Tomorrow and Friday, it looks like I am taking the train. I am just glad that it wasn't nearly as expensive as I had been anticipatings (only 4,000 yen).

Today was quick and simple. Teach one class. Edit and send some review questions to moonlight_medea about the fiction she is currently writing. Do some prep work on one of the novels I am preparing. Go to English Club. Sell things to Off-House. Then come home.

I came home to find the delivery notice for my Star Wars novels. The same novels that I ordered Friday night. The ones with free shipping and COD. Can I tell you how much I love the speed of Amazon Japan?! If I don't end up plowing through Labyrinth of Evil tonight, it is almost certainly coming to school with me tomorrow for morning reading time. **happy dance** Anakin and Obi-wan are coming to my house tonight!!

Notes to Self
When having Star Wars novels delivered do not do any of the following:
1. Fling open the door like you are being chased by an axe murderer.
2. Jump on, bounce up and down in front of (bouncy breasts are few and far between in Japan), pounce, tackle, hug or otherwise disturb the poor individual destined (or cursed) to make the deliver to your house.
3. Turn off any music or television program that might cath their attention. Wait in a meditative silence, so as not to frighten them or make then stare into your apartment imploringly.

When engaging in daily activities:
1. Use the same enthusiasm I had when calling the delivery guy when talking in Japanese with people at school or on the phone. (Pretend everyone is going to give me Star Wars novels) Be confident, damnit!
2. Set money aside and make lists in advance for things I want to buy. Try to curb impulse shopping.
3. Keep the genkan and kitchen clean incase of pop over guests (eventually spread this plan into the rest of my apartment).
4. greet every person with a cheery smile because I am genuinely happy to see them (and not just because they are giving me stuff).
5. Look presentable. Avoid looking like a train wreck. People worry if you look like you've been hit by a bus.

While I was sitting at work today, I realized that Star Wars Episode III opened in the U.S. today (at midnight and stuff). I've been staging my SW revolution in the staff room via my desktop wall paper on my pc. I opted (of course) for the epic battle between Anakin & Obi-wan when Obi confronts his former learner about his defecting to the Dark Side.

Mr. Kitao (the music teacher), Mr. Okuda and I started having a conversation about SW when Mr. Kitao asked me if I knew when it opened in Japan. Ep III will not make its way to Japan until July 9th (the second day of my school's festival). The two of them love movies! I ordered two books from Amazon.co.jp today: Star Wars: Labyrinth of Evil (Ep III's Prequel) and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Until then, I need something to tie myself over and avoid reading all the spoilers on the internet. When it comes to the SW series, there is only two people who I used to talk about the novels with: Rusty and my former inmate, I mean co-worker, Colin. Knowing that Jedi Master Colin doesn't read the novels before the films are released, meant that I would have to consult Jedi Master Rusty on the novel situation. I was told it was worth a read, and after seeing his reaction to the film, I am beginning my countdown until it's release here in Japan; 50 Days and counting.

I have no problem reading the novel adaptation while I wait for the film release. For those who were not too happy with Episodes I & II, I recommend picking up the novels and their prequels! I really enjoyed them and I highly recommend the Ep II novel. From a film studies perspective, it's interesting to see what material was selected for the films from the novels. They also fill in the gaps from what is seens in the movie. I myself need to pick up the Ep I novel and prequel (Cloak of Deception). I started reading from
The Approaching Storm(... no I did not buy it purely for the young, sexy Obi-wan on the cover, damnit!).

We talked about other kinds of movies that we like, and naturally the subject of horror movies came up when Mrs. Asada walked past my desk and made me laugh with her impersonation of the CPR dummies from two weeks ago (the rubber face on the dummies are really freaky when removed and laid flat for cleaning). We talked about anime and video games and for a moment I swore I had to be dreaming (because I was carrying on the conversation in Japanese)! They learned of my dread for horror movies. It was a consensus that horror movies are: 1) best watched with at least one other person (that you can latch onto and cuddle with if you are scared), especially on rental, 2) live actions/realistic/historical scenarios are most frightening (because they are the easiest to copy in real life), 3) though even though they are animated, if the sound effects, voices, and images are realistic/disturbing enough, it can still scare you shitless, and 4) hands down, the scaries films are a) The Blair Witch Project (which we will never forgive ourselves for watching) and b) The Ring (both the American and original Japanese versions; neither of which I have seen).

It was also decided that my fellow "ossan" (kind, middle aged men) teammates (i.e. the guys who sit on my end of the second grade homeroom teachers row) are going to help in the search for a nice guy to take me to a scary movie. Not so much to watch the movie but to do the jumpy, clingy, make some guy feel macho by comforting my yellow, lily-livered ass, thing. This would be my only motivation for going to see a scary movie. I will admit that I did like the Scream series, but again, I didn't sleep well after seeing each and every one, especially when I was at home alone late at night.

Also, for kalindara, lookie at what is slated for DVD release on Sept 19 (USA) and Sept 20 (JPN). Finally, finally... precious! (p.s. Told Hiroka from 3-9 about it, and she almost tackle hugged me in the hallway outside the teachers room!)

In case I haven't mentioned it already. I am going to Europe for three weeks in August on a "writer's sabbatical". (I have 13 days left over of vacation leave for the year, and a whole lot of nothing to do at work during summer vacation... and I have to be in school unless I take leave).

More later! Love you

I've been MIA more than usual lately. I constantly find myself apologizing for not e-mailing, posting, updating, etc, but at the same time, there hasn't been anything exceptionally monumental happening in my life, well at least nothing worth writing home about for fear that my friends and family might think that I've lost my mind. Also, I know that everyone is busy with their own lives and probably don't have nearly as much free time as I do lately. It's not that I am not thinking about people, it's just that I've developed this "I don't feel like cluttering their inbox with useless babble" mentality. Does that make me a bad person?( Yeah, stuff )

Having finally ventured to the Vrex-21 by the Imai Bookstore & Mos Burger in Yoshinari, I am proud to say that I have discovered another shopping location for PS2 games here in Tottori. I don't know why laziness has kept me from walking the grand total of 90 seconds past the Shell station to the other side, but today I figured "why not?" They have one of the largest PS2 (new & used) game sections in all of Tottori City. I was able to buy four of the games that I have been wanting since autumn:

召しませ浪漫茶房 ["ROMAN"], ～チェリーブロッサム～ [Cherry Blossom], 怪盗アプリコット [Mysterious Thief Apricot], & 遙かなる時空の中で２ ["HARUKA" 2] all for under 18,000 yen. Now you think to yourself, "How is that CHEAP?" Well, games here brand new go for 6,000-9,000 each! If anyone is wondering why Haruka 2, it's because they didn't have Haruka 1 and Haruka 3 & Haruka Harayousho were too expensive.

kalindara I saw Boy's Love Attack but it was the (vuuduugrrl-friendly version (According to PlayStation Girls' Style there is no 18+ version). They didn't have the new AF, but they did have one of the SukiSyo! (and they are 18+ Only) there.

I am eagerly anticipating the release of 乙女的恋革命ラブレボ！！ [Love Revolution!] sometime this year! You play an "overweight" (100 Kg) heroine, whose brother is deadset on coaching/training/making you over into the next princess of school! Also, you have your choice of the five cutest boys in the school vying for your attention.

Why can't these games come over to the USA? I mean, if you have games like the Dead or Alive Series (one of my absolute favorites in the world) which is full of bouncing breasts and panty-shots, why can't get girls get something remotely close? I am trying to figure out a way to write an article for my website about the aspects of simulation games without trying to sound overly feminist or lonely.

Reason # 7825 why I don't want to return to Florida: "Florida Governor Signs 'Deadly Force' Law. As if there was not enough gun violence in Florida to begin with. Who is to say that this will "prevent" gun violence? Or give victims a chance to "fight back"? I don't want to jinx it, but I have this feeling that some school in Florida will become another Columbine. Does this mean that the officers in schools will fire back if a students pulls a gun in school?

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( from the NEW YORK TIMES )

( Be gentle, she's a little shy... )

So, I flicked on the TV today after work and found one of the first episodes on FULL HOUSE playing! With the unstoppable duo that is Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen (just have a look at their massive website), I stop and wonder Whatever happened to Jodie Sweetin (AKA "Stephanie Tanner"), Candace Cameron (Bure) (AKA "DJ Tanner"), John Stamos (AKA Hottie "Uncle Jesse), Dave Coulier (AKA "Uncle Joey"), and Bob Saget (AKA "Danny Tanner")?

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God, I want old TV shows on DVD like Boy Meets World, Blossom, and my love in the early 1990s, seaQuest DSV. I miss watching them, especially SeaQuest (Jonathan Brandis was my love at that time! It breaks my heart to know he committed suicide in November 2003).

Guess whol drove to school today in her tricked out Hello Kitty edition Daihatsu Move?! I'll give you one guess!! ;p Pictures tonight (hopefully)

Probably the only person who will appreciate this is kalindara, but I've managed to download ringtones for the game Full House Kiss. Now when my friends call, the ringer will now play the "genki" P.E. Teacher's (Yamamoto Haruta-sensei) Theme. It's quirky and all I can hear is him screaming ”僕たちはソウルメイトーォ！” (WE ARE SOULMATES!!) and hugging himself. I also have the crazy French Teacher's (Hanabusa Jiro-sensei) theme (Takehito Koyasu who voice "Aya" in Weiss plays this part... with lots of Katakana FRENCH)!!

I worked on my website last night. BIG thanks to asianwaterfall for helping with editing duties (Five hours of trying to work on it and I was alsmost cross-eyed at 10PM). Not everything's up and working yet, but please check it out and tell me what you think! Cheers!

I had fallen off the face of the earth, more than usual, in the past month. I am terribly sorry that I suck. It's official:

I SUCK!!

I have been busy entertaining my family during their visit, dealing with the end-of-the-year/begining-of-the year activities/festivities at school, & cleaning out the manky, filthy LL Room at my school for the past FIVE DAYS! >.<

My beloved sister, Susie Quatro has got me completely hooked on My Space. It's like LJ with MORE STUFF! ^o^/ weet! Someday, I will be back to working on my homepage. I think depending on how swish my extra office in the LL Room is and who my deskmates are, I might be having plenty of free time to work on everything like I want.

T-Minus 25 minutes until the first business meeting of the new school year (yes, yes I am at school on SATURDAY!!). I will find out who I am sitting with, teaching with, and who all the newbies are. I am so stoked!

EDIT Did anyone else notice that now when you press the "Update Journal" button, it changes to "Processing Whining..."?! Is that just for April Fool's Day? I almost wet myself when I saw it change.

You know, I sometimes buy ZERO SUM comics, and a few months ago, I filled out a survey for a drawing. I got this kick ass Saiyuki RELOAD (最遊記：RELOAD) (by MINEKURA Kazuya) B4 Size notebook with Sanzo & Hazel on the cover! I never win anything. It would figure I'd have to move across the world to do so! :)

[Picture will be posted later]

I also received a B4 Sized Postcard in the mail from the company for buying volume 4 of RELOAD with a special newsletter made by the artist. I think I am going to keep filling out those response cards... I get cool stuff.

You know you have a music teacher as the head grade teacher when the schedule reads as follows:

8:20 (in Japanese) Morning Reading Time
8:30 SHR
1st 8:45-9:35
2nd 9:45-10:35
3th 10:45-11:35
4th 11:45-12:35
"Intermezzo" (meaning lunch)
5th 13:10-14:00

The music teacher is my hero... because he just does random things like singing and dancing in the staffroom... It's like living a musical!

Four days before my family descends upon me in Japan & I have two major problems: 1) The weather is bad... like it's snowing in mid-March bad (Spring was supposed to arrive by now), and 2) I am sick... it's all in my throat, but I've been getting tired easily and I am loaded up with pills. I am trying my best to get my room sorted out and hammering together the last minute details before they get here.

As a tribute to my old math teacher, Mr. Dickie. I will celebrate Pi Day (3.14) tomorrow, which is coincidently, Albert Einstein's birthday. I told my math teacher friends this, and they were really intrigued by the idea of a "Math Fair" or doing research about math (instead of just learning problems out of a text). Maybe I'll but a small pie or something to celebrate.

I met this cool French university student online in a Japanese Chatroom. I am upset with myself that I was able to carry on a better conversation in Japanese with him than one in French. This means I have to get back into studying French and Italian again.

I am looking into getting rid of my bed & getting a couple of futon for my room. I am certain that I cannot move into a new apartment until after I finish my tenure at Yazu High, so I have to constantly think of new ways to adapt to my small room. Time for bed... I need rest.

Normally, I am queen of the homebodies, so I only go out over once and a while. But this weekend has been non-stop for me.

Saturday: A Day out with Yuriko! Uru-chan's Okayama-ken with the second grade teacher's trip, so I was able to have a girls' day with Yuriko. The Short short version (for now)
- Lunch at Shangai Chinese Canteen
- Looking at TWO new/used car festivals (I WANT A NISSAN MARCH)
- Hitting up Imai Shoten
- Going to Fuan Kimono Recycle Shop (and buying my first casual kimono)
- Picking up Yuriko's co-worker at the station & taking her home to Akisato-cho.
- Back to the Kimono Recycle Shop
- Nabe Dinner at Chez Urushibara
- Misaki Onsen & Girl Talk

Sunday (TODAY): Leaving in 10 minutes to go snowboarding in Hyogo-ken at Ojiro-san with Tomoko & her "hip ossans". Hopefully, we'll get back into Tottori in time for me to have dinner with Shiho-chan.

This week the apartment will get cleaned in case I have another weekend of random adventuring or car shopping!

Today was National Sexy Suit Day... I mean graduation day. The teachers brought out their formal black suits and white ties, and we all sat shivering on metal chairs in the freezing cold gym. I joined the young 'uns in the back row of teachers, sitting between Shiho-chan & Yoshida-sensei. Added to our little group was Kouichiro, Uru-chan, and Kitawaki-chan. We made it look like we were giving the senior teachers priority of the best seating, but we really just wanted a safe barrier between us and the action. Got through the ceremony okay... NO CRYING. Walked with Fukushima-sensei & Nakamura-sensei to 3-9... NO CRYING. Was asked to give a speech to the students... NO CRYING... until I got halfway through. When I finished, I was asked to shake the hand of each of the students... MORE CRYING. Students got their certificates one by one and gave a final message to their classmates... MORE CRYING. Stood outside in the cold to collect myself.

Shiho: "Were you crying?"
Me: "Yes!"
Shiho: "Are you tired?"
Me: "Very..."

The difficult thing is that I only taught 3-9 for six months, and today was really REALLY rough. Last year they were Robin's homeroom. Next year, my former homeroom, 2-8 will graduate, and if I am asked to speak, that will be extremely tough! (;.;) I hope that I can find a way to stay in Japan after next August because I would love to see this past year's first graders graduate, too.

Tonight's an enkai at the Hotel New Otani. I am wishing that I had a car, so I could leave like all the other teachers. I got told at 2PM (when there were no more trains or buses) that I could have left early. I need to put new tights on, I just ripped a gaping hole in mine when I tried adjusting them.

I love the head grade teachers of my school. They are three of the most interesting people, but two of the three of them initially intimidated me. They've proved to me that looks can be extremely deceiving! They talk to me like as if I were a niece or daughter. They try their damnedest to make me smile, and they are always watching out for me. They don't care what other people think, and they have no reservations about talking to me in Japanese or English. I can guarantee that all three of them will talk to me at least once at every enkai, or if I stay late studying. I sometimes wonder what other people think about my constant talking with them. Whether its eating lunch with Ikenari-sensei, chatting about random things with Kitao-sensei, or just laughing with Namura-sensei, my day usually contains at least a combination of the three. They're always here, everday, watching out for me like a motley crew of uncles. I love them. (*^-^*) I will be gutted if they leave in April. They are so good to me.