I went on an anime spending on eBay spree this past Saturday.
Cyber City Oedo 808 (Vol 1-3) DVD (because of Joules, Lutra and Marie) Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind DVD (bought this for my world lit teacher) Pet Shop of Horrors Special Edition DVD Samurai Champloo TV Series DVD Set Saiyuki DVD Complete TV Series DVD Boxset (this looks like a different version than the others I have - hoping for yet another subtitled translation) Fruits Basket DVD Complete Series Boxset
Aja, I found and purchased a copy of that Gravitation set I sent you - I am definitely curious about the translations and how they compare to the ones I transcribed for the research paper. Plus, I think hearing the boys talking in Spanish may be a hoot!
I also got some other collectable things and yes, something will be landing in a certain person's mailbox, someone who needs a belated Xmas pressie.
I am finally starting to feel better. 48 hours of being sick - no writing happened today. We played Ratchet and Clank (died a lot) most of the day. I still feel like my lower body is being kicked repeatedly. Even my legs were getting terrible cramps at one point.
I have been suffering another seven hours of stomach flu/food poisoning today. This is getting old.
When will my immune system get back to normal?
I am going to count this as 26 weeks of being sick with something or another. It may not be the main illness (yes, I still have chest/back pain, even today, but I just do not mention it much anymore) but the medicine I took for the main illness lets me be susceptible to anything and everything marching through the lab.
I need to go back to bed now - sitting up helps encourage the cramping.
Have a wonderful, bishie-filled birthday, with Wolf's Rain, Cyber City Oedo 808, Saiyuki, DBZ and all the rest of the old and new boys we have affection for.
Interestingly enough, grey is a colour I happen to like and wear on more than a few occasions, including underwear! I also use the colour quite a bit for designing web stuff.
Well, it seems that installing Windows Media Player 9 on my computer is what fucked it up. It's weird, because this machine has had WMP9 on it before. I am going to hunt for an older version on some of my hard drives to install first.
Of course, if I reboot this machine again and the same crap happens, I do not know what I will do, besides throwing everything out the window.
I have been fucking annoyed about a lot the past few hours, only part of it being my computer being nicely screwed up. I am on rat's at the moment. My computer may work tomorrow morning if it thinks it needs to cool off after being on all day. Or it is fucked and the error message is so vague rat cannot pinpoint anything.
Creative annoyances are also in place. I have deleted one particular annoyance.
Work is only going to get worse these last two days before my week off - I got a bunch of crap dumped on me today after I had already tightly scheduled everything I needed to get done before the weekend. I know I will get sick during my vacation, probably from the stress.
I have not read anything posted this evening - sorry! I doubt I will see anything until the weekend, if even then. Everything depends on computer sccess and my current rage at most everything.
When I got to the office yesterday, I ate a donut and almost immediately after, got a gut cramp like I had food poisoning again. I also got really sleepy and a little spacey. I did not go home because it wasn't too extreme, plus, I am taking off for a creative week next week and I still have too much to do prior to taking off. The main boss is going to that Central Park art installation tomorrow (Thurs) so both of us are scrambling to get everything somewhat under control for the end of the week.
babyzerochica commented on how pale I looked yesterday.
I decided I needed to kill whatever stomach bug was haunting me, so we went to eat Mexican food at our favorite little restaurant. Instead of ordering my usual #3 lunch, I ordered less food a la carte and it ended up costing less, surprise! This place has excellent and fresh guacamole and my mind went immediately to how the colour reminded me of wasabi. We started laughing about how my mother would probably think wasabi was guacamole and take a big bite of it, like she did when she first came to TX and thought the stuffed jalapeno was a strange looking pickle and ate one. Oops!
We got a scoop of Baskin-Robbins for desert like we usually do when we eat Mexican because they are in the same area of town.
When we got home, rat had me play some Ratchet and Clank on the Playstation 2. I finally gave up after dying in one place one to many times and not wanting to do the scenario again. My thumbs were starting to hurt.
We were laughing about how the day was too pretty (up to 80 yesterday) and the clear sky showed no indication of the flash floods being predicted. Then, about 9:30pm or so we heard the extremely loud thunderclaps. It finally started raining a little about a half-hour later. It is still booming and raining this morning.
I was so tired last night we went to bed early and passed out.
Anne Elise! The package arrived! THANK YOU!!! I am still working on getting some player working so I can watch it. It did not like the player I am using for Naruto and that player is not the best. I have to pause the avi every 30 sections or so because the sound becomes unsync-ed.
And finally, I know this birthday because I have physical reminders of it all over the place....
Joules - your birthday present should be on its way from a third party by now.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
I know it is around this time of the year. I lost all my birthdays with that last computer crash so I am having to run on guess-imates for people now. stolen from Aja's lj...
We have been fighting a super-slow internet connection the past few days. We finally shopped around for another phone number in the system that is not overloaded and the connection is relatively quick again. It is not as consistently quick anymore, however.
Yes, we are still living in the modem age here. We just cannot afford anything faster right now.
As I mentioned before, rat has been actively doing searches about going to DisneyWorld this year, to celebrate Disneyland's and his 50th birthday. He worked up our taxes together and we would have to pay taxes for the first time ever. Today he worked us up separately and I would get money back. He is still working on his separate return. Looks like Disney is out for this year, unless we win a trip. Lots of places are offering free trips so now he is looking into those.
When I got to the office yesterday, my main boss told me she had gotten sick shortly after leaving the conference, just like me. I asked the faculty in the workshop and one other person had a stomach ache after eating that day. I was stricken the worse, but a student friend pointed out my compromised immune system could have helped make it worse.
Then we found out a health alert had been reported because the police pulled over a refrigerator delivery truck. The temp was 61 in the back and deliveries had already been made.
Sooo... we WERE poisoned and possibly from that truck.
I definitely will be reporting this to the conference committee, even though they were not at fault.
Now I am debating on going to write, continue reading a novel or go watch the first eps of Naruto. Or maybe go back to sleep...
By the time I got home from the conference yesterday, about 3:15pm, my intestine was not happy.
Spent the next six hours alternating between painful gut jabs, running to porcelain god, reading a book Dasia gave me and sleeping.
rat came home about 7pm, wanting to go to Ded Lobster for Valentine's Day like we had planned to do on Tuesday but never made it. I just looked at him, laughed and asked him to bring me a giant cherry limeade from Braums, which he did and left in the refrigerator for me. I took about three hits off it last night.
I think I had food poisoning from the conference. I really ate way too much lunch and was suffering for it shortly after eating. rat thinks it was the fried food I ate at QQ Cafe at lunch on Wednesday. I don't eat a lot of fried food anymore and my system may have been shocked by the fried dumplings.
I finally felt I could function about 10pm and got up for a few hours, just as rat was going to bed. Found that asinine non-review and deleted it. I took some colloidal silver and felt a little better.
I still feel bad in the gut but I have to go to work early, set up the workshop and attend it today. Did I have time to find my resume on the computer for this thing? Nope. I guess I should search for it now. And I better sit at a seat where I can dash to the restroom quickly. I still feel that churning sensation that is not a good sign.
Hopefully I will lose a little weight from this because I most definitely will NOT be eating breakfast or lunch today, and maybe not even dinner tonight.
The next few days will be crazy so I will probably be a bit scarce around here.
Thursday, I will be attending the Faculty District Conference Day, which will be held close to downtown Dallas. Oh, the joys of driving in morning rush-hour traffic! I attend this conference now because I got so bored with the PSS Conference Day. (PSS=Professional Support Staff) Tonight I will have to dig around here for something to wear that looks semi-professional and still fits. I will also need to get my professional bag out and load it up with stuff to do, as well as purse jumk. I have been taking my small sketchbook and travel pencilcase to these conferences for the past few years and I have gotten some work done. I am debating about taking a printout of working stories. When I am drawing, I can listen to the various speakers, but I cannot do that when I am writing.
I forgot to get up early today to wash my hair so it would be tightly curled for tomorrow. I air-dry it so it does not work to wash it when I get home from work. It usually is not completely dry by the time I go to bed so it flattens out in places and looks more goofy than usual.
The conference is a two-day shindig, with Friday being a professional development day. Last year, our dept went to the sculpture museum and visited the big boss's husband's art restoration business. This Friday, our area is doing an all-day training session in Dreamweaver MX 2004 for faculty and our staff. I use Dreamweaver MX in the office and at home, but the lab computers have MX 2004 and the interface has changed. The items while working in the WYSIWYG window look a little different as well. The class is something developed by Macromedia and we are test-driving it on Friday. The class filled out within the day I posted the email, with seven people on the waiting list. I have to find my resume to take to the class, since the final project will yield an online resume. It's not like I cannot do that on my own but this is a requirement for this conference.
Yesterday I left at 2:30pm with cramps from hell. They affect my front, my lower back, and shoot down the insides and backs of my legs. Add the PMS headache, dizziness and spacy feeling and it was not a good day. I went home and crawled into bed. I woke up about 7pm with a terrible backache but got up and ate some leftover pizza. Kick-me-in-the-groin cramps concentrated themselves at about 8pm and my period finally started. I was awake until 3am because the pain would not let me sleep, even with hitting it with Midol. The hormones I take are supposed to stop this. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
Yesterday we also had some kind of fire alert or something so we had to evacuate the building. Afterward, one of the ladies from Disabilities Services told me we had to make sure the disabled student we have in the dept (deaf, fake legs, bad eyes) does not use the elevator. I told her he was already outside by the time we got everyone herded out and I don't know how he got there. See, we have to leave disabled students in the building for the police to handle because of liability issues. This particular student is so fragile, if some unauthorized person picked him up, that person would break his bones. Why she told me (read: gently chewed me out) and not our building safety people is beyond me, especially since I am just a grunt and not in charge.
I officially made claim to a week of vacation beginning Feb 28 and going through the first week of March. The muses are very happy.
This is the top of the flipper file in my office. You can see the large box of chocolates and the roses rat gave me, the small box of chocolates one of the bosses gave me and the paper heart one of my student friends gave me. That little card on the flipper file with all the papers is a Vietnamese New Year envelope. I am not into ducks, but the mallard duck is the school mascot so I have a few of them on my shelf. The various cards are from either students, co-workers or the school. Dasia, recognize the pink purse and fan on the wall? The cat plaque next to the purse was given to me by a friend who brought it back from Italy.
I enjoyed two separate AIM conversations last night with a writer I greatly admire, sakushamishou, and an artist I greatly admire, my soul-sister, rulika_yuuichi.
I noticed a lot of folks on the LJ liked my Yaoi Fan Woman icon!
Well, you can have one of your own! Just take your pick from my website!
I had an interesting chat with one of the faculty last week. I took classes with S when I was a student at RLC the first time, back in 1976. Later, I was his life drawing model, which worked very well for us because he was comfortable with drawing on me to make a point to the class. He drew on my arms, folks. Get your minds out of the gutter. *laugh*
Anyway, S was telling me he had been talking to B lately. B had been his student at another campus, then B got his masters degree and was teaching when I started attending school. B and I became lovers after a while. Yeah, it was a student/teacher relationship but he always kept me at a distance at school and no affection was ever shown between us in public. Of course, everyone knew we were going at it like rabbits. We did not have any exclusive understanding but it was the late 70's, pre-AIDS, pre-herpes, pre-sex kills.
After two years, it all fell apart. He hurt me terribly but I got over it. We eventually became good friends again and have remained so. He has seen me go through various lovers and finally settle down. He has never settled down. I sometimes see in his eyes a little envy for what I have (my darling ratling) and what I know when it comes to creating in the computer.
B wants to become a full-time faculty member but one of the criteria is to have the ability to use the computer. A couple of years ago, rat and I gave B an old computer in an attempt to get him into the 1990s. I kept having to go over to show him how to navigate, even something as simple as browsing the net. He eventually gave up on the computer. I think a combination of factors frustrated him, including the fact he cannot type.
So now he is interested in learning again, according to S. I told S it probably has something to do with looking for a full-time position. S agreed but he and I both know B is not cut out for the job. Part of that job is doing administrative crap, which is definitely something that would drive B bonkers. And without any keyboarding skills, B is really handicapped.
B really needs a full-time job because he has no health benefits or retirement set aside. I think he will be hitting 60 soon. He teaches part-time at various campuses and community centers so he can make ends meet to a degree. He is always having to watch the pennies so he cannot afford any extras like health insurance. Health insurance is bloody expensive for the self-employed!
Finishing the HK Yu Yu Hakusho eps
Ghost in the Shell (rat had not seen it before)
Ghost in the Shell: Innocence (watched it in anime club)
Laputa
~*~
One of the anime club members has let me borrow some eps of Naruto. We haven't been able to get them to play on any computer until just recently. We keep our old machines in archaic mode for a variety of reasons, just one being Win98 cannot seem to handle some of the new players and codecs at times. It is strange though, because we found out a REALLY old program, VuePrint Pro 32, can play the avis with no problem. It does not make sense, but hey, we are talking about computers here.
Burning copies have been a pain as well. rat's computer was freezing up when he began the burn so he was making coasters. He moved over to mine and thought he was burning coasters because he could not see the new cd.
I try to keep my computer archaic so I can watch the older amvs I have. Plus, the avi version I have of the Gravi ovas and my Ai no Kusabi refuse to play on newer versions of my players. They WILL play on my XP office machine, however, even with new players. It does not make much sense to me.
Let's see - Chinese New Year, Vietnamese New Year and Ash Wednesday. You can see the generic holiday icon at the mirror entry on Live Journal.
24 weeks of pain - it is not as intense at the moment, which is good. It may be finally winding down to a degree.
I took some meds more semi-regularly last week and that seems to have helped with some of the pain. Now, if I can just figure out what the pain under my right shoulderblade which goes around and up my side and attacks the benign lumps of my right breast is all about.
We finally got to Studio Anime (http://www.studioanime.net) last night. They had Ichigo soda, my fave, so I bought a bottle. They also had Gravi Vol-10 but I did not purchase it because I have a copy on the way from ebay. Now I know where to go to get #11! They are very close to where we live so we will be frequenting them more often now!
I thought of patosan and xenophyle when I saw the Full Metal Alchemist figures.
My 'authorized' copy of "Saiyuki Requiem" finally arrived! I pre-purchased one last November and the eBay seller bailed on me, taking the money and running. I found another eBay seller last weekend and it arrived quickly, whee!
I wonder how the subtitles will stand up to my HK copy, which has excellent subtitles.
I was not around here because I had a sinus attack yesterday that affected my eyes. They were so itchy and dry I wanted to tear them out of my sockets. I could not see very well. In fact, I left work and came home because I could not see the computer screen very well and the light from the monitor hurt my eyes.
They still itch today but not so badly. I have some goopy eye steroid I put in yesterday so they feel a little better today. I will go to work and hope for the best.
Here are some belated thank yous to those who sent Xmas/b-day presents:
Thank you to cleodasia, who sent a gigantic box that will cover Xmases and birthdays for years to come!
A roundish fan (non-folding) with pink flowers, green foliage and a small black and white bird in the air - I am going to hang it my office at work
Two manga with bishies and boy love undertones
Hands Off (high school boys with powers)
Legal Drug (young adult boys with powers)
A spiral-bound book called 'Books I've Read, a Readers Journal'. It's pretty darned cool.
Too cute panda notecards
A box with two pair of dragon decorated chopsticks (one red, one black) with matching rests
A handled red silky purse with pink stitched floral pattern and gold stitched dragons
Two boxes of yummy-scented incense, with a tan ceramic holder (the scent was so nice when I first opened the box!)
Four ochawan (bowls) with a blue and green speckle glaze on the outside and the inside having a brown branch pattern with white puff flowers and a dark blue background.
A large bowl with chibified people painted inside with soft shades of blue
Three novels
Cloud of Sparrows by Takashi Matsuoka
The Still by David Feintuch
Once... by James Herbert
Thank you to senoritafish, for the package of cool goodies!
A copy of a CD called Songs of the Cat - cool!
A magnet of a pretty sunset with a pier sillouette and the words 'Huntington Beach, California' - it goes on the refrigerator!
A CD case holding these 24 tiny coloured pencils - so cute!
A book called The Ultimate Nap Book - right on! Naps are our friends!
Whoa, Aja!
As we were shuffling off to bed last night, rat told me he had picked up the box, so I had to open it then and there.
I was expecting a pair of warm sox in the box - but they bred while in route here! 10 pair of handmade fleece sox with the soles the shape of my duck feet!!! OMG!!! You are just TOO GOOD TO ME!!!
I put every single pair on and wiggled my toes - they are so warm, warmer than the double layer of rat's socks I steal from him! I think he is happy I will not be raiding his sock drawer anymore!
I like the fact three different thicknesses of polar fleece fabric was used for various pairs, which makes them a year-round fashion accessory for my poor, perpetually frigid toes!
And all the colours!
Pastel pink with white ribbing
Pastel yellow with white ribbing
Bright red with bright red ribbing
Bright red, purple, teal, yellow Indian blanket pattern with bright red ribbing
Deep blue denim with black ribbing
Deep blue with pale blue and white stars with white ribbing
Deep green, mint green, yellow Nordic snowflake pattern with mint green ribbing
Tan top, brown sole with cream ribbing
Deep forest green with black ribbing
Classic black with black ribbing
Yes, I wore a pair to bed last night and my popcicle toes were wonderfully warm and stayed toasty all night long! I forgot and took an anti-inflammatory last night so I woke up at 3am and did not get back to sleep - but my feet were comfy!
And my Dearform slippers, also known as my DBZ booties because their shape looks like Goku's shoes, are large enough they let me wear a pair of your sox with them, my feet are perfectly roasty-toasty and I can go outside and check the weather!
Thank you!!!
Joules!
Those chocolates were so tasty! We ate them over the holiday.
Thanks: --> to Lia, my sensei, who has inspired me to draw again. I
wouldn't be doing this without your support, Domo Arigato!
--> to Talon, for sending me her fabulous fics, inspiring me with her writing to draw my first
illustration for a story and actually liking what I drew.
--> to Dasia, for her words of encouragement when drawing her original chara.
--> to Joules, a wonderful epic fic writer, for liking my art enough to want to post them with Talon's
and her own stories.
--> to Lutra, the other half of the epic team, for being so supportive.
--> to Jacque' & Becca Raddittzu, we met on eBay as bidder and sellers and now we are face-to-face
friends. You showed us the real DBZ with your fansubs. It's all your fault the house is full of
doujinshi! *LOL*
:: welcome to bakayaro onna's mindless ramblings, rants & raves :: 
