:: Womit ::

Spoiling Spoilers:

So what have I been doing recently - other than earning a living? Well, played with the Wadou last night (um, does that sound as subtextual as I think it does?), I drew evil Tashigi, I worked on Smut Garden, and I made tapes for OP fans - and those I think should be OP fans.

Speaking of OP, one of my students has a Sanji mascot, so I bugged her and asked her where she got it from. After about ten minutes of trying to draw me a map of where the store was, she volunteered to buy it for me. How sweet. The mascot is for a mythical `friend` in America. Yup, it`s amazing how much I lie for my addiction.

In other news, I have the Believe maxi single now. Just waiting for Before Dawn and Fish - then I will have the complete ending and beginning themes collection. Perhaps this weekend, I will burn all my cash away. I have to get volume 19 while I`m in town too. It`s driving me crazy not having that - must have complete-ness...

Also read WSJ. It was so sad and funny. Poor Igurama (excuse me but that`s from the katakana spelling so it is probably not correct at all) - forced to cross dress again. Vivi was acting a bit like Nami when she was making her request - hanging around the crew has changed her a bit and definitely for the better. Sometimes I wonder what kind of things she did working for BW. We saw her trying to kill Laboon; I wonder if she just acted incompetent because she couldn`t make herself kill a whale. Or maybe she revelled in being bad. Who knows...her early adventures are interesting to speculate about.

We leave Vivi and Alabasta (wiping the grunge-y sand gunk out of the corner of our eyes) and continue along the Grandline - to Ace (whee, freckles!)

Enough OP stuff. I really don`t like Anne Rice, so why do I keep reading her books? Is it because I have nothing else in the house? If you want to send me books, please go ahead. Anything on the bestseller`s list - don`t send that. Send something subversive like powerpuff girl comics or a KODT.

It`s snowing some more too. What a surprise. My brain is fried from trying to decipher kanji into furigana readings - stupid multiple readings! Hence the rant - I`m sure you all forgive me.
:: 11:41 PM [+] ::
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Argh. I despise this layout. I have all these grand ideas but no way to implement them at this time due to things beyond my control like no access to a scanner and a horrible command of HTML and no internet access at home. Bah humbug. And then I see all these other blogs with their fabuloso layouts and I just want to scream.

I contented myself last night with a making my Doskoi Panda apron. It`s a miracle what you can do with black marker and a hyaku-en apron.

There is a naked man festival north of here that I signed up for. One night in February thousand of men clad only in a sumo loincloth tussle each other for the sacred stick of power. He who gains possession of the stick and gets it to the appropriate temple gains fertillity, status, and about five thousand bucks. Like the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, the Naked Man festival excludes women. Hey, what chick wouldn`t want to get half naked in the freezing cold and wrestle a thousand burly men so that she could be fertile for the next year? Man, none that I know of.

I have this wicked (ie evil) idea of Tashigi as Captain Kuro. I mean, Jango went over to the Marine Side...why not the other way around? Though she still wouldn`t be able to kick Zoro`s butt. A pity that...(gets beaten by rabid Zoro fans) No! Wait! I love Zoro! (rabid Zoro fans back off) IN PAIN! (rabid Zoro fans continue beating...)

:: 12:42 AM [+] ::
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Last night was the enkai for the new village superintendent. Can you say `nomihodai`? It was one of the first words I learned in Japan. Yamazaki-san, an old man who really doesn`t do much at the office except for laugh at things I don`t understand ande, was putting back the sake like there was no tomorrow. Everyone had a wonderful time at my expense, using the electronic dictionary to insult each other in English. Lordy, was I tired of that after two hours. Yes, I am sure that Abe-san is a `bad woman` and I know Okuno-san has a `big mouth` but do I care? Let me eat my squid in peace! (And I want to stay here another year? I`m crazy...)

There was a cool restaurant in Hiroshima called the `Lock up` I had no idea what to expect. An entire floor had been taken and turned into jail cells. `Guards` took you to your individual table/cell and `prisoners` served you. At one point, all the lights went out and people in masks came in and tried to frighten us (but we are jaded gaijin who are not easily frightened.) The food was decent and they played heavy metal on the speakers. Very strange - something I have to show other people, if just for the experience.
:: 9:56 PM [+] ::
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Lunch: Vegetable soup, egg casserole, bread
Movie for Tonight: 3 months of OP eps (Just remember how much I love you, CRAIG.)
Days Till Groundhog`s Day: It can`t be soon enough.

YATTA! After days and days of waiting, the Major at the Hoya Battalion ROTC recruiting office called me. And I can stay in Japan another year! To quote Col. `Hannibal` Smith - I love it when a plan comes together.

But the Major asked me many questions like: What the heck are you doing in Japan with a chemistry degree and why are you going into National Security and what do you hope to accomplish in the future? I didn`t know really what to say to that. How about - `Because I felt like being here, because I feel like it now, and I hope to accomplish whatever I feel like in the future.` I`m big on selfish gratification (not necessarily instant - just selfish.)
:: 2:28 AM [+] ::
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Lunch: Leftover hijiki, nashi
Movie for Tonight: Out of Sight
Days Till My Brother`s Birthday: I dont know.

Here`s how you make hijiki. Buy hijiki, soak it, fry it in oil, add soy sauce, sake, vinegar, and sugar. Add water and other things. Whatever things you like. Then simmer until you think it`s done; then simmer some more! Tada! Hijiki! (I`ll stop with the suspense. Hijiki is purple seaweed. Yummy!)

Here`s how you make nashi. Buy nashi. Eat.

And last night I watched a very, very, bad movie. It`s called `Long Kiss Goodnight.` I had wanted to see it because, for some reason, I had fond memories of it from my youth, but upon having become a jaded adult, I now realize what a horrible creation it truly is. This makes me angry. I LIKED not having any taste in movies and being able to draw great joy from watching pure trash. Now I can come away from a media experience feeling `unfulfilled` and feeling like I have wasted my time. Why is this? I don`t want to have taste. I just want to fall into the mind-numbing offerings of Hollywood and immerse myself in the viewing for two hours, thereby giving my Nihon assaulted brain a rest everyonce in a while. Yup, I wish I could back to the innocence of my youth, when `Howard the Duck` was high art.

:: 11:36 PM [+] ::
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So I read a fun little article in the Daily Yomiuri about ancient legends and animal pests. It had the phrase `sadistic tanuki` in it and I just couldn`t pass it up.

I have decided that while I will reference OP as much as my little heart desires, I cannot keep devot‚‰‚Ž‚‡ every single entry to it (no matter how hard I try.) So instead I will fill it with the random thoughts of Japan that have nothing to do with that other blog I`ve been writing for the benefit of those important people in my life that I continually fool with the guise of being a scholarly, nice, young lady. If only they knew what else I did in my free time.


:: 8:11 PM [+] ::
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We know that Jango and Fullbody are the best dancers...but how does the Luffy crew rate? I think it would depend on what the music was.
Next, who is the best singer? If we go by the image songs, I say Sanji, hands down.


:: 11:58 PM [+] ::
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(Cackles insanely) YES! I have it! After a long time waiting for Animaxis to restock, I have it! The ichimonji wadou letter opener! Bwahahahahahahaha!
:: 1:33 AM [+] ::
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More anime OP blasphemy. Last night included more random insertion of non manga events. Not that I mind. Any episode that has Luffy and Usopp and Chopper all huddled together in a cute ball is AOK with me. (closes eyes and squeals) `Kaaaaaawaaaaaiiiiiiii!` Right I feel better now.

I have been in this country for too long. At least that specific Japanese phrase doesn`t make me sound like the Hiroshima yakuza that my friend up in Tokyo said I was speaking like. Right. I live in an inaka; I can`t help if I sound uncouth, it`s the only Japanese I hear.

Excuse the horrible blog design but I am getting some interesting software and whatnot and finally, finally, FINALLY, I received my computer from the people at Gateway. Other than the high inconvenience of the closing of all Gateway stores in Japan, Gateway the company is has an excellent customer service record - with me at least and I am the only person that counts. Now to get Internet at the house...the joys of living in an inaka.

I sucessfully spread the OP disease to a few more unsuspecting victims this weekend when I passed off a six hour tape of the TV show to a fellow JET. It is generally agreed that even though there is a language barrier, OP is one of the funniest things on Japanese TV. Amen.

And look! Links! Excitement abounds at Tanuki Ugly!
:: 11:19 PM [+] ::
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See! I told you the title would change! Tanuki Ugly is my fantasy bar that I want to open in Japan. It is not at all like that OTHER bar you may be thinking of. Not at all.

WARNING: By the by and by, this web blog is spoiler full, so maybe if you like suspense or can`t get ahold of recent Jumps, etc, you shouldn`t read this.

My problems with finding Shonen Jump continue. I have really got to learn to read kanji. As none of the local konbini`s happen to have it this week, I must assume that it is delayed, has problems with shipping, or something. Drives me nuts, not knowing what it is going on. The reason I think that there are problems with shipping is because there is a sign where it normally sits. Too bad. I really want to see what happens next. Will Hina engage in a full out battle with the Straw Hat crew? Will Vivi join up with them and become a pirate princess now that her kingdom is saved? Will we see more of Jango and Fullbody? I about died laughing when I saw them.

And most importantly, will Ace be showing up anytime soon in the manga? (spins in chair: Whee, freckles! Whee!) The anime creators have been highly indulgent (blasphemous, depending on your point of view) and have forcibly inserted his presence in the past few episodes. I am not complaining. More Ace exposure is perfectly alright with me.

This is the first time that I have ever experienced an anime/manga that wasn`t already finished. It is nice to be held in suspense. Usually my insatiable curiosity leads me to the Internet (fount of knowledge that it is) and I destroy all sense of suspense by learning about every character and every episode before I get a chance to see it. I just have no self control, I guess. But this way is sooooooo much better.
:: 9:26 PM [+] ::
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This is the beginning of a One Piece themed blog, or at least it will be once I figure out HTML and can scan a little fan art into this sucker. I`m thinking something Tashigi themed...just love that girl. Anyway, that won`t happen until I get my computer back from the repair shop, so you will have to suffer this template entitled Basketweaving for Fun. I just liked the name.

I imagine that I should introduce the title, but as it will probably change in a bit, there doesnt seem much of a point, but guess what? I`m going to do it anyway. The phrase comes from a quote by the pirate Edward Teach, who said, `Let us make a hell of our own and see how long we can try it.` Very uplifting idea!

Did I mention that this blog will feature sarcasm and `sand flaying flesh from the bones` type dry wit? Remember that when I mock something you love, because, most likely I love it too. After all, you only mock the one`s you love. Ask my brother; he knows all about it.

Let the ALHOOO begin!
:: 2:12 AM [+] ::
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