I don't know why I'm so sleepy. o.o I slept in on Friday, since my classes start late; but then after the showing I started feeling tired ... we got home at about two and I went to sleep immediately, and didn't wake up till eleven. ^_^;; And then, for some odd reason, as soon as I start trying to do my reading, my eyes start drooping again ... XD;;

Anyway, the showing itself was quite entertaining. The episodes of Kimagure Orange Road have been rather ... well, episodic, so I haven't really seen what it is that makes the show such a classic. But I did like this episode -- poor Carroll, is what I have to say. XD;; And the trend of random insertations of English was continued in Yami -- go Miki! And Hayami Shou -- I rather like neko-chan's translation of his line: "Back off, cause he's MY bitch." XD Gotta love Muraki; everything about the man is some sort of twisted innuendo. The poker game was *fun* to see animated, and so, of course, was the dramatic entrance of Hisoka, Tsuzuki's seme in shining armor. XD XD XD Was also glad neko-chan got to see AzuDai 2, with Osaka in her full glory. XD Other stuff was good, especially the Shaman King -- both of us want to get to episode 20 or so, when Faust is introduced. (Though I don't know what'd be more disturbing, hearing Koyasu voicing Faust, or seeing him dressed as Zazel. O.o) I can't wait till Horohoro's episodes, so I can see neechan's mad sparklies reflecting off the screen. *fufufu*

And I've decided I want a Manta. Just to have around. He's not really *cute*, per se, but he's small and spazzy and highly amusing, and I'd just like to keep him in my pocket. XD

Mm ... school. Going pretty well, I'd say. From what I've heard in my CHID class, though, that's a weeder course -- which would certainly explain the difficulty I've been having. >_> But it didn't occur to me, because I thought that's what "college classes" were supposed to be like; my idea of a weeder class was some dark and nebulous nightmare with a professor who would be openly threatening to kill me or something. ^_^;;; Anyway, I think I'll really enjoy our final project (which we've already started working on o.o), which is to get into small groups and create a utopia. Vague and contentious, I know, but definitely engaging. I sort of feel wistful about it, though, wishing I could be working with my old AP classmates. ^_^; Don't get me wrong; my group members seem nice and intelligent, and I understand the benefit of working with people we don't necessarily know well. (I do rather wish the only other girl in my group hadn't dropped the class, but oh well. XP) But I think this would have been all sorts of fun with that old group, where we'd have a good sense of each person's opinions and temperament and biases, and could know who would deal best with which issues, and which conflicts would have to be addressed. Though our level of familiarity would also mean that we'd probably be at each other's throats constantly. XD

Sigh. Staying in on a Saturday. That's what I get, if I don't want to be doing all my reading on Sunday night ... and also because I have nowhere to go. ^_^;; The only thing I got done yesterday was my Japanese, and that's just because it's mindless and fun. "Watashi no daigaku wa Washington daigaku desu. Lee-san no daigaku wa Washington daigaku desu. Watashi to Lee-san no daigaku wa Washington daigaku desu." XD;;

Thursday, October 17, 2002
03:35 p.m.

Lost an earring back, somehow, between yesterday afternoon and this morning. >_< I know it's somewhere in the dorm, because it's the pair I where around the room and stuff, and I'm fairly sure I checked to make sure it was there before I went to sleep. So it should be in the room, or possibly in the bathroom. Unless I *did* lose it last night, which would mean it could be across the hall in the kitchenette or maybe even down the shower drain ... T_T I know it's a silly and insignificant problem, and I'm not really bothered too much, but I really do hate losing things because I *know* I've somehow been absentminded about it and I *could* solve the problem more easily by simply remembering, rather than looking everwhere ... I wouldn't worry about it at all, except it's the pair my mom gave me -- not hugely expensive, but she gave them to *me* to take care of. >_< Dammit.

Otherwise, things are going well, specifically in classes. I don't know if my brain has finally reawakened, or if the reading is simply getting easier, but I was able to contribute a lot in small group discussion today. Was awkward and fumbling when meeting my final project work group, but when am I not like that with new people. ^_^;; And I spoke up a little in English ... I think my question sounded silly, based on what I said, because he pointed me to the Notes, which I *did* read; it wasn't just that but a deeper question, I realized, that was nagging at me. I didn't realize it in time to articulate it, though, and just figured it out later ... but he was very encouraging about my contribution, however small -- just like he was for my paper, and me being paranoid I wonder if he remembers me as being the only freshman in the class and is giving me more leeway. I hate being coddled, so I hope it's not the case -- I'd rather just screw up and learn, really. But maybe he really is just that nice, in which case I shouldn't obsess. ^_^;;

I got several emails from my former AP classmates, which were replies to my teacher's email but sent out to the whole group. It was nice, to catch up -- even with the people I knew but didn't regularly talk to, I'm glad to know what's going on with them. It's not exactly nostalgic, since we're all undergoing these radically new experiences -- but since their familiar people who are going through the same kind of experiences as me, it's comforting.

Hm ... This layout has been up for a while, but I haven't had time to make a new one yet ... Besides, I've been blogging sporadically so it doesn't feel like I've seen it that much. ^_^; But I have the urge to make something with Osaka from AzuDai. Or maybe Guu. XD

Wednesday, October 16, 2002
12:45 p.m.

My Coke just did the coolest thing. :D I had a bottle in the fridge that froze (unfortunately that's not the unusual thing) and the ice, being lighter, was solid across the top half, but when I opened it, the foam shot up through the ice. It was fun to watch. XD

Today is yet again a beautiful day. Just like yesterday, perhaps a touch warmer. Nostalgic music playing on the radio ('nostalgic' meaning reminiscent of junior year ^_^;;), and it's all good. ^_^

Tuesday, October 15, 2002
05:21 p.m.

Atsuuu~iii ... *_* Okay so it maybe hit 70 degrees today, but it was *nice*. But the sunlight hurt my eyes when I was trying to study. ^_^;;

Got an email from my AP teacher today, which she sent to the whole class. Made a geek like me happy. :D I do miss our class -- my high school may have not been perfect, but these people, and this class, I definitely remember with affection. Gotta reply to that sometime ...

Japanese homework to do, laundry to fold, Utopia to read ... @_@

Monday, October 14, 2002
03:48 p.m.

Eh, lots of stuff has happened. ^_^; Starting, in chronological order, is the first anime showing of the year -- congrats to neechan for pulling it off. XD It went well (I was listening to Rent recently, and if you've heard it then you know what line from "La Vie Boheme" played in my head at that, and, umm, yeah, I know I'm weird ^_^;;), and the audience didn't seem to mind having their brains melted from five hours of material that was, basically, made by people on crack. (Not lying -- see neechan for the schedule. O.o) But it was *good* crack, so I guess that's why. XD

Then on Saturday was neko-chan's birthday, which was celebrated with much shopping. ^_^;; But I hope you enjoyed yourself anyway, obaa~~chan. XD;;; Apparently about six hundred other people also had/are having their annual cake days this month ... hopefully I have or will get to wish you all happy birthday individually, but if not, consider this message a substitution from my absent-minded self. ^_^;;

Great bit of reading over at Kielle's LJ about fandoms -- discussion of sci-fi TV shows went over my head, and I was involved in comic book fandom only peripherally -- but the underlying behavior trends are pretty common. I haven't actually witnessed firsthand any of the uglier conflicts, but then again the only fandom I was ever really involved in was Yuu Yuu Hakusho, and that was back when mailing lists were fun. (Kidding, kidding. :p) Nowadays I'm happily ensconced in lurkerdom. And of course part of that is because I'm plain lazy, and other than RuroKen haven't snagged on anything that's held my interest for very long; but also there's the fact that it can get so nasty nowadays. (Hopefully I'm not just idealizing the memory ... that'd make me feel old. o.o) I'd say it was a result of us being so young -- most of us were, I think, early teens with some twenty-somethings mixed in -- but then again, that's the age bracket of fangirls that you see on FF.Net that's most susceptible to pairing-fanaticism, and improvisational spelling ... though of course you see that from all sorts ... and I'll stop talking before I offend more people. XP

Er. Need to do homework. I'm behind on my work, which never really helps my mood. :/ Got my first English paper back today -- the professor was remarkably nice about it. It sucked and I knew it (wrote it in two hours) but he actually gave *feedback*. And suggestions. Goes against everything I've heard about college professors. XD;; At least I'm getting more from our current book -- because the last one was perfectly understandable but I was hardly inspired with insights into the *extra*, and this one ... I don't know, *speaks* more. Unfortunately, we're not writing a paper for this one. -_-;; Or who knows, maybe I'm just getting used to active reading again, and I'll be fine for the next one ... Now let's see if I can keep up in my other class, and stop zoning out in lecture ... oh, midterms are in two weeks and I'm going to die ...

But at least I have Japanese to save my GPA. XP And I'm really hoping to get used to my classes after midterms (and hopefully before ^_^;;), and I know I take a long time to adjust so I should be okay in a few weeks. Sometimes I wish I took more "freshman" courses, but I have to deal with what I chose. In the end, it should be worth it. And anyway that's just school. It's not like other things are going badly, so ... Shikkari. Shikkari. Shikkari.

Thursday, October 10, 2002
10:10 p.m.

Bleeeeeaaaaahhhh, I'm sick. =_= I thought I was getting better ... demo machigatta. >_> Daijoubu, ganbarimasu~~ *pops a sudafed*

I'm not sure why, but I've been feeling moody lately. ^_^;;; It's probably just a result of the transition -- an alien environment structure, the transformation from upperclassmen to frosh, not having a *home* -- free from the school and other people -- to go to at the end of the day ... I guess it's really hitting me now. Not that it's been bad so far -- I'm here with neechan, and friends I've known anywhere from a couple months to several years; I've met nice people; I'm not really behind in my classes, much as it all seems to be flying past my head ... I just feel nostalgic for my familiar friends and setting, I guess. Not surprising, ne? ^_^; I kind of wish I could be with my parents now, too. I mean, I knew the world was going to keep going when I left -- I suppose I just didn't imagine it would go this fast. And I know I'm going to make more friends and become accustomed to the environment -- but I think part of me was expecting the end result and forgetting the time it'd take to get there.

And, er, it's sorta late and I'm alone and feeling contemplative? I'm not this solemn all the time. ^_^;; And it's all a state of mind, right? I can make things better for myself simply by deciding to think of them as such (although according to one of my classes that's simply an idea that has been ingrained through American-Just-do-it-culture and only seems 'true' because I haven't known it any other way ... but at least in this case it is true. Or, the nature of the idea is such that simple belief will make it so anyway. :p).

And now I'm off to do English reading. Or freewrite. Either task seems daunting at the moment; though the latter is certainly more appealing ...

Wednesday, October 9, 2002
12:47 p.m.

Got to eat my mom's homemade cooking for lunch yesterday -- yay!

Have come down with a sore throat -- boo~~

Otherwise, all is well. ^_^ Last night was really fun -- I went with neko-chan to a meeting of this sci-fi/fantasy writing club on campus. A few of the officers were missing, and it's a small club anyway, so even with all the newcomers there were only ten of us. But the atmosphere was more casual and intimate that way; the people were really friendly, and I definitely want to go to the next meeting. They have things like writing exercises! And group editing! Imagine what could happen if I actually finished something so I could submit it! XD;; (I always seem to end up editing more than I write, anyway ... I hope that old maxim of 'those who can't do, teach' doesn't apply to editing ... >.>)

After the meeting I loitered a bit at neko-chan's cluster, where the people are also friendly (and oh so caring toward each other XD), which meant FAKE manga. And Yami manga. Preeeeetty Hisoka/Tsuzuki. *_* (And Tatsumi/Tsuzuki too. ^_^;)

I'm definitely feeling better about my classes. In one I was afraid I'd misread the professor's intentions and had been concentrating on the wrong information, but it turns out that's what he wanted us to do -- it's just that we also will need to know facts and dates for the mid-term, but he's offering a mid-term review session. *phew* In my lit class today, I actually talked some -- only a couple comments, and they were hardly profound, but at least it's something. ^_^; Really, I think it's all a state of mind, as to whether or not I feel able to keep up. Sometimes I get intimidated by a few geniuses in discussion groups, and I fixate on what it is I miss or can't interpret; but all I need is to give myself a good kick in the pants and tell myself to give it a go anyway, that I have to take whatever abilities I have and make the most of them. Because that's what everyone *else* has to work with, too.

End of philosophical musings, onto random stuff. Yesterday when I went to the guys' hall to use the microwave, someone had their door open and was playing a remix of Hikki's "Hikaru." And today when I was in the neighbor dorm getting lunch I heard a piano version of "Cruel Angel's Thesis." O.o

Monday, October 7, 2002
03:55 p.m.

What Dogma character are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Just because I thought it was rather amusing, given recent conversations. XD And anyway, I rather liked Metatron. He was amusing.

Not much to tell. The second week has begun, and while I can't say I'm used to it, per se -- there's still that whole 'what the @#^$%! am I doing?' sense I have; but at least I'm becoming accustomed to the routine. And slowly but surely making headway in the social arena. ^_^;;

Sunday, October 6, 2002
01:33 a.m.

Kyou wa tanoshikatta yo~~~n. XD (Gomen ne, neko-chan, I know I said I'd be productive or sleep and so far I've done ... neither ... but I will! I just wanted to catch up on blogs and email and stuff and unwind -- but I'll read a passus tonight if it kills me! XD;;) Granted, a pathetically large chunk of it was spent wandering up and down the street (street, mind you, not streets) of the city trying to find a bus to get us to the freaking International District. I swear I have some sort of karmic imbalance that doesn't allow me to get anywhere for the first time (second/third/etc.) without getting lost at least once, and preferably in a manner involving the exact opposite direction of where I want to go. But luckily neko-chan was there, and we provided each other with company/moral support, and it didn't rain, and we met a nice old lady who knew the bus system and liked ladybugs. ^_^;;

Anyhoo, we got there, did what we wanted to do ... and basically spent the whole day wandering and shopping a little and eating a little, but mostly doing whatever. And it was fun; somewhat nostalgic but a lot of new sorts of happiness, too. I really got to forget about a lot of stuff (stuff which unfortunately includes the homework due tomorrow ^_^;;). And after being able to talk to two wonderful people today, I'm feeling content. ^_^ I'm sorry for dumping stuff on you -- but I know you guys, and I know I don't have to say I'm sorry -- but I still felt a little bit of should I/can I/do I want to, and the fact that I didn't really need to was an immense relief -- so I guess what I want to say isn't so much I'm sorry as thank you. Really, people -- I want to announce this to everyone -- talking to friends helps a lot. Even without doing anything really tangible, they can make you feel like they've taken a tremendous load away. Love to all. ^________^

And oh! The sparklies today ... XD XD XD Neko-chan somehow has managed to simultaneously reawaken my rabid fangirlism for Saiyuuki (haven't watched/read anything in a few months) and Weiß Kreuz (which was, in contrast, rather settled in its dormancy) and Harry Potter. (Well, not exactly on the last part -- more like I'm now more eager to hear about casting for the PoA movie. And, er, find Japanese Sirius/Remus fanart sites. o.o) Interesting trivia on that last one: apparently Ewan McGregor and Christian Bale have both been names thrown around by the fandom for Remus -- though Ewan was actually in talks, or at least I heard -- and after reading the bit of trivia from Kielle that just puts a whole new image in your head. o.o;; As for Weiß, I've seen the opening and ending animation for Gluhen ... Aya still has the best of the new looks, I'd say, but Ken's design actually looks quite good in animation. Omi still looks like a foppish wannabe Brit, and it occurred to me that Youji should be arrested for wearing that in public. >_> But the animation is quite good, and I want to see the actual episodes sometime. (And the concerts. The concerts! Gluhen and Das and Koyasu falling down and Seki being the h0bag that we all know he really is. XD;;)

I also got to see the first four episodes of Gravi. *niyari* That is a fun, fun show, with Seki and Koyasu and Okiayu and Yamaguchi Kappei all being shrieky and/or silly. XD And really, it's the only opportunity I think I'll ever have to hear Seki play the part of a shoujo manga heroine. Or at least, that's what Shuuichi acts like, the way he pines after his unrequited love (er, unrequited for two episodes ^_^;;). And Miki makes an appearance as a pouty rock-star-would-be-diva. All good fun.

Hunyaa~~ I'm tired. -_- Methinks I'll read in bed, and see how far I can get before I fall asleep. (The area's much prettier now, with all my posters and stuff up ... RuroKen eye candy and inscrutable art class projects, go me. XD) I'm losing coherency, I think I should go ...