Clean air, please

I think it's a sign...not once did I get all stuffy or sneezy when I was in Chicago. Just thirty minutes before we landed at Reagan Nat'l Airport, my throat start feeling funny. I don't know if it's the air or not, but since Monday I have been sneezing, coughing, and my eyes are watery. At least my throat is less sore than yesterday, but I've had to repeat myself multiple times at work because noone understood what the heck I was saying. I hate allergies. I guess I've developed new allergies because up until last year, I have never had a problem. My bed (in Chicago, that is) is looking mighty welcoming right about now.

Bummer

It sucks to be back...Chicago was more fun than I ever could have imagined. We were really bummed to go home. We had a blast and the concert was beyond belief. More info. (and pics) to come. I've said it once, but I think the situation merits an encore...It sucks to be back :(

Chi-Chi-CHICAGO!!!

Friday has finally blessed us with its presence. And with Friday here, you know what that means...come on, say it with me, yep, C-H-I-C-A-G-O!! Tomorrow will be one of the best days ever.

We pretty much finished packing last night. I finally got Ms. Procrastinator to concentrate (just cross your fingers and hope she doesn't change her mind on her outfits for the trip). I still have to charge all my gadgets and stop by the bank. Luckily, payday is today. The weather seems to be on our side for the time being and I checked the flight status, etc. After careful deliberations, and final evaluation cleared, we are officially clear for take off.

YAY! Total excitement :)

Pinky:st hits the small screen

Baby Sue's Pinky:st phenomenon is stretching its success with their 5-inch tall figures and is hitting the small screen. My japanese isn't that great, but from what I could gather, the Pinky:st OVA will be released on July 26, 2006. There seems to be two different stories, and figures will be released for each of the two main characters, Mei and Kei. Fans of Pinky:st can appreciate the retained style of the figures. From what I've seen, even the scooter, soon to be released, made it on the show. If you're interested, check out their official site (in Japanese) at: http://www.pinkyst.jp. I wonder if it'll make it to the U.S.

"Welcome to adult life...it sucks"

Those were the words one colleague gave me a few years ago. I did not fully grasp the statement at that moment, but can now confirm that adult life truly sucks. Sure, it does have its perks, but they definitely do not outweigh the negatives. Don't worry, I won't go on a whining spree or anything, that would take far too long. Evil as it may sound, I am glad that peeps around me are starting to get that picture. It's better to be miserable in company rather than alone, right?

I am so bombarded with snowballs, that the pile on my inbox never seems to get any shorter. Breaks don't work for me. As far as I see it, they prolong the inevitable. No matter how long you try to avoid it, in the end, it will still be there.

Welcome to the real world -- where only the idiots prevail and the intelligent absolved.

Autograph blues...be gone!

It's almost Saturday! With the prospects of autograph doom nearing, I was pleasantly surprised to find someone who might be willing to help me out for Friday's autograph session. A guy from the FFVII Advent Children forum, who lives on the same street as the Tower Records where the signing will be held, is going to go to both the Friday session and the concert Saturday night. I hope it'll work out. I'm still working on our Sunday itinerary, but other than that, I think we are go for launch.

How do you cope?

It's easy to assume that you have it the worst -- that absolutely noone can understand or begin to comprehend a certain aspect or aspects of your life. At times, we isolate ourselves or try to adopt a way of life similar to Shinji Ikari, just as a means to cope or escape from reality. However, humans have two inescapable sides to themselves -- our need of seclusion and our incapability to be alone, a double-edged sword, if you will. There is no one side that is optimal or safe, nor is there any combination that will suffice. Shinji's "Porcupine Dilemna" as described by Dr. Ritsuko Akagi from Evangelion, is one example.

No true path in life exists. Life is how one copes or responds to external, as well as, internal stimuli. We already know the outcome of the war -- death. But the battles we face is what gives most a false sense of value and hope. The ending release is nothing but that...acquired freedom that can never be appreciated. And yet, despite all this, we continue to live and persevere. Is it ignorance? Or is it another mechanism to live out our lives? Whatever the reason, most have already forgotten or choose to forget it.

Believing that the grass is always greener on the other side or believing that you/I above all else, is suffering the most, is yet another mechanism of life. As long as we believe that we are experiencing the worst-case scenarios, we can believe that there will always be a better place, hope that there is something better.

We strive to connect so as to relieve the tension called Life, but the war is ultimately with the Self. Oddly enough, with our huge population expanding over the vast planet, we still cannot truly connect. Indeed, perhaps Seele, Nerv, and Gendo Ikari had it right with their Instrumentality Project.

How do you cope?

Owieee!!!!

Can we say, "Owieee!!!" Had some blood work done this morning and I don't know what type of needle she used, but that thing was huge. Whatever happened to using the "butterfly" needle on patients who'd really rather not see any needles sticking out of themselves? It hurt so much that my entire arm still hurts, and it's already been three hours. Owiee, Owiee, Owiee. I think this was my third time going to the lab and I'm still amazed of how these old guys come in here practically once a week. They are so cheerful but very lethal when it comes to being first in line. I mean, they know the best route to get to the lab as they open the doors at 8:00. I'm there early, I take the stairs (to avoid the slow and crowded elevators) and they still manage to get there before me. I'd put up a fight, but I think I'll keep it safe. I'm in their territory, as it were.

Travel Size

Well, we pretty much have all the things we need for our Chicago trip. We went all out in the travel section and bought a good load of travel sized stuff, who could resist. I hope Friday comes by fast. Nothing much else to report, today was definitely a Sunday. Still no luck finding someone to go to the Friday autograph session for me, but it's not too late yet.

It just keeps getting better and better...

According to the PLAY! website, music from the RPG game Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion will also be added to the long roster for the Chicago concert. Even better still, every concert goer will receive the entire soundtrack free!! I am totally ecstatic!!! The roster is looking pretty sweet.


Other exclusives include a performance by Angela Aki with her FF 12 theme song," Kiss Me Goodbye." I'm crossing my fingers that she'll sing the japanese version. Music from "Blue Dragon" will also be performed, yay! Koji Konda, Marty O'Donnell, MIke Salvatori, songs from Mario and Legend of Zelda, Yasunori Mitsuda, and Yuzo Koshiro. And that's not even the whole list...

Dinner and a movie...well, sort of

Went to Tara Thai (yes, again Drivi) for lunch today with my sister. If only these people knew to what great lengths we go through just to get there. We had the usual -- me with my Cashew Chicken and my sis with her Sen Mee Gai, both extra spicy of course. Traffic was massive today and we were stuck on Duke St. for who knows how long. We hadn't eaten breakfast, so we were really impatient and really starving, massive road rage undoubtedly ensued. Kon and the other guys weren't there today, but that other girl who also knows us was there. This new girl was just too peppy for me, I think it was her first day-ish.

After that, we watched "The Da Vinci Code." I really enjoyed the movie and thought they did a great job with the casting. One of my favorite actors played his usual role as the french cop. The girl from Amelie Poulain, one of my sister's favorite actress did a great job too. Overall, I thought the movie was very entertaining and the puzzles and logic involved were right up my alley. I'd give this movie four and a half stars.

Smile for the camera, Coco

< --- I just realized that I didn't put up some pics of our doggie, Coco. Check out Coco looking cool and totemo kawaiiiiii with my shades.

The second pic is ---> Coco under my table. He was a wee bit frightened during the thunderstorm this week. But he never misses the chance to smile for the camera (^_^)

Da Vinci Code

It's finally Friday, "The Da Vinci Code" is coming out today, but I'll probably see it on Saturday. I find it extremely ridiculous that controversy has actually arisen from this novel/movie, though I guess I shouldn't be surprised. We've seen it happen hundreds of times, especially in the context of religion. Just look at "The Passion of the Christ" and "Stigmata." When something starts to gain popular stronghold that seem to go against "normal" or "accepted" cultural beliefs, people's jaws drop and they pull all the stops.

The "Da Vinci Code" is a work of fiction based on real elements (e.g. documents, rituals, artworks) that are interpreted by fictional characters. Like the author, Dan Brown, says himself, the ideas in this novel have been around for centuries, they are not his own. [Source: Official Da Vinci Code Site]

To those who oppose the novel/movie so much, I simply say, "Get over it!" Life isn't set up in one certain way. Present life standards, as well as those of the past and the future to come, is shaped solely by our species. The change of time necessitates a timely change in theories and beliefs. What was once regarded a "true" is continually amended as we learn new things or as new ideas are formed. It is imperative that, while we are allowed to hold certain beliefs, we don't forget that we will never truly know anything. That, alone, is certain.

This situation is, in some ways, closely related to the inner workings of "Evangelion", with Seele and Nerv. The basis of human society is based, among other things, by interpretation. The "Da Vinci Code" and "Evangelion" culminate that very nature of human kind.

Just one more week...

Just one more week till I leave for Chicago. I am super stoked. I'm getting my travel checklist together and am currently working on our itinerary. The main event, Play! A Video Game Symphony (www.play-symphony.com) should prove to be S-P-E-C-T-A-C-U-L-A-R!!! Having missed the Final Fantasy "Dear Friends" concert, I am glad to get another chance.

Chicago marks the first stop of their world tour. Each concert has its own special events and let me tell you, this one is it! Unsurprisingly, the VIP tickets are sold out, but I hear that regular tickets are still available. I'm still searching for someone to grab me an autograph of Nobuo Uematsu and Angela Aki for the Friday autograph session (I can't believe I'm gonna miss that!)

Every favorite composer minus Joe Hisaishi will be there. From Nobuo Uematsu to Akira Yamaoka, this is definitely gonna be an event I'll never forget.

I can't wait!!

I'm published!

Just received the newest edition (June 2006) of Newtype Magazine USA in the mail yesterday. Yours truly can be found in the Omake section under Collector's Corner. There's a little clipping of my anime collection, feel free to indulge. I'll be giving out autographs on a first-come basis, so please, no shoving :p

Here's a scan of the article. For a bigger picture of my room, click here.

Of course, I'm a subscriber to Newtype and everytime I'd see those other entries, it made me wonder, "Why am I not in this magazine?" So I decided to press pause, take a quick pic, and send it off. Voila! I'm published.

You can pick up your very own copy at your local anime retailer (hey, any publicity wouldn't hurt, right?)