I am the Sea.

Finals are over. Thank G-d. I don't ask for much, just a passing grade. Skating by seems to be the way of this generation; I advise you all to grease up your wheels (or blades depending on your perspective)

I picked up my graduation application yesterday. Still running uphill. Wish me luck.

In other news, I got in a fight with my DVD player... and it won.

To my credit though, it wasn't an easy victory.

It ate a Chris Rock DVD that I was looking forward to. With so much on my plate, I've been renting comedies by the bucketload. Laughing just makes you feel so much better, doesn't it? I've made it a personal goal to laugh at least 5 minutes a day, everyday, for the past week. It's done wonders.

Blu-Ray: +1 Michelle: +0

Determined, I went in my tool bag and grabbed my screwdriver (the anarchist in me wanted to grab the hammer, but I realized that would be counterproductive) and tore  the system wide open. I'm surprised none of the cables snapped because I wasn't particularly gentle. See that gray unit on the right? Yeah, I broke that open too. After much pulling I got the disc out (albeit with a chip on the edge. Was ultimately only able to watch about 50 minutes of it. SUCK), then worked on reassembling the thing piece by piece. Miraculously, I did well. I made a unique color coding system (i.e. - using my paint tubes as totems) so I knew which screws went where, and after a few minutes the system was as good as new. 

Well, kind of.

You see everything went well, but there was one major problem once all was said and done: the disc tray wouldn't close. Apparently something got behind the door trigger while I was (wo)manhandling the thing. It was only about 2 months old anyway; most electronics have a 90 day warranty. I've already made up some bullsh*t and exchanged it. I'm back in business. A smile and little cleavage will get you out of almost anything :)

In regard to the DVD, it's not as if it were mine anyway. Quite frankly, it's the DVD's own fault for getting stuck. Let it be the next renter's problem.

Still packing and finding relics of a life long ago lived:

*An original Simon game from the late 80s (I was a pro at that game. Got it for my 2nd Xmas. Played it until at least age 8. To this day, I still believe that game is why I have pretty good memory retention)

* An Ewok plushie, original CareBear, and that cat from Strawberry Shortcake

* Optimus Prime, Hot Wheels cars, a suction cup gun, Astroboy figurine

* A Magic 8 Ball (with half the blue stuff leaked out. Wanted to chuck it at my neighbor's bratty children, but I don't think I need a criminal record)

* Inuyasha DVDs, Gremlins

* A jug of rice wine a friend brought back from China years ago (I'm afraid to open it)

Save about 5 items, all of it went to the Salvation Army. Don't know what I plan to do with the booze. I'm too malicious to simply pour it down the sink. Ideas?

I'm about to hit the streets again so I'll end it here.

D: Here's the vid from that night @ Bugsy's. Awesome show BTW. Sugar's rendition of MJ's "Human Nature"

My friends Deej (on mic) Jesse & Shawn (both on percussion), Charlotte (female lead) and some random dude on the sax.

And who was that dude Crip walking in the back?

Love it when random people go on stage.

Peace out.

<3 M

Short Circuit.

So yeah, it's been about three weeks since my last login.

A lot's happened, amigos. School started, met someone, cleaned out my closet for monthly Salvation Army drop off... I might have lied to you before, but I'm ready to admit now that I'm not made of steel.

I need to move out of my condo too because my mortgage company has been hounding me to refinance. I did it about 4 years ago and have been skating by paying pennies since (got in before this horrible economic downtown) Anyway, my loan is due to reset next year so my mortgage will double unless I move out. I've been toying with moving in the last few months, but now I need to get the ball rolling.

I never thought this would come out of my mouth, but I think I'm scared of change. Or maybe more I don't want to make my life any more difficult, so I've been acceptant of the status quo. This is the year I finally do it. I've been talking so much bull about leaving here, but this is the year it'll actually happen. I can feel it. I need to remind myself not to be scared of change, but to embrace it. Easier said than done.

Uploaded some more videos from my Japan trip; still not done. This vid is from the top of the Floating Garden building in Osaka. I was there on my last day, just a few hours before heading to Kansai to come home.



I think I can find those chairs at Ikea. I hope so anyway.

Here's a shot of the outside of the building. Took a little over 10 minutes to get to the top.

Made some new Hello Kitty listings. I got this one at the site of the Great Buddha in Nara (see below). This one I think I'll keep. I'm not much of a Hello Kitty fan, but I couldn't think of a price point I'd be comfortable selling at... not to mention I find it ironic and mildly blasphemous :)

Gotta get back to school work. I have to go to a testing lab tomorrow because my Biology teacher is a Julian-calendar-using-I'll-give-you-3-days-to-do-a-16-page-lab-and-I-don't-care-if-you-work-10-hour-days-you-have-6-tests-a-week sadist.

M <3

Kenroku-En Garden, Takoyaki, Rainstorms

Uploaded some new vids today. These are from Kanazawa in Kenroku-En ("Six Attributes"), one of Japan's 3 great gardens. Click here if you want more info.

It was raining pretty badly out, but it was so humid! I had on 2 shirts and a jacket that day; I was sweating like a pig. The whole place was surreal. I felt more like I was in Middle Earth than a place that actually exists in this world.

There were a lot of tourists there despite the weather. I stayed in the background and listened to them speak to each other to find out if they were Chinese, Korean, Thai, etcetera. I breathed a little sigh of relief if I understood them. The little Japanese I do know helped me out quite a bit. 

Everyone I encountered was very nice; smiles are universal :)

I made something like 30 videos during my trip so you'll have to forgive me if they're out of order or vague. I'll try to describe as much as I can remember.

Before I go, I have to mention this little tidbit because it was one of my "geek out" moments. When we came to a truck stop somewhere on our way to Kyoto, I shrieked a little when I found a takoyaki stand. 

Tada! :))

I love octopus and wanted to try it... and I won't even lie. It was only because there was a whole Ranma 1/2 episode about it (I believe in season 4) and I have yet to find it back home :-P

It was pretty good. The sauce was like A-1 or some type of barbeque sauce. I ate it for dinner whenever I found a stand if only to feel closer...

It's a really funny show if you've never seen it.

You should check it out sometime. I'm sure you can rent it from a local library.

Anway, back to the grind. Made some new listings for you Hello Kitty fans out there :)

Late,

M.

In Kanazawa. Forgot What Day It Is.

This photo was taken in Shirakawa; high (like, WAY high) in the Japanese alps...

I've been in the Japanese alps for the past few days; this is the first time I've had internet access since we left Tokyo. Just uploaded a few more videos to my YouTube account. Check 'em out :)))











This is just a taste. See my YouTube account for more...

Later,

M :)))

Day 2 Tokyo: Meiji Shrine, Imperial Forest, Tea Ceremony, Asakusa Kannon Temple

Just another morning video :)



I'm doing this on borrowed time. I finally realized that I'm not a travel blogger so my videos will do most of the speaking. This video is upon entry to Meiji Shrine:





Calligraphy class (this is the instructor writing a haiku):



The city:



Tatsumiya Resutoran:




The staff here was very nice and the beer was very good. I ate solo because I wanted to see what the city had to offer besides KFC and Starbucks. The menu was entirely in Japanese (I brought a Kanji book with me to help with the unfamiliar symbols. I did fine) As I was paying, I said "Gochisosama Deshita" ("Thank you for the treat")  and for it I got a very polite bow and a compliment on my knowledge of the language. It's always nice to hear that from a native :)

Anyway, I'm about to head out to the streets of Tokyo and cause a ruckus :))))

Peace!

M.

Day 1: Tokyo (Arrival)

I'm so spoiled by free Wi-Fi. The hotel ran out of packages so I have to purchase time by the hour (and it's not cheap. Not at a 4 cum 5 star hotel) Hopefully I'll find a spot where I can access free Wi-Fi otherwise all entries will be in short spurts.

Anyway, here's a YouTube vid of my first day.

I made it :) YAY!!!

Love, M.



**Edit: 5:20 p.m. (Japan Time) - I think I found a loophole in the system.... hee hee :)))