過去に囲まれてる

If you had been at my house this morning, you'd have heard the following:

"Would you mind blowing up the Earth again?"

"We have the Earth!!"
"You don't have the Earth, I have the Earth! If you're lucky, I'll bring the Earth back!"

"You can have some gyoza as a reward for blowing up a planet for me."

...Oho.

Aaaanyway. Finished Journey to the West last night, and instead of feeling accomplished, I feel sad. That was a really, really fun book to read, and I've been seeing glimpses of it in my dreams. Though I'm sad it didn't contain all the episodes, I'm glad the Arthur Waley translation retained so much snappy dialog. It brings out the characters so well! Based on the impressions I always had of the characters from references to them, I was afraid Tripitaka/Sanzo/Sanzang/you-know-the-monk was going to have no personality, but thankfully that was not the case. The guy was saintly, but he was human. But yeah, nothing can really touch how awesome Sun Wukong is.

Anyway, PARTY THIS WEEKEND, YAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY~~~~

Good thing #1: My boss's wife finally talked with me today and it went really well. *tears of joy*

Good thing #2: MY MANGA GOT HERE AND IT LOOKS FABULOOOOUUUUSSSSS!!! Plus, unless I totally miscounted, I think they threw in five extra copies. *tears of more joy*



So humbling how something that took six months of work can be consumed in 10 minutes.

Just finished watching Saiunkoku Monogatari with my sister. So glad I finally finished it, as it was worth it! I love so many of these characters so much, and there was never any shortage of giggles (except, you know, while they were ripping my heart out). However, after finishing the anime, we looked up spoilers for the last two volumes of the novels, and holy wow. o__o;;; I had heard the basic spoilers about how things eventually wind up for Shuurei and Ryuuki, but there certainly was a whole bunch else.

As much as I love Yura Kairi's character designs, I... I will just be head over heels if there were a 40-episode live action Mandarin version of Saiunkoku that goes deeper in the plot of the novels. *swoons* That would be so awesome.

Speaking of, planning on looking around for a live action version of The Deer and the Cauldron to start watching next week or so. I want to fit in another Jin Yong series before I move to Japan... and maybe read a fan-translation of The Sword of the Yue Maiden too because it's not very long. Maybe I should branch out and try reading/watching some stuff from some other recent kung fu authors? Naaaaah, not yet. X3

As far as reading is concerned, on Friday a coworker (who I will miss!) gifted me with "Monkey", Arthur Waley's translation of Journey to the West after I mentioned to her that I was looking for it. I'm already halfway through it. ^_^ It's every bit as addictive as I've always heard it touted as. As far as the translation is concerned, Waley's definitely crafty with the dialogue--I can hear in my head as I'm reading how so many of Sun Wukong's lines must have sounded in Chinese! XD Granted, the character names are so inconsistent inside my head. I hear "Sun Wukong" as "Sun Wukong" instead of Monkey King or Son Goku or anything else because that's how everyone I'd talk with in Chinese would make references to him. I hear "Xuanzang/Sanzang/Tripitaka" as "Sanzo" simply because his character in Saiyuki (which I never saw more than a little taste of) stuck with me so much (even though Sanzo is totally opposite of Sanzang!). "Zhu Bajie" I just hear as "Pigsy" (as written in this translation and because I always refer to him in my head as "the Pig"), and "Sha Wujing" I don't care about enough so in my head he's just "the other one."

Sun Wukong, Sanzo, Pigsy, and The Other One. Yup, that is my Xiyouji head-canon.

I've also secured translations of "Dream of Red Chamber" and "Water Margin" to read later on, so within this calendar year I'll make sure to have read all the four Chinese classics. Ya~y~~

Ah ha. And I'm still making progress on that Fushigi Yuugi fanfiction. In fact, last week I sorted out all the remaining big events that should happen and how they'll lead to a conclusion, and now I just have to write them all. It's already well past 200 pages and I expect it to reach around 350 at this rate.

*sulks* What... was... I... thinking...

I still want to finish it, and it's sort of become a separate head-canon of mine for in a few things had happened differently towards the end of the original. Because of the difference in length and style and approach versus the kinds of FY fanfiction I used to be so prolific writing (and because of how differently I see Fushigi Yuugi now than when I first got into it--it's hardly recognizable now!), I can't guess what kind of readership or reception it would enjoy. In fact, I'd be surprised if anyone even reads all of it! XDD Nevertheless, I won't start posting until I've written it to the end. As much as I've enjoyed writing for my own pleasure, I have to admit that getting lauding reviews again would feel pretty nice. ^^ Heck, just because it's so long, I'd probably break my own "once-a-week" update habits and update every three days or something. I like emotionally manipulating my readers with cliffhangers, though, so I'd probably wouldn't but up chapters any faster than that. ^__^ Ah heck, I might need to break my old chapter length patterns, too, even if it means sacrificing some of my cliffhangers.

Still, after watching so much kung fu and finally following through on Saiunkoku, I feel there are such glaring errors in how I write the Konan court. ^^;;;; Granted, I write it more so to follow the characters and most of their development happens outside the court, so to an extent I just need a very tolerant court. Lately I'm having them crack their whips more (ha!), but as I edit it and get it ready for posting, I might need to make some adjustments so that they still have reason to be there for the first... what... THOUSAND PAGES!?!? Geez, that's what it's feeling like. At least I'm back to a point at which I can write a few chapters' worth in a single sitting. Finishing this before moving to Japan still looks doable, and I might start posting it once I'm settled in and have figured out when I'll have time for pre-post editing.

Oh geez. If I get placed in Konan (because I've totally seen road signs in Gifu pointing to it!), it would be so funny to post this fanfiction from there. XDDDD Yes, I know, I'm such a dork.

Anyway. I've been in love with the Saiunkoku characters almost since the anime came out, and now I love them even more. I'm taken on some Don Quixote-like efforts at work while I'm still there for a little while, and Kou Shuurei is sort of my motivation. Guhhh, sometimes I wish I could be her! You know, while I'm not wishing for a Dark Spore (Digimon) or to be a Blade Child (Spiral) or the like. At least Shuurei has more integrity.

Well, tomorrow is Monday! Off I go~!

I feel all antsy now that all I can do on my manga is wait for it (and hope it gets here on time). So I'm able to get to some other stuff I had been putting off!

LIKE FANFICTION. Geez, writing this AU Fushigi Yuugi fic is feeling more like writing a novel (especially since, aside from a short stint early last year, I've been rusty for a few years). Definitely seeing the kung fu and Saiunkoku influences on my style in this one (and Babar XDDD). Anyway. Yeah. I wrote more yesterday. HURRAY FOR THE PLOT PROGRESSING!! Although I've just tossed them into the kinds of arcs that are the worst for me. Eeek.

Aaaaand I did most of the coloring for the coloring contest for my friend's party (two more weeks!). COLORING FOR THE SAKE OF COLORING, YAAAAAAY!!! Of course, I'm not feeling super creative with my color choices because I drew the darn thing and had to go through several drafts to get it right this year. My friend is a little obsessed with Black Rock Shooter, so we wanted to get her other self right (it doesn't help that we're both perfectionists!). Because every time I look at it all I see is her instead of just fun and exciting lineart, I wanted to stick with colors that make me think of her. I've seen what some other people have done with it so far, and I am highly impressed! They are so creative with their color choices and styles and what they add to it!

I love seeing the results of the coloring contest every year and how one picture can have so many interpretations. Example behind the cut! I rather love this snapshot someone took at the 2010 party. Yes, the theme I was given to draw that year was "something traditional: a mermaid in a kimono." XDD

( Appa and the Mermaids! )

I think I'm going to feel a little empty after the party (again), because I'm so excited for it. It's going to be so packed this year! Also very pleased I get to hang out the night before and help get the place ready. It'll be like I get a 45 hour party this year instead of just a 24 hour party. *tears of joy* Seeing as this might be my last one, I... I... *cries*

And I got my once-a-week(ish) episode of Persona 4 this morning. Yes, I admit it. I am a total Naoto fangirl, so sue me. Naoto is like a mix of Yuki Sohma, Ken Ichijoji, and Oscar François de Jarjayes---hard-boiled detective style! *glitter* The other characters and their sim-like antics still me make happy, too. Eeee, next week's episode should be fun, too. Filler, filler, filler, filler, filler. Whatever. I'm caring less and less about the plot anyway (and the personas are getting uglier and uglier).

Ah, and now that my sisters are done with Magic Knights Rayearth and I'm done with the final push on my manga, I suppose we'll continue on Saiunkoku this week. That is, while they aren't busy on Digimon. My little siblings are in the process of watching Tamers now (in Japanese, even the ones who can't keep up with the subtitles yet!). It makes me well up with so much glee when they're playing Digimon. D'aaaawwwwwwwwww. *melts*

Ah, and speaking of little siblings and art, my 11 and 13 year old sisters are so much better at drawing in anime style (or any style) than I was at their age. o__o;;; I have mixed feelings about this. I'm proud of them and very impressed, but is it bad that I feel threatened? Haha... ha... it's their destiny to surpass me. *cries* Must... be... supportive... and not... jealous... *shakes fist*

...:D And... um... gee, what else?

...um... yeah, I guess that's it for now. HAVE AN AWESOME WEEK, EVERYONE.

I get more Persona 4 next weekend, yaaaaaay!

And now for something completely different (or not), I have some videos of non-Japanese people singing in Japanese about Japan(ish). This is something I'm looking forward to about JET that I got to experience while I was at Gaidai--hanging out not just with Japanese people, but with fellow gaikokujin who just plain love Japan like I do.

First up, my favorite, a song from Nice Guy Jin. I heard a rumor that one of the band members is Weird Al's cousin. This is a student-made video, it looks like, so they added some dialog portions, but at least they subtitled the song. Hat-tip to shoorihoshi for this and so many other great songs!!



Second, which I posted a little while ago, an Indian singer named Chadha singing encouragement for Japan, Bollywood style. Also a hat-tip to shoorihoshi, I saw this when either you or Gaeta-san had posted it to the other.



Finally, a more simple song from a couple of Korean guys, DOZ, that speaks for itself and likely needs no translation. Hat-tip to crsg for this one.



Does anyone have any more to add to my collection? ^_^ Arigatou gojaimasu!

Made a preview pic with some of the title page art to put on Facebook, and I'm posting it here because it's like, "YAY, COLOR!!!"

( I have a thing for characters with deep red hair )

All I need to do now before I start uploading it to print is produce the front/back covers (hopefully I'll do that today...), and then add text to the 31-pager and get the files print-ready. I had been holding off on this, though, because... erm... I've got a story with a king, but his kingdom has no name.

So... any suggestions!??

As a little more background, I came up with the characters for this premise five years ago when I girl at met at community college said she wanted to try writing a story together. We had fun playing around with it, and then when parting ways at the end of the semester, we both gave each other permission to do whatever we wanted with it. I only poked at here and there until about two years ago, when suddenly I had the whole plot unfold in my head and flesh itself out with elements we thought of then but had no real way of incorporating. The particular short story getting printed could be considered an omake or a set-up chapter to that story, and the characters included in that one are all of my own design. Still, I had no name for the kingdom, so I tracked down the girl who helped me come up with it and asked if she had any suggestions, and so far... none.

As for what I want in this kingdom's name, I want it to be somewhat earthy sounding. Some character names for this world include Rahs, Ten, Mel, Leisa, Kiro, Katan, Harin, Mar, etc.

So yeah a little help plz. >.<;;

Oh. Totally forgot to mention I finish reading LianChengJue (I am victorious!!! Though I'd prefer continuing to watch live-action remakes for my kung-fu dose instead!), and it's Sunday, so yaaaay more Persona4 for me. But first, I've got tofu to go cook with. // Geez, Persona 4, feeling sappy enough yet? Naoto-kun was barely in this episode. *sob*

20 copies of my manga are spoken for since I made a couple posts yesterday. *glitter* Wow, I feel loved.

And things went very, very well with my boss today. He was surprisingly calm, partly because I think he was shell-shocked, and partly because I was shaking I was so nervous. Not sure yet when the others will find out and how long he'll still have me working, but it was a relief. And after he kept everyone around in a company meeting until 6pm on a Friday when the office culture typically means people leave pretty early on Fridays, I certainly didn't feel guilty anymore.

OKAY! Now that I have my weekend, I have covers to work on!! ROOOAAARRRR!!!

Yup. Still planning on quitting tomorrow. Wish me luck.

Anyway. I've mentioned it here and there for the past six months, and I'm am pleased to announce that I am going to print my first self-published manga very soon. I don't have any immediate plans to put it online, so this might be your only(!) chance to order a copy if you want to see them.

No pressure--I just want to know now so I can make sure to print enough copies. I do ask for about $5USD + shipping to offset my costs(I won't be profiting, I can tell you that much! I just want to share it with people who have wanted to see what I could do!). PayPal preferable, and perhaps currency is negotiable if you can get me something in Japanese yen. XD I'm willing to be flexible, I just need to know ahead of time how many copies I should plan on, because I don't foresee a second printing.

This book, "...but I won't tell you so", will be about 75 pages and feature three short stories. ( Previews here! )

yoroshiku~

...time to stop this train. -__- My conscience will not allow things to keep going on like this, even if it means I'll forego a few paychecks. This Friday (if I can push it out that long) I will tell my boss I'm quitting, and I don't think he or anybody else is going to be very pleased.

For what it's worth, I have a sparkling reputation among a group of professionals in Silicon Valley who I've never met.

._.

*sigh*

Forget waiting. I'm gonna go watch more Persona 4 now, kthxbai. // Oh Persona, I knew you were going to make the next episode plenty sappy and not deliver on the amount of angst we got in the previous episode. Still, I feel like I have more Oscar or something. (Kanji = Andre.) Oh Naoto-kun, you know you found that love letter amusing, you silly child.

Phew. Okay. Doing a little better now. I'll do my best.

Watched my episode of Persona 4 this week, and D'OOHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH NAOTOOOOO!!!!! D: I HAD NO FLIPPIN' IDEA BUT IT'S AWESOME!

Plot-wise, this isn't the most amazing anime ever, but it's forgivable since I spent a weekend back in October playing and playing and playing it, so it's kind of like I get to just enjoy the plot of the game without having to spent a bunch of time on frustrating battles. If anything, it's funny how so much more of the anime is devoted to the Inaba antics of the group and the battles are very brief--totally opposite! Sure, they have Persona, but no one cares about that, right? XD

So I'm not in this for plot, but I'm sure in it for characters. The point is to have them be multidimensional, and that's all fine and good, sure, but they inevitably become very well established for their traits. That being said, I still like seeing how well they progress and play off of each other (though Kuma has gotten on my nerves). Yukiko and Rise made me all kinds of gleeful last week, but now it's fun to be all wrapped up in Naoto. XD Too cool Naoto, d'awww. There's still, like, nine whole episodes left and I don't know what the driving plot force would be behind it (considering many of the previous episodes felt more like filler), so I'd be happy to see Naoto's arc go on for another two episodes instead of one. Naoto's gotta be a hard one, right?? No more of this two-shadows-in-one-episode stuff, pleeeease!

Phew. Anyway! ^__^ I'll get more next weekend! And if things go according to plan, I'll finish this in time for my last week at work... except there's a chance I'll need to inform my boss about JET tomorrow if things keep going in this direction. o__o;; I didn't want to say anything for another four or five weeks, and I do not think they're going to be happy. *sweatbead* It's like, things have gotten a little out-of-hand over the past couple weeks about wanting to promote me and stuff, which normally would be a good thing, but... yeah. My conscience won't allow things to get to that point. ._.

Waaaaahhhhh I get more Persona 4 next weekend, yaaaaaaaaaaaaaay.

EDIT: Hey, I remember this feeling. This was the "OMGOSH I CAN'T WAIT FOR NEXT WEEK SO I CAN WATCH MORE BUT IN THE MEANTIME I WANT TO WATCH THIS OVER AND OVER" feeling that I used to have while watching Digimon and Fushigi Yuugi. Except, you know, I have all the episodes at my fingertips. But geez, that's a kind of scene I love--when somebody cool gets in completely over their head and loses it--and when voiced by Paku Romi, even better. <3