And the one for my flist is in a previous post, but here's the, uh, serious post for potential orders:

Orders for custom g4u Tokyo Dome Photobooks can be placed here.

Books are 32p full-color books bound with a hard cover.

Orders received: 9/40

( Details for interested parties are under here )

Leverage season 1 was dropped off to keep me entertained while I curl up on my couch in misery (which is actually fading pretty quickly. I imagine I'll be able to move again come tomorrow if it continues at this rate, last night notwithstanding).

I am reminded that I have a massive crush on Christian Kane. Only on episode three, but I have a feeling Eliot will outstrip Lindsey Mcdonald in another 2 or so. Because Lindsey was a thousand kinds of evilly fucked up, but Eliot...is adorable. That's really the only word for it. >.>;

Anyone know if the show stays good? I like that it's entirely cheesy, and sometimes downright hammy, but the characters and their dynamics are fun (well, the heroes. The villains are kinda silly) and there is actually enough drama to keep it engaging. I like fun shows.

My subconscious got in on the fever act tonight. It was spiking dangerously high despite the anti-fever medications I'd been given, and I was sort of in a state of non-movement.

Then? I started to dream/imagine that I was something like the Hulk, and if I allowed my body temperature to get above 42 degrees I would turn into a raging monster that would destroy the city, starting with my kids. For some reason this was do the the effects of medical experimentation by Jonathan Crane, but that can be blamed on my watching Batman Begins earlier in the day Cillian Murphy is so fucking PRETTY. The rest really can't.

Now, either through coincidence or a very nicely done power of suggestion on my brain's part, I am back to a temperature which doesn't terrify me. So I guess none of you get to read about a hellbeast that rampaged through southern Honshu in Japan. ^_^v

Edit: Also, Cracked video sketches are usually either brain-numbingly dull or brain-meltingly offensive, but this one made me giggle. I thought it was quite clever.

After being shuffled worriedly into the quarantine area, having a swab shoved so far up my nose I think it poked my brain, and having everyone come to me so I wouldn't be near ANYONE, they have reached a conclusion:

oink.

Slap a corkscrew tail on me and call me SHINee, according to transitorial Babe.

I think I need a Shine icon or two. Just so I can confuse people not in the know even more with my cryptic comments about the force of nature and the kitten(who really needs to learn that EVERYONE likes Jinsung and he's really got no choice in the matter) it. Wait...I mean have a contextual icon when I talk about it! Yes. Totally that. Godverse icon would be fun too, but bloody!Jae serves reasonably enough there.

Any ideas, those of you IN the know? ^^;

>Plague, have you come up with a punchline to that joke yet? I will be annoyed if I have to wait until you're on your deathbed.

corellianrogue tagged me to do this when I could breathe. Since I have bronchitis again, that's not going to be for a while, so I might as well just do it now. ^_^;


FIRST: If you've been tagged, you must write your answers in your own LJ and replace any question that you dislike with a new, original question.
SECOND: Tag eight sexy people. Don't refuse to do that like a pansy.

( questionnaire-type meme under here )

I am not a pussy. I just don't know who to tag, especially since my damn boyfriend took up most of the people I would choose, but here goes: taichara, saanrio, gaurweth, kakeochi_umai, winged_kame, xaevyn, bearfuzz...ummm...*picks a random number out of a hat*...transitorial. Double tagged. Oh well.

Just typed "Leeteuk" instead of "Leekang". Twice. Only a handful (2?) of the people on my flist actually know the exact hoshit-details of this, but, in a nutshell: Leeteuk is the leader of Korean boyband Super Junior. Leekang is an 18 year old OC male prostitute whose greatest accomplishment in life so far has been to be a plot device.

I am upset with my brain.

Small children reenacting Native American history. It makes me laugh and die a little inside at the same time.

That hurt my heart.

A lot. Probably hurt less to have it ripped out Temple of Doom style.

I was half-dragged, half-convinced to go see the live-action Kaiji movie today, since it was lady's day at the theater and therefore quite a lot cheaper.

For those of you who don't know, Kaiji is a manga/anime about a young man who is way, way down on his luck, and gets roped into a sink-or-swim game where you either lose what little you have, or win everything. It is fairly enjoyable. There is violence. Terrible things happen as the characters gamble for their right to be people.

And after the manga, and then the anime, there is now a movie and...

...I won't lie. It was not good. It had really good points. But they were lost in a huge amount of exposition and babbling. The climax consisted of a close-shot on the face the main villain as he had a 20-minute monologue about whether Kaiji had marked a card in the deck in order to trick him. The middle action sequence was largely two characters talking while dramatic music played. There was JUST enough to keep me from being bored unlike The Good, The Bad, The Weird, where I couldn't have been bored if I'd tried.

There was also a random sex change for one of the characters, who was played by a women in the movie and yet was male in both the anime and manga. Just a random sex change so there could be a female lead. It did not, thankfully, lead to romance (although the relationship was changed CONSIDERABLY as well as the character's role). Which is something I'm starting to enjoy about Asian movies. They still seem to get that you can actually do things without sex and kissing and people falling head over heels. Like goddamn Hellsing, which was a decent movie right up until they decided the male and female leads had to fall in love, and added a romance which had all the subtlety of a anvil to the face.

Also keeping me from being bored was the mild overacting, which I've come to enjoy after all my time in Japan. It's just a part of how stuff is made here, from what I can tell. And after I stopped rolling my eyes after a year or two, I've come to be entertained by it

And, of course, Tatsuya Fujiwara. Who really looked absolutely nothing like the way I'd picture a realistic-looking Kaiji, but I've rather had a crush on him since I first saw Battle Royale (and I still think that if I ever completely lose it, my final attempt at finding myself shall be to run to the top of a lighthouse and scream "I don't understand ANYTHING" at the top of my lungs). He's sweet and adorable and I was so very confused when he was cast as Light Yagami, but even that wasn't that bad.

So...yeah. I don't recommend the movie. I have never seen so much exposition that results in so little character development. But it wasn't torture, either.

And I still love Fujiwara Tatsuya dearly.

Today, I had to deal with a fifth grade teacher repeatedly using "please
sixty-nine" despite my many covert attempts to correct him. As a pervert, I
found it very hard to keep a straight face. ^^;

God damn. I knew I was going to have an observation class on January 19th involving people from Tokyo. That was a bit confusing, but for the most part I figure it's for the best if I just act the same in demo lessons as I do in normal ones. The kids and teachers are used to me, so it just makes sense to do that.

Today, I learned the details. They are entirely terrifying and unpleasant and I want chocolate.

100 people from schools around Yamaguchi prefecture. Teachers, mostly. That's a scarily huge amount but, again, I see no reason not to act normal. HOWEVER...the head of education in Yamaguchi prefecture, and a delegation from the fucking NATIONAL BOARD OF EDUCATION in Tokyo are also coming.

This is...really fucking scary. Why the hell did they decide to come to my little school in Yamaguchi prefecture? OhmyfuckinggodTERRIFIED. I'm literally shaking from the idea of it.

And it's two months away. oO;

(xposted to BtN without the part where I want to run away screaming)

Argh. First Letmestranglehim-sensei makes his OWN students cry, and now he made some of my best kids go all o.O and stop talking for half the class. Honestly, I know I get combative sometimes, but...GRRRR.

Seriously, this class is one of the most amazing I have. The teacher is awesome, the kids are great. They mess about, but within the confines of the lesson. For example, we had a roleplay where I was a shopkeep in a clothing store (there was a picture) and they were the customers. They were to come up to me as ask "do you have ___________" so they would come up to me and ask for ridiculous things like the green sofa in the corner and the pink curtains of the dressing room. So they fuck about, but they're using the English and, really, that's all I ask for. They're energetic and willing and sweet. And the sensei is pretty much the same way, so we're all good.

So, today, the class taught by the infuriating sensei was absent due to flu, so he decided to come watch my forth-period class. Fine. Whatever. I have no problems with teacher's watching if they're interested.

I DO have problems with them making fun of my student's pronunciation, especially when they're getting it RIGHT. We do weird things in most of the classes, because the Eigo Noto makes no time for phonics or pronunciation, so I have them exaggerate mouth movements and sounds greatly. For V, I have them gnaw on their lips, with words ending in T they're practically spitting. For plurals it's a really emphatic ZU rather than simply the S sound. The theory behind this is that they start to forget, it will begin to sound correct. I do it across the board. Except with his class because he doesn't let the kids. He makes me demonstrate the exaggerated movements, then yells at them when they try to repeat them. I have explained my theory to all the teachers individually, and everyone but him seems to agree. But that's beside the point. The point was he stood their, and if they got the slightest thing wrong, started making fun of them.

He also started using all sorts of English that they don't know (incorrectly, I may add). Something that he doesn't do in his OWN class. No, he speaks all Japanese to them, except when he's forcing them to be completely perfect. Now, my classes are all slightly different in level. My general theory (once again, agreed on with the various teachers) is that we try to speak a bit more English than the kids themselves know. That way, they can understand by picking out the words they know, and maybe add some vocab or recognize it later on. It's tough sometimes to know who is where, but most of my HRTs have a system.

And he comes in, confuses my wonderful kids, and proceeds to make fun of them, almost to a child. In instances where their English is better than his, even.

So now not only is he crushign the spirits of his own students, but he's ruining some of the ones that actually enjoy English. I want to throttle him. So badly.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I also think I was caught by the actual HRT of the classing as I muttered "fucking shut up!" at the blackboard. But she didn't say anything, so either she didn't understand, she agreed, or she was keeping it private to mention later

Ok, usually I am firmly against stalkerpics in fandom. There is no reason to be following idols around when they're just living their lives, on private trips with their families, going through solemn ceremonies, etc. Hell, even airport pics rub me the wrong way, and I suppose technically those could loosely be considered related to public activities. Loosely.

And, yet...I can't help but be relieved by the recent picture of Changmin in the grocery store, since it means SME is probably letting him live a life instead of putting him under house arrest or something to make sure their remaining two members don't somehow fuck up. They'll be rested for those Japanese appearances, assuming Avex isn't simply, uh, failing to mention that they're all not coming.

The fact that the person posting the image also knew every item the boy bought while in said grocery store, however, returns me to the land of pissed off. Grargh.

Well.

I am now back on the previous dose of tegretol, after an interesting stint of side-effects from the upped dose including, but not limited to, basically going blind (I lost all ability to see features or edges, leaving the world looking something like a preschool finger-painting. Twice over, at that, because I was seeing double too), and being unable to get out of bed for more than an hour.

The latter being why I haven't been around. I have been home. Some time the time I'Ve been awake. I haven't had the energy to move. I still don't, really. I spent 60 of the last 72 hours asleep. Not that this is very different from usual. I spend very little of my time conscious anymore.

The problem with having an OC that's a force of nature is that every time he shows up everyone, even the main characters, are sort of exiled into a secondary role. It's kind of frustrating. ^^;

It also puts the muse in the wrong hands, so the writing becomes a downright mess when I'm trying to place the scene back where it belongs.

Don't even think there is such a thing but...really, conservatives, and liberals too, and all that...is it really that horrible for a man to show respect for another nation's culture? I mean, if you notice, Emperor Akihito is indeed shaking the president's hand, so it is reciprocal.

He is considerably the younger in that situation. If you're going to say that America is better because we have a democracy and a democratic ruler is automatically more respectable than a monarch, then that is cancelled out in this case by the fact that the Japanese emperor is now fundamentally powerless, simply a figure(although not in the similar spaz over the Saudi king). If you don't ignore that, then Obama is much newer to the whole world of being the leader of a country, so Emperor Akihito is the senior. I don't see why Obama shouldn't bow. I personally find Dick Cheney's method of towering approach insulting and imposing.

I would be much obliged if someone could explain it to me. And not with a baseless "America should never bow to kings or emperors" argument. Sure, if it were a dictator during a time of abuse of power, that would be one thing. This is an elderly powerless gentleman who has generally been well-received both internationally and domestically. So if you're going to take that stance, please give me an actual explanation.

...actually, come to think of it, it might be beneficial to bow in a situation with a murderous dictator as well. You know, make them willing to listen rather than be offended at the first meeting. I would be a bit more WTF were that the case, but it might not be a bad thing. Showing respect for someone's culture does not automatically mean you're kowtowing to the individual.

I basically slept for 48 hours straight, with brief moments of lucidity. Fun.

I hate my body sometimes.

Ok. Don't really have thoughts about the cancellation but...two things:

1. Honestly, could SME be acting any more childish? This is ridiculous. They've canceled concerts before, for less, and not felt the need to give a reason at all. The finger-pointing on the official statement of cancellation couldn't possibly have been more juvenile if they were actually in grade school. I thought it was their performers that were just kids, not the board.

2. Fandom. it's really doing quite well with the finger-pointing. More of them aren't taking sides with the 2-3 split than are. Those of them that are can go fuck themselves. They all need to remember at this point, however, that even what the three think at this point doesn't actually matter all that much in the dealings. Unless Korea is very different, you sort of put yourself at the mercy of your own lawyer during proceedings like this. Sure, it's possible to over-rule, but it's generally considered a VBI.

*sighs* And now I go back to waiting. Even though I'm pretty sure this is going to end so very badly. I refuse to believe that, though. Another thing DBSK has done. Turned me into Gollum. "Nooo, must trust the booooys, precciiooouus," "SHUT UP! BOYS ARE FUCKED!!!" "Noooo, preciiooooouuss boys. Must have faith" ^^;

Over. Finally. So tired, still. So much to do still, but at least the hardest parts that involve going places are over.

First, while I was at the hospital waiting a kid let me play with their PSP. Dissida. Is it my imagination, or is Firion...entirely gay? I don't like throwing that word around, but in this case I think it might actually be true. Oh my GOD, the boy is ridiculous. He's got a few points on Kuja.

Anyway, onto the stuff that happened:

Finished with 27 of my 30 classes for the week, and went to get my EEG (and several other tests to various parts of my body) done on Friday, as ordered by my doctor. The reading was...worse than the last time I did one, actually. Four spikes in the half-hour period as opposed to one.

However, about 10 minutes into that period I also had something of a panic attack and
spent the last 20 digging holes into my palms with my non-existent fingernails, and wondering how the fuck I was supposed to hyperventilate for that part when I already was. Apparently the hospital phobia that was formed when I was seven is still there. Well, I knew it was, seeing how I twitch and want to scream every time I walk into one, but apparently it's still strong enough that although I mostly remain twitchy and can pretend I don't actually want to run off screaming, once I'm directed underground into a badly-lit, narrow, dead-end hallway and then into a tiny room, it switches back on full-force. I'd also taught four classes between 8-11:30, and then had to dash to the bus stop so I could have the EEG done at noon,then a 2pm doctor's appointment, then a blood and heart test after that. 3.5 hours at work, 5+ hours at the hospital. Fun day. Also, apparently in addition to the blurred vision, tegretol + reallyreallyreallyfast strobe lights can lead to nausea. So I was panicking and nauseous.

All this torture to have my doctor tell me that my blood levels were ok (he wanted his own readings. Didn't trust Dr Bridgman's this time) and that I was still having brain spikes at could lead to potential seizures. Both of which I already knew. "I'm sorry, you haven't outgrown your seizures when nothing has changed recently in your life" isn't exactly surprising news. My next potential point for growing it out is pregnancy, and that's not going to happen for a very long while if ever. Although my mother joked that I should get pregnant just long enough for the major hormone changes to occur, then abort.

The Saturday classes were interesting, although I am always fascinated by my body's ability to ignore things when it must (even if it does occasionally lead to me getting pneumonia). My teachers never believe I don't feel well because I'm still so bouncy in classes. Hell, half the time I don't believe it. Had to teach one of the lessons I hate the most out of the book so hard. Gairaigo/loan words, ie, words that the Japanese language didn't have so they borrowed them and created their own pronunciations. Things like television becoming terebi, etc. Now, the thing I hate most about it in terms of the kids is that there are certain words like "glove" for baseball glove. The Japanese language doesn't have a 'v' sound to be found, and it gets replaced with 'b'. Do they ever explain this or do activities to help the kids just hear the difference? Nope, just assume the kids can, and have games ASSUMING they can. -_-# Then, on my side of personal pet peeves, there's the goddamn tomato. The Japanese use the Toe-Ma-Toe pronunciation, but they feel quite assured that the English pronunciation is Toe-MAY-Toe. Now, Mainers use the latter, but I'm smart enough to know that both exist. Hell, a shitload more of the word uses the former. But, NOOOO, I'm required to teach the May version. It annoys the fuck out of me, because both are fine. Fuck, there's a goddamn SONG about about. But that's just my personal pet peeve.

Anyway, off to prepare for the major presentations I have on Thursday and Friday. My body hurts all over from the medical tests. I'm not sure why, but I haven't really been able to move properly, except in class, since I finished with them. It's not like they involved spinal taps or anything.