Date: 2009-05-01 17:14 Subject: Annotated Novels Security: Public

My new thrill. I'm reading The Secret Garden, Dracula, Alice in Wonderland, and The Brothers Grimm with prett pictures and annotation. Pure bliss!

Date: 2009-04-26 12:28 Subject: I want this wallpaper Security: Public

It's from Anthropologie.com

I've been eye-ing it for months, but it hasn't gone on sale yet. Soooo cute....

http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=860077&navAction=jump&search=true&parentid=SEARCH_RESULTS

Date: 2009-04-25 09:33 Subject: Barley Breakfast Security: Public

Love waking up to barely that's been cooked in my rice steamer. 1 cup barely to 3 cups water. Add some soy milk and strawberries (they're just coming into season here, so they look kind of funny, but taste great!) and it's yummy. One thing I especailly like about barely is it stays moist even after being stored for a few days. So I can make a big batch and eat it for the rest of the week.

Date: 2009-01-01 12:36 Subject: Happy New Year! Security: Public

Well I kicked off the New Year by ordering the complete Kanon series. I've wanted it for a long time now, after seeing how great Air was, and decided to go ahead and splurge. Rice and beans for the next few weeks now. ^_^

I didn't quite clean everything before the New Year came, but I made a good dent. I'm going to make myself a vodka tonic and try to get the rest of the house done. It's so cold and grey outside, I just want to curl under the blankets. So hopefully two hours of cleaning and then I can kick back for the rest of the day.

Date: 2008-12-31 12:20 Subject: (no subject) Security: Public

More clean, clean, clean, clean...Must get ready for the New Year with a clean slate. ^_~

Date: 2008-12-31 08:46 Subject: New Year's Eve Security: Public

Clean, clean, clean, clean.

Date: 2008-12-29 06:26 Subject: Getting Ready for the New Year Security: Public

One tradition I really like is cleaning the house for the New Year. I like the idea of starting the year with a clean slate. Better get started...

Date: 2008-07-09 13:02 Subject: I Love Cooking! Security: Public

I'm off for summer vacation and I've been having so much fun cooking. Today I cooked Tilipia with a sweet pepper habenero sauce. Sooooooo good. I also made a salad with olives, sundried tomato, and feta cheese dressing.

I signed up for a "subscription" to a local organic farm. Starting next Friday, I'm going to pick up a box of what they grow every week. I'm so excited and can't wait to see what I get. There isn't a fruit or vegetable that I don't like and fresh, grown food is fantastic.

I've also been cleaning and running. I slacked off a bit on the weight training this week because things keep popping up. Real things. Like this morning I took my sister's cat to the vet because it was really sick. My sister isn't on summer break, so I was happy to help her out. But that cut into my work out time.

I still managed to run 2 miles though. The air quality is bad in California right now because of all the fires. I feel bad for the firefighters, animals, plants, and people whose lives are being turned upside-down. I hope the fires go out for all their sakes and of course, it would be nice to have clean air to run in.

Date: 2008-06-25 07:58 Subject: finished YYH Security: Public

I finished re-watching Yu Yu Hakusho yesterday. I'd only ever watched a really crapped bootleg version years ago, but I still loved it. It's so much better with grammatically correct subtitles. Although one thing that still stucked is that Funimation had dubtitles until around episode 60. I have nothing against dubbing or dubtitles, but I'm so glad that nowdays we get subtitles too. You get more of the nuances that way.

YYH is probably one of my favorite series. I love how it starts out with the death of a hero and the twists and turns the story takes. It's not necessarily the deepest show out there, but I think it's pretty creative and I really love the characters.

Okay, I've got to do some major cleaning today. Here I go...

Date: 2008-06-24 10:34 Subject: Golion is Here! Security: Public

I got Golion volume 1 yesterday. At last!!! For 20+ years I've wanted to see the unedited, uncut Voltron. It's like being able to go behind the scenes at Disneyland or take a peak at the original version of Wuthering Heights. Of course, Golion is not a masterpiece. I don't even know if it's good. But Voltron was the first anime I ever saw and it really made an impact on me. Sure, it's crappy, but it was the first time where I saw a cartoon series that played out more like a novel than unrelated episodic bits. I was hooked and still am. After all, I make a living off the stuff. ふふふ

Date: 2008-06-22 12:47 Subject: Bird Without Wings Security: Public

Finished the book this morning. Not on my top ten list, but a good read. I learned a lot about Turkey and Greece. I'm not sure what to read next. For some reason Murakami is a summer author to me, so maybe Blind Woman, Sleeping Willow. If only I could inject books into my veins. Sigh.

Date: 2008-06-22 08:28 Subject: A Good Run! Security: Public

I used to run all the time. I even trained for and ran marathons. I stopped because I got injured when a stupid car hit me on my bike. Luckily my injuries healed, but I didn't quite get back into the swing of things. Partially because I got pregnant afterwards and then had my darling son. I still walked everyday, but it was too hard to run when I was pregnant and you aren't supposed to run with babies until they turn one year old. They don't have the stability to brace themselves against bumps and turns, even in a jogging stroller.

DS is old enough to run and so DS, dear dog, and myself are running. I've been seriously at it for a month now. I had my first long run in years this morning. We jogged over to the next subdivision and went to the duck pond. The run was about 6 1/2 miles. The good thing is I know I can go farther next week. I love the feeling I get when I run. Endorphins!!!!

DS is so proud that I run. When we go he says, "Momma runs," and smiles. I have to say that it's pretty motivational.

God bless whoever invented the jogging stroller.

Date: 2008-06-21 16:30 Subject: Celery and Raspberries and Basil Vodka Gimlet Security: Public

I love all the fresh summer fruit. The raspberries are especially yummy right now.

It's strange, I've got a real hankering for celery lately. Maybe it's in season too? It just tastes so good.

I'm still trying to perfect the Basil Vodka Gimlet.

Date: 2008-06-17 13:56 Subject: First Day of Summer Security: Public

Technically my summer vacation should have started on Friday, but my darling son got really sick on Thursday. He had a febrile seizure, which is scary, but the good news is he will outgrow it and there's no permanent damage.

Today's the first day I've had "off".

1. I finished Boys Over Flowers. It is crack. I was so addicted. I dragged its heels a little bit at the end for me, but the conclusion really surprised me.

2. Watermelon is delicious right now.

3. I'm up to volume 18 in HunterxHunter. I only have up to 19. I'm really pleased that the Greed Island arc ended. Not that it was terrible, but I was scared the story would get hung up on stupid things like cards and points and lame magic tricks. I heard the next story arc, the Chimera, gets even more dark and violent. I'm kinda scared that the series won't end given its history.

4. I'm trying hard to clean.

5. I want to draw today, but I'm running out of time before I have to pick up DS from daycare.

6. I went running this morning, but didn't lift weights. I'll get back to that tomorrow. I can tell that my body's been under a lot of stress these past few weeks.

7. I'm thinking about starting Card Captor Sakura next. Then again, I don't know if I want to take a bite out of another big series so soon. I really need to watch some other shows too. Ah, so much anime, so little time.

Date: 2008-06-09 20:40 Subject: Summer Vacation Goals - 2008 Security: Public

1. Clean the house
2. Lift weights 3 times a week
3. Run 3 times a week
4. Eat at least 5 fruits and veggies a day
5. Cut back on the diet soda
6. Finish/Get Up to Date on...
* Monster
* Berserk
* Gankutsuo
* Le Chavelier D'eon
* Boys Over Flowers
* YYH
* HxH
* Kimagure Orange Road
* Simoun
* Buddha
* Fafner
* Beck
7. Draw more
8. Drink vodka tonic
9. Practice my Japanese

Date: 2008-03-18 10:26 Subject: Mushishi and Lonesome Dove Security: Public

Finished the Mushishi anime series in less than 24 hours. That's saying a lot when you're raising a toddler. What a fantastic show.

Also finished Lonesome Dove a few weeks ago. Definitely deserved the Pulitzer. There's a lot of deep stuff about the ending that I wish I could talk to someone about. Oh well.

I'm listening to Wuthering Heights. Fantastic narrators. I read the novel quite a few times when I was younger. Another masterpiece.

With so many crummy things going on right now, I feel lucky to at least have fantastic stories to help comfort me.

Date: 2008-03-02 08:00 Subject: Things Security: Public

Things I've appreciated during the past few weeks:

* Prismacolor Colored Pencils
* Le Mysterie Bra
* Drawing - I'm doing an awful lot of it lately
* They Were Eleven
* Black Blood Brothers - not a masterpiece, but I do love vampire stories
* Genshiken manga - I just finished it this week. Kind of a limp ending for such a great series, but I will miss those guys. I want to draw the picture of Madarame by the soda machine in volume 9
* Lonesome Dove - only 1 1/2 hours left to go and I'm done. Terrific writing
* Hellsing
* Amy Winehouse - still love that album
* Alive manga. Really like the illustrations
* Kaze no Yojimbo - just finished the series. Nothing earth shattering, but I'm glad I stuck through it. It was a nice change of pace
* Weather Report Girl - I could have done without the licking scenes, but the main character was so deliciously evil and funny

Okay, I'd better get back to work

Date: 2008-02-07 20:49 Subject: Ode to Kirihito Security: Public

Wow! Finished the manga today. I loooooooooooove Osamu Tezuka. I also got pictures of my poor child in cupid wings and a diaper. Oh he will have his revenge when he is older, but he looks so gosh darn cute. Still slowly working on YYH. I watched the whole series around six years ago and am revisiting it. I'm just about finished with the whole Dark Tournament Arc. Okay, I'm tired. Nighty night.

Date: 2008-02-05 08:31 Subject: Life is Good Security: Public

I took the day off, but I actually think I could have gone back to work today. But it seems like since I was in the emergency room a little over 24 hours ago, I should rest. I've got an unread copy of Osamu Tezuka's Ode to Kirihito and am watching Kaze no Yojimbo. Gosh, I love Tezuka! He really is a master storyteller. I actually just wrote Vertical a thank you email for all the great titles they publish. I like modern manga too, but there is something I really like about the vintage stuff. Those broad pen strokes, Disney-like bodies. . . magical. And of course, if someone still thinks it's worth publishing decades after it's been written, then it must be good. Kaze no Yojimbo - I don't think it's going to be a masterpiece, but I like it's slow, small-town mystery storytelling. I also like how the art director is the same one who did the first Saiyuki series. There are some "tricks" that he does, that I really like. They're actually probably there to cut costs, but very effective.

I just discovered a new music group The Bird and the Bee. I'll have to get the album, but I've already spent my budget for the month. Rightstuf had a great sale on ADV films and also Dark Horse publishing. I got the Hellsing series. I really like the art and want to try and draw some of his characters. It's funny, the books are rated 13 plus, but there are quiet a few f-bombs and men threaten to rape, kill, and then re-rape women. Probably not appropriate to let my kids read. It's too bad, because I know they can get the series at the public library. Hmmmm. . . kids now days are not as phased by stuff like I would have been.

The doctor gave me some Vicodin to help with the pain. I took some and I must say I'm feeling a bit loopy right now. I wouldn't want to take the stuff everyday, but I do like the warm, fuzzy feeling it gives me. I've seen people who had to take pain killers on a daily basis and I know that they can really hurt you in the long run. But I'll enjoy the feeling for today. Ahhhh. . .

I'm laying in my bed with my cats curled up around me and my dog sleeping soundly below. Baby's in daycare and husband is at work. Although I love my family, I don't get days like this too often. It sure is nice. I know I should clean the house, etc. but I'm just going to enjoy every second and RELAX. Ahhhhhhh. . .

Date: 2008-02-04 16:08 Subject: WTF - Avenger Ending Security: Public

Warning - spoiler below. . .

I just don't get it. How could Nei have looked like anything BUT a girl during the entire show? I mean she wears a dress and has boobies in the closing credits. How was I supposed to think that she was gender neutral? Why does her eye change color? And why does Layla leave her? WTF?