Friday: 3-21-03 ~ Transformers... more than meets

There are times... I realize, that I associate myself with people like this:

National guardman changed his name to a toy

CUYAHOGA FALLS -- A member of Ohio's 5694th National Guard Unit in Mansfield legally changed his name to a Transformers toy.

Optimus Prime is heading out to the Middle East with his guard unit on Wednesday to provide fire protection for airfields under combat.





Friday: 3-21-03 ~ Genbu na no da!

Lookie, lookie what Tasuki no Miko threw into my inbox this morning: Fushigi Yuugi Genbu Kaiden. It appears that Watase Yuu finally found a publisher willing to allow her to revisit the world of Fushigi Yuugi, but this time focusing on the storyline behind the Genbu shichiseishi and their miko. I'm so stoked! I can't believe it! I wonder if this news has anything to do with the pants I just bought yesterday at Lane Bryant that had Suzaku embroidered on the one pant leg... hmmm

I know I've been a bit out of the loop lately, at least with communicating with others. School has had me positively frantic. I am working on a term paper involving globalization and transmigration for Indian transmigrants in the US and how their experiences effect their religious practices. (I'm specifically focusing on the Hindu practising Indians).

In the news for me... Dad finally bought me new speakers for my computer to replace my dying ones, a new external device in which I can upload my digital camera images through, a new 17inch flat screen monitor, and a computer chair (it's leather and has a massage function). I feel very spoiled at the moment! I'm monitorless at the moment, we got a trade in value on my old monitor (which was dying), and Paul only had 15inch monitors in stock, though he is receiving a shipment of newer ones today. Sadly, my parents won't be able to get my new monitor to me until sometime Saturday.

My Spring Break has been hectic. Work has continuously changed it's mind regarding our schedule for the week. My lab finalyl received the rest of its long overdue update. So we spent Tuesday and Wednesday removing the old machines, installing the new ones, cleaning, rolling chairs from one lab on the opposite side of campus to ours, etc. In a 3 day period our schedule was updated numerous times: 1) open M-F normal hours, 2) open M-F truncated hours (8-5), 3) 8-5 for T-Th, 4)8-5 for M-W, 5)8-5 for M-Tu, 6) and finally 8-5 T-Th. In addition to my lab's hours I also am picking up some extra hours in one of the other labs to help offset hours lost during the Ice Storm a few weeks back.

Today, after I finish up the shift I'm working, I will be meeting up with the anime club, and we're heading over to the Japanese Botanical Gardens to go flower watching and to enjoy a picnic lunch. Woohoo!

Birthday wishes are in order for this month, Seimei celebrated her birthday last week, Usagi celebrated hers earlier this week, and Tamyris celebrates hers this upcoming week.

Let's see what else is there to cover... ah yes! The war. Do I believe this world would be better without Sadaam Hussein? Heck yes. Do I agree necessarily with HOW our President is going about it? Not really. But irregardless about how I feel concerning that, at the very least I definitely support the troops who serve our country and put their lives in jeopardy. I don't think IRaq poses too much of a risk in this ongoing conflict, I'm far more concerned about the powder keg this may enflare amidst the Arab countries. I certainly cannot fault some of the anti-American sentiment.

I mean look at our nation's track record with foreign policy. One day we're supporting (Sadaam Hussein) and arming him and giving him weapons to overthrow someone else, and then a few years down the line we are doing the same thing, but now with a different ruler or we are trying to eliminate whoever we have recently helped. They see the US support of Israel against the Palestinians as dubious and hypocritical. Although I can understand that the Israeli's are in a hard spot, and are cracking down hard against disturbances and threats, at the same time their procedures are also greatly threatening those who are innocent among the Palestinians as well as turning others to the side of the terrorists. Tis a pity that as yet there doesn't seem to be any other choice excewpt for the Israeli's to do nothing, which does no good either. I do take it as a somewhat tentative and hopeful sign that the PLO went past Arafat's wishes and appointed their own Prime Minister.

Also in the event of current events, and the fact I *DO* live in Tornado Alley and have had 3 tornados pass closeby in the last 2 years, I realized that I hadn't told others how I would get word of my well-being across if I did not have access to my personal phone lines or the computer. Obviously my parents are my first contact, but they live nearby, and that is not the wisest of things. Because if it affects me it very well may involve and affect them as well. So for my family, I'd hit up my cousins and/or Aunt in Abilene, and if I could not reach Tamyris myself, have them reach her for me. That way she can post on her pita that I'm well. So let that be notice to everyone.



Friday: 3-7-03 ~ Da, Da, DA!

Three children of the Lord of Creatures--gods, men and demons lived w/ their father as students of sacred knowledge. After some time as students, the gods said to him: speak to us, sir. he uttered one syllable: Da and asked if they understood. They replied: We did understand. you said: Restrain yourselves (damyata). Then the men said to him: Speak to us, sir. He uttered one syllable: Da and asked if they understood. They replied: We did understand. you said: Give (datta). Then the demons said to him: Speak to us, sir. He uttered one syllable: Da and asked if they understood. They replied: We did understand. You said: be compassionate (dayadhvan). this is how the divine voice rolls in the thunder: Da, Da, Da. Restrain yourselves, give, be compassionate. One should practice this threefold command: Self-restraint, giving, compassion.

--Hindu story

In other news... I cleaned this week, and I mean *CLEANED*. I swept up the floors and vacuumed, mopped the bathroom and kitchen floors, scrubbed the walls and ceilings and doors to the cabinets, scrubbed the tub/shower, windex reflective surfaces, and scrubbed countertops in the kitchen and bathroom. I dusted and cleaned the windows in addition to doing my laundry, and laundering the smaller area rugs and the shower curtain. I also scrubbed down doors in an attempt o get rid of hand oil build up.

The end of the week is not looking as great though... although my hobbitie lass will be here this weekend in a Tolkien themed visit... the fun is being dampened by a bladder infection, the first one for me in over a decade. Bleh... thank goodnness there is now over the counter medicine to at least help with the symptoms if not the cause. It'll buy me some time until I can hhit the doctors.





Friday: 2-28-03 ~ Snow Days & Things

We actually had a rare occurence for the area this past week. Most of us had school and work closings due to inclement weather. Granted you can't really call them now days, the accumulation was primarily sleet (which is far more dangerous than snow). After a few hours the stuff had frozen so much we had an inch thick layer of ice in the parking lot. If I had ice skates, I probably would have gotten them out to play on the ice. Otherwise making it to my mailbox was fun. Even with my weight there was no crunchy walking sound-effects... silly how it's that which impresses me, ne?

Our government is beginning to irk me, why? CNN.com today had a news story up, how all airline passengers will be "coded" green, yellow, or red for boarding flights. They plan to keep the database effective for 50 + years. Now I'm sorry, but that invasion of privacy rankles. They cross check you against known terrorist cels, where your from, financial records, etc.

Do these idiots not know that a system is already in effect for the airlines to screen, by crosslisting passenger lists to the terrorist database, and verifying information provided on the ticket which is both used as ID and notificatin purposes in the case of emergency situations. I think they should simply be revising what they already have. What is the government's fascination with rainbow coded kindergartedn color schemes. Will they soon having us play red-light / green-light to their tune. Bleh. Bakayarous.

And let me say, I think the Shrub is an idiot.



Monday: 2-17-03 ~ let it snow x 3

For my friends who are getting quite a snowfall at the moment, something amusing for your benefit. The following is quoted from Varanid at the Council of Elrond in the Woods of tthe Legolasses thread:

And now for a Meaningful Aside...did you know the Inuit people of northern Canada and Alaska have over forty words for different types of snow, but no word that means just 'snow'? I learned this from Cecil Adams. He also taught me the handy Inuit translation for one of my most-used wintertime phrases, "Look at all this ****ing snow." It's "kaniktshaq moritlkatsio atsuniartoq". Well, of course, it loses a bit in the translation, so what it literally means is "Observe the [fresh] snow. It fornicates."

Friday, 2-14-03 ~ requiem...

Today marks the anniversary of a friend's death. Back in 1996, two friends were driving on a stormy rainy night. Neither of them were wearing their seat belts (which of course later really angered us, in anybody else's car seatbealts were mandatory). the car in front of them braked suddenly, and they went to brake and swerve, but ended up losing control of the car. Our one friend who was thrown through the window suffered only a broken collarbone, a dislocated arm, and a concussion, but the other, Wolf, suffered such severe head trauma he went into a coma, and died in the wee hours of the morning on the next day. technically his anniversary is tomorrow, but to me it's really today.

Every year I honor him in this small way... I share with others a poem he wrote, so that no matter in what small way, others have touched briefly on that life and known him if even a little.



Friday: 2-7-03 ~ Chibis in retrospect...

This year's Ushicon was a tad surreal... on my way up from Registration after getting some change for Art Show, I passed by the Hotel Bar, that had the CNN reports that the Space Shuttle was overdue to report and had gone missing during re-entry. It wasn't until 6 or 7 hours later I heard the confirmed news that the shuttle had indeed broken up during re-entry.

I really didn't get the story at all until I came home and was coherent enough on Tuesday between my drugged sleep. Sadly, I returned from Ushicon with a sinus infection that quickly deteriorated into bronchitis. Bleh. -_-

This week has been a blur of sleeping. The meds have been knocking me out something fierce. I missed work for the last few days, and although I *SOMEHOW* dragged myself to my Anthropology class last night, the teacher said "go home" A command that I did not argue.

I arrived Wednesday evening in Austin, and stayed at the con-chair's place that night. We went out for Chinese food for dinner, and then returned with other staffers, Kevin, Joshua, Brandy, etc to do some gaming.

I had a great time at Ushicon, and with Truth. Kevin (our nighttime Security Head) had accompanied me at the airport. We picked up Truth, and waited around for thirty minutes to pick up Joseph (one of Usagi's gofers for the con). On the way from the airport, we detoured to Wendy's for food, and then went on to the hotel. At the hotel, since no one else was there yet, I managed to appease some attendees panic ravings... who for some odd reason thought Registration opened hours before it actually did. Once the con-chair arrived, I was able to get our stuff out of the bell hop's closet and take it to our room, and then begin art show set up. I was bossing around all sorts of gofer staff folks putting them to good use.

After set up, Brandy (not to be confused with the Guest Relations head Brandy), Truth, and I walked over a couple of blocks to this great pizza place called the Brick Oven. It was nummy! By the time we returned we finally had room access to our rooms and began unpacking and talking.

Friday began terribly early for me, with a staff head meeting at 8am... I crawled from my bed in my pj's, down the hall about 3 rooms worth, and crawled into Usagi's bed while her husband conducted the meeting. At its conclusion, with a barely open eye I asked him "why did I have to be here again?" since essentially, nothing he had gone over applied to me or art show... he never did answer that.

Eventually I try to head back to my room only to discover some baka opened Art Show hours earlier. With the chain of command, only *I* could request of the con-chair, vice con-chair, or the two security heads to tell the Hotel to open it. Neither I, nor any of those 4 had... so I had to drag an off-duty staffer to babysit the room for a few hours while dealing with someone who was irate that art show had not open at 9. Um... I e-mailed this person directly and told them we opened at 11am, multiple times. >_<

Once Art Show was properly opened, I was there for a bit before running off to go to dealers and acquire m,y special order cosplay shinigami hats from Full Moon that Abel of US Anime had acquired for me. After that I ran off to Emi's panel for Okashina Okashi, which turned out to be our second largest attended panel of the day. I then ran off to host my own panels: cels & shitajiki (which only had Abel, Truth, and I), and web design (which primarily had friends from Anime UTA in the meager audience).

By this point in time I was walking around the con in Meroko's bunny ear top hat from Full Moon wo Sagashite, and Usagi was wearing Taruto's cat ear hat (which would later be usurped by Truth). Dylan managed to find me and hand deliver my Shoujo PJ Party shirt which had arrived in the mail *AFTER* I had left for Austin. Dylan, Truth, Usagi, & I ordered in pizza and visited for a while, before we headed downstairs for Shoujo PJ Party. I was late to my own event because Usagi had stolen me off to help her with something.

We had a larger turn-out this year for the party then last year. What's great about the event is we encourage folks to wear their pj's, bring blankets, pillows, fuzzy slippers and dolls, and just have a good time watching shoujo (ie, girl's) anime. We showed Tenshi na Konmaiki, Full Moon wo Sagashite, Azumanga Daioh, Princess Tutu, and a ton of others. Princess Tutu seemed to be the hit of the evening... which did surprise me the series is on crack and trips out like Utena at points.

The video room was *FREEZING* so I gave Kevin the key to my room to grab a blanket for us, we ended up with two blankets, with 5 of us huddled together. In this mess Kevin lost his walkie-talkie, I teased him next morning at the staff meeting, saying he had lost his walkie-talkie while in bed with 4 women. (Did I mention he is a scary driver, who is a bit too into Initial D?)

Saturday was a long day, after squaring things away in Art Show and helping for several hours printing and making badges to help out the understaffed Registration, I was off to the Yaoi panel. They had us in a small room, yet somehow we squeeze 70 people into it (including Truth, Abel, and I). Abel was there to insert informative comments, Truth to be snarky, and me to do the regular panel presentation. At one point Truth was getting a bit out of control, so to rein her in I stroked her kitty ears on the Taruto hat she was borrowing of mine, and verbally told her I'd give her cat nip in the form of chocolate. She PURRED and hushed up. For the rest of the weekend, I got randomly stopped in the hallways by folks who had attended the panel.. glomped a few times too. I really *LOATHE* being hugged by folks I don't know. >_<

Saturday night, Truth, Usagi, Abel and his partner in crime Vince, and I went to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner. There was a wait, so we wasted some time at the Barnes & Noble next door, I picked up a Harry Potter'ish book in Spanish. I've been needing something to read in Spanish outside of the play "La Vida es Suena" and "Don Quixote." I have a reading translation test coming up to fulfill my reading proficiency in another language for my humanities work. I figured the best way for me to study was to read a book.

Everyone enjoyed their time at the Cheesecake Factory, for Truth, Abel, & Vince it was their first time. We took our cheesecake to go, and came back rather late to the hotel. I dropped off the cheesecake to Keegan and Sophie who were unable to attend, before I made it into my room, and then into Sophie's room to watch some anime.

Sunday was hectic for Art Show, so I dropped off food orders for me and my staff for lunch. The food arrived after our auction which was good. Sadly the auction really only had 3 pieces sell at auction. By the end of the day most of the artwork had sold for the minimum bid price, and as we could we dismantled our display boards.

After closing ceremonies and the other staffs finished their dismnatling, we were treated to Papasito's for dinner on the cow. (Meaning Ushicon footed the bill).

The next day we checked out of the hotel, and after helping carrying a bag to the con-chair's palce, Usagi, Truth, and I trekked south to San MArcos to eat at the hobbit inspired "Rivendell." The food was nummy, and after eating key lime pie that we really were already too full for, we returned to Austin, dropping Usdagi off at her place, and then Truth and I went to the airport. I dropped her off, and then began my own trek home. About an hour into my tripo I hit a brick wall... called exhaustion. It was a feat to stay awake, I used every trick I knew, and then some. Chewing gum can help you stay awake... that's a new one I learned! When I came home, I unpacked and pretty much crashed, I awoke early Tuesday and as soon as the health center opened at 8am, I was there to get some medicine, I KNEW I was sick.




Wednesday: 1-29-03 ~ I didn't start the fire...

My sister has a fear of rodents, and what does she get my nephew? A hamster. She screams whenever he brings it near her.

With that in mind

Her house caught fire a couple days ago, EVERYTHING was burnt up. The only thing that survives... the RAT, as she calls it.

With that news from my folks, I'm busy packing for Ushicon. I feel like a proud, nervous, expectant husband on the verge of becoming a father as their wife goes into labor. So ignore the man behind the curtain, and my rambling thoughts and running around like a headless chicken antics.

So obviously I will be incommunicado for the next week. It is one thing to go to a convention, another thing to be the bakas that run the whole show!



Friday: 1-24-03 ~ The hanging forests of Babylon..

Yes this is a corny entry title. I'm playing off with the forests stuff on elves, and with Babylon... the science-fiction series of Babylon 5.

My late Christmas present arrived from Tamyris. She got me the entire first season of Babylon 5 on DVD. I have just finished watching all 22 episodes of it in 3 days. Seeing it from the beginning after watching the entire series when it originally aired, was a true treat for me. Why? Because there are hints and clues placed early on that affect the plotline.. 10 episodes later, 20 episodes later, etc. I always loved the show it had a fine caliber of acting, a great and realistic (for the most part) visual look, and a truly tremendous 5 arc year story.

Oftentimes with sci-fi or fantasy type series, at the beginning the actors are still growing accustomed to their roles, so there's a bit of subtle awkwardness. Yet from episode 1 the actors do a tremendous job and deliver powerful performances.

I can't wait for the other seasons to come out, especially once my favorite character, and first male ever in my harem gets introduced... Marcus!

In other news I have amused many of the Legolasses from the Woods at the Council of Elrond Forum with a product of my own imagination: elf nip.

In much the way cat nip can drive kitties nuts, there is a plant that when elves are exposed to it, their normal inhibitions and reserve and grace acquired from their lengthy lifespans dissolve away. They want to roll over and have their tummy wubbled, their ears loved, their hair brushed, petted, and stroked. The elf nip makes elves into impish little things that enjoy pouncing and trouncing someone they have a fancy with. ^_~

I fear I have created a whole new realm of daydreams. It has been fun. ^_^



Tuesday: 1-21-03 ~ what dream is this...

I will be glad when Ushicon stuff is put truly to bed before the con. I'm done with my art show duties, but some of the other duties I'm helping out with has led to many an all-niter with very little sleep before I drag myself off to work. It is wearing on me. *sighs*

I'm so exhausted I'm really spacing out when awake.... but at least I can daze out thinking of Legolas... and the following may surprise some of you:


What kind of Legolass are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

I bet many of you are surprised by this fact. That although I appreciate the visual package of Legolas as portrayed in the films, he never would have won my heart if I didn't already love his character from the books.



Monday: 1-20-03 ~ Men in my bed...

DA! Seimei was over yesterday and made my long promised pillowcases! On each pillowcase there is Legolas on on side and Chichiri on the other, specifically on the first pillowcase, there is a pouty looking serious adult Legolas, coupled with the cutest chibi of Chichiri holding Tama-neko I have ever seen. On the second pillowcase is a shirtless adult Chichiri coupled with the chubbiest chibi of Legolas you have ever seen with the MOST demented and impish up to no good look on his face. Obviously he looks so impish because he's been sneaking cookies from the Keebler elves. And the other Legolas is pouty, because we have the visual "proof" of the fact.

I slept on them for the first time last night after laundering them... mmm I slept GOOD. Da!



Friday: 1-17-03 ~ Tulips ^o^

I'm sure most of you have no clue what my favorite flowers are... I'm a sucker for lilies, and irises, and I love TULIPS. I don't know why I do, I just do. They may not be very fragrant, but that's a good thing considering my allergies. I like to pick up flowers for around the apartment on ocassion. There is just something very lovely about the presence of flowers or plants in a place. Though if they are inside they always die on me, sooner than they ought, or outgrow my ability and space to keep them.

This last trip to the store I picked up some lovely potted purple Tulips. They are currently adorning my kitchen, and I'm enjoying them so much. Here's hoping that they'll last at least until April. ^_^ By then it will be warm enough at night for me to get plants to put outside again.

I always find Tulips a rare treat because you really only can get ahold of them this time of year. DA! Pretty, pretty!



Monday: 1-13-03 ~ Unpause... Hell resumes...

Today, classes resumed. The new semester is now officially underway. I swear as I get older time passes so much more quickly, and even with a 6 week vacation... It seems like I blinked my eyes and it was all over.

This semester I'm only taking two graduate classes, forensic anthropology and my last required class in Humanities, an introdfuction to theory, criticism, and approaches to the humanities. During the course of this semester I must find my committe members, and determine which route I plan to take, thesis option, or non-thesis.

Either way, if everything goes according to plan the fall semester will consist of me either taking 6 hours of thesis, or 6 hours of my last classes. I need to take my language proficiency examination to test out of my language requirement.

The thesis allows me to control my own destiny... whereas if I take the non-thesis option, not only do I have 6 hours of classes to take, I also have to begin studying from comprehensive examinations. Those are adminstered by my committee, over a course of several days, with one essay questioned given each day and me given 4 hours to complete it in. There is no way to fully prepare for Comps, whereas the thesis option... so long as I know the material of the thesis well I can properly due it justice during the mandatory presentation/defense between me and my committe members.

So I have research to do during this semester. Ideally I'd like to get my source material in, and start working on outline and structure... that way I could begin working on the writing of my thesis during my summer holiday between my work shifts.

Either way, this semester offers me some rather daunting tasks.

TORN has an interesting article up complete with screencaps suggesting that Arwen may have actually been at the battle of Helm's Deep during the Two Towers film, but was edited out. I do remember reading months prior to the films release that Arwen and a contingent of elves were to be sent out to Aragorn with Narsil. I knew for a fact elves that technically should not be there, would be at the Battle of Helm's Deep... and frankly it's pointless to deliver the sword to Aragorn at the final battle... he was supposed to have left with it from Rivendell in the first film!

*SIGHS* Anyway I'm interested to find out the truth here...



Wednesday: 1-8-03 ~ Lyrical Musings...

The following was a past midnight musing of mine:

Deep in the woods, a maiden was singing
from early in the morning til late day...
she sang of a love and of a longing
here in the forest, in May

She sang aloud her most fervent prayer
As she walked along the arbor deep way...
She sang of the one, her heart she laid bare..
here in the forest in May.

While she was singing, she heard a voice larken
To her embarrassed surprise and dismay...
For an elf lord had come, to her voice he did harken
here in the forest in May.

The maid grew dead silent, ashamed and heartbroken,
as the elf lord drew near, at the close of the day.
Moon-Dark & Fey he walked and gave her a token
of his love, in this forest in May.

At least this is an improvement, earlier in the day I spent several hours straightening out the mess Financial Aid had made of my loans and grants. Bakayarous. >_<





Sunday: 1-5-03 ~ Of Hobbits and Thugs...

My mom and dad went with another couple to see The Two Towers today. At the theatre they split up: the guys went to get seats, the gals went to get snacks ... but the gals NEVER showed. The guys got worried and begin to go in and out of the other theatres... and after 90 minutes contact the police. An officer later found the women. They had gone into the 3:20 showing, instead of the 4:10. By the time they got into the right theatre... they had come in at where they had come in with the previous showing. So both times they missed the opening 40 minutes.

My new years was spent over at SailorDot's, it was great. We just watched TV and played DDR, and talked. I think a wonderful time was had by all. ^_^

I spoke with Tamyris, she had gone home to visit her family. She always knew that she had relatives buried on the property of her parents land. What she didn't know is that there was a set of stillborn triplets, named by her ancestors as Faith, Hope, and Death. Yes, someone named a person DEATH.



Wednesday: 12-25-02 ~ >_<

I had an absolutely horrid and miserable Christmas, and that's an understatement. Let's just say I nearly stormed out *BEFORE* dinner because of things my mother said, and only stayed for Dad's benefit rushing through the meal and collecting my stuff to leave as quickly as possible, and before I could get out the door mother *HAD* to make it worse by me leaving in a storm between much yelling. >_<

It is in your best interests to leave me be, I'll be irritable and cranky. You have been warned.



Wednesday: 12-18-02 ~ Oom Oom OOm Oom ...

364 days later.... my tolkien porn has been continued in The Two Towers... What can I say... I am happy, and want to see Return of the King *NOW* Warning me mateys there be SPOILERS ahead. ARGH.

Peter Jackson had a tough loaf of lambas bread to break in the guise of this film. The book was riddled with multiple storylines and simulatenous (or nearly so) plot events. Trying to narrate that to the visual realm of film... is indeed probably one of the most difficult tasks the film had to overcome in production.

Peter Jackson has been saying in the blitzkrieg media tour and other venues before the opening of The Two Towers that he had given up on trying to make this film stand on its own or offer a prologue... indeed, he executed the film relying on Fellowship of the Ring and Return of the King to both establish and resolve the action from The Two Towers.

The film did seem somewhat abrupt, even the brief flashback scene to the fall of Gandalf in Moria was enough to establish the significance of the following scenes... yet it was almost a too quick return to the action. The fight with gandalf and the Balrog was a true eye-candy special effects marvel that was quite promising of things to come, as welkl as evocative and effective of establishing the change of Gandalf and the re-introduction of Gandalf into the many different plotlines of the various members of the original fellowship.

Andy Serkis was nothing less than brilliant as Gollum. His performance of a splintered Smeagol was in my opinion Oscar calbier... the inhuman screeches and cries left me awed by his craft. The special effects team also managed to pujll off a believable Gollum, though I did notice some design element changes with him since the first movie. The only complaint I have with the FX wizards at WETA in regards to Gollum, is Gollum's coloring didn't quite match up with the light in a scene. Almost as if he was an element introduced to the film after any digital grading that occured. This lighting trick.. has little so much to do with light and shadow and light source... as it does with how light filters through color depending on light source on the skin... an element that appeared to also be a problem with other digital effects such as the Cave Trolls manning the Black Gate.

I was thrilled beyond words to see some of my most cherished memories of the book come to life-- The growing friendship between Legolas and Gimli as well as their friendly competition was... endearing and somehow had a whimsical and enchanting quality even while in the midst of the Battle at Helm's Deep.

Here is where I think I actually *FELT* disappointment. As the Rohans trek from Edoras to Helm's Deep and are waylaid by Wargs... I was just incrfedibly peeved at th eunrealistic manner in which Legolas mounts a riding horse. Elf agility & ability or no... that would have resulted int he horse spooking, if not trammpled. The manner in which Legolas pulled himself up with his right arm seems to be anatomically impossible to have your momentum traveling the way it did without breaking the limb. Not to mention the elf mounts up in such a manner that should have had him facing Gimli's face and beyond that the horse's tail. The effect was most unnatural and as one who has spent great quantities of time with horses... proved to be something like an insult to the intelligence.

The siege of Helm's Deep was... INCREDIBLE. Seeing the military history I've picked up in the sacred halls of academia come into play was a treat... things like the Roman's turtle shield formation, the cleverness of Mordor's forces using crossbows after breaching the gate... for the crossbows emitted a pressure that made the bolts into armor piercing projectile weapons... and is far more effective than having them run in for close quarters figyhting. The tactic gave them more time to get more forces through the gate while the Rohans were dying and trying to suppress the rebellion from more of a distance... no matter how brief. Similarly I really liked for the same tactical reasons how there were forces on the siege ladders at the top. Although the soldier on the ladder was at risk... it was a target harder to just drop a stone on their head, or pots, oil, pitch... If they survived to hit the top of the ramparts they would buy time for other troops to get up the ladder with less interference from the defending troops.

Perhaps I came into the film with a misconception, but I had heard that the Battle of Helm's Deep had roughly 45 minutes of uninterrupted footage. I assumed this meant tyhat the battle scene was 45 minutes long and that during this time we would not be cutting to the other storylines... sadly this was NOt the case. The battle was being interrupted with the council of the Ents, Frodo & Sam;'s interaction with Faramir and his men... Peter Jackson did manage to find fairly decent places to switch out scenes during the battle but I felt it minimized the overall intensity of the battle.

I can understand the need to--hey, I have read the books-- but I felt that there was a failure in execution in the transition between storylines. Some of them were QUITE abrupt and jarring.

Some of these moments were saved in my opinion by the clever compositional work of Howard Shore. The score for Fellowship of the Rings was phenomenal.. and to hear the story of the music deepen, intermingle, quicken... was an utter treat. I loved how he took the hero theme, changed it up and blended it seamlessly with the Uruk-hai. I think the most distinctive piece of music for me was to hear the exotic and eastern influenced sounds of Lothlorien's theme darken from ethereal wind instrumments and choral voices, to a darker and more bass heavy orchestration as Lothlorien elves met war. But no matter how much I loved the music, even thought Haldir's brief speech on how the alliance between elves and men was being honored... I was annoyed. Although it brought a... deepening beauty and connection to the elves as a whole I felt it detracted from a scene I had so cherished in the books where Legolas longs for his elven kin at Helm's Deep.

I respect and find myself becoming enchanted by Peter jackson's changes from the book to the screen in this case, but it is a somewhat bittersweet pill to swallow, for I had always found Haldir to be a favorite of mine in book and later film, and found myself having to say goodbye to a dear friend who frankly should not have been there. Although he had as fitting a death scene as he deserves... and I can understand the need for it... it somehow made the battle seem more realistic to have a "known" die... and especially to add in the tragic elements for it to be an elf.

I do what to commend Peter Jackson on some lovely visual foreshadowing elements... as Aragorn arrives to Edoras you see the banner of Rohan fall and flutter away, eventually right in front of him (symbolic of his role in the next book when he unites man and Returns as a King as well as returning Rohan to rights after Wormtongues poison has permeated to the roots the heart of Rohan via their King.) I also loved the other little visual cue where Aragorn is going through swords briefly at Helm's Deep... as if he is looking for a blade... (foreshadowing of course his reforged blade which must xcome by the next movie.)

Elijah Wood is putting together a VERY believable performance as a ringbearer slowly slipping into the thrall of the siren-call of the Ring and its Master. Howard Shore helps elaborate on the effect through some wonderful orchestration while Frodo is lulled into something other than himself.

I was breathless and sqealing with delight all at the same time when you see the first winged Nazgul.. the beasts are everything and so much more delicately detail rich than I have ever imagined... I got an unadulterated thrill and chill seeing them filling the sky.

The subtleties of everyone's performance was just beyond what mere words could describe. I was enthralled by it all. In many places it wasn't the words that swayed me, but rather the words evoked by a single look. A picture is worth far more than a thousand words... but offers also myriad shades of meaning and emotion.

I already plan to see it again and again, and again... I couldn't leave the theatre... for I had been ensorcelled by the craft of all those responsible for the film: Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Phillipa Boyens, all the many folks at WETA, Howard Shore, and the cast. Even as the bluescreen marking the end of the movie flashed up all I could think was I want to see Return of the King, RIGHT NOW. I am no elf with years ahead of me yet... but a mortal who hears the siren-call of the shadow-lover of my very real mortality... knowing at my journey's end I have my own Mount Doom to conquer (gee this can both be representative of my life's journey and the upcoming master's thesis I have to write to obtain my degree -_-)...

I want my Return of the King! Uh-huh.



Monday: 12-16-02 ~ Fangirls travel in herds...

I've been in Austin now since Saturday. Getting here was an adventure. We were delayed in departure because of Anime UTA stuff. Once we hit the road the front car (Keegander) and the rear car (with me and Sailordot) possessed walkie talkies.. a decision I;'m sure keegander later regretted... I was quite naughty and annoying and enjoyed our verbal battle full of wit and clever repartee.

On the way down, Keegander's car experienced a blown out tire.. in less than 10 minutes the spare was on and we were resuming our "Odyssey" to the land of weird (aka Austin). We arrived, had enough time top exchange pleasantries and unload our cars before we set off for the last staff meeting for Ushicon.

The meeting was lengthy but we got a lot done and afterwards went out for our typical meal. After all good hobbits, elves, and humans were fed, we retired and watched Lilo & Stgitch while razzing our eternally procrastinating friend. You know the movie is good when the three most difficult to please people actually shut up and just enjoy the movie :P

The next day keegander & SailorDot headed back home... but experienced ANOTHER flat tire... Heero had to go collect them, and they ended up staying another night. We pretty much stayed housebound except for a few excursions inclluding a really oishi Chinese restauraunt, and a trip to the gas station, where I got $1.09 a gallon :) Dad will appreciate my economy.

Today, Usagi, an Aragorn fangirl, and I, journeyed south to San Marcos. We went ~THERE~ to Rivendell ~AND BACK AGAIN.~ The cafe had WONDERFUL food. We ate elf rolls (one variety with served with honey and chopped apple, another with chicken and cheddar). The bread was delicious and the sandwiches were *HUGE*. By the time it was all said and done, Usagi ate Frodo (salad), and drank his sauce (raspberry vinagrette) as well. ^_~

For roughly $10 we had appetizer, the main course, a soda, and a dessert as well. Yummy! The place has some great hobbit themed murals and fake trees coming from the floor and going into the ceiling. They are in the prodcess of building a hobbit hole.

Then we returned and Usagi and I met up with our friend Lycaon (who is a classmate and neighbor of mine at the University who has come home to Austin to visit his family during Winter Break. We went to this unique store "Book People." In addition to books the swtore sells all sorts of knick knack, specialty toys, and unusual crafts from local artisans. Austin is known as the land of the weird because of its numerous specialty boutiques such as Things Celtic, which we also visited.

We then headed over to the drag (an area near the University of Texas camppus with alot of shops, stores, and restauraunts where the college students tend to migrate off too. Just off the drag is Momoko's. They sell Japanese goods (tea sets, dinnerware, chopsticks, stationary goods, toys, anime goodies) and also have a tea stand (and a restauraunt opening soon). I couldn't make up my mind so had a sweet orange tea, and took a caramel milk tea home with me. Both were highly delectable.

Lycaon went his own way then after first giving us a parting gift of some of his mother's very *GOOD* cookies.We went on to a specialt all natural fabric store called the Silk Road getting some ideas for fabrics for the elven costume that Usagi has offered to make for me. All I can say is I have excellent taste, all the fabric I was fawning over was like $30 + per yard.

We were going to also hit the fabric store Usagi works for, but decided against it. Instead we took a detour to Barnes & Noble... Usagi on her bookmark quest for more hobbits. I never complain about going to a bookstore. ^+^ She proceeded to spoil me utterly rotten on my Christmas present: The Centenary edition of The Lord of the Rings. The edition is a hardbound edition of all three books together as they should be, with GORGEOUS Alan Lee illustrations. ^+^ Sugoi! I've been trying to find the edition for a while now...

We came home and I changed... I was reluctant to remove my new top... the sleeves are so flowy it makes me want to flap my arms and say "I can fly!" However that shirt has rpoved to me to be dangerous... it dyed my skin, and luckily the pants I wore with it were sheer and utter black... or I fear it would have been dyed as well.

Tomorrow Usagi and I are attending an 11:59pm showing of The Two Towers. She's planning to go in her hobbit costume (sans ears since the ears interfere with her hearing). I'll be wearing another new blue silk tunic (empire cut), my hair in elven braids, and escorted by my fanmade Legolas UFO plushie. Afterwards.. we are planning to stay up and do something suitably fangirly... maybe an after movie daiquiri or some such. Though she has work at noon the next day, and I'm planning to leave around then on my way back to the campus. Sadly I work all day on Thursday. Granted, money *IS* good.

Anyway, hi to everyone: Squirt, Tamyris, Seimei, Truth, Tin, DarkFax, and of course anyone from AnimeUTA. ^_^ I'm having fun.. and poor Heero has to put up with Usagi and me "playing" fangirl games.



Friday: 12-13-02 ~ GRrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

My DVD-ROM and CD-RW drives have decided that they no longer wish to function. Oh they'll stillr ead CD-ROMS, and plau audio cd's, but they *WILL* not burn nor will they play a DVD. *growls*

And to add to my frustration, I paid for a new battery for my watch and had it installed, and what would happen, but sometime between when I got my watch back, and several hours later after shopping... the watch was no longer on my wrist. I called around to the stores I was at, with no luck... so there goes a nice sterling silver watch. >_< Grrr...



Thursday: 12-12-02 ~ SAISHI!

SUZAKU NO SAISHI, where in the world are you? Don't make me play where's waldo and where in the world is Carmen Sandiago. *sniffles* When my computer was fried I lost your latest address...

UPDATE: FOUND!





Wednesday: 11-11-02 ~ Precious Has Come!

Today my copy of the Lord of the Rings: the Two Towers Limited Edition CD has arrived. Although I think there may be a problem with the first track, it has a slkipping sound throughout the entire thing... at first I thought it might be intentional... but there's some grandismo and forte type orchestrations that I know no sane composer would ever so rudely interrupt with that sound of mechanical and metallic skipping sound. I'm going to have to wait and try the CD in my player and computer once I get home...

At least the rest of it works well, I'm already quite fond of tracks 15: Hornburg and 16: Forth Eorlingas. My addition comes with a bonus track of music that was added to the Extended Edition, plus screensavers, wallpapers, and aim icons... and all sorts of other goodies to explore on the computer. And the packaging is blue. So I'm happy ^+^

I had a scary realization when I went to be advised yesterday... If I take the thesis option... I will most likely get my degree next year at this time... This upcoming semester I'm taking 2 classes, and after that all I lack will be the 6 hours of my thesis I can take in the Fall. I'm shocked and dazed by that revelation... and a touch scared as well.

I'm still debating if I want to do thesis or the non-thesis track... I'll have to make up my mind by March if not earlier of the Spring semester. The difference is that if I do non-thesis I have to take comprehensive examinations which are essentially several days worth of essay writing (in I believe 4 hour stretches). The "topics" of the essays can come from any material I have had to study (taken from course syllabi) during my graduate studies. As you can imagine, that can be quite... scary!

If I choose to do a thesis... the going rate is between 40-60 pages (of which I plan to expand upon a pre-existing 20 page paper of mine). The benefits of the thesis is I control my own destiny and have more control over the results, though still there is the nerve-wracking process known as the thesis defense...

I'm planning to begin research during winter break. Requesting in articles and books that may prove to be of some merit to the thesis topic I'm toying with. Egads... it is a truly frightening prospect.