(no subject)
So I realize that I haven't posted in over a month... *cough*
Really, I find myself posting less often because the people that used to read this really do not anymore. I'm wondering if it is worth my time to continue to do so. ::shrugs:: We'll see.
On to stuff:
- Shinkendo seminar was awesome! I really enjoyed learning directly from the founder of Shinkendo. I had expected a huge room and lots of people and barely any contact with Kaiso. Far from it. So the trip:
* The trip down to Champaign-Urbana was, well, boring as all heck. Once out of the Chicago area proper, the trip is corn. Corn for an hour and a half. That is a crap-ton of corn. Let me tell you, it says a lot when the exits have signs that say, "Attractions" and the sign is *blank*. We got dinner at a fast-food Texas BBQ joint. It was an odd combination but it was tasty. Went back to the motel and crashed early. It was a long freaking day.
* The next day we headed to the seminar after a *huuuuge* breakfast, courtesy of foresight and our sensei. She and her fiancee brought a lot of food. A *LOT* of food... Plus my buddy and I picked up one of those single serve cereal assortment packs as well. We headed out to the seminar which was at the new sports complex on the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana campus. It was a huge complex. The scenery *cough* was also nice to look at too. I felt like a dirty old man. We ran a little bit behind as the class had already started warm-ups. I'll spare the details of the training itself. I will say, there was probably twenty, twenty-five people there at most. It was a little hard to understand what he was saying as it was also a bit loud due to some airvents and such. We did new stuff and stuff I already somewhat knew. Again, it was a lot of fun. Tiring too. After the first session of two hours, we broke for lunch. Sensei had made rice, chicken and shrimp bowls for all of us, as well as a veggie bowl... I forget which veggies mind you. Tasty little lunch. And filling. There were two more sessions after that with a short break between them. The best part of the day, was after the last session. We all lined up as usual, and Kaiso presented people with their ranking scrolls. It was an absolute honor to receive my second scroll directly from the school's founder himself and in front of other people no less. The only disappointment from that is that the picture of me receiving my scroll did not turn out. Oh well. Perhaps if I get my teaching rank... when I get my teaching rank... I'll have the opportunity to receive that directly from Kaiso as well.
* After the first day of seminar we had a banquet dinner to attend. And by banquet I mean we went to a chinese buffet in town. Sensei asked us to dress nicely as the dojo was giving Kaiso as present for his 60th birthday. Dinner itself was not terribly exciting. It was... alright. I've had better buffets here in Michigan. That being said, several people spoke about the event and Shinkendo in general and what it means, etc. Then Kaiso spoke. It was short but he said exactly what he needed to. And he's got a sense of humor. Was not too long before Kaiso left and then everyone else filtered out as well. We got back to the motel in time to catch the tail end of Blazing Saddles and then pretty much called it a night after a little bit of Adult Swim. (For the record, Shin-Chan gave me a WTF is that moment. The entire episode.)
* Day two. Check out. Breakfast. Went to seminar. It wasn't quite as intense as the first day, though it's suspected that Kaiso ate something at dinner that disagreed with him. Still the first session was reinforcing some of the things we learned the first day. The second session was all bojutsu. I like using the bo. It's a cool weapon. Plus Bo, Spear, Naginata... all function the same way. :-D After the second session he gave a short lecture on the many uses for the bo... It was hilarious. Third session was back to the sword. Mostly drawing techniques and such. That was about it. I was able to get my copy of the Shinkendo book signed as well as my copy of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. :-D We also got a myriad of pictures taken with Kaiso. I hope to get some of them soon. ::glares:: The trip back seemed to go a bit faster than the trip down. I got home in time to flop in my bed and crash.
* All in all it was a fun time. I learned a lot, more than I can remember even... and some of it is written down! I officially received my second rank and got my book signed. I'd love to do another seminar again. Hopefully sooner rather than later.
- Other things. School is going well. So far I believe I am acing my Bio class. Not that hard when it's a 100 level class, granted... But I am acing it. I love the feeling. My history class might be killer here shortly though. I'm at the point where I need to start reading books for my historiography as well as a book for a group paper. Blah. Still, I am doing well in the class. Not acing it, but I am in the A range still. With 32 credits remaining to graduate after this, hopefully I can bring my GPA up to or at least near a 3.0... It took me far too long to learn that I should have applied myself better. I should and could have... But here I am.
- Reason for the GPA needing to be higher: Grad School. Yeah, gonna' do it. I'd like to get a MLS or MIS... (Library Science or Information Science.) Plus side, it's a degree with growing opportunities, even outside the 'library system' itself. Down side, to work where I'd *really* like to work, I need to go *all the way.* Yeah, that means the Ph.D. It'll be a lot of work, but I know despite the reservations that some of my friends may have, I am capable of doing it.
- That in mind, I have the following schools in mind for my MLS/MIS degree: UCLA, University of Illinois, UoM:AA and Wayne State. Now thoughts regarding each in order of preference:
University of California - Los Angeles
* Pros: I like LA. Both times I visited I enjoyed everything. I can see myself living out there. I have friends that live out there. I could continue to study Shinkendo. Possibly even at the home dojo. I wouldn't *need* a car.
* Cons: COST OF LIVING. It's EXPENSIVE!!! And a half.
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
* Pros: Close to home. I wouldn't have to leave all my friends behind me. I could still study Shinkendo.
* Cons: I would still need a car. I'd still probably have to move out of state for any job opps. IIRC, UoM has high enrollment standards.
University of Illinois - Champaign - Urbana
* Pros: I could still study Shinkendo. The campus has nice *scenery*.
* Cons: I would still need a car. It's in the middle of BFE. I'd have no friends there.
Wayne State University
* Pros: Same as UM:AA
* Cons: Same as UM:AA, trading high enrollment standards for being in Detroit.
So that is what I am looking at there.
- Signed up for a Paint and Play Warmachine league. You have a month to paint up the force and play one other member of the league. It starts at 350 points for the first month. The second month brings it up to 500 points and the final month is 750 points. I'm a wee bit behind on things due to working on other projects. Oh yeah... and that school thing too. Kinda' gets in the way too. Considering I only have ten models to paint, it shouldn't be that hard.
- Also a group of friends is doing a Tale of X Gamers like from White Dwarf. Starting with 500 points, we're painting up our 40K armies. The initial idea is to start a brand new army, however with money being tight, we decided that it would be fine to paint models that you have but aren't painted. Given my rate of painting, that means almost everything I already own is fair game. Maybe if money frees up a little bit, I might start the new army next year. Steel Legion Imperial Guard will be mine someday. Oh yes. It will be mine.
- Finally, I have a chance again this year to travel down to the Alliance Distribution Open House. I get to meet reps from various game companies and acquire schwag. It was fun last year and looks to be fun this year. I enjoyed having the opportunity to play Star Craft: The Board game before its official store release date. (Apparently it was already out at Gen Con though. :-P)
Really, I find myself posting less often because the people that used to read this really do not anymore. I'm wondering if it is worth my time to continue to do so. ::shrugs:: We'll see.
On to stuff:
- Shinkendo seminar was awesome! I really enjoyed learning directly from the founder of Shinkendo. I had expected a huge room and lots of people and barely any contact with Kaiso. Far from it. So the trip:
* The trip down to Champaign-Urbana was, well, boring as all heck. Once out of the Chicago area proper, the trip is corn. Corn for an hour and a half. That is a crap-ton of corn. Let me tell you, it says a lot when the exits have signs that say, "Attractions" and the sign is *blank*. We got dinner at a fast-food Texas BBQ joint. It was an odd combination but it was tasty. Went back to the motel and crashed early. It was a long freaking day.
* The next day we headed to the seminar after a *huuuuge* breakfast, courtesy of foresight and our sensei. She and her fiancee brought a lot of food. A *LOT* of food... Plus my buddy and I picked up one of those single serve cereal assortment packs as well. We headed out to the seminar which was at the new sports complex on the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana campus. It was a huge complex. The scenery *cough* was also nice to look at too. I felt like a dirty old man. We ran a little bit behind as the class had already started warm-ups. I'll spare the details of the training itself. I will say, there was probably twenty, twenty-five people there at most. It was a little hard to understand what he was saying as it was also a bit loud due to some airvents and such. We did new stuff and stuff I already somewhat knew. Again, it was a lot of fun. Tiring too. After the first session of two hours, we broke for lunch. Sensei had made rice, chicken and shrimp bowls for all of us, as well as a veggie bowl... I forget which veggies mind you. Tasty little lunch. And filling. There were two more sessions after that with a short break between them. The best part of the day, was after the last session. We all lined up as usual, and Kaiso presented people with their ranking scrolls. It was an absolute honor to receive my second scroll directly from the school's founder himself and in front of other people no less. The only disappointment from that is that the picture of me receiving my scroll did not turn out. Oh well. Perhaps if I get my teaching rank... when I get my teaching rank... I'll have the opportunity to receive that directly from Kaiso as well.
* After the first day of seminar we had a banquet dinner to attend. And by banquet I mean we went to a chinese buffet in town. Sensei asked us to dress nicely as the dojo was giving Kaiso as present for his 60th birthday. Dinner itself was not terribly exciting. It was... alright. I've had better buffets here in Michigan. That being said, several people spoke about the event and Shinkendo in general and what it means, etc. Then Kaiso spoke. It was short but he said exactly what he needed to. And he's got a sense of humor. Was not too long before Kaiso left and then everyone else filtered out as well. We got back to the motel in time to catch the tail end of Blazing Saddles and then pretty much called it a night after a little bit of Adult Swim. (For the record, Shin-Chan gave me a WTF is that moment. The entire episode.)
* Day two. Check out. Breakfast. Went to seminar. It wasn't quite as intense as the first day, though it's suspected that Kaiso ate something at dinner that disagreed with him. Still the first session was reinforcing some of the things we learned the first day. The second session was all bojutsu. I like using the bo. It's a cool weapon. Plus Bo, Spear, Naginata... all function the same way. :-D After the second session he gave a short lecture on the many uses for the bo... It was hilarious. Third session was back to the sword. Mostly drawing techniques and such. That was about it. I was able to get my copy of the Shinkendo book signed as well as my copy of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. :-D We also got a myriad of pictures taken with Kaiso. I hope to get some of them soon. ::glares:: The trip back seemed to go a bit faster than the trip down. I got home in time to flop in my bed and crash.
* All in all it was a fun time. I learned a lot, more than I can remember even... and some of it is written down! I officially received my second rank and got my book signed. I'd love to do another seminar again. Hopefully sooner rather than later.
- Other things. School is going well. So far I believe I am acing my Bio class. Not that hard when it's a 100 level class, granted... But I am acing it. I love the feeling. My history class might be killer here shortly though. I'm at the point where I need to start reading books for my historiography as well as a book for a group paper. Blah. Still, I am doing well in the class. Not acing it, but I am in the A range still. With 32 credits remaining to graduate after this, hopefully I can bring my GPA up to or at least near a 3.0... It took me far too long to learn that I should have applied myself better. I should and could have... But here I am.
- Reason for the GPA needing to be higher: Grad School. Yeah, gonna' do it. I'd like to get a MLS or MIS... (Library Science or Information Science.) Plus side, it's a degree with growing opportunities, even outside the 'library system' itself. Down side, to work where I'd *really* like to work, I need to go *all the way.* Yeah, that means the Ph.D. It'll be a lot of work, but I know despite the reservations that some of my friends may have, I am capable of doing it.
- That in mind, I have the following schools in mind for my MLS/MIS degree: UCLA, University of Illinois, UoM:AA and Wayne State. Now thoughts regarding each in order of preference:
University of California - Los Angeles
* Pros: I like LA. Both times I visited I enjoyed everything. I can see myself living out there. I have friends that live out there. I could continue to study Shinkendo. Possibly even at the home dojo. I wouldn't *need* a car.
* Cons: COST OF LIVING. It's EXPENSIVE!!! And a half.
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
* Pros: Close to home. I wouldn't have to leave all my friends behind me. I could still study Shinkendo.
* Cons: I would still need a car. I'd still probably have to move out of state for any job opps. IIRC, UoM has high enrollment standards.
University of Illinois - Champaign - Urbana
* Pros: I could still study Shinkendo. The campus has nice *scenery*.
* Cons: I would still need a car. It's in the middle of BFE. I'd have no friends there.
Wayne State University
* Pros: Same as UM:AA
* Cons: Same as UM:AA, trading high enrollment standards for being in Detroit.
So that is what I am looking at there.
- Signed up for a Paint and Play Warmachine league. You have a month to paint up the force and play one other member of the league. It starts at 350 points for the first month. The second month brings it up to 500 points and the final month is 750 points. I'm a wee bit behind on things due to working on other projects. Oh yeah... and that school thing too. Kinda' gets in the way too. Considering I only have ten models to paint, it shouldn't be that hard.
- Also a group of friends is doing a Tale of X Gamers like from White Dwarf. Starting with 500 points, we're painting up our 40K armies. The initial idea is to start a brand new army, however with money being tight, we decided that it would be fine to paint models that you have but aren't painted. Given my rate of painting, that means almost everything I already own is fair game. Maybe if money frees up a little bit, I might start the new army next year. Steel Legion Imperial Guard will be mine someday. Oh yes. It will be mine.
- Finally, I have a chance again this year to travel down to the Alliance Distribution Open House. I get to meet reps from various game companies and acquire schwag. It was fun last year and looks to be fun this year. I enjoyed having the opportunity to play Star Craft: The Board game before its official store release date. (Apparently it was already out at Gen Con though. :-P)