(no subject)
Went into Tokyo yesterday with Erin, Jana, and Anne. It was nice to get out of the apartment, out of the area, and chat with the girls. Grabbed lunch at the Hard Rock--each of us getting different orders and then splitting it up between us--and then heading over to the bookstore where I gave in and bought six books and a post card book of the cutest kitties. (Damn my stationary addiction!). Then we headed over to Akihabara where Jana wanted to look at more video cameras before we went home.
I really did have a good time. On the train ride down, I found out Jana (and I think Anne, too) didn't know what/who Beowulf was, and, as petty and childish as it my be---I got a glow off of FINALLY knowing something that my mind thinks of as a key point that one of the others didn't know. I don't care that they're all history peope and such... finally, finally, there was something I knew that someone else didn't. I guess I never quite realized just *how* dumb I sometimes feel around the others. I mean, I know I'm not a stupid person, nor am I completely naive anymore... but I'm not the more intelligent or learned person either. Especially when it comes to history stuff.
Conversation over lunch was just here, there, and everywhere, but it was a lot of fun. There's talk of trying to set up another karaoke night before everyone leaves for christmas/winter break, which, of course, I'm highly game for. I still have a little bit of lingering congestion... and I'm sure if I would just take the damn medicine, it would help, but... I'm so blasted tired of meds.... And I've been pretty much back to my old self this week, harrassing the students and all, so I think I'm good to go a couple of hours.
In Shinjuku it was a matter of eyeing up the Krispy Kreme line and being amused at how it stretched halfway over the bridge... and then falling right into books, books, and calendars. I've already spotted one or two day-to-day calendars that I would like to get for the classroom... but that's not for several months/ half a year yet.
I caved and bought the last three volume of Fruits Basket. I'm sure if I was a little more motivated at looking at on-line scans, I could have found the tranlated scans of 16, 17, and 18, and saved myself a pretty penny... but then, there's something really nice about holding the book. That said, if anyone on my flist knows where the furubura scanlations *are*, please feel free to send me a link. As usually with a good story, I want more, more, more!
I wasn't as surprised as I could have been, because I remember reading some fandom rumbles about it years ago... but still.... now that my mind has processed it as truth, it makes me all the more intrigued. I absolutely loved Tohru's parents' backstory, Haru's & Rin's feelings, and Yuki's developement. Yes, I definitely love Yuki's developement. Watching him now, I'm more confortable for liking/favoring Kyo better. Although the preview for vol 19 says some sparks might fly, I believe now that Yuki will be all right if/when Tohru chooses Kyo over him..... But damn, I want her to find a way to break the curse.
Akihabara was a little bit boring for me as I wasn't interested in electronics but rather reading my manga. As I was waiting outside one store near the station--reading my manga--three college girls approached me for an interview. They were doing something for one of their classes, so they asked me what I thought of Japanese manga, anime, and cosplay, and then they took a picture. The three of them were really cute and giggly and all embarrassed, having to take turns to read the questions off a sheet of paper that I just wanted to take from them and correct properly... >.> I did somehow manage to resist the urge.
Shortly after that, I ditched the girls to go sit up in a Denny's--my tummy was a bit unhappy with me for all the yummy grease I forced it to injest. Not to long after placing my order for tea (oooh, bad choice, I'm sorry tummy) and yummy red beans, mochi balls, and vanilla ice cream, Erin showed up, and we conversed and swapped books, drinking our tea and eating our sweets until Jana called to announce she was finished eyeing up cameras.
Heading back towards the station we agreed we would be skipping stopping in Kashiwa that night. It was just as well, being tired and all... And as it worked out, I managed to get sick on the train. Overheated, what with the heated seats, and then added to that warmth, I started to get a bit car sick from reading while the train was busy stopping and going... The nasuea hit, and I just wasn't able to calm it. Had to get off at Ushiku--just three stops from home--to use the facilities. But I guess that's not so horrible. I was able to take off one of the shirts, which went a long ways to helping cool off. Jana had went ahead to get the car, and we went home.
Or, rather, we dropped Anne off and then ended up sitting in Jana's car for a good long while talking some history and politics... and then we took it up to Erin's apartment because the girls were cold, and continued along the lines of traveling and cruising. It was past eleven when I finally got in and called home.... and then, I just couldn't leave well enough alone. Had to pick up volumes 17 adn 18 and read them before I went to sleep. >.> Thus, it was closer to 2am before I fell asleep last night.
The fact that it's a lovely sunny day outside and I'm awake before 9am is a mildly annoying point.... but there's laundry to be done, dammit. I'm going to be expressfully happy when I'm back in the states and have a dryer to go with my laundry machine. Seriously.
I really did have a good time. On the train ride down, I found out Jana (and I think Anne, too) didn't know what/who Beowulf was, and, as petty and childish as it my be---I got a glow off of FINALLY knowing something that my mind thinks of as a key point that one of the others didn't know. I don't care that they're all history peope and such... finally, finally, there was something I knew that someone else didn't. I guess I never quite realized just *how* dumb I sometimes feel around the others. I mean, I know I'm not a stupid person, nor am I completely naive anymore... but I'm not the more intelligent or learned person either. Especially when it comes to history stuff.
Conversation over lunch was just here, there, and everywhere, but it was a lot of fun. There's talk of trying to set up another karaoke night before everyone leaves for christmas/winter break, which, of course, I'm highly game for. I still have a little bit of lingering congestion... and I'm sure if I would just take the damn medicine, it would help, but... I'm so blasted tired of meds.... And I've been pretty much back to my old self this week, harrassing the students and all, so I think I'm good to go a couple of hours.
In Shinjuku it was a matter of eyeing up the Krispy Kreme line and being amused at how it stretched halfway over the bridge... and then falling right into books, books, and calendars. I've already spotted one or two day-to-day calendars that I would like to get for the classroom... but that's not for several months/ half a year yet.
I caved and bought the last three volume of Fruits Basket. I'm sure if I was a little more motivated at looking at on-line scans, I could have found the tranlated scans of 16, 17, and 18, and saved myself a pretty penny... but then, there's something really nice about holding the book. That said, if anyone on my flist knows where the furubura scanlations *are*, please feel free to send me a link. As usually with a good story, I want more, more, more!
I wasn't as surprised as I could have been, because I remember reading some fandom rumbles about it years ago... but still.... now that my mind has processed it as truth, it makes me all the more intrigued. I absolutely loved Tohru's parents' backstory, Haru's & Rin's feelings, and Yuki's developement. Yes, I definitely love Yuki's developement. Watching him now, I'm more confortable for liking/favoring Kyo better. Although the preview for vol 19 says some sparks might fly, I believe now that Yuki will be all right if/when Tohru chooses Kyo over him..... But damn, I want her to find a way to break the curse.
Akihabara was a little bit boring for me as I wasn't interested in electronics but rather reading my manga. As I was waiting outside one store near the station--reading my manga--three college girls approached me for an interview. They were doing something for one of their classes, so they asked me what I thought of Japanese manga, anime, and cosplay, and then they took a picture. The three of them were really cute and giggly and all embarrassed, having to take turns to read the questions off a sheet of paper that I just wanted to take from them and correct properly... >.> I did somehow manage to resist the urge.
Shortly after that, I ditched the girls to go sit up in a Denny's--my tummy was a bit unhappy with me for all the yummy grease I forced it to injest. Not to long after placing my order for tea (oooh, bad choice, I'm sorry tummy) and yummy red beans, mochi balls, and vanilla ice cream, Erin showed up, and we conversed and swapped books, drinking our tea and eating our sweets until Jana called to announce she was finished eyeing up cameras.
Heading back towards the station we agreed we would be skipping stopping in Kashiwa that night. It was just as well, being tired and all... And as it worked out, I managed to get sick on the train. Overheated, what with the heated seats, and then added to that warmth, I started to get a bit car sick from reading while the train was busy stopping and going... The nasuea hit, and I just wasn't able to calm it. Had to get off at Ushiku--just three stops from home--to use the facilities. But I guess that's not so horrible. I was able to take off one of the shirts, which went a long ways to helping cool off. Jana had went ahead to get the car, and we went home.
Or, rather, we dropped Anne off and then ended up sitting in Jana's car for a good long while talking some history and politics... and then we took it up to Erin's apartment because the girls were cold, and continued along the lines of traveling and cruising. It was past eleven when I finally got in and called home.... and then, I just couldn't leave well enough alone. Had to pick up volumes 17 adn 18 and read them before I went to sleep. >.> Thus, it was closer to 2am before I fell asleep last night.
The fact that it's a lovely sunny day outside and I'm awake before 9am is a mildly annoying point.... but there's laundry to be done, dammit. I'm going to be expressfully happy when I'm back in the states and have a dryer to go with my laundry machine. Seriously.