Raiha

[font="Times New Roman"][size="3"][color="#9932cc"]Definitely did not watch Vampire Diaries. I watched True Blood faithfully and enjoyed almost every second (that actually involved vampires). Which made me feel evil. I actually have read almost every book in the Charlaine Harris series[which bears only a passing resemblance to the show]. Either way this time, like Eclipse and New Moon, there are going to be big honking wolves. And the guy they slated to play Alcide Hevareux is smokin' hot. Let's do it![/color][/size][/font] [center][img]http://www.eduardoverastegui.com.ar/Espanol/Noticias/Archivos/PEOPLE140508Ch.jpg[/img] [/center]

[font="Times New Roman"][size="3"][color="#9932cc"]Pretty much any dream wherein I am flying is weird to me. Because I have to have momentum, leap off from a tall structure, and move my body in the sort of breast stroke style. And it's more gliding rather than flying. I think those are the weirdest because I have them so infrequently. The last one I had that I strongly remember was a sort of spiritual power dream where I took back control from an ex boyfriend that had been brutally horrible to me in the most passive awful ways. I remember it being caged in terms of a sort of fantasy setting, where I was the maiden who waited on the half wall of stone dividing the real world from the dream world. And he came to fight me. But I stopped him with...weapons made from the stalks of bamboo. And even though he had ripped off the halves of my wings he still feared me and he fled my power and my sense of purpose. And then I was free to glide up and down the endless half wall and by the end of my dream, my wings were beginning to grow back in. And yet I still flew like an Olympic swimmer in the breast stroke division. [/color][/size][/font]

[font="Times New Roman"][size="3"][color="#9932cc"] Yeah, so it's officially Summer up here in the States and quite frankly the weather has made a very noticeable shift from bearable to slightly less so. The house I live in has excellent cross ventilation, which is just as well because we can not get away with leaving the windows upstairs and downstairs unopened. I can also tell because the weather's shifted because my allergies are finding other ways to make a nuisance of themselves. People are putting up umbrellas in their backyard patio sets. The smell of people's grills abound. I had to shift my closet from all long sleeves to my shirts and blouses that are less likely to cause a dearth of sweat. What is signaling a weather shift where you live? How do you deal with the heat? A/C doesn't count, just for the record. [/color][/size][/font]

[font="Times New Roman"][size="3"][color="#9932cc"] All I know about football I learned from Green Street Hooligans. ...And Shaolin Soccer. Seriously. Oh right and all of my Hispanic friends are obsessed and in Germany we call it FuÃ?ball. The Ã? is a double 'ss' for the record. I think I saw a guy headbutt a goal once and thought that was cool. And I met Mia Hamm at a Take Your Daughter To Work Day in Silicon Valley. That's...where my knowledge of all this ends. But I'm 99.9% sure I will hear all about it through facebook when my frenzied latin friends shriek the news to the world through their status updates. Speaking of which, I remember hearing people complain that South Africa is as bad a location for the World Cup as Bejing was for the Olympics. Is there still a furor? [/color][/size][/font]

[font="Times New Roman"][size="3"][color="#9932cc"]A male lead isn't really a male lead if you count th-- nevermind. El Morpheus is right. There's no male lead. Some of the Claymores are masculine enough to count in that department. Helen and Deneve included. But I don't really think male leads make a story necessarily better. And the Claymores themselves act in suitably different ways from most females to make sure nothing is really that boring. Pretty much the only characters who were weak were annihilated almost instantly and in the worst possible ways. Or so I'm guessing. Some deaths were off screen. So to speak. [/color][/size][/font]

[font="Times New Roman"][size="3"][color="#9932cc"][center][img]http://otakuanblog.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/largeanimepaperscans_claymore_kayurachan067__thisres__143362.jpg[/img][/center] Okay so there's not been that much death in the Claymore manga these days. But I was curious who here actually reads it and kept up. I suppose we could also make angry and bitter comparisons to the show. ...which I'll confess I still enjoyed right up until the last two or so episodes. Does anyone read it religiously once a month like I do? Wish that it was on the same sort of schedule as the Naruto Manga is? Idly consider the possibilities for how the current difficulties with one large angry purple horned monster pixie girl can be dealt with? And who do you favor over the others? I like Deneve. A: unique name. B: defensive type warriors are more my speed, as I too would want to protect my body or at least not worry about half of it going missing. C: same haircut once upon a time. Which character needs to die a horrible and drawn out death? [/color][/size][/font]

[font="Times New Roman"][size="3"][color="#9932cc"]Actually Animal Collective is new to me, but I'm pretty sure Pandora will whip it out eventually. Glad though that you mentioned Phoenix. The radio station I mentioned also cranks them out and several of the rather good remixes (I thumbed down the rest). Pet Shop Boys is also apparently high up there on the replay list. I'm not sure why now that I think about it... [/color][/size][/font]

[center][img]http://allthingsgo.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/passion-pit.jpg[/img] [/center] [font="Times New Roman"][size="3"][color="#9932cc"] Okay so Passion Pit really isn't THAT weird of a name. But their album 'Manners' has me geeking out. It's not often an album is produced that has me gleefully listening to every song but sometimes it happens, and sometimes I am thrilled. This is one of those times. The electronic tinges, four on the floor beats, and unique vocals with actually somewhat interesting lyrics are confusing me. Normally I'm not this excited by music. But the band itself, I've found, has made a strong showing. Pandora took it upon itself to fill my Electric Feel (Justice Remix) radio with every song they've ever produced including random radio singles. Has anyone else heard of them or am I alone? [/color][/size][/font]

[quote name='Rebellion' date='02 June 2010 - 11:12 AM' timestamp='1275502349' post='694289'] They come in packs... Like 1500 deep [/exaggeration]) It gives them more reasons to pump their ego. [/quote] [font="Times New Roman"][size="3"][color="#9932cc"] Actually given the size of the last official Naruto Cosplay gathering at Fanime this past weekend, you're not wrong at all. In fact you're tragically dead right, only it's worse because I heard them banging off about it in person. *sob* Generally I dislike DARK SIDE VERSIONS OF YOU and pretty much the only time I did like it was in Prince of Persia, and that was only raw sexual appeal. Naruto alas has none of this and instead, yeah, probably spent too much time reading Make Out Tactics instead of how to suppress evil inside of you. [/color][/size][/font]

[quote name='Miss Anonymous' date='10 February 2010 - 12:35 AM' timestamp='1265787314' post='690605'] Being born and spending my childhood in California, I call it soda. Always will... [/quote] [font="Times New Roman"][size="3"][color="#9932cc"]Yeaaah...me too. Even though I'm now joining the Navy and will probably be shipped to a country where they call it something in a language totally not my own it's going to be soda all the way. And I'm a total snob about mixing my sodas or getting the really nice or different things. There are wine snobs and beer snobs, and baby I'm a soda snob. I get mine from BevMo because my boyfriend has a killer employee discount. If it's not a Sprite with copious amounts of squeezed in lemon, or a Blackberry/Raspberry Izze [which isn't really a soda but it has some carbonation so there], I'll generally be very iffy on it. I loathe Pepsi and all of it's bastard children. And I really am a sucker for microbrewed batches of really really delicious root beer. That being said I don't have it often. You might've noticed my two favorite choices were not precisely sweet. Yeah it's a tastebud thing. Sour good. Really sweet bad. This is why I hate Ramune. I TRIED PEOPLE![/color][/size][/font]

[font="Times New Roman"][size="3"][color="#9932cc"]Cool, my sister's birthday is Ice Cream Soda Day. Too bad she only wants berry pie for her birthday treat. But what the heck, nobody's perfect. [/color][/size][/font]

[font="Times New Roman"][size="3"][color="#9932cc"]Cheddar cheese is honestly one of my favorites, but only extra sharp. White is what I generally prefer. I hate American Cheese. Early on I was spoiled by my adopted Dutch Uncle Tony. He introduced me to a variety of good hard cheeses to nibble on in between meals. But then I started working near a Whole Foods that totally turned me on to their bundling of small bits of usually extremely expensive cheeses in very cheap portions. This had me trying sheep, goat, and the usual cow cheeses, but the softer creamier sorts. The names were so long I can't even remember them all. But there was a Black Diamond Canadian Cheddar and another Irish one that blew my mind. Both so good with crusty artisan bread. I love cream cheese, cheesecake, hate cottage cheese. [it's the look of it you know]. I'm great with cheeseburgers as long as it's the aforementioned cheddar or another sharp. Hate Monterey Jack with peppers, but like it without, so so on the mozerella, and I love the crumbly parmsean. Bleu's a no go, and I'm so so on Swiss. Provolone I love shredded in large amounts with my spaghetti and salad [when I feel naughty]. HOWEVER I really don't like it in copious amounts on my pizza, and dislike it dumped over anything that was meant to be Mexican food. Go figure. My one consolation in all of this is that at least my Uncle got his foot in the door before it was too late. Confession: I love to play with the wax, but dislike laughing cow cheese's taste. [/color][/size][/font]

[font="Times New Roman"][color="#9932cc"]Yeaaaaah, I dislike orange in general except in my real live sunsets. But I like the textured look of it regardless. Either way it's still softer on the eyes. ...and my post is bold too. Maybe it's a poll thread thing. WAIT NO! Editing made it go away! [/color][/font]

[font="Times New Roman"][color="#9932cc"]I have to say I do like Futurama better than Family Guy or the Simpsons, but I don't like Bender all that much. Sure I think he's okay, but I prefer Dr. Zoidberg. This may stem from my secret tentacle fantasies. Or the fact that I was able to meet his voice actor at San Diego Comic Con a few years ago. It could go either way. Plus there's Kif. And Amy and Leela. Those things help. [/color][/font]

[font="Times New Roman"][color="#9932cc"]So did anyone here attend the recently completed FanimeCon this Memorial Day Weekend? I staffed it as a suit[security sort of] this year and am only now regaining consciousness[use of said consciousness] and so on and so forth. It occurrs to me that our jobs would be easier if we had a less Draconian weapon/prop policy. Oh well. I would've posted about this event sooner, but such a thing only recently struck me. About the time I was sleeping on the floor of a hotel room meant for 4 people but occupied by 7. Gotta love cons. Also, is anyone attending again next year? San Jose, California, same as usual. [/color][/font]

[center] [font="Times New Roman"][size="3"][color="#9932cc"]I. Cicada sister still lies still,[/color][/size][/font] [font="Times New Roman"][size="3"][color="#9932cc"] Her cheeks the rhythmic sound required,[/color][/size][/font] [font="Times New Roman"][size="3"][color="#9932cc"] For me to sleep while she sucks against her cheeks[/color][/size][/font] [font="Times New Roman"][size="3"][color="#9932cc"] with tiny whispers and clicks.[/color][/size][/font] [font="Times New Roman"][size="3"][color="#9932cc"] I feel safer under these sheets trying,[/color][/size][/font] [font="Times New Roman"][size="3"][color="#9932cc"] To find some rest then I did when she wasnâ??t sleeping above me.[/color][/size][/font] [/center][center][font="Times New Roman"][size="3"][color="#9932cc"]She holds her blankets to breathe, The scents her soothing, gentle softness, That bring her to places timeless. Carefully I peek above my area looking up to the place she prays.[/color][/size][/font][/center] [center] [/center][center][font="Times New Roman"][size="3"][color="#9932cc"]Every night before her final haul, She tells me to pray her prayers the way she wants with me. I feel included and introspective, When she tells me sheâ??s missing, Her old home in an orphanage in China far away from all.[/color][/size][/font][/center] [center] [/center][center][font="Times New Roman"][size="3"][color="#9932cc"]II. The quiet sound of siblings sleeping and the sibilant whispers of the breeze through the shutters. A smell of jasmine and a ripple of rose wafting from above my motherâ??s garden. Tonight is calm and cool and bright, while the waiting wooden lantern sways lightly. Last night an ex-friend came back to talk to me from nowhere. Didnâ??t stay for long, saw his mistake for what it wasnâ??t and left again. Fully prepared to be dust. I go back. Calmer than I should be, calmer than I have been in years. Back in the solitude and quiet of the place. Where I am dust. In the dark.[/color][/size][/font][/center] [center][font="Times New Roman"][size="3"][color="#9932cc"] [/color][/size][/font][/center] [center][font="Times New Roman"][size="3"][color="#9932cc"][img]http://johnbokma.com/mexit/2007/07/04/cicada-on-hand-esme-1.jpg[/img] [/color][/size][/font][/center]

[font="Times New Roman"][color="#9932cc"] Because I am a snarkaloopy bonkermonker and really really like political satire, I picked up Christopher Buckley's [u]Boomsday[/u]. It changed. My. Life. Actually it really didn't but it was still good, hilarious, and made me wish I had a least a smattering of French. Having read most of his other novels, this one did not disappoint and was up to par with his usual standards of creativity, intelligence, and general sarcasm that can not be called stinging so much as it can be called Jesus Christ Pre Crucifixion Flogging. Quote Me. [/color][/font]

[font="Times New Roman"][color="#9932cc"]So a long long weekend of FanimeCon made me want to drink, and while I have a policy of not drinking while working, there's nothing that says I can't drink once I'm home. So after a long, stressful [and occasionally disappointing] weekend, me and the boyfriend decided that ginger beer [non alcoholic] mixed with Bacardi Torched Cherry Rum on ice was a good idea. We'd showered, cleaned up, eaten, and were watching back to back episodes of Top Gear when the thought occurred to me that it would be the perfect time to have a drink. And it turns out it was. [/color][/font]

[color="#9932CC"][font="Times New Roman"]Gotta say, I can only surmise that us posting our desktops will for the most part, prove that most of us are filthy perverts. .....I include myself here.[/font][/color]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]I've only ever drunk to forget something once and while it worked, the accompanying sloppiness was not worth it. These days I drink a little bit, then settle back to enjoy the party and watch the people around me. Or I do the standard fallback of behavior that helps me relax and bring out the fingernails to flay the skin off the back of whichever friend seems to be most eager to feel pain. If I can inflict some pain on someone during the day, I sleep better at night. Do I occasionally have a drink just to have it? Yes. But do I choose to liquidate my sorrows when there are other options? Not usually. I like to have my feelings sharp and fresh in front of me.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]A friend in the military says you have to exhale as much as you can. Breathe out and when you think you can't anymore, keep trying. Empty your lungs of oxygen, then start breathing normally again.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[INDENT][COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]Strawberry, so people would mistake me for Ichigo and hit me with enormous sparkly colored swords.[/FONT][/COLOR][/INDENT]

[quote name='Boo'][font=GERMAN CORRECTOR FONT]Actually it's "Ich spreche kein Englisch."[/font][/QUOTE] [COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]*snerk* Not if you're making fun of people who generally say 'I have no English' when you ask them. It's about as good as ich bin ein Berliner. And while I'm Chinese I'd rather shoot myself in the mouth than learn it. A few billion characters, each with their own special meaning. Same goes for Japanese or Korean. I don't need to know those languages to read English subtitles and have my room mate frantically correct me in a low mutter in the background. Knowing even rudimentary Japanese wouldn't make me any more hip or cooler or more animey. I'd just sound like a tool while I tried to impress people with it at conventions.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]I grate some white cheddar cheese over ordinary white corn tortilla chips and zap them in the microwave for about 45 to 66 seconds, as the new microwave at my new apartment is slightly less efficient than plonking the whole thing out in front of the sun for awhile. Otherwise I eat whatever rice crackers caught my attention at the local asian market, or sometimes strawberries dipped liberally in sugar.[/FONT][/COLOR]