BabyGirl

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Arcadia [/i] [B][size=1]It was just more comfortable to think that she was still in Ohio, miles away, and that would be the only thing that stopped me from seeing her. [/size] [/B][/QUOTE] [color=deeppink]That's exactly how I had been dealing with my brother's death throughout an intense period of personal denial. It [i]is[/i] way easier to pretend that they're simply 2000+ miles away, still living, still breathing, still making people smile. I suppose I still think of it this way to some extent, but being home for three weeks at Christmas helped me come to further terms with the ordeal, and being able to visit the grave site lessened the denial a great deal. But yeah, coming to terms with death is hard. I know that it'll take me a long time to fully understand how I feel about it. I know that the worst thing someone can do is close themselves off from any emotion that they may be feeling, because that's what I've done and it's been horrible. Just recently have I realized that it's ok to simply break down and cry about it; no one is going to think any less of me for having human feelings.[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Mitch [/i] [B][size=1] But back to the topic at hand--the funeral. Does the funeral provide any amount of closure? I don't think so. Tell me, does seeing your loved one one last time, all dolled up, all superficial, and dead, does this make any closure? I doubt it. [/quote][/b][/size] [color=deeppink]Personally, I don't think so. But it depends on the person who has died. For the 16-year-old girl I hardly knew who died of leukemia, the funeral brought closure because it seemed like the right thing for me to do; pay my respects and all. For my brother's death, closure hasn't exactly happened yet. The closest thing to 'closure' I have found is being able to visit the grave site and see all of the things friends and family have brought there. It's so great to know that so many people still think of him.[/color] [B][size=1][quote]I know that if I would see someone dead-eyed, in their casket, it is not going to make me feel better, it is going to make me feel worse; and it is going to stay in my memories--a memory that is the last time I saw this person before they were forever inhumed, or cremated, or whatever they so sought to do.[/quote][/size][/b] [color=deeppink]Again, I agree. It seems very unnatural and very uncomfortable, like I'm looking at something that I shouldn't be. My brother [I'll use Eric from now on] looked nothing like he did while he was alive, and this was slightly creepy. It's definitely something that disturbed me more than anything.[/color] [quote][b][size=1]So, with life support, and whatever else money, one gets one "finale," one last toast to life's good fortune--they get a party where they don't even exist, at least physically, that is all about sadness, eulogies, ineffable emotions, all the things which death is so-set to be.[/b][/size][/quote] [color=deeppink]Funerals are definitely a part of American culture [and other cultures, indeed]. It's the socially correct thing to do, and the funeral industry thrives off of the fact that people are upset enough to make irrational decisions about money when it comes to righting any wrongs they committed toward the deceased during their lifetime. Emotions are easy to play like that.[/color] [size=1][b][quote]Realistically, what is death? It's dying. Nothing more. Death is not a funeral, death is not embalming, death is not mourning, death is not being buried in the ground; death is a Fate, one which we must accept on some ground, and go on with our lives until it happens to us. Death isn't some big deal. It's just what it is--it's death--it is not some flowery, fluent, immortalizing, tantalizing thing. It's death. It is "a permanent cessation of all vital functions," it is the ending of a life. [/quote][/b][/size] [color=deeppink]Literally speaking, you're correct. But it's easy to simplify death when you don't want to think of it as being a big deal. It's hard for me to believe that people can deny death as being an impactful occurance on people who love the deceased party. Simplify it all you want, but it doesn't change the fact that [i]someone[/i] is going to be deeply effected by another person's death.[/color] [quote][b][size=1]From the graves--tombstones--cosmetics used by embalmers--on and on and on--it's just to the point where I can't even see why people would waste such large amounts of money on such an inevitable thing.[/b][/quote][/size] [color=deeppink]I find my brother's tombstone to be extremely beautiful, a perfect tribute to someone so young and wonderful. I don't think it was a waste of money at all, it's marking his final resting place for as long as it stands on the earth. It's an object that marks the place where people can come to feel closer to the boy that they knew and continue to love. I didn't read the article because I don't think I'm necessarily ready to read it yet. Maybe later on when I've come to better grips with the whole death issue.[/color]

[color=deeppink]My high school's band was good, but they seemed to have issues with the rest of the school. I think they thought we all hated them for being band groupies, when instead we all admired them for their talent. They turned themselves into an exclusive group that snubbed their noses at the rest of the school...it was a very strange thing indeed. I was in band from 6th-8th grade, along with 75% of my school. Everyone except the dedicated ones basically quit band after middle school. I didn't really enjoy it because I was really bad. I played coronet and was first chair in 6th grade before braces ruined my ability to play well. For the rest of my middle school band career I was pretty far down the line when it came to talent, heh. In high school I was a cheerleader. My boyfriend was a band geek. Go figure :p[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Darkness [/i] [B]It may not be the greatest, but it's worth watching. As for Pokemon being a good starter, BG, I hope you were kidding. [/B][/QUOTE] [color=deeppink]Tehe, nope. If someone has never seen anime, they're not going to know how horrible Pokemon really is in comparison to the better series out there. All truth be told, I started watching Pokemon for the cool animation style and later found out that this was called 'anime'. It hooked me I guess, so it could work for someone else, especially younger viewers :whoops:[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Darkness [/i] [B]Then what about the second part....What would you all consider a good anime to present to the sceptic? [/B][/QUOTE] [color=deeppink]Absolutely not. It will only create a greater skeptic. I think most people need to be eased into anime by more mindless shows like, as CrH said, Pokemon or DBZ. To them, confusing shows will only support their claims that anime is 'stupid'. If it's an older skeptic, someone who would appreciate gritty, thoughtful anime, Cowboy Bebop is a good one. But not Noir, definitely not.[/color]

[color=deeppink]I do not like Noir >.>; I watched the first two DVDs until I was absolutely bored out of my skull. I couldn't bring myself to watch any further episodes for fear of seeing the same sequence and hearing the same music five times in every half hour of the series. I think that they sorely underestimated the intelligence of their viewers by how many times they repeated certain scenes and flashbacks...agh. I realize that this is just the way the show is, especially at first, but I just couldn't take it. Foreshadowing never really snags my intrest, anime or otherwise, it only serves to irritate me. I liked the characters, though, they were rather fun.[/color]

[color=deeppink]I think chivalry is really rather sweet. My boyfriend of 1+ year still holds doors for me and treats me like the lady that I am. In a world where a lot of girls get screwed over in relationships, it's refreshing that there are some good men out there raising their sons to be curteous to a woman. It may be outdated in a lot of ways [like standing up every time a woman enters or leaves the room], but random acts of kindness are always appreciated. Men often hold doors for me or let me go in front of them in line, and I don't find that to be sexist, I think they're just being nice. Maybe people shouldn't worry so much about silly things like that, women should take it as a compliment, not an insult.[/color]

[color=deeppink]Legally the pedestrian [i]does[/i] have the right-of-way. Once you start driving you start understanding why it's annoying that people take too long to cross the street. Because, honestly, in some situations you could at least hurry yourselves across [speaking in general terms]. However, a good driver is always attentive to the road around them, especially to cross walks. It's probably a better idea to wait for a car to stop [i]for[/i] you [if that's possible where you're trying to cross], because they're willing to stop their own journey to let you cross in front of them. Heh, is that making sense? Sometimes I guess you have no other alternative than stepping out into traffic and hoping cars will stop, but that's always a last-ditch option for me. I'd rather wait for a nice person to stop who doesn't want to run me over :p. And I have faith that there are people like that out there, because I stop for pedestrians, too! [/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Dan L [/i] [B]There's a difference between mental breakdown and teenage angst.[/B][/QUOTE] [color=deeppink]I think that's definitely the best way to say it. Teenage angst is such an ugly thing, too. It's unpleasant for both the giving and receiving ends, but it's also avoidable. There [i]are[/i] ways to make yourself happy during those angst-prone years, or at least keep yourself occupied enough to stop dark thoughts from roaming around in your head. Contrary to the angst situation, I'm assuming that mental breakdowns are triggered by things that someone has trouble controling or are impossible to overcome. And while they're maybe avoidable in certain situations [ie. causing oneself too much stress], in other cases they may not. I obviously do not know from experience what a mental breakdown is like, and I am quite honestly glad of that ^_~. Even under the whole situation of my brother passing away, I'm surprised with how well I've dealt with how deep in denial I am about the whole ordeal. It's amazing that I haven't had some sort of emotional collapse from it all. But you know what? I think it's because I am so very happy with my life that even the dark periods are pretty easy to overcome. You just have to look at things from their good side, not their bad side. It takes some getting used to, but it's so much better than letting angst get the better of you. Just some words of wisdom, I guess. Didn't mean to turn it into a motivational speech >.>. Heh :whoops:[/color]

[b][u]General Awards[/b][/u] Overall Member of the Year: [color=deeppink][b]Charles[/b][/color] [size=1]Honorable Mention: [b][color=deeppink]Drix D'Zanth[/color][/b][/size] Male Otaku of the Year: [b][color=deeppink]James[/b][/color] [size=1]Honorable Mention: [color=deeppink][b]Shy[/b][/color][/size] Female Otaku of the Year: [color=deeppink][b]Lady Asphyxia[/b][/color] [size=1]Honorable Mention: [color=deeppink][b]Queen Asuka[/b][/color] [/size] Staff Member of the Year: [color=deeppink][b]Arcadia[/b][/color] [size=1]Honorable Mention: [color=deeppink][b]DeathKnight[/b][/color][/size] Funniest Member: [color=deeppink][b]Heaven's Cloud[/b][/color] [size=1]Honorable Mention: [color=deeppink][b]Arcadia[/b][/color][/size] Most Opinionated Otaku: [color=deeppink][b]PoisonTongue[/b][/color] [size=1]Honorable Mention: [color=deeppink][b]cloricus[/b][/color][/size] Member most likely to be here in two years: [b][color=deeppink]Sara[/b][/color] [size=1]Honorable Mention: [b][color=deeppink]Shy[/color][/b][/size] Best Newbie: [b][color=deeppink]KarmaOfChaos[/color][/b] [size=1]Honorable Mention: [b][color=deeppink]Adahn[/b][/color][/size] Best Oldie: [color=deeppink][b]Liamc2[/b][/color] [size=1]Honorable Mention: [b][color=deeppink]Red[/b][/color][/size] Most likely to become a Staff Member: [color=deeppink][b]Lady Asphy[/b][/color] [size=1]Honorable Mention: [b][color=deeppink]Anyone who already used to be and isn't at the moment.[/color][/b][/size] Favorite Banned Member: [color=deeppink][b]Kevin[/b] [we had our good days][/color] [size=1]Honorable Mention: [color=deeppink][b]Zeh[/b][/color][/size] [strike]Most improved Member of the Year: [size=1]Honorable Mention:[/size][/strike] Thread of the Year: [b][color=deeppink]Star Wars 411[/b][/color] [size=1]Honorable Mention: [color=deeppink][b]Kill Adam[/b][/color][/size] Silliest Thread of the Year: [color=deeppink][b]Year of Otaku [what was I THINKING? lol][/color][/b] [strike][size=1]Honorable Mention:[/size][/strike] [b][u]Random Awards[/u][/b] Avatar Award: [color=deeppink][b]Queen Asuka[/b][/color] [size=1]Honorable Mention: [color=deeppink][b]Baron Samedie[/b][/color][/size] Signature Award: [color=deeppink][b]Sara[/b][/color] [size=1]Honorable Mention: [b][color=deeppink]Baron Samedie[/b][/color][/size] [strike]Best Location: [size=1]Honorable Mention:[/size][/strike] Best Otaku Couple: [color=deeppink][b]Queen Asuka + PiroMunkie[/b][/color] [size=1]Honorable Mention: [color=deeppink][b]Charles + Japan_86[/color][/b][/size] Best looking Otaku: [b][color=deeppink]Liamc2[/b][/color] [size=1]Honorable Mention: [b][color=deeppink]James[/b][/color][/size] Otaku clique of the Year: [b][color=deeppink]Adam's Angels[/b][/color] [strike][size=1]Honorable Mention:[/size][/strike] Best MyOtaku: [color=deeppink][b]Arcadia[/b] [I love reading it!][/color] [size=1]Honorable Mention: [b][color=deeppink]Queen Asuka[/b] [always pretty!][/color][/size] [b][u]Otaku Writers[/u][/b] Poet Laureate: [b][color=deeppink]Raiha[/b][/color] [size=1]Honorable Mention: [color=deeppink][b]Drix D'Zanth[/b][/color][/size] Writer of the Year: [b][color=deeppink]Mitch[/b][/color] [size=1]Honorable Mention: [color=deeppink][b]Charles[/b][/color][/size] Orginal Story of the Year: [color=deeppink][b]Body Language[/b] because that counts in a way I think...[/color] [size=1]Honorable Mention: [color=deeppink][b]PoisonTongue's story about the college guy who goes to work for Bond's Dr. No. The title fails me.[/b][/color][/size] Role-Player of the Year: [b][color=deeppink]DeathKnight[/b][/color] [size=1]Honorable Mention: [color=deeppink][b]Queen Asuka[/b][/color][/size] [strike][b]Brawler of the Year (sparring):[/b] [size=1]Honorable Mention:[/size][/strike] Role-Playing Game of the Year: [b][color=deeppink]SYF 3[/b][/color] [size=1]Honorable Mention: [b][color=deeppink]Kill Adam[/b] [which was a hard decision placing those two, because Kill Adam was very well done, but SYF is still going so it gets the top spot][/color][/size] [b][u]Social Otakus[/u][/b] Otaku Social member of the year: [b][color=deeppink]Semjaza Azazel[/b][/color] [size=1]Honorable Mention:[/size] [b][color=deeppink]ChibiHorsewoman[/b][/color] Entertainment Otaku of the Year: [b][color=deeppink]Manic[/b][/color] [strike][size=1]Honorable Mention:[/size][/strike] --- [color=deeppink]That's as far as I can go, my knowledge of the other categories is too limited :)[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by anatema [/i] [B]I'm all over the place, but after some thought and a brand new camera I went for photography.[/B][/QUOTE] [color=deeppink]I'm glad to hear someone else from OB is on the same path as me ^_^. What type of camera did you buy? I am currently in my second year at Brooks Institute of Photography for 'visual journalism', the new age term for photojournalism. I basically know that I'm going to be a photojournalist, which probably means I'll start out shooting as an intern for smaller newspapers and work my way up. I'd be very content staying at a mid-size newspaper rather than working for something huge like the LA Times or Detroit Free Press. I prefer being laid back instead of being on the go all of the time. But seeing as how the photojournalism career is in constant motion, we'll just have to see what the future holds. One thing I know is that I do love photojournalism :D[/color]

[color=deeppink]After not attending church for a few years, I actually attended a [i]Catholic[/i] church service for Christmas Eve. The whole ordeal made me feel oddly out of place, seeing as how I knew none of the reply chant/songs, nor did I even like being there. Being in church personally annoys me...but that's just me. To make a point, Christmas means family time. I'm sure Jesus was a way cool person and his birth is important, but the whole religious/church process is too formal and totally not for me. I just like being home for the holidays and seeing everyone I love.[/color]

[color=deeppink]I had to dig this image out of my old computer files, but I used it as an avatar a long while ago. I'm not sure why I used Mara, seeing as how I don't necessarily like her, but I think I wanted a real photograph of a woman with a lightsaber and those were hard to come by before the prequels. At least she has a purple lightsaber in this image, that wins her a few points with me ^_~. [But UGH! That leather cat suit?!][/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Deedlit [/i] [B][color=009966]lol It really freaks her out when I wear it because I look like a ringwraith[/color] [/B][/QUOTE] [color=deeppink]Or the Grim Reaper, ehehe... --- I got my beautiful 20mm f/2.8 lens, so nothing else matters. My life is complete.[/color]