A Rabbit's Den / ウサギの洞

Paris 2009 Report

happysaber@yahoo.com — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:54:39 GMT

Pffft. Spent the whole day on this...

Sorry to report a little late. Been playing with DSi, visiting my sister, and sloth is usually the aftermath of a trip for me. Anyways, a month is a huge load to cover, so the highlights will be divided by weeks~ I'm not gonna go too much in details. Below the cut for Paris pics!

Teaser:

Warning: over 80 pics below the cut!

Week 1

After 4-hour flight to Houston, and then a 9-hour flight to CDG airport, then walking to the RER-B (train) we finally arrived at our dorms on June 2. We stayed at the "Maison du Canada", basically the house/dorm with the Canadian students. Our rooms were so compacted!

The bathroom (plus shower) was literally just maybe a third bigger than a phonebooth XD;; I thought I would've felt claustrophobic but eventually we all got used to the space.

Our first day was half free half exploring. :D Our professors got us these pocket-sized map book that includes all the street names and the metro/bus maps, divided by the arrondissement sections. Hehe that store had a small comic section! Afterwards we went on a brief metro ride to get familiar with the subway system.

Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame. :D

The following day was a "Scavenger Hunt," in which our professor divided us into teams and gave each team a list of addresses in the city we have to find. *cough* My team was last one to return due to... circumstances 8D;; There was a delay in one of the trains that we waited over 30 minutes for.

St. Germain, tho not the best pic... Luxembourg Garden's fountain.

The third day was crazy. First, we went to the Louvre museum! Though, admittedly, it's mostly famous for its collection of antiquity artworks rather than "good" artworks. My partner and I still got totally lost in the palace cuz we thought each emphasized room on the map were large rooms, but some are so small that we didn't even know we passed through them already.

The Psyche and Cupid is one of my all-time favorite sculptures ever. In this one room there were some really amazing bronze figurines that interested me so much more cuz they were so gestural *u* The last one is the Rubens gallery, another that I also enjoyed a lot.

Please take a look at last year's gallery for more shots, cuz I didn't take too many this time.

Next we went to visit the famous Gobelins L'Ecole de L'Image (Gobelins School of Image)! The art university has a strong animation division, and our professor is going to be teaching here the coming spring. We were kindly invited to look at the 1-2 minute senior works, and boy, they were stunning work. @D@

On the left is a shot of the concept sheets on the wall. I wonder if I'm allowed to display it... *crosses fingers*
Afterwards our professor (his name's John, so I'll type John from now on) gave us a watercolor demo, which was supposed to have lasted only 45 minutes, but it ended up being 2 hours lol @D@;;

The next day we visited the Musee D'Orsay {musee = museum}, and I SO think it's way more impressive than the Louvre!! It has a vast range of 1400s to Impressionism artworks, and unlike the Louvre's antiquity collection, these artworks are actually pieces that work. The museum used to be a train station, which is why there's that majestic clock.

(1) That's perfect example of what I mean by "work". Just look at the choices that the artist made on the composition, the gestures, and limited palette!
(2) Yup. One of Monet's La Cathedrale de Rouen pieces. I loved that particular blue/orange complementary palette.
(3) I did my presentation in front of the gallery the famous Luncheon on the Grass was in. As said before, one of the people I had to research on was Edouard Manet, and now I have so much more appreciation for his works and the way he thinks.

Left: The 12 Disciples nude and in very feminine poses. Sexy~~~WUT~~ XD No really. Though I don't particularly agree with some of the symmetric decisions, the flow of the bodies is really pleasing to the eye. And the colors!
Right: Definitely my favorite piece in the museum because I love sketch works, and that was a very beautiful and effective sketch by Ernest Hébert.

Afterwards we were pretty much free to wonder on our own. Oh right! We visited the Sennelier art store! It's the same art store that Picasso got his art supplies from.

Then on Saturday we visited the Musee Picasso, and yes if the first week is pretty much museum hopping 8D; But to be clear, the class isn't a drawing class and we aren't just visiting the landmarks of Paris. Along the way, our professor would give us some exercises that'll help us generate ideas and be more "adventurous." So on this day, the exercise was a "hot potato" spread, in which we trade our sketchbook with everyone, and everyone draws in each other's spreads. The point is the density and energy of the spread.

I didn't really take pictures of any works, but I thought the interior was kinda whimsical. And I'm high-fiving my double 8D!

Before visiting the next museum, we went to a store called Melodies Graphiques that has really beautiful calligraphy supplies! I wish I bought something there >.< Anyways, the next museum we visited was the Musee du quai Branly, and it had collections of many tribal civilizations from all over the world. The one above particularly lol-ed for me 8D;

Oh, haha, the Asians of the group decided to cook already. I forgot to mention that the bread/baguette here is PHENOMENALLY delicious, but sandwich, on the other hand, we were kinda getting sick of. So.... curry! hahaha.

Week 2

On Sunday, we visited yet another museum! This time Musee Marmottan, which contains Monet's famous Nymphera lily pond paintings!

And yeah lol. We looked again. Doesn't the food look so Asian?

But that was also the night that I drank substantial amount of white wine and started getting sick. I still don't know whether it was just a very quick illness or was it an allergic reaction.

It wasn't good time to get sick at all, because on Monday, it was pouring rain and it was one of the days we actually had to be outdoor. Basically within 6 hours, our professor wanted us to do 15 pages in our sketchbook, in which he expected to be not-so-well-drawn pages. He wanted us to instead of hunting for something to draw, try to make what's in front of us appealing.

Anyways, by the evening of that night, I had my fever. So I took the next day off... and missed the trip to Giverny.

The following day (Wed.) was an off day, so after a day of recovering, I decided to venture off on my own in the city to make up for the lack of productivity. And hehe, I saw this at the metro (●´Д｀●)♥

MUSE'S NEW ALBUM TOUR!! Gah I hope they will have a US tour following their Europe one...
The full tracklisting is:

01. Uprising
02. Resistance
03. Undisclosed Desires
04. United States Of Eurasia (+Collateral Damage)
05. Guiding Light
06. Unnatural Selection
07. MK Ultra
08. I Belong To You (+Mon Coeur S”Ouvre A Ta Voix)
09. Exogenesis: Symphony Part I (Overture)
10. Exogenesis: Symphony Part II (Cross Pollination)
11. Exogenesis Part III (Redemption)

IT'S GONNA BE SO EPIC.

Anyways... back to the report.

Although that's the day off, there was an event in the evening. In midst of pouring rain and those danger puddle zones, everyone is dressed formally to see a concert at St. Chappelle. Despite the weather, the concert was so worth it...I mean, a string quartet in a magnificent Gothic chapel!! How classy is that?!

And St. Chappelle had the most magnificent stain glasses...

The next day, we visited the Museum National D'Histoire Naturelle, a museum specialized in anthropogenic collections like extinct animal bones!

Friday and Saturday are a bit of a blur to me at the moment, but I believe on Friday we visited the Pompidou museum, which is actually a modern art museum. I wasn't really that impressed... though it had a really nice bookstore. :D

On the same day, we dined together at a restaurant called Dans Le Noir, which translates to "Dine in the Dark." And yes. We literally dined a surprise menu set in pitch blackness, in which we're served by blind waiters and waitresses. Yes it's like getting a glimpse of how blind people eat. At first I was extremely paranoid about it, but it helped to close my eyes. Then it got pretty fun trying to eat without seeing our food.

Afterwards, we went to see the nightview of Notre Dame! It's around 10:30 there; notice there's still a noticeable amount of sunlight left due to latitude.

Saturday we visited the Musee de L'Armee, which has a collection of armors since the Medieval times! I was awing at the knight armors and weaponry. They also had an exclusive WWI & WWII collection with footages.

Ah, the last one is from the Guimet, an Asian art museum.

Week 3

The next two days are free days. Remember me reporting that I got lost in the French coast? Hahaha... that was Sunday. I wanted to visit Giverny (Monet's Gardens) since I missed it on the sick day. The funny thing is that when I told my professor about the incident, all he could say was, "Oh that's okay, I don't mind you guys having 'misadventures'!" He wants us to get lost and explore and be curious lol. I think I went back to the Louvre and St. Germain's Cathedral on Monday.

Tuesday, we visited Normandy, which by bus is around 4 hours away from Paris, where we get to really revisit WWII's Invasion of Normandy in full context. WWII cannot hit home more than this trip.. Background info: June 6, 1944 (D-Day) was a set day for the Allies army to invade the Normandy beaches in order to take the territory back from the Germans for France.

John wanted us to really learn how to get into context of a story, how deep we must get to communicate to the audience, how to explain the magnitude of what the soldiers might have gone through in a way that will reach us in the personal level.

There was something he said that struck me very hard. He knew someone who would talk about almost anything, and was also a former officer at D-Day. And D-Day was one subject that no matter what, after all those years, he can't talk coherently about without crying.

John's friend said: "You never get used to the idea to be the one to send a guy to a corner, and the guy doesn't come back." When one of his comrades does get blown up in a "corner," he had cradled the soldier whose body is pretty much disassembled, hushing 'It's gonna be okay' when he knows it's not gonna be. "I think about that boy every night," he said.

We were guided by a British man named Elwood, who was an incredible story-teller. (Also his wife was kind enough to pack us all sandwiches and beverages!) In this photo, he was explaining the only defense of any kind on those boats were the back, made of steel while everything else was not bullet-proof.

Our first stop was actually the Airborne Museum. The Airborne landings, at least for the American army, were the first of the invasion operations. This operation was completely miscalculated, and the result was disastrous. The aerial attack, aimed for the Germans, ended up being the town itself, and only 3 of hundreds paratroopers survived.

In the first photo above shows the location of where John Steele (one of the survivors)'s parachute got caught; the spire yes, but it was actually the opposite side. The Church was located at the corner of the town square, so while all the commotions happening in the center, the side of the Church was pitch dark. According to Elwood, Steele's best friend had located him but was gunshot down by a German soldier right in front of him. That soldier spotted Steele up at the top of the Church and was about to shoot up, but at the last breath, his best friend took a gun out and killed the German soldier. If it weren't for his best friend, John Steele would not have survived...

I don't recall which one is the photo of, but we visited Utah Beach and Omaha Beach.

The US 4th Infantry division invaded Utah Beach, and it was one of the most successful beach invasions for the Allies because of precise planning and soldiership, as there were only around 145 casualties.

Omaha Beach, on the other hand... was almost the opposite. With every tidal wave, another line of soldiers was sent to shore. The Germans had anticipated the invasion and was well-prepared for it. The 1st wave to the 4th waves were chaotic and disastrous for the American troops because there was lack of communication and senior leadership.

It wasn't until the 5th wave where a lieutenant told the soldiers to get it together that the tables started to turn. "Are you going to lay there and get killed, or get up and do something about it?"

Then we visited the Normandy American Cemetery, a cemetery ground given by the French government to honor the American soldiers.

The bells were ringing, and literally there were over 900 crosses spread across the horizon of green grass. It was... really surreal.

Our final stop was Pointe du Hoc, a clifftop, another point of attack by the US army. The cliffs were massive, and only US soldiers who were specially trained for the climbing were sent for the attack.

The first picture shows a crater created by the bombs, while the second shows glimpse of the soldier's hide-out.

A strange deviation, but the whole experience, everything reminded me of the WK fic The Sweet Hell We Shared because it portrayed the war setting so vividly.

I have to say, all these stories hit home pretty badly... because the soldiers were simply 18 to early 20s when they fought in WWII. When I was young, the age 18 sounded so grown-up and far away. Soldiers sounded like a position so distant from us students. Now look. I mean, our age! The commanders were merely in their 20s. Those boys younger than all of us were out there fighting and enduring all those shit! Dying from gunshot and from sinking, carrying over 50 lbs of equipment, cleaning out body parts of their own comrades that were stuck in their tanks. Fuck. And we were standing exactly where they were, soldiers our age... If we were shoved in such situations, I don't even know what we'd do.

Anyways, I should probably move on.

After the rode trip, the next day, we visited Musée des Arts décoratifs musée Paris (Museum of Decorative Arts).

Not part of the museum...but I saw this at a bakery and thought they were so ADORKABLE. I WANT THAT TURTLE BREAD.

I'm kinda proud of these two photos. The museum had some very interesting collections, including two jewelry collections, toy collection, innovative chairs, and more. Too bad the fashion and advertisement galleries were closed...

We only had 2 days left before the end of class, hence we had the remaining day free; so I just went to sketch a little. It was weird, because two men on the same day used the pick-up line of "What time is it?" on me. One even pulled this "I didn't get this job, and today's my birthday too!" nonsense.

On the 18th and 19th, our final assignment was one long drawing and then draw another using someone else's "assignment" (everyone pitched an assignment, and we choose one). On the 19th, after we turned in our sketchbooks, we had a little chocolate tasting from Francois Pralus, Leonard Pitt's favorite chocolate store in Paris! So many different dark chocolates. Oh, just FYI, during April, we had the honor of visiting Leonard Pitt in Berkeley, and he signed my "Walks Through Lost Paris" book :)

To celebrate, everyone went to a bar together, and interesting enough, somehow we had John tell each one of us what he thought were our good and bad traits were. For me, he said I wasn't someone who'd usually come up to talk to him, but he liked how once I do, I go on and on enthusiastically about it. I was actually surprised at the answer, cuz I've always considered myself as, well, introverted. Then for bad trait, he said, "Try not to be afraid to piss someone off." Haha...

The next day we had a little informal wine tasting accompanied with bread, cheese, and fruits 8D

During the evening, several of us went to Les Fêtes Galantes, a restaurant that John tried by accident and then highly recommended it for its traditional French cuisine in a reasonable price. The restaurant itself is rather small and nothing extremely fancy, but it feels very homey and welcoming. We all ordered something different from the menu set so that we can try each other's dishes.

I decided on the higher priced end of the menu and ordered the meal set of onion soup (appetizer), duck confit topped with honey and almonds (main dish), and home made apple tart with calvados (dessert). And my God...... it's the best meal I've had on the whole trip (and this is a mutual statement among us all). The names of the dishes and any words I say here canNOT do justice to describe how delicious they were. All I can say is, "Now THIS is true French cuisine."

Authentic French onion soup with a piece of lamb meat.

This dish was GODLY....the skin crisped just right and the meat cooked so tenderly and flavored with the right amount of saltiness and sweetness.

Warm and sweet. Topped with a unique flavored ice cream and fruits. WOW. Such a grand way to end the meal with.

Week 4

The next day, the 21st, was Fete de la Musique, an annual music festival in which bands and all sorts of music artists will be playing out in the streets of Paris! It was really awesome!

That day was the first outing in which we were together without John. Kira and I separated from the group a little later cuz it got a little too crazy for our taste. There's the famous Opera House in nightlight.

The next day Kira and I went to visit the Pere Lachaise Cemetery to kiss Oscar Wilde's grave 8D!!!

Haha, mines look so retarded.

We also visited the interior of the Opera House (same that Phantom of the Opera is based on). Alas, the auditorium was closed. The photo on the right is a mini stage set of the play Othello, replica to the actual set on stage. Such craftsmanship!

We also went into a park near La Defense that had rabbits everywhere!

Dublin, Ireland

On the 23rd is when me, Kira, Mark, and Nikita leave for Dublin, Ireland until the 26th. Unfortunately Kira didn't enjoy it much, because it wasn't Paris.. I honestly really liked it. It's smaller and a nice break from the busy city of Paris. Dublin overall feels calmer and "slower." Live Irish music can be heard from almost every bar.

We stayed at Christchurch Hall Apartments, which is pretty much neighbored with the Christchurch Cathedral. If anyone goes to Dublin, I highly recommend staying at this apartment. Decent rent, and the bedrooms/kitchen/living room are quite spacious. :) Not only that, much of the siteseeing places, restaurants, and bars are within walking distance.

Though my feet practically died the first day. I only brought my boots and sandals to wear, and in my boots that day, Mark had us walking 2-3 hours around Dublin without stopping to get familiar with the place.

Hahaha just on the first night, we've already hit a pub: the infamous Temple Bar. My first pint of Guinness *grins* Damn cheap compare to Paris' pricing.

The next day my meal was a traditional Irish beef stew with a tint of Guinness in it. It was so good.........

Many people were selling fruits on the streets, and I just couldn't pass off those OH-SO-PERFECT-LOOKING strawberries, and omg they were sweet. Ireland has damn good fruits. We visited the Guinness Storehouse, which offered a free pint in celebration of their 250 anniversary.

Afterwards Kira and I went souvenir-shopping and also went to visit the St. Stephen's Green park. Luscious green every direction with a lake in the center. It felt really natural and not man-made. On the right is where we dined at, typically what a restaurant looks like.

Kira wanted to go pub-hopping, which I wasn't too interest in... I don't mind getting one drink, but I'm honestly not too willing to spend over 10 Euro on drinks. Anyways, so I got back to the apartment earlier.

The next day Mark and Nikita wanted to go to Malahide Castle, which was in a more rural area outside of Dublin. Obviously I was really interested in it. I wanted to see the country side and roll on the grass, and I did!

Because we're only in Ireland for so many times, I was a bit more willing to spend on food. I'd rather spend my money on substantial food than drinks any day. And for the 2-meal course set above for just 21 Euros? SO WORTH IT. The main course may seem like something you get an a IHOP or something, but believe me it's way better. And that plum flan ornated with vanilla syrup, strawberry kiwi, and passionfruit...LSjfldskjf GODLY.

Soooooooo that night, Mark and Nikita came back drunk cuz these guys offered them free drinks. I was laughing so hard when Mark said he took 34 mysterious camera shots he didn't remember taking.

So yeah, the next day was our flight back to Paris. We caught the evening flight.

The Irish musicians around!

Back to Paris

Let's see... Saturday, I decided to take a day of rest, so I ended up doing some more shopping around Paris with Sarah because all the sales are going around that time of the month.

Then that evening was... a bit messy. 10 of us decided to chill at a bar, but Kim A. had drank over half a bottle of whiskey prior... and well, she got really drunk and threw up, causing us to be kicked out of the bar. It took all our efforts to make sure she gets back in one piece, and that includes keeping her from running toward the train tracks and out into the streets.

Week 5

On Sunday, I decided to attempt Giverny for the second time. I finally made it!

My main reason for going is to see the Monet's Garden, and it was definitely worth the trip. The landscapes and colors are simply beautiful and tranquil. The Gardens and the village definitely earn the title of "Cradle for Impressionism."

Haha... I caught the last ride back to Paris, just barely made it.

On the same night, everyone sat at the edge of the Seine to drink.

Finally on Monday, I did my last minute shopping, and we all went to a restaurant to eat our last dinner together at Paris.

Then on Tuesday, we hopped on the flights to Houston back to San Francisco. It's kinda mean to say this... but even I was embarrassed at how some of the Americans were on the plane in front of the Parisians, who are much more well-mannered.

Anyways, group pic! :)

I just thought the clouds looked so cool.

--FIN

So that concludes the massive report. Thanks for those who have read it. There were some... personal issues that came up, but maybe I'll write them if I feel like it. Also, I've uploaded some sketches to my blogspot.

Even though it's been a week now, I'm still trying to adjust back on life. I felt like time had stopped for us when we were in Paris when it is evident time didn't stop for the States at all. And now I'm just trying to catch up...

While I definitely agree that the trip was a great learning experience, I'm now jobless (my boss found another student assistant, hopefully just for the summer) and even homeless for the Fall semester... both of which I could've solved in June. So yeah, reality hurts sometimes.

tadaima

happysaber@yahoo.com — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:14:44 GMT

I'm back from Paris! but I'm too tired to do any reporting or photo editing... been up for over 24 hours. Report to come soon! So much stuff happened..*typing from dsi*

Lost ability EXP +10

happysaber@yahoo.com — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 22:40:04 GMT

So today I traveled alone and ended up 3 hours by train away from Paris. By accident. That is, my stop was supposed to be just 45 minutes away, but I overestimated how long 50 minutes were. I intended to go to Vernon to go visit the Monet Gardens... but ended up at Dieppe (near Normandy). I heard seagulls too. And then the train to Paris was 2 hours later.

All I was chanting to myself, "No international incident. No international incident."

SIGH. *still traumatized*

Msg from Paris. Other SQUEE.

happysaber@yahoo.com — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:36:15 GMT

Bonjour~ I'm at the computer lab of the dorm right now just recovering from a fever.

Have to say that I seem to be jynxed to get sick in Paris X_X;; Last year I had to see a local doctor because of strep throat, and this year also my throat but including runny nose and fever... The weather has been fluctuating from hot sun to cold rain, but I was perfectly healthy before Sunday... until that night I drank white wine that night. In the beginning, I thought I was just coming down with a flu or cold or something, but all the runny nosing and sorethroat literally started that night within an hour after a substantial glass of wine. I thought they formed too rapidly to be a normal cold. So I have come to the deduction that I might be allergic to white wine or some specific ingredient(s) in it...Not that I want to test it out right now; maybe after the trip. So I went to the pharmacies yesterday, and the medicines are working like magic, though I'm still weirded out that the throat medicine application was rectal route. ORZ

Yesterday, in addition to the fever, I lost one of my grey COPICs midway, and it's the second time I lost that color. I also locked myself out when it was pouring yesterday. Sickness makes one delusional! I even saw a totoro in a droplet on the wall during shower. BUT! Aside from all my misfortunates, all the EXCITING adventures that we had so far can be found at http://sjsuparis2009.blogspot.com! Despite me complaining here, many self-conscious moments, and the great amount of walking (my jeans are already getting loose), it's been a very enlightening trip so far. I'm really enjoying it, and I can't believe it's been a week already. I enjoyed Museé d'Orsay so much more than the Louvre ♥ Will show pics when I get back. Or for now you can look at last year's photos, which I uploaded but never reported ^^;;;

Anyways, so I'm taking a day off to recover... I found out that my housemate bailed out from dorming with me next semester in an apartment.... so now that's another thing I have to worry bout when I get back. Great.

ANYWAYS! Onto the good off-topic stuff, MIYAZAKI IS COMING TO BERKELEY on July 25 *____________* And and and NEW WII ZELDA CONCEPT WORK ZOMG.

So it's for the Wii... and they made Link right-handed in the artwork too... BUT WOW. If this Link is a new Link, he looks like the child of Ocarina Link and Twilight Princess Link (●´Д｀●)♥ He looks more grown-up than before. And the silver character a living incarnation of the Master Sword? AHHH can't wait for Spirit Tracks and THIS.

..tissue.

Hiatus for reals

happysaber@yahoo.com — Sun, 31 May 2009 08:44:20 GMT

I lied. One more post before taking off...

I'm...almost done packing and have randomly recited random French survival phrases while horribly mispronouncing them. I've also spent all the money earned from Artist Alley onpreparing for the trip.

So I really should be anticipating the trip, but all I can be thinking about is staying home and playing games and drawing fanworks and go visit friends and omg relaxing. =A= Cuz no matter how you look at it, it's still class, and a 'creative thinking' (not drawing) class nonetheless.

So bad... Anyhow...

ADIEU! Until a month later!

Post-Fanime report!

happysaber@yahoo.com — Fri, 29 May 2009 10:32:24 GMT

Wahhh I'm so sorry for the belated report... keep switching between moving out dorms and packing/preparing for Paris............ I wanna deflate Q_Q BUT photo galore! :D Shout-outs of the awesome people at the con: kyraensui, hellmaster05, shahni, seki_yumizu, robbie691, mingmingcheong, sharpie, chiretto, hakuku, aoi_tenshi, gem2niki, kurot, korilin, ryuhayabusadoa2, taichi_chan, and more!

Let's see, second year of artist alley at Fanime with hellmaster05! Wahh I think this year was even more of hell than last year but nonetheless worthwhile XD;

Teasers:

Day 0 & 1 - 5/21 & 5/22/09

OKAY. So. I... kinda dragged seki_yumizu around in my car cuz I had to go up to get supplies (zomg the cello bags came right on time!) and files, had dinner, and we ended up camping out at Kinkos cutting up our merchandises. XD;; I have a very bad habit of dragging friends in circles with me. Harhar, and then we stayed up at my apartment still cutting...

When it was morning, we drove back to the convention to get our badges early in the morning to avoid the lines. RIGHT after, I drove back to campus to attend one class......... and then back to the con again to finally claim the art table, which took over an hour to get!

Our table was T85, and thanks to hellmaster05 (Rei)'s MAD TAPING SKILLZ , we were able to make the PVC pipes to stand since we didn't have the table clips.

ONWARD TO THE PICS! Cuz for the most of the time we were at the table only...

kyraensui as Mukuro~~ see the owl! Awesomeness ♥ She got the Nanimori themesong Hibird version stuck in my throughout the con LOL XD

"PASTA!!!" by chiretto and shahni. WHY ARE YOU GUYS SO CUTE?!

kurot~~~
It was awesome to have talked with her, however brief, but she was so down-to-earth ♥~ >< ////

Our table neighbor was hakuku (as Revolutionary England) *O*;; OMG not worthy! They were soooo nice and their cosplays were just gorgeous!

I concur, the BEST KIRBY COSPLAY EVAR!!!! ♥ Life size Kirby!

My friend Lain as ~~I'm not sure! But~~ FFXI mithra dancer! she looked so cute XD

Day 2 - 5/23/09

Can you believe we overslept for today?! I think we were up finishing prints, doing commissions, etc, but we woke up over an hour late from the artist alley open hour... hahaha...

Anyways, the sales moved faster on Saturday, and it was -as expected- the busiest day, and we got bombarded with commissions XD; It was a red alert signal... There was uhm... a very loyal customer that was hovering at our table a lot... a bit awkward, I guess.

HAhahah and everyone was laughing at my Snake/Ike sketch cuz it's so much crack 8D
Got to meet with Annie again~~! OMG, uhm so I guess I was overly joyful when we kinda found out we both ship Ike/Link in SSBB Didn't know? Now you do.... It's the first time I said it out in public, and so the giddiness just kinda bursted out XD;

A really cute Kahoko stopped by and played a song for us *O*!

Haku and her gang as Persona characters ♥ OMG SO HOT!

That was just pure awesome Mario-ness XD~~

Our room was soooooooo tidy! YAY.

That night was no sleep again LOL I got to meet Kyra's friend Chris and Cyndy!

Day 3 - 5/24/09

HAHAHAHA we overslept again due to exhaustion 8D;;; Kinda missed half of the Hetalia gather... but we made it nonetheless~!!

CUZ PRUSSIA CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF GERMANY. NOM NOM.

China's (plus my adorable HK!) overpopulated the world!

WOW AT THE ASIAN COUNTRIES. W-wait... Russia's sneaked in! *was so embarrassed lol*

"WE ARE THE WORLD" let's sing the Michael Jackson song! LOL

Afterwards we finally went to set up our table.... hahahah.

sharpie as a hot UK 8D!!!

Aku and Haku as very hot Zidane and Squall *O*! WAAHHHHHH......*MELTS* makes me wanna give Zidane a try now too ♥

Awesome scarecrow from Howl's Moving Castle! Mannn that requires some major balancing skills O_O

Heheheheh robbie691's turn to be Mukuro! XD

The Kirby switched hats everyday, tho I only caught ~~Link~~ Sword Kirby! Eeeehehhe ♥ The cosplayer was sooo cute XD She made Kirby noises and went "Hiii~~!"

I don't know who they are, but their costumes were so pretty *_*~

My classmates Naima and Adrienne as Queen Serenity and Sora (KH) swapping weapons. Crossover kicks ass XDD~~ Hehehe. Various classmates came and stopped by XD

So like, we didn't know this GORGEOUS cosplayer was in fact a guy until HE spoke. AHHHHHHHHHHH.

BUMBLEBEEEEE!!!!!! Dude, kudos to the cosplayer. He must've been sooo tired....

hellmaster05 and seki_yumizu working hard on commissions!!! We were up for... hahaha, an ungodly hour, to finish the commissions. Rei and I were being brats and through sharpie's hat around the hall LOL 8D

Day 4 - 5/25/09

The last day! Even then we were frantically finishing the commissions... and then packing up to go...

Working hard!

Dude, I didn't even realize until Kyra told me.. but one of our adjacent neighboring tables sat a 20YL Lambo (without the horns lol), and apparently it was my classmate Michael! It's so funny cuz the semester I had class with him was the semester I got into Reborn, and seeing him as Lambo just made the fact so much more amusing XD He made an awesome Lambo... SO FREAKIN TALL DAMMIT.

Unfortunately everyone had to leave a little earlier, so it was a bit anti-climatic to have left the con by myself back to the dorms and then home.... and then LOL I lost my badge and went to the con-ops to get it back.

Here are a few of the commissions during the con:

YAY TWO 'SMASH' REQUESTS~ (●´Д｀●)

Need to work on sketching faster ORZ I also felt bad... I couldn't find my regular Prismacolor pencils and only had my small Verithin set and therefore the pics weren't as well colored as they could've been. Verithins are so hard to work with =___=

Merchandises!

Prints from kurot, hakuku, hellmaster05, and Ritsu >w< Hehehe~ And then my entry for the Fanime illustration contest as an Honorable Mention.

So an overall-cap of the con!
- Sales: This year's most popular characters were Yoshi, Snake, Link, Kirby, Sheik, and Pikachu! Followed by Pit, Ike, Zelda, and Marth. Various prints sold too~
- Artist Alley: Another awesome year with Rei~ I awe at her watercolor OwO... Still got to thank Kyra, Bobbie, and Robbie... I don't know how we would've survived without them. ♥ ♥ ♥
- Overall: I felt kinda of bad being stuck with artist table concerns throughout the con and missed out a lot... That includes hanging out with friends and doing other crazy stuff like gaming room and even karaoking... Somewhere along the line I felt ill-prepared. And then each night staying up to do commissions, but overall it was such a nice breath of fresh air from all the school work!! And it was also great to have met new people :)

Alright! Now time to prepare for study abroad Paris stuff Q_Q; Oh God... is it really in 3 days? Last minute research and cramming French (in which I know none of!)! Then packing! And also for Ireland! AHHHHHHHHH~ And I just found out I'm rooming with Kira of all people OMG! I mean, that's a good thing... but it's funny cuz our professor intended to have us room with people we don't really know all that well, but if anything, I know Kira most of the bunch. He said after he paired everyone else up, only us two were left LOL. She is extremely talented, and of all things I need is to suffer from inferior complex throughout the trip! So... uhm..

HIATUS until June 30th

You can catch up with what's going on through http://sjsuparis2009.blogspot.com/ where we'll spontaneously post entries during the trip.

And...... WHYYYYY MORIMORI!!!!
WHY IS TEIOU COMING TO ANIME EXPO 2009 WHEN I WILL BE BROKE?!

Small notice

happysaber@yahoo.com — Tue, 26 May 2009 22:07:59 GMT

Hahaha... just slept for 15 hours.

Thanks everyone for an awesome Fanime2009 weekend!!!

Report to follow!

Have to write Paris essay due tomorrow X_X Switching gears like this is...blah.

last minute.......

happysaber@yahoo.com — Fri, 22 May 2009 00:30:43 GMT

Very, very last minute little stuff for Fanime. Last year some requested more chars... so... here's Marth, Sheik, and Sonic (lol Sonic is so out of place there XD;;). I wanted Marth to have more of an evil glare, because Marth in my mind is...ahaha.... alas...XD It's hard to make them the same feel as the previous set. Can't believe that's a year ago already.

やっぱりスマブラを描く時嬉しくて楽しい (●´Д｀●)♥ Haha~~~ ACK CLOCK'S TICKING!

Rooming with kyraensui, hellmaster05, shahni, and seki_yumizu!

NOT SORETHROAT AGAIN.

Summary of recent news

happysaber@yahoo.com — Wed, 20 May 2009 23:13:57 GMT

Below are my final projects for Maya class and illustration class. x_x;; not say I'm really satisfied with the results, but..... ah well. Sometimes one just have to move on. For more images, please visit my blog.

Around 39k poly count.

Acrylic. 10x21. Will not pick this perspective again had I a choice.

Not even gonna F-lock the post cuz I need to let it all out.

For the past month, I've been investing all my time on my studio classes - 3D Maya and illustration class, sleeping at 5AM. I overslept my two GE exams this week... Not even time to stop and write about the past months. And then there's the Paris trip... which is basically like an extra class during this semester >_>

To be honest, when I first signed up for the trip, it was kind of a 'game' for me to see whether I'd actually be qualified or not. Then he enlisted me on the list, and I guess I was pretty happy, but at the same time, I knew Fanime was around then too... He warned us about the research and reading, and I was like, "Eh, I can take it..." And then suddenly last month, he assigned two 3-4pg papers that were due this month. One was due several weeks ago, and another is due next Monday! That was not expected... I know the research is supposed to be "prep work" for the trip, but honestly I feel it's really unfair since the class hasn't even officially started.

And I was REALLY looking forward to Fanime... I've missed out enough family events and invitations from people this semester. Fanime is one weekend I can take my mind away from that and see my friends, and although my priorities SHOULD be on the Paris trip, I'm not letting it take this weekend away from me. No way.

I feel like this year, knowing that my mileage is behind everyone else, I've been trying so hard to do well in the program and try to "fit in" to all the people... but mid-way this semester, it was starting to feel suffocating. I mean, I understand this is the career, but to have the program practically taking over my life? I don't think I can do that. With everything that have been going on, I nearly snapped last week. I mean, I want to do well, but not to the point of sacrificing everything and everyone that is NOT related to the program.

Also, housing. I gotta find an apartment for next semester, and I've been battling with the thought that maybe I had made the wrong decision not to sign up for on-campus housing again... cuz apartment hunting is a whole other issue. That has been in the back of my mind on top of everything else.

I feel like this is an existential moment for me... it wasn't until I went home just this Monday to recover that my head cleared up a little. This is the age where we're forced to become adults... and I think this whole year, that's been my mentality: 'creating' problems and see if I can handle them. It's dumb..

So, I apologize for the lack of communication lately.

So good-news? Well... after the Paris class is over, Kira and I and two guys will be going to Ireland. Oh the Irish music glory! That's gonna be my official vacation. Although I'm still asking myself, "Why am I traveling with such talented people!?"

A-and Fanime2009! Oh God. Panic attack right now doing last minute prep work from last year. Don't even know my table number yet..... but please stop by to visit me and hellmaster05! ♥ A later post on images and stuff.

OH! And my mom gave me a DSi for birthday present! Eeeeehh! So I'm happily playing a Kirby game and Phantom Hourglass right now. Oh God, Toon Link is so adorkable!

happysaber@yahoo.com — Fri, 15 May 2009 09:15:55 GMT

Just...fuck it all.

UK blue ducks...

happysaber@yahoo.com — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:17:24 GMT

Thanks for everyone who voted on the last post! ^^

Now for something totally unrelated............ Oh God. So, my friend sent me a thread from Komica.org (Taiwanese equivalent of 4chan) about UK blue ducks going extinct as the last two males hook up with each other instead of mating with the last female. But the funniest part is the responses on the thread.

Thread from Komica:
http://2cat.twbbs.org/~twocat/7d/futaba.php?res=126603

<input ... >英國兩隻雄性山藍鴨成戀人急壞科學家 姓名: 無名氏 [09/04/26(日)21:32] No.126603
檔名：1240752768952.jpg-(36 KB, 500x293) [預覽]

英國兩隻雄性山藍鴨成戀人急壞科學家

據英國《每日郵報》報道，英國研究人員正為山藍鴨的繁殖問題犯愁。
英國境內目前僅存三隻山藍鴨，其中兩隻是雄鴨，只有一隻雌鴨。然而這兩隻雄性山藍鴨，它們一反常態，彼此相互吸引，對僅存的那只雌性山藍鴨根本不理不睬。　　
英國的這兩隻雄性山藍鴨最近總是形影不離、卿卿我我，儼然一對甜蜜「戀人」，完全對另一隻名叫徹麗的雌性山藍鴨不聞不問，這可急壞了那些負責這個飼養項目的人。
據悉，這兩個「小伙子」整日黏在一起，它們甚至還彼此發出求愛信號，而這些都是異性交配對像間才會出現的行為。
英國西蘇塞克斯郡阿倫德爾濕地野生動物中心(Arundel Wetland Centre)的管理員現在已經放棄了人工飼養這種動物的希望，他們表示，不久後英國的這種生物將會滅絕。阿倫德爾濕地野生動物中心監管人保羅·史蒂文斯解釋說，在把這兩隻鴨子分別介紹給另一隻名叫切莉的雌性山藍鴨以後，它們開始相互產生好感。
他說：「它們整日黏在一起，在圍欄裡出雙入對，相互發出求愛信號，這些都是一隻雄性山藍鴨在向異性求愛時，才會出現的行為。這兩隻珍惜物種都非常有個性，吸引了全國各地的遊客專程前來觀賞，但是人們在看到它倆時，通常會認為它們是一對親密恩愛的戀人，絕不會想到它倆都是雄性。」
當談到唯一的一隻雌山藍鴨時，他說：「目前看來，這對同性戀人的舉動並沒對徹麗產生干擾，它似乎很享受自己獨處的時光。徹麗是一隻上了年紀的山藍鴨，過去它曾有過生育經歷，我們都希望它現在仍能生育。」
史蒂文斯說：「其實通過觀察可以看出，徹麗對本比較有好感，它曾向本展現交配行為，主動接近它，呼喚它，徹麗甚至表現出築巢的舉動，但是後者始終對徹麗無動於衷。我們一度希望本和徹麗能共同繁衍後代，現在看來這個願望要落空了。」
最初飼養員擔心本和傑裡在一起會因爭奪領地而影響繁殖工作，因此曾將它們分開餵養。
但後來他們在兩隻雄山藍鴨身上都沒發現這種傾向，於是就將它們放入一個圍欄裡。
史蒂文斯說：「讓我們感到吃驚的是，它們彼此很友好，顯然它們互相吸引。本以為通過徹麗和兩隻雄山藍鴨可以繁衍後代，但是現在看來，這只是一廂情願，本和傑裡確實是非常恩愛的一對。」
野生生物電視節目主持人9日說：「鴨類是為數不多的幾種會出現同性相吸舉動的物種之一。出現這一現象的一個主要原因，是雄性的數量大大超過雌性的數量，因此雄性爭奪異性的戰爭就變得異常激烈，往往有些雄性很難找到交配對象。不過本和傑裡之間的同性舉動，也只是因為它們對異性不感興趣而已。繁殖工作並不會每次都成功，如果繁殖對像彼此不感興趣，繁殖計劃就會失敗。」
山藍鴨原產於新西蘭，是一種喜歡生活在河畔的鳥類。新西蘭的政府保護組織認為，山藍鴨是一種瀕臨滅絕的物種。

…	<input ... >#2 無標題名稱: 無名氏 [09/04/26(日)21:39] No.126605 我忽然體悟到有些物種會絕種絕對不是沒道理的.....

…	<input ... >#3 無標題名稱: 無名氏 [09/04/26(日)21:53] No.126608 反對同性戀，杜絕人類絕種可能。

…	<input ... >#4 無標題名稱: 無名氏 [09/04/26(日)21:54] No.126609 準備好武力介入了嗎?

…	<input ... >#5 無標題名稱: 無名氏 [09/04/26(日)22:38] No.126616 不是每種動物都可以武力介入的可以強制取精人工受孕的動物很多都是長年研究加幾十幾百代馴化

…	<input ... >#6 無標題名稱: 無名氏 [09/04/26(日)23:08] No.126619 英國怎都出一堆GAY... 之前那個天鵝也是,也有好幾個稀有物種帶到英國都變成了GAY...

…	<input ... >#7 無標題名稱: 無名氏 [09/04/26(日)23:14] No.126620 >>126619 陰氣太盛=口＝？！

…	<input ... >#8 無標題名稱: 無名氏 [09/04/26(日)23:44] No.126630 幹嘛把人類絕種看得那麼重呢死了不就什麼都不知道了嗎（搔頭話說返信娘怎麼自動幫我sage了

…	<input ... >#9 重點所在名稱: 無名氏 [09/04/27(一)00:11] No.126635 > 徹麗是一隻上了年紀的山藍鴨正常的年輕男子不會想要跟老太婆做愛吧

…	<input ... >#10 無標題名稱: 無名氏 [09/04/27(一)03:20] No.126657 >>126635 你突破盲點了華生

…	<input ... >#11 無標題名稱: 無名氏 [09/04/27(一)03:31] No.126658 檔名：1240774285374.jpg-(102 KB, 465x657) [預覽] 無內文

…	<input ... >#12 無標題名稱: 無名氏 [09/04/27(一)06:46] No.126669 人類史上第一種因為BL而絕種的生物(笑

…	<input ... >#13 無標題名稱: 無名氏 [09/04/27(一)07:51] No.126671 即使背付未來的命運，我只想愛上你！管他什麼絕種不絕種！突然變到好甜llll

…	<input ... >#14 無標題名稱: 無名氏 [09/04/27(一)08:13] No.126673 假如只剩下三個二選一個機率還蠻大的= = 可惜應該來不及進化成無性生殖= = 下蛋的應該不能做試管吧ORZ

…	<input ... >#15 無標題名稱: 無名氏 [09/04/27(一)08:22] No.126675 說真的假如你背負了人類延續下去的命只能選擇眼前的異性而且沒得挑也挺可憐的XD

…	<input ... >#16 無標題名稱: 無名氏 [09/04/27(一)08:56] No.126677 某外星人:你們人類快絕種了現在剩一個雌性半老徐娘跟一個雄性受樣,只能拜託你們好好繁衍後代吧歐巴桑:來吧，兩個少年ㄟ，我雖然老可是還是承受得住的！來吧！

…	<input ... >#17 無標題名稱: 無名氏 [09/04/27(一)12:13] No.126694 歐巴桑和美少年請選擇實際上人類因為人口爆漲的關係，還蠻需要同性戀的

…	<input ... >#18 無標題名稱: 無名氏 [09/04/27(一)12:18] No.126695 高雄市長和美少年~都幾!?

…	<input ... >#19 無標題名稱: 無名氏 [09/04/27(一)12:30] No.126698 >>126695 陳菊和鞠也嗎? 我選鞠也!! (被踩

…	<input ... >#20 無標題名稱: 無名氏 [09/04/27(一)13:55] No.126714 整串看下來擬人希望...(拖走

…	<input ... >#21 無標題名稱: 無名氏 [09/04/27(一)13:57] No.126715 好像能寫出一段淒美的愛情故事就算我們的族群必須消失,我也只會選擇深愛的你

…	<input ... >#22 無標題名稱: 無名氏 [09/04/27(一)15:08] No.126722 >就算我們的族群必須消失,我也只會選擇深愛的你討厭，這句讓我想到阿修羅和夜叉王......

…	<input ... >#23 無標題名稱: 無名氏 [09/04/27(一)15:43] No.126725 科學家：靠北啊！放錯片子了！

…	<input ... >#24 無標題名稱: 無名氏 [09/04/27(一)22:43] No.126823 檔名：1240843435786.jpg-(409 KB, 968x1400) [預覽] 無內文

…	<input ... >#25 無標題名稱: 無名氏 [09/04/28(二)00:20] No.126848 >>126823 詳細

…	<input ... >#26 無標題名稱: 無名氏 [09/04/28(二)00:29] No.126850 >>126848 鳴子ハナハル少女マテリアル

…	<input ... >#27 無標題名稱: 無名氏 [09/04/28(二)10:09] No.126895 記得D頻還NGC出過類似的節目，只不過主題是探討人類族群之延續。計算中，除了女為男三倍左右且數量最好百人以上者能夠長期存活外，剩下所有組合都會在百年內消亡。因此動漫小說中常見最後一男一女試圖延續人類生命情節恐怕相當不切實際～

…	<input ... >#28 無標題名稱: 無名氏 [09/04/28(二)11:10] No.126897 >>126895 現在男性比女性多這代表人類即將...

…	<input ... >#29 無標題名稱: 無名氏 [09/04/28(二)11:17] No.126898 >>126897 事實上不無可能,現代人類老年化,生育力又低,結婚年齡又提高很多的狀況下其實你看看各個先進國家就知道了... 因為步入老年化=>老人必須用到各種社會資源=>年輕人負擔更重=>養不起小孩=>老了無限循環這只是其中之一，還有更多嚴重的議題，污染等假使現在這種狀況沒改變,以前有看過科學還是探索有算過時間,大概不出幾百年內人類就會滅絕

…	<input ... >#30 無標題名稱: 無名氏 [09/04/28(二)11:48] No.126900 一瞬間居然閃過出擬人本的念頭...我真的病了OTZ

…	<input ... >#31 無標題名稱: 無名氏 [09/04/28(二)11:50] No.126901 不過只剩三隻生不生都算絕種了吧那當然是來場轟轟烈烈的末日之戀啦然後歐巴桑在旁邊開小花(拖

…	<input ... >#32 無標題名稱: 無名氏 [09/04/28(二)12:37] No.126904 人類數量縮減.. 可是非洲那邊一打一打的生... 順帶一提，雖然這樣說很廚可是人類這種東西少點對地球好些..

…	<input ... >#33 無標題名稱: 無名氏 [09/04/28(二)13:04] No.126910 >>126904 物種大滅絕又不是第一次... 對地球而言也沒差啦...

…	<input ... >#34 無標題名稱: 無名氏 [09/04/28(二)13:04] No.126911 >>126904 一打一打的生可是也是成堆成堆的死。。。收支差不多剛好平衡

…	<input ... >#35 無標題名稱: 無名氏 [09/04/28(二)13:29] No.126916 >>126897 沒有說清楚可能導致你誤解了，該節目探討的是遠古時代小群人類遷徙繁衍成功率，而非整體人類存續問題。雖然其中也得出人數越多則延續時間越高的推論。另男女比1：3的說法也或許能用來解釋早期多母系社會之情形。

----------

Highlight responses (rough translations...though they might not sound as funny translated):

正常的年輕男子不會想要跟老太婆做愛吧
"A normal young man won't want to make love to an old lady."
人類史上第一種因為BL而絕種的生物(笑
"They are the first species in human history to be extincted because of BL (laugh)"
即使背付未來的命運，我只想愛上你！
管他什麼絕種不絕種！
突然變到好甜llll
"No matter what's the fate of the future, I only love you! Who cares for extinction!
Suddenly this became so sweet |||"
某外星人:你們人類快絕種了現在剩一個雌性半老徐娘跟一個雄性受樣,只能拜託你們好好繁衍後代吧
歐巴桑:來吧，兩個少年ㄟ，我雖然老可是還是承受得住的！來吧！
"Alien: You 'humans' are going extinction. Only a middle-aged female and young males remain. I count on you to make descendants.
Obaa-san: Come, both young lads! Even if I'm old, I can take it! COME TO ME!"
歐巴桑和美少年
請選擇
"Obaa-san and bishounen. Please choose."

XD SOMEONE TAPE MY MOUTH. I can't stop laughing..................

Here's the English article on the subject. Apparently it was love at first sight. Were it not for the crack responses above, it is a bit of a sad topic that they're going to extinction... but the couple is happy at least. And I believe extinction only applies to UK. I'm happy for them too! LOL did I mention their names are Ben and Jerry?

swine flu...

happysaber@yahoo.com — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:32:54 GMT

They say not to panic... but it's hard not to. I'm more concerned about everywhere else; it's not hard to get local news, but not so much about other states, and the news only reveals so much... Friends of Mexico, California, New York, Texas, Canada, Scotland, Spain, Britain, and anywhere else, please take care of yourselves!! ><;

Anyone who's awake and sees this...

happysaber@yahoo.com — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 09:03:37 GMT

Go with or against fate........if you can please vote which palette you like better, I'd appreciate it TAT; Thank you! m(_ _)m

View Poll: Which comp?

Digital > Acrylic. I shouldn't be thinking like this.

happysaber@yahoo.com — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:41:55 GMT

Sorry for not replying. Lots of pent-up anger that needs channeling at the moment. And the wind is nuts outside.

HBD sis! Art blog.

happysaber@yahoo.com — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 22:42:04 GMT

Happy Birthday to my sis m00_chan♥!!

She's 91 XD! 19.

Happy Easter everyone!

I've created (finally) an artblog for mainly my school work and such: http://art-asaphira.blogspot.com/. Everything I intended to show here but lacked the chance to (Pokemon!), I've archived it all there. My portfolio from last semester is also uploaded there if anyone's interested. :) Also lurking fellow classmates there too... haha...I didn't know Blogspot allowed LJ accounts to comment to.

Back to modeling my skull...... Curse you Maya.

Also, finally watched last week's SPN episode. "I am the prophet Chuck!" Hahaha, BEST LINE.

For the victims of the Abruzzo earthquake

happysaber@yahoo.com — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 18:50:06 GMT

Banner made by nekoi_echizen, in memory of the victims of the Abruzzo, Italy earthquake that happened on April 6.

May the souls rest in peace, and may their family and friends find comfort in this time of struggle.

Entry

happysaber@yahoo.com — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 08:19:08 GMT

Hahaha... resorting to the short cut. *admires those who can speed paint/CG* Seriously though, it wasn't exactly how I wanted to execute it, but time was clickiing.

You know, of my 9-10 years of using Photoshop, I just realized the folder icon for the Layer windows to organize the layers. Failure.

FanimeCon contest by =Asaphira on deviant ART

Thanks everyone. Sorry for not replying again T__T Need to go memorize Paris landmarks now.

happysaber@yahoo.com — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 05:10:34 GMT

2 hours........ >____________< sob.

Thank you! <3

happysaber@yahoo.com — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 01:52:55 GMT

Thank you hellmaster05, sesshounokon, mizukicc, shahni, chiretto, kyraensui, aoi_post, m00_chan, mingmingcheong, ballaquia (HBD Elthee!), rady, kimi_kuma, ryuhayabusadoa2, eternalsayonara, hikaruno5, lichanny, and everyone else via here and/or Facebook & mobile for the birthday messages! >//< ♥ And Kira, who gave me an art store gift card! It infinitely made my birthday a non-quiet one. Sorry I didn't reply individually right away..

I...got myself a 10" pizza for myself yesterday, though I would've much rather go out and get carded...if it weren't for the lighting comps due today. XD; Muuu... for everyone who's going to hit the 21 milestone, go on that very day and order a drink. Don't miss out the chance like me, cuz that moment can only happen once in a lifetime.

Okay... in line of priorities:

by tonight: read for tomorrow's METR quiz. At least finish linework for Fanime contest.
by tomorrow: Fanime contest art DONE (HOPEFULLY).
on Saturday 2PM: going to Berkeley with Paris group for Leonard Pitt's private "Lost Walks Through Paris" talk.
Saturday night: start on skull model on Maya and get most of it DONE.
Sunday: wrap up Maya and Paris research on Manet and Emile Zola. Will be lucky if I start on tonal drawing.

Hokay... OT, Miyamoto Kano's stuff make me such a sap and angst all at once. ♥ ♥ her style.

or2

happysaber@yahoo.com — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 05:13:37 GMT

My priorities are so mixed up;; with the tidepool light comps due on Thursday and Metr quiz Friday and Paris stuff to worry about. I wonder why I didn't utilize my spring break better.

For Fanime's contest, which is due this Friday. Not gonna make it ;__; SOB.
Their mascots as RPG characters.
Speaking of Fanime, last week I received an email from AA staff. So hellmaster05 and I have a table!!...somewhere. We don't know where it's located until the con.

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. I guess the best way to say it, as my instructor would have put it, I had a "large rat to digest." Had a lot to think about, and suddenly they're all just bamming together. Classes/projects, trying to keep up my drawing mileage, down to 6-10 weeks of the semester, work, the Paris trip stuff need to be wrapped up, Fanime's approaching, searching for an apartment for next semester... To bring the mood down more, it also doesn't help that some of my favorite Japanese fansites are disappearing one by one when they were kinda my stress relief eyecandies T_T; And after getting in the program, I started reflecting on myself, trying to realize my own drawing weaknesses, which I found a lot of. I keep thinking I wish I had found these weaknesses sooner instead of now, wish I was as motivated and skilled as my peers. It's just a lot to take in and come in terms with.

Ah, two Paris meetings ago, my professor had us all say out loud our guilty pleasures to everyone as an exercise to be honest with ourselves. And.....I actually said to everyone, "Homoerotic stories/pictures are fascinating." There. My advisor now knows this side of me. W-which means permission from him on expressing it through art 8D;; But needless to say, everyone had some really odd ones, and there's a very strange trend of guys having peculiar hygiene guilty pleasures XD;;;; It was VERY interesting... This will definitely be a fun group of people. On the same note, because we have 9 free days in Paris after the class is over, some of us are thinking about traveling to Ireland~

I wanna draw アイリン！！（＊´д｀＊） OH OH. And also Lord Ike costume!!

happysaber@yahoo.com — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 07:46:26 GMT

肚仔餓但又唔得停手=-=;;

Das Musical Elisabeth CD

happysaber@yahoo.com — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 22:14:04 GMT

Finished ripping! Sorry this looks completely messy right now x_X Requested by shahni ♥ Many might also know this musical through Takarazuka. This is the 2001 production of Elisabeth the Original Essen Cast, starring Pia Douwes (Elisabeth) and Uwe Kröger (Todd/Death), etc. Rest of the cast list is here.

Track List:
1. Original Cast Of ELISABETH - Prolog (5:53)
2. Original Cast Of ELISABETH - Wie Du (2:32)
3. Original Cast Of ELISABETH - Der Letzte Tanz (3:35)
4. Original Cast Of ELISABETH - Ich Gehör Nur Mir (3:58)
5. Original Cast Of ELISABETH - Elisabeth, Mach Auf Mein Engel (4:06)
6. Original Cast Of ELISABETH - Milch (2:16)
7. Original Cast Of ELISABETH - Ich Will Dir Nur Sagen (3:32)
8. Original Cast Of ELISABETH - Kitsch! (3:28)
9. Original Cast Of ELISABETH - Wenn Ich Tanzen Will (3:47)
10. Original Cast Of ELISABETH - Mama, Wo Bist Du? (2:50)
11. Original Cast Of ELISABETH - Nur Kein Genieren! (3:07)
12. Original Cast Of ELISABETH - Nichts, Nichts, Gar Nichts (2:41)
13. Original Cast Of ELISABETH - Die Schatten werden länger (4:16)
14. Original Cast Of ELISABETH - Wenn Ich Dein Spiegel Wär (4:01)
15. Original Cast Of ELISABETH - Boote In Der Nacht (4:33)
16. Original Cast Of ELISABETH - Der Schleier Fällt (2:26)

Following the link. Note: This will only be Public for a week or so. I highly recommend "Wenn Ich Tanzen Will" and "Die Schatten werden länger" (how nostalgic ♥), two of the best songs in the CD. Meanwhile I'm at it, gonna do some plugging...

Wenn Ich Tanzen Will performances, when Todd (Death) tempts Elisabeth, who ultimately resists his control over her.
♥ Live with Pia Douwes and Uwe Kröger
♥ Live with Maki Ichiro and Uwe Kröger
OMGOMG I'm just so in love with the gestures in this song *_*;;; Pia's Elisabeth and her chemistry with Uwe are just simply magnificant. She's majestic and steals the stage just like the queen she is. And Takarazuka member Maki's Elisabeth is sooo gorgeous. I love how she sings half the song in Japanese and joins Uwe in German toward the end.

Die Schatten werden länger performances, when a confused Rudolf seeks help from his childhood "friend" Todd, who perpetually tempts him into the kiss [of death].
♥ 2008 Live with Uwe Kröger & Andreas Bieber
♥ Live with Uwe Kröger & Jesper Tydén (reenactment of the scene in the play)
Argh. I can't make up my mind whether I like Andreas or Jesper better as Rudolf! Andreas' the original cast, and he has that gentleness to his singing that I really like... but Jesper pulls off that anguish tone through his singing so well too. Need a second opinion! And of course, no question about it. Uwe's so powerful and dominant. *_*;;; Love the tension going on between these two characters.

Okay, back to work. X_X;

I no longer know where's your journal and have no contact with you, but I just want to say thank you for the CD. I hope you are well.

25 Things

happysaber@yahoo.com — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 06:34:46 GMT

I've been tagged by misss_vampire (so sorry for responding late) and on Facebook multiple times. Here we go.

Here are the rules: Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits or goals about you. ~~At the end choose 5 people to be tagged. If I tagged you, it’s because I want to know more about you.~~

I have a strange love for turtle things. And for bread.
I will be studying abroad in Paris during this year's summer in June.
Tendency of looking compassionate on the outside when I'm actually feeling extremely bitter on the inside...which is usually 70% of the time. I channel that elsewhere, that elsewhere is rarely someone.
I generally feel very frustrated when I read artist block posts from artists I admire, cuz it's like... then what right do I have to say "I suck"? None.
I do not rely on coffee/caffeine/sugar/etc to keep myself awake at nights. I simply stay up.
In a BL pairing, my OTP dynamics generally consists of a stubborn yet passionate uke (not overly tsundere) with a calm, sometimes mischievous seme. Or at least I see that pattern.
Again with the BL dynamics, I truly believe that pretty "princely" characters are deadly and vain and are not ones to mess with. >D
Also I think the seemingly kid-like "chibi" ones in BL pairings are the ones you have to watch out for. They're not as innocent as they seem.
I'm kind of a lone wolf. Never really belong to any circle. This holds true since elementary school, really.
I seem to get along more with those older than me or younger than me, but never really my age. (age, not age group)
For someone who loves music and wishes deep inside to be talented at music, I really don't know a damn thing about music theories at all and deeply regret it. So pathetic. =-=
I've been wanting to make a doujinshi for a long time now but keep chickening out.

~~I'm running out of things to list already at this point.~~ I'm most likely an angry drunk. One time I ended up arguing with my roommate's boyfriend in a heated debate for 2 hours.
I don't like dressing up girly because they look retarded on me and I can't act retarded when I wear them. "Pretty" is not a compliment for me.
I'm a New Age fan.
When I'm bored in some public transit or anywhere else, I eavesdrop valley girl talks and count how many "like"'s they say in one sentence until I'm annoyed.
I think my pessimistic attitude is annoying.
Verified by my parents, I'm able to speak Cantonese fluently with little to no accent, only I often plug in some English in the middle of the sentence.
I contradict myself a lot.
My normal bed time now is around 3AM.
Elitist circles is an unreachable territory for me.
Have had crushes on both genders, but right now I just feel asexual.
I'm a compromiser, which means no matter how mad I am sometimes, I can't truly show that anger because somewhere inside me keeps hoping things will get better. And I hate feeling regret and guilt, both of which are the biproducts of anger. Maybe it's the AB blood talking? >_>
I'm pretty good about controlling how much I spend whenever I'm shopping cuz I'm cheap.
I have to try twice as hard to get half the mileage of everyone else.

Fansites, current status

happysaber@yahoo.com — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 21:18:20 GMT

閉鎖 is the cruelest term to find on fansites. As someone who is capable of staying obsessed on a fandom for a long time, it makes me very, very sad to see my favorite ones closed down one by one like popcorns, whatever the reasons may be for the admins. T-T So lonely. *cries*

I realized my previous post is unfair for my old housemates. Elaborate later, but they all did show up for the meeting.

I really wanted to draw something for V-day, but I'm swamped with assignments. My day's gone for outdoor sketching, my nights are painting/Maya/reading/writing/Paris trip stuff. I'll do an art post of the assignments later.

Sorry for the lack of updates. Happy V-day/Single Awareness for all.

Maybe there is God.

happysaber@yahoo.com — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 05:24:27 GMT

Guess what I got yesterday... An email for room change back to my old apartment with my old housemates! ♥

I'm tired of this apartment. Tired of the housemate problems. Even tired of fighting for everyone. Housing could only do something about the problems "judicially" if we submit a report to them about what and when did the stuff happened.

I literally spent the whole night yesterday, didn't touch my homework, and listened to every one's story and compiled it all together as formally as possible. Two of us just found out that the RA made an appointment to meet with us all this Friday, but 2 out of 4 won't be available. As much as I love my own roommate, my roommate lays so low on the situation that she's hardly here in the apartment. I had classes and work all day today and asked if someone can go talk to the RA to reschedule, but no one did. I asked Steph if she could just ask her dad to pick her up a day later on Friday, and instead of giving me a good reason, she just said, "I don't wanna stay here that long" and "I'm tired of this."

You know what? I have work at that time too, yet I'm still attending. Fine. If you guys can't even do the little steps like make a phonecall, then why am I even wasting my time and energy in defense of this apartment? Let me swim to shore and leave everyone stranded. I'm tired of ALWAYS being the one to negotiate with Ms. Parasite (who doesn't ~~bother~~ communicate with anyone else but me because she claims she doesn't "know them that well"). Tired of others expecting me to do all the middle-ground communication. Tired of standing up for those who won't back me up when I'm asking for support. You guys just lost an ally.

This Friday, I'm leaving for good.

Sorry for the rant.