Sayonara January!

It's a little chilly over here tonight and the rain certainly doesn't help matters at all either. But still, I suppose it is much more desirable this way then to have it being absurdly humid and hot. Now that is outright torture.

But one saving grace has been gaming, though I think my choices lately haven't been all that great. Or smart. Allow me to explain my oh so unpleased views...

As I mentioned previously, I have been playing Bladestorm: The Hundred Year War and it isn't bad. In fact, it doesn't really resemble Dynasty Warriors, which I guess is a miracle in it over itself. But then again, maybe it could have benefited from being a button mashing, no nonsense hack and slasher?

One thing that just hasn't settled too well into my head is the combat system. You don't actually do any of the attacking yourself. Rather, you press the A button near a squad of soldiers. Then you guide them towards the bad guys and when you are ready, hold down the Right shoulder button and direct traffic into said baddies.

Yes, mayhem does ensue.

And that is basically it. That is the game's combat system in a nutshell. I mean you can do more, such as special attacks, but they all pretty much follow this extremely basic set up. Ya know, I think there is more depth in today's porn movies then in this game! Which is entirely another story, which I might actually share later.

Another game in play right now is Geometry Wars Galaxy, which is pretty fun. Yes I am a fan of the XBox version and in comparison, I think the DS version is much easier. One thing I am liking is the different stages, which tosses in various obstacles and what not.

Now I just hope that there is a console version in the works, I'd like to see this new and improved game on a bigger screen.

Oh and I just watched Family Guy: Blue Harvest. It is pretty funny, there was even one scene that just had me saying (out loud mind you) "That's just wrong!" But yes, it is funny and often times I even forgot that this wasn't the actual movie and actually a cartoon.

Well, I can't think anymore and I think I just might subject myself to a few hours of torment (Bladestorm). I should probably be heading off to sleep, but sleep at this time? It is just too damn early for me to sleep. Besides, I think, if not gaming, I may watch Nacho Libre again...

Before I forget too, with all that said I just wanted to add in one more thing before I call this writing done. Sayonara January! It's actually a strange thing, because when I went to look up the word Sayonara (just to be safe), I came across this interesting, sad and touching music video by Orange Range. If you decide to watch it, I do hope you see it to it's end. Just be warned, the video itself is nearly 10 minutes long, but (in my own opinion), it is time well spent.

Anyway, the video is appropriately titled...

...Sayonara.

Enjoy.

Untitled Post Which Really Has a Title

I have been meaning to write more this month, but I've just been unable to bring about any set of words which actually satisfied me. Each time I'd try to start up a writing, my brain would just shut down and that would be the end of it. And believe me, I've been trying at this for the better part of 2 weeks now and only now have I been able to actually get past just clicking "Create."

Well now, since we is here and all, I must say it is a little surprising how quickly the month of January has come and passed. Where in the world is all this time going? The days seem to be quick or maybe it is just because I spend most of my days at work?

Speaking of which, work remains to be the same as always. That shouldn't be a surprise now should it?

I've just given a try to Bioshock and I think I kind of like the game. I'm not sure if I like it enough to buy, but so far I've liked what little I have seen. I also picked up 2 new hack & slashers, Bladestorm: The Hundred Year War and Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom.

While I can't explain the reasoning behind my recent influx of mindless bashing, it does keep things simple and I am surprised that Bladestorm is not another Dynasty Warriors-by-a-different-name type of game. On the subject of Dynasty Warriors, DW6 is coming out eventually...

And you can CLIMB AND SWIM! With that mind blowing fact in your minds, allow me to just say that that, folks, is simply FREAKIN' AWESOME.

(Ends Sarcasm)

I hope there is some decent changes with this sixth installment, though something screams "NO" at me any time I think about it. At least keep that Rampage mode! I like smash!

So now I think I need to get some sleep since tomorrow I (along with whatever unfortunate souls needs to be there) will proceed to count... EVERYTHING IN THE STORE. We shall spare no one or anything, we will count and record everything down to the very smallest and the bitter last crumb and dust particle that may find it's misfortune in crossing our pens and eyes and fingers.

Note to Self: I fucking hate inventory...

A Touch of Reality

So today I felt like changing things up a bit and I definitely wanted a change of pace. Well, as I think I had mentioned a few writings ago, I did get the chance to go home for the first time in almost 3 years. And one thing I wanted to do was to get pictures of my dogs, especially Brindy (top) who is getting to be an old lady. She is still a puppy to me (I'm the only one she can get away with jumping up on me without getting scolded to no end) though and she can be a big baby too.

The pup pictured below is Tiger, one of Brindy's many kids (that's Brindy's butt in the picture). She is, by far, the smartest bugger of 'em all and she damn sure knows it. Deep down though, she is a momma's girl and she tends to mimic her mom and they spend most of the day hanging around each other. Then again, she has been instilled with fear of the big scary man (my step dad) and she spent most of our time there running away from us, thinking we were scolding her. Still, she can be easily befriended with nothing more then a cookie...

I am happy to have been able to get pictures of them, they are my "kids" and I miss 'em to death. I wish I could have taken them with me, but my place of residence doesn't allow dogs or pets to be precise. I do have a few more pictures of a few of my dogs which passed away some years back (I might post those here someday). Those would be of Puppy Girl (simple name, huh? She was easily the most hyper active pup I've ever seen.) and My Damn Kid (Puppy Girl's daughter, smart cookie and a hell of a climber. I don't know how or why I gave her that name, but it fit).

The other pup was a dog of countless names, though he is known around here simply as Mr. Coconut. He was the only dog we had that actually played with coconuts and even tore open a few too in his day. He was also the first "student" of my step dad's discipline.

As for the rest of litters, we had to give them up when they were pups... but I still have a lot of fond memories of watching those rascals chasing and tackling each other all across the yard.

Oh and one thing I've learned during the time spent trying to get pictures of my dogs was that they can be a pain in the ass to photograph! It took a few days to get these and others, because the girls kept running off and/or tried to tackle me in an attempt to play. Well that would be more for Brindy then Tiger, whom my girlfriend was able to befriend faster then I and actually picked her up (I might post that picture later too).

That traitor of a dog...

Then again, I guess it does make some sense since the last time we had seen her, she was really just a puppy. Why, I don't think she was even a year old back then...

I miss my dogs again... :(

Wow

I've been a little out of writing these past few weeks, being that I just really couldn't muster up anything I believed to have been worth writing. I mean there have been a pair of pretty sick and tragic stories in the news locally, but I think I'd go a little off the deep end over them both, so I simply stayed away from that.

Fast forward to today and man, am I just floored on an entirely different subject.

My girlfriend was browsing around on MSN when she came up on the headline "Heath Ledger Dead at 28."

I had been pretty tired today, but that got me to sit up and read along with her as we both we through the article. Although it is a safe bet to say my girlfriend was a much bigger fan of his work then I was, I still did enjoy watching the few movies which he had starred in. I was even looking forward to his portrayal of the Joker, in the upcoming Dark Knight movie.

And just like that, now he is gone.

At this point, we can all only speculate as to the "hows" and "whys." It is tragic when a person passes away so young, but then again in a place like Hollywood, things like that make people into legends. Sad, but that seems to be true at the same time.

Yes I could probably draw this out and make this into something utterly long and ultimately winded. But rather then doing that, I'll end this with the same phrase which I titled this short writing today by simply saying...

Wow.

Anime Music: Fullmetal Alchemist

So I was sitting here, wondering what I could do and then it hit me! I could post some music videos! And it so happens that I was watching the vid for Asian Kung-Fu Generation's video for their song Rewrite, used as the last opening theme for Fullmetal Alchemist. Good, good stuff in my humble opinion.

Now that got me thinking "hey, I can get the codes for these things on YouTube! Hell, I could even post it on my spiffy little blog too!"

Heh, I typed spiffy...

Anyway...

Besides the 4th opening song, I also have the videos for Motherland by Crystal Kay (actual video) as well as the opening vid (Song titled "Link") for FMA: The Conquerer of Shamballa. I enjoyed the movie, I mean it is cool to see both the Elric brothers in action and all, but why couldn't Ed end up with Winry? I mean he did spend the majority of the series just walking away from her. Couldn't he have stopped this time and actually go for it?? Alas, the hopeless romantic does not prevail at the end of this one...

And anyhow, videos, here, enjoy. I'll be back to posting my normal zing eventually. Actually, I think I'll post again tonight and get that out here. But then that would require more effort on my part and I have to be up early (again) for work tomorrow. Then Sunday is going to be a bitch, I strongly dislike company parties, especially ones hosted by the particular company I am employed with right now.

I mean, who wants to win expired food as prizes?? I'd like to know whose awesome idea that one was! Well, maybe I don't. It'd be better if I just didn't, I mean the less I know the better right? Riiight... I will claim absolute ignorance on the matter and simply hang my tongue out and allow a dribble or two of saliva escape.

Now that, dear reader, is a good start on scaring co-workers. Add in a zombie-like 'ahhhhhhhhh!" and a limp-foot drag to the mix and you will definitely have people talking about you. But if that doesn't work, then damn! What kind of place are you working at anyway!?

Days Until Next Day Off: 5

Don't be alarmed, I am merely expressing my increasingly noticeable deterioration of my goddamn brain. I can't wait for next Thursday! Day off, come quickly!

And Back Again...

After spending a week away from the crazy place (Oahu), we've returned to reality and man isn't it just a bitch? Since I had gotten a week off from work, I now have to make up for lost time and so I'll be working just shy of 10 consecutive days.

Oh yes, happy and fun times are here again.

To make things better, upon returning to work, something quickly became apparent to me: I had absolutely zero knowledge about what was going on around the workplace. Talk about headache inducing!

One thing I will say about our trip home... it did add a dash of perspective to our lives, among other things. Just getting out of the norm helped a whole lot, if even for just a brief heart beat in time. It at least gave us a moment to look and refocus some, which is what we need if we're hoping to survive in this brand spankin' new year.

And something I've been doing this year has been improving my communications with friends and certain family. I've been absolutely terrible about this during the years prior, so now I'm hoping to at least try and mend the fence, so to speak.

Now it's time for some sleep, which will hopefully help keep my spirits up if even for only a few more moments. Then it's back to freaking work! YUCK.

Shortest Post EVER!

This might very well be the shortest writing you shall ever see on this blog of mine, but what the hell! Evanescent Twilight is making it's inaugural run from home!

Lame, maybe... but still! It's home!

Mwahahaha....

(Yes, my mind has been lost during the course of this little trip)

The Blog Entry of Nothingness

Appropriate title, no?

Well, I suppose that statement does end up being a little premature since I haven't actually written anything yet. I mean how can the world be over before it ends? Wait, wow... damn... I think I just threw myself through a loop!

See what having no sleep can do to a person's mind? Crazy thoughts surface and the world over is treated to an ocean battle between man and... crazy thoughts! Yes, that is the mental pirates of my cerebrum!

Then again, maybe this entire post will be just that: Nothing.

Oops! A thousand pardons, oh noble sirs and ladies both! There goes me brains again, off to a lands that never was and back again to bring the world a small dose of strange and unusual images and words to muse over.

But in all seriousness, I don't know why but I just love to write freely like this every now and again. I'd say it's chicken soup for the soul, but isn't that little saying/title taken already? Hmm... I'd say me writing this way would be more like...

More like...

Miso soup for the soul! Ah ha!

And believe me, I can use as much as possible these days. Work alone is a handful, it certainly takes a great deal of focus to be able to handle things around there day after day, week after week. That isn't to say that 'oh my job is the hardest of all,' because I surely know that it could be a lot worse then what I'm at now. But still...

Anyway, thank goodness the holiday season is over and gone. Those last few weeks of the year were absolutely nuts!

By the way folks, if you are into the Japanese traditions and you buy mochi for new years, please do not wait until the last week of the year to buy it! Especially when those things are on sale for the better part of at least 2 months! You can't imagine how many people came in during that last week to find empty shelves and displays and still had the nerve to be bitchy about it!

Whoops and there I almost went, going off into my own little rant mode. But alas, I shall spare the world of such and just say good evening. Good night. Ah hell, good morning too! I need to sleep...

Movie Madness

My brain has been a little out of tune lately and so I've not written as much as I would have liked this month. Like I've been meaning to continue with my writing, but I've been either too tired or too lazy to muster the gusto to do it.

Ah hell, what's the rush anyway? I mean it is a new year and there are only 11 months until another year comes around. So much time to live! To write!

Ha! I know that is a bad mindset, thinking that there will always, always be a tomorrow. If life has taught me anything, that would be that life can be gone in an instant. Funny I should be writing these words, considering how I live life uneventfully, almost wastefully, day after day.

Anyway, this is totally derailing the entire thought process that was to go behind this writing today. Movies! God we've been watching so many movies these last few months, it's been crazy! But let me tell you, out of them all.... there are only a very, very select few that I would even dare mention in the same breathe as being "great."

One of these movies easily is one called Stardust, which let me say folks is an amazing piece of storytelling. The characters, the twists and turns in the plot, god it is damn inspiring to me to want to improve my "game" as far as writing is concerned.

Side note: If you watch this movie, keep an eye out of Robert DeNiro's character. God that one caught me by surprise...

What sold me on this movie even more so was during one of the special feature stuff, where one of the screenwriters mentioned how she believed in good story tell and man, that got me and good. I wish there were more people in the movie and gaming industries that take that sort of mindset seriously.

The other movie caught me by surprise, being that I didn't even think I'd enjoy it as much as I did. Even more so, considering the actors and actresses involved. This movie being The Holiday, starring Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law and Jack Black.

It is a fun story and to me, each of the characters were interesting and I loved how each character was given the chances to flesh themselves out. Another thing was seeing Jack Black in this type of movie (a romantic comedy), which I didn't think he'd do well in considering movies like Nacho Libre. But I was pleasantly surprised and I really give him a lot of credit, he is a talented son of a bitch.

And now my mind is drawing up blanks, meaning it's time to bring this bugger to a close. Oh and besides the romantic comedies and the fantasy movies, we've also been seeing a lot of Jackie Chan movies. Personally, I enjoy watching his films over Jet Li's. Maybe it's because Jackie Chan has more of a personality? While that might or might not be true, I think the reason I enjoy his movies more is just because of his ability. He can do action, yes, but he can also do comedy and drama and is able to switch between in a heartbeat.

Besides all of that, my girlfriend always likes to remind me that if she could meet anyone in this world, it would easily be Jackie Chan. God when he was in Honolulu for a charity event (and also promoting his then new movie, Around the World in 80 Days), she was almost begging to hang around in hopes of getting an autograph.

While that didn't happen that day, I'm slightly afraid what would happen if he should return for another event someday. I don't think I'd do well with camping out in the city...

A Long Day Today

I've been meaning to make a trip home, but days turned into weeks, into years and I just never was able to do it. But now, considering the situation of present things, it looks like that trip is coming up at long last. I just never would have believed it would all come down to having to return home for a funeral.

Anyway, my girlfriend and I have been out and about in search of clothes that would be appropriate for this. Needless to say, what started out as a simple task ended up becoming a day long odyssey.

Now I don't mind shopping trips as much, but what does get under my skin is crowds. I hate having to swing and swerve through masses of bodies that seem to deviate towards where ever it is that you decide to step. What bothers me more is the eye contact with these people. What is up with that goddamn eye? Got a problem? Never seen a guy walking in front of you before!?

Well we decided to hit up Nordstrom Rack and I'll be damned folks. The line to check out of that place went down and around the racks. So we came to the quick conclusion that we weren't going to be leaving the place any year soon.

So after spending about 2 hours of looking around, waiting and paying, we escaped that hell as quickly as possible.

Next stop? Pearl Kai Shopping center.

Now that place wasn't too bad as far as crowds were concerned. I mean it who can expect otherwise? Pearlridge is right across the street (Which I am grateful for, because I don't think I could have handled another crowd that soon). We made the trek there to try and find a shop that sells those Tokidoki shirts and stuff.

Well we didn't find it and ended up stuck on the freeway amid a (I assume) typical traffic jam. Fun, fun times indeed.

Our final destination of the day: Kahala Mall.

Now we've been there before and it was never really that busy in those previous visits. And much to my relief, it wasn't all that bad today either. Well, except if you count the long, long line that we later discovered was for autographs from a few of the UH Football team players.

So yadda, yadda, yadda... to make this long and boring story shorter, one definately good thing came from all of this running around. I picked up a new series of manhwa (Korean Manga) named Chunchu: The Genocide Fiend to read. And while I haven't gotten the full gist of the story, the art itself caught my attention and the bits and pieces that I did read only cemented my interests.

There is one thing I'll say about reading these comics and that is... the wait between books is brutal! Hopefully this new series will help tide me over between Rebirth books or else I'll likely go mad!

Speaking of which, I did buy Volume 21 of Rebirth (at last) and it was pretty good up until the end. I especially liked the line that came from Gray, the vampire that Deshwitat (the main character) had been battling against from the previous book. It actually is a part of a conversation between Gray and Lilith (mother of Gray), who was once Desh's lover and now is mysteriously sided with Kalutika, the God of Light, former friend to Desh, murderer (or so Desh believed) of Lilith 500 years prior and now a being bent on destroying all of both mankind and all vampires alike.

A little much to take in, huh? Anyway here is the line and I quote:

"I realize... this may not be the best time... but I must know. Deshwitat... is my real father right?"

And that is pretty much the end of that part of the story for at least this book. Lilith only responds with "It's time to go" or something along those lines.

I don't know if I ever mentioned this before, but I hate cliffhangers! Especially during movies or books or comics that are running a damn good story!

Well, anyway... it only means (possibly) another six month wait until the next book........

New Year's Resolutions of My Own

I've been meaning to mess around with the appearance of my blog for a while now, though I've just been too busy (lazy) to do anything about it. I mean with a new year and all, change should be a good thing right? Well, I wish everything could change for the better and not otherwise. Then again, that would be a perfect world now wouldn't it?

Chalk it up to having too much free time on my hands, but I gotta admit that I've been thinking. Yes, as common as that might sound, I do tend to think and think for hours on end if at all possible. The most prevalent thought in my mind has been quite simple, which is a little surprising to me.

What will I do this year to improve? Not just myself, but maybe just everything? What can I do for myself that will take me in the right direction and not down the hole again.

Although it isn't likely to improve myself to any great extent, I believe this year is the year I shall write and finally finish a story. I don't care if it never sees the light of day or makes me a million (or more) dollars. I just need to get one done that I can personally feel proud of. God, that would be a huge mountain in itself.

I've been trying to accomplish this task for a number of years now and each passing year seems to make it just that much harder for me. Still, I do have a certain degree of hope still alive in me that tells me that I will someday reach this goal.

This next one is a little funny, because it was something I had been previously bitching about for a while and that would be to get a new (and better) job. I had stayed around because of the holiday season and with it done and over with now, now I feel like I have that much more freedom to begin to search and search seriously this time. OK and maybe I was just being too damn lazy to do anything about this too.

I'd like to say that I would also like to get into better shape, but come on folks. How many people make and break that one around this time of year? Eh, I won't go there (but really, I'd like get into better shape!)

And lastly, the one thing I'd like to do that would rank up as the most important, is to be a better friend. Sounds corny right? But seriously, I am not the best person to have as a friend and I tend to be as personable as a rock. Or was it I have a personality of a rock? Hmmm...

Anyway, yes... major goal this year is to try and be a better friend and a better person. Maybe I'll be able to better keep in contact with old friends as well as the new with this little self-made resolution.

So this hasn't been quite the impressive list of resolutions or whatever you'd like to call them. But here they are, now to see how much of this I'll be able to uphold and follow through with. Just gotta shake the lazies off and I should be A-OK!

*Yaawn* Laaaazy!

And So We Begin Again...

I was going to write a much bigger entry for this new year, but I'd be damned that Blogger didn't even auto-save after I wrote the first sentence. So after I was forced to close it, I returned in hopes that I'll at least have the post.

And I don't. Such a good that feature, you just can't imagine what good it does...

I also had this long, drawn out thing about video games in the coming year. Actually, I only mentioned the possibility of getting a PS3 for the sole purpose of playing just one game. Final Fantasy XIII.

Crazy, I am not and I have done something to this degree in the past. I traded in every single SNES, Sega Genesis and PS1 game (and system) I had to buy a PS2. I swore I would be done with games after PS1's days ended, but man did a game catch my eye.

That was Final Fantasy X.

So you see, I've done a banged up job of quitting games in general. Just don't ever expect to see me at a gamers addict meetings. Hell, in comparison to how some people game, I'd look like I don't even play anything at all.

That makes it all better now.

So anyway, Happy New Year to all, hope everyone has fun and stays safe! And here's hoping all the good that came during 2007 carries on into the new year. Peace!

...oh shit! The new Resident Evil movie is released today! (I'm a little addicted to buying DVDs...)