Found the Pineapple

And now for a what seems to be a love letter or something to pineapples...

I love pineapples. Always have, okay, not always but they are rapidly becoming a staple in my life and honestly, I love it. Where did my fascination with the delicious golden fruit start? Let's take a trip back to July 7, 2006. It was 10 on a Friday night, the TV was turned to USA Network. A new show was starting that night right after Monk. This show was Psych. Anyone who is a fan of Psych knows where I'm going with this. That episode, the Pilot, the one that started it all, had a moment in it that started the subconscious integration of the pineapple into my life. In the episode, James Roday who played Shawn improvised by picking up a pineapple and saying, "Should I slice this up for the road?" This moment sparked something. From episode 1, there was a pineapple in every Psych episode. That beautiful fruit that I would come to love and cherish was a key part in one of my favorite shows. My fascination with finding the pineapple was off and on for a while. Fast forward to about two years ago, when I picked the show back up again in Season 7 because it had been a while. Things had happened in the show while I was off flitting around and trying to not drown in school. But the one constant besides random media references, Lassie's sarcasm, and Shawn and Gus' flare for the hilarious, was the pineapple. I could always count on the pineapple. When Psych the musical came out I started really paying attention to the things Shawn and Gus said. "I heard it both ways" and the pineapple started making a huge comeback in my life. The pineapple making the biggest comeback.

I went to a painting class with my mom and someone I knew from Girl Scouts. It was one of those classes where they lead you through when to mix something, where to put your brush, etc. We were painting these flower things and I had a big area with nothing in it. So it painted a pineapple. This pineapple looked great. I like it. It was a nice painting with flowers and a pineapple. That painting is currently hanging up in my room.

Fast forward to about five months ago, I started figuring my scent thing out then. Like actually thinking it over. It was before summer really started. I was walking through Publix when I smelled that sweet scent that called to me. It was a pineapple at it's peak. I got that pineapple and when it got cut up and I could eat it, it was just as sweet as its scent. So I started sniffing the pineapples, and strawberries, and while I didn't always get a pineapple, it was nice to search for a ripe one. Psych had ended earlier that fall and I was rewatching the show from the beginning. "I found the pineapple" became a regular saying for me. Around that time, the pineapple was also becoming an actual trend, or maybe it always was and I never noticed. I was suddenly seeing pineapples everywhere. Pineapples ingrained themselves into my head and subconscious.

At some point this past summer, I came home for the weekend from my summer job at camp. Over that weekend, I went to the H Mart with my mom and as luck would have it, there was a display of pineapples in front of the store. I walked by and that all to familiar sweet scent danced through the air. I stopped and spent the next five minutes sniffing the pineapples to find that one scent. I brought it back to camp with me. I walked through the office door, pineapple in hand and got some strange looks from my coworkers. The cook cut it up for me and once again it was as sweet as it's scent.

At some point, my dad took the tops of the pineapples and planted them into pots. They're still alive and growing. So we have two pineapples (that I've named Fred and George- which one is which changes often). I also got a bottle of pineapple juice and sat outside next to Fred and George sipping my pineapple juice. I recently picked up cooking and was experimenting with shrimp for a while. One of those times I was cooking shrimp, I got out the small bottle of pineapple extract we had and threw some of it into the skillet with the shrimp, tasted good. I bought a few shirts online, one of them had a pineapple on it.

School rolls around and I'm on yearbook staff again. We were trying to figure out the cover and I was wearing my pineapple shirt that day. So naturally, I say "Pineapple." My yearbook adviser agreed with me to a degree. Seriously just a pineapple on the front, that would be an awesome yearbook. So that was my thing for a while, pineapples for the yearbook. 

Now that it's fall, the pineapples are out of season. I have one last bottle of pineapple juice before I stop eating and drinking pineapples until the spring. The pineapple won't leave me that easily though. I have a feeling that wonderful tropical fruit will always make a comeback in my life, stranger things have happened. Sanders out.

Today In My Head

Ok... I had some pretty interesting (maybe strange) things in my head today as I did my eClass work. Where to start... How about...

Men's fragrance
I'm not much of a fan of women's perfume fragrance whatever you want to call that little bottle of death. Sure, I love apple scented things, just apple not apple cinnamon, just apple. I also tolerate flower scents to a degree. Anything with coconut can go back to where it came from. But the one thing that never fails to draw every molecule every fiber of my being to it, is a decent men's fragrance. Right now, I literally have a sample of Paco Rabanne Invictus in front of me from the Dillard's Scents for Men flyer. While it isn't something enough to draw me in like things tend to in a store, it's something enough to get me to sit here sniffing it as I type and leave me wanting more. Now, I don't know if that's the point of men's fragrance, it most likely is, but I'm a fairly scent oriented person so I could be here for awhile sniffing this paper. (Note: I just ran around the house for about five minutes looking for inserts in magazines for Men's scents... I found Jimmy Choo Man but I already have it in front of my laptop with the other). In addition to Invictus, I have a sample of Jimmy Choo Man, and it's alright. Not something that would stop me in my tracks if it was a department store. I'm looking at the back of the Dillard's thing and I see an ad for Armani's new fragrance... Kinda want to go to Dillard's now and smell it. Back to Invicus and Choo Man, for the moment, Invictus is what's occupying my attention. I put the two scents together and while it was interesting for like two seconds I got bored of it so I went back to just Invicus. Which is weird, you would think it would be more interesting if there were two together but no. I sniffed the sample of Jimmy Choo Illicit for women and I don't like it. It can go curl up in a hole with the coconut scents. I might as well go a little deeper into my scent orientation. I figured out I was drawn in by smells around my sophomore year. I had my first serious boyfriend then, I had had a boyfriend before and while it was slightly serious it wasn't like serious. Anyway, he wore some kind of scent and I still remember the scent, a little, I can't name it and I wish I could but I do remember it. (My favorite teacher wears something similar, I think). At one point, I remember texting my best friend that I was sitting on my bed sniffing my shirt because it had his scent on it. I liked the scent okay! So that's most likely where it started, and I haven't gone back. I've gotten better at figuring out which fruit to get and what's fresh. Fresh pineapples have the best fresh fruit scent. The down side is that I notice if my teachers are wearing anything if they are right next to me. If it's something I like, I have to root myself to not get closer to catch another whiff. I know I'm weird, but whatever, I'm me and stranger things have happened.

Follow up note: I just found a sample of the Armani scent and it's amazing. It's a stop me in my tracks and let me smell you for the next hour scent. I love it! If I could afford it, I'd by a bottle. Well, I probably can afford it, though something tells me that my parents wouldn't like it if I spent $62 on a bottle of men's fragrance.

Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better
I can do anything better than you. No you can't. Yes I can. No you can't. Yes I can. No you can't. Yes I can. Yes I can.

Annie Get Your Gun, I want to see it now. I've heard the song before, and it's now one of my favorite songs. My obsession with this song started when I read a fanfic for Hollywood U (it's a mobile game). I was searching for a Hunt/MC pairing and I came across this fic and as luck would have it, that song was what the whole thing was centered around. So yeah, it's my new obsession. Love the song, it's great,

Reminiscing About An Ex
Not much to say except that it's annoying. I see his stupid face lit up on my gmail chat thing and I think back to when we were together and how nice it was before issue A and then issue B happened. He's got a new profile pic and he looks good, like college student good so I don't know. It's not fun to reminisce about this particular ex. But one day I won't think back to him as often and hopefully it won't be such a pain, or as painful as it is now.

Evita
I love this broadway show. It's by Andrew Lloyd Webber and it's amazing!!! I love it! I saw it on broadway and the soundtrack is phenomenal. I love Evita. I've listened to it all the way through like twice in three days. Come to think of it... I've listened to a couple of Webber's shows all the way through within the last few days... Evita, Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies... Yup, all Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Love Never Dies

YESSSS!!!! It's finally happening! Love Never Dies, the sequel to Phantom of the Opera is FINALLY going on tour in the US!!! It's on tour right now in... Havana or something with an H. Anyway, I've been waiting for a looong time for this to happen. I saw the movie version, the recording of the Australian version, of Love Never Dies and loved it! The music... Oh the music!!! It's amazing!!! Sooo excited!!! The only thing is... Webber has said he might change the ending... I hope he doesn't because the ending, though heart wrenching, is fine the way it is.

That's all for now. Might have something to say tomorrow. Or not. Not sure really... So for now, Sanders out.

Again With My Life

More like my brain really.

It's an eClass day. I don't like eClass days. The entire interwebs at my finger tips for a whole day is hard to resist. I'm still working even now, but I'm taking a break at the moment. Anyway, random thoughts that came into my mind.

I really want to write something, whether it's working on one of my many projects (really want to work on that one ship) or starting something new (I have a whole list of prompts I can't wait to sink my teeth into), I really want to write.

My 3D modeling teacher is getting a book for this eClass assignment. He's got us watching a few Pixar shorts then choosing two to compare and answer questions about. My inner future lit major is coming out so at the moment I've pretty much written him a short essay for each question.

I really wish I could find something to rant about, but nothing has happened that is worth ranting about. Maybe that's worth ranting about... No, this is about as far as a rant about nothing to rant about would go. But wait, it's a short rant, but it is a rant. So I've ranted about having nothing to rant about. Wait, objection! If I've managed a short rant then clearly I have something to rant about so that something is about having nothing to rant about therefor that nothing is something! HA! Nothing must be something! Philosophy!!! Ok short rant over.

For some reason at some point this afternoon, the thought, "He's dead. Oh my gosh, he's dead." ran through my mind. Not sure why. I really wish I knew why, but that's what ran though my mind.

I had a random quote from somewhere that was plaguing my mind. One of those moments where you can't relax until you figure out where it came from. The quote was, "something something. In another lifetime." I thought it was "in another chance. In another lifetime" and was from a book. I just found it and it was from my favorite Oliver Wood fan fic, Green Ink. The quote was actually. "In another world." "In another lifetime." and was referring to the fact that if the main character weren't rivals, then perhaps they would have been friends (honestly though, they're friends whether they like it, or realize it, or not). Still it's a nice quote that I might have to do something with myself. I had imagined it going with some book that would be dystopian or post-apocalyptic. But it was a pleasant surprise that it was one of my favorite fics.

That's it for my inner musings for now. Might have some more tomorrow. Who knows. So for now, Sanders out.

How Is This My Life

Random happenings in my life at the moment...

My cat went to the basement and caught a baby mouse. She left it on the carpet where I study and it was dead. I came down stairs with my head phones so I could do an assignment, looked down at just the right moment because I was about to step on the dead creature. I put my stuff down and looked at the mouse. My cat had managed to tear open the chest, so while it wasn't sitting in a puddle of blood, there was some blood. Had there not been blood, I would have dealt with the body but considering there was blood, I had my dad deal with it. He got the mouse up and I cleaned up the single spot of blood from the carpet. My cat was annoyed that we threw her catch to the owls. How do I know it was one cat and not the other? Well, the killing isn't my other cat's style. His style is to capture and then release so he can chase it again. He generally doesn't kill things unless he gets tired of stuff which to be honest, is rare. However, the cat who caught the mouse, her style is catch it, kill it, leave it. Plain and simple. That's her style.

My dad sold his motorcycle a month ago I think. Anyway the thing made it's way home for a brief visit. The guy who bought the thing came by with it. He had taken it in to get fixed and now that thing purrs. It looked great, no longer dusty from the garage. When he left I could hear the engine and like I said, that thing purrs.

A Korean Baptist confronted me in front of the Asian market. I thought she was selling something so without hearing her first question, I said no. I'm guessing I accidentally said I don't believe in Jesus because next thing you know I'm being told that everything in the bible isn't belief, it's fact. Then I'm being shown a picture of a history book and a photo of one of the pages. In a little blurb bubble, it says something about the resurrection happening. Finally I escaped by saying I had homework but not before receiving a paper on how Jesus can save me. Evidently, I should have said that I'm Catholic.

I cooked dinner for my dad and I. Cooked cat fish with Weber's New Orleans seasoning and some garlic and herb seasoning in the skillet that had a tablespoon of butter in it. I also made a box of Zatarain's red beans and rice, so basically it was Cajun night. It was good. I have enough rice left over for a couple of meals. It was slightly spicy but worth it. I wasn't sitting there crying about it being so hot but so good while eating it. Anyway, dad and I ate on the porch listening to Evita. It was a nice dinner.

All of the events above happened in one whole day. How is this my life? Sanders out.

Absurdism

Caution: You are about to enter the philosophical corner. Philosophy begins... Right now!

I just finished reading Camus' The Plague for lit class and one of the themes in the book is absurdism. Absurdism is philosophy based on the belief that the universe is irrational and meaningless and that the search for order brings the individual into conflict with the universe.

Now absurdism shouldn't be confused with nihilism, extreme skepticism maintaining that nothing in the world has a real existence. And nihilism and absurdism aren't like existentialism.

Existentialism is the belief that through a combination of awareness, free will, and personal responsibility, one can construct their own meaning within a world that intrinsically has none of its own.

Nihilism is the belief that not only is there no intrinsic meaning in the universe, but that it’s pointless to try to construct our own as a substitute.

Absurdism is the belief that a search for meaning is inherently in conflict with the actual lack of meaning, but that one should both accept this and simultaneously rebel against it by embracing what life has to offer.

There's three ways that one can choose to accept the absurd...

Suicide due to life being ultimately meaningless and therefore either too boring or too painful
Embracing a meaning framework such as religion or spirituality
Acceptance of the lack of meaning, and living on in spite of it.

Personally, I accept the lack of meaning and move on with my life. Yes, my little life in this ginormous universe doesn't make much difference in said universe and is there fore meaningless. Oh, woe is me, my life means nothing, blah, blah, blah. I accept this and you know what, life goes on. Now, back to The Plauge (slight spoilers ahead).

**** Slight Spoilers Ahead!!!****

The Plague has examples of all three responses with the plague itself representing the absurd. In the beginning, Cottard tries to kill himself because of his guilt of a past crime (his own plague of sorts). However, Cottard doesn’t succeed and uses the plague to his advantage and profits off other’s suffering. Father Paneloux tries to make sense of the plague by saying it’s the punishment of God. He later watches a child die and his own faith wavers. He eventually dies of an illness might have been plague but wasn’t completely known. Rieux, Rambert, and Tarrou respond the way Camus prefers. They recognize the absurd, the plague and the threat of their own demise, but continue to work against it and find meaning in trying to heal others.

**** End of Slight Spoilers****

So, that's absurdism and nihilism and existentialism, well, a brief over view of them. I'm more of an absurdist. I'm not trying to create my own meaning like existentialists and I'm not sitting around like the nihilists. I'm accepting that my own life is meaningless in this world and you know what, I'm okay with that, so I continue on in my small meaningless life and life goes on. Sanders out.

About A Year Ago (pt. 3)

About a year ago, I went to my first anime convention. I went to Anime Weekend Atlanta. I went for two reasons, to go TO an anime convention and, this is pretty much the main reason, to meet J Michael Tatum, my favorite voice actor. Yes, I did other things besides meet Tatum, I went down artists alley and walked up and down the aisles for vendors. It was fun. I got a piece of art and a thermos. This story is a long one, mostly because I want to tell every detail and that starts from that morning up until the end of the day and into the night... And then some of the next school day. So... Part 3 of AWA. (For part 2 go here.)

I met J Michael Tatum. It was an exciting time to be alive. After that not much happened at the con. I immediately texted my best friend once I calmed myself.

9/27/14 2:18 PM

Just about passed out talking to Tatum. He's sooo nice, and understanding and every bit of AWESOME as I expected.

Yeah, I was excited, still am. I wandered around some more, walked down artist's alley and got a picture. Saw some amazing cosplay. And I met Vic Mignogna. Let it be said, that I think Vic Mignogna is an amazing very talented voice actor, but I'm not drop dead fan girl crazy about him. Todd Haberkorn, Travis Willingham, J Michael Tatum. Them I have to make sure I'm not gold fishing or dying, but Vic. I don't know. Vic is Vic. So anyway yeah, I met Vic Mignogna, honestly just because I could. I have nothing against Vic. I was there, the line was just forming, Tatum was still there, and I thought, ok might as well get him to sign the Ouran DVD cover while I'm here. So I did, and I had him sign the AWA program. And I got a picture, which probably looks akward...

Yeah, definitely slightly awkward looking. Anyway, that was my day. It was sooo exciting and amazing. Then I had a thought, well a flash back..

I remember on the first day of sophomore year, I had been watching one of Tatum's panels on YouTube the night before, anyway, I walked into my first period/home room, saw my teacher and immediately backed up and had to collect myself, with the phrase, "Oh my gosh, J Michael Tatum is my lit teacher," going through my mind. Basically, my teacher reminded me of Tatum so much, even the way he spoke with that same sarcastic voice, I was sitting in class trying to not completely lose it, it also didn't help that he was totally completely and utterly awesome like Tatum. So the whole first week of school, I was trying so hard to not completely freak out. To this day, even though now that I’ve taken note that he looks NOTHING like Tatum, I still link him with Tatum because of that initial freak out when I only took a quick glance before backing up and collecting myself in the hall.

Anyway, I realized that I STILL had that link and knew that there was no way I could deal with my favorite teacher on Monday... I still went to his classroom that Monday morning before school for one of our little quick chats. I babbled about meeting Tatum and such. As always he was nice about it and listened. I didn't completely die from the memories. And then on October 1st... I realized once again... that I had met J Michael Tatum. 

I still have these little epiphanies that I met Tatum. And I still have those moments when my teacher reminds me of Tatum (it's the sarcasm I swear) and all I can hear is Tatum's voice saying, "I'm a ball buster. I bust balls." (which is referring to his sarcasm). Literally, the other day, I sat in class for pretty much the whole time trying to not completely loose it. So that's my tale. It was a long one but I'm happy to actually get it out and share it. Sanders out.

About A Year Ago (pt. 2)

About a year ago, I went to my first anime convention. I went to Anime Weekend Atlanta. I went for two reasons, to go TO an anime convention and, this is pretty much the main reason, to meet J Michael Tatum, my favorite voice actor. Yes, I did other things besides meet Tatum, I went down artists alley and walked up and down the aisles for vendors. It was fun. I got a piece of art and a thermos. This story is a long one, mostly because I want to tell every detail and that starts from that morning up until the end of the day and into the night... And then some of the next school day. So... Part 2 of AWA. (For Part 1 of AWA go here.)

So I left off on standing in the autograph line and meeting nice people. This is when I move from my VERY excited texts to what I wrote down last year the day after I went to the con.

From what I wrote down last year (plus some edits)...

9/28/14 

So, I wanted to write this yesterday but I hadn't slept in more than 24 hours. But here it is. 

As I was standing in line waiting for J Michael Tatum to come out and start signing things, I met some people and we were talking about all the shows we watched, what we wanted signed, etc. I was basically dancing and trying to breath. Tatum came out and we all cheered and screamed. It was awesome! I realized I wasn't breathing. So we were there, half way through the line. I was alright until I was almost there. I was next in line, trying to breath. He was right there! I had my stuff out, my phone camera ready. I was finally going to meet J Michael Tatum! I gut up there and opened my mouth. Words failed med and I stood there "dying" for a good moment before I brought my hand down on the table. "Damn it!" I shouted. I popped up, "Oh look I can speak!" I looked at the people still waiting, thrilled that I could still articulate, I looked back that Tatum. "And now I can't speak, oh wait, I can! Hi." "Hi," he said. I cave him my letter that I had worked on up until 6 AM that morning, and babbled out my short story about it. He listened and said thank you. He asked if I had anything for him to sign. I handed him Sebastian's pocket watch. He took it and I looked down at my hands, they were shaking. "My hands are shaking." He said, "Your hands are shaking," he puts his arm over, "Here, put them on my arm so they don't shake." I put my hands down and nearly die. I got lower to the ground. Then it hit me, I looked at him with wide eyes. "Oh my god, you're J Michael Tatum." He sat  up proudly and with a smile, "Yes, I am." I got my now signed watch back. That's when I got overwhelmed with my excitement. 

I was on the ground with my eyes level with the table. He got down to my level and we looked at each other. I slid my Ouran DVD cover over. Still on that same level with me, he uncapped his marker and signed it. I slowly got back up-ish. He got back up and asked me, "And what's your name?" "Cindy." "Well, Cindy, you are adorable." I unlocked my phone and handed it to a staff member. "Ooo, a picture." He said. I came around the table and looked at him. "Can I put my arm around you?" "Sure!" I put my arm around him. I could feel my face smiling and I knew I looked completely starstruck. 'School picture. It's just a school picture.' I thought. I collected myself and threw on my school picture face. The picture was taken and I said thank you. "Aw, you're welcome. Hug." I blushed and got a hug. I got my phone back and got my stuff. "Thank you. I love you. I love you're work. You're awesome!" I said walking backwards. He smiled and said, "Thank you. And for the letter." I turned and finished my exit, trying to breath some more.  

Mission accomplished. I had done it. I had met J Michael Tatum. He was nice, and caring, and awesome, and everything I had hoped and more. So in the words of J Michael Tatum, "It's a good time to be alive!" 

Also, at some point I had babbled to him about being afraid that I'd be standing there goldfishing. He said, "Aww, don't worry. Not my first rodeo." 

So that's my story of meeting the man I call my favorite voice actor. He was super nice and so tolerant of my very excited puppy like antics. This is the picture from that day. You can see that I still looked starstruck.

But that's not the end of my tale yet...

This story will continue in the next post... Up Next: What Came After Tatum.

About A Year Ago (pt. 1)

About a year ago, I went to my first anime convention. I went to Anime Weekend Atlanta. I went for two reasons, to go TO an anime convention and, this is pretty much the main reason, to meet J Michael Tatum, my favorite voice actor. Yes, I did other things besides meet Tatum, I went down artists alley and walked up and down the aisles for vendors. It was fun. I got a piece of art and a thermos. This story is a long one, mostly because I want to tell every detail and that starts from that morning up until the end of the day and into the night... And then some of the next school day. So... Part 1 of AWA.

Anyway, my day started off with me standing in line for hours and texting my best friend about standing in line.

9/27/2014, 1:11 AM
Holy crap! In about 8 hours I'll be at AWA!!!

9/27/2014, 7:51 AM
Poke... Morning!!! On my way to AWA!!!!!! J Michael Tatum!!!!!

9/27/2014, 9:01 AM
I'm her standing in the line!!!! Trying to remember to breath!

9/27/2014, 9:14 AM
I've already seen an amazing Sebastian and a Prussia. I've died and gone to heaven.

9/27/2014, 9:22 AM
I'm not even through the line yet... Arg! Panel starts at 9:45... Trying to think positively.

9/27/2014, 9:28 AM
(After my friend mentions Tatum) I JUST STARTED BREATHING NORMALLY!!! Trying to NOT think about my fav VA!

9/27/2014, 9:31 AM
(She asks how that's working for me) Alright... Focusing on other things that aren't here. And the fact that the line is moving relatively quickly.

Finally, I got in just as the panel was starting. Tatum did his usual greeting, did the most requested lines and laid down the ground rules, then the shenanigans that only happen at a Tatum panel began. (You can find that panel on YouTube. AWA 2014 J Michael Tatum panel)

9/27/2014, 10:49 AM
Just got out of the panel... BEST THING EVER!!!

9/27/2014, 12:05 PM
(She askes me how it was and if it was awesome.) IT WAS J BLOODY MICHAEL TATUM OF COURSE IT WAS AWESOME... AWESOMER THAN PRUSSIA!!!

9/27/2014, 12:12 PM
I've even worked myself into an Italy voice. And its hard to come down from it. And autograph lines are brutal.., I want to get something but things are either over my budget or I can't decide.

9/27/2014, 12:17 PM
Well, more like I'm circling because they keep having to back people up and stop from prematurely forming lines.

9/27/2014, 12:35 PM
I'm in the line... Great spot... Found nice people to stand and talk to.

This story will continue in the next post... Up Next: I meet J Michael Tatum.

Dogs of C-Kennel

I have a favorite comic strip. It's not in my local paper, not that we get a local paper, so I have to find it online. Anyway, this strip is called The Dogs of C-Kennel. I thought I would share some of my favorite recent strips.

Just so I don't get hauled off...

Disclaimer: I am not saying in anyway shape or form that I own the Dogs of C-Kennel. The strip belongs to John Hart Studios and you can see more of the strip here at http://johnhartstudios.com/ckennel/.

Tag: Bookish Beginnings

My friends Stellah [The Little Book Nerd's Life] and Shouni [Through the Book Portal] did this on their own blogs and I liked it so I'm doing it. This is the Inside & Out Tag created by MathomBooks. Huh... Should have just put [insert awkward introduction here]. Anyway, onwards!

I Inside flap/Back of the book summaries: Too much info? Or not enough (Discuss) 
I tend to find that the blurb of info found either on the inside flap or back of the book is generally enough information. Now, there are times when that blurb gives too much info, but 8 times out of 10, that little blurb is enough to get me interested. At least, interested enough to read the first page and/or the first chapter.

N New book: What form do you want it in? Be honest: Audiobook, E-Book, Paperback, or Hardcover?
Order of preference: Paperback, e-book, hardcover, audiobook. I like paperbacks because they're lighter and can be stuck most everywhere. E-books, I can just stick them on my iPad mini and go. Hardcovers are nice to have, but their jackets annoy me. Like seriously, I take them off and put them in a hanging file folder in my desk drawer. Hardcovers also take up space, you can't just stick them somewhere. Audiobooks... I can deal with them. The only audiobook I willingly have is the Red Necklace because Tom Hiddleston reads it. If J Michael Tatum, my favorite voice actor, were to do an audio book, I'd get that too.

S Scribble while you read? Do you like to write in your books, taking notes, making comments, or do you keep your books clean clean clean? (Tell us why)
I don't generally write in my books unless it's meant to be written in. I don't know why I don't, I just don't.

I In your best voice, read for us your favorite 1st sentence from a book.
How about my favorite first page...

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

First the colors.

       Then the humans.
       That's usually how I see things.
       Or at least, how I try.

* * * HERE IS A SMALL FACT * * *

You are going to die.

I am in all truthfulness attempting to be cheerful about this whole topic, though most people find themselves hindered in believing me, no mater my protestations. Please, trust me. I most definitely can be cheerful. I can be amiable. Agreeable. Affable. And that's only the A's. Just don't ask me to be nice. Nice has nothing to do with me.

* * * REACTION TO THE * * *

AFOREMENTIONED FACT

Does this worry you?

I urge you - don't be afraid.

I'm nothing if not fair.

The Book Thief is one of my favorites. Mostly because it's narrated by Death. That first page... There's something about it that makes me want to keep going and not stop until I reach the end, until I reach the final sentence... 

* * * A LAST NOTE FROM YOUR NARRATOR * * *

I am haunted by humans.

D Does it matter to you whether the author is male or female when you're deciding on a book? What if you're unsure of the author's gender? 
Honestly, half the time I don't even know the name of who wrote the darn thing. I don't even know who wrote what I'm currently reading (my me book not what we have for AP Lit). A big arrow could be over the book with the words, "So and so wrote this!" and I STILL wouldn't know who wrote it. So to answer the question, no, I don't care about the author's gender, doesn't matter to me.

E Ever read ahead? or have you ever read the last page way before you got there? (Do confess thy sins, foul demon!) :)
I admit it. While I haven't read the entire last page, I do tend to read the last sentence of a book. Don't know why, I just do. Now, am I guilty of finding spoilers? Yes, yes I am. I've been known to jump the gun and google something for more info and managing to find spoilers.

&

O Organized bookshelves, or Outrageous bookshelves?
The only thing on my bookshelves that are remotely organized are my yearbooks and photography books. If a book is in a series and I have multiple books in that series, I'll put them together so they're in order from left to right. Everything else... It's a little bit of a free for all.

U Under oath: have you ever bought a book based on the cover (alone)? 
Hmm... Not sure actually... Maybe... Honestly not sure... Now, have I gotten a book based on the title, yes, yes I have. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is an excellent example.

T Take it outside to read, or stay in?
Anywhere I can read is great. Though my favorite spots are the ones that take a bit more effort to find. Those spots that are quiet and calm. The spots that rarely have anyone, or one's pets, wandering by. The ones that allow you to be so quiet and immerse yourself so fully into the book you're reading, that the whole world just vanishes and for that moment, you're in the book and are apart of the book.

I'm tagging anyone who wants to do this tag. So... Tag!

Anime 40 Questions Tag

1: What is your #1 favourite anime?

Hmm... Hard to choose one... I guess... Hetalia... Or Aquarion... Or Kamisama Kiss... Or Code Geass... Really hard to choose just one.

2: Has an anime ever made you cry?

No, not yet at least... Wait... Code Geass made me cry. Can't remember what about, probably something with Nunally, Rolo, or Lelouch... CLANNAD: AFTER STORY! That ending though...

3: Which anime made you laugh the hardest?

Probably Ouran, those guys are hilarious.

4: If you could make a spin-off of any anime, what would it be?

Huh... A spinoff... Hmm... Not sure... My first though is Hetalia and make it about Prussia or maybe do a mockumentary about the filming of Hetalia and maybe have like actual ships behind the scenes, yeah I like that Idea.

5: List your top [5] anime's (not ordered)

Oh gosh... Uh... Ok... 

- Ouran Host Club

- Hetalia

- Code Geass

- Kamisama Kiss

- Steins;Gate

6: List your top [5] anime opening and closing theme songs.

- Code Geass

- Free! Iwatobi Swim Club

- Steins;Gate

- Vampire Knight

- Soul Eater

Not necessarily in that order.

7: Have you ever watched an entire anime in one sitting?

I think I have... Most likely Ouran or Aquarion.

8: Who is your favourite anime character?

How about a list...

Tomoe (Kamisama Kiss)

Kyoya Otori (Ouran)

Prussia (Hetalia)

Okabe (Steins;Gate)

Death the Kid (Soul Eater)

Lelouch (Code Geass)

Jin (Aquarion EVOL)

Shrade (Aquarion EVOL)

Roy Mustang (Fullmetal Alchemist)

Yeah... There are more but I don't want to be here for days,

9: Name an anime character you absolutely hate

The Zuka club... And Lelouch's father.

10: Which [3] animes would you most recommend?

Code Geass, Hetalia, and Kamisama Kiss

11: Who is your favourite voice actor? (If you have one.)
J. Michael Tatum!!! 
He's my favorite VA. I met him last year at a con. It. Was. AWESOMER THAN PRUSSIA!!!! He's so talented and his panels are hilarious. He could read my Calculus book and make it interesting. Kinda[read:really] want to see him do an audio book in the future...

12: What is your favourite romance anime?

Kamisama Kiss

13: What is your favourite comedy anime?

Ouran

14: What is your favourite action anime?

Fullmetal Alchemist

15: What is your favourite harem anime?

Not really my thing.. Haven't really seen any.

16: What is your favourite science fiction anime?

Steins;Gate

17: What is your favourite mech anime?

Aquarion

18: What is your favourite drama anime?

Vampire Knight

19: What is your favourite slice of life anime?

Free! One of the only shows I will watch subbed.

20: What is your favourite adventure anime?

Even though I haven't seen much if it... Fairytale.

21: What is the first anime you ever saw?

Ouran

22: You get to have a harem of [6] anime characters of your choice, who do you choose?

Oh gosh... Any 6... Ok...

Kyoya Otori (Ouran)

Prussia (Hetalia)

Rei Ogami (Code:Breaker)

Tomoe (Kamisama Kiss)

Lelouch (Code Geass)

Loki (because I do what I want)

23: What is the most times you've re-watched an anime?

3

24: Name [1] anime you wish everyone would watch

Code Geass

25: What is an anime you regret watching?

Clannad- just not my cup of tea.

26: You get to have [1] anime character as your waifu/husbando in real life, who do you choose?

Lelouch

27: Which anime character are you most like?

Probably.... Hungry from Hetalia.

28: Do you watch a new anime because you think it will be good, or because its popular?

Both... When I go searching for something, I look for what I think is good. I'll look into something if I've heard the name enough times.

29: Has an anime's fanbase ever made you hesitant to watch an anime?

Not really.

30: How many anime episodes is 'ideal' for you?

27 a season.

31: Have you ever watched an anime with over [23] episodes?

Yes... Maybe... Dunno actually.

32: If you could make a game for an anime of your choice, what would it be and why?

Code Geass... That would take a lot of logic, skill, and nightmare frames.

33: Would you ever watch an anime with over [100] episodes?

If I had time I'd try to catch up on Fairytale.

34: Have you ever watched an anime only because you liked a specific character?

More like because of a favorite VA. I watched most of what I have because J Michael Tatum voiced a character.

35: Have you ever dropped an anime, if so why?

Not really. I'll get busy and have to come back to finish every so often.

36: In your opinion, what makes a good anime?

Plot, characters, and voice talent.

37: Name a popular anime you love

Kamisama Kiss

38: Name a popular anime you hate

Don't really hate anything.

Is there an anime you wish was more popular?

I think everything I've seen is more or less popular... I think.

Thoughts on live-action adaptations?

They're okay. I liked the Ouran live action and I like the Boys Over Flowers adaption too.

Inferno and Carmen Sandiego

So, my internship is finally solidifying, meaning I finally have a clearer idea of what I'm even doing.

On the mythology side, I'm tracking a couple of stories through history and modern media. Last night I figured out that Cupid and Psyche is my favorite love story.

On the Inferno side, I'm doing a "Where in hell is Carmen Sandiego?" kind of thing. I'm excited and I think it's going to be interesting to see what I come up with as the final project. Now, to figure out how I'm going to to actually do this. Oh well, stranger things have happened. Sanders out.

Hetalia Tag

So this is literally me... Sits down at computer, looks at friend's blog, thinks to self "Hmm... Tag, I want to do one. Come on self, let's go find a tag." Google's "blog tag" finds random stuff that isn't what I wanted, Google's "Hetalia tag" Shenanigans ensues. So yeah... this... is...

Hetalia Tag

1. Favourite character in Hetalia?

I'd have to say... 'ZE AWESOME PRUSSIA!!!!

2. It's time to take a siesta~ Who would you sleep with? (Please don't make this sexual)

England, he'd say on his side, and I'd stay on mine.

3. What country would you be in Hetalia? (It's either a canon character or an OC)

Hmm... I'd probably want to be... I don't know... Canada... Because Canada seems to have it together.

4. Do you love America? 

He's cool, but the hero thing gets on my nerves.

5. Would you join the Allies or the Axis Powers?

A hard decision... Can I pick both? Actually, Italy would get on my nerves, sorry Germany, but Allies.

6. Italy started flirting with you, what do you do?

Walk away... 

7. Your OTP in Hetalia?

Many ships but my OTP would have to be...

USUK!!!!!

8. Who would you date from the Allies or the Axis Powers?

Prussia! 

9. How did you know about Hetalia?

A little voice actor named J Michael Tatum kept mentioning and talking about his three most well known characters during his panels that I was watching on YouTube. So I finally broke down and watched Hetalia, and I haven't looked back since.

10. What did you think about Hetalia at first?

I wish this was real. About 15 episodes in Must ship... Must ship it all!!! 

Life Lessons from Capcom's Ace Attorney series

Objection! To me, the excitement of court room drama is best conveyed by Capcom's Ace Attorney series. The Phoenix Wright trilogy, Apollo Justice, Miles Edgeworth (Investigations), and the latest and greatest, Dual Destinies, these games involve an interesting story line and a game play that is rather simple but satisfying all the same. But this post isn't about how great of a job Capcom has done, no this is about the various life lessons that I have learned from playing these games.

I'm fine! I'm [Insert Name], and I'm fine!

Apollo Justice, with his red suit and Chords of Steel, has a catchphrase that he says constantly. He proclaims at the top of his lungs, "I'M FINE! APOLLO JUSTICE IS FINE!" At first I thought it was a little weird, but it fit into the world of Phoenix Wright just fine so I let it go. In Dual Destinies though, the deeper meaning of him yelling, "I'm fine!" was mentioned. In the Monstrous Turnabout, Apollo says,

"I find that shouting "I'm fine!" in a loud voice really relieves stress. It's part of my "Chords of Steel" workout, and a must before every trial."  -Apollo Justice

In The Cosmic Turnabout, Apollo talks about what he told his best friend Clay Terran when Clay's mother died,

"I always think, that everybody else has a mom. Why am I the only one...? But, you know, when I start to feel that way, I yell at the top of my lungs. I holler, 'I'm fine!' and then, you know what? I start to feel like maybe I really will be fine. APOLLO JUSTICE IS FINE!!! ...Okay, Clay. Now it's your turn." When Apollo finishes the memory, he comes back and says, "When you say it out loud, it really starts to feel real. And as long as you don't give up, you can keep on fighting! That's what we believed." -Apollo Justice

So I've taken to telling myself that I'm fine. While I don't shout it from the rooftops, the basic idea is overall the same. And it helps. Telling myself that I'm fine actually helps. I feel better and I'm able to keep going and move forward.

The worst of times are when lawyers have to force their biggest smiles.

This really goes for anyone, but sometimes you have to force a smile in the face of bad times. This statement, though it was probably stated in earlier games, made an impact in my life for me because when I read it, I really needed to hear it. It reminded me that times aren't so bad at the moment and the day I have to force a smile is the day that I have to haul myself through life kicking and screaming. But right now, I'm not at that point, so I haven't hit the worst of times yet.

So those are just a couple things that Ace Attorney has taught me. I'm planing on replaying the trilogy, as well as Apollo Justice, at some point, so I might have more as I go through all those wonderful courtroom adventures again. Sanders out.

WHOOO!!!!

I am SO pumped! Whoo! If I could I would totally run laps around the school right now. But, I can't so I'm not. Anyway, today was actually pretty fun. I freaked out for a moment though when I realized that I didn't do something this morning but the day was fine. In AP Euro, we did a little bit of geography work and put the routes of explorers on a map and where Spanish and Portuguese colonies were, as well as where their trade centers were. I still don't know where the Dutch trade centers where though... I figure it out eventually. AP Lit. That class and that man. I can honestly say, for a moment, I thought I was going to die. First of all, Mr. Johnson has a stuffed monkey on his desk that I managed to sit right in its line of sight. I thought it was staring into my soul. Then, I watched him put up a sign that said, "Do not disturb if lights are off. Late students wait in the hall." So naturally, I put the monkey staring into my sole and that sign together and thought, "I'm going to die today. Right here. This is it." Then Mr. Johnson started explaining things, he said we were going to have our eyes closed so that just cemented the fact that I thought I was going to die. Anyway, I didn't die. Instead our activity was actually really interesting. I learned something about myself. I always thought my happy place was Camp Meriwether, but now, my happy place is my favorite teacher's classroom. I fought it a little at first, but then I stopped wondering what it meant if my happy place was my favorite teacher's classroom. So that was AP Lit today. In AP Environmental, we looked at various things about the earth... Like volcano locations, elevation charts, my group looked at a locations of earthquakes and the depth of the earthquakes. It was actually really interesting and cool.

The reds show a shallow depth while the blues are really deep. But you can see that most of the earthquakes happen around the fault lines, the boundaries of the tectonic plates.

See! If you compare where the earthquakes occur and where the fault lines are, they match up and everything makes sense as to why earthquakes happen where they do. Isn't that really cool!!!

So that was AP Environmental. AP Euro we just went over what causes changes in supply or demand. Then lunch. For yearbook, we went to the art room and did photography things. Ms. Prince was talking about shutterspeed today, the final part to the Triangle of Life (at least that's what I call it). It's a photography thing. Basically it just shows that if you change one thing it affects the others. The other parts are ISO and Aperture.

So that was yearbook. I talked to Ms. Milstead about my SCE and what I could do for her. I'm brainstorming ideas of an activity or something to better explain the 9 layers of hell in Dante's Inferno or something about the medieval period, like why people just died in that period. Then in 3D modeling, I continued making the little monster we're currently working on. In AP Calc, we reviewed for our test. And now, I'm blogging during SCE. This post took me an hour to write. Mr. Brey, the principal, is wandering around the SRC and now I think he's leaving. He did a few things last year that irked me. He hasn't really done anything this year that has irked me, but I'm sure he's already irked someone somewhere.  Mr. Brown is talking to Ms. Napoleon and I'm trying not to think about the one rule that applies to every European history class. So that was my day, it was fun, slightly eventful but not too eventful. Tomorrow is Friday, things are happening on Friday, I've got a Calc test and apparently we are doing the newspaper activity in yearbook again, so NEWSPAPER HATS!!! Well, that's it for now. Nikon out.

Life at the Moment

Senior year. It's supposed to be awesome. So far... It's alright. I mean it is awesome but at the same time, I can't help but feel like it could be more. Anyway, I feel like I've hit a wall. I haven't actually written in weeks, I'm pretty sure I've lost some muscle memory from the summer when I was carrying my camera everywhere. That or my body has decided to completely block out the physical activity and act like it never happened. Physically, I'm tired but ok. Mentally, I'm the same as ever, multiple thoughts, roads not taken but really want to be taken, random thought. Emotionally, I just want to cry some nights (and days, in the middle of class... That sign in Ms. Mullen's classroom really gets on my nerves... If I want to cry in math then I'll cry in math... Just not in front of anyone), but I don't because I tell myself not to and it doesn't solve anything so I move on. Eventually I'll probably just feel numb and emotionally fragile because I probably should cry.

On a happy note, I'VE GOT THE AWESOMEST SCE EVER!!!! I'm doing an independent project/ internship with Mr. Brown and it's involving mythology and I think I'm doing something for Ms. Milstead. The point is Mr. Brown is awesome. Lit is awesome. And everything that my SCE is about is awesome! That part of life is great. Though I could do without the strange division of hours, the journal entries, CARP and Ms. Napoleon (hee hee the one rule of every European history class), but you know, somethings can't be helped.

AP Lit is alright and so is yearbook. I love my AP Euro class, though I need to remember to read the book and notes... Yeah... Totally should do that. I have to make up the summer work for Econ so I'm not failing. I also have to pull up my calc grade so I don't fail calc. The one class I wish I could drop but can't... AP Calculus AB. But, I'm meeting with Mr. Hulme tomorrow to see if he'd be a good tutor and hopefully I can work with him because I might just fail calc... Bad thought shake it off. So that's senior year so far... OH YEAH! I'm taking 3D modeling and it's AMAZING!!! I love it! SO that's life at the moment. I read something today that really touched me in such a way that gave me the boost I needed.

“The thing I think we have to remember is that there is no finish line with depression, anxiety, or any other sort of mental illness. We’re on this path, and the path is constantly changing. Sometimes it’s flat and well-marked, and we can see all the way to the horizon.” I realized that I had gone from shaking his hand to holding it. “Other times, it’s so heavily shrouded in fog and mist, we can’t even see past our fingertips and we need someone to show us where the path is. And sometimes, we come to a wall that we don’t think we’ll ever get over. I’ve been staring at the base of that wall for weeks, and just now you helped me remember that there are always handholds to get up and over it.”

-Wil Wheaton, http://wilwheaton.net/2015/08/tears-in-rain/