Last night, I finished "Justice for All!"


I already started on "Trials and Tribulations."  I feel like I'm finally starting to catch up to the rest of the fandom. :')

Today was pretty damn good. Long and tiring, but good.

I found out that I have more in common with my co-workers than I ever thought possible. When I got in this morning, my shift-leader Ben was singing "Popular" out loud while he worked. XD Not only does he have a great voice, but he knows the words to many of my favorite showtunes. We sang songs from "Wicked" and "Avenue Q" together until my other co-workers showed up.

We had a pretty slow day, so we were able to chat amongst ourselves a lot more than usual (don't worry; we still got all the work done XD). As it turns out, we're all big nerds. I used the terms "shipping" and "slash" and "/b/tard" and "CAPSLOCKER" they both knew what I meant. Turns out that Kayla, one of my co-workers, likes to RP here on El Jay just like I do.

We don't just talk about our hobbies. We also discuss politics and things of a more serious nature. When I found out that both Ben and Kayla were Pro Life, I was ecstatic. It truly is a blessing to find people who not only share your hobbies, but share your most treasured views as well. I've only been with these people for a few days, but it already feels like we are good friends.

Okay, so I'm gushing. It might even seem like I'm bragging. Last year, I worked at a cinema, with a lot of really condescending, lazy, bitter, and bitchy people. It was pretty much hell. I just want to emphasize how damn lucky I am to be working in a place with people who I love being with. I want to savor my situation while it lasts. I won't be working at Quiznos forever, and eventually, the people I'm working with will also move on to bigger and better things. Who you work with is just luck of the draw.

Well, I finally finished my first Phoenix Wright game. Hooray! I have the second and third games on my shelf, waiting for me. I plan on shelling out some cash for a DS of my own, so I don't have to keep borrowing my sister's. I'll probably get the dark blue one, even though the pink one is super cute and reminds me of Princess Peach. If they ever come out with a wine red DS, I'm buying that one. I can only dream.

Man. I sort of have a tendency to neglect my journal for days, and then write tl;dr entries in-between those time gaps.

Like, my weekend was great, guys. On Saturday, I was on my computer, doing some artwork for ATLARP, when my dad comes in my room saying that he hasn't seen me all day. That's when I sort of as him if he wanted to go outside with me to toss a football around.

We don't have a football.

WE HAVE A FRISBEE.

ALSO, IT WAS SUPER WINDY OUTSIDE.

SO WE THREW THE FRISBEE AT EACH OTHER FOR A WHILE, THEN DECIDED TO FLY A KITE INSTEAD.

On Sunday, I celebrated Easter because, lol Christian. I ate soooooo many Peeps this year. WTF I HATE PEEPS.

And then, for the next few days, I did some stuff that I can't remember doing. I do remember downloading uTorrent, so I could illegally obtain a dating sim that I've wanted to play for years. It's called "Kana: My Little Sister". I wanna play it, because the storyline is said to be superior, plus the game is supposed to be a real tear-jerker. I LIKE TEAR-JERKERS, GUYS. BECAUSE I'M A SENSITIVE PERSON. REALLY, I AM.

ANYWAY. The game took two days to download, and when it downloaded, I couldn't open it. So, I downloaded Daemon Tools. BUT DAEMON TOOLS WON'T OPEN, EITHER.

WHAT AM I DOING WRONG?!! This whole torrent thing is more trouble than it's worth. I'll probably just give up and buy the damn game like I'm supposed to.

SO, I GUESS THAT'S PRETTY MUCH BEEN MY WEEK. Right now, I'm doing artwork of the animu HSR variety.

Oh, yeah. You know you're curious.

Well, here's a meme that I stole from dutchtoast  .


 

ASLKDJFOPQIHEWFLKJDFKASFJD Okay, I'm better now.

Remember a couple of posts ago when I told you guys that the weather was getting REALLY crazy? Well, a tornado sort of blew it's way across Tennessee. Luckily, my neighborhood wasn't affected. However, in case you guys didn't hear about it, the tornado completely smashed the Union campus. Now, I when to Lambuth last semester, which happens to be really close to Union. My friend from Lambuth emailed me a day after the tornado hit, telling me that Union looked like it had divided by zero. Miraculously, there were no deaths.

A few nights ago, my religious aunt invited me to have a game night with some of the other girls in my Sunday school class. We all met at Starbucks to play cards. As it turns out, I'm really good at Spoons. Speaking of spoons, there was a guy there who began to bend forks with his mind. Seriously! He stood up in the middle of Starbucks and began doing it! I have no idea how he did it. My aunt was not amused (but I was!). Oh, and I had a green tea Frap. MMMMMM.

A few days ago, my mom made me go to Walmart with her. I went to the movie section to try and find "The Blues Brothers". They didn't have it, but they did have the complete first season of Teen Titans for only 10 bucks. Several years ago, I was a shameless TT fangirl. I drew shitty fanart, I read shitty fanfic, and I was an active poster on several TT themed forums. I remember really wanting to buy the DVD when it first came out, but I could never find it in stock. Naturally, I bought the DVD. The cover art is terrible.

Valentines Day is soon! I've been working on a picture that I want to finish by then, but I'm not even done with the lineart. ATLARP's been eating my soul time.

Now that I'm sober, I can give a more thorough report of what my Christmas was like.

I woke up a four in the morning, excited. Christmas is the only day of the year when I can wake up so early with a smile on my face.

This is how Christmas works at my house: presents from family and friends are wrapped and put under the tree, and presents from "Santa" are displayed in the living room, unwrapped. Me and my sisters wake up really early (while mom and dad are still in bed) to examine the presents that Santa left us, and we open the wrapped presents later in the day, together as a family.

Santa left me a red Zune 8. I spent the morning downloading music onto it, such as both Cobra Starship albums which I acquired through Megaupload. After listing to it and dancing around the house, I realized that I was still tired. So I went back to bed and woke up at 10 A.M.

Santa also left me a totally gross jelly bean dispenser that's shaped like a sheep. The jelly beans are brown. :| To make up for that, my stocking was filled with yummy things: a box of lemon flavored thin cookies, and a box of Godiva chocolates.

After I woke up again, I showered and got dressed. Mom, Dad, my two sisters, and I all sat in the living room to open presents. I got my mom a novel called "The Historian". My mom loves a good read, so she should like the book I got her, if she ever finds the time to read it. I got my dad a "The Princess Bride" giftset, which includes the DVD and a Fezzik T-shirt. He loves "The Princess Bride", and he needed more T-shirts, so needless to say he is really enjoying the gift. I was relieved, because my dad is somewhat hard to shop for. I got my younger sister the complete Invader Zim series on DVD. She was ecstatic. I got my youngest sister a Kick the Cheat doll: one of the last ever made. It's a really cute doll; I feel sorry for it whenever my sister abuses it (but, that's what it's for...).

Me? I got a $50 gift card to Target. Cheap DVDs and T-shirts, here I come! :D

After present opening with the immediate family, I worked on ( this picture ) for the toko-fans account on deviantART. Right when I was submitting it, the extended family came over to visit. By "extended family", I mean my maternal grandparents, my uncle and his Japanese wife, and my other uncle (my mom has two brothers).

Japan!Uncle cooked Christmas dinner. While the we waited for the meat to finish cooking in the oven, we all sat in the living room to open presents again. Japan!Uncle really loved the magnifying glass I gave him, and my other uncle really loved the book I got him (I don't even remember the title of the book, but it was by Christopher Moore: one if his favorite authors). I got my grandfather a "Young Frankenstein" DVD, and my grandfather the first season of Bewitched. I have no doubt that they will enjoy their presents. I'm fairly certain that my aunt liked the perfume I got her, but it's hard to tell. I mean... I thought it smelled good...

From Japan!Uncle and Aunt, I received a bag filled with adorable Japanese goodies. Among them were a set of Hello Kitty cooking chopsticks and a set of Hello Kitty stationary.

I... I love Hello Kitty. :[

My other uncle gave me five fine cigars. My dad's look of dismay was hilarious, but he didn't protest. I'm looking forward to smoking one of them, but I don't know when or where I will. I want to save them for occasions that would produce the most lulz as possible.

My grandparents gave me a box of lip make up (which is good, because I needed some lip liner) and a cute charm bracelet.

Later, we partook of Christmas Dinner. Japan!Uncle is the best cook in the family, by far. He made delicious pork tenderloin stuffed with dried apricots and prunes. He also cooked a turkey, of which we have an obscene amount of leftovers from. We also had English peas, asparagus, and stir-fried peppers and mushrooms. For desert, I had a slice of Italian creme cake (Cheesecake Factory brand).

Over the course of the evening, I consumed several glasses of fine white wine and homemade eggnog. When the adults were all mildly drunk, we sat down to watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". This year, my first Christmas as an adult, I learned a little secret: adults don't watch these animated classics for the nostalgia: they watch them because they are hilarious when you are a little drunk. Really.

After the extended family left (Grandfather was the designated driver), I posted drunkenly in my live journal, listened to my Zune for a while, and went to sleep.

The End.

This was long. I'm not going to proofread it.

I'm posting from a different computer than usual, which doesn't have spell-check.  ):  There will be typos.

My sister and I are visiting my grandparents right now, and my aunt and uncle are visiting my grandparents as well!  

It's pretty exciting that my aunt and uncle are visiting, because they live on the other side of the world.  Japan, to be exact.  Long story short, my uncle fell in love with a Japanese woman, and now they live together in Tokyo.  I love them both, but I rarely get to see them!  I love watching them interact; it's pretty funny to watch them banter in Japanese together.

Besides visiting, the reason why I came to my grandparent's house to help decorate for Christmas.   I wish you guys could see our Christmas tree!  It certainly is a sight to see.  First of all, it's a real cedar.   Second of all, it's not Christmas tree shaped!  Although the tree was painstakingly trimmed, set up, and decorated, it looks like someone threw a bunch of random flashy crap on a large, dead tree.  It is truly the best Christmas tree I have ever had the pleasure of viewing.   I'll post pics.  Maybe.

Last night, I went shopping with my aunt and uncle.  We were looking for ornament hooks, but we ended up buying everything except  ornament hooks.  You know how it is.

One of the things we got was Jones soda.  Ever since Mu posted about it in her journal, I've been jonesing for some.  I was so excited when I saw it in the store!  We got Crushed Melon flavore in bottles, Berry Lemonade flavor in cans, and Blueberry Pomogranate also in cans.  The first kind I tried was the Crushed Melon.  Musachan wasn't exaggerating: this soda is truly delicious.  I think I said before that I don't care much for soda, but Jones soda is now the huge exception.  It tastes great, and it doesn't burn going down.  I also tried the Berry Lemonade. Though also tastey, I liked the Crushed Melon flavor better.  I think whether or not the soda is in a can or a bottle makes a huge difference.  

FYI, Crushed Melon flavor tastes like very sweet cantaloupe. 

Even later last night, I watched "A Christmas Carol" staring George C. Scott for the first time.  Of course, I've seen "A Christmas Carol" before.  I've seen it in play form.  Heck, I've even been in that play !  I was the Ghost of Christmas Present, by the way.

Anyway, I desided that I love the George C. Scott version.  In fact, I think it's my favorite version.  Scott knows how to act!  I'd reccommend this movie to anyone who is having trouble getting into the Christmas Spirit.

I got up early this morning and made breakfast for the family.  I made everyone omlettes, which is my specialty.  I love making omlettes.  I enjoy making them more than I do eating them.

Well, I've had a nice, relaxing Christmas Break so far.  However, when I get home later today, I really need to get back to business.  I'm working on applying for my new college, which is taking more time that I thought it would.  I also need to get some art finished before Christmas Day!  I've been so caught up in the Christmas festivities, that I've been neglecting my poor art.

I think I'm gonna get more of that Jones soda now.  That stuff is prooty gewd.

Yesterday was awesome. I got to see my IRL best friend perform Christmas carols at the Peabody Place with his choir. I also got to watch him audition for "High School Musical". His audition was outstanding. He's bound to get a part for sure!

I haven't seen "High School Musical" yet. This is okay... I'd kinda rather watch it in play form than in movie form.

Last night wasn't as awesome. I got my grades back from Lambuth. To my surprise, I didn't fail math after all! I did, however, get a D. I also failed my Biology class. This didn't come as much surprise, but I'm still not happy about it. Mostly, I'm just dismayed at my stupid decision to sign up for Biology in the first place. Did I ever mention that I failed it in high school as well?

I spent most of today cleaning my room and doing laundry. My bookshelves are nice and dusted, and my manga collection is organized. Now, when my relatives visit me for Christmas, I can show off all 28 volumes of Rurouni Kenshin! I'm such a weeaboo dork.

Right now, I'm editing a Strong Bad/Strong Sad slash fic that dutchtoast  , oneinnabun   and I wrote. This is how it went down: dutchtoast and I role played, I turned our role play into a rough draft, oneinnabun wrote the final draft, and now I am proofreading the final draft. I won't spoil it, but I will say that the fic is really cute. It's also in-character, thanks to oneinnabun.

I'm almost done with a commission I'm working on for slashnaricssist .  I completed the lines and the flat colors: all I have to do is add shading, highlights, and some other details.  After I'm done with that, I think I'll do some Christmas themed drawings for some of the clubs I'm in.  I might even whip something up for CAPSLOCK_ATLA.  Actually, I'd like to do some "Mai-Chan's Daily Life" fan art soon.  I'd also like to do some "Kodomo no Jikan" fan art.

Hmm!  Now that I think of it, my taste in manga is a little strange.  Guro and lolicon.  I sometimes forget how desensitized I am.  This is what I get for making Encyclopedia Dramatica my homepage!  Let me reassure my readers: I have no desire to torture people, nor do I have the desire to molest children.  As I said before, I have a weakness for shock manga.  "Kodomo no Jikan" isn't actually a shock manga, but I'm sure that many people have found it shocking.  I also have a weakness for taboo relationships in literature.  Forbidden fruit is the sweetest fruit, or so they say.

As I was writing this journal entry, I got a ring at the doorbell.  The Kick the Cheat doll and poster I ordered from the Homestar Runner store have been delivered!  I'm so excited, because right after I ordered my Kick the Cheat doll, the website announced that they have less than 100 dolls left.  I wonder if they will stop making them?  If so, my little sister will be the proud owner of a collector's item!

I saw the new Decemberween toon, and it was awesome.  I love how the trees in the stop-motion Christmas Special parody were Little Debbie Christmas Tree cakes.

Speaking of Homestar Runner, I plan on working on opening CAPSLOCK_HSR to the public after I'm done with the art I need to finish.  I've also been distracted by doing Christmassy things.

Tonight I have to go to a stupid Christmas party at my church.  It's for college students .  I don't want to go, but my aunt is the Sunday School teacher, so I kind of have to.

...Wow.  This journal entry is kind of long, and it went all over the place.  Why did I bother writing it?  Why did you bother reading it?

I could go for some eggnog.

TL;DR

I downloaded The Western Air Temple last night, and it was amazing. I watched it three times yesterday; it easily tops Sokka's Master as my favorite episode of Season 3.

Now, as every Avatard (or like, anybody who uses deviantART...) knows, one of the major aspects of the ATLA fandom is shipping. The most notorious of these ships is Zutara, or Zuko/Katara.

Now, in the past, I have expressed my dislike of this ship. It just seemed so trite, and frankly, I couldn't see it happening. It seemed to me like the fans said to themselves, "Hay gaiz! Let's pair the hottest good girl with the hottest bad boy! LOLOLOLOL!"

And then there's the fan art. Oh, don't get me started on the fan art! It seems like all of the Zutara art I've seen portrayed Zuko as some dark "mysteeeeeeerious" hottie and Katara as his Mary Sue. Either that, or it would be some generic picture of Zuko and Katara embracing. This itself made no sense to me, because Katara clearly hates Zuko, and Zuko clearly has feelings for Mai.

Even the fans themselves got on my nerves! Well, to be fair, only a certain population of the fans. I am referring to the annoying fangirls who left bad-grammar flames on any fan art that wasn't Zutara. That's just obnoxious. I swear, if I see the phrase "LOL Zutara 4evah!!1" again, I'll be cracking some skulls.

That being said, I have a confession to make: after seeing The Western Air Temple, Zutara has begun to grow on me.

( Spoilers beyond this cut! )

As far as writing goes, ATLA has set a new standard for cartoons. So far, the writers have done an excelent job of subverting tropes. I'm confident that if they introduce a Katara/Zuko relationship, it will be executed well. The only thing I'm not looking forward to is the gloating...