Quick entry..

Heading to Hokkaido now.. will likely be out of touch for about a week or so. E-mail me or post here if you need anything.
Jason on 05.23.05 @ 05:21 PM JST [link]

I am Jack's burning disappointment..

Current Sounds: Voices of a Distant Star - Track 01
Currently Feeling: Well.. disappointed?

Not really going to go into detail. The subject kinda gives a good enough explanation. Just kinda.. upsetting how things don't work out sometimes. Maybe, just maybe, I'd like them to work out.

.. yeah, I'm not a ray of sunshine right now. So I'm going to go lock myself up and sleep. Maybe I'll lie about it and be more chipper in the morning.

Mix this recent disappointment, the stress of travelling to uncertainty in 2 days, my paranoia, the strange "you're completely screwed, but don't think about it too much" messages I'm getting from the homefront, and some other details and.. well.. I just don't care for it.

Yeah.. I'll try to write later. Hopefully it'll be a bit better.
Jason on 05.22.05 @ 09:39 AM JST [link]

Nevermind me..

Just making sure the time adjustment works.
Jason on 05.22.05 @ 11:20 AM JST [link]

Watching Sunday morning anime..

Current Sounds: "Onegai Teacher" in Japanese on the television

It's amazing how much you can get out of television through context and inference. Despite the fact that I'm watching anime on television right now and my brain's telling me that I have a fair idea of what's going on in the show, I actually have little to no clue. I suppose I get vaguely what's going on, but as for plot elements, characters, personalities, etc.. not really. Though my brain still supplies the rest, and I certainly do think I know what's going on.

Bleh.. I find the stupidest things fascinating.

Anyway, I'm fairly up to date on my e-mails now (just got two more this morning that I'll reply to later). I'll also be setting my journal to JST (Japan standard time, +16 hrs from MST and PST) after I post this so my journal is now a bit more accurate about what times I'm doing things.

Been up to alot of things, I guess. There was a big festival through the streets yesterday.. very crowded, very traditional as well. I hear it continues today, but it hasn't been as noisy or loud, so.. maybe not? It seems the things I enjoy the most tend to me all the things that aren't really typically tourist-y. I don't really want to go to the fish market, and I don't really want to go through all the normal places. What I want to do most, and what I enjoy most, is to see and experience life here. To see the things that the people who live here do. I don't want to be just another tourist.. I'd rather see what normal life is like in some other place, a place that happens to fascinate me. Yesterday, we went out across the river to Sumida and wandered around for awhile. When we finally crossed back over into Asakusa, we came out upon a sports competition for a local elementary/junior high school. It was actually really interesting to watch.. and it's interesting how many smaller cultural things are involved in stuff like that than you'd think about. From the flags they wave to the songs that are played during the competition, even in the games they competed in, it's all pretty interesting. I had alot of fun watching those.

Alas, I should probably get going. Will be letting my travel companion finally get back to their e-mails while I go out and get something to eat and maybe watch more morning television (yes, I'm in Tokyo and sitting around watching anime that I can't understand instead of doing something exciting. I've already done exciting things every other day.. I'll be fun this afternoon).

Back on the homefront.. hmm.. things are stirring. Kinda stressed about these things. I'd really appreciate it if people would actually tell me things. Or, more ideally, if things would just not change so horribly. Bleh... Just great.

Anyway, I'll write later.. maybe tonight, or at least again tomorrow.
Jason on 05.21.05 @ 07:17 PM JST [link]

'Singing people always smile.'

Current Sounds: PGSM - C'est la vie
Currently Feeling: Tired? Awake? Some sort of limbo.

So, hey.. I'm writing again. Of course, this begs the question: what, exactly, am I writing about?

Well, I don't really know yet. I just happen to be sitting at a computer and will be here for some time yet, so I figure I might as well update the world with what's been going on.

We're here, we're alive. Yay and such! We've been basically out and running, keeping quite busy. I've also managed to get us terribly lost on more than on occasion.. but as far as I look at it, that's fine. Frankly, we make it back to the hostel, so it must be fine! Besides, sometimes you find something interesting while doing that "lost" thing.

Tokyo is huge. Tokyo is also alot of fun. To be honest, there have been alot of noteworthy events happening that I'd love to go into.. but it seems to odd to just start. Where do you start, actually? Everything seems like the middle, and you're leaving something equally interesting out.

Right now, unfortunately, I'm terribly tired. The world kinda feels like it's moving and I'm not, and my eyes stopped focusing awhile ago, so I think I'm probably going to go and sleep in half an hour. Right now I'm trying to work out plans for tomorrow, and then I'll be on my way.

So! If you haven't heard from me and REALLY think you should have, send me an e-mail at whatever e-mail address you know me at and I'll try to reply in a vaguely timely manner. Otherwise... yeah!

I'll write sometime again soon..
Jason on 05.20.05 @ 08:31 AM JST [link]

I live!

And I'll write soon. Yes.

Anyway, trip's going well.. have lots of stories to tell. But now, I need food.

Will write soon!
Jason on 05.19.05 @ 06:30 PM JST [link]

Leaving in.. 7 hours.

Currently Feeling: "Now why did I decide to do this again?"

I'm about to leave in 7 hours.. haven't even slept yet, so I really need to soon (considering I need to leave for the airport even sooner).

Nervous.. I guess would be an understatement. 3 months.. going off to do something I've never quite done before. Yeah.. I'm still not quite sure about this.

I don't even know if I can sleep tonight. Terribly nervous. Have that strange sinking feeling that occurs before anything really new and strange happens.

But.. alas, life goes on. I'm sure I'll be dancing and singing and all that good stuff.. I'm sure. Just have an insanely long flight to go through first.

I'll try to write soon, and I assume my optimism might be a little more.. optimistic? Don't worry about me, I go through this before anything new happens. It's just kinda.. me-ish.

So! Will write soon.... from Japan.
Jason on 05.17.05 @ 02:25 AM JST [link]

'To sleep, perchance to dream..'

Current Sounds: Amika Hattan - To The Light
Currently Feeling: Can't really keep my eyes open..

Just writing a quick update right now, since I haven't been writing as much as I should (bad Jason) as of late.

So, what's gone on since I last wrote? Basically just doing alot of computer-related stuff to prepare for the trip. Re-encoded "Transformers: The Movie" (for the third time) and now have it on my PSP (works out to 150~MB for 79 minutes), put "Voices of a Distant Star" on my PSP as well (24 minutes, about 40~MB?). I have a 256MB card, so I should be able to place maybe another 20-30 minute episode on it. Also installed "The Sims 2", "Rise of Nations", and "Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear" on the laptop. Sometime today I need to get about copying my personal files from my comp to the laptop.

Hmm.. ah, and we also ran out to Blockbuster to pick up "Fable" [Xbox]. Seems interesting, I guess.. but I'm not too impressed with it.

Joe.. Sorry I haven't been around so much lately. I still check my e-mail, the board, and your journal everyday, though I don't usually have much of a chance to write. My time should clear up, so hopefully I'll be a bit more available. Also, regarding the site.. the server bill is covered, thanks to you. I really appreciate it, and I can't thank you enough for what you've done. I hope you're feeling better.. and hopefully you can get some sleep. =p I think it would do us all some good.

Should probably go.. have a graduation thingie to go to tomorrow/today. But I'll try to write more soon!
Jason on 05.12.05 @ 06:13 AM JST [link]

Finals are over!!

Current Sounds: Comp running in th background and clicking..
Currently Feeling: Good.. bad.. somewhere in between.

Finally, finally.. finals are over! Now, that's one less thing to stress over. Also of note.. I'm writing this entry from my laptop! There's an odd story behind why I now have a laptop, but I'll go into that sometime later. However, it is really nice to have, especially for the upcoming trip. Will be easier to keep in touch, and I can also keep up website and game development while I'm away. Yay!

Otherwise.. basically.. classes are over. This is nice, but bittersweet, I guess. For some reason, I'm always sad to see my classes end. Sure, the work's over.. but I just started to get used to these things. The class, the schedule, the teacher, the people.. yet now, it's all gone. I guess I just.. don't take well to sudden and fairly constant change. I just like things to stay the same. So, yeah.. my classes are over, and that's nice.. but I guess I feel like I lost a bit of something as well. A sense of normalcy. A sense of.. schedule. Regularity.

I guess I'm just odd with these things..

Also related to classes ending.. found out I can't sell my Japanese book back yet (need to keep it for review for JPN 201 in the fall).. so.. bleh. Things just aren't lining up like I planned monetarily. But I guess I'm just a wee bit paranoid. I hope.

So! People are looking for me, so I'm going to have to write more later. However, I'll write more later, when I have a chance.

Six more days....
Jason on 05.11.05 @ 05:12 PM JST [link]

[At School] The computers are up again..!

Current Sounds: People talking in class..
Currently Feeling: Tiiiiired.

Well, this is just a quick, pointless entry. Right now I'm sitting in front of a class full of people while I type this up, mostly because the computer's working and I have nothing else to do. Psych should be starting in about.. 10 or so minutes, so I have some free time.

Today's been okay, I suppose, though I'm rather tired. Got all my Japanese homework done (about 30 minutes ago) and now my wrist is sore (writing long sentences in Japanese multiple times isn't all that fun). Otherwise, today's just a boring day and I really don't even need to be in most of these classes.

This afternoon I'll be out to study for the Japanese oral exam with my partner. After that.. it's the weekend! No plans so far (other than that I need to go to the bank and several other places), but at least the week's over. Also of note, I have 12 more days until I'm leaving. Getting quite nervous, to be honest, about how this is going. So much to do, so little time, and so much that needs to be done at the last minute. Packing, blah, etc.

Also need to figure out what I'll be doing while in Tokyo (something fun, I'd hope). Have been working out plans with my penpal, though haven't settled on much other than what day so far. Will either come up with someone soon or just figure it out once it arrives. It will be nice to see her again.

I should probably go.. I think the teacher's about to show up again. I'll write later, when I can. Might be in another class.. we'll see. Will write later.
School on 05.05.05 @ 02:39 PM JST [link]

Just posting some pointless stuff..

Current Sounds: Puffy - Nagisa Ni Matsuwaru

Yes, even I fall prey to posting worthless online test results. I usually avoid such tests but, well.. it was in someone else's journal (and that'd be you, Kat) and it being 3AM, it seemed like a good idea. Anyway, click "more.." to read the totally unimportant results and come to whatever opinion seems appropriate about me.

Yay?

Anyway, I'll write something of note sometime soon. Just kinda trying to drag myself through the week. Will be out late tomorrow evening to study for the Japanese oral exam.. but.. yeah. I'll write soon (maybe in class if I can get online).
Jason on 05.05.05 @ 04:15 AM JST [more..]

14 days to go..

Current Sounds: Konami - Kiss Me Sunlights (Heart of Air)

Finals week(s), so I really should be off to sleep soon, but.. I wanted to update how things have been going lately (and what's been happening). Not that my life's really all that fascinating, but.. well, who knows.

This week I think I have two finals and a paper due.. so a bit work-intensive, to be honest. Somewhat annoying, considering I just took my other Japanese test 9 days before this one, but.. I guess that's how they wanted to setup the class schedule (way too fast though, in my opinion). Otherwise, I just have about 7 more days of school and then I'm out. Next week, I'll be finishing up another final and doing the oral exam in Japanese, so hopefully it won't be too bad. Speaking of the oral exam, worked on it a bit Sunday and got most of the intro and questioning lines done. Didn't want to bother with full scripting, since I think it might be easier in this case to just make the answers up (like birthdates, hobbies, etc. That's not too hard to just come up with on the spot. Memorizing will just make it harder). I was supposed to go out and practice that today, but.. I guess something came up (never heard back from my partner). We'll see how that goes.

In other news, thanks to donations about half of the prepaid webhosting fee is covered for this site and MN. Still need to cover the other half somehow, but it's very nice that people care enough about the site to help keep it alive. And, of course, a sincere thanks to you, Joe.

Hmm.. other things happened.. today came and went.. played video games straight from 5PM to 1AM ("Rainbow 6: Black Arrow" [Xbox], "Unreal Tournament 2004" [Xbox], and "Obscure" [Xbox]). Overall, my day was kinda boring.

I think that's about it. Still working on getting some basic packing done for my trip, but at 14 days away, it's kinda hard to do much at this point. I still hope to get out this week to buy some minor things, so.. let's hope.

I'll write more later, when I can!
Jason on 05.03.05 @ 05:02 AM JST [link]