my moral standing is lying down

I just heard one of the other young consultants who works at a desk near me saying something like, "what other games do you have for the PSP?" LOL. That certainly woke me up a bit. (I'm horribly sleepy today, I really didn't get enought last night.) Anyway, then he said something about really liking that Metal Gear (Acid?). I know there's Metal Gear Solid, but it really sounded like he said acid. =D

Well, I brought my sexy laptop with me to work today, and turned it on briefly this morning to retrieve some files. I/It did a scan for a network to piggyback off of, and it listed several, but when I picked one at random, it didn't seem to connect.

Angelica said one of her co-workers "did something" to her laptop so that it would "work anywhere." Does anyone know more about this? This is my first laptop and I'm not really all that familiar with wireless networks (especially wireless-network-piggybacking) just yet. ^_~;

Okay, now I have something to write about.

There's a new intern (who started today) working at the desk right behind me. His name is Leo, and he seems to be black and/or Hispanic. He came over to ask me where there is to eat in the area. And as I started naming a few places, he started licking his fingers from presumably having eaten a snack of some sort. My eyes flicked down to it; I couldn't stop myself. But I'm pretty sure he noticed, even though he kept doing it.

I can't tell if he's gay, greasily flirting with me, or just oblivious.

It's really kind of icky, though, to have an (admittedly short) conversation with someone (that you'd only met for the first time 3 hours earlier) who is licking their fingers really obviously.

Unfortunately, I'm working at the UN again. I really wish I wasn't. This time around I'm doing something a little different -- working for Juha and Miguel in M&E (Monitoring and Evaluation). They have me doing CV analysis into database form. (Anyone who knows MS Access is more than welcome to give me tips/advice/etc.) If they were paying me less, I would have been able to resist taking the job. But I need the money, and with me, logic always outways emotion -- even if it's my own emotion. =( I'd really rather not be working here -- with my hair boring black, and dressed like every other yuppie who works in midtown. What I really need is a job that's at least semi-interesting, pays decently, and allows me to wear casual and/or rock-style clothes, dye my hair unnatural colors, and have piercings.

I've gotten back into reading again, for which I'm eternally grateful. I'd stopped in the middle of Jacqueline Carey's Banewreaker and was unable to pick up another book for a few months. But then I was telling Maryann about LKH's Anita Blake series and realized that I hadn't read the latest installment. So I rushed home to read it! It was better than the last couple of books, but LKH has really dropped in quality of plot lately. It's disappointing, although I still have (some) hope. Her Merry series is only slightly better.

Mercedes Lackey, on the other hand, is just as good as she ever was (if not better). Co-written with James Mallory, To Light a Candle, the second part in her Obsidian Trilogy, is even better than the first book. I'm trying to restrain myself as much as possible from racing through the 500+ page book.

I've been thinking a lot lately about having visited Japan a month ago. I'm really missing it -- I had so much fun being there and hanging out with Yoshi. And I think Yoshi's friends, Scott and Stephanie, made it even more fun than it would've been. I know that I'm definitely going to go back before Yoshi comes back to the US for good; it would be really nice to see them again, though. I don't know about Stephanie, but I do know that Scott won't be in Japan at the time. =(

I had this conversation with Maryann about speaking the language while in a foreign country. She said that while she was in Germany, she really picked up a lot, and it was easier to pick up stuff. Makes sense; you never really learn a studied language until you've immersed yourself in it, ne? I think I'd like to do the JET thing sometime in the future. Not right now, though. I found that while in Japan I was a lot more willing, and comfortable, speaking (or trying to speak) in Japanese than I am here in the US. It's weird. Even if I had to ask Yoshi for help in saying something, I just felt less pressured to... get it right? I dunno. But it was really nice. I really want to go back, but I'm going to really try and take some lessons before I do. I'd like to have a little more foundation in grammar, and some vocabulary first.

Awww. I really want to be back there with everyone!

On a side note: Maryann brought back an album by a German band, Oomph!, which I've completely fallen in love with -- they play the type of music that I consistently like -- somewhere between rock and Industrial. ::sigh:: It's sooooo goooood. I've been listening to Varheit oder Pflicht nonstop. I mean that literally (and I've been learning some German because of it, which is cool). She brought back one of their older albums, Defekt, but I don't even know if how much or little I like it because I can't stop listening to VOP!

They're great. When else would I be able to see James in a leg-lengthening pair of black jeans with a sexy black ribbed turtleneck tucked in? Despite the fact that I usually don't like facial hair on men, his (currently going gray) moustache and short beard are too adorable. I won't even mention that dream that I almost had of him last week. ::sigh::

Anyway, today may be a good Friday. Hopefully. I've been in a real bitchy mood this past week, but Angelica's tough; she can take it. Besides, she gets bitchy right back at me, anyway.

I promised myself yestereday that I absolutely, positively would NOT get another piercing today. LOL. I'm tempted, but not the sort of tempted that gets me into trouble; only the sort of tempted that makes me think about getting it done, then laugh out loud at my silliness. It's too close to my last piercing for me to justify to myself the need for another piercing. But I do have to say that I'm very pleased with my latest piercing - it's relatively easy to turn (there's a bit of resistance, but it's negligible), it doesn't hurt, and it's oh-so-adorable there, resting on my other hoop!

Hmmm… you know, I think crosswinds.net deleted my Malice Mizer loveletter pics! Now I'm going to have to re-upload them. Grrr. I really hate crosswinds.

He was standing in front of the kitchen, leaning on one of the filing cabinets there, holding a slide projector in his hands. And when he tried to put it down the big cork board that's there, leaning against the wall, fell on his head! ::snicker::

I asked if he was okay, and he said "Did you see that?!"

LOL. Then he tried to stand it back up and it fell on his head again.

Oh, and did I mention that there's a potted fake plant in front of the cork board, so that fell over too?

::giggle::

I got up to help, but he finally got everything and said, "No, I got it."

Well, if there had ever been a chance for me (not that there ever was because he's at least 10 years older than me and prolly has a girlfriend, if not a wife) then there it went, right out the window 'cause you know how guys get embarassed... LOL.

I shouldn't have laughed, but it was only a small one anyway. And he was just so cute. Caught like a little boy doing something he shouldn't have and getting hurt.

Kawaii!

So I'm back at work... how was everyone's Holiday-thingy? Mine was okay, it was mainly nice to have a break from work and thinking and stuff like that.

It's so good to see James again. It was certainly nice to have him say hi to me, and wish me a Happy New Year. =D But I don't really have much James-gushing to do today, much to Angelica's immense disappointment, I'm sure.

On Friday night (Dec 28th), I ended up going to Angelica's house and her mom (Lisa) turned it for me. It didn't hurt as much as the night before, of course, but it did hurt. She had one of her piercings pierced with a needle and had a hoop put in immediately, too, so the fact that she turned my earring without worrying about ripping it out of my ear reassured me, I suppose. After that I could turn it myself (although it still hurts), but I slides in and out much more easily now. I guess it just needed a few days to heal a bit.

So now, I turn it every morning and every night. It's easier, but it still hurts. ::sigh:: I'm probably going to be complaining about that for a while, I guess another month or so.

Oh! Lots of stuff has been happening lately. I wouldn't call it exciting, but it is something to talk about:

Leeper Kids - We had to do inventory. Fay & Yvette are being stupid and unorganized as usual. Everything done last minute, as usual. The 2nd annual Xmas/New Years dinner is tonight. I dunno where we're going, but rumour (read: Angelica) has it that it's Jamaican food. I dunno about that, but apparently they're getting back at me for having Malaysian last year (even though it wasn't my suggestion to begin with).

Buck-Tick -- Remember that rare CD & photobook that I was bidding on a few weeks ago? And it went up really high, but I lost it at the last 2 seconds? Well, even if you don't, I certainly do. The seller contacted me on New Year's Eve saying that the high bidder didn't pay up and do I want it at my high bid? Well, of course I do! So I emailed him back and now I'm paying out my nose for something that's probably not worth it, but is rare enough that I justified it to myself. Don't you love it when that happens? $90 down the drain; just like that! But I still think it's worth it, I don't think I could help my B-T (Atsushi-kun!) obsession if I wanted to!

Tony -- That is, my fansub supplier/trader/contact person guy. He'd better hurry up and finish copying that B-T concert DVD onto VHS for me, I think I'll go crazy if he doesn't.

Rangers -- Were on such a kawaii winning streak! They were playing horribly, but scoring goals anyway! Lots of fights, penalties flying back and forth - majors, double minors, people getting thrown out of the games - it was great! Then what happened? They died! Bastards better not lose to Colorado tonight! And where the fuck is Lindros anyway? What, he can't deal with a little concussion?!

My cell phone -- Fell out of my pocket this morning…. But I only realized it when I got to work. Thought it could've been at the diner I ate at just before work, called, but it wasn't there. Then thought if it didn't fall out in the car, it could have fallen out on the bus. I suspected it fell out in the car (which we parked in a parking garage across town at 49th Street & 10th Avenue) 'cause I had been sleeping in the reclining seat before getting out. Ended up going on my lunch hour back on the bus, across town, asked if I could search the car, stood around for 10 minutes, finally searched the car, found it just where I thought it would be, ran back for the bus and got back to work 15 minutes late, after picking up a bagel to eat back at my desk. Not bad. At least I have it, and it's not stolen, or on a bus somewhere. That would've been a real pain in the neck.

Tomb Raider -- Does anyone know when/if the next Tomb Raider game is coming out on PS2?

My website -- I bought a domain name and site hosting and I'm now in business under koyasunomiko.com! Cool, ne?!

>_

It was held in the Delegates' Dining Room in the United Nations. It was a buffet with very good food, and even better dessert, but I think I ate a bit too much, and it's not exactly my kind of food, anyway. So now I feel a little lethargic and stuffed. Actually, I feel like my back teeth are floating.... and I'm gonna puke any second now. But it's that kind of feeling that you now is just a feeling and not a real omen or anything.

Some good news, though. The person in charge of personnel here in the office (Cecilia) ran into my mom in the elevator after lunch and asked her if I could stay longer ('cause you know tomorrow was going to be my last day -- it still might be, we'll see). Anyway, when my mom got back to her office she called me and told me and I thought about it and I figured I'd say that I'd definitely be interested in staying until school starts, and then I could come in once a week during the semester 'cause I have no classes on Fridays. And I could even come in on weekends, if they allow that sort of thing. I'd actually prefer it... no one to bother me while I get work done. And I wouldn't have to worry about keeping the music down, either. o.O*

So, while I was on the phone with my mother, Cathy (my supervisor, my mom's friend, and the person who actually suggested me for the post and in effect, got me the job) came back. So I went in to speak with her about what my mom said and what I'd be interested in. So she said she'd speak with her about it.

I don't really want to continue coming in next week 4 days a week because I really wanted some time off before I go back to school, but I think it's definitely worth the money. ::sigh::

So we'll see what happens.

One good thing about staying (besides the money and easier job) -- I'll get to keep seeing James! LOL.

Well, I changed the earrings in my 2nd holes; now they're small silver hoops with little balls. They're cute. And I moved the star studs into my 3rd holes, so I kind of look back to normal, instead of slightly slanted. =) Also, since I changed my earrings, neither ears have hurt at all! That's kakkoii! I'm so relieved!

Tonikaku.

My temporary UNDP office job is coming to an end. My last day is next Thursday, but since Monday is a UN holiday, it's going to be a short work week, for me at least. It's felt very.... transitional... or temporary. I mean, I have been coming here every 4 days out of a 5-day work week, for the last 7 weeks, but it still feels like I just started yesterday, and already I'm being booted out. And in the grand scheme of things ::snicker:: I guess that's about accurate.

But it's going to be very nice not to have to go to work every day for a while, even if I am going back to school in February.

But enough of this introspective crap, anyway.

I'm *so* happy 'cause last night I finally had the chance to watch some anime! I've been trying to all week, but either the TVs or VCRs were being used, or I was just too plain tired (read: dead) to pay attention, or even to stay up any longer. And on Saturday I got the next volumes of Fruit Basket and Angelic Layer (I'm obviously on a weird shoujo kick lately). So I saw the Angelic Layer tape last night (eps. 16-18), which was VERY good! It had a part in episode 17 where the Deuses were competing over something and so in order to decide the winner, they had their Angels fight in the ring-thing (I forgot what it's called). So, the Deuses -- completely out of the blue, with no warning -- did Jan, Ken, Pon and inside the ring, the winning Deus's Angel ran for the squeaky hammer and the losing Deus's Angel ran for the bowl, but the squeaky-hammer-Angel won! Note: If you've seen the seiyuu "interviews" at the end of the Weiß Kreuz tapes, you'll get the idea.

It made me hysterical with laughter! Kawaii!

Then, I watched Fruit Basket, and although the huge shoujo eyes are killing me, the characters are really kawaii and funny! I love Shigure-san (the Inu, played by Okiayu Ryoutarou, the Shota King) and Kyou-kun (the Neko-san, played by Seki Tomokazu) is just too adorable (read: growly, pouty and defensive), like a cross between Sano from Rurouni Kenshin, Keisuke from Initial D, and Kouji from Fushigi Yuugi.

So I was just very happy about being able to see those. But I still want to try and finish seeing Noir. Although nothing too exciting has happened yet, it does have me intrigued and so I'd like to watch it through, especially considering I actually have all of it.

Well, off to lunch.

He just walked by again! Kisama!

Well! It's been quite a while since I last posted. To inform you on what happened with my wallet… well, I never found it. Surprise, surprise, I'm sure. So I canceled my cards and all that good stuff. Lost $50.00. Not too bad. Could've been worse. The only thing I'm annoyed about, I suppose is that I lost some photos and things like that… oh! And my Book Off membership card. Grrr.

But enough about my wallet… I've certainly talked enough about that subject. Hmm… let's see. Since then, I started working at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It's a temporary job, and I'm just doing clerical-type work, filing both hardcopy papers and using a digital scanner to upload those same documents to the office's shared drive for easy access. I started at the end of October and will be leaving at the end of December, just before Christmas. It's an 8-week thing. I'm working 8 hours a day (including a one-hour lunch), 4 days a week (Monday-Thursday). Not bad. Some nice, easy money. I'm still working at my sales job in Grand Central Station. Which is kind of tiring, considering that means I'm working a 6-day week. But I think the money's worth it. It's only for 2 months, anyway. After that, I'll sleep for a week. Although I guess I have nothing to complain about, most people do this their whole lives. (I hope I won't have to, or at least that it'll be something I like so I won't notice how tired I am 'cause at least I won't be bored.)

That first week it was difficult beyond belief to go back to Leeper Kids (that's my sales job) on Friday. I mean, besides the fact that I was pretty tired from getting up early to leave for work, working all day, then getting home late and going to sleep late, it was also like abruptly having shit shoved in your face after spending the rest of the week smelling the roses… if you know what I mean. I've always hated my sales job, and the people there (except for you, Angelica, of course) don't make it any easier. [read: understatement of the century] But going back after having the whole week of a nice office job was torture. I pleaded some excuse and cut out after half the day. Yes, I'm bad. Yes, I probably could've used the money. But it was beyond me to stay there longer than I had to that day. I would've just gone (more) insane from the "culture" shock.

But since then I've worked my Fridays all the way through. I don't want them to start thinking they can get rid of me. After all, it is only a two-month job at UNDP. It's not like I can count on it.

Hmm… what else has been happening lately? Not much. I got a few new things from Asahiya, Book Off, CD Japan… but that's not unusual. Ah, I know. I've been watching anime a lot more now that we've moved. My anime tapes are A LOT more accessible than they were before so I'm more inclined to get off my lazy ass and go put a tape in the VCR, even if I do have to go upstairs to do it. >_<

I've been thinking about getting a computer for myself with some of the money I'm getting paid, but I went to www.dell.com and www.gateway.com and put together a computer I could live with and Dell's comes to $996 and Gateway's comes to $1038. Dell's a better buy, not even because it's an amazingly $40 less, but because it has a few extras that Gateway's doesn't for that extra $40. That $1038 is just about half of my pay for the two months, so I'm double-thinking my computer purchase plan. Maybe I should just get that TV that I wanted instead…. Oh, for those not informed, I don't have a TV in my room, I use the one that's upstairs in the living room (on the 1st floor) for my anime- and hockey-watching purposes. Although I do have 2 VCRs in my room so that I can copy tapes. >_< It'd be cool if I got a TV in my room, then I could actually watch anime even more! I wouldn't have to wait until 11pm when my mom's finally done watching Judging Amy, or that Max Bickford show, or The Practice or some other stupid program that's gaggingly unrealistic and tries too hard. And then, by that time I'm too tired to watch anything or Angelica wants me to talk on the phone with her (not that I don't want to, too), and if I want to have any sort of sleep I have to go get in bed, so I never get a chance to watch TV unless she's coming home late that day or is watching in the only other room we have a TV in, which is in my parents' bedroom, except that my father's always watching TV or sleeping in there, so that's practically a moot point anyway.

Maybe I should just get the TV.

But I really would love to have that computer…. 40 Gig hard drive, 1.4 GHz processor, 250 MB internal Iomega zip drive, 48x variable CD-ROM drive, 16x/10x/40x CD-RW drive, Windows XP Home Edition OS, and it comes with MS Works Suite 2001… the only thing I'm worried about is, does that include Word? 'Cause on the Gateway site, they specify "MS Works Suite 2001 with Word" but on the Dell site, they specify "MS Works Suite 2001 with Money 2001"… does that mean that with Dell I wouldn't get MS Word? That would really suck.

So, I suppose I'll have to make a decision soon… especially, to hmm, maybe take advantage of the upcoming sales? I guess I picked a good time of year to get some extra cash coming in.

In other news…. Here check out some of my auctions. Have fun.

ladyreianan's ebay auctions

And go check out some of the new anime I got recently:

Nereid Trading Post: Fansubs

Hmm, and if you're in the mood for Weiß music (along with some Zetsuai 1989) I'd suggest this station:

o fortuna: a japanese pop, rock & animation station

Oh yes! I can't believe I almost forgot! I'm sorry, Louie, it's 'cause I'm at work and I keep getting interrupted. Last Saturday was Louie's birthday party! (Tanjoubi Omedetou!) We went to a karakoke bar in the city - it was cool. And it was a cosplay party, too, so there were some kawaii outfits. Not a lot of us, just about 10, I think, but it was nice. My sister and I went as Cyprine and Ptilol from Sailor Moon S (you know those twins from the Witches 5, one has blue hair, one has red…. Look). Angelica went as Mana (the evil nurse Mana from Malice Mizer, from the Gackt years). There was another Mana there, too; she was the Beast of Blood Mana from recently - she was quite good if I do say so myself. >_< There was a half-hearted Sailor Moon. And Louie was Gackt (from Malice Mizer… before Merveilles). Hopefully if I get some copies of the photos that were taken, I'll scan them and post them up.

Okie, well, I'm done for this session. I'll try not to neglect it again, because, apparently when Angelica's bored she goes and reads my LJ and she gets a trifle annoyed when I haven't posted anything new for her reading pleasure.

::sweatdrop:: o.O*

[Closing Statements:] Rangers are on a 5-game home-win streak and a 8-game point streak! Kakkoiiiiiii! ::whips out sign:: I love you Leetch! ::puts sign away and whips out another:: I love you Richter! ::puts sign away and whips out the last one, honest:: Sammuelson, you're so kawaii!

::grumbles:: Devils, guys, what happened?!

[Reading Recommendation:] March Upcountry and March to the Sea by David Weber and John Ringo (I've been suffering from a lack of new Honor Harrington books and this has temporarily filled the hole.)

Mata na!