winternightz

Never ever say it out loud, but make sure that deep within their subconscious, they know without a doubt that you will do anything in the world for them. Sometimes this means you may have to do things like bike all the way uphill from the ballroom to mudd academics with a girl and her skateboard linked to your shoulder, but the happy faces every time you meet and hugs and smiles alone are more than worth it.

Not really Blues like normal, but Blues being Bronze Social dance, in which Paul decided to start teaching us Blues as the next dance in the syllabus. (which is generally chosen by democracy of kids in the class).

He told me "don't use latin hips!". Then after I looked completely like I had no idea what he was talking about, he came over and grabbed my hips and tried to move them the "proper" way. Then he let go and after a few seconds, he looked at me and said, "You can't turn it off, can you?". I just looked at him pitifully with my eyes going, "no....". ;_;

I don't know if it's a good or bad thing. Good because I'm really good at latin hips. Bad because it's hard when I'm not supposed to be using them...

On the Solo-Routine front, I feel like I need a bigger repertoire of moves before I actually think more about choreographing things. So I think that means its off to Youtube for videos of Bryan Watson and Slavik and Karina! Luckily, there's a "Syllabus Paso" video of Slavik and Karina, where they go through a big routine once, then just Slavik, just Karina, then again with explanation of moves. Should be mucho helpful. There's progress being made, though! A little bit of progress every week, no matter what. Even if that progress was just me writing in the times "X:XX" in my little notebook with the song mapped out measure by measure. I think the next progress to be made will be deciding what to section off into "paso sections" and "rumba sections". After that, I'll scan it in to send to Karen and see if she has any little ideas to scribble down.

I've also realized that 4 minutes is an EXTREMELY long dance routine. But I need to figure out cool dance moves. I'm gonna be going through youtube videos of Paso and Rumba to find cool things to try. Mayhaps I shall catalogue that in here.

So earlier this week (wait... that was 10 hours ago), I was a bit disheartened. Paul sent out the assignments for who was on the West Coast routine.... and I wasn't on it ;_;

but little did I notice, he listed 6 follows and only 5 leads! I actually only read it very quickly over and saw that my name wasn't there, and just said, "oh well, maybe next year".

AND THEN, LAUREN EMAILED ME JUST LIKE AN HOUR AGO!

"Hi Jason,

Sorry for the late notice but you were supposed to be on the list of people
in west coast! I'm so excited that you're in the routine! It's going to be
lots of fun. Are you available for practice on Friday 7-9am? I hope to see
you then!

Thanks a lot and sorry for the confusion..."

WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! \^^/

And in case I haven't shown you before, here are two awesome West Coast Swing videos.
One~
And two~

It is definitely not safe to drive/bike/operate any sort of vehicle while listening to this song. I couldn't help but bike as fast as I possible could, with no regard for how horrible a crash might be if I went flying.

But really. I want to dance with someone to this song. Cha-cha. Jive? I really want to dance to weird music. Not normal music at all. Iggy Pop. Gackt - Death Wish (Rumba). I'm sure there could be some EPIC standard choreography thought up for lots of Shiro Sagisu songs. (Then, I only have the score he did for Casshern).

I think I'm going to ask Sam if she wants to join my in this crazy venture of dancing cha cha to some hardxcore rock'n'roll.

I just watched the most amazing, terrifying, heart-wrenching, heart-racing movie ever. See subject line.

It filled me with the need to hug everyone important to me. Unfortunately, many of those are far far away, and of those that aren't, some don't even have their phone on. That's ok, though. They have a special present waiting.

I suppose for now, I am left with going through facebook and leaving a little something for those who I haven't heard from in so long.

If I haven't told you lately, I love you.

Day 1: Lake Tahoe.

( Read more... )

Day 2: ( Read more... )

My knee still hurts, though. ;_; I need cuddles.

New Year's Resolutions:

1. Take my three glucosamine chondroitin pills a day. Yesterday did not count.
My dog, beaujie, has actually been taking them for a while. And when he used to not be able to jump up onto the bed without a step and other such high places, now he can again. Meaning, that can't possibly be placebo! Our little doggie gives me hope.

2. Write more letters. I have many many adorable stationaries and envelopes, and I want to give them to all my wonderful friends. I can't do that without writing letters, though! So I shall start. I already have one written, and I would have another, had I thought to bring stationary with me. Except I didn't, so I'll probably just write it as a gmail draft for now. I must also figure out a way to deliver these, also. I don't trust the mail anymore, since they return-to-sender'd one I sent to Rachel in Seattle.

I miss people. Let's have a slumber party and all have lots of hugs.

Something Political that actually made me sort of happy..
Obama's presenting "Fireside Chat's" on Hulu.

This was something I had wished the president would do, whoever it ended up being, and I'm glad that Obama plans on this. But still, that guy can talk for so long without saying a thing. Then again, that was just the first clip. I can't wait to see what he says tomorrow. I hope it's actually substantial. And LORD I hope he goes from "I am inspirational speech man! every word out of my mouth must be of epic tone!" to "I am a real human being" eventually.

http://www.hulu.com/the-obama-presidency

"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Cauterizing the wound. I'll do it so it doesn't hurt."
"How kind of you," she shot back sarcastically. "Don't expect me to thank you."
"Don't talk."
Leila jerked her face away from the approaching hand. "I don't know what kind of hocus-pocus you can pull, but I'll be damned if I'm gonna let you play around with my body while I'm out. I'm gonna be awake to see this from start to finish. Try anything funny, and believe me, you'll pay."
Undeterred, D set his left hand on her.
"Don't--" Leila's words became a scream. "Stop, I'm begging you. Do it while I'm still awake. Please," she pleaded.
Something glistening welled in her eyes as they gazed at D. It spoke of horrific memories.
Silently taking his hand away, D tore the sleeve of his coat and put a strip of cloth from it between Leila's lips. They had no anesthesia. The cloth was to keep her from biting her tongue. This time she cooperated quietly. The little nod she made must've been an expression of gratitude.
D lowered the hot metal to her skin. Shortly thereafter, a pungent scent and a series of low moans began to permeate the darkening bower.

Is it just me that finds this to be the most beautiful scene? Maybe even romantic? I don't know. But it's wonderful and I love it. To have someone's care for you shown through a long ritual of pain. Maybe it is just me. I've never wanted a permanent tattoo, but I've always wanted to sit through the hours of a traditional Japanese tattoo. (I've actually been wondering how skin would react to henna applied with needles. All in my quest to find an enduring (at least enduring more than a week) temporary tattoo). Even the red string now lying between the pages of this book, I found myself daydreaming about it being sewn into my hand as I traveled further to find the story of Odin Sphere for the seamstress. Not that I would ever actually do that. I'll likely never have myself pierced nor tattooed. But the symbolism.. the ritual of it all. Maybe that's what I'm in love with.

So, I'm reading "Looking Backward: 2000 - 1887" by Edward Bellamy, and I'm beginning to think it wonderfully ironic that before hearing of this book, the only Bellamy I had ever heard of previously (*cough cough One Piece*) was a romantic Pirate Captain.

( Read more... )

*sigh* I made such a big long post about dancing. Follows that are fun and follows that aren't. Luckily there's plenty of fun girls to dance with at Blues and only a couple that aren't.

But man, I'm getting my but kicked. All I want to do is lie down, read my Vampire Hunter D books, sew my costume, go dancing at night, wake up in the afternoon.
I am all schooled out. And midterms soon, projects, essays. I'm going to fail. I swear.

I can't wait until the semester is over... Let's go Dancing.

omg, it's coming so soon. I'm not ready. i'm never ready. I have like, half the materials I need. I need to get to Michael's or... Luanne's(??) and get thread and possibly yarn. Something to make big exaggerated stiches.
http://HowlingStar.deviantart.com/art/Soul-Eater-Franken-Stein-90219311

I have a long-sleeve black shirt, and a dark (blood?) red shirt ( http://pokefreak.deviantart.com/art/The-Strongest-Shokunin-88582860 ) that I got at good will for $4. I plan on sewing those together to make the shirt. But then, I need to get a lab coat! Preferably a big one. I'm pretty sure I know how to "pull it in", making it more form-fitting around the... torso-y-ness. This is really all just from some seamstress-ing that I noticed in one of my fancy shirts. Amazing what four little details can really do.

http://www.landsend.com/ix/index.html?store=ov&searchContext=overstock-liquidations&tab=8&search=lab+coat&imageField.x=0&imageField.y=0&cm_mmc=40985714

And LAB COAT! Ready to be frankenstein'd. This is gonna be so cool. I can't wait. I just need something that I can make into the bolt part of the bolt. (as in, I already have a "shaft" I can use. I also need to figure out how to get something like this to stay on my head. Or I can always just bore a giant hole through my brain.)

Much better than last year's costume. I still <3 Nekozawa, but that was so horrible and last minute, and like... 3 people got it.

This is something that I find amazing, that I'm pretty sure people will just look at me and think, "wtf?" about. But basically, monday night I fell off my bike and got hella banged up. My hip was literally oozing for all of tuesday.

Anyways, it's been two days-ish, and I can't help but look at my hands and my hip and all my wounds and think "HOLY SHIT, THIS IS SO COOL! I'M REPAIRING MYSELF!" What else in the world can do that! That's so unbelievably crazy and awesome and whoa!

Yes, every human can do this. BUT ISN'T THAT CRAZY? HUMANS ARE CRAZY! THE HUMAN BODY IS CRAZY.

I don't know. Everyone who reads this will probably think I'm just being weird, but just think about how amazing that is! Something that you always take for granted! I'm still fascinated...

( Read more... )

So, this saturday I'm auditioning for A Cappella groups!

I kinda need to pick a good song. The always-good-for-auditions is of course the national anthem. Shows range rhythm and other such nonsense. But that's boring. And if they ask for it, I can always do it anyways.

So what do you think would be good? Ideas so far include:
Jason Mraz -- I'm Yours.
Daft Punk -- Digital Love.
Yoko Kanno -- Ask DNA
Yoko Kanno -- Gotta Knock a Little Harder (very hard song to do well... probably not a good idea for auditioning)
Star Salzman -- Dreams Come True
Yoko Kanno -- Diggin'

I doubt many people actually know all of these songs. Might be deaf ears. >.>
I'll probably just go with I'm Yours or Ask DNA. Dreams Come True could be fun, too.
There's also "Don't Bother None." Another Yoko Kanno song.

This was supposed to be about the t.v., mainly. I'd been watching Nip/Tuck on Hulu, and god is it messing with my view of the world. It's beyond casual sex. Everyone's screwing everyone else.

But just in the path few weeks, I've been talking with all my old friends, and really.. why is everyone so lonely? It seems we all just want someone to hold and someone to be held by.

And as I told Josephine, "We should all go run off somewhere and have a slumber party, with nothing but extreeeeeemely fluffy pillows and blankets."

Seriously, though. I've been thinking and I'm not joking about that anymore. Why don't we all get back together and have a party? All get together for say three days and just relax. Mario Party, Rock Band, and a bucket of booze. Hell, by the time we -do- do this, we're all going to be 21. (We're so old..) We can all go off to some restaurant at Santana Row for dinner, get tipsy on wine, talk like we did back at the benches inbetween the band room and the cafeteria. And hopefully... we can bring friends and make our family that much bigger. Then we can all grab some boba on the way back, and we can all sing and dance the night away and fall asleep in each others' arms and laps.

I love you all! And I want a hug~ <3 <3

A day that declares the end of summer and the beginning of winter!
A day that humans disguise themselves with the same look as the visiting ghosts and devils!
Over time, a day that has become a festival of costumes and tricks!

So, I need to decide what to be for halloween, and I have two months to craft a costume! Help me out!! Ideas! Opiniones! etc!

( Read more... )

SO, I think that'll be it. I should probably go to some cheapo stores and look for sweaters to try and dissect. Also, I really hope Aya-sensei throws another party-show thing, asking for students to perform. I'm totally going to conscript people into a group to sing/dance to Nico Nico Douga.

P.S. HOLLY. Go look up ニコニコ動画　on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ia1mb0srRA8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTpEajyajow
The above are samples of the ridiculous awesome that I could not convey.

Can you really vote for a man who can't bowl better than a 37 in a full 10 frames?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZtBBgn0I34E
lmao. I love politics.

AND TAT AND JOSEPHINE. (AND ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS PLAYED AN INSTRUMENT). (AND ANYONE WHO HASN'T).

So, Kendall and I were having this discussion about music. Mainly about build-up and fulfillment in music. We think we may just think of things so differently because I'm a musician and she isn't.

Exhibit A: Deathcab for Cutie -- We Looked Like Giants. I'm sure you all have this song.
Now, we both think it's a great song. I, however, HATE how it is played. It is so ridiculously devoid of any energy whatsoever. There is so much buildup that just sits there. Listen through it, then when you get to 1:52, don't you agree that if we were to put in the same energy that K had us put in our songs, that would be so much more amazing? Can't you just hear him going, "What the hell was that? Wake up, guys!"? Can't you just hear Max, if he were to play that, just going CRAZY at the end of that section? Don't you want the singer to just pour out so much more?

"And together there, in the shroud of frost, The mountain air began to pass Through every pane of weathered glass, And I held you closer Than anyone would ever get"
Those are such packed words! Beautiful, even! GIVE ME SOMETHING MORE, JESUS CHRIST. EMOTION. ENERGY. SOMETHING.

And the end of 1:10~1:15 ish, too! I want raw emotion! I want the singer to pour out his SOUL into those words! "And we learned how our bodies worked!" WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!

But then, Kendall likes that. I don't know why. She likes when they build up, but don't fulfill, because when they fulfill, it's like, "Ok, they're rocking out now." But we think that it's just 'cause they go off without her when they do that sort of thing. Yet, for me, I love when a band just rocks out, because they take me with them.

I mean, I totally understand when you don't have every single build-up fulfilled. That gives you a tease. That gives you tension. That drags on the listener, and it's like, "Oh baby, please. give me a little more." It's so close to sexual, you could just drown in it sometimes. But you do that build up, leave it there hanging, then -laaaater- you give it to them, and it's like "OH BABY, that feels so good."

Exhibit B: uh.. um. Black Eyed Peas -- Don't Phunk With My Heart.
I remember at Kairos, we were talking about like, happiness or something. I don't know what, but I said something that just went completely over most peoples (everyone's) head. I want you to listen to this song again. I know you've heard it before. But I said how it's one of those little things that makes me happy, listening through an entire song just for the one little moment of fulfillment. You can't just skip to that part, because that kills it, and you can't stop after that moment and just restart, because that kills it to.

Listen to the song again. Right at 3:13 (at least on my version). That little tiny drum thing. A little kick-to-snare that the entire three minutes builds up to. I couldn't stop listening through that song just for that one moment for a whole goddamn week. Maybe longer.

I really don't know what else to say. I completely cannot understand how people would like the things Kendall was saying, but apparently they do. I mean, they do sell records.
And really, most other examples I can think of aren't American, so most won't know them. So instead, I'll give you a link to some of my favorite Dir en Grey live performances.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKFHIe3fIIM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtMJTCp-sfY

They're both the same song. Everyone looks considerably prettier in the first one, but the second might be a better performance. They're both still amazing. The first has a very camaraderie moment, that just gets me, right there. ANyways. I consider it a blessing to love music like I do. To see things like this and be so filled with their energy. To just want to burst out singing along and pouring out everything I have, too.

I want this song, and so many others on rock band. I want an excuse to sing out, loud, and do it for my friends, and maybe see if they understand.

http://ff7.ocremix.org/

Go download it, seriously. You know you want to. I'll post more when I'm through with it, but it's got plenty of crazy artists on it. I mean really, just listen to this:

"Andreas Kotsamanidis (a.k.a. SnappleMan) is a musician from New York City specializing in a genre of music that he fondly refers to as "Crotch Rock." Aside from struggling to complete everyday tasks such as washing himself, he has contributed to numerous OC ReMixes and two site projects, one of which he co-coordinated: Project Chaos . Andreas's musical style ranges from heavy metal to heavy metal with synthesizers. He has an incurable love of kittens and can be found fondling his beloved cat, Bowman, on an hourly basis."

Yesterday: A Great Day in Akiba.
So, my dad and I spent yesterday entirely in Akihabara. It started--as all days in Akihabara should--with a quick shopping trip through Yodobashi-Akiba. We wandered up to the games etc. floor, and I took a look around all of their Nintendo DS games. A while ago, Chen showed me some COMPLETELY ridiculous youtube videos of Super Robot Wars... a supposedly awesome game which will never be released in America (licensing issues). So... guess what I found at Yodobashi! Super Robot Wars! on DS! Super cool. I've only played it a little bit, but it's basically a grid-based strategy game like Advance Wars. I haven't figured out much, though.

After that, we looked around a bit at their tv screens and cameras, then headed out. Walked about and played around in Club Sega (the greatest club EVER). The Taiko game is great fun! They're even making one for DS, which I am tempted to get... though that'd be slightly ridiculous.

Anyways, it was decided long in advance that we were going to get massages from Japanese girls in maid outfits, so we went over to Mai Relax. It was -soooo- good. Foot (and lower leg) and hand (and forearm) massages, with nice lavender oil. Oh man... you have no idea. The feelings of daydreams.

Then after that, it was about time for dinner, so we walked around. There was a girl handing out mini-flyers for Cos-Cha, so I decided we should go there. Being that I have now gone to two different maid restaurant/cafes, I am forced to compare them, and sadly.. the one we went to last year, Merry Heart, was much better. Cos-Cha was just a normal cafe where the waittresses just happened to wear cosplay maid outfits. Merry Heart.. was ridiculously cute in every way. Pink and Heartness on the walls, but not in a way to make you feel uncomfortable. Waitresses acting cute, and -serving- you. not just waiting on you. I remember my dad loved it most when he had tea, and the girl held out her hand with cream and sugar for him to choose. Then, she poured it in and stirred it just so delicately. It was wonderful. (Much more sophisticated than something like Hooters, I'd say.. :P) Cos-Cha was just... normal. Nothing special.

Anyways, if you ever go to Akihabara, go to the Merry Heart Cafe and at least one other one!

Today: Harajuku with Anna.
So, today we went off to Shibuya and went on a walk that was recommended to us by James Horiuchi. We got off at the Shibuya station and walked all the way to Harajuku (as opposed to going just one more stop). It was nice, and we got to walk through a big (and I do mean monstrously big) park! It would've been really nice for biking or running, but there was nowhere that made me feel compelled to run around in circles and do capoeira randomly. It's ok, though. I remember the Imperial Palace Garden definitely had that.

Then when we were in the park, we heard music! Live music, it sounded like, so we decided to investigate! And investigate we did, and found a village artist festival! It was so cool. A ton of people with cool things for sale, like customized shoes and stuff, and 2 stages for bands. And there were two really good rock bands:Super Beaver and White Crow. I got both their CDs, but I haven't listened to them yet. It was so great, though. They poured their soul into those performances.

But anyways, we were meeting Anna at Harajuku to have lunch and talk and stuff. We were just walking in the crowd up a block to where we planned to meet, and then all of a sudden I hear behind me, "Jason?". In the middle of the crowd, Anna had realized she was right behind me, and my dad happened to be right behind her! Haha, so then we went off to this Japanese-Italian restaurant that Anna wanted to try. It was really interesting. I had chicken and steak (which were really interestingly cooked. the chicken was very vinegar-y, and the steak was just sort of delicious. I hadn't had much meat for days...), and my dad had spaghetti with little itty bitty fishies! So weird!! Whole fishies!

but after lunch, we split after a bit of a walk down the main harajuku store street. Then my dad and I went shopping! (well, I went shopping. My dad watched). I got a ton of clothes. All shirts, because Japan has no good pants for me. I seriously need to buy some more M.E.K. jeans.. they're really nice. Anyways, it was a ridiculously fulfilling day (OH! AND WE HAD SOME TAKOYAKI!), and those concerts (which were actually at the end of the day) just made it the perfect end to the first stretch of the vacation.

Tomorrow: Shinkansen to Kyoto!