One Nail-Biting Weekend

I had to sit and wait for the weekend to end to hope to hear about anything from Musashi. Everybody at work constantly asked me if I had heard anything. I really did get sick of answering no to them, but I guess I have to deal with it. On Sunday, I got to go to my Quarterly Gibb Family Gathering. I only got to be there for an hour or two, but it was good to get to see them all again. I also stole Kevin after the party and got a coat I thought I lost two years ago! So, I brought Kev and his computer over to my apartment where he and Christina played lots of Galaxies and stuff. When I got home from work, we watched movies and played more games, then fell asleep. Sunday I had to work during the day, and the internet was down, so more anime was watched. I got home and I did a dance to appease the Internet Gods (read: The Chicken Dance), and was able to play a bit of Galaxies myself before taking Kev home. It was pretty cool having the kid over for a while. So, along came Monday, and no word from Musashi. I am pretty much giving up hope. It would be cool, but moving would be a pain. I just want to know.

Shin Anime Get!

Okay, in the past two days, I have been a pirate to the extreme (Yarrr.....) I have been downloading copious amounts of new anime. I have the first episodes of a bunch of new shows. So, without further ado!

Bottle Fairy - 12 minute episodes, ultra cute. It seems like these little superdeformed chibi fairies who live in these bottles are naive little kids, learning about Japanese culture and aimed at little kids to boot. Still, exceedingly cute and think I will follow it.

Gunslinger Girl - I have the first 2 eps but nothing else yet. I have yet to watch them, but the same designer who worked on Noir is back for this one. It is promising, but it looks kinda, uhm, REALLY dark. We'll see.

Maburaho - Imagine you are in a private school (high school in modern Japan) that specializes in teaching you how to use the magic in you. The catch is everyone can only use magic a certain amount of times, and then it's all used up. You turn into dust then, I hear. Some people, the powerful ones, in the school have around 10,000 to 14,000 uses. You, however, have 8. Yes, only eight, and you feel like a loser. Then, all of a sudden, you are told (after the girls know) that you come from a line of great magicians and your child has the potential to be an amazing wizard. Now all of the girls in the school, who, let's face it, it's anime, they are all made to be super-cute, all want your sperm. I'll leave it at that, but it looks wacky and funny and I will watch it.

Mahoujin Guru Guru - One of my favorites from years back. I had seen a few eps when I went to U of M's Con Jya Nai 3 years ago, and fell in love with it there. It is about a "Hero" who is 12, forced on the road by his parents (his dad desperately wanted to hbe a hero, but there was no great evil in his time), with Kukuri, the last remaining magician who uses the Guru Guru magic, and messes up most of the time. It spoofs the classic console RPGs. Characters are introduced with the classic Final Fantasy blue-box with white borders including info such as name, class, level, HP, and MP. Wacky Hijinks Ensue. Most definitely a follower. Mahoujin Guru Guru means Magic Cirlce Guru Guru (guru guru is te sound of swirly circles).

Mujin Wakusei Survive - I don't know all that much about this one yet, as I only have one episode. It takes place on colonies, since the earth is now uninhabitable, thanks to the poor environmental concerns of the people who lived there, thank you very much. It looks like the "School Field Trip" to a planet that is being terraformed is going to turn into their little Swiss Family Robinson meets Lord of the Flies, but no killing. Mujin Wakusei Survive means Uninhabited Planet Survive.

Peace Maker Kurogane - This anime rocks already and I only have the first episode. It takes place at the beginning of the Meiji Reformation (1860s) in Kyoto. If this sounds familiar to anyone, it is because you may have seen Rurouni Kenshin, and remember the Shinsengumi (The Order of the New Way) who were pretty much the Shogunate's personal police force. Saitou Hajime in Kenshin was in the Shinsengumi. In this show, however, there is a 15 year old trying to join because of what happened to his father. Of course, killed before his eyes by the enemy. The animation is clean, the fights were cool, and it still had the kinda funny parts. But, come on! How could I pass up the Shinsengumi?! Kurogane means Black Gold, or Iron.

Tenchi Muyo! OVA 3 Ryo-Oh-Ki - This is the long awaited third OVA series about Tenchi, which is, for once, NOT a new story! It picks up where the first series left off. I only have one episode so far, but it is up to the original standards, and is still very pretty. I am still getting used to the Japanese voices, since I had only seen it in English up until now, with the exception of the second and third movies. Good stuff.

Yami to Boushi to Hon no Tabibito - This is a wierd one. I haven't figured it out at all, especially how these women don't have horrible back problems. There is something about a girl searching for her sister, who is a being who can travel between worlds, and there is demons, and magic, kind of, and trains... Hell, see it for yourself. There is mucho fanservice. You were warned. Yami to Boushi to Hon no Tabibito means Travelers of Darkness with Hats and Books.

I have been busy, as you can tell, and I am trying to make room for it all by burning my other anime on to disc. I have Kokoro Library and Scrapped Princess almost all burned by now. Woo, let the CDs pile up!

More Work Stuff

Well, Christina and I both went to our respective interviews in opposite directions on Monday. It was kind of weird, driving for 2 hours only getting to the place and interviewing for one hour, and then turning right back around to drive home. On the way there, there was a huge accident on 94, 5 cars and a semi, so I had to get off the freeway and drive through exciting Jackson for about 7 miles and then get back on. No biggie. On the way back, I found the St. Julian Winery, where I stopped and had a few samples. I also bought a bottle of their newest label, Blue Heron, a semisweet white. While at the interview, however, I was not nearly as relaxed. I got there, and all of these people in white jumpsuits were passing by. Apparently, you wear white pants and a white long-sleeved shirt to work. Everyone from lowly grunt to upper management does. The interview started normally, with a guy asking me about my work experience and so on and so forth, and then the Japanese started. It was a half hour of Japanese wherein I was told what my responsibilities were going to be, what was expected, and so on and so forth. I was asked to read a magazine article, which had lots of impossible kanji. I think I did well, and so did the recruiter, Kathy, because when I talked to her an hour and a half later, she hadn't heard anything, so that was good. By the time I had gotten in cell phone range and bought the bottle of wine, Christina had left me a message telling me that she got the job! Woo Hoo!!! I am so proud of her! After the interview and lazing at home for two hours, I had to go to Ypsi to take a Japanese exam, even though I felt like I had already gone through one. It was pretty easy, though. Skip ahead to Tuesday, I get an email from Kathy saying that the interviewer was out of town and would call her in the AM with details, and she would call or email me in turn. Good, a response. I hadn't expected one immediately, of course, but I want it now! I wake up in the morning, and I have an email. From Rent.com where I had been browsing the night before. So I leave my monitor on and try to ignore it using the "Watched Pot Never Boils" theory. I get another email! Woo! It's my American Homebrew Association newsletter. Okay, okay, two emails in one day isn't unheard of... Then while watching new anime (see next post) I get yet more email! This is unheard of. this time it is from a guy in my Japanese class who got a job listing for Viz who is a huge anime/manga supplier in the US. I am starting to break down. I never get three emails in one day, and especially not when I am expecting a different one! So I went to class and had my oral exam, which didn't go so smoothly since I couldn't concentrate on anything. I come back and check my mail one last time. One more new message... Is it it? Nope! My dad emailed me about a family party on Saturday. ::sigh:: I am going bonkers! This morning, Thursday, however, I am awoken by my phone. It is Kathy on the phone telling me she heard back from Musashi. They think the interview went very well, they said it was excellent. But they have to still talk to the Head of HR, and they may have a different position open for me, whatever that means. They said if they don't get a hold of me today, it will definitely be by tomorrow afternoon. So by Friday PM I will know if I have a new job speaking Japanese. Keep them fingers and toes crossed...

Tomorrow.. Brain Melting....

Okay, now Christina and I both have in terviews tomorrow morning. I have mine in Battle Creek, and hers is in Troy. Opposite directions, eh? We both have challenges in front of us here, she hasn't had many interviews and isn't as comfortable with the process as I am. I, however, have never had an interview in a foreign language. I think I have all the necessary materials. Suit, check. Resumes/Ref letters, check. Pad/Pen for notes, check. Driections and phone numbers, check. Confidence, getting there. All I need is a tie to match the suit........ On top of all of this, I also have my exam after the interview. Holy hell. Holy hell, Holy hell. Time to watch a movie for us to relax to. Bye!

Can't Wait Until Monday

Ergh. I really, really, really can't wait until I get my interview done. I mean, I know I am the man for the job. I will get this job. At bare minimum, I will make a good impression and make them love me. Any interview experience is a good experience. Preparation Checklist: 10 Resumes on Bond Paper 5 References Letters on Bond Paper Nice Pen to take notes with Good paper to take notes on Professional folder to hold said stuff Suit ala Daddy (hehe, thanks Daddy-O) Confidence in Buckets Remember: You Can Speak Japanese. Deep Breaths.... Deep Breaths.... Jya, Yatte Yaru zo!

Another Job?

I was awoken yesterday morning by my cell phone. I looked at the display and thought "Hell, why would a bill collector be calling me?" because I did not recognize the number. It turns out that it was a recruiter from Monster.com, and to make a long story short, they think they have a job I would be suited for. After talking for a while, I hear that the place is called Musashi Automotive and they would be interested in having me work in either sales or production in a translatory capacity. Holy Crap, eh? David is floored. I want desperately to get this job, they start off at $35000 a year plus benefits at not cost on day one, and tuition assistance, and travel possibilities across the country and to Japan even! Only catch: the job is in Battle Creek, which is a 100 mile commute. Then again, in another two months, I could break lease here and move out to Battle Creek where the rent is cheap (I found a 1400 square foot townhome with 2 bed, 1.5 bath, balcony, patio, yard, et cetera for $650 a month!) and only drive 15-20 miles to work. Visiting would be tough, however.. Had to share. I have the interview Monday morning at 10am. I still need to get my references fleshed out, as well as printed along with my resume, and get a suit. Hm. This is going to be a busy weekend. Not to mention I have to interiew in English and in Japanese. Better not count my chickens before they hatch, eh? David out.

More and More??

I hit post on that one and thought I would mention the few sites I have been frequenting lately. I have been reading posts at many sites about Japan. Since returning to class, and the anime kick I am on, I am kind of pining for the Land of the Rising Sun. Of course, I tie myself here, because I know I can't take Christina or the kitties over with me, I wouldn't want them to be confused with the language barrier, or lonely. (I hear Japanese kitties are stuck-up) Okay, websites.... GaijinPot -- Good for forums, job listings, and making connections. Gaijin in Japan -- All forums. Pretty much just an amusing forum that is posted on almost excusively by people living in Japan. Hen na Gaijin -- It is a fairly amusing site, also has a link to the woman's professional site as a translator. Maybe me in the future? Note how all of these sites have Gaijin in the title.... Hmmmm........ Stupid foreigners....

Update So Soon?

Yes, yes, an update only THREE MONTHS after the last entry?! I mean, what, am I trying to kill you guys with too much information about my life? Let's give a quick update about what has been going on lately. I quit Best Buy just after I wrote that message. I haven't been working the 85 hour work weeks like that in some time. I now only sling Que at Famous Dave's Thursday-Saturday nights and Sunday morning. I have my one lonely Japanese class Monday and Wednesday evening. I am looking to do well in this class, take a full courseload next semester, and try to get this damn school thing over and done with so I can get a real job, be it here or in Japan. Christina had some friction at CVS and subsequently told them where to stick it. She has been trying to replace that job as of late, but yet to no avail. I tell you, I know she works hard, I know she knows her stuff, but why will people not hire her right now? Stupid employers. She is a hard worker! Other than work and school, what has been happening? Let's see, I saw Tull twice in a row (Hell yeah, great shows!), I regularly play Star Wars Galaxies (on the Naritus server, name Ajime Kobalis), I hang out with Jason, Drew, and Nissa most, and see Justin once in a while, and bother Christina as often as possible. Since that last thing around the 4th, Christina and I have been doing well. There was a little bit of something, but that's not an issue any more. It worked out for the best, for now. In anime news, I am a major Pirate again (Yarrr....) by frequenting the best anime download site in the world today, AnimeSuki. I am currently obsessed with Naruto which is an anime about a ninja-in training (in the ninja village, of course, at the ninja academy) and he has a demon sealed inside of him. Because of this, he is reviled by the adults who know about this. He takes on the prankster role to get attentiopn, and wacky hijinks ensue. Well, that's not it. It more or less details his school and training progression, bringing in a large cadre of ninjas (and ninjas-in-training) each with their own family techniques, and just is a really cool show. The manga is still currently ongoing, and is up to chapter 188 as of today, and episode 53 of the anime. The anime is about 30 episodes of content behind. There is still no unforseeable end to the manga or anime.