| A New Record of Sorts |
[Nov. 24th, 2009|07:43 pm] |
| [ | music |
| | Symphonic Fantasies - Final Fantasy Medley | ] |
This is the longest I've ever gone without updating LiveJournal. Didn't keep track of the actual number of days but it's easily about a month's worth. Just haven't felt like blogging about anything, just kind of felt like there was no point to doing it. Which I guess is kind of true, I don't really gain anything out of it aside from a brief respite from boredom.
Not that much has transpired over the last month or so, at least that I can recall off the top of my head. My birthday passed, it was pretty uneventful and I mostly got pizza and a Walmart gift card. Been part-time working at the old job three days a week, which gets me enough money that I don't have to resort to going to the bank to pay for rent, as long as I work every weekend (Distant Worlds concert weekend might put a damper on that next month).
And Dissidia happened. Been playing Dissidia for varying amounts of time each day since I got it. Six of the 22 characters are at level 100 now: Firion, Cloud, The Emperor, Bartz, Garland, and Cecil. Firion and The Emperor are probably my best characters overall though I do alright with Terra, Bartz, Sephiroth, and Squall. This game probably should've been on a console, the game mechanics would be easier to perform with a controller that isn't also the screen (and doesn't feel like pressing a button rapidly might break it; the PSP does not feel durable in my hands). Inward Chaos, the hardest mode in the Story Mode, will require me to get the harder to acquire weapons and armor before I have a chance to finish off the level 110 Chaos at the end.
I also signed up for NaNoWriMo but lacked the conviction or motivation to type up more than the prologue. I'm disappointed in myself for this weakness. Ever since my sci fi story's second chapter, something happened that has left me constantly frustrated with anything to do with writing. I haven't been able to read or write anything aside from that prologue without wanting to slam my head on my desk in frustration. I might be next in line for Casus Belli too (whenever Soul Hunter gets around to finishing his chapter) and I'm a little worried I won't be able to repeat the general success that was my first chapter in that story.
I guess there's more to talk about but I'm going to leave it at that for today. |
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| (no subject) |
[Oct. 10th, 2009|09:04 pm] |
| [ | music |
| | Chrono Trigger - Corridors of Time | ] |
Got Dissidia Final Fantasy recently and have spent some time playing that. I've unlocked all the FFI-X villains and got through the story modes for most of the heroes save for Onion Knight, Terra, and Warrior of Light. I'll probably play through Onion Knight's tomorrow. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX4XZ6erC0I is a link to my first YouTube video, which I took from one of my fights in Dissidia today. Sephiroth vs The Emperor, you can tell I'm still inexperienced with the mistakes I made during the fight.
Not much else to go into at present. Haven't been job hunting as much at present, I should renew my efforts. A clean energy plant is supposed to open fairly close by in the near future, I need to get around to typing up a resume and emailing it to them so that I might be considered for a job. Not sure what kind of jobs are being offered at present though but the pay has to be better than what I was making before. Just need to figure out how to write a resume and find stuff to put in it... |
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| Brawl Building and other stuff |
[Sep. 29th, 2009|09:19 pm] |
| [ | music |
| | FFIV OCR album - Step Into the Light (Into the Darkness) | ] |
Updating for the sake of updating it seems. Not even sure what to type yet. Been making custom stages in Super Smash Bros. Brawl the last two days. I think my best would be my Spring Yard Zone, Scrap Brain Zone, and The Pit inspired by that stage from the original Mortal Kombat. SYZ basically spams springboards, SBZ is loaded with conveyor belts and spike dropoff points, and The Pit is basically a wide platform with a long stretch of spikes at the very bottom, with moving platforms on the far sides to enable a means of returning to the top. Just wish I had people to show them to.
Finished reading The Pirate King last week. Forget if I mentioned that or not last time but overall it was a good story but not the best in the series. Definitely better than The Orc King, which was the previous story. And once again, R.A. Salvatore decides it's time to kill off another of his longterm supporting characters, though I saw it coming this time. Actually, that was my biggest beef with this story, it was waaaay too preditable, like he didn't bother trying to hide anything.
Catching the new seasons of Castle and Dollhouse, so far they're doing well. Castle's new season is feeling stronger than the first. Dollhouse's new season is showing potential as well, though they're still being sloppy with the plot details. At least it was better than the start of season 1, I'll be satisfied with this season if they can maintain this quality per episode.
Finished Super Mario Galaxy as Luigi recently, which is why I've been playing Brawl again recently. Just something to play as I decide what game to focus on next. Either finish Persona 3 since I'm so close to the end, start Kingdom Hearts RE: Chain of Memories, or one of my downloaded games on the Wii like Super Metroid or FFIV The After Years. Also off and on FFIV DS new game + and Crisis Core on the PSP.
Guess that's it for today. |
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| (no subject) |
[Sep. 23rd, 2009|08:42 pm] |
| [ | music |
| | OC Remix - FFVIII Devotion and Deception | ] |
I seem to have fallen into a once a week LJ updating bend. Guess using Facebook and Twitter to cover the little things leads to less to blog about in a longer sense. Or I just haven't felt like it. Don't even remember what I talked about last time...
Anyway, things seem to be going alright at present. Was asked to fill in for someone sick at my old job. Wasn't exactly pleased with that but I did it, went relatively well, though seeing what's become of my old work station since I quit pained me more than I was expecting it to. The overall degradation, and not just from renovation stuff, was greater than I anticipated, or at least allowed myself to believe it would turn out. I knew it was going to go down the tubes, I guess I thought they'd do a better job of hiding it. Anyway, netted a solid $40 from that evening, more than the hourly pay would have covered for my time, so now that it's over, I feel better.
Still just a little sick, been sick since a week from today, voice is still kinda raspy, and I cough a bit but I'm active again for the most part. Hopefully I'll be all better tomorrow.
Gaming has been primarily Super Luigi Galaxy on the Wii. Less than 40 stars to go now, and since I beat the last Cosmic Luigi race, the rest should be fairly easy to clear. Only two chapters left in The Pirate King, the most recent Drizzt Do'Urden book by R.A. Salvatore. Not the best the series had to offer but I'm enjoying it, even if it's way too obvious who the mysterious people in the shadows are, to the point where I didn't get why they weren't revealed sooner, other than they were just there for plot device purposes and if they were unvealed, they would have to be characterized and scenes would have to be devoted to them and the book would veer off the intended course or wind up rushed. Looking forward to the epilogue then.
And I guess that's it from me for now. |
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| (no subject) |
[Sep. 16th, 2009|07:37 pm] |
Guess I'm overdue for another update. Not too much happening that's worth talking about though. Car started leaking brake fluid a few days ago so I had it taken to a mechanic and fixed up. Put an application in at K-mart after picking it up, since someone there said they were hiring, despite the computer not having any openings listed. Going to visit my dad this weekend at some point, I'll stop in after that and ask about it then.
Haven't really done any writing since I finished Riddler Hearts, despite thinking about various projects either currently active or ones that've been on the backburner for a long time. Even thought about reviving the old Fenix Down Series, another reboot, not that the second attempt got anywhere. I really should get cracking on that FFO story though.
Recently got back into One Piece. Been watching subbed episodes off Funimation's website. Nearing the end of the battle against Captain Kuro at present. Still early in the series, which is currently over 400 episodes long and still going. Also been watching Haruhi, but now they've reached the last four episodes of the original season, so nothing new for at least four weeks, assuming they have more new episodes to show after that.
Gaming-wise, been playing Super Mario Galaxy, and got all 120 stars. Now I'm playing as Luigi and got 40some so far. Feels easier as Luigi, but maybe it's because I know what I'm doing now. Cosmic Luigi races SUCK though. Speedy bastard... |
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| Week one |
[Sep. 8th, 2009|08:30 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | accomplished | ] |
| [ | music |
| | DeathNote - Mello 2 | ] |
So far the bulk of my free time has gone towards gaming of some kind. Beat Megaman 9, first as Megaman, then finished my incomplete file as Protoman. Also played a little Super Mario Bros. 3 and The Lost Levels which were already on my Wii. And most of all, Super Mario Galaxy, I now have only four more stars to get, and the one I'm currently trying for is rediculous (and not unexpected, just wish the time limit would go).
Also did some reading. Finished Neverwhere, which I found enjoyable, and am now working on The Pirate King, the most recent Drizzt Do'Urden book by R.A. Salvatore. So far I'm liking it.
Been writing a bit as well. Started chapter 2 of the FFO-based sci-fi story I've talked about before. And today, I finally reached the end of Riddler Hearts, after starting it over three years ago. I feel accomplished today as a result, even though I think the ending was kind of meandering, I just couldn't find a suitable place to stop and kept going and going... I'll probably resume the FFO story next unless I decide to finish the Insanity Revolution or something instead.
I started my job hunt today. Put in applications at Walmart and Meijer's, and took one from Arby's when I stopped for lunch. They weren't hiring yet so I'll fill that out and submit it next time I go there. Think Meijer's probably has the best odds of happening of the three at present, but I'll find other places later this week or early next and keep going. I'll have to remember to call the stores within a day or two to make sure they got my apps. Fingers crossed. |
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| Newly unemployed ...yay? |
[Sep. 2nd, 2009|10:17 am] |
| [ | mood |
| |  nervous | ] |
Title says it all. I am presently without a job as of today. Quit due to circumstances that I was not willing to work with. Left shortly after arriving, after finding my work station area torn apart to put in new flooring later on, and me being expected to do my job in the midst of all that. Stuff like that should be done when we're closed, that sort of thing could get a place closed down if the right people find out.
Told Andrea and Dorthy, the girls working at the time, that I was done, and after a bunch of 'are you sure?'s and 'but we love you's and things inbetween, I clocked out for the last time. They wrote down their phone numbers for me so I can stay in touch, which I intend to, and had some parting words with a couple of the regular customers, I left. Since I walked to work, I actually ran part of the way home, not for any particular reason. Boss called shortly after I got back and we talked for a minute, I said I wasn't coming back and he said ok, he thanked me for what I did and I did the same to him and we made it clear that we didn't want to part on bad terms and that I would stop by from time to time. I'll be going back on Friday to get my last check, well assuming he includes my money from my six hours this week in with it.
Still reeling from the shock of it all, reality is setting in and the looming issue with unemployment is laid bare. I've got about 8,000 saved up in the bank, did the math and found it's about 22 months worth of rent if I don't spend it on anything else, which will be near-impossible without some serious leeching. I'm going to take a few days, maybe a week or so to try to relax before I seriously start the job hunt, or the school hunt, first one then the other I guess.
So... fingers crossed. |
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| Hadn't felt like blogging in a while |
[Sep. 1st, 2009|08:19 pm] |
A lot of depressing stuff has been going on, primarily between my sister and niece leaving and my uncle passing away last Friday. The funeral was today and I served as one of the pallbearers for the ceremony. Not something I want to get acustomed to doing but am willing to do so if necessary. The family is taking it hard but we're all coping. Time heals wounds and all.
I'm not really up for elaborating on details at present. Not sure what I'd say even if I were in the mood. It's just sad. Not much else to say. |
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| It's over. |
[Aug. 25th, 2009|09:03 pm] |
Well, my sister and niece moved back to California today. We went to Detroit yesterday and stayed at a hotel since her flight was going to leave early in the morning today. After some parting words and pictures at the airport, we left them and went back to the hotel to get some sleep and breakfast, etc. I tried some coffee but it was either over brewed to the point of tasting burnt or I'm just not a coffee drinker despite the Godot fixation. Tried some Detroit-brewed beer last night called Detroit Dwarf that was alright but not the best I ever had.
Had to load up a Uhaul truck after we got back with some of Grandpa's stuff we've had in the house. Wasn't enough room in the truck for three people so I got left behind, but I did manage to take a nap during that time.
That's about all I feel like saying at present. I feel so contradictory, I feel the opposite from what I was expecting. |
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| (no subject) |
[Aug. 13th, 2009|10:41 pm] |
| [ | music |
| | DragonQuest VIII SS - Strange World ~ Marching Through the Fields | ] |
Starters - Found out tonight that the Main Theme of FFVII has officially been added to the Distant Worlds concert in Chicago. Great news though I was positive they would add it after premiering it in Canada a couple months beforehand. Confirmed performances for Dec/12 are: J-E-N-O-V-A (FFVII), Dancing Mad (FFVI), FFVII Main Theme, Kiss me Goodbye (FFXII), and Advent One-Winged Angel (FFVII AC). FFVII's getting a lot of attention.
New Haruhi episode is online today, but the subtitled version is still in the works apparently. Saw about a minute of it without text but I'm not sure which story it is. Hope it isn't filler... Endless Eight filled up enough.
Had some new insights for the FFO story I'm working on while at work today. Ways to make previous ideas work for me better. I'll get back to working on it in the near future.
Caught up on the episodes of Castle available on Hulu. They skipped a couple for some reason. Anyway, I like the show enough, Nathan Fillion is definitely the high point. It's a little too predictable who the killer/kidnapper is, think I'm on a perfect track record for guessing who was the culprit so far. They do throw in some twists that cause a little doubt on the matter but after those get straightened out it becomes all the clearer. I'd say it's a good show with some great cast members that keep it interesting despite weaknesses in the story telling itself.
Guess that's all for today. |
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| Been awhile |
[Aug. 9th, 2009|08:31 pm] |
| [ | music |
| | Final Fantasy V - The New Origin | ] |
First off.
Endless Eight has finally ended. At last, the eight episode long quasi-rerun fest has concluded. Though the ending did have a lot more impact after having to go through those seven other episodes to get there. Probably would not have been so good otherwise.
Finished the first chapter of the FFO story I started up recently. According to my main proofreader, it's pretty good, and I already corrected the things he had concerns about. This won't get posted on FFO until I completely finish it though, then I'll post a chapter every so many days until it's all up. Looking forward to completing this.
Been playing mostly Megaman X games as of late. Currently on X4 playing as X, and only one more robot master to go before the final sequence of stages can begin. I also started Super Mario Galaxy today, so far it's pretty neat.
Guess that's about it for me today. |
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| (no subject) |
[Aug. 4th, 2009|09:52 pm] |
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Visited my uncle in the hospital today with my mom and sister. They were actually in the process of moving him back to his house so we relocated over there. Apparently, he had tried to escape the hospital a couple days ago or so in the middle of the night, but fell and hit his head. We stuck around for a while, talked to family members who were present, and I walked away with three bottles of free beer (cousin's husband apparently bought it while they were home from Germany but didn't finish it all, and my aunt didn't want it so she gave it to me). We're not sure how much time my uncle still has left, they've got a lady from Hospice who comes by to check on him. Just hope it's painless when the time comes. |
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| (no subject) |
[Aug. 1st, 2009|10:41 pm] |
Seems like my uncle is not long for this world. Sister told me earlier tonight that he's back in the hospital and they will not be releasing him again due to the amount of cancer he has throughout his body. I don't really have any other details, no expected timetable, I didn't even know he was in the hospital again until my sister returned from wherever she went to today, which apparently was to my aunt's house.
This is just awful, I can hardly focus on what I was doing before I heard. |
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| (no subject) |
[Jul. 28th, 2009|11:02 pm] |
| [ | music |
| | Chrono Trigger - A Strange Happening | ] |
Niece said her first cuss word today. Not my fault. Sister had candy and wasn't letting her have any, then said something like 'You look like you just want to call me a bitch' and then Niece said 'Bitch.' and her mouth dropped open. Unfortunately I wasn't paying enough attention that I missed the big moment. I laughed when I realized what happened though.
Not much else to go into tonight. I did type up about five pages for a new story using members of FFO as the cast. So far only my character, JSG, and kirbenvost have been properly introduced, though I started describing CaButler before I finished for the day. Spring Heeled Jack looked it over and now wants a role and I'm now debating whether or not I can fit him in without jumbling up my pre-planned events.
Just about bed time, but I am not looking forward to tomorrow so I'm hesitant... |
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| Off for Distant Worlds once again |
[Jul. 27th, 2009|10:20 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  gloomy | ] |
| [ | music |
| | Death Note - Requiem | ] |
After work today I went online and purchased a ticket for the FF Distant Worlds concert in Chicago that will happen on Dec/12. Still have half a year or so before the show but I'm looking forward to it. I'd probably feel happier about it if it were sooner though. But with new arrangements and Nobuo-san performing Advent One-Winged Angel with a rock band, orchestra and chorus, that's something worth waiting for.
Unfortunately, despite buying a glorious, but expensive, concert/meet-and-greet ticket, my day was pretty shitty. Work continues to suck, but that's nothing new, though today was hitting a fever pitch. I really should just go 'fuck it' and quit, back-up job or no back-up job. Unemployment sounds more appealing that replaying this shit again and again in a recuring loop. Unfortunately, the boss is on vacation this week so I have to wait til Friday at the earliest to say that. That's assuming I'm still upset enough to quit at the time, the bastard has a knack for not being present during the times when I want to quit the most. There are proper procedures for such things after all. |
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| (no subject) |
[Jul. 23rd, 2009|01:27 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | unhappy | ] |
| [ | music |
| | FFIV Project - Tundra of Dwarves | ] |
Saw the new Harry Potter movie the other day. Overall, I thought it was done rather well, save for maybe the last half hour to forty-five minutes or so. That was just rushed and felt lacking in the amount of thought the rest of the movie was given. The camera work was impressive though. Overall, I think it was one of the better film adaptions.
Got three of the four books I've ordered recently in the mail yesterday. Read the final volume of Fruits Basket, the ending was full of happy endings and lovey dovey stuff. Sooner or later I'll get to the other books, just like I'll get to a lot of other things too.
Not sure what else to talk about. Feeling unhappy at present, mostly living situation related this time. Not enjoying this place but that's been the case for awhile. Sister is just going out of her way to piss me off today. I'd love to slug her but that would make me the bad guy. Had the nerve to tell me to watch what I say around her kid because she learns everything everyone is saying when, as I pointed out, she cusses more than anyone in this house and that she should shut her mouth.
I just don't know what to do anymore. |
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| Final Thoughts on the FFIV Remix album |
[Jul. 21st, 2009|01:09 pm] |
| [ | music |
| | FFIV Remix Album - Mystic Variations | ] |
I say final in the sense that I don't intend to carry on about it any more after this entry. Was lying in bed awake thinking about my overall thoughts on this project (not on purpose, I tend to experience insomnia and end up thinking about recent things) and practically had an essay's worth of things to say, both good and bad, but I don't remember half of it and some of the rest were either unnecessarily harsh/rantish, or just rambling in general. I shouldn't get worked up for something I got for free and that others put a lot of time and effort into, I feel like an ass for my initial reaction. I've gone through most of the music at least three times now, some tracks a few more due to being on my MP3 player, and the ones I really disliked only once, so I feel I'm in a position where I can share my thoughts in a more concise manner.
I'll break it apart into the 'good' and 'bad' categories and the things I don't touch on I either forgot or was just indifferent about. I'll start with the negatives since they require less thought for me to pinpoint (for me it's easier to find something I don't like than what I do, guess I'm just a 'glass is half empty' guy).
Criticisms:
- I personally don't like having words in my music if they are not lyrics. In Ana(pro)logue, the track was going well, was enjoyable to listen to, then some voice akin to Merlin from Disney's The Sword in the Stone starts counting... and I don't remember the rest of the track, broke my focus on the music. The Palom and Porom one was kinda annoying but didn't bother me as much.
- I hated the Zeromus finale. I was alone when I listened to it and felt embarrassed hearing it. Last time that happened that I can recall was when I played FFX for the first time and reached the infamous laughing scene. I applaud the effort, and the attempt at something different, but it just didn't do it for me. I don't think I liked any of the Zeromus tracks, especially the half hour long background noise fest that I don't understand how it passed any review or judging process.
- Rhymes with Elixer. No desire to elaborate.
- There were a few tracks that I was unable to hear the source music, though I can't even remember which tracks those were. I know Treason I thought had more Zeromus in it than Four Fiends save for one part (but I kind of like that track, just the only real example I could recall).
Praises:
- I'd have to say the best track in the album in terms of quality and sticking with the source material would have to be Fighting for Tomorrow. Not my overall favorite, actually I don't really have an overall favorite yet, but I do believe it was the best made.
- The album started off good, I liked the metal take of The Might of Baron. Red Wings is always enjoyable.
- Liked all of bLiNd's tracks, they were pretty solid.
- The non-Zeromus battle themes were also good.
- Tundra of Dwarves and In the Land of Dwarves were enjoyable as well.
- The first half of the finale tracks, the Moon overworld theme with DA's vocals, I really liked that one. One of DA's better performances IMO.
- Liked The Still Land and the epilogue. Also the first three or four of the bonus tracks, the Calcobrena one I liked more than the offical album track.
And I'll stop there, I'm kind of pushing the clock in terms of things happing in real life so that's the reason things started to get rushed towards the end. If I think of anything else I may edit in later if I feel it's worth doing so. I do thank everyone involved for their efforts in this project, despite my general negative-sounding reaction, I have been enjoying the album for the most part. I just think everyone tried to reach too high with this album, overdid it at times, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but can lead to less than stellar reactions. So, in case anyone involved in the project stumbles across this, thank you for all your hard work. |
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