I'll try to cut this short, since I'm getting tired. So here's how it is. I've recently renewed my license for Nod32, so that's one less thing to worry about. I was able to enjoy the picnic with the CPJ last Saturday.
The picnic itself took place in a remote corner of the Big City, thus, I was forced to use a taxi and spend the money I was going to use for ticket money to get back home. Lucky that didn't spoil the fun. Apparently, the foreman had some friends here (a retired couple to be precise) who allowed us to set up a barbecue on their land. Nothing noteworthy really happened at first, as I'm not one to participate in group activity, but I just couldn't miss the game of Suikawari they've set up, and was the second to take a turn in an attempt to split open that watermelon. Now the language instructor wasn't very helpful when giving hints, and was trying to direct me towards the shoulder bag I used to carry with me at all times. Thankfully my senses of direction rarely fail me, so I managed to whack that melon, opening a crack and also, breaking the stick. Must've been an old one, huh? Well, after eating some watermelon, I decided to pack some of the leftover food, including a rice ball, grilled corn, and some chicken. I played some badminton with one of the guests while the foreman (being the hyperactive little man he is) played volleyball with the girls.
Now the way home was pretty interesting. After everyone went their own way, I set out to find the way back to my residence. Note that I had no idea where I was going and it was pretty dark. And it figures, that no late night big city adventure of mine is ever complete without a painful diarrhea. Lucky for me, I accidentally found a restaurant which was still open because of a wedding. So I found my way in and occupied the restroom. I resumed the journey afterward. It was already 11:00 PM. By this time I already found a road to follow to the City Center. It took me 20 minutes until I recognized a landmark. This was the beer factory, from which it took me another 20 minutes to get to the center. And another 20 minutes to get home. Just when I thought it's over, I had to run into the exterminators. Twice. By the time I entered the apartment, it was way past midnight, and I was covered in bug killer.
Next day, dad sent me some money with the same bus I came back home. I had the leftovers from last day's picnic for breakfast while waiting for it. I spent most of the time standing in the rain while waiting to get on board, and when I did, hoping to finally get some sleep, some gypsies ended up right next to me and were talking all the way home.
However, I'm thankful for eventful weekends like this one. If anything, they add a little color to life. Don't you all agree?

IMMA FIRING MAH JOURNAL ... Shoop-da-whoop!!!!!

Now let's see

Dear BT
It's been awhile since the last BTLOG. (yup, it sure has!) Are there any problems? Have you ran out of Anime to watch? I could recomend a few.
With crap (ugh seriously you guys!)
Andy West, UK
(Andy Westminster, Yuck)

(Hmm Westminster? Looks important!)
Have I run out of Anime to watch, Andy? No WAI! I mean, I'm just trying to chew myself through this long list I have. It's so long, I had to create a separate bookmark folder for first episode anime videos on Youtube. See here... (opens Bookmarks menu to show the Youtube folder).
And I most certainly did not pause my daily routine just because I'm a lazy bum. Because I'm most certainly isn't...

(Hey, what the...?!)
(OOPS! *hides*)
(Okay, who turned my journal into a sbemail parody?! Eh nevermind. I'll just delete this first part before I post the entry.)

AAAAAAAAND,... I'm back! Provided I still have a few small matters to settle in the Big City, but I'm pretty much free now. The second anniversary of The FAN is approaching, and it happens to coincide with the day I'll post the cover page for the second part of the current episode. If you read my webcomic, you'll know what I mean. If you don't... *creepy, threatening stare, tense silence*
The end of June also marks the long dreaded one year anniversary of PC's last reformat, and I'm afraid of what nasty events that day has in store for me. At the very least, the anti-virus license is very likely to expire around that time, and I have no real idea as to what I'll do when that happens.
Okay. On to more important things. Like the newest review. Ready? Here it goes!

What happens when you take a dadaist manga that was meant to parody various manga genres, and give it to the crackiest director who ever worked in the anime industry?
An epic story of world conquest, romance, horror, big hammy moments, cute animals and teddy bear shaped alien invaders, Excel Saga tells the story of the kah-razy redhead, Excel Excel, who applied for a job at the world dominating organization Across, and immediately fell in love with it's charismatic leader, Il Palazzo. Hyatt, a sick girl who dies twice every episode also joins in, and the quest to take over the city, begins. Every single time, the girls run into some sort of conflict, which they are forced to solve, while they loose track of their original objective. Also hindering them in their efforts, is a highly incompetent band of superheroes (who happen to be their next door neighbours), their corrupt and funny looking sponsor, and the fellow mad scientist, who likes kids a bit too much. And when Across DOES succeed in it's plan, all hell breaks loose, and things take a turn to the serious.
All the while, a wondering couple of father and son, and their mighty Afro Headed mentor, who is non other than the director himself, fight for the fate of the entire universe. And one lone dog wanders the earth, seeking revenge on her original owner, who betrayed her and and killed her only real friends.

Random, weird, strangely hilarious, and packed with tons of parodies of classic titles, Excel Saga is THE archetypal widget series, recommended for everyone who loves things that just don't make any sense.

(Okay, time to remove that silly first... What! STO.......

So I sent the letter to the Big City Hall, and is all is right, I'll start the practice session there starting Monday. This will not have any effect on the schedule of The FAN. Hopefully.

Besides that, the week was pretty plain. Well, except for the CPJ meeting that took place on Wednesday. The foreman has invited an animator to drop in for a visit. The guy's called Tsujita, and has a channel on youtube [link] by the way. Wel, anyway, he also brought this to the attention of the Seireitei Manga Club, so the whole meeting room was flooded with otaku. Whatever could they have been expecting I wonder.

I can also see that I'm approaching 9000 views. Hopefully this time, I'll be able to post something when the time is right. If I'm gonna post anything this weekend, I'd better get to work ASAP.

Well, for me, the session is unofficially over. However, what follows is a two week practice session, just to cut my summer holiday even shorter. What's worse, I didn't have the chance to spend too much time on-line in the past week, and this will go for the next two weeks as well. But I think I should say a few words about the things that transpired.

First off, the older things I didn't mention before. In the past months, I started taking language courses in Japanese. I really wanted to keep this a secret, so it wouldn't look like I'm showing off. Problem is, my sister guessed it on her own, and since then, everyone I know, knows about it.

Secondly, I'm trying to resume working on The FAN, but I was completely idle during the past weeks, and what's worse, I may have fallen out of practice.

Finally, the series I'm trying to watch are beginning to pile up. It's like for every one I finish, there's another two or three popping up.

The young sergeant, Sagara Sousuke, and his comrades, Melissa Mao and Kurz Weber are given an unusual mission by the leaders of Mithrill, the military organization they work at. They are to become bodyguards of high school girl, Chidori Kaname, who apparently possesses unusual hidden knowledge, that can be the key to dramatic technological development. Sagara is signed up in Chidori's school, and hilarity ensues. The sergeant isn't used to peaceful life, constantly suspecting that every person is out to get him or the girl he's supposed to guard, that every cellphone is used to relay information between hostiles, every camera is used for spying and every car is rigged to explode, something which causes him to receive severe beatings from his classmates.
It all seems to be just fun and games, until a fated field trip, during which the plane they were on gets hijacked by terrorists. Sagara is surprised to recognize one of the enemy soldiers, who is apparently his thought-to-be-dead arch nemesis, and psychotic terrorist for hire, Gaul. Mithrill intervenes, and saves the class, while Sagara and his long time best friend, Weber rescue Chidori. It looks like they're in for a Bolivian Army ending, but Mithrill sends an unusual machine, the Arbalest, to aid them.
With Chidori knowing Sagara's secret, the two get closer to each other, and life is never the same again. Sagara is often called in for missions, while he also has his school duties to pay attention to. In the meantime, terrorists keep coming and war keeps on going all over the world. Not to mention Gaul keeps showing up just to prove that he cannot be killed.
Based on a series of novels written by Gato Shoji, Full Metal Panic is an anime series spanning 3 seasons. The first season, follows Sagara's life, the missions he must undertake and his conflict with Gaul who crosses his path on several occasions. The second season breaks away from the plot and focuses on the everyday school life, as well as Sagara's exploits as the mysterious mouse-like vigilante, Bonta kun, while introducing a few extra characters. The third season (also known as The Second Raid) introduces Mithrill's enemy, the terrorist organisation Amalgam, and their attempt to instigate a civil war in China. The series ends with many plot threads unresolved, but it's not likely the studio will continue it. I AM thinking about buying the books if I can.