Update on Life 05/29/06
It’s so easy to get lazy and disgard what was regarded as important previously. I do like writing down milestone and happenings ~ but isn’t it better to do things in the present rather than writing about the past? Mmm, suppose that depends on what I am doing in the present I guess! Since my last entry back in April 3rd, 06 - a lot happened! But … memories certainly fade faster than I like them to from my addled brain =( Let’s try to jog the memory via research data, school work, and etc then!
April was the last month and semester I spent at University of Central Florida. It was a hectic month for sure even though I was only taking one class. During that time, I spent more time in the lab than studying for class. I told Dr Phanstiel and von Kalm that I had to leave the lab by May 10th months ago, and each strategic meeting leading up to the date placed more pressure on my shoulders. There weren’t any hard “deadlines” to be sure - I didn’t need to turn anything in ~ nor would I be graded on anything - but it’s the end of a year long project, and I wanted to give it my very best. During this last month of April, I probably dissected more larvaes in the previous 3 months!
In any case, lab cannot be blamed for why I got a B in Anatomy. I really just lost interest in the class after the 3rd test because it’s just the same rote memorization over and over. Up until the 3rd test, I did basic preps, went to class, and got my A’s and high B’s. I didn’t really care for the class, but I was doing okay just by going to the lab, and then making my flashcards. After the 3rd test though, I somehow just disgarded everything, and played games. Was it Oblivion or another game? I don’t recall now - but even if it’s not Oblivion, I would’ve found something else to do - an anime, a book, something else to catch my interest other than the dead material being taught by a professor I don’t care to understand anymore. I didn’t exactly study for the 4th tests - lab and lecture ~ and I failed them both completely. For the lecture, I had gotten a 50, and for the lab, … 57? I don’t recall now ~ but it was really bad! Combined with my previous B’s and missing points, I realized that no matter how great I would do for the last 2 tests, I would not make an A unless a miracle happened. Hell, I might even get a C! Good thing I packed down and cranked up my studying a bit near the end. Heh.
In terms of video gaming - I really haven’t explored much after Oblivion. I guess I started taking a break like Jerfy did. Here and there, I would play some Ghost Recon wiith Po, some Fight Night, or play his Burnout Revenge (really fun diversion sometimes). Nothing too exciting though.
Anime wise, I got back into fansubbing a bit (just one leg in though!). Early April, a new anime called Higurashi no
In any case, #Ayu and #Triad both took up fansubbing of the anime, and I was really happy! But when #Ayu failed to release episode 02 by the 10th day, I realize I must become a facilitator. I remember seeing a third fansub group also working on the show, a new group called #WinD. I picked up their episode 02, and realized if they have someone to coach them, they’ll become really good! The script is solid — just unpolished editing! Still, I didn’t really care about bad phrasing ~ just as long as the translation is accurate, I would’ve taken it no matter what! So I went to visit their chat channel with all of.. 5? people and asked, “hey, what’s up with episode 03?”
The #WinD group consisted of ripchak (translator), dreamwalker (timer/encoder/group leader), tohruchan (timer/roommate of group leader). They were having delays, and I asked, “with what? If you have the translated script, it shouldn’t take that long to make it ready for encode!” Ah, my silliness overcame me, and I said, “I can help…!” I offered my services of storage solution, a timer, typesetter, and even as an encoder. They nodded and sorta agreed to let me help, but nothing official. Everyone went to bed, except the translator who at 3 am in the morning said, “I’m done! Who do I send the script to?” I took the script, and went to town with it. Added new title, colorized and edited the spoken lines, typesetted the signs of the episode and of the ending preview. It went well ~ I finished in 5 hours or so. When I was done, I guess Dreamwalker was impressed, and made me an official member on the spot.
5 weeks have passed since then, and now, it’s ripchak (translator), SirAlex (editor/timer/typesetter/encoder?!), ArcticWolf (encoder), and myself. Of course, I can’t do anything for the next 5 weeks or so, but I taught SirAlex everything I know (and he is very self-learning oriented so I didn’t really teach much), so the group will continue to function as long as ripchak translates. Dreamwalker and tohruchan both went to lala land after their midterms. Ah well. Higurashi still kick as much ass as ever… the last arc, Watana
To continue, as I transition my life from school to fansubbing and watching the tremendous amount of animes this season and last (The Melanocholy of Suzumiya Haruhi | The Third: Aoi… | Jigoku Shoujo | Karin | Ergo Proxy | Ah My Goddess! | Yume Tsukai | Saiunkoku Monogatari | Witchblade | Strawberry Panic | Fate-stay Night | Nana | Jyu Oh Sei | High School Girls | Amaenaideyo Katsu | Tokko | Black Lagoon | Utawareumono | School Rumble | Aria the Natural ), my parents came back from Taiwan to visit for a brief period of 12 days. From 10th of May until 23nd of May. During this period of time, I also had a lot of vaccination shots (Heptatitis A and B, tetanus, meninogococcal, varicella titer, … something else). Speaking of medical information, it’s also important to note that Linda hurt her lower back terribly during this period of time, and is still trying to recover through physical therapy and reducing pain killers taken. Here’s to hoping she’ll continue to see improvements on a daily basis.
So, mom and papa came back on 20060510. I need to get used to writing dates as a string of numbers. We planned on going to visit Boston, but then I had to get my shots done, so that was sorta on hold (it’s also difficult to plan a trip on such short notice). During this time, Po was still on medical leave for psychotherapy and stress reduction, but even then, he hardly spent any time with mom and dad. Po, you’re a headstrong bastard who won’t listen to anyone with a difference in opinion! You’re not always right, and others CAN understand your problems! Of course, whenever they’re here, mom and dad always have to make some Earth shattering decisions. This time, they want to shuffle the housing arrangements. With me leaving town to Alabama and Boston, they wanted to make use of Cypress as a rental unit (or Windham). Initially, Dad wanted Po to go live in Windham ~ they need bigger house, and why not? Of course, Po dragged his feet in order to wait for his wife’s approval — but that came a little too late, and he was too unenthused about moving anyway. So, when we met with the rent management lady Theresa, and we said Windham is only worth 1500 a month, mom and dad decided we’re better off living in Windham. Decision made, and executed following week. We hired movers from 2 men and a truck, and they came out and did a wonderful job (I highly recommend them - if you live in Orlando area, ask for Andrew as crew leader). Then, we moved rest of the stuff via our own cars in very ghetto like manner of filling up the trunks and seats, and dumping it into Windham. Ah yeah, new stuff: Samsung A900, Transition Glasses (I’ll get in trouble for them in the OTS?), and auntie traded in her car for a Hyundai Sonata!
As I hinted before, dental school is coming up, and so is the Air Force stuff. First, the dental school ~ they want me to have vaccination, so I got it. They want me to be up in Boston by July 5th for earlybird orientation, and it’s arranged except for air plane tickets. I got a real estate agent looking for a property to buy, and also a rental agent looking for a place for me to rent. Not sure what route I’m going yet - whatever the case, it’ll be decided come mid-July.
Susan came in from Phoenix, AZ with Brian and Brianna just yesterday, and I got to eat brunch with them this morning along with Rob and Shayla at The Townhouse restaurant in Oviedo. After brunch and too much milk for Brianna, I hugged everyone (Po wouldn’t want to hug anyways), and left for Alabama. It’s a 9 hour drive from Orlando to Montgomery, AL - and it wasn’t all fun. The highways were really boring, but the stateroad was fun to go through once I got into AL. Total of 500 miles coming here. Right now, I’m sitting on the bed at the Air Force Inn of Maxwell AFB ($27 a night). Tomorrow 20060530 @ 0800, I’ll be checking into the OTS and finding out how harsh they’ll be training me I suppose! I’ll be here at least until 20060630, then it’s flying from Orlando home to Boston!