Interests:Anime, RPG, Martial arts, sailing, skiing/snowboarding, drawing, writing Expertise:Expertise, I have expertise? Wow.... I guess you learn something every day. I guess it would be chaos, confusing people, and theoligical argumentation about nothing
RYC: Yes, I'll be in my full Kitsune outfit this year. Tails and ears that I made, plus a white messenger's hakama/kimono set(since Kitsune were often messengers of Inari) Though I'll probably just hang around my church's "Trunk or Treat" event.
On an unrelated note; it's our state fair right now, and I just have to get this off my chest. To all those game vender's out there with the easy game where you win a goldfish. All of you, please, do the rest of us in the pet industry a favor.... and DIAF. These people are essentially handing out goldfish to people, who have nothing to keep the goldfish alive in, have no knowledge about fish at all(and I mean that quite literally), and who then come to us with a blank look on their faces hoping we can whip out a miraculous $2 solution to their problem so that their child's fish doesn't die.
>>Options<< 1) It's going to die. Sorry, too late. Try again. 2) It's ALREADY dead....Trying again: Another goldfish? Sure... set-up's not going to be cheap. $25 if you really want to scrape the bottom. 3) NO YOU CAN'T GET ANOTHER GOLDFISH TO KEEP IT COMPANY. Get a bigger tank(ie, more money) and we'll talk. 4) Accept your free goldfish is probably not going to make it, (it's really a feeder comet anyway) and replace it with a Betta after it's passed on. It's both cheaper, and prettier. Win, win for you, and win for me.
okay, so I'm dramatizing this a bit, but I work the morning shift during the weekday... that means the slowest time for the fair. And just the customers that I personally talk to, I'll have at least one of these an hour. Usually more. It's rather frustrating.... especially since you start running out of the "cheap" solutions for customers after the second day.
I find this rather ironic considering C's latest post, but when I wake up in the morning, the radio station I have set as my alarm is usually playing random "rock" music. The actual morning DJs take over a bit before I actually head in to work.
This morning when I woke up, the first three songs I heard in a row were all very Halloweeny. Singing about nightmares and whatnot(don't remember much about the songs now.....) I just remember thinking how very appropriate it was to wake up to that music because the store is hosting it's Halloween party tonight.
Ssssshh, don't tell anyone I put this up. >.> It's been so long since the last time nobody will notice.
Mmmm...... erk. Well, was going to post what I've been up to lately, then decided I should see what my last post was about. And what do you know, it's basically what I was going to talk about. -.-
Well, new position has been pretty good. Kind of funny looking back to see how I've impacted the department. Both live pet and hardgoods sales look to have improved quite a bit since I took over. (Put an experienced stock/merchandise manager in charge of a niche area and sales improve, surprise, I know) Conversely, I haven't improved the other aspect of the position(with which I had minimal experience) as much as I'd like. It's better, but not where I'd like it to be at all. I can't take all the blame for the lack of improvement, but as I hold the title of 'manager' over that position, I still ultimately hold the responsibility good or bad.
Irregardless, it's been an enjoyable experience, and a good chance to try another side of the company. I've picked up a fair amount of new knowledge, and been given a much better chance to work on certain skills my previous position provided little opportunity to improve(and thankfully had good management support to help). Ultimately it's not a position I want to retain long term, but it's a great stepping stone towards the position I have wanted to take over for many years.
Let's see, work aside. Family: Brothers(twins primarily) have continued to get themselves injured consistently through the year. It's funny, growing up I have been in the hospital(not counting visiting others) once, and the ER once. The twins on the other hand seem to be attempting to make up for my lack of visits with a passion! XD I blaim the fact that Martial Arts thoroughly conditioned my body against physical injury while they are 'mere soccer players' *cough* Very good soccer players I must point out(when they aren't unable to play from this injury or that....) Most recently, in a match, one of them attempted to block a goal kick with his head(not really... but he was the goalie and did take a brutal hit to the head by a kicked ball) Good news: He did prevent the opposing team from scoring. He received a nice concussion in return and spent the night at the ER. :| Walmers are tough though and they always bounce back like the rest of us.
Speaking of brothers. OMG!! The twins are applying to college >< I FEEL SO OLD. In 5 years, the younger two already will be out of the house as well and my parents will be all alone! I can already see them showing up at my door out of fear of the silent house.........>.>;; But seriously. Man, how time flies. Putting things into perspective, this means the Hakkyous were first drawn together 10 years ago. I can still remember some of those first threads that drew each of us, and other friends, together. Even if the groups don't exist anymore thanks to Yahell*.
CRUPSCILICIOUS! It's 35minutes past when I planned to be in bed in order to get 6hrs sleep. I've been in a serious typing mood tonight. Music has really gotten me into the mood I suppose(random dance/techno songs on pandora.com) Hopefully this will continue in two weeks when NaNoWriMo officially starts. More then anything it'll be a matter of just getting the ideas swirling around in my head down in a logical order so that it's a story and not a jumbling of situations. >.>
Okay, now pushing 40minutes past. I really should end this and turn off the music so I can lay awake in my bed pretending to sleep. >3
Hmmmm, quite a lot's been happening so far this year and I must admit, I'm really looking forward to 2009 more than any recent year past. Things just feel really positive.
So let's see.... January. Had the usual, annual, Walmer family vacation to Snowshoe mountain to go skiing/snowboarding. Had an absolute blast as always, and I feel I must add, the tied has officially turned! As Noah, the youngest brother, made the switch to snowboarding this year, we now outrank the Skiiers in the family. Someday I'll have enough money to buy myself a pair of skiis and snowboard and I can alternate which one I do each time we hit the slopes, but for now, I'm sticking to snowboarding. =D Gained quite a bit of confidence doing jumps this year too. Was sticking almost every one, and getting quite a lot of air on some. Sadly the larger terrain park was closed the entire time we were there so we couldn't get to the half pipe.
Feburary. New fiscal year, and ..... *drummroll* Promotion officially went through. I semi-officially been asked to go ahead and take over the PetCare department at my new store in January, but it didn't actually go through until after Febuary. I've really enjoyed the new position; no more 4am shifts, new minions to lord over and beat into submission, MORE minions to lord over and beat into submission, totally new job focus(after 5 years of the same job in 4 stores this might be the best part), and of course more money(that too).
Oh, yeah, and with the new job, I decided to start working out more often again(read: consistently). I'm not exactly what you'd call out of shape, but I am no where near the quality of conditioning that I was back when I did Martial Arts. From 90 pushups/situps and being able to complete a 5hr straight endurance + technique (ie. cardio) test, I am now doing 30/25 pushups/situps and starting to feel the burn after 15min of cardio. We won't even go into the flexibility I've lost, lol. Still, it feels good to get back into working out every night before bed. The cardio is the hardest part since I'm in a middle apartment and I don't want to be "that noisy neighbor" every night. I use Pandora.com for workout music with a heavy, steady beat, and have my wallpapers set to change every 30seconds to time exercise rotations ^.^ It's a geek's workout.
Ah, yes. And I can't forget to mention that. What, may you ask? Why, my Utilikilt of course! I've been wanting to get one for .... a while now. So in response to my promotion, and tax refund in hand, I promptly gifted one to myself. It's supposed to be delivered tomorrow(knowing my luck while I'm at work) so it's likely a few more days before I get my hands on it, but I'm really excited. Don't worry, pictures shall be uploaded to facebook for your viewing pleasure. Or amusement. I really want to get a new pair of boots too as my current ones are a couple years old and a bit worn from work. Sadly, a lot of NICE boots are really expensive. What I'm really looking for is a nice pair of tan leather, though black isn't out of the question, hiking boots that are atleast low-calf. A lot of the stores around here only have "boots" that barely go above the ankle. THOSE AREN'T BOOTS. They're, like, leather hiking shoes! Of course, work boots, or others would be fine as well. I really just want them to look nice and be, you know... BOOTS.
Man, I sound like a woman. =p Talking about finding nice shoes to go with my man-skirt. Haha. NOTE: Telling a kilted man he's wearing a skirt is not a good idea. He's likely to knock your teeth out; or prove that he's not been gilded. Depends on who tells him I suspect.
Okay, totally did not mean to go off on suck a tangent there.
Let's see... what else. Oh, yes! I have the material to make my fox tail(s). I say (s) because I have enough material to make atleast two. And well... hell, why not. It wasn't my original intention to have more than one tail for the costume(s), but if I'm going to go furry I might as well go Kitsune. Er... Kitsune, the race, not the person. Though I would totally cosplay Kitsune if someone else joined me cosplaying one of their own characters. (sadly, I've had an aweful time finding red faux fur) My tails are going to be solid, snow white. Oh, yeah, I have material to do ears too, but I have some ideas on how I want to make them so that they stick through my hair without it being obvious how so those are long way from being made.
I'd also love to figure out how to sew a Yukata, and wear that in conjunction with the tails/ears for a more authentic kitsune-ish cosplay, but I haven't found a pattern I really like yet. Right now I'd be wearing the tails in conjuction with a kilt. A Scottish, Japanese-spirit? *shrug* Maybe Inari sent one of his/her messengers to the far west and is trying to blend in. =p
Oh, yeah, took the twins to their first ever convention this year too. WTFcon. Soo much fun. Definetly gotten them hooked. And of course, being the big brother I am, I took what opportunity provided to tease my brothers. How? By taking them to the geek auction(guys, usually in costume, are auctioned off to the highest bidder(note: did not specify female bidder) for a single Dance following auction, for a charitable cause.) Alas, I did not have any money left over from the con to join in the bidding or I could have really made my brother's squirm. Let's just say I still managed to get some good reactions out of them (especially when one's "not-gf" called in the middle of the auction and I made sure she knew we were at a male auction, and that two of the guys were currently taking each other's clothes off.) There were a number of instances of clothing removal actually... one guy who actually covered himself in honey after taking his shirt off, atleast two instances of kissing, two crossdressers, one of which was very confusing, and looked MORE feminine AFTER he took off his silk shirt(had another one underneith); oh, and the best part of all? I still managed to convince them to join me on stage to get auctioned off next year. MUAHAHAHA! I want to do a YinYang theme and auction them off as a pair. *snickers* as a pair.
So that's the notable events of the year so far. Atleast positively. Negatively, my 360 decided to give me the RROD 30min before Windows gave my computer had a fatal error. So Microsoft was banned from my apartment. Atleast until I managed to get the computer running again. 360 I'm afraid will just have to RIP until I can buy a new one. :( So Rockband 2 has taken temporary residence at my parent's house so that I can play it over there once a week ^.^
Oh, yeah. And since multiple friends ask me every time I see them on IM. Yes, I'm still single. :( But I feel confident this year!
