Sacred

help plz?

2009-08-13T21:48:11Z

So um, I need a little help with a layout D:

I really want this layout for an RP journal of mine, but I need to know how to install the 'bloggish' style here. I went in the Developer Area, went to Styles and entered 1205 like I was instructed to do here, but it ended up not working.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! D:

The army apparently has it's shining moments too.

2009-02-02T03:11:06Z

Also this.

I just can't help but be reminded of either myself or Alucard at most of these.

sdfgh ;o;

2008-09-26T14:57:11Z

My daddy is so cute.

I've been sick since like...Tuesday (sinus thing, go figure). He called me on either Tuesday or Wednesday (probably both) and I answered at like 2am on Wednesday. I could hardly speak because my throat hurt so much. I told him that and we hung up after a little bit.

So I called him yesterday because I can talk again to tell him that I'm okay and I have medicine and all -- essentially just to check up. We talk for a little while and I go to get tissues because my face doesn't want to not leak things XD

So last night I started with a fever. Blah blah it didn't last that long, blah blah pretty sure I'm over it now. Then today, I wake up at 9-something in the morning. When I check my phone to see what time it is, I see that I have a voicemail.

Durr..?

I check it and it's my dad, saying "It's yo daddy. You have a bear out here on the porch. It's on the right side as you come out, he's in the plant."

I go out and sure enough, he left a little teddy bear for me that I bet he won at a claw machine sitting in one of our fake plants beside the door. It's red with a little white shirt that says U.S.A and little blue and white star shorts.

I just called him and he said that that's the one he was trying to get for me the other day when he ended up getting me the little Hulk plush and my little pink puppy that I've since named Cupcake. Pictures forthcoming~!

Eeeee ♥

Leave it to my parents to find a way to make being sick suck less XD

sacred @ 2008-09-16T03:33:00

2008-09-16T07:34:11Z

http://www.somoe.org/typing/

That thing is so cool o__o

Yes.

2008-07-14T00:54:07Z

OnePlusYou Quizzes and Widgets

I love me.

2008-07-12T04:26:52Z

My quote of the day:

"Eee! I poked my nose and made myself happy!"

wtf?

2008-07-11T17:08:14Z

Did I seriously just see a news story about Disney suing a family for buying costumes that looked like Tigger and Eyore?

Wow.

It is totally possible that they didn't think about Disney when they bought these. Yeah they look the same, but honestly? They also look the same as a tiger and a donkey. There are people out there that don't pay attention to Winnie the Pooh. There are adults out there that don't remember that stuff.

Just the way that Disney handles things make them so despicable to me. Yeah, you're a corporation, but holy christ, not everybody is. What you need to be doing is suing the company that made the costumes, not the family that bought them.

Disney just completely makes me sick, yet I have friends that swear by it. I admit, Disney movies were a big part of my childhood, and I'll always cherish the happiness that I got from them. But hearing how "heavy handed" they've been with not only this, but a plethora of other things as well, just makes me despise them and not want to give any of my money to these corporate bullies.

I just don't see how people can know how crazy they've been and still support them -.- It boggles my mind.

Amazing

2008-07-01T08:25:37Z

Apparently at like 4am, the National Geographic channel has something they call NatGeo Music. It is probably one of the coolest things I've seen on TV in a while, and is right up my alley.

It's basically music videos from all over the world. I've only seen 2 so far: one called 'Safari' from Mali and one that I think was called 'Hello Bonjour' from the USA.

Completely. Awesome.

[ Edit ]

Mari, I think you'd like this (come to think of it, I think you've mentioned this artist to me):
http://youtube.com/watch?v=CZx1KRMm0H0 [ Omar Sosa - Light in the Sky ]

and I'm pretty captivated by this:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=pqKgdSoG4E8 [ Yungchen Lhamo - Happiness ]

Also, if this does not make you smile, you are a robot:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=EXAuBU0YYH4 [ Bibi Tanga & Le professeur Inlassable - It's The Earth That Moves ]

I also saw this and was thoroughly tripped out. They played this at nearly 5:40 am. I pity anybody that was high.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9scb8p9P9cY [ Cornelius - Fit Song ]

Haha...

2008-06-30T16:32:51Z

Your result for The Commonly Confused Words Test...

English Genius

You scored 93% Beginner, 100% Intermediate, 93% Advanced, and 80% Expert!

You did so extremely well, even I can't find a word to describe your excellence! You have the uncommon intelligence necessary to understand things that most people don't. You have an extensive vocabulary, and you're not afraid to use it properly! Way to go!

Thank you so much for taking my test. I hope you enjoyed it!

For the complete Answer Key, visit my blog: http://shortredhead78.blogspot.com/.

Take The Commonly Confused Words Test at HelloQuizzy

This was fun!

Just wow.

2008-05-15T06:53:24Z

I had to update with this icon. Because I am a loser XDD

Wow.

2008-04-29T16:15:11Z

My parents' anniversary is apparently 'Act Like A T-Rex Day'.

That answers so many questions.

An Open Letter to My Sister

2008-04-27T08:05:47Z

Mari,

I am going to have a whole box of stripe-ed kittens with you.

That is all. ♥

Kata

Best. 4 hours. Ever.

2008-03-22T09:27:23Z

So, I just spent 4 hours of my life absolutely *glued* to the television as PBS presented Puccini's Madama Butterfly, Live from the Lincoln Center.

Now, let me start off by saying that I love operatic vocals, and while I want so badly to love operas themselves, some vocalists make it difficult. Often times I see operas when they're overdone or being...how to say...almost over-acted? Unescessary arias that border on the ludicrous (I first encountered this when PBS aired Die Fledermaus) make it difficult for the experience to be taken seriously, and not just as an abuse of melodies, almost.

But this opera? With this cast? Was, in every sense of the word, phenomenal. Not once did I feel like I had to pry my attention from unescessary trills to follow the story, or strive to take it seriously. I think the actors themselves were the cause of this.

James Valenti was B. F. Pinkerton, and though I knew that his role was going to call for him to be a careless bad guy, he was so amazingly charming that I didn't mind. And at the end, when he realizes what he's done, there is genuine remorse. He was so...somehow pleasant all throughout. I really don't think I could have enjoyed this character with many other actors (which is important because he's very central to the story, and if you have a distaste for him up-front, it could sidetrack you). Not to mention that his voice was stunning.

The "minor" characters (I say that in quotations because I kinda hate addressing anyone as a minor anything) were also really great.

Michael Chioldi was Sharpless, the Consul from America, and did a fantastic job. He was so empathetic for Butterfly that I nearly thought he may have loved her too!

Jennifer Tiller was Suzuki, Butterfly's maid, and while she was the only one that clearly looked to be a different race than their character (she was very American, yet her character was Japanese), her performance was amazing. Her voice was lovely and her emotion made me definitely see why she was chosen.

Erin Elizabeth Smith played Pinkerton's American wife, Karen. I was sort of on the fence about her, though. While her voice was lovely, the way she was introduced (I think it was the look in her eyes) made me almost instantly dislike the character, as she seemed to be looking down on Butterfly in her home, almost like she had some false sense of entitlement. Of course that was until she "spoke" and was clearly sympathetic towards Butterfly. That made up for the first impression, I think.

The name of the actor that played the child, named Sorrow, escapes me. He gets an automatic A for awesome. Most kids can't sit through an opera, much less be in one. Major props to him for actually being able to not only be on stage while it's being televised, but to not freak out when someone is loudly singing right near him.

I can't find the names of the players that performed Butterfly's uncle, the suitor that was interested in Butterfly or a few others, but they were really great too. The uncle just flat-out looked *amazing*. Almost kabuki-esque. The suitor was very well played, and looked almost as though he could have been either Chinese or Hispanic. It was a really exotic mix, perfect for his part, I think.

And Goro. Goro Goro Goro. The marriage broker that set up the whole thing. His actor was very talented, but the character wasn't one that I particularly liked (especially after spreading a rumor about Butterfly's child). Of course, this makes no reflection onto the actor, who carried out the role very well!

And now, for Butterfly herself. What can I say about Shu-Ying Li? Honestly, I don't know where to start. If it were anyone else, I don't think I'd of loved her as much as I did. I think the fact that she grew up in China and is very clearly of oriental descent added authenticity, which is more or less a must for Butterfly in my eyes (To clarify, this doesn't mean that I think every incarnation of Butterfly has to be Asian, simply that she must have an authentic feel). Her voice was absolutely beautiful, too.

I should stop here and explain that I'm...not really "picky" so much as "particular" about the operatic voices that I enjoy. I don't really enjoy the overly-throaty soprano sound that's so popular in opera. However, Miss Li's voice had a perfect balance of throatiness and clarity, if that makes any sense? And even when it was on the throaty side, it wasn't overly so.

As for the character herself? I'm in love with her. Especially Li's portrayal of her. As described here, her role really is a stronger version than the one that you'd expect. I agree that you see it the most in her death scene (which was absolutely heartwrenching, by the way. I wasn't moved to tears tonight because it's so late and I've been sick, but had I been in the audience, I know I'd of been a mess). While there are some aspects of her personality that I don't agree with, I can chalk it up to the time that the story was set in and her age (Butterfly was only supposed to be 15 when the opera started, and about 18 when it ended). I don't think, as I've said of James Valenti, that I would of been so taken with her part if it were any other actor. She was the perfect actress to introduce me to Madame Butterfly, and will forever remain in my heart as the first actress that I truly and completely adored in the role.

What was amazingly striking about this performance, though, were the wardrobe and the set.

The set designer, I belieeeve was Michael Yeargan. When it is said that the set was minimalistic, it isn't an exaggeration. Literally, the set consisted of a giant shoji screen in front of a backdrop, a large set of stairs, and another (giant) shoji screen for the end of Act II. But, as it's been said, because of the simplicity of the set, your attention is on the actors. I'd bet that that helped along my love for this particular production. Especially due to the fact that I'm in love with the Japanese culture anyway, so shoji screens make my heart happy, even if that's the only thing there. Of course there were props and extras, but they were few and far between.

The costume designer was Constance Hoffman, if I'm not mistaken. Now, I'm sure it doesn't take much to make Ms. Li lovely, but she was *absolutely stunning*. I caught myself countless times exclaiming out loud to myself "She is just gorgeous." A lot of this had to do with the surreal way that her kimono draped, or the red and white kimono set that she had during a majority of the production, or that her hair fell in just a particular way that really spoke to the costume (A main example of this was the scene from her wedding night, where Suzuki takes the top layer of Butterfly's kimono off and takes down two or three twists of her hair, so that there are two or three absolutely gorgeous flowing sections of her hair against the costume). Also, in her very first scene, Butterfly has kanzashi (hair ornaments) in her hair that are long, streaming American flags. I thought that was a beautiful touch! More than that, they flowed so fluidly when she turned, which accentuated the grace that's expected of her character.

The music was produced by a very talented orchestra, as well! The conductor's name escapes me, but he spoke for a while to a host (that I didn't care much for) about the music of the opera, and it's significance in the next scene (Act III). From my understanding, they actually brought in real birds to re-create the breaking of the dawn? Either way, they were great!

I placed a call to PBS within the first half hour of the production, leaving a message with an inquiry of where I can purchase this exact performance. I really want it! Not only because I'm in love with it, but because I really want to make icons and/or a layout from it.

I still can't believe that was only (almost) 4 hours. I could have easily watched 6 or 8 hours of that particular production. I'm already looking to see if it'll be performed around here any time soon!

That was truly a fantastic way to spend my morning.

Late!

2008-03-20T03:58:16Z

Happy birthday, Mana!!

F is for friends that do stuff together...

2008-03-18T07:16:47Z

I think it says something about me that earlier during my shower, all that was going through my head was the F.U.N song from SpongeBob.

...Yeah.

Yeah

2008-03-10T22:05:24Z

This is an update to say that I'm not even going to pretend that I don't like LazyTown. Any kid's show with a TECHNO sountrack is amazing to me (thank god for GOOD music for kids), and artistically it's freaking amazing how they balance and blur the line between what's real and what's fake. Any show that can make a person look in any way like a puppet (Robbie's character design is totally my favorite because of this, despite how adorable Stephanie is and how Sportacus can look flawless like a Ken doll) is fantastic.

Yeah. Leave it to me to find some artistic merit in something I watch at 5am when I should be sleeping like a normal person.

...uh.

2008-03-08T08:04:34Z

There is a movie on TCM right now entitled "The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies".

It is apparently a horror movie from 1963.

I don't know how to feel just now.

...um.

2008-02-26T06:37:00Z

I think I just had a religious experience.

I was watching Conan just now and Flavor Flav was on. Now, I know what you're thinking, because I was thinking it too. "Conan + Flavor Flav? Ok that's gotta be amazing."

The man came out wearing a bear hat. You heard me. A bear hat. It looked just like a real bear head.

Conan then asks what's up with the hat, and I shit you not, these were his words:

"THIS IS FOR THE BEAR THAT TRIED TO CAP ME IN THE WOODS!"

I just...I don't know where I went for the following few minutes, but I can only assume it was a spiritual plane reachable only by high doses of acid.

Wow, guys. Just...wow.

Geek love

2008-02-19T20:17:17Z

The whole Stephen Colbert/Conan O'Brien/Jon Stewart thing has got to be a sign that somebody up there loves geeks like me.

It was so surreal seeing the 3 late night hosts that I love more than any others not only in the same room, but pulling countless shenannigans together, and ending it all with the most epic dorkfight I've ever seen.

Ohhh man. Icons of that to come. I'm still stunned from the sheer abount of awesomeness and squee and hilarity. Ouch.

I like ponies

2008-01-15T01:56:23Z

I am your magical garden gnome.

Standing in your garden of love.