Welcome to my Blahg

Is how long LJ tells me it's been since I last posted an entry. Which sounds about right.
I'm posting this for really one reason.

www.atlusonline.com is up! Go visit! Register! Participate! Tell your friends! oneoneone111!!!

There's not much there yet, but there will be ^^

This is me.
This is me writing in my blog.
This is me writing in my blog in Tokyo.
This is me writing in my blog in Tokyo at 5:00am.
This is me writing in my blog in Tokyo at 5:00am while falling asleep and running a marathon all at the same time.

I changed my profile pic, just for a change. I don't imagine it'll stay like this for very long. We'll see.
On Friday I went to see my friend's band play. They've been playing for about 3 years now (though their drummer's changed 3 or 4 times, and at one point they lost a guitarist cuz he had to drum and.. yeah, it's complicated). They did an amazing job, as always. They're making an album, hopefully one that'll be done next monthish. Then they'll be breaking up come summer;; They've made a few recordings of some songs, which haven't quite matched up to their live performances.. A couple of them are pretty good, though, so I uploaded them. You can only download them for seven days, though, so hurry if you're going to (although I s'pose I could always upload them again).
The link is: http://www.yousendit.com/download/OHo1WWV0RkVveE41VEE9PQ

Other than that, pretty much nothing's been going on. I'm planning on going to Japan this Fall or so to study, so I'm looking at various programs for that. Also gotta find housing. I gotta find a job, too, to save up for said trip; I'm aiming to work in Korea, but have yet to find a very good job over there. Of course, I may just grit my teeth and take whatever I can get--I'm getting quite tired of looking.
I guess the only other new thing really is that I started writing a story last week. I don't know what it'll be about, but at least I started. It looks to be interesting, but we'll have to wait and see.

It used to be that I didn't really update this cuz I was busy updating my Cyworld (Korean website.. they have an English version now, but it's not quite the same), and more recently because of Facebook (somewhere in there was Myspace, but I never really used it that much), but for the past couple months I've really just been rather insociable. Not anti-social per se, just not.. social. But I figured maybe I should write this as an update for anyone who remotely cares to hear what's been going on with me. To put it quite briefly, I've pretty much been going to school for the past couple years (with a trip or two to Korea during the summers, where I also studied. Indeed, in the past three years I've not had a break from studying for longer than about two weeks =P). I graduated from BYU last year and went up to the University of British Columbia as an unclassified student (it's a long story, but the jist of it is that I was only introduced to UBC / the professors there a month before the semester started, so I missed the deadlines to apply for grad school. I decided, though, to go up there anyway and apply to be an unclassified student, which meant that I could take classes without being in the program, and later, if I were to get into the program, I could transfer the credits). After 48 hours of driving alone, a few run-ins with Canadian Immigration Services and a few meetings with several big-time Korean authors, I'm back in California working a temp office job. I won't be going back to Vancouver soon because the professors I worked with are both going on sabbatical next year, and this semester there weren't really any classes for me to take (that's another long story). My plans are quite unsure, but I'm aiming to make it back to Japan, most likely to study, and before then I'm contemplating another trip over to Korea. I suppose that's me for the past couple years in a nutshell.

I totally forgot I had this...

This and other demotivators can be found at www.despair.com
I also recommend Persistence and Mistakes, although many others are good as well.
kekeke

Just thought I'd say hi. Hi. Today's been an interesting day...

난 그녀를 좋아하는 내가 싫다.
왜 그녀를 생각하면 바보같은 생각만하나?
내가 도대체 뭘 원하는지...

In some ways I feel like writing, but don't think it'd do much good.
And I dunno what to write about.
And sometimes it seems like it's easier to express meself in Korean or Japanese..
Honestly...

Today's wisdom: Face all things in life head on, with confidence.

대한민국! Indeed, Korea's a great place. I really don't wanna go back and go to school -_-; But such is life. I'll be back here next year too somehow, assuming I can get a job (which shouldn't be too hard). We went to the Korea-Turkey soccer game last week, holy sweet mother that was fun. And we won~ mwahahaha. I think it's the first time we beat the Ottomans.. In other news it's hot and humid. I have to start packing to go back up to Seoul.. It's been fun tho. We were on TV last Saturday and part 2 of the segment will be on this week. They recorded us when we spent the night at a Buddhist temple (통도사) That was fun. Although I enjoyed 해인사 (a diff, cooler temple) more. We've been really busy lately will traveling and whatnot.. we went to the beach, to a couple traditional villages (of which one is only really traditional), saw 이퇴계's house and 서원 (er, he's the guy on the front of their "dollar bill," and his house / school is on the back of the dollar bill). We went to quite a few Buddhist temples and Confucian "shrines" (not exactly shrines, but I think that's what it translates to).. It's been quite a trip indeed.
That's about all I got right now, stayed up a bit late watching a movie. Just wanted to say hi to everyone, if any of you remember me =P Oh yeah, we went karaoke last night too. Long night, but it was fun.. At any rate, I might write more when I get back to school and have a little more time to write on the computer. Until then, take care

So lately life's been good. Life is good indeed. School is... not as good as life. I have to write a rough draft for a research paper today. Due tomorrow. Whoopee. Other than that... not a whole lot going on here. Just good stuff. Saw the Last Samurai on Saturday. I enjoyed it, and I really liked how they did some of their stuff (i.e. Tom Cruise and the girl never kissed. I was overly ecstatic about that. Actual Asian culture coming through. Yay). Other than that, let's see... Stayed out too late both Friday and Saturday. After the movie on Saturday I was dropping my friend off at home and we ended up talking for a few hours. On Friday I went to dinner w/ a couple friends, after which we went to help missionaries going to Korea out, then went bowling, ate ice cream and went to a friend's house and watched the Italian Job. Good stuff indeed. Other than that... everything's going well. You know, happiness is an interesting thing, I'll have to tell you about it some time... Can you tell I dunno what to write? =P And oh yeah, I'm going to Korea in a month and will be there just for a couple months. Word, G-funk. Yeah.

So it's only been over a month since posting in this thing. I've gotten a job as of late and am too busy working and shopping and in traffic. Not that I really shop that much, it's more the traffic part. What's been going on recently is:

- Got to see all three LotR movies (the first two extended on the big screen). 'twere rather fine I'd say, rather fine indeed.
- Got a new job. Oh, already mentioned that. I'm working at my friend's dad's manufacturing business, testing out medical pumps to make sure they work and stuff. I think I've had more fun just sitting and staring into space, but it's work, which makes it better than nothing. Okei, it's really not that bad, and actually fun sometimes.
- Going to school mighty early (the 27th), so please send any cards, presents, bombs, hate mail, etc to my school address (contact me personal for that one =P)
- Read all three of the Persona 2 Tsumi to Batsu series. They were pretty enjoyable. I would say I enjoyed them. They brought a bit of joy indeed. Joy. I liked the ending quite a bit, mostly due to some of the thoughts it provoked. Not anything super special or rare, mind you, just good.
- On a similar note, I found a Book Off near my work (Book Off = the biggest retail chain of used books in Japan. They've three in the U.S: one in L.A, another in Costa Mesa (the one I found), another in NY) So if ye'd like any manga, request and I'll see what I can do. It's a block down from a big Kinokuniya bookstore, and a freeway exit after Mitsuwa with a Shinseidou bookstore, so there's a bit of selection =P Just ask. Altho with the internet these days, I guess no one really needs a favor from anyone else, eh? =P But used books are cheaper! (The first two Persona volumes were a dollar a piece, the third only three ^^;)
- Did you all hear the news? Christmas is next week. Go figure.
- Got a new picture-icon thing for livejournal.

...man, I need a life =P I've not really anything to rant or rave about. Overall, life's not too shabby. There are a lot of things that people complain about, but if you step back for a sec and look at what's important, what we're doing here, and what makes you really happy, that kinda stuff just fades away. So that's about it. Merry Christmas people, happy birthday Kou, and moo.

Howdy. Today was a pretty good day. Watched Japanese TV, finally got a little practice. Also talked to the dry cleaner lady in Korean. Starting to get organized, too, and now I'll have to call to look for a job at my friend's dad's office. What's more, I found this funny thing (which is really the purpose of the post). Hope you enjoy it as much as (or more than) I did.

EXCERPTS FROM A DOG'S DAILY DIARY

8:00 am - Oh Boy! Dog food! My favorite!

9:30 am - Oh Boy! A car ride! My favorite

9:40 am - Oh Boy! A walk! My favorite!

10:30 am - Oh Boy! A car ride! My favorite!

11:30 am - Oh Boy! Dog food! My favorite!

12:00 noon - Oh Boy! The kids! My favorite!

1:00 pm - Oh Boy! The yard! My favorite!

4:00 pm - Oh Boy! The kids! My favorite!

5:00 pm - Oh Boy! Dog food! My favorite!

5:30 pm - Oh Boy! Mum! My favorite!

6:00 pm - Oh Boy! Playing ball! My favorite!

6:30 pm - Oh Boy! Sleeping in master's bed! My favorite!


EXCERPTS FROM A CAT'S DAILY DIARY

Day 183 Of My Captivity

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling
objects.
They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat
dry cereal.
The only thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape,
and the mild satisfaction I get from ruining the occasional piece of
furniture.
Tomorrow I may eat another houseplant. Today my attempt to
kill my captors by weaving around their feet while they were walking
almost succeeded, must try this at the top of the stairs.
In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors,
I once again induced myself to vomit on their favorite chair, must
try this on their bed.
Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body, in
attempt to make them aware of what I am capable of, and to try to
strike fear into their hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a
good little cat I was. Hmmm, not working according to plan.
There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices. I was
placed in solitary throughout the event. However, I could hear the
noise and smellthe food. More importantly I overheard that my
confinement was due to MY power of "allergies." Must learn what this is and how to
use it to my advantage.
I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and maybe
snitches. The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to
return. He is obviously a half-wit.
The bird on the other hand has got to be an informant, and
speaks with them regularly. I am certain he reports my every move. Due
to his current placement in the metal room, his safety is assured.
But I can wait, it is only a matter of time...

And I just got back from Korea a week or so ago. Still adjusting to wide, spacious buildings, fatty foods and looking at stuff that I didn't think about for two years. So many things seem so trivial after living without them for so long. But life just keeps going, and I'm trying to keep up. So that's about it for now. Bai bai.

Sorry this is so ... not personal, but I've been super-extra-hyper-turbo-edition busy, and have to leave in like 10 minutes, so here goes...

Hey guys,
Long time no talk to for some. Everyone's doing a-ok I hope. Everyone's
studies going ok? Anyway, I'm just writing to bid you guys farewell. I'm
going on my mission (church work-type of thing), leaving tomorrow afternoon.
I'll be in Utah for 2-3 months kinda getting trained and learning the language,
after which I'll be off to Korea, where I've been assigned to. I'll then be
there for the remaining 21-22 months. I think most of you have actually heard,
so I hope this isn't much of a surprise. I apologize for not being good at
keeping in touch or anything, especially lately, cuz I've been so insanely busy
with getting stuff wrapped up and ready. As for writing and whatnot, I don't
know my address yet. You can write email, I'll just have to reply via snail
mail (I can't check email, but my mom said she'd print it off and send it).
And don't worry, she won't read anything. I think that's pretty much it... I
guess I'll see / talk to you guys whenever I see you again. Thanks for being
so great and for giving me so many great memories.
Your friend and mine,
- Brandon Cushenberry