Another post upcoming, but now for your enjoyment ...

This has been going 'round the Internets as of late, but I still felt the need to post it.



Also, if it is not apparent I did make it to Japan and back. I will have some detailed posts regarding the trip coming up real soon, as well as links to pictures and (hopefully) video.

Finally, Eric has come back to ...

Here I am, it's Saturday, September 19, and I'm about four days out from traveling back to Japan.

It's funny, but you would think a trip as big as this would be something I would have kept track of. Yet, I only realized about a week ago that this was really happening! That I was going back to see Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto! Luckily, I planned ahead a little bit and had some $$$ changed into ¥ at my bank so I would already have cash upon landing (it helps to actually have the correct currency if I want to get some snacks at the airport). But this week I've been a whirlwind of activity; getting supplies and medicine, taking care of bills early, preparing my cameras, charging my netbook and psp, and zoning out at work occasionally because I'd rather think about Japan.

So, what am I looking for on this trip? Wherever I go, I always want to experience the culture, people and food. Mmmmmmmmm ... food and drink! Okinomiyaki, yakisoba, ramen, curry, Mos Burger, yakiniku, Asahi Super Dry, sake, tea! I am a huge gamer, so the fact that Intermixi is going to the Tokyo Game Show is Pure Win! Shopping, and this time not just for myself. There's so much I can buy: electronics, games, souvenirs, figures, anime goods/merchandise, clothes, etc. I plan on taking a lot of pictures wherever we go. I've kind of taken up photography as a minor hobby, and I am hoping that I can really capture some memories. Going through the cities, walking in the big intersection in Shibuya, seeing Hachiko, walking through Harajuku, maybe even see some street performers. I also can't wait to meet the other people going on this tour. I've met great people on my previous tours, and I expect that trend to continue.

Ugh, I still have a lot to do. It doesn't help that I will be visiting a friend in Los Angeles, so I need to have everything ready and packed before I fly out tomorrow. But it doesn't matter, this is what a trip is all about!

This is how you sell a video game!

Day of Introspection: Redux

I cannot believe that it has almost been a year, one whole calendar year, since I came back to Florida from California. Going through my posts over time, I noticed that after a year in California I made a kind of progress report. Talked about what I had done and what I was planning to do. I think I'd like to make that a yearly tradition here (the evaluation of life; not the moving cross-country). As a refresher, I'll link to the old posts from July/August of last year.

Day of Introspection: Part 1
Day of Introspection: Part 2
Day of Introspection: Part 3

I started going in to this a little bit in a post about a month ago. I don't know if I'll go into it too deep just now either. But I can give a brief progress report as things stand right now.

Professional Goals: I feel like my time working in California was very productive and helped me to further focus on where I would like to take my career. I was lucky to be able to find a job almost immediately upon returning to Florida, and I have a renewed interest in developing my skills and even mentoring my coworkers. My immediate goal is to renew my CCNA certification, and then work on getting one of the CCNA specializations (most likely CCNA Voice).

Fitness Goals: One problem I've had since coming back to Florida has been letting my overall fitness decline a bit. I didn't work out too much in California, but I walked a lot more both at home and at work. The communities I lived and worked in allowed for walking to stores and restaurants more readily than where I live in Tampa. And I will admit, I let my diet get a little out of control. So, I've begun an exercise program again and I am working on getting my meals down to smaller portions spread out over the course of the day. I may even take up martial arts again, either Kung Fu or Muay Thai.

Relationships: This one has always been a tough one for me. And not one I feel like talking about too much. So, we'll just say this one is a work in progress and leave it at that.

The Venture Bros. Season 4 Preview Is Pure Bliss and Madness

Awesome. That is all.

Can't think of title ... doesn't matter anyway ...

Dammit! I've overslept the last two days and have not made it to the gym. Just started a new workout routine 3 weeks ago and I do not want to relapse into laziness. I need to catch up the rest of this week and get myself back on schedule.

The Ballad of G.I. Joe Will Break Your Heart

Saw this on Topless Robot yesterday.

The Ballad of G.I. Joe from Olivia Wilde

Languor

Pic grabbed from: http://abanzai.animeblogger.net/2007/05/01/lucky-star-04/

lan·guor
[lang-ger]
–noun
1. lack of energy or vitality; sluggishness.
2. lack of spirit or interest; listlessness; stagnation.


It's been one of those weeks. Hell, feels like it's been one of those months, and I'm only two weeks into it. I had some major projects that I've wanted to work on that I've let lapse. Haven't really done too much, aside from work and ... well, not really doing much at all at home. Just feel like at times recently I've suffered from some mental and physical exhaustion. Just can't put my finger on why, though.

It's not like I haven't been doing things I enjoy. I recently went to the evening practice of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. I'm hosting a party tonight, where friends from my normal circle and friends from work will all be in attendance. The Gators are the preseason #1 in the USA Today coaches' poll! And I'm pretty much booked for a nice, two-week vacation at the end of September through the first few days of October. Going to start off in Los Angeles and then head out to Japan for a 10-day tour!

Besides all that, I've restarted my workout regimen with a new plan that will hopefully help me shed some fat. Also joined a friend of mine and started climbing again at Vertical Ventures. I plan on heading out to enjoy the Florida beaches real soon. And I've got all my ongoing projects, like: renewing my CCNA certification, and continuing on to CCNA Voice and CCNP; learning a foreign language; make a serious effort to date and get a girlfriend; train myself to be a better cook; and clean up, reorganize and improve my home.

(o.O)

You know, reading over all of that again maybe that is why I've been lethargic these last two weeks. Maybe I'll just concentrate on that girlfriend part for now ...

Ong-Bak 2

I don't need to tell you, I will be see this when it comes out in theaters.

Conan O'Brien at Bang Zoom Entertainment

Awesome! Just awesome!

Selfless Promotion

I just wanted to point people to some music videos made by a talented friend of mine.


Icarus



Hideaway (222 Version)



Divine Sickness (222 Version)



Hope y'all give him some love!

Wait ... Where did the first half of 2009 go?

Is it really July already?

I was actually working on a new post, but time just seems to be flying by and I have nothing to show for it. I did recently celebrate two birthdays, one for a friend and another one being my niece's. Working on some other activities/projects, but nothing concrete enough to warrant a posting about it.

Let's see what I can come up with later this week.

I give this website the highest rating possible

Someone has taken my personal ratings system for movies and created what may possibly be the greatest website known to mankind. Here it is!

Most Influential Influence

Wait ... you mean I'm supposed to update this thing?

So, yeah, haven't really said or done much of anything in this space in a while. Don't really know why, just haven't. I'm working on something to post, hopefully in the next day or two. Until then, I'll just put up some videos that caught my interest this week.

You trying to be a hero, Watkins? Just trying to kill some bugs, sir.

For a little while now, my roommates and myself have been dealing with an issue in my house. An infestation, really, and it's proved difficult at first to identify. It started in X's room, where he would often find bites consisting of a raised red bump or flat welt somewhere around his hands or near his ankles. They looked like mosquito bites, and that's what we originally attributed them to. But we could not find any mosquitoes anywhere inside the house, and we really did not see evidence of them outside of the house. Weirdest thing, is that he would always find new bites upon waking up from ... bed ... uh oh ...

Bedbugs!

So. Much. Fun. I won't go into the long and gory details about this wonderful pest. You can read the Wikipedia entry I linked to, or if you prefer, this one from Britannica Online. Needless to say, these little critters have been a big nuisance. We tried some home remedies, like home foggers and such, but although I believe we killed many of them it never seemed like we could eliminate them all. What was worse, we would bomb a room and the infestation would disappear for a while only to reappear in another room.

Finally, I got too annoyed with the whole situation and finally decided to call in the professionals. A major treatment was made to my house yesterday. Hopefully, that will eliminate the whole lot of them.

YES! MvC2

I spent so much money playing this in college at our local arcade. I made friends playing this game. I cannot wait until this is released. I'll buy it on both my PS3 and Xbox360.

Family Guy: What God Is Up To

This Is How Intermixi Rolls

Want to go to Japan?

Greatest. Video. Ever!

Taste The Deliciousness

Had to order a piece of California and have it shipped to me. This came from Marini's Candies, which had a location about a block away from where I worked in Santa Cruz.

Chocolate-covered bacon. Nom nom nom.

A coworker of mine had requested I bring some from California when I moved back, but I was unable to do so. I then realized a few days ago that Marini's would ship their candies since it is not summer yet. So, an order was put in and then promptly snatched from my hands!

Does he tempt the awesomeness!?

Hell yes!

I Want This Game Now!

Happy Friday the 13th!

I like Friday the 13th (the date, not the movie). Something about the superstitions surrounding it all just amuses me. Anyway, enjoy your Friday!

Golden Axe: Beast Rider

If the above video does not explain to you why I am playing this game, then there is nothing else I can say.

In all seriousness, I've so far enjoyed the latest iteration of the Golden Axe franchise. It's not for everyone, make no mistake about that. It does not try to reinvent the wheel; does not try to be anything other than a hack-and-slash action game.

As I've played through it so far, I've felt like I've been playing an upgraded version of the arcade classic. Does it get everything correct? No. But then I never thought it had to. Golden Axe: Beast Rider has its problems and shortcomings but for me this has not ruined my enjoyment of the title. For me, it's just fun and that's why I play video games.

Doctor's Note

I've spoken a bit recently about feeling "off" for the last month or so. I've been lethargic, lazy and generally just feeling unhealthy these last few weeks. And due to some recent health scares that occurred with a couple friends of mine, I decided it might be a good idea to have myself checked out. I haven't had a physical examination since before I left for California. I'm not too old (a shocking admission that I will never admit to in front of my friends), so I really should not be feeling the way I do. My guess is that I haven't been as diligent in watching what I eat and that I have not been getting enough exercise of some form.

So, off to the doctor's I went. Got my physical examination taken care of. Had a bunch of vials of blood taken. That was about a week ago. And just got the results from my doctor today. The results were ... inconclusive ...?

Hmmm ... don't like how this sounds. I wrote it about a week ago, but I am not satisfied with it at all. So, let's summarize.

Been feeling unhealthy. Weigh 175 lbs. Body fat around 20 - 21%. Need to eat better and exercise more. Might be helpful to get back in to martial arts.

Going to doctor on Monday to have blood drawn for some testing. Routine checks to make sure I'm not about to die. We'll see how it all goes.

Post-class Results

Surprisingly, I did much better on my Hiragana test than I expected. Doesn't mean that I shouldn't straighten up my study habits but it's good to know I am actually learning.

Pre-class jitters

This is how I'm going to feel tonight after I take my test in Japanese class. Ugh, I really need to be more diligent in my studying.

Blergh 2

Seems like all I do on this blog is post about how lazy I've been. What I wouldn't give to have one day where all I do is lay in bed and sleep all day. At least I hope that would clear up this malaise.

High Kick Girl

Another movie I am interested in seeing. Looks fun. High Kick Girl Kicks Really, Really High.

2009 BCS National Championship: #2 Florida vs. #1 Oklahoma

vs.










I'm a homer, so I'll be cheering for the University of Florida tonight. I think the Gators will win but I expect it to be a good, competitive game. Prediction: UF 45 - OU 38

Sword of the Stranger

Sword of the Stranger Mukoh Hadan
by Deathcs13

February 5, 2009 - Citrus Park Mall Stadium 20
I will be at the theater for this as well.

Ong Bak 2

Whenever this comes out, I'll be at the theater.