Please hold for an emergency fangirl alert.

AHHHHHH holy fricking Stick Bejeebus on a pale horse with a kazoo shaped like Batman

Miyazaki is coming to SDCC O_O @_@ (to promote Ponyo)

i wonder if there will be a line

Now I have to find some way to not feel like hell and make it to/through the con :( Seriously. For an anime/manga fan (or just an animation fan!), short of Tezuka (or Walt Disney) rising from the dead, this is as big as it gets. (Zombie Disney is 2010.)

We now return you to your regularly-scheduled spaz-free programming.

Augh I'm feeling really awful today so I thought, okay, I'll play some FFIII. I had trouble in Castle Hein a while back so I had restarted before that to level up w/ a different class (after Dwarven Hollows). Except now, I can't get thrown into the dungeon, even though it's supposed to happen right when I walk into Tokkul. What's a group of weirdly-dressed, heavily armed people gotta do to get arrested around here? D: (Seriously, I don't know what to do, wtf. T_T So much for THAT idea.)

Soooo . . . has anyone been poking about E3 stuff? I guess it's weird that I have since I'm hardly a gamer. But I'm looking forward to Fragile and Shiren the Wanderer 3 (Wii) and if I had a PS3, I loved WipEout* back in the day and would love to play in sexy HD; and really want to play The Last Guardian . . . (Maybe I'll have one by the time it comes out :P) And Pop Island for DS looks fun (as a big Mario Kart DS fan). I'm also pretty amused that World Destruction is getting a US release (even if Morte sounds funny). The anime for it was fun x_x

*Did you know WipEout was in Hackers? lol. XL (the second game) also has a bunch of Red Bull billboards in it. Before anyone knew wtf Red Bull was.

Speaking of video games . . . (embedded)
( Dance Dance Immolation )

Sorry for . . . whatever, I'm only just barely able to tolerate this medication dose still. Hopefully it will improve soon. I'm not to go down again for at least another week (basically each time I go down I'm going to feel worse again). But I promised illustrated chipmunk stories; I shall deliver. I took these in a light drizzle/through glass, so they're not great, but I did what I could.

( ILLUSTRATED CHIPMUNK STORIES! x7 pics. )

Since you're here, help yourself to some girls playing a giant piano.

Yeah it's not much since I didn't take any pictures (except a handful of dollies) so you will have to make up your own visual aids. I was only there part of Friday and part of Saturday, even though I expected to be there longer. Traumatized the dog by leaving with a suitcase twice and coming home. But it was the most I could manage. Definitely not feeling great today, keep getting weird waves of nausea, may need to bring that up with the endo on Thurs re: possible adrenal insufficiency (and need to go take some more Tylenol, stupid incisions are *really* hurting).

( the good news is, it's really short! :P  )

Well, cheers to enjoying what you can, and to the road to getting better not being quite as long, dark and lonely as the one becoming sick. My cell phone horoscope yesterday promised good things so you know it's true.

I feel really horrible tonight and should have gone to bed about two hours ago. Probably what I get for trying to lower the medication again. Will have to go back up tomorrow.

You have been warned: I don't think I will make it through ACen, even though I have like . . . nothing I'm doing there anyhow. But I guess the thing to do is try it, and if I get too tired, I go home. I suppose that makes sense.

I can't verbalize how sick I am of being sick, any more than I can explain what I mean when I say "tired". But the other day I was thinking it's good that no one can really understand, because it's not something I'd want other people to feel. :\

Sci-fi fans may want to watch CSI: tonight (@8 CST); the episode is set at a "convention inspired by Comic-con". When they do goofy episodes, they're usually really good, so it doesn't matter if you watch it regularly (especially since it'll be a "secondary character" ep). From the teaser it looks like Wendy the snarky lab tech will be in a Trek-alike costume, and the victim-of-the-week bites it on the bridge of the Enterprise.

BTW I think the new sitcom running before Lost, Better Off Ted, is actually quite funny (especially the fake ads); though they're not kidding about "and now for something completely different" when Lost comes on . . . (I continue to love Lost, even if I was peeved we only got 60 seconds of Dan before the end. But Miles is great; though he still reminds me of Jon from Jon and Kate Plus 8, which is scary. Not because "all Asians look alike"; it's the attitude!)

And from last night since I got a terrible migraine :P Through an odd series of things I just found out about an indies lolita brand called Kikirara Shoten. It's like burlesque and lolita got hooked on period fashion, moved to Vegas, and then had colorblind illegitimate babies who decided to be designers. Some of it looks like it's from a maid cosplay cafe in hell, which isn't unique; but some is just beyond epic. This is some of the most hideous, atrociously awful fashion I have ever seen. I think I'm in love.

I need this printed on a t-shirt or something, since it seems to be my obligatory motto. :| My steri-strips are off now, incisions looking pretty good; I thought I was past it hurting (just uncomfy), but then today activity aggravated it I guess and I spent several hours unable to move much. They're still having to tweak my steroid dosage, as well, prior to even starting to wean me off it; so I'm having lots of fun alternating between being too tired to move and too anxious I can't focus. I do feel like . . . there's a weight that got lifted, and a few symptoms have improved already, but it's not magic and it won't be fast.

If we have a loose end of importance, please remind me. It probably would be from stress anyway, but my brain is still medically fried and I may have honestly forgotten. As I'm hopefully becoming able to do it, I know I need to re-prioritize a lot and just try to focus on the things that are most important. That's still a challenge now since I am not together and the list of things I CAN do versus the things I need or want to do doesn't match up well . . . but I will try and get life back on track.

Because my brother was at the GDC (Game Developer's Conference) last weekend, I got his extra swag, in the form of an advance copy of the new DS game Rhythm Heaven. Well, I only got around to playing it a day early, but since it launched on Sunday that means you can get it. It's technically a sequel to a Japan-only GBA game; apparently it was co-developed by the producer of Morning Musume . . . Anyhow consider it recommended, I think it's a real general-appeal game.
( very brief opinions. )

Your holiday-related link: spice up religions teaching with "fun visual representation(s) of each plague" . . .

From the guy who did the really cool Mario Kart video: "Best of Elevator".

You can also have an article about the pretty depressing "dark side" of Dubai but I doubt anyone will read that. Messed up, sci-fi dystopian stuff though. Too bad it's real.

*edit* And even now I remember things :P Thank you jedijenchan for the flowers, they're lovely (geh I forgot to take a photo earlier) and that was really sweet and thoughtful of you.

( new plush: meat bun; +better shots of Sargon )

If I'm linking Flickr, yes my Sapporo/Otaru pics have been up for a while now. I've almost finished the report but . . . haven't. "Been distracted" would be a terrible understatement. I'd like to have tomorrow night as a deadline for myself I think. So you can look at them now if you like, but if you wait for the report you get highlight photos and probably slightly better context than the captions.

I got good news today - apparently the CAT scan was more accurate than the MRI, and I will only have to have one adrenal gland removed. So I guess I got a bit of luck after all; lifetime cortisol replacement is not a good outcome. Endo says get the one out, and I'll be "fixed" (risky surgery, hospital stay and recovery aside) - I don't think I've ever had a doctor use that word with me.

Did get to see Watchmen today. I liked it but it didn't change my world (okay, full frontal glowing changed it a bit); I admit to being distracted by the 8 year old (at most) kid next to me. Feet didn't reach halfway to the ground and he had a cold. His father had him cover his eyes during the not-that-explicit sex between consensual adults, but apparently things being hacked off was A-OK. Never mind that any of the context of either went completely over his head; *that's* what makes it bad. I love our culture.

Okay, I went far past exhausted again today, as little as I seem to accomplish, but it's time for bed.

Last Sunday the dog broke my glasses, tonight stuff fell off the top shelf in the closet and whacked me in the face/eye - same spot on the opposite side. I think next Sunday I should wear safety goggles. :| Maybe I better ice it because it's starting to really hurt and I think swell some >_> (Angel wings, Cheshire Cat tail, and a pipe. :P)

I planned to do replies and stuff tonight but I guess that's not happening with ice on my eye since I won't be able to see :P (Have to take glasses off, at least I got them repaired for free since I got them at CostCo)

The dog is okay btw . . . apparently. Her ultrasound was normal so it may be her arthritis meds. So this is good.

( plush preview: Sargon )

I thought maybe I'd get to more today but . . . didn't. Still almost awake but I have to be up again in 6 hours to go get second blood draw (same thing on Saturday), not counting alarm to take the medication that's part of the test . . . fun times. Have some videos from a saved file meanwhile. Though briefly thanks to people who have been supporting me, with the increasing pile of sh*t I'm under . . . don't know what I'd do without your help.

Definitely watch Oktapodi - it's very short and the animation is deathly cute. And I'm not just saying that because I'm obsessed with octopi.
( Oscar-nominated short animation )

. . . and I had to pass it on. Would request to metaquote but it's not from LJ.

"Life is like a pinata. You gotta grab a stick and beat the shit out of everything in your way until you get to the sweet part." - "hellodingo"

It is so bedtime but I am going to finish *something*, dammit.

I don't know why I call doctor's offices; they rarely call back, especially with anything useful. Should not have believed nurse on the phone yesterday, don't think endocrinologist will bother with me until appointment on the 15th. It seems a bit rude to say to someone "you know this could be serious" and then leave them to twiddle their thumbs for over a month waiting to hear about test results, whilst I continue to feel terrible and am annoyed/unnerved by continuing sharp pains in my side . . . anyway . . . largely related to my mind's desperate wanderings in search of something else to ponder . . .

This probably made more sense in my head and will sound ridiculous to everyone else. But someone has to say the ridiculous things, I suppose. Don't mistake me for applying for the position of village idiot, though; I know it's a growth industry, but I don't want to be pigeonholed . . .
( warning: no lifeguard on duty )

Strictly speaking my real mood at the moment is "AUGH FSCK *take brick, hit head repeatedly", but you sort of have to think everything isn't messed up and what is, can't be that way indefinitely :\ right x_x

Meh I'm really anxious tonight since I hopefully will hear about my test results tomorrow. :< Anyway figured I should post this so I can at least provide OTHER people with some angst-free distraction; holy backlog, Batman. Been working on this saved file for months. :P

( Simon Pegg's next movie )

( three easy-reading book recommendations )

( two movies with amazing visuals )

( film festival movies )

( four terribly cool animated shorts )

A belated Merhappy Chriskwanzukastice to everyone~ Our family, including my brother who was home from Manhattan, celebrated in traditional fashion: opening presents, brunch, Mario Kart (pretty much trounced him), and watching holiday classics (Shaun of the Dead and Kamikaze Girls, because nothing says Christmas like zombies and lolitas).

I've been feeling really terrible still though, I keep getting so out of it I feel sick trying to stay awake and focused. Dead tired all day and primarily watching a Highlander marathon on SciFi lol. Have not seen it since the 90s. I'll have some pictures to share, but probably not until Sunday; we're going to see some Chinese New Year touring show downtown tomorrow.

Nothing of any note to report otherwise right now I guess. Changing anti-vertigo meds and not enjoying increased dizziness on the half dose, if I haven't gotten back to you about something will do it tomorrow. Need bed now.

So . . .
( short medical update for anyone who cares to know )

I can't put into words how discouraged I am right now because of this. I'm in pain, it's been incredibly difficult to even sit up to do things (things that I really *want* to do, after months of having to put them off for more "important" stuff), I've been crashing and having to go to bed much earlier than normal, and only leaving the house for unpleasant tests I get no followup on. I can't seem to get anyone to think that this is problematic, and not related to anything I'm doing or not doing, and to care about doing something about it.

I'm finding it difficult to not answer most questions with "what's the point".

|+| Suddenly it occurs to me that the Twilight craze has gotten to the point that it will affect my Flickr tagging. D: Here's to people searching for "sparkly vampire" and coming up with "container ship" . . .

|+| Speaking of Flickr, tagging drives me batty. There isn't any good advice on how to do it well. The whole group spamming thing can get dumb also . . . though I'm disappointed there are no real costuming photo pools. (Fat white booty? Dogs on roofs? Yes.) Tempting to start one but probably no one would join. :|

|+| Your useless information for the day: apparently when referring to a certain amphibian, it used to be "an ewt" . . . not "a newt".

|+| Been watching random "educational" TV on Natgeo. (Most of it is too busy being melodramatic to have much content.) Accidentally gave out correct information about on a show on Unknown Man E regarding where he was found and why, several minutes before it was in the voice over. Reminded me I used to know stuff, largely because I used to learn stuff. Apparently may still have some brain cells intact . . . :<

|+| spiders in space. Also, bored octopus takes up bad habits: like juggling.

|+| Depressed penguins need Suntory beer; amusing Russian animation, minimal or no dialogue: "Rain Down From Above"; it sucks to be a cat in Russia; jungle love (character design SO CUTE); wayward fishermen (and a hamster).