The Pondering Pool

Testing out Typepad~

This is my "lucky" year

So, 2010 has been my "lucky" year. 

Mano Erina - MAX 2010 - Uchi e Kaerou~Going Home (LIVE ENGLISH)

Mano Erina @ MAX 2010 - 世界は サマー・パーティ (LIVE)

I saw Utada (sort of), met Kago Ai and Mano Erina, watched AKB48 and May'n & Nakajima Megumi (and Kanno Yoko)... and just yesterday was able to see Kishidan at Ala Moana Center.

Kishidan @ Ala Moana Center - Delicate ni Kiss Shite (View 2)

Kishidan @ Ala Moana Center - One Night Carnival

(More footage at my youtube channel~)

I have more footage from the ManoEri event, as well as my "stalkerazzi" meeting with Kago Ai. Not sure if there's any interest as the audio isn't the best and it's a pain to edit the footage. 

Thoughts?

All these "good luck" makes me wonder if I should really consider celebrating my own yakudoshi. 

2010 plans

Here's a list of events I'd LIKE to attend in 2010:

- Kawaii Kon, Hawaii (April 16-18)

- TCAF, Toronto, Canada (May 8-9)

- MoCCA, New York (??)

- Fanime, CA (May 28-31)

- Kids Read Comics, MI (??)

- AX, CA (July 1-4)

- SDCC, CA (July 21-25)

- Otakon, MD (July 30-August 1)

Here's a list of events I'm more or less confirmed for:

-Kawaii Kon

-Fanime

Here's a list of events I'm hoping I can confirm for:

- TCAF

- SDCC

Concern: I am not sure how in the world I'm going to get to all those events. I'd prefer not to fly back and forth between CA/wherever and Hawaii more than 2 times a month.

Second concern: So I confirm and get to the events.. how do I get my stuff to the events?

*sigh*

QotD: Lenten Sacrifices

Today is the first day of the Season of Lent. Are you giving anything up for the next 40 days?

I completely forgot about Lent. I was trying to remember what came after Mardi Gras/"Fat Tuesday" and was drawing a blank. Easter's a good 2 months away and so is Good Friday. I'm terrible at these things. ^^;

So we have "Ash Wednesday". What do I plan to give up? 

Considering we're on a relatively tight budget and can't quite afford to give up certain foods - as we don't really eat decadent foods (most of the time) and our usuals tend to fall within our price ranges. I can easily say I can give up "chocolates" or "pastries", but I don't normally eat them anyway and that defeats the purpose of Lent.

Instead, I'd like to propose giving up a habit instead. 

For 40 days, I'll stop biting my nails. Most of the time, I don't even realize I do it... so this will be a challenge. But perhaps in the long run, it'll teach me restraint and to overcome some of my own fears and worries. 

QotD: Be Humble Day

Today is "Be Humble Day." What in your life are you most humble about?

Humble. I had to double-check the dictionary to make sure I understood the word properly in context. ^^;

I think I am the most humble (if not somewhat self-depricating) about my artistic abilities and achievements. I never want to believe that I am the "best", but am far from believing that I am the worst. I don't mean to say that I am "great" either. Art is something that's so incredibly subjective that the only way we can judge is by comparing one to another. 

I really enjoy art. It's something I've always liked to do. I know there are a lot of things that I lack knowledge in, am too lazy/busy to figure out - but always in the end, attempting to improve in one way shape or form. ^^

Freshening things up @ VOX

Considering I have two blogs that I update regularly, having five (or so) in total is hard to manage when I don't quite have a focus for each.

For the two I update often - LJ & nemu*nemu, those both have pretty specific purposes. 

I use LJ as it's my home-base blog. I've been there since the early 2000's and have a permanent account there. I like how accessible the communities are and it more or less acts like my daily feed reader. It's comfortable and many of my friends have blogs there. True, they have been having a lot of issues since the Russians took over, but I don't think it'll implode that easily.

nemu*nemu is more obvious. It is my business and my way of keeping in touch with my readers. I usually stick to nemu*nemu-related topics, like upcoming events, new illustrations/projects/merchandise, or pose questions to my audience. Occasionally, I'll post some reviews or tutorials that might be of interest. 

Other than that, I have a couple blogs on Google's Blogger - compeito (the blog version of my old archived art site) and a make-shift music blog - which I haven't had much time to update (I just liked the name~) Not to mention my "journal" on deviantArt for nemu*nemu. 

I also have a doll site that I'm in the process of fixing up and updating since I have a few new additions to the "family"... and another site I've been sitting on for about 3 years now.

*sigh*

So I always come back to VOX and wonder what I should be using this for? 

Curious

I'm curious as to why I keep getting logged out of VOX lately? I may not post here as often as I do on say, LJ, but it's just weird that it's been happening more and more of late.

Hrm~

Top 10 H!P Songs of 2008

Perhaps I'm a bit predictable when it comes to my top 10 lists... at least my husband may find them predictable - considering I listen to them over and over and over again. But to make things a bit more challenging, I'm limiting myself to only the 2008 releases. 

Let's see if I can do this.

10. 松浦亜弥 - ひとり (Hitori)

Perhaps this might not be a 2008-exclusive song, but I've only heard this version and found it to be a really wonderful B-side to a long-awaited single from the extraordinary Aya Matsuura.

9. MilkyWay -サンサンGOGO (SanSan GoGo)

Another B-side that I wish was released as the single! I had mixed thoughts about this group and it's debut release "Anataboshi", but this song really showed what the three of them as a group could do for a song. I really hope Kikkawa Yuu has a glorious future in H!P! 

8. 安倍なつみ＆矢島舞美(℃-ute) - わたしの恋人なのに (Watashi no Koibito na no ni)

Although I feel that these two made an interesting musical pair with their title track, "16歳の恋なんて" they really came together to make a wonderful ballad that I can listen to over and over and over again~

7. Berryz工房 - 行け 行け モンキーダンス (Yuke! Yuke! Monkey Dance)

I really thought I was going to dislike this song with a passion, but found that it was really cute and charming - without watching the PV. It's even my current ringtone for my parents.

6. °C-ute - 江戸の手毬唄Ⅱ (Edo Temari no Uta II)

Fun with all the historical references, cute outfits, and fun dance - it was an easy favorite for me~ I'm glad that this song has brought more recognition to this hardworking group at the Japan Record Awards!

5. モーニング娘。- 私の青い鳥 (Watashi no Aoi Tori)

True, Sakurada Junko's version is best IMO, and I really thought Suzuki Airi did a wonderful job covering it (as well as Matsuura Aya), I thought this version was so distinctly different and sweet from prior incarnations. I'm guessing that Kamei leads - and I think she's a perfect choice to do so.

4. °C-ute - ほめられ伸び子のテーマ曲 (Homerare Nobiko no Theme Kyoku)

Funky, cool, and even a bit soulful with Okai and Hagiwara's singing! I really liked this song and all their live performances with it. I almost wish it was a released single!

3. Buono! - ロッタラ ロッタラ (Lottara Lottara)

From the moment I first heard this song, it was a Buono! favorite. It's up-beat, cheery, cute and retro. I really enjoyed the PV from the stage set up to the coordinating outfits to the dance. Buono! is quickly becoming my favorite of all the active H!P subgroups! They have consistently made great songs and are made up of my favorite H!P KIDS members! What's not to like? :D

2. モーニング娘。- リゾナント ブルー (Resonant Blue)

This song almost defines MM for me in 2008. After some "m'eh" releases, I was wondering as to just what direction they were planning to go with under Takahashi's leadership. "Resonant Blue" has the strongest hooks and dance PV I've seen in a while - probably not since "Do It! Now". I'm glad that they returned to charts with such a great song.

1. High-King - Ｃ＼Ｃ （シンデレラ＼コンプレックス）& 記憶の迷路 Cinderella/Complex & Kioku no Meiro)

First C/C: You know, I'm actually surprised that this song has made it to my #1. When I first heard the song, I really was confused by it. The triple-beats were something I haven't heard in many H!P releases and it had a really song R&B feel, which I don't usually like. But this song really grew on me - especially when watching the dance shot PV. I have a new-found respect for Captain Saki and Maimi. They both have a lot of stage presence and despite being relegated to back-up dancers for Takahashi and Tanaka, they did a great job of holding their own. Newcomer Maeda Yuuka also did a great job of making a spot for herself in this group.

Kioku no Meiro: Again, another strange choice for me... I haven't been into house/trance/eurobeat music since my Initial D days... but this song turned out to be really catchy, cute, and fun - and somehow reminiscent of the Cinderella musical that they were representing.

QotD: New Year's Resolution

What's your New Year's resolution for 2009? How did you do with 2008's?

It's my goal to be much more goal-oriented this year... and really do my part to fulfill all of my set goals - for both my personal life as well as my business. 

It's definitely a challenge since the concept of goals have always boggled me. We'll see how things go. :D

Happy New Year!

Beard Papa Choux-Creme Radio Spot (KSSK)

Beard papa radio spot

KS told me about this numerous times in the car, but since I don't listen to morning radio, I've never heard it... 

Until now.

WHAT THE-