Here are more craptacular photographs from TC. X__X;; I really need to invest in a camera that has the anti-shake function. Either that or invest in a really awesome collapsible tripod. I hate it how on the screen it looks fine, but when I upload it onto the computer, it’s not clear! GROWL. I HATE MY SHAKY HANDS. Anyway, here are the rest of the pictures that weren’t deemed worthy enough to have their own blog entries. XD Actually, some are probably worth a blog entry or two, but either they are or will be written at Ningin and GirlyBubble, or I am just pure lazy.

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The Beginning: Sakura Crisis’ Scanslations
2004 was when I had started to get into mangas — especially the shounen-ai/yaoi ones. I remember surfing Sakura Crisis’ website where they already had several scans up, and one of them happened to be Love Mode. At first, though, the art style had turned me off, but the more I read their opinions on the manga, where they said it was a series where it made you laugh, smile, cry, and etcetera, I decided to give it a try. From there, I read all that they had scanslated at that time, about up to volume 7. I was hooked — the world Shimizu-sensei had created was beautiful with its endearing characters, well-told plot, and Aoe Reiji, who just happens to be my all-time favourite fictional dream man. Never mind that he was gay (actually, bi), just let me have my dreams and fantasies.

Toonk Adventure
However, reading up to volume 7 was not enough for me. I needed to know more, wanted to continue to the last book, volume 11. It was then I was talking to two of my friends who told me about how they buy books at this one place in Dongdaemun and Toonk one of the many manga/manhwa chaek stores in Hongdae area. After failing miserably with Dongadaemu, another friend and I decided to give Toonk a try, and it was easier to find! There, I bought the last four volumes in Korean, which ended up getting lost when we were walking from Toonk to Idae . . . so we had to go back and buy them again. What happened there was my friend was carrying it, and while walking, this bitch crashed into the bag, the bag ripped, and the books fell out without us realising it. X_X;;

Anyway, I read the last four volumes in front of the computer — the English translations on the screen with the book in my hand. The series came to a conclusion for me in that way, and later I went and bought the rest of the series from Toonk again, which cost only $35 bucks. Yes, it was cheap, but I discovered that Korean licensed mangas are all censored even though it’s already labelled “19+”. That was a horrifying revelations.

The Journey’s End: Blu’s Version
To continue on with the story, Blu ended up licensing the series, and I was at first hesitant to buy the series in English, even if it would have been better and all. I finally caved in to start buying the Blu version in February 2007. In the next year and a half, I slowly got the rest of the series. However, this summer, Blu had an announcement that they might not finish up the last two volumes of Love Mode. That news horrified me and a bunch of other series’ fans. Luckily, though, Blu decided to go on and finish the series. The last volume finally made its appearance couple weeks ago, and I finally received it and read it all last night. Reading the English version gave me a real sense of closure. Now if Junjou Romantica ever comes to a conclusion, I think my life would be set. That is until another series or something comes into my life that possesses me.

Seriously, though, a closure like this is always nice. Now I can go through a non-stop marathon! WOOT!

Job-wise, what did I learn? Truth be told, I honestly wasn’t looking forward to being a child care provider. The idea of working with children under the age of six simply frightened me. I dreaded working there, but due to situations that were out of my control, I had to turn to this job as a temporary fixture at that time. Only thing is that I didn’t envision working and surviving here for over eleven months. Anyway, read on and see exactly what I have learned while doing this job. Have fun figuring out which ones are serious and which ones are the snarkier comments.

- Children are very huggable when they are being sweet and cute.
- Never give children gloves. Stick with mittens.
- Hand-washing for 300 times in one day is not going to guarantee good health.
- Wearing a smock doesn’t protect clothes from paint, bleach, drools, and other nameless fluids.
- Foods that are cooked for the masses will always taste like crap. (ie: cafeteria food)
- Applying suntan actually helps when it is required to go outside for 80 minutes each days for outdoor play in the summer.
- Infants cry loudly, toddlers babble loudly, and preschoolers talk loudly. Remember this and consider investing in some earplugs.
- Be prepared to have the ABC Song and other nursery rhymes tunes heard and sung every day from Monday to Friday.
- Expect a lot of pot lucks along with chicken wings and pizza luncheons/dinners — especially when someone is leaving amongst the staff.
- The once a month Thursday staff meetings are a necessary evil. This is one instance where free food is given, though.
- Expect the snack in the staff lounge’s vending machines to get stuck on the way down. Especially when TC is at the vending machine, X_x;;
- Chocolates are a must to have for this job. It provides the endorphins that will bring happiness and energy from the sugar rush.
- Having a car is helpful for this job — especially when the job site is practically far away from everything else.
- Having a lot of the every day materials is a cheap way to do art projects. (ie: cotton balls and paper plates!)
- Watch out for the buggies out in the hallways. They are red for a reason: means danger. XD

The more serious reasoning are in my head. I just choose not to divulge that information because it’s a lot easier to be sarcastic instead of being the deadpan information deliverer. In other words, I did enjoy my time here. Of course there were some days where I wanted to strangle everybody I ran into there, but I am glad for the learning experience. Working there has shaped me to be a better person as whole (I hope), and I will miss the children who I can’t help but play favouritisms with!

Oh well. Time to look ahead into the future with the new job. I hope thing goes well tomorrow!

With the start of my new job this upcoming Thursday, where it requires me to work on Saturdays, I will say farewell to my Saturdays and Sundays two consecutive days off. X_X;; I guess I should be glad that I get Sunday and another day (not sure which) off, but still.

This also means, I have to say farewell to my Friday nights partying. Darn.

At least with this job I can say farewell to waking up at 6 in the bloody morning routine. I hope. Unless I have a really darn good reason to wake up at that ungodly hour, I will rejoice in not waking up at that dreaded time in the future . . . I hope.

Who knows what’s going to happen to my schedule after Thursday. All I know is that it’s probably going to let me have my vampire sleeping schedule back. Yay! However, until Thursday, all the stuff I just typed up are all speculations; although I am definitely sure about working on Saturdays. T_T

This long weekend was very relaxing and wonderful . . . minus the coughing and blowing my nose part. I’m still a mucus mess. Gag. Monday was a holiday, and I took leave Tuesday and Wednesday to have a nice long weekend off!

Sunday
I was supposed to meet David and go eat Indian food. However, I suffered from an overnight attack of flu soreness and fever. I didn’t sleep until it was past four in the morning, and that was only after NyQuil had entered my system. When I woke up at noon, I knew I was going to be wonky, so I cancelled the meeting, went back to sleep until three in the afternoon. The rest of the day was spent in front of the computer and playing Princess Debut on Ubi the DS and beating one ending of it.

Monday
Again, I stayed home and this time I played Time Hollow. HOMG. Best plot in an adventure game after Gyakuten Saiban series. Too bad it’s too bloody short. X_X;; But graaaagh! Time travelling stories always intrigues me and always makes my mind explode. The plot: excellent. Graphics: decent. Music: nice but limited selection. Characters: <3333 Derek. Gameplay: Eh, had some issues, and the Hollow Pen wasn’t used enough. Replayability: None. X_X;; But the plot alone just makes me squee.

Tuesday
Met AJ briefly for coffee and lunch. Then came back home and just did random computer stuff. Oh and blogged a lot for Ningin and also for Girlybubble.

Wednesday
Today I . . . stayed home again. Dun dun dun. I lead a very boring life. Then again, being sick and having crappy immune system doesn’t really help me much to go out and have fun. XD Neither is the fact that you’re on a mini-holiday while everyone else is working or going to school. Oi. Oh well. At least I rested and got a lot of stuff done.

Conclusion
I work only half a day tomorrow, Friday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday next week. Four and a half more days at my current job and then I switch over to my new one. Oh vey. X_X;; Oh well. Two more days, and it’s the weekend again. YAY!