Tuesday, September 20, 2005

   I got my test back.
I got my test back. I'm not mad at my teacher, I'm mad at myself. I should have kept up with the readings, and I should have studied more than just the night before. That's why I got an 83% on my test. I am not happy about it, though it's about the way I expected it to be after I was done taking the test. *sigh*

Well, now that that is over with, I can start keeping up for the next one. Grrrrr!
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   Presentation in Front of People, What?
Ok. So I fear public speaking like the Black Plague. But maybe this time it will be different?
I actually know a little about the subject I'm presenting, so I don't know how it will go. Usually, if I don't know that much, and I didn't do that much work, I just stand there and say "um" a lot. This is an irrational fear, I know, but that is the definition of a phobia, you know.

pho-bi-a (fo-bee-uh): an irrational fear of people, places, or situations.

Or, at least that's what I remember from Psychology. So anyway, the presentation...*looks around nervously*...I'll do it if I have to, but really, how many times CAN one say "um" in a sentance?
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Sunday, September 18, 2005

   Test taken. Verdict is still out.
Well. I took my test but I'm not sure how I did. I guess I'll see on Tuesday.

Anyway, update on my Haku Costume: I got the white fabric for the trim on the haori, as well as green nail polish. That brings the total cash spent on the costume up to $28.00, but the total shopping time went up from 2 to about 7, because I had to drive all over town to find green nail polish. Also, I did finish my wire and bead holder for the bun cover. It took a total of 4 hours, but I only added about half and hour today, since I worked on it off and on every now and again.
Total prep hours: 6.5
Total shopping hours: 7
Total research hours: 10.5
Total cost: $28.00

The nail polish was $6.00, and it took forever for me to get the little lady at the nail place to realize that I just wanted to buy a bottle of it, rather than getting my nails done (I probably need it, but I didn't have time).

I am going to be trying to get a little work done on it this week, but I really need to get two papers and a presentation ready for the 27th. So, that's that.

;P

April
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Wednesday, September 14, 2005

   Happy!
Well, my mood isn't exactly happy. But one good thing is that I actually have up on my cosplay gallery the only picture I know of that has me with my full Suzuka costume. Don't you just hate it when you forget something?
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Tuesday, September 13, 2005

   reading, reading, reading
ok. I'm on my break from work, and I thougght that I would say at least how things are going with my test preparation. I have read around forty pages now, but I have no fewer than sixty left. I am really frazzled. On top of that, I got my term paper back...
The man gave me a "check mark" on it. No letter grade, and no percentage. The "check mark" is there to let me know that my paper is acceptable. I wish that I knew a little more about how he thinks I SHOULD be doing things.
Then, I found out that on top of the test, and another term paper, I'll have to give an oral presentation in another class on the same day that the paper is due...I think that I must do this to myself on purpose.
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   OHMYGOD! a test! what ever will I do?
Well. Graduate School really is annoying. I am about to have the first of several rigorous tests on rather boring materials, and I'm really not happy. For that, I have no one to blame but myself. I did not do the readings, but that was because I was out of town. That was also my fault. Oh, I'm sure that watching hour upon hour of Naruto, Escaflowne, Inu Yasha, and Full Metal Alchemist didn't really help matters either. Now, I'm just stalling, which I really shouldn't be, but I'm kind of scared. I haven't taken a test in over two and half years now, and it isn't exactly a normal undergrad kind of test. There are fewer of them, and there's no multiple choice questions. EEEEEEEk!
If anyone has encouraging words, please comment by Wednesday. My exam is on Thursday.

A very nervous A.J.
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Sunday, September 11, 2005

   Haku Costume...Coming along.
Progress!!!
I got a lot done today. I also read some of my school stuff, but that doesn't matter to me at the moment...
--Haori is nearly done
--wire part of bun cover nearing completion
--Obi is complete except strings on ends
--bought mist village headband
So, what I still have to do is
--trim, hem haori, wash it for wear
--make bun cover
--find fabric for/make shirt and pants
--mod flip-flops
--find green nail polish
--make Haku's mask.

Note: I posted earlier about having found a mask, but it looked like it was plastic (but they wanted $70.00+shipping from Japan for it). I contacted the seller. It IS plastic. Why on earth would someone pay that much for a plastic mask? It wasn't even good thick plastic like a hockey mask. It was crappy halloween-costume-from-walmart-mask plastic. You know, the kind that will dent if you flick it with your finger!!?

Oh, well. At least I didn't go and buy it. That would have been stupid.

Yipee for progress.
New time estimates:
prep hours: now, 12
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   Sleep deprivation...
At the urging of a friend, as well as time constraints, I have begun my Haku costume for Oni-Con in October. It is really short notice, this time, as I usually start testing costumes at least three months in advance. What I have so far:
--The wire part of Haku's bun cover 1/4 finished--brass wire/ plated glass beads.
--chalked lines on fabric for haori, not including trim
--pattern to mod for pants and shirt
--flip flops to mod for geta
What I still need:
--a way to deal with ribbing on shirt/pants
--mask. Papier mache/modeling clay/lacquer is what I'm thinking of doing.
--throwing needles. thick gague wire should work, and that's easy
--bag for carrying stuff. cloth, tie. not to worry about bags, I can do those in my sleep
--Mist Village headband. I found one for cheap, I just need to get the thing.
Total hours shopping: 2
Total hours prep: 6
Total hours research (internet): 10

Total $ spent: ~$20.00

All values are subject to change, as of tomorrow, since I'll be working on it more.
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Saturday, September 10, 2005

   Call for pics...
I know that no one really will be reading my posts, but if anyone does, and was at Dragon Con 2005, did you get any pics of me in my Suzuka costume? If you did, let me know, and if they're able to be emailed, I can swap some for them if necessary. In any event, sleep is taking over.....
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Friday, September 9, 2005

   Reaction to costume...is this a good thing?
Ok. One of my friends saw the pics oscar took of me at the con. I got a little bit of an unexpected reaction...

Him: wow
Me: what?
Him:Uh, I mean, you look good in your costume...
Me: *laughs* I told you I looked good.
Him: I didn't doubt it, but damn...

See, this is not what I had expected. I mean, I thought people might say something like "Nice!" or "You look good, but where's the stole?" To tell the truth, I look much better with the stole on, which I left in the hotel room before the contest.

Oh, well.
Ah. One thing I forgot before:
Thanks to Momozakura for the beautiful costume. Because of her hard work and friendly suggestions, I was able to have the confidence to pull of the character of Suzuka, who is so totally unlike me.

;)
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