Tuesday, January 6, 2004

   Ben, UNPLUGGED!
I've decided now to unplug my Internet connection everytime that I need to get something done. It's much better that way for me to get my work done. I've got work to do and a practice tonight, so I've got no time to lose, either.

I may be on later tonight after practice. Goodbye for now, I guess.
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Monday, January 5, 2004

   Meh and teh heh...
Regular life update, I think. It may evolve into something more; these things just happen.

So, yeah. First day back at school after a vacation. My sister wanted to get out of the house at or before 7:00. She set my alarm for me, as I didn't know how and I really needed something to wake me up.

So, my alarm went off a 6:20. I hit the button and then lay in bed for a little while. I knew she had set it too early. So at 6:30 I got out of bed and got dressed in my school uniform. Something didn't feel right, but I just couldn't place what was wrong. I packed up my books scattered from vacation and went downstairs.

I had a couple of bagles with cream cheese while I was waiting for my mom to get out of the shower. I realized what was outn of place right then. I was in my sneakers, and not my school shoes. I went and put them on.

After my mom got out of the bathroom, I went in to put my contacts in. Hmm...no contact solution. I went upstairs (this is at about 7:00) to grab my sister's. She was in her bed, still sleeping. Keep in mind, this is the person who had been adament about leaving at or before 7:00. I woke her up and grabbed the contact solution.

I made it to school on time somehow (we had left a bit late) only I had nothing to write with. Now to the schedule of events....
Today was a Day C

Period D: Photography. I got my oral presentation over with, which was a big relief. I critiqued the photograph "Icarus" by Lewis Hine as a part of it. It took away some of my anxiousness when my Photography teacher asked me if I knew who Icarus was.

I proceeded to tell her about his father and their little sojourn over the sea, and Icarus' little incident with the sun. It was definitely a relief from speaking about Lewis Hine.

E Period: Algebra II. Review of old junk that I knew in eighth grade, and starting into square roots, which I did last year and in eighth grade.

F Period: Honors English II. Apparently the critiques that I had put off were due today, even though I swear that they weren't actually. *mutter* Anyways, I talked to my teacher and she's letting me turn them in tomorrow.

G Period: Honors World History II. Our teacher wasn't here, so we just got to do work all period, basically. Unfortunately, as I was writing this, I realized that I was assigned homework in that class that I did not bring home. Drat....

H Period: Honors French III. Reviewing for our art test on Wednesday. Eck...I have a critique due Thursday in this class. I have to critique on of Claude Monet's paintings.

A Period: Off. A much appreciated break from class. I bought and drank a Mountain Dew. I listened in on popular people chatter, that's about it.

B Period: Chemistry. We were re-watching a video on lab safety to prepare for the exam. It was a nice little waste of time.

School ended, I took the bus to Sacred Heart. I hund out there for a while until my dad showed up and picked me and my younger siblings up. We went home.

I haven't started working on any homework yet and I have Confirmation class in about ten minutes. Maybe I'll get extremely lucky and we'll actually get the ten-minute break that we're supposed to always get but only got one time when our main teacher was away.

That was the time I went outside and got to talk to Christina. Being able to do that again would be a good way to maintain my sanity at that gathering.

Our Confirmation teachers are, in my honest opinion, tactless. They know what they're teaching, they try hard to teach it, but they just don't try to learn how to teach it; instead trying to grind it into my classmates' heads. I say "my classmates'" Instead of "our" because I already know much of the stuff they're trying to teach. I've been in Catholic school for twelve and a half years. I know what they're talking about. All they're doing is bringing up subjects that cause me to doubt. It really is a pain.

Well, I'd like to write more but I've got to go to class. Hopefully I'll have the willpower to do homework before logging on again. We'll see.

Aradia must fall. :p

Note: Please see the "Note" in the previous post if you have not already done so.
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Sunday, January 4, 2004

   Back to your regularly scheduled procrastination....
Well, after searching my room numerous times, I realized that I did not know where my photography sheet was, the one that said what had to be in my oral report!

I quickly asked my older sister, who is in the class with me. She nonchalantly told me her paper was at school and that she didn't know what was needed either. I plugged my Internet adapter in, quickly signing on to AIM. None of my school friends that were on were in my Photography class. One signed on! And then quickly signed off lest I send her an IM.

Well, that probably wasn't the reason, but she signed off before I could send her an IM. I waited a little while, entertaining myself with Otaku-related things until another one of my friends signed on, another from my class! I had a brief discussion with him. He had no idea either.

I called up one of my other friends who is in the class as well. He didn't have the paper, but he did have some advice on what to do.

Having been given that advice, I sat back down at my computer. And began to procrastinate. At 9:54PM. The night before. Oh yeah.

In reference to my post earlier, it pretty much is what it says. I unhooked my Internet adapter, gave it to my dad and told him to keep it away from me, lest I be tempted to use it while I still had homework to do.

Now that I have it back, and I know what to do for the assignment, though, I am back to putting things off. Whoo hoo!

Be sure to vote for me in the Otaku Awards!

Arcadia must fall. :p

(Note: This is not intended to mean "fall" as in physically fall. That could possibly harm Arcadia. Although she is my bitter rival, I do view her as a friend and as such would not like to see her possibly skin her knees.

Instead I would want to see her wallow in misery and despair as I surpass her in the popularity rankings, leaving her far behind me, as she should be. >:D)
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Today, in something like a nutshell, because I don't like cliches
1:22 PM on January 4, 2004. I give my dad my Internet access hookup and bid him to not return it to me until after 7:30 tonight. The second I step into my room, with a Internet-less computer, I freeze up. I am, honestly, seized by spasms and my arms constrict to my chest. Isn’t that pathetic? No Internet access and my body actually produces an involuntary reaction. Or maybe I’m just weird enough to convince myself that it was involuntary, who knows? The fact is, I have a lot of work to get done and probably shouldn’t even be writing this in a WordPerfect document. I just thought I should record what had happened, as it was really weird. :p

Homework, Ben, HOMEWORK!


2:17PM. More random seizures, still mostly in my arms and shoulders. I’m nearly finished with my History homework, and I need to go to the library. The fact that I have this document as refuge seems to be my only bastion of hope. Reading this, it seems rather overdramatized. But hey, I like to do that.

3:16PM. After numerous failed attempts to get my printer to work, I gave up and had lunch. Turkey and bologna sandwich. Yum. Then I made my brother lunch and came up here. I actually got it to work after fiddling with the printer settings, again. So, yeah. My printer is working and will hopefully remain so. Back to work I go.

4:45PM Went to the library and returned Ender’s Game. I checked my Claude Monet books out again, so I can finish my French project. I have to critique one of Monet’s art pieces. I probably didn’t need all three books, but I just wanted to be sure I had what I needed. I have English critiques that I need to type up, but I can’t find my notes. I’m hoping that I left them at school because they are not due tomorrow, but am not entirely certain. >.>

Other than my French critique, I have a Photography presentation to prepare for and a quiz to study for in Theology, which encompasses the whole of the Gospel of Matthew. I must get at those, then.

7:58PM. I have just come home from my Youth Group Meeting. But before I go into that, let me tell you what happened when I got home. As it was after 7:30, I went to my dad’s room and asked for my Internet adapter back. He gave it to me, and I ran upstairs to my room (which is hazardous, as the light is blown out and the stairs are not easily seen). I get into my room and jump over to my laptop, which is already on and waiting. Briefly, the thought passes through my mind that I still have to prepare for my Photography presentation. I immediately stop, mentally and physically. I look down at my adapter, and then I quickly toss it across the room, saying: “No! Get away!” Then I sat down, typed in my password, and wrote this. And now, on to Photography.
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Saturday, January 3, 2004

Woe is me...
NNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
!!!!!!!!!!






It has finally happened...I knew it would eventually, but who would have thought so soon? Certainly not me.










My world has come crashing around my ears. I just don't know what to do with myself right now. I'm....I'm....I'm at a loss.









But I can't stop now. I've tried too hard and come to far to let this stop me! I will get through this; I will prevail!







Arcadia has reached page 2 of the Popularity rankings.

Arcadia must fall. :p
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ALL YOUR OTAKU AWARDS ARE BELONG TO ME!
General Awards

Overall Member of the Year: Why shouldn't I get this?

Male Otaku of the Year: Me. I'm a guy, I'm here all the time, and I don't do drugs.

Female Otaku of the Year:
Legoboy1: hmm...why I should be voted the Best Female Otaku....
CharlesAIMHandle: Because girls just want to have fun. O_o
CharlesAIMHandle: and besides
CharlesAIMHandle: everyone has always known you have female tendencies!

Staff Member of the Year: Me. That's right, I'm a staff member. I'm no different from any other moderator, except that I lack the title, the abilities, and the consent of James. I should win, because I'm all covert and cool about it.

Funniest Member: Me. I make tons of people laugh. Really. I do.


No, I'm serious. I can make people laugh.














What?! I can!














Stop not believing me!












Laugh!!!!!!!!!!!



Most Opinionated Otaku: Me. I think I should win all of these, and you can't change my mind.

Member most likely to be here in two years: Me. I've been around since V1, why would I leave now? I haven't gotten a life since then.

Best Newbie: Well, until a couple of weeks ago, I was still technically a Newbie. :p That, coupled with my charming personality ought to win me this by default.

Best Oldie: Me. I am just teh awesomest member there is, in every way shape or form. I've been here since V1, people! I was around when Sara was still cynic-42!

Most likely to become a Staff Member: I would like to think me, since I fit any and all qualifications. Don't I? I mean, what do I not have that Charles has? Besides, this whole no-mod power staff position is getting old.

Favorite Banned Member: I was banned for a few hours on the 2nd of January. And I did it just so I could get this award. Does persistence count for nothing?

Most improved Member of the Year: Me. I'm always getting better, as perfect as I may seem to all of you cretins.

Thread of the Year: When Humans Are The Enemy. It just keeps coming back!
The story isn't too bad either...

Silliest Thread of the Year: Who is your Daddy, and What Does he Do? Crying out loud, the title is an Arnold Schwarzenegger quote!


Random Awards

Avatar Award: Mine, I mean, it's got Puppetmon, and my name. How can you beat that combo?!

Signature Award: Pretty much unchanged since I created it: "Have you ever met a genius before? Now you have." Does steadfastness count for nothing?!

Best Location: I'll put in my street address for all of you stalkers, if you vote for me. Come on, Boba Fett got votes when he put it in his Location!

Best Otaku Couple: Me and my Ego.

Best looking Otaku: Me. I'm so fine that scanners melt upon contact with my photos. That's why you never see any.

Otaku clique of the Year: Me and my alter-egos. We'll get a sig advertisement soon. We just need to find out how many of us there are....

Best MyOtaku: Mine. I've got 25 signatures. Oh yeah, go me, go me.

Otaku Writers

Poet Laureate: I had that one really random one that I was going to give to my crush. It was pure gold, encrusted with jewels! Vote for me!

Writer of the Year: Me, just look at all my RPG's, and my two(?) fanfics. They sure beat the heck out of anything Mitch, PoisonTongue, or Charles could do.

Original Story of the Year: When Humans are the Enemy. It's an RPG based on a book, look for it in stores within the next few decades.

Role-Player of the Year: Me. All of my characters are original but usually lack a lengthy history, which is only there to shape the character's every aspect anyways.

Brawler of the Year (sparring): Me, I took on Raiha once or twice. And almost lived both times. I even got a cheap kill in one of them!

Role-Playing Game of the Year: When Humans are the Enemy. Gee, this thing was just incredibly awesome. Everyone should read it, and be on the lookout for the sequel RPG.

Social Otakus

Otaku Social member of the year: Me! I have 78 Otaku Buddies on my buddy list, and I even talk to some of them! Not to mention my MyO Friends.

Entertainment Otaku of the Year: Me, of course. Anyone who reads this should agree on that.

Anime Otakus

Otaku of the Year: Me. Just because I like anime. And I rock.

.hack//SIGN Member of the Year: I saw about 5 minutes of an episode one time, and read the reviews on the games. I'm a total fanatic!

DragonBall Guru: Dragonball R0xx0r$! GOKU 4EVER!

Digipeep of the Year: Two failed Digimon RPGs and still going strong! Not to mention my multitude of fic-digi's that I occasionally make reference to. Ah, and my Digimon Fanfic that never got finished!

Gundam Member of the Year: I may accidentally glimpsed an eppie or two of Gundam, and I sat through all of the Gundam model commercials too! I am such a big fan that I should win this!

Yu-Gi-Oh Member of the Year: They should call the game Ben-Rules-This-Anime. I am the best and most knowledgable person in the world when it comes to Yu-Gi-Oh. Altron Gundam can't touch me when it comes to Yu-Gi-Oh.

Least Disappointing Yu Yu Hakusho Member: I'm going to try and win this (or get Honorable Mention) legitimately. So vote for me!

Otaku Gamers

Gamer of the Year: I just rule at every video game. Whatever the system is, whatever the game is, I'm better at it than you.

Nintendo "Mario" Award: Me! I own a Gameboy COLOR and that N65 thing!

The Sony Award: PS 1&2 I own you! Really, I do.

Xbox Gamer of the Year: Hey, I've played Halo and Medal of Honor: Rising Sun. I may not own an Xbox, but I should own this award!

PC Gamer of the Year: R.T.S. @ll 7h3 w@y. All your base are belong to us!


Otaku Artists


Best Graphic Designer (Banners, wallpapers, etc.): My stuff is just too good for human viewing. I wouldn't want to kill any unsuspecting n00bs...that way....

Best "Traditional" Artist (Drawings, paintings, etc.): Just because scanners fear the touch of my work.... I should win anyways!

Best Spriter: My sprites are so cool, the French call them "ils qui n'existe pas".

Series Otakus

I should get these simply because most of you don't know anyone else who applies!

Oh yes, and.....

Arcadia must fall. :p
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Friday, January 2, 2004

Early Morning Quizzes

Your soul is bound to the Solitary Rose: The
Alone.

"When I wake up alone, the shades are still
drawn on the cold window pane so they cast
their lines on my bed and lines on my
face."

The Solitary Rose is associated with loneliness,
melancholy, and patience. It is governed by
the goddess Merope and its sign is The Sword,
or Unrequited Love.

As a Solitary Rose, you may be summed up as a
hopeless romantic. You desire love and have so
much love to give, but thing just never seem to
work out the way you want them to. In life,
you can be very optomistic, even when things
are gray and nothing works out to your
expectations.


What Rose Is Your Soul Bound To?
brought to you by Quizilla

Hopeless romantic, yup that's my touchy side in a nutshell.




Aphrodite/Eros


?? Which Of The Greek Gods Are You ??
brought to you by Quizilla

I see the beginnings of a pattern here....



You're goin' down! FOR THEIVING!


What Would You Go to Jail For? (Many outcomes)
brought to you by Quizilla

Eh...heh heh...



You represent... hope.
You're quite a daydreamer and can be a hopeless
romantic. You enjoy being creative and don't
mind being alone at times. You have goals, and
know what you want in life... even if they are
a little far fetched.


What feeling do you represent?
brought to you by Quizilla

Jeepers...another one....


Aesthete


The ULTIMATE personality test
brought to you by Quizilla


Hmmm....interesting.....



Congratulations! You're Gandalf!


Which Lord of the Rings character and personality problem are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Heh, this one was pretty funny.



You're the smirk,a frown-smile hybrid that's a
little bit cocky and usually associated with
evil or arrogant,but attractive people.You
probably just don't give a damn,but it's
everyone else's fault if you don't because
you're too awesome to have any real faults.


What Kind of Smile are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Heh, darn right. :p



You are Form 5, Dragon: The Weaver.

"And The Dragon seperated the virtuous from
the sinful. He tore his eyes from his sockets
and used them to peer into the souls of those
on trial to make a judgement. He knew that
with endless knowledge came endless
responsibility."

Some examples of the Dragon Form are Athena
(Greek), St. Peter (Christian), and Surya
(Indian).
The Dragon is associated with the concept of
intelligence, the number 5, and the element of
wood.
His sign is the crescent moon.

As a member of Form 5, you are an intelligent and
wise individual. You weigh options by looking
at how logical they are and you know that while
there may not always be a right or wrong
choice, there is always a logical one. People
may say you are too indecisive, but it's only
because you want to do what's right. Dragons
are the best friends to have because they're
willing to learn.


Which Mythological Form Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Nice, Dragons are cool. ^_^


Oy, that's all for now. I was ready for bed about an hour ago, but stayed up to talk to Eric and take these quizzes. Now I'm leaving.
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Thursday, January 1, 2004

Otaku Awards!
I actually received nominations for the Otaku Awards for the first time ever! (I think) I appreciate the nominations very much, just to let you who did nominate me know.

I decided to make a spoof of why I should get every award. It will take several posts at the boards and some careful editing, but I'm hoping to get them all ready by the time the awards end.

Here are some of the completed ones:


Member most likely to be here in two years: Me. I've been around since V1, why would I leave now? Pfft. I have no life.

Best Newbie: Well, until a couple of weeks ago, I was still technically a Newbie. :p I think I maintained the spot longer than anyone has so far. Also, look at me compared to those other Newbies. I mean, look at Arcadia. ;)

Best Oldie: Me. I am just teh awesomest member there is, in every way shape and form. I've been here since V1!

Most improved Member of the Year: Me. I'm always getting better, as perfect as I may seem to all of you cretins.

Thread of the Year: When Humans Are The Enemy. It keeps coming back! The story isn't too bad either...

Silliest Thread of the Year: Who is your Daddy, and What Does he Do? Crying out loud, the title is an Arnold Schwarzenegger quote!

Avatar Award: Mine. I mean, it's got Puppetmon, and my name. How can you beat that?!

Best Location: I'll add in my street address for all of you stalkers, if you vote for me.

Best looking Otaku: Me. I'm so fine that scanners melt upon contact with my photos. That's why you never see any.

Otaku clique of the Year: Me and my alter-egos. We'll get a sig advertisement soon. We just need to find out how many of us there are....

Best MyOtaku: Mine. I've got 24 signatures. Oh yeah, go me, go me.

Poet Laureate: I had that one really random one that I was going to give to my crush. It was pure gold, encrusted with jewels.

Original Story of the Year: When Humans are the Enemy. It's an RPG based on my book, look for it in stores within the next few decades.

Brawler of the Year: Me, I took on Raiha once or twice. And almost lived each time.

Digipeep of the Year: Two failed Digimon RPGs and still going strong! Not to mention my multitude of fic-digi's that I occasionally make reference to. Ah, and my Digimon Fanfic that never got finished!

PokéPlaque: You all must remember the Cubone story. It was the best Pokemon fanfic. Of. All. Time.



So yeah, these are a few of my goofy reasons I shoudl get the awards. I should have more to come. Remember, vote for me!

Arcadia must fall. :p
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Wednesday, December 31, 2003

   More Craziness Walking
I went for another walk today, while it was still mostly light out. My legs were still a little tired from practice and my walks last night, but it was the first time in a long while that I'd had an opportunity and a desire to walk.

So, I decided to go the same route I had over the summer and in the fall. It was nice to be on the familiar route. Unfortunately, the route was a little too familiar. I got careless....

And almost walked into a moving car. :p

I was walking along past a Dunkin' Donuts when a car turned to pull into the Drive-Thru. I had my hood up, so my peripheral vision was impaired, and no cars had been near me at any of the other turn-in places. Luckily, my sloth-like reflexes saved me. I put out my arms and hopped back to the sidewalk.

After that, I wasn't nearly hit, but there was a careless driver that could have hit me, had she been paying less attention than she was. I was at a major intersection and had pushed the walk signal button. I knew from past walks when the signal would light up, it was right after a certain light went red.

This lady in a car across the street from me was slowly edging up from where the "stop here on red" sign was. She was anticipating the turn of the light, not seeming to notice that I was obviously waiting to cross.

So, once the light turned red, she revved her engine to drive forward, but stopped. Her light hadn't turned green for some odd reason. She was about a quarter of the way into the intersection without a green light. :p I then calmly walked across the intersection.

Further along, I found a plastic glove, the kind that doctors use. It was just lying on the side of the road, it's fingers bent in the "I love you" sign. I don't know if it was coincidental, or if someone had purposely arranged it so.

I walked by my old school and found the two dead birds that I had seen last night. Still in roughly the same spot.

It was just my luck that Mass was getting out. I spent the next ten minutes or so dodging scattered mobs of old people in and out of cars. Scary stuff. Scaaaaaary stuff.

After that I was barked at simultaneously by three different dogs. One was a German Shepherd, and two were tiny terriers.

Yeah, that's about it. Happy Almost-pre-New Year. I'll be spending the night at my Aunt's house, so I may or may not be on later.
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One o'clock Walk
I went for a walk just a few minutes ago. Like the title says, it was about 1:00 in the morning. I just really felt like going for a walk right then.

I tried asking my mom for permission, but she was pretty much dead to the world. (She was deeply asleep, for those of you who may miss the implication) So then I called my dad on his cell phone.

"Hello?"

"Hi, dad? This is going to sound really weird."

"What's that?"

"I said, this is going to sound really weird."

An uncertain: "Okay..."

"Can I go for a walk?"

*silence*

"Ben, it's 1:00 in the morning."

"I know, but I just really want go for a walk. I won't go far, just up and down the street."

"You'll go just up and down our street?"

"Yeah."

"I guess so, I'll be home soon anyway."

The conversation went something like that, at least.

So, I put on my socks and shoes, my jacket, and my reflective legbands.

My street was very dream-like, if I were anything of a poet, I would have surely been inspired.

There was a bell tinkling softly somewhere near the end of the street. I didn't see it, but I at least knew which porch it came from. The sky was a pretty dark blue, where I could see it. There were stars here and there, the rest of the sky was obscured by puffy purplish clouds. Cars can be heard off in the distance, but none can be seen nearby. No people are about either.

There was a flag with some sort of Christmas design on it, rubbing gently against the side of one house, putting out an eerie sort of scraping/brushing sound. Then at one point a door creaked and I almost jumped. I sure as heck shuddered when it happened, it was spooky.

So perhaps it was more nightmarish than dream-like. I suppose it depends on who you are. The whole city is lit by peach-orange lights, which really contribute to its surreal appearance. I mean, what part of the real world is orange?

Heh, the dream-state was sort of interrupted when I passed one house. I peered in the living room window and watched a few seconds of X-Men 2. Wolverine didn't quite fit in with the rest of my surroundings. :D

So, yeah. I'll have to see if I can go walking more often at night. My older sister would fight it to the death, I suppose. My parents don't like her walking around at night, no matter how early or late it is. She'd hate to see me be allowed to.

Eh, I should go to bed. It's now 1:49 by my computer's clock.

Every night before bed a read a little in my Lord of the Rings: Weapons and Warfare book. It's an interesting read.

Au Revoir, mes amis.
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