Alert: Airheaded fangirling up ahead. Consider yourselves warned.

One of the first things I did when I heard about Mizushima Hiro being cast as the lead in Mei-chan no Shitsuji (Mei's Butler) was to find copies of the manga. Written by Miyagi Riko, it was about a poor little orphan girl, Shinonome Mei, who suddenly finds herself the heiress of a big fortune when her parents get killed in an accident. Part of the package was getting her own personal butler, Shibata Rihito to care for her.



Coffee, tea or me?

Like most manga by Miyagi Riko (Love Monster, Hana ni Nare), it's your usual naïve little innocent girl and a super hawt guy who absolutely adores her. I had serious misgivings about whether this would work as a drama. For one, the manga is borderline lolicon. Plus, I found it absolutely absurd. Come on! A school where each young lady had her own private butler living with her? It sounds more like a hentai plotline than anything else. Still, since it had Hiro in it, I knew I had to watch it. Heck, I sat through Zettai Kareshi just for Hiro; what more Mei-chan where he's the lead?

( cut for photos )

Looks like I'll be a swooning fangirl this TV season again, much like how I was during the Hanadan, Nodame Cantabile and Hana Kimi seasons. But hey, with hawt boys abound, can you really blame me?

ps.
Oh yeah! The Shibata brothers, Rihito and Kenta are both Kamen Riders! Kabuto & Den-O respectively. Henshin!

i. crying is the norm?
So it would seem. Just finished watching Hana Yori Dango 2, episode 2. And yes, I cried again. It seems that it would be so for every episode this season; the pain is just too much. Of course, I don't regret watching. It's just I'm getting so carried away. How can I live like this for the next 2 months or so?

I honestly don't know what will happen next. The timeline's all screwed up. I just hope for one thing. I hope that in the end, it'll all be worth it.

(May I just reiterate, Oguri Shun's looking hawter and hawter.)

ii. this is how vampire fluff's supposed to be written
Spent last night and early this morning reading Stephenie Meyer's Twilight. I actually managed to sleep a few hours in between chapters since my eyes really couldn't stay open anymore, but still, it's a fantastic book you can't put down. I like the way the book was written. Sure, at times, my eyes would just glaze over but I really think it was because I was very sleepy already.

The lead, Bella is a likeable character, but it's Edward Cullen who captures our hearts. A vampire torn between staying true to his sire's ideals, that is, abstain from human blood, the strong pull of Bella's scent, and lastly, his growing affection for the girl whose mere scent calls out to the monster in him.

Edward is written the way a leading man should be written. He belongs up there in my list of fictional crushies. I remember reading a few of Mary Davidson's Undead series even if I considered it crappy just because I thought Sinclaire, the leading man / vampire was hot. I don't think I can stomach reading it now after having met Edward. It's hard to describe, but he's the kind of character who sashays unapologetically into your heart, with his crooked half-smile and topaz eyes.

Recommended read everyone, whether you like vampire stuff or not. Because at its heart, it's just a love story.

On a sidenote, Chris, thank you for introducing me to Edward. Even if you know I'll go all fangirl on you.

i. new lows in fangirling
Yes. I have achieved new lows in fangirling. Well, honestly, I'm sure I've gone lower, but right now, none of those memories are surfacing. Why do I say so? If you spend a couple of hours watching something in a language you don't understand and start making up stories along the way, interspersed with fangirly squeeing, I'd say it's pretty bad.

Right now, I'm a happy happy girl, all because I watched Nodame 7 with subs, Nodame 8 without subs, and the SmapXSmap Bistro episode with Ueno Juri and Tamaki Hiroshi, also without subs.

The two Nodame episodes were enough to cheer me up. Thankfully, Eilleen was there to clue me in on some of the things she could catch. Yes, we had another synchro Nodame watching session; she in Finland, I in the Philippines. The wonders of technology and instant messaging.

But what really sent me to fangirl heaven was the Smap x Smap episode. Because it had Tamaki Hiroshi AND Kimura Takuya. They were both smiling. And kidding around. Hiro's dimples were showing. Kimutaku was cooking and doing really cute impersonations. Hiro was really digging into his food, stuffing whole lumps of food into his mouth. He's the sort of person who'll make any cook happy. Sigh. Yes. Another senseless entry, compliments of fangirl kaoko. Can you just imagine how worse it would be if I could actually understand what they were saying? :P

ii. tag, you're it!
I forgot that I was supposed to tag five people for the fictional smex meme from my previous entry.

Anyway, I tag:

Chris, ficsation - She's responded already though.
Jan, squickyclean - Because other than Nightcrawler, I'm not sure of her other selections
Lekimumu, jov
Kacy, the_hierophant
Virna

And a bit of russian roulette, a random me-clicking-on-my profile-page tag to innocentlyjaded, innocentlyjaded.

Of course, anyone else who finds the meme interesting should just go and answer it.

Last thing, if anyone's wondering why I'm now making an href link before the LJ username link, it's just because I have cross-posting on multiply enabled and the lj username links die in transit.

iii. reference book question
Watching tv shows I can't understand is making me want to give self-studying Japanese a shot again. I don't have the time to devote to a regular class, not to mention I can't afford it, but I was thinking of getting a good book and trying to pick it up again.

Despite the price, I was considering getting the Genki I book. Until I looked at it again and realized it's just the book. I mean, I have to pay extra for the workbook, the CDs, and the answer key. Which will add up to costing the same as me taking real lessons.

Anyway, I'm posting just to ask if anybody's familiar with the book, and if so, will it be sufficient to just buy the textbook and not the other stuff? I'm not studying with plans to take JLPTs, I just want to learn a bit for conversation and for anime / drama / manga comprehension.

If it's not a good idea, does anybody have other suggestions on what good books I can use for self-study?

i. morning! oh morning!
It doesn’t take much to move me. Or in this case, make me happy. But what started out as a normal everyday morning is shaping up to be a fantastic day, simply with the addition of one thing I’ve been missing a lot.

A bento! Today, I got up early, cracked open my newest acquisition (a bento box shaped like Hello Kitty’s head) and cooked. There’s something nice about cooking during cold mornings. And having the luxury of sipping a cup of coffee while doing so. Not only do you feel accomplished after having packed a lovely lunch, you get the added benefit of sweating, so taking a cold bath feels so much better afterwards. Unlike when you rush to the bathroom right after you get up. I usually end up staring at the water before facing the music.

Ah, my darling bento. I miss you so. *huggles box* Thanks to Cla (24fps) for bringing her camera to work so I could photograph lunch. At least I’ll finally get to update my food blog (kitchencow).

ii. holiday wish list
*Clears throat* It's that time of year again, hope people who love me enough see this. :D

( Hear Snow White sing 'I'm wishing...' )


iii. fictional schmex meme
Schmex (to quote khursten (khursten) who I got the meme from.) meme!

List down 10 fictional characters that you'd fool around with.
( Do you really want to know how depraved I am? )


iv. soundtrack meme
From Joy (joybur).

IF YOUR LIFE WAS A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE SOUNDTRACK BE?
So, here's how it works:
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc).
2. Put it on shuffle.
3. Press play.
4. For every question, type the song that's playing.
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button.
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool.

( Kao's baduy results )

Now that is one screwed up movie.


v. fangirls never make sense
Funny Tamaki Hiroshi convo over YM:

kaoko25: Hiro-chaaaaan. <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
kaoko25: Sheht. It's so unfair.
kaoko25: How can one guy be so schmexy?
myrya_sterling: have no idea... but he must be the reason God made man.

i. okay. i guess sometimes yaoi can be nice
Okay. I never thought I’d say this but Tama x Kyou? IS THE LURF!

Nyahahahahahahaha! Omg, I’m actually rooting for a non-canon yaoi pairing. What is wrong with this world? What is wrong with me? Nuuuuuu! Tama x Haru Tama x Kyou is lurf!

ii. more christopher chant love
I only found out about the latest Chrestomanci novel yesterday. Sure enough, I grabbed a copy as soon as I saw it in the bookstore. Conrad’s Fate follows the story of a 12-year old boy with bad, bad karma and how he tries to get rid of said bad karma. He’s advised to work in the Stallery mansion as part of his mission, and guess who just happens to also work there.

Yes! Christopher Chant, that vain, charismatic, lovable Chrestomanci is back, this time as a 15-year old who goes undercover for a secret mission, also in the same mansion.

Right now, I’m not even halfway through the book, but I’m definitely hooked, especially since Christopher showed up. Will resume date with Mr. Chant later, heehee.

iii. pinky customs
Do any of you guys (taking my chances here) know of any dental supplies shop down south of Manila? Like, Paranaque / Las Pinas / Cavite / Muntinlupa area? Or maybe somewhere in the Makati Business district?

I’m trying to look for silicone and polyurethane resin for casting molds of models and someone suggested checking out dental supply stores. I’ll be dropping by a hobby shop tomorrow to see what they have but just in case anyone has leads, lemme know :D

i. excited-scared
New project. Kick-ass new project, but honestly, it's scary shite. I mean, no one's pressuring me but myself. I so want to be able to contribute something to this one. I spent the afternoon wracking my brains, instead of working on pending revisions. I do hope something comes to me before we re-align tomorrow.

ii. stalking works
My habit of stalking torrents has paid off. I finally chanced upon seeds for Chuushingura 1/47, Kimutaku's taiga dorama. Now I have it on my hard drive, waiting to be watched. Must finish Long Vacation first though.

iii. heehee, kim rae won returneth
Kim Rae Won has reminded me how cute he is, after seeing him on numerous GMA7 plugs for Love Story in Harvard. Last time I tried to download this series (around early last year), only two episodes were available so I didn't pursue it. Now it's all there in fully english subtitled glory. Can't wait!

iv. where oh where could my tama-chan be?
Two weeks now, still no sign of Ouran Host Club 18. Sigh. This is getting to be very depressing.

v. 2006: the year of the technologically inept cow
I'm so misfortunate when it comes to technology this year. For the nth time, Tsukiko almost died. She was working perfect, then suddenly...poof. She refused to work. Thank God for Jonathan from PCwerkes. Apparently, the problem was with my Video card. So now, I'm working with my onboard video thingie, and crossing my fingers that Villman will replace my video card quickly since it's still under warranty. I never knew how important it was; I can barely burn CDs right now because I think I don't have adequate memory at the moment. Or at least I hope that's it, heaven help me if my DVD writer's conking out on me too.

vi. you know you're really really tired when...
...the thought of watching a jdorama with a cute guy is too much. Wow. I'm actually going to go to sleep at 9:30. And I'm not even sick! Goodnight Manila!

i. gded fugliest fruit ever
Finished watching Love Generation (Yes, still on my Kimura Takuya streak) and the biggest question remains...

WTF is with that freakishly fugly glass apple? Why did the production team have to insinuate the weird, cheap-looking piece of glass everyfreakingwhere? If it was a symbol or whatever, it fails simply because it's GDed fugly.

That said, I still have a few things to rant about. ( Keeping it under wraps to avoid spoiling people who may watch it in the future. )

There. I wanted to whine about that so much. Back to regular programming!

ii. world food expo nyums!
Went to the World Food Expo last Saturday and I have to say, it was the nyummiest ever! There seems to be a lot more exhibitors this year, with booths pouring out to the WTC lobby. There was an awfully large number of people too, but nevertheless, it didn't spoil my fun.

Food samples were everywhere, and sadly, a lot of them were good, prompting us to open our wallets to buy. Oh, except for that weird yoghurt jelly. My friends immediately knew something was amiss when I gulped the jelly down because I just smiled and kept silent. Only to complain when we were out of earshot. Because it was VILE! I so wanted it to taste good because it would look so pretty in my bento, but VILE! VILE it was.

But the highlight of the day was us meeting this guy:



It was a wonder he was able to escape our clutches alive. I mean, a rabid cow and an equally rabid rabbit. Potatoes are veggies, right? *evil grin*

iii. sabog thai ads invade local tv?
Have those crazy award-winning thai ads finally invaded local tv? I caught the ad for Lays Shots. It was obviously dubbed, and it was also suspiciously thai looking, from the talents, down to the overly dramatic musical score.

Then the punchline came. Undoubtedly thai. Can anyone confirm?

i. sofa potato
My recently acquired ability to stay glued to a seat (or in this case, a sofa) for hours on end watching TV is astounding. I’m the sort of person who can’t sit through a movie trilogy marathon because I feel that it takes too much time.

So it’s really surprising that I was able to watch 2 complete Japanese drama series in the span of 4 days. Three considering that I started at around 11:30 pm on day 1. It’s all due to my discovery of something that women in Japan (as well as women who are familiar with Japanese culture) have known for years:

Kimura Takuya is goddamned hawt.



ii. all hail Takuya-sama
Sat through the first 8 episodes of Engine from Saturday night to Sunday morning. Watched the remaining 2 after I woke up at 3 in the afternoon. Promptly downloaded Good Luck!! afterwards.

Started watching Good Luck!! Monday night, after work. Continued with the third episode after I got home from work Tuesday night. Ended up watching til the end, at 4 in the morning. Will probably start watching Pride tonight. Sigh. Sleep is starting to become a foreign word to me, and it’s just my fifth day into Takuya-sama worship.

iii. life changing moment
And as I was watching Engine, for the first time ever in my life, I found myself staring at a man’s ass as he was walking away. When what I was doing finally dawned upon me, I knew.

Man, I’m in deep shit. Well, at least John’s proud of me. “Wow, hindi na 2D ang crush mo!” (Wow, you’re not crushing on a 2-dimensional character this time!)

iv. heath = joker?
The cat’s out of the bag. Heath Ledger has signed up to play Joker in 2008’s Batman Begins sequel. Jokingly (no pun intended) referred to by padpad and I as Batman Continues, it’s the second in the proposed Batman trilogy starring Christian Bale and directed by Christopher Nolan.

Hearing Heath’s name was surprising. He’s far from what you’d imagine, considering Jack Nicholson’s Joker, as well as the Jokers from the comics and cartoons. But hey, Heath’s a good actor, and that particular Batman franchise is not exactly cartoony. Looking forward to the second movie, definitely, and not just because I ♥ Christian Bale. (Well, it’s just part of it ^_^;;)

In the meantime, John and I are putting our money on Batman Ends as the third movie.

i. one love

I am so addicted to Zesto One's Honey Chrysanthemum tea. I just realized yesterday when my mom started picking up the PET bottles at the foot of my computer chair (I'm a slob as well as a tea addict) and she started laughing cause there was like, half a dozen identical bottles, all from that Honey Chrysanthemum tea. Ashamed at the junk, I picked up a few of them and went with her to the trash bin. I was just about to throw them in when she stopped me, saying she had a separate bin for the PET bottles. You know, recycling friendly and all. To my bigger shock, all the bottles in them were of the same drink. And right now, I still have an unopened bottle in the fridge, and a half-finished bottle beside my computer. Addicted much?

Quite funny since everyone I pestered to try it? Hated it. My mom refuses to buy it when we're at the super, my cousin wonders how I can drink it, my friend Jamie, who I thought would be my sole defender, says it's too sweet. Am I destined to be a freak?

ii. another love
I also love Uni-President's Milk Tea, but it's so GDed expensive. 35 bucks for a 500ml bottle? No thanks. That's more than twice the price of One. Plus I can't find it at the local super, have to buy it from 7-11 so it's arguably more expensive.

iii. back to work blues
Vacation went by so fast. And I didn't accomplish anything, nyahahahahahaha! Didn't get my PC fixed, didn't clean my room, haven't organized my files, didn't practice driving. Nada! All I did was read manga and watch Princess Hours. Yes. Four days and nothing productive to show for it.

iv. a bit of productivity, actually
Ah, but there was a teeny tiny bit of productivity involved. Updated Bishounen Project! Yay for self-promotion! Up this week: Profiles on Narita Makoto and Ito-sensei, manga reviews on Koukou Debut and Kagen no Tsuki, and a fun fun picture comparison on l337 bishies.

v. stick it to my herr, stick it to my herr
Hair sticks frustrate me. Apparently that's what they're called. You know, those chopsticky (or real chopsticks) you stick your hair with. I want to do that. But I can never learn. padpad's little sister Kim has tried to teach me a few times, so has my friend Chu, but I can never get the hang of it. Only time I can effectively skewer my hair is when I do it while it's wet. But on air dried hair? Asa! (you wish!) Sigh. After poking my scalp numerous times to make pseudo successful buns, only to have the stick slide off in less than 30 seconds, I give up. I'm a loser! Point me to the nearest hair salon so I can have my hair chopped off. *sobs in corner*
.

i. ouran host club
Blaheeheeheeheehee. Can’t wait to watch the subbed version. *huggles Tamaki Oujo-sama*

ii. some jyuniishi manga i’m reading but won’t identify
And the cat scores! Eat that, you stinking filthy ghey rat! *cheers*

iii. lack of sleep
Want sleep. Zzzzzz.

iv. pissy pissy pissed off
Ugh. bishounenproject still down. Damned hosting.ph

I ABSOLUTELY CANNOT WORK. Despite having a full night’s sleep (8 WHOLE HOURS!) for the first time in weeks, despite psyching myself up for work by meticulously planning a work task breakdown, despite having a nice cup of coffee, despite cleaning my desk in preparation for a new project, my calm and alert attitude was shattered by a casual statement from ficsation.

“Uy, may anime na ang Ouran Host Club!” (Hey, Ouran Host Club has an anime.)

And so my fragile mind was shattered, I’m now a giggly, jiggly, happy, worship Tamaki-sama mass who used to be a copywriter. I’ve seen the screenies. His eyes are so violet. He’s so hunky-handsome. I imagine his voice in my mind (haven’t seen videoclips yet) and I’m melting already.

TAMAKI-SAMA!

It’s so sad how easily I am pushed over the edge by a few squiggles and colors on a computer screen. But but but Tamaki-sama...

i. sobbing over spilled spoilers
What Naizen's repeated admonitions to start rereading the FMA manga again wasn't able to do, the movie was able to. After the mixed emotions I got from the movie, I picked up the manga again. But instead of picking up where I left off, I decided to reread the whole thing.

And one thing remains the same, I always cry buckets over a certain person. Despite knowing what will happen, despite seeing it both in the anime and manga, it always happens. I have to cry for him. (For folks who've read / watched the series, yes, it's that major plot twist early on.)

Gaddermit. Crying over comics.

ii. it lives!

http://www.bishounenproject.com

I swear it sizzles with hawt boys. So make me happy. Clicky clicky!
.

Templates for the content files taking shape. Will start updating as soon as webhost provides upload information. Hopefully, can start uploading this weekend.

Tired but happy. I've had to refamiliarize myself with external .css as well as external .js but hey, it's getting there. It's like riding a bike I guess. Once you get on again, you remember how.

Suddenly craving for the lasagna our boss brought earlier, as part of her birthday treat.
.

It was another tiring, busy Monday. Ah, who am I kidding, I have nothing to post, I just wanted to test drive my new icon. I really will get a paid account when my finances allow it, I lurve icons.

EDIT: Oh wait. Reason to post. It's my Lola's birthday! Happy Birthday, 'La! And my cousin's, but then, I sent him an e-card already, and will just text him later. But my Lola, I want to greet. :D

EDIT 2:
Icon Poll!

Help me decide. The original colored one (I got the colors right on the mac, the pc moving gif came out splotchy) or the BW one I'm currently using.

i. day two: kaoko the not ronry durayba!
Okay, day 2 of Kao's driving lessons. It was pretty encouraging. Yes, I know I still have loads to learn, especially when it comes to street-diskarte but you know? I'm sure I'll learn eventually. Yay! It's not as hard as it seems, and while it feels surreal, I know someday, I'll be able to do so. Yay!

ii. dashing men of fiction
Books offer paths to worlds unknown. Doors open to reveal interesting people. And of course, hawt men. If Budweiser has their Real Men of Genius, let me have my Dashing Men of Fiction. I have not a few on my list right now, but I won't be surprised if I still forgot someone. Or if in the course of my readings, I meet someone new. But for now, come on everyone, draw up your own lists, so we may compare. Let's raise a toast to these men. Because these guys, even if only during the moment we're reading, they're all ours.

( Kaoko's Boys from Books list )
.

i. sharing the wealth
Because it's Valentine's day, I'm sharing a hawt high school boy with all my girl friends.

( Shouta-con goodness (warning, 2D.) )

ii. senti mode
I've always loved Elizabeth Barrett-Browning. (My other favorite old poet is Christina Rossetti, but then, I don't think you guys would appreciate her morbidity right now.) In honor of Valentine's day again (and to pull my mind out of the gutter), lemme share my favorite among her sonnets.

If thou must love me, let it be for nought
Except for love's sake only. Do not say
"I love her for her smile her look her way
Of speaking gently, for a trick of thought
That falls in well with mine, and certes brought
A sense of ease on such a day"
For these things in themselves, Beloved, may
Be changed, or change for thee, and love, so wrought,
May be unwrought so. Neither love me for
Thine own dear pity's wiping my cheek dry,
A creature might forget to weep, who bore
Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!
But love me for love's sake, that evermore
Thou may'st love on, through love's eternity.

iii. how my day's looking like
7:30 - Tired, lacking sleep (because of Chock-Nut for the Heart, I'll explain later tonight), haven't bathed. No date planned tonight, no money. Funny how after years of being together, this will be the first Valentines where we're totally flat broke. Hell, we'll be lucky to have money for Jollibee, hwehwe. My day's looking hectic. I guess that's probably why I'm still sitting at my PC, refusing to take a bath when I should be leaving, at the very very latest, by 7:50.

Oh well. Wishing everyone a Happy Valentine's Day, regardless of having significant others. Remember, it's a day for love, not for lovers.

Ripped off kristiann. Such a cute meme, couldn't let it pass.

( [Net] Perfect Guy Meme )

Still obsessing over the Gokusen live drama and Sawada Shin (Matsumoto Jun). First thing I did when I got home last night was watch Gokusen episode 5. So happy. Definitely want more, but nevertheless was dying with kilig while watching Shin. Sigh. I like Mr. Detective dood, the guy Yankumi likes, but still, I prefer Yankumi x Shin anyday.

angstxiety suggested that I DL Arashi videos to see more Jun, but sadly, no luck finding any. Was so hoping for a shirtless pic / video or something, nyahahahahahahaha. On the bright side though, I found a complete torrent of Kimi Wa Peto, a tv drama he did in 2003. So excited. I do hope he still has the same hairstyle, I lurve his hair in Gokusen.

Sigh. Shin. /lv /lv /lv