Day 3 of the new college term.

So I got back to school on Sunday, and things seem to be going well so far. At first, I didn't want to go back to school since I had gotten used to living back at home. I was there for six weeks (WITHOUT A SCANNER, WTF), so I had gotten back into the groove of living with my folks. I'm glad I'm back at school though. I missed my friends. I LOVE YOU, !!

Anyway, classes seem to be going alright so far. Here's the schedule:

Monday, Wednesday, Friday:
The Ethnography of Southeast Asia (Period 3)
japanese 202 (Period 4)

Tuesday, Thursday:
Art History II [14th to 21st century art] (Period 3s)

So I lost my two days off during the weekdays I had last term. But the good news is that I don't have to be at class until 10:40 each morning, so I can sleep a little later than I could for my classes last term, for which I had to be there at 9:20. I still get up unnecessarily early though. What?! I like having a lot of time in the morning to do my routine!

As far as the classes go, they're everything I love to study. The class on Southeast Asia seems very interesting. I've never been to Southeast Asia, but my dad has (for business), so I'm looking forward to this. The Hetalia fan in me is fangirl-ing liek whoa. (My notes are already covered with country personifications arguing over territory. Sorry, China, most of the countries sided with India way back when. Except Vietnam. At least she's still there.) The professor seems like a good lecturer, too, and that can usually help even during the most boring lessons.

Japanese 202, unfortunately, might end up being the Japanese Class from Hell. Why, you ask? Well, my professor (who happens to be my advisor) from last term is doing research in Japan for the rest of the school year, meaning he can't teach us. Therefore, the college got the 100-level professor to teach his 200-level class. It's not terribly bad because I know her, and I know her style of teaching, but she's treating this class like it's a 300-level class, at least in my opinion. It's like she can't find that happy medium between basic and advanced Japanese. I think she also believes that my old professor actually took a lot of the work seriously. He has quite the reputation for being super laid-back. The good news is that she's accepting our suggestions and criticism about her teaching style, so there may be a chance she'll lighten up.

I'm impressed with my art history professor. She's done a lot of study on Western art and got her PhD from Northwestern University. She seems very knowledgeable. AND SHE'S A FAN OF TIM BURTON AND GOING TO HIS EXHIBIT AT THE MOMA IN NYC (WHICH WAS AWESOME), F*** YEAH!!!!!

Otherwise, it is 17 degrees outside (Fahrenheit for all you metric people). It's considered a heat wave here in Illinois during the winter. God, all I can really do is laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. Of course, it could be worse. It's at least been sunny for the past few days, and the wind hasn't attacked anyone yet. And I figure that, if I were in Jersey, it would probably be very similar. The ground would just be covered in slush. Mix that with New Jersey drivers, and, well, you can do the math.

**********
The second anime/Disney crossover movie poster contest is on! Submissions for "The Princess and the Frog" are now being accepted! Need more information? Go here: [link] Need more time so you can enter? Note me!

I've had better.

My brother woke me up this morning around 7:00 so we could open our stocking presents and gifts from our parents. I was pretty happy with most of the stuff I got there, which included:

Shakira's new CD "She Wolf"
Roisin Murphy's CD "Overpowered
"The Princess and the Frog" soundtrack
a new set of fairy tale-themed tarot cards
a GPS unit
college supplies

I'm still not sure why I got the GPS unit when I don't have a car at school. I hardly drive anywhere when I'm home and have my car. It's possible my folks wanted one though, so they gave it to me so they could all use it. I'm also not sure why I was given a new set of tarot cards when I already have a set I love and use all the time. It's not even a different kind of tarot either; they're the same cards with different pictures.

But I shouldn't complain. I was happy with everything, especially the CDs. Shakira is one of my favorite singers ever. I've recently fallen in love with Roisin Murphy. And I, of course, desperately wanted the soundtrack for "The Princess and the Frog."

I really hope my parents and my brother liked what I gave them.

When we were all set to go, we went to my aunt's house to meet the rest of the family. The east coast has been facing bad weather lately though, so driving was rough. Lots of my relatives didn't show up until late, and most of them left really early in the afternoon to avoid the dark of night and the ice the weather channel warned us about.

I guess I really should have been expecting this, but my cousin was given a mountain of gifts, all sorts of crap she didn't want nor need but happily took. She ripped into them without any regard for whose turn it was to open presents, and she kept opening her own throughout the entire afternoon. If I had opened my presents as fast as she had, I would have been able to open them all within about five minutes, while her openings lasted for hours. *sigh* Yeah, I totally should have seen this one coming. It was the same way with my younger brother before my cousin was born.

If that wasn't awkward enough, my aunt was being stupid about gifts. Her gift for me? A box of Chocoshrooms and inch-tall "Pirates of the Caribbean" figures that came in blind boxes. Then, when my grandma gave me a bag for holding my tarot cards that she had sewn and designed herself, my aunt was all, "That's wrong! It has to be silk, or she'll lose her powers! Wait, what am I talking about? She never had any powers to begin with." And then, she didn't get anything for my dad, because she "couldn't find anything and didn't feel like looking."

Thanks a lot, aunt. My dad and I feel totally loved right now. </sarcasm>

And then, my other aunt gave me a $.99 set of fake eyelashes because she thought I could use it for cosplay. Thanks for thinking of my hobbies, other aunt, but I'm pretty damn sure that, even though we're in a recession, 99 cents was not our gift price limit.

My uncle and his fiancee gave me some awesome stuff though, which included:

two t-shirts, one with GIR and the other with a ninja
Chinese lanterns

I also got a Naruto boxed set from my grandparents, so I'll probably be watching that for the rest of tonight.

On the bright side of things, my mom's lasagne was fabulous. <3

And, when I got home, I was in for a fantastic surprise. ~HarukiLaBaka has posted "Rin as Kairi," the last NaruDisney video until "The Princess and the Frog!" Watch it here: [link]

I hope you guys had a nice holiday.

**********
The second anime/Disney movie poster contest is on! Click here for more info: [link]

Not knowing how your mom's new scanner works SUCKS ASS. D8

But it's not like i'd have time to update this week anyway (even though I have stuff to be uploaded). Christmas is drawing near~

Anyway, like the title of this journal states, I am indeed working on several things.

1. NaruDisney version of "The Princess and the Frog." It's been inked. Now I need to color it.
2. SUPER AMAZING AXIS POWERS HETALIA PROJECT THAT IS TOTALLY TAKING UP TOO MUCH OF MY LIFE. 8D
3. KH fanfic for NaruDisney [which will be in 5 parts] (WHY IN THE NAME OF XEMNAS IS THIS SO DAMN HARD FOR ME TO WRITE?!) *flails* SRSLY, writer's block ahoy.
4. Next parts of One-Piece-Disney, Soul Pixar, and Higurashi/Burton (OPD Part 2 has pretty much been figured out. Now I need to draw it. Want a preview? One of the movies used will be "National Treasure.")

I'm also thinking about adding a sixth anime/Disney crossover to my series. I'M ON A FREAKIN' ROLL. 8D How would you guys feel about a series of Disney (or Disney-owned) movies with Hetalia characters? NOTHING SAYS "FAMILY-FRIENDLY ENTERTAINMENT" LIKE A BUNCH OF GAY COUNTRY PERSONIFICATIONS.

I'm also working on the next chapter of , but I'm always working on that.

Sorry, just some college-related crap going on. My advisor is taking off for the rest of the year, and I have not been notified of who my temporary advisor will be. This is making me anxious since I want to declare my major (but that's another issue entirely, damn educational development plan) and figure out my plans for study abroad. If all goes according to plan, I could be going back to Tokyo for a month this summer.

*sigh* Oh well. Hope everyone (who celebrates it) had a nice Hanukkah. ^^ If I don't update between now and Friday, have a nice Christmas/Yule/whatever else you celebrate!

While I wait for Thursday evening/Friday, I'll be trying hard to work on all this. An epic snowstorm just hit the east coast, so I'm a little snowed in right now (though not terribly). Time to get my work out. I've got a stack of blank paper, plenty of pencils, pens, and markers, an iPod full of Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, and Disney soundtracks, and a coffee machine that makes individually-brewed cups whenever I want.

Ready?

Steady?

GO.

Naruto 476
-Jump cover is creepy. Naruto Cosplay no Jutsu!
-As Madara looks on from The Great Wall of China in the middle of Happy Senseless Ninja Land above, two ninja face off!
-Emo chapter cover is emo. o__o
-First Danzou reveals he stole Edward Elric's automail arm. Now, he's got a bunch of Sharingan eyes. (Where's your human transmutation now, Ed?!)
-Sasuke: Why are there Sharingans in your arm?
-Danzou: Well, it's a long story. It all started way back...
-Sasuke: Bored. You die now.
-Danzou: D:
-Sasuke: But there's one thing I gotta ask you first?
-Danzou: Oh? I hope he doesn't ask me if I had sex with that woman. I swear, we were drunk...
-Sasuke: ...Are you...?
-Danzou/Karin: *GASP!!*
-Sasuke: ...Trying to destroy Glee Club?
-Danzou completely ignored Sasuke's earth-shattering question and charges forward for the kill!
-...Which he fails at.
-Sasuke continues to be a Mary Sue and summons Susanoo whenever the hell he wants. Show off. >_<
OVER IN A SNOWY PART OF HAPPY SENSELESS NINJA LAND
-Nice ass, Naruto.
-Yamato: Since Sakura's popularity has plummeted, I think it's more important that we tell Konoha about the Kage Convention. No one will care about her anyway.
-Sai: Imma sell tickets for when Hinata kicks her ass! 8D
-Kakashi: But she has plotshield, so I have to go save her. *sigh* Okay, I'll go after her with Sai. Yamato, take Naruto back to the village and tie him up in the backyard. The fuzzy handcuffs are in the second drawer on the left in the guest room.
-Yamato: ...And the whip?
-Kakashi: Behind the flour in the kitchen cabinet.
-Yamato: Yay! 8D
-Meanwhile, Naruto has several flashbacks. This is nothing new.
-Naruto hyperventilates and falls over like a n00b. *shakes head*
-Take slow, deep breaths...If it weren't for the gutter, my mind would be homeless. ^^
BACK AT THE FIGHT
-Sasuke: I ASKED IF YOU'RE TRYING TO DESTROY GLEE CLUB, YOU BASTARD!!
-Danzou: Okay, so I gave the Cheerios the info on the club's next performance!
-Sasuke: ...What??
-Danzou: And now the musical numbers for the spring season's episodes have been spoiled!!
-Karin: *giggle* All the single ladies~!!
-Sasuke: O_O SO IT WAS YOU!!!!!
-Danzou: *squish*
-Anime characters: Their bodies contain 100 gallons of blood.
-Sasuke: Dammit, speak no more! Itachi gave everything for that club!
-Danzou: TOO BAD AMERICAN IDOL IS TAKING UP THE SCREEN TIME. >8DDD

And now, in a startling and uncommon move, I will not be parodying One Piece this week (But I will say this: Every time Luffy asked to be injected with the hormones, I shouted, "THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID!!"). Instead, I will be bringing you a series I love that I have not had the chance to pimp enough. That's right, yaoi history-lovers, I'm parodying this week's episode of Axis Powers Hetalia!

Hetalia, Episode 47
-Chibitalia is depressed after he parts ways with the Holy Roman Empire. You and the rest of the fandom, Chibitalia. This is the only anime where people cry because a country is dissolved. (THANK ROME-JII-CHAN THAT GILBERT'S STILL AROUND IN SPIRIT!!!)
-Austria tells him that he's got the day off because he's so sad. Aw.
-Chibitalia doesn't look relieved in any way.
-Wait a second, is that Austria...washing dishes? With Hungary? AW, RODERICH, YOU'RE SUCH A WAIFU.
-EPIC OPENING IS EPIC.
-England and France go to Poland's (F*** YEAH, POLAND!!) house to organize a treaty.
-England: The world is going to end if we don't do something about Germany! We must stop him!
-France: And you're fabulous enough to look good next to me while doing so. Ah, I long for my Bad Touch Trio days...
-England: ...I don't. I still have nightmares.
-France: You enjoyed it.
-England: OH SHUT IT, YOU GIT!! Poland! Join us!
-France: FOR THE HOTTEST, BLONDEST THREESOME EVAAAAAAR!! 8D
-England: ...Must...resist...urge...to kill...
-Poland: Well, like, I don't really care about that. I'm totally too psyched about my redecoration plans. I'm, like, painting my house, like, a fabulous pink!
-France: ...But that doesn't match my eyes.
-England: THAT'S all you can think about?!
-France: If we're planning a threesome-!
-England: WE'RE NOT!! D:<
-Poland: Don't worry! I bought something, like, totally useful anyway!
-England: Like some sort of weapon?!
-France: Like one of Russia's 25 cm-long condoms?!
-England: ...I'm going to kill you.
-Poland continues to look fabulous and shows the ambiguously gay duo other countries his newest purchase.
-Poland: THE MY LITTLE PONY FRANCHISE!! 8D *loves*
-England: ...What?
-France: And it couldn't have been the Trojan Condom franchise because...?
LATER
-France reclines with a glass of wine and looks fabulous while doing so. But not as fabulous as Poland.
-Seriously, Poland, WHY SO FABULOUS?!
FRANCE'S VERSION OF MARUKAITE CHIKYUU. YAY.
-And, in the epilogue, Chibitalia sings his own version of the theme. TOO MOE~~~ I feel like such a pedo whenever I watch episodes that involve him. .__.

**********
Tagged by

★Who did you first cosplay as?
I was in 5th grade. I was young Princess Zelda from Ocarina of Time for Halloween. My brother was young Link. My grandma made the costumes. We even had pointy ears. (THE 5TH GRADE ME WAS AWESOME.)

★When and where did you first cosplay?
Elementary school. People actually knew who I was!

★When and where was the last time you cosplayed?
College for Halloween. I was Rena from "Higurashi no Naku Koro ni."

★Who have you cosplayed as in the past?
Princess Zelda (Ocarina of Time), Raven (Teen Titans), Roronoa Zoro (One Piece), fem!Zoro (One Piece), SnJ Rock Lee (Naruto), Misa Amane (Death Note), SnJ Orochimaru (Naruto), Temari (Naruto), Death the Kid (Soul Eater), Rena (Higurashi no Naku Koro ni)

★Who do you plan to cosplay?

Definitely:
Sealand (Hetalia)
Nico Robin (One Piece)

Maybe:
Sailor Saturn (Sailor Moon)
Greece (Hetalia)
America (Hetalia)
Yugito (Naruto)

★Who is your favourite person to cosplay as?
As of the moment, it's Death the Kid. OH, SHINIGAMI-SAMA, THE SYMMETRY~~

★Who do you REALLY wanna cosplay as?
Belarus (Hetalia)
Sailor Saturn (Sailor Moon)

★How many of your friends cosplay?
Several of them

★Have you ever walked around in public in your cosplay outfit?
Only to school.

★Have people in public ever recognised you and asked for photos?
Nope.

★Have you ever made your own cosplay outfit?
No, I fail at sewing. ;__;

★When and where did you first learn of cosplay?
I heard of people doing it when I first got into anime as a kid. I didn't get a real name for it until later.

★What did you think of it then?
I thought to myself, "It's like Halloween all year round!" 8D

★What do you think of it now?
I think it's a fun thing to do with friends. It's also a great way to meet people who are into the same series!

★Where do you usually cosplay?
Mostly conventions, though I occasionally do it for school.

★Have you ever done a cosplay skit on stage?
No. But I really want to!

★Do you plan your cosplay outfits waaay before you’re meant to wear them?
Sometimes. I like thinking about my favorite characters and how I would act if I had to be them for a day.

★Have you ever been to a convention and cosplayed?
Uh, yes.

★What is the best thing about cosplay?
It brings people together! I've made lots of new friends!

★What is the worst thing about cosplay?
The people who shouldn't be doing it doing it anyway. o_o (Dear 300-pound woman cosplaying as Rikku from FFX-2 at ANEXT '08: YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG.)

★Why do you cosplay?
Simply for fun~



**********
The second anime/Disney movie poster contest is on! Click here for more info! [link]

So.

The Princess and the Frog.

One of the best 95-minute-long segments of my life. Srsly.



My one aunt and cousin came over last night and slept at my house so we could get up early and go. Then my other aunt and cousin met us outside at 8 AM, and we drove to NYC. After walking for a few minutes (in the freezing cold, still not as bad as Illinois winter though), we found the theater, showed the staff our tickets, and sat in our seats. Did I mention I had specifically pre-ordered center seats in the front-middle of the theatre? Yeah, I went all-out on this.

Then the movie started, and it was AWESOME. I won't say anything about it here, because I don't want to spoil it for anyone. Go see it ASAP, Guys!! It's a fantastic movie!! What, you want some kind of spoilers? Well, in my opinion, the best parts were Dr. Facilier's scene, both his song sequence (Ursula and Scar would be so proud!!) and his defeat scene. They looked 3D even though they were hand-drawn!

When the movie was over, everyone got up and headed for the after party. There, we could play games, draw the characters, take pictures, and meet the princesses. There was even a mini-museum full of Disney props and costumes!

So, because all the little kids immediately ran to the princesses, we decided to go check out the other exhibits first. We played some of the games, which were themed to follow Dr. Facilier, Mama Odie, and Prince Naveen. My cousins and I sat down at the animators' tables and learned how to draw Naveen in his frog form! One of my cousins then walked up to the animator and asked her how she makes the drawings move, and she drew three brand new pictures, quickly flashing through them so it looked like Naveen was laughing. We were both in awe of it, and we got the animator's autograph. We checked out the mini museum, too, and I was nearly frothing at the mouth over the costumes. Then, of course, we scrambled to meet as many of the princesses as possible. Unfortunately, Pocahontas had to leave early, and Belle's station was closed before we could get to her, but we were able to take pictures with the other seven!

Afterwards, we went to the Disney Store, where I discovered that Tiana pins are being made, so I bought one of her in her big, green dress. *fangirls*

Now, some photos. (Yes, my hair is totally different. I dyed it dark red and got bangs. Holy crap.)

[link] Standing in front of the advertisement board with one of my cousins

[link] In front of the pop-out board

[link] My cousins in their matching Tiana-as-a-frog shirts

[link] That's the dress Keira Knightly wore in Pirates of the Caribbean 2!!
[link] The dress Amy Adams wore as Giselle from Enchanted. DO WANT.
[link] Belle's dress from the Broadway version of Beauty and the Beast

[link] Sitting down at the animators' tables, getting ready to draw Frog Naveen

[link] A general look at all character greeting area. Each princess had her own little kiosk where we could climb up and take photos against a background from her movie.

[link] With Mulan. Out of all the princesses there, she was the best. She spent a long time talking with us about Tiana (one of her new best friends, so cute!) and our favorite scenes from the movie.

[link] With Jasmine. She was one of the few princesses who asked what our names were and then took a photo with us.

[link] I MET TIANA. BE JEALOUS.

[link] With Aurora. She said that I look like Ariel with this haircut!

[link] With Cinderella. Unfortunately, she was a little unfriendly towards me. I think she thought to herself, "Oh, she's an older girl. I don't need to really speak with her or anything." Seriously, I spent all of ten seconds with her, and that was just the time it took to take the photo. *sigh* Actually, because my aunts and cousins had run off, I had to ask the cast member to take my photo. He was friendlier than her.

[link] With Snow White. She was a little bit friendlier than Cinderella, but she also didn't spend a lot of time with me, sadly.

[link] With Ariel. I was happy to see her as a mermaid, since I haven't been to her grotto in Disney World in years. She was super-friendly and so adorable~

[link] The inside of the Disney Store decorated for the holidays

[link] Near the infamous NYC Christmas tree!

So, yeah, my day was cool. I am now off to draw the NaruDisney picture!! :dash:

**********
The second anime/Disney movie poster contest is on! Click here for more info: [link]