2023

Well, I really don't know what to say. This has been one of those years. My first year outside of high school wasn't really what I expected. What I thought would have been a year of academic growth, turned into personal growth, instead of spending my days at university, bettering myself. I worked full-time, instead of enjoying the twilight years of my youth. I was the most lonely I've ever been. In these last few moments of this year, I want to look back on it. 

This wasn't my best year, I admit that. I would say the overall average was low. Starting the year off strong, it quickly took a steep decline after quitting university. I felt that I failed, breathing myself up, and hating myself. I failed. Then came Kalgoorlie, working away changed me. It was probably that and quoting school. I wasn't talking to friends anymore, I think it was three months. Then coming back home, everything changed. If I look at posts from my old blog, around May to June they were dark. Like seriously, it makes me depressed looking at them. But something happened to me here that'll change me. I watched Makoto Shinkai's Suzume. I know people always say films change them, but this did. It set me down that path I'm on now. Lead me to Your Name, a film that changed how I view films. Something I hold near to my heart. To skip repeating myself, let's skip ahead to late June, to probably one of my favourite things ever, K-On!

I'll never forget watching K-On! for the first time. It's weird to look back on now. I was more confused than anything else. How were the same people who made Haruhi? I thought. It wasn't really my second watch I fell in love with it. The show carries such a feeling of confit. Like everything going to be alright. I don't have to think much, I can just feel. It's a show that hit me right when I needed it. Something I could just fall into, and forget about things. And right now, this year that's all I needed. 

Japan, what a palace. I'll write more later but it's so weird. So old, yet new. It smells like cigarettes and old cardboard. 

To be honest, I enjoyed last year more. But I think this year had higher highs and lower lows. I never hated myself more or enjoyed myself. To think I wasn't the same person I was this time last year, I wonder who I'll be this time next year. Guess I'll see.

See ya.

State of the blog

Doesn't the week between Christmas and New Year just feel weird? Because it's between two holidays, you just don't feel like doing anything? You end up lying around the house, wasting time. Exhausted from Christmas, regaining the strength to do it all again come New Year's Eve. Plus whenever you get the energy to do something, everyone already has plans. It's just a pain. Anyway, enough of my poor social skills. I wanted to get something small out today, think of it as a state of the blog. I'll be covering the new Mac I bought, K-On! Mondays, and current/future posts I'm working on. Let's get into it.

First off, I got a Mac! The base Mac mini to be precise. I decided it would be a good idea to get a computer just for University. Having thought and read about it for a while. I figured Macs are probably the best option for school, they're always bragging about it. I had always heard about how quick the Arm Macs were, but they really are something else. I've never seen a computer, in this price range, be so quick. It's incredible, programs, websites, and the computer itself open so quickly. Especially since it's so cheap, who woulda thought huh? Hopefully, it'll improve my workflow next year. I'm also hoping it will help this blog out. Having the ability to post from a desktop in my room should give me more motivation to post. Plus the added speed and convenience from my laptop too. About those new posts.

Starting with K-On! Monday, I think they have been a resounding success! Not in the views department, but for my own sake. I actually look forward to Mondays now. I've already posted three, which is more consistent than I've ever been, with many more to come. I'm looking forward to writing more. Since it's New Year's on Monday, I'll post another episode review. I'll be talking about the Season 1 OVA, Live House. Like on Christmas, it'll again be split into two parts. On part essay type, next part smaller dot points. After that, I'll probably go back to posting other K-On! related stuff. We'll see how long I can keep this up. 

To keep this blog from becoming just K-On! Monday, Here's an update on everything else I'm working on. Either later tonight or more likely tomorrow. I'll be posting an essay about Autism. It won't be about my experience with it, but instead my thoughts on the "Autistic community" and the recent boom on social media. I've got some very strong opinions about that. After that will be a New Year's post, either on the 31st or the 1st, just reviewing the year. It's been a busy and life-changing year for me. Don't know what I'll say just yet, but I think I'll just give an overview of the major events from the year. Speaking of major events, the long-promised Japan recap should be out by the first week of the new year. To be fair, I've already tried writing it twice, but I don't like how it sounds. I'm still not too sure how I'll write it. I think I'll split it down to all the places I visited, we'll see. 

Moving into the new year. I've got two more posts planned, one about why I quit University. This one will detail my first attempt at higher education, and go into my worries about the second attempt. The second essay will be about my beloved K-On! Currently on the K-On! subreddit, we're rewatching the series; For every episode, I've been writing down my thoughts. At the end of this rewatch, I'll be compiling them into a large. And I mean, a LARGE retrospective of the series. Hopefully, this will be out by the end of the month. It should be a good ending for this period of my life.

I just want to add that I'll also be putting out more of these short posts. I enjoy writing them. They won't be as focused as the larger posts, they just be posts about random thoughts from throughout the day. Like this one, they won't have much planning or structure in them. Just a way to express my thoughts, plus get stuff off my chest. 

Wrapping this up now. I've got a new Mac that's gonna help me with Uni and this blog, K-On! Monday's is going strong, and I got loads of new posts on the way. Looking forward to posting it, even though I'm the only one here. Well, who cares anyway,

See ya.

If you've ever seen this episode, this is exactly how I feel right now 

It's a K-On Monday Christmas!

 It's not often the stars align. Not only is it another fantastic K-On! Monday, but it's also Christmas! Merry Christmas everyone, hope you enjoyed it. Now on to K-On! So today I'll be posting a short little discussion post about season 1 episode 7 of K-On! titled Christmas! Fitting for today eh. 

The core theme of this episode is Yui and Yu's sisterhood. Their strong bond is shown throughout the episode. Starting with Yu reminiscing about past Christmases spent together. Then ends with both characters cherishing each other's gifts and company. Their bond here is unbreakable. While Yu is also shown, and told, to be a more reliable, hard-working sister. She is always quick to defend her airheaded older sibling. Which might just prove everyone's point. But that doesn't bother her, Yu just knows Yui's strength lies elsewhere. Yui's perseverance and care for others, her reaction to Yu passing the entrance exam for example. Is something Yu clearly looks up to. Which she'll point out to Azusa later. Both characters bring something to the table, they both need each other. Which is what all good sibling relationships are.

Some more thoughts

• I never noticed the cushions Yui destroyed are on the stool when they're outside. I know she picks it up, but I love how it's already placed there. I always love those little details that make animated worlds real.
• Ritsu coming prepared to pick on Mio
• The start of, where the hell are Yui and Yu's parents. 
• I love how Mugi turned down the trip to Hawaii, shows how she just wants to spend time with friends. Also shows her wealthy side.
• If you think about it, Sawako is kinda of a perv. To be fair, she seems very drunk here and her boyfriend just broke up with her. However, she didn't have to bring that costume and chase Mio with it. 
• How Yui spent her holiday is exactly how I wanna spend mine.

Their bond is on display right from the beginning.

2 K-On! 2 Monday

 Happy K-On! Monday everyone!

First time I'm actually keeping a promise of new posts, that's the power of Ho-kago Tea Time I guess. Today I wanted to show off more dumb stuff from Japan; Next week will be an episode, I promise.

Today it's my CD of K-ON! Live Concert: Let's Go! For the uneducated, this was a concert held at the end of 2009, just after season 1 finished airing. It's sort of a concert/live-action episode hybrid. Mixing music played by the band, and some skits. Similar to that Bocchi the Rock concert from a few months ago. All of the voice actors played all their characters as well. If you didn't know, the voice cast of K-On! were taught how to play their respective character instrument. Kyoani also announced season 2 of K-On! here as well. I also have the Blu-ray from the event. Here for more info. 

History lesson over, what I have here is the limited edition CD of the event, from memory I got this in Kyoto. In the northeast section of the city, where most of K-On! achally based. Here are some photos!

The back side has the promotional art from the event

   The front has the CD itself, plus on the right is that little cardboard box with the setlist.

The CD case is just a cardboard slip.

This is the pamphlet that has that promotional art on it, the top photo. Inside is just a bunch of art and pictures from season 1. 

Anyway, That's it for another instalment of K-On! Monday! As stated before, next I'll do something from an episode. Since is also Christmas, you probably guess from what episode. I also might have another essay up this week as well, we'll see. 

See ya.

K-On! Monday - The First

Alright bare with me here,

This is a new thing I'm trying called K-On! Monday. Every Monday I'm going to be posting something to do with K-On! 

Right first off I wanted to show off my greatest sin, my Yui Figima. I can't remember if I mentioned this in any of my Japan posts. But on my first day in Akihabara, I decided to go searching for an anime figurine. Why? When in Rome I guess. Anyway, I thought, since I'm going to steep this low, I might as well go low for K-On! I tried having a look for traditional styles before settling on one of those Figma ones. Since you can position it however to like and it's the least weird one I could find. Anyway here are some photos of it. 

See ya.

Here it is, I just took a pose from the back of the box.

On the day I got it in Akihabara