My Messed Up Life Update

Haven't made a post on here in a long time I think.  So going to update those interested on what is going on with me that doesn't concern my writing.  I am now the Backup of the Head of File Maintenance at Work, I am in General Merchandise Stocking, and I just today had my first day as a Checker.  Personally I don't like being Checker.  First of all I'm not allowed to be me, and I have to fake being upbeat and phony, which I don't care for.  I wish I worked somewhere I could just be genuine. I'm sorry but normal people aren't always drugged up happy like upbeat people or perky people.  In real life I can't stand people who are always perky happy.  Being happy all the time is one thing but being perky happy annoys the hell out of me.  Like those people who bounce out of bed with a big smile on their face and ready to face the world with a bright big smile.  I just want to take a hammer to bash in their brains as they're the type that usually seem not to be using them anyway. I don't see how they can be so happy first thing in the morning.  I am just not a morning person....unless I've stayed up all night...but even then I'm more tired then perky.

Secondly I took on all this added responsibilities at work and I'm still getting paid despite job title/position change that I'm still being paid as if I was Courtesy Clerk.  Which is another piss off to me.    I love being in File Maintenance and GM Stocking as I can do my own thing and there isn't as much pressure as being a Checker.  I mean there is pressure in GM and FM but it's more a pressure I can handle as my dealing with the public is a lot more limited.  I'm an INTROVERT and an introvert I shall remain.   I am a private person and when someone behind a counter asks me things like What's going on this weekend or something along those lines I tell them as a snap response with no thought behind of it as meaning to be rude, "It's none of your damn business."  Personally when I shop I just want to get my shit and get out.  I don't want to form a bond with some can jocky if you get my drift.  Not that I want people to be rude to me..it's just their is no need to be overly friendly...like some big golden retriever or lab that wants to hump your leg because they like you so much. 

So that is what is currently been going on with me.  Type more when I more to type on here.  Oh I almost forgot Matsuri is coming again soon.  It'll be February this time. YAY I hope I get off for it.

Prince Valiant

I was in an Alco and saw this dvd for $5 and thought why not.  So I picked this little title up called Prince Valiant.  I think I might have seen parts of the second live action adaptation of it.  I knew it was a comic strip in the newspaper but that had been my exposure up to that point.  So I sat down and watched it and it was actually pretty good...given the time period and limited actors for parts.  But still it was well worth the five dollars imho.  So much so that I am going to pick up the whole series.  It was a highlight to my day as haven't had anything new that was in english to watch since Attack On Titan came out.  I don't have cable where live because the lines are to old for me to have both cable and internet so I went with internet over cable tv.  Because let's face facts here.  More can be done with the internet then just cable tv.  So I'm glad of the choice I made there.  Not much more to say so I'll type more when I have more to type.

Work Related Things

I've rather neglected this blog to focus somewhat on my writing one.  Now I have had things to say but I've not felt they were worth mentioning and still don't feel what I am about to say will be of much interest but going to type them up anyway.

I love being in File Maintenance.   It's my favorite position I work at Safeway.  I just wish I got paid more for doing it.  I love it so much I asked and am receiving training to be the Back up Head of File Maintenance.  I asked for raise a week or so after my training for this position started, but the manager said I'd have to wait until the big store manager gets back to ask him.  But I feel I deserve this raise.  I've been working at Safeway since Feb. 2010. I've been a Courtesy Clerk when I first started then got into File Maintenance and then into GM/HBC and all still at Courtesy Clerk wages despite the fact that I have been an APC since I started working in FM.  I work hard at this job and don't goof off like the others (mostly the teenagers) and I have not called in sick for almost 2 years.  Going into work even when I'm sick, because let's face facts, my paycheck is puny and I can't afford to miss a day of work or I'll out on the streets with nothing.  And I'm dedicated, I'd have to be because I walk 3 miles to work and 3 more miles to get back home after being on my feet all day and I'm no spring chick, if you get my drift.  I'm 34 years old and living on my own.  And if that isn't dedication to this job then I don't know what is.

Not much more to say except I hope I get a raise, and I'll end it on that note.

Vacation

Been having a great time just being off from work.  I should be getting in Tora Dora by tomorrow.  But I don't feel like walking 3 miles to get it and 3 miles back to get home.  So I'll pick up Saturday morning when I go to collect my hours for next week and my paycheck.  I have a friend coming down so I hope I get off for Sunday and Monday for when he is down here visiting me.  I sort of hate having to go back to work but sometime next week I shall have to go back.  I hope I actually get paid for my vacation I took this week.  I really can't afford not to get paid even though I make less then chicken feed.  I've been watching old movies and trying to work on my book, In the Shadows.

I also really enjoyed How to Train Your Dragon 2 and am looking forward to getting it on DVD/Blu Ray.  I really enjoyed the scene with Stoic singing and dancing.

  Not much else to say and will type more when I have more to say.

Birthday Plans

Hopefully I get off for my birthday, and get paid for it as taking my birthday week as my vacation time this year.  I plan on spending it working on my novel, In the Shadows.  But aside from that on my actually birthday I plan on going to see the movie, How to Train Your Dragon 2.  I hope it's at least as good as the first one, and going out to eat, which on my budget I don't often to get to do.  Hopefully, I'll have a good time and enjoy the show.  Not much else to say except that summer is too damn hot and winter is too damn cold at times.  I know I'm contrary but hell that's just me. :P

Lonely Mountain Band

Awesome song

Good Review

A good review.

Anime I'm really loving and enjoying this season.

Soredemo Sekai wa Utsukushii
Plot:
Nike, the fourth princess of the Rain Dukedom, holds the power to call forth the rain. She travels to the Sun Kingdom to marry Sun King Livius for her country, despite her own reluctance in the matter. She soon discovers that the King, who conquered the world in only three years after his ascendance to the throne, is still a young boy.

Despite being total strangers at first they start to understand one another and develop an emotional bond with each other.

 

Knights of Sidonia

 

 Hitsugi No Chaika

   

These are my top favorites of what I'm currently watching this season.  I am also hoping these three definitely come over dubbed.  Would be awesome in the case of Soredemo if they got an actress that can really sing and use her to sing in the anime.

My Favorite Zen Story Trading Dialogue for Lodgings

I found my book Zen Flesh Zen Bones and I thought I'd relate my favorite story in it.  It is called Trading Dialogue for Lodgings.

There was/is a custom where a traveling monk would be provided lodgings within a Zen temple if he could make and win an argument against the monks living there, and the traveling monk that won could remain at the temple.  However, if the traveling monk is defeated he has to move on.

Two brother monks lived in a temple in a northern section of Japan.  The Elder of the two had been well educated and very knowledgeable, while the younger brother was very stupid and had only one eye. 

One day a wondering monk came to their temple.  He asked if he could lodge with them if he won an argument on the sublime teaching.  The Elder brother had been studying much of the day when this traveler had arrived and felt very tired from it, and instructed the younger brother go in his place cautioning the younger monk, "Go and be sure to request this dialogue in silence."

So the young monk and the stranger went into the shrine proper to have their debate.  It was not long before the traveler had departed the younger monk and came to the Elder Brother.

The Traveler said, "Your younger brother is an amazing fellow.  He defeated me."

Curious the Elder brother said, "Please relate the dialogue to me."

"Well," the stranger began to explain, "I first held up my one finger to signify the Enlightened One, Buddha.  So he held up two fingers to signify Buddha and his teachings.  Then I held up three fingers to represent Buddha, his teachings, and his followers, all living in harmony.  Then  he shook his clenched fist right in my face, indicating that all three of those things come from one realization.  So he won and I have no right to remain here."  With that said the traveling monk swiftly took his leave of the shrine.

The younger monk came running to the Elder Brother, "Where is that man?"

"I understand that you won the debate."

"Won nothing.  I'm gonna pummel him!"

The Elder inquired of his brother monk now, "Tell me the subject of your dialogue."

"Why the very minute he saw me he held up just one finger, insulting me by the fact of my one eye.  Since he was a stranger I thought I would be polite and held up two fingers to congratulate him on having two eyes.  Then the impolite wretch had the temerity to hold up three fingers, implying that between us we only have three eyes. So I couldn't contain myself and got angry.  I started to punch him but the rascal ran out and that ended it!"

Play by Post RPG

Looking for people interested in play by post Role playing on a forum I created.  It's set in the Dungeons and Dragons settings.  If interested in playing a pbp rpg with me be sure to check out the link.  Looking for literate players, so please try to make posts longer then 2 sentences so can have things to reply to.  Also no 'god' moding things, even if playing a god. XD

OBSIDIAN PORTALS  (<~~~ link to the forum rpg)

I decided to call it Obsidian Portals because in theory for the rpg that is how the Worlds are connected is you can always try having your character going to that tavern in storyline to travel to another Dungeons and Dragons setting :D

Alot Accomplished In One Day

Yesterday I got a lot accomplished yet spent way too much money.  I even treated myself to eating out.  So that was nice.  With help I got my yard in better order then it has been in months.  I also put in some new plants to make the place look better.   If only I could get rid of that dead tree/bush that's in front of my house.  However, I did cut off all the dead branches, so that's good.  I also went and bought a few new appliances that the house needed.  I just got off work and all in all it's so far been a good day, yesterday.   Hopefully today will be as good. Type more later.

Matsuri and Annoyances of Work

I had a great time at Matsuri and got to see the Mikoshi (Portable Shrine) to Amaterasu and it was a good day as I didn't even get sunburned this time, but my friend did.  Unfortunately I had to go right back to work the next day after the Matsuri. 

Now on to the annoyance of work.  They have a stupid policy they're now going to enforce that you can't shop in uniform after work.  I bike to work and I'm not gonna bring a change of clothes as it would take up room I could use for groceries, so I'm no longer going to be buying groceries after work from my job.  I guess I'll just have to go to their rival store in this town, because one, it's closer to me anyway and secondly I don't feel like biking back up (3 miles and then 3 miles back home) there to pick up groceries after changing out and working all day as I sure as hell am not going to work on my day off to pick up such a mundane thing as groceries.  I think I'd rather deal with the heavier price and get more groceries at the rival store unfortunately since they don't care.  i wonder what it says about the company that their employees are shopping at the rival store :P to an outside observer that is.

MATSURI!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Matsuri is this Saturday in Phoenix, so only 2 more days and that's where I'll end the countdown as I'll probably be busy the remaining days of this week.  YATTA!!!!  Going to be so much fun, that I can't wait.

Countdown Nearing it's End

Only 2 more days until Matsuri  YATTA! YATTA! 

Only A Few More Days

Only a few more days until Matsuri :D 

YAY MATSURI TIME IS NEAR

Four more days until Matsuri...and time for another video :P

Matsuri Countdown Continued....

Six more days until Matsuri. Yay!   And here is another video of stuff at Matsuri I found cool.

FAN DANCING :D

http://www.azmatsuri.org/index.html

10 More Days

10 More days until Matsuri....Yay!

And here is another video of the cool stuff at Matsuri...  tasty/delicious Japanese food :D

Matsuri Countdown...

11 more days.....

Matsuri Countdown Continues

It's now only 12 more days until Matsuri and like I said it's going to be fun.   Here's another video of stuff at Matsuri I find cool.

Cosplay

My Phoenix Matsuri Count down

Everyday I'm gonna try to upload at least one video showcasing the type of things that can be found at Matsuri and maybe you can see why I'm so pumped and excited for it.

Here is the first thing I'm posting that they have at the Matsuri.....Japanese Pop Music.

And each day I'll add more until the time of Matsuri :D

13 Days Until Phoenix Matsuri as today, Sunday Feb. 9th

Count down to Matsuri

As of this Saturday I only have a week and a half until Matsuri.  I hope my friend can make it down from Vegas as he is my ride down to Matsuri.   I so can't wait.  I hope I get my mini vacation I requested for it.  It's my favorite time of the year because it means I get experience all that Japanese Culture that I usually don't get to see it.  It's a time for Traditional Japanese Folk Dance, Taiko Drumming, Cosplaying, tasty Japanese food, and lots of other cool fun stuff.  Plus when my friend comes down we are going to try to work on our I-Riff Track...I hope we can do some recording or even getting the script done for the Second DnD movie's riff.  Anyone of that getting done would be cool with me.  Although I'd like to do some recording so we can have an I-Riff finally uploaded onto the RiffTax site as it would mean one more source of money that I could definitely use.

Frozen Let it Go

I wish this version had been in the movie.

I thought the original was pretty good when i was watching Frozen; but I changed my mind after hearing this one, and a little disappointed they didn't go with this one.

Matsuri and Riff Traxs Only Half a Month Away

Matsuri is next month and I'm excited, and can't wait.  I really do love matsuri. It's not only a chance to get out of Wickenburg but it also allows me to indulge my interest in Japanese.  My favorite part is always the Traditional Dancing, and the Shinto Shrine Parade of the Sun Goddess Amaterasu.  I hope it does well this year so it keeps going.  

Matsuri also means my friend should be coming down for it, so that's always fun.  Plus it gives us a chance to work on our I-Riffs.  We have several scripts done; but we need to try recording them so we can start trying to sell them.  The First One is going to be Dungeons and Dragons the Movie.  I should explain what an I-Riff is.  The best way to explain it is to tell you to go watch MST3K or rather Mystery Science Theatre 3000.