http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:Kaoru-the-guitarist-&section=today deviantART RSS for by:Kaoru-the-guitarist- en-us Copyright 2009, deviantART.com Mon, 07 Dec 2009 09:12:15 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/19800074/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/19800074/ Tue, 05 Aug 2008 23:26:58 PDT
The real reason I'm updating is...wait for it....

KAKKOI CON 2008
Yes, it was epic enough to merit both bolding AND caps. I'll be doing a full report on LJ and will link that here, but in the meantime, I bring you the Sparknotes version.

Thursday night: crashlands on my doorstep (read: she was dropped off at my place). I was still scrambling to finish up some costumes because I procrastinate like a beast...oh, and my cat decided to tear the frog closures off my "Myaku" Kaoru (Dir en grey) tunic. -Awesome-. Keito excels at handsewing and put them back on for me while I was fighting a losing battle with some new pink extensions for the back of my "Myaku" and "Osaka Jo Hall" hair style. I gave up on 'em after I tried using a hairdryer to make the product in them dry faster and the caulk wefts (I gave that caulk wefting technique a shot) melted. Great. After much cursing and swearing, I gave up and decided to actually pack...at 1 am. Go me. Packing was a bit of bitch since all of my costumes have a lot of accessories, I need many a hair product for them, between Keito and I a lot makeup is necessary, and I needed my sewing box, machine, and a bag of supplies because I had yet to actually make my feather neckpiece and rose hairpiece for "Tsumi to Batsu" Kaoru (Dir en grey)costume....that I planned to compete in on Saturday. DID I MENTION THAT I PROCRASTINATE YET?! ...moving on...

Friday: Woke up at 8:30 am, finished packing, rinsed my hair to prep it for styling, printed my references for my competition costume, obtained CD-Rs for my music (yeah, I hadn't burned it yet...luckily I brought my laptop along), ate a banana while Keito inhaled the rest of the Rice Crispies cereal that was god-knows-how-old, and loaded up the car (between the two of us we had: a large suitcase, a small suitcase, a guitar, two purses, a backpack, a laptop case, sewing box, sewing machine, large plastic bag-o-fabric and notions, a garment bag with all 4 of my costumes...hopefully that was all. True story: Jrock cosplayers don't travel light). We left my place at a little after 10 am because I'd read that Kakkoi Con didn't want us lining up before 11 am. We got to the con at 11:30 am...and there was already a massive line for pre-reg/normal reg. "Balls!" I thought. We found Keito's friend (the person who would carry my stuff, make sure my hair wasn't squashed in my feathers, and take photos all weekend) already in line and he let us cut in. I tried to go check into our hotel room, but upon doing so was told that the Sheraton had "no rooms until twelve-thrity-ONE pm" even though I reserved back in March. Great.

Keito's friend (Brawner) had checked in the day before, so he decided to be nice and let us at least do out makeup in his hotel room (read: let me do my makeup and put makeup on Keito). Quite some time later, we actual got to pick up our badges, I got our room, and I managed find convention staff that actually knew where I had to go to register for the cosplay competition (not gonna lie: I had no CLUE what I was doing when I filled out that form...I've never competed...and never even SEEN a competition before...GO ME!). Up in our room, Keito put on her "Gauze-era" Shinya costume and I proceeded to spend in an inordinate amount of time spiking/grassblading all my hair after changing into my "Myaku" Kaoru outfit. Credit where credit's due: Keito braids and installs my ponyfall for me. Give her a round of applause because I barely have enough real hair in the back to keep that thing on.

We spent the rest of the day wandering around in our costumes, having our photos taken...oh, and Keito bought cute things, per normal. Went to dinner fairly late, fooled around a bit more in costume, and then retired back up to the room around 9:30 because I had a SHITLOAD of things to get done in preparation for the cosplay competition the next day:
- make my entire feather neckband
- make my rose/feather hairpiece
- turn a pair of tights into a lace shirt (this was the easy bit)
- attach the chains to my skirt
- cut up the song "Tsumi to Batsu" into a short, walk-on-friendly clip
- figure out what I was gonna do on stage
...I did everything but the l... ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/16130937/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/16130937/ Thu, 27 Dec 2007 22:06:21 PST ME

First things first: I AM using DA's new gallery organization. And no, I didn't delete most of my gallery--I just deselected it from my "featured" items. If you want to see some of my old or otherwise artistic disasters, click "browse." I even sorted everything into categories! Oh, but I didn't touch the effin' scraps!

Second, YES, I've been absent for a while. Life. It tends to happen. Fall Term was really busy: between the honors program for my general ed. credits, International Relations (my major) Theory, and upper-level Japanese, I did very little sleeping in my surprisingly comfortable bed at USC (in Los Angeles--I'm visiting my parents in MN, but for all extents and purposes, I moved to LA).

Third, I have no idea if I'll be creating much new art or in what form. Right now I'm scanning/cleaning up old art either from back in my AP days or from the summer. I also just threw up in my gallery my costumes from last year. I have some partially finished vector stuff, which won't be too hard to work on in spare bits of time because all I need is my laptop and my tablet. Oh, and when I'm back home I work on my costumes/other sewing-related projects.

And while we're on the subject of costume: Two things, really.
1) I'm working on getting my "Gauze" Kaoru outfit finished up accurately. I'm currently redoing the skirt, but I hope to tackle the accessories before break is over. I have a new (and accurate!) version of "Myaku" Kaoru done except for the fact that I need new vinyl pants (I'm far skinnier now) and need to transfer the bones and Chinese frog closures from the old dress to the new one. I may tackle either "Akuro no Oka" (GIANT HAAAAAAAAT) or "Raison detre" (um...no reason needed, obviously!) this summer. I plan to do a new "Myaku"/"Osaka Jo Hall live" wig before that though.

2) AD08 is far later than any previous AD and therefore does not coincide with my spring break at USC. It would be pretty much impossible for me to fly to Mpls from LA just for a weekend, so AD08 just isn't in the cards for me. Hopefully someone else will step up and represent Jrock cosplay this year! ^^ I may go to Kakkoi Con in August instead depending on whether or not Keito will join me (Keito--you better) and what my job situation will be like. I'll try to go to PMX in CA next year too.

Anything else?

Uh, I'm pretty psyched that D'espairsRay and Mucc are playing the TOC tour! Does that count? Probably going to the Long Beach date unless someone convinces me to go to San Diego instead (and will drive me--my car's in MN XD).

Oh, and 12012's new album rocks me hard. The end.

]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/12150756/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/12150756/ Sun, 11 Mar 2007 23:48:21 PDT DANCEABLE beat. So how have we are we now reduced to smashing arrows into oblivion with our feet to emo music?! Someone please answer me that! Oh, and then answer as to whether or not emo kids even dance...or play DDR. Because seriously, I don't know the answer having never been to an emo concert as well as never having played video games w/ an emo kid (or done much other than confuse and annoy one for that matter). It just seems to me that dancing around like a maniac on a piece of plastic is so very much against the "OH WOE IS MEEEEEE! MUMMY AND DADDY WON'T BUY ME A NEW iPOD!!!! NO ONE UNDERSTANDS MEEEEE SO IMMA GONNA GO CUT MYSELF!" emo mentality.

Why yes, do bring on the hate if you disagree--there hasn't been a good war in this journal about how I'm not entitled to my opinion in ages. XD

Anyway, the game just goes too far out of its way to please everyone from including emo to changing the names of the difficulty setting from "beginner, light, standard, heavy, challenge" to "beginner, basic, difficult, extreme, challenge" so that no one feels bad that they're "sub-standard." XD So I guess while I used to get to say "Oh, I play standard and some of heavy mode," I can now proclaim "I PLAY DIFFICULT AND EXTEEEEEEEEEEME MODE, RAWR! FALL AT MY FEET AND WORSHIP ME, BITCHES!"...sounds needlessly impressive.

But away from my ego and back to the music issue. People need to grow up and realize that just because they like a certain type doesn't mean it should be in a dancing game (I'm not just talking about emo here: there's at least 20 songs I can't even fathom why were included). I mean truly, I wouldn't sit and listen to DDR songs for my own enjoyment, but i also know that most of the stuff I normally listen to is conducive to wild headbanging and vicious air-guitar and certainly not dancing. XD

So, yes, that was so offensive to me that I felt it merited a journal. Oh, and x-posted this pretty much everywhere that I have journal space...

OH AND WATCH OUT! A real update be a comin' once I drag my heavier-than-should-be-legal portfolio home and start scanning. That may not be until after AD07 since I couldn't just be content w/ 2 new cosplays--oh no, I felt this strange need to make Kaoru's Tsumi to Batsu costume too. I think I'll have it done minus some detail-y stuff like some of the belts on the skirt unless of course I find a way to obtain rivets and spikes cheaply in less than 2 weeks.

Oh, right. And before anyone shoots of his/her mouth about what kind of loser I must be to play DDR in first place, first consider that it is a type of workout that my asthma does not seem repulsed to the point of wheezing fits over, I can burn 500 calories or more an hour doing it, and I more than likely weigh less than you do (unless of course you are by some miracle reading this from an eating disorder unit--which is pretty much impossible anyway. In that case, you're probably the only one justified in giving me a hard time about it...lucky you and you -predicament-.)

]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/11389839/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/11389839/ Wed, 10 Jan 2007 17:45:10 PST YO!
Yes, I'm back! Did you miss me? Well, that doesn't particularly matter since I missed me! XD I stayed gone for so long for various reasons, but mainly because my life was, quite frankly, a complete mess. I can't say it's fully back to normal, but I can say that my mood is back up to it's goofy/energetic norm. XD Furthermore, I have so much energy these days, so I figured I might as well put a bit of it into here.

I'M IN UR INBOX RAPING UR DEVWATCH!
And I sort of apologize for it--meaning the recent torrent of new (or at least new to DA because some of that stuff is quite old) works. I have had a lot of digital images taken for competition and application portfolios so I figured I might as well put up some of it since most of it is far to huge to scan.

So what now? Well, I'm working on my concentration, obviously, so you can expect more of that up here. I'm also finishing stuff from last summer I never finished--a pastel drawing of テロ　from ヴィドール I started on the train one day in Japan and a marker/watercolor piece of Uruha (my computer seems to not be able to find the kanji for his name...odd) from the GazettE that I def. started on the 11+ hr flight back from Japan because I couldn't sleep, was freakishly bored, and just plain felt like drawing Uruha bearing his thighs to the whole world (eh, actually one thigh in my picture b/c he's got a skirt thing over the other...)

One more thing, expect a vector upload on January 20th...DO YOU KNOW WHAT JANUARY 20th IS? Prob. not if you're at all normal. XD

Cosplay
Except for a few details, my Osaka Jo Hall 薫 (Dir en grey) cosplay is done. Also, I made (minus the effin' fur trim) 's Tsumi to Batsu Shinya dress from hell because she's totally incompetent...KIDDING! More like b/c I'm too fucking nice for my own good and offered to do it (and much masochistic sewing fun was had!). Now all I have to do is finish the collar and get the wire frame in my "Cage" 薫 cosplay and I will have successfully pulled three costumes out of my ass this year! SUCK THAT! YARG!

That "alluring" animated gif webcam image
XD! If you can't admit (to yourself at least) that 葵 (the GazettE) doing his little hip swivel is the pretty much the greatest thing ever, then you, my friend, are quite ill. XD Or maybe just normal. Yes, so while I made that bloody gif myself at 4 am one night, the captures are taken from Gazette's "Nameless Liberty Six Guns Final" DVD and thus are copyrighted to them.

And how about that new avatar...?

Well it's just DAMN!

LMAO!

And to anyone who looked at my username and then at my avatar and was thinking of saying something to the effect of "DON'T YOU KNOW THAT'S NOT KAORU!?!?!!!111!!!??1111one!!!!11eleven" please do refrain or it's SMACK A BITCH TIME--I know it's not Kaoru . XD

Yeah, I can't take myself seriously.

Plastic wrap is for winners...
mmmhmmm....


OVER AND OUT!!

Yours hardcore-ly (sort of),

The crazy fxxking rockstar

]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/10175560/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/10175560/ Sun, 24 Sep 2006 18:07:28 PDT Currently listening to: Imitation PoPs Uchuu Sentai NOIZ--Hero
Mood:rockin' out while being buried under work at the same time!
...or at least for our purposes I did. But now I'm back--no, you just can't get rid of me. Tough, eh?

So basically (in case you haven't noticed), I frequently go on hiatus unannounced and usually come back just to disappear again. I figure I should be considerate and let you know that one of these days, I probably won't come back--meaning I lost interest FINALLY and left DA. I'll never go and delete all my pieces, but I may just quit updating. Just thought you should know.

So, I guess I haven't updates since Beppu...that's really sad actually. Well, after Beppu I went to Hiroshima, Hakone, and finally Tokyo (which is possibly the best experience of my life basically...and i miss it...hardcore) and prior to Beppu I lived with a host family in Fukuoka (and attended a Japanese high school, which in itself was an interesting experience) and before that stayed in a ryokan (Japanese-style inn) in Kyoto. I've been back in the US since August. At some point I'll finish my giant write-up of my Japan adventures complete w/ photos and post it to that god-awful LJ I never update (I only really change my layout for fun and get music from communities...). The link shall be posted here so you too can enjoy/be scarred for life by my crazy trip during which I discovered that at 5'7.5" I am too tall to wear any size but a Men's large in pants at Black Peace Now, but can comfortably wear a medium at Yellow House. I guess I shoudl be happy I was able to get my Japanese fashion fix at all.

I'm back in class now and it's been quite difficult this year. Especially art. I may end up posting a lot of my art assignments just because I doubt I'll have much time to work on anything else (although I do very much wanna vector more--I'm addicted).

What else? Both of my sewing machines are rebelling so cosplay shall be difficult this year. Why yes, I got hit with the bad luck stick! XD

And is just me or does the opening to "Hero" *points above* sound like "I won't leave you alone my fetus"? I wish I could find the lyrics online b/c I really wanna confirm...t'would kick a lot of ass if those really were the lyrics.

Over and out, kiddos~!


RAWR!

]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/9407901/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/9407901/ Mon, 17 Jul 2006 16:50:19 PDT ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/8886129/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/8886129/ Fri, 26 May 2006 17:59:26 PDT Anyhoo, I won t have much of chance to get on here because it is supposed to be "blocked." LMAO ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/8791389/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/8791389/ Tue, 16 May 2006 18:06:49 PDT UPDATE portion of it.

Leaving for Mexico on May 18
Indeed I am. I shall be in Morelia, Mexico staying with a host family until June 3rd. I have been told I shall have internet access at my school there. That said, I will NOT be updating on DA from there. If something REALLY interesting happens, I may update one of the many other blogs I have and have ignored frequently up untill now. It'd have to be pretty interesting though.

New Art
I hope to have at least 3 pieces uploaded before I leave...that is if my suitcase doesn't eat me. I hate packing...

Something humerous
Hot Topic is apparently carrying the US release of Dir en grey's Withering to Death CD. This is an exact copy of their CD description, pasted here for your viewing/laughing at pleasure.

"Dir En Grey Withering To Death CD

Apocalyptic themes, industrial dance-rock and '70's glam... what the heck more do you want? Dir en grey is everything you could ask for from a band, and here's 14 tracks and a bonus DVD to prove it!

©2006 Free Will America

was $15.99
now $13.99"

Seriosuly, regardless of whether you belong to the "ugh, GET THEM OUT OF THE US!!! I'M SO ELITEST!" camp, the "OMG YAYZ FOR DIRU! EVEN AT MY FAV. 'hardcore' STORE!" camp, or the "...I don't really care..." camp, this is funny. Those certainly aren't the words I'd use to describe WTD--esp. the '70s glam. I know my '70s glam pretty well and I'm really not feeling any being exuded from WTD. I like WTD--don't get me wrong--just not much '70s glam for better or for worse (...it's fine w/o it really). "industrial dance-rock" Woah. I never knew Wither To Death was danceable! I mean, you could totally dance to some of the stuff on "Kai" the remix album...but WTD? Wow. I'd have to say this is a bastard grandson of a genre I have never seen Diru's work put in. I think next time someone asks "So you like Dir en grey, huh? Never heard of 'em. What sort of music do they play?" I will reply with "industrial dance-rock!!!!RAWR!!" just for the total cheese-factor. I used to just say 'metal' so I wouldn't have to do into a long story about how their sound has changed/evolved over time...blah blah...and the interrogation would end there.

Yeah, I'm done having my saracastic fun...mostly. I like the packaging for the Japanese release better simply for the giant ass among the other random images, but I can see why the US release lacks the funky cardboard sleeve+case deal with the added bonus of a giant ass: the price. I paid 2x+ for my copy. Not saying I shoudl rock your world because I did that, simply saying that nice packaging costs.

Now I really am done poking fun at Hot Topic's lame description of what I think is for the most part, a good CD (note: music-wise. I can't comment on the added DVD footage as that was not included in the Japanese release).

In conclusion...
...I probably just wasted your time. XD Please now excuse me, I have a statistics final to study for and a battle to fight with my arch-nemisis "THE SUITCASE." ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/8483703/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/8483703/ Sat, 15 Apr 2006 22:18:11 PDT Anime Detour 2006
Twas a very good time, although I did not get my new costume done in time T___T. I just wore Myaku Kaoru again and carried Keito's guitar--this was very helpful because this year we were recognized and photographed a ton. I have also finally put my adversion to being hugged behind me out of neccessity. For whatever reason, fangirls (oh, and fanboys, since there was the dude dressed as Sephiroth) want to hug a cosplayer of their favorite jrocker and then proceed to act like they hugged the real thing. I'm not putting down this behavior, I just don't understand it.
Anyhoo, Keito and I kept track of our hug records...for a while.
I kept on totally owning people with guitar. Even if I was standing still, people would walk into it. *shakes head* It was kind of sad.
Oh, and Keito's hooker boots ate her feet. I still feel really bad about that considering all the walking we did.
Oh, and Keito, I am still bitter about how short you made me feel in those damn shoes! But I guess we were authentic height-wise. Kaoru's kinda short. XD
I am also surprised that I didn't cause accidents on the freeway because I drove to and from the con in costume, so people would turn around and stare at my pink spiky wig while driving.

The death of my red hair--EDIT!!
All good things must come to an end--even hair that makes stop-signs jealous. But fear not! I have not given into normalcy! In fact, in a moment of bad judgement, I decided that pink/magenta hair would be awesome. And it is awesome, just the bleaching out red and black was not. Red doesn't really come out, so not all of my hair is pink because I didn't want to risk fried hair. I had a picture to show because I royally blow at explainign things, but when I upload it, the pink doesn't look pink at all. DAMN YOU INTERNET AND YOUR LIMITED COLORS! I'LL GET YOU ONE DAY!

EDIT: I now have an image in my scraps/webcam image space. It still is not color accurate after all the fooling around in PS (it appears washed out on the internet, but oversaturated in PS O.0;;, but it will suffice.
Art
I am really embarassed I have nothing to upload! The truth is, art for class has kept me very busy and I never get those assignments back before they end up in the gallery or somewhere else. That and some of our assignments are very rediculous. For exaply: a self-portrait made only out of colors torn out of magazines and glued down. I really liked how the hair looked on mine, but I was only half done when I totally changed the color of my hair so I guess I'll be improvising.
I've been doing some vectoring and digital painting on the side, but both are taking a avery long time, so I have no idea when I will be done.

Pierrot disbanded
While I was by no means their biggest fan ever, I did enjoy their music and it is sad to see them go. I guess it's better they went their separate ways than stayed together unhappy (from reading Kirito's message to the fans, it sounded like kind of an ugly split though).

I have learned to be better than coffee when it comes to waking people up in the student parking lot
The weather has been very nice here (65-72 degrees already around 8am) so I have my windows down when I come in the lot in the morning. This is actually an important fact. I have also become tired of my fellow students who drive around on the wrong side of the road, half awake or stumble around haphazardly with their Starbucks in one hand. Instead of running one of them over and being sued, I decided on a new way to fix this problem: I know from my own experience that Toshi's voice really grates on the sleepy mind. For a few days I drove into the lot blarring X-Japan w/ my windows down and everyone jolted up and glared. No other music has achieved this goal thus far. Oh, and it only took those few days because now when I drive in, there don't seem to be many (or any) people around.
In hindsight, I should have named this section "how to effectively clear out t... ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/8221426/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/8221426/ Mon, 20 Mar 2006 20:19:18 PST
Last week some little rat-bastards decided to spray paint my car while I was in class. I was quite pissed off about having white spray paint on my car, but the fact that I pay good money every year to be able to just park my car in that spot on campus makes me even more furious when things like this happen. People forced me ot go to the dean of students with the whole issue. While he got royally pissed about all of it, nothing happened. Surprise, surprise, eh?!

Right, so that's eaten up a fair amount of time.

Let's see what else...OH! I am not, believe it or not, a music request service. Seriosuly folks! I used to get a few notes asking for obscure mp3s and I would send them to people because...well, I guess I'm sort of nice. Lately, I've been getting a lot of these requests. As much as I want people to get into new bands and what-not, I have a life outside of watching to make sure files upload to YSI. Furthermore, only two people that I do not know who note me have ever even thanked me. Maybe this is what society has come to?

The anime con is this weekend...which really sucks for me at this point. My costume and the pattern I made for it got royally screwed up by one of my cats (Byrd the psycho if yo uknow her) so I have to start at the beginning...again. I have no idea how I can get it done w/ my schedule as it is. I need to make a whole new pattern and I dunno how I can since my old one was the result of a lot of struggling and fixing things. If anyone has any idea how to remake a cage Kaoru pattern quickly and painlessly, let me know. I'm pretty much desperate at this point. T___T

Wish I has something good to say here, but eh. Not this time.

EDIT: Okay, something good kinda happened. I woke up this morning, picked up my guitar, and played 'Love Replica' by X-Japan along w/ the CD (which was residing w/in my alarm clock). I have not played that song for 8 months and never got the lead part up to speed the whole way through. Kind of creepy that i should get it now. Oh, and I tried to play it again after the 1st time through this morning and needed to find the sheet of paper I tabbed it out on since I couldn't remember it exactly anymore. That was kinda weird. Maybe I foudn guitar enlightenment during that moment right after I woke up? I like to think so. It makes me sound special. ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/8106907/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/8106907/ Wed, 08 Mar 2006 19:51:20 PST . we're gonna make a pie together one of these days)

Also, I actually HAVE a piece to upload, but I can't finish it b/c my 'true green' prismacolor marker decided to up and die. Now, normally I would gank one from studio drawing and bring it back when it's about to die, but...my stomach and it's new virus buddies protest. Same goes for my new found drive to work on my cosplay...I can't. WHY DOES CREATIVITY HIT WHEN MY STOMACH HAS DECIDED TO TURN EMO? *pokes stomach* Ouch. I'm starting to think I got so mad at an emo kid that I ate it and forgot about it...and now it's trying to get out or something...

Oh, on the amusing side, I was mistaken for a pile of clothes. I suppose it was my fault for being all arms and legs (w/ a small torso for whatever reason....prob. the same reason that I have massive feet) and wearing baggy "I feel not so good" clothes---actually, I was wearing the SUPER COOL KAORU SHIRT keito made me for X-mas (truely, it is so cool...gah...SOOOO COOOL I TELL YOU!), but it's way too big for me so I only ever wear it around the house (which is so sad b/c the world should see it's awesomeness...I should put a picture in my scraps...it's that cool...which makes Keito that cool for making it for me). Also some sort of baggy pants...which is most types of pants because I have chicken legs...or so I have been told...they just aren't nice looking at all. So, I was sleeping on my bed...seems like a safe activity right? WRONG! I was all curled up and I guess all anyone could see was a mass of clothing and...SOMEONE SAT ON ME! ...that woke me up. Nothing says happy b-day like being mistaken for laundry!

On a happy note, CDjapan is on crack. No really, this is a good thing: some stuff I ordered came and my order says I bought the cheap version of both Gazette's Nil and Merry's Nu chemical rhetoric, but I ended up with the limited edition version of both...hey, I ain't complaining! Although the Gazette CD is the weirdest looking case I have ever seen...IT'S HUGE. And red. And fuzzy. And most people would not think of those adjectives to describe a CD case normally... Anyhoo, also got Gazette's Judgement Day DVD (nice to have the whole thing since someone sent me a rip of half of it...not very satisfying) and Vidoll's Liquid Room ebisu concert DVD, which is awesome because it didn't cost much and finding cheap Vidoll stuff just DOESN'T happen.

Oh, and the little sister got me some markers to replace the ones that dried up! As you prob. tell by now, I wrote the beginning of this journal, forgot to post it due to tabbed browsing, and came back to it. This solves my marker problem! *makes a note to hug the sister when no longer ill for the good b-day present* Oh, a friend of mine made me a TON of cookies...too bad my stomach objects.

In short, my b-day sucked, but it could have been worse. I have things to submit when I finish them that no one will prob. like because they're just colored doodles I did out of boredom in North American Lit. one day...speaking of which, I do believe I have a paper to write...aw damn. Those make me want to vomit even on a good day!

So now you know all about my life...WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT! This crazy-rockstar-recently-demoted-to-pile-of-laundry is going to do something productive such as a) write my paper b) puke (stupid emo-filled stomach) c) sleep.


EDIT: Would anyone have a major aneurysm if I dyed my hair hot pink after AD06? I mean with exception of my mother whose business it isn't really anyway. But yes, the black part would stay black, just the other part would be pink...which would be kind of uncharacteristic for me, and for that reason fun(ny). It will wait until after the con because I have decided on doing the version of Cage Kaoru from the phot... ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/8019645/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/8019645/ Mon, 27 Feb 2006 15:52:44 PST No, really. If you are a subscriber you are the most likely to not understand why I can't comment on more of your work. Quite simlpy, I watch quite a few people, many of whom post many times a week. As a non-subscriber, all deviations etc. are listed by date, not by author, and if i do not check things at least every two days, I am quickly unable to find things. This gets really hairy when people resubmit things multiple times.

Other non-subscribers will understand this. It is no big deal except that more than a single incident has occured when someone has noted me angrily about me not leaving them any feedback for a while. These people have been UNWATCHED. Asking me nicely is one things so I can go for the huge mess that is my inbox and find your art, but pissing and moaning is totally different. These people act like they are paying me for critique--THEY ARE NOT. This exactly the point I have been trying to get to: deviantArt is about community feedback. Do I really want to be subscribed? Not neccessarily. I just used it as sort of an illustration to my point that if these people act like I am shirking my duties by not commenting on ALL the art they post ALL the time, maybe they should pay me (which in the DA world would most equivilently be a subscription).

I hate to have to post about this, but it has happened more often they I ever thought would. There are more artists I'd like to watch perhaps, but I guess it wouldn't be fair to since it appears I need to dedicate all my time and energy to some people around here. T___T

On a lighter note, on 3/8 I get to celebrate my existence and eat cake (read: my b-day). For some reason, cake is the only part of my birthday that holds much allure anymore. Other than that, it's a normal day with normal classes and perchance a snow storm or two. (actually, there was a massive snow storm the day I was born...how ironic. I hate snow)

OH! 3/2 is also a year older. She's super awesome, so anyone who reads this should wish her a happy birthday. I do fondly remember that the fact that she is 6 days older than me used to be a fav. taunt of hers in 5th grade or there-abouts. ^______^ Sorry Britt! Yet again you get to share a journal w/ unsavory news. ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/7925945/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/7925945/ Fri, 17 Feb 2006 13:43:12 PST I am really excited for Anime Detour 06 (convention) though! Should be a fun time...that is if Keito doesn't trip and fall in her crazy boots. and land on me too many times.

Um...what else is new? I really don't know...my classes have been keeping me plenty busy eventhough I have 4 days off. Oh! And Kaoru (Dir en grey) turns 32 today (yesterday in Japan...hazaah for the international dateline and its trippy-ness!)! So, happy birthday to him--oh! And Kyo. He turned 30 a few days ago, which I wouldn't have noticed except that his rabid fan girls have been slightly more rabid the last few days and I was able to put two and two together.

Hmm, something as a Diru fan one will either love or hate with a firey passion: [link] Irony. I am more than likely going to be in California during my spring break, but probably the second week since the week before is AD06. Ah well. Not a big deal. Of course, I know this is a HUGE deal to some people: those people who will be selling their appendages on Ebay to go, and those people who will take up pitchforks and torches against it. I say it's just two concerts (I am not counting SXSW because registration for the event is over and it was $500+...I never want to hear from someone who spent that much money just to see Diru for 30 minutes and didn't participate in the rest of the festival).

Still in the vein of music, anybody else here heard of Violet Narcissus? I know they are an indie Japanese rockband (no, not like Gazette...everyone and their mom knows who they are these days), but they sound a bit like D'espairs Ray (who have become EXTREMELY popular among Jrock fans after playing in the US), so I thought more people would like them. They are a bit more "industrial" than D'espairs Ray though (I use the term industrial lightly here: I know what real industrial is and this isn't it, but it has a similar sound and I can't think of a better term at the moment). Anyway, after listening to their CD "decadence," I can say that I highly recommend them.

Yes, I have been listening to a lot of indies lately simply because I am tired of all the music I have and need something new to listen to. Perhaps everytime I update, I will make a recommendation? I am sure I can't be the only one frustrated with their library of Japanese rock music.

Oh, and I'm behind on my assignments for Studio painting. I should be working on that, not rambling nonesense to your inbox.

~めぐみ ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/7746414/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/7746414/ Sun, 29 Jan 2006 22:05:52 PST
I am indeed alive. Very busy, but alive. After taking a grueling 4 hour standardized test yesterday, I fully expected to go home and nap, but being the work-a-holic I am, I decidedto teach myself a new art form: vectoring. I just recently upgraded to CS (...not CS2 stfu, you trendwhores. My dad has CS2 and I get whichever he doesn't need anymore because of Adobe's introduction of the activation code. Man, PS7 rocked hard because you load it on everyone you knew's computer no problem) Anyhoo, I did that for 7 hours and am in the middle of a nice (by my standards) Illustrator CS piece. The pen tool and I seem to be on better terms than we were in Illustrator 10. I will not give away the subject of my piece yet, but I will say it shall be uploaded on Feb. 17 if I am lucky. This is a hint btw. Most people will not get it.

I have also come to the conclusion that my feet are needlessly big. I always knew they were large, but after coming across Die's shoe size, converting it from a men's size to a women's size (which I am good at b/c most of my boots are men's sized), I came to realize that his feet are no bigger than mine--in fact the same size. For the record, I am not nearly 6 ft tall like him (only 5'7", which puts me at eye level w/ Kaoru should I ever run into him). In conclusion, my feet must be attempting world domination otherwise I have no idea why they grew so big.


And yes, , I wrote a journal about big nasty feet. My feet and I are deeply sorry. Well, I'm sorry. I dunno 'bout my feet. They dun talk....yet. ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/7575637/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/7575637/ Wed, 11 Jan 2006 16:08:33 PST

although, few people can claim to have had a CAT scan of their brain at 3am.
Right, so I can dispell people going "OMG! Are you okay?" or "WTF? You smell like hospital!" I'll just give the whole story.
9:something am: Getting shit out of my stupid locker in a hurry b/c I thought I'd be late to English (the irony being the schedule was wonky and I would have been 15 minutes EARLY.) I stood up real fast and smacked the back of my skull on the jackass above me's open locker (he is actually a jackass...this incident did not bring me to that conclusion btw). The force of skull vs. jackass' locker knocked my vision out for a few seconds, but this did not deter me from stumbling into class...and nearly passing out. I suppose my US lit. teacher did not relish the idea of having a passed out chick in her classroom, so she dragged me down to the infirmary, where she was promptly chase out for wearing too much perfume. The nurse decided I merited some ice and a round of 20 STUPID questions: what day is it? what year is it? (trick quustion) what month is it? what date is it? (I never know the answer to this one anyway) what's your mom's name?
Um, I kind of would have liked to continue to ice my brain, but we had an emergancy evacuation drill. For the rest of the day I settled on having a splitting headache and a stomache while going to class.
When I got home, I think my brain was pissed with me b/c it decided to hurt like a mother, so naturally I went to take a nap. I couldn't sleep and it just got worse so I took a painkiller, which I had lying around from god-knows when, and this knocked me into drugged up sleep until 11:30 pm when pain conquered the narcotic. I should pause to say this is NOT meant to happen. Also, I should say that I suffered from severe migraines for years (to the point that all i could do was go to sleep to make them go away) so I know what headaches are although I do not get migraines anymore due to good meds. The 11:30 pm headache was really something else. I suck at describing pain since I was born w/ a dearth of emoness, but I could not sleep, eat, or lay still w/ it. For this reason, I went to the ER to make sure I didn't manage to break something important when I hit my head (a little late, I know).
I had some serious trouble expalining what was wrong w/ me at triage b/c I couldn't think and was more inclined to hold my head and make what has been later to described to me as "odd noises." I am not proud of this fact AT ALL. It did get me into the ER faster though. I guess they were busy b/c they gave me a child-size bed in my hospital room. They gave me a -lovely- neurological exam which included shining lights in my eyes--if i had been more with it, I think I would have killed the nurse for it. OH! And it was time for 20 STUPID questions again. The doctor was a pretty nice guy, but he kept forgetting to tell me some very basic things...like that they were going to CT scan my brain and start an IV...not for fluids or contrast but for MORPHINE--so, when the nurse shows up and starts trying to put a 16G needle in my hand I'm like "oh...are you guys giving me fluids? I'm not dehydrated" and she's like "no, silly! We're giving you some morphine so you're too doped up to feel pain!"

I would like to take a moment to recognize the best invention ever: the self-locking morphine cart. Once the nurse takes x-amount of morphine and needles out, it make evil noises and locks. Take that junkies! Technology sure showed you up! (it should be pointed out that the hospital I went to is in the shit part of the city)

Anyhoo. Um, this was the one good part of the night and when I say good, I mean I was full of drugs so it was good in the "oh...I think my brain is gone" sort of way. The doctor came in w/ a trainee or someone and asked me for the million-and-first time that night: "On a scale of 1-10, what's your pain like?" I used to say 9...but I sort of forgot my numbers and just sat that there like "durrrrr...um....I like 5....it's niiiiice." And they all laughed at me. Give someone enough narcotics and not only do they forget their pain, but they also forget basic kindergarten-level learning. This is a beautifu... ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/7433401/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/7433401/ Tue, 27 Dec 2005 17:21:19 PST Well, my abscence from DA for that logn spell can be attributed to the fact that I contracted pneumonia just in time for midterms....JUST LIKE LAST YEAR. Actually, I went to urgent care on the exact same date as last year. From this, I have concluded that my lungs are really just deformed emo children implanted in my chest cavity. ew..emo kids! There are few things I despise more...
My holiday was actually pretty good (I celebrate x-mas, but I'm trying my bestest not to offend a soul, so I shall use the word holiday). It always makes me the most happy during this time of year when people like what I give them/make for them. And this year everyone seemed to. ^___^ There are still a few people I need to give things to, so I guess I shouldn't speak so soon. Anyhoo, I guess I want to ask you all WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY MEMORY/THING YOU GOT (since that seems to be the only reason why lots of people celebrate anything at all -.-") THIS YEAR?

Oh, and I thiefed this "about me" thing from god-knows-where just for shits anhd giggles. Perhaps to torture you all. Here goes:
1) Using band names, spell out your name
Should I try to use my DA name? Hmmm I guess I will
KagerouAliene Ma'riageOrgyRazed in BlackUV (they're on some industrial/trance compilation I have)-TourbillonhideEve of Destiny-GazetteUnderworldIcon of CoilTalla2XCLAssemblage 23Rentrer en SoiIZAMShullaTime Unlimited (again...from an electronica compilation of some sort...I dunno anything for T!)

2) Have you ever had a song written about you?
I doubt it?
3) What song makes you cry?
Um...I don't know. Nothing unless I'm already sad.
4) What song makes you happy?
"Bite to All" by Gazette
"Ash" by Dir en grey
"Anarchy in the UK" by Sex Pistols
Miyavi's cover of "Hit the Road Jack" XD
"Magic Dance" from Labyrinth

5) What do you like to listen to before bed?
Pierrot--anyhting by them. Well, anything else Jrock I guess. No Industrial generally b/c I'll be all enegized and stuff. XD
Appearance
HEIGHT: 5' 7" w/o shoes. 6'3" w/ boots on
HAIR COLOR: Blue/black. Current color added on that: Cherry Bomb by SpecialFX (kinda magenta/red)
SKIN COLOR:yellowish pale. It's possible for me to tan though and I've only been sunburned once. I tend to like ot stay pale though.
EYE COLOR: Very pale blue IRL. Changed to brown in cosplay photos
PIERCINGS: ears. 12G curved spike barbells in both (I need 10G but i lost em)
TATTOOS: None
right now
WHAT COLOR PANTS ARE YOU WEARING: The green pants of doom as they were called at Mori no Ike a few years a go
WHAT SONG ARE YOU LISTENING TO?: "GRIND" by Kagerou
WHAT TASTE IS IN YOUR MOUTH?: Cashews
WHAT'S THE WEATHER LIKE?: cold + kinda melty

Do You..
GET MOTION SICKNESS?: only if I'm spinning two different directions at once
PROJECTILE VOMIT! Yes, last years when I had influenza. I cracked a rib doing it.
HAVE A BAD HABIT?: All around, I can't sit still.
GET ALONG WITH YOUR PARENTS?: When enither of us ask too many questions, yes.
LIKE TO DRIVE?: I guess? It's nice to be able to do it since public transportation in Mpls BLOWS!

Favorites

TV SHOWS: Who's Line is it Anyway?
CONDITIONER: Bumble and Bumble Deep Treatment. Keeps mah damaged hair from fallin' out
MAGAZINE: Domestic: Guitar Player, Mac World, Game informer (shaddup...I'm a loser..and my dad designs the ads for GameStop so I've been hooked on games since forever). Foreign: Whichever jrock mags Keito has w/ her at the time. I'm a bum. I can't afford to buy those.
Drink: Green tea, Dr. Pepper
THING TO DO ON THE WEEKEND: Work on cosplay, sleep, draw, play my guitar until my hands die
BAND OR GROUP or SINGER or RAPPER: Oh sweet jesus! Too many! Go look on the fav. band part of my profile. The add a lot of industrial and you've got em down good.

Have You..
BROKEN THE LAW: Yes
RUN AWAY FROM HOME: sort of
SNUCK OUT OF THE HOUSE: not really I don't think...
EVER GONE SKINNY DIPPING: i think like once...wasn't as much fun as people say it is...kinda cold really
MADE A PRANK PHONE CALL: YES
EVER TIPPED OVER A PORTA POTTY: OH GOD YES! Someone was in it though...
USED YOUR PARENTS' CREDIT CARD BEFORE: Yes.
SKIPPED SCHOOL BEFORE: Yeah...I was tired!
FELL ASLEEP IN THE SHOWER/BATH: yup. I can sleep annnnyyywwwhhheere if I dun take m... ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/7196651/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/7196651/ Thu, 01 Dec 2005 16:51:09 PST I wish I had time to draw these days. Inspiration strikes when I am buried under work it seems. Midterms are in a week. I will be glad when they are over, but it is at the moment also quite likely I won't go to that school much longer. Quite frankly, I have been very unhappy with the quality of an education I am getting compared to how much it costs (my family isn't exactly loaded so I just plain can't justify wasting our money). This actually directly will have an effect on my art and its future so that is why I mention it. I do not make it a habit of unloading my personal shit here or on anyone. Everyone has their own troubles to deal with.
In the small good news section here, "Criminal" was entered in a contest that I know nothing about. I'm a bit weirded out considering it was just a weekly sketch assignment. Not a masterpiece (or even my best work) by any stretch of imagination. I'm flattered that my teacher entered the piece, but I am also questioning her judgement: she seems to be setting me up for failure. I guess we all need a little of that in our lives--failure I mean. The piece has some emotional attachment for me, but to everyone else? I doubt it. A lot of people can't even figure out what is going on in it, for christ-sake!

OH! Everyone go cheer on! She's entering RSOM. She has a very unique and lovely manga-style and I think it's just what's needed considering all the very stale and repetitive styles currently flooding bookshelves. Much love to ya, Britt. I'm sorry you have to share this journal with my utterly rediculous ramblings. ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/7098719/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/7098719/ Sun, 20 Nov 2005 17:01:00 PST I really hope someone gets it! If not, the next one will be at 3.000.
In other news, mid terms are in three weeks. Expect nothing from me until those are over. I have a long to-do list for my two weeks of freedom. It's something like this:
-finish Cage Kaoru cosplay (dear god...it's very complicated)
-finish the drawings in non-realistic style I have promised (members of Gazette, Die of Dir en grey)
-finish an old painting
-decided what to do about my old guitar which I can't play well thanks to my small hands: sell it, keep it, smash it over someone's head...(Anyone wanna buy a Mexican-made Fender Strat in 'midnight-wine" color? *laughs* not glamerous, I know, but it's in very good shape. I only played it for a year or two)
-sleep
-get xmas gifts out to people
-clean my room before throttles me.
-work on my Japanese studies more (...I need to magically become smart so I can go study abroad next summer! I'm only a Japanese III student)
-oh, and possibly relax.
I'll be happy if I get just the first thing and second to the last done though.

Oh, everyone have a happy turkey day (if you live in the US). I hate the holiday due to my hate for turkey, and the fact that the story is made up. I guess I can agree w/
giving thanks for what you have." ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/6989959/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/6989959/ Tue, 08 Nov 2005 11:37:57 PST Their is a cosmic rule that I must get sick with various flu incarnations every year. Those who waste their time reading my journals will recall that I was out sick for part of November and all of December. Now I really home that doesn't happen again. but...I HAVE THE FLU AGAIN! I'm hoping this one will just go away in a few days (I'm not nearly as ill as I was last year).
So does this mean anythign art-wise? Yes, everything. If I get behind in school, I get behind in Studio art as well. Once behind in that, my time I might otherwise spend on art I would upload here will be gone until x-mas vacation.
So what? Well, don't expect updates from me. Oh, and trying to write something coherent here is making my head pound. ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/6805068/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/6805068/ Tue, 18 Oct 2005 20:12:06 PDT tagged me. I figure since I rarely write all that much about myself, perhaps it would be interesting to know 20 things about me? I don't know...maybe not. I have very little else to report on right now anyway since I've been so busy (1st quarter ends tomorrow T_____T), so here goes:
1) I am allergic to chocolate and whey, and therefore have been on the ultimate diet for years. XD ( there tends to be whey in non-chocolate candies that have some sort of cream-type substance in them. This goes for cheap white chocolate as well)
2) I have not seen my natural hair color since...7th grade! Once I started dying it, I was hooked. I've been told by stylists who get a much better look at my roots than I can that my hair has become very, very dark brown. For the record, my hair is currently blue-black (maybe why I can't see my roots?) and Special Effects Cherry Bomb.
3) Although my name is not actually Kaoru, I do play the guitar--been playing for quite a few years actually. I've also played the violin for almost 8 years. I'm still not too good at it. I also had some voice training for a few years before it became obvious I was a lost cause.
4) I am 5'7" tall. That in itself is very boring. I am, however very much addicted to making myself grow artificially by buying higher and higher platform shoes (I think the progression was something like 3" to 4" to 4.5" to 5" to 7.5" which is where I have recently stopped because I can't find 8" ones yet). XD
5) I really like peanut butter
6) I have various sleeping disorders and therefore get close to no sleep. If left to my own devices, I fall asleep pretty randomly during the day, but society does not seem to be compatible with this. I also can't make myself sleep at night. I have medication to keep me awake during the day and it makes me absolutely wired at times. I'm sure it's odd to see someone who got 1.5 hours of sleep bouncing off the walls!
7) I come from a family of gamers. As a small child I (and my sister when she came along) would watch my dad play the original Mario Bros. game on NES. I was way too young to actually play much, but when I got a little older I much enjoyed playing Duck Hunt with the fake gun thing you plug in as a controller. From then on, I have enjoyed playing many video games with my dad and sister, although also by myself. My mom has never been too interested, but she has been known to play DDR on our dancemat and have fun doing rediculously bad.
8) I have a phobia of fetuses for some odd reason. I can usually stomach really gross things (and love horror movies), but show me a picture of a fetus and I get the creeps.
9) I started to like Jrock/jpop a bit in 5th grade but didn't really get hugely into it until I had a better working knowledge of Japanese language and culture which was around 7th/8th grade (...quite a while ago now that I think about it. )
10) I really love learning languages. I am in my 12th year of learning Spanish and my 5th(? might be 6th) year of learnign Japanese outside of school.
11) I hate turkey. Funny since on my first thanksgiving my parents were so proud that they video taped it. Let me tell you, I sure showed them: they put some turkey in my mouth and started to clap...until I spit it right back out on them. Haven't liked it since.
12) I never remember to cut my toenails.
13) I am easily distracted
14) I have never been skiing or snowboarding, a rarity considering I am located in Mpls, MN.
15) I am a perfectionist about everything but my living space. My room looks like a few small tonados went through it and a few my friends have even offered to clean it up for me (namely and )
16) I am avoiding my assignments by typing all of this
17) I hate being in water. It's good for drinking and... ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/6724379/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/6724379/ Sun, 09 Oct 2005 19:53:16 PDT

In other news, I have a computer again. I need to get all my programs installed on it though so that could take a while. I also totally forgot about my costume until today so I shall try ot get some work in on that again. ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/6670927/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/6670927/ Mon, 03 Oct 2005 17:10:10 PDT I've actually been working on some watercolor pieces which I kind of like in a strange way. I haven't done watercolor in so long! An indicator of that would be the paints I used to have arte no longer on the market and so I just ended up getting some new (and probably better) ones when I discovered my tube of white was like a solid little brick. Anyhoo, when I have a computer again, I shall try to get those up. ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/6443725/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/6443725/ Wed, 07 Sep 2005 17:40:44 PDT DISCLAIMER: THIS JOURNAL DOESN'T NEED A DISCLAIMER BECAUSE ITS AIM IS NOT TO EXPRESS AN OPINION NOR OFFEND BUT TO BORE YOU TO DEATH AND BACK. YOU HAVE (NOT) BEEN WARNED BECAUSE ONE ISN'T NECESSSARY.
Yes, in fact I have very little to say. Class began about 2 weeks ago and I can sadly say I am already bored out of my mind. It's not that all my classes are too easy--most of them are quite difficult--it's that this year feels like every other year and a lack of change is one thing that can drive me insane quickly. Insane isn't really the right word: make me wanna take a nap is a better one. Sooo...wake me up when it's summer again!
Anyhoo, I have had zero time to work on much of anything whether it be the costume or art (besides that which I must do for school). I'm sorry! I desperately want to get something new up. I guess I could be better using the time it is taking me to type this pointless journal to finish up my presentation for Español V on the Hispanic band "Maná" (yeah I know, a bunch of you are going "wtf? That's the name of the guitarist from Malice Mizer/Moi dix Mois!" ...no relation what-so-ever in person or music style, dears. Ah...and the accent mark makes a difference too) so I can work on something I want to work on. See? Perfect example of how I mis-manage my time.
I'm trying to comment on those of you I watch's deviations, but I'm quite slow. Seems you all submited them in the same time period--freaky! I went from having 15 to 50 messages all because deviations and journals! You have all been so busy with art...unlike me. T___T ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/6283742/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/6283742/ Sat, 20 Aug 2005 22:53:41 PDT DISCLAIMER: IN THIS JOURNAL I HAVE EXPRESSED MY OPINION ALONE ABOUT ONE DIR EN GREY SONG AS IT IS PRESENTED IN THE CURRENT CLIP. IF YOU DO NOT LIKE THE IDEA OF HEARING/READING ANYTHING AT ALL NEGATIVE ABOUT ANY DIR EN GREY SONG, DO NOT READ THIS. WHILE I LOVE OLD AND NEW DIRU, I EXPRESS MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT THIS SONG. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.]
Yes, I am talking about the new Dir en grey song in my journal. Live with it, I shall move on to other things in a second. Anyhoo, I was fully aware of the new single releaseing in September so I went over to the official site to give the clip a listen. I was pretty optomistic considering in my opinion "Withering to Death" was a far more interesting/creative/musically tolerable album then "Vulgar." I need to stop with this damn optomism.The song actually made me start to laugh--it was that rediculous. The clip didn't give me much of a taste of the instrumental work, but it wasn't that bad I guess. The vocals were what killed me:
-chorus: I can live with it. Wouldn't make it a great song, but a fun one to play every once and a while, yes.
-everything before that: Scratch everything I said about the chorus, it wrecked the song (the clip..I can't pass total judgement on the song yet). It is common knowledge that Kyo yells/screams/growls/makes a variety of grotesque noises in his songs. Often times they work and accentuate the song. Or at least work with the instrumentals/general feel of the song no matter how bad the song is (yes, "Vulgar" and most of "Six Ugly" are what I'm refering to here). In "Clever Sleazoid," the super-low yell/growl he does on top of everything just clashes. Badly. It's just sort of all over the place, and really doesn't sound like him. Hard to explain too! Pop on over to Dir en grey's official site and see for yourself. It's not grotesque, it's jut plain UGLY.

Anyhoo, that is what I make of the song from the clip. It is possible that the song is actually good in it's whole form and the clip does it no justice--DAMN OPTOMISM AGAIN! Since the cover is of the grundge-punk-messy-collage-style (which I am not much of a fan of to begin with and I could equate this piece as some of the most careless I've seen) and all that's on the CD in addition is just live versions of stuff off of "Withering to Death," the likelihood of be buying this single is low. I would rather spend the money on another Gazette album or Pierrot or something.
(note: you can flame me if you want, but do know I still remain a Diru fan: I realize every band is going ot have songs I don't like. Thanks!)


On to other business:
Classes start up for me again in about a week. Expect to see less of me. I am currently working on figuring out just how to do my Cage Kaoru costume (I'm on the "turn the pattern I drafted into a mock up on the hideous blue fabric I always use for mock ups" stage). I am also practicing coloring in photoshop with a tablet. I may or may not post the piece I have been using as practice. In addition, I am trying to set up a PaintChat server for and whoever else wants to paintchat to use. It's causing me some serious problems since acessing it makes people's browsers crash. I have not found very good documentation or instructions for installing it.
Hm, there's an acrylic painting I started a long time ago I kinda want ot finish up too...
Oh, and yes, I did scrap my Miyavi picture--I like the coloring, but I wrecked the expression, so a scrap it is!

There you have it! A review, an update on my status, and a scrap. Hazah! This crazy rockstar is gonna stop rambling now. ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/6215256/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/6215256/ Sat, 13 Aug 2005 10:12:28 PDT

I submited new stuff, scrapped one of them and will prob. try to get more up before school starts up agin in two weeks.






The real reason I wrote this is the old one was too long and making me go ...erg. Yes, the edit button would have been too logical... ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/6094794/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/6094794/ Sun, 31 Jul 2005 22:26:56 PDT Current projects:
-new costume for AD06 concept art: 50%
-birthday present art for 's 16th b-day: 100% (damn, and it's gotta be done this week!)
-Miyavi colored pencil portrait on black: 75%
-Die (DeG) acrylic painting: 10% (it's just grided off w/ the majority of the sketch done)
-Mana colored pencil piece request: 2% (!!! Man, I'm so behind!)
-actual construction of next year's cosplay: 0% (gotta get started soon!)
...how on earth did I get so busy? Damn, I need to buckle down and work! Some of that needs to be done soon too like the b-day gift and the concept pieces--the latter will be made easier b/c I'm getting my tablet this week and those will be easier to apply color to in PS7 (mouseless!). Yes, I'm excited to have a tablet finally! It's a Wacom Graphire6X8--yes, you pros can now scoff: it's not an Intuos, but those are hella expensive and probably overkill since I plan to remain primarily a traditional artist since the courses I take in school are all traditional, not digital with the exception of photography.
In other news, I'm leaving Friday and won't be back until Monday--family vacation time!
In other news, the whole uproar around here lately has me a bit uneasy--I'm not sure what I can believe, but I do support the action to put the community back in DA. I understand that to survive and house all of our deviations (most of us not paying a dime) DA does need to make money off of prints, subscriptions, what-not. However, it sounds like something pretty serious is up behind the scenes. Can't be sure exactly at the moment--just a lot of people pointing fingers--but I'm keeping alert. Also, I support DA
s b-day (Aug. 7th) being a day of community only--regardless of what has been going on. It's an idea that seems to be catching on and I think it's a good one: don't submit anything (NOTHING!), but do be on the site, commenting, journaling, in short, being a part of the community, not just self-centered and trying to get YOUR art up so other people will see YOU. No, I'm not saying post up Yellow Alien support pieces on the 7th--post those before or after if you want to. Really, I'm just interested in the original idea of community for that day (as it was first posted) because no matter what the situation, in this fast-paced, individualist world, we can all use a little more community feeling. People need to stop focusing on themselves for about 24 hours. It'll do ya good, really!
On the issue of Jark and what happened to him, I can't begin to know the whole story so I don't want to start pointing fingers and cursing at people when I don't have all the facts. This doesn't mean I don't care--I'm worried, it just means I need to not jump to conclusions. My thoughts do go out to him though.

...

Anyhoo, in the spirit of the title of this journal (and depending on if anyone reads this) I want you to answer the question: tell me what's up, how your summer is, what art you are working, etcetcetc. Really, I'm feeling quite out of the loop since I finally got back after a month and a bit like I've been ignoring others and what's going on in their lives. So, reply! I told you what I'm up to--like right now I'm typing at my laptop..OH! Let me be a subscriber-wannabe and do this:
Mood: Busy as hell
Listening to: ID Attack album by Pierrot
Watching: Dir en grey's "[KR] Cube PV (ahaha, that one makes me happy!)
Reading: The Devil in the White City because my school says so...



Yes. I am that hardcore. And brain-dead. Yes. ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/6014910/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/6014910/ Sat, 23 Jul 2005 17:31:18 PDT For those who don't know and it's probably my fault for being hopelessly vague, I was a way for a month in a Japanese Immersion program and earned a years worth of Japanese language credit (180 hours of instruction). My brain is incredibly fried now. It was indeed a very good experience: I've got some great memories (many of which are funny as hell) and I learned a ton (supposedly passed Japanese 2...I've never taken it in a classroom before ). Somethings were really stressful and/or just plain bad. That's life, right? I missed home (especially my computer) but I'm not entirely glad to be back either.
Anyhoo, I'm trying to get back to all of your deviations/messages/comments/journals...it's taking a while since I had a couple hundred new messages, but I've so far cut it down to 80. I've missed you all! I'm afraid I have no finished work to post right now: I didn't have time to finish anything while I was gone but I do have some pieces in progress. I shall work on them once I unpack.....ugh. Dear god I have a lot of laundry! (I was only able to to do it once two weeks ago--thank god I did bring so many clothes).
Ah, I shall write/post more when I get things together better at home! It really is weird to be here again... ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/5767228/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/5767228/ Sun, 26 Jun 2005 23:42:22 PDT I will not be home until July 23, so don't cause any chaos w/o me till then! Ah, and I will not have access to DA while i'm gone. Also don;t have room to pack my laptop....but I don't really need it.


Anyhoo, I shall miss you all and can't wait to see what sort of wonderful art you create when I get back!

~Megumi (yes, I do indeed have a name XD) ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/5699550/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/5699550/ Sun, 19 Jun 2005 23:19:04 PDT Vacation was heavenly--I really needed it and there's nothing like spending time with friends who go way back to 5th grade w/ ya!
...the only side effect to a grand ole extended get together with BabZ and Britt is: I have Labyrinth songs permanently trapped in my brain. *pokes brain with a Q-tip*Ah David Bowie get the hell out of my brain this instant! It's not that you aren't awesome, but I want my brain back--maybe I can hum something else for awhile? Like Diru or Vidoll or something? Yes, thank you for seeing things my way. So long, Goblin King! *gets something from the TV stuck in her head* DAMN!
...I am indeed a nut at 1:00am when I can't sleep.
Speaking of nuts: The little sister. We both share a love for having unnecessay ammounts of dashes in our username. Oh, and yeah, dear, I'll bring you back Japanese candy in a month...ONLY IF YOU WRITE TO ME! That goes for "iconskillets: and as well.
Anyhoo, I'll be pretty busy this week figuring out what other crap I need to find for my trip including a suitcase. I'll try to get some more art up, but no promises. I've been slacking on both my guitar and Japanese studies and the guitar part at least is making my feel cranky. I still dunno if i can take my Jackson guitar with me--might have to try to fix up my old Fender pile of junk and bring it. DANG! Thsi is an even more important dilema than the fact that I don't own a suitcase and am leaving for a month. ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/5584832/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/5584832/ Tue, 07 Jun 2005 23:38:03 PDT and until next Monday. I shall not look at or answer anything that crash-lands in my inbox until then, so don't get frustrated...or actually care. After that, I will be back again for 2 weeks and then I leave town again for a month.
That's it. Class ended on Monday and that was good...but nothing's happened since then of much interest.
SEE YA!



...I'm still packing for my trip at 1:36am...I'm such a loser. ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/5525846/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/5525846/ Wed, 01 Jun 2005 21:17:25 PDT I have one last exam on Staurday morning at 8:00am *gags* but other than that I've only had 4 classes a day for the last 2 weeks. These include:
Continuation of my math course (yuck...but now double yuck because we have a different teacher and he is completely unable to...actually teach.)
Microfiction: Basically "how short of a story can you write and have it still be good?"
what color is Joy?: Combining poetry and painting. Interesting concept, but the class crawls along sometimes. We did get to spend a fair amount of class time off campus at museums to get inspiration, which was refreshing.
Photography in the Digital Age: I have mixed feelings about this class. It has given me the opportunity to shoot more pictures or things I normally might not. At the same time, aspects of the class' structure and some of things that happened in it have not so good. I won't go into detail. Anyhoo, expect some more of the pieces that will be hung up in the gallery or submitted to the school's digital gallery to end up here. Like the lantern one I just submitted that won't show up on the main page. *GRRRR* Hint: I don't tend to take pictures of living things.
Okay, I have a pastel drawing that is really...um...odd...artistic? I will scan before class and try to get up. Half (6) of my pencils got lost in my bag, so I only had 6 to use...very "interesting" results. My full color Kaoru portrait is about half done. I think I can get it done this weekend. Then, back to my list of things to do before I leave on June 26. I won't be back until end o July/early August.
Back to photo editing because I need to finish printing and strt matting tomorrow. ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/5279668/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/5279668/ Thu, 05 May 2005 21:38:44 PDT
Oh, and this crap is stillin effect:
Tues Apr. 26: Multiple choice section of European history exam complete: Score: 5/5 (see essay comment)
Thurs Apr. 28: DBQ and 2 Essay portion of European history exam complete Score: 5/5 (WTF? I have no idea how I did that, I usually kind of suck on the essays...bad)
Sat Apr. 30: Concurso Estatal level 4 "outside experience" category Complete: rank 5/20-30 people at state level. 5th place gets a medal which pretty cool since that isn't generally the case.
Fri. May 6: 3+ hour National Advanced Placement European History examination Complete as of 10 minutes ago! Damn does that feel good!
Mon May 16: Spanish and English exams
Tue May 17: Math (YUCK!) and Mol Biology/genetics exams
Wed May 18: nothing! Would be a history exam if I weren't takign Advanced Placement
So, now that you've read that, you realize that expecting me to do anything before May 18 would be futile. You can try, but I won't pay for your therapy when the world comes crashing down around you. XD Have a nice life--I'm going back to attempting to cram "Prussian age of absolutism" back into my moldy brain.

]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/5176074/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/5176074/ Sun, 24 Apr 2005 12:14:14 PDT I will NOT be finishing requests/uploading much new until after all my testing ends for the year. My exam schedule is as follows:
Tues Apr. 26: Multiple choice section of European history exam complete
Thurs Apr. 28: DBQ and 2 Essay portion of European history exam complete
Sat Apr. 30: Concurso Estatal level 4 "outside experience" category Complete, but I left before ranking was announced. Sra. Raths told me she'd pick up the prize, but I doubt I won anything...
Fri. May 6: 3+ hour National Advanced Placement European History examination
Mon May 16: Spanish and English exams
Tue May 17: Math (YUCK!) and Mol Biology/genetics exams
Wed May 18: nothing! Would be a history exam if I weren't takign Advanced Placement
So, now that you've read that, you realize that expecting me to do anything before May 18 would be futile. You can try, but I won't pay for your therapy when the world comes crashing down around you. XD Have a nice life--I'm going back to attempting to cram "Prussian age of absolutism" back into my moldy brain. ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/5104488/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/5104488/ Sat, 16 Apr 2005 14:43:53 PDT So what now? Well, I think i will catch up on all the things I've said I will do.requests since Dec. At the moment that is:
-the acrylic painting that I have partially sketched onto canvas
-pics the almighty bean requested a while back--I know one was of Gackt in his Malce Mizer days and I think the other was Mana? I can't remember.
-something of Kaoru (Diru Kaoru, not me kaoru, you dolts!) that I don't remember who suggested I should do.
-nothing for you, Keito, until I catch up with everything else! You own about half of my recent art anyway. ^___^
...I don't think i made any other promises, but remind me if I did (they must be RECENT ones)
For the moment, I am staying around DA and any other place my art is posted. Will i leave? Probably, but I will take my art off of the internet in general. All of it, doesn't matter where. Due to the fact that the internet is open to the whole world for use, it's a nightmare of legal garbage and policies...doesn't matter where. Not an ideal location for art in the least bit (either there are many worrysome policies or an absence of policies and art theft abounds). This how I see it, and I do NOT want to argue with anyone about it. You have your opinion, I have mine and we won't change each other's minds. THE END.
Had to get that out of the way. Now to catch up on over 40 pages of history and write my English essay! Joy.... ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/4912944/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/4912944/ Fri, 25 Mar 2005 20:50:26 PST .< Not quite as bad as my blog tho (haven't written in that since January!). Well, what's happened:
...not much. Been on break for a week now--it's been lovely to actually sleep. A couple weeks ago , Sarah-minion, :iconbiru-neko*, and I went to Anime Detour (well, just for Saturday). Was a ton of fun, actually! I wore my finished Kaoru cosplay and Keito wore her Kana one. Unfortunately, she wore a pair of my platforms and they ate her feet really bad by the end of the day...I still feel really bad about that T___T. I've uploaded some pictures of my finished costume just to be really corny/get rid of the terrible in progress ones.
I just finished my picture of Kyo for Keito (bleste) who requested it as a result of getting my 1000 kiriban. It's up, but yet another victum of my mass-murderer scanner. XP
None of the art I've done for my classes I've been able to get photos of, so I guess i won't be uploading those until i get them back (if ever). Currently working on a monochromatic self-portrait in oils for class (in case you care) and am supposed to do another one on open media for an assignment. ...like i've done that yet!
I can't decide if I'm gonna go draw Yoshiki or Kirito now...Keito got Yoshiki back lodged into my brain (thanks, dear) so it might have to be him. Maybe I'll do one of Kirito too later...I could always draw Kohta as he looked quite sometime ago to prove to Keito that he wasn't always ugly...well, or that I used to just be grossly odd--take your pic. XD
Hope you all (whoever you may be) are well! ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/4609349/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/4609349/ Thu, 17 Feb 2005 18:47:26 PST got my 1000 kiriban! Congrats to her! I shall draw her soemthing once she tells me what she wants. ^___~
Heh. Almost a year and a half and i finally reach 1000. I see people who have been here half that long who have so many more views than me, but many of them are super talented and deserves everyone. Others:...well, let me just say I'm glad I got this many without pimping my gallery to everyone I comment. (ya know "Nice pic! Come see my gallery/website/or just give me the attention I so blatently crave." We've all seen it)
Well, happy day! Also is Kaoru's birthday! He's 31...>< Gah! That's old...sort of. Doesn't really look thirthy though...hmmm...unfair that only asians seem to age that well. *shrugs*
Well, that's all. Going out of town for a couple of days, but whatever. ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/4558121/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/4558121/ Fri, 11 Feb 2005 21:52:44 PST has decided to perform in a talent show type thing. Mad props to her...but I somehow ended up whoring myself out as a willing guitarist. Well, at least my fingernail came back.
I should have a new piece up soon in the form of a vary bizarre work from my class. I shan't say what it is. -I will type you up a guide on patterns as a reply to your last comment, I just need to refresh my memory and find some time to do that...and BREATH!
Now, I never put quizes and such in my journal, but this one is short and interactive+informative. In fact, it has nothing to do with me, and all to do with you. So, brought to you by journal, which was brought to you by 's journal:
A. Recommnd to me
1) a movie
2) a book
3) a song, artist, or album
B. Ask me any three questions you wish and I shall answer as truthfully as possible. Keep in mind that I have the sacred right to determine what is too personal and shall be ignored or fed to my cat.
C. there was a C that said you should post this in your own journal, but that just sounds pushy/annoying/desperate. Post it if you like, but I reallyy don't mind if you care to kick C out of existance. ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/4440585/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/4440585/ Fri, 28 Jan 2005 20:30:59 PST < The good news: I'm right-handed. Bad news: my guitar and violin palying have been greatly slowed, both of which I'm expected a good deal of in at the moment. That partially explains my absence.
Also, I have quite a number of lines left to memorize for Macbeth. Somehow managed to rope me into performing. Add to that a large project for Adv. draw/paint II and the entrance exam for next year's adnanced placement history, and you get me here making excuses for why I have nothing new up! Sorry you ever asked? That's what I thought.
On a good note, I've decided kiriban at 1000 hits. If you get it, take a screen cap, show it to me, and I shall draw whatever you like for you. Good luck! ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/4229365/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/4229365/ Mon, 03 Jan 2005 13:12:53 PST I had a painting I wanted to submit, but I just can't get a good photo of it. I'll try one more time today, but tomorrow, if I return to class that is, I won't have it anymore.
Ilness. It's just sort of part of me. I *still* have pneumonia and it just won't go away. I'm almost out of pain-killers, the only yhting that kept the chestpain down. Have a fever again too. I want to thank Keito for having me over because that was the first time I'd been out of the house for an extended period of time in over a month. I'm just sorry I didn't feel better and couldn't be more fun.
And now that apology. It has a lot to do with my health (or lack there of). Because I just can't seem to get well and no one knows why, it's been suggested that I improve my mood. What does this mean? It means I need to avoid worrying so much. No, I don't sit around and worry about myself all the time like some angsty teenager. In fact, I spend so much time worrying about my friends and their problems. Does that make me too nice? Probably. In short, I'm going to try to stay out of the way of some of the more depressing people I know. I really don't want to do this because I really care about all of you, but I need to find someway to get better and being happy has been known to improve my immune system that generally isn't quite functional. I'm really sorry, but being ill is draining enough, add a constant state of worry for those I care about and it just gets worse.
Well, I wish everyone well in the New Year and may everyone find happiness. ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/4113412/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/4113412/ Mon, 20 Dec 2004 17:41:28 PST Also regarding today, it's Die's birthday. Happy Birthday! I know I forgot about it last year, but must not have totally forgotten subconsciously because the first piece I submited was my portrait of Die. I really feel bad that I haven't gotten my painting done yet, but I've been sick for so long and just finished my mid-term exams today (eventhough class has been out for almost 5 days already. >< I hope to start painting tomorrow and finish up sewing the black wefts in my pink wig; what a tetious task!
If I don't update again anytime soon, have a nice holiday all! I know I'll be sleeping through most of it! ^__~ ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/4067567/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/4067567/ Tue, 14 Dec 2004 17:01:51 PST < Keito, your theory of "all things medically aweful" is unfortunately true. Last time I wrote in this damn thing, I had some strep-imposter. I went to my classes that Monday and developed influenza that night. Out all week. Got dehydrated, cracked a rib puking (yes, it is possible), went to class in pain on Monday. Got a call yesterday that my x-rays taken at the ER on Sunday night had been read and my chest pain wasn't as much from the rib but from the fact that I have pneumonia that somehow the on-call doc missed. Fuck. Never mind I was running around out in the cold all Monday. Got some pills, went to bed. Woke up with not only chest pain, but back pain everytime I breathed. Couldn't get to class so went back to bed. Turns out I have fluid not only in my lungs but in my chest cavity pushing on my back. Yay. Going to the clinic for the 5th time in about 1.5 weeks tomorrow morning for more x-rays. I swear, they radiate me anymore and I'll start to glow in the dark--too bad raves went out for good with the 90s.
So I'm sick, like 3 times over. Wouldn't be too bad if mid terms weren't this week and I'm missing them. So, sounds good to miss them, yeah? No. I have to go to school over break to take them. Essentially, this right now is part of my break, except I have to study and try not to fall asleep.
Another wonderful thing, my costume no longer fits me. I lost over ten pounds being sick and it hangs off me all strange. Just to think, if I had been smart and remembered the corset-back for it, I could make it fit me again easily. Stuck between a rock and hard place as is: alter it or eat like a moron and gain the weight back. Better idea and my advice to all: live in a plastic bubble and carry around a can of disinfectant.
On an art note, I'm wretchedly behind in my art course, so I'll shall be working on my painting for that and putting all else on hold. I guess I'll upload that although it's not Jrock or anything fun like that. I really have no sewing projects going, although I feel the urge to do something along those lines....eep! Reminds me, I need to get my good sewing machine fixed. Oh then there's the whole "x-mas shopping" thang. Just that is enough to make a person hurl in many facinating colors. Well damn, look at me ramble and bitch. For some reason, I'm compelled to update this every 2 weeks or so. Mmph. Better than every 2 months like last yr I suppose... ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/3991441/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/3991441/ Sat, 04 Dec 2004 23:17:34 PST So much for my weekend. I expectes to get some studying, art, and the extensions sewn into my wig done. I've really only finished 1/3 of the first item on that list and a whole lot of napping. I can't even hold my head up all the way because the fever makes it hurt too much. As it turns out, I was going to class most of the week with the fever and had chills that I mistook for me being tired and the campus being ungodly cold when everyone else was roasting and had the windows open. Yes, I was self-centered enough to think I was right and they were wrong.
I really hope to get out of bed before monday. God damn do I hope! ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/3928502/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/3928502/ Fri, 26 Nov 2004 23:41:07 PST On an interesting note, I was ferreting around my closet yesterday and found a blue button-up shirt identical to Hiro's from Gravitation. I'm thinking once upon a time, someone left it at my house and I decided to keep it. Despite the fact that I have leather pants to go with it and even an ugly Fender guitar like his, I have little interest in dressing as him. So, I'll be polling my aquiantences for Hiro cosplayers who might give it a good home...maybe (it is shiney!)
Damn this is a pointless post! Basically has nothins to do with my art, but plenty to do with my love for sewing and finding random stuff in my closet. ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/3913138/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/3913138/ Wed, 24 Nov 2004 22:40:14 PST First off, I will finish the Gackt portrait. Yeah, I said I wouldn't, but all should have figured out by now that I lie. A lot. As for Die, I just got new acrylics today and have found references that have given me the urge to paint. Will start when I return home for the holidays b/c I neglected to buy a canvas panel...*stupid*
Segundo (2nd), while I've been busy with crazy art class work, I have done a few more manips. Much better than the old ones. Debating about uploading them and which ones. They all sort of lead up to one. Um, has to do with the journal title actually. Problem: only a small portion of the photos were taken by me (in fact, just one). Keito, I be taking you up on your offer to let me use some of yours for manips; I can send what I've got so far to you before I post them if ya like.
Tercer (3rd), Decided that now that my hair is much past my shoulders, it's gonna get cut off again. I hate my current hair cut: while I love all the crazy texturing, the long, spikey, flipped out look really doesn't look good on chicks. I have no idea how I ended up this way- stylists plot against me><;
Hhmm, happy thanksgiving to those who celebrate...btw, the story behind it is made up. Not an ounce of truth. Isn't gonna stop me from eating food tho.
Y por ultimo( and finally, but I forgot how to type the accent),
TWO WEEKS UNTIL MID-TERMS, EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPP! ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/3859627/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/3859627/ Wed, 17 Nov 2004 17:53:19 PST
I planned a nice drawing of Gackt, but I have opted to put it on hold for now due to one major reason: HIS NEW SINGLE WAS WRETCHED! Not only that, but the video was bad with this ugly blonde-chick in it and gackt looking all sad, undoubtedly waiting for the blonde chick. *gags* And not only that, but he performed the same song live with the most off lip-synching I've ever been witness to. So bad, it makes me hope that for the clip they just took the original sound out and replaced the audio track with the single recording. For this reason, he does not deserve a portrait. Besides, I am now going to do another Die portrait since that was the first thing I submitted and my one year aniversary at DA is comeing up in December. Works out nice too because Die's birthday I believe is a day after the day I signed up.
So, to summerize, no Gackt because he's pissed me off with horrible music, Die shall be drawn because he has not pissed me off, although he shall be drawn from a while back since while he is quite possibly the best looking of the 5 at the moment, I much prefer Diru's older styles. ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/3796068/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/3796068/ Tue, 09 Nov 2004 18:12:34 PST Well, there you have it. I found my sketchbook from 7/8 grade and was frightened by attempts of what looked like a sktch of Gackt. For this reason, I plan to do a nice colored pencil version, which I sincerely hope will resemble him more than my old work. *shudders* Glad that high school has knocked a sense of proportion into me. ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/3728514/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/3728514/ Mon, 01 Nov 2004 19:56:27 PST Pfft. Actually that's not possible since I ate close to nothing yesterday due to my *wonderful* chocolate allergy, but my stomach did decide that it would be wise to aim to bore it's way out of my abdominal cavity *cough*I have the stomach flu*cough*
So what does a sick Megumi do? Listen to the 5.3+ hours of Vidoll I have on my mp3 player and re-watch Moon Child, of course! And now that leaves me between a rock and a hard place: when I get out from under all the work I missed (damn you, AP courses), do I draw Gackt or the members of Vidoll...hmmmm. Somebody decide for me, I need to worship the porcelin goddess once again! *scurries off* ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/3705590/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/3705590/ Sat, 30 Oct 2004 00:08:09 PDT *reads entry* Wtf? I need to go sleep. But I did upload some terrible costume pics that make it look all horrible, when it really turned out very accurate. Well, I guess I'll just have to see who I can beg to take better pics of me. (that'll be fun...)
*nods off at desk* ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/3645536/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/3645536/ Thu, 21 Oct 2004 22:08:14 PDT < I won't have any pics/drawings of any sort up for a while because I'm seriously behind on my costume as a result of an event I have dubbed so aproprietly "The Great Sewing Machine Rebellion of 2004." The machine I inherited from my grandma died last night/this morning and since there probably is no longer anyoe alive who can fix it (it's circa 1930), I'm stuck using my mother's 1980s, tempermental Singer. It's given to jamming irreversibly, tension getting out of wack for no reason, eating fabric, and bobbin thread problems. Needles to say, it's gonna take me a while. I appologize now and really do hope to get more art up soon, although it will probably be after halloween.

On a good note, my Moon Child dvd came yesterday. On a bad note, I haven't watched it yet because I've been fighting a losing battle with a sewing machine that is allergic to vinyl. Bah.

EDIT: So when I do get more time, what shall I do for my next portrait? I also have to finish SCaOSP, but I can multi-task since that isn't exactly in a realistic style. I was thinking I's draw Miyavi back in Due le Quartz days, but then I thought I should do a new Gackt drawing since I haven't done one since way back in 7th grade (oi, that's a freaky, freaky looking piece!). I'm open to any other suggestions though, wouldn't have to be Jrock-related (although that is fun), but I would like to keep it realistic. ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/3615065/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/3615065/ Sun, 17 Oct 2004 22:44:36 PDT My hide portrait is done, but I'm not quite satisfied with the scan yet and will probably submit it this evening. I should also have photos of my mostly completed costume later this week! Wheee! (<---out of character)
On a bad note, my guitar cable died this morning. At first I thought it was my solid-state amp, so i plugged my guitar into the tube amp and realized that it wasn;t working/making horrible noises throught that one as well. Great. Time to shell out another $15.
On a serious note, people have been very irritating lately. I'm not sure everyone realizes this, but it's actually very immature to avoid and ignore someone instead of confronting them about the problem. Not only that, but it shows extreme cowardice. Not to mention it's not at all productive. I would really prefer just being told the truth (or at least a really good excuse) than to have to wonder what the hell is going on, and how I can remedy it and prevent it in the future. In short, to the people who are ignoring me, you are doing more damage and making yourseves look much worse with your current course of action than you would if you faced me.
I'm sorry I had t put that last bit in here, it really sours things, but that is a major issuse right now and I think it's something that need to be stated (I know it happens to others as well) ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/3538470/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/3538470/ Thu, 07 Oct 2004 21:53:46 PDT ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/3506178/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/3506178/ Sun, 03 Oct 2004 20:02:03 PDT I've after multiple tries, fianlly cleaned up three bones (about the size of the chicken bones used for the drumsticks in hot wings) to be used to close a set of chinese frog closures. My problem is getting a fair sized hole throught them. I have a drill, but the occassion has never risen before for me to attempt to penetrate bone with it, so I'm not sure if it would work or what size bit to use. Any other ways to make a hole? I know that the bones become soft if they soak in water *resisting urge to laugh at poor word choice), so maybe that might help? Dunno. I'm just paranoid about them splitting and then having to start from square one with a new set, picking flesh from them with my bare fingers and a spork in the middle of a chicken and ribs joint near my house (only place I can stand to eat the chicken at).
So, give me advice and I'll forever love...well at least not detest, you and perhaps there be something I can draw for you (unless you're one of those people who already has a request list as long as my arm...you know who you are).
I feel like such a shit for begging for help. ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/3444698/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/3444698/ Sat, 25 Sep 2004 15:58:00 PDT Moving on...
I've decided to actually make a finished work out of my hide sketch, so I haven't scanned it, or anything else, but expect a couple deviations and huge wave of scraps at the same time. After that, I'm afraid I won't upload anything for a while. I have a costume to work on and a jacket to help with. Yeah, help. Grr. Pressed for time and mom says I can't take commissions now (I argued that it wasn't one because I was really only gonna charge a flat price, but meh) She thinks everyone should learn to sew well and I should only "help" with it, not do the whole thing. Bah! So, Keito, message me and I can give you links to where to find the material, pattern, and studs. Can also give you hints for sewing on pvc and stuff like that. Also, depending on when you need it done for, I may be able to talk sense into mom and do part of it (she thinks I'm cruching things before Halloween, and I am!). So there, and I'M SO DAMN SORRY! I feel so wretched about it.
On a happy note, my quest for a new guitar has ended as of today. Spent hours in a guitar store today and finally found one I like and is actually a good size for my small hands! Tis a Jackson SLSMG with great EMG pickups and 24 frets. Love it to death. It's got such a fast fretboard for solos and it's freakishly lightweight. Best part is, DAD PAID FOR IT! I was looking at cheap instruments and he shook his head and told me not to make the mistake I made last time. Also got a hard case for it. I'm not sure why he bought this for me. Maybe he still thinks I'm gonna die...
Oo, and I made a discovery, my small hands are only really suited for guitars made in Asia (ESP, Jackson(Japan), etc) Good to know and gives me a legit. reason to stay away from the American made ones *glares at old strat*
Look at my ramblings! Now no one should wonder about my life...like they would anyway. ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/3328974/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/3328974/ Thu, 09 Sep 2004 22:56:27 PDT I spent the last week before school started sick, with a cold I also brought back from Mori no Ike, which morphed into a fever, that mutated into a sinus infection, that changed into an ear infection, that finally decided to keep its state at partial deafness in my right ear.
This all doesn't mean I don't have work to scan, because I do. I have a sketch of Mana, a fever induced comic/pic, and a sketch of Hide I would finish/ color if not hijacked by the art instructor. They would have been scanned today if it weren't for my totally unforeseen hospital visit. I was minding my own business, starting up my laptop for a lovely night of homework hell, when my heart started to raise, chest and left arm hurt, and breath got short. I kinda sat there feeling all weird until it sorta hit me that I should tell mom since she is indeed a doctor. She listened to my heart: heart rate of 170+. Dizzyness insued. Called hospital, they told us to come in. Mom drove me, although she thought we should have called a meat-wagon (ambulence). I was all weird and disorriented the whole time.
Got to the hospital, nearly fell, mom guided me in all hunched over. They put me in a room in the ER, hooked up heart monitor and oxygen level leads to me and this screen behind me that made beeping noises no one understands (except for those that do). Nurses tried to start an IV in my hand, I couldn't breath, therefore I couldn't calm down and they colapsed my vein and had to try my other arm, not without twisting it around for good measured first. They had problems with the other one too, I was looking away but looked back at the worst time, just to see a huge dome of blood rising under my skin! It's still sorta there. Finally they successfully got an IV in my inner elbow (not without blood spurting all over the bed sheets and my arm, and taped my arm to a board, rendering it useless.
I sorta remember getting an x-ray from a portable machine and everyone scrambling to get all my jewlery off. Then I do remember the EKG test. I already had 3 leads on my chest,, but they added numerous many more, even ones to my ankles. So there I be, heart racing, with chords and wires coming off of me from all directions. I know in anime they always show those characters who are all like hot or something but have fallen into the hands of science with all the crazy-ass computer wiring coming off of them. I am here to tell you today, that it is not fun, and will wax hair off your body you didn't know or want to know you had when they come off. Anyhoo, the 1st EKG was screwed up. So were the next few. By the time they got a good one, my heart slowed down to 120 and I was feeling normalish again (well as much as you can be wired up like that). Oo, fun part, they mover me in my bed down the hall into a room with a door! I feel special! The told me finally what was wrong with me: nodes in your heart are always sending electric impulses through your heart, mine got screwed up in the atria and wasn't sending it through the heart, but around in circles, making my heart speed up. Just happens randomly I guess. Sometimes they have to give ya IV meds to fix that, but mine corrected itself. I have to see a cardiologist tomorrow. Fun. No good EKG to show him, oonly a heart monitor print out. Funny thing is, just this week my dad went into the hospital too because they thought he was having a heart -attack. ><
So there you have it. My entire night. They finally let me go home (afte heaving to be unhooked once so I could go to the toilet and drag my IV with me). I'm tired as hell and my homework is not done. And now I've tortured you with my super long entry of doom. This is why I have a blog. This is why I only update this every few months, otherwise it would always look like this. Bwah! I'm cruel...and hyper...my saline drip makes one hyper? Dunno. Oh yeah, one more thing! PANTS! ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/2652461/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/2652461/ Sun, 13 Jun 2004 17:18:33 PDT ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/2152882/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/2152882/ Sun, 04 Apr 2004 18:49:15 PDT I've got one more day until I return to school. I plan to get the background most of the way finished. After I go back to school, don't expect much; the end of 2nd semester is a bit chaotic. ]]> ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/2089989/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/2089989/ Fri, 26 Mar 2004 15:26:40 PST ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/1959679/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/1959679/ Fri, 05 Mar 2004 22:12:28 PST ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/1734383/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/1734383/ Sun, 28 Mar 2004 20:09:00 PST ~Kaoru-the-guitarist- http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/1664130/ http://Kaoru-the-guitarist-.deviantart.com/journal/1664130/ Sun, 11 Jan 2004 14:45:22 PST ~Kaoru-the-guitarist-