Chrstmas 08

Lets talk about Christmas for it is as always a festive time of year. This year more so I thought because I got to really introduce my Gf Cherry to it. She really had never celebrated a Christmas before. I found out then that explaining a National tradition that is unique based on each family is a hard thing to do. To me it was just second nature. To her it was completely new. I never thought I would have to explain Christmas Stockings. I mean from an outside point of view that is just weird. Yeah! we hang socks over the fire place. O.o But we had great meals fun gifts and good times between the whole family. I got a lot of books. The new Harry Potter thing, Two buffy Comic books, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, and a Vampire mystery book, I also got The peacemaker Toy from Trigun... It's awesome, Boom Blocks for Wii and Two different piggy banks on a pirate pig and the other a maze. I wish my family lived closed than they do I love seeing them and hanging out with them. They are all great fun. I have recently finished a commission for a hair stylist to do her logo for her new salon. As pictured above. That's about all hope you all have a great New Year.

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Now playing: Flogging Molly - Laura
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Including my pride

So today I had the most amazing idea. Surely this would work here we had trampled down snow and with the warning of freezing rain tonight I figured that trampled down snow would turn into evil ice. So I grabbed a trash can emptied it out. Filled it up with hot water and dumped it down our steps. Sure enough it got rid of all the snow and ice. Quite proud of myself i went about getting rid of the slush using a snow shovel. a few hours later right before I was heading to work my roommate Nathan came home and I declared with lots of pride how successful my idea was and he simply told me it was wrong and the steps were super icy. Surely not I said and with ever bit of self confidence marched out the door and down 2 steps before the super slick steps lead me to a fall that left me with a really long bruise across my back, back pain and the best case of hurt pride I have had in some time. So to make up for that I told everyone about how I screwed up and made sure Nathan knew he was very right. Yet another lesson in humility. Haven't had one that painful sense the time I got my Van stuck after telling my disbelieve Girlfriend that there was no way it would get stuck. However, it's good to be humbled brings you back down, knocks you off that house. I delight even if sometimes pain filled the times I get knocked down and understand how I normal I am. With a name like Saint Pepsi I guess I fly a little to high sometimes. :D

pepsi

Love Child

The image you see above is one I call Love child basically what would happen if Samus and Master Chief hooked up. So It finally snowed I know my GF hates the snow but I think it's so pretty. In any case she's been super busy with school and work and last night we had the pleasure of sitting down in front of a roaring fire and just reading. It was wonderful to just be there with her spending quality time with Cherry. Definately looking forward to Christmas with the family. Were keeping gift giving small this year so I will be nice to focus on family. I think it's great how well they have taken to Cherry. They really like her and why not shes just that cool.

pepsi

Fire A$$ and smoke

I never ever in all my life thought I would have to experience what we in the food industry so often jest about. A phenomena called Fire A$$. It happens when you order really really spicy foods and because in haste you don't take the time to properly chew said food. Well it comes out your ... When that happens the same oils and or ingredients that made the food so delightfully spicy to begin with come back to haunt you with a vengeance. Today we had a left over Burro n Fugo. Literal translation it means donkey on fire lol... Basically it's our hottest entree. I took it home not wanting to spend the time I had to cook a new meal and figuring what the heck I don't mind spicy foods. Well this one was pretty spicy I know because I make them spicy and I made this one good, boy was it good too. Later that night around 3 in the morning this entire meal came back to haunt me and I understood quite literally why we mockingly call it Fire A$$. I walked around in haste while cursing for a while and drank more water. Pleading with my maker for the pain to subside. It did in due time but i admit i have learned my lesson. May you all heed my words in this matter do not order this meal unless your colon can handle the serious repercussions. ;)



































In other thoughts I figured I would throw in my two bits about smoking seeing as our town has just banned it basically. Personally I don't care if they ban it in public places... while I think bars should be allowed but that's a different matter. Seriously have you ever been to a non-smoking bar. it smells like sweaty people and puke. That's besides the point though I was thinking to myself of the evils of smoking. Obviously it causes cancer, which leads to death if you smoke a lot. Were talking enough to really screw you up... The amount most people smoke at parties while drinking except all the time. It makes your breath smell bad, your teeth yellow, and in general makes you clothes smell too. But how often do you hear about the good it does. Smoke wards off bugs so it's a natural pest deterrent, It causes people to go outside and in a culture so centered around screens this is a little blessing in it's self. It creates social atmosphere where people actually converse at a level above rhetorical. It encourages generosity. I have never met a smoker who would not lend you a smoke so long as it was not their last one. The reasons I have just listed are the reasons people smoke not because it looks cool. It's because its one of the few times where people get to truly sit and throw aside all their differences and come together based on a single bad habit. It's bringing us together in ways that awkward social gatherings could rarely achieve. Just some thoughts on smoking I know many would disagree. But i don't smoke a whole lot either so maybe I smoke knowing full well that its adverse to my health like you know everything is so says science journals. I smoke or I don't smoke either way I enjoy the good it's cultivated in me.

pepsi

From the beginning

I was never very interested in clubs or organizations. Some 6 years ago my roommate at the time convinced me to join JAA. It was OK, we did a lot when it came to the Japanese Festival but little else there aside. So when spring semester of 2005 came around and Seji pitched the idea of a dance side project I figured that could be fun anything to be out of the mindless committees to get things done. After joining those of us that had that first semester had a new respect for dancers and a belief that their was no plausible way to move your body that fast with that type of agility. That was just the first of many dances we would learn over the years I have been involved in the club totaling now around 15. Yosakoi gave me something I have never before experienced. Pride in both a club and a school. I had been involved in both clubs and sports in the past but never have I had such passion about anything as I did with Yosakoi. Through Yosakoi I was involved in Homecoming activities and the parade. If you ever knew me before Yosakoi I would have stayed away from these things like the plague. Now no matter what kind of things are yelled at us be it praise or jeers from people that think we're a weird dancing group I hold my head high and know I'm part of a family. It truly is a family too the wide variety of ages and ethnicities speaks levels to both the forward thinking of the club and its acceptance of all. With such acceptance we have all embraced and loved each other color blind if you will No longer are you too young, too old, Asian, white, black, you are simply part of the Yosakoi family. Yosakoi has taken me places I never anticipated at the beginning. Japan for one I always assumed I would travel, well Yosakoi got me there and how often do we just assume we will get around to something but never do. We have preformed on many large stages in front of thousands of people. Televised to a country and preformed in McCain. As a non K-state student I still revered the acts I saw at McCain the types of play, performers, and lectures they have brought and now I have been a part of that elite group. Yosakoi also truly involved me with the international students of K-state and not just Japanese I have a new outlook on all international students. I can't say that Yosakoi has ever been something to hold me or anyone back it has opened new doors for me and made me a much better person as I am sure it has with many others. If it wasn't for a weird leg pain this semester I would be dancing three times a week still. I hope everyone feels the same as I do that Yosakoi is truly a treasure here at K-state and even more than that on a national level a pride of the US.



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I'm thankful for ...

I hope you all had amazing Thanksgivings. I know mine was pretty great went ALL the way back home which for me is a 3 1/2 hr drive. This time I had the good company of my Girlfriend Cherry. making that 3 1/2 hrs most enjoyable. We even stopped at the world's largest ball of twine and I got to see it through new eyes as she enjoyed the sight seeing attraction. Getting in at around 3 in the morning I put her to bed and fell asleep myself. Waking up earlier than I usually would I helped the fam put together some food for our families Thanksgiving lunch. Once we were all ready we toured down to the Manor which is basically Un assisted living for seniors who still are fully functioning but would rather not take care of a whole house. We had the most family there that I have ever seen at one of these events. That was a treat and oddly enough Cherry got to meet family members I had trouble remembering lol. We all shared 3 things we were thankful for before we ate and that was just a blast of great memories. Grandma taking the time to tell us all about her travels recently.

Back to our house for a thanksgiving dinner which was just as good as the lunch. Then we just sat around because after turkey what can you do right. Watched some movies, played Dominos which me and Cherry Owned in and then played a new card game called Golf. The next day was all for me and Cherry we drove around my small home town and went thrift store shopping. She is a wonder to see when you go thrifting because she always finds the best stuff. Myself I got new pants for work and an awesome new chair. It's hard to get out of but definitely super comfy. Still getting used to not having 3 square meals a day again. but thats ok. I got to have some good talks with my father, his brother Lester and my mom's brother Roy. The next morning before we watched the sports better said i watched my mom watch the KU vs Mizzu game because lets face it that's way more fun... (video to come later). Cherry and I contributed to the final meal by making butter nut squash and spaghetti squash which I must add i like the taste of better than normal spaghetti. Then me and Cherry packed up our stuff and got ready to leave after many goodbyes and this time not hitting that monster mailbox as I backed out we made the long trip home and around midnight settled in for some much needed rest. My room is still kinda thrown about from all the travel left overs but what can you do. I'll tell you. Tell me how your thanksgivings went can't wait to hear. i love you all and to you all a good night. God Bless.

Also if you feel randomly compelled my Wish list is below. But I'd rather have commissions so I can get gifts for my family and friends.

*saintpepsi

*saintpepsi

And Now I'm 27

A day I knew would come but never really thought about. Here I am 27 I have a fantastic Girlfriend something I haven't been able to say in oooooo like 4 yrs. She's always a reason to smile, sure we've had problems but she always makes me glad to start the day with a thought of her and end it with a dream of her. This year I didn't want anything big and aside from the 50 some people who wished me happy Birthday on Facebook it was pretty relaxed. On Monday night I had friends over and we played card games and Mario Kart. Pretty standard Monday actually. I got a tear jerker card from my mom whom as far as family is concerned my parents have always been a source of guiding light for me. Let it never be said that I was steered wrong by them. I will always look up to and love them and never underestimate the positive effect they have had in my life. Thank you both for always being supportive. So on my Birthday I worked. weird I know and I totally forgot what happens on Veterans Day. We got stomped. i got a free meal out of it though and a free fried ice cream. Work was actually pretty fun. Then I had about 3 hrs till I got to Indulge in a 5 course meal Cherry crafted for me. Started with a salad, then the most peculiar vegetable an Artichoke, On to the main course of baked salmon, and then Tempera which for us both was a first as far as cooking it. I think we succeeded. Lastly she made me Sweet Potato Pie it was more than I could have asked for and I won't lie when I say I was definitely full. I went back home and tried to answer all the messages I had been left on the net. Then went back to Cherries to stay over she was working on lots of homework and just wanted some company she feel asleep on the couch and I in her bed. The day i took off was Wed. So I slept in till 12, then went to an Eye appointment, met with a girl named Kat about a commission, hung out with Cherry for a bit and read her newest play. After that my dear friend Anjana took me out for Thai food i got the Sweet Green Curry. Then off to the plasma center and home for games with some friends. More Mario Kart, I'm an addict i know. Lastly, I went to Mel's Tavern and had a few drinks with Cherry while talking with our new friend Mike who thinks I puff up in jealousy when I see guys around Cherry lol. They had a band playing and I requested alot of songs that the band loved and was thanked for it. Now I'm back home sad that I have to work a double tomorrow. That's life though see you all soon.

If anyone wants to get me a gift btw here's a link to my amazon wish list.