Another shot of whimsy

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Yes, I'm having a sort of a cam-whore season. But since I'm not photogenic, I took pictures of my kids.

That one has Galahad (the RX-78 v1.5), the Strike Freedom, Sousuke (Zaku v2.0), Master Asia's Gundam and Kathryn (figma Kanu Uncho) inside the display cabinet.

This one has one of my Rockman units (the better ones that Bandai made for a short while), Alexiel (Revoltech Saber) and the 00 Gundam.

The following are shots of MAGENTA in a standard mobile suit.

Storm's aftermath

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The fist of the Heavens struck down our country's National Capital Region, perhaps for no reason besides bad luck.

 Truly, men and women of every age and status lost something or someone they treasured the past three days. Some stand to lose time as they struggle to remake what was undone. Mementos, persons most precious and achievements were drowned, some to be recovered while others were lost to the deluge.

 After some thought, I wondered: "Perhaps, during all the sadness that the tempest has caused, my enemies have been similarly struck by misfortune..." While the thought gives me some comfort, the harm inflicted by Nature had nothing to do with me. Sure, schadenfreude comes into the show but it just doesn't make me satisfied. Though a perverse happiness for others' misfortune is a human trait (not that it applies to those who lost people; at least, it doesn't apply to me), I just can't make myself feel happy for the misfortune they suffered (if my enemies were hit by Ondoy). What would have made me happy was vengeance that I've delivered. The destruction wrought by Ondoy lacked finesse and involved a lot of innocents (innocent in the sense that they've done me no wrong).

 As it is, I'm most thankful that what I own hasn't been destroyed. After running some simulations, I've figured that the room I've rented wouldn't have been reached by the floods; which simply means that the speculation that the reason I've failed was so that I'd be out of danger doesn't hold water.

 Our family's ... I guess the closest term would be "serf" even if they don't owe us anything except gratitude and goodwill. Anyhow, our family's serfs suffered flooded homes and one's tricycle was submerged. Our parents have decided to route whatever help we'd have given to what was ours, since his livelihood's rise was one that we supported and praised.

 As it stands, I still have to find and establish my means. At the least, our House hasn't suffered from the storm's wrath. For that, I am most thankful to my Liege.


P.S.
 Since I can't find a place to chuck this in, I'm putting this picture of my bookshelf/display cabinet here.

Whimsy

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 It's sad that I'm letting some of my skills stagnate because of circumstances.

 At any rate, here are pictures of some of the dangling earrings I've made. Maybe seeing them will fan the dying flames of inspiration, yes?

 For those who care to ask, that model kit of a mobile suit is a modified amalgam of the 1/100 Bandai Master Grade Strike Rouge and Freedom Gundam. I'm going to paint it with an apt pink color scheme when I get the necessary skills and painting materials.

Vow

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 There are some things that just get under my skin. Yes, I'm using the phrase in a negative manner.

 One of them, the one that just sticks, is the aggravating unprofessional actions against me. That I've had the bad luck to have had such co-workers and superiors galls me to no end. It's a given that genetics makes everybody different, that a person will have a different gift from another. What's so hard to accept about that? I'm physically unattractive, so I was lucky enough to get some brains. Look at it again, children of Envy, I wrote "SOME". It means that I'm lacking in certain aspects, things that you won't notice because the only thing that held your attention is that I have something you don't and I must be punished for that. It matters little if your acts were born out of the pathetic resemblance you have of humanity. What matters is the result, and it resulted in my means to achieve my goals being broken. Those means were hard-won. Regaining them, if at all possible, will require the same effort, the same circumstances and the same amount of blood and tears. Were it possible, I would destroy you and yours for payment. Were it possible, I would send you to Hell, cursing your thrice-damned self for harming me without just cause.

 "Strength without hatred" is an ideal. It is an ideal that supports Justice, for Justice laced with Hatred emits a noxious aura, coating the gained Justice with the most nauseating aroma. That such strength can become real, makes it an ideal worth aiming for. At this point of my life, reaching that ideal isn't possible. There's too much of me that was broken and tossed aside as trash by apathetic hominids intent only in causing pain. I was powerless to fend off such harm, yet I had what was needed to survive such malice. Was I lucky to have such? Yes. Yet, the question comes forth. If I had what I needed to survive, why are my tools for righteous vengeance denied me? After reflection, that they are held out of my reach is reasonable, else true vengeance would be a farce because the tools of righteous punishment must be earned.

 The question comes forth: What makes me, with my hunger for vengeance, different from those that have harmed me? Perhaps the fact that I was minding my own dreams when I was ambushed by their malice? Perhaps the fact that I was the one they victimized? Perhaps the fact that I did nothing against them and theirs, that I said nothing against them and theirs, yet I received unjustified harm from them? Perhaps the fact that were it not for their malice, my goals would have been several steps closer to fruition.

 To answer the question, of what makes me different from them, I was the one attacked and my response, my vengeance, to their aggression will depend on the circumstances presented to me.

 I will earn the means for my vengeance, even if that is only to look down upon them from the lofty post I will reach. Will I still yearn to ground them into dust? Perhaps I will, if only to prevent them from acting maliciously and from spawning more of their twisted ilk.

 This I swear: "Vengeance without mercy!"

Loot, i haz it!

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 It's the start of the 2nd week of work for this employee. Why I do look forward to it? There's knowledge to be gained. There are theories to be practiced.

Besides, I just got books. BOOKS!

I got a copy of J. D. Robb's Divided in death (in hardcover) and Purity in death. Yeah, they were a tad battered. BUT I got them for a low price. Besides [smiles], the moment those books are stored in my memory palace, just like all the other books I've read, their current condition won't mean anything. Add the fact that they'll have Eve and Roarke and the whole cast moving about and I'm set.^_^

 I also got a resource book. I'm not telling what it is, since it would be most disadvantageous for me if anyone outside my close circle of friends were to learn of its contents. Suffice to say [grins and runs teeth along the edge of my upper incisors], the successful integration of said information will grant me nigh unlimited access to that which i want.

 Yep, I also resisted the urge to acquire toys and I'm proud of that small achievement. Retail-therapy rocks!!! Why? Because my acquisitions (if they are well-planned) are empowering.

They relieve stress while adding to my resources. [punches the air]

 Sing, Freedom. Dance, Destiny.

 ~~~

 On a lighter note, I have the animé series K-On!, the Nanoha series and Eureka Seven to look forward to. Acquisition will start ASAP.

Rak en rol!

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1432H 05/28/09 (HOTEL, GMT +0800)

 The First Rule is the First for a specific reason. That I've been violating it out of plain laziness is most deplorable. Of course, there's the fact that I need to take it easy at this particular phase of my operations [shrugs]. I've indulged at various stages to keep me suitably unstressed during pertinent times. Life, as I see it, requires actions based on rhythm. Of course [pouts in thought], actually acting in a rhythmic fashion is another thing altogether and requires consistent practice. I've had to suppress my natural exuberance. I've been successful in doing that, 80% of the time. There's my curiosity, which helps increase my knowledge base, which has to be used sparingly or selectively during classes. [shrugs] Not that it's a limitation that I find galling since I more often than not rely on reading materials. However, knowledge from people tend to differ slightly from those obtained from books. [sighs] Well, nothing worthwhile is ever easy anyhow [shrugs] so complaining only allows me to vent, which may not be productive since the negative energy can be sublimated. Continuing on that vein about aspects of my person, I also have to contain my latent competitiveness. Sure [smirks], I'm not that competitive but the extant requirements of my long-term goals means that I have to distinguish myself through exceptional performance. Most unfortunately, the First Rule comes into play. There are also the Fifth and Tenth Rules to consider as I interpret the actions and reactions around me [exhales in resignation]. 2223H 5/29/09 (HOTEL, GMT +0800) I flunked an exercise (the score of which will be known the next work day) because I was lazy and impatient. Yes, i was also over-confident. Yes, i was feeling invincible without just cause. It's only the second week as a trainee/employee of Network Solutions, so there are still opportunities, both for gain and loss. That I've been lazy has been a continual pain in the posterior. I FUBARd a plan today just because I was feeling lazy. Sure, I know that being industrious saves a lot of time, but I think that being conscientious while accessing my Mentat Engine as I do a task is better. "Minimal effort for maximum gain" is the process I prefer. [sighs] Well, I just have to focus on my goals so I don't fumble any more plans. Being focused eats up more of my mental resources but it's a choice between tiring myself out or being frustrated. Lazy me would've picked the frustration just because it's easier. Most unfortunately, the easier path also contains lesser goodies and lesser pleasures. On a lighter note, I've discovered the opening themes of Eureka Seven, an animé by BONES. Days by FLOW and Sakura by NIRGILIS are my faves, just like how Nana Mizuki's Innocent Starter and Massive Wonders got me hooked onto the Nanoha series. Sure, there's a pop feel to Sakura, though the beat is the thing that really snagged me. Methinks I have to learn how to quantify those BPMs so I can better relay my assessment of a song. Yeah, if the robot damashii of the Nirvash by Bandai is sufficiently large, I might purchase it. As of now, the collectibles on my list are the figma action figures of Signum and Miku Hatsune by Max Factory. I'll see if i can get my hands on Atelier-Sai's action figures of the Full Metal Panic girls. Yes, I'm on a girl collection binge that started with figma's Kanu Uncho that I've christened Kathryn. There are also the kits of the mecha I want (I've reconsidered getting the 1/100 MG Infinite Justice) but I'm hopeful that Bandai's bigwigs approve the remodeling of the 08TH MS team's mobile suits. I mean, how hard is it to remake the molds of the RX-78 version 2 into the RX-79G and RX-79 Ez8? They've already done a version 2 of the Gouf and it's just a matter of making small modifications to produce Norris Packard's custom Gouf. Are they lazy or are they milking the populace slowly? I almost forgot Konami's MMS. I want to get Siren Eukrante of the Busou Shinki line. Why? Because her hair's pink and her design reminds me of the Wing Zero Custom (Bandai, when will you re-make your MG kit of that MS? For that matter, when will you make MG kits of the Endless Waltz Gundams?). [shrugs] Well, I've yet to find a forum or board or e-mail address that will let me share my views to those of Bandai, so I'm making do with what I have. The list goes on. I'm getting me some non-black pens and some books, if i see some tomorrow. I'll be looking for a new place to lodge since the place I'm currently in has termites (it's a wooden house) and is a veritable oven during some times of the year (something that i had to endure last week). There's also the next Transformers movie to look forward to. ^_^ Talga Vassternich. What I do as reality unfolds becomes my Life. Oh yeah, if Anemone of Eureka Seven (along with Eureka) ever comes out as an action figure, I'll snap it up ASAP.

Star-gazing

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=~=~=~=Location: Inside the Samurai - Heavily modified Pellaeon-class Imperial Star Destroyer, currently traversing Infinity

~==~==~Dramatis Personae:

Bridge Crew:

Commanding Officer : My self
Executive Officer : Hannibal Lecter, MD
Weapons Officer : Teletha Testarossa
Launch Officer : Lisa Hayes
Tactics Officer : Lacus Clyne

CIC (Combat Information Center)

LO: [taps screens] There we have it. We're expecting definite supplies by mid-June and another, a probable, tomorrow.

CO: Lisa, you don't have to hide that frown. I know that my decision to put the Samurai on the edge, right between Life and Death is grating on your nerves.

TO: I'm of two minds here, Taichou. The Samurai's capabilities are beyond question and I can easily see that such a course of action isn't suicidal. However, we've need to consider the station supplying us and the ships that we're going to interact with.

XO: That we've just re-established a source of supply is a relief. That the source is tenuously connected, as are those that we've just contacted, is something to seriously consider.

AI: As of now, the tender ship Ciel's crew is of mixed opinions. Some of her people are awed and approving of the Samurai's capabilities. Of course there are some that are put-off by some of our crew's hyper-active personalities.

WO: [sighs] Anna, you do tend to unsettle others with your precocious and lively nature

CO: Well, there's joie de vivre for you. For an AI, she captures the essence of the character she's based on. [shrugs] Besides, the Samurai's crew loves her. That's the only thing worth considering.

XO: That you're adding more females to our crew leads to more people being enamored with Anna. [waves with his left hand to produce a hologram of diagrams and lists] We've got Nanoha Takamichi, Fate T. Harlaown and Yagami Hayate arriving the moment their posts and responsibilities are finalized. [smiles in gentle praise while reaching down to carry ANNA] You're a cute devilishly endearing munchkin, are you not?

AI: [smiles back] And that's why you love me, right, Uncle?

CO: [smiles] That she totally loves you for who you are just makes you warm, doesn't it? [settles into my chair and gazes out with steel and resolution] If the Ciel's crew doesn't like Anna then they don't. We do have to cooperate with the Ciel so we'll keep Anna away from them. It would limit our exposure but the possibility of surprising others to gain the upper hand during critical moments has risen exponentially.

LO: And are we going to do as you plan with our resources, Captain [raises an eyebrow with disapproval shining from her brown eyes]?

CO: Yes, we will [waits for Ms. Hayes' eyes to glare in annoyance]. [smirks teasingly] But since you've objected to it since I've voiced it, I'll modify it to accommodate your proposed fail-safe programs.

WO: [smiles in reproval] You shouldn't tease her so, Taichou. Her concern for the Samurai is well-placed. At any rate, we're still considering the addition of the Fairlions and their pilots, Sheryl Nome, Ranka Lee and Latooni Subota. I've uninstalled MAGENTA from the Strike Rouge's frame and moved her into a portable interface so we can easily transfer the OS from one mobile suit to another.

CO: Then, it's settled. We're good to go. [pats Anna's left hand that she placed on my right shoulder] We'll keep you hidden, little angel. Doctor Lecter, please continue to assist Ms. Hayes with the Ciel and the second tender ship until we sortie. Tessa, continue drilling our troops and pass on recommendations for those who'd be great additions to the Samurai's roster. Lacus, coordinate with Tessa and produce the battle plans that we'll be needing.