Senior Research Paper: The Otaku Community

Please note that this is the incomplete essay since I didn't have time to cover everything I wanted due to my deadline, but the essay WILL be updated when I have the time.

Random Cool Thing of the Day #6: Nails

Today's RCTotD is my ever beautiful sparkly nails. I rarely paint my nails, but today's a special occasion and they came out pretty nice, so I wanted to show it with all of y'all

What Happened At the Doctor's

So I realized I forgot to tell you guys what happened at my doctor's appointment. Well, to be blunt, I have no fucking clue. They still don't know what's wrong with my head and now I need to get a CT scan done because it's no a neurological thing. I hate not knowing what's wrong with me. :|

Frustrations

There is nothing more frustrating than thinking you have something, only to find that you actually don't. It's hella annoying. I just want my USB so that I can work on my architecture work, but apparently I forgot it at home, again. Epitome of annoyance. There is nothing worse than wanting to work on something you love and being unable to because of some stupid shit reason. Ugh, I'm waaaay to tense for this. I blame my ACE presentation that is today.

Doctor's Appointment

This is it guys. For the past year or so, I've been getting chronic headaches and dizziness spells and waves of nausea and I had no idea why. I'm going to the doctor's so that hopefully figure out what's going on. They told me to make a sorta sick log, kinda like a diary where I write down every time I get an incident. We're gonna go over it to hopefully find out what's going on in my brain. Hope it's not life threatening and curable.

In Which Mabel Tells a Story: Friends

Story time bloggykins! This is about how I became friends with David and Cooper. Sometimes I wonder how I ever stayed friends with them.

David:

I met David through a mutual friend named Andrea. It was freshman year and I didn't have many friends, so I was pretty close with Andrea. Anyways, my cousin was graduating from high school and going off to college that year, so my whole family decided to take a road trip to see him graduate. It was all the way up in New Hampshire, so it was a pretty long drive from Chicago. Why is this road trip important to the story? Well the thing is, I sorta forgot to tell Andrea. And the girl can hold a grudge. So when I cam back, she decides that I needed to be punished with a prank. The prank was this: I would come to lunch, the only time I saw her, and she would be pretending to be crying. David would be there, pretending to console her, and he would explain to me that she was so upset and depressed by my sudden loss that she was in such a horrible mood. I, of course, freaked out and decided to buy her a cookie to cheer her up (this was back when my school still sold cookies and slushies in a snack bar). Anybody who knows me well enough knows that me buying someone food is the highest form of love from me since I'm so cheap and poor.

David, the little asshole, had accompanied me and when I had finally bought the cookies, has burst out laughing, no longer able to believe how fucking gullible I was. And I admit, I kinda was. When he explained the truth, my first reaction was to threaten and lash out at him. So the first thing I said to him was "I'm going to break every bone in your body," which he replied with "Not unless I run you over first." The whole thing was hilarious to me that I burst out laughing and he followed pretty quickly. Since then we found out that we had a class together (architectural drafting) and were both in anime club. It's safe to say that we've been best friends since then.

Cooper:

Cooper is a ... special case of friendship. He sorta just appeared. We actually forgot how he became David and I's friend. That is until a few months ago when we were reminiscing during lunch. It all started in sophomore year, during, surprise surprise, lunch. Our group had coalesced over the year and had solidified into part of what is now considered the Otaku Sages Crew. Anyways, David had a different lunch period than us, but Jacob had managed to slip in with us this year. We already had become a bit known around the anime circles and we all tended to have the same classes. But one day during lunch, a kid just appeared out of nowhere. He pulled a ninja on us, just popping up on us, sitting next to us, and talking. We were all really confused, but no one wanted to say anything, so we let join us. It soon came to the point where everywhere we went, he would pop up, saying something like "Hey guys, I've been looking for you."

But despite being a bit creepy, he really wasn't too bad. I mean, he talked about the coolest video games and he liked anime too, so it wasn't too bad. And he bought us food! Real food! Not the crap the school gave us. And anyone who gets us food is good in our books. Ever since then, he sorta just stuck with us, and he'a been one of my best friends ever. Coops is just one of those people just kinda appears in your life and you don't know how it happened but it's ok because the Coops is pretty cool. 

Uuuuupdate or Something Like That

So the Teacher Assitant who made my class initially create our blogs finally finished her timw with us and went back to college I think. It's kinda weird not seeing her here anymore, but class is still the same. We really didn't do anything with the blogs except for that one post, but it was a good idea while it lasted.

Now we're reading a play called A Doll'a House, by Henrik Ibsen, and it's really good. Like, I'm surprised by how much I actually like. It's an old play, and apparently it's considered one of the first feminist plays ever. It's pretty great. Maybe I'll do an analysis on it later. I know I still need to post my Senior Research Paper here, but I want to add more to it before I do so, because I had to skip some parts to fit the deadline. I also have another interesting essay I had from junior year about vampires. Maybe I'll post that one too. 

Some Fab Hair Selfies

I love making weird faces and my new purple hair is just great for it, no?

Hopefully I can get back on schedule, but I just wanted to show you guys what my new hair looks like. 

This Is Where A Title Belongs

Long time no see blog. I have been experiencing some technical difficulties. Namely my phone and computer. Both have decided to expire on me around the same time, so I now have a new phone (iPhone 3 bought from eBay) and my little sister's old laptop. The new laptop is only good for writing. And while normally that's good for this blog, it is absolute shit for the internet. I can't even open Google Chrome without the thing crashing on me like nobody's business. But soon I shall get free time and transfer all my writing to the precious blog so I can finally update some of the damn stories.

I also have some big news! My friends and I are making a podcast. And it's going to be great. So just hold your horses everybody because it's gonna be a bumpy ride. We're hoping to start recording this Thursday. Also, I now have purple hair, which looks awesome one. Bye my little peeps.

In Which Mabel's Faith in Humanity is Momentarily Restored

The coolest thing happened just now. So my parents were complaining about shoveling the snow (we got about another 4-6 inches today, that's about almost 1/2 a foot guys), so I told them I would do it since I didn't wanna do homework and shoveling snow is kinda fun. When I get to the gateway of our lot, and was getting the last bit of snow off, I heard someone calling to me, asking if my parents paid me to shovel the snow.

I turn around and it's one of the neighbors who like in the apartment complex in front of us. Now, I live in a coach house. That basically means I live in a small two floor house that is directly behind a main building. Here's a shitty diagram I made up to show you how it looks like from the gateway/sidewalk.

Diagram aside, the neighbor that lives in the apartment building asked if my parents paid me to shovel snow. I told her no, that I volunteered. She asked if I could help her, and I thought, might as well, I'm already out here and I don't wanna work on language homework.

She was shoveling snow to park her car, and apparently she works as an architectural preserver (the people who are hired to help upkeep and preserve architectural landmarks and whatnot) as well as interior design. Now, since you probably don't know, I am a huuuuuuuuuge architect nerd. It's pretty much all I've ever wanted to be since the 5th grade. It's my passion, my life's work, everything I love and more. Architecture is the utter best, hands down. I love it more than anime.

So it's safe to say that our conversation was chalk full of awesome stuff. Anyways, after we've effectively cleared out enough snow, she told me she would pay me. Yeah, I know, insane! I was totally not expecting that, especially since the work wasn't too hard to manage between two people and it wasn't a lot either. I tried to tell her no and give her back the money, but she really insisted. I was like, well ok man, if you're sure.

She gave me $10. I would've expected her to give me like 5, but nope, she gave me ten whole dollars. Hot damn man, that's like 10 fucking McChickens right there. I gave it to my parents for gas money, but my mom didn't wanna take all of it, so she only took half. Long story short, I am now five bucks richer, aww yeah~!

Anime Club: My Bride is a Mermaid, Fill the Damn Survey, and T-Shirts/Fundraiser

Hope you're having a wonderful day Anime Club. The snow's being a bitch, no? Anyways, we have a few things to announce today.

My Bride is a Mermaid:

From now on we will be watching My Bride is a Mermaid. Yup, you guys voted and the verdict is that everyone really loves the show and wants to keep watching it with me. So from now on we will watch MBiaM until we finish it. We may watch a few episodes of something else in between but the number one show we will be watching is My Bride is a Mermaid. Awww yeah guys! Can't wait to see the Masa backstory. All time fave. We may have some cool stuff to do with MBiaM, like debates/trivia, competitions, and the like. Who knows~!

Survey:

Guys, fill out the survey. Please! It's not that hard to do and shouldn't take too long. Thanks guys.

T-Shirt/Fundraiser:

Ok guys, we will be doing T-Shirt Designs and the Fundraiser Art really soon. We bumped the fundraiser to the third week of March instead of the second, so you have an extra week, but don't let that let you slack off guys. We need art and we need it ASAP. Send me your stuff at ladychan101@yahoo.com. And remember guys, school appropriate.

Next week we will be watching episodes 10-12 of My Bride is a Mermaid. We will also start the initiation process. You'll know what I mean by next week. ;) Have a nice week Anime Club.  

In Which Mabel Tells a Story: How David Left His Mark

STORY TIME GUYS! I'm gonna tell you how David broke his leg (despite being in a wheelchair) and how there is now a permanent mark at Lane Tech of our existence.

To those of you who don't know, David has SMA (spinal muscle atrophy) and has been in a wheelchair most of his life. He also get's really sleepy in the morning when it's cold. This is a very bad combination. This is what the little fucker of a best friend looks like:

Anyways, it was my freshman year, we weren't as close as we are now. It was dead end winter, and the only thing on my mind at the time (other than listening to Rise Against on full volume on my mp3) was getting inside as fast as possible. As I was about to walk inside the building, I see David parked nearby the little rail guard things by the entrance. Now I'm not paying attention, so from my point of view, it just looks like he's stuck or something, so my first reaction is "Hey David, see you inside." And for the rest of the day I'm wondering where David was because he never showed up.

The reason for this is because he broke his leg. Yup. The kid in the wheelchair broke his leg. What happened was that, because it was a cold early morning, he was super sleepy and thus not in full control of hit motor functions, so he accidentally drove his chair into the railing. The snow made him lose control momentarily, so he couldn't stop and ended up crashing into the post. And consequently broke his leg. So while I thought he was just stuck (with a bunch of people crowding around, in what I presumed, to help him get unstuck), he was actually cursing worse than a sailor and yelling at the top of his lungs because he broke his leg. Yes, that actually happened.

To this day, there is a mark on that rail guard and we see it whenever we enter and exit the school. Somehow David blames me.

That long grey mark is where his chair hit the rail guard. It's been three years and it's still there! I laugh every time I see it. 

Anime Club: Initiation & New Titles, and the Fundraiser

To those that don't know it already, I'm Anime Club's Vice President, or as we now call it, the Hokage of Anime Club. As such, I have decided to use this blog not just for school, but for Anime and Webcomic Club (I have taken over the latter in a peaceful coup d'etat). Because of the disconnection within all the clubs, and the fact that no one actually goes to Anime Club's website, we'll be using my blog as the standard frontsman for connectivity. Huzzah. So here's what's new for you guys at AC.

New Titles:

That's right guys, from now on we have new titles. They go as this:

• Club President = Daimyo (Lord)
• Vice President = Hokage
• Sargent of Arms & Secretary/ies = Elder Council
• Office Members & Treasurer = ANBU
• Members that have been with us for all four years = Jonin
• Members that have been with us for two/three years = Chunin
• Members that just joined us = Genin

I may make some buttons or keychains for you guys to signify your ranks. But that may take some time, so we shall discuss this further next meeting. There may be an initiation process with these new titles headed by me (Hokage), David (Elder Council), Cooper (Elder Council), and Marrisa (Daimyo).

Fundraiser:

I have said this once, I shall say this again, the fundraiser is the second week of March, and if you have art that you think is good enough to sell, send me scanned pictures to ladychan101 (at) yahoo.com. Seriously guys, how are we going to go to ACen if we have nothing to sell? We will be working with Webcomic Club and some members from Knitting and Area 51 to sell, but the main brunt of the sales will be from us. It doesn't have to be perfect/complete. Just something usable. Scan them, send them to my email, and we'll take care of it from there.

Next Week's Anime Will Be: My Bride Is A Mermaid Episodes 5 & 6. We are watching the whole season most likely before moving onto either Dangan Ronpa or a Ghibli film of our choosing. Have a good week Anime Club!

Senior Research Paper: Or In Other Words, Mabel Saw An Opportunity to Talk About Manga and Took It

Since this is a brand new blog, and y'all don't know very much about me yet (or read my About Me page and decided that it must not do me justice, because how could it?) nobody on this little corner of the internet knows that I'm a hardcore otaku. Really hardcore. I mainly prefer manga (because it's easier to absorb versus an anime that's shit quality on my dinosaur of a laptop), but when I heard that my senior research paper had to be about an art form and its influence upon the world, I knew what I was gonna write it about.

In Which Mabel Begins to Read the Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

So I just read the first few pages of The Metamorphosis for English class two periods back (I would've posted this last period, but someone *coughCoopercough* didn't want to share his laptop), so I'm just gonna talk about my first impressions here.

Gregor Samsa, the main character, is pretty interesting insofar how he acts in other's considerations is a direct contradiction almost to his true nature and the way he perceives of the world. Like seriously, the guy hates his job with a passion, and would love nothing more to do than yell at his boss and tell him all the shit he's gone through, just to enjoy the expression on his face, yet he tries very hard to keep his job and stay in it out of familiar obligations and a sense of duty.

He comes off as a quiet soft-spoken person in his manner of speech, yet what he says, in it's content, is no where near the soft spoken attitude he gives off. In fact, he's surprisingly witty so far, and a bit strong in his speech, yet I can't quite get the image out of my head that he speaks in soft hushed tones. I'm really enjoying the clashing of this personalities, as if he's almost leading a double life without even knowing about it.

The writing's also in a way that is not overtly flowery to disinterest the reader, not simple enough that it's bland. I believe my favorite part so far is the fact that he just accepts that he's now turned into a large spider/insect thing and accepts it as something that just is. I'm definitely going to have fun reading this from now on.