this same rain that draws you near me;

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 08:46:04 GMT

Just in case some didn't notice...

I have moved journals, and you can now friend me at lullabyte. This journal will not be deleted, but it won't be updated anymore.

Thank you everybody~

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 13:19:48 GMT

It's the end of an era.

You can now find me @ lullabyte from now on. This journal will remain around, but will not be updated anymore.

Ciao~

The less said, the better

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 08:39:40 GMT

My boss died today.

...damn.

I want to cry, but I just can't. The tears are there, but I'm an idiot and won't let them fall.

*goes to do packing so she doesn't need to dwell on this more than she should*

Icon making - it's a drug

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 15:35:06 GMT

Just a quick update on my icon making status:

10variations: Was accepted for and completed my Ah! Megami-sama Belldandy claim today (though I did have a few weeks to make them between applying and actually getting approved. I'm not THAT fast). Completed claim post.

10_lyricons: Claimed Tsuzuki from Yami no Matsuei (Manga), will be creating icons around the song Hand of Sorrow by Within Temptation (I swear this song was written about him :D). Currently completed the first three icons, will continue tomorrow).

iconfiend100: Updated my After School Nightmare claim. Added 14 new icons, completing 38 icons in all. Updated claim post.

Yeah. More for my own reference than anything else. ^_^

VERSION SEVEN GO!

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 15:30:49 GMT

fuyou fuyou fuyou fuyou fuyou
fuyou fuyou fuyou fuyou fuyou

NEW LAYOUT GUYS. MY OBSESSION WITH ASN IS GROWING, GROOOOOOOWING *now has a layout, profile layout and iconfiend100 claim revolving around ASN. No, she doesn't think it's excessive at all :P* I like it sooo much better than my previous one. It's not totally completed, a few little niggles but we'll just ignore them for now, shall we? *grins*

It reminds me of after dinner mints. I like pink and green, very pretty combo.

Omigod, you would not believe how long it took to colour. Was totally going without sleep for a while. Worth it though.

Soooo, likee? ^_^

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 16:11:52 GMT

Just thought I'd mention that I heart my new profile layout. Yes, late nights maketh me bored. Yes, when I'm bored, I make graphic-type things. It's a bit different than the last layout, and that makes me happy.

After School Nightmare is a nifty little manga series, so pretty. <333 If you can, check it out, especially if you're into great psychological and prettily drawn manga.

...and omigod, I heard Watase Yuu (yes, THAT Watase Yuu) has begun drawing BL? I never EVER thought that would happen! *reads yaoi_daily post and expects MAJOR nosebleeds to happen eventually*

And now, I will sleep. |3

I R SHEEP

Fri, 22 Jun 2007 11:20:34 GMT

COMPUTER SPYING MEME

01. Comment with a request to see absolutely anything on my computer. My desktop, my documents, my bookmarks, my latest works in progress, my iTunes, my DA, absolutely whatever you are curious about. Request it.
02. I will respond with a screenshot of the very thing you request.
03. In return, you will spread this meme far and wide.

Twas pinged by nis_chan for this. :D

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 14:04:27 GMT

I'm a bad person, I totally forgot to wish idly and turquoiseczech1 a happy birthday for today (shurrup, it's still the 12th here, so it still counts), and nis_chan a happy belated birthday for yesterday.

Hope you had fun days, guys. <3

Thu, 31 May 2007 06:42:17 GMT

Mmm, got bored, and wanted to take people's minds off of the whole Strikethrough '07 thing, so I recorded again. And if by chance the imeem.com link above doesn't work (or if you want to keep the song, which would make me really pleased and honoured), I've uploaded it to Mediafire as well.

I'm aware that the backing music is really fuzzy, but there's not much I can really do about it because that's how it is when you apply the Remove Vocals filter in Goldwave. At least the piano is clear enough. Sigh.

But ANYWAY, it's my all time Natalie Merchant song, and I know that singing a song you adore can, most of the time, turn out crap, but I really wanted to sing this cos it's that beautiful. Really wish there was a proper karaoke track for this, if anyone can help out with this I'd love you foreverence. :D

*snuggles back into her fluffy blanket trying to keep warm and pops a few painkillers*

Strikethrough2007

Wed, 30 May 2007 00:56:25 GMT

Hoo boy. What's the bets on this not ending well?

More info on this can be found here and here, and info for RP journals.

And wow, F_W has gone all out as well. ~~336~~ ~~1205~~ 2445 comments and steadily increasing.

D: *double checks interests just in case LJ decides to suspend her journal as well*

Just a heads up to people.

Shuffleモニ。update tiem!

Sat, 19 May 2007 15:50:03 GMT

*hiatus is now officially broken (yey) for this short announcement from your friendly neighbourhood karaoke queen*

Hey guys, shufflemoni (for those unaware, it's a H!P and Jpop cover group I'm part of) have just released a new project tonight/this morning! And I am so pleased with how it turned out! :D

This project:
EGAO YES NUDE/ARUITERU

Please visit, download, and let us know what you think!

If there is one thing I have learnt in life, it is this.

Wed, 09 May 2007 14:18:16 GMT

Everything is better with kitten macros.

Everything.

*proof*

POST MOAR CAT MACROS PLZ. :D

Latest update at my graphic journal

Fri, 04 May 2007 14:00:19 GMT

New icon stash at sashikomu! I even did a couple of rare fandoms (Ludwig Kakumei, Lumen Lunae - those series deserve more love dammit!) I hope you likee~

You can find the entry here.

Icon making = great stress relief. *nods*

I can see a new horizon, underneath the blazin' sky...

Sat, 28 Apr 2007 06:51:56 GMT

From savagegenius:

1.Comment and I'll pick one of your LJ interests and make you an icon.
2.You have absolutely no say in what I make.
~~3.You can pick between having a normal icon or an animated icon.~~
4. If you do partake in it, please put this in your LJ so I can do the same to you, if you want.

...I should also really get back to my Takanaga Hinako iconfiend100 claim, shouldn't I? ^_^;

Just a quick morning update...

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 16:53:53 GMT

Yami no Matsuei Friending Meme. So you can find other YnM loving friends. I filled it out, will you?

*zonks out*

[fst] We Could Live For A Thousand Years ; A Chaz x Rika soundtrack

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 13:15:46 GMT

We Could Live For A Thousand Years ; A Chaz x Rika soundtrack

Phantasy Star IV: an epic rpg that revolves around the main character Chaz and a collection of characters having to save the world from a great evil that seems to emerge every thousand years - much like every game of its ilk. However, what made this game special was the great spots of humour, sympathetic and interesting characters, and especially the sweet emerging relationship between Chaz and the sweet humanoid girl Rika. This is a single dedicated to them, my game OTP.

What makes, in my opinion, this coupling so great is because of many things. Firstly, Chaz was able to be a teacher to the naive Rika, whose only life experience came from computers, and show her the world that existed outside her walls (figuratively and literally). In turn, Rika was able to remind Chaz of someone was unaffected by a world that was definitely far from perfect. Also, both of them had hidden scars from losing someone close to them, and by leaning on eachother, were able to both heal their souls, or at least begin in the repair. Plus, the fact this pairing is practically canon makes it even better.

This is my first time doing something like this, so I hope you enjoy. There are slight spoilers for the game, but not huge ones.

TRACK 01. Jewel - "Absence of Fear"
[mediafire]
Muscle and sinew
Velvet and stone
This vessel is haunted
It creaks and moans
My bones call to you
in their separate skin
I make myself translucent
To let you in

A song from Rika's POV. This instantly makes me think "Rika" everytime I hear it. It's largely based on the notion how she was able to be taught by Chaz about the world outside the walls of the Biolab. Plus, the fact that she is not a full human gives the lyrics extra significance.

TRACK 02. Elton John - "Healing Hands"
[mediafire]
And reach out for her healing hands
Reach out for her healing hands
There's a light, where the darkness ends
Touch me now and let me see again
Rock me now in your gentle healing hands

Chaz on Rika, can be seen as kind of a pun on the fact that she is a healer in the game, but it also reflects her being a major part of the process in healing the damage done to him when Alys passed away.

TRACK 03. INXS - "Never Tear Us Apart"
[mediafire]
I, I was standing
You were there
Two worlds collided
And they could never tear us apart

Reflects the beginning of the whole ChazxRika relationship, when these two from differing worlds meet, and slowly develop a bond, despite their distinct differences.

BONUS TRACK:
TRACK 04. Vienna Teng - "Eric's Song"
[mediafire]
So we just hold on fast
Acknowledge the past
As lessons exquisitely crafted
Painstakingly drafted
To carve us as instruments
That play the music of life

This seems to be the prerequisite song for a lot of couples, but it seemed especially significant for Chaz and Rika. Read the entirety of the lyrics and you will see why.

Download full single [.zip, Mediafire]

I hope you enjoy. And leave a comment if you download any of these please. :D No cover because it's actually quite difficult to find pics of this couple that don't require major surgery to fix. ;_;

(Note: This is a bit long (16min), if necessary, I'll edit. Please let me know).

Music spamming again

Sat, 31 Mar 2007 08:53:38 GMT

Hi guys hi guys. I've been on a recording kick lately, so this self proclaimed music dork will bring you musics today!

真昼の月 (Mahiru no Tsuki) - originally by 島谷ひとみ (Shimatani Hitomi)

肉体は正直なEROS (Nikutai wa Shoujiki na EROS) - originally by メロン記念日 (Melon Kinenbi)

Moments - originally by 浜崎あゆみ (Hamasaki Ayumi)

100回のKISS (100kai no Kiss) - originally by 松浦亜弥 (Matsuura Aya)
(NOTE: This was my previous entry for the Project☆Ciel Idol Competition. ^^)

I am not a native japanese singer, no way no how. I just happen to listen to songs long enough to sing what I hear. Thus my pronunciation is probably not 100% accurate. Just letting y'all know.

I'll also upload all the other stuff that I have shared in the past (including on my old journal), just so you can see (or hear) how far I have come over the last few years. Eventually.

God, I adore Mediafire. ^^

Okay, review time!

Fri, 23 Mar 2007 04:49:26 GMT

So. The Heart of Everything is the latest released album from Within Temptation, a Dutch gothic-metal group consisting of Sharon den Adel (vocals), Robert Westerholt (guitar), Jeroen van Veen (bass), Stephen van Haestregt (drums), Martijn Spierenburg (keyboard) and Ruud Jolie (guitar). It is the follow up album their 2004 smash The Silent Force. I acquired the CD a few days ago and have been listening to it pretty much non stop since (as my Last.fm account can testify ^_^;). Thus, I decided to do a review.

Disclaimer: I am not a professional reviewer. ~~I would be terrible at it.~~ So my opinions may be kind of shallow. But that is what I thought of the album, no flames kthx if you do not agree with my reviews. And of course, please buy THoE so you can also form your own opinions.

First thoughts:
- Whee, a new WT album, that's just made my yearz! (Yes, actual first thoughts when I got it - like the fangirl I am.XD;)
- Pretty PRETTY cover. The doves are so lovely, and Sharon is just gorgeous in it. And of course IMHO, a great album cover helps in appreciating a CD, so its off to a good start.
- I'm really disappointed that Sound of Freedom is not included on the album. Perhaps it will be a bonus track on a single or just a concert-specific track.

Tracklisting
01. The Howling
"When we start killing, it's all coming down right now
From the nightmare we created, I wanna be awakened right now"
We begin the album with one of the most touted songs - the theme for the new online RPG The Chronicles of Spellborn. A great opening to the album, it's one of the longest tracks, and also one of the most haunting, combining the sounds of choir and orchestral instruments effectively.

02. What Have You Done
"I, I've been waiting for someone like you
But now you are slipping away..."
A rare collaborative track featuring Keith Caputo from US indie act Life of Agony. Probably one of the more commercial radio-friendly tracks that WT have done. Could have done without all the repetitive screaming "What Have You Done Now" in the background, but overall, a strong track. And the album version differs from the single version, with a different opening and a break in the center of the song where Sharon shows off her amazing vocal range.

03. Frozen
"Well, I still need to try,I sacrifice the earth
You say that I am frozen, what can I do?"
One of the weaker tracks on the album, but by no means terrible. It's just kinda blah compared to what WT are capable of. A slower song, with their trademark elements, but not really anything new. Nice vocals, nice tune, good work with the instruments, it's just nice, not really memorable.

04. Our Solemn Hour
"Sanctus, espiritus is this what we deserve
Can we break free
From chains of neverending agony
THE kickass song on the album, which would sound absolutely amazing live. The opening rocks, and it continues on from there. It actually reminds me somewhat of Jillian from The Silent Force album in its heavy choir usage. Combining latin chanting, powerful instruments and a consistantly strong vocal performance from Sharon creates one of the most memorable tracks on the album.

05. The Heart Of Everything
"Open up your eyes
See what you've become, don't sacrifice
It's truly the heart of everything"
The title track of the album. At times eschewing angelic tone in favour of raw power, especially on the lower notes, the vocals in this are great, reminding me of older WT. The constant tribal-style beat in the background gives the song a unique sound, the slightly crunchy guitar work is great, and the way it goes from slow to rock to slow again gives the song plenty of depth. A keeper.

06. Hand of Sorrow
"Was it worth the ones we loved and had to leave behind
So many years have past toward a noble land of lies
Will all our sins be justified?"
Beginning with a pretty piano intro, it then launches into a brilliant cello piece that is just divine. The effective use of those instruments continues throughout the song and carries it along very well with the guitars and drums, right until the ending. And of course, Sharon's vocals are wonderful.

07. The Cross
"Why have you waited to embrace me, my dear?
Cold is your silence, denying what is real
I'm still wondering why I'm still calling your name, my dear"
A rockish ballad-style song that I'm not terribly fond of. Unlike most of the other tracks, the song itself doesn't really change its layout throughout, keeping a constant pace with only the guitars and other instruments really breaking through on the choruses. Slightly weaker vocals - apart from when Sharon breaks into falsetto mode - in this one as well, which prevented me from truly enjoying this song.

08. Final Destination
"I can't stand the feeling inside of me.
'Cause the speed of me is jaded.
And it will be my end."
This is actually quite Evanescence-sounding, and possibly the kind of song that could have been included on TSF. Not to say its bad, actually it's quite good, if typical.

09. All I Need
"Can you still see the heart of me
All my agony fades away
When you hold me in your embrace"
Maybe the most beautiful and calming of the songs on THoE - a strong ballad with rock-influences. A perfect showcase for both the strings arrangement and Sharon's vocals, much like Memories on TSF.

10. The Truth Beneath The Rose
"Pray for me 'cause I have lost my faith in holy wars
This paradise denied to me 'cause I can't take no more"
Clocking in at a generous 7 minutes, it begins in typical WT fashion with the slow orchestra and the choir, but once the chorus hits...it truly makes the song, making it possibly THE song on the album. The longer than usual length for a WT song gives the song impact as well, with none of the time wasted. With strong performances from all areas all round, it is another song that would be brilliant live.

11. Forgiven
"You'll always be mine
I know deep inside
All that stands forgiven"
The ending track is another pretty ballad, primarily piano-based, much like what WT are known for their ending songs (like Somewhere on TSF). Whispier than usual vocals gives this song an almost lullabye ambience, as is a soothing ending to a great album.

Overall: 8.5/10
A stronger effort than TSF, THoE attempts to go back a bit to its roots to it's Mother Earth style, but still keep a commercial feel about it, which seems to have worked very well. All the tracks are strong, well written, quite a few were incredible, and even if I had mixed opinions about some tracks, they are still superior to a lot of stuff that is out there at the moment. A great effort.

Now awaiting the Nightwish album released near the end of the year. Will do a review of that then. ^^

Alrighty

Wed, 21 Feb 2007 12:59:21 GMT

I've updated my Count Cain claim @ iconfiend100! Click on the image to be taken to the updated table.

...I really need to redo my userinfo. Or actually do one. Yup. *nods*

Version 6.0 launch ...................... crickets chirp

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 17:45:10 GMT

Hoshit, I'm still awake? o_O I'm officially nuts, but heck, I had to try to finish something I started...

fuyou

Lyrics courtesy of "All I Ask Of You" (Sarah Brightman & Cliff Richard [FULL LYRICS HERE])

Let me be your shelter
Let me be your light
You're safe
No one will find you
Your fears are far behind you

Have a new layout, version 6.0 of my journal, featuring Sora/Sunao from Sukisyo. Did bugger all with the banner and stuff, maybe next time? (I may just still tweak around with it later when I'm more coherant). It's (for now anyway) only temporary, and absolutely crap because, hello, first attempt at coding a S2 layout. Or first real attempt. Definitely first paid S2 layout anyways. Let me tell you, it's harder - MUCH harder - than overrides with a S1 account. But you can do some nifty things with it. Still not fully customised because I'm too lazy to. D:

Hit me up with some concrit plz.

And now I shall sleep. 4am, you just kill me, you do.

Sigh...another meme

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 23:30:55 GMT

From tsukkomi_boke:

Step 1: Put your MP3 player or whatever on random.
Step 2: Post the first line from the first 15 songs that play, no matter how embarrassing the song. (skip the ones with the title of the song in the first line.)
Step 3: Post and let everyone you know guess what song and artist the lines come from.
Step 4: Strike out the songs when someone guesses correctly.
Step 5: Looking them up on Google or any other search engine is CHEATING!

~~1- Every night I grab some money and I go down to the bar~~ Meatloaf - Dead Ringer For Love (guessed by takayanagi)
~~2- Like a movie scene from the sweetest dream~~ Jennifer Lopez - Witing For Tonight (guessed by endorwitch)
~~3- Hey, everytime, I'm so proud of you~~ Morning Musume Otomegumi - Ai no Sono ~Touch My Heart!~ (guessed by chin_yu_808)
~~4- My tea's gone cold, I'm wondering why~~ Dido - Thank You (guessed by princessxia)
~~5- That's the way it gotta be, kokoro no katachi~~ mflo loves BoA - The Love Bug (guessed by chin_yu_808)
~~6- That's great it starts with an earthquake~~ REM - It's The End Of The World (guessed by hayley_beth24)
~~7- Sore demo ittai kono boku ni~~ Sakamoto Maaya - Hemisphere (guessed by night_breed)
~~8- Tommy used to work on the docks~~ Bon Jovi - Living On A Prayer (guessed by misscarlos)
~~9- Josie you're my source of most frustration~~ Blink 182 - Online Songs (guessed by chin_yu_808)
~~10- Until the break of dawn life life~~ The Offspring - Original Prankster (guessed by takayanagi)
~~11- In sleep he sang to me, in dreams he came~~ Nightwish - Phantom Of The Opera (guessed by melisaku)
~~12- We've been seeing what you wanted, God is calling right now~~ Within Temptation - The Howling (guessed by takayanagi)
~~13- Hey sista, go sista, soul sista, flow sista~~ Mya, Pink, Lil' Kim and Christina Aguilera - Lady Marmalade (guessed by melisaku)
~~14- You pretend you're high, pretend you're bored~~ Garbage - Stupid Girl (guessed by night_breed)
~~15- Touch me, how can it be~~ Milk Inc - The Sun Always Shines On TV (guessed by hayley_beth24)

Yet another lyrical post

Fri, 09 Feb 2007 06:16:24 GMT

Shannon Noll & Natalie Bassingthwaighte - Don't Give Up
Download the MP3

In this proud land we grew up strong
We were wanted all along
I was taught to fight, taught to win
I never thought I could fail

No fight left or so it seems
I am a man whose dreams have all deserted
I’ve changed my face, I’ve changed my name
But no-one wants you when you lose

Don’t give up
‘Cause you have friends
Don’t give up
You’re not beaten yet
Don’t give up
I know you can make it good

Though I saw it all around
Never thought that I could be affected
Thought that we’d be last to go
It is so strange the way things turn

Drove the night toward my home
The place that I was born, on the lakeside
As daylight broke, I saw the earth
The trees had burned down to the ground

Don’t give up
You still have us
Don’t give up
We don’t need much of anything
Don’t give up
‘Cause somewhere there’s a place
Where we belong

Rest your head
You worry too much
It’s going to be alright
When times get rough
You can fall back on us
Don’t give up
Please don’t give up

Got to walk out of here
I can’t take any more
Going to stand on that bridge
Keep my eyes down below
Whatever may come
And whatever may go
That river’s flowing
That river’s flowing

Moved on to another town
Tried hard to settle down
For every job, so many men
So many men no-one needs

Don’t give up
You still have us
Don’t give up now
We’re proud of who you are
Don’t give up
You know its never been easy
Don’t give up
‘Cause I believe there’s a place
There’s a place where we belong

Love love love this version. For fun, I've also uploaded the original Peter Gabriel/Kate Bush version as well (sorry they're video rips but I cannot for the life of me find the proper mp3 versions). Personally, I love the original more (it's an absolute classic) but Shannon Noll and Natalie Bassingthwaighte did a bang up job on the cover. Even if I'm not a fan of either singer. DOWNLOAD BOTH VERSIONS!

WHAT

Wed, 07 Feb 2007 10:24:16 GMT

WHAT.

Another icon post, yey

Sun, 17 Dec 2006 15:35:42 GMT

Hey kiddlings, my claim for iconfiend100 has finally been updated! And I think I was running perilously close to the 6 month limit as well...

Check out Count Cain goodness! :D

Icon post notification

Sat, 09 Dec 2006 15:47:38 GMT

My graphics journal has been updated with REAL icons (fancy that)! Make sure to visit please.

*wipes sweat off brow*