Pillows Are Too Soft

Last week's duel was between Karou Kozue and Ohtori Kanae.   The feeling of alienation that brought Kanae into the ring was no match for the desperation of Kozue.  The black ring dissolved to ash as Kanae fails to move on to the next round. 

Round 1, Duel 7:

Chu-chu versus Kunihiko Ikuhara

Yes, our final two brackets our the INSANE-O CRAZY DUELS!!!  Chu-chu is our cute animal mascot, some even say IS representative of Ikuhara (or Akio, depending on who you're talking to).  Chu-chu loves to eat, stare aimlessly, and defend Anthy to the best of his under one-foot ability.  Chu-chu has body swapped with Saionji and wielded a small kendo stick but has also attempted to utilize a fork as an offensive instrument.  Kunihiko Ikuhara is the animation director and lead "let's do this!" guy for Utena.  While the show is full of symbolism, Ikuhara sheds very little light into what it should be leaving it open for the viewer's interpretation.  Ikuhara has dressed up as Sailor Mars (as he was animation director for Sailor Moon) so we'll assume that his preferred weapon is magical.  Who will progress to Round 2?

Convention Adventures

So last year, I did something that I haven't done in quite some time: I went to Anime Weekend Atlanta.

Okay, I didn't go for all of it.  I ran up with a friend to go to the ball and we came back home.
Much fun was had.  We ordered our pretty dresses.  Did our pretty hair.  Did our pretty makeup (at Waffle House on the way).
When we got there..  It was WAY bigger than I remember.  Man, there's people crawling all OVER this thing.  I think we got lost twice just walking through the hotel, that's not even counting the fun driving adventures to be had in the car as I tried avoiding returning to the interstate after finding the hotel.  On a side note, I should really stop driving in Atlanta.
We really lucked out in getting lost because we ended up getting there just in time to pass some patrons with pre-purchased tickets for the ball who had been turned away for not being dressy enough.  They passed their tickets along to us and in we went!
All kinds of people asked us to dance!  Excitement for me and my husband because he wasn't the one having to dance.  I believe this is what we call a "win-win."

(Dancing with a sharp Mako | Dancing with the best partner I had all night, best moves and best conversation)

Then, this gal was having some spaz out about asking some dude to dance.  Meh, that's what the night is about.  My friend and myself are too old to care about young embarrassment and things like that.  My friend went over to ask the guy for this young lass because hey, worse he can say is no.  Which he did, but he did come over and talk with her which was cool enough of the guy.  Then he went to talk with more girls and the lass starts fawning about how she can't believe my friend just went up and talked to him like that.  Eh?  What's that matter?  Oh, the guy's a famous voice actor?  Who's he play?  Lass gives character name that we've never heard.  

...Well, now I've gotta figure this out!  So I go over and compliment his outfit (cause it's pretty awesome looking) with the sharp intent of listening to his voice and play "name that character" in my head.  Nothing, man.. who is this guy?

Approach some fangirls that were talking to him previous to me and just flipping ask.  Again, another name that I don't know.  COME ON!  He's got to be in something I've heard of if he keeps getting surrounded by women?  Oh.  He's Edward Elric from Fullmetal Alchemist.  Um, oops?

And that's the tale of how I met Vic Mignogna, on accident.

Weddings

What happened to all of those weddings that people say happen all the time in your twenties?  My husband's about to turn 30 next week and, other than our own, we've been to three.  

What are the rest of y'all doing?  Having your romantical dramas or just cool not being married.

You guys in the drama department, I'm in no rush to see you guys get married.  

I'm seriously in a need to celebrate some of you guys settling down.  

Some of you that I've met and you were already married.  Disappointed on one hand and still don't get why you're married on the other.  Seriously, especially my military couples that only knew each other a month before getting married.  I don't get that.  But whatevs.

Dissatisfied when I couldn't have been there for weddings of couple friends that I met after they were married.  

Someone get married soon so that I can celebrate it.  More weddings of friends please.  Or maybe I just want to celebrate in general.

Brussel Sprouts

I love brussel sprouts.  They're so good.  Steamed.  Marinated in lemon juice.  Covered in Cheese.
I found a wonderful recipe for parmesan-stuffed brussel sprouts.
Sadly, I'm the only person who enjoys eating brussel sprouts in this house.  So last week, I did my crazy mom thing and bought brussel sprouts to prepare with dinner.  No surprise when I was the only one eating them at the dinner table.  So I packed them up to eat for lunch the next day.
The other ladies came in as they always do for lunch in the teacher's lounge.  One at a time.  Out of four other women, each one said the EXACT same thing as they sat down to the table.
"What are those?"   Brussel sprouts.  "Oh, I've never seen them before.. or at least, never seen anyone EAT them before."
Just me.  Me and brussel sprouts.  Can't even make my parmesan-stuffed brussel sprout recipe for a school potluck.

Dream Interpretation

Toss out your dream dictionary!

How shocking it is to me that people actually request assistance interpreting their dreams.  Most requests that I received were mostly people seeking reassurance of their normality.  I can understand that. 

But in the case of "I walk into a spider's web... Google search: dreams, spiders, web"

No.  The answer you find their isn't the answer that your subconscious is trying to tell you.  That's someone else's meaning of spiderwebs. 

When looking to interpret your dream, list out items that called out the most to you during your dream (dream journaling can help).  Stop and think about what those key elements mean to YOU. Not to a web author.  Not to your friend.  What do they mean to you?  You'll find often that you're meaning and a "dictionary" meaning don't match.  Don't worry because your meaning is the right fit for you.

When I work with people on dream interpretations, I avoid from my opinions and perceptions and act as a guide in helping them work to their ultimate answer.  

Now, reoccurring dreams.  Those actually sometimes are more difficult.  I never truly understood what one I had meant until a friend offered her opinion.  

You don't need a dream interpreter, but rather a dream guide.  Someone who can help you to decipher what your dream means to your subconscious.
I love to share my dreams. I find them incredibly interesting and more times than not, my friends are there.  Just because I share my dream with you, does not mean I'm looking for interpretation.  I'm just simply sharing.

Creepypastas

Last week my husband introduced me to creepypastas with this YouTube video.  Actually, I had known of these tales before just never under the term of creepypastas.

Creepypastas are those creepy campfire stories.  The creepy urban stories you tell friends at slumber parties to creep everyone out.

The video had me so unnerved that I couldn't finish watching it until I had some daylight to keep my sanity.  I did read an epic long creepypasta that same night suggested by a friend.  I have read many creepypastas since at the suggestion of others.

While "Penpal" is extraordinarily well-written, Slenderman frightens me the most.  While Slenderman is the most unrealistic of everything I've been through, something about it freaks me out.  I think it's the idea that you're helpless against it.  If you see it, you're done for.  

What's a creepypasta that gets you unnerved?

Chosen By The Black Rose

Last week's duel was between Mitsuru Tsuwabaki and Shinohara Wakaba.   The impatience that brought Mitsuru into the duelist's arena was also his downfall again Wakaba.  The black ring dissolved to ash as Tsuwabaki fails to move on to the next round. 

Round 1, Duel 6:

Kaoru Kozue versus Ohtori Kanae

Kaoru Kozue is Miki's twin sister and Ohtori Academy's number one skankity slutslut.  Ohtori Kanae is daughter of the headmaster and engaged to Akio.  Kaoru fights using Miki's épée and her desire to keep Miki's attachment to her from fading or changing.  According to all official information that I can find, Kanae uses a rapier but considering that all of the Black Rose duelists take their sword from someone who means something to them, I've always gathered that she utilizes a weapon from Akio.  Who will move on to Round 2?