nighttime activities

Cleaning at 11 at night is not a good idea. I was trying to sleep when I was struck with the urge to clean. Because it comes upon me so rarely, I had to obey. Three hours later it was far later at night than I should be awake, and it was at the state where things are worse before it gets better. But I decided to stop for the night and took a shower...and found myself tired yet not wanting to sleep. So I decided to upload the songs I had been meaning to for a while. Half I actually own, the other half the fruits of my mp3 rotation site browsing marathon (the same one that netted me all those English-language songs I uploaded the other day). This time all the songs are in Japanese.

Rojou no Kage by Aya
One of the gems from my mp3 rotation site browsing marathon, an amazing rock song. I've been listening to this song on repeat for quite a while. I plan to own every CD she's ever put out (which is apparently only three).

Empty Space by Hirahara Ayaka
From the Odyssey album, a nice, slow yet intense song that showcases her husky voice well, with some of the stupidest lyrics ever.

Mahou by Yano Maki
I can't listen to her album Takaramono enough, this is one of the songs I always pay attention to no matter what I'm doing. That intro is distinctive and fabulous.

Amaenbo by Otsuka Ai
A gentle and simple ballad. It makes me bob my head along with the beat.

Cotton Candy by Bonnie Pink
It's Bonnie Pink, it must be good! Another great song from her Golden Tears album.

ONE DAY by Hirai Ken
A piano and Hirai Ken's high voice makes a lovely ballad.

Will You Dance by Angela Aki
A lovely voice that's not too high or low, with a deliberate beat and very familiar melody that I can't quite place.

Okay, now I'm going to try to sleep. Oyasumi!

shredding tons of stuff SUCKS

Instead of doing a million other things, I've just been wandering around LJ-land:

I read a little guide to dæmons (for a fanfic, which I haven't read) from His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman, a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful series that you could simplistically call fantasy. ( A scene flashed into my head suddenly. )

Now I want to reread the series...except i don't know where I put The Golden Compass. *sigh*

I'm so glad I read the series after the third book came out. My friend who pimped it to me was dying in agony waiting for it to come out (especially after the release got delayed). Seeing her state, I (wisely) decided to wait for the last one and read them in a marathon.

And some fics:

Clover: Leaves by Asael. It felt right, which of course means sad and bittersweet.

Gohou Drug: Idiot by elihice makes me want to read volume 3. I have the first two volumes and was not impressed enough to want to read the third one. Now I do. I suppose the fast and easy way is to go to a bookstore and read the English translation there (tachiyomi go!). But it's annoying being reminded that CLAMP does that series-on-hiatus thing (X!!!!).

KKM: Dressses by elihice is a cute gen fic with Greta in it. I love Yuuri's mom. She's so wacked out. XD The last line is just killer.

xxxHOLIC: Initiation by evherie is a Doumeki/Watanuki fic that I remember reading and laughing over, but hadn't rec'd. Not sure why...Their banter is hilarious. XD

xxxHOLIC: Closer by evherie is a Doumeki/Watanuki fic that I both enjoy and have problems with. I love how Watanki has to be busy and ends up doing tons of chores. I even love his blushing. I'm not so sure about Doumeki's mom's reactions. Overall, I still enjoyed it though.

I'm probably the last person on the net to find it, but I found a site that posts raw scans of xxxHOLIC and Tsubasa, Room of Requirement. Needless to say, I devoured the xxxHOLIC. I still need to catch up with Tsubasa.

the holidays are almost over

Man, I finally got around to translating something and was chugging along quite nicely, but my urge died when I came across a kanji I couldn't read and would have to look up by stroke order. I've become so damn lazy. :P

My curiosity got the better of me and I downloaded the scanlation of the newest Viewfinder chapter that's floating out there. Um...there's no way around it. It sucks. The English really needed to be proofed by someone (a particular peeve of mine), but what just killed me was how WRONG some of it was. Unforgivable. >_<

I finally put together the mini stereo I got for Christmas. Ah...nice sound. I've been rediscovering wonderful music today testing out my system with the CDs I had dug up in my cleaning spree last night. Why does Rie Fu kick so much ass? Does she have anything new out? I hope so...I love her voice and her music.

I have loved Put Your Arms Around Me by Texas for ever and ever (well, ever since I saw the movie with Drew Barrymore in it that had this song in the ending credits). The entire album is lovely, actually, but this song just makes me melt. A stunning love song, so languid yet at the same time soaring.

And because Vienna Teng is love: My Medea