It's funny, I can normally write a LOT without trying when I see a bunch of flaws in a series, but when it comes to the ones I really like, I usually have to actually think to find things to say (y'know, other than "this was really damn good, and everyone should watch it").

I just finished watching Nagi no Asukara, which was a really lovely series. I mean that literally, too - the art is beautiful, the scenery and colors and animation... my eyes were happy, let's just say.

The story was pretty engaging too, if you don't mind the endless series of crushes and complications that come with these kinds of pre-teen "growing pains" shows. I thought it handled itself well there, for all that you may have seen something similar somewhere else. The addition of the ocean city and the land city and their conflict and everything tying into a plot about change, feelings you can't control, and acceptance made things interesting.

( Spoilery comments under cut )

All around, a very good series, and I recommend giving it a try.

Convenient video with all op/ed (note: spoilers in the second op/ed): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9uMeTPWwVY

I keep forgetting to post here. Bleh. I'm mostly only active on tumblr now (http://brynne-lagaao.tumblr.com), and that's because it's way easier than putting together actual thoughts and making a journal post. I can just reblog pictures and videos and other people's commentary. It's so addicting.

Recently got into a fight with my sister, who said quite a few hurtful things. Some of them may have been true. I don't fit in with my family well - they're all into sports and other things that non-geeks enjoy, and they all socialize quite easily. I'm awkward and don't like large groups and find sports dull and really only like anime and gaming and books. As a result, they do many things together that I have no interest in joining them for, such as large gatherings with people I don't know and sporting events and other such things. They make trips out to Calgary over weekends to visit family when I know that I need to hole up and have down time away from people. I find being around groups of others mentally draining, even when it's with those closest to me, and I spend a lot of time alone or just with Cody.

I suppose she's right to say that's selfish of me, because in the end, it IS about what I want. I don't have a lot of energy any more, and I'm selfish. I want to spend that energy on me, and the things that make me happy. I suppose I will regret this one day, when I'm old and alone and have nothing left, but right now I can't see that far into the future. And right now I'm tired.

Anyway, the argument was over a trip to Hawaii for my Dad's 70th birthday. Two of my sisters want to surprise him and my mom with a family trip. The idea was that we would cover Mom and Dad's costs as well as our own. Cody wasn't keen on going to Hawaii, so we decided to pass (but still chip in for my parents' trip). This pissed my sister off, and hence the fight.

It was kind of a one-sided fight, to be honest - I just let her say what she wanted. Through emails. At work, too. I cried. It was pretty humiliating.

Haven't talked to her, or my other sisters, since.

With that mildly depressing shit out of the way, I'll say that I'm back reading fanfic like crazy again, and possibly even attempting to write some. I'm also trying to work on some original stuff, but inspiration is pretty sparse. In any case, the reading of fanfic is happening. A lot. I mean, there's a lot to read, it's awesome. This fandom is right at its peak right now, so... yeah. I mean, fuck yeah.

The fandom is Shingeki no Kyoujin (Attack on Titan) and I'm reading Marco/Jean stuff. Anyone who's seen the series past episode thirteen will understand what I mean when I say that I cry myself to sleep over these two. Luckily, there are many wonderful fanfic writers to ease the pain.

I'm also playing Rune Factory 4, which is moderately addicting as well. I think I'm just about finished the first arc of the story. We'll see how it goes.

Yup, I went and got a tumblr account, since a RL friend and my husband have one and why-the-hell-not-I'm-a-sheep.

If any of my friends in journal-land have a tumblr as well, let me know and I'll follow you.

Okay, seriously, Digimon fandom? This shit still matters? Really?

Besides, we all know that the true OTP of Adventure was Taichi/Yamato. The epilogue and any discussion around het pairings are all part of an elaborate cover-up, because the creators had to hide their true preference. And god knows we need the creators to state their intentions in order to validate our ships! Amirite?

In random other news, I'm thinking of maybe getting a tumblr. Anyone else active over there?

A very good article to read for anyone who might ever consider a vanity press in future to publish your writing (or if you know someone who might consider this option):
https://davidgaughran.wordpress.com/2013/05/04/the-author-exploitation-business/

Don't pay someone a pile of money ($5000!) to publish your work. You probably won't get enough of it back to make it worthwhile. It sounds like most people would probably have a better readership on the Internet for free. Sure, the readers don't pay you to read your work, but at least you don't have to pay someone to get your writing out there. FictionPress and Archive of Our Own can still get you some readers if you're worried about rejection. It's a better place to start than a vanity press, for sure.

Cody and I have officially graduated to the level of "ridiculous gaming nerds".

Why, you ask? We bought high-tech gaming headsets to play MMOs, so our in-game sounds wouldn't interfere with each other. Because the headsets are so good, we can't hear each other when we talk. So... our solution is to call each other on Skype.

Yup, that's right. Sitting a foot away from each other, talking on Skype.

Gotta love it.

In other news, I am going to try and write today! For the past year or two (maybe longer) I've had this idea in my head that I want to write. I haven't started it, but I've got a rough draft of how it'll go and I keep jotting down little details here and there, tweaking a few things, making it better. I feel I have a fairly firm grasp of who the characters are, even, and the things they struggle with.

However! I have made myself a rule. I am NOT writing this story yet. My #1 goal right now is to finish Game Over, and then Piece of a Legend. I know what is going to happen in both of these, and I want Shane's and Aaren's stories finished. I still have those in my head right now, pounding around and wanting out. I just haven't had the motivation to work on them.

Excuses, excuses. I am lazy. Game Over has a grand total of three more chapters after the one I'm about halfway through right now. Piece of a Legend has two and a half. And I adore my characters - I want proper resolution for them. I can do this. Not in one afternoon, obviously, but it's still doable.

After they're done, then they both still need re-writes and edits, but that part can probably wait a while.

Oh, and in dieting news, Cody has been MUCH healthier and happier, so the new plan helped! We're more or less adjusted and continuing to follow standards on our own after the 20 days, so both of us are feeling confident and (bonus) losing weight! I'm twelve pounds down after a month of this, and continuing to lose. I don't even really crave salty foods or candy that much any more. So, yay!

This is a post for two projects on Kickstarter that I just donated to, and which I thought I would pass along, in case more folks are interested and want to contribute.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1862188728/the-reward-tales-of-alethrion - I heard about this from maderr and would not have otherwise known, so I figure more exposure can only help! A really fun little animated short that they are trying to make into a series. I watched the short and thought it was great, so ended up donating.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1319761157/gtfo - A documentary on harassment of women in gaming. I've been interested in this topic for a while now, not because I've suffered any harassment myself (I've been lucky enough to game with some very awesome people), but because the problem is still very apparent (sites like 'Not in the Kitchen Anymore' and 'Fat, Ugly, or Slutty' provide proof of this) and yet there are so many people who are viciously adamant that it doesn't exist. Admitting there's a problem is the first step towards fixing it, right? More coverage really can't hurt.

I saw this on Facebook recent - a graphic with only the above question on it. 'Like' for yes, 'Comment' for no.

I'm too chickenshit to response directly to the friend who posted it (he's someone I work with who I do not know very well), so I will do so here.

Short answer: no. I cannot believe this question is even being asked any more. Not because I hate Christianity, or hate Christians. Religion is important to them, and I can respect that. However, this is a problematic request for a few reasons.

Canada is a multi-cultural country. This means that we have people of various races, with various beliefs, living as citizens here and raising their children. Many of them are not Christian, and will raise their children under a different religion (or under no religion). Having a Christian prayer in school will give those children the impression that 'this is the NORMAL religion and mine is weird or different'. Also, I am certain that the families in question consider their religion as important as Christians consider theirs. Privileging one over the other as if to say 'this one is BETTER' is not right (at the very least, we shouldn't put this attitude in the heads of impressionable children).

For the record, stating that 'well, it's OUR country, not theirs, they should adapt to our culture or GTFO' is so wrong that I don't even want to address it. However, even if it were true, the Christian religion is not a part of the Canadian culture.

I know that Christianity is the majority religion and that it's become sort of second nature for many Christians to normalize it as a part of (everyone's) every day life. But religion really isn't something that should be broadcast far and wide in everyone's faces as if we all were a part of it (or should be a part of it). The forced normalization of the Christian religion - it being in your face whether you like it or not, being pushed as something we all need to adopt - is the reason why there is why so many people have such a negative attitude towards the religion in general (well, that and the prejudices). It comes across as smugly self-righteous and rigidly controlling.

In reality, religion is a personal thing, and each person has the right to his/her own belief system. It's fine to be open about it, but to push it onto others as the 'normal' or 'right' thing is obnoxious.

So... yeah, no thanks. Keep it out of the public school system, okay?

http://unwinona.tumblr.com/post/30861660109/i-debated-whether-or-not-to-share-this-story

That is incredibly freaky. Holy shit.

So, Cody and I started watching Mirai Nikki, and basically put all other anime on hold while powering through that one.

Why? Same reason as the person who posted this video, pretty much.

Up until much later in the series, Yuno is by far the most interesting character in the whole thing. Not in a good way. In an omg-train-wreck-can't-stop-watching way.

Series contains many levels of psycho-ness and disturbing shit, including blood, gore, strongly implied rape, mass murder, and so much creepy stalker behaviour that it can't even be measured. Also, occasional moments of cutesy stuff? I... I don't understand, but this show does it. It's like "tee hee, they're on a date" and then "decaying bodies OMG!!!"

... I can't believe I like this shit, but holy fuck, it's good somehow.

In other news, snow is horrible and should be abolished. I've cleared my driveway twice already today and it's still going. I'm also making cookies, and tomorrow I'll be baking the usual cake for dessert on Monday. I have a week and a half off of work, thank god. That place is evil.

Looking forward to Christmas with the family!