March 21st, 2006 09:40 hours CST
Currently listening to: "Icing Sugar" by The Cure
Feeling: good
Flying to Yuka in: 9 days

Ok, I'm officially ready for spring. It's 25 degrees outside and windy as hell. I need to be on my scooter. I'm picking up the scooter carrier this weekend that my parents got me for my birthday. If I have the time, I'm gonna take my scooter in and get it tuned up while I'm in Japan. I have lots of things to do this weekend. Gotta get travel stuff, those vacuum bags for packing clothes (they really do work), get shirts dry cleaned, get coffee for Yuka's mom. I got a cool photo of the Chicago skyline for Yuka's parents to hang on the wall of their restaurant. I also found a Chicago travel guide in Japanese.

The show on Saturday was excellent. I was a little worried because the bill was kind of split 50/50, but we had a great crowd once again and met some cool people. Hung out with Greg, Dan and Johnny at the bar downstairs while the last 2 bands did their thing. Oh, and on a note of etiquette.... it's NOT cool to leave your cars parked in the loading area of Double Door while you go in and sound check for an hour.

I had Dave, DJ and Keith over for some games on Friday night. we hadn't done that in a long time. It was fun. Dave and I ordered delivery from Kite. I'm so excited that there's a Japanese restaurant that delivers to my area!!! The unagidon was good and we ordered so much food that they threw in a free miso soup. Score. I got to show Dave Pikmin, Shadow of the Colossus and God of War before DJ and Keith showed up. We then switched to Burnout Revenge and *sigh* Halo 2. I think I'm truly burnt out on Halo 2.

I spent most of Sunday completely hung over and on the couch with whiskey sweats. Yeah, I know it's glamorous. Chris had crashed on my couch as we got in around 3 or 4 AM. He ducked out around noon, I think. I managed to get a shower just in time to get in my truck and head over to John's. Dave and DJ came over and we snacked on shrimp, wine and cheese and then ordered a kickass pizza. We watched Layer Cake, which Dave and DJ had not seen. That movie is excellent.

Yuka found an awesome chat client called Ineen. We tried it last night and it's awesome. We haven't been able to get out cams to work over AIM in months. This thing is pretty cool. It's like looking at a complex phone with video options. Awesome.

March 9th, 2006 10:56 hours CST
Currently listening to: "The Time We Lost Our Way" by Thievery Corporation
Feeling: good
Flying to Yuka in: 21 days

Things have been good. I've gone to the gym 3 times already this week. I'll go again tonight, but probably not tomorrow. I'm seeing Cory play in a band called Hope and Ghosts tonight and I'll likely end up drinking. Hangover + Friday = no workout for me.

5 new DVD's this week. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Cowboy Bebop Remixes volumes 3 and 4, Ghost In The Shell 2nd Gig volumes 2 and 3. My weekend is going to kick ass. I finally watched 3 Extremes. "Dumplings" was excellent. I haven't yet watched the feature film version, but the short version is already good. Bai Ling is downright creepy with how unaffected she is with these ingredients of hers. "Cut" started out amazing, but got boring very quickly. Too bad the vampire flick that they were filming wasn't the main story for this. "The Box" wasn't at all scary, but has the best art direction I've seen in a long time. It was like watching a Redmoon Theater horror movie. The scene where Kyoko is in costume while standing in the snow as the people walk by is absolutely beautiful.

March 6th, 2006 15:20 hours CST
Currently listening to: "Haunted Days" by Trembling Blue Stars
Feeling: good
Flying to Yuka in: 25 days

I went crazy bonkers clothes shopping on Saturday. It was awesome. Lisa picked me up and we met with Seals at The Davis Theater to see Ultraviolet. I didn't want to see this movie at all, but it was only $5 and John insisted. Yeah, it was crap. We walked down Lincoln to Tank, this great sushi place that has half priced maki rolls on Saturdays from 1-7 PM. Stuffed myself.

I had amassed $175 in Banana Republic gift cards, so we hit there first. Stopped by Crate & Barrel so I could get a french press for Yuka's mom. We then went to the Paul Frank store and also American Apparel. It had been a long time since I had gone clothes shopping. My bonus kicked in the same day as my paycheck, so I had to get some new duds. I stopped by the video store later and then hung out at Lisa's watching Clash of the Titans and Kentucky Fried Movie.

Sunday was pretty laid back. Band practice was good. It snowed about 2 inches that day. Really looked pretty, but the roads sucked. I watched Candyman last night. I forgot how creepy that movie is and it's mostly because of the film score. Philip Glass did a hell of a job with that. I had also forgotten that it all took place at Chicago's lovely Cabrini Green housing project.

That's about it. In an effort to postpone reading the 6th Harry Potter book, I've started playing Pikmin 2 again. Trouble is, I'm good at it and it's not taking long to finish. The 4th Harry Potter DVD comes out tomorrow and I shall be heading straight to Tower on my lunch break to get it. Hopefully band practice will be canceled. :P

March 3rd, 2006 09:40 hours CST
Currently listening to: "William It Was Really Nothing" by The Smiths
Feeling: headachy but good
Flying to Yuka in: 27 days

I switched computers at work and just now got around to installing some HTML software. Sorry 'bout that.

My secret project has been going very well. Bwahahahahah

My external hard drive should arrive today. I can finally get the Peoria, Blowin' Cool and Airiel EP files from David. The emancipation of Airiel data begins this weekend. Got myself a shiny new 60 gig iPod as well. I'm downloading some software this weekend that will let me rip DVD's to mp4, so I can put them on the iPod. That's gonna rock for the trip to Japan.

I've read the first 5 Harry Potter books in two months. I'm deliberately not reading the 6th one yet so I have something to read on the plane. I have to admit I got very used to staying in and reading and also reading on the train. It's hard not to do it now. Of course, I'll have to wait even longer for the 7th book to come out, but whatever. Goblet of Fire comes out on DVD Tuesday. Gonna copy all of the DVD's so Yuka can watch them.

Went down to Bloomington to see my parents last weekend. Nice weekend. Mom and I did some shopping and the three of us went to see Mrs. Henderson Presents. It was really good. Pretty much exactly what I thought it would be. Judy Dench and Bob Hoskins do a very good job together. Stopped by Landlocked Music to sell some airiel CD's on consignment. My dear friend Heath is running that store. You should check it out.

Not sure what all is going on this weekend. I think John, Lisa and I are seeing Ultraviolet and then going for half priced sushi. Then Lisa and I are hitting the Paul Frank store. I really need some new clothes.