Ask Kate

[katelynisspecial]

TU1 --

I've been great! A lot going on, but I'm having fun with life and trying new things, etc. Are you still dating that one girl? I can't even remember the last time we talked, man. I miss the late night voice chats =P

Yuuji --

No, I've never seen Ringu, but I want to! Young Asian girls with long black hair have started to seriously freak me out, between The Ring and The Grudge.

Yeah, I always wanted a horse! I've been wanting lessons since I was around 8, at which time I got on a waiting list for the barn, and never got in =/
But now we've finally gotten around to it, and I'm doing great! It's awesome to find something I'm actually good at. My sister struggles more, but I don't think she has as much confidence. If talents like that are genetic, I probably got it from my mom, her dad owned horses when she was growing up, and she rode a lot. She always comes to the lessons, and it's really helpful, in case the instructor is the next stall or something, and I need to remember which strap goes where on a halter.

Nakamura-sensei is AWESOME. He's from Osaka (I think!) and he's just hilarious. And really really nice and laid back, I wasn't expecting it. He doesn't expect us to use really high levels of politeness with him, and he even said we could call him Makoto, but I couldn't do that O_O
He's really good at teaching things, and answering questions, and changing things up to help us understand better. He really goes out of his way to make sure we have all the resources possible to help us. I was half expecting a strict, crotchety old man =P
Last night, it was hilarious. We were reading a dialogue, where Takeshi, a Japanese college student, was asking Mary, the foreign exchange student, what she did on Saturdays, getting around to asking her to go to the movies. And so he's explaining something grammatical, and all of a sudden he stops dead and goes, in his accented English (which made it funnier) "Is Takeshi... hitting on Mary?" And we all start cracking up and say yes, so he puts on this expression of shock, and goes "Bad boy!"
Maybe it's a 'had to be there' thing, but it was hilarious.

Mm, I'll have some of your curry =D
I hope that if I get that rice cooker it'll last for a long time! And I'm glad it'll make the sticky kind, that's the kind I want, to make onigiri, etc. I can easily make instant rice in a pot if I don't want it sticky.
My book came today! It's really cool. It covers both food art type things, such as apple bunnies:



To traditional foods such as pork cutlets (I forget the name in Japanese -- tonkatsu?), etc. And it limits itself to things easily found in regular stores, which is helpful. It's no gourmet book, but for a teen just beginning to cook that cuisine, it's great =)

I'll probably hold off on making more bento until I get my box, because the tupperware I tried using wasn't nearly as fun! I'm looking forward to having the bag with it, and chopsticks! Let me find a picture...



Kawaii desu ka?

I've been using Lunch in a Box: Building a Better Bento to help me with ideas for Western bentos, which are easier to do on a regular basis, living in America. It's a really neat blog, her son is lucky to have such cool lunches!

Also, I recieved my first Shuffle! DVD in the mail today. But listening to the English voices pained me a little bit. It just doesn't sound right to me. It's so much cuter in Japanese, I don't think they really knew the characters quite well enough when they chose the tones/pitches for the voice actors. Then again, I can't watch Fruits Basket in Japanese =P
I guess I just like whichever I see first, haha!

And, I got all of those pictures on Welcome to JBOX.com

It's really hard to not blow all my money on things =P

[Yuuji]

Originally Posted by katelynisspecial

Yuuji --

No, I've never seen Ringu, but I want to!

The only quick place I could find it are here:
(and I only believe these are the only parts required)

ringu_0.zip.0 - MegaDownload.net
ringu_0.zip.1 - MegaDownload.net

I believe all you need is parts 1 and 2. Unknown quality as I haven't downloaded it myself.
Also I only assume subtitles.

Young Asian girls with long black hair have started to seriously freak me out, between The Ring and The Grudge.

*hehs*
I can believe it.
Me....I just try not to watch that many of 'em.
(as I have never seen the Grudge)

Yeah, I always wanted a horse! I've been wanting lessons since I was around 8, at which time I got on a waiting list for the barn, and never got in =/

'for the barn' ??

But now we've finally gotten around to it, and I'm doing great!

Cool.

It's awesome to find something I'm actually good at.

*quirks an eyebrow*
I didn't realize you felt that way til now.

My sister struggles more, but I don't think she has as much confidence. If talents like that are genetic, I probably got it from my mom, her dad owned horses when she was growing up, and she rode a lot. She always comes to the lessons, and it's really helpful, in case the instructor is the next stall or something, and I need to remember which strap goes where on a halter.

Yeah...when your parents are actually, truly, knowledgeable about something - it helps a lot.

Otherwise, I know what part of my problem was with riding (and was also a problem with riding a bike) -- you might have a good set of abs (or at least can utilize them correctly.

Not until I actually met with student trainers up at the university, who then forced me to do specific exercises, did I realize how weak my transverse abdominis was.
http://www.ironworkout.com/abat.jpg
Transversus abdominis muscle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Therefore my upper and lower body never could work together as well, and when you start to gallup (or ride fast on a bike) you have to start 'standing up' in essence. And _core_ strength helps with that.

Nakamura-sensei is AWESOME. He's from Osaka (I think!)

*chuckles and thinks of Azamanga Daioh*

and he's just hilarious. And really really nice and laid back, I wasn't expecting it. He doesn't expect us to use really high levels of politeness with him,

Nice.

and he even said we could call him Makoto, but I couldn't do that O_O

Makoto???
That's the name from the lead character of El-Hazard...I would _soooo_ be tempted to call him with Ura's accent (the cat).

He's really good at teaching things, and answering questions, and changing things up to help us understand better. He really goes out of his way to make sure we have all the resources possible to help us. I was half expecting a strict, crotchety old man =P

Which, unfortunately, many College professors _are_.
But at least you'll be more prepared for them when you have to meet them.
In others words, you'll know its _them_ and not you - for the many trials the class will contain.

I am happy to hear that you are getting such a good first college class experience.

Last night, it was hilarious. We were reading a dialogue, where Takeshi, a Japanese college student, was asking Mary, the foreign exchange student, what she did on Saturdays, getting around to asking her to go to the movies.

I have seen/read many examples of such. They always, always, have to have foreign exhange students in there somewhere. I don't know why. They never have them in Spanish and French classes.

And so he's explaining something grammatical, and all of a sudden he stops dead and goes, in his accented English (which made it funnier) "Is Takeshi... hitting on Mary?" And we all start cracking up and say yes, so he puts on this expression of shock, and goes "Bad boy!"
Maybe it's a 'had to be there' thing, but it was hilarious.

No, that IS funny!!
I even LOLed here in the lab.

Then again, I have been in that type of situation, and I know exactly the type of accent you speak of.
I have met a few extroverted Japanese, and they have similar reactions, so I can easily imagine how that worked out. (especially the stopping dead, and false, over-the-top reactions).
What's even better is that part of him actually did NOT figure out the 'hitting on' part at first. So there was some truth in his reaction...but the rest of it is pure 'hamming' it up.

.......also I've always wondered myself about those 'invites'. They seem so innocent in the textbook...but really, the guy's hitting on the gaijin - period!

What's next, invite her out for tea? (which is the traditional hitting-on line in the Japan)

Mm, I'll have some of your curry =D

*Grins*
I'll try to arrange it to happen then.
So I'll have to feed 7 instead of 6. That shouldn't be too hard.

I hope that if I get that rice cooker it'll last for a long time! And I'm glad it'll make the sticky kind, that's the kind I want, to make onigiri, etc. I can easily make instant rice in a pot if I don't want it sticky.

All things considered, if those rice cookers have the same quality as they used to -- then all your desires about it should come true (life expectancy, stickiness, etc.)

My book came today! It's really cool. It covers both food art type things, such as apple bunnies:

Now those are cute!
*thinks* How many cuts are required?
They look simple enough, in the fact that it will only take practice to get them right, no special tools required.

To traditional foods such as pork cutlets (I forget the name in Japanese -- tonkatsu?), etc. And it limits itself to things easily found in regular stores, which is helpful. It's no gourmet book, but for a teen just beginning to cook that cuisine, it's great =)

*laughs*
What's the ISBN?
I only re-learned how to brown meat 6 months ago.
I'm basically have to restart myself.

I'll probably hold off on making more bento until I get my box, because the tupperware I tried using wasn't nearly as fun! I'm looking forward to having the bag with it, and chopsticks! Let me find a picture...

The bags do not always come with it. So I'm glad you are getting one.
Querry: is that the exact one you'll be getting?

And yeah, it is more fun when you have something real to use it, even if technically a piece of tupperware can accommodate the same, it's just not the same.
Same-jinai!

Kawaii desu ka?

It is cute.

Attack of the Cherries!

How many compartments does it have inside?

I've been using Lunch in a Box: Building a Better Bento to help me with ideas for Western bentos, which are easier to do on a regular basis, living in America. It's a really neat blog, her son is lucky to have such cool lunches!

*scans over it*

It is neat.
Especially the part about the 'edible glue'.
I never thought of how the Japanese keep it all together, other then cramming it tight.

I will admit though, one must enjoy cooking a bit to do it. Like you read/see in anime, you have to wake up early to make 'em.
Even though I have cooked more for myself in the past year, then in the past 10...there are days I just don't have the time, and in goes the Swanson meal into the micro.

!!!
I just remembered:
If you don't already have a bento coming in (although I bet you do), you probably can buy one at Ohayocon.
Probably not a great selection though, but it's possible.

Also, I recieved my first Shuffle! DVD in the mail today. But listening to the English voices pained me a little bit. It just doesn't sound right to me. It's so much cuter in Japanese, I don't think they really knew the characters quite well enough when they chose the tones/pitches for the voice actors.

True.
And in the old days, they NEVER chose the tones and pitches correctly. Which is why us 'old timers' hated dubs. They sucked like crazy.

I got to talk to a couple once, and back then they were hired, given no information about their characters at all, and just thrown in a booth...alone...and they read lines for a few weeks.
I mean, they weren't even given copies of the _original_ Japanese show to practice on!
That's why most of us were so happy with the first Ghost in the Shell movie, and Macross Plus -- because the companies actually got the voice actors in to the same room, AND coached them before hand.

I wonder why the slip up with Shuffle?

BTW, can't you just turn on the Japanese and subs?

[Yuuji]

(((my post was too long again, so he's the rest of it))))

Then again, I can't watch Fruits Basket in Japanese =P
I guess I just like whichever I see first, haha!

*hehs*
I can believe how that happens.
Because although I hear the voices for Fruits Basket wasn't bad, I still completely only identify with the Japanese voices.

.....hmmm.
Say, have you told your teacher about your enjoyment that way? That you rather hear certain things only in Japanese? I bet he'd enjoy hearing you say that (some pride, y'know?)
Sometimes Japanese think us Americans are better then we think we are. Admittedly we have over 1000% more land mass then them, and 270% more population...but we aren't this mythical race. Some of us are that conceited, but not most. Let alone we actually like things that are non-English.

And, I got all of those pictures on Welcome to JBOX.com

Holy Cow!
See what happens when I stop paying attention??
I know I saw sites like that before, but they never last and are much, much smaller.
That site is impressive.

It's really hard to not blow all my money on things =P

*grins*
Welcome to another problem of adulthood.

Can you say: Debt?
Car Loans?
Mortgages?

If you learn the lessons now, and can budget, you are _sooooo_ far ahead of so many other Americans.

[TheUnforgiven1]

No Kate I am not dating that girl anymore, her name was Lisa lol. I am going out with a girl Kadie, which might change soon idk.. and if it does, I will go out with this one girl, Katie lol. At least if I am ever with Katie and I say Kadie, it will sound the same =p jk jk, but yea, idk... it all depends, I will explain more later if we talk. I still got my headset, sooooo if u ever wanna recapture those late night voice chats lol, lemme know lol.

[Zelor.eXe]

Originally Posted by TheUnforgiven1

No Kate I am not dating that girl anymore, her name was Lisa lol. I am going out with a girl Kadie, which might change soon idk.. and if it does, I will go out with this one girl, Katie lol. At least if I am ever with Katie and I say Kadie, it will sound the same =p jk jk, but yea, idk... it all depends, I will explain more later if we talk. I still got my headset, sooooo if u ever wanna recapture those late night voice chats lol, lemme know lol.

I have something that far surpasses yahoo chat, costs me $5 a month but its well worth it, if you post again I'll tell you what it is and how to set it up if you are interested. (it takes no more than 2 minutes to dl/setup, honest, and its free to you, only I myself have to pay for the server to host it).

[TakeMeForCola]

Originally Posted by Zelor.eXe

I have something that far surpasses yahoo chat, costs me $5 a month but its well worth it, if you post again I'll tell you what it is and how to set it up if you are interested. (it takes no more than 2 minutes to dl/setup, honest, and its free to you, only I myself have to pay for the server to host it).

...keep talking

or was this refering to tu1 more

bah skypes is going okm for me :P

kateisspecial i always loved that name! your not just kate YOUR special

lol how are you anyway? i don't think we have ever spoken O.o meh

[katelynisspecial]

Yuuji --

Thanks for the Ringu links! I'll have to watch them once I get the chance.

Yes, I got my bento box! I've made a few lunches, I do it the night before when I have time. We have a microwave at my school, but I try to mostly pack things that don't need to be heated or frozen, and can be eaten at room temperature. It's really fun.
The cherry bento box I got has two tiers, the upper one has a divider.
Here are some pictures, the first two bentos are ones I made in tupperware before my actual bento box arrived:

This is the first, kind of pathetic one where I was experimenting.

One half, with meatballs, broccoli, mandarin oranges, and space for the cream puff I put in in the morning.



The other half, white rice with spices and a heart made of edamame beans:



And when I learned more about spacing and packing tightly:



Turkey/lettuce/cheese wrap, orange slices, pasta salad (I had a side container with italian dressing), cherry tomatoes, mini cornbread muffins, a hard boiled egg with a face, and two pieces of candy. Yeah, yeah, bentos typically don't include desserts, but whatever. =P

Then, my one in my new bento box, which isn't elaborate as I threw it together in like 5 minutes top, I was tired.



Chicken salad, little rolls to put it on, grapes, and after I took the picture I added a few grape tomatoes and cheese cubes. Simple, but delicious =D

Sorry the pics are huge, I'm WAY too lazy to resize tonight.

TU1 --

Haha, that's lucky about the new girlfriend and possible girlfriend. I'd definitely like to voice chat again, listen to Zelor when he says he has a really cool way to do it! I got a new headset recently, you should help us break it in!

TakeMeForCola --

Yeah, I don't believe we've met! Nice to meet you =)
And I'm sure you're free to join our voice chats too!
I quite like my username as well, it started as a joke, now it's really
taken off to be my trademark =P

[TakeMeForCola]

Originally Posted by katelynisspecial

TakeMeForCola --

Yeah, I don't believe we've met! Nice to meet you =)
And I'm sure you're free to join our voice chats too!
I quite like my username as well, it started as a joke, now it's really
taken off to be my trademark =P

hehe yea it is quite special :P
i just got a new headset aswell just left home for college couple months back so i use it to talk to family and freinds on skype however thats the only connection thing i know what to do with the head set xD i would try connect it to warcaft but its all quite confusing :P i see you have an interest in food arts? are you taking that in college (if you are in college) or school? i'm currently taking my medics diploma and all that docter malarky in london atm allot of work :S all work no fun sometimes

so what are your interests? you seem to be quite a unique person and sometimes unique people are the most interesting people :P

well write back coal

[Zelor.eXe]

tmfc: click here: Ventrilo - Surround Sound Voice Communication Software


thats the program, easy as cake to setup, fun to use, currently mine is used for chatting with certain online friends, as well a friend of mine uses it for chatting with fellow gamers on this game he plays, I also have a music room setup for people who are brave enough to play for others, I am one of them, I like it.


It's room based like irc, but not confusing like it, lol, it also has a global text chat option, global = everyone on the serer can use it, everyone = everyone that I tell about mine, lol.


If you want to use it let me know and I'll pm you the details.

[GerLad5262]

Hey, What's Up?

I'm New Here

I wanted to know if you had to post three times every day in order to download anime