Ask Kate

[katelynisspecial]

So France, we spent most of our time in either Paris or Nice.
I adored Nice, it was a lot like Heidelberg, kind of quaint. But Paris was dirty and huge and busy and way too much like America, not like I imagined Europe to be like. However, I still enjoyed it.

My sister and I in front of this.. I forgot what it's called =/:


In front of the MOULIN ROUGE! I was soooo excited, walking through the red light district at night to get here was crazy fun:


This is our group at Versailles:


My sister and I in front of Notre Dame:


And the Eiffel Tower:


And the Louvre:


This is on the top floor of a giant shopping center... something like Lafayette. And it's next to an important theater/opera house/something like that, it's hard to remember all the names:


My sister and I on top of the Eiffel Tower:


And swam in the rocky Mediterranean (I'm in the red bikini, laying on my stomach):


And we stopped by a cool old castle in Avignon:


Monaco next =D

[katelynisspecial]

Then Monaco, we only spent like.. two or three hours there.

I'll make an exception for this amazing view:


And my sister and I:


Spain in the next post =]

[katelynisspecial]

In Spain, we actually went clubbing one night. This kid fell asleep SOMEHOW, so I took a picture:


We went to a few points overlooking the city, this was Barcelona, but we also went to Madrid.


Crazy fantastic Edward Scissorhands impersonator:


And we went to a bull fighting stadium:


And got to hold the flags:


SO yeah. If you have questions, or want more non-people pictures I took, let me know. Sorry there are so many already =P

Oh, also.. I cut my hair =D



I looooove it.

[Yuuji]

Originally Posted by katelynisspecial

Wow, hey.
I got your email.
As usual, been busy. School started, etc.
Yeah, that was just with a basic point and shoot digital camera.

I can fully believe.
Thank you for the hint via email to come back to look here. My job here at the University had become more hectic due to lack of funding.
Even tired I had to put in an additional 4 hours that were not expected.
Happy. Happy. Joy. Joy.

I'm currently considering doing a K-ON! cosplay, as it's not licensed, but getting so popular most hardcore fans should recognize it.
I wanna be Mio, and we'd do their costumes from the end sequence.
(She's the one with the long black hair.)

Oh!
Ironically enough, the group on Friday just watched the final 2 episodes of K-on, so I definitely know the character! (and can understand why in the closing she sings with so little facial expression)

If you are going to Cosplay, may I ask where?
Also last Friday (since it was the last day to pre-reg for the cheapest price) 3 of us signed up for Ohayocon again.

It's funny seeing how the two other members, who's first con was last year's Ohayocon, are now acting like 'seasoned veterans' in deciding their plans.

YouTube - けいおん！[K-ON!] ED - {HD}

I actually like this song.
Didn't know someone put up a unedited version. Thx.

Okay so pictures. Finally uploaded them. First off, a few from Germany.
I took tons of architecture, etc pictures,

*nods*
I finally showed my Japanese videos, and I was surprised that the group actually did want to see all the time spent at historical landmarks (but their favorite was still the 8 story Animate building)

but I'll just post the ones with people in them to keep it interesting, as you can see anything else using google if you wanted =P

*hehs*

We landed in Munich, and spent a couple of days there before moving on to Heidelburg. I loved Germany, it was gorgeous and everyone was so friendly.
However, it rained quite a bit.

*nods* Can never stop the weather.

BTW, was there anything in the air that told you that you weren't in Ohio anymore?
I found the air in the Kanto (Tokyo) region was just different. Lighter, smoother, but not as rich either.

Here is a friend and I at dinner one night:

Ah, this was still the school trip, right?
Because later on your sister is there too!
1) I had no idea your sister went with you.
2) She looks completely different from the older pictures stored here at quarrel.
3) I fear what your brother might look like now.

My sister and I at a castle, overlooking Heidelberg.

Heidelberg???
*blinks*
....you're gonna make me google it, aren't you?
Heidelberg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Inside the castle walls:

Ah, a real German castle, eh?
What century, I wonder...

In front of a fountain thing:

Oh, nice shot.
I wonder if the water is blue, or was the bottom of the pool blue?

I just figured to ask: Who is taking the picture?

And about fountains, I sometimes forget that some of them are 100's of years old (figuring on the use of electrical pumps).
The engineering of pressure via gravity is quite facinating.

In a German restaurant for lunch, with the regular customers' beer glasses stored behind us:

Wow.
1) I didn't realize that they would store someone's glass like that. And that it wasn't just a rack for display.
2) how did you find out it was for the regular's?
3) Be careful of German bear, it has 4x (or thereabout) higher alcohol content then American beer. When my father served in Germany in the 50's (and around your age), he drank a six pack --- on the way back to the Barracks he wondered why German roads waved back and forth and didn't remain stationary.

4) Oh yeah, being a consumate of Japanese faire, what did you eat at that restuarent?

On a strange child's playground rocking horse thing in the middle of a shopping district:

*hehs*
A strange 3 seater to be sure...but unless I knew it was Germany, I wouldn't have been able to tell the difference between that and an American mall.

And lastly, me pointing to the Japanese writing on an ice cream sign in Heidelberg =D:

*ROTFL!*
Oh that is priceless!!
I would never have expected to see such a thing there...
(the Greek and Italian, sure....the asian languages, not so much.

Now, did you get to try any of it?

I'll do France/Monaco in the next post.

Rgr that.

[Yuuji]

Originally Posted by katelynisspecial

So France, we spent most of our time in either Paris or Nice.
I adored Nice, it was a lot like Heidelberg, kind of quaint. But Paris was dirty and huge and busy and way too much like America, not like I imagined Europe to be like. However, I still enjoyed it.

*blinks*
Wow, never heard of Paris described that way, though I believe you.
Probably because most people who brag about going, rather not tell the truth of their conquest.
(Since I have little interest, especially since I rather go back to Japan first, I probably never go Europe in my life. Or any other continent for that matter)

My sister and I in front of this.. I forgot what it's called =/:

Me neither.
That domed architecture looks more arabian then french.
So I truly wonder what it is.

In front of the MOULIN ROUGE! I was soooo excited, walking through the red light district at night to get here was crazy fun:

*blinks!*
That place exists in reality??
I thought it was only in a book/movie/etc!

And the red light district...er...I sure hope you didn't walk through it alone.
I mean, even at my age, I have no desire walking through Tokyo's red light distict: _ever_.
But perhaps with a group it's more fun...and safe.

This is our group at Versailles:

Sign any treaties there?

That's a lot of gold-painted architexture there.
I wonder what it's original purpose of the place was?

In all seriousness, it almost looks like you are on a Hollywood movie set.

My sister and I in front of Notre Dame:

I don't see any fighting Irish!!

...then again, that's the _real_ Notre Dame.
Hmmm, cannot fully get a sense of scale, as I cannot see it's foundation through the people. It almost looks smaller then I would have thought.

Were you able to hear it's bells?

And the Eiffel Tower:

Sweet
Just, sweet.

And the Louvre:

Wow.
You hit the landmarks alright.

Were you able to go inside the Louvre though?

This is on the top floor of a giant shopping center... something like Lafayette. And it's next to an important theater/opera house/something like that, it's hard to remember all the names:

*nods* I can believe you about all the names.
But at first I thought the center was built into that landmark!
I bet the center is a much more modern building now

I also like how the photographer was able to get the Eiffel Tower into the background.
It makes for a real good effect, and perspective.

My sister and I on top of the Eiffel Tower:

*ENVY*'nuff said.

And swam in the rocky Mediterranean (I'm in the red bikini, laying on my stomach):

On one hand, getting to do something like that does create a memory.

On the other hand.....didn't that _hurt_?
Rocks and skin doesn't usually work very well, that's why I'm a fan of aqua socks when going to something like a beach or lake these days.

And how was the water?
Cleaner then expected? Warm? Cold?

And we stopped by a cool old castle in Avignon:

Oh sweet, now we are talking about what a castle should look like!
....if you are still a male, military, medieval buff like me, that is.

Avignon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wait, so is that castle the 'palace of the papacy'?

[Monaco next =D

Oops, now I have to go and google Monaco...I have completely forgotten where it is in Europe.

Ahhh, I see.
Stuck between southern/east France and Italy apparently.

[Yuuji]

Originally Posted by katelynisspecial

Then Monaco, we only spent like.. two or three hours there.

*nods*
I can understand. I had never realized it was basically a city-state, let alone a constitutional monarchy.
Monaco - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Almost surreal to have visited an old country, which is smaller then Rhode Island!

I'll make an exception for this amazing view:

Niiiiiiice.

You, of course, own one of those boats, right?

And my sister and I:
ah, I can see what Wikipedia was talking about: how densely packed the country is.

I mean, even Japan doesn't have apartment complexes (outside of Tokyo proper) that tall/big.

And am I imagining things, or is there vegetation (trees, bushes, etc) on TOP of some of those buildings to the right? ...and hell, to the left too.

Spain in the next post =]

Am I getting frequent flier miles for this?
...on to Spain!

[Yuuji]

[quote]

Originally Posted by katelynisspecial

In Spain, we actually went clubbing one night. This kid fell asleep SOMEHOW, so I took a picture:

????
So did you even know the kid at all?

And what is the definition of 'clubbing' these days?
(both to what constitutes a club, and what do you do at these places these days)

We went to a few points overlooking the city, this was Barcelona, but we also went to Madrid.

Ah, I mostly know Barcelona through Freddie Mercury singing there, and the song.

Crazy fantastic Edward Scissorhands impersonator:

In Spain????
Were you even alive when that movie came out?
I wonder what prompted him to do it...
But you are right, he did a good job.
Did he also get the character down?

And we went to a bull fighting stadium:

Did I mention my sign is Taurus?
Ergo, I have a naturally reaction against those places.
Unless we get to stick it to the Matador where the sun don't shine.

On a more academic side, I wonder how old that stadium is.

And got to hold the flags:

They even come in pink? (these are the capes, right?)

And how heavy were they? And were they weighted at the ends?

SO yeah. If you have questions, or want more non-people pictures I took, let me know. Sorry there are so many already =P

Well, I think I responded to them all, and asked many questions.
And I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Thank you.

Since there were so many places you went to, then I can only ask for one thing: More pictures of your _favorite_ part of the trip.

Just what caught your interest the most.

Oh, also.. I cut my hair =D
I looooove it.

*looks at the picture above*
*looks at the now picture*

Ah-ha, you went shoulder-length!

Is that a natural long curl that's framing your face? Or did you have to work it to get that effect?

And is it true, what they say, that it's much cooler to wear? (meaning temperature on the back of the neck)

[katelynisspecial]

I got your email, I've just been... ARGH. Colleges applications, college classes, high school classes, work for both, my job, babysitting regularly, clubs, everything else I have to do.

To keep my sanity, I've been keeping a blog for the last week and a half. Trying it again.
The Kate Files
Why can I write there but not respond to anything else regularly?
No freaking idea.

Tell me about dressing up for the con?!
I'm excited already, I was thinking about it the other day.
I probably won't cosplay, I don't know when I'll have the time for that.

In other news, I got my senior pics back.
These are obviously before I cut my hair.









Sorry again for the not replying. It seems that between facebook and penpalling and now the blog, there's only so much I can keep updated =P
But don't forget me!

[Yuuji]

Originally Posted by katelynisspecial

I got your email, I've just been... ARGH. Colleges applications, college classes, high school classes, work for both, my job, babysitting regularly, clubs, everything else I have to do.

Agreed.
There have been some solid changes in my life lately, and it's definitely keeping me busy.

But when I realized that I'll be at Ohayocon this weekend, and I believe you will be as well, that I haven't spoken to you in some time.

Did my Xmas, New Years, and I believe a third email arrive?

To keep my sanity, I've been keeping a blog for the last week and a half. Trying it again.
The Kate Files
Why can I write there but not respond to anything else regularly?
No freaking idea.

*chuckles*
I'll need to go read it soon.
Just the backlog...*sigh*
I actually started packing a week ago, but only 2/3 done, with only 4 hours free tomorrow to do the rest AND 3 more important errands.

Tell me about dressing up for the con?!
I'm excited already, I was thinking about it the other day.
I probably won't cosplay, I don't know when I'll have the time for that.

I had to drop my plans as well.
Though I do plan to help hold a prop for two others of my group that will be cosplaying....that is, if they finish the prop in time.
We'll see.

In other news, I got my senior pics back.
These are obviously before I cut my hair.

Your pics are much, much more professional then anything offered to me back then (the staircase). Heck, the big thing was a type of 'photoshop' thing to get rid of blemishes and the like.

Otherwise.....headshot, that's about it.

Sorry again for the not replying. It seems that between facebook and penpalling and now the blog, there's only so much I can keep updated =P
But don't forget me!

*nods*
Time got scarce, didn't it?

Now does it make a little more sense that your parents didn't seem to keep their act straight at times?
Doesn't forgive them, especially if they screwed up, just more a long the lines -- do you see the time trap? And can you avoid it unlike your folks?

Otherwise for me, will try to email again.

I hope you've been receiving the ones I've been sending.

Take care, and perhaps see you this weekend.