Friday, September 17, 2010

In my time as a Videographer...

I've been able to see some amazing people. Stephen and I were discussing the list and I'm a bit shocked at the amount of people I've seen. Some I've met, some I've seen up close and personal, some I actually filmed doing a skit for the Alamo, some I got a picture with, and some were seeing as I passed by. It's always fun to spot a celeb, but some actually are cool as shit.

Robert Downey Jr.
John Favreau
Dolph Lundgren
Mike White
Sam Rockwell
Jermaine Clement
Paul Rudd
Ethan Hawke
Nick Stahl
Val Kilmer
Jared Leto
Julie Delpy
Elijah Wood
Charlie Hunnam
Claire Forlani
Bruce Campbell
Kieran Culkan
Emma Stone
Sydney Pollock
James Cromwell
Francis Ford Coppolla 
David Bowie
Seth Rogan
Danny Mcbride
Anna Farris
Woody Harrelson
Jesse Eisenberg 
Jonah Hill
Michael Rapaport
Michael Angarano
Patton Oswalt 
Zach Galifianakis
David Cross
John C. Reilly
Matthew McConaughey
Rory Cochrane
Jason London
Joey Lauren Adams
Parker Posey
William Fichtner
Juliet Lewis
Eli Roth
Sean William Scott
Michael Showalter
Michael Ian Black
David Wain
Sam Raimi
Will Patton
Tom Six
Judd Apatow
Luke Wilson
Andrew Wilson
Dax Shepard
Duncan Jones
Martin Starr
That's  all I can remember at the moment... I'll add on as I remember more.

Saturday, September 4, 2010

The generation of the misinformed

Ugh. I never felt the urge to publicly show how much I actually listen to girly music and follow this pop culture stuff. But, I'm tired of reading this crap. 

Dear misinformed young female generation,
Kylie Minogue is not trying to be Lady Gaga. Christina Aguilera is not trying to be Lady Gaga. Madonna is not trying to be Lady Gaga. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD AND ALL THAT IS HOLY, FU**ING LOOK AT DAVID BOWIE and maybe something will click? Lady Gaga is simply taking all her styles from the aforementioned artists and incorporating them into her style. If anything, she's copying David Bowie and Madonna more than ANYONE. Her name is even from Radio Gaga by Queen. Do you even know who Queen are?? Yeah, I thought you didn't. End of discussion.

I just watched a new video by Kylie Minogue and I saw some stupid fight in the comments below the video about how Kylie freakin' Minogue is copying Lady Gaga. Really? Uh, because Kylie only had a career when Miss Gaga was in diapers. C'mon, Madonna bra cones making a second appearance in the fucking strange Alejandro video? Who's copying who? The lightning bolt across Gaga's face in a one of her photoshoots? Who is that from? Yeah, the original Mr. David Bowie. Those platform crazy shoes? Have you seen any David Bowie footage of his earlier years? Jesus. If I hear in my lessons "I like Lady Gaga because she's so original and unique" one more time, I'm going to break out my Aladdin Sane album and smash it in their face. When I ask these girls, Do you know who David Bowie is? and I get blank stares, it's just a palm to the face....and moving on. Sigh. 

It's definitely apparent the division of age is getting worse and I am feeling too old at just 27. This is pathetic. 

End pointless rant

Friday, August 20, 2010

All in due time

I decided to catch back up on the 365 because even though the catch up images lack in imagination and much effort, it felt like I needed to complete it. It was a goal and I can't be leaving goals just hanging.

I'm not going to bother posting all the images one by one on here so here they are at my flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/g00nie9183/

So, I'm catching all that up and I go back to work tomorrow after a 2 week paid vacation from ECC. Honestly, those 2 weeks were long. It went by fairly fast, yet at the same time, extremely slow. I'm happy to get back to work and I'm sure within a few weeks time, I'll be complaining about needing a break.

I get an MRI on my neck on the 27th because of the numbness in my pinky and ring finger on my left hand. The neurologist believes that has something to do with the nerves in my neck, yet she didn't really approach my back numbness at all. Who knows. I went in originally about my out of control migraines, but somehow was treated for my numb fingers. I hope this isn't a sign of things to come when going to see doctors in Japan.

I'm a bit frustrated with a few things going on in my life and in my own personal struggles. I have these big dreams and wants that conflict with reality. I want to travel to see other parts of the world, but I don't want to do it alone. I want someone else to share it with. A friend, family member, or my boyfriend. Yet, my boyfriend seems content traveling to Canada for his short film that he already traveled there for before, but won't consider traveling to anywhere else to see his girlfriend. I mean, I'd love to see New Zealand. I know he does too. But, is he willing to meet me there? Probably not.

My family is not well off. So, the idea of one of them coming to see me during Christmas probably won't happen.
I'm lonely.
My training group is very split up between the cities, so seeing one another costs someone an amount of money. It also seems that groups who live closer together, obviously hang out together more. It's only logical considering they live within a distance that they don't have to worry about staying out all night or taking the last train home which cuts off around midnight.

Things are taking time to adjust to. A lot of time. It's my first time being on my own. I'm living alone as well as completely alone when it comes to friends within the area. (I mean Kyoto)

This isn't a I'M SO HAPPY I'M IN JAPAN post because it's not. It's reality. I AM happy I'm here, but I'm dealing with the shit that comes with uprooting yourself away from your family and friends to try and do something interesting with your life.
Ugh. I'm tired of writing because I seem to be just rambling and come off more and more negative. I think it has more to do that I just ended a conversation not so positively a bit ago and it's rubbing off in my blog.

So, here's til whenever I write in here again.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Still here

It's been a while since I've written. Things have been going along and it's been quite a mix of emotions. I love exploring the new things and new places around me, but geez, that homesickness really can take a toll. Yes, I've been here one month so it's not exactly very cool to know that only after a month I'm yearning for home.
The answer to why is pretty apparent. I miss my boyfriend and my dog. (yes, my family too) But, the dynamic of my relationship with my boyfriend and my pup are a bit more intense I guess. I miss them like crazy. I'm pretty alone out here in Kyoto because not many teachers are placed here. Most are in Osaka, so it's easy for them to get together and keep up the friendships. It's harder on me and my wallet to do so.
I'm also a little nervous when it comes to going to bars or places like that by myself.
It's a thing I just simply have to get over, but when you aren't exactly a drinker to just get drunk (I'm the social kind) I tend to avoid those areas.
Kyoto is amazing. It's fucking hot, but it's still great. When the cooler temperatures arrive, I will be outside as much as possible. The sun simply makes visiting certain places miserable.

So, I've got about 1 month more of this heat and hopefully that means I can enjoy Japan a bit more and maybe have this homesickness subside some.

I have a lot of photos being uploaded over on my facebook and some on my flickr. I'm sure there is a link to my flickr on here. Nobody reads this thing anyways.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

This is the end, beautiful friend


After a lot of thought, I've decided to end my 365 early. Yeah, I know. BOOOO. HISSSS. Failure... bla bla bla. But, the way things have been going, it hasn't exactly been very easy to keep it up. I enjoyed all the awesomeness I had in the States, but I'd rather take photos for fun over here rather than in obligation. So, here's to the 322 photos I did get in. I'd say it was a good run.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

322/365


Diamond Dogs, Aladdin Sane, Young Americans...

I found a small store where to find some awesome band tees today. This one I could not pass up.

Monday, July 19, 2010

321/365


Hello sunset.

320/365


Oh, textures, I've missed you.

319/365


I found a pretty big river that is easy access from my apartment. It's really beautiful during sunsets. Sorry for the lame repetition of photos though. Playing catch up has really been lacking in imagination. 

318/365


Grocery shopping...oohhhhh soooo exciting. I took the good ol' bike to the foreign food market and picked up some food that I'm desperately missing. *ahem cheese*
4 more days of training to go and then I get thrown straight into it on Saturday. It's going to be a stressful week. Then I get 1 day off on Sunday and go straight into a newbie week of teaching. 
I've realized how quiet I am to other people. I'm not very aware of it, but apparently I come off very shy and quiet. Meh, I'm really not once you get to know me, but then again I wonder how many people truly know me. My family and Stephen do for sure. Where can I meet some damn people in this city??!

317/365


Stephen and I had a Sunday night of karaoke together since I was tired from the night before going to the Gion Festival and it's always wonderful to see your dude. Our contact is pretty regular, but once I start working, I'm a bit more worried how things will go. If my days don't start until 3pm, then I'm pretty sure we can keep up a normal-esque time to talk to each other. Otherwise, I dunno. 
Yes, I did bring that stupid wig from Texas. I thought I might need it for halloween or my 365. So, here you go. It's making an appearance in my 365. 


Sunday, July 18, 2010

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Life, it happens...

So, my 365 is on a short break right now. I'll catch it up, but currently with training and the rain, it doesn't make for good photo ops and simply, I haven't had any time.
My life  the past 7 days has basically been get on a train, training, get on a train, sleep. Wash, rinse, repeat.
The next 7 days will basically be the same. I may have some time this Sunday and Monday to take a few, but it won't be up to date. I am going to finish this project out, but it's taken a huge step back in my priority list at this time. I know it's now not really a true 365 any more because the pictures are not ones specifically taken on that day, but it's been close enough. 300+ have been and with my current location and priorities, I'd say it was a good run for those. The last 50 or so will basically be catch up and a lot of just situational photos.
Nobody really cares anyways, honestly. But, since I set a personal goal and almost see the light at the end of the tunnel for it, I plan to finish it out. Come September 1st, my 365 project will be complete and I will start taking photos more for documenting my life at this time and for fun.

Otherwise, things here have been up and down. Of course I expected that much. Some days are better than others, but I think once the rain stops and training ends, things will start to flow more smoothly and I will be able to explore my city more. I will also hopefully be able to meet other teachers in the Kyoto area since all of my training group members are in either Osaka or Kobe. I really like my training group, so I definitely would like to keep in contact if they are willing, but I need people to talk to who aren't a 1500¥ride away.
I'd also like to get back on track with my Japanese. It's terrible. I lost so much of it over the last two years. Immersion is the best way to learn a language, but I still feel pretty much like a fish out of water. Then again, as a foreigner in Japan, I will never exactly be much more than a foreigner to the general population. But, at least I hope I could speak to them without broken Japanese.
I need some time to break out the books and study. Or find some classes that are offered around here. Japanese with my students is strictly forbidden. Which I completely understand. Just like I said, immersion is the best way to learn a language.

Anywho, the hardest things so far are missing my loved ones at home. My puppy included. She seems to be doing just fine without me, but if she hears my voice on the computer through skype, I see her ears perk up and look around for me. It breaks the heart a bit. I dunno why I love that little furry creature so much, but I do. Adjustment to not having someone with me all the time has been difficult. I mean, the last 26 years, I've lived with my family and with my boyfriend. This is the first time I have my own place. It's so strange that it ends up being in another country. I now know what it feels like to live on your own. Almost. It's only been 2 weeks. But, still. I'm sure things will hit really hard soon enough.

Well, time for bed. My limited time I get to spend on the computer has now mostly been eaten up by me writing this ridiculously long post.
Kids training session tomorrow! I'm not that down about the next 2 days though because the trainer is super nice and hilarious. It makes such a difference.

Oyasumi.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

314/365


This is the largest and most rad slide I've ever seen. I've been wanting to take a picture on it ever since I arrived. Finally, tonight after it was raining all day, the rain ceased and I was able to catch a shot. 

I love my freakin' camera. It was 10pm when I took this and it looks like it's in the middle of the day. Such an amazing little contraption...