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Janus

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  1. Janus
    That's right, if you read that title up there you'll realize I'm tired of this blog and I'll be deleting it within a few days. This is the end.
     
    Haha, no.
     
    The title up there refers to The End, by master author Lemony Snicket of the Series of Unfortunate Events. In fact when we first discovered the thirteenth unfortunate book in the tragic tale of the Baudelaire orphans it was known as that At this time called The End. Frankly, upon retrospect and finishing the book myself I agree with this title more. The End conveys the finality that was had in this final volume but not the...feel of the book. It needs that more mythical feel of At this time called The End
     
    I'm still not quite sure how I feel about the final iteration in the sad saga of the Baudelaire orphans. It was certainly unlike anything I've read before, and even managed to differ significantly from the other books in the Series of Unfortunate Events in the overall feel of the book. I knew it would be something that varied from the rest but I suppose I wasn't expecting such a large distance between the twelfth and thirteenth unlucky tales.
     
    I won't spoil anything in the book, not only because I fear Puffin's wrath, but also simply out of respect for all of those who have yet to read it. It's one of those things that you need to actually read because of all that happens.
     
    I will however say that I was left feeling slightly hollow at the end of the book, whether that was because I was feeling sick, frustrated with my impended progress on computer repairs/upgrades and slightly tired is unknown at this time. Perhaps I'll give it another read-through after my mom's finished and see what she thinks.
     
    I'll also say that it's undoubtedly not what you're expecting. It is not a nice wrap-up of everything in a neat little bow. I'll give it a few more weeks before I post my actual thoughts, however. As I don't want to spoil anyone.
  2. Janus
    I was driving on the freeway in the fast lane
    With a rabid wolverine in my underwear
    When suddenly a guy behind me in the back seat
    Popped right up and cupped his hands across my eyes

    I guessed, "Is it Uncle Frank or Cousin Louie?"
    "Is it Bob or Joe or Walter?"
    "Could it be Bill or Jim or Ed or Bernie or Steve?"
    I probably would have kept on guessing
    But about that time we crashed into the truck

    And as I'm laying bleeding there on the asphalt
    Finally I recognize the face of my hibachi dealer
    Who takes off his prosthetic lips and tells me

    Everything you know is wrong
    Black is white, up is down and short is long
    And everything you thought was just so
    Important doesn't matter

    Everything you know is wrong
    Just forget the words and sing along
    All you need to understand is
    Everything you know is wrong

    I was walkin' to the kitchen for some Golden Grahams
    When I accidentally stepped into an alternate dimension
    And soon I was abducted by some aliens from space
    Who kinda looked like Jamie Farr

    They sucked out my internal organs
    And they took some polaroids
    And said I was a darn good sport
    And as a way of saying thank you
    They offered to transport me back to
    Any point in history that I would care to go

    And so I had them send me back to last Thursday night
    So I could pay my phone bill on time
    Just then the floating disembodied head of
    Colonel Sanders started yelling

    Everything you know is wrong
    Black is white, up is down and short is long
    And everything you thought was just so
    Important doesn't matter

    Everything you know is wrong
    Just forget the words and sing along
    All you need to understand is
    Everything you know is wrong

    I was just about to mail a letter to my evil twin
    When I got a nasty papercut
    And, well, to make a long story short
    It got infected and I died

    So now I'm up in heaven with St. Peter
    By the pearly gates
    And it's obvious he doesn't like
    The Nehru jacket that I'm wearing
    He tells me that they've got a dress code

    Well, he lets me into heaven anyway
    But I get the room next to the noisy ice machine
    For all eternity
    And every day he runs by screaming

    Everything you know is wrong
    Black is white, up is down and short is long
    And everything you used to think was so important
    Doesn't really matter anymore
    Because the simple fact remains that

    Everything you know is wrong
    Just forget the words and sing along
    All you need to understand is
    Everything you know is wrong
    Everything you know is wrong
  3. Janus

    The Wall

    By Janus,

    This will be a quick entry, I'm not even sure why I'm writing it (Of course now I remember that I'm not sure I why I write any entries at all, so that's nothing new)
     
    Basically, I've been listening to Pink Floyd's The Wall album. Not obsessively, just a single listen through, and wow. This album can sum up the entire emotional gamut of your normal human being. Absolutely raw music in here--then again, that's what Pink Floyd does best.
     
    If you've never heard The Wall it is heavily recommended. Emotions and Insanity run rampant in it.
     
    And while you're at it, listen to Dark Side of the Moon, though I personally (along with the band) consider that to be one MASSIVE song, instead of an Album.
     
    Hey, what do you know, this entry was longer than expected.
  4. Janus

    Gunpla Status 1/6

    By Janus,

    Yep, you read that correct. I've completed my first Gunpla model, the GAT-X131 Calamity Gundam piloted by Orga Sabnak. And as this what I like to refer to as a "Testbed" model, I've compiled a list of all the things done correctly and incorrectly. One of them is very short, the other very long. Take a guess which?
     
    GAT-X131 CALAMITY GUNDAM
     
    Code name: Calamity Gundam
    Unit type: prototype artillery mobile suit
    Manufacturer: Earth Alliance (Atlantic Federation)
    Operator: Earth Alliance (Atlantic Federation)
    First deployment: 15 June C.E. 71
    Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso
    Dimensions: head height 18.26 meters
    Weight: max gross weight 81.48 metric tons
    Construction: unknown
    Powerplant: ultracompact energy battery, power output rating unknown
    Equipment and design features: sensors, range unknown; Trans-Phase (TP) armor
    Fixed armaments: 2 x "Schlag" 125mm high-energy long-range beam cannon, mounted on backpack over shoulders; "Scylla" 580mm multi-phase energy cannon, mounted on chest, "Kaefer Zwei" 115mm dual ram cannon, mounted on shield connected to left arm
    Optional hand armaments: "Todesblock" 337mm plasma-sabot bazooka
     
    Things done correctly
    -Model assembled (This one's iffy, but I'll let it stay)
     
     
    Things done incorrectly
    -Model not prebuilt
    -Model not sanded
    -Model not puttied
    -Model not scribed
    -Model not washed
    -Model not primed
    -model not painted with proper paints
    -Paints not diluted properly
    -model not glued anywhere
    -incorrect paintbrushes used
    -Attempted gold paint without any prior knowledge*
    -Model sealed incorrectly
    -Model not finished
    -Pieces detailed incorrectly
    -wrong type of tape
    -wrong type of glue
    -Paint work sloppy in several areas
    -Detail work sloppy in several areas
    -Paints not mixed properly
     
    Just plain screwups
    -One paint changed colour midway through
    -Two paints were diluted too heavily, causing them to weep
    -several pieces were melted in terpentine (Not severely)
    -One paintbrush snapped
    -Several pieces were stained
    -Two pieces broke (And were summarily repaired)
     
    So as we can see, it has been one heck of a learning experience (That and the Gunpla seminars/diorama's I've been working on) So what does this mean for future projects? Well, first off, your reward for looking through all of that is...
     

     
    Calamity!
     
    Orga wanted to show off his new (and subpar) toy, so here we go.
     
    The GAT-X131 Deactivated. Front
    Back
    Side
    Close in on the primary optical sensors (And awful black finelining work)
    With the Todesblock" 337mm plasma-sabot bazooka
    Aiming primary cannons
    Angled shot (The cameraman was getting nervous)
    Firing the two back-mounted "Schlag" 125mm high-energy long-range beam cannon, and shield-mounted "Kaefer Zwei" 115mm dual ram cannon.
    Kneeling but with the two "Schlag" and chest-mounted"Scylla" 580mm multi-phase energy cannon still active
    Engaging the enemy
    Engaging secondary enemy
    Close in on thrusters and "Schlag" cannons.
     
    For those of you unsure of what it would look like unpainted, here you go.
     

     
    (Pic courtesy of Dalong.net)
     
    You'd think this entry would end here, but nope. I'm not done yet. As the title said, my completion rate is 1/6, that means I've got five other Gundams to go through. Let's check our order of completion, shall we?
     
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     
    YMF-X000A DREADNOUGHT GUNDAM (It's so totally Dreadnaught, just ignore the engrish and move on)
     
    Code name: Dreadnought Gundam (aka X Astray)
    Unit type: experimental DRAGOON use mobile suit
    Manufacturer(s): ZAFT (mobile suit); Junk Guild (DRAGOON pack)
    Operator: Junk Guild
    First deployment: C.E. 71
    Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso
    Dimensions: overall height 18.21 meters
    Weight: 67.50 metric tons (without DRAGOON system)
    Construction: unknown
    Powerplant: ultracompact nuclear fission reactor, power output rating unknown
    Equipment and design features: sensors, range unknown; Phase Shift (PS) armor; Neutron Jammer Canceler
    Fixed armaments: 4 x MMI-GAU2 "Picus" 76mm CIWS, fire-linked, mounted in head; MA-MV04 composite armed shield system, features beam claw, mounted on left arm
    Optional hand armaments: MA-M22Y beam rifle
    Remote weapons: DRAGOON (Disconnected Rapid Armament Group Overlook Operation Network) system, stored on backpack (mounts 4 units, total of 9 GDU-X7 beam guns); 2 x XM1 "Pristis" beam reamer, mounted on hip armor, can be guided on wires or wirelessly
     
    Current Status
    -Prebuilt
    -Upper body entirely sanded, some lower body. Sanding in progress
    -Some parts primed
    -Some parts painted (First coat plus some detailing)
     
    Overall progress: 34% complete
     
    YMF-X000A activated. Front
    Left side
    Back
    Right Side
    Currently primed pieces
    Currently painted pieces
     
    This one is the second Gundam model I started work on (and the third one purchased), and the one that I took down to the modelling seminar. All the painting was done by people not me, and was done utilizing the (Ever-so-awesome) drybrushing technique.
     
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     
    GAT-X252 FORBIDDEN GUNDAM
     
    Code name: Forbidden Gundam
    Unit type: prototype close combat mobile suit
    Manufacturer: Earth Alliance (Atlantic Federation)
    Operator: Earth Alliance (Atlantic Federation)
    First deployment: 15 June C.E. 71
    Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso
    Dimensions: head height 17.47 meters
    Weight: max gross weight 85.33 metric tons
    Construction: unknown
    Powerplant: ultracompact energy battery, power output rating unknown
    Equipment and design features: sensors, range unknown; Trans-Phase (TP) armor; "Geschmeidig Panzer" energy deflection armor
    Fixed armaments: 2 x "Igelstellung" 75mm multi-barrel CIWS, fire-linked, mounted in head; 2 x "Armfeuer'" 115mm machine gun, mounted on forearms; 2 x "Eckzahn" 88mm railgun, mounted on backpack, operable only in close combat mode; "Hresvelgr" plasma induction cannon, mounted on backpack, operable only in close combat mode
    Optional hand armaments: "Nidhoggr" heavy scythe
     
    Current Status
    -Prebuilt
     
    Overall progress: 5% complete
     
    The fourth Gundam I picked up. While I was never fond of the GAT-X370 Raider Gundam, I always did like the Forbidden, plus the pilot, Shani was always the coolest of the Biological CPU's. Although it's a cool one I'm still willing to take a few chances with it.
     
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     
    YFX-200 CGUE TYPE DEEP ARMS
     
    Unit type: experimental mobile suit
    Manufacturer: ZAFT (Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty)
    Operator: ZAFT
    First deployment: C.E. 71
    Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso
    Dimensions: head height 21.55 meters
    Weight: max gross weight 81.83 metric tons
    Construction: unknown
    Powerplant: ultracompact energy battery, power output rating unknown
    Equipment and design features: sensors, range unknown
    Fixed armaments: 2 x JDP8-MSY0270 directed thermal energy cannon, mounted on shoulders; NOL-Y941 heavy laser sword, stored on left hip, hand-carried in use
     
    Current status
    -Prebuilt
     
    Overall progress: 5% complete
     
    Target sighted
    Left Side, cannons deployed
    Back and cannon generator
    Right side, cannons deployed
     
    This is actually the first Gunpla model I got this year (along with Calamity, but I liked this more) but I've been holding off on working on it, because it's just so cool looking that to make a mistake would be...well, heresy. I've been considering doing some custom paint apps on it, but I'm not sure. I do know that I'll be making a custom mono-eye.
     
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     
    GAT-X105E STRIKE NOIR
     
    Unit type: prototype mobile suit
    Overall height: 17.72 meters
    Weight: 90.5 metric tons
    Equipment: Variable Phase Shift (VPS), enhanced power unit
    Armament: M2M5 "Todesschrecken" 12.5mm automatic CIWS x 2, M8F-SB1 "Shorty" beam rifle x 2, EQS1358 rocket anchor x 5, AQM/E-X09S Noir Striker (mounts MR-Q10 "Fragarach" 3 beam blade x 2, MAU-M3E42 linked linear gun x 2, EQS1358T rocket anchor x 1)
    Optional armament: 57mm high-energy beam rifle w/175mm grenade launcher x 2
    Pilot: Sven Cal Bayang
     
    Current status
    -Prebuilt
    -all extra pieces trimmed
     
    Overall progress: 5.1%
     
    Firing at the enemy
    Right side
    Back
    Left Side
     
    The Strike Noir is without a doubt one of the coolest Gundam models, so I when I saw it at Anime Evolution for $25 there was no way I could resist picking it up. This is going to be one of my more touched up models, and I may even experiment with some airbrush on it.
     
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     
    ZGMF-X42S DESTINY GUNDAM
     
    Code name: Destiny Gundam
    Unit type: prototype assault mobile suit
    Manufacturer: ZAFT (Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty)
    Operator: ZAFT
    First deployment: C.E. 74
    Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso
    Dimensions: overall height 18.08 meters
    Weight: max gross weight 79.44 metric tons
    Construction: unknown
    Powerplant: ultracompact hyper deuterion nuclear reactor, power output rating unknown
    Equipment and design features: sensors, range unknown; Variable Phase Shift (VPS) armor; Neutron Jammer Canceler; wings of light
    Fixed armaments: 2 x MMI-GAU26 17.5mm CIWS, fire-linked, mounted in head; 2 x MX2351 "Solidus Fulgor" beam shield generator, mounted on wrists; 2 x RQM60F "Flash-Edge 2" beam boomerang, mounted on shoulders, hand-carried in use; MMI-714 "Arondight" anti-ship sword, stored in right wing, hand-carried in use; M2000GX high-energy long-range beam cannon; stored in left wing, hand-carried in use; 2 x MMI-X340 "Palma Fiocina" palm beam cannon, mounted on palms; shield, mounted on left arm
    Optional hand armaments: MA-BAR73/S high-energy beam rifle, power rating unknown
     
    Current status
    -Prebuilt
    -All extra pieces trimmed
     
    Overall progress: 4%
     
    Aiming the high energy beam cannon
    Left side
    Back/Wing thrusters
    Right side
     
    Now the Destiny is without a doubt my favourite Gundam ever. It beats out everything in my eyes. This is partially due to two things. One. Wings. Two. The face. Neither of these can be seen clearly on the model, so I took the liberty of getting some images. As can be seen, this will be my final model (for now) and the one that I'm hopefully going to do the best on.
     
    WINGS

    (Yes, that is my model, and yes, those are included. They're translucent plastic with sparkles encased in them)
     
    Face

    (I've got nothing much to say here, I just adore that face)
     
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     
    And so completes my current status on Gunpla models, now that the guys have given me some Tamiya glue, and some sandpaper plus a mask, I can keep working. Oh, and for all of you out there who don't know the process, here you go.
     
    Step 1: Prebuild - The model must be assembled, however simply building it as per the instructions will lead to difficulty. To begin with, once every piece is removed from its sprue, use an X-acto knife to remove any excess plastic (Be sure to cut away from yourself and not to apply too much pressure) always remeber to wear safety goggles. Now what you want to do here is take a pair of wire-clippers and begin to cut all of the pegs to about half-length, if you can smoothly remove a piece without any issues, you've prebuilt it correctly. However be sure not to cut any clips that go into any PVC or Polycap pieces, that can cause problems. Any pieces of the same colour should be glued using Tamiya brand glue, the exception here is if they clip onto another piece (IE: Shoulder pieces should not be glued if they are blue and the arm is white)
     
    Step 2: Sanding - In order for the paint to stick nicely, and in order for those icky seam lines to go away, the model needs to be sanded. Begin with a 400 grit piece of sandpaper and use very rapid, short strokes across the surface until there is no more 'gleam' just a dull surface. On parts with seam lines (IE: Body, arms) Once you've completed your sanding you should not be able to feel the seam lines if you brush your fingernail across it, if you can, attempt to sand some more. After going over it with the 400, take out a piece of 600 grit sandpaper and lightly go over it once, just to polish it nice and neat and then move onto Step 3. REMEMBER TO WEAR A PARTICLE MASK. YOU DO NOT WANT THIS STUFF IN YOUR LUNGS
     
    Step 3: Puttying - This is an optional step depending on how good you are, it's primarily done if you have an uneven seam line (IE: You can grab it with your fingernail) or if you used too much pressure in the prebuild and cut too deep into the piece. Now, using a bit of putty (Once again, I use Tamiya brand) lightly rub it over the area, try to make sure it doesn't sink into any panel lines and try to not use too much, it takes roughly half-an-hour to dry so if you use too much, you're looking at even more time. Once it's dry take a piece of 400 grit sandpaper and grind away until the putty is primarily in the cracks only, once again run over it with your fingernail, if you can catch it, lather, rinse, and repeat. If not, it's time for scribing.
     
    Step 4: Scribing - In order to make sure that the paint application sticks nice and neat you're going to want to scribe. In order to this you need to find any panel lines, or any recessed areas. Any undefined areas (Such as rounded off areas) you will need to 'open' up by lightly tracing over them with an X-acto knife. Next take a rounded hook (Like something out of a dentists office) and lightly scratch away tiny bits of the plastic as you go along, once it seems deep enough, take a more angled hook and continue to scratch. You're looking for depth here, the deeper the lines, the better you're doing. Just try not to go too deep (As it can damage the model). Any panel lines or clearly defined recessed areas just use the two hooks, there's no need to use the knife.
     
    As for rounded areas, here's a diagram of a Ginn model (The same type I've been working on for the diorama) to show what I mean.
     

    All of the circled red areas are areas that would require scribing that might not seem as obvious. However all of the other recessed areas and panel lines would still require standard scribing work.
     
    Step 5: Washing - Take all of the pieces you have done and dump them into a large bucket of room temperature water, mix in a tiny bit of soap and just lightly rub the pieces. This is a very short stage.
     
    Step 6: Priming - Take a piece of the sprue and cut it with the wire cutters, next using a brand of masking tape (with low stick) or a piece of stickytac attach the piece to the sprue. Now take a spray-on coat of grey primer and shake it vigorously. Holding the sprue with the piece attached about arms-length away from you, spray one direction, cut the spray, and then spray back. So something like
     
    Spray-->(Piece) *Stop spray*
    *Stop Spray*(Piece)<--Spray
     
    Until the entire piece is lightly coated in grey. If there are any bubbles, or blurring of lines then you have sprayed too heavily, wipe it off and start again. Make sure you Prime OUTSIDE, not inside
     
    Once the piece is completely primed tape the sprue to the model box and continue with the other pieces.
     
    Step 7: Painting - I now use Tamiya brand Paint (the best stuff to use) NEVER. EVER. EVER use any Testors paint on a Gundam model (That's what I used to paint the Calamity) It's a pain, has low stick, and just doesn't work well, period. With Tamiya use about three different containers. The original paint, one with Windex (The best Tamiya paint thinner ever) and one with half and half. You will paint from the half-and-half. Paint on a light coat and then wait fifteen minutes for it to dry, continue for about 5-7 coats. This is with standard brush.
     
    Step 7.1: Painting via drybrush - This requires no thinner whatsoever, however it will also prevent any shading techniques from being used. Dip your brush in the unthinned paint very lightly, and rub off any excess, using only the little bit of paint left on the brush paint lightly over the model pieces. This cuts the time down an insane amount, but it's very, very difficult to pull off correctly. With one coat of drybrush you put on the 7 coats of standard brush.
     
    Step 8: Pre-finishing - In order to protect your model before you do any lining, you want to finish, or 'seal' it. Take a bottle of Future Floor Wax (Found in almost any shopping mall) dip a Q-tip into it and just lightly rub it on piece by piece then let it dry
     
    Step 9: Lining - Now you will need to thin your paint. Doing about a three-quarter thin (Until the stuff is near-liquid), now take your thin brush and lightly run over any of the reccessed areas and panel lines, it'll just sink right in and make some good lookin' panels. This is partially why you were scribing in the first place.
     
    Step 10: Finishing - Your model is almost complete, but you want to both protect the paintjob, and give it a nice shiny look to it. Just like above, take a bottle of Future Floor Wax, dip in that Q-tip and lightly coat each piece then let it dry. This will keep the paint and the lines from chipping. Take special care with the eyes (Put on multiple coats, it makes it very, very shiny)
     
    Step 11: Posing - Assemble your finished model and put it in a nice pose, congratulations, you're finished.
     
    Two things of note. One, this was made with 1/144 HG models in mind, however it will work for everything. Second, there are far more detailed painting tutorials out there, I will be putting one together eventually, but right now I'm focusing mainly on prebuild/sand/scribe/wash/prime.
     
    Feel free to ask any questions about my models, or the brief explanation of the steps.
     
    *Gold is the second hardest paint to put on, superceded only by white.
  5. Janus

    So.

    By Janus,

    So, this is a blog, eh?
     
    Heh, I've played around with such things before, but to have one on BZPower is rather unique. I honestly never expected to be utilizing such a feature on this site-- but then I realized how odd it would be for the Blog Leader (Or thought police commander, if I do say so m'self) to be minus a blog, and thus I created what you see before you.
     
    This will generally be a place where I post any oddities or interests I have. Any appropriate writing may be sneak-peeked here, and perhaps you'll even find out why I'm such a bitter, jaded, husk of a man.
     
    Except not.
     
    Thought Police Commander signing off,
     
    -Janus
  6. Janus

    Rain-soaked Tile

    By Janus,

    It's been a pretty good day today. I finally finished my first ever (and absolutely terrible) Gundam SEED 1/144 High Grade Model. The Calamity Gundam, piloted by Orga Sabnak.
     
    (Seriously, I went to a course on Gunpla* modeling, and they already explained that everything I did on this model is so wrong. Luckily my next models, the CGUE type DEEP arms, the Forbidden Gundam, the Destiny Gundam, The Dreadnought** Gundam, the Destiny Gundam***, and the Strike Noir Gundam will be far, far better with all the info I'm learning)
     
    After finishing that model I crashed for a bit at my sisters, and then went off to Metrotown (A popular BC mall. Way too popular, mind you) Skip ahead a bit, I picked up the first Invader Zim DVD for my mom, and finally designed the layout of her present. It's going to be a scavenger hunt with her present at the very end. It all went swimmingly. In fact it went so well, that I feel I needed to get some writing out, so here it is, the first Janus story that has been public in quite some time.
     
    Rain-Soaked Tile
     
    "Could you pick up some eggs while you're out?"
    My sister asked, her voice carrying just above the satisfied giggles of her young child. With a grin I responded that I could and promptly left, the door swinging shut behind me and settling in with a satisfied click. With a slow and steady movement I pulled my heavy coat over my shoulders and pressed the 'play' button on my PSP, instaneously my mind was filled with the soothing sounds of Pachabel's Canon in D minor Smiling I set on my way down the long hallway.
     
    The elevator slid open with a slight hiss, dingy and badly lit it trembled slightly as I stepped inside and made my floor selection. With a jerk it dropped, rattling and shaking all the way, my stomach churned but remained steady, finallly with a last shake the doors slid open and stepped out on the ground floor, the grey sky and dreary weather plainly in sight. With a small sigh I heaved the door open and stepped out into a blast of wind and rain. With a glance skywards I wished I had brought an umbrella from home--unfortunately home was many miles away, and across a bridge. Oh well, C'est La Vie.
     
    I noted with some chagrin that the music had shifted from Pachabel to a more fitting and morose tune, the single working headphone on my machine streaming out tales of woe. Slightly perturbed at this change in background noise I shifted my eyes downards, watching as the rain pitter-pattered off the soaking wet pavement. What a great day to be outside, huh?
     
    The cars and traffic whirled by, their lights gleaming crimson and gold through the mist of the rain, there were very few people on the sidewalk with me--few enough that I felt I could indulge myself in a hidden pleasure, with a small, reserved smile I opened my mouth and began to sing along with Satori Negishi to a personal favourite of mine Hoshi No Tobira of Gundam SEED Destiny: Stargazer fame. A few more tracks, more rain, a constant deluge of the stuff just pouring down. More songs, more singing and then people started showing up, slowly at first, as is always the case but soon they were filling the sidewalks. I sighed, of course I knew it would happen but nevertheless the dreamer never wants to be woken when the dream is satisfying.
     
    Finally I arrived at the skytrain station, a monument of bricks and simple technology, guided by remote computers and a team of highly trained professionals in a tower far from the remote station I was boarding at. Nervously I felt in my pocket for my sister's buspass, satisfied it was still in my pocket where I had left I ascended the rough stone staircase and waited on the platform, happily breathing in the fresh, wet air.
     
    In a flash of motion and colour the skytrain arrived, touting the location to which I wished to travel. Seeing the crowded exterior I took my favourite position near the sliding doors and leaned against the transparent plastic 'window' which divided those sitting from those who, like me, chose to stand instead. The trademark tones came over the speaker and with a sudden lurch we were off.
     
    Stations flew by, people flew by, places flew by. People I didn't know, places I knew but didn't care about, places I did know and did care about, people I thought I knew, and stations that I vaguely remembered in the recesses of my mind. Every time the doors slid open with their serpentine hiss I became so aware of the vibrancy and life within everything, from the cold white metal that composed the many stations, to the faded yellow warning paint on the slick tile, and every time the doors slid shut the thick plastic windows muted everything, turning the bright into the dull. I watched this all with an indescribable feeling.
     
    Finally I was one station before my terminus location; a crackle over the loudspeakers and the computerized female voice informed us of the locale we were pulling into. I closed my eyes and allowed the sounds of the train to wash over me and when I opened them something within me gave a tug.
     
    There was a sight, indescribable, really that in my many years of riding the skyrain I had never seen, and may never see again. The car I was in was near the edge of the station, far from the protective sheet metal that made up the brunt of this paticular stop, no, I was in a place lit only by the natural, grey, light from the sky. Rain-soaked tile split only by two metal poles was all I could see at first, and then--then directly across from me, crossing that Rain-soaked tile, and on the other side of those metal poles, holding up their weak sheets of plastic was another train just like mine.
     
    I'm sure it seems absurd and even a bit silly, but there was a train exactly like mine directly opposite to me, both of our doors were open, there was someone standing in my exact location and it suddenly struck me how amazing it was. I could see them and they could see me, and there was some sort of connection, some primal, human connection. Somehow across that rain-soaked tile I discovered the feeling of...humanity.
     
    I don't know how long we stayed there, the train silently humming as the influx and eflux of passengers continued, I can't imagine it was very long. But after what seemed like an eternity of a second the doors slid shut on both trains. The connection was cut and simultaneously both trains pulled out of the station.
     
    And the rain continued to pour.
     
     
     
     
     
    My apologies on the story, it's a little rough, but it's not really for anything but me. You're simply getting the chance to peer into my head.
     
     
     
    *GUNdam PLAstic models
    ** That's how it's officially spelled, oh Engrish, how I love thee.
    *** This is the coolest Gundam in the world, that is all.
  7. Janus

    Waves

    By Janus,

    Ever had one of those days wherein everything seems akin to waves rolling on the ocean? a constant ebb and flow of happiness, sorrow, and general indifference?
     
    Often my emotions stay rather stationary. If I had a bad day it can turn good, likewise if I've had a good day, it can very easily turn bad--however never before have I experienced such a myriad of--moodswings I suppose one could call it.
     
    I awoke this morning, early, and saddened--what I was saddened by I really can't say. My mind simply couldn't hold on to whatever it was. Mercifully I was spared waking and was able to slip back into the realm of sleep. Unfortunately, of course I again awoke, this time the pervasive sadness remained and my body was sore and stiff beyond all belief.
     
    Shrugging off my usual morning workout, I instead took a bath--a bath which I managed to sleep through entirely, waking only when the water was lukewarm and generally unpleasant to be in. Note to self: Stop bringing books or work with you to the bath. You never do anything but sleep.
     
    After that I popped in my contacts and managed to set off the fire alarm once more. I swear that thing goes off at the slightest inclination--thankfully this means I won't be burned to death horribly. At least I think it does.
     
    Shortly after that it was onto work. Being unable to access my favourite webcomics I was left with a graphic designing project that took up roughly an hour. Almost sad, really, considering what a relatively simply concept the project was.
     
    After that it was breakfast--then dinner. And I literally do mean "then dinner" my breakfast was eaten at roughly 12:48 PM GST and then my dinner was begun at 1:15 PM GST. Such is my schedule.
     
    After breakfast, it was time to E-mail those files to my work, and get changed and ready to teach classes. While still feeling sick and sore that all managed to dissapear as soon as my Basics class arrived, I love those kids. Even though they're just Orange Belts and Yellow Belts they've still got the best attitude ever. I worked them hard in hot weather and they never complained once, they enjoyed it just as much as me. Then I took our two Black Belt Training members and we worked out on weapons and sparring, they're totally new to sparring and so it was fun taking them through the basics. Next was Protech which was basically the exact same people, plus one more. Self defense and weapons and then I had a one person class.
     
    By that time the heat was nearly unbearable, so we basically sat around and talked as much as we could. Of course we still worked on forms and the basics, then we had some fun playing around with the staffs. My dad, and my boss, basically left me alone for the whole day, he had other work to do so I got to teach almost all of the classes, the only person who got taught by him was one of our Red/Black Belts, who will be testing for her Black Belt in August, I wish her all the luck in the world. Aside from that my last class consisted soley of my wonderful White Belts, including a brand new addition, oh it was fun to work with them--even though the heat was still pretty intense.
     
    Due to our other instructor not showing up, we got to end a bit early, that meant I got to go home and chat with my friends--not that it really involved much.
     
    But something happened, I'm really not sure what, or how, or even why, but after this incredible upswing from awful to wonderful something happened to place it in the middle. A deep melancholy settled over me. In fact it's only because I'm writing again that I'm managing to shake it off--in fact I think I may just open one of my more recent projects and begin writing again. "Metal Man" here I come.
     
    Oh, and if you're in the White Rock area and have thought about Martial Arts, feel free to give us a try, we love having new people come in.
     
    Aside from that I think that I've basically rambled my thoughts out. In fact I don't anticipate any reaction to this as so much of it is personal, but heck, I've been surprised by you guys before. Who knows?
     
    -Robert
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