Since I don't believe in falsely non-denominational holiday greetings, I will boldly assert my own beliefs by saying

Merry Christmas Everybody!

This is still live?

Man, who knew this thing was still up. Maybe I should start using it. but then that would make me a blogger, and I hate that word. Anyway, now that I know it's still here, I might consider using it again. We'll see. It might take another two years though, so don't hold your breath.

Another day, another computer problem

Man, it seems where ever I go, someone I know is asking about a computer problem. My folks, my coworkers, my friends... How come this industry that we are now so dependent upon remains effectively a closed book to us all? I wonder some days if this is how people thought about electricity and automobiles when they were first taking over the world. And to this day, it takes some serious training to be an electrician or a car mechanic. What do you think it is about humanity that everything we do becomes so specialized? Maybe it's an instict to reamin social. Because if we could all do everything, then we wouldn't need one another. We could all just be hermits in the woods. And hell, after a week at work, some days that's all I want. Although, without a society, who would draw all that anime I love? O, the conundrums of life!
On a totally off-topic note, I did my first voice acting for a cartoon this week. Lizabeth and I are trying to put together a claymation short about an angry blueberry, and I find that being an angry mexican fruit is harder than I thought. The voice we're going for is low and scratchy and it HURTS to keep that up for too long. So basically, I have new respect for the people that do that for a living. But that doesn't stop Liz and I from trying. Because to me, the best animation is the shit someone made up at home. That's the joy of Spike and Mike's Sick and Twisted Animation Fest after all. Anyhoo, it's Saturday and Mom and I are going book shopping. So I 'll write agian later (I hope...)

work work work

Well, I guess now everybody is pretty much gainfully employed then, huh? I'm doing the old nine-to-five, Teresa's busting ass at two jobs, Chelle is working and learning to be a mom, and soon Brook will be a Blue Man. Yes, that's right, folks. Our own Brook Casey is in the final stages of auditioning to be a member of the Blue Man Group. He's gotten through all the cuts and call backs, and now they've got him on a month of intensive drum training and choreography learning. So let's all pray like heck that he gets it, so we can all have an excuse to go to New York or Boston or wherever to see the show. And let me tell you, I will be there like a shot out of a cannon if he gets it. I have been to all his good shows since freshman year of high school. And since I sat through Funny Girl, I deserve a prize, (Trust me, if you were at that performance of Funny Girl, you'd know why I want a cookie for my efforts.) and that prize will be bragging rights that my best friend is a Blue Man. So HA!
Kimm is going to buy a house soon, and my brother just had his one-year anniversary. Are we really getting that old? We're talking about mortgages and wedding anniversaries where we used to talk about MTV and raves. So this is growing up? Why didn't anyone say it would be so mundane? Parents talk for years about how one day we'll have to worry about all this stuff, and it turns out, you just kind of pick it up so gradually that one day, you're fucking around on your blog, having a smoke, and you find out that the growing up crap you worried about all these years has already happened. Your high school teachers stuff you with nonsense as though this is going to be some high-impact event in you life, when really, you just slide on into it. It seems this growing up rant of mine is a common theme on this blog...maybe I' preoccupied? Maybe this is just a good place to get it all out. Who knows.
But thank god to Chelle, my dear Sana-chan, for mentioning anime. Because I am in LOVE with so many new series right now. Chelle: I've been watching Naruto alot, and there's a girl named Sakura and it just seems like a crime to me. I mean, she's a cool little ninja chick, don't get me wrong, but I hear Sakura and I see Cardcaptors, especially Kero-cha. Kononaichi-wa! On top of that, I've been watching this cool little series called Beck, that's about this J-pop band trying to hit it big. The music in the show is awesome. If you ever get around to downloading music, look up Beat Crusaders, "Hit in the USA." It's the title song for Beck and it kick ass. Well, really I should just burn some of this shit and get it in the mail to you. I am the worst anime friend ever!
Well, if it takes me a month to post on my own freakin' blog, what do you expect?
Anyway, I have been home from work for an hour and I'm starting to get hungry. Crunch Berries here I come!

I gots me a job!

Well ,folks, the shock of shocks: I got hired at a real office with a real salaried job. The fucking bookstore copped out on me, so I took up Ann and Kim's offer to shoot a resume over to where they work, and now, lo and behold, I have a real job.
My Mom and Dad and Big Brother are all really proud and excited for me, and I'm pretty pumped up, too. But despite all of this growing into adulthood crap, I still don't drive and I still salivate over new anime. So the core of The Jen Von remains intact.
Much love and wish me luck!

I'm not so good at this...

...keeping up with a blog thing. Please bear with me! The only real excuse I have at this point is anime. I have been downloading hours and hours of it lately. And that's all well and good for the watching, but I miss having friends that can discuss it with me afterwards, too. Oh Michelle why do you have to be so far away! But on that note Chelle says: It's a boy! I don't know when he's due, though, because we had to get off the phone so quick when we spoke the other day. Hmm... wonder what sign he'll be? I like me a sexy fire sign like Leo. Roar.
So Michelle's expecting and I'm eagerly awaiting my own birthday, because that means a Modest Mouse show! Yay! In fact, I am rocking out to The View, a very fine track indeed, right now. And nothing helps you get psyched for a show quite like listening to the album all day.
But enough of the chit chat. I wanted to start this blg so that I would have a place to get stuff out of my head so here goes: how come everyone has to roll their eyes so hard when I start to talk about anime? I mean, I know almost none of my friends watch it along with me, but why can't the rest of you just show some patience and put up with a quick rant from me now and again? I won't go on and on about tao spells and caster shells and shit like that, I just want to tell people how excited I am by the goodies I find. Do you get all eye-rolly when others mention movies you're totally uninterested in? Generally I'd say most people don't. They just listen to a quick rant about the cool car chase scene, and then move the conversation elsewhere. And that's all I'm asking for. So on that note:
I've started watching this kick ass show called Full Metal Alchemist and it's got all your anime needs, from bitchin' fight scenes to weird humor about noodle bowls. But what I love about it is that it is in the classic vein of anime plotlines about some strangely powerful kid who, although only 15 or 16 years old, is somehow trusted in a cast of characters that are all 25 or older. To Michelle I say, think of Fushigi Yuugi (did I spell that right?). Miaka is a kid trusted with a country. (In the Ann voice:) Who does that?!
Aah, got that out. See, it wasn't that bad. Now get your eyes out of the back of your skull.

Another day at the grindstone

Okay, so this hasn't turned out to be a daily thing. What do you want from me? Work has been tough the last few days, and if it weren't for the fun drama-drama that I rustle up now and again, I'd be totally frazzled. As it is I'm hanging on okay, but next week promises to be even worse.
There are fun things about watching kids get their books, though. So far, my favorite would have to be seeing kids with their parents and marvelling at the odd similarities between them. It's best when the kid comes with both folks, because then you can really see who gave 'em their eyes, nose, hair, etc. Otherwise, you can play the mental game where you see the mom and the daughter and try to extrapolate dad's face. That one makes me chuckle now and again. Some girl that came into the store today had eyes that were positively protruding from her skull. I was so wishing her parents were around so I could see if it was genetic. Then there was the kid that was a younger, skinnier copy of his father, and I felt bad knowing that such a nice boy would be so hairy when he was older. C'est la vie.
The one thing that is gnawing at me is that I haven't heard from Mr. Regional Manager about whether they're going to salary me. I want more money for this nonsense or I'm getting the fuck out. Because I love my job and all, but I can't live on the college lifestyle forever. Man, if it keeps up like this, I may even be a responsible adult some day. Wouldn't that suck? Well, maybe not. Maybe I'll be able to get a real house soon, so that I can get the dog I've always wanted. My hamster's cute and all, but Kibi is not someone who runs to the door to greet me. Well, maybe she would if she weren't in her cage, but I kind of doubt it.
Now that I have all of that out of my system, I'm going to read my book. It's getting really good, so I'm gonna try to burn though a chapter or two tonight. If anyone needs a book recommendation, I wouldn't hesitate to offer up Storm Constantine's Crown of Silence. (Don't fantasy authors have the best names? Where's the fun in Faye Kellerman? Give me Michael Swanwick any day.) So, good evening to you all and I try to be more frequent with my babblings.