Stolen from  cypsiman2.

1. Pick one of my icons.
2. Give me a prompt.
3. I shall write a fic accordingly.
4. Copy this meme into your livejournal.

 First of all...wow.  I can't believe I went months between posting.  What can I say: when school is out, there isn't much to talk about, when it is in, I feel too busy to post.

Second: I am going to go see a movie for my birthday, and I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations.

Third...in one more birthday, my age and the date will match up. [/random]

So…I have been meaning to right this entry for a while now but I keep getting sidetracked…but anyway…last week was awesome.

1.       I graduated from college!  Got my BA with a 3.67 GPA (all As for my last semester).  And I already have been accepted into grad school…

2.       Ceremony was a little blah (the faculty spent more time congratulating themselves than the graduates), but I felt proud anyway.  Plus I got to go to my favorite restaurant right afterwords.

3.       And then when I got home, what was waiting for me?  Why, my copy of the Avatar the Last Airbender Art Book!  Random thoughts about it:

-I like the concept art of guard Suki with a giant hat.

-Azula in pheonix armor!  I guess pheonix symbolism was added pretty early.

-The Firebender woman from the pilot was apparently a representative of a group of elite female firebenders that would go after Aang.  Elements of their design and purpose seem to have been broken up between the Kyoshi Warriors and the Dangerous Ladies.  And possibly the painted lady was well (at least, her face paint looks a lot like early firebender girls and early Kyoshi Warriors design)

-Ozai's unshading was deliberate attempt to show how Zuko went from seeing him as imposing, far away figure, to seeing him as a man.  Sweet.

-I love the detailed blue-prints of the various machines, though I am disappointed that they were rarely, if ever, commented on.  They never even explained why they introduced steam punk elements.

-Two more disappointing absences: Fire nation Suki and Earth Kingdom soldiers and benders.

-Fire Nation soldier design variations: Many, every single one of those outfits was ten kinds of badass.

-Pakku's ship looks different than I thought it did from the episode...must have been the angle.

-There are no words to describe my love for the scenery

-Water Tribe Armor came from an unused toy design.  Death Armor Aang was a response to how annoying those toy design requests were (particularly those demanding Aang wear elaborate, toy friendly armor in the series.)

-Facial expression reference sheets for many minor characters.

4.  Then, we had a party a few days later.  And it had to have been one of the best I have ever been too.  I got to seem family members and family friends which I had not met years…if I met them at all.  And I actually spent the entire party (most of the day)  talking with everyone, instead of hiding in the computer room like I usually do (I love my family, but it can be hard to find things to talk about).  And more good food.  And the graduation presents weren’t bad either.

To wrap things up a little, here Is a meme from Schellibie that I should have done a long time ago.:

1. Reply to this post, and I will pick six of your icons. (edit: Say specifically if you want to do the meme)
2. Make a post (including the meme info) and talk about the icons I chose.
3. Other people can then comment to you and make their own posts.
4. This will create a never-ending cycle of icon squee!

http://l-userpic.livejournal.com/76218945/13045626

I stumbled across this right after several of my friends were discussing how awesome Mulan was.  Being one of my favorite movies of my childhood, and possibly all time, I grabbed it as soon as I saw it.

http://l-userpic.livejournal.com/70890487/13045626

This picture really captures the dynamic that I love about Sukka.  Teasing, playful and competitive, but also full of respect and affection.

http://l-userpic.livejournal.com/76143744/13045626

Dunya and Mulen were kind of minor characters in Last Exile, but something about them and their cute, surprisingly not doomed love from opposite sides of the war story grabbed me.  So when I decided to diversify my avatar collection with Last Exile images, I sought one of them.

http://l-userpic.livejournal.com/76143760/13045626

First of all, this image captures what I really love about Last Exile…the simple loving of flying, and all the liberating feelings that come with that.  Second, I love the design of the Vanship and I had to have an image of one.

http://l-userpic.livejournal.com/62904851/13045626

Because these two are a couple that kicks ass.  It is shame they never really got to fight side by side.

http://l-userpic.livejournal.com/76573748/13045626

I kind of needed a more negative avatar for when I was  made or shocked by stupidity, and I happened across this image, which I felt was both funny and good at capturing my feelings.

1. Leave a comment saying you want to be interviewed.
2. I will respond; I'll ask you five questions.
3. You'll update your journal with my five questions, and your five answers.
4. You'll include this explanation.
5. You'll ask other people five questions when they want to be interviewed.

The questions posed to me:

1. When did you first get into History?
Hard to say, but I think it was when I was a little kid, and I found this big book of World War Two aircraft. I was fascinated by the wide variety of  colorful designs.  It really took off and diversified from there.

2. What is your favorite edition of Dungeons and Dragons?
Dunno...don't really care about the rules so much...I only ever played a third party spin-off.  I am more interested in the world building and artwork.

3. Kyoshi Warriors vs. The Rough Rhinos?
Kyoshi Warriors. 

4. How do you think the Obama administration has done?
Errr...I am going to doge this one and say that the actions of the president are overrated in our society, and the actions of congress are more important.

5. What's the most recent big thing to have happened in your real life?
Well I am graduating from college soon...as for things that have happened.
I gave a big history speech that went well.
I cosplayed for the first time...
But mostly my life is vry uneventful.  If nothing else, I am a creature of routine.

So, last week I saw how to Train Your Dragon.  I have not enjoyed a movie this much in a long, long time.  I was actually tempted to go see it in the ttheatres again...and considering how much of a cheapskate I am and how I am not that fond of the movies, that is really saying something.  It also one of the first movies that my sister actually wanted to see ahead of time, and the only one she ever wanted to see in theaters again.

So, why did I like it so much:
-Great designs for the dragons  (I really want to see more of the dragons in that book!)
-Gorgeous backdrops
-Breathtaking flight sequences
-Thrilling action seqeunces
-Story was simple...but heartwarming and gripping none the less. Same with the characters
-Amazing soundtrack (I have listened to the whole thing once per day since I saw it!)
-Pretty funny as well.  Not a comedy, but definitely some good chuckles in there.

In other news related to things I like:
Otoyomegatari
Also known as Young Bride's Tale, it is the tale..of, well, a young bride named Amira adjusting to to her new home in late 19th century Centeral Asia, somewhere along the Silk Road.  Unlike a lot of arranged marriage tales, there isn't any angst, nor are cultural differences important than a few gags and Amira impressing the local people with her archery skills.  The attention to historical and cultural detail is matched only by the artistic attention to detail-the fancy embroided clothes and carved wooden buildings are a sight to behold.  And while Amira is the main character, everyone gets their time to shine, and all of the characters are likable and interesting.

Baccano!: Set in 1930s America, this story follows many, many, many characters...well, doing lots of different things.  It is hard to explain, and frankly can be confusing to watch, especially considering that the scenes aren't shown in any particular order...and because I don't want to spoil the good bits.  So, I think I will just talk about my favorite characters:
Isaac and Miria: The utterly insane master criminals that, in the worlds of an episode title "sprinkle around joy wherever they go without realizing it." Funny, nice, and every once in a while surprisingly badass, characters this likable are hard to come buy.
Ennis: Classic story of the emotionless girl who warms up to life (thanks largely to the two above), has a simple charm that is hard to describe.  Also badass, but so is everyone in this show.
Jacussai (or however you spell it): Overly emotional crybaby on the surface, but, as I mentioned before, serious badass underneath.  Plus he has the wonderfully adorable relationship with mad bomber Nice: when her face was scarred by one of her own bombs, he got a tattoo  that looked just like it. 

They never get old:

"Comment on this post, and I will name a lady in the realm of fiction. Then you tell me the moment you fell in love with aforementioned lady. Then copy this meme into your journal, that I might get to play too, and share in the love of the ladies."

Give me a prompt, and I will write a drabble for it, no exception. Then copy this meme into your journal that I might be able to play too.

Leave a comment on this post and I will pick three of your fandoms. Then you get to answer the following questions:

Avatar:
1. The first character I first fell in love with: Tough question, I grew to love everyone so casually...Toph was the first I just instantly fell in love with.
2. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: Katara: thought she was annoying and useless at first. Big fan of her now.
3. The character everyone else loves that I don't: Jet
4. The character I love that everyone else hates: Suki...well, not everyone hates her, but the Avatar fandom is pretty divided..
5. The character I used to love but don't any longer: No one. Everyone pretty much gets better as the series goes.
6. The character I would shag anytime: Suki.
7. The character I'd want to be like: Sokka.
8. The character I'd slap: Onji's bully boyfriend.
9. A pairing that I love: Sukka!
10. A pairing that I despise: Maybe despise is too strong, but Gran-Gran-Pakku distrubes me with its implications.
11. Favorite character: Toph
12. My five favorite characters: Toph, Sokka, Suki, Aang, Katara
13. My five least favorite characters: I don't know man...
14. Which character I am most like: Sokka...maybe...if you squint...
15. My deep, dark fandom secret: I didn't like Koizilla.

Naruto
1. The first character I first fell in love with: Kakashi. Casual, yet badass.
2. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: Sakura. She went through a lot of growth.
3. The character everyone else loves that I don't: Beside the obvious...I never liked Shikamaru as much as everyone else does. Dunno why.
4. The character I love that everyone else hates: You know, I have been gone from the fandom so long I have no idea who everyone else hates.
5. The character I used to love but don't any longer: Hanzo. Really badass...then he turned out to be a real jerk. I still love him as a badass villain though.
6. The character I would shag anytime: Shizune
7. The character I'd want to be like: Naruto: I wish I had that kind of energy and ambition.
8. The character I'd slap: Karin.
9. A pairing that I love: Naruto/Hinata
10. A pairing that I despise: Kakashi/Sakura: say no to teacher-student romances!
11. Favorite character: Kisame
12. My five favorite characters: Kisame, Oboro, Shino, Hinata, Anko
13. My five least favorite characters: Sauske, Danzo, Karin, Kabuto, Madara
14. Which character I am most like: Shikamaru
15. My deep, dark fandom secret: I love the world setting and character designs far more than the main story or characters.

Mulan
1. The first character I first fell in love with: Mulan
2. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: Mushu
3. The character everyone else loves that I don't: I don't...I mean...
4. The character I love that everyone else hates: Again *shrug*
5. The character I used to love but don't any longer:: Next!
6. The character I would shag anytime: Mulan. Though, do I even have a choice in the mater?
7. The character I'd want to be like: Captain Li.
8. The character I'd slap: The official guy...but he has suffered enough
9. A pairing that I love: Mulan/Li. Though, once again, I question how many options were available to me.
10. A pairing that I despise: No one. See above.
11. Favorite character: Mulan.
12. My five favorite characters: Mulan, Li, Yoa, Shan-yu, the other two soldiers...
13. My five least favorite characters: Uhhh....
14. Which character I am most like: Yeah....
15. My deep, dark fandom secret: I don't think this really counts as a fandom for me. >.

The first TEN people to comment in this post get to request that I write a drabble(ish thing) of any pairing/character of their choosing. In return, they have to post this in their journal, regardless of their ability level.

Hope everyone had fun yesterday (regardless of if you celebrated Christmas, or any other holiday, or not).

I certainly did, despite the fact I am coming down with a cold, and still feel like I have school work every morning.

For it was nice to see my family again...plus I got a lot of books and games. So much to do, so little time...I probably shouldn't be websurfing.

Well....happy every day to every one.