The Last Love Song on This Little Planet

I'm thinking about selling a few things. Everything still needs to be cleaned, but if there's something you want, please let me know. I'm probably not going to get these up for sale until after Christmas, though. Also, if anyone is good at assessing prices, please let me know. I've never sold anything before!

pupe.ameba.jp/item/I-C5waQ7HRYP/SU2rLHuJgcyY/ -- AATP casual knit skirt
This has what looks like a purple mark on the back. I have no idea where it came from, as I don't do art of any kind. Hopefully the dry cleaner can take care of it. I paid something like $70 on Mbok.

pupe.ameba.jp/item/gDnrnL1HK993/SU2rLHuJgcyY/ -- AATP blue striped wire-collar blouse
I love this blouse, but I really need another white one. The collar has wire in it, so it can be posed in different ways. Also, I have a 36" bust, and it gaps at the bust (though the button-front tie covers this), so I'd recommend this for someone a bit smaller. I paid $120 on Mbok.

pupe.ameba.jp/item/UPn7KnkrQ-7Y/SU2rLHuJgcyY/ -- Meta black peter pan collar dress
I bought this from the comm sales back in 06. It's a bit too Wednesday Addams for me, and I hardly ever wear it. The upper right waist tie button has been replaced, as the button broke off of its stem after wearing it once. It did not have replacement buttons when I bought it. I paid $100.

pupe.ameba.jp/item/t7CUkdjOW80c/SU2rLHuJgcyY/ -- Meta check English school dress
I bought this new from Meta in 07, I think. I love it, but Josh -hates- it. He complains every single time I wear it, and I'm just tired of dealing with it. It's very warm, and it comes with a tie, as well as a skirt flap. I think I paid $150, as it was on sale.

To my Lolita friends,

I am thinking of ordering some shoes from Bodyline before the sale ends on Monday, as my tea party shoes have become damaged and unwearable. I know that the sizing for Bodyline can run a bit larger than standard, so I thought I'd ask all of you before ordering the wrong pair. I typically wear size 7, sometimes 7.5. Which of Bodyline's sizes would be best? I was thinking 24? For reference, my AP shoes were size L, and they were a bit loose on me. Thank you!

Now that it's officially the holiday season, I am finding it difficult to be upbeat. This is typically a favourite time of year of mine, but I can't help but feel a bit depressed. My job eats a little more of my soul everyday, and I still haven't managed to make any serious friends here. I seem to be popular at work, as nearly everyone on my sales program greets me, at the very least. But, aside from one guy who bought me ice cream after work once, no one ever invites me to do anything with them outside of work. Now, granted, these people are in their 30s and 40s, and I'm probably the cute kid to them, but it would be nice to develop a friendship or two.

I watch too much anime and read too much manga and children's literature, so my ideas of friendship are likely not very realistic, but I really want a friend with whom I can share all of my hobbies. The good friends that I do have all live out of state, and they are all boys, so they cannot share my love of dressing up in frilly dresses, especially those printed with forest animals or fairy tale characters. However, I've never gotten along well with girls for some reason. My friendships with them always seem to be very short-lived, and I've never understood why.

I'm sure I'm just feeling depressed because at this time of year good friends seem to get together for parties and the like, and it would be nice to be one of those people. But, after living here for over a year, I sure wish I had friends to invite over.

So I don't sound completely gloomy, the weekend was nice, if uneventful. I started translating again, and a new teddy bear appeared. I say "appeared" because Josh claims that he didn't buy it for me, but that Santa came early because of the recession. The day before the bear showed up, Josh told me that he appreciated me, which, being something rare, was very nice to hear. I'm glad that he's here with me. I don't think I could stand being alone here, even with the Kenny creature. If/when I go to grad school, I don't know what I'll do for company. But, I'm starting to complain again, so I'll just end here.

As my parents were in town this weekend, I've been taking a small break from translating Candy Candy. I uploaded the fifth volume the Wednesday before they came, and I'll likely start work on volume six tomorrow. It's actually been nice taking a small break from it. I don't view it as work, by any means, but I haven't had any time to read or play my DS since I started translating. I'm hoping to have the entire series finished my Christmas, but I'm probably not going to complete the final volume in time. Once Candy is done, there's a lot I want to work on, but I need to find the raws. If anyone has, or knows the location of the following, please let me know.

• Rose of Versailles by Riyoko Ikeda (10 volume series)
• Oniisama e by Riyoko Ikeda (3 volume series)
• Poe no Ichizoku by Moto Hagio (9 volume series)
• The Star of Cottonland by Yumiko Oshima (7 volume series)
• Shoujo Manga by Naoko Matsuda (1 volume)
• Pride by Yukari Ichijo (10 volumes and going)
• Yumeiro Patissiere by Natsumi Matsumoto (4 volumes and going)

Also, I have raws for Cat Street. Is there any interest in me sharing this? Keep in mind, if it gets licensed, I will halt my work on the series.

Anyway, the visit from my parents was nice, although I wish they had stayed longer. They only ever come for a weekend, and since they drive, we really only get one full day with them. They arrived around six on Friday night, and we went out to dinner at the Red Lobster in Lincolnwood. My parents hotel, which was in Indiana, was farther away than they had thought, so we didn't do anything else after they dropped us off at home.

The next morning, we got up early and went to the neighbourhood IHOP, where I tried the seasonal eggnog pancakes, which were delicious. We then drove my dad to our apartment so he could put our new bathroom cabinet together, while the rest of us went to Target, PetSmart, and Home Depot. We ended up getting another bookcase and a laundry cart. However, it took nearly the entire afternoon to construct the cabinet, so that's all we did until about five, when we left for dinner and The Addams Family, the main purpose of my parents' trip.

I don't want to give too much away about the show, but I will say it was hilarious. The songs were well-crafted and have been stuck in my head ever since, and the cast was just spectacular. The only disappointment for me was that Nathan Lane didn't stage-door the night we there. I did, however, get my program signed by Bebe Neuwirth, which was awesome.

The next morning, my parents brought doughnuts for breakfast; my dad built the bookcase; we did some last minute grocery shopping, and they left. I know it's only about a month until Christmas, but I still wish they had been able to stay a bit longer. It's sort of difficult for me to believe that Thanksgiving is next week, but with a job like mine, the days just run together.

Speaking of jobs, I applied for a part-time gig at a local used bookstore the other day. I'm hoping to hear back from them. And just today I saw a posting for a youth department clerk at a local library, so I need to work on a cover letter for that. With either of those jobs, I would keep my day job at the call center, but at least I'd have money to pay more of my student loans and maybe buy some clothes again. Of course, I wouldn't be able to translate as much, but given that I only know of one person reading my work (my husband), I suppose it wouldn't be that bad.

 When I came home from work on Thursday, I noticed that my chinchilla's left eye was a bit inflamed and he was scratching at it madly.  I told my husband, who proceeded to act as though the little creature would die right then if the vet was not called.  I didn't think it was that serious, but the vet was called anyway, as Kenny (the chinchilla) ought to go in and have it looked at.  We were able to schedule him for the next day.

I told my supervisor what was going on the next day at work, and she let me leave 45 minutes early to make sure I'd have enough time to get home from work, get Kenny, and get on another bus to go to the vet.  It was Kenny's first time going anywhere since he was driven to our apartment by his old owners last September, and he was very well behaved.  His carrier has clear windows, so he was looking all about during most of the trip, which was about an hour long and consisted of two buses (the 82 and 81 routes).  

When we arrived at the Animal House of Chicago, I had to fill out some paperwork, as he was a new patient.  The receptionist was very nice, and we spent most of our wait time talking to some older lady who had brought in a lost dog to be checked.  He had been wandering around on her street, so she took him in and put up flyers.  Hopefully, his real owner shows up. 

We were called maybe five or ten minutes after our scheduled time.  Our vet was the owner of the practice, Dr. de la Navarre, who I had read about on a chinchilla website.  He seemed very knowledgeable about chinchillas and handled Kenny very well.  Before he began the examination, he asked us basic questions, like what we fed him and what kind of cage Kenny had.  Then, without even having to take Kenny out of his carrier, he examined his eye through the plastic window.  He said there was a mucus crust on his left eye, but the right eye seemed to be fine.  He then took Kenny out of the carrier to weigh him, check his heart, and do a closer examination of his left eye.

We waited in the exam room while he did that, and after maybe ten minutes, he came back with Kenny, who did have an eye infection, like we had thought.  His weight was a bit more than a pound, which the vet thought was good, as it meant he was being active (apparently, some domestic chins get overweight). He gave us some eyedrops to use on Kenny twice a day, then gave him the first one.  We thanked him, then went out to the receptionist to pay the bill.

Going home with Kenny wasn't as easy as coming to the vet, as by this time it had been 90 minutes or so since we had left home, and he was getting fidgety.  When we arrived home, he eagerly scurried into his cage and stayed in his house the remainder of the night.

Now that Kenny knows about the eyedrops, he avoids us like the plague.  If we go into the studio, he darts into one of his pipes in the hopes that we won't be able to catch him and administer the dreaded drops.  I wish he understood that they were to his benefit, but he's just a little rodent.  I know he doesn't really understand.  I only have to use the drops until Friday, and then Saturday morning he goes back to the vet to make sure that the infection's clearing up.

 Wow, friends' list, is this endeavor that lame to you?  No one commented at all...
In the event that someone actually cares about Candy Candy, I made a new Photobucket account (ponys_home) just to host it.  As I do not want the Internet to steal my work, it is a locked album, so please PM me for the password.  All of volume one is up for your enjoyment.  I will probably start volume two on Sunday or Monday.  With work, it usually takes about two weeks to edit the entire thing.

Well, I happened across raw scans of Candy Candy, and I'm almost done translating and editing the first volume.  I'm hoping to have the entire series done within three months time, and considering that I work most of the day, I think that's reasonable.  My goal is to get some freelance work after I can add this to my resume, although I'm doing it for my own enjoyment.  If anyone wants files, I'll be glad to share them.  I just don't want to post to the whole Internet.

But this led me to thinking, what else should I translate? There are a bunch of old school shoujo titles that I want to work on if I can find raws.

Rose of Versailles by Riyoko Ikeda
Oniisame e (Brother, Dear Brother ) by Riyoko Ikeda (Info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oniisama_e)
The Poe Family by Moto Hagio (Info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poe_no_Ichizoku)
Heart of Thomas by Moto Hagio (Info:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tōma_no_Shinzō)
Star of Cottonland by Yumiko Oshima (Info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_Cottonland)
Kaze to Ki no Uta (Song of Wind and Trees) by Keiko Takemiya (Info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaze_to_Ki_no_Uta)

I want to work on Ikeda's Window of Orpheus, but it's eighteen volumes long, so I think I'll hold off on that.  I'm also interested in modern shoujo titles, if anyone has some unlicensed suggestions.  I prefer cute stuff that Lolita might like, but I'm open to other stuff.  Just not too much shonen-ai.  I realize some of the titles I have up there fall into that genre, but I want to work on them because they are important to the history of manga and are unavailable in the US, not to mention the Year 24 Group is awesome.

 Yesterday I had an interview at Kaplan for a financial aid office position.  This would be fabulous for a number of reasons: shorter commute confined to the Blue Line, better pay, benefits, better work conditions (OSHA responded to those at my current office...).  I really have my fingers crossed for this job, which would start next Wednesday.  I would, however, miss a few co-workers from my current job, and I'm not sure if I'll need to buy professional clothes for this job.  But...I guess I'd rather have to wear business clothes everyday and have money to buy pretty frills than wear the same frills all the time and never have money for new clothes.  

I think the interview went well.  The HR woman really seemed to like me, and she said I should hear from her in a day or two if I get a final interview with the managers.  I need this new job so I can pay my student loans!!

 Since the beginning of the month, work has been improving.  We have schools to connect people with now, so it's not impossible to meet the sales quota, like it was at the end of June.  Of course, a week or two from now all of the schools will have met their quota for the month and it will be the same old story.  However, I nearly made a sales record on Monday with fourteen different sales (the record is sixteen, I've been told), so hopefully I have vindicated myself from the production write-up I received the week prior.  I really wish I had a real job.

I've been translating the essays we read back in senior year, since we never had to turn in our own work then.  We just went around the room sentence by sentence, with the exception of classical class and the Hojoki.  I desperately miss those classes, which is why I must start graduate school in 2010.  The requirements for the translation program at UIUC still haven't been posted, and if they're not up by September, I'm e-mailing the director again.  I also think I might just apply to the Japanese MA program as a back-up, in which case I can still do a translation certificate.

Ideally, I'll be going to school in the fall of 2010, and I'm hoping to study abroad the summer before to rebuild my fluency.  I'm definitely applying to the HIF program in Hakodate.  Any other recommendations for summer programs at the intermediate/advanced level that have homestays?  

I found the first volume of Candy Candy for $20 on Ebay...but the shipping is another $18.  I'm trying to determine if it's worth it, or if I should just wait until I have $200 for the whole set of the original edition?  I like the cover art on the newer edition better, but it might be hard to find each volume.  I'm also debating if I should get involved with the Earl and Fairy light novel series.  I really like the concept, but so far it's fifteen volumes long, and I'm not sure how complex the writing might be.  Has anyone read them?

My goal right now is to finish these old essays I'm working on, and then move on to other projects.  Such projects will include the aforementioned Candy Candy, "Run, Melos!," "Gauche the Cellist," and possibly Kairo-ko, depending on how hard it is.  I really want to read it, but I think Soseki might be a bit dense.  I'm hoping that once I do these projects for myself, I might be able to find some freelance work to save myself even a little from my dreadful job.

If anyone would actually like to do something with me after I've proven to be such an uninteresting individual, please let me know.  I am poor, so it would have to be something that does not involve food or other expenses, but I think it would be nice to do something in the summer other than work.

 Dear Chicago f-list,

My chinchilla might have a bacterial infection, as he is missing a patch of fur on both his tail and under one of his hind legs.  I would very much like to take him to the vet; however, the weather is too hot for me to take him there via public transit.  For those of you unfamiliar with chinchillas, if they are in temperatures of 70 degrees or higher for more than a few minutes, they can suffer from heat stroke and die.  So, my request is this: Would someone with a car (must have AC!!) be willing to drive us to the vet and back?

The vet I would be using is Dr. de la Navarre at Animal House of Chicago, as he is the only vet I can find who has chin experience.  It is located at 2752 W. Lawrence.  I am home from work by 4 on weekdays, and the office is open until 6 on Monday and Friday and until 8 on Tuesday and Thursday.  Saturdays are also an option, as I am always off, and the office is open until noon.

If anyone would be willing to drive, please let me know what days and times are best for you so I can schedule Kenny's appointment.  I will gladly pay you for gas money or buy you lunch, ice cream, or something.  I really hate to have to do this, but I just don't want to risk transporting him on public transit and have him get heat stroke!  Thank you!!

 To those on my list who attended Acen, please fill out the Acen feedback form online (link on main page of acen.org).  There is room  on the form for suggestions/improvements, and if enough of us say something about the fashion show, or ask for Lolita guests, maybe something will happen.  Perhaps it is a long-shot, but it's better to try.

I thought that, today being Friday, the weekend would begin on a positive note.  It was payday, so despite being sick, going to work was doable.  Aside from a few coughing spells, the day wasn't even that bad...until I arrived at the bus stop to go home.  The bus was pulling up, and I slung my bookbag off one of my shoulders to retrieve my wallet (really one of those ID cases college kids have on lanyards) from my bag.  The compartment's zipper was open, and it was not there.  I didn't recall having left the compartment open, but I assumed that I must have left my wallet at work somewhere, likely the lunchroom or bathroom.

I ran back to work, hoping some of the supervisors might not have left yet.  When I came rushing in, they immediately asked me what was wrong, and telling them about my wallet, they helped me search for it, though they thought it had probably been stolen.  I told the manager, and she said no one had turned anything in, but she would call me if it turned up.  Since my bus pass had been in my wallet, my supervisor gave me $6 so I could get home, and I went back outside to wait for the bus.

On my way home, I stopped at my bank to tell them to cancel my card, and, since my ID had been in my wallet, they couldn't do anything.  I had to call the hotline, but thankfully, the card was cancelled and a new one is on its way (with a different number).  I need to cancel my credit card, too, and replace my ID if it doesn't turn up.  My parents are going to put some money into my Pittsburgh account so I can get by until my new card arrives.

I really have to wonder why someone would take my wallet, though.  I don't think I look as though I would have much money, and since it was payday, the person would have had a check of his own.  My supervisor said she'd check the security cameras to see if anything turned up, but I'm hoping I just misplaced it somewhere.  I don't want to think that people I work with would steal from each other. 

Acen proved to me the most efficient convention I've ever been to, and since I happened into the con chair on my way out of closing ceremonies, I told her the same thing and she hugged me.  Implementing a hotline for security was brilliant; lines were never a problem; and registration was nearly wait-free.  I'm not lucky enough to be going to Anime Boston this year, so I don't know if they've improved the problems from last year, but I understand from those I've spoken with that the glory of Acen this year was only brought about by how unorganized it was previously.

I didn't get to attend all of the panels that I had wanted to, mostly because I was often waiting in line for autographs.  However, all four of my FMA box sets have now been signed by Caitlin Glass, Colleen Clinkenbeard, and Vic Mignogna!  Josh and I also had the good fortune of happening into Nabeshin as he entered the dealing room, so we had our picture taken with him without having to stand in line.  His interpreter kind of annoyed me, though.  I'm not sure if she wasn't interpreting properly or if Nabeshin was avoiding questions, but at his q&a, a lot of his answers didn't really answer the questions. 

I didn't spend much time with the lolita, mostly due to the fact that I actually like anime, and none of them do.  I get the feeling that they they think I'm a scary otaku when I stand in line for nearly two hours to have a box set signed.  But I've always been an animation nerd, whether it be Japanese anime, Disney, or what-have-you.  Cartoons and puppet shows are the only things I want on television other than CNN.  But I hate how it alienates me from those who might otherwise be my friends.

Acen over and done with, let's move on to the rest of this week.  My friend at work, John, was offered a position in the verification department.  He doesn't think he'll take it, though, because he doesn't like the hours (3-11) and it's boring work.  I told him I would totally take the job, so I'm hoping he might drop my name when he gives them his answer.  Listening to other people's phone recordings and verifying the info sounds a million times better than being on the phone myself. 

Speaking of which, I was cursed out for the first time since I started the BPA.  All I did was ask for the lead's name and the guy started saying "fuck" after every word.  It was horrible.  We're getting toward the end of the list, so most of the names are people we've called, but haven't been able to reach, but I was really surprised that someone in the business world would talk to me like that. 

At the convention, I met a freelance anime translator and asked him how he got into the business.  Unfortunately for me, it was pure luck.  He had done a fan-sub of some series that was picked up and the licensor asked him to work on it.  So his only advice to me was to keep doing stuff on my own in various genres.  So I've decided to re-do all the essays from my senior year that I didn't bother to write the translations for, and when I'm done with those, maybe I'll pick Soleilnuit up again.  Takemoto can be kind of crazy, but it would be good to read the whole book.  I also discovered that Candy Candy is out of print, so I have to find used copies before I can read/translate it.  That is my main goal right now. 

On a totally unrelated note, why can't Acen get a guest like Kanon Wakeshima!!?  I want to see her concert!  Someone want to pay for me to go to Otakon?

This past weekend was the seventh annual Tekkoshocon in Pittsburgh.  I left work a little over an hour early so I could go home and collect my luggage only to discover that Josh was asleep and had not packed.  Needless to say, I was a bit frustrated as I threw his stuff in a bag and dragged him to the train station so we could make it to the Greyhound station on time, which we did.

Unlike the last time we went Greyhound, this one was fine.  It ended up being an express bus, meaning we only had one rest stop the whole way.  It was very nice, and the bus wasn't crowded at all.  Josh and I arrived in Pittsburgh a little after four in the morning, where we were met by his friend, Zac, whom we were staying with.  Had we needed to buy a hotel room, I don't think we could have afforded to make it out to Tekko this year...

However, the house was three steps better than sleeping out on the street.  Zac and his girlfriend own two cats, which they apparently never vacuum after, as cat hair covered every inch of the house.  I was very careful not to wear any of my good clothes in the house until we were about to leave, and I left my shoes on indoors.  The water in their bathroom sink didn't work either, so I had to wash my hands in the shower.  I really don't understand how people can live like that.  Our apartment is full of papers Josh refuses to throw away, but aside from that, it's relatively clean.

As for the convention, it wasn't the best I've been to nor was it the worst.  This year marked the first time Tekko was held at the David Lawrence Convention Center downtown, and it was a great venue, especially compared to last year.  That being said, it often felt empty, and I hope they have a bit more programming next year.  The guests were all interesting, especially those present at the industry round-table, but everything else was a bit lacking.  I didn't see much cosplay that really impressed me; the AMVs seemed amateurish or relied too heavily on editing; the dealer's room had little variety; most of my friends/acquaintances couldn't make it; and my panel was a disaster, as it ended up that I needed a special adapter to hook up to the projector, and as a consequence of not having it, I had no way of presenting my PowerPoint.  I wouldn't have been as disappointed had the panel staff told me via e-mail that they would have everything for me, including the adapter, when I told them I was bringing a Mac.  Oh well.  I don't plan on doing that panel again.  Someone else can do it.

While Josh and I thought we were escaping the snow by being in Pittsburgh all weekend, we actually were stuck in the storm as the bus drove through Indiana, and the bus didn't get back into Chicago until halfpast five Monday morning.  Josh talked me into calling off work, which was much needed, as I collapsed after calling my supervisor and didn't wake up until nearly one in the afternoon.

I went back to work today, so I'm back into the same old routine.  Josh and I are seeing "Rent" on Thursday night, as my anniversary gift to him.  I'm not that big of a fan, but it will be nice to finally see it performed on stage, rather than hearing the soundtrack or watching the dreadful movie.  I'm still trying to determine if I'll have the money for "A Chorus Line" next month, as I just registered us for Acen tonight.

I don't know if anyone who reads this is looking for an apartment in Chicago, but if you are looking, the second floor of my building just became available.  The landlord came down about an hour ago to ask us if we knew anyone looking for an apartment, and the guy who lived upstairs was packing up his U-haul.  I haven't been upstairs, so I don't know what the layout is like, but I know my apartment is 2BR with a kitchen and bathroom.  Our rent is $800 a month with utilities included, although I imagine it will go up a bit when we renew the lease.  It's on a quiet street in Logan Square about 15-20 minutes away from the Logan Square blue line station, and the grocery store and laundromat are maybe five minutes by foot.   If you know anyone looking for a place, let me know and I'll give you the phone number. 

Orientation yesterday was fun.  We spent all day going over the rules and basics of telemarketing.  After each section, there was a quiz we had to take and turn in, so I thought it was pretty fun.  All of the other new people are around my age, and they thought it was a really boring day.  I don't think they particularly like me because I'm a go-getter type, but the woman presenting orientation did.  The only downside to the day was that rather than having one thirty minute break, we had two fifteen-minute breaks, which meant I couldn't go to Burger King until the day was over.  Sadly, this meant that I was on the bus during rush hour.  I also just made it home before they re-routed the bus because of the hostage situation on Kimball, which my bus takes.

Today is the "Alice" meet-up.  I'm interested to see which characters are included and how the story is presented.  It's a children's play put on by DePaul, so it shouldn't be too long.  Josh is being a pill about getting up, though.  I told him to go to bed at a sane hour, but I don't think he came to bed until five something this morning, so he's tired, of course, which means he's not yet in the shower.  I will be so mad if we are late because of him.  At least we only have to take the train downtown, so hopefully we can make up lost time.

Tomorrow I have an interview at some call center.  Even though I don't really want to be a telemarketer, I need a job, so I really hope I get one!

Yesterday I went to Eliza and Abbie's pizza party, which was grand fun.  I very much enjoy having an excuse to leave the house other than buying groceries.  I didn't enjoy every flavour of pizza, though they all sounded good on paper.  Some of the tastes just didn't suit my palate, I guess.  For the most part, the movies were enjoyable, although one was just horrible (Big Trouble in Little China) and everyone was very boisterous, which could detract from the film at times.  Apparently, IHOP is having a free pancake day next Tuesday, and everyone is getting together to go.  I can't get over to their IHOP, though, so Josh and I will just go to the one in our neighbourhood.  I love having things within walking distance, walking distance being anything under a mile and a half, not that IHOP is that far.

I received a belated birthday card from my in-laws a few days ago, and with the birthday money there I was able to buy tickets to see Mary Poppins in March.  Granted, the seats are way up in the balcony, but I'm just happy to be able to go at all.  Now if I could just get the money together to see Spring Awakening in August.

Also, I have an update about the University of Illinois.  I e-mailed the director of the center, and she told me that the master's program will be in place in fall 2010.  The school is partnering with a major publisher of literature in translation, so all students will have hands-on experience.  This is so fabulous!  I would have in-state tuition; I would only be 2 hours away from Josh; and the school has more than one Japanese professor!  I think that unless Kent State gives me a GA position, I'm going to try and wait it out until 2010.  It's just a little over a year, after all.  I just need a job.  What do you all think?

The University of Illinois is opening a translation center!!!  So if I don't get accepted to Kent State, there is hope for me!  Their web page is under construction, so I don't know what their program will entail, but I am still excited!

I really want to go to the Chinese New Year parade on Sunday with the other girls, but I can't afford to get down there.  I'm going to the UChiCon panel that Alice is doing tomorrow, and I need to save the last of my transit money to get to any interviews (I have to schedule some) and Emma's "crafternoon."  I am very envious of all of the college students and their U-passes right now!

Today I finally went to the DMV to get my Illinois state ID.  I wanted to go earlier in the week, but I was told over the weekend to expect the refrigerator repair man on Monday or Tuesday.  It kept getting pushed back, and he finally came on Wednesday.  However, he did not have the part to fix it, so it wasn't really repaired until Thursday.  But it's wonderful having a refrigerator again!

Anyway, I've digressed.  I waited nearly ninety minutes for my number to be called at the DMV.  I didn't leave until almost five o'clock, at which point I walked from the DMV on Randolph down to the Congress Parkway to eat at Panera with Josh, as I had a gift-card.  When I finally arrived, he asked why I walked instead of taking the train, forgetting that I do not have the oh-so convenient U-pass.  At this point, I sincerely doubt that Barbara's Bookstore still has a spot for me, as I had to wait so long for my social security card, but I have some other prospects right now.  My fingers are crossed.

As for graduate school, two of the three professors whom I asked to write letters of recommendation for me have mailed them.  I doubt that Prof. Mills' letter and my transcript arrived right on time for the GA deadline, but I imagine if they are only a week late or so, I will still be under consideration, as it's a tiny program.  Usually only about six people or less enroll per year.  I was looking at the list of the current MA students in my program, and there are less than a dozen in the Japanese program for 09 or 10 graduation.  The French and Spanish students have a ridiculous number, though.  German and Russian are decent, and then there's the miniscule Japanese section.  In fact, there seems to only be one Japanese professor, Judy Wakabayashi, so I suppose I shall get to be very acquainted with her if I am accepted. 

I finally finished that tricky sentence on the DMP translation sample last week, so I submitted it along with my resume.  I really hope to get some freelance work from them, even if I have to translate yaoi.  It's still work experience, which I need rather desperately.

I'm hoping that if I go to school next year that I'll be able to study abroad for a few weeks in the summer.  I really need to brush up my listening and speaking skills.  I imagine that if I go to Japan for six weeks or so in the summer, I'll still have time to try for an internship for the rest of the summer.  I want to get at least two internships while I'm in graduate school, so that when I finish I can get a good job to support my artist until he finds a publisher.  Most of the Japanese translation industry is centered in New York and San Francisco, so all of my money will be going to rent and student loans.

If anyone ever wants to come to Logan Square, please visit me!  I have been very bored now that Josh is back in school.  I haven't really felt like reading for the last couple of days, and I really don't have anything else to do.  I want to watch "Candy Candy," but there isn't an official English release, and I don't want to watch fan-subs, despite knowing the series will never be released here because it is so old (1970s).  If anyone is interested and can convince me that I'm not destroying the industry, we could watch some of it.  Or anything really.