Now that I'm almost completely back to normal (although this cough and sore throat are hanging on somehow) I feel like I've just been cranked up to the highest level of a rollercoaster...actually, I can conjure the exact feeling if I think about it, just like riding the mindbender in Edmonton: watching the walls and ground fall away, clinging desperately to the restraints and feeling your stomach get tighter and tighter with anxiety as you begin to round the summit and get a glimpse of the drop that awaits you below, a scream just waiting to come out...XD Yes, it's the last push before winter break, exams and assignments and papers, oh my! But I can see the end, I can see the whole month where I don't have to study or run for the bus at 8am just floating in the distance like an oasis>_< Okay, I feel really charged up, I want to tackle somethingXD Anyway, part of my reason for mentioning that is that I may be even more scarce than I am now for a little bit...but after that there will be lots to look forward to^^ Just a little bit more...
But today's main event is the last episode of MMA *sniff*>_<

( Parting is such sweet sorrow:S )

I mentioned I'd try to finish off the Dec. Popolo interview I worked on the week I got sick. Well, this is pretty much as far as I got before I quit for good;P

( Glasses chic<3 )

But my favorite part of today's post is up next:3 We were blessed with not one, but two heavenly photoshoots this month for Jun, the other being Nikkei Health<3

( Body and soul )

気合入っているよ！X3負けないぞ、頑張っていこう！XDラストスパートですから、早くに終わりたいな～＾＾

Oh boy, it's been a long week...I've been doing my best not to complain, not to slack off, and despite the assignment, the paper, the math test, 5 days of work and 7 hours of translating I'm still here. But gosh darn am I tired...or rather, weary:S Somewhere around Thursday evening my resolve broke and since then I've been having a very hard time staying on track with what I should be doing...like studying for the 3 mid-terms next weekXD My old self is whispering maliciously in my ear, saying "I told you so" and trying to convince me to jsut let it all slide and stop caring, but I refuse to do that. I just have to keep my goals in focus, treasure the small moments of happiness when they come along, and never lose that little well of joy in my heart that keeps me going when I feel like I'm carrying the world on my back all by myself>_< But I have to be realistic, I have a place I can call home, I have food, I have a job (at least for now...contract's coming up and I'm pretty nervous:S), I'm not failing my classes, only one person at work hates me...;P I have Arashi, who gave me so much energy this summer that I can't help but turn their way like a sunflower when I'm down, just like Jun told us to<3
Thank you all for your kind comments and your continued support, I appreciate it more than you know:3 There are days when I come home from work and I have one new comment, and reading that makes me smile and suddenly the day doesn't seem like it was quite so bad^^ I'm sincerely sorry if I'm late replying, or if I miss posting a comment of my own...it's not because I don't want to, and I feel bad, but I will try my bestXS
With that said, let's move along to the fun stuff!:D Today I have the translation of the MMA from 07.09.22, the last Oedo Hakkenden *cries*. Oh, and before I forget, I couldn't find a copy of the episode from the 29th anywhere!O_o I can't translate what I cna't see, if someone could point me to some links I would very much appreciate it:3

( Parting is such sweet sorrow... )

Also, I did Jun's article and the group interview from November Duet:D

( The best is yet to come!<3 )

心が重くなった。。。でも、諦めやすいタイプじゃない！頑張りましょうよ、幸せになろう！：D

Believe it or not, it was one year ago on October 13th that I posted my first translation here^^ Somehow it doesn't feel like a year though...like way more than a year or way less, but not exactly a year;P The reason I'm talking about it now is it's Thanksgiving weekend and I get two full days off in a row, so I had the time to do a lot of translating:3 I wanted to have a little mini-celebration of the one-year anniversary, and who knows if I'll have a chance this time next week;P Besides, in a 'thanksgiving' sense (though I don't really celebrate the holiday), I'm thankful for the great friends I've met in this one year, and the opportunities I've had because of this journal:3 Thank you all, and yoroshiku for the coming year as well^^
So, let's get started!:D For the opening act there's the MMA from 07.09.15 with Jun and Ohno cooking veggies;)

( Crybaby;P )

The second course is the short talk from the Music Station performance on 07.10.05=)

( Nudity welcome:3 )

Next up are Jun's articles from Nov. Myojo and Oct. Potato:)

( Parts of the whole )

Also, since people seem to like my little descriptions of Jun's radio show I thought I'd expand them a little, on an experimental basis^^

( Falling for you... )

Finally...more for myself than anything....I translated La Familia:3 This was the first song I ever heard Jun sing, right about this time 2 years ago, after getting hooked on Gokusen and needing more<3 I'm sure there's other versions out there, but translating something yourself makes it that much more precious:3

( This reason... )

心が傷だらけですけど、自分に信じられるならきっといつか幸せは永遠に続きます。希望は私の宝物ですX3

I think the title says it all...thanks to that movie I nearly wasn't able to post this:S Long story short, my computer's been doing weird things for awhile now, freezing, dying, funny noises, etc. But on Saturday night I had finally found the time to watch my BokuImo DVD I bought at the Hamamatsu concert (yes, still haven't had a chance!XS) and I was really excited...then I get to the scene where Yori first confesses to Iku in her bed...and it freezes!>_< I'll gloss over the 30 minutes of repeated fruitless reboots and insults hurled at my computerXD Anyway, at the end of that harrowing debacle, when my computer finally seemed like it wasn't permanently dead in the water, I decided not to tempt fate any longer and buy a new HD and re-install everything:S Which is why I'm late posting...oh! And I had started translating an article when it happened, so all that work went down the drain when it froze *cries*>_< Now I'm out 150$ and two evenings when I could have been enjoying myself (still haven't seen the end!), plus I've lost countless programs and settings...does anyone have the Kitto Daijoubu Winamp skin??>_< I lost it and I can't find it anywhere on the web...please share:S Okay okay, enough about that *deep breath*, let's move on to the fun stuff:D
I translated the MMA from 07.09.08 with Aiba and Jun and the Kampyou;P

( Heat Wave~! )

Plus, I did manage to get one other article done before the great BokuImo crash of last Saturday, Jun's September Myojo article, about dating:3

( Hold my hand~<3 )

今は本当に’ぎりぎり’ていう感じばっかり。。。どうやって時間を使えるかもう分からない！O_oただ、続きます。。。一歩ずつ前へ、それしかないよね＾＾

Well, I think I overdid it...at least I don't have my first real class till tomorrow so I haven't missed any study time;) But my free time was swallowed by a massive vaccuum this weekend and I'm staring at the piles of things near me with quite a sense of puzzlementXD Probably a harbinger of things to come^^;
But I think you will all be happy to see the results of my adventures with suctionXD First, after going over the results of my mini-poll I decided to go with what the majority said...which was 'do what you like'=) Thank you to all who offered their opinion or advice, I really appreciate it:3 And what I have chosen is to start with the episodes that have come out recently and try to work through them rather than keep plugging away futiley at that 4 months worht I'm behind^^; It makes me feel better to go forward anyway:) So, in that vein, today I present the MMA from last Saturday (omg, this is surreal, I haven't been this on time since New Year'sXD) 07.09.01, with Jun and Ohno<3

( Einstein's definition of insanity... )

And, with the help of a dear friend (hontou ni arigatou>_<)for a certain part I was stuck on, I managed to finish the translation of Still:3

( The meaning of our meeting<3 )

Plus, of course, I couldn't not do the latest Music Station bit;P Only the talk though, that's all I found^^;

( Insomnia R us )

But that's not all folks...fantazomai requested a translation of Jun's interview in Act magazine, 2005 for a school project (gotta help my fellow studentsXD), so I'll share it here too^^

( Fun with love scenesX3 )

もう、夢でもいいけど、もっと近ずきたい＞＿＜心を許したい。。。愛を感じたい。。。この思いを誰かに届きたい。。。

Hello and goodbye everyone!XD I leave tomorrow morning at 5amO_o But I had to do one last post, I've been working my butt off these last few weeks to make it a big one;P Since I don't have much time and there's more packing to do I won't have much pre-amble, and I'm sorry that I haven't been able to answer anyone's comments or post on friend's ljs, and that I won't be able to for 3 weeks>_< Gomen ne, I'm very sorry:S I hope this makes up for it:3
First, the MMA from 07.04.28 with Aiba and Nino^^

( Swan boat:) )

And Jun's July Potatio article:3

( Sampo )

But that's not it folks...I made it a double!XD (no cream or foam though...;P) See above for more^^

Ah, so late this week, gomen ne^^; I worked 6 days in a row, and there were a whole bunch of new people at work so it was like freaking babysitting half the timeO_o How is it that 45 year old men and women can be as clueless as toddlers for that long???>_< And I'm in for more of it tomorrow;P On the bright side, my contract got extended so I get to keep my current position (and pay sale) while I'm in Japan^^ That will help a lot for when I get back with 3 heavy bags and 2 pennies to rub togetherXD Also, I haven't been on here in 3 days, so I have a lot to catch up on...and I really, really need to be doing more of the planning for the trip already;P Gahhh...more time please!XD
Anyway, this week I have the MMA from 07.04.21, otherwise known as the 101st episode Tuna Festival!XD

( Here fishy fishy )

Also, I have Jun's most recent Arajin article from TV Guide, where he talks about touring the world...;P

( Forward, march!XD )

私の夢は叶いますか？この大切な希望を失わたくない＞＿＜

Ohayou minna, it's an exciting week ne?X3 Finally all the songs are released, and the Osaka concert began, and there's pics of the con goods already (see the lovely tenjostyle's lj)!:D I want all of it~XD Just kidding, but I really do have an instant gratification urge driving me halfway up the wall right now;P
Hehe, yesterday I went to go sing karaoke with some friends, I really wanted to sing an Arashi song...but they don't know Japanese, so I thought it would be unfair since we were all sharing the cost of the booth^^; Another time...:S
Well, today I have the MMA from 07.04.14 with Jun and Aiba!:D Finally another Jun episode<3

( Role ReversalXD )

Today's article is Jun's July Duet tidbit^^

( Flick schtick )

もうすぐ。。。もうすぐだけXDそれまでに必死に頑張ります！；P

Gomen to take so long to post minna, my mother is in town and between seeing her and working and Canada Day weekend I've been rushed off my feet for days^^; There's was a huge thunderstorm just now so I thought we wouldn't be able to have any fireworks but the sun has come out again^^ I hope I can still go out tonight and enjoy it, but plans get cancelled so easily...:S
Anyway, today I have the MMA from 07.04.07 with Aiba and Ohno and the baachan who got married by herselfO_o

( Fishing lures, 5$, jewelry by Arashi, pricelessXD )

This week's article is Jun's June Wink-up question and answer session, with the gorgeous close-up<3<3

( A picture is worth 1000 words... )

あなた達の夢が雲のように空で飛んでいると願っています＾＾

Well...it's been a week...those pants ain't making it back I guessXD But today I got my JR pass, so looking through the little accompanying pamphlet made me feel a little better^^ They really have a lot of different trains in Japan, and they all have their own namesO_o Here in Canada we have only two major train companies, and it's usually more cost effective to fly, so my only experiences on a train were in Europe. I'm kind of looking forward to it, I lvoe new experiences...but someone at my work advised me not to look backwards out of a shinkansen, apparently that's a great way to make yourself really sickXDD Dou darou na~;P Chotto waku waku shimasu neXD
Happy Birthday Nino!:D Here's to another great year, may your wishes come true:3
De wa, let's move along to this week's action packed post!:D Beginning with, the Oedo Hakkenden MMA from 07.03.31^^

( Tales of the absurd;P )

Next, algelic requested a couple clips regarding [BokuImo]^^

( Kakkoii onii-chan~<3 )

For articles...today I have some stunners<3<3<3 Hujingahou, and...*drumroll please*...Jun's Josei Jishin nosebleed-causing exposureXD

( ....*dazed*.... )

この世界には私に似合う男があるかな。。。もちろん、潤くんに可能性があると思いたいよね～XD

Life really is a waiting game isn't it? When we're young we wait for the next holiday, or birthday, or until we're 'grown up'...when we're teenagers we wait until we can have our independence, until school will be done...then the waiting becomes so much more pronounced. Waiting for a house, a significant other, a vacation, retirement...but what took me a long time to realize is that while waiting, patiently or impatiently, for these landmarks and mile markers to finally materialize, what's really important is the way you fill that time^^ For me the big events were like glowing beacons in a sea of darkness, drawing slowly closer until I could bathe fully in their light for a split second before they winked off to become memories. The waiting, plodding time was nearly unbearable, a Sisyphean wheel of fate...but now I can see that it's not darkness at all, there are thousands upon thousands of diamond stars twinkling on a field of velvet, the friends and activities and little moments of beauty everyday that I couldn't see before^^ So while I walk onward through the soothing, starry night I try to savor these things, and not let them be drowned out by the lamp-posts along the way:3
Today it's the MMA from 07.03.24 with Aiba and Ohno's Chinese cuisine battle!:D

( Laying it on the line;P )

Also, I had a request from zaizaiaddict to do a clip from Channel V from when they were in Korea for the Asia Song Festival (06.09.28). Unfortunately, the host only speaks Korean, so there are some parts I couldn't do...but here it is anyway^^

( You did say 'anything' Nino...;) )

And, last but not least, Jun's article in June Potato:3

( the velvet ropes... )

友達を出来ることは出来ますかな？：Ｓ昔からすごく難しかったですけど。。。でも、前へ進みたいなら頑張らなければならないんですねＸＳ

Ohayou minna~:) Well, it's been quite an eventful week ne;) The first performance of We Can Make It on Heyx3, it was so good!<3 Although, the last pose at the end made me cringe a little...;P But the costumes and the singing and dancing were all awesome, I'm very happy at how well it turned out:) Can't wait to see the PV itself, which is supposed to be out...well, today in JapanXD The part in the CM where they slide down the poles was so cute, I want to see it again and againXD And yes, I'm working on translations for all teh shows that just came out, please forgive the time lag, I really am trying to do it as fast as I can^^; Unfortunately, rigfht this very moment I feel myself coming down with a cold, so that's probably not going to help any...but maybe I can use a few sick days at work, lately it's been abysmal anywayXD Okay, enough of that, Nyanchan-style staatoXD

*Edit* Okay, I started this post last night before realizing photobucket was down for maintenanceO_o I was hoping tehy'd come back up in time but...no such luck;P I'm currently downloading the PV from Jpopsuki (cause it's 195mb, I want the best quality<3) and am officially sick now^^; Which means no work...but still, being sick sucks:S But I found some cute new summer shoes on the way home from my appointment, so yay!XD
This week it's the MMA from 07.03.17 with Sho and Aiba and their magical matching underwearXDDD

( Entering nosebleed territory;P )

Next, Jun's May Wink-Up and Potato articles<3

( Pass the kleenexXD )

Due to popular request (and my own interest;P) I also did the photodiary of Arashi in Korea from AAA:D

( Have camera will babble )

Well, today was just another boring/pressuring day at work, trouble on the home front etc, and then I get home and see everyone posting about how the AAA DVD is coming out!!XDD Oh, I'm so excited, I hope it comes out on Yesasia soon>_< This whole time I'd practically given up hope that they'd release it, I mean, going from the One fiasco...I really wanted it, but I didn't want to set myself up to feel really sad when we didn't get one, so this is the best possible surprise<3 Finally, I can have Jun's [Tell me what you wanna be] in good quality, right up close~!!X3 I want it now;P And the [Right Back to You] performance, and the other concerts with little to no fancamera coverage, it feels like I must have another birthday coming upXD Plus, tonight is the first episode of Bambi~no:3 Although, it probably won't be up for download until just after I've gone to bed at this rate...^^; Still, what an awesome way to end the night^^ To celebrate, a post of my own;P
First, the MMA Jouka Machi with Aiba and Ohno in Akasaka:)

( Lost in Tokyo;P )

Only one article today, but I picked it for the gorgeous photoshoot and implied content:3

( Enraptured by your eyes<3 )

好きなものが好き、だからしょうがないね:3

Minna, how are you? I hope you're doing well in your various endeavors, please try to find moments of happiness no matter how hard or boring it gets:D I am muddling along in my own way too, one step at a time ne^^
Today...I have a big postXDD Okay, I totally didn't intend to do this, I know I'm always talking about how little time I have and really I do...but I'm seriously hooked on Arashi and translating;P So...instead of starting the next episode (which is already late, gomen>_<) I did all these things insteadXD I'm sorry, I really figured I'd catch up eventually, but I'm probably only going to keep slipping further behind, but I think you'll be really happy with what I have to offer instead:D
I'll put the best part it its own post, I think it deserves it<3 So, here I'll start with the MMA from 07.03.03 where Sho and Ohno get a taste of the high lifeXDD

( Spoil me rotten;P )

Next, assorted articles; Jun's bit in May Myojo and Josei Jishin, and the Arajin they all did with Ehara Hiroyuki for that Asu e no Tobira show^^

( Tears for fears )

Bonus Game!!:D I decided to relax after all my translating last night, catch up on the month's worth of shows I have yet to see (yes...it's so sad:S) and I started with this Zoom-In Super clip^^ Which, I should have known from experience was a bad ideaXDD Anyway, yadda yadda yadda, I translated it;P





( Footsy )

バカみたいＸＤ　でも、楽しい～：３

It's funny how much the seasons have an impact on my mood...I think one of the reasons I love spring so much is that, as it gets warmer and the snow melts, it feels like my soul is unfurling like the bud of a flower from a tree. But I know it's not just the weather, it's finally having a direction for the first time in my life...it's feeling the warmth of the dreams and friends I share, it's being buffeted up by the gentle breeze of hope and seeing the blue sky of my future stretching for miles below me. I'm stubbornly clinging to this feeling, as my life depended on it, praying it will let me stay in the sun that I haven't felt in so long. Only time will tell what clouds will come, but I want to believe that as long as I have this piece of sky in my heart I can smile at the rain and keep walking this path as far as it may go:3
I saw Tada Kimi wo Aishiteiru this weekend, it was absolutely gorgeous, I'm so glad Jun recommended it<3 He really does have good taste, now I have to try Nada Sou Sou too:D And Modori Ame is so sweet!X3 That kind of torch song really gets to me, the whole era feels like something I wish I could have lived for real...;P Really looking forward to the movie^^
De wa, today's episode is the MMA from 07.02.24...in other words, the first new Jouka Machi!XDD Kind of a different format though, not sure which one I like better yet...;)

( There's a test at the end of the show;P )

And I have two articles, Jun's April Duet and Potato:3

( Hearing voices )

信じてしかいないよね。。。

Wow, I got so much done today...but most of it was that usual bureaucratic snow of forms and fees and what-not that come along with trying to do things like renew my driver's license or deal with the university^^; But it's so good to have it out of the way for at least a week or two, it's funny but the more I put off things the more onerous they seem, so finally getting them out of the way may take some annoyance but I always feel better:)
Plus, I finished a translation I've been working on for quite awhile, that I'd been looking for on my own for a year already:D But I'll post it separately because I don't want lj's space constraints to give me grief;P This here is the first of my new format of episodes. Instead of doing every single word and letter I'm going to do the parts I think are funniest/most relevant word by word (with times so you know where they begin and end) and little summaries for what goes in between. This way I can cut the time down by almost half but still do every episode....it's not a perfect solution, but it's the best I've heard so far^^; I'm not sure how this will work for subbing but I figured now I won't have to pick and choose what episodes I can do, I can do a little bit of all of them:3 I hope it's readable, this is still at the tinkering stage, let me know what you think=)
First up is the MMA from 07.02.10 with Aiba and Sho and Mori Kumiko-san...who needs to take the other guest-stars and form their own darn cooking show already!XD

( The Donburi battle;P )

This week's article is it's own post!:D