Meet the Parents, part deux

*sigh* What an adventure. Okay, so we didn't go to Balboa Park, which is supposed to be very big and nice and famous and all, which means we missed out on some sort of Chocolate museum thing (darn!) but we did go shopping-- and Scott actually walked away with more than I did. And he needed it, too. He pretty much bought something (or his mom bought him something) in every store we went in! From hemp (grrr...) Adidas shoes to a slew of American Eagle shirts, he's now very smart and clean looking (the super cut he got at Fantastic Sam's probably helped, although Scott supposedly hates every haircut he's ever gotten).

The rain was nice enough to let up on Sunday, during which Scott and I went to his twin brother Ryan's house (and they're fraternal twins, so they really look nothing alike), and we hung out with him and friends Aaron, John, and John's brother Jason. Jason left to go surfing while he had the chance, while the rest of us contemplated lunch. We finally decided on this place called Pat & Oscars, and I ended up fielding for the meal for both myself and Scott-- and everyone else, I guess, if you count those dozen breadsticks.

It was a successful trip on most counts-- there was no fight with me and Scott, just one of those serious "discussions" that resulted from too-much pent up frustration and the fact that Scott seemed to turn into a different person upon crossing the San Diego county line. But I have to give him and his parents credit-- they've only met me twice, so it's impossible for them to know me so well and accept me, I guess.

I still wish Scott would just tell them certain things though, so they don't get it in their head that I'm some floozy.

I know his mom is concerned for him, but there was one thing she said that really hurt my feelings just before we left: "Scott, I really hope you settle down and find that special somebody..." Well, I was right there. I saw that as very insensitive, because while I can understand her need as a mother to see her son secure and happy, what am I, chopped liver? I'd like to think that, regardless of any Really Big Serious Talks Scott and I have had in the recent past, I'm the "Special Somebody of the Moment."

Maybe if Scott's mom had the excuse of watching Sailormoon, she could say I'm just some temporary girl about to be Negadusted, but... -_- Well, she hasn't, and I'm not, so there.

I just have to buck up and keep going back and trying my damndest to win their approval and acceptance. Hey, at least the dog likes me!

Anyhow, I'm currently working on some strange revisions to WDKY15-- which I blame entirely on QuickEdit, but once knowing about them, doesn't excuse me from the fact that they exist. I have to sift through this ridiculously long chapter trying to find all the missing periods, commas, and delete all the weird 9;9; things. o_O I wonder why they appeared, anyway? I don't use any illegal characters in my text...

I better get going to class. X_X I hope this cough of mine (undoubtedly caused by a mixture of dust and pet dander at Scott's parents' house) goes away soon.

It's for a good cause

Okay, so it's official-- I'm going to Japan. But not for my 20th birthday as originally planned. I suppose being in Japan for the big 2-0 would be nice, but then, I'd not only be missing school, but missing Passover, and that's never a good thing without a really good excuse (and let's face it, pleasure travel just doesn't cut it). So I'm going the week AFTER Spring Break, with the Pop Japan Travel group. "Go with my gut," says I.

But the trip is going to cost $2099, leaving me with about $100 between now and then. Considering I expect to want to spend much more than that on food, gifts, and crazy things from either the Square-Enix Manga Studio and/or the Tokyo Anime Fair, I need money.

So I've come up with a great idea-- ask YOU!


I'm PayPal verified. If you already have a PayPal account, fantastic! Donate a few bucks for my cause-- the more, the better, because I'm actually offering a service:
* Donate me a minimum of $20, and I will go to Japan and get whatever you want from Japan (that's bringable-backable. That is, no guns, no cars, no mail-order-brides...).

* Whatever you donate should cover the cost (approx.) of whatever it is you want. I can go for the basics-- DVDs, games, music, clothes, food (non-perishable), trinkets, art books, etc. The reason why I say a minimum of $20 is because a) it means whatever it is will likely be worth my time to search for it and purchase it, and b) it won't be something I can easily lose, like a cell phone strap.

* Depending on the item in question, I will take care of shipping to you (from when I get back to the U.S.) If it's something small and light (lighter than a DVD case with a 20 page booklet) then I'll send it for free. Anything more than 1 lb/8 oz. and I might ask for $2-4 for S/H.

So let's say you want to help an anime fan/friend/relative/fellow geek out. Here's how you do it:
1) Donate me some money. If it's more than $20, specify an item (or three) you'd like from Japan, and I'll do my hardest to grab it for you. Try not to think of things that are too rare/old/expensive.
2) Try to think of multiple items of a general nature (for example "Full Metal Panic doll" as opposed to "Sagara Sousuke 20 cm. action figure with bendable arms and removable armor suit") so that if your first choice isn't available, I have a back-up
3) Don't forget to include your address. Otherwise, I keep your money and spend it on whatever I want! *grin* ^_^

So please, please, please help me, and I will definitely help you!