Random announcements

I've posted Chapter 20 of WDKY to FFnet. It's going up on MMorg soon, and I'm also in the midst of updating Darkness Rising with its new layout. However, I need to re-organize the site a bit and make sure all the pages are linked properly. Once all that gets done, I'll make an announcement over at azurite_updates... but I still have some work to do, especially with getting all my fics organized.

Expect another oneshot fic from me within the next two days. The deadline for ygo_lyricwheel is almost here! I got a hard song, though... ~_~

What's done over at Darkness Rising
* New index page with affiliates
* Characters page completed (Anzu, Mokuba, Honda, Jounouchi subpages completed)
* Anime page completed
* Manga page completed
* Fanfiction page MOSTLY completed (added new fics, including 30kisses)
* Links page MOSTLY completed (needs organization, link check)
* Card Equivalency List completed
* JAP<->ENG card info page completed

What's left
* [Duel] Monsters page
* Egypt Page
* Secret page (Millennium Items)
* Other stuff...?

Uhh... aside from more stuff and layouts for BEA/DRFA (eventually), WDKY21+, and a few random oneshots, I think that's it for the up-and-coming...

Oh yeah, check out my new LJ layout, courtesy of Lin Kuruzu and ceruleansan! :D It's so pretty, and oh-so-Seto x Anzu!

I think I may have dug myself into a hole

It's funny how even when you plan something else, what other people say and think can change your actions. WDKY is planned out in its entirely, but not written completely. Nonetheless, I have an idea of what direction all the plots are going to take, what the characters are going to say, think, and feel, etc... but readers seem to be getting different impressions, and I just want to make sure I don't lead them astray.

The whole Téa fainting thing in Ch. 20 (I don't consider it a spoiler for reasons that follow) was NOT meant to be a significant plot point, or the sign of something bad/dangerous/worrisome on the way. I could twist it to make it like that, but it wouldn't fit with what I've previously set-up points. It could be several things, too, so if it can't fit with one thing, it could be another. People have speculated all sorts of things, and it's got me thinking if I should twist it just a bit, so it doesn't seem STUPID (for Téa fainting for No Big Reason).

On another note, mklutz, do you remember an episode of Full Metal Panic (original series or Fumoffu) where Tessa and Kaname had to fight off some baddies, and one of them grabbed a suitcase or something and NAILED the suckers? Or maybe I'm just remembering the manga? Help!

I have to clean my room. I hate myself for still sitting in front of the computer, even though I'll have to come back to it later for Listening Comprehension.
*snore* Waaah. WDKY21 is another one of those chapters that I think I can get written fast, but I'm dissatisfied just because it's not as action-packed and fun as the others. Sure, part of one plot gets resolved, but 21 is actually about setting up for the rest of the plots. X_X

There will come a day, somewhere far away...

Okay, so I'm working on the last bits of my applications for study abroad:
(1) Waseda University in Tokyo, through the CSUN International Programs
(2) Tokiwa University in Mito, through the Japanese department at CSUN
I've already got Takase-sensei lined up to give me the Japanese recommendation for both; I've got one recommendation from Salido for Waseda, and I'll try and get Blumenkrantz for Tokiwa. I just finished filling out the form to request an official transcript from CCSF (I might need to request another one for Tokiwa, blargh!); I won't need a CSUN transcript until Mid-January 2006. And then there's the dreaded essay for both.

Please read these and tell me if they're any good...

( Waseda University )

---

( Tokiwa University )

For the first one, they asked for "three to five paragraphs" and I wrote three-- not because I want to do just the minimum, but because I think I covered what the application requested, which was to talk about how I'm prepared to study abroad, and how studying abroad would help my academic and career goals.

The second one is only 555 words, and they said "Please write an essay in the space provided below entitled My Interest in Japanese Culture in about 1000 words in English, describing how you have prepared yourself for a visit to Japan, and how you would expect this experience to contribute to your long-term personal goals." So how should I make it longer, or expand on any points I made?

And off-topic, but on-record, Eva's new SO/BF/WTF is pretty hawt. And he sounds sweet, too. So, when do I get to meet him?