Hindsight

Katrina taught me how to shoot arrows today.

Figures, art and cosplayers amongst attendees.

Megumi left Los Angeles this morning to return home in Tokyo.

I first met her when I returned from Japan after the JET Programme. That was three years ago.

Everyone had a lot of fun last night, and today was a nice, intimate farewell at LAX.

Until we meet again…

It’s been a bit since I’ve actually set aside the time to write… it’s been pictures usually.

I’ve been keeping myself busy, either by choice or by role. First off, I’ve started working. I have been thrown back into the world of American taxpayers for almost a month now, and my weekdays are no-longer freelance affairs. I’ve made use of the evenings, though, for my video editing projects. Video still hasn’t died for me, and I doubt it will anytime soon.

I find myself juggling a lot now. Work, a freelance project or three here and there and even a girlfriend. Most of my friends found the last part very surprising, while I find it a most wonderful part of my life. The whole thing is definitely a challenge… maybe better written as a new, challenging chapter of living life. Is that too profound?

There is still the occasional room or time in my day to listen to some good music, and find new music as well. I haven’t gotten into a videogame since I finished several in November and December. The last movie I saw on DVD was “Lord of War”.

With all that is going on in my life (and it seems like a fair share) I am surprised I can manage to keep up at the moment.

That’s the abridged version for now. Like everyone else, I’m busy with life. As usual, I am aspiring to do things. I think my next video will be a ways from now, but I really want to do something special.

More to come.

Goodbye 2005.

It appears that I received an e-mail, a “Withdrawal of Employment”. Unfortunately, I am no longer hired, but un-hired.

This is the first time in my life I think that has happened, and I was making preparations, too…

Back to the drawing board.

Many e-mailed resumes and cover letters later, one company interviewed me and later hired me for a video editing position. I start working in downtown, Los Angeles on the 17th of this month.

I’ve spent a lot of time at home in the past few months, selling things on eBay and the sort. It’s a shift again, back into the working world, back into career pursuits of sorts…

Studying for the JLPT and working on my other projects continues as scheduled, and I’m wrapping up my freelance web projects…

I’ll keep on bloggin’…

I’ve been studying for the JLPT regularly, about two or three times a week, several hours a night. It’s a challenging run to review everything, but it’s slowly coming back to me.

Jogging has remained part of my weekly activities.

I was in a huge slump last week. Feeling restless, alone. There is just too much free time when one is out of a job, even when there is much to be done or when I still have a lot I want to do.

Today was better, inspiring. It’s not a turning point, no. But I believe I have just written down the next video… perhaps a reel of sorts.

The video previous to this will be online sometime in late October/early November (final effects added). I’ve got some help on this one.

I never took the Japanese Language Proficiency Test when I was in college, nor did I attempt to take it when I was living in Kitakyushu, on the heels of my JET Program experience.

The JLPT is one of those de-facto standards that are considered. Levels run from 4 through 1 (beginner to master). If you can do Level 1, chances are you should be working and living in Japan well.

I would say that with some dedication and motivation, I could probably pass Level 3. At first I thought about taking Level 4. Stress free test-taking and minor kanji brush up. But after consulting with some friends, Level 4 would be a waste of time… similar to taking an elementary school math test perhaps. I think I can do better.

Level 3 is what I’m shooting for. I have about 97 days left until the test date. If I can review my texts for grammar and look at last year’s tests (on sale and already ordered on line), I think I’ll be okay.

Sissie asked me why I was taking it now. “Personal reasons slash closure,” I told her. “I guess I just should have taken it awhile ago, but now I’m actually going to take it.”

90 days isn’t much. I’m not too comfortable. But I’ve started studying this evening and I’ll keep on going until I take the test at the Los Angeles location.

In other news, I’m 15 Lessons through a 16 Lesson Final Cut Pro book. My other goal, since I am still having hard time finding work, is to get Level 1 FCP Certified. It’s rather expensive: it costs $150 to take the test. But at the same time, I’m spending my unemployed time pretty well. Using FCP, reviewing my Japanese, and still searching and creating.

I think the only really unproductive (but therapeutic day) I had was Sunday of last week: I played The Sims 2 literally all day. It was too hot to do anything else. Really.

My latest video is complete and in the hands of a CG artist. There’s a missing element in the video I’d like to have. So until that’s done, the video is on a holding pattern.