disneyninja

Normally, I don't have troubled skin.  A breakout here or there, and as long as I wear very strong sun screen I'm usually fine.  This year though, has been really hard on my skin.  I've gone back and forth on my birth control due to a doctor who was over sensitive to one blood pressure reading that was higher than normal.  Turns out, my blood pressure is normal, so I'm back on birth control.  Problem is I have had so many months on, then off, then on again, and my skin just doesn't know what to do anymore. 

I had been using a Neutrogena skin cleanser that worked well enough, but the additional lotions that came with it were the problem.  The one labeled for "day" was nice, had some sun screen in it, but the one labeled "night" was fairly harsh and dried my skin out terribly.  So clearer skin that was dry and itchy...so I used it once a day instead and used the "night" lotion more like a spot treatment.  It went okay.  I was starting to run out of the cleanser (which was a good cleanser on its own, the add-ons were the problem) so I was looking for a new solution. 

Normally I don't go to The Body Shop because the normal grapefruit/citrus scent coming from them is so strong I find it repulsive, but I figured I might as well look.  I'm glad I did.  I picked up a little starter kit for their Tea Tree Oil line skin care and for the price its a great deal(the website says $30, but I think the store may have had it for a buck or 2 less).  I got a small bottle of cleanser, toner, mattifying mousturizer gel(which gets rid of shine while mousturizing), tea tree oil, and oil absorbing tissues w/ tea tree oil.  So what tea tree oil is supposed to do is treat infection, and soothe redness. (Also tons of other things according to wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_tree_oil)  Since I like a little exfoliating action I bought a little facial scrubbing pad, for an additional $6, more expensive than it should have been, but I was there and splurging a little so whatev.  the last few days have cleared my skin up quite a bit.  At night I use the cleanser and toner and right before bed I apply a very small amount of the oil to my more troubled areas or areas broken out already.  In the morning I use the cleanser and toner, and if needed a little of the mattifying mousturizer and carry the tissues in my purse.  So everything in the kit has a use, and my skin feels really truely clean afterwards.  So for now twice a day is doing the trick.  I even happen to love the way it smells.  My boyfriend said it smelled like dirt, but I think the term he was looking for is earthy.  They have a couple of lines of skin care for different skin types, but I think the tea tree oil is gonna work really well for me.

Also, you can but the oil in your bath water, says about 6 drops for a full bath which I am doing tonight as soon as I get home. 

If you haven't seen it, I don't recommend reading this.

Throughout the series I've had a love/hate relationship with Katara.  I believe this is mostly because her flaws are my flaws and I don't like seeing them.  Her temper for one is so close to me.  When I'm happy I can roll with it and keep a level head, but when that one thing comes along that triggers my temper there is no turning back.  She is stubborn and hard headed, when she has an idea it takes so much for her to even consider change or admit wrong doing.  She may sometimes be quick to apologize but may still hold hard feelings.  This episode just really brought this forward and my conflict with her character even greater.

The episode starts with Azula confronting the gAang at The Western Air Temple and Zuko comes out as the saviour.  Basically, lets everyone else escape while he confronts his sister. Azula does seem alarmed at the fact that Zuko is now a real threat to her, which its nice to see Azula in a situation that is a threat to her, it doesn't suit her and I've been waiting a long time to see her in that place. 

The gAang, sans Katara, is very appreciative of Zuko for what he does and it really seems to win everyone over and create trust between them.  Katara meanwhile just can't get past her anger for the Fire Nation in general and puts all of this on poor Zuko.  So Zuko, determined to create a relationship with the gAang, confronts Sokka about the day his mother died so that he could bring some closure to Katara.  By the flag that the ships flew on the day of the attack he could name the fleet and came up with an idea to find the fleet and bring Katara so that she could confront him.  Of course Aang feels that Katara is going to exact revenge and being a monk advises against violence, but Katara cannot resist the chance to find the man that killed her mother. 

Although I understand her rage against the people that did this to her she did something I thought she wouldn't do (at least until the season finale).  She bloodbends.  My issue with this is that when Hamma teaches her how to do this the first time, and she is forced to use it to save Sokka and Aang she breaks down since she feels that bloodbending is immoral.  My problem is that when it comes down to her rage issues bloodbending becomes justified.  I understand that when placed in a position of that much rage you cannot always control your actions.  Obviously shes very conflicted about it.  It just seemed like there was no remorse over the fact that she used it.  It didn't come up again in the episode other than Zuko looking like he just pee'd himself when he saw her do it.

They find out that this man retired and track him down at his home where he is now an old man who keeps a vegetable garden and lives with his mother.  Katara confronts him, now without the full moon on her side, she basically puts a couple dozen spikes of ice only several inches from him.  She doesn't hurt him.  But as she tells Aang, she hasn't forgiven him and never will. 

At this point these are my major issues with Katara:

-No remorse over using blodbending when shes angry

-Treats Aang poorly even though he's giving good advice, when obviously he's delt with quite a bit of pain himself

-Tells Sokka that he doesn't love their mother the way she did

I am not a health food/super food kind of person.  But one day I was heading to Kung Fu and hadn't eaten much and I know working out on a completely empty stomach has some pretty unpleasant results.  So I picked up a Snickers Marathon Bar and ate about 1/3rd of it.  It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and actually had peanuts in it.  The flavor was supposed to be some form of chocolate, which really, if thats chocolate, I'm black.  Anyway it was alright, but amazingly filling. 
So several days later I was looking to eat something decent for breakfast and was looking for this same bar and couldn't find it.  So I picked up a Chocolate Peanutbutter Power Bar instead.  Its super packed with protein which I love because it keep you satisfied for a long time, which is why I usually eat peanuts.  I can usually only eat half a bar at a time, so half in the morning, half late in the afternoon, but man I really like the Chocolate Peanutbutter.  Same thing it doesn't taste like chocolate, but kinda what I would imagine chewy peanut butter candy would taste like.
Now, this is far from amazing and people have been eating these things forever, but I think they've come a long way from what they were.  I tried a Clif Bar once and nearly threw up on the spot.  Something that is edible and somewhat enjoyable, plus very filling and satisfying.  It has quite a few calories for one bar (300) and Sat. Fat is at 18%, but it takes me all day to eat one, so that isn't too bad.  And a ton of vitamins and minerals on top of that.

I ordered the larges Appa Plushie off of Nick.com since they had a deal on free shipping, and their shipping is usually quite high.  So I added Momo in there for good measure.  I'm quite pleased that they arrived and with the quality of them.  I've never had the money to collect toys of any sort and I've gotten a couple of Avatar toys now, which makes me very happy.  I know I keep trying to get rid of things since I wil be moving shortly, but I just couldn't resist such awesome plushie-ness. 

I am constantly thinking about how close I am to going home.  Everything is a reminder, we're paying rent for the last time, buying bus tickets/passes for the last time.  Even things as stupid as the last bottle of shampoo I'll buy here.  I'm just so happy to be going home, even though it will be in the hottest month in California. 

Today and yesterday I have been just about as unmotivated as it gets.  For both of my days off I didn't do much more than eat otter pops and watch TV.  It isn't that hot but it is humid and as soon as I move I feel sticky.  This only supposed to last for a few days, but even so it has taken any motivation I've had to do just about anything.  It makes me wonder how I will tolerate California weather after being cold for the last year.  Really, for me, I have either been cold, freezing, or hot and humid here in Washington.  Either the pleasant days were all spent by me in an office or there just aren't very many pleasant days up here.  I think its just a combination of both. 
Every day that I have a day off I think that I will get it together, start organizing and cleaning, but I just always find some excuse to not get around to it.  Today's excuse was I don't want to.  Which obviously was good enough for me to not accomplish anything.  I have a feeling it will be a lot like last time, very last minute, throwing things in boxes and just GTFO.  Mostly, I just sit and daydream about Disneyland and being home and being able to talk to my family and friends and being able to see my Grandma even if at this point she may not remember who I am.  She has had a difficult time with names for so long and now I've been away for a year.  Even if she doesn't have words to describe who I am I think it will make a difference to her to be able to see me again.  At least I hope it does. 
Dinner is something I have to get done tonight, but I just don't want to turn the stove on yet and I have to get some dishes done and clear up the kitchen a little before I do anything in there. 

Which normally isn't important to me except that July will be my last month in the state of Washington.  So, I'm quite looking forward to July.  I'll be back in California, go to see my friends and family and finally get to go back to Disneyland. 

I am trying to think of things I would like to do before I leave, things that can only be done in Washington.  Not much has come to mind so far.  I was thinking I should go to the EMP, but I don't know what else.  I've been to Pike Place and seriously, its just a fishy market.  The Space Needle doesn't interest me because of the height factor.  There are events up here, but none of the ones that I would be interested in are happening in the next month.  There are lots of things I should have done.  I should have gone to PAX and Sakura-con, but you know...things happen.  I don't drink or do the whole "party" thing, so that kind of limits what I can do.

The weather has been tolerable here.  Its finally not freezing, not quite hot though.  It doesn't feel like summer, just a warm muggy spring day.  I still had to bring a sweatshirt with me this morning which was kind of dissapointing, but what can you do.  I'm still able to wear flip flops since the rain has died down, so I have to be thankful for the little things.  I shaved both of the dogs down, and they seem to be quite happy with the result.  I wish I had a better pair of scissors so I could trim them up better.  They look alright but they are a little frumpy.

This isn't a show for kids.  It is puppets, but as the description of it says "It may not be appropriate for young children because AVENUE Q addresses issues like sex, drinking, and surfing the web for porn."  There is also puppet fornication.  So, when I went to see the show is Seattle I was only sort of suprised to see children there.  I wasn't suprised because I don't think people read about or care about what they buy or do, but I was suprised that they weren't warned when walking in, or that they didn't leave during the show.  If they paid the same we did for tickets, $65 a pop thats $260 you spent on a show you obviously know nothing about.  I found the show to be hilarious and it is quite insightful into the lives of the majority of people.  This is a show about anyone out of school or college that feels lost, confused, or dissapointed in what life really is.  While also being completely offensive and funny. 

Just in general.  I mean specifially today I am bored.  I would have loved to go to the zoo on a day like today.   But overall I'm pretty bored too.  Bored and lonely.  If you've ever played The Sims then you are familiar with the bars at the bottom of the screen that display needs and wants.  Well it really just feels like all of mine are empty.  I'm just standing there, waving my arms in the air and then breaking down into a helpless sobbing mess because my social meter is so low.  My other meters are low too, but most of them, such as hygeine I can handle myself. 

The Sims are so basic in what they need, but when I think about what I want and need, it basically breaks down into the same categories.  Fun and Social for me at this point would be in the negative if it could be.  I just don't know what to do about it.  I would like to go out and do something with people and that would in theory take care of both of those needs at once, but it just seems like I'm stuck.

Oh well...

So now that I've had the Zune for a few days here I've had noticed a few issues, but I do believe there are just settings I haven't fiddled with yet.  One is that it has split one of my Albums into many by artist, which its a movie soundtrack so there are a lot.  The other thing is the gap in the playback.  If you listen to techno megamix things you either need to figure out this setting or get another mp3 player.  Even the iPod had weird gap issues, but not this bad.  It isn't much of a problem for me because you don't notice it with most normal problems, but I do have one kind of techno-ish album and it made it quite difficult to listen to.  If I figure out the settings I'll update this, but I've been lazy/busy, so I'll see how that goes. 

So, Cody, highly out of his nature, suprised me by texting me a picture of a Zune that he bought for me.  He purchased in a store rather than online, which is even more unnatural for him.  I was so excited to get home and set it up and finally have music for my bus rides again.  The set-up is a little weirder than that of an iPod with iTunes, but I think the results are much better.  The Zune's software has a really nice interface, and the device itself has features an iPod just does not have.  I can wirelessly sync with my music through our wireless network at home, browse other peoples' Zunes if they are in range, and listen to the radio.  For people who already have a Zune this isn't a big deal, but from a previous iPod owner it makes me really sad that I've owned two, a first gen Nano and third gen Nano. 

From first to third the only update was the interface, color screen that plays videos, exteriors looks, and larger capacity.  No real new features were added that the Zune didn't already do.  My other issue with my iPod is that they have always been made of materials that are very finger printy, and prone to scratching.  The Zune, at least the second generation ones, are made of a matte finished plastic and a textured metal, so finger prints aren't an issue and if it does scratch it won't be so apparent.

The other odd thing is that like the iPod, the Zune came with a few songs on it, but some of them I actually liked.  I do like some of the music in the iPod commercials, but the things they put on the actual device is usually pretty...not good.  The Zune however included Datarock, Pacha Massive, Pop Levi and Mexican Institute of Sound.  All kind of a little out there, but thats kind of my musical style anyway.