{"id":4317,"date":"2009-09-16T21:40:03","date_gmt":"2009-09-17T05:40:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/?p=4317"},"modified":"2009-09-20T21:02:24","modified_gmt":"2009-09-21T05:02:24","slug":"blog-217-despair-devastation-delight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/2009\/09\/16\/blog-217-despair-devastation-delight\/","title":{"rendered":"Blog 217 > Despair, Devastation & Delight"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1440px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

Despair! Devastation! Delight! Can you truly distinguish one without the others? After all, one girl’s pain may be another girl’s panic may be another girl’s pleasure, don’t you think? Haha, welcome back, my Traveling Toyboxers! Welcome to yet another deliciously disturbing taste of another marvelously mad mega-cast! A mega-cast of classroom-crashing desperation, triple-pistolled typhoons, purse-lipped pianists, lunar-licking digestion, and hardware-clashing relaxation! What am I talking about? Well, buckle up, pipe down, lean back, and let’s figure it out, lol. Ready? Three, two, one, let’s start the show!<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Part 1 of 5 > Despair, Here, There & Everywhere<\/h2>\n

To fall or *not* to fall into despair? To fire or *not* to fire your weapon? To perform or *not* to perform your music? Those are the questions of the next 3 anime titles. Yup, 3 more anime titles-or-seasons: “Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei” [33], “Trigun” [34], and “Nodame Cantabile – Paris” [35]. Yes-yes, for a total of 35 completed anime titles-or-seasons in just about 8 1\/2 months so far! Well? What do you think? Despite work, play and live-action films, can I hit my typical target of 50 anime by the end of the year? Ahhh, the despair!<\/p>\n

\n

Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei (Season 2, 2008) [33].<\/a> Ahhh, yes, the despair! But let’s see, where to begin? Well, about 17 months ago, back in mid-April 2008, I finished the first season of “Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei” (2007). And I was utterly blown away! In fact, I gave it a 4 of 5 stars maximum for a half-season. Plus an Honorable Mention for 2008! So from 27 July 2009 to 23 August 2009, when I finally completed “Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei” (2008) last month, I couldn’t wait for more! Yup, my 33rd anime title-or-season of the year. Season 2 with 13 episodes. Haha, just as mind-alteringly and mind-frakkingly uproarious as Season 1. Especially with its psychological cocktail of over-analytical despair-torn classmates plus teacher! Whoa, by combining Season 2 with Season 1, the series earns a desperately impressive 5 of 5 stars! <\/p>\n

To celebrate, ranging wildly from 1024px-to-5300px resolution across both seasons, here are over 50 wallpapers, vectors, scans and other images to soothe your over-analytical soul, lol. Feel free to enlarge. Ahhh, bask in the air of despair!<\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1600px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1280px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1800px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1280px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1600px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1900px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1900px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1600px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1900px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1900px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1900px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1900px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1900px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 2500px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1900px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1600px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1600px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1900px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1280px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 2500px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1600px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1600px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1900px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1600px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1900px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 5000px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1900px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1600px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1900px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 2000px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 5300px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 2500px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1024px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1024px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1280px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1900px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1900px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1900px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1900px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1440px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1600px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1600px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1900px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1900px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1900px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1900px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1600px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1280px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1280px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1280px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1900px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1280px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1600px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1440px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

So did you fall *in* or fall *out* of despair, huh?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Part 2 of 5 > Guns, Dunes & Humanoid Typhoons<\/h2>\n

To fire or *not* to fire your weapon? That is the next question. Ahhh, the guns!<\/p>\n

\n

Trigun (1998) [34].<\/a> Ahhh, yes, the guns! Once again, where to begin? Man, I’ve seen and heard about this classic anime for years! Ages! Yet I never got around to watching it. Why? Who knows? Maybe because there always seemed to be other better titles to watch? In any case, from 20 May 2009 to 06 September 2009, with the help of Netflix, I finally completed “Trigun” (1998). Finally, after more than 10 years later! Yup, my 34th anime title-or-season of the year. Original season with 26 episodes. While some of the wandering tales fly as dry as the sand they’re drifting in, there’s a certain mythical gust to the scenes, shots and characters. Even the shadow of tears may have flickered across my eyes toward the final showdown. But in the end, the series earns a decently wind-blown, sand-torn and bullet-bitten 4 of 5 stars! <\/p>\n

To celebrate, aiming carelessly from 1500px-to-3400px resolution, here are 10 wallpapers and other images to vent your vengeful heart, lol. Feel free to enlarge. Ahhh, bathe in the hail of bullets!<\/p>\n

\"Trigun
\nTrigun (1998) | Enlarge 3400px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Trigun
\nTrigun (1998) | Enlarge 3400px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Trigun
\nTrigun (1998) | Enlarge 1600px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Trigun
\nTrigun (1998) | Enlarge 3400px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Trigun
\nTrigun (1998) | Enlarge 1600px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Trigun
\nTrigun (1998) | Enlarge 1600px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Trigun
\nTrigun (1998) | Enlarge 1600px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Trigun
\nTrigun (1998) | Enlarge 1600px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Trigun
\nTrigun (1998) | Enlarge 2300px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Trigun
\nTrigun (1998) | Enlarge 1500px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

So did you fight, flee, fall, or fire your weapon, huh?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Part 3 of 5 > Pianos, Paris Trips & Pursed Lips<\/h2>\n

To perform or *not* to perform your music? That is the final question. Ahhh, the pianos!<\/p>\n

\n

Nodame Cantabile – Paris (Season 2, 2008) [35].<\/a> Ahhh, yes, the pianos! And yes, this will be my third time featuring “Nodame”, hehe. First, my Blog 178<\/a> (Dec 2008) when I gave the first season of “Nodame Cantabile” (2007) an extraordinary and unforgettable 5 of 5 stars. Second, my Blog 207<\/a> (June 2009) when I gave the live-action drama (2006) a sublime 5 of 5 stars. And third, this Blog 217. Need I say more? Sure, why not? This time, from 26 August 2009 to 08 September 2009, I completed “Nodame Cantabile – Paris” (2008). Yep, my 35th anime title-or-season of the year. Season 2 with 11 episodes. While not as focussed, driven or intense as the first season, it is still an irresistible ride through the romantic-comedic world of classical music. Yet another shining and inspiring 5 of 5 stars! <\/p>\n

To celebrate, soaring melodically from 1024px-to-2500px resolution, here are 25 wallpapers, vectors and other images to inspire your orchestral spirit, lol. Feel free to enlarge. Ahhh, soak in the shower of rainbow sounds!<\/p>\n

\"Nodame
\nNodame Cantabile (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 2500px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Nodame
\nNodame Cantabile (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1024px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Nodame
\nNodame Cantabile (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1400px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Nodame
\nNodame Cantabile (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1600px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Nodame
\nNodame Cantabile (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1600px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Nodame
\nNodame Cantabile (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1600px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Nodame
\nNodame Cantabile (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1900px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Nodame
\nNodame Cantabile (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1900px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Nodame
\nNodame Cantabile (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1900px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Nodame
\nNodame Cantabile (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1600px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Nodame
\nNodame Cantabile (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1900px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Nodame
\nNodame Cantabile (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1900px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Nodame
\nNodame Cantabile (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1600px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Nodame
\nNodame Cantabile (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1600px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Nodame
\nNodame Cantabile (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1600px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Nodame
\nNodame Cantabile (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1600px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Nodame
\nNodame Cantabile (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1600px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Nodame
\nNodame Cantabile (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1900px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Nodame
\nNodame Cantabile (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1900px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Nodame
\nNodame Cantabile (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1600px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Nodame
\nNodame Cantabile (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1600px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Nodame
\nNodame Cantabile (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1600px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Nodame
\nNodame Cantabile (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1900px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Nodame
\nNodame Cantabile (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 2500px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Nodame
\nNodame Cantabile (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1900px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

So did you push, pull, pretend or perform your music, huh?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Part 4 of 5 > Another Autumn Embrace – August Moons & Noodles<\/h2>\n

Despair! Devastation! Delight! Which one will it be this time? After falling into “Zetsubou” despair, firing “Trigun” weapons, and performing “Nodame” music, let’s skyrocket beyond the anime atmosphere into the starry embrace of our surrealistic reality. Whatever that means. <\/p>\n

\n

Hey, remember my first weekend with Autumn-chan? Back in my Blog 215 > Embrace of an Autumn Night<\/a> (Aug 2009) mega-cast? Well, on 17 August 2009, the following Monday morning after that weekend, as I let Guiness out into the backyard to do his duty before my getting ready for work, I noticed the prettiest sight in the eastern sky. Not just the morning Moon. But, correct me if I’m wrong, I believe Venus as well! As always, feel free to enlarge the shot.<\/p>\n

\"Monday,
\n17 Aug | Monday, Morning Moon | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

Another shot. Are the Moon and Venus smiling at my Autumn embrace?<\/p>\n

\"Monday,
\n17 Aug | Monday, Morning Moon | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

A zoomed shot. Check out the enlarged version.<\/p>\n

\"Monday,
\n17 Aug | Monday, Morning Moon | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

Another zoomed shot.<\/p>\n

\"Monday,
\n17 Aug | Monday, Morning Moon | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

Aww, wasn’t that pretty? Then, two Mondays later, on 31 August 2009, or two weeks ago, Autumn-chan and I decided to have lunch at “Jollibee<\/a>“, lol. Haha, yup, the same Filipino fast-food place that I visited with Vanessa back in my Blog 060<\/a> (May 2007), more than 2 years ago! On Opening Day! Crowded! Crazy! But two weeks ago, it wasn’t so crazy. Well, not as crazy as me, lol. I know you want to enlarge the shot of those noodles, right?<\/p>\n

\"Monday,
\n31 Aug | Monday, Jolibee with Autumn-chan | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

Nahhh, not as crazy as me.<\/p>\n

\"Monday,
\n31 Aug | Monday, Jolibee with Autumn-chan | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

Mmm, Pancit Palabok!<\/p>\n

\"Monday,
\n31 Aug | Monday, Jolibee with Autumn-chan | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

Another inexplicable shot taken by Autumn-chan.<\/p>\n

\"Monday,
\n31 Aug | Monday, Jolibee with Autumn-chan | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

Hmm, wondering what she’s aiming at?<\/p>\n

\"Monday,
\n31 Aug | Monday, Jolibee with Autumn-chan | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

Ahh, another painfully posed photo.<\/p>\n

\"Monday,
\n31 Aug | Monday, Jolibee with Autumn-chan | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

Concluding with yet another delightfully deranged Jollibee-eyed composition.<\/p>\n

\"Monday,
\n31 Aug | Monday, Jolibee with Autumn-chan | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

Mmm, I think I’m getting hungry again. Damn Jollibee.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Part 5 of 5 > Another Autumn Embrace – September Hardware & Foosball<\/h2>\n

Despair! Devastation! Delight! Can you predict which one it will be next? After some surrealistic Autumn moons and noodles, let’s catapult across the chaotic chasm into the concrete embrace of materialistic reality. Is it truly real?<\/p>\n

\n

Real or not, guess what? The following day after Jollibee, on 01 September 2009, my ex-sister-in-law and ex-roommate Lisa<\/a> decided to thank me for watching Guiness the Menace all these months since she moved out this past July. Thank me how? Well, with more than a dozen Asian DVDs! Wow, nice! Thanks again, Lisa! But don’t mind the “True Blood – First Season” box set. Yeah, I know it’s not Asian. I just borrowed it from my coworker Mary because she recommended it, lol. Still halfway through it. Not spectacular, but not utterly bad either. So I thought, why not toss in the DVD box set along with the rest of the DVDs? Yeah, why not?<\/p>\n

\"Tuesday,
\n01 Sept | Tuesday, Asian DVDs | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

Ah, Satoshi Kon’s “Millennium Actress”! Breath-taking anime film. But haven’t seen Jet Li’s “Red Dragon” or Tony Leung’s “Flowers of Shanghai” yet!<\/p>\n

\"Tuesday,
\n01 Sept | Tuesday, Asian DVDs | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

Still haven’t seen the Korean animated film “My Beautiful Girl, Mari” either!<\/p>\n

\"Tuesday,
\n01 Sept | Tuesday, Asian DVDs | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

Haha, can’t wait to see the Thai comedy “Iron Ladies” about transvestites, transsexuals and homosexuals! LOL! Or Beat Takeshi’s “Taboo”. Man, so many I haven’t seen yet!<\/p>\n

\"Tuesday,
\n01 Sept | Tuesday, Asian DVDs | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

Ahh, here’s the full DVD spread.<\/p>\n

\"Tuesday,
\n01 Sept | Tuesday, Asian DVDs | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

Here’s the reverse angle.<\/p>\n

\"Tuesday,
\n01 Sept | Tuesday, Asian DVDs | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

Finally, here’s a close-up of one of my favorite Hong Kong female-fighting flicks “So Close”! Delicious spy-girls and cop-chicks! Watched it again just last week, lol.<\/p>\n

\"Tuesday,
\n01 Sept | Tuesday, Asian DVDs | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

Haha, makes you wanna grab and enjoy another Asian film, doesn’t it? Well, not just yet. Because the following Saturday, on 05 September 2009, Autumn-chan visited me in another unforgettable installment of my adorable “Autumn Embrace” series, lol. Yup, first my Blog 215 > Embrace of an Autumn Night<\/a> mega-cast. Then my Blog 216 > Time to Embrace, Rock or Die<\/a> mega-cast. Now, this Blog 217, including “Operation Laptop Fan”, lol. Essentially, she surgically opened up her main laptop, as I assisted, so we could find the serial number on her malfunctioning boot-stalling fan.<\/p>\n

\"Saturday,
\n05 Sept | Saturday, Home with Autumn-chan | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

I suggested taking photos to help her remember how to put the bits and pieces back together. Yup, she insisted on taking it apart herself! Again!<\/p>\n

\"Saturday,
\n05 Sept | Saturday, Home with Autumn-chan | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

Hmm, probably the trickiest part was remembering how the fragile wires snaked around the various curves and crevices.<\/p>\n

\"Saturday,
\n05 Sept | Saturday, Home with Autumn-chan | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

Even more wires, curves and crevices.<\/p>\n

\"Saturday,
\n05 Sept | Saturday, Home with Autumn-chan | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

Plus a weird wire with a gooey bit of newly-detached tape.<\/p>\n

\"Saturday,
\n05 Sept | Saturday, Home with Autumn-chan | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

Finally! The surgically detached laptop fan!<\/p>\n

\"Saturday,
\n05 Sept | Saturday, Home with Autumn-chan | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

Yet oddly enough, despite the “7701A”, there was no sign of a proper serial number! Gahhh. Oh well.<\/p>\n

\"Saturday,
\n05 Sept | Saturday, Home with Autumn-chan | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

Ahh, food! After consuming a couple of hours to disassemble, rest, then reassemble her laptop, it was about time for a sushi break in the sunny relaxing front-door breeze. Quite relaxing. Hehe, and yeah, the same sushi party tray<\/a> of California rolls, surimi, shrimp ebi, and edamame, as last time. Plus baby carrots, a can of Diet Sunkist Orange, and a can of Diet Sunkist Lemonade, lol. Why not?<\/p>\n

\"Saturday,
\n05 Sept | Saturday, Home with Autumn-chan | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

Yeah, as always, the soy-drenched sushi hit the spot, lol. But to make a long story short, despite the lack of Guiness the Menace and his attention-starved antics, Autumn-chan and I settled back and cuddled against the pillows and cushions to watch, smile and laugh at my embarrassing family videos taken during my East Coast Vacation<\/a> (Blog 067) in 2007, lol. <\/p>\n

Sadly, and all too soon, it was time for her to leave. So to soothe the momentary heartache, I decided to go to the 7pm Rock Band Party of another coworker Michelle’s house. Once again, I sang a ton of rock tunes on “Hard” difficult without any problems, lol. But when Michelle’s friend Nick noticed my elbow support, and listened to its foosball origin, he challenged me to a one-on-one foosball match, while inviting me to his barbecue party set for the next day. Haha, why not? Besides, as the Foosball Ninja<\/a> (Blog 189), I need an occasional foosball challenge, right?<\/p>\n

Fast-forwarding to the next day, on Sunday, 06 September 2009, we find ourselves at Nick and Vicki’s 2pm Barbecue Party! Whoa, so many young pretty people and their alcoholic activities, lol. Not only that, the birthday boy Zack on the far right is the spitting image of Lex Luthor as portrayed by “Smallville<\/a>” (Blog 209) actor Michael Rosenbaum! Uncanny.<\/p>\n

\"Sunday,
\n06 Sept | Sunday, Barbecue & Foosball | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

Here we go! Getting ready to make a toast! Hehe, I believe the blonde holding the bottle is Irish-born.<\/p>\n

\"Sunday,
\n06 Sept | Sunday, Barbecue & Foosball | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

Making the toast to the birthday boy!<\/p>\n

\"Sunday,
\n06 Sept | Sunday, Barbecue & Foosball | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

Cheers!<\/p>\n

\"Sunday,
\n06 Sept | Sunday, Barbecue & Foosball | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

A-ha! Nick’s foosball table.<\/p>\n

\"Sunday,
\n06 Sept | Sunday, Barbecue & Foosball | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

A closer view. Looks just like a Harvard-brand foosball table. Like mine.<\/p>\n

\"Sunday,
\n06 Sept | Sunday, Barbecue & Foosball | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

A random kitchen view.<\/p>\n

\"Sunday,
\n06 Sept | Sunday, Barbecue & Foosball | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

Another random kitchen view, lol.<\/p>\n

\"Sunday,
\n06 Sept | Sunday, Barbecue & Foosball | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

Well, to make another long story short, despite the lack of familiar faces, I was more comfortable playing some fast-flying foosball with Nick, Paul, Zack and Kyle in various two-on-two combinations. While Zack and I won twice as a team, Kyle and I lost twice as a team. But let’s not forget Nick’s original one-on-one challenge! In between the food and beer sessions, I lost the first game by a score of 5-to-10. But later on, despite the tight foosball rods and the sloped corners, I still managed to adjust, defeat Nick on his own table, and win the second game by a score of 10-to-7. Awesome. A worthy opponent indeed. In fact, while I genuinely complimented him, “You’re awesome”, he wasn’t smiling too much when he replied, “You’re not half bad yourself.” Hmmm.<\/p>\n

Fast-forwarding once more to the next day, on Monday, 07 September 2009, we find ourselves on the Labor Day Holiday! Yup, on this day, I finally decided to clean my salvaged foosball table. The same old foosball table that my next-door neighbor abandoned on the street curb for garbage pick-up, back on 06 June 2009. Ugh, that solidified soda puddle on the playing surface was the worst! But wow, luckily, the degreasing cleaner I bought slowly-but-steadily dissolved that puddle. So, after 3 months of sitting in the garage, my foosball table has finally been cleaned up. Not perfectly. But decently. All that’s left to do is to cover the bare and torn spots with some new wallpaper, reattach new 10-point score markers on either end, and add 3 shiny new foosballs. Hehe, I can’t wait! For now, here’s my newly-cleaned Harvard-brand foosball table.<\/p>\n

\"Monday,
\n07 Sept | Monday, Labor Day Foosball Cleaning | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

A closer view.<\/p>\n

\"Monday,
\n07 Sept | Monday, Labor Day Foosball Cleaning | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

An even closer angle.<\/p>\n

\"Monday,
\n07 Sept | Monday, Labor Day Foosball Cleaning | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

Zooming back out.<\/p>\n

\"Monday,
\n07 Sept | Monday, Labor Day Foosball Cleaning | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

A reverse angle.<\/p>\n

\"Monday,
\n07 Sept | Monday, Labor Day Foosball Cleaning | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

A closer reverse angle.<\/p>\n

\"Monday,
\n07 Sept | Monday, Labor Day Foosball Cleaning | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

Much closer, lol.<\/p>\n

\"Monday,
\n07 Sept | Monday, Labor Day Foosball Cleaning | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

Reversing the reverse angle, lol.<\/p>\n

\"Monday,
\n07 Sept | Monday, Labor Day Foosball Cleaning | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

Finally, an on-the-field perspective. Feel free to enlarge the view. <\/p>\n

\"Monday,
\n07 Sept | Monday, Labor Day Foosball Cleaning | Enlarge<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

So, from DVDs to laptops to foosball, was it truly real? Which one was it? Was it despair, devastation or delight? Is it time to play foosball yet?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Despair! Devastation! Delight! Depth! Descent! Delicacy! Destiny! My Tragic Toyboxers, did you distinguish one from the others? Yeah, right, lol. You didn’t even try, did you? Unless you think one girl’s pain and another girl’s panic and another girl’s pleasure, are all the same thing? Nevertheless, didn’t another deliciously disturbing taste of another marvelously mad mega-cast dissipate into the darkness? Didn’t another mega-cast of classroom-crashing desperation, triple-pistolled typhoons, purse-lipped pianists, lunar-licking digestion, and hardware-clashing relaxation all dissolve into despair? They didn’t? Then I thank you. Just as we should thank the glistening girls who graced our glittering mega-cast. Thank you, the girls of “Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei”, Nodame-chan, Lisa, Mary, Michelle, Vicki, and of course, the adorable Autumn-chan. I still think I’m falling for her…<\/p>\n

Can I hit my typical target of 50 anime by the end of the year?<\/i><\/p>\n

Till next broadcast. Peace. Out.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Final Flashback<\/h2>\n

To fall or *not* to fall into despair? Ahhh, yes, the despair!<\/p>\n

\"Sayonara
\nSayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1900px<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 1440px Despair! Devastation! Delight! Can you truly distinguish one without the others? After all, one girl’s pain may be another girl’s panic may be another girl’s pleasure, don’t you think? Haha, welcome back, my Traveling Toyboxers! Welcome to yet another deliciously disturbing taste of another marvelously mad … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0},"categories":[289,107,66,214,18,190,57,287,202,288,261,286],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7rIwb-17D","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4563,"url":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/2010\/02\/16\/blog-219-sayonara-2009-to-onigiri-2010\/","url_meta":{"origin":4317,"position":0},"title":"Blog 219 > Sayonara 2009 to Onigiri 2010","author":"xjaymanx","date":"February 16, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Kitsu Chiri | Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 750px Sayonara, 2009! Konnichiwa, my Tirelessly Tumbling Toyboxers! Got onigiri? Are you ready? Ready to endure a tumbling tidal wave of tear-jerking titles, blood-splattering titles, angst-ridden titles, and titles not worth mentioning? Ready to slash and slay another dragon-sized\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Akikan"","block_context":{"text":"Akikan","link":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/category\/anime-titles\/akikan\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":780,"url":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/2008\/10\/12\/blog-169-mp3-audio-broadcast-001\/","url_meta":{"origin":4317,"position":1},"title":"Blog 169 > MP3 Audio Broadcast 001","author":"xjaymanx","date":"October 12, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Audio Broadcast | MP3 Length 13:33 Minutes | Click to play xJAYMANx_broadcast Saturday, 9:15pm, 11 Oct 2008 MP3 Length 13:33 Minutes OP - \"Into the Battlefield\" from Crows Zero [2007]. Stuffy nose, cold weather, Miko sick, hope u feel better Rearranging house, plasma TV soon, remove old wood shelves, TV\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Crows Zero"","block_context":{"text":"Crows Zero","link":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/category\/asian-titles\/crows-zero\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1123,"url":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/2008\/12\/27\/blog-182-year-of-anime-rock-otaku\/","url_meta":{"origin":4317,"position":2},"title":"Blog 182 > Year of Anime, Rock & Otaku","author":"xjaymanx","date":"December 27, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Dec 21 | Angry Mimi Sign | Enlarge Ah, what a year it's been! For my last mega-post of 2008, I tackle another mixed bag of \"Rock Band\" sessions, a year's truckload of anime speed-reviews and faves, and a sparkly sprinkle of otaku thanks and wishes. So happy holidays and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Angsty Momo"","block_context":{"text":"Angsty Momo","link":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/category\/anime-art\/angsty-momo\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":4120,"url":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/2009\/08\/10\/blog-214-traps-treks-to-new-worlds\/","url_meta":{"origin":4317,"position":3},"title":"Blog 214 > Traps & Treks to New Worlds","author":"xjaymanx","date":"August 10, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Maria+Holic (2009) | Enlarge 2300px Traps! Treks! Seks! Oops, I meant sex. But you get the idea, lol. Welcome, my Trapped Toyboxers, to a strange new mega-cast of unleashed-and-untamed lady bloggers, deviously lady-like high-school boys, perfectly-convincing adult-rated lady-boys, fantastically-futuristic interstellar trekkers, and frighteningly-fantastic warp-speed starships! Will I answer last week's\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Angry Mimi"","block_context":{"text":"Angry Mimi","link":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/category\/otaku-news\/angry-mimi-otaku-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2646,"url":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/2009\/05\/04\/blog-200-tasty-tales-from-the-toybox\/","url_meta":{"origin":4317,"position":4},"title":"Blog 200 > Tasty Tales from the Toybox","author":"xjaymanx","date":"May 4, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Danni Cole | Fake Message But Genuine Number, LOL | Enlarge Awww, Danni, thanx! How have you been? Oops, wait. Oh no, a new fabricated message! Damn, lol. Ah well, although Cherokee-Hawaiian adult-film actress Danni Cole never actually sent me this sunshiny and spectacled cheer, the beach-house fantasy sounds like\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Angry Mimi"","block_context":{"text":"Angry Mimi","link":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/category\/otaku-news\/angry-mimi-otaku-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"I command you to jump...","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/08\/xjaymanx_lelouch_jump_450.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3294,"url":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/2009\/06\/21\/blog-207-angels-badasses-cyborgs\/","url_meta":{"origin":4317,"position":5},"title":"Blog 207 > Angels, Badasses & Cyborgs","author":"xjaymanx","date":"June 21, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Alita | Battle Angel Alita (Gunnm, 1990) | Enlarge Heyyy! Hello, my Ticklish Toyboxers! What's up? What's been going on? As a few of you might already know, I took a mini-break to rest, recharge, and most importantly, let my elbows recover and ring-and-pinky fingers relax from an irritating twinge\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Battle Angel Alita"","block_context":{"text":"Battle Angel Alita","link":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/category\/anime-titles\/battle-angel-alita\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4317"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4317"}],"version-history":[{"count":74,"href":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4317\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4395,"href":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4317\/revisions\/4395"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4317"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4317"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4317"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}