きっと、十月が来た！

Finally, September is almost over. The peak period of work has passed, and I can finally return to work nolmacy. Well, sort of. There's a new set of challenges to be met at work, but at least I can say I'm looking forward to it. The past few weeks have really been hectic, hence the lack of any updates. Even the weekends were pretty packed, with me and Mabel rushing all over the department stores trying to find the best bargains for baby products. We've also attended a few seminars and workshops regarding parenting and having a baby. The most recent one was today, where we attended one in town organised by Mediacorp.

The event was hosted by local celebrity Evelyn Tan, with 4 or 5 sessions of talks given by subject matter experts in their own respective fields, such as breast feeding, looking good for mothers, baby geniuses, and even how to take the best shots of your baby. Upon entry, we were given 2 huge bags of freebies, mainly sample products from the event organisers. There was also a tea break catered where a buffet style spread was waiting for us. Not too bad for just $10 per person.

However, the finale was the best. Along with Evelyn, other celebs such as Chew Chor Meng, Wong Li Lin, May Phua, and Huang Biren were invited as guests to share their personal experiences as a parent. The sharing session was as humourous as it was sponteneous, and was really enjoyable. We approached Evelyn during the break, had some small talk and even got a picture with her. She commented that Mabel's tummy was really compact and that she would return to her normal figure real soon after delivery. After the show, we got to share the same lift with Evelyn and Huang Biren too, and even engaged in some small talk. Before leaving, she asked us whether we were having a boy or a girl, and even touched Mabel's tummy to see if her prediction was correct. Though she guessed wrongly, we still managed to have our photo taken with her. :)

More Den-O figures have been confirmed, such as Kamen Rider Zeronos and even the imagins Kintaros and Urataros, which were previously left out of the series. Of course, this spells good news and that I'll have to put aside some money from now till the release date. Thankfully I didn't really spend much the past few weeks and can afford some of these indulgences....

Morning Musume's 37th single have just been released in Japan this week. Titled "Pepper Keibu" (ペッパー警部 lit. Sergeant Pepper), it was originally a song by the Japanese hit duo Pink Lady. The single was released on August 25, 1976 under the Victor label, making it their first single ever released. The single reached a peak chart position of #4, with a total of 1,050,000 sales. PV attached here for your listening pleasure.

I wasn't too enthusiastic about the single because I thought it was pretty week, compared to the last few releases which I really enjoyed, such as "Resonant Blue". It has a really retro vibe to it, which might not be too bad but it certainly needs a few more listens before it starts to sink in. The PV and dance also pales in comparison to "Resonant Blue", but then again it was one of my favourite tracks in recent years so it's not too fair to compare this way.Finally, the trailer for the upcoming Dragonball live action movie will be released next month. Until then, here are some of the pics found on the net a few weeks ago. Justin Chatwin looks good as Goku. Granted, there are changes to the original manga and we won't see him go Super Saiyan, but plans have already been revealed for 2 more movies after this.

We see Piccolo for the first time too. Fans are really divided on this, seeing that Piccolo isn't really the shade of green we've all come to love, and that he's lost his antenne. Ears need to be sharper too, but I'm still pretty glad isn't really all that different. Chow Yun Fatt as Kame Sennin might be a good choice, although you and me know that he costs too much and is there to be catalyst for the asian (or China) market who wants some one familiar. More changes to the character this time, but hopefully he'll retain his hentai side.

End of the day, I'm a big fan and want to see the movie succeed. That's a tall order, as demonstrated by so many other video game/manga to movie translations which have failed badly. Still, things are looking good! Check out a fan made trailer which I thought was pretty well done here:

Kamen Rider Agito (仮面ライダーアギト usually spelt Masked Rider ΑGITΩ in the official merchandises), is the eleventh installment in the popular Kamen Rider tokusatsu franchise. The series repesented the 30th Anniversary of the Kamen Rider Series. The series was also a joint collaboration between Ishimori Productions and Toei and was shown on TV Asahi from January 28, 2001 to January 27, 2002. Agito is the first Kamen Rider series to feature the three main types of Riders: a mystical Rider (one that draws power from ancient technology or mystical methods), an organic Rider (one whose anatomy changes to become a Rider), and a high-technology Rider (one who is either a cyborg or uses advanced technology to fight).

Though a little dated as it was first shown in Japan over 6 years ago, I finally found a subbed version and began watching the series, usually though the media sharing function on the PS3 so that I can watch the show on TV. To my pleasant surprise, the show was absolutely fantastic and was far better than the current Kiva series showing in Japan right now. Old school rocks. The series has a fairly sombre mood where characters die all the time, and that the plot revolves around murder cases usually caused by supernatural reasons. This series is now my second fave, still behind last year's Den-O. Hopefully I'll get to watch Kuuga and Ryuki soon to complete all the Heisei rider series.

The song Lion by Nakajima Megumi (中島愛) and May'n, who play Ranka Lee and Sheryl Nome in the show, was used starting from episode 18 onwards. I like it a lot, and think it's one of the best songs among the rest of the other great songs by the 2 singers. Initially, I did't really understand what I liked about the show. I mean, I don't really like the new Valkryie designs, and the actions were too "CG" for me. However, it dawned upon me that it was really the characters as well as the songs which truly captivated me. Check out a video of the song:

菅野よう子星を廻せ　世界のまんなかで

くしゃみすればどこかの森で蝶が乱舞

君が守るドアのかぎ　デタラメ恥ずかしい物語

舐め合っても　ライオンは強い

Go around the stars, right in the middle of the world

When I sneeze, butterflies flutter wildly in a forest somewhere

It’s not certain for you to protect the key to the door

Even if he tastes an embarrassing story

The lion is strong

生き残りたい生き残りたい

まだ生きていたくなる

星座の導きでいま、見つめ合った

I want to survive　I want to survive

I feel like I still want to live

By the guidance of the constellations, we gazed at each other just now

生き残りたい途方にくれて

キラリ枯れてゆく

本気の身体　見せつけるまで私　眠らない

I want to survive　I become at lost at what to do

And wither away in a sparkle

Until I show off my serious self I won’t sleep

風はやがて東へ向かうだろう

高気圧この星の氷河を襲う

さそい水を飲んだ胸がつらい

遠まきな物語

かじり合う　骨の奥まで

The wind will head toward the East before long, right?

The high atmospheric pressure attacks the glaciers of this planet

My chest that drank the priming water feels painful

A story closes in from afar

And gnaws on you, deep into your bones

生き残りたい生き残りたい

まだ生きていたくなる

星座の導きでいま、見つめ合った

I want to survive I want to survive

I feel like I still want to live

By the guidance of the constellations, we gazed at each other just now

生き残りたい途方にくれて

キラリ枯れてゆく

本気の身体　見せつけるまで私　眠らない

I want to survive I become at lost at what to do

And wither away in a sparkle

Until I show off my serious self I won’t sleep

何しに生まれたの何しにここにいる

What was I born to do? What am I to do here?

生き残りたい埋まらない傷光

恐れてた許されたい生命がいま、引かれ合った

さまよい果てて 君のとなりでほてり鎮めたい

本気の身体　見せつけるまで私　眠らない

I want to survive My unburied wounds
Feared the light Our lives, which want to be allowed, attracted each other just now

My wandering is over I’m next to you and I want to quell my blushing

Until I show off my serious self I won’t sleep

生き残りたいがけっぷちでいい

君を愛してる目覚めたい生命がいま、惹かれ合った

狂気に代えて祈り捧ぐよ
君を愛してる星座の導きで…

I want to survive I’m fine with being on the edge of a cliff

I love youOur lives, which want to awaken, enticed each other just now

Instead of madness I offer a prayer

I love you By the guidance of the constellations…

生き残りたいまだ生きてたい

君を愛してる本気のココロ見せつけるまで私　眠らない

I want to survive I still want to live

I love you Until I show off my serious heart I won’t sleep

Haven't been watching too much anime these days, since the focus of my time is still really on Tokusatsu most of the time, with the ongoing Super Sentai and Kamen Rider series still taking up my weekends, and the spare time watching the older shows such as Agito and also Ryuki. So far, the only anime I still watch is Macross Frontier, with manga only from the Naruto, Bleach, and Claymore series. At least the next season of Gundam 00 is almost here.

Other than here, I also post other random stuff on FaceBook, which has so far connected me to a lot of long lost classmates and friends. It's a great networking tool, and also connects me to my friends met through courses and work too. I'm really surprised by the abundance of higher ranking officers from work who have found their way to FaceBook too. If you haven't already added me, please do so. You can either search for my name or just key in my email: psyke0808@yahoo.com.sg. Hopefully, the routine of my posts will return to at least once a week from now on. Until the countdown till Dec, ja!