レナ・Rena・瑞心

The promise to update every other week seems to be going down the drain, so we'll have to settle for fortnightly for the updates instead. Still, if videos count, my update rate is still pretty healthy :p. I have tons of pictures uploaded to my Facebook account on a very frequent basis, so do add me if you haven't already so that we can stay in contact that way. Much easier too, since I'm on FB pretty much every night, even when I'm on my PS3 or watching TV. Since the last video, I've been planning a major effort, but it's time to go for broke, and if I'm not hapy with the results I'll have to give up. No details to be given yet, however all I can say is that I'm working on something else, rather than another picture slide show. Still, I have no idea how it will work out, so perhaps it's still a long way off from ready for showing. I've also decided not to submit my videos to Stomp, since I don't think they will allow me to win another camera, and that the way the butcher the video quality given today's bandwidth is a little bewildering. Rena is now over 8 months all, and she's practically learning new things everyday. She's already sitting up very firmly these days, and have solid food for meals. She has 4 teeth to show off, and likes the attention that she's been enjoying in front of friends and relatives. It's much easier to bring her outside these days, but she has a temper that even I am afraid of. Similar to me, I guess, just that I rarely rarely show any signs of anger. Though, I get mad and frustrated pretty easily. Hopefully she'll be able to control her emotions and save us from all the stress of having to settle a screaming, hungry baby. :p

No major purchases this month, though I got myself KOF XII for the PS3 once it was released in Singapore. I spent hours on it with my DS3 controller, and got a sore thumb with a nice blister on it. I made up my mind to get a joystick, and immediately seeked and got one the following day. There were many high end controllers which were very nice, but I was pretty low in cash and settled for a korean brand named Joytron. It looked good, and the packaging and art were pretty nifty too. The stick felt good, but the buttons seem a little loose and felt like the spring effect won't last too long. Well, I only need it for KOF so hopefully it lasts, like my previous Hori one for the PS1 which still works and I use it for emulation on the PC.
The PS3 version came with a few goodies, but were mostly useless. 2 collector cards, and a screen cleaner. Yeah nothing to shout about but the art was nice. The game itself, has disappointed many with lousy reviews, mostly due to the lack of characters, stages, and modes. The online component has been complained for being laggy too. I agree, but the bottomline is that it is a KOF title, and the gameplay is rock solid. I thought the combat system was flawed at first, till I realise the tremendous amount of depth and combos which were packed in all the characters. I'm hooked, and constantly trying out new characters and combos. Hopefully, SNK will give us fans more download contents such as new characters and stages, to build upon this engine which is already really fun and pleasing to the eye.
Having cleared my Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) level 2 last December, I can finally join the Standard Charted Singapore Marathon this year. I've been waiting to clock a 42km run for a long time now, but always didn't have the chance, either due to overseas trips or my JLPTs, level 3 and level 4. Now that I've completed most of my Japanese modules and have achieved my aim of level 2, I'm definitely signing up for this year. Hopefully I can survive it, and perhaps go for a few more in the years to come. :)

From Wiki: Kamen Rider Double (仮面ライダーW（ダブル）, Kamen Rider W) is the upcoming eleventh series in the Heisei period run of the Kamen Rider Series and the twentieth Rider series overall. It is set to premiere following the finale of Kamen Rider Decade on September 6, 2009, and will air alongside Samurai Sentai Shinkenger in TV Asahi's Super Hero Time programming block. End Quote. So far, I'm liking the Rider's suit design, but I'm HATING the 2 main guys which will henshin into the rider. Yes, 2 guys into 1. As if that doesn't sound gay enough, the 2 teenage guys really look and dress like gays. They disgust me so much I'm not going to put their pics here, save the video. Their gayness even top Shinken Blue, whom I thought was girly since appearing with bunny ears on his blog. I'm not gonna be giving up on the series because of this, but man, I'm so going to be complaining about them. Seriously, they really LOOK gay. I can spend hours bitching about them, but I really just wanna slap them. Decade's been doing well so far, with Black showing up in recent episodes.

Well, that's it again. For us, we have a whole list of activities upcoming in August, such as a photoshoot, a visit to the zoo, the video project, and of course our anniversary celebrations. Expect more pics soon. Till then, ja! Will leave you with a kick ass trailer of the upcoming Decade movie featuring all the riders in an epic rider kick!