Enjoy the holidays!

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Yeah yeah, I know, Christmas is all about the birth of Jesus and enjoying the time spent with friends and family. But the presents are nice too!

Speaking of which, I got some nice presents for my girlfriend! (She knows about them, so they're not really a secret anymore XD) I got her the following things:
- A one year sub to DeviantArt!
- A Chibicon ticket! (more or less to force her mom into letting her go there. Gotta be smarter than them parents!)
- And last but not least: A weekend trip to Center Parcs for us 2! =3 (Actually, this one came by chance. I didn't plan for this one, but hey... I'm not gonna turn down a huge discount for two people for Center Parcs.)

Hope you'll like them hon! <3

She got me some presents as well! She gave me something I somewhat really needed. She got me a brand new Wacom Bamboo Tablet!! She got me the MTE-450A model.

My old one was on the verge of breaking down, really. The pen of my old one was already broken down for the most part, I managed to 'repair' it somewhat (yay for tape!), at the cost of losing the right click function on that thing... And the back sensor of the pen was broken too.
The rubber things underneath (that hold the thing on one place) on my old one were all gone, so my tablet got some real sliding issues. And finally, the USB wire started to break slightly.
The thing lasted for 4 years with me though! And it's still functioning as it should be, though the pen is really beaten down and the tablet has became a living place for dust and dirt. xD Wacom sure knows how to make good tablets.

But my old tablet now a thing of the past! Also, my new tablet has some nice extra features my old one didn't have. Most notable feature is how well it likes to play together with my Mac. The Function buttons on the tablet replace some of my F-keys on my keyboard. More easy navigating between programs FTW!!
Next up is Bamboo Dock. Has some cool things like pen tablet mini games (good for time killing during the school hours) and a few other programs that allow for quick doodling and stuff. But you can also add shortcuts to programs and stuff. =3

I will get another present from her for Christmas, but I don't know what is yet... Oh well, time will tell!!!

Whoo! Vacation time! Also, a slight rant about videogame re-releases/remakes.

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Whew! I finally have vacation again. I really needed it. Needed to get some things straight. Gonna use my time wisely. Well, the time I'm not going to spend with my girlfriend () and I am not working. Which isn't that much. xD

My girlfriend is going to stay over from Saturday till Tuesday. During that time we're also going to visit my grandma to enjoy Christmas and such. Then, on the second Christmas day I'm heading over to her place to enjoy Christmas with her family, and of course I'm sleeping over as well. A few days later I might also go over to her place and celebrate New Year. I still debating over that since the annual New Years party here is going to be held as well...

After that, my vacation's almost over. In between that time I have to do some slight catching up with school work and of course my normal work at the supermarket and the morning papers. Luckily, at the 7th of January I'll turn 19! My final year of teenage-ness! XD That is, if I manage to dodge all those fireworks first... xD


Seriously. My interest in DA has dwindled, again. The new messages (which are mostly journal updates from other peeps and +fav notices) and deviations keep piling up in my message center. On top of that, I haven't uploaded new stuff for a few weeks. Might as wipe my whole message center clean.

Yes, creatively-wise I have came to a standstill as well. It's not that I am having an art block, it's just that I can't be arsed to draw. Not even coloring stuff seems to appeal me at the moment. This better returns fast. Maybe I should just start out drawing again. W


At least this department is still running. My bro got New Super Mario Bros Wii. It's the first Mario game where I didn't feel any anticipation for at all. The main reason for that must be that Super Mario Galaxy 2 was going to be released much later than this game, while both games were about finished at that time. Also, those 2 generic toads they added as playable multiplayer characters is a big no. One Toad is fine. But two? Wut? Anything would've been better than those two Toads. ...Even Daisy...

Anyway, the game is still very fun regardless. Maybe I'm enjoying it so much because I skipped any news about it since it got announced. Well, it's the most challenging 2-D Mario I've played so far. Well, I do admit that the Propeller Mushroom does take a lot of challenge away. It saved my butt a few times though!
The levels are very varied and some star coins and secret goals are very well hidden.
I've played it with my brother too, but the multiplayer is quite wonky. Especially in those small, narrow areas. But regardless, still fun to play. Still not as good as Super Mario Bros. 3 though. XD


Read a very nice article the other day about videogames that I totally agree with.

Lately, it's been very popular to re-release games with new and extra content. Usually this occurs 1 to 2 years after the release of the original game. This has been around for a while, I mean, look at Final Fantasy X International, Kingdom Hearts Final Mix, etc.

I generally don't mind if they release extra and new content in the form of downloadable content, or when then re-release a game, offer the new and extra content for that game as downloadable content for the people who bought the original game.

But that doesn't happen. Lately, re-releasing games happens a lot for console-exclusive games that get released on the other console a few years later. Eternal Sonata and Tales of Vesperia are a good example for this. Recently, Star Ocean 4: the Last Hope is undergoing the same treatment as well. The PS3 version will get new characters and such. Xbox 360 owners are literally screwed. It's like paying for a incomplete game!

Or what about just re-releases? Kingdom Hearts 2: Final Mix+ was actually a nice re-release since it still came for $20-30 bux and you got the remake of Chain of Memories with it for free. But what about Fable 2: Game of the Year edition? I saw it for full price in the stores. Bet Super Street Fighter IV will get the same treatment.
I remember a small convo with my girlfriend about Fable 2. She says it's a nice game and I should play it too. I tell her: I want to, but then I might as well get myself the GotY edition. She asks me why. I tell her because of the extra content.

Look, if you remake games like Nintendo does, like Pokemon FireRed/LeafGreen/Heartgold/Soulsilver it's okay. Those games got released years ago and are generally played for nostalgic reasons. They even got loads more content than the original games.
Or what about porting games like the Super Mario Advance games? Fine. I don't generally mind buying a remake/port of a game that got released 20 years ago. Especially since I sold that SNES of mine when I got my N64. The Virtual Console of Nintendo is a great thing!

But seriously, game companies, why milk it out so much?? Afraid a new game might flop? If you're going to re-release a game, at least price it lower! Seriously... I might want to wait with buying Final Fantasy XIII and wait for it's International release. Also, it seems this usually goes for RPG games only... =/


The sewing pattern arrived, and I discussed what needed to be done with my mom. She's going to the sewing very soon. I also got my paycheck from my work. It arrived one week early! Woo. This means I can still order the contacts in time. (and get some Christmas presents for my GF in time, too. XD)

Busy busy as usual. Short journal is short.

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I haven't updated in quite some time! Well, guess it's that important but I'm still doing well.

Last week I had my one month anniversary with my girlfriend (). =3 I got her one of those Japanese lucky cats. Those things are cute! I want one as well. Oh the irony. I want something and end up giving it to my girlfriend. Oh well. xD

Last weekend was awesome too. We have this Dutch tradition called 'Sinterklaas'. During Sinterklaas you give presents, much like Christmas. I got my girlfriend the Deathnote book of L. =3 My girlfriend got me an awesome Zelda t-shirt. The crest of the Hyrule Royal Family is on it. (It's on Link's Hylian Shield, too) x3. Also got a Chibicon ticket (hell yeah!) and some deodorant and perfume. 8D

Futhermore, I failed my second driving exam. AGAIN. Ugh. I swear that examinator guy is the worst. Oh well, I'll manage. =3


The wig is supposed to arrive sometime in December, otherwise it will arrive somewhere at the beginning of January. It'd better arrive before Tsunacon. Oh well, it's still a month and a half away, so I'll get it soon.

All left to do is other them lenses. Futhermore, my mom's doing the sewing for the rest of the costume.

Sorry if I don't respond to messages, journals and/or deviations. I'll admit, I'M TOO LAZY. Blame school!

I really need to get round to respond to my messages.

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Yeah. I'm content the way things are going with my life aside from some small worries and bumps down the road. Speaking of roads, I've got my second driving test coming up next week. Gotta get that license this time!

For the past few months I've been in an art slump and the problem is that I just can't get out of it. The things I upload nowadays are only school assignment related things. Oh well, I hope the drawing I'm making for my girlfriend () will be able to drag me out of it.


My girlfriend spent the weekend at my place for the first time last weekend. It was awesome. We have came to the conclusion that we're more or less the same. xD It's kinda scary... in a good way!

Also went over to her place yesterday evening. I met her grandparents there. They're nice people. ^^ Her grandma sure knows how to cook great stuff! It was also fun to see her grandma all giddy when she saw me and my girlfriend cuddling on the couch. Haha, good times.

She's also dragging me down to her Christmas prom night. <3 I ordered a classy 8-Bit tie (Google it) for it, since I lost my other tie. D Now I can be nerdy and classy at the same time. Awesome. xD I'm really looking forward to it!

I love ya hun <3 *insert more mushy stuff here*


Don't ask me how though. But I made it through. I'd like to compare it to me being the sole survivor of a bloody massacre really. That first semester became a real chore. Well, I can finally start over again. New assignments, new chances. This time I need start working on them more earlier.

I have some very bright classmates. NOT. It makes me feel like to think some people are thinking up game concepts for our new project while they don't even know what kind of game the client (we're actually gotta make a small flash game for one of the 2 companies that want to see us create a game for them) wants to have. HOW THE IN THE FUCKING HELL CAN YOU DESIGN A GAME IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CLIENT WANTS??? I swear... >_<"


Well, I've beaten Mario&Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story and Mirror's Edge. Good times.
M&L: BiS final boss wasn't as challenging compared to the final bosses in the previous 2 Mario games though. Maybe because the Spin Pipe and Broggy Bonkers are pretty overpowered special attacks. xD But I loved the game. I was hooked! Broggy Bonkers is one hella awesome attack. xD Gotta love them Blitties.

Mirror's Edge was an okay game in my eyes. Found out it was built with the Unreal Engine during the credits, the very same engine we're taught game programming with. xD
Anyway, some points in the game were a bit frustrating (especially those parts where you need to take out 5 or 6 SWAT cops in order to progress further. And well, the combat system isn't really made to take them all on at once (especially with a gun), so you need to lure them out one by one.
Other than that, I enjoyed it, I've beaten it and I'm done with it. It was a nice, fresh breeze in my gaming experience.

So I'm back to Tales of Eternia on mah PSP. I'll beat it someday. ^^ Can't be bothered too much with it to be honest. xD

Found some new Final Fantasy XIII musics floating around the web by the way. Gotta love what I hear. They kinda manhandled the Chocobo theme though. I like it, but it does sound way different from the usual Chocobo theme.


The props arrived! But I ordered 2 sets of props, not one. Do'h well. Good thing them props are dirt-cheap.

I need to get round to getting that sewing pattern. Ugh, me and my procrastinating skills. xD

Sorry if I don't respond to messages, journals and/or deviations. I'll admit, I'M TOO LAZY. Blame school!

*Yaaaawwwns*

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Seriously. I haven't been able to get some decent shut-eye on my 'sleeping in' days during the last 2 weekends. Okay, I'm not THAT tired, but meh, I'd do anything to get a Sunday to sleep in till 12 or something. Guess I'll hit bed earlier in the evenings this week. That is, if I don't stay up late talking to my girlfriend or anything. xD


Spent the weekend at 's place. It was awesome! =3 Met up with her family. They're alright. ^_^ Srsly, though, her little sister needs to learn the word privacy. Suddenly I feel very pleased with my little brother. xD She can make an excellent cup of coffee though. Best coffee I ever had, period! 8D

No matter what you think hon, your room is small! xD But it's stuffed with figures and manga's and games so I'll forgive ya. xD <3

Sunday we went to the Arnhem Cosplay Meet. For the first time I didn't really enjoy it, but that might be because it was really cold. Still, I attended meetings way worse that that, though. Went home earlier so that she could work on her homework, but well, she never came that far. xD


Sooo I am playing a lot of different games at the moment.

I HAVE CHORTLES!!!

First one is Mario&Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Finally a M&L game I really like. It's awesome. I mean come on!! Mario and Luigi deal 4 damage at average at the start of the game... And Bowser whops a freaking 40. (The fact that Bowser's my most favorite VG character ever doesn't play a role here... Or does it? xD)
Dear lord... Even Bowser's fucking Castle is a boss in this game... *Sheds tear of happiness* I LOVE IT. <3

Then borrowed me his Tales of Eternia game for the PSP. I REALLY need to get used to 2D RPG's. Aside from the M&L and Atelier Iris 2 games I have, all the other RPG's I've played were 3D ones. I -still- need to get kinda used to the battle system. It's a bit of a messy one for an action battle system... Oh well, I'm used to Legendia's battle system, and this one doesn't really differ much so I guess it doesn't really matter. Further, it's an okay game.

Last up is Mirror's Edge I borrowed from =3. I always wanted to try it but never got around to actually buy it. But my gf was like 'Go borrow and play it for as long as you'd like!'
I needed to get used to the controls at first, but I got them down now. This game is soooo different from the games I usually play. I like it just for that. It's really original! Originality = win. =3 Challenging too.
Good thing how they really emphasize the running part. Stay at one place for too long and you're dead meat. You really need to look around you and find a route that will bring you to your goal quickly. This is sometimes really irritating since I'm sometimes kinda slow at figuring out where to go. xD

I'm stuck at one point now though... The part in the metro station (Chapter 3) where you need to take out 5 cops and then another batch of cops arrive. I can take out the first batch but the second batch always kills me D8. I don't have the patience really to take em all out, I just wanna hop from rooftop to rooftop xD


blew up her sewing machine thingy. Okay, not exactly blew up... BUT it did break down. Now my mom's gonna finish the stuff up, when she has time. Oh well, I'll see to it that I'll get the pattern first.

Furthermore, the only thing I still need to buy are the contacts, but I'll order them by the end of this month. Those lenses are only good for 90 days, so ordering them months before Tsunacon isn't a good idea.

Sorry if I don't respond to messages, journals and/or deviations. I'll admit, I'M TOO LAZY. Blame school!