It has been wet and soggy...

Hey everyone!
It's me again. If you live in the Richmond area then you have noticed that it has been pretty wet recently am I right?
My woods out front and back has a boat load of mushrooms growing from it all but the sun the past day and today has started to dry them out. The squirrels love them though. Unlike us (humans), squirrels are immune to the poisons and toxins inside mushrooms so that is why you see them running up trees with mushrooms their size. My father told me because they wanted to get high as a kite, and that also could be very true.
Midna is out side and earlier on she was stalking about eight deer that were out front. They were the same ones we saw earlier on in the summer with white spots. All the spots are pretty much gone now. The thing that I am afraid of is that my father and I were some what close to them earlier on today and they didn't really mind. I can expect they wont be afraid to brave streets, roads and other human yards but they can only be so good till one of them gets hit or shot. There are not really much of them left but I has happy to see that they "herd" that is around here managed to get six fawns and they have been doing fine. I see them at least three times a week eating mine or my fathers plants outside, but mostly it is the acorns these days (we have a ton of them in the yard).
Anyways, Midna was "sneaking up" on them even though they knew that she was there and she walked right in between like five of them until one decided to run at her and she jumped and ran for it and almost got ran over by the fawn. Dad laughed and said that's what you get. I'm sure she is still somewhere out there following or stalking something. Who knows, she is a weird cat.
Fall is approaching, well technically it is Fall now but I am talking about that fall look and the weather and the smell. Yeah the smell of Fall. Love that smell.
I have really started to crack down on personal studies that are not needed for school actually. I cut back on T.V. and I know study Japanese and plants to better myself in the work environment and well the Japanese is for myself and I guess can be useful for when I go to Japan or continuing my blogging. I actually have now memorized Hiragana language and starting Katakana characters. Once I have finished one thing or the other I will move on to something else. This is out side of my school work so I place my school work ahead of this and then when I have free time I peruse these studies. I will probably have a post about this again soon as I love to talk about it.
IF YOU HAVE NOTICED, the blog is looking a little different. Blogger came out with a new interface recently for bloggers (I actually still use to old interface and editor) but I decided to try one of the new themes. This is called the Magazine look and I am able to have a lot of posts on the same page rather then continuous scrolling to reach the next post if I posted tons of photos. Also, the main page instead of ending and having to click "older posts" it will continuously scroll instead of constantly jumping to a new page and waiting for it to load. Also this theme lets you preview the article and click it to reach the entire thing. I have always wanted this rather then showing the entire article right off the bat. It gives a nicer experiences to catch up on the posts if you haven't been around in a while rather then like I said above scrolling way down or click older posts. The only problem that I have with this theme so far, and I believe they are working on it, is to customize it. I did manage to put the old background up behind but of course that is the only thing up that is mine or that I use. I do not have that right side panel on this one and can use links and what not. I still can make pages that still can be found at the top of the page. Also, the very first tab on the left side says magazine and if you click that it can change the look of the blog (they are the other themes that are new). I picked the magazine look because of the preview  rather then showing an entire article.
ANYWAYS, I'd like feed back if you like it like THIS or WANT THE OLD LOOK BACK.
I saved my last blog theme and can always change it back, I just want to see if you want it this way now or the other way. I personally like it like this besides the fact not having all of my custom applications on the side. I might just go back to the old and wait till they have those options available. I figure I ask first!
Hmm, I think that is all I want to say for now...I probably will get back to my studies!

Pic into my life! 9-27-11: the new car

How is everyone? 

Anyways, like I said, I was going to try a new thing like the daily update so I am starting the "pic into my life" update where I will take a pic or two of something that is involved with my life or what not. Most of it will probably be just life updates and such but I am going to try to do this about 2 to 3 times a week I hope.

So the first of many photo posts and such I have the new car.

I have probably talked about a lot of things that have changed like being forced to getting a new car because my gold Taurus (behind this Black Mazda 6) isn't really running anymore it is scheduled to be towed tomorrow out of the driveway and off to the scrap yard. I had diving that car since I started driving back in 2005 and now it is finally at it's end with 166,800 miles on it. I actually pushed it longer then I thought. So now I have this new black 2007 Mazda 6. It had about 66,000 miles on it right now but is in a ton better shape then the last poor car. This one I believe has a 22 gallon tank and gets better mileage so that is something that I look forward to being that I commute all over Richmond area for my job, internship, school and home. One thing that rubs me the wrong way is that the audio system doesn't have a ax in-put for my Zune so there for I can not listen to my music. It does have a 5 disc CD changer though so I have to burn my music. 

It is nice and after its next shop visit it should be well prepared for driving. The Taurus I need to fix stuff left and right but this car is in great condition (because it has been my parents) and should last me past the time that I pay it off. I got a deal so I can't complain really. This is the first step into upgrades that I have taken recently. My laptop is another haha.

Back to work for a bit

Hey everyone!
I'm currently at my internship, some where that I haven't been in a solid 2 weeks. Wow that s bad, but since I am the intern I get what ever needs extra help on and most of the actual employees have had a light work load so there really isn't anything for them to past off on me at the moment. Well actually, I did just get something to retype up....it took five minutes. Besides that I have my usual responsibilities which I finished a while ago. IT is so hard to come in here and actually remain busy till a leave. I probably made 4 posts at my figure blog and 4 post over on at my Hobby blog at the least since I have been here. Also checking my ebay account because I had a few bids on cels from the animation of Proco Rosso. They ended a few minutes ago and even though I was winning some of them and losing some no one met the reserve price. We are all that cheap but it was worth it because I love the film and the cels were when Proco was fighting in mid air against Donald Curtis. It is hard to get cels from Ghibli films because they are so hard to find, yes they are one of a kind, and usually Ghibli or Miyazakai in general incineration the general cels except for a few after the animation is completed. Yes it is sad because it is artwork on the best animation that I know.
Anyways, I acquistion something that I am excited for that is related to Animation and I got the shipping notification on it this morning. 
Anyhow, I am going to see Contagion tonight, I hope it is as good as it is shown and plus I love end-of-world flicks.
I am excited this weekend because I am going to go see my girl friend! It has been a while that I actually get to spend some time with her. I am not sure what we are going to do, probably nothing just relax. I really don't care as long as I don't have to drive around there because I hate the people who drive down there. CRAZY.
I was typing up my notes just a moment ago and it took 30 minuets to get up 5 pages and I have about 20 pages left to type so I decided not to type them and just read what I have wrote down.
I haven't gotten out and really taken any photos recently because I have been busy or it has been rainy. I will probably get some photos of stuff in my room and maybe talk about that once I straighten myself out hehe.
I really hope that I can get to the mountains soon, really do.
Umm, I think I am still hungry, I only brought one hot pocket to eat and that felt like a snack so I might heat up my instant Mac and cheese in a minute.
Oh, I canceled my Netflix because it was better off being off in my room. Now I can try to concentrate more and not just stream after stream movies and  shows.
I am going to start racking down about an hour a day on my Japanese. I already review my alphabet at school during free time but I need to start learning words and speaking rather then just reading characters.
I need to start my planning, I am really slacking on the planning part.
I can't really think of anything significant other then what I have said so I will keep you guys updated!

Maymont Japanese Gardens, September 1st

So I posted earlier on photos from the Italian gardens for when I went to Maymont at the first of the month. This is the second part of the photos.
This is my favorite part, most definitely.
So I am not sure if I said anything about the hurricane or not in the post before but some trees did fall down around the park. Lucky, non actually fell down in the Japanese gardens retaining it! thank god, I'd die.



So I took a different path then I usually do to get down to the Japanese gardens. It's on the East side of the park I believe.



So, if you go to the park during the day on a week day (this case Thursday around 1pm), there is virtually no one there compared to the weekend. The best time and peaceful time to go with out kids running around haha









So, I like Bald cypress trees, they are pretty awesome. Just saying. They are a wetland tree and they are not that common at all in the city of Richmond or around the James River at least by the city. They had them brought in obviously. I did hear that there is a random cypress tree in someones back yard around Strawberry street and it is one of the biggest ones this far north period.

















I love this bridge, love it. I want one on my pond or small water hole if I get one.









Years ago this is what it looked like below....









This bridge the other weekend had two people on it giving each other their vows. It was a nice wedding and it was a perfect day. One day I might have a wedding like that....maybe



The zen area that they have renovated had be outlined with bamboo that holds in some new sand that is well kept. Rocks are perfectly placed...has a calm appeal to it.











the grotto has been fixed up and now has running water from the top of it. This has had some much work put back into it and looks great.



they also fixed this up in front of the grotto and now actually has water in it and new plants. It  is great with what they did with the walking area.









This is a better view of the new "zen" area.

400th!

Hey everyone! It has been a little while since I did a post. I know I have yet put up the photos from the Japanese Garden but I will swear that I will do it some time this weekend!
So this post marks the 400th post that I have made on this blog! In the past 19.5 months that this blog has been operational, I have averaged about 20.5 posts a month. I know that I have not been posting that much this year as last but I think that was because I made more post about news and other things like that and I have moved more to in not complete of my life, my interests and of course photos and of my travels. I rather it be this way because I don't want to be a news blog. You can google the news haha, but for me you have to come here.
Any who, I still have photos to post for everyone that I have and after I work today doing some landscaping I will perhaps start on that post. Unless I decide to read my book like I know I should, it depends
I am planning on taking a lot of fall photos this year. I will be traveling to the mountains, with girl friend or not, and take a lot of shots. I'm excited to be waking up in some chilly mountain morning weather. I want that camp fire smell and that nice relax feeling of nature and the sound of a campground at night rather then a TV. I'm telling you, if you have not camped, please do for the experience and the essence of nature. I don't care if you don't want a tent, you can go and sleep in a camper but at least spend the time outside if your camping and soak it in. Gosh I can't wait!
If no one can go in my family or not even my friends I will at the least, LEAST, go for a day by myself. This is important everyone, if you plan on going into nature by yourself, whether it be in the mountains, a random island in the middle of some water, kayaking on a river etc, please and I really mean DO IT. Tell some one where you are going and when and an estimate of when you will be coming back. It helps if you have a cell phone as well but if you are going to a place where there is not service or you don't want to get it wet you GOTTA tell someone where you are going. Nature is complete unpredictable and that is what makes in nature and it is natural. Things can happen that you never plan for. A Snake bite, tripping and going over a cliff and causing sever bone breaking. If you are a child you better be telling your parents where you are going at all times. The movie 127 hours I believe, I just watched the other weekend shows a classic example of not telling anyone where you are. Do it and if something happens it will save your life.
I will be taking a lot of photos again at maymont and other parks in the area as the temperature changes and the leaves change their cloaks to better suit the climate.
I think I might type more to hear and there as an update as what is going on and also I might start posting about places that I am looking into traveling to when I go to Japan. It is a trip that is still a go, and I am very excited for it. I am thinking about not working on a farm or a place that practices organic type of living. I was going to do that because they feed you and put you up for living there as you work 6 hours a day. I think I might just do my own traveling staying some some family's for a week in certain places in the country including Tokyo and Kyoto. I am going to look into maybe staying somewhere that is more rural, to get that farming feeling still and not all the city clutter, and perhaps near a mountain where I can enjoy a hike or a relaxing spot on the beach or river gorge. You never know what I might go with but I know that I at least better start plotting where I will go so I can start getting into the details of the trip and booking places and printing maps off so I know here to go and what restaurants I wanna eat at. There are already places that I want to eat at and also shop. Whether I actually shop or not I am not sure because I believe that I will have to ship everything I get over there back. I think I might get a tea cup when I am over there. that has been a thing that I have been looking for. Some thing that might be hand made or just look hand made. Nothing like a tea cup found in any store over here in America but something that is special. In that small corner shop that has to right shade of color on it and tucked behind other things. A cup that has a character and something that attracts me. I have been wanting something like that. Heck I might find a set over there and might grab that as a gift to myself when I can move out after the trip. (Who knows when I can move out after this trip since this isn't a cheap trip lol).
Anyways, all things that you can look forward for the next 100 posts and beyond. I am sure there will me a magical post on the 2nd anniversary of this blog as well.
haha.
Also I have been thinking about starting a picture of the day and a description about it, something that I have been thinking about and I think I tried it before but I was overwhelmed with other things. I think if I keep it short and stuff it will be great. I'll probably make a link at the top of the side panel that goes to the most recent  shot of the day. If I do it o start it, it wont be right away but I will be working on the idea.
Well, it is about time for my to get ready and head out to make some extra money to help pay for gas and the new car. I don't mind landscaping, I really don't. I would love to work at a gardens, I really would.
Have a great rest of the weekend.

New computer!!

So my new computer just came in  early. It is a Toshiba, first time I got a computer other then a Gateway haha. The size and the power of it should suffice for a long time. The keyboard will have to take some getting use to though. I am already having a problem typing as is but it will come easier as time goes on I hope. This has a more full keyboard. I have a numeric key pad on the right side which will help for typing numbers or using alt codes which I have been using a lot recently for the blog and other tasks.
I hope to get the rest of the Maymont photos up soon. I still have to transfer all the data to this computer that was on my old one. I will take a while and will be annoying to do so but hey its got be done indeed.
I'm watching Man Vs. Wild right now off of Netflix. Using up as much of the free trial that I have left before I have to cancel it. I got about 7-8 days left on it unfortunately.
It distracts me from school work and blog work though haha.
I will probably be updating again soon but right now I have to update my other blogs now with out the need of my old files.
So I will post again in a day or so!

Maymont Italian Gardens Last week

So last week on Thursday I think it was I left work early so that I could catch up on my reading for class and also get some photography in. I headed to Maymont and hung around the Japanese Gardens for a long time and also lots of other parts of the park. I want to share some of the photos from the Italian Gardens first since I rather split the Japanese gardens and this into two (it would be 50+ photos if I did both)
Anyways I read about 25 pages when I was there which was no where near the amount that I wanted to read. A beautiful park that is quite and lush full of great things to look at distracts my minds eye.
The sounds of animals flicking leaves to the side in search of food, birds chirping and kids giggling. That was Maymont park. I am glad that it wasn't crowded at all on Thursday. Everyone was still preoccupied with the "hurricane" that passed through. Only an hour before I got to the park did I find out that power had returned to my house.
Getting out of the house, Power or not, is the thing to do :)
Anyways on with some photos which you probably came for haha
Oh wait, did I mention that the book that I was reading was Walden by Thoreau? It is about his ideas and experiences about moving out to Walden Pond and living there for two years and two months. It defeated the purpose of me reading about experiences with nature while I was sitting out side for hours in nature...that is why I was distracted from reading the book.

So one of the paths that leads from the road that goes to the mansion, that heads to the Italian Gardens is nothing but Hibiscus. Our Hibiscus and my girl friends mother's has already bloomed but here they were open for anything to admire it's color and beauty.


















Now the plants that you see above and below were infested with butterflies. When I walked to the gazebo a cloud of butterflies had lifted into the air and fluttered around me before descending back to their flower.









Not only was it the flowers above that I mentioned but a lot of the butterflies loved tons of the flowers that were around. I love the photo below because I managed to get two different insects in one shot.





When I got the the gardnes part I did see a pair of people that were getting some photography down while she was in a nice gown. It wasn't a wedding dress so I am not sure what it was for.



Many people do come here to get photos done of themselves in their dresses or suits. A lot of people in wedding gowns have gotten their pictures done in front of flowers and the fountains. Also at these gardens, a ton of weddings happen to take place. They usually are not that large of weddings and every time I have seen it happen it was always of a clear sky; hope I get that lucky haha.

Even though that the summer is drawing to a close, there are still roses to be seen there and many other flowers. Before the leaves start to fall, you should run back for your last look at they flowers before the fall.







:)