Fiddle-Dee-Dee, Said Scarlett

First off, Happy Birthday burningvigor! I really hope you have a good one!

With a new filter for the heater, the burning dog smell should dissipate. Not sure what to do about the noise. When it's gearing itself up, it sounds as though the proverbial monkeys on typewriters are hacking away at Shakespeare in there. And then comes the 'FWOOMP!' and the dull roaring sound.

Not exactly the most soothing of white noises, let me assure you! But the house is warm. And with temperatures dropping below freezing at night, that's the important thing.

I hung some more of my art and whatnot on my walls. Ah, there's nothing quite like waking up to the adoring faces of a gaggle of Sailor Scouts, gazing down upon you. I chose the right place for that poster. ;)

I think I'm finally feeling better. I spent the night with vapor rub slathered all over me, and it's made quite the difference in my breathing this morning. I may need to repeat this process.

I had some flash of brilliance last night, on how to maximize space in my room without blocking the door, but sadly it's gone.

I finished Death Mask! Definitely my favorite of the Dresden File novels so far. But everyone - including random internet strangers - is telling me that Blood Rites is the best. So I shall have to get my hands on that!

I started, in the meantime, From The Empire, the first of the Trinity Blood novels. Abel is adorably lecherous! I don't remember him being lecherous in the anime! Granted, it's been some time since I saw it... Catherina kicks ass, Alessandro is just plain adorable, and I'm looking forward to seeing the original incarnations of all my other favorite characters.

I think that about wraps it up for me!

So, after all errands, cooking and cleaning were done, I decided to actually watch some of my new DVDs.

( Dub Review - Trinity Blood )

( Dub Review - Tactics )

And those are my thoughts on the Trinity Blood and Tactics dubs. I'll do follow-ups as I see more episodes and reach the introductions of other characters.

I finished Trinity Blood. Most things I saw coming, but some things did take me off guard. I was completely prepared for episode 23, but the how and why still got me. And who ends up with who in the end? Bah! Boggling!

I want to write fic for it. I have a couple of ideas floating around in my head - one of which is indeed snakecharmerfox's Christmas fic. I also have a ton of other fics I need to write, and NaNo. But I'm hovering around 11,000 words for NaNo, so....

But yes, Trinity Blood. Having watched all of it, I'm not reccing it as highly as I did before. Not because I lost any liking for it, but because there are parts that are insanely bizarre and whacky and just Not For Everyone. I'm William Wordsworth! I have a flying gun car!

I do still want to know why the hell Leon's codename is Dandelion. But! I have manga and novels to look forward to! Yes, the original Trinity Blood novels are being translated. Because really, what I need is clearly more futuristic vampire novels from Japan.

(Go request fic on my Xmas fic post! I still have like 12 slots open!)

Death Note still owns my soul. Yes, I know, I need to get off my ass and do something other than watch anime.

The final battle for Luigi's Mansion for Gamecube is bullshit. I don't get it. Instead of utilizing what you've been doing the whole game, they toss all this new crap at you. And do away with hearts. I've tried it over a dozen times and I think I've managed to knock Bowser's head off twice. I am displeased.

In better news: Oh my god, Trinity Blood. I just caught the first episode, but I'm hooked. Abel is... gah! Abel Nightroad is awesome. And Cardinal Caterina is, also - but I have trouble listening to her, as she's voiced by Sloth and it's really, really obvious. But mostly Abel is awesome. I loved him in the very beginning of the episode, and then at the end he became ten times cooler. Seriously, Abel is Hohenheim-cool. (And also kind of disturbing to listen to in the dub at parts, because he's voiced by the same VA who voiced Frank Archer in the FMA Dub). But he's still that cool. Also? The pope is adorable. I want to hug him.

The art is gorgeous, the music is amazing, and the storyline is original (to me). It's nice to see the Vatican being the good guys for once, and to see a bit of a new twist on the usual anime vampires. It has sort of a Vampire Hunter D feel, for me, but softer. I've wanted to see it since I saw a promo at Anizona Con, and I'm really glad that I did. I need to see more. Hell, if the series is as good as the first episode promised, I'll buy the DVDs.

I definitely recommend it for folks looking for a new anime to get into.

(And on closer inspection, a ton of the English cast of FMA does voices for this series.)