"The Fox's Trick"

The Fox's Trick

キツネの技

~ Shimazaki Touson

Little fox hiding in the garden

In the evening when all are away, sneaks

Into the autumn shadows of the grape arbor

Secretly stealing a cluster of dew-tipped grapes

But my love is not a fox

Nor you the grapes, yet

In secret, with no one knowing,

My heart has stolen you

{images via WeHeartIt}

"Cherry Blossom Incense Burning"

Akemi-mama gave me 

cherry blossom incense sticks 

and a burning dish from her shoppe.

I wanted to use the first stick 

to welcome in the new semester.

( ｡⌒o⌒｡)人(｡⌒-⌒｡ )

Though sacred smoke 

is supposed to be applied to your body 

on Buddhist temple grounds, 

Kate & I had our own thurification event 

full of giggles and happy meditation.

Though we practice a different religion, 

learning about another's beliefs 

helps crack open their heart to you a little better.

{♪ "Sakura" is a traditional Japanese folk song.}

"Japanese Slip-Up of the Day"

Professor: 

"What are you trying to say?"

Me: 

"'kokoro ga ai de mera-mera shite mo', 
'Even if she's burning with love.'"

Professor: (laughing) 

"No, that's,
'Even if she explodes with combusting fire... in love.'"

Me: 

Japanese is HARD, friends.

"mera-mera" = "exploding in flames"
"mero-mero" = "falling in love"

Burn some incense for me.

{image via WeHeartIt; gif via Hetalia}

"Hazel Featherstone"

My username is WillowShield163. 
I've given myself the witching name, Hazel Featherstone.
I bought a barn owl and named her Pterux {Greek for "wing"}.
My wand is Hazel & Dragon Heartstring, 12 1/2 inches, unbending.
I was sorted into Gryffindor. 

If you're trying to get a certain wand or house, 

the test questions aren't dead giveaways. 

I had no idea what my results would be.

{I'm so happy with what I got!}

If you open a PotterMore account, 

add me!

{gifs © respective owners}

"The Shapeshifting Monster Cat"

There is a legend, in Japan... 

If a cat is allowed to grow a long tail, 

it will turn into a bakeneko,

a "monster cat". 

If the tail splits, 

it becomes a nekomata

a "forked cat".

It will ignite ghostly fireballs in the house, 

eat its mistress and steal her form, 

devour any obstacle in its path, 

and resurrect corpses by jumping over them.

{This may have led to the
popular breeding of Japanese Bobtails.}

They're part of the bakemono "shapeshifter" family, 

which also houses foxes, badgers, and raccoon dogs.

Maaaybe I shouldn't be researching all this 

while I'm petsitting a cat.

{images © their respective owners}

"Dog... Er, Cat Day"

What's that? 

3 essays & 2 tests to complete before August 29th? 

An 11-track soundtrack to record? 

Outings and social events to attend?

Nah...

I think...

Today...

I'll just curl up like a cat.

And sleep.

Night night.

{images via WeHeartIt}

"Organ Fest IV"

I find chapels, cathedrals, and temples exorbitantly gorgeous. 

{And next year, I'll see European ones.} 

Any break from the norm is welcome to me,
so being paid to usher at Organ Fest IV for Classical 89
was a chance I snatched right up.

The cathedral bellowed with gothic organ melodies
and left our whole crew fish-mouthed and speechless.

Guys, seriously.
If you're in the Valley next year,
go to Organ Fest V.
You shan't regret it.

"Maestro Bard's Love Reflections"

"You say that you love the rain,

but you open your umbrella when it rains.

You say that you love the sun,

but you find a shadow spot when the sun shines.

You say that you love the wind,

but you close your windows when it blows.

This is why I am afraid,

you say that you love me too."

-William Shakespeare

{images via WeHeartIt}

"Penna"

"Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia." -E. L. Doctorow

"A novel is never anything but a philosophy put into images." -Albert Camus

Once upon a time, 

I moved into Stratford Court 

and quickly discovered that my room-roommate 

was a living, breathing form

of one of my characters in the book I'm writing. 

It's been fascinating talking with Kami 

(or, as I call her, "Aiata") 

when I'm acting like my main charry, Cho.

I get to see how the two would interact 

in real life.

Making them all the more tangible to me.

Kami/Aiata is gifted in cooking, analyzing, kindness... 

And she's amazing with designs.

Just looking at these penna etchings she did on my hands, 

I feel like I'm in my main man's (Toraj's) desert home. 

I feel like I'm in my book.

Am I crazy for having so many muses living inside me?

But... aren't we all a patchwork of people? 

Aren't we walking quilts of the ones who've sewn us?

{♪ "Ne Me Jugez Pas (Volodia Remix)" © Sawt el Atlas}