Thursday, June 30, 2011

Followers: (1)

... It's you!


"Followers: 1"... It was like... Your very first friend...

Why so happy being followed? Despite that my first follower in Twitter is also a Japanese. Why?

As far as I remember, I'm the kind of person who almost don't like socializing. Not because I don't like to... Maybe because I'm too scared that I might not fit or be embarrassed due to lack of knowledge about the recent happenings. It's been a habit for me to avoid occasions where old friends gather together. I know they've been always in touch and they almost know everything, everyday, about each others lives. While I don't even have a clue what they are into, not even knowing what are they now and the person involved in their lives (making look stupid). This is something I regret... something I blame to myself for being suck a slacker in my teenage years. Nevertheless, I still got these friends who are always there for me (Actually, most of them are, I'm just the one who wasn't joining them). I found myself someone like suffering from a social disorder. I tend to think that I'm different, and others might not be able to comprehend with this kind of person. Yet, I'm nothing but someone empty, ordinary, not interesting blah blah that could irritate everyone with my way of talking and the way I think. (Or it could be that I'm the only one thinking all of these. Sorry. orz) Circles? I don't know if I'm included in any, all I know is I have my Marketing Buddies (Batch 2010).

Okay, enough drama. That's just a brief explanation why I got too excited for having this only follower on my first day of using Twitter.
So, surprisingly, I got one follower~ Yatta! Still stupid about using Twitter, I tried to know who followed me. Click! Click! And then, a sudden silence filled the living room... I almost can't believe that my first follower was actually the one I've been trying to know for a long time.

Well, I hate myself for being too immature if you would say, but I absolutely banged my head on the computer table several times (I can't figure out what's that really for). Then I went back to looking at the Twitter profile of that follower. She's a cute cosplayer which was too anonymous to me before since I only got 2-3 of her photos from Comiket Events. I was just... Oh God...  What now? "Look! There's the FOLLOW Tab! Click it! fufufu~!" And I did.

Twitter is like a street where people can shout all they want, rant all they want, without having other people to care about you or care about what you're saying. But tweeting/shouting too much could make you look retarded or stupid, or worst... A FAILED ATTENTION SEEKER. orz Especially if you're just an ordinary twitter user, not affiliated to any company, or organization. This is something I've learned from Twitter.
Replying... Never expect a return/reply.


Now, deciding what to say... How I would be talking to that cosplayer... I went to the translator tab. (Please don't make it hard for me~)
I'm too lazy to learn Nihongo, that it has been a growing frustration... I was like in a hurry! I wanted to talk with a Japanese girl so much that it took me hours to finally tweet something correctly in Japanese (However, these translators are too proper and not too accurate with the translation). I've used the MENTION Function (ex. @whoeveryouare Hello!) hoping that she could read it.

Convenient!

Hours have passed and not even a tweet from her appeared in my timeline. Getting tired of waiting, I've thought of using apps which could feed on my tweets and the tweets of those persons I'm following. TWEETDECK! And comes TWEETDECK (For downloads: Click here). Now that's very convenient... I could monitor my twitter and facebook accounts in a single window. What's nice is the floating notification boxes whenever an update/tweet is tweeted or a status is posted in Facebook.

I can easily monitor notifications while working.

Now, I can just work at my Digital Workspace without opening the browser to check on the notifications.








It's getting late and still haven't seen a tweet from
A beauty captured by the camera. ©Kei Shino
her. Maybe she's too busy that time. So I ended up checking her blog and read her recent entries instead. I've fallen in love with her photos in each blog entry. It's too stunning! I mean... the quality, the beauty... captured by this photographer... It's just... Amazing! Seeing those photos made me decide to work with an art in which she would be the subject. (Feels like a creepy stalker who love girls and arts~ ><)

Suddenly, a tweet appeared in the upper right of my workspace. It was hers! "ただいまあ おなかすいたー" (I'm home, so hungry)
I quickly replied in that tweet, "よー!おかえり~(≧∇≦)" (Yo! Welcome home~) and asked her about her dinner for that night. I've waited for few minutes and she tweeted, but not addressing or mentioning me. orz "Haha! Don't be a fool!" and I sighed deeply. What the hell was I expecting that time? She didn't even mention anyone so what's the big deal, Raf? *Then I insanely banged my head on the table... so embarrassed about thinking that I would be mentioned by her.*

The Last... (...)
Nevertheless, I went to bed with a smile (or simply a grin) on my face. Coz I've started something in my Digital Workspace.

Paint Tool SAI, and some Llamas



Digital Workspace/SAI


Been spending my whole day using SAI Tool, too bad I won't be able to learn it thoroughly in just a day.
But eager to make an art out of it... And I did!

There has been a guilt when I use a photograph and turn it into an digital art. Felt like I'm insulting photographers whenever I use their photos. However, the model of those photo permitted me to use it (It's Kei-chan~ <3). Maybe she likes it, too. So, first thing in the morning, I woke up and searched for SAI Tool. Viola!

Where's that? How did that happened? HOW WOULD I COLOR THIS LINEART!!!!!!
Frustrating at first but I progressed in making one.

Is that a bad impression? TELL ME!!?
And again... and again... Ok I got it!

Sketched something in my workspace...

...

...

...

I've been depressed and frustrated these past few days...

Luckily, my first digital art (can't say it's an original concept since I based it on a photo)...
It's kinda... kinda... bloody... (O.O)

... you'll know soon what I'm trying to say.

And oh, I've received a Llama...
Thanks who ever gave this to me... Now, Llama... All I could ever think is Llama.

Oyasumi~


From my DA Journal last June 20, 2011: http://hanajiproxy.deviantart.com/

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Following the Twitting Blue Birds of Japan

TWEET!

It was on June 14, 2011 when I started using Twitter. And it's not a very friendly environment for a newbie tweet users like me. How would I use this tweets? Will this make sense? Who would see my tweets anyway? Ohh... I forgot to tell, why use Twitter anyway?

In my previous entry, I've mentioned about using social networking sites to meet Japanese people online. But I admit, I ended up using Twitter to follow an Idol Group in Japan (Hurray~! This is so embarrassing... o(>< )o). I'm a big fan of the Idol Group Afilia Saga East and even if I'm a member of a forum-based fans club, I wanted to take it to a new level. Try to communicate with them, or at least stay updated with what they're doing. It suddenly became a big obsession for me, especially when you have a big crush on them.
Afilia Saga East Members~ I go MOE whenever I see them! :3
Afilia Saga East members~ I go MOE whenever I see them! (*≧▽≦)
The first thing you'll do when you acquire your Twitter account? I DO NOT HAVE THE SLIGHTEST IDEA!!!
Make a Tweet, I guess [Tweet entry: A geek started to try something he never tried using before.(ーー;) This is so embarrassing!!! 今回、何か新しいものを試みましょう!!! ( ´∀`)]. FAILED! Ok, I'm the only one who can read my Tweet, that's very stupid. It took me an hour before making another move, and I've noticed, I was not following anyone. CRAP! (,,#゚Д゚):∴;'・,;`:ゴルァ!!


 
Indeed!
One by one, I followed the 12 members of ASE and a few Cosplayers like Lenfried and Ushijima. W-what now?! All I can see are their tweets!!!
Giving up that time was not an option so I ended up translating their tweets. To my surprise... Google can't translate tweets properly!

Again, Internet has left me in DESPAIR!! ... Or not? The internet is the most genius work of humankind! You just need to be more resourceful when using it. VIOLA! A bunch of articles about Twitter and its uses. If only I used my head instead of whining (Been a bad habit for me).

Few hours later, I feel like a PRO Twitter user! ( ̄ー ̄) But then...
The "Followers" tab caught my attention. Zero... "0". *Sigh*
It's like shouting in an empty room with people outside when you look at the window! And no one can hear you.

"I should have tried to learn using it before making account." So disappointed and frustrated. I even noticed my Japanese is much lamer than I expected.

Too hopeless to make another tweet, I opened my "Digital Workspace" and worked on something to make myself busy for a while. Or just to avoid being frustrated.

... Too hopeless, that it feels like drowning... orz

Soon as I finished working on my Digital Workplace... I clicked the Twitter tab in my browser...

... And...

"Followers: 1" ...

... Made my Twitter Days last for more days.
*(Twitting/Tweeting is same as chirping)

 Imported from my livejournal: http://hanajiproxy.livejournal.com/

Digital Workspace Romance (デジタルワークスペースロマンス): Records of a Frustrated Artist: PROLOGUE



Hi there!

I don't know why I'm writing this journal. But one thing's for sure, I'm getting more uneasy with doing my job with my so called "Digital Workspace". Anyway, being confined inside the house, (Oh yes, I'm a lazy person, so if you'll kindly excuse me~) is not as good as I expected. Spending time in front of my computer, browsing anything, browsing Japan, playing online games... I got tired of the same old routine!!

So, I decided to try something new. Hello Twitter! (if you want to follow me, @hanajiraven)

Oh yes, Twitter is not new for most netizens, but here in the Philippines, we often use Facebook to communicate/socially bond with our friends and meet new people. "Do you have Facebook account?" I do. "Add me!" Sure... Why is it that Facebook got me bored all the time I used it? Oh, of course. I'm trying to meet Japanese people in a social networking site which is not that popular to them. >< So, I did a research. Man, mixi.jp, ameblo (blogs), blah blah .jp, I don't have any of those accounts! And it's impossible to get one, especially mixi.jp (which is the Japanese counterpart of Facebook). Internet has left me in despair...

And pop-goes-the-weasle! Twitter! With over 16m unique Japanese users! (See table for info: asiancorrespondent.com/as_u/user/1282415714-70.png) I know this a long time before but I saw Twitter as something not worthy your time. Why Tweet all the things you are doing at the moment? I don't understand the concept. Still, I have created my twitter account right away. Hahaha!

Okay, checking on every parameters needed to launch my Twitter account in Space like a space shuttle, I struggle making a very noticeable description. Of course, my prospects, Japanese. XD Sorry if you see me as someone who is obsess with Japan. Japan really is a big influence to me. Promote yourself! Be your own advertisement! These are what I've learned from my marketing class days! (Thanks to all my mentors~ :3) And I clicked verify...

The Digital Workspace Romance has started.

Imported from my livejournal: http://hanajiproxy.livejournal.com/