cicer

I have come to the sad conclusion that my immune system has up and died on me. I've has some type of flu/cold every single month since about Christmas, and I'm getting heartily sick of it, no pun intended. Dear World: It's summer. Flu/cold season is supposed to be over now. Agh. Being the hypochondriac that I am, I have of course decided that I have developed some horrible syndrome that has destroyed my immune system and now I'll have to spend the rest of my short life in a plastic bubble. But then, everyone else I know seems to be sick just as frequently as I am, and we're all complaining about how often we've had flus this year. So I don't know. Perhaps I'll postpone the bubble-ordering.

Onto slightly more interesting topics. I've been gleefully reading and rereading a whole bunch of manga lately. Aside from Sex Pistols, which I already mentioned and which is the most fabulous crack I've ever seen, I've finally caught up on Antique Bakery. I read the first bit of the series some time ago, and didn't really get into, but I've tried it again recently, and it's fantastic. Oh my goodness. I love this. *dies* Ono is the most wonderful character ever, but I adore everyone. The only problem is that I get hungry whenever I read it. Now I want cake. Mmm. I read the first two volume scanlations, and now I want to read volume three, but tragically I'm kinda broke right now, so I'll have to wait a few weeks to buy it. Woe.

Speaking of money, I dropped my last few dollars on Saiyuki Reload 4. I adore both the Burial and Even a Worm arcs, so this volume was excellent. There seem to be some slight differences between the translations of the Burial arc scanlations and the TokyoPop version, but I've decided I like the TokyoPop one better. Particularly in the Gojyo and Hakkai bit. It seemed to emphasize their relationship a bit better, and I like the way it showed the sort of people they are. Especially the end bit where Hakkai asks Gojyo why he went if he knew Banri was going to ditch him and Gojyo says he had to, because Banri would be screwed on the off-chance he did come back. That's so very Gojyo. He's really does see the best in people, and can't really give up on them no matter what, and I like how the arc showed that side of him.

Also, I was surprised at the part in the TokyoPop version where Gojyo introduces Hakkai to Banri, and Banri immediately makes a comment about Gojyo 'switching teams'. Well. My my. In the scanlations, Banri just complains about Gojyo finding new friends. As amused as I am by the insinuation in the TokyoPop version, it made me think. Now why would Banri say something like that? Like Gojyo, he seems to be big on the gay innuendo, but I wonder why. One could suggest that is was a sort of harassment, but it doesn't seem that way to me. In several places in the series, Gojyo seems to be outright flirting with various men, and when he makes those sorts of comments, they seem to be teasing. Same with Banri. Hmmm....

Also, speaking of the gay. The epilogue. Ukoku and Koumyou. THEY WERE SO DOING IT. Thank you and goodnight.

PS. Hazel's southern accent makes me giggle. A lot.