2008 is here, and has been here.

Well hello fellow bloggers.

It's been quite some time since my last ITG/DDR update.

The beginning of 2008 started off in the right way. Perhaps due to a lack of internet caused by the storms in January. Oh how I was loving them, and at the same time hating that they knocked out our power, and hence....no internet. It took about a month for my "internet provider" to get back online. Say no more.

With that said...I spent a lot of time at the arcade. Spending what I had of my tokens.
December was Token Madness, an vent that happens once a year. U spend 20$ in tokens, u get 20$ in tokens free! Somehow...by manipulation and using the holidays and my upcoming birthday as excuses, I managed to come up with and save about 80-100$!!
Now..being practically homeless (if it weren't for this motel), and being jobless, that is a VERY difficult feat!
But...after starving myself to save a buck, and having luck on my end...I got tokens!

Now first thing.....January 1st I managed to weigh myself and found that already I'd lost 40lbs since I moved out of rachels house in the late summer (August/September).
I hadn't even truely truely began my "2.25 year plan" yet. I really wanted to start it officially on Jan 1st, but then it wouldn't be "2.25 years" :D
Goal is set to end on my bday 2010. The goal includes many life changes.
a section of that goal includes the "80 in 08" article section. ;)
Basically that means...I will lose 80lbs in 2008. Jan 1st 2009 is the date I shall have this accomplished. Thus far I've managed 40.
I haven't weighed myself since January, so I'm unaware of my current weight.

On to my second thing.
Okay...seeing how I had no internet for a month, and still excited by the amount of tokens in my possession; I used every reason to go to the arcade.

I even started a log. A very detailed log.

Sadly however....on recent trips to the arcade, I didn't take note of how many tokens I spent, how many songs I played, how many games, how many calories, and many other notes I'd been jotting down to help encourage my effort.

Anyway...I had no updates for February since I didn't take any notes that month. I had some drama going on around me. Lets just say...some "friends" sure know how to cheat u and your family (dad).

However...of notes I took in January, here are a few, among burning close to 3,000 calories a day (hey...thats more than some people eat in 2 day). Good for me.:

• Passed “Bend Your Mind” (x2.5, Hard 9) with 82.40% A-
I might have a better score since, but not sure.
• Tried for first time, and Passed “Ize Pie”
Best score in Jan. was 75.03%
• Passed “The Way I Are” (x4, no hands, disqualified) with 75.20% B
It's a 9 footer. Harder than it looks. I could never pass it WITH hands.
• Played “Wanna Do ~Hardhouse Mix~”. Passed with a 58.15% F
I've tried it a few times since, and come close to passing it!!
• I passed two 10 footers in a row, and passed them both. I don't remember which ones, or if I wrote it down on a piece of paper.

i was taking notes on paper and writing them in word, for awhile..but in Feb. I sorta stopped. :(
I need to start getting back on track this month if I plan to lose 80 lbs.
Since I've already lost 40lbs, If I reach my goal, and I still have time to spare, then I'll just say that I STARTED Jan 1st, and not count the 40 already lost.
Then I can say I've lost 120lbs since I moved out of rachels!!

I've found that stress is a major part of my weight gain. I looked back on my life and realized, at times when I've weighed a lot, I was NOT happy and stressed out.

Anyway...that's another story.

I've got a few projects under my belt, not including work, because I still haven't gotten a job. I've had like 2 interviews since, and no call-backs. :( I seem to have better luck when I apply online instead of in person. I guess people judge my appearance more than my resume.
I have high hopes for one job I've recently applied for, and I'm applying at another one in a day or two. Either today or tomorrow, when I'll be dropping by the area.
Wish me luck.

here is one of my projects. http://ghosts.meetup.com/597 (I am the current organizer despite what the site shows). I started a domain, and hope I can get sponsored so it relieves my money issues keeping the group together. http://forums.bayareaghosthunters.org

~Mari

Passed Cryosleep Expert!!!

Hey blog.

My latest updates. I passed Cryosleep (expert 10) with a B+!!! I'm so stoked that I actually passed it. HEE HEE! Now that's two 10's that I've passed. I'm not TOOOO thrilled because it's barely a B, but I'm SO Happy I passed it!

Sadly I always get embarassed when I take a picture, because although it's a GREAT accomplishment for me, I know it's like a slap on the wrist for others, so I always take a snapshot quickly, and this time I didn't look, and the B+ was on it's rotating, and I got the shot when it was on it's side.



another thing is that I went a few days ago, and instead of doing D-Code (10) or Renaissance (9) as my last songs, I did them as my SECOND songs! TEE HEE! And didn't fail either!

Also...The Message (9) was on my list of songs to try to pass, and I did. I also got a B+ on it, my first time. I haven't done it again, but I really should try and improve it. I've been mostly trying to improve D-Code. There is this serious of steps that I suck at. I want to get an 80%+ on it. My highest score I think, so far, is 78.79% with 1 miss and 2 way offs. I got all the Jumps, holds, mines, etc...and had a max combo of 208/394, it's just that a huge percentage (102) of the steps were Excellents, and not Fantastic (got 198). :(
Better luck next time. XD

So I'm REALLY low on money, and not sure if I should fast or and spend my 5$ on tokens, or not spend it on tokens. I'll probably spend the money on tokens though. Heh!
Hey...then I can blog again. ;)

Accomplishment of the Day:
well...not of today, but it would have to be PASSING Cryosleep!! =D I'm really just proud of how much better I've gotten this summer. The beginning of the summer I was play 7 footers, single, and now I'm passing 10's! That's a great accomplishment.

Annoyance of the Day:
Not sure...perhaps the body aches, but in the long run, the weight-loss is well worth the temporary pain!

~Mari

B+ on a 10! Plus..a Renaissance Shot.

Some of this entry I stole from my livejournal and just edited it a little.

I'm SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW!!!!!!
I just got back from the arcade with Sonny, and I passed D-Code!!! I passed it again..but this time I got a B+!!! I'm so stoked. I only missed ONE and got 2 way offs, and 4 decents. I think that's pretty dang good! XD So I'm so happy right now...but...I don't want to jinx anything. So that is that.
Also...I finally got a picture of Renaissance. :)
I did .01 worse than yesterday (I had a 77.03). But still...I FINALLY got a pic of it.

[Renaissance Score]

[D-Code Score]

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Anyway...so time has passed and now I'm just watching TV (Journeyman) and Sonny is sweeping (sleeping).

I am SERIOUS about getting back into ITG this time. I mean...when I see an improvement like this, I CAN'T have a set back. Well...except for maybe the lack of money issue. hmm.

Accomplishment of the Day: D-Code, Expert, B+!!
Annoyance of the Day: None really..maybe our time restraint. We had to rush back to the motel to watch Forensic Files. But I was satisfied with my 2 games. I passed everything I wanted with high marks.

Post time.

~Mari

It's been awhile, but I'm getting better! XD

Heya. It's been awhile since I've posted. But...good news. I passed Renaissance on expert!! Also...I passed D-Code on Expert as well. THAT one I have a screenshot of. I didn't get one for Renaissance. I actually got a better score on it the second time (a 70 something), but I didn't get it's pic. Just an excuse to pass it again! I'm so stoked how much better I'm playing. Especially compared to when I first came back from Portland (being deprived of any dancing and not having playing much prior).

Although I passed this song (D-Code) back in '05, ONCE, I am still proud of passing it last night. That makes 2 times I've passed it. I have both pics too. I did better tonight than I did the first time! I'm so happy! Last time I scored a 61.70% (C+). Last night I got a 68.29% (B-). WOOT! Okay...I'm not the best player in the world, and I did MOD the speed, but I'm still proud.



I haven't posted in awhile. I don't play doubles right now because it's not 1$ anymore. it's now 2$, which sucks! But my last high score screenshot for doubles is an A on Music Pleeze, hard (7), and machine record 10. Not bad I say. I should try doubles today since I haven't played em in awhile. It's just so expensive and I don't want to be out 2$ for failing on a first song. Maybe I'll wait until December when it's double token month, if I get any tokens. *hint hint*

Ok...time to go for now. I'll try and keep updates here.

~Mari

Hey again.

So quick update. I haven't been playing much ITG/DDR. But I did get a chance recently to play DDR. That was cool. I sucked.

DOUBLE STAR!!!

Hey hey!
So...I'm pretty stoked right now. I just got back a bit ago from the arcade. Guess what I did?! I beat my own score....yea...but better yet...I got my first Double Star! I've never really been much for trying to get it, but...I finally did. I guess the only song I ever really tried to get it was on Why Me. I know it's not a hard song, but hey...it's MY accomplisment. :)
want proof? fine. :P

If I'd gotten one more Excellent I'd of gotten a 98.12, one more fantastic would have been a 98.19. Yippee!

OKay...with that said. I also passed ROMeo & Juli8 on doubles hard, 73.29%. Not bad, for passing it. :) I was stoked. I'm getting better at Doubles Hard. More practice of course. I see how I've gotten worse at certain things, and better at others. My accuracy has improved but my stamina has weakened. So...if I could just boost my stamina, things will be GREAT!

okay...I'm watching this show on Family called Fallen, and it's pretty good. :) OMG! he can hear the dog talk.
I gotta go watch!!

Accomplishment of the Day:
DOUBLE STAR!!! Teehee. Finally!

Annoyance of the Day:
uh...running out of tokens? I'd say the lame tourists that think they're all that and bump u out of line even though u've already started putting tokens into the machine, but they don't care. I could say a harsh word about the girls who pushed me aside, but...I won't be so mean. Anyway...they're always there, I need to get over it.

~Mari

ITG rant. Or...is that rave? note: bad language.

This is part of a myspace bulletin survey I filled out.

---

When was the last time you felt stupid?

Today, when I didn't make the bitch at the boardwalk wait for her fucking turn. I hate when people get like that.
Why the FUCK would I put my token a whole token away from rachels? Duh..I had my token after her. I was going to do doubles, but rachel wanted to play to. So raye went..then I was next. TJ was there, then raye, then me. But the bitch (she goes there a lot) jumps in after raye takes off for SN, and I put my coins in and shit, and she's like..it's my turn. I said it wasn't, that I was after my friend, and she points to the front of the line. Her token was off the token marker (there wasn't anyone behind me either, she had NO reason to have her token OUT of line).

So yea...I regret letting her go ahead of me. Then..her friend picked their first song, and she yelled at her friend, almost making her cry. I walked away for a minute to find raye at SN, then came back. Then, I saw the end of their first song which they failed. The bitch claimed she didn't get to play. I was like.."u just failed, it's my turn now". But she said she didn't get to play and had already started putting tokens in the machine. FUCKING WHORE!

So I stood back and waited. Rachel showed up and was like..what happened, because I wasn't playing. I told her the bitch cut in front of me, claiming she had her token between ours. BAH! Rachel got upset, who really doesn't.
So I watched them play their first song...and what do u know...they failed horridly. It was embarassing watching them play. All they did was jump around and touch the pad with their hands. They thought they were good, but really..it was all show. Rachel said they were good, only...they missed like every single step.
Why the fuck would they start off on an expert song they can't pass? Holds, hands, mixed. OMG it was hillarious. The second girl almost fell over when she was doing a Freeze/Hand move and just started hoping all over because she couldn't do it, while the bitch was yelling at her for failing. Then she failed and got pissed off. OMG she is such a BITCH. I hate people like that. They're like...I'm so good at ITG/DDR I can cut in line and try to show u up, then be a bitch about it. Well..she got what she deserved.
So...I felt stupid for letting her cut in line, and even stupider for thinking she'd be better. Better isn't what she is.

---

Lighter note: I did get to see TJ (we exchanged names, because we forgot, lol), I haven't seen him in so long. He's dweamy when he plays. Tee hee. No seriously...he's like one of those really nice guys that is cute cause he's so nice. haha. Well...Raye understood what I meant. Anyway...it was good seeing someone from "back when," playing there tonight. Only occasionally do I run into someone, and...well..those aren't the people I ran away to Portland from.
This new girl from above...ew...she started showing up after the crew dissapeared. She's really mean to her friend. The poor girl was saying I'm sorry over and over while the bitch was yelling at her saying how she HATED this song, I think she even called her stupid. Shit...when raye picked the bad song...I didn't yell at her. I just said...oh no! We pouted for a second, and then played it. Afterwards I said we're NEVER playing that song again, and she agreed with me, and we had a little laugh. Sad world.

Oh man...ITG...so fun though...*sigh* reminiscing now. Going to the BWA and hanging out with my friends, all of us supporting each others addiction to ITG. Ahhh....the good ol' days.
Sadly...John couldn't make it to ITG tonight, and Alex wasn't there either, unless he showed up after 10pm. So....le sigh. I was hoping to run into them. Raye was hoping to see Alex too. I guess we haven't hung out since..Febuary.
Soon.

Accomplishment of the Day: Passed another 7 footer on doubles hard. Uh...I think I like the Sound, I think. Except that that's an 8 footer, so that can't be the song. maybe it was music pleeze, or This is Rock and Roll. I'll have to check my Hero (flash drive) later.

Annoyance of the Day: The bitch. No, not my sister. The ITG one. I have her picture somewhere. I videotaped her playing once cause she looked cute, and raye wanted me to videotape her. I might have deleted it though. *shrug*

~Mari

Family Guy - DDR

Accomplishment of the day:
Passed Bend Your Mind on hard on single. And ALMOST passed Sweet World on Hard, on Doubles. Schweet!

Annoyance of the day:
Stupid drunk girl whinning about how she wants to play while I'm trying to do doubles on hard, then sticking her stinky breath in my face complaining how it's not her turn yet. Grr. If I punched her for every time she said she wanted to play...she'd be dead.

Goal for today/night = download Stepmania songs that raye and I BOTH can play on ITG. It's hard finding one we both enjoy and can play.

I forgot to mention..Joe pushed me to do hard songs on ITG doubles. So I tried this 7 footer that I hadn't tried before and I was SO close to passing it. I got 50 something. I'm trying to go Monday or Tuesday, but my friend hasn't decided if she's into doing it. We MIGHT go hiking, and if we do that I believe she doesn't want to do both. Maybe we can do one on each day. But I have to be sly in convincing her. >:)
If I could afford a car..oh man...I'd go all the time. My location is pretty crappy, especially for the bus system. On top of that...I basically avoid busses and libraries now. Long non DDR/ITG story.

goal...download cool songs/steps, intergrate (wp?) into ITG.

But first...a nap.

~Mari

DDR Freak Radio Station

Yea. It's DDR music on a radio station. I'm sure if u're on this blog, u already knew about it...but I thought I'd post it. I'm listening to it right now.
Besides the ads like every 3-4 songs, it's not so bad. :)
The ads are probably 30 seconds total. And they're not that annoying like on other free ad supported radio stations.

Here:

http://www.live365.com/stations/ddrfreak