Here we are at yet another completed week within this new year and with it a report of how I managed to uphold the standards of which I set myself to.

Health - On the upside, I managed to keep my eating of fast food to a minimum; one trip to Taco Bell late one evening. However, the pizza that work brought in on Friday probably negates that. I've also found out that no amount of granola bars will stave off hunger for very long. In the world of exercise, I did manage at least 45 minutes of walking every work day, no small feat considering the cold turn the weather has made. I need to add something more into the mix, though, be it treadmill, push ups, or something.

Finances - There were actually a couple days last week where I didn't spend any money at all. Score! The purchasing of some poster frames and a limited pressing of the Episode I soundtrack on LP were the only real unnecessary buys last week. I successfully did stave off the desire to purchase a couple of manga this weekend, so score. I'm going to try and Scrooge it the rest of the month.

Japanese - I did an hours worth of work two days last week. There were plenty of times I thought about picking them up later on only to take a nap instead. I have no excuse.

Drawing - Yeah...

Taking a bit slower pace on rolling these out this year, but here's another page of anime reviews.

Biggest Surprise

Chris - My Little Monster When 2012 started, little did I know that I would close out the year by watching a shoujo title, which -- let's not beat around the bush here -- are made for girls. But I did.

Go fuck yourself.

What I found in My Little Monster was a great little romcom with some great characters and a good -- if not flip-floppy -- central romance. While the show's shoujo roots are apparent in the art style, most everything in the show is enjoyable even by manly men. Best of all, there was no gaggle of wooden male characters -- I'm looking at you Hiiro no Kakera.

The only real problem I had was the somewhat disappointing ending, or rather, the lack of an ending. Few of the plot threads were wrapped up, leading me to hope that a second season is around the corner -- and let me tell you, I would love to see that.

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It's time for the first installment of my public shaming, an activity aimed at keeping me on the straight and narrow for my New Year's resolutions.

And what a shaming I deserve.

Health - I have eaten out several times this week (once being Taco Bell) and had a drinking party last night. Granted, my brother is in town and we're celebrating New Year's a bit belatedly, so I'm going to write it off this once. On the upside, I have made more food and not had McDonald's in this thirteenth year of the 21st century.

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As has been customary for four years now, I and some of my brothers have put into words our feelings of the Japanimation things we watched this year. The categories are changed up slightly from last year, but remain more or less the same. But, enough intro, here's Chris and I's favorite tunes of the year.

Best Opening

Chris - Crossing Field (Sword Art Online)

It would be inaccurate to state that I know how to explain music, or why I like certain songs more than others. Unfortunately, my cognitive capacity for this activity is far outweighed by the naturalness of describing things assaulting my other, far more supple senses.

But here goes.

This song kicks ass – I can’t explain why, but that is the way of things, and that is how they are. Also, there’s some pretty kick-flippin’ animation in the opener that probably rivaled in budget the entirety of Space Brothers.

OH, SNAP.

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The year is coming to a close yet again and with it the usual self reflective post for my future self to gaze upon. Also, the anime reviews will kick in soon. Not that anybody cares, but it makes for an interesting read later on. But, without further ado, let's see how I did on last year's list of self improvements and what to look forward to in 2013. I hadn't counted on this seeing as we were all supposed to die a couple weeks back...

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