Well I’m writing this at two a.m. because I’m not quite ready to hop in bed yet. I’ve always avoided using this blog as a personal space to talk about my problems, but from time to time I don’t think it hurts to say what’s on your mind. At the same time we can talk about Ef~A Tale of Melodies a bit also.

I’ve really been enjoying this second season so far. There are some things I’m confused on like how the city they’re in isn’t the same city as the first season but an exact copy in Australia…ok…I guess that was necessary for some storyline elements, but it’s just kind of odd. I’m sure some more hardcore Ef fan will have some good explanation for it that I don’t know.

So as for myself. I am still wallowing in the world of unemployment. I’ve been making extra effort to try and find a new job in my career path, and for reasons I don’t care to go deeply into, I don’t really have the option of giving that up for now and pursing something else. A job at Best Buy again or something of that nature wouldn’t really do me any good, other then matching my unemployment check. As the days go by, I feel like I waste a lot of time doing nothing and lack the motivation to really get my ass up and do something. Though, there is some light in dealing with difficult choices. An unexpected new/old friend has really helped me sort my thoughts out and confirm what I already knew was true. How come the best decisions are never the easy ones? Well with any luck I’ll have a new job soon and be half way across the globe. It’s not an act of escapism, but a perk of the job. Nix that, got my rejection letter this morning, so much for hope! Moving on… Here I’ve collected some shots from Ef ~ A Tale of Melodies. This series, and I’ll say it a million times over, is art in motion. It’s really just beautiful and I don’t know how else to explain it. No number of pictures or screen shots I could post really would do it nearly any justice, not to mention the “motion” part of it is very important, but it is extremely visual and I think that’s what really sets it apart from everything else.

I think the reason Ef came to mind when I was thinking about what I’ve got going on right now, was because it really does a good job of touching on the drama. That and it has a beautiful way of showing you fucked up things. But, the stories it tells, conflicts between friends, love triangles, lust and depression…all of that is pretty fresh right now. Though I’d have to say the things in Ef are much more beautiful stories then the typical high school drama I watch unfold even now at the age of 25! I don’t think the comparison is quite as extreme, but in Ef we see a lot of dealing with not having someone in your life anymore, physically, mentally, or otherwise. I think that dealing with that sort of separation always is something that will continue to be difficult. They really hit the nail on the head with it, especially in these stories this season.

If you haven’t seen Ef at all, first or second season, I’d highly suggest it. Nothing is quite as moving as the story about Chihiro and Renji’s impossible love and the things they overcome to finally make it work. They are one of the few couples that I think is completely untarnished in anyway. That’s rare form if you ask me. Look at real life, it almost makes the prospect of something that powerful seem completely fake. Then again, we are talking about a story that was born in someone’s imagination. This second season, has a little bit of my favorite Ef couple in it, but it’s focusing more on some different stories. Mostly the adult characters from the first season are getting their chance to be in the spotlight.

That’s amusing as well. It’s nice to break away from the entirely high school perspective that most Japanese anime give you. Not that I don’t enjoy that, because I do, but I do enjoy the bitter and cynical personalities that we’re dealing with in Melodies (Ef~A Tale of Melodies for short). Himura and Shuichi, childhood buddies since high school (as far as I know anyways), are definitely friend’s but seem to meddle in each others business on a regular basis. I think they way they are just reminds me a lot of the natural progression of things, and how people just relate to each other.

Well that’s all about Ef for now. It really has magnificent music (thanks Tenmon!) and the story is beautiful and engaging, presented in a way unlike most other anime before it that really keeps you drawn in and appeals to the emotions. On another note, I have found a new song I love! It’s called “Gekichuu Uta Private Wars” by Sasaki Yuuko. It was an insert song in “The Third-The girl with the blue eye”, also a great show if you’ve never seen it. It has a very soft sound, like something you’d hear a girl singing in a classy bar scene. The tone is very reflective and it’s nothing but easy on the ears. Apparently there are several songs that carry this same name so its been difficult for me to track down any lyrics. Damn! I’m sure its something great, you can tell by the feel, that’s how it is after listening to Japanese music for the last 8 years without speaking any. You get a feel for these things, haha.

Well I should be going now. Hope you’ve enjoyed the senseless ramblings. Next up I think I may do a GOT’M! I’m putting it off because I’m waiting for a certain series to finish being subbed so I can go bonkers over it and let out all the excitement I’ve been botteling up! Well, maybe next time I’ll say something profound. I can hear the accolades…