The O-Talk Podcast

Usually, I'll make this post explaining why I haven't made any post for the last few days due to be being lazy. This time it is a legit reason, I was diagnose with tendinitis in my left wrist and my fingers have Repetitive Strain Injury. In a simple way to explain what I have, the outside tendon of my left wrist has a constant sharp pain when its moves and at times my pinky and ring finger end up losing all feeling. As for the rest of my fingers, I have lost bit of strength in them and they get tired after typing for 15 minutes. So yeah, it sucks.

I took a week off to give my hands some time to rest. I started wearing one of those silly looking hand braces to keep some pressure on my wrist. I've been also bathing my hands in a epsom salt and warm water mix to relax the muscles. After one try, it felt like I had new hands. Stretching my hands does a lot of help too. I know there is no permanent cure for what I have, but all I can do is smile and hope for the best.
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So, I have been blogging for 4 years. I'm surprised that I have been going for so long due to my fickle nature. Well, I want to thank all of those who read my blog, the O-Talk cast, and the super cool people that I have met over the years due to blogging.

Holy crap, it has been weeks that I've had the chance to write an actual blog post that it not involving the new figure preorders, picture galleries, and O-Talk. I have been working so damn hard as a photographer in the last month that blogging and other things have taken the backseat.

For the past few months, I have been working on a post documenting my personal experience as a professional photographer. Every single time that I complete it, something new happens and I have to start from scratch. I hope to complete that post soon because I would like to share it with all my readers.

I know it has been a month with no new O-Talk and that's because of two reasons, we wanted a short break and the new site that is hosting O-Talk. Everyone that is on O-Talk has their own life and is not able to be participating in almost every episode. Just so we wont burn out, we took a short break. During that break, O-Talk has changed new podcast hosts. We originally hosted the show on Blip TV but they decided to drop their audio format, so I had to look somewhere else. I found liberated syndication and started to use them as the new host. Personally, I enjoy their services but it sucks that I have to pay a month fee. One more thing, I have been thinking of dedicating a website to O-Talk.


For a long time, I have been slowly saving for a new DSLR and that has not been a success. It is normally due to bills and nice expensive things that cost quite a bit. I have been putting it off to get it later but my current camera has been failing lately. I pretty much have no choice but to buy one as soon as possible as an investment. I also would like to start working on a few personally photography projects that I have thought about many years ago.

Hopefully, my daily schedule goes back to normal soon so I can get back to blogging on a regular basis.

Today's post is going to explain my current status in life and blogging. I hope you enjoy it.

Well, for those who don't know, I got a job as a photographer. Yup, I am finally doing something that I love doing. How I got the job was funny, I was being interviewed for an assistant position but they where impressed by my portfolio and offered me a Photographer position instead. Later on, I found out that I was the first person in years to actually have a portfolio during the interview.

As of right now, they have me doing portrait photography because it's how everyone starts out and I requested it. I have always wanted to do it because I find it to be interesting and I want to use what I learn from that to do better things. As for the equipment I'm using, I was issued a Canon EOS 5D Mark 2, Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM lens, softbox and various backgrounds. Yeah, I'm using some pretty awesome equipment but there is a down side to this, I cannot take it home. That means I still have to buy my own.

Since the topic of buying came up, I may as well talk about future purchases. As on right now, I'm to start saving to buy the things I need. First of all, I'm getting a new external harddrive, something with 2 TB is good for now. I really need the space because I only have about 10 GB of memory in between my current external and the one in my computer. Also, I'm going to replace the two monitors I have because one of them is flickering, while the other has been failing. Then I'm going to save to buy my own DSLR camera and a decent 50mm lens. Later down the line, I may spoil myself with a new HD TV and a Playstation 3.

I'm planning of getting a few stick-and-click lights for my figure shelves.

As for blogging, it has taken the back set for now because I have been pretty tired and busy lately. I will try my best to write posts ahead of time on my free days. O-Talk will still have new episodes made because I get a lot of help from my amazing cast. So, this is what I have been doing lately.

Well, After a week of working on fixing up my room, from replacing the floors to getting new furniture, here's the final product.

Here is my main setup. This is where I do all my gaming, audio editing, and other things. I really need to invest on two matching monitors since the ones I have now are starting to act funny.

My secondary setup. I do most of my photo editing on this machine and blog posts. I'm planning to replace the crappy cushion for one of those gamer rocker chairs.

Here's my figure collection.

Well, here is the second part of me changing my room. This has to be the most difficult thing I have done in changing my room. What I'm doing is that I'm replacing the carpet for wooden floors.

Here is the padding/insulation that is under the carpet. The damn thing is glued to the floor, so I had to scrape it off.

Here is the bare concrete, I rolled out brand new insulation. Then I began the hardest part of this project, I had to measure, cut the planks, and hammer them into place over 120 times. I lost count because it is such a mind numbing experiences.

Final product.

It took me 7 hours to complete this on my own. The only thing I have left is to add new base boards. I'm really happy with this outcome because wood is so much nicer that carpet and it does wonders against my allergies. The final processes is rearranging and getting new furniture.

Well, by now you should all now because of my current situation about how I was going to move but then that plan went to hell. Instead of being bitter and angry about this, I will make the best of it. Since I'm the most fickle person in the world, I decided to redesign my room for the second time this year.

I started by installing plastic rain gutter to the back of my desk. This is mainly for cable management and I really hate seeing a mess of cables on the floor. I got this idea from Lifehacker, they a lot of great tutorial on cable management that are worth checking out.

I also finished painting the two small bookcases. The first time I did it, the paint chipped off and it bubbled. On my second try, I was successful with my paint job. The next thing that I will be doing, I will replace the crappy carpet that is harmful to my allergies to a nice wooden floor.

Well, I'm moving. The thing is, I have been living in a small town for the last 4 years and I know for a fact that I wont have any personal growth while I'm living here. Also, the job market is horrible here and there are no opportunities. I decided to move to Orlando due to it is great city and it has an amazing anime community there.

I love writing in notebooks, it is just something about putting pen on paper and recording all of my thoughts and ideas on it seems beautiful to me. There is something I really never mentioned on my site is that I go through 7 to 8 notebooks a year because I do a lot of free writing to get my creativity flowing and I write down, research, and plan out my posts. For sometime, I have been needing a new notebook and this time, I wanted to go for something nice and fancy, so I went with a Moleskine.

The Moleskine notebook is beautiful and ah inspiring. When I started using it, I got in a trance and all of these thoughts and ideas came to me. When I finished, I realized that I will never use another notebook ever again. Each sheet of paper feels great to the touch and the smell of the glue that binds each sheet together is intoxicating with wonder. I am obsessed with this notebook.

Part of me feels bad for not using a fancy fountain pen.

Special thanks to lenejenius for the Miku Hatsune sticker.

If you are interest on picking up your own Moleskine notebook, here is their site and if you want to make your own, here is a tutorial.

The day before I painted my room, , I bought my paint, taped up any areas that I don't want to paint, and moved a bunch of heavy furniture. It was a great idea but, I should have done it during the daytime when I had energy.

I got Glidden Mountain Slate Blue.

I ran out of paint before I could do the trims. While I was at the store getting my paint prepared, I found this nice paint brush/sponge thing. Its freaking amazing when doing the trims.

Waiting fot the paint to dry so I can put everything back in its place.

Here's the final product. I like how the color makes the posters pop out.

When I moved the bookcase that contains my figures, I found out that it was going to collapse. I had to reinforce it so it would not fall over. It is a bit wobbly, but it should be fine if its not pushed.

I am planning to replace the bookcase that I use for my figures with a couple of Detolf case. However, that will have to wait until I replace my desk, finish fixing up my desktop, and getting a DSLR. I should get a new job first before getting those things.

Before I paint and redesign my room, I had to get rid of a lot of stuff. I managed to fill two trash bags of things I had saved this past year. While in the processes of getting rid of things, I decided to get rid of my video game cabinet, it took up space that I needed. I'm glad that made enough space for my video games and controllers.

I had a habit of buying really bad bootlegs for that laughs. This happens to be the funnies bootleg poster I have ever seen, it's titled Gundam Seed Destiny but RX-78-2 from Mobile Suit Gundam is on it.

This is also pretty bad, this cellphone bag that has Rei Ayanami but she's holding a can of UCC coffee.

I also found the cover for the first issue of Newtype USA I ever bought.

I started covering up the holes in the walls before I paint. If I have free time this weekend, I'll paint.

I decided to go with this color, it looks nice. If I do find a shade with a bit of blue in it, I'll get it instead.

I may get a new desk, the one I have is a bit on the small side. I also have to figure out a new layout in my room, I greatly dislike how it is right now.

Originally, I was going to start remodeling my room during my spring break vacation. What happened was that I bought a poster off of Marmar04, the guy that runs my IRC channel. Since I like to frame my posters, I went out and bought one. While I was in the store, there was a sale on bookcases and I got it as well. I decided not to wait for my vacation and started remodeling.

Doing the finishing touches to a 3 shelf bookcase. I'm moving all of my manga to both bookcases.

I ripped off the big shelving unit from my wall. I feel that I no longer need it anymore. The paint that is left on the wall makes it look like someone wiped their ass will my wall.

Thank you for your service for the last few years. You have been a pain in the ass.

The room looks better like this, it feels more opened. I also like that I can use the top of the bookcase to display my Nendoroids and Gunpla. I need to make space so, I can once again proudly display my Figma figures.

For the time being, I using my 5 shelf bookcase to display my figures.

I'm using CD jewel case to prop up the figures in the back. I have done this before and it works very well.

To finish this project, I need to paint my room, get a new desk, and build the figure display stands. I think I'll have this done in about a month and it shouldn't be too hard to complete.

Exactly 3 years ago, I started OtakuDan.com bored out on my mind at an old job. I thought I would just kill some time for a few days and forget about it. However, I enjoyed doing it and the rest is history. I never thought that I would make it past 6 months, but 3 years have actually passed.

Over the years, many people have asked how do I look like. Well, thats me. What did you expect, a cyborg bear wearing a top hat and a matching vest. Actually, if I was a cyborg bear that would be awesome

I would like to thank everyone that has ever visited my site, everyone that has left a comment here, and everyone that has shared my site with others. I thank you all so very much, if it was not for my wonderful readers, I don't know what would happened to OtakuDan.com.

Thank You

Back in my New Year's resolution post, I mentioned that I wanted to start a podcast. Well, I'm the type of person who if I want something, I will work for it. The thing is, I'm not doing this project alone.

First of all, I would like to wish everyone a happy new year. 2010 has come and gone, but 2011 is finally here. For me, 2010 was not the best year for me does to personal reasons. However, I will be making out of 2011 and I'm going to do some changes for the better.

For the next few days, I'm going to be busy spending time with friends and family. I won't be able to write a post for those day. For today, I have links to previous Holiday posts that I have made. These are pretty fun posts and they'll get you in the Holiday spirit.

An Otaku Christmas Carol - 12/25/2009

T'was The Night Before an Otaku's Christmas - 12/24/2009

Retrospect on My Christmas - 12/26/2008

Christmas Day Gallery - 12/25/2008


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Well, its time to explain why I have been missing posts for so long. Many of the things that I mentioned in this post I have kept to myself because I did not want many anyone worry. Now, I feel it's the right time to share it.

The last 6 months, my health was not been well. One day while I was taking a shower, I discovered an odd lump on leg. It was 2 inches in diameter and it was growing deep inside. At first I thought it was an ingrown hair and I did not give it much mind to it. Some time had pasted and it got bigger, about 6 inches in diameter. I quickly made a doctors appointment to have it checked out.

When my doctor took a looked at the lump, he found it kind of odd and called in a specialist to take a look at it. They told it could possibly be a tumor. They took a sample to exam it and they will call me with the results in a few days. I was a nerves wreck during those 3 long days. When I was finally called, they told me that the lump was benign. However, they still had to do surgery.

The surgery was a success but recuperation was hell. I had days that my leg was in constant pain and I had little to no motivation. I was missing classes and falling behind on my studies. I barely had anytime to blog. I was really stressed out and my immune system was a mess. I managed to catch up with my studies and most of the pain is gone.
This whole ordeal changed me for the better. I fully appreciate everything in my life and I don't let things get to me. I also decided to follow my dream to become a professional photographer and travel the world. I know that I'm talented with writing programs and working with computers but I personally know that I won't be happy doing it. I don't want to end up when I'm older wondering what if and regretting not doing what makes me happy. I learned that life is short and if one has a realistic dream, make it happen. I know I have quite a bit of work to do before making my dream a reality. I'm young and I'm ambitious, that is all I need.

As of right now, I have 2 goals. I want to lose all of the weight I gained during the last 4 years and I want to run a marathon.