Bokkens are not Toys

I apparently am a bad person to know. I'm not mean or anything, i just tend to expose people to Anime and Manga that they would have never otherwise discovered and unleash their Otaku tendancies. My best friend ended up becoming a Phantom of the Opera fan because of my enthusiasm for it.

My roommate, for example. She didn't own/watch television for a number of years, used her computer only for reading the news and her students' work, and never really was interested in comic books. Then she joined the dojo, met me, and was introduced to Rurouni Kenshin. She became a fan and complained bitterly when she had read all of the chapters and watched all the episodes online. I introduced her to Vathara's Blades of Blood, Witchy Woman and Jane Drew's Frozen Moonlight. Which she checks religiously to see if it has been updated.

Now, when I moved in, I brought along my anime collection and the Roommate ended up watched Ouran High School Host Club. This was the first real anime I was exposed to. My sister ended up watching and loving it, too. And now, I have two people who want to start a Host Club.

I find this a little amusing. And a little bit scary.

Regane Phantom’s guide to surviving Dorm Life: or the Whys and Wherefores of keeping house, and not encouraging homicidal thoughts from your roommates.

Chapter one: The Difference between a lick-and-a-promise clean, and hospital-sanitary, Mother’s-worried-about-nosy-PTA-Members* clean, in regards to dishes. Or why you make demn sure that there is nothing on that plate before it goes to its happy place.

Chapter two: Vacuuming should be viewed as Satan Worship by cats and dogs alone. Or why if I can feel grit under my feet, I am not going to be happy. Very loudly unhappy at that.

Chapter three. Mine, Mine, MINE! you hear? Applies to all things. Don't you dare use my butter, without asking. That also includes towels, shoes, and above all else, my books.

Chapter Four: Yes, I can hear you now. Or why Cinderfella^ has to be out by midnight.

Chapter Five: Jerryrigging showers. Or why moderate adjustments are good for keeping somebody from hoping you get scalded next time you’re in the tub.

Chapter six: The stovetop really does come away from the Stove. Or how funny smells^^ can be prevented.

Chapter Seven: Fixing stuff. Or why that is best left to the professionals, and not ourselves.

Chapter eight: The horror, The HORROR! Or worst stories+.

chapter nine: Good deeds from the Vampire Roommates++.

Chapter ten: Closing thoughts. Or why I’m partially glad I chose not to clean up the kitchen with a flame thrower+++.



* Our mother thought that if they decided to poke around in closets and bedrooms, she’d at least make it interesting and give them something to really talk about. That trait has managed to survive in all of us children.

^Two-something in the blasted morning, listening to chatter, carries the huge risk of homicidal, sleep-deprived roommates.

^^ Yes, that is a source of bad smells. Along with dishwasher, sink, bathrooms and bedrooms. Which allow the smell to travel.

+ Or War stories. Usually mine turn into something like the Battle of the Bulge, save with lemon scented corpses.

++ They lurk in their rooms most of the time, appear only at night, and seem to be draining me of my enthusiasm to keep things tidy. It also is quite catchy.

+++ My first thoughts about our kitchen did involve that particular phrase. And it would have disinfected quite well. Until the plastic caught fire and it traveled throughout the dorm. So I settled for soap and elbow grease.