Current Mood: Happy New Year, and yes, I'm still alive =)

I just decided to take a little time off before I got back to updating, but I'm glad to have made it through another year. Like always, there's been plenty of ups and downs, but I feel that I've come out of it a better, stronger, and wiser man than I was last year. Live and learn, live and learn... really, if that's not the goal, then what the hell are we doing?

Now, as per custom, we have What 2007 Has Taught Me, along with something a little different in the way of The Club Ninja Year-In-Review. And, of course, we have Mani's Personal Soundtrack for 2007!

Oh, and Happy Birthday to both me and Realmwalkers! =)

Personal Soundtrack for 2007: It's show time!

Returns a King from '300'
If I could, I'd have this play every time I walked into a room. My expectations for 300 were very high, and it didn't disappoint in the least. The moment, however, I knew that I was in for something epic, was the scene of Leonidas as a youth returning from the Agoge, having just slain the wolf. As he stands triumphantly in the next scene with Spartans kneeled before him as this track kicks in, I couldn't help but feel just a bit more invincible. This song makes a man feel like he is preparing to conquer the world.

All Remains by Afro Celt Sound System
I don't know, there's just something enchanting about this song. Very mellow, very earthy... I'm pretty sure that if I penned a script to Glenshire Abbey right now, I'd find some way to incorporate this into the soundtrack.

Quarter by Fuel
This song just reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from Rob Roy- 

"No quarter will be asked..." 
"...or given." 

Because sometimes, you've just got to be ready to fight.

Universal Soulja by Judge D. feat. Bionic Jive
... and when you're ready to fight, here's a good song of aggression! Balls-to-the-wall, do-or-die... Yoda put it best, I believe. "Do, or do not. There is no try." I'm pretty sure he'd throw in "Beyotch!" at the end of that statement, if he listened to this beforehand.

You Know My Name by Chris Cornell
The theme to Casino Royale has served me well. I can't tell you how many times I've had this playing as I've gotten dressed for some sort upcoming event. Definitely invokes the spirit of James Bond and makes you feel like the coolest man on the scene.

Evenflow by Pearl Jam
I can totally, 100%, blame this on Guitar Hero III. =)

The Glow by Willie Hutch
Of course anything  related to The Last Dragon is going to invoke thoughts of Bruce Leroy and Sho' Nuff, the Shogun of Harlem, but if you think about it, there's certainly a deeper theme from this song. 

To reach that upper level, your mind, body and soul must be one...
It's a sacrifice, it takes hard work, it's a way of life...

In order to elevate yourself, regardless of what it is that you do, it takes a total dedication. Nothing worth having comes easy, and anything worth having is worth sacrificing for.

Cartoon Capers by Dan the Automator feat. Kool Keith
How can you not love a song about cartoon gang warfare? Skeletor better watch his back...

And my honorable mention...

You Are A Pirate by Lazytown
My inner ninja is offended that I have a song up here dedicated to those sea-faring alcoholics, but dammit if this song isn't catchy. I still blame Fred Perry for this one.

The Newest of the New:  

Well, in case you've missed it, I got sneaky and threw a Fae in The Gallery some weeks ago...

...and, in the meantime, completed the final member of The Ladies of Club Ninja, going by the name of D.I.V.A.

So it took me a little over a year to finish it up. But, if you want to get technical, I didn't actually start the feature until the middle of January last year, which means... well, it still means that it took me over a year to complete the project.

Anywho, I really don't have a new project set up for this year, but my focus is to produce as much stuff as I can in regards to Glenshire Abbey. But don't worry, I'll be sure to throw up some new pieces from time to time, as I rather enjoyed working on The Ladies of Club Ninja. Maybe I'll start up The Guys of Club Ninja at some point, for y'know, gender equality and all of that good stuff =)

Random Quote: "My nipples are RED!!" -- Neil on the cruise back in December, lamenting his sunburned state. Cristi had asked how he was doing, and this was his joking response to the whole ordeal.