The past month I’ve been sick off and on, and it’s been rather annoying.

Around the Christmas holiday I wound up with a very nasty bi-lateral ear infection. Even though I took a heavy-as-hell regimen of anti-biotics as prescribed, I somehow managed to get sick again last week. I had a sore throat (presumed it was strep) and was feeling less than good. That Wednesday I started having coughing spells and realized that I more-than-likely had bronchitis for a second time in my life.

Soooo, I went to the doctor and just like I thought. I did indeed have bronchitis, BUT THAT’S NOT ALL!! Apparently, I still had a slight ear infection, which spread into my sinuses (sinusitis, anyone?) and then went into my lungs. Trifecta, anyone?

Doctor’s Cure: Sinus coctail + cortizone injections, steroids, antibiotics and inhaler! GG, Tora. GG.

I’ll be fine in due time, but this is really putting a hamper on my singing practices. >: Not cool.

I decided to open up a SoundCloud account last week after seeing my good friend and aquaintance, DJ Rhythmics, open one himself. So please, by all means come check out my profile here. I’ll still use my tumblr for uploading random ideas or scraps of music, but soundcloud will be more for songs that are finished or are close to being finished.

With that being said, I’m off for the night. Peace!

So before the New Year, as a b-day gift to myself, I decided to purchase a mic after giving it some thought and discussing it with my friend DJ Rhythmics.

So we both decided that we should purchase the Yeti THX Certified USB Microphone from Blue Microphones. Needless to say, after hearing many tests done with it, we were impressed.

So I got this bad boy in the mail Monday, sitting outside in the sub-freezing temperatures in a box left by UPS. (Don’t get me started about UPS. I paid for 2-day air and it took over 6 days. Good going, there…) I took it out of the box and it was ICE COLD. The first thought that came across my head was “Damn, this thing really is a Yeti.”

Needless to say, this b**** is HUGE! As for the sound quality: despite me having a slight head cold and no pop filter, I uploaded a vocal test on my tumblr, here. I was a bit off in my pitch, but overall audio quality wise, all of my friends were hella impressed. I definately can not wait to start using this to record demos and produce vocals with this amazing piece of equipment.

So stay tuned and be on the look-out of things to come! :D

Hey everyone, I know it’s a couple of days late, but Happy New Year to everyone!

I hope this year will be one that’s prosperous and joyful for all of you. I hope you guys will be there to also support my as I chase after my dreams, myself that I’ll be working towards.

Well, this Saturday, the 2nd, was my birthday, and I’ve turned 23. It feels kinda weird that I’m another year old. I mean, I don’t see it as a negative or a positive thing. It just feels like I’ve leveled up in some form. I’ve gained experiences over the year, and so my level has increased. I know I’ve learned a lot of stuff over the past year compared to other years, and I’ve experienced a lot of stuff that I wouldn’t have otherwise.

Definitely have to say that last year was pretty decent, but this year is going to be so much better. :) Like I said in my last entry, it IS the year of the tiger, after all.

And so, I leave you a picture of the New Years Kagami-mochi that my friend gave me for my birthday:

As the Japanese say: Kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu. (Please look after/support me this year, as well.)

So we’re right on the heels of the brand new year, and say good bye to what was 2009.

People always seem to make resolutions that never go through, which goes without saying that I’m one of those people. However, I have put myself into the mind set to quit smoking (a bad habit I picked up in 2008 September) and to lose weight. I’m shooting for at least 50 lbs by years end.

Aside from that, I’ve had a lot of thought about what I want to do as this new year comes around, and I think I know exactly where I’m wanting to go with my life. Especially after the courses of events over the past couple of years, and certain inspirations and people have come into my life.

With that being said, in the year 2010 I’m going to be pursuing a dream of mine to become a singer in Japan.

I know it sounds a bit farfetched, but I don’t think so. I’ve been singing off and on since I was in elementary school participating in Chorus/Choir classes. I kinda slacked off during high school but got back into singing a lot when I started college and started going to karaoke with my friends. I’ve had people tell me that if I try to go after it, I could more than likely succeed, saying I have good grasp of the language, can sing well and Japanese tend to enjoy foreign talent. So by the summer time I’ve lost enough weight, and have cut a demo to where I can start trying for auditions with Japanese record companies.

I think I have a fairly good chance as compared to anyone else, not to mention this year is the year of the Tiger according to the Chinese Zodiac, and I am actually born in the year of the tiger. So this year will definitely be “Tora’s Year.” I can feel it in my bones. :)

So I hope you guys will support me in the year to come because this journey is going to be one helluva ride.

Happy New Year to all of you guys! Wish me luck!

Well, I know it’s been well over a year in-the-making, but I’ve finally opened the “main” part of the site, so go check it out!

http://www.gimmetokyo.net

I basically decided that gimmetokyo[dot]net is going to be a portal site to the other social networking sites that I use, as well as my two blogs: GimmeTOKYO[dot]NET -blogside- and the newly opened AmebaBlog for my Japanese blogging.

Here’s a rundown of what you can find on these sites:

• GimmeTOKYO[dot]NET -blogside-: You’re already here, duh. :)
• AmebaBlog: Japanese blog site, which is taking place of my old mixi account.
• MySpace (Music): “Artist” page for completed drafts and masters of recently made tracks.
• YouTube: Random videos, music uploads, and my video blogging.
• flickr: My photography, obviously.
• tumblr: This is where I mainly have been uploading WIP of music I’m making, as well as reblogging random sh*t that my friends have posted on their own tumblrs. (Warning: may contain material that is questionable or not safe for children.)
• twitter: if you don’t know what twitter is by now… Son, I am disappoint.

With this, I’m promising to at least blog more frequently on here, seeing as I still have posts from last Christmas on the main page. :’| Forgive me.

So with that, I bid you adieu!