Thanks for the replies!

I do know flashcards are quite effective, but after a while….

I am also learning Mandarin simultaneously, so constantly drilling them flashcards too.  My Chinese is probably an upper-intermediate level (reading is better than listening, listening is better than speaking) but I live in Taiwan so I am totally functional.

Thanks for the Genki info, I have Genki but think the material is pretty drab as I am not interested in small talk and I just hate the lame content (most language books are like this) but since I can use it to practice my reading I will open it up and look at that.  Not worried about my eyes being drawn to the English, just cover the page :D

I am just sitting here with the Chinese papers with a bunch of squares for practicing character writing and drilling myself on the kana, over and over and over, then using my android apps for testing myself, but would like to actually have a way of reading and checking myself quickly.  I am a grad student juggling about a gazillion things so being as expedient as possible is very important atm.  I’ve taken this weekend to sit and learn all the kana (learned hiragana a bit a few months ago, but forgot most of it as I just got focused on my Chinese and research and did not review) but I did not tackle katakana then.  I think by the end of the day I will be able to write both alphabets backwards and forwards, and be able to produce each letter on call (yesterday got through a set-m set and today upon testing myself only forgot about 4 katakana and none of the hiragana….so I think its a doable goal is I just keep sitting here and drilling) then on to practicing with the Genki texts.

Thanks again!