Omega19x

6:31am: Hold the S because I am an 'aint
Now, I'm not a very big sports fan. In fact, I usually tune in for the commercials, and then make a sandwich, go potty, etc. during the big game. In fact, by the time I dragged myself away from the computer yesterday, the Colts were already up 10 - 0, and the first quarter was coming to an end.

But then the Saints started to mount a comeback, and I got a little excited.

The coach started making gutsy calls, going for a fourth down and goal, even though they didn't make it, and starting off the half with an offside kick, which they DID make. There were those 40+ yard field goals. Then there was that two-point conversion that would make it a tie game if the Colts scored again. And the absolutely amazing interception and 74-yard touchdown return that proved to be the straw that broke the colt's back.

By the end of the game, I was cheering with the best of them!

And why shouldn't I? The Saints are the ultimate underdog. This is their first ever Superbowl win. In fact, it's their first ever Superbowl appearance at all! In the league, they're nicknamed the 'Aints' because of how much they lose every year. And this year, they made it all the way to the top, and showed that arrogant Payton Manning who's really in charge. (Sorry, even in a house of non-sports fans, we've developed quite a strong hatred for Payton Manning...)

It was a great football game. Now, if only I could say that about the commercials...
Really... how many drew most (if not all) of their content from geeky internet memes? 5? Face it. There goes the net-erhood.

Current Lips: gold and black gradient blend

7:23pm: seriously... I used to be gother than this.
From shorts in XLR cables, to dead mic batteries, to dead mic batteries in the battery box hidden behind the switcher, to dead camera batteries, to throwing on a back-up battery (which was also dead, of course) only to have the camera reset every possible setting to default after I'd painstakingly white balanced it to the room conditions, just before the speaker begins their presentation... you might say this day just belongs to Murphy's Law.

Of course, if I catch Murphy putting any more dead mic batteries back in the box with the fresh ones, he's in serious trouble...

But this... THIS is almost too much... My costume for tomorrow's event up at work is Goth. And I... I am fresh out of black nail polish!!!

How can such a tragedy happen, you might ask?

Well, it's probably the obvious fact that I haven't painted my nails in years and I threw out all the old, hardened polish when my mom started throwing a fit about my dresser not being clean. But that's beside the point. The important question is how the hell can I get around it.

Long, fake nails are out of the question. If they survive me setting up all the video equipment tomorrow, they'll only hinder the operation of lots of intricate media equipment. (Granted, I did manage to find my old set of black fake nails... assuming I only had nine fingers the last time I wore them...)

I tried mixing polish. Apparently, in my makeup kit, I have red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple polish... Just no black. Purple and green, btw, don't make black. They make a really awesome shade of silvery purple, that I may have been able to convince myself to wear if the polish wasn't scented. (My thumb now smells like a grape stuffed in a kiwi stuffed up a kuribo's ass...)

I tried calling people to see if THEY have any black nail polish. (They must have lives...)

Sharpies aren't good for the nail bed, but I'm not above trying a bottle of black acrylic paint if it comes down to that. I don't think there are any major health issues about painting your nails with acrylic paint...

... wait a minute... that gives me an idea...

Current Lips: brown and black gradient blend

6:34am: Okay, so I'm a little rusty on my kama form, but you can't blame this on that
Sometimes, I've wondered, if I'm clumsy enough to knock my shoulder out... while I'm sleeping... why don't I at least get a cool dream with an awesome fight sequence in it?

All I got last night was a sharp feeling of intense pain that made me shoot straight up out of bed, and roll my shoulder around until I was sure the joint was in its proper place. It's more of a dull ache right now, something that I'm relatively familiar with. But the point remains.

No cool dream, no cool story, no saving the president from a burning building while being chased by dogs, ninjas and dogs dressed like ninjas. Just a sore arm.

Current Lips:brown and black gradient blend

9:21pm: And let there be snakes
Granted, this would probably be a lot cooler if I had a picture to show. But to be honest, I can't even find a link to where I first found the pattern for it...

My snake shirt, though, is finished!! And it looks awesome!

Which means, of course, I need to turn it into the full costume. Orochimaru, in pajamas!! So now I need to buy the wig and make good bandage gloves (how exactly I want to do that, whether I want them falling off to reveal burned skin underneath, etc., I haven't decided yet.) But this would make for some very cool and very comfortable con attire.

Oddly enough, (and despite the fact it's actually for a costume) I've found the entire process of creating this shirt to be very therapeutic.

It makes perfect sense, from a metaphorical standpoint. The snake is a symbol of rebirth, and that's exactly what making this shirt has felt like - a purging of the old skin of negative emotions, and slithering out in a brand new day. I've spent most of the sewing time getting to know my parents better, and in that, I'm getting to know myself better too.

That's made it so much fun to make, and will probably make it so much more fun to wear too.

Current Lips: coral snake pattern

7:39pm: Another acute attack of nostalgia
After spending time on the phone tonight updating my info for the high school directory and spending my time at work all day planning for a high school reunion themed event... I'd be lying if I said the topic wasn't fresh on my mind. Fortunately, it also brings with it a healthy dose of sarcasm.

The High School Meme

1) Where did you graduate from and what year?
Plano Senior High. Class of 2001.

2) did u have school pride?
If by school pride, you mean hiding in teachers' offices to avoid going to pointless pep rallies, then yes.

3) Was your prom a night to remember?
My friends and I scheduled an anti-prom night instead. It consisted of getting all dolled up, and then driving go-karts, going bowling, etc.

4) Do you own all 4 Yearbooks?
... yes.

5) What was the worst trouble you ever got into?
Thanks to the post-Columbine hysteria, I nearly got myself expelled because I exhibited (in the words of the school administrators, no less) dangerous qualities like the following:
- I was smart.
- I wore black.
- I listened to Marilyn Manson.
- I had a black belt in martial arts.
Yeah, I never understood that either. One would think the patience, discipline and respect earned through that last one would negate the whole 'I'm going to kill everyone' thing. But since the counselor predicted I would kill myself the year before, and I was obviously still there, I guess she just figured I was waiting to be a danger to everyone else.

6) What kind of people did you hang out with?
The wonderful people that, like me, were rejected out of the other cliques.

7) What was your number 1 choice of College in HS?
I only applied to one school. My parents asked me what I would do if I didn't get in. Fortunately for me, I did, or else I probably would have had a very unsuccessful career as a Marilyn Manson roadie.

8) what radio station did u rock out too?
97.1. The Eagle.

9) Were you involved in any organizations or clubs?
I lettered in choir.

10) What were your favorite classes in high school?
During my senior year, there was an experimental interdisciplinary philosophy class called 'World of Ideas.' I absolutely loved that.

11) Who was your big crush in high school?
Oddly enough, the relationship I had my senior year was also quite philosophical. It began with a discussion about the meaning of life, and it ended because he was an absolutist and I felt that the only absolute truth was that all truth was relative. Of course, that in and of itself was an absolutist statement, poking fun at his point of view.

12) Would you say you've changed a lot since high school?
Yes. Though I still get carded to buy lottery tickets.

13) What do you miss the most about it?
The ducks.

14) Your worst memory of high school?
Absolutely anything related to the post-Columbine hysteria.

15) Did you have a car?
No. And it was probably a good thing too. I heard enough stories about unpopular people who parked non-luxury cars too close to where the rich people liked to park their expensive cars, and they ran the risk of having their non-luxury cars egged.

16) What were your school colors?
Maroon and silver.

17) Who were your fav. teachers?
The World of Ideas teacher, for creating the class and exposing us to a liberal arts mindset before college. I nominated him for the Who's Who of American Teachers one year.

18) Did you own a cell phone in highschool?
No. But they did build a cell phone antenna on top of the music building. I suppose it was so we could get better service with the phones they told us not to have.

19) Did you leave campus for lunch?
No. I always brought my lunch.

20) If so/not, where was your fav. place to go eat?
If the weather was nice, by the duck pond. If the weather wasn't nice, in the cafeteria, where I would play very competitive games of UNO.

21) Were you always late to class?
No. I was early. And I sat in the front row.

22) Did you ever have to stay for Saturday School?
Does that even exist?

23) Did you ever ditch?
No. But I did take a zero hour period so that I could leave school early for my after-school job.

24) What kind of Job did u have?
I taught martial arts classes, and worked in the store there.

25) When it comes time for the reunion will you be there?
Absolutely.

26) Do you wish you were still in high school?
Absolutely not.


Current Lips: green and yellow gradient blend

6:38am: a little moment of poetic zen
Rebirth

A profoundly moving experience
in a profoundly ordinary way
happens to the best of us
amidst an ordinary day.

An iris blooming on the highway.
A snake basking in the sun.
A little voice inside my head
reminding me we are one,
for a flower fades in winter
and a snake will shed its skin.
Both will make it through their struggles
and begin their life again.

So I will sanctify this moment.
Content with what I find -

An Iris blooming in my heart.
A snake basking in my mind.


Current Lips: turquoise, gold and orange gradient blend

2:58pm: The Non-Gamer's guide to Naruto: Clash of the Ninja Revolution
Yes, I've been playing Naruto: Clash of the Ninja Revolution almost every day this week.

This is, of course, despite the fact that a month ago, I was finally about to trade in the game. It took me about a year to figure out how to get past Mission #2 (Yes, I suck.), but once I finally did, I haven't been able to put it down! It is an awesome fighting game, and a lot of fun for anyone, who like me, likes to pretend they know how to play video games when in reality, they just love to mash buttons.

Ever since I beat the Mission Mode (quote my surprise: "God, this cut scene is so damn long. It's like an ending or something... oh... wait. Nevermind.), I've been relentlessly trying to unlock more characters to play with. And in order to do that, I've had to google up some cheat guides and get up close and personal with pretty much everyone in the game.

And now, I'm going to tell you what I think of them. (The characters in the game... not the cheat guides... though according to one of them, Kankaro hates spinach. That's not really helpful information, but it was kinda funny.)

Kakashi
The first time I ever tried this game in a multi-player match, I fought with Kakashi. I picked up the controls, having never even seen the game before, hit a lot of buttons, and he kicked everyone's ass. This happened again and again, until my friends stopped playing against me unless I agreed to put my character selection on random.
He does this awesome move where he drops below the ground, yanks you underground with him, and then has his way with you... I mean... then beats you senseless. Over and over again. Unfortunately, when you play against him, he does the same thing to you.
Still, he's one of my favorite characters to play.

Naruto
Personally, I find him annoying. But the fact that he wears orange means I can find my character on the screen pretty easily. I read in one of the many online cheat guides that winning single player mode with him will help unlock things. So, I decided to get his annoying victory out of the way first.
It took me a while to figure out how to play the controls, but despite my complete lack of ability, I managed to tap into the nine-tailed fox's red chakra. Unfortunately, because of my complete lack of ability, I couldn't figure out anything to do with it once I had it, so I just pounded my opponent into the ground with my bare fists.

Sakura
Haven't played as her yet (I'll need to if I want to unlock Ino), but I've fought her several times. She's fond of throwing things at you from all kinds of directions, and can be really tricky to hit.
As an added bonus, if you play as Sasuke and she totally kicks your ass, when she's done cheering about how much ass she kicked, she'll run over to you, trembling, shouting "Oh my god! Sasuke! Are you all right?!"
The appropriate answer is: "No, bitch!! You just fucking killed me! I am not all right!!!"

Sasuke
Watching the anime, I always thought Sasuke was a pretty neat character. According to all the game guides, he's one of the best characters in terms of attacks, handling, defense, everything. Unfortunately, these guides must be written with actual gamers in mind, because this is the first time in my life I have actually chucked a wiimote multiple times, kicked a chair, pounded the floor, and screamed so loud I woke everyone else in the house up, all in the span of about half an hour. Remember that YouTube Video where some kid had his WOW account deleted by his mom? That's what I sounded like. God, I HATE THAT LITTLE FUCKING EMO RUNT!!
It was the same story over and over again - I do 1 point of damage, they do 18. I do 2 points of damage, they do 124. So on and so forth. And don't get me started on my battle of Sasuke vs Sasuke. I lost so many times in a row, I even unlocked a new mode - 'Watch Mode' where you don't even fight. You just watch the computer fight the battles for you.
YES. I SUCK. AND SO DO YOU, SAS-GAY!!

ahem... moving on...

Shikamaru
This was a character I was never really fond of in the anime. He always seemed rather lazy.
Of course, in the game, that means he's a speed demon. He's hard to hit, but very easy to hit with. I managed to win using him pretty quickly, and unlocked both Gaara and Temari! Out of all the characters I've played, this was the biggest surprise. (Well, biggest 'good' surprise anyway. Biggest 'bad' surprise belongs to a certain Uchiha asshat...)

Neji
I don't like Neji. This probably has something to do with the year I spent trying to get past Mission #2. I read that I'll have to use him eventually, if I want to unlock Hinata.
He's a decent fighter, and if I get too close with my button mashing, he does some kind of funky blue rotation jutsu that sends me flying backwards. Oh, and he has this nasty thing that he does with his hands that hits you sixty-four times in a row. Awesome cut-scene. Leaves you pretty close to dead.

Rock Lee
This character is famous in the anime for his inability to use jutsu. He's a hand to hand fighter only. I haven't played as him, only against him, and so far, I've kicked his ass a lot. Stay out of his range and he can be easy pickings.

Gaara
One of my favorite characters, especially in the new Naruto Shippuden anime. I just unlocked him today, so I haven't had any time to try him out. (The football game came on, and my parents thought seeing Minnesota taking on New Orleans was more exciting than seeing a scrawny guy with a giant gourd throw sand around. I don't see their point, but whatever...)
He was my last round when I was using Naruto, and he was really hard to beat. Sand was everywhere, and he used it for defending and attacking. I must have gotten caught in his sand coffin a dozen times. I can't wait to do it to someone else.

Kankuro
He was actually the first character I unlocked. You get him when you finally complete mission mode.
He's a dangerous opponent, mainly because he uses his puppet to attack you from two points at once, whether close up or at a distance. Oh, and there's purple poison gas that fills the screen, so you can't see where you are, and then boom - you've been glomped by a damn puppet. Yes. It really does glomp you. And just like at anime conventions, that can do a substantial amount of damage.
The game guides say he's probably the trickiest to master, but if you can successfully use the puppet, you can win against anybody. I don't think I'll be trying that any time soon.

Temari
I unlocked her at the same time I did Gaara, so I haven't played with her yet. But I did get to face her a couple of times.
The big bursts of air from her giant fan can't be blocked, so the best thing to do is avoid them completely or fight her close up, so she can't hit you with them.

Jiraiya
Ah, the pervy sage.
This guy isn't that great to play as, but he has a couple of moves that I really liked. First, you can summon a gigantic frog that will fall on top of your opponent and squish them. Second, he has this awesome needle defense, where he becomes a big cone of spikes, and anything that touches him gets hurt. I'm not very good at pulling off either of them, so I usually just fall victim to the fact that he's bigger, slower, and a bit harder to control.

Tsunade
By winning Single Player mode with Jiraiya, I was able to unlock Tsunade. Haven't played with her yet, besides in the mission mode, but she's not a fun lady to go against. She's extremely powerful, and can tear you apart with one finger. Yes... her main attack only uses a finger. And no, it isn't that finger. That's the finger I was using, namely when I discovered she has the ability to heal herself.
She doesn't throw any projectiles, though, so if I stay out of range, I have a shot against her. And as an added bonus, even though they're a big distraction in the show, her breasts didn't seem nearly as annoying in the game. (Not at all like Akiza's breasts in Yugioh 5D's Wheelie Breakers... Now THOSE are distracting!)

Orochimaru
My new favorite character, he's the main reason I've been playing so hard and trying to unlock things. And according to the cheat guides, to do that, I had to win in Single Player mode with Naruto, Sasuke, Shikamaru, Jiraiya and Kakashi, as well as unlock Temari and Tsunade. Well, I must have mashed a billion buttons, but I finally did it. I unlocked the snake himself, and to my surprise, actually found him very easy to handle. No pun intended.
He's extremely fast, and I could throw out some wicked combinations that usually ended with snakes flying out of his body and doing a hell of a lot of damage to the other person. I actually had TWO perfect rounds. And I discovered that I can regurgitate a sword and fly across the entire field to stab somebody with it.
Usually, when I get my score after I win Single Player mode, I get 'apprentice' or maybe 'genin.' This time, I got 'Master Ninja!'
The only downside? Gah, that outfit. It makes him look fat. (Though seriously, what kind of fashion sense can I really expect from a series where their main protagonist is a ninja that wears orange...)

Itachi
From what I've read in the cheat guides, unlocking this character is a pain and a half. I'm nowhere near a point where I can even think about unlocking him. He's supposedly the best character in the game, and fights with only one arm (no, not because it's injured or something, but because the game wants you to know just how freakin' awesome he is.)
The only time I faced him was in my final battle as Sasuke. Yes, I did manage to beat him, but only by sheer technicality - in a stroke of pure luck. I had about a fraction more health than he did when time ran out.
But if he's anything like his runt of a brother, if I ever do manage to unlock him, he's probably going to be so hard to control that it's going to make me want to break something, possibly my own skull. Damn Uchiha clan. Now I know why the rest of them were all slaughtered.

Final Thoughts:
So, what are my lasting impressions of this game? Of its characters? Of life in general?

Simply put, if you're a gamer with any kind of real skill, you are an Uchiha. And I hate you.

7:27pm: 'Stress-Be-Gone' air fresheners. They'd sell like hotcakes!
This has been such a relaxing day!!

I spent the entire afternoon sitting on the couch sewing my next costume (Orochimaru's snake pajamas), listening to my parents talk about the old days. Mom found an old box in the garage, and inside were love letters between her and my dad, mementos like high school graduation programs and letters from family who have since passed away.

And the best part was that the TV was tuned to satellite radio. There was no Fox News, no apocalypse, no stress, no worries... just nice, relaxing instrumental music and basic human interaction.

After the week I've had, I think we all need to do that more often.

Current Lips: red with black and white stripes

6:31am: Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?
I think so, Brain, but if Orochimaru hosted a Bachelor-style, crossover reality TV show to find his next host body, who would show up as contestants?

(Confession: If it wasn't obvious by the question, I did spend the weekend of my birthday watching too much anime, especially Naruto. So much so, that I'm actually working on a new costume. But that's a subject for a different blog...)

Kabuto: Knowing that the time of your transformation is near, and knowing that we were once again unable to obtain a suitable Uchia host, I took the liberty of posting a casting call.
Orochimaru: A what?!
Kabuto: A casting call. This is the 21st century, Master. It's all about the way you advertise. Over a ten week period, and in front of the cameras, you'll narrow down a selection of available young hosts until you reach the final two. You deliberate for a while, so that our ratings soar, and then you make your final selection.
Orochimaru: You said this morning, this body will last a few more days at best...
Kabuto: ... Don't worry. It won't really take ten weeks. They'll fix that in post. Now, let me introduce the contestants:

Harry Potter - He escaped a very troubled, orphaned past. His chakra levels give him magical powers, and he can talk to snakes in their native tongue. Manda will never be lonely again.
Miroku - He has a special jutsu - a hole in his hand that will allow him to absorb anything near it. Though, I must warn you, when I informed him this prize was your body, I believe he took it in a way other than what we intended.
Graverobber - A criminal in his own world, he's comfortable around dead bodies. And he carries some kind of medical remedy in a little glass vial that may ease the unbelievable pain you are feeling right now.
Ryou Bakura - Those he loved have all been killed. He has an incredible fascination with all things occult, and he has years of experience as a host body for a being bent on revenge and destruction.
L - His parents are dead, just like Sasuke. He's a renown genius, just like Sasuke. He even looks... just like Sasuke.

Orochimaru: How exactly is this supposed to work, Kabuto?
Kabuto: You give a rose to everyone you don't want.
Orochimaru: Wouldn't it be a lot simpler to just give one rose to the one I do want?
Kabuto: Ratings, master. Ratings!
Orochimaru: All right, all right... Miroku gets a rose. First and foremost, I am not about to bear your children. Potter gets a rose. Anyone who says I resemble someone they want to kill is probably not a suitable host. Graverobber gets a rose, though, Kabuto, offer him his life for the blue liquid in his coat and the odd weapon he carries to distribute it with. Next...

Kabuto: Wait! You're down to two!!
Orochimaru: So?
Kabuto: The audience would rather see these two compete in various challenges to win your choice.
Orochimaru: Do we really have time for all that?!
Kabuto: We'll stretch it out with filler episodes...
Orochimaru: Okay... so what are you going to have them do?

Ryou: Um... actually... I'm just here for the food. You promised free cream puffs.
L: My reasoning exactly. I came for the cake. There is going to be cake, no?

Orochimaru: Do either of you have a sharingan?
L: No.
Ryou: Um... I had a ring... but it's gone?

Orochimaru: They both get roses.
Kabuto: But... but what about your host body? That was all of the contestants!
Orochimaru: There are still a few people left.
Kabuto: You... can't possibly mean me, master. Can you?
Orochimaru: No, no no... Begin preparations for the transformation. We'll use the cameraman. Like you said, this is the 21st century, and if that isn't an 'all seeing eye,' I don't know what is.

Current Lips: orange and brown gradient blend

8:05pm: And just think, I do this for fun.
Needless to say, I now have even more profound respect for anyone who is caned in Singapore.

Friend: "So why are you standing up?"
Me: "Well, right now, I have quite the bruise on my ass."
Friend: "Did somebody give you a birthday spanking?"
Me: "Yeah. A fellow Kendo student. With her bamboo shinai. During a sparring match."

She also got me pretty hard across the thigh, right under the protective skirt. And I got a nasty hit on my wrist too, that's only now starting to NOT hurt.

I guess I can just take solace in the Zen viewpoint. Pain is one of the few things that keeps us fully immersed in the present. There is no past, there is no future, just the feeling of pain in the here and now. And to fully exist in the here and now - many say that is the true path to enlightenment.

Either that or just admit that I really love playing with swords.

Current Lips: green and yellow gradient blend

7:16pm: Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu!
One of my New Year's Resolutions this year was to be sure and have and adventure, to try something new, each month. This month, I can officially say I did that. Because today, I went to a Mochitsuki festival in Richardson with one of my friends. And that's something I've never done before!

The festival was hosted by the Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth, and there was a lot to see, do and especially tatse! Like, what else, MOCHI!

Watching the mochitsuki, or rice pounding, demonstration was interesting. I'd never had rice cakes like that before! They looked like grits, but were actually very sticky. We got toppings, like anko and roasted soy bean powder to flavor our mochi and seaweed sheets to wrap it in. My friend found the mochi to be a bit hard to swallow, but I enjoyed it a lot. The soy bean powder gave it a very nutty flavor. The red bean paste was sweet and delicious, definitely my favorite topping. I think I like it better served in the seaweed than in the zenzai (sweet red bean soup).

We made slightly gimpy origami swans. We wrote Kakizome, otherwise known as the first calligraphy of the New Year. I tried to write 'Dream', but I think I did a far better job writing my name than I did the actual kanji.

We marveled at an ikebana display, looked at traditional New Year's postcards, watched a performance by a group of Taiko drummers and tried a host of Japanese children's games. I think they were actually for the children, but we were determined to try everything!

I managed to beat my friend in a memory game, even though she had fewer cards than I did. And I actually managed to catch that little kendama ball on the stick. We played fukuwarai, and laughed at each other's inability to play pin the features on the face with any degree of accuracy. Fortunately, the name in Japanese literally translates to 'lucky laugh' and the point is to laugh at each other's funny faces.

I am definitely going to check out more of their events in the future, because I had a really great time at this one.

Current Lips: purple, white and black stripes

6:12pm: Iron Chef application, please!
For my birthday dinner, my mom and I decided that instead of going out, we'd just stay in. We were both watching Food Network, and saw a great recipe for lemon linguine on Paula's Home Cooking.

We changed it up quite a bit, mainly since we didn't have any linguine. (We used fettuccine instead.) But we also used less butter, and replaced the milk and sour cream with just a little water, so it had a lot less fat. The lemon we had was so juicy that it really flavored the sauce, and it didn't even need the milk or sour cream. We topped it with parsley, Parmesan cheese and just a little provolone cheese, since we were out of chives.

We served it with broccoli and shrimp on the side. And then I went to CiCi's to pick up a little of their garlic bread.

It was so delicious. I think I'll go forage through the fridge for leftovers before someone else snatches it for dinner!!

1:48pm: the fact that you were able to make another trip around the sun
Yes, today is my birthday, though the celebrations have been going on for about a week now.

Yesterday, my coworkers decorated my cube with ribbons, banners and balloons (which came as a total surprise) and then took me out to get sushi on my lunch break (which came as an even BIGGER surprise!!). The restaurant had some of the best unagi I've ever tasted this far away from a coastline, and we all had a great time.

Today, though, I'm on vacation. And right now, I'm using that vacation to look up some of the interesting things that happened on this, the anniversary of my birth.

Events:
1777: New Connecticut (now Vermont) declares its Independence.
1919: Boston Molasses Disaster, in which a large molasses tank in Boston, Massachusetts, bursts and a wave of molasses rushes through the streets. This killed 21 people and injured 150 others. On a semi-related note, I had pancakes for breakfast this morning.
1967: The first Super Bowl is played in Los Angeles, California.
2001: Wikipedia goes online. On a more-than-semi-related note, that's where I'm getting all these dates from.

Births:
1716 – Philip Livingston, American founding father who signed the Declaration of Independence
1850 – Sofia Kovalevskaya, the first major Russian female mathematician
1929 – Martin Luther King, Jr., American civil rights leader
1972 – Kobe Tai, American porn star, who happened to sing background vocals on the Marilyn Manson song, 'New Model no. 15'

Deaths:
1896 – Mathew Brady, the father of photojournalism.
1947 – Elizabeth Short, the Black Dahlia, who was brutally murdered.
2007 – Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti, former Iraqi intelligence chief and half-brother of Saddam Hussein

Other Holidays:
Hangul Day, or Korean Alphabet Day

Current Lips: "27"

9:26pm: blargh point five
Seriously, some days you just feel like kicking something.

Fortunately, on those days, there's a fresh episode of House waiting on DVD, and a scene like this that can make you forget everything else.

(There's other context, obviously. This is really just Wilson out-Housing House, who had stolen his potential date. But that's not nearly as funny. Oh wait, yes it is. God, I love House.)

Current Lips: brown and black gradient blend

1:09pm: I think I'm having Zydrate withdrawal, or at least birthday withdrawal.
My birthday party is over, and I've successfully (I think) managed to sleep off the effects of the drink I ordered before the show. Vodka, orange juice, cranberry juice, and something blue. Can't quite remember what... but it had a nice kick to it. The kind of kick that makes headbanging during the pre-show an embarrassingly challenging task.

Thankfully, some of that started to wear off by the time I got on stage for real.

Yes, for real - because as a birthday treat, I got to be a part of the show!! Remember this scene from the film?. Well, I got to be the victim, and have my intestines ripped out on stage.

This was awesome for a number of reasons -
1. I got to be eviscerated and die on stage.
2. This is really the only scene in the movie that makes me queasy to watch. And since I was in it, I didn't have to watch it!
3. Given my own medical history, it's absolutely ironic. And I can't deny that it would solve all my problems.

I think the only thing that could have been more awesome would have been to be a Zydrate addict during my favorite part, the Zydrate anatomy scene. But thankfully, I got plenty of Zydrate off stage - including a new pen!

I bought the pen before I even bought my ticket. I just couldn't resist. After all, Graverobber was in front of the theater, selling his wares. I was shivering so badly, that it was like I had the shakes. And even though that's not medically accurate, it still provided all the excuses I needed.

My friend even got me a Zydrate cake!! It was an organic carrot cake with blue icing, and a big syringe painted on the top! We didn't bring it out at the show, though. Instead, she gave it to me at an actual restaurant, right after we went out for Happy Hour. Unfortunately, the server didn't exactly rob graves in his spare time, so explaining why there was a blue syringe on the cake was probably about as much fun as actually eating said cake.

The only downside of the evening was that there was a very poor turnout. The vast majority of those who initially RSVP'ed canceled. The fact that the show was at midnight and it was less than 20 degrees out at the time probably played a role in that. But there was still a really good sized audience, comprised of many people I'd gotten to know through past anime conventions. And that always makes it a party!

I'll have to go back for another show sometime. Maybe even in cosplay...

Current Lips: black with a white and blue Z

6:46am: And I thought my poltergeist experience freshman year was bad!
The annual Trinity alumni Making Connections event was incredible last night. For the first time, I got the chance to talk to other alumni in my field! And boy, did we get to share stories!!

But perhaps the most unexpected story was the Ghost of Calvert Third.

By my time at Trinity, the Ghost of Calvert Third was more of a legend, if not a reason for the folks who lived in that dorm to streak across campus while covered in flour. I didn't know when the traditional Halloween streaking began, so I asked the other alum, who was class of 1977, if it happened back then. It didn't...

Turns out, it didn't, because the original Ghost of Calvert Third was not a ghost yet. And the man I was talking to, knew him. Personally.

His name was Lester. They were suitemates. And he was the last person to talk to Lester before the boy shot himself, in his dorm room. He decided he'd rather die than go home over winter break and face his family (all of whom had been doctors, and had insisted he had no future other than being a doctor) because he had failed his pre-med courses.

The family, so I heard, was ashamed. They told everyone that the boy died in a car crash coming home from college, rather than face the fact that he killed himself because his passions and skills didn't lie in the medical profession.

But on a lighter note, in his old suitemate's opinion, Lester would have whole-heartedly approved the tradition that was born out of his legacy.

Current Lips: orange, red and black gradient blend

8:37pm: It's not the name. It's how you pronounce it.
Well, it had to come eventually. After over a year of taking classes, I have finally earned a nickname in the Kendo class.

Yes, we're a very small, close-knit group. So anyone who's been there a while has nicknames:

Thruster, because he likes to stab and thrust. it's his signature move.
Whacker, because he whacks on us all the time. He's good at that.
Saminator, because, yes, she will kill you.
Thumb-Toe, because he coined the term when he caught his big toe in his hakama pants and tripped.

Mine:

Butterknife, because I always work with my metal katana, which happens to a dull blade.

Okay, so it's not as glamorous Saminator, or as cool as Thruster or Whacker, but at least I've finally earned one. Just wait until they get slashed by the Butterknife.... yeah.

Current Lips: purple gradient blend

1:24pm: If you see 10:10 on a clock, it looks like a smile. So 2010 should be a good year.
Taking a look back at last year's New Year's Resolutions, I have mixed feelings.

The first two, I did not succeed at. And those were the ones that had meant the most to me. The middle two, I've actually made some progress toward, strangely enough. The last two were perhaps the most surprising. And that's because I succeeded.

I had my first winning Kendo match about a month or so ago. It was the first time I truly felt comfortable with the sword and myself. And the last one, the one about being happy... I did attain that, even if it was only in brief passing moments. If I can remember how I captured those moments, I have no doubt that I'll be able to take on the world again.

So I guess it's time to look inside myself and make resolutions for 2010.

- To get my own place, once and for all.
- To establish calm, loving, adult relationships with my parents, so that I can make the most of the time I still have with them.
- To go on a new adventure at least once every month, so that I will always live life to the fullest.
- To grow as a multimedia professional, especially in the area of video production for the web.
- To figure out what causes my flare-ups, so I can be rid of the medication.
- To record an album of anime parody music, and perform at a convention.
- To finally declare my year and a day.

And so I wish myself good luck.

Current Lips: 2010

9:19am: 2009 in a ka-nut shell
1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
Took a vacation! My first real vacation! And next year, I'm going to take another!

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Now that I look back at them, I can say for sure that I succeeded in one of them. Progress has been made on a couple more. And then there are a couple that remain painfully elusive.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes. My best friend had her second child.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
I just went to a funeral a couple weeks ago, actually. For one of my former students.

5. What countries did you visit?
I went to Mexico to celebrate my Aunt's 60th birthday. (that wasn't my vacation, though. I was the hired videographer.)

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
My own place.

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
April 8 - 12 (my first vacation, where I experienced the exhilaration of unparalleled freedom.)
September 5 -7 (the greatest con of my life, where, for the first time since college, I recaptured my 'I can take on the world' attitude.)

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
It's a big toss up between winning 1st place in Anime Idol, winning an Anime Dating Game, getting my purple belt in Kendo, and getting Individual of the Month at work.

9. What was your biggest failure?
I put a deposit down on an apartment, and then took it back.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Given that this was a year of pills, powder, and poop tests, I'd say yes.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
(Not counting plane tickets to Seattle or weekend passes to anime conventions...) I finally bought a Nintendo Wii!! And throughout the year, I've bought several new games for it - like Guitar Hero, DDR, and Yugioh 5Ds Wheelie Breakers.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
This year, I'd have to give props to a good friend up in Seattle, for being an inspiration in life.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Being hurt by your enemies is one thing. Being used, betrayed, deceived and lied to by someone you dared to call friend, that is something truly appalling. And something truly unforgivable.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Two places. Bills. and in the bank.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Vacation. Anime Conventions.

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Boys like Girls - The Great Escape
and the opening theme to Yugioh 5Ds - Hyperdrive

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? I'm not sure.
b) thinner or fatter? About the same.
c) richer or poorer? A little bit richer.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Having random adventures.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
wasting time.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
We went to my aunt and uncle's house.

21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
To be honest, I don't know.

22. How many one-night stands?
Well, nothing sexual happened. But I'd definitely call my experience a one-night stand.

23. What was your favorite TV program?
House M.D. and Yugioh 5Ds

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Yes.

25. What was the best book you read?
I finally picked up 'Prey' by Michael Crichton. That was a great read. But I think my favorite was re-reading my psychopharmacology textbook.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Gackt.

27. What did you want and get?
A Nintendo Wii.

28. What did you want and not get?
My own place.

29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Two words. Star Trek.

30. What did you do on your birthday?
DezCon 26: Happy Birthday to Mii

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
To have spent it in my own place. On my own time. For my own sake.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
"I only cosplay being an adult"

33. What kept you sane?
Probably the odd realization that the longer I work in corporate America, the more I feel like Seto Kaiba.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
All the "celebrities" I fancied this year lacked a third dimension. But I did finally get to meet my martial arts idol, Power Ranger, Jason Frank. If it wasn't for watching him on TV fourteen years ago, I wouldn't be where I am today.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Politics itself stirs me. It's stirred me to the point that I don't want to fucking hear about it any more. The world isn't coming to a fucking end. Chaos is not going to rule the streets. Life as I know it is not going to completely change in the five minutes that you are NOT watching Fox News!!

36. Who did you miss?
Friends from whom I've drifted apart.

37. Who was the best new person you met?
I've met several new people this year, and I hope we will all remain friends.

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009
To quote how I summed up Animefest -
"Life, my friends, is what you choose to make of it. Attitude is everything. Relaxation... lo and behold, the elusive thing I've sought but never found, can indeed be captured. And when you love what you're doing, when you work hard and then step back, when you stop worrying about being perfect and just start having fun... your victory is assured. Nothing can go wrong, and no one can ever hold you back. Your destiny... is within you. And life... is meant to be lived."

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
I can think of two. -

Throw it away, forget yesterday. We'll make the great escape
We won't hear a word they say. They don't know us anyway
Watch it burn. Let it die. Cause we are finally free tonight.

and

Going fast makes me feel alive. My heart beats in hyperdrive.
Do you think you can win? Only if I lose. Just let destiny choose.

6:36am: I didn't even have any vicodin before bed...
For the past few weeks, with my class now on Mondays at 7:00, I've missed out on my weekly dose of House MD. I guess the only way I'm going to get my fix is to dream about him.

The dream started out pretty strange. I was driving through an area where they were doing construction. But the construction vehicles in front of me just kept stopping on the road, so eventually I just got out of my car and started walking. I got hit in the head with some kind of metal beam. I eventually passed out, and was taken to the hospital.

Cue the entrance of Dr. House!

... except not as a doctor... but as another patient! I awoke to the sounds of Wilson screaming at Cuddy and Foreman. It soon became evident what was going on. House was on the table, unresponsive. Wilson was holding a strange bottle in his hand, trying to figure out what was in it. He suspected narcotics, of course. And he'd taken them all. But it turned out to be some kind of weird herbal supplement they'd never heard of. Which meant even once they figured out what it was, they still didn't know what was in it. So, they were trying to flush House's system with different drugs in an attempt to counteract whatever he took.

Somehow, and I don't remember this part too well, the people doing construction had some connection with the people that made the herbal supplement. Because I had seen that label before, and recently. Personally, I'd say the guys in "construction" probably had mafia ties, but that's just because next new episode of House is supposed to feature the mob...

But while they were talking to me, House had checked himself out of the hospital and disappeared! So of course, I joined the group to go look for him. We must have all split up, because I was with Thirteen and Lucas (Cuddy's boyfriend, of all people!) Luckily, our group ran into Chase, the only one who wasn't worried about House. He wasn't worried, because he knew where House was, that he had checked himself back into rehab.

There's a moment of relief, and we all rush over to the psychiatric hospital to go see House.

At this point, I must have been starting to wake up, because the dream got very lucid, and I remember telling myself 'no, can't wake up yet. Must find out what happened to House. Must find out what happened to House!'

Thankfully, I listened to myself, because I fell deeper into the dream. Unfortunately, the people at the psychiatric hospital made us wait. It was 7:00, and they said we couldn't see House until 8:00. So we waited. And we waited. And then, they paged for House and said there were visitors here to see him. And we waited some more... And then the doors opened... and they told us... that House was DEAD!

The room was silent. I remember burying my face in Lucas' shoulder, thinking that just couldn't be possible. That there had to be some mistake.

And then... the worst possible thing happened.

The alarm rang, so I woke up. Damn... I didn't even get a 'next episode' preview dreamlette.

Current Lips: purple and black gradient blend

6:37am: Power Rangers is back!
One of my friends passed along the news yesterday. On January 2, 2010, they'll start airing remastered episodes of the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. That's next week, if no one's keeping count. And they're also releasing a new toy line featuring the original characters!

My first thoughts were:
- HOLY SHIT! EXCELLENT!!!
- Dude, if they make a dragon dagger, I'm buying it. I don't care how much it is. I'm buying it.
- Let's see, if that's two episodes per Saturday, and they air them on a continuous basis, I should be seeing some remastered green ranger goodness by March or April.
- Gosh, there's a whole list of episodes that I can't wait to see again...

And so, in honor of bringing back the original Power Rangers in 2010, here's my top ten list of episodes I can't wait to see digitally remastered.

10. Day of the Dumpster
Okay, to be honest, I've never seen the pilot episode. Or the first episode, for that matter. So yeah, I'll be tuning in this weekend. I want to see how it all began, in full digitally remastered glory. The action figure of Zordon's head, btw, looks like Captain Jean Luc Picard.

9. Doomsday
This was supposed to be the show-ending episode, the big finale. Then the station called and said they wanted more episodes. But it had a good ending, like when all the rangers came over to personally congratulate Tommy, who was standing on the sidelines of the Power Ranger Day celebration. It was touching.

8. Missing Green
This was the angsty episode after Green No More, when Jason starts whimpering about how he failed to save Tommy's powers. Yeah, better late than never, Jason. But it did have this lovely scene at the end that I never got on tape, where Tommy's writing a letter back to the rest of the group, saying that he's going to be all right. It was nice closure.

7. Wild West Rangers
Okay, if Jason Frank on horseback wasn't enough to make this episode awesome, the time travel, crazy accents and paralyzing spores are. But since it's way at the end of season 2, into the white ranger episodes, it's probably not going to be shown for quite some time. But I'll wait for it nonetheless.

6. Welcome to Venus Island
This season two episode features some heart-wrenching acting from Jason Frank, something that doesn't happen very often. It shows true sacrifice, heartache, and love. And when the episode aired the first time, the tape I was using ran out... right before that really awesome scene. So I don't have it. And I want it.

5. Calamity Kimberly
This episode is just chocked full of fluffy Tommy/Kimberly goodness, and it features an injured green ranger. So, of course, I love it to pieces. But I'm really wondering if they'll leave in that accidental two seconds where you see the unmorphed rangers from the super sentai series.

4. The Mutiny
The three-part season 2 opener was a good set of episodes, that I taped over, in order to record a few other good episodes - one that was excellent and two I could have probably done without. This episode features the introduction of Lord Zedd, who is by far, my favorite Power Rangers villain. And it has Tommy's powers failing for the first time.

3. Green With Evil
Not only do I wonder if they'll call it by the original episode titles or by the more commonly known, unwritten, title I just used, but gee...who DOESN'T want to see this mini-series again. It was the first Power Rangers episodes I ever saw, and it got me hooked on the series within five seconds. Personally, I hope they release this in a DVD box set.

2. The Green Candle
Classic, heartwrenching episode. Tommy and Kim's first kiss, Tommy loses his powers, great lines... This was one of the best. And the super sentai episode it's taken from is even better. To be honest, I wish they'd release THAT on DVD box set... But this is a close second.

1. Return of an Old Friend
This was one of the classic episodes. Tommy got his powers back, albeit temporarily. Fans wanted it. Fans got it. I loved it. And really, they could skip right to part 2, and I'd be perfectly content.

You know what they say, may the power protect you!

Current Lips: purple and white gradient blend

11:21am: This is the first time Dallas has had a white Christmas since 1926!!
And in honor of the holiday, I've written something special:

Gifts.

We wake up Christmas day among the boxes and the bows.
Wondering what’s inside them, we can hardly stay composed.
Ribbons fly like snowflakes in a tissue paper fray
And we marvel at the treasures that we unwrap and then display.

But the things that we most treasure can’t be found under a tree.
They can’t be wrapped in paper, or tied up with shiny string.
We have food in our refrigerator, a roof over our heads.
We have coats upon our backs, and blankets on our beds.
We have our jobs. We have our health. We have family nearby,
And be cause we have our cell phones, we never really say goodbye.

No, the reason for the season isn’t found under a tree.
It’s hidden everywhere around us, and it can always be received.
It’s a daily sense of gratitude for everything we share.
No matter what the world may bring us, our love will still be there.

Think about what you truly treasure, how happy you’d have been
if you lost everything, and then each Christmas, you got it back again.


Current Lips: Christmas lights

1:04pm: Happy Hannukah, Merry Christmas, Joyous Kwanzaa, Blessed Yule...
Ah, it's Christmas Eve, that magical time of year where everything just seems a little bit brighter. Even more so this year, because it's snowing outside! (The fact that said snow means we won't be going to church is just icing on the gingerbread house.)

So, I'm going to take a minute to remember Christmases past, enjoy Christmas present, and dream about the Christmases yet to come. And maybe do a Christmas Meme.
- - -

1. What is your favorite Christmas movie?
My favorite "movies" if you could call them that, are the Rankin-Bass Christmas specials. You know - The Year Without a Santa Claus, Santa Claus is Coming to Town. All those wonderful stop-motion animated specials.

2. What is your least favorite Christmas movie?
A Christmas Story. I must be the only person on the planet who feels this way, but I literally cringe whenever this movie comes on.

3. What is your favorite Christmas song?
There are several that will always have a place in my heart. Believe by Josh Groban, Morris the Moose, Better Days by the Goo Goo Dolls, Even a Miracle Needs a Hand. As far as classics go, my favorite will always be Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. And my favorite rendition of it has got to be by Rockapella.

4. What Christmas song(s) drives you crazy?
I don't know if any Christmas songs in particular drive me crazy. What drives me crazy is when radio stations start playing them right after Halloween. Really, wait until midway through December, and I'd be perfectly content.

5. What is your favorite Christmas drink?
Hot apple cider!

6. What is your favorite Christmas memory?
I think my favorite Christmas memories are the ones where I've hatched some kind of crazy gift scheme, and manage to give them something they've always wanted but never dreamed they'd have. My dad and the TV, for example. Or my junior year roommate and that book by one of the Moody Blues. I still have video of both of them, and I watch those moments whenever I'm feeling blue.

7. What is the best toy/gift you’ve received on Christmas?
The real measure of a Christmas gift is whether it's still important to you in August, at least two years later. That being said, there are a few gifts that really stick out. A Nintendo at age 8. A green ranger action figure at age 12. A CD player at age 16. A black purse at... was it 22? 23? I still use that one every single day!

8. What is the worst toy/gift you’ve received on Christmas?
Those random knick-nacks people give you because they feel like they have to give you something, and then you feel guilty because you're supposed to have some kind of attachment to them and keep them forever... when all they really do is take up space and get dusty.

9. What do you LOVE about the holidays?
Most people just seem a bit nicer, that's all.

10. What annoys you about the holidays?
People that don't know how to just accept a gift gracefully.

11. Do you prefer star or angel on top of a Christmas tree? Or something else?
We have a star.

12. What is your family's favorite recipe at Christmas?
Every Christmas Eve, my family gathers together for an Italian dinner. Pasta, sausage, just like Grandma used to make. Sometimes, we'd even take out the frozen bottle of sauce we saved from Thanksgiving, and then it really WOULD be just like Grandma used to make.

13. Are you a Grinch or a Who at Christmastime?
Probably somewhere in the middle.

14. Christmas light displays – Love them or Hate them?
When I was little, we used to drive around and look at the Christmas lights. One of these days, I'd like to come up with a weird display of my own.

15. Santas at the mall – fun or creepy?
Fun. One of these days, I'm going to go see one while cosplaying. Now THAT would make for a good Christmas card.

16. Christmas cards – do you send them, yes or no?
No. Not really.

17. What is the best thing about Christmas, in your opinion?
Set aside all the stuff about family and friends, it's also fun just to unwrap stuff. Really, my parents could have stretched their holiday budget to infinity and beyond if they just bought a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle, separated the pieces into a bunch of tiny boxes, and let me just tear into the paper and ribbons like a wild coyote.

18. What is the worst thing about Christmas?
With so many family members gathered under one roof, I'm bound to say the wrong thing to the wrong person, put my foot in my own mouth, or do something to offend someone. It's inevitable.

19. When do you put the tree up and take it down?
It seems to get later every year.

20. Out of the 12 days of Christmas, which day and item would you want your true love to give to you?
Given that I really don't need gifts that involve wild animals or other people, that leaves five golden rings by default.

21. Why do you think that Grandma got run over by a reindeer?
I blame the egg nog.

22. Who is your favorite reindeer?
After Morris the Moose, of course, I'd have to say Rudolph. He may have started as an outcast, but the other reindeer eventually saw value in his unique traits, and he became the most popular member of the team.

23. Do you believe in Santa Claus?
I think I can say it best in song lyrics -
I believe in Santa Claus, but there was a time, I thought I had grown too old for such a childish rhyme. He became a dream to me, until one Christmas night someone stood beside my bed, with a beard of white.
"So, you're too old for Santa Claus." he said with a smile. "Then you're too old for all the things that make a life worthwhile. For what is happiness, but dreams until they all come true. Look at me, and tell me now, what is real to you."

24. What is your favorite smell at Christmas time?
Gingerbread cookies. Apples and cinnamon. mmmm....

25. What would make you happy at Christmas this year?
Not much, just mutual feelings of unconditional love and acceptance. But isn't that what everyone really wants for Christmas?


Current Lips: a wreath

9:54pm: I said 'Antichrist of Computers', not Antichrist period.
I joined some of my fellow coworkers for lunch today. The highlight of the table discussion had to be someone's iPhone, and the unbelievable app that let them google search by voice. You asked it a question and it gave you an answer.

In fact, we were all so intrigued, we started looking up ourselves.

Well... until it got to me. When someone said my name, the app stopped working. At first, they thought it just couldn't find anything, but then they realized that no, it really did stop working.

"You broke GOOGLE!!" one of my coworkers shouted.

... I knew I was the Antichrist of computers, but... yeah...

The highlight of the parking lot discussion started when we saw a license plate that had the number 666 on the end.

"You know, it's funny. My master's cell phone number has 666 in it... he..."
"Wait." one of the newest coworkers stopped me. "Your what?"
"My master." I repeated, completely oblivious to how odd that must have sounded.
"Your... WHAT?!"
"My master!" I said even louder. Suddenly I paused. "... I do martial arts."
"Oh... That... makes sense..."

Current Lips: brown and black gradient blend

6:32am: but maybe it's not such a bad $4 metaphor.
Oh my goodness...

I came home from kendo class last night, and went in my room to put everything away. Hanging on my pole was my $4 metaphor...

While I was at work, Mom went back to the thrift store to find it. She said she searched the entire store, but didn't see it. And so, she prayed - asking God to help her find it, if in fact I was really meant to have it. I must have been, because a few minutes later, she found it.

And when I got home, I saw it - all washed, cleaned up, neatly pressed, hanging up waiting for me.

I was literally speechless.

She could have waited until today. Tuesday is senior citizen day at the thrift store. She would have gotten it for 50% off. But she said it was more important to get it yesterday, because of what it meant to me. For the first time, in I don't know how long, it wasn't about the money. It was about the meaning. She apologized for making a mountain out of a molehill, and more importantly, she said she didn't want something as silly as a $4 shirt to tear us apart like that. After all, for what it's worth, it was a ridiculous battle to fight.

Maybe she does trust my choices and my decisions after all. Or at least, she's willing to admit that she may be wrong when she initially says she doesn't trust them.

So I guess... maybe there's hope for the future after all.

Current Lips: purple and black gradient blend