At midnight, on July 15th/16th, I got my hands on a copy of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, and I finally understood what I've found so seductive about being a part of fandom, all these years. That deep attachment to the characters, the anticipation, the suspenseful feeling you have when you turn each page, wondering if this will be the moment when everything goes pear-shaped, it's addictive. I started reading at 12:40, and didn't stop until 8:20am, and it was glorious.

The sixth book for me, went beyond my expectations. I loved the pacing, the characters, the entire feel of the book. I wont put any spoilers here, though I'll probably put up some theories in my LJ in a few days time. But this new volume definitely cements my love for the HP series, rather than just the fanfiction that comes from it. Cheers, Rowling.

Yay, update for everybody~! I'm sure you're all ecstatic. *snorts*

Regarding my college plans, it looks like I'm going to be attending University of Oregon this upcoming fall. Then, in April, I hope to be taking part in an overseas program to Meiji University in Tokyo for a year. Here's hoping I can fulfill the language requirement! I'm actually looking forward to attending UO; Oregon is beautiful and everyone I've talked to at the school seems really friendly. Also, tons of choir programs! Yay~!

Meanwhile, I'm trying to improve my driving so that I can get my license by the first weekend of July. I think I give my Dad five to ten mini-heart attacks a day because of my tendency to slow down when wondering if I'm allowed to make a turn or not, and my worse tendency to, when looking over my shoulder to check my blind spot, swerve in the opposite direction. Gotta work on that.

Aaand, after some prodding by Dad and watching some really fantastic performances by some of the top Russian ballroom dancers, I've decided to learn how to dance. A little swing, some jive, and maybe the foxtrot and Vienesse waltz. I'm kinda nervous; the instructors are fantastic statuesque Russian champions and I've never really danced before. Plus, there's this one dancer named Pavel that is really quite handsome, and I'd hate to look like an idiot in front of him. Here's hoping that I don't run any of them over by accident while driving to my lessons!

I'm hoping that my parents will let me go to Otakon in August to spend time with my FMA RP group, but things aren't looking good, since my Aunt and Uncle might be coming to visit that weekend. I'm remaining optimistic though, and working on my Roy Mustang impression (OOoohhh~I know, munou~~).

Alright, I managed to have more than one journal entry this month! Go me!

Oh wait, the quack in my title. UO are the ducks, and also tomorrow I have to sell Duck Dash tickets with my Dad while he wears a giant Donald Duck suit. Mom's not allowed to see him in the costume because it gives her nightmares. Every July the Rotary hosts a picnic where they let thousands of ducks into the river in a race to see which one can cross the finish line first. People buy tickets with the duck's number and hope that their duck wins. They also get three special numbers. They win around $1000 I think if their duck wins, and then there's a lottery to draw the three numbers. If the duck dash winner's three numbers match the three from the lotto, they win a million dollars! But it's probably more likely to be struck by lightning.

Alright, now I'm gonna go back to studying my Kanji, and eagerly awaiting Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Only three more weeks~~!!!

I don't think I've actually thrown up since I was about 12. Maybe younger.

But sometimes, sometimes I really wish I could just throw up and eject all the crappy feelings that have accumulated over a particularly shitty week. They all eventually settle somewhere below my solar plexus, just begging to be blarfed out, but it never happens.

To me, vomiting, no matter how gross it may seem, is the quintessential metaphor for getting rid of something that makes me unhappy. Whenever someone invades my personal space in a way I don't like, I threaten to throw up on them. Whenever I'm having a pants day, I go up to a friend and make a 'Blarf' noise.

I think it all ties back to a childhood desire to have some tangible form of the problems I'm dealing with. If I could pick up something, and say "this is all of my discomfort at having to take my finals" and then just chuck that damned thing over a bridge or something, life would be so much easier.

Unfortunately, simplifying things like that just doesn't seem to work, so I guess I'm just stuck with riding it out like everyone else.

That said, I have some finals to study for. Excuse me while I mime some vomiting. Blarf.

Woot, free subscription for a week.

Mood: Bemused
Listening to: My Chemical Romance-I Never Told You What I Do...
Reading: Heraldric Designs
Watching: Revenge of the Sith

So, lo and behold, I sign onto DA today to find that I've been given a free one week trial period. Clearly they are trying to taunt me with their delectable thumbnail pics, and this is an attempt to coax my meager tutoring earnings from my already emasculated bank account.

Still.....thumbnails. *drools*

I'm on a real My Chemical Romance kick right now. Something about the way Gerard Way sings mesmerizes me. We rarely allow ourselves to indulge in melodrama, since it seems whiny and not justified. Despite that, I think melodrama can be a good outlet for restless feelings, and MCR allows me to indulge in those feelings vicariously. I like to sing along with the music videos and follow the singer's facial expressions, just to feel the expressions on my own face.

Right now I'm a little disappointed with myself, since I've let myself fall out of shape and healthfulness. I've been reading too much, and it's taking its toll on my eyesight. I feel like this final quarter just keeps dragging on, tormenting me with its sheer torturous banality. There's so many things I'd rather be doing with my time. I could be learning how to play my ocarina, searching for a youth choir to join, taking a martial arts class, practicing my art and writing my short story. Instead I have to try and remember which President negotiated to regain control of the Panama Canal, and how to convert logarithms to solve for x. I'll suck it up though, and keep trudging forward until June 10th, and then I'll finally breath easy again.

I do have a few questions for the people that actually check my journal:

-Would any of you be interested if I posted another collection of my sketches from my notebook? I don't have many finished works at the moment, but my notebook is filled with the work of idle hands.

-Any recs for good music that's less well known? I've been really out of the loop for music lately, so I'd welcome any favorites that anyone wants to mention.

-Rainmelon, can you call me this weekend? Oh, and try to get Ika onto DA, since she consistently uses the internet now, ne?

Just three more weeks...

Sakuracon is a mere 4 1/2 days away! Consequently, my fingertips are aching from working on Seii's wristbands for his Goku costume. You'd think white scrunchies would be cheap to buy in a store, but they would've cost like, 15 bucks just to get 4 white scrunchies! So, I'm making them by hand. Fabric glue is my new best friend.

Also, Satari, I've cut the shape of the armbands for Andrew, so I'll bring them tomorrow and you can stitch em up.

Hopefully Jesse will appear tomorrow with my Shakujo and there will be great rejoicing and possibly cavorting in ecstasy.

An event like Sakuracon is a really funny motivator. I've managed to lose five pounds since I came back from China just by working out, not drinking sugary drinks, and using the sheer power of my mind to slim down for my costumes. Now if I just start going to conventions every 3-4 months or so, I'll be fit and healthy all year long! XD

Now to go eat curry filled manapua. Mmmm....