Masainko, ha!

Well. Hello, there. It's a uh... fancy meetin' you here. So do you, like, come here often...?

If you've never heard of Nightwish go out and buy their album Dark Passion Play. Or I just might have to disown you. Also, go out and get Ayreon's 01011001. Also amazing. Nightwish has some of the greatest lyrics I've read for some time, and the instruments just grow on you more and more.

I also finished Zelda: Twilight Princess. It was a good game, with a pretty good ending. I think I played it too much, though, I should've paced myself a little more with it. The ending boss was a little bit too easy I think (once I figured out what to do...). You also have to fight this giant spider during one of the temples. That was freaking nasty. There was this one part, where the camera swiveled around so I got a good look at it. All... hairy, and... bug-eyed. That gave me the heebee-jeebies. It also died the way spiders do, which is also nasty. It curled up all sick like, and then exploded. But on the plus side, apparently spider hearts are also compatible with Link.

And more on the side of finishing things, I finished Avatar: The Last Airbender Book 1. I started Saturday and finished Sunday. Yep, I'm pretty much pathetic. It was a really good beginning, I'm way excited to finish it off. I wonder when the newest season will start up again? I'm also caught in the decision of which element is the coolest to manipulate... Earth sucks, and so does water. So either fire or air. I also wonder when Aang is going to be a master of all four, so that he can use all four styles in one battle. That's what I'm waiting on - how super cool would that be?!

I talked to my bishop last Sunday, too. He said he'd have my papers for me probably this weekend, at which point I can get them all filled out! I'm setting my availability for the end of May. Super special awesomeness! It's very exciting. Although he informed me that I won't be leaving North America as I had hoped because I didn't take seminary in high school. Although he still said that there is a chance that I could go Japanese speaking, up into Canada-Land or to some areas in the states. Even that would be amazing. I'm not too worried about where I go anymore, though. I'm very confident that I will love it no matter what.

In other news, I also finished The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum. It's nothing like the movie, and still really good. Although since it's a series, the first book doesn't actually end, which bothers me. Maybe I'll pick up the rest of the series some day, but at this point I'm pretty content with just that one. It's worth a read. I've now started Ghost Rider by Neil Peart. He's the drummer and lyricist to the band Rush. This particular book is about how he dealt with the loss of his daughter and wife within a ten-month period. And by doing that, he took a road trip. So far, I really like it. I'm only about three or so chapters in, though.

And I think that's about all... I've got to start on homework at some point today... I've been slacking off on that pretty well. I think it's what I'm best at. :D

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Now playing: Nightwish - Bye Bye Beautiful
via FoxyTunes

The return!

*trumpet flourish*
-decrescendo-
*kazoo flourish!*

Soomme daay.....

So we got back last night from Zion National Park/Cedar City. We left Friday kind of late, and ended up staying the night in Cedar. That was actually a lot of fun, I think I like Chris' roommates. Although I can understand why it's a pain to live with them. At about 1AM one of his roommates lit incense so that they could make a smoke ring device. It worked well and looked super awesome, but the incense stunk really bad. So the next time I try that, I'll have awesome smelling smoke.

The next day we departed for Zion. Once we got there, there was a little confusion as to what we in the van were supposed to do. So, we wander around the visitor's center for a little bit until we received further instructions according to the battle plan. After getting all settled in, we went on a hike! The first one. We went to Emerald Pools, which was snowed over. That was kind of exciting, I slid on my butt on most of the treacherous parts. Mostly everyone else slipped and butt-planted it. I couldn't laugh out loud too hard, because if it wasn't for my butt sliding I would've done the same thing. Once that one was done, we headed back to the campsite and chillaxed for the rest of the night. I think that was the night we cranked up the volume to Systematic Chaos, but some lady got mad and told us to turn it down... That was stoopid. I have an overly exciting video of Chris rocking out to that.

The next couple of days were full of hikes and adventure. I went real bouldering for the first time. It was difficult, and I'm sore, but it was really great and a lot of fun. I'm going to try it more and more when I get the chance. I'll probably break my head, but I've always liked the saying that if you have no brains, then there's no pain. Maybe I could engineer some kind of way to temporarily put my brain in a jar? Who needs it, anyway. Superfluous organ if you ask me! *throb throb*

Everyone got sick on the trip, and that was a big bummer. Although I did get decreed the bodyguard of the apparent Master, and I shall become a G.I. Joe. Now I have a legitimate reason to shout "GO JOE!".

Chris gave me two new CDs, as well. I now have the new Ayreon and Diablo Swing Orchestra. I don't think Jekka got the chance to rip them, though... But... uh... survival of the fittest? I'm also going to be giving this super amazing Avatar a try. I got the first season. It seems interesting... If everyone else can talk about it so much...

On our last day, just before leaving, we hung around Cedar for a little while and played around at Discovery Park. That was fun, too. We climbed all over the park in a very bouldering-style... climbing thing. I had Ashley shadowing me most of the time, and that was pretty interesting. It's fun having a younger sister now that can be capable of abstract thought. I was also promised delicious baked-goods when I'm on my mission from her. I'll remember, and she better hold up her side of the bargain!

Anyway, pretty soon after that we took off and headed for home. Once I got home I took a well-needed shower and realized that that "tan" was, in fact, just dirt. I also stole the GameCube from the kids, so now I have Zelda: Twilight Princess to play and keep me occupied. Although too much so, as I didn't do anything pertaining to homework today like I should have. It was also really nice to see Torie again - we got the chance to be together for a few hours as she finished work. It's strange missing her and leaving, because when I come back it's like I never left at all.

So, as it is, back to the grind. School tomorrow and other fun stuff like that... Whoo-hoo! I think I'm ready for another break...


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Now playing: Ayreon - Age Of Shadows
via FoxyTunes

Thoughts on things.

Whoo buddy. It seems like nothing has been going on, but to review it and think about it, everything has been happening.

Last Thursday was my one year anniversary. My Torie is the greatest blessing I've ever had in my life. She has shown me that love can be had without any doubts or fears. I love her very much. For our anniversary date, we went ice skating, and then out to eat.

Ice skating was bloody difficult, although I got the hang of it, and didn't even fall once! I stumbled a whole lot, and kept saying I was going to, but didn't! It was amazing. I enjoyed it quite a bit, and want to go again. Although... not when there are so many people there. That turns into a pain. What if, like... I fall, or someone else falls, and someone else trips over the fallen one, and cuts them with the ice skate?! That could turn horrible. I also didn't get the opportunity to donkey-kick anyone while ice skating. I don't think I could've kept my balance while doing that. It could've been awesome, though.

We then went to Osaka in Provo. As you might guess, it's a Pakastani restaurant. Hahah, not really. It's a Japanese place on Main. Or Center. I dunno. Anyway, we ate there and had some delicious food for very reasonable prices. We both tried broiled eel. It didn't taste bad at all - it was just really fishy. I'm going to get octopus or squid next time. I've heard it's good, but haven't gotten the chance to try it yet... Torie also agreed to give it a try, so even if it is horrible I won't be suffering alone. After dinner we hung out for a couple more hours, and then I took her home.

Also, my mother bought Rock Band for the PS2. Yep, my mom bought it, all with her money. So now we have Rock Band, and I'm almost done getting all the songs for it. It's super exciting, I love that game. It still gives me terrible tunnel vision if I play too many songs, though. I can play for longer than Guitar Hero. Plus, it's just plain better.

In other game news, Super Smash Brawl has been delayed until March, but it has been released in Japan, so the full list of characters has been released. I'm super excited for it! I'm going to have to commandeer a Wii for a while and have a Super Smash party. You're coming, right? But before that I'll have a Rock Band party. Since I own it! You're also coming to that. This one isn't even a question.

Later this month I'll be going down to Cedar and Zion with the Jones family. I think I'm going, I haven't fully decided yet. Although usually when this happens I just end up going anyway. It sounds like a lot of fun, at least.

So... not much else. School stuff, nothing too fun going on there. Stupid Biology teacher. Faked a hugging-tree experience in Sociology. Uhhm... I still have to go to an opera for my music class, although that doesn't happen until March. I'm kind of excited for that one. I had to take an hour to eat fast food for my Fitness class. That took for-freaking-ever. It was kind of interesting to do, though. We got a whole pizza between three of us so we all had four slices with some cinnamon bread. It was super good, but... the entire hour was kind of boring. We just sat there. And I didn't pace myself very well so I ended up eating two pieces of pizza and bread within the last ten or fifteen minutes. I think that's the end of my crazy assignments this semester.

Hum-dinger. That is all! Now sit back, relax, and just ignore the screams coming from the other room...

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Now playing: The Fray - Look After You
via FoxyTunes