Nu! It seems that Invader Zim is being cancelled. Not until the first season is done, at least, which is good, but still. Hopefully Nick will change their minds yet. If things don't start picking up, this year may suck as much as 2001. Perhaps 2003 will be good. I work well with threes.

I got new books and new boots today (they have buckles. yee!), which is good. I went to borders, and spent I don't know how long searching for just the right books. Books (and comic books, similarly) are just about the only things I enjoy shopping for, but I take a very long time because I don't have a lot of money and I want to make sure I choose just the right ones. I got the next Peach Girl TPB (shut up, it's a good series), the next Card Captor Sakura TPB (I think that CCS and MKR are my favorite of Clamp's series), and also Howl's Moving Castle (which I'm reading now and liking A Lot), Witch Week, and User Unfriendly (I'm a little wary about the last one.. I like the concept, but I don't know the author, so I hope it doesn't suck).

"A curse! A curse upon both your houses!"

...and now I am watching Forever Young. Elijah Wood was bone-crushingly cute when he was wee. o_o (he still is, but in a different way X3)

Now I will go shopping.

Eh..? ::watching Rugrats:: I've never seen the Rugrats in Paris movie, but I know that it results in Chuckie's dad marrying a woman he met there and bringing home her and her daughter... I thought she was French, but maybe she's Japanese...? She called Kimmi 'Kimmi-chan' and called Chuckie's dad 'koibito'... o_o;;

For Christmas, I received a device that can fix up scratched/otherwise damaged CDs. It's manually operated, so it takes a little time, but it's worth it. A long time ago, though I can't remember whether it was Christmas or my birthday, Sally got me an Angel Sanctuary CD... it wasn't the one from the anime, but a set of songs compiled as a soundtrack to the manga itself (spelled 'soundtruck' on the disc and CD case). The inside of the case, however--you know, the little spike things that hold the CD place--broke apart, scratching the disc to high heaven and rendering it unlistenable. So I didn't hear one of my favorite songs (Sanctus) for a long time. I then discovered that my disc doctor, while it does clean up the CDs remarkably, has some strange effect on them, as my crappy old CD player refuses to even recognize the disc after I put them through the doctor. However they'll play on other players, so I think it's just that my little portable is old and sucks. Anyway, today I cleaned up that AS disc and put it into the CD player attached to the TV, and heard Sanctus for the first time in many moons. It was nice. :B

Well, since I'm watching The Lost Boys anyway, I think I will just talk about my own type of vampire. Well... the type I use most anyway... These are more like a race of people rather than the kind in Anne Rice books (and many other vampire stories). That is to say, they reproduce the way humans (and other mammals :3;) do, and if they bite another human (or whatever) that person will not become a vampire. The group that I've mostly concerned myself lives in the forest (formerly the Raincrystal Forest, but which needs a new name since I don't particularly like taking Scully's :3;), in their own city. Unfortunately, unlike many modern vampires, they cannot hide the fact that they have fangs (which means it's nearly impossible to hide themselves unless they keep their mouths shut), and, obviously, they don't shift between a 'vampire' and a 'human' persona (like Buffy vampires) because they don't have the latter.

In appearance they're mostly human, aside from their fangs and their ears, which are slightly pointed (less so than an elf's, but definitely moreso than a human), and their skin, which is universally milky pale. They hate direct sunlight, simply because their skin is so frail--standing in direct sunlight won't kill them immediately, but it would be uncomfortable and they start to sunburn after only ten minutes of exposure. It would take about twenty-four hours to kill them, but only half that for them to develop serious sunburn. This is why they chose to live in the forest--the canopy is especially thick over their city, so it protects them from the sun.

They are not immortal, although their lifespan is much lengthier than a human's just because they have better immune systems and they do not age as quickly in general. Old for them would be 280-300 years (although some, of course, have lived longer), but they can't live forever--either they succumb to some disease (they're immune to a lot, but not everything), they are killed, or their bodies simply give out (or, if they're deprived of blood, they starve). They do need blood to survive, however, it is considered a huge taboo to bite a human being. They would never bite anyone they cared about, as in their society that would just be akin to trying to bite their hand off or something. They usually drink animals' blood, and they can subsist on blood alone for a long while, but they'd eventually need a bit of regular food as well. They can survive on regular food for a far less period of time, as they need to drink blood at least once every few days. If they do not, their bodies will begin to deteriorate rapidly, and in a few more days they'll be gone.

As for the other myths--they don't like lots of garlic, but, I mean, who does? It's pretty repugnant in large amounts. :3; They can't see their reflections in normal mirrors, although a lot of them have enchanted mirrors to resolve that problem, and they don't cast a shadow. However, holy water and crosses and the like don't bother them, as they are not undead or inherently unholy beings. If you staked them through the heart they would probably die, but then again, if someone staked me through the heart I would probably die as well. =P They can't come into houses unless invited; if they try they'll be repulsed by an invisible force. The reason for this is actually a curse that was put on the entire race a long time ago, but that's another story. ^^;

And, again, they do not bite people, at least, the majority do not. To most of the people in city, even suggesting such a thing would get you a lot of stares (kind of like suggesting that a person eat another person) and possibly even into worse trouble. This is why Raikal (one of the two vampire characters I've fleshed out) is ostracized in his city, due to rumors that he drinks the blood of humans (and other things). They haven't kicked him out, since they are only rumors, but they would love to find an excuse to do so. ^^;

So yes. Them's is my vampires, or the foremost kind (there's also soul vampires, which are entirely different and much more disgusting sort)...they have a clan name, but I forget what it is just now. n_n

::sings:: Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear 'Twolle~
Happy Birthday to you!

I hope you had a good day and that you receive many fine gifts. ^_^

(note to all: I only remembered this because I was reminded in the days before. like I've said, I'm usually horrible with birthdays unless reminded)

I'll give away the answer to one question for anyone who still intends to take it--for the authors question, I dislike every other listed except for Dave Barry and Tom Clancy, and I've never read any Tom Clancy books.

Sorry to Stephen King and Anne Rice fans... I respect them both, I just do not like their writing. For King it's just because I don't really like his style in general; Anne Rice just aggravates me, which is probably why I can't like Amelia Atwater-Rhodes as much as I want to, since Atwater-Rhodes is basically Anne Rice Lite (in terms of everything, especially book length--it would take the better part of a week, possibly more, to get through the average Rice book these days and it would only take the better part of an hour to get through an Atwater-Rhodes book...). Not that I dislike all of their works, also, they're just not my cup of tea in general. However I love Dave Barry to tiny pieces (sad that he shares a name with a guy at my school who is a huge asshole) and own many of his books.

Looks like my friendtest came back. Idn't that special. o_o

I got Legolas for the M*A*S*H thingummy, probably because I like forests and ancient palaces. :3;

I can't believe no one's ever played Super Mario RPG. XD I have it; it's actually pretty good (or at least I thought it was). In technical terms it's -very- good for an SNES game (it has a very 3-D but still pixelish kind of feel--sort of like Tactics, but not as refined) as it was one of the later ones put out, it's fun to play (as RPGs go) and although the plot itself isn't -spectacular-, the dialogue is very cute. XD

Well, neechan, you did get Sean for Claris and he's one of the main characters.. ^_^

Donna, I tried to take yer friend test but the server refused to connect. n_n

Jessie, I like the latest chapter of Twilight Star.. stop writing so quickly, you're making me look bad. XD

Hikabug, you are not a loser. n__n I won't try to tell you not to feel bad because I know I'd be feeling the exact same way you did if that happened to me, but, you know, stuff happens. You're still a wonderful artist (as the latest picture you posted exemplifies) and a talented person... I can't comment on your writing because I don't believe I've read any serious story by you, but given the way you write online I would not doubt that it's above average, just like your art. Plus, you're nice. Nice people are a dying breed. =P j00 r00l, d00d. =P

I got rid of the bold in Netscape.. n_n

So... stayed home from skool today. I got up, got dressed, and then decided 'Um... no.'

So I went back to bed.

I'm walking on thin ice, though, because I have to get a poem memorized and an essay written before fifth period tomorrow... ^_^; (I've often had one or the other, but never both at once... and it's French class, of course) Then again, I did quite wretchedly on my map and still managed a 44/50, which isn't wonderful, but it isn't bad considering the mess I made of it.

Have absolutely no clue what I missed in anything except Adv. Alg and Trig (thanks to Emiko) and Economics (thanks to Alicia, although I'm not exactly worried about missing something in Econ); am mildly afraid, because I know I missed the second part of my Physics test... I don't know what she'll do about it, since the second half was supposedly all problems and usually when one misses a test, one takes a test from the book, which contains zero to very few problems, but since this was only half of a test... o_o;

In general I do not like to stay home. I try to do it as little as possible, and even moreso this year because if one maintains 3 absences or less then one is exempt from one's exams. This means that I'd rather not miss another day, since it would put my French absences at 3, and I don't particularly want to enter that red zone. I don't really care how many days I miss of Physics; I'm likely taking the exam anyway... but as for everything else.. >_>

Additionally I usually just feel guilty and weird about it, regardless of how sick I am.. I did feel pretty bad, stayed in bed for four or five hours, dragged myself around, went back to bed, so on. I've re-read three books in the half day I missed yesterday and today, and re-read parts of others, mostly old fantasy books (the L.J. Smith book 'The Night of the Solstice', Patricia C. Wrede's 'Talking to Dragons' and selections of 'Book of Enchantments' and Amelia Atwater-Rhodes 'In the Forests of the Night'). As a consequence I turned back to thinking of my fantasy characters and drew a page of them, which I'm trying to ink now...

And yes... there will be new Karma, soon, and new Claris, soon, soon...

However, I'm getting rid of my art blog as I don't believe I draw enough to merit its existence. Pictures I draw will be posted here, and I don't know about keeping an archive. Saucybard is gone and I don't think I have enough space to host'em all here. We'll see. n_n

You are Ellone! Good-hearted and self-sacrificing, people often see you as what you are instead of who you are. You have special talents others envy, but those who take the time to know the real you will see you for the sweetheart that you really are. Take the Final Fantasy 8 Test here!

mmm..fancy that.. (seifer was #2, which frightens me, because he was my least favorite character)

I'm crying... it hurts... it hurts so much. -_-

The day of my birth draws ever nearer. (it's the first of February, for those of you unawares)

It's always been kind of a sekrit dream of mine to be given a suprise party... I know that this will definitely not happen this year, but maybe some year. Some year in college, maybe. ^^;;; (shut up, I know I'm a dork -_-)

What the hey... my friend quiz thing disappeared... o_o;

At first I was freaking out, because Mom suggested (and when Mom suggests, it's more like 'insists') that I submit a few samples of my writing along with my essay, and most everything recent is not on this computer--the poems I did for Lit Mag I never typed up anywhere but at school, and they're only in Lit Mag, and the only short story I've written that I'm truly proud of is just plain lost and gone forever. Then I remembered Fatal, which has some acceptable pieces. x_x

"I like Etienne. I think he should get the girl. Sorry Reve, but I'm a sucker for the tall dark and handsome. And Etienne can't turn gay on me. I mean us ladies are losing too many good characters to guys. Is there anything wrong with breasts? Really!"

Ah, that makes me smile. I'm so glad I put up those feedback forms; I get weirdest, coolest (and sometimes kind of mean, but it's usually mixed with stuff that's nice so I don't get upset ^^;) comments sometimes.

Today would definitely qualify as incredibly lame. First, the Lit Mag sucks. I mean, the poems don't suck, and the layouts and art themselves don't suck, and the cover is actually kind of pretty, but the insides look like they were made by somebody standing over an office Xerox machine for a few minutes and then slapping it together. The effect of these layouts is therefore damaged, and in many cases ruined completely (because of the poor photo quality). Then I just... well, during fourth period, I started to feel very sick and pained, and by the end of fourth period I felt so horrible that I honestly thought I was going to throw up. So I got to French and got a pass to the office and by this time I was in such pain that I started to cry.

Look, I know it's embarrassing to cry at school. I do it all the time, but it's not because I want to or try to. Unlike my stout-hearted friend Emiko (who always manages to keep a cool and happy head, at least in public), I have a very loose grasp on my emotional faculties when I'm upset/hurting, and the tears just come out and I can't stop them, and it hurts to try. I hate it, but there's nothing I can do. So I get to the office and they call mom at work, and since Rhodes is downtown it takes a while... so I just sit there, crying (quietly--not sobbing or moaning or anything, just teary) and trying to read the fourth Magic Knight Rayearth book I unexpectedly received yesterday until mom got there.

People, you're going to have to take my word on the fact that I was in pain. Maybe you can't empathsize with it, but it hurt. It felt like two sharp knives were driving themselves into my stomach and also that, at the same time, I was being pinched. Additionally there was a general sense of nausea. (actually I am still feeling like this, but I have hot tea, which makes it better) It was double plus ungood.

So mom finally comes and I get home and into bed, and I just feel awful and miserable... and she brings me hot tea, and I find an old L.J. Smith book on the floor which I've been reading since now. But... I still feel awful and miserable, and there's no one to talk to... and I have to finish my Rhodes application tonight. -___- At least the essay is done....

I wouldn't mind doing Rhodes' essay so much if the three questions you have to choose from weren't so damn lame. Do they not understand that I, like the majority of their applicants, am simply a boring teeanger who has not really had any profound experiences, taken many risks, or even faced all that many ethical dilemmas? The most significant thing that's happened in my life is my father's kidney ordeal, and most of it happened when I was too young to understand why he was always hooked up to a huge, frightening machine and why mom would shut the door every night so she could give him his shots without us seeing or knowing. -_-

Huzzah! I have comments again. n__n