Tonight will be the night that I will fall for you, over again...

Bah! I haven't updated in so long, I feel slightly guilty. But then, I remember what I've been doing with my time this past two weeks, and the guilt subsides. Wanna see? Too bad! You're gonna have to;

1. I contract a terrible illness. This ain't your run-of-the-mill cold. Oh no, this is I'm-bedridden-and-moaning, I-can't-talk-or-sing-or-move-or-be-excited-about-anything sickness. It was terrible, and lasted a whole entire week. But I spent my sick time well, doing the next thing.

2. I reread The Lightning Thief. I am actually in the middle (beginning) of Lord of the Rings, but that just took too many brain-cells for me to read when I could barely think. Instead, I read Percy Jackson. Time well spent? Heck yes, it was. Especially after Lost Hero. That book was heavy, at least for Rick Riordan. I definitely missed Perseus a LOT in that book. I missed his general silliness and cuteness. I love Percy, and reading about 12-year old Perce was fantastic. :)

3. I meet Ben. Yes, THAT Ben. ;) We all went up to Ohio to meet their family, and it went great. They were all so nice, and I already felt related to them. The girls were both really sweet, and Ben himself was the friendliest person I've ever met. He was kind of awesome, but I wouldn't expect anything less from Manisha's man. In short, I approve. Although Manisha kissing was... weird. Not bad, just weird. O_o

4. I see Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Best Narnia movie yet? No, I don't think so. It dragged a little in the middle, but then again, the book was that way, too. I can't really blame them for that. OH MY GOSH EUSTACE WAS SOOOOOO ANNOYING. He was terrible, which was kind of awesome. Reepicheep completely stole the show, as usual. And was anyone else devestated that they didn't show Caspian's marriage to the star lady? How hard would a little flashback have been, I mean come on! That was one of the things I was really looking foreward to. But overall, it was pretty good. Edmund was really cute, so that was good. :)

5. Manisha visits! This really should be first, shouldn't it? Oh well, I don't feel like reordering it all. Anyways, this one is basically the reason I haven't been on the computer in 20 somethin' days. It's just not as interesting as sitting in the living room while Manisha plays ridiculous songs on the piano. I'll definitely miss that sound when she leaves. But the one thing I won't miss is the mess; Manisha is the messiest person ever. You don't have any idea how hard it is to share a room with her. :)

This ain't the half of all my boring adventures, but I don't really feel like continuing this post. I have stuff to clean, read, and eat. :)

Happy New Year, Friends!

Though it's been said, many times, many ways

T'was the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

-By Clement Clarke Moore

Through dangers untold

Hmmmm... I'm sitting here, and I don't want to do any of the things I should be doing. You know what this means? Endless rambles about things nobody cares about!! MWAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHA!!!!!

***

So yesterday, I watched the movie Labyrinth. I feel like this is one of those movies that everyone's seen, except me (I'm homeschooled). So, as a part of my education as a human being, I watched it.

My impression? Weeeird.... but I liked it a lot. The effects could've been better. A lot better. And David Bowie could've dressed a little more... normally. But other than that, it was pretty cool.

I loved the "helping hands". They were hands that made faces and talked. They were really random, but awesome, in a creepy way.

I'm officially obsesssssssed with Sarah's hair and dress in the ballroom scene (I really wish that scene lasted more than two seconds..)

But what girl isn't in love with a good, poofy dress?

'

Just LOOK at that hair.... It's like an '80's dream.

I swear, I will be her for Halloween someday. I WILL. But of course, my shoulders will be covered. ;)

Oh, and I need a Ludo:

"Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin City to take back the child that you have stolen. For my will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom is as great... You have no power over me!" -Sarah

Maybe you were the moon, and I was just the dark

I wonder if the universe knows that Christmas is nine days away, because my presents have all come early this year...

So anyways, I was traipsing my house the other day and saw a red box mysteriously perched at the bottom of one of our thousands of bookshelves. I pick it up, and it's a box of oil paints! Huzzah! I never tried painting with oil paints before...

A good find, but my next find was 20 times more exciting:

Huh... It's a cushioned-leather book-thing that says Prismacolor on the front! I was certain it had been there for months. I had no idea what it could be, so I opened it up. Guess what's on the inside?

That, my friends, is a set of expensive, wonderful, magical, colored-pencils. That are magical. Did I mention that already? And it comes with a sketchbook and it's own pencil sharpener.

I almost shed a few tears when I found it, dusty on my shelf and completely unused. Not a single pencil had been sharpened. It was so beautiful. ^_^

I set to work immediately trying them out:

Marvel at the smoothness, people! Gorgeous hues of blue and purple, amatuerly blended together! Yes, I know it's in want of a proper background. And stars. But stars are practically impossible to draw (for me) so I'll just say that these two live in a very polluted area. :)

Don't you love finding awesome things you never knew you had?

That Irresponsible Child...

Lately, I have been overwhelmed with a sense of nostalgia for March 2010. I MISS TOM SAWYER!!! Course, looking at pictures like this doesn't help me in any way. But I still do it.

Left to right top row: Dani, Miranda, Leia, Ashley

Bottom row: Me, Sarah

Who likes my wig?

Silly face FAIL. I'm the only one who did anything...

Me, Kaleb, and Miranda. I love this kid.

Dani, Leia, Ashley, Miranda, Rachel, Sarah, Me, Kaleb. Awww....

KALEB!!!

Sam, the dead cat, Gabriel.

Rachel, Miranda, Mark. Poor guy, he made little kids scream after the show.

Sarah tries to avoid poparazzi... Ashley just stares.

Gabriel, Sam, Asher. I swear, nothing is funnier than a straight man in drag. :)

Mark. AHHHHH!!!!!

Miranda, Rachel, Me, Dani. My eyes are closed, and I have wig hair. Oh well, it's still a cute picture.

I'm not even going to try and name everyone....

Rebekah ties her bow around Sam's neck. He pulls it off well with all the stage make-up, no?

Our whole freakin' huge cast. I love them all so much.

Asher, Kaleb. Doesn't Kaleb's hair make you so happy?

Top Row: Dani, Me, Sam, Reagan, Rachel, Miranda, Leia

Bottom row: Rebekah, center. (I can't remember the other two. Sad.)

More bad wig hair. :P

Miranda, Dani. Overeaters Anonymous took over our Green Room every Thursday.

Leia, Sarah, Dani, Ashley. Sitting on the Memory Bench outside Utopia. Now the bench is gone... :(

Nothing to do + Tom Sawyer Cast = EPIC DANCE BREAK!

"I saw the Light!"

Miranda: I take Ballet!

Me: What is ballet? Is it like this?

Ashley: No, I thought ballet was like THIS!

Miranda: *takes pictures of us*

Ashley and I turn matching cartwheels. :)

The door is locked. I'm obviously pained by this. And so are Miranda and Ashley;

Miranda can't read.

"We're homeless..." -me

Ashley and I attempt a jumping shot

So does Miranda.

I have no idea what I was doing. :P

THE STUMP!! I love that stump...

Ashley says 'SHUSH!!!!!"

My thumb. It always has to make an appearance, for some reason....

Oh, Sam and his jewish heritage...

Tom Sawyer, HOLDING Tom Sawyer. I'm pretty sure this is a paradox.

I LOVED that month. I miss my TS family. We're going to have a mini-reunion soon, and it's ABOUT TIME!

"Who's Aslan? Is he the tiger?" -Ashley

*All pictures stolen from Facebook. I snuck on my mom's account. :D