It's always weird when things like this happen, particularly if they happen on the other side of the country.  I sort of thought, "Well, no one around here has been deeply affected."  I was wrong, so very, very wrong.

A few days ago I learned the name of one of the 32 victims.  Her name is Leslie Sherman.  She was a student of history and international studies.  She and I could have been friends.  Her grandparents, as well as several aunts and uncles, live in the Tri-Cities.  Our town has been touched deeply by something that happened on the otherside of the country.  She even came here on her spring break last month.

It seemed like a world away when it happened, but now I know the truth.  NOTHING is ever a world away.

Read the article from our local newspaper here.

Sheesh.  Just when you think that you've seen everything, something new pops up to blow my socks off.  This whole thing with Virginia Tech makes me realize that America's innocense is gone.  When did our society start going downhill like this?

When I was a sophmore in high school, on my 16th birthday no less, a bomb threat was called in to my school.  Earlier that morning we were doing our WASL (Washington Assessment of Student Learning) exams.  After two hours of testing, regular classes started up again.  After our lunch break, we recieved the news that all students were to go home as a bomb threat had been called in.  Keep in mind this was just a few weeks after Columbine.  My school was lucky - it was just some little a-- wipe, s--t for brains freshman who thought it would be funny.  Needless to say he wasn't laughing when administration found out.  (Of course it didn't stop him from doing it again the next year.)  Then, when I was a senior, I was out at our local community college (I did college classes in the morning and high school classes in the afternoon), someone called in a bomb threat there.  That was interesting, as I was sitting eating breakfast when my friend who worked at the bookstore yelled down from the second floor balcony that they were evacuating the campus because of the bomb threat.  My friends and I boarded our city buses back to our respective high schools (and told the driver what happened, who then radioed the depot to let all of the drivers know) and spent the day wondering what kind of a sick person does these kinds of things.

We'd like to think that we're safe at school.  That nothing bad will happen.  It's the blind faith in the system that has created some sort of weakness.  The fact is no where in America is safe.  That became painfully clear after someone opened fire in an Amish school.  I want to believe that good people still exist but with everything that's going on today, I find it really hard to.

I never thought I would get it, but I finally have the Side-Kickin' Contributor emblem.  With ten pending contributions to Fushigi Yugi, I'm looking towards a serious stat boost.  At any rate, I found myself adding episode notes, as well as putting in episode summaries since about half of the episodes lack them.

In other news I went to see Meet the Robinsons in 3-D on Saturday, which was really cool.  I've kept my glasses for future viewings, though those will all be from the comfort of my livingroom.  Though parts of it seemed a little chaotic, overall the movie was good, and a good sign that Disney is getting back on track from the crap that Eisener put out.

I also took care of taxes, because even with Tax Day falling on the 17th this year (tomorrow), it's always best to take care of them ASAP.  Admittedly I didn't file until Saturday afternoon, but I had the bulk of the paperwork done before I went to Miami.  Then my mom said that there needed to be changes made so I didn't file them before I left.  Ah well, cest l'vie.  Life moves on and my taxes are done until next year.  Wahoo.

I find myself finding ways to pass the time recently.  Lately I've devoted myself to adding to the Wikipedia articles involving Fushigi Yugi.  I'm actually focusing a lot of my time and energy into making the article regarding Eiko Den into something that is encyclopedic sounding.  The person who originally created the article was a terrible speller, had absolutely no concept of basic grammar, not to mention didn't even have a list of sources.  Me, I figure since I've read most of the novel (the entirety of the first half and most of the second) I'm pretty qualified to write something there.  Plus, I do have the DVD and the special collector's booklet that came with it - and that's some pretty straight-foreward info right there.  So, I'm writing an extended summary for each episode as I watch the DVD, listing off the primary and secondary characters, as well as linking it back to the original article for Fushigi Yugi, listing sources and trying to make a links list (I think linking to Tasuki no Miko and Tetris no Miko's websites is a must...)

To see what I've accomplished so far, click here.  I dunno if I'm going to add anything about drama CDs or soundtracks yet, but you never know.  I'm talking, of course, about the original article.  I've added quite a bit to that as well, including a small section on the Gaiden novels as well as inputing secondary characters, which eventually will need their own article, which I wouldn't mind.  However seeing as I am not registered on Wikipedia, I can't actually create the page.  Ah well, it'll happen eventually I'm sure.

I hope all of my friends are enjoying their Easter.  To all of my Jewish compatriots, I wish you the best as Passover wraps up today. 

I got a nice basket from the Easter Bunny today - lots of chocolate and the DVD of What Dreams May Come.  I'm currently waiting for the egg hunt to begin.  Not that I'm participating, but I do serve as the official video recorder.  Granted we actually use the video camera.  Otherwise I'm out there enjoying the day with my family.

Well, I think I officially need to get dressed now.  Ta ta and hope everyone has a great day!

You know, I think Dorothy was on to something when she said, "There's no place like home!"  I've been back home for a week, and now that I've stopped running on east coast time, all is right in the world.  I'm dog tired since I've been up since five a.m. (as some of you might know) but other than that, I'm doing well.

 I've been running around trying to get my life in order because I fully intended on moving out this summer, which means finding a better job that pays more money for the time being.  I need a year off to get myself organized and then I'll tackle graduate school next summer.  But seeing as I will literally be spending the rest of my life in school, I figure I've earned a time off.  Besides, I've been doing the college thing since I was sixteen and it's getting a little boring.  Time to take some time off from school, get my own place, earn a little cash and then go back.  Hey, no worries that I'm getting off track - I just need a break or else I'm scheduled for a psychotic episode in a few months.  Personally, I'd rather miss the psychotic episode.

Oh yeah, I've updated a few things.  Like, say...my banner!  Yes, my banner has been updated.  That's one of the signs from inside Margaritaville down in Key West.  I also update my userpic becuase I finally got a decent photo of me, not to mention it's recent.

Ah yes, fun times.  Never mind the fact that it had started raining at this point or that I'd had a few drinks too many (I came, I drank, I don't remember - Kevin's Irish Pub).  Nah, I'm actually fairly sober in that picture, seeing as all I'd had to drink that day was a mojito, a margarita (from Margaritaville of course) and a Cuba Libre (coke, rum and lime).  Call me a light weight, but I actually wanted to remember what I did on Spring Break.  I have a bazillion pictures, if you were wondering so I'm going to make a slide show and the post the video here as well as on youtube (username is tsubasanomegami).  Granted I actually get around to it.

Okay people, I'm really freakin' tired now so I'm going to bed.

I leave at 5:30 today - then I'm back to my boring, humdrum life.  No more dancing on tables, no more bar crawling in Key West. 

Of course this trip has held some interesting surprises, like that my friend Anibal got married - and didn't tell me.  He's apparently been married for eight months (as of yesterday) and he never found the time to tell me.  He said it was because 1) every time we were in touch it was because I was having some sort of personal crisis and 2) because we were friends who became more than friends (we never actually dated though) and he felt awkward telling me.  You know what, I'm fine with the fact that he's married.  I'm actually very happy for him.  While I do love him (in a strange way, because it's not a deep romantic love), I knew that unless I moved down to Miami, we were never going to be anything but friends.  Of course now I'm going to bug him until he tells me everything about the wedding and sends me pictures and the like.  I am his friend and I hope that we can remain friends.  Besides, I've had my eye on this sweet guy at work. 

Well, I'm gonna go shopping with my dad before I leave (I still have plenty of time here) so I'm gonna sign off and talk to y'all when I get back home.

After two strong Opa Locas (Absolute Vanilla, Starbucks Coffee Liquer, and cream), I was belly dancing on a table at Taverna Opa at Nikki Beach (that's just down Ocean Drive from South Beach).  My brother forgot the digital camera, but there were several cell phones with cameras so the moment is rather poorly documented.  Oh yeah, I'm a strange one when I'm drunk.

Today is my last full day in Miami, and I leave at 5:27 pm EST tomorrow.  I wish I had more time, but the time that I have spent here has been fun.  True, there was a lot of sitting around at my Dad's house (like yesterday, for example, when I was home alone from 9am until 5 pm). 

Hopefully this afternoon I can spend a couple of hours hanging out with Anibal, granted he actually calls me today.  I'm hoping so, because I want to really talk to him (20 minutes yesterday was not enough) but I am left with the rather interesting dillema of if we can leave the house or not.  I have no key nor the alarm code so basically that means that we go out and make my brother wait or not go out at all.

Decisions, decisions.

After several days of beautiful weather, today is raining.  Which really sucks.  There are plans to go down to South Beach to a Greek resturaunt where you dance on the tables.

Oh yes, I'm back from Key West but the pictures are still on the camera.  We took like, 75 pictures of the sunset alone.  My brother and I alternated between taking pictures, and so we knew who took what (since there was only the one digital camera) there are random picutres of us scattered through out.  Other pictures include me toasting my margarita in Margaritaville (there are some lovely interior and exterior shots just for you, Bree!), rocking out at Sloppy Joes, and chilling in front of the Hog's Breath Saloon.  It's good to be 21.  There are some videos too (not all of them will be posted as at least one of them contains adult content and this is a family site) which I'll post whever I get the chance (read: after vacation).  I didn't do the parasailing because we ran out of time.  If we could have spent a couple of days there I would have, but I hardly had enough time to what I really wanted to - poke around musems.  I really wanted to see Robert the Haunted Doll (the house he lives in is for sale!) but alas, we ran out of time.  Anyway, I'll post pictures and whatnot at a later date. 

Hope everyone is doing well!

So in all randomness I post this:

I have a sunburn on my shoulder and my left arm.  No where else, just those two places.  I'm thinking it was because of all of the stopping and looking at aligators and birds in the Everglades yesterday.  It's uncomfortable but I'll live.  It's not like in previous years when I'm burned over most of my body.  (Which reminds me, I need to get to the beach...)

Well, tomorrow I head to Key West.  I'll think of everyone while I'm parasaling.

:D