"Not All Who Wander, Are Lost...."

Christmas, has come and gone in the blink of an eye. I can't believe it's almost New Years! I think one of my New Years resolutions is to read 150 books in the year. I'll post what I'm reading at the bottom of each post from now on to kind of remind myself of my resolution=) I hope everyone had a good Christmas mine went well I got some really nice things. The best part by far though was just having my whole family together. (well minus a few people I have adopted in lol).  I went to my sister grace's house on Christmas Eve we just started last year rotating who's house it will be at. so last year it was at my brother's house, and next year it will be at my sister Dorothy's house. Christmas day My grandma, and uncle Jeff came over we played Christmas trivia (yearly tradition) guys vs girls. guys won last year, girls won this year! I love that game. I'm not sure if you've ever played but, some of the questions are ridiculous, and tricky like for instance.....

The question: What is santa's favorite Christmas song?
The answer: "he likes all of them" 
We guessed "Santa clause is coming to town" we ended up getting that question wrong:(

The question: 82 members of what crew were released during Christmas 1968?
The answer: "USS Pueblo"
We guessed: USS Pueblo! my uncle got this question right.

Question: Symbolically , what do the red berries of holly represent?
Answer: "drops of blood"
we didn't have this question but, I thought it was interesting. I didn't know that's what the berries represented.

Yesterday, I was at my moms family's Christmas party. I always enjoy being with all my cousins, that was fun. I was really happy to see my grandpa too he had a heart attack last week but, is looking good going to therapy now but, can't do anything for a month. I know that's going to be extremely hard on him he's a farmer so some of the grand kids are going down to help him out. I think I probably will go down too and help him around the house. The reason I use the term "go down" is because my grandpa lives about 2 hours from my house.

today has just been a lazy day I was up at 9, and now it's 12 and I haven't accomplished anything besides writing this. I hate days like this, I feel like I'm wasting time. I was supposed to take my grandma to the dr. and out to eat but, because of the snow she called and cancelled. I was also supposed to have dance but, they changed the time from 130 to 3:30 and I work at 4 so that won't work. I think I'm going to go and buy my violin strings today though. my "A" string broke last practice so I need to get it replaced before Saturday.
Right now I'm going to go clean my room, and put everything I got for Christmas away.

~Akira

Song of the Hour: Forever & Always by Taylor Swift
Currently Reading: The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks (just got it for Christmas from my mom=)

"I'm Dreaming of A White Christmas"

I wasn't planning on blogging tonight but, I felt the need to. The holidays always make me very happy, and very sad all at once. Happy because, I love the holidays! I love the atmosphere, and snow, I love watching little kids get so excited, baking cookies with my dad etc... They make me sad because, the holidays are so stressful. you have to get everything prepared, you have to cook, clean, and get your shopping done etc...Normally during the holidays I get sad but, it goes away quickly with all of the excitement. This year I'm not sure what is wrong with me but, I can't seem to get rid of the feeling I volunteered to dress up as an elf and help my friend deliver Christmas presents to children and that helped me so much to get some of the spirit back but, for some reason I'm finding it extremely difficult to get in the mood for Christmas. I feel almost indifferent towards it and I hate that! that is just not like me at all. Have you ever felt this way? this is all I can write for now too much has happened today too much for me to write at least for now. I have to sort it all out in my head before I can post it or else it will just be a jumbled mess, and you won't understand, and I won't get my point across. so night for now.

"Can You Keep A Secret?"

 I'm FINALLY done with school! I had my last final today and I'm so thrilled. I got an "A" in two of my classes this semester but, my other grades aren't posted yet. so we'll have to wait and see. (Hopefully I will get 3 more). I went to Panera today with Beezy to celebrate being done. we got soup, strawberry smoothies (of course), and split a bear claw. I've never had a bear claw before today it was AMAZING! I would highly suggest you to try one if you haven't before. haha a funny thing happened at Panera. you know how the worker always asks  for your name when you order food there? well I was getting my strawberry smoothie while beezy was ordering, and there was another guy standing next to me. (he was seriously like a little kid at Christmas he got a piece of cake and had such a huge smile on his face). Anyway the worker looks at the guy and says my friends name (my friends a girl btw) and asks if he would like whip cream on his drink? I almost lost it! The guy luckily didn't hear the worker. (that would've been so embarrassing) he looked at the guy and was like "did you order a drink"? the guy's like "no". The worker's face was priceless! oh my goodness this might be one of those things where you just have to be there to get it but, when I told Beezy about it we where laughing so hard! haha! we decided next time we go we should use a name like "hungry" or something lol.

I was really going to try and refrain from speaking about music since I notice in most of my posts I talk about music a lot but, I realized I can't not talk about it lol. I made Beezy a mix cd today hopefully she will like it. she's been asking me to make her one for awhile. She agreed to teach my dance class today since my final was at the same time so I figured it was the perfect moment to make her a cd. I'll let you know what she thinks.

I must go Christmas shopping this week! Christmas is in two weeks and I still only have one thing! I hope everyone is having more luck than I am.

 This Sunday I'm getting videotaped but I won't tell you why yet. it's a secret=) Hopefully everything will work out but, even if it doesn't I will tell you about it in Feb. (or as soon as I know). but, pray for me it's something I've always wanted to do!

I don't have anything else to update since I've just been studying all week, so this will have to do=)

~Akira

P.S. song of the hour-----> Kings and Queens by 30Seconds to Mars:)

"Just Haven't Met You Yet"

I finally went and saw New Moon. I liked it but, I think I liked the first one better. I'm going to have to see it a few more times though before I make my mind up for sure. I don't really have much to say about it I went Friday night at the11pm showing since I was going with Beezy, J-pop, and Kaylee. both Beezy, and Kaylee had work till 1030 so that was the only time we could go. We had been trying to see it together for 2 weeks so I guess going late is better than not going at all. The movie is about two and a half hours long but it didn't feel like it.

My Thanksgiving this year was really weird. My brother Peter had to work at 3 so we were trying to eat at 2 and this is actually really sad. my brother ended up eating by himself, and then my uncle Jeff, J-pop, Mary, mom, dad, and I all ate then when we where finished my two sisters showed up and ate, and then when they where done my brother came over. So it wasn't even like we where a family since, we all didn't sit down together, and eat like we always do. This was also the first time in 10 years that my aunt, and a couple of my cousins didn't come over for dinner. So the whole day was just weird. I was so excited though that I got to stay at home for it since this is the first time in sixteen years I didn't have to rush off to regionals right after dinner. I was able to spend the day at home, and I got to go shopping on black friday, and saturday with my sisters (Em, J-pop, Mandy, Dot, and Mary). That's the first time I've ever been home to do that. I have been Christmas shopping twice already and only found one thing! this year is going to be difficult I can already tell. I always try and put a lot of thought behind the gifts I give but, I'm going to have to really think hard about what everyone wants, or I think could use. I can't believe how fast Christmas is approaching.

Oh another perk about staying home this year was that I got to see WC. He looked so happy when I saw him. PHC is treating him well which makes me happy. I had a lot of fun at the get together. It was nice to see some familiar faces like Rae, and Kat. I haven't seen them in awhile but, everyone is always so busy especially now with finals. plus I feel strange sometimes being with them without WC I'm not really sure why, I guess in my mind it makes me feel like a friend stealer or something even though that is ridiculous since that wouldn't my intention, and even though I often feel I'm misunderstood, I know WC would understand. Idk I guess that's just my messed up mind at work.

This will probably be the last post I will be able to write till after finals. I wish my life was a bit more interesting so this wouldn't make for such a dull read but, has of now this is all I have. I have to go help my friend write her paper for school, and I have dance later, working out, and study the rest of the night.

~Akira

P.S. suggested listening Just Haven't Met You Yet by Michael Buble. awesome song especially if you need an instant pick me up. you can't be sad listening to this song.

"Speechless"

I'm currently in love with Lady GaGa's new song Speechless. Must have listened to it a hundred times by now. I also like her new one called Dance in the Dark. Can't wait for her album to come out on the 23rd. Rihanna is also coming out with a new album on the 23rd that I'm excited about I love her new song Fire Bomb.

Went and saw the Universities dance company perfom. They did a Modern/contemporary ballet perfomance. I'm supposed to write a paper on it and to be honest I'm still a little confused with what I watched, and I wasn't the only one! I asked several people at the show what they thought and no one could really answer me. That leads me to believe that the choreoghapher didn't convey well what they wanted? I wish I had something to compare the show with, that's the first modern dance performance I've ever seen. I liked the perfomance overall but, a couple of the dancers needed to work on their technique more. Few dancers sadly really stood out to me, and projected their energy well. The third piece had a lot of fluidity to it so I know I'm going to write about that but, I'm supposed to pick two pieces to write about and I'm not entirely sure yet what other piece I want to write about. So I'm in fact dreading writing this paper. why couldn't I go watch an Irish dance show? I could write about that easy! But, then again maybe the challenge will be good for me.

I was going to see New Moon today with my sister but, I decided I better wait since I know a couple of my friends want to see it with me, and would be mad if I went without them. Hopefully sometime in the next week I'll get to go see it though. I'm not a huge twilight fan but, I did like the first movie. Hopefully the second one will be good.

Siddie Turned 21 today! that's exciting, and apparently I messed up horribly on WC's (a.ka. Dave) age he turned 22! where does time go? everyone is getting so old! Siddie had her birthday party yesterday and I couldn't go since I had to go to the dance show so I was not very happy about that! But, my sister went and she said it was a lot of fun. (that doesn't exactly make me feel good about not being there but, I'm glad everyone had a good time).

Had violin this morning I'm working on William Tell's Overture. It's coming along I'm almost done with my music book which is exciting! (can't wait to get a new one). Tonight I'm baby-sitting my two nieces who are in the princess phase and my nephew who isn't even one yet so I'm thinking...........tea party, and Princess TuTu night?

~Akira

Honey Honey, How He Thrills Me.......

My cousin Beezy, and her friend Mary, and I went and saw Mamma Mia yesterday at the Palace Theatre in Cleveland. I really liked the show, I thought it was well done, and I always love having the chance to sing Dancing Queen. (poorly I might add). I don't know how many people who will be reading this have ever seen the movie but, I often times think me, and beezy are just like Donna, and her friends Rosie and Tanya in the musical. I don't mean how they act or anything we aren't promiscuous, gold diggers, or even loners for that matter. (this probably isn't convincing you to see the show, huh)? I just mean how close they are with each other. they can tell each other anything, and they always seem to understand each other without having to say a word. My cousin and I are very much like that we often crack up laughing over things that aren't funny to anyone but us, and even then we couldn't even explain it ourselves why such said things are funny. The one thing I was upset about with the show is the one song Tanya sings called Does Your Mother Know was very provocative. I hate how you can't go see a theatrical performance anymore that doesn't have hidden innuendo's in it. Totally ruines the show in my oppinion. I mean honestly, do they really have to throw that kind of stuff in shows to sell tickets? there were a lot of kids there. A little girl sitting behind me kept asking her mom what stuff meant and her mom was like "don't worry about it" and "oh that means Harry is gay" she was like eight years old she doesn't need to know what gay means. It was kind of ridiculous. However, with all of that said I would actually tell someone to go see the show. there are a lot of good things in it, and it's very funny. I guess I'm just being a bit of a critic by listing what I didn't like. Alright this is all I can write for now I have to go see a ballet performance for school, and I have two tests this week, a paper, and a practical. So I'm off to go study and I have dance 330-5 getting ready for Ireland in Feb. I can't wait! will hopefully write soon:)

~Akira

P.S. sorry about the picture it's supposed to be of Donna, Rosie, And Tanya but my computer is being weird and I couldn't get it any better then that. I was also going to upload a video of the dynamo's but again computer problems wouldn't allow it:(