"I may be old, but I can still pull it off."

This particular holiday wasn't one I enjoy, and having my birthday fall on said holiday does little to improve my mood. Still, I had a good birthday and thanks goes out to my friend theblackcanary for the gift I saw on my user page yesterday evening. (Sure it will stay for only two weeks, but that's a thoughtful present.)

I got to have lunch/dinner with my mother and grandfather around 2:00-3:00 at a Hometown Buffet and had a good time-I ate a plate of macaroni and cheese, two pieces of pepperoni pizza and three hot dogs. My mother also procured for me three movies-two DVDs, one a VHS-as presents as well, those movies being Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Hitch. I haven't seen all of the first one and have yet to find time to watch the others. Perhaps I'll get to do so sometime this week.

Despite enjoying my birthday, my thoughts for the majority of the day did revolve around someone who I consider an enigma-or, a mystery. According to my mother, I've only seen him three times; I can vividly remember the last time, since I was in high school. I can't recall the first time, even if I can see vivid flashes of it since I was a child. As for the second time, I can remember that as if it had happened yesterday. (In actuality, it happened over 16 years ago, on December 30, 1989.) I wonder why doesn't he try and contact me, as my mother has mentioned that he once said that he would try and keep in touch and yet he never did. I could try and hunt him down but I haven't wanted to.

And, for those who were wondering about it, yeah-the father thing somewhat connects me with Evangelion protagonist Shinji.


( Nightwing #121 )

My mother has planned for the three of us-me, my mother and my grandfather-to head out to Hometown Buffet for my birthday this Sunday. I haven't been there in quite a while, and am anticipating going back.

Though, I'm a bit more eager in going to this Anime event that's taking place on Saturday at an art museum from 12:00-4:00. I know someone who would enjoy going to said event; unfortunately, due to certain circumstances, me taking this someone wouldn't be possible. I will attempt to describe the experience as best I can in my next update-as well as give my thoughts on Nightwing #121.


"...As long as we stay alive...someday, we'll be glad that we survived." -Shinji Ikari, Neon Genesis Evangelion Volume Three

For reasons I choose not to understand, I find a part of myself similar to that of the main character of Neon Genesis Evangelion-Shinji Ikari. He's told to do something, and he pretty much does it. We are told to vote, and for the most part, we vote. I'm expected to vote again today, and may end up doing so. It's not something I'm looking forward to, but it will get me out of the house for a time.

Perhaps while I'm out, I do hope to make my way to Borders and see if they have Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days Volume One, since it's supposed to have been released for a while now and I actually have enough money to obtain it.

Even if I see a part of myself as similar to Shinji, my favorite character on Evangelion would have to be Rei Ayanami.


"Ikari-kun. I don't want to be made of straw anymore." -Rei Ayanami, Neon Genesis Evangelion: Volume Eight

I was completely blown away by what I saw in the third X-Men movie this past Friday. From start to finish, this movie was explosive and off the charts-in my opinion.

From this point onward, there will be my critique on how the movie was, so for those who haven't seen the movie yet, I suggest you wait until seeing it before reading this section.


( X-Men: The Last Stand )

Today, I was reminded why, subconsciously, if not consciously, I don't like the rain. At times, it ruins whatever plans you had for the day. This day was no different.

My mother and I went out to visit her friend as we had planned, and I got to meet her family; nice people, and one of them is even like me-an anime fan, for light of a better word. However, when we went out to see the horses and get things set up it started to sprinkle. I wasn't too concerned-it could stay like this for a time, and I'd still get to ride. I got to even stand near one of the horses and stroke his mane. Eventually, the rain got to the point where we didn't get to ride at all, and we would have to postpone it for another day.

I didn't hide my disappointment at all upon finding that out. Still, I'm just as eager now as I was earlier today in getting an opportunity to ride a horse. The opportunity is still there-it's just postponed for a later date.


"You came here. And I am happy..." -Kyoyama Anna, Shaman King

Today makes it official-to me, anyway. Within one month from today, I will reach an age I truly didn't see myself making, especially after what I've went through a number of years ago. That stuff being my leg, having surgery on my head, and what happened on Christmas in 2002 concerning the dog. I should feel happy about it, and probably will be as the day grows nearer, but at the moment...I'm not sure how I feel about it. It could be a case of uncertainty, or doubt. Still, I hope it will pass.

I managed to make it through May 13th with ease, and enjoyed my cousin's birthday party; she's now officially nine years old. On Mother's Day, I was successfully able to buy my mother a journal, though not just any regular journal-it was a Footprints journal, since when I was younger, I always remembered her enjoying it and having a calendar with it. (For those who don't know what I'm talking about, here is a link to see what I mean.)


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Footprints_%28poem%29


I also went to my grandmother's grave with my mother and grandfather, and gave her a rose. I'll never fully get over losing her, but know she's at peace and that is something to be thankful for.

I'm going to a baseball game with one of my friends this evening, and my mother and grandfather may-or may not-be joining us. I just hope the Charlie Brown team can pull the proverbial wool over my eyes and win again.


"I am a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar..." -Wash, Serenity

The weekend, so far, has been mixed with good and bad. I went to a festival with my mother back in my hometown, and brought one of my friends along; we had a pretty good time, and while there I bought myself a bird-shaped necklace. I'm not entirely sure what kind of bird it's supposed to be, but as I have my favorite types of birds, I have options as well. Hopefully, I'll be able to show a picture of it in a future update.

That was the good. The bad, however, was when I went to visit my grandfather. (That part is never bad, by the way.) I went inside my old house that has been inhabited by several people since I moved and was stunned at the state of it. The last family that lived inside it completely destroyed it! Sure, the main living room had been painted but other than that, the place looks entirely uninhabitable now. As for my old room...whoever used it literally put hand prints on one of the four walls, and put graffiti on two other walls!

Next Saturday, I will definitely have mixed emotions. Despite the fact that my mother and I are going out of town to see my baby cousin, who is having a birthday party a few days before her birthday, that day marks the fact that it's been two years-officially-that my grandmother died.


"Face your deficiencies and acknowledge them; but do not let them master you. Let them teach you patience, sweetness, insight." -Helen Keller

A new month, and sadly enough, it is the month that I no longer enjoy, save for one reason alone. My cousin's ninth birthday will be this month, and she will have a party on a day I really don't look forward to at all. Even though I plan on going to the party, on the inside I will be hurting.

I should have the new quote for this month up before I log off for the evening/morning, but that, along with the good news that I bought a manga yesterday afternoon for 30% off, is the only positive note that brings April to a close. (That, plus I chose to get a Borders Rewards card prior to my departure back for home.)


"You left me all alone!" -Wonder Girl, Teen Titans #34

The day had it's shares of ups and downs. As the week draws to a close, and the eventual end of the month, I find myself plaqued with familiar feelings. A friend's grandmother passed on last night, and another friend was affected by it; they were close, from what I was told. I was reminded of my grandmother and how, within the next few weeks, I may have her on my mind quite a bit.

While at Heroes, I skimmed through a few comic books and read Solo #10, a series that only comes out on even-numbered months; the next one will come out in June. I was intrigued that Stephanie was Robin in one of the stories, and how Tim was Batman in the last story and is apparently an item with Cassie, who is still Batgirl-no mention on whether it's Cassandra Cain or not, since her hair is colored differently, though one would assume she is. Didn't pick it up, but will eventually do so next week. My mother bought a comic book as well:Serenity-Those Left Behind. Once she's finished reading it, I will take a crack at it myself. (She's finished reading it, so I get to take a crack at reading it sometime this week.)

I also looked at The Battle for Bludhaven #2 and was intrigued to see the Titans at the beginning; I was even more intrigued to see Wonder Girl among the team members. Perhaps a bit of foreshadowing as to if she'll eventually rejoin the team come Teen Titans #35? Only a guess, but it's a possibility.


( The Amazing Spider-Man #531, Batman #652, Supergirl and the Legion of Superheroes #17 )

This day has had me on top of the world and feeling like I could hit something bad enough to seriously injure both my hands. I wouldn't feel better, but it would be a way to disperse these painful emotions I feel right now.

While at Wal-Mart, I came across something that I enjoy quite often, so I got it, as well as a magazine from Tower Records. I went to the mall as planned and ended up getting Superboy #100 and found out precisely how Kon-El originally came to live with Superman's parents. Afterward, when I went to hang out with my friends, disaster struck.

One of my friends slapped me across the face when I made a joking comment to my best friend, and I was sorely tempted to slap her back; I didn't do so, naturally, but the shock and surprise that she had actually done that was evident in my eyes. My mood worsened when she ended up pissed off at me because her significant other told me to watch out for her and not tell her about this; she found out when my best friend accidentally revealed what had been said. I got sick and tired of being given the shaft repeatedly and tried to calm down.

Basically, I forgave her for what happened, as she did me, but it will be quite a while before I can fully trust her again concerning anything. The quote for this evening comes from the One Year Later current issue of Teen Titans.


"I have my share of problems, but they're nothing I can't handle." -Robin, Teen Titans #34