Updates on Life

Konbanwa, everyone. That's 'Good evening' in Japanese, for those not in the know/too lazy to use Google translate.

It's been a while since I blogged, and now seems like as good a time as any.

So, let's see... what's new?

Well, for the past few months, I've been going to a shitty alternative learning center called Ombudsman. I go from eight in the morning to twelve fifteen in the afternoon. Four hours of sitting on a computer, consuming material, retaining it for a short time, vomiting it up for the test, and repeating the cycle.

My Uncle Richard went on a vacation to the Bahamas for a couple of weeks. We ran a pretty tight ship while he was gone, but apparently not tight enough. He got back at 2 this morning (the day I'm sick, of course,) and says that we have to have the house clean by Friday, or he's not taking my cousin and me to see the Seventh Harry Potter Movie (yes, that necessitated capital letters.)

And I'm sick. Bad sick. I woke up this morning, threw up, went back to bed, got up five minutes later, threw up, went to sleep, woke up at eleven, threw up, got on the computer, watched a webcomic being drawn live, threw up, greeted my uncle when he came home from lunch, threw up, swept the kitchen and the bathroom and stairs, mulched the leaves in our yard, threw up slightly, ate dinner, almost threw up... Yeah. I don't know what the fuck this is, but it's getting worse as the day goes on, believe it or not. I have a feeling my chicken will be making a come back on me...

So, that's my life since the last time I updated. Nothing special.

Guddonaito.

Best Read When Alone (AKA: The Words You Never Wanted to Hear)

All alone, where you can't see

The world that opens

In front of me.

Terrified of being left alone,

No one to turn to

In the place I call home.

Injustice is fatal, or less.

Tolerance lost,

Dead, and faceless.

I want your guidance,

Not your words in my throat.

Why should I be silenced?

Every time I turn around

Some new reproach

To the me I had found.

Now I'm stranded alone,

Unsure of myself,

And of what I've done.

Following my heart

Has just brought more tears

Than there were at the start.

All I ask is your acceptance,

All I get are the bitter words

Which, to me, are meaningless.

~Rena Marie

Update on Life

Hello, everyone. I'm absolutely positively breaking our pattern since Oniichan hasn't decided to post and I really really needed to. So here's the big news that I just wanna shout to open internet space: I'm changing. For the better, I assure you, but I'm just trying to make some small changes in my life. So far it's overly troublesome and makes me hate life, but other than that it's... well, that's it so far. As you haven't been informed, I now have a job. I get my first paycheck this week, so that's always fun. I'm trying to start being healthier. Work is good exercise, so I'm starting to get muscles in my arms. I'm only a cashier, but I have to lift heavy packs of sodas and waters and dog food and whatnot. I'm trying to start meditating for utterly confidential reasons (which have nothing to do with the temper of mine that I'm so proud of). My new good friend Jamie has been very helpful. I haven't had much time to read or draw, and I've been feeling sick constantly for over a week. But work's getting better. I have fewer questions, fewer mistakes, and people are actually talking to me now. Including Katie, who's really nice. She has cool piercings in her ears and plays WOW, which is cool with me. Unfortunately, I'm upset because Quin is mad with me. I told him I'd talk to him after work last night, but I was super tired and I forgot my phone in the car. Now, he won't text me back and I don't know what to do. Well, actually I just found myself to have a text from him, but he's being grouchy. I don't like it when he gets upset with me, and I most definitely don't like fighting with him. I hope things get better. Well, that's all I've got to say today. Enjoy the rant.

Wish me luck,

Rena

On the road?

08/07/10 1:05 PM.

So, I'm writing this entry from the road, with no internet connection (have to post it later). We've just left Kansas City after dropping Alex off with his mom. I'm really gonna miss the company, but I havent cried. Yet. We had a great summer, had lots of fun, and we've already got plans to talk ASAP.

I'm hoping to go south for the summer next year, but we'll have to see. I might be a Studen Ambassador for People to People. *Feels important*. France, Italy, the Vatican, Greece, Rome? I think I might prefer Ponca City.

Yesterday we took Alex on his first motor-cycle ride. He LOVED it. His next great adventure? Well, he's hoping to conquer a roller-coaster. New experiences await. I'm just glad I got to show him some of them.

Nothing much to do on the Interstate, but I'm going to try and entertain myself. I've got some movies here. Plus a cell phone with my boyfriend on speed-dial. No internet, sadly....

Less important than leaving Alex, we're also on our way to a party. My boyfriend Quin's dad is turning 50 today, so they threw him a surprise party. I'm gonna be staying there until Tuesday, then I have orientation for junior year on Wednesday. Oh boy?

Alex starts school this Thursday, and I start a week later.

Not looking forward to the school year, but maybe I can catch some of those forementioned new experiences.

After so long of not posting, I'm glad I did. Good to talk to something.

Well, ciao for now.

Rena

Blog Background

You may have noticed the background of the blog has been changed to Pandas. This was Rina's choice. My choice was making the header lime green. So, it is my second full day here, and I'm bored. There's not much to do in the small town she lives in. Thursday, we're going into one of the nearby towns where I'll get to meet one of her friends. Yay! So, that's all for this post. See you later!

Arguing & Feeling Icky.

I hate. Hate. Hate arguing with Niisan. My temper always kicks in (thank you, Leo-ness) and either he wins because I don't feel like being flexible or he gets super mad at me and I give up so he wins anyways.

You may or may not be wondering what brings this up.

Well, we're kinda-sorta arguing over something in an RP.

I really want to bring in a cute little witch girl, but he doesn't have a character lined up so he wants to use a just-as-cutesy girl.

While I have nothing against the character OR yuri, I really don't want it for this character. He, however, is being very very stubborn.

On more downer topics, I'm pretty sick lately. Fever hovering at around 99.9 and my stomach feels like crap. I've been quite sick a lot lately and I have a doctor's appointment on June 4th, the day after school gets out, to get some tests done and see what's up.

Well, that's all I really have to vent about, I'll try and update you after the doc's.

Ciao y'all. ~Rena.

Charge of the Light Brigade!

Hey all. Today, I'm gonna deviate from the normal routine of something funny and/or educational. Instead, today, I'm going to give you a poem to chew on, and what it means to me.

I'm going to go over each part one at a time, then post the whole poem.

The poem was written after the disastrous Battle of Balaclava during the Crimean War.

Charge of the Light Brigade

by Alfred Lord Tennyson

Half a league half a league,

Half a league onward,

All in the valley of Death

Rode the six hundred:

'Forward, the Light Brigade!

Charge for the guns' he said:

Into the valley of Death

Rode the six hundred.

(Basically, this is the start of the battle. They had to charge half a league. The valley of Death means that they were performing what was essentially a suicide attack. The six hundred were ordered to go in and fight, completely out-numbered and out-gunned.)

'Forward, the Light Brigade!'

Was there a man dismay'd ?

Not tho' the soldier knew

Some one had blunder'd:

Theirs not to make reply,

Theirs not to reason why,

Theirs but to do & die,

Into the valley of Death

Rode the six hundred.

("Keep moving, keep going!" they were told. They held their spirits up, and though they knew it was a mistake, that it would end badly, they didn't question why. They did as they were told, like patriots are expected to do.)

Cannon to right of them,

Cannon to left of them,

Cannon in front of them

Volley'd & thunder'd;

Storm'd at with shot and shell,

Boldly they rode and well,

Into the jaws of Death,

Into the mouth of Hell

Rode the six hundred.

(Surrounded, nowhere to go but forward still. Cannons all around, having good changes of hitting them every time. But did they retreat? No! 'Boldly they rode.')

Flash'd all their sabres bare,

Flash'd as they turn'd in air

Sabring the gunners there,

Charging an army while

All the world wonder'd:

Plunged in the battery-smoke

Right thro' the line they broke;

Cossack & Russian

Reel'd from the sabre-stroke,

Shatter'd & sunder'd.

Then they rode back, but not

Not the six hundred.

(They fought valiently, fighting off enemies all around. As people asked what the heck was happening, they fought on. In the end, their enemies retreated.)

Cannon to right of them,

Cannon to left of them,

Cannon behind them

Volley'd and thunder'd;

Storm'd at with shot and shell,

While horse & hero fell,

They that had fought so well

Came thro' the jaws of Death,

Back from the mouth of Hell,

All that was left of them,

Left of six hundred

(And still, they kept going! The six hundred were NOT about to stop until they'd won or died. In the end, only about 150 men came back from the battle, heroes to their country.)

When can their glory fade?

O the wild charge they made!

All the world wonder'd.

Honour the charge they made!

Honour the Light Brigade,

Noble six hundred!

(They went down as legends. The world will remember the fight they put up. And though the world questioned it, they will always be honored as heroes.)

Half a league half a league,

Half a league onward,

All in the valley of Death

Rode the six hundred:

'Forward, the Light Brigade!

Charge for the guns' he said:

Into the valley of Death

Rode the six hundred.

'Forward, the Light Brigade!'

Was there a man dismay'd ?

Not tho' the soldier knew

Some one had blunder'd:

Theirs not to make reply,

Theirs not to reason why,

Theirs but to do & die,

Into the valley of Death

Rode the six hundred.

Cannon to right of them,

Cannon to left of them,

Cannon in front of them

Volley'd & thunder'd;

Storm'd at with shot and shell,

Boldly they rode and well,

Into the jaws of Death,

Into the mouth of Hell

Rode the six hundred.

Flash'd all their sabres bare,

Flash'd as they turn'd in air

Sabring the gunners there,

Charging an army while

All the world wonder'd:

Plunged in the battery-smoke

Right thro' the line they broke;

Cossack & Russian

Reel'd from the sabre-stroke,

Shatter'd & sunder'd.

Then they rode back, but not

Not the six hundred.

Cannon to right of them,

Cannon to left of them,

Cannon behind them

Volley'd and thunder'd;

Storm'd at with shot and shell,

While horse & hero fell,

They that had fought so well

Came thro' the jaws of Death,

Back from the mouth of Hell,

All that was left of them,

Left of six hundred.

When can their glory fade?

O the wild charge they made!

All the world wonder'd.

Honour the charge they made!

Honour the Light Brigade,

Noble six hundred!

Meds: 3 Rena: 1/2

My, my, dear internet. It has been awhile. I dont even really know why I'm writing right now, it just sounded like a good idea.
You may (or may not) be questioning the title. Well, long story short my new allergy meds are kicking my ass.
But drawing happy clouds and rainbows and whatnot earlier, when i was still up, helps a lil bit.
So, on a less depressing note, this summer Alex-nii is going to be coming up to, yes, IOWA!!!
He'll be here pretty much all summer, I guess, and I'm hoping to be able to take him to Anime Iowa in Coralville, on the east side of the state. Yay, three hour drive?
Working on a list of things to do. So far the top of my list are the pool party I'm planning, A.I., cosplaying, and spending a few weeks camping out at my grandma's (funner than it sounds) or Barbie's.
Anyone have any other ideas??
Well, thats all I've got to say for now. Maybe one of these days I'll have something really interesting to say like Niichan always does.
Until then. Rina.

Tae Kwon Do Tournament

Yes, you read that heading right. I entered a Tae Kwon Do tournament... which was held on the 24th. I competed.

The tournament had four different events you could enter in: Forms, Fighting, Breaking, and Weapons.

Forms are set patterns of moves.

Fighting is... Fighting.

Breaking is breaking boards.

Weapons is a creative form you make up using a weapon.

Most tournaments have a fifth category called Creative Forms, which is where you make up your own form and do it.

I entered in Forms and Breaking. The form I performed is called Dan Gun, and I won first place in my division (16/17-year-old white/orange belts.)

Then, I did Breaking. I was the only one in my division, so the judges asked me if I wanted first place handed to me, or if I wanted to against the only other person in my age category, a female Green belt with a stripe, which is four belts higher than me, who stood about an inch taller and was three inches broader than I was. She was big, in other words.

I said I wanted to try to win first place. I did. She didn't manage to break her first board and her confidence was sucked out.

When I was up, I broke with a double knife-hand combo, went on to palm strike, then a fore-arm strike, an axe kick into a sliding side thrust kick, and finished it up with a front snap kick.

I won.

So, I got two cool looking trophies, my picture on a winner's stand, and everyone from my town who competed got their picture taken with the trophies and put into the newspaper.

And this morning, a teacher at school who I don't know that well stopped me in the hall and asked if I'd had my picture in the paper recently. I said yes, and she congratulated me on my wins.

Yeah.

It's good being athletic.

Happy Birthday, New Bits, and F These Curls!

Hello 'everyone'!
Long time no post, ne?
Not too much is happening, but I thought I might as well tell you what has.
First of all, I'll have you all know that Friday the 12th was Niisan's birthday.
He is 17. *OLD* :P
But Happy Birthday to him anyhow!
Second order of business: I got my belly button pierced on Thursday. Not much to report on this. Niisan doesnt exactly approve *eyeroll*, but he'll have to get over it. So far, it was the least painful and least troubling of my piercings.
Also! I have been trying uber hard to draw anime ringlets. STILL can't get it right! I hate hair! *krm* If anyone would have any advice, let me know.
Well, that's it for today.
~Rina

School and Tae Kwon Do

Greetings, and salutations, loyal.. erm... fan.
I'm tired.
Going to bed soon.
But wanted to do a blog update first.
First off, I'd just like it to be clear, that yes, I am back in school now. Going to an alternative school here in town. Couple weeks in, got into a scuffle with a kid. We were playing dodgeball in gym and he threw ball at me after I'd been knocked out of the game. I caught it and he said:
"Der, that doesn't count! Yer out, der-deh-der!" (Take out the der and the der-deh der and that's what he said =P) So I threw it back because I can't STAND assholes. Then I ran up, got in his face. Pushed him. Got pushed back. The coach broke it up before it got past that.
Should've told the principal, but he didn't.
So, I go through my day til fourth hour. I'm heading towards my fifth hour class and the kid comes up behind me and punches me in the back of the head, then pushes me into some lockers. I go down, because a pussy move like that isn't expected.
He gets suspended. Big fucking whoop.
Then, a couple weeks ago, my dad signed me up to take Tae Kwon Do with him. Yee-haw. So, I'm a white-belt. I know Basic 1, and Chun Ji. I don't know the terminology, which is difficult, and I need to know it in order to become an orange belt.
I just spent about four hours constantly moving and exercising. So, I'm gonna study the terminology a bit, then go to bed.
Night, all.

Roleplaying

Hello, people! It's been a while since Rina or I have posted, I know. We've got these things called lives that we have to live.
Well... She does, anyways. I haven't had a life since I was ten, when I got my first Yahoo messenger account. This is because that was the day when I learned what "Roleplaying" was.
It's where you make a character, sometimes off the top of your head, and use them in an imaginary setting with other people.
Sometimes it's easy, sometimes not. Sometimes it's the most normal thing in the world, sometimes you'll be wishing you were tripping on acid instead.
I used to have over 300 friends on my messenger, who all RP'd. Some of them have moved on from it, some have moved on from this world, and some just disappeared without a trace.
But I'm sixteen, going on seventeen, and I've done it since I was ten. I don't t hink I'll stop anytime soon, because it's in my blood. I don't have another outlet for my creativity.
I come up with too many ideas to write a story about each one. I can't draw worth shit. I can't write music at all. So I roleplay.
It makes me feel like a normal person, just sort of blending in with all the other RPers out there.