Reflections

Well, vacation is finally over, but it sure was nice while it lasted. I got so much sleep, it wasn't even funny. I remember when I would automatically wake up at 7:00 in the morning on weekends. Alas, my internal clock has been ruined, and I ended up getting up closer to 8 or 9, depending on which alarm clock I had or hadn't remembered to set. Although I did absolutely no schoolwork, my vacation was still fairly productive. I made ten clay dragons - this brings me up to a baker's dozen ready for Old Home Days (though most aren't glazed yet, and I left them at home, sadness!). I hope to make about three dozen more - I had only two dozen last year, and it wasn't enough. Four dozen would put me well over, and I'll hopefully have a surplus. My mom thinks that after I'm all set with the Old Home Days dragons, that I should start marketing to my dojo. Actually, her proposal sounds quite promising. I can make karate-themed dragons with different belts and stuff and market them as being excellent promotional gifts. I'm sure Hanshi would jump at the idea - he's always looking to make a little extra money. :P If I lower my price a bit, then he can also sell for a decent profit - I won't be making quite as much, but it's still an outlet for my creativity. Of course, I guess this means I have to stop adding in shells and stones... Well, it's something to think about, after I make a bit of headway.

Hm, other things of note this vacation... The big thing is that I tested for my full black belt. I received my black belt back in April, but it was a probationary rank - I finally tested for full black belt status, and passed. So now I'm caught up to the rest of my family! I can't believe that my mom's the same rank as us (Alissa and Kelsey hold equivalent rank in the junior system since they're both less than sixteen years old and therefore don't qualify as adults). I'm sad though, that they are all going to be testing for their second black belt this month (in Goju-ryu, the second style of karate that our school specializes in). My Goju rank is still at green belt level. I need to pass through three more ranks before I can test for black belt in Goju. And I think I know pretty much everything I need for that second black belt. -~-

At home, I tried out the new cable modem. It's not bad, but MITnet is better. Still, the wireless network is very nice. I enjoyed working up in my room the whole vacation. And the phone lines aren't tied up anymore! I also got a new battery for my laptop. It is so much better than my other two batteries! I'm so happy. ^_^ While I'm on the topic of computers, I guess I'll mention this computer game that I started playing. My sister Alissa got this game called Rune, and it's this 3rd-person viking RPG sort of game, except it's not really an RPG - more like an adventure, kill-anything-that-moves sort of game. I was a little leery of it at first, but now I'm totally hooked. I've never played a game quite like it before - not only are the graphics excellent, but it's really fun to play. You play as the viking Ragnar whose clan was wiped out by an evil viking who has sided with Loki, the evil god. You start out underground and have to fight your way to the surface, gaining weapons and magic as you go along. The fighting is interesting - you can often make things easier by stategically planning your advance on your enemies. I think finding your way around is the best part. There is only one way to go, but it's not always the most obvious way. If a door blocks your path, there might be an intriguing way around it - like breaking through a weakened hole in the wall nearby. It's a bit creepy at times, and I'm glad I've got the gore filter set on ultra-high, but I'm still blown away by the game. EverQuest, what? :P

Well, this is turning out to be essay-length, but that's what happens when you don't write every day, right? ^_~ Just a few more things to mention though. I managed to get together with Susan for a few hours, which was really really nice. We did some catching up - it was nice to see her after so long.... I think we last hung out together some time last summer. o~o I also spent some time with Kristen. I hope she gets a job soon. And I hope she comes to Anime Boston with me. I'll be sad to go alone. Ha, if she comes, she's going to bring along a costume for me. I'll be cosplaying Elk from the .hack video game. I wanted to cosplay Tsukasa, but Kristen was making the costume, and she only had blue cloth. :P I'm not sure if I'd really want to wear it though - I look stupid in the hat. Ggghhh.... Well, we'll see. She might not even come! Still, I hope she's going to come down here. She needs to get out to a real city every now and then. ^^

- Flykyr Skysong

Current song: Those Who Hunt Elves - Ponytail Soldier
Current mood: Tired - I'm going to miss getting 10 hours of sleep a night... :P