the point

You're probably wondering (or maybe not) where I've been. Well, I've been mourning over my dead hard drive. Last Saturday, it died on me for no particular reason. In a rush of panic, I've called five different data recovery companies and, FYI, it costs a lot to get my stuff back. So my aunt offered to have her computer techie to look over it and he said a chip fried, or something like that. Well, I have two of the same hard drive, so we switched that particular chip from my good hard drive to my bad one.

It didn't work.

After searching online review sites and forums, I found that my hard drive had a firmware problem. Apparently the company of my hard drive produced a lot of these hard drives that already had problems in them to begin with. At first, I was REALLY mad. But once I talked to the company's techie guy (he was a nice guy BTW... we talked about the weather and I was going to joke about how my igloo was melting because it's summer ... ANYWAY), and he said that their company would fix my hard drive and recover my date for FREE.

So after my uncle helped me wrap my hard drive up snug and tight with foam, and after I got a free UPS shipping label for my little hard drive package, I shipped it off. Four days later (meaning today... meaning just a few minutes ago) I get an e-mail saying that they've fixed everything. I'm relieved, but I would feel a lot better once I have it back in my hands and the info in my USB storage drives.

Besides all that hard drive fiasco, I've also got essays to write. I have three (altogether 25 pages, double spaced though). I've actually finished a 10-page essay two days ago. I'm gonna start on another 10-page essay sometime today. Don't expect too much story writing to get done.

On a happier note, my mom's birthday was last Saturday. Together with my aunt, we've sent her flowers. It's more delightful (that's right, I typed "delightful") because mom lives in a small town four hours from the city I live in. She wasn't expecting flowers. So she's really happy and I'm really happy. It was, like, the only thing that cheered me up after my hard drive died.

Also, my cousin had her prom this year! She showed me some pictures and her dress was crazy. It was pretty, but I thought it was to extravagant for a prom. (It kinda looked like a wedding dress.) It had a strapless bodice and a puffy skirt down to the ground. It was also a light pink and she actually looked like a princess... Yes, I am jealous, so what? My prom dress was a mere summer dress from Sears, but you know what? I felt pretty, so there...

Oh, what am I saying? I want a $500 dress too! Okay, I have no idea how much it cost her, but it was a lot.

Anywho, I'll try focus on the positives more than the negatives now. Seeyas!

Okay, first things first. I don't know if you've noticed or not, but I've been shamelessly plugging names of my favourite mangas, animes and books in the fifth Nocte. I really should watch out, otherwise I'd have chapters just about Nocte reading manga and watching anime, or browsing bookstores... Shopping, anyone? Ha, ha...

Secondly, last Saturday I went to Anime North, an anime convention! It was my first time and I was just so overwhelmed by the cosplay and the merchandise! My favourtie costumes were the guy who dressed up as the Harvest Moon farmer, the Clouds (because of their big swords) and that Ash and Team Rocket dual in which the guy stole Pikachu and Ash was chasing him throughout the whole convention (LOVE, LOVE!).

As exciting and new as it was, I really couldn't get into it. There was just so many people and so loud that I found myself distorted and lost several times. (Thank goodness I can scream loud, otherwise my friends would have lost us!) Not only that, but the merchandise was really expensive (although that's pretty normal for anime stuff) and there wasn't a lot of variety. There were only mangas, plushies and half-naked female figurines. I wanted tarot cards, cute figures (that has nothing to do with boobs or underwear) and just things you don't usually see or get to buy.

Now finally, I heard that in the 600th Issue of Archie Comics, Archie will be marrying Veronica. And I'm thinking, "duh?" Archie is a jerk. He has always picked Veronica, which is why when I heard the news, I was not surprised. Besides, Betty is so much better than Archie, she deserves a lot more than just a man who can't decide between bling and good ole fashioned happiness. (As you can tell, I am a Betty fan.) So my heart goes out to poor fictional Betty. Chin up, girl! You have the future waiting for you and Archie's gonna be bald when he's old. You don't want a bald husband!!! Besides, you're super smart and will probably be the first female president in the fictional Archie world! Betty 4 ev-ah!

And that's a wrap!

It seems I'm updating my blog as often as I update Nocte, which is at the rate of one per month. I really should update my blog more often, seeing as how I don't have to go much into detail about it.

So Sorelliena went to China in April, and she just got back sometime last week (?), I think... I am a horrible cousin because I do not remember. T_T Of course, that means she's been gone from school for about a month and now she is bogged down by Math homework! (Poor Sore!) I am so glad I'm no longer in high school and I no longer have to do math (although I did do well in the subject, if I remember correctly... although my memory seems not to be doing well right now).

Speaking of school. Guess what I'm doing this summer? (My university ended in April.) Yes, I am taking summer courses - AGAIN! Remember how last summer I was groaning and moaning about how everyone was enjoying their summer, but I had to go to school? Wah-lah! I'm doing it AGAIN! Now, some people may think I'm crazy... but I'm not! I'm merely taking some courses now to lessen my course load in my last two years.

BTW, this summer was supposed to by my co-op session, and guess what! NO JOB. ARGH! My family and friends blame the economy, but I blame my less-than-stellar resume... ARGH! Anyway, it's now in the past (although I still get sleepless nights over it) and I will try to forget the raw feeling of suck I have in my throat.

My parents came over during Easter (wow, it really has been a month since I've updated) and brought a new computer chair for me! Well, originally it was for them, but it didn't quite fit the space they wanted it to be in, so I get it! HAHA! It's navy blue, soft, has arm rests and it SWIVELS - a farcry from my old, crap, fading peach chair - blech! Secretly, of course,I was hoping my brother would be jealous... but he's not. Darn.

In other news, my other cousin (whom I will be calling N) is going nuts about prom. She's graduating high school this year, but she'll be staying an extra year to pick up some missed courses. AN-Y-WAY, I feel so nostalgic when she talks about her prom dress and prom party and boyfriend. This is the perfect time in which I feel like I haven't done a lot in my high school life. Instead of buying an expensive poofy dress, I got a normal dress from Sears for under $40. Yeah... I am so weird. But N is getting hers from a boutique and getting it hemmed and doing all the dress shopping with her friends! I WANT TO GO DRESS SHOPPING WITH MY FRIENDS!

Ah-em.

Okay, I am done regretting. I gotta move forward now.

I don't know if you know (which I'm pretty sure you know), but my favourite game in the whole wide world (currently, anyway) is Team Fortress 2. It'sa first-person shooter game I've been playing for years (?) now. Anyway, it's where you're on a team and you get to choose a class (such as a soldier, spy or engineer [in which case you can build a turrent that shoots people]). For some time now, they (the people you made TF2) have been updating the classes - giving them new weapons, abilities and such. Well, news have come to me that the new update (which is hopefully SOON) is for the sniper! The sniper has got to be my (second) favourite class. The engineer is my first. Although they are pretty much par on par with each other now. It really depends on the sniper updates vs the engineer updates (which also haven't come out yet).

OKAY! Now you are up to date about my life. Actually, if you really want to be up to date: I am eating dumpling my grandmother made yesterday. They are del-i-cious... I think. I say "I think" because my throat feels funny and my nose is running - so I can't really taste them, but they look good. DON'T WORRRY, I'll probably be fine after a good night's sleep.

Well, ttyl!

YES! I have updated NY: AVAHAEE! (Wow, even in acronyms it's a long title ^_^;)

YES! I am done my five essays for March! (I had written over thirty f-ing pages for those essays!)

YES! I did have cookies throughout that arduous month! (Teddy Grahams, yummy!)

YES! I did update my site! (I totally revamped it!)

YES! I am very relieved that classes are over. (There are only exams left, but the university gives us a week off to study... which means a week of nothing for me to do except to relax.)

YES! I like using capitals! And exclamation marks!

YES! I think I'm going overboard.

Eh-hem.

What has happened throughout March? Nothing really, just the dang essays. I am really sorry that I had taken a month away from Nocte, but I had to. Very sorry about that.

Life is pretty good and I'm satisfied with the new chapter. I had to rewrite it, like, ten times with ten different beginnings. I really shouldn't take a month or more away from my story; otherwise I get confused as to what I was trying to say.

Anywho, thanks for staying with me and I hope you like the new chappy!

Yes, still alive. Sorry I haven't been updating anything, including my blog.

I just finished writing two essays. I have three more to go... Yes, I am stressing.

During bouts of stress, I like to do creative things. So I've looked up PhotoShop tutorials and made a new website. Yes... again. Currently it is not quite done, but the "Under Construction" sign is there. Check it out if you have the time!

I am having second thoughts about the fifth Nocte. I kinda want to re-write/edit some of the last few chapters. For instance, Ophelia was never meant to be Ophelia. She had a previous name: Marie. I think I'll switch it back to the original name.

Anywho, just wanted to say I'm still alive... and this time I actually have chocolate!!! Can you believe it?

Also, my cousin, Sorelliena, started a manga called Guardian Wars. You can find it here: http://theguardianwars.deviantart.com/

I hope you enjoy her work while mine is... stagnant. ^_^;