Farewell, 2009.

Well, here it is... My last post of 2009. I'm not usually one to get sentimental like this (the last day of 8th grade, I was one of the very few not crying)- but I'm going to miss you, 2009.

It's been a great year. I have had many new experiences and learned a great many things. There's been some bumps in the road, but so many wonderful things happened.

Graduating from middle school made me realize how much I'm really cared for. I felt shocked at how many people could list off a dozen reasons why they would miss me- even people I didn't know all that well. It really is true when they say "you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone."

Summer was another thing entirely. This was probably the roughest summer I've ever had. The move made my life difficult. I do not think I was ever more stressed out. I felt like a useless, good-for-nothing moron. Just because somebody says something about you, that doesn't mean it's true.

I also read so many wonderful books, after a couple years of a "who cares about reading" attitude. I will try to read even more this coming year.

And, last, but certainly not least: I started high school. I have entered an entirely different world. However, so far, it's not as I expected- I expected it to be much worse than middle school. Instead, everything seems wonderful- I'm making so many new friends. Sure, I'm still kind of struggling with the school work, but I'm gradually adjusting. It's a drastic difference than school last year: instead of waking up not wanting to go to school, afraid of something bad happening, I wake up and can't wait to see what happens that day.

2009 is a year I will not soon forget. I am happy, and I am ready to face 2010 straight on. I hope that this past year has been just as wonderful and fulfilling for all of you.

Goodbye, 2009. We'll miss you. Cheers!

Resolutions for 2010

Here are my New Year's resolutions... In no particular order.

1. Try to eat breakfast at home more often
2. Whip my grades into shape
3. Try to go to more school dances, join school clubs, etc.
4. Blog more often, like I did over the summer
5. Actually DO all the drawings I say I will
6. Finish mission of drawing all the Maximum Ride characters
7. Do well in the oil painting unit in art class
8. Keep my room more organized/clean
9. Read more graphic novels
10. Read more books in general
11. Finish that darn "summer" reading list
12. Read more Shakespeare

I might come back and add to this later. You never know.

Christmas 2009

Hello. Merry Christmas, everybody! I wish you all good health, cheer, and fantastic presents.

How was my Christmas? Well, I am quite glad you asked. (Oh, give it a rest, I know you didn't- but let me have my moment.)

Well, shall we start with Christmas eve? I could barely sleep. I tossed, I turned, I pounded my pillow in sheer frustration. And eventually, I fell asleep at about 12:30 A.M.... Only to wake up just about every hour, on the hour until 6:50. Hooray for being nocturnal- because it brings tremendous benefits to my overall health. (Not.) Hey, I can't help it, okay?

We began to open presents this morning at about 7:45. I got a lot of nice things. (However, I knew about just about all the presents from my parents- right down to the candy in my stocking. My mother buys the things while I'm with her, then tells me to forget. And it worked- when I was six.) Yet, I refuse to keep up with my usual manner of complete sentences and proper grammer to list them off so I will simply use a list.

• Harley Quinn Barbie doll
• Mulan and Whatshisface (Her husband) Dolls (My fav Disney "princess")
• The last three Death Note figurines/DVD's I needed
• Four Batman graphic novels
• A mini-keyboard that attatches to my PS3 controller (for online games)
• The sequel to Dracula (written by a direct descendent of the original author)
• A stuffed sock monkey (I've always wanted one)
• A boatload of chocolate in many varieties
• Some pens and a graphite sketching set (both shoved into my stocking)
• A couple little toys (also jam-packed into my stocking)
• A ridiculously soft stuffed Siamese kitten doll
• A $50 Old Navy gift card
• A Michael's gift card for some unknown amount
• A teeny-tiny Snoopy ornament for the teeny-tiny (3 ft.) tree in my bedroom
• Some of those tiny Japanese erasers shaped like food

And there ya go. Let's see, after we opened presents, we had brunch at my cousins Joe and Jennys' house with my dad's family. Then while my dad had to go to work for an hour or two, I played video games.

When my dad got back, we all left for our 4:30 reservations at Bob Taylor's Ranch House. (It's a really nice, old ranch turned into a cute, fancy little steakhouse.) Long story short, everybody told my mom "You should have prime rib on Christmas!" After looking at the prices of the uncooked meat alone, she decided it woul cost the same to get it professionally cooked at a steakhouse, sides and all, for less. (I'm glad, too, because my mother has wasted perfectly good meat in the past due to her lack of knowledge cooking it.) I had a delicious, red prime rib.

After dinner we went and saw Sherlock Holmes. It was amazing. I am still in shock of the awesome my eyes have recently witnessed.

And after the movie, I came home, ate some cookies, turned on my heater, and then got on my blog to... Oh, wait...

Well, that's basically my Christmas in a nutshell.

Oh, before I go find something better to do, I just thought I would comment on a little something Brooke posted in her blog. She said that her mother asked if she was sick because she's usually so hyper, and today, she wasn't. I just want to say: I know the feeling. I get that a lot, hahaha! Whenever I am in class spacing out, working, or contemplating, people always ask me if I'm alright in a concerned tone. It's as if, if Mary's not smiling, her dog just died. It's exhausting smiling all the time- then again, I find everything exhausting. Probably even life.

Well, I'm gonna go do... Things... It's not you- it's me. I think we need some time apart.

So until next time, bye-bye, and happy new year!

'Tis the Season

Happy Winter Break!

Hey there, everybody! How goes it? I hope you're enjoying your winter.

Today was my last day of school before winter break! Woohoo! I passed out little tins of fudge to friends, toting them around in a little paper holiday-print Starbucks bag. (I'm such a stereo-typical artist. Art school? Check. Atheism? Check. Obsession with art supplies? Check. Starbucks junkie? CHECKCHECKCHECK...) The bag was small, because I didn't take into account the fact that people would actually give me presents. I almost never get presents at school- only cards! But Camden got me an insanely awesome comic book, Shara got me a tiny little sketchbook and a Batman PEZ dispenser, Meghan got me Batman and Joker PEZ dispensers and a candle, and I got some cards from people. (TWO Batmans versus ONE Joker! Can you imagine!?) I'm so happy! This day was great. I'm glad I have such sweet friends.

After winter break, we're starting our oil painting unit in art. It's ridiculous how utterly excited I am! I've only ever used acrylic paints, never oil. I've already bought all my painting supplies, brushes and all, and I am ready for action!

We have so much to do for Christmas. We need to finish decorating the tree, send Christmas cards, and go Christmas present shopping. (You know what they say. The family that procrastinates together...) I'm realy excited for Christmas, though, so I don't really mind.

On a non-Christmas-related note- I got $50 in Amazon money for my birthday, and I don't have a clue what to buy still. I've decided to wait until after Christmas to spend it, so that I don't accidentally buy one of my presents. But one thing's for sure- the blu-ray of "Bram Stoker's Dracula" (my favorite movie) is only $9.99 on Amazon. $9.99! While other blu-rays are $40 or something! I'm not sure whether to be offended or overjoyed. Perhaps a little of both...?

Well, I'm going to go... Do... Things. Bye, enjoy your holiday!