Despite my previous (*coughdepressingcough*) post, today I'm going to talk about happy things. I'm going to talk about those happy things that life sometimes throws our way, often without us even realizing it. Little wonders that we may not even notice, but which make our lives easier to bear with; that we may not even remember, but which leave their unmistakable imprint on the way we perceive life and all its beauty.

They may not even be big things - it may just be the smile you get from your next-door neighbor early in the morning, when you're struggling to wake up to get to school on time (or work, respectively XD), or the way the sun shines on the dirty streets or cars that you pass by on your way across town; it may be the way your mom says "I love you" and then kisses you lovingly on the top of your head, or the way your dad doesn't mind you fooling around every once in a while, acting like a 5-year-old on sugar high (and don't we all know we love doing that sometimes!); it maybe the way your friends accept your crazy, loud, occasionally obnoxious and often excessively energetic self without questioning if it's worth befriending someone like that, and how they never even mention it; it's the way you know that even when you feel down, there's always someone out there who will want to make you feel better, even if it may not happen right away; it's the way you make up with your sister after weeks-long arguments, and then just pick up where you left off like nothing ever happened; it's the way it feels to drink coffee (or cappuccino, for those of us with a distaste for coffee XD) in the morning (or late morning, respectively) and watch the people go about their way on the street below your window; it's the way you remember the good times when the bad times come, even though that doesn't necessarily make the bad times go away; it's the way we agree to disagree and know that it's okay to argue sometimes, because we always smile in the end; or the way that we just sit in silence for hours, even days at a time, and know that it was time well spent, because we don't have to say it to know that it's there; it's the uncertainty and insecurity that we grow accustomed to, because we're constantly growing and we know that they are a natural part of growing; it's the way we sometimes hurt and cry and feel like there's nothing left worth smiling for; it's the way we like to gossip and point fingers and feel bad about it afterwards, even though it's we all know that highly possible we'll do it all over again next time; it's the way that sometimes something very small catches our eye in some remarkable, breathtaking way, and we're marveled at how we never saw it before; or it may very well be the way that something breathtakingly remarkable passes completely unnoticed, like something very small that we often miss; it may be the way we're left speechless by the way humanity comes together to help those is need when the need arises, and then we question why we ever thought that humanity was a lost cause; and it's the way we don't even pause to jump right in and give a hand, as well; it's the way that new, exciting things come into our lives every day, even though sometimes we fail to notice them; and it's a myriad of other ways in which fate and people and God (or whatever other divinity - or non-divinity, for that matter-) affect us and work together to make up the mountain of experiences and memories that at the end, we call 'life'.



To me, all of those ways are marvelous and unique and worth more than any treasure out there, for they make for the best things about life.
And in their honor, today I want to bring them to our attention again, so that at least for now we can remember some of them and feel grateful that they are there, big or small, long-lasting or just fleeting moments.



Signing off, I leave you with one of my favorite singers and one of his best songs, while I go watch Gilmore Girls with sis. Oh, and that's one of the happy things, too. ^.^ Enjoy!

You know how sometimes, something happens to make you feel so bad that no matter how hard you try, you just can't get back on your feet again?! That no matter how many times you tell yourself to forgive and forget and move on so you can stop feeling like shit, you just can't?

.......


Well, yeah. Those times suck. They suck big hairy monkey balls. >_< BIG TIME!!!!! grrr.

Life's beautiful. And cruel. And crazy and wild and soft and lovely and everything else in-between. And it never ceases to amaze me how easily we tend to forget that.


Life's precious. Treasure it! And treasure the people in it, because we can never know when they'll disappear from our side. Love with all you have, give to others as much as you can and never have regrets.

In the words of the great King MJ, 'Stop existing and start LIVING!'


Signing off with a piece of musical and humanitarian masterpiece - ALL STARS Michael Jackson and friends - 'What more can I give?" Listen and learn, everyone.

Long time no see, eh? XD

Yeah, it's been a while, and I won't go into details about why I've been gone and what's happened in the mean time. It's too much useless talking about the past, and I don't see a point in reliving everything just for the sake of keeping record. I think life is meant to be lived right there and then, not retold after it's passed, which is why I'll only jot down a couple of the things that I think are worth mentioning.

1) it's not news at all anymore, but I still think it's worth talking about it - the fact that MJ is no longer with us here. It was a terrible blow to (I think) everyone out there, and not something that will pass from our minds or hearts very easily, if at all. I'm not going to relive that dreadful day, or recall any of the events that followed it, mainly because it's just way too damn painful for me. Honestly. It feels like my life is split in two: the before and after. It hurts that bad. I'm sure it must sound pompous or over-exaggerating, but it's how it feels. And I don't really care what anyone thinks of me because of it. Suffice it to say that I've made my peace with it and have celebrated him in my own personal way. I know that he is happier now than he has ever been before, and I am happy, too, because I know that he deserves every last bit of it. I cannot and will not accept the fact that he's dead, because to me he isn't. Not really. Not ever. Love you for ever, MJ!<3

2) my friends have become a vital part of my life during this summer. They're funny and caring and sweet and amazing and I honestly can't even imagine what I'd do without them. They've helped me through the hard times and shared my pain, they rejoiced through the good times and dance the happy dance with me, and they were there every single other minute in-between. I may have forgotten for a while how truly blessed I am for having them -all of them, even the ones I've had some differences with- but I have been fully reminded of it and I will never again forget it. Friends truly are the most wonderful treasure a person can acquire. And I love all my friends. <333

3) my book is coming along nicely. I admit to having gone through a major writer's block a while back (and by major I mean literally MAJOR, like over a month's break :O), but I am now fully recovered and back at it. I'm not sure anymore if I can finish it by the end of October, as was the original plan (I may have aimed a little too high, LOL XD), but even if I don't, I most certainly am not giving up on it. My Children deserve my hard work and I will not let them down. <3

4) I may be trying my hand at a little bit of art, I think. I am aware that my skills in this particular area need a lot of sanding, but I think I'd like to be able to portray the things I see in my head exactly how I see them (namely my Gifted Children, cuz it seems to be so damn hard to find a suitable face anywhere out there on the entire Internet! >_<). I will need a lot of hard work and endless practice, but I think it will be worth it if I can at least sketch something nice. ^_^

5) I may also join a local GO club here in Bucharest. Together with sis, my cousins and Bebe, I attended the second day of the Japanese Week at the Rural Museum today, and had a go (yay for pun!! XD) at a couple rounds (for those not familiar with the game, wiki provides clarifications XD --> clicky) and I actually liked it a lot. I had tried my hand at it before, but not much, and definitely not aware of the proper rules. But today, and in such fun company (some guys from the Saijo Association hosted the event and they gave people some 1.0.1s on the game, as well as a lot of boards and space to play; they were really patient and kind and incredibly fun to play with, even for novices like me XD) it really began to grow on me. So I'm actually thinking of paying the club a visit and maybe even...y'know...join? Haha, I can already see myself getting whooped by all the existing members, but that's okay. I think it'll be fun nonetheless. ^_^

6) I have watched a shit load of TV series, anime and movies this summer - well, at least so far; at the moment, I'm absolutely hooked on 'The Crow' phenomena, namely 'The Crow: Stairway to Heaven' <3333 LUVLUVLUV!! For those not in the know, wiki comes to the rescue once again --> clicky. It may not be a fresh-outta-the-oven thing, but this series is gold, lemme just tell you, and Mark Dacascos as Eric Draven is pure genius. That man can turn me to a mushy puddle of fangirling swoonage like you'd never believe. LOL <3 I've also downloaded the original '94 movie, starring Brandon Lee (RIP man, you were amazing <3), as well as two of the other movies AND the original comic book. You can just imagine how deliriously happy I am right about now, yes? XD

7) last, but not least, I should mention the second RPG board that I've joined (God knows why, it's not like I don't wreak enough havoc on my already existing characters, both in the RP-verse and the book. ROFL but anyway! >:] ) as well as the twitter account that I've created (another completely senseless mystery of the completely senseless mind. o_o XD); for those interested in catching up with my latest ramblings, clicky here --> twitty.

8) oh, and I'm also looking for a job. XD Not much to say about this one, just that I need some moolah for all the things I have planned out for both my last year of college, as well as beyond. And...yes. Job hunt, hajime! ^-^


For now, that's the latest updates. Expect this place to continue to receive some more posts in the following days/weeks/months/wtvr, but at warring times depending on when/if interesting things happen. I'll try to not forget about it again, but on the other hand don't expect daily updates, either. :P

Signing off, I leave you with the intro to my beloved Crow, in the hope that the theme song will be stuck in your heads as it is in mine. Enjoy! <333

Because I don't think there's a person on earth who's listened and watched him and has not yet been changed. <3 Look him up, he's definitely a keeper. Props go to Mina for getting me and Lucia hooked on this hunk'a man. <33333

For a demo, here's a couple of what I think are his best pieces so far. Of course there is a myriad of other great ones out there, you just have to start looking. And you might also want to look into some videos of the concert he held here in Bucharest on the 25th of February this year. He was amazing! Gheorghe Zamfir was a guest appearance and they actually played a well-known Romanian song, called "Lie, ciocarlie", which is actually one of Mr. Zamfir specialties. XP It was amah-zing. Here's a sample: Ciocarlia .

For now, enjoy! ^.^


[[ the video to "Opera #1" XD ]]




[[ his best live performance of "Opera #1" <3 ]]




[[ the video for "Opera #2" XD ]]




[[ his best live performance for "Opera #2" ]]




[[ the video for "The Star" <333 he looks like Keanu Reeves in some of the close-ups, don't you think? :P ]]




[[ the video for "Smile", in which he rocks that mafia suit like you wouldn't believe *drools* ]]




[[ the best performance for "7th Element" XD and my current obsession <333 ]]

"THIS SATURDAY 28 MARCH AT 8.30PM YOU CAN VOTE EARTH BY SWITCHING OFF YOUR LIGHTS FOR ONE HOUR - EARTH HOUR."

And I did. Although mom and I were the only ones in our family actually interested in this, and although dad didn't care and turned on the lights as he passed through the rooms during that hour, I stuck by it. I turned off all my lights at precisely 8.30PM and turned them back on a little after 9.30PM. I may be just one person, but so are millions of other people all around the world. And like them, I chose to give the Earth a break. At least for an hour. I wonder how many others did it, and I wonder how the Earth looked like from outer space during those 60 minutes. I bet it was cool. XD

I know it might not have been much, but I hope it was a nice breath of darkness for Momma Earth, at least for an hour. <3

Fun fact: Romania is the only country in the world that has a website dedicated to organizing and promoting this event locally. Check it out (but only if you know Romanian, otherwise you won't get a thing it says XP): Ora Pamantului.

And you might also like to watch the official video. It says it all much better than I could.



[[ P.S.: I know I probably should have already splurged mountains of minute details and accurate accountings of my trip to Cluj from last weekend, but somehow, I don't really feel like it. And besides, I've come down with a cold the day after we got back, so I'm currently feeling even less like it. >.< However, if you absolutely really must know what happened while we were away, you can check out my sis' blog for a couple of bits. ]]