Arcadia

[size=1]To say the least, Arcana wasn't fond of being molested in the dark. As a witch, physical strength wasn't her strong point, but if her attacker had been [i]human[/i], then it wouldn't have been a problem. However it was quite clear to her that she was not dealing with any mere mortal, and so she would have to act accordingly. All she needed was a good second, and thankfully, the man was far too busy enjoying her struggle. By the time she felt him stiffen with recognition, the words were already out. "[i]Lucidus coma..[/i]" And from that there was a fantastic burst of light. Shocked and obviously not amused, the vampire snarled and turned his eyes away quickly, his grip on her loosening just enough for her to jump a few good feet away. But instead of running, she whirled around furiously, unsheathing her dagger at the same time from its hiding place on her thigh. That, as well as the man's previous grabbing, had all but removed her cloak and even in the darkness it was plain to see that there wasn't a whole lot on underneath it. Arcana figured that even if she tried to run, that probably would have pissed him off enough for him to chase after her. Vampires were proud like that. And as fast as she was, she couldn't beat a vampire's hightened speed. She was much better off with her magic. The thought crossed her mind that maybe [i]now[/i] would be a good time to try that raven spell, but the risk just seemed too great. [i]I'm so fucking vain,[/i] she thought sardonically. And now she had a chance to get a good look at her attacker - remember his face, his smell, his stature. Definitely powerful, she decided as her eyes narrowed imperceptably. Powerful, and incredibly handsome. As odd as it was, that little bit of knowledge helped soothe her nerves some - she was definitely tired of ugly men hitting on her. Now very much on her toes, she glanced him up and down briefly as he did the same, his lips still formed in a silent sneer. That was the other thing that she hated about vampires - they recovered too damn fast. "I don't suppose you'll leave me alone if I said 'please?'"[/size]

[size=1]Ha, I finally got to it. ^_^ I love the colors - very cheery, as Lan said. The fonts are cool too - at least the one "Kick it" is in. It's like some kind of.. happy, chibi ghetto graffiti type thing. I rather like the tetris-y lego things at the bottom, too. Fun stuff. All in all, well done, and wonderfully strange, as always. ^_~[/size]

[size=1]Clue will always be my favorite. Like Sara, I read the books, but that was after I first played the game. ^_~ Those puns had me in stitches. Granted, I laugh at a lot of stupid jokes, but those were some good times. And let's not forget the movie Clue. Pure hilarity, that's what I say. In high school I played this game Guestures (sp?) all the time in theatre, instead of actually doing work or something productive. We'd go all out, do the guys vs. girls thing, tally points and keep track of them day after day. It was.. uh, something to do. Otherwise, I have fond memories of Mouse Trap, Hungry Hungry Hippos, that Shark Attack game, The A-MAZE-ing Labyrinth (I [i]think[/i] that's what it was called), and then of course Life, Pictionary, and Monopoloy - we have the Orlando version of that, heh.[/size]

[quote]..re-colored his eyes because I had [b]nothing else to do with my life.....[/b] and then went a little crazy with the gradient tool..[/quote] [size=1]Heh, you silly girl. I like the Kamui one, as well. It's like CLAMP, at it's.. most.. CLAMPest. Or something. I mean, just look at those eyes. Huge eyes. Gorgeous, but huge. I like the faded picture in the background, and the random cherry blossoms - it's all very X-ish. I could definitely see something being written there, as well. Like maybe "..Fu...uma...." Bwahaha. The banner you use now though is definitely my favorite of yours. ^_^[/size]

[size=1]I really, really like it. The quote rocks, that goes unsaid (even though I said it), and the picture is a good one. That man has quite a bit of hair. My only suggestion (and this is a personal preference) is that you make the entire banner the same reddish hint. Or spread the colors out more; mix them up a little bit. The red and black on opposite ends just feels a little.. weird to me. Unbalanced. Somebody else might love it that way, so who really knows. On the whole, though, a good piece, as always. ^_^[/size]

[size=1]This is kind of funny, actually. If I've got the choice, than I want the subtitles with the original voice actors, and thus, the original dialogue (that is, if the people doing the subtitles don't screw it up too much - I've seen some crazy stuff flash up on the bottom of the screen). However, as somebody else said, you don't always get the choice, so when the dubbing is the only thing I hear... well, I'm used to it. Gundam Wing is a huge example of that - most of the shows that aired on Toonami, basically. It wasn't until after I looked stuff up about them that I learned I was being cheated out of half the episodes and all that. But still, I've got a fondness for the GW voices. Trowa's - Kerby Marrow (or however you spell it) is delicious. Duo's voice was always fantastic, and I love Wufei and in any way, shape or form. I have Cowboy Bebop and Escaflowne with both versions, though, and I always choose subtitles. Mmm, I love those yellow words.[/size]

[size=1]Hell yeah to wrist cutter and his Bing Crosby nomination. I'm all over that like a starving man on a Christmas ham. >.> Basically though, I love this time of the year, so if it's a Christmas song I'm bound to like it. Some favorites: [b]And So This Is Christmas.[/b] Yeah, I can't remember who does this. Good first example, Meg. [b]Hark! The Harold Angels Sing.[/b] From A Charlie Brown Christmas. Basically, all the songs from this movie, because it rocks. Go Linus! [b]Christmas In Hollis.[/b] Run-D.M.C. Heh. Yeah, it's such a funny song. [b]Santa Baby.[/b] Madonna's version. I actually did this for a lyp-sync contest in theatre, complete with a fun little red sexy Santa costume. Won some candy. Whoo. And then there are many, many more, but I'm tired of typing.[/size]

[size=1] I don't do any extreme sports because I love my body too much, but they're fun to watch. For awhile my brother couldn't be found without his skateboard, and now he's got a trick bike that he rides everywhere. He's also had [i]stitches[/i] everywhere, and he's done a lot of stupid stuff that makes me want to smack him. And that, my friends, is why parents freak out - it's the safety issue. The last thing they want you to do is ride your bike into a lake and or into a parked car (yeah, my brother did that) because you were "goofing off," pulling stunts, and not paying attention. Granted, not everyone does that - my brother is just an idiot. But give your parents a break. They're just worried.[/size]

[size=1][color=navyblue]OOC: Why, thank you! ^__^ Yeah, I figured it was me, but it's all good. I'm a bit hyper. >.>[/color] The howl had perked her senses and she was notably curious. It had been some time since she'd seen another like her in action - granted, she had no desire to actually join in the fight or anything, but if she could watch from a distance... Even if she wasn't directly involved, she figured it was still wise to keep up on all the fights. It helped her keep up with events, and allowed her to keep tabs on specific people, in case future instances called for more than just - ...Well, she didn't want to think about that. If all went according to plan, than she wouldn't ever need any help. From anyone. She would just... [i]exist[/i]. Even so, it was best to go check this little scramble out. If it was a scramble - either way, it could be a great opportunity for her to catch up on her studies. So far, her morphing into a raven had been only partially successful. While she looked the part (indeed, the only thing that set her apart was her amber eyes), there was still the problem with [i]keeping[/i] that form for prolongued periods of time. And if she was ever under stress... well, she didn't even want to think about that. She quickened her pace, pulling her her cloak about her form tightly, but not because she was cold. A spark of electricity ran up her spine and she could hardly suppress the smirk that pulled on her full lips. No, she was excited. Anxious. Something was going to happen, she could feel it. And she wanted to make sure she was there to see it. Unfortunately for Arcana, she forgot to think about the possibility that perhaps it was [i]she[/i] who was about to experience whatever she felt, and not some other poor soul.[/size]

[size=1][color=navyblue]OOC: So.. what the hell is going on, anyway? Heh, Maybe if I was [i]on time[/i] I wouldn't have these problems. ^_~ Oh, and Dagger's man = hot stuff. That above post, by the way.. yeah, don't do that with a mod in the RPG.[/color] Oblivious to the little battles that seemed to be cropping up all over town, Arcana was wandering down empty streets alone, and as it might appear to untrained eyes, unprotected. A little strange, in that full length cloak, but vulnerable nonetheless. Looks can be deceiving, however, and Arcana's placid facade was no exception. Those within the war knew otherwise, and it was those types she was doing her best to avoid. Well, she was actually trying to avoid [i]everybody[/i], but that was turning out to be a bit harder than she thought. Her amber colored eyes roamed the night sky as she walked briskly down some empty street somewhere. She wasn't quite sure where she was headed, exactly, but she knew she didn't want to stay in one place for long. There was a distinct feeling in the air - hostility, violence, corruption. She could feel the electric currents and they were thick and staticy - not a pleasant feeling for a witch. But it was one she had grown used to. Allowing herself a dramatic sigh, she paused and stretched, glancing around herself curiously. Where the hell was she, anyway? A noise somewhere behind her made her turn abruptly, sending her cloak billowing about. Her hood fell from her face, revealing a rather attractive woman, if not slightly hostile. Eyes narrowing slightly, she took a few steps forward, producing a hand from inside the velvet cloak as she eyed the dark alleyway in front of her. A quick incantation muttered under her breath and lo, there was light! in the form of a small sphere that hovered obediantly over her palm. "Come out, come out," she murmured in a sing-song sort of way, sending the little ball of light forward. Slowly, the shadows fell away and revealed... a rat, blinking back at her with a piece of garbage in it's mouth. Arcana raised an eyebrow, rolling her eyes before turning back towards the street. The ball of light folded in on itself, leaving the alleyway in darkness once again. As she fixed her cloak, pulling the hood back over her long dark locks, she heard a howl in the distance.[/size]

[size=1][b]What is your name?[/b] Megan... [b]Spell your name backwards.[/b] Nagem [b]Date of birth:[/b] 05/14/1985 [b]Male or female?[/b] Female [b]Astrological sign:[/b] Taurus. Moo. [b]Nicknames:[/b] Too freaking many. [b]Occupation?[/b] College [b]Height:[/b] 5' 3" [b]Weight:[/b] About 110-ish, I do believe. [b]Hair color:[/b] Dark brown, mistaken for black (strangely enough). [b]Eye color:[/b] Brown brown brown. [b]Where were you born?[/b] Louisianna [b]Where do you reside now?[/b] Sunny Florida [b]Age:[/b] 18 [b]Screen names:[/b] Arcadelicious, onnasama [b]E-mail addy:[/b] Or not. [b]What does your screen name stand for?[/b] Various nicknames and or my weird sense of humor. [b]What is your gangsta name?[/b] Um.. white girl? [b]What does your diary name stand for?[/b] Oh, you know. [b]Pets:[/b] One yellow lab and lots of Koi, back in Orlando. [b]Number of candles you blew out on your last birthday cake?[/b] I don't think I remember the last time I had a birthday cake with the right number of candles. [b]Piercings?[/b] My ears. [b]Tattoos?[/b] [i]Well[/i].. [b]Shoe size:[/b] 6 or 7, depending on the shoe. [b]Righty or lefty?[/b] Righty-o. [b]Wearing right now:[/b] Plaid pajama pants and a baseball t-shirt from theatre. [b]Hearing:[/b] The air-conditioning in my dorm room. [b]Feeling:[/b] Lonely [b]Eating/drinking:[/b] Vanilla Coke and Reeses Cups. [i]~Guys/Love/Kissing/And Other Stuff~[/i] [b]Have you ever been in love?[/b] No [b]How many people have you told "I love you"?[/b] Family and friends aplenty, but not ever in a romantic sense. [b]How many people have you been in love with?[/b] None [b]How many people have you kissed?[/b] I say none, though I've kissed people for plays and such. [b]Have you ever kissed someone of the same sex?[/b] No [b]How many people have you dated?[/b] None [b]What do you look for in a guy/girl?[/b] Chemistry, attraction, someone who can make me laugh and I can make smile. [b]What's the first thing you notice about the opposite/same sex?[/b] Hair, eyes, and smile. But definitely hair. [b]What type of guy/girl do you usually go for?[/b] Dark hair/eyes. Tall, skinny guys. Yes. [b]Do you have a bf/gf?[/b] No [b]If so where did you meet them?[/b] ... [b]What do you like most about your bf/gf?[/b] ... [b]Do you have a crush right now?[/b] Yes. [b]If so who is it?[/b] That's top secret information! [b]Do you believe in love at first sight?[/b] Well.. depends, but I'm leaning towards the negative. I'm horrible with first impressions anyway - always off. [b]Do you remember your first love?[/b] Never had one, really. [b]Who is the first person you kissed?[/b] Ugh. It was for a play, leave me alone. [b]Do you believe in fate?[/b] I believe that some things aren't a coincidence, but free will reigns supreme. [b]Do you believe in soul mates?[/b] Yes, but probably not in the sense you're talking about. [b]If so do you believe you'll ever find yours?[/b] I hope so. [i]~Family Stuff~[/i] [b]How many siblings do you have?[/b] Two [b]What are your parents names?[/b] Paul and Cindy [b]What are your siblings names?[/b] Jen and Matt [b]How many siblings does your mother have?[/b] 5 [b]How many siblings does your father have?[/b] 5 [b]Where are your parents from?[/b] Ohio [b]Is your family close?[/b] Very. [b]Does your family get together for holidays?[/b] Not as often as we should. [b]Do you have a drunk uncle?[/b] No, but I have a gay one. [b]Any medical problems run through your family?[/b] Stomach cancer, Diabetes, Depression [b]Does someone in your family wear a toupee?[/b] I don't think so. [b]Do you have any nieces or nephews?[/b] I seriously hope not. [b]Are your parents divorced?[/b] No. [b]Do you have step parents?[/b] Notta. [b]Has your family ever disowned another member of your family?[/b] No. [b]If so for what?[/b] ... [b]Did some of your family come to America from another country?[/b] Some from Germany, some from Ireland.. and then, well, Europe, basically. [i]~Music Stuff~[/i] [b]What song do you swear was written about you or your life?[/b] I hope that in 50 years I can say that "I Did It My Way" (Frank Sinatra) describes it perfectly. [b]What's the most embarrasing cd you own?[/b] Every CD I own has a reason and a memory behind it. [b]What's the best CD you own?[/b] I've got a lot of good ones. [b]What song do you absolutely hate?[/b] It's been awhile since I've listened to the radio, so.. [b]Do you sing in the shower?[/b] Yes. Hell, I used to sleep in the shower. [b]What song reminds you of that special someone?[/b] Considering I don't have one.. the song that reminds me of [i]a[/i] special someone is "Walking By" - Something Corporate.[/size]

[quote][i]My official nickname for Arcadia is Megaton. It's a good one.[/i][/quote] [size=1]Hee hee. I like it. Work it, work it.. *coughs* >.>;; The Sabrina thing is funny, though. This whole nickname thing is making me feel very conspiratorial, suddenly.[/size]

[size=1]I've always had a ton of absurd nicknames for some reason or another. They are as follows, and I quote: Meg, Meggie, Meggles, Megness, Meglet, Megabitch, NutMeg, Midget Meg, Chi Chi ([i]god[/i], I don't miss that one), studded tonfa, onna (sama), Tomato Girl, sweet cheeks, chunky monkey (after the ice cream flavor), Padfoot, Crew Chief (in theatre, I was the Crew Leader and my English teacher couldn't ever get that one right), Queen, Bingles, and like many others, my last name. It's [i]really[/i] easy to mispronounce my last name (maybe that's a German thing?) and so people enjoy doing that as well. At least I'll always have variety in my life. Or something. ¬_¬[/size]

[size=1]Hopefully this will work for you. ^_^ [b]Name:[/b] Melon Straubarri [b]Age:[/b] 16 [b]Class:[/b] Wizard [b]Description:[/b] Average height and build for her age, Melon?s most defining characteristic is her light green hair. She wears it long and in separate braids, and has a tendency to chew on it whenever she?s nervous. Decked in simple brown robes, she is able to hide an amazing number of things in them. [b]Bio:[/b] Melon?s family has always produced wizards, and as a baby, Melon herself had shown very good signs of having the family talent. She learned to speak quickly and often crawled around the house curiously, wanting to know about everything. When she sneezed, peculiar things happened ? lights went out, windows blew open, and glasses exploded. However the more she grew, the more her parents doubted their original predictions, for Melon was turning out to be a rather clumsy girl. She often turned up late for her daily lessons, and had quite a tendency to fidget and/or zone out during them, much to her instructor?s dismay. And you could be quite certain that her parents wouldn?t let her anywhere near the cooking and dishes for fear that something catastrophic might occur. At 16 now, Melon?s grown up a little bit more and has a greater control over her mind and body, though she?s still prone to slip up a bit. She?s very proud of her spells, especially when she actually gets them off right, and practices very hard so that it stays that way. Occasionally strange things will happen still when she sneezes, something she has grown to dread. [b]Starting Point:[/b] Grillin Village [b]Primary Spell/Weapon:[/b] [u]Dragon?s Kiss[/u] ? Elemental attack that focuses on fire. Melon blows her enemy a kiss, resulting in a bath of fire and one very hot enemy. More often than not a very dragon-like roar accompanies the fire; the loudness of the roar is directly connected to the strength of the attack. [b]Secondary Weapon/Item:[/b] A charmed watch, with a simple silver chain. When Melon swings the watch, it acts as a pendulum and slows her attacker down. [b]Items:[/b] One First Aid Pack, a canteen of water, fruit. *I didn?t want to max her out with items yet since I?m not quite sure what?s possible and I'd prefer her to have some left over storage room in case she picks up some fun things. [b]Spell(s):[/b] [u]Hold Still[/u] ? An earth spell. Vines shoot up from the ground and latch onto the enemy, holding him/her/it in place. It buys her time (in the form of an extra turn) and/or allows for any companions to get one attack in. [u]Early Frost[/u] ? Ice spell. Creates a box-like encasement of ice around the attacker that stops him/her from making any physical attacks. Magical attacks can get still get through, but their potency is decreased by one half. [u]Cats and Dogs[/u] ? A sky spell that halts an enemy?s magic ability for one turn. A cartoonish cloud appears above the attacker and pours rain on them, canceling any spells made. It doesn?t do much for physical attacks except makes the person very wet and most likely angry.[/size]

[size=1]Gender is very cultural. So depending on where you live and what you've been taught, it can be very different from what somebody else says. Generally though it's more about the characteristics and meanings we assign to the sexes. Thus, though one's sex is biologically determined, one's sexual identity or gender is culturally constructed. It's one view, anyway. The Lilith thing seems a bit.. bogus to me. I'd just like to know how people can come up with so many different ideas about this, and what the bible "says" - what imaginations. ^_^[/size]

[size=1]I always thought gender stereotypes were funny - definitely too funny to take seriously. There are so many double standards, for both sides. For instance, a man who appreciates art and dresses well and cares about his appearance is for the most part considered gay, while a woman who is assertive about her opinion is a *****. In one of my classes, though, we just called out the first things that came to mind about the opposite sex. At first it was it was pretty politically correct, but after a few seconds we really started to get into it. Just going back and forth like that. I'm not really insulted by it at all, at this point. Though for the most part, I've never really met anybody who was actually serious about it. Occasionally you hear a degrading pick-up line having to do with subtracting clothes and multiplying and all that, but it's all in jest. I hope. >.>[/size]

[b]SECTION A[/b] [size=1]In the following section, please answer each statement with one of five answers: A) Strongly Agree B) Agree C) Somewhat Agree D) Disagree E) Strongly Disagree [i]1) I find OtakuBoards rules easy to understand and follow.[/i] [b]A[/b] [i]2) I feel that the staff at OtakuBoards understand their job and are capable of performing it appropriately.[/i] [b]A[/b] [i]3) OtakuBoards is easy to navigate.[/i] [b]A[/b] [i]4) OtakuBoards has a friendly atmosphere.[/i] [b]B[/b][/size] [b]SECTION B[/b] [size=1]Please try to keep your answers relatively short in this section. [i]5) How often do you visit OtakuBoards?[/i] [b]At least once a day.[/b] [i]6) Do you feel that the rules are too strict/not strict enough/fine as they are?[/i] [b]Fine as they are.[/b] [i]7) Should we continue to uncensor the creative writing areas on OtakuBoards?[/i] [b]Yes, as it generally gives writers more freedom with their work. However, warnings should be used at the beginning of a post if the material within is particularly graphic in some form or another.[/b] [i]8) Would you rather a decentralized forum system on OB (more forums, less activity per forum) or a centralized forum system (less forums, more activity per forum)?[/i] [b]Centralized, I think. It might help to get more people involved in more things.[/b] [i]9) Would you like to see a closer integration of myOtaku and OtakuBoards?[/i] [b]That would be cool. Maybe on myOtaku there could be some sort of way for those at OB to show their participation in different forums. Even if it's just like a webring or something.[/b] [i]10) Are you signed up to myOtaku.com?[/i] [b]Yes[/b] [strike][i]11) If you are not signed up to myOtaku.com, do you plan to sign up in the near future?[/i][/strike] [i]12) Do you read Announcements at OtakuBoards?[/i] [b]Of course. ^_^[/b] [i]13) Which single Category (Category, as opposed to individual Forum) do you spend most of your time visiting?[/i] [b]Otaku Arena. After that, Otaku Public.[/b] [i]14) Do you think that OtakuBoards should offer an in-built chat system as part of our service? If we included a chat, would you use it?[/i] [b]That could definitely be fun, though I'm hardly on AIM as it is.[/b] [i]15) If we offered an "OtakuBoards Wireless" service that would be accessible via Internet-capable cellphones, would you use it?[/i] [b]No[/b] [i]16) When we offer a next generation version of OtakuBoards, should we continue to provide semi-regular community events in our Event Arena or a similar forum?[/i] [b]Definitely - it's a great way to bring the community together, so to speak, and from what I understand, people have made a ton of friends because of various events.[/b] [i]17) If you could add one new Category (Category, not Forum) to OtakuBoards, what would it be?[/i] [b]Maybe Politics, but I don't know how well people would respond/keep up with that.[/b] [i]18) If you could remove one Category from OtakuBoards, what would it be?[/i] [b]I wouldn't.[/b] [i]19) If you could add anything to OtakuBoards (in terms of a new forum, a technical tool/feature, etc), what would it be?[/i] [b]I like Solo's idea for the "signature preview" and Shy's "Otaku History Forum" ideas. It might be fun if we could mess around with forum colors, too. The person who creates the thread, for instance, would control the colors. Or each category could have it's own colors.[/b] [i]20) On a scale of 1-10 (1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest), how would you rate your experience at OtakuBoards since you registered?[/i] [b] TEN. It's been a blast. ^_^[/b][/size]

[size=1][b]Name:[/b] Arcana (no one quite knows what her real name is, and she's not telling) [b]Race:[/b] Witch [b]Age:[/b] 24 [b]Side:[/b] Innately good [b]Ability:[/b] As a witch, Arcana is deft with magic in all forms, particularly the black arts. While she knows a few good healing spells, memory charms, and protection wards, she mostly likes to dabble in the curses and the other nasty spells. Currently she's trying to teach herself some of the ancient arcane magic that Mia herself used. [b]Description:[/b] Arcana is beautiful, there's no doubt there, but it's more of a natural, earthy beauty. Long silky hair that curls softly towards the ends, a very dark color - whether it's a dark brown or a shadowy black, however, is uncertain. Amber eyes, and an elegant bone structure. She's lean, fairly strong for her age, and very quick, but she's not without her feminine curves. Also, her feet are rather small. Here's a picture you can use to get a feel for her character, although it's not necessarily what she [url=http://www.epilogue.net/cgi/database/art/view.pl?id=8787]looks[/url] like. [b]Other description:[/b] As a result of her steady practise with magic and her fairly exstensive knowledge with it, she has learned to transform herself into a raven. However, it takes quite a bit of energy and requires calm conditions - she's not quite done perfecting it. [b]Brief Biography:[/b] Arcana has been a loner for most of her life. She grew up under the influence of her grandparents, slightly spoiled and very well educated. She was also lucky to have their understanding and support when it came to her powers - her grandmother is a bit of a witch in her own right, though she's limited herself to simple herbal remedies and other such things. With her encouragement, however, Arcana flourished in her training and learned quickly. However, not all humans were quite as understanding, and in their prejudice, killed her grandparents. She's been on her own since, and has quite a bit of an inner struggle to work out. That, and since Mia's betrayal, not too many people seem fond of witches. [b]Personality:[/b] Because of her grandparents death, Arcana is hesitant to make any sort of commitments with either side. While she is innately good, she's very bitter towards those responsible for her grandfather's and grandmother's deaths and doesn't quite see the reason in helping them when all they've ever done is add to the violence. She's very clever and despite her apparent indifference, Arcana is very interested in current events and likes to keep up with the happenings of the world. She doesn't flaunt her power, but she doesn't hide it, either. [b]Weapons:[/b] She keeps a small, curved dagger with her for those 'just in case' situations, but she mostly relies on her abilities as a witch.[/size]

[size=1]I don't know much about ADHD and all of that, but I can try to help at least with the nervous breakdown bit. While I was in high school, I was the same way. I took a lot of tough classes, honors and college level stuff, and I was extremely involved in the theatre department, as well as Yearbook, and a few other clubs. Pretty much all over the map. And as I'm sure you know, it tends to stress you out a bit, especially when you've got to deal with dress rehearsals, deadlines, and tests all in the same week, as well as all that college application crap. I would get panic attacks because it got to the point where I'd start stressing out over the littlest details. The key is to find a way to relax. As simple and stupid as it sounds, sometimes that's all it takes. Get away from the work load, find some place quiet, and chill. Take an hour break and take a power nap, do yoga or some other stretching exercises that will help loosen up your muscles, or go jog or swim, or draw or write, [i]anything[/i] that helps you calm down and gets your mind off things. Sometimes you might not have that hour to spare - don't worry, I understand that, I've been there. In that case, [i]breathe[/i]. It's like meditation - learn to control your breathing, focus on exhaling and inhaling. See how long you can hold it. It might take some practise, but eventually you'll be able to calm yourself down pretty quickly. Granted, it's not for everybody, but you're bound to find something that will help you relax without a pill or some other form of medication being involved. I hope that helps some.[/size]

[size=1]My dad's name is Paul and he owns a Minute Man Press store in Orlando, and runs it and manages it and all that. Years ago he used to be a district store owner with Kinkos, but that's a whole different story. ^_^ My mom's name is Cindy and she works part time in a scrapbooking store. That's her hobby, and they always say you should do what you love. Before she got pregnant with me, she was actually the head physical therapist at one of the hospitals in New Orleans (where I was born). Damn kids. Both my parents worked really hard to get their jobs, so that's sort of engrained into me. I'm majoring in history, and I would like to be a teacher, I think. I just haven't decided what I should teach - history? Literature? Drama? Sexual Education? I haven't decided whether or not I'm going to be a college professer (which means I'll be paid more and I'll have the chance to travel) or a high school teacher (which is what inspired me in the first place). I guess we'll just have to wait and see. ^_^ That, and I'd love to write books. Maybe one day.[/size]

[size=1]Well, the thing about that is, parts of it probably are supposed to be rather over-the-top. Specifically, I'm thinking about the design notes that Kushner wrote in for whenever the Angel appears. How the set should be built, what kind of lighting and sound should be used, etc.[/size]

[size=1]Hee, Semjaza is cool like that. In the same light, though, I love [i]Schindler's List[/i]. It's long, and it's incredibly sad, but it's something to remember. Personally I thought [i]Pearl Harbor[/i] was horrible. I tend to enjoy historical movies of any shape or form, but that one.. no, I'm not even going to start. I'm biased about it, anyway. I saw some the same Bond marathon, on Spike TV. I've always loved those films, too, but I'm going to have to say the best one of those was [i]Golden Eye[/i] or [i]Tomorrow Never Dies[/i]. The former because it was just very well done, and the latter because I'm paranoid about the media, and I like Michelle Yeow. ^_^ There's a new movie about the Alamo coming out, apparently. I haven't heard anything about that, though - is it supposed to be good? Anybody?[/size]

[size=1]Heh, I might get killed for this, but I think Pokemon has some of the funniest lines. It's that dorky sort of humor - gets me every time. I especially love the one episode where Ash and Misty are on a branch above a river or something, talking about what happened to Broc, and Ash says, [i]"And then came the storm."[/i] Oh, it always cracks me up. Eh heh. Heh. .....Yeah. To add [i]another[/i] Duo quote, from Endless Waltz: "If you're joking, that's cruel. But if you're being sarcastic, that's even worse!" Oh, and I always thought it was funny when Quatre meets Trowa for the first time in GW and he says, "Good bye, friend Trowa! We will meet again!" I always imagine him saying that and then laughing psychotically like he does later when he's tripped up on ZERO. Very amusing.[/size]

[size=1]I'll make this clear right now, I'm no expert with poetry or anything, and frankly I've never done well with it. But I like this a lot. Especially the first couple lines, and from "Not quite a revelation.." to "...simple sort of peace." The middle verse, for that matter, is attractive to me because it's more action oriented, instead of just a person's thoughts. It tells a story. Well, the entire poem does, in a way, but.. oh... bah hum bug lol. It's a very calm, serene poem and I like the quiet confident feeling I get from it. It's refreshing. That, and the style in which you have it written... I've always preferred free-form poetry to anything else. Though I'm only assuming this has no form - after all, I'm no poetic genius. ^_^ The last two lines remind me of a couplet though, and that makes me feel smart. Oh dear. But I digress. Very pretty, and [i]very[/i] well written. I lurv eet![/size]

[size=1][color=navyblue]Could you please work on your punctuation and capitalization and other various grammatical techniques? It's much easier to read when it's clean and not full of mistakes. Please check Harlequin's sticky or even OB's rules thread for more information. Thanks, Arcadia[/color][/size]