must love rainbows

Catching Up: Kaibutsu-kun!

モモかちゃん！！！！ I love this girl! She is too adorable!

That wraps up one more drama for me. Now I have to keep up with Freeter, so I guess Tokujo Kabachi!! will have to wait until December break or when semester ends next year :P I just realised everyone except Aiba-chan had a drama this year, huh.

夏の恋

I'm all revved up for the final episode of NatsuNiji after catching up with episodes 7 & 8 since I caught 9 while on my trip!!

I'm enjoying this drama and getting caught up with the characters' emotions more than I expected myself to! Episode 8, especially, was my favourite because of its tone. It portrayed the sadness and honest conflict Shiori-san's character felt while at the same time it was funny and had its tender moments.

And it was beautifully set. I really loved the last scene, set against the gorgeous blue sky.

I really can't wait for tomorrow's final episode with Nino! I wonder if he will be appearing as his Freeter character... (:

七色のフレーズ

Somebody tell me I'm not the only one who starts grinning like an idiot on the train whenever I listen to Love Rainbow because when 七色のフレーズ comes up, I can't get this scene out of my head ^^

I think Love Rainbow is a great release because I fell for both sides of the single almost immediately. Too many releases make songs difficult to pick up and remember... so if I like it enough to put it on repeat, it's a winner for me!

Happy Birthday

This day is always special - I mean this particular birthday. Of course I celebrate everybody else's just as much as I can when their birthdays roll around, but his seems to have blended with the period of 3 months I consider my anniversary of becoming an Arashi fan. I always end up thinking of how many years I've been an Arashi fan when I think of all his birthdays I've been lucky to celebrate in spirit.

Happy 27 Birthday, MatsuJun (: I wish you health, happiness, and love.

 

My Scenery

I allowed myself to start listening to the new album today. And someone's solo totally owned everything else. I don't think I have anything else to say except gush over repeatedly in my head everything I've already said on twitter today:

• holy shyte am at Nino's song now I'm super excited!! It's the one I'm itching to hear. The only one I was wanting to hear

• SOUNDS GOOD KILL ME NOW *flails*

• fav song of album. I'm not even done. But his voice his voice ahhhh *melts* HE MADE THIS? <3 *melts more*

• I love you Nino <3 Once I read the lyrics I'll probably love you more <3 You can kill me with your voice. #scenery

2 hours later:

• I feel like a complete marshmellow but when I hear him singing, I can't stop thinking inside ILU so. much. Nino's voice = everything's ok

I just felt so happy after listening to his song. Everything about today was...happy. The work I've done up at level 8 The Attic, the Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice-cream -induced sugar high with friends... I'm so happy :)

QotD: Endings

Do you think it's true that "All good things must come to an end?"

You know what? I haven't answered one of these in the longest time ever and I shall attempt at providing the thoughts I have provoked by this question.

Off the top of my mind - let's be honest here - I said an immediate no. But the real question would be the reasons for my answer. At first when I asked myself why, I felt maybe the part of me that loves happy endings would just like to believe that good things don't end. But some do, don't they? Beautiful, wonderful and invigorating travel trips; acquaintances made; even the support and admiration for people we may never meet (you know who I am referring to here haha); liking for things (those things called "phases" and "fads"); a way of life we have created for ourselves...

Then again, I truly believe some things don't end. Relationships with the people I love, a good song, or movie or book. I don't know...maybe so much more than what I can name here. I find that a good song, movie, or book may end but my relationship with it doesn't. I can go back to that book, read it again, and find even more delight or discover more insights after my second encounter and so on.

On the note of relationships, I guess having just read Without You by Anthony Rapp, my mind is dwelling a little on relationships between parents and their children and dealing with death. I don't know about afterlife, but I think the relationships and the impact of a person can continue to take place in the lives of those surviving them. It changes them and is always part of them (just like Jonathan Larson and Anthony Rapp's mum) - so no, I don't think the relationships ever truly end.

Among good things in my life that may "end" or have "ended", I think all of them have made their lasting impact on who I am today. Where I am today, I'm contented with all the wonderful things I have encountered. I guess if any of them were to end their immediate presence in my life... I'd be okay because I know they are a part of me.

(You know, reading back whatever I just wrote...I just wonder if I sidestepped the question. Haha.)

メロンパン〜♪

No pun intended but, seriously, fruits of my labour..

Yakitate!! Melon Pan

I tried this other recipe but the dough wasn't right, so I reverted to the recipe I used last week for the bread but continued with the new actual cookie dough recipe. I still baked the first batch of dough (they came out as scone-looking little things with just-right softness inside) and I have a lot of bread at home now~

So finally - after months of wanting to bake melon pan and 2 tries, I get something decent (:

*tired*

The dangers of no sleeves

Finally came back and caught up with the MSta performance but I must admit I haven't fully watched the performance properly.

Because I was so distracted by someone...

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...and his ARMS! XD ahjskdjksflafhjfhshljdsdksjhdskdjsdjlsadjsdksa

Haven't got to the talk yet but I'm thoroughly satisfied with the perf ♡

I must say that I love Troublemaker so much; it's so infectious and fun (su-wee su-wee~!), the boys look great and kinda youngish in those jumpsuit things... I mean, already loved the previous perf and was looking forward to a good heartbeat moment for this one - which I did get but then I got so distracted..XD

But really. I think the heartbeat moment is seriously cool. Kinda like a real heart beating...if you minus off Ohchan who's singing in front, it was like a four-chamber heart. Or who cares, a five-chamber heart is fine too :D

This Is Us

This Is Us

Backstreet Boys down - one more band, and I'll probably die the happiest person on Earth XD Anyhow, I managed to get ONE decent photo of the guys last night :)

I think I'd been waiting for this concert since December and to just wake up today to realize it has already happened and that I saw BSB live... it feels like a dream that I don't want to wake up from.

I cried XD The tears sort of just welled up when I heard them go, "As long as you love me..."

Really didn't expect to cry (at least not at that song) but I think the lyrics, especially the first verse and the chorus, played a part. My sister was telling me afterwards how she felt rather sad to see them grown up, that they used to play to crowds much more enthusiastic than this, bigger than this. But I guess I'm an optimist, because I felt really happy that they're still able to stand on that stage, as long as there are still so many fans around the world who love them and support them.

I also teared a bit at Incomplete because I always refer to it as the "holey" song, haha. I don't like it as much as I do Inconsolable, but somehow that made it endearing...

What I really loved was the SOLO VIDEOS <3 This is why I'll support this boyband all the way. I LOVE GOOFBALLS and all the parodies of movies were so HILARIOUS!! XD Brian was especially GAY as the prince in Enchanted, Nick was SOOOO funny as Neo in The Matrix ("You underestimate the powers of the Backstreet Boys, Trinity")!

I was pretty far from the stage so I spent a lot of time trying to figure out who was who and they kept going backstage to change outfits once I've figured out who was who...so I'd have to do it all over again haha! But I managed to get the hang of it soon: Nick is tall, so it's easy to tell; AJ, just look for his posture and his hair; Brian is SHORT (and very adorably so haha); by elimination I'll know who Howie is, lol.

They said they'll be back next year, so I'm gonna save up and get better seats next time around...so there'll be no need to guess who is who anymore XD Although I'm certainly not the core group of fans that have been following since the 90s or in the early 2000s, their big hits have been part of my younger days.

I guess when I see them dancing and singing, I just really admire them for still being able to do that after 17 years. I think when I see them like that, I'm also thinking about how I want to see Arashi like that too.

All right, I have to get back to work :( It feels like I'm hardly on break at all when exams ended on the 25th, and ever since, I feel this pressure every day to make calls and send out emails. But then I think about the Hanamaru Cafe Sho was on, about how he didn't have any time to rest at all - I guess me at home with calls to make and BSB on loop doesn't seem that bad a deal afterall.

Might up videos later, if they make any sense, lol. I know I shook the cam and screamed a lot while I was taking videos :x

To measure 2009

Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes

Five hundred twenty-five thousand moments so dear

Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes

How do you measure, measure a year?

At the beginning of this year, I discovered Rent in my father's car after a radio station played Seasons of Love. In the past few days, when the end of the year drew nearer, I started playing the song more often as I reflected on my 2009.

2009, if I were to measure in school semesters, feels like three completely different years in one calendar year. My oat milk and Marketing project in Jan-Feb my first year semester seems so far away now. Then there was going for Jason Mraz's concert here and so much baking with Crys and Sui in April! More recently, I went to Sydney with my dad and visited Crys in Adelaide in September. And the projects and deadlines! They were crazy, and they still are...

2009, if I were to measure in Arashi's success, was brilliant and history-making. Sweeping tops for four categories in the Oricon charts (Single, Album, music DVD, Blu-Ray) for the first time in Oricon history, occupying four spots in the Top Five singles of the year (also first time in history), and getting Top Two spots for Singles in two years consecutive...and not forgetting being the first artist to perform at Kokuritsu on three consecutive days. Oh, and throw in breaking a million in sales for the first time ever for a release, and sale of a DVD exceeding 600 000 XD

But you know, when I was telling the poly gang about their successes, no one could really grasp what I was saying. And that was proof to me for what Tristan Prettyman said: Sometimes success is best measured in smiles received, giggles heard and hands held, than in dollars earned, deadlines met, and kilos shed.

So 2009, measured in everything I've learnt and encountered, and people that I've met or who've inspired me, has been a great year. Last year, on this day, I really didn't want to let go because 2008 was such an amazing, wish-fulfilling year I really loved. This year, I'm ready to let go and move forward into 2010 - maybe because I embraced this year and that made it fulfilling.

I was once told that we are who we're going to be for the rest of our lives at around 16, but 2009 made me feel that that isn't true. We change everyday, in little ways, because of the circumstances we face, the people we meet and are inspired by. And I welcome that changing because a year on from last, I feel that I've gained and learnt more as a person.

This year I learnt to give gratitude. This year I realized that I could open my heart even more and be inspired by more.  This year was of Rent, inspiration from Jason Mraz and Tricia and Tristan Prettyman, Ryan Reynolds, Wicked, soundtracks, watching movies alone, a lot of baking and cooking, rushing for deadlines and pulling all-nighters, being a proud Arashi fangirl, tweeting, karaoke-ing Arashi, dramas like Aiba-chan's My Girl, turning and being 18, and so much I can't sum up in a paragraph! And everything - I just want to thank everything and everyone who has inspired me and been part of my year. WIthout them, it would never be the year that it has been. THANK YOU <3

Last year I resolved to enjoy everyday in 2009 and you know what? I think I did. Although there were many crazy periods of darkness that I was very affected by, I think it was because I threw all of me into everyday, that made the downs really bad and the ups really good.

So this year-end, I don't have a love letter to write to 2009. To me, it's going to be the start of something new, and I'm excited about it; I'm physically getting jitters, actually!

Resolutions don't have to be made on New Year's Eve but sometimes they come with more conviction if done so. So I resolve to LIVE next year, instead of just existing. By listening to my body and taking care of it, and by not being bothered by what others think and just act according to what I believe in and instinctively want to do. There are probably many other things, but they will come to me when they come (:

To end off this fantastic year, here's a fantastic quote I came across while watching the movie Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium. It reminded me of everything I hoped to do a year ago (and continue to hope I do) - that is, to make use of every moment:

"We breathe. We pulse. We regenerate. Our hearts beat. Our minds create. Our souls ingest. 37 seconds, well used, is a lifetime."

H A P P Y 2 0 1 0 ! :D