Yuko's blog

Wow. Hi Vox.

It's been a long while since I've updated again. Blame twitter.

No, that's not fair. It's not twitter's fault, it's mine. I've simply not had much to say to...well, anyone. Life's hit me pretty hard and fast, but it's looking up. Really, I have no need for this blog anymore. It's purpose has been fulfilled and those parts of my life are now gone and moved on. I've grown up, grown more confident and (if I do say so myself) grown wiser over the years to the point where my emotional catharsis is, well...me. I emote through my actions, my tears, my music or through my to others. Not so much through a blog to those who will probably never see or hear from me outside of this site. I just can't bear to delete it though. It has so much of what used to make me me and documents a huge part of my life and feelings. The old me is buried in these entries and I can't just throw her away like that. So many other people have already done so before me; it'd be cruel. Instead, I'm locking her away. Most of my more emotive entries will become private. The rest, eh. Not so much.

Thank you for those of you who stuck around for my journey and encouraged, comforted, gave advice or were just there as an ear to listen. You've helped shape me into the person I am today and though many of you have already moved on and deleted your accounts, I'll never forget you.

Vox, you've been awesome to me. I've been here since Beta and who knows? I may be back again. Time will tell. Till then.

-TIG

It's been a while, lots has changed.

But none of it matters right now. I'm awesomely happy right now. :)

Yesterday I did something I haven't done since before high school...I went outside, I took off my shoes and played soccer on the football field.

A percussion group from Amsterdam called Eternity is in the US and every time they come to the US our marching band becomes their official ambassador.  While they were practicing with our percussion after practice, their camera man pulled out a soccer ball and started dribbling by himself. While everyone else seemed to be having a blast, he looked rather bored so I snuck up behind him, stole his ball and dribbled away giggling. He chased me and it turned into a game of "capture the ball".

After the group was done practicing, they saw us playing around and begged me to play a game with them. You could tell they took it easy on me because of my injured knee, but we still had a BLAST and they had a heck of a time getting past my defenses. The only way they could was to go through my left side which they tried to avoid after seeing me wince in pain when they did. It felt so good to just take off my shoes and run...I haven't been able to really run since I hurt my knee and now that it's getting better it was so theraputic. By the end of the game (my team won! Whoo!) we were all extra hot and sweaty and tired from band practice and the game. We gave each other hugs afterwards, exchanged some emails and phrases in each other's native language and they drove me to my dorm and dropped me off.

I felt like a kid again, I was all giggly and bouncy after. :) It was great.

QotD: Via Snail Mail

When did you last write/receive a handwritten, snail-mail letter? Who was it to/from? 
Submitted by Places Unknown.

My friend Jared went to Argentina shortly after our high school graduation on a mission trip. Natually, he didn't have phone or internet so the only way we could communicate was through snail mail. We sent letters, food, books and other little goodies back and forth for over three years. Now that he's back in the states, I can call him but I still send him a letter or two, just out of habit. :)

QotD: It Set Me Apart

What set you apart from the rest of the kids at school? 
Submitted by jks.

The fact that I'd been involved in more extracurricular things than the rest of them had. During my life I went through

-Gymnastics
-Ballet
-Tap
-Karate
-Girl Scouts (Daisy to Senior)
-Choir
-Tae Kwon Do
-Cheerleading
-Basketball
-Soccer
-Softball
....and a few more.

and in 99 I participated in the world champs for Tae Kwon Do and took second in sparring for my weight division. :P

Honey, I miss you...

I found you sneaking around my dorm one night, searching for food. It was late and I was coming home from Juice's room, getting ready to fall into a blissful sleep for the night. As I searched for my ID to open the dorm doors, you rubbed against my bare leg, giving me a start.

"Oh! It's a kitty," I say, smiling. "You scared me to death." I reach down slowly to pet you, cautious of a swat or a bite, but you meet my hand and nuzzle against it, purring gently. "Oh, you're so cute."

As I open the door to step in, you walk in with me between my feet. "Nono, kitty...you've got to stay here. I can't keep you inside." You look at me with those big green eyes and meow softly, almost pitifully. You know how to play your cards right.

"...Stay here." I gently place you outside and hurry up to my room. Grabbing a can of tuna, a large bag and a can opener, I go to one of my roommates' rooms. "Rhonda, come help me catch this cat."  Always up for misadventure, my roommate throws on a pair of pants and hurries downstairs with me.

You're still down there, waiting obediently for me to return. Smelling food, you start meowing and rubbing against my leg as I open the can. Setting it in front of you, you began to wolf it down, eating like you haven't eaten in days.

"We have to keep her. We can't leave her alone!" Rhonda says, awing. I nod. We open the bag and ease the tuna inside. You follow it, still eating and not paying attention to your surroundings. We gingerly pick up the bag and ease you past the Hall Director and into the boy's hallway. Once it's safe, we let you peek your head out and glimpse your surroundings. The entire way to my room, you nuzzle my chin, cuddling into me. You're such a friendly, cuddly cat.

We get you to the room and place you safely in my room to explore. While we watch you look around a bit we ponder names.

"What about Hoagie?" my roommate suggests, grinning.

 "No, doof...that's our nickname for you. She'll get confused."

"Hello Kitty!" She exclaims. I giggle and roll my eyes at her. You come and nestle in my lap, curling up to sleep as you are full of food and water. "I know...I'll call her Honey," I say as I scratch between your ears, listening to you purr. "Her belly is the color of Honey and she's the sweetest cat I know."

We were together for 3 short months, Kittyface. I thought I did the right thing in giving you up for adoption because I couldn't keep you. I see now that I should have tried harder to convince my parents otherwise. Two days after you got to your new home you ran away. I pray that you turn up soon, love. Mommy misses you so much and if I ever find you again, I swear I'll never let you go. I knew it from the moment you rubbed against my leg even though there were others out there. I knew from the moment you immediately captured my heart. You are MY kitty. My adorable little baby and I miss you so much. Not a day goes by I don't think of you, or cry because I don't know where you are. Please find a safe place.

Honey

A Reply...

I'm no good at writing, but there's sometihng I gotta say...
What am I supposed to say to the man who walked away?
That I'm sorry?
That I'm hurting?
That I'll be okay?

This is no game here, this is my heart
And I figure I should have said this from the start...
I'm a woman of strength and of poise
I don't deal with a lot of boys
When it comes to my weaker times
I'd rather be alone and have mine.
I don't like tears, I don't like pain
I don't want you to see my rain.
My life has to be sunshine and light
You'll never see me fight.

I've been sick, I've been weak.
I've been to the point where I can't speak
I don't want you to see me this way
But I guess I pushed you away.

If that's what you desire
I can't do much through these wires.
Just know that I didn't let you go free....
Just know that you walked away from me.

Not much more I can say other than this
There's not a moment I didn't want your kiss
There's nothing I wanted more than to be strong for you
But apparantly I did wrong by you
So this I suppose is my goodbye.
But does our friendship have to die?

It's amazing what a few words can do...

They can make or break nations...They can incite feelings of despair, hope, love, or hate. Words can rule us all. And the other day a few simple words turned my frown and worries to a smile. :)

Gotta love those words.

What's it like to be a Mighty Marching Panther?

The Georgia Dome.

Filled to capacity with over 75,000 screaming people...and you're what they're screaming for. As you stand in a line near where the goalpost would be, your muscles begin to vibrate with the adrenaline running through you. Your heart begins to race as the drum majors take center field and begin their routine. Finally, they turn towards you.

Teet-teet!

The crowd screams louder. They're all waiting, expecting -you- to entertain them as no other band can.

Teet-teet

This is it. All the late night practices. All the sore muscles. All the countless "Take it back!"s and run throughs of the show. All the push ups and all the yelling. All the extra sectionals and practice. All the broken reeds and busted lips, the blisters and the sores, all the cold and all the heat. This is what it all boils down to. This moment, this performance. This is your time.

TEEE-EEEET! "SNAP!"

It's time. You snap to attention. The fans scream louder and it seems like the whole Dome is going to collapse with their screaming and foot stomping. You struggle to hold back a smile as you hear your school screaming the loudest. As you hear your friends and family screaming your name behind you. The drum majors call you to attention.

"BAND! HUP-TEN-HUT!"

"C! A! U!"

The crowd is deafening now. As the final whistle blows, your adrenaline takes you to a new high. Your knees come up at perfect 90 degree angles. Your movements are sharp and snap.

TEEEEEE-EEET! TEET TEET TEET TEET!

AAAAAAHHHHH! C!

Your knee comes up, the percussion starts to play. This is it!

A!

Percussion starts getting fired up as your other knee comes up. Your balance is tested as you stand, one leg at a perfect 90 degree angle, the other on the ground, straight and uniform like the rest of the band. It is a show of discipline and skill and your band passes with flying colors.

C-A! C-A! C-A-U WE ROCK THE HOUSE!

You turn and do the step to and reverse again, facing the crowd and marching boldly onto the field in perfect lines.

C! A-U! C! A-U! C! A-U!

You get to your spot and face the side audience. Finally as everyone gets into place on the field the drum majors whistle for the band to stop.

KICK DOWN AND UP!

This is it. This is why you endure all the pain, the tiredness, the sore muscles. This is why you practice for hours and hours regardless of weather or conditions. This moment when the crowd is on their feet screaming and they're screaming for you. This is your time to prove yourself and prove that all that work wasn't in vain. This is your time to get out on the field and push your soul out through an instrument and have it touch the souls of those watching.

This is being a Mighty Marching Panther.

QotD: My Favorite Holiday Movie

What's your favorite holiday movie?

A Christmas Story! :D That and The stop action Rudolph movies!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas all!

For those who don't celebrate, Happy Holidays! May it be filled with family, food, laughter and love. May God bless and smile down upon you and keep you safe and secure. :o)

I'm going to watch A Christmas Story again! :P