It's A Bloody Good Day, Is What It Is

True that.

I finished my personal statement - 3425 characters (585 words)!

I just had my Karate graduation. Blue belt FTW!

I have a box of mixed chocolates, courtesy of my mother.

My university application is going along rather fantastically.

The story I'm trying to write is helping me out now by writing itself.

So fecking hell. Life is good.

One of the keys to happiness is a bad memory.<
- Rita Mae Brown

Over 7,000 Words

Whilst fuming today, I came to realize that I become exceptionally cranky when I don't get enough sleep. Add stress and lack of caffeine to that mixture and the Large Hadron Collider suddenly seems like a waste of funds. You want The Big Bang? I'll give you The Big Bang.

Anyway...

Iced milk tea in Hong Kong. I miss it so much.
Both the country and the drink.

Greentea milkshake. Not in Japan, sadly.
It was fantastic nevertheless. I also miss it.

Ice cream formed like tiny beads! I used to have this as a child, but the country I live in now doesn't have them. Needless to say I relished every 'dot'.

Fun fact: I nearly killed someone while purchasing this ice cream. As you all know, I train Karate. I went up to the booth and placed my order, and did not know that there was someone behind me. I moved to get my wallet from my pocket, and elbowed a lady in the chest. That move is a Karate technique, and I could've actually stopped her heart.
Sorry about that.

Fancy a hug, luv?
From last winter. Fun with the exchange students.

My first proper Espresso!
It led to a colorful day.

We had to watch some boring movie. My friend brought snacks.
This happened.

:O
With my favorite teacher at the back.
You see that inconspicuous coffee cup at the right of this thumb-Harry?
Yeah, that's to blame.

Men are driven by testosterone, women are driven by Toblerone.
- Jo Brand

And When The Cheeks Hurt

I read, I wrote, I conquered.

It takes 17/22/10/4 muscles to smile (no one's really sure), and it hurts when you overdo it. xD

But I can't help it. I'm too happy. I just have to smile!! I can't stop!!

Oh my Elessar.

Main reason for this happiness? Well, it's the same one as in the Smile Explosion post. Multiplied by two. I ___ a ___. Twice. I can't give you any more details because of that aforementioned mantra, but heh - enjoy this. This is the closest thing to a clue you'll ever get from me!

Now that I have sufficiently calmed down, I can start telling the other part of this story.

*squeee* *cough*

So in my school, there's this traditional closing christmas "celebration" of sorts. Not really a celebration, more like a bunch of students performing - dancing, singing, whatever. And every year, there's a writing contest. Last year, I regretted so bitterly that I did not join, so I vowed that this year, things would change. So I joined the contest. I had previously written a horror story in 10th grade, so I took that, edited, and entered the competition.

And I won. 2nd place. Mwahahahaha. Prize: A Norli (bookstore) gift card worth 300 NOK.

Oh yes, mommy is indeed very pleased.

Particularly because later on, I was smothered with hugs from people I love. And also received various congratulatory remarks. :D

Now I must go book shopping tomorrow! Ha!

Closing quote: Remarks from the jury (translated, of course, so some parts don't really make any sense xD)

About the text that won 2nd place, the jury observes:

This is a mystery story that grows stronger with every sentence. The story is very well thought-through and has several different plans of action. It switches between dream and reality, and events and details are given increased importance in the course of the story until the climax towards the end. The reader is nevertheless left with some unanswered questions, as it should be after reading a good story. Conscious language control and use of literary tools also notes that this is a writer who masters the genre well.

Changes

I can't read angst anymore.

Angsty fics. I can't read them. I can't bear reading them anymore. I can't bear watching über angsty movies anymore either.

I remember a not-so-far-off time when I actually enjoyed angsty stuff. I relished reading angsty stories; the greater the pain it instilled in me, the better. I remember reveling in that painful feeling in me heart. Bonus points if the angsty material made me bawl my eyes out.

But now I don't enjoy them anymore. I can't stand them. Nowadays I find myself searching for fluffy stories, seeking to soak myself in the warm and fuzzy feeling they provide.

Even angsty music. Bah. Back in the not-so-far-off time, I used to listen to my 'Angst Mode' playlist at least once a week. Now it's turned to a once a month affair. I find that the overplayed playlists are now the 'Warm and Fuzzy' one and the 'Upbeat' one... Sometimes 'Sleepy Hollows' and 'Faves', often 'Rock', but not Angst Mode. Not anymore.

Something has definitely changed.

My Elessar, have I really turned into a happy person?

The Sun. I blame The Sun for this.

If you want to be happy, be.
- Leo Tolstoy