I went to my younger brother's high school graduation yesterday, which went as most graduations tend to go: cramped sitting in the boiling sun waiting for one of the many valedictorians (because we're ALL winners!) to finish the Traditional Cutesy Graduation Speech (TM) that we've all heard before so that we can scream and cheer for the graduate we actually care about. It's one of those necessary evils that everyone pretends to be thrilled about, but really just want to get over with. Makes me more than a little jumpy about my college graduation next year.

One of the things I did find hilarious was that they played the Star Wars Empire music when the faculty walked down the aisle to their seats. Thankfully, the MHS administration is not so rigid that they can't poke fun at themselves. ;)

What was interesting was just visiting my old high school. While some things change, it seems even more things just stay the same. I didn't see that many people I remembered there, although I did give a quick hi to Genessee, who was there for her little sister. More brief hellos to some of my old teachers, although I did feel somewhat awkward, and missed quite a few of them. I hardly remember anyone from my class...mostly because they were a pack of morons. Most of my friends were either in the grades above or below me.

In the three years since I graduated, they added a new gym, a whole new building of classrooms, a new quad and parking lot, an entire new theatre with a fuctioning sound system and real *seats,* and a bunch of new murals have been painted. For a high school that's only been around a little over ten years total, that's not half bad. I wanted to stop by the library and see the dragon mural that Wyna and Hayley and I worked on my last year there, but unfortunately it was closed. ;_; I remember being so frustrated painting it because it was a black dragon, but the teacher wouldn't let us use any black paint. Ironically enough, now I actually *try* and create black colors without using black when I can. ;)

Looking back, I really had things good in high school. Teens at that age think that they're so grown up, and have the world completely figured out...but in many ways you don't. High school (and especially MHS) is actually a very sheltered place. College is slightly less, but even so not that much. For as much as I complained in high school and had so many worries, those worries were rather trivial. It's sort of comforting to think that, in a sense...because it means that perhaps the worries I have right now will seem really trivial in the future.

The graduation for my brother went well in any case, and we ate at Yamato's afterwards, which is always a treat. Had the leftovers today for lunch...mmm, tappenyaki. ^^ I preordered Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince for him as a present, which he appreciated greatly. XD Now just need to get my own copy...

Less than a week before I'll be at Anime Expo, and I have sooooo much to do before then. I started a list, and oy, this next week before con is going to be super-busy. o_O Must get to work!

Operator status: Not half bad, considering it's the middle of a weekday.

SW: Episode III puppet show completion status: 80% Yikes, that was a massive leap! Anyways, there was only a small amount of extra puppets to be added, so I got those done and put the show together. Everything's ready to go, so now I just need to post the show itself. In fact, that should be up by tomorrow evening. Woohoo! ^^

Drawing: Just random doodles here and there.

Writing: Need to revise the RSOM 6 story script per Wyna's suggestions.