Liz

Ugh. I just got home from jiu jitsu- I'm still even wearing the pants to my gi- My bra popped open when I was in the middle of a match against a guy. Never had that happen before. Pretty awkward. ... I still won, though.

My thought right now is that it's nice when you sit down, put on some music, take in and let out a deep breath... And smile when you realize that there's still good, forgiving people in the world.

Liz: Wordy, too serious, a bit weird. Doesn't use many smilies.

yay! A neighbor!

Ah, yet another idle thought. Mika is in the same state as me today and I can't go to see him.

I really have to agree with Violet Sky. It is hard to give advice about depression... Everyone's situation is unique, but, I think a lot of us have been there in our own way- myself included- and like Eir, Lollipop Monkey, and Violet said, we're still here for you and are willing to listen, which I found through experience is a very important thing... Having someone who will listen to you even though you're having a rough time. As Eir says, things can change and it could take you a bit to figure out how, but keep trying and you'll get there.

I can't go either. I keep feeling coming up with this odd whim of, oh, say, banging my head on the desk in Mika-deprieved misery- I've restrained myself, though. For now. Whoever gets to meet Mika, give him an extra hug for me! And maybe, y'know, suggest he pick Orlando or Jacksonville for his next Florida venue...

It's Miami, so, lots of people. I would think pretty early... But then again, being on time to me is being late.

I feel like that when I hear songs like Is This the World We've Created, by Queen. If you haven't heard that song, I really must insist. ... Freddie was the man...

and my thought of the hour is! I wonder what Mika's favorite color is. Which also brings about the question, what's everyone else's favorite color? Mine is deep blue, but it's almost tied with red.

I believe his public self is real, too. The way he deals with his fans kindly, how he handles all his interviews, his stage persona, I think they're all true facets of himself... But they're just that. Many facets of one person and everyone has a hidden heart that they show only to the closest people, if even that. I don't think that anyone ever gives themselves over as their complete and genuine self to the public. It's hard enough just to give your own creation, such as music you've written, to everyone's critisism. I'm glad he keeps his life to himself not because of the I Don't Care movement or anything, but for the fact that it would be heartbreaking to see someone that bright and with his own mind get run down and maybe crushed by an astounding avalanche of idiots giving their half-baked say that pollute the opinion of people who could've gone and listened to the music and made up their own mind instead of listening to the bloggers and tabloids and who knows what else busily proclaiming to know the innerworking of his personal life. Anyway (in a highly roundabout way) I think what I originally meant to get to was that to me, Mika is Mika and I really don't know that there's any other efficient way to describe him.

Welcome to the MFC. Have fun!

My thought for tonight... And this is a potentially long one, so if the subject bores you... I'm sorry. I know I talk about martial arts a lot. It's one of my main hobbies, so my mind kind of drifts to it often. Tonight I'm thinking about weapons training. There's several weapons I'm familiar with... But tonfa are my favorite- they look like this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Tonfas.jpg A lot of weapons used in martial arts were derived from everyday Okinawan tools. There's a few different origin theories I've read about the roots of tonfa, but the most common I've read is that they were originally used as handles in turning millstones. Actually, I remember reading that tonfa translated means handle, but I could be mistaken. If someone knows better, correct me. If you've ever had a prized possession... An old stuffed toy or blanket or instrument, or anything you use a lot and have grown with, chances are you feel an attachment to it. It may not be the best quality, it may be worn or frayed or dented and chipped, but there is no other toy or blanket or instrument like it in the whole world... Why? Because it is yours. Sure, there are plenty others, maybe even exact replicas, but it never feels as comforting or makes quite the same musical sound as yours. It then becomes singular and unique. There may be many Mika concerts come and gone, with the same kind of brace-teasing, hair-tossing, hip wiggling dance incorporated by accident or design... But all the videos and talk of other peoples' concert experiences will never be as moving and wonderful as the one you were personally there to witness. Those feelings are so much more amplified with weapons training. I'll exemplify. When I first got my tonfa, I was told, "You'll have to use these for now until I order some other ones a bit smaller and lighter." When I bowed and received my tonfa from my sensei, it was like a soft, subtle tingling electricity coursed through my fingertips and enveloped my hands. At that moment, I became absolutely certain that those were my tonfa and no one was to tell me otherwise. Yes, a little weighted, maybe a little more in length, but I knew those belonged to me. They were a new pair that was unused by any others and the hilts were dry- so it was very hard to turn them in a complete spin. I was told I could take them home to practice with, and I did. I had to work with them a great deal so my hands would make the hilt warm in order to turn them. As that happened, and I kept practicing, I would eventually sweat and it started to work into the very wood of the tonfa. The day I picked them up and realized that I could flick my wrist and spin them effortlessly because my own two hands had oiled and smoothed the handles- that they had my very dedication rubbed in- I realized even more powerfully that I was an extension of them and they of me. I had truly bonded with my weapon of choice. I stood there and looked down at them, knowing by now which tonfa I usually ended up placing in my left hand and which I usually placed in my right even though I had never marked them, I felt that if my sensei ever asked me to return these and exchange them for a different pair that I would just burst into tears and feel outraged at the same time. But he never did. I use them now and still feel the exact same way. ... I'm not entirely sure what my point is in sharing this thought. I suppose if I had to make one, it would be to treasure what is undeniably yours- particularly what's achieved through struggle and hard work. Thanks for putting up with my thoughts.

Pick a street and a house number you want to live on, and tell us why you'd like to live in Mikaville. If a house number is already taken, someone will let you know and you can pick another. Kiwi will list you on the front page as a resident then, I think. Try not to pick a non-existant street name, because we've got artists working on the Mikaville map right now. The existing street names are... Love Love Lane (the street is full, I'm sorry) Lollipop Lane Big Girl Lane Chew-Chew Avenue Grace Kelly Avenue Happy Endings Circle Billy Brown Boulevard Kerchinga Close Identity Mad Way I Don't Care Estates Sunset Avenue Chocolate Flow Avenue Treat Lane Little Bit of Heaven Square (Mika's Angels' headquarters area, I believe) Braces Lane Holy Johnny Road Interpretation Avenue Curly Hair Boulevard Sunny Day Avenue- dedicated to the shops.

There's a tournament coming up. I'm thinking of entering the weapons kata and maybe sparring. While I've been waiting with baited breath to hear about whether there are, indeed, wild cows left in the world, I've been wondering... Without making personality a factor at the moment, what physical aspects of a person are generally more attractive than others to you? For example.. I would have to say that black hair is the best hair color. My immediate family is all dark brunette except for me... I turned out as the only blonde. Dark hair is so beautiful- and I'm generally not a fan of really short hair either. I prefer chocolatey colored eyes or dark blue eyes. I'm really not appreciative of over-muscled guys, but guys that are athletic and fit are very attractive. And that's... my random thought. I have a lot of those, don't I.

... Why should anyone yell at you? You and Kavi founded the village! And for that, I thank you.

I don't see a problem with it. Gives the house its own uniquity.

1. Orlando, or even Jacksonville in Florida (still prefer Orlando). But not Miami... why, Miami, why... 2. Netherlands really seems to suffer from Mika withdrawl. Rescue them! 3. Hm. Not really sure for the third. I suppose whoever else he's visited least.

Both versions are fantastic, but I think I like this one more because it has more footage of the party and it just... Lifts my spirits up more, to see people having fun like that. I love this song- it bolsters my rebellious dispostion against conforming to everyone else's way of life. Depending on what I have to do that day, I've taken to starting off a lot of mornings with either Grace Kelly or Love Today. It generates so much energy...

I love this thread. It's just so good for putting what comes to mind that doesn't fit anywhere else. Thoughts! - I'm all psyched to go to the dojo tonight, because it's jiu jitsu night and I love it so much. It's finally raining, with nice rolling thunder... And I haven't heard Mika at all today. I should really fix that. I'll probably start with Big Girl- it took me awhile to really get into that song but now I love it. - My birthday is at the end of the month. I keep getting asked what I want and since I've already got the Def Leppard tickets... All that's left I'd really like is some kind of a pull-up bar and a floor-based punching bag, and I'm just not about to tell them to go and buy me those. - You know what's a tragedy? I don't personally know any other Mika fans, and it drives me crazy because when I talk about music with someone, I almost come to a point where I'd mention an example out of a Mika song and then remember that they don't really care for his music. Heresy. _____ I'm adding a thought here. I am mad. So angry. I kind of need somewhere to put this, so I hope you guys don't mind. I have really long hair that I haven't cut in years because I love it and I'm used to it- if I ever cut it, I don't know if I could grow it back to this length if I regret it. I will donate to something like Locks of Love should I ever decide to chop it off, but I don't believe I should cut it for the sole purpose of doing that. The people at my dojo have a different opinion. I keep getting told, "Cut it, donate it, it's so much easier for you to deal with and it won't be in everyone else's way!" I keep trying to tell them that I can't just do that... They're asking me to get rid of something I've patiently waited years to obtain and maintain, that by now is a very part of who I am. Essentially, it's like asking for me to give up something dear to me just because I have it... Should I thus ask them to give away their favorite jewelry or i-Pods because they're really neat things and other people don't have them? I try to take the pressure lightly and let it roll off me, but the fact it's almost always brought up when I take my hair out of its braid after class it just starting to get to me. I love the people at my dojo, they're great... Am I wrong for thinking this way and being selfish? Do you guys think the right thing to do is to get rid of my hair because I have a lot of it and other people don't?

There's a restaurant near where I used to live that had all these paintings on the side of the building of vegetables and breakfast foods running around that always amused me when I drove by. Maybe I'll have to visit again sometime.

Erh. Uh. Hm. I assume there were wild cows at one point before mankind began to actively domesticate, then decided to grab the dangly things on the cow and drink what came out. Whether there anymore wild ones, I don't know. I'd guess the majority has been domesticated, then bred on the farm therafter.

Yeah, if I were to have a Mika ringtone, I'd probably go with Love Today. Or the laugh. But as it is, I've got God of Thunder by Kiss as my ringtone. It definitely gets my attention when the cellphone goes off, that's for sure.

Y'know, I love Mikaville. ... I kind of just, randomly wanted to express my affection. That's all.

Welcome to the club, fellow Floridian! Enjoy yourself.