Apologies for my Absence!
I'm sorry it's been so long since my last entry everyone! I didn't mean to abandon you like that! Unfortunately, my computer has been regularly out of commission on and off since August. Although I've had repairmen from CompUsa out numerous times over the last six months, it's been a rare thing to have my computer working, and generally a short thing, too. Not long after I started this account, my computer went into a coma again.... and several months later... here I am. (I was supposed to start a college class online in January, but since my computer died the day I was supposed to start, I had to pull out, hopefully to begin again in spring.) I had it repaired again just today. At this point everything seems to be running relatively smoothly, and I am crossing my fingers and hoping it will last.
It's been a very frustrating year for me so far. First, in December I got an ingrown toenail which became infected, so my doctor recommended I have the matrix removed. I had surgery, and my toenail does not seem to be growing into the side of my toe anymore, but the area still hasn't healed and I may need another operation so they can dig around and see if anything still stuck inside. They've given me an antibiotic that's supposed to help, but it's making me feel exhausted and achy and generally awful most of time.
Second, a few days into January my mother hit a deer on the road as we were driving home. Thankfully, all of us were fine, but our van has been gone for repairs ever since, and they keep saying it's done but then they call back and tell us they've forgotten this, or they don't have that, or the van's doing this... it feels like we'll never have it back, and I miss it a lot. It was so big and roomy and comfortable and new, particularly compared to the tiny ford we're using as rental. We can't even fit the whole family into it. To top it off, because of the cost of repairs, our trip to Paris is shot.
And thirdly there has been a sudden, enormous amount of family stress here, which I am not going to discuss in too much detail, but it has really made everything so much worse. It seems to be dying down a little now and settling into calm regularity, but the whole thing has felt wrong since the beginning, and it still feels wrong to me, no matter how niggling the feeling has gotten. Despite appearences I still can't help but feel that it's all going to blow up again the minute I let my guard down. All I can is hope and pray that it will come to the best ending possible for everyone involved.
But now, onto the good news! Despite the awfulness that has ensued since New Year, both my Thanksgiving and Christmas were splendid affairs! My family had dinner with my aunt, uncle and cousins on both occassions as is our custom, and everyone had lovely times, getting presents, making and eating wonderful food, and just generally being able to hang out and spend some time with each other. Also, I turned 19 on January 14rth! My birthday party was one bright spot in the midst of mostly gloom. The day before the party we had tea, with sandwiches, fruits, little cakes, tea, juice, as well as china and crystal, candles and flowers. Then the next day we had a small party in the evening during which we had cake and presents.
Which brings me to another subject! Pretty things I have been given, have purchased or have put my eye on to buy, since my last entry! (These kind of parts are always fun to write, recounting all the beautiful items that I've gotten my hands on.) For Christmas my aunt and uncle bought me volume 5 of Emma by Kaoru Mori. (It's a lovely manga set in edwardian England about a maid who falls in love with a wealthy gentleman. It's a sweet story, and beautifully drawn, I'd recommend it very much.) I believe the last three volumes have come out now, but I haven't had a chance to purchase them yet. On Saturday I bought two t-shirts from the Disney store. One is lavender, with a design of Snow White on it, bordered by dark purple scroll work and the Queen holding a poisoned apple and the words Once Upon A Time in flowing script above it. The other is light blue, showing Alice sitting across from the Caterpillar on his mushroom, surrounded by dark blue scroll work, and the title Little Miss Curiosity. They're both very soft and comfortable to wear (and well made- I usually buy all my clothes at Wal-Mart and to wear something that is quality made is such a nice change.) Also, it's great to finally have something with a touch of feminity and lolita to it that I can wear every day. I've found a gorgeous picture frame at Border's that I intend to buy, it's white and oval, with relief of vines and flowers and little cherubs all over it, and it's just lovely. I also recently purchased a really beautiful journal, with the Lady of Shallot by John William Waterhouse (one of my favorite paintings ever!) on it, and patterns of tapestry and scroll work and vines around it. I'm afraid to write in it because it's so perfect. I wish I had a digital camera or a scanner so I could share some photos of them with you, but I guess I'll just have to wait until some future date (a.k.a. after I get finished paying for my school course online, hopefully soon.) to do so.
It is getting quite late now though, and if I am to be conscious at all tomorrow I'm going to need to go to bed now. So, that's the end of my update. I hope you all are having a better new year than me, so far, and wish you all a good night!
-Olivia