Ponies are my one true love.

I have fallen in love with the new My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic TV series.

I know what you're thinking. You're judging me. I will allow you to judge me if you will just hear me out on this; you have to listen to why this show has become the thing that fills my daytime.

Backstory: As a little girl, quite a few of my toys weren't particularly female oriented. I loved to play with my dinosaurs. I had a Tonka truck that I enjoyed to play with. When I played with my stuffed animals, I related more to the boy characters than the girls. Pokemon and Digimon were (and still are) the greatest TV shows ever. My early love for video games still is the main reason I game so much today.

There were a few glaring exceptions to my "boy toys" preference though. One of which, that I have to assume was influenced by my older sister, was My Little Pony. I remember playing with her ponies. I don't think I treated them with the same kind of love she had, but I remember taking them into the bathtub with me on multiple occasions. I also remember watching the My Little Pony movie. Even as I rewatched it this week, certain parts were still in my memory. I remembered the witches- particularly the one that was always eating. I remembered Lickity Split not wanting to dance like the other ponies at the beginning. I remembered... the SMOOZE. Obviously, My Little Pony had been important enough to me to make a lasting impression.

Despite that, I was still skeptical of watching the new Friendship is Magic series when it exploded on the Internet, with the invention of "bronies"... a term that makes me wish I was a bro. It wasn't until I came across this blog post by my favourite former WoW blogger about the show that I decided to give it a try.

And boy, was I hooked.

If you bothered to click the article I linked, you'll see just why this show is appealing to adults/older than 5 year olds. If not, I'll sum it up. The ponies have personalities. It's possible to relate to them. I can see parts of myself in the ponies. There's also some fun pop culture references in there for the older than 5 years old crowd (the one off the top of my head is just how much the Diamond Dogs remind me of Gollum).

So, I will add my vote in the completely and utterly recommending this series to anyone. It's the greatest thing I've seen in awhile, and it's doing wonders on holding me off finally starting Doctor Who... which I will do when I have time. I promise. :P

Hiatus is done!

I apologize, I took a break from anything on the internet that required me to do ANY thinking for a few weeks, and I like to think I was extremely productive! I finished all of my homework for the end of the year (something I typically don't do) and am done, for better or for worse, my scary exam.

Now then. How have we all been? I've personally been pretty good. Busy, but good. I've also become painfully addicted to Tumblr, and spend way too much of my time on it reblogging things about The Hunger Games.

As for my terrifying exam- it was my English Diploma Part A. I had to write 2 pieces. One had to be a critical/analytical response (CAR) and the other had to be a personal response. The CAR had to be about a piece of literature we studied, personal response was a personal response to the poem/short story/picture they gave us.

We had a pretty easy topic I think - the role adversity plays on someone. Their ideals or something, I forget the exact quote. Either way, it was simple. I wrote my first essay about Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, talked about Willy and stuff. My second piece was a short story based off the poem they gave us.

Considering the CAR is worth 15% of my overall mark and the story is worth 10%, I think I did okay. The exam I write tomorrow will be worth 25%, but it's just a reading comprehension. I'm most definitely not scared!

On Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss.

The picture of Jennifer Lawrence with the brown hair and Katniss attire was released today by Entertainment weekly. Seeing as that's the only thing I've seen on tumblr for hours now, I figured I'd share my thoughts about it. Here though, because this is too long for my attention span there.

First off, here is the picture in case anyone managed to miss it.

Initial reaction: OH MY GOD MY MIND MUST BE MAKING THIS UP THIS IS THE KATNISS THAT WAS IN MY HEAD. *long string of gush*

A few hours later reaction: Jennifer Lawrence looks like Katniss. I had already decided I was pretty sure I liked her after watching Winter's Bone and seeing her acting abilities, but this picture sealed it. She looks the part. She'll be able to act the part. She's going to be phenomenal.

I'm still waiting (im)patiently for the casting of Cinna, as he is probably my second favourite character. Just knowing that the filming is already underway though fills me with lots of joy. TOTAL props to the casting of The Hunger Games. You've removed most of my doubt (other than the cutting of Madge BUT I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT IN MY HAPPY POST).

In the essence of procrastination....

I made a tumblr. Just so I have even more stuff to mess around with when I'm supposed to be working on a GIANT ENGLISH PROJECT THAT IS DUE IN A WEEK AND WE'VE HAD FOR 2 MONTHS AND I HAVEN'T STARTED. WHY AM I SO LAZY.

Other exciting things that have taken place in Brae-land since BEDA ended:

1) We finished Hamlet in English! To most people, this isn't exciting news. However, I do not enjoy Shakespeare, and being done with that is a relief.
2) My priests raid group in WoW killed Nefarion. Defending 3 shattered worlds now, baby. ;)
3) That is actually all I have done. Aren't you glad BEDA is over?

I just wanted to check in, let everyone know my internet usage will be back to normal by the 18th, and I miss everyone. <3

On Osama

Last night, I tabbed to my twitter page, and was spammed with the following message:

"Osama bin Laden is dead!!!!"

It quickly became a trending topic, and more news about what really happened was revealed. Obama made a speech about it. I realize everyone in the world and their mother knows this stuff, so I won't get into it. I'm just going to say some of my thoughts on what I think might come next.

To the people that followed him, the way he was killed is going to look like an assassination. It's going to look like he was quietly hiding out and was struck down. It's going to make his followers more angry, and likely cause a retaliation attack.

I really have no idea what that could mean. It makes me nervous to even think about having a group of angry terrorists made even more angry. I do think his death was necessary, and the way it was done also probably was. Osama didn't seem like the type to ever let them take him alive and hold a trial for information or some sort.

Definite /salute to Obama for organizing this death and making it happen. I know this isn't ever going to repair all of the damage done to the families and friends of 9-11 victims, but having the killer dead is a good step.

Well, I did it.

I did BEDA. Despite expecting to fail by the first week, I finished without even missing a day.

I'll probably end up doing this again in August. I'll have a lot more free time without school, so it might even feel like less of a chore. There's also a chance I won't. I like to hope this has started a habit of me trying to blog more consistently, but it's unlikely. I'm going to try to keep at least 3 posts a week though. No promises.

I definitely learned a bit over the month. I learned that actually putting out good content more often than "when the mood hits me" is hard. I also learned it can be possible. However, I did also learn I can also post a lot of shit.

I'm going to be taking a few days off posting just because of needing a break. After that, I promise I'll be back. With semi-regular updates.

Thanks for sticking around guys!

Because positivity would be a plus.

Because I'm feeling negative, and need exciting things to focus on, here. Let's have a list of things to be excited for! Yay.

Things Brae is Excited for:

1) Graduating. Not the stupid "Walk across the stage a month before we actually decide if you passed" and definitely not for the banquet I'm not even attending, but June 10th, my last day of classes. And June... 22nd? My last exam.
2) Going to Florida this August. I like Florida. It's a fun place. I want to go.
3) Buying my new camera. I'm saving for it right now, and finally not having a terrible one will rock.
4)My birthday! I do realize it's not for like 7 months. But I'm allowed to be excited now, because it will be fun and exciting and I will be 18 and legal here. ^_^
5) Watching Pokemon movies. My friend gave me a DVD set that had 4 of the movies in it, and I get to watch them all. Yay!
6) Summer. 2 months of doing nothing? Yes pleeeease.
7) My mom to get back from Vegas. Really. I'm all for freedom but I don't like this.

I'm sure there are more, but that's all for today. I need sleep. :) Goodnight everyone!

People who actually blog this much all the time are crazy.

IT HAS BEEN 28 DAYS HOW CAN YOU EXPECT ME TO FIND MORE TO WRITE ABOUT.

I apologize. Had to get that part of of my system.

Tomorrow will be the start of "Brae's first time being all alone for over one night" as my mom leaves for Vegas (AGAIN. Did I post about this before? I feel like I did) and I am a bit terrified. My sister will be home 2 of the nights, and I either get one of my friends one night and one the next... or just of my friends one of the nights. The awkwardness that would occur if they were both there at the same time would eat my soul alive.

Something absolutely hilarious did hit me today. I have two friends I used to be very close with (at different times though) that both live in Orlando. In case you forgot, I'll be in Orlando this summer. However, I am not on speaking terms with either of them anymore. What makes it so funny though, is both of them had both really wanted to hang out with me but I had no way to be there. And now... Yup.

Also. The happy weather we had earlier this week? It's all gone today. It's almost May. It's SNOWING. Calgary, why must you do this to me? I am so done with cold and snow. I want to wear t-shirts and dresses. Not sweaters.

Okay Apple. I forgive you.

I got an email from Apple today. Yay.

They said it can be an "alarming" to find purchases made on your account without your knowledge. Honestly, I'm tempted to agree with them. :P While they weren't able to refund all of the money, they're refunding the $24-ish dollars that was spent on poker chips on that stupid poker app (WTF THOUGH SERIOUSLY) and one of the other things for about $4. So. That's always exciting.

My account also was locked down to prevent any further damage. As I read that, I thought to myself "They already snipped my money, what other damage can they do?" before I remembered it's under my mom's name and out address and such. Then I decided I was very, very glad my mom's credit card wasn't linked to the account in anyway. That could have suuucked.

Other than Apple deciding to be nice... I've had a pretty uneventful day. Unless you want to consider the lovely argument I had with my ex-boyfriend, but I don't. Let's just say I don't think my personality is horrible. ^_^ Oh well. I'll get over it. :P

Gerard Smith, we'll miss you, man.

On the 20th this month, the bassist of TV on the Radio, Gerard Smith, passed away from lung cancer. At age 34.

About a month before this, it'd been announced he wasn't going to be going on tour with the rest of the band. It was said then that he was battling lung cancer. It also said he had health insurance and was receiving excellent care. I already was scared then. I know lung cancer doesn't just "go away."

After that, I didn't hear anything about Gerard. I just sent the band my best wishes.

Finding out Gerard hadn't made it even a month though hit me very hard. Hell, it's even hard to try to type this. I'd been listening to their newest album when I decided to look at the TV on the Radio website, and saw this:

"We are very sad to announce the death of our beloved friend and bandmate, Gerard Smith, following a courageous fight against lung cancer. Gerard passed away the morning of April 20th, 2011. We will miss him terribly." - TV on the Radio

We will miss him terribly.

Going through various articles posted since his death makes the pain of it seem more real. It actually happened. I'm scared for what might happen to my favourite band now. I can't imagine how much pain they're going through. Gerard was a friend to them.

On videos I've seen of their live performances, Gerard always was in the back. Facing away, towards his amp. The first time I saw a video of it, I was a bit confused. I still to this day don't understand if it was something related to bass sound (I'm not a musician) or if maybe he was just shy. Either way, watching one of the videos now and just seeing him there, in the back, playing his bass, fills my eyes with tears.

RIP Gerard. <3