Yesterday was supposed to be Dir en grey day. An 'Evening with Dir en grey at the Showbox at the Market'. BUT due to Kyo's health reasons the show was canceled. We were all really looking forward to it, especially my friend Calah who would be celebrating her birthday at the show but in place of a really great concert I got a really great day with a lot of friends I have been missing a ton.

The day started off with Michi and I driving down to Marysville to pick up our old friend Aya. Five years ago we met Aya through our friend Ryo, an exchange student from Japan. He was attending highschool here in Stanwood while she was attending in Marysville, about fifteen minutes away. We actually met at a party at her host family's house. Much Karaoke Revolution. Since then Ryo has sort of fallen off the face of the earth, but Aya messaged us from her new Facebook profile about a week ago. She said she would be in Marysville for ten days so of course we had to meet up with her! I really wish that Syl could have been here to see her too.

I can't believe it's been five years. o.o

Except for getting lost for twenty minutes in the same row of five streets everything was really great! I forgot how much I loved her and how much fun we had. Even with the occasional language barriers and Michi having to draw mussels on a napkin because both of them forgot their dictionaries we were never at a loss for things to talk about or laugh about. We went out for lunch at Olive Garden and just talked about everything going on in our lives. She told us about how she's almost done with school and how she saw Ryo about a month ago so at least we know he's still alive. She even gave me a print club picture she took with him. He looks pretty much the same. Maybe taller but that could have just been wishful thinking. She'll be starting work in Human Resources as soon as she gets home. Michi told her about how she's going to Japan in May and they started making plans. Going shopping in Shibuya, taking a day trip to Tokyo Disney. I'm so jealous! But I need to save money for school, blah blah blah :P

Michi

Me

Look how cool Michi's drink looks~ Some kind of peach mint tea thing.

Aya~! Look how prettyy~

Aya ordered what I did. :P Chicken scampi. Yum~

Afterwards we spent some time at the Outlet Mall just shopping around and having fun. Michi bought a SUPER cute pair of shoes that I should have probably taken a picture of.

Silly neck thing at Juicy Couture. Actually looks pretty cute. Haha.

Aya bought her mom some really great stuff from L'Occtaine. I'd never been there before. I like it.

God, I'm going to miss her so much. Michi gets to see her again in Japan but I don't. On Sunday we're trying to put together another time to hang out. We're going to go down to the Rock in Lynwood and get as many people as we can. Anyone's invited who has time! More info later~

After dropping off Aya Michi and I lost ten dollars at the casino, then met up with Calah and Savanna and their friend Bryan (who was lovely~) to go out for Calah's birthday dinner! No Dir en grey but TONS of laughs! We were going to go to Toyama in Everett but... they don't have cheese fries. And when the birthday girl wants cheese fries you go to The Outback instead! We sat at our table having a good time until close.

Only one group of people moved away from us. 

Savanna beat Michi at a napkin crane folding race.

So Michi decided to make a balloon instead. Turns out you can't blow up a cloth napkin...

Bryan and the birthday girl, Calah.

Cute face!

Awww~

Where's your cute face, Bryan?

I really do love our crazy concert buddies and I have no idea why we have SO much in common and enjoy each other's company so much and we rarely ever hang out. We always say it needs to change and then we don't do anything but maybe it'll actually happen this time! We need to discuss more Harry Potter and Zelda, and how retail sucks and it's weird that Savanna works with my dad at Boeing. There's just no way around that. Plus, I owe them some fried chicken. 

I hope Calah had an amazingly wonderful birthday even though she had to work and has an even better Seattle weekend~ Hopefully I'll get to see everyone, including Aya at The Rock on Sunday.

Why can't all my days be this good? I miss my friends... I should quit my job... :P

♥ Amanda Leigh

Today is a very special day for two very special people in my life. For everyone, of course, it's MLK Jr. Day, but it is also Syl and Seike's birthdays!

Syl is one of my very best friends in the whole world and she is twenty-three years old today. (When did we get so old?!) She is also very far away from us. In October, Syl took a chance and moved herself down to Texas to stay with her uncle. I am beyond proud of her, she is so much braver than I am, but I miss her like you wouldn't believe. If it was up to me I would be on a plane right now to party it up with her on Sixth Street and then bring her back home with me. Dir en grey or not :P Money and distance is a problem though and I'm going to have to miss her a little longer. I know things are hard for her but I know she's strong and I know there's nothing that can take her down. If we can stop Orcus I know we can handle anything!

Syl, I love you so much and I hope that despite it all you have a perfect birthday. And if you don't, the next time I see you birthday 2.0 will be the best! Your present from Michi and I is on it's way. I hope you love it, honey~<3

Also! Everyone check out Syl's blog: Dum Spiro Spero for amazing fashion and makeup reviews, great writing, and her beautiful self.

<3

It is also Seike of the upcoming Swedish Visual band Seremedy's 21st birthday today! Michi organized a birthday video as she tries to for the band's birthdays including fans from around the world. The band is going to be big, and even better, they're really, really great guys.

So check them out too! Seremedy

It won't let me put the video up for some reason so here's a link to it. Haha. Hopefully we'll get even more participants for the next birthday! Click

♥ Amanda Leigh

Okay, not really, but strawberry-banana daiquiris are close. And we won't be drinking anything in the snow until Syl's around. Either way, Michi is an evil genius.

 Michi the mixologist.

We have no ice and we're impatient, so she used frozen strawberries.

Om nom nom.

 Too young for drinking! Sad baby kitty~~~

Aww~ She cleans up after herself.

Cheers.

 Om nom nom.

<3

♥ Amanda Leigh

I bought new shoes!

On top of getting to go out to lunch with Michi today, my coworker Robin invited me to/forcefully informed me I was going to go shopping with her today. Just to Ross to spend her Christmas gift card but Michi loaned me a little money to look for a pair of shoes I desperately need! Robin found a SUPER cute shelf with butterflies and swirly thingies that I am proud to say I found the price tag for after crawling around on the floor and looking silly and then we walked over to Kohl's to search for some shoes for me. (There was NOTHING at Ross.) I have been in search of a pair of simple boots to replace the ones Syl gave me that are a couple sizes too big but I've been wearing anyways, and after a while sitting on the floor and digging through boxes in the children's shoe section I found a pair that sort of fit the bill. They're comfy and cute and I like them. ^^

They're also size three. -_-;;