Hello everyone, just letting you all know I'm still kicking and alive.....despite battling a tummy-ache for the last couple of days. Ummm...I think it's because I've been trying to cut back on eating and losing a couple of pounds....and I'm not used to it. But hey, any girl wouldn't mind losing a couple of pounds, ne? But on the serious side...I actually need to, and it has nothing to do with me being conscious of my weight. On my last check-up at the doctor's (due to the condition I was born with), I was told that I have borderline high blood-pressure, and it was because of my weight. So I'm trying really hard to watch what I eat and cut back on the sweets. Now THAT part is hard, as I do have a bit of a sweet tooth. But it's working, and I think I can deal with a slight tummy-ache for a day or two if it means backing off from food that might be harmful to me.

Anyway, I hope everyone had a safe, happy, fun Christmas, Hannakhuh, Kwanzaa, New Year's, and Three Kings Day. My holidays were quiet...which I like. I don't mind quiet holidays. As long as my family are safe, happy, and secure, I'm good. I don't really need the big noise of a party and unexpected guests. So all over the world, I hope you guys had a nice holiday, whatever you celebrate. And now that the Christmas season is over, another popular holiday is coming up.....Valentine's Day. Like Christmas, it's not my favorite holiday, but it's still awesome. I love how it gives meaning to something so important....love. And not just romantic love, but love for yourself, love for your family, and love for your friends. I've never had much experience romantic love (yeah, I know, I'm pathetic... ) but I do celebrate love, and I do believe true love it out there. It may not be for me, but it's out there, I know...I've seen it. Every once in a while, I see older couples walking by, and it just warms my heart when the husband and wife...who've been married for 50 years or more, still look at each other with such love, such devotion, like they're still in the early stages of their romance. It's beautiful. That's why I love how this month dedicate a holiday to that...the beautiful and every last love between a man and woman when they find each other and commit to a relationship.  

Speaking of dedication, since I was such a big anime fan...and still am sometimes, I'd like to think I can dedicate Valentine's Day to canon couples I've truly loved and admired over the years: From Kaleido Star...an anime that I immediately fell in love with, Ken and Sora was just SOO adorable, and I often rooted for them. Even though Ken was too shy to confess his feelings, if the anime would have went on, I'm sure they eventually have ended up together, so yes, I consider them canon..or GOING to be. From Inuyasha, I've always loved Miroku and Sango. They were funny, yet not overly so, and they weren't so overly sweet that would make you gag, which I appreciated. Also from Inuyasha, Kikyu and Inuyasha, and yes, even Inuyasha and Kagome. Yes, Kagome may have gotten on my nerves and annoyed me a few times, but I did appreciate how her love for Inuyasha carried over from when she was Kikyu in her past life..even if it was a bit clingy. From Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne, I've always loved the couple Maron and Chiaki...they were just SO adorable, especially the way Chiaki loved to flirt with Maron. From Card Captors, I thought the little romance between Sakura and Syaoran was just so adorable, I could really see their love blossoming as they get older. From Fushigi Yuugi, even time I saw Miaka and Tomahome together, I would just melt..that's how much I was caught up in the love for each other. From Full Moon Wo Sagashite, I couldn't wait to see if Mitsuki and Takuto ended up together, and I couldn't help by laugh every time Takuto pretended to be mad at her. I even slightly base the relationship between Aiko and Jahmiel...the character from my story An Angel's Prayer, very slightly on them. In Escaflowne, Van and Hitomi were the epitome of a sweet first romance. I truly think they were perfect for each other. And last but not least...my former anime love, Sailor Moon; the canon couples I would dedicate Valentine's Day to would be Usagi and Mamoru...who to me WERE love back when I was a fan. They were perfect, no matter what anyone said about Mamoru. Next would be Artemis and Luna. What could be cuter than kitty love? Last but not least, even Chibi Usa and Helios. They were just too adorable, there's no way they wouldn't end up together when they got older.

And like I said, it's also not just about romantic love. It's also SO important to love yourself, because if you don't love yourself, who's going to love YOU? Love for family..that goes without saying. Sure, we all have members in our family that we'd love to never see again, that we even sometimes dislike, and even hate. But family is family, and it's family that mostly love you and support you no matter what's you've done in the past, and love you no matter what you look like when you get up in the morning. Frienship shoulddn't be forgotten either. Isn't frienship also a form of love? Growing up in New York, I loved my friends very much. They stuck up for me, and I stuck up for them. We did so much things together. Friends are there and accept you no matter what, even if  and when your family doesn't. So yeah, that's a form of love to me. That's why I greatly admire Valentine's Day.

Alright, from that, I'd like to thank all those who've taken the time to read and review An Angel's Prayer, and commented on the new pics of it. I know I've said it before, but it means SO much to me, really. I'm proud to announce that An Angel's Prayer is officially near halfway done. But no worries, there's plenty more action to come, believe me!

Okay, movie review...I did get to see The Rite, starring Sir Anthony Hopkins. I have to admit, I didn't think I'd like it...it started out kind of slow, but it turned out to be a very intense, emotional movie that really makes you think about having faith. Whether you are relgious or not, believe in God or not...strange things happen in the world, things that cannot be explained by science. This movie explores that, and I'm pretty sure it made an impact on many people.

Alright, that's about it with me then. Is it just me, or is anyone else SICK of Winter already? I can't believe how much it's snow so far. I'm SO glad we're finally in February now, and Spring is around the corner. Anyway, thanks to you all who've kept up communications with me and not dropped off the face of the Earth....like some people here have. People who I thought were my friends. Please continue to visit, and I'll be back!