My mom has transferred to freak-out mode. I wish I could turn her off, or something. I'm sure she has the best intentions, and I know that I shouldn't be up until two in the morning to finish three papers, but meh. She needs to understand that I'm perfectly capable of looking after myself, and that she doesn't need to worry about me. I'm not one of the kids that do drugs, chain smoke their lungs into decay or become alcoholics. I'm not one of the kids that can't handle responsibility. She's more of a child than I am, honestly. 

Anyway, I am sure you have already realised that I am extremely tense because school has started yet again. A new year, new teachers, new people... new work. And even though I manage it better every year, the amount of homework I get never seems to lessen. Gah. Life's unfair. I have two papers due for tomorrow, and I've only got one of them half finished. The other one I haven't even started on yet. I know the way tonight is going to turn out: I am going to go down to the kitchen, grab a blanket and my laptop, make myself a mug of coffee and settle down with my dog and cat in a pile of fur and sleep-deprived human.

My dog's sick, so I've been keeping him company during the nights since Sunday. I love him too much to leave him on his own like that.

-x- Nika

My friend Anna told me about the Harry Potter books a year ago. Until then, I had refused to pick up one of Rowling's works with the excuse of "I'm not following any damn hype!" But now I'm writing a journal entry on the seventh and final book because I do want to express myself and I did get a little lost in the hype, those glorious hours that I read and reread the final book. I am truly sorry, Self-Of-A-Year-Ago, for I have failed you.

Well, let's get this show on the road then, shall we. In short, I must say that HP and the Deathly Hallows is my favourite in the series, but I despise the ending more than anything. Because, in my opinion, by keeping Harry alive, Rowling has turned what could be an ultimate dramatic climax into a cliche. She even added a little happy-ever-after epilogue, and I came pretty close to doing a Dobby and hitting myself for ever thinking Rowling would have the courage to kill her character. Pretty close, indeed. 

So, without further ado, I'll just get to the main point. Harry should've died. Harry Potter fanatics all over the world are undoubtedly in joyous celebration, but me? No. Rowling has managed to do just that which I feared from the moment I read the first page of the first book. She has created yet another hero's tale. And she didn't have to- People would've bought the books anyway, even if she'd told beforehand that the main character would die, because it is a hype and people are prone to want to know what happened.

Even if she did what I feared, the book is a good read for anyone with eyes in their head, and I am glad that I did not misunderstand the clues woven throughout the entire series. I was right about Regulus being R.A.B., I was right about my suspicions that Mad-Eye would die and I was certainly right to believe that Severus Snape would turn out to be a good guy in the end - Rowling wouldn't have given us such an idea of which side the ever mysterious Potions-teacher was on in the second chapter of the sixth book, if her purpose hadn't been to fool us all. Hermione's beaded bag was to be somewhat expected - they'd be nowhere without her.

Too much of a heroic tale near the end, the beginning and middle of the book were quite awesome. Neville finally got himself a backbone, Kreacher has a heart after all, Dumbledore isn't perfect and Ron and Hermione finally made out - everything I wanted. If only the Boy-Who-Lived hadn't kept to his title, all would be well. I know I am too critical, but my expectations were high and it frustrates me to see not all were met. Nevertheless, Rowling did great. I loved it.

A few more things to end with: 1) OMFG, she killed Hedwig. How could she kill a defenseless owl? We know Harry's got it tough - did she have to take away his trustworthy companion? 2) FRED! how dare you die and leave George like that, and Rowling, how dare you discard Fred like that during later chapters? He's important. I would've liked to see a little bit more of Despairing!George, if only to cry with him. 3) Dumbledore was all emotional and though I didn't like that, I'm glad we saw a bit more of him. 4) So, I was reading, and all of the sudden it was March and they still hadn't found another Horcrux. Procrastination, much? 5) I liked Harry's sort-of-acceptance of death and the way that he was on his way to receive Avada Kedavra.

In spite of everything, I loved Harry in this book. He finally became who he was supposed to be all along. He's a real hero, after all.

-xx- Nika

Why do they make me wait two weeks without giving me a double special episode as a reward? It's unfair, so unfair... And yet it can't stop me from going on a strike. I'm horribly addicted, let's face it. The fanfiction is only a result of my Naruto love, so I guess I should be grateful for the addiction? That's rather illogical. Anyway, I have another one-shot in the make, Perilous!Sasuke this time. You'll see.

Naruto is incredibly cool when he freaks out Kyuubi-style.

-xx- Nika

23/07/07 Edit: Well, after two more episodes, I still haven't got what I wanted. This just isn't right. I want to see Naruto fight, so let me-ttebayo! If I don't get to see a decent Great Ball Rasengan used on either Deidara or Sasori within a week, I will develop a desire to maim just about anyone who holds me back from my precious anime. We don't want that to happen, do we?

Alright, first honest attempt at Scrapbook Style. My first idea of a title was The Obvious Decline Of My Fanfiction Writing, but that sounds so daunting. Either way, it turned out to be The Latest Misery, which sounds cool, but isn't. I would love this story if it weren't so sucky.

Title: The Latest Misery 
Rating: T-ish.
Fandom: Naruto.
Pairing: NaruIno, because canon is overrated.
Wordcount: 897
Summary: Ino doesn't agree with him, but no one can deny chemistry.
Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Nasashi Kishimoto and affiliates.

I've told you about the NaruIno drabble-ish story that I'm working on... This is a warning.

I've tried my hands at a new style, something I've never done before. Call it what you like, but I will refer to it as the Scrapbook Technique. It's the type of story where you first write out a storyline with a general plot, but then you take some significant and some unsignificant and some ubercool moments from the overall package, mess them up so there is no order whatsoever, and kill the plot. I especially like the last part.

So when you read my story, bear in mind what I tried to acchieve - a loose, edgy feel - and blame any horrifying mistakes on the Scrapbook Technique. It's not my fault. You can blame my best friend who told me to lose my Narrator Identity - one of the many - and my cat's uncerimonious napping in the sink that led to this jumble of new ideas in my head. Blame my best friend and my cat. They won't mind, I tell you.

...I'm a terrible owner, and even worse of a friend. I'm lucky I know how to write, or I'd be headed downhill all my life.