MementoViola

    

        Hello Everyone!! 

      I am finally back and I hope everyone remembers me! I can't believe it has already been a year since I last updated this journal. A lot of things happened during the year and I'm going to tell you guys about it now. So after two years of hard work at Orange Coast College, I am finally going to transfer to University of California, Irvine as a History major!! I can't believe I got accepted by UC Irvine and UC San Diego, because I had too many units from my old university at UC Riverside. This is the reason why I shouldn't be able to get admit to any universities, but I'm so lucky I was accepted to both . I was torn between the two, since both universities are so nice and I didn't know what to pick, but I decided to pick UC Irvine, because it's only 15-20 min away from my home. I can't wait to start my journey at a new UC this fall hehe!! Also, not to mention my parents are so proud of me they bought me a new 11.6 in HP Pavilion laptop. This laptop makes everything so much easier when taking notes in class, because I love typing more than writing. It's more convenient and faster. I had a 17 in laptop before this but it's too big to carry around... anyway, I keep cleaning the new laptop and hold it like it's a precious treasure hahaha xD I really need to find a good laptop case because I want to keep my laptop in mint condition.   

    Anyway, now that's over, I'm going to be really free this summer. I think this summer I will try to find a job, since all my friends have a job and I don't...and I'm pretty old so I need to be more independent. I'm also going to practice my driving this summer, because my driving skill is so horrible...I really suck at driving LOL T_T I prefer to get rides from people so I can enjoy looking at the sceneries, sleeping, relaxing, and listening to music on the car haha...but I'm old now so I should stop depend on people driving me. I need to practice until I can drive on the freeway. I hope my mom will let me drive on the freeway after this summer and I hope she won't have a heart attack lolsss

    If you guys didn't know, I'm currently working on writing a story. I hope that if I am good enough as I get more experiences in life and improve my writing skill, I can turn it into a novel. That's my dream. Right now, I will try to write the first chapter and post it on my WordPress blog and here when I am done. I will be working on this story through the summer. I will also illustrate the book cover and important scenes from the novel. Once I draw enough pictures for the story, I will design a new website for the story alone with music and everything.  Here is a synopsis of the story so far. There is also a scene for the story on my Instagram.

    The story is called “A Fields of Dreams”. This story is about a young man in his teenage years who is a poet and a musician. He is the real son of Marcus Devon, but they don’t get along because Marcus used to be in the military so he wanted his son to be different than how he is. This young man is always seen with his guitar that he carries on his shoulder. He also spends most of his time looking toward the silhouette of the distant land, longing for something beautiful, something unattainable. Later, he wants freedom more than anything so he decides to leave with a band of traveling musicians and dancers and move from town to town. This story is mainly about his relationship with his father, other characters, his observations and what he learned on his journey and travel. I want to make this story philosophical and personal, but hell, I think I need to read even more and have more experiences with life to write like that...I think I don't have enough worldly experience T_T
    Virgil from  is the main character of the story. I will change his name to something else later, I don't know yet. We'll see. I will also write this story in first person so that I can relate to the character and put myself in the character's shoes. The songs I imagine his voice to be and how he sings are Sufjan Steven - Should Have Known Better (It makes me imagine his relationships to his parents and maybe brother) and Elliot Smith - Between the Bars (it gives me the image of him writing until late at night with only a small dim light in his room and his voice singing at night). I have a lot of images in my mind about this character so I will try to draw A LOT this summer for sure. I have a list of topics of what I should draw that I put on my notes app and I will be working on that.

    Finally, GAMING. This summer is going to be my "the summer of gaming" LOL. I have been waiting ALL this time to start gaming again. I did play Pokémon X my on 3DS during my weekend, but all the studying and essays made it so hard on me to really forget about everything, concentrate on gaming, and enjoy myself. I had to take my 3DS to my uncle's house when I visited him to play on my spare time. This is why my gaming progress for Pokémon X is so slow.  

This is the list of games I'm planning to play and re-play during the Summer:
Finish Pokémon X - I really need a Modest Ditto right now to breed and get a Modest Gardevoir with Trace Skill....

Buy and Play Pokémon Alpha Sapphire. I might buy Pokémon Sun or Moon as well but I am not sure yet.

Re-play Fire Emblem Awakening - I lost my game so I have to start over again T_T I'm so sad though, because for my first game, I was pretty strong too. Luckily, I still have my partnership combinations, job changes' plans for each character, and skills plans for all the characters. I will list them here later; it's on my main computer not my laptop. 

Play Harvest Moon A New Beginning - Umm I don't know if I should marry Neil or Amir. I really like Neil's personality though T_T

Harvest Moon More Friends of Mineral Town - I think I will play this game again but marry Gray this time. My other play-through I married Cliff haha For the boy version of this game, I married Poppuri....lol....

Earthbound - I don't know why every time I get to the last part, I would lose the game. I can never finish the game so I will definitely finish the game this summer.

Focus on my new Wii I got as a gift from my parents because of good grades LOL 
Harvest Moon Animal Parade - Who should I marry? I am torn between Gill, Owen, and Harvest King LOLOL Nahh Harvest King is hot but it's too hard to marry him because he requires too much work and items (AND he doesn't even live with you bummer >_>) so I'm thinking about Gill my first play-through (OR Wizard, I forgot about him for some reason. Omg I can't choose anymore ). I want to marry Owen, because I want my kids to have red hair lmao xD

Play Fire Emblem Radiant Dawn on my Wii. Need to buy the game. I don't know why it's so expensive online...

Might Re-play the Fire Emblem for Gameboy Advanced too...I wish I still have my old game so I can play Hector's play-through. Hector and Lynn <3 Hector is my savior; he epically defeated ALL the enemies surrounding him ALONE with no characters' help, can you believe it! I hate Elliwood WHY IS HIS STATS ON MY PLAY-THROUGH SO LOW AND BAD I gave up on him and he is the main character too -_-

Rune Factory 4 - I LOVE Rune Factory 3 and so I bought Rune Factory 4 much later but only got to the first part of the game. I will definitely play this game during my summer

Re-play Chrono Trigger - For my first play-through my main team was Chrono - Lucca - Frog. (Screwed Magus LOL he sucks xP just kidding) I beated Lavos by spamming Frog's Heal and Delta Storm and Flare. I think this time I will try a new combo team.    

Replay Final Fantasy IV & VI - I miss Terra from FF VI and for FF IV, I miss Cecil AND Edge x Lydia couple

Finish my second play-through on Golden Sun I and II

Trickster Online - I will play as a Fox again. I had a lvl 50 Fox account but I didn't log in for a long time so they deleted it. I like Sheep too but Sheep is harder to play for me so I had to switch to Fox. Fox will be my main and Sheep will be my second character  

Maple Story - I miss this game sooooo much. I remember I played this game during the Beta phase almost 12-13 years ago with my cousins so I'm going to download the old version before Big Bang private server to play. I was a Fire Mage by the way. 

Someone teach me how to play League of Legends, I keep on dying...T_T 

Yeah enough about my gaming chattering. I think I will make a gaming blog later to give people tips and my gaming experience
As you can see, even though I said I have a lot of free time this summer, I still have to draw and gaming and find a job, but I will manage hopefully I have too many plans I hope I can accomplish them all T_T.
Anyway that's all for this journal update. I will update my journal more frequently in the future and my Wordpress too. Please stay tuned!!

Bye and Good luck on Finals to those who are in college like me
- MementoViola /Serenus Arc 

RULES

1. Answer the 13 questions made by the deviant who tagged you, then make your own 13 questions.
2. Tag 13 deviants.
3. Don't say "you're tagged if you read this." (Cause, let us be honest, no one is going to read this if they're not mentioned.)
4. It is forbidden not to mention anyone.
5. Lastly, don't tag the person who tagged you.

I was tagged by MisstaArtista . Thank you so much for tagging me!
I will try my best to answer these questions

1. What type of music do you listen to? (genre, artists, songs)

Lol my music tastes and genres change like the seasons. There are days that I would listen to Hip-Hop music, then days where I listen to garage and indie rock music or post-punk/electropop/new wave music, AND then there are those strange days where I listen to atmospheric and folk metals like Agalloch, Emperium, and Les Discrets! So my music taste changes from ‘in da hood’ to really classy, sad, and/or elegant guitar or metal songs depends on how I feel. I always listen to music when I draw so my art style changes with the music style too depends on my mood. Therefore, I don’t have a theme to my drawings like some other really good artists. Oh how I wish I have a specific theme to my drawings but it’s not possible anymore because I like so many different music lol >_<.

2. Do you have a favorite book or read much? Why or why not?

I don’t really have time to read really long novels anymore, but I used to read a lot of historical fictions and romance books. I really like books with historical settings and a hint of romance or a philosophical touch to them. I read The Juggler by John Morressy, The Dark Angel by Meredith Ann Pierce, and Princess Nevermore by Dian Curtis Regan. I actually read a book called Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas and it’s a really mushy romance book it’s embarrassing (at least I am not reading Harlequin books lol ). Oh and I saw some character images of a book called Kiss the Sky the Calloway Sisters by Krista Richie and they look so cool I want to try reading it but the summary kinda threw me off. Please recommend me more interesting books so I can read them! Anyway these days, I only read good short stories, quotes, or articles, and they are mostly for my class too (not to include those dreadful textbooks where I have to read and take notes on T_T)

3. Your favorite food?

I LOVE LOVE steaks! (oh gosh fatty food T_T) And eggs. Creampuffs and cakes especially strawberry cakes with strawberry jams in between are heavens (Yes I do have a sweet tooth) I also love Boba Milk Tea a lot lol.

4. Crowds, small groups or 'go away, I'm a loner'?

Hmm I usually like to talk to my really good friend one on one, so even small groups tired me out. I don’t know why I don’t have enough stamina when it comes to crowds or groups. I get confused because too much talking from so many sides that it makes me go quiet instead of talk more. I’m not a talkative person either. 

5. If you had to be trapped in a TV show for a month, which would you choose?

Pretty Little Liars Lol! Supernatural and Game of Thrones seem interesting also . Just kidding, also I want to be trapped in the show Saved by the Bell. I'm really into the 90s TV shows as you can tell lol!

6. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why?

I would love to travel to all over Europe, countries and islands in the Mediterranean, North Africa (like Egypt), and the Middle East someday. I always read about these countries in history so I really love to get to know them in person haha. All those countries are so beautiful with a really rich history and old architectures

7. What do you want your tombstone to say?

UH lol haha this is such a weird and funny question xD I think I would like it to say “Life is short. Just do it”? Uh this sounds so cliché. I will come back to this I don’t know can’t think of anything right now lol.

8. What is your weirdest 'quirk'?

I don't know why but when I found a song that I really like, I would listen to it over and over for days until I can't stand listening to that song anymore. Then I would stop listening to that song for months and come back to it again after a long time. 

9. Favorite art medium?

I really love watercolor, but it’s so hard to control when paint with watercolor. Usually it is hard because I have to plan everything out first especially the colors since I’m not allowed to make any mistakes. If I make mistakes, it’s not possible to erase them. I also like colored pencils and pencil pastels because they are much easier to use and the colors are beautiful too, it just doesn’t have the flowy feeling like watercolor!

10. What do you do in your free time?

This is repetitive but yes, I listen to music, play videogames, and watch TV in my free time. These days I finally got Cable so I’m like bear hugging my TV all day, because there are so many great movies. I’m really into Pirates of the Caribbean and the Hobbit right now. I think I will try watching Grey’s Anatomy, Supernatural, and Doctor Who too because so many people like them. I chickened out from trying to watch Silent Hill at night T_T

11. What would be your dream job?

I don’t know yet. I really like a job that is easy-going, clean, and make decent money. Like social worker perhaps? Some people recommend me to be a teacher but I suck at public speaking and lecturing so I don’t even want to think about it lol.

12. What makes someone a great artist?

I believe perseverance makes a person a great artist. With hard work comes great result. To me, if we failed many times but still get up to continue on our journey of art, then we will improve our skills tremendously through those hard times. So just do your best and don’t be afraid to tread into the danger zone sometimes in art! You never know what it will give you, but in the end, you will be happy and feel special that you did something outside of your comfort zone.

13. What's your favorite DA emoticon? 

        

Here are some questions I have created for you guys! 
1. What are your favorite movies?
2. What are your favorite songs or music genres?
3. What is your favorite food?
4. What are your favorite books and writers?
5. Do you play videogames?
6. Are you left-handed, right-handed, or ambidextrous?
7. What was the experience that impacted your life the most?
8. Where do you go when you need some inspirations?
9. What is your favorite childhood memory?
10. Who is your role model and do you have any favorite celebrity?
11. How are your best friends describe you?
12. Where and what would you see yourself to be in 5 years?
13. What is your favorite quote and why? 

I'm tagging 13 of my watchers, but anyone who is reading this can feel free and answer these questions through tagging my journal!
 
Thank you for reading!!

Hello everyone!
I'm not dead I promise guys! It's just that college has been sucking the soul out of me. I want to draw but I can't find any time or inspiration. I have so many projects to do and I just want to get it over with already. I can't wait for summer even though I will have summer class, but I will have less class and hopefully less work.

Todos List:
US History Abstract and Thesis
Ethnography Research Project and Essay Draft 1800-2000 words 
US History Chapter 8 The Early Republic Finish Reading and Questions
Midterm Exam for History of Britain 

I just can't wait to get this semester over with already. I really hope I can transfer and graduate soon. I feel like I am really behind and I am beating myself over this. 

Drifting through life aimlessly without a care in the past. Ignorance is bliss, they say.

Now, I realize everything I have done was not good enough. Why? Because I don't care enough. I feel like ignorance was my cowardice, yet it gave me temporary happiness. Until I start to care, my world turns upside down. It gave me the strength to realize that I should take a bigger step to what I set my goal for and that life is not all sunshine and rainbows. I feel like I have lived a sheltered life in a delusional cage where I listen to people's encouragement to "follow your dream, you can do it" and thinking it's true. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate their intentions, but after what I have gone through, I will have to know that there will be abrupt changes, mostly bad changes. I have to be ready at all times. Things will not go our way most of the time, but we can work our way through it and create the best illusions of how we really want things to turn out. To live is to suffer after all. 

Life is whatever we conceived it to be. For the farmer who considers his field is everything, the field is the empire. For a Caesar whose empire is still not enough, the empire is a field. The poor man possesses an empire, the great man a field. - From the Book of Disquiet by Fernando Pessoa
This leads to action. To take action. To act with all your might and ambition, but also know that you are doing all you can with the best of your ability. But in the end, will it ever be enough? What important is that we have to achieve our goals with an aim. We have to be precise and exact in order to not lose important time. Timing is everything.
I have to choose what I detest--either dreaming which my intelligence hates(almost all intellectuals think dreams are not real and for little children.) or actions which my sensibility loathes (you may gain from taking actions but it can hurt other people around you). Either action for which I wasn't born or dreaming for which No One was born.-From the Book of Disquiet by Fernando Pessoa

In the end, I choose neither. For which speaks of inaction. Like Hamlet's conflict of whether taking the life and let them live, To be or not to be-that is the question. 

Then from some people's point of view it maybe laziness but the reality is far from it. Confusion causes us to stop and think. Personally, I have a habit of thinking for too long to the point that I end up with nothing. Everything is just a dream and my ego of ambition. So note to self, quit thinking, start doing.

I recently made an Instagram account! I will update mostly WIPs there.
It's www.instagram.com/serenusarc/

I'm still mourning over the loss of my old deviantart lol. I don't think I will ever forget that Deviantart account. T_T  I really don't like this new account but there is nothing I can do...