In memory of my gramps and everyone else who gave their lives ta keep people safe and free, and ta thank those of you like Major Lorne and Cam, who still serve, Happy Veteran's Day. Your efforts and sacrifices are both remembered and appreciated.

*grins* Happy birthday, Nii-san! I know we celebrated yesterday, but I had ta tell you on your actual day, ya know? Love ya!

Less than a week before I'm back in Edinburgh. Just over a week and I'll be in class again. As bummed as I am that it's time to leave London already, I'm excited about my syllabus this year, 'cause I'll be doing a lot with the landscaping aspect. This first semester, I'll have urban design and housing, landscape history and theory, turfculture, and a CAD class along with a couple of bio classes, my last English, and trig. Heh... good thing I ain't there for the partying, otherwise I'd be screwed. *smirks*

Shizu and Mokuba are doing good. We went and saw 'em on Saturday. A couple of things came up that we needed ta take care of, so we made a quick road trip to Switzerland. Hopefully now they can get settled in without any more bullshit, 'cause I think Shizu could do well and be happy there if she gets the chance.

We just got back from taking Shizu and Mokuba ta their school in Switzerland. It's a really nice place, and I think Shizuka will do well there. She was a bit nervous, especially over having roommates, but I know having Mokuba there helps her a lot, even though they're in separate buildings, and they won't have any classes together. The girls she'll be with seem nice enough, and her teachers seemed pretty decent, too. I know only time'll tell, but I feel good about it.

Got my car today! It's an 09 Infiniti FX, slate blue, with a gorgeous black interior and aluminum accents. She's got all the bells and whistles too, and drives like a dream. *grins* I'm real glad now we were lucky enough ta get a flat with off-road parking, even though we ain't needed it before now!

I can't believe July's near done already. And that there's only 6 more weeks 'til I'm due back in Edinburgh. I feel like it was just last week that I was heading out for the summer.

We'll be closing the house in Frankfurt soon, and then we'll be in London. Shizu and Mokuba are both excited, and that's kinda nice to see. And it'll definitely be good having Seto and them that much closer when I gotta go away.

[Filtered to Friends]

Shizuka lost the baby. It happened Tuesday night, but I wanted ta give her time to tell those closest ta her in person before posting about it here. She's home and she's doing alright.

from blueeyedkaiba

Duelling- Duel monsters. Started out as a pretty cool card game, and turned into a wicked cool VR game thanks to Seto's awesome technology. I was pretty good at it, too. Never beat Set', of course, but I held my own, and actually placed in a couple of tourneys. I still have my deck, too, and I gotta admit, sometimes I take the cards and my duel disc out, just so I can see my Red Eyes 'come to life'. ^_^;;

Mutt- A nickname, not always meant in the nicest of ways. For a couple of years there, I wondered if Seto even knew I had a name, 'cause that's what he always called me. That or Inu. Granted, I called him my fair share of names, too. ~_^ Now I don't mind it so much, but only from him. It's taboo ta anyone else- Something which fucking Otogi still hadn't learned the last time I saw him. Bastard.

Friends- That's a tricky one for me, mostly 'cause I've been stung by so called friends so many times in the past. I can't help it, though. I keep opening myself up ta new ones, though I'd like ta think I've gotten a bit more selective than I was before. The ones I got now, most of 'em are more like family than friends to me. I guess... it ain't something I give away as free as I once did, but because of that, I hold the ones I have closer. Does that make sense? O_o

Strength- I used to think it was just brute force, but I know so much better now. True strength is what you feel inside yourself. What motivates you ta keep getting up and going, no matter what kinda shit's thrown your way. It gives you pride and belief in yourself, which in turn, makes you even stronger. It can also be borrowed from those closest to ya in times of dire need, but eventually, you have ta find it inside yourself again.

Future- Seto. Plain and simple. It don't matter what we're doing or where. Whether he stays on top of the business world forever, or we end up in a cruddy, walk up flat somewhere, living off what I can make doing paintings on the street. Seto is my future, and I'll always be by his side.

Words from chefpiper. She tosses 'em out, I define them from the dictionary of Jounouchi Katsuya. *grins* You wanna play, you know what ta do!

New York- I was born in New York. Brooklyn, actually. I spent the first ten years of my life there. For the longest time, I always considered New York as 'home', but I realize now that my definition of home has changed. It's still one of the most awesome cities in the world, though!

baseball- The greatest sport in the world, of which the Mets are the greatest team! Winning, losing, I don't care. *snickers* gotta watch out for that Jumbotron, though. Ya never know when you might find yourself caught on it. ~_^

art- God, it's so hard ta define this one. I see art in everything around me, from people's faces, ta buildings and landscapes, statues, paintings... Music and dance are art ta me, too. It's a way for people ta express themselves, so ta me, there ain't a right or a wrong way about it. I'm just lucky enough that I'm good enough at my passion ta where I might be able ta make a few bucks doing it for a living, that's all.

enchiladas- *grins* one of the first recipes I learned ta do on my own. I've always loved eating, but I think my love of the production end of food started then. Beyond that, enchiladas always make me think of Ms. Gamez back in Brooklyn. She was an awesome lady who took care of Shizu and me back when things first started getting real bad with ma and dad.

swimming- Another one of my passions. I adore the water, and I've really missed swimming regular like I did when I was on the team back in Domino my senior year. I've kept up with it during public swim at the EU pool, though, and I'm hoping I'll be good enough ta make their team this year.

*grins* The treats were awesome, Bella! *laughing* And yeah, I did share. I mean, a piece of one is still sharing, right? No matter what Mokuba says? ~_^

[Filtered to Friends, and from Shizuka]

...I got to feel the baby move today. Shizuka, she says she's been feeling it for just over a week now. She said the doc said she would pro'lly be able to, 'cause she's so young and small, and this time when it started moving, I was there, and she let me feel it, and I... yeah, I know I'm rambling, but it's just... I can't believe it. I mean, I've always known it's real, but now, it's like it's really real, ya know? My niece or nephew... they're alive, and moving, and I'm gonna be an uncle!

If she decides to keep it. God, I hope she does...

We're back in New York, getting ready ta head to the ball game. *Grins* Yankees versus Mets! It's gonna be awesome! Tomorrow, we're headed to Seattle ta finish the United States part of our museum trip. We hit Chicago mid week and saw the Art Institute, and Shedd's Aquarium, and even managed to get in a bit of clubbing. Oh yeah, and got mugged. *smirk* Well, almost. They tried, but the stupid bastards didn't get away with shit- save for bruising my jaw a bit, and that was my own fault. I've gotten sloppy. Anyway, we came back ta NYC on Thursday, to finish up the museums here, and now.. *grins big* Well, all I can say is go Mets!

[Filtered to Alice, Bella, Edward]

Seto and I are gonna be in Seattle on Saturday; he got me a trip of museum tours for my birthday, and we're spending a couple of days so we can hit the Seattle Art Museum (including Olympic Sculpture Park and Seattle Asian Art Museum). Didn't know if you'd be interested in trying ta meet somewhere for dinner or something, but I just thought I'd throw it out and let you all know. :)

[Filtered from Shizuka]

I can't believe that bitch. Just when I think she can't get any meaner or more selfish, she pulls new shit. Even if she doesn't give a damn about me, she knew Shizuka was looking forward ta coming back ta Frankfurt with us. She also knows Shizu doesn't give a rat's ass about David or his fiancee. But what pisses me off the most is that she planned all along for Shizuka ta come back ta New York right after she was done in China, but that she didn't bother telling her ahead of time. She waited 'til she knew she was relaxed and having fun, then she dumped the change of plans on her. Shizu doesn't wanna go, but what choice does she have? And it ain't like Seto or I can interfere; as far as Ma knows, we're not involved in the China trip at all. So now, instead of having her come home with us for two weeks, she's flying back ta New York to go to some stupid bridal shower she doesn't even wanna go to. Yeah, we'll still get ta see her, and Seto got Ma to agree to letting her stay an extra week when she does come, but that ain't the fucking point. I hate how she jerks Shizu around like that. She ain't a fucking puppet or possession. She's her fucking daughter, for Chrissake. Fuck, but I can't wait 'til she's old enough ta get the hell outta there.