5/12/2024

Hi! It’s me! Lily!!!

Today was Mother’s Day…

So Sabby really doesn’t like it much when I do stuff for her for Mother’s Day.  She says it’s a hallmark holiday and setting that day aside just gives people an excuse to ignore their mother the other 364 days of the year.

But… I said this before.  This is another last.  I’m going to Japan.  I might not see her for a long time.

So I did anyway.

I’ve been practicing in secret (turns out the community college has a piano tucked away somewhere and I’ve been practicing there) and I sand a couple of songs for her, while accompanying myself.

Yes, I can sing.  No, I can’t sing well.  I sound like a particularly competent frog.  But… I managed.

And I sand an English translation, which I did myself.  I sang U&I, Tenshi ni fureta yo, and “I want to be a constellation”.

She was crying at the end.  aww.

She’s done so much for me, really.  She (and Dave, of course), took me in, bought me clothes, fed me, adopted me, and never, ever tried to get in the way of who I am and what I could become.  She’s let me go to Japan, to perform, to practice… she’s always only wanted me to reach my full potential… and I’ll always be grateful to her for that.  I’ll always love her for that.

And she never hesitates to go Claire Huxtable on me when I deserve it.  Thankfully, it’s not that often, but when she does, I always do.

She’s always protected me but never so much that it hurt me.  Like when she kicked that karen between legs a couple of years ago.  I guess I could have taken care of myself… but I didn’t have to.  Because she was there.  She’s always there.

I can’t really tell her that.  Like Hachiman said in Oregairu – How can you say all that in just a word?

You can’t.  So I chose a few.  And added some notes to it too.  And tried not to make Marie howl with my voice.

(She didn’t.  That would have been embarrassing).

Maybe someday I’ll sing “my graduation toss”, but I dont’t think I could hold it together through that.

Anyway… otherwise… it was a bit of a rainy morning.  They got some pretty awful hailstorms up north, but we avoided them… this time.  We went to church, and otherwise just basically had a pretty quiet day (except for the idols in the garage dancing up a storm again.  I swear – where do they get all that energy?  I run every day and I don’t think I could keep up!)

“The idols in the garage dancing up a storm”…  what a weird life I have that I can even write that sentence and mean it seriously.

Haruna seems a little better today.  She’s starting to think seriously about her future.  Not just being scared of it… but owning it.  I don’t know what she has planned… but I’m sure she’ll succeed.  I know she will.

Love you all!!! ❤️

From the creator:

It’s funny.  I hate the sound of the name “Haruna”.  For some reason I just don’t like Japanese names that start with H.  I like the ones that start with M, R, or S.

And it’s worse because they actually can mean really beautiful things.  I think (think) Haruna means something like “spring vegetables”.  And Honoka, another name I hate the sound of, has something to do with nursing or flowers.  It’s not that I hate the people behind the name or anything, it’s just the name doesn’t sound good to me.

But… Haruna is Haruna.  I didn’t name her.  Okay, well… I did, actually, but that’s her name.  Just because I don’t like it is no reason to withhold it from her.

My favorite Japanese name?  Minami, I think.  It just has a very pretty sound.  I also actually like Yuriko, but I think that’s because it’s become associated in my head with lilies, not because it’s Lily’s name.

In English, my favorite sound is a long “I”.  I don’t know why.  Place names with a long I just give me this strong sense of adventure and nostalgia.  Rock Island, Moline, Salina…  I’m just weird.  I don’t know anyone else with that kind of preference outside of a Monty Python skit (TINNY!!!)

Oh well, enough of that.

5/11/2024

Hi! It’s me! Lily!!!

Today was essentially a free day.  Sabby pretty much put her foot down and said “You all have been practicing way too much – go have some fun and I don’t want to see a single dance out of any of you today.  And Lily, you’d better not press any keys on that piano”.

I guess she’s not wrong.

So the four of us went out sightseeing.

I’d be lying if I said there was a lot to see here… so we all went down to the Riverwalk in San Antonio and, well, walked along the river  Suzuka and Haruna did a lot of shopping (because of course they did), and otherwise we just kind of wandered around and took in the sights.

While we were there I asked Haruna what was wrong.

She… didn’t really seem like she wanted to talk, but she seemed like she did at the same time, if that makes any sense.  I didn’t pry too hard, but something’s really bothering her.

Finally we got home this evening and I kind of cornered her.

“You know what they said about me being a walking shrine?”

She nodded.

“It’s not often a shrine comes to you, but that’s what’s happening now.  Bow and clap and throw money at me if you must, but tell me what’s wrong.”

So… she finally opened up.

She’s scared.  I mean, really scared.

Not of anything concrete.  I mean, it’s not like she’s not safe or anything like that, but she’s scared of her future.  Not having a husband is just a small part of it.  She feels like she left the idol world and doesn’t have anything else, all she’s got now are odd jobs in entertainment and it’s hard to get by.  She… feels like she’s already washed up.  In her early twenties.

And the thing is… she may not be entirely wrong.

I asked her why she doesn’t go to school… she said she tried but failed her entrance exams and she just… gave up.

The worst part is, I didn’t know what to tell her.

But I didn’t have to.  I got a message.

“Why… are your eyes glowing?” she asked, and I.. well, somewhat I… spoke.  I don’t remember everything I said but she was sobbing after.  I mean, ugly crying hiccupping curled up in a fetal position crying.  But in between sobs, she said it was alright, she’d just never had a shrine actually talk to her before.  It was something about how she keeps going to shrines and bowing and clapping and making a wish, but none of them really had any power, and the being that actually has power is talking to her, and everything’s going to turn out okay if she just trusts.

Suzuka came in too, and so did Yuki, and the three of us just cuddled her until she fell asleep.

I guess she needed that.

I went to buy her a chocolate milkshake after putting her in her futon.  It always helps me, after all.

She asked again who I was enshrining.

I still don’t really know.  But it looks like whoever it is has power.

She tried asking me a few questions, but I just shrugged.  I told her that unless whatever I’m “enshrining” is speaking, I don’t know much more than she does.  I did say that when she went to the shrine, her prayers were heard… just not by the kami enshrined there.  Whatever that means.

Anyway, she seemed a little lighter after that.  I hope she finds what she’s looking for.

Tomorrow is supposed to be stormy.  Aww.

Love you all!!! ❤️

May 10, 2024

Hi! It’s me! Lily!!!

I don’t know how it took so long for LINE to figure out that me, Haruka, Suzuka, and sometimes Yuki are all staying together.  I have a whole idle group under my roof!  And, well… the otaku are going nuts.

Thankfully they haven’t figured out where I live.  And I have a common last name, both here and in Japanese.

We went to rehearse today, with the orchestra, and we’re really close to having everything ready to go.  The orchestra LOVED their outfits, and they danced around a few times while the orchestra practiced their songs.  It actually is a really neat effect… it’s like j-pop really does meet orchestra, and when put together, it’s a little different than both.  I like it.

However, apparently, I’m not supposed to wear a gown.  I’m supposed to wear a Japanese school uniform, too.  They told me I can get a fancy one, but it should fit the theme.

Aww.

I don’t even have one.  All the other girls do because they played their prank on me, but I don’t.  I guess I need to get on Amazon or a cosplay supply shop and find one.

They’ve been decorating the auditorium, and they have a sign up that says (in actual Japanese) “Austin Symphony High School”.  They’re really going all out, but it’s funny.  I guess dress rehearsal next week will be a sight to behold.

(If I can get my outfit in time, but if worse comes to worse, I’ll borrow one from Beth, she’s got a similar enough build to me…  though the skirt might be a little short on me, I’m taller than her.  Oh well, it’s not like anyone will complain.

But no wig.  That’s where I draw the line.  Besides, my hair is Japanese enough.

The conductor asked if there were any ceremonies they do at the start of class, so I showed them the one where they stand up and say “honor” and some other stuff, and he loved it.  What have I created?

Anyway…  Graduation is in a couple of weeks too…  I don’t think I’m ready for it.  I don’t think I’m anywhere near ready for it.

Oh well.

Haruna still seems a little… off.  She’s working hard and is happy enough, but I see her lip quivering when she thinks no one’s looking. Aww.

Oh…  Miki’s group is pivoting!!!  I guess they’re all getting tired of being semi-talented idols who sing and dance and hold otaku hands.  They want to do something really amazing.  The producer is getting them actual dancing training with a real sensei, and they’re learning how to play instruments and stuff too.  It’s hard work, but they seem happier than before.  It’s like they’re starting to feel like they’re a little more than pretty faces.  I mean, they’re pretty faces too, but they’re starting to worry about their job opportunities after they graduate, and in my opinion, they’re kind of right to worry.  Maybe they’ll get married to a successful guy, but…  that’s not a given, especially in Japan.  So I’m happy for them.  the producer seems to be one of the good ones.

Besides, idol groups are kind of changing right now – they’re not sure how long their business model will last anyway.

It’s not like they’ll become experts in a few weeks, but I’m looking forward to seeing what they turn into.

No real other news…  we’re going to do something fun this weekend. Yay!!!  Oh, there are a couple of things – Sabby did close on a new shop and we’re going to get that set up over the next few weeks, and… David’s going off to camp again in a few weeks.

He’ll probably see his “girlfriend” there.

And he’s kind of figured out what girls are for.

This might be a disaster.  Or it might turnout really good for him.. and that would still be a disaster.  I have no idea why that girl’s stuck with him for this long, but…  oh well.

Love you all!!! ❤️

May 9, 2024

Hi! It’s me! Lily!!!

Everything’s coming together, I guess. My piece is pretty much ready to go, Liz is almost ready to go as well, Yuki, Suzuka, and Haruna are pretty much ready, they have their costumes… I guess all we have to do is keep practicing and wait for the concert.  Ours is in a couple of weeks, Liz’s is just a little bit later.

Suzuka and Haruna are having a great time but I can tell they’re about ready to go home.  They will right after the concert.  Not “go from the concert hall to the airport”, but…  pretty close to that.

I asked if there’s anything we can do to make their stay better, and they said no, they’ve got plenty to do, lots of good food, warm futons, *ahem* interesting weather, and we take them to do fun stuff every now and then.  But Haruna does seem a little sad.  I mean, we talked about her loneliness, but there seems to be something else there under the surface too.  I wonder what.

Suzuka is just having fun, there’s nothing under the surface there.  But Haruna…  I just get a feeling.

Joe and Anathema headed off to the beach for some fun and frolic and, well, fun and frolic.  They’re going to be on honeymoon for a bit longer.  Joe had a bunch of leave saved up.  I don’t know how it works in the military but they seem to like it when people get married – it gives them something to fight for I guess.

And Crystal’s band, well, they’re still practicing.  They’re a lot better together than we ever were, and they’re really inspiring Crystal to get way better.  Girl’s starting to shred a bit now.  She’s asking me for theory lessons, but it’s not like I’m particularly great at that myself.  I’ll try, though.

I have to pick my courses soon at Meiji and send them some money.  Okay, a lot of money.  Not ivy league a lot of money but it’s not cheap.  This whole thing will make a large dent in my trust by the time I’m done.  But I guess it’s worth it.

I hope it’s worth it.

I haven’t decided my major yet.  they don’t have music classes as far as I know, so I have to pick something a little more boring.  Hopefully I can find a way to keep taking lessons anyway.  Maybe my minor celebrity as train onee-chan will get me a few concerts here and there.  I should talk to Dave and see what he recommends.  He’s good at stuff like that.  Maybe I’ll do something in technology.  I’m not great at it, but I do keep this site up, so that’s something.

I gotta choose soon though.

My first major adult decision.

Sigh.

Being a kid was fun while it lasted.

Technology is interesting – I’m not as interested in it as my tech friend or even Dave, but it’s interesting enough.  It’s basically there to help people do stuff that it’s difficult to do.  Like, you know, alarm clocks.  How did we keep accurate (I know there were sundials, I said accurate) time before that?

Well, we’ll see.

Truthfully… I’m a little scared.  Ever since I was found, Dave and Sabby have always been there for me.  But that’s coming to an end too.  I know they’ll still always be there for me, but… they won’t, too.

I’ll be an adult in every sense of the word.

It’s really, really scary.

Love you all!!! ❤️

May 7, 2024

Hi! It’s me! Lily!!!

Haruka is a little embarrassed.  But she’s fine.  I guess the wedding and everything just got to her.  Japanese women have this pressure to marry before they’re too old (like 25 or 30) and men seem to think they’re unmarryable after that.  I have no idea why, Haruka would make a great wife.  Maybe she needs to find an otaku who sees her as a person and let him into her heart.  I mean, just because she’s an idol doesn’t mean her fans don’t love her, it just doesn’t often mean they do.

They all took a day off and went sightseeing.  It’s sunny and warm today, and not storming, so we took them to Buc-ees.  Oh, man, they went nuts.  Haha!!!  Industrial sized bags of beaver nuggets…

Anathema called.  She didn’t have much to say, she sounded exhausted.  All she said was “Joe can keep up.  Oh GOD can he keep up.  EEP!” and then the phone hung up.

I think they’ll be fine.  At least for a while, anyway.

Dunno why she picks me to tell that to, but oh well.

Maybe it’s my “walking shrine-ness”?

Mother’s day is coming up.  Usually Sabby doesn’t care, so I don’t do much, but this is going to be another last.  I feel like I need to do something.

Love you all!!! ❤️

May 6, 2024

Hi! It’s me! Lily!!!

Well… I did not expect that.

Haruka’s been in a bit of a funk since the wedding.  She’s still working hard and everything but you can tell she’s a little… off.  After lunch she’ll go off and walk for a little while… I think she went to the konbini today and got a chocolate shake.

I finally asked her what’s wrong, and she just kind of stood there, looking at me, and it looked like her eyes were going to brim over…. then she ran up to the room and hid in a futon.

Of course I followed her.

When I got up there she was crying.

Of course I didn’t know why, Japanese people don’t usually ugly-cry, but she kinda was.  So I just kind of held her until she could get a coherent word out…

She’s lonely.  Not homesick, but lonely.

She’s in her early twenties and has never had a boyfriend, and kind of is starting to feel left out.

Awww.

It’s funny how people that are adored by so many other people can be so alone.

Anyway, I guess she just needed to get it out…  I told her if she wants a boyfriend, she should go about finding a boyfriend.  She said it’s not that easy, I said there are about thirty million people in Tokyo, there should be at least one who wants to take her to bed…

She swatted me and laughed.

“That’s not a problem,” she said.  “There are thousands of otaku, some of which actually even smell good, that would jump at the chance.  But I want a boyfriend“.  You know, someone who’ll put a ring on me and wed me and put a baby in me and… you know.  All that stuff.”

Yeah, I understand.

“What’s yours like?”, she asked.

So…  I told her.  Everything.  Stuff I haven’t even told you.  I told her how I met him, and how we fell in love, and how we’re having some difficulties lately, and…  well, I ended up crying a little too.

Sometimes you don’t know what you have until you’re around someone who doesn’t have it.

Isn’t that how it always work.s…

She’s a little better now.  We don’t usually girl-pile, Japanese people aren’t really all that into it (who am I kidding, many Americans aren’t either, I’m just weird) but I offered tonight…  she might even take me up on it.

I’m not a boyfriend and I don’t swing that way, but I am a warm body and maybe she needs that right now.

Otherwise…  it was a pretty quiet day.  Everything’s going as it should.

For now.

Love you all!!! ❤️

From the creator:

One of the questions I’ve gotten repeatedly from the very few people who read this diary is “what’s the deal with the girl-piles?  Are you being hentai and putting your fetishes on girls?  They wouldn’t do that!!!”

Yeah, they would.  I got this directly from a teenage girl I used to know, a very long time ago.  Of course I never saw it or participated (I mean, come on) but she told me about it.  Piles of girls all over the place, sometimes two or three deep, to hear her tell it.  I know it’s not a usual thing, and she was not… in the best place mental health wise, but…  it’s a real thing.

Girls are not boys or men, and sometimes they do their own thing, and I think those of us who are not girls would occasionally be shocked.

Was she making it up?  I suppose it’s possible.  She wasn’t the type to make things up.

Anyway… that’s where that came from.  Believe me or not, I don’t care.

May 5, 2024

Hi! It’s me! Lily!!!

Well, Anathema’s wedding was yesterday.  She’s married now.

The wedding was nice.  Not ostentatious or anything.  We all went to the shop, which was “closed for a private event”.  The pastor officiated, and lots of family and friends showed up.  It wasn’t anything tearjerking with roses and trellises and professions of undying love – it was a simple affair.  Well.. mostly.

Joe went off script.

They weren’t going to do their own vows, and they repeated after the pastor what he asked them to say.  But then, just before the vows, Joe opened up.  And he told Anathema exactly how he felt about her.

Apparently he hadn’t done that before, not that way, because Anathema started sniffling, and so did most of the women in the audience.  He told her how beautiful she is, and how much he admired her for turning her life around and respecting her baby, and how much he looked forward to spending his life with her and the baby.  He told her he’d give his life to protect her if necessary, and that he’d thought his life was fulfilled with the military until he met her.  She then just forgot herself and hugged him tightly, and, well, everyone clapped.  That wasn’t agreed on so she didn’t have anything prepared, but no one seemed to mind, not least Joe.

Then the pastor cleared his throat.  He had a ceremony to finish.  They looked embarrassed, and very soon, they were married.

And the reception began.

Crystal’s band had set up to do a few songs, and they did, and then the idols came up, and Crystal’s band had prepared something for them too (they actually worked a lot faster than I thought they would).  Everyone was dancing around and waving glowsticks and all that.  After that Sabby brought out a huge cake and they fed each other (of course Joe smushed cake in her face and she laughed, and promised to get him back that night, and he gulped…) and after they opened their presents, they both went off to begin their honeymoon.

We partied more for the rest of the night.  Baker doesn’t usually make pizza, but she knows how, so she made us some pizzas, and after she was done cooking we had her join in the festivities.  She didn’t seem to know what to do with herself but everyone had a good time.

As promised, a few otaku were outside at the appointed time, and Yuki, Haruka, Suzuka, and I went out to sign autographs.  I’ll never get used to that, but I guess being “train onee-chan” has its privileges.  I’m not as famous as I was a few months ago, but people still know who I am, and apparently I have a fan club.

No idea when that started, but at least it’s for less embarrassing reasons than Mio.

I got a call from Anathema in the middle of the night.  She said she was very happy and having a good time.  I think I heard Joe in the background saying weakly “help me”, and the sound of a light smack and a groan.  Haha!!!

She said he was fine, she was just taking out her frustrations on him, and they agreed tonight was her night.  And she took full advantage.  Because of course she did, she’s Anathema.

I heard weakly, “yeah, she’s right, I’m okay” *light smacK* *grooooan* and then she said she had to go, it was time for round ten.

I heard the groan again.  Haha!!!!

Joe may be in the military and in great shape, but she’s had her own basic training…  and it mostly involves kegels… haha!!!

Oh wait, I’m not supposed to know what those are.  Pretend you didn’t hear it.  And don’t look it up!!!

Okay, so last night while everything was wrapping up, Jack and I had a talk.  A very long talk.  About things we’ve been kind of dancing around for the past few months.  About our future.

We didn’t break up.  But we’re both worried.  He’s going off to Toledo, I’m going off to Japan, and…  we’ll see each other again, but it’s going to be hard.  We got ourselves into a lot, and it’s scary.  It’s not so much “what am I going to do without him”, it’s “Four years is a long time and can we really say we’re with each other if we’re ten thousand miles away and only see each other a few times a year?”

We didn’t break up, but… I don’t know.  It felt like we came a lot closer to that than we’d ever been before.  Neither of us want to, but…

But we remembered our promise to each other, the one we made in Orlando two years ago, and…  that’s still important to us.  So we’re talking it out instead of, well, doing something else.

I love him.  I really love him.  I can’t imagine being with anyone else and I want to be with him and have come home and have little Jack/Lily babies running around… but how do we get here from there?  I don’t really know, and neither does he.  It seems so far away and so unachievable.  I mean, we spent time with each other, and we’ve seen each other in ways no one else has, not even our parents, and it’s so nice when he does stuff to with me that would make this a subscriber post if I told you, but… is that all there is?  There should be more.  There could be more.  Why isn’t there?

Is it just because we’re still not adults in a very real way?  Or is it because our relationship isn’t?

Anyway…  we’re still together.  He’s not going away, and neither am I.  But I wish I knew how long that would last.

Other news…  well, there really isn’t any.  There were storms again last night.  There seem to be so many lately, but I guess that’s May in Central Texas.  We went to church today, nothing really special happened there.  Crystal brought her band over to practice, and Sabby’s booked a slot for them in a few weeks.  Anathema called today kinda pouty that apparently she wore Joe out so badly he’s just slept all day, but I told her that that’s what happens, and she has the rest of her life to wear him out again.

Apparently tonight he gets to return the favor, and she was almost quivering with excitement.  That girl is insatiable!!!

Alright…  Enough of that I suppose.  I’m pushing the limits of PG. But that’s what happens with weddings, so…

Love you all!!! ❤️

May 3, 2024

Hi! It’s me! Lily!!!

Well, Anathema’s wedding is tomorrow.  All the girls are over, tomorrow we’ll all get dressed and head over to the shop.

Today Yuki, Haruka, Suzuka and I went over to the symphony and did our rehearsals.  It actually went really well.  They kinda got into the whole “pop idol” thing, and they all apparently are going to wear school-like uniforms, like in Japan.  That’s hilarious!  Even the conductor!!!

Dunno why they’re getting into it like that, but it’s fun.

Well, I’m not going to talk too much tonight, we’re all going to head to the shop tonight and watch a couple of bands.  I’ll let you know how the wedding goes.

Oh…. I almost forgot.  Jack got accepted into the University of Toledo!!!

Seems like a small university in a kinda crappy town.  I asked why he decided to go there.  He said he misses Ohio, but doesn’t miss Columbus, and it seems like a pretty okay school.  Plus he did well enough to qualify for at least a partial scholarship, so there’s that.

I asked if it was his first choice.  He said no, but it wasn’t his last either, so he’s okay with it.

Yet another ending that turns into a beginning.  I guess.

Liz is still waiting to hear from her preferred college, but I bet she gets in.

Love you all!!! ❤️

From the creator:

I went to UT.  The description is accurate.  A fair to middling school in a crappy town.  But hey, they have, ummm…  a tower.  I guess.

May 2, 2024

Hi! It’s me! Lily!!!

The bridal shower was tonight, and, well, yeah.  It was fun but a little embarrassing. You’d think it’d be corny games like “pin the tail on the husband” or something…  well.. no.  Let’s just say it was a “celebration of fertility” and leave it at that.

I’m glad none of the younger girls were invited.  They did not need to see that.  I did not need to see that.

But all the clothes stayed on and it was all in good fun, so there’s that. Anathema takes her impending marriage seriously.  And a few of her friends probably would have jumped at the chance to start, well…  licking things that should stay unlicked.

Usually the bride-to-be would go home with lots of gag gifts, but…  no one actually brought any “gag gift” she didn’t already have.  Streamer, hello?  But she says she could always use spares because she might wear them out with Joe…

Poor Joe.  It’s a good thing he’s in shape.  I don’t think less fit men would survive this.  Haha.

There was talk about having a “hen party” but we all decided against it.  There’s just too much to do, and the bridal shower was enough.

Joe’s off having a bachelor party.  Anathema told him “Have fun, but no strippers“, and he was actually a bit offended, because he doesn’t really like that kind of thing in the first place.  I guess it’s going to be a boring bachelor party as they go, but I guess they headed off to main event or something and are spending the evening bowling and competing with each other at silly arcade games.  Didn’t think he had it in him, but hey.  It works.

He wasn’t too offended, though.  That is a stereotypical thing to do.  But he is in the military and could get in some trouble if things get out of hand, and everyone knows better.  He did say if some woman buys him a drink he won’t refuse, but then he’ll drink it, tell her thanks, and move on.

Anathema understood.  Hey, free drinks.  Lord knows she’s had her share.

Joe’s actually pretty blunt and straightforward.  That’s a cool thing about him.  He’s the type who will come home, tell her exactly who hit on him, how, what he said, and her reaction when she realized he’s taken.  Anathema accepts that.  She trusts him enough to know that he’s not going to cheat on her.  She has a lot of hang-ups, but that’s not one.  Besides… I think she’d probably just consider it cosmic justice if he did.

That’s sad, really.

We actually had one or two otaku come up and offer money to go to the reception.  We refused, but told them we’d put the videos of the idols doing their dancy thing up after it’s over.  They seemed disappointed.  So Sabby said that if they are outside at a very specific time, she might be able to at least arrange a couple of autographs.  They seemed a lot happier.

Speaking of the idols, they are practicing so hard.  The costumes are done so they’re practicing in those, and you should see them when they get going.  The garage is a little cramped but they’re making do.  Crystal’s band is also coming over for a while in the evenings to practice too.  It’s a full house, but that’s pretty cool.

They asked if they could bring some of their friends over, and Anathema said no, it’s friends and family only.  But they get to eat some of the pastries that Baker is working really hard on, and they seem to think that’s a fair trade for how new the band is.

They had to come up with a name again, no one liked “Crystal’s Rocking Rockers” or the longer version, so they chose “Crystal Refractions”.  I actually love that name, it’s really beautiful, and it fits them.  I don’t know how long they’re going to keep it, but they seem happy with it.

Anyway…  maybe more storms tonight.  Last night was LOUD and Marie was really nervous (so was Liz, aww). So I’m going to bed.

Love you all!!! ❤️

From the creator:

Keeping this one PG rated was hard.  Just think about how Anathema used to be as cat-girl, dial it back by about half, add in some, well, “adult novelties” and a few friends who haven’t really dialed it back, and you’ll come pretty close.  But it worked out.

Anathema is a difficult character to write, and cat-girl was even more difficult, because she was so amazingly uninhibited.  It was kind of difficult to keep that dialed back because she, well…  wanted to run around mostly (if not entirely at points) naked and “be with” pretty much anything that moved.  I’m kind of glad she changed.  She’s actually easier to write now because I don’t have to actively hold her back.

Yes, the booms were loud.  The cat got nervous, and I was lucky to get the small amount of sleep I did.  Sigh.  I don’t live in Round Rock anymore, but I’m close enough that my weather is (often) their weather.

May 1, 2024

Hi! It’s me! Lily!!!

Mayday!  Mayday!  Hahah!!!

It’s May!!! Yay May!!! May Yay!!! Ummm…  Yay!!!

So things have been, well, things.  Mrs. X asked for an invite to the wedding.  Not sure why, but I asked Anathema, and she said there’s no harm, so I guess she’s coming.  I think she worked with Joe a lot – he was on her security detail, so she feels like she should come.  Truthfully, none of us thought of that.  Not even Joe.  I feel a little bad, but not too bad, because it’s not like she gives us a whole lot of options to contact her.  I know she reads this, though, so it’s not like we have the world’s most ironclad excuse…

He took a couple of weeks of leave, I guess they’re going to go on a honeymoon next week.  I don’t know where they’re going, probably not some amazing tropical paradise… and knowing Anathema, he won’t be allowed to leave the room anyway.  Or…  knowing Anathema, maybe not even able.  I’ve heard stories…  She’s almost quivering with anticipation.  She’s been taking her changed life seriously, but apparently girl’s about at her limit.  I’m going to have to remind her that it’s “I do”, not “I MMMPHHH”.

Well, I’m sure they’ll be happy together.  It’s only a few more days.  We’re having a bridal shower tomorrow…  I have no idea what those are either, but from the stories they’re telling…. I’m not sure I’ll be able to tell you all much about it. Not because it’s personal, but because I might have to make it a subscriber only post.

I saw the flyer for the concert we’re all putting together… I guess their graphic designer is a weeb.  It’s a work of art, and only somewhat in a good way.  It’s designed a little like an otome introduction screen, with photographs of all of us (they found the old publicity photos for Yuki and friends, and they took the headshot from this site…  it’s cute enough), put a high-tech background to it, and introduced us like in one of those games.  I even have “CV: Nakamoto Yuriko” under my name (where did they even find that?)  Am I the biggest fan of that?  No.  It’s even a little annoying.  But, I can see why they did.  They’re branding it “Japanese Culture meets French music”, and, well..  I guess it works.  I guess.

Diana and team have been sewing and sewing and their costumes are almost done.  They’re really cute.  You know how Crystal is kind of a prodigy at guitar?  Well, Diana seems to be one at home ec.  She can cook, design and make clothing….  never seen anything like it.  These clothes are at least as good as the ones professional designers make for professional idols or cosplayers.  I’m impressed.

Anyway…  I guess that’s all for today.  I didn’t post yesterday.  No reason, I just didn’t want to.

Love you all!!! ❤️