I'M BACK. Wow, my last journal was full of drama... it's about time I took it off the page. My life is a bit lighter than that at the moment, for which I'm rather grateful.

So, first things first. My apologies to all the people I have not replied to/commented on/just failed at communicating with while I was away. Please don't take it personally - I am rather lax with that kind of thing at the best of times, and when I'm traveling I might as well be on the moon for all the connectivity I have with the rest of the world. (, you in particular have been abused in this category. I'm writing a massive email to you at the moment... hopefully you can forgive me again!) I'll try to catch up with everything soon.

I've been to Wales and China this summer for various reasons... Wales for a poetry workshop (we affectionately called it Geek Camp) that turned out to be an absolutely amazing experience, filled with people that I was really able to connect to in a way that I can't with many people. Expect more poems from me soon, it really got me inspired. My family and I went to China together as a holiday, which was... interesting, although I was certainly ready to leave after three weeks. Well, the Great Wall was cool, at least. Everything is so old, it really is amazing. And the Chinese actually invented a lot of things hundreds and in some cases a thousand years before they showed up in Western countries (which proved to be a bit of a blow to my half-American pride ).

Also, how's everyone's summer going? I hope the year is treating you all well .

So... quiz! tagged me a while ago, but I never put it up...

1) Full Name: Mintaka. With two names before that and one name after.

2) Male/Female: Female

3) Were you named after anyone?: My first name after my grandfather, second after my aunt, and third after a star in the Orion constellation.

4) Does your name mean anything?: Lots of things. 'Belt' in Egyptian Arabic, 'Region' in Arabic, and (apparently, according to a Syrian friend), a very nasty insult in a particular Syrian dialect.

5) Nick Name(s): Taka, Minti.

6) What do you think you look like... name wise?: Hm... Anna, maybe?

7) Date Of Birth: September 13th.

8) Place of Birth and Current Location: Germany and the UAE.

9) Nationality: By blood, almost everywhere. By citizenship, America and New Zealand.

10) Astrology Sign: Virgo!

11) Chinese Astrology Sign: Rooster

12) Religion: Atheist.

13) Whats your favorite smell?: Baking bread.

14) Political Position?: Democrat/Liberal.

15) What do you prefer to drink in the morning?: Just water.

16) Hair + Eye color: Blonde and brown.

17) Do you look like anyone famous?: I've been told I look a little like Naomi Watts, Julia Roberts, and Hillary Clinton. Who knows?

18) What do you look like?: Depends on where I am.

19) Any unusual talents?: Define 'unusual'.

20) Righty, Lefty, or Ambidextrous?: Ambidextrous, though I favor the left hand.

21) Gay, Straight, Bi, or Other?: Straight.

22) What do you do for a living?: I babysit and look after pets for spending money.

23) What do you do for fun?: Play piano/guitar, write, read, surf the internet, sing, doodle.

24) What are your favorite art materials to work with?: Pencil. Although I suck.

25) What kind of materials would you like to work with?: Eh? Paper.

26) Have you met your grandparents?: All except my dad's father, who is dead. Both my grandmothers are lovely, but my one living grandfather is a total asshole.

27) Boyfriend/Girlfriend: Not at the moment. Well... sorta. We'll see when the summer is over how the situation is. But probably not.

28) Crush: Yes... please don't remind me.

29) What celebrity would you date if you could?: Heath Ledger! RIP, my friend. As for living... Johnny Depp or Alex Pettyfer.

30) Current worries?: My SATs coming up, waiting for GCSE results, and wondering if my crush reciprocates (don't worry, I'm perfectly aware of how lame that sounds ).

31) Favorite online Guy/Girl(s): I love you all... but Dave wins the 'guy' position.

32) Favorite place to be?: An ocean bay. With internet.

33) Least favorite place to be?: Hospitals. I frickin' hate them.

34) Do you burn or tan?: Burn, mostly.

35) Ever break a bone?: Nope!

36) What is your favorite cereal?: LIFE CEREAL FOREVER

37) Person you cry with: I try to cry alone, but usually Emily.

38) Any sisters: One younger. I still love her, despite the annoying sides.

39) Any brothers: No (which I'm a bit thankful for).

40) Any pets: None at the moment, though I'd love a cat.

41) An Illness: No.

42) A Pager: No.

43) A Personal phone line: No.

44) A Cell phone: Yes, but it's super old.

45) A visible birthmark: On my palm.

46) A Pool or hot tub: Neither... I prefer swimming in open water.

47) A Car: Hah! I wish.

48) Personality: Rather shy around people my own age, intelligent, quiet.

49) Driving: I'm learning at the moment.

50) Your clothing style: Jeans and whatever top is lying around. Usually a singlet with some sort of jumper or shawl covering my shoulders.

51) Room: White with walls covered in comics/pictures/postcards/posters/fans.

52) What’s missing: Tranquility.

53) School: Right down the road from me. English curriculum.

54) Bed: Extra comfy.

55) Relationship with your parent(s): Much better than most teenagers, despite the occasional disagreement (usually regarding my curfew).

56) Do you believe in yourself: In some aspects of myself, yes.

57) Do you believe in love at first sight?: Absolutely not. Lust at first sight? Yes. Infatuation at first sight? Yes. But not love.

58) Consider yourself a good listener: I do.

59) Have a future dream that you would like to share?: Just like MicrosuedeMouse said... I want to be an author.

60) Get along with your parents: Yup.

61) Save your e-mail conversations: Yup.

62) Pray: Hardly ever. If I do, it's to any god that's out there, not just one.

63) Believe in reincarnation: No.

64) Brush your teeth twice a day?: Yup!

65) Like to talk on the phone: No. It encourages awkward silences.

66) Like to eat?: Hell yeah.

67) Like to exercise?: I actually kind of do... I guess I like the endorphine rush at the end.

68) Like to watch sports?: No chance in hell.

69) Sing in the car?: Along to songs I like.

70) What is a dream that you have all the time?: Usually me trying to find something in a maze.

71) Dream in color: Always.

72) Do you have nightmares?: On occasion. Usually my dreams are just really random.

73) Sleep with a stuffed animal: Not anymore... it bothers me to have something else in the bed.

74) Right next to you: Left – pile of work to do and books. Right – bedside table.

75) On your favorite coffee cup?: Don't drink coffee.

76) On your mouse pad: Just black.

77) Your favorite flavor of gum?: Strawberry.

78) Your brand of deodorant?: Nivea.

79) Your dream honeymoon spot: Haven't really thought about it. Somewhere near the beach.

80) Your dream husband/wife: I have very high standards.

81) Hiding in your closet?: HAH I JUST CLEANED IT OUT. So take that, monsters!

82) Under your bed: Again, just cleaned .

83) The name of one of your closest/best friends?: Emily.

84) Your bad time of the day: Any time before 8am.

85) Your worst fear(s): Fire and my family dying. Also, never making a difference.

86) What's the weather like: Freaking hot.

87) Your favorite time of year?: Autumn/tail end of summer.

88) Your favorite holiday?: Christmas and Halloween.

89) A material weakness?: My computer.

90) The weirdest food or drink that you like: Peanut butter and nutella sandwiches. God, they're good.

91) At the top of your "to-do list"?: Look for universities, study for SATs, and finish several stories.

92) The hardest thing about growing up: Realizing that you'll never get the time of your childhood back.

93) A pet peeve?: People who leave their iPod headphones in when talking to you. My best friend does it and I love her to pieces, but it's just plain rude. Take them out and actually listen to what other people are telling you! RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! *huffs*

>.>
<.<

Well, now that's over...

94) Your scariest moment: Not sure.

95) Your attitude about love?: Not going out of my way to find it, but I'll be happy when it comes.

96) The funniest or most desperate thing you've done to get the attention of the opposite sex?: Had a shot of vodka. Never again. Ever.

97) The worst feeling in the world: Guilt and jealousy. They just eat at your insides like acid.

98) The best feeling in the world: True friendship.

99) Who sent this to you?: Got tagged by *MicrosuedeMouse

100) Send this to 6 people: Hmm...
,,,,, and

Have fun!