Hi minna!

This morning my alarm was ringing at 4 AM....
Time to get up for the first On-line Social at the OS Forum!
(And GOSH it was so early o.o I just slept two hours!!)
But I really enjoyed it.
It started at Noon - Tokyo Time, a chat to celebrate Shuns birthday.
People from all over the world came online at the same time (just different timezones)!
From Japan, Singapore, UAE, Czech Rep., Holland, Canada, FANGIRLS EVERYWHERE!
All united by our love for Shun Oguri. And it was really really cool. 

We talked about everything, from snow, alcohol (I drunk too much Baileys at Christmasday) and hours of sleeping (I had too little) to Shuns movies. 
I'm looking forward to the next project and on-line social ^.^
I just hope I don't have to get up so early next time.
Thanks for everything girls!

Bye, Catharina

"Sinterklaas, Sinterklaas en natuurlijk Zwarte Piet"
St. Nicholas is pictured in medieval and renaissance paintings as a tall, dignified man dressed in red vestments carrying a Bishop's golden crook. Zwarte Piet is depicted in garish Turkish garb with bright red lips and a gold earring. The legend describes St. Nicholas and Zwarte Piet traveling from their home in Spain across Europe helping the poor and bring food to children. Through the ages, the story of St. Nicholas astride his white horse with this helper Zwarte Piet grew into a tradition to celebrate the feast day on December 6th. St. Nicholas travels to Holland on a steam ship from Spain. He would leave in mid November and arrive on December 5th. Just in time to place small gifts and treats like pepernoten, chocolate initials, marzipan figures and fruit.In the past, St. Nicholas carried a Birch switch used to punish children who were naughty and Zwarte Piet was said to put bad children in his sack or would leave them a lump of coal in their shoes instead of treats. Today, St. Nicholas is portrayed as a more gentle figure and Zwarte Piet is a jokester.

Sinterklaas comes to North America
The tradition of St. Nicholas came to North America with Netherlands Protestant Settlers in New Amsterdam, now New York. At that time, the gift giving at the celebration of St. Nicholas' feast day was separate from the celebration of Christmas on December 25. It wasn't until the publication of "twas the Night Before Christmas" by Clement Clark Moore that Santa Claus as a "jolly old elf" with reindeer was born. The Santa Claus legend has helpers who are elves and also know "whose naughty and nice".

"Sinterklaas Kapoentje"
Today children in Holland still look forward to the arrival of St. Nicholas. Children are told that St. Nicholas is very busy and has many helpers who dress like him and Zwarte Piet so that no child is left out. Children place straw or carrots in their shoes for Schimmel and St. Nicholas replaces these with gifts and treats. Adults will also exchange gifts and usually attach a funny poem or verse. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day is celebrated with family gatherings and meals rather than gifts. Although some Dutch people will exchange gifts at that time as well. Another part of the fun is how presents are hidden or disguised. Recipients often have to go on a teasure hunt all over the house, aided by hints, to look for them.

"Oh, Kom er eens kijken"
They must be prepared to dig their gifts out of the potato bin, to find them in a jello pudding, in a glove filled with wet sand, in some crazy dummy or doll. Working hard for your presents and working even harder to think up other peoples' presents and get them ready is what the fun is all about.

"Hoor wie klopt daar, Kinderen"
In other countries where there are people of Dutch heritage, the tradition of Sinterklaas lives on. In our town, St. Nicholas comes to visit with Zwarte Piet and children sit on his knee and are asked if they have been good. Zwarte Piet always tries to put one of the children in his sack, but always lets them wiggle out again. Treats of pepernoten or ginger snaps, chocolate and candy are given to each child. In many homes that tradition of exchanging chocolate initials of the first letter of each persons name is continued. And we look forward to all the treats available during Sinterklaas time like almond rings (rich pastry wrapped around almond filling) and marzipan (almond confectionary molded into fun shapes). This year, why don't you celebrate Sinterklaas with us. It is a fun family tradition for adults and kids alike.

Thanks to The Dutch Market.

Wednesdays always seem boring to me.
Pretty stupid, because it's the most busy day of the week.
Horseriding, violin lessons, dance lessons and so many hours at school.
Maybe it's 'cause the weekend seems so far away.
Erhm, I don't even have inspiration to write something fun on LJ.
I dunno.
Bye.

A post about the 'Hand-thing' of Nakatsu.
Can't help it, but I have to write about that.
It's soooo funny ^^
Anytime he thinks of something, he shows this really weird expressions like this:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=R7NUz0k-bBg&feature=related
Did Ikuta Toma come up with that ?
Or is it also in the manga?
I haven't read the manga YET (shame on me! shame on me!)
I really wanna read it, but I have no idea where to buy it.
Didn't see it in any manga shops I lately visit.
To bad...
Anyone European knows where they sell it?
Please tell me!!
Bye, C.

I'm fangirling someone new...
Mizushima Hiro
GOSH he's so hot!!
I really liked him in Hanazakari no Kimi Tachi E ....
He's looked so cool there.
Now I just googled and wikiëd him, and he's becoming better by the minute.
Please check:
http://pali-mari.livejournal.com/32498.html
for his photobook.
<33
Sorry for this useless message.
Bye, C.

This week I have three exams I really have to pass.
Physics, Chemistry & Economics.
While studying I always listen to Asian music, because I don't understand a word :D
What makes me really happy is the music of Ai Otsuka.
It's so cheerfull (but I'm not sure what the lyrics mean). 

Unfortunately, I'm totally NOT concentrated.
I don't know why, 'cause I really wanna study (to get good grades).
It's weird... and so frustrating!
Like, reading a sentence a thousand times.
AAH, I really can't stand that.

I'm gonna try again.
Please wish me luck.

Bye, Cath.