First of all, I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas! I know I did. The best part was having my oldest brother home from college (and he still doesn't have to go back for another week! ). I also got some really nice presents (books ftw!), and am now the proud owner of another two armadillo plushies, for a grand total of 16 armadillos (some of which are figurines)! <:8(|||}~~

The big hit of Christmas morning, though, was the present that my brother and I bought for the rest of our family. We decided to combine our presents this year, for two reasons: 1. he's really bad at picking presents, but I'm good at it; and 2. I didn't have any money to buy them myself . We managed to find a pick up a few individual presents at Borders, but nothing that everyone would like. So we eventually ended up at Walmart the day before Christmas Eve, desperately hoping that we'd find something. We were thinking about getting a Wii Fit, and looked at them, but then we glanced at the other side of the aisle, where the musical games are displayed... and there it was: The Beatles Rock Band for Wii, special edition box set, with limited edition instruments. It was the only one left. The hardest part was getting that big (and heavy!) box out of the store without our brothers seeing it.

They loved it! I'm not sure if they were that happy when they first got the Wii itself. And I don't think they even really knew who the Beatles were a week ago. They were just happy to get a band game. And it's such a fun game! I'd seen the trailers and thought it looked pretty cool, but I didn't know how fun playing pretend drums would be until my brothers talked me into playing with them. It's seriously my new favourite game, and I'm trying to get a Wii Points card so I can get the rest of the available songs.

It's also really great seeing my brothers and sister all get along and play one game at the same time (or, they will all be playing at the same time, as soon as we can find another guitar). I also must admit that I like seeing them enjoying listening to something besides rap music! Their favourite songs so far are 'Revolution', 'Yellow Submarine', 'Back in the USSR', and 'I Want to Hold Your Hand'.
Secondly, it's John Denver's birthday!
Thirdly, HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!
Enjoy your Twilight Zone Marathons! Also, a head's-up for Doctor Who fans, BBC America is supposed to be having a 48-hour DW marathon starting, if I remember correctly, at midnight tonight. It's supposed to cover 10's entire run so far, ending with the two-part finale of this year's specials. I don't have BBCA, but I figured I'd let you all know about it.

See you next year, everyone!

Here's some great holiday and winter-inspired artworks. Check them out!

LoveNeverDies.com has made a new press release announcing the full cast of the new Phantom sequel. Up till now, we've only known the identities of those playing the lead roles of The Phantom and Christine Daae (Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess, respectively), but now we are able to tell you that the following actors will be filling out the rest of the cast:

Joseph Millson as 'Raoul de Chagny'

Liz Robertson as 'Madame Giry'

Summer Strallen as 'Meg Giry'

Niamh Perry as 'Fleck'

Adam Pearce as 'Squelch'

and Jami Reid-Quarrell as 'Gangle'

(These last three being 'narrator-type characters', possibly part of a Coney Island freak show.)

Also included in the cast will be: Derek Andrews, Dean Chisnall, Helen Dixon, Lucie Downer, Paul Farrell, Charlene Ford, Chris Gage, Lucy van Gasse, Celia Graham, Simon Ray Harvey, Jack Horner, Erin Anna Jameson, Pip Jordan, Jessica Kirton, Louise Madison, Janet Mooney, Colette Morrow, Tam Mutu, Ashley Nottingham, Tom Oakley, Mark Skipper, Jonathan Stewart, Tim Walton and Annette Yeo.

For more information on all the actors involved, and to see what other productions they've been a part of, visit the original press release, here: [link]