So... Senior Year. Hmm. I'm not sure how I feel about it. I don't think it's really sunk in yet. I mean, I've been saying "YEAH! SENIOR YEAR!" with all of my friends but I haven't felt any rush saying those words... I blame college. You see, I spent my entire summer at UCLA taking Japanese. It was a lot of fun and I made a bunch of friends that I will never forget. Everyone there was already a college student (yes, I was the lone high schooler- or as my friend Sean preferred to call me 'kid' *READ MINOR*) so it was nice to talk to people with the same level of maturity as me. My sense of humor, however, is a whole different story.

Oh yeah, college. So applying for it will be the death of me. Seriously. It's way too intimidating and I have absolutely no clue what to do. People keep telling me to research and I HAVE. It's just so damn overwhelming...ack. I don't want to think about it anymore.

On a completely unrelated note, I GET TO SEE BLINK-182 THIS FRIDAY!!! sl;dkfja;ldskfja *spazzing* It's going to be so nostalgic listening to their songs again.

...and Arashi. Wow, I could spend days or even years talking about how great they are. My best friend can attest to that statement. Their 10th year anniversary was September 15th. Those 5 dorks debuted on a cruiser in Hawaii back in 1999 and I know as pathetic as it sounds, I get a little choked up every time I start thinking about it. I mean seriously, they worked HARD to achieve to the success they have now. They were thrown together without knowing they'd debut (I mean seriously, Aiba found out 3 days before the freakin' PRESS CONFERENCE) and actually WORKED for their success. They wanted to make Arashi something they'd be proud to be a part of, so they did things their style, their way. Even if it meant not filling up seats in concerts and having low record sales, they wouldn't use the 'sexy' factor that most boybands rely on. In case you're reading this and didn't know. Yes, Arashi is a boyband. I know. But seriously, they flipped my misconception of idol groups upside down. You see, these boys (I'm sure they'd rather be referred to as 'men' but I can't do it. They're too adorable and childlike for me to say it) are the most honest, caring, genuine, stupidest, sweetest, most loving, funniest, pure-hearted, curious, happiest, strongest people I've ever met. From Aiba's stupid dry ice experiments and hyena with asthma laughter to Ohno's art, dancing, and random comments to Jun's performance in Hana Yori Dango and dorky/cool/unwavering care to Nino's acting, pranks, and composing to Sho's choice of pursuing college and being a newscaster, they've always done things their way. They've broken the mold in every sense. Honestly, they're like regular guys that happen to be unbelievably talented. The best part is that they're actually FRIENDS. They don't fake their friendship. It's 100% crack-filled love. They worry together. They smile together. They cry together. They laugh together. They truly care. I think that's what draws every fan in. They have this unwavering love and support that is so open and welcoming that you can't help but fall for them. Now, they are the most popular group in Japan, have a global fan-base, and Arashi is one of the biggest groups in all of Asia. They've broken record sales history and are now the only group to ever perform at Kokuritsu 3 nights in a row (in case you don't know, that's where Japan hosted it's Olympic games) and now performs in front of MILLIONS (<-- that's a big change from a couple of thousand if you ask me). In celebration for 10 years of happiness, Arashi wrote the song "5x10" for their fans.

5x10:

A few years after we met
It seemed like it had been chance
And before we knew it it's been ten years
The balloons flying high in the sky
And together as a delicate five we boarded a rocking boat
"Just laugh, surely our dreams will come true"
The days in our past when we told ourselves that are all in our hearts now

There were days when we felt nothing but impatience, anxiety, or anger
But because you were there for us and your smiles were so warm
We managed to come this far with your hands at our sides to hold along the way
Even with this time we've spent together, somehow
Even now we still are just humbled

The wind we gathered within ourselves, the unbearable sadness
Because you were there, we could turn it into smiles

The poorly tuned harmonies we sang so innocently
have seen many different worlds
And before we knew it,
they had become who we are now

We genuinely cried (our fullness in our love to you)
We genuinely laughed (besides words we have nothing else)
We genuinely worried (we'll sing it again)
We genuinely lived (with all the love that has grown around us)
Now, we can stand tall with pride.
We genuinely cried (our fullness in our love to you)
We genuinely laughed (besides words we have nothing else)
We genuinely worried (we'll sing it again)
We genuinely lived (with all the love that has grown around us)
Now, we can stand tall with pride.

If there's no path nearby that you can take step by step
Then all we can do is to walk the path we believe in
If you should ever cry then we'll meet here again
This love is unchanging, we'll send you nothing but love
And together we'll wish for a future for you
Use the wind to cross the mountain ahead, you can fly
And we will paint what's around you with our colors

By ourselves we glanced up at the sky
Were you looking at it too?
Then face the sky and sing
Yes, with everything you have.

We seriously cried (our fullness in our love to you)
We seriously laughed (besides words we have nothing else)
We seriously worried (we'll sing it again)
We seriously lived (with all the love that has grown around us)
Now, we can stand tall with pride.

As long as these voices we've shared don't disappear
We can swear to hold on to this love even 100 years from now
And we pray that you'll still be smiling then

It's always, always in our hearts, that's why we want to try and show it to you
Thank you... "From now on as well, thank you"

We're standing here now,
able to shine because you're there
The five of us are here, we'll always be here

We'll turn everything up till now into our strength
And if it's wrapped in our unchanging love
Eternity, you see, eternity
Was born just for you and I

La La La La
La La La La
Love, love for you

They've hung out with grandparents, gone to the zoo, smelled 11 year old food, helped the disabled, babysat and played with toddlers, sky-dived to see if a wet shirt could dry on the fall down, helped transvestites confess to the guys they like, raise lions, had a sea urchin vs chestnut showdown, aided an abused wife, played random minor sports, and have even saved a girl from committing suicide. They are so random and I love it. They love Arashi just as much as their fans and it's nice to know that they are still the same after all these years. They were these 5 scrawny teenage boys that had to deal with teasing, failure, and loss and despite everything, they smiled through it all. Their strength is inspirational and keeps me going everyday and all I can say now is...

...Thank you.

嵐、ありがとう。出会ってよかった。