Just in case you care, I opened a tumblr account where I will be posting daily sketches. I plan on posting one for every day of the year. By the end of the week I will be posting over engelen_art  a collection of the sketches posted over there (plus some other more, of course).
Here's the link in case you wanna look.
engelen @ tumbler engelen @ tumbler engelen @ tumbler engelen @ tumbler engelen @ tumbler engelen @ tumbler engelen @ tumbler engelen @ tumbler engelen @ tumbler engelen @ tumbler

Everybody's doing their very own "Year-end recap," so I might as well jump on the band wagon and review my WINS this year:
- I started 2009 in France, even tho I had to leave right away XD
- I participated in a Flapjack contest and got my fanart shown on TV
- I got another short comic published on a magazine
- Got to contribute with a local newspaper on various ocassions as an editorial illustrator
- Illustrated a children's book (about 70 illustrations made in a month and a half)
- Got my first formal job (French teaching)
- Finished with the Japango program at the language center in my University (and then went on to study intermediate level)
- Won a golden medal on backstsroke swimming (newbies) for my School's team
- Designed a t-shirt that was sold at the Japanese Fair
- Cleaned the studio, which I had not done since 2007 or something like that...
- Began developing the universe for my EPIC!Story that will never be finished

And now for some MEMEs!
I always enjoy doing this one in which I post the first sentence of my first entry of every month of the year. So here we go!
( I don't think I posted much this year... )

Now, how about I post that Art Meme thing everybody's doing in which they show a summary of their art throughout 2009?

( Nor did I art constantly... )

And last but not least... While cleaning the studio, I found this notebook which contained lots of old drawings... and a letter in English about my thoughts on the new millenium.
BEAR IN MIND I WAS 12 BACK THEN, OK?
(I myself am proud at seeing how my English has improved XD)
( Please, don't laugh TOO hard... )

Alright kiddies, time for me to go get ready for New Year's Eve dinner! I'll wear a dress I bought last year, when I was 4 lbs lighter... I hope I don't look too hideous D:

So I'm back home. I had so much fun in Mexico City even I can't believe it. There was not a moment in which I was bored... AND THAT IS PRETTY MUCH IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME!!!
On our last day in Mexico City we went to Teotihuacan, the largest city in pre-Columbian times, and also one of the archaeological sites with the biggest pyramids in Mesoamerica. I had been there about 10 years ago, with Chata, and had not been back. I remember that at that time I pleaded her to let us climb the pyramids and she had said "no" because of her heart condition, but this time, I managed to go all the way to the top :D
The only sad thing about the whole trip was my clumsyness and how it made me bit the inside of my cheek 7+ times, which resulted in bleeding ; ^;

BUT BEFORE I POST THOSE PICS! I'd forgotten about this one which reminded me of alexds1 ... because of the teef, you know. :B


( CLICK FOR A SHITLOAD OF PICTURES )

Ok, so that's it. Another sad thing about the trip was that I didn't wear any sunscreen so my nose and arms ended up being all red...

Anyway, read ya soon!

Oh My God you guise!! 
I know I never posted anything about my trip last year to Europe, and I regret it, because it was awesome, but this trip has been amazing too. Seriously, I'm glad I decided to institute the JulieTour as a mandatory part of my life. Traveling is so awesome <3
Today was especially special, because I got to meet with belibeli , who is one of the sweetest, most talented people ever. We got to go to the Modern Art Museum, take retarded pictures, eat delicious Japanese food, and have a drawing party.
BUT FIRST! MY CULTURE, LET ME SHOW IT TO YOU:


( Click here for MOAR )

And now for the pics related to my amazing friendly adventure with belibeli <3

( This happened after the visit to the Anthropology Museum )

That's all for today folks!
I'm going to bed. God my legs ache D:

The guy in this video reminds me of Zuko, and I can't help it...

I'm being the Grinch this year, but to those of you who are celebrating:

Este video está lleno de verdades

All of my teachers finally posted all of my grades, so YAY! My semester is officially OVER now.

Public Speaking in English - 100 (took this subject during the summer)
Quality Culture - 100
Pragmatics - 100
Semantics - 100
Universal Literature - 100
Research Techniques - 100
Interpretation - 100
Editorial Workshop - 100
Specialized Inverse Translation I - 94
99.33

PLUS,
Japanese Intermediate Level - 86

TIME TO CHANGE THIS LJ's LAYOUT!!!

Also, I just finished cleaning up the studio. I. I can't believe it. I threw away so much stuff. So many notebooks I'd kept because of the three Naruto doodles I liked, or the bad fanfic it contained. It's like, I finally grew up. Cleaning the studio was the first step to leaving home. I have not told my mom nor my psychologist, but part of this was because I want to start preparing everything for when the times to leave home comes.
Another sign that I finally grew up is that I was finally able to change my MSN nickname. I had been "tsuku miaki" (DON'T LAUGH, I HAVE TROUBLE PARTING WITH THINGS) since I was like, 13. I think I have finally accepted that 'm an adult now... Time to start having sex! *waves panties in the air*

I should be cleaning right now instead of sitting in front of my computer, but I'd been meaning to make the official "OMG I AM FINALLY FREE!!" post. So here it is!
Anyway... 2010 marks the year that I take my life back. I'll enroll into this 2D animation course and draw everything I couldn't draw this semester. I'll also try to sleep more and eat better. I think all of that will be possible because I will be taking 2 subjects less and no Japango.
I decided to clean the studio because it was impossible for me to find anything anymore. Hopefuly, with everything in its right place, arting, etc. will come much easier (because now I'll stop having to waste half an hour looking for a marker/pencil/etc.). I'm sure I've already thrown away over 20 pounds worth of notebooks, paper, and other weird things. SO MUCH TRASH!!! (yes, I did think about recycling it, but I don't even know where I should take all of this).
So here are my resolutions for the next year:
- Weight 120 lbs
- Draw every day
- Ace all of my subjects (I always do it tho...)
- Be more organized regarding my French-teaching stuff
- Publish something (a sketchbook, whatever)
- Practice Japanese
- Keep the studio organized
- Sleep at least 7 hours every night
- Be nicer to my family
- Read

Yeah... I guess that's enough...

In bitter news: I still have not gotten paid for most of my French-teaching! They still owe me two and a half months of salary, and the worst part is, nobody seems to be able to tell my why my check has not been issued >____<
In nice news: I did get paid for the last half of November and the first half of December, so that's alright. Also, apparently I looked great today because the guy from the payment departmnet kept on hitting on me (which was a good thing, because he looked more eager to help me solve my check problems). I guess that, as much as I hate it, looking like a decent human being really helps out when dealing with annoying stuff... (as a matter of fact, I got stopped by a traffic officer because I exceeded the speed limit on a school zone, but my charming smile and some good luck allowed me to get away without a ticket nor having to bribe the man BTW: It is a common custom and a socially accepted convention in Monterrey to bribe traffic officers, actually, it is usually THEM who ask one to bribe them PLEASE DON'T TELL MY MOM!!! I WAS DRIVING HER CAR!).

OK... I'm off now, time to continue cleaning!

EDIT: apparently, the unusual light phenomenon above the Norwegian city of Skjeroy was caused by Russia's new nuclear-capable missile, which suffered another failed test launch... or so claims the defence ministry...
Although, you have to admit, it was pretty darn creepy!


NORTHERN NORWAY IS DOOMED
DOOMED!!!!


Remember Uzumaki!?
Those galaxies were the begining of the end!!!!

Or does the fact that we all saw the video mean we'll now start turning into snails and mate with our enemies!?
I DON'T WANT TO BE EATEN BY CRAZY PEOPLE WHO LOVE SNAIL MEAT!!!! T________T

The Nouryoku Shiken is tomorrow, and the cab that's to take me to the airport will be here in a couple of hours. I have not started studying yet D:
And what am I doing? I'm checking LJ and watching a Nick Original Movie titled "Gym Teacher : The Movie" starring Chris Meloni in short shorts.

What a man <3

This semester has been the most horrible period I have had to go through in my life. Starting with not having had a proper summer-break, followed by two intense weeks of children-book illustrating, eight subjects, being part of my school's swimming team, teaching French and the cherry on top that was that intermediate-level Japanese class. But it is finally coming to an end. I'm alredy done with more than half of all the classes, and today I had my LAST JAPANESE FINAL. YES. REDUNDANCY <3 It's weird. I don't feel special at all. I mean, I have been studying this thing for over three years. I still remember my first group: We were over 25 people. Tonight, only three took this final test. None of the other two guys belonged to the gorup I did when I started learning Japanese. Maybe I just burned-out and ended up having no time to feel like I'm going to miss them in the least. Whatever the reason, I AM DONE WITH JAPANESE AT THE LANGUAGE CENTER AND NOW I MAY PROCEED TO FORGET EVERYTHING I KNOW!!! NO WAIT! I still gotta remember some stuff for this Sunday's Nouryoku Shiken!

In other stress-related news, my psychologist today told me I apparently enjoy feeling mortified and on the brink of death during finals season. I had heard about being addicted to adrenaline, but being addicted to stress sounds much more stupid and like something I would do. Although maybe a better option would be for me to start practicing some kind of X-TREME sport. So, what do you think? Should I:
a) Give rock-climbing another shot?


b) Try parachute jumping?


c) Get a boyfriend?


d ) Or my favourite: Stalk famous people


(I should have worked on that Simpsons translation analysis instead of posting this, damn it! I failed again! >____<)

P.S.
tlc010 , I'll be waiting for your BEYYYYEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRMMMMMMMMMMMMM VR VR VR VRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR BROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMOTORBOAT PYEOWPEOWEOPEOWEOWEEEEOOOOOOOO DHRERERERERERERERERERERERERERRERE perahfhhhhhhhhhVROOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMASTERFUL

I know I should be doing my homework, but I just wanted to share a video that makes me incredibly happy inside:

At least I'm done with the most horrible final work I've ever had the disgrace of doing. But here it is, here's my baby: A 54-page-long touristic magazine on my city. It was supposed to be a team-work assigment, but you know that "teamwork" usually just means "shitload of work for one single person." In the end I did not sleep for two days straight, and I've still got a shitload of school stuff to do, but at least I no longer feel like dying.


It's in Spanish, but everything is translated :D You'll also get to know a little bit more about my city, so YAY!

Ok, now I gotta run prepare my suitcase. I'm leaving to Mexico City in a couple of hours.

This screencap pretty much summarizes my feelings right now. Looks like I'll be pulling an all-nighter.


Please, I need words of encouragement.

So, instead of staying home and doing all of my homework, I went to the local con cosplaying as Soldier!Howl... I've yet to finish my homework. I hate myself so much for doing these things to myself ; ^;

I haven't done any magazine-related work and that worries me (been doing other homework). The upcoming week is going to be horrible. I know it...

Due Monday: Reports on 6 poems + a Leo Tolstoi short story
Due Thursday: Final project for Semantics (analysis of personal pronouns in the English language) + Japango mini-essay + going to Mexico City.
Due Friday: Magazine draft that better be handed-in by my classmate + Appointment at the Embassy of Spain in Mexico City.
Saturday: French class

AND I STILL DON'T KNOW WHEN I'M GONNA START STUDYING FOR THE NOURYOUKU SHIKEN HSDOHAODSHOA

In other news, this video makes me happy:

I can't wait for December 12 to successfully arrive (that is, me doing all of my assigments and handing them in in time).

This is what I will be doing:
- Draw every day
- Update my portfolio and Résumé
- Go to Mexico City
- Go to McAllen
- Paint my bedroom (FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE) :D
- Install new shelves? I'm out of book-storing space...
- Clear my DA inbox
- Watch movies
- Read stuff

Yes... I can't wait <3

Have I ever mentioned how much I love planning ahead?