Mr. Thunder Dance 2013

I figured since I posted this pretty much everywhere else, might as well post it here. These boys are so amazing and I'm so impressed by them. The Mr. Thunder Pageant is April 23. So excited. I'm sorry for my spastic screams and laughter. Also I recommend you watch it in HD.

Shout out to Taylor, Max, and Dave!

Sadie Hawkins

Today is the last day of finals for this semester. There are still 40 minutes left in my Spanish class. I'm SO glad because my government teacher isn't making the midterm count for our grade this semester. So my grades will be pretty good on my transcript for this semester.

I've been stressing about scholarships. I'm going to get at least one just for my test scores and GPA and all that but I need to make some more things happen. I know it'll be okay though. I'll try and save up as much as I can over the summer and I'll likely get a little extra for graduation.

In other news, I have a date tonight! That's exciting... It's Sadie Hawkins tonight so I'm taking him on a date. We're skipping out on the dance but we'll get dinner and I want to go ice skating. Hopefully I won't make a fool of myself. I've been trying this new thing lately--not giving a shit. It's been working pretty well so far. :)

This picture has nothing to do with this but I like it.

Swap

I actually switched out of Writing 121 and into AP Literature. I can't get college credit for WR 121 and there's really no point. Plus, who wants to buy a $120 textbook. Just thought I'd mention that. Oh, and I'm thinking of joining Drama Club! And maybe softball...

Schedule 2012/13

Period     Course                                         Teacher

1             OPEN

2             Human Anatomy/Physiology          Colquhoun

3             WR 121: English Composition        Bedsworth

4             AP Calculus                                 Quick

5             Spanish 4                                     Gromme-Clark (Profe)

6             Summit Chorale                            Jacot

7             AP US Government & Politics        Smith

I'm very excited. :) This is probably the best schedule I've ever had, and I have 7th period with Christian, Max, and Taylor. My last class with either Christian or Taylor was in sophomore year and I haven't had one with Max since 7th grade. I also have 4th period with Max. I'm going to enjoy that open first period. My last open block was also sophomore year and it was just one semester. This schedule is all year. Ee! I'm so stoked for this year!

Moments of Pride

I learned how to play Mad World on the piano (Gary Jules), and it's very easy to play but still--great song. Also I'm drinking tea. I don't like tea. This stuff is good. I made myself drink it 'cause I'm sick and have junk in my throat and I have to have a clear throat so I can sing in Fiddler on the Roof and tea's good for that. It's almost 1 AM...I'm really just rambling right now. Today I helped Kate set up her basement for her party on Friday. We painted the walls black, or at least added another coat, and splattered neon paint everywhere. Also there are black lights and strobes, and we hung sheets and Christmas lights all over the place. It looks amazing. I'm excited. Also, I finished my homework for AP Calculus today (reading the first chapter) so now I just have to make a chart of political issues and write a paper on who I'd vote for and why. :P Blurgh. I don't even care about politics. I have 11 days to write that, clean my room, clean the bathrooms (because I'm weird and am getting OCD about them), and wash/clean my car. It's been gathering filth all summer. Darn...I'm out of tea. I want more. :( Maybe I'll clean my room tonight. I often feel jealous towards other blog-writers. They all seem so intellectual. I don't even try very hard to have exceptional writing so it just sounds like me talking. In other news, I asked a cute guy for directions today. I know him from school and I saw him on the way to drop a friend off at her friend's house. He smiled at me as I passed him. Then on the way back I stopped for directions because I actually needed them. I never talk about guys on here. I don't see why I shouldn't, at least little things like that. It's just something in my life, and here I go rambling again. I think I'm really tired. I have a lot of laundry to put away and some is in the dryer. At least tomorrow I can sleep in. Oh! It's Keala's birthday! She's 7! Gah these kids are getting so old. And geez, so am I. I've heard that the last year of high school is loads of fun and it goes by fast. It's a bit frightening, but I'm mostly just extremely stoked for it. I can't wait to see what happens to all of our lives, even if I'll be sad to say goodbye to people. I'm gonna be so sad next fall... But that's over a year away. Wow this is a random one! I'm gonna make more tea. At least now I can bring it to rehearsal and stuff since I know I like it. Well, this kind anyway. By the way, rehearsals are SO much fun. We rotate dancing, singing, and acting the last 2 hours of the day. Dancing is my favorite. It's going to be so great! I've invited a bunch of family to come see the show in October. I can't wait to get totally done with all the songs so we can practice with the band/orchestra in the pit. My, my I say I've written enough for one post, especially since this is so all over the place. If anyone still reads my blog, please feel free to comment so I know you're there... Even if no one does, I'm not going to stop posting! :)

Salmon

Well, to refresh things since my last post, I got straight A's but my AP Exam score was crap. I realize now that I'm just not good at taking big pressured tests like that. I'm at about the same intellectual level as my friends but they all did better on the SAT and the ACT. At least most of them, not totally sure. And the AP Exam for that matter. I get A's but those tests just kill me. Lame.

Also, I've decided to go to community college for a couple years before transferring away. In the end, if I'm going to learn the same things at both schools but one is way cheaper, I'm gonna go with the cheaper. Plus it would mean I wouldn't have to move away for a while. I want to live in the dorm though just to get that experience and be on my own, doing my own thing.

I'm hoping that this year I get an open 1st period. Plus it would give Jake more reason to hurry and get a car and a license and stuff since I wouldn't be driving him to school. That is, if he doesn't also have an open 1st...I'm going to switch out of AP Lit and into Writing 121 because at this rate I won't pass the AP Exam and I'm going to end up taking Writing 121 eventually anyway. Plus I wouldn't call myself much of a reader. Also I won't have to do summer reading. Yeah.

 In other news, I've been making more money doing random jobs and babysitting than my regular job. Things are slow during the summer. Also, starting the 13th until the end of the month I won't be working at all. I'm going to visit Maya in DC and then I'll be doing Fiddler rehearsals. I should probably take a look at my lines and the songs...

This summer has been great so far--Kacie came to visit from Texas last month and we took a family trip to the coast. And a lot more is to come!

(Jake and I went out on a boat at the coast and caught salmon!)

Summer!

Whoop!!! It's summer! We just got back from camping for a few days. Maya came with us. We took the boat out onto the lake (Lake Billy Chinook) and found a nice big cliff to jump off of. Jake and I never had before and it was seriously scary. But YOLO. I kept straight but I was tilted slightly backward when I hit the water, so I have a nice big bruise from my upper right thigh to my butt. The worst part was that my swimsuit just about cut me in half. It was a good experience overall though.

The next day, yesterday, we found a spot and Andy set up a zip-line. It wasn't very successful though and I zip-lined into/through a tree. My legs are all scratched up...oh well. :)

Jake, Maya, and I are all going to be in Fiddler on the Roof this fall. I'm so excited. I'll be playing Chava, the third daughter. I fall in love with a Russian guy who isn't Jewish and it's a big deal.

It's weird to have to make plans to see my friends all the time. It still hasn't really hit me that it's summer and I'm a SENIOR. In less than a year I'll be graduating high school. Geez. I'm still trying to decide if I want to take a year off before college. I've got a pretty good plan for after high school, I just need to figure out the nitty-gritty stuff. It's all kind of scary to think about, so I'm trying to hold off a little until it gets closer to all happening...I've started figuring out some things to take with me when I leave home. I have a box of kitchen stuff. I think I'm mostly worried about being homesick.

I should get my report card in a couple days. I'm hoping for straight A's...these would be the best grades I've ever had in my high school career. :) Kind of exciting. I should get my AP Exam score sometime in July. I hope next year is a good one...I would really love it if the drama would just go away...

Musical

My has it been a while...My junior year of high school is almost over. I made new friends, had new experiences, and it's very hard to believe now that I'm almost a senior. I'm quite exhausted right now--very long day. Basically what's new with me is that I'm auditioning for the school musical, Fiddler on the Roof, on Monday. I'm very excited. I've never been in a real play before, and especially not a musical, so this will be a very unique experience for me. Also this evening I dropped my phone in the river. Fantastic! I'm about to fall asleep...Perhaps I'll write some more again soon and it won't be 5 months later...

Update

Alas, we are heading into midterms and the end of the semester. It will be nice starting fresh though. We just have to make it past the wonderful finals. There's a boy's basketball game tomorrow, which will be my first one this year. I find them just so fun. :) I sort of just felt obligated to write tonight. Nothing significant or exciting has really happened for a little while and I don't want to talk about the weather.
Last night my aunt Elissa had a baby girl, Pearl! She is so beautiful. I can't wait to meet her. My other cousins, Noe, Keala, and Koa came over this afternoon and I participated in a pretend ball. I let them put make-up on me and I got all dressed up and they did the same. Then we danced to classical music. It was splendid. :)
Sometime next week or this weekend I need to take my form down to the district office and sign up for online health... I am determined to suck it up and get it over with. That way next year I'll be able to have an open block for the whole year. I have a bit of pressure from one of my friends to try out for the other jazz choir at school, but if I did (and actually made it in), I wouldn't have any open block--totally full schedule like this year. I kind of want a little bit of freedom in my senior year. I'm shooting for an honors diploma. All of the classes I'm planning on taking anyway lead to it...except science. I could just go without a science class next year (preferably) but I have to have 4 years of it for my plan to take place. So I'll take forensics. It's way easier than physics, and there's no way I'm taking that.
Anyway, I'm done blabbing now. Perhaps there will be something amazing for me to write about soon.

Plans

Luckily the thing with my car window only lasted a day. Andy pulled it back up pretty easily. I'll just have to open my door when I buy gas.

I've been getting very excited because I've pretty much figured out where I want to go to college and what I want to do. I want to go to COCC for the first 2 years and get my general eds out of the way. Then I want to go to Western Oregon University. My plan is to major in American Sign Language/English interpreting and minor in Spanish. They have the best ASL program in the country and I know I could have a very solid career as an interpreter. I'd get to have flexible hours and I'd see all kinds of different areas--anywhere that they need an interpreter. By areas I mean different fields. I could have my own business! I really love sign language and I'm really excited to learn.

I'm taking the PSAT on Saturday at 9. I have to be there at 8:30, though. I've had a pretty fun time recently, teaching my friends how to dance. West-coast swing. I'm no expert but it's so enjoyable to teach them and see them improve. It's in preparation for homecoming. I won't be going but I know they will have such a good time. Next week is spirit week! School is always much more interesting around homecoming or different events. The whole place seems to wake up a little more and it's sort of a different experience.

I'm hoping to connect a bit more with some of my friends...

Wow, I haven't written this much in one month since March!

The semester is over...

We have no school tomorrow because of it. :) I'm kind of surprised that the year is half over. I start 2 new classes on Monday: Guitar Americana and Intro to Art. I decided that I'm not going to work tomorrow. I'm not on any schedule so it doesn't matter. Winter formal is next Saturday. But it's not a formal, it's just a white-out. Winter non-formal that we wear white to. It's ok though because formals are expensive! Which is why it's not a formal. Anywho, I am just rambling because it's been a little while since I've posted. I have a bunch of Val-o-grams to sell or send. They include a song sung by a group at my school, a box of chocolates, and a rose. They'll be going all over town to deliver them. :) I've been thinking about auditioning for one of those choirs and today I found out that I'll have to do a pretty prestigious audition. I'll have to sing a whole jazz song a cappella. I don't even know any jazz songs. Well, I probably do but didn't realize it. Still. Auditions are in April so if I want to do it I'll have to do some preparing.

Duct Tape

It's spirit week this week! Yesterday was twin day and Kate, Jake and I were triplets. It was pretty great. Today I wasn't feeling it and didn't dress up for opposite sex day, although I realize now that I could have. But I made up for it by participating in the competition between the classes at lunch. Yesterday there was a rap-off but only freshmen and seniors did it. Kate signed up for the one that happened today but the person who was supposed to do it with her bailed. So I joined her! She had to rap me in duct tape with the sticky side out. Some people tossed candy all over the floor. Then I had to roll on the floor and pick up as much candy as I could. It was so fun! It was really hard to turn sometimes because I would stick to the floor. I had to stand up once so she could reapply duct tape. When the time stopped, Holler had to help me up because I couldn't get up. My hands were trapped in front of me and my hair was just all in my face. It took a long time to count all the candy and it was even harder to get the duct tape off. We got some scissors but Officer Maunder had to use his knife to cut me out. At the end, the freshmen got 11 pieces of candy, juniors and seniors both got 44, and we got 45! We got to keep the candy we grabbed. Although a lot of it was squished and some of it broke open. We were so proud! Tomorrow is career day and I'm gonna be a barista. (A person who makes and serves coffee) I have a Starbucks apron and I'll wear my hair in a loose bun-thingy. Thursday is superfan day and Friday is class colors day. We're green. The homecoming assembly and game are then as well. Saturday is homecoming. :) Great week.

Zoom Zoom

I pretty much like my schedule a lot. But I have a good day and less good day. Biology, choir, history, and PE. Less fun. Math, open block, Spanish, and English. Fun. Still, times are good. Tomorrow I'm going to a football game. I missed the first one so I'm excited to go to one. There are only 4 home games this year. :( Homecoming is October 2nd. I'm excited for that too because I missed the first dance, which was after the first game. I was in Macminnville with Kate.
Speaking of Kate, since she broker her knee, she got a wheelchair at school and a lot of the time I was pushing her. She would say "Zoom zoom" and I'd take off running. It was really fun and people would dodge out of the way. One time, I zoomed and swerved too fast and Kate almost fell out of the chair! D: It was a bit scary. I didn't zoom zoom since then. But luckily the doctor told her she can walk on it now! Woot!
I have a ton of math homework. I ought to do that now...

Schucks.

Tomorrow is my first day of school. Jake went today for freshmen day. Tomorrow is just starting right up. Not as much fun as freshmen year. It'll probably still be fun though. Seeing who's in my classes. However that could be bad too... I got all my school supplies and stuff ready and now I'm trying to make sure the bus stop is still that same.
I decided not to change my schedule. I talked to a bunch of people about it and I'm guessing that they just decided I didn't need to get an audition. She heard me sing in guitar class last year and said 'It would be great to have you in choir!' And I can do those other classes next year. Besides, I emailed my counselor and the first things that are being changed are classes that are the wrong level. Well schucks. I'll just try and have fun in choir.
I'm really excited for school though. Tomorrow I'll go to biology, choir, ap euro, and PE. I'm glad I have PE d block again. Then I won't be sweaty for any next class and I can just go home.
Owwwww...I just tripped up the stairs.

Mostly good day

Today was the storm starter day. Rae, Kate and I woke up at 6 this morning to get ready to go. We left the house at like 7 and went to Kate's house. Then around 8:30 we left for the school. I was so tired. I saw a bunch of my friends and was generally very happy. I got my schedule and it's really messed up. I'm going to get it fixed as soon as I can.

Semester 1:
Biology 1
Adv. Algebra 2
Women's Vocal Ensemble
AP European History
Spanish 2
PE 2
Lit & Comp 2 Honors

Semester 2:
Biology 1
Adv. Algebra 2
Women's Vocal Ensemble
Americana Project
AP European History
Spanish 2
Intro to Arts
Lit Comp 2 Honors

How it works is every other day you have a different round of classes. There's green days and silver days. I wasn't supposed to be in women's vocal ensemble because I didn't even audition so that's not right and I'm going to get rid of it. Ugh...
In the first semester I have an open block on silver days during B block. However I need to add Health 2 in there. I also want to add Ceramics 2 to the schedule. I'll be quite an artist this year. And I want to change one of my teachers. I really hope I can get it changed soon. I also got my yearbook and locker with Jake. My friends' lockers are all pretty close so I'm glad about that.
Kate left then, and Rae, Jake and I walked all the way from the school to downtown. Like 3 miles. It took about a half hour. My feet were killing me. I was wearing my converse allstars and my heels were totally chaffing and they hurt so frickin' bad. They still do. We had Soba and then walked over to the loft and hung out there for a few hours. I took my shoes off when we got there. Then Jake went home and Rae and I stayed there for a while waiting for her mom. We went and got some hot cocoa and walked to the library. I couldn't put my shoes on because it hurt so bad so I was walking around downtown with one shoe on and holding the other one by the laces for a while. It was pretty funny. I was just surprised her mom didn't say anything about it.
I really hope I can fix my schedule. School starts on the 7th for the freshmen and on the 8th for everyone else. I'm pretty excited.

Almost back to school

This weekend my mom went to a blue grass festival so my brothers and I are staying at our aunt and uncle's house for a few days. It's nice seeing them. They're going on a sabbatical soon so we won't get to see them for a while. I've been mostly just doing summer reading and being sleepy. I don't really know what to do. I might hang out with people tomorrow or Monday or something. I'm pretty bored right now. I'm getting through my books though, for which I'm proud. I just have A World Lit Only By Fire and The House on Mango Street, and I'm already about 90 pages into the history one.
We're going to go to the school on the 1st to get our schedules and yearbooks. I'm pretty excited. I also can't wait for Jake to come to high school. I'm going to be a really nice sister so he won't be too happy when I graduate and leave. It's too bad I won't ever be in the same school as Joe anymore. He'll be a freshman the year after I'm a senior.
I think this year will be much better than last year. I made a bunch of friends last year and now I'll get to enjoy them all year. I met Kate, Riley, Coleman, I strengthened some old friendships, and I'll probably make a few more friends too. Plus Jake will get to meet all my friends and get to know a bunch of 'cool' sophomores. It'll be cool to see him at school again. I'll try to never embarrass him and I'll give him his space to be a high schooler. It truly is a great time of our lives. :)

Gist of the Year

Since school's over, I forgot to say the gist of my freshman year.

I came to high school. I kept many friends, met knew people, made new friends, and lost a few. I learned some Spanish, got pretty good at ceramics, learned the guitar a bit, and got straight A's at the end. I got better at snowboarding and softball and decided I want to do cross country next year. I rearranged my room about a million times, and got rid of a bunch of crap I didn't need. For the most part, I didn't care what people thought of me. I just had fun. I played piano in the band room and someone started drumming along with me. I got up during lunch and joined a spelling bee competition between the different classes. I got the freshman 2nd place. I learned some songs on piano, watched new movies and geeked out on books. I dressed up for spirit week, went to football and basketball games, and had fun at dances. I rocked out to the school band, considered joining dance team next year, then changed my mind. I don't think I cried during class at all except a little watching the Gandhi movie. I became comfortable talking about nearly anything with my friends and...well women. I picked classes for next year, wrote in my journal a lot, wrote on this blog, and went on facebook a lot. I fell over countless times, got new music, and gave many hugs.

Trip

Today in science before the bell rang, I walked in to the room to go to my seat. My friend Ian was joking around and blocking my way. I tried to quickly maneuver around him. My foot caught on the table's leg and I fell right on the floor! Lots of people said "Woah!" I tried to lessen my embarrassment by looking at Ian with a "what the heck?!" look. Michael was laughing but was also saying, "Geez Ian you didn't even say sorry!" Of course it was my fault and he knew it but he ended up apologizing anyway. I hid my head in my backpack when I got to my seat after tripping because a lot of people were laughing still and looking at me. It was definitely my most embarrassing fall, I'd say. It was really funny though.

Mean Teachers

Today in history a kid got caught for the umpteenth time with his ipod touch. And it was taken away for the umpteenth time. Mr. Munson got really mad and said, "You are such a bad student!" I was quite surprised at him. Then in Spanish Mrs. Sweet yelled at Kyle. She was explaining our final and Kyle was talking. She said "Kyle! Stop talking! You'd be one not to realize the paper had two sides!" I could see that he felt bad from that. I wasn't really surprised by Mrs. Sweet being mean but still! When did teachers get so mean?

Finally

School is almost over. 11 more days. But by the looks of it they're cutting two days so it'll be 9 days. Finals are coming up. I have all A's so I think I'll be fine. I'm going to California shortly after school gets out and I'll be gone for all of July. I'm going to miss my friends so much but it'll be great to see my dad. He's finally coming back from Iraq.