A week off

I had the week off last week for Fall Break. I love that about my school. They took away some of the other holidays- like labor day- and put them all into one week. So instead of random three day weekends we have a week off mid semester in the fall.

So needed. So wonderful. I spent two days up in Bellingham, WA visiting my best friend!



We've matured so much over the past few years. We spent the days together playing quidditch, watching the Lion King, and going to book stores! Nerd best friends for life.

I had a wonderful lunch with my oldest brother on Tuesday. We're trying to make it a once a month event- it's nice to catch up!

Worked. Decorated and sold a bajillion Halloween cupcakes! Anyone need cupcakes for some sort of party? I should just start a business!

Spent some much needed time with my family! I think that's the most consecutive days I've seen them for since I started school.

Went to the Holt Auction, which was incredibly fun and they raised an amazing amount of money for North Korea!



Squeezed in a trip to the pumpkin patch with my family and got some adorable pictures:











And of course spent a couple evenings with my boyfriend:



Survived my first set of midterms. Schools back in full swing now, and winter is approaching. Next week we're forecasting for next semester.. hopefully no 8 AM classes?

That'd be nice.

College

I don't know that I can write this post saying that I felt 'prepared' for college. I'm currently studying at a college known for its nursing school in the Northwest. My life has become more busy than I ever would have imagined.

I think that's the number one difference from what I was expecting coming into school.

People make all these comments about how nice it is to not be in school Monday-Friday from 8-4, but in reality I feel just as time crunched. I'm in class MWF, till noon one day, till 6 another, and till 9 another (Can you guess which one is my favorite?)

The homework load isn't horrible- as long as you stay on track for the class. I can already tell you doing 8 assignments the night before is far worse than doing 8 assignments over the course of a week. However just because I can tell you this doesn't mean I always do it. Procrastination never wears off. ;)

Teachers expect a lot more from you as a student. There's a basis of knowledge for each class the teacher expects you to either know, or learn on your own. There's no reminders about due dates for assignments- if you didn't notice it on the syllabus 2 months ago, that's your fault.

There's the classes that you could fall asleep in and still get As on the tests. There's the classes that you can take the best notes in the world for and still get Cs on the tests.

I can guarantee your teachers will all have different writing styles that they prefer. You will not always use APA formatting. You will learn APA, MLA, Chicago Manual of Style, and formatting that the teacher invented out of the pure hatred for how much effort it takes of the student.

Your essays will NEVER be two pages double spaced. Expect 3 minimum. Typically 1,000 + words.

It's midterm week and I'm venting my stress out a bit. All in all, I actually love college. It's just a little shocking to adapt to the culture of it all. And it's truly nice to feel like I am finally learning things that I can apply to the real world and my job in the future.

Except Philosophy. I don't think I can pretend to benefit from that class considering my dislike for it. Just saying. :]

And what's truly making this experience worthwhile is the new friends I'm making. Definitely a bonus. And the old friends I'm reconnecting with.



And I thank god for the people in my life that keep me grounded!




Just a few of the many. Shout out to my little sisters who listen to my advice, complaining, and singing as they help me clean my room.

Countdown

Life right now is beyond crazy. School, track, and work occupy nearly all of my time. And generally in that spare moment of free time that I DO have, I'm either doing homework or tryig to squeeze in some quick time with friends.

Lately I just miss being home. By the last week of our trip to China, I was so ready to be home. And ever since we got home I feel like I'm still not home yet! I'm playing catchup in school. I'm trying to get back in shape in track. I'm ready to just have a day at home.

I think we're all feeling this way to an extent. Being out of the country for nearly three weeks gets you behind in EVERYTHING. Speaking of which. I am certainly behind in laundry.. still!

Fortunately, I have things to look forward to that keep me going!

- Track meets.
- Prom
- GRADUATION.
- Summer!

I've decided that this summer I'm doing everything I've been wanting to for years! Taking road trips whenever I have the opportunity. I've already got a list of places I hope to get to this summer!

Tonight we switched beds around. I've had a queen bed in my room- which, as much as I loved it, took up half of the space. So we put Alex's loft bed in and it's already making such a differece!

Anyways. Tomorrow consists of a makeup Econ test. An actual Econ test. Preschool. And finding out how I did on my makeup Calculus test.

Can it be Friday yet?

A bad name

I think all of us track runners give track a bad name. Probably because we all complain so much.

In reality? I'm pretty sure most of us can't live without it.

Here's where my frustration comes in. Remember how I was sick last week? Well I still am. So. Despite my detest for the doctor, I decided to go today to save my mama from worrying about me still being sick in China (t-minus 8 days!!!!!!).

So I went to the doctor.

And you know it's not starting off well when his response to you is something along the lines of "Well.. I mean.. it's not exactly normal. So we'll try out this medicine."

Medicine with a side effect of tightened tendons. Meaning no running/jogging/physical activity for the week.

Meaning no running/jogging/physical activity for A MONTH. Since we'll be in China the next 3 weeks. UGH!

This is 3 seasons in a row that I've been out for a week or more. And the season just barely started!

Anyways. I should go to school since my appointment ended a little while ago and I'm supposed to be teaching my pre-school class today.

Frustration.

:[

All I want

Is another hot bubble bath.

Today I feel like this.



And it's AWFUL.

There I go complaining too much again. But whatever.

Overall a decent day. Didn't do much in school. Started reading Crime and Punishment.. took some notes.. almost fell asleep in Nursery..

And my legs feel like Jello after track today. Boo.

One of these days I'll actually post about something. For now it's kind of nothing. But at least I'm getting back in the habit.

My one thrill of the day? I've finally stopped biting my nails for long enough that I was able to paint them. First time since summer. Lol. Yayyyy.

Tomorrowww-- Pancakes with my girls. :]

Today

I hurt.

First day of track practice. Awww man. Don't get me wrong- track is my favorite sport. Period. However, it kills your body. So today my legs moved far too much for their liking and my lungs worked a little too hard for being croupy already.

I complain too much.

On a lighter note.. hmm.

In Econ today, my teacher mentioned a tater tot eating contest he'd had with my brother. Ahh I always loved that story.

Saw an old family friend at our school's basketball game today! And also got to go with my Dad, brother, and boyfriend.

Picked up a book I've been needing to get at Barnes and Noble. Unfortunately it's Crime and Punishment. Dense reading here we go.

That's probably about it. I'm trying to work out going to the Taylor Swift concert next fall!!! Crossing my fingers. That's like my dream- she's my all time favorite performer!

Anyways. Not a lot to talk about tonight. I think I'm going to go take a warm shower and then climb into bed. With about 15 blankets. Because it's FREEZING here.

I either want snow or sunshine.

The latter sure sounds wonderful at the moment. Can it just be summer already?

The joys

Of stress.

Today I'm home sick. Only not home from school, nah that's no longer allowed! I'm missing too many days of school when I go to China to take sick days!!

In 15 days I will be on an airplane to Seoul, Korea, followed shortly by another long plane ride to Beijing. 15 days! That's crazy!

It's hard to believe that my beautiful little sister whom we know only through brief letters and photographs will soon be joining our family.

I remember the day we met Luke at the orphanage. His big almond eyes. His excited babble to his friends. His utter joy at the bubbles we were blowing to entertain him.

How quick we all bonded. I can only hope that with my new sister the bonding will be as instantaneous, but there is always fears of a more difficult struggle. Though no struggle is insuperable.

I haven't begun packing yet. However, I'm sure I will soon. Two weeks from tomorrow. Sheesh! That date sure snuck up on us!

Yesterday I made some cupcakes for some friends at work. They turned out pretty well for being spur of the moment!

I've also been making bows lately in excessive amounts to take to China with us. Sometimes when that creative flow starts it just doesn't stop!

I turned 18 this past Saturday, and spent a wonderful day at work(partially), with my family, and with my wonderful boyfriend. I haven't really worked out a birthday party yet- China's been creeping up on us too fast, but that'll get done eventually.

Things are crazy. Life is pretty good.

Hopefully I'll blog more. :P

Finally time

To play catch up.



You know how they always say senior year is supposed to be easy? Whoever said that lied. I've never had a more stressful year in my life to say the least! But I'm halfway through- just three and a half more months and that part of my life will be done.



So here's kind of an update on life:



I'm working at a local bowling alley- I have been since mid-June. I love the job, don't get me wrong, it's just a lot to add to my schedule. Sometimes I go two and a half days without seeing my family just due to the hours I get home at!

My family is traveling to China in a month! My whole family. We're crazy. My new little sister will probably be completely over-whelmed, but we're all so excited!

I'm going to be pictured in the March edition of Super Models Unlimited magazine, all thanks to my wonderful modeling company Woobie Wear!

I got accepted to my first choice college and got a wonderful scholarship! Unfortunately, the school is private and price-y but the scholarship definitely helps! I was also accepted into the school's nursing program, which is what I was hoping for. I'm hoping to become a pediatric nurse after college, hopefully in a hospital. I don't have much of an interest for working in a doctor's office.

I was able to keep my GPA first semester, let's see if that works out this semester as well since I'll be missing two weeks of school while we're in China!

But anyways. Despite the decent amount of snow that's been falling here all morning, school has not been cancelled and it has started to rain now. So I should probably head off and get ready for my quiz in Calculus.

Yuck.

Silence explanation?

There is none.

I'll be back to blogging soon- once time seems to allow it.

Hopefully I'll have a real post up this week! Stay tuned.

Touch of an angel

Lately, my brother's girlfriend- who is a dear friend to me- has been going through a very hard time. After a rough night last night, she was touched today and the story she told me literally sent goose bumps up my spine. So I will share the story.

A 70 year old man came into where I was working today and asked to use the phone. I allowed him to, and after making his phone call he came up to me and began talking. He spoke of God, saying I needed to trust him. He told me that good things happen to people even when times are very bad and I shouldn't be scared. He asked me if I had let God into my heart yet and I didn't respond. He proceeded to take my hand and pray for me, asking God to protect me. He said that God sent him, and he was an artist. He looked at me and told me I was a lost soul right now and that God would lead me. He said God won't take anyone to heaven if they aren't ready. He then wrote down a few verses on a piece of paper and went to his car, getting me a bible. I was so frustrated with what had been happening, and then today this man came in. The verse was about how I call for help and get no answer, and I'm asking for God to save me. He looked at me again and said how much I need God and he knew that this moment would change my life.

I've never personally experienced an encounter with an angel. Saying this, you always wonder if encounters do exist. But I now doubt nothing. My faith has been renewed.

This man KNEW what was occuring in her life. What she was feeling. What she needed to hear. It's not coincidental.

God works in mysterious ways. Every day he reveals his magic in beautiful experiences. I'm so thrilled to know that my brother is up in heaven with a man who can change so many lives and support so many people.

Essay procrastination.

I'm currently writing an essay based on a piece by Annie Dillard. No offense to her- I highly enjoy her excerpts. I just hate the prompts I get about them.

So. I'm currently 100 words short and not wanting to finish! WOO! Yay for procrastination. Oh and did I mention that I got this prompt a month ago? Oh yeah- it's also due tomorrow. And I started three hours ago.

You probably think I should just finish it. I probably should. I simply have a hatred for this type of writing.

Why do I dislike it so? I'm a creative writer. I write to please, I write to entertain, and I write for my own enjoyment! I like to use pretty words, extend my thoughts, typical writing stuff.

What do I not like? Guidelines. Exact guidelines. Writing tight. Writing 'right' according to AP standards. I honestly do not care how Dillard's diction contributes towards the title of her piece! Do you?? NO!

Sigh. I'll finish at some point or another. I'd say I'm hoping for an ice storm tonight so it won't be due tomorrow. But I can't even hope for that since we turn essays in online.

On a lighter note, I just got a little modeling job! Not a big deal- actually for a children's company but the owner is hoping to extend to teens. My favorite part? I get to keep everything I model with! The company is called 'Woobie Wear'- their website is woobiewear.com. Check it out! I'll make sure to put up a few of my first pictures once they're taken!

I think I'll get back to writing that pointless essay of mine. Sigh. I'm ready for senior year already!!

Going Crazy

I strongly dislike school. -.-

I loved it back in the days of elementary school. I hate it now in the days of two hours of homework a night highschool. Combined with two hours of soccer practice. Plus dinner squeezed in there somewhere.

So my current schedule??

6:30-Wake up
7:45- Leave for school
8:30- School starts
3:30- School's released
4:00- Soccer practice beings
6:15- Soccer ends
7:00- Dinner and shower
8:00- Homework

And then bed whenever the latter is finished. Gah! It's a pile up! The class currently killing me is AP Language. It's a college level writing course that you think you're plenty prepared for until you take it.

Lets just say average scores in this class currently should be a 3 (The highest you can get is a 9).

A 3 is a D.

I'm currently holding onto a 4.0. So when papers are handed back with a 3 written on the top?! Yesterday we got back our first essay and I got what was basically equivilant to a 79%.

Which is considered good. Which is hard for me to deal with. Gahhh!

On the better side of it I have some pretty good classes. People Assisting the Community (PAC), is a favorite because it's really helping me get set up for college as well as do interesting things. Currently we're designing a 'living funeral' to go along with a book we're reading.

Child services- My focus program- is another favorite. I mean come on. Who doesn't love working with 4 and 5 year olds for two hours every other day? :]

And of course. BioChemistry. :] Call me crazy but it's a love. We just finished inorganic and are back on to organic, which I understand so well. Currently we're naming conbustion alkane reactions. Sound like fun??

All in all I'm a little stressed. Extremely busy. Hoping to post more when I get a chance?? Homecoming was last weekend and this weekend I'll be hitting the football game tomorrow and working at an auction on Saturday.

However no school tomorrow. I love 3 day weekends.

Back to school... FASHION EXTRA!

Haa. Couldn't resist. I am my mama's fashion designer. So on today's episode, I'll give you a peek into my wardrobe! :P

Tip number 1- If you're trying it on in the store and you have that 'eh..' moment once it's on. Do. Not. Buy. It. Trust me on this one. You can have the 'eh..' moment while it's still on the hanger, but if you experience it while the item is on, you don't love it. Therefore it is not worth your valuable money. (Or your mom's...) Otherwise here's what happens to those clothing items...



And they stay on that shelf!

Tip number 2- If it doesn't fit quite right, don't get it! If you want to buy it because you feel like it'll fit better in a few weeks when you lose those summer couch potato pounds, resist the urge. Uncomfy clothes are definitely not worth it. And if in those few weeks you do manage to lose those pounds, go get it then- when you deserve it!

Tip number 3- Is it really worth the money? And I mean this quite honestly. It's okay to splurge on items that you will wear repeatedly for more than one season. I ask my self 'Will I wear this for as many days as it is dollars?'. And in addition to this, look for something similar at a cheaper price.

My favorite stores? Forever XXI, Target, and Old Navy. Adorable clothes for ridiculously cheap prices.

Here's a few of my deals for back to school:



$22



$12



$15



$8

Oh. And one more little tip.. So I don't make myself sound so hypocritical. It is okay to buy something a little crazy and fun. Even if you know you'll look a bit ridiculous. That just makes it all the more tempting right?? But only do this oh so often!

When I saw the boots I couldn't resist.. despite that they really don't match anything.



But the satisfaction of wearing them around Party City today?? Priceless. :]

I love

Blow out football games.

27-0 last night. :]

Boo.

I'm taking a break from all this boring school work! I have one more assignment but I really just have no motivation to finish it. Ha!



There's the first of four pages of my essay which is thankfully finished!

Sooo. Since it's my break I decided to do a back to school post! Yay! Today was Freshman Orientation day. We welcomed them wearing colorful 'Hello my name is...' t-shirts and then split off into groups with themes. My group's theme was.....





Wizardsss! I'm fairly sure those hats we wore provoked at least a few laughs from our quiet group of kiddos.

However tomorrow is my first official day of school. While I was always a child that loved school, once I started coming home with assignments that involved more than writing one page or connecting the dots my love faded. I still do enjoy it- especially the social aspect. And at the end of the year, I feel accomplished for what I achieved. However, the school year for me seems to be full of constant stress, procrastination, and lots of days spent miserably sick at school because I have classes I'm unable to miss.

So tomorrow I begin day one of my most rigorous year of highschool. I'm entering myself into a year of one AP class and 3 honors courses. But school supplies wise my mommy has prepared me well!



Okay. You can laugh a bit. I can't help it; i'm a child at heart! I love pulling out my cars notebook on the first day of school and walking into the classroom with a Go Diego Go backpack on. They're conversation starters! So as I head off to school tomorrow wearing an elementary school kids backpack on my back, remember something. Sometimes to get through all the stress of life you've got to be able to laugh a little. So add a funny keychain to your key ring! Don't be afraid to have a little fun!

Where's Waldo?

Well. Where have I been is more like it! I can't even come up with excuses for not blogging lately. I've just been gone everywhere!

The last few weeks I've been going to soccer practice. Note that last time I blogged I was going to volleyball practice??

Well. I played soccer from third grade on with the same girls, up until eighth grade where I played rec with my team, indoor two weeks after, classic a week later, and highschool just a few weeks after that! Mind you it starts to wear you out after awhile! So last year I made the switch to volleyball but the sport was never quite the same for me. So after discovering a brand new mysterious pair of cleats in the attic I'm back out on the field coming home once more covered in turf and bruises and I am loving it!

Additionally, the last few days have been filled with my procrastination. So here goes!

AP PROCRASTINATION SCHEDULE!

-Friday: Begin reading one of the two books which I have had all summer to read and start analyzing it. Handwrite out 'One-Pulse Words' short essay(Describe August 8th using only one syllable words).
-Saturday: Read 'Living Like Weasles' by Annie Dillard and follow through with the Summary, Translation, and set of 10 questions (Which took me 4 hours). Make sure to finish book started (Doing School) and start on Umbrella topics in relations to that. Read 'Z' story and write the responding 'E-E-Easy does it' short essay(One where you must describe elephant without using the letter E) Also print off e-mail from teacher due on the first day of school.
-Sunday: Read Jonathan Kozol's short story and do responding SOAPSS and DIDLS charts. Write 5 paragraph essay on Charity: Is it right for teachers to use as a bribe? Finish Umbrella topics response to 'Doing School' and read 'Eats, Shoots and Leaves' as well.
**NOTE on sunday- Don't forget- Target school shopping with mom and go and buy theme items for Freshman orientation on Tuesday.

Monday- Finish whatever I don't really do on days planned!!


Okay. It's my fault that I waited so long. I got the assignment in June. But what teenager wants to spend there summer reading about how humans should live like weasels and books on punctuation and why school is stressful?! Not me!

So here's what my day consisted of today.


(Two of these)


(Seven pages of this)


(And reading these!!)

However. Only 5 things left to be checked off!! :D



On a lighter note, we had our first football game on Friday night! Despite the fact that we lost it was just fun to be around so much energy and spirit again and see my boyfriend play! :]

I love getting dressed up for the gamesss!



Well. I'm off to go do more AP homework. Yayy for my procrastination!!!

Yeehaw!

My aunt and uncle hosted a wonderful 'Hoe Down' party in celebration of their 20th wedding anniversary. I have to admit-- me and the girls had quite a time starting up the line dancing!



I was also able to meet many cousins, second cousins, great aunts, uncles, etc. that I had never met before which was awesome! Though I'm fairly sure I missed out on like a family gene. I mean seriously- my hair is died blonde right now.. but amidst all these blondies I sure look like I have dark hair again!



Overall it was great getting to see so many family members and just spend hours dancing to a live band with everyone from my papa to my cousins! I can't wait for the next time we're able to get together again. :]



I'd blog more but I'm off to clean more house before our house warming tomorrow! Woop de doo!

I Promise

I'm not relapsing into my old blogging habits! I'm still here!

I've been at a hoe down, volleyball practice, babysitting, and my big camping trip for the year. Oh and hanging before me still is an upcoming party and a two packet AP assignment. AH.

So things will be a little out of order but in this post I'd like to share something very important.

Through NHS, I was asked to work at a benefit concert supporting finding a cure for JM. I went into this honestly having no idea what JM was or how we were connected with it.

The concert was amazing. And my heart goes out to the little boy named Mason who was able to attend. Mason has been battling JM for a few years now and has made some great steps recently. At the end of 2008 he could no longer control his wheelchair. Last night he was able to thank us for helping and was once again in control of his wheelchair. He's going home from the hospital in two days.

JM is Juvenile Myositis. It is a disease that affects muscle control, causes lung and heart problems, and severe fatigue. You can read up more on it at it's website- CureJM.com

There are also two heart warming songs located in the Right column. "Hope and Prayer" is sung by a girl I use to go to school with, and "Miracle" I heard preformed last night and it was very heart touching.

So here's to Mason, our hopes and prayers for this boy who is a living miracle.

View his story here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1T86xM3RFw

Pick me up!

Ah. Lovely Summer mornings. A light breeze coming from open windows and a soothing fan blowing in my ear. The perfect way to wake up. Oh wait. HA! This morning I was woken to a little boy throwing off the covers and climbing out of my bed. Wait a minute, isn't this the boy who normally sleeps in later than me?



It figures that the one morning he wakes up at 8 AM is the morning after he slept in my bed. And despite my love for my new bedroom, the many windows are a curse at those early hours in the morning. They let in a wee bit of light.



That's thrilling to wake up to! So. The combination of going to bed at near midnight and being woken up at 8 AM (Not enough sleep for a teenager!) leave me in dire need of a summer pick me up!!



(So I sleep in my Gryffindor shirt... shush.) Therefore the decision was quickly made. I needed to go get coffee. Ah coffee. Such a beauty, love, adoration. And as of lately my favorite is Dutch Bros! It's a drive thru and despite that it's a little farther than the Starbucks located around every corner, it's well worth it. The people that work there are energetic and funny and their coffee is cheap. Today they asked me a set of comical questions.



1. Does your van ever end?

2. It seats HOW many people?!

Ah the joy of seeing the boy working there lean out the window to hand my my White Mocha Freeze, pause, and look back to see that my car (which I was sitting in by myself) took up their entire painted Drive Thru lines.

Oh the wonders of coffee and how it can make you go from drab to fab!



Disclaimer- Coffee does not cause fixed hair and a change into nicer clothing. However it can cause hyperactivity which can also cause confidence boosts. WOOOOOOOOOO!

Summer lovin' !!

I spent the day today at my summer "job"-- the sweetest thing alive. I get to spend a few days each week babysitting two kids at the perfect ages for fun activities! While the morning hours are exhausting to wake up to, the afternoon ones are exhausting to come home from. However well worth it.

Today, after sitting around and reading at their house until the kids woke up, we made blueberry pancakes with their massive amount of blueberries. I've never been a huge blueberry fan but those pancakes were good! And due to my miscalculation of how much batter I was pouring into the pan I managed to make a big fluffy pancake the size of the plates we were using, which had us laughing for a while. I'm pretty sure the boy managed to eat about a third of it.

Afterwards, we went on a bike ride around the neighborhoods and wound up going at least two miles. Okay okay, it's not a ton, but hey- that's some nice excersise for the day. Made me feel rather accomplished actually. And after that we swam in their pool for awhile. I'm actually starting to achieve a rather decent tan. Which, considering I got my mama's skin tone, is a big thing for me.

So now, after a little nap to make up for the energy I spent today, I'm off to hangout with my boyfriend. I'm loving summer '09. :]