Another Two Years...

It has been another 2 years. I think this might be becoming an annual thing. =)

Too many things to count have happened. All I can really do is list a few. Lets see...well, first of all I made it into Penn State University Park! I'll be attending in the Fall of this year. It's kind of my guiding light right now. Must get to Penn State!

As you may have guessed I'm in my senior year of high school, and it's as stressful as ever. I still have my avoidance problem when it comes to homework. Some may call it procrastination, but even procrastinators get the homework done eventually. I don't; and that is a major problem, especially considering the fact that my parents are spending thousands of dollars to send me to an institution where my success depends on my self-motivation. The thought "I'm doomed" has crossed my mind more than once.

On the other hand, this year has been better than previous years in many ways. First, I recently re-connected with an old acquaintance of mine by chance and ever since we have become really good friends (her initials are S.L., that's all I'm going to give). It was rather unexpected, but in the absence of my dear friend Megan who went off to college, it was very welcome. I also re-connected with a couple of other girls from middle school, so my friend support system is the strongest its been since...well, elementary school really. So, on that front I'm doing pretty well.

I did eventually get my driver's lisence around July last summer, so I shared the Volvo with mom until she got her own car soon after the school year began. then I totaled the Volvo in an accident in November, where, thank the lord, no one was harmed. It wasn't until quite a few weeks later that I recieved my new (used) car, a mint green Malibu, which I love to death, even more than the Volvo (though I miss the heated seats).

It wasn't even two months later that my uncle passed away, a few days after Christmas. He was sick for a long time; he was a heavy smoker and could no longer breath without oxygen. On bad days he would bemoan his continued existance saying "I want to die!" But I think he was afraid, in the end. He was buried the day before New Years. It was the saddest New Years I ever experienced in my life.

I don't know how to continue on without being disrespectful...but I still have more to say, so you'll have to bear with the contrast.

My ongoing addiction to reading in general, and fanfiction in particular, has been going strong, unfortunately. I've had the unique opportunity to observe this particular sickness from its origin, even the exact date I succumbed, by reading my previous posts. It's not fun to know that you have an addiction problem, but I suppose of all the things I could have become addicted to, reading really isn't so bad. At least my vocabulary has increased, though reading fanfiction hasn't really helped me in that.

This year I actually got to choose most of my classes, so I took Creative Writing 2 and Journalism, both of which I love! CW2 is run by the most interesting teacher I've ever come across, Ms. K, who also teaches Women's Voices, which I also loved (surprisingly). So, in summary, I've found myself writing more creative pieces than ever before, playing around with my own writing "voice" in the beautiful notebook that my mother made for me (probably the greatest Christmas gift EVER). Journalism is fun, but mostly because I get to read the newspaper every day. I've never been more informed of current events than this year, and I like the feeling. I might become a dedicated newspaper customer in the future.

Let's see...oh yes, I joined the Marching Knights once again. Of course Mom was against it, but it's my senior year and I doubt I'll play in the college band (though I heard it's really good). This year our show was Beethoven Unplugged and we played variations of some of his most famous pieces (Moonlight Sonata as the ballad). It was fantastic! I couldn't have hoped for a better show to end my time in the band. We even won medals for third place in the pre-lims for a BOA competition. Unfortunately, we never got to participate in the finals because we were rained out. In fact, it rained for most of our competitions. We could proudly say that we could play better in the rain than most bands, and that's saying something!

Oh, and last summer I got a job as a lifeguard for the local pool. I bestowed the name "The Summer of Work" to the summer of 2009 for that reason; I literally worked all summer, 6-8 hours almost every day. It was great, I actually got to work with my peers and whenever it got too hot, I could just jump in the pool! I'm also going to work there this summer if all goes well.

The biggest events in the immediate future are the senior trip to Disney World and Universal this weekend, the prom, graduation, and Europe. I actually have a date to prom! We're going as friends, but still; it should be fun! Plus, I've also got a limo. My family's going to Europe right after school ends. I can hardly wait. It's been my dream to visit Europe for many years.

Well, that's the update. I don't think anyone actually reads this besides me; but then again, this is mostly for myself, a diary of sorts. Though I save my more personal thoughts for my beautiful new journal.

Until next time!

It's been almost two years...

The last time I posted was in my Freshman year of high school in my middle school. Now, I'm about to start my Junior year. Sophomore year was fun, but very stressful. I never really broke my night-owl habit, so waking up at 5:30 in the morning was quite the challenge. I'm finally done with Spanish! Oh, and the real kicker is that this year, I finally made Wind Ensemble.

Last year I joined the North Penn Marching Knight program, and I must say that it was awesome! We won a ton of awards and practiced every waking moment to get them. Literally, all I had time for was homework, marching band, and sleep. We kinda became a cult. It was a great experience. Unfortunately, my grades took a severe plunge due to this experience, and so my parents forbid me from joining this year. On the brighter side, I got a job at a florist shop. The hours aren't that good, but the people I work with are really nice, so it makes up for it. Plus, the florist is walking distance from my house, so I don't have to rely on my mom to drive me.

Speaking of driving, I just got my driver's permit and started to learn to drive. It's fun, but scary. You're acutely aware that you are driving an extremely heavy object at over over 20 mph. You could easily kill someone. It's nerve-wracking, but I need to drive so I can get a better job, and also so I can get a parking spot in Senior year. =)

Well, that's pretty much the highlights of my school year. Nothing much happened because Marching Knights took up most of my time.

As for this summer, my family and I went to San Diego, California. It was a lot of fun, we went to Universal Studios and rode on their new virtual reality Simpson's ride. It was very realistic. My dad loved it. The only downer was that I got sick, sunburnt, and stung by a bee within the course of the four day trip. Really, I think San Diego is out to get me. =)

Well, that's all folks. Until next time!

P.S. I just got facebook. If you know who I am, say hello!

Snowboarding, Impressions, and Dissapointments

It's really amazing, how impressions and opinions differ between people.

Just recently I've taken up snowboarding with the Ski and Snowboard Club at my school. For the past few trips I haven't really hung out with anyone. Sure, I talked to people while I waited for the bus to pick us up, but as soon as we reached the slopes, I'd always strike out on my own. Last Friday, I met this kid, two years younger than me and we hit it off, not right away, but eventually. My first impression of him was a very loud, obnoxious little boy, but like most kids his age, he kinda stuck with me and I discovered he was very much like my little brother and his friend. They were all obsessed with video games, and they were all obnoxious. So, anyway I very much enjoyed talking with my young friend, and it was a nice change of pace having someone to hang out with on the slopes. He reminded me so much of my little brother and his friend that I couldn't wait to tell them about him. My little brother didn't know him of course, he goes to a different school, but his friend did, to my shock he hated him. In my mind they were so similar, I thought they would have already been friends, but my brother's friend absolutely loathed him.

Which brings me back to what I stated earlier, It's really amazing, how impressions and opinions differ between people. If you think about it, how we feel about certain people depends on who we interact with daily, who we've associated ourselves with our entire lives, and who our parents have forced us to interact with. First impressions mean everything because who knows when you'll see the person again, and what situation it will be. In my opinion, most first impressions are false. Most people are so nervous about making a good first impression, that they end up blowing it. My new friend may have given me a bad first impression, but as we talked, I grew to associate him with my little brother, and grew to like him. I'm guessing that my brother's friend must have associated my friend with his sister, whom is quite obnoxious when she wants to be, thus instantly disliking him. Although first impressions are usually false, we base much upon it because without recognition we might as well not exist. Scientifically, to a girl in China, who doesn't know of my existence, I don't exist, so that's why we strive to make a good impression to as many people as possible, so that when our existence ends, it affects people and leaves its mark.

On another, morbid note. I didn't get into the High School Wind Ensemble. I tried many times to tell myself that I never believed I'd get in, but that's a lie. I expected to get in. I think that's partially due to everyone assuring me that I would. So, when I didn't, I was bitterly, bitterly disappointed. Clarinet is one of the few things that I'm halfway decent at, and I blew my chance at joining the greatest band I had ever heard. Yes, I was and am, very disappointed.

I've been having a bad week.

The only good thing I can say that came from this week was that I got to snowboard with my little brother, and I can control my board much better. There were a lot of people sitting in the middle of the slope and I was weaving between them. It was so exhilarating, the control I had over the board and the knowledge that I was getting better at something. It was so much fun. Plus, I loved doing something with my little brother. We don't do much together now a-days.

Until next time!

P.S. My mom took my Twilight and New Moon books away from me as a punishment months ago, then forgot where she put them! I am so furious with her. I WANT MY BOOKS BACK!

Whew, ok see ya! =)

Filling the Time Gap and Wind Ensemble Auditions

I'm sorry it has been so long!

I've just been very busy!

Ok, lets see. Just to be brief, Christmas was good, and my New Year turned out to be ok too. I find that each year New Years becomes less and less exciting. I mean, now It's not unusual for me to stay up till one to two in the morning on the weekend, so staying up till midnight has kind of lost its luster.

Anyway, for the present I must mention the fact that I tried out for the High School Wind Ensemble a week or so ago. The band teachers at my present school make the Wind Ensemble in the High School sound like the band for gods, so needles to say I really wanted to get in, and also needles to say I was dead scared of messing up the audition. So, in my desperate need to find out whether or not I really had a shot at making it, I went to my Band instructor and requested he listen to the piece I planned to play and critique me. I don't know if it was because it was early in the morning or what, but my Band instructor is extremely harsh when it's one on one. Did I mention I have an intense fear of playing the clarinet alone with someone watching, well yeah I do, so you can probably imagine me coming apart at the seams and making stupid mistakes when Mr. Band Teacher went mean. But, seeing my fear, my band instructor decided I needed a confidence booster, so he informed me that I would be playing my audition piece in front of the entire class. All by myself. Looking back now, I see that there really wasn't anything to worry about, nothing was at stake, but that didn't stop me from having a panic attack. Surprisingly, when the moment came, I actually played my pieces satisfactorily, which gave me the confidence I needed to play well during the audition. I don't know whether I made it yet or not, but even if I don't I'd like to give a big thank you to my Band instructor for helping me out!

And here I went and wrote a whole paragraph. =)

Oh and by the way, I was right, I AM a fan fiction fanatic! I can't go one day without reading one. I think it's one of those crazy fazes I go though sometimes. I hope I snap out of it soon. Yesterday, I read fan fictions for five hours straight without realizing it! Like I said, INSANE!

Anyway, I'm working on writing a fan fic myself. It's going to be a Twilight one, and I think I'm going to make it depressing, yeah depressing. Somehow when I write horrible, depressing things it makes me feel happy, and yes I know I'm insane. XD

So, now I must go complete that mountain of homework that is calling my name in an evil, EVIL voice that promises much suffering and anguish. =)

See ya!

Fan Fictions and YouTube

Today I have discovered fan fics!

I'd heard about them before, but now I've actually read a couple from Maximum Ride, and one was AWESOME! XD It's just like an extension of the story, the plot is great, but I have to wait to get the next chapter, Grrr. =(

Today (being most fruitful) I have also discovered YouTube!

I checked out some Naruto clips, and the one with all of the kid scenes in Naruto was sooooo sweet! =) I like seeing Garra as a kid, he's evil and yet adorable (holding his little teddybear while killing people).

I decided to check some fan fics because one of my friends said they were awesome, and I heard of YouTube in class (they were all in disbelief when they found out I'd never heard of it). I checked them both out and now that I have, I must say that I can't believe I've been missing out, I could spend hours reading fan fics and watching anime on YouTube! =)

Well got to go, the fan fics are calling me...calling me....calling me...

-Future Fan Fic and YouTube Addict

School, Politics, Books and more Politics!

Yes, it has been (yet again) a long time since I last posted.

School's still hard. Luckily, I have wind ensemble, piano, and my books to take my mind off my woe.

Wind ensemble is lots of fun, I only wish it weren't so early in the morning!

My piano skills are developing nicely. I find that my sight reading is much better. Yes, piano is definitely the best stress reducing activity I participate in (besides reading)

Speaking of reading, I can't leave Twilight alone! It scares me how I can just read, and read, and re-read this book and not get tired of it! The only other book I've been able to do this with was Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, and that was years ago. It's freaky! Oh well, anyway, I read Eragon and Eldest again, and I also read the teaser in the back of the new Eldest. I must say that it's UNBELIEVABLE. How could they just leave it on such a cliffhanger like that? I just wanted to tear out my hair in frustration, GYAHHHHH I MUST KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NOW!!!!!!!..............................one moment please................................. Sorry about that, but really, how could they? I probably shouldn't have read the sneak peek, but geeeez, they are EVIL. I really am dying from not knowing what happens next.

On another note, the season of the turkey is fast approaching, today we put up our Christmas lights, and the Democrats won both the House and the Senate. Hmmm, those really weren't related in any way were they? Ok, so, yeah the Democrats have taken the government back from the Republicans. I can't really blame the people for making the switch, it's the Republicans' fault for not paying more attention to the feelings of America. They didn't realize just how unpopular the war really was. For, no matter what it started out as, the war has become one big giant embarrassment. I'm no genius at war strategy, but I must say that no matter how I look at it, I can't think of any way we can pull out of those counties without major embarrassment for the United States. If we just pull out, I'm almost sure Iraq will fall into chaos with no working government, and no official leader (or at least no leader that will last), and of course any problems originating from the United States' occupation will be blamed in us. But, if we continue to try to create a working democracy, we'll be occupying Iraq for decades, and Congress would never officially call war. So, yeah America is in a little bit of a mess. I hope the Democrats can handle it.

I haven't posted in a while...

I've been up to my ears in school work, sorry. School just keeps getting harder and harder. [sigh]

Oh well, anyway, my favorite class is still history! It's awesome! =)

On another note, I'm in Student Council! I've been trying to get in for a while, and now I've been elected class representative. Of course, I only got the job because no one else wanted it, but who's complaining? ;)

Oh! I almost forgot to mention that my birthday passed! It was a good day, the real party was two days before when my aunts and cousins came over. But, my grandma came over on my birthday and made me a special meal, so it was really nice. I got a ton of awesome gifts, a book (of course), a $50 check, a rain coat, slippers, some jewelry, and a flat screen TV for my room were all very much appreciated. Not to mention the tons of money in book store gift cards. =)

Anyway, the book I received on my birthday was New Moon by Stephanie Meyer, which is the second part to Twilight. I must say that they are two of the greatest books I've ever read! They illustrate a love story between a girl and a vampire, but the real great thing about these books are how realistic they are! It makes you believe that all you have to do is take the long drive to Forks, Washington, and you'd be able to say "hi" to the Cullens. The way the books describe vampires is refreshingly original, and very believable. I would definitely recommend these books to any fan of the Maximum Ride books, they'll just blow you away!

So, that's my life right now, I'm probably not going to be as consistent with my posts as I was during the summer, but I enjoy posting in my blog, so I'll definitely make an effort to keep my posts semi-consistent.

P.S. I made the Wind Ensemble for my school! 1st Clarinet! =)