district band festival

We played at District yesterday, which means I got to wear my totally stylish uniform to school. (It wasn't so bad!) All bands recieved 1s in every category (1=superior, so it is a good thing!). While in the audience, we kept getting text messages from students from our school saying they were under a bomb threat. We all thought they were kidding, but when we got back to school we found out it had been true! They were outside in the rain for about 45 min, then moved into the new gym for (aprox.) an hour and 15ish mins. The police traced the threat to a pay phone near a gas station, so it is likely that it was a prank. Hmmm... why did the band just happen to miss the most exciting school day of the year? The fun part of being gone is knowing that others were doing work, but they didn't do anything. Poo. I'm actually glad I wasn't there. 45 min the rain sounds like no fun... especailly sense it is cold... TTYL!

RENT

I totally bought RENT on Tuesday. My dad, mom, and I watched it. They are horrible to watch movies with. In the 2nd song, my dad throws up his hand s and asks, "ARE THEY GONNA SING EVERYTHING?!?!" Yes, they do. That's why its called a musical. As for my mom, during "I'll cover you (with 1,000 kisses)" aka the love song between the gay couple, she kept saying "EWW! EWW!". I thought it was sweet. Some people just need to learn to be understanding. And, when one of them was dying, she laughed. I teared up. It was sad. She thought it was funny b/c when ppl are dying, they don't really start singing. IT IS A MUSICAL! I love the movie, but I'll never watch it with them again. I wish you were here Lindsey, maybe you wouldn't have laughed and would have seen it as the great sad love story that is. I hope everyone tries to watch it with an open mind. Yes, they are gay. Yes, gay people kiss. But who cares? They love each other. I think it is sweet and I hope everyone else can see it the same way. Happy Watching.

a few bumps and bruises

*On monday at baton, I whacked myself in the mouth... hard. It bleed. My lip swelled and turned a bit blackish-purplish... which I don't think is a good thing... (it looks almost back to normal now)

*Today I just finished practing on my own and I hit myself in the eye again (remember last week?). This time it was the left eye. I hope they don't swell again. That is one of the weirdest feelings.

*I almost hit a car last night. almost! It was rainy and the car in front of me just stopped. I hit the brakes and my car skidded a bit and finally stopped a foot behind the other car's bumper. I had been on my way home from bible study, so I think God was looking out for me and helped me avoid it. Thank you!

I finally figured out who to make a stamp of...

A Stamp of Wickedness

In order to be placed on a postage stamp, one should be compassionate, respectable, or, in other words, an all around remarkable person. If given the choice, I would place Elphaba Thropp, otherwise known as the Wicked Witch of the West, on a stamp.

Unfortunately, Elphaba is a very misunderstood individual. She never technically committed a wrong deed. Instead, she worked persistently to help those in bad conditions, especially for all the Animals of Oz. She even dedicated her time to work with Dr. Dillamond for relief causes (for Animals).

Not only was she concerned for the welfare of Animals, she also wanted to protect the lives of those around her. When Boq questioned her on the dangerous matters surrounding Dr. Dillamond’s death, she replied, “The less you know the better, and I mean for your sake. Whoever killed Dr. Dillamond doesn’t want his findings made public. What kind of friend would I be to you if I put you at risk too?” (Maguire 140).

Elphaba never deserved the nickname “Wicked Witch”. In fact, the two things that she continually searched for throughout the entire novel were forgiveness and proof of the soul. One who is wicked searches for neither of these things, let alone wishes for them as she so desperately did. Like when Liir asked her, “The Lion wants courage, the Tin Man a heart, and the Scarecrow brains. Dorothy wants to go home. What do you want?” She realized that “she couldn’t say forgiveness, not to Liir…and in the end what came out of her mouth surprised them both. She said, ‘A soul-’” (Maguire 386-387).

Regrettably, Elphaba was murdered. Her kindness and compassion had helped many lives, yet she could not escaped her fate. Through her work with Dr. Dillamond, she helped close the gap between civil rights of the various citizens of Oz. For all of these reasons, she should be remembered. For all of these reasons, we should remember her by placing her on a stamp.

I totally won!

see the fireworks?!?!

is it good?

I had to write a paper about a time I accomplished something... (AHH! What a hard topic! Just try to think of what you'd write!) Here's my paper, it's a pretty good read, if i do say so myself!

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Upon moving to Auburn, everything that I did was new. I attended a new school and different church; I was expected to have friends instantly. Sadly, I wasn’t adjusting well. Then I started my new baton class with, you guessed it, a new instructor, April. I immediately, and for the first time since the move, felt at home. The other girls were sweet and loving, and I instantly became friends with them. I was finally able to open up and trust some new people (trust automatically came with the other twirlers for I had to rely on them not to miss a trick or even hit me). After a few classes around them, I was even able to start being myself at school. Unfortunately, I had not quite mastered my vertical one-turns yet. I would spin and miss or, even worse, spin and receive a bruise. One day, I was near the point of giving up. In class, I had successfully missed all five that we had been told to do in a row. I had even managed to miss one and fall into a piano at the same time. (Now why there was even a piano in the room that day escapes me; I believe it’s sole purpose was to have me plunge into it.) My back was bruised, my hands were raw, and my arm was scarlet. I was embarrassed beyond belief, yet I was determined to try again. I snapped my wrist, pushed my arm up, spun around, and gracefully caught my one turn. Pride swelled in my heart when I realized that I could do this. I achieved my goal of mastering my one-turns, both horizontal and vertical, and continued on to master several other tricks (back-catches, blinds, wraps, etc.) including several with two batons. Nowadays, whenever I feel like giving up on a trick (curse two-turns), I simply stand tall and try again for I’ve learned that the worst that could happen is a bruise, and those go away. But who knows? Today just might be the day that I finally make it, and I will never deprive myself of that chance.

Flute Tryouts

I had flute tryouts today...
*laughs*
I've decided that when anyone asks me how I did,
I'll do this high-pitched laugh thing.
*laughs again*
I messed up on ONE note coming down the cramatic scale
(f-f 2 octs, for those in band)
And I really messed up on the song.
DANG!
Oh well... I did go buy some donuts afterward...YAY!

I got it!

YAY!
I finally found it in Auburn!
My favorite song is a duet called "I'm all alone."
(just think about that for a min...)

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have your eyes ever felt farther out of head than normal?
mine did today
I blame it on yesterday when I missed a baton trick badly and got smacked in the eye...
it hurt... I actually thought I'd have a black eye... but I'm good!

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Joe pounced on my head.
I hate that cat.
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RENT comes out in 11 days!

Wickedness in the Bible

On my way to bible study tonight, I listened to Wicked. (yes, you do need to know that). We read a story and it had the word wicked in it... multiple times. Next story did too. I had the songs floating around in my head, so when asked what our thoughts were, I totally brougt up the musical and Galinda's wonderful, debatable question, "Are people born wicked? Or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?" It sparked good conversation. Later on, Tucci asked how all these random stories tied together (personally, I don't think they do). When no one could give an answer, I said, "well, they all have the word 'wicked' in them." People laughed at me... that's not nice...

RENT on my mind

*baton wore me out yesterday. I also believe I pulled my hamstring during one of the classes... my bet is on the first one. I also relized that I have a very delayed reaction. I woke up at 2 this morning with my leg hurting like crap, I believe I yelled ow.. but it was early and I don't remember.

*RENT comes out Feb. 21! I'm SOOOOO EXCITED!

*I had to watch Codi Fri, so I decided to put in a movie (of my choice) and just rest... I put in none other than Beauty and the Beast. Of course Codi came in to watch too, but that's ok. I decided to test her so I said, "Trivia question Codi, What country does this movie take place in?" And she yells out, at the top of her lil' lungs "MARYLAND!" .......uh... what?

*Would you light my candle? (listening to it now!)

*started reading Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister... its good so far...

*Do you go to Catscrath Club? That's where I work.... I dance!

*I got to drive in the rain yesterday... 1st time... it isn't as thrilling as it sounds

*oh, what'd you do with my candle?

*BAH HUMBUG!

*I failed my DBQ today (at least I think I did)... we did get progress reports though and I totally have a 108 in precal. should that even be possible? oh well... it's good for me!

*I need your help to make my neighbors yappy dog disappear... (song changed!)

*Now who could foretell that it would go so well?

updates

* finished Son of a Witch... it was AWESOME!

* now have double baton every monday. at school with Lori until 5 and again from 7-8 with April. I have both of my one turns and pretty much one routine. I am working on 2 turns and another routine. Fun-ness!

*still obsessed with Wicked. I'm reading it again! Oh! The other day I found out how to play cds in my car (it is an old car and only has a tape player), so I was able to listen to wicked on the way to baton. YAY!

*Lindsey's gone... I'm soooooo sad. We talked right before bible study so I couldn't talk too long. My eyes teared up... is that silly? (I actually cried a lil... :( ) I'm so glad she didn't leave for college 3 years.