Those Little Things that Create the Best Days.

-I listened to Les Miserables music in the morning and had "Stars" stuck in my head all day.

-I completely understand my Calculus homework and got half of the problems done in class.

-I had a cello lesson during third period.  The guy I like called me in the middle of my lesson to have me help him with Physics homework.  Then I texted him afterward my lesson, and he told me to go to the library. When I got there he wasn't even doing Physics... he obviously just wanted to be with me.  (Yeah, whatever.  That's so not it.  But a girl can dream, can't she?)

-I found out that one of my new-found friends' birthday is exactly a week after mine. :)

-My friend Maddie mentioned the song "Stars" in Chamber Singers... and it was a coincidence that made me happy since the song had been stuck in my head all day.

-We performed for a random freshman English teacher in Jive.

-I invited the aforementioned special guy over to work on Physics homework after school, and he came. :) And then my mom invited him to stay for dinner, and he did.  :) :)  It was so fun! ...Wow.  I never thought I'd say that Physics homework is "so fun," but with him, it genuinely was!

-I got to play my cello at mutual because I'm playing it at New Beginnings next week.

-We had an early birthday party for me and a couple other girls for mutual.  Where we played a bunch of fun games.  One of which forced me to eat an entirely over-ripe banana.  So fun. :P

-I had cake.  Which was the first sweet I have eaten for a week because I told myself I would not eat sweets for all of February unless they were birthday or Valentine's Day related.  ...And after I ate it I felt sick.  Which is good!  I'm weaning myself off of sugar. :)  Usually two pieces of cake that size wouldn't faze me, but this one made me want to puke.  (Not that it wasn't good cake... I mean, it was DELICIOUS.)

-I'm actually going to be getting to bed before midnight. :)

That Annoying Moment...

When you stay up until two in the morning finishing your Calculus homework.  For once.  Because you never finish it, and decided that if you actually want to pass the class you should probably do it.  And you start your English paper afterwards.  But then think "Oh my.  It's two in the morning.  Why the heck am I writing an English paper?"  And decided to go to bed instead.  And then in the morning you get to Calculus to find out that the majority of the rest of the class didn't do their assignment, so she gives everyone an extra day.  And in your second period class you madly type your English paper, but only get half done, and email your English teacher what you have.  And then she thinks you sent the email after class, after you have listened to the class discussion. (Which you so totally didn't do!!!!)  And you're just really mad because you try hard but can't do everything up to par.  And you'll never survive college.  If you even get that far.

But on the plus side... You've been listening to Les Miserables music almost constantly since last night. And when you're not listening to it, it's playing in your head. :)  There's always a reason to be happy. :D

Sweaterin' It Up!

In seminary...

In the choir room...

In the hallway...

In Jive!

I ♥ Ugly Sweater Days.

Mustache Monday!

When it's Mustache Monday at school, and you realize you look like Charlie Chaplin.

Jive Week

It has begun.
And of course... along with Jive Week it has to be finals week.  Oh swell.
Goodbye sleep.

And just for funsies...
Here's a picture of me about to kiss Niall Horan.

#badediting

#whocares

#yolo

What's the Story, Wishbone?

That moment when you have all of Christmas break, plus some, to read Frankenstein, but don't start until you realize you will not have enough time to finish reading it.

Thankfully Wishbone has always got your back. :)

P.S.  It's super weird to come back and watch a show that you haven't seen in forever.  All the actors look so young. :)

Make People Cry by Singing? Check.

Today we had Jive solo auditions.  Along with a group number with Natalie and Maddie, I sang a solo.  It was Ronan by Taylor Swift.  I knew I was going to tear up while singing it, but I was thankfully able to keep myself composed enough to be able to sing well, but my emotions did show.  When I finished singing and was brought back to reality, I noticed that I had made almost every single person in the room cry.  Some more than others.  I have never done that before.  And there were these two girls who asked me what the song was called because they wanted to buy it, but then they looked it up on YouTube and decided they preferred me to Taylor Swift.  And so they asked if they could record me singing it.  I was so flattered, and awestruck.  This stuff never happens to me, and yet it is.  I really hope I get that solo in Winter Showcase.  I love making people cry.  Okay, that sounded weird... but you get what I mean.

Les Miserables. x2

First time.  On Christmas.  It was wonderful.  I cried.  I loved it.  I knew what it was about, but I had never seen it performed.  Best movie.  Possibly ever.

Second time.  Today.  With school.  Aside from the annoying unappreciative high school students who a shared the theater with, it was fantastic yet again.  Except this time I bawled.  I love Les Mis so much.

If you haven't seen it... then do.
Just do.


Plus, Enjolras is amazing.
Probably the best singer in the movie.
Plus, insanely attractive.

I call dibs.

Ughh. School.

I can't believe we start back into school tomorrow.  LAME.
And guess who didn't do any homework over break? : / Swell.

No more sleep for me.

**2013**

January 1, 2012

January 1, 2013

2012 was a great year.

&

2013 is a year of great promise.

2012 - The Highlights.

• Performed in my first Jive show.
• Attended All-State for the second and last time.
• Had the best EFY group ever.
• Fell in love with my girls as a YCL at Girls' Camp.
• Went to Disneyland.
• Transferred to Twin Falls High School
• Met many new, amazing people.
• Improved myself physically, mentally, and spiritually.

2013 - What to expect.

• Become an official adult.
• Perform in my senior recital/senior project.
• Have my last Jive show.
• Graduate.
• Welcome Matt home.
• Go to Europe with the Utah Ambassadors of Music.
• Attend BYU.

That is what happened and what is going to happen.

But here are my resolutions, or what I hope to happen.

2013 - Resolutions.

• Read my scriptures and pray every day, in order to help grow my testimony and spiritually prepare me for a mission.
• Attend the temple as often as possible, every Wednesday morning when it's open, and while I'm there, pray and ponder spiritual things.
• Receive my patriarchal blessing to help guide me in my post-graduation decisions.
• Run or swim at least once a week, hopefully more, and eat healthier to help me lose weight and become more fit physically for a mission.
• Play my instruments more often to improve as much as I can in case I decide to become a music major.
• Procrastinate a lot less.  I won't be able to completely rid myself of procrastination, but I can try to rid myself of most of it.
• Along with blogging as often as I do, write in my journal at least once a week with more personal and spiritual things to remember.
• Be kinder and less sarcastic.
• Always remember who I am and that I am loved.  I am a daughter of God.  Don't get down on myself and be negative and depressed.

I think these resolutions are reasonable and reachable.

And you may have noticed that for the past couple years I have had the resolution of having my first kiss, but this year, that isn't one... you know what that means? ;)  Haha, just kidding.  I'm still kiss-less.  I'm just thinking that since I have little to no control over when my first kiss is, it's a stupid resolution.  It will come when it comes.  And if it comes this year, then all the better. :)

Semi-Resolutions (things that I hope to happen this year, but may not):

-First kiss

-CALL JOSHUA FINCH.  Just do it.  Like today or tomorrow.

-Apply/audition to be a Nauvoo performing missionary.

-Audition for the X Factor online.

-Go on lots of dates down at BYU.

-Become only overweight (no longer obese) by Wii Fit standards.

.modnaR

My eyelid is chapped.
Whaaaa?  How is that possible?
I dunno, but it is.  And it hurts.


Tomorrow in English I will be wearing a golfer sweater and a Russian hat while playing the banjo.
It'll be epic.

The Last Attempt

The ACT.

I got a 33.

I'm not complaining.

I mean, it's a good score.

And my highest score so far.

But I know I could have gotten a 34.

Why can't I just take my highest scores from each section of all of my attempts and have THAT be my composite score? : /

It's just annoying that I only got 33's in Math in English when before I've gotten 35's.

That Awkward Moment When...

Your choir teacher calls you a "tropical lizard."

Or at least you think he does.

But he actually says "optical illusion."

Though that may not be a whole lot better.

Code Blue

On Friday a barbershop quartet came to our school.
And let me just say... they were flawless.
From the moment they began singing I was in love with every single one of them.
Which is kinda creepy... because their ages ranged from 23-50.
But they were just that great.

And of course I had a favorite.
The tenor.
His name is Drew.
He is perfect.
Every single time he sang, his falsetto was so beautiful it made my heart melt.
He honestly made me cry.
You wanna know how many times a boy had made me cry through his singing?
...Actually quite a few.
But do you wanna know how many times I have actually met the boy who made me cry through his singing?
Not nearly enough.
But this was one of those times.
In fact, I told Drew, "You have the most beautiful voice I have ever heard."
And he said, "Thank you!  I love you." And made a hand-heart.
And I said, "No.  I love you."
Win.

It was marvelous.

Procrastinating

*2 weeks ago*

Mr. Larson:  Write a 5 page paper on the Electoral College.  It's due October 19th at the beginning of class. Any later than that, and it will be 30% off each day.

Me:  That's fine!  I've got two weeks!

*Now*

Me:  Well, that paper is due tomorrow... maybe I should start researching for it.  Eh, I'll do it tomorrow during lunch.  After all, it's not due until 6th period.

I Kinda Wish AP Physics was a Little Easier

So... there was this test I took yesterday.

And I got a 72%. : /

Hey, at least it's passing!

Half of the class got D's and F's.

So I was in the upper half...

But I'm going to retake it anyway.

Ughh... stupid Fnet equations.

Mad at the World (or just the ACT)

This is my ACT score.
On it's own it looks pretty decent, even impressive, right?

But compare it to last time.

It's hard to see in that picture... but my separate scores were
English 34
Math 32
Reading 30
Science 29
It's super great that I went up so much in everything!  ...Except reading.

STUPID STUPID STUPID

If I had done better in reading I may have gotten a 34!  Or even a 35!  BUT NO!!!
I had to go down 5 stinkin points.

I guess I'm going to take it again... : /

Quite Possibly the Worst Day Ever

• This morning I woke up late but still needed to finish my English homework.  (I did get it finished, though.)
• My mom made pancakes, but by the time I got downstairs there was no more syrup or powdered sugar.
• When I went to print out my paper the printer wouldn't work, so I had to open my paper on a different computer connected to a different printer.
• Because I left late, I was late to school.
• When I got to school I realized that I had forgotten my calculator and English binder at home.
• Because of my lack of calculator, I couldn't do most of my Calculus and Physics work in class... and today was a day when she actually gave us time in class to do our work... as in like the entire class period-worth.  So I was pretty much pointless.
• When I was in line for lunch, the food in my line ran out right as I was up to get food.  Like no joke. I was the next person in line.  And I didn't have enough time to get into a different line... so I just bought a milk and ate Maddie's carrots.  (Thank you Maddie.)
• I was informed that when you pass out while giving blood they take the needle out right away.  And if you weren't done then they can't use your blood.  So they throw it away.  So I wasted my time, blood, and energy giving blood.  I didn't even save three lives like I originally thought I had. :(  I feel so useless.
• I was in such a bad mood that I couldn't concentrate in Chamber Singers, and Mr. Casperson kept making comments towards the alto section about not paying attention.  I knew he was referring to me.
• After school I checked the MVSPA page on Facebook to see if they had posted parts.  I knew Ursula was between me and one other girl.  She got it.  I'm the understudy.  I don't mean to sound like a diva, but I'm now not going to do the play.  I know being the understudy is a better part than I could have gotten, but if I had actually gotten the part I would have made time for it... but understudy isn't worth my already over-crammed time.  Oh, not to mention, everyone said I would get the part because I'm a senior, but I lost it to a freshman (or maybe she's a sophomore... frankly, I don't really care).
• I'm in charge at home, and my little neighbor boy wanted to play with my little sister, and I said yes, but then his mom had to leave, but she said she'd be back before I had to leave to go to swim team, so I said he could stay.  And then my dad came home and had to take my older little siblings to piano, and since I would have to leave before he was back he had to take my younger little siblings too.  And then he realized there was an extra child at our house, and this child's mother wasn't home.  So he took him in the car to piano too... after yelling at me for having him stay over when his mom wasn't home.
• And I've felt like crying all day long.
• So now I am crying as I type this.

Well... see?  It just wasn't really the best day. :(  Maybe swim team and water polo will make the day better...?

Never Forget

We watched a video in government.

I cried.

It went farther into depth than anything I've ever watched.

It's definitely the saddest thing that has happened in my lifetime.

Never forget.

9/11

Theme for English AP

For AP English we were assigned to write a poem.

A poem about ourselves based on the style and form of this poem.

And this is my result.

~~~

As I sit here and type my paper,

           

            I realize that I probably should have done it sooner

            Because it is Sunday night, and this is due second period tomorrow.

            But I tend to procrastinate doing things.

            This year that will change;

I will procrastinate no more—

Starting next time.

Anyway, is it really procrastinating if I planned to wait until now to do it?

I am seventeen, born in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

I am the third oldest of nine children, and each child is extraordinarily unique…

Except for me, it seems.  Most of the time I feel like nothing but a shadow,

A shadow of my two older siblings combined.

Everything I achieve, one of them has already done.

And no matter how hard I try, I can not be better than them.

So it is like I’m constantly stuck in their shadows.

Attempting to find a part of me that is unique to me.

It is not easy to find yourself when you feel as if you live inside a box—

A box with one window that points towards those who came before you,

So what they are is all you know, all you can know, all you can be.

But eventually you find that the walls of the box are weak,

They can be broken down.

You can be free—

Free to live as you.

Well, I like to blog, swim, sing, and make people laugh.

I like to play the piano and the cello and play water polo.

I like to be included and noticed, and to watch British television.

And I might as well add that I do like to eat and sleep a lot, too.

I also like to think that the comma I placed before “too” was necessary,

Though I am not quite sure whether or not it was.

It always perturbs me when a paper fills up an entire page and barely reaches the next,

One or two lines on a page always just feels so blank.

So I am going to end up writing more than I originally planned.

I have more to say, and in with it I shall add many rambling words to add length.

Hmm… many rambling words.

It makes me think of many mumbling mice.

“BIG M.  little m.

Many mumbling mice are making midnight music in the moonlight… mighty nice.”

Oh Dr. Seuss.  You are a part of me.

You are white—and American.

And I learn from you,

Although you are older- and dead-

So you obviously can’t learn from me.

And here I am rambling, like I said I would be.

As I come to conclude this theme for English AP,

I feel somewhat like a Jedi.

But I guess some explanation of that last statement is needed…

As I have been sitting here typing this,

I have been listening to the “Epic Film Scores” playlist on Songza—

A playlist that makes my life feel so much more, well, Jedi-ish.

And here, my theme for English AP comes to an abrupt end.

~~~

I tried to find a good balance of serious and funny.
I am so glad my teacher has a sense of humor.