Senior Photos

In the fall we had a family friend come to town to take my senior photos. We spent the entire day around Mulvane and out in the country in the wonderful weather taking over 200 photos total.  I decided that I should probably start figuring out which ones I want to use when we send out my graduation announcements.  Although, I don't know how helpful this will be since I'm planning on doing some more when it gets warmer since I've chopped my hair off and things.

Anyway. I started playing around with a few of the photos.  Adding text and things.  My mom had originally wanted to do it but she caved and let me do it instead.  I think tomorrow I'm going to start from scratch with these again and try some new things, like change the coloring on the text so it shows up better.

This one is probably my favorite.

What do you think? I'm the first to admit that I'm a noob when it comes to editing photos, I could use some guidance. *shifty*

Link of the day: This Day in History Archaeologists opened King Tut's tomb in 1923. 

Days until graduation: 92

Days until moving day: 178

interesting days

When I said earlier that you might not see much of me until spring, I didn't realize how true that statement was when I made it.  This semester is really going to be a test of patience, hard work, and commitment among all other things.

I have seven classes at school and then another class at the Learning Center (which I normally just call TLC) that is online based. They're all pretty easy classes, course wise, but the homework gets piled up on top of each other is what gets me.

Earth Space (ES) is easy in the sense that the topics we cover in class really interest me.  I don't mind the homework that's assigned because it helps me understand the material and is normally quite easy.

English 3 (E3) is a true test of patience.  Being in a class with juniors really has me wanting to bang my head against my desk every day.  Not only is the maturity level slightly different (or in the case that is my class, a lot different) but the teacher is different than I remember. I can't wait until we finish this editorial paper and start working with The Great Gatsby. I'm more than excited for that to come my way.

Advisory (A) is a twenty five minute class we're required to sit through every day but Wednesday.  It's basically a study hall, and is in my mind quite redundant since I'm more tempted to talk to my friends than actually do homework.

U.S. History and Topics normally we just call it Topics (T) is basically just U.S. History from 1950's to current 2012.  It's not bad, we just do a lot of book assignments, which is starting to get extremely boring. We also just got assigned a book report, which I am entirely too excited to do.

English 4 (E4) not much has changed from last semester, I'm still not sure what I think.  This is by far my most challenging class.

Mathematical Thinking (M) I honestly don't know what the purpose of this class is.  The teacher rambles too much and the kids in the class are extremely annoying and immature. I would rather suffer through Algebra II than sit through this all semester.

American Studies (AS) basically this is just the other half of T, except it's another junior class that I have to make up because of my hip replacement last spring.  Not too terrible of a class, but it's pretty much the same as T.

Algebra II (A2) this is actually been easier and more enjoyable than M has been thus far.  It might be because I'm in a quiet room working by myself and self teaching from the text with help from the teacher.

This past week has showed me how hectic it's going to be this semester.  I was ill the week before for three days so I was still catching up on that and then keeping up with work from this week.  On top of that, we started rehearsals for the mystery dinner theatre on February 4th, so that's going on.  And then, I'm starting a gym routine this week.  It will only get busier too, with college stuff starting I may be taking more trips to Winfield.  I'll start to sort through graduation things. Not to mention when the spring show starts I'll have four rehearsals a week for three to four hours each night.

On top of all this, I'm squeezing in writing time.  I'm trying to write 750 words a day on 750words.com that is also going to be time spent writing on my Secret Book.

Goodness, I rambled, didn't I? That's what happens when I go to the gym, bike five miles in thirty minutes, then go to a youth group meeting for two hours to come home.  I'm extremely tired and I still have a small mountain of homework to accomplish tonight.  The feeling though isn't too bad.  I much rather be busy and overwhelmed than in a terrible amount of pain that I can't control, and be overwhelmed.  A year ago today, I couldn't have been doing everything I am today.

Here's to hoping I'll be seen somewhat soon! And lots of sleep too, if I can fit that in somewhere.

Link of the day: 750words.com It's been helping me pre-write a little bit here and there for my Secret Book. Definitely a good tool to have. I'm challenging myself to write every day in February on the site.

days until MDT: 13
days until Valentine's Day: 23
days until graduation: 117

things in 2012

I didn't realize it until a few days ago, but 2012 has a lot of things that will be happening throughout the year.

18th birthday: January 7th is the day. It's extremely close, which is kind of scary; I get to vote and I also have the potential to be summoned for jury duty. What's not to love? I have a twisted sense of humor I know.


One year anniversary: Febuary 14th will mark my one year anniversary of my hip replacement.  I'm still kind of shocked that it's been so long. I can't wait to see my surgeon that afternoon and share my adventures of the year.

Mystery Dinner Theatre: More details later...maybe. Just know that I'm freaking excited.

Prom: Yeah it's senior year, but I'm still not ready to think about prom yet.

Spring Play: The Three Muskateers, including stage combat, yes I'm auditioning; even if I don't get cast I'm still working on that show some way or another. I'm not passing this up.

Graduation: May 19th, 137 days to go. I just don't even know...

Family Reunion: Can't wait to see the entire family in June, I just pray that it's not as hot as last year and that we have no more water slide incidents.

New Orleans Gathering with church: A massive gathering of high school students from all across the nation in one place doing awesome and embracing God in July...in New Orleans... First time for a lot of things on this trip, and I can't wait to spend an entire week with the girls I've had the awesome opportunity to meet and bond with over the last five years.

Kansas Veterans Family Reunion: Also in July, but if I'm thinking right this is the weekend after I get back from New Orleans.  Get to hopefully be camping out at the lake and get to meet veterans from all over the state and the mid-west who have served for our country.

College: I have nothing much to say about this yet, not until we hit May 19th at least.

NaNoWriMo: Haven't completely decided if I'm going to do it this year or not since I'm working on The Secret Book project and everything...we'll have to see.

I definitely have a lot to look forward to in 2012.  After a slow year as I went through a lot of changes in my life and learned that I had more strength in me than I gave myself credit for, I'm sure that this year will just fly by.

Link of the day: Internet Age I've listened to it only once because our internet connection is slow and YouTube loads painfully slow, but it's so incredibly catchy and I just love the music and the video.  I really wish I could make it to the Dial Up Tour.

days until Senior Year Part 2 begins: 2
days until I become an adult: 5
days until graduation: 137

BEDD 1: motivation

I'll be completely honest with you. I miss blogging, and I miss it a lot. I just lack motivation. And unfortunately it's not just blogging that I lack motivation with.  I've been lacking motivation when it comes to a few of my classes.  And that alone is really really bad considering that there's less than a couple of weeks left before we take finals and go on winter holiday.  Once again, I'll be completely honest; my grades aren't at their best right now.

I don't know what's happened, I was going strong for about 3/4 of the semester, between actually doing my homework and enjoying the classes; then BAM! I just fell out of it, and it really frustrates me.  After the horrible academic year that was junior year, I was really hoping to get things back on track and make an impression on my transcript for college, but at this point, it looks like it'll be the same thing once again.

It seems like the only motivation that I have for anything right now that keeps me going to school every day is that there is less than six months until graduation and then after that I can I can move on and do things in my life that I want to do and get away from the people that keep holding me back.    Going back to the fact though that I've run out of motivation, the only way I'm keeping up right now is doing just the bare minimum to pass, and that in itself just irritates me so much, that I'm allowing myself to do that.

This probably doesn't make any sense, but my brain just doesn't work like it should at times.  What I'm trying to say is that December is here now, and I want to make it worthwhile.  I'm going to be Blogging Every Day in December in hope that I'll be able to get back into blogging.  I'm also setting up a schedule to go to the gym so I can really focus on strengthening my muscles because all my leg muscles have gone back to being pieces of flimsy licorice.  I want December to be a good month, and a good way to end 2011.

Side note, I have a bit of a plan for December when it comes to blogging, so be ready for some structure of some sort. :)


days until ACT round 2: 9
days until I become an adult: 37
days until graduation: 169

mail time

If you follow me on Twitter, or happened to be on my blog a few moments ago and looked at my Twitter feed, you'll know that I received a package in the mail.  I got really excited when I saw it through the kitchen door window as I was unlocking the door because I thought it was my piano book that I ordered.  BUT IT WASN'T. Talk about a plot twist, eh?  Anyway, the package wasn't small, but wasn't too big.  It was from Jostens, the company that our school does all of our graduation things through.  I grabbed the nearest knife and opened the package to find my lovely souvenirs, that we ordered.  I even took photos, with our crappy camera that's almost ten years out of date.

This is all that was in the package, the 2012 Senior women's grey v-neck, 2012 key ring, a memory book and then a class key ring that has the school colors and emblem along with my initials engraved on the back.

I usually don't like key rings, but I like this one, also it adds weight to my lanyard which makes it easier to throw...

Our camera wouldn't focus properly, but I was trying to show the detail on the emblem.  I just absolutely love this so much.  Even when I saw it in the catalog with red and yellow as the school colors, I just fell in love with it.

I actually didn't want the memory book, but my mom was buying one of the special packages that included this in it so I have it any way.  I flipped through the pages and really all it is is a place to put photos through the last four years and write down specifics about event that happened during the year.  Maybe I'll like it more once I get a better look at it...

Also....

205 DAYS UNTIL GRADUATION!

Today is awesome because: I got this wonderful package from Josten's AND we play the first game of play offs tonight at home. GO WILDCATS!
current location: kitchen table that isn't in the kitchen but in the living room, so I guess it's a living table.
days until NaNoWriMo begins: 4
days until the fall musical: 21
days until I become an adult: 72
days until graduation: 205

september update

It seems like a lot of stuff has happened since BEDA ended, and it seems like it's been forever since I really blogged.  As the title would say, this is a bit of an update of all the odds and ends that have happened since BEDA ended, initially just a rundown of everything that has happened in September thus far and what is happening the last week of the month that I may not get around to sharing for a while.

Side note, these probably aren't in order either, though like anyone would know except the ones who I go to school with.

PART 1

Unfortunately, I fell behind in Doctor Who. *cries* I'm like three weeks behind, which really sucks, because I found a lot of secret Whovians at my school who really want to discuss it with me, but I turn and walk away from them because I don't want any more of the plot spoiled than it already has from the interwebs...  And as much as I'd like to say I'd be caught up in the next week or so, that won't happen, because of what else I'm about to say.

PART 2

We finally know what musical we're putting on; Guys and Dolls. So that's a thing now.  Also, I'm no longer doing costumes, and I'll explain this within the week because it's too lengthy of a explanation to put in this post because you'll all get bored and hate me forever, so I'll just post it separately so you can skip the nonsense if wanted.

Since I'm still talking about GaD, I'll mention that Tuesday I auditioned, and then got a call back on Friday.  And then, late Friday night the casting list was posted.  I got cast in chorus....again.  My feelings on this are a bit weird, but I'm excited to be back performing and just being with a show in general.  It's not like I'm going to quit because of it, that's just redonkulous to even think.

Also, rehearsals are four times a week for three hours a night, so blogging time has been cut even shorter as is my free time for nearly everything else.  So if you see me missing on the interwebs, don't worry, I'm still alive, just sleeping, eating, rehearsing, homework and school.

PART 3

Beowulf.

PART 4

I've been working on my college admission application this week, and at first when I started it I was freaking out because I couldn't believe the time had finally come that I was filling out important papers that would affect the rest of my life.  Now, it's like a normal activity around here.  I've got probably five different lists on different things that all tie back into next year.

Also, we've (meaning my mom and I) have been figuring out graduation details since the company that the school goes through came on Thursday and are demanding a down payment of at least $60 by Tuesday for cap and gown and a whole bunch of other crap.  So that's a thing.

PART 5

Currently, our boys are 4-0 for the football season.  Which is really fantastic, because we've got a great team of boys playing this year.  This week is homecoming week, so that's a thing that you'll probably hear about sooner or later. Though, at this rate, probably later if at all.

PART 6

I went to get my back and neck adjusted today at my family doctor's office; and he's really into the intern/med student training stuff, so he nearly always has a med student around his office.  Well, I got stuck with another one today, and normally I hate getting stuck with them because with me, most of the time I have to go through my back story of medical problems, mainly those that are about my hip and ears. But I remembered today that med students have to start some where. And he was a third year, so it's not like he knew nothing at all.  Also, I remembered my friend Taylor who is studying bio at the University of Kansas.

He, the med student, I don't remember his name, was actually quite better than I expected.  He even poked fun at the fact that he's the stereotypical short Asian man when he had to go get a step stool from the other room so he could get more height when he popped my upper back.


days until ACT: 25
days until the fall musical: 49
days until I become an adult: 103
days until graduation: 234

BEDA 31: blog 'o' random stuff

Since today is the last day of BEDA, and I actually have several things to talk about; this post is coming in several parts. So get ready for some weird random moments where things might not make sense.

PART 1

This month has really stood out among the last three or four, for the good and for the bad. But either way, I wouldn't change anything, and I sure as hell don't regret a thing.

One of the things that I got out of this month, was I finally realized how much my family supports me.  Especially my mom.  Since we moved out on our own, we've had our fair share of spats, mostly over little things; mainly about whether or not I raised my voice at her, which I honestly try not to do, but sometimes it does happen.  This month however though we've still had several spats about little, almost not important things, my mom has really stood beside me and helped me with making decisions.  Sure she's riding my ass about a few things, reminding me about them every. single. day., but I know she's doing it out of love for me and wants to see me succeed.

PART 2

Along with PART 1, another thing that's happened this month, is obviously my blogging abilities.  I'm really happy that I decided to take part in BEDA, not only did it give me something to look forward to and something I basically made apart of my daily schedule it helped me a lot personally.  For example, I prefer to write my emotions out versus talk them out.  This is why I tend to e-mail frequently; I do this because my brain and my mouth don't usually connect completely and what I want to say never comes out like my brain planned it.  That aside, the main reason why I'm so happy I did BEDA, and stuck with it, was to document memories. I mean, as a favorite quote of mine reads: "Because memories fall apart, too. And then you're left with nothing, left not even with a ghost but with its shadow." (from Looking for Alaska by John Green)  I want something to look back on and remember the good times I had.

PART 3

This is why I've decided I will continue to post regularly, along with the fact that I really have come to learn that I enjoy blogging immensely.  I kind of have an idea on when I want to post, but I'm not entirely sure. It'll just have to depend on how things go. I'm sure though, that I'll post frequently during the weeks if interesting stuff happens.

PART 4

I had initially thought about making this the actual post for today until I realized while eating dinner that I had a lot of things to cover in today's post. But I had a complete nostalgic moment today during my civics.  I was mainly thinking about how I've changed through the years, especially in theatre.  Which reminded me about our long conversation between Levi, Mr. Mitchell and I about freshman year during Dracula when we ended up playing some of the creepy music we used and looking at a bunch of photos.  And then I just got to thinking in general about the random things I did with my friends over the years.  At one point, I thought I was going to cry because I realized exactly how much I'm going to miss Mulvane when I graduate.  I know though that my time has come/is coming to leave it all behind and start a new book in my series of my life; but that school holds so many good memories.

PART 5

Part five really isn't even important, mainly because I thought leaving it off at PART 4 would be weird, because I have this thing, that if it's below the number of five, it's not important. That was a weird explanation I know, but now this blog post is important, because there's 5 parts to it, not just 4.

Oh, I guess I could add in this random fact, but I haven't listened to Still Got Legs in nearly three days....it's weird....

Today was awesome because: I survived BEDA.

days until the fall musical: 46
days until I become an adult: 128
days until graduation: 262
steps taken today: 2,190+

BEDA 10: omfg, it's hoodie wearing type weather

Last night, after I stayed up past midnight coloring random coloring pages I printed off of the internet, I went to bed with my joints hurting...again.  Normally, when there's a chance of rain my left knee hurts, but last night, all of my joints were hurting.  My knees, ankles, shoulders, back, hip(s) sometimes I feel like my right hip (the prothsetic one) hurts like my left one when it comes to arthritic pain...I knew between my arthritic rain prediction method and the weather reports, that it was going to finally rain big time last night.

And that it did.  It's been raining for nearly twelve hours straight now with little breaks here and there.  But let me tell you, it's so nice to finally have a good rain.  Just a bit ago, I was watching the noon news on a local television station and they too were surprised when the temperature gauge said 69 degrees.  I knew it was kind of cold out today, or at least compared to our normal triple digit days, but this basically calls for wearing a hoodie.

I actually haven't been outside yet today, but I can predict it's pretty nice out there, compared to our normal weather this summer, I bet it feels like were in a different country or something. I actually kind of want to go on a walk around the neighborhood and soak in some of this rare nice weather. Oh and speaking of walking, I ordered something online for the first time ever on Sunday, a really nice inexpensive pedometer.  It should be arriving tomorrow in the mail and I'm pretty freaking excited.

Anyway...this BEDA post sounded like an awkward first date, didn't it? Oh well, I deal with awkward pretty well, it only gets awkward if you make it awkward.

Today is awesome because: obviously my answer is because it's been/still raining.

days until senior year starts: 6
days until I become an adult: 149
days until graduation: 282

BEDA 8: bucket list, part one

Since nothing remotely exciting happened today, I thought I'd share some items from my bucket list and kind of explain them a bit.

• learn how to swim: I once knew how to swim, it was quite a long time ago.  But when things went down hill when I was eight with my hip, I just couldn't swim because my hip and muscles surrounding my hip wouldn't allow it.  But now, after having my hip replaced, I want to learn how to swim because A) it's a good physical therapy tool and B) I have this weird phobia of water.  I have no problem getting into the lake, as long as my feet can touch and my head still be above water.  Same goes for pools.  I for the first time in June got into a paddle boat with my best friends, I did it because I wanted to fish, and because I needed to conquer the fear that I felt I was going to get tipped over and drown. It's quite hard to explain, but I just really want to learn how to swim so I can conquer this weird phobia and enjoy life even more.
• learn how to ride a bike: this one is actually in progress, my best friend who conveniently lives right down the street, started teaching me how to ride a bike earlier this summer.  I have full faith that I can do it, it's just my hip muscles aren't used to the motions and my balance is still quite off since surgery.  I can't even remember exactly for sure or not if I could ride a bike...
• travel through/to all 50 states in the U.S.: I seriously love this country so terribly much.  Besides enjoying to travel, I want to be able to see all of our country in it's righteous state.  It's just not the same looking at photos or videos of places then actually being there yourself in person and seeing it for yourself.
• be a published author: I don't think I'll ever really have a career in life as an author, but with my love of history, it'd be really neat to have just one book published of mine that I could feel proud of.  Even if it's one of those books that teachers assign to students and they end up hating every last page of it.  I think it'd be rather interesting to see the process behind it all.
• compete in a fishing tournament: I love to watch fishing tournaments, because I love fishing, obviously.  And I'd love to give a tournament a go, but only once I really learn some more of the sport. I do it just for fun, not as an actual sport.  It's just something I've always wanted to do, and something that wouldn't take any protests from any of my family.

I've never actually sat down and add on things to my bucket list...because I don't have a written copy of it.  It's all basically in my head.  And there's plenty more to the list, maybe to share another BEDA day when nothing exciting has happened.

Until tomorrow.

days until graduation: 284