I Vanna Be A Show-Stopper!

Vith a show-stopping song...

Ever since I saw Cabaret, I've been a Liza Minnelli fan. Ever since I created a role play character who looks/sounds just like Mikhail Baryshnikov did in his early 20's (The character's name, coincidentally, is Mischa. His real name is Mikhail, but don't call him that.), I became a Baryshnikov fan. What would be better than Liza Minnelli teaming up with "Misha" in two shows: Showstoppers, and Baryshnikov on Broadway.

The videos are awesome. Here's the Broadway one:



Sadly, the Showstoppers videos can't be embedded, so if you want to see them search "Showstoppers Meledy" on Youtube. It's worth it.

Blog365: Day 83

Today I stayed home from school because I was sick. Just one of the perks of Spring---cold weather and allergies. The only things that keep me from bursting are a) Florida next week and b) Sweeney Todd coming out on DVD on the first.

Today, while Mike was at swimming, Mom and I had sort of a shopping trip. I had absolutely no shorts or capris, and with the temperature in Florida being like it is, that's not a good thing. However, we managed to walk away with 4 pairs of capris: a khaki pair, a black pair, a gray pair, and the coolest demin pair ever. I also managed to score 3 CD's at Target: Enchanted, Wicked, and Sweeney Todd (Movie soundtrack)

I'm just counting down the days until Spring Break. It can't be getting here any sooner...

Blog365: Day 82

Easter was fairly low-key down here. I got sick (Ugh), and we did the same thing we do just about every year: a little chocolate, some pancakes, and an iTunes gift card. Who's to complain?

Hopefully, your Easter was better than others:

Mean Kitty Song

I had a lazy day at home and feel slightly sick. The only thing of mention is that I've recently become obsessed with Edward Scissorhands. I'm convincing my mom to let me rent it, and I've seen the trailer who knows how many times.

However, here's something non-Edward related that I liked. Meet Sparta:

Tomatoes in Fruit Salad

Well, tomatoes are technically fruits, but they do make a weird addition to your average peaches, grapges, and strawberry fruit salad.

That's what my day was like: a fruit salad with a green tomato. The tomato being the fact that I tripped over my bassoon case this morning because it was near my bed. The fruit salad being the fact that the rest of my day was really good.

Today was the first (and probably last) dress-down day of the year. I knew I probably wasn't getting another opprotunity to wear real clothes for awhile, so I wore more or less all my favorites: my dark-wash slim fit jeans, broken hearts shoes, black quitar earrings, my brown vintage guitar shirt with the gray pirate vest, and my bats-with-bows hoodie. Before the bus came, I also grabbed my gray newsboy hat. I didn't feel like flat-ironing my hair, so I put it in two incredibly short pigtails with my bangs mixed with a little of my regular hair to have a long streak of hair across about a quarter of my face.

People who would never in their right of mind even talk to me liked my outfit. I didn't really spend much time putting it together, so it was interesting. Now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever really been complimented on my apperance at middle school. Might be because you can't get very creative with polo shirts in 7 colors.

I also spent a great deal of the day roleplaying. My roleplay site really kicked it off today, so a few of my friends and I spent a lot of time acting out of characters in the various situations we put them in.

Tomorrow we have to clean the house, but I'm really excited about having a weekend at home. We're not going to Louisville, so that's a relief. I'm probably going to be busy, but at least I won't be stuck in the car.

Blog365: Day 80 (Maybe)

Posting while mom is in class---sorry. Actual post tomorrow.

Blog365: Day 78

Nothing blog-worthy today. Here's Mike shredding guitar last...November:

Bassoon-ery Yet Again

I had my first bassoon lesson today, and it went really well! We only covered 3 notes, but we REALLY covered them, making sure the pitch was right on target and all. Next week, I'm getting my reed all made up perfect, but until then, I'll live using my thick reed.

Next stop: figuring out how to put it together and take it apart really quickly.
Final destination: THE HEFFALUMP SONG!!!

Fast Times at East High: Finale

I can't believe HSM has actually ended. I've had such a great time, and I wanted to smuggle onto their tour bus so badly. However, it's been a great experience, and closing night was probably the best night ever.

It was the birthday of the new Sharpay understudy, so here she is with her mostly-finished cake and the Bleacher Creatures (We were given the remains):



I've been collecting autographs on a poster for my friend Diamond and photos for myself. Overall, I got pretty much the entire cast. Here are some of the pictures:

"Troy"


"Gabriella"


"Ryan"


"Coach Bolton" (He gets extra points, as he played Phantom once)


"James" AKA the Earthworm


A couple of "Zeke"'s


The finished poster


Diamond was incredibly thrilled to receive the poster. She's a huge HSM fan, and I'm not sure if she got to see the show.

Probably the best part of the entire show was at the very end, waiting at the stage door. Some 7-year-old fan came running up, asking, "We're you one of the people on the bleachers???" I told her that yes, I was. She smiled before handing me her playbill and innocently requesting, "Would you sign my playbill?"

Will I sign her playbill? YES I WILL! I've never signed anything bigger than a yearbook! Better yet, her sister soon asked if I would sign HERS. My first two autographs, and I wasn't even in the playbill they wanted me to sign. Here's me giving my autograph to Fan #1:



It was fun onstage, offstage, and backstage. There was a slightly different crowd of bleacher creatures last night, and we all got along really well. One of them was a rabid Sweeney Todd fan, and we spent some time discussing the pros and cons of the different casts. Finally, we came to the conclusion that Angela Lansbury is the best Mrs. Lovett, George Hearn is the best Sweeney, Jamie Campbell Bower as Anthony, and Ed Saunders as Toby.

I was on stage right while we were onstage, meaning that for about 3 minutes, Sharpay and Ryan were on our side. As a joke, I motioned Ryan over and told him, "I have to agree with you: every sophisticate dance requires a good jazz square." His face brightened with character, high-fiving me and emphasizing, "THANK you! Fianlly, somebody agress with me!" He then got in Sharpay's face and continued. "See? She agrees with me? Bam!" He snapped his fingers on each 'bam'. "Bam! Bam! Bam!" Laughing, I also got into Sharpay's face and added my own "Bam!"

I was also able to talk to the actor who played James. He looked somewhat familiar, so I asked if he was in the detention scene. He nodded, and I tried to refrain from squealing while saying, "I heart earthworm!"

I also got to see him backstage to get a photo. He apologized for being sweaty, but I could have cared less. I quoted the show, telling him that "I'd never seen an earthworm have so much emotion and depth."

It's nice to be home for the evening, but it was an incredible experience. I can't wait for the next audition---can you say RESUME MATERIAL?!?!

"...and reach for the hiiiiiigheeeeeeest....staaaaaaaar!"

Fast Times at East High ending tomorrow

Well, actually, they ended today, but I'm dog-tired and need to go to bed.

Here's an LOLcat to tide you over until tomorrow:

Sweeney Potter Pals

Nothing happened today. Watch puppets of Mrs. Lovett and Sweeney Todd perform "Little Priest":

Fast Times at East High: Part 3

Wow, I can hardly believe that I only have two shows left. I've been having so much fun, and this is incredible experience. I'm interacting with professional actors, performing in front of a nearly-full house, and gaining better stage presence.

One interesting thing that happened backstage is that the understudy for the teacher chatted with us "bleacher creatures". It was interesting listening to how she's started out living in a radius of 3 states to becoming a cabaret in New York, then performing across the world, and now she's in the national tour. She gave us great advice, and it was really cool listening to somebody who's fairy tale really came true.

I've noticed that most of my nervous energy has converted into dramatic energy. I'm getting more and more into the show each time, and I really got some intereaction with the actors today. I "peaced-out" the mascot and James, got grabbed from the back by a random basketball character, and even finger-waved Ryan (With reply, mind you!)

I keep on losing what it felt like to be on stage in front of all those people, but I know one thing: it feels great. It's so much fun, and it's really going to add something to my resume. Not to mention giving me audition tips, practice for performing on stage, and so much more.

Tomorrow I have the day off, but on Sunday, I'm performing twice. The closing performance is going to be incredible, but I'm definently savoring these last performances.

Part 4 will continue on Sunday, and I'll just post about my boring, un-Wildcat day tomorrow. Until then, you'll see me humming "Breaking Free". (If you said I'd be doing this a year ago, I would have laughed in your face yet again, still giggling over the crazy idea that I'd be performing in it)

Fast Times at East High: Part 2

I just had my second performance tonight, and it was AWESOME.

I turned out to not be the only 7th grader, so my fellow bottom-of-the-food-chain companion and I chatted about theatre, our ideas about High School Musical, and other related things. It really passed the time not just trying to figure out what people mean when talking about their schools. (However, some guy did ask me which high school I had applied for a scholarship at---I bit my lip and told him "Fort Knox High School---right across from the middle school, public, and freakishly small")

I was on Stage Left tonight, and it was so much fun walking backstage. It was weird really realizing how big this thing was. After getting on the bleachers, we were wheeled out on stage and caused quite an uproar (A good thing, by the way).

Ryan, Sharpay, Troy, and Gabriella were usually on the bottom step, so we couldn't see much. However, despite all that, I clapped to the beat, danced in place, chatted random nonsense, and did my best lip-syncing. I'm still iffy on HSM lyrics, so I didn't want to be caught singing the wrong words.

Tomorrow, we have another show, and my mom is being a chaperon. She seems really pumped about holding everybody's stuff---after all, she's going to see backstage!

The best part was the fact that after the show, we all had to meet on stage right. Because I was on the left, I had to get there somehow, so I ended up walking ACROSS THE STAGE. Sure, the curtain was down, nobody could see me, but I was going across a professional stage! How often does the 'audience' (As we are referred to) get to walk across the stage of the Kentucky Center?

Stay tuned tomorrow for another "Wildcats Report"!

*Whistles "Breaking Free"*

Fast Times at East High: Part 1

If a year ago, somebody said that I'd be staying up until around midnight every night for a week to do High school Musical related stuff, I would have probably slapped them and/or called them an idiot, fool, or Raoul DeChangy-clone.

However, now I'll admit something: I'm doing just that. I was 'scouted' as one of about 10 teenagers in and around Louisville to be part of the pep squad for the HSM National Tour while they were in Kentucky. I'm not going to be doing much (I'm onstage for maybe 15 minutes), but anything with the word "National" looks spiffy on a resume, doesn't it?

Yesterday was Opening Night, so I didn't have to perform. I am going onstage tonight, and I'm so excited about going through the stage door and seeing the backstage. I'm half-pumped, half-freaking-out right now about it, even though I'm not really singing, dancing, or acting. I just have to be preppy.

Before the show, I got my hair cut. I only went in for a trim, but sort of changed the style up. I think it looks really nice:



My mom and I also went out for Thai food in celebration of the end of the Famous Thai's project. We had spring rolls, soup, and garlic pork, and it was gooood.

I'm surprised to say that I really enjoyed the show itself. It's a lot better than the movie, and the performers could actually sing, dance, and act, and weren't just chosen because they were 'hot'. Sharpey reminded me a lot of Glinda from Wicked, as she had the same hair color and a really high voice. It was really good.

I can't wait until tonight, and I'm doing a total of (what I think is) 6 shows total. I'm taking Saturday off because of Glod Rush stuff.

GO WILDCATS!!!

Real post tomorrow

Tired. Will really post tomorrow. Need to go to bed.

Entering Girl-World

For the longest time, I've been proud to say I've never been in an American Eagle, Abercrombie, or Aeropostale. When my brother began buying his jeans at AE, that broke that record. Today, I entered Aeropostale.

It was loud. I had no clue who was playing on the radio, but it was loud. It was also bright and full of a ton of Spring stuff. Nevermind that it's currently 30 degrees outside---floral bikinis look so good in Spring!

I left empty-handed, as I had gone in for jeans, and all they had were either too long, too skinny, too low-rise, or they had a huse gap in the back. Just the perks of being in the phase between kid's and junior's.

I also left feeling like I had after Sweeney Todd. I think I get what it feels like for most of the girls in my school to go into a Hot Topic. After leaving, wide-eyed and ears busted, I glanced a few shops down and whispered to my mom, "Allow me to run into Spencer's and cleanse my soul."

Two stores down. If somebody wants me to go into A&F, they'll need to drag me kicking and screaming, "I don't WANNA go!"

"What Time Is It?"

Seriously, I have no clue. Daylight Savings Time has thrown me way off course. The clocks are all messed up, and I'm not sure if it's 3:30, 4:30, or 5:30. Pretty sure it's 4:30.

Sunday has always been my least favorite day of the week. Sure, you can sleep late, but you also have to go to bed early. It's also "Realization Day", as in realizing that you have homework/a test tomorrow that you planned to study for on Saturday. On Monday, it just seems normal.

After this blogger post, I have decided to come up with a to-do list. However, I'm going to have parts of it in all caps so it'll seem like I'm yelling at myself. Maybe that will convince me to actually do it.

Here's my list so far:

-I HAVE TO clean my room
-I HAVE TO study vocabulary
-I HAVE TO study "Ocean Motion", AKA waves
-I HAVE TO be in bed by 9

I also have a list called "I Should":

-I SHOULD do my discussion question, although it's not due until Tuesday
-I SHOULD read more in New Moon
-I SHOULD vacuum my room
-I SHOULD be trying perspective drawing

And the final list, the "I'd rather" list:

-I'd rather paint my nails
-I'd rather watch Adventure in Babysitting
-I'd rather be roleplaying
-I'd rather be working on my website
-I'd rather call Maya

Wanna guess which list is going to be finished first?

Snow Saturday

Yesterday, it began snowing really hard. It continued snowing off and on all night, but this morning, it was freakishly deep.

Katie and I had an "Epic" snowball fight with her brother, his friend, and a few other guys around the neighborhood. Later, it just turned into a Survival of the Fittest, with snow being blown RIGHT in your face, kicking snow, whipping scarfs, etc.

Besides that, I did...nothing. I'll have to study for 2 tests tomorrow, clean my room, and practice 3 instruments, but today, it was really nice to have a free Saturday. I haven't had one in 6 weeks.

Ginger especially enjoyed the snow. Here she is in her moment:


(Some of the snow mounds looked like they came out of Nightmare Before Christmas---curly tip and all)

Blog365: Day 66

I can't believe that yesterday, we only had 300 more days left. Now we only have 299, tomorrow 298, and so on.

Otherwise, nothing interesting happened today. Matthew and I went sledding at around 6, as it was snowing really hard. I've heard it'll keep snowing, but the blizzard appears to be over with.

This is actually the first weekend I've had in awhile that is free. I'm really excited about sleeping in, staying up late, and actually getting stuff done. Tomorrow, there's no Bootcamp, no hair appointment, no nothing.

I love free weekends.

Blog365: March 6

People say models lower their self esteem. Same goes for cats, apparently:

One Day More

Starting tomorrow, one more day of...

-Testing
-Working on my geography project
-No homework
-Not studying for my science test on Monday

Several more days until...

-The quarter end
-Art as 7th period end
-My practice time sheet is due
-My science test

Several weeks until...
-Spring Break
-April
-Sweeney Todd comes out on DVD

A couple months until....
-The end of the school year

Everything seems to close by when I make a list.

Blog365: Day 63

Nothing major happened today. I had an audition, and it went rather well. I also got to miss a bit of school for it, so yay team!

I also lost a tooth that's been bugging me all day. It feels weird having the gap, and it seems that because I went through a long stretch of time when I didn't lose teeth at all, I'm losing them left and right. Brings a new feeling to when I tell Maya how things are going down in 'Tucky, HAR HAR.

Tomorrow is a short day, and the last day of the quarter is next Thursday. Then, its a three-day weekend, then the fourth quarter! The last day of testing is this Thursday, though. About time.

However, I'm really going to need to cram out my Geography project tomorrow. There's not much I need to do, some cutting and pasting, writing about a page...its convincing myself to do it that's hard.

Spring is Sprining

It hasn't sprung yet, but its getting there. I have proof.

For the first time since October, we had outside recess. It was WARM, but not hot. There was a strong breeze, but it wasn't cold air. Very refreshing, and a million times nicer than the gym.

Secondly, I've noticed that the evenings are getting slightly longer. Of course, this means it will be pitch black in the morning, but it isn't that light anyway. At least it'll be light to walk the dog. It also won't be cold, and everything seems to smell nice in the spring. I don't know why, it just does. Maybe because you have time to notice it, as it isn't 2 degrees outside?

I'm totally ready for winter to be over. It's freakishly cold down here in 'Tucky, and I'm sick of it. On the flip side, I grew out of all my capris, so I'll need new ones. However, I'd go through the spring rolling up my pant legs if it meant being warm enough to do so. I hate the cold.

The best part is, now I'm breaking out my flip-flops to walk Ginger. I used to slip on my fluffy crocs, but they're woolly and too warm for 60 to 70 degree weather. My flip-flops are a bit too small now, but I don't care. I'm good with any sign for "Winter is officially over". (I actually got one today---my friend Katie took off her favorite jacket at recess. I call it "Katie sheading her winter coat".)

Lazy Sunday

I did glorious nothing today. Sure, I did my homework at around 7---but it only took an hour or so. Besides form that, I began putting some music into Finale Notepad for Mike, checked my email, did some roleplays, and chatted on the phone.

I also took the dog out several times. It was a beautiful day, as was yesterday. Very warm, sunny, and pleasent. It's weird, because the 21st of March, which is when Spring really beings, it is always freezing. Yet on the 1st, it is always perfect. I usually go all kingergarten and call it the first day of Spring, and this year in no exception. The nice weather carried on for another day, which was nice. (However, this probably means that the 21st and 22nd are going to suck)

I'm counting down the days until Spring Break now. It's actually only a few weeks until the end of the third quarter, and that's awesome. I see the light at the end of the tunnel coming. 7th grade is going to be over soon.

*Sigh* It just can't come soon enough...

With Thee We Wed

First off---yes, I know I didn't post yesterday. Yesterday was Leap Year, and I'm in Blog365, not Blog366. We had the day off, and I wisely took it.

Secondly: I'm probably one of the biggest Billy Martin geeks in the world. I collect pictures of him, find random facts, and usually, my avatar is a picture of him (Picked out from my 30+ photo collection)

For awhile, I know he's been dating his high school girlfriend, Linzi. I also read on Wikipedia that he said he was getting married on March 1st. I shrugged it off, as it was January or December when I found out. Since then, I haven't thought about it much.

However, today it hit me: it IS March 1st! Naturally, I felt all happy, but fellow fangirls know the disappointment of knowing that your fantasy weddings really are fantasies.

Congradulations, Billy! I hope you're very happy.

Blog365: Day 59

And I thought I was good at flute...

"Inspector Gadget"



"Sesame Street"



"Super Mario Bros"



"Hard Knock Life"

Blast from the Past

I was looking through some of my old notebooks today. I found the first two chapters of a story I wrote back in 3rd grade. Here is chapter one, spelling and punctuated by an 8-year-old:

y me?

Jeeny Hawerd had a terrible day at school evry day. Like on Monday, Her Math book got lost the day befor the big Math test the next day. And on Tuesday She failed the Math test and the teacher thought taht She put gum in MaryAnns hair and got Detchin. But the worstthing of all was her boyfriend brock up with her and evryone on the blacktop stated to lahf becase she was'nt popler anymore. Jeeny felt like she was acting in a movie movie where she gets dumped.

When Jeeny got home she walked the 4 flits of stairs two her apartment room. She did'nt tell her Mom waht happend becase her mom only says ignor it hony and her dad only says you can'nt cange waht happend befor. So she neddid to tell someone so she told her stuffed bunny name babs but she did'nt say eneyfhing so Jeeny closed the windo and jet out her pet rarret Lusy but her parret only said Lusy wna cracker!!! brak! brak! So Jeeny put her back in. Leeny left her room sraching her back took off a sigh on the backof her shirt that said "Kick me".

Leeny desited to go to the soo to spend her aloens So she yelled Mom! her mom siad yes hony! Leeny yelled aging. Can I have my alowens! Jeenys mom yelle back. Sorry Huony I spent it ona ring to show off at my bookclub sorry!!

Leeny yelled back. Mom how could you?! Jennys Mom came up stiars and said Apil fools here yau go! Leeny said Mom its not April fools day.

Oh watever swtty, SO I shod'nt joke and Max liting Lusy fee hu? said Jeenys mom.

He didn'nt rihgt? Jeeny asked. Of course he did'nt her mom said. OKiedokie I will be at the soo! bye Mom! Lenny called from behind her. When Jeeny got home she was holding a soda and a stuffed fox pup, it was a friend for Babs named Robin. It was a little late so Jeeny decided to wahch T.V. until bed hoping she would be popler tomoroww.

Beware of Dog Doctor

I've recently made a roleplay site about 1900's New York City. Nobody was posting recently, and my character (Who is a mix of Mikhail Baryshnikov and Johnny Depp's Sweeney Todd) was always a rather depressing person, so I added a little plot to get something going.

Of course, with every major injury comes the hospital scene. Maya offered to play the insane French Doctor, and she does a rather good job at making him pretty darn insane:

The French doctor snorted at Mischa. “HUH…zeez immeeegrants…always bleeding…stop! Stop bleeding at us! You, boy, you need to ztop bleeding, you’re staining zee car-pets! Zeez man vill not ztop bleeding, ee eez RUINING zee CAR-PETS!” The doctor roughly said. He started cleaning some instruments. “Vondering vat zeez are?”
He waited for Mischa to reply.

“Zeez vill hurt a lot.” he simply said, before painfully preparing to tear the bullet out of Mischa’s shoulder.

He's a rather interesting character. As you can guess, Mischa is currently trying to escape from the hospital without looking obvious.

Depressing and greusome as it may seem, it grabbed a lot of attention from posters.

"Terror-Nova"

OK, so TerraNova doesn't suck that badly. I still don't like it. I don't like tests, so the fact that we're spreading it over two weeks isn't really helping.

Probably the only good part is that if we look like we're working hard, we won't get homework during those two weeks. So far, that isn't a possibility, as I have 3 things due it Social Studies by Friday. Ugh.

Tomorrow is the ELA section of the test. It's always been my 'favorite' (Meaning the one I dislike the least), as I'm good with reading. Next comes Math (Which at least is logical), then science (Not looking forward to at all) and social studies (So-so).

On a brighter side---we had a pep rally during 6th and 7th period, depending if you were a 7th or 8th grader. My drama coach selected a few of us to do testing-related improvs, and I was one of them, as well as being the only 7th grader. Katie and I paired up yet again, and we did quite a performance. I played somebody who could care less about my future and tests (The first thing I said in my intro was, "Yo, sup dawgs") while Katie played a test-freak. The result was hilarious, and we got to miss 3 out of 7 classes to do it---one practicing, two performing.

Triple Crown

Triple news, one of which is, well, tripled!

Item the First- I'm blogging this as the Oscars are going on. Go Jon Stewart! Hoping Sweeney Todd will win something...

Item the Second- Speaking of Sweeney Todd, I finally saw the movie today. IT WAS INCREDIBLE. Jamie Campbell Bower and Ed Saunders are incredible actors/singers, and they pulled of Anthony and Toby better than almost anybody else I've seen.

The actual killing parts weren't too awful. To be truthful, the most intense part of Judge Turpin's death was the reprise of "Pretty Women" before hand and the whole "BENJAMIN BARKER!!!" thing. Still not a good choice for young audiences, but as an avid Sweeney Todd fan, I survived it. As for Mrs. Lovett's death...*Shudder* don't even get me started. SCARY.

It was incredible, though. I can't wait until it comes out---April 1! The orchestra was incredible and full, Johnny Depp proved himself to be somewhat of a singer, and much more. I can't say more good things about it.

Item the Third- This is my 100th post! I'm now entering the wonderful world of Triple Digits...(I'll never catch up with my mom, though; she has over 300 posts)

I'm going back to watch the Oscars and root on Sweeney. Toodeloo 'till tomorrow.

Going "Old School"

Today, I dug out some stuff I hadn't touched in awhile: the DVD of Maya and I, a random PS2 game, and my brother's old hoodie. It's a very comfy hoodie, very warm, too.

As for the video game, it deleted all my data, so I've spent about half an hour or so trying to catch back up to where I was (I might be a fifteenth of the way there). However, its stupid and addictive. I like it.

Watching Maya's movie is almost as if Syracuse was yesterday. "Il Muto" and "Hannibal" were hilarious (Quinn was having a plastic nutcracker breakdance in the background of Maya singing "Think of Me"). I "landed" pretty much all the guy's parts (I wonder why...), so played Reyer, Firmin, Serofimo, Piangi, and Boquet. The hanging scene was especially fun---I had to make a lasso that would look choking, but wouldn't kill me. I was also the one who had to hold the rope up. With one hand up and tounge out, you could photoshop some makeup on me and post me as somebody from KISS or something.

It's about 5 minutes until post deadline, so I'll wrap this up. Toodleloo!

Snow Cancellation Delay

Today, we had a two-hour delay before school. I was hoping for a cancellation, but figured that a delay would be good enough. I woke up 90 minutes later than usual, wasn't in any rush to get ready, and even waited for the bus when it was light outside!

Off topic: I finally found a good audition song:



Any guesses?

Burning Ring of Fire

For the past few weeks, I've been reading Firestarter by Stephen King. I was mildly disappointed that it was mainly a weird, freaky sob-story instead of the sleep-with-the-covers-up-to-your-chin thriller my mom says is in Carrie and Salem's Lot. However, it was a nice introduction into Stephen King.

However, I'm sort of burnt out on difficult reading, so I'm planning on reading something a bit "fluffier", like Meg Cabot or Chris Crutcher. "Fluffy" meaning semi-easy to understand, not entirely depressing, and text that is a little bigger.

I can't wait to read Night Shift when I get back into Stephen King. I need some quicker-paced stories to deal with my unpatient-ness. Hmm...anyone have any other reading suggestions?

On Time

Considering today was a short day, I got out of school about an hour early. I had a fair bit of homework, and it takes a lot of effort to pull me into homework mode after being in school for so long.

Tonight, I actually finished my homework before dinner. That's right: after dinner, I didn't have to head back to my desk to try and cram out 20 cornell notes or finish some worksheet on the solar system. It was all DONE.

I'm probably going to be in bed rather early, even though tonight is a lunar eclipse. After all that work, I don't want to give it all up by staying up to say, "Yup, that's the moon".

Tomorrow, I'm going to do everything in my power to finish all my homework before I get home. There's a book I need and want to finish by tomorrow, and I want to fit in some serious reading time. I think I can manage it...its easier to convince myself to read than to do cornell notes. Much easier.

I feel all special now. Maybe I can keep up like this. Next goal---stop cramming for tests!

"Drama Club"

Today would usually be drama (Which I love---even though I didn't go to State, all the better for doing random improvs, my dear). However, considering everyone thought it was Monday or had a Spanish test to take, I was the only one who showed up. I was slightly annoyed that the people who made State weren't there, but I know people have lives...

Considering I didn't have a solo and improv is short for "improv duo", there wasn't anything I could do. I had an entire hour to myself---at school.

I used it as a sort of study hall. It was nice to do my homework, and this afternoon, I didn't have any. I came into the car at 3:38 with my social studies book, but didn't have any work to do with it.

I know I'll have a lot of homework tomorrow, but today...it was really nice to be able to kick back and relax on a TUESDAY. Only 3 more days, and it's the weekend. 3 days. Just three days...just keep go-ing, just keep go-ing, just keep go-ing, go-ing, go-ing, go-ing...

(Mainly)Never Forget, Never Forgive

Well, ignore the "never forgive" part. That's there because Sondheim put it there. Have to follow the lyrics.

Well, anyway, my totally awesome Great Aunt Suzie (AKA Photoshop Goddess) took the pictures my mom took yesterday and put them into a slideshow using some of the music from the show. Here's the finished product:



I can't believe she took 11 images and stretched them over 1 minutes and 50 seconds. It's such a cool slideshow!

Thank you, Aunt Suzie!

Swing Your Razor Wide

Today was Sweeney, and it was totally AWESOME! The cast was superb, and their singing was incredible. "Ballad of Sweeney Todd" and "Pirelli's Miracle Elixir" were probably my two favorite parts. However, I liked it all. Johanna was incredible, and I never thought somebody would beat Jane Wisener. I also think that Judy Kaye and David Hess put up a good competition with Angela Lansbury and George Hearn. Both pairs were really different, but really good.

Probably the best part of the day was waiting at the stage door. The weather was really nice, so we weren't standing out in the rain or cold. Out of the 10 cast members, we only missed three: Mr. Fogg, Judge Turpin, and Beggar Woman.

I wore my Lovett Pies apron and brought my plastic cleaver from Halloween for autographs, and it's pretty much filled up. I got pictures with everyone who gave autographs, and it was amazing. Here are the pictures from the day:

Benjamin Eakeley (The Beadle)


David Hess (Sweeney Todd)


Edmund Bagnell (Toby---I was totally thrilled when taking this picture. Toby is probably my favorite character ever!!!)


Edwin Cahill (Anthony, I think)


Judy Kaye (Mrs. Lovett)


Judy signing my cleaver


Katrina Yaukey (Pirelli)


Lauren Molina (Johanna)


The finished product: a signed butchery tool!


Waiting in the lobby


At the end of Little Priest, I was pretty close to creating a Rocky Horror experience. I was just about to get up and begin belting, "We'll serve ANYONE, meaning ANYONE, and to ANYONE, AT AAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!" when I realized I wasn't watching the performance DVD with Maya. I managed to constrain myself, but the urge was so huge!

I can hardly wait to see the movie when it comes out on DVD. Then my Sweeney Todd experience will be finished. However, I don't think anything will measure up to this.

And yes, today I gave a nod to Sweeney Todd. (THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET!)

We're seeing Sweeney on Sunday...

Ever since August, I've been an avid Sweeney Todd fan. I was Mrs. Lovett for Halloween, convinced Matthew to go as Sweeney, read the movie book well over a dozen times, and have watched as many movies clips as possible on YouTube. However, I haven't had a chance to really see it yet. I've seen the DVD recording with George Hearn and Angela Lansbury, but it isn't the same. Close, but not the same.

However, for Christmas, as a family gift, my mom bought 4 tickets to go see the demon barber himself on stage. I've been waiting for this for a few months, and I can't believe it's actually time.

One of the Broadway Bootcamp instructor's friend is actually playing Anthony. We got directions to the stage door, so we're probably going to haunt around there after the show to try and score autographs. Maya got pictures and autographs with some of the Phantom cast members, so I'm hoping to be able to get some Sweeney memorobilia.

However, autographs or not, I'm ready to really Attend the Tale!

Broken Hearts Parade Shoes

These are my awesome new shoes I wore yesterday:

Valentine's Day

So today was Valentine's Day.

Ever since 6th grade (When it wasn't required to bring a valentine for everybody in the class), I've pieced together what Valentine's Day is like in the "real world". As quoted from Mean Girls, "It was living proof that the more people who are afraid of you, the more flowers you get."

My day was actually rather nice. I got a "Rodents through the Ages" Shutterfly book from my parents, a little thing of Hershey's kisses from my friend Katie, and a few little critters the chrus was selling as Valentine's grams. Maya coordinated with my mom and got me a little pink monkey (His name is Alfred Jamie, after Jamie Campbell Bower), and a pink pig named Herbert from my friend (Not boyfriend!) Matthew.

I think I'm going to try and be more in-the-spirit next year. I know it sucks walking down the hall empty-handed while Miss Popularity trudges to her locker, overflowing with flowers, chocolates, cards, balloons, and teddy bears. Even though I was "spared" the embarassment this year, I know some of my other friends weren't. I just need to get over the stress it brings.

I wore my new broken-hearts shoes to school. I don't have a picture yet, but I'll post one later. I also wore all black, as a sort of joke. We're not allowed to wear pink or red at my school, so I decided to go a bit, ahem, contrasted.

Next year, I'm totally going to remember to spread the love (And chocolate). But this year...well, I survived. That ought to count for something.

Ice, No Delay

After yesterday's snow day, we were left with a ton of ice. It isn't causing any cancellations, so you can imagine the joy walking the dog is.

Getting to the band room is also a daring task. I was running late, so I was "speed-walking". I thought it was safe because of the roof, but there was a hudden patch of ice that I had missed. You don't have to have a Harvard degree to figure out what happened. I ened up on the ground, my stuff everywhere, and possibly-broken tailbone.

It's just plain cold outside, and it isn't the fun kind of ice you can skate on. You can slide on it enough to make you fall, but then it cracks and breaks. Fun, fun.

However, it's a 4-day weekend coming up. I just need to survive Valentine's Day and I'll be good. Still, does my butt ever hurt...

Snow Delay Day!

Today was supposed to be a 2-hour snow delay, but around 4 or 6 this morning, it turned into a cancellation of school. It was truly icky outside, but I slept in an hour later and did glorious nothingness. I played piano (Johanna, to be exact), did some online stuff, and "sledded". Most of the snow had turned to ice, so it was just muddy and gross.

Still, today was a perfect day for a snow day. No homework, no due dates...just staying-in-pajamas-until-noon. My kind of day.

Burnt Out

I am totally tired.

I didn't get to bed until 11 last night, to waking up at 6 to my alarm clock blasting wasn't what you would call ideal. My room is a complete mess, and my homework isn't done.

I just spent about an hour outside with Katie. It was really fun, but cold and tiring. We walked all over creation to find a decent sledding hill, and I came home about 15 minutes ago. Still: homework not done, room not clean.

I have to re-write my entire Personal Narrative for English, as well as doing this surfboard thing. I have to do some project about sentences, and originally, everybody was supposed to make part of a wall mural. Well, about halfway through, right as my group was finishing our piece, it was decided that the gray wall looked boring, and wouldn't we love to make a tropical theme? Sure, it sounds interesting, but my group had to pretty much tear our wall up so we could each make a surfboard. I'm doing "Punk-tuation", and my design isn't even done. Considering I was being stupid, I picked black paper out, without realizing that I can't decorate it. While my other teammates are decorating their boards with flowers, stripes, dots, and flames, I'm over here gluing question marks to a black piece of paper cut like an orange slice.

I also have cornell notes in 2 classes, a practice test I need to take, a 9-paragraph practice test I need to write, 9 words I have to define, a 5-page report, and a surfboard on my hands. It's not all due tomorrow but then again, I have no clue when everything's due.

I would have had time in the lab to work on my surfboard and narrative, but my drama coach pulled me out of 6th period for the past 2 weeks to work on my 5-minute skit. I loved watching all the other performances and performing mine every day, but it came with strings attached: I'm waaaaaay behind.

Lets forget about school for awhile. Let's talk about something else, like theatre. Broadway at Iroquois recently posted its summer season along with audition notices. Imagine my delight to see that teens can audition for CATS, one of the musicals they're doing. Imagine my frustration when I saw that I'm 8 months too young to audition. I COULD be able to audition for Willy Wonka and strut my inner Oompa Loompa, but really...

CATS has been one of my favorite musicals for forever. This is probably the first and only time I'm going to be able to audition for it without waiting until I'm 20, when it might not still be playing, and audition in proffesional theatre. Although competition at BAI is big, I know that there is a bigger chance of being told, "Eh, get lost, sucker" in the big leauges.

If I offened anyone with this, sorry. I'm incredibly frustrated right now, and need to seriously vent off some steam. I don't feel much better, but feel slightly satasfied that I was able to post this and ended up pretty much screaming it.

Nine paragraphs. Probably my longest post ever. (Or close to, although this makes paragraph 10.)

Stupidspacebar is back!

Well, my computer is finally working again. I'm really happy that my brother isn't constantly asking me to get off, and it's really comfy up in my room.

Nothing else happened today, but now you know where I'm posting from again.

Drama Regionals

I had Drama Regionals today. I didn't make State, so I'm not really going into detail about the day. (I really wanted to make it to State---I worked my butt off on my duo act).

One funny of the day, though, was a judge that will remain nameless. One of my said she seemed sort of mean and didn't appear to like her very much, so for the rest of the day, I refered to her as "Judge Turpin".

Here's a picture my mom took of me and my duo partner, Katie (Along with my friend, Jayden, popping in for the heck of it):

Real post tomorrow

See title.

Blog365: Day 38 (I think)

Today had actually been rather nice. I have no homework, my science test seemed to go well, and I've recently added a rather suspenceful character to my roleplay. I think he's going to really add on to the plot, as he totally contrasts Hahnee.

However, I'm still writing this on a time limit. Not to complain, but once my brother gets home, I'm not going be be able to get on at all until tomorrow. It's probably best that I'm not spending all my time on the computer, but I really want to work on my website. It's coming along really well, and I want to perfect it.

Nothing exciting happened today, and nothing will happen. If it does, then I'll probably blog it tomorrow, as that will be boring, too.

Missing the Stupidspacebar

Last night, there was this big storm. Smart me left the laptop plug in the wall, and woke up this morning to find that the laptop had pretty much fried.

Now everbody's back to sharing one computer. I've never really thought about it, but things seem to go easier when we're not really under a time constraint. Mike is usually on his laptop, Mom's doing work/homework/email on the desktop, and I'm either walking the dog or on the old laptop that I moved upstairs.

I sort of feel guilty for complaining about the spcaebar, but probably shouldn't. It was a very annoying problem, but I'd rather have to spend 5 seconds using the spacebar than have "5 minutes left".

Imissmyspacebar.

Stupidspacebar

Recently, I moved the downstairs laptop up to my room and have *forgotten* to put it back down. So far, nobody really cares: mom doesn't use it, dad uses his, and Mike's cool with it as long as he gets to read the Features section in the newspaper first.

I guess the only one who cares is me. I love being able to check my email, message boards, blog, and the dog while in my room (The kitchen, where it used to be, is FREEZING in the winter). However, the spacebar is busted, and you have to hit it RIGHT in the center, or you typing will looklikethis.

For random posts and stuff, it's ok. But Maya and I do some major skittling, and during that time, typos are not OK. It takes away from the funniness or drama, and sort of ruins the line. Seriously. Which would you say looks better?

"Ah, miss...you're so good at untying knots...*realizes what she really intends* SHE'S UNTYING THE KNOT!!!"

"Ah,miss...you'resogoodatuntyingknots...*realizeswhatshereallyintends*SHE'SUNTYINGTHEKNOT!!!"

Pick one? Me, too.

I'm trying to find a keyboard I can use, but have had no luck. Hopefully, I'll be able to find one, or most of my posts willenduplikethis.

Sick

I was home sick today. My throat hurt like nobody's business, and I felt overall icky. However, I'm going back tomorrow, and will be taking 2 tests and going to drama. It's the last drama meeting until Regionals (Saturday), and I'm really excited. Katie and I have worked our piece to death, and we've really improved it. However, we need to find the author. If you know who wrote "a Banquuet of Friendship" starring Lola and Freida, please tell me!

I'm making this post short, as I have to do my homework. (A worksheet plus studying for those two tests.) I'm going to my brother's swimming practice in E'town tomorrow, so chances are, I'll get my homework done early and I'll be able to go to bed by 9. Hmm....that sounds nice.

Happy Birthday!

My mom's birthday was today, and it really wasn't that eventful. We had cake/ice cream (Ice cream cake) and I ate a few cupcakes. I had a sleepover to celebrate the friend Katie's 14th birthday (I had to miss her party), and we accidently baked too many cupcakes.

As far as I know, my mom hasn't uploaded any of her pictures yet. If she had, my post would be longer, but there isn't much else to say. Katie and I stayed up until about 2:30 last night, played Super Smash Brothers, drawing, chattering, and messing around on the computer.

Short, sweet and to the post: Happy Birthday, Mom!

What's that Playing on the Radio?

Usually, I don't know what's playing on the radio. It's usually a lot of rap/Soulja Boy stuff that I don't listen to, so I usually just ignore it and tune into my iPod.

However, today, my dad was listening to the radio, and I decided to join in. Imagine my surprise when I was hearing song after song that I recognized it!

Some of the songs heard today:

-Another one Bites the Dust
-If It Makes You Happy
-Play that Funky Music
-Since You've Benn Gone
-Eye of the Tiger

I feel all musical-rounded now.

Blog365: Day 32

Today was Regionals.

I've been freaking out about them for awhile, and was exeptionally nervous today. Mike said it was basically just a huge swim meet with a fancy name, and considering I've been in zillions of swim meets, I calmed down a bit. However, waiting for my event (19---at pretty much the VERY END!) was rather agnonizing.

My heat was right after my friend Taylor's, so we walked down to the pool together. We were both in 100 backstroke, and I was both excited and nervous. Really nervous, actually.

I've been working on my backstroke start for the past week or so, and I think it's paid off. I got past the flags before taking my first stroke, and my bet that it would take me 6 strokes to get to the wall to flip turn was right. I didn't smash into a wall once.

The race itself, as Mike said, was actually really simple. Swimmers get in the water, place your feet, take your mark, BEEEEEEEP! Then in 90 seconds, it's all over.

Speaking of 90 seconds, I lowered my time by 10 seconds from 1:40 down to 1:30! Also, against 7 other backstroke people in my heat, I somehow got first. Overall, I was 43 out of 57, but who reads that stuff anyway?

Swim season is now officially over. I'm really looking forward to next year, and plan to make backstroke my staple stroke and work on breakstroke or butterfly.

Next Saturday: Drama Regionals! I'm sleeping over at my friend Katie's house, and she's also in drama. We're probably going to go over the script a few times, but we have to get up at 5 AM, at least, so we'll also probably try and get to bed semi-early.

Eagles on three: One, two, three, EAGLES!

End of the End (D)

Think about the title. What is at the end of the end?

In my case, it's January, the first month of Blog365, and swim season! I can't believe that the year is going by so quickly. (Hopefully, it'll continue that way)

Swim season seemed to have gone on for so long, though it only started in November. Despite aching for days due to zillions of flutter kicks, push ups, sit up, and sprints, I think it's been worth it. For one, I think I'm a bit more flexible (Stretching every day has its benefits) and for two, considering I joined at the beginning of the year, I didn't have enough time to sit around at home and moan about school.

It's so weird. Swimming has always been so routine, and I had gotten used to it. I remember back in December, wondering if it would ever end. Heck, I used to be counting down the days until it ended. Even though I'm going to have a lot more free time, I'm almost a bit upset that it's ending. I really like swimming laps, and my dive has gotten a lot better. I've even gone away from freestyle and now swim backstroke---I'm swimming 100 yards of it at Regionals tomorrow!

On the note of Blog365, I think that I've really gotten back into the swing of things since NaBloPoMo. I think I had 5 posts in December, at most, and that's probably because I didn't need to. Even though nobody's going to kill me if I don't follow through with Blog365, I feel an obligation to it. Sort of this guilt if I forget a day.

On on the third end: I just hope the rest of the year goes by just as quickly, so then we can get to spring break, then summer break, then fall, then winter, and it will all turn out quite pleasent.

I'm really looking forward to April. Not that thing is happening (as far as I know), but then my Good Charlotte calendar has a big picture of Billy on it. Then again, so does May, June, and November. We all have our things to look forward to.

Running off Schedule

I've usually found myself going to bed at 9:30 or later. With Regionals coming up, I've been trying to get to bed at 9 or eariler, yet my efforts go in vain.

Today I decided to try and change that. On a piece of scratch paper, in my favorite purple marker, I made myself an afternoon schedule:

AFTER SCHOOL

In this order...
-Hang up towels
-Rise bathing suit
-Dry off
-Walk dog
-Get snack
-Homework
a. Map
b. Discussion Question
c. Math Questions
d. Science pack
-Practice oboe
-Clean up
-Go to bed

In bed by: 9:00 PM
Up by: 6:00 AM

I thought that writing it down would help me go by it, but I still stayed on the computer until 6 or so. However, I did pretty well...ish.

I scratched off everything until "clean up". I'm still working on that, and as I'm writing this, I'm clearly not in bed. Because I'm writing this at around 9:15, I also failed at getting in bed by 9.

However, I did make SOME progress. I got my homework finished before homeroom, remembered to hang up my towel. I actually practiced oboe today, and for a solid 30 minutes. Yet, I STILL can't seem to get in bed at 9!

Tomorrow I'll probably try again. I'm just about to make a new to-do list. Hopefully, it'll actually work.

Rants and Raves

I'm feeling frustrated, so I'm going to rant.

First off- my homework isn't done. We just had a power outage, and only recently have the lights come back on. So much for my hope of going to bed at a semi-decent hour. (The lights just flickered again, actually.)

Second- I'm trying to work on this project for social studies that's due in 2 weeks, and I've found NOTHING. I'm doing a photo album on Thai celebrities. I need at least 10 pictures, and so far, this is what I've found:

-A monk
-A prince
-A king
-A whole lot of strippers (Most of which are wearing bikinis or nothing)

Truth to be told, I've probably found over 20 of those, but I can't imagine getting a very good grade with that, ahem, content. I also have to write a "What I learned" page, and that wouldn't go very well. Most of the people in my group are thriving with tons of pictures (Mainly the one doing animals---Thailand's specialty apparently is having weird animals)

Third- I've recently noticed that a lot of people say "Be yourself to make friends and you'll really fit in." Although it would be great if that worked, it doesn't always. Sometimes "Being yourself" means not watching Disney Channel, not thinking Zac Efron is hot, and thinking tattoos are cool. In that situation, "being yourself", unless you go to Jack Black's School of Rock, doesn't really equal "fitting in just fine". I haven't had many problems recently, but it still bugs me (As you could explain me with the last three definitions).

I've been reading too much American Girl "Susy was an average kid" stuff.

Hmm. 7:50. Homework still not done.

Drat.

God, It's Good!

I've been searching EVERYWHERE for sheet music to Sweeney Todd, and finally, my mom found it! A few days ago, we were in Lousiville, and she offered to look for the music while I was at Bootcamp. In the car, she gave the the book. It was pretty small, and didn't have the song I needed (Pirelli's Miracle Elixir) but it's pretty darn good.

It has Ballad of Sweeney Todd, Johanna, Pretty Women, Wait, By The Sea, and Not While I'm Around. Although I usually use my sheet music for my oboe, I've noticed that due to Sondheim's large note range, my oboe can't hit notes too high or too low. Therefore, I play pretty much every song on flute (Which I'm finally getting---I've been teaching myself since December)

I'm still trying to find a longer version with Pirelli, Green Finch & Linnet Bird, Worst Pies In London, and Kiss Me/Ah, Miss. However, for right now, I'm rather happy.

Bits and Pieces

Even though it hasn't been a very eventful day, I'm trying to train myself to make my posts longer than "Today was boring. Here's a Youtube video".

First off- I finally got my logo up! I've been jealous of my mom with her permanent logo, so I spent some time on it and prettied up the page. I think it looks pretty nice. As usual, I give credit for my little South Park person to South Park Studio

Second thing worth noting- I've decided to officially begin making certain skits into books. Some skits are, in Maya's opinion along with my own, too good for just one version. You could say we're going overboard with The Colonial Skits, though: we have the skit, and we're planning on editing it again, putting it in book form, making it a play, movie (I think), and even an original musical! I found this really nifty program called Finale Notepad, and we're probably going to use that to make the music. It has all the notes and rests from whole to 32nd, ties, slurs, pretty much any instrument you can image, all major and minor keys, a lyrics tool, and best of all, it's a free download!

Third thing worth noting- The mystery website I hinted on in November is nearly done! It's gone through about 5 or 6 re-modeling sessions, and I only recently found the perfect layout. It looks pretty professional (OK, so some of the images are low-quality if you really inspect them---it makes the page load faster), and it's been a lot of fun making. However, I can't wait to get it up and posted!

There was a fourth thing worth noting, but I haven't fully decided if it's worth noting. Chances are, I'll post it in a few days.

Hm. I've done pretty well for a boring day.

Do I Dream Again?

Today was the first day of my third season of Broadway Bootcamp. This time, we're doing a huge, gigantic, enormous Andrew Lloyd Webber fest. The little kids are doing CATS, Starlight Express, and Joesph and the Magical Technicolor Dreamcoat. I'm part of the older group, and we're focusing on - get this - Phantom of the Opera.

We're only doing 4 songs, but I think we're pretty well-rounded: Angel of Music, Phantom of the Opera, Masquerade, and Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again. We're actually using masks for Masquerade, so I'm imagining that will be a lot of fun.

I wore my Prima Donna shirt for the first day, and am planning on wearing my mom's old Bolshoi Ballet sweatshirt next week. Every season, there seems to be a prima donna who snags the most and longest solos, and it hasn't bugged me for the last two seasons (Sure---"Where Is Love" was a bit dull and "I Just Can't Wait To Be King" were only solos, but they looked rather nice in the end), but this season, I'm trying to be noticed. This is the first time we've done shows that I not only like, but obsess about. Getting a solo in the open rehearsal would be awesome. I'm actually deciding to sing loud enough to be somewhat heard in voice class this time, too.

I have no idea what the younger kids are singing, but I can't wait to see the final product. Anything Andrew Lloyd Webber is awesome, and Cats sounds adorable with younger kids singing it.

It's going to be a great season!

I wish I could have worn THIS to the first rehearsal:

Oh, Mr. Todd!

I'm so happy, I could, eat you up I really could...

I finally found the video for By The Sea, one of the main reasons I want to see Sweeney Todd. It's low-quality, but hilarious!



Toby building a sandcastle....classic!

We find the defendant...

Guilty!

As I said in my post "To think that I saw it on Mulberry Street", my literature class is doing "The Monsters are Due on Maple Street". Today, we did a mock trial to see if Charlie should go to jail for the death of Pete van Horn. I played Prosecuting Attorney, and last night, my dad gave me some (OK, a lot) of tips and pointers for my case. I walked in the room today with new notes and my mom's black jacket to look all professional.

It was a rather close trial, but the late night paid off! I won the case, because, as the jury put it, "It could have been the President for all I care".

All that Law and Order paid off!

Blog365: Day 23

Although I'm a major-huge-colossal fan of Good Charlotte, there are some songs that I don't like, The Truth for instance.

However, Karen sent me a really cute Youtube video, and I watched it because of her promise of Billy pictures. I was impressed:



(I like Grumpy Billy, Billy playing DS, and Benji and Joel Bear Hug best.)

DancesRoleplays with Wolves

I recently joined a roleplay site about wolves. Maya convinced me to join, so I whipped up a random wolf based on one of my skit characters and hopped in. Here's my wolf:



Name- Hahnee (Means "Beggar" in some Native American language)
"Wolf" age- 17
Coat- Tan with silvery-brown markings on face, back, and chest. Sort of dirty/ragged. Sort of on the skinny side, too, but not in an unhealthy sort of way.
Eye color- Dark brown
Personality- Skittish, loyal and friendly if you know him well, nervous or untrusting if you don’t. Recently out of puppyhood, but not just out. An Anthony-from-Sweeney-Todd type character.

Faboo.

"All About Maya"

I'm talking to Maya as I write this, and she's telling me to talk about her. This is what she wants to say:

"I like musicals. I like musicals. I like musicals. I like musicals. And POINTE SHOES! The end."

There's Maya for ya.

Walking on Thin Ice

Not that I'm in trouble or anything...

Behind and across the street from my house is this little woodsy area with a stream/creek thing. In the summer, it isn't incredibly fun because there's ticks everywhere, and it's sort of muggy.

In the winter, however, it freezes over, and is great fun to slide around on. The trick, though, is that not all of it freezes over, and part of it is slush, really cold water, or paper-thin ice.

Today I walked Ginger down there, and for awhile, everything was all fun and games. Then we walked a bit farther, and it turned into slush. It was getting really cold, so we started sliding back home.

Let's just say I found out that my boots aren't waterproof.

Swim Week

No, not swim MEET. Swim WEEK. We had 2 meets this week, and now I don't have any more until regionals.

My mom took video of today's meet, but hasn't uploaded it yet. However, here's the footage of my 50-yard freestyle on Thursday:



I'm shaking my head in shame at my form. Maybe it's because I was totally neck-to-neck with that other girl for the entire race, but I wasn't really paying attention to technique.

Apparently I'm swimming 100 backstroke at regionals. My backstroke has been declining, so I'm, in a way, freaking out. I'm cool with 50 back, but 100....ugh.

I'm an American Girl!

Between ages eight to eleven, I was a loyal reader of the magazine American Girl. Recently, I say that I've outgrown it, but usually can't stop myself from buying the magazine or checking the website.

The site has 2 sections that I read: "Help from You" and "You Said It!". Every week, a topic or question is entered, and the most interesting, helpful, or wholesome are selected. If I find the topic interesting, I enter something, not really expecting to be selected.

This week's You Said It! was "Amazing Adventures". Naturally, I posted a few lines about my time in Germany, posted the required information (First name, age, and state), sent it in, and forgot about it.

Wouldn't you imagine my surprise when I saw THIS on my screen:

I lived in Germany for two years, and during that time I traveled to more than 15 different countries, including Russia, Italy, and Austria. It was an incredible adventure.
-Annabelle, age 12, Kentucky

Yes, ladies and gentleman, I got posted! The topic changes every Friday, so I'll be on all week. I've never been published before, so I was seriously freaking out.

I think I'm going to take a screenshot...savor the moment. Hmmm...

Tired and going to bed

See above title. I'll do a real post tomorrow.

Good night.

Lazy Wednsday

Today was totally laid back, and I completely loved it. The school library finally had "Firestarter" by Stephen King checked in, and I'm about 50 pages into it. My mom went to the public library and checked me out a few other books, too: a book on Les Miserables, Phantom, and the script to Fiddler on the Roof. The Les Mis and Phantom books also have scripts in the back of them, too!

I didn't have much homework, so I'm planning to do it during homeroom, lunch, and recess tomorrow. I want to curl up in bed with my books tonight.

I coded some more of my site today, and transferred several pages to the new layout. It still remains a work in progress, though, so I won't be posting any more hints! (A few nights ago, I also "save for web"'ed all my images, made them smaller, and decreased quality so it would look the same, but work on more browsers and load faster. Everybody wins!)

Tomorrow I'll probably have more homework, and I also have a swim meet. I'll probably get to bed late and wake up tired and achy.

But today...today was good.

To think that I saw it on Mulberry Street

In literature, we're looking at the script for "The Monsters are Due on Maple Street". Tomorrow, we're doing a trial to see if Charlie was trying to act all heroic like or if he meant to murder Pete Van Horn.

For those of you who don't know the Twilight Zone series, here's the collection of videos making up the episode:

Part One:


Part Two:


Part Three:


Personally, I like the Lego version better:

Fanthom Phrenzy

I actually got to see Phantom last night! It was incredible, and it just made me even more excited about seeing Sweeney in February.

The cast was amazing, and although some scenes were stronger in the movie (Chandelier crash, for example), "Notes", "Hannibal", and "Final Scene" were all to die for. They were incredibly well done, and I was on Cloud Nine the entire time.

After the performance, I got this really nifty Prima Donna shirt. I'm wearing it right now:

Who Rocks the Blocks?

Knox rocks the blocks!

Yesterday was the 6th Annual Rock the Block swim meet. I was only in 2 events (50 free and 50 back), but I think I did pretty well on them! I increased my time by 1 second on my 50 free (from 37 to 38), but I lost 10 seconds on my 50 back (from 52 to 42). Someow, I won both events.

I also learned something: XYG, as in, "Examine Your Goggles!" On both events, my goggles broke. Seriously.

Maybe broken goggles help you win? Hmmm...

EDITED TO ADD- (5 minutes later) I just found out that Joel Madden is officially a daddy!

"Harlow Winter Kate Madden was born Friday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and weighed 6 lbs. 7 oz."

Non weekend

I'm blogging about my non-existent weekend tomorrow. I woke up at 6 all week, today I got to wake up at 6:40 today for a swim meet, and I get to wake up at 6:30 to babysit. Then for another week, it's back to waking up at 6.

Wah! (I want my weekend back---I also have homework!)

Swimming stuffs

Yesterday, we had stormy weather, so during swimming practice, we swam for about 40 minutes rather than our usual hour and a half. To pass the time, we had several things going on:

1st: Stretch & duck walk/lunge around the pool several times (I'm really sore)
2nd: Do homework or more duck walking
3rd: Wrote our swimming goals down

Oddly enough, my goal was to "Get back to where I was at the beginning of the season." My time for my first meet was the first time I ever got last, but it was also my best time. I'm currently at 37 seconds for a 50 meter freestyle, and I want to get back down to 34 seconds by regionals.

Some people want to go away from their beginning times. I think I'm about the only one who wants to go back there.

Blog365: Day 10

I have absolutely nothing to post. So enjoy Sacha Baron Cohen's version of The Contest:

Blue Suede Shoes

Well, actually black, white, and hot pink leather shoes with a bit of suede, but I got new shoes today. My boots are insanely small, and I don't want to have to continuously borrow my mom's shoes.

However, today my mom and I went to Pac-Sun and found a really nice pair that are comfy and cute. And they fit.

Nothing else happend today, and normally I wouldn't blog, but I have a Blog365 obligation, so I can't just ignore today.

Blog365: Day 8

I had another swim meet tonight. I cut 4 seconds from my 50 meter freestyle time (From a terrible 41 to a so-so 37), and my relay team is getting better.

Besides that, nothing really happend. School was school-like, and I wish we could stay on square roots longer in math (I'm actually pretty good with square roots).

End of post.

*Insert Witty Title Here*

Today was the first day back in school. I'm trying to start out fresh with an empty binder and open mind (and to occasionally pay attention in math---I sit in the veeeeeeeery back row, so it's easy to get lost).

It's recently occurred to me that for 13 years, between 5 and 18, kindergarten through 12th grade, kids don't really get "time off". The longest time you'll ever have away from school is 2 months, and then your homework level just keeps getting higher.

Yes, I'm probably just negative because the end of break means:

a. Waking up at 6
b. Having no free time AT ALL
c. Homework
d. Paying attention for 8 hours straight.

No, my homework isn't completely done. But I'll finish it at recess. I'm going to bed.

Happy Epiphany Day!

According to Maya, today is Epiphany Day, so what better way to celebrate than to listen to Epiphany?

Attend the Tale (Again)

After creating that trailer, I've been in a huge Sweeney Todd craze. Mainly because I'm not allowed to see the movie.

However, I remembered the Phantom characters I made awhile ago, so I got bored, and went back to South Park Studios and whipped up this little beauty:



I admit that I photoshopped the Beadle's hair to fit the top hat, and I also did up Johanna's dress to make it a dress and not a belly shirt and a skirt. I still give all credit for the pieces to the creator of the site.

For left to right: Beggar Woman, Sweeney, Mrs. Lovett, Toby, Pirelli, Judge Turpin, Beadle Bamford, Anthony, and Johanna

(I didn't find out until I flattened the image that the "flower" on Mrs. Lovett's shirt is actually a marijuana plant. Oops!)

Bassoon-ery

Today I actually decided to get serious with the bassoon. My mom printed out a really good fingering chart, so I sat down with the monstrosity of an instrument and played for about 20 minutes. However, I played hard. I had never really gotten any further than the first two pages on my method book before, but I tossed the book aside and pulled out my trusty Lion King sheet music. I tried "Can You feel The Love Tonight", but soon deemed it rather difficult. I chose "be Prepared" instead.

Now, after a good long session of straight bassooning, I think I've actually accomplished something. I can play about half of the entire song, and I can play about a quarter of it fluently. Tomorrow I'm planning on forcing myself to spend an hour on that song and just plain nail it.

Next stop- "Music of the Night"
Final destination- "March of the Heffalumps"

Anthony! (Todd, Todd) Anthony?

The only thing worth posting at all today are a few pictures I scanned and edited for Maya a couple days ago. I was obsessing about Jamie Campbell Bower over the phone with her for the past week, and I got a really good book about the Sweeney Todd movie with lots of Jamie-Anthony pictures. She wanted a few, so I scanned them and sent them to soon hear her squeal with delight. Have a nice squeal yourself:

Attend the Tale

The Sweeney Todd Movie Site has recently become one of my favorite sites. It used to have nearly all the music on it, it had a cool design, and the ecards are adorable. (How about a snack with heart?) Recently, they added another feature: the trailer-maker.

Maya told me about it, and I decided to mess around with it for awhile. After about an hour, I came up with this:



Personally, I think it's pretty good.

I can hardly believe I'm doing this

My mom convinced me to join Blog365. As in posting every day besides February 29 (We get a day off because of Leap Year.)

My New Years resolutions were actually pretty average before Insane blogging got on the list. It mainly consisted of finishing my website, writing a really good skit, learning Flash and Java while improving my HTML and CSS, working on and primping the websites that I made when I was 7, attempting to get a good grade in math, staying same, etc.

But now I have to blog. Daily. I find it really hard to find something to post weekly without mentioning something about school drama. I am looking forward to seeing my blog post-level to rise above double-digits, though.

"Let's post until the Internet explodes."

Santa Klaus

Because of that site I'm making, I've recently been searching for a lot of pictures. Most recently, I've been looking for pictures of the Baudelaires from A Series of Unfortunate Events. In my attempt, I stumbled upon a really coll art site: Page One Page Two

I've had a lot of fun clicking around, and here are my favorite pieces: (I'm jealous of the mad skillz of the people who made these)


Luna Lovegood

Klaus Baudelaire (Actually the picture that brought me to the site)

All Three Baudelaires

Snape on Valentine's Day

Harry and Cho

"Little Kiddie Snape in Bad Weather"

Viktor (My personal favorite---the artist said she hoped he didn't look too much like Santa)

Click around the site---it's really cool!

Random Silliness

I've noticed myself watching videos and reading a lot of about Nicole Richie recently. Normally, I wouldn't, but I've been interested ever since she started dating Joel Madden. Ever since they started dating, I've been really surprised how much she's accomplished and straighted up.

I've also been flipping through my blog archive. I came across one post in which I posted four mini-skits, two by me and two by Karen. As I was reading one of mine, I was surprised to see one of my posts:

Joel- Well, I don't know....I'm already engaged to someone who has been in jail several times, done drugs and made me dye my hair like Cruela deVil....*sobs* MY BEAUTIFUL HAIR!!!!


While I do still have the same opinion on his old haircut, I was shocked to see how different my opinion on Nicole has changed over the course of 3 months. Really.

So, Nicole, if you read this blog (which I highly doubt), take no thought in that comment. Skittlers...they think they can do EVERYTHING...

NaBloPoMo Aftermath

After 30 straight days of blogging, posting daily has become a sort of habit. Really. It's almost 8PM the second day after NaBlo, and I should be doing one of the following:

-Reading my literature book
-Working on my Geography map
-Reading "A Christmas Carol" so I can land a good role when my literature class performs it
-Showering
-Cleaning my room

What AM I doing? Blogging! I have absolutely nothing to blog, yet I have this insane urge to post something. This is going to become ridiculous, as I'm going to be feeling guilty for not blogging on days that are incredibly busy. (Such as swim meet days)

I suppose I just don't want to fall back into my post-every-three weeks mode again. Now that I've begun blogging, I really enjoy getting comments and just writing random stuff. So I suppose I'm becoming post-protective and not letting a day slip without me posting.

Now, when I go away for the weekend in like, two weeks, THAT will be interesting. Chances are, I'll have to bring a pen and a notebook so I can write my daily entry and then copy it into my blog. Desperate much?

Memories of Germany

Probably the main way I start liking bands is when I hear them after I've forgotten them for about three years. I listened to "Bring Me To Life" when I was 8, and now I'm a huge Evanescene fan. I've been listening to "Lifestyles of the Rich and the Famous" since I was five, and that got me to star liking Good Charlotte (Recognizing "Predictable" sealed the deal, though).

Well, today, I was prowling roleplaying boards online until I came to one entitled "Band Roleplay". I wasn't going to join, but I like reading other people's roleplays. My ears nearly perked up when I saw one person arguing with another person about being a member of Oomph. I remembered them from Germany, and I remember this one song of theirs being on MTV a lot. I didn't remember the name, but I remembered part of the song had "liebe" in it, so I figured to search Youtube for "Oomph- liebe"

I just found it. The music video is just as I remember it.

If you want to watch it, here you go: