tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50059704044659633642024-03-19T05:48:32.532-05:00Ramblings And ShenanigansSometimes you have to ramble on a bit and do crazy things to figure out your place in life.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02685244925224248899noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005970404465963364.post-29950083316394303222013-10-28T20:10:00.002-05:002013-10-28T20:10:56.034-05:00Looking to Crystal Concert<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Oh my GOD, I am so excited for this year's holiday concert at my school, the Crystal Concert. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We're playing a piece called Laughing All the Way in band. It's like Jingle Bells, except on steroids. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And in Chamber Singers, we are singing this beautiful piece called Breath of Heaven. It's AWESOME. My friend who is singing it in her choir at Purdue recommended it to my director. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I just can't wait to perform again!!!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02685244925224248899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005970404465963364.post-41249620098307437122013-10-15T20:03:00.001-05:002013-10-15T20:03:57.969-05:00The End of Marching Band, 2013-2014<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This marching band season at Neuqua was truly amazing. I don't think I've worked with a group of more talented and dedicated people in a long time (besides the time I did North Central College Summer Theatre. That's a whole different story). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our show this year was music from the opera, <i>Carmen</i>, by Bizet. The music was so well picked for this year and was very beautiful and moving. There were many times in rehearsal where I was close to tears because the music had such an emotional connection to me. We played it really well, too! I played piccolo this year in the band, so learning how to re-play it was challenging and fun at the same time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The drill was amazing. We did some really cool things on the field this year, and I don't think we will for a very long time after this year. We executed drill well, and I'm really proud of the way that we did. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Not only was the actual work part of it amazing, but the social aspect was the best it has been in the past three years I've been in marching band. I connected with seniors, juniors, sophomores, and freshmen. Some of them I can tell are going to be great friends in the future. Plus, one of my really good friends joined this year as a junior, as she has loved it so far!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Band camp in August, at Monticello, was the best. The annual dance was amazing, we accomplished so much, and we had great team bonding while we were there. I will never forget dancing with my friend Will to "Get Lucky", kayaking for the first time with my friend Matt, and sitting at the senior campfire with my friends Bethany and Katie. I know these are memories that I will treasure as some of the best moments of high school. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Although we did not place at our annual U of I festival, I am proud of the band and everything we have done this season. This Friday is Senior Night, so it will be a very emotional, yet happy night, for the seniors departing, and for the juniors (that's me) waiting to take their place. And after this season, I can't wait. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02685244925224248899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005970404465963364.post-82426277549521237932013-08-21T14:26:00.002-05:002013-08-21T14:26:54.317-05:00Trials and Tribulations<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As one of my good friends once said, a day is made to test your limits. I have definitely had a couple of trying days! </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, tomorrow is the first day of school. There has been a lot of rushing around, stressing out, and just generally getting prepared so nothing is forgotten. In that vein, my sister and I have been having several fights about petty things that basically turn into screaming matches within ten minutes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I hate fighting with my family, especially my sister. She is my best friend and the person who knows me the best. But, having someone who is so close to you who knows you that well can be a double edged sword. She knows what can get me annoyed and how to push my buttons. As for me behaving to her, it is likewise. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I just hate screaming at her and walking out of the room when she ate the last Fiber One bar, that's all. I wish we could just put things past us easily and laugh things off, but we can't. And I just wish it wouldn't have to be this way</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02685244925224248899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005970404465963364.post-35528451823899934372013-07-21T18:25:00.000-05:002013-07-21T18:25:15.853-05:00Outings with FriendsHello there, readers! I am so sorry that I have not made an update in a long time; I was on vacation, I had a lot of summer work, I just finished my show, the list literally goes on and on....BUT I am back and so happy to BE back!<br />
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So, where I live in my town is about twenty-five to thirty minutes away from what is considered the "downtown" area; there are lots of places to eat, nice parks and a river walk, and some shopping. For me, I use it as a general meeting place for me and my friends, but sometimes it can be a bit of a hike to get up there (and lots of gas is used, too). However, this week I made the trip four times, four days IN A ROW. Crazy! But, I got to eat a lot of good food and see some awesome people.<br />
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<u>Thursday</u><br />
That day, I went to the local pool called Centennial Beach with my friends, Ashley and Ashly. We only went for a little while, but it was still fun and a good break from the heat wave we have had!<br />
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<u>Friday </u><br />
On Friday, my sister and I met up with our friends Julia, Jordan, and Maggy from our show we just ended at the local college, <i>Jesus Christ Superstar</i>. We had lunch at Noodles (and ran into our director and her family!), got ice cream, and went shopping. It was nice to see them and catch up because we all go to different schools and have different, hectic schedules. I love my friends from my show because they can see a different side of me that I'm not really around my friends. I can't wait to keep in touch with them and see them during the school year!<br />
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<u>Saturday </u><br />
Yesterday evening, my sister and I met up for an early dinner at Chipotle with some other friends from JCS, Alexa, Katie, and Maggy. We laughed a lot and ate delicious Mexican food, so I would say it was a really great way to catch up!<br />
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<u>Sunday</u><br />
Today, I did something that I have not done since I was a little girl; I went on a picnic! I was with my friends Ashley, Ashly, Bethany, Vishnu, and Sam. We went to the river walk in our downtown and sat in a very cool, shady park with lots of trees, and just had a picnic! We played frisbee, rolled down hills, then went out for frozen yogurt. It was a lot of fun and something different to do! Ashley even said to me "This was such a good idea, why don't people do this anymore?" It was a lot of fun and we are planning to do it again!<br />
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So this was a very social week for me, as you can tell! I am so happy I got to see many people and catch up with great friends. I hope this summer you guys are catching up with the people you love and hang out with!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02685244925224248899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005970404465963364.post-65674970147087031342013-06-06T07:00:00.001-05:002013-06-06T07:00:31.562-05:00Music and Identity<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For my online Music Theory course, I was asked a series of questions about my "personal soundtrack". One of the questions was something along the lines of, "please pick one song to identify with and explain why." </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For some, they love music a lot. But for me, music is, quite literally, my life. I play flute, piccolo, piano, and a little guitar. I sing in choir, I'm in marching band. I'm going to give private flute lessons this summer. I enjoy listening to my own choice of music. Honestly, I do nothing inside or outside of school that I enjoy more. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Scratch that, I enjoy theatre probably a little more, but music ties for the top spot. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Anyway, while I think that this is a great question, it was also very hard for me to answer. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>How can I pick one song out of, say, one hundred, that have shaped me to be who I am? </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If placed in the perfect situation, I would have answered with one hundred of my favorite and most meaningful songs to my life and explained why ALL of those identified me. These songs come from all different artists, genres, years. They feature different instrumentation and ideas. But, they have all influenced me to be the person who I am and want to be: more creative, fun, happy-go-lucky, loving. Less serious, not as worried for a sixteen year old. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And, I really hope I made the right choice, out of one hundred, to pick the one. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I hope if you were presented with this question, you would make the right choice, too. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Because we are what we listen to. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02685244925224248899noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005970404465963364.post-34266377486135634372013-06-03T14:12:00.002-05:002013-06-06T07:01:05.600-05:00Finals 2013 & Looking AheadSo, here at Neuqua Valley High School, finals week is coming to a close. My last two finals are tomorrow, Band and French 3. Woo hoo!<br />
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So, I already have my final grades in four classes. In Honors English II, I got a B+, in Chemistry, I got a B, in Gym, I got an A (but who doesn't? It's Gym, for crying out loud), and in Geometry, I got a C+<br />
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Yeah, that's right. This is my FIRST ever C in a class for the end of the year up to this point in my life. But you know what? <i>I don't care</i>. <br />
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While I understand and am fully aware that a Geometry course and at least three years of math classes are required to graduate at my school, the profession that I am going into (musical theatre performance) will never, ever, ever require me to find the slope of something. I hope. <br />
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But, odds are, it won't. Next year for junior year, I will try my hardest to do better in my math class, but I will give the most I can give. I won't worry about my math grade too much. I will just try to get it to a point where it contributes positively to my GPA. I will just focus on my two AP classes I will be taking next year in two subjects that I LOVE (English and History).<br />
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I will just look forward to next year and try my best, but also focus on what I love. That is it in a nutshell. I will also only focus what will move me towards my college/subject major & minor goals. <br />
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I hope you all can take something away from this, too.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02685244925224248899noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005970404465963364.post-53987049638827044942013-05-04T12:16:00.000-05:002013-05-05T16:32:53.244-05:00More Auditions?!?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So this week, after a crazy and hectic two weeks of production of <i>The Music Man</i> at my high school, I traveled up to North Central College in downtown Naperville to do two auditions for their summer production of <i>Jesus Christ Superstar</i>. On Thursday night, there was a vocal audition and last night was the dance auditions. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">While the song I picked for my vocal audition is not totally suited to my vocal range and it was a little uncomfortable for me to sing ("Tell Me On A Sunday" from <i>Song And Dance</i>), I acted to the best of my abilities during it and I think that the directors' enjoyed it from the smiles on their faces! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">However, last night's dance audition was a little more difficult. I had to do the two auditions for the children's production of <i>Peter Pan</i> and <i>Superstar</i>. And, since I have to wear glasses most of the time, it was a little difficult to pick up on the steps and dance with my glasses slipping off my nose. But, I danced to the best of my abilities and tried my hardest at the audition. The directors even said not to get upset with yourself! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The cast list will be posted either Wednesday or Thursday and rehearsals will commence from there. Wish me luck!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02685244925224248899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005970404465963364.post-35482564380314107482013-04-19T19:24:00.000-05:002013-04-19T19:24:05.613-05:00Pinning, Pinning, Everywhere<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, something new that has come into my life to ruin it for good is a little thing called Pinterest. Although it is categorized under the cult of moms and artsy-fartsys, I find it to be a very fun and cathartic experience. You can express your creativity, hobbies, and likes in an organized manner and repin what you like, too! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For instance, I have been on Pinterest for close to a month now, and I have about ten boards under food, geek culture, weddings, hair and beauty, cities, and cool photography. I enjoy it thoroughly and I am able to teach myself how to do DIY projects, cool beauty ideas and I can try out different recipes that look delicious! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I strongly suggest joining--it's a ton of fun, and there's so much out there on the site! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Happy pinning! </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02685244925224248899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005970404465963364.post-75288070501581778172013-04-19T19:14:00.002-05:002013-04-21T09:51:49.689-05:00Leading Up To Neuqua Valley's Spring Musical.....<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, the spring musical at Neuqua Valley this year is the time-honored, slice of Americana Pie show, <i>The Music Man</i>. This little production, directed by the head of the Drama Department and freshman English teacher, has been in the works since the middle of February. Currently, it is the week before the show, and while there is still some to be done, we have made plenty of headway!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is my third show at Neuqua Valley and my second musical. Last year, as a freshman, in <i>Jekyll And Hyde, </i>I was a member of the ensemble. But this year, as a sophomore, I got the part of Marian Paroo's Irish mother, Mrs. Paroo! It is an honor and thrill for me to be playing this part and I am so excited for show week to make the audience laugh and smile! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">However, rehearsals weren't always butterflies and giggles. We have a very close-knit cast, so we like to talk to each other. And seventy people talking all at once makes for a lot of noise. In addition to being Chatty Kathys', we were very unfocused and didn't put much energy into our respective characters. None of us were off-script. A week ago today, there still would have been much work to be done. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But today, something magical happened. We all just <b>clicked</b>, I guess you could say. There was energy and memorization and cues were right and we had the pit there and some people were in costume! There was magic on the stage and laughter out in the house. After the run-through of the show, our director sat us down to give us notes and all he could say were great things and compliments. Today's rehearsal definitely restored my faith in the cast as a whole. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Next week is show week! Cross your fingers for me and if you read this and you know someone in the cast, tell them to break a leg! I will be posting pictures from show week sometime soon. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Shipoopi!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02685244925224248899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005970404465963364.post-28692462352777869922013-03-28T19:05:00.000-05:002013-03-28T19:05:47.052-05:00Spring Break 2013So, this spring break, like the ones I have had for the past six years, I have spent it here, at home, in freezing Naperville. But no matter; it's been pretty fun!<br />
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My family celebrated my dad's birthday on Sunday; it was a quiet affair, but it was exactly what he wanted and that's what's most important!<br />
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BREAKING NEWS: My family also renewed Netflix on Sunday night after a year long wait. So happy!!! I can watch all the Sherlock, Doctor Who, and Supernatural I WANT.<br />
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On Tuesday, I went with a group of friends into Chicago to complete a project for AP Euro at the Art Institute and went shopping afterwards. We took the train in and went alone so we felt very grown up! I can't wait for more trips into the city like that with my friends this summer. <br />
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Yesterday, I went with a group of friends to our downtown area to go to lunch at a local pizza place and it was nice to catch up. It's the same group of girls that I eat lunch with, so it was fun to eat outside of school for a change! Plus, I just got my license, so it's really easy to drive myself around everywhere!<br />
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And today, I went with my mom, sister, and some family friends of ours to a new "classy bowling alley" called Pinstripes. I haven't been bowling in a few years, so it was a ton of fun and I came in the high-scoring rank of fourth place! But, I had fun and I plan on going back there in the future.<br />
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I plan on catching up on some homework for the rest of break and spending Easter with family friends. Then it's back to school with private lessons, homework, an argumentative speech for English, Sophomore Swim class, musical rehearsals (I'm Mrs. Paroo in our school's production of The Music Man!), and hopefully, sleep.<br />
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Enjoy your spring breaks and have a fun Easter!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02685244925224248899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005970404465963364.post-40554006016041156982013-03-13T20:14:00.000-05:002013-03-13T20:14:46.671-05:00The Fault In Our Stars Book Review<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As you might have noticed in one of my last posts from February (<b>Interval), </b> I read <i>The Fault In Our Stars</i> by John Green. And it totally lived up to its hype; a beautiful but heartbreaking story of teenage angst, first loves, celebrity encounters, and surviving day to day life, but the odds have been raised when it also happens to be a <b><i>cancer book</i></b>. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The book opens where we meet sixteen year old Hazel Grace Lancaster, the sarcastic yet extremely likable narrator, who is diagnosed with terminal thyroid cancer and metastatic cells in her lungs, causing it to be difficult for her to breathe and she has to carry around an oxygen tank and breath through a cannula. Diagnosed as "depressed" by one of her many unhelpful doctors, she goes to a cancer support group every week run by the ever-optimistic cancer survivor Patrick, and that's where she meets him. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Augustus Waters: Seventeen years old, a a basketball star, handsome, and extremely brilliant and witty. Also a survivor of osteosarcoma (bone cancer), and he has a prosthetic leg with a barely there limp. He takes an immediate liking to Hazel and the two of them connect over their overbearing parents, Cancer Perks, and a novel akin to any bestseller on the <i>New York Times's</i> list, <i>An Imperial Affliction</i>, their bible of sorts<i>. </i>Within weeks of initial meeting, they experience the painful thing it is to have a best friend you fall in love with and lose them and meet some interesting people along the way that help them re-evaluate their perceptions of the time left they have on Earth, true love, and eternal remembrance. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I read this book after hearing my friend Ashly rave about it and the author John Green continually. I bought it on a Saturday afternoon, went home, and sat in my room until I finished it that Saturday night. I laughed so hard I couldn't breathe, had my mind blown by passages, and cried without regret three times. I re-read it the following day. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What touched and amazed me about this book was that I was able to connect so well with the characters, despite their life situations being so different than mine. I could feel for them in their angst, upset, and heartbreak because those are all emotions I have experienced before and they are emotions I am sure all teenagers have and will experience. I had these moments while I was reading where I could say that I had been there before and I could feel how all these different factors affected Hazel and Augustus similar to me. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">John Green is a true genius to hit home on topics that are usually not poked fun at and he gives them a macabre, yet witty twist. His voice is overwhelming to come through passages of emotions and hilarity and, to quote NPR.org, "He writes for youth, rather than to them". His ideas on the universe, loss, love, and humiliating situations are genius and on point. His characters make <i>The Fault In Our Stars </i>shine with an edgy, devastating personality and comedic brilliance. And it was Augustus and Hazel's relationship and how it was portrayed that reminded me of what I want for the future: someone who will love me for who I am unconditionally and help me in my troubled times. And I will love them back for those things too and a hundred times over. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I would suggest this book to anyone. Everyone can be reminded of these important things and how it is to truly <b>feel </b>once in a while. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02685244925224248899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005970404465963364.post-6020265383145374772013-02-18T16:57:00.001-06:002013-02-18T16:57:42.343-06:00Swing Dance 2013So, on the first Friday in February, my school's music department held the winter annual Swing Dance! It's where the music department kids and jazz groups (jazz bands, vocal jazz, etc.) come together and make music and actually swing dance. It's a ton of fun because it's a bit of a departure from the normal Homecoming, Turnabout, etc., and the jazz is awesome and everyone looks classy.<br />
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But the one thing that could have ruined it this year....DID.<br />
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Our school's weekly production show, <b>Wildcat Weekly</b>, decided to do a segment on Swing Dance, exposing this amazing, private event to the public, who already have their Homecomings and their Turnabouts, etc. I was like, "What, NOT COOL." But, you can't always get what you want. So, we would have to *sigh* SHARE the dance. But it was fine; I would concentrate on me and my friends and we would have a great time!<br />
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So, I go home that Friday and get ready: take a shower, dry my hair, curl it, do my makeup all nice and fancy, and put on my dress, tights and flats. Me and my sister both looked awesome and mod and classy.<br />
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So we get there and we meet up with our friends and mill around in the common area for a bit, then at 7 pm, the gym doors open and this whole crowd of kids heads in to get our swing dancing lesson! It was a lot of fun, and I was able to brush up on my swing skills a bit; turns out, I had been doing it wrong for a whole year....whoops!<br />
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After an hour long dance lesson, we were shepherded into the cafeteria, where the jazz bands proceeded to set up for the first set and we awkwardly hung out and talked with our friends. But once the music got going, we were on fire! I don't think I stopped dancing once with all of my friends, I was having too much fun! The music changes were flawless and the music itself was great: a lot of upbeat, big band numbers, with no slow dances (a crisis averted for single pringles, like myself). <br />
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At the end of the night, it started to snow. I collected my jacket, purse, and my sister. We said goodbye to our friends as the last jazz number ended and we left the school, smiling, because this dance was an awesome break from the hectic start to the 3rd Quarter. I just love Swing Dance so much because it's different, fun, and unique, and I know it's a memory I will look back on fondly from my high school years. <br />
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Me and my sister before Swing Dance! <b>On me:</b> Dress: Forever 21. Belt: Forever 21. <b>On Jill:</b> Shirt: Forever 21. Skirt: Forever 21.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02685244925224248899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005970404465963364.post-25333426088187228072013-02-11T20:34:00.002-06:002013-02-11T20:34:43.036-06:00IntervalHello blog readers,<br />
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I know it has been a while since I last posted<br />
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But I have been busy<br />
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With auditions and callbacks and private lessons and homework and projects and shopping and Downton Abbey and stalking celebrities.<br />
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So everything's typical, but it's too busy at the same time<br />
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I promise promise PROMISE I will write something this weekend, I have missed you all.<br />
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There will be pictures<br />
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And rants<br />
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So the usual, but be prepared<br />
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Bisous<br />
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P.S. I READ THE FAULT IN OUR STARS AND OMGAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02685244925224248899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005970404465963364.post-78893880130415730412013-01-24T18:32:00.002-06:002013-01-24T18:32:22.901-06:00AP Euro Struggles and Successes<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Around this time last year, I was a freshman in high school, ready to complete my course selections for my upcoming sophomore year. I was totally set in all of my core subjects except for one, my Social Studies course. I was taking a freshman accelerated history course, Honors World History, and I loved it and knew I wanted to continue down that path, but I just didn't know what to do. That was when my teacher recommended me to take AP European History.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">AP European History is a 10-12th grade level course, but most sophomores take it. It is notorious as one of Neuqua Valley's hardest classes to take, but it's a ton of fun too! We do plenty of skits & group projects, watch movies, and eat <b>a ton</b> of food, since we have Wednesday Treat Day every week. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My year in AP Euro started off pretty successful: turning in all my summer work and getting good marks for it and receiving a fair grade on the first test of the year. I met a ton of new people through the class, and reconnected with some old faces, and we all bonded! I thought with these grades, and this kind of support system, I knew what to expect, but was I <b>wrong</b>. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Because marching band took over, I struggled in this class for a while. I failed or received D's on three tests in a row, wasted tons of time on my note taking when really I was just copying my textbook word for word, and got too caught up in the social aspect of the class with the mentality "It's a college level course. <b>Of course</b> it's hard and <b>of course</b> I'm going to struggle. If I get a B in the class, <b>whatever, I won't care</b>.". </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But I smartened up a bit after the class got very intense and my schedule started to get even crazier in October. I went in for help, developed a new studying habit (flashcards!), made my two textbooks become my best friends, and emailed my old teacher to tell him about my progress. While it was tedious, receiving high marks for homework assignments, class projects, and an essay here or there, but receiving low grades on tests (the biggest part of my grade category), all the hard work paid off in November. My test scores started to improve to high C's and B's (the average in the class), and my overall grade was an 86% by the end of November, something that is usually unheard of in the class. It felt awesome to be doing above average (well, almost) and to be understanding the level of material given to me. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But, all of my work really paid off when I got an 82% on the final exam, and with curved points, got a final grade on the exam of an 89%. I screamed and ran and danced around my house like there was no tomorrow!! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, at the tail end of the first semester, my final grade was a mid-range 87%. But with the HUGE opportunity of 3% extra credit, I received a 90.52% as my final grade, an extremely low, but still there A. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was, and is, gratifying to know that all the hard work, long nights, and immeasurable ink stains paid off for <i>something</i>. I can now go into the second semester confidently, and I am confident that I can go into junior year AP U.S. History with high expectations for myself with a great work ethic and understanding of what is expected of me. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I know that if I try <b><i>really</i></b> hard again, maybe I could swing another A in the class for second semester. But an A in this kind of class is like a shooting star: hard to find, but the gratification when you spot one is amazing. I am just content I surpassed my own standards for myself and I am ready to beat the new ones for myself!! </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02685244925224248899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005970404465963364.post-68784638694856568402013-01-12T18:13:00.002-06:002013-01-12T18:13:28.516-06:00Plain Girly Things<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If I could divide how I spent my time over winter break, it would have been: </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-5% eating </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-10% sleeping </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-10% watching TV/movies </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-10% listening to music </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-And 65% shopping online or in person, doing my nails, hair or makeup, planning outfits, etc. etc. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Since I have very specific clothing tastes, which have driven my parents crazy since the day I could make my opinions known, I usually only get gift cards for Christmas, birthdays, etc., or I point out something extremely specific that I would like (for example: American Eagle Classic Utility Shirt in Light Blue, size medium, found at three areas in the surrounding fifty mile radius of Naperville). </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It is only then that I am happy. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But, over the past three months or so, I have started to like more clothing brands and more styles, so I only asked my mom for gift cards for Christmas, so I COULD buy the things I wanted. And she happily obliged! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">With these lovely gift cards and much Christmas cash, I went out to both new and old stores to pick out what I wanted to dress to impress for the new year at school. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> <u>Shopping In Downtown Naperville w/ the Fam.</u> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5w8Tu6jxmW7CpIOPBaENmntEgkvqMiLWtSg2Y8i4As7EpnuhZCpkuOE3DE9mhYYi3BWnibzPLfNEHRS0fcIWt6hXi1hof-wkaA6U4BTdv5vU2Scj4VKXhSEGPAyzo2G77DOP1kwl6EI9/s1600/IMG_0002.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5w8Tu6jxmW7CpIOPBaENmntEgkvqMiLWtSg2Y8i4As7EpnuhZCpkuOE3DE9mhYYi3BWnibzPLfNEHRS0fcIWt6hXi1hof-wkaA6U4BTdv5vU2Scj4VKXhSEGPAyzo2G77DOP1kwl6EI9/s1600/IMG_0002.jpeg" /></a> </div>
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Orange Sweater: Debbie Morgan via Macys. Jeans: American Eagle.com. Boot Socks: Sonoma via Kohls. Boots: American Eagle.com. Necklace: Body Central. </div>
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<u>Doing Errands and Friend's Party</u></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5aoMBYIPb1mZQAr94DEON_GLbBcWqjGAgj2bbpq7fG35o6ZV-wk_wSLlcT94zUuku96S1ZTF7DOWo2452ysr8I8rZaSmbrR7o2DPXuaCPZGIZVFyxVFpXHf7alru0kUfo1V4-qQH7fDDa/s1600/IMG_0015.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5aoMBYIPb1mZQAr94DEON_GLbBcWqjGAgj2bbpq7fG35o6ZV-wk_wSLlcT94zUuku96S1ZTF7DOWo2452ysr8I8rZaSmbrR7o2DPXuaCPZGIZVFyxVFpXHf7alru0kUfo1V4-qQH7fDDa/s1600/IMG_0015.jpeg" /></a></div>
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Navy Sweater: Topshop via Nordstroms. Black Leggings: Forever 21. TOMS: Nordstoms. </div>
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I also took the initiative over break and went on some beauty blogging websites and found out different and interesting ways to do my hair and nails! While the most complicated thing I learned how to do was French Braid my hair, I learned how to do my nails in a really cool way! Just go onto Google and search "tape nails". It's super easy and took me fifteen minutes max!</div>
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<u>Tape Nails</u></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSBYmDAj4-8PdG6-EXO6LHpzJGkx50gw0jusBCmpIUX9vzcy78sAwscNJBbjbyvRMt_gRyIB8DbOB1KWpdd1fHTNFLrWJPDn8yZmF10a27_hSoN5v4EQ5TKDNAvndFo4Bz1eT6ZtS4mBz/s1600/IMG_0014.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSBYmDAj4-8PdG6-EXO6LHpzJGkx50gw0jusBCmpIUX9vzcy78sAwscNJBbjbyvRMt_gRyIB8DbOB1KWpdd1fHTNFLrWJPDn8yZmF10a27_hSoN5v4EQ5TKDNAvndFo4Bz1eT6ZtS4mBz/s1600/IMG_0014.jpeg" /></a></div>
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I did my nails using two nail polishes from The Gap: a navy called Neptune and a metallic silver called Silver Bullet. </div>
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Besides the beauty orientated part of my break, I spent a very quiet break here, at home, with mainly my family. But trust me, I am NOT complaining in the slightest. A quiet break alone, at home, was just what I needed to relax and recharge after the extremely hectic 2012 I had! </div>
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I spent my last day of break, unfortunately, doing my extra credit for AP European History! I had to watch a movie on the revolutionary age in American and France. So I chose <i>The Scarlet Pimpernel </i>with Merle Oberon and I sat in my room with my mom's iPad, coffee, and Skinny Pop popcorn and spent a relaxing, quiet afternoon to myself. The perfect way, I would say, to end my break and start off the new year on the right foot at school: relaxed, recharged, and ready to go! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEZp9RPoHtpUHzvSCiCF-EL29sb-_Kmj_uwadtnBIxFlLAFTKNOTNu6gDjfe1FDB3PgRu7Vv2Qz7Mpn1pgQ7KLpS0ZbhdNUnwxviXiDLRGdDw9hFaw_ScSDwbMeBbOw2-rSFd4IBfiD5k/s1600/IMG_0023.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEZp9RPoHtpUHzvSCiCF-EL29sb-_Kmj_uwadtnBIxFlLAFTKNOTNu6gDjfe1FDB3PgRu7Vv2Qz7Mpn1pgQ7KLpS0ZbhdNUnwxviXiDLRGdDw9hFaw_ScSDwbMeBbOw2-rSFd4IBfiD5k/s1600/IMG_0023.jpeg" /></a></div>
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Just a quick visual for how I spent my last day of break. VERY cozy! </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02685244925224248899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005970404465963364.post-37080649575418170572012-12-31T12:55:00.000-06:002012-12-31T12:55:08.443-06:00Les Misérables<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On Boxing Day, after much anticipation on Christmas Day, my sister and I did our chores like the good teenage daughters we are, and then we went to go and see the movie we had been waiting for: Les Misérables!!! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My sister and I are musical junkies: we have seen them live, acted in them, read the books some are adapted from, have most soundtracks on our iPods, and I plan to make a career out of it, if that tells you anything. Les Misérables is one of our absolute FAVORITES and when we heard there was going to be a movie adaptation earlier this year......well, of course we had to go! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Our original plan, before the opening days were changed for the film, was to go and see the midnight showing on the day it was originally supposed to open, December 7th. Then it got moved to December 14th, and our plans still didn't change, but then The Hobbit had to ruin our plans and Les Mis got pushed to Christmas Day. Now, of course we weren't going to see it on the holiday, that would be silly! So we settled for the next best thing, the day after. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We got to the movie theater forty minutes early, got our tickets, then had to wait in line to enter the theater as the previous showing was just leaving and there were TONS of people. Once we got into the actual theater, my sister and I headed to the back row, where we could quietly deal with our emotions as the movie went on, as to not distract other moviegoers. But, in typical fashion, the movie started and we were squished in next to a woman who was on her phone throughout the movie and a couple who was, shall we say, very <b>affectionate </b>with each other as the trailers started and the movie started. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Well, the movie started and my sister and I grabbed each other and started shrieking like the fangirls we are. We were just so excited!! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As to not ruin it for anyone, here are my pros and cons of the movie, based on my standards: </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><u>Pros </u></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Hugh Jackman (for the most part) </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Anne Hathaway </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Samantha Barks (I've always though she was a wonderful Éponine, since I saw her in the 25th Anniversary Concert) </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Amanda Seyfried (for the most part) </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Colm freakin' Wilkinson (as the Bishop of Digne!!!) </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-EDDIE REDMAYNE </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-EDDIE REDMAYNE </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-EDDIE REDMAYNE </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Aaron Tveit (the quintessential Enjolras. He was literally perfect and acted the heck out of his role. My other two favorites are Ramin Karimloo and Jeremy Hays.) </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter (they were bawdy, crude, and perfect. Sacha Baron Cohen exceeded my expectations and went above and beyond). </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-THE FRIENDS OF THE ABC (HOLY LORD SOMEBODY HOLD ME) </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Daniel Huttlestone (He embodies the word 'precious'. Aaron Tveit is quoted as saying, "I want to grow up and be like Daniel".) </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-The sets and visual effects, they were amazing!! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-The finale!!! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Hadley Fraser (the Easter egg of the movie. He shines bright like the diamond he is).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Hadley Fraser's mustache. (what contributed to the whole Easter egg factor). </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><u>Cons </u></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Russell Crowe (it should have been Norm Lewis. SHOULD HAVE BEEN. However, his death was quite epic.) </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Hugh Jackman during Bring Him Home. He was definitely struggling. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-They decided to omit some parts of songs to have less screen time in the movie. I thought this was an entirely stupid decision on the whole. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As the movie ended and the lights went up, you would have thought I needed to be carted off to the mental ward, based on my actions. I was shaking and crying into my sleeve and my sister was a mess: sobbing into her hands and not being able to talk, so much that people were asking if she was okay. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As we walked out of the theater, all I could say was "Wow". The movie was really, really, <i>really</i> great. I don't really think I would have loved it any more than I do now if it had been done any other way. It exceeded expectations, thanks to the vision of Tom Hooper, and he did not disappoint the millions of Les Mis fans around the world. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cheers to him, and hopefully, this movie will have a successful awards season. As it should!!! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Happy New Year! (one day more.....)</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02685244925224248899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005970404465963364.post-6838785386939782242012-12-20T20:29:00.000-06:002012-12-20T20:29:53.937-06:00Book ListSince I spent about two hours today in my local Barnes and Noble and I am a satisfied customer and member there (plus its closing. wah.), I decided to look back into the teen section on their website and give you guys a list of books that I REALLY want to read for the New Year!<br />
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1. The Fault In Our Stars by John Green<br />
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2. Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler<br />
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3. The Statistical Probability Of Love At First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith <br />
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4. Matched by Ally Condie <br />
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5. Crossed by Ally Condie<br />
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6. Reached by Ally Condie<br />
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7. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (Funny how my sister has had this book since summer of 2012, but I can't read it yet and she finished with it in August. Humph.)<br />
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8. Amy And Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson<br />
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9. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald<br />
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10. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han<br />
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11. It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han<br />
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12. We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han<br />
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13. I Like Him, He Likes Her by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor<br />
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14. It's Not Like I Planned It This Way by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor<br />
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15. Please Don't Be True by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor<br />
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16. Alice In Charge by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor<br />
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17. Incredibly Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor<br />
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18. Alice On Board by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor<br />
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19. Just One Day by Gayle Forman <br />
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OK, so thats my list. If you guys have any recommendations for me, please comment in the actual post or on Google+.<br />
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Thanks, and in the words of Tyler Oakley, have a nice life!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02685244925224248899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005970404465963364.post-5611786272271361662012-12-16T20:29:00.001-06:002012-12-28T17:18:09.947-06:00Update, For the Time BeingHello, Google plussers, blog readers, and people of the world who enjoy viewing this blog!<br />
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I know, I know, it has been a while since I posted something. But I was busy with my school's holiday concert and homework and finals start THIS WEEK and I was Christmas present shopping and baking my butt off. I swear, this new Hersey Kiss cookie recipe I found is so easy, I make them at least once a week and my jeans are not fitting because of them.<br />
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BUT ANYWAY, I thought I would just give you a little update on what's going on with <i>moi</i>.<br />
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As you know from my last post, I participated in my school's holiday concert called the Crystal Concert, and it was stressful and exhausting, but beautiful and joyful too. It was such an amazing sight, to see the auditorium of my school decked out in white and pretty lights and to sing and play for a packed house every night. I can not WAIT for the holiday season of the next two years to do this again! To commemorate the concert, I took a picture of myself in my concert wear, which you can see above.<br />
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In addition, I had several projects due in some of my classes and a test almost everyday for the past two weeks so I have been pulling my hair every night asking myself why I keep going to school. VERY stressful.<br />
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But, finals are this week. <b>"Oh whoops, I said the F word!"</b> as my math teacher would say. But yes, finals are this week and then they will be over Friday and I will have a glorious, social Christmas break with some rollerskating outings, movie nights, and, hopefully, trips into Chicago.<br />
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I will give another update once the burden that are finals are lifted from my shoulders.<br />
Peace out, and see y'alls in a bit!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02685244925224248899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005970404465963364.post-83961315731705086392012-11-24T16:24:00.001-06:002012-11-24T16:24:38.941-06:00The Holiday SeasonSo, Thanksgiving is definitely over, but I'm sure the leftovers are still in your refrigerators!<br />
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As you continue to pick at that leftover stuffing and pumpkin pie, you might start to get ready for the upcoming holiday season with your family and friends. My family started yesterday and finished today, decorating my house with various strands of garland, lights, decorative Santas and snowmen, and putting up our two Christmas trees. It was a TON of work, but lots of fun, as the Charlie Brown Christmas CD motivated my sister and I to continue decorating the huge tree in our family tree and continue to run up and down our stairs with boxes.<br />
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At my school, the holidays start this week and continue through December with the annual holiday Crystal Concerts on the 29th and the 30th. All curricular and extracurricular music groups come together and play a seamless concert of holiday music. I attended my first one last year and it was really quite impressive!<br />
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This year, my sister and I will both be performing in Chamber Singers, an extracurricular/co-curricular women's group and I will be performing in the Symphonic Bands performance, as well. The Crystal Concerts occur over two days, with two performances per day. Even though it will be a great experience and I can't wait, I'm sure I will be exhausted afterwards!<br />
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Throughout December, our school will hold a Holiday drive to help families in poorer parts of the United States to have gifts for Christmas. I participated last year and it gave me a really great feeling to be able to be helping someone have a great Christmas! I will definitely do it again this year, and I'm sure my sister will too!<br />
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Enjoy the last week of November, those few Thanksgiving leftovers, and the beginning of the upcoming holiday season!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02685244925224248899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005970404465963364.post-57142709485678065202012-11-04T16:24:00.001-06:002012-11-04T16:24:43.547-06:00Appreciations<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I love my family. But it's days like these that I really appreciate that they're MINE and no one else's. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Today was a day that we planned to have family portraits taken for our Christmas card and just to have. We dressed nicely, took our dogs to the park where we were taking pictures, and just started with our friend who was taking them for us. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As I watched my parents take pictures together and my sister take individual shots in the sunshine with that late afternoon shadow that is so unique to fall, I realized that I had a pretty awesome family: parents who care about me and push me to do whatever I want to, and a sister who is my best friend. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I can't wait to see how these pictures come out and see how great we look together. I will treasure them for years to come!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02685244925224248899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005970404465963364.post-84898620244679057912012-11-03T20:38:00.001-05:002012-11-03T20:38:09.100-05:00War Of 204....Part 2<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Because Neuqua Valley High School is undefeated, 11-0 record, and the winner of their game last night, AND Waubonsie Valley High School has a 10-1 record (their one loss is to us), we will be playing them, our biggest rivals, in the football playoff quarterfinals this Friday at home. AGAIN. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Be prepared, because if you thought the first War of 204 was something.....you ain't seen nothing yet. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But personally, I wish we lost a while ago. I mean, it's awesome we have a great football team, but the music kids have this annual, private event called Swing Dance where the jazz groups play big band music and everyone is super classy and dances the night away and it's WAY too much fun. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Well, this year, it's scheduled for this Friday. From four to six pm. Then I have to go play in the freezing cold with the band. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was so excited for this. I mean, doesn't it sound lame to hold it from four to six instead of, say, seven to ten? Like it's supposed to be? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Four to six is not classy. Because of the football team. That's all I'm saying. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Go Wildcats. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02685244925224248899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005970404465963364.post-3321553533324382272012-10-28T09:45:00.002-05:002012-10-28T09:45:23.002-05:00Stress and Being Sick. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So marching band is over. I now get to come home four days a week and not have to worry about getting my homework done on time or going to bed too late. Hooray! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But, unfortunately, two of my most important grades are slipping: Geometry and AP European History. I am trying my hardest to keep up in these classes, but it has been a busy and stressful past two weeks with the season ending and football going into the playoffs. I failed two tests over the course of one week. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now that I'm coming home more often, I am going to take the opportunity to focus all of my energy into my studies. I have set expectations for my self for this year and I am determined to fill them.....without worsening my cold. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One thing I've realized as I have started my high school career: being sick stinks and you just can't afford it. So, everyone, try to stay healthy and happy over the next few months so your health doesn't interfere with your own busy schedules! </span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02685244925224248899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005970404465963364.post-91807862120135702852012-10-20T12:56:00.001-05:002012-10-20T12:56:06.353-05:00Life Bucket List (possibly inspired by Tumblr?)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, the past few weeks, my friends have introduced me to the micro-blogging, hipster website that is Tumblr, and I LOVE IT. Like seriously though, I can't get enough of it. There are posts and pictures and GIFs that I can completely relate to and I spend an unhealthy amount of hours on the computer just staring at them, being inspired and waiting for the day my life starts. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, Tumblr has pretty large blogs that TONS of people can comment on, and there is one called Teenager's Bucket List. Just google it if you want; it's really cute! Anyway, I have been inspired and motivated by it to create MY idealistic, perfect Tumblr bucket list......that maybe, just maybe, I will follow through my life! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(This is going to be a decent sized list, so get ready.) </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1. Drive across the USA. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">2. Spend a day in a busy city with a 'Free Hugs' sign. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">3. Learn to play guitar. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">4. Keep my New Years' Resolution. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">5. Get accepted to my dream college. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">6. Be kissed in the rain. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">7. Go to a masquerade ball. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">8. Go to a Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">9. Go sailing (I mean, LEGIT sailing). </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">10. See the Mona Lisa </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">11. Go to Venice's Carnival. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">12. Live in New York City. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">13. Drive across the Golden Gate Bridge. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">14. Learn how to ice skate. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">15. Learn piano. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">16. Visit Paris. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">17. Live in Paris. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">18. Go to the top of the Eiffel Tower. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">19. Go to the Olympics. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">20. Go to Italy. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">21. Meet the love of my life. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">22. Have a gondola ride in Venice. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">23. Ride in a hot air balloon. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">24. Have a Tiffany ring. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">25. Spend a whole day reading. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">26. Meet One Direction. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">27. Kiss under mistletoe. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">28. Kiss under fireworks. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">29. Spend New Year's Eve in Times Square. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">30. Dance in the rain. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">31. Play Paint Twister. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">32. Cover my bedroom walls with twinkle lights, pictures, and lyrics. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">33. Be confident in my bathing suit. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">34. Have a road trip with friends. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">35. Have a closet full of shoes. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">36. Go cliff diving in Santorini. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">37. Let go of a flying lantern. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">38. Get out of my town. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">39. Take Polaroid pictures with the one I love. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">40. Sleep under the stars. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">41. Have a walk-in closet. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">42. Become a Broadway star. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">43. Chase my dreams. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">44. Change someone's life. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">45. Stop all of my bad habits. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">46. Experience Christmas in New York. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">47. Own Ray-Bans. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">48. Get a small tattoo that means a lot. (For me, it would be an infinity tattoo. But I can't get one or my parents will disown me.) </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">49. Go to a concert (ANY concert). </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">50. Go to a One Direction Concert. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">51. Ride on the London Eye. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">52. Throw someone a surprise party. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">53. Shop on Black Friday. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">54. Make a wish at the Trevi Fountain in Rome. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">55. Dance in the rain WITH my best friends. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">56. Slow dance in the rain WITH the one I love. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">57. Tie messages to balloons and let them go. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">58. Get an apartment with my sister. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">59. Have my fairytale wedding. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">60. Build a blanket fort. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">61. Have an iPhone. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">62. Slow dance to 'Forever Young'. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">63. Write my name in sand. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">64. Write my name in concrete. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">65. Spend the day at a boardwalk. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">66. Design my own Converse. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">67. Design my own Vans. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">68. Go to an outdoor concert. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">69. Go surfing. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">70. Learn to play the ukelele. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">71. Carve my name into a tree. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">72. Master liquid eyeliner. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">73. Drink Starbucks on the beach. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">74. Wear red pants and a striped shirt together. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">75. Own a nice camera. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">76. Own my own cupcake shop. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">77. Watch the sunrise at the beach. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">78. Visit London. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">79. Live in London. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">80. Have an endless perfume collection. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">81. Graduate with straight A's (or a few). </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">82. Have a photo shoot in a photo booth. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">83. Send a message in a bottle. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">84. Own a 'Keep Calm' shirt. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">85. Meet Ed Sheeran. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">86. Sing opera. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">87. Have an amazing iPhone case. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">88. Visit Salzburg, Austria. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">89. Go to the Caribbean. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">90. Visit Notre Dame Cathedral. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">91. Visit the Vatican. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">92. Visit Stonehenge. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">93. Visit the Louvre. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">94. Visit the Musee d'Orsay. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">95. Make my own piece of pottery. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">96. Win a Tony Award (or more...). </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">97. Shop at Harrod's. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">98. Date a British boy. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">99. Go on a no-budget shopping spree. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">100. Save someone's life. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">101. Have a girl. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">102. Have a boy. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">103. Spoil my children. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">104. Be a loving parent. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">105. Grow my hair long. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">106. Master the art of styling your hair and different hairstyles. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">107. Buy a pair of white shoes and personalize them. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">108. Go to New York Fashion Week. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">109. See an Adele concert. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">110. Own a Polaroid camera. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">111. Bake something in the middle of the night. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">112. Catch a bride's bouquet. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">113. Watch all of the Harry Potter movies in one day. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">114. Have a Starbucks date. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">115. Visit Big Ben. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">116. Visit the Mall of America. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">117. See a performance at the Sydney Opera House. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">118. Be fluent in another language. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">119. Be able to run a mile easily. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">120. Leave a note in a library book for someone else to find. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">121. Go to my prom. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">122. Have a wardrobe I actually like. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">123. Have a personal standing ovation. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">124. Have a fanfic moment. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">125. Go on a nighttime stroll in Paris. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">126. Have my own personal library. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">127. Witness a wedding proposal. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">128. Get rid of all the negativity in my life. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">129. Grow old together. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">130. Make melted crayon art. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">131. Go to a cupcake ATM. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">132. See the Northern Lights. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">133. Have an aquarium date. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">134. Go snorkeling. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">135. Tell people what I think about them. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">136. Make and finish a "Wreck This" journal. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">137. Donate a large amount of money to cancer research. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">138. Teach someone something. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">139. Have a picnic. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">140. Own and donate a pair of TOMS shoes for every day of the week. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">141. Be serenaded. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">142. Play hide and seek in IKEA. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">143. Stop being afraid and start living. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">144. Be remembered. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I know, this is A LOT! But I want to have an exciting, crazy, random, its-the-little-things-that-matter kind of life. And if you never try, you'll never know. So, I'm going to remember this bucket list.....and try to fulfill it the best I can! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Love to all, I hope this has inspired you to create your own bucket lists that are important to YOU. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02685244925224248899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005970404465963364.post-50614613930400719302012-10-06T17:56:00.000-05:002012-12-07T15:42:25.806-06:00Neuqua Valley Vs. Waubonsie Valley 2012<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These past two weeks have been very busy. Homecoming, the start of a new month, various music practices, marching band, driving lessons, etc. Just last night, the student body of Neuqua Valley High School got to let off some steam and and show their "NV Spirit" as the two biggest rivals in District 204 faced off in the biggest football game of the season, nicknamed "the War of 204". </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Neuqua Valley and Waubonsie Valley are from two opposite ends of District 204. Both are large, well-known schools with excellent academics, good sports teams, and award winning music programs. These two schools also have a bitter rivalry with each other. Why, I truly believe that is a question we will never know the answer to. But last night was one of the biggest events in the history of either school; an annual football game between the two UNDEFEATED football teams that would pack the stands to full capacity, it would have to be moved to the local college in downtown. This week was dubbed "Spirit Week" to get the student body pumped and excited for the game with dress up days, various athletic events, and a pep rally. And I got to view it from the marching band's standpoint! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Monday, the 1st: </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The marching band arrives at Neuqua at 6:45, ready to play outside the school with the cheerleaders welcoming teachers and students into the school. Yes, it was cold, and yes, we got weird looks from the crowd, but one of the teachers very kindly provided the band with donuts afterwards. That night was also the event <b>Neuqua Knows It Can Dance, </b>a spin-off competition of <b>So You Think You Can Dance? </b>The winner of that was Peer Partners, who did a really cute dance to Call Me Maybe. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tuesday, the 2nd: </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The dress up day was Retro Day, which I noticed not many people participated in. I didn't think the theme days for Spirit Week are as good as the ones for Homecoming week. No special events marked this day. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Wednesday, the 3rd: </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Twilight Invite! School from all around Naperville come to Neuqua's stadium to run a cross-country meet in the dark; the only way they can see their path is through the neon-clad crowd and neon trail markers. I've heard it's a really fun event, but I couldn't go because I had Chamber Singers that night. As I drove away from the high school, I could hear the house music booming from the press box and the crowd cheering on their friends as they ran, soaking wet, might I add, through the trail. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thursday, the 4th: </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That day in marching band was intense because we had only one more practice before the football game, which was the next day. We were so intent on making it perfect because this football game was going to be one of our biggest audiences of the year and we were the home team, so we wanted to look<b><i> good.</i></b> In addition, we had to prepare for the pep rally the next day which involved learning a flash mob to Gangam Style! I was able to check "participate in a flash mob" off of my bucket list. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Friday, the 5th: </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Let me just start by saying the temperature at the pep rally was fifty degrees. Okay. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The marching band got to get out of class early (YES.) and head out to the football stadium to "warm-up" but we only go out there an hour early to sit and chat with our friends. So we froze our butts off for an extra hour while the students sat in the warm and toasty school! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The pep rally started with the flash mob. Which was way too much fun. Our principal started dancing to it too, which was pretty funny. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The pep rally continued with the marching band performance, a performance from the Neuqua SWAG dance team, medal ceremonies for the Neuqua Olympics, a tug-of-war between all four classes (Sophomores came in 2nd, WOOT, WOOT!) and a performance from the winners of <b>Neuqua Knows It Can Dance</b>. I have to say, it was probably one of the better pep rallies Neuqua has seen. The pep rally ended and we left to go into the school to resume the day. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">At marching band practice we headed out to the stadium to run and clean some things in the half time show really fast before going back inside for our pizza dinner! It had dropped another twenty degrees since the pep rally, and we knew it was only going to get colder as the night went on. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We ate, changed into uniform, and left for downtown Naperville and North Central College! We got there an hour early, and the Sophomore game was still going on, so we went and sat in the stands and watched and played and shivered. The Sophomores won, hooray! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The actual game started at 7:30. We watched as the Gold Rush came into the stadium and took their places next to us; they were so big this year, they had to move US down to the bleachers behind the goal posts, so we were on high alert the entire time as to not get hit in the face. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When we went out to perform our pre-game show, it was the coolest thing ever. The audience was so receptive and respectful to us, and we marched it really well, too. At one point in pre-game, the band makes a star as one of its formations, and in the Neuqua stands, you can't see it very well, but at North Central the crowd FINALLY saw it and went wild! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So we finished and went and sat back in our stands and froze until we had to do the halftime show and pom tune. At this point in the game, we were tied with Waubonsie, which had us all biting our nails because we really wanted to win. If we did, our state ranking would move up and we would be undefeated! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We marched the half-time show, which the crowd loved, and played the pom tune very well. We went and sat back in the stands and waited until the end of the game. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But the game didn't end for a while. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> The game was made up of plays that were just start-and-stop. After several tactile errors made by Waubonsie's coach and penalties for both teams, there was three minutes and thirty seconds left in the fourth quarter and Neuqua had to score to tie with Waubonsie to go into Overtime. We were sitting on the edge of our seats, standing, hopping from one foot to the other, nervous and cold and hoping to score. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The ball came down to our end, and Neuqua was in possession. They only had to score this touchdown and they would be tied. We were screaming so loudly, we couldn't hear ourselves. Our drum major, Colin, was practically in the end zone, he was so into it. The players got into position, the ref blew his whistle and it started. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">NEUQUA SCORED!!!!!!!!!! In a matter of seconds, they scored!!! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We were so happy, when we started to play the school song to celebrate, we didn't play it, we sang it. After our moment of joy, we went back to our positions and waited for the next point to be scored.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The ball made its way back down to the far side of the field, and after about seven or eight minutes, Neuqua scored again, making the game 35-34. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That's right. Neuqua scored again. WE WON THE WAR OF 204! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The level at which we were screaming was very unhealthy, but we didn't care, we were undefeated now! After the football team did their good game handshake with Waubonsie and left the field, the marching band ran onto the field screaming and jumping up and down and hugging each other, acting like we had won the game. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We played the school song one last time, made our way back to the buses and went home. Tired and cold, my sister and I came home at 11:15. I made hot chocolate for us, we read the Entertainment Weekly together and just chatted for a bit, then went upstairs to bed, ending our busy and spirit-filled week. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Go Wildcats!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02685244925224248899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5005970404465963364.post-27665985839172593662012-09-16T09:41:00.001-05:002012-09-23T17:52:07.871-05:00Wheaton North Marching Band Festival<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yesterday was a very long day: it was my first ever marching band festival! It took place at Wheaton North High School, in Wheaton, Illinois. Yesterday was a day to perform our marching band's halftime show (Cuban Fire) and receive critical comment and feedback from a panel of judges. The results weren't exactly what we had expected, but it was a fun day, and a learning experience overall!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, we didn't have to be at my high school until two o'clock, so I spent the morning doing a workout tape, eating cereal and having a dance party in my room. This is what I do on the weekends; don't judge me. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I picked up my friend Bethany and we (my sister, her, and I) drove to the school with a huge good luck from my mom as we were dropped off in the parking lot. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When we walked in, you could tell the whole band was both really excited and super nervous. We had learned new sets (individual coordinates on the football field to make the cool patterns you see) on the practice field the pervious day and they were a little shaky and not many of us had memorized the music to those new sets and we had forgotten the last quarter of sets to the second movement of the piece. Although we fixed them that Friday, we weren't very confident we would remember the fixes and half the band would play when we weren't supposed to or move when we weren't supposed to. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So if we remembered, the show might be a hit. If not, it was a recipe for disaster. Take your pick! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We changed into uniform, boarded the buses, and left for Wheaton North! On the way there, I sat with my flute girls and somehow, on accident, our friend Maggie shoved herself into my friends Karen and Nancy's seats and pushed Karen to the ground! So Karen was stuck in the space between the bus seats, on the floor, and couldn't move. She screamed her head off for the rest of the trip over there. There are several videos and photos she will (apparently) use in court against us. Our section leader seemed amused. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We pulled into the parking lot of the high school and I saw various things: about twenty other marching bands, all of varying sizes, uniforms, and instrumentation, pit percussion rehearsing in the fields next to the school, about thirty other buses parked in the parking lot, instrument trucks bearing logos from different townships, and a medium sized stadium with TURF! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We unloaded our buses and headed to the field for the "opening ceremonies" of the festival, then walked back to our area to change into uniform and warm up. We walked to one of the nearby practice fields in a neighborhood and just warmed up in our sections and we played through the halftime show as a band. I could feel the tension, excitement, and nervousness in the air. There was so much riding on us from the directors and we really wanted to win, but we knew that it was a tradition here that our band never did. We hoped we could change that.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As we walked back to the school, there was a ton of enthusiastic praise coming from other high schools who weren't going on just yet, or had already performed. Everyone was so nice to us! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We walked onto the field as Naperville Central High School was performing their show, "Beethoven Crüe" (a tribute mashup to Beethoven and Motley Cr</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">üe). For a visual purpose, they used folding chairs in their show, I thought it was creative, but didn't really understand the usage of the chairs. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">They finished and we headed to the back sideline, where we marched on and took the field for competition. I was so ready, but at the same time so scared! But, the drum majors started conducting, our lead snare, Drake, did the tap-off to the first movement and we just started to play. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The first movement was GREAT! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The second movement was good up until those sets I was talking about before. Some of us didn't hit them correctly and didn't make the formations we needed to, but we all ended in the correct charts to start the third movement. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The third movement was a disaster zone. We weren't counting right when we had to change tempos, we missed a horn move, and our sound wasn't confident. We had just learned most of those sets the previous day, so we knew it probably wasn't a good idea to do the third part, but our directors just really wanted us to do it. It was an incomplete movement too (meaning we hadn't finished all of the charts we needed to learn to complete the show?, but I am sure by our next festival we will have it down pat. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We marched off the field, got some closing comments from our director and the drum majors, and went back to the carts to the change into uniform. Somehow, my parents and our neighbors (whose daughter is a senior in color guard) found us and wanted to take a picture with me and my sister, which I found very nice. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I found my friends and we went to the concession stands for an hour long wait to get food. We were STARVING!! After the wait, we ate with our band on a hill next to the stadium and watched the other bands compete. There were some that used props, cool costumes, or told a story, but the musical aspect of their performance wasn't as strong as their visual aspect. Comments were made throughout by my friends and I. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">At around nine-thrity, the awards ceremony started! We were silent and crossing our fingers while the other bands around us were disrespectful and and loud. I honestly wanted to go over there and tell them to shut up in the sassiest way possible because the awards meant a lot to my band and we really wanted to win, even though we knew we wouldn't. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And you know what? Those bands won, while we got nothing. It was a little disappointing at first, but as we headed back home, we realized it was a learning experience for all of us and deep down, we were happy we had came! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cheers, and wish us luck at our final festival at University of Illinois on October 13th!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02685244925224248899noreply@blogger.com0