And you got me living in the past.

I apologize for this entry's length in advance.

I thought for a blog entry on the last day of 2009 I should somehow commemorate the year. So here goes.

My friend Zack had helped me in the past to think up some pretty ingenious entry titles for my former AOL blogs, "[Meh.]" and "No One Ever Listens to Me." I would link you to those if I could. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, the AOL Company decided to discontinue their blogging service and delivered an ultimatum. Either we relocate here or quit the hobby entirely. I had gone a good few months debating my decision. I was also computer-less, which weighed in the balance considerably. And therefore, I must confess, at one point I was leaning towards not doing it. Then I suppose I woke up one day -- after receiving a new laptop -- and decided to make a new blog here during the fall of 2008. Soon, Abs and Scarlett (known as Jedi Girl to me at the time), followed suit and we all started anew.

Okay, so that's basically the backstory of how this blog came to be. I really feel it took me until January of this year to gain readers, though. I felt apathetic that month especially. A memorable line from one entry was, "I feel like taking pencils and shoving it down people's throats." Yeah, not a whole lot of love there.

February introduced some new changes. Not only was I seriously settling down into my second semester of freshman year in high school, I lost friends, and I was hurt. March was better because I started focusing on other aspects of my life. This was also the first month I started posting pictures with any regularity. I got a 100 on my latest math test and all A's on my report card for the first time in high school. More blog friends began entering my life such as Jess (who needs to update sometime!), Shelby, Katie, and Strawberry.

In April, I regaled about my various happenings related to school.  Come May, I was studying for dozens of exams, including IGSCE papers. I had started a Photography Passion Week for basically just myself and to convince my mom I was indeed serious about photography. That way I could ultimately get a Nikon P90 camera to further my abilities as an aspiring photographer.

June marked the beginning of my summer 2009. I got my Nikon P90. Woot, woot! I went and saw Transformers 2 with my best friend, Nikki, during its midnight showing. That was a ton of fun. Oh, and my family took a mini vacation down to South FL. In addition, I was introduced to Kait and her awesomeness around this time. By July I was used to sleeping in and having the days to do practically whatever. It was a nice contrast to the constant slew of homework and projects I had months prior. I became more proficient with my camera, even though chances are I don't know everything. This, by far, was my busiest month.

Then came August. I started school again, this time as a sophomore. I read Ethan Frome and made a post about my first pair of converse shoes that subsequently became littered with comments and such from friends of mine in middle school. A pretty decent month, if you ask me. Next is September. I managed to talk about failing a math test and making a copper necklace.

I think October, November and December are recent enough that they need very little recap.

NOTE: If you are reading this and I did not mention your name and you're a friend/follower, I do not think any less of you. I just tried to limit who I mentioned and to be perfectly honest they are just the names that first popped into my head. You guys are all awesome and I hope you'll stick around! :]

Now that I've looked back and taken several glimpses into the past, it's time to face the future. 2010! We're on the cusp of entering a new decade. It's exciting and fresh. However, I am not good at making resolutions, so instead, I thought I'd list a few things out of several I'm looking forward to in the coming year.

1. Getting to use my panda Bento box.
2. Summer.
3. Making new friends.
4. Hanging out with my already friends.
5. Seeing Toy Story 3 in 3D with a giant group of friends.
6. Receiving the four pairs of tights in the mail from Kohls.com (gift card, FTW!)

Happy New Years, everyone!
:D

It's a feeling inside that keeps building.

*NOTE: This bird is not dead, I promise. This just happened to be one of the best shots where you could see its feathers in close detail. I apologize if you were taken aback at first.
I saw these beautiful --Does anyone have any idea what kind of birds these are!? Their head features would suggest a turkey but they had webbed feet. That detail leads me to believe their some breed of duck. Yet the color on their feathers says more peacock -- birds while on an early evening walk Christmas Eve around the block with my brother. We had passed by the birds in the retention pond nearby and I insisted we stop so I could retrieve my camera when we looped around. One of the younger kids in the neighborhood was out and about and was there as I snapped these shots. Apparently they come often? News to me, for sure. He also told me he feeds them bread. That may not be the best idea. As far as I know they are tame in the sense they don't attack. I suppose they wouldn't if you're offering food.

Regardless, I thought these feathered fellows' wings were so lovely colored! I was incredibly grateful to have such a good zoom on my camera or otherwise I may not have gotten any closer than I did for the first picture. (It does not look it, but the ground right next to the pond has the consistency of quick sand.) Also, had the city decided not to tear down the fence around the pond and put up palm tress instead, I would've never been close. The fence was up when it was known there were alligators living in the pond. Oh, and snapping turtles. I remember being nearly frightened to death of those things.

I got splendid gifts. I did not get an ipod touch unlike her and a few of my friends, though. This is mighty fine, I have no real want for one. You see, my family instead bought me littler things (and one giant thing) they knew for certain I'd want and love. For example, I am now the proud owner of not two, but count 'em three Scottish calenders, two panda ones, and two art ones. They're amazing and I cannot wait until the new year to put them up. The giant thing I'm referring to do is plush Giant panda. Duh!

In addition, I got this adorable turtle pin from my grandparents.
A few years back for Christmas, my grandmother made me a necklace type-pouch with a turtle charm attached to it. It's cool, too. One day I'll take a picture of it.

All right, I think I've written enough. I hope everyone is enjoying their post-Christmas and pre-New Years time. I will certainly try to continue doing so.

Happy holidays.

I finished reading The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom. What an interesting book! I highly suggest you check it out and give it a read. And then, after wards, you can comment me and we can discuss it. Or something like that. I think it's one of those stories that will seriously stick with you. I wasn't especially moved, however, perhaps because the protagonist was male and old, the exact opposite from me.

However, I am now reading The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. This, you would know, if you've been bothering to take glimpses at the "As of Late" text off to the right-hand side of the page. I've been good about updating it, even when I'm unable to write a proper entry. Anyway, the book's protagonist is most definitely identifiable in my eyes -- young and female. I heard of the book like most have recently: the hype surrounding its transformation into a motion picture. If I've got my facts straight, the movie releases in the coming month.

Here are a few random photos I've been meaning to post. They're mainly of my latest fascination: the sky. It makes me sad all the years I've gone living without truly appreciating it. I thought these were wicked cool formations.



These next two were taken with my lovely phone's 3.3 megapixel camera. They're, surprisingly, not too bad in quality.
Now I must be off to get serious work done on my latest drawing.

Where is the hot chocolate?

"This is a story about a man named Eddie and it begins at the end, with Eddie dying in the sun. It might seem strange to start a story with an ending. But all endings are also beginnings. We just don't know it at the time."
--The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

I finally checked this book out from the library. I think I'm going to devote most of my time the next few days to reading it. That is, of course, when I'm not hibernating. It is actually cold, by a Floridian's standard, making it the perfect weather in which I can curl up under the comforter and enjoy a good book.

But the current prediction for Christmas day here? Rainy and hot. Swell.

In case I forget to say it another time: Happy holidays to all! I appreciate every single one of my readers very, very much!!

I see you.

I am free from school until January 5th! It is so refreshing to know I can sleep in late. Don't get me wrong, there is a pile of stuff I should accomplish between now and, say, the new year, but tonight was for revelry:

Me and eleven of my friends (Aniesa, Puja, Garrett, Zach, Regina, Luke, Patricia, Joy, Jacob, Andrea and Monica) went and packed the movie theater to see James Cameron's action film, Avatar. It was amazing, and Sam Worthington is a cutie. We didn't, however, see it in 3D as planned because a few people complained of the cost. I wanted 3D glasses so I could run around like a doofus with them on in plain daylight. Still, I had a great time.

I hope tomorrow Nikki and I can go Christmas shopping together. I believe she has to do something as part of Robotics. I don't think she'd be mad for hanging with the people I did tonight, but I'm never sure. It's probably all good and I over-think, as always.

Haha, oh my! my brother just gave me his 3D glasses. He went to see Avatar too, just in a separate movie theater, at a different time, with only his girlfriend.

Ah, and here is a breakdown of my exam and then semester scores.

English -- 89% on the exam, A for the semester
PE -- I'm not sure, probably A for the semester considering I had a 99% going in and I could use my notes on the exam
Chemistry -- 90% on the exam, A for the semester
Spanish -- 93% on the exam, A for the semester
History -- 100% on the exam, A for the semester
Math -- 91%, B for the semester
Art -- I'm not sure, probably an A for the semester since I'm cool like that

I wish my English exam grade was higher. I suppose that's what I get for neglecting truly studying grammar. Look at that math grade on the exam, though! Sweetawesome.

One more week.

I think I'm listening to Justin Bieber on the radio and I must say, I am not particularly impressed. He's what, 13? Sounds pre-pubescent and if that's your -- OH MY GOODNESS. Love Song is on! I remember finding this song on Artistdirect.com in the summer of 2007. The song must have had some popularity to be on there and labeled as an 'up and coming', but I felt mighty special when I heard it on the radio for the time first time a month later. It was like uncovering a gem. Back to what I was originally saying, this Bieber kid is not strumming my heart cords though I guess I see some appeal? Maybe?

This is adorable.

I love this photo.

My history project/presentation went extraordinarily well. We got 298 points out of a possible 300 points. That equates to a 99%. I'm so proud of all the work my group did. It was definitely worth it.

One more week.

Gainesville, Florida.

I hope your Thanksgiving was delightful (if you celebrated) and your Black Friday full of success in finding good deals on the things you wanted.

Fortune cookies.

Today was better than I imagined it to be as I rolled out of bed. Little did I know I'd have a nicer dental hygienist to clean my teeth during my appointment or receive an 80 on my latest math quiz. Yesterday was good because we had our final regular season match for Academic Team. We only got third, but we were the district champions overall!

Oh, and Sunday night I made this for Aniesa:
It's meant to look like a cake which I joked I'd bake for her. Instead, I covered a Glad container fillied with yummy Pillsbury cookies with white tissue paper and voila! Her birthday was today but she decided to skip school and do something more fun. Can't say I blame her.

Here's a picture of my brother's drawing that I had FINALLY finished. My school practically dominated the various art shows this past weekend. We had two firsts, a third, a best of show and a second. Unfortunately, I didn't win anything. I am getting to show it to the people in the community though.
I didn't angle the picture well enough to eliminate the glare. Live and learn, live and learn.

I'm starting to wonder what's supposed to be happening with the writing club I'm in. We, as in the members, haven't had a meeting the past two weeks and I thought we were supposed to be publishing the web site full of Halloween stories very soon. Hmm.

Curiouser and curiouser.

found via google.com on this site.

I have yet to read Alice in Wonderland or Through the Looking Glass. The two stories are combined into one physical book I own. It includes the original illustrations by John Tenniel, which in my opinion, are the best. The Disney adaptation is nice, but you lose half the detail.

My mom had remarked there being a poem she really liked so I thumbed through and found it. I figured I'd share it with you. It's actually at the very end of Through the Looking Glass.

A boat, beneath a sunny sky
Lingering onward dreamily
In an evening of July --

Children three that nestle near,
Eager eye and willing ear,
Pleased a simple tale to hear --

Long has paled that sunny sky;
Echoes fade and memories die;
Autumn frosts have slain July.

Still she haunts me, phantomwise,
Alice moving under skies
Never seen by waking eyes.

Children yet, the tale to hear,
Eager eye and willing ear,
Lovingly shall nestle near.

In a Wonderland they lie,
Dreaming as the days go by,
Dreaming as the summers die.

Ever drifting down the stream --
Lingering in the golden gleam --
Life, what is it but a dream?

--Lewis Carrol

I have tomorrow off from school. It won't feel that way since I still have math and English to complete and a doctor to visit. I'm proud, though, to say I've maintained an 84 ( a 'B') in math!

Bookworm.

I love meeting new people. There's something so liberating and exhilarating about the experience. I say that especially because I went to book club earlier with Puja. This meeting was with several students from high schools all over the school district instead of just the few out of our one high school body. As in, there are two types. The small one confined to one school and the bigger one that engulfs many.

Anyway, I tried to brush off the disappointment that Aniesa didn't come. We didn't even have a way to contact her. Oh, if only cell phone batteries never lost charge.

Fortunately, the turnout was tremendous and so we discussed the book, Suck It Up by Brian Meehel. We unanimously decided it wasn't that great as vampire books go and then we got on to talking about how Twilight has given rebirth to an otherwise ignored and overlooked genre. We also had to agree that this Twilight monopoly is obnoxious. I personally expect an influx in intensity again with the New Moon release.

After we had nothing insightful left to say about Suck It Up, we went around the table recommending books. This girl, Laura, mentioned The Five People You Meet In Heaven and I'm going to have to read it soon, not until I'm done with Fablehaven, that is. I think my main readers have talked about the former in some entr of yours.

Academic Team has been going well. We are first overall in the standings at the moment. We hope to maintain it for two more matches and then, if we do well, it's off to districts we go! The writing club I am involved in is going well, too.

I am anxiously wanting to know what I got on my math test!

BOO!

found on fffound.com.

I'm headed off to hang with Nikki at the inside mall very soon. We're going to see Paranormal Activity. I've heard it's creepy and thought I might want to bring a pillow to scream into. Ha. This was Nikki's choice, not mine. Which is fair because tomorrow is Nikki's birthday and we're doing this today as celebration. I'll let you guys know if I survive or not as an edit or something. Otherwise, I have no other Halloween plans and the next day will be dedicated to homework. Oh, fun.

Happy Halloween! Don't get too scared!

EDIT: I'm alive!

The sky could fall, fall on me.

found on fffound.com.

As an update to the pumpkin contest I mentioned last entry, I won! I am super excited because the prize wasn't just a pat on the back. Nope, it was a free yearbook when they arrive in the spring. Yearbooks cost a lot of money. I think for our school is runs around $60 to 70, which depending on the quality of your staff, may seem overpriced. That is to say I hope -- fingers crossed -- they do a good job. My friends Swanny and Elizabeth and involved and I think they are capable of helping produce something worth having.

Until I get files organized I'm computer, specifically my photos, I'm trying to not take any more. I'm paranoid that one day my lovely, wonderful laptop won't turn. That said, I'm going to feature whatever I find that intrigues me.

Today was aggravating and long. I, along with practically everyone else, waited in great anticipation for the Ares I rocket to launch from Kennedy Space Center and after several delays, never did. Ares I is the rocket, (think Saturn IV with Apollo...okay, that may not help!) that NASA hopes will be used to take us back to the moon, Mars, and perhaps even beyond. As you may or may not know, the Space Shuttle is going to be retired very soon. Some are pessimistic and think there won't be a replacement or that the Ares I won't work. I'm trying to stay optimistic.

Do you think about me now and then?

Homecoming was awesome! I loved every minute of it. Puja, Aniesa and I danced pretty much the whole time and man was I sore afterwords. Such a workout. (I say that, but our theme was 'Candyland' so anything I burned off, I most likely regained. haha.) I would see people I knew and talk to them briefly and then move on. It's already decided that we're going again next year. Here are the photos I have of it so far. Stupidly, I didn't bring my own camera with me, yet that was because I thought it'd be too bulky and liable to break if around my neck. Here's me, Puja and Aniesa.
I had gone to my friend Regina's house for a pre-party to get ready with the various girls I'm friends with. I had to edit this particular photo because the blur was uncool. Now I made the blurry-ness more or less artistic. Maybe. Oh, and the guy, Garrett, had come towards the end for just dinner, pictures and departure. From left to right: Emily, Puja, me, Swanny, Garrett, Morgan and Regina. Aniesa wasn't able to make it.
Did anyone watch the SNL episode where Gerard Butler hosted? If I recall correctly, it was on just this past Saturday. I think I have digitally recorded it. If not, hulu here I come. From what I gather, though, that site, as lovely as it is, can't show full episodes of certain things due to copyright issues, which makes sense, I suppose.

I entered my pumpkin in the pumplin decorating contest at school today. It is done through the library and basically, it has the same concept as the cake contest I did last spring. Pick a book that deals with scary stuff, the supernatural, vampires, etc. All of this is part of some -- I believe national -- Teen Reed Week. I hope I win because there are more prizes than there are entrants. Someone will get to? I have no idea. Official judging is tomorrow and the results revealed tomorrow afternoon. I chose Coraline by Neil Gaiman. I've probably mentioned the book before. Here's the finished pumpkin:


Math homework awaits.

Long entry alert!

The past week or so has been bustling with activity, which is both good and bad. Good because my birthday and its celebration with my best friend, Nikki, on Saturday was spectacular and made me forget about the horrible day I had before. We went and hung out at an outside mall, and took pictures.




Then we ate at Pizza Gallery, a lovely restaurant, and, as probably obvious by its name, full of art. The garlic knots are to die for! After that we went and saw The Invention of Lying. I think my expectations were too high, because I didn't love; it wasn't nearly as funny. Bad because I've had very little time to do much else.

Starting Monday was my school's spirit week and since we have today (Friday) off, we had to cram all the fun days into four instead of five. Monday was Wacky Tacky/Decade's Day. I think I saw at least fifteen girls dressed in leggings, a skirt, a sweatshirt coming off of one shoulder and hair in high pony-tails. I, instead, just went all out crazy with my outfit. Puja caught me off guard when she took this picture at lunch:
I also traded with my friend Kaitlin a piece of candy from a bucket I had previously won during a team-building thing with fellow really smart kids in the school.
On Tuesday, we had Traffic Light Day. Let me explain. We were supposed to dress up from head to toe in a certain color based on our relationship status. Green meant single, yellow meant confused, it's complicated, etc., and red equaled taken. I wore my green and that was that. I wish I had a camera when I saw these three girl walking around in boxes painted black with and then the three colors, mimicking the traffic light. How clever!

Wednesday was Cartoon Day and each class was technically assigned a network. Seniors got the best, Nickelodeon, and juniors got Cartoon Network. The sophomores, Disney, and the freshmen PBS. I didn't dress up, and hardly any of my friends did. I did not desire to be Miley Cyrus or Selena Gomez. Here's myself and Aniesa on such day:
Yesterday was Spirit Day and I dressed up in our colors/as our mascot.

Bad days are necessary. They help us grow.

This time, I didn't fail a math test. In fact, I got an astounding 88% on my math quiz today, maintaining my above average grade. Rather it all started no less than a minute out of my house in the morning to depart to school. I had stepped in dog poo. And it only gets worse.

I realized that something was amiss when I smelled the foul odor during the car ride. While getting out, I saw there was a brownish stain on the floor and my brother noted I had a "grass stain" on my leg. Sure, it sort of looked like it with other grass debris stuck to it, but it was definitely sticky. Sorry, that may have been too much information. Yeah, I was grossed out, too. I rushed to the bathroom to clean it off as much as humanly possible and proceeded to wash my hands about five times. That was just one small catastrophes of several.

Naturally, for my PE class we were outside. I was walking along with my friend Kaila, when all of a sudden I felt like something had gotten on the bottom of my shoe. Nope, not dog poo, gum this time. A huge, fat wad of it, no less. I was disgusted. What horrible luck I was having.

I then made the mistake of truly looking forward to a batch of cupcakes Aniesa planned and insisted on making for me. I even brought my camera to document the joyous lunch I'd have, sharing cupcakes with my friends. I'm sure you can guess already; I got my hopes up too high. Apparently there was a misunderstanding between her and a friend had. She had given it to him to put in our fourth period's teacher's classroom. He didn't do that. Therefore, the cupcakes were abandoned and I was a little upset. Still, it was the thought that counted and I was very flattered Aniesa would go to the trouble of baking and frosting it all herself.

During lunch, I at least would be able to enjoy a favorite food item, pizza dippers, from the cafeteria. Not. They were all out by the time I got there and I settled for chicken nuggets. I was pretty darn bummed.

History was sort of a bust. It was another girl's birthday today in my class and she was handing out -- yeah, you guessed it again -- cupcakes to only her select friends. I am not one of those select friends. My teacher ate two of the "extras" whole. As in, one bite and it's devoured. That was...odd.

So much other stuff had gone on I hadn't put much thought into how I was going to do on my math quiz. I was fairly confident, but, confidence can be my demise. I took it slowly and as I said earlier, got a 88%. I only knew this after school, though and all through my next period I was worried.

In art, I was feeling particularly mopey. I wasn't very enthused to draw. My two best friends from the class, Melissa and Michelle listened to me tell about my crappy day and how tomorrow is my birthday. (They also sit closest to me.) As I was looking down to try to shade details of my brother's hair, they would mouth stuff. By the end of the period, the two, after "doing something for the teacher" emerged with this huge card , balloons and candy. Everyone in the class's signatures were on the card with this giant panda and happy birthday on the front. It was adorable and so sweet! Yes, it definitely made my day exponentially brighter. :D


The final bell had rung and I was smiling again. I made strides towards my bus, ready to get home, when I hear Aniesa from behind me calling my name. I turn around, and lo and behold, she has one of the containers of cupcakes. She explained that the teacher hadn't known who they belonged to and allowed the kids to have some, yet she had just come from that teacher's class and was able to retrieve what was left.

Man, it was all one helluva day. Tomorrow should be sweetawesome. I'm hanging with Nikki. [:

I think I'm breaking down.

I have two tests tomorrow. One in math, the other in history. I wish I had a break between the two classes, but alas, I don't. I've been studying intermittently this weekend. I'm more worried about math, and even so, I think I've done a decent job preparing myself. By the way, I got a 94 on my most recent math quiz!

I wouldn't be so stressed about the tests if I wasn't also sick. I feel like it's effecting my mood and thinking considerably. My plan? Take as much medicine as I can without hurting myself and get plenty of sleep tonight.

I learned Kai is moving to Reno this upcoming January. I don't want her to go. True, I don't get to see her as is. At least she doesn't live in another state 1,000+ miles away. I could still see her if I gave it my best effort. I suppose it is less of a deal since we can converse over the internet and all. Thanks to Facebook, I've somewhat reconnected with a friend from elementary school that moved to Texas. There is hope Kai and I won't drift apart beyond repair.

I wish I had taken a picture of my painted coconut. I suppose this means I'll have to attend the auction and try to snap a picture of the beauty then and there. I really do not feel mine is fantastic. Others were far more creative and seriously transformed the coconut into something new and wonderful. Oh well, I admire their work.

Anyone have music recommendations? I'm compelled to put in headphones, turn my ipod to full blast, and drown my thoughts and feelings with the melodies.
Have a good week, everyone! Mine is sure to be hectic. Did I mention I have to take the pre-ACT test this Wednesday? Well, I do.

Shake it like a polaroid picture.

I have some more math studying to do for my quiz tomorrow. Knowing I'm actually pretty spiffy at factoring polynomials, factoring quadratics, polynomial equations and polynomial equations in word problems, I'm not stressing too much. Yet, practice is practice. Only way to be very good in math is just that: practice. Understanding the concepts is merely part of it.

Ready to hear what I got on my history test? My goodness, I was dancing when I saw the 98 circled in red on my paper! But now I'm hoping I can do equally well on the upcoming test this Friday. Last time I teamed up with Patricia and Jaclyn. Our whole lunch together was spent reviewing the lecture notes aloud amongst each other. (Generally, I've found, that is the best way to study. Absorb as much information as humanly possible.)

Now I really should be studying. No! I refuse! Ew! Ha, I make myself laugh.

Here are some "polaroid" pictures I made thanks to this really cool site I was referred to by an article in the Newsweek magazine. Yeah, it's sort of backwards to go from digital quality to putting in a square frame and all that jazz. Regardless, I found it utterly cool. http://www.poladroid.net

P.S. This is my 99th post.

But there's no sense in crying over every mistake.

You just keep on trying 'til you run out of cake.

I hope I can get all my homework done and things accomplished by 4:00 PM tomorrow, even if that means trying to wake up a little bit earlier. Let's see, what do I have looming? There's my English short story which I started out loving and have since decided is not so stellar. I'll let my brother read it soon. There's math homework and loads of math practice for my quiz this upcoming Wednesday, too. There's also studying for a test in Chemistry and working on my drawing. I can do it.

I'm excited for the first Academic Team competition this Monday. I hope we do well and even if we don't, I believe it will be fun nonetheless.

I watched State of Play last night. During some parts I was almost scared out of my wits and it was just a thriller, not even a horror. Just goes to show how easily scared I am, I guess. Otherwise, it was a pretty good movie. You really have to pay attention and some of it makes little sense until the very end.

In art we're required to put down newspapers on the desks before we paint, and in the few that I grabbed someone how cut out the Soduku puzzle. Amused, I took it home and thought it'd make a good picture.