Happy Holidays..... Already?

Ok, so, everyone knows that Thanksgiving has just passed. However, personally, I do not believe that it's already time for people to start put up Christmas lights and playing Christmas carols! No! Not until December! It's still November! I.e, too early to do Christmas stuff. Anyone else agree?

Too Much to Do

Ok, so this week I realized just how much stuff I'm in, just by looking at my schedule:

Obviously, school, but I also.....

Monday: Free, but throw softball with mom to start preparing for tryouts.
Tuesday: Be at school @ 5:50 am to leave for range to shoot guns all day with FFA. Get back to school in time for 8th period. Then stay until 5 pm for debate practice.
Wednesday: Have an AFJROTC thing for veterans day (therefore, early release from school doesn't apply to me)
Thursday: Free for the moment: expect to have band regional music practice.
Friday: Leave school in 5th period with band to go to football playoff game several hours away.
Saturday: Debate tournament
Sunday: WATCH FOOTBALL! And probably do homework.

So, yeah, I'm busy! But, we'll see how things go.

Wish me luck!

Country Music

So, for those of you who know me (and even some who don't) know I was about ready to die of impatience waiting on Carrie Underwood's CD to be released. But, today, it was! Play On is Underwood's third album, and, from my perspective, possibly her best. Now, I know you might say, "Well this newspaper only rated it 1 and 1/2 stars.... (One actually did)", but this album does nothing but show her diversity. Six stars out of five from me! :)

But, I have to semi-agree with George Jones, who has recently been noted saying that country music isn't today what is was before, with artists such as Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift coming along and adding a new twist (particularly pop) to the music. Now, yes, I agree, country music definitely has changed. But, then again, so have the times. Most people simply aren't interested in the "old" style of country music. To keep their fans listening, artists are having to add more of a diversity to their music.

Sorry it's been so long, been ultra-busy. Just remember to do these things this week......
Buy Play On
Listen to Play On
Keep reading this blog
Have fun and stay safe!

Thursday=Ultra-busy!

Ok, so, this Thursday is homecoming, as well as JROTC night. I'm pumped, considering it's also going to be televised! One of our drum majors in band ran for Homecoming King, so it would be good for the band if he wins.
This is also spirit week, meaning we get to dress up like this:

Monday- Wacky Day (Dress all wacky)
Tuesday- Jersey Day (Wear the jersey of your favorite team/player)
Wednesday- Decade Day (Dress up for the decade your class was given. I'm '50's.)
Thurday- Spirit Day (Be in school colors and be ready for the game!)
Friday- Panthers Rule (Dress up like kings, queens, and royalty)

Fun! And I get to wear my temporary JROTC uniform instead of my band uniform at the game (1st year cadets have yet to earn our uniforms), but I doubt we can wear mums. Oh well. Let's get ready for some FOOTBALL!!!!

Now.......
Fight panthers!

Fight panthers!

Fight! Fight! Fight!

Choir

Ok, so my sister is the the choir, and they had a "concert" today. She's actually pretty good! Much better than me anyway. I sing solo. So low no one can hear me. Lol. Sorry, inside joke. She made me rally proud today. Who ever knew singing could be sooooo complicated! Jeez! But, like I said, she's really, really good.

Bad Day

So, I had another bad day today. Seem to have a few of those.
The day starts off rainy and drizzly, like my mood. In third period, Stupid Golf Guys gives us a "Daily Assessment" that I somehow manage to make the highest grade in the class. Sad considering I made a 70. In band, we get to watch our video performance from last Saturday, and my foot falls asleep. So, here I am, wrist still hurting, and walking really funny because I have no feeling from my calf down. Then, they decide to run the show with like 10 minutes in class left. I.E, after I get set up, I play for only a few minutes before it's time to go.Day is kinda neutral from here until my orthodontist appointment, where she tortures me for 1.5 hours. That's a long time! Then, I have to go home and work on this "string project" for geometry. I'm surprised I didn't kill anyone as frustrated as I got. I have little patience for stupid little string.

Well, I guess one good thing did come from today. Not next Monday, but the Monday after, I officially get my braces off.

Elvis

Ok, Elvis is my huge, 200 pound brindled English Mastiff who thinks he's a lap dog somedays, and a horse other days. I mean, one day he wants to sit in my lap as we watch tv, and other days, he tackles me like I'm his toy! But I love him anyway. Elvish Schmelvis from the Pelvis! lol!

Ouch!

Ok, so, a few days ago, I injured my wrist when some PVC pipe fell on me. I really didn't take much notice, despite the small bruise. Now, several days later, my wrist is still bothering me. I'm hoping nothing's seriously wrong, because I play the synthesizer (electric piano) in band, and I'm the only one with that part. With district coming up next weekend, I HAVE to play! And I doubt I can play very well in a cast. I can hardly play with this little wrap I have on it! But, then again, even this simple typing is bothering me. Stupid pipes. So, I have it wrapped, and am hoping that'll help it heal.

9/11/01

So, for whatever reason, I had 9/11 on my mind today. I found myself asking these questions:

1. Why did it happen?

2. Who was really the one behind it all?

3. Was there a specific target, or did they just want to target America?

4. Has it really brought our country together?

5. Why are humans so cruel and unkind, even to their own species?

6. What drives people to do some of the things they do?

Some of these questions I could answer, some I couldn't. But I did accomplish one good thing- A poem.

9/11/01

I watch in horror, my mind in a daze,
The climbing smoke, all in a haze.
Sirens are blaring, people are crying,
All because the Twin Towers are falling.
A plane per building,
All for the act of killing.
Many people watch in sadness.
As loved ones disappear in the darkness.
Young, defenseless children look around,
Wondering why people are crying on the ground.
Terrorism has maken it's mark,
But, in America, it's lightened a spark.
They have awoken a sleeping beast,
And are in for an awakening to say the least.
Tens, hundreds, thousands lay dead,
But they were heros, all the way to death's bed.
Now, we're fighting to give them their dues,
And break to terrorists the bad news.
America is coming, so be prepared,
For no terrorrists will be spared.

Football's Going to the Girls

Ok, so, great things are happening in the world of football. First, in response to National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, all of the players are agreeing to wear pink on their uniform. Some had pink on their gloves, some have pink on their baseball caps they wear on the sidelines, some wear the Breast Cancer ribbon on their uniform/helmets, some have pink arm/wristbands, etc. Some are even wearing pink cleats.

Second, on a more debatable note, did anyone happen to watch the Baltimore Raven/New England Patriots game? If so, you've probably seen the controversial roughing the quarterback calls on Tom Brady. I mean, looking at the more.... heated call, ot's ridiculous! For crying out loud, it's TACKLE FOOTBALL! If you can't hit the guy, why play? I mean, I can understand hitting him in the helmet with yours, or hitting a QB after the play is dead, but barely brushing him a second after he throws the ball?!? Good grief!

Barbaro

Ok, so, I'm a Barbaro freak. Today, something has ha him on my mind, so I felt like talking about him.

If you don't know who he is/was, Barbaro was a bay Thoroughbred stallion foaled April 29th, 2003. His sire was Dynaformer, and his dam was La Ville Rouge. Anyway, going into the 2006 Kentucky Derby, Barbaro was undefeated at 5 for 5. He would go on to beat the twenty horse field by six or seven lengths, making him a sure-shot not only for the Preakness Stakes two months later, but also possibly the Triple Crown

But, thinks went horribly wrong. He broke early from the starting gate at the Preakness, so they had to load him again. Then, shortly after the race began, Barbaro had to be pulled up. His right hind leg was shattered. This was the only race he lost.

For eight months he battled his injury, as well as laminitis, a deadly hoof disease that practically eats away their hoof from the inside out, and causes a bone on the inside of their hoof to rotate painfully. He underwent severl surgeries (I think six in all), but refused to give up. However, on January 29th, 2007, at approximately 10:30 AM, Barbaro's owners decided that, even though the original injury was healing, living was becoming too hard for him because he had developed laminitis in all three of his other hooves. This left him with "no good legs to stand on". So, he was euthanized.

Here are some poems I wrote about him. Some are pretty old, but they're still pretty good I think.

An Angel's Horse:

There was a horse
Not so long ago
Who came from above
To race down below
In his heart he knew
His fate that wait
But he knew,
He just knew,
What he had to do.
He was born on Earth
One cool April morning
With a bay coat,
A white star and snip,
And a bright white sock.
As he grew in the meadow
His passion for running
Continued to grow,
And he whipped past the others
And even the mothers.
He soon started training,
Pacing and breezing,
And shocked his trainer
With his strength and his speed.


Then he began racing
And all of his work
Began to show through,
As he left the rest
To place and to show.
Then his time came
To see how he’d done
As he entered and raced
In the Run for the Roses
He didn’t run,
He didn’t leap,
Instead he won
With wings on his feet
In his next race,
He didn’t finish.
His only defeat
In this race.
A race,
Some same,
That was never run.
Among the gasps
And the cries and the pleas,
America’s horse, Barbaro
Stood only on three


For eight long months
He battled and fought
In the race of his life.
One cool January morning
He could fight no more.
The nation’s eyes
Were flooded with tears,
As they heard the news
That their hero was dead.
America’s horse is
No longer on Earth,
But we will fight
To keep his spirit alive.
He no longer has hooves,
Instead, he has wings.
He races on still,
And the others
Will still never gain.
He’s an angel horse,
So loved and so cherished,
Who continues to win,
But no longer has pain.

A Champion:
The day is a Saturday,
The first one in May.
Twenty horses ready to go,
Twenty horses eyeing their foe.
Suddenly, the horses break free,
From the gate, they flee.
All have their eye on the pride,
The roses draping on their sides.
A single bay takes the lead,
All others passed by this gallant steed.
First under the finish line,
Was that a sign?
Barbaro walks by,
His beautiful head high.
Nineteen others fell behind.
Nineteen others have defeat on their mind.
Alas! Barbaro held strong,
For his lead was long.
They drape the roses over his tack,
Sliding them over his sleek back.
A champion, proving his believers right,
Showing them his heart full of fight.
Two weeks later, Barbaro is back,
To fly around Pimlico's track.
As they load the horses into the gate,
One decides his own fate.
He breaks alone,
Causing the fans to moan.
As Barbaro is loaded for another try,
Time seems to slowly drag by.
Then, the horses are running among each other,
Barbaro and another staying together.
Suddenly, a snap can be heard,
And, to their Lord, many give a pleaing word.
Barbaro, a champion was he,
Stood painfully on three.
Many cried, many whimpered,
As Barbaro stood gravely injured.
His owners quickly and boldly said no,
When asked to put an end to the life of their hero.
For eight months Dr. Dean and his staff tried,
And many stood by their side.
Men, women and children alike,
Often to rode to the clinic, some on a bike.
Why? To encourage their champion on,
For they couldn't bear to see him gone.
But, one sad January day,
Barbaro ate the last of his hay.
His suffering was no more,
As many were crying behind a closed door.
He is no longer living down here,But, in heaven, he's found another gear.
He's now leaving Slew and 'Biscuit in his dust,
As he races on a single wind gust.
If you study the clouds above Maryland's own dearly-beloved Pimlico,
You'll see Barbaro winning on Heaven's track, making the others look slow.
Though his body and form are no longer here,
His spirit and soul will always be near.

Learning How to Fly:

Heaven's horses prance merrily across the ground,
Then, suddenly, there is an echoing sound.
They all stop and stand side by side,
For another horse on Earth has died.
As they wait to see who's gotten their wings,
Many bells begin to ring.
A brilliant bay soon rises to the sky,
As many below begin to cry.
The horse knew his fate from the start,
But, racing was still in his heart.
Now, his work is done,
And he can begin to have some fun.
Broken legs no longer hold back
The horse who's name came from a lithograph.
Though he now watches in sadness the tears down below,
He knew deep down it was time to go.
As his owners said their sad good-byes,
Barbaro had gotten ready to learn how to fly.
Finally, at last, he's given his wings,
He flies around while the angels sing.

Crappy Day...... Must've Been Stuck in the Muck

Ok, so, today during band sectionals, we polished cymbals. You would KNOW I would get the cymbal that's impossible to shine. I mean, it literally is. No one has been able to fully polish that cymbal ever.

Then, we get home, and I go to ride my horse. So, I open the trailer, and my saddle's covered in fuzz. Great.

I think that's kinda my fault, because with band, school, excessive heat, rain, etc, I haven't been able to ride since like July. And sometime last week (when it rained) someone apparently didn't shut the trailer tight, so I'm sure that let moisture in. Anyway, I had to go bareback for my ride (now my legs and butt hurt). I finished my ride, then cleaned my saddle.

Today was just a crappy day.

Anyone else want to become stuck in the muck?

Who said it's always the female dog who's a b-word?

I mean, seriously? So, one of our dogs, Rocco, is obsessed right now because we have a dog in heat. I mean, you try to pet the female dog (Natasha), he goes after you. If you're sitting on the couch, and he jumps up next to you, prepare to be bitten. He bit me for trying to cage him this morning. He bit Mom while she tried to put him in his box another time. I mean, that dog has some balls to bite her. So, as you can see, it isn't always the girl who's the b-word.

Honor Code

"I shall not lie, cheat, nor steal, nor tolerate those who do."
Who knew 12 words could mean so much? I mean, those are some pretty powerful words. So, what do you do when those words are put to the test?

A week or so ago, I was put into a tough position. Which was more important? Making friends, or keeping myself true to the Honor Code?

I decided to hold true to the Honor Code.

So, these kids decided to cheat on a test the second the teacher walked out of the room. After class, I told the teacher, but the teacher said, because he didn't see it, he couldn't do anything about it. But, he did compliment me on stepping up and saying something.

I can see where that makes sense, but then no one gets punished for doing anything wrong. What student is going to cheat when the teacher is watching them?

Laundry

I officially hate laundry. Why can't laundry do itself? Why is it my job to do laundry? Why can't clothes never get dirty? But, then again, with a brother, that'll never happen. Laundry is absolutely no fun!

Band, and Nicknames

Ok, so, I'm pumped on adrenaline and Gatorade still from our band show at halftime. Man, we were HOT! Not only did we win the game, the AFJROTC Color Guard included one of my flight members, and the band was so hot we were on fire! MAn, that third movement is SWEET!

Ok, now, school stuff. Time to play...... NAME THAT TEACHER!!!!
AFJROTC- Colonel (M) and Chief (F)
Geometry- Shape Shifter (F)
World Geography- Stupid Golf Guy (M)(Bad days) ALSO NICKNAMED- Golf Guy (Good Days)
Band- Maple Leaf (F), G-Force (M), R-Raider (F), Riled Up (M)
English- Cheerio (F)
ASL- Flying Hands (F)

Animal Science- Ag-Man (M)

Biology- Bill Nye the Science Guy/Science Guy (M)

More nicknames will probably come, but that's enough for now. Hope I did good!

Oh! One more thing....

Fight Panthers!

Fight Panthers!

Fight fight fight!

Kids.... Which Are Worse? Goat Kids, or Human Kids?

Ok, so, I've got kids on the mind. Several questions about them too.

1. Why do goat kids have to be so dumb? I mean, my neighbor has these goats. One is getting it's head stuck in our wire fence several times a day.

2. Why are humans kids so STUPID? I mean, I look at the kids in my HONORS classes, and I seriously wonder who's in the regular classes? If kids in the Honor's classes are so.... unsmart, what are normal kids like? How smart do you really have to be to be in an honors class nowadays? Sheesh!

Boys are too Persistant for their own Good. And gross.

Ok, so, this kid (nicknamed here Mocha) apparently likes me. Everytime he sees me, he says hi. Umm, I barely even know his name! So, at the JROTC parent night, I go to stand in the back so parents can sit. He comes back too. About halfway through, he asked if I have a boyfriend. Umm, I think boys are a waste of time. Of course I say no. He then asks if I want one. HECK NO!!! I politely say no. Then, yesterday, he stands next to me in the lunch line, and asks if I have a boyfriend. I repeat the former answer of no. He asks if I'll go out with him. "NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Ok, I actually politely and calmly said I don't want to be with anyone right now. School comes first (Which it does!), and I had to keep my grades up. Then, he asks, "So what about later in the year?" I have to say, Mocha is very persistant! I say maybe (which I realize now is probably a mistake), saying my grades still have to come first. (Not a very good excuse for me)

Who needs boys? The only boys I need are my gelding an my mastiff.

All Hail King Elvis and his trusty knight, Sir Sleeps-a-Lot!

Too Much to Name

Ok, so, what to start with?

Well, I guess we start with school. Took some uniform test in AFJROTC today (excuse me if I say JROTC, I tend to be rather lazy.) Anyway, the only thing I missed was I put the ranks to low on the collar.

Geometry was pretty simple. We all love patterns!

I HATE WORLD GEOGRAPHY! A specific teacher (to be known here as Stupid Golf Man, because that's the nicest thing I can say that I'm allowed to say) Anyway, Stupid Golf Man think's he's a big shot because his son has some band (Listen to Statesboro Revue. They aren;t really that bad actually...) Anyway, he took his team to state one year, and now thinks he all that. Gave two quizzes Friday, of course the day I'm gone. Guess what I did today? Yep. Quiizes, and had to prepare for a quiz he'll almost certainly give tomorrow. I think he's out to fail the class.

Band....... I'm sorry, did I say Band? I meant MY LIFE! ......
Monday, band after school 4-7.
Tuesday, FREE!
Wednesday, band after school 4-5:30ish
Thursday, band after school 4-6
Friday, football games w/ band
Saturday, free for now, but Marching contests coming up soon.
Sunday, FREE!

Yes, band is kinda my life right now.

Back on topic, umm.... got a bad grade in English. Hard to make a good grade when there's so little questions.

ASL was easy, just SIGN-O instead of Bingo

Animal Science- Learned about dairy cattle. Fun. Not.

Biology- Worked on food webs and food chains. Not bad I guess.

Talked to the debate coach today too. Seems he wants me to stay after school (like I have time for that with band!) and before school. Wait until i break it to him I'm going to miss some big debate thing because we have our Band District Meet (which I have to go to, or I fail band. Bad. Very bad.)

Ugh, I still hate public school. I don't fit in, and I have like, five friends. And the school is huge! I soooooo miss homeschool! But the band directer, (nicknamed ehre Maple Leaf), is really nice. She's writing my music in band because a synthesizer part wasn't originally made, and she's making sure my band grade stays good. Go Maple Leaf!

So, my big old oaf of an English Mastiff is deciding to practically devour this toy right in front of me. Too bad Elvis doesn't realize I'm the one who's going to have to clean that up later. Well, Peyton might. No, she's eating another toy next to him.

OMG! Did anyone else watch the CSI: Miami season premiere last night! I was sooooo excited! Not the best episode, but not bad. I loved Eric! They showed back to how the team kinda got formed, and it was hilarious. Read my reinactment! [And please note this is NOT word for word!]-

Eric to Calleigh- "I just have question. Can I have your number now, or later"
*Calleigh laughs*
Calleigh to Eric- Says something else...... "Has that ever actually worked?"
Eric to Calleigh- "Oh yeah, it works all the time. Well, sometimes. Actually, never, but I'm going to keep trying until it does."

PRICELESS!

Speaking of tv, I'm so mad! Tonight should be the season premiere of Without a Trace, but it was cancelled! Noooo!!!

Anyway, I wrote to Jerry Bruckheimer to bring it back, and I started a petition as well [ http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-without-a-trace ]

And my Colts won last night! Yay Peyton Manning!

Guess that's all for now. Bye!


NOTE TO ALL- Colds and flu are bad! I feel like crap!
ANOTHER NOTE TO ALL- Never have your brother learn trumpet, when you have a headache!