Prom?

So.... Today was Prom. Now. You might ask, "Did you go to Prom?" No. No I did not. Who wants to get all dressed up and wear odd dresses and have to get your nails done and sit forever while having your hair elaborately braided and then not be able to walk because you're wearing six inch heels? Not me! No way, Jose.

Ha. Well, maybe I wanted to go to Prom just a little bit. Maybe. And not too much.

But since it was Prom, a lot of girls snuck sneeked got out of class early to go do their hair and dress all fancy. The school has a rule that you can't go unless you've been in three classes of the five, so after third hour, there was a mass exodus of hyper teenage girls who miraculously had dentists appointments all at the same time. (There aren't even that many dentists in this city!) So my last two classes didn't have too many people. Which I was okay with. It was a nice break.

Since, I didn't go to Prom, I did other exciting things. I went to my friend M's house and her father made the most delicious chicken I have ever tasted. And I'm pretty much the equivalent of a chicken snob. So that means it's good. Then my other friend R came over. We walked M's dog around her neighborhood and tried in general to be annoyances to her neighbors. Which was way more fun than Prom.

It was so nice out today! I was so glad that I could finally go for a walk. Compared to last Friday's snow day, this is quite amazing. I hope it stays like this forever. At least until I don't want it to.

Oh, and one last thing. "You have my permission to idolize me." --Family Circus  

Random Thoughts 2

Hey! Maybe we could start a tradition!!

Okay, first, I am extremely frustrated. I have to write a biology lab report and it's due tomorrow. Which is fine. Because I'm done. But there's this kid in my group who went through and changed all the words in my parts that I had finished to words that were less descriptive/exciting. Like he changes "yielded" to "showed." Why would someone do that?! But he wasn't even done with his part and I have to go through and fix all the things he hasn't done by now. GRRRR!!!

I just realized that when I'm mad, my typing gets really terrible. I had to correct myself like twelve times in that last paragraph. Ugh!

I got a new app this week. Well, it's actually, I got two new apps this week. But one of them is less exciting. It's called something like "Ice Cream Jump" I think. It's such a rip off of Doodle Jump, but I like it because it's ice cream. And it's cute. Because the ice cream wears a bow. The second game I got is called Plague Inc. You basically try to destroy humanity. It's awesome. My friend S introduced me to it. Now I'm slightly addicted. Thanks, S.

We had a snow day last Friday. Yes, in April. No, I was not excited. Just because it's Minnesota does not mean it is allowed to snow! Plus, I was going to do important things at school and it's going to mess up this entire week. I was going to eat donuts on Friday while reviewing for my AP European History test. They were actually going to be bismarks. To celebrate Otto von Bismarck. Uniter of Germany, and absolutist king-ish guy. But not anymore.

I think they're going to announce drum major tomorrow. I hope everyone doesn't die.

I found this cool online academy thing that teaches you lots of stuff. It's called Khan Academy and you can watch videos and do problems of things you're learning or you can learn new things! I was disappointed, though, because it doesn't have Spanish. And I really need to learn more Spanish.

I really want a giant turtle. I think I might have said this before, but it obviously hasn't happened yet, so I should reiterate it. Giant turtle. For Jen. Now. Please and thank you.

I feel like playing the flute. Unfortunately, I left my flute at school, because I didn't know there was going to be a snow day. So now I can't play it. And we have a concert tomorrow. In which I have a solo. And my friend-enemy K will laugh at me.

I think that's enough random thoughts for one Sunday....

Families

You know what's great? Family. Because you can be practically eating each others' faces off, and then you can come back in an hour and know that they won't hold anything against you ever. My family is lovely. Of course, we have our little skirmishes, of course we do. But the vast majority of the time, we get along like little angels. Or angel-devils. Like my friend-enemy K. But that's a different story.

My family always makes an effort to eat dinner together, which I think is very impressive, considering how many things we have going on in my house. But lots of families only eat together once every eon or so, so I feel very lucky. We always have lively "discussions" at dinner that everyone participates in, from my youngest brother who's 8 to my dad who's 46. I say "discussions" because for my brothers' boy scouts, we have to have family discussions about... weird things. So these discussions are just normal things. I mean, if you count paradoxical theories and song lyrics as normal.

Another thing my family does is throw things. We pretty much throw everything. Well, I guess my mom doesn't, but she doesn't stop us from throwing things either. My dad credits himself with our fast reflexes. Which we developed after having salt canisters thrown at our heads. Today, Dad was trying to annoy my brother D, and he threw a little box of push-pins at him. But D doesn't like it when things are thrown at him, and he batted the box away with a Lincoln Log toy. And the pins spilled all over the place. It was hilarious. And dangerous. Don't do that at home.

Families kind of do a bunch of weird, quirky things to each other. But I guess that's what makes us who were are. Why will I never be able to say, "And do you know why?" without someone shouting out, "Because I had my tray table up! And my seat back in the full upright position!" ? Because I have a family. Which is wonderful.

Random Thoughts

I'd just like to start out saying that this post is going to be a bunch of random thoughts all jumbled together. Just a fair warning.

First, I want everyone to know that I'm wearing socks with pigs on them. Not just sewn into the fabric, but actual 3-D pigs. With tails and noses and ears. They're kind of lovely.

Then, I should be doing something entirely different right now. I should be writing my English essay or a biology lab report on guppies. But I suppose I'd rather be writing about things that I enjoy. Like socks!

This week I auditioned for drum major for my school's marching band. I was reluctant at first because who would want to give up playing an instrument as awesome as the piccolo? I certainly wouldn't. But I got so much support from other band members that I just went for it. And the interview was quite good, if I say so myself. Everyone, including myself, was concerned about the other drum major candidates, because they'd probably scare people away. Some of them would be okay, I guess, but others not so much.

Now, if you'd like to read a book that is simply outstanding, you should read The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult. I think this is my favorite book by her ever. It's so sad and happy and moving and thought-provoking and incredible and sob-inducing--if you like that kind of stuff. And after you read it, you should go out and read all the other books by her.

I just started reading a different book, and I don't know if I'm going to like it. So far the first chapter has consisted of a guy complaining about his life and swearing every-other word. I don't mind swearing when it has meaning, but I think incessant use throws that meaning away. So we'll see.

My little brother drew me a picture of a giant turtle, because he knows how much I love giant turtles. I'm going to tape it to my school binder so everyone can see my new turtle pet. I'm open to name suggestions, although odds are that I'm going to end up choosing a random name no one suggested to me. But you can always try.

My other little brother (who's actually 6 inches taller than me and 100 pounds heavier) baked cupcakes today. Ha ha. Yes. A weird, tall kids baked cupcakes. But they were quite delicious. He even let me help him frost them. And for that courtesy, I frosted his arm.

Cue end of random thoughts day.

Good People

Wow.

I'm always amazed at the constant human goodness that I find everywhere. I just found out that a boy from my school died in a crash. It was literally a minute ago that I found out. But people have been posting on his Facebook page for hours upon hours. I didn't know him, and I don't know how many people knew him, but he's obviously touched some lives while he was here.

I'm always sad when people die, especially young people. But I find it even more sad when I see all the people who will miss him. He's apparently lived a good life and been a good friend, and I know that he'll be missed by many. His family will be in my thoughts.

Driving and a Little Banjo Music

Hi! Today is going to be a day of relaxation. (Finally!)

This weekend has been quite busy, from stupid Solo&Ensemble to AMAZING orchestra benefit concerts, and I've had little downtime. But now! Here it comes.

I've been trying to get my license for a while now. And it's more difficult than you might think. First, you have to be 16. Which I am. But my birthday is in July which means I'm a youngin'! Second, you have to be willing to drive. Which was not me for the first 15 months that I had my permit. But now, I'm ready to go! Third, you have to be able to park. AHHH! This is where I begin to have troubles. Parking? Okay, parallel parking I can see that you might use at some point in your life. But having to back into a parking spot from 90 degrees? I'm failing to see the point of it. But I have to go practice it so I can become a legal driver. Which is exciting.

After that, I guess I'm going shopping with my mother. Which I requested to do. I need a dress for band, for a concert that we do in May. But I really don't like shopping for clothes. It always makes me feel so terrible about myself. You can't fit into a size negative 4? We have no clothes for you! It's quite unfair to people who are normal sized. But who knows. Maybe Mom will buy me ice cream!

Finally, I'd just like to mention something weird. At lunch this past week, my friends and I were talking about weird banjo music, like Mumford and Sons. I said that I couldn't stand their music, which I can't. So my friend R sent me a bunch banjo-ish music. And I decided I like it. That can only mean one thing: Mumford and Sons is ridiculous. But the music she sent me is by Crooked Still. You should look them up. It's a nice change from rap. Or Bruno Mars. Whatever.

Alright! I hope you have a mostly wonderful day. Not too wonderful, because then it would surpass mine and I am quite selfish. Maybe.

Ahhh!! Life!!!!

Hi! And that's as much of an introduction that you're going to get. Because I'm too lazy to explain to you who I am. But! Just wait! You can learn more by reading this odd, odd thing!!

So, today, I have to go to something called Solo&Ensemble. It's a contest for small groups of musicians and they go play a beautiful song for a judge. Ha. Beautiful. Yeah... about that. Our song isn't that beautiful. Perhaps it's because we've only practiced for a tiny bit, or because some of the people insist that they know how to play what they don't know how to play. But hopefully we won't do that terribly. Our French Horn player is quite amazing.

We're playing a song called "Sabre Dance" by some guy whose name starts with a K. I think it's Khahaahhachucha or something like that. But probably not. It's a really good song and you should go listen to it sometime. Look up the version by James Gallway. He's a great flute player.

Another thing about this contest: you have to dress presentably. And I do dress presentably all the time. No odd colored hair or tattoos for me! But when people say presentably, I guess they also mean that you have to wear matching socks. That's kind of a deal breaker for me. What? I can't wear one sock with butterflies and one sock with stars? I won't come. Except this is part of our grade. So I'll just have to deal with it. Matching socks it is then. Blech!

Alright. I'm leaving now! Wish me luck!