Nostalgia

My, my how time does fly.

Today is the last day of my vacation.  Not sure how THAT happened, seeing as I JUST got here!!!
Tomorrow starts my last week at HSC (aka High school)
AP Tests and finals, graduation, prom...it's all just sitting there.  I'm not really sure how I got here...

As you may or may not be able to tell, I'm a little weirded out about all this!  I still remember being a freshman and viewing the seniors as this grand experts on life....HA!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh well, life is weird...you love it, you hate it, you move on.

Well, I have a last day of freedom, a pool, a dumb book, and friends to enjoy.  So if you don't mind, I will continue to blow off the last of my Chemistry homework (I'm a senior, I'm allowed to....all you youngsters out there, keep up with the grind) and enjoy myself.

Peace!

Vacatioooon!

Wellllll, here I am.  In Brasil.  How time does fly.  I can't believe it's already FRIDAY!!!!  My vacation is almost over and that fact makes me sad!  

There are aspects of this beautiful country that remind me a little of Honduras (where I go every few years to visit family).  But I think it's safe to say I've never been any place quite like this one.

  

I got here Monday morning and was so wiped out...all I could do is take a nap and drool all over Shannon's pillow (sorry, Shannon!!!).  But Tuesday-Thursday was spent at the beach.  I have to say that this just the R&R that the doctor prescribed (well, what he would have prescribed had I GONE to the doctor).

I still have had homework to do during this vacation but, all things considered, that's not too terribly horrible considering I've done most of it while at the beach and, really, if you HAVE to do homework, it's better to do it with a stunning view, don't you think?  Ah, the beauty of homeschooling. 

At the moment I'm recovering from a sunburn...I'm looking more "brown" now, but for a few days there I was a fried tomato.  Ouch.  That fact however will not stop me from going and spending the day by the pool with Shannon and my Chem homework!!  Hey, I only have a few days left, who cares if I'm a crispy tomato chip?  Well...my mom might if I contract skin cancer  Ah, oh well...the price we pay for relaxation!  With finals and AP testing coming up, this trip may preserve my sanity!!!!

This was my view as I did homework, not bad, huh?  Yes, I took this picture all myself, thank you very much!

Anyway, I gotsta go before Shannon smacks me! ;-)

Peace!!

Ode To The Thespians

Pardon me if I'm little rushed!!! In less than an hour I leave for BRAZIL!!! OH MY GOSH!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE TODAY IS HERE!!

I'll give you a brief recap of Tech Week and I may or may not (probably "may not") fill in with more detail at a future time.

Basically everything was going just dandy (which after the year of trials and tribulations which we had was unbelievable).  THEN CAME THURSDAY (OPENING) NIGHT!!!!  Storm knocked out the power and so we had to CANCEL A SHOW for the FIRST TIME in HSC Thespian history.  Quite the shocking event.  We DID have three shows, however by adding a Saturday afternoon matinee.

I can't believe how well everything ended up turning out!  Everyone brought their absolute best and the talent just blew me away!  I'm so proud to have been with this group since 5th(??) grade!  Definitely a sweet note to go out on...I just can't believe that that's the end of my high school acting career.

I do have to say, I am now even more inclined to consider the possibility of minoring in Performing Arts...ah, we shall see!

Anywho, I have to go do super important top-secret Student Council things before I leave!

Thank you to my Babes (In Arms..Ha Ha!) and thank you to everyone who came out to watch!

Peace!

Technically Mentally Imbalanced

Well, I know I have been incredibly absent from the cyber world lately.  Really can't complain.  I'm too busy to think let alone spend much time online!

You see, I know I haven't been able to shut up about it, but this week is tech week!!!  So close to the end!  Tomorrow is opening night.  "So why then," you may ask, "are you spending time online NOW?!  It's 10:30, Alex!! GO TO BED!!!"  Well, in a frightening turn of events, my throat is KILLING me.  So here I am, sipping tea, nibbling chocolate (SHH!! Don't tell my mom!  Not supposed to have sugar this week!  Oops...),  listening to the thunder and rain, observing this spectacular lightning show, and trying to clear out my inbox...quite the task I might add.

Basically though, I am just so happy to see this play coming together.  I'm so blessed to work with so many talented, some experienced, some up-and-coming actors and actresses.  Not to mention the hard-working crew/director/producer/musical instructor/pit orchestra/etc etc etc!!!!!!!!!!

Well, DANG.  I'm just surrounded by amazing people!  This is why I do drama...as much as I complain about...well...EVERYTHING along the way, during, and after...the way that everyone ends up meshing is just such an incredible experience.

Granted, I will now take this time to apologize to my fellow cast and crew.  I know my awkward dancing/comments plus absolutely no personal space bubble may make you uncomfortable or make you all question my sanity...BUT IT'S SO FUN!!!  Plus, I'm too exhausted and warn out and ALL of my personal space bubbles have been popped in this whole process of becoming "Jennifer Owen."  So, I'm now including you all on my awkward ride! ;-)

Anywho, I'm not making sense and I'm just about done with my tea (sorry, Harrison, it's peppermint with honey and not hot water with lemon and honey...I just can't do it!!) and I'm tired and would like to finish my chapter of Catching Fire!

Hopefully I will see many of you at the show over the next 3 days (!!!!).

Peace!

3, 2, 1...

Here is to my long list of count downs:

28 DAYS until graduation...

26 DAYS until Gabry graduates from college

24 DAYS until Francesca is confirmed...

23 DAYS until my AP Calculus test...

14 DAYS until my last Monday at HSC...

6 DAYS until I leave the US to go visit Shannon in Brazil!!!!!!

3 DAYS UNTIL OPENING NIGHT!!!!!

Looks like I'm about to DIE!!!!! ;-D

Heh heh heh!

OK, so I'm just riDICULOUSLY caffeinated and hyped and nervous and stressed and EXCITED!!!

Well, I have a busy life to live (as you can see!!!).

Peace!

The Things I Think When I Think Too Much

You see, my people, when I am sick, I have this tendency to think deep thoughts.  I don't know why, I just always contemplate the deeper things in life: such as all of the things that are wrong with today's society, why healthy foods taste yucky and unhealthy foods taste sooooo good, and then I spend a good 20-30 minutes contemplating the beauty and happiness of home made peanut butter.

These things, dear people, are the really, truly troubling things in life.  Well, you see, I have been sick all day (For all my Babes in Arms people, don't worry...nothing tea, sleep and a de-stressing session can't fix!!).  As I said in the paragraph above, when I am sick, I think...and think...and think...and think.  So today I have been thinking.  As some of you may or may not know, thinking is NOT always a good thing.  It can cause headaches, social/relationship/work issues, as well as make you a very unhappy person.

Sometimes we need to just accept what is and isn't.  Take things with a grain of salt and put life in perspective.  And sometimes, we need to indulge in this dangerous "thinking" thing.

For instance, society really is quite a mess.  We live in a world where you are judged for what you do and don't say, what you do and don't wear, where you do and don't go, etc., etc., etc....you get the idea!  Girls have a set of "rules" for guys and demand that guys conform entirely to this idea of "perfection."  Gentlemen, you're not off the hook!  Y'all do the same thing!
We live in a society where people are more concerned about gun control then over the murder that happens in the "safety" of a mother's womb thousands of times EVERY DAY.
We live in a society where purity and goodness is frowned upon.  You can't be "too good" without being judged.  On the flip side, if you're considered to be a "bad person," you become a social pariah.
You literally CAN NOT win.  Essentially, no matter what you do...you will be judged for doing it (or not doing it in some cases).  Conformity is (allegedly) the key to happiness.  I hope that you all can see the flaw in this.

People are so focused on being "perfect" and having those around them be "perfect"....what is perfection anyway?  Everyone has a different idea of what it is, attempting to conform yourself into everyone's idea of "perfect" will almost assuredly destroy who YOU are.  If people focused far more on serving those around them and seeing the good in everyone, we wouldn't have time to only see the bad and the flaws and the things that annoy us about those around us.

God calls us to LOVE.  That being said, He doesn't necessarily say that we need to LIKE everyone.  Don't think that you are now required to go out and be everyone's best friend(!!!!!).  That's not what this is about!  The next time someone is cruel to you or insults you or hurts you...instead of saying, "They are a bad person."  Give them the benefit of the doubt; "Maybe she's having a bad day,"  "I know he's been having a tough time lately."  YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN SOMEONE'S LIFE!!!  Don't be the one, last, small thing that pushes someone over the edge.

You're very welcome for my deep, impressive, thoughtful thoughts!!!  Next time I am sick, I will share my feelings on the taste of healthy vs. unhealthy food and, in the future, I will most assuredly share my prowess on home made peanut butter!!

Peace!

Panic At The Theater

Those of you don't understand, this title is referencing an American Rock band "Pan!c At The Disco."  Don't look them up.  They're really as irrelevant as this note.

Basically, I did the math, it was complicated, but I did it.  One week from Thursday is Opening Night for Babes In Arms!!!!!!!  At this time, all of my unpreparedness is rushing through my head.  Every scene that I should run over about 1,000 more times, every song I should nit-pick, every single dance I should glam up and add more grace to....my word.  "Panic" is not a sufficient word, let's just say that!

On top of that, finals are rapidly approaching, my personal life is a little bit asfjhahsdjfkh right now, not to mention the fact that I have a Brazil trip to prepare for!  It's times like this I need to step back, take a deep breath and reorganize my priorities.

There's too much living to do to waste life freaking out.  So I'm going to give this one over to the Big Guy and hope for the best.  I mean, really in the long run, all this stuff?  Doesn't really matter.

Anyway, despite my freaking out...I'm actually, surprisingly, incredibly excited for this show!  I can't WAIT!!!  My fellow leads are incredibly talented and I'm so blessed to be working with them! 

BUY TICKETS!!  COME!!! :D

Peace!

#13...??

There are pros and cons to everything in life, I guess.  For instance, babysitting my siblings?  For.  Sure.

PROS:
1) I can actually get them to clean the house when I ask instead of being ignored (We'll get to the cons of this later)
 2)
I get to take Lulu out for expeditions (aka errands, but hey!)











3) I get to do cool things, suchas spend the night at my grandma's with the kiddos and my puppy
4) I can watch Netflix and do homework at the same time AND NOT GET IN TROUBLE
5) I control my schedule...and everyone's really! >:-D
6) My sleep schedule is all my own
7) I took the kids out for dinner.  Why?  'Cause I can.
8) I can wear sweats with a nice sweater and my mother will not inform me that I look like a hobo
9) I can blast music
10) I can send the kids next door for a couple of hours and enjoy some peace and quiet

CONS:
1) My dear children (aka siblings) have the tendency to be quite sassy (when they are good, they are very very good and when they are bad they are HORRID)
2) I really am all on my own, as I don't get much help from my siblings
3) I am left for hours at a time by myself while they go have sleepovers elsewhere
4)

I really miss my baby brother and my Bella </3
5) Mom training is hard, I'm running around like a headless chicken trying to get children to their appropriate appointments/play dates/etc
6) Feeding picky eaters?!?! My word
7) Trying to deal with tired children? (HEH! >_<)
8) Trying to get homework done with disasters exploding here and there? Not so much.
9) Missing my parents??  Ouch.
10) Everyone thought Lucia was my daughter (face palm)

And I really don't have any other cons.  This has been a pretty fantastic (albeit a little lonely) week.
I must say, I can't wait until Sunday when most of my family will return to me!
And I know I blew the "quotes thing" yesterday, but that's ok...this will count???  I don't even know!

Peace!

Winning

So basically, I have the best "babysitting" job ever. 

I won't bore you all with the details, but after dinner I was delegating tasks when Lucia (4) came up to me and said, "You need help.  The girls aren't helping you enough.  I'll help you fold towels."

Well, I must say I just about DIED!!!!! I don't mind a job with a kiddo that offers to help me fold towels, make my bed and put shoes away.  Granted, I probably could have accomplished everything much faster without her "help." But she is the sweetest kid in the world.  Unfortunately, I would probably do anything for  her.

Anywho, here's a picture of my adorable little helper.

Peace!

OCD

It's a sad day in the life of an OCD individual (aka ME).

Why????  Well, you see, if you look over at "March" what do you see??  14.  What does this 14 mean?  It is the number of posts that were posted by moi in the month of March.  This ruins everything.  Every other month I have either ended with a number ending in "5" or "0."  This leaves me with few options, including deleted 4 posts, having an off numbered amount of posts again this month (to even the number of posts posted in 2013 overall)...as you can see, this is QUITE the dilemma.

Coupled with my self-hatred and guilt for falling short of my quota by ONE.  POST.  WHY?! WHYYY?!?!?!?!?!

In other news, I am 18 and (thanks to a weekend of celebrations) am now 5'5" and 5000500001 lbs.  Thank you, thank you....shield your eyes, children.  Please.  Thank you.

Back to business.

I'm getting a week's worth of "mom" training this week as my mother departs for Paris tomorrow taking along Bella and Anth-Man.  Should prove interesting and entertaining as I (at the fresh age of 18) attempt to learn parenting skills and diplomacy in a week.  GO!

Gabry headed back to NC this morning, taking with her Briana and HoooooooSÉ.  Sad day, caloo, calay.

AHHH!!! I HAVE SO MANY THINGS I WANT TO SAY!!!  But I can tell my ADHD is taking over so I better stop now while I'm ahead!

Peace!!

P.S.  Oh, and if you figure out a way for me to solve my little "OCD," 14-posts problem (aside from the obvious fact of being mature and ignoring the issue all together), please let me know.  Advice would be most appreciated.  Adieu!