One Singular Sensation

my vision is as simple as light

2009-10-17T11:35:00.004-05:00

Hello world, my apologies for the absence.

What has happened since I posted last? Hm, everything.

My 5 sisters and I took a trip up to Austin to see Jason Mraz last month. I don't know what to say about him except that he's flawless. He's the best performer I've ever seen. I didn't know that someone could be the most imaginative/brilliant lyricist, compose the most amazing music, AND perform better live than on albums. It's ridiculous is what it is. Can I marry him?

Annie left me. Frowning face. I'm kind of paralyzed without her here now...I always forget how much I depend on her when she's here. Gah. Why can't we all just stay in one place?!

So I've been going to physical therapy for about 2 months now. My back is fairly messed up. The scary word "scoliosis" was thrown around, along with the less ominous-sounding (but apparently equally serious) "hyper mobility." Then there was something about my hips not being aligned, and something about excessive motion in my lower back. Blahhh. I'm not supposed to pick up kids, wear high heels, stand with my knees locked, slouch, pop my neck or pop my back. As of right now, I'm 0 for 6. :( But I'm working on it. Really.

I think I'm slowly letting go of something that I've been convinced was my dream for a long time...theatre. For years, that was my planned major. A while ago, I changed to music, saying that I would minor in theatre. I'm pretty certain now that that's not going to happen, as I've found something else that I enjoy more, have more talent for, and can use more: foreign languages. I'm in love with French, and I know that I'm good at it. As soon as I finish it, I'm starting Italian. After that, I would love to learn Portuguese, Romanian, Arabic, etc. etc. etc. I'm really excited about it.

School is going fine. 3 of my 5 classes this year are at Northwest Vista. Which is great, but I feel less and less like a homeschooler every day. :( But Vista is good for me, not just academically. I've been getting so many opportunities to proclaim Christ and defend what I believe while I'm there...it's exciting!

I hope you're all having a wonderful Saturday--enjoy this beautiful weather!

couldn't stay all my life down at heel

2009-07-02T00:34:00.002-05:00

My beautiful Annie is finally here. It feels amazing to have all my siblings in the same city. For a big family, that's kind of a big deal. :)

So I've been reading all of my earliest blog posts from 2006. My goodness, was I thirteen or WHAT? *shudder* I've drawn a veil over thirteen. The only upside was that when I first started, people actually read my blog. And commented on it. And I actually cared quite a bit about what/that people commented.

I've been so happy lately. Just in general. Life is good. Recession what?

I auditioned at the San Pedro Playhouse last week. I don't know if anything will come of it, but I just went pretty much on the fly and sang Don't Cry For Me, Argentina from Evita. It was a good experience.

I've been working on trying to be more gracious and patient. It's a work in progress.

If you love me, you'll shoot my dad an email and tell him that Rice University is where I need to be!

all i can taste is this moment

2009-05-30T21:10:00.006-05:00

I've been having a lot of fun lately with Facebook's own photo software, Picnik. It's quite fascinating, and I spend way too much time with it.

Example:

life's like a jump rope

2009-04-25T16:28:00.002-05:00

This semester is almost over! I'm so excited...maybe I'll get to start sleeping more. That's nice.

I've been having back pain this whole semester, and finally, it was bothering me so much that I asked Mom to make me an appointment. So I went to Wilford Hall yesterday, and the osteopathic dr said that my hip was out of place. So he popped it back in and adjusted my spine. OW! It's supposed to help...after at least 48 hours.

And of course, the day I got my spine adjusted, I had a birthday party to go to...which happened to be at a dance hall (aka my heroin). So what did I do for two hours? I danced. A lot. By the end of the night I had shooting pains up my back. But at least my hips are aligned!

So today I'm very sore. All over.

I've added several movie trailers to my sidebar--both movies that I have recently seen and ones that I very much want to see. You should check them out. Please keep in mind: just because I've watched it, that does not mean that I liked it! I most certainly do not recommend Twilight or Traitor. Cadillac Records was not very good, but watch it if you like music history movies. Il Y A Longtemps Que Je T'aime was extremely depressing and unredemptive, but the acting was phenomenal. Never Back Down was decent, for a fighting movie. Changeling and Slumdog Millionaire are NOT TO BE MISSED. They were both genius, in very different ways.

Now I'm going to get ready for DAD TO COME HOME!

all's well at the base of the hill

2009-03-18T16:24:00.003-05:00

Yes, I realize I have not posted for a while. My apologies. Spring semester has something else.

I met a girl at Northwest Vista on Monday (almost never a good idea). I was sitting in a common area waiting for my class, humming (many times I find myself humming without realizing it). This was our conversation:

Girl: Are you humming???
Me: Oh, yes.
G: Do you LOVE music???
M: Yes. I really love music.
G: What is music?
M: [puzzled] Well, I don't think that music can be defined--it's something you experience but you can't put it in words.
G: Oh my goodness! I've never met someone who's agreed with me before about music! Most people don't even know that music has a taste!
M: [shocked] [trying not to laugh] Music has a taste?
G: Yes! You haven't tasted it?
M: [almost speechless] ...I didn't know that there was one.
G: [speaking slowly so I'll understand] There is a certain wine than tastes like music! You drink it, and you've tasted music! You've never had it????
M: No...to me, music doesn't have a taste.
G: [dejected] Oh. I thought you understood.

Oh my goodness.

Aside from being at home, my favorite place in the world is my grandparents' house. CJ, Beth and I went up to Fort Worth last Sunday to kick off spring break by cleaning their house and spending time with them. When I'm there, I feel like I have nothing to worry about and no place better to be--it's like time is frozen. We wanted to stay till Thursday, but for several reasons we had to come back on Tuesday. I was so, so sad. Pawpop had planned several things to do while we were there, including the Omni theatre and the Gaylord Texan, which made us even sadder because he was sad we couldn't stay. I cherish every minute I'm there--hearing Pawpop and Grandma telling stories of their amazing lives, looking at pictures, watching the way they talk and act with each other...it's priceless.

Grace be with you all.

make it simple, to last your whole life long

2008-12-30T15:43:00.003-06:00

Christmas was wonderful. Also busy. Activities this December included a Christmas dinner for my NVC French class, Christmas recitals at Castle Hills, COG Christmas party, Gaines' Christmas party, Cookie Day, Christmas sleepover at Nicole's house, COG Christmas Eve service, Christmas in Fort Worth and going to see A Christmas Carol at the San Pedro Playhouse. And it was all great.

Did I mention that my one-year revocation of AAFES privileges has ended? It's fairly exciting.

You'd think that after going through 15 cats like laundry detergent, I would remember never to try to bathe a cat by yourself. Always have someone (preferably an older brother with nothing better to do) to scruff the cat so she doesn't claw you to death while you shampoo her.

For Christmas, I got a book called Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking. I'm really enjoying it.

I also got Notre Dame de Paris, a French musical that I love, on DVD. It's a BEAUTIFUL musical, based on Victor Hugo's novel. The first time I heard the opening song, "Le Temps des Cathedrales", I was hooked.

That's all.

step by step He leads me

2008-11-22T21:28:00.002-06:00

Message for San Antonio: If you're going to stay warm, fine. Suit yourself. If you want to be cold, then BE COLD AND STAY COLD! If you would please just pick one for this season and stick with it? That'd be great. Many thanks.

The good news is that I got a 98 on my French midterm (highest score in the class). That's about the only good news in that area.....

Guess what! You'll never guess, so I'll tell you: I can go back to AAFES in less than a month! I should make a chain.

I was disappointed with "The New World." I wish a movie would decide whether it was going to be a historic period film or an artsy, psychedelic film, and not try and mix them. The result was a painfully boring, intensely aggravating and (I need not mention) historically inaccurate disappointment of a movie.

That's all.

2008-11-04T22:08:00.001-06:00

Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly, Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul, though dearest friends depart
And all is darkened in the vale of tears;
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrows and thy fears.
Be still, my soul; thy Jesus can repay
From His own fulness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul; the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

nothing's gonna change my world

2008-10-24T23:48:00.003-05:00

My sisters are gone.

It's been a bad day.

You know the saying, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened"?

It doesn't work.

Day by day, and with each passing moment, strength I find to meet my trials here. Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment, I've no cause for worry or for fear. He whose heart is kind beyond all measure, gives unto each day what he deems best, lovingly, as part of pain and pleasure, mingling toil with peace and rest. Every day, the Lord Himself is near me with a special mercy for each hour. All my cares He feign would bear and cheer me, He whose name is Counselor and Power. The protection of His child and treasure is a charge that on Himself He laid, "as your days, your strength shall be in measure," this the pledge to me He made. Help me then, in every tribulation so to trust Your promises, O Lord. That I lose not faith's sweet consolation offered me within Your holy Word. Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting, e'er to take as from a Father's hand. One by one, the days, the moments fleeting, till I reach the promised land.

all you need is love

2008-10-08T15:00:00.002-05:00

I have officially completed my list. Now I just have 3 others to finish.....

So here you have it, my first edition of the Top 20 Best Love Story Films

I do appreciate feedback, please tell me if you love or hate these movies, which movies you think should be on there, etc. because this is (not yet) the definitive list. It still needs some reworking, which will come in part from critique (and mostly from Nathan helping me). Still, this was very deeply thought out, and I hope I shouldn't have to make too many revisions. Also, the final list will be complete with my commentary on why it makes the list. Enjoy!

20. Dear Frankie (2004) - Gerard Butler, Emily Mortimer
"How could he ever leave the two of you?"

19. The Last of the Mohicans (1992) - Daniel Day-Lewis, Madeleine Stowe
"No matter how long it takes, no matter how far, I will find you."

18. Elizabethtown (2005) - Orlando Bloom, Kirsten Dunst
"Now we actually have a shot at being friends."

17. Anne of Avonlea (1987) - Jonathan Crombie, Megan Follows
"I've loved you as long as I can remember. I need you."

16. Once (2006) - Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova
"What's the Czech for 'Do you love him?'"

15. The Notebook (2004) - Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams
"I've loved another with all my heart and soul; and to me, this has always been enough."

14. Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) - George Peppard, Audrey Hepburn
"I don't want to put you in a cage, I want to love you!"

13. Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day (2008) - Lee Pace, Amy Adams
"I want you to marry me, and it's a one-word conversation."

12. The Illusionist (2006) - Edward Norton, Jessica Biel
"The only mystery I never solved was why my heart couldn't let go of you."

11. Pride and Prejudice (1995) - Colin Firth, Jennifer Ehle
"You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."

10. Titanic (1997) - Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet
"You jump, I jump."

9. West Side Story (1961) - Richard Beymer, Natalie Wood
"Hold my hand and we're halfway there."

8. The Princess Bride (1987) - Cary Elwes, Robin Wright-Penn
"Death cannot stop true love--all it can do is delay it for a while."

7. Moulin Rouge! (2001) - Ewan McGregor, Nicole Kidman
"Every day I love you more and more."

6. The Phantom of the Opera (2004) - Patrick Wilson, Emmy Rossum
"Love me, that's all I ask of you."

THE TOP FIVE!!!!

5. Across the Universe (2007) - Jim Sturgess, Evan Rachel Wood
"She's just the girl for me, and I want all the world to see we've met."

4. Return to Me (2000) - David Duchovny, Minnie Driver
"When she met you, her heart beat truly for the first time. Perhaps it was meant to be with you always."

3. Stardust (2007) - Charlie Cox, Claire Danes
"Love can be unpredictable, unexpected, uncontrollable, unbearable and strangely easy to mistake for loathing."

2. Casablanca (1942) - Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman
"Here's lookin' at you, kid."

DRUMROLL.....

1. Beauty and the Beast (1991) - Robby Benson, Paige O'Hara
"Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme, beauty and the beast."

words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup

2008-09-27T22:01:00.003-05:00

Today was the HOPE picnic. Usually we have it at OP Schnabel, but this year we did it at the Sabos' pool. It was tons of fun.

Why do babies always fall asleep on me? It's a gift and a curse....

I'm always tired. Want to know why? I study every night until 1 in the morning for the next day's classes. Yes, the joys of French, freshman comp, algebra, anatomy&phisiology, great books 3, history and piano. All of that means that I have no life. Except church. Which I love. The good news is that I got a 95 on my a&p test, a 96 on my oral French test, and a 94.5 on my written French test. I get my grade on my narrative essay for comp tomorrow. We'll see.

My new hero - Gianna Jessen. You try surviving an abortion.

Pawpop's 85th birthday was yesterday! Dad was telling me about what they were going to do and how his siblings were going to surprise him, and I said, "Dad, you HAVE to go!" So, after some more persuasion from Mom, he went. I'm glad.

I love Sarah Palin. She would be a good vice president. She also gave all of her kids really great names. (That's not why I love her). We need someone like Sarah Palin to help run our country.

I'm also getting quite fond of John McCain.

Interning at Castle Hills is great. Penny Pitamber is one of the greatest people you'll ever meet. She just knows things...she knows me better than I know myself. Lots of people do, but mostly her.

My new piano lessons are also going very well. I'm playing a Prelude by Rocherolle and Rhapsody on the Theme of Pagini by Rachmaninoff. Both challenging, but hey, that's what I got myself into when I finally listened to God and got serious about piano. Now look at me. I teach piano, and I play for my church, which are both such wonderful responsibilities/blessings. That might not be what I do forever, but for now, I'm happy doing what I do, why I do it.

I posted lots of new up and coming movie trailers on my sidebar...go watch them! I'm super excited. Especially about The Soloist and Australia. Beautiful.

Penny Lane is my favorite Beatles song. It's their pinkest song.

I'm currently compiling two lists: best love story movies (no, Love Story will not be on it) and best song lyrics. I need Nathan's help. He needs to come home.

That's all.

it's been well worth the time that it's taken to get here now

2008-09-10T22:14:00.002-05:00

As promised, the silent film from Crater Productions!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev_90k-OrUs

And don't forget to watch the credits (on youtube, there's a time limit for all videos, so we had to split it up)!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJtzH6Zg4OY&feature=related

Enjoy, and tell me what you think!

green reminds me of everything I did

2008-08-31T14:36:00.003-05:00

Now that I've gotten my vacation post out of my system, onto different things.

My first week of school was tolerable. Northwest Vista is a nice campus, and my classes are alright. On Monday, I was sitting in the library, reading my Bible, and a guy comes up to me and says:
"Are you reading the Bible?"

"Yes."

[incredulous]"Because you have to or because you want to?"

"Because I want to."

[starts walking away]"That's so weird. I've only ever seen that in movies."

Never seen anyone willingly reading the Bible except in movies. Sad, sad.

Recommended movie of the week: The Life Before Her Eyes. Go watch the trailer on my sidebar.

Friday co-ops are going to be so much fun! I have five piano students (one is a two-year-old on scholarship). I love my church/HOPE family.

Yesterday was Addie's birthday party! She's quite the entertainer at the pool. And, as Beth and I had promised, she got a tiara. :)

Last night was also the premiere of the silent film. I must say, it's pretty fantastic. When it's up on youtube I'll post the link.

I had a talk with my friend last night about colleges...good grief I don't know what to do!!! I'm sure I would do well as either a music major or a theatre major, but at the moment I'm leaning towards music, with a minor in theatre. Now! Question is, do I want to major in piano performance or music ed? As a piano performance major I would probably go somewhere like University of Indiana, Belhaven, Berklee college of music, etc. If I did music ed, I'd go somewhere like University of North Texas or UTSA. Mom says I should major in piano performance and teach piano with that under my belt, because I already know how and enough to teach and music ed wouldn't teach me anything. Next question! I'm not interested in Juilliard. I can't see myself going there or wanting to go there. HOWEVER, I think it would be great for me to audition, just to have that experience, and to see if they would accept me. Thing is, if I wanted to do that, I'd have to spend these next two years preparing 10 piano pieces and 10 vocal pieces just for an audition to a school I'm not dying to get into. While it will be nice, is it worth it when I could be spending these next two years getting ready for auditions I'm serious about? Blahhhhh I don't know.

I'm going to go sleep away the long weekend.

hold my hand and we're halfway there

2008-08-26T21:59:00.004-05:00

I thought I'd go ahead and blog about vacation.

Well, we left after church on Sunday and drove to FW to see the grandparents for the night. Then, early Monday morning, we drove to Arkadelphia, AK to see mom's aunt, uncle, and cousin (and the basset pups). We ate lunch with them and visited for a while, then got back on the road. I should mention that before we left, the Blairs gave us a "present" that we could open ONLY when we got to the Tennessee state line. It turned out to be a mix CD of Tennessee country songs that was WONDERFUL! to listen to on the drive. ;) We finally made it to Nashville where we spend the night at a swankified hotel (you know it's nice when they have a player piano). Woke up the next morning and drove to Pigeon Forge where the Welties were waiting for us (at Sonic, of course)! Together, we drove to the chalet and waited. And waited, and waited. Finally, the Russells got there (cue tears, reunion pictures). Then more waiting. Again, finally, the Slaughters made their appearance (cue more tears, more reunion pictures, screaming kids). That was the wonderful start of our wonderful vacation. I'll spare you all the details (although I'm sure you want to hear them), but the highest points were as follows:

-Family
-Go-karting/bumper boating
-Spending ridiculous amounts of money on our highly envied Sister/Mom shopping day!!
-Parents
-Dollywood
-Dollywood's fudge
-Sisters
-Balderdash
-Nephews
-Sonic runs
-Happy Hour runs
-Brothers(+in-laws)
-Our 5-mile hike (complete with freezing cold water fall)
-Nieces
-Warren Family Talent Show
-Midnight putt-putt
-Familyfamilyfamilyfamilyfamilyfamilyfamilyfamily

And that's the short list.

This was the best vacation known to man. Don't think I'm joking. We've had countless people say they wished they could have been there. Probably because we really are the coolest/most exciting/funniest/scariest/most wonderful people we know.

Saying goodbye is never easy. Saying goodbye to family can kill. Once a million and ten tears were shed, and the kids' (and our own) cries were ringing in our ears, we all loaded up. And left. Left to our respective homes, hard to know when we'll all be together again, hating that we live so far apart. But we were there. We were there, and there's not many people who can say that their siblings are their best friends. But we can, and we do. And one day maybe we'll all live on the same cul-de-sac. Yes, that sounds good.

There's a place for us,
Somewhere a place for us.
Peace and quiet and open air
Wait for us Somewhere.

There's a time for us,
Some day a time for us,
Time together with time spare,
Time to learn, time to care,
Some day!

Somewhere.
We'll find a new way of living,
We'll find a way of forgiving
Somewhere . . .

There's a place for us,
A time and place for us.
Hold my hand and we're halfway there.
Hold my hand and I'll take you there

Somehow

Some day

Somewhere

a music higher than the songs that I can sing

2008-08-09T16:45:00.002-05:00

Hey, guess what? We're going on vacation T*O*M*O*R*R*O*W!!!!!!! You really have no idea how much fun this is going to be. The Papa, Granny, Aubrey, Dirk, Jonathan, David, Joshua, Isaac, Abby, Sam, Kristen, Dave, Molly, Warren, Henry, Carrie, Liam, Annie, Caleb, Erin, Judah, CJ, Nate, Beth, me, Caleb, and Tim, all in one cabin, for a week!

Summer is almost over. School will be starting soon. I've already bought school supplies for NVC! Weird.

Fridays this school year are going to be awesome! For some crazy reason, and through a host of events, we're going to be doing a co-op here on Friday afternoons. So I'll be doing piano lessons during that time. New students are always fun!

For the record, 21 was a cool movie. Just cool. You know those movies? The ones that might not be particularly outstanding, but they're just cool.

Did I mention that I saw The Dark Knight? AT midnight? ON opening night? Well, I did. And it was awesome. We sat in the theatre (in great seats) for an hour and a half before the movie started. Talk about weird conversation topics.

If you'll excuse me, I have to go finish packing. (Yes, that was me, bragging to you that I'm leaving tomorrow)

there's nothing you can do that can't be done

2008-07-08T15:24:00.004-05:00

My goodness, what a busy summer I'm having. Thus far, I am/have been: a counselor-in-training, captain of a makeover team, co-director/choreographer of a musical, and a movie producer.

And the fun doesn't end here.

About a year and a half ago, I played Toccata & Fugue (by Bach) for a conservatory recital. It was there that some friends of mine planted in my head the idea of making a silent film with the aforementioned song as the theme. With that in mind, I went directly to my friend Andy, who happens to be a film major at UT, with this idea. He liked it as much as I did, but it was put on hold for quite some time for us to actually take it seriously. At around the same time the next year, I approached him again about making this silent film, and he agreed. That was in May of this year. Ever since then, we've been working steadily on getting everything ready. Scripting, casting, re-scripting, re-casting, location scouting, organizing, etc. Finally, it was time to make it happen. We had a script, a director (Andy), a producer (myself), four cast members, a location, a full crew (including a bona fide director of photography), and 12 hours to shoot our film. So yesterday, from 9 am to 9:30 pm, we did just that. We got all but one scene filmed (the reason being that we'll have to move to where our snake lives to film that scene), and I must say, it is going to be incredible! Our actors were wonderful and worked wonderfully together, and our crew was spectacular. So I'll be letting you know when it will premiere, as it gets closer to being finished.

A few people have asked me about this, so I thought I'd just clear the air: Yes, I know what the blog labels are, and I know that you're SUPPOSED to label them things like "scooters, vacation, fall" (that's what blogger says anyway) but in real life, when I label something, I usually don't put my name or what it is, I label it with a quote that either describes it in some way, or I just happen to have in my head at the time. So I do the same thing when I blog. It's basically the same with blog titles.

In other news, I read The Other Boleyn Girl (all 661 pages of it) and I was blown away. Philippa Gregory was a genius when she wrote this book. It was a work of art. Then I saw the movie, and I have to say that compared to the book, I was disappointed. I know that converting a book to a movie means taking out the less important elements, but in this movie, the entire plot changed quite dramatically. THE most important elements stayed almost as they had been, but how they got there was definitely not the same. There were also things that were added to the movie that occurred nowhere in the book. Also, in following a grand Hollywood tradition, they made no effort to make love play into the theme. It was ALL lust, ambition, and power that drove the movie. However, disregarding the book and taking the movie at face-value, it was very good. The cinematography was very intense and very beautiful. The costumes blew me away. And if you have not read the book (or if you forget about it for 2 hours) the storyline stood very well on its own.

That's all I have for now, my wrists are aching (they've been getting steadily worse this year, so my hand-strengthener has come back into play!)

I love you all very much!

take time to realize

2008-06-29T22:04:00.005-05:00

Last Friday I got a call from a dear friend, Lora Cottle, who was working at Northwest Vista's Summer Enrichment Program--this particular camp was a theatre camp for kids. As it turned out, two of their counselors-in-training couldn't make it for the second week, and Lora wanted to know if I would be interested in helping. [Obviously] I said yes, and from Monday through Friday I was helping at camp from 8:30-4:30 every day. It was quite the experience. I was so used to working with the kids from COG that I forgot the way in which public schooled children work/think/respond/everything. It was definitely a wake up call. :) One of the first things that basically stunned me was that, when told to get in line, all of the boys push and shove ahead of the girls to be first. And I stood there thinking, "No boy from my church would ever think to do that!" So I casually mentioned that where I came from, the boys usually stepped to the back of the line, as that was the polite thing to do. Most of them weren't too interested. BUT, by the end of the week, about six boys total were consistently going to the back of the line.

Not all of it was bad, though. I am so glad I got the opportunity to step outside my comfort zone and work with kids who pinch and kick each other and write hate letters and throw paint chips at me. ;) I'm glad I was reminded that if I want to teach, this is what comes with it. In general, I loved being there and teaching them what I knew. I loved being with Lora, hearing the way she handles every situation with grace and a smile. I loved the kids' gaping mouths when I talked about being homeschooled. I liked to laugh when anyone would say there was NO WAY I was only sixteen. I loved the parents coming up and shaking my hand on the last day and thanking me.

And now I'm glad it's over, and I can sleep in, and see Penny tomorrow, and catch up on my Chopin *bites knuckle*. Thank you so much, Lora, for giving me the opportunity to work with and get to know you this week. :) You are such a blessing, and I hope to see you soon!

I have other news, but it can wait, as I am tired. So, good night.

PS. My favorite question when I tell someone I'm homeschooled: "So, do you like go to school in your pajamas?"

the heat is on in Saigon

2008-06-12T15:05:00.006-05:00

(or in Texas...either one)

FYI, be tuning in soon to read my thoughts on what is called Rock Band. It'll be interesting.

I've decided to hold off on mission trip pictures until I can get a slideshow made. That makes my life easier. So I'm skipping ahead to pictures from the Hudgens' anniversary vow renewal and baptism.

JD and Shannon have been married 10 years now and celebrated with friends at Paradise Canyon last Saturday by renewing their vows to each other. They also had their four oldest kids, Skye, Saige, Isaiah, and Malachi baptized afterwards. It was a very beautiful ceremony, and they were kind enough to let Nathan and me be part of it by singing/playing for them.

What a beautiful family

And the baptisms, first in - Skye

Saige

Malachi

Isaiah

Afterwards, it was time for a day of swimming, peddle boating, and sun burning!

May the grace of Christ our Savior
And the Father's boundless love
With the Holy Spirit's favor
Rest upon us from above

i won't worry my life away

2008-06-03T16:22:00.002-05:00

Well we're back from the Rio Grande mission trip. It was quite something. I was so glad we all got to go be a part of that. I'll echo Candace in that it was amazing to see everyone, big and small, working together, and being eager to do it. I think that a great many inhibitions were left at the door on this trip, because aside from CJ and Blair (who were on full time kitchen duty) there was not a single person who did not, at one time, get insanely and indescribably dirty and gross. My always considerate and affectionate brother-in-law Dirk said that he had never seen me look that dirty. Back atcha. On Saturday, Cheyenne and I mowed a total of 16 lawns, after which we raked weeds mixed with vines, and blew all the grass into each yard. And all in 3 hours. Who's awesome? We're awesome. The highlight of my trip was definitely playing Mr. Graf's accordion. That was fairly amazing.

I took a grand total of 359 pictures over the course of the weekend. Needless to say, I will not be posting all of them, but there were some choice ones I think you'll enjoy. However, I am too lazy and tired to post them now, so come back later and I'll either have them posted, or I'll have a slideshow ready. Until then, I bid you goodbye.

Ps. My birthday is in 14 days!

look out on a summer's day

2008-05-22T16:11:00.008-05:00

What a crazy two weeks this has been!

Okay, so last week, I found out that I will be taking remedial math as soon as I graduate high school. I had kind of resigned myself to this thought anyways, it's just a bit depressing to see it on paper that in college, I'll be eligible for "3rd of 4 Development Math". Blaahhhh.

Dad sent us all an article today about how people's attention spans are decreasing as we become more conditioned to high-speed everything. I've been thinking this for quite some time. The topic of the article was lack of attention in college lectures, but that's not the only area of concern. Think about it. When classical music was THE music, songs lasted about 10-12 minutes on average. Skip ahead to 40 years ago, songs were 5-6 minutes long. Skip ahead to now, songs are about 3 minutes long. Now think about movies. Movies used to be, on average, 4 hours long. Now movies are, on average, 1 1/2-2 hours long. I hate hearing from people, "I hated that movie, it was so long!" Can you really not sit still for more than 2 hours? That's why I appreciate movies that dare to be 3 hours or longer, such as The Lord of the Rings trilogy, King Kong, The Pianist, Walk the Line, etc. etc. It also explains part of why we hardly ever actually WRITE anymore. Almost everything is done on computer, because typing is faster. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but there was a time when people took the time to write beautifully on paper, and it was a skill developed and practiced. Now calligraphy is basically obscelete, because no one wants to take the time or attention to write presentably.

Today I registered at Northwest Vista for fall dual credit classes. I'm taking English 1 and French 1, and I'm very excited. I've always wanted to speak French, plus, assuming I major in music, a romance language looks great on a transcript. The dual credit advisor also gave me a brochure for this summer's drama and music camps for children that they need volunteer counselors for--and since I have experience in both (and TEACHING both), she said that I would have a guaranteed spot. so this could be fun! Plus, they're building a new Performing Arts center on the campus, which I'm excited about.

Grand Recital was on Sunday night. It actually went very well! The Blairs, Cohoons, and Amy and Mr. Fehrenbach were so great and came. :) I was very pleased with how Fantasy turned out. And I thought my singing was alright. CJ is a fantastic accompaniest.

My heart breaks for Steven Curtis Chapman and his family. His daugher, Maria Sue was killed in an awful car accident. Please pray for them, that God will give them peace.

These days I'm playing Chopin's Ballade in G Minor. It's definitely one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. It's about 7 minutes long, and completely breathtaking. Oh, if I didn't mention it before, I love Chopin now. I think the reason I didn't like his music for so long was because I hadn't heard enough of it, and developed a premature opinion.

My Psaltina costume is close to done! I just have to decorate it. Never ending thanks to Teresa for making it! I actually see the play coming together these days. We're getting into choreography, and I think it will be great when it's finished.

Oh, something worth mentioning. Today is May 22. Which means that my family has officially lived in San Antonio for exactly 7 years now. We left Hawaii on May 21, 2001, and got to San Antonio on May 22. It's so strange for me to think about that. Living in Hawaii was incredible, and one of the best times of my life, but when you think about it, I lived there for two years, from right after I turned 6 to right before I turned 9. The rest of my life that I remember has been spent here in Texas. My goodness I miss Hawaii! I miss the people and the beautiful, unique atmosphere.

Now I must go make dinner.

this is swear to you, and this i swear to me

2008-05-12T16:10:00.003-05:00

It really gets to me that Taylor Swift insists on being insanely catchy. It makes it extremely difficult to get her songs out of your head--especially when you particularly dislike and mock her.

Add to my list of favorite male singer/pianists: Brendan James.

Grand Recital is next week. I'm playing Fantasy in D Minor. According to the faculty at the Conservatory, I'm one of the best.

We'll see.

Next week is the last week of school. This makes me excited. I can't believe I would ever say this, but I think I actually have found a place in my heart for Great Books Tutorial. Dr. Lund is an amazing tutor, plus, next year we get to read some Shakespeare. Which will be a bit more fun than philosophy.

Reading list for this summer!:
110 People Who Are Screwing Up America, by Bernard Goldberg
Musicophilia, by Oliver Sacks
The Other Boleyn Girl, by Philippa Gregory
The God Makers, by Ed Decker and Dave Hunt
The Inheritance, by Louisa May Alcott
Blink! The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, by Malcolm Gladwell
Behind A Mask, by Louisa May Alcott
This Is Your Brain On Music, by Daniel J. Levitin

I'm pretty much excited.

Another thing I'm definitely excited about is the church mission trip. Eeeee I can't wait. Not one bit.

Why does blood turn brown when it dries? And why do the tears well up in your eyes? Why didn't I learn to ride my bike when it was warm and sunny outside? Why can't little kids tie their shoes? And why can't the white people play the blues? Why can't I fall in love with you?

It must be because of the season...

If you haven't seen Expelled!, go see it. Not even kidding.

Nathan is home, which once again gives me someone to mess around on the piano with. His new compositions are actually quite interesting.

That's all.

here's a song for you, lovely

2008-04-21T17:11:00.009-05:00

I haven't blogged in a while, and so much has happened!

Of course the best of which being that Kristen and Annie came down with their youngest last weekend. There's nothing quite as exciting as having all of your brothers and sisters around at the same time. Liam and Judah are the best baby nephews ever. We had a really great time. So of course we took tons of crazy, strange, awkward, and fantastic pictures.

Next, I helped CSDC with their huge spring production, Peter Pan and Wendy. It was like old times...being there every day for so many hours. I was in charge of hair. You wanna know how long it takes to get 30 kids into hairstyles and/or wigs? Or how hard it is to make those adorable girls look like lost boys? The play went splendidly. Every cast member was excellent. So of course I took pictures of all this, as well. :)

Bethany was my fellow stylist, in charge of makeup.

Starky, Captain Hook, and Smee think something is interesting

I love her the best

Hannah and Andrea, the best techs ever!

Rachel is the best Peter Pan I've ever seen...quite seriously

The darling Darlings

They were both excellent

Yay be excited!

Nana, Never Bird, and Crocodile

Captain Hook/Mr. Darling is WAY psyched!

In other news, do you know what today is? Today is the one year anniversary of the day we closed A Century of Broadway. It seems so strange that it's been a year. So much has happened, but it doesn't feel like that long.

That was then

This is now

I suppose that is all for now. I should really update more often. My love to everyone!

happiness

2008-04-07T18:12:00.003-05:00

Happiness is finding a pencil
Pizza with sausage
Telling the time

Happiness is learning to whisle
Tying your shoe for the very first time

Happiness is playing the drum in your own school band
And happiness is walking hand in hand

Happiness is two kinds of ice cream
Knowing a secret
Climbing a tree

Happiness is five different crayons
Catching a firefly, setting him free

Happiness is being alone every now and then
And happiness is coming home again

Happiness is morning and evening
Daytime and nighttime too
For happiness is anyone and anything at all
That's loved by you

Happiness is having a sister
Sharing a sandwich
Getting along

Happiness is singing together when day is through
And happiness is those who sing with you

Happiness is morning and evening
Daytime and nighttime too

For happiness is anyone and anything at all
That's loved by you.

~You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown.

The innocent things that make us happy are usually the best things.

how we all enjoy letting loose with a little la-da-dum-dum-dum

2008-03-24T19:32:00.005-05:00

Here are the things that have taken up my time recently.

Phantom of the Opera!!!!!!!! I went into it expecting it to be brilliant. I didn't expect it to blow my mind. Christine was flawless. She had a beautiful voice and the spirit that was missing from the film. John Mills actually made me like Raoul's character. He was much more of a man than Patrick Wilson's movie interpretation. And the Phantom absolutely stunned me. Definitely the most amazing tenor I've heard in person. During the curtain call, when all the characters took their bows, many people stood up. When the Phantom came out, the entire house stood up. I really cannot think of anything that I didn't like or that I would have changed. I've heard some people say that they preferred the voices of the characters in the movie version, and to tell you the truth, that seriously offends me. It is impossible to compare Greg Mills' smooth tenor voice to Gerard Butler's rough rock-and-roll voice. These people were classically trained for the express purpose of being onstage someday. The film actors thought it would be cool to be in a movie musical, and all they'd have to do is sing from their nose into a machine that would make them sound halfway decent. I guess those people just don't appreciate the art and talent that is musical theatre like I do. :)

All of us who went:

Hannah, Rachel, India, me, Brian, Kristen, and Beth

My girl Rachel :)

I am officially Psaltina. Oh, what fun we will have.... ;) And if only I wasn't going to be out of town for 1 1/2 weeks this summer: the Woodlawn Theatre is doing The Wizard of Oz! Only the love of my life!

What the world needs most is more male pianists with amazing voices. People like Ben Folds and Harry Connick, Jr. Most definitely.

Several nights ago I introduced several of my friends to the wondrous joy that comes from watching Murder By Death. Have you seen it? You probably haven't. So you should.

Easter was great. All the kids sang the Alleluia Chorus we taught them for Prelude. It was so pretty. And of course, it being Easter, Dad wanted us to take pictures :)

Nathan and I have compiled a list of the greatest performances by an actor ever. While we differ on several, this is our joint list in no particular order (in case you couldn't tell, I love to make lists):
Phillip Seymour Hoffman - Capote
Anthony Hopkins - The Silence of the Lambs
Tom Cruise - The Last Samurai
Sean Penn - I Am Sam
Daniel Day-Lewis - There Will Be Blood
Edward Norton - The Illusionist
Adrien Brody - The Pianist
Denzel Washington - Training Day
Forrest Whitaker - The Last King of Scotland
Daniel Day-Lewis - My Left Foot
Russell Crowe - A Beautiful Mind
Topol - The Fiddler on the Roof
Gary Oldman - Immortal Beloved
Terrence Howard - Crash
Dustin Hoffman - Rain Man
Kevin Spacey - The Usual Suspects
Johnny Depp - Finding Neverland
Gregory Peck - To Kill a Mockingbird
Jonathan Rhys Meyers - Velvet Goldmine
Adrien Brody - The Village
Christian Bale - Equilibrium
Chris Cooper - Breach
Steve Zahn - Rescue Dawn
Sean Astin - The Lord of the Rings
Cary Elwes - Kiss the Girls
Adam Sandler - Reign Over Me
Jim Carrey - The Truman Show
Richard Dreyfuss - Mr. Holland's Opus
Michael Caine - Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Nicolas Cage - Matchstick Men
Humphrey Bogart - Casablanca

Feel free to give me yours as well. List of actresses coming soon.

I don't care how many people laugh at me, but I saw Titanic (finally) and loved it.

i want space, not just air

2008-03-12T16:17:00.004-05:00

What a day. Mother has still not gone into surgery. 5 hours late. My goodness. Why can't hospitals run like you see them run in Grey's Anatomy, House, ER, etc. etc.?

Recently seen movies:
La Vie en Rose: Oh my goodness. What an amazing movie. It was beautiful, tragic, exhilarating, and dramatic, among other things. I wish there was something even more important than an Oscar for Marion Cotillard. Her performance was outstanding.

Gone Baby Gone: An incredible crime drama. Casey Afflek has serious talent. A very intense story that is devastating in parts, but well worth it to see the redemption.

The Pianist: What I'm wondering is why I didn't see it until two nights ago. This film has definitely become one of my favorites. Adrien Brody was outstanding as Wladislaw Szpilman. I can't even describe how much I loved it. Very hard to watch in parts, which made it all the more real.

My grandparents are here for two days. I may have said this before, but it gets truer every day: there are no greater people in all the world.

New piano pieces: Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, Chopin's Ballad in G Minor, Holst's Jupiter, Pachebel's Canon in D, Beethoven's 3rd Symphony (1st movement excerpt).

Have you ever noticed that the most beautiful songs in musicals usually go to the male characters? Examples:
Music of the Night - Phantom of the Opera (Phantom)
Giants in the Sky - Into the Woods (Jack)
Dancing Through Life - Wicked (Fiyero)
Miracle of Miracles - The Fiddler on the Roof (Motel)
Any Day Now - The Fiddler on the Roof (Perchik)
Santa Fe - Newsies (Jack)
On the Street Where You Live - My Fair Lady (Freddie)
Snoopy - You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Snoopy)
Stars - Les Miserables (Javert)
Bring Him Home - Les Miserables (Jean Valjean)
Who Am I? - Les Miserables (Jean Valjean)
Oh, What a Beautiful Morning - Oklahoma! (Curly)
Your Song - Moulin Rouge! (Christian)
My Friends - Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Sweeney)
Johanna - Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Anthony)
Old Deuteronomy - Cats (Munkustrap and Rum Tum Tugger)
It Takes Two - Hairspray (Link)
Le Temps de Catedrali - Notre Dame de Paris (Gringiore)
Where Is Love? - Oliver! (Oliver)

"Stars in your multitudes
Scarce to be counted
Filling the darkness
With order and light
You are the sentinels
Silent and Sure
Keeping watch in the night"

i can't tell dreams from truth

2008-03-02T13:26:00.003-06:00

New music interests: The Bird and the Bee, Jason Collette, Ingrid Michaelson.

I talked to Nathan on Wednesday for a long time. Ah me, I miss him. He told me to see Definitely, Maybe. I definitely want to. He also saw Vantage Point, but didin't think the plot was very involved. Hm. The Other Boleyn Girl and Penelope are out and I can't wait to see both of them! And I think CJ is right--I do enjoy dark, period dramas. Much more than she does. But it's okay, because she enjoys romantic comedies much more than I do. My next stop at Blockbuster will be to collect any combination of the following: Stage Beauty, Lady Jane, Chocolat, The Pianist, Harsh Times, The Man Who Cried.

Phantom of the Opera in 11 days. Can I really wait that long? I suppose so, seeing as I've been waiting for 3 years to see it live.

I saw the most amazing Audrey Hepburn poster at Blockbuster last night that I neeeed. You can get it for me if you like. While we're on the subject of Blockbuster (again), I'll mention that Beth and I rented La Vie En Rose last night and we plan on watching it today. I'm very excited. This is the movie that won Marion Cotillard the Best Actress award last Sunday. I heard that she was also in A Very Long Engagement, which I did not like at all, but everyone says this movie is very good.

Psalty is going well. We're a bit behind schedule, but then goes the way of the Warren family sometimes. As of now, I am the back-up Psaltina (*cough* Tiffany) so we'll see how that goes. :) While I would rather we do a play where I could be Charity Churchmouse, this will do.

How did I ever live without the movie Finding Neverland? I can't say enough good things about it. Johnny Depp's best, Freddie Highmore's best, Kate Winslet's best.....

My poor dad is so sick. It's very sad. What does the phrase "sick as a dog" really mean?

I am fairly certain that I have run out of romantic closing sentences.

But perhaps that was romantic or poetic, in and of itself.

"I love the way you say good morning
And you take me the way I am"

take this sinking boat and point it home

2008-02-25T08:51:00.003-06:00

With the exception of Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Animated Feature, I was impressed with the Oscars this year. As much as I love ALL of the songs nominated for Best Song, none of them deserved it over Falling Slowly. Goodness gracious, I was nearly in tears watching Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova walk up to the podium to take their award for a film they shot with two handicams in 17 days. If you haven't seen Once, seeeeeee it.

all I can do is keep breathing

2008-02-20T11:36:00.004-06:00

I want to take a debate class. I love to debate--I think I'm pretty good at it, too. And I want to take Frennnnnch. Very badly.

Well, I'm extremely excited about the new Psalty play. It's going to be very fun. I have a good feeling about it. Goodness me, I have so many choreography ideas!

How do you feel about Jars of Clay? Or Rich Mullins? Michael Card? Burlap to Cashmere? You know, when Christian music was something worth listening to. Those were better days.

There's not a whole lot to write about right now...I'm on spring break very early because of mother's tests and such.

These are all the movies which I am eagerly anticipating!
Mamma Mia!
The Dark Knight
The Other Boleyn Girl
Penelope
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
Leatherheads
Vantage Point
Get Smart

Nathan is gone. Which means I am now the person in the house with the record for hardly ever getting sick. I don't remember the last time I was sick. Ah me, it has been quite some time. And now, alas, Bethany thinks that being the only person consistently well for the past 2 weeks, I should make her cookies. Imagine that, having to apologize and make up for your more than competent immune system. And the world spins madly on.

I AM rocking the suburbs. Just like Jon Bon Jovi did.

On a sad note, carpel tunnel can rear its ugly head when it is most unwanted. Blahhhh.

Did you know that I am incredibly happy that the Writers' Strike is over?

I have no closing note of any poetic or romantic substance.

"It's cool it's cool to love your family
I know because I love them more and more"

the city should give me its key

2008-02-12T18:09:00.000-06:00

I'm teaching Charis and Tana Meeker now, and I'm very excited! They're so bright, and it's very fun. :) I really love teaching music. I want everyone to love music as much as I do, and want to learn more about it! I know I will never be finished learning. My recent interest is a book by Oliver Sacks called Musicophilia. It's so amazing--it deals with music and the brain and how certain music stimulates different parts of the brain, and it also has a section devoted to savants--it fascinates me!

Hannah and I saw West Side Story on Sunday at Reagan High. I can't even express how good it was. The singing was spot on, the dancing was, in my opinion, better than that of the movie version, and the acting was so intense that, in a few spots, the audience was literally in tears. We were both blown away.

I can't wait for Phantom of the Opera!! I'm going to be so happy. I think I just need to start setting aside money every month just for seeing plays (aside from my Virginia fund, of course, Kristen). Yes, that should be good. I'm sad I missed Les Miserables :(. But still excited for Phantom!!!!!!

We had an imprompu discussion about composers today in my Great Books class online. Most everyone was appalled by my statement that I don't like Chopin. But oh well. I'd much rather be playing Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Rachmanninoff, etc. etc. Bach is my favorite overall. Mozart composed my favorite individual pieces. Beethoven is the most interesting and heartwrenching. Sometimes, after hearing something by him, I get emotional. He had such a sad life. I can't even comprehend the heartache of loving music more than life itself and not hearing it. The way I see it, you have to have a sad life if you're going to compose something as matchless as the Ode to Joy. If you haven't seen Immortal Beloved, see it.

Have I ever mentioned that I love musical theatre?

This disgusts me. This excites me. This is the work of my dear friend.

And here I make my exit, off to take the world by storm.

"Make of our hands one hand
Make of our hearts one heart
Make of our vows one last vow
Only death will part us now"

consider yourself one of us

2008-01-28T12:29:00.000-06:00

So I've been tagged with the meme that went around a year ago and has made its way back to me again, by means of my sister Kristen.

(1) Link to the person that tagged you. (2) Post the rules on your blog. (3) Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself. (4) Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs. (5) Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website

My 6 things are.....

1) I stalk IMDb and other "unopen" movie websites daily, therefore I know about new movies WAY before the general public does (heard of The Other Boleyn Girl? yeah I've been waiting for that since '06)

2) I can kick your butt in Lord of the Rings Trival Pursuit (unless you're John Michael), plus any Disney trivia game

3) I don't listen to most pop music. But Gwen Stefani is my extremely guilty pleasure

4) Contrary to popular belief, I do not like the movie Fantasia. I find it weird and disturbing, and a waste of a movie

5) I only want you to see my favorite part of me

6) I click my nails incessantly. All the time

And I tag: Nicole, Emily, Dok, Ali, and Scott

1,2,3,4 tell me that you love me more

2008-01-20T13:38:00.000-06:00

Dad got back from Hawaii today! Hooray! Not that leaving Hawaii is anything to be celebrated....I want to go back so badly!

I went to Southern Music for the first time yesterday w/ siblings and Miss Penny. It would be great if I could just live there. I got three new piano books--a collection of great classical pieces, a really fantastic Bach (favorite composer) book, and *drum roll* the 4th Edition Greatest Broadway Songs Ever piano book. GOODNESS GRACIOUS it's so big and exciting! I'm very happy. But I know now that I've been there, I'll never have EVERYTHING I want from there. Next up will be Greatest Movie Music, Bubbly by Colbie Caillat and 1,2,3,4 by Feist. They have a whole section of popular music of today, plus an even bigger section of show tunes that I will never get enough of. Thank you thank you thank you Miss Penny for taking us!

Also, I can now play The Luckiest by Ben Folds! What a wonderful feeling. And done with only a chord sheet!

P.S. I Love You was adorable. And sad. But mostly adorable. Harry Connick, Jr., of course, OWNED in it. He is my idol, and always will be. I want his Songs I've Heard CD!

I don't know what color to paint my room! I thought about purple, but my curtains are purple. I thought about red, by my bed is mainly red, and I don't want it to clash with the purple. I'm thinking maybe a goldish brown? I don't know....

a new favorite musical, Notre Dame de Paris. This is the opening number, Temps de Catedrali (The Time of the Cathedrals)

"All through my wild days

My mad existence

I kept my promise

Don't keep your distance"

when the dawn comes tonight will be a memory, too

2008-01-03T11:19:00.000-06:00

I'm such an obsessive person. 9 months after the musical revue ended, and I'm still posting about it and how much I miss it and how amazing it was. But honestly, that's only because it really WAS amazing. The premiere was yesterday, so I got to see it all again and remember everything again.
I remember the adrenaline rush that didn't leave for the whole 2 hour show.
I remember frantic costume changes and panics that I wouldn't get done in time.
I remember being proud that I never missed a cue.
I remember the dead feeling in the air at the end of each rehearsal.
I remember the alive feeling at the beginning of each rehearsal.
I remember Osha root throat spray.
I remember 2 dairy-free weeks.
I remember IHOP, and the wonderful conversations that took place there.
I remember thinking that we would never be ready.
I remember feeling that the musical would never end.
I remember when sleeping and eating were few and far between.

Goodness, I miss that play. So very much. It was so good.

After the premiere was over we went to see I Am Legend. Probably the most depressing movie I've ever seen. Then we went to Jim's. They have exceptional hot chocolate, and soup. Perfect for 40 degree weather.
"Little Lotte, where is your scarf?"

So yes, it was a fun day. Tiring, but fun. I love my friends.

"Look! Cocaine! Peppermint flavored for the holidays!"

Now I'm off to clean the sister's house. Fun stuff.

"Touch me
It's so easy to leave me
All alone with the memory
Of my days in the sun"

tell me your secrets, ask me your questions

2007-12-31T00:15:00.000-06:00

Today is the last day of the year 2007. And what a year it has been. My last post mentioned many of the things I've done this past year, but like I said, that barely scratches the surface. All things considered, this was a good year. It had it's rough patches, of course, but it has been marked all over by smiles, laughs, standing ovations, friendships, hugs, and happiness.

I think Nathan and I won the inheritance with our gifts to Dad. Most definitely.

Scott and I totally did One under the streetlights on Hondo. Very few things are quite as enjoyable and nostalgic as that.

My new digital camera is fantastic! All I need is a memory card! And lithium batteries! But it's fantastic!

I'm many things. I'm happy, friendly, secure, pro-life, confused, talented, confusing, arrogant, passionate, and a host of other things. But one thing I'm definitely not is remarkable.

My grandparents are just the greatest people I know. Or anyone knows, for that matter.

Just in case you were wondering. Or even if you weren't.

"Making the best of it
Playing the hand you get
You're not alone in this"

i've been awake for a while now, you've got me feeling like a child now

2007-12-18T23:17:00.000-06:00

"Help me then, in every tribulation
So to trust your promises, O Lord
That I lose not faith's sweet consolation
Offered me within Your holy Word."

How true. How true.

I cannot believe Christmas is a week away! Where did the year go? BUT, I got all my Christmas shopping done! Hurray!

This year, I...

Said a horribly sad goodbye
Ended a friendship
Threw 2 surprise parties
Found my calling
Laughed
Taught piano
Made life goals
Found myself
Signed autographs
Cried
Listened to music I wouldn't now
Decided I would one day live in New York
Slept past noon
Flew on a plane by myself
Regretted
Dreamed in a musical
Stood up for what I believed
Hugged
Got arrested
Had a Shirley Temple marathon
Accepted
Felt inadequate
Renewed a friendship
Choreographed a musical
Loved
Saw a favorite musical onstage
Was Glinda
Had meaningful conversations with best friends and family
Felt adequate
Learned alot
Despised
Could sing the songs of over 40 different musicals
Revisited a childhood home
Reminisced
Laughed until I cried
Offered advice
Had the best 2 weeks of my life
Tried to be helpful
Cried until I laughed
Was caught in the middle of a huge deception
Was severely insulted
Expressed my thoughts about today's society on paper
Witnessed [and received] 3 standing ovations
Travelled to Red River with people I love
Ate an entire fried mushroom
Momentarily hated rain
Attempted to teach music to 35 kids
Wrote down on paper exactly what I thought
Then shredded it
Made this list

There you have it. I'm sure there's more, but I'm not likely to remember even half of what happened this year.

I wonder what next year will be like. I have a feeling it will be very good, though. I've been strangely optimistic and peacefully happy as of late. I don't know why, and I don't know how to put it into words. But it's there, and I'm glad of it. It's gotten me through many difficult situations.

God is so, so good.

Psapp is another new music favorite. Most definitely.

I have a very very busy holiday schedule lined up. Oh me oh my. I love Christmas season.

"Be still, my soul, the Lord is on your side."

I'm very excited about seeing my friends home from college! It makes me so happy.

It looks like we're going to have a Premiere after all! This also makes me happy. Very much so, as I've been aching to see A Century of Broadway since before it was even performed!

Sweeney Todd. The Dark Knight. 27 Dresses. Atonement. Prince Caspian. The Bucket List. All of these movies have one thing in common: they are all highly anticipated!

And this is all for tonight. I hope you all are very blessed!

"I drove to New York
In a van, with my friend
We slept in parking lots
I don't mind, I don't mind
I was in love with the place
In my mind, in my mind
I've made alot of mistakes
In my mind, in my mind"

oh, strut your stuff

2007-12-04T17:07:00.000-06:00

One, from A Chorus Line

Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats, from Cats

The Phantom of the Opera and Music of the Night, from Phantom of the Opera @ 1988 Tony's

At the End of the Day and One Day More, from Les Miserables @ 1987 Tony's

Defying Gravity, from Wicked @ 2004 Tony's

Epiphany, from Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

It's Your Fault/Last Midnight, from Into the Woods

Trust me, they're ALL worth watching.

and the world spins madly on

2007-11-28T22:42:00.000-06:00

I'm such a bad blogger! I need to break this habit.

Not much has been going on around here, just alot of school, oh, I'm sort of kind of failing chemistry. Which makes me sad some days, and other days, I really try and look at the big picture, because it's not like I need anything I learn in chemistry to be a Theatre or Music (or both) major in college. Still, it would be nice to pass it.

I got to help CSDC earlier this month with their production of Babes in Toyland, and that was fantastic. I, of course, was immediately busy with hair and makeup and costume repairs. :)

I wish there wasn't quite so much drama with all of my friends. Ahhh it gets to me sometimes. :) "I wish we could all get along like we did in middle school. I wish I could bake a cake made of rainbows and smiles and we'd all have a piece." Haha. It's just that some people need to take some things more seriously, and take some other things not quite so seriously.

I miss A Century of Broadway more than words can describe.......

I was contemplating the other day that my taste in music has drastically changed since this time last year. I listen to next to no hard rock anymore--among the exceptions is Red Hot Chili Peppers, because they're just so fun! I'm mainly indie pop/folkrock/blues now. The Ditty Bops, Tegan and Sarah, Eisley, The Weepies, The Fray, Death Cab For Cutie, A Fine Frenzy, Feist, Sufjan Stevens, Colbie Caillat, Ben Folds, etc....are all more to my liking now. Nathan is a bit peeved with me about some of my choices. :) But some, he agrees with.

Piano is coming along very well, I'm playing O Come, All Ye Faithful with orchestrational accompanyment for Christmas...it sounds really cool!

Ahh musical theatre...will I ever get enough of you?

I took a quiz "What character from a Broadway musical are you?" And I am Millie from Thoroughly Modern Millie. Your thoughts?

I'm so excited about the new Sweeney Todd movie, you don't even know.

August Rush is fantastic. Everyone should see it, and love it.

That's all...I'm going to bed, because I have to get up early for getting braces off tomorrow! Joyness!

"Why can't little kids tie their shoes?
And why can't the white people play the blues?"

holding my breath, counting to ten, getting too close, close to the edge

2007-10-23T16:16:00.000-05:00

Since my last post about beautiful songs was such a hit, I decided to broaden it, with Nathan's help.

Here are the 31 Most Beautiful Songs.

As compiled by Shelley and Nathan Warren.

31. Lightning Crashes - Live
30. Not Enough - Our Lady Peace
29. Miracle Of Miracles - Fiddler on the Roof soundtrack*
28. Grace - U2
27. Shoot The Moon - Norah Jones*
26. Cats in the Cradle - Harry Chapin
25. Kill The Silence - Adler
24. Send In The Clowns - A Little Night Music soundtrack
23. Latter Days - Over The Rhine
22. If I Sing - Rich Mullins
21. Zoe Jane - Staind
20. Be Careful - Patty Griffin*
19. Over the Rainbow - Brother Iz
18. Thy Mercy - Caedmon's Call
17. For Good - Wicked soundtrack*
16. Brightly Wound - Eisley
15. Sweet Baby James - James Taylor
14. You'll Be In My Heart - Phil Collins
13. Come What May - Moulin Rouge soundtrack*
12. Rainy Days And Mondays - The Carpenters
11. Music Of The Night - Phantom of the Opera soundtrack*
10. Breathe (2 a.m.) - Anna Nalick
9. Chicago - Sufjan Stevens
8. A Lack Of Color - Death Cab for Cutie
7. Piano Man - Billy Joel
6. (A Tie) Emptiness/Sore - Break Forth A New Day
5. Hey Jude - The Beatles
4. Into The West - Annie Lennox
3. Joy In The Journey - Michael Card
2. Grow Old With Me - John Lennon
1. The Luckiest - Ben Folds

*Not approved by Nathan Warren

where was i before the day that i first saw your lovely face? now i see it everyday

2007-10-21T16:34:00.000-05:00

I should really update this more often.

I really love beautiful music. More than I love hard rock at the moment. It's just more pleasant to listen to.

Speaking of hard rock, Break Forth a New Day had a gig at Northwest Church of Christ last night for a Brasil mission trip fundraiser. They played with two other Christian rock bands, Years After Jerico and Just 3 Words. It was so much fun! All three of them were great. I love almost all of Break Forth's stuff, but my favorite is definitely Emptiness, followed up by Sore and Why?

I'm currently failing chemistry. I'm pretty bummed about that. But honestly, when am I ever going to use chemistry after I finish this course? Aubrey told me not to worry about it too much, because she failed after being tutored personally by the class valedictorian, and she turned out fine.

I'm currently on a mission to see all of Christian Bale's movies. My list of accomplishments so far is: Newsies, Little Women, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Reign of Fire, The Prestige, Equilibrium, Pocahontas, and Batman Begins. Next up should be Swing Kids. That looks really good. Then 3:10 to Yuma.

I just watched Equilibrium two nights ago. It was a really weird movie. As Nate said, once you get past the fact that it is extremely implausible, it was excellent. Probably the most well choreographed fight scenes I've seen in a movie.

I'm going to see the Symphony play along to Wizard of Oz next Sunday! I'm so excited, you have no idea.

I'm really excited that cooler weather is coming soon. It makes me really happy.

My cats are doing really well. Here are pictures from when I first got them--I don't have any recent pictures.

Elphias (Archimedes' new name)

Melchizedek

They like the bookshelf

They also really love fighting with inanimate objects

So that's my life right now. If I think of something else, I'll let you know.

Love always!

"In a white sea of eyes
I see one pair that I recognize"

and when we meet, as I'm sure we will, all that was there will be there still

2007-09-29T17:58:00.000-05:00

I'm such a Subway junkie.

Once again, I have nothing of serious consequence to blog about...and yet, here I am blogging.

So while I'm here....

There is no part of school that I am enjoying right now. Which really bugs me. I usually have at least one subject which I DON'T particularly dislike. This year, no such luck.

Ah well.

I blog in such staccato sentences.

Actually, I have at least one exciting thing happening...I'm getting cats on Monday! For real this time. I've seen them and held them and we're picking them up from the vet on Monday. I'm so extremely excited. I don't know if I've mentioned their names before or not, but they're two boys and their names will be Melchizedek and Archimedes. You may be thinking that they're the craziest and weirdest names you've ever heard for cats before. And if you are, then I've done a good job naming them.

I'm going to hear Break Forth in a couple hours. Fun stuff.

And now, The Naming of Cats.

The naming of cats is a difficult matter. It isn't just one of your holiday games. You may think, at first, I'm as mad as a hatter, when I tell you a cat must have three different names. First, there's the name that the family use daily, such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo, or James. Such as Victor, or Jonathan, George, or Bill Bailey. All of them sensible, everyday names. There are fancier names, if you think they sounds sweeter, some for the gentlemen, some for the dames, such as Plato, Admetus, Elektra, Demeter. But all of them sensible, everyday names. But I tell you, a cat needs a name that's particular. A name that's peculiar and more dignified. Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular, or spread out his whiskers, or cherish his pride? Of names of this kind, I can give you a quorum. Such as Munkustrap, Quaxo, or Coricopat. Such as Bombalurina, or else, Jellylorum. Names that never belong to more than one cat. But above and beyond, there's still one name left over, and that is the name which you never will guess. The name that no human research can decipher, but a cat himself knows, and will never confess. When you notice a cat in profound meditation, the reason, I tell you, is always the same: his mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation of the thought...of the thought...of the thought of his name. His ineffable, effable, effanineffable, deep, and inscrutable, singular name.

there is no life I know to compare with pure imagination

2007-09-13T14:52:00.000-05:00

^^^I forgot how much I love Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory until recently.

Things are going pretty well...I'm bored every day of the week, but oh well. Not sure what else to write about. Hm....I got an amazon wishlist finally! I don't know how to post the link to it, so just search my name and you should find it.

I'm so excited that it's getting the slightest bit cooler ALREADY!!!!!!! It's making me happy.

Season 3 of The Office was by far the funniest of the seasons so far. I can't wait for the premiere of season 4!!
"Every day for eight years, I have brought pepper spray into this office to protect myself and my fellow employees. And every day, for eight years, people have laughed at me. Well. Who's laughing now?"

That's seriously all that's going on with me. That's it. How boring is that?

Have a great day :)

"Sometimes you wanna go where
Everybody knows your name
And they're always glad you came
You wanna be where you can see
Our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name"

i washed the windows outside in hopes that the glare will bring you around

2007-08-31T15:09:00.000-05:00

Goodness me.

School officially starts next week. Blah.

I've been thinking lately what would have happened if my tendonitis and carpel tunnel hadn't ever flared up like they did or when they did. I might have actually made it into the Guild (I couldn't make the auditions because my wrists had just started hurting constantly), I might still be taking piano lessons at MACSA, and because of that, I would still be avoiding playing hymns and classical music like the plague and only learning what I wanted to learn. And I find it sort of funny that the thing that gave me an excuse to stop piano is now one of the things that motivates me even more. Yes, it still hurts alot, but so? If I don't play piano just because I have this hereditary problem that will never go away, then I don't want it enough. And I do. And I suppose I'm glad that it started when it did. It gave me a chance to leave my unhelpful lessons and take a deep breath, and now I have a brilliant piano teacher who has taken me farther than I ever thought I'd go. But it is hard sometimes, playing a really long piece and doing it rather well, and all of the sudden there's a shooting pain up my arm and it gets frustrating. And then, of course, I remember that I'm not the one with a spinal fluid leak that no one seems to know how to fix, and that my pain is minor and just in my arm, not excruciating and in my head and neck.

Speaking of which, I have begun to entirely loathe the screwed up doctors at Wilford Hall.

Now enough of that. I feel like posting pictures.

Whooooaaaa

Old picture of Melanie that I played with

*sigh* my birthday present

ahhh, good times

An overcrowded back seat

My new favorite picture of Beth :P

Kiwi!!!! (well, not anymore, but he was at the time)

too cute

*said like Meryl Streep in Devil Wears Prada* That's all.

"When your love lets you go
You only want love more
Even when love's not
What you were looking for"

Schoolhouse Rockie, a chip off the block of your favorite schoolhouse, Schoolhouse Rock!

2007-08-17T22:16:00.000-05:00

We got back a couple hours ago from seeing School House Rock! LIVE at the Magik Theatre. It was so much fun. I absolutely love School House Rock! and have for a long time. Of course, "I'm Just a Bill" was the best song. :P

Courtney came to visit last week and left tonight. It's good to see her every summer :)

So last night was supposed to be the night that I was looking forward to ever since we started the musical. You really have no idea how much I was looking forward to the premiere. But, of course, it rained so hard and so long that it was cancelled. I heard something about how it might be around Christmas break, though.

I've seen Stardust twice and I have to say, it's one of the best movies I've ever seen. I absolutely loved it.

And that's a wrap.

"My gift is the song, and this song's for you."

careful the wish you make

2007-07-31T12:23:00.000-05:00

It has been 101 days since the end of A Century of Broadway.

But actually, it hasn't ended quite yet. After the play, there was the assisted living home performance, the conservatory showcase, the last day of drama, the awards ceremony, and various other things. It won't really end until the Premiere. That makes me so sad. But it couldn't last forever.

It was beautiful.

if life were only moments, then you'd never know you had one

2007-07-29T18:00:00.000-05:00

I blog way less frequently than I used to.

So since the last time I blogged:

Went to see Hairspray!!! That was such an awesome movie. I absolutely love it. Then after that, Girls Night Out at la Madeleine!!!!!!!! I had so much fun. The tiramisu there is heavenly.

Attempted trip to see Into the Woods!!!!!! Didn't quite work out...they were sold out, so we played Manhunt in Wal*Mart then watched School of Rock!! Very enjoyable.

End of the summer part in Hondo!!!!! Except for the fact that I sprained my wrist playing football, it was a TON of fun!

The REAL trip to see Into the Woods!!!!!! Well, after getting lost 5--no, 6 times in New Braunfels, we made it to the theatre and saw Into the Woods...it was AMAZING! I'm so glad we went. Then to Jim's at midnight.

Well that's all the interesting stuff I think....still excited about the Premiere....still sad about the seniors leaving....still dreading the coming school year with everything that's in me....you know, the usual.

*Muuuuaaaaaahhhhhh*

"When you're way up high and you look below
At the world you've left and the things you've known
Just one little look is enough to show you
Just how small you are"

you'll never know, dear, how much I love you

2007-07-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

So we've been back in TX now for 4 days. It all looks so flat compared to the Rockies. :P

I'm actually finally getting cracking on setting my room the way I want it. I have a picure *wink wink*, dried roses, curtains, sconces, and 3 signs to hang. I really love signs. This is my collection:
"I hope you dance"
"Sing like nobody is listening"
"IMAGINE"

the last two I picked up in Red River. Too good to pass up in my mind.

Red River was a blast. I love my family (even if they gave me even more of a southern twang than I--allegedly--already have). Got to do all sorts of fun stuff...sleep in...watch America's Next Top Model marathons...eat junk food...oh--wait, don't we do that here??? Okay nevermind. We did other stuff, too, I swear! As soon as I get around to putting all mom's pics on my photobucket, I'll start posting them on here, or you'll be able to see them all on facebook. Trust me. Between me, Nate, CJ, and Annie, we'll put up about 500 something on facebook.

I think I've decided on "Memory" for the recital on August. I love love love Send in the Clowns, but that version doesn't sound right without vocals with it. Memory, on the other hand, can stand alone as just a beautiful piece of music.

And I'm really enjoying playing My Favorite Things...getting it ready for WML and all....

I miss Annie and Caleb and Erin. I miss Erin singing Little Einsteins over and over and over again in the car and claiming all the mountains as her own.

I'm so excited about the Premiere, you don't even know. I just REALLY hope we don't do it in the movie room. Last year, we *just barely* all fit. This year, no way. I'm thinking the auditorium or the drama room.

Alright, I'm going shopping now. Love yall!

"We're going on a trip
In our favorite rocket ship
Zooming through the sky
Little Einsteins
Climb aboard
Get ready to explore
There's so much to find
Little Einsteins
Come on! Let's go!
Little Einsteins
We need you!
Little Einsteins
Yeah!"

with ten miles behind me, and ten thousand more to go...

2007-07-05T12:29:00.000-05:00

You don't even know how excited I am about Red River. We leave in a few hours to head up to fort worth, spend the night, and make the 20 hour drive to New Mexico. Hmmmmm.

This is my hypothetical CD of "Most Beautiful Songs Ever Written":

1. Places I Remember - The Beatles
2. Brightly Wound - Eisley
3. Come What May - Moulin Rouge soundtrack
4. You'll Be In My Heart - Phil Collins
5. God is God - Steven Curtis Chapman
6. Hello - Evanescence
7. Into the West - Annie Lennox
8. Miracle of Miracles - Fiddler on the Roof soundtrack
9. Sweet Baby James - James Taylor
10. What a Wonderful World - Louie Armstrong
11. My Father's Gun - Elton John
12. Be Careful - Patty Griffin
13. Piano Man - Billy Joel
14. Zoe Jane - Staind
15. Shoot the Moon - Norah Jones
16. Elijah - Rich Mullins
17.For Good - Wicked soundtrack
18. Horse With No Name - America

Your thoughts?

I suggest that if there are songs on that list that you have never heard before, go look them up. They're all on there for good reason.

I'll miss all yall! *muuuaaahhhh*

"All will turn to silver glass
A light on the water also's past
Hope fades into the world of night
Through shadows falling out of memory and time"

I never knew, I never knew that everything was falling through

2007-06-26T11:16:00.000-05:00

Last night was really fun. Saw Surf's Up with the cool people who DIDN'T go see Nancy Drew (I am absolutely opposed to that movie and all that it tries to be). It was definitely better than Happy Feet. I really really loved it. :) And then those of us who saw Surf's Up didn't want to wait around for the other people to get out of Nancy Drew, so we walked down to TC ahead of them. That was fun too. Had fun talking with Rachel, Scott, Dustin, and India. It was really really great to see Cristen and Dustin. I miss them too much.

And I now own the greatest piece of artwork in the world. No joke.

And now, even though I woke up half an hour ago, I have to go get ready for my piano lesson. I recorded Toccata et Fugue yesterday. Now I'm working on Fantasy in D Minor. It's pretty cool. Not as cool as Lolita, though. :)

9 days till Red River!!!!!!! I am SO excited!!!!!!

Love yall!!!

"I have climbed highest mountains
I have run through the fields
Only to be with you
Only to be with you"

remember that it's for you only

2007-06-23T13:17:00.000-05:00

This is officially my 100th post on Blogspot. Exciting...?

I think blogger is a little past its prime. But oh well, we still love it. :)

So my birthday was awesome, as always. I don't feel 15 though. I just feel normal.

Movies I want to see soon (some of them aren't out yet):
The Pianist
Sweeney Todd
Hollywoodland
Million Dollar Baby
The Other Boleyn Girl
Pan's Labyrinth
Ratatouille
Haven

For my pop concert in August I'm playing either Send in the Clowns or Memory. I can't decide!!!! They both sound so good and I love both of them!!! Ahhhh!!!

I don't really have anything interesting to blog right now...so, I guess this is goodbye. :P

*muuuaaahhh*

"Just when I stopped opening doors
Finally knowing the one that I wanted was yours
Making my entrance again with my usual flair
Sure of my lines...no one is there"

warm face, warm hands, warm feet

2007-06-15T03:47:00.000-05:00

I'm here in Hawaii having a blast. I can't believe how much we've done since Sunday! Here's a short rundown of the week:

Saturday night: Got in from Atlanta, went to the Tanakas' house, talked for a while, then went to sleep.

Sunday: Went to church at MCC. It was exactly the way I remembered it (except everyone was six years older). Saw SO many people I remembered and who remembered me. It was really exciting. Then Hannah Knapp came with us to the Dole Plantation pineapple maze. Then we went to North Shore, then to Haleiwa to get Shave Ice. It was SO good! Then the Knapps came over for dinner. That was really alot of fun too. Justin, Nathan, and I played Hallelujah--me on piano, Justin on guitar, and Nate on drums. That sounded pretty cool. Then we ate, then we played Disney SceneIt? and Justin and I won. Then we played Mafia.

Monday: We woke up early and the Tanakas, Knapps, Tina and her mom, and Amy and I all went to Maunawili Falls. SO FUN! The hike was super long and tiring, but the water was well worth it. Hannah got glass in her foot while we were there (yikes). Then we hiked back and picnicked, then Amy came with us to Waikiki beach, and then we got pizza and went home.

Tuesday: We went the Dukes Lane market at Waikiki and had fun bargaining. Then we ate at Ala Moana food court. Then we hiked all the way up Diamond Head to work off our lunch (we hiked all the way up in slippers!). Then *drumroll* we went The Spaghetti Factory! I got the adult plate of macaroni and cheese. It was just as good as I remembered it.

Wednesday: We went to Hanauma Bay. That was really fun...we buried Crystal in the sand. And I got a really bad sunburn because I refused to put sunscreen on. Then we picked Amy up, went to Blockbuster, then went ice skating (yeah I know...ice skating in Hawaii). Then we attempted to watch West Side Story, but all three of us fell asleep within the first 20 minutes.

Thursday (today): The original plan was to go to Ko Olina beach, but there was no parking when we got there, so we went to Waikiki again and the waves were HUGE!!!! Sarah and Amy got cut up from the rocks, but I somehow escaped them. Then we went to the International Market again for a little while, then came home and just hung out, then the Shiromas came over for dinner. I love them! Sean couldn't come though, he's at CEF camp, so just Auntie Crystal and Uncle Joel and Josh came. Josh is so big! We ate spaghetti, then played Disney SceneIt? and mafia AGAIN! lol For the first game of SceneIt? Amy, Sarah, Crystal and I won. Then for the second game Uncle Terry, Uncle Joel, Josh, and Crystal won. And the Shiromas just left.

Tomorrow: We're going to Anna Millers for breakfast (YAY!), then coming home and probably watching a movie or just hanging out, and then pack my stuff, then we're gonna go Asahi Grill for dinner, then we hit the airport *sniff*. I'm not really big on airports. I hope there's good movies playing on my flight.

So that's my super awesome vacation! I'm excited to go home, but I really wish I could stay longer:)

I can't belive my birthday is on Sunday! I'm gonna be so darn jetlagged on Sunday morning at church lol. Well, I should probably go, we might watch a movie called Little Secrets.

Love yall! (Oh yeah, I got Crystal saying 'yall!')

"Remember when I moved in you
The Holy Dark was moving through
And every breath we drew was
Hallelujah"

another day that I can't find my head

2007-06-05T11:33:00.000-05:00

Here's a shoutout to my totally fantastic friend India who turns 17 today! Happy Birthday!

As some of you may know, one of my very eccentric hobbies is associating songs with colors. I have been trying in vain for almost a year to find my one and only purple song (purple is my favorite color). And today, I finally found it: "Feelin' the Same Way" by Norah Jones. I am so excited. It just has a very purple sound to it. Yes, I know. I'm strange.

I discovered that I love spinach artichoke chip dip that Dirk makes. It's surprisingly very good.

You wouldn't believe me if I told you that my birthday was in twelve days!

Dirk has been painting at our house for the past week. I really like the kitchen. Now he's working on the living room. Which means he's had to pull everything away from the wall to start painting, which means I cannot comfortably play the piano until he's done. Bah humbug.

Hopefully today I will go shopping; the intent being to get summer clothes to pack for Hawaii! You don't even know how excited I am. Counting down the days 'till Saturday!

The Awards Ceremony was fun. I got the "Thanks for Keeping us on Pitch" Award. I thought that was amusing. And Nicole got me the greatest present EVER! I love you Nicole!

I should go get ready to go...I have a piano lesson to go to in a little while.

Au revoir!

"So many times I wonder where I've gone
And how I find my way back in"

i can stop the pain if i will it all away

2007-06-02T10:59:00.000-05:00

Phantom of the Opera is coming to the The Majestic next February!

We should do "Whisper" in ensemble this summer.

Today is Nathan's birthday. Which means that my birthday is in 15 days! Which means that I leave for Hawaii in one week! Which means that the Awards Ceremony is tonight!

The graduation was fantastic. It was so....them. Wonderfully done. I'm gonna miss the graduates so much! Then I got a Whataburger milkshake which was severly disappointing. Then we saw Pirates 3 again.

I rented Music and Lyrics and Lady in the Water last night. I've only seen them both once. I'm debating which one to watch first. Hmmm....

I can't wait until Christmas break so we can do our silent film! We still need to find a suitable location and a pipe organ. Oh, the little details.

I think I've decided on Music and Lyrics. That way I can watch Lady in the Water when it's dark. Muahahahahaha!!!!

Love yall!

"Catch me as I fall
Say you're here and it's all over now
Speaking to the atmosphere
No one's here and I fall into myself"

my heart knows me better than i know myself so i'm gonna let it do all the talkin'

2007-05-23T23:28:00.001-05:00

The showcase was so much fun! ah! and Jim's was even more fun. All I need to do is find a pipe organ for our silent film..... :)

Because I Said So is an extremely hilarious movie. Go watch it.

So dad isn't going to Hawaii with me now. I'm going by myself. That makes me get snervous. *bites lip*

My recital was nice. :)

I totally don't know why I'm blogging.

I don't have anything to say.

Strike that. I don't have anything of consequence to say.

Good night!

"I came across a place
In the middle of nowhere
With a big black horse
And a cherry tree"

we could say that forever is more than just a word

2007-05-20T15:59:00.000-05:00

Hurray for pink shoes!!!

Rachel calculated that, in all, on Thursday we practiced Jellicle Cats for 4 HOURS!!!!! THAT's alot. But we really needed it. And I guess it worked. :)

Yesterday was fun. Andrea's party was a blast. Then I got ready for my piano recital...

...It went well...I suppose. I messed up more times than I could keep track of. But it was fun dressing up and stuff. Then we went and had dinner afterwards at IHOP.

Tomorrow will be...interesting. A rehearsal for the Showcase. From 4 to...whenever we finish...around 10 I guess. Just like old times!

I leave for Hawaii in 20 days!!! Eeeeeee!

Love yall!

"Be careful how you bend me
Be careful where you send me
Careful how you end me
Be careful with me"

oh no, the bugs are growing faces

2007-05-15T16:17:00.000-05:00

It's happening all the time

when I open my eyes
I'm still taken by surprise

I hold sunlight and swallow fireflies

and it makes me want to cry

I love you

I shall never grow up

make believe is much too fun
let's go far away to the humming meadow.

We were walking there

and I had tangles in my hair
but you make me feel so pretty

you have shining eyes

just like the forest flies

and it makes me want to cry
I love you

I shall never grow up

make believe is much too fun

let's go far away to the humming meadow...to the humming meadow.

My favorite song. :) I love putting songs to pictures. It makes me happy for some odd reason.

long lost words whisper slowly to me

2007-05-12T15:03:00.000-05:00

You'll never guess who's playing in the Grand recital...

.............................I am!!!!!!! :)

So I'm happy about that. In case you couldn't tell.

Thursday was an extremely long day. Left the house at 8:20 am, got back to the house at 10:30 pm. The performance at the villa de san antonio went okay...we didn't get to do For Good *sniff* they couldn't get the CD to work. Ah well. Then we went to Jim's and....I ATE A WHOLE MUSHROOM! *everyone claps for shelley* it actually wasn't THAT bad, it was fried and coated in ranch dressing.

So you're all gonna flip out when I tell you what happened last night. I had just finished watching Mean Girls (a favorite) and I went upstairs to my room (it was around 12:30 am) and I look up, and covering (I repeat, COVERING) my ceiling and two of my walls were GNATS! Allllll over! It was soooo freaky! And they were crawling in my closet and everything! So I start freaking out, go get Nate and Dad up and Dad vaccuums up most of them. Apparently I have a broken window and the gnats saw the light and invited friends over. Needless to say, I slept downstairs in the living room last night, and have been doing laundry all day. The gnats are almost all dead now, a few of them are still hanging out by the window, but once they die I get my room back. I've been comforting myself by the fact that they were only gnats, not spiders or cockroaches. *shudders*

And I'm leaving now because Nathan just drove up with my Arby's! w00t!

*muuuaaahhhh*

"Safe inside myself
Are all my thoughts of you
Sweet raptured light
It ends here tonight"

don't you worry, there's still time

2007-05-09T18:56:00.000-05:00

Alrighty, Ali tagged me with the Random 7 things survey. So here it goes!

1. I am very cliche.

2. I have cried in nearly every single movie the first time I saw it. Exceptions that I can think of are Music and Lyrics, Lady in the Water, and Spiderman.

3. I believe it really is bad luck to say good luck on opening night. On any other night I don't care.

4. Ariel has nothing on Belle.

5. I absolutely love climbing trees.

6. I roll my eyes quite often.

7. I hate it when people in the audience talk--it throws me off because I always wonder what they're saying.

And now I'm tagging Rachel, Scott, Ashley, Sarah, and Nicole.

*muuuaaaahhh*

"I don't trust anyone who does their own hair. I don't think it's normal."

everyday i love you more and more

2007-05-07T09:42:00.000-05:00

Okay so piano juries are on Wednesday...aaaahhhh!!! I don't know if I'm ready...the juries decide (based on the piece I play for them--Toccata Et Fugue) whether or not I'm playing in the Grand recital or the Baby Grand recital. I really want to play in the Grand recital! But I don't know if I'm ready! I've been sweating it out since Friday. Prayer would be appreciated.

So church out at the lake was fun:) took some really cute pictures. Then I went with Beth to her senior meeting...just because. That was fun lol. They've got some rockin' ideas...and graduation night will be...interesting, right Scott? ;)

On Saturday Beth and I had SATs till lunchtime and then went and took Beth to work and got her and sis something to eat. Ya gotta love Wendy's frosties. Then I came home and had my own personal Shirley Temple movie marathon. I don't like SATs. Standardized tests at FEAST were more fun. Probably because I knew people in my class there.

Come What May from Moulin Rouge is among my ultimate favorite love songs. Beautifully beautifully done.

I took the which female cat are you? quiz and I got my favorite!!! ah!

Which Female Character from CATS the musical are you?

Jemima... adorable and with the most gorgeous voice i've ever heard, you are one of my favorite characters. You're very much multitalented and are optimistic and sweet and most of all HAPPY! Each day is a purposeful search for the meaning of happiness but you still enjoy it, and once you figure it out, a new life is waiting for you.
Take this quiz!

Quizilla |
Join

| Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

"Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place
Suddenly it moves with such a perfect grace
Suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste
It all revolves around you"

and there's nothing at all to be done about that!

2007-05-03T20:24:00.000-05:00

Eeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so very happy:)

1. My sister's having a baby!!!!
2. I'm going to Hawaii!!!!
3. One is (finally) coming together!!!!
4. Johanna and Josiah are moving down here!!!! NEXT WEEK!!!!
5. WE GET TO DO JELLICLE CATS!!!!!!!!

Go to Google and search for a video of "Phantom of the Opera in 15 minutes." You know you want to.

I'm going to be so sore tomorrow.

Now I leave you to do a LOT of practicing for the showcase.

Goodbye, all. I'm going to go hyperventilate some more.

"Your spirit and my voice
In one combined"

*EDIT: your thoughts? ;)

Glinda Uplands --
[adjective]:

Visually addictive

'How" will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com

END OF EDIT*

everyone knows I'm in over my head, over my head

2007-05-01T18:01:00.000-05:00

Hello, world.

I suppose you've noticed that my blog has been redesigned. Susie over at Bluebird Blogs did it and I abso-bloomin'-lutely love it! She did such a great job on it, yes?

The play was magical. Something I'll never ever forget. Friday was our best performance, in my opinion. Everything was cool and collected. I'm so sad it's over. I only got a few people to sign my program on Thursday. Everyone else needs to sign it THIS Thursday!

So! Thursday was super fun. Practically, dramatically, pragmatically, fanatically, oratorically, delphioracally, skeptically, dispeptically, romantically fun. :) After which my muscles were on fire. Had a really nice conversation with Rachel, Hannah, Scott, and Sally. Then practiced One, then went to do ensemble. My voice was SO tired afterwards! Mr. Boykin worked us hard that day! But it was fun.

Then! Friday I babysat for some friends of ours who have the cutest baby girl! Then came home and--I kid you not--lit a candle in my room from 7 o'clock to 10 o'clock. Yeah I'm pathetic. Really.

The Conservatory Showcase is in less than a month. I'm playing the Toccata et Fugue, accompanying Hollie, playing/singing in ensemble, doing the 2 high school songs, and *possibly* one more thing. "

Conversation with my niece:
Me: so what song did you like in the play?
Abby: The one with you in the pink dress and I love that song and I love that dress and I love Nicole and I love Nicole's black dress but I don't like black but I like that black dress and I love that song and I want you to give me that dress when it doesn't fit you cause it will fit me and I love your hair cause it's curly and I love Nicole's black hair and you look like the girl in the movie and I love that pink dress and where is that dress? and I love you and I love Nicole and Sam likes Hello dolly.
Me: ...that's great.

I love Abby:)

And I love 1-2-3 dip (which I am about to go eat).

Love you all!

"Are you mean like a minx?
Are you lean like a lynx?
Are you keen to be seen
When you're sniffing a rat?"

so much of me is made of what I learned from you

2007-04-23T13:33:00.000-05:00

I've heard it said...

...that people come into our lives...

...for a reason...

...bringing something we must learn...

...and we are led...

...to those who help us most to grow...

...if we let them...

...and we help them in return...

...well, I don't know...

...if I believe that's true...

...but I know I'm who I am today...

...because I knew you...

...like a comet pulled from orbit...

...as it passes a sun...

...like a stream that meets a boulder...

...halfway through the wood...

...who can say if I've been changed for the better...

...but because I knew you...

...I have been changed...

...for good.

Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.

Glinda

7 hours, 36 minutes...

2007-04-19T11:17:00.000-05:00

We're gonna rock it tonight,
We're gonna jazz it up and have us a ball!

The minutes seem like hours,
The hours go so slowly,
And still the sky is light . . .
Oh moon, grow bright,
And make this endless day endless night!

Seal my fate tonight
I hate to have to cut the fun short
But the joke's wearing thin
Let the audience in
Let my opera begin!!!!

beauty in the changing seasons...

2007-04-16T14:28:00.000-05:00

This song makes me smile this week:)

At times life is wicked and I just can't see the light

A silver lining sometimes isn't enough

To make some wrongs seem right

Whatever life brings

I've been through everything

And now I'm on my knees again

But I know I must go on

Although I hurt I must be strong

Because inside I know that

Many feel this way

Children, don't stop dancing

Believe you can fly away

Away

At times life's unfair and you know it's plain to see

Hey, God, I know I'm just a dot in this world

Have you forgot about me?

Whatever life brings

I've been through everything

And now I'm on my knees again

But I know I must go on

Although I hurt I must be strong

Because inside I know that

Many feel this way

Children, don't stop dancing

Believe you can fly away

Away

Am I hiding in the shadows?

Forget the pain and forget the sorrows

Am I hiding in the shadows?

Are we hiding in the shadows?

It seems right:)

Sassie

age to age, and heart to heart

2007-04-13T09:55:00.000-05:00

Well this past week has been a bumpy ride. Monday started daily rehearsals...it went...not so well. Tuesday was a little better...ish. Wednesday, we were almost performance ready. It was amazing how well we pulled together. It seems like every time we do One, we get better and better.

Then after being there late into Wednesday night, we left, woke up 8 hours later to go BACK for morning class on Thursday. It was actually the funnest morning class EVER! There was just 9 or 10 of us...everyone else decided to sleep in and come in the afternoon. So we did cartwheels and worked on acrobatics for Seize the Day, and then taught One to Haidyn and Ryan. It was alot of fun. Afternoon class was kind of boring. There's something very strange going on in CSDC right now. It doesn't all fit together. It needs to be dealt with soon. *shakes head* we really do need a t-shirt that says "Keep the drama onstage."

So now we have 2 days of rest before our second week of daily rehearsals.

*EDIT: oh, I almost forgot: YAAAAAAYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!

Until next time,

Sassie

"Will you need a blue sky holiday?
The point is they laugh at what you say
And I don't need no carryin' on"

Why?

2007-04-07T13:34:00.000-05:00

Appropriate, yes?

Why did it have to be a friend
Who chose to betray the Lord?
Why did he use a kiss to show them?
That's not what a kiss is for

Only a friend can betray a friend
A stranger has nothing to gain
And only a friend comes close enough
To ever cause so much pain

And why did there have to be thorny
Crown pressed upon His head?
It should have been the royal one
Made of jewels and gold instead

It had to be a crown of thorns
Because in this life that we live
For all who seek to love
A thorn is all the world has to give

And why did it have to be
A heavy cross He was made to bare?
And why did they nail His feet and hands?
His love would have held Him there

It was a cross for on a cross
A thief was supposed to pay
And Jesus had come into the world
To steal every heart away

Yes, Jesus had come into the world
To steal every heart away

--Why?, Michael Card

I think a face is dawning

2007-04-04T11:15:00.000-05:00

I am so unbelievably tired. CJ, Beth, and I stayed up ALL night, because sis had another EEG this morning, and it was supposed to test her brain waves when they're excited...or something like that. So she wasn't allowed to sleep before the test. So we stayed up all night, ate a ton of junk food (seriously, there's a mountian load), and watched Season 2 of House. Aubrey stayed for part of it, but left around 11 or so. When I FINALLY couldn't keep my eyes open even if my life depended on it, I went upstairs to my room, and slept harder than I think I ever have. I got a good 3 1/2 hours in though (5:00-8:30). So I then had to get up and do math and literature. *starts singing It's a Hard Knock Life* So now that I'm done writing my draft for my paper, I'll probably go sleep for a long time.

Confession: (I know this is kind of late in coming, but I'm gonna say it anyway.) I still cannot believe that I'm playing Glinda. Way before Wicked was even an apple in Steven Schwartz's eye, Glinda was my hero, and Wizard of Oz was my best friend. Several months ago, when I first found out, after my initial scream, I almost couldn't breathe, trying to make sure I didn't wake up and ruin it all. It was too good. Too perfect. So, now that I've rehearsed it countless times with one of my dearest friends (who I can't imagine doing it without, and am so blessed to be doing it with), and I know it's real, not a day goes by when I don't thank God countless times for it.

Okay, enough of that. :)

Until a couple nights ago, I guess I had forgotten exactly how much I loved Fiddler on the Roof...and exactly how much the second half makes me cry. It's such a beautiful story, and a sad one. My favorite character has always been Motel. :) My sisters and mother will holler when I say this, but I honestly still can't watch Fruma Sarah rise from the grave. I look away momentarily and look back when she's already singing to Tevye. When I was younger, I would shriek and run from the room all the way upstairs during the dream scene. I am THAT good.

Sleep is a wonderful thing, and I'm going to go take advantage of it.

Love yall! *muuaaaahhh*

Sassie

"Once I was happily content to be
As I was, where I was,
Close to the people who are close to me,
Here in the home I love"

it's so wonderful as memories continue to grow into beautiful things...

2007-03-30T16:24:00.000-05:00

Today, it has been exactly one year since the Radio Show opened. I can't believe it. So much has happened since then, yet it only seems like a few months ago. I still remember sitting there on the first day of class, talking about 1940's actors and actresses, red lipstick, high heels, short hair (Daniel was crushed), etc. I remember--like it was yesterday--opening our show with Candy Matson. I remember closing our show and feeling numb and lightheaded. I remember the Awards Ceremony, then going to India's house with some of the other girls. I remember the DVD premiere, watching the behind-the-scenes clips, taking pictures, saying goodbye to people. Those were good times. Why does it seem like it just happened? So much has changed, including me. I'm not the same person I was then. What happened then had its ups and downs--sometimes the downs outnumbered the ups--but it was a good experience. And it changed me. And I'm glad it happened. Every single bit of it.

Okay, sorry for this semi depressing post. And I hope that every last one of you from the Radio play looks on those memories as fondly as I do.

Sassie

"Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good"

once a day don't you wanna throw the towel in?

2007-03-25T14:05:00.000-05:00

We had a Saturday rehearsal yesterday...whew! Worked on Act 2 before lunch and then got done with Act 1 (including all costume changes!!) after lunch. It all went fairly well, by the time we started Act 1 we were already pretty tired, but it was alright. On Thursday we're gonna do all of Act 2. I can't believe that we perform in 25 days! Ahhh!!!!!!!!! But I can really see now how the play is coming together. It looks really good. Daily rehearsals start soon--exciting, long, stressful, hilarious, tiring, hot, wonderful daily rehearsals. Wow.

Sarah left early on Saturday morning:'( it was really really great to see her. I hope to be going to Hawaii sometime this year. We had a really fun time while she was here.

I really like ensemble. It's alot of fun. I think we should do We Are Standing in His Presence a cappella in 3 part harmony for the Conservatory Showcase. It sounds really pretty.

Speaking of the Conservatory showcase, I'm probably gonna tell my piano teacher I won't be able to sing for it. I have so much to do! I'm playing "Toccata Et Fugue" by Bach, I'm accompanying 4 people (and half the stuff I don't know yet), doing Seize the Day and One for drama, and ensemble. That might be all I can handle. But we'll see.

I love yall! *muah*

Sassie

"People need the cover of another perfect wonder
Where it's all white as snow
Privately divided by a work so undecided
And there's nowhere to go"

so I lay my head back down

2007-03-20T19:40:00.000-05:00

Sarah is here!!!!!!! We're having so much fun! Last night me and Sarah and Beth spent hours talking about memories from Hawaii 6 years ago. Later I'll post pictures.

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT: We officially have a CSDC BlogSpot: http://www.somethingappealing.blogspot.com/ so check it out and leave a comment if you want. We're still tweaking it a bit, though.

Drama on Thursday...Sarah's going to come and see what we do each week! Fun stuff! We're going to rehearse For Good again! Ahhhhhhh!!!!!!

And we watched A Walk to Remember today. Always a favorite.

Okay, well we're going to watch The Devil Wears Prada now.

Much love! *muah*

Sassie

"It's gonna be love
It's gonna be great
It's gonna be more than I can take
It's gonna be free
It's gonna be real
It's gonna be everything I feel"

Ignorance is bliss--cherish it

2007-03-14T19:24:00.000-05:00

I stayed home from Bible study tonight because I got my bottom braces on this morning and now my mouth hurts obscenely. At least I don't have drama tomorrow, so I can sleep in! That is a wonderful thing.

Lost is getting a little too ridiculous for me. I still watch it, just to see what's going to happen, but it's certainly lost the flame it had during the first season. Now it's all about House, The Office, and Ugly Betty. Also, I'm completely tired of American Idol. Not nearly as exciting as it used to be.

I'm reading the Diary of Anne Frank. It's incredible.

As the ticker at the top of my blog states, the musical revue is in little over a month. It's getting really close! Ahhhh!!!

Perhaps I should go watch House.

Or Wizard of Oz.

Love yall!

Sassie

"Masquerade
Paper faces on parade
Masquerade
Hide your face so the
World will never find you"

and just to clear the air...

2007-03-08T21:49:00.000-06:00

*ddeeeeeeep sigh* Ahhhhh. Rehearsal today was good...long, tiring, hot...but very good. :)

We're working on Act 2 now, from the end backwards, so we got to scene 10 which happens to be For Good. It went pretty well I'd say:) Nicole sounds A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"One" is so much fun!

Scott and I have a great idea for the Conservatory Showcase: The highschoolers are doing Seize the Day from Newsies, and One from A Chorus Line. So we mesh the end of Seize the Day with the beginning of One, like so: "...one for all and all for One...singular sensation, every little step she takes..." Most Definitely.

Okay, going to get my much needed sleep.

Good night!

Sassie

"Sometimes people leave you
Halfway through the wood
Others may deceive you
You decide what's good"

wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles...

2007-03-03T20:44:00.000-06:00

I love Fiddler on the Roof!

"I'd rather have 30 minutes of wonderful than a lifetime of nothin' special"
--Steel Magnolias

Yesterday I watched "Anne Frank: The Whole Story" an ABC miniseries from 2001. It was incredible. It made me cry. I always enjoy learning about Miep Gies.

This is the new order of my favorite shows: "Lost," "The Office," "House," "Ugly Betty," "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit"

I'm extremely disappointed. I send you out for exciting, new designer drugs, you come back with tomato sauce.

I love House oh so much.

CJ, Beth and I have recently taken up a new habit: Locking ourselves in their room and hiding from the outside world by watching our DVDs of The Office, House, random movies, and by eating yummy food that isn't necessarily bad for us (angel food cake, strawberries, apples, caramel dip, crackers, etc.). It's quite a nice passtime.

I am very tired.

And I love yall very much:)

Sassie

"But of all God's miracles, large and small
The most miraculous one of all
Is the one I thought would never be:
God has given you to me"

say it if it's worth savin' me

2007-02-26T08:49:00.000-06:00

Back from Fort Worth! Tons of fun as usual. Probably even more so since we got to see Kristen and Annie and baby Liam. I think he's a keeper.

Yesterday was great. We went to see Grandma June, where the rest of the siblings who had been at the conference met us, then we went out to lunch as a family, just the 9 kids and mom and dad...and Liam:). Then we went back to Pawpop and Grandma's house and took some good pictures, some of which I would post, if it werent' for the fact that the camera is still up in Fort Worth with the rest of the crew (only dad, nate, aubrey, tim and i came back last night).

There is a reason why Beauty and the Beast was nominated for Best Picture.

It's because it is amazing.

Now I must go get ready for my online class.

Love yall! *muah*

Sassie

"Don't try to fix me
I'm not broken
Hello, I'm the lie
Living for you so you
Can hide, don't cry"

send out the call and join the fray

2007-02-20T13:58:00.000-06:00

Aaaaannnnddd the countdown begins! 2 days, 3 hours, and approximately 15 minutes until Kristen and Liam arrive in San Antonio! I'm so excited to see Kris and meet Liam for the first time! :)

There are people who I really miss. My family in Virginia, and friends all over the US. Some of them I haven't seen in 5+ years, and some I just said goodbye to recently. The reason I'm saying this is that one of my dear friends from Hawaii who I miss extremely is coming down here in March! One of my best friends from Hawaii, Sarah, is coming down here and I am elated!

Argh! As Daniel nicely put it, there is a fine line between being tough and being stupid. I was pretty much on the side of stupid all of Saturday at rehearsal. I thought I could just down a bunch of aspirin and my knee would be fine all day. Too bad we started with square dancing in Farmer and the Cowman. My knee was seriously burning all day. I thought I did a pretty good job hiding it until I heard Mrs. Miller say "Why does Shelley look like she's limping?" And that was the end of that. I had to wear a knee brace the rest of the day. Good gosh that thing was annoying! But I'm not letting this get in the way of the musical. End of story.

The Wholehearted Mother's conference is this weekend. That's why Kristen is coming down here. So I have to play the piano at church on Sunday. And Dad's gonna take us up to Houston to the conference to see Annie! If we're lucky, mom and dad will be able to take all 9 of us out to either lunch or dinner while we're up there. Funny, isn't it, that what we think of as a 'small family' really amounts to 11 people. :)

See yall later! *muah*

Sassie

"When you got a hundred voices singin'
Who can hear a lousy whistle blow?"

to those who'd ground me, take a message back from me

2007-02-16T15:21:00.000-06:00

Okay so here's what I have decided: Phantom of the Opera is still my all-time favorite movie. But Wicked has overtaken it as my favorite musical. Fair enough? Good.

How was everyone's Valentine's day?

Another Saturday rehearsal tomorrow.

Hopefully it will go well.

Nicole and I worked on "For Good" yesterday and I must say, it's coming along. We're getting our harmonies/parts straightened out. I love that song!!!!!!!!! And I love Nicole!!!!!!!!!!

I totally forgot almost all the choreography for One. We need to go over it again. It's so cool though!

I miss Ronald and Reagan. Their birthday was on Sunday.

Okay so CJ has me hooked on "The Office." That show is hysterical. I love it. "We think he wrote a character based on Dwight, then changed the name by search and retrieve, leaving behind one 'Dwigt.' "

Okay I'm going to watch Ugly Betty now (another show I have fallen in love with).

Love yall! *muah*

Sassie

"So if you care to find me
Look to the western sky
As someone told me lately
Everyone deserves the chance to fly"

one smile and suddenly nobody else will do

2007-02-11T21:51:00.000-06:00

So pretty much everyone at my house is sick. It's pretty dumb.

Saturday rehearsal was yesterday.

Let's not go there.

Friday was CJ's 20th birthday, and tomorrow is Abby's birthday, and we celebrated them both tonight. Since almost everyone was too sick to do anything, the task fell to me and dad to make the chicken puffs and fruit salad. We're awesome. Yay for Season 2 of The Office for sis!

I'm really really really excited!!!!!!!!! My grandparents are going to see Wicked somtime end of april/early may in Dallas, and I might go with them!!!!! Yay!!!!

!!!!!!

"Sometimes people leave you halfway through the wood. Others may deceive you--you decide what's good."

Tomorrow will be a lazy day. No one feels good.

My wrists have been giving me heck (well, more than usual) for the past few days...on Thursday at drama we were moving chairs and I guess I twisted it the wrong way and it's been burning ever since.

I get braces for Valentine's day. ......fun stuff.

Into the Woods is such a great play...because of all the implication it has for the world we live in. "Careful the things you say, children will listen. Children may not obey but children will see and learn."
"Into the woods you go again, you have to every now and then, into the woods, no telling when, be ready for the journey."

Priceless. Stephen Sondheim is a genius.

I'm going to sleep for a million years now.

Good night.

Sassie

"Careful the wish you make
Wishes are children
Careful the path they take
Wishes come true
Not free"

careful the tale you tell, that is the spell

2007-02-05T21:12:00.000-06:00

Yeah so I stumbled across this on the internet...thought it looked cool, so post your personal answers in a comment and let's see what we get:)

1. Who are you?

2. Are we friends?

3. When and how did we meet?

4. Give me a nickname and explain why you picked it.

5. Describe me in one word.

6. What was your first impression?

7. Do you still think that way about me now?

8. What reminds you of me?

9. If you could make me a T-shirt, what would it say?

10. If you could give me anything what would it be?

11. How well do you know me?

12. When's the last time you saw me?

13. Ever wanted to tell me something but couldn't?

Sassie

"Cause you'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
From this day on
Now and forever more"

I saw an educated girl give her hair a twirl

2007-02-01T19:23:00.000-06:00

Today was a loooong day! Wow! First acting class, then trying on costumes (I'll elaborate on it further in a moment), then helping Scott with elementary class (I love them!!!), then piano lesson, then trying on more costumes, then production class, then halfway through production class we tried on more costumes, then finished production class, then tried on MORE costumes, then auditioned for ensemble, then talked about ensemble, then came home.

COSTUMES!!!!!!!!! Mrs. Miller showed me my Glinda dress...............OH.......MY............GOSH!!!! It's Becca's old prom dress...very pink...very frilly....there has to be at least 12 layers of tule on the skirt. There'll be a few minor alterations...but it's my dress!!! And I have a really cool 'formal wear' dress, I just don't like the jacket. And we picked out costumes for Ragtime, Tradition, and Farmer and the Cowman. Let's not go there....lol. PT was making fun of my headscarf...he's mean like that lol j/k.

ENSEMBLE!!!!!!! Mr. Boykin is doing an ensemble thing and so a bunch of us auditioned and we all made it through lol. It's gonna be really fun. Supposedly, I'll be singing and playing the piano. Both of which I like. It'll be uber fun, if my parents agree.

And I'm accompanying 3 people for the Conservatory Showcase in May. The only accompanying I've ever done is at church.

One more module and I'm done with science!! No more biology! Excitement!

Over the course of the entire day, I stayed in the fellowship room for a grand total of approximately 10 minutes. That's how busy I was. But I like to be busy, especially when my blood sugar might crash at any minute...since the only thing I ate till I got home was a piece of toast:)

I'm going to catch up on school. Fun fun.

Love yall!

Sassie

"When you stomp your feet
You aren't hurtin' me
But you're always killing something
Just by living on the earth"

let's waste time chasing cars

2007-01-29T21:36:00.000-06:00

I just watched Miss America w/ Aubrey, Sis, and Beth. It was pretty retarded...Miss Hawaii was the best and only made it to the top 10. And Miss Texas came in 2nd place. It was kind of an off year...most of the girls looked deformed or something...well, they're all starved anyway...it makes sense.

Went to see Christos Soter play at the Lighthouse Cafe on Saturday night...dude...they rocked the house! It was jam packed! The performance was uber good. I'm so proud of all of them. :)

I feel sick...since it was Miss America, we felt the need to pig out on oatmeal raisin cookies.....not a good idea.

I got an 83 on my science test...I thought I was pretty prepared.

I guess I wasn't quite.

I decided that we should write "It's Your Fault/The Last Midnight" from Into the Woods into the musical revue.

Ha.

So I start my first piano student sometime at the end of february/beginning of march. I'm excited and a little nervous...I've never taught anyone before. I don't know how good I'll be, but I'll give it my best shot.

I've been acting crazy/weird all day.

Okay, a little more than usual.

I listened to all of Phantom of the Opera today for the first time in forever since I don't have a CD player. Knowing my history of obsessing over a movie for about 6 months then moving on to a different one, you'd think I would've gotten tired of Phantom by now.

But I haven't.

Oh, before I forget: to all of you who found yourself the owner of a practice CD for the musical, my humblest apologies.

The mulch fire is never going to burn out. I can smell it right now, from inside my house. *shakes head*

Love yall!! *muah*

Sassie

"Between the lines of fear and blame
You begin to wonder why you came"

he smiles politely back at you, you stare politely right on through

2007-01-25T17:47:00.000-06:00

:)

I'm happy right now...nothing out of the ordinary happened, it was a long day at drama, I had bands put in my mouth today, but I'm just smiling. Because I have a great life. I take it for granted most of the time. Isn't it amazing how one can suddenly realize something, and then not know why they DIDN'T think of it before?

So drama today was good...I really want to see Sweeney Todd, but I'm nervous about it! It looks really good (and I adore Angela Lansbury, one of the original cast members), but it looks REALLY creepy! Ummmm......one of our FIVE highschool guys, Jeremiah, won't be back, so we pulled Matt for some of the songs. Worked on Farmer and the Cowman and taught him everything. GET WELL, PT!!!!

The song "How to Save a Life" by The Fray is an AMAZING song!!! I can't describe what a perfect song it is.

SATURDAY NIGHT!!! LIGHTHOUSE CAFE!!! CHRISTOS SOTER!!! COFFEE AND FOOD!!! COME!!!

Taking a picture of your mirror is the most overrated thing since Halo 2.

Ummmm.....I can't think of anything else interesting!!! I'm not the most interesting person.

Time fo chicken 'n dumplin's! fo shizzle!

*mwa*

Sassie

"You can sing until there's no song left
And I can scream until the world goes deaf
For every other word left unsaid you should've took the time
To read the sign and see what it meant
In some ways everybody feels alone
So if the burden is mine then I can carry my own
If real joy comes in the morning sun
Then I'm 'a sit back and wait until the next sunrise"

they've taken their toll, these latter days...

2007-01-20T11:52:00.000-06:00

Please read the whole thing:

Cry like a mother who is delirious after her blue day of manipulating tiny arms to stop hitting, and then they smear the TV with an egg. Drool is like the sea and next you would like to sleep, but an elaborately repulsive scream shakes you and a symphony of a thousand tongues urge you, the goddess, to run, but for love you live in this heaven of frantic togetherness.
--Kristen Slaughter.

My fantastic sister Kristen wrote that a few years ago, with every word being subject to availability on our fridge--yes, that was a magnet poem. It stayed on our refrigerator much longer than anything has ever stayed IN it. But alas, it has finally disappeared, and replaced by much simpler phrases and sentences. But it will forever live on in our hearts. :)

I miss you, Kris. :)

In other news, I'm getting alot more into Indie music. Eisley, Patty Griffin, Tegan & Sarah, and now, The Ditty Bops. They make beautiful music. I looked them up on Pandora. But I still like a good amount of rock music. Nathan says I'm becoming a fan of something called "Nu-metal" because I like Disturbed. Whatever.

So long! *mwa*

Sassie

"You might find the meaning in the barrel of a rifle
If it's pointed at a bird or if it's pointed at your head"

...and when he shakes his mane we shall have spring again...

2007-01-17T11:13:00.001-06:00

I think Aslan is about to arrive--our Narnia winter is melting away. But slowly. We still have plenty of icicles. :) Take a look.

As you can see, the White Witch definitely left her mark. I just wish we got it more often:).

I think TETA people are crossing their fingers, hoping this ice will all melt in time:)

Our wood pile is encased in ice so we can't built a fire:'(

Have a wonderful winter day! *mwa*

Sassie

Wrong will be right
When Aslan comes in sight
At the sound of his roar
Sorrows will be no more
When he bares his teeth
Winter meets its death
And when he shakes his mane
We shall have spring again.
--Mr. Beaver, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

are there lilac trees in the heart of town?

2007-01-14T21:09:00.000-06:00

I got back half an hour ago from a flippin' 6 hour recording session thing. I was recording the soprano AND alto parts for the practice CDs for the musical, with Scott recording the baritone part (wonderfully, I might add). I'm pretty much gonna be hoarse all day tomorrow...hitting multiple high Gs is not my forte (no pun intended). It was fun though...we had a sort of impromptu meeting consisting of Mrs. Mitchell, Daniel, Scott, PT, and myself. Then practiced, then recorded, then took a break for an hour and worked on more songs, then recorded all over again, then fixed it, then recorded the other part, then watched Scott record his part, then talked 'till we had to leave. Apparently I sound like a chipmunk...and I'm okay with that. And Murphy's Law states that I would be fighting a cold all this time AND still have my spacers in.

I played the prelude, the offertory, and the last two hymns in church this morning...they turned out rather well.

Sam is home from the hospital. That's good news. Stupid mulch fire. I watched the Russell kids minus Sam all day Friday, w/ mom and Sis coming in off and on. They were good almost the whole time.

My spacers officially kept me up all night on Thursday and Friday they were hurting so bad. They're a little better now, though.

I saw 2 Weeks Notice. That movie rocks.

Well, yall, much love! *muah*

*EDIT: By the way, I made a new quiz, it's linked in my "Bonus Features" section. Take it cause it's fly.*

*don't ask*

Sassie

"Congratulations
Cause we've made it
All the way home
All the way home
And you know that
Till the stars fall
I'll always love you
I'll always love you."

cause I'd rather feel pain than nothing at all...

2007-01-10T17:14:00.000-06:00

What's up?

Guess what. I just got spacers put in my mouth. My orthodontist says that people say spacers are worse than braces, and my spacers don't hurt, they just feel weird. I hope that's a good sign.

My nephew Sam is sick :'( Pray for him.

Best quote on record: "Never speak if there's a risk of improving the silence." Hilarious, right? ;)

Mom ordered Into the Woods from Netflix so it should be here in a few days. Excitement. Caleb bought the original script from Barnes&Noble. It's funny.

Cristen is officially gone. For a long time. Far away. Sadness.

It helps not to think about things you wish to forget. It took me a while to figure that out. Oh well. I know now, and it's really very simple. :D

I'm in my freshman year and I just started Algebra 2. That makes me happy:)

And I've started practicing hymns on the piano a little more diligently. I should start giving lessons soon.

And that's all for now. Love yall! *hugs all around*

Sassie

"One day I'm gonna forget your name
One sweet day you're gonna drown in my lost pain"

you can't play the victim this time

2007-01-05T12:29:00.000-06:00

How's everybody's year been so far?

Mine's been weird.

On Wednesday night we threw Cristen an awesome surprise going away party. Complete with a kidnapping of her from her church...while she was singing. The party itself was a great success. And Scott is the best bodyguard ever. :) And yesterday was drama...we talked about student issues during deadtime...and stuff. Talked to Cris for a while since it was the last time I'd see her. I'm going to miss her. And I curled PT's hair for old times' sake before he cuts it. It looked pretty sweet...I used hot rollers because my curling iron broke. Oh well :) Oh yeah...and I sang "I feel pretty" from West Side Story in acting class...yikes.

Please pray for me. I really don't know how to even put it into words, but pray for me.

Talk about nostalgia...mom just got all the Psalty the Singing Songbook albums.

Love yall!!!

Sassie

"Don't cry to me, if you loved me
You would be here with me
Don't lie to me, just get your things
I've made up your mind"

be glad there's one place in the world where everybody knows your name

2007-01-01T12:47:00.000-06:00

Happy new year:) Can someone tell me why '06 went by so fast???

I think it was a good year:) Strange, but good.

Last night was the drama new years' eve party. super fun.

Now for pictures!

Lindsey was there!! That's happy. Pray for her health. And Melanie got a cute haircut:)

That's how fast Anna and Becca swing dance.

Melanie and I did an interpretive dance.

And it was fantastic.

We played Apples to Apples...and PT kept getting me lame cards >:(

Chris, Anna, and Chris:)

We could be coming after you next...Scott even has a machete:) muahahaha!

And that's all I can fit.

Current worst song of all time: "Better Than Me" by Hinder.

Catch yall later!

Sassie

"What you see's not what you get
With you there's just no measurement
No way to tell what's real from what isn't
There."

into the abyss will I run

2006-12-29T08:55:00.000-06:00

^^I'm liking Disturbed more than I used to.

So Fort Worth was fun as always. Got to see Uncle Steve, Aunt Linda, Carol, and Ali!! I haven't seen them in years. I got a pink&brown purse at the gift exchange thing...I stole it from Beth. :)

Last night we went to see Night at the Museum at The Quarry w/ people. That movie was flippin' hilarious. But I don't like The Quarry very much. It's confusing.

My grandparents are going to see Wicked.

.

I got silver eyeliner for Christmas so I was experimenting w/ makeup styles for Glinda and it was pretty cool.

So almost everyone on blogger is switching to the new version of blogger...Beta. I don't like it. Now I have to sign into blogger as "Old Blogger User."

But I'm getting a blog makeover!!!! My parents got it for me for Christmas...it's gonna be awesome...I get a really cool theme and pictures at the top, but I'm not releasing any details on it yet.

I haven't seen Emily and Michelle since Christmas Eve. *frowns* there's something wrong with this picture.

And I'm spent.

Sassie

If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
Then we'd see the day when nobody died

and so I'm offering this simple phrase

2006-12-26T09:49:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope yall had a superb holiday. I did.

I haven't posted in a while. What of it? :)

We had our California cousins come in for the holidays...Lyric, Johanna and Josiah we had already met, but not Joel and Brandi. They're all pretty awesome. :) We had a great time with them. Josiah has to be the cutest cousin I have. When pictures are on the computer I'll post some.

My cousin Johanna is so wonderful, and an amazing photographer. We went out to OP Schnabel yesterday for a Christmas Day photoshoot. When we came back we decided that wasn't quite enough so we did some pictures in the rocking chairs AND *drumroll* on top of the minivan! Yes! When I get home I'll post some of them.

And in a couple hours we're leaving for Fort Worth to see grandparents and more cousins. Ali, if you're there, then we'll have the gang back together lol! You, Beth, me, Courtney, and Caleb! *dun dun dun* those were the days lol.

I'm definitely savoring this Christmas break, knowing that the spring semester of drama will be psychotic. But I'm really excited to see how it'll all turn out. We FINALLY got through with the read-through, with many, many potholes and bumps, but it'll come together. Eventually anyways. :) But I'm extra specially upset about For Good. *sniff* Nicole can't wear Elphaba's pointed hat. *sob catches in throat* "it's suggestive of a witch." *shakes head* Oh well...I like our scene just the same:)

I should go finish getting ready to go. Love all yall!!!!!!

Sassie

"When the morning came
The bees flew down and
Wrapped themselves around me
And that's when I spoke the word
To have them trace your face
For me in pollen"

I can't stop talking for fear of listening to unwelcome sounds

2006-11-25T13:04:00.000-06:00

Do you know how it feels to have tons of people who YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW really really mad at you? I do. Almost everyone on the dc talk message boards is raving mad at me because I told them what they didn't want to hear. I've been a member there since the beginning of 2005. And when I joined, the message boards were cool. There's alot of members, and we would all just chat about random stuff, or debate theology, music, games, etc. Not so anymore. EVERYONE has to have something wrong with them that they have to share. EVERYONE MUST have something going on that they MUST tell the whole internet world about. It's sick. Partly because I used to be like that. That was back in the spring, and I left the boards for a while. I just started going back a few weeks ago, and finally, when I saw Missy's topic with a poem she had written about how she tried to kill herself and everyone hates her (she's 13!) I was fed up. I made a topic of my own, telling them all how pathetic it was. There was so much drama there! No one, especially Missy, wanted to hear that. So after words flew back and forth, I apologized because what I said was a little harsh in parts, and she says she can't forgive me, and I quote "I don't care if you frickin apologize or forgive me or any of that crap." Only 2 people are not mad at me. But that's against 5000+ members. There's even internet dating on those boards! It's pitiful! But oh well. I said all I wanted to say, and if people are mad at me, fine, but I'm not leaving. Because there are some aspects of those boards that I like.

On a different note, it was a sad day yesterday...UT lost to Texas A&M in football, and the SA Spurs lost to the Dallas Mavericks in basketball. In the same day! *sniff*

Thanksgiving was great! Played football, ate (duh), played LOTR Trivial Pursuit, played the piano for a while alternately w/ Nicole LaSalle, while Candace and Nate sang...which was really fun! We did:

A Little Fall of Rain, Les Miserables
Bring Him Home, Les Miserables
Who Am I?, Les Miserables,
I Dreamed a Dream, Les Miserables
The Phantom of the Opera, The Phantom of the Opera
Angel of Music, The Phantom of the Opera
Prima Donna, The Phantom of the Opera
The Music of the Night, The Phantom of the Opera
All I Ask of You, The Phantom of the Opera
Learn to the Lonely, The Phantom fo the Opera
For Good, Wicked
Only Hope, Switchfoot, A Walk to Remember

Then in the evening we went to the Millers' for a Thanksgiving dessert party. It was good to see my friends home from college! We had a good time there. (Hey, Scott, *rolls eyes* lol).

Then Friday Emily and Michelle came over!!!!!!!!!!!! It was so good to see them! I'll post pics later.

I might be a piano teacher! I already have one potential student, and I'm offering to teach 3-4 more. So yeah. That'll be nice. If I can manage a time to do it. Dad's suggestion was that I give up drama on Thursdays to teach then. Guess what I said.

Okay, this is a long post. So long!

Sassie

"I feel like I wouldn't like me if I met me. I feel like you wouldn't like me if you met me"

I know a way to prove what they say is quite untrue...

2006-11-23T08:26:00.000-06:00

I'm sort of copying Melanie with this post.

I am thankful for:

Trampolines

Pictures worth laughing at

Swings where pictures happen

Being dead tired and amongst friends

The fact that Becca can get Beth to swing dance

Picnic tables under which to sit when it rains

New friends

Sibling rivalry

Hightop converse

Walking, taking in God's creation, holding my niece's hand

AND, my wonderful amazing mother(for putting up with all my dramatics), my fantastic father(for smiling everywhere), Aubrey(for teaching me early on that pink never EVER matches red), Kristen(for keeping us all in line for 2 whole years), Annie(for all the times she played 'beauty shop' with me), CJ(for letting me borrow EVERYTHING of hers), Nathan(for carting me around everywhere), Beth(for giving me someone to argue and share a room with), Caleb(for playing countless rounds of LOTR Monopoly with me), and Timothy(for being a constant source of entertainment). My wonderful friends, digital cameras, being able to play the piano with bad wrists, Reese Witherspoon, Broadway, Tiffany Arbuckle Lee, Frank Peretti, computers, blogs, empadas, and the list goes on and on.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving day!!!

Sassie

"I keep these thoughts locked in my head, I'm learning how to kneel"

I was a tender reed bent in the wind

2006-11-19T13:04:00.000-06:00

^^Save this picture to your computer and put it on your blog cause it's pretty much the coolest thing ever.

Dad and the boys left for Fort Worth. Beth and I couldn't go 'cause we have these biology lab things on Monday and Tuesday.

Last night I went w/ Nate, Mel, Mr. Godsey, Lizzie, Anna, and Sarah to see Happy Feet. OH MY GOSH it was amazing!!!!!! It was intense though! Killer whales, big fishing ships trying to kill the penguins, etc. But it was really good:) Melanie's and my 'heartsong' is now "Trolley Wood" by Eisley.

On Thursdays it's times like production class when I seriously ask myself why I'm in drama, and it's times like listening to the crowd roar at A Midsummer Night's Dream when I remember why.

I got new bedding!!! I'm redoing my room 'theater' style. Lots of rich warm colors...browns, reds, purples, etc. Here's what it looks like!

My pillows are the best ever.

Sometime I'll get to the walls. I'm painting my room a shade of brown to match the rest of the colors. And I really want to go back to Target and get this really awesome Eiffel Tower lamp. :D

I really like my hair curly:)

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for being so pleasant on your trip around the sun. Next stop, Thanksgiving. Raise your eyes a little and you'll see down the road Christmas! Once we reach there it shouldn't be too far to the end of our journey, New Years' Eve. Thank you for your patience."

Sassie

"Cold is the throne of her hardened heart
No one has seen the softest part
Day after night she holds an ache
And she won't budge to show this secret place"

life's not always beautiful, but it's a beautiful ride

2006-11-17T08:10:00.000-06:00

*heaves sigh of relief*

last night was the play again.

my wrists hurt extremely. try juggling sleeping with a bad wrist curved the wrong way, playing on a terrible grand piano for 40 minutes straight doing finger exercises, dancing a promenade, and twisting and bobby-pinning hair for approximately 2 hours. all while battling tendonitis. I'm gonna start taking my napersyn again. i still have half a bottle.

My friends are amazing.

and such a source of encouragement.

If you haven't seen it, come see Midsummer the 27 and 28!

ER comes on in an hour.

:)

Love yall,

Sassie

"No one else can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten"

who can say if I've been changed for the better?

2006-11-14T11:42:00.000-06:00

God is so good. :)

I can see the Fingerprints of God when I look at you.

Today is a day of random pictures.

Me and sis always take pictures together...and they almost always come out looking...not great.

My Sam. :)

wink wink...nudge nudge...cough cough....

my sisters...thank goodness they're coming home soon

I kinda liked how Britanny's hair turned out

*sniff* I miss her

The rose I got for my birthday from Michelle and Emily:)

Mirror, mirror, on the wall....

I'm on the outside, I'm lookin' in. I can see through you, see your true colors.

A Midsummer Night's Dream performs again on Thursday @ Patriot Heights.

I cannot believe it's already almost Thanksgiving. I haven't even put a dent in Christmas shopping yet.

Beth and Caleb are making a very strange lunch. When we were younger, we played a pretend game called "Billionaire" in which Beth was the billionaire mom, and me, Caleb, and Tim were her kids. We went all out on it. Made up names, jobs, friends, hobbies, and...lunches. Usually consisting of SPAM, mashed potatoes and/or biscuits, some sort of canned fruit, baked beans and/or cranberry sauce, and some drink in wine glasses. Beth and Caleb still like to relive that sometimes...so that's what is for lunch today. Oh, and to mix it up a bit, they're adding in instant pudding. French vanilla. I don't like vanilla very much.

So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye.

Sassie

"Nighttime sharpens,
heightens each sensation
Darkness stirs and
wakes imagination
Silently the senses abandon their defenses..."

this place is so lovely

2006-11-13T08:52:00.000-06:00

Ever have one of those days where you just feel good? Just...happy? That's how I feel:) I don't feel prettier or smarter, I just feel good. I went to 2 really awesome parties over the weekend, had a good drama rehearsal last week, gonna learn a new dance this week at drama, I'm a freshman and at the end of Algebra 1, about to start Algebra 2, my parents liked my essay I wrote on the Iliad, etc. Sure, I've still got problems, like my wrists and my foot, and a bunch of other things going on, but I don't care. I just feel good today:) Someone told me on Saturday that I was the most positive person they knew. I don't know about that, but today I'm determined to be positive:). Okay, I'm gonna go do some reading and get ready for my online class.

Love yall like you wouldn't believe!

Sassie

"Bring it on; let me be made weak so I'll know the Strength of the One who's strong, bring it on!"

somethin deep inside keeps my faith alive

2006-11-11T22:36:00.000-06:00

Rachel's party was AWESOME! my wrists hurt alot cause I did a few cartwheels...that doesn't mix well with tendenitis....

I'm really sore though. and SOMEBODY knows why! ;)

Going to bed.

Sassie

"Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles."

You make me wanna be brave

2006-11-11T15:13:00.000-06:00

*sigh* I love this girl:) Went to her surprise party last night...that she showed up at early.....

It was alot of fun:D

Here's a few more pictures:

The 3 Musketeers!

Andy, Brad, and Beth...looking very enthusiastic

Nate and the birthday girl...

...showing Nicole how easy it is to take a picture:)

Passing around perfume...once Beth got control of it, Nathan smelled really nice!

Using PT as a headrest

I like Brad's hat.

And with that, we proceeded to play Balderdash upstairs, and watch Over the Hedge. It was very fun:)

And in a little while, I'm going to Rachel's birthday party:D That'll be fun, too.

All I've eaten today is two mini bagels and a snickerdoodle. I don't feel like eating though. Hm....

Much love,

Sassie

"I am the luckiest..."

where do you go when you're in love and the world knows?

2006-11-09T19:54:00.000-06:00

<< if only there was an award for best picture ever...*sigh*

Had drama today. Production class was actually nice for the first time in a while. There's still a few rough spots in the opening medley, but we'll get it down...eventually:)~ Newest music crazes: Tegan and Sara (one of their songs in on the right side of my blog, with some other songs)(Indie), Explosions in the Sky(...soundtrack...?), Tryo (Reggae), and Ben Folds (Pop rock). Tryo is special because they're a French band! I'm not kidding...all their songs are in french...it's awesome...I don't know what they're saying...that's the beauty of it. :D

I'm so excited! I can put songs on my blog! If you look at where all my links are, you'll see six little boxes and a play button for each one. It's so cool! I still need to add a few more...yeah blogger consumes me;)

I guess I should go do some history reading.

Love all yall!

Sassie

"Look me in the eye and tell me you don't find me attractive
Look me in the heart and tell me you won't go
Look me in the eye and promise no love is like our love
Look me in the heart and unbreak broken it won't happen"

I wanted you to know that I love the way you laugh...

2006-11-07T13:15:00.000-06:00

They both only look slightly awkward

My boys Ryan and Nathaniel:)

Yeah I'm getting killed for this one....

The best pic of Anna ever

I do believe in fairies!!!

All hail Titania, Queen of the Fairies

Kill the scholar!

This is such a good picture! It's so creepy yet awesome. Yes?

Yeah, they made a man out of Sally.

Yay it let me fit more than 6 this time! Saweet! Okay, I must go write a rough draft for a paper.

Much love,

Sassie

"I wanna hold you high and steal your pain away..."

I found the photo of the friend that I was looking for

2006-11-06T16:30:00.000-06:00

Just look at them with their oh-so-special cellphones...but I still love them :D

Daniel likes to make me cry...

...or he likes to spray my hair pink...

...or both.

Ah Melanie.....

Yes, you are, in fact, wearing glitter.

Alas, that's all blogger will let me fit on right now...it usually lets me fit ten. Ah well. Stick around, you'll see plenty more:)

Alright, now for Bisquick pancakes! w00t!

Sassie

"Life is a highway, I'm gonna ride it all night long"

I thought that you'd want what I want...sorry, my dear

2006-11-04T13:53:00.000-06:00

A Midsummer Night's Dream was last night. It was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!
I don't know why, but my name was on the front of the program along with Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Ripps, and Mr. Lamphier. I was credited as 'hair and makeup.' Yeah um I did the little kids' hair and helped the high schoolers a little bit and applied some glitter. I did hardly any makeup. But doing all the kids hair turned out to be really stressful. I guess I should be able to be in more than one place at a time.
"Mrs Ripps, I can't curl my own hair!"
"Well where's Shelley???? She's supposed to do it!"
"I'm helping Melanie with her glitter!!!!!"

"Shelley's supposed to be doing Claire's hair! We're running out of time!"
"I'm still working on Britney's hair! It takes a long time!"

And so forth. I don't like people yelling at me. And alot of people were yelling at me. But that's what I get for volunteering :). I ran around alot, thus causing my fashitis ridden foot to hurt extremely.
After the play was over I helped take down the makeup/hair room. That took a while. I'm not a good organizer so all the hair stuff was all over the place. Someday I'm going to ask if I can just go into the shed and catalogue it all. That would make things so much simpler. I never realized during the Radio play what the hair people have to deal with.

But it wasn't all bad. Haha Daniel sprayed all my hair pink with the colored hairspray. That was pretty funny. Then we went to TGI Fridays because we're all sick of IHOP. Then Beth and I went to Melanie's house and spent the night...then CJ brought us home.

I love my friends. Oh so much. I hope they know that. I know for a fact that I got really snappy last night. I don't like that. I'm sorry.

Pictures soon to follow.

I love you guys like crazy,

Sassie

"What fools these mortals be!"

and when I close my eyes you'll be right by my side...

2006-11-02T18:08:00.000-06:00

I feel like crying I'm so tired. And too tired to eat. Seriously. I've never been this worn out from a day at drama. But I feel somewhat accomplished. Got alot of people's hair done. The actors in the one act are drop dead awesome. Much love,

Sassie

"Dance, dance, wherever you may be
I am the Lord of the dance, said He
And I'll lead you all wherever you may be
And I'll lead you all in the dance, said He"