Junior Year - the year of high school when everyone starts frantically worrying over SAT scores, searching for colleges, and adding up enough volunteer hours to look impressive on a college transcript. But myths surrounding 11th grade have reached my ears several times, most of them usually being something about how it's the hardest year of high school and how a ton of work is going to be piled on top of us...until we suffocate? I've only had two days of school, but so far, I haven't been very intimidated, despite my Honors English teacher's attempt to do so (at least it seemed like it anyway). Sure, I'm nervous for the SATs and hoping to achieve good grades and get into a reputable college, but is junior year really that difficult? Is it all it's cracked-up to be?
August 2007 Archives
Although it took about three days to finally get my body clock back on track after returning from China, the jet lag was worth it.
Seven is a powerful number.
It's the number of horcruxes Voldemort transferred his soul into, as well as the number of books in the "Harry Potter" series. It's also probably the number of houses author J.K. Rowling owns after "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" sold 72 million copies worldwide on its release weekend.
Do other schools serve breakfast in the morning? It is helpful when you don't have enough time at home. Because, really, who feels like waking up at 5 to eat a full breakfast?
Yet another academic prep, another blog post. What do you guys think of the new school year? Is it better? Do you have the best tan? Has your school gotten a bunch of stupid rules like mine? I want to know how bad it really is here at Central. I'm listening.
Which school year's the hardest?
One of the only reasons I was excited for school to start this year was for the opportunity to be editor-in-chief of the Rocket Star, our school paper (the other reason...I'm a senior!!! haha). I don't think that I'll be able to change the way everyone writes, but I'd really like to try to help improve our stories, as well as my own. One of our biggest problems (well, at least one of my biggest problems) is trying to get a decent interview...
Right now I am sitting in "academic prep." It's just one of the latest and greatest ideas from the Central York High School administration. Every year we get more rules, and quite frankly, I am tired of it. Academic prep is the new version of study hall...but we must stay in the class we are in for that day. So if I have nothing to do in this class (which I do not, hence why I am writing this) I can't go to another class that I actually have work for. If I don't have anything to work on it becomes an "SSR" period. Third grade, please?
Along with academic prep, sophomores can now drive to school.
You know what? Straightening hair takes a long time. Girls take time out of their day to make their hair look good. We take time putting on makeup. And shaving. And pulling ourselves together. So all you guys out there, you should be grateful that we don't come to school with hairy legs, bedhead, and puffy blotchy faces.
And you're just part of the reason we want to look good. We do this to make ourselves feel better.
So there. I just had to say that.
Oh, and I shouldn't speak in behalf for all females, as some of us could care less about our appearance...and those of us who do care have days where we don't either.
So, school starts in a few days. Am I excited?
As the summer of 2007 ends, here is a list of the most popular and successful songs of the summer. The list is based on music posted in Billboard magazine, songs frequently heard on the radio, friends, and clubs like H20 (in ocean city Maryland) and vertigo in York.
How is everyone doing? Tell me about your first day back to school! [If you went back today.]
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales resigned today, effective the 17th of September. Some believe he was the only person keeping the White House from being investigated. This should be interesting to say the least. Your thoughts?
Who's going for the TT thing?
Not that anyone cares, but I can't make it, so I'd like to see what people I would have had to deal with. Kidding!
I did not know that my ankles were capable of producing this much pain. I stood for about 7 hours straight on my job, and they hurt like you would not believe. This old guy tipped me about $15 for talking to him and making him a special pizza, and this new girl walks in and takes it. I was mad. So, I made about $4 in tips. This girl apparently doesn't like me. But I don't know why. I don't even know her name! She just gave me this awful look. I'm not talking a "Hey, I don't like you." look. I'm talking about a "Go die." look. Not even kidding. Maybe she thinks she knows me or something. Whatever. I skinned my knuckles against a pizza pan...I burned my other hand against a cinnamon bun tray...and I made pizza for about 5 hours altogether.
Ever since I can remember, the start of school has been a big deal. When I was in elementary school, I anticipated the day that I got to go school shopping and buy all my supplies from black composition books to markers to "trapper keepers". When I started high school, I planned my outfits weeks in advance right down to the shoes I planned to wear and the purse I planned to carry. But, this year, I've done very little planning and preparation.
I can't shut my eyes.
Thunderstorms at 1:30 am are exciting.
I can't say I have any fondness for the store. But I have a feeling that the big brown wall at the Galleria (across from Ruby Tuesday's) is going to be a Hollister Co. Ok, random, I know.
I don't usually agree with Mike Argento. But I do now.
"People care a lot more about dogs than they care about human beings. I'm not making an accusation just an observation."
I guess it makes me wonder when a news story about a cat being killed comes along (or something of that nature) and people get really upset about it. Then reports come in about 200 people being killed in Iraq and they don't seem to think it's a big deal.
Like Mike said, just an observation, not an accusation.
I got my transferable work permit and I got my Zune! I was supposed to get the Zune about 2 weeks from now. I am very pleased. It's pretty!
Thank you all so much for the music reccomendations! I saved all of them in a Word document and I'm gonna get some of everything!
I always wanted to know what was underneath all that make-up.
Where did it go?
I'm feeling like Peter Pan right now. I don't want to grow up...only to deal with jobs, and money. I'm working on my 'big deal' main article on student debt...so I am drowning in words like 'mortgages' 'credit rating' and 'credit to debt ratio.' I just want to fly away to never-never-land.
I won't grow up.
Not a penny will I pinch.
I will never grow a mustache,
Or a fraction of an inch.
'Cause growing up is awfuller
Than all the awful things that ever were.
I'll never grow up, never grow up, never grow up,
No sir,
Not I,
Not me,
So there!
I'm trying to expand my musical horizons! Even if it's an old band I might not have heard of, or a country song you absolutely love. I'm willing to try anything.
I recently read a documentary on punk, and I found so many new bands. [They were actually old bands, but hey, they're new for me!] Now I have to wonder what else is out there that I'm missing!
Do you have any suggestions?
Dinner: Impossible is very addicting.
I started school today, which seems to be pretty early. I can't believe my summer is over already!
When does everyone else go back?
I love a man from California
He's the prettiest thing we got the same disorder
They're short little quizzes that are, at times, a little predictable. I could spend hours on this site. Haha.
I'm in a bad mood. I feel restless, sad, angry, depressed. All the chocolate in the world isn't helping. Seeing as how we're all human...everyone can relate. So, I need some help. Got any suggestions to get me out of this funk? (Like...happy songs?)
My brother finally got a new music subscription service [Yahoo! Music] and I decided to look through his songs when he was finished downloading. I clicked on "The Kill" by 30 Seconds To Mars. All of a sudden, I heard-"No! Don't put that song on. If you put it on, I'll never turn it off!" I laughed at him, but then I realized, I'm the same way with Paramore's "Misery Business." It's like, after the first few seconds of the song, I can't stop listening. If I turn it off, I wind up singing it. So I've decided to post these music videos, and see if I can pass along the addiction. It's nice of me, isn't it? But maybe you're immune.
Make a wish!
Returning things is a pain. The other day I went shopping, and ... needless to say suffered from impulse buying. So there I am, walking around the mall, admiring my clothes, when I realize I don't want them.
Everything is coming together. My music, my art, my writing... I finally think I know what I want to go to college for. I feel like I'm finally becoming myself and who I've always wanted to be. I'm at a point where I can say I'm proud of myself and I love who I am. That's a big deal, for me. I'm not saying I'm perfect. But I can honestly look inside myself [and outside] and say that I'm comfortable. I wouldn't change anything about myself. The flaws make everything else all the better and more beautiful.
I feel like one of those thousand-piece jigsaw puzzles, and a bunch of pieces just fell into place.
Does anyone else feel like you just found some more pieces to your puzzle?
I just ordered a Zune. It's kind of my late-birthday present to me. I hope it's worth it because that thing was expensive, even on Amazon. My parents always joke about how cheap I am. I hate spending large amounts of money on anything. I know that $206 is a pretty good price for a 30G MP3 player, but it still was a major hit to my bank account. It practically has a black eye.
It's been raining almost non-stop for the past 3 days. I love it. Does anyone else love rain? The pitter-pattering on the roof, the smell when you walk out your front door or open a window. I especially enjoy the feel of rain on my skin. I'm such a sucker for running outside and dancing in the rain. I look like an idiot, but hey, it's fun!
So, I think I have a job. Infinito's. I guess that's not a bad place to start working at. The manager seemed really impressed by my application. I can't seem to figure out why. He loved the fact that I was homeschooled and that I included personal references since I didn't have job references. I thought that was kind of common sense...I'm going on Thursday to talk to other manager. I hope he likes my application as much as the other guy did.
What is art? I believe art to be everywhere. Just like the answer to an open-ended question, art can be an endless amount of things and ideas. Art can be found in music, outfits, landscapes, and museums.
Or on your skin.
So sorry for the delay, folks. Here's the best pics from our water-balloon battle at the August teen meeting.
Because this is so important....
Video by Bright Eyes...aka Conor Oberst
I'm a city girl. The claustrophobic atmosphere allows me to breathe. Busy streets with neon signs, giving light way after the sun goes down, feeds me. I feel alive and wired. Cities are condensed. They are life's snowglobes...every aspect of humanity is scaled down into bite-sized pieces. Race is blended there. You can hear six different languages babbling in the background. That is the soundtrack to my life. The shopping, the restaurants, the nightlife...these are my necesities.
But I'm dying...I don't live in the city. Without these needs, I feel restless and bored. Day trips to Baltimore keep me going. When I move out, I'm city-bound.
Where do you want to live?
I am currently in upstate New York, in the small city of Oswego. My two cousins, my aunt, and my grandparents are all living here, and it couldn’t be more fun. We take drives around the neighborhood, stop by people’s houses and play games.
I'm not sure if anyone remembers this, but at the beginning of this summer I got a tadpole for the pond in my backyard. He seemed pretty happy there, and as the summer progressed his legs grew and his tail shrunk. A few weeks ago he had all four legs, so we put a rock in so he could sit on it and breathe air. But now he's gone missing!
"UNDERCLASS HERO": ***(2) out of *****(5)
After feeling the effects of bad record sales of the album "Chuck", being considered posers, and losing lead guitarist David Baksh, the canadian trio return with their softest album to date while hoping to gain back the fans that they lost.
Shop for shoes in the afternoon. Your feet are at their longest.
Weeird.
Central just sent me my schedule for junior year. They never get it right!
Originally published in "Showcase!"
My first review of a foreign film!!
“Pan's Labyrinth” is a maze of fantasy and real life
4 ½ stars
"PAPER WALLS" : *** (3) out of ***** (5)
The pop-punk band out of Florida returns with their third major label record.
I'm drawing a blank. I want to write something really interesting, funny, etc...but I'm too tired. So I'm just going to say hi. Hi! Yeah, I've got nothing. How's this for a waste of space?
Cheddar cheese.
Its versatility has made it a staple of entertaining. It can be eaten plain, cubed and served with crackers, paired with wine, melted onto appetizers, mixed into dips . . . well, you get the picture.
With so many varieties in the dairy case, sometimes it’s hard to know if you’re choosing a true crowd-pleaser.
After three straight days of field hockey practice 8-3, I felt very motivated to write about what we do most...run!
From Flight of the Conchords. Check the show out. On HBO. Muy comico.
Does anyone have a book that, when they read it for the first time, they are absolutely in love with? You always remember to include it under "favorite books" on your myspace and facebook, and are quick to suggest it to fellow readers. But have you ever reread it and found that it wasn't quite as good, or anywhere close to as good, as the first time you read it?
JEN! Where are the pictures from the balloon fight?? Post themmm!!
What creepy concoctions do you eat?
1. Make a puppet. If you baby-sit young children, let them make their own and then stage a puppet show.
What was your weirdest dream?
I've never been able to pull and all-nighter. Coke and coffee don't do much to me and evetually I just get really tired. Although tonight Lily is doing a pretty good job (I'm having a great time though!) How do you guys pull all-nighters? Doesn't matter if it's for homework or for fun.
What is the oldest expiration date you've been so lucky to witness?
My mom and I went through medication and they were as old as I was! So like, ten years expired then. Eugh.
I haven't gotten around to using my Blockbuster giftcard(s).
And so I call upon anyone with enough energy to answer my question.
What should I buy? (And none of the candy!)
What's your favorite "thing?" Mine is my camera...a Canon Digital Rebel XT DSLR. I love taking pictures and just observing.
Do you floss before or after you brush?
Or do you floss at all? No? I can see a dentist somewhere shaking his fist at you.
I like having water balloon fights. *evil grin*
You've never seen a cooking show like this before.
Ok, so I'm pretty sure everyone knows who they are, especially those of you who go to Suburban. Anyway, along with all their bad grammar and hate, they say that America is doomed. If America is doomed then why are they still living here?! I bring this subject up because they were advocating a protest of U.S. Army Spc. Zachary R. Clouser's funeral today. Here's the link to the YDR story. I think you all should read this.
http://www.ydr.com/newsfull/ci_6598239
One of the Phelps family members left a comment on the article, and so did I (it's pretty much what I am saying here).
Also, kudos to YDR for instantly politicizing Clouser's death with that editorial. Stuff like that will really help the war effort.
Lights! Sound! Action!
Captain Hook, an original musical based on the story of Peter Pan hits York Little Theatre's stage tonight. This show is done entirely by today's youth, ranging from the ages of a three-year-old fairy to an eighteen-year-old Smee.
Captain Hook (Blake Auburn) and Tinker Bell (Angel Harris)
This is a video of comedian Demetri Martin and his interpretation of the song 'Selfish Jean' by Travis. I thought it was a pretty clever idea!
Ann Coulter makes her money by saying outrageous things that offend people. I wouldn't take what she says to heart (but it does usually envoke laughter on my part.) I think writing a column about her is just giving her the attention you don't think she derseves.
As most people know I am very into music. I sing and write lyrics for three bands in York.
42 FOR SHNOZZ (myspace.com/42forshnozz)
FROM RENDEZVOUS TO DEJA VU
5 DAYS UNTIL TOMORROW(myspace.com/fivedaysuntiltomorrowband
I write so many songs and poems, its disgusting. Sometimes I want to write a song but can not find inspiration. There are 5 songs in the whole world that can make me write songs all night.
And no, I'm not talking about the boy wizard.
In response to Brittany's article in today's paper about Ann Coulter "showing her true colors." Brittany conviently left out the fact that John Edwards called the war on terriorism "nothing more than a Bush bumper sticker." Coulter's reponse to that was that if Mr. Edwards believed that, than he deserves to be killed in a terriorst attack.
Also, the other article, you might as well include Green Day's entire American Idiot album.
Not that many of us (including me) listen to country music, but many of their songs aren't a representation of our "seemingly failed foreign policy" but actually remind us why we are fighting the war. Funny how you left those out.
If you love Jane Austen's work
If you love seeing beautiful English/Scottish countryside
If you love romance
If you love Austen's era of flowing dialogue
If you love James McAvoy...because who would deny watching Mr. Tumnus from The Chronicles of Narnia?
If you are a high schooler, chances are you probably have a stack of glossy college brochures scattered across your bedroom floor. You are trying to find the perfect place to spend the next four years of your life, and the variety of options seems never-ending.
You will need to sift through the excess in order to find that hidden gem, a treasured school that will provide you with a valuable education and prepare you for that far-off land called the real world.
But what if you didn't have to search far for the ideal college? What if you only had to look as far as your own back yard?
Forget any peer pressure about using drugs--you won't even want to talk about them in health class after seeing Requiem for a Dream, directed by Darren Aronofsky.
The whole John Edwards-Ann Coulter feud had been old news for a while. Until Coulter decided to add yet another inappropriate remark to her long list of tactless verbal pollution.
(Illustration by Samantha K. Dellinger. Click to enlarge.)
It's been said that history always repeats itself. This can also be said for elements of culture.
The 1960s were dominated by songs of protest against the Vietnam War and society's progression into a more materialistic way of life. When asked to name a song from the '60s, many teens would start to hum a tune that is accompanied by lyrics that either blatantly or subliminally criticized the nation's foreign policy or the president at the time.
Many teens see a striking similarity in the music of today.
Tomorrow morning, I'll be off to Bloomsburg University for a week of field hockey camp (during what is to be the hottest week of the summer...oh great). Therefore, tonight has been devoted to making a "Hockey Camp '07" mix for my iPod. Oh, and packing...
Eating healthy isn’t a walk in the park!
Making recent appearances on "The Today Show" and "Saturday Night Live" and being featured in many popular magazines, Maroon 5 and its most recent album have received - and will most likely keep receiving - the hype and acclaim it deserves.
Even before the full album "It Won't Be Soon Before Long" was released in May, the pop-funk debut single "Makes Me Wonder" had already topped charts and held its position as most-downloaded on iTunes.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I went to see the movie "Evan Almighty." The reviews said it wasn't a very good flick, but lead actor Steve Carell had done a wonderful job in all of his other movies and TV shows, so I decided that I needed to go see the film to decide if it truly was a flop.
I really dislike you. I want you to see this.
That's why I smashed your best silver tea set.
And those new socks are filled with dirt.
Dirt, I say. The very best kind, with worms.
Worms - from your garden! I tore that up.
It's best not to say, but I raided your fridge.
What? I was hungry. Chomp, chew, goes the mincemeat pie.
I consider myself, a garden gnome.
Your personal pest.
How do you do? No charge necessary.
I'm here to annoy you, bother you, tease you, distract you
From the fact that I'm madly in love.
In the beginning, man could detect the coming of summer by rising temperatures and lengthening days.
Fast forward to the present, and Ferris wheels and cotton candy signify the season. However, the fun does not last. Carnivals are like desert mirages: They come and go, leaving a colorful memory amidst a dreary landscape. So you have to make the most out of the festival's short life span.
I picked up the phone to hear a Greek woman from a local restaurant offering me a job.
"Have you waitressed before?" she asked.
"No," I replied, knowing I was walking into a death trap.
"Come in for training today."
Penn State is nationally, and even internationally, known for it's incredible school spirit and alumni connection. Because I grew up here in York County, I know that people literally bleed blue and white. Saturdays are often spent packing a cooler, braving the traffic, and heading up to Beaver Stadium to catch a football game. For those not able to make it up to Happy Valley, a television set is always tuned into the game. As much as I am into school spirit and the Nittany Lion, I always wondered...what else is there at Penn State? After taking part in their "Spend a Summer Day" program today, I know that The Pennsylvania State University is much more than just school spirit.
A few months ago, I was talking with a friend when he said, “I hope that global warming isn’t going to happen.”
I simply stared at him, unsure of the proper response — and so the conversation went on and I ended up saying nothing. After recounting the experience to my older sister, she promptly recommended I read Elizabeth Kolbert’s “Field Notes From a Catastrophe: Man, Nature and Climate Change.”
*Sigh* That is practically all I can do after the six weeks of nearly consecutive travel that I have endured for the better part of my summer "vacation" (if it can be called that). Four weeks in California, one week in New Jersey, four days in South Carolina -- I literally came back from one trip only to leave that same evening for the next. It's hard to believe that I've slept in my own bed only four nights in the past month and a half. Don't get me wrong, I love to travel, but there is something to be said for just relaxing in the comfort of your own home. So, after six weeks of being away, I can honestly say that I'm glad to be back in good old York.
Every summer, the United Methodist Church in Stewartstown does a musical with teens from all over the area. It is there twenty-eighth year doing a show and the experience shows. This year's show is called Children of Eden and is about creation, but not in a really religious way. I saw it last night and it was phenomenal! The talent was so strong and gave me chills at some points. I strongly recommend everyone to go see it! The website for ticket information is http://www.stewartstownumc.org/summertheatre/.
*sings* Summer work...summer work...I just LOVE summer work!
The summer's coming to an end and it's getting kind of...blah. School's going to start, and then everyone is leaving for college. I'm just feeling kind of sluggish. I need to find something to entertain myself. Maybe music could do the trick.
Anyone else feeling a little blah?
