Summer Lists

Well, today I am technically supposed to have my semester exam for this period. However, I have already finished my dual credit class, so there is nothing special about it. There is no exam to take. I have to take fifth and seventh period exams also, but I exempted the exams for those two classes, so I will be in the commons for those parts of the day. Next week, I only have to come to school and check in on Thursday, and I have first period only on wednesday. Friday we have graduation practice, then graduation. Monday we have off because of memorial day.

Nearly every summer, I have this list of songs that I want to make videos for, books that I want to read, and things that I want to do. This year, I haven't made them yet, so I decided to make them into part of the blog post. Let's go!

Summer Songs

• Summer's Not Hot by Selena Gomez
• Come and Get it by Selena Gomez
• Deathbed by Relient K
• Candlelight by Relient K
• A World Without Danger from Code Lyoko
• It's Time by Imagine Dragons
• Mamacita by Family Force Five
• Tank Top by Family Force Five
• Down at the Twist and Shout by Mary Carpenter

Summer Reading

• An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
• The Great Gatsby
• Catch 22
• The One That Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
• Doctor Who/Star Trek (A crossover series that I will have to buy online)
• Some kind of manga series that I haven't determined yet... possible fma or something. I really wish there was a Doctor Who manga series...

Not-Bummer Summer List

• Go to the beach
• Get my drivers liscense
• Make music videos
• Read books
• Make a green screen video
• Cover more songs on the ukulele
• Apply for scholarships
• Make skit/sketch videos
• Have a party
• Dye my hair red
• Spend time with Taylor
• Pre-order This Star Won't Go Out
• Watch Les Miserables (the newest movie)
• Buy one of those "50 movies for $8" sets from walmart and watch all the old, cheesy movies
• Make a short film
• Learn ASL
• Get a new SMASH book and finish the old one
• Watch both the old and new versions of The Great Gatsby
• Get books from Half Price Books
• Screen print more shirts, possibly some with the lizardbreathwalker logo on them
• Paint things
• Sew things
• Get mini business cards from Moo.com
• Get another Snow White gig
• Blog more
• Post 365 nerds vlog (on my birthday, July 29th!)
• Start a bank account
• Start actually getting payed for ads and monetized videos
• Go swimming
• Go adventuring with my friend, Sarah
• Vlog more
• Get a WIDE ANGLE LENSE (maybe)
• Modify tshirts
• Go shopping at a thrift store and modify the clothes I buy
• Make a pikachu hat (or buy one)
• Get in shape by playing Just Dance on the xbox 360
• Work on videos for the Knowledge days channel, and be ready to release them when school starts
• Get a better intro video for my youtube channel that represents what the channel is about
• Go to some sort of concert (I would go to boomin' by the bay, but it is no longer by the bay, but in houston, and I only know about one of the artists that will be there, and I don't even care for him that much)

There are probably more things that I can't currently remember but will put here eventually. I feel like some of these won't happen and some of them are bound to happen no matter what. I think I might post an update about half way through summer about how far I have gotten. I am also not going to blog as often during the summer (sorry!). I haven't figured out the schedule yet, but I'm thinking about once a week. I will be posting videos more often though, so that might be helpful. Oh, and if you have anything that you think that I should do or whatever or if you are doing something interesting this summer, feel free to leave it in the comments. Book reccomendations are highly appreciated also.

Love,
Elizabeth W.

Friday... Finally.

Today is Friday, May 3, the day before prom, 2013. I'm really excited about tomorrow, and I would love to be out of school today, doing things to get ready like many of the other girls, but I don't have the time or money to do so. I'm not getting my hair or nails professionally done because it takes too long AND costs way too much.

I only decided last night how I want to do my hair for prom, and I'm still clueless about my nails (although french tips are tempting). I made reservations for dinner before prom yesterday after school. We're eating chinese food at one of my favourite places... Jade Palace. Its a chinses food place in Humble that has some really good food at decent prices and some really sweet oriental people run the place. One of the waitresses, Sylvia, is kind of like my adoptive grandmother. Not many people go there for anything fancy, but I knew that they could seat us on such short notice. Things like Italiano's, Zio's, Olive Garden, etc. were either way too expensive or bound to be booked.

I think that tomorrow will be a really long but a really fun day. I love dancing, which makes prom really fun for me. I enjoy dressing up, but thats not really a major thing for me. I will get up early in the morning to start getting ready, take pictures, then meet everyone at a friend's house. We'll leave there and go eat, then go to prom. After prom, we'll go back to the same friend's house and stay up all night playing videogames and boardgames and talking. Fun. Nerdy fun, nonetheless, but fun.

Many people are going out and partying or drinking after prom. Personally, I think that's a really terrible idea. You don't have to be drunk or otherwise intoxicated to have a good time. Keep all of the kids from our school in your prayers, in hopes that we'll all be back at school on monday, safe and sound.

In other news, I'm currently reading a book called "Girl In Translation", by Jean Kwok. Its about a girl who comes with her mother to America from China. Its about how she had to adapt to the American school system and way of life. She and her mother work in a garment factory and live in a broken down apartment building that is due to be demolished at any date. Its a really good book that gives insight into what immigrants go through and feel like in their coming to America.

Love,
Elizabeth W.

Shopping...

Yesterday, I went shopping with my mom. We left the house at about 5:00 or so, and we didn't get back until 10:30 or so, so I didn't get to bed until roughly 11:00 or later. Needless to say, I am really tired. I almost fell asleep during a lecture in aquatic science AND while I was reading a book in economics.

The first thing that my mom and I did was go and order a boutineer. I really don't care if thats spelled wrong. My hands don't want to type today anyway. We went to one flower shop, but before we pulled into the parking lot they closed. So, we went to the other florist in town, and got there 30 minutes before closing. It ended up being the place that my date had ordered the corsage from, so they looked up his order and made sure that the color was right, and we got them to make the two items match.

The second thing that we did was go to a place called Sam Moon. Its almost like an outlet for jewelry and purses and such. I got my purse for prom. Its a really tiny silver one with sparkles all over it. I already have jewelry for prom, so I didn't have to worry about that. I did manage to get a wig for my Snow White costume though. It isn't a typical snow white hairdo, but a black wig with a bob-style hair. I bought a red bow to wear with it also, but they didn't sell just single bows, so I ended up buying a pack with like ten bows in it. I now feel obligated to wear a bow at least once a week. we looked for shoes there too (they had a shop next door with shoes) but we didn't find anything the right size that would match my dress. My mom doesn't exactly believe that my bobs match the dress perfectly. Its a floor length dress, so it doesn't matter that much.

We went to party city next. We managed to get the last snow white costume they had. The only thing was that its really short, so we bought some fabric at walmart that we are going to use to make a longer skirt. I was rather suprised that they were still selling costumes at this time of the year.

My mother and I then ate at Casa Ole in the mall before heading to walmart. There were some stops in between there, but nothing important. Most of the stores were closing up.

I am about to fall asleep while typing. Blech.

Love,
Elizabeth W.

Steel Magnolias

The other day, I watched the movie Steel Magnolias. Its about this girl who gets married, but she is diabetic. She is told she shouldn't have a kid, but does anyway. Then, her kidneys start to give out so she gets a transplant, but ends up dying anyway. Trust me , though, there is a lot more to the movie than that.

The whole moral of the story is that women are the Steel Magnolias. We're pretty like flowers, and we're supposed to be delicate. That's the way everyone thinks of us. But in times of trouble, we're the ones who are made of steel. We stand strong and keep others from falling when times get tough. As women, we are made of steel. We can stick around when the guys can't. In times of sadness especially.

Personally, I consider myself very much a steel magnolia. I have this ability to, when needed, basically turn off my emotions so that I can hold up in the situation. The thing about this is that I also have to break down sometime later, as the girl's mother did in the movie. And I think that, as women, it is important to have this trait and pass it on to other girls who are younger, so that they can stand strong when the time comes.

Today there was a car crash re-enactment at our school. I knew about it, but I was not looking forward to it because I cannot stand sad things like that. However, myself and many other girls got through it without shedding a single tear. Yes, it was sad. Yes, there is a guy dressed as the grim reaper walking around, taking kids out of class. Yes, it has had an impact on many of us. But just because we are told "you should cry", doesn't mean that we can't stand tall and... take it like a man.

Now I want to go home and watch steel magnolias again. The original one, not the new, lifetime movie one. It is such a good, and emotional movie. It was made in, like, the 80's. I have a friend named Shelby, who was named after the main character in the movie. If you haven't seen it, I suggest watching it.

Love,
Elizabeth W.

Waiting...

Today, I am simply waiting.

Waiting for lunch, so I can request a transcript and get a new library book.
Waiting for school to be over for the day so I can eat and go to practice and perform The Effect Of Gamma Rays On Man-In-The-Moon Marigolds one LAST time.
Waiting for prom.
Waiting for my first kiss.
Waiting to dress up as Snow White for $50 and the happiness of a two year old.
Waiting for senior trip.
Waiting for graduation.
Waiting to get money from relatives.
Waiting for scholarships, scholarships, and more scholarships.
Waiting for summer.
Waiting for red hair, short shorts, and tank tops every day.
Waiting for a new camera and some awesome new videos.
Waiting to get new, decent editing software.
Waiting to make money through the internet.
Waiting to become famous.
Waiting to go to college.
Waiting to direct my first movie.
Waiting for someone to ask for my autograph.
Waiting for someone to recognize me on the street.
Waiting to record my first album.
Waiting to move out of my parents' house.
Waiting to get married.

I really can't think of anything to blog about today, but at least I got that out in the open. I'm obiously waiting for many things, but with good reason. I just feel overwhelmed sometimes, with all of the things I'm waiting and hoping for. I have to just take a step back and go on with the little bit of the plan that takes place today.

If you haven't noticed already, the very last showing of The Effect Of Gamma Rays On Man-In-The-Moon Marigolds by our One Act Play group is tonight. Its a pretty good show, even if we only got alternate at region. Admission is like $3 I think, and all of the procedes go to the family of the kids in the advancing 1A One act play that got killed in a car crash right after their district contest.

The only thing that I don't like about theatre is having to wear stage makeup. It is really gross and it makes me break out. I had to wear it yesterday for pictures, and I'll have to wear it again today. Why does my face have to go through this right before prom?!

I don't have anything to say, but I want to keep typing. I guess I'll put something new on the lifescouts page. Bleh.

Love,
Elizabeth W.

PROM!

Prom is this weekend, and I am very excited.

I bought my dress about a month or two ago at this thing called the 27 dresses project. A bunch of people donated their old prom dresses and then they were sold to people like me/given away to people who needed them but couldn't pay for a prom dress. My dress was the first one you saw when you went into the little building where the shop was set up. I looked through all of the dresses, but I couldn't find anything that I really liked. I had my eye on this dress the whole time though. My mom convinced me to try it on and it fit almost perfectly. They said that a bunch of different people had tried the dress on and it didn't fit any of them. I felt like a princess when I was wearing it.

While we were in San Marcos, my mother and I visited the outlet mall and ended up going to icing. We found some jewelry and hairthings that were silver and we got them for me to wear with my dress. Dangly earrings, a choker-style necklace, and bobby pins with flowers on them.

I had been talking with my mom about getting TOMS to wear to prom (silver sparkly ones) with my dress. I showed her some online but she didn't think they would go. Yesterday we went to academy to buy some new shoes for my brother and dad. I had forgotten that they sold BOBS, the sketchers equivalent of toms that were very similar and half the price. I ended up getting some white ones that were the typical canvas shoe style, but they have this lace pattern on them. Last night I tried them on with my dress, and they look perfect. I'm looking foreward to the fact that I don't have to bring shoes to change into. I can just dance in my bobs. The cool thing about Bobs is that they donate a pair of shoes to kids in need just like toms does. Not to mention, you get a sticker and a bracelet with every pair you buy.

I'm also excited because I actually have a real date to the prom this year. Last year, I actually ended up asking the guy myself. Now I have a wonderful boyfriend that I am going with. Not to mention, we are riding to prom with my best friend, Ellen, and her date. She's dressing as the TARDIS (She found a dress online) and he's going as the doctor. I'm excited to see what this ends up looking like.

Speaking of Doctor Who, I finished the last season on netfilx this weekend. I was rather sad, but I ended up finding a place online where I can watch season 7. I still haven't gotten to the part where Clara comes in. I have a sticky note on my computer that I am using to keep track of what episode I am on and how far into the episode I am. Currently, I am in the 25th minute of season 7 episode 2. Something about dinosaurs.

My dearest spent this weekend watching Japanese anime, so we spent quite a bit of time this weekend talking about it. He says I would like Full Metal Alchemist. I may begin watching it sometime soon. I'm kind of cautious when it comes to anime because I don't know much about it and I haven't ever really watched any, unless pokemon counts as anime.

GAH! I keep obsessing over prom. Every thought seems to come back to it. I really cannot wait for it, and once its here, I will still be obsessing over it for at least a month afterwards.

I am also really looking foreward to the summer. I want to be free of this madness called "school". I also want to be able to spend more time with my dearest and working on youtube videos. I want to be able to wear shorts that are out of school dress code and spaghetti strap tops. I want graduation to be over so that I can dye my hair red and have the money to get a new camera. I want to be 18 so that I can get a paypal account and begin making money via adsense and bandcamp and whatnot.

By the way, I started a bandcamp page for my music. Right now there is only one song up, but there should be more sometime soon. I've been playing around with music recording programs and whatnot. The one on there already is one that I recorded with my phone. My bandcamp adress is lizardbreathwalker.bandcamp.com ,just so you know.

Love,
Elizabeth W.

Nerves and Coffee

Tomorrow is Region contest for One Act Play. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

I am super excited and scared and nervous and I want for us to advance. Please, keep our whole team in your prayers today, tomorrow, and saturday. We will be very nervous and anxious. This is the second time (I think) that THS has ever gone to region in One Act, so we all feel pretty special. We have been working every day almost since the last contest. We will be leaving our school at about 7 in the morning, and we perform at about 4 in the afternoon. We will be staying the night at a hotel near there. At least pray for us to do well and have safe travels.

I had coffee this morning for, like, the first time in a week, so I am really jittery and the anxiety of contest being tomorrow just kind of makes it worse. AAAAH!

I have to make sure that I check for any make-up work today, so that I won't be bombarded on monday, AND so that the teachers won't be upset about it. I already have my bags mostly packed for tomorrow, but even then I will be running around like a chicken with its head cut off tonight, trying to get everything ready and double-checking what I have to pack.

Yesterday, one act practice only lasted about an hour, so I thought I was going to have extra time to do stuff. I really didn't. Immediately after practice, we went over to my grandparents' place and worked on washing some of the dishes that were in their china cabinets in the fire. The cabinets were wood, but they were in the part of the house that didn't really burn. They are covered in soot and stuff, but they are salvagable. The cabinets are not worth anything though, because the smoke and heat has damaged the wood. Yesterday we washed the set of dishes that my mom and I chose to inherit (my grandparents had 4 boys). They are a cream color with gold-ish edges and green leaves and pink flowers on them. there are cups and plates and bowls and all kinds of things. There are at least three other sets that need to be washed, and some women from the church that my grandparents go to are supposed to come over today and work on them, because they want to help. I am amazed at how well Simple Green, which is a de-greaser, works to get the gross-ness off.

My Gold Key came in the mail the other day. Its a little gold pin that looks like a key with a circle on it that says "The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards". I put it on the collar of my letterman so that I can wear it and show it off all the time. I kind of wish that it was a necklace instead, but its still cool that I can wear it.

I'm going to go try and finish reading my book, because it just got really good. Its called "Stolen" and its by Lucy Christopher. Its about a girl who is kidnapped in England and taken to Australia. Its really good.

Love,
Elizabeth W.

Shark Dissection

Today, in aquatic science, we began dissecting sharks. This is probably one of the most disgusting things I have ever done. First of all, I really hate the smell of the preserving fluids that they put on dead things before dissections. Second, dead things gros me out. Third, it smelled REALLY REALLY bad. I'm kind of glad that I will miss the next dissection day.

Yesterday was quite upsetting. I spent some time after drama practice talking to my mom about college. I haven't gotten any scholarships yet, even though I've filled out hundreds of applications online. I'm freaking out, because I am dying to go to a university, and if I don't get enough scholarships, I will have to go to a community college and hope that I can transfer.

I think that the current system for all of that is very unfair. Just because I'm white, apparently I'm supposed to be able to pay for college on my own. Its hard to believe this is happening to me. I talked more about it in yesterday's vlog, so  I'll let you watch that if you want to hear more of my story.

I'm about to go fill out some more scholarship applications, so bye! Wish me luck!

Love,
Elizabeth W.

Catching my breath, and hoping the week rushes by...

I woke up this morning and I felt absolutely terrible. I couldn't stand up for long periods of time, my stomach hurt, the whole deal. So, I pushed through it and went to school anyway. I feel significantly better now, but I would really like to just fast forward through the rest of this week.

Today and tomorrow are the only days I will be officially at school this week. And that means that I have to worry about getting makeup work, plus I have to go to the counselor's office and get a few more scholarship applications. I have some that have due dates coming up, so I have to finish those and send them in.

Wednesday I will be at school for about half of the day, because that is the day that we will go to rehearse on the official huntsville stage. Then, on Thursday, we have contest at the huntsville stage. I will have been to huntsville three times within 5 days.

I am looking foreward to Friday and Saturday, because my mom and I are going to San Marcos to visit the college. We will leave early Friday, to get there with plenty of time, since its like four hours away. We'll spend some time taking more senior pictures and wandering around, doing whatever. That night we will stay in a hotel, and in the morning we will get up and go to the college. I'm going to bring my laptop so I can vlog on those days. I haven't really been consistent with my vlogging times, but I have managed to vlog every day in April so far. I am not sure how I will do so on Wednesday or Thursday, but I will figure something out.

I think that I want to get another SMASH book for when I start college, and do one every year from then on. Its like scrapbooking, but more free-form, so its easier. Plus, I can take it with me and work on it anytime. I was SMASHing things on the car ride yesterday, when we were on the way to the arboreum and botanical gardens to take pictures.

I think I am going to work on my SMASH book now, since I feel like it. I feel like there is something more productive I could be doing, but I don't exactly feel great.

Love,
Elizabeth W.

I really don't have anything to talk about but I'm blogging anyway...

I am currently reading a book about WW2. Its called Between Shades of Gray, and its by Ruta Sepetys. Its a really good book, but I want to hurry up and finish it. I keep getting hassled for it because the name is similar to that of a book that is well known for being not-so-nice. I keep telling people that it has nothing to do with that, but they keep picking on me for it.

I really have no clue how I can vlog today or tomorrow. I will get home at like 9 today, so I will probably vlog during or after drama pratice. I may not get to edit it. I might be able to upload it while I am eating dinner. As far as tomorrow, I am going to visit a college, then I will be taking some senior pictures in places with bluebonnets. I really don't know when I will find the time to vlog. Welll, technically the vlogging can happen any time during the day, since I will be able to have my camera with me. But, I may not be able to upload it until late at night, if at all. I've been thinking about getting up rather early and uploading a vlog before I leave, but that will be kind of difficult. I will be leaving the house at 7 or so, maybe earlier, so I don't know how early I will be able to get up. I would like to get a decent amount of sleep tonight.

Today, I may be going to see a play. My drama teacher is thinking about cutting practice short to go as a group and see "The Great Gatsby", which is the other advancing play, and our competition. Supposedly it was really good. I hope so, because I don't want to practice from 4 to 8:30.

I'm not very talkative because I haven't had coffee in a whole week. Our Keurig machine broke, and we haven't gotten the chance to get a new one yet, so I've gone without coffee since it broke. Well, I had some instant coffee on Sunday, but instant coffee is nowhere near the real thing. Hopefully we can get a new machine this weekend, so I can have coffee again. We have a normal coffee maker, but it takes too much effort and time to make coffee with it.

When I go to college, I hope I can have my own keurig coffee maker. That way I can have coffee whenever I want. I can fix it while I get ready. I will be staying in the dorms, so I hope the dorm I end  up in has two seperate bedrooms. I want to have a door that I can close to get away from my roommate if I need to. And I can keep it in my bedroom area if my roommate is mean or doesn't like coffee.

The wall beside my bed, which has been featured in several videos (look back at the ukulele covers) is covered in things that I like or think are cool. I don't know that I will take it down when I go to college, but I think I will make another in my dorm. I just think it would make a great background for vlogging and stuff.\

The other day, I created a box for things to take with me when I go to college, and every time I put something new in it I get excited. I just want to be able to have my own living area and be semi-independent.

Is it strange that I'm ready for college, but I'm not exactly ready to graduate high school? There are SOOOOO many things that I am going to miss. Chocolate chip cookies that we have at lunch. Easy classes. All my friends. And its almost a surreal thing to think that I have been working 13 years to get this far, and I've finally made it. I don't know what I'll do when I wake up the morning after graduating and think, wow, I will not step foot in that high school to go to classes for the rest of my life. I will never again have the experience of blogging in the library or sneaking into the teacher's lounge for snack during after school practices. And it makes me miss the little things, and the times long past, like playing crazy imagination games on the playground and being on teams during PE that were based on class. My first crush. Field day. Middle school dances. Prom. Pep-rallies. Singing songs together in class, or while walking down the hallway. Comments made on my pink skinny jeans or my unicorn backpack. Gosh, its almost all gone.

I do have a few things left before its over though. Senior Prom. Senior Trip. Filming a Telenovela. Checking my ranking one last time. Writing a speech (hopefully). Senior Pictures. Finishing my SMASH book. OAP contest. Aquatic Science field trip.

This life is made of so many things, and each year passes by faster and faster. I want to make the most of it.

Love,
Elizabeth W.

VEDA

Yesterday, I got home at about 8:00 and decided that I had enough time to make a vlog. Yes, I am officially participating in VEDA! I'm not sure if all of it will be vlogs, but I'm going to try. I posted the video last night at about 9:00 or so. Maybe later. I hope to get the one for today done earlier. I'm not sure how much editing I am going to do with these. I think I'll just do a small bit to take out the stupid parts, like I did with the one last night.

The thing about VEDA is that I will be talking about something different everyday, and I'm not sure that my brain can come up with that many fresh topics. I'm not sure what I'm going to talk about today even.I plan to do it on the way to One Act practice. I think that will work out quite nicely. Feel free to comment about things that would make an interesting video. I really want these things to be interesting.

I am almost done reading the new Lois Lowry book, Son. I think I may finish it tonight and get a new book tomorrow. I had hoped to have it finished so I could get a new book today, but that didn't happen. The author is doing a pretty good job of connecting everything and tying up the loose ends that were just left hanging in the end of the other three books.

Yestereday, when I went back over to the school that my parents teach at, I felt like some kind of celebrity. They showed the video that I made about the STAAR test to all the kids and teachers, and they thought it was great. The awesome thing about it is that it can be used again and again, and for multiple grade levels. When they come out with a new standardized test, I can just make another one. All of the kids kept coming up to me and saying that the video was awesome, and even some of the teachers. If you want to see it, just go to my youtube channel and it should be one of the last videos posted, and its titled "STAAR Test".

I keep thinking of things to say, but then I realize that I already said them in my vlog yesterday, so I should just let you go watch the vlog whenever you get a chance, instead of restating myself.

On one of the karaoke CDs that I have,  I was looking at the tracks, and I was surprised to find a song by an artist I discovered a couple months AFTER I bought the CD. Forever yours by Alex Day. I was like, wait... Is that the Alex Day from youtube? And, of course, it was. WHOOO.

Why are people so obsessed with british people. I love their accents, I'm not going to lie, but what makes them so special. Are there countries where people obsess over American people and think that southern accents are awesome? These are the thoughts and unanswerable questions that plague my life.

Love,
Elizabeth W.

April

I would do some crazy april fools day prank, but I'm too lazy.

So far, this month is starting off very dreary and rainy. The sky is cloudy and bleak. Yesterday it rained and hailed. I know that rain on easter sunday is normal, but hail?

When I got home after the performance on thursday, I was handed an envelope. I opened it to find a letter and a certificate. About three or four months ago I entered two of my poems into a contest. I didn't expect to win anything, but I figured it couldn't hurt to enter. In the envelope was a letter explaining that I had done very well in the contest and I had won not honorable mention, not a silver key, but a gold key. The actual award is supposed to come in the mail sometime soon. All I have for now is the certificate. I didn't win at the national level, but I did advance to that level. I think I should get some kind of cash reward, but I don't. At least I know I'm a good poet though.

A little while ago, Lois Lowry came out with a new book in The Giver series. I read The Giver when I was in like fifth grade, and it was really great. Probably about a year ago I found and read Gathering Blue and Messenger, which are the two books that continue the story. Kind of. Then, I found the new book, Son, and I began reading it on thursday night. I am about half through with it now. It is much longer than the other three books, but it is absolutely fantastic. I hope that it finishes up the story nicely and connects everything.

Auditions are today for the talent show. I am scared to death because I still haven't decided on a song. I have a CD of one that I can do just in case, but I have been wanting to do one with my Ukulele. I brought it just in case, along with my binder of music. I keep looking through it thinking that the right song will just pop out at me. My mom suggested that I do "Some Nights" by FUN, but I would have to edit the lyrics a bit. I would love to do the song "Finding Something To Do" by Hellogoodbye, but the chords are a little too complicated for me to perform without music. I thought about "Good Time" by Owl City, but I don't care for the song that much. Theres "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been" by Relient K also, but I don't feel like thats the song that I want to do. "Me Without You" by TobyMac is a good one, but I don't know all the words that well. My song on a CD is "Can You Feel It" by Family Force 5. I really don't know what I'm going to do. I want to play my ukulele, but I also want to be able to dance around on the stage, which I can't do if I play my ukulele.GRRRRRF. I guess I'll know by the time auditions start.

Love,
Elizabeth W.

Launch Date!

Okay, so first of all, I have to announce that as of today, the blog has reached over 1000 views this month! WHOOOOO! And, that means that something special is about to happen.

Yesterday I was sitting there in one of my classes and thinking about nothing in particular. And I had this idea. I like to learn, but I can also teach. Many other people want to learn, but cannot understand some topics until they are explained in detail. I can teach them, but how? And then it hit me. I could use YouTube in the same way as Vsauce and SciShow and all of those other fantastic people, in the way of teaching people about things. But I could not think of one thing in particular that I want to teach, so I figure, why not teach all the things!?

So, starting in April, I will be posting videos every week to my second channel, Knowledge Days. Its called knowledge days because each day of the week is deticated to a different subject, and the whole thing is about learning and teaching. Here is the schedule:

Monday - Math

Tuesday - Language

Wednesday - Science

Thursday - History

Friday - Fun Stuff

I will be posting a video on that channel within the next 48 hours to explain in more detail about the show. I hope to record and upload them in advance and have them be published on those days.

I was hoping to have this ready in time to participate in VEDA, which is the idea of doing a Video Every Day in April. It was something that I heard of from one of the Green brothers. I will still be posting things on my main channel, because this is just like a side project. An expansion of what I am already doing to fight against stupidity and world suck. I hope to get that started by April first, but I may have to wait until the monday of the next week: April 7th.

Yesterday I filmed several videos for the channel and shortly afterwards I realized that I was wearing the same shirt in each video. So, I think  I'll make it so that in each week of videos I wear a different shirt, that way I have the ability to film all of the things in one day. The only thing that I am concerned about is editing the videos. I may recruit my brother to help me with that, since each one will be about 2 or 3 minutes long.

Tomorrow we don't have school because it is Good Friday. Its the Christian holiday where we remember the day of Jesus' death on the cross, and three days later we celebrate him rising again through Easter Sunday.

I have something that I will be doing on Saturday, plus I have to take a test for my online Sociology class. Gosh, I am ready for that class to be over.

Next week I have talent show auditions on monday. I'm scared and excited at the same time, because I'm not quite decided as to what I will be performing. I have had several ideas, I just can't decide. I guess I'll know by monday though. Then on Saturday of next week, I will be visiting a college with my mom. I've been to that one before, so its not a big deal. Wednesday of the week after that, we have our official rehearsal on the Hunstville stage for one act play. The next day is the contest, which I am very scared about because I don't know what to think about it. I hope we advance. Then, on Friday I am taking a college day to go with my mom and spend two days at a college in San Marcos, which is pretty far away. We have to spend the night in a hotel and visit the college the next day, so I will be missing school. There is supposedly a mall nearby that we will hopefully visit. And those are my plans for the next few weeks.

Happy Weekend!

Love,
Elizabeth W.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

I just finished reading the book The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith last night. It was a great book with a really cute story. TSPOLAFS, gosh that is a whopper of an initialism (not an acronym, because you can't pronounce it as a word), follows the 48 hour story of these two teenagers who meet in an airport and end up on the same flight to London. The girl is on her way to her father's wedding to her new stepmother and the boy is on his way to... Well, another event that is similar but not the same. And they're so perfect for eachother and end up talking about everything under the sun and basically falling in love within the first few hours of them meeting. I would give this book basically a 9 out of 10 because it ends in a cliff hanger, and I want to know if they end up becoming boyfriend/girlfriend or if they ever see eachother again. I thought it was going to be terrible because the beginning is kind of slow, but it turned out to be a great read, and unique because the story happened in such a short amount of time.

The librarian is not at school today, which bothers me because I don't have a book to read since I finished TSPOLAFS. I don't know what I'll do all day to occupy my time, especially since I don't have drama practice today. I guess I'll study and work on scholarship applications. Maybe when I get home I'll work on a video. I have a couple ready to edit, I just have to sit down and work on them.

I wonder what the SPOLAFS really is. I mean, obviously the probability is very small. I guess 1 in 1000000000 or so. I wish you could actually look that up, because I tried and I still didn't find it. Probably because it is impossible to study.

I really don't know what to talk about today. I'm not really in a talkative mood. More of a thinkative mood.

I'm going to try and start an exercise routine soon. I'm kind of scared, because I'm not very athletic at all, but I really do want to get back into shape. We have a really long driveway, so I'll be using that to run and bike and walk and stuff. We also have a weight lifting set thing. I forgot what its called. It is not wieght stuff exactly, but more like resistance training. GAH, why can't I remember what that is called?!?! I've thought about eating healthier, but I really don't like to do things like that, and it requires too much willpower, so I will not. I figure some exercise is better than none at all.

Prom is the real reason that I am going to start exercising again. I need to make sure that I still fit into my prom dress. I need to lose that winter insulation. I am by no means fat, but I do feel slightly unhealthy, though I am probably underweight for my age/size. I think if I can start now and get used to exercising, maybe the dreaded "Freshman 15" will skip over me. I also know that it will be better for my future and I will have fewer health problems when I am older. I think its wierd how exercise plans always say "Consult your physician before beginning any new exercise regimen or diet", but no one ever does, unless the doctor is the one who tells them to do it. I'm not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing. I just think exercise needs to be a spontaneous thing, where you decide maybe a week or two before, not consult your doctor before you start it. Doctors don't know me. They don't know about what I need to do. *Insert attitude here*

Love,
Elizabeth W.

Spanish Extra Credit

!Hola¡ Soy Belinda, Y este dia, cantare una canta para tu.

Okay, just kidding, but I do have something I have to do in spanish today. I'm also too lazy to put real grammar and accent marks in this post. I have brought my ukulele to school today in order to perform a song in spanish in spanish class. I could use some extra credit, is all. I made some grades on quizzes that I am not very proud of, and I want to do this to bring up my grade a little, since I'm trying to keep my ranking of 3rd place through the end of the 6 weeks when grades are locked in. I probably should have done that in a few other 6 weeks to, but whatever. I'm going to perform the song "A Year Without Rain" by Selena Gomez, but in spanish, it is "Un Ano Sin Ver Llover". I hope I get most of the pronunciation right. Last period I performed it because I was asked to by some kids in my aquatic science class. It was slightly emberassing. And I get really nervous and slightly sweaty when I do unplanned performances, so it was a little awkward.

Because of one act play, I have to miss my field trip for aquatic science. The teacher says he'll try and work something out, but I doubt it will happen. Its only a trip to a lake, so its not like I won't ever be able to do that thing again. And there will be another field trip a little later on, so I'm not worried.

I need to go and talk to the principal or vice principal today during lunch. I found this thing online where if I teach this three lesson course on financial education, I can be entered to win a $10,000 scholarship, and the people who attend get entered to win $1,000 scholarships. I have already printed out the first two lessons, I just have to get permission and a sponsor. I think I might get the librarian or maybe a math teacher. I'll just have to ask around. There are only three sessions, so it shouldn't be a big problem. I'll just have to make sure to get some posters printed out and get it announced. I think people will come, especially when they hear about the scholarship part. I have to take pictures in order to put them in my contest entry also.

I think I might search around for similar things while I am online today. I think there might be some others.

Love,
Elizabeth W.

Monday

A lot has happened since the last time I blogged, so I'll start with Friday.

On Friday, we went to One Act Pay competition. We performed and did amazing. Our school is advancing to the next round for the first time since 2007. I got the award "Honorable Mention All-Star Cast". We preform for the school on Tuesday and Thursday of this week, and our Area competition is on April 11. I can't believe that we made it!

On Saturday, it was my brother's birthday. I got up early and did some online homework, then we all packed up and went to the mall. On the way there, we made a music video/montage that I'm going to edit together and put on my channel. He got to go to different stores and pick out his birthday gifts. I managed to get my mother to buy me a pair of pink skinny jeans though, so I got stuff too.Then we ate lunch at the food court. I had chick-fil-a, which was rather delicious. When we got home, I spent time reading and playing the ukulele. My mom and I baked a cake for my brother. It was a mint chocolate chip ice cream cake, and it was awesome. We were supposed to use a spring-form pan, so that we could make it, then take the sides off and it would be pretty. But, we couldn't find one, so we just made it in a pan, then put it on a plate. It was one of our first pinterest recipes. I watched my brother play one of his new games, The Walking Dead, also. One of the gifts that he got was a thing to make videos out of videogame play, so he will have his videogame channel up and running soon.

On Sunday, we got up and went to church. Then, we went out and ate mexican food, which was lovely. I had a delicious Torta, my favourite mexican sandwich. We went to Walmart and got some stuff. I found this soap/lotion dispenser that is a mickey mouse head that was on sale, and my mom let me get it so that I can put it with my "Stuff to take to college". When we got home, we played some ukulele, and then I put on some music and began cleaning my room-ish area in the corner of the living room. I managed to start a box for my "Stuff to take to college", and I have a significant amount of stuff already. Mainly lotion and soaps and stuff, but stuff nonetheless. Then I spent the rest of the night printing out scholarship applications, since I felt bad that I had missed the deadline for one of the big ones.

And, I think that is about all you need to know. I have to turn in my permission slip for the talent show today, but I have no clue who to turn it in to. I don't know where the sponsor teacher is during the day. I guess I'll take it to the office during lunch. I began going through my AP Government flashcards today, so maybe I'll be ready when the test comes. So far, I haven't found anything in them that seems relavent. I think I have the economics test in the bag though. I'm good at economics.

I finished reading the book "Room" this weekend also. I started the other book, "The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight" this morning, and it seems pretty good, but not as good as "Room". I have done quite a bit of scholarship filling out and smash book-ing this morning also. I had coffee, so I just have to keep doing things.

Love,
Elizabeth W.

Room

Yesterday, at about this same time, I finished Les Miserables. It was a good book, but I was glad to finish it. Then, at lunch I went back to the library and got a new book. I was planning on getting "The Statistical Probablility of Love at First Sight", but I saw another book that I got instead. Its called "Room" and its by Emma Donoghue.

Room is about a boy who lives with his mom in this one room building. His mom was kidnapped and put into this room buy the character "Old Nick". She was used sexually by the man, and the boy, Jack is their child. Through a very complicated plan, they manage to escape. And thats as far as I have read. I'm about half way through. I think I might finish it by tomorrow. I think I'll check out another book today, just to make sure I have plenty to read tomorrow.

Tomorrow is one act play competition day. I'm scared and excited at the same time. It feels like there should still be a month's worth of practices left, but we only have today. I just want to get it over with.

I have drama practice today, but I also have to stay after school. I have to be in tutorials to take a quiz that I missed in spanish class. I'll probably have to go to tutorials on monday too, to do what I miss on friday. I just want the week to be over already. Tomorrow will be such a long day.

I really want to get back to reading, because I was at a really intense part.

Love,
Elizabeth W.

READ FAST...

I am currently rushing to finish the book Les Miserables. Why? I do love the book and I want to finish it in good time, but it is technically due back to the library today and I want to see about getting it turned in so I can have another book to read. I guess I could just check it out to myself again, then check out another book too. That way I can finish the book tomorrow or whatever, and turn it in then, and still have a book to read. I shall ponder this.

Yesterday, so people were talking about blogging. They were talking about certain teachers that blogged, and how strange it was. I don't know if I'll be able to find the blogs, but I want to try nonetheless. Anyway, they said that one teacher had posted something not so nice on her blog, and they wondered if someone would figure out and she would get in trouble. Then they said that another teacher had a blog too, and they talked about how blogging seemed really lame. Who blogs? they said sarcastically. I actually raised my hand at this point, but I was ignored. They seemed a little confused.

I was talking with my dad about this occurence last night, and he said that blogging is something that people find strange because not everyone can do it, but it seems that it doesn't require talent. Personally, I think that blogging is something that requires someone who can type well and knows how to write stories and essays and such. Its almost like a diary, but a public one that is really read more by people that you don't know than people that you do know. I don't really care what they think about blogging, because I like it, so I shall continue, at least for now.

Last period in aquatic science, we began our first dissection: a perch. The fact that we have to open up a fish and point out specific parts doesn't bother me, but the fact that it is dead and stiff and smells like chemicals does. I have always had an aversion to dead things. I cannot stand them, and I have even had nightmares that involved death and dead things. I just don't like being around or looking at or touching things that are no longer alive. It just seems wrong.

One kid in FCA seems like he keeps trying to stop me and Shelby from teaching a lesson in the mornings. He keeps trying to get guest speakers and trying to get us not to have a lesson ready. Of course, many times he fails to get the person, so we always have a lesson ready just in case. Today was supposed to be my wednesday to teach, but he got a teacher to come and give a lesson instead. Don't get me wrong, this teacher is a youth pastor, and I love the way he presents a message. The lesson this person gave today was awesome. However, I feel like this boy is trying to get rid of me or something. I am normally not bothered by things like this, but its my senior year, and I have only been teaching this year. If he doesn't like my lessons, he should just tell me to my face. I don't need him trying to undermine me behind my back.

I have a song stuck in my head that is really good. Gold by Britt Nicole. I love it. I don't know all of the words yet though, so that poses a slight problem.

This is for all the girls
Boys all over the world
No matter what you've been told
You're worth more than gold...

I love Britt Nicole and her music because I feel like she is a more grown up version of me, almost. You can tell by her music that she has a big heart and a love for
God. It reminds me of the song "Show Jesus" by Jamie Grace.

I gotta tell you that I like the way

Any time anywhere any place
It's written all over your face
The way you love Jesus
And it always speaks to me
A little joy with a touch of peace
It's so inspiring
The way you show Jesus

Jamie Grace is awesome too. I watched a video that Jamie Grace posted on youtube about how she doesn't go out searching for a boyfriend or dating for fun like everyone else because she expects that God has someone for her and she isn't going to date anyone until God wants her to. I learned that lesson this last summer and I started living my life in that manner. And look at me now! I have a boyfriend, and even if we don't get married or we break up in 6 months, I'll be good because I know God has a plan for both of us.

The book that I read that taught me that was "When God Writes Your Love Story". It really changed my perspective on dating and marriage and relationships. I wish more teenagers would read it, so that they can understand the kind of relationships God wants for people, and what they need to get straight in their life before they try to be a part of anyone else's.

Have a fantastic day y'all, and remember how much God loves you!

Love,
Elizabeth W.

Gavroche

Yes, it is true. I am almost done with Les Miserables. I love this book so much. I know what is going to happen, but its nice to read it in words. My favorite character right now is Gavroche. I think it is because of the way he was portrayed in the 25th anniversary edition that I watched. He was so adorable. And now that I am reading the book and I know his backstory, I almost feel sorry for him. His parents didn't love him, so they cast him out into the street, and he made his way on his own, even though he was just a child.

My friend, Ellen, who loves Les Miserables, got slightly upset at me yesterday. It wasn't anything major, she was just appauled that I wasn't reading the full version of Les Miserables. She said that I should have to suffer through all of the thousands of pages in the whole version. I don't think I could ever do that. If I can't finish a book in three weeks or less of reading in my spare time, I get bored with it. Thats why I haven't read some books like LOTR and stuff. Oh, that AND the vocabulary sometimes just bores me to death. There shouldn't be THAT many words that I don't know in one book. And sentences should be less than five lines long.

Yesterday was rather productive for those of us in One Act. However, it was more so to the crew than the actors because the actors didn't really get to run through the play. After the rehearsal, we went to eat at a burger place in the same city. Its called Jax or Jack's or something like that. They have amazing food at a decent price. I had a three cheese 1/3 pound burger, fries, a Dr. Pepper, and a chocolate milkshake afterwards. It was so delicious and I was super miserable on the way home from eating too much. I didn't think that I was that hungry, but when I got my food, I devoured it immediately.

We also had the great idea to order using the names of the characters in the play. So, I went up there when they called for "Tillie". It wasn't spelled right though. They spelled it with a Y instead of an IE. We were a little annoyed at that, but the reciept is still going in my smash book. Speaking of which, I have collected a bunch of stuff to put in there, so I think I'll sit down this weekend and put it all together.

I am so ready for all of this crazy mess to be over with so that I can have free time again, and catch up on my sleep. I think I might try out for the talent show this year. I did it last semester, but it was cancelled because not enough people showed up. I'm not sure what I will do though. I could sing and play the ukulele. Or I could just sing. Not really sure. Or I could do a combined act with my little brother, since he is in middle school and we could both play the ukulele and sing. Or he could play the ukulele and I could sing. I don't know. I had a song ready last semester, so I might just do that one.

I meant to show my lifescouts collection to my friends yesterday because I told them about it and they thought it was cool. I keep forgetting that not everyone watches the same youtube channels that I do, and that not everyone keeps up with british pop culture like me. It is kind of annoying to be into different things than everyone else my age in the same area. I mean, it shows that I am very much an individual, but I get kind of tired of it sometimes.

I watched this video the other day called "Llamas with hats". Its not a super nice video, but its kind of funny and kind of dumb. It was made by the same people as the charlie the unicorn videos. I don't want to spoil the surprise, so I won't explain it. CAAARRLL! THAT KILLS PEOPLE! haha.

I hope to be able to work on the legacy videos some more this weekend. I'm brainstorming as I go, and I have some ideas, so I just need to write them down and make the videos. I'm really excited abou this mini-series type thing. I saw a video yesterday that seemed almost like it was copying my idea to some extent, but it was on a different subject matter. Plus, I think many people do that same style of video as I used in Legacy, so I'll let it go.

Love,
Elizabeth W.

What Time Is It?

ADVENTURE TIME! Errr... UKULELE TIME! Ugh, no... ONE ACT TIME!

Haha. I have to go with the one act people today for our official rehearsal on the contest stage. We have to eat first lunch again, which is good because I am super hungry, and I hope to be able to sleep on the bus.

This morning I was just leaving the house, almost out of the driveway, when I got a text message from my drama teacher. Don't forget to wear your one act shirt! So, we had to back up and I ran inside and got it, then changed at school. I think she needs to work on her timing of text messages. I wasn't the only one who almost forgot either. She said that she told us to wear them today when we were at practice on monday. However, I don't think that she did, because no one can remember it.

I have developed this brochitis-y cough thing again. It is really annoying, and it scares me a bit since contest for one act is on friday. I hope it goes away. My throat doesn't hurt or anything, but I keep coughing. Not a shallow "Oh, I'm sick" cough, but a serious bronchitis-y cough from my lungs. Ain't nobody got time for that!

I have a song stuck in my head right now that is from adventure time, by the way, hence the intro. I don't watch adventure time, nor will I in the near future, but I saw the cover of the song "Good Little Girl/Bad Little Boy" that Meekakitty did, and I loved it. So, I learned it on the Ukulele, but I still don't know the very last verse in the version that she sang.

Good little girl, always picking a fight with me,
You know that I'm bad, but you're spending the night with me,
What do you want from my world? You're a good little girl...

Bad little boy, thats what you're acting like,
But oh, I don't buy that you're that kind of guy,
And if you are, why don't you just say goodbye?

Good little girl, you've stolen my heart... Something something something.

I really don't know the rest, so if you do, please tell me in the comments. I don't mean the monologue version either. I should probably just look up the video of meekakitty and rusty, then just make a video of my own of me covering it.

On the first sunday of spring break, I had a skype date with my dearest. It was fun, and slightly awkward, but then again, I've never skyped anyone before, so that was probably the reason. I played that song during the date. Just FYI.

On saturday, we went to Ellen's house after drama practice and hung out. We had burgers and then we sat and watched a video of our play that we had made earlier that day. After that, we went outside and built a fire and roasted marshmallows. I brought my ukulele along and I played it when we were outside. It started by me just playing it randomly, four chords over and over. Then another person, Jack, said something and I sang it back to him whilst playing those four chords. Then Jenna asked me to narrate her life, so she began spouting out facts and I started singing them off-key and to random tunes to the sound of the ukulele. And eventually everyone was singing what they were saying. We even sang part of "Take On Me" in a very loud and off-key way. It was like an impromptu jam session, but with a ukulele. I should start bringing it everywhere, so things like that can happen more often.

I have pretty much given up on my stocks. I have lost over 5 thousand dollars, but I've made more than enough trades to make a 100 in the class.

My family and I were watching movies on netflix last night. First we watched "Thou Shalt Laugh", which is a video of a christian comedy performance. It was pretty good. Then we watched the second one, "Thou Shalt Laugh 2: The Deuce", and it was just as good, if not better. My absolute favourite  comedian on both of them was the guy with the puppets. I forget his name. I am really tempted to buy a pig puppet like he has, since he sells them on his website. I really liked the lady from SNL, Victoria Jackson, too. At least I think she was from SNL. Anyway, She played the ukulele, but I think it was a bigger ukulele, possibly even a lower sounding one too. I liked her song "Nice Ukulele". Oh, I looked it up and she plays a BARITONE ukulele. Thats pretty cool. I want a ukulele that hooks up to an amp or whatever. That way I can perform in large spaces and people can really hear the ukulele.

So, for some reason google still won't approve my adsense account and I don't know why. I guess I'll wait until the summer and try to figure it out then. I think it might just need time, but I do need to do some research as to why it won't accept it.

Love,
Elizabeth W.