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.

Getting Things Straightened Out

Yesterday I got my transcripts and scholarship applications sent off, which is good. They should arrive at their destinations by tomorrow. This is good, because it will be right on time. I also had a relative that was admitted in to the hospital. Please be in prayer for her and the rest of my family.

This morning I taught a lesson in FCA over the fact that God is the greatest artist. It really is an amazing thing to think about, especially being an artist of sorts. God made me and all of creation and he loves me more than is fathomable and even though I am imperfect, I am perfect and Christ has a plan for my life.

Yesterday during drama practice, I sat out in the audience and took notes while the other people performed. While doing so, I also wrote down lists of things that I was worried about, things I needed to do, and things that I had thought about doing but hadn't done yet. I don't know why, but lists help me keep track of my life.

One of the listed items was earning money on my blog and youtube accounts via ads. I know that if I do this, it won't start until this summer, when I officially turn 18, but it is still something that I need to think about. I could earn a teensy bit of money, collect it via paypal, then use it for various little things that I purchase over the internet. I can't really get a job, and I'm kinda forbidden since my parents want me to focus on academics, but I think it might help me out a little.

I want to ask you, the audience, what you think. I have never talked to anyone that has used ads and made money. My mom thinks its just a waste of time. I think it might be worth something in the long run though. If you have been successful at making money via ads, PLEASE leave a comment telling me how it worked out for you. I really do not know anyone to talk to about this, so I am relying on you.

Another item on the list was a vlog/blog schedule. Right now, I blog every day and vlog about once every two weeks or so. I want to remedy this problem. Also, when the summer comes I will have less time to blog but more time to vlog. (I know, its complicated) Then, when I go to college, I want to have certain days for certain things so that I keep track well and I can also do a back-and-forth vlog with my brother. (Speaking of which, I think that he might agree to it, since he is a kind-of nerdfighter himself. He is not as deticated as I am, but he is still a nerdfighter.)

So, I was thinking that I could do blogs every day for right now, and vlogs on wednesdays and other vides stuff on saturdays. Saturdays and wednesdays are my off days right now. Then, in the summer I could do vlogs on wednesdays, and blogs on fridays and mondays. I think then I'll have plenty of time to plan for stuff and still keep up ye olde blog and spend other days just doing other stuff and my other video stuff. I really think it could work.

So, if I don't have too much homework I will edit and post a vlog tonight. If not, then on saturday. I am really scared to be telling you this, because according to Meekakitty (yes, I am a fan of her too) if you tell someone that you will do something, you are less likely to do it, since you get the satisfaction that you need from just telling other people. I hope that isn't the case here.

I have started making a list of possible future vlog topics too. Many times I just turn on the camera and say whatever pops into my head, whether it is relevant or not. This really makes for some crappy vlogs, in my opinion. So, I think that planning them out will help me. If you have any vlog ideas, you can leave them in the comments also. Contrary to possible belief, I actually do read all comments on the blog and on youtube. And I try to respond to most of them.

Well, I have run out of things to say and I still have to google stuff and then read a chapter in my economics book before the test next period, so... DFTBA!

Love,
Elizabeth W.

Life Scouts and Sociology

So, before I forget, I want to inform all of you that I now have a tumblr. I really didn't plan on having a tumblr at any point in time, but yesterday I was on Youtube, watching one of Alex Day's videos. He started this thing called "Life Scouts". Basically, it is a bunch of badges that you can collect when you do something significant that relates to it. Then, you re-blog the badges on your tumblr with a description of what exactly happened. Then, if you want, you can actually order physical versions of the badges online that you can have in real life to show others. Its like Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, but there are less rules and qualifications, and you can be any age. I just feel like it will get me to be unafraid to do things. And, when I do things like that, I can have something as a reward for it. Like if they made a rollercoaster badge, I might actually go out and ride a rollercoaster. Anyway, the badges are on tumblr at lifescouts.com. Then, you can buy the actual badges at another website that I cannot remember now. My tumblr, which I may or may not ever get on is lizardbreathwalker.tumblr.com.

I think that I may begin posting my lifescouts badges here also. A new badge comes out every day, so I hope to get one posted soon. I'll probably put it on tumblr, and maybe on the blog. I'm actually kind of excited about this. I think it would be cool if he would let people submit badge ideas. That way there could be a badge for each instrument you play, instead of just the guitar badge. Or there could be a badge for being in a play, and it could have drama masks on it. There could be a badge for being in or making a movie and it could have a camera or a clapboard on it. I might take and have a count of how many badges I have on my Youtube channel or on here or something.

I think I'll probably mention the lifebadges in my 365 nerds video. If you haven't heard already, a group of Nerdfighters are starting this 365 Nerd project where 365 nerds will all post vlogs, on on each day of the year for 2013. I signed up and so did several of my friends. There are still some spots open, just search them on facebook or youtube to get links to the project. My video will be posted on the 29th of July, AKA my birthday. I've already started planning what I will do, but it is still some ways away.

My online sociology class started today, and I am super scared about it. The instructor seems very strict and serious, and on our introductory discussion post, we have to have a picture of ourselves, which seems rather wierd. I'm not sure that I want all of these random college people knowing what I look like... There is also supposed to be a group project and stuff, which I am scared about also, since the only means of communication is over the internet. And, when people do group projects, there are generally a few people who sit there and don't do anything while the others (like me) pick up the slack. Grrrr...

I have been working on several scholarship applications lately, and procrastinating about writing the essays for them, but I sat down and wrote like three of them this morning (100 word essays) and I feel pretty confident that they will work. I will probably get my mom (a reading teacher) to look at them before putting my official stamp of approval on them, but I'm glad that I am almost finished with the applications.

I did film a vlog this weekend as promised, but I appologize for not uploading it. I was lazy and didn't start editing it until last night. I will probably put it up sometime this week or maybe this weekend. I have drama practice almost every day, along with Economics homework and other stuff, so video making is at the bottom of the priorities list.

Well, goodbye for today. I'm going to go try to get on tumblr from the school's computer, which probably won't work.

Love,
Elizabeth W.

Ukulele Day #1

So, today I brought my ukulele to school. Yes, I have a ukulele. Yes, I play it quite frequently. Yes, I only got it about two months ago. Technically, the one that I play on is my brother's, but mine is more of a toy and his is an authentic instrument. So, I brought my brother's ukulele to school today because I wanted to use it for senior pictures.

I was relly impressed at how well they handled someone bringing such an odd instrument in as a prop. I can't wait to see how the pictures turn out. They're supposed to mail the proofs within three weeks. I can't wait.

But I think its amazing how much of a conversation starter a ukulele is. I mean, you simply walk in with it and you're bombarded with questions of "Is that a ukulele?" "Do you know how to play?" "Can I try?" "Will you play it for me?"... Its so crazy. And for someone who doesn't work well with random conversations, its really strange and almost scary. I almost dread it. However, I do enjoy the fact that people notice. I guess I could start saying, okay, I'll play you one song, but you can go to my youtube channel and watch a ton of others.

A ukulele is also rather cumbersome to carry around all day. If I didn't have a backpack, a jacket, and a stack of books to lug around all the time, it wouldn't be so bad. If my brother hadn't lost the case, it wouldn't be so bad either. I have to carry it around by the neck because he lost the case that slips over it and has a handle.

Today, I have to stay for extra time after school because my parents (both are teachers) have a meeting after school. I guess at least I will have something to work on and entertain myself with.

I have been learning several Christmas songs to put on Youtube and play at family gatherings, but I have found no time to make videos. I hope that I will have a little time today, that way I can make one or two. I really enjoy making the videos with my dad's webcam instead of my cell phone camera. It takes better quality video and is more predictable. Hopefully I can manage to do some videos sometime this week. If not, I may have to wait until Christmas break.

Well, its almost time for me to go... You know what that means!

Question of the post:

If you could hear any song played on the ukulele, what song would it be?



Well, I have to go make t-shirt designs and then review for a history test.

See you tomorrow!

Elizabeth W.

(Bring in the dancing lobsters!)

Boredom Busting

Apparently, I am equipped with the ability to finish all of my school work super fast. This is really annoying in some cases. Like, right now. I came into class, got started on work, had to wait for the teacher to explain what else we were doing, then did the rest of the work. Now, I look like a slacker because the teacher doesn't see me working on an assignment. Little does he know that I have already finished it.

This is why I take advanced classes. Regular classes move too slowly and I become bored soon. However, some classes lack an advanced version, so I am stuck in situations like this. Sometimes I can find something to entertain myself. Occasionally, I'll sit and read a book or, if I am in a computer class, play spider solitare on the computer. Otherwise I might update my blog or write a story. But, as of this moment, the teacher keeps yelling out, telling us to make sure we finish the second part of our work. But I have finished it!

Before I got back into blogging, I would write stories about the kid who sits next to me in this class. It would normally consist of him being tired of being in school so he blows up the classrom and runs away. He would steal the principal's car and fight off a pack of wolves while robbing a bank. The only reason I would do it is to make him laugh and to waste time.

Today in theatre class  we had a free day (a break from all of that rehearsing) and I found a new boredom buster. It involves two people. You take a piece of paper and draw a stick person on it. The other person then draws something trying to kill/destroy it. Then you go back and forth saving and destroying the stick figure. I found it to be rather entertaining, especially when both people are very imaginative.

Our drawing war, as it is called, included references to many things. First, there was Doctor Who, the sonic screwdriver, and the Tardis, along with several Daleks. There was also Ursula from the little mermaid and flounder and a mermaid. There was the Titanic and the Iceberg. However, the drawing is not finished. When it is, I shall most likely take a picture of it and show you all how epic it was.

Yes, my friends and I are nerds and 90's kids. But the best part of being a nerd is that you can almost always find people like you.

Pokemon
Doctor Who
Disney Movies
Old Nickelodeon Shows
Star Wars
Converse
Glasses

Yep, that pretty much sums up most of us. Okay, so maybe not the converse and glasses for all of us, but you get the idea. And each of us is a slightly different kind of nerd. Some of us are video game nerds, others are drama nerds. Only, I think drama nerds sounds strange. Probably drama geeks.

Love,
Elizabeth W.