Directing a play! and some other things...

So, I am the director of one of our class plays. Technically, its the same play twice. I direct one, and another person directs the other. It is like crunch time for the actors though. Today, we had a half day, so we only have about thirty minutes in each class, and thirty minutes isn't much rehearsal time. We plan to rehearse the early parts of next week. Hopefully everyone studies their lines over thanksgiving break, because we perform like the end of next week.

Its cool but stressful to direct a play. You get to tell everyone what exactly to do, but also have to make sure that everything gets done. It gets kinda hectic in the last few days. I am glad that I got to do this though, because I want to be a film director. I am kinda an amateur director now (ugh, I hate the word amatuer). I hope to be able to work with people like Isaac Deitz someday. Who cares about Steven Speilberg. JUST KIDDING! I would love to work with Speilberg someday also, its just that Deitz is more of a possibility right now.

I am constantly learning more about film. I did a spanish project last year that was a "telenovela". Its kinda like a spanish soap opera. It turned out kinda bad because I used two cameras, but only one had decent audio, and the finished product seemed really choppy. I think that I know how to fix it though. I simply needed a seperate source for recording audio AKA: a boom mic. I looked on Amazon.com yesterday and I think I might be able to manage one for about fifty dollars or so. I just have to get fifty dollars first. I keep finding things like that that have the ability to make my videos so much better, but I lack the funds to get anything. But I am asking for some of them for Christmas, so there is a chance for some of them...

I think its wierd that I am a conservative going into the liberal field of theatre/film. I feel like I'm a contradiction, or a rarity. I'm totally okay with that, its just that its hard to find people in that field that are like-minded.

I also have this strange ability to sense when I am around really stupid people and start hating them, just because they are stupid. I guess its just a bad habit. I don't really "hate" them, I just really dislike them and wish for them to be of normal intelligence levels. WHY CAN'T THEY HAVE INTELLIGENT CONVERSATIONS? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! But, seriously, stupidity gets on my nerves. I know that God made everyone a certain way for a reason, I just wish he had made some of them a little smarter. I guess thats why God made me a teacher. That way, I can give them wisdom and hopefully turn them away from their ways of stupidity.

I
am
so
bored
!

By the way, the video I posted yesterday was the one that got so many views in like 48 hours. You should watch it if you haven't already.

You know something else that annoys me? Energy drinks. They say they will energize you, but they take an hour to hit the bloodstream and barely do anything. And people drink them religiously. Then, you hear about people dying because of the 5 hour energy things and monsters and stuff. If it doesn't really work and it might kill ya, why do it?

Thats enough anger and conservative bias for one day. Or at least a 30 minute class period.

Question of the day:

What is the most contradicting thing about you and your life/career choice?

Well, I'm tired of blogging and I lack anything else to blog about right now.

Hasta la vista muchachitos!

Elizabeth W.

You got it!

Watch "You Got It - FF5 cover" on YouTube

College and YouTube and Stuff!

I feel like I must explain my rather awesome weekend to you all. Let us start with friday...

Friday I did not have to go to school  because our volleyball girls went to state! Thank you volleyball girlies, for letting me have a free day on Friday. I basically did nothing all day. However, this Friday was the start of the NGEN radio show, Phenomenon, with SOUL GLOW ACTIVATOR! So, at about 7:00 I got on my dad's laptop and used the webcam to make several cover videos using my brother's ukulele. I made three, but I only got to upload two because every time I tried to upload a video, it would mess up the netflix show my parents were trying to watch, and they would get mad. So, after uploading two videos, I got ready for bed, and at 10:00, I turned on the NGEN radio app on my phone and listened to Phenomenon for like 15 minutes. The first thing I noticed was that the DJ-ing was really good. I wish that whoever it was, SGA or somebody at NGEN, would be our DJ at prom this year, because our school always gets crappy DJs, no offense to anyone. The other thing was that all of the music made me want to get up and dance, and, unlike the music at prom, I was not ashamed at any of the lyrics. I will definately listen again next friday night, and you should too.

Saturday, I woke up at about 5:40, got dressed, and was out of the house by 6:20. My mom and I stopped at McDonalds and got breakfast, then headed to Huntsville. Thats right, Saturdays at Sam baby! We got to walk around the SHSU campus for a really long time. I am pretty convinced that I will be going to college there. They have an amazing teaching program, so I can get my teaching degree, but they also have film and theatre programs. Because of Dual Credit, I won't have to take freshman English either. I got 4 SHSU t-shirts (Thankfully, I look good in orange). Then my mother and I ate at a place called Culvers. They have amazing frozen custard, but their burgers aren't as good as everyone says they are. They're really greasy and expensive. After that, we went to Walmart and did some Christmas shopping.

On Sunday, I went to church and then went out to eat mexican food. When I got home, I checked the viewcount on the two videos I had posted on Friday night. One of them had 13 views, not that unusual, but the other had 49 views! I know that that really isn't a big deal for most YouTubers, but it is for me. In like 48 hours, I had gotten fifty views! Normally it would take at least two months to get that many views. I am so thankful for the people who watched or shared or whatever. I also have a few more subscribers. I feel like I am finally getting a chance to move up in the world.

Today is the first day of a two day school week. The second day is only a "half day", which means that we get out at 1:10, but that really makes it more of a 3/4 day, I'm pretty sure. I plan to make quite a few more cover videos over Thanksgiving break. And don't worry about the blog, I'll post here too! I just didn't post this weekend because, obviously, I had a ton of things going on. After Thanksgiving, be ready for Christmas music. I plan on posting Christmas covers with James starting this weekend.

I think I will post the following covers this week, if all goes as planned...
Must Have Done Something Right - Relient K
Mamacita - FF5
Wobble - FF5
Say It - Britt Nicole
Daddy's Baby Girl - Jimmy Needham
Beauty Will Rise - Steven Curtis Chapman
Love Song For A Savior - Jars Of Clay

Just so you know, I sing many of these songs not because of the meaning, but because I like the sound of the song and it is close to being within my vocal range. Of course, this list is subject to change at any second, but it gives you something to look foreward to.

Also, I have learned that I am better at actual blogging than Vlogging. This makes me sad since I love Meekakitty's videos so much. I do plan on dying my hair red/orange this summer. Partially because I have always wanted to have strangely colored hair, partially because I love Tessa's hair. I want to use temporary dye, like the 40 day stuff, so that I will still be able to donate my hair again at a later date. I also feel like it will be showing school spirit...

Questions of the day:

What is your favorite Christmas song? What is your favorite all the time song? Did you watch my cover of "You Got It" by FF5?

Well, goodbye for este momenta.

That is totally not correct spanish.

I fail.

Hasta luego!

Elizabeth W.

Messing around

I was bored today in one of my classes so I started messing around with the layout and design of the blog. Don't worry, its a work in progress. I will probably change it soon. I would like to know what you think of the changes I made. Which was better? The new layout? The old one? Any criticism or ideas are welcomed and accepted.

Lots of love,
Elizabeth W.

Feeling Terrible...

So, today, I feel terrible. I did not want to get out of bed this morning. I nearly fell down and I got really dizzy when I was trying to get dressed. My throat feels swollen and I feel like I could simply lay down and go back to sleep right now. However, I am at school anyway.

My first period teacher sent me to the nurse. I did not want to call my mom or dad to pick me up because then they would have to miss work. I didn't have a fever. I just rested in the nurse's office for a few minutes and then went back to class. Then, in second period, I almost fell asleep three times during the lecture. I would rest right now, during my dual credit class, but I find it almost impossible to do so when the teacher is watching your every move and there is literally no place to lay down.

I don't feel like I have the brain capacity to do work, and my head hurts really badly.

I have gotten some things done today. I got my form turned in to the counselor so that I can take dual credit sociology next semester. I also got my report card. I got all A's and all of my grades improved, except for my grade in theatre (lets just say that I wasn't ready for the last lines test). I also started the registration for the Burger King Scholars Foundation, but I have to check the confirmation email in order to go any further. And, of course, I can't get to my email from the school computers, so it must wait until I get home.

I have officially applied to two colleges, and I am working on the application for a third. I'm so excited and nervous. I want to get my acceptance letters so that I can show them off. Personally, I am pretty confident that I will be accepted. Its not like I'm applying to ivy-league schools or anything. I have a college campus tour day coming up on saturday. I hope I feel better by then.

I'm trying so hard to think of something interesting to blog about today, but there is literally nothing there. In my brain. I am so bored. I am a boring person today...

I have this idea for a lesson for the next time I teach in FCA. I want to be able to bring my Ukulele and play it as part of the lesson. One song that I really love to play on the Ukulele is the song "Superhero" by Family Force 5. It talks about just wanting God to come and save you from everything that has gone wrong and the stress and craziness of the world. I want to plan a lesson around that song. I think I'll talk about the plan of salvation. I could give my testimony, even through it's nothing special. I could tell how God has saved people from things like drugs and poverty and depression. I could tell everyone how he can save them to, if they only are willing to ask. And I could say that just because you have accepted Christ as your savior doesn't mean that you can't give everything up to him again and feel renewed. Then I could play the song and say that right then was the time to give it all up again. I feel like I should invite more people to come that week. I will be teaching the message of salvation at that point. I want people to hear it who truly need it.

Fear has taken me
To a place I shouldn't  be
Pretending not to care
Seeing is believing, now its here
Read my face, theres a past I can't escape
I keep running, I keep running away
Superhero
Save my life tonight
I know
You'll be there to fight
I won't let go
Bring me in the light
Superhero
Save my life tonight
Save my life tonight
The spark is now a flame
The fire that you breathed inside of me'
Now, there is not doubt
There will be some knocking down and dragging out
You build me up and I'm forever changed
If I should fall, then I'll just call your name
Superhero
Save my life tonight
I know
You'll be there to fight]
I won't let go
Bring me in the light
Superhero
Save my life tonight
Save my life tonight...

Thanksgiving is coming up. My dad is working with his brothers to try and organize a family gathering of some sort. I just want to eat. I don't really care if all of the people are there, I don't like half of them anyway. I just like food. Wow, that was harsh. Sorry, I'm just really hungry and kinda angry. I'm hangry. I still have like an hour until lunch. I guess I'm done for now.

Question of the Day:

What is your favorite Thanksgiving food? Are there any that are special family recipes?

Well, goodbye for now.

Elizabeth W.

FCA today!

So, today, I taught a lesson in our school's FCA (fellowship of christian athletes) club thing... I'm not sure if its a club or a group or what, really.Anyway, I figured that I might as well share the lesson with you all.

In Matthew 5:16, it says "Let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and glorify your father in heaven." This is one of the verses that people quote all of the time. Basically, it means that as Christians, we have a duty to be role models for others and teach them about Christ. We have to be a light in the midst of a dark world.

Then, in Luke 8:10, Jesus is talking and it says "The knowledge of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that 'though seeing, they may not see; though hearing thay may not understand.'" Here, he has been speaking to people in parables and teaching them and going around doing miracles and such. He is explaining why he does it all like that. People all learn and understand differently. Some people need to see a miracle to believe, while others can simply hear a passage from the Bible. Therefore, God made us all different so that we have the ability to reveal the truth in all kinds of different ways to all kinds of different people.

God made you the way you are because you have certain interests that can help you reach others. Some of you are meant to just flat out teach a lesson or give a sermon. Others relate based on sports or cooking or books or cars. People understand things when they are put in lamen's terms. Why do you think there are so many different translations and versions of the Bible? Everyone understands differently, so God figured out a way to accomodate that.

In Luke 8:16-17, the Bible talks about how everything will be brought out in the open. Nothing of our lives is secret from God. And God will take anything that we have in our past and pull it out to use it for our purpose. God loves to take those skeletons from our closets and put them out in the open for everyone to see. But those skeletons help people relate to us also. People want to know that we aren't perfect and only by our imperfections has God decided to use his grace to save us.

This summer, I went to youth camp and got the chance to meet a man named Jimmy Needham. He is a Christian music artist who did most of the music during the week at camp. I got to sit down and have lunch with him, along with some other people and talk to him about things in high school and college and music. Then, when I got back from camp, I found out that he had a blog type website. I started reading some of the things that he had posted, and found out that he used to have a porn addiction, but had turned from it and was using his story of change to inspire and teach others.

Just like Jimmy, we all have situations that we've been in or things that we've done that we are not proud of. Even I have some things that I know God will eventually bring out in the open that I am not proud of. But those things help other sinners relate to us. When they can say, "I've been there too", it helps them realize that they can have a success story and turn their life around also. And when God comes calling to get you to bring the skeletons out of your closet or minister to a person who seems very much like a sinner, you should take it from the story of Jonah, God will win.

So don't be afraid to show the world your story of "I'm not who I was" and how God changed you. Don't be afraid to connect to others and bring them to Christ through your weaknesses. God is glorified when we let him take out weaknesses and exploit them with his strengths. And don't be afraid to change tactics with people until you bring them to Christ. Even christ himself changed tactics to win people over for Christianity. He didn't JUST teach or perform miracles. He did it all. And Jesus and his disciples had the consequences of death or torture for reaching people for God. We are free (for the most part) to share the gospel. So be thankful and go out and make disciples of the nations.

Annoying Things and a Good Book

I think something is wrong with me.
Nothing major, just something wrong with the way I see the world right now.
My problem?

Everything is annoying me.

Yes, everything just seems annoying right now. My brother was very annoying yesterday when he said "You keep threatening to hurt me but you never do it." I find it very annoying that the school computer ecided not to work right today and therefore I cannot write the essays that I need to write for scholarships. It is annoying me that I have homework in a dual credit class but I cannot complete it at school because I need the giant textbook. People just doing small slightly irresponsible or mildly annoying things are driving me bonkers. I am very annoyed right now.

Anyway, I have been reading a really good book. Technically, it is the sequel to another book. I am reading "Love, Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli. Yes, I read books that are like fourth grade level. The thing is, I can find books that have entertaining plotlines and don't take forever to finish at that grade level. So, shut up, and stop judging me!

Okay, that was a little harsh...

I'm sorry.

Anyway, the first book is called "Stargirl". I find that books by Jerry Spinnelli are very entertaining. The main character is always very intelligent and philosophical in their thinking, like in the book "Smiles to Go", also by Jerry Spinelli. They are also very wierd and also like outcasts. I sit there reading thinking, "Wow, I've had those same thoughts" or "I am so much like that character!" And then I realize that that may not be a good thing. So, yeah. I am addicted to that book right now.

Something awesome also happened yesterday. The schoolboard met for out school. They decided that this friday, we will not have school! Its supposed to be so that people can go see the games of our statebound volleyball team (Thats right! State bound! What?!). This means that I get to get things accomplished on Friday. Maybe. I hope so. I need to work on some video stuff and some college stuff. I also need to get some rest. I have not gotten to sleep before ten since like thursday night. But, whatever.

I hope I get to post videos to YouTube. When you are a hard core deticated Youtuber like me (Pffff... yeah right), you tend to have YouTube posting withdrawals. I NEED to post something (*twitch, twitch*). I filmed stuff this last weekend but I didn't get to finish editing it, since it was late when I started doing and I was on my dad's computer instead of the family computer. I hope I get to finish that video and post it. I started using a program that is kind of like a miniature version of PowerDirector, so it has similar features but its like only 1/10 as awesome. And I plan to download the free trial version of PowerDirector over Christmas break and work with it then.

And, based on my number of views, it feels like this is listed on the VERY LAST PAGE of Google. Is that possible? Is there a last page? But, you have to start somewhere...

Question of the Day:

What is the thing that annoys you the most?

and also...

What is your favorite children's book?

Okay, well, I gotta go! Bye!

Elizabeth W.