The Average Blog

Italy and Greece Adventure: Summary of Getting Home

2011-12-01T10:41:00.013-06:00

Left for the Athen's Airport at 8 am (Greece Time)
2 hour wait in the airport
9 hour flight back to Atlanta
Arrived in Atlanta at 8pm (Atlanta Time)
Missed connection to Minneapolis by 5 minutes after going through security- the plane left at 8:20 (Atlanta Time)
Stayed free at hotel 'overnight'
got on a shuttle after getting out luggage at 11:15 pm (Atlanta Time)
woke up for shuttle back to airport at 4am
got breakfast at the Atlanta airport from dunkin' donuts
plane left for Minneapolis at 6:15am (Atlanta Time)

Some people were able to leave the night before, but we were the first plane with Mayo Students to land in Minneapolis that morning. The other Michael went on a family trip and left for Seattle on a separate plane. Everyone made it home safely. We drove Michael F, Mr. Wagner, and Emily home in Grandpa's van. Mom was there to see me, too.

Italy and Greece Adventure: Wednesday 6/29/11

2011-11-30T10:36:00.004-06:00

8:00 am (Greece Time)
Bus

We're going to drive to the airport as soon as everyone loads onto the bus. Our plane has about two hours of delay due to the electrical strike. We have a 3 hour layover in Atlanta, tough, so hopefully that will just become 1 hour instead and we will still be home on time.
I am so excited to get home- there were police at breakfast this morning with guns and gas masks. We couldn't go out after 4 yesterday because the shops were so close to the parliament building. It was really scary.

Daily Food List

D14 breakfast- croissant (x2), yogurt, sausage, egg

D14 lunch- pasta, bread, butter, orange juice

D14 dinner- Pizza, ice cream, orange juice

Italy and Greece Adventure: Tuesday 6/28/11

2011-11-29T10:27:00.000-06:00

4:50 pm (Greece Time)
Hotel Room, Athens

This morning we went to the Acropolis Museum and found out how anal the Greek security is in that museum. "No pictures, no standing still, no feet on the chairs, no breathing!"
Then we had free shopping time/ lunch time. We ate at the same place we are eating dinner at xD.

Daily Food List

D13 breakfast- yogurt, croissant (x2), orange juice, peach juice, sausages

D13 lunch- Greek pizza, tzatziki

snack: coffee, from a really helpful restaurant that showed us how to get to our metting place with the rest of the group.

Then we went down Hermes Street for shopping. Michael F, Michelle, and I got lost and ended up about 2 blocks from the protestors. The police sent out tear gas (which we could see from where we stood) and there were people running around with gas masks and molotov cocktails. We finally found our way to the right square by going around the protestors and asking a coffee shop- which we thanked by buying coffee (and they gave us free water, too!)

After getting lost, getting through protestors, etc. we were glad to make it back to our group (on time and everything)- although we were coughing a little from the city smog, tear gas leftovers, and running to make it on time. Not going near parliament building is a good option right now. After check-in we were going to have more shopping but in lieu of the protest we decided going back to the hotel as a group would be safest. Right now Michelle and Michael F are on the roof of the building chilling- while Rebecca, Amy, and I are lounging in the hotel room.

Italy and Greece Adventure: Monday 6/27/11

2011-11-28T10:14:00.001-06:00

7:50 am (Greece Time)
Hotel Lobby

waiting to leave for Athens and wherever else we're going today. We didn't go to Olympia yesterday because our ship was in so late, so we just went to Tolo and went on a beach walk/ postcard shopping tour.

Daily Food List

D12 breakfast- Greek yogurt, honey, bread (x2), cranberry juice, fruit

We have about an hour and a half drive today in which I will sleep. A bunch of people got up at 4:45- including our room- in order to see the sunrise. Michelle and I opted to go back to sleep afterwards, which ended up being a good decision because Rebecca and Livi went to the beach to see it and said it was underwhelming.

8:42 pm (Greece Time)

Hotel Room

We made it to Athens. It's super sketchy here right now- our hotel room is literally 2 blocks away from the protests that blocked out path earlier (the rerouted traffic) and the electrical strike caused a blackout in the restaurant we ate lunch at.

Daily Food List

D12 lunch- p something or other (like lasagna), apple pie

snack: powerade

D12 dinner- potatoes, bread, pudding (x2), gelato, rice, 1/2 an herb ball, cake, orange

First thing this morning we met with one of our guides and went to the Epidaurus theater and then this castle/ fortification with the lion's gate and Agamemnon and Clydemnestra's tombs (in Mycenae)

Then we saw the oldest bridge in Europe. Next we stopped for lunch, dropped off our first guide and picked up our second for the Parthenon.

Then we got stuck in traffic from the strike and finally got to the hotel. The reason we went to the Parthenon today rather than when we go to the museum tomorrow is because it is possible that it will be closed tomorrow due to striking in this area.

Italy and Greece Adventure: Sunday 6/26/11

2011-11-27T10:03:00.000-06:00

10:12 am (Greece Time)
Ship Cabin

Rebecca's alarm went off every 5 minutes since 7 am apparently. Thank god for ipods! I didn't hear a thing- but I had a dreamless sleep on the boat (although the dramomine made me tired and I crashed pretty quickly into bed)
We get off the boat at around 12:30, but we have to meet in the lobby around 11. ~~Then we drive for 2 hours to Olympia~~ (the ship was late, so we never went to Olympia) and after that stop we drive 5 more hours to our next destination. 2.5 days to see everything in Greece, it's crazy. The other group of Americans on this boat are from Houston, Texas. They all got food poisoning while in Sicily, but they're better now and back on track for their tour. They're touring Greece, like us. They're going to have less time to see things, though, because they stayed in several different hospitals for 3 days. That would have been scary to me.

Daily Food List

D10 Dinner- fried ham, salad, juice, bread, fries (not too terrible for boat food)

D11 breakfast- bread, croissant, juice, coffee, 2 hard boiled egg outsides. (kinda weird breakfast on the ship, but it was okay)

I should finish packing all of my stuff from the boat now, so I will write sometime later on.

10:30 pm (Greece Time)

Hotel Room, Tolo

Daily Food List (cont.)

D11 lunch- fries, break, fanta (also from the ship, not too bad)

D11 dinner- Rice, noodles, lettuce, cantelope, cake, pork

I'm taking a shower after Olivia and Michelle, and I'm bored. Tonight I'm with Michelle, Olivia, and Rebecca. Rebecca is really starting to get on Michelle's nerves. She's downstairs right now, though, so I don't have to worry about her reading this.

Tomorrow we're getting up to watch the sunrise- so that should be fun.

Italy and Greece Adventure: Saturday 6/25/11

2011-11-26T09:54:00.000-06:00

4:20 pm (Greece Time)
Ship Port

We drove all day today and now we're sitting here waiting for the ship.

Daily Food List

D10 breakfast- bread, pastry, coffee, lemonade

D10 lunch- panini, peach frosty cup

D10 dinner- gross ship food? (we haven't had dinner yet xD)

Apparently the food on the boat is disgusting, so we made sure to pack a lot of snacks beforehand. The gas station at lunch was huge with a restaurant and everything. Aisles upon aisles of candy- we are all set for the ship.

Tonight we're rooming as a quad- Michelle, Rebecca, Amy, and I, again. I hope Michelle doesn't get too annoyed with Rebecca. She has been getting a little too comfortable (talking to us about personal things, borrowing electrical cords without permission: just too comfortable)

Michelle, Amy, and I were happy to get away from her for a little for the two days in Sorento, but hopefully we don't have any problems tonight.

Time to end boredom and draw- will write more later.

10:09 pm (Greece Time)

Ship Cabin

Super drowsy from dramomine, but the ship finally began moving. There are people sleeping on the steps to the helipad. Now there is a life jacket instruction session going on, in many languages. It's like a mixture between an airplane and a train (both of which I have been on before)- but on water. I've never been on such a huge boat. It's named "superfast ferries" which makes me want to sing I'm on a boat... except the ferry isn't really all that fast.

Now there are a bunch of people in our room- the guys came over for food xD so I'm going to stop writing for tonight.

Italy and Greece Adventure: Friday 6/24/11

2011-11-25T09:43:00.000-06:00

11:10 pm (Italy Time)
Hotel, Sorento

We're back in Sorento after our Pompeii and Naples visit today. This morning we visited the ancient city and it's corresponding museum in Naples- holding tightly onto our money so it wouldn't be stolen. Then we had lunch, which was wonderful.

Daily Food List

D9 breakfast- pineapple juice, somersausage and cheese, bread, pie

Snack: 2 and 3/4 mini-pies (shared with friends) which I bought in Rome

D9 lunch- Margarita pizza alice, fanta (european fanta is so much better and so different than american fanta)

D9 dinner- Rice and veggies, tomatoes, fish, potatoes, white chocolate chip gelato,

Snack: Smurf/ puffi (tastes like frosting- advertising the smurf movie) and inglaterra gelato

After lunch we went to the previously mentioned museum and took a really long walk through Naples to a coffee shop and then to the bus even further away.

After that we came back to the hotel (3 hour drive-ish) and napped along the way. Pucca was on when we came back! (Pucca! Ninja! Noodles! -the only english words in the theme song)

Then we had dinner and went to the gelato place and the bankomat again. The gelato place is called primavera, by the way.

Then we went on another walk. Tomorrow we have like a 9 hour drive to the overnight ferry to Greece.

I feel bad since I haven't e-mailed my parents since Florence and this hotel has wifi, but I'm not rooming with Rebecca, so no internet going devices. Plus we were so busy in Rome- I just haven't had time. I hope they are doing okay. The hotel room last night was freezing- it made me miss my temperature controlled room at home.

There were stray dogs all over the pompeiian ruins, so I of course badly wanted to take one with. We weren't even allowed to touch them, though :( I miss Luke and Norah. Time or bed, though, I will write more on the bus tomorrow. Long drive, yuck.

Italy and Greece Adventure: Thursday 6/23/11

2011-11-24T09:28:00.001-06:00

10:39 pm (Italy Time)
Hotel Room

We are now in Sorrento! After climbing Vesuvius today we drove here and tomorrow we go to the city of pompeii.
At Vesuvius I climbed to the top with Sara and Rebecca. Sara has asthma and we had to stop a lot, but we made it back. She also got a sliver in her hand and Rebecca was almost left behind at the mountain shop. It was a crazy time and a good story to tell, though, so it was worth it. This afternoon after getting to Sorento, which is beautiful by the way, Michelle and I watched Pokemon, Fairly Odd Parents, and Pucca in Italian- although the two japanese cartoons were still with japanese songs. Some of the commercials were hilarious.
Things I learned from commercial watching:
Puffi is the Italian word for smurf, a Tiki Taco is a jumping bean with a face on it, and a guy can turn into a giant teddy bear to advertise ice cream.
After TV watching we went to dinner.

Daily Food List

D8 breakfast- juice, coffee, vanilla coronet (I love coronets, can you tell?), fruit, bread

D8 lunch- pizza, soda, fries (only 10 euro xP)

D8 dinner- orange, salad, pork, potatoes, carrots, cheese and basil pasta (2.5 euro for water)

snack: nutella gelato

Then we went to an amazing gelato place called 'p' something or other- I know it starts with a p because Zac and I couldn't remember the name of it and I bet him . 5 euro that it started with a p and I was right.

I'm having a hard time spelling tonight so I should probably sleep. Goodnight!

Italy and Greece Adventure: Wednesday 6/22/11

2011-11-23T09:20:00.001-06:00

10:22 pm (Italy Time)
Hotel Room

Today we went to the colosseum / Flavian Amphitheater and the Roman Forum. It was really hot. I was si hot I had three cups of gelato today xD

Daily Food List

D7 breakfast- tea, juice, vanilla coronet, fruit

D7 lunch- violet and mango gelato, toast, 1/4 of a miniature pie

Mid afternoon snack: 2 gelato cassata (which is like a milk pudding kind of thing), nutella, cherry, vanilla and some other mystery flavor we couldn't figure out.

D7 dinner- pasta, salad, chicken and ham, bread, pies, breadcrumb potatoes, potato squares

Dinner was huge and I am so full- not as full as the first day, though, because of all of the sweaty gross walking we did today.

Lots and lots of water was had by our group.

There are fireworks and Lord of the Rings concert music going on outside. Rebecca, Michelle, Michael F, and I suck out of our respective windows to hang out on the balcony and now Rebecca and Michael F are still out there watching fireworks. I'm inside getting de-nastified from the walk today and planning on sleeping soon. Goodnight!

Italy and Greece Adventure: Tuesday 6/21/11

2011-11-22T08:55:00.001-06:00

7:01 am (Italy Time)
Hotel Room, Rome

Soon we will go to breakfast, but until then I will write.
I forgot to mention, while in Assisi yesterday Michael F, Michelle, and I stopped in a grocery store and bought a peach. It was fantastic and juicy. It was 2 Euro per pound and three peaches was less than that even. The price was great and the peaches were much better than the watermelon we had for dinner last night.
The dinner we had wasn't as filling as some of the others, although the chicken was tasty. The atmosphere was a lot better at this restaurant, though. There were olive trees to sit under and a musician/ opera singer to listen to, plus it oversaw the river (I think it was the Tiber)

10:35 pm (Italy Time)
Hotel Room

Today we went to the Vatican and also on a walking tour- I got Bethy her hard rock cafe buttons, but I accidentally left them at the restaurant we ate at for dinner.

Daily Food List

D6 Breakfast- Coffee, juice, vanilla coronet, croissant

D6 Lunch- apple croissant, fruit smoothie

D6 Dinner- Bread, pasta, chicken, salad, veggies, fruit

Breakfast was amazing and we will have free time tomorrow, though, so hopefully I can buy Bethany something else.

"Today Rebecca went out on the balcony and yelled at some Italian guys then snuck to Zac and Michael F. 's room" (she told me to write this, so it's in quotes. She did actually do that, I just wasn't going to write about it) It's been 2 days since Rebecca was last seen talking in her sleep.

Yeah, so we went out onto the balcony, which is totally closed off. We went out through the window. Earlier we went to a museum with art made of bones (I got a postcard because pictures weren't allowed, but I lost it along with the pins)

Tomorrow we go to the colosseum! I hope we have some more free time for shopping, though. Rather, we had lots today, but we used it all for sitting and resting after the death march. I should sleep soon, so good night!

Italy and Greece Adventure: Monday 6/20/11

2011-11-21T08:55:00.000-06:00

8:14 am (Italy Time)
Bus from Florence to Assisi and Rome

We got up at 6:30 and had breakfast at 7:15

Daily Food List

I had 2 glasses of pomegranate juice, bread and honey and fruit. I also grabbed some toast and cookies for lunch, along with my combos and my nutella to go

I am in love with some of the cars here, not the audi's- the 3-wheelers! They are fantastic! It's becoming difficult to write on the bus, so I will write later

11:38 am (Italy Time)

Waiting for bus to cool in Assisi

Michelle, Amy, Rebecca, and a few others are playing frisbee. I'm only writing because I'm bored. I have my hair like fem!england's today to keep cool. I also took a picture of sunflowers so Bethy will be happy.

10:51 pm (Italy Time)

Hotel Room

Michelle and I just finished washing clothes and are going to sleep soon. At Assisi I bought Aunt Sue a thimble and either mom or dad or the grandparents some truffle oil. Then we went up to the actual church at Assisi, or churches I should say. Got lost on our way back- but made it with 15 minutes to spare, which was fantastic, and went on a speed tour through the church on the lower part of the town. Then we drove to Rome. On our drive I bought a new coke water bottle to replace my broken one from when I dropped it in Florence- it's a diet coke one so that Dad can have it when I'm done.
We drove to Rome, saw the trevi fountain, then had dinner.

Daily Food List

D5 Lunch- peach from a grocery store in Assisi (it was amazing)

D5 Dinner- pasta, salad and chicken, watermelon

Tomorrow we will go to the vatican and some other sites, so we will have fun!

Italy and Greece Adventure: Sunday 6/19/11

2011-11-17T11:35:00.000-06:00

8:23 am (Italy Time)
Hotel Room

We're going to the museums today. First we will get to see David, but there are plenty of other statues and art pieces to see as well!

10:43 pm (Italy Time)
Hotel Room

Lots of walking today, we went to the Dome museum (Note on the side: "Dome" is pronounced "duo-mo") with David on our own, but I was more impressed with the paintings (being me and my non-sculpture interests) although the statue was very very very large. Michelle and I both enjoyed the museum's ancient instrument area.
Then we went on a tour with a guide that had an orange flag- I forget her name. (Our guide through the Cinque Terra had a sunflower parasol- it's a way to identify them)
After all of that walking, up hundreds of stairs, through the Uphizzi (spelling?) palace museum's first floor, rushed through the second floor, epic basement bathrooms, etc. etc.
We had free time in which we sat down in the cafe and let our feet slowly plot to kill us in our sleep. And we leave for Rome tomorrow morning. Goodbye, feet. Hello death march.
We also went on a leather shop tour and I thought of buying something for Dad, but everything is way expensive. Especially in big cities like Florence. (Did I mention we have to walk everywhere in Florence? Buses aren't able to get through most streets) Michelle, Rebecca, Emily, Zac, and I went to the Catholic church actually named the Dome (rather than the museum) for Sunday Mass. It was really interesting- especially hearing it in Italian. The organ was crazy amazing.
Before that, though, we had free time and so we were going to see Michaelangelo's tomb, but it was already closed- so we went exploring and found a fun '99 eurocent' store instead xD
After church we went to dinner at another pizzeria where we had noodles, pork, and lots of veggies.

Daily Food List

Day 3 Dinner- pizzeria; pasta, bread, lemon and coffee cake, beef roast

Day 4 breakfast- juice, cappuccino, cheese danish

Day 4 lunch- waffles with powdered sugar

Day 4 dinner- pizzeria; pasta, pork, brushetta, veggies, stracatella gelato

After dinner we went for gelato and then went to the internet cafe (because wifi in our rooms is 10 euro and that's crazy expensive) where I paid for half an hour- 2.50, so still expensive. Then we walked even more (because we hadn't gotten enough walking in for one day) and wandered around the city a bit exploring.

Florence is a pretty small city, but with a big city vibe. Lots of people in a small area with streets that even european cars have a hard time getting through and people cross the street regardless of cars or streetlights.

Italy and Greece Adventure: Saturday 6/18/11

2011-11-16T09:19:00.001-06:00

8:38 am (Italy Time)
Bus from Mediterranean Sea to Florence
Last night's dinner was HUGE and wonderful- I wasn't really hungry for breakfast, but I packed a lunch with what I didn't eat at breakfast.
Right now we're listening to another one bites the dust on the radio- Brie would be happy. (Then we listened to Queen xD)

10:25 am (Italy Time)
Cinque Terra stop 1
I got a postcard while I was here! I <3 postcards. I can't wait until the rain we will go on soon. I didn't have a chance to go to the hello kitty store yesterday, but that's okay because I got gelato instead. Apparently here at the cinque terra (stop 1) they have nutella flavored gelato. That's just fantastic. Sometime I will have to find another store with it and buy some.

1:14 pm (Italy Time)
Cinque Terra stop 2
Just had espresso, the cups are tiny but they carry so much caffiene. I bought something called 'nutella to go' also. I've found something they need in the U.S. It's like pocky, but instead of chocolate, it's nutella and it has tea with it, too. All in one containter. It's great.

Daily Food List

Day 2 Dinner- Lasagna, pasta, pork and potatoes, fruit, salad, black raspberry gelato
Day 3 breakfast- bread, orange juice
Day 3 lunch- croissant, peach jelly, strawberry and lemon gelato, espresso

11:14pm (Italy Time)

Hotel in Florence

Took the train back to our bus, drove to Florence, toured the city and went to dinner at a pizzaria, came back to the hotel, went on another mini-tour and gelato stop with Michelle, Amy, Rebecca, Zac E, and Michael F. Back at the hotel now, Rebecca braided my hair because she was bored. Olivia is our other roommate tonight (my roommates were Olivia and Rebecca this time, in other words.) Olivia wants me to draw a picture of her, so I should start a base for that. I'm rushing because I'm kind-of sleepy. Goodnight.

Shopping List (updated throughout the trip, this is the final)

Mom- Mask (check)

Dad- Coke water bottle, because I broke his that I brought with (check)

Sue- thimble (check)

Bethy- ~~Pins, beads~~ left those at a restaurant, necklace (check)

Cassie G- Tricolore pasta (check)

Grandma Moffit- Scarf (check)

Grandpa Moffit- Truffle Oil (check)

Grandma Bice- Italia Bag (check)

Grandpa Bice- get something in Greece

Me- Postcards!!! Cat Purse! Necklace? (check)

Rae- Get something in Greece!

Italy and Greece Adventure: Friday 6/17/11

2011-11-11T20:39:00.000-06:00

5:31 pm (Italy Time)
Hotel Room
After eating I tried to sleep and failed. Then about 2 hours before landing I threw up the gross airplane food. After landing and getting my suitcase we went to a bankomat and I couldn't get money out because it was all in savings instead of checking. After driving to the hotel and calling my mom twice using Amy's phone I was able to get money, so it's okay.
Driving was long- everyone had jetlag and slept. It was good that our plans changed and we didn't go to the cinque terra right away.
Tonight I'm rooming with Amy, Michelle, and Rebecca. Michelle is already asleep and we haven't even had dinner yet. Dinner is at 7, wake up is at 6:30, breakfast at 7, leave for our next city at 8.
Apparently we will be having the same motorcoach driver for all of Italy, which is pretty awesome. I can't pronounce or spell our driver's name, but it starts with an M (Marizzio? perhaps?) He and Latitzia (however you spell that) are hilarious.
We made a cafe/gas station stop on the way here, but no one really wanted to get up and we felt so awkward talking to people in Italian, which we don't speak or understand.
I can hear cars outside our hotel room, Italian drivers are as horrible as I've heard and we all suck at crossing busy roads. There are so many cars and mopeds and bikers- it's very different from America. In Italy they park their small smart cars pretty much anywhere (except in the middle of the street) including the medians in the road. We're parked for the night here, kind of close to the beach of the Mediterranean, but it's cloudy so I couldn't bring myself to go swim. We did walk, though, so that's fun. I really want to go into this hello kitty shop next door, but it'll have to wait until after dinner when we go for gelato.

Italy and Greece Adventure: Thursday 6/16/11

2011-11-09T10:01:00.001-06:00

1:50pm (Minnesota Time)
Airplane from Minneapolis to Atlanta
We left from school this morning at 7 am to go to the Minneapolis airport. THe bus ride seemed to fly by- I sat next to Rebecca, and we didn't stop talking except to listen to Sassy's announcements. Usually I feel a little awkward sitting near people I don't know well (like sitting next to Mary and Michael A right now) but I guess Rebecca and I have actually known each other since preschool, though I don't really remember that far back.
After arriving at the airport around 8:30 and going through security we had to wait until boarding at 11:45. Michelle, Amy, Michael F, Rebecca and I wandered around the airport and also played egyptian rat for a while.
When we land in Milan it will be morning and we wil be off to see the Cinque Terra, so we need to sleep on the 8 hour flight from Atlanta to Italy. I can't wait until we land- the airplane tends to hurt my eardrums. At least I have gum to help a little. Now the flight attendant is here for food and drink so I shall be off.
(cont.) The layover in Atlanta will be the worst, I think- an hour before a long flight. Great. Bethany will be glad to know that we're watching Glee in the flight to Atlanta- and that there was a King Arthur type movie.

7:41pm (Atlanta Time)
Flight from Atlanta to Milan
We only had about half an hour to roam the airport in Georgia, but after getting on the plane one of the seats had problems so we took off at about 6:30 rather than 5:30 when we got on the plane. I have two clocks on my watch so it's actually 1:45 am in Milan. All of the timezone issues are crazy! 7 hours ahead of Minnesota, 6 ahead of georgia- going as soon as we land 'to get accustomed to the time zone and eliminate jet lag', according to Sassy (I think she just wants to pack as much trip time into 2 weeks as she can)
We return at like Midnight on the 30th, as crazy as that sounds. I got a postcard and combos while in Atlanta- I feel so American. We actually get food on our flight to Milan, which is something I've never done before... but I hear it's terrible. Also, I still have my henna from the senior party last weekend. It looks like this:

The left is an actual picture of the henna, the right is the one I drew in this journal

I kind of wish I had brought my cross stitching along- Mrs. Boline sitting next to me on the plane is doing crochet and it just makes me remember all of the stitching I need to do once I get back- and that brings everything else I need to do. Like thank-you's for graduation gifts and finishing Cassie G's video game (which I still haven't done 5 months later xD).
Speaking of which, I wonder what I should get for her while in Italy. She is our Hetalia Italy, after all.

Shopping List

Bethy- hard rock cafe pin, buttons, beads
Mom-?
Dad-?
CG-?
Brie-?
Sue-?
Raelynn-?

Kayleigh wants me to get her a picture of Sassy at the Trevy Fountain, but I'm not sure if I will get her something else or not.
I'm going to be gone for Father's day, so I should probably try and get something extra special for him.
We're being served food now so I will write more when I can.

Deviant Update: Work

2011-08-05T17:18:00.000-05:00

Yeah so I work at a grocery store now. Surprising huh? Anyway, I'm going to be less active because of that (I've been working from 9-3:30 for the past 3 days now doing training) I can't wait until school starts and I can work nights and weekends. All of this day work is just exhausting to me. I mean school will be during the day, but I'm taking all art classes so... no problems there. I've never had a problem sitting for that long, but standing is just...
Blah. I'm just tired. And out of caffeine. That's the second part of horribleness.

I was going to go to a chocolate party today- and get rid of some of my chocolate at home. I hate the stuff. I was just too tired to go. And /now/ my parents want me to go grocery shopping with them. Because I haven't spent enough time at the grocery store today. >.this isn't part of the dA update, but I will post the journal from Italy and Greece when I can. At first I was just too lazy to do it, and now I'm just too busy xP

I'm back!

2011-07-05T13:19:00.000-05:00

I have returned from Italy and Greece (actually I've been back for a little while, now but... holidays and stuff have caught up with me)
Anyway, I wrote a journal while I was there and hopefully I will be better about uploading it than my camp journal (6 days in 6 months is not a good record)

In any case: ITALY AND GREECE ADVENTURE JOURNAL is coming soon!
~Haley

Deviant Update: ~Italy and Greece~

2011-06-15T13:59:00.002-05:00

I'm so excited! I'm leaving at 7am tomorrow for a flight with my Latin class to Italy and Greece~ It's going to be so much fun! I can't wait!

Anyway, this means I'll be on a two-week hiatus after today! But I'll have lots of pictures when I get back, so be prepared for the spammage. xD

I've been so busy lately with gradumacating and such that I haven't done any stitching for so long TT-TT I guess I'll have to finish it all when I get back. And watch xxxHolic. And play Fragile dreams that I borrowed from CG. And finish all of my graduation thank you cards.
...my to do list just keeps getting longer >.<

*goes to procrastinate some more*

Tumblr

2011-04-27T17:13:00.001-05:00

So I finally just broke down and got a tumblr. Don't worry! This is my main blog and I'm not leaving it, the tumblr is just going to replace my "random thing I found on the internet" posts (otherwise known as "internet finds")

Click here to go to my tumblr!

Yeah, it's been a while since I posted. Life is catching up with me... and it's difficult to post relevant blogs every day. That is why tumblr is going to be my savior.

Anyway, have a good rest of the day~
Haley

Mini Blog: Still Alive!

2011-03-28T17:53:00.000-05:00

Do not worry! I'm alive!
Lately I've just been preparing for Anime Detour and getting all of my homework done in advance and whatnot. I'll be super busy this month, so... I'm not promising daily updates like I have done in the past few weeks.

Yeah, 'kay see ya!
~Haley

Nupa!

2011-03-12T13:49:00.001-06:00

March 11th, 2011
I went to Nupa for lunch with my Latin class; they had the most amazing salad ever. Nupa is a local Greek restaurant. I had the chicken salad and peach tiramisu, and I paid for Cassi’s steak pita and coffee tiramisu. I love tiramisu- I could eat tiramisu every day forever and be happy. Speaking of sweets, I went to Trader Joe’s last night and got Mochi ice cream. It was wonderful~ I love sweets a little too much, I think.
Anyway, on our way back to school from Nupa, Zac and Cassi played zombie run, which is like Google maps, but with zombies chasing you. We had Sherlock Holmes playing in the background and it was an epic trip. I cannot wait for the Latin trip this summer just to hang out with these people! Our Nupa field trip was like a hugely scaled down version of the Latin trip, I think.

March 8th 2011

2011-03-08T17:17:00.001-06:00

School is school; there is not much to talk about there. Yesterday we had a psychology test that I was not prepared for and the guy who usually sits next to me was in front of me instead. A dude from my speech class was sitting next to me, playing with his cell phone or iPod instead of taking the test. I missed having psych guy wish me good luck weirdly enough, although Emily said it… so I guess that’s okay. Something smelled horrible in that room and I relied a little too heavily on the smell of my red Gatorade to get me through it. By the time I went to Latin I think I probably had a red nose.
Moving on to today, after school- because school is just so boring… things I learned in creative writing club today: Erin, Brent’s little sister whom I have known for pretty much ever, but not very well tried to commit suicide. She is currently in a coma- she overdosed on her mother’s depression medication. Victoria’s, Brent’s girlfriend’s, parents have been cooking for Brent and Erin’s family since they have been living at the hospital practically. Michelle is fighting with an unnamed person who knows Victoria. Apparently, this person blames Victoria for the fact that Michelle had her phone off and was “ignoring” the person all of yesterday, though the reason her phone was off was not because of the ignoring thing. Victoria had no service in Erin’s hospital room except by the windows- she said she kept getting massive amounts of texts randomly throughout the day yesterday. Yelling at her for causing Michelle to ignore this person and dissing everything from her philosophy to her clothes from what I could understand. I feel like the room got a little quieter when this discussion was going on- as it always does when pertaining to death. It is what I call the silence of the eavesdroppers. They make idle chatter while actually listening to your conversation. When they realize how deep the conversation is they grow quiet, no longer chatting- just sadly empathizing.
I have grown a little, I will not say bored with, rather grown tired of death in my few years of living. I was close to my family and paid the price when my great aunt died. We went to church together every weekend, and so did Mitchell. He died a few years before she did. He killed himself. Brian died- of either overdose or while in a coma, they are not positive. Great aunt Phyllis’s son killed himself. Friends I will not list whom have tried to kill themselves, friends who have died from accidents or almost died, pets whom have grown too old, pets who have gotten run over by cars, family that has disappeared and suddenly you find them dead without really ever knowing what happened. I too have thought of killing myself at one point or another, although I always remembered the deaths of those I miss and realize what I would be doing to other people. I am the kind of person who lives to please other people rather than myself. Over the years I have been to enough eulogies and funerals to feel no tears of sadness running down my face when seeing another death come at me- yet because there have been so many deaths that I feel the need to be happy all of the time in order to cover for it. People may say I wear a mask of happiness- that no one, not even I, can be happy all of the time, but when it comes to sadness, I just became so exhausted with that sadness, with the memories of death, that it made no sense to be sad all of the time either. I do not hide my feelings; I just have no reason to feel anything but happy. I am still here. With all of the misfortunes I have seen, that in of itself is enough of a reason for me to be happy.

February 28th 2011

2011-03-08T17:15:00.002-06:00

The girls sitting a few seats away from me in math class are quite loud. They are both from out of town. One girl with curly blonde hair, and one with straight brown, giggle and sputter about random nonsense. They like to judge people, but only people I have never met- mostly girls from their small towns. Before math class starts, I will be sitting next to Anne silently reading while she is on her computer and I can hear them quite clearly from all the way down at the other end of the hallway. I will not say that I eavesdrop, but it is hard not to listen to their conversation when they are belting it loudly from where they sit. I sometimes wonder what the classes in front of them think of their annoying actions. Perhaps they cannot hear them over the loud ethnic sounds of their accented math teacher, whom is also quite loud, inside of the classroom I am about to enter. It is understandable that teachers are loud; they are trying to be loud enough so that the entire class of at least 45 people can hear them. However, random students should not try to compete for airtime on an imaginary radio show.

Writings from the Sick

2011-02-25T13:39:00.001-06:00

2/21/11
Sickness from last night did not carry into this morning, so I went to lunch at Cici’s and then to Victoria’s house, but I am back home now and feeling as horrible as ever. Someone tell me what happened here! I need to go do chores and homework still, but I feel like sitting in bed will feel better. Cough. Gah, sickness is not okay! I need to be stronger than this. I have too many things to do still today. Cough. Ugh, dizzy. I will return to vacuuming, now. *sigh*

2/22/11
I am even sicker this morning. *sniffle* I am skipping Latin today to get better, but I still have to do school work like for speech. I also have a bunch of application stuff for scholarships and school that are due at the end of this week. It is not a good time to get sick. The long weekend was fine to be sick in, but now is pushing it. At least I am only missing one class.

2/23/11
I went to the doctor today because of a stomachache and dizziness. Said it was just a cold, no strep, no surgery. Good news. I think- I mean I could let it upset me that I went all the way to the doctors just to be told "go home" but I am too tired for that. I will just go back to bed.

Cold. Journal.

2011-02-20T16:27:00.002-06:00

The date is actually accurate today since I have time to post this xP

Went to a party last night in a light jacket, t-shirt, and skirt- would not dare to go out like that today. Snow piles down outside and I hear the sound of snow blowers rattling against the sides of houses. The earth came back with a cold, and I think I came back from Sam’s party with one too. Cough. It does not seem to be as bad as some of my friends’ colds from previous weeks, but it was going to come to me soon enough. At least it is now, in the middle of my long break from the college, and “Monday off” break from the high school. I do not feel like doing anything, and I am sure the weather is contributing to that as well, so much for a taste of spring and 50-degree weather. As Ryan said on his facebook status, “just kidding- warm weather”
Ugh. I’m not writing anymore, I am just going back to bed.

Yesterday's Happenings

2011-02-18T14:01:00.003-06:00

2/17/11

As I sit here watching my dogs eat so that they do not eat the wrong dish (they like to switch dishes, but they get different food), I rather wonder what they go through in a day. They wake up around four to go outside and then they get cold from the winter weather and go back to sleep. Then when my mom wakes up fully around five in order to get ready for work, the dogs get up and go to the living room to bother my dad for his breakfast.
Dad sleeps downstairs on the futon most of the time, and he is usually ready to leave for work by the time I get up for breakfast at 6:45. As soon as I do get up, the dogs are at the end of the hallway waiting for Mom to finish getting ready. She gives them a treat in the morning after running the sink, so now they associate our bathroom sink with treats. Sometimes look greets me when I wake up, but usually Norah is waiting in the bathtub for Mom. Norah likes hopping in the bathtub for some reason. She has a hard time getting out, though, so we have to keep the door closed when we are not home.
After my parents leave, I tend to finish getting ready for school. During this time, the dogs either curl up on the couch in the living room or get comfortable on my Mom’s bed. That is how they are when I leave and how they are when I get home (between noon and two depending on the day). Rather, they are like that until I close the garage door behind my car and they run to the back door so that I can let them outside. I have no idea what they do for those 7 hours, but it seems like they just sleep.
Luke likes to bark at the three big lab-sized dogs in the yard behind ours. I know that if I open the gate, though, he is such a fraidy-cat he will take off running. Norah just follows suit in her barking, but she is afraid of practically everything. Then they sleep some more in the living room until about four, when they start getting excited for dinner. They bounce off the walls until five, when we actually feed them one cup of hard food, a fork full of soft food. Then they beg for our human food.
After my own dinner about an hour later, I am not sure what they do, either. I usually go to my room to do homework or surf the net, so they are out in the living room with my parents getting into mischief I am sure. In the end, I guess I am not curious enough to set up cameras or anything, so we will never know.

Journal Post 1?

2011-02-17T16:32:00.000-06:00

Now that I'm done with Camp Communication (6 days written sparsely between 6 months) I've started this observation journal, which I will hopefully keep up with. (Doubtful, but there's always the hope)

2/16/11
I told Michelle the other day that I usually write about the things I see or do, sometimes even what I am feeling. I use many allusions, though, and not anything specific. This is a separation from my usual style to try something new- writing strictly that which I notice: no allusions, only what I am feeling and what I see.
Today I am going to write about this guy who sits next to me in Psych. I do not know his name, so generally I just refer to him as psych guy. He is a bit awkward- that guy, sitting next to me in my psych class- but he is not inappropriate. I would not exactly say he is socially awkward, either. Rather, he is more polite than most people are my age. He moves quickly to grab his pencil as it falls off the table. Slamming into the desk and making a loud noise, but he caught it. He wishes me good luck before we start a test as he passes my copy to me. When taking notes he does not doodle in the margins, but he makes boxes and patterns all over the page. Somehow, he manages not to write words around these, however, and writes all of his notes at the bottom half of the page. Once, he forgot we had a test, and started frantically reading his notes- he seems to do everything quickly and in a rush, but he is never in a bad mood- not like most of the drivers speeding past me as I go the speed limit. He frantically reads his notes before every test, to be honest. He insists on finishing reading his notes before he begins, but he does not want to hinder our teacher standing in front of him with the papers either. He reads quickly, his fingers flying across the page, as he reads line by line faster and faster. Suddenly he grabs out for the tests in our teacher’s hands thrusting all but one copy towards me, closes his notebook, and pulls out a pencil in one swift movement. “Good luck!” is one of the few phrases he has ever said to me. The other phrase I can remember is “Sorry!” That guy, the one sitting next to me in psychology, is interesting in his speech and actions. He never ceases to make me stare, somehow. He is not particularly cute or funny, and I am not sure I would stare at him anymore than I do if was either of those things, but he amazes me.
I think I know why, too, he is one of the few people that, upon meeting them, I did not feel the need to be shy around them. I have always been shy to new people and loud with my close friends, but for some reason he does not invoke that fear. Maybe it is his weird behavior that I find so awkward that reminds me of my friends. My friends are awkward, too, but in a completely different way.
I blink and an hour has gone by. I have spent most of the time filling in bubbles, but the rest of it just noticing things around me. He writes fast too, but it is neat handwriting. After the test, our teacher passes around a sheet of notebook paper for attendance. She always has us write down something about ourselves. Today- it is our favorite book that she wants to know. He likes a book I have never heard of before- it seems like it would be a nonfiction book. As class goes on, we learn about thinking; as a huge group, we have to solve a bunch of logic problems, like the problems we used to do to test our learning capabilities back in elementary. He is very good at them I noticed. I also notice that I am not. He reminds me a little of the character Professor Layton, from the curious village game. That could just be because I am a video game junkie, though… and I cannot picture psychology guy wearing a top hat. Although personality wise, I could expect it of him.
Later, just before math class, I see psych guy again. He is rushing out of the classroom I am trying to enter. I have seen him here before, so it is nothing new except for the fact that he almost plows into me as he rushes past. “Sorry!” he shouts back while running to wherever he is going towards. Most people would just ignore me as they run by- I am sort of an average person and become background information a lot of the time. He noticed me, which shocked my system.
I had three tests today, in all three of my classes. For some reason, my thoughts just go back to psych guy saying “Good luck!” I hope his luck aides me, because lord knows I need it in Latin and Psychology. Math, on the other hand, I can handle. I do not want to sound like the bragging junior PSEO kid who was talking to psych guy a few weeks ago, though, “Yeah, I’m like super good at math. I’m in college math even though I’m only a junior in high school!” That is a way to get yourself beat up in some schools. I do not think that I think psych guy would hurt junior PSEO kid, though, nor would he be strong enough to injure junior PSEO kid, either. Psych guy is smaller than I am in the muscles department, and a bit taller than I am too. He is lanky, but not in a nerdy way, more like an anti-steroids soccer player.

Camp Communication: Day 6- Leaving

2011-02-17T16:30:00.000-06:00

2:02 pm 8/6/10
We left camp around noon so we should be home by 4ish. After cabin time yesterday we had the camper talent/no talent (TNT) show, but before that we had the evening program and signed these folders we hung with string onto our backs to give opinions of other people. After the TNT we had vespers and it was really sad, making everyone cry- Senior goodbyes. Then the seniors ran into the lake together and hugged everyone getting them soaking wet. After that we went to the "senior" bonfire. It used to be an only senior thing, but they're trying to be more inclusive. It was nice to see all of the seniors sharing what they want for their futures. It makes me wonder what I'll decide on by next year. we left the bonfire by 12:30 this morning and I woke up around 7:30 (which is late for camp time). After packing up everything and putting it in the lounge so that the cleaning staff could clean our cabin I walked to my last taize for the year with Angela. We talked about how much we're going to miss camp and how much we are looking forward to next year (if there is a next year). Then, after cinnamon rolls for breakfast, we cleaned up the camp as our last family group meeting. We swept and picked up garbage and took group pictures. Then we came back outside the dining hall to have a huge hug line which took hours and which Lindsey tried to stop unsuccessfully- it's one of the camp traditions we intend on keeping. Then we signed out, picked up our stuff, said good bye again and went on the road. Keeping our memories, but leaving everything else behind.

Camp Communication: Day 5- Good Night's Rest, Morning Ache.

2011-01-21T17:34:00.000-06:00

7:38 am 8/5/10
Last night before lights out we went out to the point to look at the stars. There were a couple of people that stayed back and went to sleep, so it was dark in the cabin when we got back around midnight. I slept really well, but when I got up this morning I had a pain in my neck- literally- I think I just slept on it wrong but I'm really sore. I hope I don't need to use it much for the land Olympics today. I'm off to taize now with Angela again.
9:38 am
For breakfast we had Ham, egg and cheese Mc Muffin knock-off things, orange juice, and these super cute and REALLY good miniature grapes. It's cabin time right now and the counselors are having a meeting, so most kids aren't in their cabins. It's the last full day at camp and I'm feeling a little sad about leaving, but I'm excited to be going home. Back to technology... and reality. It's freezing this morning! I was only wearing a tank top at taize -along with yoga pants and flip flops- and I practically ran back to our cabins after breakfast to put on my purple t-shirt and hoodie. At 10:30 I've got morning programming, but I'm actually excited for vespers tonight. It's when all of the seniors say goodbye since we won't have vespers tomorrow. I just can't believe we're almost to the end of the week already- almost to the end of summer already. Where does the time go? Before I know it the school year will be over and I will graduate (Ain't that the truth, right now as I'm typing this I'm already done with all of my work for the first semester of senior year!) Eeek! Just thinking about it makes me miss my elementary school days hanging in SACC with BB and Ash. (It still makes my stomach turn thinking about it.) I really miss Ash sometimes. We were BFF's and when she moved to Byron she just lost touch with BB and I, it's not like we didn't try to call her, we just had a hard time getting a hold of her. We're all so busy nowadays. (She actually has a Facebook now, so we've been talking a little more recently but we're not nearly as close as we used to be) BB moved away the year after Ash, but she only moved to the other side of town and we're still close. She and i still talk about Ash sometimes, though. I've got to get going to morning programming soon, but I'm just waiting to get home more than anything. The girls next door in South Annex are talking about A Very Potter Musical and Harry Potter. They might be girly-girls, but I'm able to find some things in common with them I guess. Weird place to find it, though.
1:13 pm
Field Olympics are after cabin time. We just got another year's worth of cabin pictures finished. (At least we didn't break any tables standing on them like last year) The Olympics start at 2:30 so we've got like an hour and 15 minutes to sleep or write or whatever. Lunch was hamburgers, but I didn't eat one. Instead I had a salad as well as the snicker/apple stuff, tatter tots with ketchup, and an apple. For desert they had leftover punch cake from the other day. The morning activity movie was extremely terrible. Bad acting, bad filming, just a horrible movie, but I guess the questions it raised were pretty interesting. Our family group is great. I feel like we're just so close to each other now. My cabin had to set tables or I would have written during the 15 minutes before lunch and after talking with Pam's family group. We also played Frogger during our family group time and afterwards Eric had to leave for some cross country thing or whatever. Wade has gone, too, because he needed to go to a funeral in Missouri on Saturday. I take it he is driving there. I was assigned a table at lunch today and ended up sitting with a bunch of seniors who have graduated and this is their last year here. It's hard to think that I will be one of them next year. (Maybe, church is having issues right now so... I may not even be able to go this year...) Well, if camp is still running anyway. (Which it is, they're getting volunteer groups to clean it up because they got funding to keep it running) From what it sounds like they aren't really sure what is going to happen in the future for Pilgrim Point Camp, but I know I'm going to miss is all the same. Last year I didn't make a lot of close friends and sorta felt like an outcast, although weather-wise it was nicer. I just hung out with everyone rather than making good friendships. This year I made some really great friends and I know that going home is going to be harder than I ever thought possible going into camp this year. I can't start thinking like I'm going away forever, though. We've still got the rest of today and part of tomorrow ...and hopefully next year, too. Life has it's twists and turns, but I've just got to stay positive through it all. I may be a serious person sometimes, but that doesn't mean I have to be pessimistic. Now that all of that is said and done, I still can't wait to be back to typing on my laptop in my own bed rather than sitting here in this uncomfortable one at camp. (Right now I wish I was at summer camp... it's too cold here! It was negative 40 wind chill last night and this morning it was only negative 16 degrees out!) I miss my parents and my pets, even though this experience has been great for me and I will miss the good times.
3:57 pm
It's beach and recreation time now after the Olympics. Eric and Sam's 'wedding' is today after Abby is done planning senior stuff and Eric gets back from kayaking. The water from the beach is pretty cold where I'm sitting right now. The field Olympics were okay. I think our team was good about cheering each other on and other teams, too. I had fun at least. I assume that the winners will be announced at dinner at 6. Vespers tonight is going to be so sad since the graduated seniors will all be saying goodbye to everyone. I'll miss Abby, she and I were closer than Sam and I. In the end we all need to move on from our high school days, though. It's already 4pm. Tomorrow I'll already be leaving and heading home at this time. It went too fast.
7:00 pm
This is the only free time before evening programming, the talent/ no talent show, vespers, and the bonfire (which I might skip to go to sleep or look at the stars) Dinner was the usual spaghetti. (The annual goodbye dinner from the staff). I got sunburned a bit today so I know Mom is going to be disappointed that I didn't wear sunscreen at all this week when I see her tomorrow. (I almost made it the whole week without it, that's how strange the weather was.) Tomorrow for breakfast I'm sure we're having cinnamon rolls as another annual thing. I'm tired and I just love how beautifully peaceful it is here. I could fall asleep anywhere, I swear. Taize again tomorrow, I'm sure, in case I can't write until after then. Sam had her wedding earlier and it was amazing. I think North Shore cabin is having a stealing problem with Jessi again. I'm glad that I'm not in their cabin- I'm also glad that I don't need to resort to that. I'm going to make some more duct tape bracelets, so I'll write when I can.

Mini Blog: New Year, New Blog

2011-01-12T16:58:00.004-06:00

It's a new year and I'll be blogging as much as I possibly can! January is going to be a hectic month for school, so posting is going to be delayed even more most likely, but I thought I would update once for the new year :D

If you want to help me out, I need viewers to vote for me in this scholarship competition: Brickfish Social Media: Eyes

Mini Blog: Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T15:55:00.002-06:00

I haven't been online a ton lately, but I'll get back to posting as soon as I am able. I've still got camp journal stuff to post and all of that, but I've also got a ton of other stuff on my plate so I'll get to it when I get to it xD

TTYL,
~Haley

Camp Communication: Day 4- Up and at 'Em...

2010-12-11T17:47:00.001-06:00

Note: it's really fun to be typing about camp back in August when I thought 70 was "chilly" because right now it's only 8 degrees, we're in the middle of a blizzard, and we've got at least a foot of snow- maybe even 3 feet. I find it funny, anyway.

7:28 am 8/4/10
...with nothing to do but sit outside. I finished my book yesterday with a whole 3 days of camp left, so now I've got a lot of time to be writing. I was feeling a little sick this morning and got up early to take a shower, so I'm a little early for taize. I think the camp Olympics start today. I hope it's as nice out later as it is now. It was a little chilly last night in the cabin, but this morning it's the perfect temperature. Plus there are birds chirping as I'm sitting on a picnic table by the dining hall, so it's pretty nice right now.
9:32 am
I was so tired that I was falling asleep in taize this morning. I know it's optional, so I could have slept in, but I've gone every other day and it's pretty relaxing to just sit and listen to the chanting-type music (so relaxing that it made me sleepy!) After taize I went to breakfast, which was pancakes and sausage. I also had an apple to wake me up before we got the pancakes. I wanted cinnamon toast crunch cereal, but that cereal didn't get taken out so I had some cheerios instead.
Now it's cabin time, so I'm hanging out in the annex lounge. Later I'll be going to the first day of Olympics. I'm sorta hoping it's not the water Olympics for today since it's cool out today and I don't need to go swimming. It's sorta interesting to watch the people go in and out of the doors here. People watching is so fun. The maintenance guy is out mowing the lawn on his riding mower, which just reminds me that I'm going to have to start mowing again when I get home. Ugh, work. I've just got to keep in my mind that I'm saving for AD and the Latin trip.
I saw Ronnie today. He's the cutest dog in the universe (aside from my dogs at home, of course) I should probably change to tennis shoes for the Olympics, so I'll write later.
1:22 pm
We had family group time after talking with these 2 ministers about their jobs for morning activity. We played Mafia (Angela and I won!) and ate candy. Then we hung out a bit before lunch: gross chicken patties and chips. The chips were good, though, because I don't think I could go a week without chips. Now we're having cabin time before the water Olympics. I'm not exactly excited for it, but I think I'll be okay. I don't really think I'm going to be *swimming* a whole lot, more just getting hit with water balloons. At least, I hope not.
I found out that the girls across from me are Rachel (I got is right!) and Jackie. Jackie is the one on the bottom of the bunk whereas Rachel is the one on the top.
Sam is crying. She had just gotten her wisdom teeth out and her mouth swelled up again. Part of it is just because she was just talking to her parents- which makes people emotional, I guess- but I remember getting mine out. I know her pain. BB got dry sockets when she got hers out. we got ours out at around the same time. Soon I'll have to go to *ugh* the water Olympics. I'm not really excited at all.
4:26 pm
The girls in South Annex are listening to 'Rock your Body' by the Black Eyed Peas. It makes me miss my iPod I left at home. I've got an mp3 player, but it has really old music since I can't change the songs anymore. I've also got a fly pestering me here in the Annex lounge. It was happening earlier during family group time, too. Water Olympics were't as bad as I thought they would be. After dinner the winners will be announced. My family group is a little intense, but it's all in the name of fun. After getting some Gatorade Mary and I went to the north shore cabin to get some stuff. It brings back memories of fall CYE here. I've never gotten a bottom bunk any time that I've been here. I was in the north shore cabin the first time I was ever at Pilgrim Point. Then I was in the maple cabins on the hill. (Both are considered the worst cabins to be in at pilgrim point) but now I'm in the annex, which is okay.
I think it would be nice to be in the cabins just a few feet from us towards the point. The guys are there now and no one is on the hill. I believe it's called the lodge. They've got one of the best lounges and some great cabins (and the best bathrooms.) It's one of the few places here that isn't practically falling apart. Ack! Now there are two flies bugging me. I'm moving somewhere to draw. I still can't wait to go home. I love camp, but I miss home while I'm here and miss both home and camp while I'm at school. Oh! Now they're listening to Owl City (whom are also from MN, by the way) Okay, time to go draw before these flies drive me nuts!
6:49 pm
We got 6th place in the team stuff, but it's okay. I'm not really interested in competition anyway. I'd much rather be home sleeping than here wasting away my last few summer moments before senior year. It's super fun and everything, but I feel like we're always on the move- that when I do get free time I'm so tired I just want to sleep. Then, by night time I'm so rested I don't need any sleep. I guess I just need to stop taking naps. Or get more adjusted to "camp time" as Leah calls it. I'm going to make some duct tape bracelets now, I think.
8:54 pm
For dinner we had quesadillas, sour cream, etc. we also had ice cream- vanilla for once!
We played Mafia again in our groups, but beforehand we had an affirmation circle. It was hard not to thank everyone. Everyone was so nice! We even made Mary go into the circel and tell her the things we like. Afterwards, she said that at first she was annoyed that our group never talked or stayed on topic, but by the end she felt we were really a family. I made a bracelet for Lindsy and for Mary (although I can't find her in order to give it to her.) She might be at the super hero dance already. I'll go look. It starts soon anyway.
11:15 pm
The dance was fun! There weren't as many people there for some reason, but it made me feel less self-conscious and I could actually let go and have fun (very different from the previous dances). The girls are thinking about going to the point for star gazing. They asked Cecilia who basically told them to ask Julia whom they haven't been able to ask because she does Vespers planning and stuff. Angela and I go to taize together every morning and have good talks about anything on our minds. She's one of the many people I'll miss. At first I felt really homesick, but now that it's reaching the end of our camp days I know I'm going to miss it here. I've finally become confident anyway. On the first day they asked us what we wanted out of our camp experience to take home with us, and I think (even though I said I would just learn and take home with me anything and everything I could) that what I truly wanted was to come home with was the ability to conquer that Yuki-type shyness (props for fruits basket reference!) I get when meeting new people and begin to work at bettering myself. I know that they wanted a more religious answer, but I'm not a very religious person. I don't know if God exists, but I do know that I won't feel certain about other issues like that in my life until I'm confident in myself and my ideas. (and not just around my friends, whom I know will like me no matter what)

Deviant Update: Stressed

2010-12-06T14:34:00.002-06:00

Haley is stressed. In 2 weeks Haley's first semester of college will have finished. Now, this means 2 things:
1) in 2 weeks I will only have to go to one class a day
...and that class starts at around 12:15 daily, meaning I will get to sleep!
2) I've got finals this week and next. I also have a quiz in Latin.

AND! Because of my schedule in January at the high school, I will have to leave about 15 minutes early for about 4 days just to get to class at the college on time. (The high school schedule doesn't switch to third quarter until the end of January)

Schedule changes Haley does not like. Usually I miss a day every other month because of early release schedule at the high school- which I will be doing again this Friday.
However, when the schedule switches to next semester at the college I will miss late start days instead of early releases.
MEANING: I miss my high school class once two months in a row. And have to leave early 4 days as well. AND THIS CLASS SUCKS TO MAKE STUFF UP IN! Dang it, Latin! Grrrr.

And to add insult to injury I just had to pay 100 dollars to get my DSi exchanged at Gamestop for a new DSi because the battery went and esploded! Or rather, my parents had to pay for it because I'm broke... and they also bought me new expensive boots. Which means I'm not getting a new laptop for christmas anymore. Sad.
(Although I'm planning on getting money instead of gifts from most of my relatives, so I'll buy it myself if I have enough.)

Anyway, I will now continue my job search! That way I will be able to afford Christmas presents!

Update on job search, since I just now realized I haven't posted anything about it here
I have applied to the following places:
-Herbergers (Denied my application within 2 hours or something like that)
-Chuck-E-Cheese (Hasn't opened yet here, probably won't before the holidays)
-Michaels
-Quite a few other places I can't remember right now (all online applications and will e-mail me later)

I have applications to turn in for the following places:
-Barnes and Noble
-Bath and Body Works

I am currently applying for:
-Macy's
-Sears
-JC Penny

...and I should also really be working on Latin homework, so TTYL!

Mini Blog: High School Musical

2010-11-20T14:43:00.001-06:00

Well tech week has come to an end and the Mayo Stage Door production of High School Musical will finish it's last show this year tomorrow. Then I will get back to blogging. School plus Drama equals no free time. However, I like being so busy and I'm going to miss it. :(

In any case I have to get back to homework. Bye-nii!
~Haley

Camp Communication: Day 3- Swimming...?

2010-10-11T17:14:00.001-05:00

Note: Muffins Weasley told me to introduce this some way when we were talking in Latin earlier today, but I forgot what she said... so I'll just introduce it like this. It's been around 2 months since my last post, so I should probably try and finish this camp stuff which happened around 3 months ago xD

7:32 am 8/3/10
Apparently at 7:30 am today the polar bear swim was supposed to happen, but there are no lifeguards here. Well, one showed up eventually, but I don't think she's very happy about being here. I got up to take a shower because someone's alarm went off at 7, plus it was nice to cool off from the hot night. I wore shorts last night and used the fleece part of my sleeping bag as a blanket and the sleeping bag itself as sheets for the bed. (Why on earth did I bring a *cool* weather sleeping bag?!?) I'll head to taizei at 8 I think.
7:55 am
The candles aren't lit yet (thank goodness), but the music is nice. Taizé is actually spelled like this, I've just learned. The song books are really neat! They're in all sorts of different languages (including Latin, and I actually understand it!) I also just noticed I'm using an RCTC pen. A cruel reminder that when camp is over (not that I'm not still counting down the days until Friday or anything...) I'll only have a short amount of time until college starts.
9:34 am
Breakfast was biscuits, gravy, eggs, potato cakes, and apple juice. I had lemon tea this morning and it was really good, even by my standards. I actually slept really well last night for some reason. I should definitely wear shorts to sleep from now on. It's really nice out right now, so I'm hoping it doesn't get warmer during the day and make it really hot tonight. It's day 3 of camp. I leave in 3 days. Still counting down. I love camp, but I just feel more comfortable in my air conditioned home. Plus I don't know as many people this year and I feel left out. I guess I'm just letting my shyness get the better of me (like Yuki from fruits basket) At home I'm not shy, but I guess with my church friends is a different sort of atmosphere than with my friends at home, especially since at home I'm not really close with any of my church friends. They're the sort of prep/ jock type of group, but not as dumb blonde-ish as "Rachel" whereas I'm more of an artsy/nerd/theater type. There are lots of musical/artsy people here from the cities, but the only person I know is actually into the technical side of theater is Erica, even though she is primarily an actress. I know I'm horrible for labeling people like this, but that's really how the world of a teenager works. I'm not really an adult, but I'm pretty sure the adult world works like that, too. They're just better about hiding it. Mom says her work is kind-of clique-y sometimes. Speaking of Mom, she wouldn't let me bring my phone so I'm pretty much out of reach from all of my home friends right now. I've got to be in the Rec. Hall for morning activity (another movie) and family group stuff again by 10:30. It's almost 10 o'clock now and I really want to read before going back.
1:19 pm
For morning activity instead of a movie Wade talked about the future of camp and what we would like to see. He said that less people are coming to camp number-wise, although senior high is the biggest. Then, in our family groups we went to the lake to discuss things using an imaginary budget of $50,000. Then I read a bit before lunch. We had sub sandwiches that were really good. "Rachel" gave me a candy apple lollypop when I got here and I've been saving it for the ride home, although I sorta want it now. Speaking of wanting something, according to Wade someone broke into the freezer last night sometime and took ice cream. Now it's bunk time and people are resting- we just finished practicing our cabin skit for tonight. My line is "which boy?" for a joke we're doing at the beginning (instead of doing background dancing.) Out of context it probably sounds silly, but we're supposed to be acting out Veggie Tales in the pretend camp bathroom set... and Veggie Tales is silly. Larry is played by Abby, Bob is played by Sam, Little Asparagus is played by Leah, the Peach is played by Maggie, the girl who's name I don't know is the narrator, and the Grape is played by "Rachel." The rest of us are just girls in the bathroom as back-up people. I've got about 50 minutes before "drawing club" workshop with a staff who's name I forget (It's Jon). All I know is that it isn't Ben, who looks sorta boyish and apparently passed out drunk last night in Collin's room the other night (according to Collin's mom, the health nurse).
For workshop I was thinking about going on the pontoon, since I haven't gone on it here, but I don't think the point is very big or open to have a lot of fun on the pontoon. I also thought about going on the picture hike with RJ (Ron, our pastor's, son) but I brought my art stuff and I've got plenty of pictures from last year. The scribble in the corner of this page (non existent online, obviously) is because the pen started running out of ink, so I'll take that as a sign that I should read; and write later.
11:00 pm
After drawing for an hour, which was very relaxing, I went over to the dock to hang out. I was going to go swimming, but we had vespers planning soon and I wasn't in a huge hurry to get changed. Then I had a peanut butter sandwich in the dining hall before hanging out with David Becker, the camp director, and some of the other campers I rarely hang out with. After seeing my sandwich they made Cody be a waiter and get them food from the dining hall, too. It was funny. I don't think I'll be swimming much this summer, but I'm fine with just hanging out by the water. Just before vespers planning I was spraying on bug spray on my left leg and I saw a mosquito bite my right leg. I was pissed off.
Then I helped the message portion of vespers by summarizing the bible verse we read.
"Samuel 1; 20, 1-42 summary:
The friends David and John were talking. John was the son of the king and David was next in line to be king. David wanted to know why John's father, Saul, wanted him killed. John and David made a plan for John to find out whether Saul actually wanted David killed because John was unsure. After the plan succeeded and John found out that Saul did, in fact, want to kill David, John went to tell David instead of letting Saul get away with the murder."
Vespers went very good tonight, I thought. It centered around friendship and how that connects with religion. Earlier today we were talking about relationships in the afternoon group time. I was "Bill Clinton" and had to find Hillary Clinton and explain how our relationship was good- which I found ironic since theirs wasn't very good. Then we had to do some stuff using communication things (connecting communication to friendship) and non verbal communication (no hand signals, either) to get in order of our birthdays. It was interesting how people mouthed words and wrote down the date on their arms. We also watched a Youtube karaoke of "lean on me." Then we got into our family groups (we now call Mary "Mom") and did some friend- making activities like this thing with toilet paper where we said things about ourselves for each piece of toilet paper we had. Afterwards we went to vespers. Along with our "message" part, Kirk, Leah, Sam, and Eric helped with the ritual part. Tonight we did a baptism ritual where we went to the beach and got water from bowls and more washed our hands than anything, but it was the symbolism that counts. I'm waking up tomorrow for Taizé again with Abby.

Camp Communication: Day 2- Morning!

2010-10-11T16:19:00.000-05:00

7:44 am 8/2/10
I woke up at 6:30 this morning after little rest and much itching from all of the bugs. I brought a cool weather sleeping bag by accident, but I took the fleece out this morning and will probably be sleeping under that tonight. I got up and took a shower in the guys bathroom at the annex (because before breakfast and after vespers girls can go in either at the annex- the guys sleeping in the lodge can use girls or guys there.) The floor was wet and the water was sorta cold, but it was much appreciated after a hot night. Soon it will be 8 and I will be going to the tai-zen event in the peace lodge up on the hill near the Rec. Hall. It's these early mornings that energize me here, but I hate at home, lol. All I know is that by Friday I'll be tired and ready to see my family again- but now with new religious knowledge. I never think of myself as "Christian" until I get up here and see the peace I'm getting away from technology and the world. I'm not really sure if it's God that sent it to me since I'm pretty sure my parents paid 600 dollars to go here, but I'm glad for it anyway.
9:35 am
I just got back from breakfast. It was french toast, apple juice, and bacon. I got a chance to draw this morning during tai-zen It's very peaceful sitting up there. I had to leave early to set up for breakfast, but this whole place is relaxing so the tai-zen is just like an added bonus. It's cabin time right now- for us to clean up and have free time before going to morning activities at 10:30. That's when we get in our family groups again. I wish they printed out schedules and gave us actual name tags like at CYE, but I guess there's no helping it. It was so foggy out this morning that I could barely see. It reminded me a lot of before we left last year. The one day it was cold and wet. It's so muggy out this year, but at least it's sunny today.
12:18 pm- AM/PM...? I get so confused. It's around noon.
I've got some free time before lunch at 12:30. The movie earlier was better than yesterday's, although we spent the whole time working on our group flag and playing with play-doh instead of discussing it. Our family group's name is "sangre devida" which is Spanish for Blood (of life). The "of life" part is so it can be more appropriate for church camp, but we have a bloody cross on our flag so I don't think the 'appropriate' thing is working. I had to put bug spray on for the first time this summer (eek!) because I swear they're trying to eat me alive. I'm really hoping it doesn't storm today and it stays cool, because the lightning last night coming back from Rec. Hall was sorta scary.
1:22 pm
It's cabin/bunk time. It's normally nap time around here, but it's so hot in our cabin I don't think anyone will be napping except for Rochelle who seems un-fazed by any heat. We're supposed to be thinking of an idea for cabin skits, but I don't think I'd be really interested in it. I'm really not excited for square dancing either. Apparently it's required (unlike swing dancing which was optional last year)
4:48 pm
I'm sitting at the beach after our scavenger hunt. It's super hot and I'm really drained from all of the running. I would go swimming but there's only half an hour left and I don't really want to change. Free time like this is the best, but I'm still dreading what comes next. The water in the lodge is freezing, but it's great to have on hot days like this. I might not drink water much outside of camp, but it's really easy for me to get dehydrated here because of all of the exercise we do.
7:05 pm
At 7:30 I'll be leaving for the Rec. Hall to do *ugh* square dancing. I just got back from dinner which was Ham, Mashed Potatoes, Bread, and butter (and gallons of water/ juice). Everyone really just wants to sleep, I don't know why they're making us square dance, especially when we're already dehydrated. Rochelle keeps staring at me from her bunk on the bottom and to the left from mine. She somehow acquired a lighter, too. Fire has always just freaked me out and I have a hard time talking to people I've never hung out with before. I wish I could tell her to cut it out, but I'm afraid she'll be offended or something. Plus she's really the only person I know here besides the people from church I came up here with and the few campers from last summer. The people from church I came here with aren't unfriendly, but really only polite since I'm not in the same social circle as them in school. I'm heading for Rec. Hall now before I write any more.
11:03 pm
During Cabin time earlier we decided that for our cabin skit we're going to sing the Hairbrush song from Veggie Tales- silly songs with Larry. Those who aren't playing vegetables are dressing in towels (over our clothes of course) to be background dancers and to be choreographed by Cecilia, a staff member and choreographer/ future minister. She sleeps in the bunk below mine and bunks next to Julia, the other staff member in our room, and of course Rochelle. Above Rochelle is Maggie from our church who goes to Century high school and across from Maggie is Sam (also from our church and my school.) Below Sam is Emily from my family group and a new camper this year. Across from me on the top and next to Emily are 2 sort of Preppy girls I remember from last year, but I don't know their names. The one across from me is Rachel, I think. On the other side of the one I'm calling Rachel is Leah from my church and school and below her is Abby. Abby goes to our church and school and is a year older than me, she's Sam's older sister. Everyone else I believe is my age (with the exception of the counselors) Across from Leah and above Julia is an empty bunk where we put all of our stuff. Maimey (I think I spelled that correctly) from last year's camp was supposed to be there, but she's sick. I also feel really bad about kicking the girl out who won Ms. Sibley county (or whatever her title and name are- she's fair royalty in any case) because I didn't know no one was there. Plus Rochelle was supposed to be in South Annex instead of North and it just got really confusing.
Anyway, after square dancing to a song and overheating and then doing the hokey pokey and also drinking lots of water and Gatorade, we went to relax for a while before vespers. The instructor for square dancing was strange and threatened to leave whenever we were only a little noisy (ignoring the fact that it's echo-y in there and there were 2 fans blowing loudly)
Vespers was very calming and I just wanted to relax and rest before lights out for the night (11:30! We're early tonight *sarcasm*) I went to the dining hall to snack quick, but they had oreos and I despise chocolate so I just had red drink. That's what everyone calls juice here, because it's not kool-aide but it's basically the same thing (however, it's vegan friendly) so they just say the color of the juice + drink. I kind-of like it, honestly. It's different in any case. Now I can tell I'm getting tired because I'm rambling about juice. I say lights out for Haley is earlier than the lights actually being turned off tonight.

9:20 PM 8/21/10
Quick Unrelated Note: I was featured! Please check it out by clicking here

Deviant Update: Senior Year starts humming Lucky Star opening

2010-08-17T16:36:00.000-05:00

Quick Post: I know I'm supposed to be typing another camp update right now, but I thought I might as well post my schedule here while I'm online. Going to get the BEST NACHOS EVAR soon, so I'd better make this quick by just using my deviantart journal update.

Here's my NEW CLASS SCHEDULE! It's a little confusing to read because I really have 2 schedules. 1 at the high school and 1 at the college. So if there's anything you think I could do to be more clear about it, let me know.

1. PSEO (Art Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:30-10:45)
2. PSEO (Art Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:30-10:45)
Advisory- Yetterboe
3. PSEO (English Mondays and Wednesdays 10:00-10:50)
4. PSEO (History Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 11:00-11:50)
5. Latin 4- Sassenberg (12:15- 1:05)
6. Senior Privilege (My Lunch on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday)
7. Senior Privilege

In other news, I'm going to the steel county fair tonight to get the BEST NACHOS EVAR: Cindy Nachos! I'll also hopefully be going to the Gamestop in Owatonna to get the original Pheonix Wright Ace Attorney game to play. They don't have it here in Roch, which makes me sad because I wanted to get it so I would have time to play it before school starts (on Monday for the PSEO classes)

Speaking of Ace Attorney, I've joined this: (click if you want to join, too) ace attorney icon family as Cindy Stone. Yes, I know that means I was murdered, but the important thing to remember here kids is that I was murdered FIRST. I would have liked to be Franziska Von Karma because I cosplay as her younger version, but she was already taken. Oh well.

Camp Communication: Day 1- Hell isn't much hotter than this place

2010-08-14T13:11:00.000-05:00

7:18 am- 8/2/10
I left Rochester yesterday morning at 11 o' clock in a nice air conditioned car driven by Maggie's mom, Nancy. We stopped at subway around 1 o' clock for lunch which she paid for (super nice of her, by the way.) We got to camp at the same exact time as all of the other kids from Roch. which was kinda freaky. We arrived at check-in at 3 o' clock to a bunch of chittering campers and... unprepared staff. They got ready soon enough, though. After check-in we drove off to the temporary parking by the annex to unload our stuff. We accidentally dropped our things off in South Annex instead of North at first, but we got things figured out eventually. Soon after Nancy left us to be shuffled around like veggies on a young kid's plate, it started raining. It was extremely humid and warm despite the gloomy and normally chilly weather. After it stopped raining for a bit we shuffled off to the Rec. Hall (where we had checked in) to make name tags. After a little discussion on safety and a movie about the UCC's views, we met the new pastor for vespers. He announced that instead of organizing vespers by grade level, such as was done in the past years (although I wouldn't know because this is only my second year here) that campers would sign up for individual roles in making vespers, which was lead by staff members. I forget all what they were called but the descriptions are as follows:

1) Creating Space lead by Julia- basically making it look nice. No talking involved. All were filled by the time I signed up.

2) Message lead by the pastor- what everyone from my church signed up for so we could all be together. Supposed to be the overall theme and go along with the "theme of the day" which was what all of our activities were based on.

3)Scripture lead by Ben- chosen after the message to fit.

4)Music lead by David- for the very talented among us campers in an area I personally am not skilled.

After signing up we went to dinner in the dining hall (cheesy bread and apple sauce!) where I sat with some old and new friends. The day never seemed to end. We got organized into our family groups (formerly buddy groups/ bible study groups.) I'm in the red group with leader Mary. Mary and Lindsay like to compete- I was in Lindsay's group last year :D I love Mary's group. We've already connected, which is weird because I didn't really know anyone in my group last year. After a discussion on the movie and some get to know you stuff (along with a lot of off-tasking) we went to the Rec. Hall again to watch the staff talent/ no talent show. I think they were trying to inspire us for our talent/ no talent show, but it just made us sleepy (until, that is, the choreographed dance at the end) After vespers and a snack it was off to our cabins in the dark (and no one thought to bring a flashlight because it was still light when we went up to Rec. Hall) I think I was eaten by bugs during the night, too. Before bed we were told that we were serving breakfast as a cabin and to be at the dining hall be 8:45. Then we hung out for a while until lights out at midnight. It's a common thing here to go to bed late and get up early- not a very healthy thing to do honestly. We did so much during the day that if it wasn't so hot in our room last night I probably would've gotten a good rest.

Camp Communication: Beginning

2010-08-08T11:17:00.000-05:00

At camp last week I made sure to journal about everything that was going on, so for the next few blog updates I'll be posting all six of my journals. I also got a lot of drawing done at camp so stay tuned by going on my deviantart page for all of my drawings, and my facebook for all of my pictures. Thanks much!

~Haley

Life in a Day Project: Post 200

2010-07-31T15:27:00.004-05:00

Here's my video for Youtube's "life in a day" project. It's unedited, just a warning.

~Haley

Edit: I just realized this is my 200th post! In honor of this you get... to have more blog posts from when I was journaling at camp? I hope that works for you, because I can't think of anything else to give.

Deviant Update: Camp!

2010-07-31T15:24:00.001-05:00

I'm going to church camp for about a week! So I expect you all to post 100 things on here so I can get over 9000 messages in my DA inbox, okay? It's my dream to come back to that! We'll see if it happens.
Anyway, I'll be gone from 11 am tomorrow, August 1st, (not promising I'll be online before I leave) until sometime on Friday, August 6th.

...but don't worry! Last year I came back with many new pictures to post! Maybe I can get to work on finishing the 100 themes challenge ^-^' I've got 18 out of 100 finished, but I want to upload them in order, so I've only got #1 and #2 uploaded right now.

I'll have lots of pictures on my facebook from camp and I'll come back more energized to do work. Hopefully. This does mean my cross stitching is going to have to wait, but I knew I'd have to cut down on it eventually because school starts on the 23rd of August... which is closer than I want to believe.

I'm really excited to be going again since I didn't know if I would have the money to go this year! I love church camp, which I know sounds insane since I'm mostly an athiest anyway, but we don't really do a lot of church stuff and it's a relaxing break from technology and my busy life before school starts up again.

So, I'll talk and post pictures when I get back!

~Haley

I was featured!

2010-07-22T15:19:00.003-05:00

Check it out here: link

This is one of the cross stitches you can find on my DA account (link is on the right)

I also wanted to mention that this is post number 198... only 2 more until 200! I still haven't a clue what to celebrate with, so I may have to push the celebration onto number 250 or 300 if I can't find a way to celebrate...

I also have a new vlog for all to see here:

Anyway, that's all for now!
~Haley

Deviant Update: I'm a Geek for Life

2010-07-13T23:04:00.002-05:00

So, I read a blog today about an author's fandoms (can be read here: http://jaclyndolamore.blogspot.com/2010/07/chronology-of-geekery.html) and I decided to make my own life's story based on my fandoms.

Between birth and age 5 Around this time power rangers and Barney were the hit thing. You were the bomb in preschool if you had a barney lunch box (which I did) and a power rangers ring (which I also did.) Towards the end of this age I was also really into polly pockets. Those little plastic toys you kept in necklaces or little houses they probably aren't allowed to sell anymore because of choking hazards. I'm not talking about the lame rip offs of barbies that are being sold now, although I think I had both those and barbies at some point during this age too. I didn't have a lot of true fandoms at this time because I live a sheltered middle class suburban american white girl kinda life.

Age 5 to 7 When I was 5 sailor moon was starting to gain popularity on the new(ish) cartoon network. But it was on after my bed time so, even though I caught the first five minutes of it, I don't really remember much except for the shiny transformation sequences and "star power!"
I also began my obsession with pokemon, which still lives on (if you can't tell by the deviations I've posted recently) but now I'm more into the video games rather than the show. I still have quite a few VHS tapes and one or two Dvds (remember those days when you had more VHS tapes than dvds?) of the show and movies. In case you were wondering, I am a magikarp fangirl. I know we are few, but we are proud. I have almost every single magikarp card ever. (Not every one because I was like 7 and the internet was a new concept to me)

Age 8 to 10 I had a rough time around this age (which I won't get into...) and all I really remember for obsessions was Disney movies. I always kinda had the obsession with the music from the movies ever since these "DiC (owned by Disney at the time) music VHS tapes" which I had. I got my first CD for my 8th birthday which was the soundtrack to Tarzan and I also got a boom box/ radio/ CD and music tape player type thing which is still in my room and still functioning- although the tape player eats the tapes sometimes. I still have more soundtracks than actual music and I blame this age for that. I was a music junkie, or as much of one as an 8-10 year old can be. My grandma, who lives down the street from me, had an old record player and 8 track player that I would listen to for hours. I can still find my favorite record in her basement even though it's filled with so much rummage sale junk that you can barely move around down there. My favorite song she had on a record was Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini.
Another thing I was obsessed about around this time was Austin Powers. I had an intelligent babysitter who let me watch 'Austin Powers the Spy who Shagged Me' when I was 8 years old. And I liked it. But not for the wrong parts, don't worry I didn't even understand that part. I liked the opening music sequence and Dr. Evil. I bought a CD called "the songs of the 60s" because I thought it was the Austin Powers soundtrack. (It had people who looked like go-go dancers on the front, it was logical for an 8 year old) my dad bought me some pet fish and had me name them. I don't remember what I named the neons because they were so small they got sucked up by the cleaner in a few hours, but I named the algae eater 'fat bastard.' I didn't know it was an insult; I thought it was a Scottish name, Okay?

Age 11 to 13 I remember about this time that I was looking into our old movie collection and fell in love with gremlins and the labyrinth. I claim to be :iconMuffins-Weasley:'s intro. to the labyrinth. I hated those movies when I was little and now I can't even begin to wonder why. David Bowie was my hero because he had awesome hair and talked to amazing creatures (the separation between movies and real life hadn't really hit home quite yet at 11, although I was starting to get it) I think this is about when I stopped watching TV and obsessively went online and on our gamecube. I am a video game freak, but I have lurked the internets for a lot longer than that. I had a gameboy color when I was younger, but I really only used it on long car trips. Around 12-13 I was on AOL for hours in the chatrooms, lurking and not talking a lot... that's when I invented the name puppyrock3, actually. I still use it because I was online for so long (about 4 hours a day which is a long time when you're that old) I remember it. We switched over to charter and didn't have dial up around age 13 and it was the best day of my life at the time. And, of course, the worst because the internet was out for a few days.
Somewhere along the way I fell in love with reading. I don't really know when I had time to do it with all of my fandoms in progress (I know I don't have much time for reading now, even though I enjoy it.) Maybe when the internet was out? I was a fantasy freak for a long time. My favorite books were the series about Avalon by Rachel Roberts (which most people haven't heard of, but I got a bunch of younger middle schoolers hooked on when I was in 8th grade) and Harry Potter. Funny story, though, it took me a year to actually start the first HP book because I thought it was too long and I didn't get why everyone liked it so much. Now I am as much of a HP freak as the next geek.

Age 14 to 16 I became more of an otaku when I was introduced to Anime Club at school by some friends in freshman year, but until then I stuck to my video games. Animal Crossing, Harvest Moon, and Super Smash Bros. All three of which made me an otaku from the beginning without me even realizing it. Another huge one is Final Fantasy 1 and 2 which I had for the game boy advance. I had every nintendo system ever made at one point, but we sold a few, traded a few and some just stopped working... GO NES! Duck hunt, tetris, and pong were my dad's generation but he started me on the video game madness by introducing me to them. I also got hooked on SEGA at around 14 with a game that involved a purple guy flying around and doing something I can't remember that always made me want to sing the flying purple people eater song. And Sonic, of course, can't forget the blue guy... because I could play that one on my GBA instead of on my friend's dreamcast.
Now for anime: for a while there I never really finished any manga series, I just read the first one or two and then got on with it (I mean why couldn't the whole story all be in one book, like a normal book, seriously? Series are one thing 40 books are another) Deathnote and Naruto were my first introductions to manga... and I still like them, even though I don't really want to finish the series because I'm lazy and that requires finding them all and stuff ^-^' I don't think I ever finished fruits basket either... Hmmm, have I ever finished any manga?
Anyway,I am a huge fan of Box Sets for Anime on Dvd. I love anime. It's the best thing since sliced bread. But I hate cliff hangers because I will forget about the series and then some day remember about them and think "what the hell happened after that?" *ahem* ghost hunt *ahem*
I blame :iconFyretail13: for my introduction to fanfic. I met her freshman year in drama club. I'm including the following description because i am also a theater geek and I count that as an obsession. She was reading harry potter behind a giant green head backstage with a booklight. I was a sound helper monkey, in charge of holding the mics when they weren't being used and wearing them to look official... and she was on props, in charge of green glasses and the security's earpieces. By the way I bought zebra print and orange tie die duct tape to add to my purple tie die and black duct tape. Duct tape is the official signature of a techie. I plan on having all four in my senior pictures in one way or another.

Through my life I've had many other obsessions. my obsession with creating accounts online everywhere and then going back to them 3 years later to realize Ive been there before. My temporary ice skating (both hockey and figure skating) obsession. My obsession with dogs and dolphins. My obsession with Latch hooking. My obsession with renaissance festivals. My obsession with the Legend of Zelda. My obsession with onigiri, even though I never knew that's what they were called until fruits basket. A lot of these obsessions are still going on, and I really hope I don't grow out of some of the ones that help to identify me right now. I love being a geek and I couldn't live without being a little out of the ordinary.

I'm sorry I couldn't include all of my friends that I've met thus far, but I know for a fact that you guys are just as much of geeks as I am. Some quick mentions: :iconhiddenshadowwalker: was there when I began coding my own website when I was 9 (I remember because she called me the best nerd ever on fictionpress that day) and :iconkajisan: was also in drama and anime club with me (along with :icontobi-kun-no-baka: in anime club, too)! :iconcarlyndra: was my fellow sailor moon lover from my elementary school days in summer sacc. and I know I've got lots of other nerd friends out there. Kayleigh doesn't count though, because she's dead, she has not seen anything in the history of ever, and she didn't like the labyrinth when we watched it. I still love my non-nerd friends like Kay, too, they just aren't getting as much of a mention because they aren't cool enough xD

Deviant Update: What I should be doing...

2010-07-08T19:37:00.003-05:00

...is working on cross stitches...
...is deciding on a college...
...is going on college visits...
...is raising money for AD and the Italy trip...
...is getting a job...
...is not finding music for me car, no matter how much I want to...
...is not surfin' the net, not matter how distracting it is...

... but I'm not doing the things I should, and I am doing the things I'm not supposed to.
It's summer, can you blame me?

So my understanding is that for a booth at AD's artist's alley I should have at least 5 cross stitches done as examples. (and then take commissions.)
I've gotta finish a humming bird cross stitch first, because I started it and I've got to use the thread for that first.

I've also compiled a list of all of the colleges I've received information on in the last year or so via e-mail or snail mail. I told mom I want to visit colleges and since it looks like this month is the only time I've got free she said to make a list of those I want to visit. I really don't like looking for colleges because I have issues making up my mind. I don't even know a definite major yet. I've got it narrowed down to something with computers- more than likely graphics or animation.
I've looked up locations for Funimation, because they have a good internship program for animators/ artists, and what do you know? They have a location in Minnesota (not the city where I live, but the state which is close enough) and 2 locations in Texas, one of which is Flower Mound- where some of my relatives live in Texas. It seems to work really well, but I don't even know if I want to do something with Anime or not.
I always sorta had this image of myself in the back of my mind as working in one of those boring desk jobs in a cubicle. I wouldn't mind it, I helped mom with her job in a cubicle before but I wouldn't want to be stuck there for the rest of my life.

I went to Barnes and Noble today to get a book I wanted and get music for my car (which is one of the things I had on my not to do yet list) and spent like $50.00. It's not that I didn't have the money it's that I feel guilty doing it. I'm supposed to be saving up as much as I can so that I can go to both AD and on the Latin trip, both of which are sorta expensive. I've been mooching off of my parents for a while now because I didn't want to spend my own money and then I go out and spend a ton. Plus I'm spending money at the movies on Sunday, too. Gah! I just get so frustrated with myself sometimes. I have a job, but I only work 4 hours a week (at 10 dollars an hour). I mow lawns and I'd been doing really well about saving it up until today. Now that I can drive I'd like to get a better paying job, but I feel like it would eat up all of the time I'll need during the school year for homework and friends.

I really shouldn't even be on here right now, but I can't help it. I guess I'll just have to work harder at getting things on my "to-do" list done so then I can goof off later...

Freeze Frame

2010-06-30T22:13:00.002-05:00

Latin Club played freeze frame. I actually haven't watched these clips, so we'll see how well this turns out...

Part 1:

Part 2:

~Haley

Second Video Upload of the day!

2010-06-28T14:58:00.002-05:00

This time I am putting up another of my own personal videos to honor my grandpa. He is retiring on wednesday this week and I wanted to make something special to honor him.

Grandpa Norby's Messages:

~Haley

Edit: I decided not to make another post for the third video upload of the day and instead be sneaky and include it here.

Team Rocket:

Economics: The opportunity cost

2010-06-28T12:33:00.002-05:00

These videos were made by forsaken studios. They asked me to upload the videos onto my youtube because they were unable to convert the file from VOB to WMV (i.e. switch from DvD to Youtube)

Trailer:

Bloopers:

Explicit Bloopers:

~Haley

Deviant Update: Stress and MN-TX accents

2010-06-08T20:11:00.003-05:00

This kind of post is copied directly from my Deviantart (or copied from here onto DA, although not in this case) because I am too busy right now to make two separate posts.

I've got to study for finals. I've got to study for finals. I've got to study for finals.

...This isn't working.

I'm not really motivated to take any of these stupid tests! It's like senioritis except I'm a junior. I've never really had this before. I mean sure I've always been a procrastinator, but I've got a weak point for deadlines. I don't like the disappointed feeling that I get when I don't get things done in time. Not like someone I know who likes to wave as deadlines pass her by *ahem* *ahem*

It doesn't help that I'll be missing a day of finals, either. I'm going to Texas next week Friday and I'm super excited! I would love my schedule for finals this year, except for the fact that I have to do make-up tests during my open hours.

Schedule is as follows:
Wednesday
1. Open- I need to finish the motor for my physics grade if not already finished.
2. English- work/presentation time. I'm already done with the project. I don't need to be in class.
***Lunch Break***
3. T.A.- I don't need to help Mrs. Milburn, who is gone for the rest of the year. Economics make-up test will be done during this hour.

Thursday
4. Latin- this test is gonna suck because I know nothing. Well... I know the stuff I should have known for last year (I always seem to be a year behind when it comes to this class)
5. Lunch- makes lunch hour extra long
***Lunch Break***
6. Math- I always do well on math finals for some reason. I don't particularly like math, but I do well enough in it.

Would-be Friday if I wasn't leaving for Texas
7. Economics- test will be taken 3rd hour. This one should be pretty easy. We're going to review for it on Monday and Tuesday next week and he got rid of some questions because of our fundraising efforts for Haiti.
8. Physics- building a motor, because we took our final early for all of the seniors in this class with me

Anyway, the reason I'm leaving for Texas is to surprise my cousins, one of whom is graduating this year. My grandparents and parents and I are driving down there in order to congratulate her and talk to my other 2 cousins that live there.

I'm more excited about something other than the fact that we're traveling though: the fact that my cousins have the BEST accents EVER! Seriously, they were raised in Minnesota part of the time like me, but they also have lived in Texas for a while, too. So they have a mix between a Minnesotan accent and a Texan accent and it's fantastic!

Last week in Texas it was 97 degrees! I can't wait for warm weather again, because lately all it's been doing around here is raining.

Talent Show Clips

2010-05-27T19:50:00.006-05:00

I've got the clips I filmed at my school's talent show finished!

Part 1

Part 2

~Haley

This Crazy Life

2010-05-22T16:28:00.002-05:00

I have been having a crazy busy week and then I end it with this. Best way to cheer someone up is to have a good time ^-^

~Haley Bice

Birthday!

2010-05-14T20:08:00.004-05:00

My birthday is ten days from now! Woot woot.
the theater of Haley's mind: (that phrase blatantly stolen from OHSHC)

Reader: "Haley, what do you want for your birthday?"
Response: "Who are you and how do you know my birthday is coming up?"
Reader: "I read your blog!"
Response: "So, you're the one person who isn't someone I know. In that case... I want money."

END SCENE

Yes. That's what I've been telling everyone. (Including strangers, apparently.) I need money for my Latin trip to Italy and Greece next year... so I've been begging for cash from everyone I know. Well, except my friends, since I know they're broke, too. I ask for cake from them. After all, the 24th is international give Haley cake day!

I'm excited for my birthday, though, because my physics class is going to valley fair! And I'm bringing a slinky! (That's an inside joke with somebody I met on Deviantart!)

Yet another video.

2010-04-28T20:37:00.004-05:00

I've been trying to upload all of the videos I've forgotten to put up because of my procrastinator-ness. This is probably my worst considering the fact that it's been about 3 months since I filmed it... at least I know the next videos to be put up will be more recent.

Sassenberg's Singing Valentine

~Haley

Another video uploading day!

2010-04-21T18:21:00.010-05:00

Today I'm putting up some old videos from school (up to a few months old)

Physics Rube Goldberg Machine

Latin Club: Blind Lion part 1

Latin Club: Blind Lion part 2

~Haley

Practice, Practice, Practice

2010-04-20T20:25:00.005-05:00

This video is a small window into what happened while our cosplay group, the kirby headbangers practiced a skit for Anime Detour.

This one is a bunch of clips from the Rochester Figure Skating Club show on Friday.

~Haley

CSI Sherlock Holmes

2010-04-10T13:47:00.005-05:00

The video is done! I will post the bloopers here as soon as they are done, too.

Edit: Bloopers are here!

~Haley

It's April

2010-04-08T20:47:00.003-05:00

It's April. It's been April for approximately 8 days depending on your time zone. Anime Detour is steadily approaching and I am way concerned. We're meeting on Saturday at Lola i.e. China's house to practice our skit. I hope the audio is finished. *ahem* That is a blatant sign, Muffins! Like a glowing neon sign that blinks obnoxiously.

Cosplays for AD:
Germany from Axis Powers Hetalia- 100% finished
Osaka/Ayumu from Azumanga Daioh- 90% finished (detail work still being done by Muffins)
Shiori from Kanon- 0% finished (ordered online, isn't here yet...)

Anyway, speaking of audio, I am currently supposed to be editing the audio for an English project that is due Monday. Then editing the video, too. It's all on my computer waiting to be edited, I'm just not doing it right now. It will be up here around Monday, though. Also the bloopers will be posted eventually, too! Yay!

Ta ta for now
~Haley

Mini Blog: Coming Soon to a Stage... Only at Anime Detour!

2010-03-30T17:59:00.003-05:00

So we've been practicing lately for this skit of ours which we're hopefully going to be doing for Anime Detour this year. I can spill any details yet, but I will link to a video of it if/when possible.

Here's some links to the Kirby Headbangerz Group (which I am a member of):
http://kirbyheadbanger.deviantart.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/KirbyHeadbangerz
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000518192810&ref=ts

I've got nothing else to report, so... bye!
~Haley

English Project Video

2010-02-22T18:47:00.002-06:00

Here's a video for an upcoming music project for English. Yes, I drew the pictures on here. No, the video won't make sense without the words included- but it has good music anyway.

~Haley

Deviant Update: Post Number 180 and New Schedule

2010-02-02T17:08:00.006-06:00

Yay! This is my 180th post! It's getting closer and closer to number 200! I really want something special for the occasion, but I have no idea what to do for it...

(Below is copied right from Deviantart, because I'm lazy and have homework :P)
It's a new semester in school and my classes are actually pretty nice.
Class Schedule:
1. Apella- like study hall, except you can walk around the school. I live close enough that I just sleep in most of the time...
2. English with Brock- Amazing class, I sit near people I know, and not next to my annoying friend in that class. (*ahem* Raelynn *ahem*)
3. Teachers Aide for Milburn- Don't do much, but it's kinda fun. I get to see my sophmore buddies that I normally don't see in school since I'm a junior.
4. Latin with Sassenberg- I have this class with cassi and a bunch of other awesome people. This class is always my favorite, even if it is really difficult. It's hard to describe the awesomeness if you aren't in the class.
5. Lunch- self-explanatory. Not as awesome as the lunch of epicness last semester, but I've still got a bunch of friends in it.
6. Algebra 2 with Norman- SOOOO much better than Baumann. I just can't get over how much better this class is. ^-^ Plus my family has known Norman for years... which is kind-of awkward, but if you have a family like mine where everybody knows someone, then you get used to it.
7. Economics with Terpstra- I have this class with Bethany and a few other people. I like this class so much! Maybe not the subject matter, but definitely the people in it!
8. Physics with Grafstrom- The annoying classmate (*ahem* Raelynn *ahem*) I meantioned before sits behind me in this class, so it gets annoying sometimes... but Grafstrom is cool and I have a couple of other friends in this class so it's bearable for the rest of the year I guess.

Deviant Update: Fuck Studying I'm Going to Hogwarts

2010-01-23T13:49:00.002-06:00

I copied this off of my DA account because I'm too busy to write something separate.

Finals Week. Week of Doom. Almost as bad as Tech Week (also know to the techies as the week of death) but not quite.

Finals Schedule/ Study Preparations:
Monday- normal class schedule in which we review for finals and/or do nothing

DAY 1
Math- 2 different pages of problems (about 1/4 of the way done) and a note sheet for the final
Latin- Studied some 'about the language' stuff and will quiz myself on verbs and nouns later
Lunch
Teacher's Aide- don't have to come back for this

DAY 2
Physics- Packet finished in class yesterday. I have an 89.4- if I get a good grade on the final I'll have an A.
Free Period
Lunch
Human Geography- Liar of a teacher didn't put the study questions online yet.

DAY 3
English- no idea what to study for the final, but she collected our binders so I can't do it anyway
Reading For College- I have the sheet of stuff to study from out notes, but I didn't bring my binder home. I am so lucky this is my last final.

No school Friday so teachers can grade.

If only I were a witch. Then I could worry about OWLS instead of this crap.

Mini Blog: New Year!

2010-01-09T12:10:00.003-06:00

I just realized I haven't posted anything here since last year! Wow!
I don't really have anything to say, so... I guess I'll just end with: Have a great 2010!

~Haley

Mini Blog: Wisdom Teeth/ Winter Break

2009-12-29T15:33:00.004-06:00

So... I got my wisdom teeth out on Monday... which I don't really want to talk about...
So, now, I'm going to talk about my Christmas presents!
Before School Ended:
1. New Phone
2. New (Fixed) Laptop
3. Chipotle and Noodles Giftcards (from a teacher)
Saturday before Christmas (dad's side of the family):
1. 2 pairs of headphones
2. Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
3. EA Sports Active
4. Lots of $
Christmas Eve (mom's side of the family):
1. 3 pairs of headphones
2. Barnes and Noble Gift Card
3. More $
Christmas Day (main family's christmas):
1. 4 pairs of headphones
2. Some Jewelry
3. More $

That's all I really have to say... thanks to my meds I kinda need a nap now. TTYL.
~Haley

Videos

2009-12-17T19:09:00.004-06:00

I've got some videos here that I've been meaning to upload. They're from my phone so they aren't great.
Latin Club Video 1:

Drama Club Cast Party:

Day 2 Cam:

Day 3 Cam:

Latin Club Video 2:

That's all I really came here for, bye!
~Haley

Mini Blog: Cold.

2009-12-16T16:06:00.006-06:00

It's freaking cold outside. I'd just like to let you know that.

Haley's Random Internet finding of the moment:

Awesome? I know.
~Haley

P.S. thanks to: That Girl for being super fantastic and finding all of the stuff that I wish I had time to read and or watch ^-^

Cold Day Tomorrow?

2009-12-08T15:52:00.005-06:00

I remember in middle school when we used to call our snow days "cold days" because we were afraid that we would jinx our luck (or perhaps the snow "gods," whom we danced to) by calling them "snow days". For whatever reason this didn't carry into high school, though. Maybe it was all of those icy car crashes (like the one I witnessed walking home today) or perhaps it was slipping in the slush (which I have done in years past and will probably do again this year) but for whatever reason we have lost this "cold day" idea. That's not to say that we don't get mad at our teachers for jinxing us by not acting like we're going to still have school the next day nor do we no longer get excited when we watch the 10 o'clock news- or perhaps go to sleep and let our parents tell us in the morning- and find out THERE'S NO SCHOOL! However, it seems to me that we've lost the innocence of it by the time we reach high school. We just want to get out of school so we don't have to do the work- not because we're genuinely happy about the snow. This loss of innocence is even affecting the middle-schoolers now. The elementary kids are our only hope for this genuine excited-ness.

One thing we did carry over, though, is this idea of rituals. Like wearing your PJ's inside out or putting a fork and a spoon under your pillow- like that was supposed to do some good? I would really do that in middle school but end up sleeping on the floor for fear of getting a fork shoved into my head. Many people even slept the wrong way on their beds. To which I said, "so you get a fork in your foot instead of your head, seems reasonable" not even seeing the illogical-ness of it all. I never would have imagined that somebody in a small office in the center of town would be the deciding factor in whether or not school was canceled. I guess that's the magic of the season for you- instead of using our time "wisely" we use our time to make up silly snow dances and other rituals in order to not have school the next day (or perhaps the next week...) and to appease these made-up snow people.

Well, I'm going to drink some hot tea and get some math or Latin homework done. Here's hoping that we (and I'm not trying to jinx it here) have a "cold day" tomorrow and that I don't have to do my human geography homework because I'm too lazy to do it now.
~Haley

Mini Blog: Home? I think I remember that!

2009-11-23T16:11:00.003-06:00

Isn't home the place I sleep at and used to eat at before Drama club sucked away all of my free time? Yeah! I think this is that place!
Now that drama club is over I'm a little lost... I now have to COME HOME after school every day (but Thursday for Latin club) we don't even have another play this year due to budget cuts. So, is this lost feeling what I'm going to have for the rest of the freaking school year? I hope not...

Anyway, I've gotta catch up on homework I didn't do while at Drama so...
TTYL,
Haley

Backstage Show?

2009-11-19T16:44:00.002-06:00

This happened in the gym backstage of our production of Annie at school... on a Saturday...

Mini Blog: Post number 170!

2009-11-15T15:01:00.003-06:00

That's right, it's my 170th post! Yippee!

I'm sorry I don't have time to blog!
I've got to write an english paper- I don't have any time this week due to play/ tech week stuff! I've gotta get working, sorry guys!

~Haley

New Vlog & Video! Yay!

2009-11-05T19:40:00.004-06:00

Vlog:

Video: MHS Social Experiment: Behind the Scenes Pt. 1

~Haley

School. Ugh.

2009-10-19T19:55:00.003-05:00

AHH! I had so much work to do tonight (and I still have some more!)
1. Finish Draco Malfoy from A Very Potter Musical themed bottle rocket Kay and I didn't do this weekend because she got Swine Flu DUE: TOMORROW AFTER SCHOOL
2. Finish Latin story, which is still not online :( DUE: TOMORROW 2ND HOUR
3. Finish Math Homework DUE: NEXT WEEK SOMETIME, AFTER HAVING OUR QUIZ

Stuff I still need to do:
1. Study vocab for Latin
2. Study vocab for Reading for College
3. Read Dante's Inferno for English. I'm only on Cantos #2 (which is like chapter 2 out of 35) DUE: THURSDAY... ish

I missed construction again today so that Kay and I could get our rocket done. I'm missing Key Club tomorrow so we can shoot off our rocket. This week kinda sucks.
~Haley

Procrastination!

2009-10-11T14:17:00.004-05:00

It's a very well known fact that I am a procrastinator, but I always like to answer this question in my blog posts: "Haley, what are you procrastinating on today?"
Well, fake_question_asker007 I am procrastinating on quite a few things right now actually.
Here is my EPIC list of THINGS TO DO!
1. Read The Odyssey which you were supposed to do this summer
2. Read Beowulf which you were supposed to finish last week
3. Read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest for your Lit. Project
4. Read Bloodhound which you borrowed from Bethy and should return soon
5. Read the two books you're supposed to finish for Reading for College
6. Study vocab for Reading for College
7. Read all of those English story packets you were supposed to finish a few weeks ago
8. Update the book blog on all of those things you read
9. Study for PSAT on Wednesday
10. Finish editing Rae's story
11. Put music back on your computer now that you reset it and it's working fine
12. Clean your closet
13. Do those crafts in the corner of your closet
14. Read all of those books you were going to read for English last year, but didn't

Basically I was supposed to be reading all weekend which, obviously, is not happening. I may start reading when I'm done blogging, though.
Better at least get one of the things done on my list. TTYL!
~Haley

Mini Blog: New Video from Mayo's Homecoming

2009-10-04T17:34:00.002-05:00

I've got homework to do so I'm making this quick, but I've uploaded a new video I made using this new video editor I've got, so I'd appreciate commentary!

Post Number 165!

2009-09-21T19:21:00.003-05:00

I'm still counting down until I get to post number 200! Nobody has given me ideas for anything special to do for post #200 and I have no idea what special thing to do. Maybe I'll just wait until 300 if I don't get any ideas before then.

I know I haven't blogged in a while, you know how it goes when the school year starts. However, I am blogging today BECAUSE I just learned MY MATH BOOK IS ONLINE!!! This means I am more likely to go online in the first place in order to do math and then blog afterwards! Yay, math!

This plan may backfire, though, because I have even less time after school, now. I am in after-school activities and such until about 4:30 every night. Construction for the play every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Key Club on Tuesday. Latin club on Thursday. Homework catch-up on Saturday. Church on Sunday. Starts over again on Monday.

Construction crew means we're getting closer and closer to the play of doom, though. We're doing Annie this year, which doesn't sound terrible but we lost more than half of our actors, actresses, and techies to college this year.
Wish us luck, for we are doomed.
~Haley

Mini Blog: Latin webpage not working?!?

2009-09-12T11:52:00.005-05:00

Apparently the Latin web page I use for homework no longer works because of a budget issue. This is terrible because it means I have to do it all by hand which takes FOREVER. Which also means I have less time to blog.

After being sick the 3rd day of school, this just adds to the suckish week I've been having.

I need to go take forever on my Latin homework. TTYL
~Haley

Mini Blog: Summer's almost over? NO!

2009-09-06T15:35:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow is the last day of summer, which means less blogs for everyone. I have issues making blogs on time because I feel that school deadlines are more important than blog deadlines. Plus I'm a slacker... that has a lot to do with it, lol.

Hopefully I will post at a later date,
~Haley

School Schedule

2009-09-01T11:11:00.003-05:00

Hello, I finally have time to post my school schedule. I've been working on summer homework lately and so I didn't have time. Anyway, here's my schedule:

1. Algebra with Baumann
2. Latin with Sassy
3. Apella (like study hall, only you can go wherever in the school)
4. Physics with Grafstrom
5. Lunch
6. Human Geo with Lunde
7. A.P. Lit. with Brock
8. Reading for College with Gaul

Now I've got some school blogging to do, so ta ta for now.
~Haley

NACHOS!

2009-08-21T11:50:00.005-05:00

I got back from vacation in the dells yesterday. It was amazing and I can't wait to go back! We go every few years (the last time I went I was 7 yrs old, lol.) BB and I had the greatest time even though we got a little injured from the really short flooring on one of the lazy rivers. That was probably our fault for standing in the inner tubes instead of sitting, though.

Anyway, by now you may be wondering why this blog is called "NACHOS!" Well, I'll tell you. Today I'm going to the Steel County (Owatonna) fair. They have the BEST nachos of all time. This Mexican restaurant known as Grace's has these nachos called "cindy nachos" and they are probably my favorite food. The nachos have their own booth at the fair because the line gets so long. I only get them once or twice a year, though. I get them once at the fair (when we visit my grandparents that live in Owatonna) and then maybe another time if we decide to go out to dinner there with my family. I decided this year to take a picture of the nachos to show how amazing they are.

Now that I'm done with my obsessive rant, I will stop posting and talk to everyone later. Bye!
~Haley

Mini Blog: 160th post!

2009-08-17T16:38:00.003-05:00

This is my 160th post! I'm still trying to think of something special for numero 2-0-0 but I haven't come up with anything yet. Please feel free to comment with some ideas!

I am excited to say that my internet is up and working again (as it hasn't been the last few days) and I decided that meant MINI BLOG TIME! YAY!

I am still reading for school even though we get our schedules tomorrow. EEK! This is not a good sign for you faithful readers as it means I will probably be reading instead of blogging. I will be posting my schedule tomorrow before I leave for vacation in the dells, I hope. if not I will post it when I get back.

TTYL,
Haley

Mini Blog: New Books!

2009-08-11T12:59:00.003-05:00

I finally got some new books that I've read on the Book Blog! Now I've just got to finish my vlog I was going to do a few days ago and read some books for school and then my to-do list will be finished! Hoorah!

I'd better get started.
~Haley

Mini Blog: Vlog... I Told You it Wasn't Going to Happen.

2009-08-07T11:48:00.003-05:00

The vlog will happen eventually... just not now.

I don't have much other stuff to say, so I'm just going to say TTYL.
~Haley

Vlog Coming Soon!

2009-08-03T11:53:00.004-05:00

I wrote a script for my third vlog and I hope to film it later today and then post it on here.

Edit 8/11/09 @3:04 PM: Vlog is here! I actually did it, although not on time!

TTYL,
Haley

Mini Blog: The Fair!

2009-08-01T14:42:00.003-05:00

I'm going to the county fair for dinner! I NEED junk food! After a week at church camp it feels like I haven't had any greasy stuff in, like, forever! Cheese curds and mini doughnuts here I come!

~Haley

Mini Blog: Church Camp

2009-07-25T11:15:00.004-05:00

Right now I'm packing for church camp. I should probably have started this earlier. I leave at 11 or so tomorrow and I will be at camp around 3.
There is no technology allowed at camp so I will not be able to blog. I will post lots of pictures and information when I get back, though.

Those books are not going to be talked about on the book blog before camp. I'm really sorry. I'm a procrastinator and I'm busy packing, so I apologize!

O.k, back to work.
~Haley

Computer Camp

2009-07-22T20:24:00.004-05:00

All right. Now, I feel like a nerd. "I'm at the U of M this week in a web design class" sounds much more sophisticated and less... nerdy than "I'm at Computer Camp." Hopefully, though, I learn some interesting HTML, CSS, and JavaScript stuff to use here on my blog. So being a nerd is justified I think.

Sunday I leave for Pilgrim Point Church Camp near Alexandria. This should be really exciting- I've heard nothing but good things. However, this means I am completely technology deprived for 6 days and 5 nights. (We get there Sunday and leave on Saturday morning, I think.) I will probably be going through some serious withdrawals by the time I get home, honestly.

I am hoping to update the book blog soon- before I leave for camp, perhaps? I have a bunch of drafts of all of the books I've read or am going to read. I just need to type stuff and get pictures now, which is exciting for me because I'm usually such a procrastinator. (Eventually! -If you don't get that joke you haven't the Amanda Show enough times, yet)

That's all for now,
~Haley

Mini Blog: Harry Potter!!!!!

2009-07-16T15:51:00.002-05:00

The movie was amazing! I don't want to spoil anything for those who haven't seen it so I won't type much more for fear of spilling something accidentally, but it was really awesome!

No spoilers here!
~Haley

Mini Blog: Doin' Stuff...

2009-07-11T19:41:00.003-05:00

I'm totally doing stuff this week! Last week (except Friday when I went to Cassi's) I had stayed in my house. I never left for 4 days. I felt like a hermit ^^'
I'm busy busy busy.
Tomorrow I'm going to the twins game for a while.
Monday the carpet cleaner is coming so I need to get up early and go downstairs before I can do anything.
Tuesday BB is coming over and then we're going to Harry Potter at midnight with Rae and Bethy, Cassi and Nicki are prolly meeting us there, and Kay and Terra are going to the same theater so we'll prolly see them, too.
Wednesday we may just sleep for a while since we'll be up pretty late on tuesday.

I'm going to ask if I can go to starbucks for coffee on tuesday... or maybe they have it at the theater...?
I've gotta figure this out, TTYL!
~Haley

New Vlog, redone!

2009-07-09T14:41:00.002-05:00

Yay! Got it finished! Sound actually works today! Hoorah!
I've got some script memorizing to do, TTYL!
~Haley

New Vlog for my 150th post!

2009-07-08T15:36:00.004-05:00

New vlog is coming soon. Was supposed to happen today, but the microphone on my laptop failed.

In other news: It's my 150th post!!! Celebration time! *dances around with streamers and balloons flying everywhere*

That's really all for now,
Ciao!
~Haley

Mini Blog: 4th of July!

2009-07-03T17:23:00.002-05:00

I really don't know what I'm doing. I just wanted to say happy 4th of July to everyone because I probably won't be posting tomorrow! HAPPY 4TH!

~Haley

Mini Blog: Book Club and Special-ness.

2009-07-02T14:06:00.003-05:00

I really should be reading for my book club, but I wanted everyone to know it's my 148th post today! Yay! (I'm still in shock about the whole I've been writing this for an entire year thing.)

I'm trying to think of something special for my 200th post, but I haven't come up with anything yet. If you have any ideas feel free to comment on my post about them.

I've got reading to do, TTYL!
~Haley

Mini Blog: Book Club

2009-07-01T17:00:00.003-05:00

I really need to read these two books for this book club I've joined, but I'm being really lazy. Part of that could be that it's summer and another part could be that I woke up at 10:00 today, but I don't know.

In other Haley news, I hung out with my friends Bethy, Mikey, and Michael today. That was awesome. We played apples to apples and went online for a while. It was great! Unfortunately I didn't get to watch the anime movie princess mononoke or the movie monty python and the holy grail while I was there, but still a very good visit.

That's really all that I've been up to, lately. I guess I'll talk more tomorrow... maybe.
~Haley

Mini Blog: Productivity Levels, Declining

2009-06-30T09:00:00.003-05:00

It's summer. BB is over. Productivity levels have been rapidly declining ever since Friday of last week. This is... AWESOME! I love summer, aside from winter break- because I'm a cold weather kinda person- this is my favorite time of year!

I'm thinking about hanging out with Bethy tomorrow. We'll see how that works out, though.

I've got Youtube account settings to update, so TTYL!
~Haley

Mini Blog: Foamy the Squirrel!

2009-06-24T17:32:00.002-05:00

Am I doing anything productive in society? No! I'm watching Foamy the Squirrel!

I did do some productive stuff earlier... S.O.S. was interesting. Helped some dogs by making fleece dog beds. Helped the janitor at Northrop do some yard work. Blah blah blah productivity.
After the yard work we played dodge ball. At that point the productivity disappeared never to be seen... until tomorrow, when we rake another lawn for sodding.

BB is coming over next week and I'm sure the productivity levels will have all together disappeared by then.

Time for dinner,
~Haley

Mini Blog: It's HOT!

2009-06-22T19:40:00.002-05:00

It's 93 degrees in Minnesota. MINNESOTA! I'M TELLING YOU THIS IS CRAZY! Seriously. I know that a lot of southern places- like Texas, where my cousins live- are a lot warmer. This is Minnesota, though. It's not supposed to be this HOT.

I'm still at SOS this week and I pray it cools down by tomorrow because I really don't want to be doing huge amounts of manual labor outside in this heat. I will have to bring a water bottle.

Other than this there's really nothing I need to say. Or want to say. On days like this I kinda just want to stay inside with my air conditioning and a fan blowing in my face.

~Haley

Desks, S.O.S, and Parades

2009-06-16T18:58:00.008-05:00

I made a post a REALLY long time ago that I would post a picture of how messy my desk is. Well I've finally taken the picture! I said I would put it on that post, but I decided to put it on this one as to be more recent. I just need to edit the picture. EDIT: Picture edited and posted below. Please click on the picture to view the whole thing.

The problem with editing it promptly is: I'm at summer of service this week and next. I'll be helping out the community, so if you're part of my community you may see me! ^-^

Schedule for S.O.S. (Team 8)
Monday (e.g. yesterday)
Team Building/Orientation in the morning
RNeigbors Float in the afternoon(in the Rochesterfest parade)- description of event after schedule
Tuesday (e.g. today)
Planning of Team Project & Advertisement of Team Project- we're doing a movie for S.O.S.-ers!
Salvation Army Adult Day Center- Hanging out with the elderly, playing games and making crafts
Wednesday
Fleece 4 Kids- making fleece blankets!
Season's Hospice- Yard work
Thursday
Picnic! Yay!
Feed My Starving Children- Packing food in Eagan
Friday fun day! (Bounce world & a movie)
(Next Week)
Monday
Channel 1- different food related event every time!
Friendship Place- Reading with kids
Tuesday
Habitat for Humanity- building all day!
Wednesday
"Get Smart" Parent training- Childcare for parents while they take the class
Team Project- hanging out because we're doing our team project during lunch
Thursday
Habitat for Humanity- building all day, again!
Friday fun day! (trip to MOA)

I'm really excited for the Rochester-fest Parade coming on the 26th! My mom is walking in it and I made part of one of the floats in S.O.S. yesterday! It was a building made out of a box, I don't know what they need all of these buildings for, but it was fun.

That's really all for now,
Haley

Mini Blog: Summer!

2009-06-11T20:04:00.002-05:00

Summer started a couple of days ago, so this blog is not going to be an enthusiastic cheer for the end of a school year. Instead it is going to be a sleep-deprived yet slightly less grumpy than if I were writing on another topic "...whoopee..."
BB stayed over last night and thus I am tired. Summer is for relaxing. So why am I so busy?

Sunday I am doing a course at eagle bluff with my church.
SOS starts on Monday and that goes on for 2 weeks.
Then I have about 3 weeks off so I'll probably get some driving hours done.
After that I have a week-long class through the U of M on web design.
Then I have church camp for a week.
By this time I'm already into August! What am I doing scheduling all of this stuff when I should be relaxing? Good Lord! What was I thinking?!?

Alright, panic over. Now I'm going to try and relax for the 2 more days of freedom I've got.

This said, wish me luck on finding time to blog...
~Haley

It's that time of year again!

2009-06-03T20:32:00.003-05:00

No, I'm not talking about the holidays- unfortunately. I'm talking about what every teenager just LOVES to do. FINALS! *screaming noise in the background*

This basically means I will not be blogging for quite some time. Whether it is because of studying or because I'm taking the finals themselves, it doesn't matter. (Not that it makes much of a difference, I don't blog much anyway)

Here's my finals schedule OF DOOM.
Friday
American Studies History
American Studies English
Lunch
Latin

Monday
Open Hour
Math
Lunch
Chemistry

Tuesday
Health
Open Hour

Then I'm done until Junior year! Hoorah! euge! (Latin for hoorah!)

I should probably go study now, but I'll just end up back on the internet eventually.
~Haley

Mini Blog: Blog additions

2009-05-26T20:50:00.002-05:00

I added some new widgets on the bottom of the page I think you'll like! However, I have a paper to consider writing so I cannot post for very long. Ave Atque Vale, omnes. (That's Latin for 'Hail and Farewell, all'- see, I have learned something!)

Ta ta for now,
~Haley

Holy Flying Monkeys!

2009-05-23T16:26:00.003-05:00

That's right I said "Holy Flying Monkeys!" I cannot believe my birthday is tomorrow. I'll be 16. Already. zOMG!

O.k, now that the miniature freak-out is over I can tell you about it. I already got a ton of my presents from my family so I kinda already knew I was getting there, but seriously! I cannot believe it's been another year! I'm the youngest amongst my friends and I'm kinda used to saying I'm still 15. So now that I'm almost not... It's a little weird.

So tomorrow for my birthday I'm heading to Night at the Museum 2 with a ton of people. It'll be great... I think.

Last year around this time (zOMG! I've been doing this blog for a whole year?!?) I posted a list of presents, so here's what I've gotten so far:
-Class ring, not actually here yet.
-a bike, brought into town by my uncle the bike expert and paid for by the 'rents
-Money from another uncle
-Money from the grand 'rents on my dad's side
-a call from my aunt saying the card is coming but it's a holiday weekend so it prolly (that's her word for probably) won't be here in time, so who knows whether I got any money or not
-an old navy gift card from the relatives (aunt, uncle, 3 cousins) in Texas

That's it so far. Though, BB said she was bringing over some presents (other than the gerbils she gave me 2 months ago.) I may get more at the movie tomorrow, too.

BB and I are going to have cake in the shape of a puppy for my birthday tomorrow, and on Monday after BB leaves I'm having pie of some sort at my grandparents.

I'm actually pretty notorious amongst my family for celebrating my birthday for an entire month, so this year I'm hoping to scale it down to this weekend. But I think my artsy friends want to draw me something for my b-day to give to me at school on Tuesday so... we'll see how that turns out.

Last year I got REALLY sick of cake for my month long b-day,
~Haley

The Average Blog

Italy and Greece Adventure: Summary of Getting Home

Italy and Greece Adventure: Wednesday 6/29/11

Italy and Greece Adventure: Tuesday 6/28/11

Italy and Greece Adventure: Monday 6/27/11

Italy and Greece Adventure: Sunday 6/26/11

Italy and Greece Adventure: Saturday 6/25/11

Italy and Greece Adventure: Friday 6/24/11

Italy and Greece Adventure: Thursday 6/23/11

Italy and Greece Adventure: Wednesday 6/22/11

Italy and Greece Adventure: Tuesday 6/21/11

Italy and Greece Adventure: Monday 6/20/11

Italy and Greece Adventure: Sunday 6/19/11

Italy and Greece Adventure: Saturday 6/18/11

Italy and Greece Adventure: Friday 6/17/11

Italy and Greece Adventure: Thursday 6/16/11

Deviant Update: Work

I'm back!

Deviant Update: ~Italy and Greece~

Tumblr

Mini Blog: Still Alive!

Nupa!

March 8th 2011

February 28th 2011

Writings from the Sick

Cold. Journal.

Yesterday's Happenings

Journal Post 1?

Camp Communication: Day 6- Leaving

Camp Communication: Day 5- Good Night's Rest, Morning Ache.

Mini Blog: New Year, New Blog

Mini Blog: Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

Camp Communication: Day 4- Up and at 'Em...

Deviant Update: Stressed

Mini Blog: High School Musical

Camp Communication: Day 3- Swimming...?

Camp Communication: Day 2- Morning!

Deviant Update: Senior Year *starts humming Lucky Star opening*

Camp Communication: Day 1- Hell isn't much hotter than this place

Camp Communication: Beginning

Life in a Day Project: Post 200

Deviant Update: Camp!

I was featured!

Deviant Update: I'm a Geek for Life

Deviant Update: What I should be doing...

Freeze Frame

Second Video Upload of the day!

Economics: The opportunity cost

Deviant Update: Stress and MN-TX accents

Talent Show Clips

This Crazy Life

Birthday!

Yet another video.

Another video uploading day!

Practice, Practice, Practice

CSI Sherlock Holmes

It's April

Mini Blog: Coming Soon to a Stage... Only at Anime Detour!

English Project Video

Deviant Update: Post Number 180 and New Schedule

Deviant Update: Fuck Studying I'm Going to Hogwarts

Mini Blog: New Year!

Mini Blog: Wisdom Teeth/ Winter Break

More New Videos

Videos

Mini Blog: Cold.

Cold Day Tomorrow?

Mini Blog: Home? I think I remember that!

Backstage Show?

Mini Blog: Post number 170!

New Vlog & Video! Yay!

School. Ugh.

Procrastination!

Mini Blog: New Video from Mayo's Homecoming

Post Number 165!

Mini Blog: Latin webpage not working?!?

Mini Blog: Summer's almost over? NO!

School Schedule

NACHOS!

Mini Blog: 160th post!

Deviant Update: Senior Year starts humming Lucky Star opening