MUZAK!!!

Well, I've been busy this week. With an orchestra camp.
I don't remember if I posted anything for when I did District orchestra, but this camp is like that, but for six days instead of two. We have nearly four hours of playing each day, not to mention classes in music appreciation, wellness while practicing (stretch and take breaks), and even jazz improv (which, on the schedule, was written as Jazz Improve, because they used one o' them Microsoft programs with autocorrect. I heard one guy talking about how one of his friends set a school computer's autocorrect so that it would replace the word "the" with "taco." I wonder how long before someone noticed something was wrong.) Anyway, my back is sore, but it's been fun.

After the camp on Monday, a master class was held. A master class, for those who don't know, is where someone really really good at a particular instrument (the "master") teaches either a group of people or one person in particular. This was one of the ones with one person at a time. The master lets the student play his or her songs, and then he makes suggestions on technique and style. Three people took turns with this master class. They were all amazing. I want to go to more of these things.

Anyway, last night was the final orchestra concert. Everything was great, even though our conductor accidentally knocked over a couple of music stands during the first song, but things got sorted out quickly. We didn't even have to stop; we just kept going. At the end of the last song, I realized why I play violin. It's fun. And this is a group that actually wants to play, instead of just playing because our mommies or daddies told us to.

I just got back from the chamber ensemble concert. It all went really well. I was a bit nervous (I am the first violin for my group, and a lot of my part is very exposed), but I just trusted God to bring us to the end of each movement at the same time. About halfway through the last movement, I got a big smile on my face. God helps when you need him most, if you trust Him. It is amazing how long it takes to learn these simple lessons, but when you learn them, it is life changing. Thank you, God!

Oops!

How could I forget this?

I CAN PICK UP MY PROVISIONAL DRIVER'S LICENSE AT 2 PM TODAY!

Thankfully, I'm a pretty good driver, judging by the fact that my parents seldom brace themselves against the window anymore. And they've complimented my driving.

And sorry for shouting up there. The idea that I can finally get a job, go to Wendy's and get Frostys, and shop more often is very exciting.

And now, back to TV dinner. A computer counts as a TV, right?

I'm FREEEEEEE!

Last day of school! I just got back and am now trying not to sink my wrist into a pile of corn as I type (TV dinner, since I don't feel like cooking). My gym final was pretty easy, though being able to tell exactly what chemical was building up in my leg muscles as I walked the eight laps in thirty minutes that were required was weird (Lactic acid). Thank you, ninth grade Biology. I remember almost nothing, but since I've had a year of chemistry since, it's partially excusable.

And my history presentation went well, even the part where I started talking in Russian (learned phonetically from my Dad, who for some reason is fluent in Russian. Thanks, Dad!) Even though my costume made me sweaty (along with the gym final in the morning). Anyway, I am done.

Sweet. I'ma go eat that TV dinner before my arm cramps up from dodging the corn. Mmmm, chicken, corn, and mushy apple chunks in caramel.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel School Year

Well, the last couple of days have been interesting.

First of all, there is no way any teacher can give me a major project now. We're taking exams. The past two days have been exam days, in which we have two, two-hour periods specifically for taking exams, presenting final exam projects, etc. Most of my exams have not been hard.

And the best part…
School only runs from 7:20 to 11:40. Holy sweetness of freetime, Batman! I have to walk home, since neither of my parents gets out of work that early, but the walk isn't bad. And eating a TV dinner while watching Homestarrunner.com cartoons is fun. And I can turn the volume up as much as I want without disturbing anyone. Nice.

And then Mom comes home. For the past two days, we've gone shopping. I used to hate shopping, but I'm turning into more of a girl now (I've always been one, but now I'm more of a tomboy-girlygirl hybrid instead of just a tomboy who doesn't really care what she looks like. Not that either is bad, but I just feel like looking nicer now.) One of my friends asked if I had a crush on anybody, since I started wearing the occasional skirt to school. Nope. I just feel like dressing up. (the majority of the guys at school are jerks anyway)

In other news, today is my mom's birthday and tomorrow is Father's Day. I'm not putting any ages up, to keep my head on my shoulders.

So Happy Birthday, Mom! And Happy Father's Day, Dad! Love ya both!

Recital

Well, I had my recital earlier today. It went pretty well. All of the students made mistakes, including me, and I am pretty sure all of us were nervous, but it turned out well. I was the second-to-last person to play, which means that I was one of the most advanced players there (when making the song order for a program, directors usually put the most spectacular or well-done pieces at the end). So that was good, and now it's over. And later, I get my first archery lesson in……several months. I hope I haven't forgotten too much (thank you, new National Archery Association president, for changing to Korean-style archery form, so that I can blame my mistakes on being confused with the new methodology!)(for those of you who are clueless about archery, the Koreans are probably the best archers in the world. A switch to their archery form does usually improve one's shooting because the Koreans knew what they were doing when they developed their form.)

Anyway, yesterday, someone thought it would be funny to dump 2000 bouncy balls down the main stairwell at my school. All throughout the day, people would be bouncing bouncy balls in the hallways and classrooms that they found on the floor earlier. One of my friends kept raving about how it was the perfect senior prank, because no one gets hurt (unless they slip!), the prank cleans itself up (people walk off with the bouncy balls), and no property is damaged. And it's hilarious. Oh, if I had only taken the other stairwell on the way to Gym, I could have been hit in the head with bouncy balls!

Also yesterday, two of my classes ended up with the TV's tuned to ESPN2 for the first World Cup game. Germany won! Ja, Deutschland! Ja wohl!

Okay, one more thing. Check this out.

One more post. I keep forgetting to mention this.

Have you heard of Tom Lehrer? He used to write satirical songs and parodies, and sometimes he performed them. The link at the top of this post goes to a flash animation of my favorite song of his (the only one I have heard, I think). It is called "The Elements" and is to the tune of Gilbert and Sullivan's "Modern Major General." It doesn't have any bad words, because most of the words are elements from the periodic table. Below the flash window are some links; one leads to a PDF file that has the lyrics.

Try to sing along. Not easy, but so much fun.

Festival, etc

Well, I went to that vendor's stand. Last year, he had so many pretty oil lamps, and there were a few that were not terribly expensive (I think one was $20 or so). This year, he had one dragon oil lamp that was $45, along with other things. Not what I wanted. I don't think so.

So I went to the vendor next door and got a pair of earrings and a necklace. The earrings each have a little violin and a bow hanging from them, and the necklace has the same charm, along with a couple of very pretty red stones and two pearls. Definitely makes up for the overpriced oil lamp. (not that the jewelry was cheap itself, but at least I won't have to worry about it burning down the house…). I plan to wear it to my private teacher's student recital. I will be playing the third movement from Mozart's "Violin Concerto #5" (not the fourth movement, unfortunately. I didn't have enough time to work that up as well) and Massanet's "Meditation de Thaïs." Both very fun pieces.


Why does the spell checker keep breaking? Oh well, I guess it's for the best. I would hate to see its spelling suggestions for "Thaïs".

It's over!

I finished the History SAT II! It wasn't too bad… kind of a median between the AP World History test and the SOL test. I can't talk specifically about any questions, but I don't think I would anyway. Whatever. It's done.

I forgot to drink my frappucino earlier. I'ma go do that… yum.

It's too early…

…for the SAT II World History test. Yet I will be taking it in an hour. Technically, I am supposed to take it this time next year, but I don't want to forget everything I crammed into my head in my AP World History class this year. I've eaten a banana (they calm nerves) and there is a little bottled Starbucks frappucino for me in the kitchen for enough of a caffeinee boost to keep me awake, in addition to that which I got from the Diet Coke at McDonalds. And since I usually try to keep my caffeinee to a minimum, it should work.

Anyway, wish me luck.

In other news, some friends (same ones who had the conversation that started with "can a vampire get drunk off of a drunk guy's blood") and I went to our town's festival last night. We rode some of the fun rides, one of my friends won a little stuffed gorilla in a game, and a couple bought some stuff from the vendors, like pewter figurines and glassblown animals. Me? I had seen a vendor last year who sold oil lamps, one of which was shaped like a dragon. For the record, I like dragons. I collect dragons. And I name most of the dragons I collect. I thought about this vendor's products off and on all year and came to the conclusion that, if the vendor was there and it wasn't too expensive, I would get one. He wasn't there last night, but Friday night is always the least busy because there is no "unlimited rides" bracelet you can buy for thirteen dollars for the rides, and Saturday is always busy, no matter where you go. So my mom said we might be able to stop by the festival again today to see if the guy is there. I think I saw his stand on the vendor list, but we'll see.

I want my frappucino. I'm signing off.