Okay, so I've figured out a plan: I'm going to stay up til midnight, as I always have. Then I will post again soon after midnight, and it will count as the First Post Of 2010. HOLY COW!
Anyway, I went to a Japanese restaurant with my friend and her family this evening. It was really fun. My friend and I had a Shirley Temple Chugging Contest. I won, even though I had a brainfreeze. The cook also threw bits of shrimp at us and we attempted to catch it in our mouths. For the first time in a while, I wasn't able to do it. I don't know what happened.
I'm super psyched for tomorrow. My mom doesn't think I should stay up til midnight because I have to wake up at eight tomorrow in order to get to the train station on time. But I don't really care. I can take a shower tonight and then use the spare time to double check everything.
Right now I'm listening to songs from "Phantom of the Opera". I love it. Right now Music of the Night is playing. My favorite song is either Learn To Be Lonely, Music of the Night, Angel of Music, or Think of Me. I really couldn't decide if I had to pick one of those as my all time favorite.
Okay, I'm going now.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Happy almost new year!
Happy New Year's Eve! I won't be able to post tomorrow because I'm going to New York. I'm not going tonight because train fares are way up and I really hate super huge ginormous crowds like there's sure to be if we go to Time's Square tonight at midnight. So we're staying around here and hanging out with friends and going to a Japanese restaurant, like we usually do. New York should be fun, especially because I'll get to see my cousin. I haven't seen him since last September, before I donated my hair and before he moved to New York, so it'll be cool to see him again. We're going to see two Broadway shows while in New York: Wicked and Shrek. My mom kept trying to convince me to see Billy Elliot instead of Shrek, but I didn't want to, because Shrek closes the day we leave, and Billy Elliot is running until at least August, so it would've been a wasted chance to see Shrek. Plus I liked the Disney movie, and the music seems good, so the musical should be good. Plus it's Broadway, so it's bound to be amazing.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
post number 294
Okay, I really need to get out of the house. I've been inside for most of the day for the last two days, and it's really starting to bug me how much TV I've been watching. I know that I really shouldn't stay in front of the screen for so long for so many days in a row, but it's gotten into a habit that I really need to break. You see, my only problem's that there's nowhere to go to get out of the house that's not super cold and thus very, very, very annoying. So does anybody have any ideas? My mom probably would, but she's not back yet. See, there is nowhere to go when you only have a dollar. The student fare on the bus is sixty cents, but you need exact change. I could take a walk, which is probably what I'm going to do. But I really need a destination to get me out of this hole. As in, I still need to take a walk. I just need to walk somewhere. Like, not aimlessly wandering through the forest paths like I have before. But walking to Starbucks. Or like the grocery store or something. But just somewhere to go, something to do. Something to get me off my fat and lazy butt and into the world for a change. Do you know what I mean?
post number 293
I know it's been a while since I last wrote. But whatever. I haven't had a lot to do, because I've been at home most of the time because it's break and I'm the only one who is home on the typical day now, until tonight when my mom and brother come back. But, well, here I am now. YAY!!! In other news, I have started a new story. No, you're not allowed to see it. Yet. I want to get it a little bit longer first. And I still want to edit some bits of it. I've also found a new source of entertainment: generator websites. I love them. It's really funny to see what some of the outcomes are. My two favorites are seventhsanctum.com and nine.frenchboys.net. They're really cool. You should check them out. Anyhoo, I watched some extras on the "Return of the King" DVD last night (I didn't know those extras existed before because we have the Extended Edition DVD and the extras discs make it look like it's all like a visual history of the books when it's actually behind-the-scenes stuff) and I learned something interesting. That interesting something was that Sean Astin and Elijah Wood met for the first time, before principal photography, in a hotel in Los Angeles. That's not the interesting part. The interesting part was that they were in the same hotel when they went to the Oscars for Return of the King, they were in the same hotel, and they went and hung out in the same corner of the lobby where they first met while they were there. Insane, isn't it?
Well, I'm going now.
Well, I'm going now.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Post Number 292
Well, I wrote twenty pages in my diary today. And I also spent several hours watching TV and movies. And I really should get a life and do something else, but I don't have anything else to do, so here I am. Blogging. And spending another age on the computer.
However, my iPod is being stupid, which really bugs me, because I love my iPod. I've tried to charge it from both computers, but it's not working. Apparently, neither computer recognizes the USB, probably because I was stupid and pulled out the USB before it was off the "Synchronizing, do not disconnect" screen. That happens sometimes. Usually my mom can figure out what's wrong with it, but she isn't here right now, she's out of town, so she can't do it. And I can't do it. I don't get it. At all.
Right now I am listening to "The Phantom of the Opera" soundtrack. I love it. ITunes still works, even though the computers are being stupid and not recognizing the USB. But still. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!
However, my iPod is being stupid, which really bugs me, because I love my iPod. I've tried to charge it from both computers, but it's not working. Apparently, neither computer recognizes the USB, probably because I was stupid and pulled out the USB before it was off the "Synchronizing, do not disconnect" screen. That happens sometimes. Usually my mom can figure out what's wrong with it, but she isn't here right now, she's out of town, so she can't do it. And I can't do it. I don't get it. At all.
Right now I am listening to "The Phantom of the Opera" soundtrack. I love it. ITunes still works, even though the computers are being stupid and not recognizing the USB. But still. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!
Hooray!
Well, here I am again. I'm super happy right now because it's a Saturday (YAY!) and I have the house pretty much to myself, which means my mom can't bug me about anything right now. YAY!!! So I'm pretty much going to sit around all day and do nothing, because, for once, I can. And it's winter break. HOORAY!!! In all, I had a very good Christmas. YAY!!! I have some extra energy right now because I'm half eating lunch as I write this. But whatever. There's nobody around to bug me about anything, which makes me super happy. I could start singing. No, I'm not going to start singing. My dad just came back to get the calendars he wants to take to his office. Only my dad would willingly go into the office on a Saturday. I have no idea what I will do with the day, but sometimes wonderful stuff happens when you don't have any plans. So anyway, I have nothing to do today, which is exactly what I need-a day to do nothing in order to figure out what some of my presents do. I know what they can do, but still. It's still a lot of fun to play around with stuff, you know?
I'm going now.
I'm going now.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Merry Christmas!!!!!!!
Hooray!!! It's finally Christmas!!! That means that we all need to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus. Or just yell "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Or something. Or sing a Christmas carol. Or just make something up. We all love creativity. So...
Hark the Herald angels sing,
glory to the newborn king!
peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled.
Joyful all ye nations rise,
join the triumph of the skies,
hark the herald angels sing:
glory to the newborn king...
That's all I remember. Anyway, the point is, even though it's unlikely that Jesus was born in December (why would shepherds be grazing the sheep in December?), it's the official celebrated date: Jesus's birthday. YAY!!! Okay, moving on with life. I am very happy right now. I got a coat that I will probably ACTUALLY wear out and about, instead of a sweatshirt (which my mom hates) or the big puffy coat that's warm and everything, but still really annoying because of the million layers of fabric (which I hate). So my mom went out and got me a coat I'd actually wear. It's sort of like a trench coat, except not really, but whatever. I love it.
Hark the Herald angels sing,
glory to the newborn king!
peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled.
Joyful all ye nations rise,
join the triumph of the skies,
hark the herald angels sing:
glory to the newborn king...
That's all I remember. Anyway, the point is, even though it's unlikely that Jesus was born in December (why would shepherds be grazing the sheep in December?), it's the official celebrated date: Jesus's birthday. YAY!!! Okay, moving on with life. I am very happy right now. I got a coat that I will probably ACTUALLY wear out and about, instead of a sweatshirt (which my mom hates) or the big puffy coat that's warm and everything, but still really annoying because of the million layers of fabric (which I hate). So my mom went out and got me a coat I'd actually wear. It's sort of like a trench coat, except not really, but whatever. I love it.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
I. Love. The. Nutcracker.
The Nutcracker is officially amazing. I just wanted to say that. I love it. I know that I didn't get to see the ballet at ALL this year, which makes me only the slightest bit mad, but I still have the Super Easy Nutcracker Piano Book That I Got in Sixth Grade and Which I Can Sight-Read Super Easily, and I have the soundtrack, but still. It's not the same as actually seeing it. The composer (I know his name, I'm just not putting it up because I can't spell it), even though he died 116 years ago (yes, I am THAT much in love with his music), is officially the COOLEST person EVER. Except for maybe Johnny Depp. And Orlando Bloom. And Hans Zimmer. And maybe Alan Menken. Maybe. And probably J.R.R. Tolkien. And probably C.S. Lewis. But still. He's defenitely up in the Top 100 List of Coolest People Ever. He's probably top 50 as well. He might even make the top 20. I don't know. If I had to do a List of Awesome People, in no particular order of awesomeness, just a bunch of awesome people, it would go like this:
- God
- Jesus
- the Composer of the Nutcracker Whose Name I Can't Spell but You All Have Heard Of Anyway
- Orlando Bloom
- Johnny Depp
- Viggo Mortensen
- C.S. Lewis
- J.R.R. Tolkien
- My Mom
- My Dad
- My Brother
- My amigos from elementary school (lots of them)
- My amigos from church/ ASP (lots of them)
- My amigos from high school (there are lots)
- Alan Menken
- Teachers!
- Other awesome pplz at church (lots of them)
- my imaginary friends. you know you have some as well. come on...
- Fictional Characters whom I love and adore
- Jack Sparrow. You know you love him. I know he's not under "Johnny Depp," but still. He needs his own place, along with.....
- ARAGORN! Hooray!
- Eowyn
- Keanu Reeves
- Hilary Duff
- Miranda Otto
- Carbon Leaf. The band.
Post Number 288
You know how sometimes some publishers will compile the first few books of a series into one book? Well, last night at this party/ gift exchange with my friends, one of my friends gave me the first three books of the Vampire Kisses series (all rolled into one copy), and I was up til like 12:45 last night reading it. THEY'RE SO GOOD! AAAAH! And then I went to bed and didn't get to sleep til like two, and then I woke up and I just finished the last half of it, just now. It's sort of like Twilight, except not really, because the main character, Raven, is goth and actually has a brain, unlike Bella. And Raven has hobbies, even though they include vampires, it's more classic vampire than "oh, Alexander is so hot." Even though it is partially that, it isn't the entirety of the book. But it's REALLY GOOD! I just started the second book. It's in the "oh, I'm so sad, the love of my life just left town for good" part. But still. The second book, "Kissing Coffins," is good, judging by all five pages of it that I have read.
AND by the way, MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!
AND by the way, MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Post Number ?
The only good rap song ever (aside from Weird Al's "White and Nerdy") is GoRemy's "Arlington Rap." I swear. It doesn't talk about whores, drugs, crime (only kiddingly- "But mugging here is when a stranger comes and gives you cocoa"), or anything like that, which automatically makes it about fifty million times better than any normal rap song.
And Weird Al is just awesome, you have to admit. He's just cool. You can't beat Weird Al. Ever. At all. You just don't.
Anyway, I think my mom's mad at me. We had an arguement earlier, when I she asked me to play these piano pieces that I was going to play in church on Christmas Eve, to get her opinion on which I should do, because there are like eight of them, and she kept on being like, "oh, was that a mistake?" halfway through one of them, and it was really distracting and really annoying, so by the time I finished the next song I was completely distracted and kept messing up and I don't think I did it all that well. I hate it when she does that.
And her presence was really just distracting in general. Like some of the pieces I did better than normal, but I did a lot worse on a lot of them. It was really distracting to have her there, because I always feel like she's going to give me some really annoying critique and then I'll feel like telling her to shut up, but I can't because she's my mom and you just don't do that sort of thing.
ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And Weird Al is just awesome, you have to admit. He's just cool. You can't beat Weird Al. Ever. At all. You just don't.
Anyway, I think my mom's mad at me. We had an arguement earlier, when I she asked me to play these piano pieces that I was going to play in church on Christmas Eve, to get her opinion on which I should do, because there are like eight of them, and she kept on being like, "oh, was that a mistake?" halfway through one of them, and it was really distracting and really annoying, so by the time I finished the next song I was completely distracted and kept messing up and I don't think I did it all that well. I hate it when she does that.
And her presence was really just distracting in general. Like some of the pieces I did better than normal, but I did a lot worse on a lot of them. It was really distracting to have her there, because I always feel like she's going to give me some really annoying critique and then I'll feel like telling her to shut up, but I can't because she's my mom and you just don't do that sort of thing.
ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dude I love this computer
So we got this new computer ages ago but we didn't actually set it up until a few days ago, and today was the first day I was able to go on it. And I love it. It's SO cool. It's a Windows 7, but the only annoying thing is that my mom isn't letting us onto YouTube and such yet because apparently she hasn't put in the spyware. I think it's also because she hasn't put in the Flash Player that you need to see You Tube. And I also think it's because she just really hates it when we go on You Tube, and I don't see why she would, but whatever. Right now, it's cool.
Monday, December 21, 2009
YAAAY!!!!!
Well, I learned this afternoon, whilst decorating gingerbread houses with friends, that today was technically the first day of break. Yes, you read that right. No school. Today. Or tomorrow. Or Wednesday, which was supposed to be the last day before break. On the one hand, NO SCHOOL! Which means NO MATH QUIZ! But that also means NO SECRET SANTA PRESENTS! :(. Oh, well. I wonder who my person was. I wonder what they got me. I wonder when I'm actually going to get the present. It's probably going to be after break, which is going to be kind of nice, because it'll be like a belated Christmas present. Yay! But no school on Wednesday also means no volleyball tournament, which means I probably won't get to see any alumni who were too lame to come to the chorus concert. Oh, well. Sigh.
Okay, my mom is being annoying and making me go practice piano now. I'm not going. Not yet, anyway. I will CONTINUE! Until, that is, she kills me. I've already practiced for an hour today. It's make up for not practicing yesterday or Saturday, and the next half an hour is practice for today. I' playing stuff from The Nutcracker on Christmas Eve, you see, which is why she is making me pracice so freaking much. It's kind of annoying, but I can see her point. Still though. It's annoying. Don't say I'm enjoying it.
Okay, I'm going now.
Okay, my mom is being annoying and making me go practice piano now. I'm not going. Not yet, anyway. I will CONTINUE! Until, that is, she kills me. I've already practiced for an hour today. It's make up for not practicing yesterday or Saturday, and the next half an hour is practice for today. I' playing stuff from The Nutcracker on Christmas Eve, you see, which is why she is making me pracice so freaking much. It's kind of annoying, but I can see her point. Still though. It's annoying. Don't say I'm enjoying it.
Okay, I'm going now.
YAY SNOW!!!
Well, had two feet of snow on Friday night. Apparently it's the third worst storm in the area's history. I remember having a storm sort of like this when I was in third grade. With all the drifts and shoveling piles and such, it gets nearly up to my waist, not my knees. I went on a walk with my friend and her dog on Saturday, and we had to stay in the road most of the time. We had to walk in the tracks where some cars had driven earlier in the day and therefore weren't as filled up with snow as other places, so the dog could actually walk and not have to swim in snow. Most of the roads we were on hadn't been plowed yet. They didn't even get my street until like 10 pm on Saturday. Then they had a hard time of getting in the street in the first place because there was huge drift right where they were coming in. I live just off a main-ish road, so they would obviously plow that one first, but they wouldn't plow the minor streets like mine until later. Mind you, they didn't do a very good job of plowing our street, once they got around to it. Today's okay, but yesterday it was really bad because it was pretty much a one-lane road, and we don't have a whole ton of room to begin with, especially with the cars parked on the crest of the hill. And there's the small fact that nobody could really get out of their driveways in the first place. On Saturday, the snow was so bad that my mom shoveled the driveway at like 8 am and then went out again at like 10 and it had a decent amount of snow on it again.
Well, needless to say, I got the day off. When we got two feet in third grade, we got off for like a week, but I don't think we're going to get off for a week this time. We might get off tomorrow as well, but probably not Wednesday. That would be completely stupid, because we have a half day wednesday and nothing important's going to happen except TAs doing Secret Santa presents and the volleyball tournament, and break officially starts on Thursday. Still, if we get Wednesday off, I won't get to learn who my Secret Santa was and what they got me and I probably won't get to see some of my friends who already graduated. Oh, well.
Well, I have found a new favorite song. It's "My Life Would Suck Without You" by Kelly Clarkson. It was the last song they played on Glee as well, which is how I found out about it. But I love it all the same. Glee is my new favorite show, even though I only got to see like half the season. I'm a singer. I love it. I might talk to my chorus teacher about doing a Glee club, but only after the musical is over. He seems kind of strained about the musical right now.
Since we're getting off school today and maybe tomorrow, we're probably going to get held an extra hour for the first week of rehearsal after break, which is going to stink everyone's socks off.
Whatever. I've got to go now.
Well, needless to say, I got the day off. When we got two feet in third grade, we got off for like a week, but I don't think we're going to get off for a week this time. We might get off tomorrow as well, but probably not Wednesday. That would be completely stupid, because we have a half day wednesday and nothing important's going to happen except TAs doing Secret Santa presents and the volleyball tournament, and break officially starts on Thursday. Still, if we get Wednesday off, I won't get to learn who my Secret Santa was and what they got me and I probably won't get to see some of my friends who already graduated. Oh, well.
Well, I have found a new favorite song. It's "My Life Would Suck Without You" by Kelly Clarkson. It was the last song they played on Glee as well, which is how I found out about it. But I love it all the same. Glee is my new favorite show, even though I only got to see like half the season. I'm a singer. I love it. I might talk to my chorus teacher about doing a Glee club, but only after the musical is over. He seems kind of strained about the musical right now.
Since we're getting off school today and maybe tomorrow, we're probably going to get held an extra hour for the first week of rehearsal after break, which is going to stink everyone's socks off.
Whatever. I've got to go now.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Post # whatever
As I'm writing this, I'm listening to "Complicated" by Avril Lavigne. I haven't listened to it in a while, so it's kind of nice to hear it again. I don't know why I like it. It is probably the tune and the lyrics, which make up like 80 percent of the song, but whatever. It's still a good song.
For some reason, I've gotten more into the musical 1776. I've no idea why. I think it was because a while ago I was thinking about how one of my friends sang "Dear Mr. Adams" for his audition for the musical, and I thought, "oh, I haven't heard that song in a while. I should You Tube it."
So I did.
And I'm now in love with it.
But, on the other hand, I've picked up about fifty more sex references than I did the last time I saw it. But still. I love it.
Now playing is "My Happy Ending," another awesome song. So... yeah.
I'm really glad it's Friday. It means it's the weekend and there's a snow prediction for tonight. YAY! I love snow. And I have a voice lesson today. I'm super psyched. I'm still hoping that she'll let me sing "think of me" from "Phantom of the Opera". Seriously, I loved that movie so much that I wrote my English essay on it. I'm not kidding. Okay, I just put on "Angel of Music" from "Phantom."
And I'm going now.
For some reason, I've gotten more into the musical 1776. I've no idea why. I think it was because a while ago I was thinking about how one of my friends sang "Dear Mr. Adams" for his audition for the musical, and I thought, "oh, I haven't heard that song in a while. I should You Tube it."
So I did.
And I'm now in love with it.
But, on the other hand, I've picked up about fifty more sex references than I did the last time I saw it. But still. I love it.
Now playing is "My Happy Ending," another awesome song. So... yeah.
I'm really glad it's Friday. It means it's the weekend and there's a snow prediction for tonight. YAY! I love snow. And I have a voice lesson today. I'm super psyched. I'm still hoping that she'll let me sing "think of me" from "Phantom of the Opera". Seriously, I loved that movie so much that I wrote my English essay on it. I'm not kidding. Okay, I just put on "Angel of Music" from "Phantom."
And I'm going now.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
HooraY!
So I went to Tae Kwon Do today, which made me very happy. I also learned Chulgi and Pagwe I Jang, which are my new forms. Pagwe I Jang still needs a little work, but the thing is... CHULGI IS OFFICIALLY THE COOLEST FORM EVER!! I love it. I just half explained it while doing it with a LOT of sound effects for my parents a little while ago. It was kind of funny because it was like, "and then it's like WHAA!! And then you're like, WHA-CHA!! And then that guy's nose is broken, and then you put your arm on the back of his head and break his nose again..." it was really funny. But the cool thing is Chulgi is all on one horizontal line. There are no steps forward or back, just sideways. It's the first form I've had that does that. It's really cool. I like it a LOT, even more than doing Heron Stance in Gumgan, because standing on one foot with one arm up and one arm down and looking over your shoulder on some parallel to whichever foot you're standing on is kind of hard. I know that I'm half rambling in Korean, but whatever. Gumgan and Chulgi are the names of forms. Gumgan is the first degree form. Chulgi is the eight gup form. Pagwe Il Jang, not to be confused with Pagwe I Jang, is the other first degree form. And Pagwe I Jang is pronounced like "ee" not "I". Just so you know. The only problem with Chulgi is that I keep messing up which arm is doing the outer block at what point. But other than that, it is quite fun to do. YAY TAE KWON DO!
Hai
Greetings! I have a free block right now, and *gasp* NO REHEARSAL TODAY?! How can this be? But you WON'T hear me complaining. I finally get to go to tkd do today, which is VERY nice because I have stuff to learn now.
I was the lowest rank of black belt before, which means that I only had like two one steps for each category and two forms, which I learned easily, so hopefully I'll get to learn my new forms today. I already know some of my one steps. And besides, I like going to tkd. I really miss it. It was really nice to see the guy with the disorder get his black belt on Saturday. I really like rehearsal, but I also kind of want to get back to martial arts.
In other news, my arm still sort of hurts from the fruit carrying yesterday. We have this fruit fundraiser for the music department every year for the spring trip. The fruit came yesterday. We unloaded the truck during rehearsal. It was really fun, but I liked last year's unloading more, even though it was raining, but still. Singing in the rain. I love rain. And the fact that it wasn't like forty degrees outside. That was really nice. I love it when it rains really hard. I have no idea why. I just do.
But I REALLY hope that whoever is doing warm ups doesn't give us a whole ton of push ups. I hate push ups. And I REALLY hate doing push ups with an arm that hurts. That would really stink.
Anyway, I'm going now.
I was the lowest rank of black belt before, which means that I only had like two one steps for each category and two forms, which I learned easily, so hopefully I'll get to learn my new forms today. I already know some of my one steps. And besides, I like going to tkd. I really miss it. It was really nice to see the guy with the disorder get his black belt on Saturday. I really like rehearsal, but I also kind of want to get back to martial arts.
In other news, my arm still sort of hurts from the fruit carrying yesterday. We have this fruit fundraiser for the music department every year for the spring trip. The fruit came yesterday. We unloaded the truck during rehearsal. It was really fun, but I liked last year's unloading more, even though it was raining, but still. Singing in the rain. I love rain. And the fact that it wasn't like forty degrees outside. That was really nice. I love it when it rains really hard. I have no idea why. I just do.
But I REALLY hope that whoever is doing warm ups doesn't give us a whole ton of push ups. I hate push ups. And I REALLY hate doing push ups with an arm that hurts. That would really stink.
Anyway, I'm going now.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Post Number 280
Wow, it's acually been kind of a while since I last posted. Okay, a day. But still. Anyway, in news: yesterday there was the chorus concert for school. It was really good. I liked it. Except for the part where I didn't get to go up to sing until the very end and it was really hot the entire time because there were a lot of people there. The winter concert is always really big. Don't ask me why. I don't know, but my hunch is that it's because it is the holidays and everyone likes coming back for the holidays and such. Anyway, there was this community choir, new this year and this concert. For four meetings worth, they were really good. And by 'really good,' I actually mean pretty freaking darn good. And we had to do the Hallelujah Chorus (yes, THAT Hallelujah Chorus. HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH HALLELUJAH HALLELUJAH! That one.) and it actually turned out quite well. There was also this Swahili piece- the one with the solo that auditions for were held the day of the concert (no, I didn't get it)- that our chorus teacher gave us choreography for that actually turned out pretty well. I thought it was going to look completely and utterly stupid, but I think it actually went pretty well, from a performer's standpoint. In all, it was a really good concert. I liked it.
Today, nothing much happened. We do this fruit fundraiser every year for the spring trip, and the fruit came in today. Yes, we helped unload the truck during rehearsal, as in instead of most of it. Yes, one of my arms still hurts. I was a runner of sorts. I basically helped carry stuff from the end of one of the lines (one extended all the way inside the school, the other didn't) and into its appropriate area. My arms were totally dead by the end of it. And then I had to carry our two things of fruit to the car, which was really annoying because my arms were already dead.
But other than that, it was a pretty good day. :)
Today, nothing much happened. We do this fruit fundraiser every year for the spring trip, and the fruit came in today. Yes, we helped unload the truck during rehearsal, as in instead of most of it. Yes, one of my arms still hurts. I was a runner of sorts. I basically helped carry stuff from the end of one of the lines (one extended all the way inside the school, the other didn't) and into its appropriate area. My arms were totally dead by the end of it. And then I had to carry our two things of fruit to the car, which was really annoying because my arms were already dead.
But other than that, it was a pretty good day. :)
Monday, December 14, 2009
post # 279
Dude. The Terra Cotta Warriors = amazing. I went to see them today with school in some museum downtown. I think it was National Geographic. They were SO COOL. It's totally true about how each of them had their own unique face, even though there were only like five or ten statues there total, the only faces that looked alike were the pair of identical twins in the grade below me. That automatically made it cool. There was also a lot of really cool detailing on the armor and the faces and stuff. There were also these musicians and acrobats. And a horse. Some of the warriors were still intact, but some had been broken somewhat and then put back together sort of. The clay honestly looks like stone. It was really cool, though. There was also some jade jewelry (apparently jade was more valuable than gold) and some other things that were really cool, like this stone swan and this stone crane. The entire exhibit was a mass of awesome, so I don't remember all of it. It was so awesome that I now have a mask of one of the warrior's faces. It's the guy with the big bun on the top of his head. One of the guys with the big bun on the top of his head, anyway. And Terra Cotta Warrior Playing Cards. It's just really awkward whenever I try to wear the mask because of my glasses. But you really should see them. It's insane.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
ah, the joys of a hectic weekend
Yes, I know it's like ten at night. Yes, I know I should be going to take a shower right now. Yes, I know I have to be in bed soon. But I don't care, and my brother has the shower right now and I'm already here so why not.
We didn't see "The Princess and the Frog" last night, which I was extremely sad about. I was also the only person who voted for it. We saw "The Fantastic Mr. Fox" instead. It was pretty good, except for the part where it didn't even start until ten so I was tired and half zoning out by the time the plot actually started getting interesting. And because I still was wanting to see "Princess and the Frog." But other than that, it was good. I didn't get home until like 12:30 because it started/ ended so late.
Before that I went to the belt ceremony and saw this sort of mentally challenged guy from my dojang get his black belt, which I was EXTREMELY happy about, because he'd been a red belt since forever ago. It was also kind of awkward when they were calling names because only like ten people who were taking gup tests/ 2nd degree tests actually showed up, and there were seriously about ten names between mine and the guy before me because there was nobody there. So it was like, "Name!" and I was like, "Hey, I know that kid, but he's not here!" It was like that about five times. I'm not kidding.
This morning we threw a Christmas party for the little kids at church. It was kind of fun to watch the little kids run around crazy, but it was weird to see how my friend's little brother awkwardly rubbed off on the little kids because his angel was a "representation of Satan according to Dante's Inferno."
Way to go there, buddy. Set an awesome example for the five year olds who are also in your group. Great idea there.
Okay, I really have to go now.
We didn't see "The Princess and the Frog" last night, which I was extremely sad about. I was also the only person who voted for it. We saw "The Fantastic Mr. Fox" instead. It was pretty good, except for the part where it didn't even start until ten so I was tired and half zoning out by the time the plot actually started getting interesting. And because I still was wanting to see "Princess and the Frog." But other than that, it was good. I didn't get home until like 12:30 because it started/ ended so late.
Before that I went to the belt ceremony and saw this sort of mentally challenged guy from my dojang get his black belt, which I was EXTREMELY happy about, because he'd been a red belt since forever ago. It was also kind of awkward when they were calling names because only like ten people who were taking gup tests/ 2nd degree tests actually showed up, and there were seriously about ten names between mine and the guy before me because there was nobody there. So it was like, "Name!" and I was like, "Hey, I know that kid, but he's not here!" It was like that about five times. I'm not kidding.
This morning we threw a Christmas party for the little kids at church. It was kind of fun to watch the little kids run around crazy, but it was weird to see how my friend's little brother awkwardly rubbed off on the little kids because his angel was a "representation of Satan according to Dante's Inferno."
Way to go there, buddy. Set an awesome example for the five year olds who are also in your group. Great idea there.
Okay, I really have to go now.
Friday, December 11, 2009
OOOH!!!!
There was going to be a lock in at church tomorrow, but as there were only going to be like four people showing up, we're going to see a movie instead. I really want to see "The Princess and the Frog," because it's Disney and Disney is amazing and it's animated and it looks really good, and it comes out today. I just talked to the Youth Minister about it, and he told me the names of the other people who were going, and so by the sound of it, I'm the only one who's going to want to go to "Princess and the Frog," no matter how hard I try to convince the others. Not that I'm going to try, as I don't have their email addresses. I'm also going to have to show up kind of late because of the belt ceremony thing.
My mom didn't really want to go, for some reason. I guess I can see her reasoning. Why drive for like half an hour both ways to get a piece of tape put on my belt and a certificate saying I got it? My answer to that is that it might be a piece of tape to her, but to me it means I'm officially cooler than a first degree, because it officially an eight gup. But she doesn't really get that, because she doesn't do tae kwon do. I do. So there.
But the Youth Minister is okay with me being a bit late. I really hope we get to see "Princess and the Frog" for a couple reasons, though. Number one, even though the initial transformation sounds exactly like E. D. Baker's "The Frog Princess," the rest of it sounds totally different and really good. Second, it's a black princess. Third, the princess seems to actually have a brain, which is always a good thing, and all the other Disney princess with the exception of Mulan seem to be all like, "Oh, Prince Charming! Save me!" Well, Ariel sort of had a brain. But Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella and Snow White are definitely the sort of princess who depend on the guy for survival and rescue and everything, and Tiana seems more independent or at least co dependent, not entirely guy dependent. YAY!
My mom didn't really want to go, for some reason. I guess I can see her reasoning. Why drive for like half an hour both ways to get a piece of tape put on my belt and a certificate saying I got it? My answer to that is that it might be a piece of tape to her, but to me it means I'm officially cooler than a first degree, because it officially an eight gup. But she doesn't really get that, because she doesn't do tae kwon do. I do. So there.
But the Youth Minister is okay with me being a bit late. I really hope we get to see "Princess and the Frog" for a couple reasons, though. Number one, even though the initial transformation sounds exactly like E. D. Baker's "The Frog Princess," the rest of it sounds totally different and really good. Second, it's a black princess. Third, the princess seems to actually have a brain, which is always a good thing, and all the other Disney princess with the exception of Mulan seem to be all like, "Oh, Prince Charming! Save me!" Well, Ariel sort of had a brain. But Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella and Snow White are definitely the sort of princess who depend on the guy for survival and rescue and everything, and Tiana seems more independent or at least co dependent, not entirely guy dependent. YAY!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
oh, wow...
I have a fetish for Lolz. We all know that. But, if I may say so.......
RECORD POST NUMBER!
As in, this is the first time I have posted nine times in the same day. The closest number to nine that pertains to the number of times I have posted is eight. WIN!
RECORD POST NUMBER!
As in, this is the first time I have posted nine times in the same day. The closest number to nine that pertains to the number of times I have posted is eight. WIN!
um. Idk what now.
So after the monumental event of a few minutes ago, I have nothing more to say at the moment. Okay, I do. I just do not know what it is. Yet. So please stand by while I think of something to say. Um... So I still can not find proper character shoes for the musical. Apparently there are a few websites that sell character shoes, but the trouble with buying shoes on the web is that I am a different size in a bunch of different places, so if I get a seven at one place I might be an eight at another, so I can not just say, Okay, give me a size eight, and then be done with it.
GAH!
GAH!
Another bit of the story!
Finally, I am FINALLY able to post another bit of the story that I have been working on. The Lord of the Rings one. And the best part about it is that it is in the actual ORDER it is supposed to be in. So it is not like an end or a random battle or anything like that. It is a pick up from where I left off on the blog, so many, many eons ago when dinosaurs ruled the Earth.
So here it is.
“Telsiel, don’t make me hurt you,” Shyasha warned.
“Try me,” Telsiel challenged.
“Your funeral,” Shyasha muttered. Telsiel began to throw a punch. In one smooth movement, Shyasha dodged the blow, grabbed Telsiel’s wrist, and flung him to the ground with impeccable ease.
Enraged by the ease at which Shyasha had pulled this maneuver, Telsiel attempted to sit up to get another blow in. Once again, he was foiled. Shyasha had sat on his stomach.
“Where’d you learn a move like that?” Telsiel wondered.
“Ranger training,” Shyasha said smugly. “They cover every kind of combat ever. You haven’t got a chance.”
“I’m still not handing it over,” Telsiel insisted.
“Then suffer the consequences,” Shyasha told him.
“What do you think you can pull on me?” Telsiel demanded. His middle was getting sore from Shyasha’s weight.
“I’m a ranger,” she reminded him, still not getting up. “I can pull off more than you think.”
“Will you get off?” Telsiel demanded.
“Absolutely not,” Shyasha said. “Until you hand the crystal over.”
“Which is never going to happen,” Telsiel told her.
“So, then,” Shyasha said. “We have a problem. You are not handing over the crystal, and I am not going to move until you do. Let me review your options, Telsiel. You could hand over the crystal of your own free will, at which point you will not get hurt. If you refuse to hand over the crystal, I will cause you a lot of pain in a variety of areas, at which point I will be able to take the crystal from the cord I see you’re wearing around your neck. If you still wish to fight, then I will oblige, but you will not win. It will be easier for both of us if you give over the crystal now, and let us both be done with the matter.”
“How do I know you won’t hurt me after I give you the crystal?” Telsiel asked.
“There is no guarantee of that,” Shyasha told him. “However, there is such a thing as a pact. If you promise not to hurt me after you give me the crystal, I will promise not to hurt you.”
“Agreed,” Telsiel said.
“Very good,” Shyasha said. “Now, give it over.”
“Will you get off me first?” Telsiel asked.
“No,” Shyasha said. “You need to give it over now. I can’t trust you not to run away with it.”
Reluctantly, Telsiel pulled the cord from around his neck. On the end dangled a small crystal. It was silvery sort of blue-green in color that somehow shimmered, even though there was barely any light in the torch lit corridor. It was in the shape of a small cone, no more than an inch and a half in length. The flat, broad end was sort of jagged, as if it had been unceremoniously knocked off of the rest of the whole.
Shyasha gazed at it, momentarily entranced by the crystal, but then, getting a hold of herself, reached out and grabbed the cord, tucking it down the front of her dress.
“Why are you putting it down there?” Telsiel asked, staring unabashedly at the place where the crystal had disappeared.
“It’s the only place you’re not allowed get at without creating a huge public scandal but is still easily accessible to me,” she replied. Telsiel looked confused. “You’re not allowed to have it back, dofus,” she told him scornfully. “I’m keeping it with me until the council tomorrow. And I’m locking my room, talking to Dalar about it, telling my dad about it, and informing the rest of everybody attending the council tomorrow before I’m going to bed tonight. You’ll be found out in an instant if you try to steal it back, so don’t even bother.”
Chapter 6
True to her word, Shyasha Rinkari did take the bit of the crystal that Telsiel had obtained to Dalar and her father. Telsiel waited with the others while Shyasha debated what to do with the wizard and her father. In the hour or so that Telsiel had been free of the crystal, the rest of the council had noticed a remarkable change in his demeanor. While he had had the crystal, he had been stoic at best; he seemed to be more willing to be open to talking to the rest of the council now. However, there was not much talk to be had, and not a lot of the council was willing to talk to him. Although everyone assured him that he didn’t know any better and anybody would have fallen for the trick, almost everyone in the small room off the dining hall regarded him as the traitor, with the exception of Faug, who was too tired to really care what was going on.
After a time, Shyasha, Dalar, and Akalu exited the dining hall to the room where the others were waiting.
“We have come to a decision,” Akalu said. “We are still holding council tomorrow, but it will be at dawn. Sleep well.”
The group dissipated after Akalu’s announcement. Shyasha went to her room to get out of that damned dress; Faug and Valin went to theirs, suddenly more tired than they had been before. Akalu and Dalar went back into the Great Hall to discuss things for the next day’s council. Shangru left a short while later, soon followed by Hyan and then Tiba. Illuri picked Liea up off of the stairs, where she had fallen asleep and disappeared down a different hall. Nobody spoke to Telsiel, either out of anger or out of tiredness, or maybe a bit of both. It was hard to tell at that hour.
That left Telsiel alone with Tayana. She didn’t look at him as she said, “Well, I can’t say you didn’t deserve what she did to you.”
Telsiel looked at her, confused.
“Tiba told me through Thought Speaking with Shya,” she said in explanation.
Telsiel didn’t say anything. He didn’t like it when people did Thought Speak-talking through thoughts-especially when it was about him. It was a very rare gift to be able to send thoughts and to hear what others were thinking at will. Tiba was the only being that Telsiel knew of who had the ability. She was so adept at it, and her friends were so used to hearing her voice popping into their heads, that one could have an entire conversation with Tiba without either party saying a word.
“Why did you do it, Telsiel?” Tayana inquired.
“Sonru can implant thoughts,” Telsiel said after a few moments. “Not like Tiba. He can plant thoughts into your head and you can’t fight it unless you have a very strong will. I guess that’s what he did to me, but it really depended on the crystal being there. Now it’s gone, I really don’t understand why I let him do it.”
“Interesting,” Tayana said slowly. “Well, I think you should tell Shya the whole story.”
“She wouldn’t listen,” Telsiel said at once.
“She’s very stubborn, yes,” Tayana conceded. “But she’s also very reasonable. If you talk sense to her, I’m sure she’ll treat you tolerably.”
“Are you sure?” Telsiel asked.
“She is my daughter,” Tayana insisted. “Of COURSE I’m sure.”
Although Telsiel didn’t want to say it aloud, he somehow didn’t think that Shyasha Rinkari would back down from her adamant dislike of him quite that easily.
With that, they said good night and parted.
**********************************************************
After Shyasha had gotten out of that stupid dress, she immediately pulled on her usual black attire and sat on the bed, closing her eyes.
Shyasha didn’t technically need to sleep, but the three nights straight of no rest could still affect her reaction time. Although in this state she could still react considerably fast, she hated not being able to react as fast as she normally could.
It was at times like these that she wished that Sparraben was with her.
Sparraben was Shyasha’s closest friend and mentor. Although she hadn’t seen him for long time, Sparraben was still the only person alive who could beat up Shyasha. Consequently, she was the only person alive who could manage to bruise Sparraben. That was saying something-Sparraben had a reputation as one of the best Rangers ever, and he was the one who had put Shyasha through her training.
Shyasha hated going around confused and mixed up as the next person, which was precisely why she needed Ben with her at that point. Shyasha was feeling very mixed up and confused, so she needed Ben’s calm, straightforward thinking to help her straighten herself out.
Slowly, Shyasha was able to work it out herself. She definitely didn’t like him. She had, therefore, to keep a façade of civility towards everyone, whether they were held in her esteem or not. Then they would all be able to get along reasonably well, theoretically. She had her doubts about Shangru. She didn’t know him personally, but dwarves were typically very argumentative. Shyasha would probably have to keep him and everyone else in line, but that wouldn’t be very hard.
Shyasha rose before everyone else that morning, although she had never really gone to sleep. She was fully aware that very few residents of the palace actually need the slumber, but every time she had tried to not go to her room until one in the morning, her parents would take her upstairs by force.
Now, however, she felt reasonably well rested, she took a walk to help her clear her head. She had always enjoyed going around at night.
Striding silently around the dark and deserted palace, Shyasha felt a sudden sense of foreboding. There was something in the lack of something that made her uneasy. Unease was not an emotion that Shyasha was often prone to experiencing, and as such, it was not one that she enjoyed very much.
Then Shyasha sensed, rather than heard, someone walking behind her. Quickening her pace, she slowed almost to a stop very suddenly near the end of the corridor. Shyasha smiled. She knew those footfalls. She had just pulled a classic trick-move very quickly, and then stop very quickly after a little while, before they realize what you have done. That way, you would have a few moments to hear the footfalls and learn whether or not someone was trying to trail you. Tonight, Shyasha knew that someone was trying to trail her.
However, it was not someone with malicious intent.
“What brings you to the Palace of Norasona in the wee hours of the morning, Sparraben of the Lianland?” Shyasha asked quietly of the person behind her, barely turning her head.
“For similar reasons as you were inclined to come, I presume,” a soft voice answered the query. “And I must say, you really had me just then. Don’t stop so fast. You’re not supposed to outsmart the person who taught you the trick.”
“Exception to the rule,” Shyasha grinned, turning and pulling a mock bow to her old friend.
Sparraben was a stocky but very strong elf. Although Shyasha was an inch taller than him, he was a lot broader, in a non-bulky sort of way. Frozen in his mid-thirties, Sparraben’s age was actually closer to ten thousand years old. His amber hair and lightly graying beard were tinted by the moonlight streaming in from the nearest window.
“So you’re coming too?” Shyasha inquired.
“Probably,” sparraben said. “I assume you are, of course.”
“It’s in my contract,” Shyasha said. “So yes, I am going.”
“Well, it’s lucky that Dalar got you this year,” Sparraben said.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Shyasha demanded.
“You’re the best tracker in the world!” Sparraben told her. “You can split an arrow on a moving target at a hundred and fifty paces! Do you know how many people can do that?”
“No,” Shyasha said.
“Good,” Sparraben said. “Because I don’t either.” Shyasha raised one eyebrow.
“So why weren’t you there last night?” Shyasha asked him.
“I got held up,” Sparraben said bluntly.
Shyasha’s eyebrow went up again. “By what?” She inquired.
“Trolls,” he said briefly.
“Trolls?” Shyasha repeated, skeptical. “Since when have trolls ever been on this side of the border?”
“Since Sonru started working on the Crystal,” Sparraben said. “He’s gotten more powerful by the day, although it was a real blow when you got the Crystal off of Telsiel.”
“How did you know about that?” Shyasha demanded. “An entire day hasn’t even passed and the news has already spread through the entire country?”
“Seems like it,” Sparraben said.
“How did he know about it?” Shyasha demanded.
“He’s got tracking spells on all the pieces,” Sparraben told her. “It’s not stupid, mind you. But still. It’s a blow, all the same.”
“Do you know where the rest of the bits are, then?” Shyasha demanded.
“No,” Sparraben admitted.
“How did you know about the tracking spells on the crystal?” Shyasha asked.
“The trees told me,” Sparraben said.
“The trees told you?” Shyasha repeated, more skeptical than before. “Since when were you able to talk to the trees?”
“It’s a figure of speech, Shya,” Sparraben sighed.
“Really, then,” Shyasha persisted. “How did you find out?”
“I have eyes and ears inside Sonru’s fortress,” Sparraben told her in an undertone, as if he were afraid that someone in the deserted corridor where they were standing would hear them. “Obviously I can’t go myself. Sonru would know who I was in an instant, even with a disguise. But I know some dwarves, Shangru among them. Then knew what they were getting into when they decided to go with our Rebellion. So I decided that they could help us.”
“But how would they get word to you or Shangru?” Shyasha wondered.
“Dwarves have ways of communication that we don’t,” Sparraben said simply.
“Like Thought Speak?” Shyasha asked. “Or something else?”
“Sort of like that,” Sparraben said. “Dwarves are very good friends with the gem phoenixes.”
“Gem phoenixes?” Shyasha wondered. “I thought they were extinct.”
“They’re not,” Sparraben said. “And the dwarves know it. Since dwarves are always mining, they found the last gem phoenixes in one of the mines. Instead of killing them, as was custom about fifty years ago, the dwarves decided to create an alliance with the phoenixes. The phoenixes would deliver the dwarves’ messages, and the dwarves would feed the phoenixes and take care of them. The phoenixes have their own magic, so it wouldn’t make sense to give them protective amulets.”
“So you can communicate with the phoenixes?” Shyasha asked.
“Well, I can’t,” Sparraben admitted. “But Shangru can. That’s why he’s coming. Well, aside from the fact that he can fight really well.”
“Right,” Shyasha said slowly. To give herself something to do, she looked to the east, out of the window directly to her left. To her surprise, she saw the sun had begun to poke its head over the horizon. Dawn had come. It was time for the council.
“Come on, then,” Shyasha said to Sparraben, turning on her heel and marching down the hall with great purpose.
“Where are we going?” Sparraben asked. “The council’s not for another few hours, isn’t it?”
“It got moved,” Shyasha said. “To dawn. So let’s go.”
“Do you know where it is?” Sparraben asked.
Shyasha halted in her tracks. Sparraben, who had been following her, nearly walked into her.
“Good point,” Shyasha said. “Change of plans. We’re looking for Dalar.” She did an abrupt about-face and started marching along the hall in the opposite direction.
“Do you know where Dalar’s room is?” Sparraben wondered.
Again, Shyasha halted abruptly, but this time, Sparraben did walk into her. “Good point,” she repeated. “Change of plans. We’re going downstairs to the great hall. It’s probably going to be there anyway.”
“Do you know where the stairs are?” Sparraben asked.
“Do you have to ask so many questions?” Shyasha shot back.
“Do you have to be so irritated?” Sparraben wondered.
Shyasha rolled her eyes. “Whatever,” she muttered, and walked down the hall a little way more and took a sharp left.
“See, I know where the stairs are,” she snapped.
“Fine then,” Sparraben said.
If he hadn’t known that Shyasha had prodigious skill in the art of unarmed combat and that she was likely to hurt something if he said anything, Sparraben decided not to comment on her lack of control of her temper. It would only make her more mad, and that would likely result in another large bruise to some of his necessary parts.
In reality, Shyasha had not intended to get so mad. But when she was so low on energy as it was and when Sparraben was acting like such a little kid, she couldn’t help but lash out a bit. She also realized that she was quite hungry, which didn’t improve her mood in the slightest.
When they arrived in the great hall, Shyasha and Sparraben found that they were not the only ones who had woken early. Shangru was sitting slumped against the wall, his head nodding onto his chest. Tiba leaned against the wall opposite, staring at her feet as if she couldn’t really see them. Next to her was Hyan, the only one of the people already there who looked really awake. In the corner farthest from Shyasha, Faug was curled up with his back in the nook where the two walls met, apparently asleep. Valin was sitting next to his brother, his long legs drawn up to his chest, his eyes on his knees and his dark hair looking unkempt.
*Good morning* came Tiba’s voice in Shyasha’s head.
*Hi.* Shyasha was not really in the mood to talk.
*Faug is thinking about you,* Tiba said.
*Why is Faug thinking about me?* Shyasha demanded. *And why are you looking into a nine year old’s dreams?*
*That’s it,* Tiba though. *He’s dreaming about you.*
*Why are you looking into his dreams, though?*
*Because he’s the only kid who’s going to be at the council.*
*But why should that give you entitlement to look into his dreams?*
*All right, all right, calm down, girl!*
Shyasha rolled her eyes again.
*What’s with you?* Tiba demanded.
*Oh, let’s think,* Shyasha thought sarcastically. *I haven’t had a proper rest in three days. Then I find out that Telsiel is a total jerk, which is the news flash of the year (not.). I’m hungry and I really don’t feel like doing any of this right now, but I don’t have any choice. Then I find out that the same nine year old who has been bugging me nonstop for the past three days is having dreams about me. What does that say to you?*
*Oh, it’s not THOSE kinds of dreams,* Tiba insisted. *He’s dreaming that you’ve turned into a moose.*
*How would you know the moose is me, then?*
*Because he keeps trying to call the moose with your name.*
*Is the moose responding?*
*No.*
*Then how do you know that the moose is me? How do you know that the moose’s name isn’t something stupid?*
*True. Sorry, then.*
So here it is.
“Telsiel, don’t make me hurt you,” Shyasha warned.
“Try me,” Telsiel challenged.
“Your funeral,” Shyasha muttered. Telsiel began to throw a punch. In one smooth movement, Shyasha dodged the blow, grabbed Telsiel’s wrist, and flung him to the ground with impeccable ease.
Enraged by the ease at which Shyasha had pulled this maneuver, Telsiel attempted to sit up to get another blow in. Once again, he was foiled. Shyasha had sat on his stomach.
“Where’d you learn a move like that?” Telsiel wondered.
“Ranger training,” Shyasha said smugly. “They cover every kind of combat ever. You haven’t got a chance.”
“I’m still not handing it over,” Telsiel insisted.
“Then suffer the consequences,” Shyasha told him.
“What do you think you can pull on me?” Telsiel demanded. His middle was getting sore from Shyasha’s weight.
“I’m a ranger,” she reminded him, still not getting up. “I can pull off more than you think.”
“Will you get off?” Telsiel demanded.
“Absolutely not,” Shyasha said. “Until you hand the crystal over.”
“Which is never going to happen,” Telsiel told her.
“So, then,” Shyasha said. “We have a problem. You are not handing over the crystal, and I am not going to move until you do. Let me review your options, Telsiel. You could hand over the crystal of your own free will, at which point you will not get hurt. If you refuse to hand over the crystal, I will cause you a lot of pain in a variety of areas, at which point I will be able to take the crystal from the cord I see you’re wearing around your neck. If you still wish to fight, then I will oblige, but you will not win. It will be easier for both of us if you give over the crystal now, and let us both be done with the matter.”
“How do I know you won’t hurt me after I give you the crystal?” Telsiel asked.
“There is no guarantee of that,” Shyasha told him. “However, there is such a thing as a pact. If you promise not to hurt me after you give me the crystal, I will promise not to hurt you.”
“Agreed,” Telsiel said.
“Very good,” Shyasha said. “Now, give it over.”
“Will you get off me first?” Telsiel asked.
“No,” Shyasha said. “You need to give it over now. I can’t trust you not to run away with it.”
Reluctantly, Telsiel pulled the cord from around his neck. On the end dangled a small crystal. It was silvery sort of blue-green in color that somehow shimmered, even though there was barely any light in the torch lit corridor. It was in the shape of a small cone, no more than an inch and a half in length. The flat, broad end was sort of jagged, as if it had been unceremoniously knocked off of the rest of the whole.
Shyasha gazed at it, momentarily entranced by the crystal, but then, getting a hold of herself, reached out and grabbed the cord, tucking it down the front of her dress.
“Why are you putting it down there?” Telsiel asked, staring unabashedly at the place where the crystal had disappeared.
“It’s the only place you’re not allowed get at without creating a huge public scandal but is still easily accessible to me,” she replied. Telsiel looked confused. “You’re not allowed to have it back, dofus,” she told him scornfully. “I’m keeping it with me until the council tomorrow. And I’m locking my room, talking to Dalar about it, telling my dad about it, and informing the rest of everybody attending the council tomorrow before I’m going to bed tonight. You’ll be found out in an instant if you try to steal it back, so don’t even bother.”
Chapter 6
True to her word, Shyasha Rinkari did take the bit of the crystal that Telsiel had obtained to Dalar and her father. Telsiel waited with the others while Shyasha debated what to do with the wizard and her father. In the hour or so that Telsiel had been free of the crystal, the rest of the council had noticed a remarkable change in his demeanor. While he had had the crystal, he had been stoic at best; he seemed to be more willing to be open to talking to the rest of the council now. However, there was not much talk to be had, and not a lot of the council was willing to talk to him. Although everyone assured him that he didn’t know any better and anybody would have fallen for the trick, almost everyone in the small room off the dining hall regarded him as the traitor, with the exception of Faug, who was too tired to really care what was going on.
After a time, Shyasha, Dalar, and Akalu exited the dining hall to the room where the others were waiting.
“We have come to a decision,” Akalu said. “We are still holding council tomorrow, but it will be at dawn. Sleep well.”
The group dissipated after Akalu’s announcement. Shyasha went to her room to get out of that damned dress; Faug and Valin went to theirs, suddenly more tired than they had been before. Akalu and Dalar went back into the Great Hall to discuss things for the next day’s council. Shangru left a short while later, soon followed by Hyan and then Tiba. Illuri picked Liea up off of the stairs, where she had fallen asleep and disappeared down a different hall. Nobody spoke to Telsiel, either out of anger or out of tiredness, or maybe a bit of both. It was hard to tell at that hour.
That left Telsiel alone with Tayana. She didn’t look at him as she said, “Well, I can’t say you didn’t deserve what she did to you.”
Telsiel looked at her, confused.
“Tiba told me through Thought Speaking with Shya,” she said in explanation.
Telsiel didn’t say anything. He didn’t like it when people did Thought Speak-talking through thoughts-especially when it was about him. It was a very rare gift to be able to send thoughts and to hear what others were thinking at will. Tiba was the only being that Telsiel knew of who had the ability. She was so adept at it, and her friends were so used to hearing her voice popping into their heads, that one could have an entire conversation with Tiba without either party saying a word.
“Why did you do it, Telsiel?” Tayana inquired.
“Sonru can implant thoughts,” Telsiel said after a few moments. “Not like Tiba. He can plant thoughts into your head and you can’t fight it unless you have a very strong will. I guess that’s what he did to me, but it really depended on the crystal being there. Now it’s gone, I really don’t understand why I let him do it.”
“Interesting,” Tayana said slowly. “Well, I think you should tell Shya the whole story.”
“She wouldn’t listen,” Telsiel said at once.
“She’s very stubborn, yes,” Tayana conceded. “But she’s also very reasonable. If you talk sense to her, I’m sure she’ll treat you tolerably.”
“Are you sure?” Telsiel asked.
“She is my daughter,” Tayana insisted. “Of COURSE I’m sure.”
Although Telsiel didn’t want to say it aloud, he somehow didn’t think that Shyasha Rinkari would back down from her adamant dislike of him quite that easily.
With that, they said good night and parted.
**********************************************************
After Shyasha had gotten out of that stupid dress, she immediately pulled on her usual black attire and sat on the bed, closing her eyes.
Shyasha didn’t technically need to sleep, but the three nights straight of no rest could still affect her reaction time. Although in this state she could still react considerably fast, she hated not being able to react as fast as she normally could.
It was at times like these that she wished that Sparraben was with her.
Sparraben was Shyasha’s closest friend and mentor. Although she hadn’t seen him for long time, Sparraben was still the only person alive who could beat up Shyasha. Consequently, she was the only person alive who could manage to bruise Sparraben. That was saying something-Sparraben had a reputation as one of the best Rangers ever, and he was the one who had put Shyasha through her training.
Shyasha hated going around confused and mixed up as the next person, which was precisely why she needed Ben with her at that point. Shyasha was feeling very mixed up and confused, so she needed Ben’s calm, straightforward thinking to help her straighten herself out.
Slowly, Shyasha was able to work it out herself. She definitely didn’t like him. She had, therefore, to keep a façade of civility towards everyone, whether they were held in her esteem or not. Then they would all be able to get along reasonably well, theoretically. She had her doubts about Shangru. She didn’t know him personally, but dwarves were typically very argumentative. Shyasha would probably have to keep him and everyone else in line, but that wouldn’t be very hard.
Shyasha rose before everyone else that morning, although she had never really gone to sleep. She was fully aware that very few residents of the palace actually need the slumber, but every time she had tried to not go to her room until one in the morning, her parents would take her upstairs by force.
Now, however, she felt reasonably well rested, she took a walk to help her clear her head. She had always enjoyed going around at night.
Striding silently around the dark and deserted palace, Shyasha felt a sudden sense of foreboding. There was something in the lack of something that made her uneasy. Unease was not an emotion that Shyasha was often prone to experiencing, and as such, it was not one that she enjoyed very much.
Then Shyasha sensed, rather than heard, someone walking behind her. Quickening her pace, she slowed almost to a stop very suddenly near the end of the corridor. Shyasha smiled. She knew those footfalls. She had just pulled a classic trick-move very quickly, and then stop very quickly after a little while, before they realize what you have done. That way, you would have a few moments to hear the footfalls and learn whether or not someone was trying to trail you. Tonight, Shyasha knew that someone was trying to trail her.
However, it was not someone with malicious intent.
“What brings you to the Palace of Norasona in the wee hours of the morning, Sparraben of the Lianland?” Shyasha asked quietly of the person behind her, barely turning her head.
“For similar reasons as you were inclined to come, I presume,” a soft voice answered the query. “And I must say, you really had me just then. Don’t stop so fast. You’re not supposed to outsmart the person who taught you the trick.”
“Exception to the rule,” Shyasha grinned, turning and pulling a mock bow to her old friend.
Sparraben was a stocky but very strong elf. Although Shyasha was an inch taller than him, he was a lot broader, in a non-bulky sort of way. Frozen in his mid-thirties, Sparraben’s age was actually closer to ten thousand years old. His amber hair and lightly graying beard were tinted by the moonlight streaming in from the nearest window.
“So you’re coming too?” Shyasha inquired.
“Probably,” sparraben said. “I assume you are, of course.”
“It’s in my contract,” Shyasha said. “So yes, I am going.”
“Well, it’s lucky that Dalar got you this year,” Sparraben said.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Shyasha demanded.
“You’re the best tracker in the world!” Sparraben told her. “You can split an arrow on a moving target at a hundred and fifty paces! Do you know how many people can do that?”
“No,” Shyasha said.
“Good,” Sparraben said. “Because I don’t either.” Shyasha raised one eyebrow.
“So why weren’t you there last night?” Shyasha asked him.
“I got held up,” Sparraben said bluntly.
Shyasha’s eyebrow went up again. “By what?” She inquired.
“Trolls,” he said briefly.
“Trolls?” Shyasha repeated, skeptical. “Since when have trolls ever been on this side of the border?”
“Since Sonru started working on the Crystal,” Sparraben said. “He’s gotten more powerful by the day, although it was a real blow when you got the Crystal off of Telsiel.”
“How did you know about that?” Shyasha demanded. “An entire day hasn’t even passed and the news has already spread through the entire country?”
“Seems like it,” Sparraben said.
“How did he know about it?” Shyasha demanded.
“He’s got tracking spells on all the pieces,” Sparraben told her. “It’s not stupid, mind you. But still. It’s a blow, all the same.”
“Do you know where the rest of the bits are, then?” Shyasha demanded.
“No,” Sparraben admitted.
“How did you know about the tracking spells on the crystal?” Shyasha asked.
“The trees told me,” Sparraben said.
“The trees told you?” Shyasha repeated, more skeptical than before. “Since when were you able to talk to the trees?”
“It’s a figure of speech, Shya,” Sparraben sighed.
“Really, then,” Shyasha persisted. “How did you find out?”
“I have eyes and ears inside Sonru’s fortress,” Sparraben told her in an undertone, as if he were afraid that someone in the deserted corridor where they were standing would hear them. “Obviously I can’t go myself. Sonru would know who I was in an instant, even with a disguise. But I know some dwarves, Shangru among them. Then knew what they were getting into when they decided to go with our Rebellion. So I decided that they could help us.”
“But how would they get word to you or Shangru?” Shyasha wondered.
“Dwarves have ways of communication that we don’t,” Sparraben said simply.
“Like Thought Speak?” Shyasha asked. “Or something else?”
“Sort of like that,” Sparraben said. “Dwarves are very good friends with the gem phoenixes.”
“Gem phoenixes?” Shyasha wondered. “I thought they were extinct.”
“They’re not,” Sparraben said. “And the dwarves know it. Since dwarves are always mining, they found the last gem phoenixes in one of the mines. Instead of killing them, as was custom about fifty years ago, the dwarves decided to create an alliance with the phoenixes. The phoenixes would deliver the dwarves’ messages, and the dwarves would feed the phoenixes and take care of them. The phoenixes have their own magic, so it wouldn’t make sense to give them protective amulets.”
“So you can communicate with the phoenixes?” Shyasha asked.
“Well, I can’t,” Sparraben admitted. “But Shangru can. That’s why he’s coming. Well, aside from the fact that he can fight really well.”
“Right,” Shyasha said slowly. To give herself something to do, she looked to the east, out of the window directly to her left. To her surprise, she saw the sun had begun to poke its head over the horizon. Dawn had come. It was time for the council.
“Come on, then,” Shyasha said to Sparraben, turning on her heel and marching down the hall with great purpose.
“Where are we going?” Sparraben asked. “The council’s not for another few hours, isn’t it?”
“It got moved,” Shyasha said. “To dawn. So let’s go.”
“Do you know where it is?” Sparraben asked.
Shyasha halted in her tracks. Sparraben, who had been following her, nearly walked into her.
“Good point,” Shyasha said. “Change of plans. We’re looking for Dalar.” She did an abrupt about-face and started marching along the hall in the opposite direction.
“Do you know where Dalar’s room is?” Sparraben wondered.
Again, Shyasha halted abruptly, but this time, Sparraben did walk into her. “Good point,” she repeated. “Change of plans. We’re going downstairs to the great hall. It’s probably going to be there anyway.”
“Do you know where the stairs are?” Sparraben asked.
“Do you have to ask so many questions?” Shyasha shot back.
“Do you have to be so irritated?” Sparraben wondered.
Shyasha rolled her eyes. “Whatever,” she muttered, and walked down the hall a little way more and took a sharp left.
“See, I know where the stairs are,” she snapped.
“Fine then,” Sparraben said.
If he hadn’t known that Shyasha had prodigious skill in the art of unarmed combat and that she was likely to hurt something if he said anything, Sparraben decided not to comment on her lack of control of her temper. It would only make her more mad, and that would likely result in another large bruise to some of his necessary parts.
In reality, Shyasha had not intended to get so mad. But when she was so low on energy as it was and when Sparraben was acting like such a little kid, she couldn’t help but lash out a bit. She also realized that she was quite hungry, which didn’t improve her mood in the slightest.
When they arrived in the great hall, Shyasha and Sparraben found that they were not the only ones who had woken early. Shangru was sitting slumped against the wall, his head nodding onto his chest. Tiba leaned against the wall opposite, staring at her feet as if she couldn’t really see them. Next to her was Hyan, the only one of the people already there who looked really awake. In the corner farthest from Shyasha, Faug was curled up with his back in the nook where the two walls met, apparently asleep. Valin was sitting next to his brother, his long legs drawn up to his chest, his eyes on his knees and his dark hair looking unkempt.
*Good morning* came Tiba’s voice in Shyasha’s head.
*Hi.* Shyasha was not really in the mood to talk.
*Faug is thinking about you,* Tiba said.
*Why is Faug thinking about me?* Shyasha demanded. *And why are you looking into a nine year old’s dreams?*
*That’s it,* Tiba though. *He’s dreaming about you.*
*Why are you looking into his dreams, though?*
*Because he’s the only kid who’s going to be at the council.*
*But why should that give you entitlement to look into his dreams?*
*All right, all right, calm down, girl!*
Shyasha rolled her eyes again.
*What’s with you?* Tiba demanded.
*Oh, let’s think,* Shyasha thought sarcastically. *I haven’t had a proper rest in three days. Then I find out that Telsiel is a total jerk, which is the news flash of the year (not.). I’m hungry and I really don’t feel like doing any of this right now, but I don’t have any choice. Then I find out that the same nine year old who has been bugging me nonstop for the past three days is having dreams about me. What does that say to you?*
*Oh, it’s not THOSE kinds of dreams,* Tiba insisted. *He’s dreaming that you’ve turned into a moose.*
*How would you know the moose is me, then?*
*Because he keeps trying to call the moose with your name.*
*Is the moose responding?*
*No.*
*Then how do you know that the moose is me? How do you know that the moose’s name isn’t something stupid?*
*True. Sorry, then.*
um...
Hello! I'm really bored right now so I'm blogging. I'm technically supposed to be doing my homework... shh... I'll do my homework in a minute...
Anyway, yesterday I had to go to a venture crew meeting and I got a copy of the bylaws because I'm awesome and I asked for one. Anyway, I was looking at them, and I realized how completely unaware I was about any of the bylaws. Like how you can only have an office for two years before you have to go run for something else. I didn't know that.
Anyway, moving on with life. I saw "Phantom of the Opera" on Saturday night. It was the most awesome thing ever, even though I'm not done watching it yet. I was watching with my dad, and he hates action and tension late at night, and it was like, "really, dad? You survived the sword fight in the graveyard. There are only like forty minutes left in the entire thing." But no. We HAD to turn it off and we HAD to not watch the rest of it last night. GRRR!!!
Anyway, in other news, I have rehearsal today. Wait, that's news? Since WHEN was that NEWS? That isn't news! Until the show closes, the fact that I DON'T have rehearsal is news. But it's choreography for "the Speed Test," which is one of the cooler songs in the show.
Anyway, I've got to go do that math homework. *wink wink* really, though. Going now.
Anyway, yesterday I had to go to a venture crew meeting and I got a copy of the bylaws because I'm awesome and I asked for one. Anyway, I was looking at them, and I realized how completely unaware I was about any of the bylaws. Like how you can only have an office for two years before you have to go run for something else. I didn't know that.
Anyway, moving on with life. I saw "Phantom of the Opera" on Saturday night. It was the most awesome thing ever, even though I'm not done watching it yet. I was watching with my dad, and he hates action and tension late at night, and it was like, "really, dad? You survived the sword fight in the graveyard. There are only like forty minutes left in the entire thing." But no. We HAD to turn it off and we HAD to not watch the rest of it last night. GRRR!!!
Anyway, in other news, I have rehearsal today. Wait, that's news? Since WHEN was that NEWS? That isn't news! Until the show closes, the fact that I DON'T have rehearsal is news. But it's choreography for "the Speed Test," which is one of the cooler songs in the show.
Anyway, I've got to go do that math homework. *wink wink* really, though. Going now.
Friday, December 4, 2009
That reminded me...
Last night I went to tae kwon do for the first time in weeks. It was really awesome. But the awesomest thing about it was that I found out that this one guy who has some serious mental thing (it might be Down's syndrome, I'm not sure) who has been a red belt for SIX YEARS finally passed his black belt test.
WIN!
WIN!
This is the most adorable picture in eternity.
Okay, as anyone who knew me in sixth grade would know, back in the day I had a really big thing for cheetahs. My nickname was Cheetah. I did my endangered species project on cheetahs. Well, this is my favorite cheetah thing yet.
see more Lolcats and funny pictures
see more Lolcats and funny pictures
Thursday, December 3, 2009
okay. this is getting freaky.
For the second night running, I had a dream about my chorus teacher and chorus. It's the weirdest thing ever. My chorus teacher is cool and all, but I am NOT in love with him. I do not WANT to be in love with him. He's like twice my age.
On Monday night, one of my friends from ASP was trying to make me go out with him, but I couldn't because I had to go to a chorus concert. I was also at church. I ended up leaving two minutes before the concert started and got there late. My chorus teacher got really mad at me because I had apparently held up the entire concert because I was the soloist. Then he kicked me out of the choir. Then I woke up at like four in the morning and was very depressed because I thought I had been kicked out of chorus.
Last night, all I remember is my director saying something about giving the solo for this African piece to someone who has had excellent attendance in choir and then he looked at me and I looked at him, all freaked out, and then I got the solo. There were no awkward guy friends or chorus concerts in that one. It was just in class one day. And I don't think that he would give me a solo when there are about forty zillion other people in the choir who are better singers than I am.
I don't know WHY my subconscious is haunting me with dreams of chorus and directors. Maybe tonight it's going to be after the concert and my guy friend will start yelling at me for lying to him about the concert or something. And then I'll punch him in the face. That would be nice. I don't know why I still call him my guy friend, because I don't think he likes me anymore and I'm not exactly his biggest fan anymore either.
But still. It's weird.
On Monday night, one of my friends from ASP was trying to make me go out with him, but I couldn't because I had to go to a chorus concert. I was also at church. I ended up leaving two minutes before the concert started and got there late. My chorus teacher got really mad at me because I had apparently held up the entire concert because I was the soloist. Then he kicked me out of the choir. Then I woke up at like four in the morning and was very depressed because I thought I had been kicked out of chorus.
Last night, all I remember is my director saying something about giving the solo for this African piece to someone who has had excellent attendance in choir and then he looked at me and I looked at him, all freaked out, and then I got the solo. There were no awkward guy friends or chorus concerts in that one. It was just in class one day. And I don't think that he would give me a solo when there are about forty zillion other people in the choir who are better singers than I am.
I don't know WHY my subconscious is haunting me with dreams of chorus and directors. Maybe tonight it's going to be after the concert and my guy friend will start yelling at me for lying to him about the concert or something. And then I'll punch him in the face. That would be nice. I don't know why I still call him my guy friend, because I don't think he likes me anymore and I'm not exactly his biggest fan anymore either.
But still. It's weird.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
post # 260
Happy December. I just got back from musical rehearsal. We were practicing a dance number that, like a lot of the dances, necessitates tap dancing at the speed of light.
Thoroughly Modern Millie is DEFENITELY a lot harder than West Side Story was, dance-wise. I'm a sort of extra, but that means I'm dancing in more songs than I was when I was in West Side Story, because the extras were either Jets or Sharks, not Anonymous People in the Background. So now I'm kind of hungry, fairly tired, and wishing I didn't have homework. But I do. But I'm not going to do it. Yet.
Anyway, the one good thing that's probably going to come out of this is that I'm going to be in a lot better shape than I was when I originally auditioned. That happened with West Side Story, too, but that was more stress and no sleep and lack of proper food for a few weeks than it was dancing my legs off, like this time. Mind you, it's probably going to be a similar situation during opening week because of the epic stress levels and practicing with the pit band and stuff like that. But still. It's probably worth it.
I guess I'm glad I'm doing this, but still, sometimes I wonder whether I was stupid to audition again because I sort of knew how it was going to be this time around for rehearsals, and I had a few doubts about whether it was fully sane to do it. But I think it is.
For the record, counting all summer camp productions, when Millie closes, I'm going to have done as many stage productions as I have years in my life. Counting the years when I didn't know what I was doing. Yes, that is a lot. No, I'm not telling you how old I am. I'm just going to tell you that it's more than ten.
I think that's worth not dropping out for.
Thoroughly Modern Millie is DEFENITELY a lot harder than West Side Story was, dance-wise. I'm a sort of extra, but that means I'm dancing in more songs than I was when I was in West Side Story, because the extras were either Jets or Sharks, not Anonymous People in the Background. So now I'm kind of hungry, fairly tired, and wishing I didn't have homework. But I do. But I'm not going to do it. Yet.
Anyway, the one good thing that's probably going to come out of this is that I'm going to be in a lot better shape than I was when I originally auditioned. That happened with West Side Story, too, but that was more stress and no sleep and lack of proper food for a few weeks than it was dancing my legs off, like this time. Mind you, it's probably going to be a similar situation during opening week because of the epic stress levels and practicing with the pit band and stuff like that. But still. It's probably worth it.
I guess I'm glad I'm doing this, but still, sometimes I wonder whether I was stupid to audition again because I sort of knew how it was going to be this time around for rehearsals, and I had a few doubts about whether it was fully sane to do it. But I think it is.
For the record, counting all summer camp productions, when Millie closes, I'm going to have done as many stage productions as I have years in my life. Counting the years when I didn't know what I was doing. Yes, that is a lot. No, I'm not telling you how old I am. I'm just going to tell you that it's more than ten.
I think that's worth not dropping out for.
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