So anyway....

Well, now that I am done ranting about how annoying it is that our chorus teacher/ musical director hasn't put up the freaking cast lists yet, it's time to turn to What Happened Over the Weekend.
So I went to District auditions. I was there for over two hours, and it was really boring. The good thing was that a few of my friends were there too, and we were all at almost the end of our section lists, so we were all there for a really long time.
So then I went to Fall Formal.
I hung out at my friend's house first though. It was really fun. We played some sort of Mario Kart racing thing on her Wii. I was terrible at it, because I'm used to the classic controller, not the awesome motion-sensitive wheel that the Wii has for such games. So I was terrible at it.
Anyway, then we changed into our dresses and then took a bunch of pictures and then left. The dance was pretty fun, except for the part where I couldn't lose my somewhat socially awkward guy friend who kept hinting that he wanted to dance with me but I didn't really want to dance with him. Like, slow dance, I think. But as he didn't actually say it, I couldn't actually tell him no without it being really awkward. And I didn't want to hurt his feelings. I'm okay with spazz dancing near him, but I do NOT want to slow dance with him. No offense to him. But still.
I tried to lose him in the crowd several times, but when I got out of the crowd to get water/air/un-sweaty, he would find me two seconds later. It was fun hanging out with him at the beginning, but by the end, I was really bored of hanging out with him constantly for two and a half hours with him trying to flirt (I think.). I felt kind of bad, trying to ditch him, though. I'm pretty sure he like-likes me, and I feel really bad for not like-liking him back, and I feel kind of bad for trying to go hang out with some of my other friends, like the ones I was in the car with on the ride to the dance, but I couldn't find them anywhere and the awkward friend wouldn't leave me alone.
Okay, he'd leave me alone, but after a few minutes he'd come and find me again, wherever I was, which was crazy.
It was really annoying.
He should be one of the tracking people for the FBI.
Next year, I'm either not going at all, not going if he's going, or going and then refusing to let some of my other friends out of my sight. Hopefully I'll be able to do the last one. I think it should be fairly successful, depending on how big the crowd is once we get there. But it should be able to go fairly well.
Oh crud.
The Awkward Friend is in my next class. Great. Brilliant. He's probably going to try to talk to me, and I'm probably going to try to ignore him, and then I'm probably going to hurt his feelings, and then I'm gonna feel really bad.
ARGH!!!!
I hate it when this sort of thing happens.
Okay, my free block is almost over.
Oh great.
I left my notebook for next class at home. Or I can't find it. I can't remember which. Brilliant!

ARGH!!!

So today's supposed to be one of those annoying days where you find out whether or not you got into what you spent a million hours auditioning for. I already found out about Districts, but the musical cast list isn't up yet, and it's bugging the crud out of me. I want to know how I did, gosh darn it!
Okay, so they probably won't say how I DID, but still. I want to know whether I got a decent part or not. Not likely, but still. I could have gotten the part of like Office Girl #852 or something for all I care, but I don't right now. At least I would KNOW. The suspense is KILLING me here! HURRY UP!
Of course, knowing our chorus teacher, he'd probably post the list at like 4:02 or something, meaning there'd be a huge traffic jam at the three locations they're typically posted to try to see who got what part and then everyone would miss their bus. Except for me, because I walk. Anyway, it's really annoying. REALLY annoying.
I don't deal with suspense well. Can you tell? GAH!
For some reason or another, lack of information about cast lists always bugs me more than something like lack of information about who got into Districts. Maybe it's because I like singing and dancing and being onstage more than just plain singing. I really have no idea.
Either way, he had BETTER get the cast list up soon or else!!

poop.

Well, after a solid week of practicing, I didn't get into district choir. The "Millie" lists have yet to be put up, but I'm not hopeful. I know that I did a lot better than last year, but, unfortunately, my chorus teacher just showed us a list of who got in and who didn't, and didn't tell us what the score cut off was for altos. So here I am, feeling kind of annoyed. My score was 148, which is either double or almost double the score I got last year. I forget what I got last year. I just remember I was fifteen points out of districts last year. I think it was like a seventy something. Don't quote me on that, though.
Okay, I have got to go. There is this crazy thing called gym class that I have to go to, as much as I hate it.

my english teacher is the coolest person ever.

My English teacher has just assigned the AWESOMEST homework in the history of awesome homeworks. Yes, I know that "awesomest" and "homeworks" aren't words, but I DON'T REALLY CARE RIGHT NOW!!! This homework is officially amazing. It's a long story about how the assignment works, but it involves IMing people. Since none of my friends have IM (well, some of them do, but none of them are in my English class), my friend and I are going to do it in Gmail Chat. The only annoying part is the actual discussion. There's a prize for the pair with the best set. The assignment is basically to IM (or Facebook or Gmail or whatever) another person in the class and have a discussion about all the characters that we've encountered in the bazillion readings that we have done and what they believe in. This is based off of her last assignment, which was to go onto the website This I Believe (you can go there here) and print out your favorite essay of the selection they have. The stuff on This I Believe is basically what people believe in. For example, one of the essays is called "Be cool to the Pizza delivery dude" and Bill Gates did one on creativity and how it's affected him in his Microsoft-ness.
Anyway, I'm going to go now.

Well, then.

Well, we got a free block from Chemistry. Funny thing is, none of us knew about it until the teacher actually came in and said, "oh, you guys have a free block." The other funny thing is that he came in 14 minutes late, and as anyone who goes to my school knows, if a teacher doesn't come for fifteen minutes after a class starts, all the kids automatically get a free block. So he came after 14 minutes and we all groaned, and then he told us we had a free block, so it was all good.
So then I came here after a while.
And then I had to wait for seriously about ten minutes before I was able to pull up any sort of internet browser thing. That's the annoying thing about school internet. It always takes forever to upload.
So here I am.
The musical auditions are today. I'm kind of nervous. At least I'm more prepared with my song, practice wise, than I was last year. Last year I sang "on my own" from Les Miserables, and it totally failed. I know the song by heart off the recording of like the Live Concert 25th Anniversary or something, but I totally fail at karaoke without the words in front of me, so I totally failed at the audition. In short, my timing is terrible.
But this year I actually prepared, partially because my mom made me and partially because I have realized that a better audition means PRACTICING first.
Plus I found the CD that goes with this Teen's Musical Theater Collection book I own (I'm pretty sure that's what it's called. Something like that, anyway.). The book has the lyrics and the notes and everything, but it also has the piano part. So the CD is helpful for auditions because you know what it sounds like first.
I'm probably going to do better this year, because

1. I prepared.
2. I know what's going on.
3. I'm not totally dependent on the fact that I know the song from memory.
4. I'm wearing my lucky jeans.

I didn't even have the lucky jeans last year, because they didn't exist.
They're a pair of typical, light-wash jeans from Wet Seal, except you'll never find this pair at Wet Seal, because I got the entire cast (or most of it, anyway) of last year's musical, West Side Story, to sign them in different colors of Sharpie.
So I should be good.
District auditions are on Saturday. I'm nervous, but, once again, I prepared better, I'm probably going to get in.
last year I was out by fifteen points.
SINGING ROCKS!!!

By the way, the musical this year is "Thoroughly Modern Millie." And I'm singing "I could have danced all night" from "My Fair Lady."

YAY BROADWAY!!!

all right, nobody talk to me about Broadway or Beethoven until Monday. Maybe Tuesday. It depends on when callbacks are and when the cast list goes up. I don't even know if I'm getting a callback yet, but you never know.
I'm going now.

oooh yeah!!!

And exactly two years ago today, I was on Broadway. Yes, THAT Broadway. The one with the amazingly amazing plays and musicals and stuff.
It was with a Girl Scout thing. The show was Rent. The experience was awesome. I LOVE BROADWAY!!!!

oooh yeah.

By the way...
Happy NaNoWriMo!!!!
NAtional
NOvel
WRIters
MOnth.
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYY for nanowrimo!

Okay. Here I am. Finally.

Yes, I know, it's been a while. I officially fail at posting consistently.
Anway, Halloween was okay. I got to sort of trick or treat, because my friend wasn't feeling great so I went to a few houses for her before going to her house and watching "The Princess Bride" and laughing at all the funny parts, especially at the end of the iocane sequence. The one with Vizzini and Wesley and the wine. The one who was always yelling "inconceivable".
And his last line was after Wesley was like, "you guessed wrong." And Vizzini was like, "you only think I guessed wrong! That's what's so funny! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is Never Get Involved in a Land War in Asia, but only slightly less well known is this: Never Go in Against a Sicilian When Death is on the Line! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! HAHAHAHAHA!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" *dead*. Best. Death. Ever.
YAAAY!
Done with that for now.

recap! Finally!

So, I finally have time to write a recap for the Youth Retreat, which was enormous fun, by the way.
So on Friday, we all went to the other church as a meeting point, except for one person, who met us at the retreat center. We had pizza there, and I did the grace. It was the Addams Family one that I learned at Girl Scout camp. So then we finished packing up the van, which was seriously packed with stuff, and then we headed out. Seriously, the van was so packed that we in the front row were propping our feet on the top of some of the bags. That's seriously how crowded it was. But I didn't really care because I was talking to a pretty nice girl from the other church and singing along to the Broadway Lion King Soundtrack. So that was fun. They had to take a seat out of what would originally been a fifteen-person van, so some people had to ride in my youth group leader's car. I got to ride in his car on the way back.
So after a long time of waiting in a load of traffic that was moving six inches a minute, we finally got there and did the whole thing about who was sleeping in what cabin and stuff, and then hung out for a while. Then we did worship, which involved a lot of singing. However, the songs were really fun. Yes, they worshiped God and everything, but they were REALLY fun to do, because there were a lot of moves that you had to do for some of them.
Then we picked our prayer partners for the weekend, and it had to be someone from the other church. Mine was one of their leaders. He was really cool. Anyway, then we talked and then we prayed and then we got to go to bed. Two girls were talking until midnight, which I wouldn't have minded so much if they hadn't been talking so loudly and thus disallowing me to attempt to go to sleep. Then the boys pranked us at five in the morning, which was really annoying. The boys were allowed to spread out, but the girls all had to sleep in the same cabin. The main reason, I think, is that there were three guy leaders and one girl leader.
Anyhoo, then we went to breakfast and then we did worship and then we hung out for a while. See, the thing I love about youth retreat worships is that, aside from being more fun than typical church worship, they still seem to make me think about God and religion and stuff way more than typical worship. Maybe it was because there are more people my age in the youth retreat worship. I dunno.
Anyway, then we had lunch, and then we went on a zip line. It was really fun, even though I've gone on a million zip lines.
Then we hung out. Some people were playing cards, some people just hung out, but I took a nap. I'm sorry, but I can't run on six total hours of sleep. I got another hour after the guys pranked us.
Anyhoo, then we rehearsed a skit that we were going to at worship. I played the foot. Then we ate and then one of the other girls and I did the altar for the worship. And then we did worship. The altar was really cool, if I do say so myself.
Then we did the skit, and at one point we had to argue a lot, and that's how my glasses broke. One of the other girl's hands knocked it off by accident. It's all good, though. I have an extra pair.
Then we did this bonfire thing with s'mores and everything, and it was really fun. I was probably the last one to go to sleep, of the teenagers. We did a lot of singing of classic rock-type songs, and Disney, and stuff like that. It was really fun, even though I only knew the choruses to half the rock songs.
Then I went to bed.
Then we woke up and ate breakfast and did worship and then we played football. I entered the game halfway through, and I made the teams even to six on six. My team won. It was really funny when we first scored, because nobody had been able to catch/ throw/ catch and not get tagged, so it was really fun. We were jumping up and down and laughing and stuff. It was hilarious. So we won, 2-0. And then we ate lunch. And then we finished packing. Then we did a massive photo op by the sign of the camp, and then we left. I was riding in the youth group leader's car. I dozed off for a while, but tried to keep myself awake, because, for some reason, I wanted to know what the two youth group leaders talk about when everyone is asleep/ not paying attention. But the radio was playing and I couldn't hear anything they were saying. But I tried anyway. When I "woke up" officially, I saw the other two in the back seat (who were youth) asleep with the girl's head on top of the boy's shoulder. It was kind of funny. But I think I saw them looking kind of more awkward before that. It was REALLY funny to see their reactions once I told them what I saw. The girl's reaction, once she woke up and found her head resting on a guy's shoulder, was REALLY funny. She looked horrified, but the expression on her face was priceless.
Anyway, later on on Sunday and Monday morning I had a headache from sleeping somewhat awkwardly in the car. It was kind of hard to finish my homework like that, because I procrastinated and left it all to Sunday.
Anyway, that's it.
And I have to go.
Bye.

howdy!

Well, I am back from the retreat, and I am currently at school. The retreat was VERY fun, except for the one part where the little part on my glasses that goes over your ear broke off, so I had to go for most of Sunday with only one hinge on the glasses, which was not very fun and kind of unproductive, because they were always crooked or falling off or falling off crooked and stuff. But I had a backup pair at home, and I am wearing those. But the people there were really cool. I thought the kids from the other church would be all snotty because their youth group seemed to be all epically organized from the brochure my mom brought back a few weeks ago, but that was not the case at all. They were all SUPER cool, even the leaders. We had to have prayer buddies, and mine was one of the leaders from the other church. In all, it was really fun. I am going to do a full summary in the next post, when I get the chance to post again.
By the way....
ANGELS AND DEMONS IS THE BEST BOOK EVER!!! (By Dan Brown. Half the research in the beginning is this one scientist trying to make religion and science work together, and it did. HURRAY!)

kind hearts don't grab any glory....

... i don't think so. but that's only me.
and I'm a kid in america, so to speak.

Looking out a dirty old window,
Down below the cars in the city go rushing by,
I sit here alone and I wonder why,
Friday night and everyone's moving.
I can feel the heat but its soothing heading down,
I search for the beat in this dirty town,

Downtown the young ones are going,
Downtown the young ones are growing,

[Chorus:]
We're the kids in America,
We're the kids in America,
Everybody live for the music around,

Bright Lights,
The music gets faster,
Look boy don't check on your watch, Not another glance,
I'm not leaving now honey not a chance,
Hot shot give me no problems,
Much later baby you'll be, saying "never mind,"
You know life is cruel,
Life is never kind,

Kind hearts don't make a new story,
Kind hearts don't grab any glory,

[Chorus:]
We're the kids in America,
We're the kids in America,
Everybody live for the music around,

Come closer honey thats better,
Gotta get a brand new experience feeling right,
Oh, don't try to stop baby hold me tight,
Outside a new day is dawning,
Outside suburbia calling, everywhere,
I don't want to go baby,
New York to East California,
There's a new wave coming, I warn ya,

[Chorus:]
We're the kids in America,
We're the kids in America,
Everybody live for the music around,
We're the kids in America,
we're the kids in America,
Everybody live for the music around,

yeah, i'm on a cascada rant

Wouldn't it be good.

Remember the day
There was a sign
It was the time
To take me away to your arms

I heard your voice you called my name
A single touch
Would stop my pain
I feel like you in everything i do

Wouldn't it be good to be in your shoes
Even if it was for just one day
Wouldn't it be good if we could wish ourselves away

Wouldn't it be good to be on your side
Grasses always greener over there
Wouldn't it be good if we could live without a care

The times passing by
I feel like you
I always do
Youre my place to hide
I don't know why
Still hear your voice
Still feel the same
Single kiss can stop the rain
So close to you in everything i do

Wouldn't it be good to be in your shoes
Even if it was for just one day
Wouldn't it be good if we could wish ourselves away

Wouldn't it be good to be on your side
Grasses always greener over there
Wouldn't it be good if we could live without a care

Wouldn't it be good to be in your shoes
Even if it was for just one day
Wouldn't it be good if we could wish ourselves away