movies

Recently, every movie labeled "a comedy" or "a riot" by critics, hasn't been funny at all, well at least to me. It seems like they've all been let-downs, and misleads. Every one that i've rented or seen in theaters in the past few months hasn't turned out to be what i had expected. "Tropic Thunder" was terrible, definately a guy movie, "You Don't Mess With the Zohan" was ten times worse, however that might just be me since ive never really liked Adam Sandler's acting. "Kung Fu Panda" had a couple funny parts, three at the most, Brad Pitt's character, Chad, had the only funny parts in "Burn After Reading", but, as usual, they had to kill him. "The Women", was a HUGE disappointment, it took on a more serious vibe than i'd hoped. "Marley and Me", is hands down the saddest movie i've seen in years. I love Jennifer Anniston, and the trailors made it seem hilarious, but once i saw that every 3rd person leaving the theater on its opening day, christmas day, with red eyes and tissues in their hands, my hopes for a laugh were out the window. [still a great movie, regardless]
However, some of my favorite, non-let-downs include "Hancock", "Anchor Man", "Little Miss Sunshine", and "The Holiday".

The Spirit

The movie The Spirit...sucked- and yet I had a smile on my face when I left the theater. If you see the movie, go in expecting only a silly hero romp, nothing more and you wont be disappointed. It is an odd movie, and I think pretty different from the director's others like "Sin City" and "300". It is like 300 in the fact that it is completely historically inaccurate. Although the characters speak and dress like they've come right out of the 40's, they all have access to cell phones and other devices that belong only to our time period.
The acting is...bad. I expected more from Scarlett Johansen. In his insane role as the octopus the audience could tell that Samuel Jackson was having the time of his life with odd lines like, "I do NOT like EGGS on my FACE! Not a GLOP!" And Eva Mendez wore very little in the way of clothing and only seemed very interested in 'shiny things'. Surprisingly enough, the newbie of the cast was great! In the title role of the spirit, he did not disappoint and I am very sure that Hollywood is not through with him yet. The previous no name narrated the movie with a husky voice and his role was of course rife with sex appeal.
Visually the film did not disappoint- it reflected the director's usual comic-booky and surreal style, taking on the effect of being eye candy for the audience. There were Hollywood beauties, explosions and comedic battles that at once incredibly violent and brutal turned slapstick. The other comedic elements took the form the bad guy groupies who were essentially clones, always donning T-shirts with their names written on it. Their names were the only laughs i derived from their characters though, names like 'Pathos' 'Ethos' and 'Logos'.
Overall the movie was overdone and silly, disappointing fans of the comic book and fans of superhero's in general like me. But if you're ever bored, rent it (take care not too spend to much money on it) sit back and let it entertain you.

It Never Ends

I don't know if everyone has been keeping up with the news over break, but if you have, I'm sure you've noticed the attacks between Hamas and Israel near Gaza. Hamas has been firing off rockets into Israel, and just last night, Israel retaliated with airstrikes on various Hamas targets. It appears that the airstrikes killed over 200 people, including some civilians. Tensions are rising, and it is a pretty safe bet that the fighting will only intensify. They are both blaming each other, and it doesn't look like the situation will get any better. Hamas, along with other organizations, such as the UN, are saying that Israel took it too far. But if you look into what exactly happen, you can't honestly blame them, in fact, you support them. There was a ceasefire that Hamas ended up breaking by firing rockets right into Israel. As far as I can tell, the loss of life on the Israeli side wasn't extreme, but still, Hamas was shooting at them. I don't now about you, but if were in that situation, I would want to defend myself, and force seems to be the only option. It's Hamas' fault for shooting first, they were asking for it. And what were they doing putting security forces(the Israeli targets) in the middle of civilian installations. It's almost as if they were trying to deter the Israelis from attacking by putting innocents in the middle of the fight. That's wrong, and any deaths are the fault of Hamas. The Israelis have a right to defend themselves and I support them in that cause. They refuse to take these kinds of actions sitting down, and you have to respect them for that.

BREAKkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

So We've been having break for a week now and it hasn't really done much. I'm not tired all the time which is good, but I have lost the ability to sleep in which was my favorite pasttime. Also, we have a couple visitors so my house feels too crowded, and I haven't really seen my friends due to "family time," which I'm thoroughly sick of by now. Thankfully I've gotten lost in the world of Twilight. Yes, I've joined the bandwagon I told myself I wouldn't. Who can resist? I love chick flicks and this is the same, but in book form. It's addicting, and I can't stop. But this Meyer woman can't seem to finish a book properly. She finishes each book like it's a chapter, leaving the reader feeling empty and wanting to spend 20 bucks on the next one because it's not in paperback until MAY. Very well done..you have ripped off like 8 million teenager girls. Not that I would have done any different, but still. Getting lost in this world is not safe, the whole amazing guys.. EDWARD and JACOB. I feel bad for guys who aren't vampires and werewolves and go to our school who now have to be compared to these AMAZING guys. But then again, I don't feel bad at all. If it weren't for these guys, these books would suck. So I'm glad that I have entertainment until my life's PLAY button gets pushed again.
Christmas was pleasant. The only thing I asked for was the Dark Knight and I got it, so it's all good. I've realized I have a very addictive/obsessive personality and I'm not sure how I feel about it. I played Wii Tennis and baseball and all the sports and that was fun for a few hours with my cousins. I don't like how Christmas has become very superficial and no one believes in Santa anymore!! I wish I did. So i wrote a list to him this year and just gave it to my mom. There was one thing on the list but still..it's the thought that counts.
Anyways, hopefully break becomes better and everyones enjoying it... and I get Breaking Dawn tomorrow because I really need it.

Christmas Eve

It's Christmas Eve and there's two hours until Christmas!  My mom will get me to go to bed before then (which is actually a good idea since my seven-year-old cousin won't allow me to sleep in much tomorrow morning).  However, my brother will be coming home after midnight tonight and he's 13!  That's because my brother is an amazing techy and he is operating the stage camera at my church for all 4 services today.  However, "show" would be a better word to describe it than "service."  Our church is Bayside in Granite Bay and it's huge, and tons of people come for the Christmas Eve services (because they are awesome!)  There is a total of 13 this year.  It is WAY cooler than most people would think church would be.  And operating the stage camera is huge, and my amazing brother is doing it right now.  My mom has been teasing him that Santa won't leave him any presents since he won't be home when Santa comes at midnight.  Of course my brother knows who Santa really is, but he probably isn't expecting that my mom, I mean Santa, doesn't want to stay up so late tonight– meaning when he gets home, my brother will see what Santa left him.  And that's pretty exciting for my brother!

I hope everyone is having a great vacation!  Merry Christmas!!!!!  

1 day left!

Tommorow's the last day before break! I'm so excited I can't even process the fact of having two entire weeks off of school. I still have to do Christmas shopping, and let me tell you I'm actually pretty terrified of pushing my way through the madness to find the perfect gifts. The whole process is very stressful, a feeling I try to avoid around the holidays. Maybe I'll convert to online shopping. Well, hope everyone enjoys the holidays!

One foot out the door.

I look around me as I walk through the RHS campus, and I don't feel like I belong here anymore AT ALL. Not that I ever really did, but now all I see are children, all around me- children.
I can equate the feeling very closely with looking out at the playground in sixth grade, before I left elementary school. I had no desire to play on the monkey bars, and I have no desire to participate in anything here. I've simply outgrown RHS. I am already far away from it.
The rules here appall me, after living with my head in college... I hate high school. I don't know what people are talking about when they speak of their "glory" days in high school. I'm ready to live my life, live on my own, make my own way and be responsible for myself.
Whether that means being allowed to come to class naked, smoke on campus, use my cell phone, or choose my attendance habits.
These things are not necessarily what I like to do, but what I would like to be free to do if I pleased.
In other words, the conservative rules for children at RHS are for the students here who cannot take care of themselves. I am incredibly responsible, I take care of myself and my grades. All by my lonesome. Without tell-a-parent. My parents don't check, why on earth did they get my grade sign-in information? Aren't I the one attending this school? I'm a young woman, my grades effect me and my future. Me alone.
It is my responsibility to take care of my business. And I've been raised well enough to know how to do that. I'm done with the walker, I can walk- and run- on my own.
And this is NOT a classic case of senioritis. I still am very involved in my studies. I haven't become lazy at all, I've actually improved my GPA above a 4.0 this semester.
I am just not here. I don't like dances, football games, clubs, or lingering on campus any longer than is absolutely necessary. Yuck.
I am about to enter another universe, college. And thanks for nothing, RHS, when its come to letting me find my own way. Your constant observation and second chances have done nothing but cripple people who have depended on it.

Waiting....not so patiently

I'm waiting to hear back from the collges I applied early action to. It has been a month full of frantically rushing to the mailbox every day after school, and I still haven't heard anything. I think I'll probably hear back sometime in January, which means a not so stress free Christmas Break. Anyone else feel my pain?

Break is back

Yay! We finally get break back. I was completely annoyed with the whole trash situation. It was frustrating to have the only break I get before I leave school to be taken away because some people (I'm assuming mostly underclassmen) think throwing trash on the ground is acceptable. Time to grow up. Well now that break is back I can be a little less stressed throughout the day. Lets keep it that way.

AHHH...FINALS

Does anyone else feel like there is NO way they are going to make it through this week? When this week finally ends it will be christmas break: two weeks of no school!!!

But to get there I have to get through one thing....FINALS!!!

I have finals in just about every class. Today, I have my AP US History final. That should be fun. Wednesday i have Spanish II, H English, and Algebra II final :( Then on Thursday I have my chemisty final and the book review for AP US History is due. Has anyone procrastinated for that?? I think i'll be okay. I'm 90 % done with it and i'll finish it tonight with all the other studying I have to do for my finals. What is worse of all is that every single one of my finals, with the exception of my Spainish II final, will make the difference between a B or A in the class.

I also have done no christmas shopping at all, and i'm leaving on friday right after school to go to the Bay Area with my family. I'm coming back on Monday night and christmas eve is wednesday! I'm gonna try and get my shopping done on thursday. Thank goodness for mini days!

Besides all that other stuff, I'm extremely happy it is christmas time. Decorating the tree, christmas movies and music, and spending time with family and friends, not to mention two weeks off of school is just what i need right now.

Merry Christmas!!!

So Close!

We only have one week left until we get 2 whole weeks off! I could really use a break from school, just an oppuritunity to do absolutely nothing. Of course, that last week doesn't look like it will be easy to get past. I don't know about the rest of you, but I have a TON to do in those last 5 days. Admitedly, it is partly my fault. I did a little procrastinating and now find myself with 3 projects due...yeah, that should be fun.
But on the other hand, I have Christmas to look forward to. That's the only holiday that I really get into. I usually get to see a lot of my family, and the season itself is just plain old fashioned happy. I mean, everything else seems to be going terribly, the economy is tanking and no one is really sure what's going to happen, but around Christmas, everyone can look past the problems of the real world and just enjoy themselves.
There seems to be a sense that we're all part of the same world, and that helping each other out isn't such a bad thing. Maybe it's just me, but this time of year seems to bring out the best in people, and that's why I like it so much.
And, of course, that 2 week break doesn't hurt my fun either.

Conflicts in Scheduling

7:45am – 10:40am School
11:00am – 6:00pm Work
6:30pm – 8:35pm DFST III FINAL @ Sierra College
7:00pm – 8:30pm RHS Winter Band Concert

See the conflict? By the time I finished my final for my Deaf Studies (ASL) III class at Sierra College, I signed "finished?" to my teacher. Got the OK and ran out. Already in my concert clothes, I ran down two flights of stairs, through the hall ways, and past all the cars in the parking lot. I got a few good looks, ha. So I’m racing back to school because it is my senior year last winter concert and finally, I got a beautiful solo in Greenselves, and I didn’t make it back in time for the Symphonic band’s performance L So I missed all of our good songs and surprisingly I was really sad. I did, however, make it in time for the combined Symphonic band and Orchestra group. We sounded pretty good. The stage lights kept changing "moods" on us while we were playing. It was odd because at all of the honor bands I have attended, never did they do that…but then again, it’s our schools band.

Debates

Mr. Pereira's junior honors english class has been working on many debates in the last couple of class periods. Debate topics have been flag burning, a dreadlock deadlock case, and sex offenders. People have their own opinions on each debate and the class gets pretty heated. Each debate is seperated into 4 categories: strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, and strongly disagree. For the flag burning debate I went on the somewhat agree side because I dont think flag burning should be allowed for the country. In the dreadlock deadlock case I also went on the somewhat agree side because I think he should have to cover his deadlocks in whatever work enviroment he works in. As for the debate on sex offenders I am on the strongly agree side because I think that sex offenders should have to put a sign out in front of their house notifying people that they are a sex offender. Mr. Pereira's class debates are exciting and fun to do instead of work work work.

Twilight..

I know I'm a little late but I just saw Twilight and I am in love with Edward! They couldn't have picked a mroe gorgous guy to play his part. He was perfect in every way. I don't think anyone thought they would fall in love with a vampire. A little weird. Bella...not so much. She was nothing like the character in the movie which was extremely depressing. I'm anxious to see what is going to happen in the next movie, the way they left the ending was interesting. Well, I'm going to read New Moon:)

OPS!

For those of you who don't know, Theatre 4 students are required to write, cast, direct and perform in their very own One Person Show. Sounds fun right? Well, the drafts are due the Friday before Winter break- a pretty early deadline for a show in April. Only the Seniors in the class are constantly aware of the time frame slipping from their fingers. As a student in the class myself, I am in the same situation. Writing a show might sound like fun and a welcome escape from Maths or Sciences, but the artistic hard work is even more frustrating. For theatre students like me, we have been thinking about our shows since freshman year. Watching the Seniors struggle and accomplish their goals. Now that it is our turn the amount of stress is unbearable- we have to live up to shows like Kit's, Ari's, Erin's, Scott's, Olivia's...all theatre kids of the past who will be always remembered on the campus. As I continue through my senior year I wonder if the hobby I've devoted so much of my time and energy to will have earned me the same sort of respect and awe from the generations to come. I don't feel like the underclassmen look up to us as much as we looked up to the classes before us. And it's probably not their fault. I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels like a failure in this department. The worried glances cast around the theater reassure me that the stress rests heavily on almost every one's shoulders in the class.
at least I finally have a solid idea for my OPS, which is more than I had a week ago. The draft is due next Friday. Wish me luck- I hope that my show is as exciting and well written as the seniors of the past. According to the theory of a certain English Literature Analyst (that my fellow AP English students would know of) I might need to have an even better show than the Seniors of the past in order to "kill my father" (or push past my predecessors) and secure my name to the list of worthy seniors.

Thunder Galleria

I had a great time at Thunder Galleria on Wed!!! I'm a junior, but it was my first time going cuz I always have stuff on Wednesdays and Thunder Galleria is always on Wed. But this year I decided to ditch my weekly Wed event, and do Thunder Galleria instead. I helped at a table with 3 other people from One. Our table "sold" bath and body items. I'm actually not very into all that stuff, but it was a pretty fun table. We found these baskets and we got to use our creativity to put things together in packages. But then one of the directors came up to our table and said, "Can you guys spare someone to be an elf? We really need more elves!" So I said sure and she told me the most important thing was to not lose the kid, and that was the extent of my elf training. So I ended up being an elf for an 8-year-old boy named Matthew. It was so much fun! When I brought him to his dad, he was so excited and couldn't stop talking about his Thunder Galleria experience.

Besides seeing the adorable kids, I also loved seeing so many RHS students at Thunder Galleria, whether working a table, or being an elf, or something else. It was so cool to see so many fellow classmates doing things to make someone else's Christmas.

So I got to thinking

PICK UP YOUR TRASH

Seriously, it's not that hard. People do it everyday and it's part of your responsibilities as a human living on this earth! Good grief, just pick up your freaking trash, IT'S NOT THAT HARD. IT TAKES NO MORE TIME THAN IF YOU DIDN'T. Plus we get our break. Be courteous of everyone who is losing their break because of some of you out there that are not being conscious of the other people on campus who try picking up their trash as well as other people's.

Oh and on another note: UGLY SWEATER CHRISTMAS PARTY TONIGHT! Haha, Longs as the least attractive Christmas sweaters with cats and bows. SCORE! And of course the infamous Disney street is a must for the holidays. Could you imagine living on that street during Christmas? It would take you an hour just to get to the grocery store. Oh and I'm sitting next to a Christmas music hater right now. She tells me not to judge...:/

Mr. Nichols is getting very much into the holiday spirit with his amped up Christmas albums. Not helping Paige's case.

Plus ASB is huge on Christmas spirit stuff, we've already had a White Elephant Party and we're doing Secret Santa next week! Woo hoo! Oh Christmas makes me so happy :)

Cal Poly! :]

AMAZING NEWS.......I GOT INTO CAL POLY SAN LUIS OBISPO!!!!!!!!!!! I'm seriously so excited because this was my first choice for college. I applied for early decision hoping that it would make my chances better...but I really didn't think that I would get in because usually the only people that get in for early decision are like top amazing students. BUT I DID IT!!!! :]

It's kind of scary to think that I already accepted a college. It's a relief, but now that it is like set and stone, I feel so trapped. In a good way...haha. It's definitely just a strange feeling. But I know it will be the perfect school for me and I couldn't be happier or more grateful to get in!

AND more good news!!! I'm going to Disneyland tomorrow! If you know me, you know that I'm obsessed with Disneyland. And I love love love Christmas!!!! So Disneyland at Christmastime is going to be my new favorite thing EVER.

So basically I'm in an amazingly wonderful mood. And I hope nothing in the near future kills it. :]

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

One Week and 4 Days

Christmas vacation is in one week and four days. A.K.A junior year is half way done. Where did the first semester go? I have absolutely no idea. But I do know this, teachers think they are the only ones assigning big projects and having end of the semester tests. They know they aren't but they expect you to prioritize their class. As if these grades don't affect my future. Either way, I want to get excited for Christmas and next semester but facing all these tests and stuff is something I definitely do not want to do. How about we rewind this semester and start over? Anyways next semester should go much better. Hopefully.

Side note: GOSSIP GIRL FANS. I'm really excited about the episode tonight. Previews showed a funeral and Chuck looking even more attractive with his hair not gelled back. I wanted Jenny to die.

Also, this "trash" issue should be solved at the root of the problem. This obviously started with the freshmen this year, not saying my class was perfect then but still. Or the fact that there are almost 500 of them. Taking away break kinda sounds illegal but whatever. Hopefully people learn because I don't want to be penalized for other's inability to find a trashcan. Except this season was a great time for this to happen because break was FREEZING today, so I'm not complaining that much.

It's A Grind

December 8, 2008 – I submitted a “Time-Off Request” form to catch up on homework before the semester ends. I’m sitting in “It’s A Grind” and noticed that there were two elderly couples, a few college students, and a father with three young children all enjoyed the warmth of the coffee shop. Personally I am just sitting off by the window listening to music and attempting to stay on task, but I just thought that was really interesting seeing each generational difference all relaxing in the same place. It’s rather cute if I do say so myself.

Coincidence? I think not...

This kind of relates to Ashley’s blog, “CREEPER” except mine didn’t happen at home. Yesterday I worked the night shift. I work for the City of Rocklin Community Services and Facility/Theatre Department, by the way, and I finished up my event at the Sunset Center and was heading over with Page – our newest employee, I was training her that night – to the Community Center to alarm the building. It was around 9:30 pm as Page and I walked the outer parameter or the building one of the doors was open, which I thought was to be very odd because it wasn’t a regularly used door. We unlocked the front door, and set of the alarm. Oops, but we entered our code before the police were called so there was no problem. But my question is how was it that when I opened the door, the alarm was not activated? Also, why was it that the only door that did not activate the alarm, just so happened to be unlocked? I know it doesn’t sound that creepy, but on Halloween night, someone tried to break into the 3rd Street Preschool building. The alarm was activated but according to the police, there was no forced entry but when the alarm beeped, the criminal attempted to enter a code that obviously didn’t work, and fled the scene. My supervisor got the call informing her about the break in, she told me to go check it out! Really? What am I going to do against a criminal? So I took my friend, who just happened to be dressed as a sheriff. We were having our Trick-Or-Treat fair. Anyway, these two buildings are right next to Johnson Spring View Park and within the same parking lot. The difference between Facility Assistant and Facility Monitor at my work is basically the time of the shift. An assistant does not work the night shift – which would end at 12:30 am – yet I’ve been scheduled before as working the night. SO, on my only few night shifts I have had, some creepy stuff like that has happened. I’m not sure, but these little connections are a little on the strange side. I kind of hope they stop, soon, because working alone that late is kind of scary, or hopefully I’m just being paranoid. Either way, that’s working for the city for you.

CREEPER

Well friday night was something strange and creepy. After school I hung out with friends, went to dinner and then a two friends came back to stay at my house for the night. My parents were out of town, so we were home alone. We were all getting food in the kitchen around midnight, and all of the sudden we hear the doorbell ding about 3 times, my heart stopped and we all froze. I was freaking out. Following the doorbell, the mysterious person started banging on the door so I peeked around the corner to try and see through the glass part of my door. It looked like an unfamiliar old man with glasses or something so I got really scared. "It" was peering through the glass and saw me, we made eye contact. I was about to call my mom, but suddenly the banging and ringing of the doorbell stopped. I peeked again and the figure was gone. My friends told me not to call my mom, fearing that she would never let us stay alone again. It was so scary. We ran around the house locking all doors and windows, shutting curtains, blinds ect., basically being paranoid. About a half an hour later, we hear someone trying to open the door, shaking it a few times. We freaked out again, and when the door opened, we realized it was my brother coming home. We asked if he had tried to come home earlier, but he said no and that he had been at a friends house and had no idea what we were talking about. So basically some creeper was trying to get in my house. FREAKY.

It still doesn't feel like X-mas...

It still hasn't hit me yet...Christmas is in 19 days.

It's probably just me...my life for the past 2-3 months has been about TWILIGHT, college applications, and my grades. The whole idea that senior year is your easiest year is far from the truth...well for me.

I've applied to the UC's...specifically Berkeley, LA, Davis, and Irvine. Now all I can do is wait for the fateful day of March 26th to come.

I also think I study TOO MUCH. I studied for five hours for my AP Calc BC test and I'm pretty sure I failed. I hate the feeling when you've put so much energy and you don't get the results you think you deserve. ARGH.

And Twilight...well...I don't want to open a can of worms, but I have to admit that I have never been SO OBSESSED over a fictional character...AKA Edward Cullen...and an actor...aka Robert Pattinson. OMG.

Til the next post.
-Mal

Goodbye Thanksgiving Hello Winter

This past Monday Rocklin High's Campus was once again covered with approximately 2,000 students. A large majority were just like me...sad to be back at school after a week long break for thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is traditionally set up in order to take the time to appreciate things in our lives we are thankful for. I suppose that as students we should be thankful that we are given a break at all. I know people in PA, and San Fran that only get a three day weekend as a break. At least we werent in their position.

My break was pretty enjoyable. The first half I chilled with friends and the second half I was in LA with family. I went to Malibu and on my way to the beach I saw Pepperdine University. In a mere year I will be applying at colleges. That just brought the thoughts about school back again.

If you're anything like me you dont feel like being in school right now. You dont feel like working your butt off for your semester grades that colleges and your parents care so much about. Hang in there...only two more weeks left :)

Big Weekend in Sports

Bam, here it comes. College football's big weekend. I know you guys have a lot to do, but these big games should be on your to-do list. 

For Friday: 

(12) Ball State (12-0) vs. Buffalo (7-5) --Nichols wil be watching this one, so should you. 

For Saturday: (1) 

SEC CHAMPIONSHIP:

Alabama (12-0) vs (4) Florida (11-1)--Big game. Scarface Saban and the Crimson tide look to take it to Tim Tebow and the Gators. 

Missouri vs. Oklahoma-- Oklahoma looks to shock everyone and cap off an unexpected season. 

USC vs. UCLA-- Classic, brutal matchup between rival schools. USC predicted to win big. 

Cincinnati vs. Hawaii-- After Colt Brennan's NCAA pass TD record was set, Hawaii remains consistent even with his departure into the NFL. 

After this weekend, don't be shocked if Mr. Nichols gives you a current events quiz!!!

Capitol Section Honor Band

Is one of California’s most prestigious honor bands any high school student can audition for aside from Nationals. Capitol Section also has a two other groups for 6th graders as well as one for Junior High students. I’ve had the privilege to participate every year since 6th grade and I am completely overjoyed and excited and looking forward to the few days of rehearsal and the evening performance more than anything right now. Dr. Tim Smith – the newly appointed Associate Director of Bands and Lecturer in Music Education at California State University, Sacramento, as well as Music Director/Conductor of the Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra – is our conductor this year! We’ve had the UCDavis conductor, UOP, Sac. State conductors as well as composers run the group. VERY EXCITING :) Overall, I’m soo looking forward to this! When you audition and make the band, your tape is evaluated and ranked. After that, there is a live audition that places you in where you will sit within your section. I’ve been places 8th, 5th, 4th, from Freshman year till Junior year and this year I ranked 3rd place :) I know 1st and 2nd attend Nationals every year and I feel so honored to be ranked right next to them!!! This year’s honor bands are going to be amazing! Ha, I love being a band geek sometimes :P

Jingle Ball 08

So today I am a little tired. It's because last night I went to this years Jingle Ball at Arco Arena. It was hosted by 107.9 "The End". It was amazing. This years artists were Chantelle, Boys Like Girls, David Archuletta, Katy Perry, and Jesse McCartney. I can still hear the ringing in my ears from the screams of thousands of girls of all ages. The show was great. Jesse McCartney was definitely my favorite. He even pulled up a girl from the audience on stage. I was jealous. It was a four hour concert and the price was worth it. I really want to go again next year. The seats were filled and the atmosphere was great. I really want to go again next year.

New Addition to the Mall

I have been to the Galleria Mall only a few times since all of the new stores opened, because it has been so crowded lately. I really like most of the new stores because we have a really good variety of stores in the mall now. But now that it's close to the holdiays, I try to avoid the mall because I hate waiting in the long lines and crowded, tiny stores. But once the new stores die down a little after the holidays, I will probably check out more of the new stuff.

Personality Profiling

Back in middle school, my dad introduced me to a personality test called the "Meyer-Briggs" test. It is not so much a test as it a questionnaire designed to figure out how individual people interact with other individuals and the world around them based on the psychological preferences. It was developed by Katherine Briggs and her daughter, Isabel Briggs-Meyer after the theories originated from psychologist Carl Jung. The four letter combinations can come from a series of 8 different letters:
Either
E (Extroversion) or I (Introversion)
S (Sensing) or N (iNtuition)
T (Thinking) or F (Feeling)
J (Judging) or P (Perceiving)

This leaves up to 16 different possible combinations for personalities. Naturally, the entire world cannot be generally categorized into 16 different categories, but it is scary to find how accurately that description suits you. The tests are designed as questionnaires where you pick which of two situations is more likely to suit you. For example, "Would you rather go out to a party or stay home and read a book" and based on what you answer (there are anywhere from 30-60 questions depending on where you take the test (there are countless websites offering free tests).

Recently, my friend also got into the Meyer-Briggs test and wanted to see if I fit into the personality profile that he thought I did. Now I knew my 4 letter combination, but this test was based more on the S/N and T/F aspects. Ironically enough, the result I got from the test he sent me was "the Idealist" and it gave possible 4 letter combinations that Idealists would have, and believe it or not, the 4 letter combination I received when I took the test back in May was on there. And the more I read the description, the more I could identify it to myself. I saw aspects of myself vividly.

Yesterday, my friend and I got to talking about this personality profile thing and how it's interesting to discover what your friends personalities are compared to yours. Obviously, it's not a science so it's destined to be flawed. My friend and I are technically supposed to not get along very well, which is sometimes evident in that we both get annoyed at how the other chooses to approach things. I think most of it is based on variations. Like, you get "labeled" with a certain personality, but the variations between the letters can account for the variations in people. So while 2 people may share a similar personality, they could be different based on which aspects are more evident.

So, at the end of the day I guess it doesn't really matter if I'm an idealist or an INFJ or an ENTP, although more and more businesses are using these tests to see how well their employees collaborate and suit this type of work, but at this point it's just weird to see how whether or not I'm more clean or messy or whether it's important for me to be on time or not that is able to describe my personality so well.

So if you're curious, I'd say it's worth a google check.

A Twilight experience

I read Twilight and absolutely fell in love with it. I went to see the movie the other day, and was utterly disappointed. The acting was dreadful. The movie could have been so cool, but instead was completely butchered. I thought how they sequenced the movie didn't make any sense, especially because it didn't go with the book, again, the acting was so awful that the entire theatre was laughing at parts that were suppose to be serious, and I felt that someone who hadn't read the book would feel confused by certain parts because it was so chopped up, and they skipped so many important events. So basically, the movie sucked. I wouldn't recommend waisting the time or the money.

Hi, Christmas Season.

So the frenzy has officially begun. I personally believe that it launches the day after Thanksgiving, on the notorious Black Friday. Others say it starts the week before, some the first week of December.
Either way, this is the month of holiday commercials, sales, shopping and movie releases.
And regardless of how unhealthy the blatant consumerism is for me and my psyche, I'm excited about what's behind it. I've always loved the spirit of this month, I think the constant submersion in all things Christmas lifts me up and gives me hope for the rest of the year. Christmas is rooted deep in tradition for me, as I come from two parents who hold fast to their separate European traditions-- one Sicilian, one German. And I love it.
Yet the magic of being a child on Christmas has never faded completely into the monotone of an adult Christmas for me. This isn't because I'm in denial, or that I still believe in Santa Claus. I just embrace the warmth and the light of the season. I soak it up.
But like many other families who celebrate this season, in light of difficult financial times, we are looking forward to a humble holiday this year. We're not alone, but it has forced me to once again examine what this holiday is truly about. Not from a religious standpoint, but merely from the angle of a good heart.
It's about giving, loving, family, friends, tradition and celebrating differences.
Although that sounds idealistic, its true.
And living on the Christmas light street guarantees I can never forget that.
Especially because of the disco light on my roof, right outside my window. It's a healthy reminder that its the holiday season.
I'm ecstatic to greet the month of December.
Alright, now to face the next two weeks...